Spring Soccer

I have SO much catching up to do!  Hopefully I can get some things caught up in the next few days.  Thank you to everyone who has been checking in on the blog for health updates lately.  I'm sorry there haven't been any:)  Things are going really well still.  My ear is beginning to clear finally so I don't feel so off balance (yay!).  My energy level is returning.  The trick has been not overdoing it before I realize I've overdone it.  Then I end up with a headache and major exhaustion.  I have to keep reminding myself that it hasn't even been three weeks yet.  My incision seems to be healing nicely but after I sent the surgeon a picture of it, he decided we should wait another week before removing them.  I still have a bit of facial weakness which I'm not sure I mentioned in my last post.  It hasn't been a huge deal so I don't really notice it unless I'm laughing or smiling big, and then I really feel it.  I'm not sure exactly how I appear to others when that happens, but to me it feels like my face is totally lopsided.  If I smile big in the mirror, I don't really notice a huge difference.  The doctor does think that this will eventually improve as well.  I've also had a few twitches on the left side which can be alarming since the surgery was supposed to fix that, but the doctor said it's VERY common and can continue for up to a year or more after surgery.  I guess it can take those poor nerves awhile to heal.  I'm also having a few right sided twitches which could still be residual crossover spasms from the left side, or more likely the beginning of hemifacial spasms on the right side.  I'm hoping not, but even if it is, right now it is so mild that it will most likely be years before I would need to address it by having another surgery.  I'm still hoping that they'll just go away completely along with the left sided twitches.

And now on to catching up!  Lynnsey and Spencer both participated in Spring soccer this year and had a great time.  Both of them continue to make great strides.  Lynnsey was one of the best players on her team and has amazing stamina.  She played midfield most of the time and never seemed to get tired even when the temperatures soared and the other players were dragging on the field.  She is so much fun to watch--almost graceful in her movements.  

And Spencer's games were fun to watch too, in a different way.  His age group is still in the mindset of just going after the ball.  Never mind that you are supposed to be playing your position at the other end of the field.  Never mind that you just stole the ball from your teammate!  So they all run around in this massive herd of kids that just cracks me up.  In spite of that, Spencer is a fast little guy out there and had some nice plays--even scoring a goal in their first game.

This picture was too funny.  I think this little girl might have been in his class the past year.  Anyway, I'm not sure what their deep conversation was, but the coach finally reminded them that they were supposed to be playing.  Spencer turned to go back onto the field and the little girl grabbed him from behind and gave him a giant hug while he was trying his best to squirm out of her reach.  He finally ended up dragging her behind him as he ran to catch up to the ball.

Kalen coached Lynnsey's team again this year and Kendall was the assistant coach.  Anyway, Kalen wanted to have a get together to thank the team and their families for a great season, so he invited them all to our house to make s'mores and play games.  He intended for the kids and their families to come.  What he got was the kids and their siblings and the parents squealing out of our driveway to enjoy a couple of hours to themselves!  Okay it wasn't that bad, but we really did only have one parent stay the whole time although a few others came toward the end and stayed for a bit. But we did get some siblings there too without their parents, which I thought was really interesting.  I don't think that's something that I would have done--especially if I didn't know the family I was leaving them all with very well.

                                    

They did all have a great time.  After playing soccer and basketball, playing on the swingset and painting at the easel, they all roasted marshmallows over the fire and sandwiched them between fudge striped cookies (so much easier than graham crackers and Hershey bars!).  We went through 3 big bags of marshmallows and 4 packages of cookies (and still had kids wanting more...)!  It was a great way to wrap up a fun season.