testings- frustrations- trees- puppies- boxes

well, we got back the latest test results, and yes, grayson tested "high to severely high" for all 10 foods. i mean, really? seriously? so frustrating. even chicken and sweet potatoes were on the list. which is his entire diet. so, on to patch tests, because i just am not sure we can totally trust the blookwork in grayson's case. something in him builds antibodies to every food, which is what the bloodwork is counting. i was PRAYING for a new thanksgiving food! oh well. i am THANKFUL that we have a few foods even if he does test highly allergic to them. AND he is sleeping so so so so good this last month. and his face and body have been doing really well too, so i won't complain. i'm tempted. but i'll try not to. :)

new subject. we put up our christmas tree a few weeks ago (don't make fun because i don't care, it made me feel better) and i snapped a shot of grayson playing with his new favorite thing, pablo the penguin, and his train set that we kinda wrapped around the tree (thanks aunt courtney and uncle chris!). he loves the tree, and its a good thing i love decorating for christmas because he de-ornamifies the bottom two feet of the tree on a daily basis.













we got a new puppy hat thing for one of the kids to wear when we go on walks in the morning (i'm very faithful to walk every morning- HA), and the kids like to share it... can you tell who is who?

if you're a boy, you can stop reading this post now- i haven't updated on this since saying that we would be losing this baby, and we did, last saturday, november 15th. i am healing, and am ok with it all, i understand that it happens, and its a risk with every pregnancy- a very high risk. aislyn understood i think, she tells me that the "new baby" is living in heaven with Jesus and that we need to get a new baby in my tummy very soon. we'll see about that. anyway, lyss and i were hanging out one night, shortly after she found out that she was going to miscarry (update for her- her pregnancy is fine as of now, thank the Lord, we are praying all will go well for the next nine months!)- anyway... we were hanging out and being incredibly dark about our current situations and decided that hallmark needs to market a "miscarriage in a box", much like they do for other events, "baby shower in a box", "bridal shower in a box", you get the point. well, i was laying on my couch the day that i was miscarrying, and i spotted the box i had been living out of, (including a cookie) and had to take a picture. it was, in a nutshell, a miscarriage in a box. everything you need. it kinda made me laugh. sorry if that offends anyone. you've gotta find something humorous in the dark times. OH, and if anyone is in the market for new maxi pads (giving birth, miscarriage, time of the month, whatever) do not ever buy anything but "always infinity" brand. i'm not kidding, they have like memory foam or something, i don't know what it is but they are so comfortable and do the job quite well. :) if you're a boy, i TOLD you to stop reading.

anyway, thanks for all the prayers. we pray that you have a blessed thanksgiving!!!!

makaila koehlinger

please whatever you do today, pray for this family. and for the baby who is still fighting. this is from the koehlingers..

Last night at 10:33 PM our little Makaila went home to be with the Lord. She just wasn't meant to be with us. She was an amazingly beautiful little girl and she stole a big piece of our heart. We'll miss her forever, but we are so thankful for her and the time we were able to spend with her. We think perhaps she was so special the Lord wanted her all for himself. We got a ton of beautiful pictures of her and in time will send them. Grace is still doing really well. She is only about half the size of Makaila but is a real fighter. Pray for her growth and health.Koehlingers

koehlinger babies

i don't know how it's possible that in just six short months, i would have two friends give birth to micro preemies, but it has happened. some friends of ours, kelly and chris koehlinger, delivered twin baby girls this morning at 27 weeks gestation. they are tiny, one is 2.2 lbs (mikaila) and the other is right at one pound (grace). please please pray for these babies tonight. the bigger one, mikaila, is not doing well at all, and "will not make it short of a miracle." i just can't imagine. please pray for this sweet family.

grayson the champ

so , for a quickie update on the boy. we recently did some more bloodwork on him. its been 8 months since the last round, so i requested a new round to see where the food falls now. we tested chicken, grapes, apples, sweet potatoes, 10 basic things. he has sweet potatoes, chicken and rice of some sort every day, and he does great with them, which is huge. but i fear that we will ruin him and he'll never develop a taste for anything else! each time i try a food with him, it seems he reacts to it, though his reactions are typically totally random and we can't ever figure out where they came from. so maybe it wasn't the food. we are hoping that the blood test will at least give us another couple options. pray with us please. :)

the kids are doing great, they're crazy. they fight over toys and hug and makeup post fight. they make messes in the playroom, and declare to me that they are, in fact, making a mess. "mommy, we makin' a mess! look!" they love the christmas tree, yes, we put up the christmas tree. :) it made me feel better. in lieu of the ornament box that i can't get to yet, aislyn has decorated the tree with dirty socks. it looks nice. grayson has discovered that his finger fits PERFECTLY in his nose. aislyn has learned that role playing is fun. she likes to be the mommy and grayson be the daddy. they sit at their table and talk about their day and then they make us dinner at the play kitchen. its usually soup or pizza. very tasty.

not much else to report. i'm on the wrong computer to add a pic. sorry again. :) hope all are doing well!

jesus, lover of my soul...

someone asked me recently what song had been on my heart as of late... this particular song has been on my heart for going on two years. i learned this song in 2006, and sang it at my grandmother's bedside during the months before Jesus took her home. it was the song that comforted me the most as we were losing her, and she was gaining heaven. so this is the song that has been on my heart. i wanted to post the words, they are so beautiful to me. it is my comfort during this mysterious trial of a second, very unsuspected miscarriage, to know that in Him only is our comfort. i do not implore you to try and find a version of someone singing this online... i tried, and all that is listed must have been the original arrangement, which i do not care for. when i figure out where it came from, i'll post it. the arrangement that i have come to know is much prettier than anything i found.

UPDATE- my friends ruth and troy gave me the site that has the clip of the song...
http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/alb/lyrics.html
go down the song list until you see Jesus Lover of My Soul and click on it. it only plays one verse, but that's the entire melody. thanks ruth. :)

Jesus Lover of My Soul

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, Dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, Source of all true righteousness;
Thou art evermore the same, Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; Rise to all eternity.

Charles Wesley- a looong time ago.

i'll soon post a pic of the kids when i'm up to it.. i promise... :)