Summer...It's almost gone.

Here's a few pictures from the last week of summer.


Spencer and Miles are always hanging out like this at the house. I feel a little bad for Miles when Spencer goes back to school. Spencer plays with him so much and he loves it. And, Spencer got the scratch and black eye from his older brother. Yesterday was orientation at school and he was trying to decide what he was going to say when everyone asked him what happened to his eye. He was going to say, "A fifth grader (his brother) tried to beat him up, but now he has a peg leg." I love that kid!


This is Melody...Miss Mella. She makes me happy all the time. She's the funniest thing when you really get to know her.


Here's Jocie. She bought make-up at Claires with her "church money." She's doing her nice model shot here.


And yes, this is the best picture of Joey I could get. A couple of weeks ago my brother gave Joey a Game Cube for his 10th birthday. This is all I've seen of him since. Sometimes he comes up for air to eat, but I'm pretty sure he only goes to the bathroom once a day.


I was in bed last night thinking about how the kids will go to school very soon and something amazing came to mind. I think I may have done something that has never been done before. All summer I've had all five kids home. Not once did it frazzle me. Not once did Randy come home to me begging to get away from the kids. Not once did I say, "These kids are driving me crazy" or "When is school going to start?" I really have been peaceful and enjoyed my time with them. We've had a great summer.

$750K given away at Clyde Church

Looks like I don't have to come up with the words after all! Here they are written by someone else. Of course this article won't make you cry your head off (like I did) like if you had been in the service, but it's still good.

You should really go to the Abilene Reporter News website and read all the comments about the article! It's awesome!!!!

.

Congregation doles out money, good to those in need

By Scott Kirk

Special to the Reporter-News

A nondenominational church that meets in a junior high started a "giving epidemic" Sunday that led to about $750,000 in cash and goods being given away during the worship service.

Brandon Hawk admits his route to becoming senior pastor of Kingdom Life Fellowship in Clyde has been unusual. Perhaps it should be expected that a sermon about giving should be unusual as well.

"We felt God was calling us to give," said Hawk, a retired professional tennis player. And give the church did.

The church had accumulated a nest egg of about $320,000 over its annual budget of $338,000. That money was given away Sunday to church members who had financial need.

But that's not all.

People handed their tithes to other people who had needs. Cars were given; even a business was handed over.

"We gave over our budget," said Hawk. "It was the single greatest moment by far I've ever experienced in church. We want to start a giving epidemic."

On Sunday, people who had dire needs, ranging from keeping their homes to putting food on the table, were asked to come forward. Then people who had pressing needs were asked to come forward, and instead of collecting tithes from the members, those people were asked to give their tithe to a person in need.

No questions were asked, and no judgments made as money was given to pay off credit cards and college loans.

"We can't make that judgment," said Hawk. "In Acts, there's the passage that no one lacked."

Finally, about $20,000 was distributed to people just to do something enjoyable.

"If you had never gone to Dillard's and bought a red dress, go do it," said Hawk. "Go to a nice restaurant and leave a big tip. God not only takes care of our needs but also our desires. We really wanted to touch on God's goodness."

Hawk admits that he doesn't know how much was actually given because the process was ongoing. He thinks a conservative estimate is $750,000. And this from a congregation of a little more than 300 and mostly blue-collar folks.

"I know this: You can't outgive God," Hawk said.

He said Sunday's experience was a natural extension of what has been preached.

"We feel called to transform our city, and you do that by transforming people," he said. "We want to transform this city into one God would be proud, one that's free of mass addictions and poverty. We say: 'Give, pray, love.' Give means to meet the physical needs. Pray meets the spiritual needs, and love meets the emotional needs. A lady may need a roof on her house, but she may also have a broken heart. You have to try to meet both needs. How can we ask our members to give sacrificially if corporately we're not willing to give sacrificially?"

Hawk repeatedly said the service was not held to boost membership or to grab headlines.

"This is for the advancement of God," he said. "God's love changed my life. This is to transform our city. I'm passionate about Clyde, America."

In case any cynic is wondering, the plan is to do this again.

"We're hoping this becomes the norm," Hawk said.

The church meets at 10 a.m. Sundays in the Clyde Junior High auditorium, according to its Web site.

Correction: The church's Web site is wrong. Members meet at 10:45 a.m. Sundays

Yesterday Church Was...

I will fill in here when I have time later.

And when my heart stops beating so hard from all the excitment.

Miles is back home!

We're off to the hospital. I took him in this morning because he still wasn't any better.

Anyway, I just stopped by the house to get a few things before I take him up there. My laptop has crashed so I don't think there will be updates.

Frustrated Beyond Words

I just talked to the nurse at the doctors office. I called this morning just so Dr. Wiley would know that Miles still has not eaten much and that he hasn't had anything to drink in about a week and a half. The nurse said she would talk to the doctor and then call me back.

5 hours later...she called back and she said to just "Keep an eye on him?"

WHAT?

I asked her for how long should I "keep an eye on him" before I called again? She asked, "Well, many wet diapers is he having?"

"Uh, NONE."

"When was his wet diaper?"

"I didn't actually have to change his diaper all weekend but I did."

"When did he last have a poop diaper?"

"I honestly can't remember. Since he hasn't been able to take a bottle he can't take his Miralax so he just hasn't gone poop."

"Oh, I'll talk to the doctor and call you back."

(A couple of minutes later.)

She calls me back and tells me that if Miles isn't better by the morning then to bring him in at 8:30 tomorrow.

Excuse me for this, but...What in the hell does that mean?

If he's better by morning...Why in the world would he be better by the morning? Why would he shoot all liquids out of his nose for a week and half and then all the sudden magically stop by the morning?

I'm so frusterated I feel like throwing things!

It's such a conflicting feeling to want something done for Miles, but at the same time hating the idea of being put in the hospital. I'm mad that something isn't being done today and I'll be mad tomorrow if we're put in the hospital. I'm mad that he's still sick. I'm mad that he's too sick to get a surgery that I'm mad about.

Today has been one of those days.

One of those days where all at once I realize again all that Miles can’t do.

One of those days where I feel like no matter what I do for him it’s never enough.

One of those days where he coughed and gagged and made such horrible mucus noises in Taco Bell where people turned around to stare at what could be making such a horrible noise. We ended up having to leave the restaurant so we wouldn’t gross anyone else out.

I woke up this morning trying to calculate the last time he had a wet diaper. He hasn’t had liquids stay in his body for a week and a half. I can’t feed him a bottle because it directly shoots right out of his nose. He hasn’t had 100 calories a day in his body in a week and a half. (Yes the doctor has seen him.) I’ve got to take him back to the doctor tomorrow and I’ll be surprised if he’s not in the hospital. You can see his ribs.

Which brings me to why the 27th is marked on my calendar. We’re meeting with a surgeon who will put a g-Button (feeding tube) in Miles. I’m at a loss on what to say about that right now. I understand it’s time. It just hurts my heart.

Of course the surgeon can’t even do the surgery until Miles’ lungs sound better. They’re so full of liquid that no one would operate on him.

Today I can’t pray for Miles to be healed.

It hurts too bad.

I’ll tell you what I can pray for though…I’m praying for someone to pay off the kid’s school today. TODAY. I’m not asking the Lord for a “sign”. I’m just tired. I just want the Lord to show me that he hasn’t forgotten about me. I want to know that he cares about the desires of my heart.

I don’t want to look back and see something the Lord did for me a year ago or 5 years ago or last week. I want to see something today.

Believe with me.

Guest Blogger

Jocie wanted to say something:


Can you tell me what you want me to pray for? I'll pray for it. I want to do it because my Aunt died before and that's why I want to. I know that she went to heaven and that's why I want to do it for other people.

