Our son is doing much better since he started taking the antibiotics. As a matter of fact, he was much better just a few hours after his first dose. He did have a bad hour or two last night after I let him eat ice cream. He hadn't had it in 9 days and was going through withdrawals. Ice cream is normally a forbidden food when you are having trouble breathing. He was so much better, though. I thought a little would be OK. In other news, I ran over a snake last night--right in front of our house. On accident, of course. You can ask my family--I won't purposely kill anything--not even a nasty 'possum or armadillo. I just can't do it. Anyway, we went to inspect it after I hit it--and the poor thing was pregnant--quite. There were a bunch of little baby snakes scattered around it. I felt really, really bad. And if that snake hadn't been heading straight for my yard to possibly deliver all those little snakeys, I would be down right upset--Maybe even shed some tears--the poor little mommy snake. I choose to call it Divine Intervention, though. Thank you Lord for saving me from a complete and total screaming fit when I saw 14 million snakes in my yard. Have a great weekend.

Labels: Family

I wish that I could tell you that A. is completely well. He's not. He did sleep 10 hours last night without coughing--that is progress. His asthma statistics were not as good today as yesterday, so the NP put him on an antibiotic. Who knows if he really needs this, but he did have a lot of green goo coming out of his eyes this morning. If the cough stops quickly, we will know this was bacterial. If not, maybe he will be pre-treated for the ear infection that sometimes follows bouts like these. He is taking 6 medications at this point, and that's enough to make anyone feel bad. He's not quite himself today, but after 9 days of almost constant coughing, who would be? Bless his sweet heart. Anyway, please continue to pray--I'd appreciate it so much.

Labels: Family, Health/Fitness, Kids

Can I just say that going out with Coach Jenny and Mandalyn was just what the doctor ordered. I had a wonderful time. I think we all did. I told Jenny that I felt like I talked everyone's ears off--and that's really something for me! We started the evening with everyone meeting at my house. Coach Jenny brought us lovely "happies"--which Mandalyn is going to share (I think), and then she asked my wonderful --and somewhat predictable hubby-- to take a picture of the three of us. He graciously agreed. This is what we saw when we looked at it:

Labels: Friends

Well, if I said I wasn't a little worried, I'd be lying. A. really isn't all that much better today--even after his mega steroid shot last night. The NP today put him on yet another drug--Singulair. She wanted to start an antibiotic, but has decided to wait until she sees him on Friday. He really has always responded to his meds before --I'm just not able to figure out why he isn't this time. And let me just say that I no longer have a calm and serene son. He is PINGING off the walls. It's funny for awhile, but it quickly becomes tiring to keep saying, "A., settle down." A., please try to calm down." "A., be still." "A., that isn't appropriate." Ugh--this steroid thing--it's a love-hate relationship. Well, we are off to the dentist. We all have appointments today--except I have cancelled A's. There's no way he could keep his mouth open without coughing. Oh--and to add insult to injury--our brand spanking new TV is messed up--have to return it... I'm still feeling the joy though!! More later...

Labels: Family, Health/Fitness

• UPDATE- B. is on his way to the emergency room with A. now. His cough is getting continually worse. Your prayers are appreciated.

Would you please join me in praying for our son. He has cough-variant asthma which is almost only induced by having had a cold. He had a cold last week, and by Wednesday was showing signs that his asthma was being triggered. We started his inhaler, but by Thursday evening he was miserable from the coughing, and it was obvious that we were going to have to bring in bigger guns. We pulled out the nebulizer, which hasn't been out for a year and a half, and started him on Pulmi-Cort (a corticosteroid) and albuterol. He was some better by Saturday, and even a bit better on Sunday. He was still coughing quite a bit,though, so it was obvious by Sunday night that a trip to the doctor would be necessary. We went Monday morning, and she started him on the real big guns, Prednisone--which I knew would happen--I have nearly 11 years of experience with this now. He started the pred right away and he took his second dose at lunch today. He is still coughing. He has a follow-up tomorrow morning, and I am sure they will be doing x-rays to check for pneumonia. I am thinking he is developing it. We would most definitely appreciate your prayers for his healing, and that he will get rest tonight. Please pray that I am completely wrong and that he will be well soon. And just so you know about how his asthma came to be... The twins contracted RSV when they were three months old. RSV is a respiratory virus that is rarely serious in children or adults, but is usually very serious in infants, especially those who were born early. A. was hospitalized for several days (over their first Christmas) because he had developed double pneumonia, and was severely ill. It was a scary and hard time for us to see that precious tiny boy lying in an oxygen tent. Anyway, the RSV reoccurred (symptomatically) many times over the years until finally turning to asthma in A. (The doctors wouldn't officially call it asthma until he was three). Our daughter outgrew all the effects of it by the time she was 3. So, please be aware of this terrible virus if you have an infant. If I had it to do all over again, and if it had been available, I would have kept them home during that first RSV season of their lives, and I would have had the shots that are now available. *Note that this virus mostly strikes in temperate or tropical climates.* Thank you for your prayers. Much love, *B. is home from the ER and A. has bronchitis to go along with his asthma attack. They also said that the prednisone wasn't doing it for him and gave him a shot in his sweet little bootie of a much stronger steroid. He also has to take robitussin with codeine for his cough. He has a follow-up appt. in the morning at 1015. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Labels: Prayer

