PT Graduate

Today I graduated from physical therapy, and it honestly felt like a miracle. When I injured my knee back in August and after I had my surgery in September, there were many times when I wondered if I would ever regain a full range of motion or be able to do simple things without a great degree of pain. But, after months of hard work, I am mostly there. I do still have some work to do, and I haven't yet been cleared for all the activities I would like to do, but I am pleased with the progress I've made. I am so thankful to my therapist, Lisa, and the support staff that encouraged me and pushed me to do more than I thought I could. I plan to keep working, and I look forward to getting back to my normal level of activity, but today I am celebrating this victory that once seemed out of reach. 

Crossing a Crunchy Line

First, there was the homeschooling. Then, I jumped into experimenting with essential oils. More recently, I have made drastic changes to my family's diet, instituting a healthy eating plan they lovingly refer to as "The Regime." But now, I've crossed another line in the pursuit of "crunchiness." I've gotten into yoga. And, by that I basically mean yoga has pretty much been saving my life since this new year began.

I've had "try yoga" on my New Year's resolution list for quite a long time, but I just haven't ever gotten around to finding a class or making the time or whatever. Because making excuses is generally easier than making changes, which is why most New Year's resolutions never even have a realistic chance of getting off the ground. But, as I mentioned in a previous post, I've been pretty depressed since our move back to Texas, and, in an effort to combat that, I've tried all sorts of things--a ballroom dance class, an improv class, a Spanish practice app, a painting class, reading lots of books, working on my geography books, experimenting in the kitchen, getting more serious about photography. These activities have all been fun and well worth the time (and I am still enjoying several of them on an ongoing basis), but, when the new year rolled around, I felt like I needed to try something else. And, there was yoga, still on my list, waving its hand around yelling, "Pick me! Pick me!"

I checked with a local Facebook group for recommendations for beginner classes, and the one suggested more than any other was within walking distance of my house. I didn't really feel like my excuses could hold up to that--or the fact that the time was right and this studio offered one class for free, just to try it out. So, I carved out some space in my Wednesday evening and have been going somewhat regularly for about six weeks. I LOVE it and keep asking myself why I didn't try it sooner and where this has been all my life!

For a person who instinctively and subconsciously holds her breath as a  (poor and ineffective) coping mechanism in the face of stress, an activity where every move is counted in breaths rather than time seems wildly magical and utterly freeing. Every Wednesday evening, for an hour, I have permission to breathe. And, even when I can't get the yoga pose right, I feel like I have truly accomplished something if I was simply able to keep breathing. I am learning that even when I feel like a particular stretch might unhinge one of my joints, I can breathe through it, and it will pass, and I will come out feeling stronger and more confident. Obviously, there are applications beyond the yoga studio.

I come home from class physically relaxed and mentally serene (and smelling like essential oils!) I feel positive and tranquil, and, frankly, thankful for a legit reason to wear yoga pants around. The feeling doesn't always last all week long, but it seems to last longer and longer all the time, and I find myself remembering to breathe more often, which is only a good thing.

So, here's to following through on New Year's resolutions and to crunchy living!

Temple of Heaven

They say Disney World is "the happiest place on Earth," but I have been there, and this is a lie. (No offense intended to my Disney loving friends!) Today, we visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and I believe the slogan would be much more accurate if applied to this lovely place instead. I don't know when I have ever been in a place that exuded quite so much positivity. It was a place filled with music, dancing, games, and people of all kinds in pursuit of physical and emotional well-being. And, I have never seen a display of community to match the likes of it.

The Temple of Heaven was originally built in the 1400s, as a place of worship for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. And, while the beautiful temple structures are still in place, today, the extensive grounds, dotted with ancient trees, make up an incredible park, which is accessible to all for a small fee. We saw groups performing a variety of dances, playing unusual instruments, practicing Tai Chi and Bailong, flying kites, working on gymnastic moves, exercising, and playing cards, dominoes, Chinese chess, and Jianzi (Chinese hacky sack). Adults and children played side by side, and everyone wore a smile. We were invited to play and participate in any activity we showed an interest in. And, as a bonus, the weather was perfect! We enjoyed the day so much and would love to visit this inspirational place again in the future!

