One Crazy Night!

Well, last night as we waited for the Awana awards to begin I get a call and my brother (with his voice cracking with emotion) tells me that my mom is on her way to the hospital. Don and I run out of the church and head to Winfield.

When we get to the hospital we find that mom is VERY confused and throwing up blood. I have never seen her look worse and my dad was pretty upset to see her that way.

Bryan explains to me that mom was driving home from Winfield and started feeling light headed so she pulled over. (Thank goodness she was smart enough to pull over) Once she got pulled over she tried to call 911 but couldn't get her hands to push the right buttons. Thankfully in her dialing she must have pushed the speed dial button for Noel. Noel said she sounded very confused and told her she needed help. Bryan and Noel rushed to where she was and by the time they got there she was really confused and disoriented and they are not even sure she knew who they were. They were not sure what might happen so they called the ambulance to come get her.

Testing in the ER ruled out a stroke. Her hemoglobin count was 13. Dr. said this is low but they would not need to give her blood until the count gets under 8. My mom is a really tough woman and NEVER admits she is in pain or needs help. In the ER she just kept saying "I'm sick", "Somebody help me". We were all worried sick and emotions were running high.

Then dad admits that mom has been having trouble with her stomach for over a month and had told him she would go to the Dr. after Toni's wedding. (May 8th) You see, mom is sewing 5 dresses for the wedding and she told the Dr. this morning that she did not have time to go to the Dr.. (I bet she really didn't have time to be in the hospital for several days!)

Last night they said they could see a kidney stone on the CT but that that could not be causing all the symptoms she was experiencing. Nothing else was showing up on the tests so they gave her anti-nausea meds and morphine until her regular Dr. could come in the morning. Even morphine every 2-4 hours was not keeping her from saying she was in pain.

Don and I headed home about 10:45 since I had two final presentations to make today. We were on pins and needles just waiting and praying that God would heal mom and make everything OK.

This morning mom was stable and her pain was being better controlled but her hemoglobin count was down to 11. They decided to do a Colonoscopy to see what might be going on.

Then, this afternoon I received the best text. Colonoscopy showed no new bleeding. They did find several ulcers in mom's lower abdomen, which can be treated with medications and they are thinking she MAY get to go home tomorrow. We are so grateful that she is no longer confused and that she does not need surgery and that the problem is treatable with medicine!

Praise God for taking care of mom and her crazy kids that drove like maniacs to get to her!

Thanks to all my friends and family that said prayers and called with concern and words of encouragement. I could not have gotten through this without you!

Bedroom Makeover

For at least 8 years Don and I have searched for a comforter set. I searched the internet and stores but either couldn't find the colors I like, the style I like, or the price was too high. Finally the day after Thanksgiving we found a set that we loved and because of the special sales we were able to purchase as our gift to each other for Christmas.

Next step in the process, finding a paint color to compliment the new comforter. We must have looked at every paint sample in both Lowe's and Home Depot. Carried a pillow into the stores on numerous occasions trying to find just the right color. Next step, painting paint samples on the wall and trying to decide - still no luck in finding one we liked. Next, we took the sheets (which matched the comforter) to Home Depot and had the color matched. Ugh, still not exactly right. So, next I mixed matched color with the ceiling color we found and painted a sample on the wall. Wha la! That's the color. I painted a small piece of wood and Don took that to Home Depot, had the color matched, bought the paint and painted the room. He did a wonderful job and our long overdue makeover is now complete. The perfect added touch . . . . a nice new ceiling fan that my parents gave us for Christmas.

Don told me this morning that he woke up in the night and thought he was in a hotel. :-D

Check out the transformation:

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I looked outside Friday morning and noticed how beautifully our plum tree, forsythia bush, and red bud tree are blooming. While I was taking pictures the birds were singing, the squirrels were chasing each other up a tree, and everything just smells fresh and clean. Spring is here my friends!

Presenting a Lesson

Friday I presented my first lesson to 16 wonderful 1st Graders! The lesson lasted 30 minutes and was about inventions. It was a follow up to Mrs. Groom reading the book "Great Inventions" the day before and discussing inventions with the class. We reviewed the vocabulary words and I made a power point with pictures of inventions on a time line from how the first invention was to how it has been improved upon over the years. I was so excited that the students really got into it. They were so excited when I would change the slide to see what the next invention was and they wanted to talk a lot about what they noticed the new invention improved.

The most exciting part - I brought a "dial" phone that we have here at the house. I plugged it in and drew names for one student to hold my cell phone and one student to use use the dial phone to call my cell phone. They loved to listen in the old phone and see how it sounds different and all were really excited.

The best part was that at the end of the lesson everyone was excited and thought they could be great inventors!

Most encouraging part - As I was leaving I got big hugs and one little girl asked me if I could teach some more! It just doesn't get any better than that!

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

When Bella came to live with us we washed up Domino's old cat bed and put it out for her to sleep in. Well, Roxie was constantly laying in that bed. As Roxie got bigger and bigger this was obviously not comfortable but she continued to try to fit in it. Whoever got to the bed first was the one who got to sit in it.

So, for Christmas Roxie got her own comfy bed that was just her size. We thought this would solve the problem as they would each have their own special bed. BUT, this is what happens now:

NASA DOWNLINK

Today was an awesome day! Mueller Elementary along with WSU College of Education had a live downlink with three astronauts on board the NASA Space Center. 275 students (3rd - 5th graders) came to exploration place and were able to talk to these astronauts live. The astronauts answered their questions and I felt so privileged to be there.

After the download the students toured the 30 "Discover Centers" prepared and presented by WSU COE students. My partner and I had a "Comet" center and the children were able to make a model of a comet to take home with them. Most students seemed like they really enjoyed the activity and were interested in the information.

As we were walking to the car we passed by some boys waiting in line to board their school buss and they yelled out "thank you for the comets!". That made my day!

One thing I was surprised by is that other people also came through and asked questions about our Discovery Centers. I had been under the impression that it would only be Mueller Elementary students there. Had I known they allowed others to come in I would have called my homeschool friends and let them know to come. The kids would have really enjoyed and benefited from visiting all the discovery centers.

I feel sure after today that I have chosen the right profession. What a great day!

P.S. - Bad news is . . . forgot my camera. BOOOOOOOOOO! :-(

ONE SPECIAL DAY!

I totally forgot to post about my most wonderful girlee day with some of my favorite girls. One evening my SIL, Lorrine, called and asked if I would like to have a girlee day with her and my 16 year old niece, Haleigh. Of course I said "YES!" right away. A day or so later I was with my other SIL, Noel, and I asked her if she and my 13 year old niece, Paige, would like to join us. Unfortunately Noel was unable to break away but Paige was able to join us.

We were able to go to Xenon School of Hair Design and enjoy manicures, pedicures, and facials. Haleigh and Lorrine also got haircuts. We all felt like royalty!

I had never had a facial before and let me tell you, it will not be my last! I felt like I was in heaven! From the dim lights, the soft music, the warm towels, the fantabulous face, neck, and shoulder massage . . . . . . ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. If she would have left that room for even a second I'm sure snoring would have ensued. PURE BLISS!

After all that special treatment Lorrine took us to On the Border and treated us to a great meal and dessert. Great food and and a super fun time just hanging out there visiting. I think this should be a new tradition!

Here are a few pictures from that day . . . . .