Tuesday, December 29, 2009

So much to blog...

Well I need to write about our fantastic Christmas weekend but I'm tired and I don't think I could keep all of my thoughts straight. :) So I'll come back to xmas, promise!

I do think of my blog as something to reference back to about Cody and his journey. On Christmas eve his right bottom tooth (which has been loose) became extremely loose. I thought maybe that Santa and the tooth fairy would be coming on the same night. But.....Cody freaked out when he saw the blood and wouldn't let me near his mouth. So it has stayed. Last night, with a little brotherly help, the tooth got hit again and again more blood and it's so super loose. Just barley hanging on. He won't let me just pull it. He goes into hysterics and cries. He says things like "why do I have to loose my teeth". Forgive me but a part of me laughs cause it's a tooth and he will get an adult one, but then a part of me crumbles because he won't get an adult one for every tooth. And at the ripe age of almost 6, he has had a lot done on his mouth. Way more than most adults in a lifetime. So the tooth is still very very loose and still in his mouth. I am waiting for another "brotherly love contact" and it will be out.

Today thought he really got to me. He woke up the other morning with an itchy rash. This morning it was still present and after talking with my sister she convinced me to call the doctor. So after I got the appointment, I called home to tell Cody that I would be home to get him. What I got next I wasn't expecting. He told me he didn't want to go to the doctor, asked why he always had to go, why doesn't Dylan, how he wished Dylan was born first and not him and then Dylan would have to go, and then I faintly heard him say I wish Dylan was born with a cleft. OK.....that last one got me!!!!! Thankfully, I was at work and he quickly gave the phone to his dad. I really hope he doesn't think he has all of this because he was born first. What do I say to him? That god thought he was super special. While I agree - I question it at times. So friends...family....I'm puzzled....what have you said?

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

"Is Santa coming tonight"??????

That is the question I get asked nightly when tucking my 3 little boys into bed. No.......not tonight but very soon. My 3 are super excited for Christmas. They are trying to be as well behaved as possible - even though that is extremely hard at times. I'm trying to find those extra patients as well, that is hard at times too! But.....with a few late nights, a few longer than normal shopping trips, I am wrapped, menu is planned, food is bought, stocking stuff is ready, teacher gifts are delivered, xmas cards out and the Luckey house is ready for the big man in red to come! :)

Yesterday the boys all had their school parties. I am still trying to figure out how to be in two classrooms at the same time. I visited Dylan's class first and then went to Cody's. By the time I got back to Dylan's - they were done. Thankfully, Tyler's was in the afternoon and at a different school. Today is the last day before they break for Christmas. I am looking forward to having a week to myself and eating normal lunches. I am sure my mom is NOT looking forward to the week as she will have them all day!

Last weekend, we went to Cuba to have Christmas with the Luckey's. It is always crazy when everybody is home but so much fun. The kids have a blast playing together. We were 1 grandkid shy this year as baby Samuel is still in the hospital but with any luck he'll be home soon.

On our way home, we stopped at my Dad's to see what was in the workshop. For those that don't know, my Dad is awesome with wood and making things. I have many beautiful items in my house that he has made over the year. I really hoped some day he would do something for my boys. He is! They are all getting toy boxes. Not sure what I'm doing with 3 of them but trust me - I am sure we will have no problem filling them! :) They will have them forever and know that he put a lot of time and effort into them. I will post pictures when we get them.

Gearing up for the next few days. Not much planned for Xmas eve. Brett has to work which is a total bummer. They are letting them out 2 hours early but for Brett that is 9pm.....big deal. So I think we will decorate some cookies, bake some more and maybe do a good cleaning of the house so Santa has lots of room to leave his stash. Oh and I might need to pick up one more gift so I may have to hit the mall. yuck! Christmas day we are having everybody down for dinner at my house. This is a first and I'm looking forward to it. Brett will bake us lasagna and we'll have a nice Italian dinner. Saturday morning my brother comes home. I can not wait to get all 6 grandkids together. So much fun to be had over the weekend. Saturday we'll do gifts from my mom and to each other and then Sunday we plan to have a fun outside day at Tanya's. Shaun has been busy making his own ice rink. (that might be a little redneckish...but it will be fun)

From Our Family to Yours.....Merry Christmas!!!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Gearing up for the holiday....

