Shriners Hospital

I love you sweet Doll!
Psalm 139: 13-18
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you

Shriner's Hospital was AMAZING!!! I can't think of any better word to sum up our experience today. The staff, the facility, the Shriners... It's the whole package. We received excellent care and left feeling very encouraged. The Doll was medically diagnosed with Amyoplasia which is described via Wikipedia "as a generalized lack in the newborn of muscular development and growth, with contracture and deformity at most joints. It is the most common form of arthrogryposis." We were pretty confident this is what she had but it was made certain today. The doctors did not sugar coat her condition but gave us great hope for her future. She has already amazed us by her determination and will, but they told us to buckle our seat belts because we would be blown away by what she will accomplish. She was so brave and never let on that she was afraid. She was poked and stretched and handled it all like a pro. She will begin her treatment right away. She is scheduled for surgery in about six months and will be in new braces within a couple weeks. The good news is, Libbie's condition won't progress or worsen as she gets older. I got a little choked up today when I thought about where were were just a few short months ago... We were 8,000 miles from home, alone, (no good food to be found), with what seemed like the weight of the world on our shoulders. Today, almost four months later everything was put in perspective. We had never heard of arthrogryposis nor did we know if her condition would progress. Our fears were real fears, big fears, crippling fears... how can we afford this, how will we care for her daily needs, how will we be able to keep up with her therapy, how will Hoot feel about all of this???? God knew. He wasn't caught off guard or surprised by her condition. He knew she was our daughter and that HE would provide and meet all of our needs. I was so thankful to have her in our family and so proud of her for her courage. I hate what she has been through already and know that she has a lot ahead of her. I thought about the upcoming surgeries and then her past surgeries in China. I hope that someone cuddled her close when she came out of anesthesia. I'll never know her past, but I am positive that she will be held and loved through everything to come. I sound like a broken record, but I thank God for her and what He is revealing to us through her!

I QUIT~

Really... I quit my job... it's even hard to type those words. I mentioned a while back that I had been wrestling with God and he was going to do something big in our life. I struggled over the issue of working or staying at home with the littles. About three weeks ago I discussed the idea with my employer and a week later finally decided my heart truly was at home and I needed to give it all up. I wasn't passionate about my work and hadn't been for a long time. I enjoyed what I did, but I certainly wasn't working as if unto the Lord. I wanted desperately to be a SAHM. I envied all of you wonderful moms that are able to stay at home and raise a family. Hoot has asked me daily why I had to work away from the home. I know its where I need to be but it's hard to give up all I've known for the last 20 years. I've been with my current employer for 13 years!!! Where did the time go? In the end the fear of looking back in 10 years and regretting not being at home when I had the chance out weighed the benefits of working outside the home. So... we may be living in a van down by the river soon... but I'll be with my children in the van! I assume I'll start clipping coupons sooner rather than later and my ebay/craigslist days are probably over! I know that God will provide for our family. On another note we're super excited that tomorrow we'll be visiting the amazing Shriner's hospital with the Doll and hopefully begin her therapy in the near future. We know she's got a long road ahead of her with a rigorous schedule of treatments! This was another contributing factor for me to be at home. So... I am officially a SAHM!!! Yeah for me! AND... were in the full throws of summer. VBS kicked off tonight and will run through the week.

Hoot is having a ball with his friends... this year he's even singing!!!


The Libster enjoyed tonights kickoff and notice THE DRESS... Thank you Dawn and Lucy... She loves it and even said "Lucy's dress" when we put it on:)


We spent this afternoon in Galveston. We built sand castles, buried the Doll,

and I even got in the water... seaweed and all... I've said before I detest the bay water and today we experienced why... Hoot came running out of the water flailing his arms about exclaiming something was stinging his (you know what!!) I told him to run to Dad to check it out. We're not sure what it was but there was some sort of tiny sea creature affixed to the most tender part of his little body!!! I rinsed him with fresh water, picked the creature off, checked the rest of his trunks for sibling sea creatures (there were none)and Hoot and I did NOT go back in the water. We'll be sticking to pool water from now on I assure you. HOWEVER.... a sweet neighbor friend purchased a blow up pool for the kiddos this week and brought it over to our house. She and her son came over for a swim so I lathered up the kiddos and stuck them in the pool. They played and splashed for a good hour. It was about time to get out and I noticed the pool water was cloudy and a little brown (you know where this is going). I snatched Libbie up to towel her off and there it was... diarrhea running all out of her swim diaper. It never occurred to me that the children were swimming in poo... I was mortified. Why didn't I think there was something wrong with the brown water?? I even said out loud... "you kids are filthy, look how dirty the water is" But they kept right on swimming. We drained the pool and dowsed it with bleach. I just knew they would all have the stomach bug. The boys were scuba diving with their goggles and snorkels.


The culprit!!!

I can only imagine what my sweet neighbor was thinking. Her poor son!! So I'm not sure the pool water at my house is any safer (or cleaner) than the bay water! I'm off to bed, but first I'm going to Google Galveston Bay tiny, stinging sea creatures...

