Gettin' On With Gettin' On...

So, here we are.. a month and half after the worst day ever and we're all hanging in there.  LB is at his absolute worst after therapy (I'm likening it more to ripping open scabs every week and am questioning the frequency of the visits.. we'll see).  But all in all, thanks to the support of our amazing family and friends, we're doing really well.

Both of my kids are growing like weeds.  At the rate LittleBuddy is going, he will definitely hit 6'3" as predicted (my bets are more like 8' the way he eats but I'll defer to the professionals).  I swear SweetPea says new things every day.  Did I mention she counted to 13 all by her little lonesome the other day?  I declared my 2 1/2 year old a rocket scientist (as Jack and Jill at 4 1/2 couldn't count past 3 when they came to us).  Okay, maybe an unfair comparison.. probably a future Nobel Peace Prize winner..

Grin.

We've had a minor glitch case wise.  One of the family members that had their rights terminated is appealing the decision.  Did I mention this person is incarcerated .. errr.. busy until 2016?  No one is surprised and it shouldn't set us back too much but for crying out loud.. Really?

Really.

I'm working more hours (did a FULL day on Monday!) and can say without the slightest hesitation a normal, run of the mill, ordinary day is like the greatest breath of fresh air.

Uneventful days ROCK!

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Fit...

A Boy, A Dog...

.. And Buzz Lightyear.. 

Our Jammie Morning...

I Spy With My Little Blue Eye...

The First Day of Fall!

ENJOY!!!

Somewhere...

Over the rainbow,

Skies are blue.

And the dreams that you dare

to dream

Really do come true.

Latest Haps ...

Well, we made it past the one month mark since Matt's passing (on 9/11 of all things) and are hanging in there.  Good days and a few bad days as y'all can imagine... but we're adjusting and pressing forward.  LittleBuddy has had a pretty tough time but oh my goodness, the poor little guy has been through the wringer.  He seems to be past the first "hump" of turmoil and is snapping out of the pouty bad moods (and rages) quicker.  I told our social worker it feels like we're starting to lean forward (rather than taking steps back).

Thank GOD!

LB is spending the weekend with their older, 1/2 brother ("Freckles") and his family.  The only bio fam the kiddos have that is healthy and safe ... and I completely adore them.  It's a win win.  So, SweetPea and I have spent this Saturday morning snuggling, streaming Sesame Street and singing along... 

And having a wonderful time, might I add...

In other news... 

 I fixed the Big TV last night

(it mysteriously went out the night Matt passed) 

and we're rockin' Ernie and friends in style

(and surround..)

LittleBuddy will be PSYCHED ... Did I earn a new MomBadge?

... And Did I Mention A Raffle??

Because y'all know I'm just not going to pipe down until October 2nd, right?

TONKA TOY - GSG Custom's Denver Colorado from GSG Customs' on Vimeo.

The drawing will be October 1st (I'm pulling the winning ticket!).  100% of the proceeds go to a fund for SweetPea and Little Buddy.  Please go to GSG Customs Blog for deets...  THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK!!

Matt's Ruckus ~ A Raffle For LittleBuddy & SweetPea

Matt's dear friend James Boston (owner of Grape Street Garage Customs in Denver) is going to finish the award winning bike Matt designed (Tonka Toy) and raffle it off (tickets are $40 a piece).  100% of the proceeds are going to a fund for LittleBuddy and SweetPea.  They will ship the bike anywhere in the US (or deliver it personally if the winner is local!).  The winner will be announced at the Grand ReOpening Party on October 1st and need not be present to win.  There are 4 ways to purchase the tickets, please go to GSG Customs Shop Blog for deets!

The Tonka Toy in action:



This bike was Matt's pride and joy.  Every bit of the build has his fingerprint.. from the bright yellow paint (his favorite color) to his signature flames (embroidered on the seat) and everything in between.  He took great pride when hearing how many people loved it (and all the awards it was winning).  I know Matt would love nothing more than to have the bike owned by someone that cherishes it as much as he did.

If you all could help spread the word to family, friends and followers we would so very much appreciate it!

Baby Steps & Hungry Bears

Yesterday I started back to work.. just 1/2 days for now.  I thank God continuously for the blessing of wonderful, understanding bosses and coworkers.  Between the bronchitis and grief, I'm beyond exhausted and far from 100%.  Literally taking a shower in the morning about wipes me out.  But I went in yesterday and stayed until noon.  I've worked there 15 years and honestly thought I would be okay, but it was harder (emotionally) than I had anticipated.  After the initial bout of tears and encouragement from my dear workmate, I got through the morning.

Baby Steps.

In other news.. due to a funky smell, I left the trash can outside last night (completely forgetting what time of year it is).  This morning Little Buddy and I found this:

B-B-B-B-Bear (as my family often jokes).  It goes back to a story from a few years ago of Matt and his Close Encounter ...  So, instead of dropping the kiddos off at daycare and heading in to work this morning, I got to go back home and scoop trash.  Did I mention it was strewn across the yard?

My Bad.

The good news is Little Buddy declared he will no longer run outside when he gets into trouble.  I'm thinking bear season will be year round in our parts..

Dang Goo...

So I thought I had fought the goo and won.. but I was wrong. I'm sick as all get out. My lack of sleep, inconsistent meals and stress these past three weeks have undoubtedly compromised the old immune system. At least I have the three day weekend to rest before I go back to work (part time), right?

Well, kind of.

Although he knows some fun activities planned for later in the weekend are on the line, LittleBuddy continues to pull out the stops.  He did have his weekly therapy session on Thursday and yesterday he saw one of his fave social workers (where he poured out his anger/sadness over Daddy).  He is raw, too.. and taking it out on me.

Naturally.

Sometimes I feel my nose is at water level but other times, strong as an oak tree.  There is no rhyme or reason why I burst out into tears or can speak frankly about what all is happening.  It will take a couple years to get back to normal again.  Whatever that is.  But somehow we'll get there by the grace of God..

Exhale...

Daddy's Wing..

Yes Honey, I Remembered...

Trash day was always a running joke at our house... taking out the garbage was, "NOT my job" ..  On the days when DH was out of town and I had to do it, I would send an early morning text picture and get an, "Atta girl!" 

Bonus points if it was recycle day.

So if you saw a girl choking back tears while she lugged out the bins yesterday, that was probably me.  The laughter seems so distant.

Hey, at least I remembered.