Government Run Healthcare? No, Thank You!

I am totally against it!

If you think the insurance companies are bad, wait 'til you have some Democrat telling you what you can and cannot have done!

I have a friend who works in the auto sales industry and he says that 'Cash for Clunkers' is a nightmare! He says his company has traded many clunkers and cannot get their reimbursement from your dear president. Also, he made the observation that the clunkers can only be traded to those companies that have been bailed out. Hmmm...interesting thought! So, his comments to me solidify the statement below. You can read the entire article here.

"I look at this health care plan and I see nothing that is about health or about care. What I see is a bureaucratic nightmare, senator. Medicaid is broke, Medicare is broke, Social Security is broke and you want us to believe that a government that can't even run a cash for clunkers program is going to run one-seventh of our U.S. economy? No sir, no," she said.

I cannot even imagine this bunch of idiots running my healthcare. No, thank you!

WARNING! Not for the Faint of Heart!

Here is an update on my cousins daughter, Shaylee.

I know the economy is tight, but I also know that our Lord provides! This family would be truly blessed if you could make any dontation. NOTHING is too small!

Be warned...the images are graffic!

Need Your Prayers

My cousin's 3 year-old daughter was attacked by a pit bull Thursday night. She lost over 60% of her scalp and her eyelids...and now infection is setting in on her remaining scalp. It is a LONG story as to how this happened, but CPS is trying to determine if my aunt, the dog's owner or both are at fault.

Please pray for my cousin, Laci, her baby that was attacked, Shaylee, and my aunt, Charlie.

This situation is VERY bad...

Quad Squad Update

I heard from the Quad Squad mom today. I will let the email speak for itself...

This evening both of our Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists, Dr. Kenneth Higby and Dr. Michael Gordon, did a cervical check. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...GOD IS AMAZINGLY GOOD!!!! My cervix looks even better than it did two weeks ago!!!! At 26 weeks it was measuring 23-25; this evening--25-28! The stitch from the cerclage that Dr. Gordon put in, and gave God complete credit for, still remains unchanged! Each of the doctor's were soooo pleased and quite frankly amazed!

Now, for even MORE good news! They both agree that I should go home!!!! I didn't even consider that as an option--WOW! So, tomorrow (Wed., 3-25) given that my OB/GYN, Dr. Bryan Cox, concurs, I should be discharged to go home! Then, either Thursday or Friday we will have an appt. to have a biophysical scan where they will conduct a sonogram that focuses on the health, etc of babies A, B, and C. We have agreed that until 30 weeks, we would not make "decisions" regarding delivering for the sake of baby D to only risk the health of A, B, and C.

On a final note, many of you have asked about all of the babies names. Here they are with a brief explanation:

Baby Boy A: Logan Quinn (Kevin's first choice for a boy was Logan; Kevin's middle name is Quinn)

Baby Girl B: Leila Ruth (I had picked out Lila, but Kevin, Oprah, and the Facebook poll chose Leila; Ruth was my Nana's name)

Baby Boy C: Landon John (This was the name I was trying to sway Kevin toward instead of Logan, and Land is my mother's maiden name; John is my dad's name, it has been in his family for generations)

Baby Girl D: Ella Faith (Each of Kevin's grandmothers' names had "ella"--Luella and Cozella; Faith we chose because we have complete faith in God's plan for this baby, our tiniest--this name holds the most sentimental value to us, so we have chosen to demonstrate our faith that all will be well with her by giving our little fighter this name. She will ultimately be okay; we claim it, we believe it, and we are living as if He has already answered that prayer as we have requested!)

God bless all of you that have sent your thoughts and prayers on behalf of the fourfold and our family! He does not cease to amaze us all; and He has showered us with blessings beyond measure! This testimony will speak to others about how Great and Big our God IS!

Please continue to pray for this precious family!

A miracle is in our midst!

Quad Squad

A precious couple from church is expecting quads...yup, you read that right...QUADS!

The poor mom has been on bedrest over a month now...

The poor dad is running around like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to get things ready.

Our Sunday School class has the privilege of helping this week. Some members of our class have signed up to go over at various times and help organize, paint and whatever else they need help with. I get to go Thursday. I am also working on refinishing the baby bed...(you sould see this thing...it looks like animal cages...and SOMEONE painted it with khaki, white and brown speckle paint...don't know why anyone would do that...but don't worry, I am all over it!)

There has been a lot of publicity lately for the family. They were on the news. And OPRAH!

Please pray for this family. There are lots of unknowns with the pregnancy...4 babies being born and coming home...the older two children...you get the idea.

