Tuesday, January 7, 2014

2014- It's here! :)

 It's crazy to know that we are already in 2014!  Time seems to be flying by too quickly!  I have fallen behind on my updates and trying to play catch up.  I did have a post typed out and ready to go back in October, but we had issues with our internet so it never got posted.  I did post it back on January 1st so I wasn't having to do so much backtracking. :)

I think I'll try to pick up the pieces of some of our happenings from November and December.:)  We took a trip at Thanksgiving time to Texas to be with Shane's parents.  We had a good trip there and back but I can't say it was warm while we were there. :(  On one of the days we were there, they had freezing rain.  We had the chance to drive downtown Dallas and see the beautiful Christmas lights.  We all had a wonderful time together for Thanksgiving.  So many things to be thankful for this year!!  God is so good to us!  Blessed beyond measure!   I am so thankful  for the small and simple things and for that which is big too !  To God be the glory for what He has done and is going to do!

December was a little busy, but oh how I enjoyed it!! Last year I was in the hospital for 2 stays for about a week each time and then sent home at the last of December to go home and pack for Cleveland and have a week of hospitalization there.  Needless to say I wasn't able to enjoy Christmas as I wanted to!  I enjoyed being able to do a little shopping and be able to pick out a few gifts this year though.  I sort of dreaded being able to decorate knowing with the flood back in May took a lot of my decor....but in pulling out the 2 rubbermaids we found our ornaments and some of our decor.  I was so excited to know that I still had some decor that I was able to salvage and use. :)  I enjoy sitting in a room glowing in lights and listening to Christmas music.  I am so thankful that as a family we know the true meaning of Christmas and that it's about the presents but is about His Presence.  I enjoyed being with my family and friends and soaking all the true joy of Christmas.

I took the kids up to the local hospital OB department Friday afternoon to let them see the room they were born in and that we stayed in afterwards.  Neat to be able to show them the nursery and the scale to weight them, and to see the room that Matthew and Kailey had to be in after discovering they had breathing issues.  It was neat to introduce them to some of the nurses they had.   The kids enjoyed it, along with the cake, punch, baby shirts, and drinking cups. They also had all the baby albums from the pics they take available to look at.  They had fun looking up their pictures of themselves.  Sad to see the OB department close down. It was neat being able to walk down memory lane with them and let some of the nurses see just how grown our children already are.

Enjoying being inside and keeping toasty warm while its freezing cold outside.  They cancelled school for 2 days and its been nice to have all of the kiddos all together before routines all begin again.:)  I am thankful for a warm home!!  Enjoyed the extra time to play a few games with them also.  It's been nice not having to bundle up and brave the brutal cold weather!!:) I know we are a ways from spring time, but I am ready for some warmer weather to come.

As I think upon 2013,  there are some lessons I have learned through it and has opened my eyes to some goals I would like to reach this year for myself and for my family.  There were some rough times but God was with us every step of the way whether great or small.  I am so grateful for His love for me and for His blessings.  I don't want to fail to give Him the glory for all that He has done.  I want to be a vessel that He can use.  I am believing Him for some great things for 2014!  

Praying that you all have a wonderful New Year!  Take time to look at the blessings of God each new day!  If you have to keep a tablet and write it down, it's neat to look back upon.  Rejoicing in those things that are both great and small.  May you heart be full. Can't help but think of the song..."Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done, Count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done."  Thank you for your cards,emails, text, support, hugs, love, and most of all PRAYERS!  I am a very blessed person!!!!

Love- Jamie

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Lots of catching up to do...

Not exactly sure where to begin...it's been so long.  I am sorry for not doing an update sooner.

