Race For The Cure (and a team name)...

I am sure most of you know at least part of the story; however, in case you haven't heard, my mom (Kari) has been battling breast cancer for the better part of this last year. She has had two lumpectomies and will have a bilateral mastectomy this coming June. She will need as much support as we can give her, both physical and emotional. We are looking for a couple of things: (1) We would like to get a list of people interested in either walking/jogging/running in the race on April 19, 2009, so leave a quick comment (2) Ideas for a team name, and (3) prayers for my mom's healing! My goal is to register a team name by next Friday, February 6th.

In case you are a reader or friend who doesn't know my mom, here is a quick background. She has been battling cancer ever since the love of her life, my dad, passed away when he was only 33 years old (I was 3). He had an inoperable brain tumor. Before he was sick, he was a beloved PE teacher at Farwell Elementary. After he died, my mom raised 3 kids as a single, working parent. She also helped raise my little sister Krystianna and two step brothers. She teaches 2nd grade, and is the most devoted teacher I have ever seen. After teaching for 20 years, she was led back to Farwell to continue with her calling. Her class is called "The Dream Team," and she inspires them to have a "99.9% positive attitude" (my dad's motto) and "reach for the starts." She is extremely selfless, which is shown in so many ways. I would love to be able to turn the tables on her and get a team of support behind her.

Our main goals: Get a team name, start the registration process, create shirts, raise money, and race for the cure. Even if you are unable to make the race, we would love to see you or hear your input at any point in the process. Your prayers are definitely felt!

Thanks so much for getting on board with this!

The Magical Fruit?

Beans, beans, the magical fruit...my mature high school teacher husband Jeff sang as I fed Maddie. It all started with the rice cereal as Madison continued to spit it out every time we fed her. She loved the spoon, but didn't like the cereal. So, I opted to try veggies. She loved it from the first bite, I couldn't feed her fast enough. As she finished half a jar, I thought that would be enough for the first try...as you can see by the last picture she did not want to be done. We will go at it again tomorrow :) Leave a comment if you have any tips on getting her to like rice cereal.

OMG

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, "Oh my God"

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we're better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

We love this song...our church band "Twelve" was awesome during their concert. We love rocking out to Jars of Clay. Check out our playlist at the bottom of our blog to listen to this song.

Paradise, MT

Oh, Marley Nils...I was sew frustrated even before he took the razor sharp rotary cutter and played keep away with it in his mouth. Yes, I was already perturbed because the blanket I was making never seemed to line up so I continued to cut the fabric like a bad hair stylist at Supercuts (no offense to anybody working at Supercuts). And yes you can see the directions for my "like new" Singer sitting on the dining room table :) Jeff was sweet enough to say "It doesn't matter if it is straight, Maddie will love that you made it for her." Thanks for the encouragement.

How cute are both those giraffes?

Enough said

SASSY
Claire does a good job looking innocent...Maddie, not so much.

You can do all the research in the world and it all says that infants shouldn't be in hot springs because they are too hot. I put a toe in and it was definitely cooler than her bath...so we went for it, bikini and all. She loved it...so did all the retirees vacationing. The best part...gel bursting out of her diaper afterwards. Wow, they really are absorbant.

I will be posting more often with exciting news as Maddie is growing quickly and I continue the transition into working in the NICU.

One door closed, with many others opening...

Marley Nils, thinks that every shoe is a headrest. Did I mention how much Nils is like Marley? After watching the movie, it did make me like Nils a little more...maybe he will calm down someday? He's only 35 in dog years.

Jeff and Jonn having a Pepsi Gold in the snow sofa.

So pooped after playing in Claire's jumparoo :)

Maddie and Cousin Claire.

It has been the craziest two weeks of my life...hence, no posting on the blog. Going back to work was incredibly challenging. It took me about a week to adjust to working nights again and trying to figure out how to balance family, household duties, sleep, and playing with Maddie. Go figure I failed the first weekend. Jeff had Grad School and I was working, lets just say now I know I can't go 48 hours without sleep! No, I did not put pillows around the entire bed, grab everyone of Maddie's toys and let her play while I closed my eyes. And no, I did not turn on cartoons and give her the nuk and hope that she would watch them for at least an hour. Yes...I most definitely did.

Maddie has been such a trooper. She goes to Mt. Spokane Church Daycare twice a week and spends Tuesday's with Grandma. Daycare is right next to Jeff's school, which adds a little piece of mind in case she ever needs us. She loves getting to play with BIG Madison and Connor at Daycare. She get's a report card everyday, (they write down how much she ate, when they changed her diaper, and her attitude) we put it on the fridge when they mark "Cheerful". Jeff has been awesome with Daddy duty during the night while I am at work. Maddie has been going to bed around 8 and sleeping until 5.

Tuesday night was my last night of work at my old job. Off to the NICU starting Monday. I am excited about the challenge and the awesome schedule. I will be working days for a month during orientation. I am nervous about many things including the acuity of the babies and hoping that I "click" with the team of nurses :) I will really miss my friends at my old job, but the opportunity to work in such an awesome environment is something that I can't pass up.

Happy New Year!

We are so excited for 2009. It is going to be a year to focus on family and friendships. We are putting 2008 behind us and looking forward to a year of good health, happiness, and Maddie growing so fast. We are so thankful for all that we have and can not wait to see what 2009 brings. Today is also a day for New Years RESOLUTIONS...so here it is... our family is working towards being healthier. For our family this includes eating better, working out more, and taking care of our bodies better. We figure you have to start somewhere so, the weigh in is tonight. Biggest Loser competition Karissa vs Jeff. Maddie is the lucky one who get's to gain weight :) We will update bi-monthly on our progress...however, I am sure that the girls in the house will win. We wish everyone a Happy New Year!