Eight More Weeks

It's almost like when I was pregnant and would remember each Sunday or Thursday another week was done until the big day. Only this time it's a count down for Cade until he can run, jump, twist and play soccer again! Cade is out for 12 weeks because of a fracture of his vertebrae (under L5) in his lower right back and a stress reaction on the lower left side of his back. April 10th is the big day for him and it's been tough having to sit and watch his teams play soccer and basketball these past four weeks. He's been going to all his soccer games and practices still and also to his basketball games and, though it helps to be around his friends, he says it is soooo hard to not play. He's been going to the physical therapist and, luckily, he can (and does) ride a stationary bike, aqua jog, do push-ups, pull-ups and wall sits to maintain strength and fitness. It is nice to actually have a diagnosis after all the back pain Cade has had over the past year beginning with an awkward and hard fall in a soccer scrimmage last January. Lots of prayers that his back will heal completely in these 12 weeks (and maybe his knees too) so he can go back to all his activity strong and healthy in eight more weeks!

Clockwise from upper left: The $1.6 million nuclear bone scan and CT scan machine, physical therapy at EPT, CT scan results showing little fractures and 'hot spots', Cade's been doing more TV watching and video game playing these past 4 weeks

Genevieve and Davida

Davida and Marcus came over for a visit yesterday and Genevieve asked if we could take some pictures. So fun to see how interested Nev is in Davida and how she loves her little cousin. (Genevieve 4 yrs, 1 month, Davida 12.5 months.)

Genevieve also wanted some pictures of herself with her stuffed doggy...
 

And with Nev there are always a few sassy pics as well :)

Geography Bee Champ

All those hours watching The History Channel and Discovery Channel as a little boy paid off with Cade winning his middle school geography bee. His amazing memory also helped him a bit! Here's a write-up from the school's weekly newsletter:

Geography Bee Results
Please join us as we congratulate our
middle school Geography Bee champion,
Cade Ficek. Competition among
our 7th and 8th grade classes was well
represented. Finalists in the final competition
were: Joska Fischer, Reece Canizares,
Jacob Harwood, Dawson King,
Andrew Meyers, Savana Lindstrom,
Max Menezes, Joey Weilbrenner and
Evander Pindell. Good job, everyone!

Cade never told me his school was doing this geography bee and he didn't tell me when he made the finals. He just mentioned non-nonchalantly that he won and then I was approached by numerous parents and teachers who asked me if we studied together for it and congratulating him. Apparently in Cade's world, if it's not a sports award, it's not that big a deal! He is now on to a state championship in Portland; I wonder if he will tell me when that is?!

More from January

January is always busy for me with all the extra year-end financial work I have on my plate. But, we've still managed to do some fun things and I've managed to take a few pictures, though mostly with my iPhone. Here are a few...

Our sweet Nev. She asked me to take her picture with only her little head out of the water :)

There's been lots of basketball this month plus lots of everyday fun and memories with Genevieve and a few visits from Marcus and Davida.

 

 I was so lucky to spend a Saturday and Sunday in Portland with two of my oldest and dearest friends, Chris and Julie. It was heavenly to chat, shop, go to a movie, sleep in and relax with them for a couple days!

While I was in Portland, Chad made a little fire with smores for the kids! It was great getting these pictures via text while I was in Portland. I love knowing I married such a great guy!

 Here's Nev at CrossFit one evening while Chad and I worked out. She drew a picture of our family and then copied by 'Ficek' and she also wrote a very good letter 'G' for Genevieve. So fun to see her learning!

And here's our silly girl posing with her hand-me-down vest from her friend Savannah. She was pretty proud to be wearing it!

Getting so big!

  The day before school started again after Christmas Break, the girls and I went to the mall for pedicures (for me) and manicures (for Nev and Elle). So much fun to hang out with my daughters!! Love them so much :)

A picture from Christy's birthday lunch, followed by shopping (unfortunately I had a stomach bug that required me to go home and to bed for the afternoon after only a little bit of shopping).

Picture from Winter Skills Soccer Camp (Elle is in the middle in the back row, her cousins, Athena, Meleesa and Selene are in the picture too)

 Willem's camp group

Mt. Pisqah Fun

Some of my CrossFit buddies and I got out into the sunshiny cold last week for a run up Mt. Pisqah. We stopped at the top to take some fun pictures...

Bottom left: Daren, Me, Lindsey, Cheryl and Troy

Women of Eugene CrossFit Calendar!

The gals at Eugene CrossFit put together the '2013 Women of Eugene CrossFit Calendar' as a charity fundraiser for two of our members whose one year old daughter has a rare disease (http://www.hope4maura.com/) and is receiving medical treatment for the past several months in San Fransisco. We put the calendar together at the last minute but had lots of fun doing it. We all agreed that if we do it again next year will will take pictures in August when we have at least a bit of a tan :) Here are each of the months' pictures as well as some pictures from my group's photo shoot. What a great group of amazing ladies we have at Eugene CrossFit!

My friend and workout buddy, Cheryl, on the cover

Month of May: Me with my 8:30 am workout buddies, Rachel, Lindsey and Cheryl (I'm on the left in both pictures :)

 October: Jenn

September: Kristine and Mary

March: The 5:30 am crew with coach Rory

July: Holly (can you believe she's 56 years old!)

January: Lara and Robin 

November: Charlotte

August: Melissa (she's 50 and an ER doctor with a rockin' body!)

February: Kelsey and Nelly

December: Bradi, Cassidy

June: Mom and Daughter, Crystal and Reid

April: Chantelle and April

Pictures from my group's photo shoot that didn't make it into the calendar...

 

And while am posting CrossFit pictures here are a few more from the past year from some of our workouts...

 

  

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! We had a fun New Year's Eve party at Dad and Kathleen's again. It was a little quieter than years past with a few sickies (Dad and David) and with some of the older kids heading out early for parties of their own (Roman, Searra & Robert, Denisha) but we still had a great evening. Amber, me and the kids headed to Dad's mid-afternoon, watched football and set up the food. By 6:00 pm the party was going strong with a poker game, lots and lots of great food, ping pong, movies, more cards, pool and lots of kids playing. Herman and Ricki and their five kids celebrated with us (and brought my favorite Dutch treat, olliebollen - yum!!!) and it was really great having Brandy join us in a wicked ;) game of B.S. along with Jason, Liam, Shae and Maddie. At midnight the pans, spoons and other noisemakers where in full-force! Then, after midnight, we got an awesome dance performance by the girls followed by a not-so-awesome dance performance by the boys! Nev and Desi rescued the dancing with a show of their own. The party finally wrapped up around 1:30 am; Athena and Pascal headed home with us for another hour-plus of xbox and chatting (while I did payroll...so I could sleep in the next morning!). It was a great start to 2013! I only took out my iphone for pictures at midnight but managed a few festive, fun shots...

Also wanted to add this collage Amber made of our gingerbread house making on the day before New Year's Eve. Nev's and my poor house feel apart before we even started but luckily Nev didn't mind as she just joined in with Amber and Antonia and loved eating the candy and frosting :). Elle was great, helping Jacoby with their Gingerbread Christmas tree. Thanks to Amber for bringing this tradition to our house. The kids will definitely be asking to do this again next year!