So much accomplished

The past 72 hours has me in overdrive. Not only was I able to accomplish so much, I’ve been able to participate in watching my boys’ accomplishments. I’ll just randomly start:

• I ordered my new Mustang to arrive in 2-3 months. 
• I got to watch Giuseppe’s first high school homerun of the season during a tournament over the weekend. 
• I got to watch Rocco score a goal in hockey. 
• I enjoyed Advenger: Endgame with the family
• Boys all got haircuts. Giuseppe’s flow got a few inches chopped off. 
• Vincenzo got new insole to help his flat feet. 
• I’ll finished the night watching GoT’s much anticipated epic battle episode. 

2019 update: Until I die, I'm livin'

Well, I guess it is better late than never, right? Let me loop you in on our family.

Giuseppe

I can't believe it's true... Giuseppe has two trimesters under his belt as a high schooler. Everything is going smoothly. He's had two challenging trimesters with AP Chemistry, Biology, Algebra II, Spanish, English, Orchestra, World History, online Health, etc., I suppose we can account his grades being so good because:

• He knows how to tackle tough subjects and has been groomed to keep his academic focus
• He didn't have any sports to interrupt his train of thought since he was recovering from his September knee reconstructive surgery.

Maybe it was a combination of both, but I am proud of his focus and grades.

Giuseppe has been cleared with no restrictions, which is perfect timing for baseball season. His freshman year he didn't participate as a player in either football or hockey. It was tough mentally, but he needed the time to recover properly. According to his surgeon, his knee is better than the knee he was born with because he "built it."

Giuseppe continues to play the cello and piano.

Vincenzo

Speaking of cello, Vincenzo has decided to play the cello for his school's orchestra. We currently have two cellos in the house until Vincenzo grows a few more inches to share Giuseppe's full size cello. It's fun to see Vincenzo practice and get so passionate about his music, both piano and cello.

Vincenzo has been practicing with his new baseball team, the Saline Hornets Blue. This is the first year I have all three boys in the Saline baseball program. He is getting to know his new teammates with all the winter indoor practices. I expect to see a very successful year come this spring.

School is going well. Vincenzo reads at such a high level that the librarian has gotten him books that she never had to stock before. Next year Vincenzo goes to middle school, so the book selection should be easier to sort through for him. 

Next month Vincenzo gets to go on the 5th grade camping trip for a few nights. Andy will be a chaperone, as well.

Some things will never change... Vincenzo still is a gamer!!

Rocco

So many milestones to report; Rocco, my last, is having his final year at Woodland Meadows this year. This is also the last year Rocco will be riding the bus with his brother. Next year he will be taking the bus without any big brother while Giuseppe drives Vincenzo to school.

He has been very busy with football, hockey and baseball and of course, gaming with his two brothers.

Rocco plays for Livonia Knights in hockey. He is making friends, learning hockey at a new level and is having a lot of fun.

Rocco makes friends very easily, which is why all the teams he has been on in the past have been easy for him to mix into. Baseball has been going on with indoor winter practices. This will be another fun season as Andy as his head coach.

Andy

Andy continues to work from home working & travel as needed for Eurofins. He also manages to coach Rocco's baseball team as well as be Vincenzo and Giuseppe's number 1 fan in the stands. This year will be hard for Andy since this will be the first year he is not Giuseppe's coach in baseball. Andy personally groomed Giuseppe to be the athlete we see in both football and baseball.

We finally have a basement bathroom, thanks to Andy. Andy oversaw all efforts as well as designed and selected all elements of the bathroom.

Same is true for the vacation we took at the beginning of 2019 in Florida. Andy did all the planning and got all the nitty gritty worked out on behalf of all of us. The next phase of "vacationing" for us is all the many many baseball weekends. Again, Andy is keeping that all in order for us all.

Sonia

I'd like to think that at any point in my life (past, present and future) that I am truly enjoying my life. Until I die, I'm livin'. I don't look back and say "those were the good ole days." I don't look forward and wish I could get there faster. Life is moving too fast, so I take each day and try to enjoy it for what it is.

Life is good. I have three boys and a husband that I am blessed to have that make me laugh and keep me busy. I am the queen of the castle!!

My work is satisfying, yet challenging. I'm glad I found marketing because now I identify myself more as a marketer than I do as a journalist. That is a turning point for me. I had been a journalist for nearly twenty years and just recently I have started to see myself as a marketer.

I'm still doing dance fitness on a regular basis. In 2018 I taught over 200 classes. I'm on track to do about 100 more in 2019. I found my hour and I have no plans on slowing down anytime soon.

