FISCHERBOWL

2009-06-27T15:51:00.003-05:00

Check out Aaron Shust's blog: He wrote something about his time in Omaha last week. What a blessing it was to have him here.

http://aaronshust.blogspot.com/

2009-06-25T10:41:00.001-05:00

My site is under construction...so bear with me a little bit!

Rock Stars

2009-06-24T10:21:00.003-05:00

What a crazy few weeks it has been around here! Fischer met his first "rock star." I am sure that Aaron Shust would not approve of us calling him that...he was such a humble, genuine person...but that is what Fischer thought he was.

On June 16th we had the Sam Thomsen Memorial Concert on June 16th at Westside Church. It was a night of laughter, tears, rememberance and worship! There was almost 900 people there and $2000 was raised for charity!

Aaron was obviously very touched as he cried throughout most of the concert. Every Tuesday he leaks a new song from his upcoming album on you tube. You can watch them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/aaronshustube

Garden Update: OUT OF CONTROL! I never thought these plants would take over my little garden space. I decided to trellis my cucumbers upward, using upside down tomato cages. Hopefully this will prevent them from rotting on the ground and from taking over the grape tomatoes.

2009-06-16T10:29:00.003-05:00

Tiny Little Squash

Cucumbers

Tiny Little Cucumber

I know what you really want to see are pictures of my sweet little boys...but I just had to show you my vegetables...they are actually growing.

I have such a child-like wonder about my garden. I just planted these small plants into the ground and a few weeks later there are edible vegetables growing on them...still amazes me every time. God's plan for the earth and the way nature works is so awesome!!

2009-06-14T18:45:00.002-05:00

I took some pictures of Garrison's first attempt at spaghetti...

He wasn't thrilled...so he ended up eating the usual...baby cheetos...sigh

My brother is so funny.

Grandma picked me up and I was ready to have all of this spaghetti off of me.

Can you tell I have been sick? I'm just a tad cranky.

2009-06-11T21:38:00.001-05:00

Please go to http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/cover-kid/870100050/
and vote for Garrison to become the next top model...haha...just kidding...but really...go vote.

My First Harvest

2009-06-09T08:35:00.003-05:00

Last night after Garrison's bath he was determined to play with his brother's cars. He skipped the diaper and the jammies and had ONE thing on his mind(his brother was already in bed, so this seemed to be a perfect opportunity!)

" Yes! I got them!"

"Ok...I admit...I am ready for bed."

I picked my first harvest of lettuce! And the awesome part is...it will grow back!!!

I'll let you know how the salad turned out!

A Hernia in the Hospital

2009-06-05T08:24:00.004-05:00

Fischer's surgery went amazingly smooth yesterday. I wasn't really nervous or anxious...probably because we have spent a lot of time at Children's in the last year. I wasn't walking into a situation that was completely unfamiliar...Fischer handled the situation with WAY more ease than I ever imagined.

Children's hospital did an excellent job of making him feel comfortable...even bringing in pictures of the operating room so he would know where he was going. The anesthesiologist told me that they would give Fischer some "relaxation juice" if I felt like he needed it. I told her that he seemed pretty relaxed, but that I would let her know if his behavior changed. Several other nurses/students came in and were asking me if he had already had his "relaxation juice." I told them no he was just being a goofball...and he was...slurring his words, talking quietly...he definitely had them going.

Before his surgery he was able to go to the playroom for a little while. While there he played with the dollhouse and fell love with a little baby doll that he inisted we take back to the room(much to his father's dismay). Did I mention that he was making the baby "have gas?" Did I also mention that he has been playing with purses and wallets lately? His daddy doesn't like this...so when he leaves for work I let him play with them...he's just imitating what he sees me do all day...I think it's kinda funny and cute...and besides I have to have some type of blackmail for when he's older.

So, they wheeled him away and 1.5 hours later he returned healed from his hernia! He was groggy, and we left the hospital about an hour after his surgery! Within 3 hours, he was jumping around the living room...I tried to discourage this behavior...but he was full of energy!

Today he is sore, but doing well! What a little trooper!

2009-05-30T21:59:00.002-05:00

Let's just say that after I give these two a bath...I definitely don't need one.

2009-05-29T19:50:00.005-05:00

I FINALLY have a camera again so I can shoot some fantastic photos of my cute little baby like these:

Here's one of Fischer enjoying his first popsicle of the summer season:

I have been extremely busy these days. I have been gardening and planting. My dad helped me build a garden.

This is my first attempt at the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter. It's doing great!!
My lettuce continues to grow...doesn't it look yummy?...I just want to pick it right now...but it wouldn't make a very big salad.

This is my "side of the house, grass wouldn't grow there anyway" garden. I planted peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, grape tomatoes and canteloupe.

I have also been busy working on the Sam Thomsen Memorial Concert which you can read about here: http://www.swestcc.org/ and here: www.westsideomaha.org/samthomsen

I am so grateful that everything is coming together and that God has provided every step of the way. Today I received a phone call from a lady that works at the church where the concert will be held. She had just read Sam's sermon( http://http//www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10356854) and was greatly moved. She was crying and telling me how Sam must have been such a wonderful young man to have written such beautiful things. Sam's sermon is still blessing people.

A Little Cheer on This Rainy Day

2009-05-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

Lettuce and Lock Outs

2009-05-12T17:52:00.002-05:00

This is Fischer after I locked him outside...before you go call Child Protective Services...know that this was a lesson in why you don't lock your mommy out of the house while it's raining. It was for pure ~~punishment~~ education purposes...and besides, doesn't he look just miserable?

Lettuce Update: It's still growing...and yes I realize that I planted WAY TOO MANY lettuce plants in a small area...but I just wanted to see how many I could grow. Hopefully I will have one big salad soon. My tomato plants are doing great too. I will post a picture of them soon...because I know you are just dying to see them.

This is Garrison's little jail. He sits there while I get ready in the morning. Fischer likes to join the fun too.

2009-05-06T12:41:00.003-05:00

You have until midnight tonight to print off these FREE Grilled Chicken Meals from KFC!!!
You can print up to 4 coupons! Enjoy!

2009-05-04T11:13:00.003-05:00

I'm sure many of you have read MckMama's blog about her sick baby Stellan...who is home now!!

Anyway, I have decided to join her "Not Me!" series today and be brutally honest about my linen closet!

This is definitely NOT what my linen closet looks like:

A Sweet Angel

2009-05-03T15:13:00.001-05:00

Look at my sweet angel taking a nap this afternoon...

2009-05-02T14:33:00.005-05:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything...finding a quiet time is getting pretty hard around here especially since Garrison hasn't been sleeping well. He finally slept 11 hours last night...a continous 11 hours I might add. He has even had a decent nap today.

