That's IT! I'm shipping you to Nana's!

I always think the weekends are going to be sooooooo productive.....

This is how our Saturday started.

I honestly considered closing the lids and shipping them both off to Nana and Papa's house.....but then Nana called and offered to watch them for the entire day on Sunday, so I outweighed the cost of shipping 2 heavy packages to an address only about 15 miles away and the cost of gas to drive there....and, well.....I attached a big 'HANDLE WITH CARE' sticker on each box and drove the kids on over.

So, a BIG thank you to Nana and Papa for watching our little wild things on Sunday :)

Needless to say, this is how the weekend ended....

Not too sure which one of the three children enjoyed themselves the most!?

Make that four children.....

Bittersweet.....

We have had our house on the market for awhile now.....which has been, ummm, how can I say it.....NOT FUN. I have cleaned this house spick and span so many times, I should have bought stock in Swiffer.



(Funny side note....Kohen can NEVER seem to remember to put his gloves in his coat sleeves, regardless of how many times I remind him....BUT he has the ability to memorize some of the oddest things. He can honestly recite the Swiffer Feather Duster commercial VERBATIM. It's terrible. He told me one afternoon when I was flying through the house like Mary Poppins, duster in hand, that I shouldn't have to dust so much. I thought he was just being sweet, until he followed it up with a "Didn't you know that the Swiffer Feather Duster traps and locks dust better than other dusters"??! No joke.)

But.....the good news is by Valentine's Day (I wonder if my husband planned that one somehow? Not sure if he was going for the best or the worst gift ever.), we have to be completely packed up and moved OUTTA here! You heard me! WE. SOLD. OUR. HOUSE. To some, I'm sure this task would seem totally daunting. Fully moved in 2 weeks??! Wow. But, to our family.....WE ARE THRILLED....especially my husband, who is FULLY committed to taking on this ENTIRE task himself. Hint, hint. Love you, honey!!

These next several weeks are going to be out of control crazy. But, I wouldn't change it for the world. We are so excited to start this next chapter. We have filled this house with a lot of memories. Five years of memories. Some have been beyond wonderful and others....not-so-wonderful. This whole process is definitely bittersweet. But, it's time for another family to step in and create some new ones.....

Now.....I wonder if I should start having Kohen watch real home improvement shows, instead of these silly cartoons? Maybe he could memorize a thing or two and help Daddy build that house I've been dreaming of!? Not sure how much one can really learn from a guy who's only friends are weird talking tools.....


Plus, Mommy thinks Ty Pennington is kind of cute anyway.....

The Chosen Mothers

I posted this on my Facebook page earlier, but it is honestly one of those things that just needs to get posted again. I could read this over and over....and still get tears in my eyes. Thanks, Jen, for sharing.

If you know a parent who's child is fighting a chronic illness, I encourage you to share this with them. It may just put a little bounce in their step today.....

The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?


Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."


Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."


"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."


"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side."

"And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

'What are you doing for others?'

"We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -- but rather, how well we have loved -- and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better." ~ President Obama, 1/12/11 speech at the Arizona memorial

I saw this quote on a fellow CF blogger's Facebook page last week, and I've reread it every day since. Regardless of your political stance, these truly are words to live by. Some days I am challenged. The kids are crabby, I'm crabby, everybody's crabby. The house is a mess, the dirty laundry pile is MUCH higher than the clean pile and the dog decides it's a great day to run away.....only to return home 3 hours later and take up puking all over the house for the NEXT 3 hours. Whatever. Everyone has those days. But I'll tell you what. Try reading that quote at least once a day, realizing it's context, and you'll strive to take those days in better stride. Trust me.

Today is a day set aside for service. Martin Luther King Jr once said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'".....so, today, set aside a little time. A little time to serve others. A little time to love deeper. A little time to hug tighter. Take time to really think about who you love and how you love. Sometimes it's the smallest acts of service and kindness that add up to the greatest difference. I can tell you from personal experience, sometimes kind and encouraging words are all it takes.

Sealed with a Kiss (and a swear word or two).....

I'm not sure if this is incredibly cute, or horribly sad.....I overheard a conversation between the kids this morning while they were playing house (which, by the way, somehow ALWAYS means it looks like a bomb went off in here.....literally EVERY SINGLE doll, dish, stroller, blanket, etc needs to come out of every closet and toy box....you know, so it seems more 'real'. Apparently, my kids feel more at home when they are stepping over toy landmines) So, they each had a doll they were carrying around doing this, that or the other thing.....when the conversation turned to 'treatments'. None of the babies were able to 'play' until they had each done their treatment. 'Treatment' was a breathing mask they each passed around to their babies made out of Tinker Toys. I know I should probably just be happy they were using their wonderful little imaginations, but it makes my heart hurt so bad to know that THIS is their normal. Breathing treatments. Normal. That just isn't right, damn it. Something as simple and fun as playing house has to turn into battling cystic fibrosis. That's not how I remember playing house as a kid. Not in the least bit. FUCF. FU.

