The blessings of friends

Thank you to my sweet friends....

One who talked me through my nervous breakdown today when I just about couldn't take it anymore and graciously lent me an awesome space heater that is currently heating my whole upstairs since our heater exploded this morning and is now out of commission.

One who is coming over tomorrow to take care of Miss Mercy tomorrow so that Mercy wont have to stay in her crate all day while I am gone to a school field trip with Mackenzie. I am also thankful for her hubby, Jerimy, who is our chiropractor and is helping us take care of our sick little one.

One who, on a moment's notice, is watching my two youngest kiddos for the field trip despite the fact that it's her bday tomorrow, she has a cold, she has an art class at her home in the morning and her in-laws are in town for a visit. Oh and did I mention the fact that she is going into this knowing that Vivian will probably be a bear since she is so tired? And she is feeding them lunch so that I don't have to pack their lunches?

And last, but certainly not least, my hubalicious who is the most amazing friend ever. He has slept on the couch for the last two weeks so that I can sleep with Vivian and listen to her breath all night. He has listened to me cry with worry over my baby. And above all else, he has continued to encourage me to trust God with all that is going on in our lives. No matter how hard it gets, I can always count on Tim to be right beside me through it all.

Prayers for Vivian

I wanted to ask you guys to be praying for Vivian. I took her to the pediatric pulmonologist yesterday and she doesn't have asthma. That is a huge praise! She does have reflux and they also suspect that she has obstructive sleep apnea. The dr said that her airway is blocked by her enlarged tonsils (partly due to reflux) so when she sleeps, she has trouble breathing. That may be causing her to have seizures. We are going to do a sleep study at Children's and some more xrays to find out what is going on and how to treat it. She also seems to have developed allergies so she is congested and that seems to worsen the situation. Over the last two weeks the episodes have gotten much more frequent and Tim and I have gotten pretty good at recognizing when it's going to happen and we can help her. Unfortunately, the breathing treatments and the steroids aren't helping very much since it's an obstruction, so we just have to watch her until the sleep center has an appt for us. The dr told me to sleep sitting up with her, which is not an easy thing to do. She's also very tired and cranky during the day since she's not able to sleep well at night.

Overall, we are very thankful that she doesn't have asthma. The dr said that if she is having seizures, they most likely aren't neurologically driven. They are probably only happening because of the obstruction. So another huge praise there. We are going to have a rough few weeks but hopefully we will get some answers and a plan after the sleep study.

Thank you so much for your prayers

Penny for your thoughts

Just some random thoughts for the evening.....

Go Dawgs!

I am planning on outlawing gum, playdough, all writing utensils and change at my house. I am tired of finding all of the above scattered, smeared, and hidden all over the house.

I do not have the time or energy to play with my puppy enough, so I am thinking of getting another one so that she will have a playmate.

My children once were a blessing to others, I am not sure what has happened. I am now "that woman" at the store who is hollering at her children and yanking them out from under the clothes racks.

I would love for the guy who told Tim once that our house was "hospital clean" to come over and see it right now.

We are VERY close to having no children in diapers for the first time in almost 6 years. I can't even believe it!!

Lots of fun!!

Mackenzie's first concert! TAYLOR SWIFT!!!
Sporting her tshirt

Taylor with her sparkly guitar
The concert was beyond awesome. Taylor came out into the audience and did a song just steps away from us. It really made Mackenzie's night.

Miss Vivian alone at the park with mama.

I think that's the first time that has ever happened. lol

I can always count on her to pose for me.

Cheese!

Do hard things

This is a book that Mackenzie has been doing in her Sunday school class at church. And this past Sat, Tim and a few other dads took a group of teenagers to the conference in AL. It sounded incredible. They issued a challenge to us as parents to not let our kids conform to the expectations of the world. We need to help them rise to our heavenly father's expectations. I read some of the book for the first time last night and I have to admit it's convicting to me. I want to be known to my girls as a mom who practices what I preach. So I am going to "Do Hard Things" with them. Check out this link.... DO HARD THINGS

Hilarious!

Last week I was helping Leah change out of her dance clothes. I said, "Let me help you take off your leotard." And she looked at me and said, "And then you will help Vivi with her vivitard?"

Understanding the relationship between theology and real life

We went to an orientation for discipleship at our church last night. It is a 2-year program that the elders at the church put together. Two of the goals are to learn theology and to equip people to be able to use it in their every day life. It's not enough just to learn it. We need to be shown how to use and apply the truth. This is EXACTLY what Tim and I have been desiring for a long time. We have really needed direction and accountability. I am just so thankful that God directed us to this church and I am thankful for the hearts that the elders have for the body of Christ.