Thank you for the prayers!

Rosemary came home from the hospital Monday, so she is doing better. Still has the stents in her ureter and bile duct, and one drain. The kidney stones are still bothering her, but they were not able to remove them. She will need to pass them or they will need to move where they don’t hurt. She is regaining her strength slowly and taking care of Dylan as best as she can.

I recently went to my 30th high school reunion (I really missed you, Nancy!), and it was more fun than I anticipated. It seems they are better the older we get – everyone is basically friendly to everyone else. I missed a lot of choir and band friends, but it was fun seeing those who did come.I have posted a couple of pictures from the reunion and some new ones of Aiden.

Keep praying for Rosemary’s health and strength.Below you will find some pictures of her and Dylan just after birth.

Stay cool!

Aiden starting to blow a kiss...

[caption id="attachment_434" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="...and the big finish!"]

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Rosemary and Dylan

Me with Will Hayden, an old "boyfriend/friend"

Class picture - WTW Class of 1979! Who are these old geezers???

Kathy

Prayers Requested

My sister, Rosemary, had her first baby after 9 years of trying about 1 month ago. She had a c-section because she wouldn’t dilate at all. One week later, she had a bad gallbladder attack and had to have it removed (hospital visit #2). Less than one week after that, she had fluid overload, difficulty breathing and a massive bladder infection (hospital visit #3 – just to the ER then home after drugs). Last week she spiked a temp of 103+ and went back to the ER (hospital visit #4!!!). This time, they diagnosed her with an abscess on her liver (from the gallbladder removal). She had to have it drained (size of a baseball) and has a drain that is still producing a lot of fluid after 3 days. She is still in the hospital in Plano tonight. This morning she was doing better (temp down to 99), but tonight it went back up to 102. There are multiple specialists working to solve the problem, but it seems to keep eluding them. Pray that they will find the problem and be able to cure Rosemary without additional surgery. It is possible that they will do an exploratory laparotomy to see if there is more infection in her intestines or elsewhere. I feel so bad for her because she has not been able to really bond with her baby very long or take care of him since she has been so sick and hospitalized so much. Dylan (her son) can’t come to the area of the hospital where she is because it is too easy for him to catch something there. Pray that she will get well and that there would be no further complications so she can go home and enjoy her baby! It is a blessing that he is growing and healthy, and seems to be a happy baby. I can’t imagine how hard it is for Rosemary though! Thanks for your prayers.

New Pictures

Here are some new pictures from Easter and Aiden’s dedication. Thought you might like to see them and how he has grown. He is such a joy.

Such big blue eyes!!!

After church on Easter

Easter morning

Aiden with Aunt Julie and Cousin Carolyn

Gigi’s family (Gigi in white, center)

Mimi’s family (Mimi in back row in green)

Aiden with his parents

Mommy and son

New Blog Header

I found a really nice header source! It is called Free Page Headers, and the URL is http://www.freewebpageheaders.com

Happy blogging!

The Simple Woman

Here is my Daybook entry for today, March 9, 2009 ~

Outside my Window…a cloudy sky, warm air, and the possibility of rain

I am thinking…about menus that my 20 year old can make for our dinners. He wants to start cooking for the family!

I am thankful for…the gift of family – a glimpse of heaven on earth

From the kitchen…probably chicken kiev, rice and a big salad for dinner

I am wearing…pink embroidered top and jeans

I am reading…various ob-gyn books to get ready for the certification exam

I am hoping…that Jen and I find some wonderful piano duet music to play for church – we are shopping today.

I am hearing…squirrels running on the roof, birds singing

I am creating…just trying to get the mending done!

Around the house…Brandon sleeping, total quiet!

One of my favorite things…sleeping late!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...playing for a recital at UTA, lots of precepting at various clinics, writing a paper.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of this week’s participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Ponderings on Prayer

Our small group is in the middle of a study on prayer, and we had a meeting tonight. After watching the DVD and having an excellent discussion about Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane, I came up with a thought using alliteration. It pertains to having faith in asking for God’s will to be done, and trusting Him to do what’s best in our lives. Here goes:

“Be willing to give up comfort, convenience and complacence in exchange for courage, contentment and confidence in God.”

