Cleaning lady, apply here

I think I need to hire a cleaning lady. 

Honestly, I’m trying to get it all done.  But seriously, it’s hard.  I’m thinking a cleaning lady would help eliminate some of the stress.  For me, I don’t function well on a messy house.  Just how I am.  Stresses me out  more actually. 

Somehow I don’t think my hubby is going to go for the whole cleaning lady thing. 

Any hoo:

This week has been ups and downs.  A bit more “downs” than I would like.

The first “down” started at the start of the week, Sunday night.  Isaac somehow injured his shoulder jumping on the trampoline.  He didn’t fall off or fall on anybody or even fall at all.  Kind of jarred his body enough to cause an injury.  His shoulder ached and he could barely lift it without pain.  We made him suffer through the night Sunday night (of course, by giving him lots of pain medicine—as soon as those wore off though, he was awake and letting us know).  First thing Monday morning I took him to the chiropractor, with the intention of heading to urgent care after that.  The chiropractor said his back was completely locked up and he definitely did something to his shoulder.  She adjusted him and said to come back in the afternoon.  Well, he was really in pain after that adjustment!  Every medical part of my mind (which isn’t much) screamed “Go to the doctor, get an X-ray!”, but my “natural” side said, “Just wait it out.”  It was a battle within me of what to do.  So I did what any good wife would do:  I called my husband to let him decide.  He chose the “natural” approach and said if anything was broken, the chiro would have been able to tell.  True, I thought.  Okay, we’ll wait.

But by the time we got home, Isaac couldn’t take a breath without a sharp stabbing pain in his chest.  Ah! We should go to the doctor! I thought.

I prayed and decided to wait a bit more.  I gave Isaac the most Ibuprofen he could have and waited.  Prayed, waited.  Prayed some more. 

Thankfully, the pain subsided some and he just had the aching.  He was icing it and heating it too. 

We went back to the chiro in the afternoon and explained the pain in the chest.  She felt around and said Isaac had a rib out of place.  As soon as she adjusted that, you could see the relief on Isaac’s face!  Whew!  The shoulder pain was better, but still there. 

Every day it’s getting a little bit better.  We were supposed to go back on Wednesday but another “down” prevented us from going.   But before I talk about that “down,” I must first tell you about the one before that.  (Yes,  multiple “downs.”")

On  Tuesday Isaac (yes, this “down” involves Isaac again, poor kid) had an ENT appointment.  If you remember, he had his tonsils and adenoids out last October.  Well, Isaac has noticed no change in his breathing since the operation.  He still can’t breathe through his nose, wakes up with sore throats every morning and has a “stuffiness” in his nose.  We mentioned this at his six-week post-op check up and they said that he could still be swollen in there and to wait it out.  Well, it’s now May and I think we’ve waited it out a good long time.  No change.

To sum it up, doc said he removed everything that could physically be blocking Isaac’s nose.  The lining of the nose is inflammed and swollen, so he suggested a nasal steroid for 30 days to see if it helps.  He said his educated guess is some system (most likely the nervous system) isn’t sending messages or working properly and this is the reason for not being able to breathe through his nose.  IF the nasal steroid works, to which he assured me the “steroid” does not have any side effects or even go into his blood stream (yeah right), Isaac will have to be on it for the rest of his life.  Well, if he wants to breathe through his nose, he will have to take it for the rest of his life. 

Mommy radar went up big time with that last statement!  What!  I do not agree with being on an prescribed medicine for that long!  What a terrible “sentence” for Isaac!   Not to mention, if you know me at all, I am leery with doctors and prefer to search it out on my own.  I much prefer the natural approach.

We’re trying it for the 30 days to see if it works, and therefore, we’ll know that that is the issue with him, and if so, I will be doing some big-time research into this. 

Not to mention, when we went to fill the prescription, our insurance doesn’t cover the medicine and there is no generic brand.  I casually asked, “Well, how much does it cost?”  The answer blew me away:  $118!  Yikes!  I will NOT be paying that every month!

So that was a couple of “downs” in a row. 

The next one happened driving to soccer practice.  The brakes decided to go out in my van.  Lovely. 

Thankfully, they didn’t completely go out.  I still could “coast” to a stop.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t as simple as just the brakes.  It was something more complicated which HAD to be fixed to the tune of $333.54.  Not exactly what I wanted to spend my last paycheck on…...

So, yeah, it’s been “a week.”  I didn’t even mention how miserable my younger kids are because of the allergies.  I seriously thought Logan was “sick” yesterday, only to find out he’s just miserable with allergies.  Nor did I mention how I was so caught up in the activities of earlier in the week that  I completely forgot about a job that I had been sitting on for two weeks until the reporter called me screaming for it.  That was my first all-nighter, or late nighter I guess would be more accurate.  Tonight I will be pulling another one as I have slacked off due to our 80-degree temps the past three days and I am behind, yet again, with another reporter asking for a job. 

But through this all, I remain positive and grounded in Christ.  I know this life  and the troubles with it are but temporary.   I know my “problems” are nothing compared to others. 

I take all these “downs” and turn them into “ups.”  Isaac’s shoulder, although it was hurt, is healing.  He will be restored to what he was in no time.  I am thankful I know an awesome chiropractor and that is where I turned to.  Better than that, I know an Awesome God who can heal my son!  Our van, although it was costly, is fixed.  I am thankful we were all protected while driving in it that day.  Isaac’s breathing is something I am on a mission to figure out.  I know there has to be a natural approach to this nasal steroid.  I will continue to pray for answers.  And allergies, work deadlines, sleeplessness is just part of our life at this stage.  :)

I challenge you right now to take your biggest “down” in your week and turn it into an “up.”  Look for the positive.  Don’t dwell on the negative.

