Ok, should I have ended the last post the way I did?

No more drama??    Yeah right!!

My daughter decided to jump down our steps this evening.  I must point out that it was 6 steps, not the full 7 that we have leading down stairs.  We just spent 2 hours at the urgent care, (thanks to mom for coming last minute to sit here while the boys slept!!)  and the doctor said that she "thinks" it is only a bad sprain.  As I learned tonight, sometimes when you have your injury x-rayed too soon after the injury took place, it may be a little difficult to read.  So, we are treating it as if it were a bad sprain, she is to stay off of it for the next 3 days, and if it is still swollen or hurts, then we should have it re-x-rayed.  Can I tell you that now that I know that, I will just wait -period-  if there is a next time.   When we waited with her arm for three days, I felt like an awful parent to then find out that it was broken.  Now I am finding out that I actually did the right thing then.  Who knew??    

Typical Jenkins style!!

Gareth made it to England safely. As far as I know, he is having a great time with his family!! His mum turned 60 yesterday so he is there for a great celebration!!

Now, typical Jenkins style, I planned lots while he was gone.  Yesterday, Alex and I went on a field trip with her school. It was lots of fun!  Today we got up and we planned to drive about an hour and a half to meet with a friend for her daughter's birthday.  I get the kids loaded up, we are on time to leave, and my car doesn't start.   We ended up taking Gareth's truck.  I am so thankful that our friend John had offered to drive him to the airport the other day so we had that option.It works today, it won't work when it is time to pick him up from the airport.    Anyway, as I type, our friend Chet is buying me a new battery.  I thank God for wonderful friends!!!  Thanks again John, Chet and Kristy!!!  Chet leaves tomorrow.  I told him that we will have Kristy's back while he is gone, but hopefully we won't have to return the favor!!  Hopefully no more drama until after Gareth gets home:0)  

Various Pics!

This is a pic of the boys at our last snow fall.  They were so bundled that they fell over. It was so funny!!

This is Alex last week with her derby car. Didnt she do a great job?

No news is good news???

Alex had her appointment today and did great!!!  The tests took about 40 minutes and she was a trooper.  We didn't hear anything tonight, so I am going on the theory that no news is good news.  

The question is, if the test didnt' find anything today, where do we go from here?  She actually prayed the other night that God heal her stomach and make it stop hurting. It broke my heart.  She very rarely prays for herself. it is always about others with her.  

I too pray that her stomach stops hurting and soon whether we find out what is going on or not!!!

Health Update!

Alex has been up and about some this weekend.  We were able to go in to the city and meet some friends  that were visiting from Arkansas and their children. We had a great time.  We took  them to China town and ate at the "wok and roll". Yes, that was really the name.  The husbands had joked about it earlier, then we ended up going back there.  It was actually pretty good.  The girls, Alex and L hit it off really well.  The boys tormented their oldest son, but he was a good sport.  

On Saturday afternoon, Alex had her Powderpuff derby at church.  She won 3 out of 4 heaps, and although she didn't win over all, her car was pretty cool. I will post pics later.  

All weekend, she complained that her stomach was bothering her, (pretty normal these days) but like the trooper she is, she kept going.  This morning, after a rough night, we were debating what to do about school today.  Gareth went up stairs, and she was already up, crying in pain in her bed.  Now, this is not my little girl. First of all, she is NOT a morning person at all. She is always the last one up and it takes ages.  The decision was made that she needed to stay home, (much to her disappointment) and she slept the morning away.  I can't seem to get her to eat. I pray that we knew what was going on.   I pray that God will reveal to us something in the next few days.  

We did have some success with Liam;s new diet this weekend.  It is much harder than I thought, so I have to really start planning ahead.  We were laughing yesterday that we were REALLY excited that he "did a solid".  (this is the first one in many months)   Boy how our lives have changed.    Hopefully, we will be able to continue this new diet and he will be good to go!!

Callum is doing great!!!(thank you Lord)  He completed his sticker chart in school today and was able to pick a prize out of the treasure box.  He was so excited, and we are so proud of the way he is just blooming before our eyes!!

