Monday, March 03, 2008

Awards


I can't believe that it's award-winning time again already. I don't usually watch the award shows. Don't hate me, but I really don't care who wins the Oscar, Tony, or Golden Globe.

So why am I blogging about the awards?

Hang on, I'll tell you....

It's coming....

You don't have to wait much longer... I know that the suspense is killing you..... but that's what they do on those shows, isn't it? They make you wait until the very last moment to build the suspense... until you are sitting on the edge of your seat, just waiting for the news....

And the winner is:

ME!!!! I won an award! I know, you can't believe it. I can't believe it! But here I am. Just a regular mom blogging about normal life things. That is, the "normal" life of a family. A family with 4 kids, all of which have their own special needs which include: Aspergers (a form of austism), ADD, ADHD, asthma, depression & anxiety... and that's just my 3 boys. That doesn't include my daughter who has congenital heart defects, asthma, lung bleeds, strokes, 5 heart surgeries, extremely low oxygen saturations, is on oxygen and terminally ill. Yup, I blog about my normal (boring) life. But I still won an award. Amazing, isn't it?

So what's the award I won? It's the xxtraordinary blogger award! See?


Dan from Chez Oddness honored me by giving me this award. Thanx Dan!

So what do I blog about that is so xxtraordinary? I'm not sure. I'm just ordinary and normal... whatever NORMAL is. LOL

Yeah, I blog about MY normal. MY normal may not be the most thrilling blog to read. It may not take you on trips around the world and show you amazing sceneries. It may not be the most entertaining blog around and leave you chuckling as you read the lines I type. But it is MY life. And do you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I wouldn't trade any of my children or my husband for anything.

This afternoon as I was napping, I dreamed that we were trying to buy a bigger house and that we were so strapped for cash that I woke up in a panic. As I opened my eyes and saw that I was home, I was so relieved. I love my home which of course includes my kids and hubby. I've been sick for two months now and was finally feeling a little better but then it came back with a vengeance today. I slept most of the day while Karl took care of the kids. It's been stressful being sick and trying to take care of my home and family. I also know that I'm having some stress about my oldest son getting married and leaving home, but who doesn't at this stage in life? Am I right? I know I am. My mom gets great pleasure in telling me how hard it was on her each time one of her children (including me) got married. She did it 6 times! I think I will get through this.

So you see? My life is kind of normal. But not TOO normal. Not so normal that it's boring. After all, I've passed 20,000 hits to my blog in less than a year. I intended to have some sort of prize for the 20,000th visitor but alas, it came and went without me even noticing what day it happened. Maybe I'll do it for the 30,000th visitor? We'll see... hopefully my family and I will be feeling better by then.

Thanks to all who enter this blog! I see that I've had several new visitors and I hope you will not be bored out of your wits, but that you will come back again. And to all of you who come here and read, I thank you too! I blog for my own benefit... it helps to get things "out", but it's nice to know that others care. You care about me and my family. I know many of you come here to check on my precious daughter, Jessica. She is amazing and blesses me every day. I am so glad that so many of you love and care about her too. She is sick with the cough/congestion right now but is not only taking her many asthma meds, but she is on prednisone too. She is NOT in dire straights, she is actually handling this illness quite well. She's my little energizer bunny... she keeps going, and going, and going...! and it wasn't her that the ambulance came for a few nights ago. It was my husband, Karl. He had been sick, severe coughing and congestion, and had returned to work (against my better judgment). After working all day, he was spent. He tried resting in the bedroom but was coughing practically constantly. He tried to come out to the family room but went into the kid's bathroom to lean on the sink as he collapsed to his knees. I came looking for him and he could hardly breathe. I called 911 and he laid on the floor with his head on a big package of toilet paper rolls. (LOL). The paramedics came and helped him into the living room where they took his vitals. He seemed to be doing a little better but he was still coughing up phlegm, had a fever and his heart rate was up. Jessica was crying, the younger boys were coming out of their room to see what the commotion was and Justen was not home. I called Karl's parents who live across town. They agreed that I should stay at home with the children and they would meet up with Karl at the hospital. The ambulance took Karl at around 11:00pm and he didn't get home until after 4:00am. He was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and given prescriptions for several meds. My in-laws stayed with Karl all that time and brought him home. They aren't spring chickens anymore and I'm sure it was hard on them to be up all night. I am so grateful to them that they were able to help out in that way. I know, Karl is their son and I know I would do the same for any of my sons. Heaven knows I've done it a billion times already for my daughter! But thanks again, Mom and Dad.

