Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Patient endurance....God's will....Patient endurance....God's will....
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Hebrews 10:36 NLT
Patient endurance....God's will....Patient endurance....God's will....
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Magical Party
It was 5 years ago today that my sweet little He-Man made his first appearance. His birth story is a favorite of mine for many reasons but since Ray has given me a little trouble about being so nostalgic, especially with my montage of slow music and fades, I decided not to go the usual birth-day route. Instead, I put together a little clip from his birthday party.
Normally, I post very little from birthday parties for fear of hurting feelings of anyone who isn't invited. This year, however, my skin is a little thicker and I've come to realize that most other people I know have pretty thick skin, too! Therefore, I'm posting more pics than I've done in the past.
So we decided on a Disney World theme this year. He-Man was allowed to invite friends based on our usual rule of thumb....5 years old = 5 friends on the invitation list. And as I mentioned in another post with more time and money, I could really go all-out with my ideas BUT with limited amounts of both, we end up paring things down just a bit. HOWEVER, I think we pulled off a pretty decent time for all the kiddos!
5:30 - 6:00 - big kids help little kids make magic wands and mouse ear hats for the parade.
6:00 - Disney parade and dancing to Hakuna Matata (you HAVE to watch all the way to the end of the montage so you can see this. It is worth it, I promise!)
6:15 - pizza and "hidden Mickey" cheese!!!
6:30 - gifts!!!
6:45 - decorate own cupcakes (a la Garden Grill -- our fave EPCOT Center restaurant!) and fudgecicles! I couldn't find any Mickeys on a stick so these were 2nd best....
7:15 - "fireworks" (party confetti poppers) and party favors (Diz-themed kites)
All in all, a great evening!
Happy Birthday He-Man! You are one of the most genuinely sweet and loving people I've ever known and with those gorgeous eyes, perfect smile and incredible brains, I'm quite certain God has huge plans for you!
I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE!!!
Normally, I post very little from birthday parties for fear of hurting feelings of anyone who isn't invited. This year, however, my skin is a little thicker and I've come to realize that most other people I know have pretty thick skin, too! Therefore, I'm posting more pics than I've done in the past.
So we decided on a Disney World theme this year. He-Man was allowed to invite friends based on our usual rule of thumb....5 years old = 5 friends on the invitation list. And as I mentioned in another post with more time and money, I could really go all-out with my ideas BUT with limited amounts of both, we end up paring things down just a bit. HOWEVER, I think we pulled off a pretty decent time for all the kiddos!
5:30 - 6:00 - big kids help little kids make magic wands and mouse ear hats for the parade.
6:00 - Disney parade and dancing to Hakuna Matata (you HAVE to watch all the way to the end of the montage so you can see this. It is worth it, I promise!)
6:15 - pizza and "hidden Mickey" cheese!!!
6:30 - gifts!!!
6:45 - decorate own cupcakes (a la Garden Grill -- our fave EPCOT Center restaurant!) and fudgecicles! I couldn't find any Mickeys on a stick so these were 2nd best....
7:15 - "fireworks" (party confetti poppers) and party favors (Diz-themed kites)
All in all, a great evening!
Happy Birthday He-Man! You are one of the most genuinely sweet and loving people I've ever known and with those gorgeous eyes, perfect smile and incredible brains, I'm quite certain God has huge plans for you!
I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE!!!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Jackson - Update & PRAISES
Thanks for praying, y'all! Keep it up!
From Mom Tracie:
I know that good news travels fast and so many of you may have already heard the latest reports about Jackson. We all arrived back in the states on Friday night, and Jackson was admitted to UAB Children's Hospital under the care of a neurologist and his team. After a late night of blood tests and muscle checks, we found out Saturday morning that Jackson's CK Test (the muscle enzyme test that was in the 6,000s the day before we left Vienna) was down to 650, just slightly higher than the normal level of 150.
Saturday morning the doctors evaluated Jackson, and they are convinced that it is not a degenerative muscle disease or a chronic auto-immune disease. They suspect that this is Benign Parainfectious Myocitis, which means that there was some type of infection, probably a virus, that caused Jackson's muscles to become inflamed, and that it is a temporary response which will eventually get better. The doctor said that often this particular illness targets the lower extremities, and in Jackson's case his quads, hamstrings, and psoas (which is a muscle that runs from his low back into his legs). These muscles are all very painful and also tight, so Jackson has pain walking and walks slightly bent over and on his toes.