Since the popular thing to do right now is to change your blog(Franklin and Judy) I have decided I might take my blog in a somewhat new direction. Of course their will always be pictures of the boys and talk of our adventures...but I'm going to add my adventures at the grocery store. If any of you know me I am the price matching queen at Wal-Mart. I get all of the ads, write out a menu and list of what is on sale...and then take off to Wally World with coupons in hand. It's sort of like a treasure hunt...let's see what I can get for the least amount of money. And yes Laura, I am still making healthy balanced meals...in case you were wondering...did you notice the organic lettuce? :)

Today I got all of this for $54.00. I price matched most things..including the hamburger...which was $3.20lb but price matched at $1.77. I then had a coupon from the circular for $3.00 off ground beef. I purchased 5 pounds of ground beef for $4.96! I had some meat already, including chicken and steak so this helped a lot with the budget for the next two weeks! I got two pounds of strawberries, a cantaloupe, grapes, two dozen eggs, and two loaves of bread!

I also got two boxes of cereal, Raisin Bran and Shredded Mini Wheats for $1.43 each using a coupon found on http://www.coupons.com/ and price matching them at $2.18 a box. I'm not an expert and there are plenty of people who are so much better at this than me...but it's a start and I really enjoy doing it.

Here is a pic of my grandio purchase(and some cute pics of the boys):

Oh yeah, and I planted some lettuce and it is actually growing!!

My view from the deck..Fischer playing with his friend Harrison

He's trouble alright :)

2009-04-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

Just a little fun at the park...

2009-04-14T06:58:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we were talking about what a pretty little boy Garrison is ...and that he would be a really beautiful little girl...so this is what happened...and yes he will hate me someday for this.

Of course Fischer had to try then...he couldn't really pull off the beautiful girl look...

Then he made me try...I don't know about the beautiful part...but at least I AM a girl...

Daddy said...Don't even think about putting that pink ribbon on me.

Black Eyes and Bubbles

2009-04-10T09:07:00.004-05:00

It's been a rough couple of weeks around here. Fischer and Garrison both have ear infections...I don't think Garrison's is getting better, so we have an appointment this morning. Fischer got a black eye while playing at the mall playspace. So, to lighten up the situation a little, here are some funny things that Fischer has said over the past few days:

I went to get my eyebrows waxed and as I was laying there finishing up, Fischer cam over to me, took my hand and said, "Mom, you look HOT!" I have NO idea where this came from...oh wait... my husband is a youth minister.

One night at dinner we were talking and in agreement Fischer said, "TOTALLY!"

I'm sure he has never heard a teenager say that!

And when something breaks around the house he blames it on the teenagers by saying, "Those silly teenagers!"

2009-04-03T13:22:00.000-05:00

I am loving sweet moments like these

2009-04-02T10:58:00.002-05:00

The Weather man LIED!!!

It has been a busy couple of weeks around here. We took a trip to Tulsa to attend the Soul Winning Workshop. We had a good time, however the weather was wacky. We saw fires, hail, rain, and then 8 inches of snow.

Fischer and Garrison had a good time with Grandma Wood and Aunt Libby. We got to spend some time with John, Emily and Esther! Esther loved baby Garrison.

There are so many things going on in the next couple of months. My mom is coming to visit in a few weeks and then before you know it Memorial Day will be here. We will be going to Missouri for that weekend.

In June we are trying to plan a benefit concert with Aaron Shust on the one year anniversary of Sam Thomsen's death. Aaron was one of his favorite artists and his hit, "My Savior My God" was played at Sam's funeral. I never knew how complicated it could be to get a concert going....but my daily prayer is that God will provide and make it happen. The teens are also planning on serving the homeless that day at the Sienna Francis house downtown. We would love for Aaron to join us and maybe flip the first burger.

In July the teens are planning a mission trip. There are many options up in the air, and I might go if we stay in the U.S.

Then before you know it Fischer will be 4! I will have two birthday parties to plan right in a row!
That blows my mind...that I will be planning Garrison's 1st Birthday party.

I know, I know...I am getting a little ahead of myself...I just know that this summer is going to fly by and I want to enjoy every minute.

2009-03-23T21:21:00.002-05:00

Our first hail storm of 2009.

2009-03-23T11:01:00.001-05:00

2009-03-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 7th anniversary! It was anything but boring!

The day started with this:

That's right...500 balloons! What a labor of love that was. Thank you teen boys!

Franklin then took some of the boys in the youth group to play golf, while I took the girls to the zoo.

We then celebrated our 7 years by eating out and playing video games at the Family Fun Center. We earned 1396 points after playing a ton of games based on pure luck...we were so close to getting the jackpot of tickets on this one game...never send us to Vegas. Fischer was excited about the trinkets we brought home.

This is my favorite picture of the day. Why you ask?

Because it is the reason that we love our church family at Southwest so much. You see the older man on the right hand side of the picture? He's surrounded by a brood of loud, excited teenagers...and he's still smiling! Our elders love our young people and they like to see them having a good time. The teens were yelling, laughing and running through the office...but he didn't care...he was just enjoying their zest for life. They may be out of touch with their culture(sometimes we are too) but they care about their spiritual life. We are so blessed to work under an eldership that truly cares about our young people.

2009-03-14T10:55:00.003-05:00

There was a time when a Friday night meant going out to dinner, dressing up, having a good time with friends...those were fun days...but I wouldn't trade them for the new Friday night.

I wasn't feeling well yesterday, so Fischer and Franklin went to the store to pick up a few things. When Fischer rode past the aisle of flowers he said, "Let's buy some flowers...for MOMMY!"

This is one of those moments in motherhood that makes it all worth it...a moment where you feel that maybe just maybe you are raising a sweet little man.

So, we spent our Friday night enjoying our flowers, taking some funny pictures, and listening to Wall-E pump music. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you God for my blessings.

Look what Fischer got you mommy!!!

2009-03-06T08:50:00.002-06:00

These pictures are from our trip to Clearwater Beach. It was a warm yet foggy day...which actually turned out to be for the best...otherwise we would have been SO hot. The Gulf of Mexico was FREEZING...so swimming was not an option.

Fischer made friends with these two little boys from Minnesota.

I believe this picture of my granny was taken right after the seagulls stole her entire lunch. They were very hungry birds...and they were not afraid of anyone!

2009-03-04T15:45:00.003-06:00

These are pictures from our adventures at Ft. Wilderness. This is somewhat of a Disney secret...it's a HUGE camping ground that you can access and find a ton of fun things to do. They have horseback riding, dinner shows, a beach, playground and free boat rides to the Magic Kingdom, Ft. Wildnerness Lodge and the Contemporary Resort.
We rode the boats all day and had lunch at the Lodge. When we arrived at the Contemporary Resort we were able to get on the monorail and ride around to Magic Kingdom and the Grand Floridian Hotel. This was one of my favorite days at Disney. It was so relaxing and free! The panoramic picture was taken from a rocking chair in front of the general store. I literally could have sat there for days...it was so beautiful!

2009-03-02T09:56:00.004-06:00

Here are some more pictures from our adventures at Epcot. This was the coldest day while we were in Florida...I think the high was 51 degrees. Tropical compared to 10 degrees.

My Grandma at "Morocco" in Epcot

This was Fischer's reaction to the pop he tasted from another country. I can't remember where it was from but it was DISGUSTING!!

I just loved the colors in these plants. Oh yeah, and the little boy in the picture is pretty handsome too!

