All's Noisy on the Eastern Front

I don't know where that blog title came from - it just popped into my head and so I decided to start writing and see where this post takes me. Hang on, it could be a wild ride! I've had a major lack of sleep due to needing to fill in on the night shift last night at work. I didn't get too tired during the night in spite of my inability to sleep much yesterday evening before work. But as soon as I got home, woah, did it ever hit me!! I couldn't keep my eyes open with toothpicks. So I had a couple hour's rest and I'm winding down this evening, trying to stay awake until I can get to bed early tonight. I'll be hitting the hay about the same time the sun goes down, methinks. *Disclaimer - I am not responsible for any grammar or spelling errors contained in this post. This is a Public Service Announcement. *

It's been a beautiful week here on the Almosta Ranch - the weather has been so nice I've been having the kids do a lot outside. They worked hard to get the garage all cleaned up before cold weather hits and they've also done some yard work with Kyle. I've been hanging laundry on the line and I'm happy to say we are all caught up right now - a major feat without a dryer. Ours decided to start on fire a couple months ago so it's been a challenge at times to keep everything clean and dry on the rainy and humid days. We're hoping to get a used one soon.

School work has been going well in spite of me needing to pick up some extra shifts at work due to some employees quitting and new ones being hired on. A couple of employees left for work or school and it was a bit sad to see them move on. I'm excited that I finished my Home Health Aide training and I'm now working in that capacity, with a little housekeeping on the side. It's very hard but rewarding work - and very challenging. I love working with the residents on this level and they are all becoming very dear to me. The kids have been enjoying volunteering their time and getting to know the residents better as well. They have a Wii so sometimes the kids will bowl or box with the residents, which they all really get a kick out of. And I must say that there is nothing quite as funny as the humor of a wise Senior Citizen. I crack up on a daily basis from their sayings and jokes. What a wonderful group of people I get to work with!

I'm also excited to report that I'm getting my application done to start online LPN classes in the spring. I'm hoping Peachie can take some of the classes with me through the Post-Secondary Education Option - and the college credit will be free for her. She can be my study partner in crime. My hope and dream is to someday work in OB - I'd love to help deliver babies and work with the newborns and new mamas. I don't suppose they'll let me bring the babies home though, bummer! New mamas are a bit possessive that way!

I hope this post finds you enjoying lovely fall weather, lovely autumn colors, yummy produce, and a good September all around. We've got lotsa tomatoes but probably not enough for salsa - plus we couldn't leave the onions alone this past month and have used most of them up. Were they ever tasty! Green onion reminds me of my Daddy - he'd make a snack of them, fresh out of the garden.

Hayfeverly yours ~ Beth~ (Tis' the season, to be sneezin'!)

Hello, Potato!

There's a gentleman at the Senior Living facility where I work who will often approach another gentleman who lives there, and he greets him by saying, "Hello, Potato!". The first time I heard him say this, it was in an unfriendly tone, and the gentleman he was greeting was rather puzzled and could not quite understand what he was saying. I've heard him say, "Hello Potato" in many different tones, but the other day, he said it in a friendly manner. I can't yet figure out if he is just using a nickname, if he does not like the other gentleman, or if it simply a type of banter he uses. Either way it makes me smile a bit and I find both the men to be very endearing.

Speaking of endearing, I'm loving the residents that I am working with. As I get to know them better, I find my heart melting more and more. The elderly have such a unique quality about them - some are child-like, some are forgetful, some are typically happy, and some tend to be unhappy and even crabby. But they all have a wisdom and insight I am hoping to learn from. I love to ask them questions about almost any topic. And I find that they are eager to share about their lives and experiences. One gentleman said to me, "I have enjoyed visiting with you and your children. It's so nice to have someone to...you know, to....well, just to listen." Indeed.

I have also observed something very interesting. There are a handful of residents who are often in a less than happy mood. A couple of them can be intimidating to me. But I have found that even those with the sourest dispositions melt like butter when my children are around. It's as though someone flips a switch inside them when they see my kids - and their smiles come out and their tender sides emerge - and for awhile they forget they are growing older and that sometimes life is hard and bleak. So I have been bringing the kids as often as I can and I'm hoping and praying that somehow we can make a difference in the lives of these very dear people.

There is one lady who Peewee has taken a particular interest in. For some reason, she reminds us all of my own dear Mother, and I think that is why he is drawn to her. She started an impromptu card game with him the other day, and before we left, she had all the kids playing with her and showing them the game. I hated to leave, they were all having so much fun. The next day, when I was in her room, she was just waking up and was in obvious pain in her joints and muscles. I said, "My children sure enjoyed playing cards with you yesterday." She immediately cheered up and said, "Oh I almost forgot about that! Thank you for reminding me, and for bringing your kids in to see us. That was fun!" And for a moment, she seemed to forget her pain. I got a little choked up as I finished up in her room. She reminds me so much of Mom.

So my job is going very well, and it is helping to fill a void that I have had ever since my parents died - not only in my life, but in the lives of my kids. They have missed my parents very much, and they miss Kyle's parents too, who we don't get to see as often as we would like.

So, goodbye, Potato. I hope you have a good weekend. :)

How's it going?

You know, I ask people that a lot. "How's it going?" So I thought I would update my blog today and inform all two readers (lol!) how it's going on the Grove Family Homestead.

