Patty Gasparino: That Moment

Sometimes in life we have those moments that stop us in our tracks and bring us to our knees. Without going into too much detail we had a health issue with one of our boys. It had gone on for months. We finally got to the point he was referred to a neurologist – scary for anyone. 

The day after his appointment he was sent for an MRI with and without contrast. It was a complete disaster – him not eating, the machinery, they immobilized his head – he was scared, tired and hungry. Then he had a reaction to the dye and we ended up in the emergency room. Up to this point I had no fears - no gut reaction to what had happened. I had no reason to think he wouldn't get better. 

Until an ER doctor discharged us and leaned over me and said, “You should call your neurologist tomorrow, your son has a 5mm spot in his parietal lobe.” 

I remember asking him what that meant – he said he couldn't tell me. I can tell you the hallway froze around us. The air was drawn from the room. My legs moved in slow motion. I am not sure how I made it to my husband who was waiting for us. 

Nothing in life prepares you for this – nothing. 

I will tell you we spent the worst night of our lives. Thoughts of our children, how our lives would be forever altered, how their lives would be altered, how our hearts would break. 

Neither my husband nor I slept. Our gift came in the morning when we received a call from our pediatrician saying the ER doctor was mistaken our son had a NORMAL anomaly. I practically fainted from happiness! 

I can only tell you to hug your children, tell those you love how much and pick up the phone and call that friend you haven’t spoken to – life changes in a breath. 

Be grateful to feel the sun and rain, laugh and cry, because it is a gift to be alive every day. 

I am grateful to be given the gift of another day and I say a prayer for those who weren't.

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: Grateful for Tessa

We jumped in and adopted a rescue dog!

She is a joy to have around.

Much like small children puppies are consuming.

Puppies demand your attention.

Puppies make you slow your day down.

Puppies have you look at the little things as you take a walk –

for the fifteenth time.

Everything is pretty awesome and

you’re excited to meet everyone when you’re a puppy.

She is so grateful to have a forever home.

We are so grateful to have her.

She is a little clown and diva rolled up in a delicious furry mix.

I am grateful after 4 boys to be able to stuff something into a tutu!

What does your pet do for you?

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: Lost and Found

I spent much of the holiday break catching up and trying to start the New Year organized. My husband helped me with the Christmas ornaments and I figured since most of them were out of the attic I would do some organizing. I dove into some boxes I had put up there when we moved about five years ago!

Now before the boys were here I was a junker and antiquer. I love flea markets and garage sales. Once the boys arrived – well it’s a totally different way of life. Most days it seemed there was a goat and octopus loose somewhere in the house. When the twins came we didn’t have lamps or put pictures on the walls. One year the Christmas tree even stayed out on the front porch of our very tiny home and we looked at it through the window! Many things were given away – mostly for their own safety.

 

I am different too…..but some things are still the same. My love of things with a past – I didn’t grow up with family so things with a past appeal to me. I don’t have a Grandma to pass things down but I imagine the love and care it took to preserve some thing and I imagine they have been waiting for someone to find them.  I still love birds and items with an old fashioned charm!

Imagine my surprise at finding this sweet little music box I had thought long gone! It’s not expensive or particularly valuable but I just adore it! It reminds me of another time and for that I am grateful. It’s gracing my craft room now and puts a smile on my face every time I see it.

Do you have a small (or large?) memento that brings you right back to a time and place? ..... a picture of a stolen moment? ... a movie ticket from a first date?... a pair of baby shoes that make you smile? I am grateful to savor a memory I thought lost!

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patricia Gasparino: How to Celebrate Christmas Like You're Eight

Starting in September ask several times a day,

"How many more days until Christmas?"

Plan all the gifts you’re going to make.

(That’s a boat up there!)

Tell everyone you know, "If you don't listen I'm telling Santa!!!”.

Wake up at 4:30am – realize you are the first up!

Run in to your parent’s room screaming, “It’s Christmas!”

Your parents refuse to move…run to the calendar and figure out its October 23^rd.


Make baby Jesus out of Legos.....

