Is life ever NOT crazy? If so, I'd love to go live at a nice calm house!! But then again, I might be bored!! I just think that homeschooling my kids should make our lives so much simpler!! However, this whole school year so far has just gone by in a flash!
I have been going to Physical Therapy several times a week for a shoulder issue. It is finally better so I'm pretty sure in two weeks I will be totally done with therapy! That should slow our lives down some! Chloe is playing her little fall ball so that takes us away from home one night a week. One night I have to hurry and get supper done so Conner can get to scouts! I let the kids sign up for a drama class this semester which falls in the middle of our Monday. And then we go straight from there to art class! Conner has tennis two days a week as well. So...I'm not sure how people who don't homeschool see us as living calm, stay at home lives....it's nothing like that at my house!!
But I would not trade homeschooling my kids for the world. I didn't choose to homeschool, God chose it for me! And I'm so thankful that He led us to that decision. I would have never guessed that I would be homeschooling. My kids were going to public school no questions asked! So I guess there is one good thing about Conner having an immune deficiency and that is what led us to homeschooling! What a blessing it is!! Thank you sweet Jesus that you know so much better than we do about what is best for us!
Now, there are those days that I might not say that. There are days where Conner is easily distracted all day long, Chloe has meltdowns for no reason, and Hurricane Krisann does damage!! And since Hurricane Krisann entered our world schooling does look different. We do a lot more school while she is at naptime!! Then there are those days when I am in horrible, grumpy mood and no one likes the teacher day! And when no one likes the teacher, that generally means the teacher is not enjoying the students either! But thankfully, those days are not our normal days!
We are studying Ancient History right now and I'm weaving Bible history into our curriculum as well. So we have been studying some of the Patriarchs and the Israelites being held as slaves. We have been talking about Joseph this week. So today...we streamed the Joseph movie on Netflix. And as kids laid on the sofa and watched that movie I just had to spend some time thanking Jesus that He chose homeschooling for my family!
Going to try something new...we are taking schooling in the car for awhile. Kinda making a long trip and we are even going to try to get our school days done in the car as we travel from place to place! I'm thinking that should help pass the time in the car and at the same time...we get school days in. But...I must get busy with some strategic planning!! We use computer so much now in our schooling that my lesson plans will look different I'm sure! But I think I'm up for that challenge!!
Now if God allows me to homeschool Hurricane Krisann....I sure hope He gives me great patience! Gotta love that girl but sheesh...she is BUSY!! I read someone else's blog a few minutes ago that reminded me that one day I will be wanting her busy little body back flying around here! So I am committed to enjoy that little girl as much as I can!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Summer Reflections
I have had a wonderful summer. I have been home all summer and it has been wonderful. Chloe has been to MDA camp! She had a blast. Conner went to scout camp! He did NOT have a blast! Poor guy! He definitely grew me as a mom that week! He sent me to a place of constant prayer. Just made me think...he was on my mind constantly. And I was constantly praying for him. Every little bit, I'd say a quick prayer. And if I did that for him...why don't I do that on a regular basis about everything in life? I think I get so busy that I don't stop and pray about the little things that most likely make the greatest difference. I think I shall work on that!!
We have enjoyed the pool this summer as well! Krisann has even learned to move around in the pool! It's amazing how fast she learns! She's going to be so smart just because she learns from the two big kids!! And they are quick to try to help her learn whatever.
House has been on the market so I've spent a good bit of summer keeping my house clean. Hasn't showed very much though. I had hoped that God would sell our home quickly but have about decided that we are in the exact place God wants us. So construction is about to get underway in a month or so I hope at the Smith house. I'm ready to get it done and get us all settled!!
The rest of my summer has been spent potty training! I so wanted to get Krisann potty trained during our break from school. Can't say we are totally there yet but she is wearing big girl panties and doing pretty good. We still have accidents on occasions but that is to be expected!
The emotional status around here this summer has gotten a whole lot better too! We are beginning to find fun again and things are beginning to feel somewhat normal after quite a difficult season. So thankful for that!
Now...I guess it is time to get back into school routine. Next week, I hope to begin a few things with full school days the following week. Trying some new curriculum this year so I'm a bit nervous about that! And of course, it will be different for Krisann as well when we go back to school. I think I am going to have a harder time getting back into routine than the big kids will. I have enjoyed my leisurely summer. I have even been sleeping late! So I think I'll even have to set my alarm for awhile until I get back into routine. Guess it can't stay summer forever...but sometimes I wish it could!
