Bad news happened in our family September 29, 2010. My wonderful father-in-law Bert passed away. His funeral was the nicest celebration of life I've ever experienced. He was dearly loved by all. He was an excellent grandfather and a terrific Father-in-law. Steve called him his Hero.
Within one month of Bert's passing, my mother-in-law Maxine fell and broke her pelvis. She can not be active, there is no cast, she just has to bear through the pain. I think it's been probably one of the worst years of her life. I'm worried about her.
On the brighter side.... Steve & I hired an architect back in January this year, to draw up some plans to add 3 bedrooms to our house. The designs were gorgeous, making our little ranch into a cape. Sadly, we spoke with 5 contractors, who gave outrageously high bids. So, long story short, we went in search of a bigger house, and found that house, and closed on that house last Friday 10/29/2010. The sellers are renting back until Dec 17th. Then, we plan to move into our new dream-home before Christmas! It will be very emmotional though, as there are plenty of emmotional ties to our current house. Lord-willing, we'll have it on the market by January, and it will sell fast.
Some of the positives to moving - this is a house that I actually got to help choose. The town will not be the same town my husband's ex-wife resides in (like our current town). The new house is bigger, more spacious for the 7 of us. New house backs up to a gorgeous river. New house is near a great walking trail. Hopefully more family from out of town will visit more often.
Me in general - I'm in some kind of funk. I come to work to veg-out. Can you believe it? Tommy is a handful. I love him dearly, but he's a total handful. Steve is fulltime as well. He's always on the go, always something to do, always complaining that I'm too tired, etc. I've been taking a spin class twice a week during my Tues & Weds lunches. Yet, I still eat poorly so there's been no weight loss unfortunately.
Victoria - in early September, while playing volleyball, she hurt her knee pretty bad. Went to the doctor who told her that she probably tore the knee-capsule and to stay off of it for a few weeks. One week later, ignoring doctors orders, she was back out playing, thought she felt fine, until she hurt her knee once again, much more painful this time. She decided to actually stay off of it for the 2-3 weeks as recomended before. Then 2 weeks ago, 10/18/2010, she REALLY injured her knee during volleyball, and said the pain was so bad, she gripped the steering wheel very tightly to keep from crying while driving home. I took her back to the orthopedic specialist the next day, who ordered an MRI, which revealed she not only tore her miniscus, but completely tore & detached her ACL. There was too much bruising and swelling and blood internally that the doc did not want to schedule surgery just yet. She was ordered to Physica Therapy 2-3 times per week. We will return today to see how she's doing and to see if he's ready to schedule surgery. Will update later about that.
Tommy was Superman for Halloween. He was thrilled to be Superman, but highly disappointed when he had the costume on and could not fly. He drove his green John Deere tractor around the neighborhood for Halloween and it was the funniest/cutest little sight ever!! Jake tagged along and helped him steer in the right direction and run up to the houses to get the trick or treat and thank you's said.
Significance of today November 4th. If my Grandfather Claude were alive, he'd be celebrating his 89th birthday. One year ago today, Victoria was in a car-accident. She was the middle car in a 3-car accident (Not her fault). The car, my old 2002 Honda Accord, was totalled. A month later when we received the insurance check, I went out and bought her a new 2010 VW Jetta. I love the Jetta and saw a bad accident with one, where the box was still intact and that sold me on the idea of getting one for Victoria. It's been a good trusty little car for her so far.
If anyone I know actually reads this, would you mind sending me a comment telling me so? Just curious. Otherwise, will continue to write as it's a bit of therapy and a diary. XOXO
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
What's been happening up here lately?
Socializing - I've started attending some of the Mom's Night Outs w/ a local group of moms. We meet once a month at a nice restaurant (or last time it was a delicious wine-tasting!) and just enjoy eachother's company, the fact that we're out and away from the norm at home, etc.
Depression - I've come to the conclusion, (& this wasn't easy) that I've been fighting the reality that I have depression. I've convinced myself for the past 10 years that it's not a permanent thing, it's only temporary, but it's to a point, that I realize, I need something to help me out. I've been in therapy since last summer, and my therapist recomended that I contact my doctor, which I have, and have started something called Sarafam (?) which is actually Paxil. So far, I feel even-keeled. We'll see if this helps me with my mood swings, etc. I seriously think that a large number of things going on in my life have mounted up and finally avalanched.
