Baby Update

Today, baby and Mommy had a checkup. Blood pressure is good--a little low, but still good. Amazing considering all of the stress we have experienced recently. In two weeks, we will find out whether we are having a girl or a boy. I am hoping for a boy, but so many signs are pointing towards girl, so we will just have to wait and see. So far, the heart rate has remained in the high 150's. "Meanie" has prayed for a baby brother, but he has agreed that we will keep the baby even if it is a girl. On May 7th, I will be having a Level II ultrasound with the perinatologist, so I am hoping to find out more then.

Happy 6th Birthday Declan!

I trust you are having the best birthday ever dancing and celebrating with your Lord and Savior in Heaven. I can picture your happy smiles and laughter as you romp and play in your heavenly mansion. My heart aches as I picture the birthday you might have had if you were still with us. We have not forgotten you.

Field Trip(s)

This morning, we headed out to the zoo only to run into a heavy mist on the way :-( Realizing that if we walked around in the mist for too long, we would be cold and wet, we opted to head to the Oklahoma Science Museum instead. The kids had a ball. I hadn't been there in years, and we treated ourselves to everything (except the body exhibit--YUCK!!). The IMAX film was StormChasers, and the kids were excited and scared all at the same time. After we left they said that the liked it, but there were moments where they buried their faces and were apprehensive. We spent most of the day at the Science Museum. The first part of the day was very crowded with all of the public school field trips :-( After about 2pm, it improved when most of the kids left and the museum cleared out. We had such a fun time that we are hoping to buy a pass so that we can go there more often. The kids were a little disappointed that we didn't get to the zoo, but since we have a pass, we can go another time. This evening, we headed out the Arts Festival. We didn't make it to the kids tents, but are hoping to get back later this week, weather permitting. Right now, I'm letting the kids run around the backyard and enjoy the wonderful weather before the storms head in tomorrow. Fun! Fun! Fun!

ETA: Jason went back to the surgeon today. He is going back to work on Thursday.

Friday! Friday! Friday!

Today was an awesome day. The weather was absolutely beautiful and things went really well. Jason & I took the kids to Jump Zone AND McDonalds. The kids got a Jump Zone pass and McDonalds gift cards for Christmas, and with everything that has happened around here, we hadn't been able to use them :-( They have begged and begged, and I have felt really sorry for them. This morning, we got them up and had them hustle through their morning work. We told them we were running errands, and instead we drove to Jump Zone. They were very excited :-) After that, we took them to McDonalds where they each got to pay with their very own "credit card" (gift card, actually). They also got to play on the playground, which we almost never let them do.

This afternoon, we came home, did school and took care of some general straightening. Mostly they got to play outside and have "tool school" with Daddy in the garage. Also, the Lord used a wonderful family from our church to bless us this afternoon. They have a lawn mowing business and came and took care of our yard for us--free of charge. We had quite a few limbs lying around from the ice storm in December that still hadn't been dealt with. These were all removed. They even moved the trampoline and mowed underneath it (which Jason had never been able to do since he can't move it by himself). The yard looks super awesome and it has taken a great load off of us worrying about how it was going to get done.

Jason's pain is still pretty bad. He is taking his pain medicine quite regularly, and it doesn't seem to help much. He is still able to enjoy some normal activities, but anything that requires bending or lifting isn't very doable right now. Please continue praying. If he isn't doing better by next Wednesday, we will go back to the surgeon.

Update and Tool School

After getting a callback from the surgeon, we were told that the hiccups and vomiting are probably due to the leakage/cyst and the related infection. If things get much worse, or if Jason runs a fever, we are to contact them right away or go to the ER. We also learned that he will not be released to go back to work any sooner than next Wednesday :-0 We were hoping he could be back within a day or two, but he does not have the option of returning without a release :-(

On a lighter note, Jason has spent the afternoon in the garage doing "tool school" with the children. Usually only "Meanie" does "tool school" with Daddy, but the girls have been begging to join in and they are asking for tools of their own like "Meanie" has :-) They are thrilled that Daddy is spending time with them, and it has been nice for me to have some school planning time.

