Totally Awsumb Disney

We made the decision to send Awsumb on our little Spring Break trip solo.  After all sitting around all week worrying about me and my recovery wouldn't be much fun for him.  I also really needed to rest.  So we made some calls and prepared to send him on his way.  That's right, his first solo flight. I was a bit nervous for him, but he felt pretty confident.

To our surprise Southwest Airlines considered and up an adult.  SO he really was on his own.  There was a stop in San Jose, no plane change, but a stop and I was texting with him the entire time he was on the ground!  He did great and I send a new little friend along for him to find in his backpack.

(Pickles)

Auntie and Uncle were at the John Wayne Airport waiting for him at the gate and I am sure he was thrilled to see them!  After a couple days with the Allen's he met up with some old friends at Disneyland.  The Erickson's moved to Minnesota a few years back.  Awsumb makes friends easily, but has also considered Caleb to be his best friend.  I was so sad to miss catching up with Kimberly.  But thankful she was willing to spend a few days with him so he could take his mind off things!

Here are a few fun pictures from his trip....

(coming soon)

April Fools!

I have suffered with extremely painful periods since I was a teenager.  I'm not talking about cramps.  I'm talking pain.  Pain so bad you can't feel your legs. Pain so bad you pass out.  Pain so bad you hit your head and end up in the ER with a concussion.  That kind of pain.

In my adult years these heavy painful periods were debilitating.  We knew that my fertility issues were probably related.  Over the years I gave up on doctors finding a solution because most of them didn't want to do anything invasive if I was hoping to have a baby.  Basically they just kept putting me off.  I'll spare you the details, but I often ended up in the ER due to such heavy bleeding and cramping along with various IBS issues.  I slept with towels covering the bed, overloaded on pain meds and was often house bound while dealing with these extreme symptoms on a regular basis.

The last few years I had been in more pain than usual.  I have felt a lot of pressure on my bladder.  My right lower back hurt all the time and often lifting my leg was extremely painful like I was ripping something apart.  For a time I wondered if I was having kidney issues, but I never had a fever and doctors sent me on my way.  But the cancelled plans and missed events were piling up as I was often found lying on the floor in pain.

Finally after spending the whole weekend together Kenneth decided he had had enough when I asked to leave a Mariners event early.  (Missing baseball?  obviously something was wrong!)  He demanded we go to the ER.  I had already changed into my pajamas and you know sometimes when you are really sick it just sounds better to stay home and be miserable in your own bed rather than sit in the uncomfortable waiting room of the ER.  After a bit of an argument Kenneth said, "Pack a bag, what do you need to take?"  I replied in my typical bratty way, "Fine, this chapstick."

And that's how I ended up in the hospital awaiting surgery with nothing but a chapstick.  The ER doctor found an endometrial mass the size of a softball over my right ovary.  We were planning a trip to Disney and I had already packed my bag as we were leaving on Friday. I begged them to do the surgery after we got home.  The ER doctor firmly told me that I wasn't leaving.  But they would probably only have to do a laparoscopic procedure and the recovery wouldn't be too bad.  As each doctor came into the room they were amazed I had been living in so much pain and kept commenting to Kenneth that I must have a really high pain tolerance. 

Actually, did you know redheads have some kind of code in their DNA, the same place that dictates lack of pigment in the skin, that actually makes them less tolerant to pain.  So there... I must really be a trooper.  Anyway I really don't feel the need to prove how much pain I was in to anyone.  Over the years living with endometriosis it's amazing how many people don't get it.  Unless you or someone close to you has never dealt with it you probably just don't get it.

So they scheduled surgery for the next morning, April 1st.  Apparently things were in such bad condition that just a laparoscopic procedure wouldn't cut it and I ended up with the equivalent of a cesarean.  The mass was so large it had obliterated my right ovary so they removed that and the tube.  It was also connected to my bowels and my bladder (yeah, fun stuff)  so they cleaned that all out.  The surgeon reported the other ovary was in pretty bad shape.  It was full of scar tissue and probably has had cysts growing on popping (yes, more pain)  for years.  He wasn't sure that there would be much left to work with, but left it and my uterus so we can take our chances one more time at a fertility clinic.  At this point I feel like maybe we should have just let them take everything.  Kenneth feel extremely guilty that he let this go on so long. 