Put him to bed in the Fisher Price barn.

Use Transformers for the Three Wise Men.

Mary and Josephs preferred ride is the purple

My Pretty Pony.

Ask your parents if baby Jesus wore Pampers or Huggies.

Oh look its Thanksgiving!

Uncle Bob asks you your favorite part of the turkey – answer

“The part tied with string that looks like a log.”

Have your Uncle ask your mother which part that is

 to which she replies “pork roast”.

Use every Thanksgiving opportunity to tell everyone

what they should be getting you.

Smile at your mother …. a lot.

Bring your Dad a soda…… smile at him too.

Pray for snow.

Pray for a pony, puppy, lizard, hamster, turtle and/or potbellied pig.

Decorate the tree with the proper ratio of ornaments –

34 ornaments in the “lower left” / 3 “up high”.

Wait by the Advent calendar for your ½” piece of chocolate.

Scheme how to eat the other days early.

Help your little brother get his.

Make cookies.

Drink marshmallows with a little hot chocolate.

Put a handful of marshmallows in your pocket

that your mom will find later in the dryer!

Make a gingerbread house.

Immediately eat the house you just made.

Be the first one up on Christmas Day.

Know that you have the most beautiful tree in the world.

I am grateful my children get to enjoy the season.

I am grateful to make cookies and have an eight year old.

I am grateful to enjoy the little things.

What was your inner eight year old grateful for?

Don’t forget to enjoy the little things!

XOXO, Patty : ) 

(This post was inspired by *this post* (http://yesteachercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-how-to-bring-your-childhood.html)   about how to enjoy the *Holidays* like a child – it made me want to expand upon the topic!) by Sarah at Yes Teacher Crafts! 

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: I Love My School Nurses

I love my school nurses – having four kids I almost feel I should have these poor ladies for Thanksgiving dinner to show my appreciation.

I thought the least I could do was give them a good laugh.

Dear Mrs. School Nurse,

 

I am thinking it might be useful to begin using a "Gasparino Alert System" much like Homeland Security. 

Let's call it *G.A.S.* for short.  

This will statistically average out the chances of an actual Gasparino attending school or visiting the nurse on a single day. 

This will replace the "Stuff on the Bus and Pray" system as it has been found to have too many flaws and be ineffective.

 

• Red = Gasparino actually sick and staying home
• Red Orange = Gasparino may or may not have - rashes/coughing/upchuck noises from bathroom ( possibly getting sick - but could be faking)
• Orange = Gasparino may have symptoms such as "my finger hurts" and "there's a red spot on my leg"
• Orange Yellow = Gasparino uses statements like "I didn't get any sleep my brother coughed on me all night" and "The racoon in the garbage kept me up"
• Yellow = Gasparino forgot lunch money at home
• Green = Gasparino Mother is going out within a 50 miles radius and is no way making that @*&%#$@ drive to pick any of them up today

 Based on this system today would be a:

 *Red Orange* day (I was sick yesterday and am trying to get another day out of it subcategory) 

 Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this new system.

Sincerly,
 Patricia Gasparino 

Yes it's all true and yes I sent it.

Nurses need to laugh too.

 I am forever grateful to the brave ladies who man the front lines and deal with everything from a swallowed tooth to a diabetic coma and everything in between. They keep my kids safe...and most often they keep them in school!

Have you hugged your school nurse today? 

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: This Little Boy

I've had a secret for about three weeks. I had only told a handful of people . It was a REALLY good secret. It was a secret about this little boy.

This little boy started out his life half of a pair. He was the first twin born and his brother had sat on his head most of 3 months. He still has a bald spot to prove it.

This little boy was the easiest baby. He was pretty peaceful and loved his blue blanket and any stuffed animal he could get his hands on.

This little boy was a timid toddler. He didn't like grass or bugs or loud noises . He had a hard time finding his voice but was always sweet and gentle and easy going.

This little boy didn't start out enjoying school......at.......all.

This little boy struggled........a lot.

 He didn't learn his colors when other little boys did.

 He didn't learn his letters or his numbers right away either.