Here is a little video of Fischer dancing at Epcot.

2009-02-28T07:35:00.000-06:00

FROM THIS:

TO THIS:

2009-02-27T13:04:00.011-06:00

I have so many adventures to tell you about, I don't even know where to begin! I have SO many pictures, I think I will just share a few with you every day.

This year we decided to go to Epcot. We figured with Granny it would be an easier park to navigate and she had mentioned that she wanted to go there too.

This is Fischer standing in front of the big Epcot ball! Fischer really enjoyed that ride!

This is the crazy squirrel that wanted to eat our lunch! He was a very brave squirrel, jumping on my mom's lap and even attempting to jump on the baby in his stroller.

This was one of the best rides at Epcot. It was a boat ride that rode through greenhouses full of tropical plants. Disney was also working on changing the way we grow our vegetables(hence the hanging pumpkins). This picture of Garrison pretty much sums up how he was the first week or so in Florida...VERY grumpy! We finally figured out he was just starving!!!

2009-02-23T08:11:00.004-06:00

Here are a few pics of our time here in Florida! I will
only use the first letter of my friends names.

This is a picture of my friend "I" and myself at the pool! We had great conversations! That is her little girl "P". She is a few months older than Garrison.

This is Fischer playing with his friend "J". Even though they couldn't speak the same language they had fun playing together. "J" would call Fischer the Schwimmer. It was so cute.

Garrison was exhausted!

2009-02-21T10:35:00.004-06:00

I know the three of you who actually read my blog are sad that I haven't posted any pictures! We have had an amazing time in Florida! I made a new friend from Germany and she sent me some of these pictures after she arrived home! She had an underwater digital camera...didn't even know they had those!! More stories to come later!

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2009-01-25T16:37:00.007-06:00

In the midst of runny noses, coughing, fevers, nebulizer treatments(see video below), ER visists, crying, whining and all of the fun things that go along with sick children...I have managed to capture a few happy moments this past week.

These smiles(and naps) have helped me to make it through:

2009-01-23T11:08:00.003-06:00

Wow! What a crazy week it has been! Both of my kiddos have been sick this week, and I am suffering from a little cabin fever! Last night we ended up taking Garrison to the ER at Children's. I called his pediatrician about 11pm and they transferred me to the oncall nurse. The nurse listened to his breathing over the phone and said it was pretty rapid, and that I should take him in.Turns out the little stinker has Croup. They injected him with a little steroid to keep his airway from getting swollen or inflammed. Fischer has a sinus infection and sounds really hoarse. The ER doctor said that it is possible that Fischer has croup too but it manifested more as a hoarse voice than a cough.

Everytime I start working out again and take them up to the play place they get sick! I don't think I will be taking them there again...which stinks because I really enjoy going to the classes in the morning.

All of this to say that I am EXTREMELY excited about going to the warm, sunny state of Florida! Only 10 more days! What a blessing that Fischer will get to swim and be outside for a few weeks!

Ugly Sweaters and Ugly Mannequins

2009-01-17T08:39:00.005-06:00

Last night we had our first annual Ugly Sweater Girls Night Out!

2009-01-12T15:46:00.004-06:00

ALERT: LONG POST (its rare I know, as I usually don't have much to say)

I was sitting in the recliner feeding the baby when I hear a cry from the bathroom, "Save me, save me, mommy!" I instantly know what this cry for help means...Fischer can't get his pants down in time to use the bathroom. So, I put the baby down and he is completely insulted and begins to SCREAM at the top of his lungs! I calmly rescue Fischer from his impending emergency and then go back to feeding the baby.

Normally this type of stress would have caused me to get extremely upset with Fischer and maybe even yell at him for not being able to get his pants down! So, I can thank Sharon who delivered a much needed devotional this morning at our Mom's Club. I am so thankful that Sharon is our Mentor Mom this year. She has experienced the unimaginable and therefore has a perspective on life and death that most will never have. She asked us what chores around the house seem to cause us the most grief. The usual answers were thrown out...laundry, general cleaning, and of course the toilet. Sharon shared that her least favorite job around the house is one that would involve an odor. Her kids even banned her from saying the word odor because of her love affair with the word.

When Sam went off to Boy Scout camp this past June, she had asked her oldest to clean the bathroom. After Sharon had arrived at home after finding out that Sam had passed away, she remembers walking into that bathroom, lifting the toilet lid and realizing that she would never have that "boy" odor again.

How amazing that Sharon can make a room full of mothers cry with a story about her son's messes. She's right though...the toys on the floor(or in my case the "fort" made from cushions on the couch)...there not a mess...they are a beautiful reflection of the children that live in our home. And the laundry...the never-ending laundry...a beautiful reflection of the little toes that wear those socks. I feel like I need these reminders everyday, as the beauty of her words seem to fade quickly in the midst of chaos and stress. Thank you Sharon for sharing your heart with us today.

Onto other matters:

We also had a chiropractor talk to us today(our theme was "Here am I Lord, help me to meet my kids physical needs"). ~~I was a little skeptical of some aspects of her talk,~~ ok I was a lot skeptical. I hate that I am a skeptic...but at least I am not partial to chiropractors...I am skeptical of many people and things! I did enjoy her thoughts on nutrition, vitamins and overall health, but she lost me on the muscle and toxin testing. I agree with her that the body's health is a combination of mental, spiritual and physical well being. But really...can I just put a vitamin in my pocket and gain strength? I think that is where the mind over matter comes in. I also think you can spend TOO much time worrying about organic vegetables and vitamins and toxins that you forget to live. It's almost as if they spend so much time worrying about how to stay alive as opposed to living. Of course God gives us choices on how to live, how to eat, whether or not to exercise(and I could defintely improve in this area)...but our God is in control...and we sometimes forget.

I am also turned off when people brag about how their children have never had this medication, or this antibiotic. I guess they have never had a child in the hospital gasping for breath and hanging on to life. And I agree...we are a society obsessed with antiobiotics and medication, but when your children are sick you want to make them better. I have never had an ear infection, but I hear they are extremely painful. And I can't imagine making a child suffer through one without meds. I am glad that no one tells me to just suck it up when I am sick...I would be the first one in line at the doctor asking for antibiotics.

The last matter I promise!

My huband and I are trying the Laura diet(that's just the name of my friend over at www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/blog). She makes a healthy menu plan every week, so we are going to try and copy hers for the week! Well, ok almost everything...minus the deer steak. Sorry Laura...that's where I draw the line.

2009-01-11T21:16:00.002-06:00

These are for the Grandmas!!

2009-01-07T14:35:00.012-06:00

I meant to write a post that explained all of the meaningful events of 2008, however I never got around to it. My husband wrote one on his blog, and he did an excellent job so I will just link you to his. http://www.youthministryhilarity.blogspot.com/

One major decision was made for our family in 2008! We have decided to homeschool! I know, I know...I am the first to admit that I used to make fun of homeschoolers! Several events have shaped our decision. One of those events was the death of a teenager at our church(you can read about Sam here) http://fischerbowl.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-just-got-done-telling-my-hubby-what.html

Sam was homeschooled and through conversations with his mom I have come to realize how precious her time with him was. She is so grateful for the time that she had with him...time that she would have lost if he had gone to school.

