Thursday, January 15, 2009

Christmas Break Activities

Yes, I know Christmas was three weeks ago. But Caleb and Amanda and Megan just headed back to college on Tuesday, so I feel like Christmas Break just ended. I'm a little slow with posting this because I have been recovering (and still recovering) from my own bout with the stomach flu that made it's nasty rounds through the family.

Here are some fun pictures from some of the things we did over the break.

The first one is Zach and Megan modeling their new bibs and coveralls. Aren't they cute in a dorky sort of way, or dorky in a cute sort of way?
Zach and Megan also spent a lot of time making their own snowshoes. (Thanks Megan for the pictures.)


We put together two big jigsaw puzzles.
This activity was my husband's idea. Candlemaking. He remembered making candles when he was a kid and asked his sister about the kit they used and she still had it. She graciously gave it to us.




A bunch of us playing "Catchphrase." Fun game!





Zach taking pictures of Megan. Happens a lot.


It was great to have everyone around.


Saturday, January 10, 2009

A Good Day To Mark Another Year

Today was my 48th birthday. It was terrific to spend it with my family.

I am truly blessed.

Pete and the kids fixed a yummy lunch of Taco Salad and cleaned up the kitchen. They sweetly showered me with gifts. I now have some new CDs to sing to at the top of my lungs in the car and Casablanca on DVD. Believe it or not I don't think I have ever seen that movie.

I think the best gift is a night at a very nice hotel in St. Paul. It said with the person of my choice...Pete says he is available. :)

I had a quiet afternoon of listening to some of my new CDs and playing on my computer.

We all went out to dinner at a new and really nice restaurant in town. That was fun and the food was so yummy. After a quick stop to get some candy, we all headed to the movie theater to see Marley & Me. It is a very good movie.

I had a good day. Thanks everybody!

Megan is tired but feeling better. Caleb is feeling great and healing. But now Pete is sick and Zach doesn't feel very good. Bummer. Let's pray it's not at bad as Megan had it, okay?

Caleb and Amanda head back to Kansas tomorrow. It has been wonderful having them here!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Update

Today has been very calm after a crazy previous 24 hours.

Megan is recovering. She's still very tired. But the great thing is she has eaten some today and it has stayed down. So, thankfully, she is on the road to recovery.

Thanks to all who prayed for her today.

(Caleb is doing great today too.)

Oh What a Night

I started writing a post several hours ago about a little sickness in the house. It started out with Caleb having his wisdom teeth removed and the codeine in his pain killer not agreeing with him.

Then about supper time Megan was feeling worse and worse and vomited (I've tried to think of a delicate way to write that, but just can't -- so I won't mention the fluids she was loosing at the other end too.) and said she felt better. But then she continued to vomit and continued. I think we counted well over a dozen in 5-6 hours. After phone calls to a nursing help-line and our own hospital, we decided to take her to the ER. They confirmed that she was dehydrated and needed some meds for the vomiting. So at 1AM she and I headed out in the cold/snowy night to the hospital.

As we waited for a doctor I prayed for a compassionate one. I almost cried when he was talking to Megan so gently and was so kind and quick to respond. Thank you God, for that quick answer to prayer.

The sweet nurses then gave her some IV fluids and several meds for her various symptoms.

As that was doing it's magic, I read a few Psalms to Megan from the Bible I stuffed in my purse as we were leaving the house. That idea comes from my husband who has spent probably too many hours by a hospital bed reading the Psalms to me. I read Psalm 139 to her and told her I used to pray that over her after she was sick as a toddler. She looked at me through her drugged/sleepy eyes and said, "Mom, that's my favorite Psalm," and weakly smiled.

We had some sweet, healing conversation.

After her IV was taken out about 3AM we thought we would try to come home so she could sleep in her own bed. She sat up slowly and put her coat on and then sat back down on the edge of the bed for a minute, then suddenly vomited again. I laid her back down and went to tell the nurses. The doctor came back and decided to give her some strong nausea medication through a shot. She fell asleep for a while and about 4AM I woke her and we spent the next 1/2 hour getting out of bed and coat on and to the car.

She did vomit again once she got up to her room, but is now sleeping soundly. The poor thing is so tired and weak.

I know a few people look at this often, and I am asking when you do to pray for healing for Megan. I'll try to put updates on here. And pray for Caleb to be feeling better too.

Now maybe I should get some sleep. But I'm trying to stay awake until Pete gets up. I called him enough through-out the night to disturb his sleep.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Christmas Photos

Here are a handful of pictures from Christmas in Iowa.
The happy newly engaged couple. Caleb and Amanda. Aren't they sweet?




My niece's little girl, Maddie. She reminds me so much of my niece when she was that age.




Our family with my husband's parents.




The grandparents and the grandkids (plus two).


Psalm 3:3-5

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and He answered me from His holy mountain.
I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

BIG News

I realize I have been quite neglectful in writing.

Since Christmas Day we have been very much enjoying hanging out with our kids. I have been collecting pictures of our Christmas Vacation Activities and I will post them in a few days.

As Peter and I were driving down to Iowa on Christmas Day, we were anxiously and excitedly waiting for a phone call from Caleb. He had been with Amanda and her family for the week after finals were done.

FINALLY at about 1:30 (well, I think my phone says the call came in at 1:41pm, but whose counting...) Caleb called and said he had proposed and Amanda said yes! Pete and I both screamed with excitement. We are so excited for them!

Here are a few of their pictures I lifted off of Facebook. In the first one Amanda is hiding her face because she was crying. I love how she just happens to be using her left hand to hide her face. Very strategic. I think I see a big smile behind that hand. :D