Daddy has to go to work?!?!?

BUT MOMMY'S STAYING HOME WITH US!!!!!  And we are going to play, and we are going to read stories, and we are going to color, and mommy and Catherine are going to play, and mommy and Gabbie are going to play, and mommy and Nikki are going to play, and then daddy is going to come home on his bicycle!!!!!!

It definitely makes it difficult to leave for work in the morning when your 3-year-old is walking you through every step of your morning.  "Daddy, are you going to go on your bicycle? Daddy, do you have to go to work?  Daddy, don't forget your food.  Daddy, you need to remember your bottle... Mommy...Mommy, I don't want Daddy to go to work.  Daddy, do you have to go to work?"  "Yes Sweetie, unfortunately I need to go to work, but we can play outside when I get home."  "And then we play outside and then you read me stories, and then we eat breakfast (what she really means is dinner), and then you play with Catherine too?  But Mommy, I don't want Daddy to leave.  Ride safe Daddy!  Don't fall off your bicycle.  I love youuuuuu"

But as Daddy, I do need to go to work - both to pay the bills, but also at times for my own sanity.  However, it has been not even a month and it is SUCH a blessing that Sarah is home with the girls.  Gabriella still got to see Nanny for an outing to the zoo which was great, but it is such a blessing for them to have the consistency of mommy, fill their day with fun adventures, and just be so connected.  I'm sure Sarah has pulled out a few hairs already, but she would agree that it has been so fruitful.

And this decision is enabling so many good things.  In a few weeks Gabriella will start a more regular curriculum for home-schooling, the girls have the flexibility to head up to Anacortes to help with Aunt Collie as Sarah becomes a secondary provider giving her mom some relief.  And I even get to benefit from those days too because I get a long ride in as I bike up to Anacortes then.

It has already been such a great decision, and sitting in meetings becomes so much easier when I get sent random pictures of the girls' day.

This morning Mommy made some blackberry french toast with the berries we picked from along the road last night.

Well I guess it's been quite a while since we last posted. Too busy living life to blog about it I suppose! Still, I think a little update is overdue.  But where to start?  Here's a little blurb to hopefully catch the highlights...

CATHERINE is now 10 months old!  She is developing such a fun personality and learning to hold her own with big sister.  She loves to clap and "dance" (bob up and down to music) and watch peek-a-boo.  She has her first two teeth, which popped through about a month ago.  She is standing on her own and has even attempted taking steps!!  She only gets one or two and then is back down on all fours, though she does walk along furniture.  She loves crawling around at the speed of light and has a special little grin she gives you when she wants you to get down on hands and knees too and play chase around the house.  She has also discovered the fun of opening and exploring the contents drawers and cupboards.  And pulling big sister's hair of course.

GABRIELLA is going to be 3 years old in less than a month!  She is blossoming into such a smart sweet and fun kid.  She is working on balancing on her scoot bike and loves exploring our neighbors' garden or playing Tag or Hide N Seek in the backyard.  She is still our little bookworm of though- almost the first thing out of her mouth every morning is "Read me a story please!" She enjoys looking through her books and reciting the many stories she knows by heart, or improvising new interpretations of the pictures.  She has also mastered her basic colors and is working on letter recognition and simple addition.

ANDREW just celebrated his 30th birthday last month.  He is currently training for one of his bucket list bike rides, the infamous RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day) which will be 152 miles with a total of about 10,000 feet of elevation gain throughout.  It is coming up in a couple weeks and he is feeling ready for it after some pretty spectacular and stunning training rides including Washington Pass in the North Cascades and a Whidbey Island loop.  He also recently had a promotion to Client Strategist at CBRE and is enjoying his new role.

SARAH is looking forward to  transitioning from part time pediatric clinic nursing to becoming a full time Stay At Home Mom starting next month.  She will still be employed by The Everett Clinic in a "per diem" capacity but only working very occasionally.  Additionally she is now contracted with the Dept. of Disabilities to care for her sister with special needs and will begin intermittently heading up to Anacortes with the girls to spend some quality time helping their aunt while giving some respite relief to Sarah's parents on whom her sister is otherwise still fully dependent.

