Bizarre Illness?

We've been crazy busy lately! Worked Thurs-Fri, Saturday picked peaches w/ Rennea and Annie then planned on canning pears at Annie's but they were too green, so ran back home and grabbed scrapbooking stuff (had to dig it out from under Gabe's reloading stuff!) then back to Annie's and actually got 8 pages done! Then Sunday we went to church and headed up to spend the afternoon w/ Mom and Dad, Gma Elliott, and Dwight and Carol at Thousand Trails, then Monday canned said peaches w/ Rennea and Annie, plus dinner tonight at the Visschers w/ the Sheets and Foxes. Whew! Would you believe me if I said my house is a disaster zone? :-)

Anyway, about my mysterious illness...
Sunday night we were leaving Thousand Trails, heading home and I had a lovely migraine cooking. It was just me and the kids, Gabe's had worked but was at home when we left. After I texted him that we were heading home, I pulled out of the parking lot onto the road. I drove maybe a mile before I pulled over and texted him again, asking him to pray for me as I was feeling nauseated, plus the migraine. Not long after that I was pretty sure I was gonna end up pulling over so I could throw up, I felt so sick.

Mile after mile, it was from one breath to the next, keeping my eyes on the road and my mind on breathing slowly. I pulled over going down Tumwater Canyon because I was just on the verge of puking, and there is not many places on that road to actually pull off! I got two cups and a ziploc bag ready for immediate grabbing in the car since even though I was chilled, shaking, and terribly sick, I still didn't throw up. I drove all the way home like this. I called Gabe as I was leaving Leavenworth to make sure he was home so he could get the kids out of the car when I arrived.

When I did arrive, I could barely walk I felt so weak. I knew I still had a migraine, but wasn't noticing it so much since I was trying not to focus on how I felt, just on driving straight and being safe. I'm so thankful Gabe was home- he got the kids in bed and fixed me right up with a trash can next to the bed and everything! Unbelievably, I slept really good through the night and never did throw up. I tried to take everything slowly this morning (Monday) but ended up feeling pretty normal by the time we made it up to Rennea's to can peaches.

So- in you'all's experience, would this meet the requirements for migraine-induced nausea? That's our best guess, since we were thinking if I'd had food poisoning, I'd have actually thrown up, plus possibly had more lovely bathroom-type symptoms... Almost too much information, right? :-) It was just so weird: so miserable, yet over fairly quickly....

Ok, You Tell ME!

Would you take your family swimming in a river that people are drowning in almost yearly?
Hmmm?

This afternoon I went up to pick up the girls from camping, and I drove up Tumwater Canyon. The Wenatchee river as it flows down Tumwater is very dangerous- and literally almost every year something so tragic happens... I also happened to notice that a certain area that is normally very calm was rushing and scary looking... so there's a lot of water running through.

And YET! I saw at least 5 groups of people in their bathing suits, and some even had tubes. How many kids have to die? What kind of enforcement do we need up there to keep people from losing their life? What do you think? How do you remind people that "Hey, a teen died here last year, and a couple the year before that, and a toddler before that...." and maybe you shouldn't swim here with your children!!!

Suggestions?

I'm not sure if I told you about my bread for the freezer part of prepping for baby. I made a normal batch of french bread, which you mix and let rise and punch down several times, then roll and let rise again before baking.

Here's my problem: I mixed it and let it rise for the first hour, then rolled it and wrapped in plastic wrap and froze it. It looked pretty funny, because for some reason, on each end, it pooped out a big glob of dough :-)

But yesterday I took one out to thaw and bake to eat w/ spaghetti last night. It thawed with no problem, but when I put it in a warm oven to rise, it just sat there. And sat there. And then kinda started to flatten out... Lost all it's oomph.

I don't know what happened? I thought this should work because you can buy dinner rolls in the freezer section that still have to rise, right? Any thoughts? Please? I was really hoping to have a quicker bread option in the freezer.... like for salad and pastas. We like our bread :-)

Question of the Day: Cinnabon

So, what makes Cinnabon cinnamon, Cinnabon cinnamon?

let me guess, it has something to do with high fructose corn syrup.....because I found that in our hersheys syrup I've been using for the girls' chocolate milk. Anyone have a brand that doesn't have that in it?

