Around this time of year, the word thankful seems to be on the tip of everyone's tongue. It's wonderful to have a day set aside to give thanks. But should we NEED a day set aside to give thanks? I know I shouldn't. I have so much. Materially, relationally. I am so incredibly blessed and I don't know why I fail to be thankful. Instead, I want newer or better things (clothes, phones, cars, whatever). I want more things. I want Morgan to stop screaming when she doesn't get her way, when I should be grateful that she's not screaming from hunger. I want Will to listen to me the first time (or the fourth!!) when I should be grateful that he has hearing (even if he chooses not to use it). I have the love of an incredible man, yet I get snippy when he doesn't do something exactly the way I would.
Lord, please heal my selfishness. Please help me to look at each person as YOU look at them. Please help me see situations as opportunities to learn and to be grateful. Please help me be thankful...today and every day.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
So Uncreative...but updates on us!
I wish I was better at keeping track of our life with witty stories and funny quotes. However, I'm not, so here's the rundown on the last few weeks.
Morgan was sick again. We were convinced it was her ears, but it turned out to be "something bacterial", likely strep throat. FINALLY, now that she's on day 4 of Zithromicin, she's getting back to her normal, sassy, funny, stubborn self. I'd like to put her in a bubble so she wouldn't get sick again! She's developed an obsession with the Wiggles, overtaking Mickey Mouse and causing Eric & I to decide to sell the tickets to Playhouse Disney Live that we purchased last summer. I think we made a good decision as life for Miss M is all about Greg, Anthony, Jeff & Murray these days, not Mickey & Minnie. To spare our sanity we went to the library on Saturday in hopes of finding some additional Wiggles dvds. Thankfully there were some, so we were saved from another day of Toot, Toot or Top of the Tots over and over and over and....
Eric has a new toy! We LOVE it. A little over a year ago, he traded in his nice big truck (a Sequoia) for a 2009 Maxima. It was totally redesigned and very cool but proved to be more of a sports car than a "family truckster". So we went to our dealership (Jim Miller Nissan - I cannot say enough GOOD things about them) just to see what we might be able to work out without much change to our budget. We walked away with a one owner 2005 Pathfinder that was fully loaded. We are thrilled! Eric & I love it and the kids now much prefer the "truck" to mom's van. We're glad to have 4x4 for these Iowa winters as well. He's gotten lots of use out of it lately as he's been running the kids back and forth to school while I tackle the closing week that won't end :). He's also started his new job and it's going slowly through that phase where you are meeting people and learning but at least it's not A350, right hon?! :)
Will is doing well in school and loving reading. He's reading at a second grade level and can frequently be found with a Junie B Jones or Star Wars book. We had a great time at his school carnival a few weeks back - winning all kinds of "fun" stuff - rubber balls, tattoos, tootsie rolls and bottles of PowerAde and Pepsi at the ring toss. Will has avoided the sickness so far at home and school but his eyes and knees are giving him fits again. The methotrexate really never worked for him so the next step is for him to go on an injected medication (yes, that means I have to give him a shot) called Humira. It's a class of drugs called TNF inhibitors that has shown great promise in treating JRA patients. We're praying and doing research as we discuss the pros and cons of this medication for him. The choice if we do nothing or continue on the current path is certain joint damage...some of which is already beginning. When we compare this to other situations that we know of - children having surgery, facing cancer, or other situations, we feel blessed. But this isn't a decision we take lightly. His eyes are also involved again, so he's back on eye drops 4 times a day. I was also grateful that he got his H1N1 shot at UIHC yesterday!
As for me, I just try to keep up with the munchkins, meet deadlines at work, spend time with my sweetie, and cook a somewhat healthy meal once in a while. I did get a cool new phone and have had fun being a geek with it ;). Eric & I are both looking forward to a few days off at Thanksgiving (we'll be in Des Moines with my family), a long weekend in Chicago in mid-December and a week and a half off over Christmas.
Morgan was sick again. We were convinced it was her ears, but it turned out to be "something bacterial", likely strep throat. FINALLY, now that she's on day 4 of Zithromicin, she's getting back to her normal, sassy, funny, stubborn self. I'd like to put her in a bubble so she wouldn't get sick again! She's developed an obsession with the Wiggles, overtaking Mickey Mouse and causing Eric & I to decide to sell the tickets to Playhouse Disney Live that we purchased last summer. I think we made a good decision as life for Miss M is all about Greg, Anthony, Jeff & Murray these days, not Mickey & Minnie. To spare our sanity we went to the library on Saturday in hopes of finding some additional Wiggles dvds. Thankfully there were some, so we were saved from another day of Toot, Toot or Top of the Tots over and over and over and....
Eric has a new toy! We LOVE it. A little over a year ago, he traded in his nice big truck (a Sequoia) for a 2009 Maxima. It was totally redesigned and very cool but proved to be more of a sports car than a "family truckster". So we went to our dealership (Jim Miller Nissan - I cannot say enough GOOD things about them) just to see what we might be able to work out without much change to our budget. We walked away with a one owner 2005 Pathfinder that was fully loaded. We are thrilled! Eric & I love it and the kids now much prefer the "truck" to mom's van. We're glad to have 4x4 for these Iowa winters as well. He's gotten lots of use out of it lately as he's been running the kids back and forth to school while I tackle the closing week that won't end :). He's also started his new job and it's going slowly through that phase where you are meeting people and learning but at least it's not A350, right hon?! :)
Will is doing well in school and loving reading. He's reading at a second grade level and can frequently be found with a Junie B Jones or Star Wars book. We had a great time at his school carnival a few weeks back - winning all kinds of "fun" stuff - rubber balls, tattoos, tootsie rolls and bottles of PowerAde and Pepsi at the ring toss. Will has avoided the sickness so far at home and school but his eyes and knees are giving him fits again. The methotrexate really never worked for him so the next step is for him to go on an injected medication (yes, that means I have to give him a shot) called Humira. It's a class of drugs called TNF inhibitors that has shown great promise in treating JRA patients. We're praying and doing research as we discuss the pros and cons of this medication for him. The choice if we do nothing or continue on the current path is certain joint damage...some of which is already beginning. When we compare this to other situations that we know of - children having surgery, facing cancer, or other situations, we feel blessed. But this isn't a decision we take lightly. His eyes are also involved again, so he's back on eye drops 4 times a day. I was also grateful that he got his H1N1 shot at UIHC yesterday!
As for me, I just try to keep up with the munchkins, meet deadlines at work, spend time with my sweetie, and cook a somewhat healthy meal once in a while. I did get a cool new phone and have had fun being a geek with it ;). Eric & I are both looking forward to a few days off at Thanksgiving (we'll be in Des Moines with my family), a long weekend in Chicago in mid-December and a week and a half off over Christmas.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Trick or Treat
Thankfully, we had all recovered enough for Trick or Treating on Saturday night. The weather was cool but clear and the kids had a great time!
Karen did such a great job on the costume!! We LOVED it!
Will loved his fighter pilot suit and was insisting we call him "Maverick"! 
Empty bowl....time to go in!
Oink, Oink Round 2
75% of us were hit. I got it Wednesday and Eric had it Wednesday night/Thursday. Morgan still wasn't feeling the best so Eric, Morgan, & I were home Wednesday and Thursday. FINALLY, Morgan turned the corner on Thursday/Friday and when Will was home because of a day off of school on Friday we were able to have some fun, going to Target, dancing to the Wiggles and taking Eric lunch. I think we're all done with this round and hoping there isn't any more YUCK going around!!
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