Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Here is my New Year's eve day in pictures.

I actually made my bed today! First time in 21 days I think!

This is the night stand on my side of the bed. Now look at Loy's side......

Yeah.

I thought everyone would like to see the taxi Mom's uniform. I hope my van never breaks down when I'm on the road looking like this!

I decided to rest today but remembered I could accomplish something while sitting down. I took our HUGE box of papers that need shredding and shredded for about 3 hours. I almost got it all done until I overheated the darn machine. And then I......

shredded mail with pennies stuck to it!!! Why do they do that? I thought I broke the shredder but it's OK. I had to get tweezers to pry the penny out! At least I had the sense to turn the shredder machine off while I was operating on it with tweezers.

Of coarse there was a bunch of junk in the papers for shredding that was NOT papers for shredding!

The penny that almost broke my shredder.

I'm so close!

This handsome man is my editor. While he was home all day helping me recover from surgery he edited my blog posts before I posted them. Now I have to expose all my errors to you all until 7:30 pm when he gets home from work. Sorry, everyone. Just read my blog after 7:30.

The book I ordered came in the mail today. YEAH! My friend Jennifer is going to love this book!

We had BBQ ribs for our New Year's Eve dinner. I've never made them before but they turned out good. This was David's idea.

We also had chips and dip and mozzarella sticks.

This was our dinner, It looks like a summer dinner.

Loy likes the ribs.

Well David IS a teenager hence the scowl. He did like the dinner though.

Poor little doggie. She wants ribs, too.

I wish I could share them with you.
Now we are going to watch movies and welcome in the year 2009.

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 21

Taxi Mom is now back on duty.
Each day seems the same these last few days. I feel good until about 3:00 pm and then walking starts to hurt my insides and back. I go slow and I rest when I feel like that. My incision feels much better. It isn't as sore or itchy. There is only one spot now that is oozing (blah!) Sorry, I know it's gross! The rest of my incision seems to be all closed and healing. The Doctor put the incision right between my "chubs" (as David calls it). I call it my fat rolls! I hope it doesn't become a problem. Maybe that's another reason it seems to have taken so long to heal. I still need 400 mg of ibuprofen every 5-6 hours. I noticed it doesn't hurt when I sneeze or cough anymore. I can bend over better too. The strange thing has been my back hurting so much. I think it's just from resting so much. It must have gotten weak. The saying "If you don't use it, you lose it" is so true the older you get!

This is from a devotion that Loy recently read to me. It's from a book on Spurgeon's sermon notes.

Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:16

Paul being converted, took an independent course.

Being taught of God:

He did not consult those who were already believers, lest he should seem to have received his religion secondhand.

He did not consult his relatives, who would have advised caution.

He did not consult his own interests, which all lay in the opposite direction. These he counted loss for Christ.

He did not consult his own safety, but risked life itself for Jesus. In this independent course, he was justified and should be imitated.

"To delay duty until we have held such consultation almost always ends in not doing the right thing at all. Too often it is sought after that an excuse may be found for avoiding an unpleasant duty."

Wow, thank you, Mr. Spurgeon! This encourages me because I was recently criticized for making such an independent decision without looking for counsel from anyone. I acted on faith knowing the action my Father wanted me to take.

Spurgeon also says: Faith needs no warrant but the will of God.

"It is not ours to reason why - Ours but to dare and die, and, at our Master's bidding, advance through flood or flame." - "feathers for Arrows"

"To submit the claims of duty to the judgement of the flesh is diametrically opposed to the character and claims of the Lord Jesus, who gave himself to us and expects us to give ourselves to Him without question or reserve." - Spurgeon

"God who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. He is utterly faithful and will finish what He has set out to do. He will not abandon the work He has begun. To God our Savior be the glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore"! - from, "31 days of praise"

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 20

I wore jeans for the first time since the surgery, yesterday. I feel like yesterday was a turning point in the recovery process. My incision is much better. I can't really explain how things are different, everything is the same, but lesser. I noticed I still walk slow. I'm still numb from my incision up to my belly button, too. I hope that goes away. I will drive for the first time since the surgery today. 10 more days and I will stop talking about recovery. 10 more days and a lot of things will change.

Annika moved in with us yesterday. She was sad because she will miss living with her boyfriend Chase. We had to clear out my sewing room for her. I put fabric into boxes and stuff like that, but I didn't really lift anything. Even so, somehow I hurt my back between my shoulder blades. Sitting around to heal is not so good on a 40 year old body. I'm healing from the surgery but the rest of my body is getting out of shape! We put all my sewing room stuff into the formal dining room. It feels so cluttered and it's kind of stressful but I'm trying to ignore my feelings. We may have all our kids back home with us by the end of the month because Daniel still has not found a job. I don't know if they have rent for next month. With Annika home, Daniel and Laura will have to be in the downstairs family room. This house will be full! It reminds me of a line from a DC Talk song "When love is in the house the house is packed, so much so that the back door's cracked." I'm not sure why God is bringing them all back home. But, I pray for peace and courage, and strength. And mercy.

