Peter Pan Teeth

It was park day and the girls enjoyed outside time with friends. I too enjoyed visiting wth other schooling moms. And then.....

On the monkey bars, Ladybug hung.... as sister came to the rescue, she grabbed on hanging Ladybug and pulled her down. It was not a graceful rescue... and I'm sure it was not the safest way down.

Ladybug sat crying & her mouth bleeding! Unconsolable! We left the park yet in tears... I was gald we were close to home.... erands would have to wait...

Peter Pan is not what the girls are dressing up for tonight's Farm Fair! Nor is it the attempted rescue!! We've talked alot lately about Peter Pan teeth!! We all enjoyed reading Peter Pan in AO1... Ladybug yet has those Peter Pan teeth... all baby teeth! Since the crash we've wondered if she'll loose one of those baby teeth... As of yet they are all in tight, except for an occasional "I cannot bite that!"

Bloging has come slower as life has resumed pace. Hubbie is long back at work... and he's yet in pain. More pain than last time and more than he's expected! This 2nd surgery has been alot harder recovery! Monday we'll see his surgeon again and make sure all it normal!! Often hubbie takes his temp to make sure his is norm.... He's yet praying for no leeks from the surgery... and he's hoping 6 weeks from surgery he'll feel much better than now!!! Now he's 4 weeks out....

Best Overall

I cannot believe it!!! I won!! I won the Pie Bake-Off!!! I took Memom's Coconut Cream Pie & won!!

There were awards for Best Tasting, Most Creative, & Best Over-all!!!

I think tomorrow I'd better share the recipe!! We'll celebrate with a gift card!! ss

Comments
Nov. 5, 2007 - Posted by lklivingston
How wonderful! I would have loved to have tasted it!

Memom!

Yea! Memom & Aunt Karen are coming!!! We are looking forward to a weekend with family!! It is so fun to inport family!!! Thanks to ya'll for covering the miles!!!

Yogurt!! Yikes the last time it flopped!!! Oh, I'll have to discover why!!

And they are here!!! Memom memom memom!!!

ss

My Best Yogurt

With all hubbie's surgeries... he's learned to like yogurt! Yogurt yogurt yogurt gets expensive! So with our fresh milk, we make butter and now yogurt too!!

Thanks to Evelyn & Aimee, I'm using a yogurt maker! It makes 5 cups at a time!

My Best Yogurt

• 3c Milk


• 1/3c Sugar


• 3T Cornstarch
  
  

1. Heat to 185-195F. Place pan in cool water to cool down.


2. Cool to 122-130F

• 1/2c Yogurt- Plain for starter (I'm using a Bulgarian Yogurt)

Mix starter into cooled milk. At this point I add it to my yogurt maker for 12-24hrs.

This makes a sweet yogurt. We then add peach preserves, apricot preserves, or blueberry jam and eat it up! Yumm...

I've also read of making yogurt in a cooler with hot water... and other ideas too!! Sound cool??!!! I'll post soon some Pumpkin Muffins!! We'll make them first!

Hubbie is yet hurting!! Humf! It seems this should be done!! Lovebug decided adoption would bring a baby our way. Her knee is also healing from a bad figure8 crash (Ask KjS!) and repeat falling on it! Ladybug is learning her "j J Jam". Mama's making a southwestern soup!!

I've been reminded everything is God's and with open hands we hold it for him!! Trusting His loving hands!! ss

Beatitudes

Today we caught up on Lovebug's Bible Study Lesson. Matthew 5:1-16

Snuggled in bed we read Jesus' words. She did good reading through the questions. She was challenged to memorize the eight Christian characteristics of blessed people.... in her BSF lesson.

Poor in spirit, Mourn, Meek, Hunger & Thirst for righteousness, Merciful, Pure in heart, Peacemakers, & Persecuted because of righteousness.

The next question: "Does one of these eight characteristics describe you? Which one?" Mourn for our BaBy

Daily I'm reminded by both my girls of the baby we've lost now a month ago. This chapter I closed when Hubbie went back in the hospital... is yet a chapter continuing. Last night Lovebug thought she'd figured it out... laying down to sleep.. "Mama, we could adopt a baby." And tonight again on the pillows Ladybug asked if I missed out little one.

