IT"S A.....

BOY!!! Can you believe it? Neither can we. We are having a son! Wow, that still seems surreal. It almost seems as if we are starting over. From scratch. Like it's our first child. Ross keeps saying, it almost feels like we are having a child of a different species. I have to admit, it does feel strange. We thought we were meant to raise daughters and both of us were happy to do so. When the ultrasound tech said it was a boy, I think we were both a little numb and totally shocked. Although we were hoping for a girl and after the shock and fear wore off; we are very excited about the adventure raising a son will bring! The adventure began the moment she said, "It's a BOY!!" We have nothing! Not a car seat, stroller, nothing. No clothes, no bedding, no toys...poor boy, he will have to go to the garage with daddy to find any "boy stuff" in this household. :) I am thinking we have a lot to do and not much time to do it in. It should be exciting and will definitely keep us on our toes! When the girls go to school, mom will go to painting in hopes to bring a little "boy" to our lives.

Our Purpose

This is an excerpt from Beth Moore's Blog found here.

“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 ESV

Here’s what God is using that verse to say to me right now: When I’m in a really hard and hurtful situation, somehow the present difficulty of it overrides my conscious thought that God is going to use it in my life and then through my life. Not one time in my entire tenure on this planet has He ever failed to turn around and use the hardship for good. NOT ONCE. Not when I gave Him enough time and cooperation. Yet, in the midst of it, I often can only hang onto Him for dear life while we ride the wave to shore and then stand there in the aftershock and look like I’ve just been on the spin cycle of a washing machine. Afterward, when He invariably turns it into some kind of maturity, intimacy, insight or ministry, I think, “Why didn’t I just trust Him for that at the time??? Why did I have to take it so personally and injuriously?” I want to learn to CONSISTENTLY claim the victory right there in the worst of the pain or crisis. At the very moment that I’m crying out to God Most High for help, as the psalmist says, I want to proclaim that He’s smack in the middle of fulfilling His purpose for me. Challenging stuff.

There are several of us in this same situation that Beth is speaking about in this expert. God has shown me many times personally that every situation, place, and timing were for His purpose; most of the time it is for nothing more than for His and His Son's glory (John 11:4). Although He has shown me that there is a purpose in everything, I do not always remember this during the midst of a trial. It often comes to me afterwards. May we strive to remember to "...cry out to God, who fulfills His purpose for us!" I hope this brings forth encouragement for you as it has me.

Glorious Day!

It is a glorious day when your seven year old walks into the kitchen, sees the sink full of dishes, and ask what might be the most monumental question in her little life; "Mom, can I do the dishes?" Trying to contain my excitement I said, "The dishes in the dishwasher are clean and have to be unloaded first." She simply said, "Okay." The best part...she enlisted the help of her little sister! A glorious day indeed.

The finished product...

Wish and Dream...and do it BIG!!!

Let me just say that I am in desperate need of a "real" vacation. One without doctor's appointments and procedures. One where we can escape from the real world for a short time and enjoy our family with no worries. It has been over three years since we have been able to enjoy a relaxing vacation with our children...and poor little Abigail has never been on vacation. Not that she would remember anyway, but Ross and I would. Please do not view this as complaining because we have been able (with the Lord's help...and most likely yours) to pay for our medical trips to Cincinnati and other medical expenses that have accumulated throughout the year. Without the continued support, Ross and Abigail wouldn't be getting better; and our continued trips to Cincy wouldn't be possible. I cannot afford to trade that for a vacation nor would I want to! It would just be nice to have a little break. Vacation or a weekend away with my hubby...no kids??? Humm...I don't know which would be better! ;) Ha! Sometimes that's nice too, and I can't remember when...oh wait; yes I can. We haven't had a weekend without kids since we have had kids! :) What?! If I'm gonna wish and dream I might as well wish and dream big! Right? I declare this wish and dream day. But...if you are going to do it, do it BIG!!!

The Smarties Bandit!!!!

Smarties, where have you gone???

Ross and I have decided that there is a Smarties bandit on the loose in Northwest Arkansas. This above mention bandit has apparently hit every Wal-Mart in NWA. Not only can we not find them, but they have been totally stricken from the shelves. Why does this matter? Why make such a fuss? Smarties are the ONLY thing that sweet little miss Abigail can eat, and the ONLY thing keeping my husband sane while he is on formula and beef only. They are not easily found at Wal-Mart or any other stores for that matter, but IF you happen to run across them please call me, email me, hunt me down and find me so that we can get some...or possibly have you pick them up and mail them to us (depending on where you are located). We will refund said purchases.

New Africa Themed T-Shirts

Our friends, The Kennedy's, adopted a sweet baby boy from Ethiopia nearly a year ago, and have created a new T-Shirt. The proceeds for the shirts will go to Esther's House, and new orphanage in Malawi, Africa. Click here to order yours today! Check in frequently for new designs and accessories.

Ross' Results

So, Dr. Kushner called with Ross' preliminary results. He still has mild to moderate eosinophils, but the numbers went down from 245 to 26. That is huge improvement but the disease is still prevalent. He is going to continue his beef trial along with the formula until all of the the doctors (from U.C. and Cincy Children's) meet sometime in July. They will discuss his further treatment options and get back with us. He also still had eos in his small intestines as well as in his esophagus; so this may change his diagnosis a bit, but we will have to wait and see. Please be praying that they will continue letting him trail beef and the eos continue to deplete. I did point out to Dr. K that it took Abigail nine months on formula only to have a clean scope and he is definitely taking that into consideration with Ross.