Under the Sea

We've had fun dressing up the kids for Halloween events. By the time the holiday actually rolls around, I'm always DONE with all the dressing up and definitely DONE with all the candy that I can't seem to keep my hands out of this year. But its fun, all the kids enjoy their outfits this year. I bought the older two on Nov. 1 last year, so I have been preparing them all year of what their costume will be. I figure its the last year where I get to choose, so I lived it up;-)Whoa, I'm scared of this shark. Aren't you?;-)I've already had conversations in my head with my future daughter in laws about these pictures. I'll pull out the pictures. They'll gush and say. "They are so cute" "Great costumes." Wait, you say that's odd that I'm having conversations with women who possibly aren't even born? Um yeah, I'll make sure to add that to the prayer list at small group tomorrow night;-) I'm sure there's no way that I'm having unrealistic expectations. Never. No way. Well, okay probably;-)

Life

I'm going to warn you from the beginning, its been an interesting week, I am on some serious muscle relaxers and I'm not sure how coherent my thoughts will be, so please forgive my rambling thoughts.
On Tuesday evening, I was rear ended and the collision sent me into the car in front of me. I basically took two substantial hits. Immediately, it was obvious there was a huge blessing. I did not have any of my kids with me. I can't tell you how rare it is to not have any of my kids in the van. Isn't God good? He protected my children from this wreck!! Another praise, the person who hit me has insurance and admitted fault. Basically, I will be reimbursed for my van and medical apptmts from the wreck. Wow again - huge blessings!

Here's the downside: my van will never be worth what it was, it was a 2008 with only 35K miles and paid off. It probably sustained over 10K worth of damage. A vehicle with that much damage will never be worth as much. Bummer. At first, I thought I didn't really get hurt. But things are slowly beginning to show up. I have some substantial weakness in my right arm/hand and from my neck to my hips is a constant, dull ache. With all that said the Scripture that God has laid on my heart is Ecc 7:14, “In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other…” Regardless of what happens down the road, whether good or bad, it doesn't change God, he is always loving and always good. This is a concept I'm still trying to grasp, but find so much comfort in.

So here is some fun stuff. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 2004. I learned then that there are some serious limitations to Western medicine. Basically, the disease is when your body gets confused and attacks your thyroid like its a foreign invader. This causes the thyroid to overproduce hormone. The result was my heart rate that was normally in the 60 beats per minute raced into the 100 beats per minute, severe, severe anxiety, and constant shaking. 24/7 I felt like I had drank 20 Mountain Dews and the worst paranoia that something seriously wrong was going to happen. To slow down my heart and help with anxiety, they placed me on beta blockers. While the beta blockers did slow down my heart, they also made me feel seriously drugged and like a had the flu for 7 months straight. Basically, the Dr's didn't have much to offer me and the side effects of the medication were necessary.

After that, I have become much more interested in holistic medication and now with my physical complaints I am taking a much more holistic approach. I had my first acupuncture treatment today. They also did cupping. Check out this pict:
It doesn't hurt and they place fire in a glass cup (think Mason Jar) and quick flip onto my back creating a suction. The suction causes blood flow to increase to the damaged areas. The acupuncture was cool too. She placed one needle in my pinkie and I immediately felt it in my face. She explained how the meridian is all connected. Cool stuff. Although, this may not heal me 100%, I am so much more supportive of it than typical medicine. I went to my normal Dr. yesterday who informed me that I hadn't broken any bones. Gee, thanks, couldn't have told her that already;-) and prescribed some serious muscle relaxers with a list of side effects a mile long. So now because of the muscle relaxers I have some serious stomach issues and insomnia, which is why this blog is being updated at 4:30 am. The holistic stuff does not cause any negative side effects (except for the temporary discoloration of my skin as in the photo above). But yet, insurance won't accept it but is so willing to pay for medicine that can cause so much other injury. Craziness!!

In closing, many of you have prayed for me and offered to help me this week. I greatly appreciate all you have done for me and am so blessed to have loved ones so willing to serve me in a time of need. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that!

Proud Mommy Moment

Sometimes God just swoops in and blesses you when you are not looking for it and definitely when you don't expect it. My church called this afternoon and needed someone to help sell books at our counseling training. My table was for my FAVORITE author Elyse Fitzpatrick who was also speaking tonight. Kurt graciously agreed to watch the kids and off I went. Her daughter Jessica was there and I got to spend hours just hanging out and finding out about a new parenting book that she and her Mom have written coming out in May - can't wait!!

I took Evan for an hour so Kurt could get the yard mowed. After mowing the yard, Kurt comes in to pick up Evan and brings the older two. Kurt gets all 3 boys and heads out and stops to talk to a friend. I notice that Grant leaves his side and heads back to me. I get ready to correct him and tell him to go back to Kurt. He beats me to the punch, and picks up Elyse's book, Comforts from the Cross (awesome devotional!!!) and says, "Look Mommy, its your Bible!" Elyse was standing at the table and heard the whole thing. She beams at the compliment, and I beam that my baby inadvertently pleased Elyse by his compliment. God is so cool, isn't he?:-)

Enjoying Fall

Not much to say right now, things are going well and we are enjoying an Indian summer. Thought I would post some pics of my favorite guys:-)Grant's major accomplishment for the week and I'm so proud of him! Kurt and I had many "discussions" about whether we should encourage climbing in our trees. Kurt thinks its a right of passage for our boys and I think it looks like an ER trip waiting to happen. But Kurt was so right, and I have been amazed at how much Grant as loved learning to climb our trees. He will work on it for hours a day. I have to admit, when I realized how much time he spent doing this, I really warmed up to the idea;-)

Colin had the most hilarious conversation with Grammy the other day. He sat in the chair and chatted her up for like 10 minutes. He's not even 3 and sometimes he just seems like a little ol' man. But then other times, like when I don't put his cereal in the right colored bowl, he seems EXACTLY two. Oh well, you take the good with the bad, right:-)?Kurt and EJ are becoming quite the big buddies these days. Here's a funny story, okay probably only to Kurt and I... Notice the large knot above Kurt's eye? He was born with it. It is fluid filled and somedays is bigger and somedays is smaller. People that have known Kurt for years, will suddenly realize it one day and be like, "dude, what happened to your head?" Anyway, when we were dating Kurt was playing basketball and ran into a wall. The impact drained the fluid and the knot was gone for years!!! Its now back and in full force. Kurt and I joke that he's the only one that can run into a wall and LOSE a knot instead of gaining one. Isn't that funny? Okay, maybe not but we do have a good laugh about it now and then;-)

Here's a new swingin' sport the kids have invented in the backyard:


And finally, solids have been introduced to Evan. And the result? I'll let you be the judge...Success! He loves it!!:-)