Bragging Mama... Part 2

Katrina's art teacher posts her artwork on an amazing website called Artsonia. We've ordered great gifts for grandparents and other family. It is open to the public - you can view her gallery here. But I thought I would share her lovely artwork on the blog. She has discovered the internet (already? I know...) and loves to play on her "smart kid" websites. She is also fascinated by seeing herself and her work on the computer.

Her first piece, entitled "Kindergarden Cowboy"

Thanksgiving Turkey

"Valentine's Hearts"

"Self-Portrait in the Spring"

Have a wonderful day, from Katrina!

Please Vote for this Awesome Charity!

My friend Jill just sent me the following email:

My dad works for this place (he would be the Bob Cooper at the end of the email ). It's a treatment center for abused kids and their families. They could win a million dollars if they're voted the top charity. Could you help me by voting and by spreading the word? It would be incredible to be able to help give them this money. They have a 1 in 15 chance. Those are fabulous odds! You can vote once or twice a day per email address. Thank you!
Jill


This is the email from Jill's dad, Bob:

Dear Friends,
What would you do if you discovered that you could give away one million dollars? Well, now you have that kind of power…well, sort of. Let me explain.
Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home has been selected from numerous other charities across the country to be a TOP 15 finalist in the TwittaCause campaign, an affiliate program of Twitter. The winning charity will receive a gift of up to $1 million! Imagine what that kind of money could do to help the children we serve at Tennyson Center !
You can help decide who wins this contest simply by voting for Tennyson Center as the top charity of choice. Click here to vote (you can vote once per day per IP address) or simply click on the following link: http://www.twittacause.com/vote-for-a-cause.php
Voting runs from April 27 through May 10, so please SPREAD THE WORD to your family, friends and colleagues and let’s help Tennyson Center on the road to what could be ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

As always, thank you for your continued support!

For the children,
Bob Cooper, President & CEO
Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home


There is more information about this and other Tennyson Center programs and events on our website. Click here to visit our website.

I have known Bob Cooper for several years, and the Tennyson Center would be an amazing charity to receive this gift. It is an amazing place where children find healing. Please, please, please, take the time to vote! It literally takes seconds, and so many children would be blessed because of it! Thanks!

Thoughts from the Other Side

This post is a long time coming. It has taken me a little bit to process my thoughts about Violet's hospital stay. Please understand, I am by no means trying to make it sound like a huge ordeal. There are so many other families and moms, like MckMama, Cari, and Linn, who have been and are walking through so much more. Our little adventure seems so pale in comparison. But it is still our adventure.

I was given the opportunity last Sunday to share a few minutes about small groups. Spend two minutes with me, and I'll probably ask you if you are involved in one. I love our group. We are by no means the smartest, wisest people in our group, but I love them all passionately. And, that Thursday, when I heard those words every parent dreads, I immediately thought of them.

We were supposed to start a new study that night, 40 Days of Love. All the usual suspects were to come over, along with some newbies we were looking forward to welcoming. But, I was going to the hospital with Violet. I called our amazing friend Jill, who immediately began calling & emailing the group, along with other friends from church.

Something amazing happened that afternoon. As I was sitting with Violet, comforting her as the nurses poked and prodded, I felt peace. I am not a peaceful person, by nature. I am a worrier/freaker-outer! But I was peaceful. I could literally and physically feel people praying over me. You may be tempted to stop reading here, thinking that this is too weird. Imagine how I felt! I could sense that, in the spiritual, friends and family were dropping to their knees and lifting my baby before the Throne of the Almighty.

What a humbling, honoring thought that is. That people were willing to pray for us, for Violet, for me. The entire time we were there, I was at peace. There is no more helpless feeling than watching your child sleep in a hospital bed, knowing that you as Mom cannot fix her. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that a large part of the reason Violet recovered so quickly was because of the prayers offered up on her behalf.

I am trying to write real thank you notes to everyone who visited, brought meals, took our kids, fed my caffeine addiction, etc while we were there, but for now a virtual thank you will have to suffice.

And if you are one of those who doubts the power of prayer, join the club. It is something I have struggled with since asking Christ into my life. It is much easier to believe that God will heal/answer prayers for others than for me. I cannot doubt that now. I have seen the proof. But, God knows it is a journey of faith and trust for us. This is one of my milestones, a time I will look back upon in the dark of night and say, without doubt, "God heard me then, He can hear me now!"

