A Little Getaway

Well, I started feeling better at the end of last week, so we went away to enjoy several days of Cherish's spring break. The children did amazingly well!!! Early mornings, no naps, and late nights with hot, sticky days = no crying or whining. (We were shocked.) They were full of smiles, giggles, and laughter. We all had so much fun!!!!!!!

Cherish teaching Andrew how to climb a ladder and slide on his own:

Cherish always holding and hugging Andrew:

Snuggling:

Watching shows:

Another opportunity to hug her brother:

"Andrew, what does a lion say?"

Andrew: "Roar"

As sweet as she is pretty:

Our lover of birds:

The birds are what kept him from napping! Any time he heard a bird, he'd sit up straight in his stroller and stare into the sky. He never wanted to miss a single bird!

There were two birds right next to Andrew.

They both screamed so loudly and terrified Andrew.

We thought they ruined his love for birds.

Trying to warm Andrew up to birds again.

(He was clinging to me.)

 Cherish said she would guard him:

 Dad trying to show Andrew they don't all scream:

 He became scared, and Cherish jumped between him and dad, hugging him to make him feel better:

Back to playing:

 Smiling at his mommy at the end of the second day!

He just started giggling for no apparent reason, except that he was just so happy.

 He was having so much fun!

It was such a blessing watching the children love on each other and seeing Andrew blossom. It was one of my favorite vacations! How blessed Derek and I are!

85.5

About a month ago I was looking at myself in the mirror and thought I looked pretty gaunt. So, I got out our trusty scale and weighed myself. I was shocked to see "85.5" staring up at me. Nervous, really. I told Derek, and I went on a weight-gaining diet.

Derek graciously pushed the ice cream-potato chip-pound cake-chocolate-peanut butter-Otis Spunkmeyer muffin-diet. It was really hard to handle (yeah, right). However, it was still a struggle to put on weight.

Then, four weeks ago I started feeling like I had the flu in my spine. It. was. strange. Stranger still was that soon my muscles and joints started aching. Then, the stiff neck began. Then, the headaches began. Then, a week and a half ago, a fever began along with blurry vision (up close).

So, off I went to the ER. The doctor and nurse both thought I had spinal meningitis. However, the spinal tap and other tests revealed I did not have spinal meningitis, mono, flu, or pneumonia. Good news.

Then, the ER doctor came back to my room. He wanted to run an additional test, as something had shown up in my liver while x-raying my lungs for pneumonia. This “bump” was being confirmed by my blood test.

Before releasing me for the night, he let me know that what he saw on the images and in my blood work was called “hepatitis”.

Um, yep. I’m familiar with that term.

So, off I went to the specialist to find out for sure. The doctor there seems to agree with the ER doc. Only, he was/is thinking it is either Hep A or Hep E. “E”?? I had never even heard of such a thing! I assured him I had my Hep A vaccinations, so it couldn’t be that. (I have my MD credentials, so I can make blanket claims like that—yeah, right.)

So, Hep E it is looking like. One more test to go to find out for sure.

The good thing about Hep E is that one’s body can fight it without medication, and the liver can rebuild itself.

Great news!

Now, the clincher: to repair my liver I have to go on a low-fat diet! Low-fat. Yep. Ya read that right.

This morning I weighed myself. 86.0 pounds. Yep. I need that low-fat diet like you won’t believe.

So, to the hair cutting issue. I was looking gaunt. Remember? Well, my straight hair was doing me no favors. Thus, I planned to enhance my “beauty” by framing my face with chopped luscious layers. Now that my layers were looking so bad failing to bring a false “fatness” to my face, I am now wearing my layers in two ponytails: one on either side of my face. The ponytails expand the horizontal image of my narrow face and the layers don’t look so bad. I really look good (yeah, right)!

There will be no pictures, because pictures are so overrated.

Side note: Whatever “it” is that I contracted while overseas getting my precious baby boy,

IT.

WAS.

SO.

WORTH.

IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, I'd do it again in a heart-beat! (Oh yeah, I am...to bring home baby Hope.)

