Good report "We Think"

It appears to be constipation due to the viral infection putting her colon to sleep for three days of not eating. We will still run the c-dif but the urinary thing appears to be clear. The c-dif will be a week in reporting. I am stopping the anti biotic because she has only three- four days left and the Doctor said that she thought it would be fine. I just gave her a laxative and though it is tearing me up a bit to see her cry ...I am practicing a little tough love and just turned off the TV and sent her outside to play a little to see if the movement might get her moving Oh man I hope that the c-dif is negative other wise I fear I am being tough on her.
The doctor said c-dif normally presents with diarrhea not constipation. The blood counts were raised slightly on the lumph that shows viral infection. So I am putting the confidence in the doctor. I told Dove she was not sick any more and that she just needed to go poop so to move around and see if it help. She is crying and it is so stressful. I think It is the right thing. Man, motherhood can be hard!
If it is NOT c-dif ( as the doctor suspects) then that is wonderful news!

My Sweet Little Dove Said Thank You

I Told Dove that you are all Praying for her.

She said "tell them thanks..."

She is moaning and gowning and it is just tearing me up!

I feel like crying...I have a 3:00 pm appointment at the pediatric doctor in N. Scottsdale. 45 minute drive. I took a nap and am doing lunches for the kids well for Dash.
Mr U is having a really hard day at work.
Wow! it is hitting hard and furious.
I began to wonder if I or we are separated or doing something wrong to bring this all on. Then I remember that there is one heavy battle above us, around us.
Oh girls I am wherry and I am tired, but I am not worn out.
Thank you for your loving encouraging comments. I felt better emotionally after a little nap and re focus.
Dash helped Dove while I napped. He is a good boy.He must be board out of his gourd!
There is a part of me that just wants to complain and bemoan this trial after trial.
God has always met our provision. This dream of living debt free is one that I so want to honor Beloved with. I just do not see how unless we have a buyer. It is up to God. The buyer has not come. It is up to the buyer to obey God and come if this is Gods plan for us. If it is not then it must have some other gain that I have packed up this house and painted out the walls and stripped out the draperies I hand made. It must then be for some other greater glory some lesson some purpose. The thought of unpacking and sorting out and letting go of stuff is a great effort to do. I would have to sort out anyway if we sell and move. To stay on such meager means is not either of our desire. It is however that I know that the means would be met. I do not think HE has changed in that unless I have sinned and fallen short some how. My children being ill is a hard one.
I think all of that, the latter thought just must be the enemy of my heart accusing me. Assaulting my fatigued mind and heart. Hearing my child suffer with this cramping is almost more than my heart can stand.
It must be so very painful for her.

Thankful Thursday

Sleep , what a marvelous thing.
I actually made it into my own bed (not the couch or sitting up rocking a child) last night.
I went to Trader Joe's and was able to get soy yogurts, pro biotic and kiefer for Dove. I made it their just before they closed. I unloaded and just chilled for an hour slipping under (my own) covers just after 10 p.m. and slept.
Dove is still suffering the abdominal pain of what may be C-Dif. It is a type of colitis of the colon and bowel. It can turn into ulcerations of the colon. May it NOT!
Please pray for my girl if is a real painful thing she is experiencing.
I studied it a bit and do hope it will not be the chronic type.
she had that bad sinus infection a week or two ago and had to take a second round of anti biotic for it. They killed off all her "good bacteria". Now she is suffering.
My stress is pretty intense right now.
Mr U said that it just may be that we wind up unpacking all our belonging from the garage. We could be a lot more selective of what we bring back in. We have a couple more weeks on our real estate contract. We may be just staying here. Perhaps I can take in a child care or sell crafts or something. I may need to get employment at the end of summer. When the kids go back to school. We can try to sell again next year. We will get a life insurance policy on Beloved and live. I have a small one on me.
Jaye does in home care for the elderly. I have thought about it. The kids are still young I was hoping to stay at home with them.
Mr Uncommon has been working 10 hours a day to keep budget. I hate to see him working so hard. I suppose though that it is really not that uncommon these days.

Pay it Forward Came yesterday

This is so BEAUTIFUL!
"Beadin' Grams" sent me this act of kindness.
Flowing me over with loving generosity.