Another Blessing!

Today I talked to my mother in law about perhaps "sponsoring a child" on their school supplies.

My Mom is already buying the supplies for one kid. My mother in law is buying the supplies for...THE OTHER THREE!!!!!!

How cool is that?

God's faithfulness continues to overwhelm me. (In a good way!)

Good News

Today I kept feeling drawn to go to the prayer house today.

The five kids and I went there after lunch.

On the way there I told them that this was a time for each of them to talk to the Lord about whatever they wanted and for them to spend time with God. I also told them that I wanted us all to pray separately about Randy’s house to sell this week.

We really needed that house to sell this week. There are some major things in our lives that needed to be paid with the selling of a house.

Well, while I was at the prayer house I had several things I had planned to pray about, but I had trouble getting past the selling of the house.

After a while I got a call from Randy. He knew where I was planning to go that afternoon. He said, “Hey, did you pray that my house would sell?” I told him that I sure did. He said, “That was quick. I just got an offer on it!” He was on his way to go look at the offer at his realtor’s office and I told him to call me back to tell me what it looked like because I prayed that it would sell for full price.

While I was still at the prayer house his realtor called me to tell me that it was a FULL PRICE OFFER! (The house only went on the market last Friday!) Then she asked me if I was still at the prayer house. When I told her that I was still there she asked if I would pray about some things for her! How awesome is that?

The kids and I were so excited! We thanked the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness!

How awesome is that?

Dear iPod, I think you'll have to wait.

It’s that time again…School Supply Shopping!

Yesterday I got the kid’s supply list in the mail. I compiled them together so it would make for easier shopping. I almost wished that I didn’t because it’s a bit overwhelming.

Four kids in school.

Four kids needing school supplies.

Here’s the List:

4 backpacks
4 lunch boxes
1 kindergarten mat
1 small blanket and pillow
4 school boxes
4 scissors
5 boxes of crayons 24 count
4 boxes of washable markers 10-12 count
20 pocket folders no brads
3 pkg. pencil topers
3 pkg. colored construction paper 8 ½ by 11
2 pkg. colored construction paper 9 by 12
1 pkg. manila paper 8 ½ by 11
2 pkg. large manila paper
1 box of play-doh 4 colors
7 boxes #2 pencils 10-12
3 small elmer’s glue
8 glue sticks
1 box of poster paint 8-10 count
13 boxes of Kleenex
12 boxes of wet wipes (refills okay)
4 bottles of hand sanitizer
3 rulers 12 inches must have inches and centimeters
9 spiral notebooks wide ruled
6 big erasers
2 white board markers
8 pkg. wide ruled notebook paper
5 red grading pens
8 black or blue pens erasable
1 three ring binder
2 pkg. map colors
2 KJV Bible
4 highlighters

A few of these things I have from last year…like the lunch boxes and scissors, but most of it has to be bought. I called my Mom today and asked if she wanted to “sponsor a child.” She said she would take one of the kids shopping. Maybe my mother in law will do one as well.

I guess I can postpone my previous post until these other things are paid for.

I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD!

Veruca Salt aka ME right now.

Most of the time the I WANTS don’t really bother me. I stay pretty content on the materialistic. But there are a few things that I’m wanting.

Number 1 is a new iPod. My Dad bought me an awesome iPod about 2 and a half years ago and I used it more than I ever thought I would. When Becky and I went on our trip last summer I had taken nail polish and nail polish remover. Well, the polish remover leaked on my iPod and ate the face of it. It swelled up the dial. It looked really weird but it worked still. Then a couple of months ago I had my iPod stuck nicely in my bra so I could get the dishes done faster. When I pulled it out to skip a song the swollen dial got caught and almost ripped off. I tucked it back in and it still worked except it was really hard to change songs. I kept using it, but now it’s just tired. It will work for a little while then it just stops. Long story coming to an end here. I would like a new iPod. Not just any iPod. I had a really nice one that still wasn’t full even though it had a couple of days worth of music and sermons on it. I miss it.

Okay, also, I would like a iPod docker so I could listen to it while I’m cooking or cleaning without having to hold it in my bra. I was at Rachel’s and she had Misty Edwards cranked up while she was cooking. It was awesome.

I would also like a new tv that isn’t 19 inches. After having that huge tv for the party I’ve looked our tiny tv with loathing and pity. We had that huge tv for 5 days and it’s just hard to go back. The new tv isn’t way up ther eon my list and I’m pretty sure that will die down, but right now it’s a want because I know what I’m missing.

So I realize that right now my wants are all electronic. Hmmm…I do have some of my dad in me after all. He likes the gadgets as well.

Non electronic I would like new couches just like my old ones. Mine are just looking old. Randy wants to try to die them. He’s been reading on how to die leather.

We owe the school a lot of money for books and registration and tuition is coming up. I would love for the whole school year to be paid off! I can't tell you what that would feel like.

I've got several (about 7) rolls of film that I want developed. I'm spoiled on HEB developing so I can't settle for cheap prints somewhere else. I would really like to see our beach pictures.

Photo shoot for my kids with Wendy. I'm excited to see what she comes up with.

Also, to add to my electronic wants I would also enjoy a new digital camera. I’ve never had much luck with them, but I would like one that is easy to carry around, takes great pictures and won’t break. Is that too much to ask?

Lastly, I would enjoy having a month where I could just have extra money to spend. I would love a guilt free month of clothes shopping, giving to others, stuff shopping, money in my wallet kind of month.

That’s all I can think of right now.

What is something you've been WANTING? (That you can buy.)

TODAY!!!!

Party at My House!!!!

Okay, TODAY at 7:00 I’m having a Girls only party!!!

It’s a Girls, No Church Talk, Margarita (the good ones), Strawberry Daiquiri, yummy snack, Hot tub & Movie Night!!!!!

(Could it be more fun?) I think not.

Who is invited?
YOU…if you’re a woman. Not YOU…if you are a man or child.

Where your party dress or your PJ’s. Wear your leather pants or your stetchy pants!
While you’re here you can wear what you want, eat what you want, do what you want and drink what you want!

Did I mention I'm renting a margarita machine? Oh Yeah!

Bring a snack. Bring a swimsuit. Bring a friend.

Spread the Word!

Miles sucks at laser tag.
Miles sucks at video games.
Miles sucks at cleaning his room.
Miles sucks at eating steak.
Miles sucks at riding a bike.
Miles sucks at swimming.
Miles sucks at Volleyball.
Miles sucks at chewing gum.
Miles sucks at playing at the park.
Miles sucks at jumping on the bed.
Miles sucks at washing his hair.
Miles sucks at doing paperwork.
Miles sucks at decorating the Christmas tree.
Miles sucks at climbing trees.

But his smile stops me in my tracks, and fills me with joy like no one else can.

Oh Yeah!

Party at My House!!!!

Okay, this FRIDAY at 7:00 I’m having a Girls only party!!!

It’s a Girls, No Church Talk, Margarita (the good ones), Strawberry Daiquiri, yummy snack, Hot tub & Movie Night!!!!!

(Could it be more fun?) I think not.

Who is invited?
YOU…if you’re a woman. Not YOU…if you are a man or child.

Where your party dress or your PJ’s. Wear your leather pants or your stetchy pants!
While you’re here you can wear what you want, eat what you want, do what you want and drink what you want!

Did I mention I'm renting a margarita machine? Oh Yeah!

Bring a snack. Bring a swimsuit. Bring a friend.

Spread the Word!

Favs?

Favorite Chick Flick? (Francesca...ask Billy)

I'm doing some research for a very special upcoming event. Details later.