It's Monday once again--I surely didn't post much last week, since there is only one post between this Menu Plan and last week's. In my defense, I did delete one post after thinking better of what I wrote. This is going to be a different week. I am having lunch with friends on Monday--and dinner with friends on Monday. I am really looking forward to that. Coach Jenny, Mandalyn, and I are heading a little ways out of town to go to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner--Mandalyn probably doesn't know where we're going yet, since Coach Jenny and I just decided where we were going while we were at church this morning. We decided that if she wanted to be in on the planning, she had to be there when the planning was taking place. We're real good friends like that. And we love her. Anyway, here's my menu--that is what you came for, right?!

• Monday--the family is eating all the mega leftovers from having company this weekend; I am going out.
• Tuesday--venison, baked potatoes, steamed carrots
• Wednesday--baked chicken at church
• Thursday--ham and bean soup
• Friday--grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, salad
• Saturday--Sunday is our 18th anniversary--since it's a church day, we may go out on Saturday night--B and I might go out and order pizza for the kids. I would like to go see Oceans 13 and go to my favorite local steak restaurant.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I'm looking forward to reading your menus. For more great menus, go visit Laura.

• 

Labels: Menu Plan Monday

Here's the menu for this week. I don't have my regular computer--so no pictures.

• Monday--Ham and Cheese Egg scramble and biscuits. We are headed out to our church's last regular season softball game tonight.
• Tuesday-Baked Turkey Breast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, corn
• Wednesday--leftovers--not eating at church because I don't like what they are having. It is my turn to work at the meal ticket table though, so I have to be there anyway.
• Thursday--Grilled Chicken, rice, broccoli
• Friday--might order Pizza
• Saturday--Grilled Hamburgers, french fries, baked beans

My dad and stepmother are coming at some point this weekend. Menu is subject to change. I sure wish they would call and tell me when...

Labels: Menu Plan Mondays

Can you believe my computer is going out again. The monitor keeps going black for no reason--there it goes again. I will be back...

OK--so much for coming back with gusto on Wednesday. When I wrote that post I had no idea that B would be having knee surgery today. We are home and he is doing well, but I am just still so tired from not sleeping on the trip last week, getting braces on my daughter, driving all the kids to camp, and now B's surgery. I am hoping to be back to normal soon! ** B did not have an accident or anything--he hurt his knee before he went to Africa--don't know how--he got a cortisone shot to put off the surgery. He saw the doctor (Scott--for those who know us) yesterday, and he scheduled B's surgery for today.** This is surgery # 5 in 3 years--hopefully, we only have the gum surgery left!!! And by the way, I miss my kids. And I miss all of you.

Labels: Family

It is so wonderful to be home. I am beyond pooped, so this will be abbreviated. We got home from the National Junior Bible Quiz tournament last night around 930 pm (16 hours one way), so I spent today finishing up laundry and getting the kids packed for camp. Tomorrow morning, K gets braces, and then I am driving the kids to church camp (2 hours one way). So, I promise to be back with a little more gusto on Wednesday. I did want to let you know that we came in 17th place out of 75 teams competing. There are over 1600 JBQ teams in the US, so we are very pleased with how our team did. The highest we have ever placed before is 27th (or so). It was quite the experience for them to be in the top 20. I'm so proud. I don't know if I will ever get caught up with reading all your posts from the last week. I may actually hit the "all read" button for the first time ever. Please forgive me if I do.

Labels: Family

• Monday--Crockpot Meatloaf (because Annie keeps raving about it), corn-on-cob, and mashed potatoes
• Tuesday--Today is K's 15th birthday. In our family, you get to pick dinner on your birthday. Her choices are: Fried chicken tenders, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and chocolate pound cake

Labels: Menu Plan Mondays

Labels: Family, Fun