My Baby Daddy

I couldn't go without posting about the father in our house. My beloved Lambert. Big Daddy, Baba... I wasn't fully prepared for what an awesome daddy Lambert would be. He is the quintessential mother hen... i often feel inadequate as a mother when he over prepares, protects, plans etc. He is the most thoughtful father as well. Lambert's chief duty in our home is FUN... He is the fun dad and I am the hammer. When he gets home from work it's game time. He doesn't get a moments rest until the littles are put to bed. He's the entertainer the, the tickler, the wrestler and ultimate softy. But he's strong too. He's a protector and provider. He's a planner, always looking out for them. The littles have his heart tightly wrapped around their tiny fingers. If something ever happened to me, I know these two kiddos would be well taken care of. I love to watch him in action. He is tender and loving. He'll wipe away tears with a kind whisper of encouragement. He lights up their faces when he walks in the room. Lambert is sincere and thoughtful. Hoot watches his every move and wants to be just like his daddy. The Doll is absolutely smitten with him... he can do no wrong.. except kiss mommy. She'll yell from across the room... "Hey Stop DAT!!!" if he steals a kiss or hug from me in the kitchen. He always has time for his children, even when there are a million things on his to do list. He makes time. Lambert is a faithful, honest man that loves the Lord and leads our family with integrity and love. He's human and makes mistakes just like the rest of us, but he's pretty close to perfect in my eyes. I love you Lambert and so do your kiddos. Thank you for being such a blessing in my life.






China was difficult for Lambert. One little in particular wouldn't let him out of sight and the other was terribly jealous and I was NO help at all... He's a trooper.




she was all smiles after the baby whisperer was done with her...

I love you honey. You're one incredible daddy.

Dad

My dad is a pretty amazing dad and an even better papa. My dad can do anything with his hands. He can make anything run, build a bathroom, kitchen, barn, fence, garden tire swing... you name it.. he can make it happen. A lot of people think their dads are the smartest, strongest men alive when they are young and when they grow up they realize their dads are not all they thought. I still think my dad is pretty darn smart. Lambert gets mad at me all the time because I'll ask him to do/build/fix something and he'll say it can't be done. Now it's a joke. He'll say, "why don't you call your dad!" My dad is a real hot head too. I think that's where I get it. I think. I KNOW for certain that's where Hootie patootie gets it. They even have the same mad face. Hoot adores his Papa T. and tells me often he'd like to be up at the farm. My dad retired years back and made his way back near his childhood town in Indiana. I think that's where he is supposed to be. He's found peace and calmness there with MANY thanks to Granna. I think she makes life pretty special for him. I've said before I'd like to be there too. I could use some serenity. We'd probably drive each other crazy. But I'd like to be there. Near dad. I wish he could drop by to build something for me or just hang out. We laugh a lot when were together... I mean pee your pants laugh til it hurts... We mainly laugh about my childhood and his way of parenting. I had a pretty strict dad with some kind of temper, but he always loved me. I have some amazing memories and a WHOLE lot of funny stories. We (my sister and I) didn't have a "Leave it to Beaver" upbringing, but we had some great times and looking back, we had it pretty darn good. He's gotten A LOT softer in his old age (he's not that old). He lead me to the Lord (out of shear fear but never the less to The Lord). He helped me pick out my dress for the 8th grade dance and he instilled in me a "we don't fail, step up to the plate" attitude. I knew he loved me even when I disappointed him. I hated to disapoint him and still do. He drives me crazy and I drive him crazy when I don't answer my phone! (this happens often)Okay I'm stopping this sentimental walk down memory lane before Hoot asks me why I'm crying all over the computer...

Happy Fathers Day Dad. I love you and so does the rest of the gang!







Does it get any better??


I love you Dad!

Indiana Dreaming ...Again

Several times a year I get the bug to go (move) to Indiana! I start looking at Realtor.com dreaming of a small farm or maybe a little cottage on the lake or how about a cute place right on main street. I envision the littles running barefoot through the grass and playing with their Old Order German friends. It's such a pure way of life. OR at least in my mind it is. We usually head to the grandparents farm around mid July and stay a few days. I even love the drive to Indiana. As we get closer and closer I get the butterflies. The only other time I've had the butterflies and still do sometimes is when I met Lambert. SO... Lambert and Indiana have the same affect on me. I often wonder if we actually lived there if the romance would go away. I think not. Like I said Lambert still gives me butterflies 25 years later. (we met when I was 12... you do the math)My Dad says, "just do it... sell everything, quit work and move". I so wish it was that easy. Instead I pray. If that's where God would have us, then it will happen. I've even looked at colleges up north for the kiddos. Maybe someday... Oh maybe someday. Until then... I'll be Indiana Dreaming



















































Thanks to these two for making our Indiana summer experiences all that I dream of!! Can't wait to come again!