Surgery Update

The surgery went well this morning. I was surprised at how quick the procedure really is! We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am and we left the hospital by 8:30. Cardale was very angry after he woke up, which I guess is normal. He was irritable this morning and clingy. His ears were popping alot which caused him some pain. He is taking a long nap right now, so hopefully he feels better when he wakes up. He has a cold right now and the Dr. said his left ear was getting infected. Got the tubes just in time! My parents came out to help watch the kids and Jenn came with me to the hospital. I'm appreciating the help as I'm not feeling great today, kids and their germs.:) So we're hoping the tubes don't fall out and Cardale is ear infection free for awhile!

Surgery

Please pray for Cardale tomorrow morning. His tubes surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am. He started with a runny nose, cough, and low fever this afternoon. Please pray that they will still do the surgery even though he has a little cold. We'll let you know how tomorrow turns out.

Darkness and Light

For Jenn- Cardale looking handsome in his Sunday clothes

Can you tell we had two different cameras going?:)

Uncle Tim and the boys

Our little family

We had a great Easter celebration! We went to my parent's house for the weekend along with my brother and sister. The boys enjoyed all of the attention and we enjoyed it too!;) The boys looked very cute in their Easter clothes. Caleb was not happy about wearing a tie, so he only had to wear it for the pictures. He really dislikes wearing "Sunday clothes." As soon as we walk in the door after church, he rushes upstairs to change.

I titled this post "Darkness and Light" because I've been thinking alot about how our lives are comprised of dark and light moments that often occur simultaneously. I have spent the past couple of days in constant prayer for my childhood friend, Natalie. They found out on Monday that their 3 1/2 year old daughter, Alaina, has cancer. They are living out every parent's nightmare. Since then it has been a whirlwind of doctors and tests. They found out today that she has A.L.L. leukemia. The fact that she has leukemia is horrible, but the good news is that it is the best type of leukemia a child can get-very treatable. Thank God for small miracles! They have a long road ahead of them and Alaina is very scared right now, but we know God can get them through it.

When I hear devastating news like this I sometimes think, why is life still moving forward? It seems like the whole world should stop because of this huge event going on in my friend's life. Thankfully, that is not how life goes. We need the routines of life to help us stay sane and hopeful. In my darker thought moments (usually when I'm laying in bed and can't sleep) I think about all the pain that surrounds us. A friend's father is dying of cancer, another friend was widowed this year, another friend's baby was born with a rare birth defect, a friend's baby granddaughter had cancer, Cardale's parents don't want him, etc. However, at the same time I remember all of the joy that surrounds us. A friend who beat cancer is pregnant with her second child, my family is healthy, and there are people who love Cardale and want to adopt him-to name a few! God is good in that He always provides reminders that He is in control and gives us good things, even in the midst of pain.

In regards to Cardale, we had a court session today. His Mom did not show up and has not seen him since early December. The judge ordered that she is not allowed to visit him anymore and there will be a termination of parental rights hearing scheduled. That court hearing could happen by the end of May. Once that hearing happens, Cardale will be officially up for adoption. It was sad for me today to see that his Mom didn't show up and doesn't seem to care. However, the good news is that some friends of ours want to adopt him! So please be praying for Cardale, the judge, and our friends. We know that God has a good plans for Cardale.

Spring

Today I took the boys to the local Tractor Supply store to see some chicks and ducklings. They LOVED it! They kept running back and forth between the pens and Isaac did alot of excited shrieking. I held a chick for them to touch, which thrilled all of them. You know it's a good outing when the children protest leaving. Isaac was throwing a tantrum and Caleb was asking to eat supper and sleep next to the chicks at the store.:)

Last weekend I took a trip to Ohio with some college girlfriends. It was alot of fun. We relaxed, laughed and just enjoyed each other's company. It was a nice break before this week began.:) Nate is working noon-midnight this week, so we're both feeling a little exhausted. Nate is in the final stretch of his 18 month Senior Reactor Operator training. He has his big exam in June, so he'll be pretty busy til then.