Either way we now realize even more what a miracle our little Awsumb was!  Stars must have aligned for that one to work out because I am just a mess!

Kenneth really stepped up.  He owed me after his two foot surgeries last year!  I don't think Kenneth slept at all the first couple nights.  Back and forth between the hospital and taking care of Awsumb.  We are so lucky to have close friends that stepped up to make sure everyone was taken care of. 

4 Days later I was so over the hospital.  Although we had a nice room and a window with a view of the city of Bellevue, and don't forget all those great intravenous pain meds, I was just done with the whole scene.  That last night another mother joined me.  Because a simple curtain doesn't really give much privacy I heard all the details from her doctor regarding her surgery.  Although it was a simple procedure and nothing like I was going through I still felt bad for her.  She had this little girl who was scared and worried. I felt guilty she didn't have the window and the little girl couldn't play on the couch. Also the bathroom was on my side of the room.  So both Kenneth and felt really bad that she didn't have complete privacy on her first (and only) night after surgery.

That night Kenneth went home to sleep as the weeks event were finally catching up with him.  I was more coherent and really starting to wish I could just be home in my own bed.  Then I had the overnight nurse from hell. No she wasn't mean, just forgetful and really did a poor job.  Giving meds with out logging them, logging things hours after not really remembering if she did them...  Basically I didn't want her to touch me!  I feigned sleep when she would come by so she wouldn't bug me.  BUT I did beg her to make sure I didn't go more than 4 hours without my pain meds because I was starting to be more aware of my staples and was kind of uncomfortable.  Plus despite the surgeons thinking I was a total pain trooper, I am really a woos.  I ended up 9 hours with out meds.  Yep, these days you really have to have someone advocating for you at all times. You can't rely on nurses who are probably stretched too thin to keep up.  I am just glad that nothing worse happened because she sounded like she was causing all sorts of havoc on our floor.

So Friday morning I went for a little walk. I was just so determined to get out of there I was bouncing around the room trying to show the doctor I was good to go so they would release me.  When I get back the other mom is packing up. I tell her, "Oh if you get to leave first I am going to be so sad"  and she turns to me and says, "if you knew the kind of surgery I had you'd feel sorry for me." 

WHAT?  Um if you knew the kind of surgery I had, the 19 years of marriage with fertility issues... hello it's not a contest!  Who says that?  In the meantime I'm reading stupid April Fools posts on Facebook and such about people so glad they aren't pregnant etc.  Well, April Fools to me.  Major surgery, pretty bleak odds for another child, and the worst was missing my trip to visit Auntie and Uncle and going to Disney to meet up with old friends.

We ended up sending Awsumb on his first solo plane ride to visit Auntie and Uncle.  He had such a wonderful time and I am thankful he is so close to them and that they love him so much to step up and take him!  Awsumb also went to Disney to meet up with our old friends, Kimberly and Caleb Erickson. It's so nice to have family and friends willing to step in and love your child when you need to concentrate on just getting better.  Kenneth and I had a fun week together, just the two of us.  And I appreciated all the visits from friends... and the flowers, oh the flowers!  So fun!  Thank you everyone for all the visits, phone calls, meals, treats and flowers!

Healing was slow going.  About 4 weeks post surgery Kenneth went out of town and I decided to just "get back to normal" and started driving the Ford Explorer and doing regular things around the house.  Uh, yeah, not a good idea.  Major pain and I was put back on strict rest for a couple more weeks. I don't know how women recover from this surgery with a newborn to take are of. Actually I hear that helps because you just concentrate on cuddling that newborn.  A few friends who have had both a C-section with a baby and this type of procedure said the recovery from this was worse.   I'm not looking forward to doing this all over again.  But I do think a planned surgery when I can prepare my family and home for me to be away and out of commission for 6 weeks will be much easier than emergency surgery.

And in the fall... we'll see what the fertility clinic has to say....  I'm not getting my hopes up.