I also have a TON of support. There are several families at church that homeschool and will be a great resource for us. Homeschooling is not what it used to be...they have gym, music, art, and many other classes for the kids to participate in.

SO, I have been trying to get organized so that I can begin pre-school in the fall. Nothing extremely formal, but I will be using a curriculum that I think I will love! Here is a picture of our little school.

2009-01-06T16:12:00.001-06:00

The dangers of Facebook

2008-12-29T20:53:00.002-06:00

2008-12-09T11:30:00.003-06:00

My friend Laura over at http://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/ has Gratituesday every week. This is the first time I am joining in!

Yesterday I took Garrison to the doctor and discovered he had a double ear infection. This is why I am extremely grateful for modern medicine! Garrison has been so unhappy and I just blamed it on the acid reflux. I try to imagine living 200 years ago when there was no pain medication or antibiotics. I think having to watch your baby suffer through ear infections without treating them would be horrible. Not to mention that many children probably lost their hearing if they suffered from chronic ear infections.

Now, I do believe there is something to be said for wholistic medicine and finding ways for natural healing, but if there is pain medication that can help a suffering child, I think it should be used.

And of course Garrison would not be alive if it wasn't for modern medicine. See pic here: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KADg2SKPSAs/SOQ9t5TBOiI/AAAAAAAAAZk/QxUPE-T0XkM/s1600-h/Garrison+016.jpg

And yes, God is the Great Physician, but I am grateful that he gives people the ability to use their minds and hands to heal others.

And as for Garrison, I think he is pretty grateful too :)

2008-12-05T08:05:00.003-06:00

Just decorating for Christmas...

2008-12-04T15:44:00.007-06:00

I lost my grandpa on November 28th, 2008. You may remember me mentioning him here on the July 10th post:
http://fischerbowl.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

Here are the words that I read at his funeral(I'm not sure anyone understood what I was saying, since I sobbed through the whole thing.)

Grandpa,

Thank you for the countless memories forever etched into my heart and mind.
Memories that are precious to me and to everyone here.

You were a grandpa who loved to play with us. You spent hours on the floor playing Pente with me. You would take us to DeSoto to play shuffleboard and mini golf. And who could forget the rides in the golf cart, crystal mining, the rock shop, and fishing. The list could go on and on.

I love the little snapshots of you that are so vivid in my mind now.

Like the image of you hurriedly walking around the house in Hot Spring Village, whispering under your breath, looking for your next project.

Or the image of you quietly reading the paper and drinking your morning coffee.

Or the image of you driving on the shoulder on the way home from church on a Wednesday night, while in fear my mom and I held hands in the back seat.

Or the image of you shuffling everyone together so you could take a picture.
Thank you for all of the pictures that you took...and for the slideshows!
When I was a kid, I LOVED the slideshows. I am so thankful for the slideshow that we had with you a few years ago.

But most of all grandpa, you were a kind and gentle spirit. The type of person God calls us to be in Colossians 3:12 where it says,
"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

My grandpa's funeral was beautiful. The hardest part for me was when they closed the casket door. They slowly lower the door, and you know that you will never see your grandpa in the flesh again.

I've only been to a handful of funerals in my 31 years. The one thing I can say about all of them is that no one had to lie or pretend about the character of the person we were remembering.

I've never heard anyone declare this at a funeral..."Well, he was a bitter, mean, hateful old thing." Ok, that was extreme, but you get the idea. The usual comments involve love, kindness and the generousity of the person. It really made me think about my own funeral...do I want people to be able to speak truthfully about the kind of person I was, or will they have to pretend?

Live everyday like it's your last...no, I say make every day count, because one day it will be your past.

Here are some precious pictures of my grandpa and Fischer at their joint 1st and 84th birthday parties.

2008-11-20T19:51:00.003-06:00

Today I talked to a mom who gave birth to a baby with spina bifida. She is strong and relaxed, witnessing her baby have major surgery in her first 24 hours of life. She's patiently waiting to hold her sweet baby girl in her arms.

Today I talked to a mom who has never taken her child home from the hospital. She religiously visits him, just holding onto the hope that one day he will come home. She looked at my sleeping baby...noticed his outfit. Her son had an outfit just like it....but never got to wear it. Her son has never felt the crisp autumn air.

Today I talked to a mom who tragically lost her son at the tender age of 13. His shoes still by the door, where he left them. She's a sweet spirit, just trying to cope with what has to be the greatest loss of all...a child.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today I have witnessed love...the unconditional, neverending love of a parent. I thank you for these three sweet mothers. I am thankful for my children Lord, and I vow to make each day count.

Amen

2008-11-19T22:06:00.007-06:00

Somy of you may know that my dream is to be a professional photographer. I have never had formal training, so I just practice on my kiddos. I learn something new everytime I shoot pictures of them...like the fact that the flash was on and I didn't even realize it, thus making bright faced children in the low light. We were extremely rushed due to the fact that the temperature dropped from 55 to 41 very quickly! My next goal is to get a digital SLR camera...the film has just become way too expensive. Plus, if I had a digital I would have realized that my the kiddos faces were bright. If you want me to practice on your kids, let me know!

2008-11-18T11:32:00.002-06:00

2008-11-07T08:16:00.002-06:00

Isnt' He Yummy??

2008-11-02T15:25:00.000-06:00

How could I forget this Halloween picture?

Fall Fun

2008-11-01T21:03:00.007-05:00

Garrison is already 5 weeks old! Hard to believe that time has passed this quickly and it is November! He had a 1 month appointment where we discovered he had acid reflux! No wonder the little guy would cry and whine when I layed him down after he ate. I guess I should have figured it out...maybe it was the lack of sleep. Dr prescribed Zantac and we have a different baby on our hands! He now sleeps MUCH better at night...sometimes of course :)

I made Halloween dinner last night. Fischer helped me make the spooky deviled egg eyes..and insisted that we put m & m candies on them..yum!

The weather was absolutely beautiful today so we decided to take a trip to the apple orchard!

And no, we would NEVER try the apples before buying them and throw the evidence on the ground...how dare you think that!

2008-10-25T09:28:00.002-05:00

Just a few recent pics:

2008-10-23T19:31:00.003-05:00

Garrison is doing great and LOVES to sleep really well during the day! He does pretty well at night too, but definitely uses the day to deep sleep! I am amazed that he can smile at 3.5 weeks old. I know they always say they are just gas, but I have video to prove they are not! These are real smiles! Fischer did not smile until he was 8 weeks old, so this has been a real treat! Enjoy...minus my annoying baby talk :)

2008-10-18T11:00:00.003-05:00

This video is definitely being sent to America's Funniest Home Videos! The funny part is at the end he says, "I wanna see!" What a ham!

2008-10-14T21:11:00.004-05:00

Here are my look a like babies! Garrison is on the bottom and Fischer is on the top. We had Garrison's picture taken today in the same outfit that Fischer wore. Fischer was one month in the picture, Garrison is 2 weeks. They look so much alike, however Garrison's hair is really red! Fischer's hair was red too, but not like Garrison.

