Life....

Yes, it has been forever. So much has been happening. Summer break went way to fast. The boys started school, now Dylan is a big time second grader and Ethan is my little kindergarten. Seriously, where does the time go? I got a full-time job working for Time Warner Cable as a Customer Care Rep. I've been in training for what seems like forever now, (more like 8 weeks) but there is light at the end of the tunnel, as I graduate October 7th!! And the worst news is that my beloved grandma passed away on August 31st, 2010. My heart aches every time I think of her. We miss her dearly around here. It's been an emotional roller coaster, and one that you can never be fully prepared for.

I'm really going to try and get back into the swing of things as far as writing about the family. I feel like life is always going to be busy, so I just need to make time for writing this, as I really do enjoy it. I'm going to start a new blog also. I'm going to be writing about my journey as I prepare for gastric bypass surgery. It's been a long time coming, and I want to remember every detail.

This is it for today. Nothing exciting, I know, but that's what's been happening around here in a nutshell.

As my grandma would say "ta ta for now."

Life...and all that jazz

I don't even know where to start. So much has happened. I know I said this blog would be mainly about the fun stuff we do as a family, but let's face it, that doesn't always happen.

We were hit a blow recently, when Grandma was rushed to the Cleveland Clinic due to her health. My grandma, what can I say? She is stuck in her ways, it's her way or the highway, she about passed out when I got a tattoo let alone when Jeromy and I moved in together before marriage...she told you what she thought, how she feels, and she didn't apologize for it. My grandma is the best person God ever made. As I am writing this, I'm tearing up. It's very difficult to see the ones you love in pain. While visiting her at the Cleveland Clinic, I realized that yes she is still grandma....but NO she really isn't. One minute she knows who you are, the next second she doesn't remember. I don't want to get into details about her health, it doesn't change anything. What I do want to talk about is the void. The void you feel when you can't pick up the phone and call her to tell her about the boys days. The void you feel when you want to go out to dinner with her and grandpa, but you now realize that isn't possible. The void you feel when you look at your kids and realize she isn't going to see them grow up. No more tea parties with grandma (when I was little, those were the best...she made real tea and served them from a real tea pot and tea cups...I have them and proudly display them in my house now) No more shopping at KMart (she loved that store) My heart is breaking for her. She is in a home now and when I went to visit her yesterday she kept asking me to take her home. Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Before long Emily, I'm going to be 6 feet under." She is really ill, but it's not something I want her to think about, nor do I want to think about it. She is the glue that holds this whole family together. I absolutely adore her (even if I don't always agree with her) and this is one of the hardest things we've ever been thru as a family. I need to stop writing for now as I'm crying to the point I can't see the computer screen. Please continue keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Mainly, I'm looking for peace for grandma. She needs it, she just needs peace.

Puppies

As most of you know, Daphne gave birth to 5 puppies about 9 weeks ago. The activity around this house lately has been nothing short of insane. We did find homes for two of the pups pretty early on, but we still had three running around the house. Of course, we all fell in love with them! Since we were having such a difficult time finding good homes, we decided we were ment to keep them all. Five dogs is a lot of dogs, but what fun it was!! Last night I received a phone call stating that my mother-in-law's old neighbor was wanting a male puppy for her grandson. We gathered Happy up (yes the pups name was Happy, Ethan named him) and Jeromy headed off. It really is for the best. Then we got another call from my mother-in-law saying her neighbor's cousin would like a female pup. That's when I started crying. How could I give up these beautiful dogs whom I love and adore? I knew it had to be done, but I wasn't very happy about it. I called Jeromy and told him to come back and get Lily. He headed home and I sat on the back deck and balled like a baby. I miss them terribly....I guess I got way too attached. The boys handled it much better then I did. We are keeping one of the puppies, Lulu...she is a cutie and we all adore her. She's a really good dog and loves to hang out in her cage and sleep or cuddle with the boys and watch TV. Shaggy and Daphne love her too so she was a good choice. I am calling and making an appt for Daphne to get spayed and then I will have Shaggy done. I don't want to go thru more puppies again...I definitely fell for them....way too hard!

Boys and More

Soccer and T-ball and Little League and Cub Scouts....HOLY CRAP!! Cannot believe all the activities my boys are involved in. They wanted to do all these sports, and I am glad they love to do them, but somedays I feel like a taxi cab rather then a mommy. Running here, there and everywhere at all times. Oh....and we can't forget the homework that needs done (which blows my mind the amount of homework a first grader has) and they have to find time to play with their friends of course. It's good that they are involved and busy, don't get me wrong, but they just seem so young to to be so involved. I guess it's true what they say "start them early."

As far as other things happening, I did not end up getting the surgery Friday. Long story that I don't feel like getting into, but more testing is needed. I guess I'm just a pin cushion lately. The amount of blood being taken is ridiculous. These medical people are like vampires....to bad they don't look like Edward Cullens!! Anyhow, back to the docs I go! Does it ever end??

Saturday we are taking the boys to Berlin for the day. We haven't had a "family day" like this for awhile. I told the kids about Heini's the cheese store and Ethan went nuts! He loves cheese! When I explained that there are free samples there so they can try different kinds Dylan said real serious "I hope I don't get constipated." Um okay...I guess he does listen to me more then I thought!

