June is in full swing! I am enjoying a new pace this summer, combining a lotta time with the kids and also putting in some extra hours at work. Im finding that there are a lot of things that I am really wanting right now and im pretty blessed with the option to turn work on or off and work what works for me and my family. The sale of our St. James house is not quite finalized, but I would like to think were on the tail end of that deal! My patience has been wearing thinner and thinner, so I am trying to remind myself to be still and learn what I can from this situation!!
Kendra has been back and forth to the ENT regarding the ear infection that first started back at the end of March. Friday, we ended up running a little late for our appointment, which ended up costing us 3 hours. She had made a special time to get Kendra in between surgeries and meetings, due to the severity of her ears.. I felt pretty low. But a culture was taken, again (ugh.. so I was just holding out hope for this one to be the ONE to solve the issue). Kendra had a rough time, she was already antsy from having to sit and wait at the clinic and then she basically had to be put in a straight jacket so she wouldnt wiggle too much and they could look in her ears and take the culture plus they suctioned all the nastiness out. That was a hard one for this momma to watch because now she can talk and she kept saying "mommy, please.. I want mommy.. ouchie, ouchie". Another day passed where I had to look deep inside and ask God to give me some insight to why my little Kendra Louise has been asked to endure this. It seems though, when my fuel is running low, i always seem to have someone reach out to me to give me hope or atleast help to remind me that I am blessed. Just the simple message that your on my side and praying for peace, keeping us in your thoughts.. thank you! So Friday, I was supposed to work and last week when we first brought Kendra in to see the Dr they wanted to try some meds and see how she looked in a week. They made this appointment especially for us.. so how could I tell them it didnt work for us?? Well, i was reminded of why I stopped working full time and I am sooo greatful to be in the position where I can take care of my family first. I had initially planned on working at 9, with the appointment I changed that to be able to work at 11... after running behind, I didnt end up at work til 1:30. It was a pretty crummy feeling, like I was failing in all areas.. so what better to do than go to the bathroom and cry while I was waiting to get into the clinic. It was a healthy cry though.. and the whole while Kendra just tapped me and hugged saying "ohhhh, its okay mama". Who woulda thought that a few hours later I would be providing the same kind of comfort my daughter was offering me!
I had a great day with Kendra at hearing therapy on Tuesday. We were driving through town with the windows down in the van (i can handle that at 30 mph) haha.. and I was listening to christian radio. I was stopped at the stop light and singing aloud "we are the light of the world........" by Kari Robe.. just totally getting into it and watching KK dance in her car seat. I look to my left and saw a car watching and smiling.. so I decided to say hi! The man in the passenger seat said "how are you" so I replied with an enthusiastic GreaT! How are you and he says "i guess were doing pretty good" so I said, praise God! He replied "I don't know about all that, but maybe your right" and then we were off, the light was green and we went our separate ways. You can imagine how shocked and embarassed at my singing I was when I walked into the clinic where Kendra has hearing therapy and saw the family I had seen earlier in traffic. The mom, who was driving the car and I didn't even get a chance to see her response to my singing (I mean c'mon, this song was easily an octave above my "good" ((if I have a 'good')) singing range) says to me, Hi -- I think we met earlier on Madison Ave :). I know my face got red because I could hardly breathe and it felt like they turned the heat up to 88!! Rather than trying to not act embarassed (since the color of my face probably gave it all away) I just said, soooo sorry, that is one concert I'm sure you will NEVER forget. She just smiled kindly and said, probably not. Through talking, I found out that they have an 18 month old who has not been responding to sound and they have had one ABR which determined that there sweet little guy has a hearing loss. There appointment today was to talk about their options and they were feeling pretty dumpy about life. Sweet little Kendra, and all her sassiness was by my side and they just marveled at her. The only question they asked about Kendras CI's was if she was born with hearing or not. I told them no and that she did not even have her first word until after implanted. The mom had tears in her eyes and said with a quivery voice "She is so sweet, and happy, and normal". I, of course welled up and said to her "Of course there are hard days and why me days, but more than that your right. She is sweet, and happy, and normal". She thanked me and I gave her my number if she ever wanted to talk. Who woulda thought that would happen??
At the end of May, Matt and I were able to get away for a night and watch a Twins baseball game. They won!! McDonalds sends us each year for free, plus we get to put our names in for prizes and this year my name got drawn and I won a cash prize :). My sister watched the kids for us at our house and I'm pretty sure they didn't even miss us! The house was in good shape when we got back home and the kids were halfway happy to see us. Especially Miles, I can always count on him to want his Mommy!!! It's good for us to get away and spend quality time together, and were very blessed to have lots of helpers to make it possible!!
During the school year, Matt and I went to the bully busters production that Ronald McDonald does at schools. Matt has done a phenominal job being organized and involved in the St. James community. While we were there, we got a snapshot with Ronald and thought Noah would think it was pretty neat. When we showed him he had tears in his eyes and he just said, but I didn't get to see him :( We didn't realize he would feel so left out! We decided that it was high time he got to meet him. We brought Noah and Kendra to the Riverfest parade lineup where Ronald would be waiting so he could meet him. Kendra was not too impressed (1.) because the bands were practicing and it was too loud for her and (2.) she does not think Ronald is "normal". Noah loved it though and even got to walk in the parade and hand out candy, neclaces and coupons. It was good for him to get out in that sort of a social setting. When he gets around people he doesn't know, he gets really shy and doesn't answer questions or interact. Then he warms up and doesn't stop talking!
Well friends, enjoy your summers and stay in touch! Don't be afraid to touch peoples lives, because you never know what impact you just might have :)