2008-10-11T19:26:00.006-05:00

Tired Papa?

What a wonderful blessing to be at HOME...Garrison is thoroughly enjoying the comforts of home. You can tell that he knows there is a difference...no one is poking him, prodding him...he just gets to sleep, eat and poop! He is sleeping really well at night, last night he only woke up one time. Of course I know this can change, so I am counting my blessings for now!

Fischer is adjusting to a new little one in our home too. He loves to hold his new baby and wants to help whenever he can. Tonight he is enjoying his new Superman pajamas...running around the house saving one stuffed animal at a time. Apparently one of those stuffed animals landed in daddy's lap...I think he is so tired he forgot it was there...football and Tigger...what could be better?

Thank you everyone for your prayers for Garrison! He had a doctors appointment yesterday and had gained 4.5 oz!! The doctor concluded that he had Hyaline Membrane Disease(also called Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and Pulmonary Hypertension. He also had a collapsed lung, which was the result of his labored breathing. Dr. Kerr said that premature babies would not have been able to collapse their lung as easily, but since Garrison was so big and strong he worked too hard to breathe. Dr. Severson(his pediatrician) said that it is rare for a baby at 39 weeks to have IRDS. He has only seen one other case where a full term baby had this disease.

John F Kennedy had a son, Patrick, that died of this disease two days after birth in 1963. This sparked an interest in research and treatment of the disease. If the Kennedy baby had been born today, most likely he would have survived.

We are thankful to our God for healing our baby boy, thankful for the doctors and nurses, and thankful for all of you and your continous prayers.

2008-10-07T19:29:00.007-05:00

THIS IS FISCHER WHEN HE WAS A BABY: I THINK THEY LOOK SO MUCH ALIKE!!!!

The infamous burp pose: Garrison

Sorry for the lack of updates, living in the NICU has offered me little chance to come home and check my email.

div>Garrison is doing GREAT! He has been off of his oxygen since mid-morning. He has to be off for 24 hours before they will let him go home. He is eating well and likes to be up all night :) He sleeps REALLY well during the day though!!

He had his first bath today and I know it felt so good to him. He slept for hours afterwards! He has a lot of red hair!

Last night Garrison and I were moved to a "skywalk room." It is a room for babies that are stable and will be going home shortly! What a blessing that has been. They are brand new rooms and have a bed and bathroom. One of the respiratory therapists said, "You are moving over to the the Hamptons!" She was right! Just to have a little quiet at night has been nice, plus sleeping in a recliner is not fun! The other blessing is that Fischer can be in our new room. He finally got to hold his little brother today! His eyes lit up SO big and it was a very special moment!

Dr. Kerr said we may be going home tomorrow night or Thursday morning if he continues to do well w/out oxygen. Pray that he just chugs along tonight and doesn't have to go back on O2!

2008-10-05T20:04:00.003-05:00

Don't have time to write much: just a tid bit of good news!

The doctor came in this morning and said Garrison will probably be going home within a few days! He was able to nurse tonight for a few minutes and so I will be going to "live" at the NICU for the next couple of days. I will have 2-3 hour windows where I can come home, shower, or get out and see Fischer. Pray for Garrison's recovery and my strength!

2008-10-04T20:54:00.006-05:00

More baby foot fetish: Definitely Franklin's toes!!

It was really hard to leave the hospital tonight. I am so exhausted though, I knew that I needed to just come home and rest. Franklin went back up and usually does the late evening shift. Garrison's 2:30 x-ray and blood gases were normal. They haven't been able to ween him off of 35% oxygen today. He needs time to heal his lungs...time that seems to be ticking by SO SLOWLY.

I wish I could describe to you the NICU. It's a whole different world: dark, sadly quiet...but noisy at the same time...with alarms going off continously. I know it is a place of healing, but emotionally it is exhausting. As much as I wish that I could just pick him up and march right out of there, I know that he is receiving the best care he possibly could.

Franklin may have more news on his blog later tonight: http://www.youthministryhilarity.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for the prayers!!!!

2008-10-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

I know, I have a foot fetish.

Garrison is doing well today. His chest tube was taken out about 11am. He had an x-ray at 2:30 to see if all was well with his lungs...on my way to the hospital here in a minute so we will find out the results. I got to hold him today for a long time. He was SO content. I loved every minute of it. Will post more later after visit this afternoon.

2008-10-03T20:35:00.003-05:00

Garrison was determined to get off of the vent today. He pulled it out on his own at 4am. He has been on approximately 30% O2 all day. They did turn his high flow from 2 to 1. I don't really know what all of this jargon means, but the nurses reassure me that he is SLOWLY getting better. I imagine it will be next week sometime before he can come home. Leaving him at the hospital was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. It feels so lonely to leave the hospital without the one you intended to bring home. Of course I could stay up there 24 hours a day, but I feel like I need to be home. Fischer needs me here...even if it is a false sense of normalcy...he needs it. I will go back up tomorrow morning.

I was able to hold him today...which was good...but a little stressful...with all of his wires. He gets agitated when you move him around a lot...and I don't blame him.

Thank you again for your prayers and love.

2008-10-02T18:32:00.003-05:00

It's been a long day...I am tired and emotional. Fischer is doing pretty well considering the situation. It breaks my heart that for 9 months we have been telling him he could hold his little brother, and he hasn't even seen him but for a few minutes. He either has really bad allergies or a cold and he isn't even allowed in the NICU waiting room. He sometimes asks, "Where's my baby?" My mom shows him pictures and we reassure him that he will get to hold him soon. Today he went putt putting with Franklin so I know he had a good time.

Garrison continues to be stable. The doctor said this morning that he would possibly be weened off of the vent today or tomorrow. I don't think it will happen today, but I want them to take it slow and be cautious. They weened him off of his sedation but continue to give him morphine for pain. He was given some of my milk through a tube in his nose. This of course made me extremely happy...knowing that he at least won't be hungry. They will give him this every 2-3 hours. Thank you for your prayers.

Franklin and I are sitting in the hospital room waiting for our dinner...the room's walls are closing in on me. I imagine I will live in the NICU for the next week or so after I am discharged tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has visited and sent flowers. We love all of you and can't wait to share Garrison with you!!!

2008-10-01T22:03:00.005-05:00

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, calls, and concerns. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Garrison is doing well right now. He is stable and resting peacefully in his little isolate. His white blood count is down to 15, which is within the normal range! Yesterday it was 35, so this is great news. His blood gases are also great and have been for most of the day. The nurse said that tomorrow I may be able to hold him. This has to be the hardest part of this experience. I long to hold him, feed him and be his mommy. It is really hard to watch all of the other moms walking around the hospital with their babies in their arms. I was sure that this time would be different...that Garrison would be in my room with me. It would be so easy to take that for granted...it's easy to even take my situation for granted. There are SO many babies in the NICU that are sick and some that have to be there for weeks and months. The little guy next to Garrison has been there for 8 months. When I try to wrap my brain around that, it is nearly impossible.

Thank you again for all of your prayers. God is good and we are thankful that Garrison is slowly getting better.

