Our Day

Okay, call me crazy here, but I am starting to get a bit worried. Tori is still on the bathroom floor where she has been all day! She threw up one time this morning and then another time this afternoon and there was a bit of blood in it. I figure that is from her tummy being irritated after throwing up. I am watching her for dehydration and though she shows one of the signs, she is drinking plenty. Her tummy feels nauseous, not painful she says, but she just seems off to me and I can't put my hand on it. Maybe I have not dealt with enough stomach bugs to be familiar with them, but I am a bit worried.

Now Brianna...she has not been able to get out of bed hardly at all today. She did get a shower, I thought that would make her feel a bit better, but then she slept for the next 4 hours, got up and ate a little dinner and is back asleep. I don't think her ear is hurting as bad today as she has not wanted to take any of the pain medication. She says she is sleepy enough and that it really knocks her out. She has a headache and her ear is still draining, though not as much. I am mostly worried about why she is so tired and she has a sharp pain in her left side.

Hopefully, no prayerfully I am just being a worrywart Mommy, but I am getting a bit uncomfortable with both of them. I hate to call the doctor...again. I don't want them to have to endure any unnecessary tests or anything. But I may have to tomorrow. Let me know if you have any input/advice/opinion!!

Quick summary of our day...

Tori had a stone massage and a cleansing treatment...



Brianna was able to catch some R & R...



Kalli and Emi indulged in a mud bath...



This was followed by water therapy...



A strongfacial for mom...




No relaxing day is complete without a little "whine"


Hope your day was awesome!!

Almost Funny

Honestly, if it were not for the fact that this is affecting my kids, this would be funny! Brianna is still bleeding from her ear and feeling really yucky. At this point I don't know if she is feeling yucky because of the ear or if she might possibly have mono. I do know that her ear still hurts as well as her jaw and gums. Her fever is staying down this morning. They wanted to test for mono if she still felt bad today, but frankly, since they can't do anything for it, I want to wait until next week to make sure that she is not feeling bad due to her ear.

She is really upset because she had to miss her chemistry and geometry class today and she is worried about getting caught up. My thought is that we will work that out when we get there!

Now on to the almost funny part...Tori has been throwing up all morning!! Poor baby! She was so upset that she was sick, not for herself, but she said that she did not want to worry her daddy and I anymore than we already were over Bri. She is such a precious soul! So now I have my two biggest babies snuggled up in my room. Bri with a cloth to wipe the blood from her ear and Tori with a dishpan to catch her puke!!

Please pray my babies to feel better! I am so thankful for their health and I know that these little illnesses are just a part of childhood, but I hate to see them feel bad. I can't imagine the pain of some Mommy's that have to watch their children go through procedure after painful procedure for illnesses that should not be part of a child's life! Please pray for them as well.

More Prayer Please :)

Bri is not doing as good this afternoon :( Her ear is hurting a lot as well as her jaw and gums. We called the doctor and they want to give her antibiotic until Saturday to work. She is trying to get rid of the whatever is making her sick, but seems to be at a stalemate. They don't want to switch it yet because they said it could make the bacteria stronger. If she gets worse, she goes in and gets something changed, if she stays the same she goes in on Saturday to check it. They did order her some stronger pain medication hoping that would help her sleep better which would in turn help her get better.

Right now she is in bed and in a lot of pain. She can't lie still and her fever is starting to go back up. Please remember her tonight.

Rough Night

Bri had a pretty rough night last night. She was up for a few hours in the middle of the night in tears because her ear, jar and gums hurt so bad. I did all of the typical mommy stuff while William prayed and prayed over her. This morning she seems to feel a bit better. We are trying to decide if she feels better enough that we do not have to call the doctor. She is up walking around and trying to do some normal things to see if the pain is going to come pack. I worry a bit that her face is hurting so bad. It makes me wonder if the infection has spread to her jaw. Last night her fever went back up, but the morning remains normal, so that is really good! Her ear is still bleeding, but not as much as yesterday, though it is more bloody (less other stuff).

So we are playing the wait and see game this morning! Thank you all so much for inquiring about her and praying for her! Her throat is much, much better, so that must have just been some type of virus or something.

Thanks guys!!!

Ears, Throats and Such :)

Thank you all for the prayers for Brianna! We went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and found out that she has....a perferated eardrum (she thinks)! She said that there was too much puss and blood to actually see the eardrum, but she is pretty sure that is what it is. So she is on a couple of ear drop meds and an oral antibiotic.

The doctor was more concerned about her throat though. Apparently Bri has white blisters on her throat, much like strep throat, but the doctor seems to think she may have mono. You know Bri and her boy kissing habit :) They did a strep test and that was negative, but they are sending it off for the longer test. Hopefully it won't be mono, as the doctor says you are usually out for a few weeks. From what I understand of what she said, with mono your spleen enlarges so you can't play sports for a while. So no tennis, which would really be a bummer for her as she has really enjoyed taking lessons.

I am praying that it is just a virus and she feels much better today! The doctor said no tennis today, even if she feels better, but she could go to church tonight if all is well. Hopefully everyone will see her there tonight!

