When Life Hands You Lemons

Last year I wrote a story about Luke and his big ambitious goal in raising money for NF (Neurofibromatosis), a genetic disorder he has. In beginning to accomplish this goal he coined the term in saying "if life gives you NF, make lemonade". He still has big dreams in this endeavor and I still am right there behind him helping him achieve this goal, but along the way my path has taken a detour. While I am still actively thinking of ways to help him, my time has once again been pulled in another direction. I have written before about my son's education but never really got into the details. Mostly because I was so incredibly disappointed. Since I was a former teacher I was so excited for my child to start Kindergarten, which was the grade that I taught. He was going to have so much fun! All the singing, projects and crafts, and he was going to be in a classroom filled with a beautiful enriched learning environment. Boy was I wrong. We walked into the classroom for meet the teacher, I was floored! I looked like I was coming into a high school classroom or even more like a hospital. There were empty white walls, no color, and no words. Now I did want to spend 10 minutes in that room, yet I was going to have to make my child spend the entire day there. This was known as the challenge of 2010-2011. It took everything I had to peel his little hands off me and put him on the bus, screaming. Then watching is red wet face stare back at me though the bus window until I was out of site. I felt like the worst mom ever. I did what all good moms would do and I tried to fix it, I had meetings with the teacher, counselor, vice principal and principal. Did anything chance.....no. Great, he is in kindergarten and he hates school. Luke is a smart guy too, he came in reading, writing and full of excitement. He left kindergarten reading and writing at about the same level. No growth. I was done! All my meetings and efforts to help Luke, and nothing. About mid year I started to think of other options. This is where the change came. We were going to do whatever we could to get Luke out of that school and never have Will go though that experience. That is just what we did.

We found a new school, a private school that we loved! Which happened to be the school my husband went to. Even better his math teacher that he spoke so highly of since I had met him was now the principal. What more could I ask for? Their was a downside. The cost. We could not afford it. Well, I was a former teacher. So, I bet you can guess what I did? Yes, I am no longer a stay at home mom, I am now also a kindergarten teacher.

Now Luke hops to school with me and Will could not be happier there. Better yet, I am two doors away. We are all so happy!! Yes, things are a bit crazy and going back to work after five years at home is not as easy as it sounds. My path has changed a bit for now, but still we have those other goals. Luke is still wanting to make money for NF and I still want to write, but we are looking for a balance. We are starting to find it, but their are still some kinks to be worked out.

So if any of you are still reading my blog, that is where I have been. My passion for writing is as strong as ever, I actually am getting some great new material, but it may take me a little longer to get it to text. Our lives has taken this turn and I could not let it pass us by. Because I was always taught when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! So that is just what I am doing, and I have faith that I am right where I need to be.

The 12 Days of Christmas

I know it has been forever since I have written. I have tons of updates and stories to tell which I will try to get to soon! I hope you enjoy this one about our crazy Christmas!!!


We all know the song the 12 days of Christmas, right? This song has a whole new meaning to me this year! I absolutely love Christmas. I get into it all, decorations, cooking, presents and parties. The whole season is filled with the preparation of this one day. Our yard usually looks like a scene from the movie Christmas Vacation with a lovely electric bill to match. The kitchen is always filled with the smells of the latest episode from the Food Network's Christmas edition. Presents all wrapped perfectly under the tree. The invitations to our annual Christmas party are done and in the mail, and it is only November 30th. It seems like this year the Grinch himself was trying to do what ever he could to stop Christmas from coming, but could he stop Christmas, you be the judge?

It was about two weeks before Christmas, 12 days to be exact, and everything was going pretty well. Things were a little more busy this year, but this was the first Christmas I was back to work since I had Luke, so needless to say I was a little behind. Our house was not quite ready, but I still had 12 days and we were about to get out for Christmas break, plenty of time. Or so I thought. Instead of getting a partridge in a pear tree I received something a little different, sick kids. This was just not your normal sickness either, that would be to easy. Whatever virus my kids caught must have been delivered from the Grinch. It started with a fever that was relentless.

