Rice’s World

Our blog had to be moved due to picture uploading issues.

 

Our new family blog is at: http://thericesworld.blogspot.com/  be sure to bookmark it!

I am having a really hard time uploading pictures on our blog, which is driving me crazy.  I have some great pictures from our weekend trip to Cleveland.  I have uploaded them to Facebook if you want to see them.

 

I have been trying to find someone to help me figure out what’s going on, but no answers yet.  If I can’t figure it out, I might have to change our blog to another site.  I will keep you updated!

 

Thanks for your patience!!

I have been going to the library almost every two weeks since Noah was born to gather loads of books for us to read to him.  We go through a ton of books and have found some so good that I just had to share!  For those of you out there that are looking for some great books to read to your little ones…..here are some we highly recommend!!  If you ever want to buy Noah a gift….books are great!!  We don’t own most of these books but would love to have them!

 

Karma Wilson write the most wonderful books about a bear and his friends.  I love this series so much that I am working on buying all of her books.  They are the perfect length for little ones and have such great stories about friendship.  She also has written tons of other books, here are some we love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noah started music class today at our local community center.  If you haven’t heard me say before….he is very musical.  He loves music, loves dancing, loves instruments.  We are doing our best to get him involved in as much music as we can at this age.  The class we started today is called "Move with Music" and it’s a national program that has high regards.  Noah absolutely loved it!  He was the center of attention…and was the oldest one on the class.  I took several little video’s of him in class so you could see how much fun he was having.

 

Notice in this video he says it’s his "favorite song" and at one point tells everyone to "get up".  Love it!

 

The "veil song" was so fun…after I put the camera down I had fun dancing too!

 

Itsy Bitsy Spider

 

I had my interview with Remedy magazine today and it was so exciting!  I was nervous as the 4 o’clock hour approached….and then the phone range right on time!  Natasha is the woman I talked to and she was wonderful and kind, and patient as I needed some cry breaks.  She asked a ton of questions and basically listened to my life story starting from pregnancy to now.  We talked a lot about exactly what I’m doing as far as exercise and eating.  She said that the readers will love to read about how they can do this themselves at home.  We talked for about 1.5 hours and I felt like I talked non-stop!  She was very grateful and kept saying she just loved this story and that the magazine’s readers would benefit greatly from my experience. 

 

She said that the story would be in the next issue and it’s a quarterly magazine.  She didn’t have the print date at hand, but said she would let me know and make sure they send me a few copies.  I will keep you posted!

 

 

It’s been 7 months since my life changed.  7 months since I watched my dad slip out of our arms into Jesus’ arms. 7 months since I hugged my dad.  It feels like an eternity since I’ve heard dad on the other end of the phone asking me about the weather here in Ohio.  I can’t tell you how much I miss hearing his voice on the phone.  There are days that my heart aches so much that I feel like I’m suffocating in sadness.  I still am having a horrible time sleeping.  I have a lot of bad dreams, a lot of flash backs to dad’s last night, and a lot of pain that seems to bubble up at night when it’s quiet and I have to be still.   I told my doctor about this and she calls is "shattered mind syndrome" and said it’s common for people that have experienced traumatic events, as we did watching dad die.  Thankfully, my doctor isn’t a fan of prescriptions for sleep probelms, rather, she has me taking some vitamins to help.  We’ll see how it goes in the next few weeks.  This morning I was up at 3AM unable to sleep……hopefully it will get better.

 

It seems that every few months my mind gets so busy with all I want to tell my dad that I need to let it all out…..so this post is my therapy!  A letter to my dad…..

 

 

 

 

 

Today Gary and I did the New Albany Walking Classic.  It was a 10K (6.2) mile walking race and it the biggest walking race in the country.  We did really well and finished in 1:19:20!  It was a beautiful morning for the walk and we had a lot of fun doing it together.  Grandma and Grandpa stayed here and played with Noah while we were gone…thanks Marge and Ron!

 

Ready for the race!  I made a "dad button" and ribbon to wear in my races. 

 

Waiting for the beginning of the race

 

 

 

Noah’s art work from this week at preschool.

 

Playdoh!  thank you to Bridgett and girls for making us this fantastic playdoh, Noah loves it!