Strange New Symptoms ??

We are puzzled by some new symptoms Jason is having. He started having the hiccups some time yesterday morning. They have been continuous, other than when he lays down. When he is upright, he is hiccuping. Also, he began vomiting this morning. He is not sleeping because of the pain and the narcotic itching. The last two nights, he has awakened and done a ton of housework. I woke up at 9am this morning and he had been doing laundry since 4am :-0 We are waiting a call back from the doctor right now to see if he is concerned about these new symptoms.

CT Results

Jason had his CT scan at noon today, and by 2pm the surgeon called us with the results. Some time after Jason's surgery in February, he developed a leak in his intestine. This can be a life threatening complication, and we didn't even know it had happened :-0 The surgeon is taking it very seriously. It appears that the leak has healed itself (or more correctly, God healed it), but a large cyst has developed in the area where the leak was. The surgeon is going to give Jason 10 days of mega antibiotics. If he is not feeling better in a few days, we are going to call the surgeon back and Jason might have to go in for another surgery. We are praying that the antibiotics will take care of the problem and surgery will not be necessary.

As far as his work, things are up in the air. We do not know what is going to happen there, especially if he ends up having surgery.

After the surgeon consult today. . .

Jason has a CT scan scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime, he has been given some very strong pain medicine (which isn't really helping), and he will be off of work. We do not know what is going to happen. If he needs to have another surgery, it is possible that he might be in surgery by the end of this week :-0 Please be in prayer for our family. We have not fully recovered from the last go-around with all of this, and we could have some rough days ahead of us.

Stand in the Rain. . .

you might as well!! Last night, around 9pm, we discovered that the pipe broke under our kitchen sink and flooded the cabinet. Being so late on a Sunday night, we had no choice but to clean up the mess and let it wait. So today, I have a kitchen full of dirty dishes and NO WATER!! I'm trying to decide whether or not to do my dishes in the bathtub :-0

Update

So far, we haven't had to go the hospital. Jason seems to be somewhat better, but is still planning to see the surgeon on Monday at 2:45pm. He spent today fixing his van, so now we have two running vehicles. The kids are getting over the "crud" so we will probably stay home from church, so as to not catch anything else or spread our germs around.

Another trip to the ER?

Dh has come home hurting very badly and saying that we might be headed back to the emergency room. I did not sleep very well last night and was supposed to give a devotion at our Keepers at Home club tonight. I have found a replacement and emailed my devotion to her to deliver to the group. My children have still not gotten over the upset of the last few months, and I am trying hard to get things back to a normal schedule for them. It makes me sad to think that we might be getting ready to go through a bunch of upheaval when we haven't really recovered from the last go-around :-(

Are we fools?

Jeremiah 4:22: "My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding."

How do we know when we are fools? Proverbs 1:7 says that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." What does it mean to fear the Lord? I think that it means to have a reverence for him that results in our joyful submission to His will and commands. Fools hate knowledge and correction. They can also be complacent (Proverbs 1:32--"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."). A fool trusts only in himself (Proverbs 28:26--"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.) and does not consult God (Jeremiah 2:8--"The priests did not ask, 'Where is the Lord?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.").

How many times do we consult a book, or the Internet or a friend when we are in trouble or need to make an important decision? While all of these things can be helpful, the first place we should go is to the Lord. It is my goal to model this to my children. Rather than panic when things get tough, they need to see me on my knees crying out to God for His deliverance. It brings joy to my heart to hear even my little "Miney" praying to God when things are tough. I, as a mother, must set the example.