My first prayer with loosing the baby was for God to protect the hearts of my girls. Their hearts yet ache and I'm reminded that they each are a blessing! Life lessons... this is a big one!! ss

Fast or Slow

What is fasting? Going real fast. -Love Bug

Sinus alarm: 5:45 Oh, that's too early for me!

40 Days of Prayer: We'll join the prayer campaign today. A challenge to commit to pray. That's a good challenge

Civil War Battle: Today we'll visit the 1863 period Confederate and Federal military camps complete with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Also visit the period civilian camp, shop at period sutlers, or come and listen to the band play. Modern food concessions are also located on site. Come enjoy the day with us!

2:00 p.m.

Battle reenactment begins

Tonight is Ladies Night: Chocolate & How you met your husband! (Oh, that's a story... Rome!)

Grace to ya! ss

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Sinus Battle

My driver has been sleep. Once or twice a week I awake in the night with a sinus attack. I lay down as long as I can stand it... and eventually I grab a box of klenex and try to breathe for hours. This week I've had to take the upgrade to Puffs with lotion for my hurting nose!!!

Yesterday I made a break through!!! I headed to our health, herb, natural, grains, and I even heard buffalo store. I got the herbal ingredients for a Sinus Wonder Wash. It is not for the fair hearted. It is not pretty. It is for battle!! A battle I want to win!

After years of struggle... my M.D. had me on Rx after Rx and Zertec had helped until this year it dried my eyes and I could not wear my contacts :( dried my lips to the point of pain... so I wearied of the Z and cut my dose to 1/2.

Then my N.M.D. (Natural Medical Dr.) said I was generally healthy!! Merely a bit of venom in my system and I was good!

All that and the sinus attacks continued... even on the Zertec... and much harder after. Well Sunday I stopped the Z. Wednesday I bought the soft kleenex. Thursday I started the wash. Last night I slept all night and woke rested. That was wild!! I felt better than longer than I can remember.

The Sinus Wonder Wash has not been my first alternative help!! GOOT was a first try. If you are curious e me!! I'll share what I've gleaned!! Tonight I'll sleep and enjoy breathing anew!

Jesus Heals! ss

Comments

Oct. 22, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
Just what was this miracle weapon?

Dec. 22, 2007 - Sinus Remedy
Posted by lklivingston
Check out this link: http://instapundit.com/archives2/013258.php Perhaps it would be worth a try?

A Midsummer Night's Dream

We enjoyed A Midsummer Night's Dream play today!! I'd not planned this trip with all life has going on lately... but last night I prayed "God, if you want us to go, get us up in time."

He must have wanted us to go!! This morning I was up at 6a and my sinus attack kept me up!! So I started to get ready for the day and realized that God had gotten me up in time to go to the play!! I was dressed and fixing breakfast at 8a.... my little one was up at 7:45 and dressed right away. I woke my big girl and she was eager about the play too. We ate and were out the door by 8:30! Impressive!

I'm so thankful!! I'm surprised too, that we could be up and gone!!! God is so good!!! And I really like ages 5 & 7!!!

Just so I knew God was orchestrating... He got me at the play at 9:20 just as Traci was arriving. It was a God appointment!! We'd never met and only emailed on our AO site.!!! She has 3 kidos and my girls had a ball playing with them after the play!! It was great sharing our AO journey and learning from each other!

The play was enjoyed by all!! It is great to see Shakespeare acted out. We are reading his plays in our AO plan, but reading does not capture the joy of his plays.

God's Plan!! ss

Mum- so glad you found our site :) All our love to you & dad & Eric. We miss ya!

Comments
Oct. 18, 2007 - Posted by lklivingston
I really wanted to go! I'm glad it worked out for you.

Fasting

My 7yo said she did not want to eat her hamburger... and at dinner she sat and stared at me the longest before she finally ate it.... I found later she had written that she was going to give up hamburgers for 3 days!! As a matter of conscience she sat and stared. I've known her to be headstrong... but this direction....

Reading on her own in her God and Me 2 book started w/ a story on "Esther- My prayers can reach heaven. 2 Chronicles 30:27"

The devotional questioned... "What do you want to change with your prayers?" "Baby" (Oh, the loss of our little one weighs heavy on little hearts too.)

