My Bizarre Family

Archive for the ‘Sappy Stuff’ Category

One of the best gifts my husband said he had ever received from one of his children was given to him this past Christmas by his oldest son, Tyler. Tyler is 21 years old and in his Junior year at the local University, where he is in the Chancellor’s Honors Program. He’s always been a very bright and gifted child. He’s one of those lucky kids who didn’t have to study to make perfect grades. School has always been easy for him, unlike his younger siblings who all had to struggle in different ways to maintain good grades. There are some who think he should use his gift to become a high earning medical doctor or lawyer…but that’s not for him. He has a love for learning and a talent for helping others that most do not have. He is studying to be an English Professor.

In one of this classes recently, he had an assignment to write a true short story about someone he knows. He chose his father. Tyler gifted the story to him on Christmas, and as I watched my husband read the story, I could see that he was brought almost to tears by the words his son put to paper about him. Words that showed how much his son truly admired, loved and appreciated him. As parents, we often wonder if we had done or are doing a good job of raising our kids. We constantly question ourselves and feel we have fallen short, especially if the road has not always been smooth for them. My husband told me late that night as we were getting ready for bed, that he feels like he did something right…that while he did make mistakes (as all parents do), he now knows that he did not fail them at all. He may not have been able to provide fancy cars or expensive electronic gadgets to them…heck, we couldn’t even give each of them their own room, but he has always been there when they have needed him, even if it’s just to offer a shoulder to cry on.  He’s always supported them in every way and gave them unconditional love. And he spent time with them.

When we look back on our childhood, do we remember all the expensive toys or trips our parents gave us? Or do we remember time spent together, loving and enjoying each others company? That’s what kids want. It’s what they need…their parents to spend time with them and to show them that they are loved unconditionally. That there is nothing that they could do that would cause us to ever stop loving them, even if we don’t always agree with the things they choose to do.

My husband’s favorite saying for years is that his happy thoughts are his children. I am proud to say that this man is not only my husband, but my best friend. There are not many like him, unfortunately. He is a family man. Other than God, nothing means more to him than his family, his wife and kids in particular. He even took another man’s child to raise as his own. He’s been a wonderful step dad to my son. He loves him as his own, and that is not an easy thing to do. We have been through hell and back for our children, from custody battles fought to getting help for a mental health problem..and the list goes on. As our children age and grow into young adults, I believe they will begin to realize just how much was done for them and given up for them (with no regrets),  and they will know just how much they are loved. It may take them having their own children before they can fully appreciate everything we have done and are doing for them (I know it happened to me…I’ve apologized to my mom several times for the hell I put her through when I was a teenager). There are things I wish we had done with our kids, things I wish we could have given them when they were younger, and even a few things I would do differently if I could go back. Some lessons we learned by trial and error because as we all know….mistakes are easily made. Parenting is never easy and there is no one way to parent, but many different ways. There is no such thing as the perfect parent or the perfect child. I’m so thankful of the time spent with every one of our children and I’m thankful that they can look back and relive the many (SO MANY) good memories that we all created together.

I hope all of our children realize that their dad and I love them unconditionally. They can always count on that, no matter what. And for all of the parents out there reading this…go out and create memories with your children, good ones. Coach their little league or soccer team, take them out for ice cream, take them camping, have a family game night once a week, etc. If you have more than one child, try to spend one on one time with each of them, no matter how difficult that may be at times. You don’t even have to leave your home for that! Always let them know that you love them unconditionally. Especially when things are not always so easy. Don’t try to solve all your kids problems and smooth the way for them, even though that’s the first inclination we have. Let them experience pain and disappointment, because life is full of it. Prepare them for the real world. But most importantly…love them.

 

 

 

Fifteen years ago today, I welcomed a beautiful baby boy into this world. He came into this world on August 28th, at 11:49am, weighing 6lbs 12 oz. He’s not been an “easy” child, but I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I hope he realizes how much I love him and pray for him. Happy Birthday, Christian! You mean the world to me.

Check out his new shoes! I won them in another sweepstakes! He tells me he is saving them for basketball season.

Last Thursday, August 2nd, was my husband and I’s 12th wedding Anniversary! We’ve had some hard years, but we are stronger for it…and I can honestly say that I love him more today than I did the day I said “I Do”.  This year has also been one of the more worrisome. He’s been having medical problems….problems we are still trying to figure out. We were informed on Thursday that he more than likely suffered a stroke or four back in April and May (nice anniversary present, right?).  Most people would go to the emergency room after suffering the first one (I mean…hello, he woke up and the left side of his face was sagging, not to mention the severe pain in his head)…what does he do? Waits to see if his “eye goes back in place”, and when it does, he climbs back in bed (doesn’t even wake me up!). Even if he didn’t realize it was a stroke, the symptoms were serious enough to warrant a trip to the ER. Well…he had 4 of those episodes over about five weeks…and it finally scared him enough to go to the doctor (yeah…it took 4…FOUR…episodes to send him to the doctor….talk about stubborn).

Then came the testing. We received the results of most of the tests on our anniversary (I know right…that is a long wait from May to August…but that’s how long it took to get in to see a Neurologist). Rick has been fearing MS all these months, and I’ve been fearing strokes. Good news is he hasn’t had another “episode” since going to the doctor and being placed on blood pressure medication (and several other types). While his BP is still high…it has gone down some.

The MRI is showing signs of Small Vessel Lipohyalinosis, which can cause small cavity lesions, or scars, in the brain, and can lead to strokes. They have not entirely ruled out MS yet, as it can “mimic” other diseases, including small vessel disease. So, this week while he is on a vacation….we are “staycating” and he will undergo a few more MRIs and blood tests. He is also being ordered a sleep study…because if he has Sleep Apnea, that could cause high blood pressure, and like I said, we have to get that under control to prevent any more strokes. We are praying all these new tests come out normal. If they do not, then he will undergo a Spinal Tap and who knows what else.

I am asking all of my readers that believe in prayer….because we are firm believers in the power of prayer…My God is Mighty and He is the Great Physician….I ask that all of you please keep him in your prayers in the coming weeks. Please pray that all tests come back normal, that we can get his blood pressure under control (within normal ranges)…please pray for healing.

I WILL have at least another 50 years with the love of my life.

‘

My baby girl is 11 years old today. Seems like it was just yesterday that I brought home from the hospital this sweet 7lb 7oz red-headed bundle of joy. She was such a sweet Angel…hardly ever cried and was sleeping through the night at just 9 weeks old. It wasn’t long before she was toddling around, getting into everything and talking nonstop. Now, she is turning into a beautiful young lady…. in middle school now (SOB!).

I thought I would share just a few pictures of her…from baby to present.=)

Happy Birthday, Faith! I love you so much, and I am so proud of you!