That's it for now....gotta run yet again! Take care!! xoxo - Em

Spring Break and More!

This school year has flown by. I really cannot believe that it's Spring Break already. The weather is turning out to be beautiful and the kids haven't killed each other yet. What more can I ask for?? Today I took the boys to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D. Awesome movie! If you haven't seen it, you must go. Whether you have children or not doesn't really matter. I enjoyed it much more then I thought I would....2 thumbs up!!

So, I am officially old. How do I know this? My gallbladder told me. That's right folks, getting my gallbladder removed this Friday. I swear I can't catch a break this year. On top of that, last week I tripped over my pj's (yes, I haven't outgrown my gracefulness) and tore the tendons in my right knee. Does it get any better? But wait, there's more...I have kidney stones happening right now too. I swear, they just need to build a wing at Aultman Hospital just for me. Either that or hook me up to a constant IV of morphine. It has been one of those years. As I lose weight I'm really hoping that all these medical issues will go bye-bye. It's a lot to handle all at once.

I guess this is it for now. I'm going to go ice my knee but first I need to switch laundry loads. A mother's work is never done...regardless of the newest injury!

Puppies, Puppies and more Puppies

What has been going on in the Philpott house lately? Crazyness, that is for sure. Daphne had puppies and they are now over 6 weeks old. One of them (the runt) is now living with my in-laws and I know that she will be spoiled beyond belief. One of them is going to my friends house as soon as she gets home from Chicago and we are keeping one. Yes, we now have 3 dogs...and we named her Lily. She is such a sweetheart and I couldn't resist. But we have a dilema, we have two puppies that need homes, one male and one female. We cannot keep them - first of all my husband would kill me and second of all I'm pretty sure I don't have the patience for 5 dogs. When you have more pets then humans in your house you need to stop and think. The pups are running around the house and Shaggy hates them. Every time one gets near him he starts growling and I'm seriously afraid that he will nip at one of them at any given moment. I guess what I am saying is, if you are reading this and you want a puppy and you promise to love it, care for it and play with it like you should, please contact me. I do not want to give them to the Humane Society so if it comes down to it they will stay here with us. And yes, for all those out there that are cussing me out right now because I never got my dog "fixed" I hear you loud and clear and I do not need a lecture. Daphne will be taken care of so this is our one and only liter. On the note I better get going....I see a little piece of chocolate on the floor that I need to pick up....oops, that isn't chocolate after all.

Til next time....

It's Been Way to Long!

It has been forever. There is actually a good reason for that. Work was really slow for my husband recently, so we cut out a lot of unnecessary items as far as bills are concerned. Unfortunately, the internet was one of them. But now we are up and running and I couldn't be happier. I will be updating this as often as I can. I enjoy writing about my life/family and I am seriously considering writing a book about being the mother of two boys and the wife to an amazing man.

Sooo much has happened since I have last posted. The craziest (and most fun) is that our dog Daphne has had puppies!! She delivered 5 beautiful, healthy puppies about 4 weeks ago. 4 girls and 1 boy...finally I am no longer out numbered due to testerone in this family. I love and adore them all and of course we need to find homes for them. We have 2 going to great homes but 3 more to go. I secretly want to keep them, but thinking my husband isn't going to like having 5 dogs around. Hoping that it all works out and the pups go to loving homes (psst, if not, they are staying here with us!) We are in the process of wheaning them off of Daphne and have started feeding them puppy chow. We add water to it, microwave it, then mush it down so it is easier for them to eat. They love it, but I don't know if they are actually eating it...seems to be an awful lot of puppy food on their feet when they are finished. One of them jumped right into the bowl!! So funny!! Like I said, I adore them! Dylan likes them too. One day a puppy pooped on the floor and I asked Dylan to please clean it up. He said "No problem mom, even their poop is cute!" I about fell over! Not sure if he will feel that way as they get bigger, but for now, I am taking advantage of it.

Ethan celebrated his 5th birthday on February 12th. Yes, I said 5....going on 15. He already has a bit of an attitude. I find it charming sometimes, but for the most part, not so much. He can be very stubborn, but he is also one of the most loving, caring little guy you will ever meet. He has lots of friends at school and he loves everyone. He informed me the other day that he loves me a lot. I told him that I loved him too and he said "No mommy, I love you more then cookies!" Now that is true love! My 5 year old son loves me more then cookies...what can be better then that??

Dylan also celebrated a birthday since the last time I blogged. He turned 7 on October 29th. We had about 12 boys over to celebrate with pizza, cake and ice cream. We played games and about 5 of those boys spent the night. Everyone had tons of fun and I think it's a birthday that Dylan won't soon forget!! He has grown up so much. He is so mature, has a great sense of humor and really smart. His parent-teacher conference went really well and he is consistently getting A's on his spelling and math tests. I'm not sure where the brains came from, but I will take it!!

I'm sure there is much more that I can write about it, but for now I'm calling it a day. I need to get things done around the house before the chaos of the school week begins. Have a great night and please, drop me a line letting me know that someone actually reads this thing!! xoxo - Em