The next page challenges Hand to Heaven... "Think of something you can give up for three days to show God you are serious about your prayers to him."

After dinner that night, she explained to me why she was giving up hamburgers, meat and money to pray for a baby. She asked if it should be a girl or a boy... And I said we'd love any little one God gave us. We talked about what to give up and decided giving up dinner was not her option. She started to think of other things... math and school... and giving up those where not an option either....

What optional things could she give up for 3 days? Then she decided upon ice cream, webkinz, & candy. Now for 3 days she's foregone candy and webkins and ice cream... to pray for a baby. We've talked how God answers prayer... yes... no... and wait.

My heart is touched by her prayers & by her passion to give up her favorites to pray for a baby. I'm challenged to pray and yet this ground in my heart is so tender... even raw... fast and pray. fast and pray. I'm thinking we'll enter a season to fast... maybe from the pc and cell phone!! To fast and pray for a baby.

I'm very reminded to pray for their tender hearts. My little one yet asks when we'll go to the hospital to get the baby to bury.... it is so hard to understand. My oldest sees someone expecting and asks why we cannot have a baby & then fasts and prays for a baby. God hears our prayer and all life is in His hands. I pray for those headstrong dirctions to honor Him.

All this time I was not schooling... and God's been her teacher... Wow!

Last night on the way to her Bible study with her daddy she saw the sunset and exclaimed "Wow dad!! Look at that, oh man oh man... God is going to be famous for this one!!"

Hubbie is recovering well and standing mostly straight up! He was exhausted after work. We enjoyed a wonderful meal from Caroline.. Thanks!!! And we had a good walk tonight. He's making great strides. God is the Great Physician. Rapha. We had a good official school day & ballet too!! ss

Comments
Oct. 17, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
wow, that so touched my heart. will be praying that God will open your womb. stacey

Autumn & Pictures

Autumn has come... it is a rainy day and leaves are just starting to fall... We've not yet tried to catch the falling leaves but we'll have to soon!! That's a fun welcome to the seasons change.

Hubbie's staples are out!!! He's standing up straight and maybe done with the cane... thanks Ben!! He's recovering great.... his lifting limit was raised from 5# to 25#. After the appointment he's headed to work for the first day back!! Pray him strength & stamina!

I'm working the blog over for Autumn & adding pictures... I like the slide show... but wonder if it is slow loading.... Do tell!!! I so remember those dial up days....

Our school books are out and calling me.... After the dr appointment we headed to choir. The girls are in a homeschool choir and they enjoyed making their egg shakers!! I'm reminded we have to be home to school.

Grace! ss

Grands

Grand'Ma & Grand'Pa - you've been grand!! Love you!!!

Up late... 2:08am... Sinus issues yet again... I've uploaded photos from our hospital days in the prior posts... Wow, we've had a Malaysia hit!?? Who's that.... Better go... Yawn... g'nite!! ss

Time to try to return to normal

Today my parents returned home to Ohio after being here for two weeks.  It was great to have them here, quite a relief from trying to juggle where the girls would go each day to just being able to rest assured that they were going to sleep in their own beds and that the grands would be there for them.  Thanks for all your help Mom and Dad.

Each day we have gotten out and done some errands and each day it seems that I get pretty tired from them.  I have to keep remembering what my surgeon told me as I left the hospital...  "You are not well yet!"

I have been taking it easy and Wifey has taken up the slack.  She is great...

Don't take your health for granted.  The simple things like getting in and out of the car can be a chore if you are not careful.

I am still hurting and I would guess I will continue to hurt for days if not weeks.  The staples in my gut are a constant reminder that it was not a simple procedure.  Coughs, sneezes and laughing are killers to my gut.  Pray my staples can come out on Monday when I go to see my doctor.

Tonight Wifey was looking at the photos that she took of my staples and gut shortly after surgery and she was going to post them here on the blog.  I will try to warn you before you accidentally scroll into a photo like that.

I hope things can return to normal...  we are still dealing with the miscarriage and trauma of the surgery.  Like Wifey said in a previous post our oldest has begun fasting, from some of her favorite things, and praying for another baby.  Her example and sincerity brings me to tears by itself.

Regards, KjS

Two Frogs in a can of cream

Two Frogs - Author unknown

Two frogs fell into a can of cream, or so it has been told.

