Janice was transferred to Salem on Monday...PRAISE GOD! We are so thankful for that. Now she is where friends and family can more readily see her and visit with her. :)
Terry is making slow progress. Originally, he was to return to work today, but that was only a tentative date. He is still taking the pain meds, and as long as he's doing that, he isn't supposed to be around the machinery. So for now, it has been pushed off to Monday. I am hoping he is able to go back to work, for his sake and mine. :) I love him dearly, but having him home this much is not as fun as we once thought it would be. LOL
The boys have a TKD tournament on Saturday and we've been preparing for that. They have had their normal classes each week, but have been practicing extra hard here at home and been going through constant practice of the details while in class. There is so much to remember! So many bowing times, so many moves, so many rules.... things thy don't normally have to think about. I am pretty sure Brent will do well, but Clayton has a harder time remembering that many things...so we will see. Either way, they will get trophies and/or medals for simply participating. Really, the part that concerns me most with Clayton is sparring. He doesn't like to get hit during the normal sparring in class and that kind of sparring is gentle compared to the kind of hits he will get at tournament. But, all we can do is our best (that's what Brent keeps saying) and encourage Clayton to go back regardless of how this Saturday turns out. LOL
Sunday, we're supposed to have a birthday party at a roller skating rink and the boys are VERY excited to get to use their new skates! We will have to see how Terry is doing before deciding on that venture!
One thing to be thankful for: we have done school EVERY day during this little 'butt issue' of Terry's. Believe me, for us that is a phenomenal achievement! Most times, I would have just said, "two week vacation" and been done with it. But I really think that being consistent with schoolwork has helped the boys stay on track with attitudes and with routine in a situation that is far removed from our normal routine.
Now, off to watch some football! :)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Insights into schooling...Things I've learned today
We decided to go ahead and have school this morning and I'm glad we did. I got Clayton started on his stuff have to say he is really getting the hang of more/less and patterns. I was really excited when we were doing the more or less paper and I started him out counting each object and thinking about which number was higher or lower (which is how we have done it in the past couple of weeks). Well, we did that for a couple and I let him do the next one by himself. He did it in his head! :) Now, for some this is no big deal. But for him this is a major accomplishment. To 1) count the objects in his head without using the pencil to point at each object, and 2) to decide in his head (without saying the numbers out loud) which one was more or less is just phenomenal progress. :) I was SO pleased!
Brent did very well with his schoolwork. We've been working really hard on lower-case letters...he absolutely hates to write them and prefers upper-case letters. But he's made a HUGE effort over the past 2 weeks to ONLY write with lower-case when doing schoolwork. And it's amazing at how the simplest of praises will make him try even harder to do better! I commented on how good yesterday's work looked (he did school with Grandma yesterday since I was gone) and he just BEAMED! :)
Next after Brent finished his phonics workbook, we moved on to a part of English/language: we learned about adjectives today. Wow, I never thought something could be so hard to explain and understand. I had to come up with about 3 different ways to explain them until Brent would finally understand how to find an adjective in a sentence. (Of course, then he would point at the verbs and try to call them adjectives, and since we haven't talked about verbs, it was a bit confusing! :)) Well, we continued on and he slowly got it and was able to work through 8 (simple) sentences on his own underlining the adjective and then drawing an arrow to the noun it described. Very cool!
And I have to be amazed at how well he does math. To some it's not so big, but he is farther along in many areas of math (for his age) than I was at that time. He does things in his head! He had a measuring part today where it was a picture of a triangle and it asked how many inches the longest side was, the shortest side, the third side and then what the distance was around the triangle. On the longest and shortest sides, he was fine. No problem. But then he got a bit confused on the the "third" side question. I had to remind him how many sides a triangle has and then it dawned on him (I could actually SEE the light bulb turn on over his head!) and he realized that the third side was the one he hadn't written about yet. Then when it asked about the distance around it, he started to measure each side again....I stopped him and said, "You know, there is an easier way to do this...." He just looked at it...stared at the numbers for a second and then said, "OH! It's 9 inches!" He just added it all up in his head. Anyway.....cool for me, the teacher. LOL
Now that school is done and daddy is flying high on his pain meds (he said he's enjoyed seeing the puffy clouds and geese flying by him while he's up in the sky!), we're off to the movie store to rent some movies for the weekend!
Brent did very well with his schoolwork. We've been working really hard on lower-case letters...he absolutely hates to write them and prefers upper-case letters. But he's made a HUGE effort over the past 2 weeks to ONLY write with lower-case when doing schoolwork. And it's amazing at how the simplest of praises will make him try even harder to do better! I commented on how good yesterday's work looked (he did school with Grandma yesterday since I was gone) and he just BEAMED! :)
Next after Brent finished his phonics workbook, we moved on to a part of English/language: we learned about adjectives today. Wow, I never thought something could be so hard to explain and understand. I had to come up with about 3 different ways to explain them until Brent would finally understand how to find an adjective in a sentence. (Of course, then he would point at the verbs and try to call them adjectives, and since we haven't talked about verbs, it was a bit confusing! :)) Well, we continued on and he slowly got it and was able to work through 8 (simple) sentences on his own underlining the adjective and then drawing an arrow to the noun it described. Very cool!
