ENT Update

So, I took Addy back to the ENT this morning. They did the same hearing tests and her hearing improved a little but there was still fluid on her right ear. I was starting to get a little panicky inside, thinking she might have to have tubes...my brains goes to the worst...I know major character flaw about me. So, the doctor comes in. He is awesome. He remembers Addy and they chat for a moment. He looks in her ear, the goop is still there. He still can't see the ear drum. So, now I almost tear up because I know they're going to have to go in and get it. I'm trying to stay calm doing a lot of self talk (yes I'm being kind of funny now). The nurse tells me she can hold her and I can go in the room because it's harder on the moms when the kids scream and cry but she'll be in no pain. Addy and I had the conversation this morning that the last time, the doctor didn't hurt her and she was going to be brave. We replayed that conversation. They moved us to the "Ear Room" and Addy was nervous. I could tell but she truly was being brave. They let her feel the "Barbie" vaccum so she wouldn't be afraid. She did AWESOME. She kind of freaked out the first time he put it in her ear because of the noise. But then she let him put it in and pull out the "goop" as we call it. He could finally see her ear drum which he said was perfect. I was so thankful. There was still uninfected fluid there but everything looked great. So, he said she just needed more time to be on the other meds to dry up the fluid. I was so thankful!!

I'm trying to learn to trust and not worry, that is really huge for me. I worry about alot of insignificant things. I think that's a control thing for me. I'm working on that. I want to be okay with letting things just happen and not worrying about certain outcomes. I feel like I spend a lot of unnecessary energy worrying over things that may not happen and over outcomes that won't be as bad as I think they will.

On a different note, our building is almost ready and I'm so excited about it. I think I wrote that in my last post but I'm really excited!!

Hey

Just wanted to catch up on the week. It's been a good one. We got to visit with the Penney family this week which is always a highlight. They are amazing!! Today we went to IKEA to buy some storage items for our kid's area at church. I'm more and more excited everyday as we get closer to move in. The paint is completely done and I can't wait to see it all put together. It is kind of crazy how excited we are about this building, it just seals the deal for us and it's awesome. The kids did so good today. They played so well at IKEA together and then tonight even, they're just becoming friends and I love watching it. I've been on WW for a week now. I lost 2 lbs this week and I was thrilled with that. I thought I wasn't going to get to the gym today and it kind of bummed me out. That's a good thing for me. We had the some friends over tonight and it was so good to visit with them. I love getting to know people on a deeper level. Tomorrow we go back to the ENT for Addy's 2 week visit. I'm hoping her ear is better. I'll keep you posted!

Glowing

Today was a great Sunday. It is Transformation Sunday which is the Sunday before Lent begins. Levi taught on the passage where Jesus went up on the mountain and began glowing and then Moses and Elijah appeared and God spoke. So, to begin, Levi has everybody close their eyes and he takes his jacket off. He has wrapped himself in glow necklaces so he is glowing. It was a good illustration. He's pretty good about doing funny things like that. He then taught on how we can't stay on the mountain top. He talked about Lent and as our reminder, everybody got a glow bracelet to take with them. He encouraged us all to participate in Lent. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to give up for Lent. I'm excited about this time because it really does help me focus on the sacrifice that Christ made for us.

We had a great weekend. We hung out as a family Friday night and stopped by Xuan & Juan's to see some renovations they've made (that are awesome by the way). We had a kid's workers meeting for church yesterday that went well today. Today was church and we went to Chipotle afterwards with some friends which was fun and yummy! We just hung around the house and rested the rest of the day. Levi and I are going to watch a movie and hit the hay!

Catch Up

It's been a good week. I've been to the gym 3 times already. I joined Weight Watcher's and I really do feel excited about losing weight. I truly want to be a healthy person. I am really trying to focus on that aspect and not the size and number aspect. I'm trying to remind myself of that and stay on track.

I had a really nice thing happen today. I had to go to the doctor for a repeat lab because a glitch. When I went to leave they charged me a copay. I was very kind but explained that the glitch could have been avoided (because I had called a couple of times before the visit and explained my situation but they told that I needed the test anyway). Anyway, it's confusing. I kept telling myself (as I was standing there waiting for them to figure out some other insurance credit) that it wasn't a big deal and to be okay with that. So, I did just that and told them it would work out and be fine. So, I get home and my phone rings. It was the insurance lady who told me that they were going to write off my copay because it was kind of their fault. I was glad I was nice to them and not a jerk. That's a good lesson for me to learn....I can be nice and be okay with WHATEVER the outcome is and sometimes it turns out in my favor.

