Meet the Teacher

Laura Cate was so nervous going to meet the teachers, but as soon as she stepped into the classroom her fears were relieved! I am so thankful the kindergartners were able to go a day early, drop off their supplies, find their desk, and get acquainted with everything before the big day!

Laura Cate outside her classroom door.

Mrs. Handy and Mrs. Riggs welcoming Laura Cate. They are the best! 

We are off to a GREAT year! 

AWANAS!

Laura Cate has been waiting for a year to attend AWANAs with Cameron and her chance has finally come. I am hoping that it lives up to her expectations and I am praying even more that God would use this Bible club in her life in mighty ways  and that He would be hiding His Word in her heart. It doesn't take much for her to get excited about anything that 1) Cameron is doing 2) includes other kids. She was one excited kid when I reminded her after school that today was the first day. Precious.

Easter 2014

 

It was a beautiful spring day here in Orlando. We started celebrating Easter early by attending the annual Lake Hart Easter Egg Hunt at Cru Headquarters a few weeks before Easter.  It was really all you ask for...blue skies, green grass you can walk on...I'm still enjoying that blessing, and lots and lots of kids and baskets. I am thankful it was quite organized so the big kids weren't trampling the little ones.  They had a great time and we all enjoyed a picnic afterwards. What a joy to celebrate our risen Savior!

 

Laura Cate and Eva filling up their baskets

 

Cameron and Laura Cate helped make cupcakes

 

Here is Laura Cate's preschool class. The school had an Easter bonnet parade...they all decorated their own hats and the entire school had a parade..it was quite cute.

 

William of course joined in the fun to celebrate Easter!

 

 

I wish I had written more at the time, but I am thankful that I can daily, minute by minute, live in the grace of our Lord and not the guilt of what I haven't done.  "It is finished," are powerful and life-giving words.

White Christmas

Merry Christmas from Anchorage, Alaska!!

 

 

We had an amazing Christmas with our family.  For the first time in 10, yes, 10 years, my family (my parents, and my brother and his family) spent Christmas together.  We could not have gone to a more extreme climate...leaving Orlando at 75 degrees on December 21 and arriving in Anchorage, Alaska at about 10 degrees. It was amazing!! We were so excited to celebrate Christmas together again.  We had a VERY white Christmas.  Lots and lots of snow and lots and lots of fun memory-making time together.

We arrived Saturday night and were up bright and early Sunday morning and then enjoyed the afternoon playing in the snow. It was beautiful! Steve and Karen worked hard before we arrived gathering plenty of winter clothes, mittens, bibs, and hats, and jackets.  We are so thankful for all of the layers because we loved playing outside!

Monday we went on a drive to Alyeska, which is a ski resort. We took a tram up to the top and played there. It was a spectacular drive and view.

 

For our Christmas gift Steve and Karen took us and the kids skiing. IT WAS AMAZING! I think the kids thought it was harder than they expected but we they had a great time falling and skiing!

 

 

Tuesday (Christmas Eve) we decorated Christmas cookies with Grandma! She was wise to make the dough ahead and then the kids could focus on decorating (and eating decorations!) It was fun seeing the big cousins help the little ones.

 We proceeded to get ready to go to their Christmas Eve church service and all piled into two cars, but one of the car batteries died, so we stayed home and had an impromptu Duffy Christmas service with my niece, Georgia, playing the piano, as we sang, then all the kids (we had plenty) acted out the Christmas Story.  Cameron played Joseph, Georgia was Mary, Anna was baby Jesus, Laura Cate was an angel, Gabriel was a sheep and a donkey.  It was delightful as the snow was falling and we were toasty warm inside. Then Karen read the book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and we opened presents from Grandma and Granddad. Sweet memories.

 

we just love our youngest niece, Anna!

 

Uncle Steve leading us in hymns!

 

 

Most of the cousins (except Timothy and Sean)

Gabriel, Georgia, Anna, Cameron, William, and Laura Cate

I don't think they were ever all in the same place!

 

On Christmas day the kids were awake by 6:30 and came down to open stockings and then we all rolled out and Grandma and Granddad arrived to open gifts.  We enjoyed Christmas dinner together and Laura Cate and Timothy had the best time playing hide-and-go-seek with flashlights.  Georgia willingly made forts and played with the little ones.  Cameron, Sean, and Gabriel played either LEGOs or board games non-stop.