Dancing, music, Tai Chi, Bailong, and gymnastics
are just a few of the activities we saw int he park.

There were people gathered everywhere to play games,
and our kids were happy to get in on the action. 

There was a huge section of the park devoted to workout equipment.
We were happy to get physical and gave it all a try!

Some of the beautiful temple structures

The center of my universe standing at the spot known as
"The Center of the Universe"

Dentistry by the numbers

It's never much fun to go to the dentist. It's less fun when you have a relatively large family, and the majority of them have dental issues. We were in the dentist's office today from 8:30 until 12:00, being seen by 3 hygienists, 2 dental assistants and 2 dentists. As a group, we came away with five cavities, one diagnosis of periodontal disease, one diagnosis of gingivitis, two prescriptions, one plan for another round of surgery, ten follow up appointments, three recommendations of countries offering quality dental care, and several thousand dollars missing from our pocketbook. This is especially frustrating, because we do take dental hygiene seriously and try to implement healthy brushing practices in our home. Obviously, it isn't working. So, we've ordered a water pick and electric toothbrushes, and one of us will soon be wearing a night guard. So many fun times! At least we had the foresight to schedule this appointment at this time, so we can get everything taken care of before we leave on our trip. And, thankfully, our dentists and everyone in their office are wonderful to work with.

Around the World in a Carry-On Bag: Toiletries

I'm finally back with the second-to-last post in my packing series, and I'm featuring toiletries. There was a time when I carried my large toiletry bag separate from my suitcase and lugged around a million things that I might need, trying to cover every possible "just-in-case" scenario, and trying to keep my at-home beauty routines in place while traveling. Since we decided on a "one-carry-on-apeice" policy for this trip, I have been working hard to pare down just to necessities (though I admit to still having a few just-in-case items on hand), and I've been experimenting with beauty products and tools that were previously not even on my radar. I've also been practicing with more natural looks that require less effort and materials to pull off.  Many of the experiments have been inspired by the TSA rules about liquids, which limit the size of the bottles/tubes to under 3.4 oz. and the overall quantity of liquids/gels/creams to one quart-sized bag. I frequently have to remind myself that the toiletries I leave home with are not required to last the duration of the trip and that I can supplement, as needed, along the way. The pictures in my little collage are not in any kind of order, but in the list below, the products are categorized in a way that made sense to me. You can see the other contents of my bag by scrolling down through the blog, or by clicking here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Skin
Neutragena Sunscreen Stick
Olay Beauty Bar

Hair
J. R. Liggett Shampoo Bar
Foldable Hairbrush/Mirror
Conair Comb
Goody Hair Elastics
Schick Quattro Razor and Replacement Razor Blades

Teeth
Eco-Dent Powdered Toothpaste
Colgate Folding Travel Toothbrush
2 extra front teeth "flippers" (in addition to the one I'll be wearing)

Makeup
Garnier BB Cream
Wet-n-Wild Ultimate Brow Kit
L.A. Colors Lash Building Mascara
NYC Expert Last Lip Color

Tools
Revlon Slant Tweezers
Tweezerman Point Tweezers
Remington Personal Trimmer
Emery Board
Baby Safety Scissors
Small Sewing Kit
Travel Pack Q-tips
Aquasentials Exfoliating Soap Saver Pouch

Girl Stuff
Sckoon Menstrual Cup
pStyle

Protect
All Terrain Herbal Insect Repellent
Hand Sanitizer
Band-Aids
Secret Solid Deodorant
Chapstick

doTerra Essential Oils and Products
Deep Blue Rub (sample packets)
Purify
Peppermint
Melaleuca
Lemon
Ginger
Past Tense
Clear Skin
Breathe
On Guard
Terra Shield
Lavender
DigestZen and DigestZen Softgels
Breathe Respiratory Drops
CorrectX
Aroma 2 Go USB Diffuser

First Favorites of the New Year

Form and function meet in this hard shell case with bonus keyboard cover.
Taking care of business is much more fun when everything is covered in a splash of color!

