Double Portions for Double Digits

Our little Addie is growing up and we can hardly believe she is now in the double digits.  Wasn't I just writing this about Beth?

This year we celebrated her birthday over several days.  A few days before her big day we went to the American Girl Doll place where she got a Just Like Me doll that is actually just like her Peruvian friend in Uruguay, Debora.  She opened her presents on her actual birthday.  (Of which I have no pictures because my camera battery was dead.)  Then we took her out shopping to spend some of her birthday money from grandparents.  Finally we ended with the traditional birthday dinner alone with me and Scott!

It is always interesting to take Adeline out to a meal.  Her severe food allergies, and the challenge we have when explaining to every waiter who serves us that certain things - dairy, eggs, peanuts, beef and shellfish - could kill her, usually cause us some anxiety.  They typically are accommodating and our allergy queen ends up with a somewhat healthy decent meal that doesn't cause an allergic reaction.  Although, there have been times when she has had bacon and applesauce to eat and nothing more I can assure you that she has been a good sport through all our travels.

Her choice for dinner was Red Lobster.  I know it's not exactly the place to take someone like her but she loves fish.  She ordered the broiled fish and broccoli (no butter, no seasonings) from the kids menu and it turned out that we should have ordered an adult portion.  She thought it was so yummy that her entire meal was gone before we had half of ours finished and she was begging for more.  It took a few minutes to get our servers attention and before long Adeline was savoring her second meal.

Adeline is our 4th child to reach the age of 10.  There were times when we wondered how she would make it out of childhood.  Though I know she is still a child she is mature beyond her years.  She has been through a lot in her 10 years of life and has an outlook that many adults lack.  We were thankful for her 10 years ago and we are ever the more thankful for her today!!!

You know what they say about close...

it only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.  In this case, the kick by Diego Forlán that hit the cross bar, was not close enough to tie up the game in order for Uruguay to have extra time against Germany.  Sadly, that slightly too high kick won Germany the Bronze medal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup this year certainly was amazing.  It was more than thrilling when the soccer "giants" Brazil and Argentina were both eliminated fouling up their plans for a finals match against one another, only to see the under dog South American country of Uruguay advance through to the 3rd place match.  Even though they lost, it was a great game if I may say so myself.

 Without a doubt Uruguayans are disappointed.  Nevertheless, it has been exciting to watch our adopted country rally up behind their team and encourage them, even though they didn't make it to the first place match.  This little country of only 3 million people surprised the world with their "triple threat" and "fantastic four".  While South African crowds booed Luis Suárez we know he will be cheered for in Montevideo.  And I for one sure wish we were in country to witness firsthand the homecoming of La Celeste.  I can almost hear the cheering now, "Soy celeste, soy celeste, celeste soy yo!!!!"

Some Answers

After all the tests and exams we have some answers and have a plan to help deal with one of my major health issues.  My blood work came back good, for the most part and we were already aware of one of the things that was not in the normal range.  I will have 2 outpatient procedures done on the 19th that will allow for me to get continued treatment for this one ailment.

I had a stress test, to completely rule out my chest pain as being heart related.  We do not have the results back from that, however, my doctor isn't expecting anything major or he would have been notified already.  We are also waiting for some results back from some normal annual exams.

Though we still don't know the reason of the chest pain I am trusting that God will reveal that to the doctors in His timing.  It would be nice to be free of the pain but thankfully I have learned better to live with it, or at the least, tolerate it.

Thank you again for your prayers.  No doubt God was answering them as he arranged through our doctors office to get every test and exam done that I did in 3 short days.  Truly a miracle, especially the week before a holiday!

Update

Well, my doctor and his staff have done it again.  I had several tests run yesterday both in his office and at the hospital.  Will go back to the hospital this afternoon for more tests.  Tomorrow I will see another doctor to have some things checked.  And will end the day back at my doctor's to get the results of everything.  Please pray that the reason for my physical ailments will be clear and we can get them resolved. 

Seeing Family Doctor Hoping For Some Answers

Yesterday I was pulled off some of my medicines because of complications I am experiencing.  It just so happened (in those God type of "coincidences") that our home church Pastor and his wife were visiting us for the day.  When we found out I could get an appointment with our family doctor for today they offered to bring me home with them.

So long story short I'll FINALLY be seeing my family doctor in person.  We have a great amount of confidence in him and he has been a tremendous help to us over the years.  I am really hoping, and praying, that once he sees me in person today he will know what is causing my pain and other health issues I've been experiencing.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers today as the Lord brings me to mind.  Pray for Dr. C to have wisdom and discernment.  Also pray that if I need to see a specialist I will be able to get in quickly so I can get back with my family sooner. 

Firehouse Pancake Breakfast

Brandon's Open House Hosted by the B's

My 40th Birthday

Update on the little but big prayer request.

I just wanted you all to know that there have been some improvements in some struggles I asked prayer for on May 11th.  I'm still having a hard time physically and I am able to finally able to sleep through the night, more or less, I still am up 1 or 2 times and that is with some medicinal help.

I did have some blood tests run and we discovered a physiological problem that is causing my insomnia as well as some of the other physical and emotional issues.  I started treatment for this about 3 weeks ago.  I am finally seeing some improvement and hope to be better from those issues in 3-6 months.  

However, I'm still experiencing the chest pain.  I had 10 days where I didn't, or at least it was so minimal I didn't notice but then it was back full force.  My chiropractor believes it is Costochondritis - inflammation of the breastbone and front ribs.  And with physical therapy, good posture and time it will heal.  I have felt better under his care than I have in years.  Especially having the scoliosis in my lower back worked on and my pelvis correctly aligned.

I had someone suggest to me that I may have fibromyalgia.  At this point only God really knows what is going on.  I plan to see my family doctor when we are in Michigan later this month.  Hopefully once he can look over all my exams and see me personally he'll be able to help us figure out what is happening.  Please pray God would reveal to him what is happening or lead in the right direction.  

Disney Trip

This post has been sitting in my drafts folder because I lacked pictures to share with you all.  Brandon and Kaitlin were the only ones to take their cameras, I didn't want to have that added responsibility on top of 8 kids in a crowd.  Anyway...thanks to the Lord's provision we were able to take a trip to Disney World the last part of May.  It was one of the best family trips we've ever had!  With 5 days in the parks there wasn't much any rest happening but the memories we have are priceless!  Absolutely priceless!  Enjoy the pictures!!!

All the kids with Lightning McQueen and Mater.

Silas did this when anything was amazing to him.  We called it the "Thrill Factor".

Brandon and Kaitlin took pictures everyday we headed to a new park.  They'll love me for this one.

Silas thought I needed to wear his hat while we waited in line for It's  Small World.

Simeon's hat gained all kinds of attention even the people in the Disney Gift Shops asked where we bought his hat...Wal Mart.  lol.

Adeline and Brandon on Dumbo.  We waited longer in line for this ride than any other.  Crazy!

2nd longest wait was for the Toy Story ride and it was great!  Very interactive and lots of fun.  Even the wait to go in was all decorated like we were toys in a kids bedroom.  An hispanic lady in line in front of us took to Silas because he understood Spanish and share her popcorn with him.