Waiting........waiting......waiting....I hope this movie doesn't suck because I could be sleeping!!!!

On my way to see Transformers 2 with the boys!!!!!!!!!

In exam room.....swab taken.....waiting for doctor.....

On the way back to school....sadly I was unable to shake the 13 year olds and they followed me onto the bus!!!!

Please send wine to the pacific science center ASAP....I will be the one whimpering in the corner!!!

Abort abort....5 7th grade boys + not nearly enough caffinated adult...we barely made it to the bus...short attention spans + girls.....YIKES!!!!

Getting ready to go on the 7th grade fieldtrip!!!!!! How much coffee can I drink!!!

long time no real blog............

OK -- enter the "modern age" Stephanie -- with help (A LOT OF HELP) I figured out how to post to twitter, facebook and this blog all from my cell phone -- ain't technology grand :)

Life has been a series of sporadic less than 140 character text posts :) We have been so busy!!!

Brendan started, played and finished his baseball season :) GO GO GO!!!

Summer vacation is literally just around the corner -- I get the daily countdown from Brendan and then when Whitlee gets up I get the daily countdown until she starts to school!!

Here is a brief look at our May............ It was a good month!!!!

Whitlee and a little photoshoot!! She LOVES that hat!!!!

Whitlee (& Diego) at one of Jeff's Softball games (Alki)

Brendan (and his baseball sweatshirt) at one of Jeff's softball games (It was like 80 degrees and he still wore the sweatshirt!!!)

I see this look A LOT!!!! I call it the "Oh Mom!!!!" look.

A rare teen smile

Whitlee (& Diego) hanging out

Whitlee saying "I AM NOT SLIDING DOWN THIS POLE!!!"

Brendan was my assistant on a photoshoot --

Gotta earn that money for his Washingotn D.C. trip!!!!

Whitlee at one of Brendan's baseball games ~

she can ALWAYS entertain herself!!!

Doing what she does best RUNNING!!!

(that is Rose The LOVE Monkey's arm you see)

Look more leaves!!!

Brendan playing ball!!!

The cotton wood is abundant here right now ~

Check out that piece on Brendan's nose!!!

Brendan getting ready for a throw from the catcher --

sadly, for the runner Brendan GOT HIM OUT!!!!

Whitlee had a Daddy & Daughter date!!!

Go Sounders!!!

Brendan warming up

Brendan making the play

It was a great baseball season -- well, out of 9 games played they won 1 game -- but they worked hard!! The 6th grade doesn't have a team, 7th grade doesn't cut so there was like 15 kids on the team & 8th grade cuts. Brendan started each of the 9 games (yooooooohoooooo!!!!!) and although the structure of the line up was moved around he batted in the upper 1/2 of the line up all season......all in all not bad!!!!

Whitlee is all registered for school and is SUPER EXCITED!!!! I plan to document each step!!! Brendan is looking forward to the summer and being in 8th grade!! I imagine that he will be spending a lot of time with Heather ~ and that is all I am going to say about that!!!!

I think that is it!

Seriously.....it is 9:45 and there is a 30 minute wait at Sonic.

Sitting in an air conditioned Dr. Office waiting to see my FAVORITE Dr. EVER!!!!!

Done with a SUPER AWESOME photoshoot!!!!!! getting a cherry limeade and heades to Bonney Lake!!!!!!!

Today is AMAZING!!

not going to give out many details.....but, I am going to say

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING DAY!!!!!

Today, I became a Great-Auntie!!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!

Amazing and BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Sitting in the sun @ Alki....waiting for Jeff's softball game to start!!!!!

Having lunch with my favorite 5 year old at our favorite thai place!!!

Sitting in the sun waiting to watch brendan start @ Shortstop!!!

Wii fixed!! On our way to Brendan's baseball game hope it doesn't get rained out!!!!

Just ordered a mango limeade...hope it doesnt suck!! Got a cherry limeade in case it does......

Getting ready to enjoy some Sonic with the kiddos!!!

Sittin in the semi sun watchin some baseball!! GO SPARTANS!!!!

Sittin' here in the rain - game was called - the boys are still playing a pick up game!!!

beat....beat....beat goes the drum

you turn around and life is passing you by:)

We have been SO busy!!!

Brendan had his first baseball game last Thursday. His first game as a middle school student. In 6th grade you aren't able to play baseball. 7th grade - Brendan has been waiting for this. They (the boys) are VERY VERY serious about the game of baseball. They are willing to lay it all on the line - to leave it on the field. Brendan started and finished at 2nd base - he played 5 1/2 of the 8 innings. He batted 6th in the line up of 15. Not bad dear son....not bad at all.

You ran out onto the field dressed in purple and gold (see your training to be a husky already). I noticed you and the other players did a quirky little thing....you ran straight to your base and touched it as you took your place on the field for the game. So serious that face of yours :) You played well.

As you stepped into the batters box I watched your face - trying to figure out what you were thinking........were you nervous? You faced a boy you had faced last season in Little League - he throws hard. You did well. Deep breath my son...in....out....

As I type this I am processing photos from the game. I'll have to post at a later date. Your dad so proud :) His boy playing for his school team. So, they don't cut in 7th grade - whatever, you started and batted 6th. I think if they had cut you would have made the team!!! Your dad was in his element -- a sunny day, a baseball field and since he wasn't on the field he kept the book for your coach. A great coach by the way.


Whitlee is doing well!! She is registered to start school in the fall -- she is SUPER excited!! She has decided she wants a nick jonas backpack! She loves her some nick jonas!!!

Guess that is all for now--I have set up the ability to post from my cell phone -- gotta love it:)

Test test

life

got a bunch to post but no time right now --- I hope to totally update in the next day or 2. Here is a photo of the kiddos from Easter

And the boy sings a solo..........