Poor Justen got home and saw the fire truck in front of our house. He saw the paramedics going into our house and just then the ambulance pulled up. He thought the worst - that Jessica had died or was dying. He came inside and saw Jessica standing there, crying. He was relieved that she was ok and since I was standing by her, letting her lean on me, he knew that I was ok. He still couldn't see who was on the couch because so many paramedics were in the way. He remembered that Austin has been sick for 3 weeks and has asthma, he then wondered if Austin was ok. Just then he was able to see that it was his dad sitting on the couch, talking to the paramedics. He told me later that he was relieved because he thinks of his dad as being a big, strong man and that he would be ok. I'm just glad that Karl wasn't having a heart-attack... that is something that he is at risk for because his cholesterol is high - but that's another story for another blog post. haha.

Jessica thanked the paramedics for coming and helping her dad because he is her hero. She also told them that they came to help her when she was coughing up blood a few years ago.

So maybe my life isn't quite as boring as I thought. I guess "normal" doesn't have to be boring. In fact, sometimes I wish my life were a little more boring and less medically interesting? LOL

So now it's time to pass the award on to 5 xxtraordinay bloggers.

First, I give the award to my sister, Karen, at i made it through another day. Her oldest son is battling brain cancer. Her blog is about Marcus, cancer and how cancer effects the rest of the family. They are an amazing family and my nephew, Marcus, is an amazing young man. I hope you pop on over there and at least see the picture of her 4 boys at the top of her blog. That picture makes me smile. They are such great kids!

I give the award to Julia from My Adventures and Antics. Julia has a son with CHD (congenital heart defects) and just recently had her 5th baby! Yes, she has 5 children and still blogs, takes the most amazing photos of the kids, and offers her prayers and support to me and my family. I think she is secretly SuperMom!

Awesome Mom from Adventures of an Awesome (Sometimes) Mom deserves this award! She has two adorable little boys who keep her on her toes. One of the two boys has CHD but I sometimes forget which one since he is so active! She is into knitting and made the cutest dinosaur for her son's birthday!

June at The Burnett Clan in Co has two awesome teenagers, one of which has CF (cystic fibrosis). June's blog is about her family, losing weight, her views on political issues and some fun things mixed in. June is very supportive of me and my family. She's a sweetheart. I hope she accepts the award. ;)

Last, but not least, I give the award to Jennifer at Jennyhaha's Flaw and Disorder. She has a way with words that makes you giggle as you read about her adventures of having 3 "toddlers" and another baby on the way! Yes, I think she's insane - but a sweetie too. One of the twin girls had heart surgery a few months ago. She did very well and is back to her normal, little girl self. Jenny offers humor and support.

And so I come to a close on my award receiving & giving post. I'm on my way to bed and not a moment too soon. I'm tired and sooooooo sleepy.

9 comments:

Awesome Mom said...

Thanks for the award!

I am trying to keep my secret identity secret on the internet (except for people that I really like like you) so it would be great if you could change my secret identity name to my super hero name. :P

Anonymous said...

Thanks! You flatter me though - my super mom moments usually consist of me sailing across the floor on my stomach through my food as I trip over something, etc. :-)

I hope Karl is feeling better and so glad he was ok - I would have been in a total panic. And, normal? I don't think I want that kind of normal ;-).

