Updates and pictures, too!

Greetings friends! No, I have not given up blogging, I've just been extrememly busy.

So just to recap, everyone was sick except the mama and everyone is well except for Allison. She has laryngitis for like the 8th day now. I think it's because the girl seriously CANNOT stop talking. Seriously.

Allison finally got to celebrate her birthday with a sleepover with her two best friends from church. We went out to eat and to a movie. I was amazed at how good they were; they were asleep by 11 and slept until 8. I am happy to report that our first sleepover was pretty easy on the parents and hopefully the girls all had a fun time.

Zoey is loving first grade, but still has some insecurity issues. She is worried that I won't be there to meet the bus or that the bus is going to break down. And then just to make matters worse, today they had a drill to practice evacuating the bus IN CASE IT CATCHES FIRE. I'd like to thank whoever is responsible for increasing her busphobia. She loves playing soccer, but has missed a lot due to her flu and the rain.

The Little Man is happy as a clam. Funny things he's said lately-
"Everybody at my school loves me."

"Today me and Gracie shared a purse. No, we shared a pocketbook."

"Joshua sang and I stood up and clapped."

"One day a baby's gonna come out of my tummy and I'm gonna be a daddy like daddy."

"I like workin on the 'puter."

The most miserable time of day is when we get home from taking the girls to school and he has to wait for me to take a shower. He always asks if I have to take a shower AND put on make-up. He just cannot wait to get to school.

Mom is still in Arkansas taking care of grandma. She is planning to go home to Jacksonville at the end of the month. Grandma is doing well and her hip is healing up nicely. I know mom has enjoyed being there but she is ready to get home for a while. She said she dreads going home to an empty house.

I tried my best to embarrass the Knight today by taking balloons and a cake to his work. On Saturday he will know why I've been moaning and groaning for the past year-forty is old! By the way, he's been asleep on the couch since 9:30. I am amazed that I have not been sick these last 2 weeks. I think I'm just too mean to get any of these little piddly viruses and stuff. I guess I prefer to stick with the bigger cancers and stuff. My Experiencing God Bible study is so fantastic and I feel like I am learning and growing so much. I have put several things into practice and it is amazing to see what God is doing. Anyone who thinks being a Christian is dull and constricting, is totally wrong. It's really very excititng and kind of like being on an adventure because God is always up to something and being a part of his plan is blowing me away.

Woody went to the vet for his yearly vaccinations and he weighed in at a whopping 89 pounds! Can you believe that? The breeder said he would probably weigh between 55 and 65 pounds-ha!. So I'm getting a new tshirt printed that says "My dog is fat and I am too." I need to get him diet dog food and try to get him down to 80 for the time being. So for now, I'm just feeding him less and he's been hungry. Tonight when I opened the dishwasher to load dirty dishes he bolted in from the other room and started licking the "Claudia Casserole" off the plates like a crazed mad dog. Bless his heart. I can totally relate. Totally.

Well, that just about gets you up to speed on the happenings of the Fern5. All the pink ribbons around town in recognition of breast cancer awareness has kept me very mindful of how blessed I am. This year hasn't been easy, but it only takes a second to realize that through it all, God's been good. I miss my dad everyday, but I am so thankful that he didn't have to go through a lot of sickness. I am so thankful that I know he was a child of God and that he is in Heaven today. I am so thankful that my mom has proven herself to be an amazingly strong woman and her faith in God has increased immeasurably. I am so thankful that my sister-in-law Suzy was diligent about her mammograms and her cancer was caught early and that she is doing so well. I am thankful that God has allowed me to share my testimony so many times with people who are struggling. I am thankful that God's blessing on my family allows us to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for this truth- These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Sunny side of life

I am very thankful.

I am thankful that no one is throwing up.

2 down, 2 up, 1 pending.

Sickness update

Thanks to everyone who has been checking up on the kids. Zoe is better and will be going to school tomorrow. She must not have had the h1n1 because she got over this pretty quickly and never really had any serious aches or complaints. The Little Man continues to run a low grade temp off and on and still has a nasty cough so no school for him tomorrow. But the birthday girl who has managed to stay well thus far, became ill last night with a 102 temp and today a sore throat and body aches. SO- that's where we stand. Today was just beautiful and it seems like we have been stuck inside forever. We did take a ride to the mountains yesterday, but we all ended up just feeling car sick. I know Wah, Wah, Wah.....But really, thanks for your prayers and concern. Love you all....

