WELCOME to Little Eblings Academy! Here we will share our homeschooling journey and see the world through the eyes of eight little Eblings. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0500 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0500 Obviously, since I am sitting here typing this entry, something went right with my surgery.  Actually, it was much less traumatic than I had thought it would be. My mom and dad drove me to the hospital, so Adrian could stay home with the littles.  After we passted the building a few times - thanks to my stellar directions - we walked in the main doors and then followed the hallway mazes until we finally reached the operating waiting room.  Soon after sitting down, I was greeted at the hospital by a very kind nurse - she explained that there had been an emergency and my surgery was going to be bumped ahead by an hour.  (I hadn't eaten all day, and it was already 4 in the afternoon.)  I reminded myself to be thankful that I wasn't the one with the emergency, then settled in for the extra hour of stomach rumbling and sitting. Before I knew it, the kind nurse was calling my name.  She had me change into the (very sexy) gown and robe, then had me "get comfortable" on the table.  (Why do they ALL say that?  I am sorry, again, but those tables are NOT comfortable!)  Another nurse brought my parents into the room, then, yet another nurse, placed an IV in my arm as I held tightly to my daddy's hand.  (Yes, after 8 babies, I am still a big baby when it comes to needles.)  Various nurses and doctors came in to ask me questions like, "Can you verify your birthdate?", "What is your last name?", "What are your allergies?"....even though they had all of the answers right in front of them on my chart.  When the questions were done, a nurse said, "Okay, Rebecca, you will start to feel a little sleepy now".  She was right!  I didn't even think to correct her and tell her that she could call me "Beckie".  I vaguely remember being wheeled to the operating room, and moving to the table in there.  I was a bit concerned that my butt was showing, but was too tired to do anything about it except make a comment that I was sorry.  When I was on the operating table, a far away voice told me to take a few deep breaths.  For a quick moment I panicked, thinking I might not fall asleep completely, and would feel everything!.. ...then I woke up.  (Whew!  I did fall asleep.) The nurse brought my parents into the recovery room, and offered me a soda.  Mmmm....  CAFFEINE!!  Mountain Dew had never tasted so good!  She also brought me a graham cracker.  It tasted like a gourmet meal! My mom told me that the doctor had been out to talk to them.  Everything had gone well - my kidney stones had broken apart.  Hooray!!  I was so thankful.  After eating my cracker and drinking my soda, I got dressed and the nurse gave me my discharge papers.  I would be sore, but they gave me a prescription to help with that.  After a quick thank you to everyone who had been so kind to me, my parents led me out of the hospital.  Adrian had plans to go hunting the following day, but stayed home with me to help me as I healed.  (I was quite sore for a few days.)  Two days later, he ended up with H1N1.  He was super sick, and ended up needed my help more than I needed his help!  Then the kids got sick...and needed us both to take care of them.  I am still not sure how we made it through the week.  Only by the grace of God!! "O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me." (Psalm 30:2) Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. In Him, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/740949/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/740949/ Well, today is the big day.  I have surgery today.  Let me go back a bit...  I went to see my urologist last week to get the results of my lab work and my CT scan.  No cancer.  Praise God!  One large kidney stone in one kidney, along with another smaller one; several tiny stones in the other kidney.  My urologist and I spent a lot of time talking about my options - none of which sounded great.  We decided on extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.  I will be sedated, then the urologist will use shock waves to try to break up the larger kidney stone.  If he can break up the larger one, he may try to break up the smaller one.  Complications from lithotripsy are rare - mild pain when the smaller fragments of the stone pass, and muscle and back pain from the shocks.  Sometimes lithotripsy doesn't work in breaking up the stones and a more invasive surgery is required.  I am praying and believing that the lithrotripsy will work and that both stones will be gone when I wake up from sedation.  While I am sedated, I will also have a cystoscopy - the urologist will use a scope to look inside my bladder to make sure that I don't have any cysts or cancer.  He feels fairly certain that I don't have anything wrong, except the kidney stones. I am terribly afraid of being sedated.  I don't like that someone else is in control of my breathing.  It is the anesthesiologist's job to make me breathe.  He has no ties to me, and sees me only as another hour long surgery in his day.  (If Adrian screws up his job, someone goes without cable or satellite...  