What makes Fast Food Fast Food?

I found an article on WND yesterday on a study done in Canada which found that children who eat 2 meals or more per week of fast food negate the benefits of being breast fed for at least 12 weeks when it comes to developing childhood asthma. (phew! long sentence!)

This led me to think: What makes fast food fast food? Is it just hamburgers and chicken nuggets and french fries? What's the difference between hamburgers from a FF joint compared to hamburgers off our grill? Or nuggets compared to nuggets prepared at home? French fries to fried potatoes? Does Arby's classify as FF with their roast beef sandwiches? What about at Subway if you have chips w/ your sub? Does it always include any fried chicken sandwich? What about grilled?

I just kinda got all mixed up trying to distinguish between the food we eat out, and the food we eat at home. (yea, today, shopping-- walking across the store for a particular item, and I still can't remember what item it was supposed to be when I got there...) I know it has something to do with the way it's prepared, but lots of home prepared stuff has MSG too, ...and we use olive oil for everything, but microwaves are questionable.... Anyway, is your brain still thinking straight? Is it just me who gets wrapped up in knots?

Anyway, thoughts? What differentiates between healthy and fast food?

Edited: I guess this makes me sound kinda "food dumb," and I'm not. I know what to look for, what to avoid, stuff like that. It's just when they paste a huge label on something that has a fairly broad spectrum, I wonder what they really mean. You can make a super yummy, high fat meal at home that is very not good for you, but it's not classified as fast food. So why label one per se, and not the other?

Your Thoughts: Parenting others' children...

So, what do you think when you see a parent telling someone else's kid to stop what their doing (being aggressive) and stop scaring other children? Do you think they should get the child's guardians involved, or just handle the problem immediately? Imagine the situation like a playground, group setting.

I'll explain more after I hear your thoughts :-)

Update: We were at McDonald's (I mistakenly gave Melia the option of where to take Gma Debbie for lunch...), and a little boy had cornered Melia in the top of the staircase, "ribbiting" at her, and wouldn't let her down. She was crying, Kiera was getting me... He peeked out and I told him to make room so she could get down. Obviously he didn't, so prego me climbed up there and told him that he was scaring these girls and needed to stop. (By the time I reached the top, Kiera was crying too) I didn't really question my actions until later, and then thought - "Hey, that is a small enough area that most everyone probably knew what I was doing, heard me talking to him, heard my girls crying... and the two adults there with him never said a word." After that, I was bothered. I wouldn't want my kid bullying anybody, and certainly not making them cry. I wouldn't want other parents having to tell my kids to stop, but that's because I should be responsible, especially when I don't know anyone else there... but like they say... hindsight... I wasn't exactly thinking at the time, just reacting.

Question of the Day: BOY birthday- Yikes!

What do we buy for a five year old boy's birthday?

I've been told anything with guns and wheels will do the trick....

Question for Fellow Couponers...

What is the best way that you have found to store and take with you your load of coupons? I am still using the envelope system- I have them basically sorted, but still end up spending quite a bit of time in-store sorting and finding the ones I want.

I am wondering if anyone has tried the baseball-card sorting, or anything similar. I especially would like to get them out of my purse, but easy/big enough that I won't lose them either.

Thanks!!!

Pumpkin Question

So, this pumpkin is trying to kill me either through the knife or frustration, one of the two.

After I cook it, the peel should come off easy, right? And should the insides look somewhat transparent, not like they looked when I put them in? Because I am having to use a knife to cut the peel off, and the part of the pumpkin by the pan looks "done" but the rest of it doesn't. Am I cutting too big of pieces? I know Pioneer Woman used small pumpkins... AACCKKKK!

I am just ready to throw this one in the trash, but it's my special Sugar Baby one from the Punkin' Patch, and I was hoping to use it!

VBACs

To Answer a few questions: If we go this route...

We would probably seek to stay there the last week or two, as Gabe says no way to driving while I'm laboring :-) I'm not too worried about the timing, as w/ Melia, my water didn't break until 41 weeks, and w/ Kiera's section at 39 weeks, I wasn't dialated at all. So I seriously doubt I will go early :-)

No inductions. With VBAC's this is a no-no, as it greatly increases the chance of rupture. Plus, I think I would refuse pitocin anyway, considering my last experience. All natural baby!

