Soccer Lessons

I haven't been posting lately because the beginning of the school year has hit us like brick. With Kathy working as the cafeteria manager at the kiddos' school, and with me being at the beginning of the school year, we haven't had much time for anything but eating and sleeping (and not much time for those, either).

I have mentioned in past postings that Nicholas is playing soccer for his school's middle school this year, even though he is in 5th grade. Practice and games have taken up every other day and the weekends lately. However, this evening's game made me the most proud.

Keeping in mind that Nicholas is in the 5th grade and he's playing for a middle school team, he doesn't get much playing time. He averages 5 minutes at the end of each half if he is lucky. He doesn't seem to mind, and we have encouraged a "team player" mentality when it comes to sports. God bless him if he has inherited his dad's athletic ability.

Tonight's game was his crowning moment so far this season. And he didn't even play. There was anotherplayer who locked his uniform in the school today and was unable to play. Recognizing that this other player was an intergral part of the team, Nicholas offered his jersey and cleats to this other player so he could play. The coaches didn't ask him, the players didn't ask him. I truly believe that he knew that sacrificing himself would benefit the team. I actually was angry when I saw the other player with his jersey, until I found out it was a selfless act initiated by Nicholas himself.

Whay do we have our kids play sports? To learn teamwork? To learn sportsmanship? To learn empathy? Nicholas seems to have learned all that already. He didn't score a goal. He didn't block a goal. He didn't even play - but according to his coach, he was the hero of the game.

Norton Vacation 2006: August 4

We all woke up at 8:30 so Nicholas and I could go to the lobby and take advantage of the "complimentary breakfast" and bring it back to the room. They didn't have much to choose from, but the kids loved it. Fruit Loops, Rasin Bran and Frosted Flakes for cereal. Pastries included chocolate, powdered and star donut gems. Orange and apple juice. Bread for toasting. You get the picture.

We ate in our room, showered, packed the van and checked out at 11:00. I bought the Zoo tickets at the front desk and got $1 off each. We stopped by Kroger's to pick up some batteries for the camera and a cooler for all the food we had leftover from the room. Disposable cameras were on sale, so we got each kiddo a camera for the zoo.

When we got to the zoo, the main parking lot was full, so we had to go to the Vine Street entrance. We walked through the gates at 11:55. We walked out of the same gates at 6:15 exhausted and cameras full of pictures. To see some of the pictures Kathy took, click here for the slideshow posted on Norton Pics. The main attraction at the zoo was, of course, the koala exhibit. When we first visited, both were asleep with their heads tucked in so we couldn't even see their faces. About four hours later, as we were on our way to the gift shop, we stopped by the koalas again, and they were eating, and very animated.

Before we hit the koala house again, we stopped by the Rhino exhibit. The zoo had an Icam on the rhinos, so I called Bobby in Oregon.....Read about our techno geek rhino cam cross-country collaboration and see some captured images here.

After the zoo, we wanted to stop and get something to eat, so we dropped by the Florence Mall again (for the culinary variety) and there was some kind of grand opening goinf on. The parking lot was full and clowns on stilts were walking around the lot. We (Kathy and I) decided to try something a little less adventureous, so we got back on I-75 towards Richmond. We ended up stopping on an exit with a variety of fast food places on it. Kathy and I got Skyline to go and brought it into Burger King while the kids ate burgers.

We got home about 9:00.

The end.

Norton Vacation 2006: August 3

We all woke up around 9:30. The three kiddos slept (finally) in one double and Kathy and I, the other. Bed was hard and short. My feet hung over the edge.

We missed the "complimentary" breakfast because they only served it from 6am - 9am. Kathy supposed that it was a ploy to get guests up and checked out on time. Guess so.

We showered, dressed and left to for Bob Evans for "brunch" at 11:45. After we ate, we headed for the Newport Aquarium, about 20 minutes away. I went down to the front desk to buy "discounted" tickets for the aquarium, and while waiting in line, found a small pamphlet with a $2 coupon per ticket in it. The front desk only gave a $1 discount, so I declined. I did order a rollaway for the night, though.

We arrived at the aquarium at about 1pm (a few missed turns). Kids loved the entire aquarium. Nicholas's favorite part was the sharks. Emily loved the gift shop, and Rebecca fel in love with the penquins. Check out this slideshow of the some of the pictures Kathy took.

There were a couple of choices for dinner. Originally, we were going to eat right after the aquarium - possibly at Pompillio's, but since we had a snack at 4:30, we weren't very hungry by the time we got out of the aquarium at 5:40.

After the aquarium, we were unsure what to do. I wanted to see Pirates of the Carribean: Dean Man's Chest, but the next showing at any nearby theater was 90 minutes away. We ended up going back to the Wildwood Inn. I called Pompillio's to see if MB (B's ex fiancee) still worked there, and she actually answered the phone! I hung up without identifying myself, and we decided we shouldn't go there for dinner. The kids wanted to check out the play area in the "Dome" so we all got our suits on and we went swimming (we practically had the pool to ourselves!) for about an hour or so. We left right as it started to thunderstorm outside.

After we dried off and got dressed, everyone agreed we had worked up an appetite. Since Pomp's was out, we decided to try the place across the street, Shakey's Pub and Grub. It had just finished raining and all the tables outside had been moved inside, so the wait was about 25 minutes. They said they had a nonsmoking section, but it was really crowded and smokey in there. We ventured on down the road for another place.

I really wanted to find a place we had never been to, and that we didn't have in Richmond. We settled on a Macaroni Grill. We've never been, even though there is one in Lexington. We were so full after we finished, we went to Barnes and Noble to walk around a bit. Kids and Kathy got some magazines, and I got a double shot venti cafe mocha.

Came back to the Wildwod at 10 and settled down to go to sleep.

