Friday, November 11, 2011

Thankful for Health

Many of you may not know this, and that is the way we wanted it until we knew what was going on.  We told a core group of people so we could be praying together about what was going on.  Let me rewind and tell you a bit about what happened.

Over MEA break (fall break to those who don't live in MN), I had taken the kiddos to Sioux Falls with Grandma and Uncle B.  We were having a great time.  We stayed in a hotel, swam and did some shopping.  We were finishing up shopping and decided to let the kids play in the play area at the mall for a bit.  Shortly after getting there Butterfly came up to me crying.  She said she fell on her stomach and it hurt.  With that I did what every mom in the world would do, I took her in my arms and comforted her.  A few seconds later I noticed that she stopped crying.  I laid her in my arms and looked at her.  She was pale, her lips were blue and her eyes were rolling in the back of her head.  She was trembling.  *insert freaked out mom here!*  I kept calling her name and rubbing her chest to get her to wake up.  Eventually she came to but was VERY lethargic.  As we thought about it, we realized that this was the third time in six months that we had an episode like this.  It was time to bring her in to the doctor.

The following week we saw our doctor.  She was concerned and recommended that we see a neurologist.  But before he would see us he would require some further testing.  The week after that I took Butterfly to get and MRI and some blood work done.  And then the following day I took her in for an EEG.  After that we had to wait a week to see the neurologist.

During that wait we had made another trip to the doctor's office for an unrelated appointment (not even for Butterfly).  Our doctor told us that they did in deed find something abnormal on her EEG scan.  *insert panicked mom moment*  That is all they could tell me.  Great.   I had a week to really worry about things.  Not something I was looking forward to.

That weekend was the Hearts at Home conference in Rochester, MN that I was attending.  What a blessing that weekend was.  I got to experience the fellowship of other moms who worry and struggle and have similar lives as I do.  It was a fabulous weekend.  During one of the sessions there was a picture of the cross up on the big screen.   I kept envisioning Jesus taking my little girl's hand and holding her close.  That was the best thing I could have experienced.  I knew that He was taking care of her no matter what.  It was then I had a sense of peace.

Fast forward to this week.  We finally had our neurologist appointment yesterday (Thursday).  He looked at her tests and did an exam to evaluate her status quo.  When he was finished he discussed what was going on.  During Butterfly's sleep cycle and during the period where they had her hyperventilate there were abnormal waves.   After discussing the events and after the exam we concluded that we are going to wait on doing anything further.

So for my thankful post for today I am thankful for health.  My kids and hubby, for the most part, are healthy.

What are you thankful for today?
<3 Alison

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thankful Thursday

Today, let's see, what am I thankful for.  Today, I am thankful for my children.  As challenging as they can be at times, I am so thankful that God gave them to me for a time.  God has given me the greatest gift with each of my kiddos.  Butterfly is a whiz at anything you put in front of her, Bee has a fantastic energy, Bubby is our comedian and Dragonfly is just sweet and developing her personality.  God truly has blessed me with these kids.


Who are you thankful for today?
<3 Alison

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wednesday's Thankfulness Post

Today I am thankful for opportunity.  Recently a friend of mine, Amy, told me to open up a crochet shop.  I really enjoy crocheting so I thought, why not.  After some discussion, we came up with a name and I have been crocheting ever since.  So, not only am I thankful for opportunity, I am also thankful for Amy, for giving me the kick in the rear.  :)

If you would like to you can check out my FB page and Etsy site.  :)  The shop is called Sweet Knottings.
<3 Alison

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thankful Tuesday!

On this day, exactly one year ago, my hubby started his new job.  So, today I am thankful for his job.  It at times can be hard for me to handle (aka when he travels) but I know that he has a wonderful job and we have a wonderful community of people around us.  I am so thankful that God brought us here to this town so Hubby could have this job so that we could have the community that we have always dreamed of.

Hubby has returned to the states on Friday and we are enjoying every moment with him.  There is a period of adjustment to having him back, I am learning, again, that I don't have to do it all myself.  That he is capable and willing to help me with getting the kids up and fed and dressed.  It is really nice not to have to do it all myself.  :)

What are YOU thankful for today?
<3 Alison

Monday, November 7, 2011

I am really going to catch up with being thankful.  It isn't that I wasn't thankful during that time, I was just  away from my computer.  And MAN!  Am I glad that I was.  I got to experience the Hearts at Home conference.  IT WAS AMAZING!!!  
I took three classes.  The first one was Ten Stress Strategies Every Mom Needs.  FABULOUS class.  I can't wait to put some of those things in effect in my life.  :)
The second class I took was Strong Willed Children.  I am SO glad I took that.  It was so helpful and made me feel normal about my kids!  I now have more tools to use to help work with my children to teach and instruct them in the ways they should go and how to do that with FIRST TIME COMPLIANCE!  I can't wait!  :D
The third class was about Multiple Intelligences.  FABULOUS class.  This was taught by the same lady that taught the strong willed children class.  I learned what kinds of smart I am and am starting to understand what kind of smart my kids are.  I will go more into that after I read the book that I bought.  :)

I am so thankful that I got to go to this event.  It was so worth every penny.  :)

So the things I am thankful for for Saturday, Sunday and Monday are as follows...

