Mouth Update #????

It's been awhile since I've given an update. On Friday AM i had more excruciating pain with my ears, mouth, etc Seriously, labor was easier then all of this! I called the dentist and said it was getting worse, I can't even remember what his response was. But DH ended up having to call him b/c i was in pure agony. I couldn't talk, think, anything, all i could do is weep in pain. OK BAWL/scream/moan (you get the idea) in pain.
They told me to come right in, that he would drill in to that tooth and release the pressure. They did just that. They had to give me so many shots to numb it, it was incredible. Doc couldn't believe how much he pumped into me. You'd think i wouldn't be able to feel my mouth for a week, and quite honestly that would have been fine with me.
My nerves were indeed shot to that tooth. I'm not sure i understand all the lingo but he explained it as a hall way and each nerve is a door way. All three doors were shut. When that happens it leaks gases?? in to the body which in turn gives one the pain.
The next question was, was that the only tooth bothering me or do i have another one going bad on top? It was quite the process of drilling, shots, more drilling, suctioning and something tasted HORRIBLE. It took all my brain power to not throw up.
Ever since being pregnant and having bad AM sickness throwing up isn't near the struggle it used to be. But i didn't puke, thank GOD! I left there feeling better and i can honestly say i feel 80% better.
I'll have a root canal done on that tooth a week from Tuesday. All of this done and NO dental insurance. Totally sucks right now and i was getting all worked up about the bills. I even asked if i could trade steaks for teeth work. My parents have been great at calling every day to see how I'm doing and listening to me break down Thursday as i wondered how i was ever going to come out of this.
DH's glasses broke Thursday AND that evening someone called to say the cows were out. His Dad came barreling down the road with a hay bail on the front of the tractor and plowed right in to DH's mail car. I'm glad i wasn't there to hear all that yelling. Then his brother tried to fix it and broke the radiator!
So really this all is horrible timing. No money b/c we haven't started harvesting yet and just paying month to month bills is becoming a struggle. Ah the joys of farming and insurance. My Dad did tell me not to worry about the dental bills as they'd take care of all of that. I don't know how i feel about that b/c then i feel they have a level of control on what you do choose to spend money on once you have it back again.
Will muddle thru it all I'm sure. Always do.(purses anyone? Wallets? i have great deals) But this teeth/mouth pain has been a pain in the arse. I feel sorry for anyone, even O'bama, to endure what i have.
With that, I'd better get going here. DH took the kids back to the farm and i have lunch waiting!

Gov Sarah Palin

Should it come as no surprise that I'm very happy to see John McCain pick Sarah Palin as his VP? I had said a couple weeks ago when I heard talk about it that i thought it would be a good choice. I stay true to that. Referred to as a Barracuda by her basketball team b/c of her competitive nature I think she is someone who will deliver on what she says she will.

A mother of 5, she is very Pro Life. Has a son with Downs Syndrome that her and her husband found out about at only 4 months in to her pregnancy. She said knowing this strengthened her pro life stance.

She believes in marriage b/c one man and one women. Couldn't agree more. She will fight for this and I know she'll have the backing of many Christians on this as well.

I believe she will way heavily on the appointing of judicial judges, just HUGE for this election. This has been looked over greatly. But if we don't get conservative judges as we know, this nation will not stay founded on the governing documents of our fore fathers. It just will not.

She also is for off shore drilling. Something we just have to do. Mr Obama seriously thinks we can be energy efficient in TEN years!?? There is no flipping way if you don't want to do off shore drilling, Just isn't possible. 10 year's isn't that long.

I do not know where she stands on the war and foreign policy. I feel in a couple weeks to a month we will know where she stands on that.

In Doc Zortman's words:
I'm sure all of you would agree - there could not have been a better representation out there for you (women)... Sarah Palin not only gives women hope - but anyone who saw the look in her eyes as she delivered her acceptance speech - she'll be one tough cookie

Can't wait to get my bumper stickers McCain/Palin

Mouth Update

OK so lets break from politics:) I hear a sigh of relief from many. I just hope those who do not share the same thoughts come back and continue to read!

