Best Father's Day Present!

So I was recently approached by The Dollar Shave Club ( www.dollarshaveclub.com) to write a blog post for the best Father's Day present that I have received at this point.  This was a hard choice both of my children are still pretty young, and I do have to say being a father to them is the best present ever (ok insert sappy music) but its the truth.

I have loved spending every day with them but I did come up with some things that I wanted to share with everyone.

The first one that came to mind was my first father's day, ok technically Jude was not born yet but he was coming.  Jude was due on July 10th, so right after Father's Day.  Censie surprised me with tickets to the Boston Red Sox game when they were playing against the Colorado Rockies.  

Now the game that she bought tickets to were on June 23rd, we had plenty of time right?  I was so happy I am a huge Red Sox fan and this was my first opportunity to see them play live.  We went to the game that night, Censie had to do quite a bit of walking that night.  She later told me that she probably started labor that night.  The next day on the 24th labor started and Jude was born on June 25th.  He waited just long enough for me to be able to go to the game and it is an awesome memory that I have about that game and his birth.

The next gift that I could think of was my most recent Father's day gift.  I got a can full of Swedish Fish.  Now you probably are wondering why is that so special they are just little red fish?  I love them!  Jude at an early age caught me eating one while we were at his grandma's house and kept asking me for one.  As he got older i started sharing one with him when I pick him up from Grandma's house if he has a good day.  We get to go get a fish to eat.

Now Teagan has picked up on it.  As soon as I walk in the door to pick them up she starts making a fish sound and saying fishy and walks to the kitchen where they are kept.  It makes me so happy to see her light up when we get to share in this special treat.  So I will be sharing my Swedish Fish with them, but please don't ask for one unless you are Jude and Teagan I don't share my Swedish Fish. 

This just goes to show that there are some amazing large gifts but it can also be about a small jar of candy. I am just very blessed that I get to spend my Father's day with the two most amazing kiddos ever!

This post was introduced to me through Dollar Shave Club.  Dollar shave club is a subscription shave club.   Please go to www.dollarshaveclub.com to check them out.  This is a great idea for a father's day present if you want them to keep a clean shave:)

This blogger was in no way compensated for this post.  

Daddy why do you have a bag?

Dad you have a bag?  This is a question that I hear pretty frequently now a day from my son Jude!  He knows that I have an ileostomy and that I now wear a bag on my stomach.  He always asks why do you have a bag?  I have to explain to him that daddy was sick in his tummy but that this has made daddy feel better.  He then goes into to explain to me that I have poop in my bag.  I am glad he at least knows what is going on with itJ

 

These are the things that you have to deal with sometimes when you are an ostomate and a parent.  It has been a pretty large life change for the past 6 months.  I went in to the hospital on January 9^th for my surgery and I have been living with my "bag" ever since, and will be living with it for the rest of my life. 

 

Physically I have been feeling better up until recently.  My wound had healed to the point that I didn't have to go to the doctor daily anymore on May 16^th, but then in the first week of June I had problems with it. They just thought that it was something minor but I went in on the 12^th of July and the wound has reopened.  We are not sure why but I have to go in daily again to have a nurse pack the wound with dressing.  Let me tell you it is a BLAST!  Not only did this take a hit on my physically but I would say more so emotionally and mentally.  It is hard dealing with this wound that does not appear to be healing.  Overall though physically I am much better.  I am able to go out and do things with everyone without having to worry about being sick.  I do have to worry about bags coming off or leaking oh and the fun alien noises it makes but so far those have been far less common then when I was really sick and in a flair.  It is nice being able to plan to use the bathroom besides having to run to the bathroom while squeezing your butt cheeks together praying to all that is holy that you make it in time!

 

I am able to wrestle around with Jude but he knows that he has to be careful of my tummy because I have a bag.  It is an experience trying to potty train a little boy and living with an ostomy because things are done so much differently than how he does things.  He is just very curious about it but is not shy about telling people about my bag or wanting to see my bag in public, yeah that’s a fun one!

 

Mentally I feel that it has been harder than anything else.  If you have spent much time with me you know that I can be a little obsessive compulsive but I am constantly checking my back to make sure it is not leaking.  It can get annoying for others and for myself.  I also have not been dealing well with the self-esteem pieces. This will come and I know it and I am working with a counselor for it but it is a hard thing to deal with having a "shit bag" attached to your stomach every day.  There are days that I am angry at having to have it but I am trying to remain positive and remember that I am healthier with a bag than I was without one.  Overall the past six months have been an up and down roller coaster at times but I am glad that I can smile with Jude when he walks up and wants to see my bag or says why do you have a bag?  I want a bag too daddy! And I can smile at him and say I hope he doesn't but knowing that love makes it worth it!

Heck Yeah I Can Bake!

I Did It I Made Cookies!

 

 

For those of you that don't know me very well I am a huge fan of the food network but rarely do I ever try and make anything.  It is one of my joys with food though.  It is funny I get so much enjoyment out of food but because of Ulcerative Colitis my body hates food.  Its a vicious cycle!  I wanted to try and do something fun this Christmas season with Jude.  I thought it would be fun to make cookies at home. 

 

Now I know that I could have gone and got the frozen dough or I could have bought the packaged mix and just made it, BUT NO I decided that I was going to make cookies from SCRATCH! 

