Update

Thanks for the prayers.  Just a couple of updates and one more prayer request.

1. Rob's mother, Pat, came through her surgery just fine.  In fact, when I called her husband's cell phone, he didn't answer.  Pat did.  She has already been up on her feet with the physical therapist.  

2. Today, I called the doctor about Luke.  They said to bring him right in.  So I called Daddy and told him to get ready too.  

Daddy has a place on his leg that, no matter what we've done, just will not heal (not uncommon for diabetics) - it's been there for over 3 months.  I knew he needed to see the doctor again about that.  So I took Daddy and Luke to the doctor.  Let's hear it for family doctors!!!!!

Luke got an antibiotic.  So did Daddy.

Luke's fever is still hovering around 100 - 101.  But you know, the boy did not have one bit of fever at 10 a.m. this morning in the doctor's office : )  

I think that even though they were both going to the doctor and the pharmacy, they both enjoyed getting out of the house!

And on the way home, my dad told Luke the story of how he and my mom both worked for 3 summers in a row (when they were dating and my dad was in college) at the peach cannery in another town.  He told the story of how my Grandpa Beck gave him a car and he would pick up Mama and more workers and drive them all to work.  He told Luke the entire process of the jobs he and my mom did on the production line.  He told Luke that he and Mama got paid $1 an hour.  He told Luke how from where he worked and from where Mama worked they could see each other and it was a joy to be able to watch each other every day.  He told Luke about how, during their 30 minute lunch break, they would find a place to sit together to eat their lunches they had brought.  He told Luke this story with all of the vigor of a young man in love.  It is always so obvious that, even coming up on their 50th wedding anniversary in December, he has never forgotten the first feelings of love he had and still so obviously has for my mom.     

New Prayer Request

A good friend of my sister and a friend of mine (who reads this blog regularly - thank you Debbie) has requested prayer from me and I thought I'd pass the request on to you.  She left a comment on yesterday's post but I thought I would just put it in here too so those of you who do not look at comments will be asked to pray as well.  Debbie, I have been praying for you and I will continue to do so.

Here is her request:

I just prayed for all of your listed concerns and will continue to pray for you and your loved ones. I also thanked the Lord for your children being so responsible and caring. You're doing something right and certainly are a great mom!

Would you please add me to YOUR prayer list? I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy 10/3. Luckily there was NO lymph node involvement...but I had a port put in on Friday 11/2 and have to start chemotherapy treatments tomorrow morning.

Sending you lots of love!

Debbie

Thankful and Prayer

I'd like to request prayer for a few people.

1.  Luke was getting better and is over the flu like symptoms.  However, he spiked a high fever again last night and started coughing and wheezing.  Maybe it's from lying in bed for 4 days but for whatever reason, he is now sick with lung / asthma issues.  But I am thankful that I have breathing treatment medicine for him and can give him breathing treatments at home until I can call (or go to) the doctor tomorrow to get an antibiotic.

2.  Rob's mother, Pat, will be having knee replacement surgery tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.  Please pray for her. 

3.  Rob's father, Jim, has been in the hospital to drain all of the extra fluid.  He is home now and trying to finish the process there.

4.  My almost 11 month old cousin, Isaac, has been in the hospital for Bronchitis.  He is out of the hospital now and doing much better.

And since Luke and I could not go to church today, Anna drove my dad and Wesley to church. 

 

Now, taking my dad to church is not just as simple as transportation.  Someone who knows how to take care of his blood glucose levels is required.  That's where Wesley came in.  My Anna did the driving.  My Wesley took care of my dad's diabetes.  

Wesley knows how to check my dad's sugar and what to do if it's low.  He carried a back pack with the supplies to church with him.  Wesley checked my dad's sugar between Sunday School and Worship and made sure he ate some crackers and had some water and had the soda ready if it had been low.  

