I'm Gonna Make This Place Your Home

It was a timely message from an unlikely source.
We must have listened to this song from Idol winner Phillip Phillips last night a dozen times before it clicked...
it was probably written for someone very close to my heart.
This one is for you, Mom :)




"Home"

Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
Although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone...
'cause I'm gonna make this place your home.


Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons,
they fill you with fear.
The trouble, it might drag you down
If you get lost you can always be found
Just know you're not alone...
'cause I'm gonna make this place your home. 

:)

Insta-Wednesday

No, I'm not a hipster wannabe photog.  I'm just a mom who can't always lug around my camera.  SO, I snap some shots on my phone from time to time.  Here are some recent favorites from my Instagram app.  It's easy making photo magic when you have adorable subjects!

Surgery day for Carter!  Wearing his scrubs :)

Kendall has been asking to "hold" Carter every day.  I think Carter likes it :)

Snoozing in the waiting room with Gramma D.

Kendall has been giving me quite a variety of poses lately!

Sweet moments.

Quite the entertainment recently!

Merry-Go-Round in Como Park.

Mommy's little girl :)

Mothers Day spent in the car.

Chris finishes his half-Marathon at the Fargodome.

Fair and Balanced

I just realized it has been over a month since I've posted pictures of Kendall!  She is overdue for a little spotlight on the bloggity blog!  This girl is growing and learning by leaps and bounds.  She copies every word and mimics every action.  Her recent tricks are narrating stories, counting to sixteen, entertaining her brother and singing songs....lots of songs....that never end....

Here are some recent moments of cuteness!

Finding coins at our St. Patrick's Day playdate!

Easter Sunday, in her "Easter Bunny Dress"

Puppet fun in Stockton

Like mother, like daughter :)

20 Things a Mother Should Tell Her Son

1. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.

2. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.

3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it some day.

5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.

9. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. Be patriotic.

18. Potty humor isn't the only thing that's humorous.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.

"More of a Marathon than a Sprint"

Hi friends.
We wanted to give you an update on Carter's condition and surgery for those of you that have been following and praying.  His surgery went well, the surgeon was pleased with the procedure and feels as if it will help release some of the chronic pressure he has been feeling in his eyes.  They proceeded with the goniotomy in each eye, just the small incision.  He now is recovering with sutures in each eye, and we are on a pretty dynamic regimen of eye-drops which, sadly, are accompanied by some unpleasant side effects (fever, flushness).

Disappointing news came at our follow-up appointment, at which the doctor shared some concerns she is having about Carter's LEFT eye.  Based on her concerns, she feels a trabeculectomy in that eye will be necessary.  This is the surgery that I did NOT want him to need, and it makes me ill even thinking about it.  So, in 4-6 weeks, we get to do this whole thing again.  Between the eight hour round-trip drive, packing, pre-op doctor visits, quarantines, long waits at the hospital, painful recovery for Carter and sleepless nights for mama and dada, this was obviously not the news we were hoping for.  She told us when he was first diagnosed with Congenital Glaucoma that the course of treatment would be "more of a marathon than a sprint," and the reality of that is just starting to sink in.

We DID, however, feel God's presence on us in some very tangible ways.
I had overwhelming peace leading up to the procedure.
In the 4 hours prior to the surgery (which ended up being 6) that I was unable to feed him, Carter was either asleep or in good spirits.
He did NOT have to endure the invasive surgery, a HUGE exhale for me and Chris.
Some friends of mine from Duluth were at the same facility visiting a little girl going through treatment for a brain tumor.  I was able to visit with all of them during his procedure--a welcomed distraction and good for the heart :)
Kendall was a trooper in the care of Grandma Donna- 8 hours is a long time for a toddler to sit in a waiting room!
Carter woke up from anesthesia like a champ (we were warned about the possible demeanor changes).
The anesthesiologist thought Carter was doing SO well that he was able to leave the hospital early!

Thanks for your concern for our little guy.  The road ahead is likely to be a long one, but we'll take it one day at a time.  We just want him to be happy and healthy!

Dear Uncle Derek...

Dear Uncle Derek,

    It's me, Carter.  I came to visit the special place we go to remember you.  The sun was bright, and it hurt my little eyes, but I still thought it was pretty neat.  Mommy tells me about how brave you were when you got sick.  I know they did many surgeries on you.  I have to have surgery this week, too.  I'm really little, so I don't really know what's going on.  But, I know there are a LOT of people praying for me!  Mommy and Daddy will be there with me, and they tell me that this will make me feel better.  Would you mind holding my hand in the operating room, too?  You know, just in case I am a teeny bit scared?  Someday I'll be able to tell people about the cool way God healed my eyes, and how I was brave like my Uncle Deez.  Thanks for taking care of me from Heaven!

