Since Last Week...

Not alot has happened since our last report. Two things to report would be:
1) My doctor's appointment on Friday went well. The doctor is still pleased with my progress. My next appointment is now in 3months instead of just a couple of weeks as it has been. Dr. Law was happy to hear I am still walking. Although since we've been home I've not been as faithful! oops! I am only walking about every other day instead of everyday. I need to get back to every day, but the last week or so it seems like I've had things come up. That being said I am now able to walk 3miles. While we were in the office, my brother Peter got to come back during part of the visit to watch some of their "equipment work". Peter loves anything that goes, and if it doesn't go - watch out! He'll take it apart and might even get it going again. I've always liked this doctor (Dr. Law) as he is so personable, and is more than willing to take as much time with his patients as they need or want. Well, Peter came back and Dr. Law asked "So, who is this?" I replied "This is my brother, Peter." Dr. Law's response kind of took my by surprise! "Hi, Peter, I'm Ian." How may doctors do you know that introduces themselves by their first name? Lete alone to the 11yr old brother of their patient?? It just showed me how very down to earth he is! He has never put on airs, 'tooted his own horn' or anything of the like. Anyway, it just amazed me. He's a super great doctor!! (Actually one of the major reasons I chose the hospital 3hrs from my house!)
2) This 2nd update is more of a family update. Friday, after a good report from the doctor, we went to the UPS office and mailed off our adoption paperwork. It was sent to our adoption agency where they will go over everything and the approve it. If it is approved we submitted it to the embassy in Washington. If it is not approved, we fix the paperwork that was either 'to old' didn't have proper signatures or whatever the case was then submitted it to the embassy. There is 1 document that we might have to redo as it's getting "old" but it would be pretty minor if we did...and if that's the only thing that we have to redo, I will be jumping for joy!! Please keep the process in your prayers. Things have become very picky and it's possible there could be several things (even major) that would need work. We are just praying that will not be the case. We don't know when we'll be traveling at this point, BUT if things go well, it is possible we could leave later on this year. We don't know, and only time will tell. Please continue to pray the Lord would provide the rest of our funds (this will also dictate how soon we could travel).

That's about the size of our update for now. Supper is just finishing up. That means I need to get it set on the table & run out and call Bob. He's out cutting up some fallen trees. Until next time.....

Wow! I can't believe it has been a week since I blogged! I could say I have been busy, but that wouldn't be true. I am not sure what has kept me from here, other than I forgot?!?

Well, I survived my 1st week at home. Things went very well, and Faith has been a very good little helper (as well as a good conscience..."Mommy, don't pick that up, it's too heavy for you!") Saturday my mother-in-law came up and helped me with some housework that I couldn't do. It was wonderful to get the rugs etc. vacuumed! Saturday Bob also got a new water heater installed. We knew it was getting bad, and when we got home it was past bad and it was gone! So, my first week at home was hot water-less! We had to boil water and that was no fun, but it's not been that hot around our way so let's just say we girls didn't much mind skipping a few baths! It was certainly nice to get hot water again as well!

Please continue to pray for my healing. I am doing well, but last night I wasn't feeling 'right', and not sure what was going on. I visit the doctor again this Friday. It's been a month since my last dr. appt. I have done very well, but last night was alittle disconcerting.

I guess there isn't really any more news. Faith & I have been playing games this morning and now it's about time for lunch then we need to get some "work" done. (If you can call it work! lol) have a great day.......

