Memorable Mom's Day

Mother's Day 2008 proved to be a rather memorable one for our family. My parents, Haley & I drove out to Elsberry, MO to be present for the baby dedications of both Baby Drew & Baby Noah. After church, we had planned to eat lunch in the basement of the church. Both Haley & I had prepared desserts that needed refrigerated. We arrived at the church only to discover that the church was without power. With only my small pig keychain flashlight leading us in the dark, we headed down the steps to put our food in the fridge. The whole time, my pig was "oinking." We entered the sanctuary lit by candles & took a seat for the service. I was quite glad that I had worn long sleeves as the wind was blowing like crazy outside & now, inside had no heat. The service went well & we enjoyed watching the slideshow the pastor had put together honoring the mothers within their church. After church had come to an end, my Aunt Sheryl decided we would all just pile in at her house since the church had no electricty. During the short drive from the church to their house, Haley said, "I bet one of the places we've ordered food from is without power." Sure enough, my cousin had ordered pizza from the pizza parlor in town as well as subs from Subway & the pizza place called to notify us that they would be unable to prepare our pizza's as they had no power. Thankfully, we did get our subs. Some headed to the local IGA to get some frozen pizzas & chicken tenders to make up for it all. Fortunately, we are a family that sees the humor in all things so it was a rather funny day.

Power of Prayer

Expected to make his grand entrance into the world on May 24th, little Noah showed all of us! My Cousin Lisa began to get quite ill on the evening of April 22nd. After hours of undergoing tests & so forth, the doctors discovered that she had Preeclampsia as well as H.E.L.L.P Syndrome. Her liver enzymes were high as well as her blood cells low. At around 4 a.m. on the 23rd, the decision was made to do an emergency caesarian section. As my mom & I rushed to the hospital to wait with everyone, we found that things were much worse than we could imagine. There was a risk of Lisa bleeding to death during the c-section. As the medical team wheeled her back to the surgical area, we gathered in the waiting room & I led the family in prayer for Lisa & Baby Noah. Praise the Lord, soon after, Lisa's doctor came to update us & let us know that all went well. While neither were out of the woods, things had went fine. Noah weighed 5 lbs. 1 oz. & was 18" long. Due to his being 5 weeks premature, he was kept in the nursery on a ventilator as his lungs were not mature. We all tried to see him as best we could through the nursery window--until they shut the blinds on us! Evidently, that week was the week for babies as the nursery was overbooked you might say. There were NO VACANCIES! Since there were more babies than what the hospital had room for in the nursery & Noah was still needing some help breathing on his own, he was transfered to Cardinal Glennon hospital in downtown St. Louis. His mommy was not even able to hold him before he left. We took a look at him in the incubator & then watch the ambulance team wheel him away. While other family members visited Noah at Cardinal Glennon & were given the opportunity to hold him, all declined knowing that the first person that should get to hold him was his mother. Lisa was not expected to leave the hospital for several days & yet her blood cell count had reached the point in which she could be released. She was out on Saturday, the 26th. Amazingly, Noah was released on Sunday, the 27th even though his estimated stay date was until May 7th. Truly, God worked everything out for good & both, are doing remarkably. We know that many were in prayer & because of the many prayers, things have went as they have. Noah is as cute as a button & I look forward to watching him grow. Thanks we give for yet another new addition to our family.

Driving, Riding, Wind & Memories

While driving home from my aunt's house tonight, I turned my cd player up in my car, rolled the window down, let the breeze blow through my hair & I sang my heart out. The weather has been relatively cool here up until now. Tonight was the first time that the temperature has been warm enough to do so. Though the drive from my aunt & uncle's to our home only lasts about 8 minutes, many memories flooded my mind. I thought back to a summer years ago when I flew to Virginia Beach to visit my cousin. She & I (as well as her son who was around 2 at the time) took a weekend trip to D.C. I can see us going down the roads with the windows down as we tried to figure out where in the world we were headed & we just laughed. I remember riding around with the top down in my uncle's convertible. I knew then, that my dream of owning a convertible had come to an end as I hated it. I recall sitting as a passenger in a special someone's vehicle on some spring & summer evenings just chatting one with another or listening to music. I remember the two of us praying together as we sat in his car. I remember Crystal, Haley & I going down the hills from Monterrey, CA to get back to our hotel in San Juan. Tired as could be, we had the windows down & sang praise & worship choruses & hymns until our throats were nearly give out. I remember sitting in the bed of an old friends pick up in the church parking lot as he would strum his guitar and we would all sing. I recall just driving for the sake of alone time. Time to think on things, clear my mind, pray, cry, call out to God & pour my heart out to Him. I kind of wish that I did not have to work tomorrow so I could have just kept driving. Of course, with gas at such a high price, I don't think I would have went too far but my mind was definitely traveling. Perhaps I'll soon revisit those memories of yesterday.

