The Good "News"

Sometimes a little hard to find amongst the miriad of "bad news"
I did run across a couple of good reports this week.

Check out this story of a third grade boy who saved the life of a class mate.

And this one of a 16 year old boy who helped save the life of a 5 year old.

Our latest

Thought maybe a real update is necessary.

Today we are 20 weeks and Friday we find out who's baking! ;0)

Aliyah's Ped. Urologist has ordered another Renal Scan, Nuclear Medicine; and I will be unable (for the first time) to be in the room with her. However, Daddy will be there for that part and we will all be together again shortly after the test is completed. I will still help her through the cath and IV portion; which was releiving as Daddy may have gone ballistic and knocked out a nurse had he been the one there! :-P

After that we will have to see what Dr thinks is needed next and go from there. If he happens to mention surgery (last time I expected him to mention it...he wanted to schedule it. I never know what to expect with him) we will go for the second opinion I'd thought about as it is such a risk either way.

Other than that life is "normal"...... right?
We are looking at a vehicle situation trying to use wisdom and not only frustration. Our suburban had a big issue last week, but less than the usual $500; the Jeep still has some quirks we are sinking more $$ into; then today, we think our little commuter has alternator trouble..... **sigh**

Anyway, that's the news from the front lines. ;0)

fynnny

For some reason, maybe hormones? lately many ironic things have been hilarious to me. I'd rather have that be a side effect of pregnancy than the other various moods we become stricken with. ;0)

So I was posting a comment on a friend's page and the word verification...see title, looked funny... literally.
Earlier today it was the fact that while doing one yucky thing, working with raw chicken, I have to stop, wash really well, so that I can change a really yucky diaper; after which I wash really well, and start back to the first yucky thing. And the irony had me laughimg for awhile.
Then this afternoon we received a shipment we've been expecting. There should be 5 identical boxes, but according to the shipping records only one has actually been sent. So when the 4 that "aren't sent yet" arrived and the one was MIA, I think it is funnier than Abbot and Costello!

In a way I hope this passes quickly, I'm getting tired of explaining the lastest strange occurance that has me rolling to poor hubby.

gift giving

Sometimes I wonder why we give gifts to people.
Is it that we want to make them feel our love, our appreciation for them? ~or~ Is it because we feel the need to give them some thing?
That may not sound like a big difference, but in the heart of the issue, it is. Do we desire only to make our selves feel good by giving a gift or do we desire the receiver to feel good?

Now "gifts" is not my love language, so for me they carry no special meaning of being loved. For someone who does speak that love language, things are probably different.

I would rather skip the card, candy, flowers and dust collectors for awhile and do something meaningful instead.

Did you realize that this Mother's Day, somewhere, a mother will be devasted by the loss of her child? Do you know that most of the time it could be prevented with fresh water, proper nutrition, or even basic medical treatment?

I would rather know that a "gift" to me was making a bigger impact where it is needed, than cluttering my house with another thing that will sit collecting dust!

Both Food for the Poor and World Vision offer "gift" catelogs that allow such impactful gifts to be given year round. You can choose a donation that will house a family, teach a mother a trade skill so she can earn income, farm animals to provide food and income to a family and wells to provide fresh water. You can give towards something or give the whole thing yourself; and when you do it in honor of someone, say for Mother's Day or a Birthday, the person receives a card that is personalized by you and describes their gift.

How many of us need another box of chocolates? a figurine of some breakable nature and no useful purpose? or a boquet that will die days from now? How many need food? water? shelter? medicine?

Like I said, for me it is no issue not to "get something."
I know I am loved. To me, making one mother's day; the gift of a living child, or the ability to feed your child... that is what would bless my heart most.

Surrender.....revisited

from A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God"

"We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety. This is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed."

(italics mine)

This truely spoke to me as I read it.
Through the last 3 years the Lord has been teaching me a deeper meaning of surrender. He brought me to a place (shortly before I started blogging) where I was willing to say "have thine own way" and release my will to His, even though quite painful.

Then He blessed us with Aliyah and I have always felt keenly, that I need to let go this treasure....constantly. Treasure her and love her, but always be ready to yield her to His will for her. I often try to relate this to my other little ones, but with her it is a penetrating emotion.

We see her Pediatric Urologist tomorrow; he will be reviewing the results of her latest ultrasound. Her left kidney (the one that works) has grown "bigger" but we don't know what that means. Do they mean longer or is it more dilated? That is the all important question. Longer is ok, it has to be bigger since it is the working one. Further dilated is not so good.

