Familiar faces...

Yesterday I ran into Wal-Mart after work.  It was a quick trip with the kids.  A woman was standing by the jewelry counter with a friend and she said hello to me.  I said hi back and kept walking.  Then I stopped and did a double take because I knew that I knew her from somewhere.  She had turned as well and she asked me if she knew me from somewhere as well.  Instantly I knew her face and realized that she was one of the Child Life Specialists we had met on our trips to the Children's Hospital with Molly.  She is a very kind woman with a big smile.  I will never forget her.  That part of this story isn't as important as the part I want to share about my feelings after I saw this familiar woman.

You see, it's been 4 years since Molly had so many set backs from surgery complications.  It's hard to realize that she has doubled her life (she was 3 1/2, she now is 7 1/2) since she was in the hospital.  I don't think about it all the time but certain things trigger memories and especially feelings of that time. 

My reflections on that 6 months 4 years ago is still very strong.  I know with even more time it will soften.  And I will always be so very grateful and recognize how very blessed we were to be a success story.  It was a God moment.  I truly know that. 

I try really hard to not talk about it too much.  But I also realize that it is an important part of who I have become, especially as Molly's mom.  I learned that you ALWAYS speak up for your child, you ALWAYS ask for further explanations on things if you don't understand and you ALWAYS tell your children the truth about what is going to happen.  I know many parents believe that sheltering their children from the harsh realities is best but I do not.  No, I don't give the gory details but I do not lie and I do not withhold information.  Both of my parents had serious surgeries when I was a kid/early teenager and they always told my brother and I what was going to happen.  I have always appreciated that my parents were honest and Mr. Shook and I have done the same.

Last week my girl, Molly, was star of the week in her 2nd grade class.  You get to take in show and tell every day for a week.  On the first day Molly took Josh, the dog you get on the pre-op tour when visiting the Children's Hospital.  Molly has loved that dog from day one.  She sleeps with it almost every night.  I asked Molly what she was going to tell her class about Josh.  She said that she would tell them that she got him from the hospital.  The best part to me is that Josh is a part of her life, but she doesn't actually remember being given Josh.  She was too young to really remember.  When you ask her about her hospital experiences she can't really share many details.  Molly remembers getting to watch movies, getting a new set of Polly Pockets, having a catheter.  That's about it.  I find this absolutely perfect.  I am willing to bear all of the feelings we all had during that time myself.  Molly doesn't remember hurting, being scared or being in any pain.  I remember it all. 

And, I am the most proud of how well Mr. Shook and I handled ourselves through the experience.  If you are reading this blog and you are not our family or from the time we lived in Michigan or Ohio we didn't know you 4 years ago.  We had only lived in Illinois a little over 4 months.  I think God has now put people in our path that we can really call friends, but it was just the two of us, our two other children and thank god, my brother and sister-in-law.  We didn't have many to turn to so we turned to each other.  I am so lucky to have Mr. Shook as my rock.  Not just in this situation but every day. 

4 years ago on Valentine's Day Molly had her third surgery in a week and we ate Avanti's carry out in the hospital as our "romantic" dinner.  I will skip the flowers and candy every year just so I don't have to have Valentine's any where but with my family.  God blessed us that Valentine's Day and I will always remember it. 

And, I will try my hardest not to talk about it too much.  But, I make no promises.  It's a part of who I am. 

Enjoy this week of love and family! 

Valentine's Day par-tay...

It is hard for me to believe that it has been 3 years since we spent time at the hospital with our Molly. Valentine's Day 2009 was probably one of the toughest days that Mr. Shook and I have had. I am sooooo glad that Valentine's Day 2012 looked a little like this...

And a little like this...

Very fun times in a First Grade party!!

As much as I know that Mr. Shook and I grew from our hospital experiences of past, it will remain to me like a band-aid that needs removed. You know you need to rip it off quick but your afraid to do so for a second. We heal all the time but my heart still quickens when we have to go to the hospital. Tomorrow Amanda goes for a routine ultrasound and urology visit and I look forward to reporting back good results!

Hope your Valentine's Day was full of love, laughter and togetherness!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Sorry. I'm warning you now that this post is going to be a little unorganized or have some really random thoughts on it. Thoughts have been swirling around in this pretty little head of mine (that's what Mike says). Here's a start.

I know some of you were tired of hearing about my anxiety regarding the Valentine's treat for Cameron's Kindergarten class and Molly's preschool class. I had decided on these cute Cupid cupcakes. The first problem - Cameron didn't know what a cupid was. Arrows, love, arrows shooting you in the heart, sounded like a good Star Wars movie to him. The second problem - as I made the first 2 or 3 he comes over to check them out. He states, "aren't they going to just have sprinkles? I only want sprinkles." Oh. So here's what we did...





They were a hit with 6 year olds, too!

When we were trying to decide on a small yet fun little gift for the kiddos for Valentine's Day I was really stuck on what to do. Thank you Michael Shook for suggesting new supplies for our church bag. Color Wonder markers and coloring books and paper, new Twistable Crayola crayons and some stickers completed the gift. They were a hit for everyone and will keep us busy for at least 3 weeks.

When we were trying to come up with the above gift Mike asked what we did last year. Last year our 3 year old was laying in a hospital bed having just undergone her 3 surgery in a week. I am really, really trying not to dwell upon what that week was like. I still get major anxiety just thinking about the situation but I am also really, really damn proud of how Mike and I handled everything. I think it is really one of our best moments as a couple and as parents. We were (for the most part - more Mike than me) calm and collected for our little girl. I was a puddle of tears when she wasn't looking. But, we learned a lot about ourselves, we learned a lot about Molly and we learned that it is perfectly ok to ask questions. We showed a lot of patience. A lot. But, we were fortunate that our patience paid off. It is all good now. Thank you, God.

Note to self. When you give your two oldest children a high tech toy like a Nintendo DS it is not the wisest mood to EVER, and I mean EVER, show it to one younger child say around 2 1/2. The number of meltdowns involved over the toy will never, ever be worth it. I think I may have hearing loss in one ear do to the DS. I am giving you all a fair warning and I may say I told you so. Don't do it!

I can't believe I forgot to show a picture of Cameron's Valentine's box for school. It took 2 parents and one 6 year old to assemble. I am totally saving this to use again next year!!



Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! I did!