Gareth is still working every hour under the sun. He has his trip planned to England at the end of this week, so please keep him in your prayers.   I think that is all for now.  Alex is having a test run on Wed. so PLEASE keep that whole situation in your prayers!!!

Alex's stomach pain!

Well, it has been decided to run further tests on Alex's stomach.  Many of you know that for about 2 1/2-3 months, Alex has been complaining of her stomach hurting.  She has made many trips to the nurse at school and seen the doctor too.  She has as a doctor would call it, "functional abdominal pain".   The stomach is so hard to diagnose.  It could be nothing.  Although the pain is real she could out grow whatever is going on.  It could be the onset of Diabetes, food allergies, we just don't know.  All I do know was that she came in at 4 this morning in agony, threw up once and now she is fine.  This has been going on for so long now, that it is kind of normal.  She is missing school b/c we don't know if it is just a virus and we don't want her to spread it.  She HATES missing school.  She is now watching animal planet and fine.  She hasn't had much of an appetite in the last 2 months and has lost a little weight.   I am not sure what to pray for.  Do we want answers?  yes.  Alex has always been so healthy.  She is the girl that was born 5 weeks early and never had to spend a night in the NICU.  I remember the doctors being amazed at her strength back then.  Do we want the sonogram that she is having done next week to show nothing?  yes. Although that will not give us any answers, I don't want anything to be wrong.  As a parent, I have never felt so helpless. If it doesn't show anything, where do we go from there?  I hate hearing her say that her stomach hurts and I can do nothing for her, but say, "you'll be ok".  Almost 3 months later, she still isn't ok.  Please pray that we are able to make the right decisions and that God will reveal what is going on.   I truly appreciate your prayers and will keep you posted!!  We have had good news with Callum's ear in the last week, and good results with Liam's allergies.  I just pray that we can get Alex's stomach resolved and that we don't have any medical posts for a very long time!!!

And the diagnosis is.........

He has major allergies to grass and trees.  Isn't that funny:0)  This explains the eczema and wheezing.   His milk and wheat allergy didn't come up as high as the grass and trees, but we are going to have to change his diet.  That will be fun.  I am about to go and research high fiber meals and lactose free stuff.  At least now we have answers and hopefully we will start to see a difference in his health.  The Dr. is treating his wheezing as asthma, so he will now be doing a treatment a day. I love the doctor we saw today. Her bed side manor was wonderful!!  

It was great speaking with her and she actually made a comment that stopped me in my tracks.  Now that doesn't happen very often, but she said that Liam is very lucky to be with us.  I hear that all the time, and have never felt that way.  I have always felt that we are lucky to have him with us.  So I shared that with her.  She then said, yes, but if he were still in Guatemala, he would not be getting help for this and would be a very sick little boy.  You know, it is something very minor and correctable, and I have totally taken advantage of the fact that I just made an appointment and took him to a doctor.  I am so thankful that she pointed out how blessed we are in this country to have health care.   From now on, I will say an extra prayer of thanksgiving every time one of has to go to the doctor!! 

Thanks for praying.  I feel good that we have some answers. I will feel better when we start to see some results.   Thanks so much for praying!  If any of you out there have experience in this department, I would love advice!!

Thursday, Thursday!!

Well, I had a great night out last night.  Gareth was able to re-arrange his work schedule and work late Tuesday to have last night off.  He took Alex to piano and the kids to church.  

I on the other hand was able to go with my mom and sister to a concert.  We had a GREAT time.  Very tired today but a GREAT time!!

Today I am heading out to take Liam to the asthma/allergy doctor.  Please pray that we are able to get answers.  He still wheezes throughout the day and is still doing 4-5 yucky poohs a day.  I have a self diagnoses and I am hoping I am right. It would be a very easy fix and not too serious. 

I will post our update later, but I appreciate the prayers before hand.

