Darby

We are so excited. We will be getting our new puppy in about 2 weeks. While it was so hard to day goodbye to Keegan, this puppy is good for us! Keegan was so sick towards the end, it was difficult for the girls to really understand.





Now, we will have Darby to love, snuggle and drive us crazy. This will be the girls first puppy!







More posts later to update you on Soccer, Dance and Cheerleading!

Make-a-Wish update to come soon! We are getting excited!

I should SO be in bed!

So...I'm up! Why? Don't know. Wish I was asleep. I have this problem about every 2 months or so, I just stop sleeping. I catch up...eventually.

Work is crazy (but I LOVE MY JOB), vacation is over, I am going camping this weekend, schools starts soon - HALLELUIAH!

So, the CF research is making milestones (www.cff.org), its hard to get hopeful because we just think about keeping Al healthy today. But, I have to admit its exciting and to think about a day without chest therapy, or breathing treatments - that's unbelievable for me and Doug, so I cannot even begin to think about what that might mean for Alison. She knows nothing else, it would change everything about her. I hope that she would stay strong, bull-headed (really, Jill?) and funny! Right? Will we know what to do without CF? (wishful thinking) I would hope so!

Abbi is becoming a young lady and I just don't know how to deal. She requires a LOT of attention. But I have to admit, I love to hang out with her. She is so curious and loving. She makes you feel good. Every morning after I am ready for work she will say, "Mommy, you look so pretty". How can you not have a good day after that?

OSU Footballs is just around the corner! YEAHHH!

The jewelry busines is slow, but fun. I have a huge party this week. 28 RSVP's - that is great.

Went to Rascal Flatts with Jodi, Becky and Heather (no, I have not turned country) and had so much fun. American Idol with Beth is in 2 weeks! Can't wait!


Good night!

So...

Tonight I have something to say...surprise surprise...I am actually going to blog about what's in my head.

Here is what I don't know...

- if anyone even reads this blog...for real content
- what the future holds... (do any of us?)
- what will happen.. (if you read this and know me at all..you will know what I mean)
- CF??????

Here is what I do know...

- Emerald Isle makes all 4 of us so happy
- CF does not exist at Emerald Isle
- Uncle Jim is making me a drink
- I really do love my friends... and wish I was closer to them
- I did not have to do dishes tonight
- The 12 people here with me today are the most important people in my life.
- Doug loves me 100%

Here is reality...

I am getting way too deep
There is a thunderstorm tonight and I am scared
Did you know that I was scared of storms?????
Very scared??
I just act like I am not
I love my parents more than anything in the world.
My girls mean so much to me..but differEnt things...
They are #1
Abbi is life, she loves new things, she has hope and she trusts so much
Alison is faith...what else do say with a diagnosis like hers??? She is everything we all wish we had...no fear...live! And she is hilarious!!!! Really! She is damn funny!

My nieces...hope..trust..love
Zac...innocence and he loves me unconditionally!

Emerald Isle... 2009!

Wooooo, glad that is off my chest!

Alison can swim!

And swim well. Who knew? She probably did and just wasn't telling. She has become quite the water bug...first in, last out! She is getting very brave in the ocean as well. She makes me very nervous. Not to mention the fact that Abbi take her boogie board and goes way out to the sand bar!

Having fun in EI!

Emerald Isle 2009...We're here!

Ahhhhhh (big sigh indicating relaxation). We have arrived to our happy place! First, I have to tell you how proud I am of our daughters. We left Friday am around 9:00am and made it all the way to the Tamarac service plaza in WV without once stop, complaint, or whining! We had lunch and then made it all the way to Raleigh, NC without stopping! I couldn't believe it! Those kids must take after my sisters and I in the car. We were raised to have bladders like a steel trap - and to know that you only stop for gas!

We spent the night in Raleigh, and left for EI again around 9:00am. And made it all the way with one brief potty break at the request of the 13 year old. The little ones could have help strong!

Our new beach house rocks! We upgraded this year since the kids are getting older and we like to separate the female siblings...less fighting! Every couple has their own room with a private bath, the kids rooms even have their own bathrooms! I will have to post some pics. The rest of the house is awesome and it even has a pool and an elevator, which the kids are loving! It was great after going to the Food "Loin" (family joke) and shopping for 13 people, we just loaded the groceries into the elevator and sent them up to the 3 rd floor kitchen!

