We have a new addition to our family. I got a new great-nephew today. He is the son of my niece, or my brother’s grandson, or my mom’s great-grandson. Any way you cut it we have a new baby. As I have said before, my family is very close knit so every new addition is as special as the members we currently have. He joins his big brother who is two years old.
My wife and I had babysitting duty this morning while the new baby got here. We love my great-nephew Ryder. He has been the light of everyone’s eyes for the last two years. He loves us just as much as we love him. He is even attached to my future daughter-in-law. He plays with my sons and knows everyone’s names and has me wrapped around his fingers. Anything he wants, I will pretty much give him. My mom is the same way.
The new baby, Jaysyn, is so handsome. We are going to really have to make sure both boys get equal attention because as I experienced with my sons, you can’t show more attention to one than another. Ryder did not really care too much for Jaysyn. He looked at him and said let’s go. He was done, ready to go. We all thought it was funny, his mom and dad did not. I said give him time. There is so much going on and his mom does not look like she typically does, so that is throwing him off. There were also a lot of people in the room that he was nervous about so many people. Ryder will be a good big brother when Jaysyn gets home. He will have to learn to share his mom and dad, which will be a big change for him.
Thanks to God for another healthy life on this earth.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The scariest experience I’ve had
Two years ago, my then eight year old son was ill. We did not know what was wrong. He had stomachaches with the symptoms that go along with that illness. It started on a Friday night and finally by Sunday afternoon he had some other symptoms that worried us. So we took him to the emergency room.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
Monday, July 11, 2011
My Collection
I collect Breyer animals. I started the collection when I was five years old and have been getting them every year since then and I am 41 years old now. I got the first one which was the Clydesdale stallion. It was retired in 2005. My grandma gave me that for a birthday present when I was five. I started this collection because at the time my parents owned several show horses and we all really liked them. So my grandma thought this would be a good present. Let me tell you my grandma never expected it to turn into what it is now. I have over 500 pieces ranging from my first Clydesdale stallion to the animal sets. I have multiples of the same animals, just with different paint jobs. I have wild animals such as the deer family, goat, buffalo, elk, moose, and mountain lion. I have farm animals such as the pig, bulls, cows, donkey, and many horses.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Memories
Well, what a day it has been. First, we did our typical Sunday morning routine: get up, eat breakfast, get showered, and go to church. After church was a different story. We went to my mom’s house to have lunch and spend time with her. Happily, my great-nephew was there visiting. He is 18 months and we all just love that little guy. He is so expressive and has everyone pegged at what they will do for him. He knows I will get him anything. So time was spent with my family.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What is my idea of a perfect vacation?
My idea of a perfect vacation is to go somewhere that can spend the whole time camping, hunting and fishing. I think Colorado would be a great place to do that. I love to hunt and fish here in Missouri, but other states have different game.
In Colorado, I could hunt moose, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, turkey, squirrel, rabbit (cottontail and jack), snapping turtles, rattle snake, minx, badger, fox and many other animals. Some of these animals have family in Missouri, but we do not have the variety and big game in Missouri that is found in Colorado.
I think it would be exhilarating to harvest a big animal like a black bear, elk or moose. I know those animals are huge and I know it would take some power to bring them down, but buck fever would not come close to the pure adrenaline that would be coursing through my veins while harvesting one of those big creatures.
After I am finished getting my hunt on, I would then fish. I would like to fish for rainbow trout and for that I would angle in the Arkansas River. There are many streams, lakes and reservoirs in which I could spend days on end fishing. I love to fish, and love to eat them even more.
When I have spent my day hunting and fishing, I would love to retire to the camping area where my camper is set up. Normally, when we camp, we are in a tent. That will not do in Colorado where there is the previously mentioned big game, such as bears. So we would borrow my father-in-law’s camper to stay at a place between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. We would grill the fish that was caught during the day’s fishing outing.
After all is said and done, spending time in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation is a great vacation for me.
In Colorado, I could hunt moose, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, turkey, squirrel, rabbit (cottontail and jack), snapping turtles, rattle snake, minx, badger, fox and many other animals. Some of these animals have family in Missouri, but we do not have the variety and big game in Missouri that is found in Colorado.
