Hilty Sprouts

Verse Novel Challenge!

2010-12-20T00:09:00.004-07:00

I did it!

I read 5 verse novels
back
to
back
in the past 2 months.

Now all I want
to do
is
write and speak
in verse.

I hope it doesn't get annoying,
but I am in love.

Here's what I read in order:
1. Far From You
2. Out of the Dust
3. Heartbeat
4. What My Mother Doesn't Know
5. What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

Want to join me?
Of course you do!
Drop by Caroline by line
to enter and win a copy
of her new verse novel
MAY B.

1920s Wedding

2010-09-06T14:12:00.010-06:00

Farmer Joel's family put on another beautiful and creative wedding. Paper lanterns hung from strings of white lights above and glorious garden flowers surrounded us. Every detail was perfect from beverages served in Mason jars out of an old bathtub to a silver fringed flapper (Joel's little sister) singing into an old time microphone. It felt like we had traveled back in a time machine.

The beautiful couple

Dancing lessons from a very cool Uncle (drum lessons were also included)!Amazing food from the Co op Instead of a wedding cake, the happy couples' friends made pies!
Here we are in our 1920s costumes. It was so much fun to dress up!

Farewell to Summer...

2010-08-01T21:28:00.010-06:00

Outdoor Tea Parties & Fashion Shows

Trampoline + Sprinkler = Giggles!

Wonderful memories with Grands and Great-Grands

Adventures on the Palouse

“How sweet I roamed from field to field, and tasted all the summer's pride.”
~William Blake~

Entrapment--GREAT parenting article

2010-07-31T16:25:00.003-06:00

I found this really thought provoking blog post on Dare to Disciple about entrapment, how as parents we often set up an adversarial relationship with our kids (assuming they will do wrong and trapping them in that "wrong" act). I love this grace-filled perspective and advice for really listening to our kids and teaching them a better way through our own thoughtful actions and words. Particularly in context of Noelle's unique emotional needs, I'm always looking for ways to improve my parenting skills and found this to be helpful.

Beneath the Terebinth Tree

2010-06-23T15:20:00.003-06:00

As our women's bible study group went through the story of Sarah in Genesis, I was struck by the words "Terebinth tree". It sounded like something mysterious and beautiful and I wondered if it had any significance to the story.

The Terebinth was an unusually tall oak-like tree that stood out in the landscape of Palestine, even used as landmarks for travelers. They are long-living and majestic in appearance, often used as a symbol of strength and durability. It was also a source of turpentine tapped from the trunk, for commercial and medicinal use.

Perhaps with all that Sarah had been through, all of the waiting, traveling and trials, the Terebinth near their campsite in Mamre was a comfort to her. Perhaps reminding her of God's strength and provision.

This is my imagining of that moment:

Beneath the Terebinth Tree

From dusty tent Sarai, head down,
walks slowly, seeking peace.
Touching bark reverently, gazing up
through branches broad, stretching heavenward.
Majestic, full of grace,
the tree is strong and steadfast as the Lord.

Thoughts roam back, find well-worn paths:
Even good men make foolish mistakes;
strength and youth of men fade away.
The tree endures, with powerful limbs protecting,
providing shelter.
What comfort to a woman travel weary, disillusioned.
Struggling, bitter against husband
whose dreams she follows,
endlessly.

Waiting for prophecy fulfilling
and aching to cease.
The tree is a soothing balm
for soul worn out, no tears
remaining.
Regretful of rash decision,
jealous of another quickly blessed.
Heart sick from hope deferred.

Dare she believe?
Empty womb, alive and bearing
longed for son.
Sarah laughs, embarrassed and afraid.
God has heard, remembered, is faithful.
He speaks:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Child of laughter arriving,
borne of promises and joy.

6/22/10

Berry Picking Bliss

2010-06-18T13:50:00.006-06:00

We took a trip to the Berry Ranch yesterday and enjoyed a hayride and all the berries we could handle! Many of the berries will be divided up for delivery to our CSA customers. It's our first delivery of the season with so much leafy green goodness to enjoy: kale, head lettuce, rainbow swiss chard, spinach, turnips, and radishes!

Another Great Kitten Rescue

2010-06-16T12:43:00.003-06:00

We don't need anymore cats, we don't need anymore cats, we don't need anymore cats...

Oh! Excuse me, just reciting my mantra for the week...

Yes we have rescued three more kittens who seem to have lost their mommy.

We'll try to give them away (any takers?) or get them fixed and make them our rough, tough, mouse-wrangling barn cats.

That is if Zach will allow it. He looooves the kitties. Especially the grey one he named Hot Rod. He plays, sings and dances with the kitties by the hour. Poor things. There is such a thing as too much love, I think.

We tentatively named the other two Peaches and Tiger.

Oh and news update on our Christmas kitty... ummm, gender mix-up, not a girl. Also no longer named Libby Cutie. He shall henceforth be named Mario. After Mario Kart Wii, that is.

Fresh

2010-06-15T20:28:00.004-06:00

I have to brag a moment about the fruits of my labor!

Just imagine fresh picked cilantro in Vietnamese spring rolls.

Think spinach and mushrooms sauteed with basil & oregano (along with fresh ground pepper and a sprinkling of kosher salt).

Is your mouth watering yet?

Go ahead, try it! Plant that herb garden, even if you only have room on your windowsill.

Daisy Chain- Book Review

2010-06-13T19:27:00.002-06:00

I recently reviewed the book Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth, on the Calvary Chapel Boise Women's Ministry website. If you're looking for summer reading check out the review here!

Kitchen Garden

2010-06-11T23:02:00.004-06:00

This project brought joy to my heart! I love the perfect blend of beauty and functionality.

Now I can just walk right outside the door and pick some basil and oregano for spaghetti sauce.

Or sit a moment on our rustic bench and gaze at the mountains while enjoying the aroma of mint and lemon thyme.

Attitude Adjustment

2010-06-10T19:21:00.006-06:00

I've been a little bit grumpy about farming this year.

More than a little.

May I whine for a moment?

I haven't felt like: getting dirty or sweaty; dealing with watery, sneezy allergies; trudging back up the field to retrieve the 100th thing my kids need or that I forgot.

I have wanted to do exactly as I please... read, write, watch movies, download itunes, in short, enjoy MY summer in MY way!

Hmmmm, where in all of this did I forget that life is not all about me?

I have a great husband who is working very hard and needs my help with our huge farm. Didn't we dream together of country life and sustainable living?

I have two awesome kids who just want to be WITH me, talk to me, "help" me all the time. Isn't this what I yearned for during those long years of infertility?

Yes, I worked hard during the school year. Yes, it was stressful. Yes, I need a break.

But most of all I need a break from me. Jesus poured all of himself out for me. Can I not do even half so much for those dearest to me? I am encouraged to serve, to love, to give. I need not grasp and hang on to my time so tightly. He will give me more than I need.

April is National Poetry Month

2010-04-16T09:05:00.004-06:00

Here's my offering of the week:

Sky kissed
blossoms of white.
Gently swaying,
love notes from
Springtime.

