This week was spring break so at one point we met Auntie, Grandma, Emma, and Andrew at the indoor pool. Joey and Jillian love the water and Jillian had a hard time being told it was time to go. We spent a lot of time towards the end of the week with them as well--thank you Auntie for watching them while I picked up some extra classes! Now we are waiting for Emma's 2nd birthday party later today!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
We spent the morning of my birthday at the Arboretum, one of my favorite places! The kids got me some new running shoes and a new running shirt which helped me run my fastest long run ever! In the evening we went to Grandma's house for birthday dinner and apple pie--my favorite! Of course the kids also had brownies and lots of fun running around with each other. It was a great day, thank you for all the gifts, I love it all.
Is it really March?
Today when I was at dance class with Jill, Daddy called to say we should pick up a bathing suit for her on the way home...what? First, she did have one from her birthday, but it is March, why would we need a bathing suit? Of course you leave the boys at home and Joey who asks every day if we can put the pool out got on Daddy's good side, and sure enough at 10am the kids were in the pool! It was well into the 80's but still didn't seem quite right to be in the pool in March, even if Daddy emptied out the hot water heater to fill the pool! In the evening Mr. Sole was so nice to give us tickets to the Express hockey game for the kids to see their first game! Thank you--see below for the hockey post!
Pet Expo
Last year we went to the Pet Expo and had a great time, if you hadn't heard we are in the process of sometime in the next year, possibly adopting a St. Bernard! We fell in love with them last year at this expo and haven't stopped wanting one. So we have gone through the initial parts of the process and are waiting for our dog! Of course at the expo we took picture of lots of dogs, cats, birds, snakes, but when it came to the Saints we were too busy cuddling up to them and forgot to snap a picture!
We spent March 14 as a family, everyone took off of work and as we have in the past celebrated the family we have. We went to the Field Museum where we were all able to wander and enjoy, afterwards we came home and played with our neighbors, who allowed us to feel like we were not being isolated that day, but a part of the world still. Later we went to dinner at Stir Crazy a place where we ate the night before Joey came home from the NICU, and a place that is close to Assumption so we have made that our place of choice when we want to grab some grub and we are at Assumption. Afterwards the weather was still beautiful so we put out our blanket at Assumption and let the kids play while we all talked and hung out together as a whole family. Joey and Jillian both had their few moments of odd behavior that could be directly linked to the loss of their brother which I will tell you about at a later time, but all in all we had a peaceful day.
Hockey 1, Hockey 2...
A few weeks back our neighbors invited us to the Blackhawk vs Rangers game! We hadn't been to the United Center in a very, very long time, and between that and a night out with great friends we were excited! To top it all off Dom scored some great seats and we were amazed with his connections in the hockey world! We had a lot of fun with them, thank you!
Then about a week later (after we had a pool day on 3/17) we were offered tickets to see the Express at the Sears Centre. It was the kids first hockey game and they both really loved it! The game and atmosphere was perfect for the kids (and us)! Thank you again for all the hockey fun!
Then about a week later (after we had a pool day on 3/17) we were offered tickets to see the Express at the Sears Centre. It was the kids first hockey game and they both really loved it! The game and atmosphere was perfect for the kids (and us)! Thank you again for all the hockey fun!
Hannah
Earlier this month we had our friend's dog over to play with Java and see how she would do with her and the kids. We ended up watching her the first part of spring break while our friends were on vacation. Hannah is a very good dog and we all had a lot of fun with her! She enjoyed reading books in Jill's bed with her at night and would have liked to sleep in Joey's bed with him, but wanted to be with Java too.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
That season
Well we have been in "that season" where it seems I become more and more anxious about March 14. Not a day goes by that Josh isn't on my mind and heart, and time does not heal or make things easier as many say. If anything, it hurts more because others talk less and less and makes me feel that they don't remember or don't want to bring things up in case they would bring out emotions in us, but the fact of the matter is that positive or negative, we love talking about Josh. A time that might seem like we were having a hard time, we always found laughter, love, and always knew we were in the presence of a miracle. The anxiety of having to face the day Joshua passed is never easy, and it usually involves a lot of anxiety of wondering just how bad it will be to wake up and pretend its ok. But, we do it every day, we look at Joey who is so gentle and patient, and the perfect little twin brother, and Jill who seems to have taken on a lot of Josh's fighting personality, blue eyes and all.
Joey talks about his brother a lot, and when we go to Assumption often tells us how nice his brother is, and how he likes going to visit his brother because he is very good at sharing Josh has given Joey some of his cars in the past, so Joey thinks he is awesome! But Joey has also given Josh some Lightning McQueen cars and race cars as well, so he has learned to share with him too! Joey knows that Josh is in heaven with Jesus, and knows that he can always talk to his brother and be safe.
Jill loves pointing out Josh's picture at the dinner table. We have a 3 frame picture thing that has a picture of each of the kids eating or drinking, and we try to update them, and change out Josh's picture as well. Jill loves pointing Josh out to anyone at the dinner table. And last week when she was sick, we had to take a bath in the middle of the day, and in her sickest of moments instead of wanting to go downstairs to watch some tv and rest, she went into our room and took the "tower of power" as we called, Josh's favorite star stacking toy that he often would have at the dinner table so he could be a part of meal time with us. She doesn't regularly play with it, so of course for her to have that goal in mind, when we don't even have other toys in our room or let them play with toys in our room, was pretty heart tugging. Jill also has a lot of his personality traits, mannerisms, and physical looks that make me wonder if he sent her to us as soon as he could.
We miss Josh every day, we know we've learned so much in the time he was here and continue to learn more and more each day. We have met some of the most amazing people because of him, and have learned a lot about ourselves, our family, and our friends in the process. Thank you for your love, prayers, thoughts, support each and every day.
Joey talks about his brother a lot, and when we go to Assumption often tells us how nice his brother is, and how he likes going to visit his brother because he is very good at sharing Josh has given Joey some of his cars in the past, so Joey thinks he is awesome! But Joey has also given Josh some Lightning McQueen cars and race cars as well, so he has learned to share with him too! Joey knows that Josh is in heaven with Jesus, and knows that he can always talk to his brother and be safe.
Jill loves pointing out Josh's picture at the dinner table. We have a 3 frame picture thing that has a picture of each of the kids eating or drinking, and we try to update them, and change out Josh's picture as well. Jill loves pointing Josh out to anyone at the dinner table. And last week when she was sick, we had to take a bath in the middle of the day, and in her sickest of moments instead of wanting to go downstairs to watch some tv and rest, she went into our room and took the "tower of power" as we called, Josh's favorite star stacking toy that he often would have at the dinner table so he could be a part of meal time with us. She doesn't regularly play with it, so of course for her to have that goal in mind, when we don't even have other toys in our room or let them play with toys in our room, was pretty heart tugging. Jill also has a lot of his personality traits, mannerisms, and physical looks that make me wonder if he sent her to us as soon as he could.
We miss Josh every day, we know we've learned so much in the time he was here and continue to learn more and more each day. We have met some of the most amazing people because of him, and have learned a lot about ourselves, our family, and our friends in the process. Thank you for your love, prayers, thoughts, support each and every day.
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