I think it would be exhilarating to harvest a big animal like a black bear, elk or moose. I know those animals are huge and I know it would take some power to bring them down, but buck fever would not come close to the pure adrenaline that would be coursing through my veins while harvesting one of those big creatures.
After I am finished getting my hunt on, I would then fish. I would like to fish for rainbow trout and for that I would angle in the Arkansas River. There are many streams, lakes and reservoirs in which I could spend days on end fishing. I love to fish, and love to eat them even more.
When I have spent my day hunting and fishing, I would love to retire to the camping area where my camper is set up. Normally, when we camp, we are in a tent. That will not do in Colorado where there is the previously mentioned big game, such as bears. So we would borrow my father-in-law’s camper to stay at a place between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. We would grill the fish that was caught during the day’s fishing outing.
After all is said and done, spending time in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation is a great vacation for me.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Personal Creed
My personal creed is the statement of what I believe. I have three things I believe in most.
I believe in the Lord God. He is my Savior and my friend. I love Him because He loved me so much He sent his Son, Jesus to take me to live with Him when my time on this earth is over. I follow His rules and believe in His Word. My family all are strong believers and followers in the Lord.
I believe in my family. I have been taught to love everyone from my family. My ancestors have shaped and molded me to what I am today. I have been taught to back up your family, love them as they are, and always follow and continue traditions. My great-grandmother was the core of our family and it has spread throughout the following generations. I have taught my sons they value of family and I hope and pray someday they will continue on with their children and on down the line.
I believe in working hard and putting my all in everything I do. I have worked hard all of my life and I will continue to do so. I am in school now to learn and new form of work and I want to continue in that line of work until I can no longer function in that role. At that point, I wish to hand it off to my children. I teach my children the value of working hard and I hope they teach their children the same.
This is my belief statement.
I believe in the Lord God. He is my Savior and my friend. I love Him because He loved me so much He sent his Son, Jesus to take me to live with Him when my time on this earth is over. I follow His rules and believe in His Word. My family all are strong believers and followers in the Lord.
I believe in my family. I have been taught to love everyone from my family. My ancestors have shaped and molded me to what I am today. I have been taught to back up your family, love them as they are, and always follow and continue traditions. My great-grandmother was the core of our family and it has spread throughout the following generations. I have taught my sons they value of family and I hope and pray someday they will continue on with their children and on down the line.
I believe in working hard and putting my all in everything I do. I have worked hard all of my life and I will continue to do so. I am in school now to learn and new form of work and I want to continue in that line of work until I can no longer function in that role. At that point, I wish to hand it off to my children. I teach my children the value of working hard and I hope they teach their children the same.
This is my belief statement.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Help With This Blogging Thing
Frustrated is not even a word that comes close describing how I feel. I cannot get any of my replies that I type up to my fellow classmates to post. Anyone else having this problem, or am I the only one that doesn't know what I am doing?
So here are my steps. I click on the link to a student blog through Ms. A's Classroom. Then I read the posts and choose one to respond to. I choose the post in the blog archive list. Next, I type my reply or comments into the post comment box. My next step is to choose the profile, which is Google Account. Some one stop me anytime if I am doing something wrong. Next, I click post comment. The next page from that is the sign in page, which requires my email and password. Blogger.com then takes me to the post I am trying to comment on and asks for the word verification. I put in the word that is shown. I never get past that point. The system takes me back to the page asking for my email and password. Frustration!
Can anyone out there tell me what I am doing wrong? I am hoping I am just not holding my tongue the right way when I am doing this.
Thanks to all my friends. In the mean time, I am going to make some Kickin Cakes.
Mike
So here are my steps. I click on the link to a student blog through Ms. A's Classroom. Then I read the posts and choose one to respond to. I choose the post in the blog archive list. Next, I type my reply or comments into the post comment box. My next step is to choose the profile, which is Google Account. Some one stop me anytime if I am doing something wrong. Next, I click post comment. The next page from that is the sign in page, which requires my email and password. Blogger.com then takes me to the post I am trying to comment on and asks for the word verification. I put in the word that is shown. I never get past that point. The system takes me back to the page asking for my email and password. Frustration!
Can anyone out there tell me what I am doing wrong? I am hoping I am just not holding my tongue the right way when I am doing this.
Thanks to all my friends. In the mean time, I am going to make some Kickin Cakes.
Mike
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