Twelve days until Christmas; Luke's fever got to 104.7, we decided it was time to go to the doctor. Of coarse our regular doctor was on vacation, most likely paid for by the Grinch. I tried to be proactive and take Will too, because well, it just made sense. The doctor we see, who will go nameless said, it was a virus, but nothing serious and there was nothing he could do. Thanks! To be on the safe side he did blood work and an X-ray on Luke, just to make sure their was no fluid in his lungs. He was taking it a step further than I would have, but I'm not the doctor, so I smile, say ok, and agree to the tests. Results come back clear. If fever persists for more than two days give them a call.

Eleven days until Christmas; last day of school before the holidays both boys now have fever, but they beg to attend their Christmas parties and program that they have been practicing for the last month, and they did get out at 10:30, so it was only a few hours. I let them go, after I load them up on Motrin. They come home and take a huge nap, but still have fever that night.

Ten days until Christmas, and a Saturday, fever still here, and now Will is getting worse. We go back to the doctor, ours is still out and we see the other guy, AGAIN. Still a virus he says, duh, really. What am I paying this guy for? Again, just to be safe he now does blood work and an X-ray on Will. All the tests come back clear, and now I'm thinking; this guy is just racking up a bill. If the fever still persists in two days to give them a call. I ask him at this point for a antibiotic because their little bodies are so weak I don't want them to catch something else, but he does not agree. I also tell him I'm worried about the high fevers. I ask him if their fevers get really high can I give Motrin and Tylenol at the same time? Which is something our regular doctor and nurses have told me is ok, but only for extremely high fevers. He looked at me like I was crazy and told me to never do that again. Again, I smiled, and said ok, he was the doctor after all. I did not give it another thought until midnight, Will's fever is at 105.0 and climbing! I just gave him Motrin 2 hours earlier, and according to the doctor there is nothing else I can give him. I call the phone nurse to see what her advice was, thinking she was going to say give him some Tylenol now and monitor his fever to see if it goes down, and in two hours give him more Motrin, nope. Her advice was take him to the ER, really! I am not one of those moms who takes their kids to the ER lightly. In fact neither one of our kids had ever been. I can't say that anymore. Im not smiling this time, but we listen and take Will to the ER. Guess what they do when we get there? Give Will Motrin! Are you kidding me!?! Then two hours later, Tylenol, does this sound familiar? Oh, yes, it is exactly what I asked the doctor about doing about 12 hours earlier. Instead of doing this in the comfort of our home I had to drag our sick child who now had the fever of 105.2 out in the cold and get my mom to drive to our house to sit with our other son who is still sick in his bed to go to the ER which is full of other germs and sick people and have a nurse do the same thing for me at 3 o'clock in the morning days before Christmas! I can honestly say this will be the most expensive Motrin and Tylenol we will ever buy. They say it just looks like a bad virus and if the fever persists in a few days to call your doctor. On the way home our four year bundle of joy was singing at the top of his lungs, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas", all my husband and I could do at this point was laugh, and why not! I bet you can guess by now what we were doing a few days later.

Eight days until Christmas, we have already missed one family Christmas party, and still had two boys with high fevers. I call the doctor and of coarse he wants to see the boys. Over my dead body will I ever take them back to the same guy, I take my chances and wait for our regular doctor to be back from vacation, which was in two days. Those two days were spent not preparing for Christmas, but instead we were monitoring fevers, forcing medicine down the throats of our children, and cleaning more than I had ever cleaned in my life. Laundry was literally piled to the top of the door frame, the carpet and beds were stained with every bodily fluid possible, I will spare you the details and I was beginning to think that the Grinch really was going to stop Christmas from coming. At this point we had to cancel our big annual Christmas party.