I, like all of you, am super busy getting everything in order for the holiday. Shopping is about done. Just a couple last minute gifts to buy and then comes the task of wrapping. I've found that my nights aren't long enough for all that I want to accomplish before my eyes are ready to shut. It will get done though.....

We started a few new family traditions this year. I cherish my family traditions from when I was young. One being hanging our new ornament on the tree. I picked this up with my boys this year. Cody and Dylan both got a personalized ornament that symbolized the loss of their first tooth and the date that happened and Tyler got a personalized firetruck (which was the theme of his birthday this year). I also remember as a child hanging up our red stockings on Christmas eve. My mom had decorative ones that her mother had made that hung up after Thanksgiving until we got to hang the ones that Santa would fill. Well this year in the Luckey house we adopted an Elf for the season. It's the Elf on the Shelf. He arrived on the first day of December - the same day that the "elves" come to pick up the wrapping paper we have bought to take back to Santa for his wrapping. His job is to sit and observe the behavior of the kids and at night, when they are sleeping, he gains his magic and travels to the North Pole to tell Santa. It works! SORT OF! :) The kids know he leaves because when he comes back he is in a new spot. Every morning the boys have fun looking to see where "Snowball" is (you get to name your elf and that's what we chose). On occasion he is in the same spot - oops - that means Daddy Elf forgot to move him. :) At the request of the boys, we are starting a collection of Nutcrackers. We will get one per year and someday when they are older and coming home for Christmas it will be cool to look back on and "remember when". Our first nutcracker is a Chef. He has a white puffy hat on, a red apron, a pizza in one hand and a cutter in the other. Totally fits our life right now as pizza is the number one dinner choice (tied with McDonald's).

We had a nice holiday party at a co-workers house. My company has decided to not do a party this year - to the disappoint of all employees. I have a lot of thoughts on that but maybe shouldn't write them - they aren't nice and it's 'tis the season! :) I will be busy though with the 3 school parties - all on the same day! Thanks teachers.....LOL...Trying to keep it straight as to what I have to buy for whose party. Thank goodness for sticky notes.

In some ways I feel very much behind but I am sure I will catch up. We are going to the in-laws this coming weekend for our family Christmas. So I am missing a whole weekend - although it's worth it. I just might have some long nights ahead of me. Bedtime can't come soon enough.

The boys - well they are just super excited for the man in red to show up. Every night before bed they ask if Christmas is tomorrow. I think they will like what Santa has under the tree. They no doubt will make out like bandits - lots of people that love them that get way to much! I can't wait to spend it with family.

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Ortho Visit 12.08.09

Not the best picture (I forgot my camera so I used my camera phone) but this is Cody's bite as of today. And for most of you it doesn't look that good but trust me - this is. Before the appliance you couldn't see his top teeth as they sat behind the bottom ones. He is coming along great.

Dr. D was very proud of his clean teeth and that he wore his special t-shirt. (They give a tshirt to all the kids wearing appliances and if you wear them you get a raffle ticket for a Target gift card). At first Dr. D tried to use some bonding material and glue the wire to the top teeth. But after he did it - it all came off. He is working with very little teeth. So instead he bent the wire and repositioned it. He still has one loose tooth on the bottom that we need to try and wiggle out of there. On the top the dead tooth is still holding on. He moved the wire from it as there is nothing to work against. He said he'll leave the tooth though as long as it doesn't cause him issues. So we will just watch it.

