The fair and the Fall

State fair 2012 was a huge success. Other than a few loud noise hiccups, (unavoidable at the fair,) Ty and the girls really had fun and we ate our weight in tornado twisters. Those are fancy fries in fair language. Yum.

When I was little we went to the fair every year and I don't recall if it was more fun then or now. One of the great blessings about motherhood is reliving everything through their eyes, isn't it? Everything old is new again, even Big Tex. He was a highlight until he started talking then Ty wanted nothing to do with him of course. Charlie kept calling Big Tex the cowboy. "Hey there big cowboy I'm Charlie and I'm a cowgirl. Hey there yee haw!" (Yelling)

Life may be lots of things at this point but dull isn't one of them.

Switching gears...

Amy is steadily improving but still has a long road ahead recovering. There is a caring bridge site for her that I'm gonna link here once I learn how to do that. Help with that is, of course, welcome and appreciated.

The calendar is full of fun things in the next few weeks and months. Fall is in full swing and I'm loving it. God is good to give us great hope for the future. We are making new memories and able to talk about old ones without getting too sad. I'd have struggled to believe it if you'd told me that life right now could be so JOYFUL. Christ is the reason. He is the giver of life, the Savior of this broken world. And His desire is to give all of us the peace that passes understanding, this peace that I have. If you're resisting Him take it from me-He is worth it!

The road to the fair is paved with antibiotics

The great sinus infection of 2012 is finally on its way out if my body thanks to a steroid shot and two days of antibiotics. Maybe I'll stop going to bed at 7 once I'm healed.

Or maybe I'll keep 7 as my bedtime this winter it's hard to tell.

Y'all, Amy is improving and we are all so grateful for your prayers. She's still pretty sick but she's gotten much better. Still in the hospital, still weak and nauseous. There's a treatment plan for once she goes home so I'm taking that as a big step-she gets to go home one day on the horizon. The latest diagnosis is that she has had West Nile and viral meningitis at the same time. Bless her.

Today is fair day for Ty and we are about to pack up and go. It's cold outside and most people who planned on going will just stay home and get cozy but not us. We are going, cozy or not. I'm thinking not.

I have a feeling that once we find that first funnel cake stand all frost bite will be forgotten. To this day that's all my girls remember about the rodeo-"Mommy remember that place that had the funnel cakes?" "You mean the place with the animals and the tractors?" "No mommy just the place with funnel cakes."

I don't know where they get it.

Mini me

Me at 2 1/2. Joy is stomping her feet right now saying, "No mommy dat not you dat is me!" She truly thinks its her. I was a little chubbier but I think it's clear she's my kid.

The agenda

Amen and amen

Sleep: it's what's for dinner (and breakfast)

Okay y'all either I'm having psychosomatic symptoms after seeing Amy or I've contracted my own debilitating illness. Or I have allergies for the first time in, oh, 33 years. Or am I 34? I forget.

Today during my free day (all kiddies at school,) I tried to sleep. Like from 5:45-9am all I thought about was climbing back into bed and sleeping until pick-up time. I couldn't sleep so I caught up on some news and paid the bills. Then I ate lunch with some friends and laughed about how we have turned into the ladies from Steel Magnolias. My life, it is a fairy tale.

My real reason for a post tonight is to tell you that Amy is slowly but surely improving. Her eyes still twitch but not as fast and she has been able to get up a little bit to move around. Truly an answer to the prayers of so many!! She has gotten some of her spunk back too, which is so encouraging. I can still hardly believe how sick she has been. Use OFF people. You don't want to feel the way she has felt!

Most Thursday nights I think through the weekend plans and more than ever I'm thankful we don't have any this weekend. Making pumpkin whoopie pies and painting pumpkins, yes. Sleep, sweet sleep, yes.

Okay bye.

Update on Amy

I kinda left y'all hanging didn't I? Here is an update on my sister-in-law Amy. As of today she has been in the hospital for 8 days. After tons and tons of tests-bloodwork, lumbar puncture, MRIs, CT scans--their best guess is West Nile.

I have never seen someone so sick without knowing why. Amy is spunky, a triathlete, a fighter. She can do everything and is always helping other people. Seeing her now you'd never know how healthy she is on a normal basis.

Today I had a free day since all of my kids are back in school. I'm sitting beside her. She's in the fetal position, asking for help, asking to feel better. Please pray for healing. Her eyes have twitched non-stop since last Monday. Severe pain in her head, nausea, fatigue. Her whole body is tired. Up until now they have tried to treat the symptoms as they come but they have not lessened or gone away at all.

Thanks y'all. Believing that today will be the day she turns a corner!

Welcome October

Bring it on October. We are so ready for you!