                                                   Cameron (8), Sean (11), and Gabriel (6)
                                    a game of Chess with some competitive boys - watch out!
                                                       
One of the only things my parents wanted to do (besides being with their kids and grandkids) was to go Mushing - which is sled dogging.  Alan went with them and they braved the weather (the coldest day so far for us at -4). But I think they had a great time. I enjoyed being home with the kids :).

 

Alan bundled up

 

Grandma and Granddad bundled up

 

 

Dogs ready to go!

 

The next day all of us went out (except poor Alan had a migraine) and we went ice fishing! Our kids had a blast watching the dads drill holes, set up tents, and fish. IT WAS COLD!!! But our fruit of the labor was yummy fish (and some hot dogs on the grill!).  My phone quickly died because it was soooo cold, so I didn't get any pictures in time. 

 

We are incredibly thankful for such a wonderful Christmas together.  Hopefully it will not be another 10 years!

Healing? And hopefully more to come

I often back-blog...like write about something that happened months ago and I'm ok with that, but yesterday and today seem too heavy to wait. Alan has not gotten any better with his migraines, except for last week he only had one (!), but we don't know if that was an anomaly or a new reality, because he had one yesterday. He's also had major nausea from his preventatives which we don't want to get off of, but he has felt pretty miserable recently...headaches nonstop without the ability to take anything and nausea all day everyday...I told him it was like morning sickness when you are pregnant :)

So, yesterday, a friend of ours,who suffers from chronic back pain, had a supporter recommend a pastor about an hour away who has the power of healing. We thought we didn't have anything to lose, so Alan went with his friend. After lots of prayer, lots of oil, and several hours later, he was home. He woke up today for the first time in a very long time without a headache.  Praise The Lord!

We needed that today especially because I ended up at the doctors because I had a little rash, which turned out to be SHINGLES!!! I could not believe it. My doctor ( whom I'd never met before) asked me if I'd been stressed recently??....I just cried. Oh my goodness.

I am so thankful for a compassionate doctor, for good medicine, that we caught it early, and for an amazing husband who understands pain and suffering and can enter in that with me. I am thankful for the small glimpses and experiences we have  to enter into suffering and pain like Christ, who willingly chose to suffer and die for you and for me.

I was reading Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. "

I pray God will be exalted in our pain. We do need more healing, however The Lord wants to do it.

Update on Alan

This is about a week and a half delayed, but it here it is!

 After a very long day flying to and from Philadelphia and ending his doctors appointment and traveling home while enduring a migraine, Alan made it back home around midnight two Thursdays ago.  His doctor was not surprised  his preventatives had not worked much, so they doubled his dosage and might double it again if it still ceases to work.  He is a good candidate for Cephaly.. which is a new kind of headband to treat migraines, just FDA approved, and a good candidate for Enzyme Therapy, not FDA approved and would require driving several hours each way 1-2 times/month.

Alan was recently diagnosed with a possible gluten intolerance which may be his body's way of reacting to being out of balance and really just out of whack for so long...

Although at times it is tiring to continue add to a list of  ailments, we are also very grateful to have a doctor who can pinpoint some problems and help us rule things out or focus on healing in certain areas.

We are grateful God is with us every step of the way, as we trust in his mercy and care each day. Alan began his week today with a migraine, but tomorrow is a new day.

Post Philly Update

Alan was in Philadelphia at a headache clinic almost a month ago. We are so thankful for so many prayers and support on this long journey to healing his chronic migraines. He continues to have migraine several times a week and regular headaches almost daily, along with nausea from his medicine He goes back to Philadelphia next Thursday for a check up. He has been allowed to up some of his preventatives. Meanwhile, he has also seen a homeopathic doctor who diagnosed him with several things: gene mutation that causes heavy metals poisoning, treated with supplements, and biotoxin issues caused by mold, yeast or Lymes. He thinks Alan can be healed by November, but most of the supplements recommended Alan can not take ( his body does not respond to them).  We know that the Lord can bring healing, but with all of the ups and downs of hope and disappointment in doctors and medicine, we are choosing to continue to trust in Him for strength and mercy to get through each day and take life one day at a time. "I lift my eyes up to the hill, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2.

