The Running Man

Who is the running man, you ask? 

My husband!

Patrick started running last summer, and he is just a natural. I'm both envious and proud of him.

I'm glad he's found some form of exercise that he truly enjoys. The health benefits, the stress-relief it offers...it's just so good for him.

2 weeks ago he did his first half-marathon, finishing in under 2 hours. He succeeded in making the time he aimed for, and compared to the seasoned runners, he did very well!

Finished!! 

We're so proud of him, and it was a cool experience for us to watch him cross the finish line.

I love that our boys are seeing the non-chore aspect of exercise, too...hopefully it will inspire them to run cross-country in the fall.

Aidan was very happy for him, (Brennan, too, just elsewhere with his train;).

His next half-marathon is less than a month away.
I'm looking forward to that for him, and eventually, when he does his first full marathon!

Keep it up, Pat! As I like to say, Now we know why God gave you those long legs! 

What He Does

He admires the gifts that they are from God, seeing past annoyances.

He takes Aidan to every single Boy Scout activity, enduring an abundance of bug bites for the sake of fishing.

He rocks Brennan in the middle of the night, even though he is 4 and too old to be getting up still.

He wakes up every single morning with the kids.

He wears our babies to keep them happy.

He provides food on our table. clothes for our backs, and a solid roof over our heads.

He leads us in prayer each day.

He rides a 6-ft unicycle...that is certainly unique.

He is a father who sets a great example for his children, reflects God to his family, and today we wish him a most HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

We love you, Patrick!
Thank you for all you do for us.

Toughen Up

God is trying to toughen me up.
This can only be good, right?

Patrick won an award at work, and that meant a trip to Puerto Rico. It's half & half work/free time.
This is a big deal w/ the potential to impress some high-up people, so I truly wanted him to go.
He left Sunday morning at 3:30 a.m., and he returns Thursday evening.

For me that means being solo with the boys.
I honestly wasn't too nervous about it. I planned some fun things we don't normally do, made sure Aidan would buy lunch every day, bought WW frozen meals for myself, and easy food to quickly make for the boys. It'd be tough, but I was ready for the challenge.

And THEN...
Sunday I was proud of myself because I actually took all 3 boys to Mass by myself. I got in my shower, even dried my hair, and we made it not only on-time, but early. Score.
After Mass we went to Rite Aid near our house, and the car was totally dead. Nothing.
Now I started to feel on edge & defeated. I walked home w/ the 3 boys (in 30 degree weather), and with the help of friends and my in-laws, learned it was the battery connection. Fortunately nothing big and easy to fix. Just in case, I have my in-laws' car for the week.

That mess ended & I was feeling ready for the challenge again.
And THEN...
Sunday night Brennan was up ALL NIGHT coughing & fever. I mean literally every 20 mins he was up crying from about 8 until 2 a.m. I was still trying my best to handle Cillian, a 5-week old who needs to nurse twice a night. I had about 3 hours of very interrupted sleep. At this point I panicked and felt I couldn't do it.

GO GOD.
Prayers were felt (and thanks if you were part of that).
I took Brennan to urgent care, and the dr said it's viral. I hate "viral". Ugh.
He did give him an Rx for a suppressant, and last night it worked so well! That along w/ the cool-mist humidifier.
We took Aidan to school, got the laundry going, I have coffe, and now I feel I can do this again.
I conquered the sleepless night, and I can do this.

I want Patrick to enjoy this trip. He really deserves it.
I felt at first like God was breaking me down, and I'm so weak.
But this week he is making me stronger.

It's not as bad as I thought. I was prepared for this, just not to do it with SICK KIDS.
God is toughening me up.
HE is bringing me to it, and HE is getting me through it.
Hopefully I can seem tough and secure when Pat comes home, and not ready to bolt for the door. ;)

So in Puerto Rico he is...much deserved. He would never tell me to NOT go. He wouldn't even think twice about it. He would just say "go", without complaint. Patrick is an incredible guy, and very hard working. I'm lucky to have him, and so is the company he works for.