Monday Monday

I started my Monday early and headed to the gym. I did a Turbo Kick Class and a Turbo Abs and Weights class. It was good. That's such a lie but it was good for my body and that's how I'm having to look at working out and eating better. It's not good, it doesn't taste good it doesn't feel good but I know it truly is. It is good for me and I'm hoping I'll start to feel like it really is good. I actually do enjoy some of it. Then, I went up to Starbucks to visit with Levi and Wendi for a minute. I got my first ever SKINNY drink at Starbuck and it wasn't that bad (notice I didn't say it was good). The kids are playing and watching tv so I can blog for a second.

We went to lunch yesterday with Xuan and Juan. I've really missed them. We've all been busy but it was so good to just visit and laugh with them. We had a new friend, Hillary, over for supper last night and had a blast. She was so easy to talk to and I love hearing people's story. I'm glad we got the chance to do that with her.

This week is going to be good. We're going to get together with some friends and just enjoy being together. I hope you have a great week!

Valentine's

We've had a great Valentine's weekend. The kids had a couple of different parties and all the grandparents sent goodies in the mail. Last night, Levi and I went out to eat with our friends Erik and Wendi. We ate at Texas Roadhouse and it was so yummolicous!! Then we headed to the Liquid Lounge to hear Saint Karla and J. Sprang play. I had a great time. Saint Karla was acoustic which was totally different for them but I really liked it. Jonathan did a great job too. Very Superstitious was my favorite. We invited our friends, Beth & Kurt, from Stillwater Church to join us and they did. We had a great time visiting with friends and reconnecting with some others that we don't see as often.

This morning we got up and exchanged our family valentines. Everyone was happy with their goodies. Tonight, we went with Connie and Blain to a fundraiser dinner for Ashley's drama group. It was good food and babysitting was included. Again, we had a great time being with them. It's always good to have adult conversation and feel like a couple out on a date:)

We have definitely been blessed with great friends here. I am so tremendously thankful for that. I really do feel like God puts the right people in our path at the right moment.

ENT

So, Thursday we had to go to the ENT for Addy. She went for her 4 year physical and there was fluid in her ears so they sent us to the ENT to make sure everything was good. So, Addy and I had a date to the ENT. They did her hearing test and it did show she had some hearing loss in her right ear and fluid in there. The doctor came in and checked her out. Did I mention that she got 5 shots on Tuesday so she was telling EVERYBODY in the ENT's office that she didn't need any shots at all. She talked everybody's ear off. The doctor said he thought she had a piece of a Q-tip in her ear. We don't use those very often but it could happen right. So, he was going to take her to the "ear room" which was where the microscope was. Internally, I immediately started freaking out. I had flashbacks of this summer with the staples and then with the shots Tuesday (and her kicking the nurse). I stayed calm for Addy but inside I was kind of a mess. I didn't know what to expect. I'm glad I didn't burst out crying or freaking out externally because all she had to do was sit in a chair and he put a light with a microscope up to her ear. It turns out the last ear drops we were on left a film or residue and that's still there. She does have fluid to so she's on 3 different meds to flush and dry out her ears. I am praying they all work. We go back in a couple of weeks to make sure.

I love my kids so much and I don't ever want them to experience pain. It was really weird how that emotion of being scared and freaked out flooded back at the mere thought of them digging something out of her ear and me having to hold her down. It was crazy. I'm glad it wasn't a traumatic experience and I do pray that it will all be better when we go back.