I am trying to remember and practice the Rules for Contentment numbers 2 and 5 especially.

2. Never picture thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.

5. Never dwell on the morrow. Remember that it is God's, not thine. The heaviest part of sorrow often is looking forward to it. "The Lord will provide."

"God Almighty loves thee better and more wisely than thou dost thyself." ~and if that is true about myself, how much more true of my little one!

I need not think the "what if this...." "what if that..." questions. He has her in the palm of His Hand, and she couldn't be in a better spot than that!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lord, I release my children to Your Will for them.... again. (and I may have to keep doing it, day by day.) I do know You have them safely in Your arms and that I can trust You with them more than I can trust me.

Solved Mystery

For the last several weeks, my hubby and I had been wondering to where half a dozen pair of underware had disappeared.

I do at times allow help from each child in sorting, folding and putting away our laundry, yes even little Aliyah is allowed to "help!" Well, one of those times someone had stuck his underware in the back of the sock drawer and socks proceeded to fill in the drawer to the point of covering all of the pairs entirely!
Today I found them when adding socks. I went to put them in and wondered at the stack at the back... that's when I was able to see clearly what they were.

I wish all mysteries were so easily solved!
;0)

Shame on Texas!

Disclaimer:
I am not Mormon, nor a polygamy advocate.


So today in Texas, parents accused of abuse have no due process. Without following the traditional practice of investigating a claim families have been ripped apart.

Quote:
Mothers and children seperated.
CPS bus supervisors, having taken lists of names, call the mothers names and the number of children going with them, and escort them off the bus. Mothers who have children under the age of five are allowed to take all their children and get off the bus at the Coliseum. No caretakers are allowed to go along with the mothers to help. Mothers who do not have children under the age of five, but children five and older, stay on the bus and are driven a short distance to the Pavilion. All caretakers are also told to stay on the bus and get off at the Pavilion. Inside the Pavilion there are many CPS workers, male and female. Workers call the group of mothers and children to order, then a spokeswoman reads the names of mothers, caretakers, and number of children who go with each one again. Mothers and caretakers are told to walk a short distance away from the children. Some children try to follow their mothers and caretakers, but are stopped by CPS workers. Any mothers who object are escorted by CPS workers. Once the group is sorted, the CPS worker in charge tells the mothers and caretakers to step into the next room where, "...we will give you some information." Some children start to cry and hold on to their mothers. CPS workers take hold of children and say, "We will watch you. Your mom is just going to step into the other room. We will watch you until she gets back." Mothers reluctantly walk into the next room where the entire wall is lined with policemen, firearms handy. The mothers and caretakers are called to order as the spokeswomen reads the "information". The mothers and caretakers are told that the state has custody of their children. The adults are given two choices: to go back to the Ranch, or to go to the Family Alliance Shelter. There is not a choice to stay with the children. One caretaker asked what the shelter was, and if it would mean they could be closer to the children. A CPS worker explained that a person could go to the Family Alliance Shelter if they were afraid of anything happening to them at the Ranch. The majority of mothers and caretakers chose to go by bus to the Ranch.
Monday, April 14, 2008 2:35 PM

That's from this site set up by the church to support the restoration of the families.
Go there if you have an open mind, watch the videos and read the timeline articles.

You wont typically find this side of the story in the media.

At least California law, if not Federal law, states that children cannot be interviewed without the parents consent and they are entitled to be in the room. Where are these parents rights?

We also have a couple of legal safe guards like "innnocent until proven guilty" and the right to face your accuser.
The accused in this case doesn't even live in Texas,, he lives in AZ and the accuser is MIA! Yet for some reason 400+ children were removed from their homes for this?!?

An appropriate commentary from Joshep Farah at World Net Daily. says it better than I can!

Big Decision

Well, Aliyah is 18 months old! **ahhhhh** Where does time go?

I have had her Pediatric Urologist for longer than she has been out, as we saw him before she was born for a consult. He isn't very good at bed side manner, and has opined on topics....like how many kids not to have.... that aren't his business. But the most difficult part is that his billing office has been a thorn in my side for the entire time!

We have been billed for the "write off" portion 2 or 3 times. This last time they have been billing it for over 12 months. My ins. co. finally said they could do no more to help last October. I have sent them all the info. (and more) they could need and still it isn't getting resolved.