My Sweet Aunt Mary

I would like to introduce you to one of the sweetest people in the world. She is my grandfathers oldest sister. She has a beautiful heart and peaceful spirit.

Here she is with the love of her life...Uncle Jack (who is 94 and still with us).

This special woman went to be with the Lord on Christmas Eve. Her family will miss her, but after 93 well-lived years, we know that she is in a better place.

Thank you. Lord, for our Aunt Mary.

Can Never Be Too Careful!

I know we all think our houses are free of safety hazzards.

Let me share a story...

My friend, Elizabeth's son, Jacob, had a mishap with his mini blinds the other day. Now, Jacob is special needs. He is usually up and moving all the time He does not speak, but makes noises often. Well, it had been while since the nanny had heard Jacob. She went to check on him and found him in his bedroom with the cords from the blinds wrapped around his neck. He was blue, but still breathing. It seems as though he was on his bed, somehow got the cords wrapped around his neck (probably from chewing on them) and couldn't get them off. He kept trying to lie down in his bed...which was only pulling the cords tighter! The nanny called 911 and they rushed him to the ER. Thank God the nanny found him just in time! Elizabeth says that her mini blind cords are not tied in a knot, but that they often get twisted around and she never thought to untwist them.

So, please, walk around your house...

untangle the mini blind cords...

check the outlets for covers...

check the fire alarms for batteries...

make it hazzard proof!

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

As you probably know by now, I work for Love Stories. (I love my job!) We photographed a wedding on August 9th that I have been meaning to tell you about.

I will start with that which was printed on the wedding programs.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in the land of Texas, lived two young girls, Bonnie and Shay. Both beautiful and bright and full of life and promise. Growing up miles apart and unknown to each other, they both developed as strong, determined young women with big plans for their futures and the occasional imaginings of their own 'prince charming'.

Then, tragedy struck them both. First, when she was still in high school, Bonnie contracted an evil virus that almost destroyed her heart and by the time she reached her 21st birthday, she knew that only a transplant would save her life.

Meanwhile, Shay, in perfect health, was living her life to the fullest until one evening she went for a walk and was struck by an automobile. She survived for only 5 days, but fortunately, she made the ultimate gift on August 9, 1992--she was an organ donor.

Miles away, Bonnie learned that she would receive Shay's heart, and with it, a new chance to live. Grateful for Shay's gift, Bonnie committed to 'live for two'. With determination and a strong will, she built a successful career helping children and their families through the organ transplant process. And she extended her own gift of friendship and love to her donor family, the Ledbetters.

Now, of course, no fairy tale would be complete without a handsome prince, preferably one who saves the damsel in distress. So, enter Dr. Michael, albeit in hospital scrubs instead of shining armor. It seems our damsel's new heart requires annual checkups involving routine heart caths. During one of these procedures, all seems to be going well, when suddenly her heart stops! All the bells and whistles rang throughout the hospital and Dr. Mike came to the rescue. The first time he saw his princess, she was not just sleeping (like that other fairy tale princess), she was dead! The first time he touched her, sparks flew (with the help of a defibrillator)! Next, he opened her gown to give her chest compressions and brought her back to life.

After that dramatic rescue, he became her doctor. They soon realized they had a lot in common - he repairs bodies and saves lives; she lifts patients' and their families' falling spirits. When she challenged him not to 'wuss out' on a bike ride declaring, 'If I can come back from the dead and do 600 miles in 6 days, you can get over your cold and do a measly 150 miles in 2 days!' he knew he was in love.

Today, on her 16th heart anniversary, the princess will marry her prince charming and the Ledbetter family will join in the celebration as she embarks on this new chapter of an enchanted and special life.

Great story, huh?

What that passage does not tell you is that both her father and Shay's (the donor) father walked her down the aisle. Her donor's mother and her groom's mother lit the unity candles.

I later learned in the SA Woman publication, that after Bonnie's transplant, she gave up on the thought of being married, believing her health was too precarious. When she met Dr. Mike, she felt he know what he was getting himself into!

Bonnie was also instrumental in helping Kaylee get her bracelet. Dr. Mike was the doctor who said she should have one and Bonnie's organization made it happen!

I hope this story is as inspiring to you, as it is to me. I have come back to this story many times in the last month and a half. It helps me to count my blessings, to put things into perspective, to praise God for the work he has done! Amazing!

Proud of Hubby!

Remember this post?

Well, the update on that is that I have been in the water aerobics class on most Mondays and Fridays since we joined.

I have lost 2 pounds.

My husband has been doing a walking regimin 3 days a week. He has lost 8 pounds!!!!

