Summer 2009

It's been a year since we've moved back from Minnesota, it doesn't really feel like a year mostly since we have just kinda settled into our life here at home. Our friends are mostly the same and we moved into a house only two doors down from the house we built just after we got married. Greg's office is upstairs from the one that he had before, and he enjoys seeing his old patients. I only wish my Ma was here so that we could have had just a little more time. It's been an adventure moving and unpacking into a couple different places. It also is different and is weird in it's own way.
We have had a great year here with friends and family from Minnesota visiting which has been fun, introducing them to our little nest in the Valley. Hat and Jerry made a visit on their way to Hat's High School Reunion in Montrose. Megan, Ryan and Mathisen came to visit at Christmas. Jake and Larry were here in January on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan and then we went to Arizona to have a little Rest and Relaxation. Our friends Jane and Derrick have been here a couple times, Andy and Jodi, and Greg's nurse Lisa and Amy the Nurse Practioner and their families made a visit!
The best part is having time here with our grandkids...Mark's kids and Kirsten's has been great. I love the fact that the grandkids are getting to know us. We have been able to go to games and recitals, gymnastic practice, birthday parties and everyday things that has brought lots of joy to our lives. We were at Safeway and all I heard really loud was "HI NANA" Even though we haven't gotten to do it all with ALL of our grandkids being here is closer to most of the grandkids! We have made it to see Natalie who we hadn't seen since Thanksgiving 2007. We are going to try to see all of them as much as we can...but is it as much as we want??? NOOOOOOO!!!
When we lived here before I don't think that we took advantage of the beautiful scenery that we have here...or the things that we could do. This last August when John and Sue Wietz met us in Aspen (I had never been there) with their daughters Emily and Jill; I deceided that I want to see the parts of Colorado that I haven't seen before. I even climbed 11,212 ft to the top of Mt. Ajax (which is Aspen mtn) with Sue!
Being back in Colorado has been great...even though I do miss my Minnesota friends.. I know that they understand, I am home just as they are!

Megan

Finally, the end of the kids...I'ts only taken me half the year to write about them all but, ta da my last but not least kid...

Megan was eleven when we first met she was a very small eleven year old but seemed very mature for her little stature and every day that went by I loved her more and more. Once Greg and I married I thought to myself...humm I finally got the little girl that I always wanted! It just ended up that she was 11 when it happened. We got along from the very start and I saw right away that it was going to be different to raise an eleven year old girl than if I'd had her. She had a tough outer shell but once she let me in it was a good place to be. It had only been 2 years since Alison's death and she had built up some thick skin, but deep down I knew she needed me. I needed her too....
Megs always had friends around too and had strong ties to them, she still has all those childhood friends to this day. She had a way of orchestrating parties, fun and mostly getting her way. Which I might add she is still really good at! I didn't ever worry about anyone hurting her because I knew she was very strong willed person. But, as we all know I worried....
Her days now are filled with her own bundle of joy...and he is a miracle....she is a great Mom and Alison and I both smile at that :o) I know she is as proud of her as I am...

Larry

Wow! Where did the time go...I remember having Larry placed in my arms and wishing for a life and health and happiness for my little boy. I never wanted anything to "hurt" my little guy. Larry has always approached life with laughter, a open and giving heart, and a smile that has always lit up his whole face. Once in elementary school he received an award for sticking up for a little girl who was being picked on. I remember him wanting to play Army with his pals when they came over "Mom can we wear your Army stuff" was a question always asked, oh yeah can Dusty, Manuel, or whoever spent the night have some too? Growing up almost like an only child up until he was ten might have been pretty lonely if not for all the constant friends he had over. Friends were always one of his top priorities and it seems like he has always had and made friends very easy.
I dated a few guys after his Dad and I divorced and I'd have to say that he was a very good judge of character. Once he even told this guy he was gonna knock his block off. He was around 6 or so. Turns out he was right. From the beginning with Greg he always wanted to go over to "that Doctors house". Once again he has been right about that one too :o).
When he joined the Army, during two wars I thought I'd die especially when he went to Iraq. I had many nightmares and almost gave in to being sad all the time. The only thing that kept me going was hearing his voice and believing in HOPE. Thanks to God he has come back from both wars with the same smile and sparkle in his eyes ready to start his life. I know that he has been affected by both and I know that he is strong enough to continue to do great things with his life.
Looks like my hopes for him are coming true....

Da Mama Makes the Green Chili

So I've been blogging about kids...you are probably pretty tired and want something different...don't worry only two more to go! So, I thought maybe I'd do something alittle different.

