SALVAGED WHIMSY: kids

Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Greatest Gift of All - LIFE. Be The Match.

A couple years ago, shortly after Emme was born, I came across a blog - Blessings, Miracles, and Thoughts in Between - that really touched my heart.

Sweet baby Kate was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that required a full bone marrow transplant. Can you imagine what Kate's mom, Lindsey, must have been going through?

Waiting to find a donor must have been agonizing, and still, she took the opportunity to educate and rally support for her readers to consider being "swabbed" and added to the bone marrow registry.1

Sadly, 6 out of 10 patients never receive the life-saving transplant they need.

Luckily, a match was found for Kate - and today, she's a happy 4.5 year-old big sister, and recently made her first visit to Santa! (I've heard that a pink bike may be in her future!)

Needless to say, I registered right away. It was super easy - just a cheek swab. That was July 17, 2011.

Only 1% of registered donors are ever found to be a match, so I honestly didn't think about it much after that.

Last Friday, I received an email from the donor registry stating that I was a match to specific patient with leukemia. Cue the goosebumps.

What an amazing opportunity. I feel like I've won an extraordinary type of lottery with a much greater prize than money. It's as exciting to me as when I learned I was pregnant.

Can you imagine a patient's relief of getting the call that a match had been found?

Please understand, that I'm not implying that I am special in any way - it just happens that we have matching cell proteins (this is my understanding, but if I'm wrong, please let me know).

I believe that anyone who was physically able to donate would do the same.

If it weren't for Lindsey and her beautiful daughter, Kate, I never would have even known that the bone marrow registry even existed. Hopefully, one of you might decide to join the registry too.

The more of us who join, the more lives that are saved.

Monday, I will have additional blood tests done to confirm that I am an exact match. Amy, the coordinator from the registry, explained that the patient will be notified that a potential donor exists at that time.

If I'm a close enough match, my bone marrow will be going to a gentleman who is 62 years old...my dad will be 60 next year.

I'm praying that I'm a match.

take care -

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Favorite Pins of the (Last Few) Week(s), vol. 4

Max started preschool in October, and he's had some type of cold or ear infection the entire time.

So has the rest of our family.

I usually don't get sick, but his current cold must be a good one, because it's even made it to me.

Right now, daddy is giving the Dynamic Duo a bath, and mommy gets 10 minutes of blissful alone time....and look, I'm spending it here. That's love.

Here's what else I've been loving lately....

And we all need to see this message every now and then....especially on a Monday.

I pinned it to my "Free For All" board, but wanted to link to the blog - JKJK- since it's a printable.

-----------------

So, when Max's teachers asked him what he knew about turkeys, he told them that they say, "wobble, wobble."

When asked what he was thankful for - he said, "Mommy, Daddy, and dinner."

(To be honest, I'm surprised I made the cut, usually Daddy is the center of his universe and Mommy ranks along with shots and vegetables)

Recently, in school, they've been talking about being happy and sad, so he'll frequently announce to us that, "Max is happy"...

Or, he'll ask me if I'm happy or sad. If he sees a picture of someone smiling, he'll tell me that they are happy, along with a goofy, toothy smile.

I could kiss his teacher - what a gift - to hear your child tell you that he/she is happy. That simple sentence has been pretty much my life's work for the past 3.5 years.

I'm a little misty-eyed just thinking about it.

Then, there's Emme - I get misty-eyed thinking about prom-dress shopping...and not in a good way.

Recently, a mom told me I was lucky that I had a boy then a girl, so Max could keep an eye on Emme.

HA!

At Emme's 2 year well-child check up, her pediatrician told us that she will likely be 6'4" when she's fully grown.

Don't think she'll need any protection from anything.

Right now, her favorite phrases are "Stop it" and "Do it" and "I do it."

Luckily, her independence is rubbing off on Max, and he's become more insistent on doing things on his own.

Bath time is wrapping up, so I should probably do the same before I'm attacked by naked toddlers.

It's a good life.

Have a great week!

take care -

Monday, November 12, 2012

Monday Motivation

A mental pep talk...

pixie cloud

...I give myself every morning before facing my 2 adorably energetic and....ahem...spirited toddlers.

Have a good one!

take care -

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Favorite Pins of the Week, vol. 3

You ever have one of those great days where everything goes better than expected?

Friday was one of those days for us.

Emme had her 2 year check-up. She typically ~~screams~~ shrieks the entire time we are at the doctor (she doesn't like male physicians), so this time I scheduled her with a female nurse practitioner who was AMAZING and wooed Emme into actually enjoying her visit.

(Emme even blew her a kiss when she said goodbye!)

I promised a trip to the park if the kids behaved at the doctor, and we went, had a great time...and no one (even me!) threw a fit when it was time to leave.

We came home, and Emme and I crafted while Max napped...then Max and I played outside while Emme napped.

And finally, while we were settling down before bed, I did my last Pinterest check for the day and noticed that one of my wreaths had been pinned by Country Living (they were a guest-pinner for Etsy). I ADORE Country Living, so it was kinda like noticing a hot guy checking you out --LOL.