And I have to be amazed at how well he does math. To some it's not so big, but he is farther along in many areas of math (for his age) than I was at that time. He does things in his head! He had a measuring part today where it was a picture of a triangle and it asked how many inches the longest side was, the shortest side, the third side and then what the distance was around the triangle. On the longest and shortest sides, he was fine. No problem. But then he got a bit confused on the the "third" side question. I had to remind him how many sides a triangle has and then it dawned on him (I could actually SEE the light bulb turn on over his head!) and he realized that the third side was the one he hadn't written about yet. Then when it asked about the distance around it, he started to measure each side again....I stopped him and said, "You know, there is an easier way to do this...." He just looked at it...stared at the numbers for a second and then said, "OH! It's 9 inches!" He just added it all up in his head. Anyway.....cool for me, the teacher. LOL
Now that school is done and daddy is flying high on his pain meds (he said he's enjoyed seeing the puffy clouds and geese flying by him while he's up in the sky!), we're off to the movie store to rent some movies for the weekend!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Answered prayers! (soon)
I just found out tonight that Janice is supposed to be transferred to Salem on this next Monday (Lord willing)! We are so excited and thankful that Terry's sisters have been able to get things lined out with the hospital and get her moved back to her hometown. Then we see how well she continues to do (she's been walking with her walker every day this week...which is a HUGE accomplishment for her!) and we're praying that she continues to progress so well.
Thanks to all for the prayers!
Thanks to all for the prayers!
Terry's surgery today...
Hello to all. We finally made it home about 7 PM this evening and I got Terry settled in .....he is on Percoset and boy is he HAPPY! LOL He keeps looking at me saying, "I love you....I love you...." and I'm thinking, "I love you on Percoset!" :)
But I digress.....
He had his surgery this afternoon and came through it fine. The surgeon came out and talked with me and explained that they opened the fistula and realized it was on the exterior side of the gluteal muscle (the butt muscle) and she just knew at that point that there had to be more due to the amount of pain it had caused. So, she began probing and using the ultrasound and found a secondary fistula tract that went under the gluteal muscle and was much larger/bigger. She decided that if she were to cut the muscle away (as was originally planned) and create the trench, it would take too much of the 'controlling' muscles away and cause incontinence problems. So, she has put in a seton and we go back in 4 weeks to finish (hopefully) everything.
So, since we thought we were having closure through this, and now we aren't, we're a bit disappointed and depressed. However, we are thankful that the surgeon made the decision she did in thinking of Terry and his age. :) So the day has been bittersweet, but is ending on a happy note since he is 'happy' with his medication! :)
We thank you all for the prayers and concern and ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue with this 'endeavor'. Perhaps by spring he will be healed!
But I digress.....
He had his surgery this afternoon and came through it fine. The surgeon came out and talked with me and explained that they opened the fistula and realized it was on the exterior side of the gluteal muscle (the butt muscle) and she just knew at that point that there had to be more due to the amount of pain it had caused. So, she began probing and using the ultrasound and found a secondary fistula tract that went under the gluteal muscle and was much larger/bigger. She decided that if she were to cut the muscle away (as was originally planned) and create the trench, it would take too much of the 'controlling' muscles away and cause incontinence problems. So, she has put in a seton and we go back in 4 weeks to finish (hopefully) everything.
So, since we thought we were having closure through this, and now we aren't, we're a bit disappointed and depressed. However, we are thankful that the surgeon made the decision she did in thinking of Terry and his age. :) So the day has been bittersweet, but is ending on a happy note since he is 'happy' with his medication! :)
We thank you all for the prayers and concern and ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue with this 'endeavor'. Perhaps by spring he will be healed!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Countdown has begun!
Well, Terry is entering the final countdown for the surgery tomorrow. I'm just as nervous as he is. :) I have faith that it will all be okay and we'll make it just fine. The Lord is faithful and will have us in His care!
The boys are definitely feeling the tension through all this. Brent has been only half-listening to things....(whether it is intentional or not, I haven't determined. There is a part of me that thinks he could truly not be hearing things b/c of his mind being preoccupied with other things. But then again, he could be using this time to 'play' mom and dad....) and Clayton is getting a major attitude that I'm having to call him on. He's getting a little big for his britches....which could be a phase and could be him just acting out cuz he thinks he can. Oy....it's so exhausting!
Mom is coming down tonight to spend the next few days with us so that I can focus on Terry and his healing without having to deal with the boys being underfoot. I just know how they have been in the past 3 months, I don't need them inspecting every little thing like they've been doing. LOL
I have finally gotten all of 2007 files out of my file cabinet and am set up to start filing 2008. :) That's a HUGE thing for me....I normally don't get that all done until tax time!
Brent came and got in bed with me this morning, something he doesn't EVER do....but this morning he woke up with a bloody nose. :( Terry said, "I'm confused as to why he's getting bloody noses" and I reminded him that it is winter, after all, and he is also MY son...meaning he has inherited my luck with nose problems. (I was plagued with bloody noses as a kid because my veins in my nose were so close to the surface that anytime I blew my nose or got it bumped (even lightly) it would bleed.) Anyway, it didn't last long, but it wasn't a very good way to start the day.
We've been working really hard to get back into a school routine. There is a part of me that wonders why I'm trying to do anything with all the surgery stuff that's going one. But then again, I know me. Last week would have been surgery, this week would have been surgery, and then next week would be recuperation time, and then the next week there would be some excuse as to why we could get by without doing school. So I just decided to plunge in and get started. And if we only get 3 out of the 5 days done, so be it. It's still better than we would have done had I allowed for excuses. :) So I feel better and I guess that is what matters at this point! LOL
Better get my lesson finished....and then on to Bible class!