We planted green peppers, onions, two kinds of tomatoes, (can anyone say "salsa"?) and lots of flowers. I was bit by the gardening bug and I will not look back. I enjoy checking on all my plants and seeing the progress. I swear I can sometimes see the onions growing, they are coming up so fast! And my tomatoes already have blooms. I'm tempted to eat the leaves, I'm so eager for a taste of garden-fresh tomatoes!! I did lose one pepper plant when the dog decided to park her rump on it one day. :( Rest in peace, little pepper plant. I shall always remember you.

The summer days have been flying by at a jet-fast pace since I started my job. I'm enjoying the work and I'm very thankful our whole family has been getting in step with our new schedule. I work for 2 to 3 days a week, and usually the kids are alone for just one day a week. I'm glad the manager was willing to schedule me on the days that Kyle is home, for the most part. The work itself is very hard, but very rewarding. I'm in housekeeping now, so I am responsible for lots of cleaning, some laundry and serving two meals per shift. Soon I hope to be training in as a Home Health Aide, and then I'll be working more directly with the residents. I'm also getting to help fill-in for the Activities Director, which means that basically I get paid to go to work to play games and do activities with the residents! When Kyle and Things 1 and 2 are gone in July I will be filling in while the Activities Director is on vacation - and I'll get to bring Things 3,4 and 5 with me to work! The kids have been helping with games and activities for a couple weeks now, and they love it. Our whole family has been volunteering some of our time as well. We put together a patriotic presentation for Flag Day and the residents loved it.

On a sad note, two years ago today my dear Mother passed away. I still miss her very much.

On a happy note, I got to see my darling niece Cherith last week when a friend graciously asked me to ride along with her when she went to the cities. And I have great news! Cherith will be coming home soon. Her progress has been so wonderful, we are thanking and praising God for how far she has come.

Well, I'm off to run some errands, head to Wal-Mart (Can I get an "Amen!"?) and then drop Things 1&2 off with Kyle so they can head to a CAP activity in Western ND tonight and tomorrow. I'll have to think of some fun stuff to keep Things 3,4&5 busy while they are gone.

I hope things are going well for you and yours!!

Elizabeth Ann

Don't Mess With A Mama Bear

Last Thursday something happened that caused us to have some of the worst stress we have ever experienced. It was one of those days that seems like it was a long time ago, even though it was just last week. Let me 'splain.

I was on my way to Fargo in the morning with Pickles for an appointment when Peaches called me in a panic on my cell phone and said, "MOM - there is a policeman at the door and he asked to talk to Peanut! He's outside asking her questions right now!!" I told her to give the phone to the policeman and asked him what was going on. He proceeded to tell me that there was a claim of abuse against me towards Peanut and that I needed to come to the police station for questioning. Just writing about this is making me feel sick again. I asked him if he could give me any more information, but he would not tell me anything further on the phone.

At this point my arms were going numb and I told the officer that I was on my way into Fargo for an appointment but that I would immediately turn around and come home. He told me that wasn't necessary - but I knew there was no way I could keep driving and continue on with my day with such an accusation bouncing around my brain. After I hung up with the policeman I immediately called Kyle and told him what was going on, and he decided to come home from work. I was very relieved as I knew I needed his support and leadership to face this.

I tried to reach our Pastor but his cell phone connection was cutting out, so I spoke with our Assistant Pastor and told him what was going on. I can't remember a word he said, I was very stressed and crying by this time, but I do remember he gave me some good advice. After I spoke with him (I was home by this time) I called Home School Legal Defense and they said because this situation was likely not a homeschooling issue, that they could not get involved. So then I called Christian Law Association and spoke with a Paralegal. He (or was it a she?) told me to go ahead and go to the police station to see what was going on, but that if I became the least bit uncomfortable with any of the questions that I was to stop answering and tell the officer I wanted a lawyer. Yikes. Yikes and a half! It was beginning to dawn on me that I really had no clue what we could possibly be facing - and that (depending on what accusations might have been made) I could very well be going to get arrested. Gulp.

By this time I was bawling. The numbness from my arms was beginning to settle over the rest of me. Should we grab the kids and flee to Canada? Mexico? Glyndon? Wait a second here. Why was I panicking? I had not abused my child. I had nothing to fear. God was not going to wait outside the police station while I dealt with this on my own. Kyle was with me, the kids were healthy and safe, and we all got on our knees and asked God to intervene and help us on our behalf. Please help me Abba, Father, Papa, Daddy. I need you. Please help me to feel as though I am safely in your lap, in your arms, as I felt when I was a child on my earthly Daddy's knee.

We left for the police station, and on the way there our Pastor called and I filled him in on the situation. He was shocked when I told him that the Paralegal had told me it was legal for the officer to question Peanut without anyone else present, and without the parent's knowledge or consent. You are probably thinking, "WHAT?!?" I KNOW. This part of the whole ordeal has bothered me the most. Peanut has Down syndrome - and at times she is difficult to understand and she can be easily misled or misinterpret questions that she is asked. I had no idea what the officer could have asked her or what she might have said. And she was not able to communicate to me what their conversation was about.

When we got to the police station God gave me the strength to walk inside and face whatever was ahead. Was I going to find out what handcuffs actually felt like? I was as cold as the steel of a pair of handcuffs by this time. It was a good thing I hadn't eaten breakfast or it might have ended up on the floor of the policeman's office.