We have enjoyed the pool this summer as well! Krisann has even learned to move around in the pool! It's amazing how fast she learns! She's going to be so smart just because she learns from the two big kids!! And they are quick to try to help her learn whatever.
House has been on the market so I've spent a good bit of summer keeping my house clean. Hasn't showed very much though. I had hoped that God would sell our home quickly but have about decided that we are in the exact place God wants us. So construction is about to get underway in a month or so I hope at the Smith house. I'm ready to get it done and get us all settled!!
The rest of my summer has been spent potty training! I so wanted to get Krisann potty trained during our break from school. Can't say we are totally there yet but she is wearing big girl panties and doing pretty good. We still have accidents on occasions but that is to be expected!
The emotional status around here this summer has gotten a whole lot better too! We are beginning to find fun again and things are beginning to feel somewhat normal after quite a difficult season. So thankful for that!
Now...I guess it is time to get back into school routine. Next week, I hope to begin a few things with full school days the following week. Trying some new curriculum this year so I'm a bit nervous about that! And of course, it will be different for Krisann as well when we go back to school. I think I am going to have a harder time getting back into routine than the big kids will. I have enjoyed my leisurely summer. I have even been sleeping late! So I think I'll even have to set my alarm for awhile until I get back into routine. Guess it can't stay summer forever...but sometimes I wish it could!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Survived Vacation Bible School
I have poured my entire life into Vacation Bible School the past two weeks!! I do not even want to know how many hours it would add up to be! My children have been wonderful! They have helped and helped. They have taken care of Krisann. They have been my pack mules! They have served our church behind the scenes because of my involvement! I am so thankful that God gave them sweet hearts!! My husband has had to live with a wife that has one thing and one thing only on her mind! I'm sure he's glad that I have survived as well! I know he is anxious for me to have some down time!
From my perspective, we have had a good week! I have stayed exceptionally busy. I haven't had much time to sit! But I have had very few problems to deal with! I think we've given out only one bandaid and that was today! I had a couple of great leaders who have gone with my crazy ideas, met with me every other week for months now and have worked hard to pull VBS off! We had plenty of workers! (Thank you God!) I saw our youth interact with our children in ways I have never seen! I've seen crazy hair dos! I've seen kids getting piggy back rides from one place to another. I've seen kids pulling adults up that hill that takes your breath away! I've seen preschoolers praising Jesus! I've seen kids singing their hearts out! I've seen God Sightings everywhere!! I have so much bubbling in my heart right now that I think I could type for hours and not even touch the surface of all that has been going on.
My inventions...we have all figured out that my inventions aren't perfect. Even after working for awhile today, we could not get those pandas into the balcony. We tried several times! But we sure did have fun launching those pandas!! My yoo hoo tube...well I think it was almost perfect! It sure was good for getting important messages across. I will forever remember Mrs. Lydia's rendition of God is Wild About You through the yoo hoo tube!! And my 24/7 watch o meter...a lot of work went into that creation! I owe a couple of people really big for all their help with that. I needed programs loaded on phones and ipads! Then I needed them to stay under a box and walk around with no way to see where they were going except by looking down and all the while hold their Ipad/phone camera in a small tiny area! I needed help from Mr. Will to get it all set up! It took a lot of help but together we created what was the kids favorite invention of the week! 24/7 God is always watching over you....He's got great big plans for you.
The offering we took was amazing. I always have planned something special for the kids if they met their offering goal. But this year, God just did not direct me to any one fun thing! God directed me to the Downtown Rescue Mission! We partnered with them to purchase backpacks and school supplies. Our goal for the week was 20 backpacks. At the close of VBS on Thursday, we had brought in enough offering for 9! I totally expected giving to be down this year. Just didn't believe with the economy, that we would have as much given! Oh me of little faith! Need I say that at the close of VBS today...we had enough offering to purchase 42 backpacks of school supplies!! Wow! I have heard many stories of kids emptying their piggy banks, setting up lemonade stands on their own accord, etc! How sweet those stories are and how surprised I am at the amount that was raised! I can't wait to call the downtown rescue mission and tell them that we went way over my expected goal! We might have to partner with the and purchase something else besides backpacks!! What I really can't wait for is for our VBS kids to pack these back packs and go with me to deliver and tour the Downtown Rescue Mission! I hope that field trip we will encounter later in the summer will be a special memory in the lives of our children! God rewards us in many different ways!