 

Thankfully Censie decided that this sounded like a good idea and gave me a shot.  I found the recipe online and then we bought the ingredients and I made the cookie dough.  Now I know these are just basic sugar cookies but don't rain on my parade.  I was thankful that the dough at least looked like cookie dough.  I always used to eat the cookie dough more then the cookies but I have refrained myself and made the Adult choice that raw egg may not be good for my stomach.  I hate growing up!

 

We then rolled them out and Jude helped cut them out and we baked our cookies then.  He had a blast picking out the shapes and cutting out the cookies, now he did keep trying to eat the dough but we got a lot of cookies made.  He had a blast going through and decorating them with frosting and putting sprinkles on them.  Needless to say we went straight to the bath after this.  I think he had a great time, it take a while, but it was a great memory to share with Censie and him of making cookies.  I hope that I can start to cook and bake more I really enjoyed it!  Merry Christmas!

 



Amazing Family Time!

I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY!!!!

I have to say I have had two amazing days these last two days.  Yesterday Censie and I decided that we wanted to take Jude to the zoo.  It was a little cooler but Jude loved it because the animals were up and moving around a lot more.  Jude did really good and he walked quite a bit and held onto my hand most of the time very well.  

Censie and I rode the train with Jude at the zoo.  He had a great time he loves the "choo-choo."  

It was a special day and I got to ride the Carousel with Jude.  He wanted to ride a cheetah, we had seen them earlier in the day.

Then since today is Columbus day I got to stay home with him and hang out with him for the day.  We slept in and then hung out and watched some of his shows.  

 Jude helped me make waffles this morning for breakfast in his pajamas, he had fun stirring the batter.  We then got dressed and played with toys and then we headed out to one of his favorite places, Chuck E. Cheese.  

Jude had fun dancing with the Big Chuck E. Cheese while we were there because they gave out free tickets to the kids dancing, he even got a hug from Chuck E. Cheese.

Jude had fun riding his rides and playing his games, he got to ride in a monster truck there today. 

He loves eating their pizza there, it is not great but it is good for lunch.  We ate our pizza and played more games he had a great time.  He was so tired he didn't make it home before he fell asleep.  It was such a great weekend.  I am so lucky that I get to be a dad to such a wonderful boy and a husband to such a wonderful woman.  We had a great time this weekend with him.  He makes me smile so much and knows how to make me smile and laugh,  Again I am one lucky man!!!

Sports and life

My prescription for success
is based on something my father always used to tell me:
You should never try to be better than someone else,
but you should never cease trying to be the best you can be.
-John Wooden

Many people know John Wooden to be a great coach but not many people know how devoted of a family man and husband he is.  John Wooden’s wife passed away in 1985 and every month on the 21^st of each month John Wooden visit her grave and then write her a love letter and put it on the pillow she used to use. 

I was thinking recently why is it that the majority of men use sports to connect with their children.  I am one of the first to admit that I love sharing my love of sports with my son Jude.  I am going to share my love of sports with our little girl coming soon as well.  I think that it can be used for many things in life. 

Let’s just take a quick look at this.  Sports typically, and I say typically, should show the necessity for team work.  They also show a level of having to follow rules and comply.  Now a days this hasn’t been something shown in the community but within the game you have to show respect for rules.  It also shows us that everyone has something different to offer. 

Now I am just a fan of sports in general, ask Censie I will watch a sporting game even though I don’t care who is playing!  I know all the women are out there sighing and rolling their eyes, but let me explain.  This was the biggest connection that I had to my father as a child.  I love my father greatly.  We are much closer now than when I was younger but we had a great connection through sports as a child.  Think about it we get to do something that we love as a “guy” and get to share it with our family.  I can have a great time going out and throwing a ball with Jude, we can have fun without having to go spend money or go anywhere.  It is funny even now if I call my dad and my grandfather I can guarantee you that sports will come up in some capacity of our conversations. 

To me it also taught me an appreciation for history.  I loved being able to display my grandfather’s glove while announcing our first child.  My great grandfather played semi-pro baseball.  I am not saying that we should push our children to be these great athletes, I have told Censie I don’t care what Jude does as long as he enjoys what he is doing and commits to it.  Shoot that could be dancing for all I care it has to be something that makes his hear happy.  My father loves watching Golf, it is not my first choice by my father enjoys it. 

As a father I know that sharing my love of something is easy with Jude and will be with our daughter as well because it is something that I love.  I hope that I can teach my children about the better things about sports and also encourage them to get out and get moving so that we can as a family enjoy that time together.  I know that every man is not going to agree with me but there are some good things with sports that I hope to share. 

 

FAC

F. A. C

      It is called the Infamous Friday Afternoon Club.  This used to have a whole new meaning to me prior to being a parent.  I used to look forward to Friday nights because Censie and I usually had plans to go out with someone. 

Now that I am a parent this is why I look forward to Friday.

    I am a very lucky father because I get to work a half day and then go pick up Jude on Friday afternoons.  He is usually very excited to see me when I get to go pick him up because it is different.  This is a picture of Jude coming home from Grrmama's and Pa's house as he calls them.  He typically does not make it all the way home but that is ok with me.  I LOVE the time that I get to spend with him and I hope that it will be something special to him as he gets older. 

Today as typical we had to listen to "Yellow Submarine" and "Hey Jude" on our way home and he sang the whole way home then fell asleep.  This is an image that I love seeing as a father and it holds a special place in my heart.  I have to say even though I am not going out and "tearing up the town" I am even more excited to spend my Friday Afternoon Club with Jude.  I am one lucky daddy!  Have a great weekend everyone!