Blessings.

 

 

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Update:  We also discovered this week that Camden is allergic to sun block.  Breaks out in a burned-like rash wherever it’s applied to his skin.

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.  ~Author Unknown

This is something only a mom can understand.  How true it is.  Whether they have a baby, toddler, teenager, or grown adult child, a mom never stops “holding” their child.  Being a mom is truly a never ending job.  But also the most rewarding job.

 

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ~Washington Irving

Happy Mother’s Day, especially to my own mom, who has always been there for me.  You are an inspiration to me and I love you so!

Stinky boy

As I was buckling Logan into his car seat today, I smelled something “foul.” 

“Oh yuck, was that you?” I asked.

“Mo-om, of course it’s me.  Who else would it be?”

 

Silly me!  I should have known not to even ask!  It was just me and him.

Spring and allergies

I can always tell when it’s spring because Hunter,  our dog, will start itching and shaking his head because his ears are bothering him.  Well, now I have another “tool” to help me gauge springtime:  Camden and his ears!

 

Poor guy has to wear this headband on his head to protect his little ears.  A day outside for him usually results in much ear pain and fluid build up.     :(

Thankfully, up until a few weeks ago, both tubes were still in place.  Then the doc had to remove one of the tubes because Camden was complaining of pain and the tube was completely blocked.  She needed to see the ear  drum to see if it was red or inflammed.  One ear is usually worse than the other, however, last week he perforated the “good” eardrum so now we’re just covering both. 

Besides his ears, this guy is pretty much a wreck outside in the spring air.  Eyes red and itchy, nose running, coughing.  :(

Spring soccer

The 2011 spring soccer season is in full swing for Eli.  And he is loving it. 

Eli is  #41.

Keep Eli in your prayers.  For about a year now he’s been having some low back pain.  He’s been treating with the chiropractor for it, but some days it is persistent and very bothersome.  Soccer games can be a challenge.  Eli does not know what “take it easy” means when he’s playing a soccer game, or he refuses to do it.  He gives it his all when he’s playing and this isn’t good for his back at times.  The chiropractor did finally take some X-rays to make sure  nothing else was going on.  The X-rays showed a twisted spine and some inflammation in the lower discs so she’s focused her adjustments a bit lower than she was just by manipulation.  So far, this has seemed to help Eli, to which I am very thankful.  It’s not fun to see your nine-year-old  barely able to walk because of his back pain.  I continue to pray for God’s healing on his back!  After all, he has many more years of soccer playing to do…..along with football, basketball, and whatever other sport he decides to play!

Blessings!

Aging graciously

“Every year, you will trade a little of your perfect skin and your ability to look great without exercising for wisdom and peace and groundedness, and every year the trade will be worth it. I promise."

 

I love this quote!  It is so true and I thank God for revealing His true grace and wisdom to me, day by day.

Bloggity Update

Do you ever have seasons where you're just putting one foot in front of the other? Where you don't necessarily feel behind but you're not exactly ahead either?

That’s me right now.  Yesterday.  Today.  Last week.  Last month. 

Life is moving very fast for me right now.   I know at least 50% of it has to do with work.  It’s extremely hard to balance work and family.  It’s even harder to balance working at home and homeschooling.   I’m so very thankful I am able to work at home, but it doesn’t mean my days are easy.

Every day I have to seek God to help me with my days.   But still, almost every day I wonder if it’s worth it (the working at home, that is). 

Logan recently asked me what I was going to do at naptime and my answer was, “Probably laundry and work.” 

His reply was simple and to the point:  “Mo-om, you always work.  It’s a nice day.   You should really take the day off.”

In my mind I thought yeah, I would love to do that, but that would put me so behind schedule and I need to stay on schedule. 

Logan went off to play outside more and I went inside to work.

But I couldn’t do it.  His little voice kept echoing in my head, “You always  work….You always work…work…work.”  It hit me hard.  It made me sad.  Was this really how I wanted my kids to remember me?  “Yeah, our mom worked at home, which was nice, but she was always working….every spare minute.”  Because I was.

I quit right then and there.  Turned off my computer, dug out  my flip flops (because it was finally a very nice day) and headed outside to  join my boys.

What a day it was!  We played in the sandbox, went on a walk, played down at the ponds, bounced on the trampoline and had some great talks.  I am so glad I put the work outside for the afternoon. 

And you know what else?  I’ve put the work aside for the weekend too.  We’ve flown kites, gone on many walks, watched movies together.  I’ve even had time to do my new hobby:  beading.

This is my latest:

Turquoise earrings, bracelet and necklace. I won’t lie either—it was hard!

So I apologize for my lack of posts.  I hope I can catch you up with pictures on the past month.

Spiderman has been spotted at our house. 

He is getting too big too fast!

Spiderman????  Or Logan???

We recently discovered that Camden can eat duck eggs with no allergic reaction.  He is THRILLED!  Here he is eating his first ever hard boiled egg.

The baby cow runs around like crazy when the boys walk down by it.  Logan gets kind of freaked out by this, but I keep telling him the cow just wants to play with him.  Camden loves it.