Tuesday, January 17, 2017

January 16, 2017

Today was a holiday.  So basically, an extra Saturday...which is GREAT...but then it messes the entire rest of my week up!  But we got a lot done.  Shopping for Savannah and Felix.  Getting Felix ready for his trip.  Family Time.

Savannah came to spend the night so she could take Caleb to school for me tomorrow since Noah has treatment.

BLESSING: Savannah being willing to help. Having enough, and then some.  LESSON:  Family is what it is all about.

January 15, 2017

Savannah stayed the night last night...tried to get her to come to our ward, but she was like, "Nah."

Baylee finally made it to Sunday School....not sure how she feels about me being her teacher...but if Noah could survive it (the few times he made it), then she can too.

Noah came to church again.  He was set apart for his calling as the priesthood pianist.  Felix said he did a great job.

We talked about optimism and gratitude in Relief Society.  I went on one of my tangents in my brain....I was thinking about how I am an opportunist (hehehehe).  But not just jokingly...I want to take the opportunity to see the good, to see the blessings, to see the joy.  I want to take the opportunity to smell the roses, the buckets of blessings, the Hand of God in my life.  That is the kind of opportunist I want to be.

Julie Thornton came by to deliver something for Caleb and we had a great chat.  I love her.  She is just one of those people that makes my heart smile.

BLESSING:  Julie, Noah and Baylee going to church, all the blessings.  LESSON: Choosing to see the good.

January 14, 2017

Saturday is supposed to be a preparation day, but instead I always feel like I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  We got Noah's radio fixed, got some laundry done...I don't think my kitchen will ever be completely clean.  But we got groceries, and just got stuff done.  That's always nice.

BLESSING: Time and the necessities to accomplish things.  LESSON:  Heavenly Father provides.  When we pray, we need to be ready to get up and go to work.

January 13, 2017

NOAH WENT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!  Most people wouldn't have any idea how huge this is.  But it is huge!  Huger than huge!  I don't think this has happened in a couple of years at least!  He is really trying to do better and be better.  It's really nice to see that he wants to make things go well.

BLESSING: This has come with help from Heavenly Father.  I have no doubt.  No doubt at all.  LESSON:  I can again say, prayers are answered.

January 12, 2017

I've mentioned before how much I hate immunosuppresants.  Baylee isn't supposed to get hers when she is sick.  We didn't know she was getting sick, but she woke up this morning with a horrible sinus infection, which means she was getting sick when she received it.

We also had Caleb's strings concern tonight.  It was awesome!  I love how amazing Miss Looney is and how far she has brought the strings program in just 2 short years!  To be able to have the kindergartners learning...and the combined 6th, 7th and 8th grade orchestra sounding as good as it does is incredible!  I love our school!  It has been such a blessing to our family!

BLESSING: As much as I hate immunosuppresants, I am still grateful for the good it does with Baylee's arthritis (she said she could feel a difference in her joints today).  And I'm grateful for John Hancock Charter School and all of the amazing people who love, teach and nurture the students.  LESSON:  There is beauty all around.  Big and small, the blessings are poured out upon us every day.

January 11, 2017

Today was Baylee's first time back receiving her Actemra for her arthritis.  I hate immunosuppresants...but they are so necessary in her life.  And two and a half months is a long time to go without it when your body is used to receiving it every 4 weeks.

BLESSING: We have the technology and medications to give children a quality of life they wouldn't have had just 20 years ago.  LESSON: That there is good, even in things like immunosuppresants.

January 10, 2017

So we had an appointment today for a security system evaluation...we gave very detailed information about our current system to make sure it was compatible and they could just take it over.  The technician came over, asked one question and said, "It's not compatible."  HAHAHAHA...so much for communication.

We also had a meeting with Baylee's school counselor to set up her schedule for second semester....I hate having to jump through hoops, but it has absolutely been a blessing for her to be able to do half of her school online.  She just can't make it to school enough...she has been too sick.  And fortunately, this option has made it possible for her to stay reasonably up to day (she's a little behind, but summer will allow her to catch up).

BLESSING: There are so many options for education.  LESSON:  We have had to look, ask, be patient, be prayerful and keep Heavenly Father involved...otherwise, none of this would be possible.

January 9, 2017

WHOA!

Everybody went to school!  I know...don't die of shock.  I nearly did.  Even the college kid (but I don't think I'm supposed to count her because she is adulting and everything...but it was her first day of her new semester and I'm going to because I can!).  It has been so long since that has even happened that I just don't even know what to think.

And to top of that juicy little bit of happiness...everyone came home happy!  Miracles are amazing little gems aren't they?  (Hint:  Yes, they are!)

BLESSING:  See above....One of these children was in the hospital last week....I see miracles....miracles everywhere!  LESSON: Patience...some have it, some don't (that would be me).  But I am learning!

Monday, January 16, 2017

January 8, 2017

A Day of Rest

I love Sundays for quiet...at my house things are never REALLY quiet...but this was pretty close.  And Noah came to church...AND he accepted a calling.  It was truly a day of miracles.  I loved it.  So if it wasn't a perfectly quiet day, I'll take the miracles.  That works.  And I was able to renew my temple recommend...and knowing that I'm still worthy for that means everything.

BLESSING:  It was day of miracles.  The LESSON:  Prayers are answered.  Not necessarily on our timelines.  But Heavenly Father and the Savior are aware of us and our needs.  Every single one of them.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

January 7, 2017

We came home from the hospital and Baylee is keeping things down.  Hopefully we will be able to manage that on our own.

My sweet husband had been doing laundry, dishes and cleaning so I could come home to a clean house...the boys were less helpful, but it was a Saturday morning and their favorite time to sleep in.

