Refreshed!

Good morning sweetie ladies!!!!! Oh my thank you so for hanging in there with me. What a week. But I ammmm...........refreshed.....well I have to say I was really refreshed until......... you know how some love to wake up to a fresh cup of coffee or tea? Well.......my thing is a nice cold cold cup of milk. Soooooo, this morning being no different than any other day.......I poured my milk in my favorite red cup.........and I started drinking....... like I always do.....only to realize that the milk was  sour. UGH! Made me smile though. That was a "piece a cake" to what the beginning of the week was like!!!!!! Smile. I know some like sour milk........not me.....it is nasty and the after taste stays with! 

Praying that everyone out there is having a good week! 

This morning I looked up the word refreshed.........I was sooooo refreshed yesterday.........very nice. I hardly did a thing ........worked on orders as we drove to Hutch. Honey had an appointment with a farm agency. Tay also went with, she needed a little break also. We hardly leave the house it seems......which I love, but the day was so pretty and the drive was quiet. For those who have asked, Taylor will have to go to a physical therapist. The Lord is providing someone we know. Blessing!  We also picked up some crutches for her so she can get around on her own. She has felt quite dependent on others. We don't mind a bit lovin on her!

I have a bit of news that some have asked. The Purses for Promises for Joplin is doing very well. God is moving in the lives of many ladies across America and even in France. I have been receiving tea cozies and I want to thank each of you who have given. Some are even sending money to help add extras to the inside of the purse.......sweet! One friend called and said she and her husband were having so much fun buying little manicure sets........now I would have never thought of that! Doesn't the body work so well together? 

When we got home after being in Hutch we stopped at the end of the drive to pick up our mail...........inside was a package, from my sweet friend who lives in France.....Sandra..........BEAUTIMUS. She had a tea cozy for Joplin and some sweetness for me. You know the Lord's timing is so precious. I opened each wrapped piece. She had made a journal.......it is now my prayer journal (I am recording your names who ask for prayer in it), a hand stitched sachet........the work was incredible (so detailed) and some beautiful packages of tea.........now how did the Lord and Sandra know I could use some major encouragement yesterday? The Lord is so faithful and He always uses friends it seems. Thank you Sandra.......you were so sweet to think of me!

Aren't the colors unreal. Loved all the different colored beets!

Later in the day we went to our friends house to pick up their rototiller. We left with our hearts and hands full. I went to bed last night blessed. Thank you for all who left comments.......you were a breathe of fresh air!

Report on Ellianna.........thank you for praying. As many of you know she had surgery again on Wednesday to get a new final shunt put in. Here is a update from Hannah. I thought it would be easier to put this up for those who want to read. God is there for this precious family!!!

Yesterday as Ellianna was getting ready for surgery, her doctors became increasingly concerned about her blood work.  Her electrolytes sky-rocketed since being admitted last Thursday, and were high enough that they could cause serious problems with her heart.  They were worried that she has an underlying condition causing this, separate from her brain issues.  They checked an EKG of her heart right before surgery to make sure she was stable enough to tolerate being put to sleep.  It looked fine...

Surgery went very well and her doctor came out beaming, pleased with the outcome.  Her head pressure could go down really rapidly now.  We were handed a little bag with a clump of her hair they shaved...she has an incision on the back of her head and another in the center of her belly.  Poor little thing is swollen all over.

We were moved from the pediatric floor into the PICU so they could keep a closer watch on her.  Morphine, Tylenol, and Motrin seemed to slightly dull her discomfort.  We answered a barrage of questions from the intensive care doctor... I left feeling like they doubted our capabilities as parents.  They drew labs one more time to see if anything had changed and then were going to consult with other doctors to see if they could figure out what was going on.

I reluctantly left my baby's side to pick up the other kids and spend the night at home.  I could tell Mark was worried and needed to be with her for awhile.  He texted me later and said the results were back and they showed all levels were NORMAL!  This was astounding to us.  They checked them again this morning and everything still looked perfectly normal.  Not sure what happened...either there was a mix-up, or God gave us one of those miracles we have been praying for.  Either way, it is nice to be able to breathe out.

Ellianna is drowsy today, but wakes up every few minutes seeming to be in pain. Everything looks stable though and she is starting to eat again.  We will hopefully be moved back to the regular pediatric floor today and hope her discharge will be soon.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting  us...in thoughts, prayer, meals, time off from work, and helping out with the other kids.  We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful army of friends and family holding us up. 

Wow, I know this is long......but thought I should answer some of the questions you all have had. If you want to leave a prayer for Ellianna.......her Momma and Daddy read them all. Thank you again for your sweetness!

God bless your day.........I was going to report on our Vitaliy, but Tonya (his adopted momma to be)  just called and exciting things are happening fast. I will have to tell about that tomorrow. Today is a huge day, so please pray that the Lord would have the Kansas background check in the mail very soon. Yesterday was our Vitaliy's 13th birthday......so excited to celebrate next year with him here. We have had to just wait and wait for papers to get back. That is the hardest thing we have heard about adopting a child. When things finally cut loose.......you have to move fast. Our Tonya may have to drive to Topeka today......please pray for her safety. 

I can't thank you precious ladies enough for all that you have done for our family!!!! Thank you again for the prayers going up for our Tay and Ellie! I am praying for you!

Hugs from my farm to your HOME!

Linda