Ya Gotta Read This One! - It's a Vivas Thing!

Sep 18 2010

Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

The other day, I walked into the kitchen to find this:

"What is it?" An egg; soaking in vinegar.

"Why?" Because, one of my children had decided to make a Naked Egg.

I wasn't sure which one, because weird things tend to show up in my house. Which led to this post.

It's no different then walking into the house one day to someone holding up a ziploc bag to my face and asking me, "Who put the snake in the freezer?"

Or walking into a dark house after a long day…thinking I'd quietly set my stuff down on the counter and then relax for a moment. Only instead, something jumped onto my chest and scurried across my shoulder; hopped off and ran across the counter and went through the window back into the boys room.

It was Gordo, the chinese water dragon, escaped from his cage.

Then there was the escaped hamster that showed up in my room in the middle of the night. You can read about that one, here.

I've been known to be sitting here, minding my own business…and have one of the boys walk up to me with a spider in an empty medicine bottle. Or a scrorpian.

Or a tarantula wasp. Don't worry…it was already dead.

As for myself? I've been known to make green eggs and ham. I've taught my children how to color carnations with food coloring (and splitting the stem to make them have multiple colors!) I've had no problem making…and then serving, chocolate covered meal worms to the Talented One's birthday guests for his 16th birthday. I don't mind bringing home lollipops with crickets in them; and I am not afraid to pick up a horned toad.

From my own childhood, my mom and dad instilled the love of wildlife. Mom was always taking care of some strange creature; from birds to a fawn to baby bunnies. Dad…well, he was more of the *catch a lizard and freeze it so it goes into hybernation; then let it warm up and run free* type of guy.

I'm not surprised anymore when my children bring me something they've caught. I'm not surprised to find a creature in my freezer. And I'm not surprised when they tell me about some new pet they'd love to have.

I'm not surprised when the dog brings a bird into the house; and I'm not afraid to ask my friend to help catch it!

And sometimes that comes in handy. Like yesterday when I had a crying 5 year old at work. He needed a distraction. And my stories of creatures are always fun!

I love the adventures of motherhood and typically, can handle what they throw at me. Rattlesnakes, not so much, but I am able to remain calm when my children are caught in the moment.

Lions and Tigers and Bears? Not yet…but it wouldn't surprise me!

Jun 15 2010

129 Days

Actually, it's been 154 days. (I'll warn you now this is going to be a long post. But probably the most important one I write this year.)

154 days ago, I went in for a simple mammogram. 8 days later, my niece went into the hospital. 2 days later, I went in for a second mammogram. 3 days later, I was told by a not very smart concerned nurse, that I was being scheduled for breast surgery. 3 days later, I had a biopsy instead. And all during this time, I'd had a different medical issue I was having tests for and preparing for a simple, routine surgery. That had to be postponed while we awaited the news of did I, or didn't I, have cancer.

The past year had been pretty tough for us. We'd taken on two children with a lot of issues. No problem. We have to deal with the state. No problem. My husband lost his job. No problem. But then…I started with that feeling…you know, the kind that just doesn't go away? Maybe it was the kids. Maybe it was the hospitals. Maybe it was that I had cancer. I didn't know, but I do remember finally talking to my hubby and telling him, "I know that something big is about to happen that is going to change our lives. I don't know what it is, but I know God has been preparing us this past year for what is about to happen."

A week later, I found out I did NOT have cancer! My surgery was re-scheduled and the *something* had not happened.

129 days ago, I went in for a simple surgery that would take 6 weeks recovery. Not as simple as we thought; it took 2 1/2 hours instead of the routine 45 minutes. One procedure had to be done the *old fashioned way* instead of the new way, but it was done and I looked forward to recovering and having a bladder and bowel that worked the way it was supposed to!

24 hours after my surgery, I came down with an infection. It was just a little white blood count, the insurance said, give her a antibiotics and send her home. So they did.

