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Jody Kerzman jkerzman@kfyrtv.com |
Staying Healthy This Flu Season
10-08-2009
It seems everywhere I go and everyone I visit with these days, there are three topics that always come up: sick kids, the swine flu, and vaccinations. Of course, these are also the topics that fill the news everyday. People lined up outside public health yesterday for the H1N1 vaccine. On that same day, the state`s first death related to the swine flu was reported. Those headlines make me think that those conversations will happen even more often now.
My family has been lucky, so far. Aside from a few runny noses and one kid down with an ear infection, no one has been really sick. I`m sure our turn is coming. I feel like this is the kind of year that everyone is going to miss a few days of work or school because of some sort of sickness.
Am I scared of the swine flu? A little. President Barack Obama has officially declared it a national emergency. That in itself is a little scary. Then there is the debate over the H1N1 vaccine, and the lack of it. Reports this week suggest it is being produced at half the rate health officials had predicted . I`ve never even had a seasonal flu shot before, but last week, I got vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and H1N1. I wasn`t going to do it, but at 37 weeks pregnant, I`m considered high risk for H1N1...in fact it can be deadly in pregnant women. I told myself as I waited to see my doctor on Friday, if they had either vaccine that day, I would get it. They had both. My arms are a little sore still, but other than that I haven`t noticed any side effects.
Still, I am the only one in my family that will get the vaccines. There simply isn`t enough vaccine available for everyone, and I figure my family is, overall, pretty healthy. We will save it for those who need it more, like expectant moms, and those with other medical issues. In the meantime, we will practice good hygiene... hand washing has become a top priority for our family. And, if we don`t feel well, we will stay home. Because even though I expect everyone to get at least a little sick this flu season, there are still things we can do to stay as healthy as possible...even without a flu shot.
Change of Seasons
10-08-2009
You`ve heard there are two seasons in North Dakota: winter and road construction. In my house, there are three seasons: winter, road construction and hunting.
My husband works as a surveyor for the Department of Transportation. That means long hours during the road construction season. And every year, that season bleeds right into hunting season. For us, pheasant opener marks the change of seasons. Pheasant season opens this Saturday. It`s a day that`s been circled on our calendar for months. It`s practically a holiday. For Brad, pheasant opener signals the end of the busy work season, and the beginning of his "fun" season. But this year, he will not be hunting pheasants. Instead, he will be fulfilling a lifelong dream of hunting elk in the Colorado mountains. He left today on a ten day adventure with his brother and two college buddies. Watching him get ready for his trip was like watching my kids on Christmas Eve. He was so excited and spent hours making sure he had everything he needed. As much as I wanted to be annoyed with him for leaving me home alone with three kids and two dogs for ten days, I couldn`t be. I know how much this season means to him, and it is a much deserved reward after one of the longest and most stressful road construction seasons he`s ever worked.
So, while he`s off with the boys, the kids and I will keep things going here at home. Between school, work, homework and basketball games, we`ll likely find time for some fun of our own (I`ve already scheduled a long overdue pedicure for myself). Jake is dreaming of the bear Dad will shoot (he also got a bear tag, just in case... Jake wants a bear skin rug for his room!), Lexi is dreaming of the jerky Dad will make from the elk he shoots. And I am dreaming of the next season... winter.... because that`s the one season of our three that we spend the most time together as a family.
Moms on the Run
09-18-2009
I met an amazing group of women this week. Kate Gartner, Roxane Jablonsky and Bree Bergstrand will run their first half-marathon tomorrow. As if that`s not amazing enough (I`m not a runner... I wish I was, and I admire anyone who is), these women have full time jobs, husbands, and kids to take care of. They started training in March, as a way to get back into shape after becoming moms. Now, they`re determined to not only finish the race tomorrow, they plan to run the entire 13 miles, and Kate will run a full marathon in October.
But there`s more. Kate is running the Nike Women`s Marathon in San Francisco to fulfill a life long dream. At the same time, she is raising money for childhood lymphoma and lukemia research. Kate`s a nurse, and works with kids fighting cancer every day, including my dear friend Sara`s little boy, who has been battling lukemia since January. The work Kate does is amazing. Cancer is a terrible thing for anyone to go through, but especially for a child. Please help Kate make a difference in these kids` lives. She`s promised to raise $3,900 dollars for research. She`s about $500 away from that goal, and must turn in all her money in just ten days. Every penny counts, and makes a difference. For more information about Kate`s marathon, check out her website Team In Training
And click on the links below to watch these mother`s inspiring stories. They`ll make you want to get out your running shoes and hit the trails!
Marathon Mom Races for a Good Cause
Moms Train for Big Race
Baby News
8-11-09
I anchored First News at 5:00 yesterday, something I haven`t done for several months. Throughout the whole show, I was thinking how much different it is from the Noon Report, and I was also thinking how different the audience is....and if the viewers are 5:00 would notice anything different about me since the last time I anchored that show. Indeed they did. A friend (whom I obviously haven`t seen for a long time) called last night to tell me that was the first time she`s seen me pregnant (I`m 26 weeks along, only 95 days until my due date, according to www.babycenter.com, which is a great website, by the way) and that her husband asked her during the news if I was pregnant (I`m thankful he didn`t just ask why I`d gained so much weight!).
So, in case you didn`t know, or weren`t sure how to ask, yes, I am pregnant. Baby number four is due November 14th (second week of deer season, or so I`ve been told many, many times!). While welcoming a new baby into the world is always an exciting time, this time is a bit different for me. For one thing, my other three kids (ages 10, 8 and 2) have kept me so busy I haven`t had a lot of time to focus on the pregnancy, or get organized for baby`s arrival. Unlike my other pregnancies, this one has brought nausea, and a few other scares along the way. But I`m happy to report that as of this moment, my biggest complaint is heartburn (and lots of it...this kid`s going to have a full head of hair).
What`s also made this pregnancy different, is the number of friends who are also expecting. Four of my former city league basketball teammates have either just had a baby or are due in the next few months. We could have one heck of a basketball team someday! But, the difference is, while this is my fourth baby, it`s the first for all of those teammates, making our experiences similar, but oh so different. There are others who are expecting too... My cousin in California, an acquaintance from church, and the gal down the street. It`s amazing how when you`re pregnant, you notice all the other women who are in the same boat. If you`re one of them, congratulations and best of luck. Being a mom is truly the greatest job in the world. It is also the most difficult job in the world, but the hugs, the kisses, the "I love you`s" make it all worth it. It`s those small rewards that help us forget about the aches and pains, the heartburn, and the weight gain that pregnancy bring. And it`s those things that have me anxiously waiting for the second week of deer season!
My Elmo Gig
8-5-09
As with any job, mine comes with certain perks. The biggest perk lately has been the tickets I got to "Elmo`s Green Thumb". In exchange, I had to welcome the crowd to the show last night. My two year old, Lizzy and I got to go up on stage, introduce ourselves, and help the crowd countdown to the start of the show. This was no big deal for me..I`ve spoken in front of crowds hundreds of times. But it was Lizzy`s first time being on stage. She only helped, because she refused to sit in her seat with our friends while I was gone. But she was so brave..she walked up the stairs, held my hand as we walked to center stage and stood nicely the whole time I talked. But as I look at the pictures friends took, I realize how scared she was! She does not have a smile on her face...instead, she has the most serious look I`ve ever seen. Lizzy stayed pretty serious through the first half of the show..I think she was just taking it all in. But after intermission, she was all smiles and giggles (maybe the cotton candy helped her relax a little?!?). The best part of the show was actually after the show, though. The best part was when I tucked her into bed
and she said "thanks for Elmo Mom". That melted my heart, and made me so glad I took her.
We would have gone even without the free tickets. It was a great show, and Lizzy is so in love with Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the whole Sesame Street gang. Plus, I feel it`s important to support shows like this when they are here. The best way to get more, and better, entertainment in Bismarck, is to support what does come to town.
So, if you didn`t take your kids to the show last night, it`s not too late. There are two shows today, at 10:30am and 7pm. I`m sure tickets are still available. Here`s a link to all the information you need to know.
www.bismarckciviccenter.com/calendar/display_event.asp?ID=2846
Trust me, it`s well worth the time and money. Your kids will love it and you`ll get two quality hours together.
Lots of Locks of Love
7-13-09
In my years as a reporter I have done dozens of stories about people, even kids, doing generous things to help others. There`s the story of the group of teen girls who proudly wears abstinence bracelets and gives talks to younger girls about abstinence. There`s the story of the Bismarck High School students raising money for different causes through a fundraiser they call "the Jars". And then there`s the story of the young girl cutting off ten inches of her beautiful, long hair to donate to Locks of Love, to be made into a wig for someone fighting cancer.
I love to do these "feel-good" stories. They are good reminders that with all the bad in the world, there are still a lot of people doing great things. I always make my kids watch these stories, hoping they learn something. Last week, I realized at least one of them has been listening.
My ten year old has been growing her hair out for what seems like forever. It has been driving me crazy, because it`s so thick and doesn`t stay pulled back nicely. I kept offering to make a hair appointment for her, but she kept refusing. Finally, Lexi said she was ready for a haircut. Turns out, she`d been growing her hair out, only to cut it off and donate it to Locks of Love. I was, and still am, so proud. She had waited so long, because she was worried about it being too short and not fit in a ponytail for basketball.
We went to the salon last week, along with a favorite aunt who has done daycare for us since Lexi was a baby. Lexi had convinced her to donate ten inches of her hair too. Together, the two of them donated 20 inches of thick, healthy hair to Locks of Love. They left with cute new haircuts, and a feeling that they had done something great. And judging from the response Lexi has already gotten to her new haircut, and her good deed, I`m hoping it`s just the first of many great things she will do for others.
Kitchen Memories of Grandma Shea
7-2-09
I recently learned how to make jelly, and now I`m sort of obsessed with it. I blame my Grandma Shea. She was constantly making jelly (and other yummy treats). In fact, I never had jelly from the store until I went to college. I still don`t like it. Nothing beats Grandma Shea`s homemade chokecherry jelly. Except for maybe my strawberry-rhubarb jelly.
I decided to try my jelly making skills a few weeks ago after a friend posted what looked like an easy recipe on Facebook (thanks Kirsten!). I can`t stand to see rhubarb go to waste, so people are always bringing what they don`t want to me, and my neighbor insists we take his. I`m always looking for new rhubarb recipes, and let`s face it, there`s only so many rhubarb upside down cakes one family can eat (or should eat!).
I was so scared the whole time I was making that first batch of jelly. I was hoping Grandma was off napping in heaven and not watching my lame attempt at making jelly. But, much to my surprise, it turned out! And it was delicious! We ate an entire jar in less than a day! I was so proud of myself, I started giving jars away to people, bragging that I made it all by myself. Then my husband noticed the stash of 11 jars was down to three, and kindly asked me to stop giving all the jelly away. But that very next night, I saw him give a jar to his cousin, and brag a little about how his wife made that jelly and it was even better than what his mom used to make. Talk about a compliment.