Every day he struggled.

Luckily, this little boy has been blessed with the spirit of persistence.

This little boy has been blessed with the most amazing teachers and paraprofessionals I could have asked for....such a gift. My words cannot possibly convey the gratitude I feel for what they have done for this little boy.

This little boy who had a hard time finding the right words.

This little boy won a writing contest. One of two little boys in his entire school. 

Today his short story was made into a play.

This little boy glowed with pride .......... and my heart nearly burst with it.

This little boy has shown me persistence does pay off.

This little boy is pretty amazing.

I cannot express the gratitude to the people who have worked with Brian from day one . He has come such a long way from where he started and has been so blessed to have so much help along the way. To the amazing staff of Meeting House Hill School and Consolidated School - We are forever in your debt!

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: Directional Guidance

During one of our road trips we all got to meet the other woman in my husband’s life - his GPS. He has to travel to a lot of different job sites during the day hence she appeared to help him out. Apparently he can program it in all sorts of languages and accents but they are all “women". This is probably old news to the technically savvy but what do I know?

 I travel the same circle everyday so have no need of such devices.

Mr. Bus programmed the device, clicked her into place and we were off.

 In about 2.5 seconds the questions started.

“Where is that voice coming from?”

“Who is that talking?’

“Is she telling Daddy what to do?”

“Isn't that Mommy's job?”

“Is "she" putting Mommy out of work?”

“Moooooom....are you out of work?”

“Was she ever in work?”

“We are her work.”

“Is Daddy paying her?” 

“I think he owes me money!”

“Why is dad giving YOU money?”

“I don't think he's paid Mom in years.”

This all took place in the .4 miles it took to get to the end of our road! The rest of the trip went the same.

“He didn't turn!”

“She said to turn!”

“He's not listening!”

“He doesn't always listen to Mom.”

“TURN!!!”

“...are we lost?”

“..Are we there yet?”

“DID YOU EVER TURN?”

“I'm hungry.”

Seriously - I am glad I don't need a GPS - I somehow sense it would not make my life any easier!

I am very grateful God saw fit to give both of us a good sense of humor.

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You can learn more about Patty on her blog, My Life Under The Bus

Patty Gasparino: Grateful

When my boys were very little I had 4 under 5. I was grateful they were healthy. I was also very tired and many days only grateful for sleep. The year my oldest was 5, my twins were 3 and my littlest was 1.  I was particularly exhausted. Many days were really about survival. One particular morning I had locked myself in the bathroom to splash my face and brush my teeth.

Like any other day Justin (who was three) knocked at the door,

 ”Mama!!! Mama!!!”

 Let me state here my twins were speech delayed - they loved cooing to each other but had trouble with everyday words. I breathed deeply and probably was a bit cross,

 ”I’ll be out in a minute!”.......

 Was a minute too much to ask???.........

“MAMA!!! MAMA!!!”

 He was getting cross with ME!

“Just a minute – please!!!".

 Justin wouldn't take no that day, “MAMA!!! POISON!!!”......

My heart sank - I knew immediately something was terribly wrong.

I flung open the door and Justin raced ahead to our dining room where Devin (who was one at the time) sat in the corner eating out of a bottle of Ibuprofen. As I grabbed him and pulled what I could out of his mouth I could feel my entire body shaking. I must have gone on automatic pilot as I rinsed out my baby's mouth and dialed poison control.

My prayers were answered that day by the lovely lady on the other end. I knew the bottle was almost empty. I had pulled 5 or 6 out of his mouth. He would have to have eaten over 25 to require a trip to the emergency room. Did I mention this was a few days before Christmas that year?

The nurse on the other end said, “Merry Christmas Mom - he'll be ok.". Other than a bad diaper or two he was fine - I however - was a mess.

I will forever be grateful for a three year old Justin, who barely spoke, but on that day knew the word "poison" and knew he had something important to say. I remind him now and again that he saved his brother from getting very sick. Of course these days they fight constantly and he might like to forget!

What are you grateful for?

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You can learn more about Patty Gasparino on her blog, My Life Under The Bus