That brings me to the "big decision"
Switching DRs
I spoke with our pediatrician's office and asked for a referral, then I called and spoke with one of the staff there. She was very pleasant to talk with, very helpful and polite. She answered all my questions and even encouraged me to call again if I thought of more!!! With the other office, if I got through to a person, they weren't happy to talk to me, no matter how polite I was!

The down side is that they only have an office at Cedar Sinai in Beverly Hills, so no more local visits. It also means starting over. We did want a second opinion at one point, and they do take our ins....

So we have to weigh it out and see.

Mamas, don't give your babies cocoa in their PJs

Our dear Mo had her 6th Birthday Saturday.
As a gift from Auntie Jodi and Family she received "Sipping Chocolate"..... and has been anxiously waiting everyday for it! ;o)

So tonight, after everything was in bed time order, I gave them all cocoa (Aliyah had hot carob), and Mo got to enjoy her special birthday treat! Well, two of them (or should I say Mommy) paid for it with their PJs and a bath -- not that bath's are bad, we quite enjoy them; earlier in the evening, though.

New shift, new bed time, but 10 O'Clock!!!:-O

Goodnight!
Sweet and sticky dreams to you! ;-)

Scary!

Start here:
http://freehovind.com/watch-_1656880303867390173

I know we don't all have 2 hours to spend watching this, but if you have sat down to any feature length film in the last month you can make the time! And, Please do!!! Your future (and mine) may depend on it.


"We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren [tyrannical government] till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it." ~Patrick Henry

What would America's founders do?
Answer: Fight!
"If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained — we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!" Patrick Henry

We are expected to fight for the freedoms they gave us. Not always with sword and spear and javelin, but in word and deed and surely VOTE!

Read the Declaration of Independence and you will see that they put into it:
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. "

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" ~Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

"We all must hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." ~ Ben Franklin ~at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

What course will you take?

Oh, Gravity

This morning, Ysa (our eight year old) asks:

"Mommy. When did God create gravity?"

"Well," I reply, "when He created the world and the heavens."

**enter into explaination of Mass and Gravity**

"Oh," she says, "I thought it was because of sin. You know, sin causes falls.... and it is because of gravity that we fall."

:-P

Cold Cereal

I don't normally eat cold cereal.... my blood sugar can't really take it.
Really it's worse than Chinese food; I am hungry about the same time I finish eating it.

But this morning I found some value to it.....
I usually get to eat cold food anyway, so when it took me an hour to eat a bowl of cereal, it wasn't bad that it was cold! Nothing like cold eggs! Ick!

"Wash your hands with soap AND water!"

My husband used to think I was crazy.

"Why do you always emphasize the water part?" he'd ask.
"Isn't it the soap that should need it?"

"No." I reply, "Trust me, the water needs it!"

Tonight I hear him speaking to our (almost) 4 year old son,
"Use some water too! Not just soap!!!"

Me, Crazy? Maybe not after all.

A Science lesson from my three year old

As we were talking the other day, I told my children I was serious.
My three year old son says: "You're a cirrus cloud if you're serious, Mom."

Needless to say the serious passed quick as a cirrus cloud!

just hafta whine

Ok this is much more of a vent than anything.

Where I live, I cannot fit a dryer in my laundry room, so we have a laundry line. We share that line with our elderly neighbor and with a family, both of whom have dryers.
Today I have 3 or so loads worth of clothes, that will take up all of the 5 lines available and one of my neighbors is using 3 of them! I was so bummed!
Here I am with 2 loads in my arms, wet and heavy, when I see that I cannot hang up most of what I've washed. And I don't have the option to shove it all in a dryer. To use a dryer I have to pack all my stuff, myself and my 4 kids in a car and drive to some other place, often paying to use it there; all the while accomplishing nothing of what I planned to do at home!

Ok with that off of my chest, I'll move forward.

edited 3 hours later

So after my whining and complaining was done....
I continued to get done other things I planned for the day, and saw that my neighbor had taken in her laundry. I was able to hang mine out.
In the process, I realized that she has just as much right to use the line as I do, and that she is more considerate than I as she didn't leave her laundry up all day, but took it down as soon as it was dry.

Moral of the story....
whenever you point the finger at someone else 3 are pointing back at you!!!
Introspect a little and see if you aren't as guilty as the person bothering you; you may find, like I did, you are more guilty than the other.

"5 minutes late, dead along side the road"

Quote my Mom about how quickly we jump to bad conclusions.