2008-10-01T11:30:00.002-05:00

Please continue to pray for Garrison. He struggled all night to breathe, so this morning they put him on a ventilator. His lung collapsed amd they had to put in a chest tube. The dr. thinks he just had immature lungs and it may take a few days for him to catch up. He looks peaceful right now, b/c he is not having to struggle.

2008-09-30T08:23:00.002-05:00

I know that some of you are waiting to hear what is going on with little Garrison. I wish I knew...the doctors are trying desperately to figure out what is wrong with our little guy. They have ruled out TTN(don't even ask me what that stands for), a common illness with babies born via c-section. His white blood count was elevated today more than yesterday so they are concentrating more on an infection. He had a spinal tap today to check for many things including meningitis. It is absolutely heart wrenching to watch your baby go through all of this. I am trying to heal myself and rest but am finding it hard to do. I just want to be in the NICU with him at all times. His O2 levels are MUCH better when someone is holding him. I think Franklin will probably spend most of the night in the NICU with him. I will try to get some rest in my room, but will probably find myself down there checking on him.

Please keep our family in your prayers as this is a stressful time. I had such an uneventful pregnancy, and I really thought that we would just have the baby and go home. I am desperately wanting to breastfeed and I can't feed him right now. It is breaking my heart. I know that God knows best and that we will all pull through this. Thank you for the prayers on our behalf that you have already said.

What ever happened to health CARE?

2008-09-18T11:25:00.002-05:00

Sorry if I got anyone excited about the one contraction I had yesterday. Today's OB visit was a waste of time. My OB never even showed up. She kept calling to say that she was on the way, but never showed. So, I had to see the Nurse Practioner, who kept referring to Fischer as "she." Just proof that she knows nothing about me and I would prefer to see the person that is cutting me open next week!

My hip has really been bothering me so I ended up calling her back this afternoon and she just prescribed some crazy medication that knocks you out. Uh, can't really be knocked out with a three year old. Anyway, my mom is coming this Saturday to help...THANK GOODNESS! I can barely walk and feel so guilty about Fischer watching TV all day. Plus I wasn't sure how Franklin was going to survive 10 more days with all of my crazy mood swings and crying! Last night he just looked at me and I started bawling...lol...poor guy.

2008-09-17T15:12:00.002-05:00

I think I just experienced a real live contraction...it was painful. :) I am sure it was just one of those Toni Braxton(I know there not really called that) things. Anyway, it was pretty exciting. Now I can tell my OB that I actually had a contraction...maybe she will check me tomorrow. Don't worry...I haven't really had any other signs of labor.

2008-09-13T21:16:00.003-05:00

Funny Story: Well, it was funny to me anyway.

We went up to the hospital tonight to check things out and find out where the L & D rooms were, etc... When we got to the 9th floor, out popped my OB from behind the counter. Her eyes became as big as saucers and she looked like a deer in headlights! I'm pretty sure she was thinkin, "OH GREAT, now I am going to have do a c-section." I reassured her that I was not there to deliver! She seemed a little agitated to be at the hospital on a Saturday night...hey, she chose this profession :)

Today we went to an Award Ceremony for the Boy Scouts that displayed such heroism during the Little Sioux Tornado on June 11th. Sam was given the Spirit of the Eagle Award. I will have pictures soon!

2008-09-07T16:02:00.002-05:00

Is it just me or does it seem strange that the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses has this sign in front of their building?

Just curious because they come by my house every Saturday.

Farmer's Market and Cosmic Bowling

2008-09-06T14:52:00.012-05:00

Just a few pics from the last couple of days:

Yes, that would be my three year old tied with me...

2008-09-02T19:49:00.003-05:00

Well, apparently this little guy is going to be able to beat up his older brother one day. He's an estimated 6lbs, 14 oz already! YIKES!

I had an appointment today and my OB was concerned that I was measuring too far ahead. So, she sent me right to ultrasound, which I was excited about! It was fun to see him, however he is so squished in there right now it was hard to tell what was what! One thing is for sure...he is still definitely a boy!

My c-section got moved back 4 days...trying to be positive...this gives me 4 more days to prepare! So at this rate we might have a 9lb baby on our hands...so when they hand him to me they will say, "Congratulations...here is your toddler!" Fischer was 5lbs 15 oz so this will definitely be a different experience!

Here is an ultrasound pic from today...it is hard to make out. You can see his nose and lips and his hand is over his eyes and forehead.

2008-08-30T22:30:00.001-05:00

Sorry, I just keep finding really cute, old pics:

2008-08-29T21:16:00.004-05:00

More Random Thoughts:

-Just sitting at the computer listening to my sweet baby sing "Jesus Loves Me" while laying in his bed. I guess he is having trouble going to sleep. Maybe it was the sugary sweet treat that he was awarded for being such a good boy at the grocery store. Going to the grocery store has now become such a hard task that I had Franklin go with me tonight. Wow, I got a 1.5 hour trip done in 40 minutes!! Living in a tri-level requires you to carry all of the groceries up the stairs, so it was really helpful to have him here to help!

-Funny thing that Fischer said the other day

1) We went to the hospital to visit an older woman from church who had a hip replacement. Fischer had never really been to a hospital to visit anyone before, but of course I had explained to him that I would be there to have the baby. So, he proceeded to ask her, "Are you going to have a baby?" It was too funny! On the way out of the room he yelled, "How do we get out of this place?" Apparently he shares the same sentiment for hospitals as his mother!

-I can't believe we are going to have a little one again...I am so excited!! Here are a couple of oldies:

2008-08-26T19:45:00.005-05:00

In lieu of a new baby around the corner, I wanted to find something special for Fischer to do that was all about him! I found a class at a local Sports Academy called Lil Sluggers. They had a free trial class today, so I took him to see how he would do. HE LOVED IT! The best part was his nervous tick...the constant grabbing of the private area. Hey it's baseball, he's already got that part down! Several times the coach would ask him to get in the ready position(the position where you are ready to catch a ball) and Fischer would put both hands in front of his "jewels"...it was too funny!!

Here are a few proud mama pics:

2008-08-23T20:17:00.004-05:00

Just some random thoughts that I have been thinking about over the past several days:

1) I can't believe it...my three year old is officially potty trained. It actually makes me a little sad that he is so independent, but I am thrilled to not buy size 5 diapers at practically $.50 each. That being said, I went to Target today and bought size 1 diapers for the baby...I had forgotten how incredibly adorable those size 1 diapers are! At least you get more diapers for your buck!

2) Whoa...my pregnancy hormones are out of control! I am SO easily irritated and annoyed by the most random things. Today I stepped in some gum and I couldn't stop ranting for 5 minutes about how nasty people are...why couldn't they just find a trash can?? Then I am in line at Target and there is one cashier and like 20 people in line behind me. When the manager comes over to open more lines, everyone disappears. Maybe it was my upbringing, but I always ask the person in front of me if they would like to go b/c they were in line first. So, I quietly waited as the person in front of me spent $300 and the cashier commented on how cute everything was that she was buying...grrr. Last night I watched a sad movie with Franklin and started crying about it this evening at 7:00pm...hormones...enough said.

