Hawks Baseball

I think we are halfway through the season. Sean has been playing first base, pitching and a bit of outfield.

A Day in May

I love the month of May! Daffodils and irises have usually already bloomed, Purple Cone Flower and Bee Balm are starting to bud along with my lavender. Mint, strawberries and blackberries are back for another year of delicious flavor. My roses are hanging in there after a year of neglect. I'm headed out today to feed them my special concoction made with beer. This year, I will take better care of my roses. This beer concoction should perk them and all my blooming flowers right up. Roses are very high maintenance flowers.

My garden is really coming alive. My tomatoes (started from seed) are looking so pretty. I can't wait to taste the first fruit! The last few days are the first in many weeks that I've actually been home long enough to weed and work in the garden. Gardening soothes my soul. This year, I am adding a few more lavender plants to my garden. I love perennial plants. They come back year after year and make gardening simple. I added more Echinacea (Purple Cone flower) to my garden this year, too.

One day, my dream is to pull the hedges in the front of the house and place a perennial garden there. We have a lovely magnolia tree on the corner, that will soon cover the shrubs.... and flowers are much prettier than these ugly green bushes! I can see large bunches of lavender in their place...... of course, hubby doesn't know this yet, and it might be a long time before this dream is realized. ~laughter~

I hope you've enjoyed the free tutorial videos that I have posted. I've enjoyed making them! In my spare time, that is. The boys are plodding along in school... closing out the 3rd quarter and making headway on the 4th. We will get a summer break! I can see it at the end of the tunnel. Other than a few summer colds, everyone is healthy. Flag football on the weekends and baseball taking up much of the week. Sean was able to pitch in a game last week and will hopefully pitch in tomorrow's game. Here are a few shots of him pitching.

Baseball, Football - Spring Sports Have Begun!

Saturday was the first practice for flag football AND it was the first baseball game for the FHE Hawks.  The Hawks played a double header against the Triad Homeschool BlueJays high school team and won both games.  FHE doesn't even have a full high school team and pulled kids from the middle school team to help out.  It was chilly, but dry!  The rain held out until both games were done.  Sean was excited about both wins. 

We are in full swing with baseball practice several times a week.  More games coming up soon.  Luckily, we don't have a game this weekend because Sean has his district piano competition at UNCG and we plan on watching the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse! 

Baseball Season is Over! Life is Semi-Normal Again!

I know I can't be the only mom who feels like a crazy woman when sports seasons are in full swing! S finished his baseball season with his team only having lost one game! They brought home championship trophies that are very cute! Each trophy has a spinning baseball on it. I'm a mom, so I think it is cute. I am sure that S thinks it is "cool".

Last week, he had this really awesome play. His coach called for a fake bunt and S did that, then quickly swung the bat back and hit the ball into outfield between 2nd and 3rd bases. He got a single. It was great. More stolen bases and a few runs.

J's football team didn't win any games this season, but he had a great time and learned a lot. The boys on the team are great. One night, his friend, N, came to eat with us and they were making faces. I said they looked like they could be brothers and N replied, "We are brothers in Christ!" Where else but a homeschool football league would you hear that!? Then, when we said the blessing before our meal, we made the sign of the cross and prayed. N replied, "I'm sorry I am not Catholic!' We laughed and told him he didn't need to be sorry! Too cute!

M's team won the playoff game Saturday and will be advancing to the State Championship game this next Saturday. He was sick all last week, started feeling better Friday. After the first quarter, he was feeling so bad that he sat out the rest of the game. He was upset about it, though.

We had several appointments last week... for sinus infections and migraines and teeth. School is going well. Week 8 and so far, we are still on track!

We are planning an election party on November 2nd. How many of you are planning parties? Red, white and blue will be the theme! Never have I ever been so concerned about the outcome of an election. I am hopeful that this election will turn us back in the right direction.

Baseball, bunnies and boys

Sean had so much fun at baseball camp!  He learned so much this past week.  A lot can be said from getting different perspectives and techniques on baseball.  Somewhere in the middle, Sean will perfect his own style and become a great ball player.  His piano teacher is such an excellent example for our family.  She will have other instructors instruct Sean just before competitions so that he can get another perspective on his competition pieces.  I think this is a good thing in all areas of life-- even baseball.