A special day

"So you want to have a baby?" a voice said, obviously speaking on a cell phone.


I'm sure I scrunched my face and said, "Uhhh, yes. Yes, I do." I was very perplexed at this olderish male voice calling me unexpectedly with such an outlandish proposal.


"This is Dr. Ellison. Dr. King called me and told me all about you. He told me about your cancer and how you'd passed the five year mark and that you were ready to have yourself a baby. Hold on a second, I'm going through a light. (pause) So call my office and set up an appointment and we'll see what we can do about that."


And that was that. He was a teddy bear, a straight-to-the-point kind of doctor. And I loved him. No one had ever really offered to help me have a baby, you know. After all I'd been through with radiation and chemo, no one really knew if becoming a mom would ever be my priveledge.


But maybe two months into "trying"- It happenend! Oh my heavenly stars, what a day!


But shortly after that he was there in the ultrasound room to stroke my arm and tell me that there wasn't a heartbeat and that the baby had died at just a little over 12 weeks. He hugged me hard that day and sent me home to cry and sit on the couch in the dark for 2 days and ask God why. God didn't leave me in the dark long, and not long afterward I was pregnant again. Oh my heavenly stars- a 9 month journey of paranoia began. Dr.Ellison treated me like his first pregnant patient instead of one of thousands in 30 something years of practicing obstetrics.


I love my ob/gyn. I guess I already said that. My love for him was really confirmed when he said to me, "Even though your baby's not due until the 13th of October, let's go ahead and induce her on the 10th. "


"Is everything okay?" I asked a little alarmed.


"Oh yes, I just want to be sure that I am the one who gets to deliver her. You are a special girl and I want to deliver this special baby."


Two of the benefits of having an "old school" OB is that he didn't want me to be in pain for a second. He met me in the parking lot with an epidural-okay not really, but he suggested I go ahead and get it as soon as the anesthesiologist came by. And second he didn't even let me push. He let me labor down and then when she got close enough he just reached in and pulled her out. It was a sweet deal in so many ways.


And a special baby she was- Allison Grace was born at 11:13 pm on 10-10-2000. She weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces. Nana and Poppy and Memaw and Papa were there to welcome her into the world. The first grandchild for the Fernstroms and the 3rd for the Levitts.

Except for for some highly unusual toes and a scratched up red face, she was a perfect baby.

Allison smiled incessantly, grew to have a delightful personality and went to anyone who wanted to hold her. Hailey, who was about 10 at the time, toted her around on her hip at church. I put a hat on her everyday even when we were just staying at home. A lady named Kathy Ann just fell out of the sky to take care of her in her home. A year later I gave up my job to stay at home and raise my family. What a gift you are.


You are a such a good helper to mom with Zoey and the Little Man. Many, many times you have helped me by keeping an eye on them, playing with them, encouraging them to try new things, and leading by example. You have such a heart for God and I know you are destined for great things. You are an over-achiever in school and strive to please your teachers. Physically you are changing everyday- more freckles from summer, a broader smile because of your braces, fabulous thick blonde hair. You are a gifted talker, a progressing piano player and friend to many. You love to play school, be in charge, watch Hannah Montana and eat ice cream. You'd love to redecorate your room, play "Heart and Soul" on the piano with me all day, and own your own cell phone.


This past year was a real drag for our family in many ways. Losing Papa was so hard....you were very brave. You took the news of my cancer and immediately decided you would help me through. Your "Welcome Home" poster is still on my bedroom door. Your dad and I are so very proud of you.


Happy 9th birthday "Munchkin!"

Questions

So the bad news is The Little Man is now sick with a fever and stuffiness. The good news is-Pete is off tomorrow!!!! TLM came to our bed in the middle of the night with a fever of 103.6. So we threw him in the tub and dosed him with Motrin and prayed. So today was not the funnest, but everyone is okay. We kept Allison at home in an effort to be good citizens just in case, but so far no symptoms. So The Knight keeps asking me if Zoey was tested and how she was tested and what the doctor said etc. etc. They swabbed her nasal passages and came back and said it was positive for the flu. He said it was too early for seasonal flu so we assume its most likely h1n1. No hon, they did not send it off to NASA. Yes, they really did test her, Sure, yes, it could be any other strain of the flu, not necessarily H1N1. Maybe it' s the H4N4. Sheesh-he's so technical.

