Happiness is ______ {2014-W12} #happinessis

Last week I over shared and this week I am going to under share.  Its been another tough week here with me feeling horrible the past few days and the Anthony so busy with soccer.  The weather isn't helping but I love it.  Sleep is always better when its raining.

Happiness is watching the boys play their little hearts out.  Lots of passing and communication.  And another win for the Dragons!  YAY!

Happiness is a smile heading to game two of the weekend.  I was worried he was going to be wore out but he was pumped!  Anthony played his best game yet and was came inches from his first goal! Maybe next game he will finally get one.  Either way he has come so far in the game and I love it!

Happiness is making it easy on myself and not fighting all the tortillas in this weeks menu.  The get what they wanted and everyone is happy.  Anthony reminded me to write the menu on the board so he can decide which days he is going to help.  Love this kid!

That's it.  I hardly took any photos this week and our lives are pretty much filled with soccer and cooking. What a life eh?  We have decided to hold off on fostering because we knew we would be so busy over the next month.  Here's to more happiness next week. 

Don't forget to stop by Crazy Adventures in Parenting and see what happiness everyone else is sharing.  She is finding happiness and also asking for prayers for a friend whose husband and three children went missing after the mudslide in Washington.  I had no idea that had even happened but they are in my prayers! 

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2013 Highlights

Before we close the door on another year, I just wanted to take a minute to share a few things we did in 2013.

 Soccer!  It was amazing to see Anthony improve in just two seasons.  Watching him practice and then seeing his hard work paying off made me so proud.

 

There was a flow constant flow of Foster dogs this year

Haiku.  She started a love for huskies in Alexanders heart!

Bruce Wayne the Dane

Sweet baby Marie

My niece Jamisen turned one.

Jam Jam.  <3 her!

We had some awesome adventures this year.

Exploring at the park

Despicable Me 2.  Both boys actually watched the whole thing!

I have a crush on Ballapeno.  Clearly he likes me too :)

Road trip with the boys and dogs

Poncho met some cows

Hayrides at the Rio Cibolo Ranch

Anthony started making dinner once a week.  Lots of homemade pizzas and spaghetti this year.

And I realized that my baby isn't a baby anymore. In 2 weeks he will be 5!!

It was a great year.  My family is happy and healthy.  The boys are growing into little men.  With opinion and ideas of their own.  David was finally put on a better work schedule which meant he was home for dinner more than just a few weeks this year.  I made friends.  Last year I made a goal to be more social and not let my illness hold me back and so I did.  It might seem silly to some, but being pretty much house bound gets super lonely at times, so its a big deal to me.  I said I would not let my illness stop my boys from doing things they wanted to do and with the help from my family and friends, we did so much more this year.  Specifically Soccer.  That was pretty much the highlight of the year.  We are blessed.

As for me, health wise, I have been doing great.  Stable is what the doctors call it.  My liver function is still ok.  The nodules on my liver have not grown.  I have not had any major problems with my blood disorder.  I did have a scare, but and early mammogram showed us there was nothing to be worried about.  And I have been able to stay on top of my Encephalopathy so my head has been foggy but nothing too bad.  All this together means, less lab work and more time off in between doctor visits!  WIN!

Now we look ahead to all the new year has in store for us.  This is the year that Alex starts school.  That will be the big thing for us this year I think.  And soccer!   Here is to a year full of good health and lots of laughter.  To new friendships and more adventures.  I'm so ready for this!  Hello 2014!

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A jam packed Saturday

The past few months have been rough around here.  School started.  Soccer started.  And suddenly there was no time, no energy, no sleep! And now it's November.  I'm not complaining...much  I know in the end it is worth it, but sometimes I kick myself in the butt for trying to do more than I can handle and then hating myself when I don't get it all done. But sometimes I just have to push through it!

Yesterday was a big day for me.  First let me start by saying, I don't get out much.  I walk to the bus stop twice a day.  I go to Dr's appointments and grocery shopping.  Saturdays filled with soccer and errands and Sundays are cleaning and football.  I can't just go anywhere.  My days are pretty low key.  Yesterday was anything but that.

I got up at 6:ooam.  My morning was spent at the Donate life walk. A very dear friend of mine, Stacy of Kids Stuff World, came out with her kids to walk with me.  My sister, her boyfriend and a friends came out as well!  Its nice to be a part of it all and help support a cause that is ultimately going to save my life.  I hit 10,000 steps at 9:50 am.  I usually don't hit that mark until night time!

I got to the soccer game just in time to catch the last 10 minutes of the game.  Anthony has gotten so much better and I am always so proud to see him playing out there.  I love watching him play! After the game we played around with another player and some friends.  His dad came over and asked me how long its been since I played.  Its been 14 years.  He said he its still there!  How sweet is he.  I know better.  I play with the boys because I cant run any faster! Even Alex gets in on the fun. It won't be long till he is playing too!

Afterwards we headed to a birthday party.  All I have heard all week is when are we going to Peter Pipers Pizza? Finally.  The boys had a blast.  I had fun.  And I think even though he will not admit it, David was hooked on this game!  They were crammed in there like sardines and having so much fun!

Last stop of the day was the Dragons soccer banquet.  There was tons of food.  The boys ran off the last of their sugar high.  We explored a real high school.  By real I mean stateside.  Man the high schools here look like shopping malls.  Then again, our Elementary School is pretty huge too!  We left around 8pm with purple hair, tattoos and some sweet prizes and auction stuff.

I got home.  Sent the boys to bed.  Grabbed a pillow and blanket and watched Hawaii 5-O with David though one sleepy eye.  Woke up at 3 still on the couch.  Got to bed and woke up again around 9am. Besides moving to the room, I was knocked out cold!