Six days until Christmas, we go back to the doctor, for the third time, in one week, but this time we see our regular one, thank God. They get us in right away, check out the boys and diagnose them both with their first ear infection of their lives, we get an antibiotic and told they should feel better In a few days. I have heard that before, except this time guess what, they did!

Three days until Christmas, fever not gone all the way, but close. Here comes the mad rush. Since there were NO presents under the tree we started there. Just about all in one day we did all of our Christmas shopping. Then there was the Christmas decorations to contend with. All the decorations came down from the attic and we begin. We still planned to host the family for Christmas dinner so all the cooking and cleaning begins for that too. This part of our story reminded me of the characters in the book Skipping Christmas, or better know to many in the movie Christmas with the Kranks.

One day until Christmas, Christmas Eve to be exact. How did we fare? Well, we were sitting in mass on Christmas Eve, both of our boys fever free for the first time in 12 days and feeling well (however Will was asleep sitting up). We had made it, if the Grinch was trying to stop Christmas from coming he failed, it came, it came just the same! And though our 12 days of Christmas were not as pleasant as the song; the outcome and the true meaning of Christmas was. I guess Will was right; it was a "Holly Jolly Christmas!"

P.S. Now daddy is sick.....

Things Kids Say Thursday #37

I have been keeping track of things that my kids say for a long time in a notebook, a piece of paper, iPhone notes, whatever I could grab the quickest.  Here are some things that I my kids said this week.  My intention is to write these quotes each Thursday, so come back to see what my little men have come up with next week.

______________________________________________________

Update before the quotes: 

I know it has been forever since I have written, a few months in fact.  I think about writing all the time and I have so many ideas in my head and so many things that I want to write about.  The hardest part for me is that our computer runs so terribly slow that I sit down to write by the time I get the computer working and ready my kids have lost interest in what I had them doing, so I just give up.  I know its time for a new computer, but we cannot are not one of those families that can just go out and get one.  First of all we do not have free credit to do so, and secondly chances are if we would splurge on a new computer that is when our air would go out, our dishwasher would break, the stove would catch on fire, our granite counter tops that are supposed to be practically non-destructible has cracked, or we find out our bed has a defect and the warranty does not cover that.  Wait a minute, all of that has already happened, seriously!  I think what could possibly happen next? Then I think about our washer and dryer that our almost 10 years old and of fridge that literally has masking tape holding it together and I push the thoughts of a new computer in the back of my mind, for now at least.  Another thought that pops into my head at this point is they sure don’t make things the way they used too. Should we really need to buy new appliances or major household items every 7 to 10 years? Who has enough money for that anyways?  Do these appliances know that I am not the federal government and my credit cards will not raise my credit limit just because I need a new refrigerator.

A few things that have been keeping me busy this summer are I just got to experience my first trip out of the country, to Italy, thanks to my husband and his job.  He presented a paper in Rome, and I got to tag along.  We had the best time and learned so much.  I also have some great stories to share.  Which hopefully I can in the near future, but that depends on how my computer is acting that day.  

***Excuse me while I take a brief break, Will has clogged the toilet.****

*** He in fact did clog the toilet, which caused it to overflow all over my bathroom, and was cleaned up by using every towel in our entire house.****

I also am going back to work!!! It has been five years since I have taught and seeing as both our boys are going to be in school all day next year it seemed like the perfect time.  I know it sounds ironic that I got a job the year after so many teachers were laid off, all I can say is I guess it was meant to be.  The most awesome thing about this new job is that it is at the Catholic school that we have been wanting to put our boys in.  This new adventure is going to make things so much better for our family, I’m quite certain.  I just hope I can keep up with my volunteer work and find a healthy balance between work and home.  It will be an adjustment for us all, but this is what I have been praying for and when God answers your prayers you always accept.

Okay, now for the quotes!