Since then, I`ve become a jelly-making fool. This weekend I have plans to make several batches, and to try some new flavor combinations, including cherry-rhubarb and blueberry-rhubarb. In fact, this has become my new plan for Christmas gifts...my kids` teachers better like jelly! Grandma Shea would be so proud!
If you`d like to try my recipe, here it is. And if you`ve got more rhubarb recipes, or jelly recipes (i`d love to learn to make chokecherry jelly!) send them my way!
3/4 cup water
6 cups chopped rhubarb
4 cups sugar
1 can pie filling
2 packages jello
Boil rhubarb and water until tender. Add sugar. Boil for five minutes. Add pie filling, boil for five minutes. Add jello, boil for five minutes. Add to processed jars. Do not double this recipe! I`m told it will not turn out!
Fishing Fun
6-23-09
There is a story on the wire today about how good the fishing is in North and South Dakota this year. Apparently walleye fishing is the best it`s been for a long time. Fishermen have the high water to thank - Lake Oahe is at his highest level in years.
This may be true, but my personal experience says the fishing is not so good this year. Or maybe that`s just my lack of fishing ability.
Brad and I took the whole family fishing on Saturday. We thought it would be a great way to spend some much needed time with the kids, and the weather was beautiful - warm, but a there was a nice breeze to keep the bugs away.
We started out at Apple Creek, just off of Highway 1804. We`ve had good luck there before, and people had been telling Brad the fish were biting there. After three hours without even one bite, we decided to move to the OWLS pond at the Game and Fish Department. We figured we`d surely catch at least one fish there -- it is, after all, a stocked pond. The only catch is, it`s catch and release, which is fine with me.. I don`t really like cleaning fish.
Perhaps it says something about our lack of fishing ability when we couldn`t even catch anything at a stocked pond! We fished for a couple of hours, and didn`t even get a bite. I had finally convinced Jake to call it a day, when the man working at the OWLS pond got a bite. He let Jake reel it in. As you can see, it was a big, ugly catfish. I was really happy to throw that fish back! And Jake was happy to have caught a fish.
But, as I look at the pictures from our family fishing day, I am reminded it`s not always about how many fish you catch. It is more about the time you spend together, enjoying each other`s company, and the great outdoors. Lizzy loved the worms and the lunch we packed (she spent most of the day eating, and chasing geese. She may have eaten a worm or two also, I`m not really sure!), Lexi loved the sunshine, and Jake loved the fishing. And at the end of the day, if all three kids are happy, I consider that a successful day, even if we didn`t have fish to eat for supper.
A New Best Friend
6-18-09
I am not a cat lover. I grew up on a farm, where cats are a necessary part of life (pest control) but I stopped loving cats sometime in elementary school. Maybe it was too many traumatic losses...farm cats don`t have a long life expectancy, and if they do live, they often run away. At any rate, I fear I may soon be a cat owner.
My two youngest are spending this week at my parents` farm. Each day, my dad emails new pictures of Lizzy with her new best friend, a kitten named Casper. (Dad had already named the kitty before Lizzy arrived...given the chance, she would have named it Abby Cadabby.) Dad was excited for Lizzy to visit, because he had one tame kitty. I warned him that after a few hours, that kitty may no longer be tame. I was wrong. This kitty seems to adore Lizzy, and is very tolerant of her mothering skills. Even though I admit I`m not a cat person, I can`t help but feel sorry for poor, poor Casper. Lizzy carries him around like a doll, not caring if the kitty is right side up or not. I`m told Lizzy spends most of the day going in and out, chasing kitties, and looking for Casper. Last night, she insisted on having Casper sleep with her. That was totally against the rules when I was a kid -- cats were only allowed in the house when there was work to do (again, pest control). Amazingly, Lizzy has not been scratched (at least I haven`t been told about any injuries)..the kitten must be enjoying the attention. Which leaves me wondering...will Casper run away as soon as Lizzy leaves, or will he sneak into her suitcase and try to make my home his new home?
Surviving Road Construction
6-12-09
They say there are two seasons in North Dakota: winter and road construction. I, like many of you, have been surrounded by road construction this summer. First it was the streets around our office, then the street we live on. I awoke several mornings to the sound of heavy equipment outside my bedroom window. The mill and overlay (forgive the construction lingo, but I`m married to a road construction worker. Brad has been a surveyor for the Department of Transportation for almost 14 years.) took only a couple of days and the short inconvenience was totally worth it. The kids love having a nice, smooth street to ride their bikes and rollerblade on. And the street did need fixing... the harsh winter left behind many potholes.
There were some temporary inconveniences at the station too. We weren`t allowed to park on certain streets for a few days, but again, the end result is so worth it.
These are obviously only two, minor road construction projects going on across North Dakota this summer. The state is spending a record amount of money fixing roads that were damaged by winter storms and spring flooding. One day this week, the kids and I drove out to Brad`s jobsite, just south of Bismarck. I was not surprised to be stopped by a flagger, and the wait was only a few minutes. But I could tell other drivers around me were getting impatient. Their impatience frustrated me..there is a good reason traffic is stopped in a construction zone. It is for the safety of everyone, including the workers and you, the driver. Every year we do stories about crashes in construction zones. I pray everyday that my husband won`t be involved in one of those crashes. So do me a favor next time you drive through a construction zone: slow down, obey speed limits, and be patient. The nice, smooth road you`ll be driving on in the fall will make the short wait worthwhile.
Summer Vacation Brings Life Changes
6-9-09
My kids have been enjoying summer vacation for three weeks. And for the past two, I’ve been enjoying it right along with them. We’ve been to the library, the park, and our own backyard. You see, last week, I cut back on my hours at the station, and increased my hours as a mom.
It’s a decision I’d been wrestling with for months. My big kids are now 10 and 8, and baby Lizzy is two, no longer a baby. And, in November we will add a new baby to our family. The realization of just how busy I will be in a few months, and the realization of how quickly my babies have grown up, left me looking for a way to spend more time with them. The solution: a part time position. I’m fortunate to have great, understanding bosses, who are also parents and have always been willing to work around my kids’ schedules and my mom responsibilities. So, I now work just mornings at the station, and spend the afternoons with my kids. You’ll still see me on the Noon Report everyday and from time to time on First New at 5:00. But most days, after 12:30, there’s a good chance you’ll see me at the pool, the library, the park or the grocery store, enjoying motherhood.
Scrapbooking Through Good Times and Bad
5-13-09
One of the dozens of magnets on my refrigerator says "if it isn`t in the scrapbook, it didn`t happen". That is my motto. I take pictures of everything, and save ticket stubs, programs and other things that will help tell the story in my scrapbooks.
While I love having these pieces of history for my kids, and someday my grandkids, to look at, there is another benefit to scrapbooking. For me, scrapbooking is actually more about spending time with friends. You see, it is very rare that I scrapbook alone. Most of my pages are done with a group of people, lots of laughs, and good food.
One of my best scrapbooking friends is Diane Larson. We first met through work, but quickly became scrapbook friends. That`s why when Diane`s Fox Island home was in danger of flooding, my heart immediately went out to her, and one of my first concerns was for her precious scrapbooks. I knew she stored them on a low shelf, just inches from the ground. Lee Timmerman and I were lucky enough to tag along with Diane and her husband Greg last March, when they returned to their home for the first time since rising floodwater forced them to evacuate.
If you saw that story, you remember the Larsons were lucky. Their propane tank was tipped over, and they had a couple of feet of water in their crawl space. Other than that, their home was safe. And, those irreplaceable scrapbooks were dry. Diane gave me a big hug, and I helped her move them to higher ground.
Six weeks later, we returned to the Larsons home. They have been cleaning up, and saying prayers of thanks that the damage was minimal. They know not everyone was so lucky, and their hearts go out to those who didn`t fare so well. Mine does too. I admire everyone who fought the flood this year. I am still overwhelmed at the outpouring of goodness I saw in this community, and across North Dakota. It once again makes me proud to live here.
If you`d like to see the original story we did with the Larsons, click here. And to see the update from the couple, click here.
The Value of a Dollar
5-12-09
As my kids gets older, they become more difficult to buy for. I got more proof of that this weekend.
We celebrated all three kids` birthdays with one big family party on Saturday. Lexi is now 10, Jake turned 8 and Lizzy has entered the terrible twos. When all the presents were opened, the big kids each had a big wad of cash. By Sunday afternoon, that cash was burning holes in their pockets, and they convinced me to take them to the mall. That quick trip ended up being a three hour learning experience.
I set some ground rules before we got there. Rule number one: no complaining. The first person to complain, had to give me their money. Rule number two: let the other kid look at what he or she wants too, for as long as needed. I hoped this would eliminate fights in the lego aisle or the clothing store.
Jake knew exactly what he wanted to buy, but agreed to let Lexi go first. She wasn`t quite so sure what she wanted, so we wandered in and out of three stores before she made a single purchase, which ended up being a three dollar lip gloss. Both kids were hungry, and asked for a pretzel. Determined to teach them a lesson, I said they could buy whatever they wanted with their own money. So they decided to share a pretzel, and Jake sprung for a drink too. They split that bill evenly, then moved onto shoes. Lexi debated for a long time before finally settling on a pink pair, because they were two dollars cheaper than the black pair. When we got to Target, Jake headed straight for the legos, Lexi wandered around a few departments before deciding not to buy anything. Jake spent all but $1.89 on a lego set, a yo-yo and a whoopie cushion. Then came the true test. He was done with his shopping..could he remain patient while Lexi finished her`s?
Our last stop ended up being a clothing store, where I made Lexi try everything on. Jake opted to sit outside the store, in a comfortable chair. Turns out that comfortable chair was also a massage chair. It wasn`t long before he came and asked for his remaining dollar...he splurged on a three minute massage.
Lexi ended up spending only about half of her money, while Jake has a total of 89-cents to his name now. My feet were killing me by the time we left the mall, but I feel the afternoon was a success. It`s amazing how much kids think about a purchase if they`re using their own money. Had I been buying, there would never have been a discussion about a pretzel, and they certainly wouldn`t have shared one. Both kids got things they really wanted, and hopefully a new respect for the value of a dollar.
Nature Walks
5-8-09
I have always appreciated nature. Growing up on a farm, I was surrounded by nature my entire childhood. I loved to go exploring in the tree rows...I could spend hours outside, playing and using my imagination. As I grew older, I quit playing outside...I had so many more "important" things to do. Now, as an adult, I am rediscovering the beauty of nature, thanks to my two year old.
Lizzy loves to be outside. When I take her to daycare in the morning, she says a quick hello to my aunt, then bolts to the backyard to play. When we get home at night, I can`t get her in the house. She gets out of the van, grabs her trike, and takes off. Every night we make at least one trip around the block on her trike. Our block is not big, but our walks often take an hour. You see, Lizzy doesn`t just ride her bike. Lizzy takes note of everything she sees while riding her bike, and most of the time, stops to take a closer look. Tonight we checked out four lawns and talked about the green grass. We counted boats...there were two parked on our street. We destroyed ant hills and tried to catch the ants.
