WRESTLING

Another tournament down! 2 More to go! Here are the 45 pounder and the 75 pounder- wouldn't you be afraid? There were over 300 children wrestling in this tournament. I guess wrestling is alive and well here!!!! I wish I could say it was controlled chaos but well- it was just chaos! Ben placed fifth and Gabe fourth. Even though Gabe placed higher, he wanted Ben's GREEN ribbon- go figure!! Gabe eventually fell asleep waiting for Ben's final match. They are showered, feed and will be in bed by 6:30! Now THAT makes me happy

SCUBA LESSONS

Ben had his first scuba diving lesson today and man- oh- man was he a happy boy! Our country club has a salt water pool so it was the perfect setting for the lessons and the group was small which is always good. He just loved it! His friend Grant was able to go with him so they had fun together. Ben was amazed that he could go back and forth on the bottom of the pool without ever coming to the surface. What a wonderful way to spend a cold February day!!!

FAUX HAWK

This is Gabe's new hairstyle. Apparently it is called a faux hawk. Gabe was very set on having this look for school today. So-- after his haircut this morning, the stylist spiked his hair and I learned this look is called a faux hawk. A mohawk without the actual shaving of hair- which is always good!!!!

Get ready to cry

Weekend

We had a very busy weekend here. The Pinewood Derby took place on Saturday. The only car that placed was the Goodwill truck in the adult division(2nd) but the kids had a great time. There was THE BEST DJ there. He was so great with the kids. The rest of our weekend was filled with sledding. Today at one time there were 9 boys aged 18months-9 years old on the hill. But I have to say, my favorite part of this weekend was to watch Ben completely absorbed in books. I do not know what his teacher said to him, but he wanted to read a total of 5 hours this weekend and he DID! He was reading as he was walking, in the car, at the pinewood derby, before bed, whenever he could. Have I told you yet how HAPPY this makes me? Maybe my love of reading, and some genius remark by his teacher, will make this an everyday occurrence.

Breathe

Breathe-
It sounds so simple, but it is something I have had a hard time doing for the last 17 days. I have not been able to catch my breath-- Panic Attack?- OH SO CLOSE, Nervous breakdown? Does sitting at the computer drinking a milkshake listening to 80's music count?
Which leads to the question- If your child was sick, and you were looking for answers, at what point do you say enough and let it be?
It is a parent's natural instinct to want what is best for their child. When they are sick, we give them medicine. When they fall down, we pick them up. When something is broken, we fix it. AND- when someone with a medical degree recommends a test, you say OK because they are a trained, knowledgeable, smart and what they say to you makes perfect sense And on that day- you see HOPE in the never ending quest to make your child well. They lay it all out- and you say yes. Let's test for THAT- not really knowing what THAT is. Then it happens- the doctor tells you what THAT is, you google THAT into the computer, you read reputable medical sites and you start to FREAK OUT because THAT test is a test for X-ALD for which there is no cure- there is rapid decline, eventually death and you could tick off EVERY symptom on the list and things make sense and then they tell you, as if THAT test is no big deal, that it will take 14 DAYS to get the results.
SO- you wait- and wait- and wait!!!! Wait to find out if your child will celebrate another birthday, will need a transplant, will be in pain, suffer, grow up... and you wait some more.
During this waiting time, you still have to go on with life and all the OTHER problems that arise- Homework, doctors visits, practices, lunch plans, snow days, fender benders, gossip, tears- and you try not to think about it and you try to move forward but you can't breathe and it is hard to go forward, and with every big or small thing that happens during this time and you move closer to realizing what stress can do to a body.
Then, FINALLY -17 days later- the call. He does NOT have THAT!!! You decide after praying and thanking God that you are done.
There will be no more tests.
There will be no more searching for answers.
There will be no more drug "therapy"
There will be no more weekly shots.
There will be... nothing.
You decide- your child- your 8 year old who you love more that life is going to be an 8 year old boy
He is going to play and love and be who he is
No one is going to tell you HOW he should act, how others his age should act. He is going to be- 8- a boy- and happy.
You stop worrying.
and you remember the day before- the ashes in a sign of the cross on your forehead. You heart is humbled and your faith restored.
Everything is OK
Life is OK and you
Breathe

UNFINISHED BASEMENT

Kevin and I have been debating weather to finish our basement. I am saying Backyard pool, Kevin is saying basement.  There are benefits to having an unfinished basement.  We have been roller blading at night.  Ben has been doing great, he can turn in circles and go backwards.  I am ready to give him a comb with his name on it for his back pocket( you will only understand if you grew up in the 70's) Gabe has actually let go of the pool table and is creeping along. They have also been riding big wheels, scooters, etc.  If we finish the basement, what will we do?  Sit like lumps in front of a giant TV.  I am still saying backyard pool!!!!!!

Valentines Day 2010

Happy Valentines day from the Kahl Family.  We hope your day is a fun one!!!!  We have had our treasure hunt, eaten heart shaped banana muffins, gone to church and are off to baseball tryouts!! 

WHY

Gabe LOVES the word WHY!  He uses it every chance he gets! He wants to know why we are going to the store. Why isn't food free? Why his boot is blue. Why snow is wet. SO- after the week I have had- I have a few WHYS of my own.

Why do people not look when they pull out of their driveways? Hey- I do not care- My van is a 2001, smells like rotten milk and I have a vaild license and insurance- enough said!

WHY do they ask so many questions when I use my debit card.  What do they mean, do I want it all on this card?  Can I put it on 5 different cards?  Why would I do that?

Why can't a trained service guy fix my dishwasher? Why do I keep paying him 75.00?

Why do husbands have to travel? Bosses should know, when husbands go away for buisness, there's a whole lot of buisness at home like sinus infections, fevers, snow storms, snow days, children in the master bedroom, mommies forgetting garbage day,  mommies who don't care they just ran out of the house in thier pajamas, the ones with Christmas trees and a hole in the knee- slidding down the driveway in slippers, to make sure the garbage is out in time.

Why do 4 year olds think it is perfectly normal to ask you meaningful questions at 4 AM, like you are just hanging out at the dinner table, instead of lying in bed asleep?  I really can't function at 4 AM much less tell you why you only have one sock on or why your stuffed bear is by your left leg.

Why do parents at doctors offices think it is perfectly OK to send their sick child over to listen to the story I am reading to my children (which is germ free from my clean house) Your child needs a kleenex and a diaper change not a story. (Did I mention Kevin is gone?  I am like that when he is not around!)

Why does Fed Ex think it is OK to be LATE- It is not OK that you were an hour past the promised time.  It is not my fault I could not wait any longer.  WHY don't you turn that truck around- I am home now!

My final Why question of today is- Why do company travel planners book husbands on late flights?  Midnight does not help wives.  5PM does!

OK 1 more-- WHY can't I get spell check to work on this blog? 

Science night take 2

First of all let me say- I do not get embarrased- it goes along with not putting too much emphasis on what people think of me- BUT even I was a little out of my comfort zone with this one. It ranks right up there with running in a hospital gown on a tredmill in front of 4(very young very male) interns at the Mayo Clinic!  The reason I am posting it to the blog- is because Ben saw them, and after picking himself up off the floor told me I should put them on our blog.  OF COURSE I WILL BEN!!! Because I want you to know I am comfortable with me- even though I had to waltz, put on a white helmet, and twirl around in circles, while smelling the rubber burn!-  (Thank goodness they are dark!!) Ben did say- I looked much better in person.  Thank you my darling son!!!