So my mouth, I called the dentist back this AM 757 to be exact, and he was in. I told him, I'm no better, but no worse. I told him I think i have a swollen lymph node and the pain in my ears is excruciating. I set my alarm for midnight and 6AM just to stay on the 'every 6 hours' of the antibiotic. I told him that I was wondering if I was resistant to Clyndamican b/c of my MRSA i had 2 years ago. Later on I did find my MRSA print out and I am 'susceptible' to it!?

At any rate he agreed it was time to see my MD. I called them right away and actually got an appt for 1145 TODAY! WITH the doc i wanted to see.

I explained the LONG story of what was going on and he asked me many questions to find out if i had a sinus infection. Then he felt my lymph nodes and responded with 'wow you really have something going on, I'm giving you a shot of Rocephin.' He said you'll get it in the rear and it burns. THANKS DOC!!

If I've learned anything from IVF, and I have learned a lot, i know that shots in the bum are not a big deal:) In fact i still don't shutter at the idea, that process is still to fresh in my mind.

I got the shot, had to stay in the office for 15 min. to make sure I had no reactions and was sent on my way. Oh i was also prescribed a pain med. but when i went to get it it was $51.99 (i thought i saw $1.99) and i declined. I was not about to pay that much for something that if the antibiotic works i should be feeling better.

He told me i had some other swollen lypmh nodes (not sure where!?) and that if I'm not better in one week he wants to do a cat scan of my face. He wondered if i had TMJ. (Wendi I need Rachel's assistance on this one!)

So that's the low down right now and I'm not feeling any worse and I may be feeling a tinge better, but still the pain in my ear is just killing. Along with that, any time my mouth doesn't keep moving, hush...i know that's not very often, it hurts to do anything (eat, talk, yawn) so this makes first thing in the AM eating breakfast impossible.

So for now i continue with the Ibuprofen and just pray to God that the pain subsides, no goes away!

Political Talk Ahead

Ahhh...now really, if this doesn't either turn people away from my blog or start some conversation I'm not sure what I'll do. I fully realize that not everyone, or maybe anyone, will share the views I do. I am a Conservative. I am that b/c of a number of reasons. Not only financially (oh how i wish in my own spending i didn't have to be) but as well at my morals and values. I am aligned with the Republican party b/c i believe they most closely align with my views. I'm sure i will continue to touch on why I am a Republican in the weeks and months to come.

But for today I must just say i continue to be very cross with my teeth. I am really about to have them pulled and be done with it. I don't know what to do and neither does the dentist. We have doubled up on antibiotics and I'm taking 800-1000mg of ibuprofen every 3 maybe make it to 4 hours. At any rate I'm cross and don't feel like writing to much deep witted stuff. Did I mention that when mommy is cross, the kids are REAL stinkers. GRRRRRR

So with that, I asked my buddy 'Doc' to write something for me in regards to politics. He obliged and did it very promptly. Expect to hear more from him in the weeks/months to come as I think he is a man that really has some valid points. He is closely aligned with John McCain and even has 2 voice mails on his cell phone from him thanking him for his work. With that take a moment and ready what he says and PLEASE comment. Tell us what you think about what he said. Tell me why you are a Conservative, Liberal, Democrat, Republican.

The one thing we have to show the rest of the world is that our word is as good as it gets - if we don't want to be involved with the other countries - we need to drop out of treaties we've signed - we need to drop out of every other international and regional pact we belong to. We must be able to provide every service and material we need - from manufacturing to oil/gas/fuel/food. When we have achieved that and really don't need any other country - then, we need to shut down all transportation in and out of our country - we need to build a fence 50' high and place our military on that fence to keep us in and others out. Along the oceans, we would need to do a fence and a trench - where possible, fill the trench with shark and alligator to make sure anyone who stumbles into that area - they are instantly eliminated. We would not need our ports to ship "stuff" or receive stuff - therefore, the wall and trench would not affect traffic.
As we move in this direction, we need to take over Canada and Mexico -
Doesn't this sound like a real solution? No? Well, then we need to make what we ARE doing work - somehow...

