Please pray for my girls

The girls are going to the Teen Leadership Conference with our youth group this week. They leave tomorrow morning and return very late Thursday night, nearly Friday morning. I'm not happy about the road conditions on which they will be travelling, but at this time the roads aren't bad enough for me to feel okay telling them they can't go.

I know this is going to be an amazing trip for them. I have such great memories of TLC when I was a teen. I know they will learn great things and will come back with a deeper knowledge and hopefully more secure in their role in Him.

Please pray for open minds and hearts, a good time, and safety for all those attending the conference.

Sixteen Years Ago...

I had a beautiful baby girl. She had ten adorable toes and ten long fingers. She was so perfect in so many ways, except she wasn't healthy. She was having seizures, having problems breathing, couldn't regulate her temperature, and the doctors were baffled. They told us they were going to do everything they could to figure it out and to help her, but to be prepared. They'd already had to resuscitate her several times. We could visit her in the NICU, and look at our precious little girl, but we couldn't hold her. We prayed, as did so many people all over the country.

Soon we were able to feed her by holding a syringe that drained through her nose into her stomach. Then we were able to hold her and feed her with the syringe. Then finally she was able to nurse and we could take her into the family room for half an hour at a time, on monitors, of course, so we could spend time alone with her, cuddling and nursing. Two weeks later, our baby, whose life was in such peril before, was able to go home... on meds, but doing well.

Now our sweet little girl is SIXTEEN!!! She is still so beautiful, and such an amazing young Christian woman. I'm so proud to call her my daughter. She's a great sister, a great daughter, and a great person. We have been so blessed to have these amazing children!

Emily, I know you'll read this... I am so proud of you! Thank you for being such a sweet young lady! Please always remember that we love you, your siblings love you, but most importantly, God loves you! Always turn to Him in all things. I love you! Happy Birthday!!!

Mom! Something's wrong with Drew's back!!

That's what I heard a few minutes ago. I glanced up and saw that Drew did, indeed, have something weird all over his back. Upon closer examination, it looked like a flat rash, almost like broken blood vessels. Then I had this thought, "That reminds me of the hot chocolate I just cleaned off the foyer floor." Sure enough, it washed right off! How in the world does a little boy get spots of hot chocolate all over his back? And how do I stop the adreneline rush that is now speeding through my body at the thought of my son having some weird rash??? Ahhhhh... time to finish my grocery shopping, I guess. ;)

Josh's new Bible

My parents bought Josh a Children's Bible to celebrate his salvation. He received it in the mail this week and was so very excited. He was thrilled when he saw his name on the front, then giddy when I read the inscription they wrote in it, then beside himself when he started exploring the book and found pictures. So we're in the van, and he's exploring his Bible. Suddenly he screams, "It has a MAP!!!!!" Why a map is exciting to him is beyond my understanding, but it was just so cute.

We then talked about how this isn't like his story Bible. We talked about how this new Bible has all the same stuff in it that Mommy's Bible has. He then asked if it has the same stuff as his teacher's Bible at church. When I told him yes, he got this sheepish grin on his face and said, "But my teacher doesn't have PICTURES in her Bible!" He couldn't wait to show off that Bible and proudly took it to class with him this morning.

He's growing up. Sniff Sniff

Josh's New Body...

I'm supposed to be going to bed, but want to share this before I forget.

Brooke accidentally caught Josh on the cheek with her fingernail this evening, taking off a chunk of skin. It wasn't terrible, but it sure did bleed and look nasty. In the midst of me trying to control my instant urge to lose my dinner, Josh just patted my arm. He said, "It's okay, Mom, 'cause I'm going to die soon and then I'll get a brand new body!"

Okay, so we had to discuss the fact that he's not likely to die for a very long time, but he again told me, "Yeah, but when I'm really old, I'm going to die. Then I'll go to Heaven and get a brand new body that won't ever hurt!"

Gosh, I just love that boy so much!!!

Morning Star...

No, I'm not going vegetarian, at least not yet. However, since my body is adjusting to working without a gallbladder, I have to really watch my fat, or I'll get ill. The problem is, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE burgers!!! My wonderful surgeon, however, recommended the Morning Star brand Spicy Black Bean "burgers" because they are low in fat, but still leave that hamburger craving satisfied.

These things are GREAT!!! I really like them better than beef burgers! Emily even asked for one last night instead of a beef burger patty, because she likes them so much. We've had them several times now and I can't believe they are so low-fat and so incredibly tasty! Last night we had them with some salt and pepper microwave potato chips and I felt like I was getting such a treat.

We've also tried their Buffalo Wings, which are higher in fat, but delicious, and another brand's spicy chicken patties, which are great on a bun. If you're watching your fat/calories, you might want to consider trying some of these. One of my friends, who used to be vegetarian, has told me that Morning Star is her favorite, but to not EVER try the bacon substitute. So keep that in mind. LOL

Hmmmmm... I might consider going vegetarian if there was a good alternative for medium rare steak!!

The secret...

Okay, so I've been the only one who could get Drew to go to bed at night lately. Before now he just kind of ran until he passed out, much to our horror. A few weeks ago, though, I decided I'd had enough and attempted the Super Nanny's bedtime routine. That didn't work well, but adjusting it just a bit did. However, I've been the only one for whom it worked. LOL My family looks at me in awe and I think Stu has actually had to restrain himself from getting on his knees and bowing in worship of me. ROFL

Well, tonight I gave up the secret. You just have to make a deal with him! We say our prayers, I tuck him in, then I tell him I want him to stay in bed. He gives me a thumbs up and says, "DEAL!" Then I tell him I don't want him to talk, and he does the "DEAL!" thing again. Next I tell him I want him to go to sleep, which is met with... you guess it, his "DEAL!"

Yep, you just have to make a deal with him! Unfortunately my family no longer thinks I'm the "Baby Whisperer" ;)

YAY!!!

We have referrals for Emily, Josh, and Drew to see our neurosurgeon, Dr. Ellenbogen! We may finally get some answers! Brooke also needs to get her yearly MRI done in Feb, so Dr. E's assistant said we'll just schedule all four children for MRIs on the same day. Stu will have to take the day off, so one of us can stay with the boys while they are sedated and the other can go with the girls, who won't need sedation. This will probably all be delayed until February, but since it's been 6 months in the works, I think we can wait a couple more.

Thank you all for the prayers you've already said for us! I'll let you know when we have a date.