Camping!!

We went camping with a group of friends at Hungry Horse! I'm sorry if I posted too many pictures but I have a TON more I'd love to post :) Oh well! Before people say, "you went what?" You have to know how I camp. There are no tents involved, unless the kids sleep in them :) I have a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. If it rains, we stay inside and watch movies, play games, read. It's not roughing it :) When we had 3 kids we "roughed it." With 5, we had to rethink the plan. It was fun! The kids did great. No major meltdowns from the kids or me :) One morning I woke up to major rain. I was soooo thankful I was not in a tent, then I remembered, my daughter was :( I was contemplating getting crabby when all the wet blankets, sleeping bags, pillows came in the trailer but then I realized if it doesn't dry out just throw it away, who cares. I asked God to show me what I needed to get through the week. My devotions that day were on having a servants heart. How appropriate!!! I realized how fun camping is when you stop trying to plan and just follow the kids. It was their week! Macy didn't want to wear shoes, so don't then. Megan never got dressed one day (I did make her get dressed the next day :) We ate ALOT of candy, the kids watched movies, swam, rode bikes etc etc. Steve was out there Wednesday and Thursday. He played DJ for the afternoon and even got people dancing (I have video but I may need permission before I post that).

With all that said.........Brooke did great. She got spoiled beyond belief!! As did Macy!! At one point there were 40 kids and 11 moms there. We were totally out numbered :) Because Brooke couldn't be in the dirt she got held a ton. I bought a backpack to carry her in and it was delivered TODAY (the day we got home.) Oh well! It really wasn't a problem. I learned to change dirty diapers outside because a trailer, humidity and Brooke's stinky butt can make anyone gag, even her! Her feedings went well and I didn't talk to 1 doctor in 6 days!! However we got home and had something in the mail from 1 MD and another one on the answering machine. Back to reality.

I've been reading someone else's care pages lately. We got in touch a couple weeks ago and they have a similar but different situation. I am so happy we are able to share with each other! One major bonus about computers!! I emailed Steve the other day crying, telling him to read the care page. It was like reading about us. The feelings are so true and raw! You NEVER want anyone to feel or go through what we have, so when you know that someone else is, it's heartbreaking. You so much want to fix it but as you all know, we can't. I thought alot about how all of you must feel reading about us! This is our life, we know no different. I don't regret anything and I wouldn't change anything, but I now understand what it feels like from the outside looking in. It hurts everyone, not just the people going through it. To see a child in pain is indescribable!! And to be the parents just wanting to hug away the pain!!

I want to thank all of you for hanging in there with us and praying us through all the bad times and the good. This week was a good time and we pray for many more. I also pray our new "Spa friends" have many good times on the horizon.

Psalm 105:4 "look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

All done camping

Let the laundry begin. (I had to show people what a REAL laundry room looks like :) hehe