" a voice for the voiceless"

That phrase was kind of the theme for the annual ladies event at church last night. The guest speaker was a professional photographer who travels all over the world raising awareness for important issues using simply her camera. What an incredible inspiration this woman was, "giving a voice to the voiceless," through her pictures. I was looking forward to this event for so long, I mean, hello, a photographer using her gifts and abilities to bring glory and honor to our Lord...that's my dream, and I couldn't wait to be sitting on the edge of my seat soaking up everything this woman had to say. And for the most part I was, but I was a tad bit frustrated when I left thanks to miss Marvelly...
Ten minutes into the evening I was making a bee line for the restrooms to knock out the first nursing, and it appeased her for a while but then an hour later I was back in the restrooms, nursing again, and this time I never even made it back to my seat. Who was I kidding, I never stood a chance to make it through that evening with Marvelly behaving perfectly...but nevertheless, I'm still glad I went.
I love hearing stories from people who are making a kingdom difference simply because they allowed themselves to be used by God. It's not a question of whether God will use us...but whether we will allow God to use us. I often get so intimidated and think to myself, "who am I?", "what can I do?", so it's always encouraging to hear stories from people, just like me, share how God is using them, just as they are. One person can make a difference, even if it's just in the life of one other person.

early rising

Well I was up and out of bed a little earlier than I would have liked this morning... as clearly there was no room for either me, or Isaak, to continue sleeping as Sydaleigh decided to take over the bed. Geesh! For being such a little girl she sure does take up a lot of room!

sun power

It's amazing how a little sunshine and fresh air can totally boost your spirit and turn your attitude around. I love the outdoors.

I would scream...

...but that might scare the children...
Marvelly has been screaming at me non-stop for forever it seems...as apparently it doesn't feel very good getting four shots in your legs...and she is telling me just how bad it hurts!
While Marvelly is telling me off, Sydaleigh is singing every song she knows from the learning center, at the top of her lungs, as she simultaneously tears apart the house...
why is she tearing apart the house?
because mommy is too busy with Marvelly to stop her.
I've never been so happy to see Isaak come home from work.

to sum it all up...

our Dr. apt today went as follows...
-Sydaleigh will only need further testing if she contracts another UTI in the future
-Marvelly is a hefty little girl weighing in at a modest 10lbs. 5oz.
-Marvelly has a hernia below her belly button, which will only be cause for concern if she stops eating, pooping, and vomiting uncontrollably.
-Marvelly had her first four vaccines in her legs

wearing your bathing suit with your clothes tucked in underneath...now that's a brave fashion choice.

UTI #2

Poor Sydaleigh, on Thursday she started acting as though she might have another UTI...fortunatley this time it happened during the week, so I actually got to take her to the clinic rather than the Urgent Care again. But that is where our fortune ran out. Since Sydaleigh is only 2, and not potty trained, she couldn't pee in a cup as the lab requested to obtain a urine sample; the " pee pee" bags they gave me are not sterile and a complete waste of time as any doctor will tell you; so the only option left, unfortunatly, is a catheter. Oh my. I had no idea how strong my two year old was until it took four people to hold her down to insert the catheter. Poor kid. She was balling, I was balling...it was terrible to put it mildly. This appears to be the second time this week I've traumatized her somehow. First the movie, then the Dr.'s visit.
Well, the doc told me the first results showed no infection so it was best to grow a culture over night. So the following day, now Friday, Sydaleigh is complaining of her pee pee hurting again, but keeps telling me, " Mommy, pee pee coming." She tells me to take her diaper off, which I do, and then she precedes to go into the bathroom and sit on the potty, where she then peed, after about 10 minutes of getting on and off, over and over again. But she PEED ON THE POTTY! Maybe she doesn't have a UTI, maybe this was her attempt to start potty training, misinterpreting the sensation to pee as pain....maybe....maybe not. The doctor called later that afternoon...after I spent the day convinced Syd was ready to start potty training, to find out she does, indeed, have another UTI. Errrrr.
Now the doctor wants to run additional tests to see if Sydaleigh has any urinary tract abnormalities. More tests? Yeah, because the first one went over real well with her! But it appears it will be in her bet interest and she will likely have to have an ultrasound of her bladder, and then be sedated for another test where they determine if her urine is flowing backwards through the bladder. Now we pray for healing, for the present, and the future if need be. There is nothing easy about being a parent sometimes, nor being a child for that matter.

it's yard sale season again!

There is nothing more I like to do with my Saturday mornings than hit up some good yard sales. And finally, after a l-o-n-g winter, yard sale season is back! I'm thrilled! Went with Tera last Saturday, despite a terrible night's sleep, to some sales...the first few weren't a hit, but by golly, we ended the morning strong. An hour and a half and $20 later we had a trunk full of stuff neither of us really needed (especially Tera) but we had a great morning! Boo-yeah!!!

Getting started...

And I'm off...I can now officially add "blogger" to my to do list, which won't be easy with a new baby, but...here goes nothing!
Before the week gets away from me there are a few highlights I need jot down, in my attempt to keep this lovely online journal of sorts....last Friday I thought it would be a great idea to take Sydaleigh, with Marvelly in tow of course, to go see "Horton Hears a Who" with two of her friends. A fun little girls night out. I gave Isaak the evening off, and I braved this experience solo. This was going to be a hit...Sydaleigh loves movies, and what would be better than seeing a movie on a really big "tv". The girls were so excited they were running, holding hands to the theater, Sydaleigh could hardly contain her excitment...that is until we opened the door. She was so scared from the sound of the movie I could hardly get her inside the theater. Scared to the point of shaking with fright. Didn't she get the memo that this was suppose to be fun...what could be better than watching a movie on a really big "tv!". As soon as we sat down she started calling out, "Mommy scary!", "Mommy, bye-bye, okay!". It was a teensy bit on the embarrassing side- 2 year old yelling she's scared and wants to go home in the middle of a quiet theater. Yeah, good times. So I evaluated the situation and determined rather than continue to sit there and cause irreperable damage to my 2 year old and scar her for life, we could go home and try again in like 5 years. Needless to say its been 5 days and I'm still hearing about the "scary movie". Who knew?! Nice one Mom.