The Snow Crab apple trees outside my school are in full bloom and brought a smile to my face as I left yesterday. So I sat in my car and wrote this poem. I think the poetry powers-that-be deliberately chose springtime for national poetry month. It's easy to be inspired when the world is in bloom.

Life is what we make it...

2010-04-16T08:52:00.004-06:00

What do I have to complain about? This young man transformed his disabilities into abilities. Get ready to be inspired.

(Pause playlist at the bottom of the page)

Switchfoot- Hello Hurricane

2010-04-12T22:45:00.001-06:00

I am loving Switchfoot's latest CD Hello Hurricane. I have long been a fan but this is truly their best music to date. I can't say there is a song that I dislike on the entire album, which is rare for any band! Switchfoot has always been lyrically varied and spiritually deep but this time their musical creativity matches up. From 60's psychedelic influence on "Mess of Me", to tender God lullaby "Always", and U2 inspired guitar and vocals on the title track, this is one not to miss!

What to do when you don't want to get out of bed--by Ann Voskamp

2010-04-11T23:28:00.004-06:00

If you are feeling this way, like I have for the past week or so, go to the Holy Experience blog and read this post. She has a way of putting things into beautiful, meaningful perspective. It's truly a gift and it's what I needed today.

Poetry Links

2010-04-10T22:55:00.004-06:00

Get inspired! Here are some links...

Why Poetry?

Sermon notes in poetry form

Poetry resource (history, famous poets, current American poetry)

My one and only attempt to share a poem with you dear readers...
perhaps there is more to come.

Did you know?

2010-04-06T19:00:00.000-06:00

That April is National Poetry Month?

Would you like to join me in writing new poetry or dusting off your old poetry? Or share how poetry has helped you express the joy, pain and beauty of life?

Drop me a comment or link to your blog! I'd love to discover some new poets out there!

Easter

2010-04-05T21:40:00.003-06:00

Book Review: The Measure of a Lady

2010-04-03T00:47:00.002-06:00

Take a peek at my latest book review on CC Boise Women's ministry website! And by all means read the book too! It's a good one!

Spring "Break"

2010-03-31T20:46:00.002-06:00

I'm trying desperately to think about green and growing things, life things, the precious gifts lovingly bestowed upon me. To be content and not despair of my ever expanding to do list...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

High Flying Adventures

2010-03-21T20:56:00.004-06:00

We're thinking spring here at Hilty Farm! Bring on the kite flying weather!

Happenings

2010-03-20T21:17:00.005-06:00

Life is busy but good...

Birthday Party for a sweet 7 year old

Guess who's the life of the party?

So cute how her friend is trying to blow out the candles too!

Couldn't resist this photo! So funny and sweet!

Big guy had indoor soccer. He LOVED it while I was a wee bit ambivalent about the whole soccer mom scene. Then a few weeks later we bought our first minivan. There must be a direct correlation...

Just plain ol' fun with friends. Poor Zach, he needs more dudes to hang out with! Not that he's complaining!

Best Friends!

New Friends

Zach-isms

2010-02-25T21:41:00.004-07:00

I am often amused by the quirky antics and larger than life personality of my 4 year old. Though his "more is better" philosophy of life frequently gets him in trouble (as in "more" noise, "more" bugging his sister, "more" of whatever he shouldn't be doing), he is always good for a laugh. Here are a few of his latest...

Today, while running around the living room:
"Mom, look at me! I'm a Olympics! I'm Olympicsing!".

A few days ago I found him working on an elaborate set of line drawings paired with pretend writing. When I asked him what it was he condescendingly replied,
"It's a video game instruction manual, of course".

While we were test driving a car, he said quite seriously,
"This is a sweet ride guys! This baby can really go!"
I honestly have no idea where he heard either of those expressions! I could not stop laughing.

Sweet Sadness

2010-02-21T20:38:00.004-07:00

Talking about Noelle's birth mom is nothing new for us. We pray for her nearly every night. I've told and retold the story of all that we know and guessed at what we don't.

Questions remain.

What did she look like? Why did she leave me? Will I ever see her again?

Wishing I had the answers I hug and pray and say,
"She must have been beautiful because you are."
"She must miss you every day, I would."
"We may never know who she is and it's okay to feel sad."

A few nights ago watching pairs figure skating. Noelle runs to me, jumps in my lap, hiding her sad face on my shoulder.

"Mommy, does my birth mom look like her? I miss her, I'm sad."

Tears flow, both mine and hers. I'm sad but intensely grateful. This from the little girl who screamed and raged her feelings just a few short years ago. Now using words to express the pain. Now telling me without prompting, freely sharing her heart. To be her forever mom, to watch her grow up is the greatest privilege. I wish I could share this joy with the mom who gave her life.

Cardiologist Visit

2010-02-19T12:40:00.002-07:00

Good news! Noelle's heart looked great on her echo Wednesday! There's some minor leakage around the valve but nothing to worry about. The stent looks fine too. As Noelle grows over the next few years she will need to go back to the cath lab to have her stent dilated. For now though, it's all good!
I'm so thankful for our strong and healthy girl. She's such a fighter!

Creativity—we must express

2010-02-11T21:22:00.004-07:00

If you have never read Ann Voskamp's blog, Holy Experience, you really should. She is a poet, a life artist and she inspires me like no one has in a long, long time. Read this beautiful post to reawaken the artist within...

Book Review

2010-02-10T21:37:00.003-07:00

I am excited to share that Calvary Boise Women's Ministry is featuring a book review written by yours truly! I felt so honored to have the opportunity to do this and I hope to write more! The book is Gods & Kings by Lynn Austin. I enjoyed reading it and loved the challenge of writing about it.
Check it out here: http://www.ccboisewomen.org/book_review-current.aspx

Year of the Tiger

2010-02-07T16:13:00.007-07:00

We had a great time at the IFCA Lunar New Year celebration last night. There were lots of fun crafts, we ate yummy Panda Express food and watched an awesome martial
arts demonstration. We also enjoyed the lion dance (although the drums were really loud which set off some of Noelle's anxiety and sensory issues) and the kids popped bubble wrap (aka firecrackers) during the dragon parade. They were absolutely worn out today! We decided to stay home to recuperate especially since they are still getting over a cold.

Happy Chinese New Year! Xīn nián kuài lè!

Two Lisa Leonard Designs Giveaways

2010-01-07T21:14:00.005-07:00

My favorite jewelry designer is having a giveaway on her blog as well as the Walk Slowly Live Wildly blog. Leave a comment for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate or postcards, photography book and...

this necklace

Last year Joel bought my favorite Lisa Leonard necklace "Be Still". I love to wear it!

Right Brain or Left Brain, Which One Do You Prefer?

2010-01-05T22:25:00.006-07:00

I have a mini-obsession with online quizzes, especially if they can tell me something about myself like personality traits and spiritual gifts. So here's another good one, a creativity test that helps you discover if you are more of a right brain or left brain thinker. I figured I was heavy on the left brain side but was pleasantly surprised that I have more right brain characteristics than I realized. It gives me hope that there is some measure of creativity in me after all!