Sean has been practicing with the pitching machine his grandparents bought him for his birthday.  Every day he goes out and hits the wiffle balls for hours!  I think his practicing paid off-- we think he did a great job at the tryouts Thursday night.  It wasn't a full tryout because he was the only boy to show up that evening, but what he did do, he did well (at least WE think so! ~smile~). Matthew decided not to tryout for the team.  He wasn't willing to give in based on principle.  He doesn't think men should yell at women and treat them the way the coach treated me that night.  He refuses to play for a coach who would behave that way and has been very verbal about it.  He had friends with him the night of the incident, unfortunately. We were all saddened that so many had to witness everything that happened.  I am proud of him for sticking to his guns, though.  While he wants to help his brother and the team, he won't cave.  I am also thankful to the parents and boys who came up to me at the next game to say they were sorry about what happened.  We DO have parents raising young men with Christian character. 

Not to say Sean is not of good Christian character!  He has spoken and he knows it is wrong.  Sean has been looking forward to the high school team with this guy for over a year.  I think he was shocked, but because of his having more at stake in the game, he was more willing to be forgiving.  Even without an apology to me (yes, I am working on my pride!  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has held my mouth shut because I have a lot I would LOVE to say, as you can see here!).   A friend made a god point one day.  The coach should apologize to me, personally, as loudly as he yelled at me both times at the game AND in front of all the people who witnessed it.  It could never happen exactly that way, though....but it makes sense.  Just as the Church teaches us that when we sin, we affect the entire body of Christ, the entire Church, this also affected many other people.

This is a lesson I often try to get across to my boys.  Our actions and words affect more than we often realize.  Witnesses are also affected.  We must also count the total effect-- when we say false things, yell or demean someone's character in front of people, we not only damage the person, but we damage their reputation and our own reputation.  As adults, our actions also teach the children. 

We've made it through and I won;t bring it up here again!  It was difficult, but we are through it.  If the team moves forward, we will see what life brings then.

I was unable to get pictures of camp this week.  I was there the entire day Monday and read an entire book as I sat and watched the boys have fun and learn.  By the end of the week, I was making vet runs!  Henry is sick again.  Oh My!  He had been on oral antibiotics for a month and, while he improved a bit in the beginning, he began getting worse again.  The vet did a chest x-ray to rule out fungal infections and cancer.  We are now (read: mom, me-I) giving Henry antibiotic injections and he is getting nebulizer treatments twice a day!  We rigged up a special device for Henry.  Here is a picture of Henry getting his nebulizer treatment:

Baseball, Baseball, Baseball

It is the theme of the week: BASEBALL!  Sean has been going to baseball camp every day this week! On Monday, a friend went with him.  As Chris described it, "It's the year of the Sean."  Not really, but he enters high school next year and like Matthew before him, that is when they get more interested in their sports!

Still have not figured out the coach issue.  Excuses were plentiful when hubby spoke with him about his inappropriate behavior (yelling at me in front of players and parents!).  No matter how angry we become, yelling at someone just isn't acceptable. I certainly did not do anything worthy of being yelled at (two different times that night!).  Speaking up about unsportsmanlike conduct does not justify such craziness!  Of course, I just took it as a sign that I was right on the money in bringing up the bad behavior on all fronts, right?

At the last game, while I hated that it all had happened, it felt good to know others had witnessed the entire night's events and knew word for word what was said.....  and that my words and actions were kind and appropriate.  Holy Spirit, thank you for holding my tongue!

St. Josemaria has several writings on this very subject that I have been reading and praying over in the last few weeks. 

"Yes, that abuse can be eradicated. It shows lack of character to let it continue as something hopeless, with no possible remedy. Don't shirk your duty. Carry it out conscientiously, even though others neglect theirs."

"As long as you are so afraid of the truth you will never be a man of sound judgement, a man of worth."