SARAH AND ANDREW just reached their five year wedding anniversary last week and will be celebrating it with two days up in the mountains to kayak and hike.

NIKKI is going on four years old but still totally puppy.  She is very patient and loving with the girls though, despite all of the ear pulling, tail pulling, and general abuse that she takes from her human sisters.  She loves being the "clean up crew" following meal time now that there another little foodie in the house.

We are still here!

Where have you guys been?  Ok I guess I can't throw that one on you.  In fact, instead, due to the dormancy of this blog since Catherine was born, instead, I should ask "Is there anybody out there?"

That is right, we have been quite delinquent on posting to the blog, and even then, I could go on and on rambling about things, but then you wont even want to read it (assuming you are there at all).  Things have been going good.  Gabriella is getting more and more independent.  It is actually quite enjoyable to be able to go on doing what we want, without the constant interruption of "daddy read a book."  Instead, she is going off and coloring, reading on her own, entertaining Catherine, or being eager to help out.  But, don't get me wrong, Gabriella needs a lot of attention yet too and we love to give it.

Catherine is also growing up right before our eyes.  She is so eager to figure out how to push herself up, as she is already lunging forward trying to grab on to different things out of her reach.  Still working on the coordination of the bum and the head getting off the ground at the same time, but all in due time.  I'd say right now some of my favorites include:

• How much Gabbie can make Catherine laugh as they are in the bathtub together
• How Catherine watches her big sister like a HAWK.  Gabbie has a huge responsibility as Catherine already looks up to her quite a bit (figuratively and developmentally)
• How nurturing Gabriella is.  At first sound of Catherine waking up in the morning, she let's everyone know and runs upstairs yelling "Catherine's awake.  I'm coming sweetie pie.  Be right there."  And then you can typically find her pulling off Catherine's hat, turning on the light, and cradling her face saying "good morning sunshine.  How are you?  How you sleep?"
• How energetic Catherine is.  Put her in a jumperoo and she goes flying.  Hold on to her and her arms are flailing.  
• Amazement on how patient, loving, and giving Sarah is to her girls day in and day out

I really am blessed!

Incredibly beautiful and happy girl.  She is just now starting to get ticklish

One day after work, Gabbie and I went to a nearby park for some 1:1 fun time

She looks so grown up these days

This is from a while ago, but she is just so cute!

Gabriella is VERY eager to help these days.  We are making some granola here

Goodnight 2012, Good Morning 2013

It is so cliche, but as you get older, the years go by much faster.  I sit in my workstation at work and think of all that happened in 2012.  It seems like just a few months ago that I was cramming to get our approved RE Strategy pushed upstream to the CFO, and now we are right in the thick of updating a similar exercise.  I look back at early 2012, and honestly wonder what it was like and how we even survived or did anything without Catherine in our lives.  Some couples wonder when they will be "ready for kids" or what it would be like.  Well, I can say that the opposite is true once you have children - "how did we live without them" and moreover, WHAT DID WE DO WITH ALL THAT TIME!?!?!

It is fair to say that I think this Christmas was my favorite Christmas of my entire adult life.  Everything seemed just right and that it all fell into place perfectly.  Granted there is the added magic of seeing Christmas through the eyes of your children, but it was such a wonderful time with family and friends.  It would always be nice to see the entire family, but due to the distance, it just isn't feasible.  Technology helps that, and even thinking of changing it up is challenging - there is just something special about being home for Christmas.

And now as we usher in 2013, I'm sure that this year will fly by with the same amount of excitement.  I'm already eagerly awaiting late spring and summer.  Dreaming of some little excursions I want to take on 2 wheels, and most of all, I'm really excited to be celebrating the 5 most blessed and amazing years being married to my best friend.  Who knows what other excitement the year might bring.  But most importantly, as we head into the new year, it is important to keep what really matters in the center of life: God, family and friends.  The below picture was taken at Blessed Sacrament yesterday after mass for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Happy 2013!