Sometimes I get frustrated that we can`t just walk, but then I realize it`s not really about the walking. It`s about spending time with my daughter and teaching her to appreciate the great outdoors, one ant hill at a time.
Citizens Police Academy
3-30-09
I`m proud to say I am a graduate of the Bismarck Police Department`s first ever Citizen Police Department. It was a nine-week course offered to only a few people this first time around. I was lucky enough to be asked to be a part of this "test" group of students. We talked about everything from how the department is structured, to the most unusual animal the animal control officers have ever encountered. We also spent time learning how to shoot a gun, riding along with an officer for a few hours, and how the SWAT team and hostage negotiators work together in tense situations.
I covered the police beat for nearly 10 years as a reporter here at KFYR-TV. During those years, my contacts at the police department became some of my best friends. I did lots of ride alongs for stories, and covered big stories like the Erickstad murders in 1998 and the shootout on Northwest Drive in 2003.
It`s been several years since I covered the police beat, but by attending the Citizen Police Academy I got to reconnect with old friends, and reminisce about the old days and the events we were a part of together.
While my days at the Citizen Police Academy are over, I have a certificate, a patch and a coffee mug to help me remember what I learned, and the fun I had. The Citizen Police Academy will be offered again in the fall and the class size will be bigger, which means more of you will have the opportunity to take part. You`ll find more information about it on the police department`s website in the coming months. It is a time commitment... classes last about three hours, and the class runs 9 weeks, but it`s worth it. Bismarck is a safe community, but part of keeping it a safe place to live, is getting the community involved. So, if you get the chance, sign up for the next Citizen Police Academy...and join me as one of the graduates.
Ready for Spring
3-10-09
I am officially sick of winter. I try not to complain about the weather, because part of what I love about North Dakota is the change of seasons. I love the hot in the summer, and the snow in the winter. But, as of this morning, I am ready for another change of seasons. Spring would be nice. It officially begins next week, but when do you think it will feel like spring?
While I am ready for spring, I realized this morning my dogs are still loving winter. The dogs stay, for the most part, in the garage when we`re not home. When I left to drop off the kids this morning, both dogs were in the garage (Windsor was secured in his kennel, Bob has free reign of the garage) I sat in the driveway and watched the garage door close, knowing that with the snow, it might decide to open again. I watched it close, then drove away. When I returned home 20 minutes later, the garage door was wide open, and Bob was missing.
Bob is a black lab and should be easy to find in the white snow. I stood in the driveway and yelled for him for a few minutes. Then I called my husband. He was about to leave work and start searching for our lost dog , when Bob came running around the corner and up to me like nothing was wrong. I gave him a lecture about running away. His drool was frozen like icicles hanging off his mouth and I felt a moment of pity. I almost let him in the house to warm up, but what kind of message would that send? I couldn`t reward him for running away, so I made sure he was tucked in nice on his blankets, shut the garage door, and went inside.
An hour later, when I walked into the garage to head to work, the door was once again open, and Bob was once again missing. This time I didn`t have time to look for him. I called my husband, who left work to search. I left the garage door open, hoping Bob would come home on his own. Brad searched for an hour and a half with no luck. Finally at noon, Bob stumbled into the garage. He is now safely locked in the kennel with Windsor.
I have no idea where Bob was during his three hours of freedom. The cold and snow didn`t seem to bother him...he stayed away much longer than I ever thought he would. Apparently, he came to his senses, and came home to his warm blankets. He was already grounded from the house (I caught him digging in the garbage) but now he`ll be grounded for a few extra days. Maybe until spring..but the way this winter is going, that could be awhile.
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
2-18-09
I`ve had a lot of tough assignments in my years at KFYR. There was the shootout with police in a south Bismarck neighborhood. I spent the night on scene and I`ll admit, I was a little scared when I heard gunshots. I`ve covered too many gruesome and sad court cases. Little kids shaken to death, an elderly woman raped and killed. But, as difficult as those assignments were, none can compare to the assignment I had today.
Today, my assignment was to cover the funeral of a dear friend, a former colleague, and a man I admired and respected. Wade Westin was laid to rest today. He was only 34, the same age as me. Last week his heart suddenly stopped beating, and a few days later he was gone. He leaves behind a beautiful wife, the love of his life, and two gorgeous young children. My heart is breaking for them.
I know I am not the only one deeply affected by his sudden passing. I have heard from friends, former co-workers, and even those who never met him about how sad they were to hear of Wade`s passing. Those who knew him all have stories of how nice he was, and what a gentleman he was. It`s fitting that he was known in Medora as "Gentleman Wade."
I first met Wade in 1997. We had both just graduated from college, he from UND, me from Moorhead State. I was working at a Fargo station, he was at our sister station in Grand Forks. Occasionally, we got to work together on the weekends. I always enjoyed those days, because Wade was so fun to be around. Eventually, we both ended up at KFYR. He left a short time later, but our paths continued to cross, and every time I ran into him, my day was a bit brighter. I truly believe I am a better person for knowing Wade, and the world is a better place because of him.
Still, I don`t understand why he is gone. But, if anything good can come from such a tragedy, let it be this: let us all remember just how short life is. Live each day as if it is your last. Be nice to everyone. Hug those you love, and smile at those you don`t know. That`s what Wade would have done.
Bob, Windsor, and Me
1-27-09
Blame it on my old age, or the cold weather... Or maybe blame it on the story "Marley and Me" (I`ve read the book and seen the movie). Whatever the reason, I have been spoiling our dogs in recent weeks.
Bob is an eight year old black lab, Windsor a two year old yellow lab. They are big dogs. Very big dogs. They drool a lot, they chew up toys, and their tails wag so fast and furiously they often knock poor Lizzy off her feet. Still, I can`t help but feel sorry for them. Usually, they spend the day in the garage, Windsor in his kennel, and Bob has free reign of the entire garage. For years, I`ve insisted they stay outside...I just couldn`t handle the dog hair all over the house. But when it was 44 degrees below zero, I just couldn`t leave them in the cold garage. So, I put them in the house that whole week. Windsor still had to be kenneled (really, otherwise my house would be completely trashed) but Bob got to wander the house.
Now that it`s a little warmer outside, they still don`t want to spend the day in the garage. They run for the house whenever I`m in the garage. And I just can`t say no. Plus, Lizzy loves her puppies. She will not go to bed without Bob in her room. This morning, she crawled into our bed, and when I went to get Bob about an hour later, he had moved from his spot on the floor to her bed...he even had his head on her pillow.
I should have been mad, but I just couldn`t yell. Instead I let them outside to do their business, then back into the nice warm house for the rest of the day. Yep. They`ve got me wrapped around their paws.
Friends in Need
1-20-09
It`s my birthday today. I`m 34. I`ve been feeling sorry for myself for most of the day. There were no presents this morning, no chorus of happy birthdays. We had cake, and then everyone rushed off to get ready for school and work. I made my own coffee, and decided not to make the bed. It is my birthday, after all, and I shouldn`t have to do boring household chores. I got the kids out the door and to school and daycare, did a little work, then hit the treadmill. I met two very dear friends for lunch and my day suddenly wasn`t so bad afterall. Until I got the phone call.
When I left the restaurant I realized I`d missed a call on my cell phone. It was a nurse friend calling from work, asking me to call her back as soon as possible. I couldn`t figure out what could be so important, and thought maybe that was her way of making sure I called her back. I called her back right away and cracked a lame joke. I could tell right away though that this was not the time to be making jokes. She was calling on behalf of another friend, my very best friend from high school. The friend that had made high school a little easier, who had remained my best friend all through college, and been a bridesmaid in my wedding. The friend that now, since we both got busy being moms, I only talk to about once a year. That doesn`t mean I don`t think about her. I think about her a lot, but just never call her. Now, a mutual friend was calling me for her. This couldn`t be good. It isn`t.
My dear friend`s precious little boy has been diagnosed with leukemia. My heart is breaking for her, for him, for her husband and her other son. It`s just not fair. He also has Down syndrome, and I know that makes him even more susceptible to illnesses, but still, it wasn`t supposed to happen to him.
I wanted to go see her, she was just blocks away, but my nurse friend said that probably wasn`t a good idea. I tried to work, tried to stop thinking about it. Finally, I couldn`t fight the tears anymore, and I left. I decided to work from home. But instead of going home, I found myself driving in circles….wanting to go to the hospital, but knowing I shouldn`t. I finally called the hospital and left a message that if she needed anything, to call me. I also sent an e-mail.
My friend and her son will fly to Minneapolis this afternoon. There he will get the very best doctors. I have faith that they will get through this. They are a strong family, and have already faced so many challenges. It just isn`t fair.
I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself on this birthday. I really have nothing to complain about. I have a wonderful husband, three great and healthy kids, a nice home, food on the table, a good job. My life is good. I realize that now. Sometimes, it takes a blow like this to put life back in perspective.
I will hug my kids extra tight tonight, and spend extra time just hanging out with them and enjoying their company. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
If you take anything away from this blog, let it be this: life is short and full of surprises. Enjoy each day and let those you love know just how much you love them. And reach out to an old friend. It might be just what she needs right now.
A+ for Teachers
1-8-09
I am not a teacher. There are a lot of teachers in my family: my sister and her husband are both teachers, my mother and both of my grandmothers were teachers. I, however, did not get that gift. There are times I wish I was blessed with the ability to teach, especially during summer vacation and Christmas break. My sister and teacher friends have a way of reminding me they are on vacation, while I am at work.
Still, I know teaching is not for me. I`ve tried. My son volunteered me to be a substitute teacher for faith formation classes at our church. I`ve been asked to fill in only once. I don`t really think they`ll call me again. I`m pretty sure the sixth grade students I "taught" didn`t learn a thing, other than how to get on their sub`s nerves.
My oldest daughter has also tried to turn me into a teacher, by volunteering me to be a Girl Scout leader. I`ve only had to lead one meeting, because I`ve managed to get other moms involved. And again, I`m pretty sure the girls are dreading the meeting I have to lead.
Maybe I`m being too hard on myself, but I really don`t think I possess the patience to be a good teacher. I admire those who do have the gift. They are shaping our children`s lives, and our future. They are doing a great job, despite obstacles like low pay and limited resources. Still, while I am jealous of my sister and my teacher friends who get long vacations, I am also happy to go to work over Christmas and all summer long. I will leave the teaching to those who do it best!
Black Friday Chaos
12-3-08
It`s taken me a few days, but I think I have finally recovered from my early-morning shopping trip on Black Friday. I`ve shopped the day after Thanksgiving before, but never like I did this year. This year, I was serious about my shopping.
I studied the ads, made my lists, and set the alarm clock for 3:00 a.m. I went to bed thinking I was crazy, and got up a few hours later, still thinking I was crazy. Still, I made a pot of coffee and headed to Kohl`s, the first store on my list to open.