Thank you:)
I really appreciate the time and the heart you invested in her.

Little Dove went to the Emergency Room

It is 1 a.m. now Wednesday, and we just returned from the emergency room.
My Sweet Dove took a bit of a turn for the worse. Without much fever she developed abdominal cramps that became severe. I took her in around 10 p.m. and I was called right into a bed for her. They set and IV and began a drip. They sent blood work to the lab. The medication for the pain and nausea was also given. She was such a trooper. It was a wonderful team of women who helped me with her. The nurse tended to the IV while her aide helped her and a psychologists helped me with Dove emotionally avoiding a panic attack. It was the best Sensory Integration Dysfunction care we have received. They were aware of the condition and the needs that it posed and it was startling .They were great! They used a book to distract and explained everything as they went. We were a well oiled team. I as the Mother was a player and a part of the whole. Great job they did.
Dove has a possibility of a condition that caused all her intestinal "good bacteria" to die off and so we need a stool sample and to take it to the Pediatrician tomorrow asap. She may of had the virus that Dash had but we are not sure. She may have a urinary tract infection and they are running a 72 hour culture and will contact me. She really perked up with the IV and the Medication that eased the nausea and pain. I have an Rx to fill for that medication in the morning.
Wow I am so wound up.
She was so brave.
God is so good to us to be able to get her the help she needed.

Please pray for Our Little Dove.

Tackle It Tuesday

Good Morning!

This is my main tackle today
...Keeping this little one hydrated and resting. She is coloring and eating some shaved ice.

before

after
Kitchen duties are light. Beloved helped in the kitchen this weekend so the morning begins with a doable load to empty and a few hand dishes.

Dash is building pipe cleaner guys. He and I went to wal-mart and got a bunch of craft items. I so miss my art studio this time of year. My kids do projects all day long. We use a lot of recycled things and cardboard from the recycle bin. Markers,crayons and such. Dash just learned about how when you color with crayon it clogs the pour of the board and marker has nothing to absorb into. It is so cool to teach Dash. He is a fun kid, always eager to have questions answered and queries addressed. At times it is tiering, but all and all it is a real joy to be here to answer him. He is water coloring, and using up the art supplies faster than I can tell him to ease up. His mind is so fast and active. He is now planning a summer party for the first day of summer 6-21-08 He said that we can tend to the activities and make a food stand . He is drawing it all out and planning, making invitations. Wow! this boy is so busy!

before

after
I need to back beloved breakfast cookies. I made the dough on Sunday. Sweet man found me asleep on the couch with Dove. I awoke as he was covering me with blankets. he is so sweet to me. I did not get the lunch packed or the breakfast cookies for him today. Holding Dove all night long I could not wake up this morning.

before

after
I got the master bedroom cleaned up. This laundry need folding and putting away and the children's room straightened up. I don't know that we will be showing the house but I need to keep ready as I can. Dove being ill I don't want to show or leave at all! I just want to take care of my kids. I feel a bit over whelmed. It is a time of waiting and a time of trusting in Gods divine provision and wisdom. Oh these days are long without our normal life and property. How challenging it is yet I stop and think about the measure of our trial. It is so minuscule in a comparison with what is happening in the lives of so many. In so many country's there are great suffering occurring. Starvation, disease and death. Hopelessness.
Yet...I have a hope. My children have health and we are housed and well with the unity of our family. It is not a terrible thing to wait. It is wondering that makes it harder.. It is in the "what's, ifs and the wondering of the whys and when" ???...

Dash made a skeleton with play dough.
He wants me to find one and print it out so he can cut it out and put it on a card board.
Now he is painting a plaster cast bee. Now he is water coloring! Now he is building Lego's, Oh wait now he is building pipe cleaner men. Opps.... now he is ....setting up the pipe cleaner men into a scenario ...Wow! counter top to counter top the men are swinging from the refrigerator. I would love a window into his imagination.

Dove is making velvet coloring boards. She love those.

I should in invest in them :)

On Saturday
I purchased new plants for the walkway.
The little yellow flower smells wonderful like tea.

