Luke’s 11 year stats

Height – 56.5 inches (50%)

Weight – 69 pounds (25%)

BMI – 15.2 (11%)

 

Kenny’s 13 year stats

Weight:  96 pounds (30%)

Height:  66.25 inches (88%)

BMI:  15.4 (3%)

BP:  110/50

P:  68

I think this is the first year that Kenny wasn’t in the high 90 percentile in height but our doctor said he’s going to shoot up again this year and should gain some more weight too (he only gained 3 pounds this last year).

Luke’s 10 year stats

Height:  54.5 inches (50%)

Weight:  66.5 pounds (45%)

BMI:  15.8 (35%)

Kenny’s 12 year stats

Height:  63 3/4 inches (95%)

Weight:  94 pounds (55%)

BMI:  16.2 (30%)

I miss my dad

 

My dad passed away Tuesday, February 9th.  I wasn’t ready to talk about it on here before now.  I just miss him so, so much.

I was at my normal Tuesday noon spin class.  I don’t normally put my phone at the bottom of my bike but I did that day.  We got off the bike about 35 minutes into class to do some arm work.  When I was about to get back on my bike, I noticed that I had three missed calls, two from my mom and one from Eric.  I immediately had that feeling, that bad feeling when you know something isn’t right.  I left the spin room and listened to Eric’s message first.  His message said, “Your dad collapsed and it doesn’t look good.  Go home now.”  I called him back and he said was already on the way to their house and asked if I wanted him to come get me.”  I said no, grabbed my stuff, and drove over to my parents’ house, crying the entire way.

My mom usually works in the morning.  She didn’t go in that day because she had an eye appointment for her future cataract surgery.  She said that she and my dad went to it together and had a nice morning together.  He said he felt a little funny but they just thought that maybe it was anxiety or something.  They got home and my mom walked into the house.  She then heard a loud noise.  She went to the garage, saw that my dad had collapsed, and called 911.  They had her check to see if he was breathing (I think she thought he was a little bit at that time).  EMS got there quickly and did CPR on him.  Our neighbors, the Mayers, were there with her.  Eric was randomly doing training out by their house and he beat me there.  I got there next, and then my brother, Billy.  It was pretty awful watching them work on my dad.  They had this machine that did the CPR compressions for them.  It felt like forever before they decided to transport him to the hospital.  My mom rode in the ambulance with him and I rode with Billy behind them.  Eric and the Mayers stayed behind to make sure everything was shut.

When we got to the hospital, they took us to a little room to wait in.  Sarah (Billy’s wife), Eric, the Mayers, and Mary (Eric’s mom), were there with us.  After working on my dad for almost an hour, they took us back to see him while the nurses lined up in a train to do CPR on him and they tried pushing different medications to get his heart to start.  We just held his hand through it all.  I think the doctor wanted us to see how hard they were working on him to no avail.  He talked to us about discontinuing CPR.  I refused to make that decision so my mom and Billy had to make that tough call.  I just couldn’t do it.  They stepped out to talk the doctor and I stayed in the room to continue holding his hand.  They stopped CPR and my dad passed away at 2:45pm.  A priest from Holy Trinity came over to give my dad his last rites and we were able to stay with him for a while to tell him good-bye.  It just didn’t feel real when we left the hospital without him.

It was awful telling the boys.  Just awful.  Our friends had taken them home from school for us so we waited to tell them until we got home.  I think we went back to my mom’s house after that.  Is it horrible that I don’t remember?  It seems like everything just kind of ran together after that.  The next few days consisted of making plans while family came into town.  My dad didn’t like a lot of fuss so it was fairly easy to pick out his coffin, flowers and service details.  My mom knew which cemetery to bury him in.  Eric’s dad passed away in 2002 from cancer, just six months before we were married.  He was buried in that same cemetery and there was a plot open, just five down from his.  We took it.  My mom wants to be cremated so her remains will eventually be buried above him.  We were so busy that week that I don’t feel like I really had time to process everything until it was over.  I cried a lot and was sad but I don’t think the reality of everything hit me until after the funeral.

My dad never regained consciousness after he collapsed.  I never got to tell him again that I loved him.  Selfishly, I’m sometimes jealous of people whose family members were sick and they were able to savor those last months or days and say their good-byes.  But, I’m also glad he didn’t suffer, and I know in my heart that he knew that he was loved.

I miss my dad.

Luke’s 9 year stats

Weight:  58.5 lbs (30%)

Height:  52.25 inches (50%)

BMI:  15 (25%)

2015 year in review

Name:  Luke

Age:  8

Favorite color:  Silver

Favorite food:  Mac and cheese

Favorite activity:  Playing Clash of Clans

Favorite book:  Goosebumps

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Greatest lesson learned:  Make sure the gate is closed when I leave the backyard

Hardest thing this year:  Cleaning my room

Favorite memory:  Royals winning World Series

What I loved about 2015:  Royals winning the World Series

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016

Want to learn:  More science

Want to get better at:  Clash of Clans

Goals for 2016:  Be good at Clash of Clans

Name: Kenny

Age: 11

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite food: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Favorite activity: Soccer

Favorite book:  The Last Hero

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Greatest lesson learned:  Always make sure the gate is closed

Hardest thing this year: Getting up at 6:00am every school day to go to pre-algebra

Favorite memory: Getting the Xbox One

What I loved about 2015:  Getting Cain, our new dog

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016

Want to learn: How to do an “around the world” with a soccer ball

Want to get better at: Soccer

Goals for 2016:  Go to Monster Mountain and climb it

Ornaments 2015

Happy holidays 2015

Happy holidays from our family to yours.

Cain aka 1738

Meet Cain, the newest member of our family.

We took the plunge and adopted a black lab/retriever mix.  He’s 1.5 years old and seems to be a real sweetheart.  He came from another shelter so we don’t know what his original circumstances were.  We looked at all the dogs that the shelter considered to be good with other dogs and kids and “Donald” seemed to fit in best with the kids and Mac.

The name Donald didn’t seem to fit him so we changed it to Cain, after my favorite Royals player, Lorenzo Cain.  With the Royals in the playoffs, it seemed right to name him after one of them.  Cain’s nickname is 1738.  The Royals had a joke this year.  They had to use “1738” in their interviews.  If they didn’t, they fined each other.  You can read why in these two articles:

1.  http://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city/story/royals-fetty-wap-and-how-1738-is-taking-over-the-kc-clubhouse-072915
2. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/the-royals-are-saying–1738–in-interviews-because-they-love-fetty-wap-211924083.html

 

Kenny’s 11 year stats

Weight:  82 pounds (55%)

Height:  61.5 inches (96%)

BMI:  15.3 (15%)

Luke’s 8 year stats

Height:  50.25 inches (50%)

Weight:  54 lbs. (45%)

BMI:  15.2 (35%)

Happy 11th birthday, Kenny!

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday, dear Kenny,

Happy birthday to you!

XOXO,

Mom

Happy 8th birthday, Luke!

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday, dear Luke,

Happy birthday to you!

Love you!

Mom

Spring 2015 sports

This will stay at the top of the page to make it easier for family members. Please scroll down.

Kenny’s soccer (outdoor):

Sat, March 7 @ 3:45pm

Sun,  March 15 @ 12:15pm

Sun, March 29 @ 11:45am

Fri, April 3 @ 7:30pm

Sat, April 18 @ 2:30pm

Sun, May 3 @ 9:15am

Sat, May 16 @ 1:15pm

Sun, May 17 @ 1:15pm

 

Luke’s soccer (outdoor):

Sat, March 7 @ 1:15pm

Sat, March 28 @ 11am

Sun, March 29 @ 2:15pm

Sat, April 4 @ 1:15pm

Sun, April 12 @ 11am

Sun, April 19 @ 6:30pm

Sun, May 10 @ 2:15pm

Sun, May 17 @ 1:15pm

Luke’s favorite things – age 7

1. What is your favorite color?  Silver

2. What is your favorite toy?  iPod Touch

3. What is your favorite fruit?  Blueberries

4. What is your favorite tv show?  Friends

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Bagels

6. What is your favorite outfit?  Chiefs’ shirt

7. What is your favorite game?  Golden Eye 007

8. What is your favorite snack?  Cheez-Its

9. What is your favorite animal?  Hermit Crabs

10. What is your favorite song?  Love Runs Out (One Republic)

11. What is your favorite book?  Far Out and Unusual Hermit Crabs:  Cool Pets

12. Who is your best friend?  Will, Will and Asher

13. What is your favorite cereal?  Froot Loops

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Basketball

15. What is your favorite drink?  Dr. Pepper

16. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you?  Stuffed animals

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Bagels

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Donuts

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Zookeeper

Previous years: Luke’s favorite things – age 6 and age 4.

Kenny’s favorite things – age 10

1. What is your favorite color?  Blue

2. What is your favorite toy?  iPhone

3. What is your favorite fruit?  Pineapple

4. What is your favorite tv show?  Friends

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Hot dog

6. What is your favorite outfit?  Sporting KC Ivy Funds jersey

7. What is your favorite game?  Clash of Clans

8. What is your favorite snack?  Cheetos

9. What is your favorite animal?  Dog

10. What is your favorite song?  Animals (Maroon 5)

11. What is your favorite book?  Percy Jackson series

12. Who is your best friend?  Arden, Harrison, JT, among others

13. What is your favorite cereal?  Cinnamon Toast Crunch

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Play soccer

15. What is your favorite drink?  Root beer

16. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you?  Blanket

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Cinnamon Toast Crunch

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Brownies, pizza, wings, Hen House cake, rice crispy treats, Hershey bars, Skittles, Subway, more pizza and ice cream

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Soccer player (Sporting KC in US and then Barcelona in Europe)

Previous years: Kenny’s favorite things – age 9 and age 7.

2014 in review

I was horrible at getting things on here for 2014.  In an attempt to rectify that, I’m going to share our big events from each month.

