Poor Megan...

She started with a tooth ache on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day!! I great Mom as I am thought that she had a loose tooth…so, I told her to “wiggle it out” She worked on it and didn’t say much of anything else about it until the next day. She woke up and told me again that her tooth hurt I looked in the mouth and saw nothing and it really wasn’t loose (she admitted to me) so I sent her up to floss it again and see if there was something stuck in it. Nope…nothing! We gave her some Motrin and Tylenol and it helped I assumed that she bruised her gum from wiggling it all day. She laid low with a hot pack off and on for the day on Friday, in the evening it was a little puffy…I thought because of the hot pack…do we see the failure of a Mom yet? Phil and I talked about it and looked at her and really were in agreement with where the pain was coming from and she didn’t really seem to be complaining about it. (which by the way she doesn’t complain about things EVER!!) bad mom…we figured we would see how she was in the morning…no problem right! So Saturday morning she woke up and she looked like someone had shoved a tennis ball up in her cheek. We called the dentist and he said abscessed tooth. Called in amoxicillin and told us to call in a few days after the swelling went down. Sounds good to me…he did say that if her eye got swollen or she had a hard time breathing get into the ER. She didn’t do much but sit on the couch all day. Rachel was over and we kept watching her to see if she was getting better trying to convince ourselves that she was looking better (I think) finally Phil came in around 6:00 and we talked about it and ate dinner…and we were getting ready to bring her into the ER when Rachel said “Call Nardos” (ok, so she said it a few times during the day) So, I did and got a call from Jack shortly after I made the call. He told me to come over and he was going to look at it and see what was going on in there. Well…he extracted the nasty tooth! Poor Meg, I think she was levitating on the chair as he pulled it. The tears wouldn’t stop but we watched the swelling come down quite a bit. We watched her for awhile then off to bed we all went…with every intention of calling the dentist on Monday morning. She woke up Sunday and we couldn’t see the eye it was so swollen now this is a very bad thing when it gets up that high. We called Jack and also our dentist. Phil had her there at the office at 9:30 to be looked at…more crying and more pain for Meg. He put her on another type of antibiotic (and no pain med still) bought an ice pack and she was on the couch all day. Not getting much better she went to church with me for choir I think it was more to show off her battle wound than anything else really…we left right after choir and spent some time at my parents house Phil watched her eye get more swollen once again and brought her home to settle her in for the night and hopefully get some of the swelling down again. It continued to get worse…at 10:10ish Sunday night we agreed that the best place for her would be in the ER so…we made a few calls to make sure that the rest of the kids would be taken care of (Thanks for being on call Mom and Dad!!) Got to the ER at 10:35 pm…right as the change of shift was happening…good timing or bad timing I am still not sure of that I think it was good because we were able to have the same nurse taking care of her and not be having to change 20 minutes after we arrived. At 11:10 (right after the Patriots won the game) we were ushered into a room and checked in. The nurse left us for a minute and came right back with all the goods to start an IV. The ER doc saw us walk by and told her to start it right away (he didn’t even see her other than through the glass that is how bad she was!!!) so we took blood and lots of it, hooked her up to the IV chatted with us and then told us the only reason that she was still down in the ER and not up in a room was because there were no nurses in the Pedi until at that point that needed to call one in. I felt sort of bad she lived 45 minutes away…right around the corner from where we lived in Epping (how many years ago was that? ) and speaking of that when we registered her they asked if we moved and we said not recently we have been in our home for almost 8 years. She told us what address she had we laughed…the last time Meg was in the hospital was almost exactly 11 years ago to the day. When she was 8 weeks old! Does anyone remember that week?? UGH!!!! So, we finally got up to the room and she was treated like a princess (I guess they know her!) Royal treatment all the way!! The doctor came in and checked her out, told me she was going to call the ENT and see what he wanted to do…(yes I know that this is getting v-e-r-y long!!) We finally settled in around 3ish. Around 4is Meg woke with a start and she said “am I in Texas?” then mumbled something I could not understand then looked at me and laughed and we chatted for a few minutes then we went back to sleep. We woke up around 7ish to the rounds the Doctor said that she need to have x-rays just to see what was brewing up in there so around 8 off we went. We came back to the room and Meg was pricked again! More blood work! All Monday was just resting and getting pumped up with antibiotics and around noon the ENT prescribed a different one for her (#4) That was the one that seemed to work! After about 2 hours we could almost watch the swelling go down!! HIP HIP HORRAY!! She has been improving every minute since, she looks the best about 2 hours after the IV has been given to her. It is an every 6 hour IV. Well, after our 2nd night in the hospital…and not knowing when we are able to go home she got the word this morning!! She will be heading home sometime after 12:30 I am assuming it will be around 1 or 2 when we actually get out of here. Then we will have a visiting nurse come in and show me how to do her IV and I will administer her last 3 IV antibiotics I always wanted to be a nurse!! ;-) then she is done!! OK, so after all the plans were set the visiting nurse called me to say that we would have to pay out of pocket for them to come because we have not yet met our deductible…OR…???...stay in the hospital for another night and insurance will cover it…I don’t understand that one!! So, we opted for the stay for 1 more night, yeah…good times here in the hospital with a cute little girl who just wants to be home!! So…Lord willing we will be there tomorrow around 1 or 2! (OK...so we walked through the door at 12:05 pm...yes we are home!!!)

