Go BIG or go home!

So I am posting twice in 1 day! How crazy! But this fit with my "big" theme. Have you ever wanted to touch one of BIG checks you see people win? I have, I watch them on the Price is Right (conformation I have no life). I'll back up the story.. Last time Brooke was in the hospital Steve filled out a survey he got online from his seed company. He could nominate a group that he felt did a good/noble job in the community. If Steve got chosen the group he nominated would get $2500. Steve chose LOVE INC (in the name of Christ). A place in Hamilton that helps families in need, but also teaches them life skills to live by. Budgeting, cooking, Bible Studies. A wonderful program that is amazing! Well they got picked!! YEAH!!! We were excited! So tonight, Koeman farms, and Monsanto seed reps (Mr. Winkle and Mr. Balder :) got to go present the check to Love INC. They then showed us their program. It is very amazing and what a ministry the have. Just think, if Brooke would not have been in the hospital, Steve may not have had time to fill this out. God is quite amazing! And He ministers in so many ways through so many situations. Praise Him!!!

Don't Mess with MaMa

This is a large remote! Did you ever lose your remote? We lose them OFTEN!! I've had to order spares from Dish network so when 1 is gone I can program another one. Sad huh? I don't even think our house is that messy. I think children eat them. Well I like to work out once in a while. It seems I can't use my exercise DVD's without the remotes!! Both DVD players are missing remotes. I've been a little disgruntled about it. So I went to the store and bought the BIGGEST remote I could find. It's MINE ALL MINE!! That's right, I am not teaching my children to share in this process but they have lost that privilege. So I am excited to use my DVD again.

Other than that it's been a slow week. Obviously, if all I have to talk about is remotes :) I did take the girls to town. As I was on the phone with Steve discussing a purchase (yes I consult my husband before some purchases, he wishes more :) there was this large laughter from the dressing room. Leah and Megan were in there trying on about anything they could find. Oh my, what a hoot! I told Steve, I can't imagine when all the girls get old enough to do this. We'll have to close down the store with all the giggling. How fun!!! God knew what He was doing when He gave us 5 girls. They keep us smiling.

A Great Man

Steve and I are in a small group. In our Bible study we talked about who you feel is the Greatest man? That's a loaded question. The Greatest Man alive? God called John the Baptist the Greatest man. What an honor! He had no royalty, no money, he lived in the desert, wore camel hair, yet he was great. He was great because he followed God. He did not idolize worldly positions, he did not give into jealousy or envy, he just followed Him.

In our discussion many names were coming up. Everyone has there own idea of "greatness" and 1 isn't right over another (that's the great thing about life, we can have different opinions and none of them are wrong). And since this is my blog I can share mine :) The man which keeps coming to my mind is my dad. He might kill me for writing this but it's on my heart and I feel like sharing. Now he doesn't live in a desert (Florida is hot right now) and he doesn't wear camel hair (don't give him any crazy ideas) but he has a heart of gold. He always is helping others and thinking of others. He (and my mom) are the most giving people I know. I have never seen them jealous or envious. They find such Joy in what they do, which to me, means they are doing it for Him. My dad always says heaven is 1 big blueberry farm, (my corn farmer husband might disagree :) They have a sense of humor and keep this crazy life in perspective but they know full well what they believe in and they live it. I am so grateful to have such role models in my life.

With that being said I encourage anyone to join a small group. A group of people you can trust, you can be real with, be accountable with and that you can dive deeper into God's word. My parents have also found a group like this and they have become so real to me as well. I just love them. The Book of John has been great. So, who is great in your life? What makes them great? What classifies true "greatness"? Remember no right or wrong answers, just a question to ponder :)

John 16:33 Jesus said: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Happy Valentines day!

This was our Valentines day!! We have always refused to give into a "Hallmark" holiday. To Steve and I Valentine's day isn't real. I don't want a designated day to show love, I think it should be shown everyday. So our attempt for Valentines day was a "note" on the mirror (which they thought was fun), and Megan made us a cake (Yes, cake). We want our girls to show love to others daily, not expect it to be dished out. Your heart feels so full and you feel so at peace when you give to others and not expect to be given too. Steve says he's trying to raise them to be "low maintenance." Yes we know, good luck with that, haha. But they sure are cute!!

Other than that.......I am BACK, in full force. After continuing to drag butt last week, I had started to double up on meds. I figured if 1 was good, 2 must be better. (Not good medical advise that I suggest for anyone). But Thursday night I went to bed at 11:30p, woke up at 6a (no alarm, just woke up). Steve got up for work and I was standing there, drinking coffee, laughing, telling him Good Morning! His response, "Holy Cow she's back. Where did my crabby wife go?" I'm so happy to have energy, to be enthusiastic about life, to be sarcastic, and I'm sure slightly annoying to others. WHOO HOO!!! It's fun to have fun with the kids again and not be playing head games with myself just to stay functional.

So onto another week. This weekend I got to go scrap booking with friends for the weekend. The girls and Steve always like to see the progress when I get home. I'm 2 years behind yet but I'm getting caught up. I think it's a gift I can give to my girls someday, so I hope to get caught up. Brooke goes back to clinic next week and this week I meet with an orthodontic to discuss braces for Leah. Really, I'm old enough to have 1 in braces? Oh well, age is only how old you feel. I think I'm a spring chicken, hehe.

