Thursday, June 21, 2007

Update

I'm getting complaints that I don't update my blog enough..LOL. Life is so busy right now. I got a new transcription account that keeps me so busy that I don't have time to do anything fun to even write about (except for babysitting my cute nephews..which was a nice break). I'm determined to get to Disneyland one day this weekend. I'm also missing scrapbooking. I do have a concert coming up the end of the month too! :)

Brendan is camping at a lake all week and will be home on Friday. I really miss him but he's having fun. He has been riding a sea-doo alot and excited he is old enough to actually drive it himself. They go on the boat every day all-day-long, wakeboarding, etc.. He's been a good boy and called his paranoid mom in the morning and evening, as I requested. Gary was teasing me that my umbilical cord didn't reach that far...I'm for sure out of my comfort zone! He's my baby. He's funny because he is having fun but he's missing his normal life here...playing Halo 2 on X-box live with our neighbor every single night until midnight, he missed a hockey game so he had me look up the game and see who won and go into the details of who did what, there's no Internet there.., etc. He sold his Guitar Hero II to someone, since he conquered it, and he was saving to by Wii but now Em got into it with her friends so she went and bought it again while Brendan was gone so we told him and now he's itching to play that again. I think he'll be ready to come home tomorrow.

Emily is getting ready for Steven to come home tomorrow from Alaska. He will be home for two weeks and then goes back to Alaska but will more than likely be sent to Afghanistan in November. Pretty scary. I'm excited for her though. She really misses him. They have a lot of fun stuff planned, Sea World, skydiving, Disneyland, etc. She is going to LAX tomorrow by herself to pick him up....she doesn't want anyone to go with her......should be an experience.

Along with my crazy work schedule, we are dealing with the caretakers for my Dad and trying to figure out whether or not to put him in a home or try to work something out with the caretakers. I knew this day would come for him but it's heartbreaking. It's so hard to see him going through this. He tries so hard to tell us things but we can't understand him and that's what makes me so sad. I hate that he can't talk to us. I remember when my Mom died I kept thinking I wish I could hear her voice again. Such a sad disease. He pretty much is 100% care with needing to be fed, help walking, can't drink by himself, etc. so it takes a whole different turn when we are looking for places or caretakers. We are also having medication issues and that's a whole other story that gives Laurie and I both a headache!

Well, there's my life right now. I'm actually not hating my heavy work schedule, which is nice. I've learned over the years I guess. In the past I've taken accounts and wondered what I've gotten myself into but so far I'm OK. I have a good network of help when needed too, which I will use. Can't pass up the good money!

I decided that I won't like it when my kids get old enough and move out. Em has been busy this week and with Brendan gone too I miss my kids. One night she did stay home with me and we got salads from her work (B.Js) and brought them home and hung out together, which was nice. It's nice to have some alone time but after too much I want them back home real quick. :)

Saturday, June 9, 2007

THE IMPACT OF KIND WORDS

A few days ago I was talking to someone on the phone, who I don't talk to on a regular basis, maybe every three or four months, and in our conversation she just casually mentioned that she prays for me and asked if there is something specific I'd like her to pray about for me. It just caught me off-guard. I don't know why but I was so touched that she said that. Nobody ever asks that. I pray for people too but I never actually ask if they have anything in particular they'd like me to pray for on an everyday basis, unless it's an obvious thing they are going through and asking for prayer. Some people don't even know I pray for them.

I get caught up in my world and I'm really good at focusing on other people and doing things for them and helping others but I'm horrible at asking for help when I really need something, I don't want to put anyone out. I see a lot of my Mom in me in this department so much. She didn't like a lot of attention put on her. I always say if I ever needed an ambulance I'd try and drive myself there first because I wouldn't want them to have to come. I don't often ask anyone to pray for me. She had no idea how much it meant to me. I guess just coming from someone I don't get to talk to enough it was touching that she would even think of me in between phone calls.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it reminded me that we never know what kind of day someone is having or what they might be going through and how something we say could have an impact on them without even meaning to, even just something little. I'm sure she had no idea it affected me.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

I'm A Proud Mom





Brendan has a white helmet on.



Add Image

I love this picture. Brendan used to coach a
team of 3-year-olds at the YMCA and this
little boy used to idolize Brendan. He even had

the same jersey number #6 (which Brendan still has and
has had from day one of playing hockey). He would
also wear his hat backwards like Brendan did back then.
So cute! We still keep in touch with him and his
family. They've gone to Kings games together. This
picture was taken about 4 years ago. My baby has
grown so much. He looks so small here.




Jr. Ice dogs
Brendan with some of his favorite Kings players outside the rink where they practice.

It was in his blood at 2 when all he wanted to do was play hockey video games.

I was hesitant to let Brendan play in this league he’s in right now for hockey. It’s a “select team” that he had to try out for and he is playing with 18-year-olds. It’s a full-checking league, meaning they slam you against the boards at full strength! He plays at Anaheim Ice (where the Anaheim Ducks practice, formerly Disney Ice). I was really nervous because I was thinking these kids would be just huge compared to Brendan with bigger attitudes but I really don’t notice a big difference.

What I’ve noticed this season is how much Brendan has matured with self control. He is so hard on himself and would always get so mad if he felt like he played bad or if the goalie did bad or nobody was passing, etc…It was always a long ride home when they lost or if he didn’t score. It ruined his night. (I know, it runs in my family with my older brother but I’m breaking the cycle..Ha). They would post the stats from the game on the Internet the next day and he would wait impatiently for them to post and would study the stats and was always in competition with somebody to have the most goals and would be battling it out for 1st place in goals and assists. He knew what team he was playing next and knew if it was a team with someone on it he was close to in standings in goals and assists. It was an unhealthy competition. It always frustrated me that he would get so mad and I always threatened to take him out of sports if he didn’t stop….all these years.

This season he is on probably the worst team he’s ever been on but with the best attitude he’s ever had. I guess he grew up or has been humbled by this team and by not being in the top two in the whole league for points and goals and the pressure to stay up there isn’t there. We didn’t know anything about this league or the coaches when we signed him up. He was asked by someone to try out so he did and he went to his first practice and it got canceled (without prior notice) so a team that was on the ice practicing let him practice with them and he really liked them and the coach so he asked at the front desk if there was room on that team and they let him switch (he had never met the other coach or team yet). It just so happens that the coach of this team he switched to is getting married this weekend so has really not been there for this team. They haven’t had a lot of practice and so when out there they aren’t really in-tune with each other regarding passing so they are kind of on their own not knowing who to pass it to.



After their fourth loss the other night I was shocked when Brendan said he doesn’t even care if they lose, he’s just having fun and loves the game and just wants to play!! WHAT?? I was proud of him. In the past he would have complained that he wanted off this team and how he should have stayed on the first team (who are doing really, really well). Of course, in this league they post the stats the minute the game ends so the first thing he did when he got home was make sure they gave him credit for his goal online but they lost 6-1 so it I guess it’s just his subtle satisfaction to see it. He didn’t say anything about it. I actually enjoy his games so much more now!! He really loves this game!