Courage

For each of us, courage means something a little different. We probably agree that it takes courage to serve on a battlefield or to face death through a serious illness. But, in each of our lives there are also things that are uniquely challenging to us...things that are hard, things that require courage.

This week, N showed great courage and we couldn't be more proud.

N has a seizure disorder. It's a form of epilepsy that he has battled since infancy. His seizures are what you might picture in your mind - grand mal seizures - complete with violent tremors, losing consciousness, turning blue, etc.

This week, N was asked by his health teacher to be a "living face" for epilepsy. He was asked to stand in front of a room full of peers and explain what it is, share that he has it, and field questions.

Do you remember junior high? I do. There's no way I would've wanted anyone to know that I was different in any way from others.

When I shared with N how impressed I was that he was willing to be vulnerable like that, he was suprised. He truly believes that who he is is not defined by others, but by God. And THAT takes courage.

Keep living for Jesus, N!

Momma Knows How to Make Everything All Better

Sometimes it doesn't take much to help a child get over something unpleasant. Just a few sticks of butter, a few eggs, a drop of vanilla, and some chocolate chips.

Can anyone say YUM?

M's Button Drip

Last night was time to start M's Desverol drip. Because her oral medication isn't working quickly enough, we had to switch to a sub-cutaneous iv drip that runs for ten hours while M sleeps. Just before bedtime yesterday a nurse came to our house to teach us how to place the needle in M's stomach, tape the extra line down to her tummy, attach the pre-medicated tubing, and attach everything to a pump.

Everyone at the hospital said it wouldn't be a big deal. WRONG! It was very sad and hard. We hid our tears well. We know that this medicine is absolutely essential for M's health.

Every several days we'll place a new "port" of sorts into her stomach and 5 nights out of 7 we'll hook up the lines and do the drip. M hated the placement. We had to hold her down and she squirmed crazily and sobbed. More sad news....no long tubbies for 5 out of 7 days...we have to saran wrap over the opening and then she gets to stand for a sponge bath and wash her hair more like a shower. This girl LOVES tubbies. She'll be so disappointed.

I wondered about pajamas and how that would work with the line. I needed to see it to know for sure. Yep. No zip up jammies will work. That left only one pair in the house that works. Today we went to the store to pick out a new pair. I am happy to report that she has picked up her mother's love for sheep and her new pair are wooly cute! I think her grandma is sending an adorable pair of jammies for Christmas, too. Shhh!

Here are some pix as I know many are curious. This way everyone can see them and M doesn't know. I'll tell you, little things are a bit trickier...like when M leaned against the counter to brush her teeth. :-(

If I didn't have boys...

I would never find a pop gun in my food pantry.

I would never find a dirty sock in a school backpack.

I would have food in my house for more than 24 hours.

I would not know what quarterbacks go with what teams...ok, I still don't!

I would never say, "Sic!" Did I spell that right?!

I would never spend hours researching robots on the computer. Shhhh!

I would not find myself saying, "Did you wash your hair or just get it wet?"

Did I mention having food in the house?



But if I didn't have boys....I'd miss


sticky, sweaty hugs

dirty kisses

tousled hair, and

being a hero just because I made cookies.


It's all so worth it!

We're Trying to Set a Record

Just as ALL FOUR KIDS are healthy enough to return to school....J sprained his ankle! God has SOME sense of humor. I'm ready to throw away the joke book right now, but I think I'll try chuckling instead. Lord, have mercy! :-)

I know everyone will ask....he was shooting some hoops and found the ONE lone log in the grass near the court and tripped over it. I'm not kidding. It wasn't even big! I was raking leaves and watched and ask it happened I just shook my head. Poor thing!