Reluctant

Okay, so this year for Christmas, Billy and I made every attempt to buy our children almost everything they asked for.  Well, have you seen the Bendaroos commercial on tv?  Grace BEGGED me a million times for it, and I told her a million times, no.  I'm not buying waxed covered strings off the television... sorry!  

Well, Monday morning we were in Walgreens, and as we were walking down one of the isles, Gracie screams, "BENDAROOS!!!!!".   Dang it!!!  Did I mention we were at Walgreens to pick up three prescriptions for her because she is sick??  Anyway, how could I say no?  She said, "Mommy, the only thing I didn't get for Christmas was Bendaroos, and I think it might make me feel better!"  So, guess what.... Mommy is a great big sucker!  

While she has a double ear infection and a temp of 103.6 she still has enough energy to apply this junk to the wall!  It is kinda cute though!  

She knows I hate spiders, so she tried to scare me!

I was told this was cookies on a plate!  Pretty creative, huh?

Christmas Pictures

CHRISTMAS #1

Stan, Amos, Kent, Gracie & Mom (Brenda) 

CHRISTMAS #2

Loretta, Amos, Kent, Gracie & my Dad (Greg)

Me and my best friend, Melody

Me and my Grandmother, Barbara

CHRISTMAS #3

Isn't this the cutest thing ever!!!  Billy's Grandparents got a Wii for Christmas and very much enjoyed playing it!

Granny bowling

Jim, Linda, Iris, Hunter, Atley, India, Ivan & Betsey 

Bobby, Sheila, Matt, Ashley & Jimmy

Bill (Billy's Dad), Maeva (Billy's Mom), Leslie (Billy's sister), James & our family

Ben, Sue, Staci, Brad & Sam

The crazy Mayes'

The entire Mayes bunch!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!  

Grateful

I just wanted to post and thank God for his goodness...

Last night I had to call 911 because Amos couldn't breathe.  I put him to bed around 8:45 and soon after, Billy left for work.  I took advantage of the time I had alone and started wrapping Christmas gifts for the kids.  While I was wrapping, I heard this very strange noise come from the boy's room.  I hopped up out of the floor and ran in there to find Amos sitting up in the bed gasping for air and purple.  I pulled him up onto his feet thinking somehow this would help, but it did nothing.  I immediately called 911.  Within two minutes help was here.  

Amos has asthma, and here lately it has really been acting up, so I thought he was having an asthma attack.  The paramedics said he was wheezy, but thought it was something else.  They gave him a breathing treatment, and told us he needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.  

I have never been more scared in my life.  Billy came home from work and went with Amos to the hospital while I arranged  for Mimi to come sit with the other two little ones.  The whole time I was away from him was almost unbearable.  Somehow just seeing his sweet little face and touching him made it somewhat better, but having to go without knowing how my baby was doing was heartbreaking. 

When I got to the hospital, he was receiving another breathing treatment.  His fever was extremely high and his heart rate was sky high.  They took x-rays, they gave him oral steroids, they gave him more breathing treatments and lots of Tylenol.  

As I watched him struggle to breathe in the hospital bed, it was like God whispered in my ear.... love what you have.... cherish it always. Most of you know, Amos, is the sweetest child, but the most mischievous and trying too!  All of that didn't matter in that moment, and I prayed that God would let me have more of those moments in the future.

After several hours of worry and wondering what caused this episode, the doctor came in and said his chest x-ray wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.  No pneumonia, so that's a huge blessing.  They said it was a bad case of the croup in combination with his asthma flare up.  

It blows my mind how he went to bed a healthy little boy, and woke up a very very sick boy.  I still don't understand, but I know this...  I am praising God for his goodness!  I always go to bed when Billy leaves for work and I sleep hard until morning.  I've thought several times... what if I had gone to bed?  Would I have heard Amos choking at all?  What would've happened to him?

Even when the paramedics, police and fire department was hear I was still truly fearful for what might happen.  I am thanking God for giving me a reason to stay up later than normal last night and hear him in the bedroom.  