Life changing decisions were made! We had eight children who sought more information about knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior! What a blessing it was to get to visit with those eight children today! One little boy said he had two questions...why does God love us so much and why did God send Jesus. So we visited for awhile and he was quick to tell me that I answered one question but I still had not told him why God loves us so much! I told him that I bet he could ask 100 people and he'd get the same answer...Just because! I sure am God loves us just because!! Another little girl asked Jesus into her heart today! She was so excited! She has told everyone!! I have heard her several times tell someone! Man, I wish we all had her excitement about God's great love all the time! I'm pretty certain this world would be different if that were true!
Tears were shed! On Wednesday and Thursday, I felt terrible! On Thursday, my head hurt so bad that everytime I turned around I was crying! But thankfully, it only lasted those two days and God gave me the strength to continue even when I thought I couldn't put one foot in front of the other! More tears were shed on Friday as I visited with one little girl who raised her hand to know more about Jesus. One little girl I visited with started sobbing! In an effort to figure out what was going on in that little head, I asked her why she was sad! Between sobs, she says, I'm sad because I like to come to church and I want my parents to take me to church and they don't! I quickly assured that we didn't have to go to church! I didn't want her to have any condemnation about not going to church. I assured her that God loved her no matter what...whether she went to church or not...God still loved her! But we prayed together and asked that God would work a way out so that she could go to church! Oh, how my heart is grieved for that little girl! I can't get her off my mind!! But for some reason, I have a feeling that God is at work! And my prayer is that by next VBS, this little girl and her family will be actively involved in church!!
At the end of VBS today, I told the children if they did not have a Bible at their house I wanted to make sure they got one today! I gave out three Bibles today! Three homes represented with no Bibles now have a copy of God's word!! I had a little boy come to me and say...my dad wants me to get us a Bible. So I gave the little boy a Bible and awhile later I discover the most amazing thing! The little girl I just mentioned being so upset...it was her dad who requested a Bible. I'm shedding tears even as I write this!! What an amazing thing that God is up to! We have studied all week that God Is Wild About You! I pray that our families can continue to remember that God is Wild About Them!! God Created Us! God Listens To Us! God Watches Over Us! God Loves Us No Matter What! God Gives Us Good Gifts.
My prayer is that all my leaders and teachers that have spent this week giving of their lives, that God would give them sweet rest this weekend and rejuvenate their bodies! I pray for these children that have felt God's tug on their hearts. I pray that our church can continue to minister to these families! I pray that what children have learned at VBS, will make an impact in their lives forever! I am so honored and so thankful to have been able to direct VBS this year. It has not been an easy year! I thought that it was just I haven't been the best leader this year just due to the details of life that I have been dealing with over the past year. But I begin to see, it wasn't just me...details have not come together easily for my other leaders but I have known that God always provides. I reminded our leaders at training, that God would provide one way or another even when we didn't see the way! And He did!! Praise the Lord! I lift my hands in praise of the awesome works that God has done this week!
From my perspective, we have had a good week! I have stayed exceptionally busy. I haven't had much time to sit! But I have had very few problems to deal with! I think we've given out only one bandaid and that was today! I had a couple of great leaders who have gone with my crazy ideas, met with me every other week for months now and have worked hard to pull VBS off! We had plenty of workers! (Thank you God!) I saw our youth interact with our children in ways I have never seen! I've seen crazy hair dos! I've seen kids getting piggy back rides from one place to another. I've seen kids pulling adults up that hill that takes your breath away! I've seen preschoolers praising Jesus! I've seen kids singing their hearts out! I've seen God Sightings everywhere!! I have so much bubbling in my heart right now that I think I could type for hours and not even touch the surface of all that has been going on.