Wed-nez-day Give-a-way!

Up for Give-a-way is this Acqua Di GIO men's colone by Giorgio Armani. It's smells amazing! I bought it for Randy at Dillard's after asking for samples from them for a year when I'd go into the store. So, I finally broke down and bought it a couple of months ago. PROBLEM: Every time he wears even a tiny tiny bit I get an instant headache! It's terrible!

Bad for me...But could be good for you.

Send me a One Liner on why your man should have this pricey cologne and it could be yours. All 99.1% of it.

Parenting

I’ve been too busy parenting to take time to give parenting advice I guess.

Here’s a quick one for those of you with babies.

I used to keep a calendar and an attached pen by the changing table. Everyday I would try to write something on the calendar that the baby did. It makes a fantastic journal. Also, when you actually have time to fill out the baby book you can just take down the calendar and copy so you don’t have to rely on your sleep deprived brain to remember when the “1st” happened. TIP: when copying the calendar for the baby book use a lot of different pens so it doesn’t look like you did it all at once.

On the calendar I used to write all kinds of things down. I used to write down the firsts of course. Also, when they got weighed at the doctor, when they peed on me while I changed their diaper in the parking lot of the mall, when we went to lunch with their grandma, when they got a new cousin and when they cried their head off day because they were cutting teeth.

House Talk

Okay, the other day I went to Krissy’s house again and I fell in love with all her decorations that she has in her house. Her home feels so nice and homey. She has rich colors on the walls and everything seems to have a perfect place.

Now, for those that have been to my house know that Randy and I like a nice clean house. I can’t stand clutter of any kind. If my style had a name I think it would be Simple Clean.

The thing is though, that after I was at Krissy’s and really enjoyed her house I began to look around at mine and wondered how people felt at my house. I really want an honest answer. Does my home feel sterile?

When you’re in my home does the décor make you think:
A. Did she just move in?
B. This is clean and comfortable.
C. This is a nice house.
D. Does Brandi even know where Kirkland’s is?


Please answer. I’m really trying to either make peace with my taste or force myself to warm up my house.

Love It

Okay, we're slow, but we're totally into The Office now. When I say "in-to" I mean that we rent the DVD's from the video store of old seasons and then watch them late into the night until our eyes bleed. We lay in our bed and consume an extra 400 calories each and laugh our head off at the stupist things. Right now we're in season 2 and I'm begging Pam NOT to get married to the warehouse guy! (Don't tell me if you have on info on this matter.)
I watched one or two on tv when it first came out, but with all the kids in the room it’s totally inappropriate and you can’t really hear well enough to get all the jokes. Now after the kids go to bed we get to watch it without the little ears.
I can’t seem to get enough of it. We watch the episodes, the deleted scenes and then wish for more.

Last night we watched the episode where the joke was: Hey, does it smell like UpDog in here? What’s Updog? Nothing, what’s up with you?

I had heard the joke go around when the show must have been around the first time, but it was funny all over again last night. Later we were in the kitchen and Randy asked Jocie if it smelled like UpDog in there. She said, “Uh…not anymore.”

I'm Back

Just a few things so I can get a post on here:

Vacation was absolutely perfect, enjoyable, refreshing and much needed. Some day I will develop my film…yes I know that is a dinosaur comment, but I love the film. What can I say? Anyway, I will show pictures when I can justify spending the money on getting them developed.

I was a little sad to be back home, but I’m over that. The Lord has been faithful to help me take care of some Miles “paperwork” that I won’t bore you with. I’ll just say that 2 months of confrontation and frustration with my doctor and a medical supply company looks like it might be resolved. This is a HUGE deal!

I’ve got some big things that the Lord needs to give me direction on. A huge this is what I’m going to be doing in the fall. It looks now like I can go to school. The government passed a deal this month where I could get enough money to cover my tuition. I didn’t think I was going to be going, but with the new turn of events…it’s looking possible. The crazy thing is that I wanted to go so bad! I was working and pushing to get things in order but they just weren’t working for me to go. I turned over the whole thing several months ago to the Lord and got content with me not going. I figured that I would use this next school year to focus on being refreshed, writing my book and getting is shape while I took great care of Miles. I got settled on this idea and then the money thing went through for school. Now I don’t know what to do and I feel confused by the turn of events. (What do you think about the whole thing?)

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I’m back on the road to Ft. Worth. Miles has two appointments. It’s strange how these drives have become a normal part of my life.

Well, that’s all for now.

Good News:
I'm feeling 100% better. I can't tell you how bad I felt Friday! Really, the Lord healed me! Whatever I had I don't think it was "supposed" to be only three days. I'm so thankful.

Bad News:
3 of my kids have strep throat...and vacation is in...um...one day. That is if Holli will still let me come to her house with three kids having strep throat.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Oh we're going. Believe that.

Please


Pray



For



Me.


I'm



So
So
So


Sick.


Vacation is in three days.

So Sweet.

Last night the boys and I were playing Monopoly. When I walked through the living room I came upon this wonderful scene. Jocie read Randy and Miles to sleep. How sweet is that? It just made my heart happy.

I love the Beach!

Only 11 more days until vacation!

I'm so excited! We're going to the beach in Corpus Christi! Another thing I'm so very very very excited about is that on the way up there (on the 30th) we're going to spend the night with Brandon and Holli in San Antonio. I miss Holli so much! We're going to have a great time together! I can hardly wait to see her family!

Our hotel is right on the beach! We're taking all the kids except Miles. I think he would have a miserable time. My Mom and Shirley will take turns taking care of him.

Anyway, I'm so excited! I'm ready for a week without having to share Randy with his work!

She Has What?????

Hey, here's something interesting...

You know how I thought that everyone in the family but Miles and I had the chicken pox?

Well, it wasn't the chicken pox!

Jocie got covered in spots again last week so I took her to the doctor and he said, "Have you been in a hot tub lately?"

Yep, sure have.

"You've got Folliculitis."

(That sounds scary!)

It's also called Hot Tub Rash. It's an infection in the hot tub. Lovely.

Jocie got a perscription and a cream and we were told to call the Hot Tub place and see what we need to do. It's not going to be that hard to fix it. We got the stuff from the spa place.

Dr. Wiley asked who serviced our hot tub and I said, "Uh, Randy."

Dr. Wiley just smiled.

So, that's why no one was itchy or had fever...they didn't really have chicken pox...although it looks JUST LIKE the chicken pox! Anyway, I thought that was funny.

PARENTING...Money

Early on Randy and I decided that we would watch what we say to our kids about our money situations. When I was a kid I knew way too much about our money situation. My Mom was a single Mom raising three kids and she did the best she could. As far as I’m concerned we had everything we needed. The problem was that I was always told that we didn’t have any money. Being a kid I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know if we were going to get kicked out of the house or if that meant that we just couldn’t get the toy I wanted. Either way, as a child I thought too much about money.
A child can’t do anything to help the parent make more money. That being true, there’s no sense in children knowing the details of the money situation.
If we’re at the store and the kids want something, regardless if I can afford it or not my response is:
1. Yes.
2. No.
3. Not right now.
4. You should save up for it.

I do not tell them that I don’t have enough money for it.

What about when you’re at the store and you are buying a few things, but when your child asks you to buy something for him you say no? The kid wants to know why you get to buy something but he doesn’t.
This is when you have to remember that you’re the parent. You just say, “This is what I’m buying today and nothing else. I don’t want to spend my money on anything else today.”
That’s it. You’re the parent. You’re the one with the money. That’s not cruel or harsh. You do not involve the child in the bill paying and you don’t involve the child in the shopping unless that’s what you’ve gone to the store to do.