I know I know if you made it through this whole thing I am proud of you! If I told you in person it would be a LOT longer you know that right??
Thanks for praying for her and keep it up please. Most of you know just how much Megan doesn’t like to be away from home, so this has been pretty tough on her. She has been a brave little girl and realized last night when we were chatting that yes indeed this is the best place for her to be! I was glad that she realized that all on her own! But sleep tonight will be wonderful for her tonight in her own little bed! Thanks again for praying!

ELEPHANTS!!!!!!!

That was the theme of Claire's third birthday! We celebrated the important day yesterday. I really can't believe that she is already 3 it seems that just yesterday she was born. How quickly time goes by!

Why an elephant you ask...well, she LOVES them. I am not really sure how or when it happened but she loves them. She picked a stuffed animal off the shelf when she wasn't even 1 and fell in love with it and has been hanging on to them ever since. I have lost count of how many are in the house here! big, little, stuffed, plastic you name it we have it!

I started thinking about a cake and trying to figure out what sort of elephant cake I would make for her and I couldn't find a "pattern" for one so...I just figured it out and viola! we have a purple elephant and glasses to boot!

Well, Claire is 3 I can't believe it, I will quickly tell you of how yesterday started...she often climbs into bed with us in the morning (as most children do) and she was up rather early yesterday so I was trying to pretend that I was asleep so that she would go back to sleep...smothering me with kisses and hugs (which is usually how we wake one another up in the house) she finally realized that it was not waking me up and in a very sweet and quiet voice she said "isn't it my birthday today mommy?" and with that we were all awake! at 6:30 on a Saturday morning. After we had a round of birthday hugs and kisses (again) she jumped out of our bed to go and proclaim HER day!

Go ahead and ask her about her cake, her day! she loves talking about it!!!

WHY are we always amazed??

So, if you have read this blog lately and seen the top 10 of the summer you would have read that we are homeschooling the kids this year.

Money has been a little tight for us lately (as many of you know). Well, I made up the list of what we needed for home schooling and also a list of a few books that I would like for the kids. I prayed over this list for quite awhile during the process of writing the list. I didn't want to seem greedy but needed to be the best teacher that I could be.

I have many friends that home school and well...I have learned (both last year with Meg, and now this year with the rest of the kids) DON'T ask too many people for their opinions, first off if they give it to you and you don't take it you offend them! and second you get a whole lot more information than you ever needed!!!

Well, I chatted with a friend of mine about what we were using and why...she quickly said to me "I have all those grades, I will bring them to you tomorrow..." This is a friend that I have only gotten to "know" in the past few months, but have known her for a few years (well, more like 10 years) so...we chatted today, she brought the books to soccer practice and we went through all the books she brought more than the 4 grades that I am teaching and as we looked at them and I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of books she brought me. She told me that she and her husband wanted to GIVE us the books. Knowing that we are working toward the mission field and that money is tight they felt that is what they needed to do. Not only did she give me the grades for this year but also for any year we are home schooling!! 3 FULL boxes of books...imagine when I added up what we needed it was over $1000. I don't even want to know how much the books are all worth that she gave to me!

