Taking care of Mommy

So, I hurt my foot Friday night. I've had some heal pain for about a month. Minor, but it would flare up. Seemed to hurt worse when I wore my running shoes so I tried others. I think I might have actually injured it about a month ago, and the running shoes forced my gait correctly, which hurt. I should have seen a doctor back then.
Well, on Friday night I had to run after Leigh Ann who took off into a crowded street. I was in flip flops and when I turned to run, I felt a POP near the arch back by my heal. I was unable to move the pain was so bad (and thankfully she ran back to me). By Saturday morning I couldn't put any weight on it at all.
Ronny wasn't home yet when we got home after the injury. I just laid in the couch and the boys took care of me. Kyle got me a baggie of ice and they made me dinner. PB&J an a salad.




They were so proud to take care if me. Kyle took credit for the idea to make me a sandwich and the salad. RC actually put it all together.




RC said, "It is really hard work being a mom for a mom!" He and Daddy prayed over my foot Friday night and I did as little as possible all day Saturday. The healing is coming.
The pain is subsiding and I have more range of motion by now (Sunday). Thanks to ice and arnica, I do not have any bruising and very little swelling. I will be calling a doctor first thing Monday to have it checked out and get some direction on the healing process. I've done some reading up on my symptoms and the plantar fasciitis sounds like what happened to me. All therapy consists of is no weight bearing, brace, good shoes with support, no flip flops ever (whaaaa!), and lots of gentle stretching. Surgery likely not necessary. Of course I will see the doctor to confirm and rule out other injury.
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Location:Home

Pumpkin Palooza

Kindergarten is so much fun!




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Location:NBCA

My cup runneth over...

These days, it isn't hard to make me feel something.  My temper is short. My emotions are on my sleeve. I get overwhelmed. I am over-stimulated. I am easily distracted by things other than what should be my priority.  But the other day when I hung a 3-post towel rack in the kids' bathroom so that I could hang Leigh Ann's towel in its proper place, my heart was fulled with happiness.  Seeing these 3 towels here made me realize that my family is complete. My dreams and prayers were answered. Each child has their own unique, bright, beautiful personality. And things are in their place...right where everything is supposed to me.  Life is tough with 3 kids, not to mention 3 "little" kids.  But that won't ever change. I just need to be reminded sometimes that it is ok not to have it all together.  My feelings are part of who I am and they will wash over me at times too.  But it is as it should be.  And that makes me feel happy.

...and I'm so thankful for my sis-in-law who made these towels for my kids. They are a treasure to me.

I guess I got busy...

Well, I thought I was going to write every day about Ronny's trip to Africa...but getting 2 kids to school, dinner, homework, and bed every day by myself got the best of me.  Add to that the fact I was 5 months pregnant and sick...

I'll use the same excuse for not updating this for the past 7 months.  One day, I'll get back into the swing of things.

AFRICA - Day "2"

Well, it's day 2 for me, but the team has only just arrived. I haven't heard from Ronny or the team yet - but that is understandable. From their perspective, they arrived at 7 PM after being on a 16 hour flight and had to check into a hotel and catch a 6:30 AM flight from Addis Ababa to Mekele. Now, in my time, they got their right before noon and they are probably at the airport right now (it's 10 PM here). So, who knows what their own body clocks are doing, and hopefully they got some rest! Our prayers have been for safe flights, luggage to arrive with them and complete, and for the preparation of their hearts.

Tonight, RC prayed for Ronny and asked for his safety, for good health, and for him to be all he needed to be for this trip. It was so sweet.

I attempted to have home group this evening, although the 4 inches of rain we got today (combined with the 2 we got yesterday!)...made for some low water crossing flooding and many people stayed in. We are supposed to get more through the night and tomorrow, but so far it is quiet and clear. The rain has been wonderful, cleansing, and refreshing. I do hope we get more, just no flooding! We only had the Stavinoha's and the Emery's here - it was a little nutty because of no baby sitter - and Kyle was a little tornado tonight. We managed to have a sweet time, though. Now the children are asleep and I'm ready for a bath and some reading. My heart is peaceful, and while I do miss my hubby, I am still filled with joy for him and am praying for him as this day (a new dawn for him right now) will be the real "first day" of his time in Ethiopia.

AFRICA!!!

Wow - it is 9/9/09 and the day that has been on the calendar since April with the label "Ronny leaves for Africa Mission Trip!!!!" I can't believe it's finally here!

We packed all weekend...I actually started packing some things for him last week - medicine, socks, making sure he had enough underwear - not everyone going on this trip had a "wife" to help pack!! I know it was a big help to him. He was one of the only people not stressed out this morning! Everyone was excited to go. And it rained and rained all morning.

My mood matched the weather. I didn't expect to cry, so I was surprised when I couldn't stop crying all day long! It's not because of missing him, which I do, or because of being left here alone, pregnant and with two rambunctious boys, which I am...I am really completely overwhelmed at what God will have Ronny experience through this trip. I can't even imagine how his heart will be softened, molded, and even broken for the lost and destitute. I know he will come home with a greater understanding of God's love for his people, and his desire to see His Kingdom reign on earth through us.

My prayers for Ronny have centered around him receiving clarity to the vision and dreams God has given him during this time. While he will have work to do while he's there, expanding God's kingdom and bringing the message of hope and Jesus to the lost, I believe he will have an opportunity to hear from the Lord with greater clarity and focus since he is able to be separated from his normal, daily life (stresses, joys, and all!!!) back home.

So many people have told me that my husband will come home a changed man. I've heard that he will leave a piece of his heart in Africa. Mission trips will do that to people - it's called transformation. I believe I will see many of my prayers answered for him. I'm so proud of him, so happy for him, and cannot wait to hear about this adventure when he returns.

PS - he took my camera. I made him promise to take LOTS of pictures, and that I wanted to see pictures of him interacting and being with the people (not just him taking pictures of other people). A few weeks ago, I felt "left out" when I realized that I wouldn't get to be there taking those pictures of him. If I can't be there, I hope I can "see" the story through those pictures. I'm counting on it!!

Some random thoughts to explain my reorganization...

I'm organizing, and reorganizing. I don't have the energy to clean, but I have to do something...my mind is just racing. So, I decided to "organize" my blog space. I've created blogspots for each of my kids. There are links to their spots on this page. I put a few of the older blog entries on RC's page, but I think I'll stop there. Mainly, I wanted each child to have their own spot. It keeps me on track to write to and about each one individually. I realized that Kyle's life seems to be an "echo" of RC's. Maybe that is the way that it is with a younger sibling. Maybe he doesn't have much to share because he's only just begun to have a character, vocabulary, and activities that aren't only "milestones". Whatever the reason, I knew that having his special spot would help me think of him specifically to share stories. And then, maybe I'll finish his baby book...maybe before the new baby arrives! Wishful thinking, I'm sure, but hey, we all need a goal, huh?