I had to remove the purple pansy because the heat got them. They were there sense last November so I sure got my monies worth in them.
I replanted with some white robe, marigolds and a few others.

This is perhaps going to need to be placed in deeper shade. It gets sun in the early morning. The sun here is intense.

I found this fox tail fern for $12. and the planter was mis marked for $10. I splurged on it for myself. I can take it with me when /if ;) we sell/move. I have always wanted one.
They are so beautiful to me.

This is thyme under the flowering plant.
"If I could just find the thyme"
Now I have a lot of time little monies and all my supplies are packed up in the garage and it is not able to be dug in to . My house needs to stay very clean.
This is a very strange time of minimalist days. I have a few bead and my tools. A bit of findings so I'll play a bit. I think I can get to my novel. I think maybe I'll put some time and effort into that drawer'ed dream.
Yes a wrote a novel and then just abandoned it.
It is in the edit stages. Maybe it is what I need to be doing...
Michelle I see you smiling coyly. Funny! it is the only box I can reach! :) Ha Ha Ha...Alright I will pull it out.
But...It might turn out...I might succeed at it...I cant have that!:)

Sunday Smiles

On Monday last it was 109* here a "record high for the date"
By Thursday it had dropped and Friday morning it was In the Mid 60*'s
at our house we had a 32* (high) drop withing 12 hours! The lows were even more pronounced.

I saw Beloved off to work Friday Morning with a sick Son and a Sleeping daughter
The first day of Summer Break for the kids

Note the long sleeves. It was VERY cool for the desert in mid May.
It even snowed in the high country.

With Dash sick I could not go for a walk.
Dove was so excited at the rain I just stepped out side.
It rained .82 " Friday at my house.

It was awesome and the joy my daughter was a thrill.

Summertime!
Oh the fun of playing in the rain.
The kids slept here this weekend.
So cute!
They had story time with Daddy Man in the corner on the rocker.

The kids had it all set up with the blankets and pillow.
They did not even stay up they just went in and slept.
Of course they were worn out from our busy weekend.

This is the best!

It it just too fun?

They are so proud of "camping out"
The players of Dash's care have messed up his testing for the neurological balance testing. Now It all is going to begin again on Tuesday.
Saturday
...I went to the garden center to replace plants that lost out in the record breaking heat.
It was beautiful. I went alone and the kids missed out! There were roosters and doves it was so beautiful, even slightly cool on my arms.I got several replacement plants for the entry. I have to keep a nice curb appeal. (I am so glad for I love to plant).
Just as I was finishing Dove came out with a phone and her best friend was inviting us to a swim party. I took Dove and we stayed all day. Calling Beloved in the early evening he and Dash came to join us. It was an evening of time spent with the most wounded of people and it left us both grieving for souls and weeping over the depravity of folks. Marriage a joke and wives speaking as poorly of the husbands and the men were demising of the women we were appalled and the only reason we were there was to guard the children. The kids will most likely not see each other again. I wanted Dove to have a farewell. Even Dash asked why the adults were acting so badly. The drinking was heavy with kids in the pool. I just stood in sorrow and felt so much sadness at the wounded souls. A woman was so out of it that she was set to rest in a room. She was a walking dead man. I was so grieved and showed her compassion. She saw " as she said it an aura around me and wanted to know and understand" I told her of Gods love for her. She said..."you can see me ..." I told her yes I see that her soul is wherry and tired . She Knew that God was within me. It was perhaps just for her that I was to stay. It sure was good though when my husband was there to cover me. He was really aware of the battle over the lives in the crowd and we teamed up and prayed.
Dove came home and was weeping over the loss of her best friend. The kids saw the difference in the circle of folks we have. They did not like that circle and I am glad for the opportunity to have the kids see the other way people live.
They are very grateful for their lives and family as we are.
Sunday Morning...
I stayed home and made a salad and let Dove sleep. She cried herself to sleep and I knew she needed the rest.
I forgot to stop by the drug store Saturday and had run out of my medication, I had received a call last week telling me that the mail order would not be filled until July. So I had a 90 day Rx and I have only 30 given at a time so I called to reorder the next 30 day supply at $50 a co pay arg! I had no medication for my Saturday night dose and the store was closed.
Dad and Dash Went to church.
Beloved went to drug store and they said that the Insurance refused to fill it stating that they had mailed it. When he got home without the medication we were concerned I am not suppose to miss even one dose. I called the pharmacy. They would sell me a couple to hold me over. Daddy and Dash went down to the mail box and it was there three months at a $50 copay.
I was covered the Insurance DID mail it to me after all. It had been cool so there was no problem.
Except...I began to have the horrid side effects of withdrawal...only hours after missing a dose.
Company was on the way here for a luncheon I was serving and had just prepared.