Keepers at Home

"Eenie" is a member of a Keepers at Home group. Normally, we are very active in the group and work on numerous badges throughout the year, but this year life has interfered and we have had to learn flexibility. In the grand scheme of things, badges simply aren't that important. However, having almost reached the end of the Keepers year, we are trying to choose a few things that we can work on in the time that we have left. Last night, I showed "Eenie" a few basic embroidery stitches and she has been working diligently on this new skill. We are going to try to complete a simply embroidery project over the next week or so. Being a Keepers Mommy has been challenging for me, to say the least, because I have not learned many of these skills, myself. I hope to send my daughters in to their own homes better prepared than I was. They (and their families) will be happier and more peaceful for this knowledge :-)

Returning to the Surgeon

My dh is having health problems again and will be returning to his surgeon on Monday at 2:45pm. We are praying that this is something that will either get better in time or else can be treated medically. If another surgery is necessary, it is possible he could lose his job :-( Personally, I am having a hard time with this uncertainty. It would be very hard for me to try and get a new job right now, both because I am pregnant and because I am so sick (and usually hospitalized over and over again) when I am pregnant. I am trying so hard to get the house back in order and get the children reaccustomed to discipline and routine, which is something that doesn't happen very well when dh is home. Please pray for my dh's health and that I would respond with patience, love, grace and wisdom. Also, pray for my dc. They are still fairly young to have so many ups and downs to deal with, and at least the younger two don't see God's hand in this like we older ones do.

Jewels

Zechariah 9:16-17a: "The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!"

We are all created in the image of God, and thus, we all have the potential to become sparkling jewels. When "Miney" runs in from the backyard covered in dirt and mud, tracking it through the house on her way to "go potty", it is sometimes easy to forget this (off topic, but sometimes, I have considered putting the baby potty in the backyard to prevent this problem in the future--lol). I don't know yet whether my children will be diamonds or rubies or amethysts or some other type of precious jewel. It is part of my job to cut and scrape and polish until the jewel in each of them is finally sparkling, just as the Lord continues cutting and polishing me.

Many years ago, in college, I worked in jewelry sales. In studying jewelry close up, it is amazing how many jewels have flaws or impurities within them (emeralds are particularly bad about this). When shopping for jewelry, we now have a choice of "lab created" jewels, which have fewer impurities, or we can buy natural jewels.

As Christians, we must remember that we were sent into the world (but should not be of the world). Contact with the world means that there is a greater chance for impurities or flaws to develop in our jewels. However, we cannot forget that Christ's last command to us was to go "unto the world" and preach the Gospel to them. We can, of course, raise our children as "lab created" jewels, but they will miss the opportunity to develop as the natural and genuine jewels God intended for them to be.

As parents we must, of course, use discretion with our little jewels. There is no sense in allowing them to be contaminated or damaged needlessly. But, when they are ready, and have opportunity, it is good for them to reach out to lost and try to discover the hidden jewel within them.

One day, we will all stand before God, shining and precious as the jewels He created us to be. I have such a joy in my heart when I envision presenting my little jewels, loaned to me by the Lord in order for me to shape and direct them. The blood of Jesus will cover our flaws and impurities, and before God we will appear perfect and flawless. Blessed be the Name of Jesus!

"Whom are you seeking?"

John 18:4: Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

I have found myself in a constant battle over the last few months and I am tired. Sometimes, I can see clearly the fight that is before me, and sometimes the battle seems endless and to no purpose. Too many times, I find myself ready to lay down and quit, or have the wrong response, or run away from the battle. I will never be called upon to suffer for mankind the way that Jesus was asked to suffer. He knew that He would suffer, yet he went forward. I too have asked the Lord to take this cup from me, yet He in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to leave things as they are. It is much easier for me to have the wrong responses when I am sick and dehydrated from being pregnant. Yet, I must remain in the battle, going forward, making what progress I can, responding as the Lord asks me to, until the Lord declares that the battle is over.

Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat

This is a wonderful book that I have only recently discovered. Since beginning the Ambleside curriculum with my children a few years ago, I have been pleasantly surprised at finding many enjoyable books that I have never read (and I have always considered myself a great reader!). Unfortunately, with few exceptions, many of the books written today are written in twaddly language geared towards the TV, movie and video game generation of children :-( This is very sad, because I feel that my life and the lives of my children have been greatly enriched by exposure to good-quality literature. Literature is a good vehicle for instilling character in the lives of children and adults in ways that inspire. If you have never read this book, I would encourage you to do so or listen to it for free at www.librivox.org. Blessings!