Deep Thoughts...

"When all else fails--just bite someone!"

I'll keep mine thanks

There is a cure for all that ails you. It is simply to look around. As I do so, I'm reminded of a book I loved as a child. The title-- "Could be Worse." In the story, the grandfather is telling stories to his grandson, and at the end of each extraordinary tale he used the phrase, "could be worse."  And really, it could always be worse.

Last Sunday I peeked into nursery during snack time. Ava sat at the end of the table with her rice cake while all of the other children were eating Cheez- its. I watched warily, always afraid one of the children will hand her a cracker, or rub their hands on her face. Then I lamented the fact that I even had to worry about it, and that she had to be singled out as the different one.

This morning, I was given the opportunity to sit on the other side of the fence. Ava and I went to Atlanta for a visit to the Geneticist for a repeat metabolic panel to determine if her levels had come back into the normal range. Ava was sitting playing with toys when two ladies walked in with a little girl who appeared to be about 2-3 years old. They sat down for a moment and then brought the little girl over by where Ava was playing. She was unable to stand, or sit, or do generally anything that was so effortless for Ava. Then it struck me, and I said a prayer of gratitude. "Thank you Lord for my trials, for you have asked much less of me than you have of this woman."

Shortly after, the nurse came out and called Ava's name. Blood was drawn and 5 minutes later we were headed out the door with a quick glance back at the scene in the waiting room-- and I prayed again.

So next time you're feeling like you've been dealt an unfair hand take a hard look around at someone' else's trials. I'm sure you'll feel the same way I did. "I'll keep mine thanks."

Update on My Brother

I wanted to post an update on my brother Kirk. You may remember I posted a few months back about his situation with cancer.

He has recently attempted some natural treatments to help him overcome the cancer that is ravaging his body. Unfortunately, it has not been enough. He has found a new doctor who has placed him on the critical list in a clinic in Germany. He and his wife Audra will be flying out this Wednesday to get checked into that clinic where he will undergo several different treatments in an attempt to stop the cancer.

He is very weak and unable to do most anything. The journey alone will be very trying and taxing on his frail body.He will undergo treatment there for at least a month.

Please keep him in your prayers-- that his body will be able to make the trip. I spoke with my mother this morning, and she cried as she expressed that in her opinion it will take a miracle for him to make it there intact.

Cameron, their only son, received his mission call at the New Year to Las Vegas, Nevada. He will be giving his farewell talk this Sunday before his parents leave. He flies out to the MTC on February 17th. He is excited to go and will be a great missionary. Please keep him in your prayers as well. He is going to need lots of support as he enjoys this journey with the complications he leaves behind at home.

My mother is there with the family at least until my brother and his wife return from Germany. The kids are in great hands and I'm sure will love having her there.

Thanks to all my friends and family who read this. I'm grateful to know there are friends out there who will be praying on their behalf. It makes the burden lighter and the cross a little easier for them to bear.

Six Year Old Analogy

The boys got new bikes for Christmas and thus bike rides, are frequent at our house--as long as the weather is somewhat cooperative. The other day we went for a ride just as it was starting to sprinkle. Andrew turned to me and said,

"Hey Mom--The clouds are like when someone has to pee--they try and try to hold it, but a few drops leak out, and when they can't hold it anymore...they just pee all over you!"

Just thought you'd like to remember that little tidbit (courtesy of Andrew) next time you walk outside in the rain!

Colonel Mustard's Day of Birth

Today is Colonel Mustard's Birthday! (Guess you figured by the title of the post) His 32nd Birthday to be exact. We celebrated at Shogun (Japanese Hibachi). It was a tasty Birthday for all involved. And quite embarrassing for one Colonel Mustard. His awful wife told the waitress it was his Birthday.

                                     

They gave him this lovely little hat to wear.

I think he secretly liked it.

Then the waitresses sang him happy Birthday in Japanese, which was pretty cool.

Then Colonel Mustard threatened his wife with bodily harm if she posted these pictures.(There were witnesses). And later... the camera took a dive on the kitchen floor after he snuck it away from me, and attempted to erase the evidence. Don't worry. I obviously confiscated the camera in time, and after it's unfortunate fall,  it appears no worse for the wear.

I made him a Snickers Ice cream cake. That has to make up for something. Right?

And he got lots of help blowing out the candles. (And lots of spit from various sources, I'm sure.)

So I'm taking my chances, and hoping that tomorrow, when he finds out I did post these pictures, he'll be in a forgiving mood.

Happy Birthday to my...hmm hmm....old husband!

Still not a gray hair in sight! Pretty impressive if you ask me!

(Love you Babe!)

Deep Thoughts...

"Silence is Golden....unless there's a toddler in the house!"

Tastes like Chicken

I should know by now, that Ava is the exception to every rule. I don't understand why she insists on being this way-- I think God is enjoying a little laugh at my frustrations.

