Far TOO Long

Hello Everyone!!! It's been far too long since I've had the chance and the words to update this...for that, I'm sorry. You see, these last six months have been nothing shy of hectic and crazy. Each one of us has had something or other affect us in some way, shape, or form...but we are all alive and still growning older...much to Ryan and I's dismain of course.
Let's see, who do we start with???
Kieran...he's becoming quite pubecent and thus the girls are somewhat of a hot item for him these days. He played his first year of Junior Jazz Basketball this year and in spite of the saddening fact that his team didn't win a single game-he loved it and learned quite a bit. Ryan really stepped up to the plate...He was only able to attend one game but he was there for practice on Saturday mornings and always giving Kieran pointers. I'm sure this will be a yearly thing for him from now on.
Spring is coming and that means Soccer...I'm really looking forward to that and of course baseball there shortly after...I sometimes wonder if he's getting bored with baseball as he doesn't seem as excited as he once was..? Oh, well...I'll only have to force him to play this one more season and then it's Junior High for him and I figure at that point he should be able to make his own decisions as to what sports he wants to tryout for.
I know Christmas was hard on him last year and I received a quite alarming call from his teacher at one point shortly before the holiday approached. He (Mr. Skeen) stated that he has found Kieran in the coat closet crying for his dad and that his demeanor wasn't well. I had to take into account what his wonderful teacher had to say since it hasn't been long since he and his beautiful wife lost their son in an automobile accident. How could anyone argue with him when he knows exactly the pain Kieran has been dealing with since the loss of his amazing father?
It's been a wonderful and scary journey for Kieran this last 7 months but with the help of all the great people in his life, he'll turn out okay.
Steffanie is approaching her fourth birthday and much to Ryan and I's wonder she is still not potty trained nor will she sleep in her bed. This should be coming to an end soon since we told her that she has until her birthday and that's it...not more diapers and no more sleeping on the couch in front of the television.
She's growing well and she's gained an intrinsic imagination. We are all quite facinated with the things she remembers and the hilarious antics she's always coming up with.
Thus far, we have escaped the cold and flu season without her getting too sick...She now has a slight head cold but nothing that has warranted a doctor's appointment. And, she's never been sicker than when she had the Rotavirus...yuck...wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy...even if I had any.
Sadie...well, what can I say...she doesn't speak any real spoken language except Sadiese...but she has learned quite a few signs for things and she can get her point across quite well with her various screaches of sorts. She really enjoys laughing and making people laugh. She's really coming into her own and starting to lose her "baby" look.
Ryan and I have had a hard time in our marriage but we also had to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and the Lord knows that can induce large amounts of stress into a marriage. We are getting better and becoming close once again. Things are looking a little more up in spite of the recent news that I will be having surgery on my back to remove some herniation in my L5/S1 discs.
I can't say I'm extremely excited for the surgery as it appears that everyone I know that has had some sort of back surgery seems to be in more pain than they were before their surgery. I know the Lord has great things in life for all of us but at this juncture in my life I'm still trying to make sense of the purpose for chronic pain. I continue to keep my eyes to the sky for His great plan and a song in my heart that one day I will completely understand the extent of my mission on this planet.
We pray all is well in everyone's worlds and that the Lord is blessing you abundantly.