Rollercoaster rides are NOT for me!

For those sweet friends that have asked about Daddy and not received any news here lately. Here is the ride we are on.... I really do not know where to start because the last some of you know is he had two surgeries and was supposed to come home that week. Well, a LOT has changed in 5 weeks. He was rushed to ICU and had to have a vent put in. He has been in ICU for 2 weeks now. My Dad is still fighting with something called ARDS with pneumonia. He does not have the vent in now, but if things do not turn around pretty quick they might have to put it back in! He gets upset because he has to have his hands tied down all the time. As soon as the nurse unties them he starts trying to pull off the oxygen mask. NOT GOOD!!! My mom and I were there together at the 5 o'clock visit and he asked us to take him home. :( So, sad!!!!! My sister and I have tried breaking up times when we are there visiting. So, that Mom is not by herself very much. I know my Mom is tired of running back and forth between work,the hospital, and home. She is such a strong person! I admire her strength and joy even in this crisis. This is the time of year we have so many family Christmas traditions. It is starting to tear at us that our silly Santa is not around to carry some of them out! Daddy is the one who writes out their Christmas cards and enjoys every minute of it. He buys TONS of candy canes every year and passes them out each Sunday to all the kids (big and small). This morning as Mom and I sat in early service we could not control our emotions for two main reasons: 1. The choir sang Mountain Mover. Oh, my if you are not moved after that song you need to be pinched. We know God can take any situation and move a mountain to do what he wants. God IS STILL moving mountains to make Daddy well and showing His presences all around us! 2. Our church had a I Love My Church Day today. They showed a video of pictures taken throughout the year. There was a picture of Daddy smiling at one of the kid functions. Well, that got us going again!!!! We are ready to see that healthy, smiling,and happy Daddy again!!!!!!!!!!!
I have several prayer requests right now:
1.Daddy to make big strides to breathing on his own soon. And to be healed!(All if this is God's will.)
2. Mom's strength and stamina.
3. We are closing on our house this Tuesday the 8th. (FINALLY!) That all goes smoothly.
4. The move the following weekend that I will have everything packed and ready for a quick efficient transition.
5. Jason will have hernia surgery the Wednesday after we move. That he will do well and the pain will be tolerable.
6. That we will continue in all this craziness to keep our eyes on the Lord. It is so easy to lose focus when things are this hectic.
Thank you for loving us and continuing to lift us up in prayer. With love and emotions on this roller coaster ride we are on.

Up, down,and On the Way to Recovery

As most of you know we have spent too much time up at the hospital over the last three weeks. Daddy had a pace maker put in Monday. Then, yesterday he had a small part of his small and large intestine removed because it had died. We do not know how and it seems no one can explain it either. So, you will know these things are all too familiar right now....Look at Daddy's breakfast, lunch, and supper. Yummy huh? This is Mom's survival suitcase Ahem...I mean purse. She has anything you can imagine in that thing! Cheetos, phone numbers, medicine, book, paperwork,etc...Every time Daddy is in the hospital this is what he wants to hold his bride,

of almost 45 years this Friday,hand.
Mom noticed how Daddy's hands were holding his incision was in the shape of a heart.

Aww...feel the love! Thank you for all the prayers and support you have given our family during this rough time.

We are ready to see him at HOME soon!!!!!!

My Dad

Here is for all the folks who do not know what is going on....My Dad has been in and out of the hospital 4 times in 2 weeks! First, it was his heart. Fixed that check! Second, they thought appendicitis,but it ended up an inflamed bowel. (Still working on that part now.) Third, had to put a cath in. Now, this last time he has stayed since Monday the 2nd. They really do not know what is going on right now. He has had a cat scan, x-rays,etc. He was in so much pain, dehydrated, and his sodium level was low. They have found a mass or something in his lower small intestine. They are running more tests this morning to determine the next step, surgery or what! Please Lord be with him during this uncertain time. I know things are scary right now. But, I also know with all my heart our God is all knowing and has a PERFECT plan in store. Even if we do not understand what is going on and why...HE DOES!!!!! Thank you Lord. Please be with the doctors help them to have wisdom in determining what is going on with Daddy. Please be with Mom as she is putting up a strong front. Help her to remain calm and healthy during this uncertain time. Wrap your loving arms around them both and hang on tight showing them your peace and comfort like only you can Lord. Oh, I love you Lord and rely on you during this time. Thank you for your love! In your name I pray, Amen!

Life lately in pictures....

