Today was Vision Sunday at church, and we had baptisms! These guys were watching intently...
Adam was home from Olivet for spring break, and it was so great to see this group of friends hanging out after service today.
All 3 kids were able to attend youth group today! It was the first time Annah had been since October, due to homework and travel and sickness, and she was extra glad to get to go!
They started Life Skills Lessons today, and I think that is an awesome idea!!!
Sylvia's group won the marshmallow spaghetti structure game.
Caeden's and Annah's group did not.
Today was baby Olivia's first day at church, and her momma asked me to make her a little headband.
The HS music department took a field trip to Chicago today to see the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. The girls went. I had a ticket to go, but I decided I needed to stay home and teach my 6 Wednesday lessons and make money instead of making none and spending extra. Haha. I gave my ticket to Jacob for Sylvia's birthday present. She would rather spend time with him than me anyway, and I wanted him to have a chance to see the show.
Annah worked hard to get well enough to go. She turned a corner yesterday, and is working on feeling better now!
This was their schedule for the day...
I made do just listening to the soundtrack this afternoon while they were at the performance.
Outside the Nederlander Theater
Inside!
Mr. Marchese sat on Sylvia and Jacob on the bus on the way home and texted me this picture.
The girls had such great things to say about the show and how amazing the production was.
On Sunday, our church had it's second sabbath Sunday and didn't meet for a worship service. Jeremy and Caeden went to Freshman/Sophomore State wrestling sectionals, and Annah stayed home to rest and try to recover some. I took Sylvia to Colfax, and we went to church at the United Methodist Church there. It was such a nice service. Jacob and his mom, Sandy, helped lead worship, and we sang some familiar (to me) hymns that I hadn't sung in a long time. And, the children's message brought tears to my eyes as they were encouraged to imagine Jesus always next to them, putting his arm around them or holding their hand when they needed comfort! It was wonderful.
After church, Jacob came to our house and Sylvia asked for pictures. It was snowing, so I snapped a few on the front steps. The snow made for good lighting, but it was so bright they had trouble keeping their eyes open!
We had hoped to celebrate Sylvia's birthday with dinner out Sunday evening, but various circumstances helped us change the celebration to shopping in the afternoon. We started at Kohl's, and hit up Rue 21, and American Eagle. We met the guys at Culver's for lunch, then went back to the mall.
Sylvia had a gift card for H&M and tried on several things. Caeden enjoyed the music in the stores.
I took this picture to send to Jeremy to ask if this sweater dress was long enough. He said it was, even though I disapprove.
Jacob joined Caeden in enjoying the music on the way out of H&M.
Today is Sylvia's actual 16th birthday!
She chose roast beef, mashed potatoes, and fried okra for her birthday dinner! The guys had wrestling practice in the afternoon, and the girls had musical practice from 6-8, so we ate in shifts.
Around 8:30 this evening, we were all together to celebrate Sylvia!
She received a call from Krampa and Gram wishing her happy birthday.
Birthday brownies and ice cream
Cards first!
Thank you, G'ma Sandi!
Gram and Krampa sent Black Hills gold earrings with Sylvia's birth stone that Krampa had bought for Gram years ago on a hunting trip! What a very special gift!!!
Sylvia's request--Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar lotions
Face masks!
Season 2 of Stranger Things!
Back to texting...
We were all entertained by the balloon that floated over the humidifier for 2 whole days!
Last week was rough. I apologize in advance if I sound whiny, because so many other people have life so much harder than I do! But, it was just a lot to handle in one week.
For one thing, mono is really getting Annah down. She has gotten progressively worse over the past week, and not better at all. She went to school half of Monday, then missed the entire rest of the week and all musical rehearsals and after school activities as well. She has had fever/chills/sweating, so much swelling of her face and throat/neck and lymph nodes and joints, trouble sleeping even though she is tired and exhausted and weak, coughing, sniffling, vomiting, lack of appetite, bloody nose, tonsil stones, dehydration, halitosis, laryngitis, you name it! I feel horrible for her!
Sylvia has been distraught because she has practiced her cello too much and caused tendinitis in her wrist. Now she is not allowed to play her cello at all for weeks, and it breaks her heart. She has had to miss performing in a recital, solo/ensemble contest, and turn down a huge cello solo she was offered in a Korsakov piece for BNYS.
She started occupational therapy on Monday and is going twice a week. She has to wear an immobilizing brace, do exercises, and have ultrasound therapy as well.
Wrestling season is still going...on and on...and on...
I love wrestling, but I miss my guys. Some days I barely see Jeremy awake. His schedule is exhausting. And, seriously, the amount of administrative work a junior high wrestling coach has to do is ridiculous!!! The number of complaints parents register with coaches on a daily basis is also unbelievable.
