Meet The Teacher

Last night was so much fun.  Mike and I got to go to my dad's high school football game.  Besides the fact that we did get a babysitter, it was the first time in 8 years that we could go and not have to then drive 3-8 hours back to where we lived.  My dad's team is young and this is his second year at the school so we really were not sure what to expect but it was a great crowd (slightly quiet though) and his team fought hard-they lost but they did not give up.  I know my dad was up all night, I got emails from him at 1:41 and 4:15 AM.  He loves what he does so I know he hates to lose.  I had fun cheering (screaming my head off) and Scotte who was once our "Manny" was there so we enjoyed talking (telling him what to do).  
Poor Mike is still having headaches.  I can not imagine this because I have a headache for an hour and I can not function.  He has had this throbbing, pounding headache now 24 hours a day for 4 weeks.  I think if he could just get a good night sleep it would help him but with the pressure in his head he can not sleep.  
Today we get to go to Makayla's new school and meet her teacher, Mrs. Stewart (as she hopes a lady who is somehow related to Miley Stewart on the Hannah Montana Show).  The cutest thing is I showed her the teachers picture on the schools website, and she said "Well she looks good but not as good as Mrs. Haase" For those of you who don't know Makayla LOVES LOVES LOVES her kindergarden teacher.  I think they will always be connected somehow.  She then proceeded to ask me if Mrs. Stewart knew as much as Mrs. Haase, because Mrs. Haase knows everything, like how to tell time and how to count to 100, how to teach manners, how to cough into her elbow.  I think she is nervous for her new school but I know she is excited to meet some friends and start learning all the fun things 1st graders learn (still can NOT believe she is going to 1st grade).  


"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom"  Luke 12:32


Tonight Mike is speaking at Half-Time of the Gridiron Classic.  It is exciting because it is a game between two public high schools and they want him to share his faith :)  

Walking

The dreaded work-out room in my basement has been quietly calling my name.   Yesterday, I finally could not ignore it anymore (it might have been the chicken salad and chicken enchiladas ).  I decided to exercise or at least walk on the treadmill.   After the electrical socket regained conscience after being used, the treadmill started (I was hoping it was broken but realized dust does not break a machine).  What some of you call relaxing and fun, I think of more as torture and cruelty.  In my teenage years and volleyball days, I didn't mind the occasional visit to the gym but since 2000 me and exercise do not mesh.  I guess one decade is long enough so I will start again (unless of course my metabolism returns then I will go back to normal-which by the way if you see my metabolism anywhere please send it back).
Mike visited yet another neurologist yesterday.  They have decided to keep him on just two pills a day (i can live with that) and check back with him in a month.  They think his headaches and nausea could last up to 4 more months.  After going back through his history they found he had 7 documented concussions since 1999.  This Doctor told him if he had not already been told, there is no way he could risk playing again.  Mike felt good to know more than one doctor felt the same way.

So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light."  John 12:35-36

Headaches

Mike is home :)  Yay for me!!!  I was up for the challenge of "single" parenting this season but when the news came that Mike would get to come home and stay,  I was jumping up and down with joy!  Now if only his headaches would go away.   We met Friday with the Columbus Blue Jackets team Doctor.  He was wonderful and seemed like he would be able to help Mike find relief.  He is sending him to a neurologist on Monday for more testing and scans.  His nausea is also very bothersome but most concerning to me is his short term memory loss.
Mike or I either one are big "pill" poppers.  I especially am against tylenol (or similar) because I have always felt once you start popping those pills you have to keep taking them every time you get an ache or a pain (now I won't lie, in my old age Midol has become like a friend to me).  You should see the drugs in our house right now-I think Lindsay Lohan is requesting to stop by here on her way home from Rehab to fill up :)  It makes me laugh that most of the Doctors Mike has seen wanted to fill him with so many drugs that his symptoms would be masked not cured.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.  Colossians 3:18-19


Saturday now becomes only known as the "day after high school football".  Last night we all went to my dad's scrimmage.  It was so fun to be there as a family.  I told Makayla next year she can be the water girl (after me explaining for 10 minutes what a water girl was and that I was the water girl for Papa's team when I was her age) and she had one question "Can the water girl wear pink"

Thank You!!!

