WOW!!!!

I have the most awesome husband! Let me preempt this with telling you how much I despise cleaning our walk in shower. I mean DESPISE. If I had it to do over, it would be a large combo shower like Eric and Say have. Tile is my enemy.

Ok, so I get home from work and go through my routine (which includes removing the germ ridden clothes from my body) and have a bite to eat. I then get ready to shower (again, the germs) when I notice Josh is standing there in the doorway. "What are you doing?" I ask. "Waiting for you to get in the shower", he replies. I look down and low-and-behold, the heavens open...."OH-MY-GOSH!! Honey, you cleaned the shower!!!!!" He was, at that moment, the greatest person on earth. That one act of kindness made me the happiest woman alive :)

So for all you husbands out there, find the one thing your wife hates most and do it. Just once. You will be amazed how high on a pedastal you will be placed. Go golf, my love, all the days you want....

My "Timely" Update...

I know, I know....it's been far too long since I posted an update. There are a few of you that probably think I sunk into a deep depression, but rest assured I am doing fine. Life moves about as usual and the days seem to run together with home and work. I should probably make my New Year's Resolution to actually take time for myself once in a while, you think?

Ian is busy. Busy growing up and socializing. What lies ahead is another developmental stage that will make any mom teary eyed. He is pulling away from "the parents" and turning to "the friends". That is okay, though. It is expected and Ian has, for the most part, been a very good judge of character and I really enjoy the friends he has chosen. They all seem to have good morals and strong family units. He surprises me often with his emotional maturment, and Josh and I realize we really are doing a good job with him :)

So what, I'm NOT supposed to turn the water on?



Abby and Keara are your typical close-in-age sisters. They play so well together and fight even better on some days! Abigail is growing up too fast for her daddy and I as she will be 4 this spring. She is such a bright little girl with a whol lot of love to give. So caring and emphathetic, very much a "first born" in her own right. Keara is very vocal with a much larger vocabulary than Abby had at her age. She still struggles with her Atopic Dermatitis but we seem to have plateaud out with a few flare ups here and there. We did find that the Zyrtec off brands do not work for her. She is very sensitive to ingredients and the Brand name just works best for her. She is working through her 2nd sinus infection in 2 months right now. I have never seen a human being produce as much snot as this little girl!! THANK GOODNESS that Josh taught her to blow her nose last year!!

Look mom! We can use the hose without you!!

The first photo was taken at my friend Jana's house. She is one of my inspirations as a Christian women and a dear friend. We have known each other for about 7 years, but I think our friendship took hold when I became pregnant with Abby. She encouraged me with breastfeeding, using the cloth diapers (and rallied for the BEST baby shower gift of a large supply of them) She and Timothy now have 3 beautiful children and I hope that we can remain friends for many years to come! Her son Tristan is such a polite young man (at almost 5) and even held an umbrella for Abby when it was sprinkling outside!! (by the way, that is the dress I made for Abby. It didn't hold too well in the wash so I still have a lot to learn)

Josh is still madly in LOVE with his job! He will be taking his second PAT on December 1 in Houston. Please keep him in your prayers both for his progress and his trip there. He will be staying with his cousin Matt (we thank you for keeping him Matt!) There have been a few changes at work, but it is all good :) I will be picking up a couple of night shifts a month now to help with the income. It will be a bit difficult, but it works best with eveyone's schedules so I shall oblige. I will be working closer to home to do this, so no need to worry about the long drive! I will continue to work my 2 days a week at Harris in Fort Worth. The CVICU is a busy place and I don't think I can leave them! I love it there.

I will be working Thanksgiving and "black Friday" as it has come to be known. I'm sure Josh and the kids will find a large feast to attend (either Phil and Kim's or my mom's). To everyone else...remember to be thankful for all we have, our family and friends, pray for our troops and bless the retired Vet's who served in so many wars to maintain our freedom. Let us remind our children of the true blessings we have to be Thankful for. Oh, and don't forget to watch FOOTBALL!!!!

I'm having one of those days. You know, the kind where you contemplate your life; where it is, where it is going, the decisions you made? Yea, I know-"what are you talking about Jenny??" First let me pre-empt this with the statement What a fantastic lesson today in service!!

