. . . let us take some time to remember those who sacrificed everything for our freedom.
Happy Memorial Day
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Inspiration for Title
Ten years ago this weekend, we almost lost our Jake.
I wrote this post a couple of years ago.
I thought it would be appropriate to repost it today.
I love to decorate our house with inspirational sayings.
When I saw this sign made out of old barn wood at an antique store in downtown Geneva, I just had to have it! We have it hanging up right in our kitchen.
I wrote this post a couple of years ago.
I thought it would be appropriate to repost it today.
* * * * *
When I saw this sign made out of old barn wood at an antique store in downtown Geneva, I just had to have it! We have it hanging up right in our kitchen. The reason I am so "into" counting our blessings is because when Jake was a little guy (about 18 months), we almost lost him.
To make a very long story short ... Jake had a very hard first year and a half of his life.
He cried a lot.
And I mean a lot.
The doctors kept telling me it was colic,
but I knew it was not.
The doctors kept telling me I was spoiling him by nursing him all the time,
but I knew I was not.
The doctors kept telling me that I was a first time mom and that, "babies cry, get used to it."
My friends who were having babies at the same time as me kept telling me that I needed to just let him cry himself to sleep and then all would be magically better,
but I knew they were wrong.
I knew something was wrong with my baby.
To make a very long story short ... Jake had a very hard first year and a half of his life.
He cried a lot.
And I mean a lot.
The doctors kept telling me it was colic,
but I knew it was not.
The doctors kept telling me I was spoiling him by nursing him all the time,
but I knew I was not.
The doctors kept telling me that I was a first time mom and that, "babies cry, get used to it."
My friends who were having babies at the same time as me kept telling me that I needed to just let him cry himself to sleep and then all would be magically better,
but I knew they were wrong.
I knew something was wrong with my baby.
I felt alone.
I felt scared.
I felt that maybe I was doing something wrong that was causing my baby to be in so much discomfort.
I felt inadequate.
Jake wouldn't sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time and I was exhausted. (understatement)
One day, Jake's cries were different.
I knew something was terribly wrong.
I went to our neighbor's house so I could call the pediatrician. (we just moved in to our house and we had no phone, not even a cell phone!)
They weren't home.
I remember laying on the floor and crying out to God . . . "LORD, give me a mother's wisdom!"
The next thing I remember was driving Jake to the Emergency Room. I know that God is real because I was not really driving, He was. I had never felt the presence of the Lord like I did right then. I didn't even know where the ER was . .. we had just moved into the area. By the time we arrived, Jake was happy . . . not seeming to be in any discomfort at all. The waiting room was full and I was sure that we would wait for hours only to hear a doctor telling me that "babies cry". But to my surprise, they rushed us right in . . . (no waiting!) and I told a doctor Jake's life story and my concerns. The kind, young doctor told me he had just been to a conference on something called "intussusception" (a telescoping of the bowel) and he thought Jake had it. They did a barium enema (yikes!) because it solved the problem 80% of the time. It did not work with Jake so they had to do emergency surgery.
We are very glad that the enema did not work, because the doctors found something they had not suspected.
I felt scared.
I felt that maybe I was doing something wrong that was causing my baby to be in so much discomfort.
I felt inadequate.
Jake wouldn't sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time and I was exhausted. (understatement)
One day, Jake's cries were different.
I knew something was terribly wrong.
I went to our neighbor's house so I could call the pediatrician. (we just moved in to our house and we had no phone, not even a cell phone!)
They weren't home.
I remember laying on the floor and crying out to God . . . "LORD, give me a mother's wisdom!"
The next thing I remember was driving Jake to the Emergency Room. I know that God is real because I was not really driving, He was. I had never felt the presence of the Lord like I did right then. I didn't even know where the ER was . .. we had just moved into the area. By the time we arrived, Jake was happy . . . not seeming to be in any discomfort at all. The waiting room was full and I was sure that we would wait for hours only to hear a doctor telling me that "babies cry". But to my surprise, they rushed us right in . . . (no waiting!) and I told a doctor Jake's life story and my concerns. The kind, young doctor told me he had just been to a conference on something called "intussusception" (a telescoping of the bowel) and he thought Jake had it. They did a barium enema (yikes!) because it solved the problem 80% of the time. It did not work with Jake so they had to do emergency surgery.
We are very glad that the enema did not work, because the doctors found something they had not suspected.
The bowel had been telescoping so many times in his little life that it had worn a hole that day and toxic waste was leaking into his belly.
"Four more hours would have been too late," they told me.
They took Jake's intestines out of his body and laid them on a table next to him. They had to cut some of his intestine out and sew it back up.
"Four more hours would have been too late," they told me.
They took Jake's intestines out of his body and laid them on a table next to him. They had to cut some of his intestine out and sew it back up.
Praise God for making me go to the ER and sending us that particular doctor who was willing to hear my story and actually do something about it! (And who had just been to a conference on the very thing Jake had!!) Our pediatrician was so thankful that I could not get a hold of him that day because he said that he would have just told me it was gas .. .he told me I was very lucky to have that "rookie doctor" treat Jake . . . I think that "rookie doctor" was really an angel . . . Jake's angel.
Praise God for His perfect timing.
(They also found out that my little Jake had been having acute appendicitis attacks ever since birth. There was so much scar tissue all around his appendix, so they removed that as well.)
Since there was so much toxic poison in Jake's belly that day from the hole in his intestine, he developed a serious infection called C-Def, which was very scary, but we treated that and it finally went away and Jake started sleeping through the night, which was AMAZING for John and me!