Visitors? I know. This is what has been less than supportive, but ideally, we will be back in just a few days anyway. And I am not saying you can't come to Spokane ;-) It will be May, after all. No inclement weather to worry about! Plus, now that I have this easy to update blog, you will have pictures!

I think I got them all. Feel free to ask any other questions you might have-- But remember, this is a new road for me too! I may not know it all right away, but hopefully I will have more answers after I visit the other doc later. And please pray. I don't want to be doing this for me. I want to do this to glorify Him, so whether the doors open or close, I want my focus to be right. Thanks so much!

Not much new here...

I think instead of morning sickness, this is hitting me more as evening sickness. Or evening stomach ache. Not really nausea, just a heavy uncomfortable feeling. Another question to put on the list for the appt this week!

So, due to my not feeling very good at all, we haven't done much recently. Melia and I did make banana choc chip muffins this afternoon, using a different recipe than I normally use. The results reminded me of why I love the mayo (I use sour cream) recipe. The muffins are just so moist, whereas these are just... normal. So, scrapping this recipe will be on my list of to-dos tomorrow :-)

And I experienced a good reason to help explain to some of you who wonder why I force Melia to take naps most of the time, even though she's four. Today was a no-nap day. This evening, we went to Gramps house for dinner with Mom. I got so frustrated! It was like she didn't comprehend what I was saying. Several times I would tell her something, only to have her immediately return to what she was doing and pay me no mind. She *looked* like she was listening, but most certainly was not. And the big difference? Normally, she does very well. I appreciate her help, and she enjoys listening and pleasing me. Most of the time we get along great. But she had to have a couple time outs tonight, and one time I just stopped them from failing to do what I told them to do, and did it myself. (This was effective, I think, because they both wanted to do it, and were not working together. Like I said-I think. We'll see.) Anyway, one example of why she needs her nap. Plus, because limiting her sleep only makes her wake up earlier, not later....! And I'll take as late as I can get! ;-)

Melia's Preschool: Starts Wednesday

I know a few of you have more than a few questions as to why we, as adamant homeschool parents, are putting Melia in preschool. So I will attempt to quickly (because I have a lot to do this morning before work) explain.

A few years ago, when Melia was little, we learned a lifelong friend of ours was starting a preschool in Wenatchee. At the time, we agreed that we would like to send Melia because we want to support Becky. When Melia was 3, I learned from Becky that she rarely had any openings and God was truly blessing her in this calling. So we wrote off the idea of sending her, which was fine.

This fall, Melia is 4, and we learned from our friends at church, who happen to be Becky's brother's family, that she bought a house and shop property over on our side of the river, plus it is only about 7 blocks from us! And because she moved, she lost some students, and therefore has openings. So we have her a call, and got Melia signed up.

Why is it a God thing? Because if we were to put her in preschool, this is the only one we would choose (truly, the only one we had any desire or leading to send her to). And Becky was trusting Him to provide for her in this entire moving process, and He is using us as one piece of the puzzle. All the details came together easily, just in time to start the year. This is a Christian preschool, and Becky is someone that I can trust with teaching Melia about God. I am excited for Melia-- she loves Cubbies, so I expect that she will adore Miss Becky!

She will go Wed-Fri, 8:30-11:30am. And Kiera and I are welcome to help anytime :-)

Something You Probably Wouldn't Guess About Me

I really really like Toby Mac. Especially his new song "Burn For You."


"I'd rather burn for you than fade away..."

Please Lord! Give me the desire to burn!


:-) ...would you have guessed?

Edit: And no, Gabe can't stand him.... :-)

A HomeMade Experiment: What did I make?

So, please don't get grossed out. Just read and decide.

When we came home from Camp, we had around 1/2 gallon of milk in a gallon container with the expiration date of 3 days later waiting for us. But it was severly curdled. Or at least looked bad-seperated. So I dumped it.

A few days ago, I poured the girls milk in their sippy cups for breakfast. A few hours later they were wanting more, so I said bring me your cups and I will get you new ones with juice. When I dumped these cups in the sink, they were seperated too-- not chunky, but not smooth. Of course, I was *slightly* concerned!