We are now boarding the plane to LIVESTRONG

That's right.  In 8 hours I fly out of SeaTac, through Dallas to Austin TX.  Why go to Austin?  Well for one, if you are going to go to Texas, the only place I would EVER want to go is Austin.  But I'm heading to Austin for the Livestrong Challenge and 15th Anniversary of the Lance Armstrong Foundation/LIVESTRONG.

So despite the news today regarding Lance Armstrong and various contracts, that is what my bike looks like (well zipped up with some added padding) - I'm committed to going.  I'm committed to LIVESTRONG.  You may or you may not want to keep your support toward the Foundation - that is your choice. Here is my reason...

If you met me today, you might assume that I've been wearing lycra for a better portion of my life.  Truth be told, I've always thought the Grand Tours (TdF, Giro d'Italia, etc.) were amazing feats of strength and endurance, but aside from catching a snippet here or there, I never dedicated the time to it.  In middle school, I rode my bike 8 miles each day that it was above 40 and not raining (in Upper Michigan that was surprisingly more than just 1 week).  However, I wasn't a "cyclist" until more recently.  Sarah and I got married, I missed riding a bike, purchased one, and rode - a little.  My first boss at CBRE was really into cycling and got the idea in my head to commute to work.  I started to - a few times.  As you can tell, none of my interest in cycling even suggests the name Lance Armstrong.  He is an amazing athlete.  I still believe he is the greatest cyclist of all time (no need to digress on that one now), but he is not my "hero", he is not the reason I ride a bike, his name in the news is not a reason I would stop referring to myself as a cyclist.

October 31st is an odd day for me.  I'm hoping in the next few years it becomes different as the girls get excited about costumes and trick-or-treating.  For now, October 31 is no longer Halloween.  Instead it is the day that 3 years ago, I was cutting red and green peppers to make chicken curry for my sister (who was visiting with my godson) and Sarah, and my cell phone rang.  Dr. Tobbeh called, apologized for calling late when I had visitors, but wanting to give me news as soon as possible.  "Is Sarah around?  Does your phone have speakerphone capabilities?" "She is around, but no, I think it will be easier if I just let her know later - do we have results?" "Andrew... you have cancer.  The results aren't complete yet, but it looks like 99% this is Hodgkin's Lymphoma."  That one sentence changed our lives so much that I can vividly live that conversation and the following evening in my head to a T.

When I was getting ready to start chemo, Dr. Chen mentioned that there were some recent studies finding a correlation between aerobic exercise and response to chemotherapy.  "Are you a runner?"  "Only when I get chased, I hate running!  But I have just recently started to bike more because I was so happy with the weight loss."  I left that office committed to riding my bike.  I invested in a pair of rollers so that I could bike in the garage through the winter.  I rode as much as I could.  I imagined cancer cells in front of my tire so that I could run them over one by one.  By the time I went in for my second cycle of ABVD the side effects caused by the tumors went away.  I dont know if it was really strong drugs, all the prayers, knowing that Sarah was suffering through this more than me, because I rode my bike the last few days, or a combination.  Either way, I wanted to keep going.  It made me feel normal - much more normal than laying on the couch wondering if the next time I had to go the bathroom if it would still be pink and burn or if my urine was back to a normal color.  I can also vividly remember sitting on the front step, looking at a star-filled sky, crying to God and my grandfathers after only having the strength to bike 2.6 miles.

It was well into my treatment that I came across LIVESTRONG.  I was looking for an organized ride to set as a goal for after treatment.  I came across the LIVESTRONG Challenge Seattle and Patrick Chatfield.  Through many emails, volunteer events, and a few beers, Patrick educated me on what the Lance Armstrong Foundation did. The focus of those conversations was on Survivorship, on how the LAF helped eradicate the term "cancer victim" and replace it with "cancer survivor."  I'm NOT a victim.  The LAF does so much good work for people who are impacted by cancer - patients and caregivers.  Too much to explain here.  The website goes into great detail on the programs, Navigation, clinical trials, political advocacy, etc.  But there is something else you will notice as you look through...