We were able to run most of our errands before the next storm hit and take a blissful nap.

BLESSON:  With all of the weather we are apparently going to continue getting, I'm extremely grateful for 4 wheel drive and my suburban.  I love my beastie.  I'm grateful it keeps me and my family safe on the crazy roads.  I'm REALLY grateful for the crazy weather.  We have been in a drought for such a long time, we need the moisture.  I hope it continues and we are able to break free of the drought cycle.  Lesson:  There is beauty all around (even in the middle of a snowstorm).

January 6, 2017

Getting up at 5:45 am to go home from the hospital and get the boys up and ready for school was hard enough...walking outside into 3 degree weather, made me want to cry.  I definitely didn't prepare for the weather when I threw my go bag in the car.

It was another day in the hospital...which as weird as it sounds, I'm grateful for.  The doctors are taking no chances.  Making sure that Baylee stays hydrated and keeps food down.

I love that each of the kids has checked in, asked how things are going and when we will be home.  Caleb really just wants to tell me where he is on his video games, but he tries really hard to be polite about it.

BLESSON: So many blessings today.  I'm grateful for modern medicine (always!).  Cars with heaters! Each of my children being safe, especially driving in the cold, crazy weather.  A husband that has the option to work at home and be such an awesome back up and help me by beings in all of the places I can't be.  The Lesson is understanding that Heavenly Father has prepared a way for me.  That I don't have to do it alone...I never have.

January 5, 2017

Baylee hasn't been able to keep solids or liquids down in 24 hours..again.  We were able to get a morning appointment and decided to try new meds.  Unfortunately, it took us a while to track down the meds.  And the meds didn't stay down either.  So back to the hospital we went.

The kids are really, really good about rolling with all of the hospitalizations we have had.  They are handling things pretty well.  I'm very grateful for that.  It makes it easier when I can't be in 20 places at once.

Getting Baylee's IV was rather traumatic though,  8 attempts and it finally ended up in her neck.  That's what happens when you are dehydrated...you're veins are non existent.  She handled it fairly well.  But it was extremely painful.

BLESSON:  I'm grateful that my kids are adaptable.  I'm grateful for IV fluids.  I'm grateful for medications that can help her not throw up for a while.  The lesson is leaning to listen to the prompting of Spirit to go and do what I am asked to do WHEN I am asked to, instead of waiting for the Spirit to yell at me.  That happens a little more often than it should.

January 4, 2017

To have a mostly quiet day is a thing of bliss and beauty.

We got Savannah finished moving into her new apartment (mostly...is it every REALLY done?).

Baylee has started throwing up again...hopefully it will pass quickly.

Felix and I did our temple recommend interviews with the Bishop tonight.  It was a great reminder of all of the blessings from last year.  All of the things that got us through 2016.  I'm grateful for such a man as him as the Bishop.

BLESSON: So many blessings today.  I'm grateful I'm worthy to attend the temple.  I'm grateful we have enough.  I'm grateful for the gospel.  I'm grateful for peaceful days.  The lesson in everything is learning to recognize what is around me.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

January 3, 2017

This will likely be a recurring theme (although I can always dream!), but I am so grateful for our doctors.  OUR DOCTORS....the ones we have developed relationships with, that know us, know our needs and LISTEN.

I'm grateful that Noah is getting the care he needs and that Savannah is getting treatment and care. While we figure out her very, very, VERY weird airborne anaphylactic reaction, the doctors in our life LISTENED!  And took it seriously.  I know so many people who don't have the blessing in their life...and where we spend so much time at the doctor, I can tell you what a huge difference that makes.  I have such a sense of peace that we were guided to the medical professionals that we needed to have in our lives.

BLESSON:  The blessing is our doctors.  The lesson is learning to listen to the prompting of the Spirit.  And for one as stubborn as I, that can be a tremendously difficult lesson to learn.

January 2, 2017

And then it snowed, and snowed and snowed.

Today I am incredibly grateful we made it everywhere we needed to be safely!

I think snowpocalypse may have started.  The weather is predicting snow for 10 days...I don't know if it will actually happen, but it if does...today was just the beginning.  We started moving Savannah into her new apartment, the weather wasn't great and we had to move the big items.  But we managed to avoid big streets and arrive safely.  Everyone made it to and from work safely and that's what really matters.

BLESSON:  I had to pick Savannah up from work, take her to her old apartment to show it.  Even though I was really, really, really tired...I am grateful I was given the strength necessary to be where I was needed (and where I felt like I needed to be).  The lesson is that there is no shame in asking for help...at any age.

Monday, January 2, 2017

January 1, 2017

January 1, 2017
I Lost a Little Mojo

2016 was a rough year.  Not because all of the celebrities that died (which, although sad, the majority of people out there didn't know them personally...I grieve for their families...but it's a change in culture...not a personal loss...so everyone can please get a grip now).

But back to me.  2016 was a rough year for my family.  And while I was still grateful, and we saw SO MANY MIRACLES, I wasn't pointing out the gratitude and the miracles like I had in years past. And I need to.  I WANT to.  Because it makes me a better human.

We ended up at the doctor and the ER on Day 1 of 2017.  Not exactly where we wanted to be, BUT there are blessings!!!  And I'm grateful!

I'm grateful that we have access to medical care 24/7/365.  So many places don't.  And while we struggle with health issues, we are able to receive the care that allows us to LIVE and survive.  The illnesses we have in our family would be terminal in many places of the world.

BLESSON (the blessing in the LESSON):  The lesson is patience.  I think that will be a recurring lesson.  It usually is.  I really suck at it...but I will get there.  But the blessing, is that Heavenly Father has provided me with angels (heavenly and earthly) to help me on this journey towards patience.