Our school is hosting the IHSA 1A basketball sectional tournament this week, and the girls were asked to sing the anthems. Annah sang Monday before she completely lost the ability to talk or sing, and Sylvia sang Tuesday. There were probably a couple thousand people packed in the gym, and they both did a great job. Vocal Jazz sang on Friday (without Annah), and I heard rave reviews.
Thursday night, I taught a voice lesson, then threw on my Crocs to drive Sylvia to school for rehearsal because I knew I wouldn't be getting out of the car and being seen. I went back home and switched laundry, ate some quick supper, and took off for town to take Caeden to his guitar lesson and pick up some groceries and things Jeremy needed. This happened...
Haha, I really did go into Walmart wearing my Crocs, and kind of felt stupid the whole time. However, I felt they were more acceptable there, and I didn't see anyone pointing or staring or hear anyone laughing. Hahaha.
One of the "difficulties" we've been dealing with for the past few weeks is embarrassing to admit that it's a difficulty. We are so fortunate to have 3 cars. It makes life so much easier having 3 vehicles and 3 drivers for the 5 of us. But, one car has a dead battery...I don't know how to change it...it's been too cold to do so...and Jeremy literally hasn't had a moment of daylight to even try for weeks. I was able to pick up a battery and all the things he needs to put it in the car, but we've been operating with 2 vehicles and it is weird how hard it is to coordinate everyone's schedules (especially with tons of extra doctor appointments recently)! It feels awful calling it a difficulty, but it really does add to my chauffeur stress!
Caeden came home with his Class of '23 high school sweatshirt this week.
Ugh, a momma's heart, kid! C'mon!!!
It was pretty cool to see almost the whole front page of the paper was wrestling news this week!
One morning last week, was particularly rough. With Annah feeling worse and worse and missing school so much, we had a long discussion as the kids were getting ready to leave one morning about how her health and getting better needs to be THE most important thing right now. As we talked about it, we decided that it would be best for her not to participate in Solo/Ensemble contest on Saturday. She was broken hearted, because she was leading a clarinet ensemble and also had a vocal solo prepared. However, she had to stay home and get rest and couldn't practice with her ensemble, and all the swelling in her throat makes it so difficult to sing. She hated letting her ensemble down, and always enjoys the contest day. We made the decision, and she left for school. An argument erupted between her and her siblings as soon as they got in the car. Feeling horrible and sad about the recent decision/disappointment added to the emotions and words were said that weren't meant. Feelings were trampled upon. Texts were sent once they got to school that increased the hurt and emotional distress, and then they were carried through the day. Finally, as everyone was getting ready for bed, all 5 of us were home and able to sit down and talk about it. Excuses were put aside, apologies were made, grace was given, and relationships were restored. Thank the Lord. It was a tough, tough day.
On Saturday, our guys went to Coal City for the JH wrestling Sectional. I was so SO sad not to be able to go and watch Caeden wrestle in Sectionals for the first time ever. I asked another wrestling mom to take a couple pictures, but I didn't get any. G'ma Sandi drove all the way to Coal City to watch Caeden. She took him all kinds of food to have after he weighed in--his favorite peanut butter banana bagels (which he said he ate 7), mandarin oranges, and grapes. She kept me posted on his progress, texting me updates as he wrestled.
It was a bummer of a day for Caed. He lost his first match to a competitor from Lisle 2-1. That meant he could wrestle back into the bracket in hopes to compete for 3rd or 4th place if he won 3 more matches. But, he lost his second match to a competitor from Coal City 7-5, and so he was done for the day and for the season. No going to State.
I am really proud of how Caeden has done this season. I have seen so much growth in him in so many ways, and I am proud of him for doing such a difficult sport. I hope he will take away good life experience and good memories from this season.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, I had committed to accompanying high school musicians at Solo/Ensemble Contest.
The first Ridgeview ensemble of the day to perform was a brass quintet. They did a nice job and received a I rating!
VIDEO:
I accompanied Chloe's flute solo, and Haleigh's vocal solo, then we had a break for several hours! A group of us had brunch at the Original Pancake House, then we still had hours left to waste. The kids decided they wanted to go to the mall. Not my favorite place to spend time, but they had fun.
When we returned to Normal West, Kyle did a fantastic job performing Sento nel core. The judge complimented his Italian diction, and he received a I rating! He has worked so hard at his music the past several months, and I'm very proud of him!
Mr. Marchese struggled a bit with the 4 flute cases as the quartet prepared to perform.
They did such a lovely job!
I have to admit, there was quite a bit of discouragement in our house on Saturday night. But, we all went to bed fairly early to try to get some rest and restoration. We need a new start this week!
