my husband, the artist

For those of you that have been following the blog since the beginning, or even all of the "shared" photo albums since Charlie was born, you have probably picked up on the fact that we are photo nuts here. We have more pictures than I know what to do with, and I love them all.
Digital photography is so cool. I love how easy it is to share, store, etc. But I really like looking back and remembering the year or month or event through the photo story, even though they may not all be worth sharing.

Jon and I make a really good pair, as I like putzing with the blog, and 'distributing' the pictures, while he is getting more and more into the artistry of taking pictures and the complicated world of the DLSR camera.

Some of the below pictures are my (non-child) favorites from our trip to Maymont, but I feel like I am not doing them justice on this site. Let me know if you know a way to enhance on blogspot. If our photo/blogging friends, if you have any suggestions on how to do this better, let us know.

Maymont...

Charlie made me feed the goats, yuck.

Will and Matt liked walking along the "curb" on the way up the hill.

Will

A visit to Maymont

Matt thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Maymont on Saturday - he loved getting out of the stroller and walking up the hill. These pictures are of him pointing at goats and donkeys.

Charlotte

Charlotte has moved onto our back deck and put on an impressive show each night with a new web. It is amazing that she has moved these 2 feet webs each day. For the most part, we are spider supporters here, although Jon and Charlie did take the opportunity to save a pretty butterfly.
Spider webs always remind me of my Aunt Kathleen and my mom.... and the variations of how we all like to keep our house. On one birthday celebration for my Aunt Betty, Kat visited with Jenny and spotted a nice spider web in the corner. She pointed it out to my mom, who responded, "well she lives here too!" Kat didn't seem to have much of a response to that. I've taken a similar, relaxed approach, although if Charlotte was living in my bedroom I might consider kindly moving her to another location. She is scarily BIG!

If I haven't said it before...

I should definitely acknowledge it now. I love having Jon as a stay at home Dad. He just emailed the below picture, labeled: Snack Time. It made me think about how wonderful it is that our children have one of their parents with them every day, all day and that I on the other hand, get to be so closely involved, while still working.

Some days I think we may want to flip roles, but we both appreciate our situation of me working from home and well, him working from home.... the convenience of more time (less craziness than trying to get 3 kids out the door, fed & dressed for daycare; nonetheless ourselves, the commute, the packing lunches, less errands at night and on the weekend), but also the enjoyment of many more breakfasts, lunches and dinners together because we can work with our schedules to make it happen.

Plus, he is also really good at managing the chaos and keeping everyone happy. Including me.

Will & Matt

Gloomy Day

Thanks to everyone that has called and emailed about Greta. We had a follow up visit today to a Vet. Internist. 1 - for a 2nd opinion and 2 - to learn what to expect. We had originally had a visit planned for Wednesday, but after this past weekend, we pushed to get in as soon as we could get.

If you don't like gory, I would stop here.
Saturday, Greta had a little bleeding from her nose and we were having a hard time getting it to stop so Jon took her to the E.R. vet. It had stopped by the time we got there, and we got instructions to use cold compresses for the next time. Well, Sunday morning, we woke up to Greta sneezing in "her" room (aka the guest bedroom). Jon quickly peeked in and she seemed fine. 3o minutes later though, we discovered blood everywhere and Greta still sneezing quite a bit. After an hour and half of applying ice to her nose, the bleeding had subsided although not 100%. Jon and I looked at each other in those moments, terrified that that would be the end and we were not ready.

Today, the internist felt confident in saying that the tumor was cancer. Likely a 60% carcinoma / 40% sarcoma chance. She did give us a couple options, including catscans / biopsies followed by nasal radiation, offered at NCSU or in NOVA which may add 9-12 months OR chemotherapy which is usually only 30% successful. (radiation would have been 3 1/2 weeks away + thousands).

Jon and I had already decided against treatment for cancer, but did want to learn about the options, outcomes, likely prognosis and comfort care. So at this point, we are in a phase to provide comfort and love.

Meanwhile, we are trying to find the humor in this... Greta now is color purple at our Target pharmacy for her pain and clotting medicines but at least they didn't prescribe her Viagra as the Vet Tech told me they do with some dogs with vascular problems. I think she thought I needed a laugh, true or not.

Run Like a Mother...

Earlier this summer, I made what seemed like a monumental decision for myself. I decided to join a training team for the upcoming Richmond 8K on November 13th. You may be scratching your head and saying, "I didn't know Sally was a runner?" Well frankly, I haven't been (I will say, I did stick out 1 season of track in HS). But, I wouldn't even say that I am a fitness nut or someone that has been too serious about exercise. But over the past year, I have been reading about some of my Facebook friends training for various races and talking about going on their runs. I was really impressed - many of these folks were moms, and moms with little kids. I began thinking, if they can do it - well, just maybe I could too? (sidenote - FB can be good for something). Then earlier this summer, I started reading about the Run Like a Mother Training Team. The team is led by a gal that runs Stroller Strides locally and also went to school with Jon from Elementary School through Virginia Tech. Although, I didn't know her personally, I had read about her through her website and Jon's FB updates and thought she would be a great leader.

Psychologically, it made a lot of sense to me to have a goal to work towards and that running would be satisfying. I also have just been looking for something, for me. Physically, not being the coordinated type, I felt I could handle putting one foot in front of another. Socially, it felt good to join a group of mothers who are also on a similar journey.

I started my pseudo training about July 1 - to try and get ready for the official training, which started Aug 14th. The schedule consists of 1 group run each week (Sat. mornings), 2 runs, 1 Xtrain (elliptical, etc) and 1 walk. So far, so good. Our running is starting out with interval training and advancing each week. We beginners started at 1 min run, 1 min walk for 20 min and now up to 2 min. run, 1 min walk for 23 min. So it helps that the schedule seems manageable although I am now really starting to feel that I am pushing myself. Hence my post. Get my irony here, but my wonderful insurance; whoops, wellness coach, states that by sharing my journey and having a support system, I'll find accountability to myself. Ha. Well, I think he may be somewhat right, but I do appreciate your support.

Greta

Greta has been having crazy sneezes for several weeks, where we were worried that she couldn't breathe afterwards. The Vet put her on antibiotic/antihistamine in case it was a sinus infection and after trying that we took her back Wednesday to be further evaluated (under sedation). After looking at her, they found a blockage and believe it to be nasal cancer. Unfortunately, it was too far up the nose/near the eye for them to do a biopsy.

It has been a challenging few days. We are going to meet with the Oncology Services at Carytown Surgical Center next Wed. We want Greta to be as happy as possible and not suffer. It is hard enough to get the gal into the vet afterall... So far, our research has led us to believe that treatment does not extend life by more than a few months. Without treatment, research shows 3-6 months beyond diagnosis. So, we will see how to proceed.

We are obviously devastated, but trying to get through. She is a member of our family, and it hurts to think of her not here waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs in the morning, for walks/runs with me in the morning, lovingly cleaning up after the boys eat, "inserting herself" into a heated moment between mommy and child (she is there as a calming gesture) or laying on the couch with us while Jon and I unwind and watch T.V. Thankfully, we don't have to make any decisions right now as she is not in pain, can breathe fine and still her beautiful self.

Greta and Charlie hanging out in the new playhouse outback.

the good things from this week

We made a quick trip to Busch Gardens on Monday. It was a really a hot day, but lots of fun. We left Matt & Will with Ken and Linda and cruised to Williamsburg. Charlie rode the Wiggly Worm, the Pompeii Boat ride (lots of splash) and the Grover's Roller coaster in Sesame Street Place.
Truthfully, he wasn't thrilled about the roller coaster, but did enjoy most everything else. It was a little nicer after we were cooled off (soaked) on the boat ride and then we also enjoyed the Oktoberfest show while eating lunch in the a/c.

Charlie and I had fun eating popcorn and drinking lemonade slush while watching Jon ride the Alpengist Rollercoaster. Unfortunately, we could only make out his orange Keen's as he went by :o).

Charlie meeting Elmo.

Riding airplanes

Wednesday, Jon took the kids to Kangaroo Jack's and met up with some classmates from the J.
Matt and Will also got to go and enjoyed the bouncies and little play area.

Charlie's last day at the JCC

Today was Charlie's last day of summer camp, and last day period at the jcc. He started there when he just turned 2 after leaving his all day babysitter's. So he has been there for 3 summer camps and 2 preschool years. It really has been the best program that fit our needs at the moment. He started full-time with daycare and as we have been lucky enough to have Jon stay home transitioned to half days.
We were invited to watch swimming, which he has had the opportunity to do every day and join art. He has clearly turned into a fish this summer and loves the water. He made it down the slide today for the 1st time (although I wonder if the pretty instructor could have influenced) and showed us his diving moved.

We met in 1994...

Wow, we go back. In the fall of 94 was when Debbie, Megan and I moved into Slusher Tower at Virginia Tech and I was introduced to Jen Miro. It is hard to believe that was 16 years ago!
Since that time, we've all gotten married and had multiple kids. 16 years from now, we'll have kids that range from 16 to 23...

Jen and Debbie came up with their families for the weekend and Megan came over with her crew for dinner Sat. night. We had such a great time hanging out, almost like the old days but with lots more little people running around. I told Debbie that while I often wish we lived closer, I doubt we would have these weekends that are so special and fun where we all go away together and just chill out.

Debbie, Jen, Megan and Sally

Jackson S up front, Carter & Caroline, Charlie, Byrson, Isa & Anna S, Samantha S

Jen & Alexandra

Charlie

Bryson

Charlie

Isa

Will

Charlie, Mom / Matt on motorcycle

Matt

Will

Matt

Debbie, Jen & Alex, Charlie, Sally

Thanks to my photographer husband!

Swagger...

If you didn't get what "swagger" meant in my last post, this video should help explain it.

Doesn't remind you of Jon and I at all, does it?

Williams Reunion

We may be the most reunion attending family you know. This weekend, we had the William's Reunion in South Boston. It is held the first weekend in August every year in honor of my Great Grandmother Sadie Williams birthday (My maternal grandmother's mother).
She most have been a remarkable lady and had more children than I can count on my two hands (frankly that's about a handful too many for me). But she apparently did so very well, and what amazes me, was during a time without washing machines, microwave ovens or 'swagger' vehicles such as the mini-van.

The descendants of Raymond and Sadie are invited along with many others who knew the family over the years. This has been a big year, with 3 weddings among the great-grandchildren.
I often wonder if they could have imagined how many grandchildren and great-grandchildren would come after their time.

This year was pretty unbelievable with weather in the 70's (absolutely unheard of for the 1st weekend in August), and with many fun guests including a 9 week old chocolate puppy. It made for a great day.

Charlie

Matt

Will