Brief Update

I know I have not posted anything for quite awhile so I thought I would post a brief update at least.

My parents are out of town and have been for more than a week now. The kids and I have been staying at their house taking care of things and that means occasional trips over to our house to grab something we forgot or check the mail, etc. I also showed the trailer to one lady who I hope is able to purchase it. She is a single mom with 3 kids and she is going to start a new job less than 2 miles from our house. It would be perfect for her and I would be glad to get it sold.

Michael got a promotion and a raise this week at his new job in Kansas City. He has only worked there since mid March and this week he was offered the shift commander position which is actually two steps up from where he started less than 6 weeks ago. He is now "in charge" of the midnight to 8am shift and I think he will do a good job. The other good thing about this is that he will be able to attend church on Sunday mornings now since he is off on Friday and Saturday nights. This was an answer to prayer since he had been having to work on Sunday since he got to KC. He had asked his boss about it but this new position took care of it. We are still thinking and praying about our options as far as housing there goes. We can make more definite decisions when the trailer sells.

I am planning a trip to Brookhaven, Mississippi next month for my friend Jamie's wedding. I am glad I get to be there for her on this special day and I am glad for a chance to go back to Brookhaven. It is a very special place for me and my whole family since we spent so many years there. I also had my graduation ceremony there with Jamie 10 years ago so going back is kinda like a high school reunion, although it is more than just my old friends I am anxious to see. I am hoping to see some of the kids that I babysat more than 10 years ago as well as old Sunday School teachers and others. Heidi is going too (and Dresden and Grant) and I think it will be a fun trip.

Last night the kids and I stayed at Heidi's because Jeph was out of town at a conference and we got to bed rather late, partly due to the fact that Heidi's best friend, Lianne, called to tell Heidi that her dad, who had been suffering from cancer for a few months, had passed away. It took us awhile to get to sleep after that news since it seemed so hard to believe because he is still a young man and he has a few young children still at home, as well as some who are already grown. Heidi was trying to figure out the best way to get from here to there to be with Lianne this weekend. It was challenging with Jeph out of town but after a few hours of internet looking, several phone calls and prayers for wisdom, a plan was made that seemed to make the most sense under the circumstances. Please keep that whole family in your prayers.

Due to my late night and the fact that I have much to do tomorrow, I am heading to bed very soon. I will try to post again soon with pictures! Good night!

The Long Night

Lovely picture, I know. But it perfectly illustrates the kind of night I had Tuesday night.

First of all, almost two weeks ago, Liam came down with a slight fever. The next day he had a cough. The rest of us tried very hard to avoid getting sick and we were praying that he would get over it quickly because Alley had invited her friend from church to come and spend the night on Friday night. After five days, we thought we had missed it and were looking forward to the sleepover but then Alley started to feel bad. By Friday mid-day she had a fever of almost 101. Sadly, we had to cancel the slumber party. Dresden still held out but by Monday afternoon, I could hear congestion in her nose and throat. By this time, Alley had a sore throat and swollen tonsils.

All day Tuesday, Dresden had a fever and was very clingy to me. Tuesday night, we stayed with Mimi and Grandpa so I could sleep with Dresden in the recliner to try to keep her more upright. She and I settled in the chair but sleep was not on her agenda. Dresden started crying and the only position that calmed her was for me to STAND UP and hold her against me. If I sat down in the recliner, she woke up and screamed. She would not eat, she did not want to be rocked. I would walk to the kitchen, look at the stove clock while holding her, lean my shoulder and head against the wall until I thought she was in a fairly deep sleep, then I would slowly make my way back to the recliner and sit down as carefully as possible. I would try to lay my head down and then she would wake up screaming and holding her ears and arching her back. I would get up and walk to the kitchen again, look at the clock again and 10 minutes would have passed since my last look. Over 4 hours passed this way and then she finally, from pure exhaustion, fell asleep in my arms and I was able to get 2 hours of sleep.

As soon as the doctor's office opened, I called to get an appointment. I was guessing it was an ear infection since she had been holding her ears so much. My usual doctor was not there so we saw a new doctor and he said her ears and throat looked good and prescribed a stronger cough/congestion medicine. She did much better last night and we both got some sleep.

Tuesday night was one of those nights that every mother has had for one reason or another. Even though I was too exhausted to do much deep thinking while I was sleep-walking from the kitchen to the chair and back, since then I have realized that it is nights like that that sum up what motherhood is all about. Mothers have to be willing and ready to do whatever it takes at any given moment to meet her child's needs. I am not saying it was an easy night. I'm not saying that mothers respond cheerfully to sacrifice every time it is required. I got impatient and frustrated, but throgh it all, I knew she needed me and no one else could fill that spot because I am her mother.

All three kids are on the mend now, thanks to prayer, rest, and mangosteen juice! Dresden is still congested but we actually slept last night, and in a horizontal position, too!