The doctors don't want to repeat any of the countless viral and blood tests that were run on Jackson in Vienna, but they want to do an MRI to look at his muscles and to see the nature of the inflammation. Apparently, if it is Benign Infectious Myocitis, then the inflammation will look a certain way on the MRI. So rather than waiting in the hospital over the weekend until a pediatric MRI is able to be scheduled, they went ahead and sent us to _____ for a few days until they call with an appointment to come back for the MRI and a meeting with the doctors. If they confirm that this is what is going on, then they will just keep Jackson on Motrin for pain relief and send him to physical therapy until his muscles are better and working properly again. We aren't sure how long this process will take, but please pray that we will all be able to return to Romania together, as Robert will have to return on March xxth.
Already, we are seeing amazing improvements in Jackson's ability to walk and his pain level. We had a wonderful time yesterday returning to our home to see family and friends, and it was such a great distraction for Jackson as he was spoiled with every Easter candy and toy that a little boy could ever want. He even went on an Easter Egg hunt through the yard with the help of our friends. He is like looking at a different child altogether.
We will let you know how the MRI next week goes, but it looks like things are going to be ok, and I wish you could all know how we feel. On the way home from the hospital, Robert and I couldn't help but just pray and sing and thank God for the way that He has cared for us these last few weeks. From the amazing support network of our family, friends, and colleagues, to the kindest people that we met along the way in our travels, to the healing that we are still witnessing right before our eyes- we are overwhelmed. We have had cars loaned to us, money donated, prayer meetings held, and family make sacrifices of travel and time. We have treasured your e-mails, felt your prayers, and in the middle of wondering if our little boy would ever walk again, we felt hope. I am crying just to think of all of the love that has been shown to our family. Here it is early on Easter morning, and we are so acutely aware of the love of Christ, who is both powerful enough to overcome sin and death and also to heal our sweet Jackson.
In Him, Tracie
From Mom Tracie:
I know that good news travels fast and so many of you may have already heard the latest reports about Jackson. We all arrived back in the states on Friday night, and Jackson was admitted to UAB Children's Hospital under the care of a neurologist and his team. After a late night of blood tests and muscle checks, we found out Saturday morning that Jackson's CK Test (the muscle enzyme test that was in the 6,000s the day before we left Vienna) was down to 650, just slightly higher than the normal level of 150.
Saturday morning the doctors evaluated Jackson, and they are convinced that it is not a degenerative muscle disease or a chronic auto-immune disease. They suspect that this is Benign Parainfectious Myocitis, which means that there was some type of infection, probably a virus, that caused Jackson's muscles to become inflamed, and that it is a temporary response which will eventually get better. The doctor said that often this particular illness targets the lower extremities, and in Jackson's case his quads, hamstrings, and psoas (which is a muscle that runs from his low back into his legs). These muscles are all very painful and also tight, so Jackson has pain walking and walks slightly bent over and on his toes.
The doctors don't want to repeat any of the countless viral and blood tests that were run on Jackson in Vienna, but they want to do an MRI to look at his muscles and to see the nature of the inflammation. Apparently, if it is Benign Infectious Myocitis, then the inflammation will look a certain way on the MRI. So rather than waiting in the hospital over the weekend until a pediatric MRI is able to be scheduled, they went ahead and sent us to _____ for a few days until they call with an appointment to come back for the MRI and a meeting with the doctors. If they confirm that this is what is going on, then they will just keep Jackson on Motrin for pain relief and send him to physical therapy until his muscles are better and working properly again. We aren't sure how long this process will take, but please pray that we will all be able to return to Romania together, as Robert will have to return on March xxth.
Already, we are seeing amazing improvements in Jackson's ability to walk and his pain level. We had a wonderful time yesterday returning to our home to see family and friends, and it was such a great distraction for Jackson as he was spoiled with every Easter candy and toy that a little boy could ever want. He even went on an Easter Egg hunt through the yard with the help of our friends. He is like looking at a different child altogether.