Btw, I found the link to this quiz through my friend Tonni's blog. She has a really funny post on how random and right brained her children are. I could totally relate! My kids, especially Zach, are very creative and very messy!

In case you are wondering...

2010-01-05T21:27:00.006-07:00

...we are fairly certain that our cat is a girl so we have agreed upon a name!

Introducing Libby Cutie!

Joel surprisingly came up with Libby, considering all of his obnoxious entries prior to the winning idea. This was one of the names that I vetoed when I was pregnant but now sounds perfect for this little fur ball. Cutie was our concession to Zach who reallllly wanted that name and wouldn't stop whiiiiiiining until we caved. You gotta pick your battles! Thankfully Noelle was content with the choice of Libby or it might have gotten a little out of hand! Could you imagine calling, "Here kitty, kitty! Here Libby Cutie Butterfly Sparkles!"

Let it Snow!

2009-12-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yay, it finally snowed! We played to the background music of giggles and squeals and calls of "I got you!" and "Ha ha, you missed me!". And to think I was going to stay inside and enjoy some quiet, "me time". What I would have missed!

Life from a Four Year Old's Perspective

2009-12-30T15:45:00.005-07:00

A few days before Christmas I let Zach get snap happy with my camera. This is life in our house through his eyes:

Dad and Noelle's Mario Kart Wii tournament

Our Nativity Set

His Really Really Big Present!

His messy room.

His mommy knitting desperately to get done in time for Christmas.

His quickly growing feet.

Self-portrait

His charming personality. ;o)

The Christmas Kitten

2009-12-29T21:53:00.009-07:00

Those of you who know us well may be surprised that we have acquired our very own Christmas kitten (well, day-after-Christmas-kitten, close enough). We were surprised too by our forlorn, shivering and very skinny visitor. Such a pathetic little creature as this was bound to find a place in our hearts despite Joel's quite vocal opinions about cats. To be fair, I have not been much of a cat person myself in recent years but this little one captured my heart and I knew with absolute certainty that if I did not bring it inside immediately it was going to die. If not from starvation or the freezing cold, then from the coyotes who have been frequenting the area. After my mom and I attempted to grab the cat it ran and crammed itself into the corner of our trash can enclosure. I ran inside to ask Joel (my hero) to help me get the poor thing out and the rest is history!

Our last cat, Coal, lost his place in our family when in a completely overwhelming period of my life I made the declaration, "If one more living creature demands something from me or causes me to clean up another bodily fluid I am going postal!!! Someone has to go!". I gave Joel the ultimatum, either the dog or the cat must go, so, the cat went. Now before I get hate mail from the cat people out there, I would like to explain that Coal was sent to live with my brother who is the ultimate and most awesome of animal lovers! He could appreciate every nuance of Coal's quirky (to put it mildly) behavior. When my brother had to move, Coal was granted a temporary home with my parents and has quite happily lived there ever since. I was wonderfully granted some measure of peace. In my defense, at that time I had become the mother of a 2 year old and a new born and gone through our 2 year old daughter's open heart surgery within the space of three months. Pets were very low on my priority list.

Anyway, fast-forward to December 26th, 2009. I was in a much better place to take on another cat. In fact, with my children growing up before my very eyes, I am enjoying the chance to nurture another "baby" (he/she--we still have not made a positive identification of the furry nether regions-- is approximately 8 weeks old). Of course the kids are over the moon about our new kitty and there was much celebration when none of our neighbors claimed him/her. So our last few days have been filled with they joys of litter box training, cat/dog/kid introductions and lots of scratches on my hands, ouch! We are trying to come up with names for the cat now. Zach wants to call it Cutie, Noelle wants Butterfly or Sparkles, and I am partial to Socks. Joel's name ideas shall not be mentioned, this is a family friendly blog after all.

I am open to suggestions... any brilliant ideas out there?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T19:36:00.002-07:00

New (to us) Piano

2009-12-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Recently my MIL generously bought us a piano on Craig's List! She is a piano teacher so she had the expertise to know a good deal when she saw one! We are so thankful and I am looking forward to years of making music in our home.
Joel claims to be forever mentally scarred from being forced to listen to his mom's students play piano all day, every day (poor baby!) but I feel so blessed to be able to provide this opportunity for my own children. I was able to take piano lessons for only a few months as a child and then because of my family's financial difficulties and a move to a new town, I was not able to take lessons again. My eight year old little heart was terribly sad but I tried not to let on since things were so hard for my parents already. I know that they both worked very hard to provide a home and our basic necessities and I am grateful for that. My childhood experiences make the addition of this piano to our home that much sweeter! What a joy it is to know that our children will have a chance to learn music at such a young age.

Ahhhh, Christmas Vacation

2009-12-22T23:05:00.002-07:00

Settling in for a long winter's nap.

It doesn't get much better than this! Joel is baking his famous bread and watching his beloved Cougs play basketball, I'm knitting a new project and the kids are fast asleep after snuggles, Christmas stories and carols. I love nothing more than being home with my family. I feel grateful and content. We are blessed.

It's Cold Out on the Farm!

2009-12-08T18:53:00.004-07:00

Oh, the weather outside is frightful! Really! It has only been getting up to the 20s during the day and in the single digits at night. Brrrrr. Unfortunately we still have the same heating situation as last year. Our system switches to "auxiliary heat" when it gets below 36 degrees or so and that extra heat source is the expensive oil tank that we decided not to fill this year. So we are operating with space heaters and a nice infrared heater that Joel's mom helped us buy. Even with all that we have to live with the fact that this is a drafty, old farmhouse! Our choice, I know, but the realization doesn't make it any warmer! ;0)
I'm looking forward to a balmy 40 degrees on Saturday!

New Moon Mania

2009-11-21T22:03:00.003-07:00

Matinee movie ticket... $7.00.
Popcorn & licorice... $0.00 (mooched off my friends).
Hearing the collective female intake of breath upon the shirtless state of a certain werewolf...
PRICELESS!

Loved the movie and was NOT disappointed! ;0)

I couldn't be more excited!

2009-11-17T20:54:00.004-07:00

It's silly really, but I cannot wait to see New Moon with my best pal and her mom this Saturday! What a great way to reward myself after a really stressful and busy week at work!

What's even sillier is how many times I have now read the entire Twilight series. I think it's too embarrassing to admit! Then you will all know that I really don't have a life!

So, what are you looking forward to this week?

Artisan Bread

2009-11-08T13:46:00.007-07:00

A couple of years ago Joel found a fantastic recipe for artisan bread in Mother Earth News magazine. I don't know about you but I'm a bread lover and it doesn't get much better than a piping hot loaf of crusty goodness! Fortunately, I have this great husband who loves to bake bread since I am baking impaired (well, to be truthful, I don't really apply myself to baking; too much mess to deal with).
I'm also not a good "how to" blogger so I'll give you a little visual tour of the process and then you can check out the specifics here!

The ingredients are pretty basic.

You let the dough rise in dutch ovens with plastic wrap on them for at least 8 hours, preferably 12 hours until it's all sticky and bubbly on top.

