Glenvar & Green Bay Packers Fans!

Our company has become really creative in their coloring and limited edition releases. I LOVE that I can now show up to my little guy's game and show my team spirit. It takes some guts and total #momgoals to arrive to a game with bright green lips or yellow/green eyeshadow combos! Are you a Glenvar or Green Bay Packers fan? Don't delay! Message me or visit my website at WWW.SeneGence.Com/KristinBolling to purchase your fan colors today! We have every color needed.

Super Bowl ~ 2018

Who's ready for the Super Bowl on Sunday? I'm about 50% of the way there. I have our table decor and one snack item, but I need to get focused on the foods A.S.A.P.  We've had some insane weather lately that has caused school cancellations and delays and then my lipsense business has blown up MORE THAN average these last two weeks, so it's keeping me busy.  I cannot believe I am saying this, but I have yet to post on last year's Super Bowl tradition that I created BUT, NOW seems more appropriate than ever!

The Beginning Of 12 Long Weeks...

On September 6, 2018, Ty played in a football game with his middle school team: Glenvar Vs. William Byrd. Ty's positions that night were linebacker, running back, kicker, and kick off specialist.  It was just like any game. I didn't get any weird feelings or "vibes". I was there and so excited to cheer him on.  

Tyson's teammates and friends (since Kindergarten), Gabe and Jackson, were already injured. Gabe broke his hand and Jackson broke his tibia, in the previous week's game. These three were committed athletes and over the years have been seen in photos together since biddy ball.  Here are just two photos that I could quickly find.  

We had a few good plays from Ty.  Below, he kicks an extra point.   

Ty was filling the role as running back for one of them at all times. Was it crazy that his two best friends were injured and now he would be taking their place? It almost seemed inevitable that he would be next. Below: After the QB handed Ty the ball, Ty was tackled HARD and out of no where. Ouch! Where were his dang peeps to protect him? Was this a sign? Sigh... On this particular night, I wish I would have been able to see into the future. I would have made him sit out.   

Then, it happened. The below youtube video is of the ENTIRE game, so to see the injury, please fast forward to minute 9:29. I suggest, to get a really good view of it, watching it in slow-motion @ speed .25.  If you don't, it's so hard to see because it all happens so fast.  

Ty shook his finger and new he was injured.  He was taken out of the game immediately.  The coach asked if he could go back in.  Being the tough guy that he is, he said, "I guess!" Ty had no way of knowing the severity of his injury. He thought he jammed his finger.  Seems plausible, right?  So, the coach taped his fingers and back in he went.  AHHHHHHH! Had we KNOWN what his injury was, we would have known that that was THE WORST decision ever.  When the coach was looking at his finger, Ty said "The coach asked me to bend my fingers.  All of my fingers went down BUT ONE! It was so weird. I physically could NOT bend my finger! Like, it didn't work."

With the suggestion of Ty's coaches, after the game, I took Ty to the ER. The doctors came in and did a series of tests with his hand, just physically.  The X-ray revealed that there was NO BREAK. However, the doctors were very confident that Ty tore the tendon in his finger just based off of his inabilities to bend his finger.  Unfortunately, X-rays do NOT reveal a muscle tear.  We were sent home and told to schedule an appointment with a hand surgeon the next day.  We had NO IDEA what would be revealed next to us.  We chose Dr. Apel.

Before the night ended and long into the midmorning, the next day, Darren was at work TORTURING himself reading up on football injuries. He narrowed it down to three injuries: a jammed finger, a broken finger, and jersey finger.  The latter being the worst case scenario.  

After visiting the PA, Kathryn Hoyt (Dr. Apel was not available.), she was very straight forward and revealed to us that Ty's injury was indeed Jersey Finger. She proceeded to follow that diagnosis up with, "This is a very serious injury.  It requires surgery and an intense 12 weeks of occupational therapy."  The nurse made Ty a homemade brace, to rest his finger/hand in, and he was told to eliminate use of the hand altogether.  When you tear a tendon, the next 7 days are CRITICAL to the success of your recovery.  Ty should have NEVER been put back in the game.  What happens is, the more you TRY to use your hand the normal way, the further and further into your arm the tendon retracts. Ahhh, typing this makes my fingers, hands, and wrists just ache, thinking about it.  Because Ty continued to play the game, he was using his hand and trying to use his finger, so his tendon was retracting.  WHERE? Well, we wouldn't know until surgery.  SO, the next step... surgery. We scheduled it for September 11th.  

I called Darren and had Kathryn talk to him. He asked a few questions and then the phone was handed to me.  Of course, there was crickets on the other side of the phone and probably a tear or 10. Darren did eventually speak up and say, "OH NO! Kristin this was the worst case scenario." I had already known that based off of what the PA told me.