I stood in line with friends for about a half hour, and was a part of the stampede through the doors at 4:00. With help from my friends, I was able to get everything on my list, then stood in line to pay for an hour. My next stop, JoAnn`s Fabrics, then onto Target, and finally Scheels. I`m happy to say I got all but two things on my list...the Legos were sold out (sorry Jake) and the sweatshirts Brad wanted weren`t available in his size.
I still have a few gifts to buy, but I am done with the majority of my shopping. Talk about a relief! Yes, getting up at 3:00 was crazy, and the crowds were ridiculous, but the feeling of accomplishment I have far outweighs those things. Now, I just need to get those gifts wrapped, my tree up, and then I can sit back and enjoy this wonderful time of year!
Random Acts of Kindness
11-17-08
I am amazed by the generousity and overall kindness of people in this community. I grew up in northwest South Dakota, so North Dakota nice is nothing new to me. Still, in this day and age when people, on average, tend to be more worried about themselves than about others, it truly amazes me just how nice people here are.
Case in point (I have several!): This morning, I stopped for a coffee at Starbucks. The drive through line was long, but I just didn`t feel like going inside, so I waited. For a second I was annoyed at the long line, but soon realized it was a great time to make a couple of phone calls. By the time I got to the window, I was proud of myself for finally getting those calls made. But then..a random act of kindness. As I handed over my money, the gal working the window told me the person in front of me had paid for my drink. She told me who she was, said I might not even know who she was, and explained why she wanted to buy my drink (she is the sister of a friend). How nice is that? My coffee tastes extra delicious today.
Example number two: last week`s blizzard came when my husband was gone deer hunting. That meant I had a driveway and a sidewalk to shovel, plus three kids and two dogs to take care of. I shoveled a path for the milkman, and planned to do the rest on Friday after work. Friday morning, my next door neighbor brought his snowblower over and quickly cleaned my driveway for me. I didn`t ask him, it was just a neighbor doing something nice. That same day, his teenage daughter babysat my kids for me, so I wouldn`t have to drive them across town to daycare, and risk getting stuck with three kids in the van. Again, I didn`t ask, she just offered. Two more random acts of kindness.
I could give more examples, but I think you get the idea. North Dakotans are nice people! But, we all have our not-so-nice moments too. That`s only human. Still, I challenge you to perform one random act of kindness this week. Maybe it`s something as simple as holding the door open for someone at the post office, or letting someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Small things can make a big difference, and really make someone`s day. And, if we all performed more random acts of kindness, think how much better our world would be.
Reading Bug
10-21-08
I used to read a lot. There was nothing I enjoyed more than curling up with a good book, and reading it cover to cover. Then I had kids. My oldest is nine, and I think it had been about nine years since I last read a book. But I`m finally getting back to reading, thanks to my seven year old son.
Jake has always been a good reader and reading has always been easy for him. He started reading chapter books the summer between kindergarten and first grade. As a first grader, he went to levels of service for reading. Now, a second grader, he is reading more than ever. He has read all the books in the Magic Treehouse series, all 40 of them, in just over one month. He`ll usually read one or two of them in a day. he was upset yesterday because they didn`t have number 40 at the school library, so he convinced his great aunt to take him to the public library, and when they didn`t have it there either, to Barnes and Noble to buy it. When I took him to school this morning, he had just two chapters left to read. No doubt he read them before the bell rang to start the school day.
Jake will read anywhere... in the car, at the dinner table, at his sister`s basketball games. His passion about reading has inspired the rest of us. Older sister Lexi is now more motivated to read (reading has never been as easy or as enjoyable for her). She`s reading more than the her book a week that`s required for school. Lizzy is even carrying books around, and begging to have someone read to her (her favorites are the ones with lots of pictures of animals..she kisses all the pictures!). And I have read three books in the past month too. Instead of watching tv to unwind before I go to bed, I`ve been reading. I`m starting to remember why I used to read so much!
He`s still working on getting his dad to read more. Brad, like Lexi, has never been much of a reader. But, with Jake`s help, he too will soon learn to love a good book!
Math Whiz?
10-3-08
I am not good at math. I have never claimed to be good at math. In fact, my kids know to ask their dad for help with math homework, and that I can help with most other subjects. But the other day, nine year old Lexi called me at work with a math question. She needed to know what 12 times 8 was. She was doing homework and really wanted to get it done so she could do something fun. I felt terrible, but I didn`t know the answer! I asked a couple of co-workers, who quickly gave an answer. I relayed that to her, and told her to double check with her dad.
Still, for as bad as my math skills are, I can time out a newscast and I can make change. I credit my ability to make change to years of working in a video store. To this day, if my total is $3.18 and I give a five-dollar bill, I know without even thinking that my change should be two pennies, a nickel, three quarters and a dollar.
As for timing out a newscast, when I started producing newscasts, I had no idea I`d actually have to do math on a daily basis. Had I known that, I probably would have said no. But, after years of practice, it`s become as easy as making change. Now, if only I could memorize my multiplication tables so I can help my kids with their homework!
Color Correction
9-3-08
There`s a show on HGTV called Color Correction. I should have been on that show. I`ve just spent the past month dealing with my very own Color Correction.
My first mistake was letting my nine year old daughter choose the colors for her bathroom walls. She picked a pretty blue, a not so bad orange, and left over yellow from another project. The idea was to make it an ocean themed bathroom, to go with the fish shower curtain she already had. I approved of the colors, and had a vision. Then I made my second mistake. I sent my husband to buy the paint. Brad came home with a gallon of blue and a gallon of orange. I knew that was too much, but it`s better to have too much than not enough, so I kept my mouth shut. But, as soon as I put the first of the orange on the wall, I knew it was a mistake. The orange was much brighter than I had expected. Against my better judgement, I kept painting, thinking it would get better. I got all the orange done (the top third of the walls), then started on the blue (the bottom two-thirds of the walls). It didn`t get any better. Again, I convinced myself it would look better once it was all done and I added the yellow stripe between the blue and the orange. Not the case. When I finished, it looked like a giant ice cream push-up.
I decided to wait a few days, and see if it grew on me. Lexi insisted she loved it, but I could tell she was just saying that because she didn`t want me to have to repaint. I knew Brad hated it. So, two weeks ago I covered the orange with a light tan (leftover from the other bathrooms). Last weekend, I finally added a chocolate brown stripe between the blue and the tan. It looks much better. I bought a new tan shower curtain, added a few things on the walls, and as soon as I find a new mirror I like, the bathroom will finally be done. In the meantime, I have a gallon of orange sherbet colored paint leftover. I have no idea what I will do with that paint. To be honest, I`m scared to use it ever again. I`m afraid it will lead to another month-long painting project.
Back on Track
8-29-08
Maybe all the talk about the Country Morning Today team`s second session of Lose Weight in `08. Maybe it was two weeks of watching the world`s best athletes compete in the Olympics. Maybe it finally being in the back to school routine. Maybe it was a friend talking about getting up at 4:45 every morning to exercise. Or maybe it was the old Abba cd I found over the weekend. Whatever it was, something inspired me to get back on the treadmill this week.
I have had a gym membership for years and used to go almost every day. Then I had Lizzy. My early morning workouts came to a screeching halt. They were traded in for the sounds of a screaming baby, dirty diapers and a lack of sleep. I was just getting back into the routine when construction season started, which means my husband isn`t home much and that makes it difficult for me to get to the gym. I know that`s a lame excuse, but it`s the excuse I used all summer.
About a month ago, I decided I`d had enough and bought a used treadmill. I hadn`t used it much since I hauled it down to the basement. Until this week. Monday morning, I put in two miles on what I like to call the "dreadmill". It wasn`t as bad as I remembered. I actually ran most of the two miles. I thought for sure I`d be sore the next morning, but I actually felt pretty good. I did the same thing yesterday morning. This morning, I surprised myself and got on the treadmill again. For three days in a row now I`ve run my two miles. But, today just as I hit the two-mile mark, my all-time favorite Abba song came on.. So I did another four minutes, just to hear "Dancing Queen". I finally stepped off the "dreadmill" with a smile on my face, and a bounce in my step. Who knows, maybe I"ll make it to the next song on the disc tomorrow.
The Most Comfortable Place at Home
8-8-08
I found a Lego Storm Trooper head in my bed this morning. If you don`t have kids, I can only imagine how strange that must sound. But, those of you with kids know exactly where I`m coming from. What is it about kids love so much about mom and dad`s bed? And why do they feel the need to drag their toys with them when they crawl into mom and dad`s bed?
At our house, it all started nine years ago when Lexi was born. I was never good about letting her cry herself back to sleep. When she would cry, I`d go get her and put her in bed with us. I know it`s not what you`re supposed to do. Pediatricians will tell you it`s best to let them cry, never to co-sleep, and so on. I never listened. I was a tired, working, first-time mom and didn`t know what else to do. When Jake was born, we often ended up with two kids and two adults in our bed. I beat myself up about it for awhile, thinking I was a bad parent for letting my kids sleep in our bed at night. Then I realized that they grow up way too fast, and told myself soon they wouldn`t even want to hang out with us, much less cuddle with their parents.
As predicted, once the kids got a little older they slept in their own beds at night, all night. And I was much better about not putting Lizzy in bed with us when she was a baby. Until this summer. Last night, all three kids were in our bed when Brad came home from work at 10:00. They wanted to hang out, and that`s the most comfortable place to lounge and visit with them about their days. It was short lived though. Lexi went to her own bed once she said goodnight to her dad, Jake fell asleep on the floor beside our bed, and I put Lizzy in her crib once she fell asleep. She stayed there all night. But when she woke up this morning, she insisted on bringing her two blankets and her two big stuffed woof-woofs with her. She, and all her stuff, just needed a few more minutes of sleep... in my bed.
Later, when I made my bed, I returned the woof-woofs and the blankets to Lizzy`s crib. I also put the Lego Storm Trooper head back in Jake`s room. It would be easy to be annoyed by these things. But, as I get older and wiser, I realize these moment will soon be gone. So, I will treasure these times... and also every Lego piece and stuffed animal that makes it`s way to my bed.
Lessons From Farming
8-5-08
I grew up on a farm and so did my husband. We often talk about all the things our kids are missing out on by growing up in the "big city " of Bismarck. Our yard is big, but it`s nothing compared to the acres we had for playgrounds. We have dogs for pets, but they can`t take the dogs exploring in the trees for hours at a time like we could. Our kids have chores, but they are nothing compared to the work we both did as farm kids.
A few weeks ago my son Jacob decided he wanted to spend a few weeks at my mom and dad`s farm near Bison, South Dakota. Grandma picked him up on Saturday afternoon, and it was Sunday evening before he even had time to call and check in. He was having a great time, even though I told my parents to make him work while he was there. His biggest job at that point was taking care of my brother`s dog. Throughout the course of the next week Jacob helped Grandpa get the combine ready for harvest, visited the elevator (and the café) in town, learned to drive the riding lawn mower, cleaned the service truck, and "organized" Grandpa`s tools.