Weekend and Teeth Pain

The kids and I went to the Lakes Saturday AM. I was hoping by the time we left, around noon, that at least Miss A would sleep most the way. No such luck. Maybe 45 min she slept. There was no time for rest till she crashed @ 10 that night. Needless to say C'man was just wound tighter then the energizer battery. He did just keep going and going too. Eventually he gave in to exhaustion and fell fast to sleep. C'man, JoJo and my sister didn't wake up till almost 9AM!



I wish i could type that Miss A slept that late too. No such luck. She woke up @ 1230 AM having one of her night tares. My sister was sleeping in the same room as her and every time she tried to pick her up or even touch her, she screamed louder. Eventually I ended up in that room and Ruth headed up to the 'loft' area with JoJo and c'man. Miss A and I were up by 730.



We had to leave mid AM b/c we had to get back to my hometown for my G'pa's 88th B-day. That was a nice time too. The kids did good considering how little sleep they've had. Must have been all the sugar they were consuming. I was hiding every piece of candy i could fine. At one point my Aunt asked 'do you not let them have candy?' I said does any parent WANT their kid to have candy!?



They are both in bed now and I'm sure just exhausted. I am too. My tooth pain is REALLY weird. By Saturday evening i was feeling much better. I could eat and be fine, but now the pain is shooting in to my ear! I really think it's a sinus infection. My left lymph node on that side of my neck is so swollen. This just really sucks. I'll keep taking the antibiotics and i just now took an I don't even know how old, Tylenol with Codeine. I wonder if they get stronger with age:) Wouldn't THAT be nice.



I guess I'll just continue on with the antibiotics and Advil and hope within the week it'll get much better. I don't think it's so much the tooth as my sinuses. I do feel fine, no runny nose, cough, etc but that doesn't mean i don't have something going on. So i march on and hope I'm not to crabby from pain.



Hmmm i just heard a little voice from upstairs. Miss A is still awake. SHOCKING!! I'm heading to bed and going to watch Army Wives. Anyone else watch that? And what am I going to watch now that the Olympics are over!? I might actually fall asleep before 11.

Tooth Ache

There is nothing worse as far as I'm concerned, then a tooth ache. I'd rather have a migraine. But I'm not having a choice in the matter b/c for a week now I've had a rotten tooth ache. I went to the dentist Monday and we couldn't really figure out where the pain was. He thought maybe i bruised it or have a factor on the tooth. X-rays showed nothing. Here i am almost a week later feeling no better. But it's weird. I can chew on it sometimes with no problems. I can touch it and no problems and now my entire mouth hurts. I began to wonder if it was my sinuses b/c I've had that in the past where i get such a tooth ache only to find out my sinuses dip down to my teeth. So today I called back and they told me I'm going to need a cap on the tooth. OK how much i asked? @ $850!!!!!!!!! Holy crap batman. I asked if i could try a course of antibiotics first. They said that was fine. But I'm afraid it's not going to help. I don't know what to do. I mean i have to get it fixed, but where do i get that kind of money??? Any ideas? For that amount i could probably have all my teeth pulled and get dentures! Just kidding of course. But really WHY is it so expensive? I'll be there at what one hr?? come back 2 weeks later for 30 min!? and it's going to cost that much. I thought/wondered if i should go to a dental school and have students work on it. But will that save me that much and after all, we're talking my teeth here. I had a friend say when i suggested that 'I do that with my hair' I about choked on my water and said 'hmmm..hair, that grows back if you don't like the cut or teeth that if done wrong, cause life time of misery (and money, pain, craziness you name it).......there is quite a difference there!!' What do you all think? Any dentists out there or any of you have friends that our dentists? If so forward on this blog to them. I'm pleading for help (again) I'm hoping I'm feeling well enough b/c today the kids and I are heading to the lakes here in Iowa. My parents have a membership at this campground/lodging place. They are there this weekend and my sister, niece and us, are going to meet up and stay the night. Wish me well!

Birthday Post

High time i get a post about miss A's 2nd birthday eh?? Being that we now are back to high speed instead of no speed i think i can do it. Not to mention my kids are playing outside in the DIRT! We finally cleaned up where a corn crib used to be. There is a HUGE section of dirt. Meaning every night my kids are filthy dirty and the dogs love laying in it. The snow fence has got to get up to keep anything 4 ft and under out of there.