Today I didn't get my usual afternoon call from my honey, who needed to get gas and stop by a parts store before returning home. Usually when there are after work stops he calls on his way, no such call.
Worry starts to set in.
Finally I prayed for an answer in 15 minutes, or I call him, and set a timer thinking I'd stop worrying.
I should know me better!
Shaking, I prayed again, at two minute intervals, to be delivered from negative thoughts, taking each one captive, but, sadly, not before allowing them to influence me.
Please, LORD, help me to be ruled by You and not by my fears!
**Ding**
Deap breath.
I called,
"Honey?"
**Sigh**
"You'll be home soon then.
I Love You!"

Nothing like a vision of life without the one you love, even if a breif nightmare, to remind you of their worth in your own life. And to make sure you let them know, while you can.

first words?

By now you probably believed we fell off the face of the earth.

Our little Aliyah is now 9 months old! I can't believe it has gone this fast.
She can say mama and dada to the corect party and keykey, which is more of a whisper, she says when chasing our poor kitty. :0)

The other day she was standing next to her oldest sister, Ysabella (7 3/4 years) and she said a word after which her sister said, "Mommy! She said 'Bach' like the composer Bach!"
I thought, "Wow! How many 7 year olds would think Bach and not bock-bock like a chicken?"

Anyway,
wanted to share that and make an appearance.
:0)

It's about time

Aliyah had surgery on her right kidney on November 8th.

Everything went well and, now that we have a little water under the bridge, we believe that the kidney is functioning.
But then there's the left side. It has continued to grow and is now "moderate to severe" hydronephrosis.
At our last appt. on the 11th of December, Dr requested another Isotope Renal Scan (nuclear test) and follow up appt....... before Christmas!
Well, so much for that! The appt. people are unable to get us in until mid-January so far and that is without the follow up appt with Dr afterward.
She seemed a little ticked when I was asking about all of the details and how they were not what DR asked for, but that's my job right. Not to tick her off, but to keep up on the details of my child's health!?! Right?

It is possible that she will need surgery on the left side. Bummer.
We will know more when we finally get the test done and read to us.
Thank you anyone out there praying for my baby.

to tick me off

It probably doesn't take much to tick me off, but yesterday someone really did!

I am trying to get all manner of thing together for my kiddos for while we are apart. Hubby and I leave today for Hollywood and Children's Hospital Los Angeles so that we will be on time for tomorrows surgery on our infant. This puts me in a particularly sensitive mood.

So as we finished up getting some things from our Library and are almost to our car, I notice that the car next to us is running. I look carefully to see if anyone is going to try to back out with out looking first, and notice that there is no one in the driver seat.
Upon further examination, I find that there is a 2 to 4 year old little girl strapped into a car seat, asleep and alone. The car is unlocked, running and (as we find out later) doesn't even have an alarm set to scare anyone off! I was fuming!!!!

I left my Mom in Love with the kiddos and the air running and went back into the library with the licence plate number. This caused a big uproar in the Library staff area, and I was glad not to be the only one outraged! On the way back in I was wondering what could/should be done and if I was just still a tattle tale from my youth.
The police were called, but the careless grandparent as this case was, got there first and left promptly. One of the staff told her "You can't leave a child alone in the car" and she said "I know" got in and left!

I don't know what will happen, if anything. But it is one of the most careless things I have seen!
Not only do several children die each year due to the heat (probably why the car was running) it seems that children are at a greater and greater risk of being abducted, horribly abused and murdered! Why not just give the child away! Leave her alone in a running vehicle, she may be abducted on accident when someone tries to steal the car.

This is a very important issue to consider. Often the responsible party has simply underestimated it's importance. Our kids are precious and it is a small inconvience to skip an errand or take them in with you, especially when compared to the consequences of carelessness.!

tough stuff

Life has been full lately.
Last week we had a funeral for Tony, a 1st birthday party for my nephew Isaiah, and a trip down to Children's Hospital for Aliyah Sunday to Monday.

Her test wasn't so hard for her, but the preps were! She needed an IV and it took 4 tries! She has 3 brusies! The cathiter was no picinic, but not as terrible as the IV! She was so worn out that she slept thru the whole test. Daddy and Mommy got to watch her light up the screen as she was radioactive.

She will need surgery. We will be back down at Children's to have that done next Wednesday.
It was a shock to be having it so soon! I thought I'd have a chance to process it before schedualing! She has to stay at least 2 nights and I will room in, but Daddy will stay at a hotel across the street.

I will be glad when all of this is over and she is healed!