Prom 2008

If you can believe it, Zack's junior is quickly coming to a close. I am having a very difficult time wrapping my brain around that fact myself.



My son has grown up in the blink of an eye. (sniff! sniff!)


These pictures were taken in our yard this afternoon before the prom. (her prom -- he didn't want to go to his -- figured they would go to that one next year.

They actually met up with 3 additional couples (and two stag males) at their restaurant of choice after these pictures were taken.
I want your opinions on something. I hope I didn't make the wrong decision. Curious about your thoughts.

Arrie 's (Zack's girlfriend) parents have opened up their home to an all night fellowship for Zack, Arrie and their friends. Their plan after the prom is to run home, change into comfortable clothes and go bowling. After they're finished bowling they're headed to Arrie's house for some popcorn and movies. All of them plan on staying away all night, with Arrie's parents in the house. (Their house is only 1500 sq ft, and their bedroom is right off of the den).

They all are going to church in the morning in their prom attire.

Be honest...would you all be ok with your teen(s) given permission to do the aforementioned in this situation?

Why or why not?

I'm 39 today!

Happy birthday to me. This will be my last birthday in my 30's. Waaa! Where has the time gone? The answer is beyond me!

I was thinking about this the other day and realized how big a year 2009 will be for us. Huge milestones next year for sure! Our 20th anniversary, my 40th birthday, Zack turning 18, Zack graduating from high school, and (gulp!!) also beginning college!!

But...I guess I need to age gracefully, and just let it all sink in.

OMG -- I'll be 40 years old in 365 days!!!!!!!!

Catch up entry on what's up with Aaron

Aaron is definitely keeping us on our toes these days. First and foremost, he’s been struggling academically this semester, specifically in the subject of Math. Standardized testing is scheduled for week after next. All 5th graders are required to take and score a minimum for Reading and Math sections in order to be promoted, or be required to take summer study classes to retake the standardized test at the end of these courses. We are a little concerned that Aaron will not make the minimum score in Math.

We feel we are doing everything right. Examples: he’s been in after school tutoring for Math twice a week for the last six weeks. His brother (you know, our young mathematician) has been checking over his homework papers, and going over mistakes with him. Apparently, when it comes to testing, Aaron gets a mental block. He rushes through to get through due to frustration levels. The last report card Aaron received, he had a 79 in Math. Since then, I would guess to say that it has slipped down even further. My question is this…how could this be the same child as the honor roll student of last year? Different teacher? Perhaps. But from having an “A” in Math to the fear of failing this year? I just don’t get it. Any suggestions?

Aaron is still loving soccer. He has become the team’s 1st string goalie. The teammates look to Aaron very respectfully. These two things combined have definitely helped his confidence level on the field this year.

I can hardly believe that my youngest son will be in middle school this fall. *He* can hardly believe it either. He’s growing up way too fast!

P.S. Just as a clarification...the person (Robbie) that I mentioned in my last entry is Michael's sister. My sister is the one I'm flying out to visit with and attend her son's high school graduation. I think I confused some of you. Sorry! :)

Until next time!

Next up…

Zack’s college search, and the latest discovery that we've made about funding the same.

Continuing as promised...

The allergy troubles that I was having when I first put up the list of what's to come on my blog, for the most part (and I cross all things crossable here) has worked itself to a "better" mode. I no longer have continuous sinus drainage down the back of my throat. I'm not constantly sneezing. For the most part, the sore throats and headaches are staying away. The ENT specialist put me on an elixir of meds hoping it would soon do its magic. It looks that for now, it has begun to do so.

I have an appointment on May 1 for a follow-up with him. For now anyway, I can safely say that I can go in there with a good report. He had told me that if it wasn't a good bit better that he was probably going to discuss the next step with me -- which was of course, a tonsillectomy. He told me when I was in his office last that my tonsils have become "pitted" over time from numerous infections, and that THAT was why I was having continuous sore throats. The infection would never completely go away. It would then rear its ugly head once the antibiotics got out of my system.

