This last weekend

One of favorite families came to visit. Did I say FAVORITE? Do you know why? Because we each have a playmate when they come! She is my best friend. He is Erik's buddy. Our oldest have grown together since they were wee little ones. They even took a bath together in the sink of a teeny, tiny little cabin we rented once upon a time ago at Rush lake. Our middles go with the flow, one loves the puppies, the other might just have his  eye on their littlest girl. We all adore baby Talia. But you know what the best thing is about this family? When we are together there is 4 adults, 6 children, 2 dogs, utter CHAOS and it is just so easy. Relaxed. For whatever reasons our families can go out to dinner, visit water parks, go to Twins games and we ALL have a really good time. 

This past weekend we started it out with a BBQ and got to see more of my favorite people. Kami brought the girls, Kris brought Lucy and Mike-who is now my favorite too because he treats her like a princess. All 9 kids played in the backyard while we were able to catch up and enjoy some good food. We were blessed, because even though we typically have snow right now it was in the 70's. All kids played in a sandbox and had ice cream cones versus building snowmen and hot chocolate.

Saturday we all put on our best green and headed out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Rhombus Guys Pizza was worth the wait. I was super classy with Talia in her Ergo Baby Carrier and a green beer in hand. I had to get in the spirit with everyone else. Once lunch was done we headed over to the parade, WOW FARGO, you did an AWESOME job! All kids left with a mob of candy. Some from earning, others from strangers who felt sorry for the little lad pouting because his brother took his. Thank you crazy lady standing on your chair catching candy like a pro, Alex is forever indebted to you.

Saturday night Erik and I biked downtown to meet our friends. That was a wild ride! About 6 miles round trip and we had a BLAST! More than anything trying to coach each other that we can indeed do this and celebrating with getting there as well as getting home without any major injury. We did make a pit stop at Spicy Pie for a slice of pizza and pitcher of green beer to people watch before we made our way back. It felt as if we were in downtown St. Paul. People watching is definitely one of my favorite past times. To all the girls wearing the 80's spandex dresses, please ask a friend-one that you know will tell you the truth no matter what before going out of it looks good. 

These two

Are nothing but TROUBLE!

My dad and Alex are two peas in a pod. Our two guys that like to wear super heroes. Two men that like to watch and play sports. When they are around each other they are connected at the hip. Alex insists on sleeping with Papa whenever we are all together. They speak the same language. When I was little I felt the same way about my Grandma June, her and I had a wavelength that was just ours. Grandparents are such an important fixture in our children's lives.

After my dad's accident I had some pictures on my phone that I took when we arrived at the hospital, my dad asked me to. When I got home I didn't think much of it. The boys often play on my phone, games that I later become addicted to (damn you Temple Run). Alex reviews the pictures often since he is the picture taker most of the time, he likes to relive his work. Papa came across the screen with all of those cuts and abrasions. His face filled with concern. "Mama, what happen to Papa's head?!" I explained he was in an accident.

We went to Baudette this last week from Wed-Sat, there was 11 days between us visiting my parents and the day that Alex saw that picture of my dads accident. He asked to see his Papa everyday or to call him. When we got to Baudette he was looking for the cuts but they had all healed. "Papa, I love you so much." I can still hear it. They then picked up where they always leave off, kicked back in the chair watching a game.

When to say when...

Happiness is a choice. Does it come more naturally to some than others? I think so. Is it something that you may have to work at? Again, I do believe so. Some days it seems daunting. Other days it feels very natural to be happy. I try to be vigilant of my happy state. To sincerely be grateful and thankful for it. Life is a lot easier when you look at the glass full. Life can be more fun when you don't. Feels good to bitch and complain at first, but then later I usually feel somewhat guilty. 9 times out of 10 I feel worse for what I said. I also try to be mindful that my girlfriends that hear me cry and complain the most feel they can do the same with me. This is not a one sided relationship, it is important to me that they know I am also their sounding board and filter when they want to just completely vent. Lay it all out there, say the things that you often think but would never dare day. Because it is healthy, once you say it most the time you can move on in another direction refocusing your energy for the better.

My pet peeve is when people cry that the world is stacked against them when they make no decision to change their habits. We only have this life, use it to live to your full capacity, and make the changes you need to enjoy it. Call me any time to vent and regroup. But use my time wisely because I choose to keep that glass half full.

Olive Garden Irony

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20577321,00.html

I passed the Grand Forks Olive Garden on my way to Baudette on Thursday and  I thought to myself, that is one nice looking Olive Garden. I might just have to stop in for a visit next time we are passing through. Now it is an internet sensation. CANNOT believe that the food critic from Grand Forks, ND is in People Magazine. Simply an AWESOME story. You Betcha Baby!

New pics 7, almost 8 months!

So far, so good!

