what seemed for all the world to be a heart attack. Intense chest
pain, radiating into my neck and left arm, shortness of breath, nearly
fainted, whole body went mildly numb with a wave of burning (like I
was covered in icy hot) and then chills. After an EKG, CT scan,
echocardiogram, stress test, and even a nuclear stress test, we still
have no idea what the problem is.
For about a week I could barely get off the couch and remain deeply
indebted to my friends Tabitha and Krista for coming over and helping
until I was able to function again. Happily my symptoms have gotten
gradually better, the chest pain still comes and goes (though no more
"attacks"), and I still get short of breath easier than is normal, but
I can function fairly normally. Basically I just can't push too hard
or I have to deal with the pay back.
These four little guys keep me running full steam, so not being able
to opperate at full steam has meant that I've had to just let a lot of
things go. Mostly the house. It hasn't been completely clean since the
chest pains started. But then I wasn't on track to win any house
keeping awards to begin with. I've just had to focus on the *real*
priorities and be at peace with the rest of my life not being perfect.
Kinda reminicent of when I was pregnant with Levi... Whatever God
wants to teach us here, I sure hope we learn it soon!
We had a lovely Christmas. LOVE our new home! My parents, siblings,
and even my Maw Maw & Paw Paw Zeek were able to come up for about a
week right around New Years which was SOOOOO very wonderful. It was
*awesome* we had room for them to stay with us comfortably, and the
time visiting was priceless.
A few weeks into the new year, work completely dried up for Jeremy's
busines. It had been steadily growing the last half of 2011, and we
entered the year with high hopes and great expectations. Jeremy's been
doing a lot of research and planning regarding building his
*business*, beyond just being a good painter, how to make a *profit*
at painting. We were all gung ho to implement a lot of these plans and
ideas and then...everything just died.
It was a good 6 weeks of learning lessons in trust all over again. I'm
pleased to say we both *have* been learning, because this dry spell we
kept our cool and remained confident in God better than we *ever* have
before. And, as He always does, He carried us through and just worked
everything out. I am more grateful than ever to serve the God who
rains manna from heaven and brings forth rivers of water from a dry
rock!
The kids are just a joy. Simple joy. It is such an incredible
priviledge to be their parents. Laura turned 2 on January 23rd. Reuben
turned 5 February 25th. Laura's making good strides toward speaking
English (thank goodness!), and is always suprising me with the things
she knows (colors, shapes, animals, etc.). This past week she's
frequently been asking me to take her to the potty, which is pretty
cool since I haven't been activily trying to potty train her. Pretty
sure she just wants in on the M&M action that Anna's getting. ;) But
hey, I'll take it.
Levi can now roll over both ways, and this week he started "ooching".
Yea Levi!!! :D The kids and I have been giving him crawling lessons
since he was born, so it's about time! He cut two teeth right at four
months, and has been a cranky little grumpy pants ever since, but
fortunately for him he has the most charming smile ever. Jeremy and I
are still holding out hope that we're really gonna like him if he ever
manages to get happy again. ;)
Anna is pretty well potty trained, talking quite well, and just a few
paces behind her big brother in school. Her hair is so long and
gorgeous, and I guess she hears that a lot. The other day she told me
in her high pitched, little girl, carefully enunciated way of speaking
"My hair is sooo long and beutiful. And you can climb UP IT, just like
'aPUNzel! [pause] And maybe, Daddy can clim UP IT too!" And I tell you
want, this girl is gonna be worth her weight in gold when she gets
about 12 years old. She loves to help out and take care of others.
Did I mention Reuben is 5! Still kinda geeking out about that... He's
really getting to be more and more of a grown up kid all the time. I
love the "big kid" type conversations we have. We've been reading
"Good & Evil" (basically a comic book Bible) at rest time each day,
and it's truely awesome the questions he has about God, sin,
punishment, etc. Reuben's a little perfectionist, he's devesting to
see his sisters play with a toy "the wrong way", or be asked to do
something he doesn't think he's capable of. Fortunately for him, I was
the same way at his age...and maybe I haven't entirely grown out of it
yet. SO, it's been easier for me to know how to help him work through
his issues. Sortof. ;)
We've also started memorizing Psalm 23 in Sunday school, so I decided
to start practicing with them during the week. I'm amazed how quickly
and effortlessly they've been picking it up, just from repeating small
sections after me once or twice a day. Laura can't even speak clearly
yet, but she mumbles along through most of it with suprising accuracy.
Anna just randomly starts quoting throughout the day, with some
comical results. "...deliver us from the eagle, for we look at the
birds flying in the sky, and we are CUMforted!..."
Oh, and we got a dog. He's a 8-year-old Beagle mix we adopted from a
local pound. The pound named him Chucky and the name stuck. He's a
pretty good dog, Jeremy and the kids love him very much. If he didn't
shed or have accidents on my floor I'd like him very much too, but all
in all it's tough to complain about this old guy.
Well, that's enough for now. Enjoy the pictures, and we love you all very much!