Most of my close and dear friends and family know that I have always had a strong desire for a large family. Most of my friends will tell you that I have at some given point wanted at least 5 kids. (Now, if you are laughing you can stop reading. I don't need the criticism) I grew up in a pretty nice extended family. Both my parents are 1 of 5 siblings. I missed out on that. It's me and my brother (I love you dearly, Eric) but I really feel like I missed out. I felt isolated and alone most of my pre-teen and teenage years. Probably even into most of my adult-hood. So from a tender age I wanted to have lot's of kids. Mom, you may disagree but you also disagreed with me about money and happiness :) My problem was that I had Ian at 19 and then focused on school and work without thinking that my child-bearing years were getting behind me. Oh, I also didn't take the time to really find Jesus (He would have solved my problem quicker, I'm sure). Now that I have a very Christ centered life, everything seems so much more clear and my purpose so much more desirable. Don't get me wrong, I reap tremendous reward in my career as a nurse. For that I KNOW the Lord is using me. I just have this nagging, burning empty feeling inside. As if something is missing. My maternal instinct tells me that I am not done having children. That there is at least one more the Lord deems in my future. "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." (Psalm 127:3-5)

My delema is focusing and listening to my Lord. Which priority comes first? My longing to bear children blessed to me, or strengthening my witness to turn the heart of my husband? See, Josh is not a believer and thus our viewpoint on children is much different. I Know with full faith that the Lord will provide for our family as long as we welcome Him into our hearts. Josh feels that we have to provide and looks at the secular, worldly reasons as to why it is not a good time for children. My view: It's not the house that makes a home, it is the tradition and happiness inside that make a home. I never have and still don't need a particular lifestyle to feel good. "naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand" (Ecclesiatstes 5:15) It is very difficult to argue either point when we are so opposite in our beliefs. Which leads me to...

How did I end up here? How did I manage to find, fall in love with, and marry a man who is so opposite than me? How blinded was I to his non-belief? I'm trying to figure out why it was not so important to me in the beginning. 1 Answer: I was not a full fledged Christian. I knew my belief but had not turned my life over to Jesus. Now that I have, how clear life is!

Don't get me wrong, I love my husband. He comes right after God. I support him in every way a wife should. I have come to the realization that if I was not a beliver, we would probably be divorced by now. But my faith in Gods plan for me gives me faith and courage and patience. That through my witness and example, he too will come to know Jesus. "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that , if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1-2)
I'm beginning to wonder if my hardest most trying "test" will be to walk with Josh until he comes to know Christ. In comparison, raising a flock of kids will be a walk in the park.

Personality

Abby never fails to amaze me. Of all of our children, she seems to have been blessed with the grace and demeanor of someone beyond her years. She has recently taken up photography. No, not professionally. Not even with permission to use the camera. We just seem to find her snapping photos of inanimate objects, her sister, or herself. She has been respectful with the cameras, just fails to ask permission to use them (this does not make her brother happy, Ian likes his camera).

So the other day Josh and I were "lounging" on the bed watching the stock market fall when Abby came in to cuddle with us. I jokingly took out the camera and lo an behold, Abby started posing!! It was so cute it was funny. Josh and I could not stop laughing. At one point we wondered if CPS would come looking for us. She is a riot!!

This would be her "frog" pose. An original.

I laugh at how serious she tries to be. Posing as if

for a magazine cover!

This last one is daddy's favorite. She resembles him almost as a carbon copy. She has such a photogenic way about her, maybe we will indulge her new found love of the camera? Mind you, her Christmas 2006 photo-she is crying in it.

Ok all you grandma and grandpa's. Here is a nice close up of that sweet little devil. Don't let the looks fool you, she can be quite the sneaky trouble starter.

My September Endings....

Where to begin. Or begin? Anyways, where in the world has this year gone?? I swear it was just yesterday that we were starting 2008 and now Christmas is around the corner. I hate the holiday time of year for the sheer fact that shopping and materialism are the evil in the air. They become the forefront of most people's agenda and the spirit of the season is overlooked by many. So sad.

Well, I survived my first born transcending into a high-schooler. The dance. He had a great time, looked great, and behaved himself (for all I know). He didn't take a date saying he didn't want to have to "entertain someone". Smart kid. Did you know that there are Afterparties for 9th graders? I mean, come on!! What are these parents thinking?? The kids are all of 14 years old. Going to IHOP with some parents is one thing, going to a house party is another. A parent can only pray and then leave the rest in God's hands.

good looking kid, ain't he?