I have struggled with hormonal acne most of my adult life.
This is the first face wash I've used that really seems to keep it at bay.

Weston received this kit for Christmas,
and we have been having a blast conducting the edible experiments. 

I received the Fitbit Charge as a gift, and I absolutely love it!
It actually makes choosing a healthy lifestyle fun!

These three sites (booking.com, airbnb.com and vrbo.com) are our go-tos
for finding and booking places to stay overseas. We have gotten many good deals, on personality-filled
accommodations, for our exceptionally large (by European hotel standards) family. 

I have been looking for months for a comfortable pair of flats that would work with pants or a skirt.
These Merrell Mary Janes are the perfect solution.

This is my current coffee obsession. 

We have been Starfall fans since Ruth was little.
Now we are introducing Clay to it, to teach some basic reading and math skills.
It's not as flashy as some programs, but the kids (even the older ones) love it.

On our practice trip to Canada,
we decided we really needed some collapsable water bottles
to make getting through airports easier and less expensive.
These fit the bill perfectly, and now we have a family set.  

I love the flavor and the moisture of this doTerra lip balm,
 but I especially love the fact that passes the kiss test with my hubby!

All I want for Christmas is a new front tooth

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I was thrown from a swiftly moving golf cart, while laughing hysterically. Right up until the time my face made contact with the earth and the rest of my body came skidding along behind it. At that point, the fun and games pretty much seemed to have run their course. When I got to my feet, I was a bloody mess, with more than a few pieces of gravel embedded in my knee and a significant portion of my permanent (not-so-permanent) front tooth broken off and planted in my lower lip. A root canal followed sometime later, along with the building of a fake tooth. And, that was that.

Flash forward a few decades. You may remember that I had some "mysterious face pain" a little over a year ago. I convinced myself that I had a crazy sinus infection, and when the pain went away after a few days, I mentally patted myself on the back for having been right.

But then, about a month ago, I experienced a day of pretty intense pain in my front tooth, followed by two days of ridiculous celebrity-facelift-gone-wrong swelling in my lip and face. I made an appointment with the dentist. She recommended I see her husband, the oral surgeon, to discuss a procedure that seemed fantastically over-the-top to me. I politely made the appointment but cancelled it when I got home, because I was no longer experiencing pain and swelling, and it all just seemed like too much. I mean one day of pain a year didn't really seem like that big a deal compared to the very involved and expensive procedure she was suggesting.

And, then, three days ago, someone hit the replay button on the days of pain and swelling, and I realized things might be worse than I thought. I rescheduled my appointment with the oral surgeon for today. As he showed me the x-ray, he explained that I have a fractured root and diminishing bone. He continued by telling me the problem will only get worse, and I will have more and more days of pain and swelling unless the tooth comes out. But, since it's a front tooth, and since I'm rather vain, it's not enough to just take it out. It must be replaced with an implant, which requires a bone graft, which will require months of healing before the implant can even be placed. Throw in a serious time crunch because of an already-scheduled trip around the world, and you can see what an awesome situation this is.

So, long story short, in ten days, I will begin the process, with the tooth extraction and bone graft. We won't really know how the rest of the story looks until the doctor has a chance to see what the existing bone looks like. It wasn't exactly what I wanted for Christmas, but it is a gift that will keep on giving, so there's that.

