Elizabeth's Spinal Surgery

Thank you so much to all who have prayed and asked about Elizabeth.

Tim took her down to Atlanta very early this morning to be prepped for her surgery.  They left at three in the morning.  Her surgery was to take between two and three hours and was done in an hour and a half!  Praise God.  All went better than great and the surgeon was very pleased with the results. Thank you faithful God for all you do for us, always.

Elizabeth has slept for most of the day and they are managing her pain well for her.  Tim is staying with her till her release.  Stephen took me down to Atlanta so I could be there while she was in recovery and to get her settled into her room.  I will be home with the other children, until Elizabeth is released to come home, in a few days. 

She is doing well. She is still on oxygen but they will start weaning that very soon.  She has lung disease so it takes a little time for her to get back to base line in that area.

She was ready to get this done and over with.  Now she is on the other side of it and we pray she heals quickly with as little pain as possible.  She wants to be fully recovered by the time ballet starts back.  It is an estimated four to six week recovery time.  I have cleared our schedule as much as possible of appointments so we can all just take it easy and let Elizabeth rest for the next few weeks.

Thank you again for all your prayers. Prayer is very powerful and makes a huge difference.  God hears our cries and is always so faithful.  May God bless you back 100 fold.

Psalm 36:5  Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

blessings,

susan  

Catching Up - June 2016 Part 1

We have been beyond busy with appointments lately.  The garden is also keeping me very busy.  I have been trying to use up all the produce and not let anything spoil.  We are so grateful for a good garden this year.  Below are two or our raised bed gardens. God is so good. 

I am so behind in blogging and sharing things the children have done, so today I am going to get caught up a bit.

Billy did this very hard puzzle all by himself and wanted me to take a picture of it.  :)

Things will slow down after Elizabeth's back rodding surgery, which is on this Wednesday.  As I have cleared our schedule for a few weeks, until she recovers a bit.  In those weeks, I am going to stay home as much as possible, rest, watch the children swim, enjoy summer and try to finish potty training Kinsley and Timothy. 

At the end of the school year, in our town, there is a dance held for all people with special needs and their families.  I have never went or taken any of the children.  This year another family really wanted us to come and bring Antonio to socialize with their son.  There are very few things Antonio can participate in and he really wanted to go, so I took him, Elizabeth, Carolyn and Zeke as well.   They all had a wonderful time.  It was very low key and family oriented.  There was karaoke and food.  (Zeke wanted to go for the food and to watch everyone  :)  )  I have not been to a dance before, I don't dance.  I can not tell you how much joy it brought me to see so many people, with special needs, all in one building, socializing, eating and dancing with such joy.  I could not take the smile off my face, as Antonio got invited out to dance and was wheeled squealing all over the dance floor, arms swaying to the music.  Or my girls out on the floor, dancing together, not caring who was around them or watching.  It was such a precious time for everyone there.  Even though we don't usually participate in anything like that, I am so glad I took them.    They all made some wonderful memories.

My handsome happy son.

Zeke and my ladies.

These two had so much fun getting ready for this occasion.

We had triplet baby goats born about that time.  One went to my neighbor very quickly so I did not get a good picture of them all together.  These are the other two that went to one of my children's therapist.

We also had two major dance recitals.  Carolyn had hers at RC Ballet first. 

I always walk away so blessed after each recital put on by that school.  Such God centered, modest, focused, wonderful, music selections and beautiful dances. 

Carolyn has matured and progressed so much at this school.  Her teachers work very hard with her and Carolyn gives 100 percent!  All the effort really has shown though the last few recitals.  She did so well.  She had the best year.   Thank you so much Miss "M",  Miss "S"  and Miss "K"!  May God pour out his abundant blessings upon you all, for your godly direction, work and care, taken with my sweet girl!

Both girls also take dance at a place locally here in our town.  They also had their recital.  Elizabeth and Carolyn did beautifully. 

Seeing them up dancing together with the other girls in this recital made me realize how grown up my two young ladies are getting.  They looked more like young adults than children up there this year.  Where has the time gone?  I do not own a stick of makeup and they had to wear make up for this recital.  A nice teacher did their make up for me, so I didn't have to go out and buy any.  My girls looked twenty!

They had never wore makeup before, so thought it was special but not long after getting it put on, both of them started itching from not being used to wearing it.  They could not wait to get it off once home.  :)

We have a wonderful dance tutor come out to the house once a week to work with the girls and they had learned four routines with her though the school year.  They put on a very nice recital here at home for us with all they learned.  Thank you "A" for all you have taught the girls in detail and technique!

While I was taking pictures of Carolyn, our littlest dancer wanted to come get her picture taken too.  Actually, she had a small melt down about it.  :)  So here she is.  My sister got her two tutu's for her birthday and she regularly wants to wear them for the day.

Well, this post has gotten pretty long and I have still not gotten in everything!  I guess there will be a part two!

I pray everyone is having a wonderful summer.  We really are and have plans to soon gets some much needed down time!

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Blessings,

susan

Williams Bug-A-Paluza Post

I am sooo behind on post and sharing what has been going on in our life.  We have had one and two appointments a day lately, preparing for Elizabeth's back surgery.  Also, ballet recitals, others doctors appointments and things we have been doing, squeezed in here and there.

Today, I am going to finally get Williams Bug-A-Paluza post in for him. 

Tim and William go away for the weekend once a year, every year.  They both look forward to it and deserve it.  They save, plan and always have such a wonderful time.

Every year when they leave, I am humbled and reminded how much they do around here. It is often a very long three days for me, as I am here alone caring for all the children and farm.  God is so good and carries me though and the guys get a much deserved break and vacation, making happy memories.

They always go bowling on the first night they are there.

 They always eat out at Waffle House a few times!  We don't eat out much so it is a treat!

They always have fun looking at all the VW Bugs, Vanagons and Things.  (The last one is a car's name by the way!)

William always take LOTS of pictures.  He said he thinks he took about 1000 this trip.  I told him he had to narrow it down to his favorites for this post.  :)

 A shortened Vanagon.

They had the best of times and came back refreshed and sun burnt as always!

Thank you God for these wonderful hard working men in my life.  For their godly example and daily support.  Bless them and be with them all the days of their life.

1 Corinthians 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.