Working on these felt flowers has been more therapeutic than I expected. I honestly find myself chanting in my head F.U.C.F. over and over as I'm making them. I just learned of a fellow CF mom here in town that is in the hospital with her son due to low PFT scores and other CF related issues. I JUST saw her. And he was doing ok. Now he is in the hospital. I hate it. I'm walking around with a big lump in my throat half of the time, covering it up with a dumb smile on my face. These people are fighting so hard JUST TO BREATHE. Imagine that. FIGHTING. TO. BREATHE. All while there are people out the CHOOSING to kill their lungs. Choosing to kill their lungs, while there are people like my daughter who never asked to have lung disease. Choosing to kill their lungs, so there is one less set of healthy lungs that could potentially save someone's life. Today is just one of those days where I'm angry. I'm sad and I'm angry. Cystic fibrosis never goes away. Not even for one second of one day. Not even when my sweet little babies are playing an innocent game like house.

So, when you open up your Roses for Rylan package......please know that you have not only helped raise money for CF, but you've helped save my sanity as well. Not only are they 'Sealed with a Kiss'.....but they're sealed with a swear word, too. FUCF.

Roses for Rylan!!!

So, what do you get when you mix several sheets of felt, a pink mini hot glue gun, and some wine?? ME.....on a Saturday night. And a fun, little fundraiser for cystic fibrosis and Team Rylan.....'Roses for Rylan'!!!

Okay.....so they're not quite 'roses'.....and I'm a terrible photographer.....but you get the point. :)


Color Option #1 (Brown)

Color Option #2 (White)

Color Option #3 (Black)

I'm making felt flower hair clips that can be attached to either a crocheted headband or hat. You just choose which color option you want, and whether you want it in a hat or a headband! And, just so us moms aren't left out, I also found some cute adult conductor hats that you can attach a flower to.

So, here are the details.....I will be taking orders from now through the end of this month, so I can get the items shipped in time for Valentine's Day (great gift idea!! Hint, hint!!). All prices include shipping within the US.....and ALL proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Team Rylan. Just send an email to me (TeresaJMack@gmail.com) and include the following information:

1.Which Color Option (Option #1, #2, or #3)

2. Which style. Your choices are;

• 1.5" Headband = $10.00


• Baby Hat (newborn - 9 months) = $12.50


• Children's Hat (up to approximately 5 yrs) = $15


• Adult Hat = $20 (**please note, this ONLY comes in gray with the gray felt flower and there is limited availability!**)

3. Your address

I will send you payment options as soon as you email me your order. Getting crafty for a cure!!!!! We're having so much fun with this!

Finally.....

There have been so many times over the past 2 weeks that I have pulled out this computer, sat down, and opened up my blog FULLY intent on posting SOMEthing, ANYthing.....only to have some little person start yelling from somewhere in the house needing who-knows-what. Ugh. What a whirlwind this holiday season has been! But, it has been, BY FAR, my favorite one yet. The kids had an AMAZING Christmas, filled to the brim with family and friends.....


Decorating cookies with buddies.....


SOOOOO excited!


But, definitely not much of a help. Between the two of them, I think the babies got the same cookie decorated (and then licked clean) 5 or 6 times.

We also got to celebrate New Year's Eve with some amazing friends and had an absolute ball (no pun intended). Let's just say our little family put some SERIOUS dents in the sofas on New Year's Day! It was a beautiful day sprinkled with naps, cuddles and "I love you's".....

So far, my prediction of 2011 kicking some serious butt has been dead on. We had clinic this morning and (I never thought I would hear myself say this) IT WENT AMAZING. Rylan did fantastic, even after getting up at 6am (2 hours earlier than normal) to squeeze in an hour-long treatment before heading downtown. Kohen, being the ever present 'brotherguard' that he is, made sure to never leave her side while she was getting weighed and measured and having her oxygen levels checked. He smiled so proudly when she opened her mouth (in his words, as wide as a lion!) when the doctor asked to look at her throat. Even at such a young age, he is so curious about it all. He followed my lead when the dietician came into the room by standing up and walking over to the computer to get a better look at her growth chart. He knows that specific part of the visit is always a source of stress, so I about lost it when he went so far as to offer her a piece of his apple bubblegum. Unchewed even. Talk about trying to butter her up! Bless his little heart....wise beyond his years!!!

On to the updates.....her BMI is now 39% (up from 1% this past summer), so we were BEYOND happy. It was such an encouraging visit. She *knock on wood* has been so healthy this winter. I thank my lucky stars every day. There is nothing worse than hearing those coughs through the baby monitor. Absolutely nothing. We are currently back on TOBI (still from our positive PA culture last summer), but this should be our last cycle! I am fully expecting to get our 3rd, and last, negative culture after this round. We are taking this new year by the horns and showing it who's boss!! Cheers to new beginnings!