Jacob had big plans to stay at the farm for two weeks. He said he needed a break from his sisters, daycare and camp. By Thursday (five days into his adventure in farming) he was homesick. By Friday morning, he was calling and begging me to pick him up that afternoon. He stuck it out until Saturday before convincing Grandpa to bring him home.
I`m not sure why he got homesick. Maybe he really did miss us (he hasn`t left baby Lizzy`s side since returning home). Maybe farming was hard work. Or maybe seven days away from home is enough for a seven year old. I think he almost changed his mind about coming home when Grandpa paid him for his help. Grandpa asked him how much he owed him for a week of being a hired man. Jacob wasn`t sure he said, maybe ten-dollars. Grandpa gave him $30, enough to by the video game he had been saving for all summer. We had to go to the store that night to buy it.
There are lots of details I haven`t heard about Jacob`s week at the farm. I probably never will hear them all. My dad has told me a few stories, and mentioned how much he enjoyed having him. Jacob is a funny kid, and I have no doubt he kept my parents entertained. I have noticed a change in Jacob since he got home though. He`s more responsible, more respectful, and more helpful. He`s always been a good kid, but something changed in that week he spent at the farm Maybe it was all the fresh air. Maybe it was the time away from his parents and sisters. Whatever it was, I`m glad that got to spend a week at the farm and I hope he`ll want to go back again next summer.
Going Green
7-15-08
I`ve never been much of a recycler. I saved pop cans as a kid, because it was cool and you could earn money by doing it. A few years ago, my oldest daughter learned about the money-making opportunity, so we started saving cans again. We`ve never taken them to the recycling center, because my husband convinced her to wait until she has a whole bunch, otherwise she`ll be disappointed in the money. So now our storage space below our desk is filled with bags of pop cans. I keep thinking someday we`ll take them in.
In the meantime, my kids have discovered you can recycle more than just pop cans. So now we are saving plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, and tin cans too. What`s even better, the collection point for all these recyclables isn`t far from our house... They just informed me today they could drop them off on their way to swimming lessons. Afterall, they said, they`re going by there anyway, and it would save gas... We could save the environment and gas money at the same time.
Sometimes I really hate having smart kids. But, I just put an empty pop bottle in my bag. I`ll give it to them tonight, and they`ll recycle it tomorrow. It seems they`ve turned me into a recycler, without me even realizing it.
Reunion Time
6-26-08
I love class reunions. No kidding. I really do. Last weekend I traveled to my hometown of Bison, South Dakota for the town`s centennial celebration and all-school reunion.
Bison High School grads gather every five years. I always feel obligated to go because my dad is the chairman of the reunion committee. But, I also go because the all-school reunions always land on significant years for me. This year`s coincided with my 15 year class reunion. I`m amazed at how different it was from my ten year reunion.
I spent months, probably close to a year, before that reunion dieting and exercising. I had my hair cut and colored the day before I went home, and I made sure my kids and husband had haircuts and new clothes too. I didn`t realize it at the time, but the ten year is all about showing off.
I`ve known about this year`s reunion for five years, but as much as I wanted to, I just couldn`t get motivated to go on another diet, even though I`ve gained a few pounds in the past five years. About a week before I was supposed to leave, I realized I hadn`t lost any weight yet. Oh well. "Too late now," I thought. Turns out, I wasn`t the only one with that attitude.
While visiting with some classmates on Saturday night, the conversation turned to how skinny we all were five years ago, and how crazy we were to think we were overweight in high school. What we wouldn`t give to look like that again. But then we all agreed, we`re fine with how we look now. We`re in our 30s now, we`re all married, we all have kids, and we`re all at peace with how we look. We took turns complimenting each other on how great we all looked, then moved on to more important topics, like our kids, our jobs, and high school memories. This time it wasn`t about showing off. It was about reconnecting, and catching up with old friends whom we don`t see often enough. That includes my all-time favorite basketball coach, the kid a few years younger than me who was home on two week leave from his second tour in Iraq, the friend who made it home late Saturday night, after spending the day in the hospital, waiting for his little girl who`s been fighting cancer to get out of surgery, and the girl a few years ahead of me who was my idol on the basketball court. For a few days, it was just like high school again. Only better. This time, no one judged anyone. There were no cliques. It was just BHS grads, enjoying each other`s company. And that is what a school reunion should be.
Why I Need My Husband
6-13-08
I`ve been married for a long time - going on 12 years. It`s been 14 years since Brad and I started dating. It`s easy to take each other for granted when you`ve been together for so long. I am guilty of that, something I realized last night.
Brad is a handy guy. I have always known this, and I appreciate all the "fix-it" skills he has. I am often amazed at all the things he knows how to do - from fixing a leaky toilet, to installing a sump pump, to drywalling and texturing a wall... there isn`t much the man can`t do.
But, I consider myself pretty handy too. I have saved us hundreds of dollars over the years by sewing our curtains, cooking meals instead of eating out. I am the world`s best stain remover and I make up a great bedtime story off the top of my head. But apparently, I am not so blessed when it comes to building stuff. That became very apparent last night.
I have been looking for a shelf for the master bathroom for over a year. I don`t want anything fancy.. Just something to hold washrags and towels. I finally spent $20 on what I thought was the perfect shelf last night. I also thought it would be a breeze to assemble. The big kids were gone, Brad was at work, so Lizzy and I tackled it together. I smiled as I opened the box. I expected it to take only a few minutes, even with a one year old "helper".
My smile quickly disappeared. Lizzy started eating important pieces and hiding others. I was getting frustrated. Besides searching for pieces, I could not understand the directions. They really could have been written in a different language for as much sense as they made to me. I finally tossed them aside and used the picture on the box as a guide. Then things went much better, until I took the shelf into the bathroom. It was a free-standing shelf to go over the toilet. Here`s where my next problem occurred.. There was a support bar on the bottom of the shelf... But my toilet was too close to the wall..there was no room to slide the shelf between the toilet and the wall. So I unscrewed the bar, placed the shelf where I wanted it, then attempted to put the bar back. But... Get this... The support bar hit right where the toilet hook up is, which means the shelf didn`t fit. By this time I wanted to cry. I`d just spent an hour putting this stupid shelf together, and now I couldn`t even get it to fit in my bathroom. I took the support bar out... How much support do bath towels really need? An hour later, I disassembled the entire shelf and put it back in the box. I will return it to the store tonight. I haven`t decided if I`ll buy a different one. I do know, however, that I will never attempt to assemble anything ever again. That`s what my husband is for.
Rummage Sale
6-3-08
I did something this weekend I promised myself I would never do again. Against my better judgement, I had a rummage sale. A friend and I had been trying to find a weekend that would work to have a sale together. At the last minute, we realized this was the only weekend that would work. Luckily, we had both slowly been weeding through our homes, setting aside kids clothes that no longer fit, toys they no longer play with, the skinny pants we finally admitted we will never fit into again, and those must-have gadgets our husbands never use. My loot was all piled in a corner in the basement, and I was happy to haul it to the garage because I was getting tired of looking at it.
If you`ve ever had a rummage sale, you know how much work it is. The garage must be cleaned, all the stuff in the garage that isn`t for sale needs to be hidden or else people will try to buy a hammer or a broom. Then everything that is for sale has to be priced. I am lazy and I buy the stickers that already have prices on them (it might kill me to actually write "25-cents"). But, it never fails, I run out of the 25-cent stickers, and I buy the stickers that don`t stick very well so by the time someone looks at a shirt, the price sticker is gone, and I have to make up a price off the top of my head. I`m sure I had some nice clothes marked at least a dollar that I gave away for 25-cents, because the sticker had fallen off. Someday I will learn, and not take the lazy way out.
We decided our sale would be a one-day sale, Saturday only. I took Friday afternoon off of work to get ready for the sale. My friend brought her stuff over then too. It was so hot on Friday, and the garage was so stuffy, we had to open both garage doors, just so we could breathe. That was a mistake. My neighbors down the street were also having a sale, Friday and Saturday. They had signs up advertising their sale, so there was lots of traffic on our block. The problem was, people saw my house before they saw theirs, so they thought we were open. We didn`t even have a fourth of our stuff out of boxes or priced and we had people snooping through our stuff. We told them we weren`t open (or even organized...we didn`t even have cash yet!), but they didn`t care. They just kept looking through our piles. One lady even tried to talk me down on an item. I said no, I think I`ll wait to make deals until I`m actually open. Another woman argued with my friend about whether we were open or not. She was convinced the sign on the corner was advertising our sale. My friend very politely took her to the end of my driveway and pointed her to the advertised sale.
We did manage to have a successful sale on Saturday. We both made a little money, and even better, got rid of some things we no longer use, including some of Lizzy`s baby stuff. She`s one now, and there`s no need to hang onto those zero to three month sleepers anymore. But I told myself when she was born, I would never get rid of her baby stuff. The last time I had a rummage sale, I sold EVERY baby item I owned... and a month later got pregnant with Lizzy. I later learned about the "fertility sale"... apparently you need to hang onto at least one baby item forever. And the bigger the item, the better. The more space it takes up, the less likely you are to have another baby. I guess if you sell everything, you end up with another baby. I`m happy to report, that even though I sold a lot of baby stuff, I did keep some big items, including the crib. Maybe I`ll sell that at my next rummage sale. But that may never happen, because I am once again vowing to never have another rummage sale.
Summer Vacation
5-22-08
Tomorrow is the last day of school. My kids are so excited; they`ve been counting down the days for the past three weeks, but it wasn`t until this morning that I realized next week, they won`t have school!
That means a bigger daycare bill, but it also means I don`t have to be so strict about bedtime, eating breakfast, and doing homework. It also means warmer weather, evenings at the park, and trips to the swimming pool, all things I love.
But there is one thing I don`t like about summer.
You see, summer is also road construction season. My husband works for the Department of Transportation, and works long hours during the construction season. Those long hours started last week. He is working on a project near Beulah and Hazen this summer, so on top of his already long work hours, he`s got over an hour drive each night.
That means there will likely be days this summer he doesn`t see the kids. It`s already happened once. It`s hard on him, and on me too. But we get through it, because we don`t have a choice. This is the way our lives are, and we accept it.
But, as I look at the calendar and plan fun stuff to do with my kids this summer, I can`t help but be a little sad that road construction can`t be done during the winter months, so we could enjoy the summer together as a family.
Picture Perfect
5-12-08
I don`t have expensive art hanging on the walls of my house. But what I do have is worth more than any expensive painting. The walls in my home are filled with pictures of my kids. Some have said I`m a bit obsessive about getting professional pictures taken of my kids. I made sure I got professional pictures of them at six weeks, three moths, six months, nine months, a year and 18 months. After that, I cut back to just once a year. I have each kid`s baby pictures (six weeks through nine months) grouped together, and I look at them often. It is amazing how much they change in those first few months!