We don't have to go back for 6 weeks. Yeah! The weird thing is that is AFTER their birthday! UGH - they are turning 6 right around the corner. Crazy!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Catch-up

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. Had dinner at my mom's and got to enjoy her yummy turkey. I tried my hand at a couple peanut butter/chocolate pies and they were super yummy too. After dinner we did the normal, sat down with the sale ads to see what we "had to have". I did take one for "team shopping" early Thursday morning. After we woke up, Cody and I headed out to pick up the paper. I go no where without a shower and my hair/make-up done. I threw pants on and my coat, combed my hair, put a little eye liner on and we were off. I looked "fantastic"! LOL...but I got a paper and who cares. :)

I talked my mom and sister into embarking on our first Black Friday ever. We woke up early Friday morning - 4am and headed to Target. I was shocked at the line of people. I have never seen that out shopping. We entered the store that was jammed pack, no carts and headed in our own ways to get the deals we came to get. I have to say we succeeded. At about 6am, Tanya said we better find the check out line and so we did. We waited for over an hour. It was pure fun. You totally have to be a shopper to appreciate it all. An adrenalin rush is all I can think of. After all of that shopping, I had to work. I will totally take off next year. Once I got home I decided that I had to keep going. If I stopped I would crash. So instead we got out the tree and decorated.

Now the count down is on to Christmas. The boys have made list after list and want everything under the sun. Santa is figuring out what they really want. The goal is to finish shopping and decorating, do some baking and enjoy the holidays with family!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I'm thankful for:

I thought today would be the best day to think of some of the things I am thankful for. Since it's 2009, I'll pick 9 things, in random order of course. I asked the boys tonight as we sat down to dinner what they were thankful for and I got....

Tyler - "I'm thankful for my toys".....(what 4 year old wouldn't say that)
Dylan - "I'm thankful for my family"....(ah that is so sweet especially coming from the kid who told his father today that "you woke up in a good mood today")
Cody - "I'm thankful for all of my bakugan and my family"..... (glad the virtual world is before the real world)

Now "my" turn:

1. I am thankful for my family. I have an amazing husband who I have loved for a very long time, 14 years exactly and some might even say longer than that. I have 3 amazing little boys that have taught me so much in their short years on this earth. I have a wonderful mother who is my best friend and teaches me many wisdom's in life. I have the best sister that any person could ask for. She truly is my best friend and I would be lost without her. I have a very heroic brother who I think of every night before I go to bed to make sure he is safe at night as he protects and serves and I only wished I saw him more. My sister and brother have the best families who I love with all my heart. I have a pretty great Dad as well, even though our relationship has been tested over the past 5 years I have faith that I will gain back some of what was lost, or at least I will try. I also can't forget the "in-law" family that without them I wouldn't have my husband.

2. I am thankful for amazing doctors. I had an amazing doctor that helped us conceive the first time. Little did I know, I ended up with another amazing doctor who monitored me very closely and let me give birth to healthy twins. Just when I thought doctor's were done, I found that I would become super close to another set of amazing doctors in Syracuse at the CNY cleft and craniofacial center. Just after them we found an amazing dentist who is doing wonders.

3. I am thankful for another set of family - that is my craniofacial family. I have met the most amazing kids, amazing parents and at times this family might just take a step above my regular family. Some people think what we face with Cody is "fixed" and "done" but they couldn't be more wrong and this family "gets it" and has "been there, done that" and I know I can share anything with them. Thank you AmeriFace!!!!

4. I am thankful I have a great job and work with great people. I've been there for 8 years and in a way this group has also become family. I think I see them more than my own. Every job has the pluses and minus but we make the most of it and enjoy our day.

5. I am thankful for the things we have and what we don't. I really believe that all good things come to those that wait.

6. I am thankful for the Internet. Is that dumb? Without the Internet I couldn't type my thoughts to share with my kids later, I wouldn't be able to connect with old friends, I wouldn't be able to shop and search for items that my local store can't provide.

7. I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. I can take the occasional cold or flu, ear infection, even will take the thyroid problem of Cody and all that he has been through to know that for now, in the end all is OK. I however realize that that can change and I am watching an amazing women put up a great fight and her courage is something I hope one day I have if need be.

8. I am thankful for my friends. As you get older and lives change you do see who your true friends are as they have changed with you.

