Mother's Day

Today is a day meant to celebrate the mother's from all over the world. Everyone gets on the bandwagon and buy cards, presents, flowers, goes out to eat and celebrate it. I have always loved this day not because of the cards, presents or flowers that I get but because each year it makes me look at the blessings I have as a mother and a stepmother. I have 3 beautiful children special in their own way. This day I get to celebrate my children as the essence of my womanhood...I am a mother through and through. Growing up I did not dream to be a mother to a 12 year old daughter and stepmother to a 12 year old son at the age of 30. My plans were so different from what my life is now but I have no regrets. I can not regret the gift of the birth of each of my children.

Noah who may not be mine biologically is my son just as much as Eli is. He is growing up to be a sensitive young man, mindful of other people's feelings. He is also a young gentleman, he holds doors open for me and his sister. He loves to help and nothing pleases him more that being able to help you do anything that you need help with. He loves me and cares for me.

Chaye was born the year I turned 19. I can say the she and I grew up together. She thought me how to be selfless, on arrival I have learned that her needs had to come first before mine. Unplanned but very much wanted I fought for her birth into this world literally and figuratively! She is growing into a fine young lady, she is very gifted and talented at the same time very much a pre-teen. Mood swings and pouty days I love her just as much if not more since the moment I laid my eyes on her. She reminds me of choices I have made earlier in my life that made me who I am today - a better, stronger woman.

Eli, my second chance or more appropriately Tim and I's second chance. He is the ours in yours, mine and ours. He is the combination of both Noah and Chaye. My pregnancy with him was God's gift to me to experience pregnancy as a joyful time. I was surrounded by people who truly celebrated my pregnancy and were genuinely happy for that moment in my life. I was older and appreciated the meaning of motherhood. I could not say that I was more prepared because I do not think one can ever be really prepared for the birth of a child. Everything was just as I hoped and dreamed for it to be and more! Eli just turned 3 on May 1st. He is a smart, witty and loving child. There is no better moment that takes my breath away when he looks into my eyes and tells me that he loves me without being prompted. He can carry a conversation with anyone by the time he was 2 years old! Now at 3 he is showing so much depth in his vocabulary although he constantly reminds us of how he picks up everyword that comes out of our mouths weather it is good or bad.

My children are everything to me, I could not imagine my life without them. I strive to be the best mother that I could be to them. For me everyday is mother's day because I get to enjoy moments with my children that will forever be ingrained in my mind. I get to celebrate my role in their lives by being there for them. I am not a perfect mother but I love them the way only a mother can love their children.

Fearless!

On Wednesday afternoon, April 8, we checked in at the Great Wolf Lodge at Mason, OH. This was a surprise ending for our spring break trip. Chaye was not told about it until after we were in North Carolina. I love surprises! Eli was sad he did not get to hold the python but was so excited after he got picked out to hold the alligator. He raised his hand like all the other children at the Great Wolf Lodge and waited to be chosen. When the reptile man asked him his name he did not simply say "Eli" but gave him his whole name. Loudly and clearly he said "Elijah Lincoln Heiwig" and then proceed to tell the reptile man that he was 2 -1/2. He was not scared at all. He listened intently as the reptile man gave him instructions on how to hold the alligator. You can tell he listened well because he was holding the alligator properly. I did not have my camera or my phone on hand to take his picture. One of the hotel staff volunteered to take this for me and e-mailed it to us last night. Thank goodness for Miss Jessica Barry or this moment would have not been captured!

Eli

This is how big Eli is now! Tim took this picture last Tuesday at the park, not sure which one they went to. Tim is really good at taking Eli to the park when the weather is nice while Chaye is in diving practice. Eli is a bunch of energy - he is all boy! He can give the energizer bunny a run for his money!

Hmm...

Things in life move with twists and turns, and they happen with valid reasons. If you doubt why something happens then stick to this; " We can never learn to be brave and strong if the only thing in this world is joy." We have people around us so we do not have to fight alone...

Grrr!

I finally found the time to blog and after several paragraphs of updates blogger was acting funny and gave me an error message! I lost everything that I have typed! So frustrating! So I give up, for now at least.

Egg Rolls!

Hard to believe February is almost over! I was planning on keeping this updated as much as possible then I got hooked on facebook! Yup between working and facebooking I have not done a very good job keeping this up. Although through facebook I managed to reconnect with some of my old friends from nursing school.

You are probably wondering what this post is about... I was off Thursday night and was in one of my cooking marathon moods. So after taking a nap I went to Costco (spent $250), then the asian market (spent $100) and bought all the groceries and supplies I needed for my cooking spree. I did not get home until 2130 though because I had to pick up Chaye from diving practice. Got home and was delayed because Eli wanted to mess with everything in the kitchen although he thought he was being helpful. He tried to "help" put away groceries that I needed left alone on the kitchen table.

I finally got started around 11 pm. Yup I am a night owl! I try to stay on the same schedule on my nights off so I do not have to flip-flop back and forth plus it is easier for my body. Needless to say, I chopped and minced veggies with a vengeance. Thanks to the food processor Tim got me last year it made everything simple and easy.

I finished wrapping the meat egg rolls by 0430. I wrapped 300 meat egg rolls then moved on to sauteing and blanching the veggies for the veggie egg rolls. I can not wrap the veggies when they are hot because it tears the spring roll wrapper. I had to wait until Friday to wrap the veggies.

I posted the egg roll saga on facebook and got quite a bit of comments from friends. I delivered some to the Rutland's then brought them to work in honor of our orientees who passed their boards. It was a huge hit at work. Everyone loved them!

Tim made the time to see his god-daughter and brought the Yeager's egg rolls. My friend, Steph and her family stopped by and had a quick visit. So there you go the egg rolls (and my cooking - at least I like to think so) helped us reconnect with old friends.

Through the years...

Tonight is our engagement anniversary... I had to hunt for pictures of just Tim and I together that were good... most of them were with the kids. We love our kids but I wanted this post to be just about him and I.

We have been through a lot together and I can not help but be sentimental about all the joys and sorrows that we have shared together and know that there will be more a long the way, the road will never be perfect there will be bumps and detours but as long as we are together we will weather it through.

Celebrating a milestone ... graduation from Nursing School!

Can't you tell? We are in love!

Heading out to attend Lean's wedding

Yup, he cleans up nice!



I think we look good together - if I say so myself!

Formula One Race!

We stopped by at this courthouse in Greensburg, Indiana. As you can see there is a tree growing inside the building.

We were on our way to Argosy Casino to celebrate my birthday.

Jenny (my sis-in-law), Joe and Me!
Indy 500

What I wore on Tim and I's "unofficial"first date



What he wore!
It seems like this is his traditional outfit for any of the races we have been to since then. Tim would wear his shorts the first time the sun is out it does not matter wheather it is in the middle of winter.

Tim proposed while we were in Ft Myers. He and I took our usual drive around his parents neighborhood with his Dad's golf cart. We spent most of the day in the beach and was tired but wanted some alone time. We were standing in front of the gate leading into the neighborhood pool when he asked me to marry him.

Happy Engagement Anniversary!