Dapper Day 2014

Crazy INSANE busy Dapper Weekend at Disneyland this year!

although we had gone from 6am to midnight the night before we rope dropped Early Entrance at The Grand Californian Entrance to Disney's California Adventure at 7am.  We dressed casual and comfortable in the morning.  Below are a couple quick iPhone shots of Awsumb with Mickey and Goofy.  By noon we were exhausted and went back to The Grand to swim and hang out in the hot tub. 

It was so busy Kenneth waited 20 minutes at White Water Snacks (the pool snack shop, which park goers can also get access to as it is usually a quite place out of the parks to rest) and when he finally got to the front of the line was then told whatever he ordered would be another 45 minutes they were soooo backed up!  We decided to go up to our room and shower and change into our Dapper outfits and order room service.  We couldn't even get room service to answer the line. We got ready quick and headed back to DCA to find a complete madhouse.  The lounge at Carthay Circle was so insane they blocked the doors and wouldn't let anyone else in.  We were really hoping to get a small bite to eat.  We did have reservations at Napa Rose with Auntie and Uncle for dinner. But it was frustrating to not be able to get a little something after bring up since dawn!

Awsumb and Mickey above, Goofy below

Awsumb wore his vintage Mickey Ears and a bowtie.

I wore a polka dot sweater and my Sunday pearls.



Awsumb was excited to take photos on Buena Vista Street at DCA.

Popcorn?

Mickey!

Awsumb begged the photo pass guy to get a photo of him in this pose.

UP, UP and Away!

The Boys at Napa Rose

Auntie Laurel and Wendy at Napa Rose

More later...

The Nutcracker

Oh, I better explain The Nutcracker....

Years before we had our little boy Kenneth used to buy me season ballet tickets.  And so of course we have seen The Nutcracker performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle many times.

And let me tell you the sets are magical.  All inspired by the art of  Maurice Sendak.  The pages of his book really comes to life!  The Christmas tree grows, it's amazing.

BUT the end.... OMG the end!

OK let me back up. When I was growing up my two sisters took dance classes at a cutesy little dance school.  "Miss Margene's" I think it was.  Anyway, every other year Miss Margene shared her scary Nutcracker nightmare with us.  Talk about the longest recital in history.  In order to make sure every class and child was showcased enough she added in all sorts of extra numbers and songs.  One year there was a sister dance and they both performed together as sugar plum fairies.  Cute.  Another year one of my sisters spent most of one number rolling back and forth across the stage as a wave. Yeah, you get the idea.  Nonetheless, the parents really did love it.  Mothers and Grandmothers anyway.

So back to PNB's Nutcracker.  The story finally wraps up at just the perfect time that you decide you need to get up and stretch your legs.  As you reach for the shoes you kicked off (I'm short, I can never reach the floor comfortable and often loose a shoe in church pews and theater seats)  just as you start to glance towards the exit here comes another number...

And one by one all these storybook characters that were never IN the story to begin with come out and get their special solo.  One after the other after the other.  Now that I think about this, I am pretty sure I am thinking about PNB's production of Sleeping Beauty, which is long, really long.  Well done, but long.  One year these two delightful grade school girls were sitting in front of us.  And they were pretty much finished with the ballet by intermission.  So when this finale of all finales started they just lost it.  Melting out of their seats, asking for food and drink as though they had been starved for a year.  Oh, it was so funny.  What's not funny is that you didn't have to be a gradeschool kid with zero attention span...  Any normal person would be wondering how long the nightmare would go on (except the performers own Mothers and Grandmothers of course).

It wasn't hard to get Kenneth to take me to the ballet. We already held season tickets to the Paramount so we could catch all the off Broadway shows that came to town.  And Kenneth LOVES music.  But those last few numbers always just pushed him just over that edge.

And so I laughed when I first heard Straight No Chaser's "Nutcracker" which he had included, unbeknownst to me, in our annual Christmas playlist.  And no, we don't see it as a lousy tradition.  Although, for some reason we have never taken Awsumb to the Nutcracker. We've talked about it, we just never make it happen. Next year for sure! 

So Kenneth, I'm leaning in closely and whispering softly, "I can't wait for you to take me next year!"

Royal Blue

 

The end of another year.

An eventful year.

A stressful year.

A painful year.

A mournful year.

Yet still a year

 filled with love,

hope and happiness.

