Waving

David's newest trick is waving. He only does it when he feels like it and usually only waves at cars and other vehicles. One day we were out in the back yard and a tractor drove by on the road. The road is quite a distance away but that didn't bother David. H ejust stood there waving at it for several minutes :)

Chores

David love to come out with me to feed the chickens in the morning. It has been quite chilly so I have been bundling him up in his coat, hat, and gloves. He just looks so cute!

My Own Kitchen Window

My kitchen window isn’t very big and it’s nothing fancy. Just a little kitchen window above my sink with some pretty fabric draped across the top. But it is my kitchen window. The one my dear husband put in just for me.

When we first got married I became homesick for everything familiar that I had left behind; for the view from my mom’s kitchen window. I had a lot to learn about life and love along with some growing up to do. As time passed I grew fond of my own view; living life with my best friend has been a wonderful adventure. I treasure all the joys and special times we have been able to share together.

Of course we have also had our challenges. Things have not always been easy. Money has been tight and work scarce at times. Andrew has been sick off and on with both colon and back trouble, I landed in the emergency room after our son David was born, and we have been trying to start a farm in the midst of it all. And now Andrew had a severe colon flare up that resulted in his colon being removed to save his life. No, it has not been easy. But God has been faithful. We have grown closer to each other and our love has grown deeper.

Through it all I have learned to love the view from my own kitchen window more and more. The beautiful mountains that change color with the seasons, chickens pecking in the pasture, a corner of the garden. Sometimes I see my beloved husband working on some project or a toddling little boy trying to pet the chickens. But most of all I see love in the kisses shared by the kitchen sink, joy in our meals shared together, faithfulness through the laughter and the tears. Memories built together as a family, in our little home looking out of my own kitchen window.

Being home now, after spending two weeks in the hospital with my very sick husband makes me ever more grateful for the chance to continue to share life together.

The view from my kitchen window is unique. It is different from my mom’s, different from a friend’s, different than yours. But it is mine, the life God has blessed me with. It is special and exciting to see God’s hand guiding. I look forward to enjoying the ongoing view from my very own kitchen window.

Home Sweet Home

It is so good to be home! We have been slowly settling back in. David enjoys being home with space to roam and toys to play with. Andrew is improving slowly. We are getting more sleep than at the hospital. We are so blessed by all the love shown to us. Meals delivered everyday, firewood split and stacked by the house, cards filled with good wishes and encouragement...

Here are a few pictures of the lovely fall leaves that I gathered around our place.

Going Home

We get to go home today! Andrew is still pretty weak but improving. It will be nice to get home and get somewhat back to normal anyway.

Two Weeks

This past two weeks has been long. It was two weeks ago today that Andrew was admitted to Mt. Carmel hospital for a severe ulcerative colitis flare up. He was very dehydrated, his blood count was half of what it should be and his weight was getting pretty low. He spent eight days there. After 3 units of blood, IV fluids, and high doses of steroids with little improvement, surgery began to look like our only option. But there was a lot to consider including if Andrew was strong enough for surgery, if the doctors in Spokane would take him without insurance, etc. Then suddenly everything worked out and he was transferred to Sacred Heart. The surgery was done on Friday. Everything went well. Recovery is a little slow but getting there. Finally it looks like we might get to go home soon. Actually if all goes well they are talking about tomorrow. So we will see...

I am so ready!

Sweet Boy

One thing that has been amazing about this whole ordeal has been how little David has handled everything. He has been cheerful and so good. He hardly fusses and has been sleeping amazingly well at night. He spent the first week in Colville with me at the hospital and now since we have been in Spokane he has been spending the night with my mother-in-law at a motel across from the hospital. They didn't seem too excited about the idea of a baby staying all night at the hospital here in Spokane, in Colville everyone seemed fine with it. Anyway, he is doing so good, but all the sudden he seems so big, so grown up, I kind of feel like I am losing my baby :(
Today he spent most of the day with Grandma because I spent all day with Andrew and a rambunctious baby is not exactly the best thing when someone is recovering from surgery. They got to have some fun and special time together so that was nice. But I did miss him.

Hospital Snapshots

Just a few pictures of Andrew's stay in the hospital...

The TPN bag, nutrition through an IV. It is strange to think that this liquid is basically his "food" right now.

The white board in his room.

A beautiful bouquet of flowers sent by the Chewelah Farmer's Market.

The little black button, Andrews friend after surgery. Every 8 minutes he can push this button to get more pain medicine. He actually hasn't had to use it quite that often though.


Tubes going into his arm. Lots of tubes. Feeding tubes, medicine tubes, oxygen tubes, drainage tubes... right now Andrew is loaded with tubes.

So Blessed

The surgery went well. The doctor said everything looks good and that Andrew is doing well. He is in some pain but able to rest fairly well.
We are so blessed by all the love from friends and family. So many people have been praying, so many people have sent notes of encouragement. So many other blessings too; the surgeon being willing to take Andrew without any insurance, the doctor in Colville doing everything he could to help things work out, great nurses, anonymous gifts in the mail...
Everything has been working out; from the timing to the finances to the actual surgery. God has truly been good to us.

Psalm 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Surgery

Surgery is this afternoon. Just waiting now...

Update

Well things are moving forward now. Tomorrow we are going down to Sacred Heart in Spokane. The first surgery will probably take place on Friday. Altogether there will be three surgeries. This first one will be just taking out the colon. A second surgery in three or more months will be constructing a J-pouch which will kind of take the place of the colon. And the last one a few more months later will be to just connect it all up.

In the Hospital

Many of you already know that Andrew is in the hospital. He has now been in for a week with little improvement in his ulcerative colitis symptoms. Right now we are looking at surgery to remove his colon as the best option. For now we are mostly just waiting and praying.

Cabbage

We were able to get a whole bunch of cabbage so I had fun a few weeks ago making sauerkraut and spiced red cabbage. I also tried making some kim chi (sp?).

David Helps Milk

David really enjoys coming out to milk with me. He watches with fascination as the milk squirts out, pets Hannah, and even tries to steal her grain sometimes. Here are some photos I took a few weeks ago of him while I was milking.