Knowing Godly friends were praying gave me just the support and encouragement I needed.

As soon as we sat down, we were surprised to hear the officer apologize to us. He went on to say that THIS WHOLE THING WAS BASICALLY A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. At this time I don't have the liberty to write any more details about this situation other than to say that there is a child in our area whose name is similar to Peanut's who reported her own parent for abuse. The officer simply had the wrong house. You can imagine our relief. In fact, we were so relieved and so thankful that this turned out to be nothing, that we instantly forgot the turmoil this had put us through. In retrospect, I have learned several things.

1. Never answer your door when a policeman is knocking. Just kidding. No, seriously, our older children need to know that if a policeman or social worker should come to the door and ask to speak to another member of the household they should politely tell them, "I will call my parents and you can speak to them." If I had been home I would not have allowed the policeman to question Peanut without me present. I just think that was unacceptable, even though it was legal. If I had been home, and he had pushed the issue, I would have probably respectfully pushed right back for proof that it was legal, and insisted that she have someone represent her or that the conversation was recorded. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief that it actually happened. Unfortunately until the Lord returns, these types of things are probably going to become more and more commonplace, even in the United States of America.

2. Have the numbers for Home School Legal Defense and/or Christian Law Association or your family lawyer handy at all times. I had to wait until I got home to look these numbers up. And, shame on me, our membership with HSLDA is not current. This was a sharp reminder to quit procrastinating and renew our membership.

3. Know the people in your life who will pray for you in your time of need - and call them when you need them. This will bolster your faith and give you strength and encouragement.

4. Remember that these types of trials can come into our lives without any warning - and we need to be "always ready to give an answer" and stay in the Word and on our knees so we don't completely "lose it" when bad stuff happens. Just as God helped Paul and Silas in the jail, just as He helped the Israelites out of Egypt - just as He has upheld and sustained His people through all the ages, He will help you too, if you are His child.

5. If you do not know Christ as your Saviour, if you do not have God in your life, please contact me. It would be an honor to show you from God's word how you can have peace through the Cross.

6. Romans 8:28.

7. Thank you, God.

Working Mother

I am one of those people who has always chuckled inwardly (sometimes I laugh outright) at the term "Working Mother". I've yet to find a Mom who doesn't work! I guess that is why they call the beginnings of physical motherhood "labor". From the moment that baby is brought into the world, there is always something to do. I could make a very long list here of all that mothers do, but I'd probably crash my computer, and maybe even bring down the whole worldwide internet. I really don't want to be responsible for all that. Suffice it to say that the words work and motherhood are synonymous.

That being said, work has a new meaning in the Grove household. Our finances have dictated that it will be necessary for me to work part-time outside of the home. I had an interview this morning and have been hired at Hawley Assisted Living, where I will be starting out in Housekeeping, then getting training and moving up to Home Health Aide. I'm excited and scared and happy and apprehensive, all at the same time!! It's been quite a few years since I've earned a paycheck, so this will be a leap for me. For so long, my focus has been husband, kids and home (and it will still be my first priority) but now that I'm "branching out" and adding more responsibility, I've had to switch gears in my mind.

Kyle and I have come to this decision with much prayer and contemplation. Thankfully the director who hired me is sensitive to my need to keep our home and homeschooling my first priority, and she is willing to schedule me on the days that Kyle will be home, for the most part. Things One and Two can handle the occasional times that both of us will be gone.

I'd appreciate your prayers as I find the balance with my new schedule, and that we'll all make a smooth transition to me working outside the home.

By the way, this is all D.M.'s fault, because she pursuaded me that there is better coffee out there than Folger's Black Silk. The real reason I need to work is to be able to afford my addiction to Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

So it's all her fault. ;)

A Russian Princess

Ten years ago today, in Russia, there was a baby girl who was born. Her mother named her Ekaterina.

Half a world away, in the United States, lived a family of three. Two loving, dedicated parents and one son, born into the family through adoption. The couple was thrilled to have their son join their lives in 1994. He made their home even homier. Yet something was calling to the couple from afar - and as time went on they knew that somewhere out there was a little girl who belonged with them.

So the couple visited a Russian orphanage. They saw different babies - but one knit her way into her future Daddy's heart the very first time he held her. It was in those moments that little Ekaterina joined our family, although it would be a couple of months before she was able to come home.

The couple I speak of are my beloved sister and her husband - and the son they adopted is my dear nephew, now fourteen years of age. He is the same age as Pickles and it's been a joy to watch him grow up. He has the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever seen and is probably going to be even taller than his adoptive Daddy.

The sweet little Russian Princess was dubbed "Katy" by her late Grandmother - although her parents did formally change her name. We all call her by the nickname "Katya" that was given to her in the orphanage by her caregivers. Today is Katya's tenth birthday - or "double digits" as she has enjoyed saying.

Katya, I am so thankful that God wanted to have you join our family. Writing this has brought tears to my eyes. I remember when your Mama sent me the first pictures of you when you were still in the orphanage. I loved you before I had ever even met you!

Happy Birthday darling Katya. I hope your day is as special as you are!!

Singin' the Blues

Hi kids. Have you ever had a day, week, month (year?!?) where you just felt blue and out of sorts? Well, I'm there. I know I seem incessantly sunshiny and all, at least my friends tell me that, but the truth is, I'm bummed.