36 hours after my surgery, I woke up feeling funny. I had two of my children in the room with me, just being with me while I dozed off and on. And then, my head started to really hurt. The lights were really bothering me and the window had to be shut. Soon, I could barely open my eyes. I started to care less about even trying to get up or the fact that I couldn't seem to function. I started to shake and become slightly alarmed. Something was wrong; I had enough sense to know that whether I wanted to move or not, my kids could not see me like this. Alarmed, I called the doctor. An hour later, I received a call back. Was I running a fever? Yes. I was told to get to the ER immediately. Only, by now, I couldn't move. I was shaking so badly, I could not hold myself up. My brain seemed to stop functioning and I felt really sick.

Hubby and B-boo managed to get me in a robe and down the stairs. I vaguely remember our neighbor helping to get me in the van. I remember being in excruciating pain as hubby rushed me to ER. I remember sobbing, because I was so miserable, and then vomiting continuously all over the van, hubby and myself.

And that is how we landed in the ER that Monday afternoon. One look at us, and they knew it was serious. The next 24 hours were a rush of tests, IV's, and medication. I was admitted because I had an abscess at the surgery site. In the wee hours of the morning, I remember having to change gowns because I was a higher level patient. An Infectious Disease doctor was called in. I was told I was septic. I remember not caring, but called hubby to let him know what I'd been told. All I wanted was sleep, no pain, and complete darkness.

The next few days were a blur of visitors, sleep, medication, and more tests. I was lucky to be alive, I was told. But I hurt so bad. Sometimes I'd shake so bad, I thought I'd shake myself right off the table. But there was always someone there to take care of me. I don't think I was ever left alone.

Meanwhile, at the home front, meals were being brought in, kids were being taken where they needed to be and God made sure that everything was taken care of.

I made it home and cried. I'd never hurt so bad and I had such a hard time sleeping. I could barely move. The home health nurse came out and explained to us how to give me medication through the picc line. Hubby and B-boo became my nurses. I cried when my dear friend who'd flown out to help had to leave. God has seen us through some tough times, but He's always seen fit to bring us together when it is needed.

20 days after my surgery, I discovered why I continued to hurt so bad. By then, my parents had come out to help. Mom was so worried for not having been out sooner, but again, in God's perfect timing, they came out when I needed them. My niece went back into the hospital, and Dad spent time running me around to the several different doctors I had to see. I had a pretty nasty wound that wasn't going to heal anytime soon. After a fight with the insurance, I was finally approved to start seeing a wound doctor. (Who knew of such a thing?) I cried that first day, miserable, shaky, and in so much pain. He said the average wound took 14 to 16 weeks to heal, but I was young and healthy, so he was hoping for 8 weeks.

Week after week, I continued to go in, and he'd encourage me and tell me he hoped the next time he saw me it would be better.

And I did, slowly, but surely. I finally was able to shower by myself. I was able to attend church by Easter. I was able to drive after a few more weeks. It was long, and slow, but steadfast.

Week after week, month after month. Some days were good, some were bad, but…

Today,18 weeks and 3 days after my surgery, I was finally told my wound has healed. There is still pain, and I have a long way to go to get my energy back. But, the wound is healed. I don't know what I expected. I think maybe to jump for joy. Instead, I cried. I just cried and cried. More from relief, probably. The tears just came and wouldn't stop. And that was before I got home, and told hubby, and started crying again.

So, what I have learned from all of this?

I've learned to appreciate my family a whole lot more. We are definitely closer these days.

I've learned just how amazing our friends are; and how much our church family loves us. When mom would worry, I could tell her, "It's ok, we are being taken care of; just take care of yourself."

I've learned that sometimes, you just have to stop. And that is ok. I don't have to be supermom; really.

I've been to the lion's den while God was there with me. He has His hand on everything.

At one of the visits with my surgeon, he told me that had he done the surgery the way he planned instead of the *old fashioned way,* it would have killed me.

God is good. He knew. He knows. And He has a plan for me.