My inventions...we have all figured out that my inventions aren't perfect. Even after working for awhile today, we could not get those pandas into the balcony. We tried several times! But we sure did have fun launching those pandas!! My yoo hoo tube...well I think it was almost perfect! It sure was good for getting important messages across. I will forever remember Mrs. Lydia's rendition of God is Wild About You through the yoo hoo tube!! And my 24/7 watch o meter...a lot of work went into that creation! I owe a couple of people really big for all their help with that. I needed programs loaded on phones and ipads! Then I needed them to stay under a box and walk around with no way to see where they were going except by looking down and all the while hold their Ipad/phone camera in a small tiny area! I needed help from Mr. Will to get it all set up! It took a lot of help but together we created what was the kids favorite invention of the week! 24/7 God is always watching over you....He's got great big plans for you.
The offering we took was amazing. I always have planned something special for the kids if they met their offering goal. But this year, God just did not direct me to any one fun thing! God directed me to the Downtown Rescue Mission! We partnered with them to purchase backpacks and school supplies. Our goal for the week was 20 backpacks. At the close of VBS on Thursday, we had brought in enough offering for 9! I totally expected giving to be down this year. Just didn't believe with the economy, that we would have as much given! Oh me of little faith! Need I say that at the close of VBS today...we had enough offering to purchase 42 backpacks of school supplies!! Wow! I have heard many stories of kids emptying their piggy banks, setting up lemonade stands on their own accord, etc! How sweet those stories are and how surprised I am at the amount that was raised! I can't wait to call the downtown rescue mission and tell them that we went way over my expected goal! We might have to partner with the and purchase something else besides backpacks!! What I really can't wait for is for our VBS kids to pack these back packs and go with me to deliver and tour the Downtown Rescue Mission! I hope that field trip we will encounter later in the summer will be a special memory in the lives of our children! God rewards us in many different ways!
Life changing decisions were made! We had eight children who sought more information about knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior! What a blessing it was to get to visit with those eight children today! One little boy said he had two questions...why does God love us so much and why did God send Jesus. So we visited for awhile and he was quick to tell me that I answered one question but I still had not told him why God loves us so much! I told him that I bet he could ask 100 people and he'd get the same answer...Just because! I sure am God loves us just because!! Another little girl asked Jesus into her heart today! She was so excited! She has told everyone!! I have heard her several times tell someone! Man, I wish we all had her excitement about God's great love all the time! I'm pretty certain this world would be different if that were true!
Tears were shed! On Wednesday and Thursday, I felt terrible! On Thursday, my head hurt so bad that everytime I turned around I was crying! But thankfully, it only lasted those two days and God gave me the strength to continue even when I thought I couldn't put one foot in front of the other! More tears were shed on Friday as I visited with one little girl who raised her hand to know more about Jesus. One little girl I visited with started sobbing! In an effort to figure out what was going on in that little head, I asked her why she was sad! Between sobs, she says, I'm sad because I like to come to church and I want my parents to take me to church and they don't! I quickly assured that we didn't have to go to church! I didn't want her to have any condemnation about not going to church. I assured her that God loved her no matter what...whether she went to church or not...God still loved her! But we prayed together and asked that God would work a way out so that she could go to church! Oh, how my heart is grieved for that little girl! I can't get her off my mind!! But for some reason, I have a feeling that God is at work! And my prayer is that by next VBS, this little girl and her family will be actively involved in church!!
At the end of VBS today, I told the children if they did not have a Bible at their house I wanted to make sure they got one today! I gave out three Bibles today! Three homes represented with no Bibles now have a copy of God's word!! I had a little boy come to me and say...my dad wants me to get us a Bible. So I gave the little boy a Bible and awhile later I discover the most amazing thing! The little girl I just mentioned being so upset...it was her dad who requested a Bible. I'm shedding tears even as I write this!! What an amazing thing that God is up to! We have studied all week that God Is Wild About You! I pray that our families can continue to remember that God is Wild About Them!! God Created Us! God Listens To Us! God Watches Over Us! God Loves Us No Matter What! God Gives Us Good Gifts.