This was the update I gave to his team and coaches: 

We are finished up at Carillon Orthopedics. The news is, to say the least, not good. The surgeon diagnosed Tyson’s injury as “Jersey Finger”. She said this injury is detrimental and very serious. It will require a 90 minute surgery (at the minimum) on Tuesday afternoon. Depending on where the tendon has retracted to and is currently residing, will determine how far down they will have to cut on his hand. They will be doing zig zag stitches. It will be a 12+ weeks recovery process, which will require 2-3 days, per week, of physical therapy.  He will have to miss 3-5 days of school post surgery and is not allowed to play basketball this season. I recognize and acknowledge that this is all temporary and it could be a lot worse. It’s not cancer, paralysis, or death, but still not the easiest news to deliver to an athlete, at all. Thank you all for supporting us. Your kind messages and prayers are so very comforting. Ty will for sure enjoy a buddy or 10 to come hang out with him and cheer him up.  And if nothing else, I’m curious if this will be ending his FortNite career.  Trying to keep my humor during this difficult time. *Disclaimer: If you are queasy, do not click on the hashtag “jersey finger”!P.S. This is his writing hand, so does anyone have any idea how this will be handled at school as far as work load is concerned? #JerseyFinger

Ty shed a few tears.  I don't think he was truly aware of what the next 12 weeks would look like.  Denial was a good word. He did convince me to pick him up the NEWLY released NBA 2K19.  If he was out for the basketball season, the next best way to play was this game.  Although, how would he do that with one hand? #Pitiful

On September 8th, two days later, even if it meant he had to sit and watch. I recall dropping him off and watching him walk into that gym. My heart was simply BROKEN. I documented my feelings at this moment:

His struggle takes my breath away.  I've been crying on and off all day for him.  I'd take two broken legs in exchange for this trial he is enduring.  And now... he walks himself into open gum, with is head held high. This is the moment he's been waiting for literally ALLLLLLL Summer, just to sit on the bench and watch his p peers practice.  There's no "I" in team and he's making that very evident.  He has never made me more proud in all of 13 years of being his momma.  As I cry, he cheers others on.  

After he walked into the building, I headed home, but had to pull over at our local library's parking lot and just cry and cry and cry.  

On September 10th, Ty got his second round of braces.  YUP, the day before his hand surgery.  It was a prescheduled appointment and there was no backing out.  We were counting down the days until September 11th.  Sounds odd right? NOPE! The sooner the better, the less that tendon would retract into his arm, and the closer he would be to recovering.  

In the meantime, I investigated Jersey Finger like it was a matter of life or death. I wanted to KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS, good, bad, and HORRIBLE.  So, I began my own research and interviewing people who had been through this. The responses were, well.... not the easiest to hear.  Jersey Finger happens so infrequently. It's just a freak accident really. So I didn't have a ton of documented resources. I decided to use Instagram hashtags to reach out to people and learn as much as I could. Unfortunately, before I started documenting/using the hashtag myself, there were only about 152 hashtags for it.  I direct messaged those who posted on their injuries. Everyone responded, but their responses always had so much negativity attached to their recovery.  

I had to leave this entire situation in God's hands (PUN NOT INTENDED).  I had to trust that no matter what, HE was sovereign and that HE would secure the outcome! Stay tuned... before the week is over, I will definitely be posting some more about Ty's Jersey Finger experience, including photos of his actual hand surgery!

Here's a sneak peak photo of Ty pre-op!

One thing I will say is that our boys, especially, have been playing sports for YEARS and the fact that this was Ty's first sports injury, EVER, was amazing. BUT... Darren and I BOTH agreed, we would have much rather Ty BREAK his finger, than tear his tendon, unfortunately, that wasn't our decision.  It was God's plan and His plans are always better.

Just In: Hurricane Red LipSense!!!

JUST IN: My company is forever coming out with NEW, innovative ways to get our customers excited.  We currently have a collegiate line of lipsense colors coming out and the FIRST color released was Tulsa University's Hurricane RED! 

It's beautiful and I plan to wear it today!

I have five in stock! Don't delay.  Again, these colors are LIMITED EDITION.

P.S. Thank goodness I have boys.  LOL! I enjoyed using their plastic football helmets, footballs, and faux turf grass to create this "tough" looking scene.  

PeeWee Football Banquet 2017

Jax had a fantastic season of football this year.  He was slightly timid last year and still feeling out his spot on the field, but with a huge knowledge of the game of football a.k.a. SMARTs, and increased confidence, he really BROUGHT IT on game days.

They are the "PEEWEE" football players of Glenvar.  Their record was 6-4.  

We celebrated their season at Fellowship Christian Community Church.  

Each player received a handsome, 31 bag, with their name and a football on it. Along with a Glenvar sweat towel.  

I am forever grateful to my husband who is following his calling to be a coach.  It is truly his passion and those boys are BLESSED to have his assistance and mentorship.

Each coach spoke and shared their thoughts on the season.  It's always interesting to hear what they have to say.  This year the theme comment was, "We are a young team and our players are small, but each and every player gave it their HEART!"

Everyone brought tailgate style foods and the head coach and his wife purchased these football cupcakes for everyone.  