We had Anthony's conferences yesterday. I think Erik and I were both holding our breath going into them. His teacher had emailed me a couple of weeks ago that he was being too social with his friends and not always staying on task. She was not super concerned but wanted to give me a heads up before conferences so we were not surprised.
We waited outside the room, I had Talia in my new Ergo baby carrier from Pout that both her and I are in love with. You plop her in it and she starts to sing a little and is out. It must have something hypnotizing about it. Right now she is really congested and is cutting 4 teeth, for the most part still pretty happy but that carrier sure helps when she isn't. Okay, I digress. Anyways back to my oldest.
Mrs. Dahl explained to us that the hard part is that Anthony is super passionate about learning and gets so excited with new projects he wants to take part in it with everyone. That is when his social skills have issue. She explained she wished she really wouldn't have called them issues because more than anything he is just excited. Okay, color is coming back into my face. He is reading at a 99% capacity level, he is in the highest level spelling and math. Anthony really enjoys learning, always take part in class, and reads with expression. He is a joy to have in class.
So we headed over to Snap Dragon to celebrate with a little Chinese food and fortune cookies to read. Here we were thinking we had "that kid" going into conferences and it turns out we are doing okay. Good job buddy! So far so good.
I have no idea where all the other social issues come from. I was really very shy when I was his age. :) Mrs. Dahl is pregnant so I told Erik I was buying her a nice gift from Pout to butter her up in case Alex lands in her classroom. He has the social bug too, its contagious around here.

Vibrations

Today is finally seeming like a normal day. I think I felt the aftershocks from this weekend non-stop up until today. Life can change in blink of an eye, one phone call can ring in your heard for days. A drive may lead up to an irreversible change. Last Saturday I was sleeping very soundly. I heard Erik's phone ringing, I thought I was dreaming. Much to my chagrin I gathered my lazy bones up and found what was annoying my slumber. Saw my parents name on the caller ID and my stomach sank. It was quarter to 3 in the morning. Nothing good was coming out of this call.

It was my mother. Her voice was steady but directive,"Melissa, your dad is being life flighted to Grand Forks. There has been an accident." Pause. Breath. Okay. What do I do? "You need to get ready and go right away, I will meet you there but you can get there faster than me." My head is swimming. Who do I need to call? Is my dad going to be there when I get there? Should I bring a change of clothes? What was he doing?

I called my sister who is an RN at Sanford, luckily we were able to find out that he was stabilized before the took him but he had some head trauma. What does head trauma mean? Your head swims with images and suggestions of what it could be. It tricks you into decisions you might have to make. Are you strong enough to do this? Nope, I am not. I am on my knees sobbing begging for everything to be okay. I know I have to get it together before I leave but I need this minute, this minute right now to beg God to make this all be okay. My dad is not ready to go yet and I am not ready to be without him. Listen to me, I am serious, dear GOD, I AM SERIOUS!

Erik lets me have this moment. My Aunt Nancy happens to be in town at a hockey tournament, she lives in the same town as my parents, she is with them day in and day out. I pick her up and we drive. I cannot even tell you what we spoke about, I think mainly trying to put some of the pieces together of what happen and how we dared a cop to pull me over. I don't think I would have stopped, they would have followed me with their lights on all the way to the hospital.

We enter. Can you please tell me where my dad is? The fluorescent light seem so cold. We are taken to the family waiting room and told they are in the process of working on him. He is receiving a CT Scan as we speak. He is covered with cuts and abrasions but from what they can tell he is alert and reacting to them. They begin to ask me some family history questions and ask if I can check him in. Are you his next of kin here? Do you know when your mother will be arriving? Do you feel comfortable answering some questions? Not until I see him. I am just his daughter. His biggest fan. I put on my game face and follow through.

The doctor walks in and said,"Okay, he is stable. You can see him now." I take the last drink of my watered down retched coffee and grab Nancy's hand. We got this.

My dad is lying on a table. He is wearing a neck brace and has multiple IVs and monitors surrounding him. He looks at me and I can tell he's scared. Scared and grateful. Our roles have switched, it is now my turn to guide him and reassure him that we got this. No matter what, we got this. He explains to us the accident and what took place. He remembers waking up and he was hanging upside down suspended from the truck-hanging by his seat-belt. It was cold, lots of snow, ice, and glass. There was no sound and it was dark so he couldn't see anything or move. But he was alive. His next thought was but for how much longer? He knew he was hurt, he couldn't get out, and what if nobody found him? He is on a road outside of town, it is late, and not a lot of traffic.

But he was found. They cut him out of his truck. He was immediately air lifted out because Baudette does not have the means to give him a full CT scan to check for internal bleeding, broken bones, etc. His CT scan comes back clean. They can admit him for his pain but they can release him to my mom and other aunt to bring him home to his own bed. After all aren't we all more comfortable at home?

So just as quickly as we drove there we are returning home. Driving towards the sunrise and out of the darkness. We are all still shaking but so grateful because this day could have gone in so many different directions. When my mom arrived I marveled at her stoic strength but when I hugged her she shook uncontrollably. She shook like a woman whose whole life could have changed forever but she came prepared to take him home either way.

My dad has now skydived, capsized a boat, and rolled a truck. It is time for him to retire. My heart cannot take anymore of his antics. But the one thing I know for sure coming out of this is he is not done torturing us with his antics and for that I truly Thank God for. That moment that I begged for him is one that will not leave me anytime soon. I love you daddy, now please just relax.