My Anna and my Wesley were, rightfully so, a little nervous this first time of taking my dad somewhere by themselves.  They've seen my dad convulsing in his bed from low blood sugar levels.  They've seen him at his worst.  But they did it and they did a great job.  

As they were driving away, I heard Wesley ask Anna why she had on all purple today.  

My dad swiftly answered excitedly, "Because Anna must have known that I am teaching about Lydia today and how she sold purple cloth."  

I smiled.

I am proud of my babies.  And it is ever present in my mind that they are growing up too fast.  I also know that they will always be my babies no matter how old they get and I am so thankful to be their "Mama!"

 

Halloween

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

We were supposed to spend ours with these little goblins

(my nieces and nephew - Sarah, Kaylee, and Jay).

Instead, Luke and I spent the day here

(the doctor's office)

and here

(Luke amusing himself at the pharmacy as we waited for his prescription)

and here

(he has the flu).

After he slept a long time today 

(because he nor I slept a lot last night with his fever peaking at 104.5),

he was actually hungry and has kept his food down

(YEAH)!

So since today's plans were changed, I'm ever so glad that my kids had some early Halloween events this past weekend.

First, Anna drove herself to a Halloween party in the town where we used to live.

And the boys went trunk or treating with the church group.

And tonight, I let Anna drive Wesley around our little area for some trick or treating tonight.

When they came home, they included Luke and divided and traded their candy around just like every year.

As my Luke sat in my lap and caught the candy that his siblings were tossing him, I glanced around and felt a wave of happiness at my children's delight in such a simple act.

It was a good moment.

And even though Luke's fever is still hovering around 102 WITH fever reducing medicine (please say a prayer for him), I am grateful that my children are basically healthy and happy.

I am blessed.

Prayer

Please pray for my sister-in-law, Sally Caviness, and her family.

Her first cousin, Jody Davis, died last night.

He was driving and struck a tree that was downed by the hurricane.

First Stop - South Carolina

Our first stop on our road trip 

was in South Carolina at this house 

 which belongs to this couple, Sharon and Jack, Crystol’s mother and stepfather.  

We were only there for a little over a day and a half but we managed to fill it full of fun!

I could think of nothing better to bring with me as a gift than what I was told was one of Sharon’s favorite pizzas – from Sir Pizza.  As you can tell, she was very happy with the unique surprise.

We arrived around 8:30 p.m. just in time for a late dinner 

and some evening shrimping from their dock 

(which is what inspired the Memory post – click Memory to see it).

Sharon and the kids watched a movie before we headed off to bed.

The next day was beautiful and we took full advantage of it.  The kids swam, kayaked, learned to paddle board, and drove the wave runner.  They had a blast – as you can see.

Look at my boys working together to move forward...just like they have in other areas of their lives. 

Before going out to eat dinner, we stopped by the hospital to see Russ, Sharon’s stepfather and Crystol’s step-grandfather.  He had bronchitis.  He was feeling much better and was going to come home the next day.

We had a great time at dinner.  However, I did have to compose myself after the comment Luke made to me about this picture. 

He commented that his dad was not in the picture (which is what inspired the Included In Photos post – click Included In Photos to see it).

On the way back to their house, as we were listening to Jack’s specially selected music CD, the kids and Sharon enjoyed dancing and keeping the rhythm with their hand drumming.    

On Saturday morning, we took the boat to breakfast.  The kids really enjoyed the boat ride, the breakfast, learning about all of the movies that were made in Sharon and Jack’s town, and the walk we took around that town. 

Anna sang a song to get 50% off of the shirt she was buying.  She has such a great voice.

Wesley really enjoyed learning how to tie the boat to the dock. 

We were leaving for our next stop on our road trip when we got back to the house but Sharon offered to first let my newly licensed driver take her car for a spin around the driveway. 

Luke jumped in for the ride.

Wesley went with Jack to run an errand.

When Wesley returned, he got in for a ride with Anna.  I do have some really cute children!

We had a great time with Sharon and Jack.  We packed a lot of activity into those 41 hours.