The timeframe has been set .. January 2010

I spoke to the surgeon today and my son's surgery will be scheduled for January 2010. The details are being worked out as we speak.

Thank you for your prayers for our family .. you can't know how much it means to us. I cannot tell you how much peace I have about this journey we are on .. and it IS a journey ... God has grown me up indeed. :) I am concerned about and for my baby (even @ 13 yrs. old), but I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, God holds my son IN HIS HANDS!!!

He WILL again get the glory out of this and DH and I will continue to shout from the rooftops about the goodness of the Lord and how He is weaving my son's testimony!

Names of the surgery team & departments will be forthcoming for prayers.

Love to you.

No News ...

The tumor board at the hospital was to have met last week about Ethan's case, but they were not able to get to it. We were told that they would try again yesterday and call us afterwards, but still no call.

Hopefully, today we WILL hear some news, but I have already turned it over to Jesus and I am resting safely, comfortably in His arms.

I AM praying though not only for my son, but for the MANY, MANY children who are being diagnosed with tumors and receive various treatments throughout the country. It is simply amazing to me how many children are sick.

A new journey ...

I have been away for a few days because I have been trying to absorb the news that Ethan WILL have to have surgery again soon. His tumor fragments are filling in. We saw his neurosurgeon last week and the information hit us like a bolt of kryptonite. He has been doing well for the last 2 years and this visit was to get results from his MRI two weeks ago. We were hoping that they were going to tell us that Ethan would not have to have another MRI until 2010 and now this ....

still processing, BUT God IS good and on the throne. This news did NOT catch him off guard and He is caring for Ethan more than I can.

I am NOT sure how He will get the glory from this new turn of events, but it has certainly brought us to our knees once again .. thank God we had been praying and beseeching Him all along.

The hospital tumor board meets t0morrow and hopefully we will know something soon about when the surgery will take place.

If you think of Ethan, please pray for him.

Thank you.

Potty Training 101 .. (promise no pictures)

DeClan decided he wants to potty train AGAIN, but this time is VERY different from the other three times. I am not sure when he decided it was in his best interest to try again, but this time seems to be the charm. He has gone so many times today, there is a trail from my office to his bathroom starting to show in the floor. Whoopie!

I had planned to start again in 2013 just before he entered kindergarten, because I keep hearing from great mommies " don't worry, he'll get it and besides, you never see kids in diapers in Kindergarten". Joking .. I am joking ..

All kidding aside, I decided to wait until his third birthday in November because that is when his older brother made his declaration that he was ready to wear Elmo undies and went on his own and never looked back, so I thought I would make it easier on me and wait.

I also said it would be nice to make one more road trip w/o a million bathroom breaks during a 12hr. trip, but I guess we will have to make different plans for Thanksgiving now. When I mentioned it to DH this morning, he just said uhuh and move on his merry way. The idea will sink in sometime this weekend. :)

I am glad though to hopefully say that last week was my last purchase of diapers and pullups. If all goes well, I'll have him in underwear w/i the next month and have a whopping $50.00 to add to the Christmas Club account.

oh and by the way, stock in M&Ms should go up, because that is the reward you get in this house when you "go potty"!

and then ChickFilA decided to give away food ...

That's all the boys needed to hear. They got our their game gear and we loaded up the van .. daddy too ... and headed to ChickFilA for lunch.

Good for me because I didn't have to cook for a THIRD day .. I think the fam was tired of BBQ anyway. :)

Labor Day Fun

Laughing at my 2yr old because he is giving me the puppydog eyes for playing in the water in his bathroom AND spilling water all over the floor. (I guess he heard me say last night, the bathroom floor need mopping). hehehe

Toddlers, gotta love them.

Whose schooling who?

This is week two of homeschooling at our house and the oldest son (12) just KICKED MY butt in P.E., not to mention, he schooled me on his history lesson as well. The middle son (4) is wearing me out about when his classes are supposed to take place and when can he take a test and when can .. when can he .. when can he. It really is cute. The youngest (2) is not all that concerned about school just yet, but is all smiles when it is time for snacks, lunch and coloring his numbers (with a snack in hand.)

I am so glad we chose this option for our family. I cannot believe mama is learning so much and I am positive I will be signing up for online college classes next semester. This time I feel like I can complete the degree program and actually learn something. :)

We R Homeschooling!

.... and have FINALLY been able to get a photo w/o DeClan's eyes being closed. We are trying to get into a "groove" and are taking things day by day.

Never in a million years would I have guessed I would be homeschooling my children, but I am enjoying it.

Summer fun ...

Who knew toddlers could have THIS much fun @ Dave and Buster's? 1/2 price game day, made it even better!
Tods driving daddy around @ Six Flags .. admit it daddy, you had just as much fun as the boys. (hehe)

Field day for the kids ... you would have though we were given REAL trophies.

When God won't let go ...

It never occurred to me that @ 40 I would have so many questions about my life unanswered. I am not sure that I thought I would have ALL THE ANSWERS to my life (thus no need to be left on the earth), but I still struggle with things I struggled with when I was younger, although on a more detailed level.

Like?

Well, I thought at 40 my career would be all worked out, my children would be well adjusted preteens, celebrating double digit wedding anniversaries (which we are by the way), vacations doable, money problems - solved .. oh and my hairstyle ... on track w/ the rest of world. Ok, I know that last one seems a little trivial, but nonetheless, not getting my hair done on a regular basis has begun to bother me. :)

I just didn't think I would have so many questions or feel so overwhelmed by my life. I started to compare and feel depressed. I know, I know, never do that. I started to get jealous (just being honest) and more dissatisfied with where I am now.


But then God reminds me .. that He has a plan for ME.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."



Then God reminds me, that He has me in the palm of His hands.
Hebrews 13:5 " God has said, never will I leave you or forsake you."

How comforting to know that God IS always with me and He knows what is best for. Time and time again I want to have control .. at least a little bit anyway AND I want to know what lies ahead .. but time after time, He convinces me that His ways are NOT my ways and His ways are best .. and that NOT knowing .. will allow me to TOTALLY depend on Him.

NOT easy, but very comforting.