Top 10 Reasons I'm Glad I Have BOYS!

In going with our sports-themed blog, I thought I'd go all Sports Center-ish and give you my

Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Glad I Have BOYS!
*These are my reasons, and my reasons only. Nobody persuaded me to write these or paid me to do so either.*(Bummer)
So here we go!

#10: HAIR - For the most part, boys hair is easy. Add some gel or water, slick it down, DONE! And if it still looks bad, throw on a hat. No braiding, no ponytails, no ribbons, no curls that go flat. 5 minutes and you're done!
#9: CLOTHES - I've learned that you CAN wear navy with royal blue, that different logos are okay, that long socks with sandals is cool, and that the "just got out of bed look" is okay when hanging out with the guys, because "who cares". When shopping it's either navy, khaki, jean, or camo.
#8: PUBERTY - Guess who gets to have that discussion. And this might be more for Eric, just one girl in the house with mood issues! :)
#7: BONDING WITH DAD - This will also creep up to a higher number once they are all old enough to go. But the boys LOVE doing things with Dad. And once they can all go, that means Mom gets some time to herself! Woohoo!!!
#6: TOYS - Yes, toys. Give a boy a ball and he's good for the day. The only toy we own with a million pieces...LEGOs. But we don't have the Barbie dolls, Barbie clothes, Barbie shoes, or the furniture for the Barbie Dream House. Sure we have a few small items, but for the most part it's light sabers, footballs, basketballs, bikes, and gloves.
#5: TRYOUTS & CROWNS - I am thankful I don't have to deal with the aftermath and trauma of cheerleading tryouts and homecoming results. I know I'll maybe have "sitting the bench, or riding the pine" moments, but I'll take those over not making the cheer/dance team any day!
#4: BATHROOM BREAKS - I'm going to like this even more once they are all potty trained, but even right now..having boys ROCKS! A seven and a half hour road trip to Elkhart...easy, pull over on a dirt road, open up the door, line 'em up, and go!
#3: LAWN CARE - I will never have to mow again!
#2: SPORTS - I always said I wanted to date a football player. I get goosebumps when I watch the Pitt State pregame. I get to sit in the rain, sleet, snow, hail, freezing cold, and the humid heat of summer watching my boys play ball. There is nothing better. Girls can play ball too, but (and I might catch some slack for this one) boys don't "cheer" in the dugout or have little sayings after an ace or kill. That stuff drives me crazy! Yes, girls aren't as gross as boys or smell as bad, but I've pretty much accepted the smells and sounds and don't really notice it anymore.
AND THE #1 REASON WHY I'M GLAD I HAVE BOYS.....Because they'll kill snakes that I find in our garbage can IN the garage. I'm still freaked!
Thanks Cade! Yes, I'm very proud of you!!

FORE!!!!

So today marks the 1 year anniversary of the infamous phone call I received around 9:30 am, July 12, 2010. Cade called saying he was hit in the head with a golf ball. At first all I could think was concussion, and Cade's baseball team was playing in the league championship, so I immediately got him in to a doctor to check it out. (Yes, I'm a sports mom and coach!) He ended up passing the concussion tests and it rained that day, so he had an extra day to rest.

I will never forget the events of that week. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that it happened, and then other times it feels like years ago. I look at Cade now and can see the effect it had on him. He's definitely not the same Cade as he was a year ago, but it's not a big enough difference that most people would notice.

The lasting effect it has had on me, as a Mom, is to trust my instincts. You know, the ones that eat at you when you just "know" something is not right. I had those that entire week. I just knew that Cade was not Cade. And looking back, I wish I had acted on those instincts a lot sooner. I did what every Mom would do and got him in to the doctor. In fact, we went to the doctor four days out of the week. And even when I heard the first Dr. say pneumonia, deep down I knew that just didn't seem right. I mean, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn the night before, but when a kid can't read and has gotten sick, and has been hit in the head....hmmmm.

Eric and I understand that we're very blessed to have had everything turn out so well. He played basketball and baseball and is already asking about football. Sitting out last year was torture for him...and us, because we had to listen to him complain. Cade's whole head/face region has cost us a fortune between his head injury and flossing his front teeth with a basketball net on a backwards dunk. (A whole other blog post!) The seriousness of it all has never really sunken in to Cade. I mean, what 9 year old thinks they could have died? But I saved all the emails and posts we got from everyone praying for him so that one day he'll really understand and appreciate it.The one thing we have never had to tell him to do is pray whenever a helicopter or ambulance goes by. Whether he's in the on-deck circle at the baseball field, outside swimming with friends, or just driving in a car, I've noticed him praying at those times. A time that as a parent, I wish on no one.

So what did Cade do today? He went golfing with some buddies. And I can now breathe a sigh of relief because I just heard him walk in the door. And to all you Moms out there...trust your instincts. You know your children the best of anyone. I mean, I can tell you right now that Colton is planning his next attack on Carston because Carston ate the last chicken nugget! (I'm betting it will come around snack time.) I just know that Cooper is hiding the extra Wii remote so Colton won't mess up his game, that Carston really isn't taking a nap, and that Cade has granola bars under his bed. We're Moms...we just know stuff!

As I get ready to go break up yet another fight, that I heard coming by the way. I just wanted to take this chance to also say thank you again for praying for my family, offering to help with the kids, fixing us meals, and visiting during that whole ordeal. It's been a year, but it's something I've never forgotten or taken for granted. We're blessed with amazing people in our life and we appreciate you all!