Fun at Pappy's Pumpkin Patch with friends! (Jolie loved picture time. Ha ha!)
Our Lil' Heartbreaker

Jolie cuddled up to watch her brother and sister play soccer.My Little Hawk

Future soccer player in the making.
Jaelynn- CSI Detective

Jolie's 1st haircut given by her Daddy. He did good huh?Jake- the bow hunter
Jolie-the clown
Jaelynn-Pippy Longstocking
Our little Sweeties

Jake update and Farm Fun!

Here is our Trooper after his shower with his big his bandage off. His teacher, Mrs. Clower, and his 1st grade class made him Get Well Soon cards and a banner. They were SO sweet! Jake LOVED reading each one and it made him feel very special. Thank you Mrs. Clower for being so thoughtful and caring to my sweet boy!
The doctor released Jake to go to the farm for our family reunion this weekend. He could not run or jump where he could fall and bust open his stitches. Ummm....to go or not? Could Jake be contained on a farm where everyone runs and jumps all over the land? We were willing to try. He did great and only got upset a few times when told he could not swim or play mud football. Here are pictures of our wonderful time at my uncle and aunt's farm and the hotel.

We had a wonderful time down on the farm! Jaelynn wants to live on

a farm with lots of animals one day too.

It's Birthday Time Again, but This Time it is Down on the Farm!

It is birthday time again, but for our oldest daughter. Jaelynn is 8 today!!!!!! She was due November 1st. Jaelynn decided to come three weeks early on October 10th weighing 6lbs 8oz. Jaelynn is joyful,very creative, smart, beautiful, thoughtful, caring, the oldest sibling, loyal, loves to read, and godly girl. She makes friends wherever she goes. I am SO very proud of the beautiful lady she is becoming. I hope she continues in the direction she is going to seek the Truth with every twist and turn her life takes her on.

We asked what she wanted to do on her birthday. We are having our family reunion down on the farm(it was my grandparents, but my uncle and aunt live on it now) this weekend, but we gave her a choice to go or not. Well, she did not hesitate to pick the farm to frolic and play on for her birthday. Here are some pictures of her enjoying her special day today.

Jaelynn looks forward to playing with the chicks and carrying them around.

Please be careful sister playing up so high in the barn.

Swinging is one of her favorite things to do on the farm.

It is time for CAKE!

To end her day she got to do her all time favorite thing...SWIM!!!!!
I hope you had a wonderful day at the farm.
WE LOVE YOU Sweet, Ladybug, Princess Jaelynn!

Today, forever,foreverdy!

Our little Trooper

Tears for food started off Jake's morning yesterday. Poor thing could not have food or drink after midnight until after his surgery. He went on to school to keep his mind off of the upcoming event in his life. Jason and I went to pick him up and he had taken his first spelling test. He was beaming that he had made a 102! We were so excited. Jason, Jake, and I drove to Mother Frances Hospital. We checked in and everything moved pretty quick after that.

They had to mark the spot where surgery would be performed. The knot you see is VERY small compared to what it was a week ago.

Jake did so well until about 11:30. This boy was hungry! I bet he said so over 100 times while waiting to go back. Here, he did not get upset about the actual surgery and what was about to happen. He through a HUGE FIT about having to take off his shirt and wear a gown. Jake is extremely modest. Finally, the nurse told us he could just wait until he was on the goofy medicine. Thank you!!!!

So, I gave him the syringe full of medicine and within a few minutes he was relaxing.

They took him back quickly after that. It was so hard seeing our baby roll away. The night before a nightmare kept haunting me...they would roll Jake away, but NEVER bring him back.

Dr. L came out and spoke to us about all the details after only 40 or so minutes. God is good ALL THE TIME!! We had prayed the infection would subside so the surgery would be successful. Well, God answered those prayers even more than we expected. Originally Jake was going to have the cyst and part of a bone removed. God shrunk the cyst so small that Dr. L could not find the tract that lead around the bone. So, he removed the cyst and the scar tissue. Dr. L said it is a smaller incision than what it would have been. Woo hoo!

Jake decided he liked sleeping with the oxygen mask and slept 40 minutes after surgery. He woke up with no screams or major side effects. He just wanted to know when he could take off the mask. The nurse was very pleased.

Most children wake up screaming.

After recovery we went up to the children's floor. After, he drank a 7 UP and went to the restroom we were ready to leave. Jake was SO HUNGRY! We waited 2 hours to be dismissed. It was about 5pm when we got that little trooper some food. He did so well and we are very proud of him. He is acting great and still has had NO pain medicine. The doctor told us Jake could go to our family reunion this weekend as long as he did not run and jump around. We are really excited because him and Jason were going to have to stay at home all weekend.