HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Tomorrow is a whole new year yeah!! I have the day planned out for Kyle and I. We had a rough year and I want to start this year out different. He has been there for me with all my hand stuff this year and has been awesome! So, I have planned a fun day out for just the 2 of us!
HAPPY NEW YEAR SWEETHEART!

Rosebuds birthday

Our Golden Retriever Rosebud is 1 years old today. She has been given alot of treats this morning from the boys... We have had her 9months now. She is a very sweet and pretty dog.

I am off to therapy this morning and daddy is home with the boys.

Silly Pics

The boys have played hard all day. They are getting really tired now. They played all morning with there new toys. Lego's, tools and board games. Then this afternoon we have played some Wii when my brother came over for awhile. He had some pizza with us for supper. We could none beat Jeremiah at boxing. He is way to good. Malachi has been sleeping in his big bed this week. I think he is liking it finally. He loves to listen to music in his new radio in his room. We took our tree down today. I never get in any hurry to take my tree down each year, but this is one year I am glad is almost over. I am looking forward to a new year.

I will be out of therapy soon maybe next week even. My window is gone and I did not get what I hoped to get out of the second surgery. I have just smidgens more than I had before my 2nd surgery with alot of work. I have a very sore stiff hand to live with. It's color hasn't been good lately and the cold days make my arthritics acted up. I am trying to just accept it all and go on. Kinda hard some times. As you can see below my circulation is not very good and my pinky finger is kinda not so straight now. I usually have a glove or a warm pack on it because it freezes all the time. I have wax at home that is awesome.

Jonas laying by me listening to my IPOD with me. He has one earbuds and I had the other. He love to hear the song "Set The World On Fire."

Daddy and Jonas being lazy on a Sunday afternoon.

Church was good this morning. We had thought about visiting Aunt Julie's church, but Mala's nose was still running this morning. We went to our church and kept him in big church with us. He did great and was very quiet if you can believe that. We have played a few games of Wii and the kids have played with there new toys alot. We didn't get to the Odyssey game last night and plan to get to it tonight. It looks fun.

Daddy and the boys watching a video on Daddy's laptop

Malachi and Jonas painting Jeremiah playing Wii Bowling

We have had a great day at home checking out all our new things we got for Christmas. Malachi and Jonas painted pictures with every new paint color they had this morning. We have played Wii bowling. We are getting ready to have supper and then I think we are going to all play Jeremiah's new Odyssey game. I am listening to my new IPOD as I am typing. I put some music on there today. I got some cozy PJ's and a movie from my parents and a very pretty Afghan my mother-in-lay made me.

We had a wonderful Christmas week with all our families. I feel very blessed to have all of you in our lives. Thanks for everything Mom & Dad, Gramps & Granny, Tim and Aunt Julie. We love you all...

Christmas at Gramps and Granny's

We had Christmas at Kyle's parents house today. We had a great time. I had therapy this morning and then we headed down and got there in time for lunch. We had pizza and then we opened presents. The boys got alot of neat stuff and we did also. I now own my own IPOD. Kyle got one 2. Now I have something to listen to while they torture me at therapy. ;-) The boys played hard all day and are in bed now exhausted.

After we got home the boys finished off the cheese and crackers we took to Kyle's parents.

JESUS' BIRTHDAY PARTY!

We are starting to decorate our JESUS cake!

Decorating the cake

Boys are blowing out the candles after we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS

CUTE BOYS!!
Malachi and his new scooter and helmet

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Day!

Daddy reading our advent calendar

Jonas unwrapping his Diego toy

Jeremiah with his sponge bob rocket Lego set

Boys checking out there stockings

Jeremiah got an Odyssey game. Jonas and Malachi got Bibles.

Malachi is getting a cool flash light

We had so much fun this morning opening presents. Jeremiah got Lego's from Santa, Jonas got Diego video game for Santa and Malachi got a scooter from Santa. They are now playing with there new toys and eating Cinn squares. Want to know what our family present was?? IT'S A Wii. We got Wii sports. The boys are really excited. They are now bowling. WOW a Wii is fun.
Our turkey is cooking and smells good and we have a ham for new years day.

The boys unwrapping our new family Wii.

Boys playing golf on there new Wii!

