Project 365 Catch Up (its been a long week)

Feb. 25th:This is our crazy little dog Raisin. Don't ask me what she is because we really don't know but we do know that she is a great dog that loves all of us. She loves us so much this is her usual position because she always wants her tummy rubbed!

Feb 26th: This is a new Frenship Tiger sticker Zach got for us to take place of our old Shallowater sticker. Hayden made sure we got it on the car. I am so glad that their transition to Frenship has gone so well.

Feb 27th: This little one is Pyxie. Trust me, I used to think that people that owned pets like rats were weird so I guess we fall in that category of weird now. She is one of the coolest pets ever. We got her for Hayden about 8 months ago. We love her.

Feb 28th: Hayden is such a good keeper of his rat. He did one of his chores today, cleaning out Pyxie's cage. Hayden is such an animal lover. His future plans he tells us, is to be a veterinarian.

My picture taking suffered a little this week with a busy work schedule and the sickness of my friends daughter. I am happy to report that she is out of PICU and doing a lot better. Thanks for all your prayers. One thing this week has reminded me of is just how important all the boys in my house are to me. In turn I have thought of how much the Lord must love each one of us and the faithfulness I have in him.

"Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord." Psalm 117:1-2

Thanks for the Prayers

Just a quick update on my little friend, Annalyssia. Many of my co-workers and I spent the day @ the hospital with her and her family. As it turns out she did have a pleural effusion(puss behind her lung) that had to be cleaned out by a surgical procedure (VATS procedure), rinsed out well and chest tube put in place. She was placed in the PICU for precautionary reasons but is doing much better. Her respiratory status is much better. She will be staying in the hospital for 5 days up to 2 weeks. Continue your prayers as she is still struggling with high fever and that the antibiotics work quickly to clear up her infection. Thanks!

Need The Prayers Going!

A very dear friend and co-worker of mine, Lisa, is a single mom that is doing an awesome job raising her 2 kiddos. Her little one, Annalyssia, came down with the case of the flu last Thursday. She had a really long weekend with her because she felt so bad. I get a call from Lisa last night that her little one was running a 104.6 temp. She was able to get it down around 102 and got her back in to see the doctor this morning. She got the news that she didn't want to hear, pneumonia that would require a hospital stay for a few days. However, tonight she gets the news that it is possible that she has a pleural effusion (puss around her lungs) that would require a "vats procedure" which would include an ICU stay and a chest tube! She will have a chest X-Ray in the morning so please pray that it is not the pleural effusion, just regular pneumonia. This is a scary time for this 6 yr-old and her family!

Day 55 ( My day 8)

Feb 24th:Zach 1st day of baseball practice. He was a little tired because the coaches at school ran them hard, then he had tutoring until 430 and then we had to be at practice by 530. He was a little tired and exhibiting his pre-teen attitude. Hopefully today will be better.

Caught Hayden doing his favorite thing after school to do, play games on the computer. He really likes www.eskimogames.com to find fun games to play. Did you notice the nice haircut?

Day 54 (my day 7) She Is Going To Kill Me For This

Feb 23rd: On my way to work, I realized I hadn't taken a picture today so I took my camera with me. This is one of my co-workers that I caught off guard and she is going to kill me for this!

Day 53 (my day 6) Welcome to Mom's Barber Shop

Feb 22nd: Today was a big day for Hayden. After church, one of Hayden's teachers in the children's dept., Steve, approached us to let us know that he had gone over the ABC's of becoming a Christian. Hayden answered all the questions correct and prayed the prayer to become one of God's own. We could not be happier. I had a feeling it was coming because he sure had been asking a lot of questions. So to celebrate I gave him a "I am saved haircut." We are working through a book to make sure he knows whats what and then we will be planning a baptism. We will let you know when. Peace to you all.

Day 52 (my day 5)

Feb21st: Well, for pretty much the whole day we waited around for this, Zach's baseball try-outs. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that time again. Zach moves up to the 14U group this year with the big boys. He is so ready. Not wrestling this year has left him with some free time. I think he really enjoyed the break, but I think he is starting to get a little restless and ready to do something. It was pretty cold by the time we got done but it was one of the warmer try-outs I have been to. Unfortunately for you guys, you will get to see a lot of baseball pictures so settle in for the ride. See ya tomorrow.

Day 51(my day 4) Oh, Baby

Feb 20th: Yes that is probably what it looks like. I attended my works "Skills Fair" today after working all night. So if this post is a little bizarre it is probably from the lack of sleep. This is my co-worker Kim demonstrating how to care for an infant after a precipitous delivery (baby coming out really fast with just u and no "Doc" to be helping you out). Yes, this is part of my life, women's services. Been in some form of women's or children's services since I graduated nursing school. I love it!