Anyway, time to go have more coffee and stare at the ocean...I do a lot of that here. Almost done with book number 1...Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner...and I drove the whole way here, so I have already done much reading in the few hours we have been here!

Have a great week!

"Jacked up"

Another angelic moment from Alison...

Last night she was sitting in her "vest chair" AKA the chair she sits in while doing treatments...and she was wiggling around and mumbling something.

I say, "Al, what did you say?".
She mumbles again...
So, I mute the TV and say "What?".
She says as loud as can be, "Mom, ever since I got this damn cold, I'm all Jacked Up"
She then burst into tears, I start laughing, and Doug just stands there with his jaw on the floor.

And, we spend the next 20 minutes teaching her how to blow out the clogged side of her nose, while plugging the other side, so she will not be "jacked up" anymore.

I guess I say "jacked up" a little too often.

Ahhh...my delicate little flower.

One Year Ago Today

Hard to believe that one year ago today was Alison's lung surgery. This time last year we were sitting in the waiting room with family and our good friend Jodi, while the amazing Doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital took care of our girl.

She is doing so well. Thank you to our family and friends for being so supportive time and time again, and standing beside us while we fight this nasty disease!

Have a wonderful May 13th!



This photo was take before her dance recital last year...just 25 days post lung operation.

Alison and her questions...

So, last night Alison asked me, "Mommy what does slutty mean?''. I say, "where did you hear that?". She says, "Ross told Rachel, her shirt was slutty". I say, "That was a mean thing he said and I don't ever want to hear you say that word again. "

Silence for about 90 seconds....

Then...

"But, what does it mean?"

"goodnight Alison!"

That is Alison ...my little delicate flower...HA!

Surprises...

So, life - especially the kids in your life, can surprise you all the time. They can make you proud one moment - then do and say the most embarrassing things the next...for instance,

Doug and I are sitting in Alison's conference with her teacher. She is showing us samples of Alison's writing and how she really needs to do more story development, but apparently she is very good at details. Like..."I heard the door to the garage open and I thought my Dad was going out to get more beer..." And it goes on from there, I wanted the chair to swallow me up, I needed some invisible magic dust or something. Alison, who cannot remember to turn in her reading log, can somehow manage to work into her story at school, daddy's beer habits. Nice!

Or, when we are at clinic with Dr. Shell, she will make sure he knows that she farts a lot, but her daddy farts a lot more, and she really believes that Mommy and Abbi never really fart. COME ON!

I mean this is what I deal with from her on a regular basis, she is hilarious, embarrassing, and stubborn. We never know what will come out of that child's mouth. And we love that about her.

Then there is Abbi...she about the sweetest kiddo you will meet!

Last night, we were making her Valentine's box, and all the sudden I realize she is making 2. I ask, "Abs, why are you making 2 of these?" Her reply, "we have a new student starting in our class tomorrow, and she might not know to make a Valentime's (this is how she says it) box, so I am making one for her" And she just carried on with her business.

I have to say, it left a tear in my eye.

Life is full of surprises, it is nice to know some things in my life I can count on:
a great laugh from Al, and the sweetest acts of kindness from Ab.

Make-a-Wish Update

First, let me say that I have been a huge slacker, and have not posted since Christmas Eve. So a quick recap, Christmas was great, loved the time with my family, spent lots of time in jammies, my husband rocks and gave me a beautiful and unexpected gift, and watching my children enjoy Christmas was the best...

So........we talked to the Make-a-Wish people yesterday. And, they are really going to be able to put together a "dance on Broadway" experience for Al. I am so surprised and excited for her that I can hardly contain myself. But...I will have to. It looks like it will probably be 6 months till its a reality. She is currently number 3 in line for a Broadway wish. So, unless something changes with her health...which I might say we pray does NOT happen...we will just sit tight till we get more info.

Please pray for a healthy 2009. We are just about 1 year out from the time last year when she got sick.

Lately the phrase around our house is, "I hate CF!"

But, on to more happy thoughts...

Dance competitions are coming up! And Al's class is really getting good! I can't wait for everyone to see all the hard work! She is lovin it!

Abbi is really excelling in school, particularly Math. Go figure. I can barely help with the 2nd grade math work, but thank god she takes after her father in this area. He is a genius with this stuff. And, she is back in the pool working hard to make that swim team this year.


Keegan, (our boy...the dog) is still in a decline. His shakes are worse, he cries a lot, but will still get up with me in the am, greets me at the door, and goes to bed with me at night. He is a great dog.

Signing off! Good night!