Mr. Cromie

Dear Mr. Cromie, As I read over the countless posts on the Dear Mr. Cromie facebook page, I am struck by how much you were loved by all! So many of your students, spanning 40 years at Pequannock Township High School, wrote similar lines about first hearing the choir perform at their elementary school, seeing you and knowing that they wanted to be in the choir in high school. It is also a vivid memory for me being at North Boulevard School and having you and the choir come, and us coming to the high school one year! You were so welcoming then, I couldn't wait to join your class. Students also remember how caring, funny and musical you were. You taught us how to be kinder to each other with humor and expecting the most from us. Of course you were a gifted musician, as well. Your class was fun, yet we learned and took music and singing seriously. You were always kind and cared about each of your students. A highlight to us all was the singing of "O Holy Night" each Christmas. I remember my senior year and the beauty of everyone singing. It is a night I will never forget. Inviting graduates back each year was so special, we were still a part of this wonderful high school experience. To this day, I listen to my choir Christmas tape, and think of you and it is one of my favorite parts of Christmas! Not many people are loved by all, but you, Cromie, are, forever! We love you and miss you! Susan (Nocella) Bunker, Class of 1994

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!!

Last year I wrote down my goals for the year:
Updating my blog more reguarly. : )
Joining the gym at Frankie's school and going at least 4 times a week!
Walking outside on good weather days.
Eating healthy!!
Figuring out a part time job for next fall
Finding happiness in each day, even when it is hard!

I will continue to blog more, exercise and eat healthy. I have a part time substitute teaching job, and I am still exploring possibilities for a more permanent position.

I have been better at finding happiness in each day, lately! I truly enjoy spending as much time as I can with my family. I have really loved spending time with my kids off from school and doing fun activities and just hanging out at home playing games and baking!

So my goals for 2012:
Exercise, eat healthy and reach a healthy weight!
Continue to find a part time job.
Think of myself less, and others more!
Help other people who are less fortunate.
Be patient, kind and forgiving!

Sad

I got to go down to NJ with John for Pa's wake and funeral. It was comforting to see the family, especially my mom.
Pa was in the air force, so he had a military funeral and 2 air force men were there and folded the flag and presented it to my mom. One then played Taps. It was very moving.
I am feeling especially sad that Grandma and Pa are now both gone. I know they are in a better place and I will see them again some day. But it is still very sad. Just so many family members dying not so far apart is taking it's toll. Coupled with my health issues, it has been a lot. The kids are off of school this week, so I want to make it a fun week for them, so I will try my best. But I really just feel sad.

Miss you, Pa!

My grandpa died on Sunday morning, at his house, in his own bed. He had been in hospice, but he had just came home on Wednesday, and was so happy to be home. I am glad he got to be at home and now is "home" with Grandma. I miss them both so much.

Pa was always dressing up in funny get-ups to make us all laugh. I remember him dressing up in bicycle shorts, and us all laughing at his skinny legs. : ) Or himdoing funny dances with us, playing his harmonica. He also was a great violin player and I loved to hear him play that. We are going to use Lizzy toy violin in his casket, she was happy to give it.

I feel blessed that I had so many years to spend with Pa and Grandma; and they were such a big part of my life and got to know my kids! I will miss them always, I do have so many happy memories!

Happy 2011

Had a fun day in Boston seeing the melting ice sculptures, walking and having lunch!

A few goals for 2011:

Updating my blog more reguarly. : )
Joining the gym at Frankie's school and going at least 4 times a week!
Walking outside on good weather days.
Eating healthy!!
Figuring out a part time job for next fall
Finding happiness in each day, even when it is hard!

Happy New Year!!

2010 was another hard year, with my Aunt Fran passing away. I miss her and Grandma each day.

I also have been having a hard health year, now with the blood clot and coumadin added on. But I wanted to think back for the fun, happy things over the year:

John and I celebrating our 10 year anniversary in St. John's!!!
Our 4th of July family weekend in Falmouth!
Lizzy making her First Communion!
Frankie turning 4 and starting the older kid classroom at school!
Lizzy turning 9 and celebrating at American Girl!
Lizzy starting the 3rd grade and joining the synchronized skating team!
Frankie starting ice skating lessons!
John starting a new job!
Earning some rewards for my Discovery Toys selling!

Indefinitely

Indefinitely sounds so long, doesn't it??

The doctor last week told me I have to stay on coumadin indefinetely! It just sounds so long, maybe the rest of my life. And wear the miserable compression stockings that long too! Now, I know there are worse things and people will say, "It could be worse", "think of all the people with worse things", yet I am having a hard time adjusting to this!!