Some pictures he's passed along:

Gross. They're everywhere there, apparently. Better Pat than me!
&

Gorgeous! The water. The palm trees. The SUN. Weather warm enough for shorts (as we're in the 30's still here) I told him to bring some of that sunshine home with him.
And maybe some treats for us. :)

We're not just hanging in there. At this point I feel we're doing well.
I showered. I'm staying on top of laundry & Aidan's homework. Got the trash out & recycle bin on time.
Got Brennan to the dr & back.
I can do this. I'm doing it.
And Thursday night, we'll be smiling to have Patrick back home with us.

New Wheels

Yesterday we became a 2-car family again.

For the 1st time in 5 years.....5 years, people.

Going down to 1 car back in 2006 (almsot 5 years ago, exactly), was the best thing for us, and we both know it was the right thing to do. And I admit: it wasn't as bad as I expected. We made it last longer than I thought it would, and for that, I am proud of us.

Does that sound cocky, saying I'm proud of us?
Let me explain.
A few people have commented that it was "easy" for us to only have one car, because Pat's work is only 2 miles away.

When we went down to one car, Pat had a 30 minute commute.  That was from January 2006 until September 2006, when we moved to Ohio.
From September 2006 until just before Brennan was born (April 2007), Pat's commute was almost an HOUR. So "easy", right? Not to mention once we moved to Ohio, we had no family minutes away to help if need be.
Pat's office finally relocated (much behind schedule) right around the time Brennan was born.

We've made it work, and we're fortunate to live close to his work and our parish/school.
That didn't all happen by chance, though. We planned for buying a house that would enable us to stay to one car. It wasn't luck.

I have to say, it doesn't necessarily matter how far away you have to drive your spouse to work.
When you have kids, especially school-aged kids with more time commitments & obligations, it's a pain to have to pack them up & head out every day at 5:00. It's when homework is being done. It's when dinner should be prepped. It's when kids, even just two of them, have reached their witching hour and offer less-than-pleasant attitudes.
And in wintery weather...doesn't matter how far you have to drive.
You still have to warm up the car.
You still have to shovel to get out of your driveway.
You still have to scrape the car.

I suppose it's obvious people's comments about it being "easy" for us with one car annoyed me, because 1-people commenting that have never been in my shoes, 2-it's NOT easy just because it doesn't require a ton of time in the car.

Pat & I know what it took having one car for so long. We're the ones who fully understand the challenges & benefits, and that's all that I should care about, I know.

Thankfully now we have 2 cars again.
Our Odyssey, which we bought when Aidan was 1.
And now Pat has a blue Honda Accord. :)

He Did It

My husband: the graduate.
I am so incredibly proud of him.

This "journey" technically began for us in the fall of 2005, when Aidan was going on 1.5 years old.
That fall Patrick took a class at the local college, which (at the time) we believed was a required prerequisite for grad school. That was the 1st step.

2006 thew us some curve balls, and school went to the back burner.
Financial difficulties, losing our 2nd baby, my grandmother and my uncle/godfather died...then Pat was recruited to a new job, relocating us from MI to OH.

2006-part of 2007, we were adjusting to our new "home", as well as Pat was commuting nearly 1 hour away for work, and we had 1 car (still do). No family in town, and we knew ONE person in the area. (one is better than none, I know).

Spring 2007 his office moved closer to home (as in 2 miles!), and Brennan was born. Life is calming down. School is more on the brain.

In the fall we start discussing the GMAT and Aidan going to preschool.
By February 2008, we have Aidan registered for preschool, and Pat prepping for the GMAT.
Summertime, Pat takes & passes the GMAT.

Fall 2008: 2 of my "men" start school: Aidan began preschool, and Pat started grad school. 2 classes, 2 nights a week.