3) I love seeing Fischer run around the house in his Superman undies...so cute.

4)Sometimes I wonder if my house will ever be organized and clean all at the same time. I feel like I spend the better part of my day picking up, cooking, picking up, scrubbing, doing dishes, laundry and picking up. I'm not sure who I am trying to measure up to, but it SEEMS as if everyone else has it together every day. Is anyone else just so exhausted at the end of the day that Mr. Potato Head and all of his parts will have to sit on the rug all night?

5)I am looking forward to the fall season and the month of September. There is nothing better than a cloudy fall day, staying inside, lighting a cinnamon candle and baking an apple crisp. Plus, who doesn't love going to the pumpkin patch?

6) I made this Chicken Pot Pie the other day. Hey, I was impressed with myself :)

2008-08-20T09:58:00.004-05:00

I know what you are thinking...why are there pictures of baby clothes on my blog? I just couldn't resist showing you some of the new things that Garrison has received. Last night I volunteered at a consignment sale so I was able to shop while I was there. Most of the clothes I got have never even been used.

Kelly got Garrison the Big Brother/LIttle Brother outfits...aren't they adorable?

My mom bought the Little Turkey onesie at Carters for Thanksgiving and the Charm onesie was from the Gap...I couldn't resist.

When I first found out I was pregnant I was thinking that I wouldn't buy much for this little guy b/c Fischer had SO many clothes. As I get closer to holding him, I just can't resist buying him some new little clothes.

2008-08-18T17:36:00.003-05:00

2008-08-15T22:34:00.002-05:00

How funny is that? Stole this from www.uncomplicate-me.blogspot.com
The scary part is that it does actually look like Fischer a little bit!!!

2008-07-19T19:29:00.008-05:00

It has been a busy couple of days. I've been helping my mom with her estate sale and we have done plenty of playing as well. We spent 7 hours at the waterpark yesterday! Fischer had an absolute blast! He went down the big water slide 7 times, and spent hours in the wave pool. He loved the wave pool! Let's just say that getting him to leave the water park was work!

We also visited the Petting Zoo at Domino Farms. Yes, I do find it strange that Domino Pizza's headquarters has a petting zoo. However it is really cute. Fischer had a great time feeding the ducks!

2008-07-14T09:40:00.009-05:00

We made it to Michigan. Michigan has to be one of the prettiest states. As soon as you cross the state line from Indiana it's a different world. Tree lined highways, beautiful farms. Last night we took Fischer out to my parents farm. Besides the mosquitos, there's nothing like driving down a dirt road at dusk with thousands of lightning bugs nestled in the growing corn. Beyond the corn there are beautiful old farmhouses and bright red barns.

The kids ran around for hours and hours, and PaPa made them a tire swing. Mom has been growing vegetables in the garden. Even though I didn't plant them, there is something so gratifying about picking vegetables from a garden and then eating them.

Here are some pics from last night:

2008-07-10T09:26:00.003-05:00

I am rare. I'm 30 years old and have four living grandparents. I would say that is rare, wouldn't you? I also knew both of my great grandmothers. All of this to say, that my paternal grandpa isn't doing very well. We always joke and say he has nine lives because 10 years ago we thought he was going to die from congestive heart failure. He is really struggling every day and has such poor oxygen levels that he is confused most of the time. He and Granny spent a month in MI with my parents. My mom told me that he had a moment of clarity and said, "How is Tracy?" My mom told him I was doing fine and that the baby was fine. He said, "I sure can't wait to meet that little fellow. He is going to be a live wire!"

Even if my grandpa doesn't make it to meet the little guy, our little one will always know what his great-grandpa thought of him :) I just hope he isn't right!

2008-07-03T22:15:00.002-05:00

I just got done telling my hubby what horrible communication skills I have, so I am certain that what I am trying to say will not come out the way I want it to.

Today I went over to Sharons(Sam's mom) house for our Thursday Bible Study group. Of course we weren't planning on studying anything, just helping Sharon around the house if she needed anything. Turns out, she just needed to talk. What an amazing woman.

Here are just some of the comments that were spoken by this sweet, gentle spirit:

"I am not going through anything that God himself did not go through."

" I am accepting that this is God's will. So many miracles have come out of Sam's death."

"I am experiencing sorrow and pain, but I also have so much joy."

WHAT? Did this woman just lose her precious son? She is overjoyed with the miracles that have come about since Sam's passing. People in her family who have reconciled, people in her family that want to study the Bible, and complete strangers writing emails and explaining how Sam's sermon has changed their life. While we were talking, one of the girls told Sharon that her neice had uttered these precious words, " Sam lived his whole life for God, and I want to live that way too." Sharon cried and was then joyous that her neice had expressed an interest in God.

I wish that everyone could sit in a room with her for 2 hours and listen to her express her love for God in the way that I did today.

Sharon told me today when Sam was in utero his estimated due date was October 4th or 5th(which is our little guy's due date). He was born on June 16th though. That means he was born around 24-25 weeks. What a fighter he was. That was a pretty big miracle considering it was 14 years ago, when the technology is not as good as it is today. Sharon knew that his life would have purpose if he survived those three months in the NICU. After his recent sermon he wrote for LTC, she just knew that he was destined to be a preacher. Even with his slight speech impediment, he delivered a flawless sermon to the congregation a few months ago. As our minister Jim expressed a few weeks ago; Sam has preached to more people in the past few weeks than most preachers will ever be able to do. Preachers dream about reaching millions of people with their thoughts, but Sam did that very thing. All you have to do is type in Sam Thomsen Sermon on Google and you will be amazed.

Sam's life was a wonderful testament to his parents abilities to love and raise their child in a Christian home. Love is evident in their home, in their pictures, in their spoken words, and in the Bible laying on the kitchen table. I hope that Franklin and I can be the kind of parents that Sharon and Larry are.

2008-07-01T14:36:00.004-05:00

Finally a break in the severe weather so we could enjoy our deck! It(the severe weather) should return tonight or tomorrow so thought I would post some pics of Fischer swimming. We made smores last night on the grill, and as you can see Fischer enjoyed painting with the chocolate. He has a little touch of OCD(not officially diagnosed, just by us) so whenever he chooses to be messy we encourage it!!

2008-06-28T14:26:00.007-05:00

To say that we are tired of severe storms here in Nebraska would be a huge understatement. Last night was by far the scariest storm that I have ever experienced. As we sat huddled under couch cushions, branches were hitting our basement window and I was sure it was going to break. No windows broke, but I did post some pics of the aftermath.

Who knows where the orange cone came from???

We lost a few shingles

This would be my neighbors tramploine up in a tree

Our poor tree:(

2008-06-23T09:51:00.002-05:00

What a crazy two weeks it has been. For some reason I am struggling to put words together. I have a lot to say but I can't seem to organize my thoughts. Maybe I'm not ready to admit that life goes on after a tragedy happens. Maybe I'm stuck in my own selfish pain. Whatever the reason I am trying to work through it so please be patient with me.

