Adding insult to injury...

Well - My husband is home. He is not better, he is home though.
He is running at about 60%. I feel so badly for him - as he has so many things going on right now and people are understanding, but not really when it comes to what they want. (jobs that have to be caught up)(and even if they understand...they don't pay!)

Now add to that - our 17 year old decided to "move in with a family who can give him more".

Really?

At a time when our family is in crisis?

I reminded him that he is 17 (not an adult 18) and that who ever this "mystery family" is - they are harboring a run away at this point.
So...I truly believe that is NOT helping my husbands broken heart.

Our gang has been down with the stomach flu all weekend - so we feel bad on top of bad.

I just don't see the light at the end of this tunnel.


yet.

please God - let there be a light soon.


Michelle

ICU

Just a quick update
Last Tuesday the baby sitter called concerned that our littlest (full out rambunctious TWO year old that he is) had fallen down and put his bottom teeth clear through his bottom lip.
I groaned thinking of how much I dislike going to the E.R. and worrying about all the time I would be spending there (always always takes several hours!!)
When I got him - he was fine - just a little trooper and he even thought it was hilarious that he could try to put his tongue through the hole and stick it out by his chin. UGH!! Makes me cringe just thinking about it.

As I arrived home, my husband was on the couch (this NEVER EVER HAPPENS! THIS GUY IS NON - STOP!)
I asked what was the matter and he says:

"I need to go to the Emergency Room"


Long story short -
He was in ICU from Tuesday until yesterday -
now he is in a private room.
His heart rate was over 200 beats per minute.
They have run every test you can think of.
They have said "healthy as a horse"
"No cholesterol problem"
"Beautiful heart" (which is all WONDERFUL TO HEAR)

except it's followed up by:

"We have NO idea what caused that"
So -
Malachi did NOT have to go to the E.R.
but instead we have spent the last 4 days at the hospital anyways.

Please keep my Hubs in prayer.
He DOES have a beautiful heart :)
and he REALLY needs to get home - especially if the kids are to survive!
(grrr - did you ever notice teen agers sense weakness and Prey upon it?! grrr!)

Thank you for your prayers!
With all my heart
Michelle

Amaranthine

I had never heard of this word.

It means:
Enduring for all time: ceaseless, endless, eternal, everlasting.


I was researching to see what I could call my little flea-market shop.


I came up with "Amaranthine Treasures"

Iknow.Iknow. My husband says "Why can't you come up with something EASY?"
Sorry - soooo not me :)

Most of the goodies in my shop are things (treasures) I've found at yard sales
or thrift stores that I think are just too cool to pass up! Perhaps they are a wonderful item I have found, made or just recycled!

My flier says
Amaranthine Treasures
Where Adventurers Explore and Discover!

Then I have a quote (of course...everyone who knows me knows I LOVE quotes :)

"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought." ~Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

I made one look like a treasure map (good for guys)
and one is on beautiful paper with roses and butterflies. (see pic..it's blurry cause I took it with my cell phone...but there ya go :)


So....we shall see - this is our first weekend opening.


I'll keep ya posted :)

~With all my heart~
Michelle

growing up and going away

Our children learning and growing is a wonderful thing to watch.
But what happens when your children go FAR away from your family beliefs.
Do YOU have an older teenager or adult who seems to be trying one avenue after another just to disappoint you?
Boy I do!
Do YOU want to shake them and tell them they are doing WAY more damage to themselves than they ever could do to you?
Boy I do!
Do YOU....oh well - if you do...then you know what I mean without me going into any more of a rant.
So...since I have two (EDIT>>>THREE) adult children who are sadly trying to do everything the hard way or the destructive way - what advice, if any, do I have?
RUN NOW
no just kidding ;)
A very good friend once told me
"As loving parents we are to provide them what they NEED - NOT what they WANT"
Like toddlers - they feel they are the center of the universe.
So, much like a parent of a toddler - there are times when a "time out" is needed.
When a little distance is good.
Time for re-evaluation.
After all.....no one said parenting was easy!
With all my heart -
Michelle

EDIT: I have 3 adult children who seem to want to put me into an early grave.
Someone told me I "brought it on myself" having so many kids.
Really?
Cause at this point if it weren't for the other 3 that I still have SOME hope for....I think I'd start walking and go till I fell off the edge of this flat earth.
;( with many tears and all my heart.Michelle

frozen

I can distinctly remember a time with each kid. with each baby. at various times thinking "freeze". willing myself to etch the moment into my forgetful brain. i know i did.
frozen into my memory are blurry images that have now no solid lines between one child to the next. sweet nursing babies. smiles. baby kisses. soft chubby cheeks. little hands reaching up to hold mine.tickling whispery whispers of little mouths at my ear. proud smiles at a job well done.
tiny voices singing their version of a song.
laughter calling me outside to watch their latest..often dangerous..adventure.
their snuggles under the blankets on cold mornings.
their wide eyed wonder over something as everyday.. as.. pancakes.
Some of these moments are long past.
Some of these are NOW.
My heart longs to keep each and every moment LOCKED in my brain.
My heart echoes out
Freeze.


linking up with Just write

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!! Recap - and LIST ;)

Well - I look back on 2011 and think "Whew! Made it!" :)

I thought I could go month by month and post something witty or important that happened.

I know in
January my baby boy turned 1...
February - we took our family vacation and went to see SNOW (HUGE deal for us South Floridians)
March - survive & Work
April - begin morning sickness
May - turn 41 (me)
June - hubby and daughter take mission trip... Grandbaby #1 turns 2
July - miscarry - try to pretend to survive
August - daughter turns 20 son turns 25 son turns 11
September - son turns 17 football season madness begins
October - survive & work - Daughter moves out
November - son turns 8 hubby turns 42
December - Grandbaby #2 turns 1

And of course survive & work were in each and every month :)
But i guess this is how i see my year. Not really witty. sorry.
bit of a bummer i suppose.
I really thought we'd be making another "big announcement" by now. but not yet. I am comitted to becoming HEALTHY this year - and feel that may be a LOT of the issue.
My heart will be a bit sad the next couple weeks as we breeze through when WOULD have been the due date....
I'm sure glad GOD has the big picture - and "works all things together for good".
I can honestly say without my faith in that - it would have seemed HOPELESS.

some of my goals for this year:

Take a course on song-writing

Stay comitted to healthy eating and exercise (not just "New Years talk!!")

Take the vitamins I have in my cubbord (lol - I order them...then forget to take them!)

work on a childrens book about where we live

mail out REAL letters again (started a few months ago...got lost in the shuffle)

Blog more consistantly. I know I don't post anything fabulous....but MAYBE something I have to say will resonate with someone :)

So - I too am a list maker - Here's to a wonderful bright new year full of promise and possibilities!

WITH ALL MY HEART -

MICHELLE