But anyway....lets start with the original post of Miss A's b-day.

I made these, cupcakes in an ice cream cone and took them to the pool. We shared them with others there. Those pictures are on another camera.Her 'real' cake we had for her party on Sunday. NO I DID NOT MAKE IT! Heavens no. But isn't it ADORABLE! We have a lady here in town that buys our eggs and bakes/decorates cakes.

And she huffed and puffed and tried to blow out the candles. Actually she did do it but then she wanted more and then C'man had to have a turn.Yummy cake. I ate only the frosting and requested more. Finally some underwear for the child!

Her first Cabbage Patch. I'm excited too!

This was almost the best part watching the 'men' (my Dad and C'mans Godfather) put the toys together:)
C'man got presents to of course. Here's Cousin Jo Jo reading to him

After the guests left my parents and in laws all went out for pizza. That i guess was our 'night cap' to the festivities.

Binky Update

It's 9PM Thursday night and C'man is upstairs sleeping and we had no binky episodes tonight. Could be b/c he still has 2 but he told me this evening that he was going to take them to papa so he could get him that yellow bouncy ball. We did take them to Papa L with a note requesting the next time he's out and about would he pick up the yellow bouncy ball and pay with it with my binkies. BUT the binks came home with us. He decided he wanted to wait.
BUT at least we've had no crying. He seemed a little off tonight so I'm not sure if he was thinking about his binkies or if he didn't feel just right??
How do you spell binkies?? Spell check says Binky's

Bye Bye Binkies

Well I'm not sure how I'm feeling at the moment. Today was our Dr Miller day, more about that another time. Afterwards we went to Boone IA and road the scenic train ride. There was a bridge we went over that was so high off the ground that 1/2 way across i nearly threw up. The lady next to me was very nauseous too. I wouldn't let C'man get close to the open windows. Here's some pictures that DH took while suspended above the ground. Of course they slowed the train down to a crawl making it even worse. Wow were my knees just weak. It was horrible and the worse part was we had to go over it twice.

OK I'm not sure this picture does the height justice but i sure as hell wasn't going to be brave enough myself and hang the camera out and take a pic.
We saw a lot of this being way up high!

At any rate, the kids enjoyed it for the most part. They weren't crazy silly about it but none the less weren't bored completely either. Miss A ended up falling asleep!

BUT what happened AFTER the train ride is what I'm here to blog about. I got the idea from a lady at church on how they got rid of the Binky's. (note he ONLY had them at night and i usually took them out of his mouth when i went to bed) They went to a store and told their daughter she could buy anything she wanted, BUT had to pay for it with her Binky's. Sounded like a swell idea. After all we've tried, well let me say I have tried, nipping the ends off, throwing them out to the birds, dipping them in cinnamin, accidentally leaving them on the roof of the van (purposely) but regardless it seemed a hidden one appeared or out of desperation they came back.

Last week. His 'bumpy' Binky

I started talking to C'man about buying something with his Binky's. His response, 'I'll buy more Binky's' or 'I don't need any new toys' Drats. I decided to just let it go. Then yesterday while in the grocery store, he saw a yellow ball like thing that you bounce on. He wanted that. I told him i didn't have his Binky's. That evening he brought it up again that he was going to buy that.

While waiting to board the train he fell in love with everything in the gift shop there. They had an AMAZING display of Thomas items. I told him I had his Binky's if he wanted to buy something he could. So after the train ride he proceeded to pick something(s) out. He decided on two things, a Thomas train set (grrr i tried putting it together, no go i was swearing at it) and something for his sister. AWWWWW. The lady/clerk asked for 2 Binky's please. He gave her his favorite 'bumpy' binkie and another one. He laid it up on the counter and dug in for another binkie. He did ask me one last time, 'don't you have money?' OK we were done. If only it was that easy.