Zoo tomorrow.

Norton Vacation 2006: August 2

We left Richmond at about 4:50. Arrived at the Wildwood Inn at 7:30. We got a 2nd floor NS, 2 dbl bed room for two nights. Rollaway beds were sold out. The front desk gave us these bright pink paper wristbands to wear so they know we are guests when we go to the pool. It had to be 98 outside. even with the air cranking in the van, it was still uncomfortable.

We checked in, got settled and took a "tour of the property.

The pool, or "Tropical Dome" as the call it is really neat. The "Dome" consists of an indoor pool (3ft-7ft), a hot tub, dry sauna, kiddie pool, two pool tables, gameroom, and a mini playground - all inside this tropical theme decorated glass dome. The neatest thing is a large "tropical plant" hanging over the pool with a shower of water falling into the center of the pool. Kids loved it.

We loaded up the van and went to the Florence Mall. Kids got a kick out of the escalator (we don't get out much). We walked around the mall for about an hour, buying the kids their dress shoes for school this year, and a few things at K&B toys. I got a multi pack of Wacky Packs (didn't know they still made those things)! Kids rode the carousel in the food court. We had a good time.

Came back to the hotel and the kids prepared for the pool. We went down to the pool at 9:30 or so, took some pictures, and let the kids swim for about 45 minutes. It was really crowded. Went back to the room settled back down. I left for Krogers to get some food (we have a fridge and microwave in the room) and picked up some deli meat and flour tortillas. Came back and made some roll-ups watched a little TV. Went to bed at about midnight.

More later.

Spring Break!!

TGISB! Seems this break is long overdue. Finally, I have my break the same time the kids have theirs.

Things we are hoping to do do this week:

1. Clean Nicholas' room


2. Organize the dining room and kitchen


3. Work on the basement


4. Go to the zoo or Salato


5. Post on all blogs


6. Relax


7. Read

I'll keep you up to date!

Emily Loses First Tooth!

Check it out here.

Walking

Going walking every afternoon with the family at E.C. Million Park. A lap is a 1/2 mile and we have been walking 3 in about 30 minutes.

All those years of coloring in school must have paid off...

... for Julian Beaver! I received an email today containing these pictures. Had to share them with you!

My Second Chance

As some of you may or may not know, I returned from St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday afternoon after a 48 hour surreal experience involving two hospitals, one blocked artery, one stent and many many prayers. I tell this story to once again illustrate the power of prayer and of God's healing touch.

About 4:00 pm Monday, I was leaving a meeting at Madison Central High School, walking to my car and my chest started to ache. I had felt this earlier in the day, but not to the degree I was feeling it in the parking lot. I sat, relaxed and it went away. I went back to my school and by the time I got into my office, I felt the pain again. It was similar to a pain I felt 18 months earlier, which prompted me to get a "stress echo". Those results said I was healthy - overweight and out of shape - but my heart was healthy.

I called Kathy and told her I was going to swing by and pick up my insurance card and go by Pattie A. Clay's ER to get it checked out. I drove to the hospital and told the admitting nurse I was having chest pains. I was immediately taken to the back of the ER where they took my blood pressure, temperature and insurance information. The pains subsided before I got to the back of the ER.

Over the next 3 hours, they poked me for blood, prodded me for tender spots, and padded me to the EKG machine. They found that I was relatively healthy. Blood counts were fine, EKG was normal, cholesterol was a little high. By that time, however, they contacted the cardiologist I went to 18 months ago for the stress echo, and he recommended I stay the night for further tests.

I hadn't had anything to eat all day and by the time I got settled in my room, it was 10:00 pm and I was starving! The cafeteria had closed, but the nurses found a frozen dinner and warmed it up for me. As I was bringing the first bite to my mouth, the nurse walked backed in and said he just got word I was to be on a clear liquid diet. So they substituted the lasagna for orange jello. It was the best jello I ever had!

The next morning, my primary doctor came in at 5:00 am to let me know that my heart enzymes were a little high, I had very likely suffered several mild "MIs" and they wanted to do a heart cath to see what was going on. I agreed. My cardiologist came in about 7:30 am and told me that he thought I had some blockage in my right artery. They wanted to order a heart cath and if they found anything they could put a stent in at the same time. I agreed to be transported to St. Joseph Hospital where they could do both if they needed to. Plus it was a move to a Catholic hospital.

They took me by ambulance to St. Joe's where I was taken to the HISSU (Heart Institute Short Stay Unit). I waited for about three hours until they finally prepped me for the heart cath. Depending on what this new doctor found (my cardiologist was not in Lexington that day) a few things could happen: they could find nothing and I'd go home that evening; they would find some blockage which could be relieved with a stent; or they would find enough blockage to warrant open heart surgery.

Once they put the heart cath in, they began looking around. What they found was no blockage in the right artery, which the EKG mistakenly found - instead they found what my cardiologist would later call a "Widdowmaker".

A "widdowmaker" is a 99% blockage in the left artery coupled with a blood clot. The cardiologist said if I had ignored the chest pains a day earlier, I'd surely be dead right now!

He was able to clear the blockage, dissolve the clot and put the stent in. The rest of my arteries were OK and there was no damage to my heart! What a miracle!

I spent the next 12 hours lying on my back, not moving my leg, and not raising my head. A small price to pay for how fortunate I was!

I am convinced the outcome would have been different if it weren't for the prayers of my family, friends, and Church community. Not at any time was I ever nervous or concerned. I was very relaxed (even before the drugs) and calm because I knew I was in the Lord's hands. It is an amazing feeling to have!

My second chance at life begins now. My life changes now. I'm going to eat better, (no more 4-Ways) exercise more and stress less. And continue praying!

Thank you all for the prayers. They were answered!