So, my advice is: Watch what you say to your kids about money. There’s no need to put a burden on them that is premature.

Ouchie Wowchie!

We spent all day Friday at the pool. Randy ended up coming with us which was a blessing.

Some of us got a little sunburned. Some of us didn’t get any sunburn at all.

One of us got CRAZY, RIDICULOUS, EVERYTHING HURTS…WHY DIDN’T HE PUT SUNBLOCK ON…SUNBURNED! More like sun-scorched!



Tell me…why did Randy’ knees not get sunburned?

Must Read!

I read THE SHACK yesterday.

Hurry and read it!

I'm still trying to catch my breath!

I'm so Blessed!

Today is Spencer's 8th birthday!!!!

He got a $7 gift card from Children's Church and he asked if we could go to Wal-Mart so he could use it. I said yes.

I took him today and what did he want to buy?

I'm not kidding!

This was HIS idea!

HE WANTED TO BUY HIS MAMA SOME FLOWERS!!!!

He picked me out some beautiful flowers and then bought 2 baseballs with the rest of the gift card! How incredible is that? My sweet boy!

Burritos, Wine and Skating

Today the kids and I were eating at Taco Bueno on South 14th. The girls asked if we could Pllleeeaaaassseeeee go to the Skatin' Place after we ate.
Joey said, "Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen."
I said not today.
Then Melody said, "But it's just right over there. We can just walk there."
Spencer replied, "Yeah well, Pinkie's is just right over there too, but that doesn't mean we're going to walk over there!"

(For those that don't know, Pinkie's is a liquor store.)

All the way home Spencer was pleased with his quick wit. He repeated it all the way home and continued to remind me of how funny he is.

PARENTING

Friday night I was asked by Cherith if I had any advice to give. To which I replied, “Yes. I have lots of advice. Are you looking for anything in particular?”

She wanted parenting advice about having children close together.

I gave her a cheap joke instead of real advice.

The next day I could not get her request out of my head. I realized that I was asked parenting advice by three different people in one week.

All the time I’m asked: How do you do it? What do you do to make your kids so good? How do you discipline your kids? What would you do IF…

Well, I think I will take at least once a week on here in Blogville to pass out Parenting Advice. Some will be Old. Some will be New. Some will be Borrowed. Some will be Blue?

My qualifications to being an Advice giver are: Joey, Spencer, Jocie Melody and Miles. Also, I have 9.5 years experience. Also, this is My Blog so I can put anything on here that I want.

Hey, I actually wrote all that before today’s sermon so I feel really good about this now!


COMING SOON…My 2 cents about Parenting.

Groovy

This wallpaper is in the kitchen of the house that Randy is remodeling right now. I LOVE IT! I totally thought of Pam when I saw it so I took a couple of pictures of it. I would love to do my whole kitchen like this.

Deep Thoughts by Jocie

Jocie, in a very serious Valley Girl sort of way said to me:

Oh My Gosh...I don't like commercials. THEY ARE ALWAYS BRAGGING about the stuff they have. They're always like, "My stuff's the best." or "Buy my stuff because you will like it better." They should not be bragging because bragging is bad. And it's rude. That's why I don't really listen to what they are saying to me.

Young Love

I just got finished cleaning out a drawer in my desk that hasn't been touched in a very long time. Periodically I would put stuff in there but I haven't looked at anything in there in so long.

It was filled with LOVE LETTERS between Randy and I. (Mostly in high school but throughout the years as well.

I'm blushing! There was some risque material in there! I had to use two different storage boxes to hold them all. I made one box with neat stuff like my pregnancy journals, some sweet love notes from Randy, a flower book I made in the 7th grade and some pictures the kids have made me through the years.

Then I made the TOP SECRET...my kids cannot read until they are age...I mean when I'm not around anymore to answer all their questions "Special Box." Instead of labeling it that...I think I will label it "Bills" or "Washing Machine Instructions Manuals."

Here's a spicy photo I found while I was cleaning stuff out. It's of Randy and I when I was 16 and he was 18. We had been together for about 8 months. That's our nephew Andrew in the picture with us. He has a baby now!

I Heart Cornerstone!

Today something so awesome happened!!!

Today was the last day of school for the kids so they had a half day. When I went to pick the kids up I had to talk to the Principal. I clean the school once a week on Saturdays so I have keys to the school. I wasn’t sure what to do with the keys so here’s how the conversation went:

ME: What do you want me to with the keys after I clean the school tomorrow?

P: Oh, you can just keep them.

ME: (confused look on my face) Why?

P: Well, you agreed to clean the school next year so you might as well just keep the keys.

ME: (Really confused look on my face) Um, no I didn’t.

P: Yes, I thought we talked about this.

ME: I don’t think so.

P: I thought we talked about you cleaning next year on Wednesdays and Saturdays for Melody’s Kindergarten tuition.

ME: WHAT??? Are you kidding?

P: No.

ME: Yes Yes Yes I’ll do it! That will be great thank you…(then me hugging the Principal and being genuinely excited to clean a boy’s bathroom twice a week)


I am so thrilled! I’m more than thrilled! A couple of months ago I felt like the Lord told me that I didn’t have to worry about the kid’s school next year. Well, every time I started feeling a little panic about how much four children in private school would cost I just reminded myself and the Lord that I don’t have to worry about it! Today I was as happy as I could be about my HUGE blessing! I just had to share that with you!

P.S. Can you find Spencer in the picture?

Living and Breathing WORD!!!!

Tonight before Life Group, Miles was laying down on my bed and I decided to read the Bible to him for a couple of minutes. I flipped open the Bible and this is what I read:

There was a man in Lystra who couldn't walk. He sat there, crippled since the day of his birth. He heard Paul talking, and Paul, looking him in the eye, saw that he was ripe for God's work, ready to believe. So he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Up on your feet!" The man was up in a flash-jumped up and walked around as if he'd been walking all his life. --THE MESSAGE Acts 14:8-10

How awesome is that? Let's continue to believe the same thing for Miles!

Are You A Mitchum Man?

Randy has used the same deodorant since I've known him.

It used to be the "cool" deodorant, but I think they started going for another crowd.

Their slogan has always been: So Effective You Could Skip A Day.
(Like that's the goal in life)

Anyway, they've got something new on the lid that Randy just can't get into. Now it says: IF YOUR FAVORITE VEGETABLE IS A CORN DOG, YOU'RE A MITCHUM MAN.

Are you Kidding me?

Everyone in my family has the Chicken Pox except for Miles and I.

Yes...even Randy!

They're a spotty bunch!

How crazy is that?

NKOTB

THEN



NOW!!!!


Oh my gosh! They got cuter!

New Update on my Cooks Hospital account. Last Wednesday cost $69, 335.

Miles looks great and he's feeling great! Does he look like a house or two brand new cars...no, not really, but he can lift his arms above his head for the first time in his life.

Aw, the things we take for granted!

Hospital Pictures

Hospital stay #...oh, who can remember?

This is the outside of Cooks Hospital. Looks like a hotel...smells like a hospital.

This is the inside of the lobby. It's so beautiful to me. It looks like a castle.

I loved this light display.


This is where the pump was put in. Now he has an "Outie" belly button.

Stitches on his lower back. That just makes me hurt looking at it!

Obviously not too terrible for him. That smile blesses me more than I can explain!

Miles was hooked up to all this and more while in ICU. Can you believe that? Who designed this thing?

I bought this salad for $4. At this point I had already eaten as much as I could. That is one huge salad.

The wagon ride from ICU to the regular room.