With TEARS in my eyes, I reminded her of the time that she spoke at our moms group at church and told us to be specific when we pray. Her example was when they were adopting a few kids and needed bed for the children so they all started praying for beds. Faithfully they were praying for beds...and a few weeks later they had beds given to them...beds, not mattresses!! So...her point was to be specific, beds and mattresses...We were praying for curriculum. And looking for it specifically praying that God would provide it for us, either the money of the books...and He did! amazed I just stood in the parking lot and thanked God for once again providing above and beyond what we need and want!

Just thought I would share a little blessing that came our way today!

ok, ok...

So, I hear that people come here and just use this blog as a launching pad to get to all the other blogs! Glad that I could help you in doing that! want a quick update? well, lots of things are happening here:

1. our house is on the market and the people that looked at it last week are interested...we are waiting to hear from them. (YEA!!)
2. We have decided with much prayer that we will be home schooling the children this year. Pray for us when you think of it please!
3. We have been enjoying hanging out with our friends this summer...beach, pools...you know summer stuff!
4. We have been enjoying each day that God gives us and learning to totally depend on Him for everything. The rug was kind of pulled out from beneath us early in the year and we have been seeing His mighty hand at work on such incredible ways. I could write a book about it but I think that I will keep it for our family to often reflect on!!
5. Anna turned 5 last week! She is such a complete joy and bundle of energy! She will be the only one attending school this year and is very excited about that. I think we need to prepare her teacher. And a calf was born on her birthday she named it in honor of the day it is Team Impact Daniel. I think that the papers will just be Daniel. (not really sure where she came up with that name for it!!)
6. We had fun babysitting the kids friends this summer, yes I know insane but it was fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was so much fun having them hang out with their best friends for a few days each week!
7. Varsity soccer started this morning which means that Abby no longer gets to sleep in...yes you read that correctly she is playing soccer at her old school they allow home schoolers to play on the team.
8...this is so random isn't it?
9. I just did 8 for the fun of it and am actually thinking that NO ONE is reading this so I am just typing for the fun of it
10. I just needed one more number to write before I closed this post!

So, little bits of nothing and big things this summer and I thought I would share them with you all!

Have a great rest of the summer!!

I know I have been a slacker

Well, what can I say? I was gently reminded while we were in Guate that my blog had not been updated in over a month, I guess people really do come to my page. Unfortunately they don't leave comments so I really don't know who is reading this and really if I should keep it up. Oh well!

so...Hi Bob! :)

We had a great time down in Guatemala. You can check out the Wilson's to Guatemala on the side bar to read all about it. Highlights of the week? Well, we started off the week going to LA before heading down to Guate. Yes, you read that correctly! We had the choice of going to Miami and waiting until the following day for us to maybe getting a flight at 5:00 but the likelihood of that was pretty slim. The next option would be to wait until 7:00 the chances of that flight were a little better...this would have been by midnight on the 15 Guatemala time that we would have landed. No thanks! we would have missed a whole day. I really have no desire to spend a day or 2 in Miami. She kept on typing and finally looked up at us and said that we could go to LA at 5:00 PM and land around 8 catch the 11:00 flight to Guatemala and land there around 4:30. Simple right? well...we felt as if we were sailing and tacking the boat to get from point a to point b. I thought that coming home maybe we could go the opposite way! England maybe? :) Really though that wasn't the highlight of the week, just a tiring thing that happened! I guess we can laugh about it so that is a good thing.

The kids had a little bit of a time with us gone again, it was hard on them. I didn't think it would be, but I think that Tennessee was still fresh in their minds when we went down. They all tried to be so brave as they said goodbye to us. 2 out of 6 did great. They kept up with their busy schedules while we were gone which I think the people that were taking care of them were probably thankful when we were finally home too. Just so that they could get some rest!

I know that I have said this to everyone already but THANK YOU everyone who helped make this past week possible, between praying for us, watching our kids and carting them around for us! You are in this just as much as we are even though you don't think you are! Your support is such a blessing!

I thought it was April...

This is what we woke up to this morning ...it is a beautiful, and extremely heavy snow. I am sure glad that I didn't have to shovel it. The kids had the day off. Not because of the roads this morning but because of the major power outages in the area. We lost it during the night and never even knew. Good thing they didn't have school because they would have been late. The sun shining through the snow was amazing. Once again we are reminded of God's handiwork all around us.

YES!! I am still around...