The boys are definitely feeling the tension through all this. Brent has been only half-listening to things....(whether it is intentional or not, I haven't determined. There is a part of me that thinks he could truly not be hearing things b/c of his mind being preoccupied with other things. But then again, he could be using this time to 'play' mom and dad....) and Clayton is getting a major attitude that I'm having to call him on. He's getting a little big for his britches....which could be a phase and could be him just acting out cuz he thinks he can. Oy....it's so exhausting!
Mom is coming down tonight to spend the next few days with us so that I can focus on Terry and his healing without having to deal with the boys being underfoot. I just know how they have been in the past 3 months, I don't need them inspecting every little thing like they've been doing. LOL
I have finally gotten all of 2007 files out of my file cabinet and am set up to start filing 2008. :) That's a HUGE thing for me....I normally don't get that all done until tax time!
Brent came and got in bed with me this morning, something he doesn't EVER do....but this morning he woke up with a bloody nose. :( Terry said, "I'm confused as to why he's getting bloody noses" and I reminded him that it is winter, after all, and he is also MY son...meaning he has inherited my luck with nose problems. (I was plagued with bloody noses as a kid because my veins in my nose were so close to the surface that anytime I blew my nose or got it bumped (even lightly) it would bleed.) Anyway, it didn't last long, but it wasn't a very good way to start the day.
We've been working really hard to get back into a school routine. There is a part of me that wonders why I'm trying to do anything with all the surgery stuff that's going one. But then again, I know me. Last week would have been surgery, this week would have been surgery, and then next week would be recuperation time, and then the next week there would be some excuse as to why we could get by without doing school. So I just decided to plunge in and get started. And if we only get 3 out of the 5 days done, so be it. It's still better than we would have done had I allowed for excuses. :) So I feel better and I guess that is what matters at this point! LOL
Better get my lesson finished....and then on to Bible class!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Follow-up on T: after consultation
Well, on Friday morning the boys were up and ready to sit and eat breakfast (fully dressed and ready to leave) by 5 AM. What troopers they were! Of course they were both sleeping on the way up to St Louis, but who can blame them? :)
We arrived at the medical office about an hour before the appointment, so we took some time and just went leisurely about our business and were actually able to see seen at an earlier time. :) They have decided to do surgery on Terry this coming Thursday in St Louis. It will be general anesthesia (tubation required) and is called a fistulotomy. The way the dr explained it to me is that they are going to take the tunnel they have right now and blow the roof off it and create a trench. You can look at the link above and learn more if you wish.
Please keep praying for us....
We arrived at the medical office about an hour before the appointment, so we took some time and just went leisurely about our business and were actually able to see seen at an earlier time. :) They have decided to do surgery on Terry this coming Thursday in St Louis. It will be general anesthesia (tubation required) and is called a fistulotomy. The way the dr explained it to me is that they are going to take the tunnel they have right now and blow the roof off it and create a trench. You can look at the link above and learn more if you wish.
Please keep praying for us....
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Terry's procedure
WARNING: If you are bothered by "TMI" stuff and medical details, you may want to skip this post!
Last night when the medicine kicked in, we noticed that the toilet seat was getting wet every time he would go to the bathroom. We were puzzled by this, b/c the only explanation was it was coming from the wound-hole, which we thought was mostly closed up. We figured we would just know more in the morning.
We were up VERY early this morning to get Terry to the hospital by 7. They got him right back there and had him IV'd up and gowned. They gave him an enema (I know, ewww) and the nurse was a bit shocked b/c the enema oozed out of the wound-hole, which she wasn't expecting. They had him back to surgery by 8:15 and back in the room with us by 9. Dr. Sharlow came and talked with us a bit later explaining that the fistula was circular instead of straight through, which is why it wasn't closed as we all had thought, and that b/c of this, he couldn't track the fistula. He was sending us on to a rectal specialist (who sets out in life to become a rectal specialist???) and that she would need to do a rectal ultrasound to track the fistula and close it off. (Just sounds more painful to me!) So we see her for a consultation on Friday morning in St Louis.
But now, poor Terry. His hiney-hole (not the wound-hole) is really sore and we're thinking that is either from the enema or from Dr. Sharlow prodding to find the fistula area. Or both. Plus, they have repacked the wound-hole with an iodine filled gauze because it was infected now as well (which makes me feel really bad....I've been the 'nurse' that has been helping him through all of this). I'm supposed to pull the gauze out about a 1/2 inch per day and cut it off, and other than that we continue with the gauze pad covers like before.
He's tired. He's sore. And he's frustrated. He just wants this to all be over and it looks like we're talking an even longer recuperation time. I wish I knew what else to do to help him.
Last night when the medicine kicked in, we noticed that the toilet seat was getting wet every time he would go to the bathroom. We were puzzled by this, b/c the only explanation was it was coming from the wound-hole, which we thought was mostly closed up. We figured we would just know more in the morning.
We were up VERY early this morning to get Terry to the hospital by 7. They got him right back there and had him IV'd up and gowned. They gave him an enema (I know, ewww) and the nurse was a bit shocked b/c the enema oozed out of the wound-hole, which she wasn't expecting. They had him back to surgery by 8:15 and back in the room with us by 9. Dr. Sharlow came and talked with us a bit later explaining that the fistula was circular instead of straight through, which is why it wasn't closed as we all had thought, and that b/c of this, he couldn't track the fistula. He was sending us on to a rectal specialist (who sets out in life to become a rectal specialist???) and that she would need to do a rectal ultrasound to track the fistula and close it off. (Just sounds more painful to me!) So we see her for a consultation on Friday morning in St Louis.
