Off to School and Graham Update

Amidst the roller coaster of emotions that I've been experiencing because of Graham (see update below), my firstborn started Kindergarten.  Not sure I had any tears left for this, but I'm also not sure I would've cried them anyway.  She was all sparkles and sunshine. 

I was a little worried she wouldn't talk about her day with me, but that was an unfounded fear. Here's the short version:

How'd your day go Ry?

"I made a friend today!"

"Mrs. Beren's looked so pretty."

"We have to wear red tomorrow, do I have anything with red on it?"

"I sat by Wyatt and Seth, Savannah and Leah were next to them and Lindsey was..."

"A boy got sent home today because he was naughty!" (we threatened her that they would send her home if she didn't obey the teacher...pretty sure no one got sent home.)

"We had centers, I played in the kitchen today."

"Our classroom has a bathroom in it!"

"I had to get three drinks during recess."

Are you ready to go back tomorrow?

"Ya Mom, but I hope Daddy don't cry again."

For the record, I'm sure Eric would like me to point out that he just said that he "wanted to cry" because his girl was getting too big.....so I will point it out, although it wouldn't surprise me if Rylie saw something I didn't. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Graham had open heart surgery 2 days ago.  The surgery went very well and now Ann and Drew are experiencing the ups and downs of recovery.  One step forward and two steps back.  I feel like I've been walking around with my heart in my throat since his birth and I'm just the Aunt/sister.  I received this email from Ann this morning:

"Thank you so much for all of your prayers. I would not be able to get through this without them. My update as of 6 this morning. Graham had a wonderful night. They are going to try to get him off his oxygen this morning, which is the first step to him getting stronger. He is withdrawing from his strong pain meds, which is normal, but I don't like it. He shivers and shakes a little; heart breaking to see. My prayer for today is for his body to breathe perfectly on its own and for the withdraws to stop immediately. Again, your prayers are keeping me going. I had a really bad day yesterday of questioning, crying and exhaustion. God gave me rest last night and strength for another day at the NICU. I'm praying they'll start tube feeding him by tonight and maybe by tomorrow I can hold him again.

I love you all and would ask that you would forward this to anyone who would be willing to pray for our family."

Ann

Prayer for Graham

 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

This is my sister Ann and her new baby boy Graham.  He was born on Saturday, August 20th. She hasn't gotten to hold him since.

He couldn't breathe on his own and needed oxygen right away.  The doctors soon discovered that (for lack of a technical term) his heart valves were switched around.  He will need open heart surgery. Yesterday he was able to breathe on his own without oxygen and if he can remain stable they will do surgery tomorrow afternoon.

I would be so grateful if you would join me in prayer for Ann, her husband Drew, and their 2 daughters Brooklynn and Breckynn.

Please pray:

~ for peace that passes all understanding for the family

~ that little Graham remains in stable condition to do surgery tomorrow

~ for comfort and rest for Ann and Drew

~ for successful surgery and that the Lord would guide the surgeon's hands!

~ and for a complete recovery and healthy little boy

Thank you for your support and prayer! I already am amazed at how God has worked in little Graham's life through the power of prayer. 

****************************************

This Week's Verse:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

One Year Marks Mild Improvement

Eric and the girls made me a cake...and we had to have candles!  A lot of them.

This time last year I was celebrating my 31st birthday.  I still struggle with being "in my thirties" but feel like I have made a few improvements over the last year worth mentioning.  Take for instance, my eyebrows.  About this time last year I was in a crisis...read here if you don't remember it.

Well, my awesome husband got me a sitter for my birthday, so I decided to go pamper myself a little.  I splurged on a facial and eyebrow wax.  If I could justify it, I would be doing this once a month but considering I could sponsor 2 Compassion children for the cost of one visit holds me back a bit.  So once a year will have to do.

My experience yesterday was a marked improvement over last year.  Unfortunately Sissy was not around to witness this, but Stephanie was sure impressed:


"You have great eyebrows!  I hardly need to do anything to them."

"Really? I haven't had anything done to them since last year," I was genuinely surprised that they looked good.

"You pluck these by yourself?"

"Yeah," I said with growing confidence.

"Wow, most people butcher their eyebrows when they pluck....(laughter)."

"Ahem.....ya.....ha....crazy!"  I totally didn't fess up.  I just reveled in the praise.

What idiot would butcher their eyebrows?  Clearly, with age, comes a better beauty regimen.  (Thanks Amber - you totally saved me!)

So, I felt confident after I got home.  I am improving with age!  Then I looked back at my post on my birthday last year and lost all confidence.  No improvements there.

1. My hair is still long, although I do have plans to cut it....soon.


2.  Last week I bought a couple dresses at Maurices.  They were 60% off, what was I supposed to do? Walk away?  I don't think so.  However, I didn't step foot in American Eagle so I deserve a pat on the back for that at least.

3.  I jammed out to Justin Timberlake on the way home from my facial.  No mature music improvements.  Strike three.

4. November 18th.  That's the release date for Breaking Dawn Part 1.  I should not know that.


So I haven't matured much over the course of a year, but do feel like I'm settling into my age a little. I'm enjoying this stage of life. No matter how tiring it sometimes is.  As long as people stop telling me that 40 is just around the corner...life is good.

*********************************************

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave me "Congrats" and "Happy Birthday's" over the last couple days! For as much as I gripe about social media being negative, there is so much positivity to it also. I was completely overwhelmed by the number of people who took time to say a few kind words! Makes me realize I need to be more intentional about this for others. It was touching. Very touching!

Round #3

I took 5 before I really actually believed it.

I feel sick.

And tired.

And cranky, as my posts have probably reflected.

But, more than that I feel blessed. 

Blessed that God has given me another child.

And a little shocked that He thinks I can handle it.

He's due in February.

We're hoping for a boy so I prefer to be optimistic about the "he" part.

What can it hurt?

*******************************************

This Week's Verse:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
Mark 8:34-35

*********************************************

My friend Anna's adoption recently was covered on Channel 3 news! Check it out!

Make sure to go on her blog to leave a comment about her story! She gets one dollar for every comment left.  Plus you can't help but be touched by the outpouring of support and all the kind words from others!  Might want to keep your Kleenex handy!

The Heat Made Me Do It

Last week this headline made the front page news in our local paper:

*Domestic Disturbance Calls Rise with Summer Temperatures*

I am willing to bet that this didn't surprise anyone in town.  What is it about the heat that makes you want to wail on someone? I'm not usually one to complain about the heat because I would've given my right arm for days like these last February.  But with the heat index for July clocking in at an average of about 101 degrees, one can't expect me to hold my tongue forever.  And let's just face it, the heat brings out the cranky.

For instance, I couldn't help it that I ripped my husband up, down and sideways for sneaking in the house, yelling "boo" and scaring the living daylights out of me.

It's just not that funny.

Not in the heat.


And I can't be blamed that last week when the trash truck drove by our house I told the girls I was going to throw them in it if they fought one more time.

I just can't handle it.

Not in the heat.


And what about a few days ago, when I told Eric to shoot Wayne (our cat) for peeing on our camping chairs in the garage.

I don't do extra messes.

Not in the heat.


Clearly, I haven't been myself.  The heat made me do it.

Now that the August weather has been wonderful, I'm finding it hard to blame my words and actions on the heat.  Guess we'll have to go back to hormones for a while.  At least until winter sets in.