 

 

No specific commentary on this year's selection.  But we are obviously missing a loved one.  And thinking about those close to us who will spend this holiday alone. Yet still thankful for all that we have and looking forward to celebrating with loved ones still with us, both near and far away.

Wishing you a

Royal Blue Christmas!

Love,

Kenneth, Wendy

 and Awsumb

 

 

You can listen to our 2013 Christmas Mix on Spotify

 

Click the music tab on the right side of this blog to see previous Christmas mixes.

HARDY

The name of the front of the jersey

 represents who you play for,

the name on the back of the jersey

 represents who raised you.

Do them both justice.

  

The Hardy Boys

 

Brothers

 

Rag Tag Whiffle Bag Team

 Play Ball!

Good Tidings Of Great Joy

 The Gospel According to St Luke, Chapter 2

 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus,

that all the world should be taxed.

 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child.

 6 And so it was, that, while they were there,
 the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

  10 And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold,

I bring you agood tidings

of great bjoy,

which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 Awsumb and his Nativity age 1

Awsumb telling the Christmas Story

 in his own words age 3

 

When Awsumb was small he was so cute when he would play with his Little People Nativity and retell the Christmas Story.  He always got a big kick out of the part when the angel appears to the shepherds and how they were "so afraid!"  Excitedly he would continue the story and repeat the words of the angel, "Fear Not! behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  And then he would finish by announcing the birth of the Savior.

 

And we can find joy in these good tidings of great joy because we have been given the biggest gift of all, the Savior.  Not only the greatest example, but his life, his life so that we might be saved.  Really, what comfort this sweet and simple message gives.  And I have watched this message be part of the comfort my husband and his family feels as they buried their father, husband, grandfather.  Because they understand that there is a plan.

 

I was trying to decide if I should get out Awsumb's Playmobil Nativity that has replaced his Little People Nativity from the toddler years.  I didn't know if he would still want to open the little boxes each day and play with all the little pieces.  But while making our Christmas card for the year I was thinking about him and how from such a little age he too could find excitement in the good tidings of great joy and see that the delights of the season were all about knowing that he has a Father who is in Heaven and who loves him enough to send his son.

 

May you all feel the comfort and peace that the news of these good tidings of great joy bring!

Merry Christmas!

I Am Becoming...

 

Awsumb Kenneth Hardy

age 12

 I am becoming...

This statement was above the school doors my son entered every day of elementary school.  This year he is in the 6th grade, at a new school with a lot of pressure and expectations upon him.  And he is becoming... quite the little man.  Some days I wish with all my heart he could stay little forever.  And others I marvel at who he is becoming.

 

 

Red Ranger Came Calling - Vashon Island Treed Bicycle

from 2011...

Years ago a friend of mine who has an equal love for beautiful children's books brought this book to me.  Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed.  Yes that Berkeley Breathed best known for Bloom County, from the Sunday Comics.  Not only is the art stunning.  The story is such a wonderful tale about a little boy that no longer believes in Santa, if he ever did. Until he calls on well, Santa. Set in the depression about a little boy on Vashon Island. You may recognize the author Berkeley Breathed from the funny papers. The book is hysterical and if the performance by Book-IT theater in Seattle even better!  If this production is ever at a small theater near you - GO!

 

I simply love this story and am sort of giving away part of the ending...

 

When my father comes to town we love to go on little adventures.  Usually in between sales calls or meetings.  We often find a little antique store or some where interesting to explore. I love these visits with my father.  He comes to town on business several times of year and a day or two riding along with him in the car talking and laughing keeps me going to rest of the year when I miss him so!

 

And in November 2011 we found it!  We decided to take the $25 ferry ride to Vashon Island. We met Aunt Vi's at the Country Store and she even signed some books for us!  Then we found it!  The treed bicycle!  Near 20312 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon Island, WA  The bike tree is off of Vashon Highway (which runs between the Seattle and Tacoma ferry ports on either end of the island) on the northeast corner of the Vashon Highway and SW 204 St. intersection, about 50-60 ft (very rough guesstimate) into the woods on the north side of Sound Food Cafe.