 

My latest freebie find!  I don’t really go out looking for good trash anymore, but I found this on the side of the road today and couldn’t pass it up!  Gary thinks it’s too big for our kitchen, but I love it!!  Lots of room for everything and it matches our kitchen cabinets!

 

 

 

I am entering a contest through Remedy Health and Wellness magazine.  I found it by accident and just felt compelled to enter!  It is a contest to tell your "health success to becoming a stronger you" in 200 words or less.  I just knew this was the contest for me!  I stayed up late tonight just to finish my entry, otherwise I would never be able to sleep!  So, here it is.  I will keep you posted on how I do.  I will be including before and after pics with my entry.

“You fall into the obese category and your blood pressure is dangerously high”.  These are the words I heard from my doctor in late February of 2010.  I weighed in at an all time high of 214.  How did I get here?  I lost my healthy self somewhere between fast food, sweets, and no exercise. 

I started the journey to lose weight and regain my health after my life changed forever on February 10, 2010.  I stood beside my beloved dad as he lost his fight with cancer.  In dad’s last few days he was very concerned and told me that I needed to take care of myself.  I promised him that I would.

One week later I joined a gym and started taking small steps toward losing weight and becoming healthy. Since February I have lost 55 lbs, 7 inches in my waist, gone from a size 22 to a size 12, started weight training five days a week, and I have completed four 5K races.  I am currently training for my first half marathon in October.  Most importantly, my doctor has taken me off my blood pressure medicine.

Here we go dad…..all the way to the finish line!

 

These are the pics I sent:

 

 

 

 

I found this book at the library and was very moved by it….yep, I cried.  I just love it and it is such an important reminder to all of us to enjoy every minute because it goes so fast.  So, grab a tissue and take a minute to read this wonderful book with me.   I just had to share it with all of you mom’s out there so here I am typing out the entire book (more of a poem) for you!  ENJOY!  Let me know how you like it.

 

 

Long ago you came to me,

a miracle of firsts;

First smiles and teeth and baby steps,

a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away,

and leave me to your past,

And I will be left thinking of

a lifetime of your lasts……

 

The last time that I held a bottle

to your baby lips.

The last time that I lifted you

and held you on my hip.

 

The last night when you woke up crying,

needing to be walked,

When last you crawled up with your blanket,

wanting to be rocked.

 

The last time when you ran to me,

still small enough to hold.

The last time that you said you’d marry

me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and

bright flashes from your past-

Would I have held on longer if

I’d known they were your last?

 

Our last adventure to the park,

your final midday nap,

The last time when you wore your favorite

faded baseball cap.

 

Your last few hours of kindergarten,

those last days of first grade,

Your last at bat in Little League,

last colored picture made.

 

I never said good-bye to all

your yesterdays long passed.

So what about tomorrow-

will I recognize your lasts?

 

The last time that you catch a frog

in that old backyard pond.

The last time that you run barefoot

across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images

will represent your past.

I keep on taking pictures,

never quite sure of your lasts…..

 

The last time that I comb your hair

or stop a pillow fight.

The last time that I pray with you

and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle

with a book, just me and you,

The last time you jump in our bed

and sleep between us two.

 

The last piano lesson,

last vacation to the lake.

Your last few weeks of middle school,

last soccer goal you make.

 

I look ahead and dream of days

that haven’t come to pass,

But as I do, I sometimes miss

today’s sweet, precious lasts…..

 

The last time that I help you with

a math or spelling test.

 

The last time when I shout that yes,

your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for

a ride from here to there.

The last time that you spend the night

with your old tattered bear.

 

My life keeps moving faster,

stealing precious days that pass.

I want to hold on longer-

want to recognize your lasts…..

 

The last time that you need my help

with details of a dance.

The last time that you ask me for

advice about romance.

 

The last time that you talk to me

about your hopes and dreams.

The last time that you wear a jersey

for your high school team.

 

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed

seasons as they pass.

If I could freeze the hands of time,

I’d hold on to your lasts.

 

For come some bright fall morning,

you’ll be going far away.

College life will beckon

in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye,

one quick and hurried kiss.

One last time to understand

just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast

our time together passed.

 

Let me hold on longer, God,

to every precious last.