The coumadin is a pain because of all the blood checks, twice a week for now. Risks associated with bleeding too much, etc. They even said not to ride my bike! And the stockings are uncomfortable and I'm dreading wearing them this summer already!

Just have had so many health issues and this one has just thrown me for a loop! Can't seem to shake it, I know I need to focus on positive, but it's just not working well right now!

Here's hoping for a better 2011.

Blood Clot - Yuck

Last week I got a blood clot in my right calf. I had one right after Lizzy was born so I knew the signs and I went in early. They did the ultrasound to confirm. Frankie was with me, but he loved seeing the pictures of my leg on the computer and was asking that they turn it so he could see. : )

So I am on coumadin and lovanox shots, ouch! Every morning and every evening another shot in the leg, I alternate. I just can't do it in the tummy, even though I did when I was pregnant with Frankie. I did one in the tummy this time and have a green, blue, purple yellow bruise the size of a walnut; have a hard time looking at it!

So I am slowly recovering, just amazed how everything hurts!! And I am so tired and out of it! Just making dinner is an effort and I need to sit down in between each step of preparing it! I sleep and sleep and wake up exausted and aching! But at least I caught it early and I am at home, not in the hospital! Oh and I can't remember anything!

Eventually things will get easier. And making dinner will even be easy again. I guess for now it is make easy meals and rest as much as I can.

But I am going to make a happy list: (My mom said she started this yesterday)

- A good brownie meeting with Lizzy's troop
- Going to see the sheep at the church down the street in the pretty snow
- A warm house and hearing my heat come on
- Lizzy getting to be Elizabeth and an angel in the church Christmas Pageant
- Frankie loving his ice skating lessons

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This was in our church bulletin last week!

I am thankful for the mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
I am thankful for all of the running around and ““dropping off”” at school, sports, dance, and friends because it means I have my wonderful kids.
I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have had enough to eat.
I am thankful for my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
I am thankful for all the complaining I do about the government because it means we have freedom of speech.
I am thankful for the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
I am thankful for the big heating bill because it means I am warm.
I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved-ones are nearby.
I am thankful for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have
been productive.
I am thankful for the alarm that goes off early in the morning because it means I am alive.

Take time to appreciate whats around you!

New Family Touched by Albinism

We had lunch today with a family with a little girl with albinism. Cute little Hannah is 14 months and has albinism, and we got to meet her and her mom, dad and grandma today! What a fun lunch and such a nice family! Hannah was diagnosed early on, at 5 days I believe. She goes to the same doctors' office as Frankie. And she loves elephants like Lizzy. : )

It was great to finally meet them, as we have been trying to find a good date for months. I can remember back to when Frankie was 1 and still having a lot of questions and anxieties. So it is nice to be able to answer some questions for others!

I was also thinking about how all the families I have met or talked to with albinism have been so kind, friendly and great people to be around!!

I always look forward to out bowl-a-thon in February to get everyone together and love to add new families who will come!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

I still miss you every day! But I know that you are peaceful in heaven again this year. Watch over us. We love you!!

Oh My Gosh!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged!! I REALLY want to start up again!

A few updates on our family:

Frankie is in his second year of preschool! He loves it and his IEP is pretty good too (more on that to follow).He will be transitioning to K for next fall! He is learning to swim, he plays tball, is starting basketball and skating!

Lizzy started 3rd grade! She loves her skating and is on the synchronized skating team this year, skating twice a week! She plays violin and sings in out church choir, yesterday was her first Mass singing!

John started a new job closed to home, which he enjoys a lot. I am co presidnt of Frankie's PTO, more to come. : )

So far 2010 has been a better year than 2009 was for us. Aunt Fran did pass away in April, so that has been sad for me every day still. I think of her and Grandma every day!

Things to be happy about today:
Beautiful day!
Going for a walk
Lizzy finds out about student council!
She passed basic 5 in skating over the weekend

"I can't see the Patriots"

We went to a high school basketball game this afternoon, that my brother-in-law coaches. Lizzy had a great time and loved watching and cheering, especially since she has started playing basketball this year.
Frankie, on the other hand was more interested in eating. About half way through, he said "I don't really like it because I can't see the Patriots". He watches the Patriots on TV with Daddy, and thinks every sport is them. It was a little funny, in this respect, yet I felt so sad that he truly could not see the players or game. Makes you realize his visual limitations. Just feeling a little sad tonight. But I'm sure he'll have me smiling again in the morning!