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

The last few months have proven to be extremely busy for my family & me. We recently threw my mom a surprise birthday party as she turned a half a century! I am now helping to plan & throw a baby shower for my cousin who is expecting her first child next month. Of course, I have been working as well. Seems there has been little time for blogging. In the midst of all that has gone on, our family has increased by 2 over the last few months. In February, my Cousin Micah, & his wife BreAnna had their 4th child, Toby. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, my Cousin Darren & his wife Renee, had their 2nd child, Drew. In just a few weeks, Baby Noah will join us all. As we all get older, it is a joy to be able to celebrate the years behind us & rejoice for the days ahead of us as well.

The Raging Bull

For many years, my Dad & Sister have watched bull riding & rodeos on television. Last year, they attented the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) that made a stop here in St. Louis. I recall going to a rodeo when I was very young. While traveling with my grandparents to a Gideons Convention in either Kansas City or Indianapolis (I forget!), that was one of the activities we took part of. I do not remember finding it of any interest back then. Since, I've been convinced of how boring such is. That was all changed after watching Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding program that aired last year on T.V. After much pleading, my Dad finally persuaded me to watch the show & well, I have to say...I rather enjoyed it! I knew then that I wanted to go to the PBR next time it came around. That time was Friday night. My parents, Haley & I went down to the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis for an exciting evening. As I watched, I wondered..."What makes someone want to jump on board a huge, terrifying beast?" I've still not come up with a legitimate answer. Sure, money is the obvious choice but I guess I'm just such a big chicken that no dollar amount would be high enough to get me within even 1,000 feet of the animal. Anyway, I really enjoyed myself. The PBR will leave town after tonight's competition & will be heading to the next city. Meanwhile, I will watch on T.V. again to see who the winner here in St. Louis will be.

A Year After...Another Stroke?