We went down to my parents today for Christmas. We had an awesome time. My grandparents all came out to eat with us and Tim road down with us. We had chili and Chicken and noodles. Yummy!! The boys each got a couple neat presents.

We are back home this evening watching Ice Age before bed. They are excited about Santa coming tonight and JESUS birthday party tomorrow. Our Christmas day plans usually go like this: presents when kids are all awake. They have to stay out of the living room until everyone is ready to go see what Santa brought. ;-) Then we open presents.We don't get the kids tons just 3 each. We do have a family gift this year for all of us. I will spill that news tomorrow!! After presents we have cinn. rolls/eggs & bacon for breakfast. Then we decorate our JESUS cake. The boys then play with there new toys for awhile until lunch. We are having turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, green beans, rolls & salad. After lunch we celebrate JESUS birthday with candles and singing and it all. After that we usually watch or movie. Sometimes we stay at home and watch one and sometimes we go to the theater.

Jonas taking Mala to bed

We put out our stocking this morning and a few minutes later Mala and Jo were wearing them. ;)

Boys making Christmas ornaments

The boys have been busy making Christmas ornaments this morning. They smell so good. Malachi had more fun playing with the cutters than making them. ;-)

The boys enjoyed there day at home playing today. I had planned to go to therapy, but Mala had a runny nose and hated to take him to Felicia's house. So, I did my wax and therapy at home. They boys played trains, made a craft, read books and watch Mickey Mouse club House. They are getting very excited about Christmas this week. The presents seem to be getting alittle more tore into everyday. :-) Mala keeps peeking. I put all gift in a different box this year, so if they got ripped alittle they couldn't see what it was. We are going to make some ornaments tomorrow for fun.

Grandparents 70th Ann party today!

My grandparents had a great Ann. party today. Alot of friends and family came by to see them. They are such a sweet pair. My grandma was only 15years old when she married my grandpa. They have been in love all these years and are so sweet together. I have tons of great memories about spending time with them. When I was young I would go to there house and watch them milk cows and help them do chores on there huge farm.

MY GRANDPARENTS ARE CELEBRATING THERE 70TH WEDDING ANN. TOMORROW WITH A BIG PARTY! HAPPPY ANN. GREAT MA AND PA WE LOVE YOU!!

The boys are having a fun day at home today! Malachi and Jonas have been reading books, painting and making a clubhouse in the living room. Jeremiah has been playing with his legos in his room with Frosty. The boys are excited to go to Great MA & Pa's 70Th wedding Ann. party tomorrow afternoon. My grandma is 85 and my grandpa is 89. They are such sweet people and are still love birds...

Kyle is doing ALOT better today. He is up and around cleaning up our room where he has been so sick since Tue. We have been washing all the blankets and stuff. I think he likes it back there. He is on the last Narnia book, so has been reading alot. I got him the new Narnia movie and he has been watching it. He also has his laptop back there.

My hand is doing ok. It just doesn't seem to want to cooperate to good. It is just going to be stiff and aggravating this winter I think. Color is better and I'm not having as much pain using my wax thing here at home. It freezes all the time. The hope was to get me to a full fist and that just isn't happening. They have given up on my little finger. I will alot of torture, heat and more pain can get my first two fingers down to a fist, but as soon as my hand gets cold again I can't. So I'm just not getting it and keeping it. Because my little finger is so cranky I won't be getting my full strength back in my hand. Looking like I will be in therapy until mid January. My wrist is at 60 and they won't stop until I am a 70 and can keep it on my own. I hate to admit it but I'm going to kinda miss seeing all the people at therapy. They have declared that me and one man that got his hand is a combine are there patients of the year!

Winter Wonder Land- North Point Church

God often used unique circumstances to get people’s attention in Scripture…I think we, as His church, should be willing to do the same. As long as the word of God is being preached and lives are being changed nothing says church can't be entertaining at the same time. ;-) This world is a crazy place these days and if doing different things in church get people to come than there's not thing wrong with that. In fact lots of lives are being changed because some churches are doing things different.

Jeremiah's Christmas party

They were doing an experiment in the pictures.

Jonas' Kindergarten Christmas Program!

This is one of the songs Jonas' class sang today for there little program before there party!! He was a sheep in the manger scene. He sure is enjoying school. He has lots of friends and really likes his teacher.

Jonas' Christmas party!

He had an awesome party! He is officially out for Christmas break!!

