IT'S A GIRL!!!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Lincoln's Baby Dedication Service

Today was Lincoln's Baby Dedication Service. If you're interested in watching it, go to http://cbclakeland.com/cornerstone/sundaysermons.htm. Click on the 2nd "Watch" from the top, labled Sept. 9, 2007 AM. It starts out right near the beginning. If you keep watching for a few minutes after the dedication part ends, you'll see the song I sang for the dedication. I got choked up and didn't do well in the end (and was kinda shaky in the beginning), but it's a great song and has a great message for this kind of ceremony! Enjoy...and it's okay to laugh too. I did.

Baby 4 Doing well

Yesterday was my check up for the baby. I heard the heart beat and everything seems fine so far! Next month, Oct. 4, we should find out if the baby is a boy or GIRL! :) As long as the baby cooperates, that is!
A girl would be nice to have for a change. LOL But, four boys could make life fun too!

Either way, names will be a struggle! What do people that have 8 kids do for names? Crazy!

Potty Trained at last!

I think it's safe to say that Jackson is officially potty trained! He has been choosing to go to the "potty" on his own for a few days now! We've had several DRY diapers and underwear too! YEAH!!!! It will be nice to have this finished and behind us, since we still have Lincoln in diapers (he's not yet one, of course), and the baby due in Feb. will add to our diaper purchases as well!

Woohoo!!!!

I HATE BUGS!!!

Monday PM:
OKAY...I OFFICIALLY HATE FLORIDA! HERE'S WHY:

Greg's not home and I just had to kill a HUGE spider myself. I'm ready to pack my bags and head for NY.
I first saw it in our bedroom while I was putting clothes away. I ran for the bug spray and sprayed him, but he moved so fast, that it didn't do anything to him. I lost him behind Greg's dresser and watched for a long time, but couldn't find him. I didn't want to see him again, but I wanted to know where he was. I gave up and went in to use our master bathroom and saw, what is hopefully the SAME spider, crawling along the mirrors by our tub. So, I got the spray again and had to use a broom handle to move some things away until it showed up again. I must have sprayed him 30 times before he finally dropped and slowed down. Eventually he stopped moving. This is the 2nd wolf spider in our bathroom within a few months. WHAT IS GOING ON????????????

Now I want to go to bed, but I'm afraid to.

Anyway...if I can get my heart to stop pounding, I think I'll be okay.

Tuesday AM:
Well, Greg says it wasn't a wolf spider, but actually a "Huntsmen" spider. They look a lot alike and are about the same size, so it caused the same chemical reaction in my brain, high blood pressure and nearly heart failure, BUT, I just thought I'd let you know the correct name for my friendly house guest (as Greg assures me they are harmless). Well, I would like to know the definition of harmless! I think a spider big enough to make your heart stop is not harmless, but what do I know?!? LOL
If you want to see the ugly thing, you can look it up online! haha And, when I say ugly, of course I mean a beautiful creation by the hand of God.

Caring Heart

We just finished our VBS and once again, had a blast! We did Group's "Avalanche Ranch" and Greg was "Cowboy Cody" (a character we made up). The kids love watching him be goofy and do tricks.

One of the craft projects was to stuff two bears (for each child). One bear was for them to take home and one bear will be sent to an orphan in Africa. The idea is for the U.S. child to remember to pray for the African child everytime they see their bear. This will be handled through Group Publishing and Compassion International. I think it's a great way for the kids to get a picture of the world around them.

The other day, while taking Carter to the eye doctor, he asked about the bears. I told him that one of the bears he "made" would be sent to a child in Africa. He inquired, "Because they don't have a family?" I told him that was true. Then he asked why they didn't have a family. I explained that a lot of people in Africa get sick and then they die. He asked if kids got sick and died too. "Yes, sometimes," I replied. He said, "I wish I could go to Africa." I asked him why he wanted to go to Africa and then what he said just melted my heart. "Then we could be their family." I told him that I thought it was a very sweet idea and that I wished we could do that too. Then he began to plan...asking who could live in our house when we left and who would drive our van.

Isn't that sweet? I hope he never loses that heart for kids!

Jackson's CF Update

Jackson is doing well overall. His weight is between 50% & 75%, which is great for a child with CF. His height seems to be taking more after Mommy than we would like, but it's okay.

Wednesday (the 6th), they did his annual tests, blood work and lung x-ray. I don't have the results of the blood work yet, which will check his vitamin levels, liver enzymes and more (that I don't even know, I'm sure). The x-rays show that there is mucous growth in his right lung. His lungs had been very clear up until now, so it was a bit discouraging. The Dr. said that it's not real bad, but because it is an increase, they want to begin treating it aggressively. So, added to his daily treatments will be Pulmozyme. It is not an anti-biotic, which I'm glad for. It is used to thin the mucous in his lungs and will have it's biggest benefit if used during his chest therapy (The VEST)-that will be a trick to get him to do both at once!

He's had the Vest for a few months now and he still resists it, though he's getting much better at it and can tolerate it for a longer period of time. The Pulmozyme will be put in his Nebulizer and so, he'll be doing a breathing treatment and the Vest together...with lots of prayer and muscle!