I'm tired all over again just writing it all out.  But thankful that I made it through the day.  I will probably spend the whole week recovering, but whats done is done and it was worth every pain in my body right now!

These are the days when I have to dig deep.  The days where I have to push myself.  The days I am reminded that I can do whatever I put my heart into.  The days I am blessed to have!

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Happiness is ______ {Week 22} #happinessis

Happiness is happy endings. Yesterday I received an email from the lady who adopted Bruce Wayne the Dane. She sent photos of him and her 18 month old daughter. They are best friends. I was told he sleeps in bed with her and follows her everywhere she goes. I'm not going to lie. I cried. Mostly because I was so happy to have had him in our lives even if it were just for a few short weeks. He is one special dog. And knowing that he is right where he belongs makes my heart so happy.

Happiness is winning. On Saturday Anthony's team won their first win. On the way home I received an email that I had gotten free tickets to scorpions game that night. And the Scorpions won their game is well. Even if our favorite player was injured and didn't get to finish the game. I also won another Giveaway I entered online.  Should have gotten a lotto ticket too.

Happiness is receiving a phone call from your friends speech teacher letting you know that he no longer needs to go to speech. Even though he won't be happy about not going to school I am glad he has caught up.

Happiness is a beautiful sunset at the end of yesterdays soccer practice.

Happiness is having a voice to text option when your hands hurt too bad to type. I love technology.  I know this post is up way late, but I finally had time to sit down and add in the pics.  90% of this post was done though my voice to text because my hands we trembling so bad today and are super weak.  At least they stopped shaking. Because man that was driving me nuts!

What has brought you happiness this week?   Please stop by Crazy Adventures in Parenting and see whats making others happy!  And share your happiness with #happinessis.  Here is to another happy filled week!

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Happiness is ______ {Week 19} #happinessis

Lisa over at Crazy Adventures in Parenting has a weekly series where we share what happiness is.  Every week I look forward to Wednesday because I love sharing all my happiness with everyone.  This week was no different.

Happiness is camping in the back yard.  Before we were getting ready to bed the kids all disappeared and I was worried that they were not coming back.  But sure enough, they did.  And they all made it the whole night...piled up around me....even though they had the whole other side of the tent to themselves.  I'm not complaining either.  I was just happy to make some memories.

They were having fun.  Doesn't look like it though!

Happiness is stopping by Baskin Robbins after a hot afternoon of soccer practice.  I haven't had orange sherbet in a long time, but I could almost hear my dad telling me to change it up from my usual pistachio.  We used to get one of each and then share because we could never decide which one we wanted.

Happiness is a beautiful sunrise on the walk to the bus stop.  I am not a morning person, but seeing the amazing and always different sunrises ever morning make being up early so much better!  Anthony said I must have loved this one because its all different shades of purple and according to him that's my favorite color.  I guess a silver sunset would be kinda boring.  

Happiness is a best friend.  One who will never leave your side.  Knows when to be serious.  And one who will share his bed with you.  Even if it means he has to hang his head over the edge and you only have enough room for half of your body :)  These two are inseparable.  It makes me so happy to know they have each other!

What made you happy this week?  Did you get to spend time with loved ones or do something that you really enjoy?  I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and first few weeks back to school.  Don't forget to stop by Crazy Adventures in Parenting and see what is making the rest of the gang happy this week!  

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Happiness is ______ {Week 10}

I'm linking up with Lisa from Crazy Adventures in Parenting and sharing what Happiness is to me.  Stop by and see what is making others happy and join the fun!

More words than pictures this week.  But that is because most of the happiness is in my heart.  If I could take a photo of it all I would.  I would love to share this all with you.  Hopefully my words will be enough.  So what is happiness?

Happiness is having someone think of you out of the blue.  It is words of encouragement from old teachers.  And letters from childhood friends.  Happiness is someone reaching out and thinking of us when they needed an extra player for their soccer team.  And I am even happier that there is a scholarship program that allows us to play for free.  I don't know if they know just how much of a blessing this is for us.  Happiness is having someone tell you that for their one year cancer remission party they have asked for donations to my transplant fun instead of presents.  I know such giving and thoughtful people.

Happiness if being married to a man who can find you in the darkest of hours and bring you back with a smile.  Over the last month the guilt over not being able to work and do things that other moms can do has been wearing on my heart.  Bills are piling up and David has been busting his butt at work.  But it seems there is never enough money.  Last week our roof was damaged from a wind storm that blew though.  Monday night the roof we were quoted $400 to fix it.  That was my breaking point and by the end of the night I was doing the ugly cry.  David sat next to me on the couch and promised that everything would be OK   Happiness is having someone who loves you regardless of all your drama.  Though tears and anger.  Who can see when something is wrong no matter how hard you try to hide it.  Happiness is knowing he loves me for me.  The good, the bad and the ugly.

Happiness is seeing my baby play soccer for the first time.  Hes so tiny out there but is working really hard.  I have been having so much fun practicing with him.  He is up every morning and ready to go.

Happiness is the both of us getting back good lab results.  A few weeks ago when David was sick his labs revealed high liver enzymes but the recheck was just find!  Thank God!  My INR was at 3.1 and I don't have to go back to two weeks.  YAY!

And this little man was beyond happy to get his soccer uniform. Even better was having our favorite # on the back! Go #28!

 

Despite all the stress and tears this week brought on, I'm sitting here smiling.  Through it all, I know that I am blessed.  Surrounded by love.  And happy!

Wishing you all a little happiness this week!  Much love!

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