Thankful Thursday...on Friday...again!

Wow! Today is so different than last week. It's amazing how your world simply stops when someone you love is that sick. Last week at this time I was sitting in a darkened hospital room, watching my baby try to sleep, but be unable to because of the pain. This week, I am at work, hoping that my baby is sleeping at Grandma's house. She is doing much better (more on that in an upcoming post), and our family is starting to settle back into our routine. This week, I am grateful and thankful:

• to be home. I love my home, and my bed, and my kitchen, and my shower (with the really hot water).
• for our friends and family. I was overwhelmed by all the love, prayers, everything you all showed us (but, again, more on that later).
• for ibuprofen, allergy meds, and popsicles. The darned cottonwood trees are blooming, sending my throat into flames, my lungs into coughing spasms, and my head into the dreaded "allergy black hole". Gotta love the cottonwoods...
• for my tulips that are almost ready to bloom. Can't wait to get the lawn mower/shovels/weed wackers out this weekend!
• for the peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you Daddy, for your hand on my head, reassuring me to be calm when it's so easy to be stressed.
• for Taco Bell hot sauce. Seriously, is there anything greater? We have a massive bag in the fridge at work because every time someone goes, they take a huge handful.
• amazing young women who are willing to wrangle our herd of children in our home group on Thursday nights. We seriously, some weeks, have more children in our group than adults. If it weren't for these amazing ladies, I am convinced that we would have had a hostage situation long ago!
• my mom & dad. You don't realize all your parents sacrificed and did for you until you have children of your own, and you are doing the same things for them. Mom & Dad aren't perfect, but they are amazing!
• Fuddruckers. Seriously. I love that place. Want to go tomorrow night for dinner, baby? Now, let's see if he actually reads this before tomorrow. Any bets?

We're going home!

We just got the official word - we get to go home today! Woohoo! Violet is taking a nap right now while we wait for the pediatrician to make her rounds. We've already had our visit from the respiratory therapist, who delivered her first oxygen tank to go home with. Last night we kept trying to turn down her O2 while she was sleeping to see if we could wean her, but her levels kept dropping too low. So, Violet gets a tether for a while. She has been drinking, eating, and peeing like a champ (oh how she's going to love me for this someday), and feeling well enough to cause trouble.

All in all, this kid is completely different today than she was Thursday. It's amazing what 48 hours of oxygen & fluids can do for a kid. Thanks, everyone, for all the prayers, visits, coffee, stuffed animals, food, etc. It has meant the world to us!

Easter Fun

As I was looking (snooping) on Jerome's pictures while in the hospital, I realized that I never posted our Easter pics. The Randols stayed with us Saturday night, so we took the opportunity Sunday morning before church to photograpth the entire brood in their Easter Finery. I think they're a pretty cute bunch!




Madison discovered that there's money in the cards from Great-Grandma! Violet played with the card.



Violet and Old Grandma got to play together. I know she and I will both cherish these photos someday.


"Peek-a-boo, Grandma! I see you!" It's kind of funny now that Violet has an oxygen tube that matches Grandma's.


Ahh, the princess and her prince.

Katrina displaying both her new Easter dress and her booty from the egg hunt. She had a little bit of trouble understanding that her little sister and cousin Pax needed some eggs too...the competitive spirit is emerging in this one!

Madison on her hunt. She would find the egg, then make me put it in the basket.

Pax throughly enjoyed hunting for eggs. And throwing the eggs. And throwing the eggs some more. They looked like balls, what can I say? His mom & dad were enjoying the knowledge that they were going to get to eat most of the candy.

Madison loved her bunny that Teri, a family friend, mailed from Fort Collins.

Violet, again, being entertained by Papa. She loves to have his undivided attention.

A quick update

So, obviously, Jerome & I weren't able to get to a computer today to update everyone. We are here for another night, for a couple of reasons. They had to turn up the drip on her fluids this morning because, even after a full day of fluids, she still wasn't peeing. She's going to hate me someday for sharing this, but oh well. Her oxygen levels are looking great, and her lungs are starting to sound worse, which is actually a good thing. The noise and "crackling" means that her lungs are actually starting to open up. They've been slowly weaning her off the oxygen, but want to monitor her for another night to make sure she stays this good.