January 2014

I started my first of three boot camps for the year.  I.Am.Addicted.

Kenny and Luke played basketball and indoor soccer.

February 2014

Kenny made it to the Mathletic’s regionals and his team placed 2nd out of the 4th graders!

March 2014

We went to Lawrence, KS for St. Patrick’s Day.  I love Lawrence so much.  I love showing the boys the KU campus.

We did not go anywhere for Spring Break because we didn’t want to leave one of our dogs, Camille, alone.  She was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth back in November.

My second boot camp stated after Spring Break.

Both boys started baseball and outdoor soccer.

Ryan Lochte did a clinic for our swim team.

April 2014

I turned 36 and Luke turned 7.

May 2014

Nicole came in town and I got to see her for a little bit.  This was the first time I’ve seen her since her wedding.  It was way overdue.

Luke finished first grade and Kenny finished fourth.

June 2014

Kenny turned 10.

We joined Round Hill Bath and Tennis Club with a lot of friends and had the best summer there.  We will definitely join again next summer.

Kenny and Luke tried out for competitive, year round soccer and made a team.  Kenny stayed with the same team as last year.  This was Luke’s first time to try out.

We put Camille to sleep on June 27, when she was no longer able to get up.  We miss her so much!

June 27 also happened to be our dating anniversary.  Eric took me out on our first date 16 years ago.

July 2014

We spent the 4th of July at Round Hill and then watched Meadowbrook Country Club’s fireworks for the last time.  It closed this fall.

Kenny and Eric went to a Cub Scout camp.  That ended up being the end of Cub Scouts for Kenny.

We took a quick trip to St. Louis.  I saw Nicole (again!), went to the Arch, the zoo and the City Museum.  The City Museum was amazing!

August 2014

Eric turned 35.

We took the boys to their first concert – American Authors, The Script and One Republic at Starlight.

Kenny started fifth grade and Luke started second.

Both boys started outdoor soccer and Luke also played in some fall baseball tournaments.

Luke started Cub Scouts, they both joined their school’s running club and Kenny started Mathletics and choir.

Kenny’s soccer team did their first traveling soccer tournament.  We all drove down to Arkansas for Labor Day weekend.

September 2014

Kenny accidentally shut Mac’s (our dog) tail in the door and severed part of it off.  Our kitchen looked like a crime scene but Mac was tough.

Eric and I went to the Theory of a Deadman concert (Black Stone Cherry opened).

Eric and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.

I started my third boot camp.

October 2014

Eric and the rest of the SWAT team went to Iowa for a week of training.  They do this just about every year.

I went on my first Sweat Crawl.  Think pub crawl, but instead of drinking you go to different gyms for quick 30 minute workouts.

Kenny and Luke ran the last 1.2 miles of the KC Marathon with their school running club.

The boys dressed up as the Grim Reaper for Halloween.

The Royals made it to the World Series and lost in the seventh game to the Giants.  They had such a good year and it was so fun for the city.

November 2014

Kenny and Luke started indoor soccer and basketball.

Kenny and the rest of the fifth graders had Colonial Day at school.  They dressed up, danced, did activities and even ate food that had to do with that time period.

Thanksgiving was pretty low key since none of our out-of-town relatives came to KC.

December 2014

Mac turned 7.

Luke celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation at church.

Kenny and the rest of his choir sang at Crown Center.

MythBusters came to KC.  Eric took the boys to see their live show.

Eric and I went to the Black Key’s concert (St. Vincent opened).

Eric became Hattie’s godfather.

We spent Dec. 19-the morning of the 25th with my family and then the evening of Dec 25-Jan 1 with Eric’s family.

Year in review – 2014

A LITTLE ABOUT ME

Name:  Luke

Age:  7

Favorite color:  Silver

Favorite food:  Mac and cheese

Favorite activity:  Playing football

Favorite book:  Far Out and Unusual Hermit Crabs

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2014

Greatest lesson learned:  To greet people

Hardest thing this year:  My dog Camille died

Favorite memory:  Getting Yumiae my pet hermit crab

What I loved about 2014:  I got Yumiae my pet hermit crab

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2015

Want to learn:  Fact about hermit crabs

Want to get better at:  Football and basketball

Goals for 2015:  Learning facts about hermit crabs and getting better at Snoopy’s Fair

 

A LITTLE ABOUT ME

Name: Kenny McCullough

Age: 10

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite food: Pizza

Favorite activity: Playing soccer

Favorite book: Minecraft Combat Handbook

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2014

Greatest lesson learned: Phones r awesome

Hardest thing this year: Learning to do a rainbow (soccer)

Favorite memory: Getting my phone

What I loved about 2014: I got a phone

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2015

Want to learn: To make iMovies as well as Jack

Want to get better at: Soccer

Goals for 2015: Be in the champion’s league by 2016 (Clash of Clans)

Kenny’s 10 year stats

I finally took Kenny in to get his annual check up (almost 5 months late).

Weight:  80 pounds (60%)

Height:  60 inches (95%)

BMI:  15.5 (20%)