And Then There Were 5: Alot happening

It's been roughly two months since we began Kindergarten and 6th grade and Preschool for the kiddies. It has been really amazing how we are getting lessons in and I'm really loving how the little ones getting older is allowing us to do our school with relative peace and not squealing and screeching! Although every now and then when Brendan is between subjects or mostly finishes his math early (he whizzes through math) he and Annaliese start playing "race cars" with their baby buggy and grocery cart. It gets pretty loud on the hardwood floors and pretty soon I can't even hear the lesson I'm teaching to Trinity. But overall I can say this has been the smoothest of all our homeschool years.

On the other hand we've had some health issues that have made it difficult some days to concentrate. Case in point, Craig has been having increasing nose bleeds (I'm talking bleeding for more than an hour) and we had his nose checked two years ago and the ENT didn't see anything. He went to the PCP and he referred him to a hematologist. About a month ago he was diagnosed with Von Wille de brand's disease a blood clotting disorder. Because of his Italian background he already has Beta Thalassemia minor as well but it doesn't affect him. The willdebrands affects his clotting and is the reason his nosebleeds last for so long.

After bleeding again this past week even though on a treatment for the blood disorder, he decided to get a second opinion about his nose. Sure enough he has a cluster of veins (think really bad varicose veins in your sinuses) that are so inflamed that if he breathes in too hard, talks too loud, or really anything he gets a nosebleed. Usually the surgeon can chemically cauterize the vein but this one was so large and combined with his bleeding disorder the doc wants to an outpatient procedure with electro cautery this Wednesday. He won't be under general anesthesia just a local and the procedure will be over in 15-20 minutes. All I can say is Ow! I'm just very thankful we got to the bottom of all this because he was losing alot of sleep (waking at 2 a.m. and even during work hours with nose bleeds). I pray it doesn't come back (the surgeon said it can) and that Craig will not be in alot of pain during the procedure or after.

I had surgery in July to repair alot of damage while having my first born Trinity and after an abscess I'm slowly healing although I've been told very sternly by my doctor no jogging, jarring exercises. I believe my dreams of any marathons or triathlons have been vanquished. But I'm getting back into yoga and I'm going to stop the pity party thoughts that bounce around in my head. I will think about what I can do and do them. I will stop comparing myself to everyone else because really it only accomplishes to sink me into further pouting and complaining. I don't need my kids hearing that and Craig definitely doesn't need to have a whiny wife. I'm thinking of doing some kind of year of such and such type of living. I don't know if you've heard of people who will try something new everyday for a year, or eat locally for a year, or write 20 things they are thankful of for a year, or doing something nice for someone every day for a year. I want to get out of this rut (dare I mention midlife crisis?) and be better than I am. I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-isn't it about freakin' time I claimed that and acted like it?! Well I think so. Stay tuned for what that might be.

Until then I will enjoy the laughter (and sometimes screaming) of my little angels, the adorableness of Annaliese running around with her cherubim bum out, the sweetness of her mimicking everything her brother does and both vying for me attention (I mean who knows how long that will last when I'm the center of their small world), Trinity wanting to please me everyday and giving me sweet hugs just because, seeing her grow into a beautiful sweet young woman and wondering what her future holds, Brendan inventing things from nothing and the resourcefulness that absolutely amazes me and makes me proud, watching Brendan swing a bat or tennis racket like a pro (that boy has some arm) and enjoying every hug, boo-boo kiss (even on the bottoms of dirty feet), and wiping away every tear. Parenting is THE hardest job I've ever experienced AND the BEST job in the whole world. Thank you God for the privilege of caring for this gifts.

I'll leave you with some pictures (since that's what you really came for):

Music lesson

Princess our Pom-still frisky and cute at 15

Chippy enraptured my snack wielding Annaliese (although I'd like to think it's Trinity's voice)

Twinkie who loves Trinity and will meow so loud it hurts your ears just so she'll pick him up and love him

Mama! Will you stop taking pictures you are totally embarrassing me!

Finishing breakfast before school starts (what boy do you know chooses to wear an argyle sweater just because? He's preppy like his Daddy and I love it!)

Gnocci or Papa Gnokes as we call him. He keeps everyone in line and is a big sweetie!

The baby of the bunch doing what he loves best-eating. He's such a sweetie but not very social until you've truly earned his trust. He's my fave Batty (Batman).