Loy and Annika unpacking

A forced smile. She was sad.

Annika's stuff in the dining room. Her snake is on the counter. Ewwww!

My sewing room is now piled into my formal dining room.

I wonder what the future holds

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 19

Resting with a heating pad...

Feeling the same as yesterday. Sore, itchy, tired of not being able to do everything I want and need to do. I've been emotional and I have to admit fearful of what the future holds. I know God is faithful, good, and trustworthy with my mind but my flesh is freaking out. The problem is that my emotions prefer to listen to my flesh. These emotions of mine betray me! I must take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). And rest in His perfect peace (The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4). Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God! I will walk by faith into the future that God has prepared for me. Trusting Him that He will preserve my life and provide for me ("Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you sit still? Do not delay to go, to enter, to possess the land. When you enter, you shall come to a secure people with a spacious land; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth." Judges 18:9-10). It's gonna be alright! No matter what happens It's gonna be alright!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-12)

These are the songs I'm singing today:

Newsboys "Gonna be Alright"
(This is the 5th song down from the top in my play list if you want to listen to it.)


Inside me, there’s a child afraid of
Growing up and letting go
Inside me, there’s a world of danger
Could you pull this whole thing down?


’Cause inside you there’s much forgiveness
Endless love unconditional
And inside you there’s a world of favor
Rising up (and) breaking through


Oh, how He loves you and me


OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL HAVE THEIR TIME
OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL FIND THEIR TIME


Inside me there’s a child afraid of
Moving in and getting close
Inside you there’s a world of healing
Ever free…..so dangerous


Oh, how He loves you and me


OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL HAVE THEIR TIME
OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL FIND THEIR TIME


IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT.




Newsboys "Stay Strong"
( This is the 23rd song down from the top of my play list if you want to listen to it.)


You're in the moment now
A bitter root
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin


You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with
Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff


Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way


We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'


We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?


Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way


Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won


We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way


Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 18

I'm doing fine. I'm tired of not being able to do everything. We went to Church today and I was achey and sore from sitting in the metal chairs. I really can't be up walking around all day yet. I feel like I should be able too by day 18 ! but, I guess when your 40 years old you recover slower. Also my surgery was about 6 hours long. That is long for this surgery. The regular time is about 3-4 hours long. Maybe that is why I'm still sore and weak. My incision is doing much better. I just feel fragile. I also feel emotional. I was on birth control to keep my period away for the surgery so my hormones are probably all messed up.

Today Daniel and Laura came over to our house. Laura did laundry. I had a good time with Ben. We took lots of pictures. I had to lay down for awhile and Ben was keeping me company throwing crayons all over the bed. Also, Annika my oldest daughter is coming home to live with us for awhile. She will move in tomorrow. I hope we all adjust well to the change. I hope God will bless our time together and His will is done.

Smile Ben!

Smile

Smile you silly boy!

Ben reading Papa's Bible.

Crayon fun.

Peeling the paper off.

Studying the box.

Throw it!

WEEEEEEEEEEE!

Crayons everywhere!

Watch Myeah, Myeah!

Whoa!

Messy fun.

This is the cute face Ben makes when he says, "How about....".

Being goofy.

Silly Ben!

We had Fun while Grandma was .....??resting??

Cutie Pie!

Hey, The kitty wants to play!

I love you Ben!

Silly Isaac!

See ya next time Myeah, Myeah!

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 17

It's been a long day and I'm very tired. My incision is feeling so much better since I took off the butterfly tape. My back and insides feel weak and sore though. I'm Ok when I'm at home and sitting most of the day but, I noticed while I was at my Moms tonight that I started out strong but, by the end of the night I was so tired and walking so slow and feeling sore in my back and tummy. I guess I still need to take it easy.

It was fun to see all the kids so happy tonight. Benjamin kept coming up to me to give me "love". Every time he wanted me to pick him up I had to tell him I can't, I have an owie on my tummy. Then he would just pull me and say "down" for me to go down on the floor with him. I love him. I went up and down from the floor so much I might as well have just picked him up! My best friend Laura was able to make it this year, it was fun to have her and her family there. Well, Christmas is now officially over for us. I hope everyone has a good New Year!

I'll post pictures later. I'm doing something wrong when I download them and I can't find them.

Loy recovered the pictures for me. Here they are.

David, Tyler, Jed, And Joey are no longer the "little kids".

From left to right. Uncle Claude, Aunt Bonnie, Marie, Greg, and Laura is standing up with the red shirt. I should have gotten some pictures of Laura and me together.

Natti sitting with Daddy, and doing the ear thing.

From left to right. Laura,Daniel, Joey, and Genevieve.

Ben

Jeremiah liked the spidey shirt.

Shellee and Juli look like they are dancing

This is only half of the room!

Batman car!