Raising Hands

Last Tuesday Isabella and I ventured to Wilmington to meet with a pediatric surgeon. We are very blessed to live so near one of the best children's hospitals in the nation. We met the surgeon to discuss treatment/repair of an umbilical hernia defect she's had since birth. We also learned that she has not one but two hernias. The second is located above the bellybutton called an epi-gastric hernia. I'll cut to the chase. She doesn't need surgery now and best case scenario she may never need surgery. The goal is if surgery becomes necessary that she only need one surgery to repair both defects. Are you confused? Simply put, Bella is great and we'll be meeting with Dr. Murphy (who totally reminds me of Mr Rogers) annually for the next several years to keep an eye on things. Fresh off a trip to see her Ped where she received a few immunizations Bella was naturally a little nervous to be heading to another doctors appointment. (But doesn't she look fabul...

I downloaded an new app a couple months ago and have been trying it out in the hopes of finding new things to write about. Have you heard of BrightNest? It's a fun app to help you clean, organize, and beautify your home. Through the profile you create you are provided with weekly cleaning, organizing and decorating suggestions sent straight to your smart phone. In case you think, "I don't have time for that!" It even has a suggested amount of time each task should take to complete. I honestly don't do most of the things they suggest. My organization needs require professional help at this point. Or my mother. But I have taken some of the quick cleaning suggestions and now have a fool proof and great smelling no chemical solution to cleaning my microwave. This seriously works! I've done the same procedure with vinegar. But then the house smelled like......vinegar Haven't you always wanted to clean with coca-cola? You inspec...

Last week Stephen, the kids, and I traveled to Hershey, PA for the funeral of Stephen's grandmother. She was mother to Steve's Dad. At least the only mother he'd ever known. You see, Mom Gus was a pretty special lady. She and her husband of 50+ years Walter, were house parents to boys from the Milton Hershey School. My Father in-law grew up in an orphanage. She and Walter had two biological children but holidays and birthdays always brought a homecoming   of her boys around to pay homage to this tiny, tough, and very sweet lady who raised them. I say boys. Most of these men are now in their seventies! But when they get together it's not difficult to imagine what they were all like as tots. I met Mom Gus when she braved the cold and snowy trip to Fort Wayne for our wedding. She hugged me and told me all about how she never thought her Stephen was going to get married. She'd bought a dress years ago thinking she'd wear it to his wedding and had figured she...