 We start basketball Saturday!!! Adios football.  #NeverADullMoment

One of the parents made an end of the year video, reaping all of the highlights.  This is part of the boys' reactions to all of the great plays, tackles, and touchdowns.  

Football Spirit Bags!

This year, Ty was eligible to play for his middle school football team.  I was asked to be responsible for the team's, of 35 players and 4 coaches, "Spirit Bags".  I had no footsteps to follow in.  I have no idea if I am keeping up with the status of what was done last year OR if I am setting newer precedents. Haha.  But... I had my own visions of what "Spirit Bags" should contain.  I was ONLY asked to do bags for the AWAY games.  Fortunately, we only had (3) away games, so it was doable.  I wanted to keep the items in the bags MOSTLY healthy, but I recognize NOT ALL KIDS see the value or have tastes buds for healthy things, so I did include some processed and junky snacks too.  I also wanted to give the boys something to do on their bus ride away.

We had a very small budget to work with.  Several parents from the team donated a total of $150.00, but divided by 39 people that was literally ONLY $1.01 per player/coach, PER game.  Ummm.... I'm no genius, BUT that type of budget could NOT fill a bag.  So... I made about 50 phone calls to local vendors and at this time... I would LIKE to thank those companies for all of their generous contributions.  See below...

Game 1/ Bag 1

Thank you LifeWay Christian BookStore for your generous scripture cards, offering the boys encouragement.

Captain Party, a store I have shopped at since I have been 16, donated these football flingers...

Football poppers...

Mystery Flavor AirHeads...

GREEN blowpipes... and a few other candy items.  

The Vitamin Shoppe donated packets of fruits/veggies in powder form, for the boys to add to their water.  Funny story behind that is... they didn't read what it was and a few boys put it directly in their mouth thinking it was gatorade sugar packets. Needless to say.... they had to run to the bathroom when the bus arrived.  I thought that was both funny and well... STINKY!

Darren and I donated these LaraBars.  I bought them from Sam's Club.

Mission BBQ donated a card good for ONE SANDWICH.  This is incredible.  

Sports Haven donated water bottles, koozies, and ....

A coupon for $3.00 off anything in their NEW Salem Store.

Sports Haven also went above and beyond and treated the football coaches to these AWESOME Packers Glenvar drawstring bags. I thought it was cool that the bags didn't say Packers.  

Carmen, a parent of a middle school cheerleader, has her own side business called Four Seasons Gifts, and she was kind enough to donate paper FOOTBALLS.  I used them to help decorate the outside of the boys' bags.

I made the boys' names.  I feel like personalizing the bags made them EXTRA special. These bags also contained a Sunny Delight.

Game 2/Bag 2

Above: I designed and printed the cutest labels on my computer for the exterior of the bags.

Below: Stuffed footballs were donated by FUN TIMES Party Store.  They also donated...

Cry Baby candy...

Blow Pops....

Bouncing Balls...

Colorful AirHeads...

And Darren and I spotted these adorable balloons at their store and treated the boys EACH to one.

The parents' donations bought these Ritz Bits crackers filled with cheese.  Thanks Sam's Club.

And peanuts....

All Sports Cafe, in Salem, donated 42 BLONDE brownies.  These brownies are AMAZING and served with the most delicious butterscotch sauce and the best vanilla bean ice cream. They are made at a bakery in downtown Roanoke.  

I found some football paper at JoannFabrics and decided to turn their boring water bottles into FOOTBALL field like water bottles.  

I just LOVE the way their turned out.

These bags also contained canned drinks for the boys to choose from: Yoohoo, Lemonade, Fruit Punch, and Iced Tea.  I tried to stay away from soft drinks.

The Fresh Market donated a $25 gift card towards the purchase of anything I wanted.  I was able to buy several packers of assorted fruit crisps.   

Game 3/Bag 3

I passed off the items, I collected, to another mom to fill and deliver, so I am not sure what the FINAL bag looks like, but here's what was inside:

Darren and I bought these for the boys: tabletop, NFL footballs.  I found them on Amazon.

I put them in little baggies and inflated them, so they wouldn't get LOST in their Spirit Bag.

I thought this would be so fun to have on the bus.  They can spend some time trading for their favorite team.

Another local sports store called Tailgaters donated a FULL punch card, giving the boys $10.00 off of any purchase. 

Five Below donated 35 jars of FLARP in GREEN AND GOLD!

I'm sure whoever is driving the bus will need a back massage and a cold beer after hearing FARTING  noises x 35 players for a full hour there and a full hour back.

 

With the parents' money, I purchased both "mystery 2-flavored" Laffy Taffy...

And over-sized sour patch kids from Five Below.

Food Lion donated a $10 gift card, so I was able to buy several boxes of these Lance cracker packets.

Darren and I donated (2) Slim Jims EACH, per player.

ALL of the bags also contained DRINKS and string cheese.  There were other additional food items, but nothing worth really photographing, LOL! I was thankful I got to be a part of this responsibility.  I know the boys really appreciated it and it helped get them PUMPED up for their away games.