She has been off and on all day. She woke up when Papa got here this morning, but was not interested in anything (not even a croissant) and promptly went back to sleep. She then slept all morning. She woke up when they brought lunch, and promptly devoured a grilled cheese sandwich. She felt so good for a while, that we were actually playing. She also insisted that I take these pictures with my phone so she could show everyone that she's doing ok. I think she looks precious, even with all the tubes.



So, we wish you a good night from the hospital. Hopefully, we'll be able to go home tomorrow. We may or may not go home with oxygen for Violet, but we'll decide that tomorrow after seeing how she does tonight. Good night, everyone.

Thankful Thursday...from the hospital

What a week! In case you didn't read my previous post, Violet is in the hospital with pneumonia. It's been an interesting day, to say the least. But, there is always so much to be thankful for! This week, I am thankful:

• that Jerome did such an amazing job of taking care of the girls while I was away. I am truly blessed to have him in my life - he is a gift from Daddy!
• that we caught Violet's illness so early. The medicine is working quickly to comfort her & ease her pain - much easier than if we had let it go much longer.
• for the amazing staff here at the hospital. Our nurses (Lauren & Crystal - amazing), doctors, everyone is incredible. They are so loving & gentle with VRae, and take the time to make sure I understand everything. When her respiratory therapist hadn't shown up for her 8PM nebulizer treatment, one of the nurses went to track him down. He was literally saving a man's life in the ICU. He also has two more patients coming in tonight from other hospitals with the same problems. If you remember, please be in prayer for Violet's therapist, Dave. He has a long night ahead of him.
• for all our friend & family who came by, offered to make meals, called, texted, and prayed. This, to me, is truly the body of Christ - when we are willing to put our lives & agendas on hold to minister to someone else. You all need to know that you truly are loved and appreciated. Thank you so much!
• that we live 2 minutes from the hospital. JJ & the girls were able to hang out until bedtime. It was so sweet seeing Katrina & Madi love on VRae and help cheer her up.
• that Violet is sleeping peacefully. I think it may be time for me to join her!

Our Latest Adventure - How do you spell pneumonia?

Wow, what a day. For that matter, wow, what a week! We finished the Passion Play Saturday night, celebrated Easter on Sunday, then Monday went to work/school/sitters like normal. I left that afternoon for training in Grand Junction while Jerome stayed home & did a fabulous job of caring for our girls. However, Violet decided that the antibiotics she was on for her ear infection were not enough. She got pretty sick Monday & Tuesday night. When my mom picked her up Wednesday, she was so worried that she called me while I was driving home. I got home Wednesday evening, just in time to tuck the bigguns' into bed, and snuggle with JJ on the couch. This morning, Violet was no better. She was running a fever, lethargic, coughing & wheezing from congestion, etc. So, I took her in, thinking that the ear infection was just as stubborn as my daughter and attempting a repeat performance.

After running a ton of tests (we now know she does NOT have strep, an ear infection, the flu, or RSV), the doc was still baffled. She ordered a chest xray because she didn't like the sounds of her lungs. Winner winner chicken dinner! The child has pneumonia! It was just in her right lower lung, and the doc thought we caught it early, but she was still worried.

And so, I got to hear those dreaded words, "We need to admit your daughter." I've made it through 5 1/2 years of parenthood without that phrase - too bad I couldn't make it a little longer. But, her breathing was far too rapid, and her oxygen levels too low for the doc to be comfortable sending her home.

So, we came over to the hospital (Madison in tow, mind you... an adventure in itself). They had her room with her fancy crib all ready to go for her. We got the oxygen tube on her face (didn't like that), the oxygen monitor on her toe (didn't like that), then got ready for the IV. SHE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE THAT! For the next few hours, ever person that entered our room in scrubs was Satan in her book. She yelled at them. I've never heard her yell at someone other than her sisters - it was interesting. They started her on fluids (she's dehydrated), antibiotics, pain meds for the fever, and the oxygen. She has three tubes coming out of her body, and looks totally pitiful. Luckily, the combination is working. She is currently snoring, just like Dad. And, all of her levels look good. We've been able to bring the fever down, her oxygen up, and let her rest.

If she continues to improve, she could get to go home tomorrow. If she doesn't, then we're looking at steroids and at least one more night.