But now, poor Terry. His hiney-hole (not the wound-hole) is really sore and we're thinking that is either from the enema or from Dr. Sharlow prodding to find the fistula area. Or both. Plus, they have repacked the wound-hole with an iodine filled gauze because it was infected now as well (which makes me feel really bad....I've been the 'nurse' that has been helping him through all of this). I'm supposed to pull the gauze out about a 1/2 inch per day and cut it off, and other than that we continue with the gauze pad covers like before.
He's tired. He's sore. And he's frustrated. He just wants this to all be over and it looks like we're talking an even longer recuperation time. I wish I knew what else to do to help him.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Here we go...
Well, tonight is the night for Terry's prep work for his procedure tomorrow. :( It's gonna be a LONG night for him and me. Since his original wound is still open, anytime the meds kick in from the Miralax drink, I have to be right there when he is done in the bathroom. And if his night is anything like the night I had when I had my colonoscopy a couple years ago, neither of us will get much sleep tonight. :(
We're to be at the hospital at 7, which means we'll most likely be home before noon...which is nice. Terry said he doesn't expect me to have to stay home from church tomorrow night, but we'll see.
The boys are back in full swing with school and I'm trying to keep things in order. It's so hard for me...I'm not a good manager of most things. Maybe one day.... LOL
I will post more tomorrow or the next day regarding how Terry is doing following the procedure and hopefully be able to report on what they find.
We're to be at the hospital at 7, which means we'll most likely be home before noon...which is nice. Terry said he doesn't expect me to have to stay home from church tomorrow night, but we'll see.
The boys are back in full swing with school and I'm trying to keep things in order. It's so hard for me...I'm not a good manager of most things. Maybe one day.... LOL
I will post more tomorrow or the next day regarding how Terry is doing following the procedure and hopefully be able to report on what they find.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Christmas is OVER! :)
Well, the holiday season is finally over. Hehe. I say finally because we've literally been celebrating since Thanksgiving! The kids have received so many gifts (great gifts!) that they will be busy long into the year! I think the BEST gift they got this year was one that was completely unexpected and NOT asked for on their Santa lists: roller skates! Brent got blue and Clayton got pink (YES, pink....those were the only two choices and besides, he LOVES pink!). They spent Christmas day and the day after in skates. Literally! I had to make the boys take them off to go to bed...they couldn't understand why they couldn't' sleep with the skates on! HA! But it was quite interesting to see them figure out how to move on the skates, but they did quite well.
Terry got me an MP3 player, which is something I have been asking for for months. He never could understand what I wanted with one until he saw the excitement on Brent's face when he got an audio book and realized I could upload the book to the MP3 player for traveling! So much use will come from it...I'm so excited!
We had a great time with the extended family in St Louis in Janice's hospital room. Yes, 16 of us piled in her hospital room to exchange gifts last Thursday night. It was a short holiday for her, but one I know she enjoyed. We sang Christmas songs and worship songs (she asked for that...she hasn't been to worship since the first of August due to the hospital stays!) and she really enjoyed it all. She got teary-eyed with it, but it was a good thing. :) On Saturday, we did the Smith Christmas and got visit with Lenell for a few hours and catch up with her before she leaves for the Ivory Coast.
Now, we're just trying to remember what a routine is (we have gotten our days and nights mixed up with all the late nights!) and put everything away. Terry goes in for his colonoscopy and surgery next Wednesday. Tuesday should prove to be interesting....the prep for it. If you've never had a colonoscopy, find someone who has and ask them about the prep for it..... It isn't fun! After that, it's a couple weeks of recovery time. Hopefully I can maintain a semblance of a routine while he's home. :)
Happy New Year everyone!
Terry got me an MP3 player, which is something I have been asking for for months. He never could understand what I wanted with one until he saw the excitement on Brent's face when he got an audio book and realized I could upload the book to the MP3 player for traveling! So much use will come from it...I'm so excited!
We had a great time with the extended family in St Louis in Janice's hospital room. Yes, 16 of us piled in her hospital room to exchange gifts last Thursday night. It was a short holiday for her, but one I know she enjoyed. We sang Christmas songs and worship songs (she asked for that...she hasn't been to worship since the first of August due to the hospital stays!) and she really enjoyed it all. She got teary-eyed with it, but it was a good thing. :) On Saturday, we did the Smith Christmas and got visit with Lenell for a few hours and catch up with her before she leaves for the Ivory Coast.
Now, we're just trying to remember what a routine is (we have gotten our days and nights mixed up with all the late nights!) and put everything away. Terry goes in for his colonoscopy and surgery next Wednesday. Tuesday should prove to be interesting....the prep for it. If you've never had a colonoscopy, find someone who has and ask them about the prep for it..... It isn't fun! After that, it's a couple weeks of recovery time. Hopefully I can maintain a semblance of a routine while he's home. :)
Happy New Year everyone!
Friday, December 21, 2007
A great mail day...
You just HAVE to love getting the mail when you get 12 pieces of mail in ONE day and not ONE of them is a bill but ALL of them are Christmas Cards!!!!! That was a good evening to sit and 'read' the mail!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Quite the week!
This week has been sort of boring for us...but I'm so tired, regardless. :) We (the boys and I) have spent most of the week working on cleaning and school. But that is typical. I'm just doing more cleaning than normal.
