From trash to treasure

Most friends of ours know how great Brian is mechanically.  However, what most may not know, is how brilliant and economically inclined he is! It is a little embarrassing to share, but so far he has brought home two initally, non-working machines and got them working for about the price of peanuts.  I am usually a little reluctant to see what he may bring home from the dump (we have to take our trash in), especially if he may want to use it in the house.  Thankfully, this has never happened but recently the captured items have been very useful. 

The first is a commercial mosquito trap.  If anyone has ever been out to the "Borges ranch", especially at night, then you know how bad the mosquitoes can be.  Brian has been wanting one of these machines for awhile and warned me that we would soon spend $500-1,000 to get one.  Praise the Lord that my husband is a great mechanic! He got this one working for a few hundred bucks and after tweaking with it patiently, it's working.  David checks it everyday, to make sure there are mosquitoes in the net and we've already noticed less attacks by the pests. 

Second, is a John Deere tractor that the boys are loving.  It apparently had a wire that wasn't hooked up or something, but Brian got it running and besides missing it's hood- runs like a champ.  David has learned how to drive, like a pro and has been explaining to me the correct sequence of R, 1, 2.  He drives around the yard convinced that he is mowing, and takes it very seriously, the changing the gear thing.  Daniel on the other hand, isn't quite as proficient with the gears and scares us half to death when he's behind the wheel.  Just imagine, crazy almost 3 yr old Daniel behind the wheel- in second gear, with a huge smile on his face yelling "WHEE!".  Then seconds later you see/hear BOOM! and see that he's ran into a tree or another stationary object.  All the while laughing out loud the whole way.
So, until the next trip to the dumps.  Who knows what was someone else's trash will become our treasure. :)

Things are changing

Well, the Borges house has experienced a few changes around here.

First, Reagan turned 9 months this month.  Can't believe it! It is busy trying to keep up with everyone, it snuck up on me.  He's still the sweetest thing- just goes with the flow.  He doesn't seem to anxious to crawl or stand, although he's been sitting on his own for awhile and he does the airplane move on his belly, kicking his legs feverishly behind him, like he may take off.  Just this week he got up on his knees by himself, I am hoping he'll want to see what all of the fuss is about.  I know he has it in him, b/c he moves around the floor somehow, just not the conventional way.  He got two of his front teeth, on the bottom a few weeks ago and his second two, on top, are coming through more each day.  He is very noisy, likes to hear himself talk and babble and loves to listen to you sing.  It'll calm him right away if he's upset, just for someone to start singing.  He really loves patty-cake and laughs hysterically when he is tickled.  It is so funny! He seems to know his name and is very fond of his big brothers.

Second, David has become the big helper around the house. He surprises me sometimes b/c he'll come in the kitchen and ask ' is there anyting I can do for you?'. Admittedly, my first inclination is to say no thank you, but I am learning to relinquish some of my control (freak) attitude and let him. He actually made his own PB& J the other day! He enjoys picking out MANY items in the grocery store and putting them on the belt, and then helps carry the bags in, once we get home.  It is quite the treat and I feel so proud of him, taking on the big boy role.

Third, Daniel is almost 100% potty trained. He wears underwear all day, except for naptime and at night and rarely has an accident.  He even made it through school this week two days, with underwear.  Besides, being so proud of him, it has been great not having to buy anymore pull-ups.  Thanks to Grammy B for getting the ball rolling, there's no turning back now.

As for mommy and daddy, we walk here and there and every where, only flying in the sky.  And, we can make our own pb&j, while being in our underwear. :)

3,000 miles away but worth every one

I always look forward to visiting Brian's family in California.  All of the cousins help out with the kids and they have so much fun.  Spending time with his parents and brothers and sister is such a blessing.  Each visit I think we all wish more and more that the distance between us would get shorter.  One of these days it might but until then we are making the most of it.

David and Daniel swam everyday in Grammy and Pappoo's pool.  They both kept their swimmies on but their courage and excitement took on a new life of its own.  Daniel was a little daredevil, sliding down the slide without any reservation and full of energy.  David also got past his fears and went down the slide numerous times as well as the diving board.  He even learned how to jump in doing cannonballs! We had a blast and loved the ease of bedtime after a long day in the pool.  It was amazing how fast their little eyes went shut. 
The flight out and back went well.  Reagan was a champ, as usual.  He got a cold while we were out there and ultimately ended up with a double ear infection.  Unfortunately, he wasn't diagnosed until we got back.  I felt so bad for him on the plane coming back but he hung in there and made it through.   (He's better now, although ear tubes are in his future). 
Most of the time we spent at the house hanging out and swimming.  One day, however, we ventured to Santa Cruz with the whole gang and made a day of it. It's basically a boardwalk on the beach, with rides and food and of course the beach.  The boys had a ball, they rode a train ride, airplane, skyline, ate huge ice cream cones and 'bout drown in the tide.  The water was really cold but they somehow managed to run through it and probably would've gone swimming had I let them.  Anyway, we walked out to the beach and played in the waves until the tide started coming in.  It snuck up quick and we got soaked up to our waists and Daniel went tumbling like a seashell swept up on shore.  We got him, but a little thrill for a minute.

