A Lifetime of Love

Before I begin, let me just tell you that Th's favorite channel on television is Food Network. He especially loves to watch Ultimate Recipe Showdown, and every night before bed, he is allowed to watch it if he a) had a good day at home/school and b) took a nap. I was up late last night for moral support for TJ . He has some Microsoft tests he has to take, and he took one yesterday and has another one scheduled on Friday. Anyway, he was up late working on homework and needed some computer help. He asked me for assistance, and I offered to stay up with him in case he ran into some more difficulty (it was with Excel, not anything to do with hardware). He said, and I quote, "You're the Excel expert." And I am because of my military training. Crazy, huh. I joined the A.F. to work on airplanes yet I left being an expert on Excel. It's because I created spreadsheets to track different aircraft tools and equipment more efficiently, and you know the saying, you learn by do...

My sis made it late last night with Kaylee. She (my sis) seems to be doing okay considering what she is facing. I spoke to her on Thursday and could tell she was very distraught and trying her best to keep it together, at least until after seeing her husband Paul off on Saturday. I called her about 3:30 yesterday to see where she was. She hadn't left yet. She was at the Marine base until about 1 with P. and was so emotionally drained she went home to nap before driving here. I can't say I blame her. . . I had difficult sleeping Friday night. I kept thinking about her. I experienced a similar situation with Carole the days leading up to Joseph's birth. I really, honestly, with all my heart believe that times like that, the Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray. So I did. I just kept trying to put myself in my sister's place. The fear she must be facing, the uncertainty . She was telling me everything P. is going to be doing in Iraq, and I must say, he will be facing death...

I am still brought to tears when I read the account of Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross. I am still brought to tears as I read the prayer for me, for all believers, He prayed before His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 17:20-26). Yet, above all that, I am deeply saddened that so many people of this world do not know Christ as Savior. Even worse, in my opinion, are those who claim to be children of God yet the focus of their Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is on a rabbit, eggs, and baskets of candy. Why? What is the point? It was Christ who died for the sins of the world, not a rabbit. In our family, we bake Easter cookies to provide a more concrete understanding of the importance of the empty tomb (see recipe below). We don’t do baskets, egg hunts, or candy unless they are given as a gift from a family member. My kids received “Easter” cards yesterday in the mail and Th said, “It’s not my birthday. Why did _____ send me a card with a bunny on it?” I smiled inside and thanked th...

I'm applying what I've been learning from my bible study (I lead a bible study with some friends of mine). This week's topic: being thankful for ALL things, even the bad. So, Th finally was well enough to return to school today after missing a week. However, I had Ta and T.G. at the doctor yesterday. T.G. has an ear infection so she was put back on oral antibiotics in addition to the antibiotic ear drops I am already giving her. Last night, I started with a sore throat and ear aches and Ta started with a fever. I rushed him to the doc so a flu test could be given within the 48-hour time period. Guess what- it's not the flu. It's strep throat! Since T.G. is already on an antibiotic, I'm not too concerned about her. I am concerned for myself and Th since his immune system is still weak from just getting over the flu. I have a regularly-scheduled OB appointment in the morning so I'll just deal with the soreness until then. All this with TJ out of town at Micros...

Well, Th's fever hit 102.5 yesterday afternoon. He did so well all morning, and when we went to pick up the other 2 from preschool, he was excited at the prospect of eating out for lunch. But, when we got to the restaurant, he had lost his appetite and just wanted to get home. He didn't eat 1 bite for lunch and napped for 3 hours. The good news- he hasn't had a fever since, and he only woke up twice last night coughing. Ta and T.G. have their well-visits today so I am going to talk to my doc about Th. I am trying my best to keep him "resting" on the couch, but when he has good moments, it's very difficult. That's what happened yesterday. He felt fine in the morning and then crashed in the afternoon. Who knows what's going on with him! I called a friend of mine who used to be a pediatric nurse to solicit her opinion about his fever. She seems to think he has a strain of the flu virus, and I agree with her. There is no way his allergies alone are causin...

T.G. has an ear infection, but thankfully her tubes are working properly so the infection is draining. Th has been sick since last Wednesday. He woke up with a headache, but after some Tylenol, he was well enough to attend school. His teacher said he was fine while there, but when I got home after my afternoon class, he was burning up. He's been running a fever between 101 and 102 since. He has a terrible cough, and vomits from coughing so much. I had him at the doctor on Friday, and the doctor said it was a combination of allergies and a virus. I had never seen that particular doctor before, and I didn't really care for him. I did what he advised and put him back on his allergy meds, and it's helped to loosen everything up, but he's still running a fever. I called the doctor back today and am still torn as to whether I will make him an appointment. Ta and T.G. have their well-visits in the morning, so I may just have my regular doctor take a look at Th while I'm th...

Being pregnant and sick has allowed me to lose at least 4 pounds this past week. Plus, I still don't really have much of an appetite, although I did "splurge" yesterday as we celebrated Ta's and TJ's birthdays. Yesterday began with breakfast at Dunkin Donuts. I love this place, yet nausea limited me to only 1 donut and then regretting it the rest of the day (because I felt worse, not because of it being junk food!) I ate 1/2 a sandwich for lunch, and then we went to Red Lobster for dinner (TJ's choice- Ta's birthday dinner is Thursday night. We switched them because where Ta wants to go, kids eat free on Thursdays). Again, nausea limited me to 1 cheddar biscuit, 3/4 of my salad, 8 shrimp scampi, and 4 fries from Th's plate. I forced myself to eat birthday cake when we got home so I didn't hurt anyone's feelings, but I was stuffed. Today, I had a small handful of pretzel sticks (the small ones), 1/2 of a sandwich, and a cup of tea. I'm just ...