Brent has been sick this week...just a sinus/head infection. It's made his voice a bit croaky and he's been coughing a lot, but I think he's feeling better.
During this time of Brent being sick, Clayton has helped out more with the emptying of the dishwasher. The other day, he and I were working on it together and he asked me to do something for him that he couldn't reach. He said, "Thanks mom. You know, we're supposed to do nice things for each other, that's why I'm letting you do me this favor." LOL He was so serious, but it was so funny.
This morning, it was a typical Thursday morning for us: CRAZY! Thursdays are so busy that we have to literally hit the ground running. Well, I got the trash bundled, got Terry's lunch and breakfast done, got dressed and was sitting down to check email, when I heard 2 cars start outside. So I looked out the window....Terry had my van pulled up in front of (and facing) his car with the hoods up on both. He was having to jump his car.... :( So I went outside and asked what happened and he just turned and looked at me and said, "Thanks a lot!" See, I had borrowed his car last night for church (it was already warmed up) and apparently I didn't turn the lights off completely. The switch was almost to the off position. So, his battery was dead. :( So he got to scrape off his car AND my car (which I thanked him for!) before he could leave for work. Well, off he goes and I hear him drive away. Then I hear the lock on the front door...he's coming back in. He had stuck MY van keys in his pocket and drove off with them! Of course, he HAD to bring them back...we were leaving in less than 30 minutes. Argh! What a morning.
Well, it gets better. :) We had ice coming down tonight and so everything was covered over. I asked T when he got home how bad his car was covered tonight and how hard it was to get into. He just grinned. Apparently, he tried opening the door and nothing. He kinda pounded on the door to break the ice. Nothing. He used the edge of his key to cut into the ice on the edges...Nothing. He finally held the handle and put his fingers at the top and just pulled with all he had. Still nothing. Hmmm. He said he finally decided there had to be something wrong, but to be sure, he would check the locks. He had never unlocked it to begin with!! The poor thing has had such bad luck with cars today. :(
(And really, I'm NOT laughing at all!)
I better go get the kids to bed. I need to get my contacts out and hit the sack myself.
Brent has been sick this week...just a sinus/head infection. It's made his voice a bit croaky and he's been coughing a lot, but I think he's feeling better.
During this time of Brent being sick, Clayton has helped out more with the emptying of the dishwasher. The other day, he and I were working on it together and he asked me to do something for him that he couldn't reach. He said, "Thanks mom. You know, we're supposed to do nice things for each other, that's why I'm letting you do me this favor." LOL He was so serious, but it was so funny.
This morning, it was a typical Thursday morning for us: CRAZY! Thursdays are so busy that we have to literally hit the ground running. Well, I got the trash bundled, got Terry's lunch and breakfast done, got dressed and was sitting down to check email, when I heard 2 cars start outside. So I looked out the window....Terry had my van pulled up in front of (and facing) his car with the hoods up on both. He was having to jump his car.... :( So I went outside and asked what happened and he just turned and looked at me and said, "Thanks a lot!" See, I had borrowed his car last night for church (it was already warmed up) and apparently I didn't turn the lights off completely. The switch was almost to the off position. So, his battery was dead. :( So he got to scrape off his car AND my car (which I thanked him for!) before he could leave for work. Well, off he goes and I hear him drive away. Then I hear the lock on the front door...he's coming back in. He had stuck MY van keys in his pocket and drove off with them! Of course, he HAD to bring them back...we were leaving in less than 30 minutes. Argh! What a morning.
Well, it gets better. :) We had ice coming down tonight and so everything was covered over. I asked T when he got home how bad his car was covered tonight and how hard it was to get into. He just grinned. Apparently, he tried opening the door and nothing. He kinda pounded on the door to break the ice. Nothing. He used the edge of his key to cut into the ice on the edges...Nothing. He finally held the handle and put his fingers at the top and just pulled with all he had. Still nothing. Hmmm. He said he finally decided there had to be something wrong, but to be sure, he would check the locks. He had never unlocked it to begin with!! The poor thing has had such bad luck with cars today. :(
(And really, I'm NOT laughing at all!)
I better go get the kids to bed. I need to get my contacts out and hit the sack myself.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Christmas at Thanksgiving
Last weekend was a full one for us! It started on Thursday morning with Terry and I going to see his mom in Chesterfield. I had made her some fried chicken adn we filled a sandwich bag FULL of it...she ended up eating the entire thing while we were there. I had estimated that there was about 1 to 1 1/2 chicken breasts in there...so she had a substantial amount of protein! We were all thrilled that she was eating, and so was the staff at the facility. :)
We came home and had Birthday dinner for D and got the kids ready for bed...afterall it was 'Christmas Eve' for them. They got their new PJ's from Grandmas and went to bed...they were ALL asleep within 30 minutes, which is odd for them....they all like to lay in bed and talk and play and giggle. But that night, they went right to sleep.
The next morning was Christmas for them. Below are some pictures:
Mom helped us get our decorations out and she and the boys put the tree together.
Left: Clayton was so intent on getting the branches just right! Right: Clayton opened his stocking to find a gift-card attached to a cute frog! All the kids got gift-cards with different animals attached.