Luke’s Quotes (He is 5)

M- Time for a bath boys.
L- Already we just had one yesterday.
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L- I kissed a girl 81 times.
M- Who?
L- You silly!
____________________________________________

L- Mom my recipe could really use some cilantro.
____________________________________________

Waiter- Wow this pizza you made looks so professional, you are going to be a chef when you are older.
L- How did you know that?
____________________________________________

L- Will you can only see a girl naked after you marry her.
W- That's silly!
L- It's true. You can see her naked a few weeks after you get married.  Right mom?
M- no you can see her naked that night
L- What?!? Then I'm gonna watch her change into her PJ's on our wedding night.
______________________________________________


Will’s Quotes (He just turned 4)


W- Mommy I don't want to be in real life.
M- What do you mean?
W- I just want to be in pretend life.
M- Like in the movies?
W- Yes, that is exactly what I mean. This life can be boring. We can't fly, or disappear, or jump super high in the sky. I want to live where those people are.
M- Where do you think they live?
W- Maybe.... Australia
____________________________________________

M- What happened to my coffee.
W- Franks (our dog) drank the coffee.
M- Really he jumped on the counter and drank my coffee, it was not you? (yes my kids like coffee, weird I know.)
W- Yes, mom, look at his face, whip cream.
(In fact there was whip cream on his face, Franklin was the culprit.)
_________________________________________________

W- Is the four inside of me? ‘Puz I can’t see it and I don’t feel any different either.

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W- When are my costumers going to come to my birthday party?
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W- I can smell humans in here.
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W- Is the ocean Gods swimming pool?
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W- That movie is not appropriate.
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M- You can go pick any drink you want from the garage fridge.
W- Even a beer?
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W- I don't ever want to be a grown up. I want to stay a kid forever.
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W- I want to go to Africa, China and then Australia. Let's go get my passport.
___________________________________________________

W- Mom will you go on my honeymoon with me?
M- No, honey you won't want me to come with you.
W- Sure I will mom!
___________________________________________________

W- When I grow up I want to be a paleontologist, then a police officer, and finally a baseball player.
Good deal mom?
__________________________________________________

What funny things have your kids said lately?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!

                                                                                   

Thnigs Kids Say Thursday #36

I have been keeping track of things that my kids say for a long time in a notebook, a piece of paper, iPhone notes, whatever I could grab the quickest.  Here are some things that I my kids said this week.  My intention is to write these quotes each Thursday, so come back to see what my little men have come up with next week.

Luke’s Quotes (He is 5)

Luke- What is that car?
Mom- It's called a limousine.
L- They must have a really big family to have a car like that.

____________________________________________________

L- Can I eat cake at GG's birthday? I know I gave it up for Lent, but how about I go an extra day after Easter.
___________________________________________________

L- I think I would like to go to the Taylor Swift concert for Easter, do you think she will be available?
___________________________________________________

Mom- I'm sorry I'm not a octopus so that could wash you both at the same time.
Luke- If you were we could call you “Octo-Mom.”
___________________________________________________

L- Why are those eggs brown?
M- They are free range eggs, most eggs come from chickens that are kept in little tiny cages all their lives.
L- That's sad.
M- Yes that is why I buy free range eggs that means they chickens are free to walk around.
L- You mean I’m eating a baby chick?!? I’m done with eggs forever then.  I’m going to be a……no eggatarian.
___________________________________________________

Luke- How did princess Diana die?
Kara- (My cousin in a princess Diana conversation with Luke after watching the Royal wedding.) In a car crash 12 years ago.
L- They had cars back then?!?