Vacation 2018/2019: Florida

Beach Day

We arrived last night in Fort Lauderdale for the first official day of our 2018/2019 family vacation. We typically don’t vacation and certainly don’t vacation this time of year. Our vacations consist of hockey/baseball tournaments with a dozen other families throughout the spring/summer and winter/fall. I’m not complaining. Actually, quite the opposite. I look forward to hotel tournaments and the great memories we have been building over the many many years.

However, this year is different. Not necessarily in a good way, but different nonetheless. Giuseppe has been an injured athlete since September when he underwent a major knee surgery. It has taken him out of both football and hockey. He’s on the path to a strong full recovery, probably sometime in January, just in time for baseball training season.

After much consideration we saw that Rocco’s schedule had one leagues game. We don’t like to miss games, particularly league games, but we made the decision to take this family vacation. (Good luck, Knights!!)

So, the kids aren’t getting any less busy and their time living with Andy & I are quickly coming to an end. Giuseppe is 15, Vincenzo is 11 and Rocco is 9. Andy and I are doing our best to truly capture and embrace their youth.

I’ll do my best to keep this blog up-to-date over the next seven days and add some pictures along the way.

Day 1: arrival day. Watch Cotton Bowl game.
Day 2: beach day.
Day 3: Magic Kingdom
Day 4: Universal Studios
Day 5: The Keys
Day 6: The Keys
Day 7: The Keys
Day 8: return home

Rocco

Rocco

Rocco

Vincenzo

I'm reluctant to announce that I am now officially part of the Michigan community

Well, today I officially can call myself a Michigander. I moved to Michigan in 1999 straight from earning my undergraduate degree. For many reasons Michigan was a foreign world to me. To name a few:

• Bottle returns
• Embracing the winters
• Hockey
• Unions
• Fordz (vs Ford)
• Water access everywhere

But today I did what every true Michigander has done... I hit a deer. I guess I'm officially in the club after 19 years. I remember when I moved here I had someone tell me I wasn't truly part of Michigan until I hit a deer. I thought, "What a sick thing to say to someone who just moved here."

Anyway, I hit the brakes HARD, harder than I ever have. There was certainly contact but the deer ran off into the woods. My car appears to be fine. 

And the story continues:

I went to instruct a Jazzercise class. I was a little razzled from hitting a deer just 20 minutes prior to the first customer walking in the door. I made a quick announcement during my opening routine that I just hit a deer. Then for the next 60 minutes I was in my happy place, doing a typical Interval Dance Mixx. 

After class I had a few customer come up to me to ask if I was ok. "From what?" I thought. I honestly forgot what had happened to me just a mere 90 minutes ago. And that, ladies and gentleman, THAT is why I do Jazzercise. For one hour each day all my worries and stresses are gone. This is true whether I am an instructor or a customer. 

Some more entertaining news to share:

Andy, for the first time, came to my Jazzercise classes yesterday. He came to assess some electrical work at the center but also said he was going to give my class a try since he sees me prancing around the house shaking my booty nonstop while I am learning new routines. The ladies in the class welcomed him. After class he said what every new customer says, "That was harder than I thought but a lot of fun." He also said the person on stage (aka ME) was a different person than he's seen before.

Family update: September 2018

Giuseppe

Today Giuseppe went to school without his crutches. He still has a brace on his leg, but he is able to walk without crutches. Pretty big milestone. His physical therapy is working amazingly. He can bend his leg at over 90 degrees. We are very happy with his progress.

Giuseppe has challenged himself with Honors Biology and Intro to AP Chemistry this trimester; he is very much an achievement oriented young man. He lives by the same motto as his father, "Work hard, Play hard."

Vincenzo

Over the weekend Vincenzo had his best football game to date with a few solid tackles and in many plays. It was nice to see Vincenzo involved and happy. Since his physical therapy started over the summer to correct his flat foot & to loosen his hip flexor, we have seen huge improvements in his run and stance. 

Vincenzo also had baseball practice with Rocco's team yesterday where he got an opportunity to get his swing dialed in with the increased movement of his hips. A few bombs were hit, according to Andy. We're excited to see how this plays out with his new Saline Hornet team. (BTW: he sported a Saline hat yesterday for the first time and his smile was cheek to cheek.)

Vincenzo continues to read the Wings of Fire series of books. Without any pressure to read, we will find him enjoying hours of reading whenever he needs a break from life. 

Rocco

Rocco had a busy weekend with two hockey games and a football game. Unfortunately he didn't win any of the games, but not without full effort from him and his teammates. Once the hockey team starts their official regular season, I have no doubt that they will be fine. 

Rocco absolutely loves being an athlete. LOVES IT!! 

This past weekend Rocco was named Assistant Captain.

