From Left Field

She-Twin:
"So Mom, who was fatter: William Howard Taft or Cass Elliott?"

[We don't advocate use of the "f" word Chez Lage. We prefer "plump" or "chubby." So who WAS fatter? I just guessed....]

Makes My Monday: Welcomes & Wellness

When Double Daddy returned home from the hospital Friday afternoon, our room was wrapped all the way around with a paper chain---on each link written by Darren, Sarah, Grandma or me is the name of someone praying for Scott (including many of you!). Within two hours, a florist knocked on the door with a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a large scroll tied with a yellow ribbon. Upon unfurling it, we saw the well-wishing signatures of Sarah and Darren and all their support-lending second grade classmates. An hour later? Food. Lots and lots of delicious prepared meals from Scott's colleagues---his friends and mine---at work.

My Monday---my MONTH---is made.

New to Makes My Monday? Share on your blog what warms your week's beginning: Post a picture and tell the tale. Then be sure to link back here to share in the web-wide Monday fun. Don't forget to leave a comment for others...comments are always Monday makers!

Baby Picture Sunday: Why I'm Thankful

Playing along with Debi of WhoSays8isEnough? on this Baby Picture Sunday. Found this picture of Daddy and his little girl in the very first hours of her life (clock actually indicates she was almost 6 and a half hours old). They are two of my primary three reasons for thankfulness today.

Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend, Friends!

Saturday Snapshots: Merriment at the Mall

While recuperating Double Daddy napped this morning, the three of us went to the annual Santa brunch at the mall. Typically, we'd not spring for the Santa station photos, but with all the profits going to the Children's Miracle Network, the extended wait and the not-too-expensive pricetag seemed a worthwhile investment.

How's your weekend looking so far? Post a picture...or two, or three...and share a glimpse...

Way Back When-esday: Blessings Big and Small

Dateline: January 2004
Twins' Age: 2 Years Old

Blessings Big: Double Daddy's surgery yesterday went as wonderfully as we'd dared hope. The Amazing Dr. Brown says there is "no evidence of residual disease" and after a month of healing and thanksgiving, we'll embark on a course of adjuvant therapy--at this stage, to be determined.

For now, rest and genuine, heartfelt thanksgiving. (Seriously, holding my peacefully resting husband's hand last night trumped any turkey and stuffing fete imaginable.)

Blessings Small: See the photo above...which brings to mind one of their Daddy's favorite ditties: "You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose; but you can't pick your friend's nose."

Enough of my opining on what makes my mid-weeks past and present wonderful...how about yours on this Thanksgiving Eve?

Dive into those digital photos or scan a scrapbook find and play along with Way Back When-esday. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and leave a comment when you do!

The Waiting is the Hardest Part...

Whether it's the excited anticipation of Christmas morning, or the exhale-releasing news your husband is emerging from surgery cancer-free, Tom Petty was right. The waiting is the hardest part.

Scott is now in "no visitors" prep for his 1pm (EST) melanoma search and destroy procedure. (Radical neck dissection) Right before we parted, he said, "You know, I feel really good."

THANK YOU all for your continued thoughts and prayers---and understanding my lack of comments and correspondence as late. Looking forward to sharing the the good news of "no more evidence of disease" very, very soon.

Here's my favorite image of the right side of Scott's neck pre-today's procedure. Have a feeling I will like the new, healthy right side of the neck even better.

Makes My Monday: Creature Comforts & Caring

Relaxing in robes...
...and spelling with soup.
Such is the stuff of a wonderful weekend. Amidst the flurry of Scott's pending surgery and subsequent---and we're faithful, permanent---eradication of melanoma from his body, the expressions of care [including a Sunday afternoon call from our surgical oncologist who is actively endeavoring to operate Tuesday rather than Wednesday] and the promises of prayer have strengthed our confidence and buoyed our optimism immeasurably.

THANK YOU ALL. Please, keep them coming.