Her ear is still bleeding, but not as much, it just hurts quite a bit. If you could pray that she feels much better today and that her ear will stop hurting, I would appreciate it!!

I came across this awesome verse in Micah this morning that I want to share with you later!! So check back soon :)

AAAGGGHHH!!

I don't suppose any of you who might read this before 8:30am, when the girls pediatricians office opens, has any experience with a bleeding ear. Bri has been sick the past few days and complained last night that her ear had started hurting. She woke up this morning with blood all over her bed. It looks dried and old so I am figuring that her eardrum burst last night. My problem is that I can't get it to stop bleeding. I know some of it has to do with the fact that I put drops in her ear before she went to bed to help with the pain and that, mixed with the blood is making it look like much more than it is. But when she stands up or sits up, there is a steady, though light, stream coming out of her ear.

Any advice??!!

Mutter, Mutter, Grumble, Grumble

I am ashamed. I have spent much of my time over the past few days muttering and grumbling about all I had to do. Was it overwhelming at times...yes. Was there much to be done...yes. Was I really exhausted...yes. Did I have reason to moan and complain? Absolutely NOT!

God tells us that...“Yet those who wait for the Lord, will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 I was not waiting on the Lord, I was relying on Kristi...again!

There are so many things that I have been blessed with in this life. Our car broke down...Thank you God for transportation. I have too much to do...Thank you God for my health that I can participate in many things. I am very tired...Thank you God that I was able to go camping with my church and stay up late visiting and having fun.

I think sometimes God gives us trials that we don't notice. I sometimes try to prepare and wait for the BIG thing so I can praise God through the storm, but I fall apart with the little things, not seeing satan prowling around and rejoicing in my failure. I know I need God for help in the big things, but I sometimes forget that I need Him in the small things as well.

Father,
Forgive my attitude of ungratefulness and selfishness. Forgive me for stepping into the same, sinful patterns over and over again. I am tired and I am overwhelmed, I need help. On my own I am crawling across this rugged ground. Pick me up, hold me, and soar with me. Take away my complaining attitude and fill me with your peace, joy and faith. Faith not in myself, Father, but in you. You are the creator, the light and You...only You are my salvation. Teach me to fly.

New Do In Our Crew!

I didn't think she could look any older or cuter!!! She does now :)

Instructed By My Master/Held By My Soulmate

Master
*wanting you to do things that will benefit himself and can "order" you to do those things
* may be indifferent to the boss
* A master or a boss "owns" me and is most interested in what I can do to serve Him and then based on my service to Him, He will decide how to reward me. I don't necessarily serve him because I want to but because I am indebted to him or I want the reward
* a boss is someone in charge, I don't have that personal relationship with them. I don't know the personal areas of their live that they need help with. I would respect them and do the job but not have the close relationship with them, like I do with my soul mate

Husband
*wanting to do things together
*You trust and love the soul mate
*always seeking my good and does not demand service from me but seeks ways to meet my needs so I in turn have no other desire but to in return serve His needs.
*I know my soul mate intimately and would know how to support him and how to help him in the areas that he needs help with. more respect for my soulmate

Hosea 2:16
"In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'."

Do you see your relationship with God as one of a servant/master or a wife/husband?

I believe that we need to first seek Him as a master. In part, this is what first draws us to Him. We are sinners, we are lost and we need guidance. Once we have turned our lives over to Him, I think that changes. He is still Lord of all, Creator and the Beginning and the End, but He becomes more! It is an awesome thought to try and wrap my mind around! That He, who creates the world as we know it, with just His words chooses me. He wants to do things with me. He wants me to love and trust Him. He meets my needs. He wants me to desire Him. He wants me to know Him intimately.

How can we experience this?? Time! We MUST take the time to spend with Him. He is there waiting. You just cannot get to know Him fully on only a day or two a week. I think many people think this time has to be planned, organized and executed to a tee to see results! I know there have been many times that I skipped my quiet time because I did not have a good devo book, or I only had 10 minutes. Some of the best times between a husband and wife are the five minutes you grab just to sit together in the silence.

Just grab the time! Grab His hand and sit for five minutes! You don't have to plan anything, you don't even have to say anything, just be there with Him! Let Him hold you.

Isaiah 41:10
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

BEAR WITH ME!!

Okay, I have a question for you....yes, you!! Don't hit the back arrow :) What do you think are some of the differences between a master(boss) and a husband(soulmate)? Really think about it. Please take a couple of minutes to let me know your opinion and then stop back by tomorrow evening to find out why I am asking. I know, I know, I hate two parters too, but ...(creative pause) bear with me!!

Abide In Me

I was reading a book last night on experiencing God through prayer. The author talks about the fact that we are probably reading the book because we heard and felt Jesus' call from Matthew 11:28 to "Come unto me". When we think about God calling out for us to come to Him, we probably imagine a type of pleading and a great desire for us to turn away from sin and come to Him.