Every time the kids come home they want something homemade to eat...last time Larry was home he took a picture of me making chili..so I thought you all might enjoy the recipe...so here it goes

Green Chili

1lb of hamburger or ground pork or both, if you add 2lbs double the recipe
1 can petite diced tomatoes (yes, Kirsten tomatoes)
3 tbl flour
6-7 green chilies
2tsp garlic salt
2 1/2 c water initially you can add more later if needed
salt and pepper to taste (yes, to taste Larry and Lou not too much)

1st step...brown the hamburger or pork
add the flour and make sure that it is completely blended into the meat
add the chili
add the water
stir very well....and add the tomatoes,garlic salt, and salt and pepper...
let boil stir and add more water if needed...add water if too thick (you are not making paste)
but not too much cuz you aint making soup!

If you get stuck...call me!

Love ya...Ma

Jacob

When I met Jake his hair was longer than mine, I really didn't know what to expect or how he was going to react to me since he was already 18 years old and living in Colorado Springs. Jake, from the beginning treated me with respect and with open arms. His smile made me smile as you can see from this recent picture. I knew that he was different, he had no reservations and I felt he knew what un-conditional love was. He is so very smart. Smart like with instinct and is very philosophical and he plays the piano (something I wish I could do) which I try to get him to do when he visits. His poems are touching...I'm not even sure he knows that I have read any of them.

Jake has had many adventures in his life, being in the Army and being stationed in Germany and now in Iraq. Along with others that I won't mention in my blog... We went to see him in Germany and had a great time. He showed us around and we even got to go to the last day of Octoberfest...what a blast! I don't think we will go visit him in Iraq, but we think of him everyday and pray that he is safe and will be home soon.

Life for Jake has not been very easy...heck, I don't know any one of my kids that life has been easy for but, I wish for Jake to know that I am here and will always be, he has always introduced me as his Mom....I know I have awfully big shoes to fill, but I will try.

Louie

My first born...Louie, not sure who knows this but I had him when I was 15 years old. I remember hearing people talk behind my back saying "babies having babies" I didn't feel like a baby I did know that I was scared and didn't really know what was going to happen. I was happy and "in love" with Louie that's all I thought I needed. Our parents made us promise that if we got married and had our baby that we would promise to finish school. I thought that's easy enough and really being pregnant in school was easy and I got the best grades I ever had while I was pregnant. Louie and I were married and were trying to do things right...but, ends up we were too young and didn't know what we were doing. I am blessed to have my "ex-in laws" in my life now and especially then. Louie was raised by my in-laws they have done a great job and I have always tried to be in his life in some way. All I know is that I am so proud of him and love him and will continue to be in his life until the end of my days. I will always be thankful to Nadine and Frank for all they do and have done for Louie.
I guess I was very immature when I had Lou but, God put some good people in my life and I feel very blessed. Louie is married now to Carrie and they have a very cute, smart, talented, adorable little girl Natalie with an IQ of over 300...hehehe.

Kirsten

Kirsten..awww what a friend...and most important my oldest child. Even though there is only 9 years difference between us I will always consider her my kid;o) I married her Dad.., and she has become one of my favorite people. She is so smart, a great Mom and an all around great person.
When we first met it was kinda funny but we wore the same watch (don't know if she remembers that) we were at a Rockies game for mine and Larry's Bday, a gift from Greg. I remember thinking that we were going to be good friends. I'm not sure what her thinking was at that time, she was 23 years old. I could only guess what her thoughts were at that point but 13 years later I hope that she knows that I love her and her great little family. She has taken on the oldest sibling role and that makes me happy, that's a big job considering she has 4 brothers and a sister to keep tabs on...good thing that Starman has big shoulders;o)
She has brought to us (along with Scott) two wonderful grand-daughters Rowan and Tressin...it is so nice to get to know them and for them to feel comfortable around us. They are so much fun..I've gotta write some of the comments that they say and some stuff they do...that's got to be a future blog;o)
Love ya Kirsten....

Mark

Looks like Mark is going to be the first on my blogging chopping block. Mark was 14 when we first met. I'm not sure what he was thinking about me but he and Larry hit it off pretty well at first. He was always nice to me and never made any fuss about anything in the begining. My first real story about him "testing" my authority was when we first moved into Greg's house on 8 Mountain View Place and Greg had already gone to work. I remember sitting on the counter having a cup of coffee and Mark comes down ready for school and he gets a wine glass out of the cuppard and pours a glass of wine and slams it down by the sink...I'm like Mark what are you doing? His reply was "I do this everyday" well I called Greg and said ..did you know that Mark drinks wine everyday before breakfast and school? Greg said WHAT no, I don't think he does...so I said ..well he just did..lets just say that Mark's evening was not very good when his Dad got home after work, and I think I ruined his morning wine fix before school. I guess at least he used a wine glass I should be proud right;o) I laugh at this now but, at the time I thought wow...what the heck?? Am I ready for this...turns out I was. Now, Mark and I are good...he calls me the ol lady (my nickname) and he has given us 3 wonderful grandkids. He has grown to be a wonderful, responsible, giving loving person. He is a great Dad and I'm proud t call him my son.