This evening when i went to put him to bed the sobbing began. I calmly explained that he had bought a toy, the lady had them, they are far away, etc and it just got worse and worse. I fought temptation SO hard not to cave and go get them. Boy was it hard. He wanted to go in the van, I let him. He even buckled himself in. I sat behind the van and listened to him sob 'i want my binkie' 'I want my mommy' or 'I want that lady'. Eventually after a good 15 min of whaling in there he wanted to come in the house. I carried him upstairs to which he decided he wanted to sleep in our closet. (he slept here when BFFE and fam were here) I let him!!

He still has 2 binkies left that are not that great at all. He has them in his mouth right now. I'm not sure what the rest of the night will hold for us. He could wake up just having a FIT! He normally doesn't wake up looking for them but knowing it's not going to do any good, may make it even worse. I hope to dear heavens i have not scarred him. I hope he eventually wants to get rid of the last two and doesn't grow even more attached. I probably should have made him give all 4!

So....what do i do now. If we start having royal fits do i just let him carry on knowing he'll get over it. I mean tonight from start to finish was only 30 min!? Do i just let him have them back? but what does that teach him that if he cries hard enough he'll get things back!? My MIL and mom have both told me just let him have them. If he needs them for comfort, let him. There is worse things, like his thumb:)

Maybe everything will go just fine and we won't have any more episodes. Feel free to drop me a comment or two, or 200 and let me know what you think. Maybe some words of strength too b/c some of you might be getting a phone call from me in the heat of it all the next time. (oh wait, my cell phone got fried so i have NO phone numbers unless you replied to my email for your number.)

With all of this, on a positive note, miss a is potty trained. I wasn't even ready when i decided to give it a whirl over 3 weeks ago. No underwear till her b-day even. We have only 4 accidents! She even was in the car 3 hours one way with NO accidents to and from Boone/Jefferson. In fact no accidents ALL DAY!! I had no idea it would go this easy! Here's a picture of my big girl now! Oh i guess i did find a 'pooters' on the driveway this evening. She was quite shocked by that big ol' terd laying there:)

And here's what's looking at me in oh....5 years:)

Dr Miller

I'm posting this today, but was written yesterday:) Remember how the kids were quite and playing nicely, they still are so i thought I'd post some more for the days when i can't.

Today we are heading to Dr Miller. C'man seems to have a rasp in his chest. He's actually had this since birth leading us, and the Ped., thinking maybe he had an allergy to milk or possibly asthma. We decided just to let it go b/c it really wasn't inhibiting in anyway. Well in the last couple weeks I've noticed it back and it seems worse. Flair ups come when he's worked up, crying of sorts. He seems fine when he's playing hard, running, climbing, etc, but its still there. It's becoming worrisome to me worrying about if it is asthma what happens if he has an attack. But it also could be allergies. It seemed noticeable when the corn was tasseling. Dr Miller will be able to tell us if it's an allergy, asthma or what, and advice us what to do..

Miss A needs an attitude adjustment. She's still doing her spitting and here the last couple of nights she's waking up. Night tares again?? Maybe dreaming that her brother has taken all her dolls. Who knows but maybe something internally isn't lined up right.

I'm going b/c i seem to be having more migraines. All last week i had at least 3! But so far, none this week!? Thinking maybe he can find what's triggering them??I think too i have an allergy to something. And honestly it could be cats C'man and I are allergic too. That baby 'sally' sure is a sweetheart and has worked her way in to our house from time to time.

DH is coming too. Not sure if I'm liking that idea or not. Every time DH comes to Dr's with me he always tries to play Dr himself OR he starts telling Dr about all sorts of things that pertain nothing to what I'm there to talk about. For instance i see him saying why does she seem so uptight about everything. Well gee husband, you stay home with these kids day in and day out, put them to bed, bath them, feed them, listen to the fighting, entertain them and then have you come home sit either on the toilet or the recliner all while the dang dogs bark for food or bring loads of mud/dirt in the house. Oh yes and you wonder why I'm so uptight!!

At any rate i would also like Dr to give DH a little examination. Check for whatever, see what he finds in the man who thinks nothing is wrong with him:)

After our appt we're thinking about heading to Boone IA where there is a train you can ride. Shannan and family did it last week and LOVED it. Friend ShannOn lives there as well. Not sure will be able to hook up but maybe!?

