Where did the summer go?

HELP, it's back to school!!! The girls started on Monday. They seemed like they were ready. I was not!! Even through they fight, I love having them home. I'm always entertained and have someone to talk to. But, back to reality. We did get a week of camping in before they went back. We went to the nicest campground with NO DIRT :) It would be Brooke's doctors dream campground. It had great pools, rode bikes, walked up dunes and just hung out. The girls were excited and surprised Steve got to stay with us the whole week. Usually he goes home to work but this was a true vacation. (he may not think so. Camping is alot of work.)


When we were on vacation I got a call from Brooke's MD saying that we can wait 3 weeks in between her IVIG (the med that gives her an immune system). That's good news! They are going to see if her numbers stay stable or what they do. Anytime we decrease meds we are happy, even if it's a trial. Monday afternoon I called the MD to tell them about her neck. It seems the right side of her neck has a bulge. It feels soft like a vein, doesn't hurt her. She has had an on going cough and cold, so I thought it was worth mentioning. He calls me back at 3:30 and says he wants her to go to ER. SERIOUSLY!! The kid is pushing a shopping cart yelling "RUN". She is not ER appropriate! So I pleaded my case, I argued slightly, but in the end, I respect the man, and I went to ER. We were there for 5+ hours of blood work, ultrasounds and alot of WAITING! The end it was found she did not have an infection (I new that :) and that she had varicose vein going up her neck. Well that's crazy!! The MD said we could go home and he'd call us in the am. This morning he wanted us to come in and be seen, have a chest xray and tomorrow at 8:30a she has a CAT scan to check her blood vessels. He wants to make sure she doesn't have any narrowing of her blood vessels from scar tissue. The cause would be all the broviacs she has had. They are also checking to make sure her port is functioning well and in place. This all seems so trivial. As long as all tests are good, we will continue as normal. If they are not, we will go where they lead us. My devotions again said "My time, not yours." I feel like I've heard this a million times over but sometimes I need a reminder. Especially this time of year. I'm not a rush rush type of person. So I enjoy the reminders that He will lead us and there is no need to feel anxious about what is next in our day and being there at the right time.

We will keep you updated with her test results. I wish you could all see her moving all over (not walking yet but close), talking up a storm, fighting with her sister and then giving out the BIGGEST belly laugh! These girls warm our hearts daily. As girls go, there are always trials, but more good times than eye rolling and whining.

James 4: 13-17

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Oh the 2 year olds!!

Terrible 2's does not sound nice :) The girls aren't terrible, they are just 2. If they were my 1st children I probably wouldn't have found much humor in them, but they came at the best time. We are worn down and little more laid back. A few nights ago Brooke was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of pop. Who gave her pop?!?! To say the least it was all over the floor! And no one would fess up to giving it to her. So, whatever, we mopped the floor. 10 minutes later Macy and Brooke were in the living room spreading spices I was cooking with all over the floor :) (I guess we know who gave Brooke the pop :) So we vacuumed! 5 minutes later, again we don't see them :( Into the bathroom the are shampooing the rug, with normal shampoo. What an active night, and our house got cleaned :)

Last night............the big girls were staying overnight at grandma's. It was so quiet in the house. (You think we would learn that isn't good). I peek into the bathroom and went and got Steve. His response, "get the camera." I walk into the bathroom, 2 little girls turn their heads and say "CHEESE!" They made the nicest bubble bath, IN THE TOILET!!!! There was water everywhere and they were having a great time.

I must say, with all the "fun" in this house :) I have struggled the past few weeks with Brooke's numbers. My expectations were so much different than His. And when I KNOW He can fix her so quickly, I was questioning why He wasn't. Then a family we met through Spectrum took their son home on Hospice. That really threw me for a loop. I am devastated for them! It just doesn't seem fair. I know in my heart He knows what's best, but often my worldly "logic" gets in the way. So, I throw logic out the window and rely on Him once again. My devotions today said "I rarely heal all the brokenness in a person's life. Nonetheless, much healing is available to those whose lives are intimately interwoven with Mine." So true, healing is being close to Him. He will take care of us, our every need.

Well, as I am posting a two 2 year olds came to me with maker all over them. They tell me they've been coloring :) Oh Joy!! Good thing they are cute :)

Pictures

I wanted to post pictures earlier but it has taken me awhile to figure out how to post pictures off my new phone. Yeah for technology BUT I'm not a fan of new things. :) So here's a few pictures. If I get REALLY clever I'll have video posted too but don't hold your breath :)

It was great grandma's birthday so we had chinese and cake!



Beach day with the cousins!

