Getting Lost & Finding Fun

Have you ever taken a wrong turn and gotten "lost" but end up finding something new and fun? We did last weekend. A "detour" to avoid a traffic jam of extensive proportions.
I admit, at first I was a little stressed because we were on a bit of a deadline.
And then my husband lovingly says "Enjoy the moment. Go with it!"
So I did.

We ended up passing a house that had a front yard full of pumpkins. I made Marc turn around and we all got out to stretch our legs and explore.


Kyle and Bella took off in opposite directions, as always.

While Cali just wasn't sure what to think of it all.

Most of the pumpkins were only $1.00 but she had some more expensive as well. A sweet woman that taught us the names of all the types of pumpkins she had.

Who says $1.00 can't buy happiness?!? LOL!! Kyle was thrilled with the "fun pumpkin adventure", as he called it.

A perfect little detour on our detour.

Life happens.

Let it.

Fun adventures are around every corner. You just have to keep your eyes open for them.

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Heather:)

A Bella Update

I have been getting a lot of emails from people asking about Bella. Thank You! You have no idea what those emails- full of your thoughts, prayers and concerns- mean to Marc and I. I have wanted to wait until I actually had something to report. Bella's fevers are coming closer and closer together and they are harder and harder to fight off. She has had three fevers in the last three weeks- all of which have gone above 106 degrees! It is misery for Bella and so hard on us watching her go through this. Not to mention, Marc and I are growing more and more concerned about the effects that the prednisone will have on Bella in the long term. As I have mentioned previously, the rheumotoligist that diagnosed Bella with PFAPA has relocated to Israel. We felt as though this put up a road block for us as far as getting more in-depth into her condition. The rheumotologist had told us previously that in all of the case studies that they have done, tonsillectomy was successful in eliminating future fever attacks (although they don't know exactly why) in a large percentage of patients.

At our last appointment with our pediatrician we had discussed how Bella's fevers were getting worse and coming closer together. We had expressed our concern over Bella taking more prednisone than we were comfortable with, being that she is having the fever attacks more frequently. The pediatrician shared our concern. When I brought up the idea of the tonsillectomy he said "So let's do it!" I informed him that we were told no doctor would do the surgery until Bella was at least four. He told us he would call Bella's Otolaryngologist and discuss the matter and see what they could work out. Late one evening the pediatrician called me and told me to call Bella's Otolaryngologist (ENT) and set up an appointment. Oh! I was excited but I didn't want to get my hopes up.

Well, today we had our appointment with Bella's ENT and it went very well! He was very knowledgeable about PFAPA and knew what the success rate was for patients with PFAPA that have undergone tonsillectomy. Although it was a little discouraging to hear that the success rate is actually only 60-64%, Marc and I are still very hopeful! We had discussed with him the issue that Bella has with her left ear oozing gross stuff right before her fever peaks. He knew exactly what we meant so he will be removing her adenoids as well. The left ear is the ear that Bella only has 40% hearing in, so he is going to take a very good look when she is under anesthesia and if there is something he is able to correct, he will take care of that at the same time. The goal is to "fix" everything he can at once so as to not have to put her through any more surgeries than we have to. We want to make this as least traumatic for her as possible. She has been through so much in her short three years as it is.

The scheduler will be calling me to set up a day and time for Bella's surgery. I do not know yet exactly when it will be but I know it will be soon. They will be keeping her at the hospital after the surgery, at least one night, for observation- which makes me feel better. Just like with any surgery there are risks involved. And we do not have a 100% guarantee that this is going to "cure" Bella. Marc and I have weighed the "risks verses benefits". We are at the end of our rope. We want resolve for Bella so that she does not have to suffer through these attacks any longer. We do not want to keep her on this prednisone- not knowing how it could effect her. We want her to have a normal, happy, carefree childhood.

Marc and I are faithful that this is going to work for our little girl. We are praying that God lays His healing hands on her and guides the doctor's hands the day of her surgery. We pray that this surgery is a success and that Bella will fall into that 60%!!!! Surgery of any kind scares the daylights out of me but I am trusting in the Lord with all that I have and placing Bella in His care.

I will keep you all posted!!!

Blessings,

Heather:)

Dress Up

Bella came down the hall today looking like this.......

She loves to play dress up.

She comes up with some pretty.......umm.........interesting, err- amazing outfits.

She is always so proud of them. So am I. Kyle likes to get in on the fun too. At least today he was a fireman and not a super hero in a tutu. I only wish I were kidding about the tutu.

They crack me up.

While taking pictures I turned to check on Cali and this is what I saw...........

I think I am ready to replace all of my furniture with bean bags and mattresses on the floor. Seriously.

Another little dare devil monkey. LOL

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!

Blessings,

Heather:)

Fall Into Comfort

I have been sick for well over a week. It started with a mild sinus infection, then last Saturday I got hit hard with a bad cold. Double the fun. I am still feeling yuck but I do have my voice back which is a plus. Well, not for Marc or the kids, but for me it's a big deal! LOL

So, what does one do while trying to rest and recuperate? I have been searching high and low for all sorts of decorating ideas. Ideas and items to cozy up my house so that we can invite the cooler months in style. I love to make my home cozy and comfy- but Autumn especially makes me feel the urge even more. Even if all the decorating I do is only in my mind. It is fun to flip through the magazines, look online, and stroll through fabric stores and home decor isles.

Jo-Ann has some wonderful fabrics in their Home Decor line! And the price ain't too shabby, either!