Green-free

So, I did it. I got sick enough of my green hair and purple shampoo that I chopped my green hair off.  Yep. Tuesday evening, I cut the green up to a certain point, but Wednesday morning, I was braver. I looked at the green that had not yet grown out, and I grabbed my scissors again. I was brave. I found chunks of green and chopped. Yep, chopped. I figured, “So long as Derek doesn’t get repulsed, who cares? It can always grow out.”

Now, I didn’t want anyone to be jealous of my chopped locks gorgeous layers, so I decided not to take a picture. After all, I must protect the hearts of my readers. Thus, if you don’t see a picture, you can’t be jealous. (I know. I’m thoughtful like that.)

So if we run into one another in the near future, please don’t get jealous. I promise I can do the same for you. No charge even! (I know. I know. I’m so thoughtful.)

Night terror update

Since several sweet people have asked us how Andrew is doing with his night terrors, I thought I'd give a "formal" update.

First of all, as a recap for those who are just joining our blog, ever since we received Andrew in December, he has been plagued with nightmares and night terrors. (The difference between nightmares and night terrors is that when a child has a nightmare, he/she will wake up and seek comfort. With night terrors, the child cannot wake up and cannot and will not be comforted. It’s like sleepwalking; the child simply cannot wake up.) Andrew was plagued by night terrors—some nights with multiple night terrors in a night. It. was. HORRIBLE!

Two weeks ago during his nap, Andrew endured one of the worst night terrors I had ever witnessed. He was screaming in horror for so long, and I was crying out of sorrow for him and out of a feeling of helpless to comfort my little boy.

Later that day, Andrew saw a little New Testament sitting on my bookcase, picked it up, and carried it around the house—hugging it. God gave me an idea. I walked Andrew to his room and placed the Bible under his pillow. I told him he was going to sleep with Jesus.

I know that Jesus is the Living Word of God (John 1), and on that I trusted Him for help.

Since that time Andrew has undergone many "triggers" that should have set off his night terrors. For example, last week I had to go out three evenings in a row for meetings, and Derek was his caregiver instead of me. Then, Andrew was out all day Saturday with his cousins and missed his nap. Then, Sunday, he had a nap at his Pappy and Nanny's house, and I accidentally left his pillow and noise-maker there. Thus, he slept without his usual pillow and sound on Sunday night. However, none of these "triggers" set off the night terrors. The New Testament remained his constant companion in bed.

Thus, as of this afternoon, it has been two full weeks, and Andrew has had zero night terrors!

Zero!
Zip!
Zilch!

Notta!
None!

I wish each of you could have seen the difference from 2+ weeks ago—Andrew constantly traumatized in his sleep—until now: sleeping peacefully. What a change!

I am not claiming that the little New Testament is magical.
However, I am claiming that the God of the New Testament is all-powerful.
He is good.

He is the God of all comfort.

He cares for little children.

This morning when I went to get Andrew out of bed, he didn't want to be lifted out. He wanted his Bible and spent time cradling it and looking through it.

As a side note: I have gone in to check on Andrew during the night, and I have, on occasion, found him awake, sitting up, and cradling the New Testament or looking through it. Why would he be awake? I don’t know.

What I do know is that he has had no night terrors, and he has received peace and comfort from Jesus Christ!

To God be the glory!

Sunday Smiles

Cousins and friends:

Trying to trap Derek between the rails:

Dancing eyes:

'nuf said.

Cousins' Weekend--Saturday

We spent Saturday enjoying "Railroad Days" at the railroad museum where Pappy volunteers.

Exploring train cars:

Cherish sneaking a kiss whenever possible:

Checking out the caboose:

Inside the caboose:

Pappy helping Cherish down the caboose steps:

Nanny, her granddaughter, and her great-grandson:

"Mom! Please! Don't make me!"
"Andrew, you'll be fine. I promise! I've gotcha!"

Nathan:

"You're doin' it!"

Andrew ended up really liking his ride on the pony.

Cherish and Nathan on a "train ride":

Andrew faithfully pointing out birds:

Someone taking advantage of an opportunity to sneak a kiss:

An opportunity to tickle her brother:

Happy boy!

I know. I know.

Picture heavy.

Oh, well.