RTW Packing Favorites

Even though our RTW trip is still months away, we have already started packing. You see, we are trying to do this trip with just a carry-on sized bag apiece, and that takes some planning--and a little practice. Jeff and I pretty much have our bags packed, though we continue to tweak the contents and make adjustments. We won't pack the kids bags until closer to go-time, since they are still growing, but we are already starting to figure out bags and toiletries and other things that don't depend on growth spurts. It's an interesting and, at times, maddening challenge. I will admit that I have shed real tears over things as silly as which toiletries to bring and which to leave behind. But, I have also discovered some really cool products that I might not have otherwise been introduced to. Here are some of my RTW packing favorites. If you have any tried-and-true travel must-haves or packing strategies that make your travel life easier (or more beautiful, comfortable, etc.), please feel free to share them. I am more than willing to learn from the experience of others. 

The pack. It's nice because it converts from backpack to handheld carry-on.
It has a laptop sleeve, which is accessible without getting into the main packing compartment.
And, it has tons of pockets. I'm seriously amazed at how much stuff fits in here.

Jeff got me a set of these Eagle Creek compression bags for my birthday,
and I loved them so much I bought myself another set.
They're like dresser drawers for your suitcase, and they make me happy,
in a place-for-everything, everything-in-it's place kind of way.
Plus, mine are semi see-through, so I can just go straight for what I need. 

Convertible dress/skirts. Cute and comfortable, and just plain fun.
Not to mention quick-drying and relatively wrinkle free.
I have the one from Exofficio, on the left.
Ruth has the Mountain Hardwear one, on the right.

I was skeptical about this powered toothpaste, at first.
But, I really and truly love it, and might even use it if I wasn't traveling.
There are a bunch of variations, and I haven't tried all of them,
but this fluoride-free cinnamon one is wonderful.

Convertible pants are pretty much a requirement for a trip like the one we are taking,
but I knew upfront that I didn't want zip-off pants. That led me down the path of roll-up pants.
I love these from Eddie Bauer. They are stylish, comfortable, quick-drying
and have zippered pockets to deter pickpockets.

This actually took some getting used to. The first few times I used it, I didn't like it at all.
But, the more I used it, the more I liked it, and now here it is listed among my favorites.
It lasts a surprisingly long time, smells nice, leaves my hair feeling clean and not tangly,
and can also be used in place of shave gel, as well. So far, I have only tried the original,
but there are a ton of other formulas, which I'm looking forward to trying.

These are seriously the most comfortable shorts I have ever worn!
I loved them so much, I bought the skort, too. I want to wear them every single day!

The Nano Puff not only has a cool name, it also looks good,
is quite warm, and folds up into it's own pocket to make it super packable.

I liked the concept from the get-go but must admit that
this has required practice and patience and being comfortable with my body.
I am still learning but am overall very pleased with this little device.

It's a long-sleeved shirt. It's a ¾ length shirt. It's a jacket. It has a hidden pocket.
And, it is incredibly comfortable. The Shirtigan is one of my favorite travel pieces. 

Another multi-tasker. This turkish towel can be used as a towel, beach blanket, shawl, scarf or whatever.
Plus, it's soft, quick-drying, looks cute hanging up and takes up very little space in the suitcase. 

It seemed that taking a diffuser on our trip
was going to be out of the question, which made me sad.
But Jeff found this one and gave it to me for my birthday,
and it may be my very favorite thing on the list!
Now, I just have to prioritize which oils to take with me,
because a quart-size bag of liquids isn't all that much!

All the oils I've loved

For a while, I have been researching and experimenting with essential oils and natural remedies. About six months ago, I was introduced to doTerra and have been using their oils regularly since. I will not enter into a debate about the merits of one essential oil company over another. I'm sure they all have something to offer, and this journey, for me, is not about the brand. It is simply about finding ways to take control of my family's wellness. My research and experiments with oils continue, and I still have much to learn. I know this isn't the path for everyone. But, for those of you interested, I thought I would share some our favorite oils and how we have used them.

