It never fails.  You have a garage sale to tame the toy tiger, then you buy more to replace the space left from someone else’s sale and the months pass with more clutter collected.  Where we’re at right now, new house basement finished yesterday with all the stuff in bins back out or yet to be moved from Mark’s basement.  So far we have two of those toy organizers with four rows of plastic bins side-by-side with a matching bookshelf butted up to another 8-cubby organizer with fabric bins and a media storage unit that has slots for games and puzzles.  You’d think with all that plus a toy chest in each of their main floor bedrooms and two more 9-cubby organizers for books and three baskets apiece, we’d be good.  But we’re not.  Charlotte still has a bin of princess dresses and plastic high heels along with a wide variety of purses, lip glosses and fake cell phones.  I need to know what’s cheap and workable to set out in our now very large toy room with a little area on the end for a couch and TV.  And don’t be like Dave and tell me to get rid of a lot of it.  I keep telling him the whole point of moving was to give them more space to be creative playing–with all their stuff!

***Click here to check out an on-line article about me to promote the Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Night.  Reading it I learned some 350 ladies will be there to hear me speak.  Better not disappoint!*** 

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

I’ve mentioned before that Thomas holds on to my wedding ring, and some times Dave’s, for security.  It’s his substitute for a blankie or pacifier, I guess.  And I love that it anchors him to me because it’s always on my left ring finger–unless I have to move it for him which I’ll explain.  It’s not the most convenient times when he wants to hold it, though.  Lately he wakes me up while I’m sleeping (yes, he and Sissy still sleep with us!) when he shouts out, ”I want your ring.”  He’ll keep repeating it until he can feel it.  I’m always on the far left side with Charlotte usually by me, next Thomas then Daddy on the right side.  So a 4 1/2-year-old is between us.  This is where it gets tricky.  I either have to stretch my arm across Charlotte to reach him careful not to smother her face or, as was the case last night, have Daddy switch their places in bed so Thomas is beside me.  Then, more comfortable on my side, I have to switch the ring to my right hand and while lying on my right side cross my right arm over my waist to meet his hands.  It gets a little crazy as you can picture.  So in addition to having about a foot of mattress space, I now regularly contort my wrist to comply with the demands of a 2 1/2-year-old.  At some point we plan to come up with a plan to get them in their beds.  It’s low on my priority list right now, to be honest.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

I was a cheerleader in grade school, though not a good one.  My loud voice and rhythm helped, but when you’re taller than most of the guys on the court and you will never be able to do a toe touch, back bend or the splits… you get why I didn’t make the squad freshman year.  So fast forward to now and I am annoyed by all the cheerleaders who show up in my exercise classes.  I know they’re only trying to help, maybe more themselves than others.  But when I am barely able to stomach another 60-second plank or plan to keep my knees down doing sit-ups for the foreseeable future (forever) it does get on my nerves when in the middle of all this no pain, no gain other class participants are whooping it up.  I am just happy I made it there and am keeping up.  This probably explains why I was never a great volleyball or softball player.  The whole team sport thing and slapping people on their back sides and sweaty huddles… it just wasn’t my thing.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

I started dating Dave when his daughters (my step-daughters) were 10 & 8.  So I knew in advance what he would be like as a father.  And I approved of his performance so much, I married him and had two children of my own with him.  As for health challenges, it’s really uncharted territory with Dave being the patient.  Sure there was his wire in the throat ordeal (Fall 2009), but for the most part Dave has been on the supportive spouse side of the equation.  Four years in a row, I had “procedures”… C-sections with Charlotte and Thomas (2006 & 2008), half my thyroid removed through my underarm (2007) and a biopsy for skin cancer on my nose (2009).  All ended well, thankfully.  Two children and two benign test results.  Now the roles are reversed as Dave and I wait for answers about his MRI.  He could not be handling the situation with more calm and cool.  It has made the journey thus far so much easier on me as he is nothing but positive.  And he’s still acting like himself.  That was my number one concern, really.  I don’t want a diagnosis to change the person and personality I love.  But some things have changed.  I now get what don’t sweat the small stuff really means.  I haven’t been, whereas before little things would irritate me or impact my mood.  Now there is just this pure focus on us and our family and living out each day well.  It’s intoxicating, really.  Every kiss is more passionate.  Every hug more meaningful.  It’s like I have been forced to be the wife and mother I know I can be but, at times, have been too lazy to manifest.  God is working on me and I like the results so far.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

