Today is day one of Bryson's Christmas break from school. Grace spent the night with him last night, and they were up by 8:00 playing. She went home, but now all three of my babies are playing in the boys' room together. I can hear all kinds of thumps and bumps coming from the room above me and Avery's happy noises.
I was up as soon as I heard the kids moving around, and have already gotten beds stripped and in the washer/dryer, house straightened up as much as it's going to get today, spent a little alone time with the Lord, and have a couple of recipes laying on my counter for Bryson and I to bake later. For now, everyone is healthy and content, and I couldn't ask for more.
There's a light blanket of snow on the ground, and despite the fact that it seems a few more lights go out on my Christmas tree each day, it's beginning to look like Christmas! I'm getting excited about the upcoming festivities of the week.
Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me beyond what I could ever deserve!
Now, let the merriment begin...
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Let There Be Peace on Earth...
It's halfway through December, and I have yet to post once. I won't bore you with all the gory details, but if you read my previous post, then you know we were battling sickness around here. Well, Avery and Em did slowly improve, and just when I was pretty sure we were out of the woods, Bryson started with fever and flu-like symptoms. As he was getting his strength back, Em's fever came back, so I took her to our pediatrician, who put her on antibiotics since she's been sick so long. At the same time, Avery was in Lexington at the University of Kentucky Hospital with his daddy having a second glaucoma surgery. They returned home, and the very next day, I came down with a fever. That was four days ago, and I've had fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, and a throat that feels like it's on fire. Yesterday, my doctor gave me an antibiotic shot and a prescription, and today, I'm feeling slightly more human. Dare I even hope to think that we're getting over this awful sickness around here? And yet, I can't help but be thankful that even in our sicknesses, God has been merciful. It has been spaced out so that at least when I was sick, my little ones weren't and it just happened to be my husband's weekend off work and the day after I taught my last class for the term.
In between caring for sick children, I've managed to sneak out twice for some Christmas shopping. I have done much of it online since it is much less hassle. When I came home from my shopping, I told Phillip that I was kind of disappointed and frustrated with how CRAZY everyone and every place is this time of year. Isn't this season supposed to be about peace, joy, and love? Seriously, the aisles at Toys R Us looked like they'd been ransacked, and I somehow kept ending up in the same area as an older couple shopping apparently for their grandchildren. Their cart was heaped and nearly overflowing, and they bickered the entire time. Each time I'd see them, they were arguing about what to get, what to put back, how many to buy...
And then all of a sudden, all of my petty concerns about my holiday plans were shaken when those 26 people were so senselessly killed a few days ago. I have cried and cried just thinking about those precious children and their families. As a human being, as a mother of a kindergartener, as a former public school teacher who practiced all the lockdown drills in case of the unthinkable, it has affected me on so many levels as it has people everywhere. I can't help but think that this particular time of year has to make it even so much more difficult for the families. I'm sure there were presents wrapped under trees with the names of these babies on them.
I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals over the last several years. I've watched as teams of doctors and other health care professionals have gone to extreme measures to save lives of children or at least improve the quality of life they experience for them and their families. So much time, money, effort, and scientific research is dedicated to saving the life of just one child, and then to see 20 perfectly healthy children with bright futures have their lives ended so violently and senselessly seems to be just too hard to comprehend.
I laid in bed last night and thought about how dark our world seems right now. But then I started thinking about when Jesus was born. When He came, the world was plagued with violence and fear too. After all, didn't King Herod order the death of innocent little babies in order to protect his throne? Jesus was born into this sinful, fallen world to offer us hope and peace despite all of the hopelessness and fear we're surrounded by. My heart will continue to be heavy for those families who are suffering right now. I don't even pretend to have answers to all of the questions surrounding these events, but I do know that the only peace I have experienced has come through Jesus.
Praying for peace and comfort this season,
Bethany
In between caring for sick children, I've managed to sneak out twice for some Christmas shopping. I have done much of it online since it is much less hassle. When I came home from my shopping, I told Phillip that I was kind of disappointed and frustrated with how CRAZY everyone and every place is this time of year. Isn't this season supposed to be about peace, joy, and love? Seriously, the aisles at Toys R Us looked like they'd been ransacked, and I somehow kept ending up in the same area as an older couple shopping apparently for their grandchildren. Their cart was heaped and nearly overflowing, and they bickered the entire time. Each time I'd see them, they were arguing about what to get, what to put back, how many to buy...
And then all of a sudden, all of my petty concerns about my holiday plans were shaken when those 26 people were so senselessly killed a few days ago. I have cried and cried just thinking about those precious children and their families. As a human being, as a mother of a kindergartener, as a former public school teacher who practiced all the lockdown drills in case of the unthinkable, it has affected me on so many levels as it has people everywhere. I can't help but think that this particular time of year has to make it even so much more difficult for the families. I'm sure there were presents wrapped under trees with the names of these babies on them.
I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals over the last several years. I've watched as teams of doctors and other health care professionals have gone to extreme measures to save lives of children or at least improve the quality of life they experience for them and their families. So much time, money, effort, and scientific research is dedicated to saving the life of just one child, and then to see 20 perfectly healthy children with bright futures have their lives ended so violently and senselessly seems to be just too hard to comprehend.
I laid in bed last night and thought about how dark our world seems right now. But then I started thinking about when Jesus was born. When He came, the world was plagued with violence and fear too. After all, didn't King Herod order the death of innocent little babies in order to protect his throne? Jesus was born into this sinful, fallen world to offer us hope and peace despite all of the hopelessness and fear we're surrounded by. My heart will continue to be heavy for those families who are suffering right now. I don't even pretend to have answers to all of the questions surrounding these events, but I do know that the only peace I have experienced has come through Jesus.
Praying for peace and comfort this season,
Bethany
Friday, November 30, 2012
Black Death
A bit dramatic for a title, you say? I can think of no more appropriate name for the particular germ my babies have been dealing with for the last few days...which feels more like weeks. Yes, I know I shouldn't complain, but seriously, this has been quite a difficult few days.
Monday evening, I noticed Em felt a little warm. I wasn't too concerned because she has been working on some new teeth, and I just figured they might be bothering her. The next morning, Avery vomited his tube feed. Again, not a terribly unusual occurence. Sometimes his feeds just don't agree with him. But after the second and third vomiting experience, (literally as I was pouring the formula into the syringe connected to his g-tube, he was puking and filling his diaper at the same time) I got a little worried. I noticed he had a low grade fever too, and with him, any fever means a trip to the hospital. So, I called the hem/onc clinic, and Phillip took him in for labs, cultures, fluids, and antibiotics. Meanwhile, Em seemed to be even more uncomfortable, and her diahhrea and vomiting started too.
We spent Wednesday in Hem/Onc as well getting additional antibiotics and fluids just to be proactive, but Avery's cultures were clean and labs were stable, so his doctor assumed it was a virus. He and Em just kept it coming though. Strangely, Avery didn't act like he felt badly at all. He would just sit up and puke and go back to watching his Barney. He's my trooper, as always. Em has just wondered around crying, being sick wherever she feels like it, and wanting me to hold her constantly. That has kind of been hard when I have another sick one, a six-year-old who is pretty needy, and my laundry was piling up faster than I could wash it.
I have spent the last several days up to my elbows in body fluids of all kinds. I have changed diapers, clothes, and bedding constantly and given my dirty babies multiple baths throughout the day. It seems like everyone has been getting clean clothes, long baths, and fresh bedding except for mommy. I actually did 8 loads of laundry yesterday and still had some piled by my washer when I collapsed into bed. Oh, the joys of being a parent!
I'm HOPING with all my heart that my kiddos are on the upswing. Avery seemed better today, although I held his formula and put Gatorade through his g-tube instead. Em did less vomiting today but still had lots of diapers. I am having post-chemo flashbacks of when Avery was breaking records on how many diapers and bed changes one person could go through in an hour, but at least then, I had a hospital staff to help with the work. It's been mostly a one-woman show around here, although Phillip has been very helpful when he has been home.
I'm thinking maybe we got a little confident in our immune systems around here, and perhaps we ventured out with Avery too soon. We have been in two restaurants this month, a church service with no mask, and made a trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving where we were around a lot of family. I know we can't avoid all germs, but after the last four days, I've decided to avoid crowds with Avery and Em for the next few months if at all possible. Avery hasn't gotten re-vaccinated yet, and Em is missing quite a few because some of them are live viruses that Avery can't be exposed to. So if you don't see me and my crew for awhile, you'll know where we are!
Plain and simple -- Black Death. You don't want it, and I hope if I'm going to get it, the good Lord lets my children fully recover first. Now, I think I'll slip off to bed since my sickies are already there and try to get a few hours of sleep before Em starts crying. Oh, I didn't mention that Em has been crying off and on all night, and last night, she puked in her bed. Yep, it's been crazy around here.
Night, ya'll!
Bethany
Monday evening, I noticed Em felt a little warm. I wasn't too concerned because she has been working on some new teeth, and I just figured they might be bothering her. The next morning, Avery vomited his tube feed. Again, not a terribly unusual occurence. Sometimes his feeds just don't agree with him. But after the second and third vomiting experience, (literally as I was pouring the formula into the syringe connected to his g-tube, he was puking and filling his diaper at the same time) I got a little worried. I noticed he had a low grade fever too, and with him, any fever means a trip to the hospital. So, I called the hem/onc clinic, and Phillip took him in for labs, cultures, fluids, and antibiotics. Meanwhile, Em seemed to be even more uncomfortable, and her diahhrea and vomiting started too.