"Excuses. You will always find plenty if you want to avoid your obligations. What a profusion of well-thought-out nonsense!"

""You will gain more by one friendly word than by a three-hour quarrel. Control your temper."

"Say what you have just said, but in a different tone, without anger, and your argument will gain strength and above all, you won't offend God." 

Aren't these great?  Quotes that we can all use in our daily lives.  I love St. Josemaria Escriva -- what a holy example for us all.

We are Children of God

Today, I am reminding myself that we ARE children of God.  We deserve respect and do not need to settle.  Over the last week, my middle son has been especially heartbroken over events he witnessed Monday night after his baseball game. My other two boys and their friend are not as affected, but they weren't in the center of the whole ordeal.

This week, we have prayed and tried to make sense of  events.  In the end, we will never know what makes some folks angry when we, as parents, take on the role of primary educators of our children. Pope John Paull II, spoke of this often.....and he wasn't referring to academics alone, but education in the Catholic faith and in everything our children do.  We, as parents, are the primary educators!  When coaches or other outside influences become upset that we are coaching, teaching and training our childen, there is nothing that we can do about it.  God has entrusted these children to US and not to anyone else!

It still hurts.  The anger and yelling, the craziness over a game -- the game of baseball.  Last I looked, baseball doesn't get you to heaven.  In our world, baseball and sports really are not that important.  When we juggle cathing, bone marrow biopsies, infusing blood products weekly and the lot, sports just aren't that important.  While we want our children to strive to do well in sports and all of their activities, a season like this where they have only won one game, it just is not a big deal. 

As we head out to the field for the last game of the season (there is talk they may have two more games next week), we hope that all will be well, adults will behave as adults and that we can move forward from this life lesson with clarity of heart and mind, knowing that we ARE children of God and do not need to settle -- that we do not need to allow ourselves to be spoken to in a manner that is not fitting for a child of God.

Hold tight to your faith and your children!  Do not let distractions keep you from your role as primary educator!  God is with you on this journey and He will never lead you.  I believe that satan wants us to give up our God-given parental duties -- it would make it easier for satan to slip in the door!

May the Holy Spirit guide me in word and deed today and always!

Sean Pitching

The last game of the season and the coach let Sean pitch for the first time.  We think he did a great job for the first and only time he pitched the entire season!  Great job Sean!   No one scored!  He pitched an inning and a half -- the inning he pitched was the only inning that the other team did not score.  Below the video clip are a few still pictures of him pitching.

Baseball- Our Switch Hitter

Sean hit a nice line drive as a left-handed batter tonight00 I caught it on camera... love that you can see the ball just before he hits it. 

Baseball season is in full swing.  It seems like it is filling up a lot of our time between practice and games and more practice!  Sean has been really excited about baseball.  I've taken a few good pictures of baseball this season.  I keep forgetting my camera!  This Wednesday, we are going to go out to watch teh Winston-Salem Dash play.  Matthew is a bat boy and we can't wait to see him work.   Come out and heckle him with us at the noon game on Wednesday, if you are able.

It is also that time of year-- CAT testing!  We just got the CAT this past week and the boys will do the testing tomorrow.  Sean exclaimed, "I love the California Achievement Test!  It is the easiest day of the year!"  We've got confirmation thsi week and we have scheduled NO appointments!   We've got quite a few in June, but nextweek, we're taking a break!

Here's a picture of Sean batting:

Sean coming around third:

Sean making it to home plate:

Sean throwing the ball from outfield:

Couldn't resist this shot!  The pitcher taking a break.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Life is always Crazy!

HappySt. Patrick's Day! This is Sean's patron saint.  His middle name and the saint he has chosen as his confirmation name.  He has learned a lot about St. Patrick this past year.  Grandma and Grandpa even sent him a book.  St. Patrick is one of my favorite saints -- I was named after him.  I was only given a 10% chance of living when I was born and was baptized soon after I came into the world.  My dad forgot what I was to be named and the priest offered information about St. Patrick and thus I was named. 