That's the plan for today. Will see how it all plays out. We need to be on the road by 715AM.

Kahula in the coffee please

Oh good golly miss molly! It's only 845AM and already my daughter is having a 15 min tantrum over the dump truck her brother has. I'm sitting here, in our garage:), while the kids play. Not working as planned. Miss A is sitting an arm length away from me, face down, and SPITTING! I'm trying to ignore this behavior but it's becoming more and more difficult. There is another dumb truck sitting within an arms reach of her. Doesn't want it, its old, dirty and just not nice i guess. Oh she's here now, trying to push me out of my chair. Good luck daughter. OK now she's on my lap giving me the sign language for juice. Oh now we're off to the chalk board her brother is now playing with. Lets see maybe i can climb on it, nope not going to work. She just wants what ever her brother has. Oh now we're going to push the board, maybe I'll get a reaction from him by doing this. Oh my what a child she is.
The dump truck has been abandoned now. She is making the escape for it. Brother is drawing on the driveway with chalk. All is quite. I can hear the birds singing and actually no road noise at the moment.
PEACE!! I wonder if i sneak in the house to get my coffee if all hell will break loose.

I love my children dearly. I'm sure we all do, but gosh darn this job of mommy is exhausting. DH said i could go spray weeds in the bean field. Not something i really care to do, but let me tell you, some days i think i would.

It's been just over a year that I've been home with the kids. It has gotten easier but it took me a good 6 months to adjust. I look back a year ago and i was totally struggling with it. Go from working outside the home for 8 1/2 years to in 3 hours becoming a stay at home mom. It was hard. I talked to my friend Shannan at LEAST once/day. Mostly her calling me. I now know why she called every day. She too knew how hard it was going to be.

I don't miss the days of rushing out of the house and then rushing around once home. I do miss the stress and demands of my job and some of the people. I still have the demands, oh do i EVER, just in a different format:)

so yeah, that's what is going thru my mind and vision while i type this. An update would be, both kids are drawing with chalk with a 'tada' coming from Miss A's mouth every time she thinks she has drawn something beautiful. We're all happy for the moment. Guarantee as soon as a publish this all heck will break out again.

Pass the Kahlua someone!

Ya Think I'm Going To Fall For This

Really, you think i'm going to fall for this. This is the 2nd email of sorts that i've gotten. I'm not sure where they got my email address but I wish they'd loose it. I'm not going to share it all b/c after reading this much:
Dear Good Friend.I greet you in the name of the Lord.I am Mrs.Rose John Gomo from Solomon Islands. I am married to Mr. Isaac John Gomo who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he diedon the 19th November 2005. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Ever before his death we were both born again Christians and have sown into many ministries. Since his death I decided not to remarry, but feeling quite lonely if not the Lord who has been my partner and comforter.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $8.5 Million witha Bank in Cote D lvoire. Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in Cote D lvoire. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight monthsdue to cancer problem.
PUHLEASE!! If i'm going to give money or help with a mission it would be Bosom Buddies or the Cherish Center (i'll share more about that in the future!). Do you all get these kind of emails? Oh i forgot to say, there's even a picture but i've decided to not waste my blogging time on it.

Off for an afternoon of shopping with Shannan! Just us girls, no kids!!