We spent Wednesday in Hem/Onc as well getting additional antibiotics and fluids just to be proactive, but Avery's cultures were clean and labs were stable, so his doctor assumed it was a virus. He and Em just kept it coming though. Strangely, Avery didn't act like he felt badly at all. He would just sit up and puke and go back to watching his Barney. He's my trooper, as always. Em has just wondered around crying, being sick wherever she feels like it, and wanting me to hold her constantly. That has kind of been hard when I have another sick one, a six-year-old who is pretty needy, and my laundry was piling up faster than I could wash it.
I have spent the last several days up to my elbows in body fluids of all kinds. I have changed diapers, clothes, and bedding constantly and given my dirty babies multiple baths throughout the day. It seems like everyone has been getting clean clothes, long baths, and fresh bedding except for mommy. I actually did 8 loads of laundry yesterday and still had some piled by my washer when I collapsed into bed. Oh, the joys of being a parent!
I'm HOPING with all my heart that my kiddos are on the upswing. Avery seemed better today, although I held his formula and put Gatorade through his g-tube instead. Em did less vomiting today but still had lots of diapers. I am having post-chemo flashbacks of when Avery was breaking records on how many diapers and bed changes one person could go through in an hour, but at least then, I had a hospital staff to help with the work. It's been mostly a one-woman show around here, although Phillip has been very helpful when he has been home.
I'm thinking maybe we got a little confident in our immune systems around here, and perhaps we ventured out with Avery too soon. We have been in two restaurants this month, a church service with no mask, and made a trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving where we were around a lot of family. I know we can't avoid all germs, but after the last four days, I've decided to avoid crowds with Avery and Em for the next few months if at all possible. Avery hasn't gotten re-vaccinated yet, and Em is missing quite a few because some of them are live viruses that Avery can't be exposed to. So if you don't see me and my crew for awhile, you'll know where we are!
Plain and simple -- Black Death. You don't want it, and I hope if I'm going to get it, the good Lord lets my children fully recover first. Now, I think I'll slip off to bed since my sickies are already there and try to get a few hours of sleep before Em starts crying. Oh, I didn't mention that Em has been crying off and on all night, and last night, she puked in her bed. Yep, it's been crazy around here.
Night, ya'll!
Bethany
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thankful
The holidays are in full swing. Thanksgiving Day is just a few days behind me, and now I'm thinking about Christmas. I'm one of those annoying people who tends to mesh the two holidays; I like my Christmas tree up and Christmas music on in November. And although I didn't publicly post on FaceBook like many of my friends all of the things I'm thankful for, I sure have been counting my blessings!
I'm beyond thankful to be having a peaceful season here at home with my three children and husband all together. Being together means so much more now since we endured such a long separation period, and I don't think I'll ever take it for granted again! I'm so thankful that Avery is as healthy as he is. We also have been blessed recently in several ways. Without going into tons of details, I'll just say that God seems to be making a way for Avery to receive some medical coverage and services that we have struggled to get him due to income restrictions. I never knew how twisted our system was before having Avery, but folks who work jobs and own homes have it much harder than people who don't when it comes to getting help for their special needs child. However, I got a very encouraging phone call the other day, and I'm feeling very hopeful.
Our family has also been blessed in other ways. Our attention has been so focused on just surviving Avery's health crisis that things like ministry, finances, and plans for our future had been completely ignored. I've been teaching a class two days a week at a local college, forcing me to put my mushy brain back into gear. Phillip has had a lot of ministry opportunities recently, and it feels good to be able to start looking toward the future again -- to actually have options. That not may make a lot of sense to you, but for us, we have felt very stuck, overwhelmed, and completely wrapped up with getting Avery healthy, which of course we're happy to do, but it has taken its toll in other ways.
We spent Thanksgiving Day in Tennessee with my father-in-law and his new wife, Mary. Although our hearts still ache for those who we have lost, it's so wonderful to see how God has restored the joy in their lives and brought something good out of something so painful. The Hoskins family has been broken and experienced a lot of grief over the last few years -- much like the Isaacs family, and it is so nice to see how our family is being blessed by having an entirely new family added to it, and strangely, they share so many common experiences that there's an understanding of what each has been coping with. God sure knows how to heal!
Yes, I'm thankful for my home, food, clothing, and all the other material blessings I possess, but this year has been about so much more than that. Bryson said the other day, "Mom, I sure wish Christmas was all about getting and not about giving!" Well, we do have a bit more training, perhaps, to get Bryson more in tune with the true meaning of the season. But after being on the receiving end last year of so many kind gestures from our friends, families, hospital staff, and Ronald McDonald House, it sure feels good to be able to give back this year! I'm truly thankful that God has carried us through this year.
God bless!
Bethany
I'm beyond thankful to be having a peaceful season here at home with my three children and husband all together. Being together means so much more now since we endured such a long separation period, and I don't think I'll ever take it for granted again! I'm so thankful that Avery is as healthy as he is. We also have been blessed recently in several ways. Without going into tons of details, I'll just say that God seems to be making a way for Avery to receive some medical coverage and services that we have struggled to get him due to income restrictions. I never knew how twisted our system was before having Avery, but folks who work jobs and own homes have it much harder than people who don't when it comes to getting help for their special needs child. However, I got a very encouraging phone call the other day, and I'm feeling very hopeful.
Our family has also been blessed in other ways. Our attention has been so focused on just surviving Avery's health crisis that things like ministry, finances, and plans for our future had been completely ignored. I've been teaching a class two days a week at a local college, forcing me to put my mushy brain back into gear. Phillip has had a lot of ministry opportunities recently, and it feels good to be able to start looking toward the future again -- to actually have options. That not may make a lot of sense to you, but for us, we have felt very stuck, overwhelmed, and completely wrapped up with getting Avery healthy, which of course we're happy to do, but it has taken its toll in other ways.
We spent Thanksgiving Day in Tennessee with my father-in-law and his new wife, Mary. Although our hearts still ache for those who we have lost, it's so wonderful to see how God has restored the joy in their lives and brought something good out of something so painful. The Hoskins family has been broken and experienced a lot of grief over the last few years -- much like the Isaacs family, and it is so nice to see how our family is being blessed by having an entirely new family added to it, and strangely, they share so many common experiences that there's an understanding of what each has been coping with. God sure knows how to heal!
Yes, I'm thankful for my home, food, clothing, and all the other material blessings I possess, but this year has been about so much more than that. Bryson said the other day, "Mom, I sure wish Christmas was all about getting and not about giving!" Well, we do have a bit more training, perhaps, to get Bryson more in tune with the true meaning of the season. But after being on the receiving end last year of so many kind gestures from our friends, families, hospital staff, and Ronald McDonald House, it sure feels good to be able to give back this year! I'm truly thankful that God has carried us through this year.
God bless!
Bethany
Monday, November 12, 2012
The REAL Life of a Housewife
The other day, I was out running mundane errands, and my sister was riding along with me. I generally plan them so that I can get in and out of all the places I need to go in the most efficient means possible and take advantage of the bank and pharmacy drive-thrus so that I don't have to needlessly get a bulky wheelchair out of my van for Avery and hope that Em is cooperative enough to hold my hand. After my stops at the post office, library, bank, and CVS, we were discussing whether or not we could squeeze in an actual fun stop somewhere before Em started melting down, a sure sign that she's ready for her nap. Throughout my urgency to get through my errands and calm my fussy baby from the driver's seat, I jokingly said to Sarah that we should have our own reality series...The Real Housewives of Ohio. But I'm sure the ratings would be basically non-existent, which is why those show producers choose beautiful (or at least surgically modified), wealthy women with nannies and hot tempers.
For some reason, there seems to be a fascination with "housewives." I've seen brief clips (I would never waste my time actually watching the stuff), interviews, and magazine covers of the "Real Housewives" from cities all over the U.S., and I can't help but scoff at them. The word "Real" shouldn't be anywhere in the title, unless I'm totally out of touch and living on another planet, that is, 'cause my life as a housewife isn't anywhere nearly as glamorous and dramatic.
But what does a real housewife do? Hmmm...well, at least I generally start my day by climbing out of bed about ten minutes before it's time to wake my six-year-old for Kindergarten. I'm always tired because Phillip and I stay up too late just to have a little adult conversation, and unfortunately, my 15-month-old hasn't gotten the memo that she's supposed to be sleeping through the night by this point in her life, and I have a hard time going back to sleep after I've been woken. I always scramble around to straighten up and get Avery's meds drawn up before he and Emerson get up or I have a hard time keeping up at that point. Then the tube feeding, the diapers, the chasing an active toddler around, the preparations for dinner, the mountains of laundry, the house work that is unending, and at some point, I make the big decision of whether or not I should bother getting dressed. And those are the days I'm home. The days Avery has doctor's appointments or I have errands to run and groceries to buy get even more complicated with the packing of bags, Barney dvds to pass the time, loading and unloading the ole' minivan...glamorous, huh??
Yeah, although my life is not the stuff reality shows are made of, I am blessed to be able to stay home with my kiddos. Despite the fact that my closet is filled with clothes that might have been in style a few years ago and the fact that my kids keep me so busy, it's mine, and I love it! Yes, I get slightly annoyed by the "You've got your hands full" comments and the raised eyebrows when I venture out with my "spirited" crew or have to spend time sitting in a waiting room. Yes, my hands are full, but so is my heart! These three little people bring such joy and such love...along with everything else. That's something that those TV housewives probably don't know so much about!!