Remember Henry, our rabbit? He has a lot of health issues.  Last week he ended up needing surgery again.  Joseph and I laughed when we brought him to the vet earlier for a hematoma in his ear and hte vets said, "I've seen this in dogs, I've seen this in cats, but in fifteen years, I have never seen this in a rabbit and I have seen a lot of rabbits."  Only Henry.  The vet drained his ear two days in a row thinking that it might heal.  I drianed his ear (I have all the proper tools thanks to our 'medical life')  It just got worse..... so he had surgery on Wednesday and guess what?  His ear is worse than ever!  Some days, you just have to laugh.  God has a sense of humor, that is for sure.

Sean competed at the District piano competition and received a superior rating.  He now gets to go to the state competiton in a few weeks.  He'll play the same three pieces he played at district. 

In the last few weeks, we have been trying to adjust to the new "dead fish pills" and increased in dose of other medications.  The boys levels came back and we've had to increase a few things so that we can hopefully get them in the target range. Also been trying to find an alternative to the dead fish pills... an unflavored liquid.  Of course, most pharmacies get it in cherry and the boys, well, they would prefer no flavor!  I am still learning about Mitochondrial disease.  I hope to get to a conference at some point.  I often wonder if I should just leave it and not worry about learning, but I know me and I have to know the ins and outs of it all. 

The Bone Marrow Failure Disease Symposium was great.  Dr. Harris did a great job speaking.  I had fun outside the conference, too.  Hubby's aunt brought me to a wonderful stamping store that is sure to be a "must visit" every time we are up there in the DC area.  The Queen's Ink is just so wonderful and the owner (who happens to be a Patti) is VERY nice!  We had been looking for a camel stamp for several years and could never find many to choose from, much less one that was large enough to be the centerpiece of a special card.  She looked in one of her suppliers websites and found the perfect one. 

You'd think finding a camel rubber stamp would be easy, but trust me, it just isn't.  Lions, tigers, bears, oh my .... you can find those.  Elephants are everywhere.... but camels, not so much!  Not even at Christmas. 

As we plod along in school (M will e going year-round--high school is difficult to keep up with when we travel to hospitals and have so much going on in the medical area) we are preparing for another fun Around the World Night.  Over the last 4 years, we have really come to love thsi special night with special homeschooling friends.  It is a lot of fun!  The boys have each picked a country.  Mexico, Bahamas and Brazil -- 

In a few weeks, the boys will perform in the play they have been working all year on.  The original Cheaper by the Dozen.  It is going to be a great piece of work.  They are already trying to decie what they will do next year! 

Baseball is starting soon for Sean.  He is really excited.  The ball fields won't be ready this weekend, so they have put the evals off until April sometime.  We are also working with friends to kick off a new homeschool baseball team.  Check out the Triad Blue Jays website.  We are so excited to be working with wonderful families to get this team off the ground.  Of course Dave is the driving force and real work behind it.  We just man the stations and warm the benches. Sean has been practicing when weather will allow and also using his Christmas gift of private lessons (4 total) to get ready for the upcoming High Point Pony League season in preparation for his Freshman Year of baseball!  Hard to believe that next year I will have two kids in high school.... and the following year, all three will be in high school!  OH MY!  What happened to my babies?

Each and every year has brought so many blessings and we have enjoyed homeschooling.... even with the ups and downs of daly life!

Baseball - Summer 2009 Pictures

The boys played on the Red Sox this season, but also helped fill in for missing players on the Blue Jays. Here are some shots from the summer season.

Family Fun

We had a lot of fun Saturday afternoon at Union Cross park. Chris, Matthew and Sean took turns pitching and all the boys batted. I did bat once and played in the outfield quite a bit. I just can't pitch, folks! Union Cross park is nice and very quiet! This year, we are going to try to go to different area parks once again. We enjoy exploring and getting to know the area.

Sunday was low-key and no pictures. Church and then swimming with friends. We're hoping to go swimming this evening-- a little night swimming....and bat watching. Bats come out near the the pool.

Here are pictures from Saturday afternoon. I like the one where Mathew is being silly as Sean pitches. He's always trying to be funny!