I will be starting that same walking regimin 1 day a week...hopefully that will speed up the progress!

Trying Again

Remember when I told you I was back on the wagon?

Remember how I told you I would keep you posted of the progress?

Notice how I haven't done so?

Why?

Because I SUCK!

I haven't even tried to stay on the wagon. I don't want to! It's not fun! But I know I need to...

so...my husband and I have decided to join this place.

I can't wait to try the water aerobics classes, take the kids to the pool, swim some laps, then work up to the real exercising!

BTW, in case you are wondering, my mother-in-law has lost 30+ pounds since that first post! WAY TO GO MIL!!!!

Lotsa Doctors Recently!

Other than tons of doctor visits with our daughter lately, I have also been running back and forth to Austin for my dad.

He went into the emergency room on December 9th with swollen ankles and purple toes (he actually had been wearing jeans and shoes for about a week, hiding these symptoms from my mother). What we thought would be true, was. He had heart problems, a valve that needed to be replaced.

Five days later, they replaced the valve...and then the trouble began.

His body was fine, but his mind...not so much. He was in ICU for 2 weeks because he could not 'snap out of it'. This was not what we bargained for. We thought hurting chest, difficult doing daily tasks. Instead we got hallucinations, tying to the bed becasue he didn't know where he was, wearing diapers becasue he couldn't remember how to toilet.

I talked to everyone I knew and most medical personel stated that this was totally normal. Everyone stated that everyone gets this dilerium after surgery, but most people have it for hours...Dad had it for weeks.

Once the hospital decided his body was fine, Dad was moved to a Rehab Hospital. He has been there since the day after Christmas. Ugh!

We finally got to bring Dad home for the day yesterday (the first time he has been home since December 9). He enjoyed being home and did not want to go back. The only way we got him to agree to return to the hospital was the fact that his target release date is this Friday.

So, hopefully things will get back to normal soon.

Mrs. Green Jeans!

I believe there were some sceptics out there who thought I couldn't do it! Well, here is the proof that my thumbs aren't totally brown!

Tomatoes!

Bell Peppers!

Don't know how they taste yet. I will let you know!

More Ovaltine, Please!

Ok, so, we went to my grandmother's funeral and...for reasons too many to mention here...I did not take a bottle for Kaylee.

Wait, before you start cussing at your computer screen and screaming, "What? Bottle? The child is 18 months old! She shouldn't have a bottle anyway!"

She will not drink milk fom a sippy cup!

Nope!

Not warm, not cold.

Milk belongs in a bottle, juice in a cup.

So, I did not take a bottle on the trip and I did not buy a bottle while I was there. Thus, no milk.

Well, this morning, I put her milk in a cup (after all, she has not had a bottle for 6 days, why reintroduce it?) She took one sip and set it down on the table not to be picked up again.
Until...I put a bit of chocolate in it!

My husband comes in and I asked if Ovaltine milk was better than no milk...
I did not get an answer, instead both he and Jake broke into a simultaneous quote from this movie...

'Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a...!"

Remember it?

After a nice rendition, we decided that if Kaylee would drink Ovaltine milk, that would be better for her than no milk at all!

Tricked her good! Milk from a cup!

Remember Joni?

This morning, Joni Eareckson Tada was the guest speaker in our morning worship. Yea, you remember, you probably read the book in the late '70's, early '80's. She was the girl who had the diving accident and broke her neck...quadripiligic. 40 years later, she is still praising God in her circumstances. I found her to be truly amazing! I turned to my husband and said, 'I would hope I would be that way, but I think I would be pissed.' Read her story and see all the amazing work she is still doing!

How Can I Be Feeling This Way?

Let me start this post by saying 2 things...
1. If you are of the male persuasion, you might want to log off now.
2. I had my uterus and one ovary removed about 2 years ago.

So, with that said, let me vent. I woke up in the middle of the night with the small nub of an ovary that I have left, hurting. I then woke this morning with the agenda of getting my family ready for our trip tomorrow...my ovary still hurt, my abdomen hurt where my uterus would be (if I had one), I bit my husband's head off before he left for work and I have snapped at my 9 year old most of the morning. My husband was brave enough to call and check on me...he asked how I was and I stated, "I feel like I should start my period today, except I don't have a uterus". Can my body possibly be 'cycling'?

Now, don't get me wrong. I think having the hysterectomy was one of the best things I have ever done! After the surgeon did what he was supposed to (long story, another time), I felt fabulous. My back quit hurting, my ovary couldn't burst every year. I have felt wonderful...until today?!?!

What is happening with my body today?