On that note, this housewife better get moving before the little ones beat me to it!
Bethany
Sunday, November 4, 2012
And Now it's November...
It's a new month, and although we're only a few days into it, it's been fairly eventful around the Hoskins' house!
We started it off by Avery having emergency eye surgery on November 1st. The previous day, I took him in for a check up at the retinal specialist in Cincinnati. A pressure check in the office showed that his pressure was extremely high (54), and left untreated he would be at risk of vision damage or loss. Since no one nearby seems to feel comfortable operating on Avery's eyes, we were sent to University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington to a specialist there who placed a new drainage system in Avery's right eye. It's very technical, but essentially, he now has a plate in the back of his eye and a tube inside the back of his eye that allows fluid to drain and relieve the eye pressure. It will take several weeks for the stitches to heal and the drain to fully function, and Avery is being reassessed weekly to see if he is going to require an additional tube to control the pressure. As always, Avery went through the surgery like a champ. I always worry when my baby has to undergo any kind of procedure, and especially after the surgeon told us before surgery all of the risks, which included a collapsing eyeball from removing too much fluid and severe eye infection or nerve damage leading to total loss of the eyeball. Ugh. That doctor didn't seem to think that Avery's right eye is going to be able to see much, with his history of retinal detachment and now glaucoma, and also told us that this is going to be a lifelong battle we're going to deal with. That breaks my heart because I feel like Avery has so little that he is able to do, and seeing is something that is really important. But Avery is feeling pretty good, and despite a bloody, swollen eye, he seems like he is handling it all well.
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| Before surgery |
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| Emerson likes to help take care of her big bro. Here she's trying to put his eye patch back on. She doesn't quite have it in the right spot! |
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| The hunter |
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| Here he is prepping for the big hunt the night before. |
I don't really care so much about the presents part...sure, we'll get our kids a few things, but really, Avery and Emerson would be just as satisfied with a box of paper than anything. But I am so looking forward to enjoying my family being home together, planning family gatherings, listening to the music, hanging a few decorations, and celebrating my favorite time of year. So with a tiny bit of arm twisting on my scrooge-like husband, I'm hoping to get started early this year, and by early I mean this weekend! More than ever, we have so much to be thankful for, and it seems so appropriate that we make the most of this year.
On that note, I think I'll end this rambling post. Until next time...
Bethany
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Happy Cell Day, Avery!
What I'm feeling today can be summed up in one word: thankful. Not just a little thankful though, deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart to my wonderful God, to the amazing medical team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and to the donor who gave a little part of himself to my Avery on this very day one year ago.
Prior to transplant and for a couple of months following the transplant, Avery was transfused with platelets about every 7-9 days and with red cells about every 2 weeks. He would go from having a platelet count of around 200k post transfusion to a single digit count about a week later. He was covered in bruises and ptekai. He would get red cells when his hemoglobin dropped below 7, although at times it was much lower.
Not to bore you with all the details, but the weeks following the transplant were Avery's worst. The weeks of chemo finally caught up with him about the same time his body was invaded with new stem cells that were trying to replace his. His body put up a fight, and he was so pitiful as he rocked back and forth in pain despite his pain pump night after night. The vomiting and diahrrea were out of control, and even the tube feeds had to be stopped and replaced with TPN through his central line for a few months to give his gi tract time to heal. His kidneys and liver were hit very hard, and his immune system had to be repressed to allow the new cells to graft without being attacked. He developed rashes all over his body, mucousitis (sores inside the mouth and throughout the gi tract), graft vs. host disease in his mouth and throat, thrush, spinal/lumbar fractures, and a variety of other symptoms that go along with the treatments used during the process.
While Avery may seem fragile, and he is in some ways, let me tell you, he has fought through some dark, dark days and endured pain that would make most folks just give up. This day will always be the day we remember that Avery got his second chance on life and his brand new cells! It also marks the time we've waited for when the worst is behind us and Avery's recovery period is nearly complete.
Happy cell day to the bravest little boy I know, Avery!
Prior to transplant and for a couple of months following the transplant, Avery was transfused with platelets about every 7-9 days and with red cells about every 2 weeks. He would go from having a platelet count of around 200k post transfusion to a single digit count about a week later. He was covered in bruises and ptekai. He would get red cells when his hemoglobin dropped below 7, although at times it was much lower.
Not to bore you with all the details, but the weeks following the transplant were Avery's worst. The weeks of chemo finally caught up with him about the same time his body was invaded with new stem cells that were trying to replace his. His body put up a fight, and he was so pitiful as he rocked back and forth in pain despite his pain pump night after night. The vomiting and diahrrea were out of control, and even the tube feeds had to be stopped and replaced with TPN through his central line for a few months to give his gi tract time to heal. His kidneys and liver were hit very hard, and his immune system had to be repressed to allow the new cells to graft without being attacked. He developed rashes all over his body, mucousitis (sores inside the mouth and throughout the gi tract), graft vs. host disease in his mouth and throat, thrush, spinal/lumbar fractures, and a variety of other symptoms that go along with the treatments used during the process.
While Avery may seem fragile, and he is in some ways, let me tell you, he has fought through some dark, dark days and endured pain that would make most folks just give up. This day will always be the day we remember that Avery got his second chance on life and his brand new cells! It also marks the time we've waited for when the worst is behind us and Avery's recovery period is nearly complete.
Happy cell day to the bravest little boy I know, Avery!
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| My boys and I on Avery's transplant day. Bryson got special permission to come for the event. |
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| Avery watching his Barney while he is receiving his new cells. He thought the whole thing was a little boring. :-) |
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| Avery's new bone marrow! |
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Pushing Pause
Doesn't it seem like we're just always in a rush? Maybe you're not guilty like I am, but it sure seems like I'm always wishing away a moment or not truly enjoying a particular time because I'm thinking about the next thing I need to do. Busy, busy, busy. And minutes turn to hours, hours turn to days, days turn to weeks, and before you know it, I'm looking back thinking, "Where did the time go?"
I think it's natural to believe that something better lies ahead for us, and in a way, that's good. But what about those wonderful opportunities to savor a moment that I'm letting slip through my fingers today? When I was a kid, I remember looking at teenagers thinking that I just couldn't wait to be one. And then it was dating and marriage that seemed so perfect. After all, adults get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, right?? Now here I am, thirty-one years old (even typing that makes me choke just a little!), and I'm looking for a brake to slow this train down, or at least a pause button!
Phillip and I were recently reminiscing about our early married days and discussing a remodel job that we did years ago. Then we kind of moved from one topic to the next, and I realized that we sounded a lot like my grandparents sound sometimes when they tell us about some of the events of their lifetime. It kind of dawned on me, again, that I will be them someday! It doesn't help much when Bryson says sweetly, "Mommy, I love you even though you're old!"
If there's any resolution I have made to myself lately, it is to just SLOW DOWN and make the most of today. No, it's not always a beautiful life. In fact, it's kind of noisy and chaotic, but it's mine and filled with so much love! I have to say that with the events over the last 12 months, I feel kind of like I just missed a year of life. But now I'm back to a somewhat "normal" existence, and everyday brings an opportunity to make a memory.
I don't have any beautiful pictures to share tonight, (after all, beautiful pictures, for my crew anyway, are usually not nearly as much fun as they look!) but I do have some of the snapshots I've taken recently just because I couldn't let the moment go by without capturing it! So here's to savoring a few moments of my wonderfully imperfect life!
I think it's natural to believe that something better lies ahead for us, and in a way, that's good. But what about those wonderful opportunities to savor a moment that I'm letting slip through my fingers today? When I was a kid, I remember looking at teenagers thinking that I just couldn't wait to be one. And then it was dating and marriage that seemed so perfect. After all, adults get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, right?? Now here I am, thirty-one years old (even typing that makes me choke just a little!), and I'm looking for a brake to slow this train down, or at least a pause button!
Phillip and I were recently reminiscing about our early married days and discussing a remodel job that we did years ago. Then we kind of moved from one topic to the next, and I realized that we sounded a lot like my grandparents sound sometimes when they tell us about some of the events of their lifetime. It kind of dawned on me, again, that I will be them someday! It doesn't help much when Bryson says sweetly, "Mommy, I love you even though you're old!"
If there's any resolution I have made to myself lately, it is to just SLOW DOWN and make the most of today. No, it's not always a beautiful life. In fact, it's kind of noisy and chaotic, but it's mine and filled with so much love! I have to say that with the events over the last 12 months, I feel kind of like I just missed a year of life. But now I'm back to a somewhat "normal" existence, and everyday brings an opportunity to make a memory.
I don't have any beautiful pictures to share tonight, (after all, beautiful pictures, for my crew anyway, are usually not nearly as much fun as they look!) but I do have some of the snapshots I've taken recently just because I couldn't let the moment go by without capturing it! So here's to savoring a few moments of my wonderfully imperfect life!