We have had so many wonderful friends & family pour out love since we discovered we were "going in", it is kind of overwhelming. It's always easier to be on the giving side of that love rather than the receiving. Stuffed animals, meals, prayers, COFFEE!, childcare help, offers to do whatever, etc. Thank you all, so much. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing extended family.

I will try to update this as we get news (or maybe I'll let hubby commandeer the post). Thank you for your prayers - I know they work!

Easter Fun with Randols

Since we had Passion Play performances Wednesday through Saturday. Ryan & Sommer are dear friends that live in Mancos, about 30 minutes away, but drive all the way over to our house every week for small group. They have two girls, Felicity & Kaitlyn, a little older than Katrina, and a precious baby boy Sean.

We had a wonderful time with the Randols. Katrina and Madi were giddy to have friends stay over. Sommer & I discovered that it is far too easy for us to stay up far too late into the night talking. The girls, surprisingly enough, did not kill each other. The men, of course, had a fabulous time together. The boys are both surrounded by far too much estrogen in their respective homes, so having a little male bonding time was good for them. We thought about going shooting at the range on Saturday, but since it was snowing (darn Colorado springtime), we opted for the lazy version.

We were able to create some wonderful Easter memories for the kids as well. We all felt bad because the kids had spent so much time at church for play rehearsals lately. So, Saturday morning we all slept in, then ate a little breakfast, and colored Easter eggs.

Enjoying a little cartoon time. It is Saturday, after all.

Some shots are just too cute to not take.

We did, however, have to practice sharing. As adults. The two laptops got a workout!! And don't you just love Ryan's stylish pink one? I think it matches his outfit. Violet was getting two lessons at once - baseball from Daddy and guns from Mr. Ryan.

Miss Felicity preparing to dye Easter Eggs.

Katrina & Kaitlyn working hard on their creations.

All in all, the Hotel Bleger was a success. No major injuries, no major arguments, but not much sleep. Oh well, who needs sleep when you've got friends?

Passion Play Backstage

Tonight was the final performance of Passion Play of Durango. We performed 4 shows, had 4 dress rehearsals, and umpteen regular rehearsals. We began rehearsals in January, but started planning in October. This group, representing 12 different churches, truly becomes family. Here are some of the scenes from backstage:

And so, another year is done. Thank you to everyone I was blessed to hang out with for the past 3 months. You really are family. It has been a joy to deliver the best message the world has ever known. It has been a joy to serve alongside you. It has been a joy to pray with you, learn more about God, learn more about each other. Thank you for being the biggest small group I've ever been in, the most intimate Bible Study ever. I truly love you all. This, to me, is what being a member of Christ's family is about.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, Everyone! I will be praying that you are able to enjoy this amazing Ressurection Sunday with your loved ones!

It's a Good Friday

Today is so different than any other Friday. It is Good Friday. The day Jesus died for me, for you.

The past few months, our family has had the honor of being a part of the Passion Play of Durango. We began performances Wednesday, and run through Saturday. While Jerome is on stage as a member of the Sanheidren, the priestly group that fought for Jesus's death, I am backstage helping with props, scene changes, and costumes. And every night, from the moment the beatings begin to when he is laid in the tomb, I cry backstage. I can't help it. This year, I have really begun to understand that Jesus loved ME enough to endure this. I knew He loved the world, my family, my friends, but it was so hard to believe that He loved me that much. He does. He loved me. And when that realization sweeps over me, tears are the only reaction possible.

For you see, Easter is not about baskets, or bunnies, or eggs. It is about sacrifice and redemption. Without Good Friday, there would be no reason to celebrate Easter, or Christmas. At any point, Jesus could have said, "Enough. It's not worth it." But He didn't. He chose to endure humiliation, torture, ridicule, pain, and death FOR YOU! For me...

Take a moment today. Ponder the cross. Accept the fact that YOU ARE WORTH IT! Jesus knew, before the creation of the world, that He would sacrifice everything for you. And it wasn't because He had to, it was because He wanted to.

If you are in town, come by The River Church tonight or tomorrow, and watch the show. If you're not, you can watch it live at www.iriverchurch.com/streaming. Yes, it is gruesome. Yes, it is painful to watch. But watching it does not hurt nearly as bad as enduring it did.