My prayer is that all my leaders and teachers that have spent this week giving of their lives, that God would give them sweet rest this weekend and rejuvenate their bodies! I pray for these children that have felt God's tug on their hearts. I pray that our church can continue to minister to these families! I pray that what children have learned at VBS, will make an impact in their lives forever! I am so honored and so thankful to have been able to direct VBS this year. It has not been an easy year! I thought that it was just I haven't been the best leader this year just due to the details of life that I have been dealing with over the past year. But I begin to see, it wasn't just me...details have not come together easily for my other leaders but I have known that God always provides. I reminded our leaders at training, that God would provide one way or another even when we didn't see the way! And He did!! Praise the Lord! I lift my hands in praise of the awesome works that God has done this week!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
So Much In a Month
Whew! So much has happened since I posted last. On April 27, a tornado swept through my town! Houses on my street with trees on top. Houses 2 miles from my home totally destroyed. Subdivisions wiped out. Over 200 people in the state of Alabama dead when the day finally ended! There are no words for the destruction that lies around here. The tornado that hit my subdivision hit about 11:30 am. Power was lost! So we spent the rest of the day with no power and stuck inside a small safe area most all afternoon and evening. What we didn't know at the time was that night a tornado came through and destroyed much of our town's power source. If you ever wonder what a ghost town looks like, I can tell you. No stores open, no fast food restaurants to pull though, no malls to walk in. No traffic lights work. You can't get gas or if you find a station that generates power for a bit you might wait longer than 2 hours to get gas! Ice and candles are quite the top bought items in nearby towns. I learned a lot during that time! We went 8 days without power here at my house. I think we were the first are to lose power and the last to get it back! I've learned you can cook many things on the grill! Entire meals were cooked on our grill! I became very resourceful at using what I had before it ruined! It was exceptionally tiring!! Keeping house during that time was difficult! We were in and out way too much to keep the floors cleaned! The one thing I missed more than power...hot water!! I have shaved my legs in the kitchen sink from water that I heated on the grill! I could go on and on about our experiences during that time! But I am so thankful that our home was not damaged and we are back to normal operations for the most part! But I think we need to have blackouts more often...no TV, no computers, no video games, no telephones...this might become a regular occurrence at my house. The first two days my kids thought they were going to go bezerk! But after that, they settled down and enjoyed life. It was a difficult thing for the marriage! A stressed husband and a weary wife doesn't mesh too well together! But God was good through it all. He offered much protection physically and emotionally!
We worked hard to finish up our schooling so we could make a trip to Arkansas. Had a wonderful trip visiting family! My niece graduated from high school! She was a little flower girl in my wedding almost 17 years ago! She walked all the way down the aisle and right as she got to the front she sat down and started crying! That little baby walked across the stage and received her diploma! I'm so proud of her. She's been dealt a lot in her lifetime but I think she has turned out to be an awesome young lady! I'm anxious to see what God is going to do in her life! Got to spend some time with Zine's family as well! It's such a blessing for Zine to connect to some of his family that he's never known! It was a great time!
Vacation Bible School will be here in one more week! This week I have been consumed with preparations. Directing VBS can sometimes be very tiring work! But it so worth it to be a part of something that you get to see first hand how God works in the little things! And it is especially worth it when I have the opportunity to share Christ and watch children come to know Jesus as their personal Savior! It gives me cold goose bumps just to think about it!
Just to add to my already overflowing plate, I have been cleaning like crazy and organizing like crazy. It has been decided. The house is going on the market. The realtor has been here twice. Tomorrow will be the day that the contract is signed and Monday the for sale sign goes in my yard. Two months for God to sell this house. If He chooses not to sell it, we will begin the process of trying to add on! As I shared with Conner tonight as we were working outside, if this house sells, there will be one thing we know for certain...it will be a God thing. But I have to admit, there's a huge part of me that hopes it doesn't sell! But for some reason, adding on to our current house scares me. I think it's because it is the unknown. I've never done that before! That fear is probably accentuated by the fact that there is so much unknown in my life already! So this is one of those things that I'm putting in God's hands. If my house sells, God will get the glory and my dependence on Him will grow! If my house doesn't sell, I will get to learn to trust God more and do things I've never done before! So I'm waiting to see how God works in this part of our lives!
Whew! I'm tired just from typing all that. It has been a wild and crazy month!
We worked hard to finish up our schooling so we could make a trip to Arkansas. Had a wonderful trip visiting family! My niece graduated from high school! She was a little flower girl in my wedding almost 17 years ago! She walked all the way down the aisle and right as she got to the front she sat down and started crying! That little baby walked across the stage and received her diploma! I'm so proud of her. She's been dealt a lot in her lifetime but I think she has turned out to be an awesome young lady! I'm anxious to see what God is going to do in her life! Got to spend some time with Zine's family as well! It's such a blessing for Zine to connect to some of his family that he's never known! It was a great time!