If the anesthesiologist screws up his job, someone can die.)  My girls were listening to KTIS in their bedroom this morning and the dj quoted his favorite verse.  Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'  I am going to stand on that verse today!!  I will not be afraid.  I am enjoying a quick Coke before my time runs out - no food after midnight last night, clear fluids until 10:30 this morning, then nothing until after my surgery.  Adrian offered to get me anything I wanted to eat last night at 11:30.  (He even said he'd go to McDonald's for a grilled McChicken sandwich!!)  I asked him to make me a bowl of chocolate ice cream.  It isn't bad, really, to skip a couple of meals when you are busy....but it feels like you are famished when you are required to skip meals.  So annoying! Please say a prayer for peace for me today.  Thank you all so much!! In Him, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/736081/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/736081/ Yesterday morning came way too early!  I had to be out of the house by 6:45AM...after getting very little sleep the night before.  I crawled out of bed just after 6AM, got ready (can't get a CT scan without make-up on!), and nursed Benjamyn.  (I was told that I shouldn't nurse Jammie for 4-6 hours following the scan because of the dye that they inject.)  I drove to the hospital, checked in and waited nervously for the technician to call me back.  When he finally called my name, I bombarded him with questions: "How long will it take?", "Are you good with IVs?", "What are you looking for?", "Will the dye hurt when it is injected?"...  He was super patient and explained everything very thoroughly.  He had me get changed into a gown and robe.  (Very sexy, to be sure!  Hence, my need for make-up.)  When I was changed, he took me into the CT scan room and had me lay on the table.  I believe he told me to "get comfortable".  (Seriously?!  I don't think so.)  He explained what was going to happen - he was going to take two pictures without dye contrast, then one picture immediately after the dye went in, then another two pictures 5-10 minutes after the dye was injected.  Then he put the IV in.  I am more than a little nervous about IVs.  He did a great job - got it in on the first try.  When the IV was taped in place he had me put my arms above my head and slid me into the scanner and left the room to run the machine.  After two pictures he came back and explained what the dye would do.  He said that the dye is actually thicker than blood, so it may have a problem being injected... if that happened, he would have to restart the IV.  (I was definitely praying that the dye would go right in without any issues.)  He said that I may get a warm sensation and a metallic taste in my mouth, and that it may feel like I "wet myself".  He was right, I got a warm sensation and a metallic taste in my mouth... then I was SURE that I "wet myself"!  I looked at him and said, "Ummm...  I think I DID wet myself.  Are you sure I didn't?!"  He just smiled and nodded.  Within seconds I felt normal again.  (Whew!  I would've been so embarrassed!)  I did feel a little dizzy, which he told me was normal in a few people.  (Great!  At least I am normal compared to a few people.)  When the dye was all injected he left the room and took one picture.  He came back and talked to me while we waited the 5-10 minutes before the final two pictures.  He told me that his wife had gone through this same thing just a few weeks before.  She had blood in her urine, went on antibiotics for a bladder infection, then went back in for a follow-up and still had blood in her urine.  She had a CT scan and cystoscopy, and it turned that she is one of 1-2% of people who walk around with blood in their urine.  I told him that I was so thankful for him, that his wife had a good result.  Then I asked him if I had something terrible, if I'd have to wait for my appointment on Thursday to find out.  He said that, if he saw something terrible, he'd call the radiologist in and the radiologist would call my urologist and my urologist would call me.  I said, "I suppose you can't tell me if you saw something terrible."  There was a long pause - the longest pause of my life, it seemed - and he said, "I didn't see anything terrible."  (AMEN!)  (He had explained earlier that the pictures taken immediately after the dye was injected would have been the pictures that would likely show cancer.)  After about 10 minutes he, again, walked out of the room and took two more pictures.  When he came back into the room, he took the IV out of my arm and helped me get off of the table.  I asked him if he saw anything terrible in the last pictures and he said he thought that he only saw a couple of kidney stones.  I thanked him for his kindness, and for being patient with me.  He took me back to the dressing room and I got dressed, then he showed me how to get out of the hospital.  I thanked God as I walked to my truck. Around 3:30 in the afternoon my urologist called.  I was very nervous, since the technician had told me that my urologist would call if there was something terrible on the CT scan.  The urologist and I shared pleasantries - "hi", "how are you?"