There is VERY little reference (outside of the founder's story) about Lance Armstrong the cyclist.  Yes, the evidence against Lance right now is significant.  I have always hoped that he would forever be innocent.  I now hope that he can come forward and come clean about a dirty time in cycling's history; then again, the past is the past and that cycling history isn't his focus anymore.  What drives him, what motivates him, is how to continue to make changes in the world of cancer survivors. To continue the work he set out to make the cancer journey easier than what he navigated back in the late 90s - and to help as many people as possible before they run out of time.

I don't support LIVESTRONG because of Lance.  Is there a connection between the organization, my love for cycling, and he as the world's greatest cyclist?  Yes there is.  But even if he were to completely go away, I hope more than anything that LIVESTRONG can continue to do the work it is doing.  And every day I can, I will continue to ride my bike.  I will continue to ride it because I love it.  I love the adrenaline rush.  I love how it has helped me regain my physical form.  I love that it gives me the aerobic exercise I love and makes me feel normal.  I love that I can, because I was not a victim - I am a survivor who will ride on!

This weekend I will ride in several events.  I will ride in celebration of what I have accomplished, for the joy I have in riding, for the support and advocacy of LIVESTRONG, and for those who dont have the strength to even go the 2.6 miles right now.  Amazing people like Gary Bonacker who made this trip possible.

I am a survivor, not a victim, and I will continue to live strong!!

Catherine Bernadette

Welcome to the family Catherine Bernadette.  Our little girl was born on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 4:16PM.  Weighing just shy of 6 pounds (5 pounds 15.8 ounces) with a length of 18.5 inches, the best way to describe her is beautiful and perfect!

Wednesday started a little bit different than other days. Right from the morning Sarah could tell that her body felt a little "different." Upon hearing that, I asked if I should drive to work rather than ride my bike.  Sarah response was, "I'm not going into labor, but my body is getting ready for it, go ahead and bike."

The sentence that followed alarmed me a little more since I knew my schedule would have me in meetings in a location where my bike wasn't.  "Just make sure your phone is on you or you are on Gmail chat in case I need to contact you."  I was kept up-to-date throughout the morning as the contractions started to get a "bit more mild, but nothing to worry about - I don't think anything will happen until tomorrow."  Then just before our weekly Planning Team meeting I got a message wondering what meetings I had left, how important they were, and when I thought I'd be able to get home.  Of course, no meeting is that important.  We decided I'd attend this last meeting, and head home after that.  About halfway through the meeting, I reminded her I still needed to get back to our office, and Sarah asked me to leave so I'd have enough time.  "No need to rush, you can still bike, but I'd feel better if you got home."  Our friend Maria who I work with gave me a ride home anyway so that then I didn't have to shower and had time to get the dishes cleaned, fix up a few things, etc.  The midwives clinic told Sarah to hold tight as long as she could talk through the contractions - we were also waiting for Sarah's mom to come watch Gabriella.  "Alright, as soon as my mom gets here we need to head down."  I totally supported that since we were nearing the timing of afternoon traffic on I-405.  We left about 3:30 and still, I knew that the contractions were getting closer, but Sarah did not lead on how imminent this really was.  I knew Sarah really needed to use the bathroom, but that is all I thought when she said "thank God that light wasn't red."

I parked the car and we got into the hospital at 4:10pm.  That's right, 6 minutes before Catherine was born.  What an intense, but yet peaceful moment.  No worries about medical intervention, we didn't have hours upon hours of physically, mentally, and emotionally draining labor.  It was such a different experience than our labor story with Gabriella.  All of a sudden, it was just done; our baby was in our arms ready for her first bath - healthy as can be.  Her apgar scores were 8 and 9, but to Mommy and Daddy, she is a gorgeous, perfect 10 just like her big sister.  It all happened so quickly, that we had time to order dinner before we got moved to our postpartum room.