Josh decided (after a big argument about Keara's skin and the carpet involvment...I accept my fair share of the responsibility) to tear up the living room and hall carpet...himself. It took him 5.5 hours and I honestly did not take him seriously when he said, "Fine. I'll just rip it up tomorrow." My bad!! Never underestimate a Capricorn. Never back a Cavender into the corner. Lesson learned. Duly noted honey!

So here I sit, in my cement floor home waiting for the one estimate that is most reasonable. We are in no rush to get the flooring done. I would like it done by halloween but we are being reasonable, fiscal, and if that means a bit of our own sweat and blood...it will be good for us. This might be a blessing in disguise? It sure would make Josh and I work together on a mutual project for the first time :)

I think the blue walls could be a project, too. Drum on Drummer.She's got some skill!!!

1. October __reminds me of hot apple cinnamon cider, fresh baked sweet breads and cool fall nights at the drive in movies_.

2. Creepy Crawly bugs and ones that fly__ scare me!

3. Leaves are falling all around, it's _the best time of the year and I am 7 all over again.

4. My favorite horror movie is _Nightmare on Elm Street__ because _it was the first one to really scare me!

5. _Family + Holidays_ = good memories.

6. It was a dark and stormy night __and I was reading a good book with a cup of hot cocoa, the kids asleep.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _time with the kids, tomorrow my plans include _tying up a few loose ends and cleaning__ and Sunday, I want to _get through my first day of computer charting at work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday Fill-in's

1. _Cool weather, pumpkin pies, and football are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I __totally forget what I was doing, thinking, or saying!

3. __We will never be parents like ours were! and that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, I _build a bridge and get over it.

5. __Home (josh would say in front of the computer) or at WalMart_ is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for _stew, crafts, and book reading_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _dinner alone with Josh (my dh)_, tomorrow my plans include __sending Ian to his first HS dance_ and Sunday, I want to __be cancelled from work!! so I can attend church!

Long Lost Friend

I am so excited!! After online searching off and on for the last 3.5 years, I have finally found my dearest best friend Christine "Red" Downing. Now, that isn't here current last name, just the one that is most notable to me. She'll probably kill me if she sees that I posted her undesirable nickname, but it's better than "beaner" (that would have been mine...I still use jenibean). We are planning on meeting up on Tuesday and now I can't wait!!
Life passes us by so quickly and we sometimes forget just how important people are to us until we can't see them. So much has happended in our lives and there are times I should have been there for her, but wasn't. Now I know she doesn't hold that against me, I just think I would have done her a lot of good to be in her life at that time. But God has a plan, and sometimes that means that I don't get to make the rules. Pooey. I want to . But we all know that friends come and go at times in our lives that God sees fit, times that we need them and they need us. Then we have to be reminded of how sweet those times were and go through life without that special person (or people). Lucky for us we are now, once again, going to rule the world together. Here's to a cold Dr. Pepper, cheetos and bean dip. I love you Christine!!!

On the Path to Healing...

Picked up Ian from school and went for his first post-op check since removing the "hardware" from his right collar bone. That would be the screw that was placed on June 13 (what an aweful day for surgery, friday at that). Things are moving along well and the incision is healing nicely. They replaced the steri-strips (no biggie) and he will have the stiches out next Friday. Dr. Fagleman doesn't like the stiches removed by anyone other than in his office; I can appreciate that. His motto "we put 'em in, we take 'em out".
Ian's only restriction now is no contact. That translates to "no football". But he can work out to his hearts content. Oh, and he can play golf. As if he has been doing that over the last year. Go figure.

Friday Fill-in's

And...here we go!
1. I enjoy ___the smell of rain.
2. __My grandparents and step dad Jim (all deceased)_ is something I wonder about often lately.
3. In your heart, you knew _I was the one_.
4. Take __Life__, add a little _Love_and struggle and you end up with _a strong marriage__.
5. Life has gifted me with _a fantastic family!
6. ___An empty calendar day__ is an instant vacation.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _relaxing with the girls_, tomorrow my plans include _working my 12 hours_ and Sunday, I want to _Praise the Lord and attend my bible study_!