Does it seem to you like the whole world is insane right now? Most newscasts have something depressing to ruin your day, so I've even been avoiding the news, for the most part. I can't get away from it completely, of course - I'd have to live in a cave. But the thing is, living in a cave is sounding better and better all the time.

There are moments I think to myself that we need to move to a remote area, off the grid, and start a farm where we can be totally self-sufficient. Raise or grow all our own food, put up a cabin, sew all our own clothes, just us and the critters and the land. Can you say, "Wilderness Family"? Remember that movie? I love that movie.

The thing is, that most days, I really like people. I NEED interaction with others, at least when I am well-watered and fed, and have plenty of coffee in my system. (You do not want to see me in the morning BC - before coffee.)

So, what am I trying to say? I don't know what I am trying to say. Actually I do know, but in this blog I don't reveal ALL. That is only in my other blog. Don't bother doing an internet search to find it, because the other blog only exists in my mind.

Neener, neener, neener. ;p

Blog Again, Blog Again, Jiggedy Jig

Yesterday morning I woke up at 5:00am from a nightmare I had. It was a weird nightmare, and I find it is a recurring one that I have often. Or at least the "theme" of the dream is recurring.

I dreamed (dreamt?) that I was yelling at the top of my lungs at someone who had made me really upset about something. The theme that is recurring with this dream is that in real life, when someone has upset me greatly or caused me stress, I will dream that I am yelling at them. Weird huh? Well, if you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you should know I am weird.

I think that this form of dream is my mind's way of decompressing. Because sometimes, sometimes I really do want to yell at people. Be honest now, you probably do too. Have you ever had someone say or do something really offensive to you, and it stuns you so you don't know how to react? I had that happen the other day. Someone gave me a sideways comment (which I hate - it's so manipulative) and the more I thought about what that person said, the more it bothered me. I finally took it to the Lord and poured it out to Him. But it might have helped at the time if I had been able to do what I do in my dream - yelled at that person. :) Not really.

Speaking of nightmares, I am now the mother of three teenagers. Our little Peanut turned thirteen on Friday. I remember a time when I wondered if she would make it past age one, let alone turn thirteen. Prior to her heart surgery when she was a year old, her health was pretty precarious. (For those of you who might not know, Peanut has Down syndrome.) For the first year of her life I had a recurring nightmare of when my doctor came into the room and told us he thought she had Down syndrome. It was as though I would rewind that awful news in my mind every night. But that stopped when she had her heart surgery. I realized then that her health and her life were so much more important than a diagnosis - and I loved her so dearly that the thought of losing her overcame the fear I had of raising a child with a disability. Her surgery was so successful, and she recovered so beautifully and thrived so completely afterwards, that I finally allowed myself to focus on the fact that she would be able to grow up. And she has been a joy to raise. I am very thankful she is a part of our family, and I would not want her to be any different than she is.

This weekend the Hubs is working the night shift, so I might be back to blog again. Because I can never sleep when he is not home. Me no likee the night shift. Maybe the dog can sleep in Kyle's place. Except she snores and yips when she sleeps. Oh wait, Kyle does that too. ;) I like to tell the story of a dream he had once that he was eating a giant peanut M&M. He woke up with his pillow soaking wet. True story!

Sweet dreams!!

Blog Block

I DID IT AGAIN. I thought of The Most Clever Blog Title Ever but did not write it down. I know now what I need to do - I need a Blackberry. Then I can blog whenever the inspiration hits me and these things won't flee from my brain faster than a...faster than a....faster than.......Huh. I forgot what I was going to say.

Anyway yesterday evening I had to take Thing 5 to the clinic - he'd been coughing and was starting to get "punkier" by the minute. I did not like the sound and look of his respirations and he had a low-grade temp. Wouldn't you know it, he's come down with pneumonia too. I'm not sure why these nasty bugs have decided to roost in our household this past month, but today I'm fighting back. Echinacea, garlic, vitamin C, lots of fluids, and lots of prayer. Thing 5 also had to start up nebulizer treatments again - his oxygen levels were low and he was laboring to breathe. I do not like the albuterol nebulizer treatments, as they make him quite hyper, but so far we have not had to start the steroids. The doctor did prescribe some in case he worsened but he is doing much better. I'm thankful for that because those steroids make him so miserable, he literally squirms uncontrollably - and his emotions are in super high gear for a couple days. Hopefully he'll be able to kick this bug on its hinder with some good rest and lots of TLC. Plus I'm disinfecting the house as much as I can. I am eager to be able to throw open the windows with some warmer weather and really give the house a good airing out. With breathing issues I have to be very careful what kind of cleaning products I use. Once it is warmer I'll send the kids to the park one of these days and really do some deep cleaning with the lysol and bleach.

Tomorrow we'll be celebrating the Risen Saviour and I plan to make a big ham dinner. I bought a huge ham, which I'll throw in the oven with my brother-in-law's favorite glaze - a can of cherry pie filling. Yum. I also plan to make cheesy green beans, a white cake with pink vanilla frosting and pastel sprinkles (very spring-like) and of course potatoes and my homemade bread. As Rachel Ray says, "Yum-O!"

'Scuse me while I go clean the drool off my keyboard...

H.N. - This Blog's For You

I had a friend ask me yesterday when I was going to update my blog. I think that makes for 3 or 4 readers now. ;) But like I said before, I don't blog for the readers, I blog because I like to write. If someone gets some entertainment out of it, or laughter at my expense, then even better. I do worry about my friend though, if the only entertainment she is getting is from this blog. I'm going to need to take her out to dinner or something.