For the past two weekends, I have been trying to get Lizzy`s one year pictures done. She and I went to the studio last Sunday afternoon, and left without spending a dime. Lizzy could not sit, stand or lay in one spot for more than one second, which made getting a picture of her extremely difficult. I felt frustrated, helpless, and sorry for the girl trying to take the pictures. I knew her, which made it even more frustrating for both of us. Finally, we decided to quit for the day, with promises to try again soon.
So on Sunday, I took all three kids back to the studio.. I told them the best Mother`s day gift they could give me was helping get Lizzy to cooperate. They tried, bless their hearts, but Lizzy is stubborn, curious, and independent...all things I love about her, but all things that make taking pictures impossible! After about a half hour of trying, I finally gave up.
But, as I looked through the pictures she did manage to get, I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. I don`t know how she did it, but the photographer managed to capture Lizzy at her finest. In one picture you can see the twinkle in her eye, which I know means she`s about to get into mischief (that might be my favorite picture). In another, you see her sweet, innocent side. In another picture you plainly see the huge scratch on her nose, a battle wound from playing with the dogs last week.
The pictures are not perfect, but they are beautiful. I ended up spending a hundred dollars on those less than perfect pictures. And I can`t wait to hang them on the walls, next to the rest of my priceless, not-so-perfect, but beautiful works of art.
Birthday Madness
5-7-8
It`s been a crazy (and expensive!) three weeks at the Kerzman home. Lizzy turned one on April 15th, Lexi turned 9 on the 19th, and today, May 6th, Jake turned seven. In the past three weeks we`ve had three cakes, too many presents to count, a huge family birthday party for all three kids, and one slumber party.
It`s also been three weeks of milestones. For Lizzy, it was turning her carseat forward facing..she is now a much happier traveler! For Lexi, it was getting to have her first slumber party with friends.. not sure mom and dad are ready to do that again anytime soon! And for Jake, it was finally ditching his booster seat...he says he misses it, but I`m sure he`ll get used to being a big kid soon.
I never intended to have all my babies birthdays within three weeks of each other. It would have been nice to space them out a little, but I am also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps the reason my kids` birthdays are so close together, is so I can get all the shopping, cake baking, and birthday party planning done for the year, in just three weeks. Now, life will start to slow down, and I can relax and enjoy my kids again. However, even the smoke hasn`t even cleared from this year`s birthday candles, but the kids are planning next year`s parties! I, on the other hand, don`t plan on thinking about birthdays for at least 11 months.
Lessons in Friends and Family
4-21-08
I learned two very important lessons last weekend. The first, is that you can never have too many friends. The second is absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Let me explain.
I have a lot of good friends, but I have three that I consider my best friends. But, until last weekend, my three best friends didn`t really know each other. All that changed when I dragged them to a scrapbooking retreat in the middle of nowhere. All three knew each other`s names and some basic information about them, like where they work and how many kids they have. But only I knew all the details of their lives. I jokingly called myself the "link" that would bring us together over a weekend of scrapbooking.
We were four of a total of 12 ladies who gathered at Lake Washington Lodge near Warwick, North Dakota last Friday evening. We were grouped together in a room and at a table. Our group was appropriately named the "energetic" group. We were like a bunch of junior high school girls.. giggling and being silly the whole weekend. We even managed to get a little scrapbooking done! I didn`t get as far on my albums as I`d hoped to, but that`s ok. What I did get was a relaxing, fun weekend away. I made new friends, got to reconnect with my three dear friends, and watched them get to know each other, and develop friendships. Lesson number one.
There was no cell phone service and no Internet connection at the lodge. There also weren`t any kids, husbands, laundry to fold, or dishes to wash. We were free! Now, don`t get me wrong... I love my family. But with three kids, I rarely get time to myself. In fact, last weekend was the first time I`d been away from baby Lizzy since she was born (she turned one this week). That brings me to lesson number two: absence makes the heart grow fonder. It was hard to leave Lizzy (and Brad and the big kids), but I knew I had to. Just as I suspected, they survived the weekend just fine without me, and I without them.
Now that a week has passed, I still find myself thinking of funny things that happened at the lodge, and laughing out loud. My friends and I have been e-mailing more, and talking on the phone more. I feel much more connected to them, and to my husband and kids, too. It`s a relief knowing that my family can survive without me. But the best part is... my friends are now all friends!
Inspirational Encounters
4-4-08
Autism is a puzzling disorder. No one knows exactly what causes it, and there is no cure. Recent statistics say one out of every 150 children will have autism. In fact, more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined. Scary statistics. Yesterday was the first ever World Autism Awareness Day. I was honored to be asked to read a special book about autism to kids at Barnes and Noble last night in honor of the special day. It was a wonderful event, and there was a great crowd on hand. And, over the past week I`ve had the opportunity to do some stories with two great kids who have autism, and their amazing families. Rogan Isbell is six years old, loves dinosaurs, always wears a hat, and has autism. His mom, Tricia Kiefer, has a blog about the daily struggles, and the joys of raising a son with autism.
Then there`s Faith Richards. This sweet little girl is one of the most beautiful girls I`ve ever met. She has dark brown eyes that you could easily get lost in. She doesn`t talk much, but I can tell she loves her daddy more than just about anything else. The whole time we were at her home, she never left his side. Her parents talked candidly about the challenges that Faith brings to their lives. They also told me they can`t imagine life without her, and they have "faith" that Faith was put on this earth for a very specific reason. Perhaps to teach her parents,and everyone who meets her, to slow down and enjoy every day.
Rogan`s and Faith`s stories brought tears to my eyes. I have lived with autism for the past 26 years. My younger brother, John, was diagnosed when he was in second grade. That was almost 20 years ago. Back then, no one knew much about autism. We lived in a very small town, with limited resources. John went to special education classes, was mainstreamed into regular classrooms, and even went away to a couple different schools. Last year, he got his GED. He lives pretty independently, in his own house, a few miles down the road from our parents. He has a job, a checking account, and hobbies. He is a success story. I still worry about him. What will happen when our parents are gone? Who will take care of him? Who will call him every morning to make sure he gets to work on time? Who will double check his checkbook register? Those are questions I am sure one day I`ll find answers to. For now, I will be thankful that John is able to do all he can. And I will pray that others, like Rogan and Faith, will one day enjoy the same success as my brother.
For the love of the game
3-27-08
It`s no secret that I love the game of basketball. I started playing the game "seriously" in fifth grade. I played through high school and two years of college, and enjoyed many honors and much success. Now, I get my "fix" by playing city league ball. But for the first time in my life, I`m considering hanging it up.
I tore my ACL a few years ago, during the state amateur tournament. I was determined to rehab my knee and get back on the court, which I did within six months. Then I took last year off to have a baby, and couldn`t wait to start playing again this fall.
But the season was a bit disappointing. Don`t get me wrong, I love my teammates. I met them through basketball and over the years they have become some of my closest friends, and I welcome any excuse to see them and also to get some exercise. So when I say the season was disappointing, I mean I was disappointed in myself. It hit me about halfway through the city league season... I am getting old.
I can`t run as fast as I once could, I miss a lot more lay-ups than I did five years ago, and somedays, even catching the ball proved to be challenging. And, many weeks we played without any subs -- playing an entire game left my knees throbbing for about four days. So, when the regular city league season ended nearly two weeks ago, I told myself I was done.
Our team opted not to play in the state amateur tournament. I was ok with that, and with the fact that my playing career was over. Instead, I said, I will shift my focus and maybe coach my kids` teams. But when I watched LT`s story about the state am`s this weekend, I changed my mind. I remembered how much I truly love the game of basketball, and, for today anyway, I have decided I`m not too old to play just one more season.
So come November, there`s a very good chance I`ll be back on the court. In the meantime, I will take in a few games at this weekend`s state tournament. I will also play many games of PIG with my kids, and try to instill that same love of the game in them that I just can`t seem to get over.
Birthday Tradition
3-20-08
Today is my husband`s birthday. So, like we do on everyone`s birthday in our house, we had cake for breakfast. It`s a tradition we started a few years ago, and when I suggested it, my husband thought I`d lost my mind. But now, it`s a tradition he looks forward to. In fact, he actually had to remind me to get the cake out this morning.
The idea is not entirely mine. My parents should get the credit. When I was a kid, we had cake and ice cream for breakfast on a birthdays. We opened our presents then too. I never thought it was a big deal, it was just how we did things.
So a few years ago, I decided it was time to start the same tradition in my own family. Now my kids brag about this tradition to their friends. Lexi couldn`t wait to get to school this morning to tell her friends about her ice cream cake breakfast. She even took the Sponge Bob cake top for her show and tell, and practiced what she would say about it. Jake joked about going to school all sugared up.
This is the beginning of a stretch of cake-for-breakfast mornings at my house. In the next month, all three kids will celebrate birthdays. And you can bet I`ll make sure there is cake on the table, as well as a few presents for the birthday kid. Afterall, it`s their day, and the one day a year I won`t nag them to eat a healthy breakfast.
Sick of Being Sick
3-13-08
Never in my life have I wanted to be at work more than I do right at this moment. I am writing this from home, where I am not enjoying yet another day off. You see, for the past week my family and I have been battling the bug, or should I say "bugs." It seems we`ve had just about every illness that`s going around.
It started with Brad. The biggest, and I thought, strongest of us all, was the first to fall victim. He stayed home from work last Wednesday, suffering from a nasty head cold and cough. That night, I came down with a bad case of the stomach flu. A few hours later, baby Lizzy spiked a fever. The next morning, Jake had a tummy ache. Afraid he might have what I had, we kept him home from school, but sent big sister Lexi, who at the time, felt just fine. By the time school was out for the day, Jake was fully recovered, but Lexi came home from school and crashed on the couch, where she stayed until Saturday morning. I`m not kidding...she didn`t move that whole time!
Friday Jake went to school, and the rest of us stayed home. Lizzy had an appointment with our family doctor to get her ears rechecked (she`s been fighting ear infections for several months) so Brad took her, hoping to get some medicine for himself at the same visit. He did get an antibiotic, and so did Lizzy. Turns out she has a double ear infection!
By Saturday morning the big kids and I felt fine. Cabin fever was setting in and I had to get out of the house. I spent the day running errands and getting lots accomplished. But that afternoon, it caught up with me... I had the chills, body aches and overall "yuck" feeling. In a moment of desperation, I called my mom, mostly for sympathy, but like any good mom, she offered to come and help. So Sunday morning, she made a three-hour drive from her house to mine, to spend the day watching my kids so I could sleep. By this time Brad was feeling better, so he did laundry while my mom took care of the kids. After a day of doing nothing I finally felt better, just in time for Jake to feel worse. At the same time, my aunt/daycare provider called to tell us she was too sick to watch Lizzy the next day. So Brad stayed home with Lizzy and Jake Monday and Tuesday.
Tuesday night we thought things were getting back to normal. Daycare was going to be open again on Wednesday, both big kids would go to school, we would both go to work. I knew it was too good to be true. Jake spiked a fever of 104. I almost took him to the emergency room. Instead, I kept him home from school yet again and took him to the doctor this morning. Poor kid has Influenza A, which means no school for the rest of the week. It also means no work for me.