What about in John 15:4 where Jesus calls out to "Abide in me"? Do we imagine the same strong desire of our Father calling to us. I didn't. Frankly I had never really thought about it much. When reading John, I focused more on the fact that we need to bear some fruit!


Abide is defined as "to stay". We are asked not only to come, but to stay. Now, look at the next word...in. We are not asked to stay around, or next to, but IN! What do you think of when you think of Christ wanting us to abide in Him? Think of walking in a house. Before you came in you could see the outside and maybe form an opinion. You could probably even make a few logical conclussions about the dwellers of the house, but you don't really know until you go in.

Christ does not want us just hanging around the outside, He wants us to come in. We can know a little about His love, peace and awesomeness by standing outside, but we can experience, be transformed and be consumed by it when we abide IN Him!

As badly as He wanted you to turn toward Him and invite Him into your life, He wants just as badly for you to come in and make your new house a home...forever!!

Pretty cool huh!??!!

August Showers Bring September Flours!

Kalli, Emi and I had a blast this morning playing in flour! We practiced writing our letters, names and drawing a little of this and a little of that.



Can you guess whose chair this was??



We had a rough morning that quickly perked up! My friend T came over and I was really blessed by the adult conversation and the sharing of our struggles.

It has been nice today to be home! Tori hurt her knee on Tuesday at gymnastics and stayed out of practice today, so we did not even have to go to the gym (though I wish Tori had not hurt her knee). My wonderful hubby brought dinner home and then took Kalli on a walk so that I could have a bit of quiet in the house. Yup, I would say this has been a good day :)

My Pit

It has been a rough week! There have been many, wonderful things going on that I have been truly blessed by, but there is also a huge struggle going on that makes me feel like I am teetering on the edge of Ouida's pit that she talked about.

I am in the midst of a character struggle. I have probably been involved in it for quite a while, but I could not see. In a way, I am glad that I see now because I can call out for help, in another way, ignorance is bliss! I have prayed for help, but it was seeming like help was no where to be found, but I knew that was not true so I kept on.

Last night, I locked myself in my bathroom, turned my worship cd up as loud as I could without setting off the house alarm and I cried for help. Now, we are not talking a couple of glistening tears fell down my cheek, no this was bawling at its finest! I begged God to step in and help me. I told Him that I could see now this was something I can in no way do on my own, no matter how much I want to. I pointed out that I knew this change was something that was in His will because His word tells me that. I stood on the promise that if we ask anything in His will, it will be done. I cried that I was falling into the pit and I cried out for a rope or something to grab onto (thinking of Ouida's talk Saturday). I told God that though I wish I didn't, I needed something to give me hope.

After about 30 minutes I came out, puffy faced and exhausted, but feeling a bit better. I went to bed, knowing the next morning I would get up and spend time with Him in His word and maybe I would receive the strength to begin to pull out.

I messed the clock up last night somehow and reset the time for the wrong time, thus my alarm went off at 6 instead of 5 so the morning was not looking promising! I spent time in the Word, but felt it irrelevant to what I was asking for. I tried to skip that step and go to Ouida's next step of thinking of all of the blessings I had, but my heart needed the confirmation I had pleaded for last night.

As I finished up my time with God, William walked in with something behind his back. Today happens to be my birthday. We are not big on gifts and such, but William said he had something to give me. This is what he pulled out...




Guess where the branch came from? Remember our faith tree ? William saved a branch a couple of months ago when he had it trimmed and has been working on putting the promise on it.

How is that for my rope??!!

First Day of Co-op Classes

The girls and I started back to our co-op classes today. We are very blessed to belong to a wonderful group of parents that use their many gifts and talents to assist in educating our children. The girls love going every Monday! I love being able to teach there as well as meet many new mom's. This year we have 88 families that belong!! Here is a quick summary of their day:

Favorite Class: Brianna's is Latin and Yearbook; Tori's is Music (learning to play the recorder); Emaleigh's is Lego Math and Science; Kalli's is Art

Hardest Class: Brianna's is Latin; Tori's is Spelling for Dyslexics; Emaleigh's is none of them, she says she knows everything already! Kalli's is naptime!

Here are the girls before we left this morning....





Have a blessed evening!!!

Tag!!!

You're it! If you read this you are morally and legally bound to come to the M and M Mom's meeting at RE on Saturday evening at 7pm. Don't forget to bring your favorite dessert. We have an AWESOME lady coming to speak, yummy food and hey, you get to spend time with me :) You don't have to be a mom and you can be any age!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See ya!!!!!

We're Baaaack!!!

Yup, we are home!! We came home Sunday to car problems, bug problems and no clean dishes, but by George, we are home :) I miss being on vacation, but I am sooo happy to be with my girls. William and I had an outstanding time. Just a quick recap....


We got on this really big boat....


I was amazed at how blue and clear the water is in the middle of the ocean...




We ate a ton of yummy food...



We spent a lot of time in here....sleeping!!



We went here...



We shopped here...




We met new people...




We snorkeled...




Here...



We swam here...



We watched the sun set over the ocean...



Then we came home to these...



Doesn't get much better than that :)