Superbug ~ Links

This is Joe - cool Joe. This was taken last weekend - BEFORE the MRSA took over his life.

Typical interaction with Joe: My leg hurts. Me - Did you hurt it when you feel longboarding? Joe - No, it's my other leg that hurts. Joe leaves the room.

20 minutes later: Jesse brings Joe to me - to see his leg. Joe's back right upper thigh is swollen the size of a softball - very red, very hot and a large sore in the center.

Jump up - get dressed - go to the ER - trying to decifer from Joe - how and when this might have happened. Joe can't pinpoint the event that made his leg look so angry.

At the hospital - the Dr to Joe: Dude - how long has this been like this? Joe is uncertain. Joe has a fever and they begin to lance the wound - pack and dress it. Even though it looks extremely painful - Joe at times, giggles - he is ticklish.

The wound is diagnosed a MRSA - a superbug. After 4 trips to the ER for continuing treatment - 2 antibiotics, pain medicine and 4 missed days of school - Joe is better and can enjoy his spring break now...

And I am very proud of myself for this new discovery. I figured out - by myself - how to add links on my blog page. That is so cool to me. I always wondered how that was done and I tripped over the page that walked me through the steps...very cool.

When will the snow go away???

Baskets ~ Bubbles ~ Bad Boys II ~ Passion

Today is Easter Sunday.
Resurrection Sunday.

How do I accomplish teaching my little children the importance of our walk with Jesus? To walk towards Him and turn our backs on the world. To be in the cool, refreshing presence of our Lord.

First - we buy mega amounts of candy and bubbles and a little stuffed animal - put it in a basket - 'the Easter Basket'. The goodies in this basket - suffice for breakfast - accompanied by a big glass of milk - I'm certain it is as nutritous as Apple Jacks cereal.

Second - we attend church. The children are taught about Jesus' death and resurrection. Information that they hear often - not fully grasping the importance of the history.

Third - Go eat lunch together as a family - not anything atypical about our family time.

Then we come home - Easter Baskets are revisited - sorted through - grazed on.

I'm still feeling like I need to use this day for further expansion on the wonderment of Jesus resurrection with the little children.

The Gospel Channel has a commercial free Easter - which means ongoing videos, no commercials - we have it on - sing - dance..well okay - I'm the only one dancing - gotta love Mary Mary 'Shackles'. Then we catch the end of Godspell. I explain to the kids how it is like a 'hippie play' about Jesus. We catch the part when Jesus is in Gethsamane and then Judas and then crucified. Finally - 'The King of Kings' comes on. While it is an old movie - it hits all the key points. The kids watch - ask - and learn.

I wanted to watch 'The Passion of the Christ'. Gordy won't watch it again - it is too tough for him. I am always amazed how people can watch a movie with multiple, multiple killings - but when it comes to 'The Passion' - it either offended people with it's 'violence' or made them uncomfortable.

The piece of 'The Passion' that is so important - is that it makes us CRITICALLY think about one death. We are lulled into complacency watching movies like 'Bad Boys II' that exploit multiple deaths and laugh at the antics of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as people die - or those already dead are strewn about a highway...but cannot stomach watching a depiction of our Saviour being led to his death. ONE DEATH...means everything...then His resurrection...completed everything.

Gotta go...I have an Easter Basket that is calling me :)

Run, Run, Run

Being home this week with the kids has taken me back a little - to children's programming.

HBO has a certain kids program called 'Crashbox'. The kids love it and watch it intently. There are many segments with plays on words. I love it - opportunities for utilizing critical thinking for my little ones.

Today there was a segment on the word 'RUN.' So - I Iearned that:

~ Politicians RUN for office

~ A creek RUNS thru a property

~ An athlete RUNS a race

~ The Cosby Show had an 8 year RUN on TV

No wonder people have a hard time learning English.

My middles...

I don't have many friends that have large families. Large - I mean by more than 5 kids. I come up with this number as the auto industry seems to have defined 'the family transporter' being a mini-van, that typically sits 7 people - 2 parents and 5 kids...I guess...

Having 8 children - many events are attended by taking 2 vehicles - as I would NEVER purchased an 'institution van' - one that seats like 15 or something...no, no, no.

