let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
- buddha



i think i posted this quote before but...it's perfect for how i feel at the moment.

first, we had an amazing time at disneyland this past weekend. family time. we arrived to the most magical place on earth saturday morning. smiling, excited, happy faces. we spent the entire day riding rides at disney (ryder is now too short for only two of the rides). we stayed the night at the disneyland hotel and watched the fireworks right from our room. then back to disney all sunday. our disney day closed with really sore feet and a parade that the kids loved, especially sky, who waved and said hi to each and every princess. (even though my kids wouldn't come near the people in character suits b/c they were too afraid.)

then back to life. kiele had thrown up last week (15 times in one day). i was down a couple days with some kind of head cold. monday, steve came home early from work, tired and with a stomach ache. i thought it was because his small pox shot, which he got in preparation for his iraq deployment. nope. he threw up and was in bed all monday and tuesday. yesterday morning, i took ryder to the MD b/c i thought he had croup. he did and got put on steroids. he's doing much better today but still two more days of steroids. then...last night was sky's turn. to puke. ugh. it's a weird, early virus season and seems to be hitting the schwedhelm house, in full force. bam. can you take this virus? how about this one? okay, you handled those two...how about this virus?

my big concern at the moment is ryder and/or i getting the stomach virus. we'll probably get it (odds have it). but i want it to wait until after the weekend. steve's parents arrive friday, to see steve before he goes to iraq. and i'm hoping and praying that we're all healthy, while they're here. we will see. but we're definitely taking our vitamins, etc.

life is just crazy at the moment. tons of running around...errands. and i have barely shot lately. i took a few photos at disney but not many at all. camera was bulky and hard to carry on the rides. i need to get back to my thought of carrying around a point and shoot for the every day. that would have been much better and i would have actually shot...i think. feeling the urge to shoot. but need time. and need to get my family healthy first.

in the end, i am thankful. really thankful. i think about what i am thankful for many times throughout each day. i think it keeps me focused in the right direction, thinking about the positives and not dwelling on the present negatives.

a shot of steve and the kids, in our hotel room, planning their disney day.