One year ago...

A year ago, approximately.
It's hard to remember adjusting the cannula a thousand times each day. It is easy to forget all about changing tanks and tripping over tubes. It seems like a far off dream.

There is the one keyboard that Ralph has never destroyed!

I never knew about Pulmonary Hypertension before Ralph came along. Now I know more than I care to. When Ralph sees his cardiologist tomorrow I hope to hear that his PH is history. I hope to hear that he has grown out of it. He's been off of oxygen for nearly one year and has done well. The next step is weaning heart medications, IF his pressures look good tomorrow.

I've been disappointed before. But I never lose hope.

The days of our lives - Animal Hospital

I've had a ripped beaver on top of my refrigerator for a. long. time. His name is Sting-y. He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. He's been up there for safe-keeping because one claw was falling off.

Are you like me? When your kids come to you when their beloved stuffed pet has a little rip or tear, do you tell them you'll fix it when you get a chance and then stick it on the fridge and forget about it for six months or so? I didn't think so.

I had a little project going last night. I'm making more rice bags for friends with various aches and pains. Jordan brought me a little beany squirrel with a ripped foot and asked me if I could fix it. I just had to say yes.

Then I remembered Sting-y.

Before I knew what was happening many more injured animals had materialized and were lined up for surgery.

Here is the beloved beaver shortly after receiving his general anesthesia.

I was miraculously able to reattach this claw. I can only hope that it heals nicely or he will be facing amputation.

Here is one of my recovery room nurses caring for the squirrel after he woke up.

Sting-y and his boy. Together again.

We also cared for a puppy with a skull fracture and a lizard with 3rd degree burns. He needed extensive skin grafting and will have some very obvious scarring. Thomas was my OR nurse and helped me to place IV's and clean the room between cases.

What fun we had pretending to run an animal hospital! It was one of those rare nights when I actually believe that I'm a great mom.

Cold Day

School was cancelled on Friday due to the cold.

The cold.

Yes, it was cold. Highs around 10F. However, we were the only school district in the area to cancel class. It's just weird. After getting the kids back in school after Christmas, I was looking forward to getting into a groove at home. I'll try again next week.

Ralph enjoys doing math facts with Jordan.

Perfect paper!

Ruby and Jordan having a "moment."

I like to bring her playpen out to the dining room window. The afternoon sun is so nice and warm. I'm also hoping that she'll get a good dose of Vitamin D to keep her healthy.

Today I cleaned out the fridge. Well, the worst of it anyway. I found this old bottle of champagne. We bought it for the millennium which means that it is 10 years old! I've been looking at it, shuffling it around, and knocking it over for 10 years! We even moved it over here from the old house.

Considering that it is the new year and all...and I didn't make any real resolutions or anything...I vowed today to stop procrastinating and stop waiting for a more special occasion and just drink the darn thing!

It is delicious and dry but I'm wishing now that I had invited someone over to help me! Dad won't help and the kids aren't allowed. If I'm not at church tomorrow morning, you'll know why!

Guess who?

Guess who was playing in the laundry pile? Yeah, there is a pile of clean laundry on the couch. Someday I'll have my folding counter installed in the laundry room and that will never happen again, *wink*.


Ralph decided that he would dress himself. Never mind that he was already dressed in sweatpants and a shirt. He added a dress, a sweater and a hat. It is hard to tell from the photo, but he is wearing a visor bandolier style!

He did a great job dressing himself! Also, I've begun to teach him to pose for the camera. Another necessary life skill, don't you think?

Back to normal? Ha!

The kids have gone back to school and I have the house back again! Hello normal!

Ralph is watching Signing Time. Ruby is crawling around. I have to keep a close eye on those two. Ralph thinks that Ruby likes him to sit on her!

There are dishes to be done, laundry to be folded, bills to be paid, phone calls and emails to return. So naturally I'm blogging!

I've been halfway looking for a job for the past few months. Not halfway because I don't really want one, but because I'm not certain if it is what God wants me to do. I figured if I poke around and that it is what I'm supposed to be doing that something perfect would turn up. Nope.

The bus driving job would be perfect because I could take the children with me and I would have daytime working hours. But the transportation office keeps giving me the run around. They say they are going to call me for an interview but they never do. I think I don't want to work for an operation like that.

I'm thinking that if I can spare a few hours to leave the house to work that maybe I can find a few hours to work at home. I love making baby blankets and recycling old blue jeans. I bought a new cutting tool and mat. I was thinking of calling them Ruby Jean's baby jean quilts. Now I just need to carve out the time. I don't know if anyone would want then anyway.

So we are back to normal here. Kids in school, dad on the road, and me thinking and planning but never really making much progress.

Overboard on Ralph?

I can't help myself. This is just precious to me. Sorry if I went overboard!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you!

I've been out of town for a few days and my senses seem to be a little off. I cannot seem to grasp what day it is without thinking for a moment. I'm thinking this will resolve once the kids are back in school and dad is back on the road.

I was just telling dad the other day that this is going to be a great year. My heart is so full of love and plans and schemes. (Yep, I'm planning and scheming with my heart!) It is hard to know just what to do first.

The message in worship this morning was the first in a sermon series called the Amazing Race. Don't you just love that show? I would be perfect for it, by the way! Anyhow, I thought that was a great title for a sermon series because I've been thinking recently of my life as an amazing race. (Maybe this has something to do with my upcoming birthday?)

I have so many things on my bucket list!! And, I only have this one life to live!!! I'm feeling a huge sense of urgency. Honestly, though, the bucket list has changed drastically since Ralph came into my life. All the new things on the list seem so very important. Having a medically fragile child has opened my eyes (and heart) to many truly important things.

Speaking of medically fragile, Ralph is looking so good that I probably shouldn't be using that term anymore. He has an appointment with his cardio in a little over a week. He hasn't been seen for six months. I can't wait for him to walk into the office on his own. The team is going to be blown away!

I'm praying for good EKG and echo results. If everything looks good we might be able to start weaning some medication. Wouldn't that be great?

More photos soon. Promise!