Alan's home!

Alan made it home after a long painful night. We are all so glad to have daddy back. Sweet Laura Cate prayed for him in the car as the kids and I went to pick him up at the airport after dinner. She sure is our prayer warrior. This morning while some amazing friends took the kids to church I enjoyed some extended time with The Lord. Me.my journal.my Bible.and a lesson by John Piper...it was a sweet time. I was really encouraged as I spent time pondering one of his blog entries called "Do Not Loose Heart" looking at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. I highly recommend it. No pain or any amount of suffering is meaningless. It all will lead to an eternal weight of glory. www.desiringgod.org/blog July 26, 2013.  Alan was able to talk to his doctor this morning and he changed the dosage of his oral medication that he had been previously taking through an IV. We are anxious to see if there are any side effects, but we know no matter what God is with us and His love is steadfast.

Alan's update from Philadelphia

Alan returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday, this time to be admitted to the  hospital at the headache clinic for a week.  Two weeks ago he visited a doctor at the clinic and he thinks he has Transient migraine headaches.. Basically a migraine all the time, which shows itself in various forms, such as migraine, fatigue, or regular headaches. Only 2.5% percent of migraine sufferers have this type....it's not a fun group to be in :). Alan is hopeful about this visit. 

Since he left I've been pretty sick, with a virus, that has left me achy, fatigued, and feeling pretty rotten. By Gods grace I rarely get sick like this,and it feels like it could not have come at a worse time, but I'm learning that when The Lord says he came to bring us life...abundant life....that doesn't mean free of sickness and pain, but one full of grace, joy, living with him in pain, heartache and experiencing his love and goodness, no matter what our circumstances are. Over this week I have experienced tremendous amounts of grace and love as people have been praying for Alan and me, and serving us by bringing us food, snacks, and taking our kids so I can rest.

Here is the latest update from Alan:  I'm in the Jefferson Headache Clinic in Philadelphia.  The care has been pretty good, and the nurses are really nice and understanding.  But the time has definitely not been restful, and it's hard to even do email or read most of the time.  I have to get a shot in my stomach every 3 hours along with a vitals check, a full EKG every night, and 2 vials of blood drawn every morning.  I'm on 24hr heart rate monitoring (many of the meds can cause heart problems), so I have 5 wires connected to pads on my torso to a heart rate monitor on my bed so it's really hard to sleep or even go to the bathroom.  I have an IV with 5-6 bags most of the time.  All of this is very aggressive drug treatment to break the migraine cycle and start me on preventative drugs that I will continue orally when I leave. So, we really need your prayers that all this is worth it and will be effective with the frequency and severity of my migraines. 

Alan left the hospital today , looking to go home tomorrow, but he is currently having a migraine. Please pray for relief for him and wisdom as whether or not to come home or go back to the hospital. He feels very alone and discouraged.  

Alan's update

We are so thankful that Alan was home to celebrate Thanksgiving! Such a huge praise and answered prayer that he only had to stay 6 days at the headache clinic in Chicago.  He missed his mom at the airport by a few hours as she was leaving after being with us for the week while he was away.  Alan attended the Diamond Headache Clinic and was immediately impressed and thankful for their knowledge and sensitivity to headache sufferers...they have special low lighting, low noise and very caring nurses. After his initial meeting with his doctor he checked into their in--house hospital.  He had lots of blood work, an MRI, met with the doctor daily, as well as attended several seminars on drug education, diet, wellness, and headaches.  He was only allowed outside the hospital once and that was with a nurse accompanying him on a walk around the building (it was really cold, so he was glad to get back inside, but he did miss his freedom.  Since Alan has returned he has had three migraines in the past 10 days and continues to have bad headaches everyday, but the doctor said it would take 2-6 weeks for his new preventative medicine to start working. We are a little discouraged, but not without hope that things might get better.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us. Please continue to do so as we fight this battle.  We are reminded as we enter into Advent that we can celebrate Immanuel..."God with us" everyday, not just at Christmas. God is with us during our physical and emotional pain and we are so thankful and humbled to get to experience God's presence in our lives.