Saturday was a different story...oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Hope you enjoy my favorite pins from this week.

It takes a special lady to pull off this look....I'd say Tootsie Lou is just that lady. I think it's the ears???

And to my fantastic Friday...

Have a great week!!

take care -

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Don't Want to Miss A Thing...

When I originally started this blog, it was called "Max and Emerson," and it was supposed to serve as a journal for my babies. Then I started my business, and changed the name of my blog - and the focus changed a bit.

Max and Emme - Christmas 2010

Yesterday, Emme turned 2 years old, and just like everyone says...I can't believe how quickly the time has gone.

My pudgy baby is gone, and she has been replaced by a truly ~~terrible,~~ ~~wonderful~~ one-of-a-kind two-year-old (I say that with all the love in the world.)

This morning, we were on our way home from taking Max to preschool, and I was thinking about how quickly time has gone since Max was born.

A song came on the radio that's typically considered to be a love song, but it described how I feel about my babies.

I know it's incredibly cheesy, but I realized I've already forgotten so many details of their short lives. For Emme's birthday, I wanted to do a post to record this moment.

I Don't Want to Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

I could lie awake just to hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

Well you're far away dreaming

Emme - August 2011

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
And just stay here lost in this moment forever`z

Well, every moment spent with you

Is a moment I treasure

Max and Emme - Summer 2010

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Emme at 10 months - September, 2011

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Eatin' cake just like her mama taught her - November 2011

Lying close to you

Feeling your heart beating

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming

Wondering if it's me you're seeing

Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together

Christmas 2011

And I just wanna stay with you

Just stay in this moment forever, forever and ever

I don't wanna miss one smile

Emme at 18 Months - May, 2012

I don't wanna miss one kiss

Well, I just wanna be with you

Right here with you, just like this

Max and Emme in the sand box - Summer 2012

I just wanna hold you close

Feel your heart so close to mine

And stay here in this moment

For all the rest of time

Kings Island, Emme at 22 Months - September, 2012

Don't wanna close my eyes

Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah

I don't wanna miss a thing

source

On the zoo train - October 2012

I can't believe how many details I've already forgotten, how many photo opportunitues I've missed (or lost on old phones), so I really want to work on this.

Some of my future posts may be a little journal-y, but I promise to include the good stuff too.

Emme's 2nd Birthday - note that she has her fork securely gripped and she's ready for cake! (That's my girl!) Immediately after lighting her candles, Max blew them out. He tried to do a second time, but daddy assisted Emme and blew them out for her.

At the moment, Max is whining and has asked for the same thing at least 25 times in the last 5 minutes. I don't want to miss a thing, but if I do forget something, I hope it's the whining....I'd be okay with that.

take care -

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Two Drawers Repurposed into a "Basket"

I woke up ~~too early~~ on Wednesday, 11/16, to a wonderful surprise....my little drawer project was featured by Savvy Southern Style. I imagine you're aware of Kim's Wow us Wednesday link-up party, but if for some reason you've missed it...you should definitely check it out. I can't thank Kim enough for featuring my drawers!

This project was also featured by Amanda at Serenity Now (I LOVE the name of this blog)

Amanda has a link party each Friday called "Weekend Bloggy Reading" where you link up your favorite post each week. Another MUST attend event! Thanks to Amanda for featuring my project!

So on with my post....

It seems lately that I've been getting into furniture ruts...first my whole chest/trunk thing, and now drawers. I just posted a couple weeks ago about another repurposed drawer idea, and now here I am again...I also have ANOTHER drawer project I'm working on now. huh, I really don't plan it this way.

So, here's another set of sewing machine drawers my mom (she's my "picker" teehee!! I think she just likes to shop, and now she has a reason to do it) found for me.

I had my husband attach them to one another (and they will NEVER, EVER come apart) and I added the handle, which I made from jute wrapped with twine.

The old finish was pretty thick, so I sanded some of it for a more natural look. Aren't the little pulls so cute?

I think I might replace the hooks I used to attach the handle as these ones have little hinges, so the handle doesn't stand up on its own.

It's a unique storage idea...I thought for crafting supplies, books/papers, a catchall...or it could be used as a decor item if filled with shells, candles, dried lavender, plants, Christmas ornaments and the like.

I have so much left to do to get everything ready for my booth. Last night I was trying to print out tags and a couple things for another project...only to find that one (or both - they've recently started joining forces against me...I wanted them to be close, but I didn't mean like this) had jammed Max's toothbrush in the paper feeder. I was.not.happy. to say the least. My husband managed to get it out around midnight, but I'm not sure if the printer still works....we'll see! Is this what "they" were referring to as the "joys of motherhood"?

If I'm not around for a couple days, I have a busy few days coming up...a printer repair, a barn sale, Emme's first birthday, Ohio State football, the booth and TONS of projects to finish. TONS.

Any fun stories of "help" from pets, kids, spouses....etc?

Have a great weekend...I'm sharing this at these fantastic link parties:

MONDAY:

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

The Girl Creative
Boogieboard Cottage
Thrifty Decor Chick

TUESDAY:

Home Stories A2Z

Coastal Charm