Yeah, Maddie Moo!

Yeah for Madelyn!  Two years in glasses and her eyes are completely corrected!  The muscle problem is completely gone and her vision is perfect.  We are so excited.  Specialist said we can re-check her in 2 years if we like, but he sees no evidence it will ever return! 

Since Madelyn had the eye muscle problem but with good vision, we had her only wear her glasses part time, we didn't really want her totally dependent, if she didn't have to be.  Yeah, we are so excited! 

Mikey and the Rosary

My little man can now lead a mystery of the Rosary PERFECTLY.  He is so excited to be in the rotation for decades.  I'm so proud of him.  His smile when we call his name is priceless, seriously priceless. 

Isn't this strange?

So Steve's advisor called today, they dropped his tuition. Total of about 2000. Weird. Not complaining mind you. One of the loans started immediately, 50/month for 15 months and that one is now totally gone, and another 1000.oo off the other loan that is suppose to start after he graduates next year. Crazy. I'm happy about it, but when he asked why the advisor said she didn't know.




Part of me is wondering since I saw a few weeks ago how lawmakers were pushing obama about raising college prices, if he pulled some bring down rates or I'm pulling financial funding? I don't know, just guessing.
 
Steve's new class is quite taxing, but he's doing great handling it.  Its covers a tremendous amount of material.  He's almost done with this weeks homework, with the help of his beautiful typist of a wife and all...I should of been a secretary. haha.  Well I guess I am, Steve's secretary.  haha

Did you remember?

Spring forward!

Yeah, spring, well except for the seasonal allergies that is.  On the mend, however hit a huge road block when the entire family got hit with a stomach flu.  Its been one rough weekend!  But I think we have just about seen the last of it.  Well one can hope, right? 

Steve started his new course today.  One down, with an A average!  Yeah for Stevie!

We went to the library today, so kids have plenty of reading while they get their strength back. 

Still waiting for Katie's glasses, poor thing really needs her glasses, she seems very tired from all the eye strain.  We are so getting her an extra pair to avoid this happening to her again. 

Still working on home video's.  Oh, how fun it is to see all the years put together, what fun we've always had.  One thing this house has always been blessed with, is plenty of giggles.  Today, funniest thing, I stepped over a belt that was on the ground (and I can hear my dad in my head saying "you'd rather step over it than pick it up") anyway, lost my footing and fell to the ground.  I did not get hurt, it was more hilarious than anything else.  I couldn't even get up I was laughing too hard!  I swear Tony thinks his mommy is nuts.  haha. 

I am so looking forward to warm tempertures. We are all so anxious to get out and see the world again.  We just can't wait to have some outside family days!  Can't wait to open the windows, let the fresh air in and play.  Guess dreaming for summer vacation is a little premature, but hey, that's why we dream, right? 

Speaking of dreaming, since its really almost 2am not 1am, I better get to bed.  hehe

Taking Aim - Omaha.com

Taking Aim - Omaha.com

Omaha Mater Dei school

Oh, seeing clearly...

Eye doctors, eye doctors!  Well we have five kids now that wear glasses, oh, that time of year has come.  We have appointments set for the kids.  Seems like a nice doctor, an opthamatologist.  We had a test visit today.  Katelyn's glasses unexpectantly broke in many pieces (they were overdue for new) and poor dear can't see without her glasses too well.  Her appointment is set for the 14th but they rushed her in today. 

Fancy office, for sure.  It was like an art gallery!  I was shocked, but they were very pleasant, very polite so I'm happy with the care.  It wasn't crazy like others I've been to.  The doc was kind and soft spoken.  Anyway, we got her a persciption but they want to check out a beauty mark get this....behind her eye!  So they'll look at that next year when we return.  oh, and the poor dear, can't stand the eye pressure test.  Its so hard for her to handle the drops too.  Poor thing, but she did great.

So one down, four more to go. 

Do you ever think about the little things with large families?  Little things like doctor appointments, you have to set them, but literally its so taxing.  By the time I get the kids all in, shoot its time to do it again.  And then recently, we had a dental appointment and it just went right past me, I totally just forgot, I think I forgot what month it was. haha.  So the office will never see us again.  They said to me, "you are fired from this office, from ever returning"  I was shocked, I had called to apologize.  Wow.  Doctors firing patients now a days.  I know this has been quite the trend.  For example, if a patient doesn't vacinate and its a very pro vaccination doctor, they now will "fire" you. 

