March Madness Continued

So more on our March Madness...

I have started a preschool, the Learning Express. I have always wanted to do this, and Cami and Emily are at the perfect age to participate and I don't have to pay for preschool. We started in February and I along the way we have added two kids. My original plan was to go Monday thru Thursday allowing for one day where only Pre-K kids would come. I did this for alittle while but I didn't get more kids and only had one pre-k'r so I just switched over to three days, Mon-Wed. This is really nice I feel like I can keep up alittle more on things that I need to do as a mom as well. We have been learning all kinds of fun things, even I have been enjoying them. I have loved the time to focus in on the kids. I love the feel of satisfaction when Emily comes and tells me her shapes or starts counting, or Cami starts telling me about the Artic or is so excited because she can write her letters. I have a feeling I will be doing this for awhile since both my girls have preschool coming up, so I look forward to this fun time with them.

Along with preschool, I have started reconstructive surgery. I felt it was time and I look forward to finishing completely my recovery from breast cancer. It has not been an easy process, I really didn't know what to expect but I guess any time you are trying to expand skin it probably will be a little painful. Mike has been great about it and tries to help where he can. I had an expander put in and the doctor will fill the expander a little at at time to expand the area until the desired size, I am thinking DD's-ha ha! My doctor is in Idaho Falls and I go down once a week. When the process is done the doctor will put in the implant and fix the other side to match. It is hard to know how long the process will take because we are moving very slowly since I have radiated skin, we are taking our time to make sure the skin has time to heal in between fillings. I do hope that I can wear a swim suit this year that looks symmetrical.

As you can see our March is really madness, but we are muddling through and having a great time anticipating spring and hopefully some warm sunshine soon.

Our Own March Madness

So it's not basketball but it's still madness:) We have been busy, with Mike's training, my preschool, the kids activities and starting my reconstructive surgery.

Mike is about ready for his Ironman in St George on May 1st. It is great to see him training so hard for something so big, he is amazing!! With only about 6 weeks away, we are gearing up for a great weekend. Mike has now swam for over an hour straight, biked 130mi. and ran 20mi. He will have one more big push before the big event and then he will start tapering his training about two weeks out. Amazing, he has really fought the elements and been determined in being prepared for this. Mike has been great about trying to plan his practicing around the time when the kids aren't home. He gets up at 5a to swim and then runs during lunch. He bike's his long rides on Friday's while the kids are at school. During the next big push we are going to get the kids a little bit more involved. I really want them to see dad pushing and working his way to his goal. Mike does these triathlons for himself, but also so the kids can see dad reaching and accomplishing his goals. I think I will wake them up at 5a some morning when Mike goes for a swim and then we will go ride our bikes with dad the last few miles of this big bike ride and go meet him on his next big run. Mike participates in these crazy races not just for himself but we are hoping it will inspire them someday to work for their dreams and achieve great things.

Along with Mike's training, the kids have had a great winter inside. They have been involved in a number of fun actvities. Emily is a monkey by nature, she is always climbing and wants to be cuddled. We get to participate in a mom & me class at our local gym and she LOVES it she is doing front rolls and handstands, flips on the couch and "table tops". She loves the tramp and yesturday in gym was trying to do a tornado turn on the tramp and the coach and I just started laughing. This turn is where you put your arms up in the air looking kinda like a rocket and then you are suppose to jump and turn all the way around at the same time. Emily actually did it- especially with her head!! When ever she tried to do it she would turn her head in circles hoping her body would follow, it was so cute and so hilarious but it worked and she did her little tornado jumps all the way down the tramp head turning and everything. Cami is also in this class and is loving all the jumping and climbing and swinging. She loves being active and loves the creativity. Brittany is in her element in gym. She loves the mix of dance and tumbling. It is fun to watch her progress and feel good about her efforts. Nathan has been in karate, he has always wanted to take karate lessons, but for some reason I had always been a little weary of it. He has loved every minute and is trying to figure out how to fit it in the schedule between soccer and swim team and pay for it himself by mowing lawns and snow removal. Nathan is still taking piano and has really gotten into playing some classical pieces, he started trumpet this year and loves the friends and music he is making in band. Kayla has been dancing her heart out in ballroom this year and has started swim team again. She has missed swim and is looking forward to getting back in the water. We finally found a piano teacher for Kayla who is just perfect for her, Kayla is really loving the music and her time on the piano, she sounds AMAZING!

As you can tell, we have tried to stay active this winter and stay warm inside having fun.

The heart of the shamrock

Today I did a first.

This month is muscular dystrophy month and Albertsons is selling shamrocks in "support" of the cause. I have NEVER bought any such thing before, to me is seemed like such a waste of money. I always thought why should I, the money just goes to peoples "corporate non-profit" wallets and hardly goes to the people. Today while I was at the store I was overcome with emotion as I read about 2 boys with a type of muscular dystrophy who were fighting the disease here our area. All of a sudden I wanted to buy every single one the shamrocks, it hit me like a ton a bricks, these shamrocks are not just for the money to help the disease, but to show them that people care and support them in their fight. I bought two and put my kids names on them that are their same age. I tried to tell Cami about her shamrock, I think she understood a little bit, and I plan on telling Nathan about his tonight at dinner. I hope that my kids will understand not only the importance of thinking about someone with a serious disease, but the action of showing support to someone who probably has fought and will fight for awhile.