Exercise - I've been seeing a personal trainer twice a week for over 2 years now. I finally stopped. I'm eating like a pig, which counteracts what good I'm doing at the gym. Right now, I'm taking spin class every Weds at 12:15, and now an RPM class every Thurs at 12:15. Friday, I'm going jogging during lunch w/ my friend Pam (from work) in Newcastle. I've also started going to fit-camp on Mondays & Thursdays after work, over at Newcastle Commons. It's gorgeous over there, and when I get there earlier then everyone else, I go for a jog around the drive loop. I've come to realize that I really like/enjoy jogging. Who would have guessed? I think it helps me to clear my (very cluttered) head, and seeing the beautiful New England view isn't bad either!!
Work - I've lost my umph. I come in every single day, same old boring thing. It doesn't help that it's been slow too. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love my company, I even love our location, I just can't get motivated.
Sleep - I can't sleep through the night. Either Tommy will wake up sounding scared and crying for me, so I go in and comfort him, or, I'll just randomly wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning and lie there, solving all the worlds problems for an hour or two, then wake up feeling like I never slept at all. This is every single night. Sucks!
Our house - we're going forward with the construction. We're adding on 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to make our home a little larger and to stay in our neighborhood. Right now, picking out all the crazy random details and that's fun and at the same time, horrifying! -What if I pick out some obnoxiously odd mix of colors and details and woods and lighting and windows and shingles and etc etc etc?!?!
Tommy - He's adorable. He's cuddly. It's taken over 2 years to get to this point. He usually would try to shy away if I dared hold him too close. He still wiggles around in any pictures of the two of us (well documented!) But I just love him. He completes me. He is the sweetest little blonde haired, blue-eyed child on this earth. He melts my heart when he tells me, "oooh, thank you Mommy!"
Victoria - She started working at the Polo Outlet earlier this year. She loves making her own money, and not having to beg me for something. She's so responsible. She also volunteers at the hospital as a candy striper. That's working out pretty well. The volunteer coordinator loves her. She has her top 6 list of colleges: UNH, Univ of Miami!!!, Univ of Virginia, Boston College, Elon, and Emory. College applications start this fall, during her Senior year of HS. Hard to believe that my beautiful lucious ivory white skinned, strawberry blonde haired china doll is growing up. Breaks my heart too. But it's also re-assuring tos ee how independent she is.
Steve - we have our ups and downs, but overall, he's really trying to make me happy which isn't very easy these days! On our 5th year anniversary, July 9th, we put an offer in on a house that I really really really loved, even though it wasn't a very logical decision (our house wasn't even on the market), and in a fortunate turn of events, the seller accepted another bid that was given to him just before ours.... The home had waterfront views of the Oyster River and was my dream house. Oh well....we're going to turn our house into a dream house in the next few months, I can't wait!
Princess - my sweet beloved little beagle girl. She's doing real well. She's been in chemo since her diagnosis in March. She's now going every 6 weeks. It kills me to know that she'll eventually leave us, but comforting to know that we're still making memories with her. She's Tommy's "Tee-tee". Not sure why he calls her that, but I guess it's easier then saying Princess.
Daisy - still in charge of all our house animals (Princess). She loves to be petted, and will drool all over you if you're scratching her back while she stretches out her body so you can keep scratching her. She's 15 years old and like a kitten.
LJ&W - Doing good as always. They have such a love for Tominator. They are such good big brothers and he adores them right back. J has been living with us since last September. He is doing really well at our house and I think it was a good decision, as he respects Steves authority. He tried to push things with me a month or two ago, but as Steve told me, stay firm, don't back down and let him know that I won't be walked on. That was it. All it took, thank God!! I was seriously worried for a short while.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Princess / Tee-Tee
Tommy hanging out on the deck w/ his pal Princess
Victoria, Tommy & Princess - Summer 2009
Fall 2008 - Steve, Nancy, Tommy & Princess
Tommy sleeping on Princess who was sleeping. He was 5 weeks old.
