Hard decision brings peace

Yesterday was a very sad day for our family. We had to let go of a dear friendship due to pressure from the husband. To put it plainly, we were I guess you could say, persecuted, for our faith. We became friends with the neighbors on Hannah's 10th birthday. Enjoyed many, many days with them. Then questions started about our faith and yesterday morning, the husband called and told me for an hour and a half about all the things we believe are wrong, and that we are a c---,(many consider this a bad word to say, so I'll insert dashes there, and put the rest here ult.) Hope you caught that. The stipulation was given for us to continue being friends, that we had to know that he knew our way is wrong. We know we are walking the right way, the planned way of God, but as humans, we also know we can fail. So, we felt if we continued to be friends, that we would be making the statement that our way is wrong. So thankful to know it isn't our way, its God's.
Today, I feel peace, knowing that even though Shawn and I have never had to face this or had to discard friendship, God sees and knows what truly is in each heart.
In light of a care update I read for Jess, what we are facing is nothing. She is facing death at 29, with 3 small girls. In the days ahead, I hope to learn the lesson of praying more for others in their needs, like I know many have been doing for us. Thank you for that.

Warm days, then cold!

We have had wonderful weather, sunny skies and even 90 degrees one day. The flowers all popped up, grass needed mowed,( which I did on April2!), and we were getting so spoiled. Then the cold weather came back, milder than winter, but colder than we were getting use to. So, temp is getting into the low 60's now, and at night dropping back in the low 40's. Don't want to sound like I'm complaining, after thinking of a friend that is facing cancer, I want to appreciate all gifts that come from above. Running to the chiro every few days from the accident, and finishing up schooling, we are pretty busy. In fact, I need to shorten this post today, will catch up later on the extent of my injury and the growing antics of the children, and animals!

Happy 9th Birthday, Zachariah

Happy Birthday, Zachariah! You missed being born on your mother's birthday by 1 hr and 27 min.! We had a little birthday party last night, and Zach received a double reed harmonica from his parents, and a plasma car from Grandma Karen. Tonight meeting is here at our home, and I am planning on making chocolate chip cookie bars for after meeting. Zach picked out Reece Peanut Bars for last night.
We welcomed spring with the flu! We all were hit, somehow, I got lucky and was mildly sick compared to the other 5. So, we are finally over that, I hope. Josh is having further issues with what the Dr. thinks is acid reflux, if symptoms persist, he will end up at Children's with an ultrasound and a GI study. Hope it doesn't come to that.
Here is Zach playing his first harmonica.

Here is Zach playing his new birthday harmonica.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Noah!

Today, our youngest grew another year older. Can hardly believe the baby years are leaving our house, with this our last planned baby. It's exciting to see them growing, and exploring this world, and sad at the same time knowing the baby years are only here for a short time. Very blessed to be able to have them in our lives, all 4 of them. Noah was really bashful at meeting last night when we sang Happy Birthday to him, but tonight he did better and pointed to his cake. Here are a few pictures of the B-day boy.Our camera is getting rather old, and the pictures aren't as clear as they use to be. Good night.

Thank You, Thank You!

I would like to say thank you to whom-ever it was that sent a very generous gift our way. Not sure who it was, but we can't thank you enough. Evident to see again how God takes care of His own.
So, who ever you are, Thank You.

Dora's update

I have pretty much recovered from my shoulder surgery. I haven't gained full mobility back to the right arm, but it's much better now than even 3 days ago. I am very disappointed that it appears surgery may not have worked after all. I still have a very large bone spur protruding from the top of my shoulder. I return to the surgeon in a few days, hoping I don't hear that I need another surgery! Now another problem has surfaced. I have been experience hip/pelvic pain from the accident. I went to urgent care on Sat. p.m. due to the pain (also I was afraid for further damage like I experienced from non treatment to my shoulder). The doctor said I have nerve damage and will need to see a physical doctor for treatment. So, I hope to find out more this week about the extent of that. However, I am healthy except for those issues, so I shall not complain, so many more so much worse off than I!
Here is a gross picture after the band-age came off.