Finally, a bit of news on the Keara-front. We went back for a follow up visit with Dr. Meiser and found out some insightful information; it seems our dear daughter is allergic to everything except cockroaches. Hmm. Those nasty bugs that will outlive a nuclear attack. Figures. So much for an ant farm, no, ain't having a roach farm. Well, the bright side is that we can start to treat her in about 6 months. He likes his kiddos to be able to verbalize what their body is feeling in case she has a reaction to the shots. In the meantime, we will probably be finding a new home for our dear kitty Coral. She unfortunately is allergic to animals as well. Keara is beginning to sound like my dad? We can be grateful she does not have any respiratory reactions like asthma.

Ian will be getting the screw out of his shoulder next week. He is excited since this means he will be released to full contact sport by basketball season. Yea!! This time around will be much simpler with a very quick recovery. He just has to wait 4-6 weeks for the hole where the screw was to heal in. Everything else about his break and repair looks perfect. Praise God!

Well, not much else I can think of? No, nothing special was done for my birthday. My best neighbor did buy me the BEST cupcake ever and I savored the whole thing!! Love ya, Jen! Maybe I'll get my big wish come true this year, and don't bother asking what it is...Josh knows and that is all that matters.

Who Would Have Thought?

So here we are, in the middle of walmart (well hell, that right there says it all!) doing our grocery shopping when Ian decides he wants to look at shoes. "Umm...Okay, here?" (I swear that kid goes from one extreme to the other) We just talked about Journey's, now he wants to look in Wally World. Whatever. I look down the aisle and he begins running up and down the other end as if he has to find the bathroom QUICK. I'm thinking, "what the heck is he looking for?" That's when I hear it...."Hey mom!! I found them, and they fit!" to which I reply...."Let me see them". My next statement is "Are you kidding me!?" I so badly want to start laughing but he is being dead serious as I can tell by his expression of joy. All I can think of is, "wow, my life has come full circle and I am shopping with Grandpa Templar". Well, for those of you with teenagers you have probably seen the new fad. Yep, welcome back Mr. Rogers. Vans has officially brought back the slip on loafer. As Ian stood there, admiring his new found shoe, it took every ounce of refrain that I had to not point and laugh. I smiled graciously and said, "sure, for $9.97 I'd buy you two pair". Of course, as we round the bend knowing I have just made my 14 year old happy, he says "You know that guy Mr. Rogers? He used to wear these." Thanks Ian. You sure do know how to make me feel youthful. "You want to go look for a nice zip up sweater to go with those?"

Our New Garden Friend

Well, look what we have here! As I meander to my small veggie garden today, I notice that one of my tomato plants looked-shall we say-thin? I mean, come on, just the other day is was bushy and fruitful. Today, no. It was nothing more than a green stalk. With a big fat Tomato Horn Worm just plumping himself up for a bit of his hibernation. So needless to say, I pulled up all of my tomato plants and began the dreadful tilling being sure to rid my garden of every last little worm I can find. For how long I do this is left to be discovered. My question is "will my cucs be affected?". Oh, and those wonderful wasp stings I suffered on Saturday... GO AND EAT THE WORMS!!! At least now we know where that gigantic moth in the garage came from. Josh thought it was a monarch butterfly...

Do You Remeber When?

Today I sent my oldest child off to high school. Did you hear me, HIGH SCHOOL. I mean, where in the world has the last 14 years gone??!!?? I remember clearly the agonizing 2 hours and 41 minutes it took to push that boy out of my young body. 8lb 9oz 21.5 inches long. Now he is 120 lbs, 5'11" and growing into a very handsome, sweet, smart and talented young man. I think back over the years and realize what a blessing he has been to my life. He came along during very difficult times under not-the-greastest of circumstances and has become nothing short of amazing. I was a very young mother and wondered how in the world I would raise and support a young man and have him become all he can be. Well, I haven't done so bad and if had not been for Josh, who has taken on the role of dad in all sense of the word, we may not be in such a wonderful place. Ian continues to amaze us in how much he has grown and matured. Now as his mom, I want to keep him "little" as long as I can (he does look down on me now) and still want to push far away the milestones that are creeping up on us daily. Like driving. He wants a learners permit at 15 (which is only 3 months away) and I want him to wait until he is 16. Smart idea I tell myself. And Josh agrees. 15 and 16 year olds these days are way too immature to handle a large vehicle. We all see the horrific accidents regardless of any speed or alcohol involvement. But then I ask myself, "is this your way of controlling when he grows up? Or how he grows up?" and to that I answer: YES. I want my little boy to always be my little boy. I know I have to let go at some point, but now? Now is too soon.

