Bubbles

The kids each had some money that they were eager to spend, so I took them all to the store and let them pick out something. It was fun to watch them look at things and ask how much things cost. Bo was pretty disappointed that most of the things he wanted were outside of his price range. A good lesson for him, I think! In the end, they all decided on bubbles of different varieties, and we came home and had a grand time.





Sadie was feeling a little left out!






Bo's colored bubbles were really colorful and he ended up with blue all over him. Thankfully they were washable, but it took a little extra work to get them out of his shorts!

Wacky Hat Day

It's poetry week at school and they have a number of events planned to keep the kids excited about reading and writing poetry. Today was wacky hat day, and this was the number that we put together. The hat was supposed to be reminiscent of a favorite poem or poet.



The poem Bo selected:
I eat my peas with honey;
I've done it all my life.
It makes the peas taste funny;
but it keeps them on my knife.

Man, I love this kid!

He is Risen!

Easter is always an emotional weekend for me. The reality of the sacrifice and the hope of the resurrection is almost beyond comprehension. Even more so now, as I mother my children, I cannot imagine the agony of watching them suffer and die. Oh, how the Father must have ached for his son. I am emotional even thinking about it now!

This is the heart of God's message of love. Without the resurrection, Jesus is nothing more than a man who made a lot of lofty claims. If God cannot conquer death, then what hope do I have?

It is sobering. And amazing.

Seeing my children on stage singing about God's goodness and love always gets me.



This was actually a few weeks ago, but praises from the mouth of babes go a long way in preparing my heart for the truth of this season!



A wooden cross on Calvary,
where Jesus shed his blood for me.


And then, we enjoyed the church festivities on Saturday.

Sadie was happy to munch on some donut holes while the big kids did all the fun stuff!



Pony rides




Ella did not stop smiling the entire time!



Jack freaked out immediately after the picture was taken and had to be removed from the horse.

Bouncy slide




And egg hunting, of course.



The little kids went first.





Then, the little kids were happy to sit and watch while the big kids went looking for eggs.



Jason offered to take some pictures of me with the kids since there always seem to be so few...


...and now I know why!

Yesterday, we just did church early and then we relaxed and enjoyed a really low key day. I did not even get any pictures!!! I had grand plans for some seriously precious Easter dresses and ties [I even have the fabric], but with the craziness of the past few weeks they never became a reality. I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't care what we wore to church yesterday though!

Even today, I keep coming back to these words...

I love thee because thou has first loved me,
and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow,
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus tis' now.
My Jesus, I love thee.

Easter may be over, but the beauty and wonder of the celebration is not!
Praise the Lord!

Better late than never!

A few moments from Jack's birthday. I am still trying to get my mind around the fact that he is THREE!

Noticing his birthday sign and decorations



Donut date with daddy.



Frog cupcakes



Movie and Pizza celebration with our small group



A green truck!



Family birthday dinner and snuggles with Gigi. We were so glad she came up for the celebration!



Presents.

Sadie

I thought it was time for a little update on our Sadie bug. She finished her antibiotics on Saturday so at this point, we're just waiting to see if her fever returns. She seems to be in much better spirits, and it's great fun to watch her play!

Today

Three years ago today, we loaded up a little red headed bundle and came home from the hospital. He wasn't all that excited about the experience. I'm amazed at how I can be back in that moment in an instant! More on his birthday to come, but I couldn't go one more minute without a little love for my THREE year old!



We love you Jack!

Radiology 101

We got a copy of Sadie's x-rays from the hospital showing her pneumonia and infected lung cyst. According to J, Sadie's radiographs are a 'great case' of an infected congenital lung cyst. While we never hoped our kids would be a 'great case' of anything, God has shown himself to us this week and in the last 18 months in amazing ways.

Since J is a radiologist, he thought it would be neat to show off her fancy x-rays and explain them for everyone. This stuff is definitely above my pay grade :) Sadie is on the up and up at this point and has been fever free since yesterday morning, but this is what she looked like earlier this week:


Sadie's frontal chest x-ray on the left and a normal chest x-ray on the right for comparison.

Sadie's lateral chest x-ray on the left and a normal chest x-ray on the right for comparison.

Here is Sadie's frontal view again. Do you see all the junk (white stuff) in her left lung? That's the pneumonia. Just FYI, on x-rays, the patient's left is on the right of the film. The white letter 'R' on the left of the image stands for Right side. The other smaller letters are the initials of the tech that took the exposure.

Here is the same image windowed so you can see the cyst. The cyst is located behind the heart and is barely visible as a small dark circle (black arrows).

Here is Sadie's lateral view. All that white stuff in the posterior lung outlined by the circle is the pneumonia. Back there it should be black (see the normal comparison). Also, there is an air-fluid level marked with arrows. This sign shows there is air and fluid in the cyst, which means the cyst is infected along with the surrounding lung. Sadie was lying on her back when the film was exposed, and the air is layering on the top of the cyst.

Well, that is about it. Maybe I should have titled the post, "Baby Chest X-ray Showing an Infected Congenital Lung Cyst 101."

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers this week.

Truth **Updated**

I'm waiting on a call back from the doctor to figure out if we're going to have to go back and see him today. Clinically, Sadie is a totally different kid, but her fever yesterday afternoon and in the night warranted a follow up call.

**Updated: I just talked with the nurse and she said that unless Sadie's fever spikes again we do not have to come back in to the office!! Yay! It was later in the afternoon that things changed yesterday, so I'm just praying that was the last hoorah for her fever :)

Can you tell she's feeling better?

She really wanted to sit on the back of the couch and look out the window with the big kids. Sometimes I wonder what the people driving by must think as they look up the hill and see three little observers in the window!

In the meantime, the truth from my [brief] quiet time this morning made me giggle with its relevance:

Trust me and don't be afraid. Many things feel out of control. Your routines are not running smoothly. You tend to feel more secure when your life is predictable. Let me lead you to the rock that is higher than you and your circumstances. Take refuge in the shelter of My wings, where you are absolutely secure.

When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for my kingdom. Say yes to the ways I work in your life. Trust me and do not be afraid.

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

"From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I .

For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah

Psalm 61:2-4