request

Don't have time for a big post because Mom and Dad are coming today and I have some serious cleaning to do, but I wanted to write a quick note to ask for prayer. I have been discouraged lately. I felt like we were making great progress, but Carter hasn't had a solid stool since friday. I have emailed the GI Doc and have texted our Doc back home. I just want him better. I want answers. I met a woman last night whose husband has been dealing with this exact thing for a year with no answers. Pray this is not the case. Pray for healing. Pray for revelation. Pray for discernment and wisdom for me to know when radical changes need to be made (specifically with diet). Pray I will TRUST. And, pray that we will have an awesome, restful time with Mom and Dad and that this GI stuff won't mess things up. Thanks so much. I will post again soon.

Hey, Jacksonville, that obnoxiously, loud, never-ending sound you heard at about 4pm was my car alarm that would not stop going off no matter what I tried. Yep. My 3 kids and I were slowly and painfully going deaf as we sat in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Helpless. Frustrated but, kind of laughing too. We got lots of stares and a few unsuccessful attempts to help.

For those of you that know me well, Can you guess why this happened? You don't have to think real hard. Here is a hint: What do I ALWAYS lose?

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it! My KEYS!

I couldn't find my keys this morning so my husband kindly left me a spare. However, he did not leave the remote. Very important detail people!!! VERY IMPORTANT! Always ask for the remote!

After we had finished shopping at my boys most favorite store, we walked to the van, I unlocked the door with the key and HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK!!!!

Finally after what felt like forever, SILENCE (it's never been so golden by the way), but not until the kill switch went off and left me stranded unable to start the engine. Hmmmmm..... Now what?! Do I call my husband?

Nope. Toyota. Praise the Lord for smart phones. I was able to pull up a 40% off coupon and the Toyota number. Bam! The man said he didn't know if he could help but that he would call right back. Should I trust him? Will he really call back? Quick. I need to think of plan B. Maybe the kids and I should just walk home and search for the keys. As I was thinking, Toyota called. Unbelievable. Coloridians (is that how you say it) actually call back!

OMG! Here we go again - HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK! The helpful Toyota man said, "there it goes again!" Oh, really? Thanks mister for telling me.

Through the loudness, he informed me of a trick. Drivers of Sienna's, this is where you take out a pen and paper and make a note. If your alarm should go off and you don't have remote -

Step 1: insert key into driver side door.

Step 2: Turn to the left and then to the right and SILENCE! You won't believe this, but your car will start too!!

AHHHH!!!! Amazing! All I could do was laugh and say praise the Lord! My kids were clapping as we pulled off. And, let me tell you, Sienna's have one heck of a loud horn!

Life Lately and Thursday FOOD DAY

Recovering from root canal and doing amazingly well! Thanks for the prayer.

Trying to learn about supplements for strong boy Carter. I will spare you the POOP pics I have been taking. He appears to be making progress though.

Homeschool 2012-13 has begun. You can also see that I have quite a bit of cleaning to do to prepare for Mom and Dad's visit in 6 days! YIKES!

And FOOTBALL is in full swing! Go BULLDOGS! We are grateful to be a part of such a wonderful association whose mission statement is to "Impact the present, Change the future!"

Awesome gift Carter received from UAM (where my brother plays football). Still blown away by the love we've been shown. Many thanks to all.

Here is a recipe we love! Try it. It's yummO!
http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/broccoli-cheese-baked-potatoes-with-bacon/

POPS is 79!!

A BIRTHDAY POEM

We couldn't think of a better gift for you,

Than news that Carter went solid poo.

Now you've got more to celebrate,

Our God is Healer and is so GREAT!

Pops, You are one of God's greatest gifts to us. We are grateful and blessed HE chose you to be our grandpa! Thank you for how hard you still work (even with a hurt leg) to serve your family and to ensure they have what they need. Your work ethic is an example to all who know you. Not many grandpa's still work out at 79! Thank you for showing us what it looks like to be a generous, cheerful giver. God has provided for us, through you, so many times. Thank you for taking a genuine interest in our family. It seems you always have us "on your brain" and are offering invaluable bits of wisdom to help us on our life journey. Thank you for the way you care for us, for the way you love us, for the way you support us, for the way you encourage us. We hope you know how much you are loved today and everyday. May this last year in your 70's be the best one yet and may God give us many more years with you! Happy, Happy Birthday!