..... - then he said, "Well, it looks like you have an 8mm stone in one kidney and several smaller stones in your other kidney."  I was practically jumping up and down, so thankful.  He said that we would talk about how to remove them at my appointment on Thursday, and that he still wants to do the cystoscopy "just to be thorough".  He sis mention shocking the larger stone.  That sounded harmless enough, until he explained that it was a surgical procedure and I would have to be sedated.  I hate being put to sleep!!  He said that we would talk about all of my options on Thursday and I thanked him for calling.  While I was praising God that it wasn't cancer, I was starting to worry about the treatment options.  I am scared about the options.  Not one of the options is pleasant.  They all include risk and pain.  I am so thankful that God has delivered me from the worst scenario, but can't help but have fear of what is yet to come.  I just need to remember... Faith the size of a mustard seed...faith the size of a mustard seed...faith the size of a mustard seed. My mom sent me an email with some wonderful healing Scriptures.  I am going to spend my time standing on those Scriptures. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, And healing shall spring up quickly. Isaiah 58:8 Who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that We, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness, by Whose stripes we were healed. I Peter 2:24 He sent his word, and healed them, and Delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20 Daughter your faith has made you well, go in peace, And be Healed of your disease. Mark 5:34 Whatever you ask for in Prayer with faith you will receive. Matthew 21:22 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, And wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have Brought upon the Eqyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Exdous 15:26 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Psalm 103:3 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst Of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them And health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised For our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 Heal me, O Lord and I shall be healed; save me, And I shall be saved; for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14 Thank you for your continued prayers. In Him, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/732883/ Sat, 3 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/732883/ I had a urology appointment today, following an appointment I had with my family practice physician two weeks ago.  I have been dealing with horrible migraines and had an appointment to discuss my medications with my doctor.  At that appointment I mentioned that I was having Coke colored urine - I assumed this was a result of my migraine medications.  She ordered a urinalysis, and called a few hours later to tell me that there was blood in my urine and she wanted me to go back the following week for a repeat urinalysis.  She said that it wasn't uncommon to occasionally have a small amount of blood in your urine and that she didn't want to put me on antibiotics for a bladder infection, at that time, because I wasn't having any symptoms.  Last week I went in for another urinalysis and, again, had blood in my urine - this time there was much more blood, and white blood cells (which hadn't been present the week before).  My doctor put me on an antibiotic, assuming I had a bladder infection.  I took the medication for five days then, on the sixth day on the antibiotics, at 2:30 in the morning, I noticed that I had red blood in my urine.  I was freaked out.  I called my doctor the when the clinic opened and she put me on a stronger antibiotic and had me make an appointment with a urologist.  At my appointment today the urologist explained that there are many causes for blood in the urine - kidney stones, tumors and cancer are the most common.  He asked me about my medical history, then told me what the normal protocol is for someone who comes into his office with blood in their urine: a urine culture, a CT scan with an IV dye contrast, and a cystoscopy (a small camera placed in the bladder with only local anesthesia).  Though I am not in the "high risk" category for cancer, the possibility needs to be addressed.  I collected my urine today, which they will culture and look for cancer cells.  I will have the CT scan tomorrow, which will be looking for stones or tumors.  (I am very nervous about the scan.  IV needles scare me terribly!  Having an IV is the worst part of having a baby.)  On Thursday I will have the cystoscopy (this, too, makes me nervous), then get all of the results.  I think, at this point, the tests are almost as scary as getting the results.  I have barely slept since I saw the red blood in my urine, and now I have another week of waiting...  I am believing that God is going to give the doctors wisdom and that He is going to heal my body.  I have eight babies who need their mommy, and I can't even think that I may have something terrible that will keep me from taking care of them.  My mom was with me at my appointment today, and she will be with me again on Thursday.  