This is certainly a very resilient flu bug we have captured in our home. After nearly four days of quarantining ourselves, the very elusive critter struck again. I was awakened early Thursday morning by a guttural sound that can make any mom jump straight out of bed from the deepest of sleep.
Poor little Brenner! Besides the flu, he didn't know what hit him.......me! As I jumped out of bed, I landed on him! Scooping him up quickly, I plodded to the bathroom.
Then, this morning, the last of our boys succumbed to the microscopic beast. His has been the most mild case. I am truly thankful for that.
Please say this is the end!
*********
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Flu-Bug, Don't Bother Me
Immediately after my last post....in fact, it happened right after I pushed the 'publish post' icon....I heard strange sounds coming from one of the boys' bedrooms. It was late and they'd all been asleep for awhile.
You know it's not good when a child comes out of his room with one hand on his head and the other on his belly with these words on his lips, "Mommy, I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to......."
Yep. Puke. That and other things.
But every gross story has a silver lining, right? I suppose if your going to get the flu, or intestinal bug, or whatever this was, this is the kind you want to get. After 4 hours of puking, followed by 20 hours of sleeping on and off with a low grade fever, it was over. So, with some extra fluids and clean underwear, all was better!
Well, that is until son #2 came down with it two days later.
So we're in a holding pattern here and we're hoping no one else jumps on this GI ride.
**********
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13,14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
You know it's not good when a child comes out of his room with one hand on his head and the other on his belly with these words on his lips, "Mommy, I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to......."
Yep. Puke. That and other things.
But every gross story has a silver lining, right? I suppose if your going to get the flu, or intestinal bug, or whatever this was, this is the kind you want to get. After 4 hours of puking, followed by 20 hours of sleeping on and off with a low grade fever, it was over. So, with some extra fluids and clean underwear, all was better!
Well, that is until son #2 came down with it two days later.
So we're in a holding pattern here and we're hoping no one else jumps on this GI ride.
**********
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13,14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
So Long Ronald!
In the last two months our family has only been to McDonald's three times. Three times! That is quite an achievement for us. Do they give out World Records for self-control?!?
Usually, you could find me zipping through the drive-thru after a practice or game, between errands, while Sean was out of town, on the way home from the park....you name it. If there was an excuse to drive by, I jumped at the chance. Now, these stops weren't always for a full meal deal. Sometimes it was just for a "half and half Tea, light on the ice." (If you aren't familiar with the McD's jargon, that's a large half sweet and half unsweet tea, with little ice. Oh, how I miss my sweet tea.....but I digress).
We've made a real effort to eat healthier, and it's showing. Sean and I collectively have lost over 30 pounds. We're feeling better and looking better! (Though, I admit, I have a long way to go!)
And the boys are eating more variety than they ever have. One of our favorite treats is an afternoon smoothie. We blend together vanilla yogurt, strawberries with their green tops still on, blueberries, uncooked spinach (at least a cup full), a touch of orange juice, and chopped ice. It's very tasty!
Tonight, we had stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, red bell pepper, spinach, green onions, and left over ham poured atop brown rice. Though the younger two picked out the peppers and the mushrooms, they ate everything else...with some 'encouragement.'
All that being said, we still indulge from time to time in some tasty treats. So, I'm off to eat tonight's 'encouragement:' a cookie/brownie mixture we made for dessert!
*******
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:4-8
Usually, you could find me zipping through the drive-thru after a practice or game, between errands, while Sean was out of town, on the way home from the park....you name it. If there was an excuse to drive by, I jumped at the chance. Now, these stops weren't always for a full meal deal. Sometimes it was just for a "half and half Tea, light on the ice." (If you aren't familiar with the McD's jargon, that's a large half sweet and half unsweet tea, with little ice. Oh, how I miss my sweet tea.....but I digress).
We've made a real effort to eat healthier, and it's showing. Sean and I collectively have lost over 30 pounds. We're feeling better and looking better! (Though, I admit, I have a long way to go!)
And the boys are eating more variety than they ever have. One of our favorite treats is an afternoon smoothie. We blend together vanilla yogurt, strawberries with their green tops still on, blueberries, uncooked spinach (at least a cup full), a touch of orange juice, and chopped ice. It's very tasty!
Tonight, we had stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, red bell pepper, spinach, green onions, and left over ham poured atop brown rice. Though the younger two picked out the peppers and the mushrooms, they ate everything else...with some 'encouragement.'
