a 20 day update

It is truly amazing how time flies when you are enjoying your life, huh? I am terribly sorry for taking sooo l----o----n----g in writing an update. I think one of the problems was there was really nothing going on that was worth writing about, so I just didn't blog. But within the past week or so that has changed so it is time to catch up.

On October 6th, SS, SM, MB and I were able to go to the Taste of Home Cooking School. It was a blast and I learned a lot of great pointers and tips. The next nigt was homecoming at their highschool so we all loaded up and went to the game. We left the game early so the girls going to the dance (yes, they actually went to the dance-but it was lame and neither of them danced) could get ready. I think they were the only two who actually cared what they looked like. One of the girls was stood up (and the boy called later that weekend and didn't understand why she and I were angry-go figure). The night after that was our churches fall festival.

The kids didn't have school on the 10th or 11th, so I took some shopping Monday (and just in case you don't already know this I HATE SHOPPING!). Tuesday, we drove out to Palo Duro Canyon and hiked for while. It was a lot of fun, but very exhausting. Jason and were lucky enough to have the following day off, and for the first time in a while, I really felt like I needed it.

I spent much of the next few days gathering donations for a benefit costume party that our youth group at church was having on the 22nd. The companies in this city are great! They were very giving and helpful.

Sunday, October 16th marked the one year anniversary of Jason's sister's death. It was a very difficult day to get through, but the girls were very senstive to Jason and he was able to handle it okay. I am glad that first year is over. I hear that while it is still very difficult, that it does get easier after the first year.

On the 18th, KK had a choir concert and we found out that LF's little brothers (they are not at the Home) were also having a concert and that MB9's brother (who does live at the Home) was also in it, so we spent a lot of time that evening listening to 6-8th graders sing. (A side note-I am very impressed that so many of their songs were based in the Christian faith. At first, I just thought it was the director's choice, but later in the concert, she explained that all the songs they sang were from the UIL try-outs. It is so nice to be back in the Bible Belt!)

Jason left on the 20th to go to Colorado and hunt for mule deer with his dad and unlce. I am hoping to get some deer meat this year. I am going through withdrawls! I was off duty from the 20th-23rd and really enjoyed the first few hours alone. After that, I was in desperate need of people! Fortunately, I had 3 wonderful friends (and a pretty awesome kiddo) come visit me. Karen, Tarese, Jhansi and her 3 year old daughter Kahner came and spent the weekend with me. Karen flew in Friday night and Jhansi, Tarese and Kahner drove in Saturday around 12:30 p.m. After a simple lunch of sandwiches, we went to paint our own ceramics. It was so much fun! Before we knew it, it was 5:30 p.m! We were shocked to say the least. We went back home and had dinner (Steak and Potatoes) and then wathced Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It was a really good movie. After lots of talking, we eventually went to bed. Church Sunday morning was good, then we headed to CiCi's Pizza (good, cheap). By the time we were done Kahner was so tired she fell asleep before we even made it home. (She had been sick Thursday night and most of Friday, but felt better Saturday morning. However, her little body was so tired from working so hard at being such a good little girl, I think it gave up and went back to being sick!). We went home, I made Flan for my life group while the visitors packed then they hit the road. I dropped Karen off at the airport. I left the airport crying, but not because I was sad. Don't get me wrong, I was sad to see them go, but more importantly I was truly grateful that they sacrificed time from their families and other loved ones, to come spend a weekend with me. It is amazing to me that after all that time away that we are still able to be friends forever. God has truly blessed me.

I went to my life group and stayed to help clean up a little bit. When I got home at 8:30 p.m. (I was not supposed to be back on duty until 10 p.m.), my male relief houseparent, Dillon was running around, trying to get things cleaned up, get the girls in bed and take care of his son while his wife was having contractions 8 MINUTES APART! I told him to go take care of his wife I would take care of my kids. Laurie was very pregnant, but still was not due for 6 weeks. They went to the hospital where the doctors tried to stop the contractions. The baby then stopped moving and went into distress. Around 1 am they finally decided to take the baby. Her lungs were underdeveloped, but she was 5lb 8 oz and 19 inches long (pretty big for a premi if you ask me!). She immediatly went into NICU and will be there for a few more weeks until everything develops properly. Laurie was doing good for a little bit, but then developed a fever and was unable to take a full, deep breath. She has been struggling to keep the fever away and they have figured out what wrong with her. She was finally able to see her baby for the first time this morning and was able to hold it for the first time tonight around 8 p.m. I have not had the chance to see either mom or baby, but everyone who has says mom looks great and the baby is adorable. When Laurie went to see her this morning, she called her name and the baby opened her eyes for the first and looked for Laurie. Pretty cool, huh?

I was planning on going to see Laurie today, but I received a call from the school saying that MS had fallen and landed on her arm. The school nurse was pretty sure it was broken. So after making a few calls to figure out where I should take her and making sure my other appointments of the day could be rescheduled or taken care of, I picked her up from school and took her the ER. I have concluded that it does not matter which ER one goes to in Amarillo, you will be there FOREVER. We arrived around 9:30 a.m. and left at 2:45 p.m. And no, her arm was not broken-she just had a contusion (you are telling me it took them 5 hours to figure that out? Go back to medical school!). Actually, they had a lot of real emergencies come in through the ambulance door and the front door. MS and I began to feel bad that we were waisting the doctor's and nurse's time and resources for this. There was one women brought in on a stretcher from the ambulance and she was left right outside the door to the exam room we were in (it was too small to fit a bed since it was the Ear, Nose, Throat room). She was unable to really take breath without groaning and was crying almost not stop. The nurses took her vitals then registration came to talk to her and find out what happened. She had apparently being driving through an intersection when her foot slipped off the gas and left her sitting there. She got back on the gas as soon as she could, but it was too late. Someone hit her side of the car. She had her two kids with her and no one could answer her as to where they were. The one nurse did say that if they were not okay they would be in this ER and there were no kids here that came in on the ambulance so they must be okay. That calmed her down for about 30 seconds then she started crying and groaning agian. MS and I were both almost in tears listening to this outside our door. Almost as a surprise to me, I stepped out into the hall and asked the women if I could pray with her. To my surprise again, MS was right with me and also placed her hands on the women. After our prayer, she was still having a difficult time breathing and such, but she stopped crying and did not continue to worry about her kids. So, while I felt like my day was being wasted sitting in the ER, I know that God used us to be there for her. When we left the ER, she was sitting up and the Xrays they took of her showed no broken bones in the neck, arms, legs or hips. And there was no evidence of internal bleeding either. Pretty amazing, huh?

After dinner, Jason called me. He is having a wonderful time hunting and being nature with God, though they have not seen a single deer that they have been able to shoot at. GRRRRRRR. I really want some deer meat! Oh, well. It was just so wonderful to hear his voice. It changed my whole out look on my day.

Okay, I have now written a novel. I will try my best not to go another 20 days before I update this again. I am so sorry! Thanks for checking in and may God open your eyes to His many blessing.