The Nieces/daughters

The Nephews/Sons

More Nephews/sons

Still More Nephews/sons

So the holidays have come and gone, we enjoyed them immensely! Hope everyone had as great a time as we did!  Cookies were eaten, presents were exchanged, games were played, movies were watched, Mass was attended and love was shared! 

Jacob Bailey Schalick ~ Age 3

Three years! I can't believe it!

Three years ago, I was sitting in my car getting ready to coach my 4-year old soccer team.

Three years ago, I was really, really tired because I had woken up extra early forgetting that I hadn't change my clock back.

Three years ago, I stayed at school working extra late to try and get ready for my upcoming maternity leave, that wasn't starting for at least another week.

Three years ago, I put the car in park, reached to turn the key and heard an audible pop.

Three years ago, my water broke minutes before I was supposed to start practice with a group of 4-year olds but instead I was having a baby!!

It was a bit of a surreal experience. Every time I shifted my body in the car, fluid was gushing out. So, I called my doctor. I have to have two round of antibiotics before my babies can be born so she told me to head to the hospital. I called Stevie, who was up in a tree hunting. I called Joellen, who was headed out to Greenbranch for the boy's practice. I left Jackson at soccer with a kind parent who took over practice and I headed home with Caileigh. Dawn took charge of Caileigh and Stevie and I headed across the street to the hospital. I really only had about two contractions during that whole time.

We checked in at the hospital and got settled in our room. It took FOREVER for them to start the antibiotics. Mainly, because Stevie kept up a steady stream of conversation with our nurse. When she walked out of the room at one time, I told him you are forbidden to speak another word until the needle is in my arm and antibiotics are flowing in my veins!

We were settled by 6:30 or so and then the waiting began.

I had an epidural. It didn't work. It was extremely painful as compared to the last two times I had one.

Stevie left to go to a pre-election night party that we were all supposed to attend.

I had contractions.

My mom played cards.

Joellen tried to text. haha

They called the anesthesiologist back. It didn't work again.

I had to keep getting antibiotics. They were supposed to be 4 hours apart. I was dilating and they needed to get both doses in.

I had contractions.

A nurse came in to check the sheet of paper with the contraction record and the heartbeat record.

She came back with another nurse.

She came back with Dr. O'Flynn.

They were all quiet. They all stared at the paper. They all tried to tell me this is normal, but I had done this twice already. This wasn't normal.

Joellen started texting Dawn Truett: who told us what the nurses were going to say.
"Lay on your left side"
"We are going to turn down your epidural"
"We are just trying to get a good read on the baby's heartbeat"
"Ok, lift this leg"

"We are going to adjust the monitor"

"We are going to turn off the epidural"
"Okay, it is time to push."
"We really need to get the baby out"
"We need you to do your best pushing"

This is when I got a little scared. I pushed with Jackson for 3 hours, I pushed with Caileigh for almost an hour. I wasn't really good at the pushing part. The doctor looked tense, the nurses looked tense. They said the baby had to come out.

In under 15 minutes, he was out. It took about two sets of pushing!

8 pounds, 6 ounces

He was dark haired, with a short little umbilical cord that was wrapped around his leg. That was what was causing us all the problems :)

But he was here and he was perfect!

Happy Birthday Jacob Bailey Schalick!

November 4, 2008

November 4, 2011

We love you Bobo!!

Married? Yes married!!

So....the bro of the title is getting married!! We are all so very excited!  He is the baby of the group and the only boy so you might say he is spoiled.  But really we are all a little spoiled.  Spoiled not with material things but with the things that really count....love, support, kindness, forgiveness and laughter.  Over the next months we will help Sean and Chelsea prepare for the BIG day with our hands (getting the farm, the site of the wedding reception ready) and with our hearts (letting them know we love and want to be part of the new life they are starting together) !

Vacation!!

So we just got back from our annual Ocean City vacation (NJ of course...is there any other Ocean City?)!  We all stay in ONE house for seven nights and seven and half days.  We play cards, play dice games, eat, go to the beach, laugh, argue, go on Facebook, play WOW, play basketball, play Wi, go for walks, eat some more (!) go to WaWa, go to Blitz's, entertain friends, go to Dot's Pastry, go crabbing, go to Corson's Inlet, argue some more (!), go to Acme, go to Uncle Bills, go to get ice cream, laugh some more (!), argue some more (!) then we return to our home town!! It is a great time and helps sustain our family...we love our parents, our kids, nieces and nephews and each other...we are some of the LUCKY ones by striving everyday to make our own LUCK!! God Bless. 

Ode to Fathers (A Father's Day poem, by Daniel, age 16)

Once a year in June

We are just over the moon

We have four special lads

That are our "Dads"

They make us laugh and cry

Even when they don't try

So let us have our say

On your very special day

Grandpa, Dad or Jack

You talk a lot of smack

But you are the head of the table

and you hold the best label 

"Speaker Collins"

On to the next dude

He may be a little rude

Steven Schalick is our man

even though he ain't tan

Joe is the next in line

He is mighty fine

He rarely smiles or laughs

but he always works on our behalf

Sean is the baby of the four

he is the one we adore

He may seem kind of tough

but in reality he is full of fluff

These four men above

are the ones we love!

Thanks for all you do for us, love Daniel and bros

Our Dad!!

Our Dad is........

funny 

grouchy

smart

sentimental 

emphatic 

quick tempered

quick witted

loving

and

accomplished 

He taught us to be......

funny (well two of us at least)

smart 

emphatic

quick tempered

and

accepting

He is a GREAT Dad, the best around!

School's Out!!

When we were kids, school's out meant lazing in Palatine Lake, then Centerton Lake, then finally Elmer Pool!! It meant crepes and instant pistachio pudding.  It meant hours of playing canasta or spit.  It meant catching fireflies and toads.  It meant endless kickball games with our neighbors Bill and John. It meant homemade ice cream and drives in the bed of trucks signing "You Can't Ride in My Red Wagon" at the top of our lungs.  It meant sunburnt skin, skinned knees, stubbed toes.......but most of all it meant family, fun and love!!!!!