I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down

and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away


I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Lazy....

After the week we had and missing quite a bit of work due to the dog and spring break I declared today pajama day. I'm already bored though. Since I was home a lot during the week I was able to get the house clean and misc. errands done. I really am not motivated to do anything but I can't seem to sit still. Abby's teacher asked parents for volunteers in purchasing butterfly larvae for their butterfly pavilion. I volunteered thinking others would as well- WRONG. So me and my big mouth just spent fifty bucks on creepy crawlies. We had to separate it and fill the containers with food, mash it down, and use a paint brush to get single larvae out. I made Rick do that part. I'm just hoping they make it to Monday when they go to her classroom so I'm no longer responsible for any larvae deaths.

She loves animals. Hence the need to run around the house on all fours pretending to be one... and doing this while Mom opens the garage door. SMACK.

Abby took it upon herself to make sticker charts. They are already good kids so I kind of feel like it's a scam.

Puppy Face

Cooper is home now. We gave him a bath- he proceeded to have more diarrhea, more blood, more scooting. Rick called the vet and she called us back stating he should feel better in about 48 hours. At least for now there is no more whining, pacing, or whimpering in pain. Rick walked by him and I said, did you give him some loves? His reply was, "Not until he gives me my thousand dollars back." Apparently the relationship hasn't changed.

Night 2

We were up with Cooper from 12:30 to 4am. Another night of no sleep. Good news is his colon is empty now. Bad news is so is our bank account. We are close to $1,000 in right now. Rick took him back to the vet today. More xrays, more blood work, anal sacs were full of blood. Now they are doing a barium enema with xrays every hour. I am on the verge of tears constantly from being tired and frustrated along with the um... the expense.
Rick has a man cold so it's not helping his already crabby mood. Believe it or not this was taken this morning before he went back to the vet.

As if he didn't like the dog already....

Cooper is currently at the pet hospital... our vet bill is up to $500 and he's not done yet. Xrays, blood work, sedation and an enema so far. Needless to say my husband is rather, um... pissed. Excuse the language.

Weekend was low key- we all have mini colds. Not enough to be anything significant but you definitely don't feel all that great. Saturday I took the kids for their annual pictures in their Easter get up and then we just hung out at home.

I found this on the stairs. I think the deer is "sleeping"????

Anxious to send a picture and some stickers to Nzembi

We went out last night to see the super full moon with our telescope I couldn't get any decent pictures so here is a picture of the moon that looks like any other full moon to me

Happy St. Patty's Day

Meet Nzembi

I have been wanting to sponsor a child for well over a year now with Compassion International. Rick was never really on board with the financial commitment. Ya'll know about my starbucks addiction and how I've always said it's my little treat just for me since I work and all... it's my little splurge. Well I told him I would cut out latte's in order to do this. Plus (not that is matters) it's tax deductible the big tightwad. (it's all in love babe)
How can you resist this little face??? Abby LOVES loves loves Africa. So her face lit up when I mentioned sponsoring a child in Africa the same age as her to write to, and pray for.
Nzembi is 6 years old. I can't wait to share more of her with you!

Mornings and Evenings

I brought the camera this morning because I wanted to capture it.... Monday's and Tuesday's Rick is home and takes Abby to school- they stand in the front window and wave and blow kisses. Sometimes they have sad faces. Either way it makes it hard to drive off.



Daddy gives towels rides. Even though they are 2 years apart they weigh exactly the same down to the ounce.

Spring Forward

I already changed the clocks. I like to do it on Saturday and get it over with...

Abby went back to school on Wednesday. Aidan loves to sit on the heat register. I made her Leprechaun Trap for school today.

Not much else happening- I ran 20 miles this week. I haven't done that in a LONG time. Cleaned house in the evenings though you would never know it the way the terrorists kids leave their stuff strewn all over ... so...just getting back into the routine. It's nice that we have a lull in our schedule and we aren't running around like crazy chickens.

Abby told me they are having a bible donation at school to collect extra bibles to distribute to the homeless. She said that she 'wants to donate one of her bible's because she finally wants to do something like that.' I love that she has a big heart. Her school often asks for hats and coats, or just recently they asked for new movies to donate to Doernbecher, they also sell cookies or bracelets to raise money to help pay for a cleft-palate surgery etc. I felt like I was just supposed to wait for her lead. So.. a bible it is.

A Day in the Life...

I know... I had nothing better to do today right? He got a bath and a haircut. Aidan and I went to church today, I had Sunday School duty. I came home with a raging headache :-(

Milkshake

I pulled out the big guns today and made a milkshake consisting of red cabbage, spinach, carrots, banana and fruit punch. They LOVED it. I should also point out she actually put clothes on today - Day 8.

Sleep Rules!!!

Abby slept all night!!! and... drum roll..... NO SNORING. I sent Aidan to school wearing two pairs of underwear yesterday. Whoops. Poor kid.... I'm wacky like that when I'm tired.
She tried soggy chex mix cereal today and a fiber one muffin. I also made mashed sweet taters for her with brown sugar, butter, orange juice, zest and pumpkin pie seasoning- topped with marshmallows of course. I also made salsa and chex mix. Comfort food in the kitchen today.

Home!!!!

She's having a low key day today. I am home the rest of the week with our girl! T-I-R-E-D!!! She woke up around midnight crying in pain so gave her some meds. She came in our room at 4am again in pain, had her crawl in bed with us and she went back to sleep. Woke up at 6:30 more tears :-( I gave her more meds. All the after care reading indicates their breath will smell due to the healing/trauma etc. and it has. Yesterday when I came home from work she snuggled with me on the couch and it was all I could do to continue to lay there in the gas chamber. You almost need a mask. This morning it has gotten even worse- to the point where she actually covered her nose and said ewwwww it smells like dead skunk outside.
Um yeah that would be YOU. But, being her mother I didn't say that because she's my baby girl and I'm nice like that.

Day 5

Still smiling! She came into our bed around 2am and once again the SNORING. Rick apparently left to go sleep in her room. Can't believe he didn't take me with him. I stayed home with her this morning because he had volunteer duty in her classroom. She loved her slurpee, didn't care for lunch or dinner. Loved daddy's milkshake again and is just asking for frozen yogurt.

Days 3 and 4

Day 3 (Monday) woke up crying with ear pain- made it hard for me to leave and go to work but she is in Daddy's capable hands through tomorrow and then I get the rest of the week off with her. She wanted to try mac and cheese so I obliged and also made some brown rice and mashed up some canned pears. She was so hungry she had THREE helpings of mac and cheese, she was a little hoarder asking if we could please save it for the next day. I feel so bad at how hungry she is.

Day 4 (Tuesday/today)

My amazing friend Laura send a care package

She loves wikki stix!! A restaurant in Maui gave them some to play with so she hasn't had any for awhile. She was reading about all the things she can make

I made spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra since she cannot have any tomato sauces. I mashed up some rasberries and peaches and tonight wasn't a big hit. She barely ate anything. I had Rick make her a scrambled egg for lunch and she didn't like that either. She did, however, LOVE the banana blueberry milkshake he made for her.

Just did plain tylenol today. Trying to get her off the codeine. Only complaint (other than the obvious sore throat) was pain in the jaw. Praying she continues to do well!