Yesterday I thought of the Most Clever Blog Title Ever but within a split-second it was gone from my mind! I absolutely hate when that happens. I will sometimes have a poem pop into my head, or the lyrics to a song - and if I don't immediately write it down I will forget it. Usually the poems come into my mind at night or when I wake up, so they usually don't get written down. I have a lot of unleashed poetry floating around my brain. I have a friend who can write these beautiful, thought-provoking poems that will just touch your soul. I can't do that with poetry though - if I think about the lines too much it never works for me.

Recently we've had lots of Adventures in Flood Fighting in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Kyle, along with Thing 1 and Thing 2, helped their fellow Civil Air Patrol volunteers to sandbag and build dikes in many needed areas. Thing 2 and I also went sandbagging a couple times in Dilworth and Moorhead. If you've never been sandbagging, you are missing out. I must admit though that my left shoulder is still recovering. I've bought a lot of Advil this past month!

One afternoon when Thing 2 and I were busily sandbagging at a site in Dilworth, they stopped all production and announced that Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota would be visiting the site. So they had us all gather into a group, and in the Governor walked with his entourage and a couple of security guards that looked like they could throw a really full sandbag a very long distance. The Governor (who I noticed smelled very nice in that dusty, cold and damp place that smelled like clay and wet sand - funny how you notice those things) stood just a few feet away from me and gave a short, inspiring little speech and pledged his help and support. And do you know what I did? I'm so embarrassed. I started to cry like a little girl. No, I'm not kidding. I was tired, sore and very concerned for many dear friends who were possibly in danger of losing their homes. After his little talk he of course, like any good politician, went around to shake hands. And do you know what he did? He shook my hand and asked me, "Are you okay?" Boy did I feel dumb. He probably thought my house was going under water as he spoke. (By the way, we were in no danger whatsoever of flooding where we live.) The poor Governor probably also thought I should be medicated in a locked room somewhere. His body guards were probably in high alert when he came over to shake my hand. Duh. Anyway, I told him I was just fine and went back to fill sandbags, but not before I sincerely thanked him for coming. It was an honor to meet him - but I wish I would have thought to have him autograph a sandbag or something!

So, that is all I have for now. H.N., if you are reading this, I'm sorry this isn't a better post. I'm a little tapped out now for writing. It's a mighty good thing I don't write for a living!!

Update Schlupdate

Hello kids, I'm going to take a break from my courtship/engagement/wedding stories - I've tried really hard to continue to write on the topic but each time I do it winds up being lame and strained. Like I'm trying too hard. I need my writing to flow, or it just winds up being lame and strained, like I'm trying too hard. :)

It's been a tough couple of weeks here on the Almosta Ranch, as the kids and I have all been sick. It started two weeks ago, with the three little ones. I thought they were getting strep, so we took them to the doctor, and he diagnosed a virus that he said had affected hundreds of kids in the area. He told us it would be a tough one, and that the kids would be sick at least seven days. I prepared for a rough week, stocked up on OTC cold/cough medications - then proceeded to get sick myself along with our two oldest children. By the weekend we were all a coughing, hacking, feverish pile of misery.

Then came the blizzard.

Monday night Kyle stocked up on groceries and we hunkered down, preparing for what was predicted to be a nasty storm. We had plenty of PT, Tylenol and Kleenex. I even made a huge pot of chicken soup, which no one would eat. We had lots of beverages - different types of teas, Sprite, gatorade - and I encouraged the kids to drink whatever they wanted.

That night, during the first part of the blizzard, Thing Two spiked a 105 degree fever. Yes, you read that right. One Hundred and Five Degrees. I'm talking fever - not a minus wind chill, although it probably felt like that outside with that awful blizzard raging. Anyway, the only thing I could do with Thing Two was get him into the tub to bring his fever down, as by this point he was vomiting up anything that entered into his stomach. We got through the night, his fever came down a bit, but the next morning Thing Four came to me and said, "Mama, my legs are really big." I had only had a couple of restless hours of sleep at this point, and so I sat up in bed, checked her over, and then she said, "Mama, look at my fingers, they are really swollen." She was staring at her fingers with this dazed look, and I realized she felt like a little oven. Sure enough, she was sharing her brother's 105 degree fever. Thankfully she was able to keep some Advil down and so I put her back to bed. Even though she was very sick too, that was the highest her fever got and it did not go back up that high. I wonder now if her oxygen levels were low at that point - initially I thought she was dreaming but I suppose she was actually hallucinating, or at the very least, her vision was distorted.

Thing Two was holding his own, but was starting to get a little worse. Throughout the day, as the blizzard raged, I became quite anxious and was getting scared for him. When his fever would start to rise (It went up to 105 at least a half-dozen times) I would get a little panicky. I paced and prayed and prayed and paced. I gave our thermometer a workout - all the kids had fevers, coughs, and some were vomiting. I felt trapped, and I knew if Thing Two worsened I would need to get some help. I'm very thankful Kyle was home with us or I would have called in the National Guard. I'm not kidding either.

Throughout all this I was talking to an Angel in the form of a nurse on the nurse help line. She kept giving me guidelines and helpful suggestions to keep fluids in Thing Two and keep his fever down. She encouraged me that he was going to be okay and that I was doing all the right things.