Lavender

• Treatment of eczema
• Treatment for in-grown toenails, mixed with On Guard (see below) and melaleuca
• Helping people calm down and go to sleep
• Treatment of minor burns

Geranium

• To help stop bleeding

Lemon

• For making water tolerable to drink

Lime

• A perfect substitution for fresh squeezed limes in guacamole

Melaleuca (tea tree oil)

• Treatment for in-grown toenails, mixed with lavender and On Guard
• Treatment for ear infections
• Diluted in vinegar, along with On Guard, Terra Shield (see below) and peppermint, for cleaning and sanitizing

Peppermint

• Diluted in vinegar, along with On Guard, Terra Shield and melaleuca for cleaning and bug deterrent

Breathe (a proprietary blend with laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon and ravensara)

• Mixed with water and run through the diffuser or rubbed on chests to clear up head colds and stuffy noses

Clear Skin (a proprietary blend with black cumin, ho wood, melaleuca, eucalyptus, geranium and litsea fruit)

• I use the foaming face wash nightly and the roll-on, as needed, to help fight acne.

Deep Blue (a proprietary blend with wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus) 

• For growing pains and sore muscles
• We use this oil straight (because it's what we have), but doTerra has a whole line of Deep Blue products, including a cream form that is easier to use.

On Guard (a proprietary blend with wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary)

• As a replacement for hand sanitizer
• As germ deterrent in shared water bottles
• Diluted in vinegar, along with peppermint, Terra Shield, and melaleuca for cleaning and sanitizing
• Mixed with melaleuca and lavender for treatment of in-grown toenails
• This one also comes in toothpaste, which I absolutely love!

Past Tense (a proprietary blend with wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, roman chamomile, basil and rosemary)

• For almost instant headache relief
• For sore muscles/crick in the neck
• It comes in a roll-on bottle for easy application. This is probably the oil I use most often.

Purify (a proprietary blend with lemon, lime, pine, citronella, melaleuca and cilantro)

• Mixed with Breathe in the diffuser to rid the air of cold germs

Serenity (a proprietary blend with lavender, marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang, ylang, sandalwood and vanilla bean)

• Mixed with water in the diffuser to provide a sense of calm

Slim and Sassy (a proprietary blend with grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon)

• A few drops in a bottle of water to help curb appetite between meals. Tastes delicious and definitely makes water more tolerable.

Terra Shield (a proprietary blend of mostly citronella and cedarwood)

• Mixed with vinegar, peppermint, melaleuca and On Guard as a cleaner/bug deterrent
• Mosquito repellant
• Ant killer/deterrent
• This smells really good and works as well, in my opinion, as brand name bug sprays.

*Disclaimer: I am set up to sell these oils and am able to help others get set up to purchase these oils at wholesale prices, buy a few products just to try, or educate others about the benefits of using essential oils, but that is not my primary purpose in making this post. I have been super pleased with the results I have seen from using oils and just want to share my joy. If you would like to know more, I am happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability. I need to let you know that the FDA has not evaluated doTerra products for medical use, and that the oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and no results are guaranteed. Essential oils have been used for centuries to enhance personal wellness, and I'm very glad I have been introduced to them! 

10 ways to get your kids to eat more fruits and veggies

1. When grocery shopping, pass through the produce department first and let everything be a "yes" in that section. It is easier to say "no" as you continue shopping, if the cart is already full and you've already given the green light multiple times on healthy choices. 
2. If you need to limit the number of yeses in the produce section, let each child pick out at least one veggie and/or a fruit and buy enough of it to share with the family.
3. Use a clear bowl or open-sided basket to make a display of fruits and veggies to keep out on the counter or as a centerpiece for the table. It will look so beautiful and appetizing, the kids (and adults) will be drawn to it like fruit flies.
4. Keep fruits and veggies in the lower drawers and shelves of the fridge, so that they are easily accessible to the smaller members of the family.
5. "Sell" fruit as a dessert and then don't feel guilty for saying yes to dessert every night. Adding heat to fruit brings out a greater natural sweetness, so baked apples or peaches with cinnamon or caramelized bananas make excellent desserts. (It doesn't count if you add sugar and/or butter, though.)
6. Kids love to snack (sometimes in place of eating actual meals), so let them snack on fruits and veggies any time they want.
7. Make a Half and Half rule. Any time someone fills their plate, they need to have half fruits and/or veggies and half other stuff. This should apply to seconds and thirds, as well.
8. Involve the kids in the menu planning and meal preparations. Let them throw together a fruit salad or choose a vegetarian entrée. They will feel a natural affinity for something they helped create. 
9. On gift giving occasions, give fun, age-appropriate kitchen gadgets, like an apple corer/slicer, a peeler, an avocado slicer, a strawberry stem remover, or a banana slicer. The kids will be thrilled to have their own equipment and will look for opportunities to use them. 
10. This is probably the most important: Model the behavior you want to see in your children. If your kids see you eating fruits and veggies, they will follow suit.