Sleep never felt so sweet.
(They also found out that my little Jake had been having acute appendicitis attacks ever since birth. There was so much scar tissue all around his appendix, so they removed that as well.)
Since there was so much toxic poison in Jake's belly that day from the hole in his intestine, he developed a serious infection called C-Def, which was very scary, but we treated that and it finally went away and Jake started sleeping through the night, which was AMAZING for John and me!
Sleep never felt so sweet.
GOD is in control and my "Count Your Blessings" sign is a constant reminder to me of that awful/wonderful day when I almost lost my Jake.
When I am feeling sad or sorry for myself about something, that sign grabs my attention as if God is saying,
"Look! I have given you wonderful blessings! Enjoy them! Cherish them! . . . Count them!"
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"Look! I have given you wonderful blessings! Enjoy them! Cherish them! . . . Count them!"
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Friday, May 27, 2011
favorites on fridays
Favorite Countertop Spray: Meyer's Clean Day Lemon Verbena Countertop Spray
(Laura loved lemon verbena and I think of her every time I smell it or see it.)
I posted a couple years ago that my favorite spray was Method, but I needed a change.
I have been loving this spray.
It smells fresh(like spice and lemons)and it has an added special Vegetable Protein Extract, which is a natural way to remove odors.
Plus . . . it reminds me of Laura on Little House. (anyone with me?)
(Laura loved lemon verbena and I think of her every time I smell it or see it.)
I do feel like I should add that you should spray it sparingly or the scent will overpower you. I like the scent, but too much of a good thing . . . is too much. :)
Oh . . . I got mine at Target, but you can just google it and order it on-line.
Oh . . . I got mine at Target, but you can just google it and order it on-line.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
hard day
Today was a hard day for me.
My baby had his last day of preschool.
I couldn't even get a picture of him with his teachers because I could not hold myself together enough to take one.
I had no idea I was going to feel this way.
My baby had his last day of preschool.
I couldn't even get a picture of him with his teachers because I could not hold myself together enough to take one.
I had no idea I was going to feel this way.
Next year he will be going to all-day kindergarten.
How will I make it through the day without seeing this smile?
Tuesday Randomness
A whole lot of this has been going on lately . . . travel baseball.
So proud of this boy.
This little guy is going to be finished with Pre-K tomorrow.
Time sure does fly. (sniff)
. . . and even little boys at baseball games' nails.
It's 1:00 am and I am still up making teachers' gifts.
So proud of this boy.
I found this book at a garage sale for 50 cents . . . I'm so excited to learn more about how to use my camera!!
I'll share helpful tips with you.
This little guy is going to be finished with Pre-K tomorrow.
Time sure does fly. (sniff)
Sweet Caroline has been loving painting fingernails lately.
She likes to paint my nails, her friends' nails, her nails,. . .
It's 1:00 am and I am still up making teachers' gifts.
I work best under pressure.
Good night.
Thanks for stopping by.
~cheryl
Sunday, May 22, 2011
weekend garage sale finds
Now that the weather is cooperating, garage sales have been "springing up" everywhere!
I had forgotten how much I love the thrill of a "good find".
I had to buy this creamy pitcher.
I love the color cream.
And I couldn't pass up this little guy for 50 cents, could I?
Again . . . cream.
I knew I could put this to use somehow . . . I'm thinking about putting some creamy colored dried hydrangeas in it.
Have I mentioned I like the color cream? ;)
Well . . . I had to buy something that wasn't creamy colored.
Luke was thankful for that.
(do you see the brown cabinets in the background?? Guess what color they will be in a few weeks . . . cream)
I had forgotten how much I love the thrill of a "good find".
I had to buy this creamy pitcher.
I love the color cream.
And I couldn't pass up this little guy for 50 cents, could I?
Again . . . cream.
I knew I could put this to use somehow . . . I'm thinking about putting some creamy colored dried hydrangeas in it.
Have I mentioned I like the color cream? ;)
Well . . . I had to buy something that wasn't creamy colored.
Luke was thankful for that.
(do you see the brown cabinets in the background?? Guess what color they will be in a few weeks . . . cream)
p.s. I love this boy and all of his garage sale LEGOs. He couldn't stop telling me how special they were to him. Gotta love a good garage sale. :)
Friday, May 20, 2011
favorites on fridays
Happy Friday everyone!
I think Spring has finally sprung in Chicagoland!!
I planted some annuals in our containers in the front, which leads me to this Friday's "Favorites on Fridays" post.
Favorite annual to plant in a container: Lemon Symphony
(even the name is beautiful!)
I am just in love with these flowers.
Look at the purple in the middle.
When the sun is shining, the petals are open and when the sun is not shining (which has been quite a lot until just recently) the petals are closed. It is fun to watch.
I planted them with some purple and yellow violas. (and a few orange marigolds to bring out the little bit of orange in the middle of the lemon symphony)
I will be doing a post soon about how to plant flowers in containers, so stay tuned. :)
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I think Spring has finally sprung in Chicagoland!!
I planted some annuals in our containers in the front, which leads me to this Friday's "Favorites on Fridays" post.
Favorite annual to plant in a container: Lemon Symphony
(even the name is beautiful!)
Look at the purple in the middle.
When the sun is shining, the petals are open and when the sun is not shining (which has been quite a lot until just recently) the petals are closed. It is fun to watch.
I planted them with some purple and yellow violas. (and a few orange marigolds to bring out the little bit of orange in the middle of the lemon symphony)
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