Last weekend

Last weekend was initially going to be rebuild the chimney day, but due to some concerns regarding this the plan was changed and it turned out to be an electrical day. Thankfully we had three of our cousins and Matt's dad Vaughn to help out. They got a lot accomplished and we are so thankful for their help. My cousin Tim came up for the day as well. The kids and I also got visit and hang out with him which was nice. Thanks Joel, Andrew, Vaughn and Tim, we appreciate your help very much!!!

Preschool BULLY!!! REALLY????

Uggh so discouraged for poor Sammy. He had complained about one specific kid twice now so I said someting to the teacher about it. She said that this particular kid was pretty much a one to one (meaning there is someone watching just him becasue he is such a handful) but that they would pay special attention to him. Well unfortunately Sammy came home and has now said that the kid hit him! So now I kind of don't know what to do. I already told Sam to ask the child to keep his hands to himself, if he doesn't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all, etc etc. But the physical stuff really bugs me. I will mention it again wednesday but I don;t really know what to tell him to do if it happens again???

In a funk...

Feeling in a strange place this week and not sure why. Overwhelmed with the thought of my back not healing completely, and never being able to enjoy holding my kids, being a wife, or working as a nurse. The thought of constantly being uncomfortable for the rest of my time on this earth is really overwhelming.
I know so many people around me are struggling and hurting, and have it so much worse. I know that there are people whose children are sicker and hurting more than Sam. I know that there are people who aren't surrounded by wonderful friends and family. I know that there are people out there who are feeling completely alone.
So here I sit, struggling to claim God's promises in my life. I know that God is completely 100% control of my life and circumstances, and I am so thankful for that. I know that His Ways are perfect and that His love for me is perfect, and healing.

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

MOPS

Today was the start of a new year for my MOPS group, and I feel so blessed to be
able to join these wonderful ladies again. Not sure if you are familiar with the organization called "MOPS" but if you have the ability to go to one of these wonderful groups I highly recommend them. MOPS is a place for us as moms to be encouraged, enlightened, and uplifted. It is a place to laugh, to love, to learn, and to make new friends. I am so thankful for my MOPS group, and the sanity it provides. It is so nice to be able to share potty training stories, breastfeeding, tantrums, forgetful mom moments etc with people who understand and who likely have done similar things.
The MOPS International website link is: www.mops.org Check it out, and be blessed!

In other news I had my follow up appointment for my back today as well. I am still going to be out of work for at least a couple more weeks. I will follow up again the first week of october. This has been so frustrating and discouraging for me. I am so thankful to have such supportive people around me during this time.

Scrub a dub dub...

3 friends in a tub....



We got to watch my friend Shannon's little boy Tristan and had a great time with him. Sammy was so sweet towards him. Tristan actually kept hitting both Sam and Sophia and after multiple warnings I made Tristan sit in time out. Even though Sam had been crying because Tristan hit him with a metal car, Sam went over to time out and sat there with Tristan until time out was over to make him feel better:-) Got to love a compassionate kid.
I am feeling so unbelievably blessed to be their mommy. God has blessed beyond my wildest dreams in these mom adventures.

Go Patriots!!!

GI update and a playdate

I finally spoke with Sam's GI doctor yesterday. The good news is that Sam's esophagus biopsies were "essentially normal." I obviously am wondering what exactly the term essentially means in this case. The stomach biopsies should something called "Chronic Gastritis." Sam doesn't have any of the major causes of this, and so therefore they are not sure what to do with these results. The good thing is that it is not H. Pylori which is a horrible bacteria. Other causes of this would be heavy alcohol intake (he's NEVER had alcohol) and then frequent NSAID usage. This would be things like Motrin or Aspirin, which Sam can't have because of the bleeding disorder. So unfortunately that leaves us with more questions and not many answers. :-( We will follow up in october if not sooner if needed.
Unfortunately today Sammy has spiked a temp initially and now his temp has dropped to 95.7!!! I am praying that we don't have the temperature regulation issues that we had last year. I wish we knew what the cause of that was. I guess we will see how the rest of the weekend goes, and follow up with the doc on monday.
We also got to go see Sammy's friend Keegan today. IT has been quite a while since we have seen him. Sam was absolutely thrilled and they had a great time today. It is so nice for him to be able to spend time with someone who is "like him" with the illnesses and multiple doctors.

1 John 4:7 NIV •
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Swingset

The most beautiful faces in my world

Pearl

Another beautiful creature God created


Cousins: Dasanee and Sam











Brushing her and helping her cool down


Snack time



A wonderful friend from work invited the kids and I over for a pony ride the other day. To say Sam was excited would be the understatement of the year! He was so thrilled to be doing this. Judy was kind enough to give him a few separate rides. She also let the kids sit on her bare back as well as brush her and feed her snacks. The kids had a fabulous time:-)
Genesis 1:20-23
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

First Day of Preschool

He was so excited for his first day

Handsome Little Guy

A wonderful Christian preschool. I feel so blessed to have him be able to come here.




His first day went really well. They actually had the parents stay with them so that they were comfortable. Initially he didn't want to get off my lap, but he slowly got involved and interested in the things going on around him. There are 20 kids in his class with three teachers and an assitant. The school has been around for more than 20 years! So they have plenty of experience:-)
Unfortunately there were probably at least five kids coughing and more than that with runny noses. Some of the coughs were so harsh and junky sounding:-( All I could think about was Sammy being exposed to all of this. I am praying that he doesn't get sick, and that somehow this will improve his immune system.
Last night when I was reminding him that he had school today this was our conversation: Sam said "When are you going to come back? Do I have to stay all day?" My response "Yes I am going to come back at lunch time, why are you worried?" "No I will just miss you!!!" Goodness I love this boy of mine:-)

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Have a blessed day!!!

Apples

This past weekend Matt and I took the kiddos apple picking. That is one wonderful thing about living in New England. WE have gone apple picking every year since Sam has been born. Each year we have taken a picture with the apple basket as well. And this year we BOUGHT the basket:-)
Sammy has been doing well. He has been having blood in his stools, not visible but just positive when they test it. He has the dark circles/bags which is usually a tell tale sign that something is up, but I am praying that it is nothing. I am kind of frustrated with MGH as we were told that we would have the biopsy results last tuesday, and here it is more than a week later and we still don't have them:-( I keep calling but haven't gotten any response yet.
My back has continued to be bothersome. I am not sure what the plan will be from here. The MRI did show that I have a tear in one of my lumbar discs, as well as some bulging discs, and some swelling around one of the joints. I have read a little on the internet about this and have found some articles stating that this type of injury takes about 18months to heal, I am praying that this will not be the case:-(
Stay tuned, tomorrow I will be posting pics from Sammy's first day of preschool!!! I can't believe we are going to school now:-)