Recovering

I had shoulder surgery yesterday. A previous injury to it in Oct. 09, caused 2 bone spurs to grow, interrupting my tendon. So a surgeon took them off. I was scheduled for 10 A.M. arrival time, surgery to start at 11. However, the doctor had another surgery scheduled at the hospital that ran over. So, I didn't go to the O.R. until a little after noon. The surgery was very quick, 15-25 minutes. I reacted strongly to the pain med he shot into my shoulder, and had a difficult recovery. Excessive itching, pain, and then my heart started hurting. I only remember a little about recovery, but I remember telling a nurse my heart hurt, and she said my blood pressure was fine. Then I heard her say, "Oh no, her pulse is dropping. Get the doctor stat, its in the low 40's." So, the doctor came in and order another shot of something to bring my pulse back up. The combination of all the pain pills, Benadryl for itching, and whatever the shot was for my pulse, caused a very long recovery time. I couldn't wake up, and was barely with it when we left, around 4 :30! Poor Shawn, he was stuck taking care of me and watching after our 4 little ones! Made for a long day for the 5 of them. Good to be home today though, still having a low pulse when I take the pain med. or benadryl, not sure which one.
Shawn has the children playing outside, and I feel the need for another nap coming on. Here is a picture of my bandaged shoulder, will post another one when bandage comes off.
The suburban is in the shop, getting 2 new doors, and a new center post from the accident. Estimated damage was $4,982. The insurance companies are arguing over who has to pay. In the meantime, we are driving a rental van, hoping they settle quickly. Have a good weekend!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Ours is off with a bang. Literally! Shawn took me(and the children) to an orthopedic specialist today, for an issue I have been having with my shoulder. It had started to snow, we are to get up to 8" tonight. I had to get my niece off the bus, then I was going to drop her and my children off to Dad to watch while Shawn and I went to town. It wasn't snowing too much, so Shawn said I could drive. As I drove down the road, just pulling up to Dad's driveway, I saw a truck barreling down the road. I had been going around 10 mph, and quickly pulled into Dad's driveway. The truck driver tried to stop, and either lost control or he too turned toward Dad's driveway, whatever the case was, he plowed into me on the drivers door. His truck then skidded to the side and came to rest nose to back(his front to my back end) wedged against me, and pushed our suburban down into Dad's driveway. Shawn and the kids were okay, the door wedged me against the console. I started suffering with back pain, radiating up to my neck. It was almost an hour and a half before the trooper could arrive, by then it had been snowing in earnest, and quite a bit piled up. I was going to go to the ER to make sure I didn't further damage my shoulder, or re-damage my back, but decided to come home and rest and hope that helps. I didn't want to chance another accident, there would be no protection if we were hit in the drivers side again. I did take a couple of pictures tonight, I"ll post them till I can get a better shot. Be safe and watch for the other drivers!

Winter is here!

We received winter earlier than normal here. Actually, the snow arrived on the last day of fall. We have between 4 1/2" and 5", just the right amount to play in, but still be able to get around in. Well, sorta. If you don't consider our driveway. Shawn had fun going up it sideways, and Sunday morning on our way to meeting, I didn't have fun going down sideways! That big old oat tree was way to close for my comfort!
We enjoyed sledding with the neighbors on Sunday afternoon. Noah had a great time, with Hannah and Julia escorting him up and down the hill. This was the first year Josh was able to take his own sled up and ride down all by himself! How fast my little man is growing. Zach built a nice fort, where he and Daniel had snowball fights.
Everyone is healthy, for now! Noah's burn healed up so nicely, just white lines on his foot now where the blisters were.
We do have a new inside pet! Rusty, the dog that showed up here quite a while ago, came back. I gave him to Dad back then, and he came back here on Dec. 3rd. We had been thinking of getting another inside dog, so we decided to give him a try. I took him in and gave him 2 baths. He is an awesome dog! He is already housebroke, even after living outside at Dad's for several months he hasn't had any accidents upstairs, yet. He also tolerates a lot from Noah, like tail pulling and neck squeezing, and of course I shouldn't forget climbing on his back like he is a horse. He rarely barks, and we've only lost a few toys to his teeth! Hopefully me pointing out his good traits doesn't change after this post! We think he is around 2, and the only problem we have with him is caging him when we leave.
School is working out nicely, teacher is kinda rough on them, not giving them 2 full weeks off like the public school kids have. They also won't be having snow days here, or rarely if they do! They do have the benefit of staying home, and only working in the morning. Fair trade I think!
We had our winter celebration with the children on Sunday, and we exchanged gifts and made and decorated sugar cookies, in between playing in the snow. Here is a really cute picture of Penny, she enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper!
Well, I plan to rearrange some closets today, and the hours are slipping away. Happy Holidays to you all, and may the next year bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.

Moving along

Sorry for the long spell and no posts!

Noah's foot has completely healed, or at least has dried up. The only reminder is the white lines, which is so much better to look at instead of the nasty open wound, and Noah himself. Everytime I take off either his PJ's or his sock, he always says,"Booboo." with a sad little face and in his baby soft voice that just cuts to the heart every time! I have started distracting him every time I change him, hoping he will eventually not say this to add to my guilt trip.

We went from Noah's injury to Peanut, Beauty's 5 month old colt. Beauty was bred to a stallion smaller than her which has caused all of his problems. I ended up having Dad take Peanut to the vet to see why he was limping on his front hooves first, then dragging his back legs. They said his stifle area was swollen and did x-rays, blood work, and a physical exam on Peanut. It basically comes down to the way he is growing, and being a mini. He has a 60% survival rate, which is depressing for the kids and I. I am in turmoil wondering if I should have him put down or not. I can't imagine doing that, but I don't want him to have to live a life of pain and being confined to the barn. The vets are hoping he will outgrow this at 1 year of age when he should be completely grown, if we can just bear to watch him that long, and if he doesn't go down before then and not be able to get up at all. He can only move in about a 6' radius right now, and that is pushing it. Sometimes I have to lift him up to his feet. Good thing he only weighs 83 lbs! I have been giving him medication 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks, to help in case of infection in the bones. So....., this has turned into quite an expensive little ordeal, and still not sure what the outcome will be. Here is a picture of the little guy, being wheeled for x-rays at the vets.