Traumatic Sams Visit

I love Sam's Club, seriously LOVE it!! I could go almost everyday and be perfectly happy there. That was not the case today. I took Keegan to the doctor, last week he got this weird rash and had a fever, it would go away, come back, go away. I wanted to make sure he was okay. He is, the doctor said it's some virus and it just has to work it's way out. Then, I had to meet a friend in McKinney to grab some stuff. I had to get a prescription filled and had to go to the bank. So, I had the bright idea to go to Sam's to do the prescription because the bank is right next door. I leave the prescription and we get a hotdog while we wait. Keegan dumped his cheetos out (accidentally, that boy does not waste food). The lady gave us a new bag, she was so nice. We go get the wipes we need. It's been about 30 minutes and the pharmacy lady said it would take 20 so I thought we'd be good. We weren't. We had to wait so I set the kids up on the bench with their chips. They were being good, we wait. So, I left them there to walk the 15 feet to the counter. I turn back around to check on them and I see Addy waving her arms trying not to fall off the bench onto the hard, concrete floor. It was like slow motion seriously, which almost makes me smile now. I go to run to her and see her smack the floor with her head and then body. Of course she is screaming. It was the weirdest thing for me because I seriously had a flashback of the head trauma last summer. I was fighting back tears. One of the cig cage guys came out and brought her ice and one of the pharmacy techs brought the kids gummy candies. They were all so nice but I just sat there holding her feeling so overwhelmed by the experience. I don't know why it hit me so hard in that instant. She's fine. I'm sure she'll have a bump and bruise and I know it hurt. I hate that about being a mom. I felt so helpless and careless all at the same time. Had I been standing 2 feet from her, maybe I could have caught her but maybe I couldn't have. Accidents happen and kids survive but it sure is hard on me when they do. I just want to protect my kids from any pain and hurt. I kind of parallel that to how God must feel about us. I know he doesn't want us to hurt. However, when we scooch too close to the side and there's a hard floor below (even after Mom tells you to sit still and eat your chips) we fall and smack our heads. I guess the lesson for me (and for Addy) is to listen and learn from our "accidents" and sometimes we have the scars to remind us. Anyway, we go to leave and one of our drinks spill. I almost just left it and RAN from the store. I was so frustrated at this point. I did clean it up with napkins and tell an associate. What a stinker of a Sam's visit today. I hope your morning was better than mine.

Weekend

I just got back from my scrappin' retreat in Grand Saline, Texas. It was awesome. I went with my friend Shari, who is awesome. I had a great time connecting with her. The other ladies that came were great too. It was so nice to make some new friends and swap stories. They were so nice. We stayed at a scrapping retreat so our meals were prepared and were incredible. We were right on a little pond (or lake). The atmosphere was great. It was awesome for me to look back over the last couple of years via pictures and remember. How cool! I also got a lot done and am a little more motivated. I'm ready for Levi to get his "stuff" out of the office so I can get my "stuff" in there to scrap a little more often...I hope! It was also cool to be able to share about Catalyst and tell our story. It always shocks me that people want to hear about our church and how and why it's so different. It was an awesome weekend. I'm also thankful for my wonderful husband Levi....I know it's a challenge to be with the kids for a whole weekend alone but he did it. They all survived and the house looked great when I got back...an added bonus. Thanks Babe!!

Scrappin'

We've had a good week, it's been full but good. This weekend I'm going on a scrapbook retreat. I am so excited to get caught up on this. I miss doing it so much!! I know it's been a couple of days since I blogged so I wanted to pop in. Addy told me tonight on the way home that kids can't breave (breathe) when there's scaredness around. Her words, not mine:) At chick-fil-a, a big kid jumped at her and scared her so we were talking about that. I've got a lot to get done before tomorrow so I'm hopping off. Have a great weekend!

Tuesday in Check

My Tuesdays start out early but so good. I meet a couple of friends at Starbucks and we do some accountability and Bible study together. It's a great time for me to breathe and enjoy adult conversation. I'm really trying to get myself organized. I did really well with that before 2 kids but it's definitely a challenge now. I want to be okay with looking at myself critically (not negatively, critically) and seeing the need for improvement, encouragement, or praise. I want to always have a desire to be closer to God and to be more like Him in every aspect of my life. I catch myself being negative or worrisome or hyper-sensitive and I want to be balanced in those areas. I want to be a better wife and more loving to Levi and less focused on the minor details. I've also been lacking in kid patience lately and I want to be peaceful and loving with my kids all the time. I think that can be done, right?? I guess I just did a mini-confessional:) I needed to get it off my chest. I saw all that to say Tuesdays tend to be reflective for me and I like that.

We've had a good week so far. We did a lot yesterday and are doing pictures this week so it's been fun and busy all at the same time. This weekend I'm going on a scrapbook retreat with a friend and I am really excited about getting somewhat caught up on that. It's been way too long. Both kids are quiet so I'm going to get some other things accomplished during this time. Have a great Tuesday!