Rocco also had his first fall baseball practice with his new 9U Saline Hornet Team Sunday in the humid heat. He was happy to see his baseball friends. It's nice to see this unique friendship start so young, which will develop to a strong brotherly bond as they go into middle/high school together. 

Grandma Lisa

We celebrating my Mom's birthday this weekend. She had a lot going on in the day, but stayed very positive and happy about being surrounded by her three grandsons. It is good for her mind to be able to attend all their sporting events. Mom has been staying with us in Ann Arbor for about a month now.

Her Alzheimer remains at the same level as when she was first diagnosed. She mostly has good days, as long as she has relevant interactions with those around her. Andy does an amazing job including her in small tasks throughout the week. Giuseppe, Vincenzo and Rocco are very tolerant & patient of her repeated questions. 

Andy

It's been about two months since Andy started his new job with Eurofins Lancaster Labs. There were virtually no hiccups in the transition to this job. Similar to his previous job, he works from home and travels for client visits. 

Andy coaches Rocco's baseball team and is one of the assistant coaches for Vincenzo's football team. For the first time ever, he is not involved as a coach for any of Giuseppe's teams. Andy's job is done in regards to Giuseppe as he enters his high school career.

Sonia

I recently passed my Jazzercise assessment, which was weighing on me for months since I passed the audition in November. I am now regularly doing two classes per week of a LO format and two classes at a High format. Both formats are challenging workouts. I'm having a blast and wish so deeply that I had been doing this 25 years ago. 

Once upon a time, back in the 90s I use to do this exact thing in my parent's basement for hours and hours on end. I called it aerobics, but in reality it was fitness dancing. 

I remember my mom would get so mad at me and say, "You are addicted!". Maybe I was. Maybe I am. It would be HOURS per day that I would be in my "aerobics" room that was exclusively dedicated to me. My parents, brother and sisters were very respectful not to challenge the ownership of this hideously decorated patriotic room. (I wish I had pictures. Seriously, the carpet was red, white and blue to match the wallpaper. OMG!)

If only I had known about Jazzercise. If only I had known... 

Thankfully now in my 40s, I'm back to doing what I love with the full support of my family.

My mother has Alzheimer’s

My mom has Alzheimer’s. There, I said it… my mother has Alzheimer’s. She physically appears fine, but her brain isn’t functioning as it use to, her thoughts aren’t nearly as sharp and or course her short-term memory is about 2-3 minutes. It can be hard and exhausting to be a caregiver for her. (I praise my husband and brother for being her #1 caregivers.)

My mother needs us now more than ever. It is hard. It is so hard! But I have to remind myself that her disease isn’t any different than what took my father 10 years ago. My dad suffered a long and difficult battle with emphysema. 

When I get frustrated with my mom for her unprovoked mood swings or for asking the same thing hundreds of times a day I have to remember it’s not her... it’s her brain, an organ that is shutting down. Similar to my father, when he was down to 20% oxygen intake, I never would have gotten mad at him for not getting more oxygen in his lungs… it was his lungs, an organ that was shutting down.

So, I have been pro-active today to help me in my future because I don’t want my children to have to do what I have done for both of my parents. I don’t smoke, I exercise regularly and I’m focusing on preparing better meals for the family.

I now know I am 30% chance more likely to get Alzheimer. 30 PERCENT!!! That’s terrifying. Other than living a healthy and active life, studies show there isn’t much else I can do to prevent a future diagnosis. But I refuse to accept that. So I exercise my brain the best I know how to: I read, I think, I work and I challenge myself to solve problems, I listen to music, I try new things, etc.

Side note: My biggest plan to beat this is choreographed dance. Yep, you cracked the code… I am a certified Jazzercise instructor because selfishly it’s the push I need to beat this disease. More on that later.

In the meantime, I will continue to care for my mother, as I continue to work full-time with a demanding career, with a husband that travels 2 weeks a month, with a very active family of three boys who keep things hopping. I do this because one day this could be me. THIS COULD BE ME!!! If Alzheimer decides to invade my brain, I don’t want my boys to abandon me when I need them most. Life is hard and caring for a parent with Alzheimer is a bitch!

Vincenzo helps Grandma exercise her brain as he teaches her to play chess.

I don't know everything and neither do you

There is one person I can't have a conversation with... those that know everything, aka "know-it-alls." The people I have the most respect for are those that ask questions, those that want to learn and those that can admit they don't know everything.

A conversation with me come to a fast halt once I realize I'm talking to someone who knows everything. Why would I continue to engage in the conversation? They already know everything. They clearing have no intention of listening to me or learning my stance, so I don't waste my time.