I am thankful that I was able to attend such a wonderful conference with a host of supportive moms who all knew where each other were coming from.

I am thankful that my husband came home safely from his travels for work.

I am thankful that a new week has begun.

Here are a couple of quick pics of the ladies I went to the conference with and the new things that my hubby brought home for my kiddos.  :)





Friday, November 4, 2011

Today is the DAY!

The day that my hubby comes home!  He has been gone for exactly one day in the last month.  He has been traveling for work.  I AM SO GLAD THAT HE IS COMING HOME!  So, today, I am thankful for the airlines for getting my hubby home today and for the cars that we have to get him from the airport to here.  I am thankful that we survived the month without him!  I am thankful for the family and friends that helped me get through the month.

Today I am heading out to a women's conference and I am super excited that I am getting a much deserved break from everything.  Then I will come home to see my hubby on Saturday and pick up the kiddos from the grandparents' house on Sunday.  This is going to be a fabulous weekend.  :)

What do you all have planned for the weekend?
<3 Alison

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Poodle Skirt and Pinterest

I am sooo excited.  I pulled out the good ol' sewing machine tonight and whipped up a poodle skirt for Butterfly for kindy.  You see, tomorrow is the 50th day of school.  So, they are having a 50's style party.  I thought to myself, "What 50's party is complete without a poodle skirt?!".  Thus ensuing Project Make a Poodle Skirt.

I knew I was short on time and energy so I had to think quick.  There was only one place I could think of that would have the answer for me and www.pinterest.com is the place.  So, I searched around and found this FABULOUS circle skirt, and let's be honest...a poodle skirt is nothing more than a big circle with a hole in the middle for you.  :)  I was sooo relieved to find that it was really that simple!  Since I was heading to the "City" this last week I knew I could get what I needed no problem.  I picked up some pink felt, some 2" wide elastic (in white), and an iron-on poodle.  Yep, that is it.

Here is the link to the pattern so you too can make your very own poodle skirt (or any circle style skirt really!).

And here is a pic of the skirt.  I will add a pic of the girl in the skirt tomorrow.

Today I am thankful for doctors

I know that we call get frustrated with them at times.  But today I am thankful for them.  I am thankful that we have a doctor that is comfortable letting us adjust our vax schedule as we need to and also comfortable with helping us figure out why my children react they way they do to different foods.  I am thankful that they are helping us figure everything out from insurance to which kid needs what.  They will take a call from me and help me get the info that I need.  Our doctor is also very good about getting us in as soon as they can when we need to.

I am so thankful that we have healthcare readily available to us.

What are you thankful for?
<3 Alison

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Today I am thankful...

...for time alone with my oldest daughter.  In the last month, things have been crazy in our house.  Two of our kiddos have needed to be seen by specialists in neighboring towns (and one not so neighboring town).  So I feel very blessed that today, during one of those trips, I got to spend some serious quality time with Butterfly.  She is growing up so fast, and today, I felt like I had missed some of it.  She is 6 now.  After her appointment, we went to the mall.  She has ALWAYS loved the mall.  She loves the new things, she loves people, so the mall is just the place for her...and me, but that is another story.  :)  Today I brought her to Claire's and bought her new earrings.  She has had the same ones for two years, the studs that she got when she first had her ears pierced.  But since she has had to do so much in the last couple of days I thought it would be nice to get her something special.  It was amazing to see how much she had changed and to see how her personality is emerging.

I am VERY thankful for my friends and family.  I know I said that yesterday but I cannot emphasize it enough.  Since Hubby has been out of the country my friends and family have rallied around me to help make things a bit easier on me.  If I needed something or needed someone to watch a kiddo or two someone was always there to help me out.  I hope that as things return to normal around here that I will be able to repay my friends and family some how.  I hope that you all know how much it has meant to me that you have been there through this difficult time for me.

I am thankful for my church.  Tonight is AWANA and my girls are so excited to go.  They get to sing songs, play games, listen to Bible stories and recite Bible verses.  They have a great time and I have a great time teaching!  I LOVE MY SPARKIES!  They all ROCK!

What are you thankful for today?
<3Alison

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

This month's goal...

This month my goal is to be thankful.  So in honor of that today's post is going to be what I am thankful for today.

Today I am thankful that I have friends who are willing to help me out.  I am thankful for family close by who help me out, as well.  I am thankful for insurance who is willing to do their job and pay for what they are supposed to, without much of an ordeal.  I am thankful that my husband will be coming home in four day and I will get to see him in five.  I am thankful that, for the most part, my children are healthy.  I am thankful that I have a warm house to live in.  I am thankful that I have a church family who cares about us and they act upon that care.

I have so much to be thankful for so while we are going through some stuff with the kids I am going to keep on focusing on what is good in our lives right now.

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift.  That is why it is called the present.

<3 Alison