I can definitely think of better ways to spend my days off. Instead of spending my vacation time camping this summer, I`ll spend it at my house this week, taking care of my sick kids. Maybe while they`re napping, I`ll fold the laundry, wash the dishes, and sanitize my house so no one else gets sick!
Downs But Not Out
2-15-08
There are a few things in life I am really passionate about. They include eating supper together as a family, playing basketball, and being a good friend. In the past six months, I`ve learned how important it is to be a good friend.
You see, six months ago, my best friend had a baby. He is the cutest little thing I`ve ever seen..platinum blond hair and lots of it! I fell in love with him the second I saw him, and that love grew when I got to hold him. But, little Grady has Down syndrome and spent the first ten days of his life in the NICU.
The doctors were worried about infections, his heart, and more. But Grady is tough. He was able to go home on day ten. Since then, I`ve struggled to know what to say to my friend. We`ve been through so much together: marriage, babies, career changes, new houses. Now this. I worried that I wouldn`t say the right thing, that I would make her feel bad by telling her about my own perfectly healthy baby, or that I would offend her by not telling her those things.
In the end, I approached our friendship as I always have: with total honesty. I have listened to her triumphs and defeats, cried and laughed alongside her, and kept her and Grady in my prayers. I didn`t really do anything differently. I like to think I was just being a good friend.
But, the true lesson here is what we can learn about ourselves by being kind to others. Since Grady`s birth, I`ve learned how lucky I am to be the mother of three healthy children. I`ve also learned how someone who seems a little different is really not that different after all. I`ve known kids with Down syndrome before. Three years ago, my aunt started babysitting a little boy with Down syndrome. Kyle stole our hearts immediately. It`s been so fun to watch him grow and thrive. Now there`s Grady. When we went to the NICU to see him, my six year old said, "He looks like Kyle. Does he have Down syndrome?". We told him yes, and Jake replied "Cool. I like Kyle". End of conversation. Jake accepted him, and I pray everyone who meets Grady will do the same.
Since Grady`s birth, I`ve vowed to learn more about Down syndrome and to be an advocate for people like him. That`s why I`m doing a special series of reports on Down Syndrome. The series is called "Downs, But Not Out" and will educate viewers about Down syndrome. You`ll also get to meet Grady and his amazing parents, as well as other wonderful parents who have embraced the challenges, and the joys, of raising a child with Down syndrome. You can catch their inspiring stories starting Monday on First News at Five.
G.N.O.
2-6-08
G.N.O. That`s short for "Girls Night Out." It`s a Hannah Montana song, and a phrase I just learned last night, when I surprised my eight-year-old daughter with a "G.N.O."
Lexi is a huge Hannah Montana fan, so when I heard that the Hannah Montana 3-D movie was playing in town, I decided to take her. Lexi has been a huge help around the house, especially with her baby sister. She does it without complaining, so I thought she deserved a night away. I didn`t tell her where we were going, I just said she and I had plans. Once we were in the van, she finally asked for a hint. I told her we had to stop at the bank, and we were going to north Bismarck. She didn`t figure it out until we pulled into the mall parking lot, but even then she still wasn`t sure what movie we were going to. She commented on the Hannah Montana movie poster when we walked by, but it wasn`t until I bought the tickets that she realized what we were doing. The look on her face made it all worthwhile. I dropped nearly $50 at the theater... tickets were $18 a piece, and then we splurged on popcorn and licorice.
But spending the evening with my oldest daughter was worth $50. There weren`t many people in the theater, which made it even better. We sat in the back and Lexi gave me the play-by-play throughout the movie... I now know a lot about the Jonas Brothers, as well as the titles of every Hannah Montana song.
But even more important, I now know a lot more about my oldest daughter. Before, during and after the movie, Lexi talked my ear off. She talked about her friends, school, the movie, and her favorite songs. It was so fun to spend time with her, and only her. I have missed spending time with Lexi.
Since Lizzy was born, my attention has been focused on her and not so much on Lexi and Jake... It`s not that I`ve forgotten about them, it`s just that I don`t spend much time with them as individuals. But I`ve vowed to change that. No, we won`t spend $50 on a movie every week, but I will make it a point to spend one on one time with each of my three kids on a weekly basis. Because, as Hannah Montana says, "Life`s what you make it." I intend to make it great, for me and each one of my children.
Bridal Memories
2-01-08
It`s been a long time since I got married. Brad and I just celebrated 11 years of marriage. To be honest with you, I haven`t really thought about our wedding day since. I haven`t even watched the video.
I wasn`t a high maintenance bride. In fact, I was a pretty hands-off bride, because I was in my last semester of college in Moorhead, Minnesota, and my wedding was in Bison, South Dakota.
I let my mom do most of the work. I picked out my dress, my bridesmaids dresses and invitations. The rest was up to Mom. We ended up having a beautiful wedding, despite my lack of involvement.
I`ve never regretted not being more into the whole wedding planning thing. But every year about this time I get a little sad. For the past four years I`ve been hosting the Grand Style Show at the KFYR-TV Bridal Show. It`s so fun to see all the dresses and what`s popular from year to year. I even enjoy getting dressed up myself. It takes me back to my childhood, when my sister and I used to play dress up and pretend we were princesses going to the ball.
This year is no different, except for the fact that the excitement started a bit earlier than usual. This morning I got to do live shots from White Lace Bridal. We talked about trends in wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos. My, how things have changed since I got married 11 years ago! We also talked about our annual bridal show, which I am looking forward to again being a part of. If wedding bells are in your future, be sure to join me.
For all the details, check out the bridal show link on this website. One lucky bride will walk away with a $10,000 wedding prize package. And even if you don`t win, you are guaranteed to leave with lots of great ideas for your wedding. And, if you still need help planning for the big day, give me a call. I`m finally ready to plan a wedding!
Hero For A Day
1-25-08
My husband was a hero yesterday. If you ask him about it, he`ll deny doing anything extraordinary, but I beg to differ.
Brad was at work yesterday morning and when a co-worker hadn`t shown up for work by 10:30, he and another co-worker offered to swing by her house and check on her. Thank goodnes they did. Brad walked up to look in the kitchen window and found Mary and her son Bill passed out on the kitchen floor. He motioned for Travis to get out of the truck and help. The two of them managed to get in through the garage and call 911. Mary and Bill were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. I`m not sure about all the details, because Brad is still kind of shook up about the whole thing, but I think I`ve determined they were lying on the floor for at least four hours before Brad and Travis found them. They were flown to Minneapolis for some treatments, and last I heard both are doing ok and should fully recover.
When Brad called to tell me what had happened, I got goosebumps all over. Everytime I think about it, they return. I can`t help but think of all the "what-ifs"... what if they hadn`t gone to check on them? What if he hadn`t seen them through the window? What if they had waited just one more hour to go check? What if the same thing happened at our house? Of course, these are the kinds of thoughts that could drive a person crazy, but they are impossible thoughts to avoid. Thankfully, this situation has a happy ending, and I can`t help but think that maybe it was a good eye-opener for us all. Because of what happened to Mary, I think everyone of her co-workers now has at least one carbon monoxide detector and we`ll all be a little more careful this winter. But even deeper than that, I think we`ve all realized how fragile human life is, and how important it is we look out for each other. Without caring co-workers, this story could have had a much sadder ending.
So, after reading this blog, I ask that you do three things: First, please get a working carbon monoxide detector in your home, Second, be a good friend..by that I mean, look out for each other and treat others how you would like to be treated. And third, give those you love an extra squeeze, and make sure they know how much you love them. Because if there`s one thing I`ve learned this week, it is the true value of human life.
Another Year Older
1-21-08
Yesterday was my birthday. As I get older, my birthday has become less of a special day, and more of an ordinary day. That was my plan for this year too. I had hoped to just ignore it, but my family would have none of that. My parents were in town on Saturday and took us out for lunch. I thought that was plenty of celebrating, but my kids had other ideas.
At 3:45 Saturday afternoon, my eight-year-old daughter started begging me to take her to the Bead Chicks. I wasn`t sure how late they were open, so I made her call to make sure they were open. Once she found out they were open, she begged me to take her there. She had a gift certificate from Christmas, and I figured it was burning a hole in her pocket. So I loaded all three kids into the van and off we went. Once we got there, Lexi disappeared with her favorite Bead Chick and got right to work. I was busy helping Jake with his project, and didn`t realize what she was making, until she was done. My daughter spent her Christmas money to make a bracelet for me! I almost cried.
Later that night, the boys went to the Wizards game. Halfway through the game, my husband said Jake panicked... he remembered he didn`t get me a birthday present yet. So, the boys brought home a half bag of almonds for me. That was my gift from Jake. I ate every single one...they were delicious!
Yes, they are little things, and really, a half eaten bag of almonds? Nice gift. But it really is the little things that matter. As I turn a year older, I am reminded of what great kids I have. And that is the best birthday gift ever.
It`s a Small World
1-18-08
My eight-year-old daughter has been "collecting" money for several months. She had about $30 saved up, plus Christmas money from when we went to Fargo a few weekends ago. She carefully spent her gift cards, then after much thought, decided to spend her money on a Webkin.
Remember when I said she`d been "collecting" money? That means Lexi`s purse was full of coins. She had a couple of bills, but the majority of her money was quarters, dimes, nickels and lots and lots of pennies.
The nice lady at the store let her pay for her Webkin with all change, and very patiently helped her count it out. That took quite awhile, and I couldn`t help but notice the line starting to form behind us. After the change was finally all counted and the sale was final, I thanked the clerk and apologized to the woman in line behind us for taking so long. The woman in line smiled and said that was fine...then asked me if I was from Bismarck.
I said yes, just as she remembered my name and how she knew me. As we walked out of the store, I ran into two other people I knew.
We met up with my sister a few minutes later, who lives in Crookston, Minnesota. I told her about the funny things that had just happened, which led to a story about a friend of hers who has family in Bismarck, and how she was sure I knew them. She seems to think I know everyone. She may be right.
Bismarck isn`t really that big of a town, and between the people I`ve met through my job, my kids, the people I`m related to, and the people I know from high school and college, I often do feel like I know everyone. But it isn`t just me. My husband is just as bad. No matter where we go, one of us will run into at least one person we know. It`s become a joke between us, and recently it`s also become a joke here in the newsroom. Whenever a reporter is having trouble getting a hold of someone, or needs someone for a story, they come to me... Knowing that I`ll know someone. Most of the time I do, or at least know someone who knows someone else.
Maybe that`s why I love this city, and this state, so much. It`s nice to see familiar faces, even on that late-night trip to the grocery store. I honestly do enjoy running into the most random people in the most unusual places, and most of the time, I love to stop a chat for a few minutes. And in those few minutes, I bet we`ll find at least one person we both know... and I`ll have even more proof of what a small world it really is.