We will let you know how the MRI next week goes, but it looks like things are going to be ok, and I wish you could all know how we feel. On the way home from the hospital, Robert and I couldn't help but just pray and sing and thank God for the way that He has cared for us these last few weeks. From the amazing support network of our family, friends, and colleagues, to the kindest people that we met along the way in our travels, to the healing that we are still witnessing right before our eyes- we are overwhelmed. We have had cars loaned to us, money donated, prayer meetings held, and family make sacrifices of travel and time. We have treasured your e-mails, felt your prayers, and in the middle of wondering if our little boy would ever walk again, we felt hope. I am crying just to think of all of the love that has been shown to our family. Here it is early on Easter morning, and we are so acutely aware of the love of Christ, who is both powerful enough to overcome sin and death and also to heal our sweet Jackson.
In Him, Tracie
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
IRL
There are Internet friends and there are friends IRL (in real life) but there is a double blessing when you have people who are BOTH!
First, I have my friend, Jen, who started as an IRL friend, then became a web friend because of distance, and ultimately stayed an IRL friend BECAUSE of staying in touch through the web. Now I'd like to CONGRATULATE her and her sweet family in the ultimate net-geek fashion, by giving her a "HAPPY NEW BABY" shout-out on my blog! Her new son Jake arrived yesterday and I'm just so excited for her and Chris and Luke! Can't wait to meet the little guy IRL :)
Next I have to say how cool and creepy it is that an Internet friend recognized me IRL and introduced herself to me at Walmart yesterday. It's totally awesome that she spoke up and that we were able to share a hug but also a little bizarre that my family is recognizable because of my posting stuff online! (Lisha, I'm totally glad you spoke, though! It was great meeting you! Even though I am saying it was weird that you recognized me, I TOTALLY would have spoken to you if the roles were reversed!)
Lastly, email, blogs, and internet forums have allowed me to become closer friends with Jamie, after meeting her IRL because of Jen. Today, we were actually able to hang out together and share a wonderful meal and afternoon together. Thankfully she took some pictures of our good time today! I'll have to continue relying on other people to help me with pictures until we find a solution to our broken camera. THANKS J for sending these my way!
First, I have my friend, Jen, who started as an IRL friend, then became a web friend because of distance, and ultimately stayed an IRL friend BECAUSE of staying in touch through the web. Now I'd like to CONGRATULATE her and her sweet family in the ultimate net-geek fashion, by giving her a "HAPPY NEW BABY" shout-out on my blog! Her new son Jake arrived yesterday and I'm just so excited for her and Chris and Luke! Can't wait to meet the little guy IRL :)
Next I have to say how cool and creepy it is that an Internet friend recognized me IRL and introduced herself to me at Walmart yesterday. It's totally awesome that she spoke up and that we were able to share a hug but also a little bizarre that my family is recognizable because of my posting stuff online! (Lisha, I'm totally glad you spoke, though! It was great meeting you! Even though I am saying it was weird that you recognized me, I TOTALLY would have spoken to you if the roles were reversed!)
Lastly, email, blogs, and internet forums have allowed me to become closer friends with Jamie, after meeting her IRL because of Jen. Today, we were actually able to hang out together and share a wonderful meal and afternoon together. Thankfully she took some pictures of our good time today! I'll have to continue relying on other people to help me with pictures until we find a solution to our broken camera. THANKS J for sending these my way!
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Ringers
I have learned to be so much better about not answering the phone. Especially on Sundays. If the phone rings and I can tell by Caller ID that it's not a call that will keep me in my Sabbath Day mode, I usually let the machine get it and I call back later.
Sometimes, though, I answer it anyway. I wasn't really in the proper "Sabbath Day" mode and when the phone rang, I just got it. Thankfully, it was a good call BUT it WAS a business call. I really don't like doing business on Sunday.
Maybe I need to turn off all the ringers.
He-Man is running around happy in his diaper but he won't stay far away from me for very long. He'll wander off to play with something but within a few minutes he's right back under foot (or at least close by). I guess he's just at the age of enjoying his ability to explore but he's a little anxious that he might get lost if I get out of his sight for too long.
Jen is still pregnant.
NOTE TO JEN: DO NOT WORRY :) Just because I'm writing about you here doesn't mean that I'm stressing about you! OK?????
