FLU or NOT the FLU

Nurse Hannah's PSA!!!

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea = Gastroenteritis 

Gastroenteritis is often, inaccurately, referred to as "i have the flu" or "the stomach flu" but is totally unrelated to Influenza. Concern: dehydration, be sure to take in fluids...water is best but drink whatever you can tolerate. OTC meds may help too. 

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High fevers, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, headache, cough, muscle aches, fatigue = Influenza or "The Flu." 

The concern of ACTUAL influenza is the it can lead to respiratory complications  and/or exacerbate other comorbidities such as Heart Failure. 

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Regardless of which you have or what you call it don't pass it along, please! 

Sick? Stay home, wash hands, mask up, cover your cough. 

Want to lessen chances of getting sick? Wash your hands and Get a FLU shot! 

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Proper hand washing:  Wash them often, use soap and water, and wash for at least 20 seconds. We have the boys sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, it takes about 20 seconds (when they don't rush through it just to humor me!). 

When you can't get to a sink, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer (60% ETOH is best as it breaks down the proteins in the bacteria). Be sure to use enough so your hands are completely wet. Rub for VIGOROUSLY for 15 seconds...remember friction kills germs! 

Lovingly, Nurse Hannah! 🤒😷😴😳😚

XO

2016: Bring on the Organization...or at least the beeping!

So, I'm sure you would not have guessed this (lol) but I lose stuff! All. The. Time. Hey, life is crazy!

So, this year the resolution is to get more organized and stop wasting time looking for things like my work badge, cell phone, keys etc...

I think we are preparing to fail the organizational part because my hubby has put in place a back up plan, RFID tracking and the "Find My Phone" app!

Yay!!!! At least I'll keep one reality on this year...as long as I don't lose the remote...!!!!

Christmas 2015

Kind of a different type of family Christmas than we anticipated when we started this journey. But as always, our God is good and we thank Him for the opportunity to be together today, even if just for a short time. 

We start our day at home, puppy kisses, and presents under the tree. No time to chill, we got ready to go...not quite the kick back relaxing day we would plan, but we have a visit today and we are all excited! 

(Pig pile on daddy!) 

Side note: we do four gifts: a want, a need, a wear, and a read. Plus the stocking presents and a family gift. This wasn't a big hit last year, until it happened and then they were okay with it. This year it was known, accepted, and even appreciated! Such a great break from the crazy materialism we see around us...no judgement really, it's just not our style. We want/need to teach that the gift giving...or more precisely, getting, is a small part and not the focus of the day.

At the Chinese restaurant, our 2nd annual tradition, they were perplexed again that there were only three (we eat there too much!) which was again a sad recognition of not quite being all together. 

After lunch, with much excitement, we headed out of town for a visit! Yay!!! 

We were there, happy greetings! Altogether again, at last!! 

Presents, pictures, candy, games, puzzles, laughter, tears, and snuggles...over too soon. 

Time flew...Goodbye, see you soon...the heart wrenching parting. Then seeing kids that had no visitors or family for Christmas, was a tough pill to swallow. 

Although this is hard, we recognize that we have much for which to be thankful! It might not be what we anticipated, but God knew the directions our journey would take us in and we are grateful for His love, guidance, and provision. 

Home again we finish the day reading, coloring, cuddling dogs, checking social media, and praying that 2016 finds our family all together from start to finish.

 

See you soon Holly!

This my friend Holly's cat. I just love this picture of Sharkey, I like to think he's trying to get as close as possible to Jesus. I asked a couple weeks ago if I could share it and she gave me permission.

Holly passed away on Saturday. She was an amazing person, great nurse, and a warm kind friend to all who knew her. This Christmas she will be with Jesus, probably getting right up close, like Sharkey.

Life is short, but to God be the Glory, He is good, He has made a way and we will meet again in heaven. Will you be there for the party?!

Know God, know peace!

Love you Holly!

Dad

> Had a nice FaceTime chat with my sweet dad today! He really seemed like he was doing well and was happy.
>
> We cherish those times!!
>

Good fit!

The Joseph Caper

We present, to the tune of, "Mary Did You Know"...

🎤🎼 Vinnie do you know, who ate the head off of Joseph?!🎤🎼

From the lack of eye contact, I'd say she knows!!

A said: Mary and Jesus are both witnesses, but Joseph can't remember a thing! (Lol, love that kid's wit!)

He Knows...

We had him for 6 hours...and two meltdowns...not bad.

We had fun, it felt good...more complete.

As I drive away I wonder...will it get easier to walk to the car...will it get easier to get in the car...will it always be this hard to drive away and leave a piece of our puzzle behind? 

A few miles down the road as I pull into the gas station to get a soda for the drive home I turn the car off and silently wish everyone would just go in and leave me alone so I can sit here and cry. 

I want to cry loud and shed the big tears that I'm struggling to hold back. I want to put my head down on the steering wheel and let it go so this ache in my throat eases and my eyes stop burning...and my heart stops breaking.

Back in the car silent tears flow; it's odd how they only roll down the left cheek and I'm glad because they go unnoticed and I don't have to acknowledge aloud that I'm....what am I???

...sad? ...hurting? ...Grieving!

Grieving for each dark shirted boy in that space...I see longing and I feel longing. I want to envelope each of them in a warm "goodnight and know that somebody loves you" hug. I smile as warmly as I can and remain in my space as they emit small timid wary smiles and hellos. Then I wonder about their stories...why?...what?...who?...WHY?!!! I grieve for what should have been for each of them and for what might be...I quickly and silently lift them up to The Father as I look upon their faces and the song He Knows, by Jeremy Camp, comes to mind. I'm so glad He knows! 

Then I call back over the one face whose story I do know for one more hug and another I love you! I want the love we feel for him to sink in and seal the gaps and cracks that others have created. 

He's not embarrassed that I hug him and say, "one more hug for your momma, kiddo, I love you!" Although I know it's love that terrifies him the most, he hugs back...I also know it is love he longs for the most. He doesn't yet understand or trust love but he says, "I love you too." 

Then there he is walking away, back into this new part of his journey...separate from us...and I grieve anew. 

I think to myself, as I drive, "I'll call him Link because I feel like he's our missing piece! We feel more whole when he's there." Which leads me to wonder if I should call him Abraham Lincoln...and just call him Linc for short....sometimes I think I'm ADD...squirrel...!

I ask to turn on a story I've downloaded thinking this will distract me and the ache will lessen...but  the consensus seems to be that we listen to music instead...so I throw myself into that switching between 70's on 7 through to 90's in 9...singing along thankful for our free trial of satellite that get me from there to here.

It helps. 

Everyone, including myself, says this is best...but it's just so hard which bring me to wonder...will it get any easier?  Do I even want it to?

"He Knows" - Jeremy Camp

All the bitter weary ways

Endless striving day by day

You barely have the strength to pray

In the valley low

And how hard your fight has been

How deep the pain within

Wounds that no one else has seen

Hurts too much to show

All the doubt you're standing in between

And all the weight that brings you to your knees

[Chorus:]

He knows

He knows

Every hurt and every sting

He has walked the suffering

He knows

He knows

Let your burdens come undone

Lift your eyes up to the one

Who knows

He knows

He knows

We may faint and we may sink

Feel the pain and near the brink

But the dark begins to shrink

When you find the one who knows

The chains of doubt that held you in between

one by one are starting to break free

[Chorus]

Every time you feel forsaken

Every time that you feel alone

He is near to the brokenhearted

Every tear

He knows

He knows

[Chorus]