Day 50(my day 3)

Feb 19th: This is a wedding present I got today for my nephew Cole and his wonderful bride-to-be, Lynn. They are getting married this Saturday in Midland. Due to some unfortunate scheduling issues we are not going to be able to go. Trust me, this is one wedding I didn't want to miss. This couple is something else. They are two of the most genuine and happy folks I know. I know these two will have a blessed union because they place Him before anything else. I love these guys and wish them a long and happy marriage.(I had to add a picture of them that I stole from my sister, Carol's blog so you could get a look at this great couple.)

"A good marriage is the union of two forgivers." -Ruth Graham

That is Lynn and Cole, two forgivers in the image of Christ

Day 49(my day 2)

Feb 18th: I took this picture while we were sitting at a red light as I was taking the boys to The Heights for their respective youth groups. This is Zach's life line although he does a lot of texting most is to just a few people one of those being me. Since I do work nights I like for him having this because we can communicate much more easily than if I had to stop and talk on the phone.

Day 48(or day 1 for me)

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Feb 17th: My friend Darla has been doing this project 365 thing (taking a picture and discussing it each day of the year). It looks like fun so I have decided to give it a try. Yesterday was my first day so here is my picture. This is Hayden as I am picking him up from school. He was smiling. What you can't tell is that the wind is blowing 100mph but at least the dirt wasn't blowing too.

Mold Becoming A Pest

In today's Lubbock AJ an article appeared about some of the 5th and 6th grade classrooms having to be closed due to a discovery of mold at the Shallowater Middle School. It is not know if it is the toxic form or not but it was stated that individuals can have an allergy to it. What I am wondering about is if this is the reason Zach had so many issues with his asthma while he attended school there earlier this school year? Since moving schools he has not had one episode with his asthma. I guess we should always be aware of or surroundings especially mold in all of our homes and places of business, It appears to be a continuing problem for everyone.

Before And After

BEFORE

(very Mountain Man)

AFTER
(The handsome man I married)

For some reason my crazy husband, Shawn, got a wild hair(LOL) and decided to trim up today. Trust me, not that I am complaining. My kids and I so prefer him this way. He is so handsome when I can half-way see his face. Hope he stays this way. He even made the comment, "If something happens and I die this week you can now have and open casket so you won't be embarrassed." He is so dramatic! Whatever.

The Face Of The Flu

My poor Zach has been ill all week. This past Monday morning he asked if he could stay home from school because he wasn't feeling well. The answer was of course was no. That afternoon when I picked him up he was dragging. When I asked him if he wanted to go get something to eat I expected the usual answer of YES!. However, the answer I got was, "Can I just get a smoothie. I don't feel well." After we got home he finished his smoothie, looked me and said, " I'm not doing my homework because I am not going to school in the morning." He walked in his room and went to bed. He stayed asleep for the rest of the night.

The next morning we went to see our trusty pediatrician, Dr. Klepper. He did the wonderful nasal swab and back he came with the news, Influenza A. Ordered some major cough medicine for him and said no school for a couple of days. It turns out he did not return to school for the rest of the week. High fever, stomach things I would rather not mention, really bad cough and all the aches to go along with it made the week miserable.

Yesterday it seemed that he was getting a little better so today we decided to take him to the batting cages to knock some rust off since he has baseball tryouts on Saturday. I think it may have been too soon. 3 buckets of balls and you can tell by the picture the end result. He was totally spent. Good thing the boys are out of school tomorrow for Presidents Day. Maybe he can get it together before then!

I Found The Picture

I found the picture I was looking for of Shawn and Rudy ( from my previous post "Anger turned into men of God). That is Shawn on the left and Rudy next to him along with teammates Joey and Louis. They had just won the 6-man regional track meet.

Good Mood Morning

Zach thinking he is coolTrying to show some skills

Hayden in a great mood

This morning when I drove up to my house after my last of 3 nights of work, I see a sight that made me smile. My boys had the garage door open out playing ready to go to school. Most mornings I am still trying to get them to hurry up and finish getting dressed so I can get them to school on time. I guess it was TGIF for them too!

I love these boys and even though they can drive me crazy at times they truly make me happy everyday. They are both becoming young men of character and even though they have such extreme different interest and personalities they have one thing in common, their relationship with Christ. God is good! Peace to you all.