See Ya For Another Year!

I am talking about the month of March and the first two weeks of April. I have never been so thankful for a month to be done as I was with March. I don't know - that month just did me in. It's hard to be upbeat each and every day, especially if Winter is not your most favourite time of year (and when I speak of Winter, I am not thinking of Winter near the equator......).

But March is long gone (yes, it's taken me this long to even want to think back to that month to write about it), and April is soon to follow.

Despite what I found to be tough days, we still were blessed with snippets of joy, love and good times as a family. No matter how much I may be struggling with my moods, thanks to the dreary weather, when God helps me to open my ears and eyes to the sights and sounds around me, mostly from my children, I am left with a heart that surges with emotion - the good kind.

Like this picture. I had put a picture of the two of them in each of their rooms, up high. The next time I came into her room, Keziah had relocated her picture...."So I can see it every night before I go to sleep." Sob!!!!

That sibling love even carries into the classroom. Another picture that just melts me. The younger brother allowing his big sister to place her protective arm casually around him, to let him know, "Don't worry, I got this."

Together they feed each other's imaginations, which results in some of the most interesting contraptions, like this "tractor":

 

Do they fight? Certainly. They are siblings after all. However, the fighting is few and far between, with them both ending up on the couch on either end for a time-out, which guarantees giggles in a matter of 43 seconds.

The beginning of April was not too different than March, however last week we were treated to some absolutely beautiful weather, and so these two spent hours and hours outside together, wrestling like cubs, playing hide and seek, and enjoying the sandbox:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that it has been rainy and cool again, we are keeping busy inside to keep the grumpies away, by doing crafts and enjoying new clothes for her doll. Oh, and a trip to the library certainly helps as well!!

 

We know that April Showers brings May Flowers, so we shall keep our heads up and deal with it day by day. The difference the grass is amazing! A week ago it was brown. It is now a beautiful green!

What a blessing it is to see things come alive around us - praising God for continuing to care for His creation.

The Saga Continues.....

So, it's been awhile, eh?

Let me bring you up to speed with the Linc Meister.

After spending Tuesday and Wednesday of last week at Sick Kids with Keziah for her 7th surgery (here if interested....), we were discharged in time to bring Lincoln to McMaster hospital on Thursday to the Fracture Clinic.

Is it not pathetic that my children are claiming hospitals?! "I go to my hostible, mom? Not Keziah's hostible?". In fact, just this morning I overheard them comparing their hospitals....what computer games etc.

Off we went to see what was up with his arm. The last time he had x-rays was when the incident had happened, and it was just too swollen to see things.

He was pretty good with going to the hospital, thinking he was going to see Dr. Zuker, Keziah's surgeon :o)

Thinking we might be there for awhile, we came prepared!

Between the doctor coming in and then the nurses, Lincoln became quite nervous. So nervous that he put those fingers in his mouth and that was it. Not a single word out of him, no matter how hard the nurses tried to get him to talk. In fact, they eventually asked me if he even knew *how* to talk! HA!!!! This kid doesn't know how to shut up, er, be quiet!!! ;)

They took off the cast....and lo and behold: his elbow was still swollen, not looking great and still had bruising all down his forearm. And when they touched it? The poor boy jumped like he was being shocked by electricity.

So on went a full plaster cast right away, even before x-rays! That was so they could at least get x-rays, or else it would have been too sore to move around.

And here are his x-rays.....can you find the fracture?

Yeah, neither could the doctor. No fracture. So what then is causing it to be still swollen, sore and bruised??

Well, the doctor then suggested that it could be a dislocated elbow - which is rare for a 3 year old to have, but not surprising due to the circumstances of how it happened. He was not comfortable with how much bruising was still there and so he also thinks there may be tissue damage.

My tough "I refuse to talk to strangers" boy:

He left the new cast on to protect the elbow, and we are to come back in two weeks, next week Thursday, for more x-rays and a plan of what next. That'll be almost 4 weeks in a cast for the boy. But you would never know! He has adjusted so well!! And he LOVES it when people sign it!

Any guesses as to why I haven't dared to step out of my house with these two?!

 So, with last week spending time at Sick Kids and Mac, this week a morning at Sick Kids, and next week a morning at Mac, we seriously don't mind paying our taxes, seeing as we pay for health care when we pay for our taxes. We certainly are making that money go a long way!!

We do hope and pray that things heal up well for Lincoln (and Keziah), and that soon I can do blog posts that are non-medical :o)

Have a good weekend and enjoy this weather!!

One Day at a Time

Breathe!! Take a deeeeep breath. That is what I am telling myself a lot lately. Between a toddler in a cast, both kids getting the stomach flu, and Keziah's surgery coming up tomorrow, life is a mite busy right now. No wonder I am fighting a cold!

Oh, and we are playing host to a dear family of 5 for these two weeks as well. I am very thankful for that - it's been so nice to spend some time with these friends of ours.

Lincoln has adapted well to his cast.

His hardest night was just the Saturday night, a.k.a. Bath Night. Oh, the poor boy cried so hard because he couldn't take a "baf". He actually cried harder then than he did when he got hurt!! But no bath for him. I know I could cover it in a plastic bag, but I just don't have time this week to have to take him in if the bag leaks and the plaster cast gets wet. So sponge baths it is. And after tomorrow's surgery with Keziah, both kids are relegated to sponge baths.

Some highlights of the past week, to show that it wasn't all about broken bones and spewing stomachs (oiy, that's gross - sorry! :o)

That little lady to the left, and that handsome boy in the middle have come up with some future plans. Didn't think daddy had to buy a shotgun already! ;)

So while it has been a busy week, it ended well, with the focus on Easter. While we celebrate Easter all year long, it is always nice to really focus on God's great love for us wretched sinners. The fact that we may live, knowing that our Saviour LIVES - wow, what comfort, hope and excitement for what is promised to us in the future. And how wonderful it is to experience a little taste of that promised salvation today already, knowing that our sins are forgiven and death has no power. Even when life can get busy and somewhat overwhelming, may we live each day out of thankfulness for what has been given to us through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is in this that we may face what is coming this week, with Keziah's surgery and Lincoln's Fracture Clinic appointment. May whatever struggle or overwhelming situation you find yourself in this week, turn to Jesus and seek Him to carry you through, because He cares. He gave up His life for you and me after all. Now *that* is Love.