Jonas & Ethan enjoy there party. They are buddies!

Jonas and mommy

Jonas giving his teacher her present. He made her an ornament and also gave her a candle. He pretended to faint when she smelled it cause she loved it. He thought that was funny.

Jonas making his Christmas ornaments

Malachi cleaning Jonas classroom ;-)

This is what malachi looked like the first night in his toddler bed last night! He laid down in the hall and went to sleep. I woke up and heard something and thought it was Kyle snoring but it sounded to close. I have been sleeping on the couch while Kyle gets over his crud. I found Mala on the floor asleep snoring away. I took him back to his toddler bed and he slept in it all night for the first time.

Hubby said, 3years ago we were well. We were but our date consisted of going to the NICU to see our new preemie baby born 4days before our Ann. So we really haven't had a actually date on our Ann. in years... I'm cranky and going to bed on the couch. Rough day, but we are all still well accept for Kyle. I think he is starting to do alittle better. Tomorrow is Jonas Christmas party and Friday is JWD's Christmas Party at school. The boys are pretty excited to be getting out of school for a few weeks. We usually have lots of fun.

I'm At Death's Door by Kyle "The Sick Husband"

Ok, not really, but it felt like it yesterday. We must be cursed with our anniversary and the flu. Rebekah and I were figuring it up earlier today, and realized one or both of us have been sick five out of the last six years on our anniversary.

Five years ago, I had the flu really bad. Four years ago, it was another cold. Three years ago, we were both health (a fluke). Two years ago, we both had gut rot (stomach flu) at the same time. Last year, Rebekah was ill. And, this year, I kept the string alive. I hate to admit it, but we get to dreading the week leading up to our anniversary, because we're now expecting some kind of bird flu to hit in time for our anniversary.

Fortunatly, I think I'm on the down hill side of this stuff. But, the three days of vacation that I had planned for this week are more or less shot.

At least I still have Rebekah to keep me warm, and to snuggle up to. Oh, wait, that's a picture of her in a wooden frame. She won't come close to me right now. She brought me the picture last night right before bedtime so I wouldn't feel lonely. But, photos in picture frames are cold and splintery.

To change the subject a little, I can hardly believe it has been 14 years of marriage. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was asking her to go to the prom with me. (she said yes, by the way) I can't even get her to blow me a kiss, because she's afraid she'll catch what I have. I guess I don't blame her. If we're lucky, I'll be over this and no one else will come down with it before Christmas arrives.

Happy Anniversary honeybabe. You're my favorite.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Kyle and I were married 14yrs ago today! As you can tell in the pictures we were kinda young. I sure didn't think so at the time. Kyle is my high school sweetheart. We had a beautiful wedding with the church all decorated for Christmas. If you can believe it my hubby sang to me during or wedding and surprised me. I had thought about singing a song, but chickened out. He made me cry!! ;-) I married the man of my dreams. ;-) He is a wonderful man and I love him very much. We have had our ups and downs as all marriages do, but we have always been very much in love and committed to each other.

I had planned for Malachi to go to Felicia's house while the other 2 boys were at school, so we could go eat and watch a movie, but he is once again sick. It seems that Kyle always gets really sick with the flu or something right on our Ann. I'm beginning to think after 5yrs of him being sick on our Ann. that maybe he just doesn't want to have a date with me, but then again he looks so pathetic and miserable that can't be it. ;-) So Honey, Happy Ann. and I hope you feel better real soon!!

The boys made a clubhouse in the living room tonight. They had fun in it. They have been watching Mary Poppins. Daddy has been sick since 3am this morning. Poor Daddy!! It's been kinda a hectic day taking care of Kyle and getting the boys to and from school with the freezing rain. Hoping for a calmer day tomorrow.

Mala walking in the snow

It was a very cold day out today. We had a busy day out in the cold and slick roads. We drove JWD down to his bus stop and got him off to school. Then we took Jonas to school and then Malachi to Felicia's house for a couple hours. Then Kyle took me to therapy and he went back to work.