Want to play along with Makes My Monday? Share on your blog what warms your week's beginning: Post a picture and tell the tale. Then be sure to link back here to share in the web-wide Monday fun. Don't forget to leave a comment for others...comments are always Monday makers.

Saturday Snapshots: Call Us John & Yoko

After an emotionally exhausting week, and fully aware the week ahead will likely be more of the same, Double Daddy and I elected to stay in bed (albeit, awake) until nearly noon. By 8:15am, our early morning co-snugglers evacuated---and began entertainment and services of all sorts to their bed-bound parents.

First, a visit from the King...
Then, a reading from the good Dr. Seuss, his lesser-known, Happy Birthday to You...
...and just before arising, our phone screening team began politely answering calls from those promising their prayers and sending their support for the days ahead.
To all who've so generously offered to remember us in thoughts and prayers for the fight ahead, THANK YOU.

Team Lage cannot imagine any cancer combatant going forth into battle more girded with love and encouragement. Scott's surgery will be this coming Wednesday, with a few days of in-hospital recuperation to follow. Please keep the well wishes and prayers comin'!

Hope: A Haiku

Four years to the week
Since Daddy's melanoma
Lump, nodes are swollen

Daddy's special day
Brought news we'd hoped not to hear
Scans do not look good

Hope springs eternal
Our doctors are fantastic
Friends and family, too

Could be something new
Yet surgery is a must
Husband is so brave

Whether an adult
or frightened eight-year-old child
Anxiety stinks

Haiku to announce
May seem a very poor choice
Gets my mind off it

Greedily I ask
If you are a praying kind
Please remember us.

We DO have all good reason for optimism...namely my husband's sense of humor, his sense of fight, his love of his children and me, and the knowledge that we're never alone, and have such reason for thankfulness. Treasuring each day...and know we'll have many, many more to come.

Way Back When-esday: Daddy's Day

Dateline: November 18, 2006
Twins' Age: 5
Daddy's Age: 39

He makes the funniest of jokes, can juggle household objects galore, is firm when occasions mandate, is tender when a loving touch is needed. He is a pluperfect parenting partner, phenomenal father and the best husband imaginable.

Happy 42nd Birthday, Double Daddy. We love you so very much.

What memorable image(s) makes your mid-week wonderful? Dive into those digital photos or scan a scrapbook find and play along with Way Back When-esday. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and leave a comment when you do!

March On: The Fight for Preemies

Few moments defy explanation. Discovering you are expecting not one, but two (or more) babies is undoubtedly one of them. The giddy excitement is inevitably sobered with a medical professional's caveat: "We need to be extra cautious in your prenatal care. The vast majority of multiple pregnancies result in premature births."

The docs joketh not. An average plural pregnancy so frequently concludes between 36-37 weeks, many doctors go so far as to call delivery in that range "term for twins."

Truth? "Term" for any baby is 40 weeks.
Tell that to multiple babies on the move.

Thank heaven for the March of Dimes. An organization so committed to neonatal health---that regardless of gestational duration---in the 21st century, twin-expectant moms (and dads) count the days to 28 weeks...knowing preemie viability at that mile-marker has skyrocketed in recent years due largely to their compassionate intervention.

My husband Scott and I know how blessed we were to have our twin pregnancy last to 36 weeks, 5 days. We feel even more blessed to know care for preemies is so honed, when our OB-GYN (for sudden perceived via ultrasound weight disparity concerns determined a premature induction would be in our infants' best interest), our anxieties were minimal. Three+ weeks early.
November 17th, we fight for preemies.

Share your tale below. Share any financial support you can with the March of Dimes.

Makes My Monday: How the Cookie Crumbles

On this rainy Saturday past, Sarah decided to put her recent book fair purchase to use, and bake a batch of Hershey Kisses macaroons. We had shopped together---along with brother---for the supplies. Measuring her ingredients, using the electric mixer, tasting the dough all proved great fun and provided her with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. (Even if paranoid Mama would not allow her to stick her delicate arms---oven-mitted as they were---into the preheated oven to place the cookie sheet.)