Dust with flour, cover with towel and let rise 1-2 hours. NO kneading required!

Cover and bake.

Mmmmm... go ahead, you know what to do next!

R U Ready to ROCK!!!!

2009-11-06T16:46:00.007-07:00

We went to the Skillet concert for Joel's birthday and they were amazing. Skillet puts on such a good show! Inspiring, passionate music that freakin' ROCKS! The only downside was putting up with the obnoxious moshers on the floor. Perhaps I'm a bit too old for the mosh pit you say? Nah, it was totally worth it to get up close!

And thanks to our dear friend Becky, we had an awesome, kid-free date night!

Because we are super special (and paid lots of extra money) we earned the dubious title of "VIP" and as such were herded like cattle onto the floor to participate in the Q&A session. Interesting, but hardly worth the extra cash, not to mention the 45 minute loooong wait outside in the cold. I felt a bit like a NSVIP (not so very important person)! Joel and Zach actually got some face time with the band on Friday morning at a meet n' greet at the Red Letter Book and Cafe. Zach got a t-shirt signed by the band and Joel said they were quite impressed with Z's curly locks. I just asked Z what he liked most about meeting Skillet and after a thoughtful pause, his response was, "They gave me a high-five!".
This girl was an incredible drummer!
And this guy rocked the violin!
Who are these crazed Skillet fans???? Our friends, Rhonda & Rob! Rob is a maniac when it comes to getting the best seat in the house! They were right up front and center against the rail. You crazy kids! Thanks for all the great pictures guys!

Here's a little taste of what's cookin' in the Skillet!

Catching up on fall...

2009-11-02T10:01:00.005-07:00

I'm a bit behind on my family updates! We've had a lot of fun!

Squash Harvest

Corn Maze (See our fearless leaders! I of course was hopelessly lost!)

Happy Halloween!

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye!

When we went costume shopping Noelle told me "I'm so tired of fairies and princesses! Can I have a transformers costume like Zach?". How could I say no? ;0) She was so proud of her tough girl costume!

Zach's preschool party! I was so glad to be able to get away from work for a few minutes to surprise Zach at his party. Here he is telling his beloved Miss Robin about his costume!

Preschool Pumpkin Patch (still fun even though he has dozens of pumpkins at home!).

Our fun trick or treating group in the Quinn's neighborhood. We had a great time!

And last, but certainly not least... we had an Elvis sighting! He was a bit shorter than expected.

My New Best Friend

2009-10-12T21:19:00.005-06:00

In the kitchen at least! Look at this beauty!

When my garlic press (that I hated using) died, I bought this handy looking garlic chopper at Target for $9.99 (same price as a press). I think it might be my best kitchen purchase EVER! It is so easy to use and my fingers don't get all stinky! This is good news around here because we loooove us some garlic.

Just thought I'd share. Because I'm nice like that. ;o)

Pumpkin Time

2009-10-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite holiday activities is carving pumpkins with the kids! It makes me feel like a kid again too!

Hmmm, I wonder which pumkin belongs to which child? Pretty tough to guess. ;o)

Scoopin' goop.
We've been slimed!

Now that's what I call pumpkin carving! Bring on the power tools!

BOO!

The Couch

2009-10-11T19:38:00.005-06:00

Goodbye lumpy old couch... we've had some good times, but it's time to go.

Hellooooo you comfy little piece of heaven!

We've Been Overrun

2009-09-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've had it!

Not one more living creature from the great outdoors is allowed in MY house!

I don't care if we live in the country now.

I don't care if our old partially remodeled home has more holes, nooks and crannies than I can find.

This is it.

All of you spiders, flies, moths, mosquitoes, frogs, and mice are put on notice effective immediately.

Stay out or else.

How's that for tough talk?

Life After the Flu

2009-09-26T18:23:00.003-06:00

I'm alive and I feel human again!

Just thought I'd share a few tips for things to do when you're stuck in bed for 3 days straight:

-Read Eragon (great book!) if you're a geeky bookworm like me.
-Watch endless reruns on Hulu.com.
-Sleeeeeeeeeeep.
-Wish that the flu shot had been available BEFORE I got the flu.

Exciting huh?

Things to do after the flu:

-Clean the house like a crazy woman.
-Wish I could go back to bed and get away from the children.
-Buy a new couch! It's been 10 years and I'm more than happy to say buh bye hard, lumpy futon and helloooo soft, comfy new couch with lots of new pillows!

Here we go again

2009-09-21T08:57:00.002-06:00

Noelle came into our room at 2:30 this morning and threw up all over our floor! Ewwww!

Just when I thought we were safe.

I REALLY hope I don't get it. I already have the cold that they so generously passed on to me!

Notes from the Puke Bowl

2009-09-19T11:40:00.005-06:00

We ended a fun evening, watching flag football and playing at the park, with Zach throwing up on the street in front of our friends' house! Puke bowl in hand, we made the 30 minute trek home. I have to say that my son has an amazing talent for throwing up IN the bowl every time! It's his special gift to me.

After a long night I believe Zach is on the mend as he is back to building forts and running around like the wild man he is!

Now we wait to see who's next.

Is it vain to hope the rest of us will escape?

1000 Gifts--The Thankfulness Experiment

2009-09-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

To see what else I'm thankful for start here. Want to be part of the Gratitude Community?

I am thankful for:

11. friends so comfortable they feel like family.

12. my books.

13. access to clean drinking water. So many people don't; see how you can help.

14. a bountiful garden.

15. my daughter's teacher.

16. God, who understands me completely and loves me still.

17. the sound of my daughter's "ticking" heart.

18. homemade playdough that keeps little hands busy.

19. the pure joy of running.

20. this song:

(remember to pause the playlist at the bottom of the page)

Pico de Gallo anyone?

2009-09-06T12:00:00.001-06:00

Yummmmm...

...and so easy! Just dice tomatoes (we had yellow and red), onions, peppers, and cilantro then add a dash of garlic powder and course ground salt. I wish I'd had a lime; it would have been even better! We enjoyed this with organic blue corn tortilla chips.

Just beware that you will be bad breath central. Have your breath mints handy at work the next day!

First Day of School

2009-09-05T12:00:00.002-06:00

Here's my big first grader! It's been a rough week; lots of tears from separation anxiety and some behaviors at home that we haven't seen for a while. Plus the poor kid is just tired and trying to get well. We decided it would be best for Noelle if we shortened the week, so she did not go to school Friday and only did a half day on Monday.

I was able to spend time with Noelle in class when I volunteered Monday morning. Her teacher is wonderful and she runs a very quiet, peaceful and organized classroom. This is perfect for Noelle given her sensory issues with loud noises. She liked having lunch at school the first day but she cried in the lunchroom yesterday because it was too loud for her. I'm going to try to find some child size earplugs for her. Another cool thing about Noelle's teacher is that she had open heart surgery when she was a baby and that has been a source of comfort and helped her have an immediate connection.

Noelle is getting stronger and plays harder every day. She's an amazingly tough kid.