The surgery was a success even though he had a rough recovery. I can't tell a huge differece in his body yet. The dose they have him on is too low to tell. The doctor didn't want to pump him too full of medicine before we knew how Miles would handle it. I'm looking forward to being glad that we did the surgery. :) I'm sure I'll be glad when everything is working as it should.
I got a statement from the hospital showing how much the surgery cost. Just the surgery...not the hospital stay. Ya wanna guess the total? How about twenty thousand dollars? My goodness. What more can I say?
Thank you for covering us in prayer! We needed it and I felt it. I appreciate all of you more than you will ever know! I wouldn't want to do all this without you.

(UPDATE)
One day later and a lot of difference! Miles stretched today! Randy pulled the covers off him this evening and Miles lifted his arms above his head and stretched and smiled. Randy and I rejoyced! It was a beautiful thing! He couldn't do this before...EVER. He can move! The boy can move! He's happy, he's pooping better (big deal really!) he's moving. REJOICE WITH US!!!!!

New info

I swiped my brain card in heaven a thousand times in the last two days and it looks as if it didn’t work.
Part of the boy’s family (of the boy I told you about yesterday) came to my curtain today to talk to me. I told them how I’ve been praying so hard for their nephew. I told them that I was expecting a miracle. They told me that they didn’t receive their miracle. All the scans showed that he was brain dead. The Uncle smiled as he told me that a lot of little kids were about to helped out by all the organs that were being donated. I lost it. I just couldn’t believe it.
The couple that came over brought me snacks. Can you believe that? They said that they’ve been watching me take care of Miles and they just wanted to be nice to me. They were sad that I was alone. I told them that I had a crew back home that supported me, but they were still sad that I was alone. They told me that if I needed anything to let them know. WHAT? If I needed anything?
These people were saying their last good bye to their nephew, their eyes were red from sobbing and they asked me if I needed anything!

As Miles and I were being wheeled out of ICU the parents of the little boy were going in the room to say good bye to their son. I don’t remember a time that my heart has broke for someone else as it is right now. That couple looked like the perfect couple. They were surrounded with a ton of loving family. Their son was their only child. The wife miscarried a baby about a year ago. Now their son is gone as well.

I say that, but I don’t know it for sure. I have an alternative plan.

While Miles and I were still in there Miles was having one of his hours long laughing fits. I was woken up this morning by all the nurses that were surrounding him because of all his laughing. One lady kept yelling, “That boy is seein’ Angels!” He didn’t sleep all night. He stayed awake happy and laughing.
This morning after the family came to talk to me I went to Miles to love on him, but his eyes were fixed on something and he was laughing and yelling. I did something I’ve never done before.
I spoke to Miles very seriously. I told him to send those angels that he’s seeing over to the other boy to minister to him. When I said that his eyes seemed to change to a grey color. He was laughing loud and moving his head. He was so happy. I told him to send the spirit of death away from that boy. I told him that he could see and do things that I couldn’t do and that I needed his help. I prayed that Jesus would listen to Miles.

Miles continued on with all his laughing and carrying on. As soon as we left that floor and made it to our regular room the laughing stopped. He got quiet and fell asleep.

I don’t know if any of that made a difference. I do know that Miles can see better than me even though he’s legally blind. I know his spirit is full of the Lord’s joy.

I don’t know what happened to that little boy. I know my heart is so heavy for their family. I’m also humbled by their kindness to me. I’m also thankful for the part that Miles has in God’s Kingdom. I’m praying that all the things he knows and sees now he will remember when he’s healed. He has a lot to teach us.

I believe we’re coming home tomorrow. That will be a great Mother’s Day gift.

My goodness, tomorrow that lady won’t be a mother anymore. Pray for her. Please, as a favor to me, pray for her. In the last two days she’s seemed to age about 10 years. When she first came to the hospital she looked all cute and dressed up. Today she looks like she’s been ran over. She doesn’t even look like the same person. Please pray for her.

Miles has been in the ICU for the last two days. It's been crazy. He's stable now and hopefully we will be put on the regular floor sometime today.

This ICU is so emotionally draining. On this floor there are no rooms. Just curtains. Last night a child was moved in across from me that has broken my heart. I could take two steps into his room.
He is 8 years old. Perfectly normal and healthy. No problems at all. Last night he told his parents that his head hurt then he was totally out. He had a brain anurism. His brain is bleeding. He's totally sidated. I've heard the doctors on the phone saying that he will probably die. One minute the kids is totally normal and the next minute his brain is bleeding. Right now I can see all his family is the room crying for the 12th hour straight. His Mom, Dad, Grandparents and other family are in their wailing. My heart is so full of pain for them.
I've been crying all night and day for their family. I'm a wreck. I've prayed for that boy more than I have for my own son in a year it feels like.

It's beyond a nightmare for them. It's the worst thing I can think of.

He needs a miracle. A true miracle. The great thing is that "we know a guy" that is in the miracle business. Please pray for this boy. Jesus is his only chance! Agree with me that all things are possible! Also, agree that Jesus is going to heal is brain quickly!

Even the nurses here are crying about this boy. It looks like a horrible tragedy! Let's believe for this family when it's too hard for them to believe.

More Surgery Talk

We talked to the surgeon this morning. I felt so much better after meeting him and talking to him. He showed us the pump. I kept picturing the thing as light weight plastic, but it’s heavy and steal. He will actually weigh a little more with this thing in! It’s a little bigger than a hockey puck. It’s about as thick. (I’m not sure how it’s going to fit.) The doctor said that it was going to be a challenge but he said he’ll make it work. The Wilson’s all have “innie” belly buttons…but tomorrow that will change. Miles will be an “outie”. They have to detach his belly button so they pump will fit.
Wednesday we have to be at the hospital at 4:30 A.M. I haven’t previously known that the world exsisted at that hour so I’ll be looking forward to checking that out. It will really be interesting since I’ll be required to answer a million medical questions at that hour. We’ll see how that works out!
He has to go in so early because since they’re putting in an implant infection is a big concern so he has to have a round of antibiotics before the surgery. Please please please pray against infection. Also another concern is that his chest is sounding rattley. (The spell check is telling me that’s not a word, but it is in my book.) The humidity here is different and it always seems to mess Miles up. I don’t want the anesthesiologist to mess with me about it tomorrow. They tend to be a panicky kind of people when it comes to Miles. One of them checked him out today and she seemed to understand that this was normal for Miles.

So, tomorrow is the big day. Thank you all for praying for us! I can feel your prayers. I have peace where I’ve had no peace. Please keep praying!!!!!!!! The doctor’s name is Dr. Honeycutt.
I’ll update tomorrow.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Pam!

Pump Surgery

Well, the schedule was changed up a little so we’re leaving today for Ft. Worth instead of tomorrow. A last minute appointment came up for 8:00 in the morning so we ended up having to find someone for the kids tonight. I didn’t want to add anything to the people I already had on the schedule so I was talking to Randy about what I should do. Spencer piped up and suggested that they spend the night with Ashley and Cody. Randy said that he was thinking of them as well. Normally I wouldn’t ask a couple with one little baby to watch four school aged kids, but it felt right. I called her up and said, “Hey, I’ve got a crazy thing to ask you!” She was excited. She talked to Randy and it’s a Go. They’re going to watch the kids tonight and Ashley will get them ready and take them to school tomorrow! How funny is that? I talked to her today and she said they felt like real grown ups today because they will have a big family tonight and their going shopping for a lawn mower.