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| My boys at the park on a beautiful fall day. Bryson wasn't thrilled about stopping his playing to pose, but I just love Avery's pose. Love these boys! |
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| Bryson's kindergarten school picture. This little guy is the best big brother ever, and I'm so proud of him! |
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| Daddy and Bryson were gone, so Avery and Emerson enjoyed a long bath together. He has finally fallen in love with her...it took awhile, but now he cracks up at almost everything she does. |
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| Em using her big brother as a seat, and you can't tell, but Avery is smiling! With Bryson at school all day, they're becoming great friends. |
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| Flowers from my husband and kids on my first day back to part-time teaching. Yes, I'm a lucky woman! |
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| Avery living the good life! :-) |
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| My grandpa has a habit of bringing my kids cotton candy once or twice a week. He loves his great-grandbabies! As his hat points out, he's a WWII vet, and his worn, bent hands are trying to keep up with feeding Miss Em that huge ball of sugar! We're blessed to still have him! |
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| In Mommy's shades! |
Friday, October 12, 2012
Memory Lane
One year ago today, we checked into our temporary home, aka room 16 in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. We entered with much hope and were as prepared as we could have been. We had absolutely no idea how physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially draining the entire experience was going to be, but our only goal was to save our little boy's life.
Today, my little Avery is safe and sound in his own bed, sleeping much later than he would have in the hospital. They would have woken him by now with the changing of shifts and vitals, meds, and assessments. Today, Avery's cbc is pretty close to normal, and his other counts are stabilizing, slowly but surely. Miraculous.
Our 8 months in Cincinnati seemed to take a lot from us, including precious time with our other children and the ability to watch our last baby grow as babies do so quickly! Avery quit eating, lost a lot of his muscle tone that he had worked so hard to gain, and for a while, lost his smile.
I would never say that this year flew by. In reality, it was the longest year ever, and there were moments, days, and weeks, I feared it would never end and even questioned whether or not we did the right thing by putting Avery through such an ordeal. But God has kept his promise and brought us through the biggest storm of our life thus far.
I'm so thankful this year is behind us and Avery is on the road to recovery, at least in his hematology issues.
So what's on our agenda for today? Well, we're almost all packed up, and whenever Phillip gets home, we're loading up the minivan and heading to Indiana. Phillip is preaching my dad's homecoming service Sunday, and I get to spend the entire weekend enjoying being with my precious family!
Psalm 30:5 - ...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Bethany
Today, my little Avery is safe and sound in his own bed, sleeping much later than he would have in the hospital. They would have woken him by now with the changing of shifts and vitals, meds, and assessments. Today, Avery's cbc is pretty close to normal, and his other counts are stabilizing, slowly but surely. Miraculous.
Our 8 months in Cincinnati seemed to take a lot from us, including precious time with our other children and the ability to watch our last baby grow as babies do so quickly! Avery quit eating, lost a lot of his muscle tone that he had worked so hard to gain, and for a while, lost his smile.
I would never say that this year flew by. In reality, it was the longest year ever, and there were moments, days, and weeks, I feared it would never end and even questioned whether or not we did the right thing by putting Avery through such an ordeal. But God has kept his promise and brought us through the biggest storm of our life thus far.
I'm so thankful this year is behind us and Avery is on the road to recovery, at least in his hematology issues.
So what's on our agenda for today? Well, we're almost all packed up, and whenever Phillip gets home, we're loading up the minivan and heading to Indiana. Phillip is preaching my dad's homecoming service Sunday, and I get to spend the entire weekend enjoying being with my precious family!
Psalm 30:5 - ...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Bethany
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A Fresh Start
Autumn is officially here, and I'm so looking forward to the next few months. I don't think I have a "favorite" season; I look forward to each one for different reasons, but more so this year than ever! This time last year we were getting our business in order for Avery's long hospital stay and bone marrow transplant. We tried to prepare ourselves, but there is simply no way to fully do so. When the days were long and painful, we were told by our nurses, doctors, social worker, and fellow BMT families to focus on the future...to envision this time next year. Well, I took that advice to heart, and I think that's the only thing that kept me sane some days. My plan for the next year, or two, or fifty...is to make the most of every moment and enjoy the time I have with my family!
You'll probably get sick of hearing my "this time last year" stories, but I just can't describe just how difficult, stressful, scary, lonely, and exhausting the last year has been. Well, it has been pretty stressful for several years as Avery's health declined and we became busier trying to keep up with his symptoms and our worry grew as to what was going to happen. But the past is the past. Today is a blessing, and as the leaves are starting to change and the air is getting that distinct crisp, fall feel, it seems like a fresh start in more ways than one.
Yesterday, Avery went into clinic for a check-up and labs. I never cease to be amazed by "normal" blood counts. Sure, his white cells are still coming in, his platelets aren't quite in the normal range, and is liver panel is elevated, but with time, those should regulate. His hemoglobin is 15!! Wow! That's actually a little high. :-) His ANC was over 6000. Numbers like that make me want to tell anybody who will listen.
Today I had a chance to thoroughly clean my house, which should last about 10 minutes if I'm lucky. I put a fall scent in my candle warmer and just enjoyed this cool, rainy, fall day. I know that sounds completely ordinary and unexciting to some of you folks, but it means so much to me! Since we've been home, my husband can vouch for the fact that I've been cooking and baking like I never have before. Some of that is due to us not being able to be out and about, but it's mostly because after 8 months of fast food, hospital cafeteria food, and volunteer-cooked meals at the Ronald McDonald House, I now appreciate more than ever the chance to cook and share a meal with my family.
This fall, I have so much to be thankful for. My heart is filled with gratitude for God's grace to me and my family.
Enjoy your Fall!
Bethany
You'll probably get sick of hearing my "this time last year" stories, but I just can't describe just how difficult, stressful, scary, lonely, and exhausting the last year has been. Well, it has been pretty stressful for several years as Avery's health declined and we became busier trying to keep up with his symptoms and our worry grew as to what was going to happen. But the past is the past. Today is a blessing, and as the leaves are starting to change and the air is getting that distinct crisp, fall feel, it seems like a fresh start in more ways than one.
Yesterday, Avery went into clinic for a check-up and labs. I never cease to be amazed by "normal" blood counts. Sure, his white cells are still coming in, his platelets aren't quite in the normal range, and is liver panel is elevated, but with time, those should regulate. His hemoglobin is 15!! Wow! That's actually a little high. :-) His ANC was over 6000. Numbers like that make me want to tell anybody who will listen.
Today I had a chance to thoroughly clean my house, which should last about 10 minutes if I'm lucky. I put a fall scent in my candle warmer and just enjoyed this cool, rainy, fall day. I know that sounds completely ordinary and unexciting to some of you folks, but it means so much to me! Since we've been home, my husband can vouch for the fact that I've been cooking and baking like I never have before. Some of that is due to us not being able to be out and about, but it's mostly because after 8 months of fast food, hospital cafeteria food, and volunteer-cooked meals at the Ronald McDonald House, I now appreciate more than ever the chance to cook and share a meal with my family.
This fall, I have so much to be thankful for. My heart is filled with gratitude for God's grace to me and my family.
Enjoy your Fall!
Bethany
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Bryson's First Award
Being a parent is certainly not for the weak-spirited, and if you've read my blog before, then you've probably read about some of my frustrations and worries about being a mommy. I'll just be honest, there have been moments over the last six years where I've seriously questioned my parenting skills. Some days I've felt like I discipline more than I do anything else! I've told my sister and husband before that if I just knew that at some point my child would grow into a well-behaved person, I wouldn't stress nearly so much, but since there is no crystal ball, and my little darlings have occasionally given me reason to wonder if that will ever happen, I just have to keep plugging along and hope and pray I'm doing something right!
And then there are moments when my child shows maturity and self-control I didn't know he had or shares when I expected him to be stingy or is polite when I thought he might be rude...and that tiny moment somehow validates all that hard work and effort I expend every waking moment of the day to mold my little children into God-fearing, productive, and well-mannered human beings.
Since I often blog about the frustrations of being a parent, I thought I'd share one of those vaidating moments today!
Bryson has been in Kindergarten for a little over a month now, and has exceeded my expectations. I was worried that the long days would be too much for him since he was never in all day preschool before and that the large class size would give him an audience for his silliness and cause for distraction. So far, he is doing just awesome, and this Mama couldn't be any prouder!
As he got off the bus Friday, he had a little extra bounce in his step and excitement in his eyes. As he darted in the house, he said incredulously, "Mommy, I got a REWARD today!" I smiled and reached for it, figuring he got a sticker or pencil or something like that. No, he actually received certificate in a folder that names him "Walter Shade Early Childhood Center Asset Builder of the Month." And then the certificate goes on to describe the kinds of "assets" he is building!
"Has intentionally, deliberately, and repetitiously built assets and relationships by demonstrating kindness and caring. He often asks about the well-being of classmates who are upset. Bryson follows directions the first time given. He is eager to learn new things and show his enthusiasm by listening intently and volunteering to answer questions. He often asks his teachers to assess his work as he strives to do his best with every activity." Signed by the Superintendent and Principal.
I told him I wanted to take a picture of him with his award, and he spontaneously struck this pose. I love this kid!
I'm sure I'll find myself coming back to this post and reading it in the future when my little "asset builder" isn't...ahem...quite exhibiting all of those admirable characteristics. But for now, I'm just thrilled for my little man's success! I know if we can just channel all of that energy he possesses in a positive direction that he is capable of great things.
