Happy Birthday Ethan

I cannot believe that today my baby turns 10 years old! It truly does feel like just yesterday he was a babe in my arms. Ethan is very much looking forward to tonight, my parents are making him a special birthday dinner of shrimp and fish. It amazes me that both my boys like seafood, when I don't! Jeff never used to like seafood, but it is growing on him... I think I will forever be a seafood holdout!

 We are so grateful for Ethan's continued health, 2 more months and it will be 2 years since his last dose of prednisone.  I can hardly wait, I am trying to think of something we can do together as a family to mark this special milestone. If you have any ideas, let me know!

It's a New Year

Well you can tell from my lack of posts that not much has been happening. I am finding it hard to blog because Ethan is doing so well, there really isn't much to tell! This is a good thing indeed!  I can't even remember the last time we saw a doctor. I have also been gradually easing up on Ethan's daily urine testing (GASP).  These past two weeks I have only tested him once a week, and he was still negative!  Two years ago when Ethan's Nephrologist told me his goal was to get us (me) to a point where I could test him every few months. I have to say, I didn't believe him, I was feeling very skeptical that we would ever get to this point. I am beyond happy and excited to be where we are at this moment. Such Joy fills my heart seeing my son normal and healthy. Praise God from whom all blessing flow!

Christmas Wish

This article brought tears to my eyes, as I remember the tough times with Ethan and for those children who are still suffering. Just this week Ethan told me that his P.E. teacher told him he was the best in his class for physical fitness. The fact that he wants to, and is able to get out and play and be active again is such a miracle. I can relate to this story in so many ways, including the comments from complete strangers about how "fat" my son is. I wish there was a cure or another treatment that did not affect these children so much physically and emotionally. The side effects are horrendous and even though the doctors call prednisone a " Miracle Drug", those that have been on it, tend to disagree!

Seeking a miracle: 5 year old shares her Christmas wish with Saint Nick - Shawnee, OK - The Shawnee News-Star

18 Months

Saturday November 20th, marked 18 months since Ethan's last dose of prednisone. When I think of where we were and to how our life has changed, I am filled with gratitude and joy. I can hardly believe that we have made it this long. It is truly a miracle to see Ethan happy and healthy. He continues to amaze us with his new found happiness, humour and zest for life. He is trying new things that he would never have attempted when he was sick. For example, he is running 5-7 laps every tuesday and thursday in hopes of getting a gold medal at the end of the year for Kilometer Club. Adam received a gold medal last year and Ethan has made that his goal for this year. 

Recovering

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I am recovering from surgery and I haven't really had much to update. Ethan is doing better at School, praise the Lord. He continues to fluctuate from trace to negative, more traces than I would like. But very happy he has now made it 17 months. Here is a link to a video I found that I just had to share. I hope you enjoy it. I am so thankful for my family, friends and husband who have all pitched in to help take care of this past while. Love you all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtTa81LyuQM

Prayer Request

Please pray for Ethan, the familiar anxiety and stomach aches have returned! Today Ethan was only at School half an hour before I received a call to come and get him. He was not sick, but had literally made himself feel that way with worry. I know what this feels like and I am so sad that my son is going through this. He is so fearful of getting sick and relapsing. Today it was brought on by the fact that the boy sitting next to him had the flu yesterday. That was all Ethan needed to hear, he just wanted out of there!!!! I didn't realize the extent of his fears as he often doesn't talk about his Kidney disease. Please pray for wisdom for us as we figure out how to best handle this. As well as for Ethan as he goes about life, may he not be filled with fear but with Peace.

Mommy Tasking

I found this article by Carol Barnier, called "Mommy Tasking"

A talk-show guest confidently claimed to have the solution to my problems. "Mothers just need to borrow from the business world. They need to organize, economize and develop simultaneous activity channels. In short, they need to strengthen their multitasking skills."

Was he kidding?

At that moment, I was wiping smeared jelly from a kitchen stool with one hand and zipping the back of my daughter's dress with the other, while reviewing spelling words with a fifth-grader who possessed an infinite number of alternative spellings for hygiene.

Multitasking is not something mothers need to learn. We clean the house and whip up dinner and taxi the kids and trim their hair while we extract a splinter, explain a metaphor, sew a costume, teach kids to chew with mouths closed, remove lipstick from the couch cushion and use a toilet plunger.
No, Mr. Television Guest, you missed the mark completely.

What we moms need, what our minds miss most and what our hearts intensely seek is the seemingly lost ability to monotask. We long for a quiet moment on a porch swing to laugh with a child, a chance to linger over dinner with our husband and the satisfaction of allowing a burgeoning idea to playfully work its way through our brain. Ah ... to feel the linear path.

But just as soon as my thoughts "burgeon," the phone rings or the UPS man pulls up or an 8-year-old runs breathlessly into my sanctuary (read that: bathroom, bedroom, little closet in the basement where I try to hide) and demands to know if the 5-year-old is really allowed to use her toothbrush to clean the hermit crabs.

The world of motherhood is one of perpetual motion. Calendars with no blanks days. "To do" lists that do not end. Spring cleaning that runs deep into August. But multitasking isn't just a solution for improved productivity; it's a value statement that says more is always better and quiet times are unproductive times. I suspect that God couldn't agree less.

The Bible does not say, "He leadeth me in the path of astounding productivity and dizzying accomplishment whereby He is exceedingly impressed." No, God wants us to lie down in green pastures, and He wants to lead us beside still waters to restore our souls.

I know raising children is a season, and a short-lived season at that. One day my kids will be grown. The quiet will be mine to fill and enjoy. I will probably miss the noise and disorder that many little feet used to bring to my world. But when that happens, I intend to read my favorite magazine, from cover to cover, all in one sitting.