All that being said, we still indulge from time to time in some tasty treats. So, I'm off to eat tonight's 'encouragement:' a cookie/brownie mixture we made for dessert!
*******
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:4-8
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Of Mice and Parkers
This year our oldest three boys are playing in our community's basketball leagues. It's been fun to watch them....and reminds me of all the years my family came to watch me.
Of course, when you're in second grade there's plenty to learn about basketball. The other night during Parker's first scrimmage he was confused about the whole 'offense/defense' thing. Sean noticed that Parker would 'stay on his man' during defense and then continued to guard him when he was on offense.
After practice, Sean tried to explain it to him. Frustrated with the details, Parker finally said, "So it's like cat and mouse. Sometimes I'm the cat and sometimes I'm the mouse."
Well.....at least he got the idea! So, if you hear us shouting from the sideline....'Stay on your mouse.....Stay on your the mouse!" just know that we're speaking Parker's language.
Of course, when you're in second grade there's plenty to learn about basketball. The other night during Parker's first scrimmage he was confused about the whole 'offense/defense' thing. Sean noticed that Parker would 'stay on his man' during defense and then continued to guard him when he was on offense.
After practice, Sean tried to explain it to him. Frustrated with the details, Parker finally said, "So it's like cat and mouse. Sometimes I'm the cat and sometimes I'm the mouse."
Well.....at least he got the idea! So, if you hear us shouting from the sideline....'Stay on your mouse.....Stay on your the mouse!" just know that we're speaking Parker's language.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
From the Front Burner to the Back
2009 was a difficult year for me. In fact, it seemed a lot tougher than the previous year when I had the majority of my breast cancer treatments. Maybe it was because I expected to bounce back quickly....and I haven't.
Breast cancer has been at the forefront of my mind. A new ache or pain...or one that wouldn't go away and my mind would worry, 'Breast cancer?' Strange signs and symptoms have plagued me throughout the year....unequal pupil sizes, lymphadema, neuropathic pain, depression, insomnia, menopause and all of its unlovely side effects......the list goes on. I didn't chronicle all of these on my blog because it was all I could do at times to endure them, manage them and move on.
Just a few weeks before Christmas I had a series of CT scans to rule out a spread of cancer to my liver and to the lymph nodes in my neck and collarbone area. Praise God, there was 'no sign of metastatic disease.'
But now I'm tired. I'm tired of allowing breast cancer to have such a power over me.....to allow it to stay at the forefront of my mind. It's like a boiling pot of water on the front burner of the stove. You can't forget it's there. You've got to be ever mindful of it. That makes me sad. To think that this 'enemy of my body' has had such control over the rest of my life.
And yet, there is hope. Since my last round of CT scans, I have discovered that the boiling pot of water has been moved to the back burner. In fact, it's not boiling all of the time. And that feels good. It feels light. It feels free.
I'm not sure how long it will take to get breast cancer 'off the stove' entirely. I'm not even sure that it's possible, but I do know that each day gets a little better.
********
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:9-11
Breast cancer has been at the forefront of my mind. A new ache or pain...or one that wouldn't go away and my mind would worry, 'Breast cancer?' Strange signs and symptoms have plagued me throughout the year....unequal pupil sizes, lymphadema, neuropathic pain, depression, insomnia, menopause and all of its unlovely side effects......the list goes on. I didn't chronicle all of these on my blog because it was all I could do at times to endure them, manage them and move on.
Just a few weeks before Christmas I had a series of CT scans to rule out a spread of cancer to my liver and to the lymph nodes in my neck and collarbone area. Praise God, there was 'no sign of metastatic disease.'
But now I'm tired. I'm tired of allowing breast cancer to have such a power over me.....to allow it to stay at the forefront of my mind. It's like a boiling pot of water on the front burner of the stove. You can't forget it's there. You've got to be ever mindful of it. That makes me sad. To think that this 'enemy of my body' has had such control over the rest of my life.
And yet, there is hope. Since my last round of CT scans, I have discovered that the boiling pot of water has been moved to the back burner. In fact, it's not boiling all of the time. And that feels good. It feels light. It feels free.
I'm not sure how long it will take to get breast cancer 'off the stove' entirely. I'm not even sure that it's possible, but I do know that each day gets a little better.
********
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:9-11
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