Anyways - I digress -'my middles'...these are my middle 3 children. When raising children - kids are labeled - 'the baby', 'the girls', 'the oldest' - etc...but there isn't really a fitting term - for 'the middles.' These are the children that come after the wonder, newness, first experiences and mistakes of raising the oldest...and they are the children that are forging before the 'babies' - the 'babies' that are getting all the breaks - because the parents are tired...worn out...and less reactive about most everything...

The middles are an interesting group - they either are a very tight unit with in a family - having structure to their relationships that they don't have with the rest of the world - or are disconnected - navigating separately. I am so grateful that these three are close and each others best friends. Just watching them - is at times - like watching either the three stooges or the three musketeers. These are the kids who had lemonade stands, played killer football with pillows stuffed under their shirts, made Lego universes - while singing along to Space Jam soundtrack and have whole conversation using random movie quotes that only they understand.

Now they are big. I am the short one. When did that happen? They drive, work and travel. They don't need me to navigate their journeys - I'm just the 'check in point' now - offering refreshment and encouragement.

Those who know me - know that I am grateful everyday for God's work in my life. I came into parenting without knowledge, foundation or understanding of what a parent should be or what a parent should know. I know NOW that God has a plan - for my family and my children - beyond what I can see or understand.

This coming Easter Weekend - the most Holy of Holy's...I am again - dying eggs with 'the babies' - talking to 'the oldests' about their family plans...and looking forward to Easter Service with 'the middle boys' and waiting to hear about their sister's Easter Sunday Service as she is away in California. While my heart aches for those quiet days - when 'the middles' were 'the babies'...I am profoundly grateful for the wonderful persons these three are becoming as young adults.

'God is taking us on a great adventure. It will be out of our power and control. And it will be a ride like none we would have planned for ourselves. As we loosen our grip on the reins of our own lives, he is direcing us down a trail - we have never known.'

~Blessed are those whose strength is in you. ~ Psalm 84:5

These Girls....

These girls are on my mind and heart alot. As always, Vanessa - one of the 'eight wonders' of the world - I LOVE TO SEE HER SMILE. Typical day - 18th birthday - have to get that tattoo - 'just to show Mom that I can.' Christina - showing me the tattoo - 'lighten up Berni - lighten up.' Heather - eating at Berni's - always lots of kids - lots of food. Kendall - hanging out in the background - yes I see you there - I pray for you OFTEN...And Sunni - I am saving my needle and thread for her daddy to sew HER into her prom dress. I will never forget that prom night.

Vanessa: My heart bursts every time I thank God that he made you a survivor.

Christina: Blue Gloves - Green Pee...'nuff said.'

Heather: You are a mommy now...Liam is a lucky baby...come home - I will feed you all...

Kendall: God loves you and is waiting 'on-hold' for you to pick up and talk to Him.

Sunni: Go easy on your daddy.

This was a good day. Then at 1 a.m.....the start of a VERY long summer. Who knew?

New Days - Same Stuff...

Gordy is home for his first weekend from his new job. He is happy and settled with his new vocation. I am overwhelmed...mostly.

Pros: 1) More money - specifically - money available to just - do stuff. The last year has been a severe drought. God has been faithful. I always told Gordy that God did not bring us this far to make us homeless...and we still have our house that we will grow old in and my grandchildren come home to visit. 2) Gordy's self-competitiveness will pay off. He, for the past 4 years has always competed with himself and other workers...to no avail. He would 'best' his last best day - but have nothing to show for it. 3) Gordy is one of the hardest working men I know - now he will be able to fully see the fruits of his labors. 4) Gordy needed a change - he really wouldn't say that specifically - but he is walking 'lighter and quicker' - happy and content. 5) He's old...not a young man to be slinging 5 gallons of paint around every day - he was worried that his body would be broken down too early. 6) Finally - he is rested and we will be having more defined weekend family time...I am excited for that.

Cons: 1) He's gone - some days it is easy - some days - not...2) Having to learn all the computer stuff...he's reaaallllyyyy slow...3)....ummmm....can't think of anything else yet....

I guess the Pros - out weigh the Cons...

We'll see how week 2 shapes up....