The sides of the can were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold.

“Oh, what’s the use,” said number one. “It’s plain no help’s around.”

“Goodbye, my friend, good bye sad world.” Weeping still he drowned.

But number two, of sterner stuff, dogpaddled in surprise.

All the while he licked his creamy lips and blinked his creamy eyes.

“I’ll swim at least a while,” he thought or so it has been said.

It really wouldn’t help the world if one more frog were dead.

An hour or more he kicked and swam, not once he stopped to mutter.

Then he hopped out from the island he had made of fresh churned butter.

With Grand'ma's help we made butter and enjoyed her poem!!

After 15 minutes Lovebug was still shaking determined to finish HER butter!! Grand'ma encouraged that she was getting close and all of a sudden it would be done! She was right!

And we enjoyed fresh butter on homemade bread! Yumm...

Want to join us?? We'll have fresh cream on Saturday... and butter in the days that follow!!

Hubbie is healing on the couch... The Grands are packing for the voyage home... Lovebug is fasting from ice cream, webkins & candy to pray for a baby... all her idea.... from her God Girls Devotional. Ladybug is fightin' a cold & aching ear.... Mama has finished the Echo in the Darkness and awaits the 3rd book...

His Grace is Sufficient! s2

Day ??? I can't remember what day it is!!

This is KjS... boy do you know how many times you pick up something that is more than 10 lbs?

Last surgery that was my limit... this time it is 5 lbs. I can't even pick up 5 lbs without getting a scolding eye from someone. Next time it happens I am going to haul whatever it to the bathroom and throw it on the scale. I guess then I would have to apologize for hauling it to the bathroom if it was more than 5 lbs so I better not do that I guess.

I mean think about it, you are getting ready to try to smoke your first brisket and just as you are filling the charcoal thingy up you notice that you are holding a 10 lb bag of charcoal. Then you try to prep things and discover that the brisket you are trying to cook weighs more than 5 lbs too. Wouldn't that be funny to see me walk to the bathroom and slap a side of beef on my bathroom scale to try to prove a point...

My dad helped me get the smoker going and then get the brisket on there too so don't worry I did not rip a stitch.

My dad and I ran around today... actually we drove. We went to visit my next door neighbor at the hospital and talked with him for about an hour. He is feeling much better, they fed him a little roast beef and he is supposed to be released tomorrow so he is greatly improved. Continue to pray for his heart to see his need for Jesus Christ.

We ran drove by work just to let them know that I was still among the living even though I can't drive for a week and no basketball, soccer, volleyball, racquetball, full contact football, rodeo riding, bumper cars, skydiving, water skiing, snorkeling. We made a couple of other stops and I am whipped!

The brisket took a chainsaw to cut up for dinner, and we only had to stop to sharpen the blade once. I am still chewing it but if I think of it as beef jerky it is palatable. Royal flop! Definitely will not regain any weight on that diet…

Prayer requests:

1. That we can get some much needed rest and I would stop waking up when it is time to have my blood drawn (4am). Once I wake I don't go back to sleep, or I sleep fitfully.

2. My shoulders and chest are still real tight and I need to relax.

3. I have a little bloating or maybe it is swelling, not really sure… it all looks the same to me.

4. My next hurdle as I see it is to stop going into fits when I cough, laugh or sneeze. I think the girls think that I am having a seizure when that happens.

Later Gators, KjS

Comments
Oct. 12, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
Kerri, Glad to see that you are feeling up to "running" around. I'm sure (and pray that) pretty soon you will be back to rodeo riding, etc. We continue to pray for you and ask for God's complete and timely healing. God bless, Tom

Boardwalk - Not Monopoly!

Grands agreed to watch the girls so Wifey and I could get an evening out together.  Can't remember the last time that happened.

We really did not know where to go when wifey suggested we head to Shreveport and walk the boardwalk.  So we went out and had dinner at one of our favorite places, and then around 7:00pm left for Schreveport.  When we arrived we only had about an hour before everything closed down so once everything was closed down we walked the board walk.  It was great to be able to get out and walk with very few hills and it was very quiet. 

No one was there except us for the most part, every once in a while we would pass someone but only when they were standing still considering I am not able to really move very fast.  I am moving around much better but I am really looking forward to the staples coming out they seem to jab me all the time.