Happy 2010!!

Wow, it has been SO long!! 2009 was a HARD year, so I am looking forward to 2010 being better! With Frankie's surgery last year, his recovery, IEP stuff, Aunt Fran's brain tumor, and the passing of Grandma, is was a sad year. I pretty much forgot about blogging. But I am going to try very hard to get back into it this year!

Frankie loves his preschool! He is in the same school he started at the end of last year, with the same teachers! They are talking about pets now. They were supposed to bring in a stuffed pet to play in the classroom with; dog, cat, etc. Since he likes Curious George so much, mostly all of his animals are monkeys! : ) So he wound up bringing in a meerkat!

Lizzy loves school too! She is in second grade and skates, does ballet, plays the violin and basketball!

Grandma, I Miss You

I was able to make it down to the wake and funeral for my Grandma. It was comforting to be with family and see so many relatives and friends who came. Of course it was comforting to be with my mom.
My grandma still looked so beautiful, she was wearing the pink dress she wore to my wedding, surrounded by pink flowers. The service for her was so beautiful too. My mom and I each did a Bible reading. A lady my mom knows sang, "It is Well with My Soul" and "I Can Only Imagine". I spoke a few words about my grandma too, just spur of the moment. I talked about how she was a rare person who was always kind and gentle. She was always having fun with us; camp outs, parties, etc. We were always laughing. My mom gave a wonderful tribute, a letter to her mom. She had read it to Grandma a few years ago and Grandma had said it was the nicest thing anyone had even said about her. The service closed with some kind words by the pastor.
I just wanted to write down a few of these memories so I can keep them close. It was cold and rainy at the cemetery, but as soon as the pastor started to speak, the church bells rang out! We then went out to eat and reminisced about stories of Grandma and Pa, pretty much all funny!
I really miss her a lot. I feel sad almost every night and cry. She was a wonderful person!

Grandma

My Grandma passed away today, my mom's mom. It is such a shock, she was sitting on the bed talking to Pa and she fell off the bed and died. She had a massive heart attack.
I was very close to her and Pa. We were always at their house and have such fun memories. Every year on labor day weekend we would camp out in their backyard, have a BBQ, lots of candy and snacks, games, cards, and fun! The first year they both dressed up as ghosts to scare us. I was really scared at first, but then did realize it was them.
We were always doing something funny together too. When she got her video camera, we would make up plays, sing funny songs and have lawn chair precision team skits. She always had fun toys and candy and goodies. She would say, "Save room for dessert!" She stills has fun buying things for her 4 great grand children.
We got to see her and go out to lunch 2 weeks ago. I am so glad. She gave Frankie his birthday gifts and a coloring book and crayons for Lizzy. I am glad Lizzy is old enough to remember her.
I miss you already, Grandma. I love you so much!

Life

Wow, it's been along time since I have posted, so much going on!! I have a lot of updates on TVI's, school, etc, I will write about soon.
Lizzy, Frankie and I headed down to NJ to visit my parents over spring break a few weeks ago. We got some bad news, my aunt was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancerous brain tumor. I have really been in shock the past 2 weeks and cannot even believe it. She was fine one day, and this news the next. It saddens me that she has this and it is so progressed. It is also sad for my family, she is my dad's younger sister. She will start chemo and radiation next week, we keep praying for her!
While she was having a biopsy last week, she said she could feel her dad (my grandpa) watching over her. He died year ago Valentine's Day.
That reminded me of what happened just before Frankie's surgery, and I have thought of ever since and wanted to share. Of course before his surgery, i I was quite nervous and upset. I went to mass by myself the Sunday before. I felt kind of a mess, and then 2 people sat down behind me and I smelled cologne and I immediately thought of him, it was the cologne he wore, and I was transported in my mind to their old house, in my dad's old room. It was a small room, just like Frankie's room. Then I was in my grandparents bedroom, and I knew that my grandpa was looking out for Frankie!
It helped me get through the next few weeks of the surgery and recovery.
I am praying every day for my aunt and trying to make the most of each day that I spend with my family. Life it good, but is is also short and sometimes difficult. Happy times should be cherished. You really never know what the future holds. So I am going to try every day to think of things that happened that made me smile, happy and write them down.
Frankie was sick today, but I can still think of a few:
Lizzy got to go to her little league parade, softball game and friend's house
Frankie had a yummy popsicle and jello
We all watched part of the Sound of Music together
It was a nice day and I got to take a walk.