~Bethany
And then there are moments when my child shows maturity and self-control I didn't know he had or shares when I expected him to be stingy or is polite when I thought he might be rude...and that tiny moment somehow validates all that hard work and effort I expend every waking moment of the day to mold my little children into God-fearing, productive, and well-mannered human beings.
Since I often blog about the frustrations of being a parent, I thought I'd share one of those vaidating moments today!
Bryson has been in Kindergarten for a little over a month now, and has exceeded my expectations. I was worried that the long days would be too much for him since he was never in all day preschool before and that the large class size would give him an audience for his silliness and cause for distraction. So far, he is doing just awesome, and this Mama couldn't be any prouder!
As he got off the bus Friday, he had a little extra bounce in his step and excitement in his eyes. As he darted in the house, he said incredulously, "Mommy, I got a REWARD today!" I smiled and reached for it, figuring he got a sticker or pencil or something like that. No, he actually received certificate in a folder that names him "Walter Shade Early Childhood Center Asset Builder of the Month." And then the certificate goes on to describe the kinds of "assets" he is building!
"Has intentionally, deliberately, and repetitiously built assets and relationships by demonstrating kindness and caring. He often asks about the well-being of classmates who are upset. Bryson follows directions the first time given. He is eager to learn new things and show his enthusiasm by listening intently and volunteering to answer questions. He often asks his teachers to assess his work as he strives to do his best with every activity." Signed by the Superintendent and Principal.
I told him I wanted to take a picture of him with his award, and he spontaneously struck this pose. I love this kid!
I'm sure I'll find myself coming back to this post and reading it in the future when my little "asset builder" isn't...ahem...quite exhibiting all of those admirable characteristics. But for now, I'm just thrilled for my little man's success! I know if we can just channel all of that energy he possesses in a positive direction that he is capable of great things.
~Bethany
Thursday, September 13, 2012
~My Babies~
Some days they make me want to pull my hair out.
Some days they make me cry in frustration!
Somtimes I feel like I'm doing the whole mommy-thing all wrong.
But most of the time, they make me laugh at the silly things they say and do.
They make me proud of who they are and who they are becoming.
They challenge me to be a better person,
a better mommy,
a better role model,
and a better Christian.
I am blessed to be their mommy!
Bryson Douglas, 6 years old, Avery Weston, 4 years old, and Emerson Rose, 1 year old.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Treasures
Events over the last week or two have caused me to ponder a bit on how short life is and what really matters. It was this time two years ago that my mother-in-law was told there was nothing else doctors could do for her, and we spent the longest two weeks of our lives sitting at Hospice, watching her slowly fade. About a week ago, Phllip, his sister, and I were going through some things up in his parents' attic. My father-in-law has remarried, moved to Tennessee, and is planning to rent his house that he shared with Carolyn, so he asked Phillip and Jenny to go through some things before he finishes cleaning out the house. As we sat up in that cramped attic sorting through the boxes of random things, I couldn't help but to think of the irony of the situation. Carolyn is now rejoicing in Heaven, walking on streets of gold, and there we were, sorting through her earthly "treasures." The stash of items seemed pretty random: some were of sentimental value, some were things I'm sure she thought she'd get around to using someday, and other things were just clutter, but for whatever reason, Carolyn felt the need to hang onto them. I started thinking about all of my "stuff" that seems important to me and how hard Phillip and I work to save and plan for our future. In the end though, none of those earthly items are going to benefit us one bit, and they might actually leave our kids shaking their heads saying, "Why did they save this?"
My grandma Lucille is getting ready to pass away, and I've spent a lot of time the last week and a half sitting at her house, reminiscing with family, holding her hand, singing her songs, and watching her weaken to the point that she is no longer responsive, and it is just a matter of time until she draws her last breath. When you see someone at the end of her life, you can't help but think about what really matters, and it isn't wealth, popularity, beauty, or the materialistic things that we all work so hard to accumulate.
I KNOW this is true, but why is it so hard for me to remember? There are days when what I'm going through or what I'm working on seems like the most important thing ever! But when I'm lying on my death bed, the only thing that is going to count is whether or not my name is written in Heaven and what I have done for Christ. Lord, help me to desire to lay up heavenly treasures more than earthly ones!
Matthew 6: 19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Only one life, twill soon be past, but only what's done for Christ will last. - unknown
"
~Bethany
My grandma Lucille is getting ready to pass away, and I've spent a lot of time the last week and a half sitting at her house, reminiscing with family, holding her hand, singing her songs, and watching her weaken to the point that she is no longer responsive, and it is just a matter of time until she draws her last breath. When you see someone at the end of her life, you can't help but think about what really matters, and it isn't wealth, popularity, beauty, or the materialistic things that we all work so hard to accumulate.
I KNOW this is true, but why is it so hard for me to remember? There are days when what I'm going through or what I'm working on seems like the most important thing ever! But when I'm lying on my death bed, the only thing that is going to count is whether or not my name is written in Heaven and what I have done for Christ. Lord, help me to desire to lay up heavenly treasures more than earthly ones!
Matthew 6: 19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Only one life, twill soon be past, but only what's done for Christ will last. - unknown
"
~Bethany
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Mercy Found Me
You know, I was just a little girl when I first prayed for salvation. Most folks might think that because of that, I don't know much about hurt, pain, sin, desperation, and running from God. Thank God, I was spared MANY scars that some folks have to endure because I gave my heart to God as a 4 year old. But I have to admit, I wandered, I ran, and I doubted many times that I was lovable and God really wanted me. Other times, I'm sure I have tested God's grace and mercy to the limits. I've mentioned it before on my blog, that I'm thankful that God's mercies are made new everyday because I sure need it daily!
I just want to share the lyrics to one of my new favorite songs. Not only is the music great but the lyrics are powerful.
"When Mercy Found Me" (Rhett Walker Band)
I can't count the broken roads I've been down, but all I know;
Something had to give; something had to give.
Cause living my life so wild and free
Finally caught up
Oh it left me broken; left me hopeless,
But that's where I met Jesus.
In one moment everything changed
Who I was got washed away
When mercy found me
My Savior's arms were open wide
And I felt love for the very first time
When mercy found me
When mercy found me
All those days, all those doubts
They don't seem to matter now.
His Grace is all I need
His Grace is all I need
And the chains that I was in before
They don't hold me anymore
His love has rescued me.
His love has set me free.
My mind found peace
My soul found hope
My heart found a home.
Something had to give; something had to give.
Cause living my life so wild and free
Finally caught up
Oh it left me broken; left me hopeless,
But that's where I met Jesus.
In one moment everything changed
Who I was got washed away
When mercy found me
My Savior's arms were open wide
And I felt love for the very first time
When mercy found me
When mercy found me
All those days, all those doubts
They don't seem to matter now.
His Grace is all I need
His Grace is all I need
And the chains that I was in before
They don't hold me anymore
His love has rescued me.
His love has set me free.
My mind found peace
My soul found hope
My heart found a home.
~Bethany
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Bryson's Birthday Fun
The last week and a half have been busy as our summer comes to a close. Although there are several more weeks left of the season, Bryson is starting Kindergarten in just a few days, so we'll be tied down more than we ever have. With that in mind, we went to Indiana last week, since it was Phillip's weekend off and Bryson's 6th birthday. We felt the need to have one last "hoorah!" before school starts.
We asked Bryson what he would like to do for his 6th birthday. His response: "Mr. Gatti's!"
Mr. Gatti's is basically Indiana's version of Chuck-E-Cheese's, except they have a pizza buffet. So my mom stayed home with Avery, and we took Bryson and Grace off to eat endless pizza and play games. Of course, we adults joined in the fun as well. I have to say, I'm not so bad at Skee Ball! :-)
I also took Bryson to the store and let him pick out a toy. I told him to take his time going down the aisles and deciding, but I should have known. He was drawn to the trains like a magnet. Of the many things I will always remember about Bryson's childhood, his obsession with trains will be one for sure! He picked out a Percy electric train and a drawbridge set claiming loudly, "It's my dream come true!" Bryson does have a dramatic flair, so he clutched that toy box through the store and shared with anyone who would listen that it was his birthday and he had a new train. The check-out clerk wasn't that impressed and said to Bryson when told that he was now 6, "Then why aren't you in school?" Bryson looked a little caught off guard, so I explained that we lived in Ohio and school hadn't started there yet. He let us off the hook but still didn't smile at the birthday boy.
I have to admit, there was a time when I thought Bryson was going to get the best of me or I was going to have a nervous breakdown trying to control him. He was so active (to say it nicely) and had such a mind of his own. He still is both of those things, but he follows directions a LITTLE better and has matured some. Phillip and I often look at each other and say, "Is he normal? Are there other kids out there that do this kind of thing?" ...like the incessant sound effects and mood music with his toys, the obsession with Bible stories to the point where we have to tell him, no, you can't take your Veggie Tales Bible in Walmart with you because you'll just put it down somewhere, his complete lack of modesty (it's not uncommon for me to catch him outside in his underware and mud boots if his clothing gets wet or dirty while he's playing), his WILD imagination where he says regularly, "Do you want to listen to my story?" or "Congratulations, Mommy, you've won a video clip!" and then he proceeds to tell me a story like one of his games would. Yes, this kid is unusual for sure. Yesterday while I was cooking dinner he said, "Do you want to have church, Mom?" I said, "Not right now, Bryson." He replied, "But Mommy, we're always supposed to have church, and he grabbed a bar stool for a podium and a whisk for a microphone and started preaching. We spend many evenings having church in the living room and our bedtime prayers turn into church in his room. Phillip preached at a church about a year ago that not only audio records sermons, but also video records them on DVD. So Phillip came home with the CD and DVD of his sermon. Bryson puts that DVD on the monitor in his room and watches his daddy preach for hours.