Being a doula is an awesome thing. But there is this funky place in the brain that warps time a little bit during those 2 weeks before and after a due date of a 'client'. I don't schedule anything big in those couple of weeks (usually...sometimes some big deals creep in there) and my brain is always in this 'ready to go' status. I take showers at night way more often when I'm on call than any other time, just in case I get called out at night. I sleep pretty lightly but I definitely don't toss and turn. I actually don't realize I'm sleeping lightly until I get a phone call, though. Only when I'm on call am I able to hop out of bed at a moment's notice. Otherwise, if you call in the middle of the night, you might have a full-length, in-depth conversation with me but I can pretty much guarantee you that there was no retention of what was being said by either of us.
So, I'm kinda in that state now.
I think we've found a new church. Henry and I haven't 'said so' for sure yet so I won't talk about it too much right now but I have a feeling that we're on the way to making a firm decision. The Lord has just answered a TON of questions and prayers for us (me especially) in the last couple of days. He is amazing and faithful!
Thank you to Joy for our conversation the other day. That was the beginning.
Sometimes, though, I answer it anyway. I wasn't really in the proper "Sabbath Day" mode and when the phone rang, I just got it. Thankfully, it was a good call BUT it WAS a business call. I really don't like doing business on Sunday.
Maybe I need to turn off all the ringers.
He-Man is running around happy in his diaper but he won't stay far away from me for very long. He'll wander off to play with something but within a few minutes he's right back under foot (or at least close by). I guess he's just at the age of enjoying his ability to explore but he's a little anxious that he might get lost if I get out of his sight for too long.
Jen is still pregnant.
NOTE TO JEN: DO NOT WORRY :) Just because I'm writing about you here doesn't mean that I'm stressing about you! OK?????
Being a doula is an awesome thing. But there is this funky place in the brain that warps time a little bit during those 2 weeks before and after a due date of a 'client'. I don't schedule anything big in those couple of weeks (usually...sometimes some big deals creep in there) and my brain is always in this 'ready to go' status. I take showers at night way more often when I'm on call than any other time, just in case I get called out at night. I sleep pretty lightly but I definitely don't toss and turn. I actually don't realize I'm sleeping lightly until I get a phone call, though. Only when I'm on call am I able to hop out of bed at a moment's notice. Otherwise, if you call in the middle of the night, you might have a full-length, in-depth conversation with me but I can pretty much guarantee you that there was no retention of what was being said by either of us.
So, I'm kinda in that state now.
I think we've found a new church. Henry and I haven't 'said so' for sure yet so I won't talk about it too much right now but I have a feeling that we're on the way to making a firm decision. The Lord has just answered a TON of questions and prayers for us (me especially) in the last couple of days. He is amazing and faithful!
Thank you to Joy for our conversation the other day. That was the beginning.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Last Day
Hopefully this is the last day for a few things...
It's definitely the last day of softball until next season! YAY! We were at the ballfield all morning for 2 ball games and now we're waiting for Ray and Henry to come back from R's closing ceremony so that we can go to the Team Parties (for both girls).
I'm also hoping this is the last day Jen is pregnant with Luke. Hopefully she'll go into labor this afternoon or evening.
I'm hoping this is the last day the kids have of not meeting Feff. As soon as Jen's baby is born, we're heading over to see him. The kids are SO READY! I'm ready to hold him again, too!
This is the last day Henry and I have been married exactly 11 years! (Lame way to incorporate the title into saying that today is our 11th anniversary!) After today, we'll be married OVER 11 years. In 35 minutes, we will be exactly 11 years after our wedding ceremony began (2 PM).
Gotta run out the door. Henry's home and we're off to the swimming party! Whoo hoo :)
It's definitely the last day of softball until next season! YAY! We were at the ballfield all morning for 2 ball games and now we're waiting for Ray and Henry to come back from R's closing ceremony so that we can go to the Team Parties (for both girls).
I'm also hoping this is the last day Jen is pregnant with Luke. Hopefully she'll go into labor this afternoon or evening.
I'm hoping this is the last day the kids have of not meeting Feff. As soon as Jen's baby is born, we're heading over to see him. The kids are SO READY! I'm ready to hold him again, too!
This is the last day Henry and I have been married exactly 11 years! (Lame way to incorporate the title into saying that today is our 11th anniversary!) After today, we'll be married OVER 11 years. In 35 minutes, we will be exactly 11 years after our wedding ceremony began (2 PM).
Gotta run out the door. Henry's home and we're off to the swimming party! Whoo hoo :)
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