I thank God for the ability and blessing to stay home with him as much as I can. I am so very grateful to his dad for supporting Ian in all he does. I am grateful that we can be present at his sporting events, get him to and from school functions, and be in the home when he is done for the day. We are a family. Despite the 11 year age gap, he adores his two little sisters and would move heaven and earth for them. They adore him. "bubba" is the greatest. To watch them all interact after a long day is precious.

So hear is to the past that has gone with the speed of light, and to the years ahead of milestones, memories, and much appreciated time together.

Friday Fill-in's

Here we go:
1. You know you're old when ___you sound like your mother.
2. My heart is divided between ____home______ and ____more kids___.
3. ____Rest!__ is what I need RIGHT NOW!
4. I have felt the ___joy of motherhood_______, I have known the depths of ___despair_and poverty____.
5. Gah, won't these people _____stop being greedy_____.
6. ___Accept Christ___ as soon as you can!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _getting home____, tomorrow my plans include __being an outstanding nurse___ and Sunday, I want to __REST___!

Injury #3...

You know, I sometimes wonder what kind of "hangman" game it is that God plays? I've always known (having worked in the critical care field long enought) that EVERYthing happens in 3's. Code Blue...just wait, 2 more on their way and 1 will without a doubt be at shift change. So it is no wonder that we have once again, found ourselves in the midst of another beating.

Monday evening Keara and Abby were running around the couch while I was preparing, moreso preping, for dinner when all of a sudden I hear a loud scream followed immediately by loud crying. I run over to Keara to find her holding her forhead and when she moves her hand....yep, you got it-scalp wounds bleed like a stuck pig. OUCH! A nice laceration to her right eye. Same spot as daddy did 4 years ago but just the other eye. I get it all cleaned up, put some ice on it for about 5 minutes and then re-evaluate it. Uhhh.....crap. Even I am convinced it needs some stiches. So off we go to AcuteKids and she unwillingly gets her eye "glued", meaning no stiches!! :) [A fantastic pediatric urgent care facility I might add]

Tuesday we went to see Dr. Meiser [www.aactmd.com] for an eczema/immunilogical evaluation. LOVE HIM. A doctor who is into the cause of Keara's problems, not just pushing prescriptions. Well, one treatment he really stressed was putting her in wet wraps. So for the last 2 days we have had her in 2 pairs of pajama's the first pair wet (with lots of aquaphor on her skin) and the second pair dry and you would not believe the difference!! I was totally shocked at the results. For the 1st time in I can't remember when, she did NOT itch after her nap! At all!! For the rest of the day!! I was close to tears of joy and relief. To know that there is a way for her to not be so miserable and self destructive just melts a mothers heart. There is nothing more that her dad and I want than a healthy, happy, itch free life for her.

Here we go:
1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to _little house on the prairie_____.
2. Give me ___sanity___ or give me ___padded walls__.
3. I am listening to ____my computer humm...__.
4. Somewhere, someone is thinking ___but it isn't me!_.
5. I'll always be ___proud of my husband and children__.
6. My idea of a good time includes ___lots of laughter and friends_.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __being home___, tomorrow my plans include __by brother's barbeque___ and Sunday, I want to __Praise HIM!!!!

Summer Update

Wow! How busy our summer has been. Where should I begin?

Ian finally had his shoulder repaired (on Friday the 13th of all days). He required a bone graft and screw which will be removed in October. 4 weeks after that he can go back to full contact sports. Until then, he misses out on his Freshman year of football. A sad thing, but he is happy that he will get to try out for either basketball or soccer. He is still deciding which to play. His arm is still in a sling, but tomorrow is the last of the 6 weeks and the arm comes out. We will find out Monday what his physical therapy will be and for how long. He has tried to maintain equality among "the Guns" during this time :)


We had the great pleasure of driving to Rochester NY and visiting family for a total of 11 days. My dad and step-mom could not have been happier to have all of the grandkids together and enjoying each other. The girls favorite part was the garden in the back yard, feeding the birds and the fish and just wandering around. How my step mom can put flowers wherever and have them look professionally planted is beyond me. I can't get fruit from my vegetable plants in this Texas heat. We visted Niagra falls for a day, had a family "picnic" and saw cousins I had not seen in quite some time with their new families.

