Prayer Request

Update- Little Joann and baby Joseph are doing well! So glad Sunshine updated us!! ----------- Please join me in prayer for Little Joann and her sweet boy as she prepared for his scheduled c-section tomorrow! We also have just learned of another scheduled c-section for another fellow-blogger's sister. Please pray for both of these Momma's & their babies. St. Joseph, pray for them! Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for them!

Free!!!

Joseph was having a blast running free in the backyard!


Then his daddy caught up with him!



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Puppy love

Our friends have a new puppy and she received so much love from our three boys!


Love does multiply!

The gift of love goes a long way . . .

Less than a month before my second surgery with Dr. Hilgers, we were celebrating with our dear friends as they were waiting for their first little boy to arrive!  His two big sisters were at home and it just so happened we were in the area the day our friend went into labor with him! 

We were the only two people there in the waiting room, praying for the safe arrival for this little guy!  I cannot say yet that we knew we were going to be his godparents yet, but that did not matter!  We were praying and loving this precious boy all the same! 

This was a big moment for me, I was not jealous or sad that my friend was welcoming this sweet soul, I was just hopeful that one day we might have a little one who just might become his buddy!

So glad I dreamed big because that is exactly what has happened!  This sweet guy is Joseph’s big buddy!  Big buddies do special things and G-Man rose to the occasion in a big way!

Just this week, Joseph received a very special package in the mail from his big buddy, G-Man!

Joseph could not have been more thrilled!  He was more excited than this picture portrays   He is not loving the camera these days!  Well, no, he LOVES the camera so much that I can’t get great shots anymore.

The special package included a kind note, a dollar, and TWO AWESOME BLUE BATMAN colored pictures!!  Joseph carried those pictures around for the longest time!  Now I can’t wait to bless another child with a surprise gift like this one day!

 

In other news, Joseph saw the ENT today and I guess it went as well as can be expected.  The best part was that my husband got to be there to listen and help corral Joseph while I signed paperwork.  I think Jessy underestimated the severity of dislike Joseph has for those devices the doctors use to check his ears.  It is gut-wrenching. 

After the review and medical history review, the ENT told us Joseph was a good candidate for getting P.E. Tubes in and I was still not really ready for that.  I know to some it might not seem life a big deal, but it will be the first time my baby has to have a surgery.  A surgery to help him with something I cannot make better for him.  Another issue for me is that they will be using gas to help him be ‘sleeping’ for the surgery and my first vivid memory of my childhood was receiving the gas to have eye surgery.  I remember how scared I was and I wonder how it will be for him. 

We have a week to process it all, get a baseline hearing test done, and just be at peace with it all.  I said I was ready for this, but I was not prepared for our visit today to turn into a pre-op appointment.  They people there were great and reassuring.  I do believe this will help Joseph a great deal and is necessary.  I think he has been dealing with ear problems to long but I just want to trust that this will be it, all will be healed and we can move on from here.

I am hoping for greater comfort for him, better sleep, and less medications!  The only time he sleeps well is when he is on AB’s.  He is now on his fourth type/treatment of AB for the crazy ear infection that started in March and did not go away, ever.  In the past, he only had one other mild ear infection at 6 weeks old.  One thing I learned today is that the only real risk-factors (that were beyond our control) were 1) genetics – Joseph’s two first cousins had to have tubes, 2) Reflux is a contributing factor.  Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with second hand smoke, prematurity, or severe respiratory issues. 

St. Gianna & St. Katharine Drexel, pray for Joseph and all the other children needing ear care and pray for the doctors responding to the great need to help them, especially Dr. Williams.

Surgery date is 5/4/12.

Donut driving. . .

Every afternoon when the big boys get home, Joseph seems to thing that is when rush hour comes around because he ready to jump in his car and cruise around the house.

He makes lap after lap around the large island in our kitchen and the small area in our living room!  He often get some help from them or Jessy & I.  He adores his Cozy Coup.e!

His new fascination these days are to put round things onto smaller rounder objects!  So as you can see, he has one plastic ‘donut’ from his rockin’ stacker on each arm and on on his horn!  Can you image what kind of craziness we will encounter when he reaches the age to drive a real car on a real road?

elmo love

 

What is it about this little red monster that’s draws toddlers like a magnet?  There is a lot of Elmo love happening in this house!

I can get away with only putting on Sesame Street on for Elmo’s World only and this seems to satisfy both of us

ENT scheduled

Last week we saw Dr. Decker for the fourth follow-up visit and it was the worst visit for Joseph.

