Africa on My Mind

If you didn't know, our friend's the Kennedy's are in Malawi, Africa until November. See their amazing story and Africa journey here.

Coughs All Around

Cough-cough-cough, cough-pause (about 2 minutes), cough-cough-cough, pause-repeat. This is how our past four nights have been. At times for hours...and hours on end. Usually ending with coughing so hard, Abigail throws-up, takes a bath, and then finally gets enough relief to fall asleep. Allergies, asthma, coughing, and no sleep. Exhaustion. That's all I can say; pure exhaustion. Just when things looked better with Abbz, Hannah wakes up with the same coughing spell. Oh, my two asthma girls. Abigail had to begin oral steroids to open up her airways, and I am hoping to avoid that with Hannah! On a happier note, Ross took the girls to school for me this morning and is picking them up this afternoon. That allowed Abigail and I got to catch up on our sleep a little.

Go Away Rain, Bring on Fall

Rain. Rain. Go. Away! At least for a few days, so I can finishing painting the bunk beds. Really, it's been about three weeks since we painted the first half of the beds. I am ready to get them done so my girls can have their room back. It is in total chaos right now. Their mattresses are on the floor, and everything is in total disarray. Hopefully if the end of the week proves to be pretty I will be able to finish them up and get the girls' room done so I can begin on Jonathan's. If and when both projects are completed, I will post pictures of the finished products.

Total subject change, but I LOVE FALL!! Here are just of few of the things I enjoy most:

*Crisp, Clean, Cool Air
*Chai Lattes
*Apple Pie
*Pumpkin Pie, Muffins, and Cookies
*Pumpkins
*Hot Apple Cider
*Fall-Scented Candles
*Scare Crows
*Football
*Bikes, Blues, and BBQ

And the list could go on and on...Since I cannot get my fall decorations out (yes, I know fall does not officially begin for another 7 days) due to the above mentioned disassembled bed in the way, I will pay tribute to my blog by changing the layout to fall. Enjoy!

Showers

So Ross, Mary Grace, and Hannah were discussing the fact that we (the girls and I) will be going to two showers this weekend. My sister's wedding shower and my baby shower. Here is the conversation that followed:

Mary Grace: I have already been to one shower and I am going to go to two more this weekend. Bragging...That means I will have gotten to go to three showers!
Ross: Do you want to go to the shower, Hannah?
Hannah: No.
Ross: Hannah, do you know what a shower is?
Hannah: Yes. We have one in our house.

Ross said I couldn't make fun of her because I didn't know what they really were until I was like 10. He thought a bunch of women got together and really took turns taking a shower (hey, at least he thought we took turns and not that it was a group event). Lesson to be learned? Please inform your children, girls and boys alike, that wedding and baby showers are not where a bunch of women get together to take showers. It is for celebration and gifts for the upcoming event. :)

Tires!!!

Thank you Jesus!! He provided the money for us to purchase the two new tires we desperately needed. Ross' hard work lately (even harder than usual) has paid off. We have two brand new perfectly treaded new tires that have replaced the smooth, balding tires we had before. It's amazing to drive over 65 mph and not have the entire van shake anymore. Ha! :) He is faithful to provide...exactly when we need it! We are leaving at 5:45 tomorrow morning for a family reunion in Searcy (4 hours away). We were so thankful to be able to replace the tires before making that trip.

A Self-Reminder...

Update on Lydia; the last I heard she was going to be okay, but her numbers were still a little too high. She was still in the PICU at ACH, but it has also been a few days since I have received any updates. Thank you for the prayers for the Macfarlan family!

So, Mandy and I went to Rhea Lana's last night. I got three outfits for Jonathan, a shirt for Abbz, and the cutest little camo backpack (with GAP written in orange) ever. I plan on using the backpack when "the boy" gets a little older. We had a great time. There were a TON of people and the check-out line was crazy long, but it was totally worth it. Plus, we got to enjoy a little free time without kids. We should have; however, thought through the Starbucks and then later the ice tea a little more carefully because neither of us slept very well last night. Oh, the joys of caffeine!

Ross' next scope is scheduled for Oct. 8th. We will leave on the 7th and come home on the 9th or 10th depending on how he does with his scope. The medicines they use tend to knock him out the first day and make him jittery the second. They are only doing an upper scope this time, so hopefully less drugs will equal less side effects! I am for some reason really stressed about this upcoming trip. It is because we only have $100 in our "Cincinnati Fund", but we have been in this situation before and the Lord has ALWAYS been faithful to provide. My heart knows that as long as this is where He wants us, He will provide the way; but my brain is having a hard time dealing with it this time. I'm sure it is because it feels like we are being hit from every direction for money. Hundreds of dollars in doctor's bills and medical expenses, a HUGE increase in personal property taxes...we are talking over $600...how is that even possible?! The baby. While exciting, we are totally unprepared. No clothes (well, 4 outfits, 2 gowns, and a pair of jammies), no carseat, no stroller, no diapers, and the list could go on and on and on! We desperately NEED 2 new tires; they are all but completely bald. Okay, I know that it sounds as if I am having a pitty party for myself, but I really just needed to vent my feelings. I am more than aware of the blessings in our lives. A roof over our heads with clean running water, electricity, heating and air; three beautiful children and another on the way, free formula...enough said, provisions to allow us to seek medical treatment at the best eosinophilic facilities for both Abigail and Ross. I know HE will provide for all of our needs. For everything listed and for those not listed, I just have to be reminded and remind myself sometimes. Thanks for being a sounding board today! Jehovah-jireh...the Lord is our Provider!!!

A Special Family with a Special Prayer Request

The Macfarlan family is very near and dear to our hearts, and really need to be covered in prayer right now. Below is a copy of an email I received this morning. Before reading it you should know that the Macfarlan's really helped our family out when we were first learning about Abigail's diagnosis. Our laundry had gotten piled up because of hospital stays, doctors visits, and more pressing matters. That doesn't even do it justice. It was ridiculously backed up; so badly they took it to the laundry mat and spent several hours washing, drying, and folding our laundry. When they brought it back to me their kids cleaned my house while Laura took me to lunch. Not because they had to, but because they were showering us with His love and service that day. We had never been touched by a family in quite the same way before or since. Please join us in prayer for their sweet Lydia.

Please be in prayer for Lydia Macfarlan. She is the 11 year old daughter of Kevin and Laura who taught our Sunday School class for several years. Their children Ginger and Luke (with Lydia's assistance!) have watched our boys. They are a really special family to us. Lydia is the baby and their "miracle child" - her birth was what caught her mom's ovarian cancer in stage 1. Please join us in praying for this little girl. From what we have been told, she was in Branson with her mom this week and got sick -- that progressed and when they returned, she was really sick. They went to the doctor and her blood sugar was in the 800's. They decided to life flight her to Little Rock Children's Hospital for stabilization, but because we had storms last night, they ended up having to make the four + hour drive via ambulance. Please join us in prayer for this beautiful little girl. For God's healing, for peace and comfort for their family, and for wisdom. Please be in prayer for Laura and Kevin and their other three children, Kyle, Ginger, and Luke. Classes just began on Wednesday at JBU and Kevin is an Engineering professor and Kyle is a junior and Ginger is a freshman. Please pray for their studies in the midst of all of this!