The Case of the Mysterious Face Pain

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I don't want to be a whiner, but one of the reasons they've been so sparse is because I have been drained of all creativity, and even mundanity, by this throbbing pain in my face that just won't quit. I cannot tell weather the pain is coming from my tooth, gums, upper lip, nose or sinus cavity, but the left side of my face feels pretty much like it's been 10 rounds on the losing side of a boxing match. And Jeff even noticed this morning that my cheek and lip seemed a little swollen. I have no other symptoms and can think of no event that would have led to this condition. Pain meds and ice don't seem to help much, so I'm off to the doctor this afternoon to see if this mystery can be solved.

From Pre-Med to Peppermint Oil

Life is funny. It has a way of changing people. Sometimes big changes, all at once, and, sometimes, gradual changes we don't even recognize until we look back. I began my adult life with a very specific focus and determination to go to medical school and become a doctor. I graduated with a decent GPA, from a decent university, with a pre-med degree. But Life was working, even then, to change me. In those early years, I believed in modern medicine wholeheartedly. I decided not to go to medical school for a variety of reasons, but it wasn't that I stopped believing in the marvels of modern medicine.

Around the time I started having babies, I remember thinking, "Women have been doing this for thousands of years, without the aid of doctors or machinery or hospitals or epidurals. What's the big deal?" I even told the doctor that delivered Weston that all I really needed was a catcher. My first three babies were delivered in hospitals by doctors, because we had big, fat, corporate insurance, and it just seemed easiest to pick an in-network doctor and go with that. But, even then, I didn't feel it was necessary to have a doctor present. I just knew that Jeff probably wasn't up for playing catcher, so we needed someone else in the room. I didn't have an epidural or any medication. I just did what my body knew to do. (Max was a little bit of a challenge, as he decided to come out like Superman and got himself stuck. It wasn't quite as straightforward as the other deliveries, and I was thankful to have some extra, knowledgeable help to get him out and to help him through the next few days as he recovered from the experience).

When the corporate insurance went away, we took a longer, deeper look at the role of modern medicine in our lives, and we decided most of it wasn't necessary. Originally, we were motivated almost solely by money and convenience. We started using homemade cough remedies for kids who seemed to be too young for all the over-the-counter stuff. And, we experimented with using hydrogen peroxide to treat ear infections. And, it worked--sometimes on about the same time frame as medicine and sometimes quicker. And, when it came time to have our fourth child, we chose to have a midwife deliver him at a birthing center. The cost to deliver there was significantly lower than to deliver at the hospital. But, money aside, I can tell you now that I wish I would have chosen that route with all my babies. No one bothered me. Or hooked me up to a million instruments. Or told me what to do. Or tried to pump me full of drugs. When I was ready, I just told the midwife, and she stood beside the bed to play catcher. Then, we went home later that day, and it all just felt so much more natural and comfortable.

I find that the more years I get under my belt, the less I depend on, and even trust, modern medicine and the more I look for alternatives to keep my family healthy. Now, granted, we are generally a pretty healthy bunch. Thankfully, we aren't dealing with any major illnesses or chronic conditions. And, I'm not saying modern medicine isn't useful. I was very glad to have a skilled doctor sew up Max's chin a few months ago and one to staple my head closed last summer. And, I'm thankful for all the modern medicine involved in helping my dad when he had his heart attack a month ago. Certainly, it has it's place. But, I no longer believe in it like I used to, especially for non-serious medical problems.

