Thanks..

A BIG thank you to all of you that prayed, cyber hugged and just thought of us today!!  

I so appreciate it!  

It so comforting to know we have friends and family that love and care what happens in our lives.

So let me get to the part you want to know!!!

Our little character is fine!!  He doesn't have a heart murmur!!  He has a valve that makes a clicking noise (Medical term-Systolic Click)...somewhat of a deformity or a birth defect...but not really...it's just the way it is.  

He has NO restrictions....he can play any sports...participate in hard labor...be an engineer...be a pro-soccer player..or what ever he chooses!

They performed an EKG and a Echo Cardiogram....and they found him to be perfect! Some of these test were performed for MPOM (mothers peace of mind)..sure of it!! :)...and it worked!  

AND 

to his delight, he didn't have to return to school and he we got Gluten Free pizza from the hospital (thanks HDCH!!!) for lunch!

Another of God's blessings.....aside from getting in DAYS for an appointment....we were able to see one of the founding Dr's..the nurse refereed to him as a "Senior Doctor"...that's who ya want to tell you your kids are okay!

God is awesome and he answered all our prayers more abundantly than we could have asked!!!  

PTL!

Prayer...

Last week I took Trent in for a routine well child check...

They informed me that he had a Heart Murmur....apparently he had it 2 years ago..but nothing was mentioned last year.  She feels it is "nothing"..but enough to order a ultrasound to have it checked out.

This morning I got a call from DeVos Childrens Hospital that they had an opening tomorrow morning.  The next earliest appt would be late June..thank you Lord for providing an opening.

So, I ask for you to pray for this Dad & Mom...for peace...I really don't consider myself a worry wart..but when it's YOUR child!!  My mind is running in a hundred different directions of worry!

 Could it be a sign of something more major?  What if he can't play sports?  What if he has to have a heart transplant? (okay that's a little extreme!)  What if....

It's easy to say "God's in control" till your trust is put to the test. I know God's in control...I really do...BUT...but this is one of mine...one of my kids were talking about.  He's precious to me!

Please understand..I'm not trying to be overly dramatic.  Just real

Ya' all come back now...

Last year when Steve & I visited the Mammoth Cave area..we knew we wanted to bring the boys back someday!

We really enjoyed the natural beauty of the caves and the non-city trip!

So we put that "someday" into motion!!

In April, we left for a loooong week-end...Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday...to be exact!

We brought along both set of grandparents!

Here we are in our driveway before we started our 8 hr trip South.

We took two vehicles..every time we stopped I jumped in a different vehicle. 

Poor G-pa Neil got stuck with Bonnie, Linda & I for the first leg of the trip...he couldn't believe we could talk sooooooo much...solid...without breathing! yak yak yak...

We checked into our hotel and then headed to Cracker Barrel to have dinner...

Our waitress was so helpful with the Gluten Free diet...and no one had an issue! 

~Friday~

Up and at'em...we checked out of the hotel and were ready to head to the caves...

Steve was in a different vehicle than I as we headed in...he "requested" Dad stop so we could get pictures by this sign...believe it or not, Dad was NOT planning on stopping to get a picture!  Oh Steve..you know me too well!  No body wants to see me cry! 

We went on 2 tours... Historic and Domes & Dripstones

D&D highlights...3/4 mile, 500 steps, Drapery room, Frozen Niagara and caves..(lol).

Here we are heading down to the entrance of D&D

...see Dad & Linda half way down the steps... 

*disclaimer*

you can not use flash photography in the caves

Tyler, Troy & Trent heading down the bazzilion steps 

Steve & G-pa Neil 

Trent & Joanne

Trent 

Steve& Trent 

Naughty naughty..we used a flash..but only for this one!

(we heard the guide yell..."no flash photography!!") 

in between tours we had a picnic lunch..well kind of..would it be too much for the NPS to purchase a few picnic tables? 

Historic Tour

Highlights....2 miles, 440 steps!, Saltpeter mines, Rotunda, Fat mans Misery. 