When we realize that we are out of control, we get scared and panic. Sometimes we do destructive things like overeat, drink, spend too much money, etc., or call all our friends in a tizzy instead of going straight to the Father and praying! The reality is that we are never in control of everything, only our own actions and reactions and choices we make. If we pray to the Lord regularly and go to Him, we will be rewarded with maturity, Christ-likeness and fruitfulness. Remember, if you are on the vine, you will be cultivated and will be fruitful!

Abraham Lincoln said “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go”. Let’s remember to go to the Father first and trust Him to take care of everything!

Why don’t you start right now???
Because He lives,
Kathy

Web Site you might enjoy

I recently joined a group called Southern Stitches via Facebook. This link is to their tutorial page for stitching:

http://www.southern-stitches.com/tutorials.html

I love to do handwork and machine sewing in my “spare time”, and have plans to get to it again after graduation in May. There is nothing like relaxing in a comfy chair and creating beautiful handmade things!

This site is fun to look through and get instructions from, especially for smocking. They also make small gowns for premature babies and those who don’t survive for the parents to have as a keepsake. The main page is

http://www.southern-stitches.com

Another helpful site is:

www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com

Have fun browsing and creating!

Kathy

Just checking in…

I have been enjoying time with my family and getting lots of projects done before school starts (for me) again. That has not allowed much computer time, but the productivity has been wonderful! I just have a little mending/sewing projects and painting to do. Most of the organizing and purging has been accomplished, so I feel so much freer! One of the biggest projects was the kitchen organization and cleaning. What a chore!

I had pneumonia for a couple of weeks around New Year’s, and still have a cough. It was NO FUN! No one else got it, so I guess the virus that started it off was just meant for me. So thankful the baby and other family members did not get it.

A Biggest Loser contest started at work, and my partner and I are off to a good start. It ends on March 12, so we are being diligent in eating right and cutting down on portion sizes. So far so good! Bill and I have begun to have a regular time at the gym, and I actually jog/walked for 3 miles the other day. I am not a runner, so it was a stretch, but it felt good. I am trying to increase the distance slowly.

Any words of encouragement are definitely appreciated…it’s a long way to lose 40-50 lbs. Ugh!!!

Here is a recent picture of Aiden to make you smile.

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Have a great day!

Kathy

Thankful Thursday

After a much needed break, I am back to blogging! Thank you for coming to visit. Please leave a comment now and then so I know you are out there. It gets lonely sometimes!

Today I am thankful for…

Finishing and passing my professional project/thesis with flying colors!

Making an A in Women’s Health III.

The opportunity to precept at clinics closer to home next semester (the LAST SEMESTER!!!). Hopefully I will find a job close to home too.

Having time to decorate the house (finally).

Finishing almost all of my Christmas shopping before Christmas week!

Aiden getting better – we have a nebulizer now and he is on multiple treatments each day, but already improved after one day! He has been coughing for 2 months, poor baby.

My family being home and all together soon. The boys are together in Fayetteville, AR until December 24, and I’m glad they can make some memories together.

The downstairs heat pump will work if we put it on auxiliary heat, which is buying us time to make some money to replace it, although the electric bill will be higher (we try to always do cash if at all possible).

My Savior, Jesus Christ, without whom I would be desperately lost. And without whom there would be no Christmas to celebrate!!!

Have a Joyful Day!

Kathy

To read more thankful thoughts, click the button below to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.

I’ll be back soon…

You may be stopping by and keep seeing my 2 week old post, well…I have finished my professional project/thesis and one of two clinicals. I have a final exam on Dec. 1, one more clinical day at Parkland on Dec. 2, and one more class on Dec. 3. After that day I will post a REALLY THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!!!!! Only one more semester to go!

If you wish, pray for my finals to go well and for Aiden and Bill to get over their upper respiratory crud. There is nothing to give the baby because it’s viral, so we have been dealing with a cough and stuffy/runny nose for almost 2 weeks now. Bill had bronchitis and is healing, but still coughing some. Emma had it and is over it. I have remained healthy so far.

Thanks for coming by, and for the prayers.

Here’s to holidays, family and friends!

Kathy