Vacation Bible School will be here in one more week! This week I have been consumed with preparations. Directing VBS can sometimes be very tiring work! But it so worth it to be a part of something that you get to see first hand how God works in the little things! And it is especially worth it when I have the opportunity to share Christ and watch children come to know Jesus as their personal Savior! It gives me cold goose bumps just to think about it!
Just to add to my already overflowing plate, I have been cleaning like crazy and organizing like crazy. It has been decided. The house is going on the market. The realtor has been here twice. Tomorrow will be the day that the contract is signed and Monday the for sale sign goes in my yard. Two months for God to sell this house. If He chooses not to sell it, we will begin the process of trying to add on! As I shared with Conner tonight as we were working outside, if this house sells, there will be one thing we know for certain...it will be a God thing. But I have to admit, there's a huge part of me that hopes it doesn't sell! But for some reason, adding on to our current house scares me. I think it's because it is the unknown. I've never done that before! That fear is probably accentuated by the fact that there is so much unknown in my life already! So this is one of those things that I'm putting in God's hands. If my house sells, God will get the glory and my dependence on Him will grow! If my house doesn't sell, I will get to learn to trust God more and do things I've never done before! So I'm waiting to see how God works in this part of our lives!
Whew! I'm tired just from typing all that. It has been a wild and crazy month!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thankful #41 - 54
41. Thankful that we now have good doctors for Chloe nearby.
42 Thankful for a pediatrician who not only is concerned with your physical well being but also your emotional well being.
43. Thankful for a teenager who poured a lot of love into my sweet Chloe this week.
44. Thankful for dr. who has been working diligently to get my shoulder back in working condition
45. Thankful that my hubby has a car!!
46. Thankful for two friends that have offered me much encouragement this week.
47. Thankful that Conner was not sick this Easter Sunday!
48. Thankful for the kids that sang at church today! What a sweet song they gave us!
49. Thankful for my pastor and his sermon this morning.
50. Thankful for an opportunity to pray for and get to hear report today from a friend who has been in Mayo. There's no way one can understand that until you've been there!
51. Thankful that I serve a risen Savior who is alive today!
52. Thankful that even when I don't know the answers God does!
53. Thankful that the Spirit intercedes for me in words that I can not even express.
54. Thankful for the fun time the kids and I had a the drive through safari!
42 Thankful for a pediatrician who not only is concerned with your physical well being but also your emotional well being.
43. Thankful for a teenager who poured a lot of love into my sweet Chloe this week.
44. Thankful for dr. who has been working diligently to get my shoulder back in working condition
45. Thankful that my hubby has a car!!
46. Thankful for two friends that have offered me much encouragement this week.
47. Thankful that Conner was not sick this Easter Sunday!
48. Thankful for the kids that sang at church today! What a sweet song they gave us!
49. Thankful for my pastor and his sermon this morning.
50. Thankful for an opportunity to pray for and get to hear report today from a friend who has been in Mayo. There's no way one can understand that until you've been there!
51. Thankful that I serve a risen Savior who is alive today!
52. Thankful that even when I don't know the answers God does!
53. Thankful that the Spirit intercedes for me in words that I can not even express.
54. Thankful for the fun time the kids and I had a the drive through safari!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Family Update
I totally let Easter slip up on me! We always celebrate Easter big! What better holiday to celebrate big than the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! But this year, the emotional status at our house has just been yucky! My week just did not turn out as planned. But today, I got to spend some time in the kitchen and am sort of prepared to fix us a good meal tomorrow. I do have Easter gifts and we did dye Easter eggs. But, Conner, is growing up. He didn't really want to dye eggs this year! He did but it definitely didn't have the magic and fun that it has in the years past! But I have a feeling when I fix him some deviled eggs tomorrow, he'll like those. I only make those like once a year!!
Conner is not growing really well. He had check up this week and he has fallen below the 15th percentile in his growth. We are in the process of getting an appt. with an endocrinologist. I'm not sure how I feel about that whole possibility. If it didn't bother him so bad, I wouldn't think about it in the least. It adds more stress to my life. But...then I wonder if there is really a problem that we need to know about or does his medicines that he takes play a role in his lack of growth. Praying that God would give us great wisdom on this issue.
