I'm Reminded

It's amazing how a few small things can change my whole outlook. I was really down this week and was ready to throw in the proverbial towel. Then last night, we got a phone call offering us SDSU basketball tickets for the game. For anyone who knew us in our old life, you'd know that Steve and I used to attend every home basketball game and quite a few of the away games. Needless to say, we don't get to go to many games anymore simply because of money and children. So we were really excited to be able to go last night. Then as we were heading out the door to drop off the little one before the game, someone stopped by with two big boxes, one containing frozen lasagna and the other containing frozen chicken strips. The kids were so excited and so was I!
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I'm reminded again how gracious God is to allow me to have my little pity party and then still provide for me through his people. So perhaps the answer to my current looming issue isn't what I can do for Anthony but rather what God is going to do for Anthony.
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Another Interesting Day

Yesterday was another interesting day. Besides school and work, Anthony had detention, Riley had piano and basketball, Taylor had basketball, Zeke had GAP, and Brittney had gymnastics and then went to an orchastra concert. Oh, and I had my sister's two kids for a while.

The stuff with Anthony is driving me crazy! He can't keep his hands to himself and he's not responding well to authority. Great.  I'm seriously thinking I should quit my job and go to school with Anthony full time. His teacher is amazing this year but she has 22 other kids to try to teach. I'm getting really worn down by the whole situation. I'm still making sure he gets to Sioux Falls to a therapist once a week but it seems like his behavior is getting worse. It makes me want to withdraw from him emotionally more and more because I'm so frustrated with him. Which I know is the complete opposite of what he really needs, which is for me to remain attached to him regardless of the behavior. Much easier said than done.

The only thing that made me smile yesterday was when our little one climbed into the partially finished shower downstairs and pretended to wash herself. It was adorable! I wish I could post the picture! It would make you smile too!
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Have I Mentioned?

Have I mentioned lately how much I love being a mom?......said sarcastically as I clean up puke. I was pretty sure the little one wasn't feeling good this morning but it was confirmed when Riley knelt down to give her a piggyback ride and she threw up all over his hair and down his back. I told them to stay and I ran for towels but she ended up following me all the way to the bathroom. So now we have a mess on Riley, a mess in the hallway, a mess in the kitchen and a little one who doesn't want me to leave her long enough to clean anything up. Anyone want to come over and hang out with me for a while?  :)

Anthony

I actually had the day off on Friday. I thought I'd get a lot done, especially since the little one was gone from 9:30-11:30. Then I got a call from the elementary principal. At least he gave me the good news first. Zeke was chosen to be a Medary Kid of Character for the month. Then he hit me with the not so good news, Anthony was in trouble again. They had a substitute teacher and Anthony wasn't following directions, wasn't doing what he was supposed to and was mouthing off to the teacher. The principal made me talk to Anthony on the phone........like I'm supposed to control him from home over the telephone when they can't seem to do it at the school? Anyway, I talked to him. Then later that afternoon when I went to pick him up, I found out that his afternoon didn't go any better. He was still uncooperative and then he was pushing and kicking other kids. They finally sent him to the teacher next door to his classroom. Zeke had her a couple of years ago and I have a lot of respect for her control of the classroom. She had Anthony apoligizing within a few minutes. I went and thanked her after school and told Anthony right in front of her that she and I were on the same page. 

That boy makes me want to cry sometimes! He looks so "normal" on the outside and he has so much defiance and anger on the inside.
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On a good note, I did get to go out for lunch with a friend that afternoon and the little one behaved beautifully the whole time! One of the fringe benefits of having the little one is that I've gotten to know some great people involved in her life who I plan to stay in touch with.
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Bathroom Project

Thanks to lots of amazing and talented friends,

our downstairs bathroom project is nearing completion!

Here are some of the photos of the progress

over the past three months.

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Initially, we tore out everything in the bathroom.

The shower was original to the house and was really disgusting.

That was the only thing we were going to replace but when we removed it,

we discovered that the insulation and studs behind it needed to be removed and replaced too.

When we measured for a new shower, we realized that the shower drain wasn't standard distance from the walls. That meant we would either have to special order a shower ($$$) or dig out the drain and move it (more $$$'s).

Then our friend Dave offered to move the drain for us.

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He not only did that, but he moved the plumbing for the sink to the more ideal spot I wanted it in.

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He also helped Steve dig out the cement and then found a plumber to move the toilet drain.

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It was a very labor intensive job!

After everything was moved, Dave cemented in the floor again.

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My dad came over and installed the new shower base.

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Our friend Jon moved the outlet and rewired it for us

so that we now have two outlets and they are safe for a bathroom.

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Dave came back and removed the old shower plumbing and replaced it with new pipes in position for the new shower.

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Steve and my dad put up the sheetrock.

My dad came and sprayed on the primer and texture

 and then Steve got busy painting.

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My dad came back to install two sides of the shower.

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Next, Dad put up the light fixture.

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Our friends David and Sandy came and laid tile for us.

We need to wait until the grout is fully dry on Tuesday morning

before continuing to work on anything else in the bathroom.

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Next will be the sink and cabinet,

then the baseboards,

then the toilet,

and finally the shower doors.

I'm hoping we get it done this week.

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Our house appraisal went through just fine and our house is worth lots more than we owe on it. All the paperwork is done for our refinancing, we just need to finish the bathroom so the underwriter will sign on the dotted line! :)

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Daniel 11:32
The people who know their God will display strength and take action.
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This past week I've been studying about Deborah and Jael, two women who displayed incredible faith. They were asked to step out of their comfort zone to follow God's plan, not only for their lives, but for the entire nation of Israel. (For more on their stories, see Judges 4-5)

When God places a call of action on my heart, do I listen and take action? Or do I contemplate whether or not it will benefit me. The older I get and the more I study, the more I realize that God's plan WILL BE accomplished, with or without me. So I might as well get on board with the program because it's much more fun to be included in God's plan than struggling along behind it :)
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Pictures as promised.

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Lunch break while traveling.

You guesssed it. Cheese Pizza!

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1st Appointment - Casting

They removed Zeke's cast.

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Waiting...

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2nd Appointment - X-Rays

Zeke wanted Grandma to help.

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3rd Appointment - Orthopedic Doctor

Here you can see the two pins holding the bones of Zeke's foot in place.

The doctors distracted him and yanked them right out of his foot!

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We always get to talk to the nurse first, then the resident doctor and finally, the orthopedic surgeon.

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4th Appointment - ATD

This is where they fit Zeke for his new braces.

They were already molded from the last time we were there

so they just had to make some adjustments.

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Waiting.....

Having a juice and donut break while waiting for the completed braces.

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Showing off the new braces.

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5th and last Appointment - Physical Therapy

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