Amazing Confidence

When we pulled up at UW Madison yesterday, Eliza immediately got a burrow in her brow and her countenance changed.

Can’t blame our girl for that.

But then the feisty side of her took over, and she marched into that place oozing with confidence.

You go girl!

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We saw the neurosurgeon first. As we checked into the clinic, which is where all the specialties are, we were told they were going to see 400 children that day. Wow.

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The neurosurgeon appointment was fast and went well. Our doctor was a little disappointed to see that Eliza’s scar had “split” or “spread”, and was not the thin line she had so carefully brought together during surgery. It just happens to some children, and not to others. We are going to use some Vitamin E on it, in hopes to dull and calm the look of it some.

Next we were off to MRI.

Everyone was seeing the amazing confidence Eliza has too, and so we talked about options for the MRI….but put some numbing gel on two areas for an IV insertion while we talked.

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Since Eliza decided she could not bend her one arm, or suck her other thumb with a bandage on her hand, she started sucking her tongue. At least she had a “show” to watch, even though it was not Curious George!

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We decided to talk to Eliza about laying on the MRI table, laying still, how loud it would be as the camera took her picture, and that Mommy would be in there with her. She was all for it. So we headed to the MRI room with NO sedation at all.

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It was LOUD. But we both wore ear plugs, and they wrapped Eliza in a blanket in a figure eight so she would be less likely to move. We were in the machine 15 minutes and it was over. Eliza cried, but she did not fight and laid still.

My strong baby girl, you will go far.

We did use sedation for the CMG. It took about two hours for that, and we were done!

We ate some lunch, even though it was about time for dinner. Eliza was silly and wobbly as she fully came out of the sedation!

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And 2.2 seconds after I sat Eliza in her car seat, I looked back over and found this….

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It was a very long day….but I think we have a lot to learn from our Eliza Claire.

She is one amazingly confident gift from God.

Team Eliza On The Road Again

We are headed to UW Madison today with our sweet little Eliza!

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Team Eliza consists of Blake and I today. We have a full day of appointments ahead. Eliza will have a sedated MRI and a sedated urodynamics study. We will also see Eliza’s neurosurgeon for a checkup!

It is a beautiful day for a drive!

We covet any prayers for our beautiful girl! She is pretty unhappy with jello for breakfast…which she can only have for 15 more minutes and then it will be nothing by mouth until the testing is done.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Don’t Stand Still

There are a couple times each year that my hubby will tell the children “Don’t stand still today, or your Mom will get rid of you too!”

Very funny, honey.

Ok, well, there might be some truth to that.

A couple of times each year I get on a pretty big deep cleaning and purging kick.

Since today it is 50 (FIFTY) degrees warmer than it was Thursday morning…a little spring cleaning was in order.

You can blame it on this awesome weather!

A beautiful sunny spring like 39 degrees!

It is all a matter of perspective, people!

Where were we…oh, yes…

Two little people took Blake’s words literally.

When I had the two couches pulled together as I cleaned behind them, they bounced to their hearts content.

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The smiles and giggles were contagious!

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I have hit just about every room in this huge ‘ol farm house in some way or another.

I did force kindly ask two of the boys to try on clothes for me.

So we pulled the clothes totes out of the attics and got to work.

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Grant helped out. He was my muscles.

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The sizes we needed are waiting for the wash machine. The sizes that we are done with are all packed away. The only bad news is that Chad has officially caught up to Grant in size. There will be some shopping in order!

Ahhhh….that’s better! All clean again!

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There are actually five seasons when you live on a farm.

Summer, fall, winter, mud season, and then spring.

We are about to enter mud season.

The rate that the snow is melting today, I think it will start sometime this week.

Mud season is a loosing battle. Seriously.

I did get all the snow clothes and snow boots put away today and set the mucking boots out.

Do you think our little sweet pea will put those cute little muckers on her feet?

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Ahhhh…the mud room is sparkling too!

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We all agreed it was time to take a break until we need to make dinner.

Chad and Lane decided their break would be riding bikes out in the hay loft.

Eliza wanted to go to, so Grant blessed me and went out to watch her.

The house is pretty quiet! I decided my break would be sitting still writing to you all!

I may or may not have snoozed just a little while the photos were downloading.

I justified it since it is daylight savings time tonight, and an hour will be lost.

Don’t forget!

We have a crazy couple of weeks ahead, and so I am grateful for a day to get things in order.

And for these warmer temperatures and melting snow!

Mud season? Bring it on!

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

I will never forget the very first time this song spoke to my heart.

It was when four girls from the same family sang it in church one Sunday years ago when we lived in Illinois.

The Lord touched my heart with this song again today.

The Lord has always been so generous with timely truths in my life.

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Jesus is my portion.

My constant Friend is He.

And I am SO thankful. So thankful.

Thankful….

For mornings that bring littles for cuddles….

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For constant craziness and noise as a cowgirl rides by and a ball is bounced through the kitchen….

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For how well a little one has learned to sit quietly during Bible time, even if it involves stickers….

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For the Lord’s protection (and dishes to wash) when our dishwasher’s electrical panel burnt up….

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For hearts knit together….

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For a night out with new friends….

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For school around our kitchen table….

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For wanting to be just like Mommy…..

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For 26 years (TODAY!) with my amazing man….

(Happy Anniversary, honey!)

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AND the sun is shining brightly through the bitter cold temperatures. Praise the Lord for sunshine!

Been blessedly busy around here! Loving every single second!

Happy sunny day, you all!