Chloe had her appt. in Bham at MDA clinic this week as well. I am so thankful that we have good doctors now. We went without a good doctor here for awhile, so to feel like we are in good hands, is so wonderful. Chloe's hand muscles are tight. She wears splints at night on her hands. We have to see an OT here in Huntsville, to be fitted for new splints. Her shoulders continue to get weaker. Her lower body strength remains the same. Right now, the weakness is showing in those shoulders and arms. There was a definite change in the past six months. Both of the doctors that we saw, was concerned about her emotional status. Within seconds of walking in our room, they both said, Chloe what's wrong...you're not happy today. Since we have treated Chloe for depression in the past, this was a major sign that we could be going down that path again. At first, I thought, nope, they are wrong. But as I've had time to think back, I'm not sure we are not on that road to depression again. She spends a lot of time alone! I thought she was just growing up so I'm so glad the doctors said something and I will definitely be on alert more. I have talked to one of my friends and asked her to help me watch as well and to have the freedom to tell me if it was time to treat depression.
My shoulder continues to give me fits. I had it feeling better and then it started again. I had xrays done this week but it doesn't really show anything. (other than the fact I'm getting old and have arthritis beginning) So we definitely believe it is muscular in nature. So we will keep working on those muscles and trusting that God is going to bring healing soon!!
Life has just seemed to be overwhelming the past month or so. I am spent! I had hoped that with some changes that happened here the first of the week, it would bring about a more content atmosphere but it didn't! For so long now, I have fought against where we are in life! But I have begun to pray that God would change my heart to be happy with where we are in life! I guess if the circumstances aren't changing then my heart needs to change. There's a little chorus that says Change my heart O God. That's where I am right now.
Conner is not growing really well. He had check up this week and he has fallen below the 15th percentile in his growth. We are in the process of getting an appt. with an endocrinologist. I'm not sure how I feel about that whole possibility. If it didn't bother him so bad, I wouldn't think about it in the least. It adds more stress to my life. But...then I wonder if there is really a problem that we need to know about or does his medicines that he takes play a role in his lack of growth. Praying that God would give us great wisdom on this issue.
Chloe had her appt. in Bham at MDA clinic this week as well. I am so thankful that we have good doctors now. We went without a good doctor here for awhile, so to feel like we are in good hands, is so wonderful. Chloe's hand muscles are tight. She wears splints at night on her hands. We have to see an OT here in Huntsville, to be fitted for new splints. Her shoulders continue to get weaker. Her lower body strength remains the same. Right now, the weakness is showing in those shoulders and arms. There was a definite change in the past six months. Both of the doctors that we saw, was concerned about her emotional status. Within seconds of walking in our room, they both said, Chloe what's wrong...you're not happy today. Since we have treated Chloe for depression in the past, this was a major sign that we could be going down that path again. At first, I thought, nope, they are wrong. But as I've had time to think back, I'm not sure we are not on that road to depression again. She spends a lot of time alone! I thought she was just growing up so I'm so glad the doctors said something and I will definitely be on alert more. I have talked to one of my friends and asked her to help me watch as well and to have the freedom to tell me if it was time to treat depression.
My shoulder continues to give me fits. I had it feeling better and then it started again. I had xrays done this week but it doesn't really show anything. (other than the fact I'm getting old and have arthritis beginning) So we definitely believe it is muscular in nature. So we will keep working on those muscles and trusting that God is going to bring healing soon!!
Life has just seemed to be overwhelming the past month or so. I am spent! I had hoped that with some changes that happened here the first of the week, it would bring about a more content atmosphere but it didn't! For so long now, I have fought against where we are in life! But I have begun to pray that God would change my heart to be happy with where we are in life! I guess if the circumstances aren't changing then my heart needs to change. There's a little chorus that says Change my heart O God. That's where I am right now.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Company
We have had the joy of having Zine's brother and his family here for a few days! It was wonderful to be together. They have boy that is 10 years old and a daughter that is six months younger than Krisann. So my house had a lot of playing and laughter going on.
Nerf guns seemed to be one of the favorite among the boys. Chloe joined in on occasion! Chloe used to play right alongside the boys. But I noticed this time, she didn't stay with them. She did her own thing! Not sure if that was a sign that she just couldn't keep up or if she was growing up! Probably both!!
Krisann shared nicely for the most part. I was a bit worried about it because the only other time we've had a little one in the house she didn't want to share her toys! But I was glad she was settled and didn't mind sharing most of the time!
