In Ft. Worth at an awesome Apple Store!!! Miles has an infection under his stitches! CRAZY! and very gross! Please Please pray for him and for me! I'll be home soon.

Check these out.

Rachel and I had a great time yesterday scrapbooking at my table.
For a non-productive day I was very productive.
I made this box collage of our vacation pictures. This isn't where we're going to hang it. I just couldn't get it to stand up while I took the picture.


Then I also made 50 of these Valentines. I know it's early for Valentines but it will come and I will be ready. How adorable are these? I figured it out and for 20 of them it cost me $2.40. That's cheaper than those little box ones with Bratz on them. (not that I buy those)
Clcik on the photos to see the detail.




I had so much fun hanging out with Rachel. We need to do that much more often!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Today is my birthday. I'm now 31. It doesn't feel any different than 30.

My husband is so amazing! Have I mentioned that before on here? He is! He gave me the best present for my birthday! I'm still having trouble believing that it's 100% done. I had my eye on something at Lowe's and yesterday it was done! It's so handy having a husband that's handy!
Check out my Kitchen Makeover!

Before Pictures









During




The Finished Product








I love my new Bling Kitchen!

Project

I have been wanting to do this project for a whole year. As some of you know...I'm not a "keeper" of the extras. We have 4 kids in school. That's a lot of papers! I can't/don't want to keep them all. This isn't really a big deal to the boys, but the girls want to keep every scrap of paper they've ever doodled on.
Problem Solved!
I made this ART wall for them! Now when they make something that MUST be kept they can take the "old" work down and put up the fresh stuff. It has been so great for the girls. They've replaced their work several times. I love it because it makes the hallway so bright and cheerful.
Anyway, check it out.
(Click on picture to make it bigger.)
P.S. Randy calls Miles 'Cheeto.' (Not sure why.)

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Have I ever mentioned on here how much I LOVE Rachel? Well, I do! I LOVE LOVE LOVE her! She's one of my very best friends! She amazes me all the time with her passion and her way of juggling life. We're birthday buddies, talk on the phone friends, coffee & chatting friends, scrapbook friends and in general best girlfriends.

Here's the party I threw for her last year. WOW! I'm impressing myself just looking at the photos. Oh, sorry I haven't given you any of these photos Rachel. And, believe me...you look adorable in them!




Dang it...I can't flip these photos. Just tilt your head!




Great Party! It was so much fun! I'm so mad I didn't get any pictures of the food. It was so yummy and festive!

Here's a cake for you.

(I really made this for my Mom last year, but it looks festive for this post.)



Here's a picture of what I've done for Rachel this year for her birthday:












Wow. Nothing. I'm not very impressed with myself at all on this one.
Okay, how about one day this week I'll bring you lunch and we'll break in that scrapbook room of yours?

Happy Birthday my Wonderful Friend Rachel!

Please Pray!

We got back home late last night.

Miles is crying and crying in pain.

He NEVER cries so I'm not used to it at all. It has me pretty frazzled. The kid is hurting so bad. He's really never had to take pain medication before but I'm trying to keep it pumped in him.

THEN to top it all off...guess who has Strep Throat! All four of my other kids.

Honestly, I'm not doing well at all.

I need Jesus to do something major in our home today!

Stop the Madness

Oh the Beeping of the machines.

You've got the gentle beep beep beep periodically going off when Miles' heat rate is too high, breaths too low or oxygen dipping down.
The gentle beep beep beep starts to feel like a Chinese torture device.

Then the blaring siren goes off on the warmer. SQQQQEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAALLLLLLL. SSSqqqqqqqqquuuuuuuuuuAAAAEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLL SSSSSQQQQQQQQQeeeeeeeeeeaaaaLLLLLLLLLL
Then the beeping of the button to get the nurse to turn off the siren.

Then there's the over worked nurse who doesn't have time to turn off the siren before my ear starts bleeding.

Prolonged SSSSSSQQQQQQQEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL makes Miles' heart rate go up so the gentle beep beep beep is added to the crazy SSSQQQUUUEEAALLLL.

The nurse makes it back in, but doesn't know how to turn off the SQUUUEEAALL.

Then comes the ping ping from me texting my husband to pray that I won't start cussing.

bing bing bing (text from my husband) saying, "sure." He didn't ask why but I guess he understands.

Nurse goes to look for someone else to stop the warming machine sssqqquuueeeaaaalll. He doesn't know. "Amy" must be called. Whoever that is.

I start pushing buttons because I'm afraid I will punch the next person that doesn't know how to turn off the SSQQQUUUEEEAAAALLL that he been SSQQQUUUUEEEAAALLLLing for the last 15 minutes.

So in So comes in and just pushes a lot of stuff and the SSQQQUUUEEAAALLing stops.

The nurse almost closes the door behind her and ping pong ping pong ping pong...the IV bag needs to be changed.

Miles is teary from all the prolonged noises and my nerves are on High Alert so I kiss him and say, "I'm so sorry, but Mommy needs to go for a walk."

Great Day!

Today was actually a really good day.

Hard to believe, but true.

Really good.

