Shew. . .

We were out of town for Thanksgiving and did not have internet access.  Therefore, I am behind with my thanksgivings.

Here they are:

Wednesday:  Thankful for the school calendar that gives me Wednesday off so that we can travel on that day and not be rushed on Thursday.  After riding with the three kids and Sadie on this day, I was also thankful for tylenol!

Thursday:  Thankful for pecan pie.  I do not know who first decided to put these ingredients together but I am thankful for that person!

Friday:  Thankful that I didn't need anything so desperately that I had to stand in the massive line at Kohl's that we encountered!

Saturday:  Thankful for the sounds of cousins giggling.  Well, unless I was trying to nap.  Then?  Not so much!  :)

Sunday:  Thankful for my own bed.

One of the reasons we heard giggling - playing indoor football/wrestling!  

Jimmy

My brother Jimmy is known to many of us as the golden child.  We jokingly say "Everybody Loves Jimmy" in the Robert Barone voice from Everybody Loves Raymond.  Yes, I know. . . right now you think we are mean.  However, anybody can ask my grandma something and she will snap.  Jimmy asks the same question?  She looks lovingly at him and says, "Well, yes honey."  Seriously?

All kidding aside, he is a good guy.  He is the kind of guy that I would like Lizzie to grow up and marry.  Here are just a few reasons I believe that and am thankful for him:

*  He only smacked me and broke my glasses once when I, indeed, deserved it more often!  I readily admit that the day he smacked me, I hit him over and over.  Lucky (for me) dad only looked outside in time to see him hit me!  :)

*  He is respectful and compassionate.

*  The way in which he interacts with his nieces and nephews.  He truly cares about them.  He listens to what they have to say.  He will even change a diaper if he HAS to do so.

*  His ability to play cards (and cheat).  Yes, he cheats.  Just ask my grandpa.  Rumor has it that he learned to cheat from dad.

*  We learn  much from his love of history and the genealogical work he has done.

*  He is an incredible teacher.

*  He is loyal to his friends.  He would do anything for them.

*  He takes my grandpa golfing in the summer and cares for him and my grandma when needed.

*  He is trustworthy - which is good since he will be responsible for our children should something happen to me and Brian.

*  His love of sports - he is a player, spectator and coach.

*  His ability to calm people down when the family discussions get a little tense.  "Hey, hey there.  Ok, ok!"

*  His love of books

*  His sense of humor and ability to  laugh.

Geez, no wonder "Everybody loves Jimmy!"

Jimmy, you are the kind of man I would like my daughter to marry one of these days.  The characteristics that I desire in her future husband are why I am thankful for you.  I love you for all you bring to the family.

Jimmy gives Jacob some advice during a card game.

Our Medical Team -

I am extremely thankful for the numerous professionals who have helped us throughout the years.

*  I think back to being pregnant with Zach and how my obstetrician helped this first time mom through the process.  I think how she made SURE she was there to deliver Jacob because of the experience we had with Zach.

*  The obstetrician who delivered Lizzie.  She cared for me as a "whole patient" during a pregnancy that was rough.

*  The NICU staff who cared for Zach at Carle.  The NICU staff at Provena who cared for Lizzie.

*  The Lifeline professionals who flew Zach to Peoria.

*  The cardiologist, surgeons and entire staff at Saint Francis.

*  The pediatricians who have taken care of your children.

*  Our AWESOME nurse practitioner.  Did I mention she is AWESOME?

*  Our general practitioners.

*  Numerous physician assistants.

*  Pediatric rheumatologist who diagnosed Jacob's JIA and established a plan of care.

*  Sports med professionals.

*  Surgeons

*  My INCREDIBLE neurologist (Did I mention he is INCREDIBLE?) and his INCREDIBLE staff.

*  Our dentists.  Between the 5 of us, we see three different dentist and they all rock!

*  My MOM!  Being a nurse, she gets a lot of the "What do you think I should do" calls!

*  My friend Dee.  She gets a lot of the "What do you think I should do" calls too!  She also gave me shots when Brian wasn't home or didn't want to.

There are more, I am sure.  In addition to this list, I would like to add many of you.  While you may not be a medical care professional, you have provided support for us.  During pregnancies, births, hospitalizations, diagnosis, broken bones, etc, you have  cared for us.  Whether it be a card, watching kids, letting us cry, providing food, or many other things, YOU are part of our medical team that I am thankful for.  Without you, my friends, we may have had our physical bodies provided for, but it would have been a long lonely road.

So, thank you to everyone listed and any one of YOU who has ever cared!  THANKS!!

Chris

I am thankful for my brother, Chris.  He claims that I was not always nice to him while growing up.  Something about flicking his teeth every time he opened his mouth to talk?  I am SURE that wasn't me!    I am also sure that I haven't always appreciated Chris and what he brings to the family.  Just a few reasons I appreciate Chris and am thankful for him:

*  He went on a search for a press-on nail when my nail broke right before my wedding.  That made up for the fact that he forgot to pick up my grandma for the wedding!  Oops, I digress.

*  He is incredibly talented and has knit and crocheted some beautiful things.  One of which is a nice pair of warm socks for me!

*  His love of music. 

*  His passion for Drum and Bugle Corp.

*  The excitement he brings to the political discussions at family events.  :)

*  His willingness to cook for the family.

*  The way he interacts with his nieces and nephews.

*  How he can make me SO mad with a comment but make me laugh with his next comment.

*   He can make snide comments about someone and they never know due to his ability to BS.  Now, I assure you that those comments were certainly not made about anyone reading this blog.

*  His ability to care for the injured as a paramedic.  However, if I ever call 911 for something like a paper cut, I would not want to deal with him.  

*  His ability to make dad and Jimmy almost pass out by sharing stories from his work day!  This is not an invitation to do so!

*  His willingness to stand up for what he believes in - even if he is in the minority.

*  His ability to roll his eyes so far back in his head and not have them stick.  

*  His tender heart accompanied by his hard headed attitude.

(Again,  it has been decided that we inherited that hard headed attitude from our mother!)

I am ashamed to say I don't remember the last time I said this:  Chris, I am thankful for you and I love you.

Lysol

I am thankful for Lysol.  I am also hopeful that last night's liberal use of Lysol will keep others in the house from catching the current Paragi virus.

INK!!

I am thankful for INK!  Why?

The author uses ink to put his or words onto the page.  The computer printer uses ink to print out the drafts of the story.  The editor uses ink to suggest or make changes.  The publisher uses ink to produce the books.

Ink. . . without it there would be no books.  Yes, I know, we can read ebooks.  But I am old fashioned and like to touch my books.  I love the smell of a fresh book.  I love turning the pages of a used book and imagining who might have turned those pages before me.  Basically, I am a book romantic!

Books take me away when I need a vacation from my reality.  I have traveled all over the world through my reading.  Books help me stay up to date on current educational practices.  Books provide me knowledge and inspiration to use in daily life.

I love the classics, contemporary, fiction and nonfiction.  I revel in them all.  I am one of those people who has trained my brain that it must read before I can sleep.  Yes - there is now research showing that we actually train our brains to do that!

I work with kindergarten students and teach explicit early literacy skills.  The other day, a very exasperated young man looked at me with rolling eyes and asked, "Are you in love with letters and books and stuff?"  Stifling my giggle, I replied, "Yes, I am.  I LOVE to read!"  He was unimpressed.

So, today I am thankful for ink.  The ink that the author uses to put the words on the paper so I can continue my love affair with reading and books.

Hold That Thought!

Brian is doing an operating system upgrade on the computer tonight.  It is hard to type on this iPad so I will post about that which I am thankful tomorrow.  Think ink!!