Amazing times.  Having babies the last almost 17 years, wow have things changed.  Well that's my crazy rant for the day.  Sometimes, I don't think people realize, how budgeting ones time, when you are a Mom to many, is sometimes a bit challenging.  Nap time was non-exsistent today, but despite a tired baby, he did wonderfully. 

We ordered Kate's glasses, they should be in within 5 days.  Oh, that's another thing....ooooh, see you all got me going....hehe.  So our insurance covers the full amount of the lenses (Thankfully-they are about 300.00 for each kid) but the frames they will only pay for if they are under 20.00.  And they won't pay up to 20.00 either, and you pay the remainder, nope they will only pay for them if they are under 20.00. So Katelyn's were 28.00  Of course they only offer barely a handful of frames under 20.00 and none of them looked good on her at all.  So we got a smile out of Kate, when we sprung for the frames she wanted. 

Yeah!

We got our new van!  Very nice old man, the funny thing is he had similar mannerisms to my dad, seemed a pretty honorable man, Steve went through the van with a fine tooth comb, couldn't find one issue.  I like the style.  It has a beeping sound when it backs up.  It has 4 doors so I can put the two little ones in without climbing in.  I'm pretty happy about it.  Its a 2004 Chevy Express. 

Coming Attractions

So this weekend we have a Polish meal at the church, sounds nice. 

We straightened out a problem for Katelyn at school today, so I'm happy we were able to take action when it was needed. 

I found a device that will help me download all camcorder tapes, its on order, so hopefully it will work well and I can get all my home movies all nice and organized.  Its been a search for a few years to find a solution for my old 8mm tapes, so I'm really hoping this is it. 

Evelyn has started the birthday countdown!  And Joe and Jaclyn's state tournament is in March, but Joe's concerned becasue he is never given time to practice, a fellow Mom here in Omaha, mentioned maybe having a day Joe can come over and practice at her house with her boys.  Sometimes we just have to put things in our own hands, and I don't want Joe to be disappointed, so going to try to work that out. 

Kids are doing good, Tony is all over the place he actually said, "slap yo face" today and attempted to slap me.  I couldn't believe it.  Of course I put a stop to that, but to even realize he's talking so well it down right shocking. 

Rosie is feeling better, she has a lot of power behind her little body, I'm glad though that her and Tony get along so well.  Madelyn is having good days and not as good days.  Some days she acts all big and other days she wants to be little.  She's at one of those in between ages. 

Carolyn has begun studying for her ACT College test, its in April.  And Jaclyn has a friend over this weekend.  We occasionally have a boarder girl spend the weekend with us.  Its nice for them.  This is a nice girl from Fr. Dominic's parish in California.  Fr. Dominic is our Fr. Radecki's twin brother. 

We are still looking for a van, its not going so great, but we have to be patient, just the same old thing, things cost way more than they really should! 

Steve's school update

Still doing very well with his A average, this class is winding down to about two weeks to go.  He has a schedule pretty down pat, and is working hard maintaining it.  His next classes look interesting, looks like getting more into his line of work, architecture, drafting, etc.  I'm sure he is going to feel much better and not so much like a fish out of water. 

Asthma Breathing

 Buteyko: A to Z

So Steve has been studying lots of natural means to heal thy self for as long as I can remember, he really likes this website, so I thought I'd share it for anyone that suffers or kids that suffer from breathing issues.  Just a FYI for parents. 

I think its especially good when we can share things we see or think so hope this can help someone. 

Still Sick, but with some hope...

 So still fighting this wicked sinus infection.  Went to the acupuncturist and she was telling me, that I need to stay out of the wind, but also need to keep the back of my neck covered during windy rainy weather, that its basically the entrance to this type of issue. 

I was also talking to a friend of mine from Ohio, and she said she's suffered the same way since moving out this way.  So I'm thinking by Monday I should be closer to on the mend. 

My face feel quite plugged up, my eyes sting and my chest is tight, it seems to be moving all over the place, which the acupuncturist says is common in this type of ailment.  So patience, my dear, patience, but it sure makes for crabby Mommy.

Sick again!

This is getting ridiculous.  We just got through colds and they are back.  Another sinus infection is here, I sure hope I'm not allergic to something specific to here in Omaha and spring.  In 2009 when we visited I was so sick, I've never been that sick before or since, now I'm suffering again.  Boy, if that's the case, I hope spring goes by fast!

Baby growing up fast...