Ian had fun with Jerry and Morgan (our neice and nephew). He and Jerry were 2 peas in a pod; one with a broken shoulder the other a broken ankle. We had a wonderful stay with them and look forward to seeing everyone again, soon.


(Ian and Jerry are 3 months apart in age)



I love this picture of my dear Grandma Schultz. Isn't she beautiful?? These are her 5 great-grandkids from left: Caden, Abby, Brenna, Ian, and Keara. Is it me, or do they all have Irish/scottish names??








Daddy and his girls on the Canadian side of the falls. Abby looks smitten with him...she is "daddy's little girl"








Josh and my step-brother Pete hanging out in my dad's driveway.







We also spent some time at my Uncle Scott and Aunt Lisa's house in Lima, NY. This is his brother, my Uncle Gary and his "new lady friend". Isn't she cute? She seems to be tailored to handle his otherwise, impervish personality :) Finally, someone versed in dealing with "Special Kids"!! We had a great time with all of them (being from my mom's side of the family) and could not get over how big the "girls" are (they are fraternal twins). Talk about drop dead gorgeous!!




My dad dancing with his girls around the living room. What a good sport he is!





The rest of our good news lies in Josh finally landing his dream job at a Golf Course!! Yea! How bad can it be to wake up 5 days a week and say to yourself "I have to go to the golf course again??" I am so happy for him.

Life has been busy with church, kids, home and work. I still smile when I think about my decision to move to CVICU, what a blessing it has been. Keara will be seeing an immunologist soon, and hopefully we can figure something out. She gets a wee bit better for a while, then backslides with her skin and infections.

I'll try to post a bit more often, it can be hard to find time with all that is going on. High School and Preschool are on the horizon (Abby and Keara from home, of course) so my days will be jam packed! I have lots of goals set for myself and hope to meet most if not all of them!! Keep us in your prayers, and blessings to everyone.

Summer is Here!

The heat is upon us, and tomorrow marks Summer Solstace. We have had nothing but chaos and blessings in our home over the last few weeks. Ian had his surgery: a bone graft and screw to his right collar bone. Now he spends the summer in an arm immobilizer and what he feels is a "wasted summer vacation". Abigail had her first annual Ballet Recital dancing to "Lonesome Butterfly" which was adorable!

My dear husband has, at last, landed himself a much deserved position with a very reputable golf course here in our area. We are so proud of him, and so thankful that he will finally begin the journey to a life long passion of his. Please keep praying for his eventual acceptance into the PGA program.

I have at last finished my Orientation to the CVICU and could not be happier. This was by far the best move I could make and I find myself working amongst a fantastic and skilled group of nurses. The entire staff is great, and my welcoming is more than I could have wished for. Here is to a long relationship!

We leave soon on the road to Rochester, NY to visit with family, a visit that is long overdue. I look forward to the precious time with my grandmother, and fun times being "daddy's girl" once again. It will be a car full with 5 of us, but enjoyable at least. Here's to nostalgic summer road trips!!

Abby and Ian chillin on the couch pre-surgery

one last game of Guitar Hero before surgery

Grandma C visits again!
Finally, cherry tomatoes blossom!
Abby in full costume for her dress rehearsal

Hospital Trips

Yet once again, we struggle with the ongoing illnesses of our youngest daughter. Keara had developed an odd looking wound on the end of her left index finger sometime Saturday or Sunday. Well, lucky for Keara momma knows that red+inflammed+pus= INFECTION. So I called her Pediatrician who takes a very strong stand for our dear little girl, and had her put on Bactrim (antibiotic) since she recently had MRSA of her hands and feet. (Methycillan Resistant Staphalycoccus Aureus). Well, needless to say that it started to get worse and spread to other fingers by Wednesday. So come Thursday (May 22nd) we went from sitting in the Pediatricans office to sitting in a hospital room in the Pediatric Wing awaiting our first doses of Vancomycin and Cleocin; two very strong IV antibiotics. This set the precedence for a fun and eventful Friday.

The very start of her right index finger

Her left index finger with beginning necrosis

The Pediatric Hospitalist decided her fingers looked bad enough (with worsening necrotic areas) to have the ICU intensivist come and see her. They, in need of a case study, began literature research based on all of her symptoms searching for any underlying issues that may have been overlooked (quite refreshing for Josh and I). In the meantime she is having a Uticaric flare up, but not itching??