Recently, as we've had little problems come up, I've been researching and trying more and more home remedies. I have been taking Evening Primrose Oil (in caplet form) for hormonal acne and have seen major improvements. I was introduced to Peppermint Oil as a way to treat headaches and have been amazed at how well it has worked. I have also used Vitamin E Oil to treat ingrown toenails on myself and plantar warts on the kids and have seen wonderful results.

It's funny to me now that I once wanted to be a doctor of modern medicine and that I once believed in that system so wholeheartedly. That's not at all who I am anymore. Life has changed me. Of course, I recognize that many readers will not agree, and that is perfectly fine with me. I am not trying to persuade anyone to change the way they think. I just wanted to express my amusement in the fact that Life changes us in spite of ourselves. I am learning to embrace and appreciate change as it comes, and I respect that Life will not take any two people down the exact same path. This is one way in which Life has changed me. How has it changed you?

Immeasurably More

Yesterday morning, my dad had a pretty severe heart attack while on a business trip in Amarillo. This morning, we hopped up and hit the road for Amarillo so we could spend a few days with my parents. On the way, we had some car trouble and ended up leaving our van at the Honda dealership in Burleson, renting another van and going ahead with the trip as planned. This is not a complainer post, though. What I want to convey is that in the midst of some difficulty, we have received blessings above and beyond what we could have even thought to pray for.

First of all, my dad drove to Amarillo by himself and stayed in a hotel room by himself, but he had his heart attack in the lobby of the hotel, where someone was immediately able to start CPR on him, which certainly saved his life.

For us, this happened at a time when our schedules were relatively free of any pressing matters, which made it easy for us to come, and also gave us an opportunity to stop by my parents house to pick up a few things for them.

While we were at their house, the trash truck came, which allowed us to take their garbage cans back to the house so they don't remain at the street while my parents are away.

When our engine light started flashing and we realized there was a pretty serious problem with the van, we pulled off the freeway to try to look up a nearby mechanic. That exit dumped us right at the entrance to the Honda dealership, so we pulled right on in to the service center.

Once inside the building, we realized we were actually at "Honda Wonderland." There was a top-notch playroom, a spacious waiting area, a complete Starbucksesque coffee bar, and a gift shop. And as if that wasn't enough, they were having a special event on site, and they had bouncy houses set up and were dishing up free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and bottled water. Our kids thought we were on a special vacation!

When the diagnostics were done on the van and we knew we would have to leave it, we started looking around for a rental vehicle that could accommodate all of us. There were none to be found. Then, randomly another person working at the dealership mentioned that someone had just turned in a mini van. It was reserved for us, and someone from Enterprise was sent to pick us up. I went to the car rental place, which was only about 3 miles away and very easy to get to, while Jeff stayed at the carnival dealership with the kids.

I arrived at the rental place at 11:50 and discovered they closed for the day at 12. I also found out that the only reason there was a van available was that someone had cancelled their reservation at the last minute. Finally, the contract allowed for both Jeff and I to be drivers, rather than just me, like we thought it would be.

We were able to get everything transferred from our van to the rental and be on our way fairly quickly. And then, 3 out of the 4 children fell asleep. The other one followed suit a little later. And even when they were awake, they were very well-behaved, even without a DVD player to keep them entertained.

We arrived in Amarillo just a couple of hours later than originally expected, and we got a room at a hotel less than a mile from the hospital, with an indoor pool.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory...  for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20)

Truly, "His strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).

Filling in all the empty spaces

Seems like the title of a Valentine's Day post, doesn't it? Well, it is, only in the sense that this day is typically called by that name. Personally, Jeff and I don't believe in Valentine's Day. We love each other every day, and we don't need a special day to let each other know that. In fact, I got flowers last week, and the week before, for absolutely no reason. We don't appreciate the societal pressure that comes with this and many other overblown holidays and, in fact, find it a little insulting. We are outside the societal norms in so many ways...But, I digress.

