Blessings From Above

I'm not sure how many of you are aware but our church has been without a pastor for the last 10 months. Last week was our first Sunday with our new pastor and his family. Let me tell you a bit about how God has worked in our lives over the last couple of months.

You see, after having surgery on my neck The Count and I had talked about moving to a warmer climate. The cold weather really bothers me. The Count actually had an interview in Atlanta but it just was not to be. He searched the south for jobs and nothing was panning out. We knew summer was coming so we'd start to look again in the fall or sometime after winter. I could do one more winter.

After we stopped looking for jobs out of state The Count found a couple local jobs and applied. We also received word that we had a prospective pastor. First step would be a phone interview. The Count and I are both board members so that would mean we would take part in that phone interview. We learned that they had four children (3 boys 1 girl) and that their youngest, a daughter "B" is adopted through the US Foster System. They were also fostering a little boy in addition to their four children. I knew the moment I heard that, that God had chosen our pastor. Call it a hunch. The phone interview went very well and the board invited the family for a weekend interview. Kind of a get to know you in person and to get to see the town.

We had a formal meeting the Friday they arrived and on Saturday four board members took the family around the surrounding towns. The Count and I happened to be two of the people who toured the local area with them. It was right before lunch when it finally hit me. I was having a talk with the pastor wife in a store. We were talking about a bracelet and she had mentioned how she wasn't wearing much jewelery these days. I told her that I only wear my clasp and my "Kids Have Strokes" awareness bracelet. She had asked me to repeat myself, almost like she wasn't sure she heard me right. So I repeated myself and then explained. She then said something to me and it literally took two or three minutes for it to register. I then asked her "Did you say "B" had a stroke also?" Her response brought tears to my eyes. She said "Yes" I almost made her cry. It was at that moment that I heard God answer my prayers. I wanted to tell her that she was the person I have been praying for but seeing that she was on an interview I didn't want to put any added pressure on their decision. LOL

We talked about how much the girls have in common. Sensory issues, feeding issues, all the issues related to the stroke and the many doctor appointments, you name it. We just clicked from the moment we met. I can't tell you how good it was to have someone who knew exactly what it was that we were going through.

When we received word that they had accepted the call to come to our church and our church body accepted them I called her up and we've been chatting ever since. Now that they are in town it's great! It's funny how the Lord opens and closes doors and sometimes it takes awhile before you see what he has in store for us. I am so grateful for this wonderful family. Thank you Jesus!

Where'd Summer Go?

All I can say is WOW, summer went by really fast and I am dreading winter! LOL All of the children start school next week (I'm soooo excited). Jewel is actually starting back to public :( and will be in 7th grade. Dash will be in 4th grade and Spitfire will be starting pre-K which will be everyday (1/2 days). Twink will be starting a developmental pre-school which will be two days a week (1/2 day). She will receive some of her therapies at school and will also receive some at home. I think this will be great for her but I must admit I am a weeeeee bit nervous! LOL I just think of all the germs and then I think of her getting sick and then the seizures and then my mind goes a little crazy. It is out of my hands and I must give it over to the Lord.

We went away last weekend and I would like to say it was relaxing but how could it be with two toddlers!?!? I think I was delusional when I thought it would be. ;) We did have fun between the kids arguing and the melt downs though. We rented a cottage in the mountains on a lake (more like a cliff over looking a lake). Oh I must tell you, TJewel, Spitfire and I took a paddle boat out on the lake for an hour. Well about 5 minutes into our ride we could no longer peddle. We could not for the life of us figure out what was wrong. I got off my seat and went towards the front of the boat and realized the string that tied the boat to the dock fell into the water and wrapped around the peddles! So here we are in the middle of the lake unable to peddle and all but two boat just returned to shore! Spitfire by this point was ready to get out. I was able to yell to the closet boat (which happened to be two kids ages 10 and 12) and they were able to pull us in while their mom snapped pictures of the rescue! LOL Spitfire was determined she was not getting back into another boat BUT we got her in and we went out for a bit and was able to find our cabin where Daddy and Dash were waiting for us. The ride didn't last long because Spitfire (who was hanging on for dear life) started to cry so we headed back in towards dry land.

















We hit the water park the day before and I must say I like going in the middle of the week. Twink hates water so it was not much fun for her but as long as she was not set in the water she was fine. Spitfire on the other hand loved it!






I'm sure I've missed telling you some thing but I must go and visit some of your blogs! Oh yes, we finished our pastors house! It looks great and we are so happy they arrived safely!

Great Reports!

As many of you may know yesterday was Twink's "surgery". Twink went in to have ear tubes placed and a sedated hearing test. The doctors and nurses were great! I think I was only sitting out in the waiting room for less than 10 minutes and the doctor came out and said that he was finished. He did not have to place tubes in her ears because there was no fluid or mucus. He did say he cleaned a ton of wax out of both ears though. I then had to wait an hour for them to finish the sedated hearing test.