By this time Mommy and Daddy are tired, frustrated, and ready to see her begin to heal. Mind you, we have Ian and Abigail at home so there is mass chaos in trying to coordinate care. A Grateful THANK YOU to our dear neighbors The Stubbs!! They are truly a blessing :)

Ok, so the Hospitalist comes in and tells me that she is trying to find a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon who specializes in Hands. Have you ever looked for one??? Yea, few and far between is an understatement. She is fearful that her fingers will need repair once they are opened, and wants to have the best doctors available. Soooo, off we go via Ambulance to Medical City Children's in Dallas.

Let me go back and just add that albeit Presby Plano is a small hospital, it has an AWESOME Pediatric unit with the doctors, nurses, lab techs, dietary staff, housekeeping, you name it. We could not have been made to feel more comfortable and confident with everyone. Praise and Recognition to Sue RN, Jessy RN, Stephanie RN, Dr.'s Skranika and Frost and the rest of the staff!!!

After a brief rush-hour accident on good 'ol I-75, we finally arrive to Medical City at just about shift change. Yea. We nurses know how fun a last minute admission is :) The attending MD decided after a thorough evaluation that she would take Keara to the Treatment Room (with Daddy) and Lance her fingers, cleaning out the debris. This was done to both index fingers. Now mind you, Keara is in a full blown Uticaric and Eczema flare up and has been given Benadryl, Vistaril, Zyrtec and is still going strong. But low and behold, she prevails with a smile and a new coloring book!

By the next morning (Saturday) we are looking 100% better, acting better, and get to go home with NO IV medications :)

I still can't quite believe how parents can handle life with a chronically ill child. What a blessing for us that even though she does have issues, they are no where near as bad as some families have. Thank you to my parents, in-laws, brother and (future) sister-in-law, niece, neighbors, and all who have offered support and prayers. I truly believe that it is the prayers that led Keara to such a quick, minimally invasive recovery.

Go Rams!! District Champions 2008

Ian #20 Roach Rams 8th Grade Soccer

There is a Season...

These past few months seem to have gone by so quickly! Summer is nearly upon us and Lord I feel like I have accomplished nothing. Abigail is progressed no further with her preschooling, all due to my lack of persistence. It sure makes it a bit more difficult when I am having to work more than my usual 2 days a week. It amazes me just how much more time I have for home and my children by cutting back on just one day a week. I feel like I am letting her down, even though her desire to learn is still very strong (and for that I am grateful).

Things are still a bit rough here with Josh pursuing a new career option. We are cared for first by our Lord, then closely behind from our family and friends. We could not do it without everyone and for that we are immensly grateful. I know in due time, his calling will work out and he can follow his dreams paving a road of happiness for himself. Through Christ all things are possible.


I signed up for one of our Home Groups with Church. This will be a very positive thing for me. I definitely need more spiritual guidance, and need to be surrounded and grounded by those that hold dear the same beliefs and practices as me. I am doing everything in my power to be a true witness in my home, and if this helps strengthen me, then bring it on!!

Ian will be playing in the District Soccer Meet this weekend. His school is going into it in First Place!! Yea!! I wish them all the best of luck, for they are playing so much better as a team than at the beginning of the year.


I will be officially making a career change on May 25th. It is off to the CVICU that I go. I will be taking on Cardiovascular Surgical patients (versus the medical) and moving on to IABP and CRRT. 2 goals of mine to accomplish before I retire (many years from now). I am very excited to be moving on to a highly motivated team with great leadership qualities. I will still be working part time, which I don't think I will ever change? I may have to work extra on occasion, but never sign up for the workload on a permanent basis again. There are 3 reasons at home, and God willing, there will be more.


I find myself repeating, it seems, the same thoughts each time I journal. Is it my way of reinforcing them to myself? Am I that amazed that I can feel so profoundly and deeply for something that is so selfless?? I don't know, maybe it's just that I don't have the secure support for my feelings that I would like to have. Like I am having to prove myself, yet once again, to those I care for as if I'm not good enough.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5

Keara turns 2

My gosh, how time flies! I can clearly remember the easy labor and quiet bonding time that Keara and I had for 2 whole days in the hospital. How dark and wavy her hair looked, and that she, unlike Abby, fit into her newborn clothes to go home in. I loved having the 12 weeks off to be home with her and it was the best time ever. Nursing went so much easier this time around, but she never quite slept like her older sister. I think with Keara it is when I truly realized how precious my kids are, and how much I want to do nothing other than be a mom. Now my sweet little baby girl is a big 2 year old.
She has had so many obstacles to overcome with her food allergies, seasonal allergies, eczema, asthma, so on and so forth. Yet she is the most smiling, happy, and cuddling child of all. She will interact with just about anyone she comes across.
We had small little celebration, and their friend Amelie cam over to have cupcakes with her. Abby was proud to sing "Happy Birthday" all by herself. Keara wasn't up for much smiling, she had a cupcake to devour.