__________________________________________________________

Will’s Quotes for the week: (He is three)

Will- Mom my poop-poo is taking long.
Mom- Ok Will.
W- When is it going to come out?
Daddy- Just keep trying, buddy.
W- But it's taking too long. I'm ready to get up, I think I’m going to use the FORCE to push it out.
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W- The frog peed on me and now I'm turned into a frog. Hop. Hop. Hop.
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(Will’s reciepe on how to cook frog legs.)
1.    Catch a frog
2.    Pull off his legs
3.    Put him first in water then add oil and heat it up super hot
4.    Put grass in because it gives it flavor
5.    Make sure there are none bugs in or wood because they taste kinda yucky
6.    And we need ten tree leaves
7.    Add tomatoes, broccoli and carrots
8.    Cook for eight or a lot of minutes
9.    We need to eat them with ice cream sauce.
__________________________________________________________

W- Mom the toilet is flooding the bathroom and it’s not stopping. Sorry about that.
____________________________________________________

W- The frog peed a little lake on the floor. Come look.
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W- Mom, look at this I wrote my name in the syrup.
(He forgot to mention this was after he smeared it all over the kitchen table).
___________________________________________________

W- I'm all wet, I need a paper towel.
___________________________________________________

W- Mom come look what happened in the playroom.
M- If you guys messed it up after I cleaned today you are going to be in trouble.
W- Okay don’t come look then.
____________________________________________________

Will- (As he was using a toy in the bath to splash water on everything.) He says, With the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
(And we thought he did not pay attention in mass!)___________________________________________________________


What funny things have your kids said lately?

                                                                                   

If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade: Part III

The lemonade stand at Kroger was a big success.  Luke raised $347.  Then the very gracious family of my dear friend Kim is going to match that!  We are working on having Kroger match the profits as well.  Which would make his combined total $1,141, can you believe it?  What an amazing feat for a five year old!   He is not done yet either.  This summer he has plans to have a few more stands, as well as volunteering at the NF clinic by doing crafts with NF patients while they wait to see the doctors, also his idea!  Luke continues to amaze me each and every day.  I also want to take the time to thank a few people who made this event successful.  To Emily and Cindy with the Texas NF Foundation for sending brochures and t-shirts so that we could look very official, and to Luke’s Aunt Izzy for helping make the signs and for volunteering all day at the stand, to Kim for volunteering and matching Luke’s profits, and to my other volunteers Madison, Janet, Cathy, Carolyn, Orlando, Liam, and to my husband for helping us set up and supporting Luke in all his efforts no matter how crazy they may seem. I also cannot forget to thank Luke and his side kick Will for being the best two sons a mom could ask for.  Then finally; to the Copperfield Kroger for allowing us to have the stand at their store and to all the wonderful people who supported NF; by simply buying a cup of lemonade!

I truly believe that we are going to find a cure for this disorder in the next 10 years, and Luke can say that he was part of this effort, though they may be small now, but who knows what idea he will have up his sleeve next.  It’s my job as his mother to continue to do anything and everything in my power to help him accomplish these amazing goals.  Goals that seem out of reach for a grown adult, but to this five year old just another day at the park!

If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade: Part II

A few weeks ago I wrote a story about a little boy who took a very serious matter into his own hands by adding a little sunshine; lemonade to be exact.  If you missed the post read here (If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade). I am happy to report after two successful lemonade stands Luke has raised $104 dollars for NF.  I can’t forget to mention that he did have a trusty sidekick, his three year old brother, which at times was more help than I think Luke bargained for. 

Luke has a bigger idea now; he must take after his mother by trying to take the world on, even when the goal seems impossible and so far out of reach it may as well be the moon.  But, nonetheless his new goal is about to go national; or at least city wide.  He has decided that he wants to have a lemonade stand at a local grocery store.  After asking around, and getting surprisingly rejected by many places we finally found a generous manager at the Kroger here in Houston near Copperfield. My diligent mother actually found the spot; she must be an angel in disguise.   In fact to make this stand possible we had a lot of help from little angels, who I will mention in a post after our successful stand comes to a close.  The stand is a go for this Sunday, May 1^st, from 10-4. It could not have fallen at a better time, which is why I believe angels are truly guiding me.  May is national NF awareness month and ironically May 1^st is also national lemonade stand day.  Obviously Luke’s proceeds will be benefiting the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation.  The only difference here is that Luke is sending in all of the proceeds, just as before, not even keeping a penny for himself.

