Organized sport's: the ongoing saga

So Conner left a playoff game the other night and we thought that would be the last game. Well, we got a call yesterday saying that there would be another game today at 6:45. So we asked Conner what he wanted to do and he said "I will go play.", So we told him "Go, play, bat but don't expect to play catcher."

Marty and I had dicussed at great length about whether saying something was fruitful or not. You know the momma bear in me wanted to say something, but the quiet half of this family did not want to rock the boat. So I just expressed my thought's, some of which were given to me by a friend and then I stayed silent. I did a lot of praying, including praying to forgive the coach his wrongdoings. 

We got there tonight, I let Marty and Conner go over to warm up and stayed behind. I talked with the other catcher's mom who asked, "What happened? did my son say something?" and I told her the story, she was mad! She said she had no problems with them switching off innings, she was fine with that. She also agreed that this is minor's not major's and every kid should get a chance. She did tell me this was the worst team her son had been on so far, he has played every year since t-ball. So with the being the second time I had heard that, I came to the conclusion this really is just a bad team.

Conner played, he sat in a couple of innings, batted and played outfield twice. I cheered on the other kids and led the crowd in doing the same. I felt happy and good doing just that and being a good sport.

Marty told me on the way home that the coach came up to him and asked "How is Conner and his eye?", Conner had been hit in the eye and leg before the game the other day. Marty told the coach" That's not why he left?" and the coach looked puzzled" What do you mean?" and Marty said " You know that little conversation you had with Conner about catching the other day? well he thinks you told him that he wasn't "good enough" to play" so the coach says "That's not what I said or meant, I just meant he needs to work at it over the summer and get ready for next season"....Marty told him" That's not how Conner took it, you couldn't tell? he was almost in tears and when he went up to bat you could tell." and so the coach said " Well, I am sorry, I truly.." Marty stopped him and said " Look, you don't need to apologize to me, you need to apologize to Conner." so the coach did even getting down to his level. Conner forgave him and played well.

It is very obvious, that is what the coach meant. Not only did he basically say so, he basically has shown it by his actions. Obviously, the other mom didn't complain and so it has been the coach's doing. We have to just forgive him, learn the lesson and move on. Next year we will request he not be placed with that coach. Also we plan on working with him until next season and hope for better. He forgave the coach and I think has learned some valuable lesson's about life. I know that I have!

P.S. They won the game tonight and advance to the final championship round on Monday!

Organized Sports

We finally put Conner in one this year and we have ended up sorely disapointed. The coach has sat Conner on the bench the last five games or so. He has played him in the outfield one inning or so a game. Conner wanted to learn catcher and worked hard to try it out, we stated he was interested in playing that position at the beginning of the season. The coach seemed bent on playing this one boy catcher, at times it even seemed that he was forcing him. He would even put the kid's gear on for him. Conner was able to play several games trading inning's with the other boy. All of the sudden it stopped, the coach offered no explanation and we didn't ask. We try to be very laid back about things like that because every hates pushy people. Ever game Conner would go and get teary at seeing his name left off the roster. The last game he played as catcher he even got a out for the team. Conner asked the coach yesterday why and he told Conner " Well you got to play half the season as catcher." what a lie. Then today he told Conner " You weren't good enought to play catcher, you weren't fast enough behind the plate." WHAT! He is ten years old, the coach should have come to us and explained it. Who the heck tells a ten year old they aren't good enough? We told Conner he could leave the game and he did, why sit there and let your kid be mistreated. 

The coach played the same boys over and over, upon reading the rule book tonight we noticed that was a rule breaker. He also continued to let the other boy play without a catcher's mitt even after the league president told him he had to. He stopped having pratices about 3 1/2 weeks ago and didn't seem to be interested in teaching boys who weren't already good. This is a non tryout league that says "Winning at all costs is not allowed". I am very disapointed and my son is devastated. I told him life is not fair and that we are proud of him, I also told him to never let someone's opinion of him become truth to him.

What is wrong with the world? No wonder kids get into to so many bad things. Why are we making kid's grow up so fast? I am so heartsick over this and feel awful that this has happened.

Over hill, over dale

As always today I think of my family members who served our country well. My Grandpa Brown was very proud of his service in the US Army, he gave his eye in service of our country. He taught me to be proud and honor those who serve. He also took the time to teach me about my other grandfather who served in the US Army as a cook. Whenever I hear that Army song a tear is never far from my eye as I think of Grandpa. He truly was a member of the greatest generation!