Thankful Thursday...Choices

I love Passover Week. I will admit, I am a history/archeology nerd. I love reading the footnotes in my bible, watching the shows on the History Channel, studying the rituals. I'm a bit of an apologetic, and I love to prove the truth and accuracy of God's Word, historically. I even chose for our ladies book club the new Josh McDowell book, The Case for the Real Jesus. They are, I suspect, just trying to be nice to me. But I'm loving it! I've read it twice so far.



Somehow, every year, during the week before Easter, my thoughts wander. You see, Easter is not just the celebration of Christ's Resurrection for me. On Easter, 1998, I rose from the dead, was freed from myself, and began a relationship with the Holy Creator of the Universe. Easter is my birthday! And this is one birthday I don't mind celebrating!

But I cannot help but wonder at all the choices that went into my salvation. First, God chose to place me in the family and time that He did. My parents tried for 2 1/2 years to conceive me. Then, He chose to have me go to DHS. Then He chose to place me in a French class with a cute white kid with a fro. Jerome & I chose to start dating. Jerome chose to love me, even though I thought his beliefs were ridiculous. Jerome chose to continue praying for me. My now mom-in-law, Rebecca, chose to allow him to continue the relationship, because she saw something higher. Mark chose to challenge Jerome in where the relationship was going, and to pray for me. Jerome chose to stick with me, to answer all my questions, to ease my fears. Jerome chose to invite me to church. The members of the church chose to welcome me, to love me regardless. And finally, I chose to trust. I chose to trust that words I read were true, the love I felt was real. And I chose Jesus.

We may think our choices don't matter, that we really do not affect eternity. But they do. Every choice, great or small, will affect the destiny of someone. And that someone could be someone like me.

This week, I am so thankful for those choices. Because those choices led me to the greatest relationship I could ever have. And, on Sunday, I get to celebrate 11 years of friendship with Jesus, who chose me.

Plans

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)



"If you were capable of handling everything that came your way, how would others ever realize that His strength is what makes you strong?" - by Dr. Charles Stanley


What are the plans God has for you? Do you truly believe that they are "to prosper you and not to harm you"? What about when things get hard, when you can't see God through the valley? Will you still believe?



You see, I ask this for a reason. I think that, as Christians, we tend to misinterpret this verse. Please understand, I am not a pastor, nor a theologian. I am simply trying to understand the incomprehensible God I serve. We read this verse, "to prosper you and not to harm you", and tend to assume that everything will be good. That we won't have problems. Or, we take another approach. We think assume that we can handle everything, and that God will fix it if we need to.



What does it mean to prosper? Does it mean that He'll protect us from every hurt, put us in a bubble, never allow us to fall? Would you do that with your child? Would you withhold life-saving medicine because you knew it would hurt? Would you keep your child locked up, dangerously sheltered from the world, because you knew they would get hurt? Would you withhold consequences for wrong decisions because they cause pain? I don't think so. We, as parents, know what is best for our child. And yes, some of those experiences may hurt. But they are, in the long run, to prosper and not harm our child.



And yet, when life gets rough, we doubt that Daddy ultimately has our best intentions in mind.

I want desperately to minister to hurting people. I want to be there for them. And yet I take the independent attitude, the "I can do it myself". Well, if nothing else, this past year and a half have shown me that I cannot do it myself. Do I still believe that His word is true? Absolutely! I am now walking in the realization that there are consequences for EVERY action I take. And God will not withhold those consequences, good or bad, if He knows that they are ultimately for my good.

It is much easier to trust God for your financial provision when you have more than enough to pay the bills. It is easy to "know" Him as your healer when all in your family are healthy. It's easy to believe that He goes before you when the world is on your side. But, when you have no idea where the money to pay the bills will come from, when someone you love, or you, is very sick, when you are unfairly accused, you HAVE no other choice. You HAVE to trust Him. And it is no longer a superficial, surface-deep trust. It becomes the trust that cannot be shaken, that is deeper than any situation. To prosper means to live the fullest life possible, to be aware of God's holy presence throughout our day, to seek His will and do it.