Little bro had to get in on the action! He starts preschool next week and is SO excited.
They loved the mini pumpkins at their feet.

Birthday Boy

2009-09-04T15:59:00.008-06:00

Here's by birthday boy! I can't believe he is four years old.

He asked for a Monsters vs. Aliens/Batman birthday party. I aim to please.

Boy behaving badly!

He is not happy with mom right here. He wants to eat cake and eat it now. Four year olds excel at patience you know.

Our boy through the years:

I can hardly believe how fast he is growing up. I'm going to turn around and he'll be asking me for my car keys.

BIRTHday. Sweet little man, so new. So longed for and finally here. Such a beautiful, peaceful day we had welcoming him into the world. I'll never forget.

1st birthday! Poor guy had a double ear infection and a big bruise on his forehead but did he ever enjoy that cupcake! 2nd birthday! Chocolate, yum.
3rd Birthday... maybe you can tell by the three chubby little fingers so carefully held up!

4th birthday! I'm loving this massively cheesy grin. He is so full of it! Reminds me of someone else I know... hmmm, who could that be?

He's my sunshine boy. My creative and silly man child. My little punk with the hot temper. He's daddy's boy, he torments his sister but loves her to pieces, he still wants to give me "the biggest hug, mama!".

Happy birthday big boy.

Can I still win mom of the year...

2009-09-01T21:52:00.004-06:00

...if I forget to pick up my daughter at school?

Better luck next year, you think?

In my defense, I was really busy at work and distracted and forgetful and... yeah, those excuses didn't work on Noelle either as she stared at me reproachfully and said, "Mom, you forgot me didn't you?".

On a more positive note, after a tearful farewell this morning Noelle did end up having a good full day of 1st grade. Her favorite part? Lunch. Her least favorite? Not getting to play at recess yet. That's my girl!

1000 Gifts--The Thankfulness Experiment

2009-08-31T06:00:00.002-06:00

I am so excited to begin my own list of One Thousand Gifts along with the Gratitude Community at the Holy Experience blog!

So many times over the years I have whined and complained and completely taken for granted the beautiful gift that my life is. Never have I realized that more than during the last few weeks. Noelle's surgeries and recovery have produced in me an intense appreciation for God's love for me and the way he has blessed me with the people, places and things in my life.

I look forward to more joy in my life, simply because I am looking for it.

I thought it would be easiest to start with the first ten things that come to mind. I am thankful for...

1. hugs and kisses from sticky little hands and faces.

2. kindred spirits in the workplace.

3. friendship with my husband.

4. air conditioning.

5. celebrating 4 years of my son's life.

6. eager friends picking veggies and weeding our huge garden!

7. confident and capable surgeons.

8. good neighbors.

9. my laptop.

10. This song:

(Remember to pause the playlist at the bottom of this page)

I am the champion...

2009-08-28T17:07:00.003-06:00

...according to my 4 year old son. He gave me an improvised champion trophy (a toy train station building) after I won 3 out of 4 Hotwheels car races this afternoon!

Little boys are so fun!

Settling In

2009-08-22T13:02:00.005-06:00

How glad I am that the most exciting things happening to us right now are watching a new batch of barn kittens, going school shopping and relaxing with dear friends. I'm ready to be drama free for a while!

We are adjusting to the new normal of Noelle's healing process and the lifestyle changes that her medication requires. Noelle will need blood tests twice a week to see if the dose of coumadin (blood thinner) she is taking is at the right level. Eventually she will only need to be checked once or twice per month. It is about a 35 minute drive to the anti coagulation (hematology) clinic so it will be nice when we don't have to go as often.

We also have to make diet changes for Noelle. Well, to be more precise, we need to provide a more consistent diet. There are some foods(all the green veggies, which contain vitamin K)that she needs to eat the same amount of everyday or it will decrease the effectiveness of her medication. There are also foods, medications and supplements that are best to avoid such as soy, mangoes, vitamin E and garlic supplements as they can increase the effects of coumadin. The anti coag clinic's philosophy is to live your life and they will help adjust your dosage so you can live your life. Basically, anytime there is a change in diet or Noelle gets sick and needs antibiotics, etc., we need to be on the phone with them.

Yeah, it's a bit daunting.

I am not very good at meal planning and tend to fly by the seat of my pants more than I should; I guess it's time to make a change!

We also need to be careful about Noelle's physical activity for the next 6 weeks to give her sternum a chance to heal. So no PE, recess, bike riding, swinging, cartwheels; bottom line, all the fun stuff that our active girl loves to do is out for a while. Bummer!

Where does your food come from?

2009-08-18T21:51:00.003-06:00

Check out this great post from Nature Mom's blog. She put into words better than I could the many reasons to be intentional about your food choices.

p.s., It's so nice to post about something besides hospital stuff. We're doing great tonight. Noelle and I took a walk up the street from RMH to this fabulous little store called the Metropolitan Market. A bit spendy but such a treat for the senses. Much of their produce is out front in little umbrella covered carts and the entryway is lined with cut flowers. Not to mention their incredible deli! Sweet Noelle stopped to smell the flowers and admire the colors and shapes of the fresh fruits and veggies. I love that kid!

Freedom!

2009-08-18T10:21:00.004-06:00

WOW! We are getting discharged later today! Noelle's anticoagulation level is really close to the goal so they feel comfortable letting us go with daily outpatient blood draws to continue to check her levels. Hopefully we can get plane tickets for tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime we will stay at the Ronald McDonald house.

So, to sum up, Noelle will go home on blood pressure, anticoagulation and pain meds. We will also need daily blood draws for a while at a local anticoag clinic (about a 30 minute drive for us).

I am so excited and hyper that I don't even need coffee this morning! That's saying a lot!

Now I just feel silly about last night! Oh well.

Btw, for those of you following on facebook, here's a pic of the famous, much longed for PINK BALLOON!!

Not wallowing anymore

2009-08-18T01:05:00.003-06:00

Noelle woke up a little while ago feelin' pretty good from her last dose of pain meds. So we're having a midnight slumber party watching Bedtime Stories, eating potato chips and giggling like crazy.

Okay, I'm still missing the boys but this sure takes the edge off.

Apart

2009-08-17T21:34:00.005-06:00

I just said goodbye to my two favorite guys in the world and now I'm crying for the first time this whole stinkin' week. I've never been good at being apart from Joel and saying goodbye to Zach too is almost too much. I feel cut in half. I know we will see them in a few days but it doesn't stop me or Noelle from being the two saddest chicks on the 4th floor.

I think we'll drown our sorrows with popsicles and lemonade and watch a Barbie movie.

The Best and the Worst

2009-08-17T08:00:00.002-06:00

The WORST:

-hearing my own "worst case scenario" come to life -- my daughter needs a valve replacement NOW, not years down the road; that she was, in the doctor's words, a ticking time bomb over the past year.

-watching them take her away, feeling my empty hands.

-visualizing what a heart-lung bypass must look like on MY daughter.

-walking to meet the surgeon, hand in hand with my best friend, holding our breath, hoping beyond hope, also fearing the worst.

