Ten Things I am Thankful for....

.....in no particular order:

1. My husband, although something tells me I might not be on his list. I figure that anyone willing to stick with me for 17 years has earned their spot on this list.
2. My kids. Yes, there are moments I'd sell them to the first band of passing gypsies but I know I'd be lost without them.
3. Health. There's nothing like having a chronically ill child to make you appreciate good (or at least stable) health.
4. All of our friends and family that have supported us these last eight years. You’ll never know how much you’ve lightened our load.
5. All of the empty bottles of wine that have supported me these last eight years.
6. The doctors, nurses and many, many others who have cared for Max throughout his journey. There has definitely been the good, the bad and the ugly but we have learned from each of them....some to grab onto for dear life and others to run from as fast as possible!
7. The many advances in medical care and technology that have saved my son's life.
8. Sleep, never underestimate any stretch of uninterrupted sleep longer than 30 minutes. Hence my next list item....
9. Coffee, coffee, and coffee!
10. Last but not least....Max thinks I should add the New York Yankees, Jeter, A-Rod, and Posada to my list as that was on his list in his Thanksgiving letter (no mention of his devoted family but who's holding a grudge?). 
    

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Still Quiet

Thank God it’s been very quiet around the Marangella ranch although now that I’ve actually written these words I’ve probably jinxed myself.

Max is a bit junky this week and although his “rattled” breathing and runny nose frighten everyone during the flu season we know it’s just Max being Max in all his asthmatic glory. As note after note regarding his snotty nose comes home from his teacher I faithfully continue to send him to school because if I kept him home every time his nose runs he’d never see the inside of a 3rd grade classroom. I am certain they think I suffer from “bad mommy syndrome” because I send my sick child to school infecting the entire Western Civilization or at least one elementary school but my theory has always been that if he can breathe he can go, it’s not like anyone is going to catch asthma from him. So until I get a letter from the Board of Health he’s going to school if for no other reason than to save our sanity for eight hours a day. Let them answer his gazillion questions for a while because I just can’t keep making up answers fast enough.

There’s really very little other news to report, I’d almost verge on saying we’re becoming boring. Boring, now there’s a term I wouldn’t have use in the same sentence with “Max” but things have been uneventful and for now we’re enjoying it!

Finally!!

This time I have a really good excuse for the absence of updates.....Blogger has completely changed how these blogs work and I've been locked out for days! This evening, as I was ready to give up completely, one last ditch effort got me in. I don't know who was more nervous, me or Max. He was afraid his peeps would no longer be ale to follow his every move. The kid cracks me up, sort of.....He asked me if I couldn't get in because I forgot the password, after all "that's what happens to old people, they forget!"

Now that I've mastered new technology and I've gotten past my son's wisecrack it's time for an update from the insane asylum. This past weekend our friend Wendy gave us tickets to ride the "Polar Express" up in Williams, AZ. It was cold and snowy and for the first time since we've moved to Arizona it actually FELT like Christmas! The kids had a blast! I swear I could put those two kids in a car and hand them a sandwich and they'd be willing to go anywhere!

In keeping with the holiday spirit Max and Christie went to see "A Christmas Carole" tonight. I am presently enjoying the peace and quiet of being home alone, something that rarely if ever happens in this house. I'm sure this tranquility will soon be shattered as Max should be running through the door any minute now.

I better go have a sip or two of wine and wait for the invasion, have a great night all!

It was soooo cold! We even saw snow!

This One's for Max

New York Yankees

World Series Champions

2009

Tricks, Treats, Dances and Baseball

Although I always look forward to the weekends for a little R and R it never seems to work out that way and this weekend was no exception! Ellie had her first high school dance on Friday evening. Because this is the first academic year for her school it wasn't a homecoming dance but rather an "Up and Coming" dance. Either way it made me feel OLD watching her go off to her first formal dance. I guess it will only get worse when these events include boys.....I'm really not ready to go there!

Of course Saturday was Halloween and I'm happy to report we have almost NO candy at our house. Ellie really didn't care one way or another and Max did the obligatory round of three or four houses rushing to get home to watch the Yankees whoop the Phillies. In fact most of our weekend has been spent in front of the TV cheering as our team FINALLY seems to be heading towards the championship title. We've been waiting a long time for this, ever since '01 when Max was still in the hospital and the nurses dressed him in a D-backs' onsie just to make me cry!

Have a great week and don't eat too much candy!