The surgery was smooth sailing. This was probably the first time that I didn't have to use my Power of Persuasion skills A.K.A "The Force" to get the anesthesiologist to operate on Miles. He came in, looked at Miles asked me a few questions and was ready to go.

I tried something new today.

This morning instead of fretting and begging the Lord to make sure the Doc doesn't mess things up I prayed, "Lord, I'm not going to force anything. I'm leaving this up to you. If Miles is supposed to have this surgery today then nothing will stop him. If Miles isn't supposed to have this surgery today then I won't stop YOU." End of prayer.

Wow! That's the way to go.

Then, something so awesome happened. We had visitors. In Ft. Worth we had visitors!
Today Brandon, Brenda, Endgate and C.Lee came and sat with us while Miles was in surgery. The actually stayed the whole morning with us. This is the first time anyone has been with us during a surgery. At first I was thinking, "What are we going to do with these people?"

We ended up having a grand ol' time just telling stories and laughing. It was such a blessing to Randy and I. The whole time was light hearted, fun and easy. The whole thing brought joy to me. I was so thankful that they came.

I was so surprised at the group of people that came. I know C.Lee and Endgate didn't just decide to come because they had nothing to do. Anyway, it just blessed me.

THEN, Miles surgery was just perfect. No problems. No worries. Woke up great...like he's never done before. No pain. No crying. Just smiles. That blessing is priceless.

My other kids are being taken care of greatly. Again, priceless.

And, I have peace and joy.

(Okay, blogger was giving me a fit about the pictures. If they aren't in a great order...I couldn't help it.) You'll get the point.










Check out all the scars.



Thank you to all that prayed for us today. The Lord has answered your prayers!

G-Tube

Okay, The time has come.

Randy and I will leave Monday at about 1:00 to take Miles for his g-tube surgery. He will have pre-op on Monday then surgery Tuesday.

I'm actually glad about the surgery. I really think it's a huge key to him getting over the continual pnuemonia. He needs freedom from this. Also, it will help from him being dehydrated all the time. After the surgery he will be able to have nutrition whether he feels like eating or not. Also, I'll be able to give him medicines even if he's asleep. I'm really so thrilled.

For so long Randy and I've been against him getting this done, but now I have peace and I'm even looking forward to it. I think with this done in combination with his pump that he got in May that his fourth year of life just may be the best one yet.

Even so, I'm tired.

Last week was such a long week for me.
This weekend was a lot of work.
I've crammed in as much as I could before my next trip and I'm feeling it.

I already feel emotionaly spent and that's not a good thing to be when I'm going into an emotionaly draining week.

Please pray for my whole family! We need to FEEL the Lord so close to us this week.

I'll have my laptop so I'll try to update.

PARTY DAY!

I got to take Miles home from the hospital last night! He has been one sick little boy for so long! When I was leaving the hospital I was thinking about how if I had taken Miles in to see the doctor with as sick as he was when he LEFT the hospital they would have put him IN the hospital.
Well, when I got to the house he was totally sleeping and out of it.

When I got him in the house and Spencer scooped him up and began to wrestle him...He perked up! He was laughing and smiling, the color came back to his face and he had life in his eyes. It really was a miracle. Miles looks better today then he has in so long. I'm so thankful!

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Today is the big day! It's my Mom's party day! I need YOU to be there to make it special! Please as a favor to me...please come if you can! I want my Mom to be so blessed. She's had a hard year and I want her to feel special tonight. AND DON'T FORGET THE CAKE!!!!!

Just in case you need to be bribed...It will be catered by Abuelo's!

AND...there will be all the cake you can eat.

AND...my MOM will be there!


This is the cake I made!



JUST KIDDING!
Mine looks NOTHING like this one. Mine is much more homely.

400th POST

I've made it to 400 and I couldn't think of a thing to write about to commemorate the special event. There was NO WAY that I was going to try to come up with 400 things I like or dislike or 400 things about me...Even I don't want to read that many things about ME.

Tonight my mother in law watched Miles at the hospital for awhile so I could go out to dinner with Randy and the kids. We had a wonderful evening. I've missed them so much these last few days.

As we were eating I told them that my 400th post was next and I couldn't think of anything special to write about. (Why I decided to talk to them about this I have no idea.)

Jocie looked at me very enthusiastically and said with all boldness, "YOU CAN TELL THEM THAT MILES IS GOING TO BE HEALED AND WALK AND TALK AND RUN. You should tell them that because it's special."

So, here we go #400.

Miles is going to be healed! He will walk and talk and run. And every second of heartache will be worth it!

A hospital stay to get ready for the hospital.

Miles was put back in the hospital today. He's dealing with the same stuff. This dang pneumonia! Come on! He needs freedom from this! He was dehydrated, trouble breathing, junky chest, gagging, infection and 90 degree temperature. Dr. Wiley said Miles needs a "tune up" before surgery. He will be here for about three days.

Then he will have surgery for the g-tube next Tuesday and we'll be there at least three days. That's a long time to be away from my other kids. Please pray that they will have peace during this time. 3 days isn't too bad. It's just the back to back hospital stays that might be a little rough for the whole family.

Personally I'm fine. I just hate when the rest of my family is up in the air while Miles is in the hospital.