By Sunday it was in the Mid 80*'s.

We had a nice party with a family over. The kids (see the dads ) played squirt guns and I served Squirt sodas, Pasta crab salad and strawberries. My guest brought berries and watermelon. It was so nice. Her little girl played with Willy the lab. It was so cute!

At one point Dash had a melt down.Daddy Man told me later that Dash said..."nobody wants me around not even my birth mom"...speaking of his birth mother for the first time. I just felt like crying when Beloved told me. Dash is seven now and is begining to grieve the rejection of his "birth Mom".

They played with abandon.
Last night the adverse reactions of the Medication thing began to hit hard. I had shocking all over the dome of my skull. It stung. and I just felt like I needed to duck and hide. After a neighbor gave a lecture as to how stupid it is of us to sell this estate and buy a 1970's house. I tried to just be polite and hear her out but it just seemed to give her permission to continue. It just wore me out! The wisdom of this world just sees what we are doing as foolishness. Funny I feel the same way about the mentality of "having your money (debt) " work for you.
Anyway...I was so wipped out that I missed out on a girls night out that I was so looking forward too...I gave my word I would be there and let another friend down unintentionally. Arg.

Dove is sick this fine Memorial Morning.
She has what Dash had. She is very "green".
Dash and Daddy Man left to go have an adventure.
I am tending bedpan and hydrating my sweet Dove.
The real heaves have not hit and I so hope that this is mild and gentle on her.
She has had a hard couple of days with her best friend leaving.
What a wonderful daughter I have. She is laying here resting and I within feet of her to run to her aid.
The medication is begining to equalize. Wow I have to be real careful with it. Detox must be real hard when I get off of it next year. I have watched a lot of study on the brain and the effects of the neurons and such. We are sure made wonderfully. To bad this world is so hard on our vessels.

Join us for Cafe' Chat

What is a positive tradition, or godly character trait that you learned from your extended family that you hope to pass down to your own family?

Home made corn chips

I found these corn tortillas on special for 4 for $5.
So I made up some of my famous homemade corn chips for the holiday weekend.

line your counter with paper bags then accordion fold several layers of paper towel. Made sure your toweling has no coloring in it. I use only white.

I found the oil on a lead in special and got two of them when I did.
Real Sea Salt with iodine is a nutritional source.

We love the chips when they are "burn'ies" not really burnt but extra browned. They become very nutty when they are cooked this way.
Be sure that they cool well before you put them in the tin.
I had two pans running and the cook time was less then a minute in the hot oil. Then drain, salt when you first put them on the paper toweling.

Now I made the two packages and filled the chips tin.
Normally for the reduced "Costco" priced of around $8 for the two big family bags that fill the tin loosely. I was able to make the home made chips that really fill the tin up tightly. Oh the flavor! These are so crisp and fresh. Lots of salt too.

for...One hour of my time and...

1.25 tortillas
1.25 tortillas
2.50 canola oil
0.50 sea salt
total $5.50

Aloha Friday

I had the kids take out the recycle trash from the loading up of the garage fridge.
A few minutes later Dove came in and began gathering things.
In she came with...Her robot "Sponge bot".
They then spent and hour making robots together out of the recycle trash boxes and packing/duct tapes. They were helping each other out and working together.

With summer here for most of us.
What are you doing during the day with your kids?

We had some corn and so I asked the kids if they would like to husk it. They were thrilled! They had a lot of fun doing this simple thing. They each put their own cob in the water. Dove ate hers but Dash's loose tooth spoiled it for him. The corn was wonderful. It was lunch. That they made them self. It is fun to give them opportunity to do simple things as if they were extravagant..

Very yummy!