Catherine is a very mellow and peaceful girl.  She gets startled easily, but we've noticed that she is adjusting to that quickly; I think that is a response to Survival of the Fittest when you have an energetic older sister making a bit of background noise.

Gabriella is a fabulous big sister.  She LOVES to hold Baby Catherine and has been doing a good job being gentle with her.  She is still a toddler, but overall the transition to this point has been great.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have 4 of the most amazing and perfect girls in my life (yes Nikki is included in that group of 4).  But really, it brings me so much joy to look at, think about, and talk about my daughters.

Austin Bound!!!

I ride for Gary Bonacker!!  "Who is Gary Bonacker?" you ask.  Well let me tell you a bit about this opportunity and Gary.

As some of you may know, one of my annual rides that I enjoy is to journey to Bend, OR for the Tour des Chutes.  The TdC was developed by Gary back in 2005, 2 years after he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.  Gary made the trek down to Austin for the Ride for the Roses and thought that it was such a great celebration of cancer survivorship, and he wanted to provide the opportunity to others in his local/nearby area.  Since 2003, Gary has been through many ups and downs with his health.  This past year, he was not able to be as involved in the organization of the Tour des Chutes as he would like because of recurring seizures and the general ups and downs in one's health.  That being said, you'd never know that Gary was struggling in any way.  His attitude toward life is AMAZING and an inspiration!!

Last year, Sarah, Gabriella and I went down to Austin, TX for the Livestrong Challenge since it did not come up to the PacNW. My parents met us and it was a great experience.  Of course, I wanted to go again this year, but with Catherine's upcoming arrival, I knew logistically and financially it was not feasible.  However, when Catherine was born a little early, I did joke that "now she will be over a month old so I should be able to go to Austin, right?"  I was completely joking.

That was when Gary's incredible generosity fell into my lap.  The day after Catherine was born I received a message from Gary to give him a call because he wanted to send me to Austin for the Ride for the Roses and Livestrong would cover all of the costs.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?  The Ride for the Roses is held in conjunction with the Livestrong Challenge Austin and it provides some special VIP treatment for those who have raised over $10,000.  Through the TdC, Gary donates a significant portion to the local St. Charles Oncology, but has also sent a large amount to Livestrong.  Because of this, each year he receives an invitation to attend the Ride for the Rose.  Due to his health, but even more because of his generosity, Gary prefers to select one person from the ride to go and represent the Tour des Chutes in Austin.  When we were talking on the phone he said he likes to select a survivor who is a good person and a good example of survivorship and advocacy for what the community needs.  This year, as he unfortunately sat in the hospital, he began telling people about me.

Suddenly a trip to Austin seemed much more feasible.  Sarah, always being incredibly supportive, said that it was an opportunity that would be stupid to pass up.  Therefore, due to Gary's generosity (another representation of the great "Cancer Community" I'll get to go to Austin with all expenses covered and get a once in a lifetime experience - especially as Livestrong celebrates its 15th Anniversary.  There are some GREAT things planned for the weekend which include celebrities such as Lance, Ben Stiller, Maria Shriver, members of the professional peloton and more.

To say I'm excited is an understatement, but none of this would be possible without Gary.

Since I have this opportunity, I've transferred all of the funds that I have raised over to my friend Patrick (don't worry, it all goes to the same cause).  We want to help Patrick get to his $5,000 goal so that we can get more tickets for some of the great events.  Therefore, if you can help out, please extend your generosity to Patrick's fundraising at: http://laf.livestrong.org/site/TR/Challenge/Challenge?px=1006157&pg=personal&fr_id=1182

Thanks for all of your continued support!!

If you want to see more about the Ride for the Roses weekend or Gary's Tour des Chutes websites you can see them below:

Ride for the Roses:http://www.livestrong.org/take-action/team-livestrong-events/ride-for-the-roses-weekend

Tour des Chutes: http://tourdeschutes.org/