1-6 weeks?!

Alan left Monday to go to the Diamond headache clinic in Chicago. It was sad to see him go because we weren't sure when we would see him again...one week, Thanksgiving, or even up to six weeks. When Alan first arrived the doctor said he would be out 5-6 days, but honestly I didn't believe it for one split second. But boy was I wrong and I'm so glad! Alan was discharged today and will be flying back to Orlando tomorrow night! He had lots of blood work, MRIs, drug and health seminars, and he met with one of the top headache doctors in the country daily.   With new medication, better understanding of some dietary and lifestyle changes, and lots and lots of prayer, the doctor thinks we might have the migraines under control -- down to 1-2 a month...we'll take it! Sadly the clinic was filled with 67 other patients, ranging from teenagers, to single, married men and women ( although 75% of migraine sufferers are women). Two patients have had headaches everyday for a year. I CANNOT imagine.  Alan's  roommate was on his third visit to the clinic. Many of the patients have no hope and no joy.  I'm not usually a pessimist, but we've been through so many different remedies, I'm finding it hard not to be these days, yet  I know the reality of what is true -- our hope and joy continue isin The Lord and we will be victorious in this battle; Alan is coming back tomorrow, he will be with us for Thanksgiving; and we have had a tremendous outpouring of love and prayers, around the world,and through our community here.  Alan's mom came to help me this week and it was such a weight off of my shoulders. I am deeply reminded of the Lords loving kindness even during difficult circumstances.  We will let you know Alan's progress with his new medicine.

headache update #1,000

Sometimes I feel like a broken record and I am hesitant to write anything pertaining to Alan's chronic medical problems. I fear that I am complaining or am not sensitive to other people's pain. But so many people are praying for us and are concerned for us and we do not take that for granted. Thank you, thank you! I am learning so much about the body of believers and how much I need each person. It is humbling to say the least. 

Alan received his CPAP machine(constant positive airway pressure) (you'd be amazed how many people have told me they or their spouse use one, but I was clueless as to what it was until recently). 
He has been sleeping worse than before because it is hard for him to get used to.  He still has several migraines a week. At his last appointment with his neurologist she said she she couldn't do anything else for him and suggested he go to a headache specialist. This means Alan would need to check in to a clinic for anywhere from 1-6 weeks.  After many many phone calls and research the earliest appointment we could get was February, but it was with our third choice doctor. That was just too long to wait. We have been praying that something miraculous would open up. God knows our needs and He can move mountains, so we were trusting Him for an earlier appointment. During dinner this evening Alan received a phone call from our first choice doctor in Chicago saying that they had a appointment November 18!! That's in 12 days!! We are so thankful and praise the Lord for His provision for us.  His mercies are new everyday.

Alan's health update

After much waiting Alan was cleared to receive a CPAP machine to help him sleep, which will in turn, hopefully help relieve his migraine headaches. He will go on Friday to pick it up and start using it. whoohoo! Please pray that it is helpful.

After even more waiting and calling, Alan found out the results from a MRI that he has two bulging disks in his upper vertebrae, so now he needs to go back to the neurologist to check on that next week...it might be a relatively easy fix, such as physical therapy or exercises, or surgery :(.

Last but not least, Alan visited an ENT doctor and found out he has a deviated septum and a lowered mouth palate, BUT the doctor is really hopeful that the sleep machine will fix that.

Meanwhile, he continues to have bad headaches and sleepless nights. God's mercies are new everyday and this is something we have learned to not take lightly, but to rejoice in and find strength in Him each day. Only The Lord can sustain us and HE does EACH and EVERY day.


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Thank you so much for visiting our blog!

