Archives for January 2007
Photo Booth
Up until about two months ago there wasn’t much photographic evidence that I am a part of this family. If you looked through our boxes, yes I said boxes, of photos you might think that this family was made up of a handsome man and one then two then three squirrely little kids.
Then I bought a Mac and Christopher quickly discovered Photo Booth. I have 5 count them, five hundred and some pictures taken and almost all of them are of me (because I am the boss of the Mac) and one or all of my kids. It is our new hobby.
Tonight Christopher asked if we could take some silly pictures and so we did that for a little bit. You will note that I am often in my jammies and I don’t always feel like taking a picture, but I do because I get to be with these people and laugh and press my face close to one or two of theirs.
Birdie’s sweet smile.
A Bean and her blanket, “Pinkie”.
Whales, Sharksies, Dragons, Dinosaurs and Snakes
Oh my.
Eden has been waking up just about every night with a nightmare, despite nearly constant prayers from the entire family and many friends. Several nights ago Paul, the big kids and I all tucked her in and prayed over her. Though she can be one tough Bean she is our pet or “Little Sweetie” as Christopher likes to call her when he isn’t referring to her as a “Little Rascal”.
And now she is fighting a very bad cold with a ferocious cough. Yesterday, in a matter of minutes, she broke out in hives. Her whole face swelled and her body was covered with red inflammations. I called the doctor.
He agreed that it sounded like what I thought and confirmed dosages of medicine. I always ask what would require medical attention. In this case it was extreme difficulty breathing and or vomiting.
Fantastic.
I awoke a little after 2 this morning to the sounds of Paul helping her to the bathroom. She was throwing up. It was really glorified gagging on all the mucous her body was trying to cough up. We got her stable, redosed her with her medicines and gave her a little pineapple to settle her stomach, prayed over her, then tucked her back in with her sister.
Then we fell into bed and I reconsidered our decision. She had awakened the morning before with the same gagging – and that was before the hives had broken out – she was breathing easily and the hives were clearly improving. I was pretty sure she was fine, but I find it difficult to be sure of anything when I am that exhausted and concerned for one of my children.
But there was peace at the bottom so I prayed yet again and then fell asleep.
This morning Eden slept in and when she woke up her hives were almost gone. Now she is taking a nap. Yesterday, several times she prayed spontaneously, “Jesus, please heal my body! Please take my coughs away.”
Today she still feels tired and sick but we are all praying, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Four dirty cups are lined up on the counter. We just came in from playing in the snow. It is sunny and cold here so Torey and I threw the kids outside then put on our gear and followed them.
We have a steep hill that is part of our yard and if you are careful to avoid the garage, a tree, a raised garden bed and whatever car is in the driveway, you can have quite a ride. Unfortunately the snow was sort of thickly powdery and not conducive to sledding. Fortunately Torey has a lot of energy, physical strength and thinks like a kid. Soon she was towing the Legumes around on a cool new sled of Christopher’s. She ran up and down our drive making a circuit. The big kids lined up to take a turn too. Whenever the kid fell off the ride ended. The Legumes usually doubled up. The first turn would get one of them and the second the other. Both of them were tough, laughing when they picked themselves up and brushed off the snow.
Finally, when we were all exhausted we lay on the driveway with our faces in the sun and breathed deeply the fresh, cold air.
And then we came in and had hot chocolate.
“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28
He will fill me with joy.
I get to surrender to it.