She will be there to hold my hand, no matter what the results are.  I don't know what I would do without her.  She is my rock.  My dad was with my kids today, and will be with them again on Thursday, lovingly taking care of them.  My sister, whom I haven't spoken to in weeks, was holding me up in prayers.  She was the first person to call when we walked out of the clinic.  My dear friend, Ember, sent me a text this morning to let me know that she was praying for me before my appointment.  Adrian has been so positive, assuring me that everything is going to be okay.  With the prayers of my loved ones, and with their love and support, I know that I will get through this uncertain time.  Am I nervous?  I would be lying if I said that I wasn't.  The Bible says that I only need to have the faith of a mustard seed.  I am not required to be Wonder Woman.  I just have to remember to lean on Him and trust that He will see me through this.  "Cancer" is an ugly word, and it immediately brings fear... even the thought of it being a possibility is scary.  I am going to lean on Jesus....and believe that His perfect will for me is to be healed. Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. If you are reading this, I thank you in advance for your prayers.  In Him always, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/732526/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 21:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/732526/ My Journal Entry for Today, September 22nd Outside my window...the chill of Autumn. I am thinking...about so many things that my head is spinning.. I am thankful for...friends who share in my journey. From the kitchen...the smell of toast. I am creating...costumes for the kids for this weekend. I am going...shopping for costume-making supplies tonight. I am wearing...jammie pants and a t-shirt. (Go figure!!) I am reading..."To Train Up a Child"...again. I am hoping...for good news from the clinic. I am hearing...a cricket chirping outside. Around the house...piles of laundry to be hung and books to be shelved. One of my favorite things...strawberry smoothies. A few plans for the rest of the week...costume making, Phoebie's birthday and camping this weekend. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/729315/ Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/729315/ I miss my grandmas so much!  Grandma Maday and her purple personality.  She was so silly, and her smile would light up an entire room.  Her tiny little self left such a huge impression on anyone who met her.  Grandma Spinks and her lipstick personality.  She felt good as long as her lipstick was in place (even if it transferred to her teeth).  Her arms were always reaching out to offer help or a hug.  She was so giving, of herself and all that she had. I will miss taking trips to Indiana with my sister... waiting in the airport, too nervous to speak sensibly, so we shared funny quotes from movies we've seen over the years and laughed so hard we almost wet our pants....  Trying to find our luggage on the round-about thing, recognizing everyone else's suitcases as our own...  Sharing a hotel room...  Frequent visits to Grandma's nursing home... Driving around for hours, lost and laughing... Staying up late, giggling in bed.... I will miss sharing time with my sister here in Minnesota, visiting Grandma and Grandpa.... Hanging pictures that we lovingly selected for Grandma and Grandpa's new apartment....   Sharing tears of lost moments, and enjoying the moments of today... Sharing laughs at the funny things Grandma would say....and shock at the things Grandpa would say.... Taking an extra minute in the parking lot to share a hug.... Stopping by her house on my way home to hug her kids, or eat with her family.... Painting Grandma and Grandpa's house together.... Laughing...always laughing.... Holding each other up....  I miss my sister.  I miss sharing things with her, and hearing her voice.  I miss praying with her and sharing words of encouragement. I miss my brother.  I miss his humor, the way he could always make me laugh.  I miss knowing that he is only a 12 hour drive away...and that there would always be welcoming arms waiting for us at the end of the drive.  I miss allowing comments on my blog.... I miss the encouraging words from my friends that would be left here....  For now, however, I cannot allow comments.  My friends are always welcome to email me, or find me on Facebook.  I love you all! Psalm 30:5 Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. In Him, Beckie     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/728899/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/728899/ My Journal Entry for Today, September 7th Outside my window...lots of campers and kids playing. I am thinking...about school starting next week - lots to do. I am thankful for...hand lotion - my hands would look like alligator skin without it. From the kitchen...tons of dishes in the sink. I am creating...a schedule for the kids' school year. I am going...home on Tuesday. I am wearing...jammie pants and a t-shirt. I am reading..."The Time Traveler's Wife" I am hoping...for healing in family relationships. I am hearing...the sliding glass door open and close as little ones go in and out...in and out.  (Seriously, kids!  IN or OUT!  ha ha!) Around the house (camper)...kids, kids, kids everywhere. One of my favorite things...the laughter of little children. A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...going home and preparing school stuff. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/724650/ Mon, 7 Sep 2009 10:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/724650/ I was cutting up chicken for enchiladas when Phoebie and I had the following conversation: Phoebie : "Mommy, where do chickens come from?" Me: "What do you mean?" Phoebie: "Where do they come from?  Like..... Do they grow in the ground?" Me: "Chickens?!" Phoebie: "Yeah, chickens." Me: "Phoebie, chickens come from eggs." Phoebie : (blank stare) Me: "You know, Phoebie... Chickens....  Brock, brock....  Grandma Penny has chickens in her yard." Phoebie: (look of sudden insight) "OH, YEAH!!  CHICKENS!" A few nights later, Phoebie was talking her dad's ear off.  He looked at her and said, "Phoebie, why don't you go out and plant some chickens." Very seriously, she said, "But, Daddy, I don't have any seeds!" Enjoying every moment, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/724212/ Sat, 5 Sep 2009 14:15:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/724212/ My Journal Entry for Today, July 27th Outside my Window...lots of clouds, threatening rain. I am thinking...that I wish my house was already unpacked. I am thankful for...jammie bags for our baby. From the kitchen...the sound of the microwave heating a bottle for Ayden and a sippy cup for Lollie. I am creating...many decorating ideas for my new house. I am going...crazy with all the whining! I am wearing...grey capris with Adrian's fireman t-shirt. I am reading..."To Train Up a Child" I am hoping...for a late evening thunderstorm.  There is nothing like falling asleep to the sound of a good summer storm. I am hearing...Lollie slurping on her sippy cup. Around the house...boxes and more boxes. One of my favorite things...squishy pillows. A few plans for the rest of the week...cousins coming for movie night, visiting Grandpa, parents and aunt coming to help unpack, dinner with a friend, camping this weekend. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/711883/ Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/711883/ Grandma is in the hospital, on the cusp of making her big journey home to Jesus.  My heart is breaking... I will never forget how special it was when I was a little girl and Grandma would visit....  (Sometimes we would just pretend that she was coming and get our bedrooms all shiny.)  I remember watching out the window, waiting for her car to pull up....running outside to jump into her arms.  I remember her big purse, always filled with something special for my brothers, sister and me.  I remember the way she smelled, all sweet and clean.  I remember how her hands felt in mine, soft and squishy.  I remember her full lips, kissing my cheek, always covered in a bit too much red lipstick.  I remember her snuggling me, rocking me to sleep, even when I barely fit in her lap.  I remember her patience, listening to my never ending stories.  I remember her jewelry, always fancy.  I remember last summer...visiting Grandma in the nursing home.  Helping her to make her hair pretty with a curling iron and a ribbon.  I remember applying her face cream, then her make-up....topping it all off with a bit too much red lipstick.  I remember her smiling, so proud of how she looked.  I remember talking about how she loved to dance, and how she missed dancing now that she was confined to a wheelchair.  I remember holding her hand, helping her eat, washing her face...  I remember the moment I had to say good-bye, with tears streaming down my cheeks.... promising to see her again.  I remember Grandma crying...waving as I walked away.  Now, as Grandma is lying in a hospital bed, dying, I cannot keep my promise.  I am, instead, sitting on my couch...too pregnant to travel.  Why didn't I go see her in the Spring?  Now I will have to wait until eternity to see her... to smell her sweet, clean smell.... to touch her soft and squishy hands.  I can't put red lipstick on her lips to make her feel more ready to meet Jesus.  I can't pick out special jewelry for her to wear before her journey.  I can only ask others to tell Grandma how much I love her and to kiss her for me.  I have to hope that I said everything she needed to hear in our short telephone call three days ago...where I could only hear the hum of her oxygen machine and an occasional moan from her throat.  I can only sit at home, praying that God will take her gently home....and that Grandpa Bill will be on the other side to greet her.  I can pray that there is a make-up bag waiting for her, along with some Aqua Net hairspray and a jewelry box.  I can pray that she will feel the comfort of Jesus as she makes this final trip, from here to eternity.  Please, God, hold Grandma in your hands.  Please guide her gently to heaven.  Please comfort us, as we say good-bye.  Please be with us all, Lord.  In Him, Beckie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/706552/ Thu, 9 Jul 2009 08:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleEblingsAcademy/706552/