**Friends, Continued prayers for healing would be wonderful! It looks like we are on the road to recovery. The docs and I are in very close communication sending emails several times a day. We hope for no setbacks.

Well, we received disappointing news last night. The doctors initial theory of sugar malabsorption was proven wrong. I was so hopeful that this was the answer and the news was pretty crushing. We are back at square one. We went yesterday evening for labs and all came back ok which is good. He is not dehydrated or anemic.

I am doing much better today. We had a great appt this morning and I left encouraged. I am confident that the doctor is working hard to find us answers. Day by day. Step by step. There is quite a bit to consider. We are going to start by adding more foods to his diet along with zinc, fiber, and vitamins. I will continue to keep close track of "in's and out's" and will email the doctor every 3 days with updates. If no improvement, we will pursue antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. He will have a blood recheck and urine test Fri to make sure he is staying hydrated. We collected more stools today too. Doctor is still trying to get in touch with our geneticist back home. Could be a month before all test results are back.

I'm ok with the Lord just healing him and us never knowing the "why's." So, pray for miraculous healing (solid POO!) or clear answers from tests so they know how to treat.

Here are some words from a song that I like to listen to in the car. I turn it up WAY loud and clap and act obnoxious. Now, for the strength to live it and to find REST in TODAY! :)

I`m casting my cares aside
I`m leaving my past behind
I`m setting my heart and mind on You
Jesus

I`m reaching my hand to Yours
Believing there`s so much more
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good
Is good

Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it

I won`t worry about tomorrow
I`m trusting in what You say
Today is the day

I putting my fears aside
I`m leaving my doubts behind
I`m giving my hopes and dreams to You
Jesus


It's kind of hard to see, but here is a drawing the doctor did for us\

**Please pray for me tomorrow. I am having a root canal. Need to be able to care for my family, so little pain would be wonderful!

Carter waving bye to his view for the past 8 days.

Thanks 808! You've been good to us, but we hope to never see you again!

Moving out!

Our sweet "Welcome Home" from Aunt Tina! What an amazing blessing it has been to have her here. We are appreciative for the way she has laid down her schedule and responsibilities at home to serve our family.

We were able to come home Sat, Sept 1, just in time for College Game Day! Yay football! We still do not have clear answers and Carter still goes diarrhea about twice a day, but his body is able to tolerate some food and he is staying hydrated so they let us go home. He is much better than when we were admitted. We would appreciate continued prayers for the months ahead. It is possible the road to full recovery will be long and challenging with lots of "trial and error." We should be getting more test results Tuesday. We are so grateful for all the love, care, support, encouragement, and most importantly prayer that we have received thus far. It has blessed our soul more than words can express.

Specifically, you can pray that Carter will understand his new diet changes, that I will not be shaken by "episodes," that test results will provide answers, and for quick healing. Also, pray that Costco will start getting Pedialyte in large quantity. We are going Pedialyte Poor! LOL! God is GOOD!

When you can't fish outside, you gotta fish inside

A real man's dinner

I continue to stand in complete awe of the outpouring of love we are receiving. This is a "toy" box that Justin's former coworkers at LPS sent Carter. You guys are the best! Justin misses you guys and talks about y'all a lot! Thank you so very much! We are grateful!

Really cool card game called S'mores that was in the "toy" box. It brought lots of laughter. LPS, can you guess who won? Who ALWAYS wins?

Pool in the Activity Center

Well, hang on to your hats, we might just get to go home today. He is tolerating milk and cheese ok with lactaid meds and is able to stay hydrated. His diet will consist of meat, milk, cheese, and eggs only. NO veggies, fruit, grains, starch, or anything with sugar until further notice. No sugar-free stuff either. Water and Pedialyte only. We should get tests back on Tues telling us which sugars his body isn't absorbing. We should also be getting special medicine in about a week that will help replace enzymes in his body so he can have limited amounts of sucrose. We will be in very close contact with doctors and nurses and his diet will change slowly. It's possible his intestines were damaged from an illness which caused this problem. He may heal over time and get to resume to a more normal diet. That would be the prayer. Stay tuned to see if we really get discharged.