Update on Callum's Dr. Appointment

We were able to determine that Callum has at least full hearing in one of his ears today.  The other ear is inconclusive as Callum wouldn't cooperate for all of the testing.  We only got through 2 out of 4 tests.  He heard all the way down to 15 decibels.  He couldn't hear at 10, which would be normal,  but they think that his ears will eventually be trained to do so.  So, after 2 1/2 hours and 2 different doctors, it was determined that Callum should not have to have any more surgeries!!! No more tubes, they are not worried about more scar tissue or damage at this point at all.  

 Praise the Lord!!!

What a great way to start our weekend.  We don't have to follow up for six months unless he has some set backs. (ear infections with the 105 fever spikes)  I am so glad grateful that God has placed wonderful doctors in our path that truly care about his well being.  Although he is going to continue speech at least twice a week, he is coming along so well in that department.  He is speaking so well, and holding great conversations.  He is such a different boy that could barely talk this time last year!!

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Week!

We headed out today as I took the boys out to play at the mall. Not much, but when you have been inside most of 3 weeks, it was great.  I do think that they have forgotten how to behave in public:0)   The weather is gorgeous at the moment and the kids are out back playing.  They love to be outside.  The kids have all finally gotten hair cuts.  It had been months.  That is sad huh, considering that both Gareth and I could have done it.  They all look like different kids.  Alex decided she wanted to go shorter and the boys are both buzzed.  I will post pics later, but they do look cute!!

We have two doctors appointments set over the next week.  Callum will be having his hearing checked again on Friday.  This will determine if he needs tubes again or not.  He was doing so well and now has had 3 ear infections in the past couple of months.  His speech is doing so well as well, so I am praying that his hearing is still ok.   Liam is going to the asthma/allergy specialist next week.  He has been having some major issues over the last two months, and I praise God that we haven't had a hospital visit in over two weeks.  No one seems to know what is going on, as some of his symptoms fit in to one category, but not another.  It is kind of weird.  I have been researching and my self-diagnosis is food allergies. I do dread the appointment. They have decided that because of his age, they are going to do all of the testing on his back.  Yeah, that will be fun.  Poor guy!!   I guess we will see what the doctor says next week.  If not allergies, then we start again with other testing and other specialists.   That can get a bit scary, so I am hoping that this is what it is.  

We are off to church. I hope that everyone is having a great week!!

Didn't you know that I am in London??

That is what my email said today, oh and I also need lots of money.   Yup, someone hacked in to my email address today and sent out an email asking for money.  luckily, I realized it very quickly after it happened when my pass word didn't work.  Then my phone started ringing off the hook.  Thanks to everyone who contacted me to let me know. I appreciate it very much.  I do apologize that I didn't have time to talk to most of you and I hope I wasn't rude.   We did have to contact the FBI and then another department within the FBI.  Gareth came home to help make calls.  We were able to contact Western Union and they put up an alert so if this person tried another email and someone fell for it, the alert was up.  Who knows if someone like this will ever get caught, but they told us that if they do it enough, then yes they will.  Luckily, and hopefully, no one falls for is. Although my first thought was for my 90 year old great aunt that is in my address book.   It is still nerve wracking and it does make me angry that it took a lot of time out of our day.    I am over it now,   I just hope that someone who would do this would realize that instead of getting mad any longer, I am going to pray for them.  I pray that they are convicted by what they are doing and change their ways.   

My husband was very wonderful today and came home and became my hero.  He took charge when I needed him to.  For that, I am so grateful!!!

with a heavy heart.....

Cody, that I have asked you all to pray for in the past, passed away this morning around 8 am from Leukemia.  As much as it seems to be such a joy when loved ones go home to be with the Lord, I have such a hard time when it is a child.  I know that it is God's will, but that doesn't always make it any easier.     Anyway, Please pray for his family!!

wow, it has been a week since I posted.  Sorry about that.  It has been a busy week to say the least.  Monday we had almost a foot of snow.  The kids loved it!!

We headed to immigration this week and applied for the boy's citizenship!!  Yeah.  Now lets see how long it takes to get.  Anyone want to take a guess??  Tomorrow is the official end to basketball for Alex.  She is bummed, but I am looking forward to having an extra night at home during the week.   Off to let Callum play on the computer.  I will try to post some pics of the kids in the snow later:0)