This weekend we're heading to my parent's house to celebrate Easter. Looking forward to some quality family time!

Kudos to Colleen!

We have been without curtains in our family room, for an embarassingly long time. It was a combination of not having any stores in South Haven and decorating stresses me out a little. So my sister in law, Colleen, offered to sew some curtains for me. I told her to work off the picture in between the windows, and here is what she made! I like how the curtains are a unique length and the pillows are great. I still need to add some colorful blankets and our walls are pretty bare, but it's progress!

Cardale saw the ENT Dr. today and he does need tubes. He's scheduled for the end of the month, but I'm hoping we can push that up. It really depends on how quickly the judge gets the permission signed. I would like to get the surgery done sooner because I'm afraid he'll get another ear infection before the end of April! We'll see what happens.

Time with Grandma

Caleb's preschool class- who's the tallest of them all?:)

Notice the double stroller- a huge blessing from a friend who doesn't need it this year!

I brought the boys lollipops from Denver and Isaac thoroughly enjoyed his.

Cardale looking cute

I am back from Denver and I had a great time! I enjoyed lots of quality time with my sister and some quality alone time.:) I read two books, exercised, and didn't abide by a schedule. I read the book Twilight, yes the one about vampires, and I am hooked. I'll have to borrow the other ones from the library. I also read a book called The Shack. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It really makes you think about God and your relationship with Him. The guy sitting next to me on the plane must have thought I was an emotional basketcase. I kept crying and blowing my nose and asking my sister for more Kleenex.:) I came back from the trip re-energized and ready to do what I do.

My Mom did a fantastic job with the kids, and they did not make her visit easy.:) Nate was working 12 hour shifts for the outage so he wasn't around much. My Mom is super-Grandma and took all 3 kids on Caleb's field trip. I don't even like doing that.:) Cardale also got ANOTHER ear infection and Mom had to bring him to the doctor. He is scheduled to see an ENT doctor on the 31st. I imagine they will want to put tubes in his ears. Please pray that this round of antibiotics works and keeps him healthy until he can get tubes. So, my Mom had fun with the kids but she was very tired by the time I returned.:) Thanks again, Mom!

I also want to say Happy 60th Birthday to Nate's Mom! She celebrated this milestone yesterday. We wish we could have celebrated with you, but we're looking forward to your visit next month. We love you very much!

Babysitting

Where's Zoey?

Line 'em up, it's time to eat!

This morning I babysat a little girl named, Zoey. Her Mom was in a pinch and needed a babysitter for the morning. I agreed, although I was slightly nervous. Zoey just turned 1, so I had a 12 month old, 15 month old and a 19 month old today. My boys have a hard enough time getting along, I was nervous how they would treat a girl littler than them. Thankfully the morning went well! The key is rotating the toys/activity often. I think my boys enjoyed having another kid around because it forced me to play alot with them.:) It's good to have days when I accept that I won't be getting anything done and can just play.

Isaac had his 18 month well child visit, about a month late. He is 28 lbs and 33 inches. He's in the 75th percentile for height and weight. His ears are clearing up, but still have fluid in them. The Dr. scheduled an audiologist appointment for Isaac and Cardale in a couple of weeks. Better to be on the safe side. Hopefully they can both stay healthy for a while! Isaac has learned the word "no" and has become a policeman. He is very aware of what the "rules of the house" are and is quick to yell for me when Cardale is doing something wrong.:)

In other news, I'll be in Denver this Sunday thru Wednesday! My sister is graduating from Calvin in May with her nursing degree and is moving to Denver. She is going out now to interview and figure out where to live. She asked me to go along for moral support. That was a hard decision- travelling with no kids and no responsibilites- sign me up! We'll have some good sister bonding before she moves far away. My Mom is coming over to help care for the kids while I'm gone, thanks Mom!