(If you think I"m joking about the sound effects and music as he move his trains or whatever toy he has at the time through the air, I"m NOT! About a year ago, we were in a store, and Phillip was a couple aisles over from Bryson and me. I've really just gotten so used to Bryson's sounds that I tune them out. He was doing his thing walking along side me, and Phillip said the guy next to him said, "Man, listen to the kid!" Phillip just nodded and said, "Yeah." Then the guy said, "That's so annoying!" Phillip agreed, "Yes, it is." Then the guy said, "Aren't you glad he's not your kid?" Phillip replied, "He IS my kid." The guy about died of embarrassment, but I'm sure he's not the only one who has ever thought that!)
Here's Bryson at 2. Where, oh where, does the time go??
What a crazy, unique, challenging, and wonderful little boy I have! God must have BIG plans for him! And what an enormous responsibility for us as his parents to try to guide him and instill in him godly principles and values.
Here he is at 6. So big!
This week was Indoor Campmeeting at Dryden Road. I only attended a couple of services since one of us needed to stay home with Avery, and I felt guilty making Phillip stay home since one of his favorite preachers ever was preaching. But Bryson attended pretty much every service. Of course, his favorite part was eating in the fellowship hall, and now all of his recent sermons have announcements of food in the fellowship hall after church, but I hope one day he learns to love the moving of the Spirit as much as he looks forward to the fellowship hall!
Well, that's all for now, folks. Lots to do!
Bethany
We asked Bryson what he would like to do for his 6th birthday. His response: "Mr. Gatti's!"
Mr. Gatti's is basically Indiana's version of Chuck-E-Cheese's, except they have a pizza buffet. So my mom stayed home with Avery, and we took Bryson and Grace off to eat endless pizza and play games. Of course, we adults joined in the fun as well. I have to say, I'm not so bad at Skee Ball! :-)
I also took Bryson to the store and let him pick out a toy. I told him to take his time going down the aisles and deciding, but I should have known. He was drawn to the trains like a magnet. Of the many things I will always remember about Bryson's childhood, his obsession with trains will be one for sure! He picked out a Percy electric train and a drawbridge set claiming loudly, "It's my dream come true!" Bryson does have a dramatic flair, so he clutched that toy box through the store and shared with anyone who would listen that it was his birthday and he had a new train. The check-out clerk wasn't that impressed and said to Bryson when told that he was now 6, "Then why aren't you in school?" Bryson looked a little caught off guard, so I explained that we lived in Ohio and school hadn't started there yet. He let us off the hook but still didn't smile at the birthday boy.
I have to admit, there was a time when I thought Bryson was going to get the best of me or I was going to have a nervous breakdown trying to control him. He was so active (to say it nicely) and had such a mind of his own. He still is both of those things, but he follows directions a LITTLE better and has matured some. Phillip and I often look at each other and say, "Is he normal? Are there other kids out there that do this kind of thing?" ...like the incessant sound effects and mood music with his toys, the obsession with Bible stories to the point where we have to tell him, no, you can't take your Veggie Tales Bible in Walmart with you because you'll just put it down somewhere, his complete lack of modesty (it's not uncommon for me to catch him outside in his underware and mud boots if his clothing gets wet or dirty while he's playing), his WILD imagination where he says regularly, "Do you want to listen to my story?" or "Congratulations, Mommy, you've won a video clip!" and then he proceeds to tell me a story like one of his games would. Yes, this kid is unusual for sure. Yesterday while I was cooking dinner he said, "Do you want to have church, Mom?" I said, "Not right now, Bryson." He replied, "But Mommy, we're always supposed to have church, and he grabbed a bar stool for a podium and a whisk for a microphone and started preaching. We spend many evenings having church in the living room and our bedtime prayers turn into church in his room. Phillip preached at a church about a year ago that not only audio records sermons, but also video records them on DVD. So Phillip came home with the CD and DVD of his sermon. Bryson puts that DVD on the monitor in his room and watches his daddy preach for hours.
(If you think I"m joking about the sound effects and music as he move his trains or whatever toy he has at the time through the air, I"m NOT! About a year ago, we were in a store, and Phillip was a couple aisles over from Bryson and me. I've really just gotten so used to Bryson's sounds that I tune them out. He was doing his thing walking along side me, and Phillip said the guy next to him said, "Man, listen to the kid!" Phillip just nodded and said, "Yeah." Then the guy said, "That's so annoying!" Phillip agreed, "Yes, it is." Then the guy said, "Aren't you glad he's not your kid?" Phillip replied, "He IS my kid." The guy about died of embarrassment, but I'm sure he's not the only one who has ever thought that!)
Here's Bryson at 2. Where, oh where, does the time go??
Here he is at 6. So big!
Well, that's all for now, folks. Lots to do!
Bethany
Sunday, August 12, 2012
When Daddy's in Charge...
Having 3 kids is sometimes a challenge. There's always someone needing something, a mess to be cleaned, a diaper needing changed...you get the idea. And sometimes, when you have a little one who is mobile and gets into everything, it's easy to lose sight of her temporarily during the chaos. Especially when you're Daddy! :-)
If any of you have read my blog before, then you should know that I am blessed with a great husband who is an amazing dad to our kids. But he self-admittedly isn't able to accomplish anything else while watching our children. I can usually do a few loads of laundry, wash dishes, clean bedrooms, cook dinner, etc. while keeping an eye on our offspring.
So after working in our yard for a little while, we came in to get cleaned up. I managed to feed and change the littles, and at one point, all three kids were playing on the rug in our living room. Phillip was sitting on the couch, so I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to take a quick shower. With a promise that I'd make it quick, I headed upstairs to our bathroom. About 3 minutes into my shower, the curtain was pulled back quickly, and there was my little Em standing in front of the tub, grinning like, "Aha! I found you!" She put the curtain back and disappeared, so I picked up the pace on my shower, realizing that she had crawled up the stairs and was now in my bedroom/bathroom alone.
When I got out of the shower, she heard me and came back around the curtain toward me, chomping away at something that was leaking out the sides of her mouth and with something squeezed tightly in her fist. I said, "Em, show me your mouth!" She opened up wide to show me a half-chewed Tums antacid that she was consuming like it was a tasty snack. My heart slowed down a bit when I realized that Tums shouldn't harm her, but I still reached in a grabbed what was left, much to Emerson's dismay. I also pried her fingers open to take the other one she was saving for later from her hand. She had a few scattered on my room floor as well.
As I was cleaning up that mess, I noticed a clump of wet tissue paper in the floor and wet foot prints around it. Suspiciously, I picked up the paper and followed the footsteps. They trailed off, but I soon discovered where they led. You got it - the toilet. Ugh. For whatever reason, my little princess is fascinated by the toilet. I saw that the toilet lid was up, the trashcan lid was pulled off, and there were random things pulled from the trash sitting in the bottom of the toilet. Disgusting! I shouted down to Phillip that he needed to come clean out the toilet. He said, obliviously, "Why?" I asked, "Do you know where your daughter is?" He got the point, and came upstairs where I was scouring Em's hands with soap and warm water, and he cleaned up the mess. The funny thing (if you want to call it that) is that he didn't even notice Emerson was on the lam until I brought it to his attention. I guess he forgot to count noses!
With a tiny bit of sarcasm, I said, "Wow, honey. Imagine what she could have done if I would have left her unsupervised!"
I'm glad nothing more dangerous or destructive occurred. I actually laughed after all was said and done. But, I'm sure glad I'm NOT a single parent, and I think I'll give a little more specific instructions next time I decide to take a shower in the middle of the day!
:-)
If any of you have read my blog before, then you should know that I am blessed with a great husband who is an amazing dad to our kids. But he self-admittedly isn't able to accomplish anything else while watching our children. I can usually do a few loads of laundry, wash dishes, clean bedrooms, cook dinner, etc. while keeping an eye on our offspring.
So after working in our yard for a little while, we came in to get cleaned up. I managed to feed and change the littles, and at one point, all three kids were playing on the rug in our living room. Phillip was sitting on the couch, so I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to take a quick shower. With a promise that I'd make it quick, I headed upstairs to our bathroom. About 3 minutes into my shower, the curtain was pulled back quickly, and there was my little Em standing in front of the tub, grinning like, "Aha! I found you!" She put the curtain back and disappeared, so I picked up the pace on my shower, realizing that she had crawled up the stairs and was now in my bedroom/bathroom alone.
When I got out of the shower, she heard me and came back around the curtain toward me, chomping away at something that was leaking out the sides of her mouth and with something squeezed tightly in her fist. I said, "Em, show me your mouth!" She opened up wide to show me a half-chewed Tums antacid that she was consuming like it was a tasty snack. My heart slowed down a bit when I realized that Tums shouldn't harm her, but I still reached in a grabbed what was left, much to Emerson's dismay. I also pried her fingers open to take the other one she was saving for later from her hand. She had a few scattered on my room floor as well.
