The Monkey Barrel

Archive for May, 2008

So we’re really having a hard time with names again so I thought I’d put a few on the table that have been tossed about and see what kind of feedback we get. We’re also open to suggestions, but not guaranteeing we’ll use it. No F names please.

Boys
1. Adam
2. Will
3. Noah
4. Ben

Girls
1. Violet
2. Charlotte
3. Elisabeth
4. Emma
5. Ella
6. Audrey
7. Alice
8. Jill
9. Vivian

It would seem that Luke, despite the immunity shots, has developed a mild case of the chicken pox. It’s weird because the rash has not spread above his chest or below his knees. He’s got the whole flu like thing going on with it and the vomiting just started. All in all he’s a pretty miserable kid. So I call the nurse to see what to do and she says, let’s bring him in because of the fever and light sensitivity and just be sure that that’s what it really is. It could also be some sort of strep virus. But could you call on your cell phone before hand and we’ll check him out in the parking lot before we bring him up just to be safe? I cracked up and thought, hmm, wouldn’t it just be easier for you to swing by on your way home from work? We only live 5 min. away. And then I thought, whatever happened to home visits from the family doc? When did they decide that kind of personalized care was not worth the trouble. Certainly it would contaminate less people to see kids in their own home, and to be able to see the environment that they are being raised in. What if they took a lesson from New York and turned some RV’s into mobile medic units to be used for well kids and then just come in the house for the little contaminated ones?? I know New York does it for poor kids without insurance and that the doctor’s on the staff for the mobile units are volunteer. Why can’t everybody do that for all kids and frankly for seniors too. I mean us young folks ought to be hoofin it in to the office ’cause we can, but if you have serious health problems that generally make you housebound, then the doc should be coming to you. Imagine how many less diseases would be spread.

Here’s how my retarded pregnancy brain is working, I just read a headline that said, Five Armed Men Kill Recovering Patient and I thought, “hmm, one five armed guy is so weird but men, in plural, that’s just insane“! DUHH!!!!

We had our monthly appointment on Monday to check up on the baby. Next month is the big show to find out who’s hanging in there. But this was the second month that it took a good 15 min. to lock the baby down to get a heartbeat. A little disheartening for me as I’ve been praying that we’d finally have a laid back baby that would be content to just snuggle and hang. And instead it looks like we’ll have a baby busier than Luke which seems unfathomable. So folks, it’s time to put your chips in and make your guesses on what we’re having. And while you’re at it name suggestions are welcome, but not necessarily guaranteed for use. We try to keep the boy names to around 4 letters. Not sure why, it just became a tradition. Girls names are fair game.

So apparently July is a really hot month because every year our April and May calendar get loaded up with more babies. This year is no exception. We welcomed Annabelle May Margrave on April 23, then Calleigh Rhinehart May 3rd and today came Kylie Rheya Bess. So folks, not that I don’t enjoy babies cause we all know I do, but lets try to spread ‘em out into the other months could we? When it’s hot in July and August play scrabble or Uno or find a pool or break out the sprinkler. I’m getting more and more broke by the year in these months.

A year ago we were delighted in the arrival of Jacob Elliot Midgette. Very quickly that delight turned into a bit of fear when he had trouble breathing and was bumped up to the higher care nursery. I went down to visit him with Dawn and saw him wrapped in wires and tape and my heart lodged in my throat. It was hard not to cry in front of her and I didn’t want to add to her stress by being a blubbering idiot. I was so scared for him. Looking around the room though, he outweighed the other newborns easily by 2 or 3 pounds. He recovered quite quickly and was able to go home on Mother’s Day. His life is such a gift and he is so full of joy it’s contagious. I am blessed to be able to see him nearly weekly in the nursery on Sunday and to see Owen on Wednesday nights. I can’t imagine how it must feel for his extended family not to be able to share in his life so often. To have to cram so much of life into the week they get to spend here and there throughout the year. They are awesome about visiting and calling and Matt and Dawn travel to Georgia often too, but it’s just not the same as being able to call up for dinner in the afternoon and be able to enjoy their presence within hours. I am so lucky they are close by and to be able be a part of their lives and I’m thankful they allow me the privilege. Happy Birthday Jakers, Aunty Em loves you so much!

Last year about this time we put our house on the market. We spent all summer in limbo not knowing whether we’d be able to sell it or whether we’d be able to find a suitable place to accommodate our vast needs. It became very clear that selling wasn’t going to be an option so with some secret joy we took our home back.
When we first found this place I fell in love with the yard but felt the house itself was too large and ostentatious and frankly, I really didn’t want it. But now, four and a half years later, I am in love with our home, because it finally feels like just that, our home. So, this spring has been an absolute delight because I have been able to plan the flower beds and begin to put them into action. I didn’t realize I would love gardening so much. We spent all day in the yard on Saturday and the fruits of our labor were immediately visible. The grass is so green and thick this year and the boys have lots of area to run and play and be free.
I am so thankful for this place. For the shelter that God has provided for us. But I know that tomorrow it could be gone again in the blink of an eye if He so chose and I have every confidence that He still is Lord and He still knows where we need to be. I think last years lesson was just for that reason. I was a little too comfortable, a little too in love with my house and it felt a bit like Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac. Not so drastic mind you, but in the sense of, I have given this to you and will you trust me to give it back to me and know that I will provide what you need. So this year we still have our home and I am ever thankful and content to be here and to be planning our newest installation project in November. God is so good!