Some of you may know that I have a sister who lives in Colorado near Springs. She and I are the closest of all our siblings. She called me one time last fall right after her son started his senior year of high school. She was very emotional and told me that she was dreading when her son graduated this spring, and the fact that she had no family around her for support made her even more sad. I told her then that if there was any way possible that I was going to be there for his graduation. Thanks to getting a nice sum back from our taxes this year, I'm flying to Colorado Springs in just over five weeks...all by myself! I say that because I feel the need to get away by myself for awhile. I've had to shoulder so much these past few months. I'll be leaving on May 15th, and returning on the 19th. This nephew is the brother of the neice that went on vacation with us last fall.

Oh -- one more thing. Robbie got a great report from the Mayo Clinic last week. She is currently cancer free! She has to endure 4 chemo treatments as a precautionary measure only. To say that she is excited is a huge understatement. You may remember that when she was diagnosed last June that the one thing she asked for was to see her son graduate high school. Now here we are six weeks away from his graduation.

All I can say is I am so glad that our family is finally getting some good news again!

Until next time!

Next up...

- A catch up entry on what Aaron has been up to lately.

Our (delayed) anniversary plans

As some of you may have already read in a previous entry, Michael and I just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on March 25. Due mostly to financial constraints we opted not to do anything special together besides having dinner out until we can better afford it.

Then I remembered a dear friend’s wedding that’s happening in Savannah on May 3rd. I had an aa-ha! moment and suggested to Michael that we make this our anniversary trip. I thought that we could spend two nights away to begin with. Then I looked at my calendar and realized that Zack has the SAT exam on the morning of the 3rd. I didn’t think it a good idea to allow him to spend the night away before an uber-important exam such as this. So, we decided to wait and leave town at dawn that day. We have worked it out that he will be picked up and taken to the testing site by his girlfriend, who will then return to the house with Aaron until the testing is complete. (He has a vehicle, yes, but doesn’t have his regular license yet. We are working on him getting them. Just not quite there yet.) She has also agreed to pick him up. They'll all have lunch together, and then take Zack to where he will be spending the evening and night. She and Aaron will spend the night at our house. Works out perfectly for us.

It’s a mere three hour drive to Savannah, and the wedding is at 4:00 in the afternoon, so we’ll have sufficient time to site see, enjoy lunch together, get checked into our hotel, and get ready for the ceremony. The wedding reception will be a sit down affair at the famous chef Paula Deen’s Restaurant, (http://www.ladyandsons.com/) which means the only money we’ll need is for fuel, lunch, and any souvenirs that we may want – oh, and a wedding gift for the happy couple of course! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! The best part of this trip? Michael was able to use the last of his Hilton honor points to reserve a top notch hotel spot for us. Buffet style breakfast included!

All in perfect timing, no?

Until next time!

Next up --
- This never ending allergy crap!!
- Tonsillectomy in my future?

- My future trip to Colorado Springs...alone; May 15 - 19

Michael's recovery progress report...another surgery ahead?

Michael had an orthopedic appt on Monday, and it looks like, at least for now, that surgery is not on the horizon. His physical therapists have been documenting that stiffness and/or scar tissue is impeding progress. After several tests last week they told him that they were sending his doctor(s) notes to describe what was going on. The flexibility in his foot has stopped increasing. Stiffness is an understatement…I think the word they used was “frozen”. The doctor told us way back when that this may happen, and “may” require surgery. For now, the doctor is modifying the therapy treatment, to focus specifically on his gait. He thinks that Michael is favoring the foot so much that the flexing isn’t happening mainly because of habitual “compensating”. Does all that make sense? He’ll begin that therapy on Friday.

In the meantime, the doctor has scheduled an MRI for his shoulder. He has had shoulder pain since a couple of days after the accident, and even mentioned to the doctors this fact. They were more worried about his foot and leg (rightfully so) at that time, and casually mentioned to him that they would put off tests of the shoulder until a time that he wasn’t going to have to rely on that shoulder for mobility. (Remember, he used a walker exclusively for 4 months post-accident, and obviously had to rely on use of both arms).

Michael mentioned to the doctor once again this past Monday that his shoulder was still bothering him and was anxious to get something done about the pain he was continuing to have. The MRI will be done later in the month. I’ll keep you updated on the results.

Until next time.

Next up --
- Anniversary trip; May 3 - 4