Above left: Brent got his first chapter books (Magic Tree House). Above right: He received a remote control truck from his cousins. VERY cool! Left: He is SO excited to receive his FIRST Bionicles. Obviously, he's a bit excited! LOL
Anyway, we had a blast and played many games. Terry still spent a good majority of the weekend in bed, since he couldn't sit in the chairs for too long a time. hehe But in the end, we were all ready to end the weekend. Between exhaustion and illness, it was time for us to all go our 'respective' ways...mine was straight to bed that night! LOL
I hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving!
We came home and had Birthday dinner for D and got the kids ready for bed...afterall it was 'Christmas Eve' for them. They got their new PJ's from Grandmas and went to bed...they were ALL asleep within 30 minutes, which is odd for them....they all like to lay in bed and talk and play and giggle. But that night, they went right to sleep.
The next morning was Christmas for them. Below are some pictures:
Mom helped us get our decorations out and she and the boys put the tree together.
Left: Clayton was so intent on getting the branches just right! Right: Clayton opened his stocking to find a gift-card attached to a cute frog! All the kids got gift-cards with different animals attached.
Above left: Brent got his first chapter books (Magic Tree House). Above right: He received a remote control truck from his cousins. VERY cool! Left: He is SO excited to receive his FIRST Bionicles. Obviously, he's a bit excited! LOL
Anyway, we had a blast and played many games. Terry still spent a good majority of the weekend in bed, since he couldn't sit in the chairs for too long a time. hehe But in the end, we were all ready to end the weekend. Between exhaustion and illness, it was time for us to all go our 'respective' ways...mine was straight to bed that night! LOL
I hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Time to prepare
Well, it is Tuesday and we have worship tonight (instead of tomorrow night) so that only leaves me a few hours of today to work on the house. Hmm....what should I do first? Laundry? Clutter? School? LOL There are so many to choose from and NOT enough time!
Most of the family will be here on Wednesday night (mom and dad) but Sis and her family MIGHT be here in the middle of the night tonight. I will know more about that in a few hours.
I need to get a few things done before church tonight: organize food list, a few loads of laundry, and make supper. Then tomorrow I have 2 Dr's appointments (9 and 11) and need to wrap presents sometime before D & K get here. Then tomorrow night for dinner I'm making fried chicken so I can take some to Janice on Thursday. Plus in the middle of all that, I need to get back to the store to finish buying the perishable supplies that we'll need. I really am not sure when I will get it done. LOL
Oh, and then someone needs to clean up the basement for the kids so they have a place to play over the weekend. Hmm.....wonder who will end up with that job??
Oh and have to thaw the turkeys...did I mention I have over 34 lbs of turkey this year??
Plus, there are still presents that haven't arrived. Grr....I do NOT like the idea of not having the gifts here when we open the rest of the presents.
Okay, I have to go get busy. The boys need lunch and I need to swap the load that just finished washing. Sometime this afternoon, I need to sit down with my lesson for Bible class....the ladies class on Wednesday nights has started studying Revelation and I'm SO excited! WE just started last week, but I really think this will be a good and fun study.
More later....hopefully some pictures to share! (Which reminds me I need to charge the digital camera batteries! LOL)
Most of the family will be here on Wednesday night (mom and dad) but Sis and her family MIGHT be here in the middle of the night tonight. I will know more about that in a few hours.
I need to get a few things done before church tonight: organize food list, a few loads of laundry, and make supper. Then tomorrow I have 2 Dr's appointments (9 and 11) and need to wrap presents sometime before D & K get here. Then tomorrow night for dinner I'm making fried chicken so I can take some to Janice on Thursday. Plus in the middle of all that, I need to get back to the store to finish buying the perishable supplies that we'll need. I really am not sure when I will get it done. LOL
Oh, and then someone needs to clean up the basement for the kids so they have a place to play over the weekend. Hmm.....wonder who will end up with that job??
Oh and have to thaw the turkeys...did I mention I have over 34 lbs of turkey this year??
Plus, there are still presents that haven't arrived. Grr....I do NOT like the idea of not having the gifts here when we open the rest of the presents.
Okay, I have to go get busy. The boys need lunch and I need to swap the load that just finished washing. Sometime this afternoon, I need to sit down with my lesson for Bible class....the ladies class on Wednesday nights has started studying Revelation and I'm SO excited! WE just started last week, but I really think this will be a good and fun study.
More later....hopefully some pictures to share! (Which reminds me I need to charge the digital camera batteries! LOL)
Friday, November 16, 2007
It's gonna be a FUN weekend!
I simply can't wait for this weekend! Mom and I are going to the Arts and Crafts Fair that is this weekend....at 3 different locations! I am so excited! There is so much to look at and some of it is really cool (while some of it I can't see how ANYONE would pay money for it....but that's me!). LOL We went last year and are ready to go again this year.
After that, we will most likely start the process of food shopping for next weekend. I need to get the turkeys and some of the food bought so I don't have so much to do next week. Then there are presents to wrap and food to make. So much fun!
While we're gone, Terry and the boys plan on getting the fixings for homemade pizzas....and then making them for us all for dinner! The boys are excited to get to do something like that with Daddy....they don't EVER get to cook with their dad. :)
After that, we will most likely start the process of food shopping for next weekend. I need to get the turkeys and some of the food bought so I don't have so much to do next week. Then there are presents to wrap and food to make. So much fun!
While we're gone, Terry and the boys plan on getting the fixings for homemade pizzas....and then making them for us all for dinner! The boys are excited to get to do something like that with Daddy....they don't EVER get to cook with their dad. :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Great video...
I have seen this video before and thought I had posted it here, but can't find it. So am posting it now. I get chills everytime I watch this. It is labeled as "The Mission" Lifehouse's Everything Skit.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Slow start to the week....