The scary blizzard raged on as we entered another long night. At one point Thing Two asked me to just sit with him, as he was so very miserable. It's amazing how a big, strong teenage boy can still need his Mom when he's sick or hurting. By morning he was in pain, severe pain in his chest, and so I once again got him into the tub and waited out the morning until I could get him to the clinic. Kyle shoveled out the car and made a path through the highest drifts we'd ever had, and when the clinic here in town opened at 10:00 I showed up, I didn't even make an appointment.

I need to back up here a bit and say that I did seriously consider calling an ambulance throughout all this. I'd never seen fevers of 105 in any of my kids, and I'd never seen any of my kids so sick, especially all at one time. However, if I had called an ambulance, they would have sent the Emergency Response Team from town, but if Thing Two had needed to be transported they would have needed to send out another ambulance from Fargo, along with a snowplow. Highway Ten was treacherous and deadly during that storm and it would probably have been more dangerous to be out, especially considering how sick he was.

Anyway, the roads opened later that morning, but the clinics in Fargo weren't opening until noon. I knew that the ER would be packed - so the local clinic was our first course of action. It turned out to be the best course of action as well. The doc checked him over, took an X-Ray and sure enough - he had pneumonia. We talked seriously about taking him to the hospital for fluids but the doc thought that with some anti-nausea meds and a strong antibiotic, he would do okay at home. I was needed at home too, with the other children still so sick. Bless that doctor's heart - he even called me at home a couple times to check on us.

By that evening Thing Two was resting comfortably, he was responding to the medications, and was keeping down fluids. He even ate a couple bites later that evening. The rest of the kids were slowly improving - except for Thing Four. Her fever was gone but she was still very, for lack of a better term, "punky". She didn't want to eat, she was feeling miserable - so I took her to the Children's walk-in clinic. Sure enough, she has pneumonia too. She has responded well on antibiotics. All the kids are on the mend. So am I, thankfully.

God saw us through this terrible illness and the blizzard. He answered my prayer to take care of my children and gave me strength when I'd had no rest. Things Two and Four were dangerously ill - especially Thing Two - but God kept me from panicking and gave me help over the phone, and He kept the kids from getting any worse. I really did not want to venture out into that blizzard. I don't even know how an ambulance crew would have reached our door, the drifts were so high. I suppose they would have brought over a snowplow but I'm thankful I did not have to find out!

Yesterday I had an extra measure of thankfulness for kids who are gaining back their health, their appetites, and their spunk. It was so quiet in the house for so many days, that I rejoiced the first time I heard a couple of them giggling together over something. I was even (somewhat) glad when a couple of them started arguing over something. (Shhh - don't tell them I said that!) And I was especially thankful for the bright sunshine we had yesterday, and the melting snow. I'm thankful that Thing 3 (who has Down syndrome and is a little weaker than the other kids) and Thing 5, who is still so little, did not get as sick as Two and Four. Their bodies would not have handled this illness as well. I'm also very thankful I'm not a young, inexperienced mom - because this would have just been too scary for me to manage. I don't think I'd have known what to do.

I have a lot to be thankful for!

The Dress

She was on a hanger, draped in plastic, the first time I saw her. A gorgeous concoction of shimmery organza, lace, sequins and beads, I knew almost the moment that I saw her that she needed to be mine.

I'd been shopping for The Dress with my dear friend Nadine, and we'd been to several stores and I could not find anything I liked. I was getting discouraged. Nadine had a good idea of what I wanted, and when we got to the last store, we both started looking at different ends of the dress racks. Nadine came up to me and said, "I think I found it." I went over to look at it and at first was not sure, but she pointed out the lovely features of the dress, and I began to get excited. It had a high lace collar, with pearlized beadwork hanging down at the neckline. Glorious puffed sleeves, the kind that would have made Anne of Green Gables swoon with delight. There was enough beadwork and sequins to satisfy even my deep love of sparkly things. She had long sleeves, which came to a point at the wrist, with an ornate arrangement of even more sequins and beadwork. The full, gathered skirt, complete with a cathedral-length train, was flounced at the bottom with swirls of gathered flounces of organza. The skirt had applique's of beaded lace, sequined throughout. Overall the material was a shiny organza that shimmered in the light.

I had found her. Or maybe I should say Nadine found her. The only bad part was it had a huge bow on the back. Nadine solved that though - "We'll just take it off!" she suggested. Very Good Idea. It reminded me of one of those reflective signs that are required on the back of Amish buggies.

It was love at first sight, my dress. I decided I would buy it, and since I was a college student making just over minimum wage, I put the dress on lay-away. My parents were paying for part of it, but I wanted to pay for as much of it as I was able. I could not wait to walk down the aisle in the dress of my dreams, to meet and marry the man of my dreams at the end of that aisle.

Next I needed a veil. Yikes, but that was going to be almost as hard as buying the dress, and they were expensive! Some veils cost almost as much as I paid for the dress! But a few months before the wedding I went to a Bridal Fair with a good friend of mine, and I won a gift certificate to a local bridal shop. It just so happened that week their veils were 50% off - so I took my gift certificate and found two veils that I really liked. Since my dress was so ornate, I decided to keep the veil a little more simple. The one I chose had a simple crown-type headband, and there were lacy flowers along the top that matched the type of flowers in the lace on my dress, and it had crystals and pearls decorating the top. The veil material was tulle, and ended in finger-tip length, edged in white. Lovely. The best part was I got the veil free because of the gift certificate I had won, in combination with the sale - I only had to pay the tax!

