A busy week and medical advances

The summer has officially ended in our house with the yearly closing of the pool. There are still some very warm days in the forecast like today’s heat in excess of 90 degrees, but once school starts there is just not enough time in the day. Speaking of school, the fist day was a success for all! Both girls had great days especially our new first grader.

The first day seems like a life time ago already. Saturday morning was picture perfect. Although there was a slight chill in the air, the sun, high in a bright blue sky was warm and comfortable. Our day started with a season opening soccer game with the youngest at 9am. At her age they play 2 fields of 4 on 4, open goal. This is my husbands first year coaching soccer and the first time most of the girls have played together. There were many bright spots. A little girl who just could not keep herself from picking up the ball mid play was not necessarily one of the brightest but the season looks to be fun none the less.

The look of a 3-0 shut-out to start the season!

The travel game with the older child was much better. I think what made this game so much fun was the fact that over the last year we sat through many (emphasis many) bad, down right ugly soccer games. With Megan as the full-time goal keeper this year we feel extra pressure to ensure she plays her best. Saturday the entire team stepped up and played the best game we have seen them play as a team. The final score was 3-0..first game of the year and first shut out of what we hope will be a wonderful soccer year for Megan and team.

The week is flying by with time split between my few hours at the school doing cafeteria and playground duty, soccer practice, karate and everything in between. How quickly our lazy days of summer have been filled with days that just do not have enough hours.

On a totally different note, I caught a few minutes of the news last night as I was getting dinner ready for the girls. The story was about a new pump to help to identify breast cancer up to 10 years sooner than with current methods. I do not know how much data they have collected on it or how accurate it is but I would like to believe that such advances are true and reliable. I think about my young daughters and the very real high risk possibility that they face of breast cancer. I can only hope and pray that the advances continue so by the time my babies have to face tough decisions, like me they will be lucky enough to be able to act proactively.

Summer only comes once a year.

For the better part of last summer, my girls were stuck in the house mostly keeping an eye on me. After my surgery I was not very mobile for many weeks and was not able to drive for a few more than that. We watched a lot of movies (mostly they watched and I slept), and they spent a good amount of time on the computer. Frank did his best running them around after he got home from work but the reality is that they spent much of their time sitting around.

This summer I wanted to make sure that was not the case! I have tried to both schedule events that keep them active and challenge them as well as allow them time to “relax” and enjoy the summer. Several camps for both girls mixed with pool time, visits to the library and of course a little summer homework to keep little minds fresh.

This week the girls are at the park for soccer camp. This has been good for all of us. I drop them with the coach and then use the opportunity to walk the park. It is a nice change of scenery. I managed 2 miles today in all of our heat and humidity.

It has been a nice start to the summer! I am enjoying the time with the girls. I do have surgery next Friday but I do not expect to skip a beat. I figure I will be back to normal in a day or two. We have too much to do and too little time! Time sure does fly when you are having fun!

When your children cry

So Madi tried out for the travel soccer team. She is young so we tried to prepare her that she may not make it. She did great at the try outs fast, alert and on the ball. There were not too many girl so we fully expected her to make a team. Technically she was better than many of the girls who were there.

The announcements are made on-line, delayed several times by well over a week making the waiting a real headache.They finally posted Saturday night. She did not make the team along with 3 other girls. I had to tell her the news. She was so upset. We had tears for a few minutes, we laid on her bed and I held onto her. There was nothing I could do but hug her tight. Mommy could not fix this one, for as much as I try sometimes the reality sets in that I am not a super hero. :-(.

Yesterday we were having some friends over for a BBQ. As I was running around getting things ready she asked for a special request. Could I read her our “special” book. We have had a book since they were babies that I love to read to them and they have always loved to hear. I still read it each year the night before the first day of school. Of course I could stop what I was doing so Madison and I settled in on the sofa The title of the book is “Oh My Baby, Little One”.

Although I was not sending her off to school for the first time, I guess since we have made this book such an important part of our lives it helped her process.

“But still this love is with you, like the leaves are with the trees, like the sand is with the sandbox, like the kite is with the breeze.”

It was not to long after that our friends arrived and the kids were happily splashing around in a rather cold pool. The weather was not what we would have hoped for to kick off pool season but for the young it is never to chilly to swim. The disappointment of the soccer team was gone in its place a young girl with not a care in the world, as it should be!

And all was right with the world!