Reason #427- Why I love my husband

This Sunday our pastor showed a short video of people that have heard the "whisper of God". These were real people telling how they had been at their lowest point, and heard God's voice telling them "You are loved" and "I am here with you".
The main subject of the video was a mother who had lost her teenage daughter in a car accident. The daughter had an aneurysm while driving, crashed the car, broke her neck at C1 and was declared brain dead after arrival to the hospital.
This mother talked about the immense sorrow she was feeling at the bedside of her dead daughter.....and how she heard God's voice whisper to her.
This mother ended the video by talking about how excited she is to one day have all of her children with her, laughing and sitting around a big kitchen table in the sky.....and how hearing God's voice in that dark moment of her life reminded her that GOD is so GOOD.
After the video, tears are streaming down my face(I simply cannot bear the thought of losing my children)and I look at my husband who is crying too. He laughs, wipes his eyes, and says "I've even seen that video before and it still got to me!"
love that man.

One of these days I'm going to have to share reasons 1-426.

Andy-ism

This morning one of our girls had a bout of diarrhea. (I shall keep which one anonymous so as not to embarrass..but her name starts with a T and ends in S.)
She was quite distressed and said she had never had this happen before, to which Andy replied.....
"Yeah, it's kind of like throwing up out of your bottom."
Classic.

Potty Training Progress

Our Saturday in Pictures

Started out at the driving range.......Dad loves to give lessons.

Went to Lion's Park. Played on the playground, waded in the creek, and had a picnic

Tess and Andy playing catch over the creek.......yes, the ball got wet

I was challenged to catch 5 pop flies in a row with ice cream as the prize!

Ended the day with movies at the drive in....

Ben, Missy(&my nephew/niece), Andy, my chair,Bailey, Tess, Jane & Kate

What an amazing day God gave us.....I think we may have overdosed on sunshine and happiness.

Total JOY overload.

Happy Farting Friday!

There is an adorable little family sitting in our waiting room right now. A mom, a dad, and three little blonde headed boys.

I just walked through the room and I hear a comical BLLMMMPPPP(insert pretend fart noise) then delightful little boy giggles, then.....
"DAD! Did you just FART?"
"I didn't fart guys, but I think this chair did!"
"BLLLMMMMPPPP" "Dad!You just farted!"
"It wasn't me guys, it was this chair beside me!"
and repeat.

These boys were sitting calmly in the little people chairs we provide, not causing any ruckus, which is actually an unusual thing in our waiting room.
Mom is sitting nearby quietly reading a magazine, I guess it was dad's turn to watch the kids. I completely support his efforts and enjoyed myself a little giggle when I walked by........ I love my job.
Happy Friday!

Ladies Tea

This past Saturday was the Ladies Spring Tea at our church. My mother, Tess, Kate, and I attended in our fancy clothes. Actually mom and I looked terribly under-dressed in our regular church clothes....the girls were wearing flower girl dresses that we now use for playing dress up. There was a program about vintage wedding dresses that was very well done and interesting....although Kate and Tess did a lot of asking "how much longer?" We drank tea, ate little finger sandwiches, fruit, and wedding cake. I found myself saying "eat smaller bites!" "get your elbows off the table" "don't spill that" and "use your napkin not your dress" waaaaay too many times. I don't offer many fancy opportunities, so I don't know why I magically expected my children to know the rules.

My dress was displayed, not because it was vintage, but because one of the organizers of the event was the lady who made it! :) It was fun watching people look at it on display and make comments (all positive, I think) but I have to admit I wanted to shout "Don't touch!" when people got too handsy with it.

My wedding dress on display.....circa 1998

Tess won a door prize-gift card to Sonic.

(check out the jealous sister's face)

The girls in their fancy dresses standing with my dress

Medical intervention

Had a pain management appointment yesterday. Yep, I was up to my eyebrows in disgust at my constant low back pain. Every day I have pain. Not debilitating pain, but constant, you never know when a simple movement is going to ruin the rest of your week, kind of pain. For those that are newbies to my life: Last summer I was notified by diagnostic testing that I have herniated lumbar discs at L4 and L5. Both discs are herniated and torn, for whatever that is worth. I've tried OTC medications, exercising, rest, lifestyle changes, prayer, and swearing. So far no change.


I met with a fantastic physician at NKCH in the Pain Management Clinic. After an in depth evaluation, the good doc gave me the different options, starting with most conservative( Physical Therapy and stronger meds like prescription Ibuprofen) then epidural steroid injections, then surgery, then heavy duty prescription medications, and finally a implanted spinal nerve blocking do-hickey. I chose option #2...the epidural steroid injection.

Reasons Why
--I am so very very tired of feeling old and crippled by my back. I can't do things with my kids that my mommy brain and heart wants to do. --If I feel this way now, what am I going to feel like in my 50s? 60s? 70s? 80s? I plan to have lots of grandkids and I need to be able to keep moving! --I went with this intervention because I don't want to be a daily pill taker. I have years to rely on pills to make me feel better and I don't want to blow through my medication choices at such a youngish age.

Sooooo, I had the injection and it hurt like heck for a hot minute when they put in the guide and needle. I then hung out while they observed me for 30 mintues and went home. I probably could have gone back to work, but the doctor told me not to, plus driving afterwards is a bad idea. My Rt leg(the side I had the injection on) felt "flimsy" for most of the afternoon and by evening both of my hips were on Fi-yah(fire). I slept like poop, but woke up with less ache and pain in my low back.


Went to work today. Sitting for too long has been the worst part and once I get up and walk around the pain is much less. Now that it is evening my hips are on Fi-yah once again and I am ready to call it a day. I need to give the medicine 72 hours to really start to feel the "good" and I have to be prepared for there to be no miracle relief. There is the option to have 3 injections in 6 months, and I have heard both positive and negative feedback from other people that have gone through the injection series. Some felt no relief at all, some felt nothing until the 3rd injection, some it only took one and they were thrilled.


I go back in two weeks, if I have not had relief, and will get the second injection. If I feel good, then I will postpone the next injection for a while to stretch out the time between them. The side effects of steroids are something I could do without....weight gain, acne, mood swings, fluid retention, blah blah blah. My adorable husband said he would take the extra pounds if it makes my back feel better. ahhhhhh....that's love.