-sleepless nights and the inability to provide comfort to a sad and restless little girl.

-witnessing the open wound of grief.

-seeing babies hover between life and death.

-weariness.

The BEST:

-feeling hundreds of prayers lifting us up, bringing God's peace.

-hearing the best possible news, hugging my best friend, telling each other she's really okay.

-forging instant friendships in the strangest and most difficult of circumstances.

-reconnecting with old friends.

-knowing how much we are loved by our families.

-cuddles and snuggles and lots of I love yous from the two greatest kids on the planet.

-enjoying the rain washed air, lush greenery and delicious food of Seattle.

-celebrating the removal of each tube and wire.

-knowing that God is making me into a much more loving and much less selfish mommy.

Blog Discovery

2009-08-16T22:17:00.002-06:00

If you need a little (or a lot) of peace, poetry and beauty then spend some time at the Holy Experience. I was temporarily transported to another place. One without beeping monitors, incisions, tubes or pain meds.

Goodbye ICU!

2009-08-16T15:08:00.006-06:00

After a wonderful morning snuggling with my little girl, we got to move to a cushy private room on the peds floor! I am so excited to take one step closer to home. Noelle is sleeping peacefully right now in this sunny room with a beautiful view.

Goodbye to the ICU! She gave us a little half smile for the occasion.
A room with a view!

If you think about it, could you pray for a grieving family? As I walked out to the ICU waiting area to call Joel with the happy news of our move, I passed a family grieving the news of their lost little one. Their pain was so raw. It was heartbreaking to witness. It could so easily have been us a few days ago. I am thankful for more time with our sweet girl but have a fresh awareness of how fragile life is. I am praying that this family would somehow be aware of God's loving presence and peace in their darkest hour.

Making Progress

2009-08-15T23:26:00.003-06:00

I got to watch Noelle's chest tubes come out tonight which was very interesting and a little bloody (I'm glad it was me and not Joel, he hates that kind of stuff). Noelle was given some good pain meds before they did it but as usual she fought against it and wanted to watch what they were doing to her. It did hurt a little bit but she was so brave. Her catheter is out too and now she is sleeping peacefully with her daddy watching over her in the ICU. I am fairly certain that she will be moved to the peds floor tomorrow.

I am about to enjoy a blissful night's sleep at RMH curled up next to my little boy.

***I have to give props to my hubby! He watched the nurses take out two of her IV lines this morning (sunday)! Nice work! ;o)

Long Night

2009-08-15T13:29:00.003-06:00

It was a long night with my poor, cranky little girl. She just couldn't get comfy for long and sleep eluded both of us. It really bugs her that she can't get out of bed, can't get up to go potty, can't take out all the tubes and wires, and can't play with her friends!

I'm so tired today but really enjoying some quality time with my little Zman at RMH. We got to play outside, eat snacks and watch videos. Good normal stuff! Feels good.

I haven't had chance to ask Joel how rounds went this morning so I'm not sure what the official plan for the day is. Hopefully Noelle will be moved to the peds floor if they can just get her weaned off drip blood pressure meds and regulate the blood thinner.

Singing Praises for Mya!

2009-08-14T18:20:00.002-06:00

Sweet little Mya is doing very well after her surgery today! See her update on her mommy's blog here.

Pictures

2009-08-14T17:12:00.005-06:00

8/11/09 Day before surgery at Ronald McDonald House8/12/09 Day of Noelle's surgery (aortic valve replacement and Konno procedure). This is where we waited for the anesthesiologist before they took her back. The location of the infamous Versed spitting incident!
Listening to the iPod helped Noelle feel calmer and she could tune out all of the doctors.

Zman fell asleep (eating his "Cheetas" as he calls them) while waiting for his big sis to get out of surgery.

Post-surgery in the ICU. She has her breathing tube in, 3 IVs, 3 chest tubes, pacer wires, and a partridge in a pear tree! ;0)
8/14/09 Friday- Nap time after getting her ventricular pacer wires out. It was a little ouchy but she did great.

Having a Good Day

2009-08-14T14:27:00.005-06:00

My Noelle girl is napping peacefully right now after a good morning. She has been much less agitated and more comfortable so far. She even asked to play with toys (although she fell asleep before we could bring them to her). She has also been eating and drinking a little bit.

Today's plan is to wean Noelle off the drip blood pressure meds and onto an oral one. She had one blood pressure pill this morning with her yogurt and it seemed to be helping. As soon as they get her off the drip then she can go down to the peds floor, possibly tonight although tomorrow morning is more likely. They won't be taking out her chest tubes today because she needs to drain more. Her catheter may come out later today. Heart rate and temperature are great today! We just have to get that blood pressure under control!

Each thing they pull out or take off of her is cause for celebration in my book! It is so good to see her looking more like herself.

Uncle Beau and Jessa are taking care of Zach today so we don't have to worry about keeping him busy. I miss him so much though! Yesterday he had a blast at the Woodland Park Zoo with grandparents, cousins and Aunt Genia. Our family has been so awesome, supportive and truly helpful! We are so blessed. Auntie Anna and Uncle Matt stopped by too! Most of the fam is leaving today so I'm praying for safe travel for them all!

My Determined Girl

2009-08-14T14:05:00.001-06:00

Anyone who knows Noelle can tell you about her determined personality. She loves to be in charge and she wants to know about everything and everyone around her!

Here are some nuggets of Noelle from yesterday:

After she came out of sedation and her breathing tube was out she asked me if her heart was still open. When I told her no then she yanked up her gown and said "I want to see it now! I want to see the scar! I want to see the tubes!!!".

She often asks me "How many IVs do I have? Where are all of them? What are they for?".

She knows who she wants too! Yesterday she said "I want my daddy RIGHT NOW!" followed by a very impatient, "and where are all my grandparents?".

Ha ha, that's my girl! She's in better spirits today. We aren't hearing the words "right now" following every statement anymore.

Breathing tube is out!

2009-08-13T14:43:00.002-06:00

Noelle was extubated about 20 minutes ago and she was SO happy to get that thing out of her! When the doctor asked her if she wanted to get her breathing tube out Noelle gave her a huge smile and nodded her head.

Now that she is able to talk she keeps asking us "Did I have my surgery yet?" and when we tell her yes then she smiles and says "Yay!". She's pretty frustrated though and wants to get out of bed. She was upset that she can't walk yet.

She had a good night but today they are having some difficulty keeping her blood pressure and heart rate down. She also has a bit of a high temperature but hopefully the tylenol will kick in soon.

Joel and I are tired but doing well overall. Zach has been busy having fun with grandparents, his aunt and cousins. They all went to the zoo this morning. I miss my little Zman, though I know he is being well cared for and loved!

Successful Surgery!!!

2009-08-12T16:15:00.003-06:00

Our sweet girl is going to be okay! The surgery was a success. Thank God!

Initially, the surgeon had some difficulty getting started due to a tremendous amount of scar tissue that formed after her last open heart surgery. This was the cause of the hour delay this morning before they could start the actual surgery. They literally had to peel her heart away from her chest and take out all of the scar tissue. The surgeon said it was one of the worst cases of scarring he had ever seen.

