Where does the time go?

Where does the time go these days? 

 We seem to be busy working (these economy allows little room for flexibility and time off!), dance classes, after school homework, Sunday church, Wed. kid's programs at church, cleaning the house (I'll admit, I'm failing at this one!), tending to the yard (this is daddy's passion).

But, I have committed to being more 'available' to my children, not being stuck in the house or at home because my 'to do' list isn't all checked off.....BUT to ride our bikes to the park, blow bubbles, swing, draw with sidewalk chalk, paint on wood, pick flowers in our yard (even the 'good flowers'), get dirty (even if that means a shower EVERY night!)

a contemplative Big Sister at the park...

The Big Brother is getting bigger -- note the super cape ("It's Batman, mom!"), the bike helmet and the large blue band aid on his elbow -- he's all boy!

A typical day...

I had a moment (okay, several moments) today -- I wanted to run away. I wanted to escape my current life situations in order to be alone -- is that even possible?  I actually was at one point raising my hands up in the air and repeating, "I look to you Jesus, I look to you Jesus, I look to you Jesus" when my 2 kids were talking on top of each other and each's need seemed like the most important to them at that moment and then Little Brother started screeching -- like all 'almost-3-year-olds' do when he was trying to get attention on top of his sister talking. 

 

Then Big Sister wanted me to teach her at-that-moment how to pull her (not long enough) hair into a pony tail.  We were in the middle of finishing showers with wet towels strewn on the floor, trying to get teeth brushed, pj's on, reading homework completed, Benjamin Franklin project tackled, cleaning the table after dinner, letting cats either in or out as they were scratching at the back door, and packing lunches for tomorrow.  Oh, and the Daddy in our house was home for ~10 minutes as he whisked through the house, changed clothes and headed back out to the neighbors for his weekly 'bags' game...

 

So, I repeated my "I look to you Jesus" mantra in order to calm my attitude, calm my spirit and help me to not physically run away..... I've been studying Hebrews 12:2 recently,  "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Now, maybe I know why that verse was spoken to me in a dream (about 2-3 weeks ago)....to calm me in moments in which I desire to escape!

 

Praying that each of you have peace and calm in your lives and that you aren't feeling like running away! 

My latest adventure....

So, for my 35th birthday I was privileged to get some 'body work' done!  No, not THAT kind of body work....arthroscopic knee surgery. I injured my left knee playing ultimate frisbee at the end of October.  After about 2 months of pain and 'lock knee', I finally decided to get an MRI (you'd think that by working in the health care field, one would work a little faster than waiting for 2 months.....). 

The MRI showed 2 tears in my meniscus and arthroscopic surgery was in my future.  I scheduled the surgery for my birthday, but only because that was the only opening that they had in the month....so, you take what you can get!

Surgery went well (I guess -- I was under anesthesia), however they found that I have a rare (10% of the population) meniscus....discoid meniscus .  Of course, I am the one with some rare anatomical difference -- doesn't really surprise me!

Well, in the recovery room I was experiencing PVC which the electrical circuit of your heart isn't totally in sync (there is a much more medical explanation if you click on the link!).  During recovery I was having trigeminy and at my follow up MD appointment I was having bigeminy -- which is basically an irregular heart beat either every 3rd beat or every other beat.  So, off I go for testing....

Initially, my doctor wasn't too concerned, because he thought this irregular heart rate could be from a combination of the anesthesia and pain medications I was on for the first 3 days after surgery and he said it may just even out on it's own.  I guess there are people that have these "PVC"s all the time and don't even notice them.  I, on the other hand, can feel my heart pounding out of my chest each time it happens.  It occurs for about 30 seconds 2-3 times an hour.  On a good day, I feel them about 3-5 times throughout the day - maybe 3-4 times total.  Today, on the other hand, I felt them about 3-5 times an hour every hour.

I had an echo cardiogram yesterday that demonstrated a normal heart structure, but a problem with the electrical circuitry in my heart.  I spoke with a cardiologist today who, at first, wasn't too concerned.....until the BIG *red flag* questions:
1) "you haven't been having any chest pain recently, right?"......um, well, actually I have been -- twice in the past month -- a heaviness in my chest with it radiating down my right arm (the typical 'heart attack is down the left arm)
2) "do you have a family history of heart disease?".....um, well, yes.  My dad had a heart attack at the age of 55 (the big number -- 55 or under is significant for family history)

SO, now I go to see the cardiologist on Monday and suspect more testing....

When I turn 35, I REALLY get my money's worth with a birthday!  Also, February is Women's Heart Disease Month.  So, please check out the link and wear red to support the "Go Red For Women" campaign sponsored by The American Heart Association.

More details to follow.....as I learn more.

My New Venture

So, I've started a new venture with a great friend....check it out The Candid Camera

Happy Birthday, Mae Mae!