Great grandma Gigi lives in an ACLF nearby so we were able to visit with her for awhile. She was doing o.k. for 103 years old.  She always has a smile on her face and the most gentle, sweet spirit. 

Brian and I had the pleasure of going out for dinner, which was so nice and we even stayed at a hotel for the night while grammy and pappoo took care of the boys.  I don't believe they missed us a bit.  Grammy and pappoo kept giving them more treats and were so much fun. What a fun treat though, to sleep all through the night.  Much thanks to grammy and pappoo.

It was difficult to say goodbye but knowing that we'll see them in December made it a little easier.  Thankfully we made it back safe and sound.

"Time flies when you're having......

Basically, not even knowing where to start, I find myself looking back over the past month, wondering where it went.  Since I started my job on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, the first part of June my life feels a little off balance.  Switching from nights to days has been an adjustment and adding more hours to my week has proven a little more than I can handle sometimes.  I am still deciding if I like where I am right now.  I have relearned a lot of skills I had forgotten or not utilized since nursing school.  So, in a way it has been refreshing taking on such a challenge.  However, as always, I decide to make changes that are generally drastic because I am too impatient to wait out the course of restlessness.  I knew I was needing a break from L&D, but at this chaotic time in my family life, I definitely have pushed myself.  I truly believe God led me here yet I don't have clear answers why.  Maybe He just wants me to see others that are truly suffering , to realize that my petty disatisfactions with the world are self indulging and unwarranted.  Or, maybe He's preparing me for something to come later in my life or one of my loved ones.  Either way, both of those things are happening.  I am unable to put into words the transformation and healing process that takes place in some one's body as he/she fights for their life from cancer.  Their bodies go from typical, "normal", to (for lack of better words) hanging on by a thread.  Just when I think he/she is on the verge of defeat, the healing begins and before long normalcy returns.  Obviously, it is not that easy and the person who has a transplant still faces ups and downs and possibly readmission to the hospital for complications, but the body is absolutely amazing to observe as it goes through this process. As I continue to move forward in this new area, I struggle with a lack of desire to work ( I'd rather be home with my family), and fond memories of L&D ( I miss the camaraderie and unique nature and excitement of that unit).  I can't honestly say I am completely happy or content where I am but I am taking it day by day.

Summer Fun

The boys have been having fun swimming this summer. We are very grateful for friends that have invited us to their homes for pool time. It definitely beats the heat and they are becoming more and more comfortable with the water. Hopefully, the "swimmies" will come off soon. David is a little more cautious, but Daniel, as you can see goes for the gusto.

Taking a ride with daddy

The kids thought it'd be fun to head to the blackberries via trailer, with daddy. Well, of course!

Hidden treasure

David didn't really have a "boo-boo", but he wanted to wear a bandaid b/c Daniel had one

Daniel sporting his real "boo-boo". Poor little guy.

This is before they set off for the blackberry bushes

At this time of year, it is very common for local farms to advertise "Free pick-in" for blueberries and blackberries. It has always seemed like a really fun thing that we could do as a family, and the boys would love it. Somehow, it came around in the paper recently and although it seemed like a great idea, I just couldn't muster up the energy to drag all of the kids to a near by farm in the heat and humidity to do it. I thought up all the crazy reasons why I shouldn't......'it'll mess up nap time and (that means no mommy time), or it'll be too hot, or I'll have the boys all by myself- it'll be too hard. Whatever the lame reason, I decided to forego it again.

Thankfully, the Lord thought I needed a break from my lameness and provided our own "free pick-em" bushes. I knew that we had a few blackberry bushes nestled along our driveway from years past, however I didn't realize, until Brian suggested it, that we have alot of blackberry bushes. It was great! The kids were so excited to show me where all of our treasure was hiding and we picked until our hearts were content. David ate most of his, so I had to constantly remind him to put some in his bucket, because I was planning to bake a pie. His little hands and fingers were purple and the dark ring around his mouth was a dead giveaway that he was enjoying them more than saving them. Unfortunately, the evening before the boys took a ride, in the trailer, behind Brian's mower and Daniel toppled out onto the limerock road. That's what the picture is all about with the bandaids. Anyway, our "treasure" was found and the pie was baked. Delicious if I can say so myself.