Love,  Your Favorite Nephew

Preparations and Prayer

I've been dreading this week.
We're filling out paperwork and making final preparations for Carter's surgery on Thursday.
Tonight we ordered the above arm immobilizers so he won't be able to touch his eyes post surgery.
It's heart wrenching.

I've been talking to Jesus a lot lately, mainly about our little guy.
I'm confused about why this trial is necessary, but I've heard two things loud and clear from Him:
1)  We are in the right place.  I've wondered why our move to Fargo was part of His plan...perhaps this is it.  Our pediatrician "happened" to refer us to her "favorite" eye doctor in town, who just "happened" to have done her residency with a nationally-recognized Pediatric Glaucoma Specialist.  (Literally, she writes the textbook on it.)  Had we been anywhere else, this may not have even been diagnosed, let alone treated by such a capable surgeon.
2)  Jesus loves me.  He never lets go, through the calm and through the storm...

If you are walking this trial with us, could we ask you to pray for some specific things?
1)  Pray that Carter's condition requires the lesser of two invasive surgeries.
2)  Pray that his tiny body responds well to the anesthesia.
3)  Pray that his recovery is swift and as painless as possible.
4)  Pray for God to give Chris and me emotional and physical strength to endure this week.
5)  Pray for safe travels for Grandma Donna, who is coming to care for Kendall.

"Thank you" is not adequate enough for all the support and love we've received these past few weeks.  God has blessed us with the best possible community of friends!
Updates to come...

A Date Night Story

My poor phone ended up in a bag of rice, hoping that would revive it back to life.  Alas, it quietly slipped into technological darkness, taking my pictures and information with it :(.  This fairy tale has a happy ending, though...Jamie got a iPhone upgrade and we're back in business!

Sorry about my crude art skills- I have to work quickly with two kids around.  Thus, Chris didn't get any pants.  Sorry, Chris.

What Marriage Means To Me

 
Four years ago there was a wedding.
The wedding started at 2 pm and ended at 6 pm.
What remained in the aftermath of the celebration was a marriage.

Today, we celebrate the anniversary of a very fun party.
But, more importantly, we remember why we threw that big ol' shindig in the first place...
we had some very important words to say to each other, and some hefty promises to make in front of God and a lot of people.

In light of recent circumstances, I'd like to restate what marriage means to me...this time in my own disheveled, blunt, type-as-I-think words.  I thought this would be a good reminder to myself, to Chris, to our families and friends as we enter our fourth year of wedded "bliss".  Heh.  No, really.  :)

Marriage.
Marriage is doing life as a team.
It's making decisions for us, not me.  
It means ridding myself of all selfishness and putting another person at the front of my mind.
It's about finding my "niche" in our family- taking on roles and tasks that keep our household running.
It's about encouraging my husband as he provides generously for our family.
It's about sacrifice.  Daily.


Marriage is about loyalty.
It's standing up for the other person.
It's about patience and often giving the benefit of the doubt.
It's about respect, being confident in your spouse's abilities.
It's about HONESTY.
It's about being a good friend.


Marriage is NOT cheesy movie love stories.
It does NOT mean there won't be arguments.
It does NOT mean that it won't be lonely sometimes.
It's about sharing every smile and every tear.

Marriage is real life.  Fun stuff.  Hard stuff.
Marriage is HARD WORK.
It's accepting the other as a fallible human being.
It's knowing where they are weak and showing grace.
Marriage is LOVING UNCONDITIONALLY.
It means being open to new experiences.
It's knowing that the hard times will pass.
It's adjusting to different phases of life together, 
it's a constant in a sea of variables.
Marriage is LIFELONG COMMITMENT.

Marriage is a reflection of God's love for us.
It's a person to serve with, pray with, grow with.
It's God's plan for the raising of our family.
Our children boast features from each of us...
...a constant reminder of our union.
It's dedicating ourselves fully to setting a Godly example-
for our kids, our family and our friends.


As our Pastor stated eloquently in our wedding ceremony,
it's being HEROES, champions of marriage in a world that doesn't take it seriously.


Marriage is a GIFT.
And it's one for which I often neglect to be grateful.

Today, Lord, I'm grateful for my marriage and the honorable man you brought in to my life.  In our four short years we've endured some rough seas, which makes me all the more secure going forward- I know we can weather it together.  We surrender, every day, our marriage and our family to You.

Best Thing I've Eaten...

Okay.  If it's worth my time retyping a recipe while my child wriggles and cries on my lap, it's worth eating. 
Hands down, best thing I've eaten in a long time. 
And, takes about 10 minutes start to finish.  It's my kind of recipe :)

Avocado-Based Chicken Salad

1 Avocado
2 large chicken breasts, cooked (or 3 small)
squirt of lime juice
handful of cilantro, chopped
1-2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon mayo (optional) for texture
dash of salt


Shred the chicken, combine with other ingredients and mash it up well.  You'll have to adjust the portions to taste...the above is what I used.  However, if you love avocado, add another.  If you hate cilantro (Grandma), well...I wouldn't make this because the cilantro is brilliant.  Trust me.