Exactly one hour later they came out to get me and brought me into this small little room. She didn't waste anytime in telling me Twink can hear just fine! Did you hear me? Lia CAN hear everything. Thank you Lord! Now if she chooses to listen or tune you out is another story. LOL We have a follow up next week and a possible hearing test at age 3 but I think it is the standard type. She did say she couldn't promise me how well she processed what she was hearing but at this point I'm taking our victory!

Thank you for your prayers, they have been felt. We are looking forward to a very relaxing weekend!

Seven Random Things About Me .....

OK, I've been tagged by Jeanette a couple weeks ago so here goes...

First, the rules...

1) Link to the person who tagged you

2) Post the rules on your blog

3) Write 7 random things about yourself

4) Tag 7 people at the end of your post and link to them

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up

Now, let the randomness begin...

1.) When I was growing up I used to volunteer in the local hospital as a candy striper and could not wait until I was a Jr. in high school because then I could start the Licenced Practical Nurse Program through our local tech school.

2.) My last labor and delivery (Spitfire) was 45 minutes! Let's say intense and I asked for an epidural when I heard I was at 7cm. The Not so kind nurse told me that I would be delivering the baby soon and that there was not enough time. I think I panic at that moment. LOL

3.) I love bed and breakfasts. We've gone to the following ones and loved all of them! The Chalet Inn Rose Haven Inn 1790Bed & Breakfast

4.) I had neck surgery 8 days before our referral for Twink. So in our referral video I am wearing my neck collar and I was in so much pain. The excitement pretty much took over any feeling of pain once the phone rang and AWAA popped up. Then I had to try and figure if I'd actually be out of the stinking collar before we actually left for China. I was able to remove the collar 4 days before leaving for China ( 8 weeks from referral ) That's what I call cutting it close.

5.) I'm debating on if I should grow my hair out long again! LOL I do this every time I get my hair cut.

6.) I love to mow the grass on our ride on. I find it good meditation. We have a good size yard to mow and it take about an 1 1/2 to do the whole thing.

7.) I long to move to North Carolina at some point. I love the Smokey Mts.

I am tagging...Cristy Denise CarlaB Angie CarlaL Jodi and Erica

Results of EEG

Well it was normal! Can you believe that, normal. The neurologist did say that seizure activity can take place deep within the brain and not be picked up on an EEG. He did want to put her on a medication called Dilantin but it required blood draws every 6-8 weeks so I requested a different drug. I told him that she has already been through so much that if there was something else we could use I would rather try that. I also told him that it took my husband and I to hold her down for the EEG. I can't imagine doing that every 6-8 weeks. He told me the only other med we could use was phenobarbital which is just as bad and would also require the blood draws. He did tell me because she has only had two (but lengthy) seizures he would let us try rectal Valium at the on set of her next seizure. If that does not stop the seizure then we would then have to start medication. :(

So the good news is we did not start any permanent medication yet. The bad news is we will more than likely have to start medication within the next year. The Dilantin does terrible things to teeth so I pray that they would do another EEG first.

Tuesday we go for ear tubes and a sedated hearing test. Also just so you all know my husband and I (and our church) have been working extremely hard on redoing a house for our new pastor and his family who will be moving here next weekend. So if I have not been to your blog in two weeks that is why. We only had three weeks to get this house in tip top shape. Seems like I have not visited anyone in so long. Hope all is well with you.

EEG Done

Let's just say that was worse than the first one! The poor little peanut looked like a terrified wild animal trying to break free. It truly was heart breaking. If you could have only saw the fear in her eyes, I had to look away a couple of time before I lost it. The tech finally finished placing all the wires on Twink and she fell asleep. She was beat from all the crying and fighting. I'll tell you one thing, that baby can move that right arm purposefully at will. (The one side that was weakened from the stroke that she pays NO attention to)

The tech said she was able to get a very good reading. She also said because Twink had general sedation for her MRI before her last EEG that it could have messed with those results. So hopefully Monday we will get some answers and we won't have to do that again for awhile. The tech said the fact that she didn't have a seizure with all that stress she was under was a good thing. Stress, Illness, Drugs, Alcohol, Lack of Sleep and one more item can cause seizures! Good to know! So I will let you all know and hopefully we will get clearance to have surgery on the 19th for her tubes and sedated hearing test! :) Praying the tests are coming to an end.

Happy Birthday Spitfire!

I can't believe my baby is FOUR today! Look how sweet she is! Just look how young the other two look. Boohoo, they truly grow up fast. This weekend Twink has her EEG so we will have some sort of party next weekend for Spitfire. I thought I'd share these pictures for you all to see. :)