headed to Wisconsin

The kids and I will leave for WI in the morning. There happens to be no school Thurs and Friday for teachers education convention (MEA)- and also on Monday for some more teacher study (staff development day), so even though my parents have been to MN alot recently, I decided to take a break and head to WI, since I dont' get there much in the winter.
My sister and her husband bought a new house, so am excited to see that. My friend has a house being built before they get married in November, so she wants to show me how far it's come. My grandparents moved into a new apartment, and they will be leaving soon for AZ, so am excited to be able to see them before they leave. My grandpa is on the road to feeling a bit better, after having a case of Valley Fever all summer, or so his Dr thinks. The blood test came back negative from Mayo, but he was tested so far into the condition, that he was starting to get over it somewhat, and the tests can be inconclusive as to making a dignosis, the Dr's around here have never heard of it and it's not common in this area....It can take up to a year to fully get over it, though. He has some heart issues that will need to be kept an eye on in AZ, and he will be getting a cardiologist down there as well. His heart stays in atrial fibulation (abnormal heart rhythm), even after twice shocking it back into rhythm, it stays normal for a awhile and then goes back. It gives him a risk of clots or stroke, but for now will just be watched closely, and they are anxious to get down to the warm Arizona weather before winter as his doctor has given him the ok to go.

I hope to spend the next few days relaxing, clearing my head of all the stresses of life and just enjoying the time with the kids, my family and friends. Fall is such a pretty time of year, I like the scenery and coolness. The kids and I may stop up at Rib Mtn. in Wausau on the way there to catch some of that beautiful scenery, that my parents saw when they just went there. Hope the weather is nice enough to do so.


Hannah just got over being sick for a few days, and still has a bit of a cold. She seems to be doing better, although still pretty weak, she went back to school today. She seems to be fighting some lung/chest conjestion that also made her sick to her stomach. I'm not sure if it can happen, but it seemed as though she was throwing up what she should have been able to cough up. She did that for about 15 hours, every 1-2 hours. She hasn't been coughing and seems afraid to, or says she can't. At least the stomach thing and fever has went away, and now she is just trying to get over the cold and get her strength and appitite back. We'll try to get her healthy again and we'll be getting the flu shot again this year in the next week or so.

Here's a few pictures my mom took at Rib Mountain last week, which makes me want to go.

Just pictures

Look what we found in our yard...looked this little guy up on the internet and believe he is called, a Sword-bearing Conehead grasshopper--even think we have the male here.

A Fall prayer for Changing Times

In a time when so much is changing, surround yourself
and those you love with beautiful reminders that what
matters most stays the same.
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"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus......I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4
************************************
Lord,
There is so much happening in our world now.
In the midst of it all, it's so good to know
You're in control, Your love is never-ending,
and You provide for us.
As the trees turn colors, and the nights grow cooler,
may we be reminded that every season of our lives
is a part of Your loving plan.
Amen.

Holley Gerth, DaySpring writer.
www.dayspring.com

if one more thing breaks

It seems as though its one thing after another lately. Everything is falling apart or breaking down...not to mention the entire house, but here's a few examples.
Our kitchen cupboards are hanging by pony tail holders now, to keep the doors from flapping open.
Our vacuum died, and it's only a few years old, it happened while my mom was using it a week or so ago. My dad took it home with them and had it fixed, it just needed some cleaning up. Thank goodness, I vacuum at least once a day if not more. Luckily I have a spare, that's also in not so good of shape, but it held up.
Ok, next is our printer. It stopped printing pretty much all together. I recieved a new printhead through contacting Kodak's website. There was no charge since our printer is only about 10 months old, still under the year warranty. Tried that and it worked for a few days, it was printing documents fine until I tried to print a picture, and then noticed that the colors weren't right. It now prints black good and most blues, wont' print greens or yellows, and the reds are pink. uuggh. So I called Kodak's technical support line, and they are now sending us a new printer. WOW. I just I hope I can trust the 2nd one to last longer than a year.