A New Pair of Sweats
12-27-07
I bought a new pair of sweats the other day. They were on sale, they were long enough, and I just really love sweat pants. Really. I could wear some variation of sweats every single day. Honest. I dress up for work, but the first thing I do when I get home at night, is put on a comfy pair of sweats (that`s followed closely with taking my contacts out!)
I blame baby Lizzy. She`s eight months old, and I haven`t lost all my baby weight yet (why does it get harder with each baby? Maybe that`s a topic for another time!) So while I wait for those last few pounds to disappear, I`ve fallen in love with my sweatpants all over again. I`d forgotten how much I loved them!
Apparently my obsession with sweats is no secret to those who know me best. The other day a friend told me she described me to someone as a "sweatpants and no make up" kind of gal. I took that as a compliment.
I`m sure my "style", or lack of it outside of work, says something about my personality. Maybe that I`m comfortable with my life, or maybe that I`m down to earth. Maybe it means I`m a slob that should take more pride in my appearance. Whatever the case, I don`t really care. What I do care about it making sure those comfy new sweats are washed and dried so I can change into them after work tonight!
Learning to Gamble...and to walk
12-19-07
These are exciting times in the Kerzman home. Baby Lizzy is learning to walk! She just turned eight months old and is on the verge of her first steps. She`s actually been on the verge for a couple of months, but just hasn`t taken those first steps.
We`ve been predicting what day she`ll take off, and last week I decided to teach the big kids how to gamble. So we`ve now got a pool going... my husband, me and the two big kids divided up the next 43 days on the calendar and paid five cents for each day we picked. Winner takes all...all $2.15.
We`ve had to set some rules as the days have passed. Rule number one, no coaching, especially not on a "your" day. That wouldn`t be fair. Every night before he goes to bed, my six-year-old son crosses off the day on the pool sheet, looks ahead to the next day, and glances at the jar that holds the prize money.
I don`t really care who wins. In fact, I`d be ok if Lizzy didn`t walk until she turns one. You see, she is my last baby (hopefully!). I don`t want her to grow up too fast.
I love the baby stuff and as soon as she walks, I know those baby days are over. But, if I were a betting woman, I`d put my money on New Year`s Day.
The Santa Secret
12-12-07
Christmas is almost here! My six year old son, Jake, reminds me of that every morning. This morning it was `Hey Mom..only 8 days until Christmas!` His excitement has rubbed off on me. I`ve always loved the holiday season, but I usually get a little stressed out this time of year. Not this year though.
My cookies aren`t baked, I`ve barely started my shopping, and my cards haven`t been sent, but I`m fine with that. I`ve decided this year I`m going to relax and enjoy this wonderful time of year.
It hit me last week as I sat at Jake`s Christmas program. Listening to all those first graders sing Christmas carols made me smile and also made me realize that life goes by too quickly. Seems like just yesterday we were watching our daughter`s first grade program..she`s now a third grader and has a different take on Christmas this year. I say that because Lexi no longer believes in Santa Claus.
I learned this last summer when the Tooth Fairy forgot to come. Lexi had carefully put the tooth in her tooth pillow, and set it beside her bed for the Tooth Fairy to easily find. The next morning Lexi came upstairs, carrying her tooth pillow and asking me what had happened. "I don`t get it mom.. I put my tooth in my pillow, but it`s still there..and there`s no money". That`s when I knew it was time to tell her the truth. I didn`t even have to tell her, she already knew.
She was just worried she wouldn`t get her money.
I promised her as long as she keeps the secret from her brother and sister, she`ll still get money for her teeth. Lexi left the room, only to return a few minutes later to ask me about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Again, I told her as long as she doesn`t tell Jake and Lizzy, she will still get gifts from them. That was the last time I thought about that day...until Jake got into the Christmas spirit and started asking about Santa.
Lexi is doing her best not to ruin it for him, but I can tell it`s hard for her. The other day as they were getting their coats and boots on I heard him ask her at least a dozen times if she believes in Santa. She didn`t say no, and didn`t tell him the truth, but I think she wanted to. At the same time though I think she felt pretty smart, because she knows something Jake doesn`t.
Listening to the two of them brought a smile to my face and made me realize I really do have great kids. And they`ve been good all year, which means Santa`s got some shopping to do. After all, Christmas is only 8 days away!
Giving Thanks
11-26-07
Every year around Thanksgiving I try to take a few moments and think about what I`m thankful for. My list usually consists of my family, my health, my friends, and so on. But this year, my list has changed a little.
Sure, I`m still thankful for my family, my health and my friends. I realize I`m very lucky and not everyone is blessed with good health or great family and friends. But this year, I am thankful for something else.
I am thankful for the milkman and the grocery store delivery guy.
We bought a new house last December, and that`s when I decided to try online grocery shopping. Talk about a dream come true! I write my menu for the week, then make a grocery list from that menu. I enter that into the computer, along with the items my husband and kids have requested. Then I pick the time I want my groceries delivered, and just like that, there they are.
It costs five dollars to have them delivered, but I figure I spend more than five dollars on items I don`t need when I actually go to the store. Same with the milkman. I started getting milk delivered when we moved. Twice a week, we have four cartons of milk and a loaf of bread waiting for us when we wake up. I`ve even ordered things like eggs, cheese and apple juice from the milkman. Again, I figure it saves money, because we`re not stopping at the store all the time.
So I`ll admit it, this Thanksgiving I`ll be thinking of the milkman and the grocery store delivery man when I sit down to my turkey dinner. Heck, without them, we wouldn`t have anything to eat on Thanksgiving!
Thanks Mom
11-12-07
I need to call my mom. I need to tell her how much I appreciate everything she did for me, and still does. I need to thank her for sitting through hundreds of basketball games, driving me across the state for some "important" event, and footing the bill for everything I wanted to do.
But even though I`ve been on my own for almost 15 years, she still takes care of me, and now she also takes care of my kids. This weekend she took my big kids to Crookston, Minnesota. She had promised my sister she`d watch her three kids so my sister and her husband could go out of town for the weekend. She asked my kids to go along, claiming she wanted the company on the drive.
I don`t believe that. I`ve driven with my children. They are not good travelers. If they`re not whining for a bathroom break, they`re fighting. But, I suppose as a grandma, you don`t let stuff like that bother you. Or maybe my kids behave better for grandma than they do for mom. Whatever the case, I need to call her and say thanks. You see, now that I`m a mom, I realize the sacrifices my own mom made for me. Yet, a few weeks ago, my mom told me I remind her of herself when she was my age. She too was raising three kids, working and trying to keep the house somewhat in order. I realize now why she taught us to do laundry at the age of 10!
My mom has helped me realize that motherhood has never been easy, and that some things never change. Moms will always put their children first. Moms will always stay up late to make birthday cupcakes. Moms will always love their children unconditionally.
While my mom has taught me a lot about motherhood, over the past several months I`ve also learned valuable mom lessons from all of you. Last summer I read an article that said of one thousand moms surveyed nationwide, 47 percent are the least happy person in their home. That nugget of information stuck with me, and sparked a massive project that I`m happy to say is now finished. I asked moms to complete a survey about motherhood.
The survey asked about happiness, stress, marriage, sex and even faith. I received over 200 surveys. From there, I assembled a panel of five moms to talk about the survey and about issues moms today face. I interviewed many more moms and medical professionals. So what did I learn? I learned that moms are stressed out, tired, busy, and sometimes we`re grumpy. But despite the Mommy Madness, most of the time we`re pretty happy.
Want to know more? The survey results are posted here on our website. And starting Monday on First News at 5:00, you can see my series of reports. Then, on Saturday at noon, tune in for my one-hour special, "Mommy Madness". This project has given me a new respect for all moms, and made me even more proud to be a mom. I hope it does the same for you.
Maybe after watching, you`ll want to call your mom too.
The Best Years of My Life
11-03-07
I dreaded turning 30. I had nightmares about the big 3-0 for months. The day before my 30th birthday, I had a new driver`s license picture taken. I figured that way, I`d be 29 for at least the next four years. I even trained my kids to tell people I was 29.
When the big day finally came, I had a huge party. It was one of the best nights of my life! I didn`t know I had so many friends! Still, I was sad about turning 30. For some reason, it felt like the end of my 20s was also the end of my youth.
Nearly three years later, I realize that wasn`t it at all. In fact, my 30s have turned out to be the best years of my life. I was reminded of this over the weekend, when I helped one of my dearest friends celebrate her 30th birthday. She was sad, and as we sat with her parents, brothers, husband and another friend, she asked when she got so old. We laughed, and told her if she`s old, we`re ancient, and assured her the 30s are great. I meant it.
Never in my life have I felt better about myself and more content with my life. Sure, I`ve gained a few pounds since my 20s, I find myself getting my hair colored more often to cover the grays, and my knees are pretty much shot, but I`ve learned to accept all that. The good things in my life far outweigh the bad: I`ve got three healthy children, a wonderful husband, a house, food on the table, a career I love, and friends to help me through whatever life throws my way. In my 20s I would have been looking for more. In my 30s I`ve learned to slow down and enjoy life. And I can honestly say, 40 doesn`t scare me.
The Rule of Threes
10-22-07
They say everything is better in threes. It`s a rule we follow in writing, decorating and in raising children. See, I just did it.
Now let me explain. One of the first lessons I learned in my career as a journalist was that good writers follow the rule of three. For some reason, things just sound better when there are three. Here`s an example: "In just one year, the couple celebrated ten years of marriage, took a vacation, and had a baby." Sounds good, doesn`t it? I have no idea why, but it does.
The same goes for decorating. Two pictures hanging on a wall look all right, but add a third, and suddenly you`re an interior designer. It just looks better.
Now, you`re probably wondering about the third thing I mentioned. What does raising children possibly have to do with the rule of threes? Everything.
I have three children, although I never thought I wanted three. I`m a middle child. My sister is two years older than me, and my brother is six years younger. I thought it was awful growing up one of three kids, especially with that age gap. I vowed I`d never put my own children in the same situation. Yet here I am.
I am mom to eight-year-old Lexi, six-year-old Jake and six-month-old Lizzy. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this! Minutes after Jake was born, I told my husband we were done having kids. We had a girl and a boy, a dog and a mini-van. What else did we need?
My husband (who has nine brothers and sisters) continued to try to change my mind. I finally compromised and agreed to a second dog. Two kids, two dogs, and a mini-van. The perfect family, right?
Nope. Less than a month after getting our second dog, we found out we were pregnant. Now don`t get me wrong, I love babies, and being a mom is the best thing that`s ever happened to me. I just really didn`t think we needed another child. Our house wasn`t big enough and I wasn`t sure we could afford it, not to mention, we`d been done with diapers and sleepless nights for so long. What were we thinking?
But, I quickly changed my attitude in April, when Elizabeth Marie was born. What was I thinking when I said I didn`t want another baby? I had no idea how incomplete our family was without her. She is the sweetest, happiest, most content baby ever. If she would have been my first baby, I would have had ten. But that of course, would have broken the rule of three.
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