After that, everything went as planned. He was able to get a large enough valve in place to be able to last her a lifetime. Her heart did not go into block so she will not need a pacemaker.

I'm just so thankful and praising God for such a good result!

We should be able to see her in ICU within the half hour.

Thank you all SO much for praying and letting us know how much you love us!

In Surgery

2009-08-12T12:42:00.004-06:00

Noelle's surgery started at about 10:20 this morning and should last between 4-6 hours.

She was not a happy camper this morning. So much fear and anxiety. It was harder this time. The docs gave her Versed to mellow her out before they took her back to the OR but it took awhile to kick in (especially since she very forcefully spit out the first dose we attempted!). She's such a fighter and I could tell that she didn't want to give in to the meds.

We will be paged again when she goes on heart/lung bypass.

The support, love and prayers from everyone has been incredible. Keep it comin'! I know it's the only reason I can sit here reasonably calm and write this.

Please also pray for the Tiegs family. Their sweet little Mya is also here at the hospital and had heart surgery. Here's the link to their blog. Stop by and let them know you are praying for them.

***UPDATE***
Just got a page. Noelle is on bypass and all is going well so far.

Just hearing that makes my hands shake and I try not to visualize too much. Deep breath! Thank you Lord for the strength to do this.

Pre-op appointments done

2009-08-11T22:24:00.003-06:00

We survived our busy day of pre-op appointments! Everything is good and we will check in to the hospital tomorrow at 7:15 am. The surgeon has decided that it would be best for Noelle to use a mechanical valve. He is hoping to insert a valve that will be large enough for her when she reaches adulthood. The doctor is also doing the Konno procedure which will create more room in the subaortic area. This carries a 25% risk of something called heart block and would require a pacemaker. Please pray that Noelle's surgery would be free of complications!

The Ronald McDonald House had an opening for us today so we are grateful to have settled in there and glad it is so close to the hospital.

I am so thankful for wonderful family who drove all the way to Seattle to be with us today! They made us all feel so special and loved.

Pray also for strength and peace for us tomorrow. I know God will give us enough for each day.

Love to you all!

Wow, that was quick!

2009-08-05T12:18:00.001-06:00

Seattle Children's just called. The surgeons met early on Noelle's case and she is scheduled for surgery next wednesday.

Back Home

2009-08-05T11:51:00.002-06:00

Well, we are back home!

Noelle and Zach are chillin' out watching cartoons, Joel is getting his braces off at the orthodontist and I am catching a little sanity time.

We talked to absolutely everyone at Seattle Children's that we possibly could to try to get the valve replacement surgery scheduled sooner so we would not have to make another trip back, but to no avail. Right now we are just waiting for the docs to call us with a surgery date.

I'm not sure what this will mean for Noelle starting 1st grade or for me going back to work at my school.

I don't want to think about it right now, I just want to relax and enjoy the peace that today holds. I am not up for worrying about tomorrow at the moment!

Love to all who have prayed for us and given us support! You mean more to us than you could ever know!

Surgery Update

2009-08-03T16:14:00.003-06:00

Noelle is in recovery after her cath lab procedure. They had to put a stent in her aorta rather than just a balloon dilation. Everything went well and her aortic arch is looking much better. We did have to sign on to a research study on an emergency basis after the doctor went in and decided she needed a stent but the typical bare metal stents that they use was not a safe option for her. They used a stent that is covered by a stretchy material (like gortex) and is experimental at this point but Seattle Children's is one of a handful of hospitals that do this routinely.
The big news is that the rest of her heart is not doing as well as we thought. She will need a valve replacement within 1-2 months (as soon as they can discuss her case and find the first available spot in the schedule).
As you know, we were hoping that this would not need to happen for at least a couple more years but apparently she is more of a ticking time bomb than we knew. Pretty scary actually; that was hard news to hear.
We are in good hands here. Seattle children's has been amazing so far and we feel well taken care of and informed.
Please be in prayer for all of us but especially Noelle. I fear for the emotional hit she is going to take when we tell her that we will be coming back here soon for the big surgery.

Ready to Go

2009-08-01T21:14:00.002-06:00

I just finished packing for our trip to Seattle!

Please pray for Noelle on Monday morning. She will go into the cath lab to have the balloon dilation done at 11am.

I have felt so loved during the past few days by the many people who have been praying for us and thinking about us.

God is giving us peace and strength.

Don't You Love...

2009-07-23T18:06:00.002-06:00

...the aroma of herbed veggies roasting in your oven? Yeah, me too.

I can't wait till they're done!

Busy Bees

2009-07-20T23:16:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, while I was weeding in the garden, my kids were fascinated by the bees buzzing happily around the bright yellow zucchini flowers. They talked excitedly about how bees like nectar and how they makes honey. I didn't think much about it when they wandered off toward the house.

The next thing I knew, they ran down the hill with straws in their hands and told me that they wanted to drink nectar from the flowers too! So they bent down, poked their straws in the middle of the flowers, and tried to suck the nectar out! I started laughing so hard when Noelle looked at me so puzzled and asked, "Why isn't it working?".

They disappeared again into the house and when I walked in later I found that they hadn't entirely given up their quest for nectar. On the table I saw the honey bear with the lid off with two honey covered straws on either side! I thought it was so funny and smart that I didn't even care about the mess!

Apricot Harvest

2009-07-20T22:48:00.003-06:00

We've been busy picking apricots, and green beans, and zucchini, and we're STILL weeding... Phew! Farm work never stops!

Sleepy Angels

2009-07-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Joel and I love watching our kids sleep.

So peaceful...
We found this curly mop of hair in our bed this morning. We're not sure when he crawled in with us.

Our precious girl has taken to having her own "slumber parties" on the floor of her room.

Look! They get along when they're sleep! ;o)

Just Because...

2009-07-18T21:20:00.004-06:00

...I love this family of mine so much!

Advertising Works

2009-07-17T11:37:00.002-06:00

My daughter loves As Seen on TV commercials and it is driving me crazy! Nearly every day I field requests for things like Crazy Art, Bendaroos, and Chixos girls.

Her current favorite is the Bumpit, a strange device that looks like some kind of mousetrap but is apparently designed to give you Tracy Turnblad hair. In Noelle's words, "Mom, I need a Bumpit so my hair can be so big and bumpy too!".

Now she doesn't just think about products that she needs but she thinks of others as well. She is so unselfish that way! She tells Zach that he really needs the gravity defying race cars and her daddy needs the Tool Band-It.

Just this morning she very seriously asked me, "Mom, have you ever thought about using Space Bags? Look the layers of plastic protect your blankets and clothes and squish them down!".

Oh boy.

Perhaps we need to limit TV time a little bit more!

We Are Scheduled!