Faith As Small As a Mustard Seed

At the request of BFFE, which by the way now has her own blog, I am going to post my testimony that i gave a couple weeks ago. I'm also realizing that God has other plans for me in getting out and sharing this message. If you have a MOPS group, or any event, that needs stories of faith, let me know. My testimony here is very short, well it got kind of long in b/w the sobs of joy of course, but we were supposed to keep it @ 3-5 min. I could expound tremendously if i had had the time. With the help of my Pastor this is what I gave:
My testimony is one of faith that grew through the process God worked in Jeff and my life as we hoped and prayed for a family of our own when it seemed unlikely to happen.
After going through several futile attempts of having a baby naturally we considered adoption. It was always something near and dear to my heart since my sister was adopted. Little did we know that that was how our first child was going to come to us.
I did tell Pastor Sheryl we were going to adopt and the prayers from her and those from family and close friends that knew, began. Those mustard seeds sure took off.
We breezed right thru the adoption process of the home study, interviews, questionnaires, making of our profile book and collecting the references from family, friends, employers and Pastors. I had never felt at such peace as I did when I turned in our profile that prospective birth moms would be looking at. This book held the story of our life from how we met, to our house and what life was like for us. We included important things in our life such as our church, music, farming and our animals. It gave the BM an idea of where her child would be raised and the plans we had for our child. I turned the book in and relied on my faith, that God would place our profile in the hands of the BM He would want for us. This was one of the first times in years that I felt I had given complete faith and trust to God. Maybe it was b/c it wasn’t IF we’d have a child but WHEN.
Within weeks of turning in our profile we were told we had been chosen. WOW the 1 yr wait they told us to plan on was only one month.
Our BM was 6 months along and at our first meeting we hit it off. She was, still is, an amazing young lady who made such a grown up decision. She herself had taken a huge leap of faith and one that was looked down on by many. While we were answering questions of our own from others about the process, she was getting her own set of questions. Like how can you DO this? Don’t you love this child? She would confidently reply that she loved this child but knew she could not provide for him the way another family could. She wanted him to have opportunities in life that she never had, nor ever will.
Not being a Christian herself we really had to make sure we kept God ‘talk’ to a min. and trust that our actions would speak for our faith in God. She couldn’t wait for us to meet her mother saying ‘my mom is going to LOVE you guys and so do I’. At our 2nd meeting we met her mom and hit it off too. It really was just beautiful.
We told her our plans for our son and she smiled with such pride to know that he was going to experience life like she’d never known. Even though she questioned Gods existence she knew that she wanted her son to know who he is.
On December 13th our son, Carson David, was born in to this world. With each push she gave I literally cried to God for strength for her. It was a blessing b/c her labor was quick. I mean REALLY quick. And she did it all without an epidural.
I can not begin to tell you how great our church family was from the moment we told them of our match, lots of clapping and even a few tears, to the first time we brought Carson to church. Joel & Mary Tyler, his Godparents, are true prayer warriors. Apart of the entire process, we appreciated all the silent prayers they offered. Gerane Schneckloth had the most amazing smile on her face the moment she saw us and those smiles still haven’t stopped. The comments of how beautiful our family is and the words of encouragement do not go unnoticed. The church ladies who thru a baby shower for us and all those that attended. That was just amazing. This little mustard seed was in full bloom not only for Jeff and me, but in our families and church family.

Believe it or not, Carson looks a lot like his ‘papa’ Law when he was this age. He and Papa are the best of buds. Checking cows together, fixing fences and eating cookies are just some of the favorite activities for the 2 of themJ I can tell you I’ve never seen Bill happier then when he and Carson are together. I’m sure our church family can attest to that seeing them 2 in person.
Can you see right here how great our God is? What a little testimony Carson is in and of himself?
Just when I thought our mustard seed was flourishing after Carson turning one, I learned God had planted another seed. This one was the surprise pregnancy of ME. You should have seen the amazement when I realized I was pregnant and over 6 weeks at that. Really, this is happening in my life? Listen carefully, statistically speaking, this happens only 3% where you adopt and get pregnant and had been thru what we had. Wow God had me even thinking what the heck.
For the most part, the pregnancy was textbook. Probably the only think in my life that was. Aug 9, 2006 Addison Johanna was born. Our kids are 20 months apart. She is a chip off the ol’ block of her mother I’m afraid. She has a contagious smile and loved to be in charge.
I don’t look back to the years of struggles we had to have our family as dark and sad years, b/c I know that if I didn’t have those years I wouldn’t have the faith and trust in God that I have today. My journey thru infertility is a part of my life. It is who I am and who God made me to be.
The day we were discharged from the hospital with Carson, his BM gave me a special gift. This is what she gave me. It’s a necklace with mustard seeds in it. She had remembered me telling her that I had to have faith as small as a mustard seed. Life is what it is, but in your life it can be so much more when you trust God. This is my testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Imagine laying on the couch watching the Olympics (anyone else becoming an 'O' junkie?) and thinking you see something flutter in front of the screen. But think it must be exhaustion settling in, after all it IS 130AM. You shut the TV off only to realize that something just flew by your head. Holy CRAP it's a BAT!

