Robbie and the kids

Hello everyone!  Sorry its been a little while since I wrote anything, but we've all been fighting a virus over here at the GFL, and I have been one busy mommy!  I actually wanted to dedicate this post to my wonderful hubbie, Robbie.  He's one of those 1 in a million type guys.  He certainly has his flaws (as we all do), but my life wouldn't be the same without him.  Specifically, I'd like to share about the special relationship that Robbie has with our kids.

First, let me say that Robbie adores the children.  And they absolutely love their Daddy!  I catch myself just watching them interact with one another.  I've said before that Robbie is quite the comedian.  The kids love it because they get to be absolutely ridiculous with him.  They'll call each other silly names like "You Peanut Butter Pickle!" or "You Tuba!" and just have fits of giggles.  Then Robbie will chase them around the house while they squeal at the top of their lungs (I swear, sometimes, I'm surprised the glasses don't all shatter!) and they try to hide from him.  He'll catch them, then wrestle them to the ground with tickles, while one will jump on his back trying to "defend" the other.  On the days that Robbie has to work doubles, he comes home on his break and just wears the older two kids out for me!

I don't think Robbie ever gets to work on time.  I believe its simply impossible.  Even if he tries to leave early, it never happens.  (Good thing he's the manager!)  There is quite the ritual that happens when its time for Daddy to go to work.  Sandy and Gideon race into the living room, each trying to reach him first.  He gives them each hugs and kisses, and usually several rounds of them!  Lol!  Then he usually ends us playing with them for just a few more minutes, chasing them around, or tickling them, etc.  This is usually followed by another few rounds of hugs and kisses, at which time he is inevitably late, and has to pry himself away before heading out the door.  (Don't worry, Atticus and I usually get our hugs and kisses first....before the thundering herd comes running down the hallway!) 

It's the same story when it comes to bedtime.  Robbie is always at work when its time for bed, except for the occasional holiday when the store is closed.  But each night, I have to promise Sandy that I'll send him in to tell her goodnight whenever he comes home from work.  Gideon usually wakes up sometime around midnight to use the bathroom, and stumbles into the living room so that he can hug Robbie, and get him to carry him back to bed.

I know most of what I said above applies mostly to Sandy and Gideon, but Robbie also has a special relationship with Atticus.  We joke and say that Robbie finally got one of the children to look like him!  :)  Atticus is enamored with Robbie just like the other two children.  He always wants to be in the mix when he's wrestling with the older ones.  And Robbie makes sure to make some special time with Atticus too.  In fact, he has to be careful because he always ends up giving Atticus the hiccups from laughing too hard!  I had a realization about how sweet their connection was when the last time we visited the audiologist.  Even before Atticus got his hearing aids, he could hear Robbie's voice.  We found out later that he could hear a lot more low tones than we originally thought, which explains why he could hear Robbie, who has a very loud, deep voice.  I remembered that it was Robbie's voice that first made Atticus at ease when he first received his hearing aids.  He went incredibly stiff when Dr Little placed them in his ears for the first time, and you could tell the sudden ability to hear overwhelmed and scared him.  He sucked on his finger and looked around rigidly and nervously, until he looked over at Robbie, who smiled, and said "Hi Atticus!".  That's when Atticus broke out into a big smile.  He been able to hear Robbie's voice before, and now he could hear it even clearer, and it made everything ok.

Dad's are such an important role in a family, yet they don't get the type of recognition for their sacrifices that they deserve.  Great dads make all the difference in children's lives.  So if you know someone who is a great dad, be sure to tell them "Thanks!".  It'll make their day!  Until next time, that's all for now in the GFL!  :)

CHD Awareness Week

Hello everyone!!  Well,  I know it's been a moment since I posted anything, so I figured now was as good a time as any!  First, let me start by saying....THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS!!!!!!  Ahem.  Ok.  Now that that is out of the way....;).  Needless to say, it was a crazy afternoon/evening over here at the GFL this past Sunday as we watched the Green Bay Packers face off vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.  (Boo! Hiss!)  We had a great time, lots of friends, plenty of food, and lots of yelling and screaming!

The main focus of my post today, however, has to do with a subject that is near and dear to my heart.  February 7th- 14th is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.  CHD strikes 1 in every 100 children.  It also takes twice as many young lives than any form of childhood cancer, yet receives 1/5th the funding of Pediatric Cancer.  My little Atticus is one of those 1 in 100.  (Technically, with his defect, he's about 1 in 10,000!)  Without the advances in research, particularly within the last 30 years, my sweet boy wouldn't be with me here today.  Having a child with CHD radically changes your world.  Every aspect of daily life takes on new challenges, but there is always hope.  Hope for the future, hope for advances in medicine, and hope for a cure.  I'd like to end this post with what I like to call the Heart Mama's Prayer.  I can't take credit as the author, but it certainly expresses EXACTLY how I feel.  Enjoy, and help spread awareness for these precious little babies!!


Heart Mama's Prayer:

I pray that no other parent shall have to hear those words "Congenital Heart Defect".

I pray that no other parent shall have to sacrifice time with their "healthy" children because you can't be in 2 places at once.

I pray that no other parent has to see their child eat with a tube because just sucking a bottle makes them tired and sick.

I pray that no other parent has to make the decision to have their child's chest cracked open and heart stopped.

I pray that no other parent has to endure the torture of seeing their child cry his eyes out, yet not hear a sound.

I pray that no other parent shall have to get instructions on how to hold their child - this should be instinct.

I pray that no other parent has an empty crib waiting for it's owner to come home from the hospital, if at all.

I pray that no other child should have to go through all this pain, yet still lose their fight in the end.

I pray for awareness.

I pray for research.

I pray for a cure.