Friday night, February 8th, my dad, sister, a friend and I went to Washington, MO to watch the Washington Bluejays take on the St. Charles West Indians in basketball. Last year, on Friday, February 9, we went to watch the same two teams play one another. Fortunately for all off us, Friday night's trip was much better than the one almost exactly a year ago. For those unaware, moments after arriving at the game last year, my hand began to feel numb. I assumed it was just asleep. Soon after, I experienced vision problems while sitting in the stands at St. Charles West High School. On our ride home, my speech was very strange & unusual for me...all messed up. We thought nothing of it until the next night when I experienced more problems & around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. on Sat. the 10th when things were worsening & within a short time, I was sitting in an ER room waiting to be seen. After hours at one hospital, I was taken via ambulance at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11th to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in downtown St. Louis where I would undergo numerous tests, etc. to determine that I had, indeed, suffered a minor stroke. Obviously, if you've seen me since last year or talked to me, you know that I suffered no lasting side effects...Praise God for that! Last year was extremely rough & seemed at times, to just drag on & on. Now, a year later, I can't believe that it was just a year ago as it seems like it was just yesterday to me really. After attending the basketball game last year, we were never able to make it to another one since I spent my time in & out of the hospital with my stroke, heart surgery & TIA. The other night was the first time we'd made it to another basketball game. I had given thought to the date & the fact that we were one day shy of when all activity began last year. Until, lastnight before we left to go to the game. All of a sudden I realized, the game we were going to featured the exact same two teams that we saw when I had my first stroke symptoms. I asked my dad if he knew what the game was & he quickly stated the same thing. Finally, I'm able to laugh about the situation. I told he & my sister that if we arrived at the game lastnight & I started to feel strange that I would never go to another basketball game in my life as it might be the Lord's way of telling me to stay away from basketball. Though it would not be funny for me to have another stroke, it would have been slightly funny if something happened & I wound up back in the hospital having to tell my symptoms & I began to tell how I was sitting at a basketball game when....I said that the doctors would look at my records & say, "Uh...didn't you tell us that last time?" I said we'd have to laugh & just tell them that we knew it was ironic but it was really true. Thankfully, we don't have to worry about it as all was fine. St. Charles West beat Washington by 10 & I was not happy about that though. Anyway....a year later & I'm feeling fine. I will, however, ask for your prayers. Since my TIA in May, I've been on a blood thinner twice daily called Aggrenox as we learned that I am more prone to blood clotting (which would have caused the stroke & TIA). When visiting my primary doctor a couple of weeks ago, he began reviewing my hospital records & became concerned with why I was more prone to blood clotting as the records did not give any reason other than I have a gene mutation (whatever in the world does that mean?). He asked if I had seen a hemotologist while in the hospital & I had no earthly idea. According to the records he had for me, I had not. He referred me to one & encouraged me to get to one. While there may not be anything seriously wrong, he said he would like to know that he did everything possible to try to understand why I am more prone to clotting...if perhaps I have some sort of blood disorder that would cause such. I called my cardiologist on Thursday last week & they searched my records. I DID NOT see a hemotologist during any of my stays there at Barnes. I asked the nurse if she & my cardiologist thought it wise for me to do so & they bought have stated they felt it would be in my best interest to go to one for further testing. So, on my day off on Tuesday, I will be calling to set up an appointment to go for tests. If you will just remember me in your prayers with that. Thanks so very much!

Pencils Providing Foreknowledge?

We are expecting 3 new additions (babies) to our family this spring & with that in mind, the pencil has been put to the test. Someone at one point & time passed along this information & it continues down the line. 2 of the 3 expecting know that they are going to be giving birth to baby boys. My cousin & his wife, however, have decided to not find out the sex of the baby in advance. We have been exercising the "pencil test" on everyone we know...those that are pregnant now, those that have already had kids (recently & long ago) as well as those that have never had a child. All of this in an effort to see which way the pencil will move. For those that are wondering what I am talking about, if you take a needle & wrap string, yarn or thread around it & then insert the point of the needle into the top of a pencil eraser, hold the pencil by the end of the string steadily over another lady's wrist without moving at all, the pencil will begin to move. If the pencil moves vertically on your wrist, it indicates you have had or will have a boy. If the pencil moves horizontally, a girl. Between each child, the pencil will rotate in a circle a few times. The pencil will also move in the birth order of the children. My mom's family swears by this test as do many other persons I have come in contact with. I have yet to meet someone that can say the pencil was wrong. The pencil will also show miscarriages, tubulur pregnancies, stillborns. If one was to have a child & give it up for adoption, that child is shown. My cousin, Chanda, has 3 children, 1 son (9), & two daughters (6 & 4). Between the birth of her son & oldest daughter, she had a tubular pregnancy (a son). The pencil moves boy, boy, girl, girl. When done on my mom, the pencil shows two girls which of course, is accurate. As my cousin, Lisa, went for her ultrasound to learn the sex of her baby due in May, she believed wholeheartedly it would say it was a boy. The pencil test also showed that she is having a boy. Just because I want to believe that a pencil can not know, I wanted her ultrasound to show a girl. Once again, the pencil was right...she's having a boy. So, when done on me, the pencil shows that I will have 2 boys. If only the pencil could let me know who is going to help me in making any child at all! I am sure that certain events must take place in order for me to conceive & for the test to hold true & so far, I think I am missing a major ingredient! Regardless, I just want to know where this idea came from long ago & what causes it to always be right. Some say it may be related to the amount of iron in your bloodstream, etc. If you hold the pencil over a man's wrist, it will do nothing. I've not seen a man be able to hold the pencil over a female's wrist & it work either. Something is very odd & mind boggling to me about the whole thing!