Princess next to Tommy after he came home from the hospital.We all do. We just learned 2 weeks ago that Princesss has a tumor growing in her bladder, attached to her Urethra. She just had a biopsy yesterday and we're waiting on the results. I love that dog. Victoria is beside herself with fear that something is wrong. Princess represents the happiest part of Victoria's childhood, as she was her 8th birthday present. Princess just turned 9 years old last month. She's always been my second child....with fur, walks on 4 legs, but is always my second baby. Praying that God's angels keep her safe and that tumor is benign and shrinks away. I want for Tommy to remember his Tee-Tee.
Friday, September 11, 2009
My European Vacation -Part I April 16-24, 2009
With the subject line, I thought of Chevy Chase a number of times, throughout France, and the overnight train, etc. Just had to write that. We arrived at 7am in Paris, which was 1am East Coast, so we were pretty exhausted, but running on adrenoline. We checked into our hotel, then took off to see the Musee d'Orsay museum, which is inside of an old train station, built in 1900, but closed down 2 years later when the trains were changed. So it was turned into a museum. Victoria put a picture of the Musee d'Orsay on her facebook and called it: "The most boring museum ever". I had to laugh when I read that, because.....it was.... Later that day, we took the subway all over the place, and had dinner at Le Bistrot 30. They served red wine w/ the dinner. We had seconds or thirds.... As we walked around the city, we crossed the River Seine, looked at the gorgeous architecture, and I fell inlove with Paris.
The next day, we took a bus to Versailles, the beautiful chateau where Marie Antoinette & King Louis XVI lived (amongst other royalties), where she told the people that they could eat cake. We were told that wasn't really what she said, but it was taken that way. Anyways, it was over the top. Marble walls in different colors, beautiful frescas in every single rooms ceilings, beautifully carved stone statues and just more beauty than any person, king or queen should ever need want, etc. It was so over done, so over the top, so extremely rich, etc. I really could see why the people tore in and killed them for their selfish spoiled lifestyle, while the French were starving in the streets. It was so amazing though. Then we took a tour out in the never-ending gadens at Versailles. It was so amazing to be there, to look back and see how extremely huge the gardens were, and even moreso, in the distance I could see how immense the Versaille Chateau was.
After that, we took the bus to Normandy - Giverny where Claude Monet lived. We toured his house and his gardens, and I felt like I was inside a Claude Monet painting. I think THIS was my most favorite site in France. I loved Monet's home, it was so down to earth, so simple, yet so exquisite. I just fell inlove. And, we were so lucky to be there on that specific day. His beautiful flowers were all in bloom, his garden was magical. Monet's house was my most favorite of all the French visits. We headed back to Paris and had dinner at Restaurant Chez Clement Bastille, where I got to have more red wine, and real French Creme Broulle!!! (sp)
The third day in Paris, we headed out to mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. To say it was beautiful is an understatment. To be there, where so much history, so many stories, so OLD!! They started construction in the 1100s and it was completed in the 1200s. A 900 year old building. I've never seen such old architectural buildings ever here in the U.S. since we really are a "young" country. I can't get over the magnitude of the architectural details, the artistic carvings, so perfect, so symetrical, so gorgeous. I took pictures inside and out. I am Catholic and both Victoria & I and only one other student went up and accepted communion in Notre Dame. Believe it or not, but while mass was being conducted, tourists were allowed to walk around the inside of the church. There were even vendors selling items inside the cathedral, while mass was taking place! Blasphamy!! After mass, we all went outside the cathedral to take the steps up the tower to the top of Notre Dame. The steps were made of stone, but you could see how they were worn in the same stepping area from all those who have taken the trek up to the top. Once at the top, we then took some wooden steps up to the bell tower, where I got to touch the famous bell. I even saw Quasimoto (just kidding!) The view from Notre Dame was breath-taking. I told one of Victoria's friends, Katii, that I wish Steve was there with me to see this. She then told me, "I wish I had a boyfriend, and I wish he were here too." Cute kid. After Notre Dame, we had lunch at a cute little French cafe, and I ordered Escargot!! It was served inside the shells!! Here in the U.S. whenever I order Escargo, it's been removed from the shells. Pretty cool. Oh and red wine!! What would the French do without their red wine!!Then we headed across town to the Arc De Triomphe, which is located on Les Champs-Elysees, Champs De Mars, basically the Parisian version of Rodeo Drive, or really vice versa. Victoria got to check out all the cool French stores ($$$$$$$) and yes, we spent a little. We then went into thise AWESOME bakery, which was featured on the travel chanel w/ that lady. I forget the name of the bakery, it began w/ a "D". But the people were really nice, we start w/ "Bon Jour" then we tried to ask them something in our aweful French, and the lady responded with, "I speak English" and we ofcoruse gave that embarrassed and thankful look, etc. Pretty cool. They were that way everywhere. Everyone speaks English there. When we got back to our meeting w/ the group, some drunk guy was approaching one of our girls, and the two men and all the boys that were in our group almost formed a wall around the girls. The man looked pissed off about it too and eventually went away. Another tourist came up to one of our chaperones and asked what the drunk man said. Apparently there were alot of people watching the situation, ready to help us if we needed it.