Over the last couple of days, I have received a tremendous amount of emails, texts, notes, and phone calls (I would say voice mails but I purposefully have no voice mail-sorry I know that frustrates some of my friends).  I realized I have an awesome support network, just another of the many blessings I have in my life.  In the realm of the world, never playing football again seems minor, in the realm of Mike's world, it is major.  I think we both assumed he would be done, but just maybe if he wanted to he could go back, next year, in two years, maybe like Brett Favre when he is a grandpa :)  But when the Doctors told him he could never play again, those words hit him hard.  Football has been more than a job to him.  From 1992 until now it has been his morning, noon, and night (I guess I have him beat b/c my love affair with football started at birth when my dad brought his team into the nursery to stare at me-but wait I was born very close to 1992 so it's even).  And when we look back at all the joy football has brought into our lives, we feel so lucky to get 8 seasons in the NFL-Mike had an amazing journey and I just know what is coming next, is even more amazing.  
So this morning, after Stone drilled me with a stuffed dog on the side of the head, I woke up very thankful for many things but today I feel most thankful for my friends.  I hope now, I can be an even better friend (hopefully one whose address won't change twice a year).

"My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:12-13

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

The Waiting Game...

I have no idea if anyone is even reading this but I have learned that writing is a great therapy for me.   Now if only I could strike a book deal or something then all my countless minutes would pay off :)  I am considering stalking celebrities and giving Perez Hilton a run for his money but then I remember I now live in Plain City, Ohio (incase you have never been to Plain City OH they didn't make a mistake when they named it).  I must say though that I am so happy to have a sense of home.  Life in the NFL is one of many things but stability is not one of them.  At any given phone call you can be uprooted and transplanted someplace else (or you can wake up and read about how your husband lost his job in the paper and then proceed to move).  Someone our first year told me to always keep a bag packed.  At the time I thought how silly, after year three I always had two bags packed :)
This season before Mike was even injured we had decided I would stay in Ohio with the kids.   Makayla is starting first grade (not sure if first grade is ready for her but she is ready for it) and she needs some sort of stability.  And the major bonus for me is my parents are next door.  I can say with 100% satisfaction that I am certain I was meant to live next door to my parents (I would choose in the same house but my dad only watches Andy Griffith and I think that would drive us all crazy).   So anyways, this year for me was going to be all about FAMILY.  Little did I imagine Mike would get injured and then find out today that he can not play football anymore.  I have now realized it's not by chance we made the decision to keep me and the kids in Ohio.   As we prayed about it and prayed for a clear answer, God gave us one.  Always listen to those answers, even when they are not what you want.

You Shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
Psalm 128:2

So today, tomorrow, whenever you can, pray for Mike :)   Whenever someone else makes decisions for us, they are harder to swallow than if we decided on our own.

FAITH

This morning it is extra hard for me to get going.   I am going to a burial service for a precious 7 year old.  It sickens and saddens me to think that such a young life was taken.  At the same time I am amazed at how many lives she touched.  I am positive she brought many to know God during her short time here on Earth.  I know she is in a better place because the Cancer can't get her anymore but I am so sad for her family.   I wish I could do something for them but the only thing they want is their daughter back.  
Mike is back to the Amen Clinic today for his 2nd scan.  Tomorrow he meets again with the team Dr's.   Hoping to have some answers this week.

He said to the woman, "Your Faith has saved you.  Go in peace".  Luke 7:50

Today I will hug my kids a little tighter, let them be a little louder, and I will enjoy them a little more.

AMEN

God works in wondrous ways.  A friend that Mike played with, whom also had concussion related brain issues, suggested we explore some testing at the Amen Clinic in California.  His wife sent me some contact information and I began to explore their website.  The entire time I was reading about what this Dr. and clinic can do I was trying to figure out how I would get Mike to agree to fly to California.  For those of you that do not know, flying is NOT our favorite thing to do.   It has been so bad before that we purchased a new car in FL during a connection and drove all the way back to Michigan just so we did not have to get back on the plane.  After clicking every link on the Amen Clinic website I realized they had two locations, the second was Reston VA.  I immediately went to my best friend, Google, and realized our hotel was less than 10 miles away from that location.  I quickly emailed the Dr. and within a half hour we were at the Clinic and Mike was getting scanned.  He goes back Monday for the 2nd of the exam and hopefully results will soon follow.  What are the chances that a Dr., whose last name just happens to be Amen, would have offices in California and Reston, VA?  Seems pretty slim to me....

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Thank you friends for all of your prayers and encouraging words!!!
www.amenclinics.com