Oh, and I'm still throwing a party from the hospital. WOW!

Some blood was taken today and for the first time ever there was concern about his liver because of some blood work. Dr. Wiley ordered more blood work for tomorrow morning. Then he's going to check for hepatitis. This has never been an issue before. SO, please pray for your favorite Milzee Boy...Oh, and his Mommy!


(Photo not taken today.)

ON A LIGHTER SIDE:

It's not fair that when I take Miles to the doctor that I have to be weighed as well! Miles is too long for the baby scale and he can't stand on the adult scale so...I have to be weighed and then I have to be weighed again while I hold Miles. The new cute male nurse now knows how much I weigh! That totally sucks! Also, it doesn't help that the scale is in the middle of the hallway and in front of the nurses station. I mean my gosh, why don't they just announce over the loud speaker that I weigh !^*.

Another thing that bothers me is the fact that when I have to stay at the hospital with Miles my bra has to be on at all times. I do not like sleeping with a bra, but the bra must stay on. People are in and out of my room at all hours of the day and night so the bra must stay on.

Which brings me to the next agitation...Miles' doctor has seen me in my pj's more than any man, besides my husband should see me in my pj's. Dr. Wiley comes to the hospital at about 6 in the morning. He's waken me up several times so I can talk with him. Every morning I'm in the hospital he sees my pj's. Is this right? I think not. Maybe I should get some news ones. He might like some variety.

PLEASE!!!

Please Please Please Please Please!!!!

Please come to my Mom’s party on Saturday.

Please make her a cake for her birthday.

Please help me if you can!

I want her to have the most wonderful party!

I’m so totally stressed out with Miles and his issues right now that I’m overwhelmed with the fact that I’m in charge of this huge party. It means so much to my Mom. She really needs a to feel loved and special right now.

I’m begging you!



Can’t you tell I’m begging you?

I even had to take the photo myself!

I’m desperate.

Please help me make this party very special for my Mom.

If you’ve ever been one of the people that have asked me, “Is there anything I can do?” Well, this is it! You can help me pull off this party!

Thank you in advance!

What Kind of Pillow Person Are You?

Soft, Squishy, Hard, Flat, None at all or the More the Merrier?

I’m a pillow Lover! My pillow is very big and squishy. It goes out of town with me. In May when Miles had surgery we were on our way to Ft Worth and panic struck me! I realized that Randy did not grab my pillow from the bed. I say Randy because it was in the TAKE pile that I had made. I’m telling you that I actually started to cry. That is a very strange thing for me to do. It’s just that I knew I was going to be in the hospital for a week and mostly by myself because Randy was returning home and I was going to be without my pillow. I love it because it smells like my house. We had to stop in Weatherford to get me a new one. We ended up calling my mother in law to go over to my house so she could tell us the brand of my pillow.



One time before the perfect pillow that I have now I just couldn’t sleep with my previous perfect pillow because it had deflated and was just not doing it for me anymore. I had been aggravated with it for awhile but I had just been dealing with it. Well, one night I just couldn’t take it anymore. We were in bed and I was tossing and turning with the stupid thing. Finally Randy got up, put on his pants and picked up his keys. I was shocked to find out that he was leaving his warm bed and fine pillow to go buy me a new one! Can you believe that? That guy is the sweetest! He went to Wal-Mart and bought me the most expensive pillow they had there. It was a fancy pillow with a luxurious sateen cover. He brought it home and as happy and as thankful as I was…the pillow was just terrible! I tried to use it for two weeks, but the dang thing was just too firm! No squishy at all! So, now that’s his pillow. It has been for two years now and I swear it’s in the same shape as the day he bought it. Today I used it for a couple of minutes and I remembered why I didn’t like that pillow. Still hard.



Also, I have a body pillow. I started using a body pillow during one of my pregnancies. I’ve totally tried to wean myself from the body pillow a few times, but I always seem to get hooked on it again. I wish I could just get rid of it, but it’s just so comforting. Right now I have this really high thread count cover on the body pillow and my regular pillow…oh, thread count…that’s a whole other post!



So, anyway, what kind of pillow person are you? Please tell me I’m not the only one with issues.

12th Anniversary

This is the Guy I'm growing old with.



Photos by our fruit Jocie.

Yep, it's Labor Day.

I'm "Laboring" on this Labor Day.

Goodbye Family. Have a great day! I hope you have a lot of fun at Six Flags. No, really, I do.

Oh, don't worry about me. I'll just stay here and take care of "Tube Face" and "Extreme Vomit and Poop Boy." It should be just fine.

Oh, thank you dear and sweet husband for giving me some spending cash today to soften the blow of not being able to go to Six Flags. There's just so many places to spend it today. First I think I'll run to Dollar General to get some Imodium to stop the poop. Maybe I'll even pick up some more Lysol, but I don't want to spend it all in one place. I may even go pick up a few movies so I can stop having this totally trapped in my house feeling.

Sorry brother of mine who is in town and wanted me to hang out with him today. I just can't come over. I don't want your pregnant wife to get the poops to go along with her morning sickness.

Tomorrow is our 12th anniversary. It better be better.