Our doctor has been trying everything in her power to get his ears to heal up.  In the last ditch effort, she had us give him an allergy medicine twice daily to see if it would reduce any drainage from sinus issues to his ears so that the fluid already there would clear up.  Her plan worked for his right ear but his left one still had fluid and was beginning to show signs of redness again.  She was so disappointed and we were too.

From the get go, he cried the moment they tried do do anything with him.  Screaming cries!  My heart was broken.  We left knowing he would be referred to Dr. Mark Williams and a script to a month-long medication.  She was clearly worried about him, which made me nervous.  When I got in the van with him, he was happy and then I cried.  No big cry, because he is already so in tune to my emotions.  It was more the silent tears of resignation.  We did all we could at this point and my baby was still hurting.

Well, I recovered quickly and began some prayers.  We are asking the intercession of St. Gianna and St. Katharine Drexel for renewed ear health.  The first request of a quick appointment has already been answered, he will be seen on Thursday at 3:20 pm.

God, we are ready for our boy to be fully well!  Thankfully he is still happy most of the time!!

Daddy surprised him with a pool this past Friday!

He has been playing with it even without water!!

Loving the sandbox!

A bite of his first chocolate bunny!

Learing to catch the ball

A request . . . (with Update)

 

a lot is happening these days in our little home!

Thankfully the littlest boy is feeling much better & we will have another ear check on Friday.  Tubes or not I am at peace in regard to this.

Another storm is brewing with the older boys and their choices are STEALING they are giving away their future in mindless choices.  These choices are not only affecting our home, it is branching out and we need a great amount of wisdom from God to handle it the right way, so I am asking for prayers to storm Heaven. 

Grace is needed here.

Thanks so much for the prayer ladies! We really needed them! My husband remained calm the entire time. Whew, I swear I did not know how to discipline the behavior without attacking the character. Teenagers are a gift to the world, but that only comes through the fruit of good parenting and we have only been caring for them since July 2011 so we have a ton more work to do. That being said, I am praying for grace to reside in my heart, it is very tempting to do otherwise!

Lions, Tigers, & Bears oh MY!

I  might as well be living at the zoo!

 

Easter came and now I feel like I am just now being nailed to the cross but reminded that the resurrection always arrives on time.

The older boys saw their mom the day before Easter and it took them awhile to begin to really act out and last night was the worst.  I actually had to tell them that actions speak louder than words and that if things did not change with their choices of behavior we will have to find them a new place to live.  Only one threw the  fit but the older one suffered the consequences too when I had to correct them.  I have tried to create an 'unconditional' home environment for them but I guess in reality I cannot do that with their history, with wanting to grow our family, and keep Joseph in a safe and peaceful environment.  This had Jessy and I sick all night long because we don't want them to go away but it is their call to make at this time and what a huge responsibility for two immature teenagers.  There is no one else that wants them, it is a dire situation.  God wants them safe and to have a future, we are simply trying to be his hands and feet at this time but it is very difficult.

Our Easter morning looked promising, Joseph seemed happy with his basket but before we could get back from church he was running a mild fever which took a huge spike north shortly thereafter.  He was miserable all day and we just hung out at home, had a nice dinner, & watched movies.  He even fell asleep on my lap because he just couldn't go anymore.  His temperature spiked to 103 during the night and he was just worn smooth out from feeling bad.  So the next morning I had to bring him to the doctor and it showed that the recent ear infection we treated already with a 10 day AB treatment, then a 3 day AB treatment was just not getting any better and his eardrums were still red and bulging.  This child only had one ear infection his whole first year and then this ugly one will not go away.  She wants us to go see her again tomorrow for a f/u and then determine if we need to administer tubes.  Part of me suspects that he always had some underlying ear issues (possible fluid not seen) because I used to bring him in all the time because of signs he would show me of ear discomfort but there was never anything seen.  I have also began to worry more because I got a sense that he was not hearing our sounds well enough to repeat them well as he will talk up a storm and still only say the main words he said three months ago on a consistent basis.  I was not going to jump to conclusions but the first two days on his second round of antibiotics (which ultimately did not work) he began repeating our words very clearly!  Hard words like "Tickle" and "Babineaux"! 

Deep breath . . . .

I am feeling massively overwhelmed and just really need some respite from the worry!

The anxiety is not helping my already screwed up ladyparts.  I have run out of stickers and supposed to sends charts to Dr H but I can barely seem to make time for bill paying much less ordering stickers/charts!  I need a new teacher to help me get t
in order and motivate me.  My cycle is messed up and all I can thing about is getting a nice cold coke and drinking it in quiet, alone while either watching HGTV or NO TV!!! 

If you can spare a few prayers, our family would really appreciate them!