I poured some in my coffee, and it seperated immediately. Sooo weird. Like making buttermilk.

I ended up putting some in a measuring cup so I could watch it, and I threw the rest away. Over the next 30+ hours, the milk sat in the cup on the counter uncovered. The next day, I dumped it in the sink to wash the measuring cup, and here is what happened: (if I am correct, this is up to you to decide)

The "whey" poured from the top first, a watery-milky substance. Then the second half plopped out like yogurt from a cup. The crazy part is this: It never smelled bad.

So, what did I make? :-) This is a real question, as I don't know. I am just combining the meager knowledge I have from reading about making yogurt and sour cream and kefir... none of which I actually know how to do. I have just read some out and about in the blogosphere. Hmmmm.

Spiritual Disciplines Class: Q&A

Ken V said...
I'd like to know more about your class... was it worth the time? Were there any surprising new insights? What new disciplines are you feeling challenged to try out?
Well.... where to start...
Koinonia Institute based their achievement levels on three "tracks;" the berean track (scripture study), the issachar track (end times knowledge-where we are on God's timeclock) and the koinonos track (living the Word).

The first two classes we took (old and new t) were obviously Berean, and this one signified our switch to Koinonos. And it was a switch! Not so much head knowledge, and a whole lot more heart knowledge. This makes it much more difficult for me! (I like black and white!)

But because we are on our first achievement level, the class itself was pretty basic. It went over what it really means to be a disciple through the lens of Judean schools. (I found this fascinating-- one of the literal meanings is "to follow in the dust of your Rabbi." Am I so close to Jesus that I live in His shadow?) To be a true disciple, I must be of the Shema, of Prayer, of the Word, and for others. Included was a week on the emergent church, which I appreciated because although I hear the term and know I don't want to be part of it, I didn't really know what was behind it.

The biggest leading I felt was to make my own copy of the Bible. I posted on this earlier because it was such a special answer to my prayer of how to go about studying now that our church bible studies are ceasing for summer. I just (finally) started on this-- I am starting with 1 Peter. (I wanted to do a book I didn't know much about, and a short one. It fits :-) I did a whole chapter today during naptime-- I think I will try to cut it down and try for more often-- We don't "hand"write very much in today's culture, do we?

Anyway, I totally think the class was worth my time, not because I "enjoyed" it per se, because Dan is a very different teacher than Chuck Missler, so the style was difficult to get used to, but God has led us to take these courses, and that means everything is part of the package! I learned a lot, more about what is lacking in my life because of time, but also that I need to act on the answers He gives! The classes like these that hint at being uncomfortable (!) give evidence to the areas in my life that need work in order to glorify Him.

Praise Him for His faithfulness and patience!

Question: Answer

I had a question! Yippee :-) Thanks Brenda!


"Did you ever decide what your gift is and do you want to share what it is?"

At the time I was concerned about my gift possibly being prophecy. Not in the "Old Testament prophet" sense, but in the "Spirit-prompted, Spirit-sustained, revelation-rooted, but mixed with human imperfection and fallibility and therefore in need of sifting." (definition by John Piper).
My main reasons for this:
1. I just know--
2. Twice in the last 2-3 years, I knew what the picture was before the puzzle was put together. I prayed about it and knew the answer. One was something quite large in relation to escatology, and the other was the identity of the "restrainer." Both answers I was given, then in the following teachings and study the rest of the puzzle was put together (over the time frame of months and minutes, respectively). These occurences were startling to me because neither topic was something that I had studied before, nor should have been able to understand without further study.

What now? I pray and study and grow. I still feel like such a young Christian, but the positive aspect is that I feel I can trust more what the Spirit tells me instead of thinking of not. I need to learn more so that I am able to compare my revelations to the authority of Scripture. I view this as something God will develop in me over the course of my life :-)

Another gifting? Exhortation/Encouragement. I tend to see things in black and white, so I can cut through alot of "worldly views" and get right to the heart of the matter which needs addressing. (the main definition I identified with - or can remember from two Sundays ago...)

The problem? I am human, and therefore more fallible than not :-) My words and thoughts mess up everything... But at least I am coming to greater understanding that even though I screw up, God still has a purpose for me and His gifts are to be used, not laid on the shelf.