GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

Good Grief it has been forever since I posted. Life has been crazy. But hopefully we are back to "normal" now.

To get everyone up to speed... A few weeks before Christmas I went to a doctor to get a second opinion on a place on the left side of my chest that has been bothering me for sometime. I got the run around from different doctors and word got around to a friend that works at the hospital here in Midland. I ended up going to a doctor whom Paul and I went to ACU with. His name is Ben Doke and he is now officially my new best friend. HA!

Like I said, I initially went in to his office for a second opinion and I thought we would just be making a game plan. He went over all the tests I have had done (X ray, mammogram, 2 ultrasounds and did I mention the BIG cortisone shot I had done in early Oct). Then he proceeded to pull out instruments from his office drawers and start setting up something. He said I am going to make an incision and take out a little tissue for a biopsy. Um, ok, sounds good, I said. Lets just get this taken care of. He was the first doctor who referred to the spot of pain as a tumor. The rest of the docs had said it was "normal" breast tissue. Which by the way it wasn't even on my breast, more in between my sternum and ribs on the left side. Ben then made a small incision and pulled it out within an hour. I went in to his office for a second opinion and here I was with his finger in my chest. He pulled out lots of fatty tissue from around the spot that seemed to relieve a little pain. Then he said I have my finger on the spot I am just going to get it while I am in here. To which I said, I know you have your finger on it (I almost came off the table it hurt so bad). It was so deep he had to put a ton of anesthesia in there. Anyway, he popped it right out of there. It was instant relief. The tumor itself looked like a large pearl. I know I am so cool I produced a pearl. I am feeling so much better. The pain is completely GONE! Praise God. The tumor turned out to be a BENIGN Schwannoma. Yeah funny name...it is a tumor that forms on the protective sheath on the outside of your nerves. Ben said it can reoccur but it probably will not reoccur on the same spot because what he removed what so encased. Anyway, like I said all is well now and life is getting back to "normal".

Our Christmas was GREAT and felt so relaxed. This is a pic of my parents, the boys and their cousins. For those of you who knew Lauren when she was little isn't she gorgeous!!!!


Our New Years was wonderful. We went to Big Bend on a camping trip as a family and had such a fun time. God is good and I look forward to what He has in store for us this 2009.

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My favorite men on this earth!!!

Isn't God good. We all just talked to Dad over the internet. It was exactly what we all needed. The boys got to say hi and talk over the little microphone. They thought that was so cool. The boys are so funny and so different. Jackson got on the mic and was saying how much he missed Paul and all about his day at school. Then Luke gets on the phone and starts calling Paul a "stinter" and a "montee tale". Then he says, "but I wuv you Dad" Completely melted my heart listening to them talk to Paul and Paul telling them how much he loves them and misses them. Moving on...getting a little teary.
Everyone keeps asking how I am and how will I get through this time without Paul, um I just do. Thankfully I have people like Suzie and Morgan who take the kids without batting an eyelash as well as other friends who have been more than kind to take on my monkeys. God has placed people in my life who support me, encourage me, love me for who I am and would truly do anything for me. What more could I ask for. Thanks God!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have asked how I am. If you don't mind...keep asking and if I start crying it is probably because I stayed up too late posting stuff on my blog. HA! Love you all!

Good morning! We heard from Dad today. He sounded GREAT. All is well with them. Today they are just hanging out in Nairobi and calling wives and family to check in. Tomorrow they will start going to visit the orphanages. Although I am so jealous that I cannot be there, I know it would be so hard for me not to fall in love with all the children and want to bring them all home. So I will just smother mine with more hugs and kisses.
The boys have been GREAT. When they play with their cars and airplanes they are always taking Daddy to the airport and flying him to Africa. Luke yells, "bye dad bye" as he makes his plane take off. So CUTE! At this moment they are playing VERY well together....oh wait, now they are fighting. So much for the quiet moment. HA!

I say it has been a while...

So, I say it has been quite a while since my last post. So many things have happened and so many memories have been made.
We sent Dad off this morning for his second trip to Africa. This time to see the wonderful orphanages our church has planted in the Kenya area. I am so excited for him and so jealous as well. It is kind of funny how this morning I was ok with him going and now I much I miss him. The boys were so cute taking him to the airport this morning. They truly were not interested in him beacuse of the marathon that was being run on the usual route to the airport. They wanted to get him on the plane and go see the "wace". Funny how Mom is thinking of all the things that can go wrong and they are running around the airport saying "Wets go see the wace, MOM!!! MOOOOOOM, wets go see the wace!!" So we got Dad sent and went and saw the race. Well, being that it was a marathon there were about 5 people we actually saw. Jackson says, "well that was no fun. Lets go find another one. When I get big I will wun a wace and wear my Dad's hat and running shoes, K, Mom?" Then Lukie pipes up and says, "hey, wheres dad?" Telling him about the whole airport thing, he says, "Oh, tan we doe bat and dit him?" "well, not for a few weeks sweetie." "Tay" he says. "Mom, maybe we tan doe bat tomowow and dit him, tay?" Never quite got the whole two week thing. I think he has said that about 20 times today. Sweet boys, they will miss him, but they are also excited about all the stories he will tell them about the "Afwitan Tids" as Lukie says. Jackson told me today that he will be an "African man when he is bigger and teach the people all about how good Jesus is and football. Ha! The important things in life.

First blog EVER...

Ok, so here it goes. This is the first time I have ever posted a blog. I always read everyone elses and feel like I don't have anything to say. But yesterday, I was talking to my mother-in-law about somwthing my oldest son, Jackson had said and she told me I should really start writing all the funny things he says down. So, I thought I could start a blog. My online scrapbook. I have two GREAT scrapbooks I bought for each of the boys when they were birn, but they are still in the top of the closet with all the fun stickers I bought to go in them. HA! Anyway, this will be my attempt to keep things written down.

My boys names are Jackson (4) and Luke (2). They are always doing or saying something that just cracks us up. Jackson is very into his drums that "CRAZY" Santa gave him for Christmas. He is actually pretty good, but he still plays like a kiddo. He loves playing football (before he starts playing he has to put on his imaginery helmet, gloves and shoes), soccer, cars and in the sand box or just ANYTHING that involves being outside. Oh, and LOVES riding his bike! He is very creative and is always telling funny stories. Luke is VERY into Lightning McQueen, or as he says, "Liteentween". He sleeps with him, eats with him, bathes with him, takes him to church and school and will actually keep him in his pocket. He also loves playing cars on the floor all by himself. His favorite game is Hide and Go Seek, and he is GOOD! He will hide very quietly and it usually takes me a while to find him. It is funny unless, of course, we are trying to get somewhere on time. Little TURKEY!
I hope whoever you are will enjoy reading about our crazy life!!!
ENJOY, and STAY TUNED!