Then we headed off to see the Eifel Tower. Wow wow wow. We took one elevator that slants up to the mid-section. Then we got off that elevator and took a different one all the way to the top. Paris is beautiful. From the top you can see how the streets are geometrically designed, and the buildings are all in the same stone-washed-colors. No buildings in Paris are painted. It's law.
After the Eifel Tower, we went to Quartier du Montmartre, where we saw the church that can be seen anywhere from Paris, up on a hill - Sacre Coeur Basilica, (Sacred Heart). We took a tram up the steps, because most of us were wiped out by then. I was standing in the back, infront of me was a girl named Nicole = 17 yrs old. We always had one chaperone in the back of our group, usually there were more, but this time, it was just me, behind Nicole. Some perverted French man, stood a little too close to Nicole, so I made sure to squeaze inbetween them. The french guy would not back off. I know the French, really Europeans in general, have a different sense of "space" then we Americans do. I don't think this pervert was concerned about Space. I wanted to press up against Nicole, and he would not lay off. As luck would have it, we were all about to enter the tram, when it reached capacity - guess where? Right as Nicole was about to enter. So there were are, me and Nicole and some freaky French guy pressed against us. I looked behind him and the next person was very spaced away. I looked in the line next to me to see lots of room and lots of spaceto the next person. I eye-balled one of the girls in our group - Julie, to get the male Spanish teacher to stay behind. She did and he stayed behind, but the French guy would not let up. Eventually when the tram got back and we were able to go inside, the Spanish Teacher stood inbetween me and the sleezy French guy, and suddenly, the French guy stood at a good distance away. Pervert. Anyways, we had dinner at a cute little outdoorsy place: Restaurant La Cremaillere. Afterwards, we walked over to see Moulin Rouge - the real deal.
Our day was NOT yet over. We then had a later cruise on the River Seine. We boarded the cruise infront of the Eifel Tower, which was lit up in bright gold, and at 15 minute intervals, would flicker it's lights, which was just awe-inspiring. On the cruise, It was really nice to see all of the old buildings, including Notre Dame, lit up at night. We could see the Louvre, which stretches for miles it seems.
Next morning, we went to visit the Louvre. We took a group picture of the kids outside infront of the pyramid, and the guide kept telling us to stop bringing up the Da Vinci Code. She said that the French hated the movie, because she said some of the things in it were fabricated and not true, etc. Ok ok, no more Da Vinci Code comments!! My first place I wanted to stop inside was to see the beautiful painting by Leonardo Da Vinci - the Mona Lisa!! I posed for a photo infront of her, and I suddenly had her quaint little smile. The paintings, the history was just glorious.
