The Big Party

 The big party was last weekend.  The "Moc Slumber Party" was a huge hit.  The girls arrive around 5:30 and they got picked up at 9:00 p.m.  It worked out just as I hoped.

The theme was STRAWBERRIES!  We had strawberry punch, strawberries dipped in whipped cream and sprinkles, and a Strawberry Upside Down Cake.  It was everything my 7 year old dreamed up.

The girls then got into their PJ's and opened gifts.

After gifts it was time for cake.

Finally, at the end of the evening we finished it off with a movie projected on the wall.  

Feature Presentation:  Mega Mind

It was a great birthday party for our Sweet 7 Year Old!

7th Birthday.....

Here are some pics from the evening of my 7 yr. old's birthday.  We had a nice family night that started at IHOP (birthday girl's choice) and ended with cake at home.  She said it was one of the best days of her life.  I wish I could be pleased so easily!!

This Friday night is her "friend" birthday party.  She is having a "mock slumber party".  I have no desire to have a small gang of 6 and 7 year old girls over all night long.  So, they are bringing their PJ's and pillows and we are going to pretend that they are staying the night.  (And then their parents will pick them up at 9 p.m. so everyone can get plenty of sleep in their own beds.) 

Healing

Happy 7th birthday, Sweet Girl!

I remember her birth the clearest of them all.  It was such a happy, happy time.  I did not have the fears that I had when I gave birth to her older sister....it was just happy.  I remember that I got to hold her a couple of hours after she was born.  I didn't want to let go.  I really thought she was going to be a boy....so I was amazed that I was given another little girl.  I couldn't stop smiling at her.  The nurses finally came in and suggested they weigh her and get her cleaned up.  I did pass her over...although I didn't want to.

She was a super happy, smiley, beautiful baby.  She loved her big sister and I could carry her on my hip everywhere I went.  We were living in Dwight, IL during her early years.  In those days we didn't leave the house much.  We would stay in our PJ's most days and just play. 

But then she turned 3....she was not as blissful.  She was snotty, opinionated, and her temper tantrums were huge.  She could be a very emotional little thing and most of the time it was best you didn't mess with her too much.  Once her brother came along she was a "typical middle child".  Life was not fair and she was going to let you know.  Her temper was HOT!

Then she went to kindergarten.  What an amazing change took place when she got a little independence from me and her sister.  She bloomed.  She has continued to bloom.  She is happy, smart, and wanting to please.  She has wonderful manners and loves to snuggle.  She is nurturing with her brother and other little ones.  I can almost always count on her to help me out when I need help.  Her downfall....she is a slob.  I did not know that until a few months ago.  I always blamed the girl's disgusting room on her older sister.  It was not until they separated into their own rooms that I learn Little Sis was the messy one.  To further the issue....she doesn't care about the mess and has no desire to pick it up!

But, that is okay.  I'll take the one bad with all of the good.  (And...I hardly set a shining example on how to keep things clean.)  My sweet second born is such a joy.

This picture is from today.  

My little fashion diva laid her clothes out 2 days ago in preparation for today.  

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Much better night...and random thoughts UPDATED

UPDATE:  We got out around 10:30 am and are now home.  The doctor did not have the results they wanted from the cultures (still inconclusive) but they let us go anyway.  Some cultures take 48-72 hours to grow.  We will be following up with him early in the week.   The rest of the post is from earlier this morning. 

We are still  in the hospital.  The cultures from his surgery did not grow fast enough to give them the info they were looking for.  They won't let us go home until they feel comfortable to send him home on oral antibiotics.  Sleep last night was much, much better.  I slept with little man in his bed.  It was 1000 times better than the pull out couch. 

I hope we can go home today.  Everyone is nice here....but there is no place like home!  Plus, I can't wait for Jonah to move around and not have tubes to get tied up in. 

I'm so sad I'm missing church.  What a treat that we go to a church that you don't want to miss a  single week.  But....I think I'm just going to have to catch the service online this week. 

I just made coffee in the hospitality room and it was like something off of Laverne and Shirley.  Water was pouring out and I was very flustered.  I eventually figured it out, but they really should post some directions. 

Hubby and I were supposed to have a special date Friday night.  It was supposed to be a celebration.  Obviously we had to cancel, but I still want to give a shout out to someone who has changed the way we look at finances.....Dave Ramsey....you are a hero! 

Speaking of finances....when we got rid of our TV service I thought we would be missing out.  But, as I flip through channels over and over again I realize that I don't miss it at all.  There is so much junk on TV.  I did watch half of an episode of Cupcake Wars.  That was fun.....but not worth paying for each month. 

I have been watching a lot of Scooby Doo.  Little Man can't get enough.  The hospital has a pretty extensive collection of DVD's.  Annelise at this age was still watching Mr. Rogers and other PBS programming.  You can tell this boy has older sisters.  His programming taste is much more mature.  Not a good thing.....but the truth.

Praying today that the cultures will show something that can be treated with oral antibiotics and we can head home.  Worst case scenario (that I know of) is that this cannot be treated with oral and he will have to get a PIC line put in and he will go home on an IV.  I really can't image that.....but I guess that still puts us at home. 

This is a crazy busy week for our family.  Tuesday night is the annual Bingo night at the girl's school.  Guess who is the chair for that event.  Yes....Me.  I think we are ready.....but I have not been thinking about it much the last two days.  I need to evaluate soon.  Then, this week starts Global Impact week at our church.  This is an exciting event where missionaries and their families from all over are coming to our church to get together and share their experiences.  There are events from Wednesday-Sunday that we will be participating in.  Thursday night we are hosting a missionary family at our home for dinner.  Oh....and did I mention that Thursday is also my daughter's 7th birthday.  See....we need to GO HOME!

We shall see.....

Nights in the hospital

My experience with over nights have been with the birth of Baby 1, Baby 2, and Baby 3.  All wonderful experiences of bonding with my new babies while being served food and being able to rest.  Blissful times. 

I knew that last night with Little Man wouldn't be as blissful....but man....not even a little fun.  Sleeping on this pull out (8 months pregnant) was hard on my hips and legs.  I was up and down all night.  Alarms going off over and over.  Nurses coming in and checking his temp, blood pressure, ect....  No bliss.  Yes, I am complaining and I shouldn't b/c the patient slept like a champ until an alarm on his IV went off at a little before 5.  He slept through everything else. That is a blessing and maybe I'm a little jealous.

His surgery yesterday went better than expected.  It was originally thought from the MRI that there was infection in the bone and joint.  When they got in there (his RT index finger) they did not see infection in the bone.  They did take a piece to culture....but it looks like it was only in the joint.  They cleaned out the joint and closed it up without a problem.  (If you don't know the story....this all started with an splinter.)  We hope that he can finish this round of IV antibiotics and we can go home today.  But, we have to wait for the first set of cultures to come back. 

There were many people praying out there and I could feel it.  Not only was the news good, I had a peace about me that is not normal in these type of situations.  So to the prayer warriors....THANK YOU!

I hope last night will be my last night in the hospital until I can again have a blissful experience with my new baby.  The countdown is on.  So for today....I hope we can go home!

I love this little guy.....but I can love him just as much at home :)

Sunday and Monday

 On Sunday nights the girls and I head back to church.  I have small group and they have youth group.  That leaves the boys to find their own fun.  

I think Daddy and Little Man both really love the guy time.  

Yesterday they went hiking the trails.  

This morning Big Sis came down ready for school.  Little Sis walked out of her bedroom with the same shirt on as her sister.  Now, Little Sis, being the fashion diva that she is, was not happy that they were in the same shirt.  (Big Sis could care less.)  Luckily, Little Sis let it go and it didn't become that big of a deal.  I had to take a pic of them before they left.  My beautiful girls....they are growing up so fast!