Like Father, Like Son

With both boys now playing soccer my life as a soccer Mom has officially begun...

Honored

Along with dear friends, I had the honor of honoring this special person pictured above last night at a dinner here in Greenville. Catie is a dear friend that I was blessed to meet when we moved here for residency in 2008. She instantly made me feel a part of the group (her husband is a fellow ortho resident with Matt), part of the culture and has always seemed to know when to reach out to me when I needed friendship and comfort. Catie held my hand as I searched for those things you need in a new community...hairstylist, doctor, schools, etc. and just has this way of making you feel like the most important person in her life at that very moment in time you are with her. She has hosted a slew of parties, showers, playgroups...has planned endless mom's nights out and other various events for us and our families. All with impeccable style and warmth. My children think the world of Ms. Catie. It makes my heart smile the way Blake beams when he sees Catie, and he knows she genuinely loves him and believes in his abilities. I have learned to recognize that in him, and his relationship with Catie is truly special. There are so many things I am missing saying. All of these things I have mentioned she not only has done for me, but for everyone she meets. Catie gives all of herself to her family, her friends and to others. She is an amazing Mom with a beautiful family. She will be incredibly missed as they move to Jackson, MS, for her husband to begin fellowship this summer. I will never meet another person like Catie, but I am grateful to call her my friend and to share a birthday with her :) Thank you, Catie, for all you have given me and those you have touched in Greenville.

Taking the Leap!

I guess we are really doing this since Matt dropped off 60 of these flyers to all of the residency programs at the hospital! I have to admit I had fun making them. It allowed me to be creative for a moment and ignore household chores. Or did it? Considering household chores will become a constant now with the house on the market! We will put the sign in the yard after we return from our Spring Break travels the day before Easter. We have certainly priced it to sell and spiffied up the place, so with hope and a prayer away we go...

World Down Syndrome Day is March 21!

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on the 21st day of the third month of year to symbolize a third copy of the 21st chromosome in Down syndrome. This year is especially exciting as is it the first year that the date is officially recognized by the United Nations! Join the global celebration and Do Something Extra tomorrow to honor Blake and those with an extra 21st chromosome on World Down Syndrome Day.

Rub A Dub Dub, Three Boys In A...

2 foot by 2 foot shower. Imagine that. On second thought, don't. We have been trying to convince Blake and Dane that showers are super cool (and super fast for Mommy & Daddy) and that is time to move beyond the toy and bubble-filled bathtub. No such luck for awhile as they were too scared. Alas, last night was successful, but completely impromptu as both boys dropped their drawers while Matt was showering after mowing. I was nursing Blair so could not come to his rescue. So, I sat comfortably in the rocking chair listening to it all go down. This is what I heard...

Matt: "It's okay Dane...are you scared?...Daddy's right here...Okay, I'll hold you"
Dane: (once he was in the shower, comfortable and not being held) "I'm not scared!, I'm not scared" over and over at least one hundred times. Can you say nervous?
Blake: "Shower?!"
Matt: "Blake get in...it's okay...alright, I'll hold you" (remember 2 ft x 2 ft shower)
Dane: "Daddy, I have to go potty"
Matt: "Um, OK...just go in those holes right there (the drain)"
Dane: "OK...Daddy, what's that?" (I will not elaborate, but use your imagination)

There was so much more, but you get the idea. I could not see any of this, only hear it, and it was the funniest thing I have ever had the pleasure of listening to! Needless to say, Matt had quite the experience with his sons and they were beyond excited and proud after exiting the shower. I just hope this will take place in their larger tub shower, or the boys will begin to do it on their own in our teeny-tiny shower.

8 Months and on the Move!

Looks like it is time to babyproof in the Hollenbeck house! Blair turned 8 months old yesterday and has decided she is ready to check out every inch of this house. She continues to bring us joy everyday with her smile, laughter and almost constant "talking" and yelling. Growing is an understatment as this girl has reached 19 lbs., enjoys dumping baskets to play with each and every toy, and tries to initiate a crawl by reaching way forward and using her toes to push herself....so funny :)

Matt's Reality

Not to make our marriage sound miserable, but Matt and I live in two different worlds. Not in a bad way, just a very different, sometimes unable to relate kind of way. It would take each of us being thrown into our separate worlds to fully understand each of our roles. Matt gets to do this on occasion when I go to mom's night out, take a break or run errands alone. Me, on the other hand, I never get a glimpse into his world. I have always imagined it stressful, demanding and a bit chaotic. I'm sure that doesn't quite explain what it is like to be an orthopedic surgery resident, but I do work in health care, have worked in large hospitals and have seen Gray's Anatomy (totally kidding!). Joking aside, I know I will never know what it is really like.

Then, there was yesterday evening. The kids and I ventured out for dinner with a friend and her kids at Frodo's Pizza to unfortunately come upon a car accident that had just happened while heading home. I came upon this mangled wreck while talking to Matt who was on call, was at the hospital, but finishing up and getting ready to head home if nothing else was going on. I told him to wait because a terrible accident had just happened and if they survived it would indeed be a trauma. He hung up and would soon call be back to say he was staying to care for the patient from this wreck that was on their way. It was then I realized the significance of his job. Along with other residents and an attending he was waiting to help this individual, which is what I told Dane when he asked if Daddy was coming home. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed and wanted him to come home, but Matt has an ENORMOUS job and one that he is very good at. This wasn't about the prestige or money, but about stopping his own life to stay put and help someone heal and possibly survive. The entire family does have to sacrifice, as well, but that small moment made me more aware and more proud of my husband of what he has accomplished and what he does on a daily basis. Life of a surgeon and resident is his reality, and he balances that and being a husband and father with such grace.