New look for Noah

Aaron and I got the clippers out last night and attacked Noah's crazy hair. I like the long look on him, but we thought it was time for a change. I don't think my parents will ever recover! Sorry!


In other news,
April 2nd is my LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! injection and once again I am in need of help.
Aaron is trying to get the 2nd off, but we need meals for the 2th, 3rd and 4th and childcare help on the 2nd (during my procedure), 3rd and 4th.
I hate to ask for so much help ALL THE TIME! I truely appreciate all of the help we have received so far. You are all such a blessing to our family.
Thank you!

Easter 2008

He is risen He is risen indeed! Praise the Lord!

I feel wonderful today! The cortisone seems to really be working now and I trust after the next injection I will feel 100%!!! Just in time for summer fun!
Praise the Lord!
I wanted to share some Easter pics with you. I hope you enjoy. :)



Our family.


Mom made the boys each an Easter egg cake to decorate and eat. This is the aftermath of Collin's egg cake! He loved it!


Noah proudly displaying his victory in the egg hunt.


That's right Collin, you get all that candy!!


Noah putting the finishing touches on his egg cake.

We hope your Easter was a precious as ours!!

update...

I am happy to report that I am feeling considerably better today. I went out with Aaron and the boys and ran errands today and that wore my back out to some degree, but I am able to sit here and type tonight with only mild pain. Hip Hip Hooray!!
I am so thankful to those who have been praying for us and meeting our many physical needs too! I will never be able to thank you all enough, but I do treasure your help and prayerful intercession on my behalf.

Today...

This morning at 9:15 I will be undergoing my second injection. I appreciate all of your prayers and support. If you think about it, ask Aaron how he is doing when you see him next time. He has not said anything to me, but I am sure it would mean a lot if someone would ask how he is doing. Just a thought. :)
I also want to take a minute to thank... (in advance)
Stephany ~ for watching the boys during today's procedure and preparing lunch and dinner for our family today.
Linda ~ for providing dinner for our family tomorrow.
My dad ~ for watching the boys tomorrow.
Jen ~ for preparing dinner for us on Friday.
and
Donna ~ for watching the boys on Friday.

Thanks so much!!!
LOVE to all,
Becky

Facing the pain...

Hello all. I am thankful to report that we have all of our basic needs covered for my procedure this week. I am grateful to everyone who has offered to help. I actually had to turn down extra meals. What a blessing!
As Wednesday approaches and my next injection is almost here I have been dealing with A LOT of unexpected fear. I remember so clearly the pain I felt during this second injection when these were administered before and I am dreading it. I don't know if it is typical to have such a hard time with the second of the series of injections, but it was my experience and the pain was VERY real. The doc this time is using a different technique that I like much better than the other one, but I still expect this one to be very difficult. I have had a lot of bad dreams and even panic attacks over the past several nights and I think I have only averaged a few hours of sleep a night. Last night, however, I really tried to cast all my cares upon God and guess what... just as He promised HE carried my burden and I quickly drifted off into lala land without any fear or terrifying dreaming. I only woke up when I moved, but even then, I went right back to sleep afterward. Praise the Lord!
Today at church, in our woman's sunday school class, we are studying a book entitled "The Peacemaking Woman" and our current chapter is all about suffering. I praise God for putting this book in my life at this time. He has a way of meeting all of your needs well before you know you will need something. Then in church we were reminded during the sermon that we are to serve and obey God in the circumstances that He has chosen for us, not only when we get what we want or when things are going well. This is where He wants me to be right now. Who knows the plans God has for my suffering. I know Paul was not having fun when he was LITERALLY in chains for Christ, but he was in chains because it was part of God's plan for his life. I wish I was better at being obedient to God and just trusting Him to carry me through this! I praise the Lord for my struggle right now and that He is carrying me tightly in His arms and I am thankful that (even if I never know why) nothing He does is outside of His perfect plan for my life! Praise God!
On another note, my sister was here for a day this weekend and a night and we had a nice visit. It was wonderful to see her!
YAY!

back...

Okay, as promised here is the latest on my back.
I was in quite a bit of pain last night and Saturday night as I recovered from the exciting weekend we had. As it stands today I am thankful that I only have one month until all 3 injections will be complete and HOPEFULLY our normal life (including resumed weight loss) will once again commence. I am SO not looking forward to my next injection, but it is a means to an end. I remember the second injection -last time - was the most painful and hardest to recover from. I hope that won't be the case, but I am bracing myself for the worst. If anyone is able, I am in need of help with the kids on the 20th and 21st as well as meals on the 19th and 20th. If you are able to help in either of these area's please let me know.
Thank you all for your continued love and support!
Sincerely,
Becky

Noah is 3!!!!!!!!!

This entry is dedicated to my 3 year old bundle of joy! I will write a post later on my back, but for now let's celebrate Noah...
(His party was Saturday, but his actual birthday was Sunday.)