I still don't trust Him how I want to. But I have learned that deep trust enough in the last while to realize when I am really trusting, and when it's just surface. When I'm still trying to figure it out on my own. I want desperately to be a witness of His provision, His comfort, His healing, His protection. But I will not be effective if my trust is only skin-deep. And so, while I may not completely understand the path He has chosen for me, I will continue to walk it. I will choose to believe that His ultimate intentions for me are to prosper, even when I can't "see" the prosperity. Because I pray that one day I will be able to minister to you in your hurt, in your pain. And not with a surface love, but rather the deep love that comes from walking the same path. And while I will not intentionally ask for pain or suffering (really, who would?), I will choose to praise in the midst of it, because I am gaining a deeper understanding of the reality of my amazing God. Are you?

Conversations with a Two-Year-Old, and a Rock Your World Moment

Many times, I just have to shake my head. Like this morning. We had two of these moments.

Conversation #1:

We were in the car, driving to the sitter's house, when Madison informed me that she "hated" such-and-such movie. Now, I try to not use that word, and do not let the girls use it. So I told her that our family does not say hate. She then told me, and I quote, "Then I'm not going to take you to my birthday party!" How do you politely inform your two-year-old that, without you, she wouldn't have a birthday, and if the attitude continued, NO FUTURE BIRTHDAYS?

Conversation #2:

A little while later, she was crying/whining because the sun was in her eyes. Usually, when this happens in the car, she complains until the car shifts and the sun no longer bothers her. Today, she informed me that she was not the boss. The sun was the boss. And she stopped whining. We have finally found one thing over which Madison will admit she has no control. The sun. The rest of the known universe, apparently, is still run by Princess Doodlepaws.

Thankful Thursday... Random Thoughts from My Head

Today is such a sweet day. I don't really know why, but it is. I mean, really, it doesn't make sense in my world-o-vision. But, in my God-o-vision, it makes perfect sense. All is well, because He is here. Thanks, Jen, by the way, for the beautiful prayer I found in my inbox this morning - IT'S WORKING!





So, today, I am thankful:

• that beautiful baby Stellan is feeling better! According to MckMama, he did much better overnight, and even went 16 hours without his heart falling into the "danger zone". Please click on Stellan's name to go to her blog & understand the medical jargon. I have tried, and the only thing I understand is that his heart does not work right. But, yeah Jesus, he did much better overnight.


• for my sweet babies. Violet has been waking up from naps & in the night screaming, and we couldn't figure out why. We now know - two molars have made their appearance! Madison gave me huge hugs this morning (a rare occasion), and has been trying to be sweet & obedient lately (please note, trying). And Katrina, well Katrina just amazes me. I am so proud of the little lady she is becoming. Her heart for babies & orphans overwhelms me - she volunteered to clean out her toys for a team to take to an orphanage this summer! There's no way I would have done that at her age!


• that my husband's job allows Katrina to go to work with him. This is her Spring Break, and with me working we weren't sure what we were going to do with her during the days, since Grandma & Pepe had to go to France at the last . But, some fabulous friends have stepped in to watch her, and she got to go with Daddy for a special day today. She discovered the scanner at his office, and I received this beautiful artwork in my inbox. She has also figured out that there are a lot of older ladies in his office that would love to "adopt" a granddaughter for a while. No more sugar!
• for good friends, good conversations, and lots of laughter.
• that today is Thursday. Which means that tomorrow is Friday! Which means that the next day is Saturday! Which means that I get to sleep in! Yippee!
• for the sunshine outside. It's still cold, but at least it's not snowing!
• for my Crock-Pot. Seriously, I am! I love my Crock-Pot! Cause I'm not feeding my family fast food 5 nights next week while we're at the Passion Play.
• that we get to take Madi & VRae on a special date tomorrow night. Katrina has a reward night at church tomorrow night, so we get to hang with the youngins', just us.
• for my little portable heater at my desk. I like toastie tootsies!
• for the tulips growing all over our property. I treasure the first signs of spring.
• for change. It may not always be what we expect, but it's usually good.

Prayer for a Fellow Blogger

Hi friends. I stumbled upon MckMama's blog a few weeks ago. She began a really fun post entitled "Not Me Monday" that was continued by my friend Kati. MckMama's infant son Stellan is seriously ill and has been in the hospital for some time. Stellan was never supposed to live to be born in the first place, and is fighting for his life once again. Please go to her blog to understand his illness, because I cannot explain it at all. The only thing I can think of is to ask you to pray for this family.