 

 

There are so many stories about this hidden gem.  Sometimes this picture is forwarded around with a story about a young man that went off to war and never returned. The bike is very small, for a small child and this is certainly not true.  I found this tidbit online trying to find the true history of the treed bicycle.  Above is a picture that is often passed around on the internet.

 

The tree is believed to have belonged to Claire Hartvigsson (her married name, her husband also grew up on Vashon) by her twin brother, Bud. He was a real prankster. These families settled on Vashon in the early days of Washington and more than a few generations of Norwegians were born and raised there. Bud never would admit he had done it, but he chewed the end of his cigar and snickered when people tried to get him to admit it. Both of them are long gone now, but I know Claire's daughter and the family has always called it "Claire's bicycle."

Posted by Wendy Sutich on Mon Dec 06, 2010 at 09:54 PM

 

This spot has been vandalized many times.  The handle bars are often removed and mysteriously replaced.  Please be respectful of any current residents and both human and non in the area.  Keep this for another generation to find!

 Grandpa Awsumb and Awsumb 

 

Current condition 11-30-11 missing handlebars 

 

one of the pedals...

 

Point Robinson Lighthouse

 

The coolest beach ever with HUGE clam shells!

 

Mt Rainier as seen from Vashon Island

 

 

Don't Shoot Your Eye Out!

Sometimes I write posts I never post... for one reason or another or because I need to sort through photos...  this is from 2010

Guest Post from Kenneth: 

You've probably all seen The Christmas Story.  You know the one where the little boy with big glasses wants a BB gun for Christmas and everyone tells him "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!"  This is one of the few "holiday" movies that we actually watch each year because it is really funny and doesn't overload you on saccharine "Christmas miracles"...  Well, I would never have guessed, but this year "The Christmas Story" came home.

Awsumb has a great uncle who makes sure that he doesn't miss out on all of the classic boy stuff.  For example, last year as he entered Cub Scouts, Uncle pulled me aside and asked if they could give him a pocketknife.  They did, and not a crummy keychain one, either.  And Awsumb really loves Cubs.  He wears his uniform with pride and quickly burns through the achievements to get his rank advancements.  He absolutely LOVED the Cub Scout day camp this year...  especially when they got to shoot the BB guns.  Wouldn't you know?  This year, Uncle pulls us aside and asks if he can give Awsumb a BB gun.

I love the Christmas Story because of the youthful, witty narration that captures the excitement of a big boy (just about Awsumb's age) who knows what he wants and is desperately trying to get it.  It would be easy to write him off as that spoiled kid (you probably have seen before) who throws a fit if he doesn't get what he wants, but you also get to see him in his humble, imperfect, but still functional home.  You get to see him persecuted at school and humiliated in the bunny pajamas from his auntie.  By the time the presents are opened and there was no BB gun, you really feel sorry for him.

 

This year, I listened to the original book and liked it much better.  For example, in the book, little Ralphie puts just as much enthusiasm into getting a really great gift for his parents and brother -- something they will really like.  You know that toy zephyr that his brother falls asleep with in the movie?  That was the "perfect gift" that Ralphie found to give his brother.  It helped to solidify that this was a good boy who really wanted a BB gun, as opposed to the canonical spoiled brat.

So back to our Christmas...  Awsumb never asked for a BB gun...  he probably never considered it in the realm of possibility, I guess.  He did hint strongly about those crazy autmatic Nerf guns this year, but Mom drew the line at having "enough Nerf guns already".  So maybe he automatically extended that to cover BB guns as well...  when Awsumb got to meet Santa?  He asked for Santa to "surprise him".  Santa did...  but so did Uncle!


By request, we recreated the last scene of the movie.  We opened everything else first, cleaned up the paper, and exhaled.

"Well, Awsumb, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?  What's that over there?"

And over on the side of the entertainment center was one more package.  It did not contain a strange lamp, but an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock!  (Okay, no compass in the stock, but it is an official Red Ryder air rifle, just like Ralphie's.)

 

And like Ralphie, Awsumb was thrilled.  Unlike Ralphie, Awsumb hasn't shot unattended -- and so far, at least -- he hasn't shot his eye out.

 

Forgive me Auntie!  Early Christmas morning... but I just love this photo of the three of you!

 

Oh, how I love these two guys!