Home Sweet Home

After being gone from home for 7weeks (1 week in the hospital & 6 weeks at Mom & Dad's) we are HOME. I know this will sound funny, but I wasn't even really homesick yet. Poor Bob, he was biting at the bit to move out of his in-laws home. (It's a good thing they get along!!) That being said he quietly bore it waiting until I was ready to leave. I finally decided to give going back home a try. I have been doing really well and thought maybe I could manage. However, I was not looking forward to facing the work load of keeping up a house that my Mom had been doing for the last 6wks. Things at Mom & Dad's were always hopping. Something was always happening: calves being born, hay to bale, neighbors stopping by, Faith & Peter squabbling... If i went home, things were going to get dull. I wouldn't have Mom to talk to durning the day. No little brothers playing tricks me or me playing tricks on them. That being said, I knew I had to leave at some point and Bob was really ready. So, Saturday we packed up our stuff and headed home. It was nice to be home (despite the rain forest in our yard). Since then I have been on my own with Faith 2 days now. We have done very well. I do what housework I can & Bob has been kindly doing what is left when he gets home from work. Yesterday I felt really good & even thought about taking the laundry to the basement myself. However, that thought was short lived as I knew if my husband or mother found out they would skin me alive. lol It's not within my weight limits anyway. Today I also got along fairly well, however have had an upset stomache. Maybe it was because I was getting aggitated over adoption paperwork!?!
Speaking of adoption paperwork...we are almost done!! I am waiting on 2 different documents from the social worker & our agency. I have to compile a page worth of pictures of us & our house, get a copy of our marriage license & get something from our county recorder (prove we own our home). We get those and we are DONE! My goal is to be done by this Friday so I can spend the dossier onto our agency for approval. Once they approve it, it's off to the Embassy in Washington.
Last night I found a peice of paper that had a saying and these 2 verses written on it. I held tightly to these verses before surgery.
"Commit thy lot unto the Eternal, place in Him thy confidence and He will act" ~ Unknown
Jeremiah 32:27 - "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything to hard for me?
Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which though knowest not."

I have seen the hand of the Lord working in our lives the last few months. He has been with us through some very dark times. He has also been with us through these last few weeks that have been much brighter, and held great promise of the possibility of bringing another child into our home.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. I praise the Lord for his healing hand in my life!

Be Ye Kind

I was trying to decide what topic I would write about this morning. I have several things I wanted to blog but had to decide which one to pick. I thought it would make just as much sense to blog them in order! So....Be Ye Kind -
Peter & Faith have had their moments. Sometimes they get along just beautifully and enjoy the "uncle/neice" roll. Other times they act like siblings and squable about EVERYTHING! Being big sister and Mom in this scenerio I pulled rank. Thursday, I had had enough! I told them they had to do 5 kind things for each other. They couldn't get it in their heads they needed to be kind in word and deed. The first thing they had to do was wash each others feet. (All of my siblings will think this sounds very familiar!) The next kind deed was to scrub the other's shoes clean. Peter got the 'joy' of reading Faith a story after which Faith swept Peter's bedroom floor. The next 'kind deed' was enjoyed more by the rest of us then Faith & Peter. Mom (my mom) decided that since they had been calling each other "big baby" they were going to find out what big babies are like. For supper they each had to sit in the high chair and get fed by the other. Oh it was hilerious! Peter took it like trooper, but Faith was the one that pitched a fit about having to sit in the high chair & get fed. I told her, well then the next time you think about calling Peter a big baby you'll remember what happens to big babies! Supper was a rather interesting experiance for them. But you know what, it worked! They stopped calling each other big babies, AND they were kind to each other for quite awhile afterwards. So, if you have kids fighting, might I suggest making them wash each other's feet! LOL

Family Pic

This is a family picture we took on the 4th of July. No, we did not start out matching that morning. Bob's Mom bought shirts for everyone. By the time she got done with us we not only matched with each other, but Bob's sister & her 2 kids as well!!! Faith had a shirt too, but had been dreaming of wearing her "4th of July dress" for weeks so we let her.

The New Calf

Yesterday proved to be an exciting day here at Mom & Dad's. A little while before noon the boys came in to say they were pretty sure "Polly" was going to have her calf. We walked back in the field and sure enough she was in labor. Faith was quite fasinated by the whole process. Faith can now say she's seen a calf be born! I'm sure she'll be very eager to share her experiance with anyone who cares to listen....and those who don't care to listen as well! LOL Earnie had to pull the calf, but it was fine and was up walking around by early afternoon.
Nothing much has been going on around here. Yesterday was pretty warm (I wouldn't say hot though). However, today it is rather chilly! They are predicting thunderstorms, but we're hoping Dad & Earnie can get the hay baled before it starts raining. They mowed it yesterday and are wanting to get it put up before the storms hit. It's pretty cloudy, but maybe it will hold off awhile longer.
Bob & I are planning to go home this weekend. The goal is that we will stay home, but should I not be able to manage we'll come back to Mom & Dad's for a week or two more. I am feeling very good (still walking 2miles/day) and getting along well. My only trouble is getting tired easily. I can walk, push things with my feet/legs, but if I use my arms to much it really wears me out. This is going to sound funny, but it winds me more to take a shower & get dressed again than it does to walk 2 miles! Mom made gravy for supper last night & I got the job of stirring it. I had to recruite Peter to finish because I got worn out. Time will tell how I get along. I still have weight restrictions another 4wks. However, Wednesday I can increase it from 5lbs to 10lbs. Only trouble is 5lbs still is uncomfortable to manage. Atleast Bob said he was willing to help me with the housework. (I think he just wants to stop living with his in-laws! Thank goodness they get along! 8-)
Until next time...................