As I was cleaning up that mess, I noticed a clump of wet tissue paper in the floor and wet foot prints around it. Suspiciously, I picked up the paper and followed the footsteps. They trailed off, but I soon discovered where they led. You got it - the toilet. Ugh. For whatever reason, my little princess is fascinated by the toilet. I saw that the toilet lid was up, the trashcan lid was pulled off, and there were random things pulled from the trash sitting in the bottom of the toilet. Disgusting! I shouted down to Phillip that he needed to come clean out the toilet. He said, obliviously, "Why?" I asked, "Do you know where your daughter is?" He got the point, and came upstairs where I was scouring Em's hands with soap and warm water, and he cleaned up the mess. The funny thing (if you want to call it that) is that he didn't even notice Emerson was on the lam until I brought it to his attention. I guess he forgot to count noses!
With a tiny bit of sarcasm, I said, "Wow, honey. Imagine what she could have done if I would have left her unsupervised!"
I'm glad nothing more dangerous or destructive occurred. I actually laughed after all was said and done. But, I'm sure glad I'm NOT a single parent, and I think I'll give a little more specific instructions next time I decide to take a shower in the middle of the day!
:-)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Avery's Eye Surgery
Wednesday, August 8th, Avery had his surgery on his eyes at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. As I mentioned before, the doctor wasn't for sure what the exact problem was or how to fix it until he could get him under anesthesia and look a little closer. After about 30 minutes in the OR, Dr. Sisk came out to give us an update. He said that Avery's left eye had lost peripheral blood flow, and in order to compensate, had tried to grow some new blood vessels in the center of his eye and some scar tissue had formed. He was pretty confident he could fix it with lasers. The right eye was more complex. Avery had a central retinal detachment where the pressure of the blood vessels were literally pulling it away from the rest of his eye causing his pupil to be misshapened and also the formation of scar tissue. Dr. Sisk also said that several adhesions had formed. He said that the procedure to fix this eye was surgical involving several cuts to the eye and a tedious 2 hour surgery that would be like removing hard card board from wet tissue paper without tearing the tissue paper. He said that if the retina tore, it would create other problems.
This wasn't great news, but it was pretty much what we expected. So, we signed the surgery consent and headed to waiting room. I don't think anyone ever gets used to sending his or her child off to surgery, regardless of how many times it occurs, and this time was no different. I actually was more nervous than usual because it was clear there were so many risks involved in such a meticulous surgery.
After a few hours, we met with the doctor in the consultation room, and he said that the surgery couldn't have gone any better. He was able to break the adhesions and separate the retina from the scar tissue without tearing it. He also applied lasers to both eyes to reduce the pressure and improve circulation. He said that it will take a month or two for the retina to start to flatten out on its own, and we won't know the extent of the impact to his vision for awhile either. It's likely though that Avery hasn't had peripheral vision in his left eye or central vision in his right eye for quite some time.
Avery has to have another exam under anesthesia in a week and a half with possible touch up surgery to fix any issues that weren't fully addressed the first time around. Dr. Sisk also said that Avery's eyes will most likely require cataract surgery in the future, and it's possible that what happened to his eyes in the first place may try to happen again since it is all caused from his genetic defect. But now that we know what is going on and have a doctor that is going to be monitoring it, hopefully, we can protect his eyes as much as possible.
We are so thankful that surgery went well, and we know that many of our friends have been praying for him. We sincerely appreciate it! It seems like Avery just moves from one issue to another, and if the Lord doesn't heal him, he will continue to do so since Dyskeratosis Congenita is a progressive disorder. But with each new diagnosis, we're believing that God is right there with us.
As Avery was waking up from the anesthesia, I was rocking him, and Phillip went out so that my parents could take turns coming in to see him. Dad sat down beside me and shook his head because Avery looked so pitiful with his little eye patch on and big dressing on his chest from his port access. I have to admit, sometimes I struggle a bit not to focus on the how unfair life can be. Watching my little boy suffer and lose so much almost overwhelms me sometimes. He can't walk, talk, express himself, or even eat anymore. The possibility of him losing his vision just seems beyond cruel. Then dad said something that helped put what sometimes seems like such an unfair situation in a little more perspective. He said, "God could have taken Avery when he was born or you could have even miscarried, but the world needed Avery. We needed Avery. That's why God let us keep him." Most of the time, words fall short. It's difficult to hear things like, "God knew you were special people so He gave you a special child, " or "You'll love Avery however he is." Although said with the best intentions, those kinds of things seem to belittle the grief and conflicting emotions a desperate parent feels; and yes, we're blessed with an amazing, special child, and of course, we couldn't stop loving him anymore than we could stop breathing. (I certainly don't mean that to sound bad toward anyone! I try to always understand where folks are coming from, and I'm really not overly-sensitive. Sometimes it's just a struggle. Hope you understand!) But Dad has been there through some of Avery's darkest moments and knows about he has many days when he can't smile or clap, and he's listened to me cry to him or my mom when we are dealing with some terrible reality of his ugly disease. I know I need my little guy and his snuggles an awful lot, and he has taught us - sometimes painfully - so much.
Here's a couple pictures of my little pirate!
Thanks again for the unceasing prayers and concern.
Love from the Hoskins family,
Bethany
This wasn't great news, but it was pretty much what we expected. So, we signed the surgery consent and headed to waiting room. I don't think anyone ever gets used to sending his or her child off to surgery, regardless of how many times it occurs, and this time was no different. I actually was more nervous than usual because it was clear there were so many risks involved in such a meticulous surgery.
After a few hours, we met with the doctor in the consultation room, and he said that the surgery couldn't have gone any better. He was able to break the adhesions and separate the retina from the scar tissue without tearing it. He also applied lasers to both eyes to reduce the pressure and improve circulation. He said that it will take a month or two for the retina to start to flatten out on its own, and we won't know the extent of the impact to his vision for awhile either. It's likely though that Avery hasn't had peripheral vision in his left eye or central vision in his right eye for quite some time.
Avery has to have another exam under anesthesia in a week and a half with possible touch up surgery to fix any issues that weren't fully addressed the first time around. Dr. Sisk also said that Avery's eyes will most likely require cataract surgery in the future, and it's possible that what happened to his eyes in the first place may try to happen again since it is all caused from his genetic defect. But now that we know what is going on and have a doctor that is going to be monitoring it, hopefully, we can protect his eyes as much as possible.
We are so thankful that surgery went well, and we know that many of our friends have been praying for him. We sincerely appreciate it! It seems like Avery just moves from one issue to another, and if the Lord doesn't heal him, he will continue to do so since Dyskeratosis Congenita is a progressive disorder. But with each new diagnosis, we're believing that God is right there with us.
As Avery was waking up from the anesthesia, I was rocking him, and Phillip went out so that my parents could take turns coming in to see him. Dad sat down beside me and shook his head because Avery looked so pitiful with his little eye patch on and big dressing on his chest from his port access. I have to admit, sometimes I struggle a bit not to focus on the how unfair life can be. Watching my little boy suffer and lose so much almost overwhelms me sometimes. He can't walk, talk, express himself, or even eat anymore. The possibility of him losing his vision just seems beyond cruel. Then dad said something that helped put what sometimes seems like such an unfair situation in a little more perspective. He said, "God could have taken Avery when he was born or you could have even miscarried, but the world needed Avery. We needed Avery. That's why God let us keep him." Most of the time, words fall short. It's difficult to hear things like, "God knew you were special people so He gave you a special child, " or "You'll love Avery however he is." Although said with the best intentions, those kinds of things seem to belittle the grief and conflicting emotions a desperate parent feels; and yes, we're blessed with an amazing, special child, and of course, we couldn't stop loving him anymore than we could stop breathing. (I certainly don't mean that to sound bad toward anyone! I try to always understand where folks are coming from, and I'm really not overly-sensitive. Sometimes it's just a struggle. Hope you understand!) But Dad has been there through some of Avery's darkest moments and knows about he has many days when he can't smile or clap, and he's listened to me cry to him or my mom when we are dealing with some terrible reality of his ugly disease. I know I need my little guy and his snuggles an awful lot, and he has taught us - sometimes painfully - so much.
Here's a couple pictures of my little pirate!
Thanks again for the unceasing prayers and concern.
Love from the Hoskins family,
Bethany
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Wrapping up July
The days have been passing so quickly! I've meant to sit down and blog several times lately, but my real life has kept me too busy. The highlights of my month have been a visit from Rebecca, Brandon, and Ava, a joint birthday party for the girls, a wedding in Tennessee for my father-in-law and his new wife, Mary, and a second spontaneous trip to Tennessee only a few days later. It has been nice to spend time with family and see my father-in-law marry such a sweet lady.
The Blue Springs Church in Tennessee broke out in revival the weekend of the wedding. After we got home, we got such good news that my cousin, Justin, had gotten saved, and that God was doing great things for so many people there. Phillip called me and said, "It's probably crazy, but if I could, I'd take Avery there and get him prayed for." He said that he knew God's arm wasn't shortened, and the He could reach us anywhere, but he said that he felt like the dad in the Bible that just needed to get his son to where Jesus was. I told him to do whatever he wanted, and that we'd make it happen. So, on a whim but with great hope, we packed up everything but the kitchen sink, and headed to Tennessee. I took my own cleaning supplies and our air purifier, and we put Avery in the bedroom at my aunt and uncle's house. We knew we wanted to take Avery to church to get prayed for, but he really isn't supposed to be in public beyond doctor's appointments. We went ahead and took him, and he left his mask on during service. We had a great prayer for our son that God would perform a miracle in his body and give us strength as a family to do what we need to do. No, there wasn't a lightning bolt or thunder or anything else for that matter, but there was heartfelt prayer and such a powerful spirit as we prayed. Phillip asked me, "Do you think we're crazy?" I told him that I'm sure some people might think we are, but they've probably never been as desperate for God's help.