But, I have been very busy! I looked today at the last time I posted and well, it has almost been a month! I have been trying to think of something great to write about but...I come up short every time I did go and see Smuckers Stars on Ice. I was even going to post about it and well...I didn't. It was great fun, great seats, I went with my sister (who invited me) my mom and 3 other friends. We did have a great time. However, I didn't feel that I should post exclusivly on that especially since the pictures I have are awful!

The following week I went to see The Celtic Women. Kind of a late birthday present! They are incredible. If you ever have the chance to see them I highly recommend it. Phil really enjoyed it too! They were great! It was last Thursday when it was BITTER cold outside and we had to walk a few blocks to get to the car. I thought that I was getting frost bite while we were walking, It was sooo bitter cold! I was very thankful for the car (and the remote starter) when we were in it and out of the cold and wind.

This past weekend Phil took Cabot hunting...I guess he is trying to counter all the dress up that the girls have done with Cabot. :-) No really, Phil did take him hunting, they were supposed to go with a great friend of ours however, God had other plans and our friend suffered a heart attack the Wednesday before they were to go. He is doing well, you would never even know that he had a heart attack we were in just a couple hours later and he was talking to Phil about the trip and talking like he was going to go with them. But, the doctor (and the wives)said no!! We were thankful that they were not away when it happened because they were out of pretty much all civilazation. So, Sunday Phil packed up with Cabot and off the two of them went! I recieved a call Tuesday afternoon from Cabot remember that he is only 7 He was very excited to report that he had harvested a Eurpean Red Stagg. An 11 point buck! whoa...can you hear the excitement in his voice when he called me? And, do you think that I have any picutres? NO!! I will get some pictures up and let him retell his story! it is a great one!

And finally...ever hear of Team Impact? If ever have the chance to see and hear them they are incredible. The kids school is hosting the this week, and we took the family last night to go and watch them. They are there until Sunday night so...I recommend that you take the time and go. Their testimonies are incredible and straight from the heart, they had a little "teaser" during chapel yesterday and a bunch of kids responded to the message. And again last night during their presentation the gym was packed and they expect more tonight and the following few nights...Their might and strength is incredible. The kids were amazed that one of the men could lift a telephone pole over his head! (I was amazed too!) so...if you are in the area for the next few days go and check them out!

And finally I thought that spring was here yesterday it was 73* outside!! Bring it on that is all I have to say!!! (today is well...rainy!)

who let the cows out...

Dad sent thisto me earlier today. We don't stay up and watch the news at night. That is just a little too late for me! Lost is a little too late for me too these days why did they change the time? Anyhow check it out. It seems that these cows no matter who the owner is like to get out when the owner is away. I thought it was just our cows! I guess it is the breed in general! See Dad! ;) They are a pretty cow. So, I guess that can make up for it right?

I figure if T-bone can post about Hollywood commercials than the cow is acceptable for me!

Something else...if you have not check out our new blog it is on the sidebar. Take a look. I will try to update it as things progress. Sorry I don't have a pie chart for things as they are completed. Maybe I could talk Mark into that for me! :)

Next week is school vacation...maybe we will have some good posts from that!

randomness...

I am definitely having a lack of creativity. I am at a loss for witty things to say. Or even profound things to say! I am trying maybe a little too hard so! I will just tell you what has been going on here!

Basketball is OVER! what a season they had an impressing year with 0 wins out of 18 games. (Yes, you did read that correctly!) But it was a great year for the girls and it was fun having 2 girls on the middle school team. Most of the games started at 3:30 a few started at 5:00 but what we found out at the last game is that they start 10 minutes after the boys finish. (If the girls play the 3:30 game the boys start at 4:40ish and if the boys start at 3:30 the girls start at 4:50ish. We couldn't figure out why they kept telling us that the game was at 5:00 and we always missed the first quarter of the game. Well all that to say that Betsy started on Tuesdays game and had the first basket and only basket until the 3rd quarter. It was an outside shot that everyone was amazed she made. (not that she can't shoot but the team we played was a tough team) SO...getting to the game at 4:50 we learned that the game started at 4:40 UGH!!! we missed it!!! It was a great end to their season! The team lost their 2 "best" players early on for various reasons. Health and for one and other reasons for the other. However, with the two of them no longer on the team the rest of the girls really learned how to play a great game together! This was the coaches first year with them, and she did a great job! She wasn't all over them if they had an off game, she just worked harder with them and let them know that it was OK! God really knew that the girls needed a coach like her this year and it really showed in all of their attitudes!

