I just spent 3 days with a sick child. My daughter had the flu...not fun! She had a fever of 102*, and was throwing up. I feel so helpless when my children are sick; I want to take away their pain and make them better, but all I can do it make them as comfortable as possible and tend to their every demand. Thankfully she is better today, and back in school. I'm a little nervous because my stomach has been feeling volatile since last night. I sure hope I don't get it now. Or worse...her younger brother!

Speaking of younger brother, he woke up this morning wet. Poor guy had a dream he was going to the bathroom and actually went in his sleep. He's six years old, I know it was an accident, but now it's one more thing I have to clean. On top of puked on blankets and towel, now I get to figure out how to clean a mattress. (I had a cover on it for years and took it off because he was old enough a few months back. Oh well...) He felt bad enough, didn't want to add any stress, shame or guilt to him. I know how he feels, even as an adult this has almost happened to me.

So, today I will be washing tons of towels and bedding. I'm so tired and warn out too, taking care of sick kids has worn me out, I think. I need to get back to exercising, that always makes me feel better. But, I hurt my knee and am limited to what I can do now because of it. At least I can still do Jilliam Michaels' circuit weight training. Just not the Jumping Jacks!

Beautiful sentiments, that are sometime hard to put into words. This was written by Reagan Wilson, Moyamoya survivor. I think it says it all...

Today is my 5 year Anniversary since surgery at Stanford. I thought I would share something with you that I wrote for this day! Just a little something about some things I've felt as I have walked through this Moyamoya journey!

----------------Refined-----------------
Refined by something that left untouched,
Would have resulted in the end of tomorrows.
Stumbling upon a path that created
A possibility for life to go on.
Life that we often measure by our wants
Or what we can obtain.
Life in its beauty is immeasurable
Not defined by the so called “treasures” we covet.
Strangers taking a moment of time to make a difference
And giving a chance for a lifetime of tomorrows.
A chance to watch children grow.
To be an inspiring person from the strength
Gained from the refinement.
Refining is not an easy road and often a path not taken.
It is met with tears, fears and frustrations.
A roller coaster of emotions
Battling to overcome the struggles that come with what has been handed.
Wanting many times to give up
But knowing there are those waiting for you to be strong.
No choice but to fall on your knees
And cry out for intervention.
To fight back with all you have
And learn….
That when life knocks you down
You best get up with a smile on your face
And laughter filling the air.
To give of yourself freely
And tomorrow when you wake up,
Give of yourself some more…
For once your tomorrows were numbered
And now they are cherished moments where the meaning of life is found.

Today I am grateful and happy that my knee, while still a little crunchy, is well enough that I can get back to Jillian's abuse, LOL! (I signed up for JillianMichaels.com, for weight loss and exercise). I completed her 5 circuit program today in a 1 hour record (for me) and I now feel pumped and ready to go. I am also grateful for 80's "Hair Guitar" music (channel 829) and that I am well enough to be able to dance like a crazy woman to it in my living room! (Yes, I AM that old. I will be 42 tomorrow, and am super blessed to add another year to my life. It's a gift, and I won't take it for granted!).

ROCK ON!

Moyamoya Awareness...

Here is another good link to a story with a woman with Moyamoya. Her mother works at Stanford, in the Moyamoya area (Neurology) so they really advocate for it.

One woman's experience with Moyamoya Disease. I just wanted to share it...by Linda M. Arnold...survivor.

Linda's story.

I'm sharing this for a friend of mine...and my heart is absolutely breaking for her and her family...

 A friend of mine, Crissa, has been put on hospice care for Moyamoya Disease.  There will be a benefit for Crissa's family on February 17th all day at Buffalo Wild Wings. Visit any of these Buffalo Wild Wings locations: Elk River, Plymouth, MOA, Crystal, or Chanhassen. Just ***mention her name*** (very important) and 15% of your bill will go to her family. They will be at the Plymouth location throughout the day and night and they hope to see lots of familiar faces!!!!

My heart is absolutely breaking for this family. One in two million, and here she and I are, in the same small town, both with Moyamoya but with very different outcomes. Our daughters are in the same 2nd grade class. Please pray for her and her family. She has 4 young children. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am grateful for all my loves...my friends, my family...and more intimately my children and my husband.

I am so blessed and grateful to my husband, Bruce. Twenty-one years of marriage takes work and dedication. We aren't perfect by any means, but we truly love and respect each other. He really is my best friend and the only person in the entire world I can truly be myself around. And trust me...I am NO picnic, that's for sure. I'm insecure and broken, yet he still loves me and chooses to be with me. I am very blessed!

I am also very blessed and grateful for my two beautiful little miraculous gifts from God, my children. It took us 11 years, 3 months and 21 days to get pregnant with Emily, including IVF and many IUI's. I remember the pain of every single day...4,129 of them...and they are both worth every day, every hurt, every pain. They were worth the wait, and I am so grateful and blessed that God gave them to me to be their Mommy!

Reason, Season, or Lifetime Friends

When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. S/he has come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

S/he is there to meet a need. Then without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, s/he will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes s/he dies. Sometimes s/he walks away. Sometimes s/he acts up or out and forces you to take a stand. What we must realize is that the need has been met.

When a person comes into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. S/he may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. S/he may teach you something you have never done. S/he usually gives you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons. Those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. You must accept the lesson, love the person/people anyway, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

I am grateful for my friends. I don't have many, and sometimes that makes me sad, but then I realize it's quality, not quantity. Love those who love you, uphold you, and those that you grow from, and let those who's season have come and gone, go, with a footprint on your heart.

Living in Gratitude

I just started a book study with a group of women, mostly from my church, about Living in Gratitude. I think this is really important, and something that everyone can agree on, on how important it is to be grateful, and thankful for what you have.

Too often we see and dwell on what other people have...bigger, newer houses, cars, clothes, better acting kids, a bigger paycheck, a more impressive job title...you name it. These feelings create unhappiness and ungrateful hearts which can cause depression and jealousy between people. The only person we should compare ourselves to is who we were yesterday and try to learn more every day. Open up, be vulnerable, admit your faults...it is only then that you can truly grow as a person and start to be grateful for what you have and who you are.

I am challenging myself (and you) to be intentional about your gratitude. Be thankful and grateful for something every day. Say thank you, do nice things for other, and really live by The Golden Rule. wouldn't the world be so much better if we all did this?