My oh my how time does fly. It has been a month and a half dear friends since I have written you. That month has been full of all sorts of activities! However, those are mere excuses for not letting you see all the fun we have been having.
Typically, when Stephen comes back, we both hit a point where we are ready for him to go underway for 2 - 3 days. This time - well, it is not at all what either of us wants or even slightly desire. It has been a time of growth and laughter for us all. Growth came mostly on my part, since I seem to be the one who most desperately needs to learn. Up until now, it has been easiest to just stay the one in charge. The one who does bedtimes, getting up, errands, behavior, dog training, chores, cooking, cleaning, etc. God used the St. Louis trip to teach me. I had to be the one in charge for the majority of that time. Talk about exhausting! These past 6 weeks have been full of God helping me open my hands on control. I don't need to be the one jumping on everything all the time. Stephen needs to be allowed to be the head of the household. Thankfully my husband is absolutely fabulous and has not ever complained or belittled or checked me harshly for how I have acted. He took it in stride and loved me despite all of my short comings! We have all jelled more as a family and the kids are much more at ease with everything now that Stephen is at home. They are pretty upset still over the fact that Daddy knows everything with this new way of handling things. Lol. They both have let it be known on various occasions they'd rather me keep their mistakes to myself. Sharing it with my husband has helped them understand what a family team is truly supposed to look like though, and Stephen & I love that!
Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat were wonderful! The kids had a wonderful time eating too much candy and playing games! Kyle was Spider Man! We found a costume complete with muscles and a mask!
In reference to how slender my darling daughter appears, she had been sick off and on for about 3 weeks. Poor baby could not shake off the bug! Guess who she dressed up as! We even found silver sparkly slippers and put a cotton ball on the toe! After our church Trunk or Treat, we learned of a nearby gentleman who worked with the police to block off several blocks of streets. He coordinated hot dogs, chips, pop, and a variation of hay rides! Kyle and Abby LOVED it!
Kyle went back to the ear doctor. His ear (left one) is healing nicely. However, the graph/patch has not completely bonded with his ear drum. What this means is that there is still a very tiny hole. Overall his hearing has improved though! Yay! We go back the last week of school to have another check up on that ear. Please pray God lays His hand upon Kyle's ear and heals it. We won't mind if you also ask God to miraculously heal his right ear too!
Abby's tummy aches during the past 3 months great to a point where she was doubling over, not eating much, and joining me every night just to get some comforting snuggles. I didn't mind at all that I got to snuggle. Neither of us enjoyed the reason she came to me though. =/ We immediately got her into a GI specialist. A number of factors caused her system to become constipated. We adjusted her diet, added some Miralax and Barley Grass. Abby & I are happy to report she only VERY rarely gets a tummy ache! Usually when she cheats behind my back and has too much dairy or any chocolate. The GI specialist did bloodwork, stool samples and an Xray of her digestive tract. Bloodwork and stool samples came back normal. The Xray showed the constipation.
Me? Well, I spoke to my kidney Dr (will call him K.Dr. for short) back in June/July to ask if we could see why I was literally fuller on the right side of my body than the left. If you used your hand to span my depth, my right side without fail measured fuller. He said I should be fine, but ordered a Lasix test. It showed kidney function as better than before surgery and he recommended waiting. I asked for a stent. As God would have it, the scheduling didn't mesh with Stephen going to St. Louis. As soon as Stephen came home again, I called to request the stent be scheduled. I included the fact I had painlessly passed 3 clots in about a 2 week time period in addition to a kidney stone. (not all three at the same time.) K.Dr. immediately called for a Lasix and a CT Scan with contrast. The short version of this story is I get my kidney fixed on Wednesday November 28th! YAY! Let me tell you, I will be THRILLED to lose these 2 extra inches around me. My kidney is back to pre-op size. The procedure is outpatient. K.Dr. will laser the scar tissue and put in a new kind of stent.
Stephen is still as healthy as a horse and stabilizing the kids and me! Which is awesome! Abby had her 7th birthday! She was thoroughly spoiled and her entire day was covered top to bottom side to side with pink! It was fabulous! Facebook has all those pictures.
Due to the way things on the boat were going with engines being repaired, etc. we weren't sure if we would be able to travel for Thanksgiving. God is good and allowed us to leave on the Friday before Thanksgiving for Florida! Yippee!!!! True to form, we surprised my favorite mother-in-law! I just LOVE surprising people! The entire week was a time of sweet reconciliation and refreshment! Kyle and Abby were able to spend time with their cousins, both grandmothers, all uncles and aunts on the Langenmayr side PLUS see their aunt who works at Disney! Well, two aunts, we've pretty much adopted Esther's roomie. A fabulous friend who takes both of my babies in stride and helps spoil them rotten!
The lights synchronized with music were AWESOME!!!! We got home around midnight that night. The puppies were supposed to stay in their crates, but my amazing father in law (Jim Langenmayr) let them out, played with them, and overfed both! Neither dog complained and neither am I!
I have always loved all of my in-laws. My sister Kelly though, I am learning how wonderful she is! Let me tell you! She and her hubby, Jacob, are seriously the best! They are both raising two kids, going to school full time (sometimes a 3hr round trip car drive) and still manage to keep up with all the FL family down there and smile through it all. Did I mention they have THE cutest 3yr old and 18month old ever?
Audrey absolutely LOVED talking with Frankie through the window!
Audrey & Luke got lots of kisses through the window
and when they played outside with the puppies!
Cutest baby girl ever! Yes, I know she is eating. However, part of her being so darn cute is how she goes from stoic, to smiles, to upset, to ballerina toes! All that to say, this is the only smiling pic. Every other pic she would smile until I hit the camera button!
The many faces of Lukey!!!!
Kyle's best buddy came to visit for the afternoon!
Mimi had herself plenty of fun with her babies!!!
Mimi even got to soak up a few moments with Stephen!
Mema got in on the lovins too! Mimi & Abby worked very hard on Kyle's birthday cake!
The kids LOVE their Mema!!!!
Saturday morning around 2am we left for Louisiana.
It was not a happy moment.
It was not a happy moment.
The Lord looked out for us and gave us smooth sailing the whole way!
Around 9am or so, I think, I woke up. Stephen and I had switched to him driving around 8am. We were about 30 - 45minutes away from some family members that we had not visited since last December! We contemplated dropping in and what an inconvenience that might be. However, our love of family won out!
Aunt Kathy played, did crafts, and cooked us a FABULOUSLY delicious and huge meal!
Jeremy (Aunt Kathy's son) hung out with Kyle, Abby, and Stephen all by turns. He made Kyle's day by just sitting and listening to him. Jeremy also set up the Kinect so Kyle and I could play!
Uncle Jack and Stephen had a lot of "man" time with Jeremy as well. Stephen needed all this family time! Don't get me wrong, I needed it too! However, Stephen's job is a just a tad bit more stressful than mine.
There are no pictures of me with Jack, Kathy & Jeremy because I was off. All of the driving and going caught up to me on Saturday.
So, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Jack, and Jeremy, if you read this, please for give my rudeness while I was there. I didn't try to be. My dumb kidney was making me nauseous. As an adult, I should still be able to use my manners and say things politely, but I failed. I hope you'll forgive me.
We are all home and happy to be in our own beds again. Frank & Kaden are MUCH more chill now that they are back in their own territory. Hopefully it won't be another 6 weeks before I write to you my friends. I love and am praying for you all!
REmember!
Jesus is the reason for the season!
Put up the lights and cherish all of the warm fuzzies of the season! God meant for us to celebrate Jesus coming to save us from our sins! Let's celebrate this season!