Midway through the process, we added a generous 2 tsp. of almond extract. She was nothing shy of repelled by the aroma. (Which strikes me as odd; she likes the scent of gasoline, cigarette smoke and nail polish.) Sadly, the final product was too almondine---she disliked the Kiss-kist cookies, throwing half of her cookie away. Her brother however, LOVED them.

When I asked her to pose for a baker's beauty shot, she had no idea her brother---whom she'd just forbad from having any more---was in-frame. Neither did he.

Her visible pride, and his forlorn face, Make My Monday.

New to Makes My Monday? Share on your blog what warms your week's beginning: Post a picture and tell the tale. Then be sure to link back here to share in the web-wide Monday fun. Don't forget to leave a comment for others...comments are always Monday makers!




P.S. - What else Makes My Monday? The amazing Amanda and lovely Lani of Multiples and More are featuring our family's perspective on the great twin classroom placement debate today! Go on over and share your thoughts/ideas on the issue...will be chiming in!

Bad Haiku Friday---on Saturday

Posting haiku late
Have been a wee bit busy
Hope you will forgive

Honda Odyssey
Big branch proves too much for you
Finished this Friday

Issues with laptop
Hanging up, no picture load
Believe me, a wreck!

More is going on
Too involved to add detail
Say a little prayer

Afternoon may bring
Some computer solutions
Saturday snapshots!

So please check back in
And take pictures of your day
To share on the web

Happy Weekend!

Way Back When-esday: Sunny Sprinkles

Dateline: Summer 2004
Twins' Age: 2 Years Old

Temperatures are dropping, so this scene of summer seems the perfect last vestige of sun and spray.

What memorable image(s) makes your mid-week wonderful? Dive into those digital photos or scan a scrapbook find and play along with Way Back When-esday. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and leave a comment when you do!

Seesaws and Circus Acts

Composed as a written audition to the assigned topic of "maternal balance," this little piece from 3+ years ago was discovered in an archived folder on the laptop yesterday. Forgive if it's a wee bit off-color...just thought 'twas a message worth sharing. --CRL

In a perpetual quandary on how to “balance” your multiple roles?

Loving mother. Adoring wife. Successful professional. Fulfilled woman.

Ignore the propaganda promulgating the misconception that success as a mother and success in other arenas must be mutually exclusive. Use of the word “balance” suggests disparate, divergent aspects…polar ends of a spectrum, teetering precariously on a fulcrum.

Equally offensive is the oft-applied term “juggling”…as if we are never maintaining a genuine grip any of the roles we fill. Sure, catching each ball and re-throwing each aloft rapidly requires skillful, practiced dexterity…yet to all appearances provides minimal enjoyment for the juggler. Ever seen a “relaxed” expression on a juggler’s face? Men protect---even fondle---their balls.

We should, too.

James Madison Makes My Monday

Sarah's penchant for portraiture dovetailed with a resurgence of presidential preoccupation this weekend resulting in some serious sketching. Not unlike artists before her, she drew study after study...empirically re-assessing and re-interpreting her "suitable for framing" book illustration of James Madison---our country's 4th leader, and her preferred president du jour.

Her tenacity, focus and love of art Make My Monday.

New to Makes My Monday? Share on your blog what warms your week's beginning: Post a picture and tell the tale. Then be sure to link back here to share in the web-wide Monday fun. Don't forget to leave a comment for others...comments are always Monday makers!

Baby Picture Sunday: Mommy's Little Helpers

Sharing a space calmly...at this age (about a year), that was wondrous help for Mommy!

Peek at other pictures from the past with Debi's Baby Picture Sunday!

Saturday Snapshots: Creating, High-Rating & Roller Skating

Sketching and journalling at the breakfast table

At the very moment Darren learned he'd won a 1st Place trophy (his first) at this morning's tae kwon do tournament

Sarah with a couple of her gorgeous girlfriends at this afternoon's party at the roller rink

How's your weekend looking so far?
Post a picture...or two, or three...and share a glimpse...