What else? hmmm....home schooling, still trying to get the hang of it! We have great days and we have um, not so great days. I am just trying to get more done in the great days, then when we have a not so great day it is OK!

Potty training Claire. It has never been this difficult before~ that is all I am going to say. (the rest were trained by the time they were almost 2 or just after their birthday...UGH!)

Guatemala...no updates and you can check out that blog look on the sidebar.

Soccer on Saturdays for Meg is great. She lives to play soccer! It is so fun to watch her out their on the field. She can out run almost everyone, her very best friend Hannah is playing with her and she has never played before, Meg has given her lots of tips and so has her older brother so she is great to watch as well!

OH I almost forgot! I have a new coffee pot. Phil headed into Derry last night for a spark plug for his wood spliter and when he came home he had a package on teh counter! For those of you who have heard my coffe dilima for the past few weeks! I am back in the game! :) YIPEE

Um...I am not sure what else to write on so! Have fun catching up on us and hopefully next one will be a little more exciting and even a picture or two!

:)

I think he was in it just for the money!

OK, so maybe not! Just look at how cute he is with that tooth missing. Wonder when the next one will be wiggled out.


I must say that in comparison to the girls he is a wimp about pulling teeth! He worked on that one for days and wouldn't let me touch it and if I did whoa!

I will say that everytime he has a new first or does something a little pang goes off in me knowing that there are only 2 more following him with their firsts. Kind of wierd how that works!

Enjoy the toothless grin! :)

I think that I found Narnia...

Take a look at the yard. I wanted to post this yesterday however, the computer was acting a little slow I think due to all the ice and cold that we are having, finally!




I was going to take a few pictures today it looks like everything is glass. It is absolutly gourgous! However, everytime and ambulance goes by yesterday and today I am fearing that someone has been hurt due to the storm and the cold weather that we are now having!

OK...really not a huge post but just look at the picutres. The sun is trying to peek through can you see that?

Happy Birthday!

Cabot is 7 today!! What a great guy! I think his highlight of his day is that he can order his lunch at school today, unfortunatly Friday doesn't have much to offer Chicken parm sandwitch, chop suey, pb&j, chicken noodle soup or a green salad. What would you choose? He wanted a salad. Yesterday was pizza day too bad it wasn't yesterday.






What is he getting? not too sure...guess I need to head out today! Maybe God will provide some snow for him! I know I am making him a Pumkin Pie (that is what he has been asking me for since Christmas when his cousin ate HIS piece! oops)

ok...that is all, just didn't want to be told that I am not posting! :)

well...what can I say?

I have been a little busy lately. Sorry! here is a quick update:

The craft fair called "The Guest House" is finished I think that we worked a few weeks more than we needed to. However, we did have a blast doing it and meeting new people who will hopefully be back next year for it. We did learn a few things that we will carry into it next year. Eric was the only one to sell everything that he made! Way to go Eric! He actually ran out of pens and had to make a few more the last day we were open. I think it was worth his time! :)

Guatemala went well. They all came home without incident! My family was the only one not to get sick while they were down there. I guess there was a nasty flu that came on extremely fast and took over your body for several hours. Then slowly allowed you to return back to health. They had a blast "life changing" as Abby said when we talked about it. I know that Betsy is feeling the same way, just not actually verbalizing it that way. I read her journal entries WOW!! how encouraging to read that and see how an eleven year old views life in a different culture! she can't wait to go back, and Phil can't either. He is in the process of making plans for us to go down again in just a few weeks. We will be there for a visit and also a work trip. I hope that we are able to do it! Pray for us will you?

What else? Oh yeah, I am now home schooling Megan Yes! you read that correctly I am the person who has always said that I would NEVER do that. Well, what is it that people say about never say never because that is what God will have you do.
Actually I don't think I ever said "I will never" I think that what I said was I don't think that it would be a good idea. God knows me and He knows better than allow me to do it. Well...I guess that is about the same as saying never right? We had our first day yesterday. It went well. I am very excited about it and the rest of the kids want to know why they can't be home schooled...let's just say that right now is not the time for it! CCS is a great place for them to be! :)

So, that is it in a nut shell. Hope it was enlightening for all of you that read this. I am really not sure who actually reads this but for those of you that do...I hope it keeps you happy until the next one. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!