And finally our TV, which is the most frustrating, because our family can't hardly function without it. Our big 42 inch DLP TV has finally decided it needs replacement parts. It is only a little over 2 years since we bought it. It was a floor model, so that might account for some of our early problems. We were told to have the bulb/lamp in it replaced before our 3 year warranty expires next July, because those cost over $300. So so we expected to have to do that in the near future. Over the last year or so, it has acted up 3-4 different times where it says on the screen to, "check fan no. 2" and then the TV will automaticlly shut off after 5 minutes or so....probably from overheating. Our TV has 2 fans and a projection bulb/lamp. The past few times I've been able to open up the panal and vacuum out the area and get it working again. This time I've had no luck, so I called Best Buy last Saturday. I was set up for a service call today...it's been a long 5 days without our TV. We've managed with the playroom TV, which displays static every so often and we have to shake it to clear the picture. I've been used to doing this for Hannah when she wants to watch soemthing, which is rare. So it's just been an added annoiance. Plus there just isn't enough room in there. Bailey's little TV has been getting some more use as well, cuz like I said our family just doesnt' function well without one, we need 3 working TV to suit all of our needs. :)

The "Geek Squad" shows up this morning, he comes in, I explain the problem he takes a quick peek at the back (never opens anything up) and says he will order 2 fans, and I also explained about the bulb, and he said he will order one of those too, and then went on to say, they will call us when the parts are in, which is about 7-10 days, and we'll be back out with another service call to replace them. I said your kidding me, we have to wait another week? He said yup I have to order the parts. GOOD GRIEF!!! Within a minute after arriving, he was out the door, and said have a nice day, and drove away in his little Geek Squad mobile.

Another hockey season about to begin

Bailey is so excited to play hockey again. He is a 2nd year Squirt. He starts this Wed night, with speed training for 3 nights in a row. Then for the next 4 nights after that, it's pre season hockey camp. I'm not too thrilled about this schedule, being that Wed and Thursday night he wont' get to bed until 10pm, on school nights, plus keeping up with school work, etc. Steve just wants to give him every opportunity, but I just worry about his sleeping and general routine screwed up, which causes headaches. Anyway he is all set, he got some new leased skates, and also needed new knee pads, breezers and shoulder pads.
I will try to enjoy this year as much as possible as next year might be a little nerve wracking, as he will be able to "check".

Hannah has decided not to play hockey this year, as much as she loves to skate, she just may not be into the hockey part. Maybe next year. I think she'd be real good at it. I think after being somewhat forced to play last year, it kinda turned her off for this year. She is pretty stubborn and once she says something, it's hard to change her mind, and she may also just need a break, before she realizes if she misses it or not. She plans on still doing alot of skating this winter, as daddy leased her some new skates.

Surely it is God Who Saves Me

Sung by Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, WI.... and it looks like some younger children are included as well. Makes the song complete.
This song means alot to me and involves many memories from a child to an adult. Beautiful.
When I hear it I always have tears forming, it's not something I can control. I hear the words and I feel like I can conquor any of life's obsticles, I feel strong, yet humble, knowing I can't do anything without Jesus by my side.

Headaches....part of life??

I'm beginning to think Bailey's headaches will never go away. It's frustrating, it's been a part of life for the past 6 years.
I have been reporting to the doctor now every month since July. I hope I'm seeing a pattern developing, but only time will tell.
In July he had 8 headaches on 20 mg, in August he had 7 headaches on 30 mg, and in September he had 6 headaches on 40 mg. hummm? He's now gonna be at 60 mg for October.
I think it's a postive pattern, but he has gone anywhere from 8-9 headaches to 4-5.
There never has been any consistancy. His average is 6 headaches per month since last January, after we started the medication.
The goal is to get him to 1-2/month. I sure hope we can get there, of course for his sake, as I will continue to do whatever it takes until then. I sometimes feel that it is not the medication that will end up helping him, that maybe it's more of controlling the triggers, but I also rely on the medication, as to maybe it will start to do what it's supposed to do, in preventing the headache, regardless of the triggers.
Last month he had a migraine that lasted forever. I called the doctor, and he then also prescribed Midrin, which is better than Motrin if we can catch it early enough. That day we apparently didn't, and since then we had to use it only one other time, when the headache seemed to last a bit longer. Bailey prefers the Motrin over the capsules, so therefore haven't been using it regularly. It's best to use it at the onset anyway, for it to take full effect.

Life goes on......