The Dr. also noticed a cold coming on and she was right. The next day he woke up with a cough and runny nose, so they have prescribed an anti-biotic that he will take for 14 days. I wish I didn't have to put him on it, but that's what will cause more mucous in his lungs, so we have to weigh out the pros and cons and do what they tell us!

The good news is that they can catch all of this so early that it can be treated immediately and not have time to get ahead of us so much that we can't maintain his health. I was recently on a website www.cysticfibrosis.com, which is not the same as www.cff.org published by the CF Foundation), and was reminded of how fortunate we are to be living today. Just in my parents' lifetime (1950's), kids with CF didn't live to attend Elementary school. I am so thankful that I live in a time when the average life span is up to about 38 years. Of course, we hope and pray that by the time Jackson is 38 (36 years from now) even more science and research will be done to make that age at least double!!!

OK, this tops them ALL! Warning: PG-13 for language

OK, well, here's the thing...this is a true story. It starts out with some interesting, usually offensive language...however, when you get to the end, I guarantee it will make you laugh and you will see the innocence in it!

Today Greg took Carter and Jackson with him to the Bass Pro Shop, a favorite place of Greg's (since there is no Cabella's near by). While there, Carter called Greg a "fun f...er ". Greg was HORRIFIED and immediately called me to report the offense. When Greg asked him where he heard that, Carter said, "You". Again, horrified! Greg, of course, knew that was not where Carter heard it, but the fact that Carter said that was unnerving to say the least!
When they got home, Carter was sitting with me on the couch and Greg was again telling me the story of what happened. He tried to avoid saying words that would remind Carter of what he said, but Carter realized we were talking about him and looked at us like he knew something was wrong. I asked him if he was okay and he said, "I called Daddy a fun f...er ." It was so shocking to hear that I laughed out loud. Not wanting him to think it was funny, I quickly explained that it was a very bad word and that he shouldn't say it. I explained that God didn't like it and neither did Mommy or Daddy. I made sure he knew I was serious and explained that if he said it again, he would be in trouble.
He assured me he understood. Then he looked at his thumb and then up at me with a very confused look on his face and said, "So, my fun..." THEN IT HIT ME! He was trying to say, "THUMB SUCKER!" OH MY!!! WHAT A RELIEF!!! I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life!
Carter was also telling the truth when he said he heard it from Daddy. Just yesterday, I pointed out to Greg that Lincoln was sucking his thumb and Greg said, "So, is he going to be a thumb sucker now?" Whew! Our little 4-year old is still an "innocent" little boy!

Hope you enjoyed the laugh! I needed it!

I'll have a...

Have you seen the Subway commercial where the couple is in a fast food drive-thru and he accurately orders his meal in "fat" terms, including supersized "blubber"? His wife orders the same, but instead of the blubber, requests some "thunder thighs" and a "badonkadonk butt". We all think it's a pretty funny commercial, including Carter.
Today, we were dining at the Golden Corral. I was ordering our drinks when Carter piped up and said, "I'll have a Fruit Punch and a Badonkadonk Butt." Oh my!

Carter needs glasses!

In the past few months, we have noticed Carter's right eye drifting and looking cross-eyed (also known as "lazy eye"). We took him to a pediatric eye doctor and she prescribed glasses for him. We are hoping that the glasses will correct the cross eyes and that he will outgrow the need for glasses, but he may end up needing them forever.
The challenge will be getting a 4 yr. old to wear glasses ALL day! He looks pretty cute though, don't ya' think? =)

Funny stories by Carter

This is a story about Carter. He comes up with some of the funniest (sometimes embarrassing) things. I will post these stories from time to time. Enjoy!

One day recently, Carter voluntarily laid down to "nap" in the playroom (because Jackson was napping at the time). He was being pretty quite so I went to peek in and he was playing with toys. I didn't mind because I had not told him to take a nap. About 10 minutes later he came out and said, "I just took a short nap." I said, "No, you didn't. I saw you playing." He said, "Okay, let's try that again." Then on his way back to the room, he turned and said, "Mom, don't try to see me playing."

Jackson's latest CF check up was good news!

Jackson is doing very well. He is about 65%, weight for age, on the growth chart, and 95% weight for height. That's amazing for a CF patient.
He has not had any major illnesses and even managed to avoid catching Carter's pink eye and bronchitis. He has not needed his TOBI meds since last June. This is an anti-biotic taken through a nebulizer to put medicine into his lungs. It is very common in CF patients and many have to take it regularly (28 days on, 28 days off, 28 days on completes a cycle). He has only ever had to use the TOBI meds twice and each time, only for the first 28 days. That means that his lungs are very healthy and able to fight infection.
He's two years old now and seems to have grown up overnight recently. He's still a handful and keeps us going...non-stop! But, he's a lot of fun and a cutie!!!
Thanks for your prayers!

Cystic Fibrosis

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

• very salty-tasting skin;
• persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
• frequent lung infections;
• wheezing or shortness of breath; and
• poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite

Statistics

• About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
• More than 80% of patients are diagnosed by the age of three.
• At least 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
• In 2005, the median age of survival was nearly 37 years.

For more information on CF, go to www.cff.org (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation).