Monday, December 22, 2008
Stickel Reunion
After we got our tree, we stopped by Raymond's for a Stickel Reunion (Derek's Mom's Dad's side). It was so nice to get together. - Thanks Aunt Ester!!
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This is also Emma's only visit with Santa. When we were blessed with Jesse 12 years ago, Santa was a major part of Christmas. Things will be different with this one. (Sorry about that Jesse!!) Here' s a very good blog by Steve Gall with comments on what I'm talking about.
Let the season begin!
These pictures are from 11-30. To date, our lovely tree still has only lights on it. After blogging, I hope to find some time to decorate it!! Thursday, December 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Jesse!
Jesse turned 12 this week (12-9-08). I can't believe it!! Here he is way back in 2002 getting ready to ride with Great-Grandpa.
This past weekend we went to Chicago. Saturday we hit the Museum of Science and Industry. Here's Jesse now at the farm exhibit . . .
After the museum, we stayed at a hotel, went swimming, got a Chicago style pizza and watched a movie. Sunday we visited a couple lego stores and headed home. We had a wonderful time!!
Here are some more pictures . . . . (Sorry, I can't figure out why it's one per line)
It's a great time for all ages!!
God does!
Okay, last post for today. I've had a couple on my mind to do and now that my headache is temporarily gone I'll get busy!
Some of you know I attend a bible study in Goshen. (BSF Bible Study Fellowship) After becoming a Christian, even though we started going to church I still had this hunger for more. You know how you may invite someone to something and they come up with excuses, say no thanks or look at you like you're crazy? Not me - finally someone asked me to BSF and I was so excited! I really didn't know much at all about the bible or how to even really study.
I blogged earlier a bit about BSF. Well, I am back in class and a leader for the 3/4's class. And after a 2 year prayer, there were finally enough leaders to open up the 2's class which Emma now attends. This is really awesome because Jesse never got to go. The day class only goes up to 5/6's and he was in Kindergarten. So I'm so excited to finally have a child in the program.
I go to class on Monday which is for leaders only so we're prepared to lead on Tuesday's. Emma goes and stays with 2 ladies while I'm in class. At first she was not happy about this but she now has a crush on Miss Ginger and goes willingly. Her class on Tuesday is another story! She still cries at first but eventually stops.
What I wanted to share is what she is learning . . . Later in the day after week two, I was asking her questions - What did you do? Did you hear a story? Did you sing? Then I thought of the main truth for that day which was "God always keeps His promises". So I said, "Emma, who always keeps His promises?" And her sweet little answer was, "God Does". How awesome is that?!!!
There are about 7 two year olds in a class learning God's truths each week. Even though there are MANY tears during those two hours, seeds are being planted. I appreciate those two brave ladies - Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Hess!! Emma knows that God always keeps His promises. She also sings "God is so Good" and "Trust and Obey".
I'm excited to see what she continues to learn. I know that our family has been very blessed since I started attending! So remember, when you're hesitant to invite someone to your church or even a bible study - remember my story! Because of my friends obedience, a family has been changed and a two year old is now singing praises to God!
And if any of you are looking for a study to start the new year, try BSF. I attend the Goshen/Elkhart Day Women's Class - Tuesday's from 9-11am. They will be having introduction classes on January 6th and 13th. It's held at the Beulah Missionary Church on Old CR 17 just off the Bypass. (There are also evening classes for Men, Women and School age children. The info is listed on the website.)
Some of you know I attend a bible study in Goshen. (BSF Bible Study Fellowship) After becoming a Christian, even though we started going to church I still had this hunger for more. You know how you may invite someone to something and they come up with excuses, say no thanks or look at you like you're crazy? Not me - finally someone asked me to BSF and I was so excited! I really didn't know much at all about the bible or how to even really study.
I blogged earlier a bit about BSF. Well, I am back in class and a leader for the 3/4's class. And after a 2 year prayer, there were finally enough leaders to open up the 2's class which Emma now attends. This is really awesome because Jesse never got to go. The day class only goes up to 5/6's and he was in Kindergarten. So I'm so excited to finally have a child in the program.
I go to class on Monday which is for leaders only so we're prepared to lead on Tuesday's. Emma goes and stays with 2 ladies while I'm in class. At first she was not happy about this but she now has a crush on Miss Ginger and goes willingly. Her class on Tuesday is another story! She still cries at first but eventually stops.
What I wanted to share is what she is learning . . . Later in the day after week two, I was asking her questions - What did you do? Did you hear a story? Did you sing? Then I thought of the main truth for that day which was "God always keeps His promises". So I said, "Emma, who always keeps His promises?" And her sweet little answer was, "God Does". How awesome is that?!!!
There are about 7 two year olds in a class learning God's truths each week. Even though there are MANY tears during those two hours, seeds are being planted. I appreciate those two brave ladies - Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Hess!! Emma knows that God always keeps His promises. She also sings "God is so Good" and "Trust and Obey".
I'm excited to see what she continues to learn. I know that our family has been very blessed since I started attending! So remember, when you're hesitant to invite someone to your church or even a bible study - remember my story! Because of my friends obedience, a family has been changed and a two year old is now singing praises to God!
And if any of you are looking for a study to start the new year, try BSF. I attend the Goshen/Elkhart Day Women's Class - Tuesday's from 9-11am. They will be having introduction classes on January 6th and 13th. It's held at the Beulah Missionary Church on Old CR 17 just off the Bypass. (There are also evening classes for Men, Women and School age children. The info is listed on the website.)
Wrestling
Just wanted to blog quick about wrestling.
We had talked about wrestling last year but it was right after football and we needed a break. Since Jesse broke his wrist this past summer he wasn't ready to do football and thought he'd try wrestling. We had heard it could help him be more aggressive in football.
But, when it came time for wrestling, of course he didn't really want to do it. The little stinker said he wanted to wrestle to get out of football! Well, being the mean parents we are, we made him wrestle. I thought it was organized very well. But it is definitely not the sport for Jesse. And I'm kind of glad. There's a lot of waiting for a 10 second match!!
Here's the couple pictures I have . . . .
First is of Jesse the last time he actually wrestled. He didn't wrestle a couple times because they didn't have enough kids his size. Unfortunately for him, the boys were quite a bit bigger than him when he did wrestle.
We had talked about wrestling last year but it was right after football and we needed a break. Since Jesse broke his wrist this past summer he wasn't ready to do football and thought he'd try wrestling. We had heard it could help him be more aggressive in football.
But, when it came time for wrestling, of course he didn't really want to do it. The little stinker said he wanted to wrestle to get out of football! Well, being the mean parents we are, we made him wrestle. I thought it was organized very well. But it is definitely not the sport for Jesse. And I'm kind of glad. There's a lot of waiting for a 10 second match!!
Here's the couple pictures I have . . . .
First is of Jesse the last time he actually wrestled. He didn't wrestle a couple times because they didn't have enough kids his size. Unfortunately for him, the boys were quite a bit bigger than him when he did wrestle.
And next is Emma tackling her cousin Landry. I think they both may have a future in wrestling.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Great is thy Faithfulness!
Okay, it's 1:30 am. It may take me a while to pull this post together. I have a feeling it's going to be a long one. First, let me start by telling you why I'm awake this late and on the computer. No, I do not have a problem with secret chatting. I don't think I've even ever been in a chat room. I'm up because I feel great! Finally, I have relief from this headache!!
I have had a constant headache for years (no,not Jesse)!! Over the past year, I actually had a doctor "here me" and work with me on trying to get some relief. Not an easy process. First you keep a headache journal. When, where, and things you try. AND, did you know that there are many types of headache - tension, migraine, cluster, etc. Sometimes, I felt like I was making my head hurt because I was focusing on it too much or taking on the symptoms I was reading about.
So, over the past year I've been trying different preventative medicines. The one I was on the longest just seemed to help me sleep and gain weight. For a short period of time I actually stopped everything, drank more water and didn't seem to have any problems. But that ended and I can't seem to figure out how I did that. So I went back to searching for that right combination of drugs - with my doctor of course!
He gets mad because I wait too long when something hasn't been working. I think that's a mom thing. It has to be really annoying and constant for us to say "Hey, this isn't right, I better make an appointment." Am I right?? I think our tolerance of pain is higher than others. Anyways, he kept making me come back every two weeks this past couple months.
Through journaling and research online I figured out that the month of October and November I had a tension headache. I don't think I'm terribly stressed. A lot of it is probably from carrying around Emma and all our bags. Trying to get in and out in one trip! Not good. Plus I have terrible posture and our bed stinks! (Sorry Kathy Ireland) Oh and I don't think our pillows are too good either.
Now I know what a tension headache is. Through some adjusting done by the doctor on my neck and back and a daily dose of Verapamil, it's been easier to get relief with just plain old Tylenol. I had tried Verapamil before. I read online that this is a common choice to prevent headaches but it was given at a higher dose so that's what I'm trying now.
I still get other headaches. We've been waiting for me to get one of those while on Verapamil. And it came! Last Thursday - the back of my head hurt with a shooting pain to the front on the right side. I had a secret weapon. A sample of Treximet. I took it and I felt awful. I took the second pill and felt even worse. And these headaches don't come when you're just sitting at home with nothing to do! I think that was my busiest day last week. Then that night we were practicing songs for our Christmas Eve service. By morning, it seemed to be gone. So did it work? I don't know whether it was the Treximet or the sleep but I don't want to take that EVER again!!
This Tuesday, I had a doctor's appointment. Monday night, I started to get a headache. Not the tension but this was the top front section. It was still there Tuesday. The doctor did some adjusting because I was out of whack again. He wanted me to stick with the Verapamil. And he said he was going to prescribe Midrin for my secret weapon. This is basically what he said "Midrin's been around since Moses and boy did he need it with those Israelites". Now I found this comment extremely funny because that's what we're studying this year at BSF. Some might think this is a coincidence but I don't. I love God!!
I wasn't sure if I should try this Midrin for this particular headache or not. It's only supposed to work for migraines. But this is not the new super expensive $12 pill so it wouldn't hurt to try. That's another thing I love about my doctor - he always prescribes the cheap prescriptions!!! Anyways, Tuesday night I took it. He said it was one that I would take and then I could retake 2 more times if needed. So, I took one pill. I felt a little relief. I decided to take another in an hour. Better but not quite there so I took one more. Well then I just couldn't stay awake and Derek made me go to bed.
In the morning, I felt a little foggy. Wasn't quite sure if I still had the headache or not. After a few waking hours, I did! So, I thought, maybe this hadn't been a migrane. So I kept a detailed journal. First I tried 3 Tylenol. Then about 5 Motrin. At 5pm I tried 3 Excedrin. No luck. Still had it. So I thought I'd try this Midrin again. I took one and after awhile I felt some relief. Yeah!! So I took another one about an hour later. Feeling more relief each time. It wasn't till I thought "Well, I'll take one more just to make sure I get it" that I read the label. Take TWO pills at the onset of headache and then again if needed bla bla bla. I'd been taking one.
That's okay though. I'm excited to have some relief. Normally this headache could go on for WEEKS. I'm also excited that it was a migraine and that I know for sure. My experience of a migraine (from my younger days) was a headache so bad you almost threw up and had to lay down with a cold wash rag on your forehead, go to sleep and hope it was gone when you woke up. So I didn't think or wasn't sure what this was. It also helps me not to feel so guilty! With these headaches it seems like all I can manage to do to shower, get ready, take care of Emma. Just the absolute necessary. It makes me feel like a bum!! But to know I was able to do that with a migraine - wow! - that is a BIG accomplishment!
Back to why I'm awake! Little Emma just snuck into our room. She's been doing this nightly. She cries a little when she has to go to sleep in her bed but she does go and stays . . for awhile. We usually find her somewhere in our room in the early morning hours - on the chair, on the pillows on the floor or just plain on the floor. Mom said I used to do this. She would find me all over the place! I kind of remember doing it too. Anyways, Derek said it was my turn to put her back and honestly I was feeling great and kind of wanted to rock her and snuggle a bit.
In her room we have music playing for her. Today, I put in the BSF CD. We're on break now from class so I thought it'd be good in her room and help her to learn the hymns so she might sing in class. As we rocked I sang a bit in my head - it was on the part of the CD that played the music only - no words. I started thinking about my headache's, journaling, trial and error, the funny comment - just smiling as I was feeling this great relief. The next song to start was "Great is thy Faithfulness". Only, there were words. Not sure I had noticed that before. I noticed tonight because I know what song is first on the CD so I wasn't expecting any words yet. Such a simple hymn and God had my full attention! Great is thy faithfulness. He is faithful. He was even faithful to those Israelites - who didn't deserve a thing. But as I continue to study them, I'm just as bad yet He is faithful!!
I have had a constant headache for years (no,not Jesse)!! Over the past year, I actually had a doctor "here me" and work with me on trying to get some relief. Not an easy process. First you keep a headache journal. When, where, and things you try. AND, did you know that there are many types of headache - tension, migraine, cluster, etc. Sometimes, I felt like I was making my head hurt because I was focusing on it too much or taking on the symptoms I was reading about.
So, over the past year I've been trying different preventative medicines. The one I was on the longest just seemed to help me sleep and gain weight. For a short period of time I actually stopped everything, drank more water and didn't seem to have any problems. But that ended and I can't seem to figure out how I did that. So I went back to searching for that right combination of drugs - with my doctor of course!
He gets mad because I wait too long when something hasn't been working. I think that's a mom thing. It has to be really annoying and constant for us to say "Hey, this isn't right, I better make an appointment." Am I right?? I think our tolerance of pain is higher than others. Anyways, he kept making me come back every two weeks this past couple months.
Through journaling and research online I figured out that the month of October and November I had a tension headache. I don't think I'm terribly stressed. A lot of it is probably from carrying around Emma and all our bags. Trying to get in and out in one trip! Not good. Plus I have terrible posture and our bed stinks! (Sorry Kathy Ireland) Oh and I don't think our pillows are too good either.
Now I know what a tension headache is. Through some adjusting done by the doctor on my neck and back and a daily dose of Verapamil, it's been easier to get relief with just plain old Tylenol. I had tried Verapamil before. I read online that this is a common choice to prevent headaches but it was given at a higher dose so that's what I'm trying now.
I still get other headaches. We've been waiting for me to get one of those while on Verapamil. And it came! Last Thursday - the back of my head hurt with a shooting pain to the front on the right side. I had a secret weapon. A sample of Treximet. I took it and I felt awful. I took the second pill and felt even worse. And these headaches don't come when you're just sitting at home with nothing to do! I think that was my busiest day last week. Then that night we were practicing songs for our Christmas Eve service. By morning, it seemed to be gone. So did it work? I don't know whether it was the Treximet or the sleep but I don't want to take that EVER again!!
This Tuesday, I had a doctor's appointment. Monday night, I started to get a headache. Not the tension but this was the top front section. It was still there Tuesday. The doctor did some adjusting because I was out of whack again. He wanted me to stick with the Verapamil. And he said he was going to prescribe Midrin for my secret weapon. This is basically what he said "Midrin's been around since Moses and boy did he need it with those Israelites". Now I found this comment extremely funny because that's what we're studying this year at BSF. Some might think this is a coincidence but I don't. I love God!!
I wasn't sure if I should try this Midrin for this particular headache or not. It's only supposed to work for migraines. But this is not the new super expensive $12 pill so it wouldn't hurt to try. That's another thing I love about my doctor - he always prescribes the cheap prescriptions!!! Anyways, Tuesday night I took it. He said it was one that I would take and then I could retake 2 more times if needed. So, I took one pill. I felt a little relief. I decided to take another in an hour. Better but not quite there so I took one more. Well then I just couldn't stay awake and Derek made me go to bed.
In the morning, I felt a little foggy. Wasn't quite sure if I still had the headache or not. After a few waking hours, I did! So, I thought, maybe this hadn't been a migrane. So I kept a detailed journal. First I tried 3 Tylenol. Then about 5 Motrin. At 5pm I tried 3 Excedrin. No luck. Still had it. So I thought I'd try this Midrin again. I took one and after awhile I felt some relief. Yeah!! So I took another one about an hour later. Feeling more relief each time. It wasn't till I thought "Well, I'll take one more just to make sure I get it" that I read the label. Take TWO pills at the onset of headache and then again if needed bla bla bla. I'd been taking one.
That's okay though. I'm excited to have some relief. Normally this headache could go on for WEEKS. I'm also excited that it was a migraine and that I know for sure. My experience of a migraine (from my younger days) was a headache so bad you almost threw up and had to lay down with a cold wash rag on your forehead, go to sleep and hope it was gone when you woke up. So I didn't think or wasn't sure what this was. It also helps me not to feel so guilty! With these headaches it seems like all I can manage to do to shower, get ready, take care of Emma. Just the absolute necessary. It makes me feel like a bum!! But to know I was able to do that with a migraine - wow! - that is a BIG accomplishment!
Back to why I'm awake! Little Emma just snuck into our room. She's been doing this nightly. She cries a little when she has to go to sleep in her bed but she does go and stays . . for awhile. We usually find her somewhere in our room in the early morning hours - on the chair, on the pillows on the floor or just plain on the floor. Mom said I used to do this. She would find me all over the place! I kind of remember doing it too. Anyways, Derek said it was my turn to put her back and honestly I was feeling great and kind of wanted to rock her and snuggle a bit.
In her room we have music playing for her. Today, I put in the BSF CD. We're on break now from class so I thought it'd be good in her room and help her to learn the hymns so she might sing in class. As we rocked I sang a bit in my head - it was on the part of the CD that played the music only - no words. I started thinking about my headache's, journaling, trial and error, the funny comment - just smiling as I was feeling this great relief. The next song to start was "Great is thy Faithfulness". Only, there were words. Not sure I had noticed that before. I noticed tonight because I know what song is first on the CD so I wasn't expecting any words yet. Such a simple hymn and God had my full attention! Great is thy faithfulness. He is faithful. He was even faithful to those Israelites - who didn't deserve a thing. But as I continue to study them, I'm just as bad yet He is faithful!!
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