My outfit, for the most part, was complete. To me, this was one of the most important parts of the wedding. I knew everything else was going to fall into place after this. The flowers, invitations, decorations, food - it was all secondary to me, although important. The excitement I felt during the planning and preparations to marry the one I loved so much was almost overwhelming.

It was a good thing that I had school, we both had jobs and different ministries in the church to keep us busy. Or I might have just donned that dress and eloped with Kyle!

The Ring

After I had accepted my beloved's proposal and he placed the ring on the third finger of my left hand, I sat and admired the fiery sparkliness of the 1/4 carat diamond. It was a round brilliant cut, nearly flawless, and perfectly lovely. We had decided to pair it with a matching simple gold wedding band we picked out at the jeweler's. However, a few months later my maternal Grandmother died, and as we were sorting through her belongings I found a simple, plain gold band in a tiny box inside of a drawer. It was 14k gold and I learned it was the second wedding ring my Grandma had owned. Her first ring wore through the band, she wore the second ring for many years, until her children bought Grandma and Grandpa a new wedding ring set in honor of their sixtieth wedding anniversary. So I approached my Uncle Mac, the patriarch of the family, and asked him if I could have Grandma's ring. I told him it was just like the one we were going to buy, but it would mean a great deal to me to have her ring soldered to my engagement ring. With an affectionate smile, he gave me Grandma's ring. Oh, how precious it was for me to have a little piece of family history on my hand. I cherish that ring to this day.

Kyle had initially wanted a fancier ring for me, one with rubies or other gems to compliment the larger center stone. But that was not really my style. I like classic things, simple and plain, nothing too showy. (Except for my wedding dress. There was not an inch on my dress that did not have beadwork or sequins or lace - the trademark of an 80's bride.)

So we decided to pair my lovely solitaire diamond engagement ring with the ring I'd inherited from my Grandmother. Later on, we decided we would add another ring to the other side of the wedding band. Maybe something with gemstones, we'd have to see. We'd planned to do something like that for our tenth anniversary, but quite frankly, we were broke and unable to afford gemstones and gold at the time. I was happy with my wedding ring, I didn't need anything fancy to make me feel more "married". But when we'd been married twelve years, we found another plain gold band with twelve channel-set diamonds that perfectly complimented the plain gold band on the opposite side. So, he bought it for me. It gave an added sparkle to my ring, and compliments the center diamond beautifully.

Now that we have been married almost 20 years we are thinking of changing the ring a bit again. I'll never alter the original setting, or remove Grandma's band - but if we take off the band with the 12 small channel-set diamonds and replace it with a wrap that has sapphires (Kyle's birthstone) and/or diamonds, that would dress up the ring and really show off the center stone. I need to get my ring repaired anyway. It needs new prongs for the center diamond, and one of the smaller diamonds in the channel-set band has a crack in it. No idea how that happened.

And I need to get it resized. It's getting too big after having lost over 80 pounds this past year. Woohoo!!

Anyway it's not the ring that is important - but what it symbolizes. And through thick and thin, bad and good, sweet and sour, we have stuck together like glue. We've weathered many storms together, and trials with our children and families and friends. Sometimes it has been a roller-coaster ride, but always I have had my steady rock. Kyle never wavers - he takes things as they come and he moves forward. I can depend on him. And he has challenged me to work a little harder, to grow a little stronger, to do a little more than I thought I was capable of. He doesn't like frilly, goofy, senseless, useless girls. He has much more appreciation for a woman who can cook a good meal, take care of a screaming baby, fold a load of laundry and give him a massage - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I'm not the prettiest, or the smartest, I don't have many talents - but he thanks me for giving him five beautiful children. He is appreciative of clean sheets when he climbs into bed after a hard day's work. He gives a particularily thankful nod when I bake a great loaf of bread, or clean the garage, or buy his favorite tea. If I was a shopoholic who was addicted to manicures and regularily changing my hairstyle, he probably would not complain, but he wouldn't be pleased. He never lavishes praise on me - but I know when he notices a job well done. And I love when he notices. It makes me want to do even more for him. He is not the most romantic guy, once he gave me a set of pots and pans for Christmas. But I loved them. Sometimes he forgets birthdays or anniversaries. Sometimes he remembers but still doesn't do anything special. One of my favorite anniversaries was our tenth. After ten years you should probably do something really special, right? Nah. We took the kids to Fargo to the zoo. And had a blast!! Then stayed at a motel and went swimming. It was a great anniversary. One other time, I think it was our fifteen-year anniversary, we hadn't planned anything and he was feeling pretty bad about that. So I went to the store, got some good fruit and cheese and crackers and chocolate - and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. I set up a little tray and lit candles and got out my best crystal goblets - and we sat on our bed and feasted and talked and talked and talked. It was a very memorable anniversary for me. He would have liked to have gone to the Bahamas or Hawaii, or hey, even Medora or something. I was content at home, talking and spending time together, splurging on some goodies to share. What else could we do, with a nursing baby and four more kids at home?