So glad you don’t see what goes on behind-the-scenes during the evening newscasts.  You might think me unprofessional.  Humor is what keeps us going through a lot of tragic content, actually, and there is no shortage of it when reporter packages (as we call stories with their voices), commercials, even weather are happening.  Yesterday two things took place too funny not to share.  Even Ron suggested I mention it on my blog.  It was during the first story at 5.  Ron, Mark and I had been talking quite a bit leading up to the news about our big Mega Millions pool.  So when the show started, I waited until we tossed to the first reporter’s story to ask Mark the all important question, “Who would you call first, your attorney or Melissa?”  Questioning him about if we were to win, who would he contact first–lawyer or wife.  Whoops!  When I said that the control room apparently had left my microphone open.  I confirmed with my producer the question did go out over the air.  Ron and I were laughing so hard saying people would think Mark was getting a divorce!  He’s not.  Later in the same newscast came the story of a fan recall for a fire hazard.  Just as I finished reading it, I look over and Mark is holding up one of the recalled fans–one that blows on him during his weather segments when he’s warm in the studio.  I was bent over the desk cackling as Ron was delivering another script.  Many, many times we have a tough time keeping it together come our turn to read again.  I love my job.

Cooking update:  Knew about my co-worker Kera’s easy chicken and vegetable casserole, so Dave put the boneless/skinless chicken breasts in the oven last night to bake and I cut them up this morning and threw them in the crockpot with cream of mushroom soup, frozen vegetables and a little milk to simmer.  But I also made a yellow cake out of the box with extra creamy chocolate frosting out of a can–all by myself!  Thanks for all the support.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

Sad that it takes my husband going through a health crisis for me to step it up on the homefront, but that’s the case.  I decided at the grocery store this morning to attempt to have dinner ready for Dave and the kids when they get home, since I have time to get something together before work.  So I stared at the cans of sloppy joe sauce unsure of how the hamburger and a crockpot would factor in.  Oh, great.  The can says you have to cook the meat at a certain temp then stir in the sauce.  Can’t I just throw it all in the crockpot and put it on low for a few hours?  I had to think who would be least likely to laugh at me if I asked that question.  Thankfully I got a hold of my close friend in New Jersey who is a stay-at-home mom.  She said I better cook it first.  So I stood at the oven with a spatula over the skillet and browned the 2.25 pounds of lean ground beef.  I was so proud of myself, as I seriously don’t think I’ve ever done this on my own, that I told the paint guy who had just finished up in the basement this was the first time I’d done something like this.  Aside from probably wondering if I have issues, he just smiled and said something about all of us having certain strengths.  Obviously cooking isn’t one of yours, Lady, he was also likely thinking!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

You never forget the moments in your life when God speaks to you in His way.  If it has happened to you, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  I think I’ve detailed one or two of them in my life before.  When Dave and I were dating, I asked God to give me a sign if he was the one for me.  Days later on my birthday Dave gave me a cross necklace.  One night just after Dave and I were married, lying in bed with my eyes closed I had a vision of a woman rocking a baby.  It was me as I found out shortly after I was pregnant with Charlotte, unsure of whether we’d ever be able to have biological children as Dave’s vasectomy had been reversed six months prior.  When I walked into work today early, I spotted a co-worker who ministers in a local church in addition to editing our morning news.  Gordon and I have talked about our faith many times, even gone to Bible studies together.  I walked in his edit bay and closed the door behind me as I needed to let him know my specific prayer request for my husband.  From the moment I started sharing the details of Dave’s MRI he had a pleasant look on his face.  He explained this past Sunday in church God had spoken to him and put it on his heart that someone in his life would need a message to be passed on through him.  Until the moment I came to talk with him, Gordon had no idea it was me.  The message was simple, but one I needed to hear right at that moment.  Stand still and let God come to you.  That’s it.  Let our creator meet us where we are–we held hands, bowed our heads and he prayed in a KWWL newsroom edit bay.  It meant so much.  Hours later I was with Dave in our family doctor’s office hearing that he doesn’t have Lyme disease but could have MS so we need to stay calm and go to Mayo for answers next month.  No official diagnosis.  Continued prayers he does not have multiple sclerosis, or if he does he will continue to have no symptoms.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