2009-07-15T15:41:00.004-06:00

This is what we have been waiting for all year! The hospital finally called to schedule Noelle's procedure for early August! What a relief that it will be done before she goes back to school and before I go back to work. The other good news is that this time they will only be doing balloon dilation of her aortic arch. NO surgery yet, hooray! She will be in and out of the cardiac cath lab in about a day and a half. We would still appreciate your prayers for Noelle, particularly for her anxiety issues before medical procedures (totally understandable given all she has been through but difficult nonetheless). Your love and prayers mean more to us than you could ever know!

Summer Vacation Part Three- Fireworks!

2009-07-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Our kids have seen fireworks before but this year was their first experience wielding the flames themselves. They were so serious at first, standing stock still, sparklers at arm's length, with eyes as big as dinner plates. Eventually, with Joel's help, they both loosened up a bit although it must have been difficult amid the chorus of both mother and grandmother shouting out, "Don't run with those! Give your sister some space! Don't burn yourself! Don't poke your eye out!", etc.

I was glad to see them having so much fun. Really, I was!

Of course then a couple days later the mommy guilt set in after reading an article online about how dangerous it is to let your kids play with sparklers. To paraphrase, the end of a sparkler is hotter than burning wood or melting metal and as a good parent you wouldn't let your kid play with those other things so why the heck are you letting them use sparklers???

Can't anything be fun anymore? Oh well, my kids were well supervised and they had a blast! So there!

Weeding Nightmare

2009-07-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is what we get for going on vacation... ATTACK OF THE KILLER WEEDS!!!! We could hardly see the carrots and onions. Poor neglected veggies.

Ahhhh! Much better! After a week of intense weeding we have very sore hamstrings and much happier veggies.

Now this makes it all worth it! We rewarded ourselves with with garden fresh stir fried yellow squash and zucchini (I wish the other vegetables were also from our garden but we're not quite there yet).

Summer Vacation Part Two- 4th of July Parade

2009-07-13T17:00:00.001-06:00

We made it to the Johnson Parade again this year. The kids had so much fun and had definitely honed their candy collection techniques with the help of their grandmas!

As usual, anything goes at this parade!

We saw the Peace Band again with a few new uniquely dressed members.

Horrors! Next came the "MAN EATING CHICKEN"! Oops, I mean the man, eating chicken.

What parade would be complete without GI Joe and White Trash Barbie?

Grandpa Bob proudly took his turn on the tractor. So did my parents' neighbor! He was busy reloading his homemade, mega squirt gun from the water tub attached to the back of his tractor. Yes, there are many spontaneous water fights that break out during this parade! It's tradition! And yes, we did get wet!

Another Great Giveaway People!

2009-07-12T23:04:00.000-06:00

I got a sneak peek of this one at Becky's house the other day. It is awesome! Check out Everyday Becky for contest details!

Summer Vacation Part One- Grandma & Grandpa's Farm

2009-07-12T18:23:00.007-06:00

We spent our family vacation in beautiful Palouse country. I still miss it sometimes.

The kids had such a good time at their grandparent's farm.

We put them to work too! Well, they volunteered because work is so much more fun when granparents are involved!

The highlight of the day had to be rides behind this shiny red tractor! Zach was so excited!

Fresh Basil

2009-07-05T20:29:00.007-06:00

After a long week of "vacation" and an even longer trip home, I found peace and rest enjoying simple comforts. Like fresh green aromatic basil from the garden simmering in my spaghetti sauce.

Ahhh, there's no place like home!

Hilty Farms Website Is Up!

2009-06-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

Check out my farmer hubby's new website! Thanks!

Adventure Seekers

2009-06-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

Before swimming lessons the other day my kids informed me that they were "goin' on a bear hunt"! Their outfits just cracked me up! We had Davy Crockett and the Princess Train Engineer in their swimsuits, hunting for bears!

Smile Train

2009-06-26T22:08:00.008-06:00

Joel and I just watched such a beautiful documentary called "Smile Pinki" on HBO. The film follows two young children in India, Pinki and Ghutara, who have cleft lip and palate. They both receive free surgeries, to correct their clefts, from the Smile Train charity.

Of course, given my line of work, I was hugely interested in this show but I was also captivated by the beauty and courage of the children and the incredible dedication of the medical team. As a parent, my heart went out to the moms and dads who wanted so much for their children to have a normal and happy life. I felt such kinship with them given all we have been through with Noelle's medical problems. It really helped me to remember that, regardless of cultural, political or religious differences, the love between parents and children is so universal. Those parents love their children no less than I do mine. I guess this may seem obvious to many of you and, yes, I have realized this intellectually, but tonight it just clicked for me emotionally. It made sense. There was no "us and them" in my heart. I understood what they felt, parent to parent.

If you have the chance I would highly recommend that you watch "Smile Pinki"! You will be inspired and touched.

Feed the Forgotten

2009-06-23T18:54:00.007-06:00

I'm excited about participating in our first Kids LAKE project this week hosted by my dear friend Becky. She is organizing a yard sale in which our children will sell baked goods, toys, etc. to raise money to feed families in Uganda.

My kids have amazed me with their caring and generosity since we read about the Kids LAKE project together. My 3 year old asked immediately if he could get all the money out of his piggy bank to "feed the hungry kids". What a blessing to this mommy's heart!

Please check out the Kids LAKE website to learn more about the crisis in Uganda and to find ways to help.

Learning Another Fiber Art

2009-06-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love the term "fiber art" it makes my attempts at being crafty sound so much more legit!

Since I had some success with learning to knit this winter I decided to tackle crochet this week. I found two good websites with video tutorials and free patterns here and here.

Crochet was a bit easier for me to learn, maybe because I have already taught myself to knit. It also seemed faster. I have made two washcloths so far and am anxious to try a few more simple projects.

One thing I have shied away from with both knitting and crochet is anything that requires determining gauge. It just sounds so intimidating and although all the websites say that finding gauge is essential, it still feels like a waste of time. So, I have not made anything yet that requires a good fit or needs to be particularly precise. I suppose as I practice more and gain confidence I will begin to take on more difficult projects!

The most enjoyable aspect of learning to knit and crochet has been the sense of satisfaction I feel making useful and beautiful things with my own two hands. It's also a big time stress reliever! I wish I had learned years ago.

I'm So Glad...

2009-06-21T09:59:00.002-06:00

...that I married a man who turned out to be such a great dad!

Our kids will grow up knowing that their dad not only loves them but also likes them for who they are. What an incredible gift!

I'm Tired of Updates On This Particular Topic

2009-06-19T18:42:00.002-06:00

We have a semi-update from the heart team at Seattle Children's. We know for sure that Noelle will not have open heart surgery this time (so no valve replacement yet and no subaortic resection). What is undecided at this point is how the coarctation of the aortic arch will be treated. Seattle just wants to do balloon dilation of the aorta, however OHSU and Salt Lake both believe that surgery is needed to basically cut out the twisted section and reconnect the ends. Apparently there is some controversy on how to deal with this particular issue in someone Noelle's age. So.... good news = no open heart surgery; bad news = we still don't know what the heck we are doing or when or where it will occur.

Clear as mud?

Just a Few More Pictures

2009-06-12T22:33:00.003-06:00

I just got these and I couldn't resist sharing them!