Back online

We've moved into our new house and I finally have internet access (six days later... you'd think I might have actually withered away by now). We still don't have a working stove, but as of yesterday we have a gas line in the kitchen so that we can now connect the stove. However, that involves finding someone to help Mark LIFT the stove over the island because the kitchen is rather small and with the refrigerator in place, we can't simply move the stove through to its intended location. But the grill and microwave works, so we're not tied to take-out (though having a Buca di Beppo a mere five minutes from our house could be dangerous... one order almost took us over our monthly dining out budget!).

I'll try to post more soon, but I'm swimming in boxes. My dad arrives tomorrow. He leaves on Tuesday and Mark's parents come that day for Thanksgiving weekend. We're looking forward to seeing everyone, but I hope their expectations are low!

Thankful A to Z: F=Friends

F is a tough one. I first thought "Family." But also in the running was "Food." I figure food is a given. And family will hit some other posts.

Possibly coincidentally, there are a couple of friends with whom I have lost touch since getting Micah's diagnosis two years ago. But maybe it's not a coincidence. Maybe they don't know what to say. After a few months of reaching out to them, I gave up. If I think about it too much, I get sad.

But those friends aside... I have felt a crazy amount of love expressed by our friends near and far. Thick and thin... faithful friends. I'm not the easiest person to love. But there are some dear women in my life who have been there to listen, on the phone or in person. They've given advice, or simply been silent. They've cried with me. Laughed with me. Prayed with me (some at 5:30 on Monday mornings!). And never did they try to make me feel guilty for what I feel.

So, thank you, sweet friends, for your faithful support of me and our family during this journey we're on. I love you!

Thankful A to Z: E=Emily Perl Kingsley

It seems appropriate on Sesame Street's 40th birthday to mention Emily Perl Kingsley. She wrote the story: Welcome to Holland. It was one of the first things sent to me after we received Micah's diagnosis. Link here for the text. This story made me feel like I wasn't alone. And through it I realized that the sooner I accepted that Italy wasn't going to be our destination, the more I would enjoy Holland.

Ms. Kingsley has a son with Down syndrome and she is a writer for Sesame Street. I'm fairly certain that she has had a major impact on the show having actors with disabilities.

I've actually heard of people not letting their children watch Sesame Street because it doesn't portray an accurate view of society (too "politically correct"). But I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, one of Micah's future classmates will accept him as he is because she learned on Sesame Street that kids who are "different" aren't really that different after all.

Thankful A to Z: D=Digital photography

I cannot imagine having to keep track of prints and negatives during this crazy busy season of life. Digital photography rules! I can look back on my laptop to find photos of previous moves, such as when Mark found a job in Orlando and "followed" me there in 2001.

And I can also find out by looking on my laptop that I took no photos of our move from Orlando to Nashville in 2002 when we returned from our honeymoon, two weeks before Mark started grad school.

I can find a photo of Jody following the asked-far-too-late question, "Hey, did you already shake this can of primer?" while she was helping us move into our house in Atlanta in 2004.

Then there's the big rig in front of our Atlanta home in early 2007 to move us up to Wisconsin.

And the photo taken from the front porch this morning... an empty truck before the loading began this afternoon.

For those of you counting... since Mark and I started dating, we've moved from Nashville to Orlando to Nashville to Atlanta to Wisconsin to Minnesota. Yes, that's five moves since we started dating in 2001. Serenity now!

Thankful A to Z: C=Children's Hospital

Micah was supposed to have been born at Froedtert Hospital (the birthing center is attached to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee). We didn't make it there for the delivery. But so much of Micah's first year was spent at that hospital under wonderful care that I couldn't let this month go by without expressing how thankful I am that this hospital, and hospitals like it, exist.

I can't imagine going through all of Micah's "stuff" without knowing he was in the capable hands of doctors and nurses who specialize in caring for children. We didn't *always* have the best experience while he was inpatient (October 2008 sticks out in my mind). But the vast majority of our time there was excellent.

In fact, Micah had his last visit at the Feeding Clinic five weeks ago before we moved. I confess... I cried most of the way home. I have made that drive with Micah countless times. There are so many people there who KNOW him and all of his stuff. I will miss that feeling of security going there. I know Micah will have great doctors here in MN. But they aren't all with the same hospital group. And they haven't been with him since day one.

Thankful A to Z: B=Brothers

We have so much for which to be thankful. I love love love that our boys have multiple brothers that will be their lifelong friends.

(Thanks for the great photos, Heidi)

Thankful A to Z - A = Andrea and Ann

Okay, Kim, I think you sucked me in (though Mark is not going to be very happy to again be a blogging widower after the frequent postings in October). Kim at A Walk in Lily's Garden has started to list things for which she's thankful for the rest of the month. I think it's a great idea, so I'll make an attempt.

I'm thankful for Andrea at Unfailingly Loved and Ann at MommySecrets for sharing words of encouragement with me. These are two faithful friends who love the Lord, encourage others, and are great moms. Love you, ladies!

(and by the way... Micah is 22mos old today, Matthew turned 9mos on 11/3. Micah pulled up to standing by using the sofa yesterday for the first time. Yay, Micah! And Matthew is creeping along the furniture now. Micah has two upper molars now in addition to his lower 2 teeth, and I think he's cutting a molar on the bottom now too... weird teeth introduction for him. Matthew just cut his first tooth on the top today, which hopefully explains his CRUDDY sleeping for the past week or so. Nathan, on the other hand, cannot blame teething as an excuse for his cruddy behavior of late. I'm hoping we can chalk that up to all the changes going on with the stress of moving and that the behavior issues will subside once we get settled in our new house. We close in a week!)