Here is a pic of Noah and Maw Maw! He loved his Thomas cake!! Thanks Mom!





The all boys club.:)
Despite the crazy blizzard like conditions, Noah had a great turn-out. I am so thankful that we were able to keep the date. Noah, Peter and Ryan are all old enough to know that when they are told they get to go to a birthday party they are excited, however they aren't old enough to understand that sometimes the party must be cancelled. That being said, because we actually did have the party, we didn't have to listen to disappointed 2 & 3 year olds mourn the loss of a promised party. Whew... I know that was wordy, but if you are a parent of a toddler, you'll probably understand.




Noah got this great train table from my parents! He and Collin LOVE LOVE LOVE it!


This is Noah's big boy bike that Aaron and I got him!! He figured out how to make it "go" Sunday.



Noah had a little baggie of Thomas the Train stickers that he was freely giving out. Even poor baby James got "stickered"





After the cake and ice cream and presents, the Grandpa's, Daddy's and big brother's all went sledding! The best part of being born in the winter season. :)


His actual birthday! Here is a family pic from church yesterday! I can't believe how big the boys are already.



Here is a picture of best buds, Noah and Peter. Considering the were born a mere 5 days apart and that Aaron and I are best friends with Tim and Stephany (Peter's parents) they have no choice but to tolerate one another. They act more like brother's than friends at this point and I have no idea the trouble they will manage to get into later. Our church starts the children's church and children's Sunday school program at age 3. So, the boys spent their first day of "big boy" church together. We didn't let them sit together for service, but the enjoyed a pre-service pow-wow.



All tuckered out from a VERY long weekend!
Happy Birthday Bug! I love you!

Here's the update...

Okay,
So I am feeling much better today! I have discovered that even though the oxycodone does relieve some of my pain, it in facts causes problems in other area, let's just say, I have needed to add fiber pills to my daily schedule. That being said I am trying to survive on no pain meds and 2 days into it I feel okay. My back has been really good the last 2 days and I am encouraged by how much I can now do.
Tomorrow we are having a small birthday party for our family for Noah who will be 3 on the 9th. He requested to invite some of his best buddies from church and weather permitting, all will be able to come. This afternoon, my sister-in-law Megan came over and cleaned the house for me!! Thank you Megan! I also forgot to mention that yummy dinner my friend Erika brought us last Sat. It was a big help!!
Tonight my parents came over and my mom decorated Noah's birthday cake. I was only able to bake the one of the cakes and I am so sad that I was unable to decorate his birthday cake. I have had a big part in his b-day cake decorating for his 2 previous birthday's, but I am not able to decorate this year because it involves too much bending and sitting. I am so thankful to have a Mom that is soooo talented in this area and has been gracious enough to teach me so much of what she knows about cake decorating!
Here are some pics of the cake. I will post party pics after tomorrow's big event!


Love to all!

1 down... 2 to go...

Okay, here is the update...
Wed. I had my first injection. The procedure is very painful and the idea of someone putting a giant needle in my back is always frightening! I felt a lot of peace during the procedure and I am thankful for my new doc who took a lot of time listening to me and pacing the flow of medication so as to reduce my discomfort. By the time my dad and I arrived home from the injection the numbing medicine had started to wear off and the pain began. My legs gave out from under me when I got out of his car, but thankfully he was able to support me and I safely arrived to my home for the next several hours... the couch. I was writhing in pain by about 6 that night and I seriously thought I was going to die. Thankfully, I survived.
Thurs. Was a better day overall. I was able to lift my leg about "one step's width off the ground" (I couldn't lift my leg that high Wed night and getting up the stairs that night took between 15 - 20 minutes). I was still in quite a bit of pain, so Aaron took off 1/2 a day of work and my dad came over for the remainder of Aaron's work day.
Fri. was even better. My mom took the day off work and took care of the children so I could continue to heal. The pain was tolerable and my mobility was getting much better.
Today... I am feeling much better. I am trying to be careful not to over-do it as that is my biggest temptation. Aaron is at the grocery and the kids are being well-mannered and obedient. Praise God.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers! This week has been a challenge for us all. Tues, Noah came down with a horrible cold and today he is showing his first signs of health. Thankfully he was able to sleep last night despite his frequent coughing! Today he is barely coughing at all and he even ate a second helping of french toast at breakfast this morning!
As far as meals go, I think we will be okay until the next injection. I will let you know if we need help in the area before then.
Future needs...
March 19 is my next injection. We have many needs that come with the injections themselves. I think I want Aaron to take off work that day so may not need help on that actual day, but I will need help with childcare and meals on the 19th,20th and 21st. If anyone is avaliable to help in either of these area's on any of those dates, please let me know. I want to get things figured out prior to the injection so we don't have added stress during it.
Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
Becky
ps Please know that I am not fishing for sympathy when I write these blog entries. I have been asked a lot of question's about the procedure and this is a great forum to answer those commonly asked questions. :)