I'm actually writing about the fact that Weston had to have four cavities filled this morning. Poor baby! For some unknown reason, he seems to be especially prone to these kinds of problems, even though he brushes regularly. Jeff took him in this morning and said he was really tough and brave and impressed all the staff. He only reported being "wobbly" when it was all done. He came home and went straight to bed, where he is still sleeping off the effects of the medications and stress of the morning.

All Ears

We made our way down to Houston yesterday afternoon for Weston's one-year follow up appointment on his tubes/tonsil surgery. The doctor reported that everything looked good and that the tubes have come out of the ear drum, though they are still in the ear canal. He thought they would probably come on out in the next few months, and he released Weston from the burden of having to wear ear plugs for baths and other water-related activities. I requested another hearing test, just to make sure all his former hearing problems were related to this and not some bigger problem. I sat nervously outside the sound-proof booth, remembering the pain in my heart as I watched him fail miserably the last time, while Weston sat inside with his best concentration face on. The audiologist performed several series of tests, and happily, all showed Weston's hearing to be in the normal range! I'll admit to letting a few tears of joy fall! The doctor told me that his ear drums still seem to be having a little trouble equalizing pressure, so some of the hearing is still a little low. But it's nothing concerning--probably just due to the fact that the tubes are so recently out and there is still some healing that needs to occur. It is great that we can finally put all that behind us, and it is wonderful to see what an amazing difference those simple little procedures made in Weston's life.

An otherwise lovely weekend

We had a wonderful weekend, really, but there were a few things that made it less than perfect. Included among those were the following:

• a wee one with a MAJOR tummy bug
• a young boy with a busted, bloody nose
• a driver running her SUV into my van in a parking lot and leaving it with a huge dent and a nice little scratch--and then commenting (upon the revelation that she was also moving here from Kingwood) that "we were meant to bump into each other."
• six small handfuls of teeny, tiny cactus prickles

On the positive side, though, we also got to do the following:

• visit with my parents and grandparents
• eat yummy BBQ
• play at the park
• look at quite a lot of toy catalogs  
• visit with Jeff's parents
• eat yummy Mexican food
• enjoy cool breezes and a hint of fall-like weather
• buy supplies for upcoming science experiments and history projects
• hang out at "our" land, making measurements for our future house
• jump on the trampoline
• throw around the football

Fail!

My "Super Mom" award has been revoked and may never be reinstated. For what kind of mother allows her children's dental health to deteriorate to the point that one child has two cavities on either side of her mouth that require fillings, and another child has two cavities right on top of each other that require sedation, a pulpectomy (baby root canal), a crown, an extraction and the placement of an "appliance" (spacer)? There is some serious mama-guilt here, I can tell you, even though I felt like we were doing the right things all along to keep these kind of problems from developing.

Ruth's fillings have already been taken care of, painlessly and without fanfare, despite my warnings that there would be a shot and drilling. Turns out they don't do it that way anymore. At least not at our dentist's office. Just a completely pain-free shot with a laser that lasts about 5 minutes.

Weston went in for the first part of his procedure today, which was pretty much the opposite of that. He had to be sedated, though not put completely under, while the doctor performed the pulpectomy and the extraction. There was definitely some pain involved, with the promise of more to come when the full effects of the sedation wear off. There was also fear, which may have been an even worse pain, and certainly a pain that even I felt, especially when Weston looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Where were you?! That was so scary!" I had been not more than a few steps away, of course, but his feeling of abandonment struck me to the core and broke my heart! I will admit to shedding more than a few tears right along with Weston on our way home. They tell me he won't remember any of this, but I will not soon forget. His spacer has to be custom made for his mouth, so we will get to do this all over again in 4-6 weeks.

I can tell you this, we will not be taking our dental health lightly around here anymore. We will be brushing and flossing and mouth-washing like crazy, and we will be doing it with close maternal supervision.