So just so you know, we are just treating the symptoms. Motrin for the fever and Triaminic for the cough. Lots of rest, fluids and tv. I've been in a cleaning out frenzy, not sterilizing, just purging junk. The devil has it in for me so we have been having it out today. He will leave me alone tomorrow so beware- he may show up at your house.

Do you have days like that where you feel like the devil wants to mess with your mind? He digs up my past to me a lot. He tells me what a loser I am and basically knows how to really get to me. But the good thing, no the fantastic thing is, I don't have to listen to that. I am God's girl, He has forgiven me and forgotten my sins and I answer to Him and Him only.
Like 1John 1:9- If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So there.

So Allison and I had a lot of time to talk today. We were cleaning out her closet and chatting away. Zoey was napping and TLM was playing 52 pick-up with a deck of cards in the playroom and laughing to himself "Mwah, mwah, mwah, this will certainly put her over the edge. Good thing I have a fever."
She is excited about getting her ears pierced, but still sad she won't get to have her friends over to celebrate. Hopefully we'll be able to sneak away to the mall and go to Claire's. She got a birthday card from her great aunt Carolyn that said something about being a "tween" now, so we talked a lot about that and then she dropped a bombshell. I won't tell you what she asked, but I will say I just wasn't prepared for it. I guess I better get some answers ready. Nine -year- olds today are a lot more wise to the world than we realize. I quickly smoothed it over to God's plan for her life.
She said "Don't you think life is like a video game?" Huh? What video game has she ever played besides Tinkerbell and Build a Bear I think to myself. "I mean," she continues, "it's like all these bad things happen- like you getting cancer and Papa dying and all these accidents and stuff."

"I don't like that part about life either." I said. "But that's what it is. It's not always things we like, but God is in control of it all. He doesn't cause the bad stuff, but He will allow it happen. And even though we don't know what He has planned, His desire is to make us SO happy."

"Yeah, I know. I'm so happy I'm getting my ears pierced...."

Yep, she's a "tween".

It's here....

The H1N1 has arrived. Zoey tested positive at the doctor today and we have her quarantined to the upstairs. So far she is feeling okay, just feverish and congested. Hopefully, the rest of us can avoid getting it. So our weekend plans have changed- Allison was having two friends over to celebrate her 9th birthday and we had 2 soccer games and 2 birthday parties Saturday.
Remember us when you pray. I hope all of you are staying well.

Welcome fall!

I am so glad to see October! Fall is a favorite time of year for me-the leaves changing, the cooler weather and of course, pumpkins! I have a strange affinity for those orange orbs. Not sure where that comes from, but they make me smile. I am always on the lookout for that perfect one to display and I like to keep it around until well after the holidays pass.

Grandma's hip seems to be healing up nicely and mom has adjusted to Arkansas life pretty well. She likes to be needed and she is happy being there to help out with grandma. We were talking the other day about how much life has changed for us. It seems like things were pretty consistent there for a long while and then almost overnight our lives have been turned upside down, never to be the same again. I'm sure it's all part of God's plan for keeping us close to Him. If we get too comfortable, we tend to think we don't need Him as much. But life simply cannot stay the same, if we are to go with God. We can either embrace the changes and figure out how to be happy or reject them and be miserable.

I am working on my daily walk with Him. I want to be ready to respond when He speaks to me. I don't want to be so busy with the things of this life, that I cannot hear what God wants me to do. Along with the change of seasons comes the commitments of life with children. School projects, sports practice, meal preparation, bed time routine, hand-washing...it amazes me how a day flies by. The coming of fall reminds me that a new year is right around the corner. I certainly hope that 2010 has more happiness than 2009. Dad had a song on his mind the last few months of his life. I remember him asking me if I had heard it and he later talked to his friend George about it. I don't know all the words, but the most important line is "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But one thing about tomorrow is that I know who holds my hand."

Today I'm happy with the changes I see on the horizon and I'm at peace with the changes of the past. I think I'll put on a sweatshirt and smile at pumpkins.