Here are some pictures that have inspired me...............

Hmmm.... I just noticed a theme of dark woods and neutral color palettes. Funny. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to go crawl onto the couch and try and rest some more.

Welcome Fall!!!

Blessings,

Heather:)

Update & Some Silliness

First of all- thank you all for your prayers for my Grandpa and Grandma. My Grandpa woke up Saturday morning and his leg felt better so he said he was not going to the emergency room. The family respected his decision. Monday he went in for blood work and things looked good. He went to a doctor's appointment and was told that the charlie-horse like pain was, more than likely, a side effect of his cortisone shot. If he experiences the pain again they have to keep an eye on it and make sure that it does not feel warm as that could indicate a blood clot. So, for now, everything sounds good! Praise the Lord!

Cali started something new today that almost had me in cardiac arrest. I turned my back and saw that she was on the couch!!! So we have officially added a new monkey to our zoo!!! I keep taking her down and she keeps climbing back up! So, Kyle and I stacked pillows on the floor all around the sofa in hopes she would have a soft place to land if she fell. Aahhhhh! My arms and back are so sore today from removing her multiple times! I should look like Hercules pretty soon.
After awhile she felt defeated and steered away from the sofa....................and found a new place to climb....................

Still not the safest thing but it is much lower to the ground at least!!

She was shaking her body back and forth trying to get the truck to move so big brother stepped in and pushed her around. She had a ball!

After I laid Cali down for a nap I came back out to the living room to find Kyle and Bella playing with the camera. When I downloaded the card onto the computer I laughed hysterically.

They had had a pretty good time it looks like!!

Now, once I get a new camera the kids won't be using it, but this camera is on it's last leg anyway. The screen turns black every 4 or 5 pictures and I have to give it to Kyle to let him work his magic- he is the only one who can get it to work again!! Maybe the old camera should be passed down to Kyle. He seems to enjoy being a photographer...........and being photographed!!!

Have a great Day!

Blessings,

Heather:)

Please Pray

I am asking for prayer for my Grandpa. He has had a charlie-horse-like pain in his leg all day today. My mother got in touch with the doctor and they think it may be a side effect of a cortisone shot he got last week. His heart is in A-FIB and he just started a new medication for that last evening. He is going in for a CAT Scan tomorrow morning to see what is going on. Please keep him in your prayers. Please pray for my Grandma as well- she is a nervous wreck. I guess we all are.

Thank You!
Blessings,
Heather

Back to 1875

Marc and I like to stalk the MLS. Some houses are in our price range while others are just a dream. When we see some we like we take a drive and explore until we find them. A couple of weeks back we saw this old gal and we drove to see her. All the years that I have lived in this area I never even knew this street existed. The street itself was hidden, nestled among lots of old trees, almost in the center of town. From the main road- this street appears to be a driveway for another house, when indeed there are several houses on the street- all from the same era.

We pulled in the driveway and she sat there on a wooded lot, looking like a sweet little dollhouse. Built in 1875, this home must have so many stories to tell.


I love the facade and the cute little stone path leading to the front door.

And the front door really does look as though it belongs on a dollhouse.

On the left side of the house there is a side entrance that takes you into the kitchen. The kitchen has white cabinets, steel counter tops and a stove that looks like it has been there since the kitchen was added. A row of windows above the kitchen sink would actually make doing dishes enjoyable- to me anyway!

But if you look closer you will see this is more than a cute house......

It is a large bank account ready to be emptied. This old gal has fallen into a condition that breaks my heart. With chipped and peeling paint, loose shutters, cracked windows, rotted wood siding, and a saggy roof. I can only imagine what repairs the inside requires. Although from peeking in the windows I saw amazing paneled walls, multiple fireplaces, and wide planked floors. Ahhh

On the right side of the house there sits a cute little stone patio. I could imagine sitting out there eating dinner, drinking a glass of wine and watching over the garden. So many possibilities for decorating. Oh my!

The garden and landscaping is so overgrown it was hard to tell what shape the foundation was in.

Marc and I were tickled with the little angled windows upstairs. Funny.

We were in awe of the whole house.........and the lot. Staring at the house envisioning what it could, someday, look like. Trying to calculate in our heads how much money it would take to get it to that perfect little vision we had in our minds. We would say things like "The roof would need to be replaced", "Wonder how many gallons of paint it would take for the outside", "How many hours of scraping do you think we would have", etc etc etc. Then after awhile of silence Marc and I both looked at each other with disappointed faces and both shook our heads no. We were in agreement. But we weren't happy about it.

All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around her and tell her everything was going to be fine and that I would take good care of her. But my bank account will not allow me to make that promise.

Someone used to love this house. Someone used to work hard tending to her every need. Lovingly planting and weeding the gardens, freshening her paint, washing her windows.

But that must have been awhile ago. Now there are trees growing out of the air conditioning unit...

And from the roof on the garage.

And, seriously- how cute is that garage, anyway? Even if the roof is covered with moss and baby maple trees.

The back yard was fantastic. Unfortunately I didn't get many photos of it.

Because we were distracted by these little cuties....

Who didn't seem to be bothered by us, at all.

They just kept doing what they were doing- under mamma's watchful eye.

Even though we were just feet from them- they acted as though they weren't afraid of us at all.

Until they heard my kids. LOL!!

Oh to take the house back to 1875...... when she was fresh and new and looking beautiful. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Have a great day everybody!

Blessings,

Heather:)