Well, it's Monday. And I'm already tired. LOL We had a VERY busy weekend of getting all the Christmas decorations put up. Mom and dad helped us and we got it all done in about 4 hours. :) The boys had a lot of fun helping (I think) and are very pleased with all the lights in the house. :) (Then again, the Budget Man isn't so happy about all the lights!)
We had a busy day on Sunday of church, naps, and church. LOL
Then today, we did some school and worked on laundry and getting some things organized. Tomorrow, we have several appointments and places to go, so we may not get as much done. But that is okay. LOL
We have Christmas/Thanksgiving next week with my family and I'm working on getting everything around so it will be an easy and fun filled weekend. I have several places to go and several phone calls to make...not to mention gift shopping. :) I LOVE that part! :)
Time to go cuddle my boys....
We had a busy day on Sunday of church, naps, and church. LOL
Then today, we did some school and worked on laundry and getting some things organized. Tomorrow, we have several appointments and places to go, so we may not get as much done. But that is okay. LOL
We have Christmas/Thanksgiving next week with my family and I'm working on getting everything around so it will be an easy and fun filled weekend. I have several places to go and several phone calls to make...not to mention gift shopping. :) I LOVE that part! :)
Time to go cuddle my boys....
Friday, November 09, 2007
Lord, thanks for the reminder
This week has been a depressing week for me. :( I had a Tupperware party on Monday night that was a bust...1 person showed up! I was so very depressed. Then I found out that something was going to be happening tonight (Friday night) and I wouldn't be able to attend. Then I check my email and see a post in a chat group that is virtually identical to one that I had posted earlier in the week. But this person gets rave reviews about their post, while mine went completely unnoticed. So, let's just say that by Wednesday afternoon I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and having all sorts of pity-parties for myself. Ugh.
Terry came home for lunch ....which if you know our situation, you know that he NEVER comes home for lunch, especially on a Wednesday, cuz it just takes TOO much time from his day and makes it harder for him to get to church that night, but the Lord sent him to help me. I believe this. .....anyway, we got talking and I told him how I was feeling and he said: "You know, it seems that with everything we know of going on with this family (won't mention names) and then with this person's dad, and now with how you're feeling....it seems that Satan is really working hard to attack Christians right now. Maybe now that you know that, you'll feel better." I told him that I was almost afraid to go to church that night cuz I didn't want to ADD to my feelings of being an outsider and end up feeling worse. But, I knew I would go, cuz that was the right thing to do.
Well, let me tell you. The LORD showed me a thing or two that night. I learned of a family that afternoon (my next door neighbor) who is dealing with a cheating husband and facing divorce....and they have only been married about 6 months. They have a daughter who is only 10 months old (okay, so they put the cart before the horse, but NO ONE deserves this....) How weird! As I was typing this, she came over with the baby to 'vent' and chat. :) So glad she felt like she could come over...she said she would do it again. Well, anyway, he is not willing to reconcile and she is finding herself in a situation that she never dreamed she would be in. When she married him, she thought she was marrying for life.
Then at worship that night, we were going over prayer requests before beginning class and one lady brought up the family who is local that has recently had a multitude of problems come their way...
1) they are young (22 and 25) and have 7 kids already, 2 of which (the most recent) are twins. One of those twins had issues in-utero and they knew she would have problems on the outside. She ended up in St Louis in the hospital, on a ventilator and the Dr's told her she had to make a decision about continuing life support....so the mom calls the dad who ends up leaving the other 6 kids with her dad so he can help in the hospital.
2) Something happened with their heating and he was using a wood stove (the young dad) and apparently it wouldn't light, so he threw on some gasoline.... Yeah, you know what happened. He is now in St Louis hospital with 70% burns on his body.
3) Shortly after that, the mom is home with the kids and she hears
something from one of them about a lighter...then a neighbor pounding on the door about flames coming from the second story windows... Well, there are oxygen tanks in the house (for the sick baby) and she starts throwing them out the window while trying to get 7 kids out of the house. The house is old and apparently is GONE before they can barely call for help.
Then 4) while she is cleaning up the kids from the soot and such from the fire, she starts finding bruises and marks on the children....after an examination, she is told they have been physically (and most likely sexually) abused by her father...the one who was caring for them while mom and dad were in the hospital in St Louis with the little baby.
SO! Needless to say, this story completely put my 'woes' into perspective and I thank GOD for my problems....knowing they could be much worse. I am humbled and blessed and I'm sorry it took me all of this to realize it all yet again. God helped me push Satan away once again, and I'm thankful to Him.
Terry is doing much better...he's been working this week and only comign home when he needs to....well, when he needs to have the bandage changed. I have to do that, obviously. He is still having to have me put his socks and shoes on in the mornings, but I can deal with that. He just can't bend over or lift things yet. But he got all the 'packing' removed on Wednesday and he says it feels much much better not having all that gauze in there. !!!! We will both be so thankful when this is all completely over and we hope and pray it won't happen again.
We are decorating for Christmas this weekend.... I KNOW, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But this year, we are having Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend...at my house, so it HAS to be decorated. Not that I'm complaining. Hehe. An extra couple weeks to have my house decorated and I'm thrilled! :) Mom and dad will be here this weekend to help me, so I don't have to do it alone this year. That's a blessing. :)
I better go finish cleaning the kitchen and get some supper started.....
