Blooming and Growing In Our Garden

We have all enjoyed watching the plants and vegetables bloom and grow this year. This was our first attempt at some vegetables mixed into our flowerbeds. They are doing pretty well.
The girls are enjoying picking tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, herbs, peppers, and squash. It has been fun. I know that sounds weird to some, but we have really enjoyed it.

IVIG Infusion Tomorrow

Update: We are grateful that infusion went smoothly. She was very pale afterward, but she seems fine today. Please pray for the headaches she gets around 2-3 days later. Thank you.
Also, she is scheduled for the MRI with general anesthesia on Aug. 28. I will give more detail on that as it gets closer.

Tomorrow we will be at Children's hospital for the 7-8 hour infusion. Please pray for continued health and protection. Annabelle has been doing very well and "seems" completely happy and healthy. Obviously, we can't see her insides, and we hope they are healing too. Our main goal for the rest of the year long protocol is to try to keep her from getting sick. That sounds daunting, but we know that we have a big God and nothing will happen without Him allowing it. So, we are keeping on in the Lord's strength. Thank you to all who continue to pray. We will never know who all the Lord has burdened to pray, but we do know many. So, thank you!!!

One more prayer request: We are trying to schedule a follow-up MRI to make sure no cancerous tumors have grown since her immune system has been suppressed. There are some issues with the sedation she has had. Please pray that the details will work out and we will be able to have this done soon.

When it rains, it pours - literally!

Our June and July were largely consumed with urgent projects. Our basement flooded because our window wells, that we had made larger when we replaced the windows but never finished with a retaining wall, filled up during a flash flood. Peter spent much time and hard work to remedy the problem (each stone weighed 30 lbs). On top of that, our refrigerator died on Father's day (see the sweet picture). We quickly bought a used one off Craig's list to put in the garage, and it died 10 days later before our kitchen fridge was fixed. Our disposal also went out... and now our lawn tractor. So when I say "it pours" I am not kidding. Peter thinks he is turning into a full-time home maintenance man. We did have some help along the way which was a blessing. I keep thinking of the quote, "God is more interested in our character than our comfort." So with that in mind, we press on.

Monthly Infusion Tomorrow (7 more to go)

UPDATE: Okay, we didn't avoid the headache altogether. She got one 3 days after. Thankfully, today she seems to be over it completely. Over-the-counter meds greatly helped.
UPDATE: Everything went smoothly yesterday and this morning at our Doctor's apt. Dr. Lo is very pleased with her status. Praise the Lord!So far, no headache from the infusion. YAY! Thanks for your prayers.


The month has flown by, and it is time again for Annabelle's monthly IVIG infusion. She has remained healthy and symptom free this month. We scheduled her six month follow-up with Dr. Pranzetelli in IL for early September. He will be checking her spinal fluid for B and T cell counts. So far, her blood work is exactly where it should be, and they are pleased. We also have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Lo (our neurologist here) on Friday morning.

Please pray for:
- continued health and protection from germs.
- the infusion to go smoothly.
- no side effects during and after the infusion.
- that God would be glorified throughout this treatment.

4th of July at Buckeye Lake

The fireworks were so pretty over the water. We had a good time getting away for a night and enjoyed the change of scenery.

VBS at home!

Thanks to all who helped us have a fun time doing VBS at home. We had all the crafts, lessons, music, and even some video (thanks Mrs. Harless). God is so good! Here are some pictures of Olivia teaching from her class notes. She did a good job trying to make it exciting; you can see how attentive her students are;)

You Can Pray For Us This Week!!!!!!

Monthly Infusion Tomorrow (8 more to go)

Update: Everything went smoothly today at the clinic. Now that we have been home a few hours she is fussing and grabbing at her nose. This is what she did the last time her head hurt. It seems like she feels pain just below her nose. She is consolable, but not herself. Thanks for praying; hopefully the pain will dissipate by morning.


Tomorrow we head to Children's Hospital for our day long infusion. We also have our last large blood draw we have been doing for Dr. Pranzetelli's research. This is the type of draw we often run into problems with her blood clotting too quickly. We have to draw the blood before starting the infusion so the IVIG doesn't skew the results.

Please pray that:
- The blood draw will go smoothly.
- Annabelle won't have any negative reactions to the infusion (during or after).
- We are protected from illnesses we could pick up at the hospital.
- I will be patient with whatever challenges come.

Thank you to all who pray so faithfully for us. We truly rest in the fact that we know prayers go up for Annabelle regularly. Thank you for that ministry.

A little surprise!

Thanks a lot Denise - look at my child crying because she couldn't have her candy NOW!!!











They all say thank you. They can't wait to tear into it. (Yes they have to wait until after lunch!)

My Little Vase of Clover

I was getting ready to empty this vase of dying clover one of my girls happily picked for me when I remembered how I had been a little hassled at the prospect of being given a handful of weeds to preserve in some water in my house. However, today as I thought about my little vase of clover, it hit me that one day I won't HAVE to preserve any clover so that feelings won't get hurt. One day there won't be anyone happily picking clover for me. This little vase of clover suddenly represented much more than weeds to me. It represented the child's heart full of wonder, excitement, and love. The little hands that picked the clover and the sparkling eyes and smile that came with the delivery are what I'll remember. Oh, thank you Lord for the precious vases of clover. Help me to receive them with a joyful heart full of wonder.

A Friday Funny For You

Here is a funny and creative pair of web commedians /entertainers. I always wondered what they were talking about on this song. Well, I still haven't figured out much of the facebook lingo yet, but I have learned what a "mini feed" is. So, I hope you all enjoy this cute song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnXE2791yg

Sweet 6!

Here are a couple of pictures from Sunday when grandma and grandpa came to celebrate. I'll have more from today later.

















This is one is for the Shooks - Thanks Uncle Dan, Aunt Steph,
Emily, and Katie - I loved my gifts.

More fevers

Update: Fevers are gone. They were short with no other symptoms - Praise the Lord. Annabelle hasn't gotten one yet - PTL! Thanks for your prayers. I have never seen such short lived fevers before. The last two Alexandra had only lasted a day and were gone. Prayer is the only explanation I have.


Just a quick note: Alexandra has another fever and went to grandma and grandpa's house. I also have a slight fever as well. Please pray that these pass quickly, and that Annabelle will be protected. Alexandra and Annabelle played together this morning. So, I'll be watching her as well.