This past weekend, Papa Bob hosted a SURPRISE birthday party for the Mae Mae in our lives.  He did a GREAT job at keeping it a surprise, and my little ones did a GREAT job keeping their tiny lips sealed too!

I think she was truly surprised...

 A nice group of friends and family came out to celebrate a wonderful woman!

I won't tell here on the blog... 

No party is complete with a visit to the local bar "Bob and Ringo's" -- full of taxidermied animals and where you can sign your name on their wall....

\

 Even the littlest party-goers had fun!

This one is for you, Mary! (I think the most avid blog follower I have!)

Happy Birthday, Mae Mae!

Little Brother growing up...

After crawling (or falling?) out of bed twice today, we decided it was time to let Little Brother grow up a bit.  Despite me wanting him to be my little boy forever, I know that this too shall pass.  Tonight was a developmental milestone: moving into a big boy bed!

 Daddy and Little Brother taking off the front of the crib and putting up a little railing.

 Gosh -- he sure looks like a big boy now!

 Even Big Sister was excited for him!

So far, so good!  He went to bed without complaints and started reading his books and fell asleep rather quickly!  Hope the following nights are as easy as tonight...

Winter FUN!

A day off of school often requires lots of strategic planning and entertainment to keep my two kids from literally beating each other into tears.....so, this day I decided to invite some friends over and they kids played so well together!

 making snow balls...

 turning them into a snowman!

 FUN!

What a lovely site!

Only in Illinois...

Only in Illinois can you go from this:

and this:

to this:

and this:

over night!

Merry Christmas, 2011

Merry Christmas from the "We Are Reilly...." clan!

It's been a wonderful year! Let's see where to start....

BIG SISTER: she's in 1st grade at the local Christian school and LOVES it. She asked me the other day about the little public school near our house, "Mommy, do the children there get to open their Bibles and talk about Jesus?". I told her "No, they don't get to do that at that school." You should have seen the look of disappointment on her face! She is always telling me how lucky she is to be in a school where she can talk about Jesus. (she doesn't quite understand the price tag that goes along with that yet.....) She is currently take a ballet class and piano lessons and just completed her 1st piano recital -- she was very nervous about playing in front of other people, but she did great and is excited to keep taking lessons! Her ballet recital is in the spring, so I'm sure we'll have to work through some jitters when that times comes. She loves all things art-related and drawing and writing stories.

LITTLE BROTHER: is into ALL things sports! We firmly believe that God has gifted him with some athletic ability. When he turned 2 years old, he picked up his sister's right-handed metal golf clubs and hit a golf ball off the tee with the golf club turned backwards -- he was hitting left-handed....AND he made contact with the ball and it went flying across the driveway! We looked at each other and our jaws dropped....it was a moment I will never forget. Through the year, he has picked up baseball (doesn't like using a tee -- you MUST pitch it to him....and he hits it about 80% of the time!), football (I have told Daddy Reilly that our son will not be playing football -- too much risk of head injuries, but he can play in the yard or the basement with daddy all he wants!), soccer, basketball and frisbee (since daddy plays frisbee too). He pretty much goes with the seasons and whatever sport is currently on TV is his sport of choice. It's interesting to watch him, yet I really believe that such interest and ability at this young age can only be a gift from God.

DADDY REILLY: still works downtown Chicago, so it's long days for him -- leaving around 5:30AM and not getting home until 7PM. Little Brother misses him a LOT -- he is heard saying, "I lost my daddy" quite a bit these days. When not working, Daddy Reilly enjoys playing bags with the neighbors once a week and playing ultimate frisbee on the weekends with a group from church. He's waiting for a local pond to freeze so he can play pond hockey with church -- not sure with the warm weather we are having if they're going to get many games in this year.

MOMMY REILLY: still works at the local hospital part-time as a Speech Therapist and picks up extra hours doing home health and helping out at some local nursing homes. Her work days go from 7AM until 6PM -- by the time you factor in dropping off kids at school/daycare and picking up after work -- so, it's long hours for her and the kids on those days. She has started up a little photography business with a friend from work, but the mantra is, "this is JUST a hobby", who has time for a 2nd job with 2 small children and a busy part-time job? She used to play ultimate frisbee with church too, until a knee injury held her back. She now has 2 tears in her meniscus and is meeting with an orthopedic surgeon at the end of the year. Not sure what will happen, but we'll know more after that appointment. It might be shaping up to be an interesting 2012.....


This Christmas, we are REALLY excited to be waking up in our own home on Christmas morning. I don't think that has happened since before we got married 10 years ago (by the way, it was our 10 year wedding anniversary this year!!!).

So, as we reflect on 2011 and prepare for 2012, we want to wish each and everyone of you a happy, healthy and peace-filled year ahead! To quote Big Sister's memory verse for December (and the Bible),

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Little Boys...

What are little boys made of?