This is where I need your help.  Anyone out there reading, even if you don’t live in the Houston area, please pass the word; you can forward this story, tweet about it, post it on Facebook or simply tell a friend.  It will only take seconds of your time and mean the world to Luke.  His stand will not be successful without customers, and the only way to get these customers is to get the word out. I am working to get an announcement on a local radio station, and possibly a news station, but the more people that know the better.    If you can’t come out to support him or help spread the word then all I ask of you is simple; say a prayer for his success, because I have learned that the power of a prayer can never be underestimated, and neither should the determination of a little boy! 

If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade

Sunday May 1^st from 10am-4pm

Kroger

8500 Highway 6 N

Houston, TX 77095

(281)463-4573

Things Kids Say Thursday #35

I have been keeping track of things that my kids say for a long time in a notebook, a piece of paper, iPhone notes, whatever I could grab the quickest. Here are some things that I my kids said this week. My intention is to write these quotes each Thursday, so come back to see what my little men have come up with next week.

I know it has been a long time since I have written my kids quotes, so please enjoy!



Luke’s Quotes (He is 5)

Luke- I have been praying and praying for rain, but it is just not coming. I guess I need to pray harder.

Mom- Why do you want it to rain so bad.

Luke- Because our beautiful garden will die, and we need those vegetable because the grocery prices are going up and up everyday.

___________________________________________________________

Luke- Are there more things I can do to help NF this summer?

Mom- Yes.

Luke- Good because I want to help some more.

___________________________________________________

Luke- Mom, can I just move on up to first grade now, I mean I am already doing all first grade work now?

Mom- No honey, you have to wait until the end of year.

Luke- That seems like a waste of time to me.

________________________________________________________

Luke- Mom I still play with that toy don’t sell it.

Mom- You don’t play with this it is a baby toy.

Luke- Well, what about the baby in your tummy, you are going to take this toy away from that poor little baby?

Mom- I don’t have a baby in my tummy.

Luke- Well you will someday, don’t you want her to have toys?

__________________________________________________________


Will’s Quotes for the week: (He is three)


Mom- Will can you pick up those toys and put them away please?

Will- I’m not an octopus, I can’t carry all that stuff!

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Will- I need some Franklin slobber to clean off all the yucky stuff on my hands.

Mom- You think Franklin slobber will do the job, huh?

Will- Yeah, his slobber has magical cleaning power.

______________________________________________________________

Will- Are there trash cans in Heaven?

Mom- I’m not sure.

Will- Well I hope there is ‘puz I don’t want to go to jail if I litter.

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Will- (popped his head up one day morning while I was in the room) Why does Jesus melt old people to make new people, why? (In a very concerned and worried voice.)

Mom- Did you just wake up from a dream?

Will- Yes

Mom- Well that does not happen.

Will- So he does not melt the old people to make the new people?

Mom- No

Will- Thanks goodness!

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Will- Why doesn’t daddy have bigger obbies like you, did his mommy parts fall off?

Mom- No, only girls have them, but only when they are older.

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Will- Who is the priest talking to up there, Jesus?

Mom- In a way, yes.

Will- What is he telling him?

Mom- He is saying a prayer, that turns the bread into Jesus body and the wine into His blood.

Will- HIS BLOOD? You drink blood, that’s gross!!

_______________________________________________________________

What funny things have your kids said lately?

If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade

You all have heard to quote, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” My five year old son Luke took this quote, which I don’t believe he has even herd before, to a whole different level. If you have read my posts in the past you know that Luke and I suffer from a disorder called Neurofibromatosis or “NF” for short. NF can cause tumors to grow uncontrollably along your nerves, which can cause a variety of complications. These can range from learning disorders, scoliosis, blindness, deafness, bone and tissue disfigurement and different types of cancer, and that is just the tip of the ice berg. The past few years our family has tried to become more involved with the foundation to try and raise awareness and money for NF. My husband ran the Houston Marathon and I have worked on a committee for a fundraiser; both benefiting NF. We must have instilled this into our two boys because when it came time to run their first lemonade stand, without a blink of an eye Luke wanted his money to be sent to NF.