9. I am thankful......for...........all the things I didn't write. For all the things big and small. For being able to wake up in the morning, watching all the parades with my boys, cook up some pies and green bean casserole (my addition to dinner), load my family in the car and head to my Mom's house where we will sit down and have a great dinner. Laugh, stuff ourselves, wish my brother was there, make a couple jokes all in good light, search the sale flyer's, eat again and come home and sleep like no tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A little behind...

It seems I am a little behind in blogging. I have lots of good intentions to write and update what is new with us. Not so much for all of you that read and follow (thank you for wanting to follow) but for me to have to look back on and enjoy the memories.

I left off about parent - teacher conferences. Still so happy that the boys continue to love school. On Friday, the 13th we received some sad news. Brett's grandma Luckey passed away. She was 95 and really did live a great life. She was a very sweet lady. I remember when I joined their family that she always had a warm hand to lend out to me and always a big hug and kiss each time we saw her. She reminded me so much of my own grandmother that I still miss every day. It was probably that they were a lot a like. Lived in the same small town, were both a farmer's wife, great cooks, made those forever home made items (growing up it was my dolls and clothes and such and Grandma Luckey made my boys each a baby blanket). We last had a nice visit with her over Labor Day when this picture was taken... It now hangs on our wall and will be cherished forever. She will be missed but never forgotten.

Over this past weekend, we took the boys and Karly and Connor to the mall for their pictures with Santa. It is super early and Tanya and I felt guilty even doing it before Thanksgiving. But the time was right and we did beat the lines. So that was nice.

Apparently we didn't get the cropped version of this email to us, I assure you the printed version did come out much better. However, I do need to complain a little about the price of these pictures. For one picture it cost $9. I think that is extremely high! Then to have it emailed to you - they wanted $3 more. CRAZY! I can't imagine how much they make off the holiday season. I do however like our Santa. He looks genuine but he is a hip santa as he was sporting a nice diamond stud in his ear. I am thinking he probably should of removed that for the kids sake but I guess mine didn't see it.

Ah yes, so the Christmas holiday is upon us. I really think we should get Thanksgiving done with first. I have fought the urge to put out any decorations. I haven't even done the outside lights yet. Although I should have as we have had some nice weather. But it's not Christmas without putting lights up in the cold and snow! :) The boys have been compiling their list for Santa and let me just tell you - Santa is still clueless as to what to get. They want "everything"! I just don't feel like they have that "one thing, got to have present" this year. You visit the toy isle with them and they want one of everything. Cody is pretty easy - he wants everything and anything Bakugan. And thankfully that is a popular item this year and shouldn't be to hard to find. Dylan, he wants an air hockey table, boxing gloves (rolling eyes, um NO) and Tyler....well Tyler has come out with that he wants "a boxing ring with bunnies inside".............NO CLUE what that this or where to find it. A boxing ring OK - but seriously I have no idea why he wants that. We don't even watch wrestling! So Santa has some thinking and searching to do.

Today is Connor's 3rd Birthday. So hard to believe he is 3 already. I still remember the day that Karly called me and told me that her mommy was going to have a baby. We all couldn't believe it. After the surprise of Tyler (as he wasn't planned) we never would of thought in a million years that Connor would of come along. So glad he did! He has a great personality and is very wise for his years. I do laugh as he does keep my sister hopping! :) He has a great love for the outdoors as he gets that from his Dad. Tyler and him are best buddies! Connor will do just about anything as long as Tyler has done it or is doing it with him. If Tanya wants him to do something all she has to say is "well Tyler wears big boy underwear" and POOF so does Connor. We call them our blanket boys as they still have a love for their blue blankets. Fleece material on one side and silk on the other. We get to celebrate with him tonight and then Saturday for his party.

Hard to think that Thanksgiving is in 2 days. I am really looking forward to my mom's turkey dinner. She does make the best and I think I should not eat for the next 2 days so I can be sure to hungry for everything. So that won't really happen but it's a thought! Cody had a "bread feast" as school yesterday. The kids made hats and all sat around and sang about 10 jingles of Turkey songs. It was very cute and then we got to feast on all sorts of different types of bread. For Cody this was like heaven (all he was missing was his chips)......he is my bread boy!


Cody's class

Cody's favorite foods!