Decorating for Fall

Today I decided it was time to get over my laziness and haul the box of fall decorations upstairs. 

I love fall...even if the temps lately don't feel very fallish.  Still in the 70's and as I think it will be all week.  High 70's later in the week as a matter of fact.

I went grocery shopping yesterday and got the traditional apple cider.  Tomorrow I'll dissect one of those pumpkins in our garden so that I can roast the seeds.

Another plus...putting out the fall decorations forced me to clean...you know dust and vacuum.  Yeah, haven't done as much of that lately as I should be.

And to complete the fall feeling...a pumpkin pie candle filling the house with an amazing scent.

Someone Got Into a Little Trouble This Morning

I let Ollie out this morning - as I usually do.  Only this time he seemed to be gone for a long time and not coming back - so I went to look for him.

I spotted him deep in our backyard lying on the ground, which he never does because if he's outside, he is running around and exploring.

So I called for him to come.  It appeared to me as if he couldn't get up.  he wanted to come but something was stopping him.  So I walked out to find out what was going on.

And this is what I found:

My husband had set this trap to capture the skunks that keep digging holes in our yard and used brats as bait to lure the unsuspecting creatures.

But the wrong unsuspecting creature was the victim.

And being the good dog owner that I am...instead of letting him out right away...I ran back inside to get my camera.

I'm only shocked that he didn't even bark or whine to get out and I have no idea how long he was in there.

Autumn Colors

Seems like within this past week the trees have come alive with color. We've had some pretty cool mornings but by midday it has been warming up to the high 60's/low 70's.  Once again this year we are experiencing a mild fall.

Things have slowed down a bit here...but just a bit. It still seems like I'm either working at home or at school.  And don't even get me started on how much laundry there seems to be in this house.

But this beautiful weather allows for quiet evening walks when life can slow down - even for just a moment.

There is something relaxing about walking on a path where the water is lapping over the rocks on one side while the cattails are rustling in the soft breeze on the other side.

Appreciating the bluest of blue skies contrasting against the brilliant colors of the changing leaves.

And who better to share this peaceful walk with than my buddy...

New Shoes

I love pumas.  I love pink.  I love pink pumas!

So I love my new shoes...and they were free...a buy one get one when I bought Zack's shoes.

Bitter Pill

Is there anyone out there that isn't aware of how the Monday night match between the Packers and Seahawks ended?

Can't believe so!

Anyway...I have no opinion on the call...AHEM!

But you be the judge:

Simultaneous catch?

Sure...why not...as long as the definition of a catch is "you need to be touching the person holding the ball!"

But let's back track a few seconds shall we...Pass Interference?

Nah...apparently the new rules in the NFL allow for you to push anyone down who is standing in front of you.

But the biggest question is: Clueless Refs?

Mmmm...well...at at any rate the one on the right is clueless - and may I add he was in NO position whatsoever to even make a call in the first place!

But I'm not bitter...nope!

At least those in the know around the NFL know the Packers got robbed out of a win as shown in the latest NFL power rankings which still have the team as #4.

4

1-2 PACKERS

1 

I'm not dropping Green Bay more than one spot for that loss (win). And I even feel bad about that one little spot.

Sunday Football

One of the things the boys are enjoying now that Jon is back home is playing sports together.  Sunday I caught Jon and Zack throwing the football arround...though sometimes they also play basketball and sometimes baseball.

Zack, who used to be my uncoordinated little guy, is getting quite good at all sports!

Jon actually caught this one

Sunday Walk

To replace the boring walk around our yard, we have been taking Ollie to a nearby reserve that allows dogs to walk unleashed.  

They have a couple different walking paths...hubby likes one path because he sees more wildlife (deer) but I like this one that follows the lake.

Ollie doesn't care which path we walk...he just trots ahead of us sniffing around.

And while he trots ahead of us...he looks back intermittently to make sure we are following him.

And when we hide on him...testing to see what he will do...he turns around and runs back to find us...it is so cute!

This convinces me that he really is attached to us and that he knows who we are.

As we are attached to him.  Yes indeed, we are loving our walks.

Pumpkins Anyone?

I think it is safe to say that we have way more pumpkins this year than we need...at least 20-25 of them.

I'm looking forward to all the pumpkin seeds...yum!

Zack

One of my favorite pictures of Zack is also one that has some very painful memories.

I took this picture at our school's Christmas concert when Zack was in fifth grade.  

Why is it painful for me to look at?  See all those people to his left?  They are his classmates.  And, for some reason, they decided that Zack was not worthy of their attention.  On this day, as was usual practice, they went out of their way to flock together and leave him on the outside. This, in fact, was one of the main reasons I decided to get him out of that environment and bring him back to the 4th grade in January.

It was a difficult decision to make but, in the end, I knew I had prayed about it for months and that God kept leading me to make this move.  

And it has turned out to be quite simply the BEST.DECISION.EVER!

His classmates are outstanding.  And he has grown so much in the past three years.  He has gone from liking Pokeman to being crazy about sports and from a small, skinny kid to a tall(er), teenager who is pretty well developed muscularly. He has gone form watching cartoons to watching Sports Center 24/7.

I believe his knowledge and interest in sports coupled with his success on the basketball court has contributed to his rise in popularity among his classmates. But whatever the reason...he has quite a few friends!  

At the retreat I was talking to a father whose son is struggling socially right now.  And as i was telling him about the difficulties I went through with Zack, he seemed genuinely surprised. He said to me "Really?  My son always talks about how popular Zack is."

I hate that word popular and all that it implies.  But whatever you want to call it...Zack has come miles from where he used to be.

In the Computer Room on Friday I can't tell you how many times I heard "hey, Zack" because his classmates wanted his attention for some reason or another.  Yesterday, he had a friend over in the afternoon...even as he was getting a phone call from another friend who wanted him to come over.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for bringing him to this point.  But one reason that picture above is so important to me is that it is also so important for me to remember where he was..and thank God for that to.  It is all part of that painful growth I wrote about. 

Zack is only 13 and I know he is not finished with that painful growth...but for today, I am thankful that things are going well for him.

My Dog

....otherwise known as Ollie...or my baby

Also known as...a big, stinkin mama's boy.

Loves people, walks, and going in the car (with mama only).

Loves to cuddle and loves hugs, kisses, and pettings

Sleeps in his own little bed right next to me.

he is a very good boy who listens well...

and he couldn't be more loved!!!

Breathing

I haven't brought this up in a while but it is not because anything is better...quite the opposite is true.  

Fact is, for the past few months I have had to take narcotics on a pretty consistent basis to get any kind of relief from the pain I feel in my chest.  As long as I do this...I feel normal.  But as soon as I do not take anything for a few days in a row...the pain comes back.  It is a constant pain coupled with shortness of breath.

The bronchoscopy in May yielded no definite answers so, after much googling and online research, I have decided to go with the diagnosis (given to me in January 2005) that makes the most sense to me and fits my symptoms the best...lung scarring. 

It makes sense given the number of times I have had pneumonia and bronchitis in my life...not to mention the countless respiratory infections.  And it would explain the constant pain.  

Good news is that my doctor is on board with ordering a CT of my lungs which will, once and for all, give me this answer!!!!

Bad news is that there is no cure, no improvement, and no treatment other than what we are already doing. 

We Will Never Forget