2008-06-19T15:31:00.003-05:00

A conversation that took place between Fischer and myself last night:

I was looking at an article online about Sam's funeral:

Me: Fischer, who's that?

Fischer: SAM!!

Me: That's right!

Fischer: What happened to him?

Me: He went to Heaven to be with God!

Fischer: He's happy!!

2008-06-13T22:36:00.003-05:00

I just got home from Sam's Celebration of Life. Words are not adequate to describe the event, but I will try. The church was filled with almost 700 people who loved and knew Sam. The stage was decorated with orange and blue balloons, and the teens were dressed in the same colors. A few weeks ago at his sister's graduation party he told everyone at our table that if he could choose home school colors they would be orange and blue. The stories told and the songs that were sung were all beautiful expressions of Sam's love for life, his family and his God.

You can read his truly amazing sermon that he wrote for LTC here:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10356854

2008-06-12T07:46:00.002-05:00

It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you of Sam's passing last night. We hope you will join us in prayer for his sweet, sweet family. They are amazing people and we are so saddened by their loss.

2008-06-11T22:30:00.002-05:00

Pray for Sam, a kid in our youth group who is at Little Sioux Scout Camp that was hit by a tornado. His parents are driving up there right now to find out if he is OK!

2008-06-11T09:29:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, Franklin and I took Fischer to the zoo! It was SO relaxing to just hang out as a family! We visited the new butterfly house, which was a blast! However, I would say 95% of the butterflies liked to hang out by the air conditioner vents(as you can see from the picture). So, there wasn't that many butterflies actually flying around. They did like Franklin's orange shirt though. Fischer looks terrified in the picture with me. Maybe he thought a butterfly was about to land on him. We spent 6 hours walking around, and by the end I could barely move. Our zoo is SO hilly I don't know why I thought I could take him to the zoo by myself. I am thankful that I went with Franklin. I think he was extremely thankful to have spent some quality time with Fischer.

2008-06-07T14:50:00.005-05:00

I guess he wouldn't be a BOY if his knees and elbows didn't look like this:

Oh well, at least he is still smiling!

On an even scarier note: Our friends are back!!!

2008-06-03T14:29:00.007-05:00

So, I borrowed my neighbors hair cut kit and decided to give Fischer a haircut. I have never cut hair before, but I am pretty darn proud of myself! I even convinced Franklin to let me butcher him...haha!! He was actually impressed and I am glad he trusted me!

Here are some pics...I forgot to take a before of Fischer. Why do Fischer and Franklin both look traumatized? Hey, it will be saving us about $30 a month! YAY!

div>

2008-05-31T16:32:00.008-05:00

Today I took on the task of planting flowers. Let me just say that I am SO thankful that I was not a pioneer woman. I can't even imagine being pregnant and doing all of the hard work that they did. I feel like I can't move right now. I have decided that I like planting in pots and not in the ground. I'm pretty proud of my pots, but I need to get a few more fillers for two of them. The sweet potato vines will be so beautiful by the middle of summer. They grow really long and spread easily.I also posted a pic of our deck with flowers. I bought the hanging pouch at Menards and it has just turned out beautifully.

I finally gave in to turning on the A/C. I held out pretty long, mainly b/c I am cheap. But today was just too hot!

2008-05-30T14:34:00.003-05:00

This my friends is called a miracle! My child sleeping in the middle of the day. Oh, what will I do with myself?

2008-05-29T15:14:00.008-05:00

Well, I survived our camping trip! Oklahoma was HOT and muggy...just like I remembered it. Fischer went fishing for the first time and caught 5 fish! He caught more than anyone else in the boat! He also had a great time riding in the golf cart! The drive was pretty brutal..9.5 hours! The drive home was full of adventure. We were driving through this small town in Oklahoma when a guy pulled out in front of us. He was turning out of the Gaming Center, which of course made me suspicious that he was drunk. It didn't take longer than about 5 seconds to realize that in fact he was drunk. He swerved into oncoming traffic 3 or 4 times, almost hitting a mini-van and a truck. After watching this idiot for about 20 seconds I called 911. After we followed him for about one more mile(staying far back of course) he pulled off on the shoulder. I hope an officer was able to catch him and send him to jail. I hope they took my call seriously.

Then we drove through Picher, OK and noticed that the entire town was destroyed by a tornado. I have seen tornado damage before, but never anything like this. When I got home I looked up Picher on google and found out that six people died and 100 were injured in the tornado on May 10th. FEMA had to test the air quality in the town because it is known for its lead mining.

On a lighter note, I am back to my frugal ways. While in Oklahoma my sister-in-law let me read her book, "America's Cheapest Family." It is written by the Economide family. The book is full of ideas for saving and cutting back, which is right up my alley. Today I went grocery shopping and spent $120 for two weeks worth of food($10 of that was a gift card for a graduate, plus I spent about $15 on food storage items). I might have to go back next week and spend $20 or so, but I think that is pretty good. Anyway, I would recommend this book, especially with the price of gas going up!

Here are some pics of our Memorial Day Weekend!

Lake Eufaula at sunset.

Fischer hates bugs...so this was a big step!

My cousin Esther! She is SO sweet!

2008-05-24T18:23:00.004-05:00

Just thought I would post a few pics from a friend's wedding we attended today. We decided to take a family picture since we were all dressed up. Of course Fischer is hamming it up, plus the wind was blowing so hard it was hard to pose. And yes, I am only halfway through my pregnancy and yes I am huge!

2008-05-21T07:56:00.000-05:00

I have absolutely no idea who posted the helicopter thing on my blog. Weird. Anyway, we do have helicopters in our yard.

And Now for Something Completely Different...

2008-05-20T22:31:00.004-05:00

Have you ever seen these little plants? I call them "helicopters" because you can throw them in the air and they spin like the rotor on a chopper.
Cool to find one and throw in in the air.
Not so cool to have about TEN BILLION of them in your yard!

2008-05-20T21:44:00.002-05:00

Just wanted you to know that the doctor called and said that everything looked great! I wish I could post more pictures, but Fischer "stole" my SD card and I haven't been able to find it. Hopefully I will get around to buying a new one!

2008-05-20T14:17:00.003-05:00

NEW PICS OF BABY!!!!

HERE ARE SOME NEW PICS OF BABY BOY! WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DOCTOR ABOUT ANY RESULTS. HE KEPT PUTTING HIS THUMB UP TO HIS MOUTH, BUT HE NEVER QUITE MADE IT IN!

2008-05-08T15:11:00.004-05:00

Hopefully you can tell by the last pic that we are having a BOY!!!!!!!!

Don't you just love his sweet little profile? Everything went well, my OB just wants to do another ultrasound in two weeks to check on his heart again. The ultrasound tech couldn't get a good picture due to his position. My OB kept reassuring me that this has happened before, and she has never had an abnormality come of it. I told her that I would try to take her words to heart, but that I would probably worry a little bit anyway! But, on the bright side, I get to have another ultrasound on the 20th!!

2008-05-07T14:47:00.002-05:00

Well, tomorrow is the big day! Is baby Wood a girl or a boy? I keep having dreams that it is a boy, so we will see. Tune in tomorrow for the big news!!