I took all my therapists cookies this morning. They said, I was having fun playing Santa today.:-) Everyone needs someone to care and do something special for them. I have been able to minister to several there and have one eager to try out our church soon. My two favorite movies, Facing the Giant and Fly Wheel have been passed around all over therapy. Hopefully planting some seeds. After therapy Kyle came back and picked us all up. ;-) I think he was a chauffeur today! Then we came upon a crash. Kyle always says that he only comes up on stuff like that when I am with him. I am always coming up on crashes, people getting hurt or people fainting in walmart right in front of me.

so, on our way home mid-day we came upon a bad crash that had just happened. We called 911 and stayed with them until the cop & ambulance arrived. The man was hurt and they were both shock up and cold. While we were talking to the cop, telling him what injuries they had, another car came skidding over the hill out of control and barely missed the injured people. It missed several trees before plowing through a barbed wire fence and down a six foot drop. Kyle and the officer didn't get a good look inside the car, but I saw a kid in the back seat fly up and smack the drivers seat. After sitting for a few seconds, the driver of that car spun his wheels and drug half the fence with him as he made his way back to the road before speeding off. Very strange. The officer quickly radioed another deputy up the road who pulled the guy over. Turned out, the driver had a warrant out for his arrest. Bad day for him, I suppose.

After that happened, the injured people started to make their way down the slick hill. I held my breathe as Kyle went to help them down the hill to the patrol car where it was warm, and they could wait until the EMTs arrived. We were all afraid another car would come flying over that hill any minutes and wipe them out. After the ambulance got there, we backed out way off of that road and went the long, safer way home.

Mommy & Jonas singing

Mala's Birthday cake picture

Malachi has had a great birthday and I think we have convinced him he is 3yrs old instead of 5yrs. :-) He is such a sweetheart...

About this time 3yrs ago he was born. One minutes I was fine and the next minute I was on the floor in labor with him. He came 2hrs from the first pain. The Dr. had just walked in the room and caught him...

We painted at a pottery place today

We had a great morning painting pottery. They really enjoyed it. They painted some Christmas ornaments and some other stuff.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART..

My baby is 3years old today... He enjoyed opening his present this morning. He was very excited... He got a veggie Tales pirate ship. He has been begging for this for months. He is having lots of fun this morning playing with it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Malachi will be 3 years old in two hours!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALACHI... He loves Bob the Builder and is very excited about his Bob the builder party and cake... Malachi's Gramps, Granny and Aunt Julie came to see him tonight for his birthday!

Malachi 3 years ago...

Malachi was born 61/2 weeks early on December 13th. I went into labor that had to be stopped at 29weeks and then I was put on bed rest for another month, but he still came early. He weighed 5lbs, 3oz at birth. He was in the NICU for 9 days. He had a feeding tube most of that time. He came home a couple days before Christmas that year.

MOPS kids party

We went to Malachi's MOPS party today. They had lots of fun. They made crafts, opened presents and played alot. We made a beautiful Angel...

I used my Paraffin wax today at home and it worked good. It really helped with the pain and the heat made my hand work better. In the first picture I am dipping my hand in the wax. I usually dip it 10x's then I put the plastic around it and then I wrap it in ACE wrap to get my hand a better stretch in the fist position.

I love Christmas time!!

I love to have all my shopping and stressful stuff out of the way, so I can enjoy doing fun things with the boys. We also, have Malachi's birthday this Saturday, our ANN. next week and my Grandparents 70th wedding Ann. get together on the 21st.

We love to drive around and look at Christmas lights, watch movies, make crafts, make cookies, advent calendar, read Christmas book, learn bible verses and the big one is we always have a birthday party for JESUS on Christmas day at our house.

I hope everyones Christmas season is going good and not to stressful, so you can relax and enjoy it!! Even though life is alittle hectic with all my therapy for my hand I am still enjoy Christmas. I am thankful I am doing as good as I am doing even though I do struggle with pain, stiffness and just a very cranky hand. I still have alot to be thankful for...

Something new for my hand

My therapist said today to go out and get a Paraffin warmer for my hand. My hand is achy and freezes all the time. She said this will help some with the pain and warming it up to stretch it out. I have arthritis really bad in my hurt hand. Lovely isn't it them telling me my 33yr old hand is acting like 60+hand. ;-(

Every night we sit under the Christmas tree and read our Advent calendar. The boys look forward to it each night. We are also listening to our Christmas Odysseys.

No Strawberry yogurt for Mala

Malachi got ahold of some yogurt that caused a yucky rash... We are staying away from that kind...

Boys making Christmas cookies!!

