Color Me Kris: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Today is our 11 year wedding anniversary. It's crazy thinking back on all that we've been through as a couple. From your Navy career, setting aside time for our college educations, blending our families, and desperately trying to conceive children of our own. We've celebrated and we've met defeat, but what we've never done is turn our backs on each other. Good relationships don't just happen, they take time, patience, understanding, and forgiveness. Kenya, you are my better half, my rock. You and the kids are honestly, my entire world. Cheers to the happy memories of our past and the bright hopes of our future. Love you, baby.

Since my granddaughter's birth a little over 2 months ago, I've fallen completely head over heels in love with everything about her. Hey curly dark hair, her slate grey eyes, the cute way she sucks her fingers when she's hungry. If you are new to the blog, my grand daughter Karson, was born in July, 5 weeks before her due date. She did a short stay in the NICU, but she's now a happy, healthy and thriving little princess.

Karson's arrival marked a milestone, of now having 5 generations still living on Earth. The generations include my granddaughter, daughter, me, my mom, and my grandmother. Talk about Maternal Lineage!! Now that I'm a grandmother, I think of how connected I am and have always been to my own grandmother. I visited a yard sale recently and saw an item that made me think of her. It was a small trinket but laying eyes on it sent a rush of nostalgia through my veins and straight to my heart. I purchased memory maker to send to my grandmother, along with a letter.

It read:
" Hello my darling grandmother,
How are you? I hope this letter finds you doing well. I recently visited a yard sale and on the table set a brooch in the shape of a little girl. I immediately thought of how much I use to love seeing your brooches pinned to you dress at the meetings. After your smile, they were the think I looked forward to most.

When I laid eyes on this particular pin, my heart filled with warmth, love and memories of my childhood. I use to get so excited when I knew we were coming to your house. You were always so welcoming; sharing hugs, kisses and sweet words. After I got my love from you, I'd run to the candy dish and lift the top, hoping there was at least one butterscotch left. That was always my favorite. To this day, whenever I smell the scent of butterscotch, you are the first to come to mind.

Another favorite memory was going into one of the backrooms and combing my dolls hair. You always had so many barrettes, to choose from, you know, the ones you would find on the sidewalk while out in service.

Grandma, just in case you didn't know, you've always been my favorite person. You have been the person I look to when I need guidance, comfort, a place of refuge or a place of peace. You are the glue that holds the fabric of our family together. I know a lot of that comes from your golden heart and your love for Jehovah.

You are a woman of strength. A woman of wisdom. A woman of faith. Your love for our creator has inspired me to the core. I know Jehovah is so proud of who you are! You have helped so many people find him and love him and obey his word. You planted his seed in my heart, it is still blooming and thriving. I will forever be grateful for that. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm trying grandma, and you have my word I will never stop.

Having you as a grandmother has given me courage and strength I didn't know existed. I could never put into words how much your presence in my life has meant to me. Now that I'm a grandmother, I pray that Jehovah shows and allows me to have as much of an impact on my grand daughter's life as you have had on mine. I am so thankful he gave us Jesus as a our example, and you as my personal guide.

I love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength grandma.

Love,
Kristal
"

Late in the summer, my wife surprised the kids and I with an impromptu family vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida. It was such a beautiful place and felt amazing being back close to the seaside, something my heart has missed so much.

The kids were over the moon, they are kind of like fish out of water and I could see on their faces how much they now realize, that they too, miss riding the waves, building sand castles, and feeling the breeze blow through their hair.

We stayed at Laketown Wharf Resorts, which was within eyesight of Ripley's believe or not and Underworks two places the kids had been wanting to visit.

The resort also gave us complimentary to a private entrance to the beach. During our stay, we chose a room on the highest level in the building (21st floor), so that we could enjoy the birds eye view from the back balcony. The kids were impressed with the what they saw and I of course siezed the moment for a photo op.

Later, while peering over the front balcony of our room we noticed a pond that had something floating in it. Upon closer look, we thought could that be a gator?! We headed down to the surface level to see and sure enough, there were gators starring right at us. Certainly scary, but totally cool!

We got a chance to get out and visit Dave and Buster's, a strip with lots of unique stores, and the kids got to see palm trees for the first time in person. They were so tickled about that. Our trip was short and sweet but very much welcomed.

We're already planning a trip back to Florida, next summer but this time we booked a trip to Disney Woooooooorld!!!! My wife's trying to get me to move there, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

Just sharing some images of my grand daughter! Insert a ton of heart emoji's!!!!

My wife and I recently volunteered to coach a team for a youth's basketball league. While she has accumulated major clout in the sport, my b-ball skills consist solely of tossing bawled up paper into the nearest waste basket. If you're like me, don't worry, were not a complete lost cause. Here's 12 ways to positively contribute to the team's success.

Emails:

Send emails introducing the coach and yourself to the team. This can include who you are, background experience, and goals for the season. (I will share a sample of this in a future post).
A second email sent shortly after, can mention expectations for practice and games and include a copy of the game schedule.
Send an email after the first game with a continued excitement for the season as well as excitement if you experienced a win.
Other emails you may be needed for inclement weather cancellations, amendments to the game schedule, or any other information that needs to be shared with parents.

{Tip: CC your coach on all emails so they are aware of everything going on.}

Texts:

Respond to text messages parents may send about a child not being at practice, arriving late, or who won't make games, or questions that may arise.

{Tip: If there is any important information, be sure to inform the head coach ASAP.}

Emergency Contacts:

Be sure to have a list of all parents names and phone numbers of each child on your team. Have these numbers available at all times. It may be helpful to create an index card for each child with their name, parent's name and phone numbers and any allergies they may have. Hole punch and place the cards on a ring for easy access.

First Aid Kit:

Put together a small first aid kit. It can include latex gloves, band aids, an ice pack, antibacterial wipes and peroxide spray.

{Tip: If you not comfortable using certain products on children (such as peroxide), have the parents do so, if they choose.}

{Tip: For ice pack, the gel filled ones that you can place in the fridge or freezer may be better than having to deal with actual melting ice.}

Team Notebook:

Keep a log with game information. This should include the team you are playing, the date of game, if you are the home team or visitor, the location, player attendance, and the final score.

As a bonus, you can mark the points each player makes in the game (such as free throws and shots) and list positive moments players had.

Meet and Greet:

Smile and speak to children and parents as they walk in for practice or games. Remember players names or write them down with an identifying factor to help your coach recall them quickly and as needed.

Snacks:

Check with the coach to see if they would prefer to bring snacks or would like for the parents to take turns bringing them. If parents are providing them, create a schedule so each parent knows when it is their week to provide snack.

{Tip: Be aware of any allergies children may have, provide a healthy snack if possible.}

Equipment:

Be sure that all equipment is ready and available for practice. Be certain it is all accounted for and put away afterward.

Learn Drills:

During down time, take the opportunity learn more about the sport you are coaching. For instance, in basketball learn the proper form to shoot the ball, proper dribbling, and proper terms. This way you can assist the coach in some drills.

Help and Supervision:

During practice keep an eye on children if they go for a water break or bathroom break. Tie loose shoelaces, check on players who fall down during practice and games, monitor children while the coach steps away, be familiar with parents, so that you can locate them if needed.

On the bench:

Stay near the bench at games so you can record points, assist players with opening and closing drinks, picking up anything dropped on floor, placing jackets, and tying shoes. You may also need to keep up with the clock and subbing players out, letting the little ones know who they are subbing for, and having them ready to enter the game.

Role Model:

Show up for every practice. Dress like you are ready to play ball, even if you aren't playing. At practice be in the huddle when the coach is speaking. At the end of the games, be in line to high five the opposing team when the players do. Remind the children in between time they are doing great. Cheer them on. Respect your coach and honor their decision making.

{Tip: Each coach is different, but don't be afraid to offer suggestions and give feedback. Be supportive but remember that your coach makes the final decisions.}

Over the past several weeks, Lana has experienced difficulties with the pregnancy. She's battled hypertension, abnormal swelling in her hands and feet, unexplained weight gain, and constant headaches (sometimes accompanied with dizziness). No matter what measures she took to combat these symptoms, they were relentless. Our biggest concern, however, was that the babies heart rate begin to decelerate. Though some deceleration is common, Karson's heart rate remained low for several minutes at a time and repeated the pattern often. The doctor's grew worried enough to place Lana in the hospital for countless days, hooked up to a monitor and prepared if necessary for an emergency C-section. They performed test after test, but could not detect the issue.

Eventually it was decided to perform a test that would simulate labor and monitor the fetal heart rate. The plan was if the heart rate drops, the baby would be delivered immediately. If it the heart rate remained stable, they would let Lana go home, but as a high risk patient. Meaning she would have several appointments a week to monitor the little one's development.

My daughter was hooked to Pitocin, a drug that is often used to induce labor. She had some pretty intense contractions, thankfully, the baby's heart rate remained consistent, and she was allowed to go home.

A week later, at a routine appointment, the baby's heart rate was again plummeting. An ultrasound revealed the umbilical cord was tightly around the baby's neck, and to add insult to injury, those earlier ailments Lana was having, was now known a condition called Preeclampsia. Pairing both concerns, doctor's felt it was time for baby to be delivered.

My granddaughter was born at 35 weeks gestation. She weighed just over 4lbs. Although tiny, she was mighty. She was able to give mom and dad a quick hug, before being whisked off to the NICU to receive a little help with breathing. She remained in the neonatal care for several days, getting stronger and stronger. By the 2nd day, she was able to breathe on her own, and the CPAP machine was removed. On Day 3 she was able to be begin nursing from mom.

The NICU nurses worked round the clock to ensure she was doing well, and set milestones that needed to be mastered, in order for her to graduate neonatal care. She needed to be breathing on her own, regulating her own body temperature, and eating well. She also had to past a Jaudice test, and be able to sit in a car seat for at least an hour with no complications. That's a lot of work for someone so small! Our littler warrior, repeatedly conquered every task thrown her way. On the afternoon of day 5 Karson was ready to be discharged.