This is a picture of the abandoned saltpeter mine

Linda squeezing under a cave

a lot of "ducking"

by the sign..:)

AWESOME day at the caves!!

Saturday with a Tude

Saturday seemed like any other Saturday.  I had done some cleaning & yard work and decided to head to Meijer to take advantage of a Friday/Saturday sale. 

As I was getting out of my car I received a call from Tyler (who was at home)...he has telling me how terrible the weather was and to stay in the car. He seemed pretty adamant ..which in hindsight, I should have know when he called, it must be pretty bad..lol!!

Against his urging I went in the store...it wasn't even raining in Rockford!  As I shopped, I could here some wind gusts and loud noises....but wasn't too shaken.

As I drove home, on 131, I saw a stretch of road that had hail along both shoulders...hmmm!

I did see debris blown all over and some trees down in my neighborhood.

This was our deck

After further investigation....this is what we found!

the hail broke our window screens 

the siding has all cracks and holes in it. 

The high school gym has a whole in the roof..which is about 4 doors down from my house!!

the roof membrane that came off 

Surprisingly, we never lost power..but we were without cable/internet for Sunday (big whoop!)  Some people in the area just got there power back on today (Tuesday)..so we where pretty lucky!

Spring Break 2014....

So we are just coming off Spring Break 2014...

Friday night Trent went over to Roller Fox..he has been begging to go roller skating...so like a good mom we headed over..I'm here to make all his dreams come true!  So to Roller Fox we went!

Wednesday we went to the Delta Plex for  Kidz Fest 2014

It was pricey (but we had a BOGO free coupon..;) )..and some of the more "fun" rides/activities cost MORE money....but we stayed all day, so we got our monies worth...

Trent and his friend Carson on this crazy ride....

Trent, Carson, Dolan & Noah on this whirly thing

Carson on the Velcro wall

Trent on the Velcro wall...sorry bad pic!

Trent on the adult sized Jump-A-Roo...lol!

Surfing

High Jump

That night he spent the night at his friends house and they went to see Captain America on Thursday.

Thursday night his friend Dawson spent the night here and Friday we went back for more roller skating at Roller Fox!

It was an okay week weather wise..not super warm..but not snowing either!!!

AWANA Games

Last week-end Trent participated in his last AWANA games..tear tear.

We have attended many many AWANA games..as have the grandparents!  Tyler & Troy both participated when they were 3-6th grade.

Every spring, a group of kids from our church, compete with other AWANA clubs from other area churches.

We have enjoyed watching the boys compete over the years and they have almost always taken first place!

Trent's cheering section...both sets of Grandparents + Dad!

Trent being the center thrower for his team....took first!

Trent & Caleb participating in the tug-o-war....took first!

Trent ran the marathon for his team...6 laps around the circle..2nd place

Balloon Relay....first again!

having fun with his friends!

lined up to get there medals!

getting his medal!

His team!

with the banner!

The 2 boys teams together

The 6th grade boys all together

Trent and his friend Casen after the games!

Trent and his 4 years of medals!

He did such a great job and we are so proud of him..he plays with a good attitude.  He is a great sport and tries his hardest.  He represented our church well.  Well done Little T! 

Back & Age

Wa Wa Wa..whine whine whine....

A few weeks ago I hurt my back...not a pinched nerve or a "fall" back problem....more a...I can't bend over problem.
I didn't remember doing anything that was a jolt or straining.  At first, I thought I had the flu...you know an ache-y back kind of thing....  I spent a couple days sitting against a heating pad and minimal chores...that didn't help.  That Monday I finally cried "Uncle" and made an appt to see Dr Freeland...he did some adjustments and it felt better...but not close to normal.  I made another appt for that Wednesday...and he REALLY reefed on me....and a massage on that Friday...Cheryl did an AMAZING job...but lets be real, can you have a BAD massage???...I think NOT!!!  I think I need a few more massage appt to make sure it's okay!

All in all it's pretty good and I am gonna make it!  It's rough getting old..things just "go out" for no particular reason!!!!