Seriously?

Don says that I say that a lot.  And I just said it again.  Has it really been over a month since my last post?

Seriously?

What have I been doing?!?

Well, apparently the last month has been a flurry of activity - both big and small!  We've been very busy celebrating some big birthdays - and some younger ones, too!  We finished up soccer, started up story time at the library, bought a residential lot to build on in spring, enjoyed Thanksgiving with our families, got into party planning mode for an awesome 70th party for my dad, welcomed my brother and his awesome family back to Winkler for a week, tried to keep up with laundry (sort of), and began spending our late nights 'house designing' with graph paper and our thinking caps on.  That's a start.

And here's one thing I never thought I'd do...

Yup, my first ever cattle drive!  I was feeling a little bit 'pioneer-ish'!  Thanks, Bonnie, for the awesome rear shot and Kristy for the fun off-roading!!

Hope to be getting back to some more blogging now - daylight hours are dwindling, and 'inside the house' hours are increasing!

Happy Saturday to each one of you!

*Insert 'fist pump' here!*

Woo hoo!  Do you know how much fun it is to share good news?!

Nate was a stellar patient......until it was his turn!!  Oh man, even if Nate wasn't seen - he was certainly heard!  But we got the job done.

And the report?  His gradient number (the amount of squeeze the band is applying to the artery) jumped from 35 - where we've been sitting at for the last year - to 60!!  That's pretty awesome!  That means the band is finally starting to do some work!  Nate isn't showing any signs of heart failure.  His heart has not enlarged further since our last appointment.  His liver is normal.  How's that for news?

She did a little switch up with one of his meds, decreasing the frequency of his lasix to only once per day. We'll watch and see how he copes with that.

I had done some baking the night before, and brought a platter of some yummies for the staff.  Apparently it was good timing.  When she came in to see us this afternoon, she commented that she hadn't eaten since last night, and it had been a crazy day so far.  So the  cream cheese brownies, indeed, were just what the doctor ordered! Another neat connection - her daughter is at Winkler Bible Camp right now with her school for an outdoor ed retreat.  Kinda neat!

So, I left the appointment feeling pretty pumped up!  Only when I could know with certainty that surgery wasn't imminent, did I realize all the emotions I was holding at bay....not wanting to go there.  We celebrated prairie style....a quick Costco trip with my sister, and a quick supper at Roxy's on the way home.

I'm so thankful for the prayers of so many of you - and I'm so glad I can share this awesome news with you.  It's a good reminder to continue to praise God, even when He is silent...even while we are waiting.

It's that time again!

Alright - it's time to rally the troops!  Nate's army of prayer warriors, that is!

The last three months have gone by quickly and it's time to see his cardiologist tomorrow.  He's had a really good summer!  He's been active and happy, growing in height - and slightly in weight.
We are prayerfully optimistic about tomorrow's results.  If you remember back to our last appointment... well, how about I just give a quick recap.

Nate's surgery (pulmonary artery banding) was well over a year ago.  At our last appointment in June, there were still no positive improvements as a result of the surgery.  So, she basically said enough is enough!  We've waited it out long enough, and if the results of his next appointment show no improvement, it's time for surgery.  She felt that it was more than likely that we'd be doing surgery in fall, but would wait until September and then make the call.

So here we are!  Ready to take a peek into Nate's heart, and see what's been happening in the last few months!  Praying for a HAPPY, cooperative and charming patient.....why not, right?

Thank you - to each one of you praying!!!

And some pics - just for fun!

Brady's "Station"

VHS tapes are good for one thing....destroying!

 How "fortunate" to find a lovely mud hole across from our campsite on September long.

Yes, how fortunate!

Take a Smile break!

Here's a little something if you need a reprieve in your day.

It's a great video, capturing a senior couple trying to remember all the steps their granddaughter gave them, to use their webcam.  I love the interaction with each other.....it's just plain cute!

Hope it makes you smile!

In His Arms

Praying for the Pauls family.

I Couldn’t Love You More

In the night

He is with you

At morning light 

He is with You

Do not fear 

For He is with you

When I'm not here 

He is with you

I couldn’t love you more

I couldn’t love you more

No, I couldn’t love you more

But somebody does

Jesus

Rest your eyes

He is with you

I pray you find

He is with you

When I let go

He is with you

And I can know

That He is with you

I couldn't love you more

No, I couldn’t love you more

No, I couldn’t love you more

But somebody does

Jesus

You are mine for a moment

But you are His

Forever His

And in this life

I am holding You

But in His arms you live

I couldn't love you more

No, I couldn’t love you more

No, I couldn’t love you more

Oh, but somebody does

Jesus

Written by Matt Hammitt and Jason Ingram 

© 2011 Birdwing Music / Toledo Tomorrow Music (Admin. at EMICMGPublishing.com) (ASCAP) / Sony/ATV Timber Publishing / West Main Music / Windsor Hill Music (SESAC)

Before & After: The Bathroom

Who doesn't love bathroom renos?!?!? Well, I can tell you honestly that I don't! Plumbing has not been our forte in the past. Luckily we didn't have to do any kind of complete gut here!

No great 'before' pics, but this one, taken on our walk-through of the house, gives an idea!

Using melamine paint, I updated the counter tops. We changed the sinks and faucets, put up a real mirror (the original was small and centered over the countertop, ie. not above the sinks where you need it!)

We also replaced the toilet and window, freshened the walls and cabinets up with paint.

The Before:

The After:

Maybe it's a 70's thing. The sink area is separated from the toilet/bathtub area by a door, which has actually turned out to be pretty handy. There is also a door from the master bedroom to the toilet/tub area, so it feels like an ensuite, but it's really the main bathroom.

Here, you can see the 'sneak door' into the bathroom from the bedroom.

And here it is now!

I won't go into more detail about the bedroom; the headboard and carpet was a whole other post a while back! And did I mention the next-to-new window that I got on PVOL for a fraction of what a new one would have cost? And that it was the right size?!? So good!

It really is pretty amazing how even just changing up the 70's baseboards and trims can totally update a home!

I don't have any good before pics of the sunroom; but just imagine with me....updated the brown panelling with some paint and changed out the blah grey commercial (thin) carpeting.

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me! It's been fun and nostalgic looking back at all of the old photos!