The boys love making Christmas cookies this time of year. We usually make some for our neighbors... They like doing the sprinkles the best I think.

While I was at therapy this morning Kyle took Malachi to breakfast. Malachi loves to hang out with daddy!! He was all smiles when they came back to get me at therapy.

Well, I guess I will give an update on my hand. It's been 4weeks since my 2ND surgery. It hasn't gone horrible, but hasn't gone real well. It has been more stiff than it should have been and my last set of stitches got infected and had to come out a week early. Which delayed my movement some because I had to be careful not to get the incision open.

Yesterday I got my first 2 fingers down to a fist. My therapist was pleased. My pinky finger is just not going to corporate at all. It just has some major joint issues. My hand has shown alittle CRPS symptoms again and we are watching that close and praying it settles down. I broke my toe a few weeks ago and it has become more inflammed and hoping CRPS isn't spreading. I am still using my CPM hand machine. My wrist is doing great.

Therapy is really really rough. I'm going 3x a week still. Please pray things will shape up quickly as I am out of time to get it back...

We had a great weekend. We really didn't do a whole lot, but it was fun. We did go out shopping Saturday. We got a coat and a toy for a boy Jeremiah's age this year that needs a coat. The boys surprised us as they didn't ask for anything for themselves and enjoyed picking out the toy and coat for this young boy. They really seem to be grasping the real meaning of Christmas and not only thinking about what I get, but what can I do for someone else...

Jeremiah's caroling

Jeremia's 4th grade class went caroling today. They went to 5 different places to carol. Kyle and I went and saw him at Bass Pro and they did a great job. They sang lots of Christmas songs and even played bells.

Jonas came home today and said the entire bible verse. He got a Memory mouse at school today for saying it to his teacher and he got to put his name on the board so everyone can see he said it. He is really excited about it. He has had a wonderful week at school...

Christmas Shoes

This is my favorite Christmas song... If you haven't seen the movie Christmas Shoes it is a great movie. It will make you cry, but it will also make you think what Christmas is really all about. It's not about Santa and presents.. Of course those things are fun, but Don't forget the real reason for the season!! MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Jonas' bible Verse!

Jonas got some paper and sat down at the table last night and started writing. Then he read it to us and it was a bible verse he had learned at school. I was very impressed!!

Visit to surgeon and then therapy

I had to go get my stitches removed today from my knuckles. They still had another week, but got infected and had to come out. It is really inflamed looking. I can't use my CPM until at least Friday on my knuckles. I can use it on my wrist. I have lost some ground since that has got infected and couldn't do much with it. It is still pretty open unhealed looking in a couple areas where she put the tape on it. Hoping it won't come open.

Didn't get real good news today. I still haven't made any progress that I didn't already have before surgery. Mary my therapist says if it was anyone else she would write me off, but she knows I am very determined and working hard to get it back and is holding out alittle hope. I am I guess according to my therapist a horrible scar person. My wrist scar is already sticking... I kid you not so we are in a scar war as she calls it and I'd really like to win this time around... So, I ask her today how do I know when I I'm done. She said when I plateau for 3 weeks straight. My pinky finger is still very stiff and seems that it's not going to cooperate. So I'm not aiming for perfect, but I would like alittle more movement.

Polar express and Christmas Shoes

We watched the Christmas Shoes movie last night and Polar express tonight. We love watching movies under the Christmas tree at Christmas time.

My hand just keeps causing trouble instead of just doing what it is suppose to. ;-0 The newest issue is that the stitches on my knuckles are infected and really inflamed. I am going to my surgeon tomorrow morning to maybe get the stitches out early. It is painful and is keeping me from using my CPM machine today. My incision doesn't' look totally ready for the stitches to come out yet, so not sure what this will mean for my therapy.

Cynthia Fry

My heart goes out to Cynthia's Family. She passed away after years of battling Lupus and then cancer the last month or so. Gary her husband was the pastor that married us. Gary was my pastor at the church I grew up in. Cynthia was also my 3rd and 4th grade teacher at the Christain Academy. She was my favorite teacher of all time.

She was an extraordinary lady that I greatly respect and I know everyone loved a great deal. Our thoughts and prayers are with her entire family during this time. I can't help but think that she is in heaven right now in no pain...

ICE

It sure was cold when I walked JWD to the bus stop this morning. We skated to the bus stop. ;-)