She went for a follow-up to the Allergist and her GI yesterday because we did have a clean scope last month! They decided to do a SPT (skin prick test) on some foods, so we could begin adding them back into her diet. They tested her for meats, a few grains, and a few random other things. I went yesterday hoping that we would be getting chicken added back into her diet. I was really excited since chicken is a great protein and we eat a LOT of chicken at our house.

When the nurse came back in to read the test, I told her there was one that was really bad. She looked, and measured, and indeed, the reaction was 3 times the size of the control reaction. I asked what it was-- she looked at her chart and replied- "that's chicken."

WHAT! No! She can't be allergic to chicken. I love chicken. I live off of chicken. I want to own stock in Zaxby's and Chik-fil-a! Who the heck is allergic to chicken? The nurse's reply, "Well... it definitely isn't a common thing to be allergic to."

As I sat waiting for the doctor to return, wallowing in my upset, I realized that this may explain some of the "mystery" reactions she used to have. Like the time at Zaxby's, when I fed her chicken that they assured me wasn't cooked with any butter, and there was no butter on the grill. I carefully peeled off the outer layer of chicken just in case, and fed her the chicken. Two minutes later, she had hives all over her face. I demanded to speak to the cook as this chicken was obviously contaminated with something. He informed me that they don't even use butter on anything so he didn't know what I could be talking about. "Those incompetent fast food workers!"
Funny now...and I feel like an idiot for that one. I, the incompetent mother, never thought it could actually be the chicken causing the reaction.

Well...fun times. Ava can eat beef, turkey, and pork now, but NO CHICKEN. I think I'll send her to live with my mom. She hates chicken anyway!

Not what I signed up for

I left Wyoming for a reason--and any of you who have lived there (or still live there) probably know why. The weather for 9 months of the year is AWFUL! The few times I have been back, I wonder how anyone stands it. I guess I've become a softie living in warmer climates.

...And I like being a softie! I don't like wearing 5 layers of clothing every time I walk out the door. I don't like shivering in my car for 30 minutes before it warms up enough to drive. And I especially don't like having to block my face from frigid gusts of wind...or hear the wind outside my window....or open the door and have the wind drop the temperature of my house 10 degrees.

Did I mention I can't stand the wind??

So this morning, I turned on the light in the kitchen and heard a freight train running up the stairs of the deck. Then there was scratching...and whining....and when I didn't answer immediately, they resorted to barking. (which no one wants to hear at 5:30am). So I opened the back door to a lovely gust of "What the hey? Did I experience a 'Wizard of Oz' moment, and my house was picked up and thrown to the far northwest?"

Needless to say, I threw on a jacket, opened the garage door, and mumbled profanities at the weather as I ushered my most grateful dogs inside. This is Georgia, and this weather doesn't happen here...and this is definitely not what I signed up for....and I should have at LEAST gotten a white Christmas for putting up with this!

....And I'll need this post to remind me in August, when it's 95 degrees with 90% humidity, (when for a fleeting moment, the weather in Wyoming is gorgeous) that I can put up with it!--because I am not woman enough to have 6 months of days like today!

Typical Wyoming winter day

Swagbucks

Do you know what Swagbucks is? It's a search engine that rewards you with "Swagbucks" when you use them. I know a lady who began using this last year, and by Christmas had amassed $1000 in Amazon giftcards to use for Christmas!

Now I'm not expecting that success, but hey, any giftcards would be great!. I put my widget on the side of my blog- just go sign up if you'd like to try it- maybe we can all have a little cheaper Christmas this next year! I'm 1/3 of the way to a $5 Amazon giftcard in just a few days! ( not a lot but in time it adds up)

Since I don't really like the way it looks, I probably won't keep it on my blog for long, but for a little while the link is there!

And since I'm in crazy money saving mode lately- please let me in on any tricks you have- I'm in desperate need!

A New Year

Happy New Year to everyone!

'Tis the season for resolutions--I love that we have a time each year to make goals, but I hate that resolutions are typically shallow and short lived. I resolve to NOT LOSE WEIGHT this year! Every January I want to pull my hair out as everyone jumps on the weight loss train. Do yourself a favor and stay off of it. You'll make your life miserable and and in two months it will be all but forgotten anyway.

I wish that the focus of resolutions was to find a goal that would truly make you a better person. If we all resolved to do a little more for others, be a little more Christlike, serve in our communities, or overcome a weakness we have. Imagine the difference-- Instead of a bunch of grouchy, self-centered, hungry people running around- We might actually make a difference in this world of ours.

I'd share with you what my real resolutions are, but I wouldn't want you to copy me!!!! ( really they are personal and I don't like admitting all my faults in public!)  So there you have it- my annual soapbox commentary on New Years! Rest assured you will hear it every year. It just one of those things that gets me going!

Here's to a great 2010 and some worthwhile goals for a new year!