We’ve only lived in our new house for a month, yet some neighbors have done more for me in four weeks than I did for my old neighbors in four years.  Dave and I already knew the family a few houses down because the man of the house is our financial advisor.  His wife is the one who showed up on move-in day with a breakfast basket filled with mini muffins and other goodies then returned with lunch and dinner and enough left over to last for the first week.  It was incredible.  I was bummed when I ran out of her frozen fruit cups in the freezer.  This same stay-at-home mother of three little ones has already offered to let Charlotte ride the bus home with her soon-to-be kindergartner on early out Wednesdays until Dave can pick her up.  What a convenient blessing for us!  It gets better.  Saturday she and her family hosted a welcome pizza party for us at their house so we could meet some other families.  It was perfect timing as many of them knew about Dave’s health concerns and just hanging out with caring people as our children played on the backyard swingset and trampoline made me feel better.  Another 2-year-old Thomas was there.  He lives down the street and his mom (whom I’d met previously at a charity event) offered to keep the kids overnight should we need to go out of town for a doctor visit.  I saved her number in my cell phone.  Her neighbor is a family whose son goes to preschool with Charlotte and his dad was the one who came and stayed with the kids during our most recent trip to the ER.  Are you following all this?  The point is that God put us in a great place during what has turned out to be a challenging time.  I am grateful.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

I used to think Charlotte was a really stubborn kid, until her brother turned 2.  Now halfway to 3, Thomas won’t budge on anything.  Even bribery results in him digging in his heels.  So he lost DVDs for a day and he didn’t get ice cream another one, all because he would not follow directions repeatedly.  His display yesterday evening really cracked me up inside.  Lately Thomas and Sissy have been into the Where is Thumbkin song (as sung by The Wiggles on the Yummy Yummy CD).  Walking in and out of stores I’ve been telling them to hold Baby Pinky, as that’s one of our favorite finger names.  We’re all on a walk in the neighborhood Sunday and Mr. Stubborn was in the group, lagging behind.  Come on and hold Baby Pinky, I shouted back to him.  Instantly with a pouty look on his face, Thomas wrapped his arms behind his back as if in position to get cuffed and thrown into the back of a cruiser.  No way was he gonna hold Pinky or any other finger!

***If you’re female and will be in Fredericksburg this Saturday morning, I’m speaking at a women’s seminar.***

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33

It is so true that when emotional challenges come your way often times you don’t know your own strength.  I have surprised myself many times this week with an atypical ability to stay calm and to be focused.  It hit me today that instead of being shocked, I should recognize that it must be the result of so many taking time to say a prayer on behalf of my family.  Surely Jesus has heard your pleas–and I am so humbled.  I can tell Dave is grateful for all of the kind and supportive comments on this blog and Facebook.  So glad I put it out there to reinforce how much love so many are willing to instantly give back.  We did discuss the fact that not being more specific about his possible problems might make it appear more serious.  What we know is that a radiologist noticed white plaque spots on his brain which could be caused by anything from his high cholesterol to multiple sclerosis or even Lyme disease.  So it appears, and we pray this is the case, no matter what the condition it is more likely a chronic and not terminal illness.  His blood drawn yesterday will be tested for Lyme disease, results we should know in 7-10 days.  Thanks so much for caring!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 33