We spent just a little bit of time in the botanical gardens. We didn't make it very far but the kids did get to play on the seesaw and swings, toured a couple of cute treehouses, and we made it to the butterfly house but the butterflies haven't emerged yet. We will definitely have to go back in a few weeks and see all the butterflies. Krisann surprised us all while we were there. She was climbing up a small slide and there happend to be a bumblebee there. She went to screaming and crying and saying bee bee bee. I don't know where in the world she learned to be scared of bees but the fear has not left yet!! We had one in our yard the next night and she was bothered for awhile even after I brought her inside. Poor baby!
It was so good to just be with Jay and Laura. It seemed that Zine was incredibly glad that they were here. I think Zine and his brother got some one on one time together for just a bit. Wished that they could have had more one on one time together! But most of our time was spent together as families.
I have officially begged them to move here now. Not sure what exactly it was, but while they were here there was just a calmer more peaceful feeling around here for the most part. But man oh man, when they left, the emotional status around here went down, down, down!!
However, his brother may never want to come again. I kept him very busy! He helped me move two things to storage. They should have been easy and five minute jobs! It turned out to be a difficult job! Then while he was here our air conditioning leaked. But so thankful that he was able to find the leak immediately and was able to fix it. Then my shoulder has been giving me fits! It's been giving me lots of pain since the first of March. So while he was here, it bothered me so bad one night I was in tears again. Several times he used a tennis ball to rub muscle to relieve pain. He also showed Zine and Conner how to do it as well. So we have continued on a regular basis. Today, I'm pretty certain that it is helping and am hoping that it is going to be well soon! But can I just say...a rhomboid muscle can really hurt!! That muscle makes me feel like a whimp!! So between all that, Jay may never come again!
Today, I began to try to potty train Krisann. Not sure how that is going to work but I think she is going to do just fine. Conner is at a week long Avaition Challenge this week. I am praying that he stays well and completes his week!
Nerf guns seemed to be one of the favorite among the boys. Chloe joined in on occasion! Chloe used to play right alongside the boys. But I noticed this time, she didn't stay with them. She did her own thing! Not sure if that was a sign that she just couldn't keep up or if she was growing up! Probably both!!
Krisann shared nicely for the most part. I was a bit worried about it because the only other time we've had a little one in the house she didn't want to share her toys! But I was glad she was settled and didn't mind sharing most of the time!
We spent just a little bit of time in the botanical gardens. We didn't make it very far but the kids did get to play on the seesaw and swings, toured a couple of cute treehouses, and we made it to the butterfly house but the butterflies haven't emerged yet. We will definitely have to go back in a few weeks and see all the butterflies. Krisann surprised us all while we were there. She was climbing up a small slide and there happend to be a bumblebee there. She went to screaming and crying and saying bee bee bee. I don't know where in the world she learned to be scared of bees but the fear has not left yet!! We had one in our yard the next night and she was bothered for awhile even after I brought her inside. Poor baby!
It was so good to just be with Jay and Laura. It seemed that Zine was incredibly glad that they were here. I think Zine and his brother got some one on one time together for just a bit. Wished that they could have had more one on one time together! But most of our time was spent together as families.
I have officially begged them to move here now. Not sure what exactly it was, but while they were here there was just a calmer more peaceful feeling around here for the most part. But man oh man, when they left, the emotional status around here went down, down, down!!
However, his brother may never want to come again. I kept him very busy! He helped me move two things to storage. They should have been easy and five minute jobs! It turned out to be a difficult job! Then while he was here our air conditioning leaked. But so thankful that he was able to find the leak immediately and was able to fix it. Then my shoulder has been giving me fits! It's been giving me lots of pain since the first of March. So while he was here, it bothered me so bad one night I was in tears again. Several times he used a tennis ball to rub muscle to relieve pain. He also showed Zine and Conner how to do it as well. So we have continued on a regular basis. Today, I'm pretty certain that it is helping and am hoping that it is going to be well soon! But can I just say...a rhomboid muscle can really hurt!! That muscle makes me feel like a whimp!! So between all that, Jay may never come again!
Today, I began to try to potty train Krisann. Not sure how that is going to work but I think she is going to do just fine. Conner is at a week long Avaition Challenge this week. I am praying that he stays well and completes his week!
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