Doesn't my Tony boy know he is suppose to stay little for longer than the rest of the kids?  I'm trying to savor your babyhood---you stinker!  Well the crib came down today, and the play n pak (playpen) went up, my little boy decided not only could he climb out of his crib but he could stand up on the dresser beside his crib, and scare me to serious nervousness.  The one thing, I have come to realize is he has one very smart, wise, and trusty guardian angel!  I normally let him blabber a bit in his crib, let him sit in there a bit when he first wakes up, and for some odd reason (not really odd) I felt urged to go and get him right away.  All I have to say, is to walk in the room and see him standing up like that--let me just tell you, had to hug him a bit harder. 

As you can see from the picture, my baby has turned into a toddler, and has become very curious, and self efficent, see here, Mommy just didn't get to breakfast fast enough, so he just had to take matters into his own hands. 

In Honor of Sunday:

God did what????

So Rosie comes running up stairs crying (rec room is in the finished garden level basement) and Carolyn asks her what's wrong, and she's crying hard with a big scratch from beside eye all the way to her ear and she's crying andwe say "what happened" She says, "God hit me" What? and over and over "God hit me" So we are  asking her , do you mean "guys" "No, I said God, God hit me" We are  really trying to figure this out through the crying and we keep asking who hit you? "God did, God hit me!" So we  ask her, "Now how did God hit you?" "I was climbing on the desk and I fell and bam, God hit me" So now its clear she bumped her face on the Jesus Sacred heart statue. So I had to tell her, "you hit the statue, God didn't hit you honey, you hit him. " hehehehe.

Stations of the Cross

One of my *favorite* prayers, that really involks alot of thought and meditation is the Stations of the Cross.  I really enjoy the prayers and the explanation of each  Station. I don't know that it matters what form you use, in Michigan we used the form from St. Alphonsus Liguori, but today here they used the one from  St. Fransis Assisi.  Maybe they used the St. Fransis one here, since its quite a bit shorter and less difficult words since it was with the school children.  I found a link with some beautiful vivid colored pictures:


http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/stations.htm

Have a blessed lent, dear friends

Paczki's!!!

We made our own, we may have had to leave Michigan, but we can take things with us, and we didn't have to stand in a long line!  They turned out great.  Yum, Yum!  Now lent can start...

Family Portraits

Joey is going to State Competiton in Archery!

School competition, Joey came in first for grades 1-8th. Next month the school is going to State, and Joey is going to compete! Jaclyn and Carolyn also will compete, but they didn't place today. They want to do it for the experience.


 

Happy St. Valentine's Day

This poem was written by Katelyn 11, Carolyn 10, and Jaclyn 8 in 2007. I like to pull it out each year.

Saint Valentine lived in Rome a long time ago,
When Christians were hated and considered a foe.

Emperor Claudius was like a great king,

Yet being an unbeliever, he was very mean.

He made a great army with strong men he'd pay

But they wanted to be with their families to stay.

The priest Valentine, couples would often seek,

To have thier weddings blessed they would have to sneak.

Whispering and candle lit until the soldiers came,

The caring Valentine in prison grew in fame.

Many visitors saw him and came to say,

Thank you for our wedding day.

The jailer's daughter, who was blind,

Came to visit Valentine.

He taught her of kindness and love,

And Jesus listening from above.

She learned to be a Christian,

For God she would fight.

As a reward for her faith,

God gave her sight.

The soldiers took him to die a martyr's death,

But something behind he had for others left.

A note to everyone, for all time;

 

With love, signed, your Valentine.

Happy, Happy Birthday...

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday to Maddie, Maddie Moo...........Cow!  hehe.

My Madelyn is eight.  We had a great day.  Well it started out with having to shovel snow. haha.  So she got to play in the snow, I made the cake.  It was really cool, just a square cake, with cupcakes, and icecream cones to make a castle cake. 

We opened gifts and then they could play and then Carolyn made pizza for her and the kids did a craft with her, then we had cake and she had a really great day.  She is so funny, silly crazy girl.  I just adore her. 

Happy CandleMas Day!

Christmas is over, its CanleMas Day.  Got up early to go to the Pontifical High Mass for the blessing of candles. 

The feast representing presenting the child Jesus in the Temple. The candle: Jesus is the light of the world. 100% beeswax symbol for Our Lady, Mother of God, wick, for Jesus human like us in all areas but sin, and flame is his divine nature.

 

What kind of example do we want to be?  When someone mentions your name what do they think about you?  What do they say about you?  What is the example you put out there to others.  Do people say, you are kind, or generous, or happy? 

Or do people say you are unhappy, or full of complaints?  We all go through times where we are frustrated but at the end of the day can you still be positive, can you still enjoy your family, your life.    What do want to put out there, do we want to be the light?  Lets work on that for the New Year going into Lent, being the light, setting the example for others to follow.