Happy 4th of July! (alittle late)

I hope you all had a wondeful 4th of July weekend! We thought it was very unusually cold for the 4th! I don't think it even hit 75! We enjoyed the time we got to spend with family and remebering the sacrifices so many paid for our freedoms.
All of my brothers & sister plus their families got to come down to Mom & Dad's on Saturday. It's always fun to get to see each other & spend time together. The cousins love playing together as well. Bob's sister was also up from Oklahoma over the weekend. She & I were good friends long before B0b & I were even an 'item'. Faith has 2 cousins on that side and had fun with them as well.
Today Dad took a 'trip' south east of here to look at a hay baler. We decided to ride along with him as he wanted some company. His truck is getting easier to ride in but is still alittle ruff. We went over some railroad tracks and that was pretty uncomfortable. Otherwise I am still mending at a good pace. My chest incision is uncomfortable at times, but getting better as I have tried to lighten up on my arm activities. (And avoid sneezing!!) Laying in bed on my side aggrevates it the most. I am schedualed to see the surgeon on the 13th. However, he called and left a message telling me I did not have to come if I did not want to. I guess my other 2 doctors had been giving him updates as to my progress. From those updates he determined that I was doing well enough that the other 2 doctors could handle things unless I had a question about my incision. So, if we can confirm that the rash along both sides of the incision is only heat rash I won't have to go. Otherwise I will keep the appt. and make sure it is nothing serious. It itches, but no fever or anything else. (And it arrived the same time our really hot weather was here! Before the A/C was installed.) I'm still walking 2miles a day. In the last week, I've only missed my walk on Sunday. I was going to get up early enough to go in the morning before church. I was up to late watching fireworks so that didn't happen.
I hope you are doing well. Until next time.........

Feeling Better Again

Last Saturday thru Tuesday I was not feeling as perky as I had been the week before. Several topics were thought to be possible culprits. None of which were proven to be for sure. I decided to go ahead and just start walking again despite not feeling the best. Whether it was from walking or the problem passed that was making me feel bad, I don't know. One think I do know, I am feeling pretty good again. I am back to walking 2miles a day. Mom & I don't always get up early enough to go before it gets to hot. So, the last few days I've been going about 8pm. It takes me 1hr to walk 2 miles. Bob went home (our house) tonight, and since he goes with me in the evening I had to recruit someone else. This evening Peter went with me. We walked just alittle over 2 miles (setting a new goal). Last night the goal I set was not stopping until I got thru the first mile (our turn around point). It was quite the accomplishment as before last night I had been stopping any where from 4-5 times in the first mile! Last night, I only stopped twice in the 2nd mile to pick some flowers for Faith. 8-)
I have discovered that while I have been sitting here, my pesky brothers tied my leg to the chair with a bike cable. Then Mom proceeded to put a blanket on my head. (And do you wonder where I get my ornery streak??) ha ha My sweet daughter is trying her best to figure out the combination to free her Momma.
Thank-you for your continued prayers. I am feeling pretty good again, but I have had some pain return. My chest (incision area) has gotten rather painful the last few days. I believe it's from using my arms to much. I need to remeber to be careful. My biggest delima is getting out of chairs and bed. I can't use my arms to help myself up & sometimes forget. I know that is not helping my pain go away. Last night I felt some "rattles" in my right side. Mom listened to my chest and it sounded like I was snoring. It was rather funny. While it sounded funny, it wasn't necessarily a good sound. The praise is that rattle feeling is gone from my chest today.
Dad has been bailing hay the last few days. It has caused things to get rather crazy. Bob was out helping him yesterday. Mom is constantly running after things Dad needs or taking him & the boys to the next hay field. Faith & I tag along sometimes just to get in on some of the action.
Faith, Earnie & Peter are playing a card game. We "created" a card game just for Faith. She wanted to play cards, but couldn't comprehend Rummy. We made up a game just for her. 8-) But I need to put an end to the game to night and get her to bed. Until next time......