In collecting my thoughts before bed last night I mumbled to myself “Why am I putting so many others ahead of my own needs & feelings (even wants)?”  Yes, as a Mom ( a new one at that with teenagers and a toddler) you would think that the selfishness would naturally be rooted out and it is S-L-o-W-L-Y.  Yet, immediately I KNEW what God was asking of me and I could 100% relate to that moment on the cross when Jesus asked his Father to forgive them, they know not what they are doing.   Jesus put us and our needs ahead of his own comfort, wishes, and wants.  I do aim to be like Jesus so as to prepare my soul for Heaven so who am I to whimper when the crosses come, when I fall underneath their weight, when I realize that this cross is necessary and purifying and overwhelmingly annoying!

God will lead me and my husband to care for this boys as He wills.  He will not ask us to forget our primary duties though.  Necessary is not always easy.  And loving takes on many faces.

Oh, one other thing I forgot to mention, Joseph is cutting at least 4 teeth right now on just one side!  He won’t even let me feel the other side and thankfully he is eating again.  On all I could do was get fluids in him and pretty much the same for the next day, but he ate the last two days pretty well!  Yesterday he was full of diarrhea and then developed a very nasty rash!  Poor child, I am hoping it will heal soon and we are treating it as best we can.  I don’t know if it was a reaction to medication (shot), I suspect it was so I think we are past the worst of it.  He had no poopy diapers today so I am hoping that helps the rash heal even faster.

Update on the older boys, they tried really hard to monitor their behavior today.  Still not where we need to be but I think some of it has to do with timing for medication and recent visit with a negative mom.  Still a work in progress!

Prayer Buddy Reveal!!

 

I had the most wonderful honor of praying for sweet Marie from Joy Beyond The Cross!  Simply the title of her blog portrays the the image of tremendous faith and Marie is such a beautiful example of trust and faith in a God that is bigger than what we can see!   I have been following her journey for a few years!   She was my prayer buddy recently and she was so generous in her prayers and they were felt everyday, I hope I was able to do the same for her!

Marie is a new Mom who comes across as a totally seasoned Mama!  She has been so filled with grace as she has cared for her beautiful new daughter, Elizabeth!  Marie, it was an honor to pray for you and your family this Lent!  I can assure that my prayers will continue for your family and special intentions.

Joseph and I prayed for your special intentions before meals and our noon & night prayers.  I also offered up masses for you and some of our sufferings I experienced with sick kids and sassy teenagers

Marie, I was able to pray a St. Joseph Novena for your special intentions and felt very led to ask the intercession of Zelie & Louis Martin (St. Therese’s parents) for you and your husband as your parent your sweet daughter!  I really did see fruits of my prayers at times from your posts and then it seemed at times I wasn’t doing enough when your voice disappeared for your conference or when you slipped on the stairs.  Goodness, I was thankful when Elizabeth made a good trip to your conference! 

In the days ahead I will be praying fervently as you prepare to return to work!  In all honesty, I have been praying for peace of heart for you and Elizabeth this whole Lent in regard to this because I know this causes so many anxious feelings for you!

Marie, you are an amazing woman, wife, mother, and friend!  I feel so very blessed to know you!

Happy Easter–Picture Post

 

Coloring the eggs!

Our little egg cracker

Easter bunny passed early this morning!!

My happy snuggle bunny!

Mitch with his first DP after giving

up all soft drinks for lent.

Matt with his candy & chips; he gave up chips for lent!!

Joseph was thrilled with his Easter book!

Our little reader!

M&M Mini’s = A Toddler Jackpot!

M&M Hand

HAPPY EASTER FRIENDS!!!

JESUS IS RISEN, THE GRAVE IS EMPTY &

OUR HEARTS ARE FULL!!

Good Friday Picture Post

 

Grace lives in our hearts.

Everyday is a new adventure and an

opportunity to put aside our selfishness

and embrace sacrifice.

Sometimes the days are just fun & in the

midst of living a life of hope fulfilled one

can almost forget the days of darkness &

death that was necessary for us to

appreciate new life & blessed bright light!

At this stage in my life, I feel almost

alarmingly disconnected from the passion

of Christ.

Even in the midst of my hardest days, I still

feel like I am living on Easter morning

daily. 

Yet the only way to Easter is through the

Passion, the suffering, the surrender of the

personal will – a necessary death.

Dear God,

thank you for showing us how

to journey from death to life;

thank you for teaching us to be

courageous even in darkness,

loneliness, and final breaths.

Thank you for showing us

that the story doesn’t end

with the cross but with the

stone being rolled away.  Amen.

Joseph’s first skinned knee

& there were no tears!