Update on Alan's sleep study

After waiting for two weeks for his results, we finally found out that Alan does have sleep Apnea. That is an answered prayer that it was confirmed that he does in fact have a sleeping problem. He stops breathing while sleeping, which wakes his body up, leading to never getting into deep REM sleep, therefore waking up in the middle of dreams and remembering all of them...I'm not sure if his nightmares is related to all of this, but it seems likely. So...in a few weeks a crafty mask called a C Pac will arrive and Alan will have to wear it while sleeping. The idea is for it to increase oxygen flow. It sounds like such a simple solution to such a big problem, but we will take it! We are grateful for being able to see a doctor so quickly and relatively easily. Alan is also grateful to not have to sleep in a strange bed with lots of cords all over him. Alan has a neurologist appointment on September 23 as we continue on this journey of healing and hope.
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Dreaming of sleeping well

So for the past year Alan has not slept well. It seems like it would be sort of obvious to know you are not sleeping well, but looking back, it was sort of hard to tell...was it his migraines, his different medications, having kids that seem to constantly up at night for something...wet beds, baby, etc. Nevertheless, he did some research on signs of sleep disorders, and started noticing he had some symptoms of something...nightmares, fatigue, breathing stopping during the night. So last week he had a sleep study and we are anxiously awaiting the results this week. We are hoping if he sleeps better he could have less migraines, but if not, at least he might be able to get some help and not wake up exhausted at the beginning of every day. Sleep is one of those things you don't realize how good it is sometimes until you don't have it. All of our kids are great sleepers so far and I am so thankful no one else in our family struggles with sleep disorders.
Speaking of sleeping, it is my bedtime and I am very thankful to not have any trouble sleeping. Sweet dreams!
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Legoland!

There are some people who,  when you get to see, it feels just like yesterday. Some of our dear friends, who were teammates in East Asia, came through Orlando...crazy...who comes through Orlando? But Danny is from Florida and was going to a high school reunion, so they stayed two nights in Orlando on their way to Ft. Lauderdale.  We took the kids to LEGOLAND (their first park experience here since we arrived) and we all had a great time. With six kids between the two families, veryone had a buddy and we enjoyed every minute.

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Fun with GranC and Papa

We were blessed to have our parents offer to take care of the kids for us, so they divided up the time and first they went to my parents and then they went to Alan'
s parents. Here a few fun pics from their time. We are so thankful for grandparents that love to spend time with our kids. They don't get to see them as often as they would like, but this time they had extra long time with them :) They had fun in Auburn together.

Feeding the fish and other outdoor adventures wioth GranC and Papa this summer

GranC has a beautiful assortment of fish in her pond and the kids love to feed them and watch them. She even named a few fish. They also love to play with Shadow, their golden retriever, whom Laura Cate says is her best friend. Here is a funny line of photos taken of William stealing balls from Shadow, poor doggie didn't know what to do. Not sure which is more amazing, that he was able to get them away from the dog, or that he could carry three tennis balls in his hands!

Laura Cate loves to ride a bike GranC and Papa got for her

Cameron plays tennis with Shadow dog

Gran C and William enjoying time on the swing. I think William looks a lot like her!




brothers just playing around

playing on Papa's Razor

we love it when Aunt Amanda comes to visit!

 

 

Alan's parents church had a watermelon social one Wednesday night and we stopped counting how much watermelon  William and Cameron consumed

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Fourth of July!

I love celebrating July 4th, no matter where we are. People ask if we have " July 4th" in East Asia. Alan always says, "they have July 4th they just don't do anything on it." :))

The last time we were in the States during the summer, in 2011, we were in North Carolina. This year we were here as well and it was so memorable. We began the day by going to watch a parade , then swimming in the afternoon followed by yummy hotdogs, hamburgers and ice cream sundaes, then watchng fireworks outside together with my parents. I'm not sure which was more delightful, being with my parents and seeing amazing fireworks from the safety of a hill on a golf course on a clear summer night, or watching the kids run in the grass and play with lots of other kids before the fireworks. William got into the fireworks as well, which was not surprising since he oohs and aahs at every light he sees. He was a little shocked at first I think, not by the noise , but the sheer vastness of the fireworks as he covered his eyes.

I love how William and Granddad are having a little conversation together while waiting for the sun to go down and the fireworks to begin. William LOVES his granddad!!

Cameron looks about 15 here...it will happen before we know it :(

Perfect night

sweet kiddos enjoying a summer night on the grass

what a joyful, easy-going guy!

at the  parade downtown in my parents' town; we were actually here, in the same spot in 2011, right before William was born.  What a fun time!

Laura Cate showing off a fun American flag painted on  her hand

 

Well, that is all the fun for this Fourth of July!

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