Islanders No More...

So sometime during this Fall soccer season, Jaelyn's league changed all their team names from Islanders, to Deception. Turns out there are teams named Islanders. Go figure; we live in the Puget Sound! But after three seasons cheering for the Islanders, we never could get Deception to roll of the tongue right.

But despite the name change, the team did great! Many of them went as a team to two different camps this past summer (thanks to some team sponsors!), and it paid off. They placed second in league. Unfortunately their last two games of the regular season were cancelled, due to the other teams not being able to field a full roster.  In early January we lost a very close game 1-2 in the state cup. The next week was a bit of a letdown, and we lost 3-1.  Sadly, once again, the next opponent couldn't fill a full squad last weekend, so we won the final game of the first round of state by forfeit. Kind of a letdown to end your season that way, as third place doesn't move on.  The girls were proud though, as they should be.

As always Jaelyn, way to work hard! Now it's time for a break. Not long though, as gymnastics competition begins next weekend!

Tim, I Mean Mike the Toolman...

I want to take a moment to encourage my husband to do more home improvement projects compliment my husband on the fine jobs he is doing around the house. It all began with the kitchen and hallway floors, then replacing most of the molding around the house and built me a fireplace surround, followed by replacing our kitchen sink. Oh yeah, did I mention the roof? I think I may have missed some others, but you get the point. For someone who didn't like to work around the house, he sure has become quite handy (thank you youtube). Now I don't even have to ask. He sees a need and tells me what he has planned. Look what he accomplished before Christmas:

The before of our popcorn ceiling...

This ugly stuff is all through our house, but now that he tested it out on one room, maybe it will all be gone soon too...

After painting, ripping out carpet and replacing with flooring, along with new window molding...

And topping it off with Jaelyn's Christmas present, voila...

Before we expanded our family, this room was once an office. It has evolved since then. She loves it; thanks Dad!

Now I can't wait to reveal what he is doing now. It's his most adventurous project to date. It's looking good. Stay tuned!

Maturing...

Two reasons Jaelyn looks more mature and grown up, as of late. Remember her wearing an old pair of Kaia's glasses for Twin Day? Well in late November she mentioned to me that she was having trouble seeing the board in my math class. There is a glare on the board, so I moved her to the front and things seemed to be fine. That is, until she started complaining about her other classes! So we scheduled an appointment over Christmas Break, and found that Jaelyn is nearsighted. So here she is looking adorable in her new glasses. Don't they make her look older?

The second reason it seems she's growing up is because she is! Here she is with her sister, on our way home from celebrating New Year's Eve with friends. We all sang happy birthday to her at midnight, as she turned 12.  They're looking a bit tired here.

She celebrated with friends a couple days later at our local rollerskating rink.

Not too old to love dogs though! She loved this cake.

She had a little too much fun playing dodge ball while rollerskating...

And as a result, three days of missing PE and two missed soccer practices. Frankly, I would have been out for more, but not this girl.

Yikes, one more year and I'll have a teenager in the house again!

Frozen (and I don't mean the cute Disney kind)...

So what do I think has been my lack of motivation for posting to my blog these past couple of months? Well I now officially have a name for it. Frozen Shoulder! Let me explain...

Let me take you back to October 2014, when I first began having shoulder issues. Pain and stiffness, along with a lot of tossing and turning at night, finally led me to the orthopedic doctor in Feb. 2015, where I received a cortisone shot and was told I had tendinitis. I followed up with physical therapy, and was nearly pain free, but still didn't have full range of motion. However, I did spend the summer playing softball, tennis, running, etc. 


Then came August, when I noticed the twinge of achiness returned. By Thanksgiving I came to the conclusion it wasn't going away on it's own, so I decided to return to the doctor. My orthopedic had now moved off island, and I had new insurance, so I began with my general practitioner, which took three weeks to get into. He thought perhaps I had a tear, so scheduled an MRI, gave me another cortisone shot (did nothing), and referred me back to the specialist.

Now it's 2016...Lack of sleep due to pain at night is my number one complaint. I feel like the parent of a newborn again (don't even go there), and I've even been known to wake up shouting out with pain as I turned over without thinking (sorry Michael). About a week ago I was finally able to see the orthopedic, which after reading my X-ray and MRI results, gave me an accurate diagnosis. I am now receiving physical therapy three times a week, and on a slow road to recovery. I just know the Lord is teaching me some things, and so far it is patience!

Someone shared with me a good article that explains Frozen Shoulder Syndrome, so if you aren't already bored of my whining, and want to learn more, read here.  Unfortunately, being a type I diabetic and now 50,  I fall into the high risk category. I hate being a statistic!

So back to why I have been avoiding blogging. I typically write my posts in the evening, and frankly I am exhausted by that time of day! I was only sleeping in 1-2 hour chunks of time, so going to bed by 8:00pm was not unusual here. I am happy to say that kinesiology tape has helped me sleep with less pain, so now I sometimes sleep in 3-4 hour chunks, but I still typically wake with numbness in my arm between 4am-5am, so I give in and get up. Which is why I decided at 4:15 am this morning to finally start writing this post that has been going through my head. Also, I don't typically mention much about my diabetes here, as there is not much to comment on, but the cortisone shots and shoulder have been wreaking havoc on my control, which doesn't help with my motivation to type.

But I am on the road to recovery, and no pity party here, so other than today's rant, I am ready to catch everyone up on the wonderful things that have been going on with my family (I like to keep the blog positive but real), so stay tuned....