Terry came home for lunch ....which if you know our situation, you know that he NEVER comes home for lunch, especially on a Wednesday, cuz it just takes TOO much time from his day and makes it harder for him to get to church that night, but the Lord sent him to help me. I believe this. .....anyway, we got talking and I told him how I was feeling and he said: "You know, it seems that with everything we know of going on with this family (won't mention names) and then with this person's dad, and now with how you're feeling....it seems that Satan is really working hard to attack Christians right now. Maybe now that you know that, you'll feel better." I told him that I was almost afraid to go to church that night cuz I didn't want to ADD to my feelings of being an outsider and end up feeling worse. But, I knew I would go, cuz that was the right thing to do.
Well, let me tell you. The LORD showed me a thing or two that night. I learned of a family that afternoon (my next door neighbor) who is dealing with a cheating husband and facing divorce....and they have only been married about 6 months. They have a daughter who is only 10 months old (okay, so they put the cart before the horse, but NO ONE deserves this....) How weird! As I was typing this, she came over with the baby to 'vent' and chat. :) So glad she felt like she could come over...she said she would do it again. Well, anyway, he is not willing to reconcile and she is finding herself in a situation that she never dreamed she would be in. When she married him, she thought she was marrying for life.
Then at worship that night, we were going over prayer requests before beginning class and one lady brought up the family who is local that has recently had a multitude of problems come their way...
1) they are young (22 and 25) and have 7 kids already, 2 of which (the most recent) are twins. One of those twins had issues in-utero and they knew she would have problems on the outside. She ended up in St Louis in the hospital, on a ventilator and the Dr's told her she had to make a decision about continuing life support....so the mom calls the dad who ends up leaving the other 6 kids with her dad so he can help in the hospital.
2) Something happened with their heating and he was using a wood stove (the young dad) and apparently it wouldn't light, so he threw on some gasoline.... Yeah, you know what happened. He is now in St Louis hospital with 70% burns on his body.
3) Shortly after that, the mom is home with the kids and she hears
something from one of them about a lighter...then a neighbor pounding on the door about flames coming from the second story windows... Well, there are oxygen tanks in the house (for the sick baby) and she starts throwing them out the window while trying to get 7 kids out of the house. The house is old and apparently is GONE before they can barely call for help.
Then 4) while she is cleaning up the kids from the soot and such from the fire, she starts finding bruises and marks on the children....after an examination, she is told they have been physically (and most likely sexually) abused by her father...the one who was caring for them while mom and dad were in the hospital in St Louis with the little baby.
SO! Needless to say, this story completely put my 'woes' into perspective and I thank GOD for my problems....knowing they could be much worse. I am humbled and blessed and I'm sorry it took me all of this to realize it all yet again. God helped me push Satan away once again, and I'm thankful to Him.
Terry is doing much better...he's been working this week and only comign home when he needs to....well, when he needs to have the bandage changed. I have to do that, obviously. He is still having to have me put his socks and shoes on in the mornings, but I can deal with that. He just can't bend over or lift things yet. But he got all the 'packing' removed on Wednesday and he says it feels much much better not having all that gauze in there. !!!! We will both be so thankful when this is all completely over and we hope and pray it won't happen again.
We are decorating for Christmas this weekend.... I KNOW, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But this year, we are having Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend...at my house, so it HAS to be decorated. Not that I'm complaining. Hehe. An extra couple weeks to have my house decorated and I'm thrilled! :) Mom and dad will be here this weekend to help me, so I don't have to do it alone this year. That's a blessing. :)
I better go finish cleaning the kitchen and get some supper started.....
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Beggs Family Farm
A couple weeks ago, we went to Beggs Family Farm with our homeschooling group and got to go on a hayride, pick a pumpkin, play, and go through a corn maze. It was so much fun! This is truly the NEATEST pumpkin patch I've been to! Here are pictures from the day:
Homeschooling thought for the day...
It simply amazes me sometimes how ignorant some people/parents are about homeschooling. And believe me, I used to be one of them! LOL That is one thing that I LOVE about HSLDA....their goal is to educate the public about homeschooling and let them know (prove to them) that homeschoolers are getting a GREAT education and are VERY well-accepted (and coveted) in the colleges and society in general.
I was talking last night with a lady who seemed to look down at homeschoolers and worry about them being able to 'defend themselves and their beliefs' to the outside world (she was talking religiously and morally)...and I assured her that even at the ages of 6 and 5, my boys have had plenty of opportunity to defend their faith and their beliefs simply in the circles of friends we have. They have NO troubles being able to do this and are actually MORE firm in their beliefs because they haven't been so confused in the last few (formative) years by so many outside influences.
It makes me so thankful for the support I do receive in my homeschooling journey....from family and the few friends I have that don't look down on me for doing so. God is good!
I was talking last night with a lady who seemed to look down at homeschoolers and worry about them being able to 'defend themselves and their beliefs' to the outside world (she was talking religiously and morally)...and I assured her that even at the ages of 6 and 5, my boys have had plenty of opportunity to defend their faith and their beliefs simply in the circles of friends we have. They have NO troubles being able to do this and are actually MORE firm in their beliefs because they haven't been so confused in the last few (formative) years by so many outside influences.
It makes me so thankful for the support I do receive in my homeschooling journey....from family and the few friends I have that don't look down on me for doing so. God is good!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Laughing Preemie
I was looking for a picture on Google Images when I came across this picture below. I am just intrigued by the whole thing and had to post it....
Oh, and the link for it is: Neonatology
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