F I N A L L Y

I like to think I'm a patient person but waiting 8 days for tests results really wore on my patience! I was getting quite irritated, then the nurse in me came out and I have a plan as to how they can better their process, I'm not sure they really care. Anyway, the scan was all good. It showed no further cancer, YIPPEE!! My primary MD did say that once one has had cancer they are on "alert" but that's pretty much it. As a person that's had cancer, I'm on alert also. The most disturbing part of this was losing my taste buds. Unfortunately I was told there are "no side effects." Everything has side effects, so I dug deeper and found that was one of them! I didn't drink coffee for a week. If you know me, that is unheard of! Leah thought I was dying :) I put candy in my mouth and couldn't tell if it was cinnamon or butterscotch. I was mad!! I LOVE candy, and food, and coffee. I was talking to my dad and he had the same thing after his heart surgery and his came back. So that was reassuring. I'm back to drinking coffee, and can taste most things again. I'm not back to "normal" yet, but I'm slowly returning. I'm ready to feel like myself but I know it'll happen soon enough. I miss being super sarcastic and slightly obnoxious. Not sure my family misses it.
Onto Brooke..............She had her swallow study. It wasn't an easy task. We pretty much force fed her and watched it go down. The best part is it went to the right place every time. Even when she was coughing and gagging she still did not aspirate. Yeah Brooke!! So she can swallow, she just needs to realize that eating is as much fun as her mom thinks it is. Today Leah told me she was SOOOO thankful she had a mom that LOVED candy. That's a good quality to pass onto your kids!!! Brooke doesn't understand that yet but she'll get there. She ate part of a chip tonight and continues to nibble on crackers. She really only eats at night, when her sisters are in bed, or when no one is watching her. We call her a closet eater :)
Steve also pointed out to me that our insurance changed. We now have a 2 million limit per year. That is a good thing for the Koemans! Our plan had been 2 million dollar limit per person for a lifetime. We'll Brooke is over a million dollars already so now we don't have to worry about her getting kicked off our insurance anytime soon. For being so little she can really rack up the bills. But I don't think she can get to 2 million in 1 year. I bet the insurance company wishes they could get rid of her :)
Not much on the agenda for February. Brooke has another clinic visit coming up the end of February. Otherwise we are going to just try and stay warm and have fun. We've been planning our summer camping trips already. That warms us all up :) Once again God has answered so many prayers. We got to see my parents friends on Tuesday and tell them about the normal scan. The hug and tears in her eyes was the best present I ever could of received!! Then her husband walked up and she said, "tell him, tell him!" I later went out with friends and to find out the same craziness that was going through my head waiting for the test results was going through my friends head. WOW, the Love and prayers from others is so humbling!! Thank you, we pray that 2011 is calmer than 2009 and 2010, but if not we take things as they come. God always provides and He keeps showing us this over and over.

Where we need to be....

I said I wasn't going to post for a week. Well my phone is on fire with all the talking, texting and facebook I've been doing, so I thought I'd try this again. I have been so fortunate to talk to so many people, got to hang out with friends, ate chinese, even went shopping. I talk to my husband hourly sometimes more often. He hasn't had the visitors, at least not adults. Just a bunch of kids. So with all the quiet times I have had, I got somethings done. Not as much as I'd like to of course, but that is strictly because by heart wasn't in it. I realized........I LOVE my life! I love my husband, kids and job!! I love driving all over to drop kids off, pick them up, feed them, cook. I don't miss laundry or dishes but that just comes with the territory. Steve agreed. We are so truly blessed. It has been so quiet I can't even sleep. I complain about the snoring at my house (and it's not just Steve that snores), but when it's not going on I can't sleep! Today I got to work and I'll go home late tonight after the kiddos are in bed. I had some awesome devotions this week. And this is just my opinion, my blog my opinion, not necessarily right :) You don't need hours of quiet to hear God. You do need to take time, you do need have quiet times, but I see Him just as clearly sometimes in the daily routines. Watching the kids, teaching moments, talking with my husband, taking care of my patients, talks with friends and family, cooking, cleaning. That's my element. That's where God wants me!!! I know that may not be true for many people and that's what is great about this world. We are all different! No one way is correct. I pray that everyone finds where God wants them to be. It's a peaceful place. Now did I really need days away to find the "revelation?" Nope I didn't. I've been aware for a long time, but I am glad be blessed me with this time and I can't wait to get back to the chaos and the best hubby ever!!! :)

Sooner, better than later, I guess

Last night I get a call from and automated system from St Mary's Health care stating I have an appt at 8am. WHAT! 8am, so I find a real person at the hospital that confirms this. Then I change my plans for the day, change my patient load, find someone to work, someone to take the kids to school and go at 8am. I don't mind the change in time. I totally understand being flexible, we have 5 kids for goodness sake, 1 being Brooke. What I don't like is human error after human error, things that can be prevented. I went through all scheduling issues and wrong tests being ordered last week. :( So, I guess to be totally honest, I am not impressed with St Mary's. I have to return there next week Monday for a full body scan then I am done. I'll stick with Holland and Spectrum.
All in all, I swallowed a pill and left. I plan to be back home Wednesday night. I have all of my entertainment with me, movies, bills to pay, creative memories to cut, Bible study to read. I'll hang out for a couple days. Watch God's amazing snow covered land, maybe even take a walk. Then I'll go home, where I belong. I feel so fortunate and blessed. You realize you are right where you need to be, when you don't want to leave. You realize what an amazing husband you have, when I ask, "what do you want me to do? How can I make this easier on you?" And he says "don't worry, we are fine." And he's totally serious. He has everything under control and he knows our kids, their schedules, and how the house runs (or doesn't run) as well if not better than I. I couldn't ask for a better guy!
I might not post again til I get my scan results. We are pretty uneventful for awhile. Brooke has a swallow study and MD appt next week Tuesday. But I don't expect any earth shattering news with that. Thanks for all the prayers. We are blessed and know who to give the glory too. Thank you Jesus!! You fill our hearts!!