I am thankful for Texas roads...  the ones in Louisiana had bumps that really jolted me.

Regards,  KjS

Jail Break the sequel!!

Well for those  of you who have been following and praying for James as well...  good news!

James called me and told me that he was now at home as well.   He was released yesterday.  He said he is having to adjust to some changes but he is glad to be home.

Thanks for all who have been praying for him and or sent him any of the health-e-grams...  he really appreciated them.

Thanks,   KjS

Healing

Today as we got ready to head into lunch.... the girls changed out of ballet clothes....

Beside us someone parked.... and a couple headed into lunch.... the gal was expecting...



Lovebug turned to me.... "Mama, why couldn't we have a baby?"

It caught my heart... All I could say is I don't know baby....



I'm reminded that there are yet wounds to heal. God holds all life.... Last week a friend shared my grief loosing our little one saying she was so sorry... The tears yet come but they did not flood me! Healing...





Hubbie is doing great. He's resting and taking walks & enjoying his parents. I've been reminded of the Dr's words... You are not well. It is good to be on the healing side!!



God is the Great Physician!! His healing is upon all of us!!

ss

Comments
Oct. 10, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
We are praying for you all still. Grief is like an ocean, sometimes the waves come crashing in hard and fast, but sometimes they are slow and calm. God is there for you during them all. We love you all! Love, The Akins

Home Day 1

It is 5am and sleep eludes me...

It is definitely different sleeping in a flat bed and no one coming in and poking me to take blood at 4am every morning. All my nurses were great!

The pain remindes me to pray for those who are hurting.

I would like for all who have been following this blog and praying for me to also continue to pray for James in the room next to me. He seemed to have no hope... Would you consider sending him a Health-e-gram? You can go to http://www.gsmc.org/ hit the health-e-gram link and his name is James Thomas in room 1458.

I know he would appreciate a card...

Sleepless, KjS

GSMC D7 JAIL BREAK!!!!

Well this morning things have continued to progress quickly... 

This is a photo of the man who saved my life and then put me back together.  I salute him, he has a hard job...    

Today my doctor has told me that if I can keep regular food down without any problems then he would go ahead and release me to the wild.

I am currently having a healthy helping of chicken cordon blue....  yummm.  My first real meal since last Saturday.

Ice chip diet...  I am not sure how much weight I have lost so once I get to a scale I will have to post on that tidbit.  I would not recommend it in place of Adkin's or Weight Watchers.  But it definitely has some benefits...  Stephanie thinks I look pretty hot and I no longer snore.

I still hurt but I guess that is to be expected.  Doc has said I can not drive for a week and no basketball, soccer, volleyball, raquetball, full contact football, rodeo riding, bumpercars, skydiving, water skiing, snorkeling so I will try to have patience as I heal.  He said that I must not forget that I am not well yet and he actually prescribed a nap in the afternoons until the staples come out in a week.

Well for now I will let you move on to your next order of business.

Pray that I will stop having pains through my shoulders and upper back, my back is having to compensate for having the cuts through my six pack abs...  NOT.  Actually I can't tell if I have any abs left it is all kind of contorted and has zippers all over my gut.  I guess that is enough of a picture to paint.

Free!  KjS

 

GSMC D6 China & Japan

Walking & walking! That's Hubbie's ticket out. He's yet on clear liquids and we hope to get an upgrade when the Dr. makes his rounds. I think he's tired of being here.... and I hope to get a game plan with the Dr. to see what schedule we are on.

China.... Tomorrow we have a team of FBCers heading to China. We've made laps praying for their safety, good travel, God guide the details... Open blind eyes & close seeing eyes... Join us praying for this China team.

Japan.... Wow! We have a hit from the far seas.... Japan!! Ken is a pilot w/ AA and he hit our site!!! Pray for Ken & Cherry as in November Ken is up for surgery to remove both kidneys.... and pray a match for his transplant.

Camping Out!!

Prayer: Continued recovery, encouragement, peace as we wait on God. China close seeing eyes & open blind eyes. Ken pray for his kidney removal & pray a transplant. Girls & Grands safety on the road today, rock climbing & swimming... good attitudes & a great visit w/ family. Pray they'd be a joy.