I am happy to report that their little lemonade stand was very successful. Making $53 dollars, which is more than any lemonade stand I ever had. Yesterday we went to the bank and got the cashier’s check made and then got some pictures printed as well. He is sending off the money today. It never crossed his mind to keep it. When I asked him how much he wanted to donate, he said, “All of it, they need it more than I do!” My heart skipped a beat, and yes, I wiped a tear from my eye, wouldn’t you? His generous efforts did not go unnoticed and I did buy him a special prize for all the hard work.

He taught so many people about NF, and his knowledge was very accurate. Luke was able to answer many questions, I was quite impressed. He was able to tell his costumers how NF has affected him and his mommy, and he handed out brochures to people who wanted to learn more. I think he would be a great spokesperson for the disorder, if I do say so myself. In fact he is having another stand this weekend at my parent’s garage sale. Maybe this little boy will start a trend or campaign to raise money for NF, wouldn’t that be wonderful? What a great accomplishment it would be for a five year old, and to think he thought it all up on his own; with no help from mom and dad. It would be something if one day you were driving down the road and you saw a billboard that read,

“If Life Gives You NF, Make Lemonade!”

You would be able to think back and remember reading about the little boy who had a dream, and worked to make that dream a reality by helping fight for a cure for a disorder called NF.

 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To learn more visit the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation at http://www.texasnf.org/ or my blog page about NF at http://www.mudpiesformommy.com/p/nf.html

Big Heart, Tiny Body

My son Luke has wanted to have his own lemonade stand since he was three. Our neighborhood is not exactly a high traffic area, which is why we live here. Therefore, the best time to have a lemonade stand is during a garage sale. Too bad for him we are only allowed to have garage sales on the designated date that is chosen by our homeowners association. Which is really annoying because every year we have lived here the garage sale has managed to be a date where there is no possible way we could participate. Do any of you live in neighborhoods such as this? Expect this year! So finally after seven years we can have our garage sale and Luke gets his much anticipated lemonade stand.

Getting ready for a garage sale is a lot more work that I bargained for. Not that I mind hard work, that is not the case, but I had no idea. Then there is the fact that my house is now filled with all the stuff from the past seven years that I no longer want, which is why I stuffed it in the attic in the first place. The attic; the dreaded attic; climbing around up there must have been a sight. On more than one occasion my legs almost fell through the ceiling, just as Chevy Chase’s character did on Christmas Vacation. Explaining that one to my husband would have been fun. But for now at least our ceiling is intact, stay tuned though; I am going back up there today. All this stuff is driving me crazy, I am a clutter free type of girl, and it is taking all of patience and energy to not take all this stuff away and donate it right now. It’s all here, sitting in my house staring and taunting at me. I just have to be strong for a few more days, for Luke, so his dream of running a lemonade stand can come true.

The reason for my determination to have this garage sale is because of Luke and his lemonade stand. Without the garage sale there would be no stand and after you read what his plans are you will see why I am putting up with all of this clutter. In the past few weeks he has gotten his recipe finalized, with fresh mint being the secret ingredient. We are in possession of a board and paint for a sign, and he has decided to add popcorn to his stand because after all the shopping he thinks people will be hungry too; makes sense.

As we were talking he said to me, “Mommy, you know what I am going to do with my money?” I’m thinking he wants to buy a new toy, go to a movie or get some candy. Boy was I wrong.

He says, “I am going to donate my proceeds to NF, so that the doctors can find a cure.” I don’t think I could have been more proud of him if he had won the Nobel Prize. So if you are in the area on Saturday, stop by Luke’s lemonade and popcorn stand and help him raise money for a cure. To help Luke out pass this post on and teach a freind about NF, and about this little boy working for a cure who truly has a big heart that is encompassed in a tiny body.