Avery is doing well in so many ways, but he still has so many needs that we're praying God will move in. The most urgent at the moment is his eyes. Avery is scheduled for an eye exam under anesthesia with surgery to follow the same day. He has been to two eye specialists over the last few weeks, and it seems Avery has a pretty serious condition. The doctor won't know for sure until he is under anesthesia and can look better, but he's pretty sure that his retina in the right eye has already started to detach, and the left eye is on the same track. He said depending on the specific issues he sees, he will do surgery to try to correct it, but he said his vision has already been damaged. Avery has so little that he can enjoy in his life right now that the thought of him having severely impaired vision makes me so sad. We're really hoping and praying that whatever the condition, it can be repaired.
Big news this month is that my little Emmy is walking. She hasn't fully mastered it, but she's well on her way. It makes me so happy to see her progressing and growing, although sometimes it seems like it's just too fast!
This blog has taken me three different days to finish, and now, I'm once again needed elsewhere. Take care, friends!
Bethany
The Blue Springs Church in Tennessee broke out in revival the weekend of the wedding. After we got home, we got such good news that my cousin, Justin, had gotten saved, and that God was doing great things for so many people there. Phillip called me and said, "It's probably crazy, but if I could, I'd take Avery there and get him prayed for." He said that he knew God's arm wasn't shortened, and the He could reach us anywhere, but he said that he felt like the dad in the Bible that just needed to get his son to where Jesus was. I told him to do whatever he wanted, and that we'd make it happen. So, on a whim but with great hope, we packed up everything but the kitchen sink, and headed to Tennessee. I took my own cleaning supplies and our air purifier, and we put Avery in the bedroom at my aunt and uncle's house. We knew we wanted to take Avery to church to get prayed for, but he really isn't supposed to be in public beyond doctor's appointments. We went ahead and took him, and he left his mask on during service. We had a great prayer for our son that God would perform a miracle in his body and give us strength as a family to do what we need to do. No, there wasn't a lightning bolt or thunder or anything else for that matter, but there was heartfelt prayer and such a powerful spirit as we prayed. Phillip asked me, "Do you think we're crazy?" I told him that I'm sure some people might think we are, but they've probably never been as desperate for God's help.
Avery is doing well in so many ways, but he still has so many needs that we're praying God will move in. The most urgent at the moment is his eyes. Avery is scheduled for an eye exam under anesthesia with surgery to follow the same day. He has been to two eye specialists over the last few weeks, and it seems Avery has a pretty serious condition. The doctor won't know for sure until he is under anesthesia and can look better, but he's pretty sure that his retina in the right eye has already started to detach, and the left eye is on the same track. He said depending on the specific issues he sees, he will do surgery to try to correct it, but he said his vision has already been damaged. Avery has so little that he can enjoy in his life right now that the thought of him having severely impaired vision makes me so sad. We're really hoping and praying that whatever the condition, it can be repaired.
Big news this month is that my little Emmy is walking. She hasn't fully mastered it, but she's well on her way. It makes me so happy to see her progressing and growing, although sometimes it seems like it's just too fast!
This blog has taken me three different days to finish, and now, I'm once again needed elsewhere. Take care, friends!
Bethany
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Emerson Rose is 1!
In just a few minutes, it will officially be my baby girl's first birthday. My mind keeps going back to all the feelings I was experiencing 12 months ago as I waited for her arrival. There's no doubt about it; we have been blessed!
My biggest concern after finding out I was expecting again was having a healthy baby. I admit, I was pretty anxious about it all. At my 20 week ultrasound at the specialists' office, I was beyond relieved to see pictures of two kidneys, a 3-vessel umbilical cord, and what appeared to be a perfect little baby. But when I heard the words, "It's a girl!", I was shocked and thrilled! I had prepared myself for another rotten boy...after all, they come in threes, right?
I missed a lot of precious time with her throughout her first year, which has caused me to cherish each moment I get with her even more. Today I am just so thankful for such a wonderful gift, Emerson Rose.
I certainly prayed a lot of prayers for my baby girl, and honestly, I felt guilty to even say whether or not I preferred a girl or boy - much less pray about that. Gender seems so insignificant in light of health and well-being. But God was gracious to us, and He knew that in the deepest part of my heart, I was hoping just a little (okay, a LOT) that I would get to have a daughter of my own. These two verses came to mind as I started this post.
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: I Samuel 1:27
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.
Happy Birthday, Princess Em!
My biggest concern after finding out I was expecting again was having a healthy baby. I admit, I was pretty anxious about it all. At my 20 week ultrasound at the specialists' office, I was beyond relieved to see pictures of two kidneys, a 3-vessel umbilical cord, and what appeared to be a perfect little baby. But when I heard the words, "It's a girl!", I was shocked and thrilled! I had prepared myself for another rotten boy...after all, they come in threes, right?
I missed a lot of precious time with her throughout her first year, which has caused me to cherish each moment I get with her even more. Today I am just so thankful for such a wonderful gift, Emerson Rose.
I certainly prayed a lot of prayers for my baby girl, and honestly, I felt guilty to even say whether or not I preferred a girl or boy - much less pray about that. Gender seems so insignificant in light of health and well-being. But God was gracious to us, and He knew that in the deepest part of my heart, I was hoping just a little (okay, a LOT) that I would get to have a daughter of my own. These two verses came to mind as I started this post.
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: I Samuel 1:27
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.
Happy Birthday, Princess Em!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Sorry for the boring title this week. I'll blame it on the heat, because so far, this July has been HOT!
A month ago today, we brought Avery home. It has been FABULOUS having my family together! I have to admit, most days I'm busier than I've ever been. Little Em is a tornado that crawls through the house, making messes, scavenging for crumbs or anything else to eat, and she is teething...so, she is occasionally grumpy. Hard to believe that about my little princess, I know! Avery keeps me hopping too with all the feeds, meds, therapy sessions, appointments, etc. Bryson has been so helpful and entertains the others so well, but yes, he needs his mommy a lot as well. Some days I stay in my jammies and feel like I'm in a tri-athalon that has diaper changing as one of the main events!
This morning, I heard clapping coming from the boys' room. Bryson had climbed in our bed at some point during the night, so I left him and slipped in the bed with Avery. It was 7 a.m., and I was hoping I could coax Avery into a few more minutes of sleep. When I laid down next to him, he grinned his big grin and rolled toward me. He put one little arm under my neck and wrapped the other one around me. Then he stuck his open mouth on my cheek so I could feel his teeth (that's his version of giving kisses!). As I squeezed him back and said, "Thank you, Avery!", I could feel his body shaking as he was giggling. We just stayed in that position for several minutes, and then he would roll away for a minute, and come right back to kiss me again. With the other kids asleep, I just stayed in his little skinny arms and enjoyed those precious minutes. It was one of those moments that makes all the stress fade for just a moment.
That's just the way you have to take life sometimes: the good with the bad, the amazing with the ordinary, the joy with the sorrow, the peaceful with the REALLY LOUD! I'm thankful that God's mercies are new every morning because sometimes I must require a lot. Regardless of how it comes, no doubt about it, I have been blessed.
And here's what the little guy is doing now after he had the nerve to wake me up early... :) It's what I'd be doing too if I could!
Hope all of my reader-friends are enjoying your summer and staying cool!
Bethany
A month ago today, we brought Avery home. It has been FABULOUS having my family together! I have to admit, most days I'm busier than I've ever been. Little Em is a tornado that crawls through the house, making messes, scavenging for crumbs or anything else to eat, and she is teething...so, she is occasionally grumpy. Hard to believe that about my little princess, I know! Avery keeps me hopping too with all the feeds, meds, therapy sessions, appointments, etc. Bryson has been so helpful and entertains the others so well, but yes, he needs his mommy a lot as well. Some days I stay in my jammies and feel like I'm in a tri-athalon that has diaper changing as one of the main events!
This morning, I heard clapping coming from the boys' room. Bryson had climbed in our bed at some point during the night, so I left him and slipped in the bed with Avery. It was 7 a.m., and I was hoping I could coax Avery into a few more minutes of sleep. When I laid down next to him, he grinned his big grin and rolled toward me. He put one little arm under my neck and wrapped the other one around me. Then he stuck his open mouth on my cheek so I could feel his teeth (that's his version of giving kisses!). As I squeezed him back and said, "Thank you, Avery!", I could feel his body shaking as he was giggling. We just stayed in that position for several minutes, and then he would roll away for a minute, and come right back to kiss me again. With the other kids asleep, I just stayed in his little skinny arms and enjoyed those precious minutes. It was one of those moments that makes all the stress fade for just a moment.
That's just the way you have to take life sometimes: the good with the bad, the amazing with the ordinary, the joy with the sorrow, the peaceful with the REALLY LOUD! I'm thankful that God's mercies are new every morning because sometimes I must require a lot. Regardless of how it comes, no doubt about it, I have been blessed.
And here's what the little guy is doing now after he had the nerve to wake me up early... :) It's what I'd be doing too if I could!
Hope all of my reader-friends are enjoying your summer and staying cool!
Bethany
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