I scooped it on to Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits (um, DELISH!) which added some extra flavor.  However, it can also be slapped on a sandwich (ciabatta, anyone??) or just forked directly into your mouth.  Whatev. 

Interruptions

Life WAS just plugging along, relatively comfortably and rather painless.

THEN, 2009 and the subsequent years happened.

A dump truck load of pain was heaped on me and my family.

My brother's death.

A miscarriage.

A relocation that I didn't want.

My parents' divorce.

And, most recently, a child with a major medical problem.

The following questions have been on auto-repeat for quite some time:

WHY?  Why ME?

Why, God are you PICKING ON ME?

WHEN will this string of heartache come to an END?  

...as if I'm the only one in the world that has to endure such tribulation.

They're the easiest questions to ask.

On a recent road-trip, Chris and I had a timely reminder of God's desire for us during these "interruptions" in life.  We listened to a series by Louie Giglio called "Life Interrupted," where he suggests that we CHANGE the questions we are asking during  life's challenges.  Harder questions, because they require us to look beyond our circumstances to the eternal plan at hand:

1. God, what are you doing in the midst of this interruption?
2.  God, who do you want me to connect with during this interruption?
3.  God, how do you want to use me in the midst of this interruption?
4. God, what do you want to do in me in the midst of this interruption?
5. God, how can you be glorified during this interruption?

Life on this planet will never be free of interruptions.

It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN. 

Your phone call, your pink slip, your break-up, your heartache....it's coming.

And WHEN they come, we have the choice to turn INWARD- and pretend that the universe orbits around us and our little lives,

or we can turn our attention UPWARD, and trust the God who is superintending the entire universe...while simultaneously wiping every tear from our eyes.

It may NEVER make sense this side of Heaven.

But one day, we'll see what God sees, and it will all be clear.

Sooo, while we're not exactly giving this newest interruption a big ol' hug, we are certainly not defeated by it...or any of them.  There is purpose in our challenge, power in our weakness, and beauty in the ashes!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  -Romans 8:28

Got Blue?

Blue Man Group rolled in to Fargo just in time for Chris' birthday this year, so we made a date of it!  A dear friend of mine from CrossWalk in Stockton tours as one of the Blue Men, and we were fortunate to get hooked up with some super duper seats right in front of the stage.  It was fun to be a part of all the interactive action (if you haven't been to a Blue Man Show, you'll attest to the fact that it's impossible to accurately describe...).  Even better was getting to visit with Kirk on his "off" night.  Our kiddos enjoyed meeting him, and had no idea they were in the presence of a "celebrity" of sorts! 

A de-blueified Kirk and Baby Carter.

Swimsuit Edition 2012

It's been birthday season for Kendall's playmates, and consequently we've been party hopping!  From open gyms to swimming pools, it's kept us busy as we graduate from winter to spring!  When Kendall was recently invited to a swim party, I realized I hadn't yet purchased a swimsuit for her (thought I had a few more months to think about that!).  So, while in California, I "took the plunge" and chose a sweet ladybug suit for her.  She modeled it perfectly...but model it is really all she cared to do, since she was NOT interested in the water!

What a little lady....bug.

An after-swimming treat!

Kendall's buddy Jazzy joins the Stavenger crew...and Chris decides three is a crowd!

The whole zoo (and birthday girl, Olivia- second from left)

 

Chin Up, Little Guy!

We've been giving Carter eye drops three times a day to help relieve the elevated pressure in his eyes...and it seems to be making him a much happier baby!  Stretches of contentment are lasting longer, though his eyes still appear irritated (red and watery).  Still the cutest little guy on the block!

Taking Care of those Baby Blues.

Hi there. 
To say that the last few weeks have been challenging would be a pretty big understatement.
And just as one tidal wave seems to subside, another comes along to replace it.
Locusts, anyone?

However, our family is pulling together and weathering the storms the best we can.
Keeping everyone healthy is a priority.

 The past few weeks, we've been noticing that Carter has been closing his eyes more than usual.
Not sleepy eyes.  The "it's-too-bright-in-here!!" kind of eyes.
So we took him to the walk-in clinic...
which referred us to our normal pediatrician...
who referred us to an eye doctor...
who has now referred us to an eye specialist at the University of Minnesota.

They are concerned that Carter has Pediatric Congenital Glaucoma, an eye disease that causes a great amount of pressure on the eyes and sensitivity to light.  We'll know more after we see the specialist in the cities later this month, but the treatment course is likely to end in corrective surgery.  Thankfully, we've caught it pretty early, and it tends to be reversible in these cases.  Gotta give credit to that mother's intuition...

Please keep Carter and our family in your prayers.

Today's Lesson:

Struck Me Funny...

Which of these things is not like the others?

I'll bet you could come up with a pretty cool caption for this :)