I am blessed beyond what I deserve with a man who has continued to surge ahead alongside me, always thinking of the kids (today he brought home these tiny cans of juices the airlines give away - he knew the kids would enjoy them) and he prefers to be home with us than anywhere else. He could be a sports junkie or hunting fanatic or, God forbid, gambler or drinker. His idea of a good time is a boatload of hot, buttered salty popcorn, an iced tea, and all five kids snuggled up with him in the tv room, watching a movie together. Thank you, God. Oh, how I love the man you gave to me.

To Be Continued...

The Proposal

He proposed to me in the parking lot of the Bonanza restaurant in Grand Forks, ND, on New Year's Eve in 1988. It wasn't a surprise - we'd picked out the ring together months before and he'd been making payments on it. When we went to Munn's Jewelry in Crookston, Minnesota and looked at all the diamonds through the glass, he spotted a gorgeous setting that he really liked, a large, round center diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and rubies. It was terribly expensive though, and honestly not my style. It was more than I wanted or needed. Instead, I desired something simple, a round solitaire diamond with a simple gold band, and another plain gold band for the wedding ring. "Okay" he said, "But only if you are sure. You'll be wearing it the rest of your life." Sigh. Oh how I loved those words, "the rest of your life". I wanted to spend my life with this man, to grow old with him.

As we were sitting in my car the night of The Proposal, he asked me to turn and look at the huge pile of snow in the parking lot. "When I was a kid, my Dad would bring all of us boys here to eat, and while he would sit and have coffee after the meal, we'd always play on the snow pile." I turned to look at the snow, it was a huge pile made by the snow plow that cleared the parking lots around the restaurant and ajoining mall. There was a lot of snow that year - so much snow that later on that winter we got into an accident because the piles at the intersection were too high to see around. Anyway, when I turned back around from looking at the snow and imagining five little boys playing there, he had the ring in his hand. "Will you marry me?" he asked? I got really teary-eyed, blubbered out my "YES!" and he tried to put the ring on my right hand. I pulled it away. He tried again. I discretely tried to give him my left hand. He tried the right hand again and with concern said, "Don't you want the ring?" And I started to laugh. A nervous, goofy laugh, as the tears rolled down my cheeks. "Yes, I want the ring very much, but that's the wrong hand!!" And so we laughed together. Thus began our journey towards married life that had started a little more than two years earlier, when we'd met on September 4th, 1986, at the University of North Dakota. This summer we will celebrate our 20th Anniversary.

To Be Continued...

Blog Slog

I love reading other people's blogs. And I love to write. Often, though, I don't know what to write about. Hence the title of this blog - because lately it's as though my mind is stuck in mud.

I thought I'd at least update you on our latest news. We are surviving this very cold winter, with lots and lots of snow. There have been days we have been stormed in, and days when it has been dangerously cold - too cold to venture out. In between those days the kids have been getting in lots of skating and some sledding.

Kyle's niece, Cherith, has been improving. Thank you to everyone who has been praying. This situation has weighed heavily on our hearts, but knowing we have friends and family who are spending time in prayer has made the burden lighter. You can read about Cherith's condition at www.caringbridge.org/visit/cherithgrove If the link doesn't work, cut and paste it into your browser.

Today I have a dentist appointment. I hate, repeat hate, going to the dentist. I don't like the sounds, the smells, and the pain. I've often said I'd rather have a baby, alone in the woods without any help, than go to the dentist. If they gave me a choice, such as, "Root Canal...or....the RACK" I'd say, "I'd like the rack,please." Or perhaps, "Cleaning and X-Rays...or....Waterboarding?" I'd say, of course, "Waterboarding". Hands down. Give me the torture, thank you very much.

I've cried in the dentist's chair before. Cried like a little girl. I can't remember why I cried, the trauma of it all has erased my memory of the event. My hazy memory recalls something about a root canal and searing, white-hot pain. But I DO remember thinking, "If the assistant that I know walks by right now I'm going to take Mr. Slurpy and stick it in my ear and suck my brains out." Because I would have died from embarrassment if he (the assistant, not Mr. Slurpy) had seen me crying. Having your mouth open for long periods of time, and drool and spit and the knowledge that they can see up your nostrils is bad enough. Crying in the dentist chair and having someone see my little meltdown would have sent me over the edge. I dangle precariously close to the edge on a regular basis, and it's not because I like the exhilaration!

So, soon I will be off to flirt with the edge again. I just have a cleaning and exam today but I'm bracing myself for bad news. Because, as much as I wish to deny it, I'm concerned about the left side of my face, where I have been having swelling in my jaw. (Actually I get concerned about my whole face, but that is just when looking in the mirror. :) It started out as a virus a couple weeks before Christmas, and my lymph glands have been swollen. But the swelling has continued in my jaw and it causes discomfort. If I have an abcess I think I might just cry in the chair again! There's something to be said for dentures, let me tell you!!

I'll update you on my Adventures with the Dentist once I get out of the psych ward. K? ;)

Cherith Janelle Grove

Our niece, Cherith Janelle (age 14) was hospitalized with pneumonia at Meritcare in Fargo the day after Christmas. Her condition rapidly declined, and she was taken by Life-Flight to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. Currently she has a pretty dire prognosis. Right now the doctors are checking for possible cancer, damage to her spleen and possible brain damage. It has been an emotional rollercoaster of good news and bad news. Cherith is the daughter of Kyle's oldest brother, their fifth child in a family of seven. She has proven to be incredibly resilient, which has given all of us a great deal of hope. Please pray for her and her family. You can read more about her story at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cherithgrove