OHHH the go-cart!! Even dad got out there with the gator. An Uncle Mark
with a quad.


Plow days! Yes we actually stand in a field and watch antique tractors plow a field,
and we like it :)


Brookie getting ready to slide!

Back to school shopping

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anthing at all

Long time no post :) I've tried posting a couple times. I guess my creative juices weren't flowing, or I was just crabby. Probably crabby :) Time has flown by and I don't know what we have been doing. The go cart has been running itself ragged. No official tickets yet, but the way those girls have been driving it, they may be in Koeman Court before they know it. If anyone is interested in being their attorney's let them know :)

Overall, Brooke has been doing well. She has had a cold since end of July. She was on 1 antibx and had a reaction to it. So I took her off and waited. Today she went to the MD and still has her cold. So they started a new antibx. We'll see if that works. So onto my "title." How many times have we not heard that saying? How times have we said that too our kids :) Well this is what I'd like to say to the staff at Spectrum. However they have done too much for our Brookie and I respect them all too much, BUT, If they can't give me BIG, GOOD immune system numbers, then don't say anything. I told them today, "don't check her immune system until the numbers come up." They laughed. "So, when will that be." I think I feel an impending doom with fall/winter coming on. I know we are again stuck home. Brooke is 2 years old and hasn't even rode in the combine yet!! That is not right for a farm girl. We might have to some how change that this year. I know it'll be fine. I just have to take it 1 day at a time, instead of a season at a time. They talked about checking her immune system again next month, that would be 3 months again. So we'll see. I'm not in a huge hurry.

On another note......Brooke did take 2 steps this week. WHOO HOO!! Someday she will walk, and I will not be carrying her around in a backpack. It might not be soon, but slow and steady wins the race.

Run, run as fast as you can.....

Ok maybe not that fast :) But I did do the Chicago Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon, and I did finish :) WHOO HOO!! 2 hours and 40 minutes. My goal was under 3 hours. There were 30,000 people running and Steve got text messages 3 times during the race to tell him where I was. And my final time was texted to him. How fun!

Overall our week leading up to the race was uneventful. My training was winding down, which is hard to do when you are use to running 5-10 miles a time and then go down to running 2-3 miles, but it was relief for my poor husband. Saturday am we dropped the girls off at my parents. Steve, myself, Leah and Megan headed to Chicago. Our friends, the Koops' also joined us. Once in Chicago we walked all over trying to find exactly where I needed to be in the am. This was my first race so I wanted to know all the details before things happened. Sunday am Steve and I got up at 5am and made it too my destination and pre-race things. I got in line where I had to be and waited. They let groups of people go every 1-2 minutes. Steve followed along and watched me start. WHOO HOOO the race was on! I was by no means fast but my goal was to finish and run the whole way. No walking, no complaining and no regrets. I was successful! I LOVED IT!!! A little too much. I can't wait to do it again. However people ask, with my life how can you do this? Honestly it's not me that does it, it's my family. I had the easy job, put 1 foot in front of the other and run. My hubby had the rough job. Taking care of the house and kids when I would train. Some weeks it ended up being approximately 6 hours of training. Then at the race, I just run, and again my hubby and kids have to chase me and watch :) The only reason I did this was to raise $ for SuperSibs. Which we did! Our blogging family raised almost $800. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! My children and SuperSibs appreciate it so much! Together SuperSibs had raised over $30,000.

As much as I hope my running isn't over with, my husband and children need a break :) I think I'll stick to 3-4 miles for awhile and will probably be pushing a stroller. My husband is THE BEST for letting me do this. (he was even late for poker a few times, that's a BIG DEAL :) I loved the time to clear my mind and just be alone with God. God would always bring something to my mind or someone I need to pray for. I am still looking to the future for other runs, I just might have to be more creative with training :)

After the race. Still smiling :)

On to the rest of our Sunday............I called my mom after the race to tell her my time and come to find out Brooke was having trouble with her feeding tube. So we showered, packed and back to Michigan for an evening at the "spa" getting her tube fixed. She is all put back together and well. The girls we a little sad were had to leave to soon but they handled it like troopers. My friend said, "5 minutes after running 13 miles, Shelly's back to being a mom." In all actuality, I only did this because I'm a mom. After sitting on my butt in a hospital for 6 months in 2009, I decided 2010 was going to be different. Running 13 miles was much easier than sitting for 6 months :) No matter what I do, I will always be a mom to 5 wonderful girls. Leah is my new training buddy and our goal is a 5k for breast cancer in September.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)
24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
26-27I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Hebrews 12

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.