Thanks again - personally I think you are the super mom of the bunch! I don't know how you manage to hold it all together - you really inspire me. :-)

Journo June aka MamaBear said...

I've had a crazy couple of weeks, but nothing quite that scary. So glad Karl is OK. I've been coughing out a lung myself and getting quite tired of it. All the muscles in my torso are so wiped out and sore. I need to go to my chiropractor again, but we got several inches of snow yesterday so I don't feel like venturing out today.

Thanks so much for the award! You are too sweet. One of the books I've been reading talks about the relationships we develop through the "fellowship of suffering" and I know those of us caring for a sick child and facing the prospect of losing that precious child have a certain kind of bond that will last forever, even if we don't meet face to face in this life.

Sending hugs and prayers to everyone. I can imagine Justen's fears as he drove up to the house!

Nancy Jensen said...

"Awesome Mom", I changed you name as you requested. :) I hope you are having a good day!

Julia, you may not want my "normal" but I surely don't know how I could handle having 5 children. And as I said on your blog, I wouldn't be able to get anything done - I would be smooching and cuddling that cute baby of yours all day long! LOL

June, you are right. When you are constantly caring for a sick child and knowing that you could lose that child and then you connect with other parents who are going through (or have gone through) that same thing, there is a tremendous bond that is formed. I cared for Jessica for 11 years without any local support at all. We went that long without having the internet in our home so when I finally was able to go online and found an online support group who welcomed me with open arms, I was overwhelmed and overjoyed! I have made some very close friends through the internet - you being one of them, of course. :)

falwyn said...

I certainly hope you're all doing better now! Did you get to go to Memoranza?? I've got to find a nice cheap place to scrap... like maybe the study room at the Golf Links library... :) Congrats on your award.

Flawed And Disorderly said...

OH my gosh! Thank you! I don't even come close to being in the same category as you and your other awardees. You guys are incredible and have strength beyond measure. Thank you for including me amidst such greatness. :D

P.S. I had to take down those pastels of the kids because some pervert is bothering me. :( I didn't feel safe having any family pics up anymore.

Karen Russell said...

Would you tell Karl that he's not allowed to do that! Gosh, that would have scared me to death. I am glad he is doing ok and that it wasn't anything too serious. Thanks for the award, and for thinking of me, your little sister. =0)
I pray for you all everyday and keep you in my thoughts. Hope everyone is feeling ok.... and HANG IN THERE!!

Unknown said...

Hi Nancy,

I came across your site a long time ago and just recently started getting into the blog world. I live in Tucson and also have a daughter with a CHD...Tetralogy of Fallot to be exact. I have found it very helpful reaching out to other heart families online so I'm trying to start a local support group. I have spoken with Katie Delgado and she is no longer doing the HeartLight group so I'm trying to get something going. Just wanted to let you know what I'm starting here in Tucson and hope to one day meet you and Jessica. I can't tell you how much of an inspiration you both are to me! I'm happy to hear Jessica is doing well. I hope Karl is feeling better. What a scary experience. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Take Care,
Vanessa

Anonymous said...

Found you at the Mr. Linky on The Ultimate Blog Party!


I hope you will visit me at The Chocolistas...the blog my sister-in-law and I keep...she's in Michigan and I'm in Australia. We blog about all things CHOCOLATE here:
http://thechocolistas.blogspot.com/

I'm originally from Michigan. How did I end up in Australia? Last March I married an Aussie! He's a WONDERFUL man! I keep in touch with family and friends in America through my blog A Cup of Joy. If your interested in what life is like for an American in Australia stop by for a visit:
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/

I'm a busy lady. I have three blogs! My third blog is Comfort Joy Designs where I post my challenges as a Daring Baker and display my handmade items. I love to sew and quilt and knit. My latest kick has been handmade pocket place mats. Have a look here:
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/

Have a Happy Day!