God demands that we rely totally on him in all situations, and anything less is disobedience.  I am so thankful that God hears ALL our prayers, big and small, and he listens.  I thank God that he has shown us his almighty mercy, grace and unfailing love. 

Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.              Colossians 2:7

                             

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Friday night, we went to the square to see all the lights.  The kids had such a great time, even though it was 36 degrees outside!  They really wanted to ride the camels, but the line was too long, so they got cotton candy instead!  Whoo hoo!!  Yea, I know, that's not near as exciting as the camel ride!  Anyway, here are a few pictures of our little outing...

Gracie's Nativity

I just love Christmas, and this is one reason why.  I think it's just precious to see my children growing up learning about Jesus.  This past Wednesday night at church, we told the story of when Jesus was born, and let the kids make these nativities.  The kids had such a great time getting all sticky and learning about the most important gift of all! 

I love the frosting face on Mary!

... and Joseph too!

Notice how Gracie swaddled "baby Jesus"!

hummm.... I think Daddy has definitely been around!  Only he would take a bite out of the star of Bethlehem and not feel guilty about it!  

1,2,3 Helpers!

After school today, we decorated our Christmas tree.  As always, it was a lot of fun!  

Friends

This past Thursday was our monthly BUNCO night, and it was my turn to host.  This is my favorite thing to do every month.  I very rarely ever miss, because it's so much fun!  

In the past when it's been my turn to host I've had it at my Mom's house so I didn't have to worry about the kids/husband... this year I decided to be brave and have it at my house.  I was very proud of Billy.  He took the kids to Chuck-E-Cheese and a movie (by himself!!!!).  When they came home, we were in the middle of exchanging Christmas ornaments and I just knew all three of my kids would want to be in the middle of our little party.  Well, Billy took them to our bedroom and they stayed there and didn't come out.  After everyone left, I asked him how he kept them from coming out and visiting all of us and he said, "it was easy... I made them take their pants off, because I knew they would be too embarrassed to walk around in their underwear in front of everyone!"  I thought that was genius, and couldn't quit laughing!!!

I'm already looking forward to next month!  

The Sick Bug Strikes!

I feel like the worst mother ever!  All last week, Kent, has had this really bad nagging cough and I just kept dismissing it, thinking it would get better.  Friday night Kent ended up sleeping with me while Billy was at work, and all night his breathing was really "weird".   Every time he would breathe in and out I could hear his chest rattling.  First thing Saturday morning, I called the doctor and got him an appointment.  When the doctor listened to Kent's chest she asked if I had let him stay home any this week.  I said, "no... why?"  She said I had one very sick little boy.  Turns out he has pneumonia!  He is on antibiotics, an inhaler and Mucinex.  We were strongly encouraged to stay home all weekend and keep him home from school on Monday.  So, it's been one of those easy-going weekends, and it has been very nice. 

I felt really bad that I hadn't taken him in earlier, but hey, half the time the doctor's look at me like I'm crazy and tell me it's a virus and it will be a week or two before I see improvement.  Honestly, I thought that would be the case this time.  I told my mother-in-law I needed to invest in a stethoscope so I could learn how to diagnose my kids myself!

Anyway, the other two little monkeys are doing well, and hopefully Kent will be all better by Thanksgiving.  

I hope everyone has a great week!  

Halloween pictures

 Here are a few pictures from our day...

Batman, Darth Vader and a cowgirl

The Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday and today, Amos and his class visited the pumpkin patch in Tontitown.  Yesterday, I was not able to go, and all the way home from school he kept telling me about pumpkins, roosters and petting chickens, and I thought... what??? Chickens and roosters??? I didn't realize the pumpkin patch was actually a farm.  So today I went with Amos, and we walked through what seemed like an eternity of pumpkins and, yes, we saw roosters and chickens.  Even though it was SO cold, we all had a wonderful time and learned a lot!

This is Mr. David (the man that runs the farm) telling the children the names of the different types of pumpkins 

He was so confused by the color of the eggs.  One child said, "hey, those eggs are kinda blue... I bet you don't dye your eggs at Easter!"

Amos petting a chicken

He picked just the right pumpkin!