A day that I never thought I'd see!!! Brendan sang a solo. You can tell how deep his voice is getting!!! YIKES:) He sings around the 37 second mark

I'm bummed that the video is so crappy -- I really need one of those flip phone things:)

13 in 10...............

Tonight was the spring choir concert for Brendan's school -- he had a solo!!!

A FREAKING SOLO!!!!! Granted it was one line - but still - it speaks VOLUMES for the choir director!!!! He is AMAZING and Brendan would never have even tried out for anyone other than him!!!

I was very proud!!! I AM very proud!!!!

13 in 11

and the beat goes on..........................


He is getting more and more excited:)

12 days........

that's what he told me today --- yesterday it was 13 to 13......

He is SO SO excited about becoming a "TEENAGER" I am FREAKING out about it!!! I have heard horror stories about the "teen" years and it isn't just girls. There has already been some really emotional stuff. I get it I get it he is growing up. But, he is acting SO strange. I catch myself wondering "was I like this?" I'm not sure -- I don't think Steven and I ever went through a "growing" phases -- we were always just responsible.

His voice is changing -- that freaks me out!! It is MUCH MUCH deeper!! That REALLY FREAKS ME OUT!!! He sounds like Jeff more and more.

There is still the strange boy smell in his room. I know that there isn't anything "hidden" under the bed because I checked. It's just your normal everyday 12 year old boy smell + socks. His buddies at school - they all had hair as long as his was. Brendan got his hair cut -- they all have gotten their hair cut.

He is growing.........I can tell.............The constant eating that has been going on for the last 3 months WAS for a reason:) He has grown at least an inch in the last month or so -- Seriously, how tall is this boy going to be???

I can tell that he is more sensitive. There have been some situations that he is aware of -- they don't affect him directly - they affect people around him people he cares about. He isn't sure what to do about his feelings. He is hurting for others but doesn't really know how to handle it.

I know (I hope) that we will get through the teen years. I just might be totally grey/white by then. I am lucky and I am grateful to be his mom.

13..............YIKES!!!!!!!! It doesn't seem real...it doesn't seem possible!!! 13 in 12!!

I found a great new blog....

she is a new team member for Cocoa Daisy.............Cute and she is so creative. She has a neat little contest going happening on her blog right now -- What is the most beautiful thing in your life right now.

http://justperspective.blogspot.com/

to jinx or not to jinx????

THAT is the question!!!

I ended up picking Brendan up from school on Thursday -- his head was hurting BAD.........

He didn't go to school on Friday -- The Dr. called in an RX for pain meds. He seems to be better (fingers crossed). I let him go to the soccer game tonight -- I may kick myself for that one!!

I hate that he gets the migraine headaches.............it's more than hate -- it REALLY PISSES me off!! I recognize that in the grand scheme of things I've got it easy -- It's not a life threatening illness. It WILL eventually go away. I just hate to see him in so much pain! Those mommy instincts just kick the crap out of me!!!

I hope he is on the road to being and staying pain free ---

He will be 13 two weeks from today!!!! Where has the time gone. It is rather stunning for me to think of that. That tiny little baby -- has grown (and continues to grow) into such a fine young man!! He is changing --- I'll blog about that on his birthday..............

That's all........

Freaking Doctors????

So, yeah yeah I have a hereditary kidney disease. It is called Polysistic Kidney Disease. I have known about it since I was 18. I wasn't shocked to learn I have it -- you have a 50% chance of passing it to your offspring. My mother had 4 children -- 50% of 4 is 2.......I am one of those 2. I know I know I decided to have 2 children. I hope and pray that neither of them have it!!!! In our family history it (kidney failure) doesn't usually occur until sometime in your 40's. I have watched this disease kill 3 people in my family -- my mother, grandmother & Great Uncle Arthur. These are the only people in my family that I have known with this freaking disease.

So, for the most part I have been proactive with the disease since I found out I had it. I don't consume added salt. I don't cook with it. I try very hard to not eat high sodium foods (but, sometimes you just MUST HAVE BACON!!!!). It's isn't fun............

The thought of what awaits me FREAKS me the F*$# out!!!!! Being connected to a machine 3 to 4 times a week while the blood in my body travels through tubes to be cleaned by a machine and then back into my body FREAKS me the F*$% out!!! This isn't something new -- I have ALWAYS had the fear. When my mother was alive prior to her heart surgery she had her "treatments" at home -- I couldn't even go into the room -- I couldn't look at the machine. This is what the "basic" set up looks like -- a "comfy" chair and the freaking machine.

It's not that I am not grateful for an option - I am! I just HATE that this is my option. This machine - the machine of my nightmares looms................3 to 4 times a week for 4 hours a stretch!! It doesn't matter what day it is

I remember my mother's arm just above her wrist -- it was oddly large and mis-shaped. She had at least 2 grafts in there (they are used to access the veins for the machine they are permanent). Is that what I look forward to? Yes. My Dr. informed me today that I am "officially" stage one -- NOW, that is the very beginning of this process. I still have between 50 and 60% kidney function which is good. But, hearing that it FREAKED me out. My Dr. chose that moment to take my blood pressure -- guess what it was more elevated than normal!!! Go figure. It was a super rough appointment -- to top it off I had Brendan with me. I try and go to these appointments alone. Brendan stopped a ginormous 7th grader in PE yesterday with his nose. I was pretty sure it wasn't broken but it is still swollen -- he is getting black/purple eyes and it HURTS!!!! I just wanted to check!!! Anyhow it was a rough appointment. We have a plan. I am actually going to call the Dr. tomorrow and see if we can step it up a bit.

O.K. I'm done........Pity party for me is over...........................................