I will post pictures and write about his sucess!

To learn more about Neurofibromatosis (NF), click the link here, http://www.texasnf.org/ and to read how NF has affected our family click here, http://www.mudpiesformommy.com/p/nf.html

Long Time, No Write...

It has been months since I have written. Not just a blog entry, but anything at all. Not that I don’t have any ideas or that I have run out of material to write about, material is one thing that I have in abundance. It might have a little to do with that when I sat down to write today I had to restart my computer three times or that I just can’t seem to find a place to write in my house that I can call my own. All I can say to myself for that one is; good luck! In our house the bathroom is not even a place to be alone. If you have small children you know what I am talking about. My kids sometimes remind me of little lambs, they seriously follow me everywhere, and when I say everywhere; I mean everywhere. Locking the door used to be my saving grace, but ever since Will decided to start locking himself in the bathroom, they I figured out how to unlock doors, key or no key. They discovered that a screwdriver looked very similar to the tip of the key for the bathroom; I am not safe anywhere. It also might be that I cannot seem to have a few days in my life where I am not going a thousand miles an hour, and this is supposed to be my slow time of year. The two main charity events that I took part in this year are complete, school is winding down, but I still seem to fill my days with everything expect one thing, writing. This has been an ongoing struggle for me this year and I would really love to find a way to resolve this road block. Any suggestions?




I decided to write today by sharing a story that happened just recently. Since we live in Texas our weather is already in the mid 80’s, for my readers up north who still have snow on the ground, don’t hate me now, soon, as in next month, our temperatures will be soaring to the mid 90’s and feeling like 100. At that time you will be opening up all your windows, while sipping on lemonade out on the back patio for the summer, and I will be here where we break a sweat while taking out the morning garbage. Anyways, we had our first relativity warm Saturday. The boys wanted to get out their summer entertainment a little early, the trusty water slide, which after the first year we named “Old Blue”. This guy has gotten us through the past three summers, on those days when we could literally fry an egg outside, yes we actually did this last summer because the boys did not believe me, and on those days; we set up Old Blue. After May this is just about every day. This year I set it up to discover a huge tear and hole in the bottom, so it really won’t hold water at all. Does that stop them, of course not. They have fun for hours. I’m thinking, “No, Old Blue I thought we would get a few more summers out of you before you retire.” At this time I figure I could go to a pool supply store and get some of that material that they use for the above ground pools. I was not quite sure how I was going to repair it, but I would think of something. I mean this slide was not cheap so this hole alone was not grounds for tossing it out. I spoke to fast! When I went to clean and dry it off for the next use I go to flip it over just as I always do to dry off the bottom. As I pull on the side, rip!!! All the way down and all the air comes gushing out and Old Blue falls! The look on Will’s face was utter disaster followed quickly by a scream. He manages to get out, “Mommy you can fix it, right?!?” It turns out I can’t; the entire thing has dry rotted, and he is currently sitting on the side walk waiting for the garbage man to take him to his final resting place. I tried calling Little Tikes, but I did not get very far. Warranty was expired. The boys immediately start looking for another slide to replace it. They must still think that the money tree is still alive in our backyard, when the fact is it died the day we conceived Luke.

They then proceed to come up with this great idea! Will’s birthday is coming up, and that maybe the grandparents can get them a new waterslide. So, grandparents if you are reading this you now know what your lovely grandchildren are going to ask for their birthdays.

We did get a lot of use out of Old Blue, our trusty water slide. Last year in fact we never took it down, which caused our grass to die, where we now have a beautiful herb garden and bird bath. To me that was a win, win situation. Kids get a summer of endless fun, and I get a garden. As for this summer for what we will do to fill the time during the hot steamy Texas days, only time will tell.

 
             Looks fun, right!









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