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post!  I'll do my best to give you a brief summary of what we have done since July, or at least try to catch you up a bit. In August, we took a trip to Texas.  Had a fun and relaxing time with Shane's parents,Uncle and Aunt, and cousins.  Matthew got a real pair of cowboy boots.  He looks like a  pretty handsome lil feller in them.   We came back home with our running shoes on!  The kids started school a week after we got home so we had our mad dash of fighting thru the isles of getting school supplies.:)

Matthew is in 3rd grade, and is  having a good time.  His favorite subject hasn't changed since Kindergarten-P.E.  He is every bit a boy and loves being outside and playing.  He enjoys any bug, spider, cricket,praying mantis, lizards, frogs...and the list is still growing.  I wouldn't want it any other way. :)  The girls started a few days later than Matthew.  It is a  big adjustment for  our Fourth grader-Kailey with it being her first year at home, but she is doing well and keeping up with her studies.  She does miss her classmates, but we're going work on writing letters to help keep in touch  a bit. Kelsey is our Seventh grader and doing really well with her studies.  Seventh grade!!! Unbelievable !!! They are learning to work as a team and help do little things around the house.:)

Shane is keeping busy with his car detailing.  We thank the Lord for His provisions and His many blessing! He was in the Homestead parade with a before and after car and then I drove the Suburban. It was lots of fun!!!  If you didn't  get to see it you missed a good one!!  Couldn't believe the huge crowd of people that were lining the streets.  We went thru over a hundred  dollars worth of candy and had a few pieces to throw by the time we got to Peru and Main Street.  You can check it out at his facebook site...www.facebook.com/shanesshineshop

Kailey had asked last year to go in a helicopter ride. The line last year by evening time was long and it was getting dark so we asked her to wait till this year and go up in the afternoon and see the town from the sky.  She went up with Shane and a friend of ours from church.  She was full of smiles when she got in and was in the front with the pilot .  When they landed and she got out she was still grinning and said that was fun and I want to do it next year, too!  Matthew said he wants to try it next year, too.  Kelsey has no desire to be up in the air and is very content to just watch them.  Shane said it was really neat and not bad being up in the air.  The pilot circled around the house a few times to let them get a good view of it.  Shane took a few pictures in the air and it's so neat to see the corn fields and some aerial views of the town and our neighborhood and house.  She had a birthday and turned the big 10!!  I need to put bricks on these kids because they are all growing way too quick!!

Iv'e had a few doctor appointments to say the least since July.  I have finished the 39 unit of blood since February.  That is a lot of blood and I am grateful for those who are blood donors!  I am evermore grateful for the blood of Our Precious Savior who died for me at calvary.  I have been to Cleveland and they are changing out the TPN to try to help maintain my weight.  They want me to keep seeing a cardiologist for the tachycardia and the hematologist for the blood issue. Will continue to see them every 3 months  for a check up.  Back in September I went to get out of bed and when I stood up I had pain in the ball of my foot.  I babied it and walked on it diffrently trying to help it along.  It wasn't any better so I saw the Dr for it and he thought that maybe it was gout so he treated me for it and had me do a blood test.  It came back negative for gout and made a refferal to see a foot specialist just to make sure all was well.  I got in that week and they did 3 xrays of the foot and it showed that the ball of my foot.  He came in and said "so you're treating your foot for gout?"  I said yes and he said it's a fracture and a chipped bone.  He put it in a cast and I just had it reevaluated this week.  They took the cast off and x-rayed it and there is no change or sign of healing so back in the cast for 3 more weeks still no weight bearing.  I never have used crutches before-I have more sympathy for those who use them.  They take skill and endurance.  Maybe with me using them for 3 more weeks I'll be a pro at them:) Ha!  There's no racing using them.  I have been able to keep Shane and the kids laughing time to time as I lean into a wall to catch myself from falling.  MY MY MY!! LOL!! .:)

Fall  has always been my favorite season.   I don't enjoy the chill in the air, but I do like wearing sweaters,  being cuddled in blankets, the smell of candy corn, caramel apples, pumpkin bars, apple crisp, roasted marshmallows, hot cocoa, maple nut goodies, & hot cider.  Listening to the leaves crunch as you step on them. Watching the trees change in color from front porch or going on a ride out in the country enjoying all beauty that fall brings.   We enjoyed the quick trip to Cleveland and seeing all the trees in color there and back.:)  I didn't like the snow that we had on Tuesday.  It was just enough to cover the ground but it sure was cold!  I'm not ready for the white stuff to be coming quite this soon!  Hope this doesn't mean we are in for a bad winter.