Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Seeing Gma

It was such a blessing to get to see grandma. As you can see, she had a feeding tube and lot of other wires and tubes. She couldn't really talk as the tube goes up her nose then down her throat! Here she was trying to smile.

Our time with her was truly precious! When we walked in she blinked a bunch like "say huh". Her mouth was mouthing "oooooh". So, it was so awesome that she was glad to see us.


She delighted in my kids. The tried to lean down so she could hug them. We decided it would be safer for them to hug her and she could snuggle their heads. *tear* She held on to Emily for a while. Then when we were saying good-bye I held Joseph up and he put his head down on her shoulder and she held him for a good while. She had her eyes closed and was snuggling him with her cheek as if taking in these memories. I of course was crying and crying. It was so touching. I don't even know how long I held him like that!

I was so grateful my kids were so good up in the hospital. They were even lovey with other family members. That always makes me nervous because my kids don't know any of them very well and I don't want them to hurt anyone's feelings. Here Joseph let Kelly hold him ;)


Hospital version of YMCA :) The kids did excercises with gma. She enjoyed the entertainment. I think it made it a little more bearable for her. It also allowed my kids to get some energy out ;)




We brought gma up some magazines and other things to cheer her up.
So, we got to go up Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning before we left. One of my favorite memories was from Tuesday. When we first arrived the nurse was getting gma settled in a chair. After the nurse left I told them we can go and say hi to gma. Joseph marched right over there, put his hand on her knee and began to pray for her!!!! It was the most amazing thing *tear*. I think I may have to call him Little Preacher from now on :)
Sigh, it was such a blessing yet so heart wrenching! How do you say good-bye when you don't know if you will see them on this earth again? Ugh, I struggled with this. I wanted to be profound, I wanted to be eloquent, I wanted to be encouraging......turns out, I cried a lot, kissed her hand, sat at her feet and thanked her for her example and for all she has taught me as a wife, a mother and as a woman....sigh......not what I had planned....still doesn't make me satisfied....but maybe that was all she wanted to hear. Then we of course told her how much we love her and are praying for her!
She still has no change to her pneumonia after almost a week of antibiotics. She now has a blood infection, and they have determined that she will never be able to eat or drink anything again...she will always have a feeding tube of one sort or the other. Sigh....I so hate sickness and the whole process of death.
Speaking of which....adorable story. When we were talking about gma's health with the kids Hannah asked why people get sick and sometimes die from it. We told her that there is a time when everyone must die. That our time with that person will be over with the person and God wants to spend time with them. She wasn't satisfied. She said but why does everyone have to die. So, we reminded her about Adam and Eve and the bad choice they made. And because of them sinning, everyone must die. She then said tearfully, "I really love my great gma, but I am REALLY mad at Adam and Eve!!"




A Surprise

We decided Sunday morning to head up to WI to see gma. I am not sure why it took me that long to figure out I needed to go other than the Lord wanted us to have Saturday to get a lot of work done around here. The timing was none other than perfect. Allen was going to have to go up near Peoria on business Monday to investigate a utility damage. Well, we were able to do that on the way up to WI. So, he got Monday off bc he did it on Sunday then he already have Tuesday off for Veterans day. So, we got to go up and he didn't even have to take any vacation time! Then his work paid for 400 miles of the trip bc of doing the work up in Peoria! PTL...very cool

Not only did we get to go up and see gma, but Sunday was Allison's 10th birthday. So we were able to get there just in time (and I mean just in time) for her birthday dinner. We told my mom we were coming but no one else knew (except mom had to tell dana bc of the dinner reserv). It was sooo much fun surprising everyone :)


Huh?! Dad was so surprised!




Allison just kept staring at us.....it was so cute! She told me that was the best bday present ever :)


Here they are waiting for the bday girl to arrive. They were just giggling with suspense!


Surprise!!!!





Later the chinese restaurant was playing music...they all broke into partner dancing. It was so very precious! I love Hannah's tongue on this one




Ha, this makes me laugh all over again! The restaurant workers asked Allison if she wanted to "use Miclophone and sing kaleoke" Oh it was hilarious!






Our waitress went and wrote a bday note to Ally on a napkin and found some chocolate from the back. Then she sat and asked Ally to show her all her presents. She clapped and cheered and oohed and aahhed with the best of us. So, kind yet very funny to me still!








Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Weigh In Wednesday

I am not actually sure how this is happening....but I am down another pound this week. But, I am praising the Lord for the results :)

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Weekend Warriors

Saturday Papa and Allen built my retaining wall!!!!! I wish you could hear how very excited I am. I have wanted this to get done for months and months. Here Joseph is helping. It was sooooo cute. He said he was Papa's helper.


I gave the kids coffee cups with cocoa coffee in it. They thought it was so fun to have a "workman cup"

Let the "fun" begin. Poor Papa and his always aching back :( He is always such a trooper! Thank you so much for ALL your help, advice, math figuring, and hauling. Now let me tell you how lucky I am. My house was the messiest I have seen it in a while if not ever. Well, Karen and I had planned on going to activities for two of our SS kids. Well, while I was gone....MawMaw cleaned my whole living room and kitchen, cleaned the dishes and did all my laundry!!!!!!! Not only that, but she came in and helped me with lots of cutting and bulletin board things I had to do and then gave my girls a bath!!! I seriously don't even know how to thank them. You guys are soooo great. We are so grateful for you and all your help






Digging.....but across the street....whatever...have fun!




TADA!!!!!! Doesn't it make my house look straighter? I absolutely LOVE it!




Thank you guys! It is sooo awesome


































Trunk or Treat

Friday night we had our church Trunk or Treat activity. It went very well. We had over 106 kids registered. I know there were quite a few that didn't register too. We had 27 cars that gave out candy. This was a great jump from our 15 cars last year. Our goal was 50, but at least we improved!

Karen was a mad scientist

Ha, this makes me laugh all over again. This guy was the tooth fairy! Hilarious

The Boyd family was from the Wizard of Oz. They always have super outfits!


We were a fireman, surgeon, train engineer, crazy Mexican and a pirate. We had a great time, but BOY was it tiring. Then I had this super idea that we would have a ping pong toss to win a goldfish....ALL 100 of the goldfish that we bagged up before the activity were DEAD! I laughed. Thankfully they had been donated and I didn't waste all that money!!! A perfect Halloween outcome I guess