I took the kids to the memorial day service at the cemetary we go every year to honor Jimmy who gave his life for our country. It was a very interesting service this year and definitely not as good as in years past.

I am proud of these three men who served our country and want to share them with you.

Here is Elizabeth getting her Sparky plaque, she finished her club and will be moving up. We are really excited she worked hard to earn it.

Conner wins Clubber of the year

Tonight was AWANA awards and Conner received a huge honor. He was awarded Clubber of the year for his club out of 20 plus boys! We are so proud of our "buddy"

We will never forget

May 17,1987 

I am sitting on the floor of our apartment in Buena Park watching a tv show. I don't remember what I was watching but, all of the sudden I see some little yellow words across the screen. The words were scrolling and I read them " Uss Stark hit by Iraqi bomb in the Persian gulf, ship badly damaged with some dead." I yelled out to my mom, come quick I think this is Jimmy's ship. She comes in and reads it and says "No, I don't think so" and I said "yes, it is". So she called my Gramie to find out, she wasn't sure but I told them to go read the ashtray Jimmy had given her. Sure enough, the 10 year old was right. Jimmy was my mom's cousin on her dad's side, Aunt Pat was her only remaining relative on her dad's side and she was very close. Her Dad and Aunt were raised by different relatives when their mother was abandoned by their father in the 30's. Aunt Pat was everyone's favorite and her boys were like brothers to my mom. I loved going to visit Aunt Pat and seeing my cousins, Jimmy was my particular favorite of the bunch.

The next morning, the news came Jimmy was killed. He was sleeping in his quarters when the missile hit and he never woke up. I will never forget seeing my Aunt on the news with that look you see on all military parents face. Cold, shocked, devastated never to be repaired by anything and something a parent should never face. The next few days I watched our families grief play out on the TV screen. I remember seeing the pictures of the bodies coming home on the plane, hearing Reagan address the families. One particular memory for me is being at school and having to read a newspaper article in my GATE class, I got in trouble for drawing a mustache on the ship's commander. I had to explain my grief to the teacher and she let me slide, I remember going home and seeing a newspaper with my mother's tear strewn face on the front as my Aunt and Uncle accepted the flag of their son.

I used to think about it a lot especially when I would go to Aunt Pat's house and see the letters from Reagan hanging on the wall. She would go to the cemetery every year to see his flag rose above in the parade of flags. She passed away a few years ago and Jimmy's memory has not been forefront anymore. Today I decided to carry on for her and remember him as he should be remembered. He served our country proudly and paid the ultimate price, We will never forget.

Transplant update

I probably should go back and start numbering these things, that might make it easier to follow.

(A/N I really should have listened to myself. Four years later gathering these things one by one)

Well, we are back from vacation and getting ready to face the music. I can't believe it has been one year since we received the diagnosis of renal failure. It has gone fast in many ways but agonizingly slow in other ways. We have lived month to month, day to day, minute to minute this past year, normal really but not normal. Most people see Marty every week or day and have no clue what is going on with him. It think it is hard for them to believe this guy who looks normal is sick, really sick. Truly a testament to my husband and his steadfast determination to be the best he can be.

So here is the latest, next week Marty will go to the doctor for his appointment. We are expecting to receive a surgery date for catheter placement. This will enable him to do peritoneal dialysis at home. This means I need to do a few things around the house to prepare our room. Things need to be as sterile as possible to ensure Marty will remain infection free and not have to go on hemo-dialysis.

It has been a journey that we couldn't have done with out God and our faith in him. He has answered so many prayers for our family. He has allowed some of this to be on our terms and so far only one thing has been something he told us to do. That is the dialysis end of things, it was our prayer Marty would never have to go on dialysis. In some ways I think he is showing Marty not to fear and to trust in him. I think he is showing Marty just because things were one way for his dad doesn't mean it will be that way for him. Even though it has been a "yes" to dialysis God has still let Marty come to terms and get used to things on his time. For me I feel like I am on a narrow path with blinders on. 

I know what I am supposed to do and nothing can stop me. My focus right now is on my home life and taking the best care of Marty I can and being a helper to him. I have had to take on about 99 percent of all household tasks. I am doing well and trying to train the kids to help with some things too. I am joining a Master's swim team this summer as a outlet for myself, I am looking forward to the physical activity.( This didn't happen until 2011 after transplant)

Prayer requests:

For Marty to be infection free

For the surgeon to do a good job

That Marty will tolerate the dialysis and not suffer

For a quick heart catheter appointment and for good results