Well, I’ve been a lot more emotional than usual about this upcoming surgery. It’s a pretty big deal. Long term I know it’s a good thing. I’m just not looking forward to the next 2 weeks. PLEASE pray for all of us.
PRAY THAT:
Miles’ surgery will go perfectly!
That Miles’ body responds well to the pump in his body.
The medicine does a great job in his body! FREEDOM!!!!!!
That I will have peace. (PLEASE pray for this one over and over!)
Everyone will follow the schedule that I have made for the other four children.
That my kids will have peace while I’m gone. Teachers talked to me today about how concerned the boys are about the surgery.
Miles will recover quickly from surgery.
There will be no staph infection in Jesus’ name!
We will have safe travel.
I will not be upset about being there by myself.
We will be in the hospital for the right amount of days.
I will make good choices when I’m eating at the cafeteria for all three meals every day.


Thank you for praying. I’ll have my laptop up there so I’ll make sure and update on all that’s going on.

DID I MENTION THAT I NEED PEACE? I still do.

Creativity at its finest.

Today I was out shopping and as I was almost to my car I saw a sticker on the back of a minivan that totally caught me off guard.

Okay, I know its crude, but I still had to share it.

The time is coming...

Miles surgery is coming up pretty quickly. In a week and a half I'll be in Ft. Worth with him for about five days. I'm trying to get a schedule ready for the rest of my crew for when I'm gone. I was kind of impressed with it so I thought I would share it.
Hey, if you see a blank you want to fill then let me know. Also, you have a sweet idea that you want to do for the kids while I'm away that would be awesome too. More than anything I ask that you pray for us! This surgery is a pretty big deal for Miles. Also, it's a big deal for my other kids for me to be gone this long. I'll probably give more details about the upcoming surgery soon.


TUESDAY May 6:
Randy and I will drop of the kids at school then leave for Ft. Worth at 9:00. Pre-op appointment at 12:00.
Shirley will pick up Melody and keep her.
Aaron will pick kids up from school and drop them off at my house. Phone # here.
Shirley will watch the kids until Mom comes and gets them after 5:00 when she gets off.

WEDNESDAY May 7:
Miles will have his surgery. We have to be there at 5:30 A.M.
Mom will drop kids off at school.
Amy Yates will pick up Melody from school and keep her until ____. Phone # here.
Aaron will pick kids up from school and drop them off at my house.
Shirley will watch the kids until Mom comes and gets them after 5:00 when she gets off.
Randy will come home sometime this evening when we’re settled at the hospital.

THURSDAY May 8:
Shirley will pick up Melody and keep her.
Aaron will pick kids up from school and drop them off at my house.
Shirley will watch the kids until Randy comes home.
Pam Park bringing dinner about 6:00. Phone # here.

FRIDAY May 9:
Shirley will pick up Melody and keep her.
Aaron will pick kids up from school and drop them off at my house.
Shirley will watch the kids until Randy comes home.
_________ bring dinner about 6:00.

We will need someone to watch the four kids while Randy picks us up from the hospital either Saturday or Sunday.
__________ will watch the kids.


Still need to arrange:

I would like to ask Amy or Krissy or Joanne to pick up Melody one of the days so Shirley would only have the four for a couple of hours one day.


Maybe someone could watch the kids from 3 until Randy gets off one day to give Shirley a break.

Tell Cornerstone who will be picking up the kids.

Find someone to bring Randy dinner on Friday night.

Princess Jocelyn Jocie Girl...That's What We Call Her.

Jocie wanted me to fix her hair in buns this morning. We used to call them Princess Leia Buns.




But, she's grown up a little I guess. Now she calls them Padme Buns.


Padme is from the last three episodes that were made, which is really the first three episodes...but no sense going into all that. Padme actually was a queen, not just a Princess like Leia. Also, Padme was submissive to her husband. Granted he ended up being Darth Vader, but that's not who she fell in love with. She was fruitful and had twins (Luke & Leia). We all know the good that came with that.

SO, I can see Jocie's point on moving from Princess Leia to Queen Amadala/Padme.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

Hanging out with girlfriends and talking a lot about nothing and everything.

Alone time with Randy!

Eating at a nice restaurant with my whole family. Tonight we all ate at the Olive Garden. We’ve never taken the whole gang there before. It’s neat to hear what everyone has to say. For Example: We were talking about our upcoming vacation this summer to the beach. Joey told us that the thing he’s looking forward to most is peeing in the ocean. I had no idea that was up there on the list!

I love any kind of spa treatment where I get to lay down in a dark room with soothing music and someone is messing with me! Ahhh.

I love when I go to pick up the kids from school and all the teachers and a lot of the parents want to talk to me.

I love shopping for clothes all by myself.

I love picking up Miles and hugging him for a long time before I put him in his wheelchair.

I enjoy the afternoons when Melody and I decide to watch a movie together on my bed with lots of covers before I pick up all the other kids from school.

I love the way new clothes feel before they’ve been washed.

It makes me so happy when you know you run into a person for a reason and you’re used to encourage someone.

One of my very favorite things is gifts and surprises. Big and small I just can’t seem to get enough of them! They make me so happy.

I love when I take perfect pictures of my kids.

I like when I leave the kids school after I’ve worked a long time and know that I’ve done a lot of work and that I was a good helper.

One of my very favorite things is when I’ve written a perfect piece and I surprise myself with the finished product.

I love when I feel popular.

I like when I have a shirt that my boobs look good in.

I love getting mail and packages.

Oh, I really love shopping online.

I love cooking with my iPod. It totally takes the edge off. I like dancing around and singing really loud as I’m cooking. (My secret fear is that Randy will catch me singing really off key and record me with the camcorder when I’m not looking.)

I really enjoy going to the library with the kids. Hey, did you know that they have about a million books there that you can take home for free, read and then return and it’s all for free! I’m not kidding! I’ve been going there every week with the kids! It’s all free! I’m so impressed!

I love doing paper work! I don’t like doing Randy’s paper work. It has too many numbers, but I like doing Miles’ paper work. I just love filling in the blanks, writing neatly and explaining things.

My favorite kind of movies are musicals! I can’t get enough of them. We sing songs from musicals at my house just about every day. Hey, have any of you seen THE PAJAMA GAME? It’s our current fav. It has Doris Day in it.


One of my all time favorite things is writing letters of encouragement and decorating the envelopes. It just makes me happy.

There are many many other things that I enjoy, but these are a few of them.

Oops...

Last night was a PTA meeting at the kid’s school. Kids were not allowed. It began at 7 and didn’t get done until 8:30. The meeting was uneventful and it dragged out. I was one of only three parents that went.

When I got home I tossed my purse down as I was going to check on Miles, Randy asked me how the meeting was. Without thinking whatsoever I said that great inflexion, “Boring as Hell.”

Right after I said that I heard Joey giggling at what he heard.

I really don’t talk like that ever! I don’t know what came over me! I told Joey that I shouldn’t have said that. He snickered a little.

Well, today I was sitting at the table with Joey and Jocie when Joey said to me, “I can’t believe you said that last night.” I said, “I know. You didn’t tell anyone I said that did you?” His face immediately got flushed and he nodded his head slowly.

When I caught my breath I asked who in the world he told.

He said that he told his three friends while they were on the playground. I let out a sigh of relief, but I was still shocked that he told his friends that I said that!

I informed him that neither one of us should be talking like that….he already knew.

I asked him what his friends said, but evidently they weren’t as impressed with my comment as much as Joey was. Hopefully the will keep that comment to themselves!

Got the Pedicure!

Yesterday I was so blessed!
Cherith called me Wednesday and asked if I was free Thursday morning to go with her to get a pedicure...her treat. It was so unexpected! I was thrilled. She already had an appointment with Megan Cheek and she just added my name to the list.
Oh my gosh...
I've had pedicures before. I always go to the in and out places where you can't understand what anyone is saying. I'm ruined now.
Megan is incredible! Her shop is so awesome! You have to go.
I'm not sure how much she is...ask Cherith, but it's worth it! I'm sure I will find out soon enough how much she costs because I have to go back to her! She's so delightful! She does not give the "wham bam thank ya ma'm" pedicure! Megan gives you the hour and a half, sit back and relax in the candle light pedicure! By the way she is an artist on the toes!


I know my picture is a little hard to see, but my toe nails are leopard! Can you believe it? That girl has talent! So go see her! She's a joy to talk to.


Cherith and I had so much fun. We were there ALL morning! We took Justice and Miles. They were perfect. Cherith amazes me all the time. She's so generous and fun to be around. I love her! I smiled all day about the fun time we had yesterday!


GENEROUS:
characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit : magnanimous, kindly b: liberal in giving : openhanded c: marked by abundance or ample proportions

That's Cherith!

Here's what's up with me

Update on me and mine:

I still volunteer at the school on Mondays and Fridays. I still love it. I know I will be a great teacher someday. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jocie grow in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and man. Being able to watch her in Kindergarten fulfilled a desire of my heart that I didn’t even know I had.

Speaking of teaching…I will be going back to Hardin Simmons this fall. I have a past due balance of $2500 that I need before then. I’m not having any trouble believing that the Lord is going to take care of that minor detail! SCHOOL PAID OFF!!!! Honestly, money isn’t the thing I’m worried about school. I’m mainly concerned if I have any brain cells left to go back to school. I’ve been out of college for three years now, and I’ve exhausted my mind during that time lapse. I need the Lord to encourage me in this area! I’m excited and nervous. I like having something exciting and nervous to look forward to.

I’ve got a new diet on the horizon. I’ll have to give details later. Jennifer, don’t spoil my glory.

My husband has a lot of work right now. That’s a major major blessing. The only bad thing is that he’s really backed up and people are waiting on him. He’s been having to work more than he ever has. Time together with Randy is my love language so I’m having to work hard at not being a whiny baby! The Lord is proving to be faithful to me! I’m glad that Randy is busy, and that I’m growing in maturity in the area of my time with my husband. It’s been a long time coming.

My kids are getting older. Francesca just had another baby. I think about how far away I am from that…and yet, not far enough away from that. Joey just took his first out of town trip without me. I didn’t worry about him a bit. He had a blast. Jocie’s about to graduate from Kindergarten. Miss Melody just turned five years old. She had her first friend to spend the night with her. That was fun. Spencer’s still in love with me, but also enjoys boy stuff. He keeps me laughing and screaming at him all the time.

Miles, well, God knows I love that boy, but I’ve had a rough year dealing with his sicknesses. The poor guy has been unusually sick for months. He’s been well very few days this year. Yesterday I took him to church and went to get him prayed for at the end of the service because he had a stomach bug. The only one in our family to get it by the way! And, only a day of feeling better after getting out of the hospital with pneumonia! Crazy! Anyway, I went up to get prayer for him. While Jim and Brenda was praying over him someone came behind me and said in my ear, “Expect a miracle.” My first response was, “Yes. I do expect a miracle.” Then immediately, my thoughts went to something like, “Are you kidding me? How in the world are you going to tell me to expect a miracle? Do you know how many miracles I’ve been expecting, and I’m still in this stupid prayer line? How would you like it if I went ahead and punched you in the face, break your nose and then you can expect a miracle!” You know, something like that. All afternoon I struggled with my flesh to expect a miracle. I’ll be danged if Miles wasn’t healed yesterday of that stomach bug that he had for days! Yesterday afternoon he ate for the first time in several days. He kept it down and wanted more. He’s been feeling great today and eating well. Obviously, I can’t say that my faith healed him. My humor may have impressed the Lord and he gave me a break. What ever it was, I’m thankful.

May 7th Miles is scheduled to have that baclofen pump put in. I will remind you that it’s never been placed where they want to place it, and it’s never been done on someone so small before. PRAY! I have a peace about it that I can’t explain so I’m going along with it. I say that and then I slightly freak out. It’s a pretty big deal.

I’m wondering why it is that I started out writing about me, but it mostly is about Miles. He really is a huge part of my life. He’s my full time job. The other kids go to school and I’m home with him. I do everything for him. Just as Francesca is fully responsible for her newborn baby, I’m still fully responsible for Miles care. If anything is done for him it’s done by me. I can tell the other kids to go take a shower, or to go get dressed, but I still have to do those things for Miles. And, not just regular things, but a seemingly million more things.

My writing is, well, slow going these days. I’ve got vision for my writing, but as I heard on the radio today…It’s not enough to have vision for where you’re going. You need focus as well. Focus is something I’ve been lacking. I don’t really feel discouraged about it. I just know I’ve been having to endure extreme circumstances lately. I will get back on the writing wagon soon. The Lord will see to it.

I still haven’t had a pedicure.

My mother in law is officially employed to watch Miles now for me. She’s getting paid $7 an hour when she watches him. She’s so giddy about that. It makes me really happy! Last week she watched him for 11 hours. That $77 she made!

Hey, today I wanted to have the afternoon all to my self in my clean house so I did something I’ve never done before. I took Miles grocery shopping with me. It’s Melody’s day to spend the afternoon with Shirley, and yesterday she asked me if I wanted her to keep Miles too so I could go to the store. Well, I decided to go this morning so I could just have a quiet home for awhile. That never happens! I wasn’t sure exactly how it would all work, but where there’s a will there’s a way! I pushed Miles and pulled the cart at Wal-Mart. I got a lot of attention which I liked. I pushed and pulled all the way through the store! I bought a mountain of groceries! As I dumped all the food on the grocery belt I told the checker that it all HAD to go into one cart! She was really sweet! She ended up calling someone to take my groceries out. I was trying to protest and she said, “You can’t carry these groceries and the baby out to your car. I’ll get you some help.” I thought: How do you think I got all these groceries to your line? Anyway, I was thankful for the help. My arm that I was pulling with was starting to hurt anyway.

I miss my girlfriends! I’ve missed a lot of things lately. I’m not sure when that will change, but I hope soon.

Well, I guess that’s all I can think of right now. Let me know that you haven’t forgotten me!

Our feet need help

Miles needs his feet to have better color and for the swelling to go down.

I need a pedicure!

Money Money Money

In the last week Randy and I’ve had 12,502 reasons to Praise the Lord!

Last Friday we got a call from the kid’s principal telling us that someone came by the school and anonymously paid for ALL our kid’s tuition for 2 months!!! That is $1,500 worth of school!!!!!!!

We were given a hot tub by someone that Randy is working for. The guy said that someone was wrong on the hot tub and asked Randy if he wanted it. Randy took it home, started working on it and figured out the problem was the pump. It will only cost $300 to get a new pump!

Then one day last week we got a “check in the mail” for $500 because we overpaid on our mortgage last year.


Thursday Randy got a call to meet Brandon at the church because he had a surprise for him. He told Randy that someone dropped off something for him but didn’t want to make themselves known. It was a check for TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!! Let me say that again….TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!!

And Miles is feeling absolutely fantastic! He’s as happy as he gets! He got to come home from the hospital!

Hospital Bath

When Miles is in the hospital I still do a lot for him. The nurses don’t know how best to feed him, pick him up and really what to do for him. They ask me lots of questions about Miles the entire time we’re at the hospital. I don’t mind it. I don’t know any different. I’m the one that gives him all his medications, except for the ones that go in the IV. I’m the one that gives him a bath. I brush his teeth and hair. I’m usually the one to change his diapers. If he needs to be suctioned then I just turn on the machine and do it. If I had to call the nurse every time he had to be suctioned then I’m be waiting on a nurse all day.
Well, for the last two days there have been students on the floor that only have a year left before they graduate as an RN. The same two students have been working with Miles. One is a male and one is a female. The male is the main student assigned to Miles. He’s been the fortunate soul that gets to do all the dirty jobs to “help with his training.” He’s been the one giving Miles enemas, taking out the catheter and changing the poopy diapers after the enema.
Well, I happened to mention while him and his teacher was in the room that I was about to give Miles a bath. His teacher said, “Oh, Anthony will do that.” I told her that I usually do that and that I didn’t mind. His teacher said, “Oh no, let Anthony.” Anthony being the very kind student he is said, “Yes, please allow me. That is unless you prefer me not to.” I figured if the poor guy could do an enema then he could give Miles a bath.
Anthony went to gather supplies and he brought his girl helper along with him. I sat back and observed. Usually when I do it I’m given a pink bucket, some rags, a trial size bottle of Johnson and Johnson’s baby wash and a tiny bottle of lotion. Well, Anthony had the hook up. He brought in the economy size of J&J’s body wash and the equally large size of lotion. They were brand new bottles. He got the pink tub about a third of the way full then tried to open the body wash. It was new so it had the protective seal still on it. He worked and worked and he could not get the little plastic protective label off. I tried not to giggle. He was really man handling the bottle, but to no avail. Without a word about his trouble he ended up unscrewing the bottle with the protective seal still on it. He opened it up and pulled out the pump. As he’s waving the pump around and dripping soap every where he tells me quietly, “I didn’t feel like messing with the plastic.” I didn’t reply. I was afraid I would crack up. His lovely assistant was oblivious to it all. She was busy playing with Miles.
Well, Anthony began to pour soap in the bath. I guess the steady flow of soap wasn’t good enough for him because he began to shake and jerk the bottle so more soap would come out. He was shaking the soap like it was a Ketchep bottle. More and more soap went into the three cups of water. I just stared and began writing this post in my head. More and more soap. As I watched him pour about a cup of soap into three cups of water I knew I would be rewashing Miles hair as soon as they left. There was no way that he was going to be able to get all that soap out of Miles’ thick hair.
When he was satisfied with his three to one ratio he began to wash Miles with the rag. He did a fine job. He was very detailed. So detailed in fact that this sponge bath lasted about 50 minutes. I couldn’t believe it. It went on and on. Nothing freaky was going on. I’m not implying that in any way. The guy was just set on doing a good job. Indeed if Miles had been inspected by the professor after the sponge bath there would not have been any dirt he missed.
After the bath Anthony was generous with the lotion. He spared no expense.
The kid smells great.
Right before the lotion began I got a call on the hospital phone. That was the first time the hospital phone had rang. Everyone else has called my cell phone. Well, I answer the phone and it’s Kathy Hawk. I only tell you who it was because you know her. She was saying the sweetest things and I was having hard time not divulging too much information when the students were in the room. She was saying some pretty personal things, and I was having a hard time responding. I couldn’t tell her that I would call her back because she’s so busy that if you get her on the phone then you just need to take advantage of it then.
So, I was trying to keep my composer while talking on the phone while Anthony began trying to put on the clean sheets. Towards the end of the conversation I began to wonder why he was still trying to make the bed. It was taking forever. When I got off the phone I saw that the girl student was holding Miles in a sitting position in the bed while Anthony was trying to work around her and Miles. He was getting no where. Somehow they were trying to strip the bed and make the bed all without moving Miles’ bottom off the bed. Anthony would get one side done and the other would pop off. He was slightly out of breath at this point. He had been hard at work for over an hour. Miles is totally exhausted at this point. The girl has him sitting up, and Miles is snoring he’s so tired. She’s hunched over the bed trying to hold Miles up while Anthony was reaching over her, beside her and underneath her while he wrestled the sheets and all the wires.
I said, “Uh, why don’t I hold him while you get done?”
“No, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
I look at them huffing and puffing and I say to the girl, “I’ll pick him up, you manage the wires, and then you (Anthony) can finish making the bed.”
We got that all going and Anthony says, “Man, that’s better.” He rapidly finished the bed.
While I was holding Miles he gave me a slight grin. I think he was letting me know that he thought the whole thing was silly too.
Ya know…I haven’t seen Anthony in a while. I wonder what lovely tasks he’s been up to.

Okay, well, emotions were high yesterday. Yikes.
Things are more level today. Well, Miles is the same, but I’m more level.
Miles was put in the hospital. When we got here the nurse couldn’t even hear his heartbeat because his chest is so congested. I’m not sure how long we’ll be here. I just want Miles to hurry up and get better. The poor guy is miserable.
Anyway, that’s about all I have for now. I do hope we get a better night sleep tonight. Last night nurses were in Miles’ room all night. I finally gave up at five in the morning and got up to take a shower.
I’ll update when there’s something to tell.

It's not easy.

I’m taking Miles to the doctor at 2:00 this afternoon. (Sunday) He hasn’t had a wet diaper in three days. I’ve been giving him liquid with a medicine dropper. He chokes on the liquid most of the time. He went to the doctor last Monday and he’s already finished the antibiotic. He’s been on breathing treatments for almost two weeks now. His body temperature has been consistently 90 degrees. He’s been sleeping like he’s in a coma. I’ve been barley able to get his medicine down every day. I was proud of that until I talked to Trish and she told me that since he hasn’t been getting any liquid that the medicine is highly concentrated and that it could damage his kidneys. He can’t breathe well. His lungs sound slushy. His bruise from his fall won’t go any where because he has poor blood flow. The kids have complained because they haven’t seen Miles smile in so long. My husband is freaking out because Miles is so sick. I’m in awe of how little I can help him. He’s been sick more this year than he hasn’t.

I called a friend the other day because I was overwhelmed with all of this and this is what she said, “The thing is that you and Randy make it look too easy. We don’t realize how hard it is.”

Well, to dispel that I thought I would tell you how severe it is.

Right now I just finished giving his breathing treatment. He hasn’t had a full meal in days. His body is shaking from the medicine in the breathing machine. His eyes are flittering trying to open, but they can’t. His mouth is hanging open. And I can hear his breathing.

I’m going to take him to the doctor and I’ll be very surprised if he isn’t admitted into the hospital. I passionately don’t want to go to the hospital. Do you have any idea how much juggling I have to do when he’s in the hospital? I have four other children.

Is this a bummer of a post?
Yes.
If I’m making it look too easy, well, let me tell you…It’s not.
It’s hard.
It’s life sucking hard.
It’s a lot of bad words that I don’t say hard.

Lunch

Today I took a perfectly unhealthy lunch and made it worse.

I planned on making grilled cheese sandwhiches on white bread to go along with the tomato soup I already made.

When I was getting the cheese & butter out of the frige I saw that I had previously cooked up some bacon.

Grilled cheese bacon sandwhich. It was so yummy I ditched the tomato soup.

I washed it down with a Crystal Light Lemonaid. Does that help any? I didn't think so.

I'm watching the Laughlin boys while Aaron is working this week. They've been perfect. I've enjoyed having them around. I just love sqeezing that Jaxon boy!



Please pray for Miles. He's just not doing well. I'm trying hard to keep him from pneomia again. He's sounding pretty rough. Also, he's had some other major things going on that the Lord needs to heal. Please listen, I don't mean he's just got a cold and I'm asking you to throw up a 15 second prayer. I'm saying that Miles really needs the Lord to do something major in his body all over! He's not doing well. Thank you ahead of time.