Keara enjoying her first chocolate cupcake!



She just can't get enough of it

I took the girls to the Fort Worth Zoo for the day. Keara was beside herself! She wanted to climb up on every railing she could to see what her big sister was looking at. And that she got to see so many animals that she could recognize was the coolest part. I think if left alone, she might have stayed with the monkeys :)






These 2 photos were of the most awesome part of all, the Parakeet Cove (?). It is a huge walk-in "bird cage" where the parakeet's, cockatiel's and dove's fly around freely. I purchased a "seed stick" one for each so they could feed the birds. Abby had no trouble at all, but Keara was a wee bit on the short side and needed some help. They both had birds sitting on the sticks eating seed and they had the biggest smile's on their face!! Poor Keara, she kept trying to pet the birds and they wouldn't let her :(

Do you ever stop to think of why you are on the road you're on? Do you wonder where life and circumstances are taking you, and what your role is in all of it? Sometimes I feel like putting on my mucking boots because the perverbial poo-poo seems to be getting to too deep.

I found out a mutual friend is pregnant with her FIFTH child. How awesome is that!!??!! I must admit I am very jealous of her. All my life I have wanted lots of kids. I'm talking like four or five. Heck, at this point I would be happy having as many as the Lord wanted to bless me with. I love being pregnant, love giving birth but the best part is being there while they grow up and nurturing them until they fly the nest. Knowing that they are who they are because of their parents. How can you not want that? Don't get me wrong, I have 3 beautiful children that I am blessed to have, but deep down I yearn for more. A yearning so deep and strong I don't think it will ever go away.

We've had a lot of success this week with our "preschool work". I try to catch Abby on her good days when she is really interested, and then we have a lot of fun. Some days I'm lucky to get 15 minutes out of her. When she shows interest, Keara is not far behind wanting to copy whatever sister is doing. They are growing so close in their relationship now and I do hope that it lasts for the rest of their lives. They share a room together and I imagine that they share whispers at night, sometimes a little too loud for mommy and daddy to allow :) I know there will come a day that they will despise having to share a room, but they'll work it out because in the long run, it's good for them.
Ian won his first Soccer game this week. I missed it. Had to work. That's the part that I hate, missing out on the important things especially since there are not many years left for him before he's off to college. WOW! I can't believe it is becoming that close!
Oh, my lettuce and carrot seeds are peeking through the dirt!! I'm so excited that I've gotten them this far :) Wish me luck, I have a long way to go.
Well, here's to hoping that we can figure out what will happen and where we will be this summer. To enjoying our precious children answered prayers. I hear screaming in the background-girls are in full swing right out of naps!

Easter

What another fabulous and blessed day!! I love the Easter season. What better time to re-commit our lives than during the season of re-birth and renewal? It brings about a profound sense of living with planting season, spring time, flowers beginning to bloom, and sunshine and warmth abounding. We get to lose those winter "blahs" and get invigorated with energy. Spring cleaning, here I come!! (OK, maybe another day for that) We had a great time at Church (http://www.fellowshipofstonebridge.org/ ) listening to an awsome sermon by Pastor Ryan and doing the egg hunt, then a great family dinner at my mom and Rick's with my brother Eric, his fiance Saydonica and her daughter katelyn. A good friend of my mom's (Kim) was there to celebrate with us as well. The only sad part of today was finding out my step-mom's mom had passed away yesterday. She was well into her 90's and now at much peace.

Say (29) and Eric (30)

Keara and Uncle Eric (30)

Me, Nana, Keara and Abby

Keara (23 mo), Ian (14) and Abigail (3)

Abigail @ the egg hunt

Keara @ the egg hunt

Katy (7), Keara (23 mo) and Abby(3)

Me and my girls