Before you start thinking oh my GOSH let me say this is what happened to DH, not me! Thank GOD. I was upstairs sleeping peacefully when i heard a horrible racket going on. A combination of thumping and screaming. I started yelling from the bed, upstairs, 'What's going on??'. I'd hear nothing. Eventually i hear 'There's a BAT'.

I carefully slinked down the stairs and peak thru the door to see DH sitting on the couch with a blanket in front of him. The bat was in every room in .1 second I swear. I so wish i could have had the video camera b/c DH's reactions were HILARIOUS! He had the front door open, which leads right outside and one window that doesn't have a screen. The dogs were in the other part of the house freaking out. Climbing the walls and gate to get at it. Eventually DH yells 'I'm out of here' and jumps OUT the front door! We have no porch and he had no shoes. Out he went.

He then went around to the side doors and came in that way where he came armed with bat gear, a tennis racket. EVENTUALLY the bat was swatted with the racket but not before i had 3 dogs tearing thru the house, the neighbors cows started mooing and I'm thinking if the neighbors hear this all going on they are going to for sure call the cops. Ever notice how quite it is outside at 130AM! I sure as heck did.

1hr later we both were in bed. DH came to bed WITH the bat racket. I made him disinfect it thoroughly and asked if he'd please sleep downstairs and be on bat patrol. Didn't fly. I think it was 3 AM before I fell back to sleep. Just when i thought I'm going to fall asleep, I'd start laughing at the nights events. You should here DH scream. He says he doesn't scream but I'm not sure what else to call it. OK he says it's a SHREEK not a scream. Whatever, it was VERY funny.

Last time we had a bat we had 2 in one night and i swear i didn't want to even accidentally touch him for feel he'd whack me with the racket! Last night was no bats, i made DH stay downstairs tho just in case.

Do any of you have a bat story you'd love to share??

Oh and DH asked what I would had done had he not been home? I said call 911!

Post Birthday

Yesterday, Sunday, was Miss A's big party. It was just that too. She got so many great presents and many friends & family came to help celebrate. Unfortunately only Jeff's parents and one niece were able to make it from his side. My niece Katie, and her husband, had their daughter baptized yesterday in Lincoln NE. That only took out Uncle David, Aunt Mary Jo and the lovely Carrie which was to bad, but of course we understand. They did send some great presents, John Deere and Dora, fruit snacks!, book and some $$ What a hit with the kids the fruit snacks were. Heck with the toys they wanted to just eat them and open no more presents.

Speaking of presents, this is a list of what she got:
25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kid
Baby Alive
Graco set which included Pack n play, stroller, high chair, etc and required a lot of the men to put together (haha)
Tutu and boa
PJ's
coloring book, crayons, bubbles
Books
I think that covers it all. She really loved it all but her babies are the biggest hit. She is so in love! We had a Dora cake that was just delicious. No i didn't make or decorate it. I'm hoping some day i can upload pictures so you all can see it.

My sister and niece came down from Minnesota Saturday afternoon. It was fun having them here. I had a mini party at the pool then on Saturday. I made ice cream cone cupcakes. I was pretty impressed with my work. Once again pictures when this freakin Internet is back to 100%. We had fun swimming with everyone and the went out for supper.

C'man stubbed his toe outside Saturday and really did a nasty job of it. I didn't freak and didn't have to call anyone to help. I wrapped it up in a band aide and later that afternoon at the pool it was bothering him. So a lifeguard cut the skin off and things got better. He was like the king. I gave him a piece of candy thinking that would distract him. Nope he wanted to watch what was going on. Later we couldn't find him and after a brief panic by Ruth and I, i found him back in the life guard station getting another band aide and eating candy. Little stinker. I think he loved the attention of the cute life guards!

Both kids are napping now and have been for a couple hours. JoJo and C'man get WAY wild together and combine that with all the partying everyone is exhausted. Miss A doesn't seem to care that shes 2 and unfortunately her attitude hasn't improved, or gotten worse, since turning 2. Terrible two's SCARE me considering what we've been thru already:)