We had lunch at Restaurant Pataques, RED WINE, headed back to the hotel, got our things and headed to the train station. There are green berets that walk through the train stations, holding machine guns, on the alert for terrorism. Inside our train, there were four persons per car and I couldn't help but think of Chevy Chase.....again. The train took off and we were on our way to Madrid Spain. This was when I'd finally hit my breaking point. All my life, I've wanted to go to Spain with my Grandmother. She is from Barcelona and she would tell me stories about her childhod. Her parents are both buried in Barcelona and my great-grandfather was a famous Opera Tenor there and a street is named after him - Hipolito Lazaro. I always wanted to go to Spain with my grandmother and have her show me around, interpret for me, and get to really know my roots. But. My Grandmother was not going to be with me on this life-changing journey. And the thought or the realization that she was not going to be there, when I took my first step in Spain, made me tear up and cry like a baby. I couldn't talk about it, and I know my eyes were puffy from crying, and I was an emmotional wreck. There infront of everyone. Well, we ended up having a nice dinner on the train, just four of us. Myself, Seniorita M., Senor P., Mr. A. (the dad chaperone) and myself. I talked a little about why I was upset, but ofcourse, more tears. More red wine and it was all better.
Sleeping on the train wasn't so easy. I'm a light sleeper and each change of pace on the train woke me up. At 2am, the train was about to enter Spain, and it had to stop and change Engines. Apparently, the new president of Spain, decided to try to stop the terrorism that was happening to the trains, by making the train tracks different in Spain then they are from France, so a terrorist can't just barge into their country. Smart guy. We arrived in Spain around 9:30am.
I'll write about my Spanish adventures in my next post.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Victoria is Sweet 16
My sweet baby girl was born 16 years ago. It's so hard to believe. It's even harder to sit next to her in the car while she's driving.....for more than one reason ofcourse, but still, I can't get over how fast this time has flown by. There was no car, no big party bash. And I think she was a little disappointed, but she isn't one to talk about it, so....just a hunch. But....she did have dinner at the Blue Mermaid restaurant in Portsmouth, NH w/ 10 of her friends. I gave her a pair of Versace sunglasses (very cool ;-D), Steve gave her a very nice Sony camera "pink", and the kids gave her a Burberry watch. So I don't think she's missing out in the "cool items I got for my bday" category. And next year, the big 17, I plan to get her a car. I also plan to *maybe* throw her a party. I felt bad seeing her disappointment. Made me want to run out and just buy her a car now. But...the Miami Auto Show is Oct 23-Nov 1, so I'll make sure we fly down for one of those two weekends so she can check out all the cars that are out there and see if she falls inlove with any different ones.....
Anyways, in sixteen years, I've watched her go from the sweetest little baby, to an adorable toddler "I no like swimmim, nope nope." To the cute little girl I dropped off at pre-school and my Grandmothers house, to my little Kindergartener, to my big first grader, second grader, third grader, etc., and then my big middleschooler, big highschooler, and she's now my big tenth grader, gorgeous girl. She IS gorgeous. Beautiful hair, beautiful face, gorgeous smile, very stylish, extremely sweet disposition, and loved by all. She's still my baby girl. And I've been truly blessed to be her mom. 16 years. Wow.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Datty!!!!!!
Tommy last saw Steve last Wednesday night before he went to sleep. Steve left very early last Thursday morning Feb 12th, to go on a 5-day ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. Since he left, Tommy has called for "Datty" many many times. He missed him. Steve was to return last night (Tuesday) after really 6 days of not seeing him. He normally is in bed by 8pm, but last night, I let him wait up, and around 8:30, Steve walked in through the garage door. Tommy yelled as loud as he could: "DATTY!!!!!" and ran to the gate at the stairs, Tommy was jumping up and down and squealing with absolute happiness at the sight of his favorite person walking up the steps. Steve picked him up and Tommy was kicking his little legs in total excitement while squeazing onto Steve in a way that said, "I'm not letting you go Datty!" DATTY! DATTY! He had the sweetest smile, and looked like he was in cloud 9 while his Datty held him.After about 10 minutes, Steve decided to get the luggage out of the car, and he handed Tommy off to me. Tommy let out the saddest, most heart-breaking cry you've ever heard. So we stood at the garage door, watching Daddy get his luggage, skis, etc. out of the car. As soon as he was back inside, Tommy flung straight into Steve's arms.
There's something special about a man that is such a wonderful daddy. It's a beautiful bond. I wish I had it on camera.
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