Kids

Well it's been awhile since I have blogged, I wanted to but I forgot my password and user name so kinda had to start over. So here it goes again.

When Greg and I got married we blended two families little did we know how challenging that can be. Just because we fell in love didn't mean that our kids were going to follow along with us. Eventually they have all settled in and all enjoy each others company but those first years were tough. Each one tested us in different ways, just when we thought we'd heard or seen enough the next one would open our eyes to something new. We laugh at it now, but most of the time we wondered if we could get through it.
Greg has 4 kids I have 2 easy enough right? Try explaining it to people especially when we try really hard not to say step-this or that. What does step-kid-mom-dad really mean anyway? We married each other and our kids were an added bonus. I have been blessed with a man that has accepted me the way that I am along with my added bonuses. Being in a blended family has had it's bumps in the road but, I have seen families that have all the "slotted players" and they have their problems as well. Some even have more problems. I think it all comes down to the fact that Greg and I have tried really hard to treat each kid the same but in different ways. We have always "backed" each other even if we thought sometimes maybe he/she is not correct. Kids are smart they pick up on everything, they know exactly which buttons to push and know when and where to push them.
None of the kids are more special than the other but, they each are special in their own way. We love them all and really don't know what our life would be without them. They make our life more interesting and the fact that they are giving us those little angels called grand-kids is making our life complete.
More to come on each of the kids...they are gonna love that......

Letting Go

This last year was my year to learn about really letting go. I lost my Mom to leukemia on April 8, 08 that date will be ingrained in my head probably till I die. I always thought it would be her bad heart that would take her. It was a tough few months for her but she did it with dignity. I love her so much and she is in my heart everyday. In nursing school they teach you that before someone dies they need to hear that it's OK to die. I told my Mom that it was OK and at the time I meant it because I saw that she was in pain (didn't want to take pain meds because she didn't want to get hooked on them) but after the fact I didn't want to let her go and wanted her back. Her big concern was that she didn't want us to be sad and she didn't want to let go of us either. She fought a hard fight but her body gave out.
I think about her everyday but today more so, every morning I put her old sweater on and I visualize her giving me a hug it's my own way of dealing with all of this. Today when I woke up to my phone ringing it was my youngest son Larry calling telling me he was on his way back to a place where there hasn't been peace for before time and said "you know I'm OK with it". You see he is also teaching me to let go, he knows how much I worry about him and wants me to be OK just by his words. Even while he was on leave here he was teaching me, I fought it hard but in the end I had to let go of the fact that he is a grown man able to make decisions for himself and able to take care of things in his own way. I wanted to hang on tight to him just like I did my Mom but, he had to make the long trip back to Afghanistan. Letting go is not easy......but we have no control it just happens.

How I Met my Best Friend

Today I am start my blog, which I have wanted to do for quite sometime. Our daughter Kirsten started one and I love reading and keeping up with her and the Starman family. I have also been reading other people's blogs and just love reading about their lives. I started thinking what would I have to write about all of our kids are grown and lead their own lives and my blog would be a boring middle aged woman so here it goes. Today I'm thinking about how I met my best friend;o) He kinda just appeared even though we had worked together or alongside each other many times. We met at the hospital, I was working night shift as an RN charge nurse. I enjoyed working night shift because I could be at work pick up Larry take him to school, sleep while he was at school and be up in time to spend his after school hours with him and then be back at work just an hour before he went to bed. He stayed with my mom and thank goodness she lived near us, otherwise I'm not sure what I would have done. OK, this is going to be a problem with my blogging already I get distracted with one story so back to how I met my best friend;o)
While working I kept noticing that Dr. McAuliffe kept coming in early and boy that really would tick me off because he'd wake the patients up and then write a crap load of orders. All I wanted to do is finish my shift and get home! This happened quite frequently and then he would sit right at the nursing station where the charge nurse sits (me) and try to talk to me. We would talk about being single parents, kid stuff, cars (I was in the process of getting a new one), travel and pretty much anything. He was so easy to talk to which was unheard of being a doctor and all. I got to where I kinda liked him coming in to do rounds.
I was leaving to do my two weeks for the National Guard and told him that I was going to be gone and he said "drop me a postcard". So while I was in Panama I did just that. When I got back to work there were some beautiful flowers waiting for me no signature but simply saying "welcome home" in this very distinguished handwriting. The very handwriting that I would early in the morning take orders off ,I knew whose writing that was! Wow how did he know that I was even coming back to work tonight?? What a nice surprise;o) This was just the beginning of the many nice things my best friend has done for me. After that, we talked everyday and ended up falling in love and 6 months yes 6 we married and joined our kids together in a nice small ceremony.....I love being married to my Best Friend Greg....