Walk With Us

I had to train Molly's teachers how to administer her epipen on Friday. Its been 2 years and 4 months since her reaction and its not any easier to leave her with someone new. It could be worse. We know worse. But its still scary.

Researchers are closing in on a treatment but not soon enough. A 13 year old died in her father's arms in June after suffering an anaphylactic reaction to Rice Krispie treats. Even though her father is a physician, her parents administered the epipens, and called the paramedics they still lost her.

If you're available on September 22 please consider joining us at the FARE food allergy walk. This walk means so much for Molly because its the one time she's not alone; she spends the afternoon with kids just like her!

Many

We shared the many face of Molly in 2009, 2010, and 2011. 2012 came and went without a face photo shoot. Now that Molly's 4 1/2 she's graduating into the Many Poses of Molly.

Flying

Although I often feel the days flying through my finger tips and the to-do list never getting any shorter, its a blessing to spend sunny days practicing super powers.

Days Like These

The weather is simply perfect; warm but not hot, sunny but not blistering, breezy but not knock your shingles off windy. Days like these throw me for a loop.

In summers past we've spent most July days up to our necks in the pool trying to catch some relief from the sweltering heat, with highs in the mid 70s the pool is out of the question. So what if we've taken bike rides and walks instead of swimming? Does it matter that we've had picnics at the park instead of picnics under the pool umbrella?

It doesn't matter. But the time with my family does.

Doing, Designing, and Dancing

To say this summer has not been what we expected would be an understatement. We had the best plan: a calendar full of low key events (library reading club, lemonade stand, swimming, and outdoor concerts). But even the best laid plans can be turned upside down, so instead of a lemonade stand we're making the best of this summer that we can!

On Mom's very first HOURS at home, a large tree was knocked down during a thunderstorm. The positive is that no one was hurt and it fell the one way possible to avoid hitting one of the three buildings around it and Molly learned how to roll logs with her cousins.

We did find time for a face party with friends! We had so much fun designing these lovely faces with bling; lots and lots of bling!

And then it was a week of camps. Alec headed off to sleep away camp where he spent lots of time outdoors; building forts, meeting new friends, and having fun! Molly spent the evenings at Princess Dance Camp which is right up her alley!

I plan to make the last two weeks of summer meaningful. But we know what usually happens to my plans......

Growing Old

Last night Mike and I were able to have a date night without arranging for a sitter because Alec was with friends and Molly had her first ever sleepover. We didn't realize this benefit of them growing up - we knew the benefits of sleeping through the night, of potty training, of driving, but this one was a bonus!

We were able to go to three difference venues - 3! There was no rushing, no counting the hours to determine how much we were paying the sitter, and no lists for those in charge. We just dropped kids off and were free! Well as free as we could be holding our phones - which were on vibrate - while in the movie theater, just waiting for the call saying Molly wanted to come home (which never came).

It was an awesome night but we were so excited to catch up with the kids this morning, well at least for the 15 minutes Alec was home before headed out to hang with friends again!

Guests

We've had unexpected guests, siblings sacked out on couches & Alec's bed, cousins littered across our basement & bedroom floors. Mike and I've always mused what it would be like to live 'back home', how different our house would be if it was often filled with relatives, and if we could actually handle hosting a Stahl holiday.

As much as we wanted these experiences, we did not want the cause. At 2am on June 27, I received that call (once again) that my mom was having a stroke. After some tears, some not so appropriate words, and lots of encouragement from my husband, I headed back home only to turn around an hour later as they prepped Mom to be transferred OSU.

However, Mom's stroke has been much much kinder than Dad's. She's recovering beyond anything we could have hoped for and her spunk is refreshing to all! She did so well at her first week of therapy that she earned a day pass to spend the 4th of July holiday at my house which prompted a classic Stahl cookout! I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing family even if they do fill every nook and cranny of our home.