That alone isn't most amazing, though. At the risk of sounding corny & mushy, I have to share.
During most of grad school, Patrick not only worked his full-time job, but also a 2nd job driving a limo. God Bless him for that. The hours were sporadic and often into the middle of the night, leaving him quite sleep deprived. Last fall we also did the FPU course, taking yet another night away from the week. Yet he pressed on and not only did what was needed, but he succeeded. He never had to repeat a class, never received poor grades.
Add to the mix that during this time we also bought our 1st house & moved.

Now for the confessions: obviously Pat had to fully throw himself into this to succeed. There were times when we'd barely see him, and we'd drop him off for the day to study, with the boys & I rolling solo.
Tuning fully into school, plus the stress of work/school/exams, the limited time we did have together, it'd often be crabby. Many times I started to wonder, fear even, that when he was done with school, we'd have nothing left in common. It often felt like we were growing apart, with very few opportunities to be together just US, without stress, etc.
I know he had plenty to keep him distracted and busy, and in it all, I was very lonely at times. I had the boys, sure, but with no family in town, there was barely any grown-up interaction for me. School needed to be done, but this was one of the hardest parts. The loneliness, fears, and not knowing how well we'd re-connect. Pitiful as it may sound, I really am grateful we've had DVR during this time. That has been my evenings.

Now sure, it's not even been a full week (graduation was only last night), but it already feels like we can exhale. Relax. Reconnect.

I know I'm not the only one who felt like a "grad-school widow". Several other bloggers out there posted, sharing similar feelings. I took comfort in that.

This isn't just about me, though.
Despite all that, feeling the tension, stress, everything...Patrick stuck with it when it would have been easier to call it quits. Going straight through, including summers, missing trips to MI & SC for events, time with the boys...he bravely sacrificed the smaller things for the greater future.
What an example he is, especially to our boys, and we are proud.

It wasn't easy on any of us, but most of all Patrick, I am sure.
In his nature, he is a very hands-on husband and dad. When he doesn't get to see Aidan & Brennan, he feels it. It's part of why I love him so much.

We say a big THANK YOU to you, Patrick. We are impressed, proud, and we love you so much.
I know many people do the grad school thing before having kids, but I am glad our boys got to witness this. Them being there last night, seeing you graduate, is priceless. Motivation. Encouragement. 
It would be easier for them (when it's their turn) to do it before having a family, but the example is that they CAN DO IT. YOU did it. 
And now, our third little boy will be here soon (9-10 more weeks!), and he will benefit from your sacrifices, too. 
Our family is blessed to have you. We look forward to the time we're gaining back with you. The boys look forward to daddy's evenings involving more play and boys' nights, and I sure as heck look forward to having my best friend back. 


It felt forever-long at times, but it's over with now. You did it. Way to go! 
We love you.


P.S. If this is too much "corn" for any of you readers, tough. I want this for us & the boys to look back on one day.  This blog is about our life, memories, and preserving those memories. This was a huge part of it. :)

Finally, pictures:

the stage at BGSU

Buppa & Brennan waiting for the ceremony to begin

Aidan (poor kid had been sick all week, but was such a trooper!)

Just graduated! Our family (Brennan is half asleep)

Patrick with his parents (so glad they came!) Oh, and Brennan who refused to not let Pat hold him.

Us back at home (and boy #3, of course;)

Now for getting busy on prepping for the party later today!

Happy Birthday, Patrick!

The BIG 3-0!

Happy 30th to my amazing, patient husband.
The day you were born, God not only blessed your immediate family, but He truly blessed me.
Sounds selfish, but true.
I wasn't apart of the first 20 years of your life, but the past decade I have, and it's been an amazing time seeing the way you've grown, matured, and all that you've accomplished.
God could not have picked a better life-long partner for me.

You are such an excellent husband, and an equally wonderful father.
Our kids are so lucky to have you, such a hands-on dad.
We're blessed for the example you're setting, working full-time while earning your MBA, balancing school, family life, and the day-to-day responsibilities.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday (being away from home, yet again, on your birthday!).
We love you!
Happy Happy Birthday!!

Wordless Wednesday

(if you look closely, you can see it's Wolverine)