I was once asked, how do you get through it all? By faith, I replied. I have to have faith. And hope.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 12: 1b-2

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have
been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and
character, hope. And hope
does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rejoice in the hope of the glory of
God.

I hope that you all will rejoice with me today, and offer up prayers of thanks, because God is good, and He never fails us. We could not have made it through the past several months without each and every one of you. Thank you so much!

Hope

May 31 2010

Laughable Moment #27

Saturday evening, we were sitting around with Punky and the Good-Looking One’s girlfriend, watching a movie. All of a sudden, the Drama Queen comes downstairs with Chicken Noodle Butt. She dramatically informs us,

“Mom, you need to take care of Chicken Noodle Butt, his face is glowing in the dark!”

Not exactly the words I was expecting to hear out of her mouth, but as I looked up, his face was indeed, glowing in the dark.

And he was crying. And we were trying really hard not to laugh.

You see, he’d been given a glow in the dark thingie that he’d snuck upstairs to his room when he went to bed. And he’d apparently kept cracking it until some of the liquid leaked out onto his hair and face. So, he was glowing.

We quickly got up and took him into the bathroom. Punky picked him up and held him over the sink while I ran water over his hair and face. Not sure if we’d gotten it all off, we shut the door, turned off the light, and discovered that yes indeed, he was no longer glowing in the dark!

Meanwhile, the Princess was waiting outside the door with the glow in the dark stick that she’d taken to bed with her. She was handing it over to us, as she quickly stated,

“Here, take it! I don’t want to be glowing in the dark!”

See, it’s moments like this that made me decide to blog!

May 19 2010

See…It IS a Vivas Thing!

After a longggg day yesterday, I picked up the teens from spending some time at a local refugee *camp.* I don't think that is what it is really called, but they had gone to play games with the refugees. And they had fun, too! So afterward, our youth pastor takes them to Sonic. They go in to order and the next thing they know, they're being told to get back in the vans. The Talented One states he never saw our youth pastor move so fast, so he knew it was serious! All they saw outside was a tour bus and lots of police with rifles.

Fast forward to this morning. I'm sound asleep. I hear a voice calling, "Mom! Mom! Wake Up!"

I roll over in my bed in time to watch B-boo crumple to the floor. Swoosh! Just-like-that! (It was like she had turned into a rubberband…swoosh.)

(May I just state right now, that that is NOT the way a mom should have to get up in the morning! It is just plain rude!)

I yelled at hubby to wake up…WAKE UP! Something's wrong with B-boo!

She was mumbling and he was yelling at me to take her to ER while trying to figure out if she was ok or not. I ran downstairs to grab some pants. (Ok, the ONE TIME I run out of pj pants and regular pants is the one time I need them?!) As I ran downstairs, the Talented One comes running in asking me what is wrong. I tell him that his sister is upstairs on the floor and to go help dad. I grab the first set of pants that I see and meet them at the bottom of the stair case and off we go.

Didn't get to brush my teeth.

Didn't get to comb my hair.

I'm in my pj's.

She's fine, btw. She's been fighting a virus for a week and a half now and isn't resting properly. She's stubborn like that. She needs to drink more fluids and take care of herself.

Back to last night.

While we're in the ER, we talk to Punky about last night. We found out that an attempted robbery had happened and the guy with the gun had crashed into the bus that was in front of the Sonic that they kids were about to eat at. I am SO glad pastor got the kids out safe with his quick thinking.

Back to this morning.

B-boo has had a cough, too. So last night I gave her Nyquil. She took the CORRECT dose and almost 10 hours had passed before her little episode. But the Good-Looking one…he wonders if it was the Nyquil, just because one little time he took a little too much and ended up asleep in the bathroom. He just won't let it go! You'd think after over a decade he'd move past it, right? No, son, I did NOT overdose your sister!

See, it's times like this why we say, "It's a Vivas Thing!"

May 16 2010

A Blog Worthy Post

I blog a lot about my family and friends; of course! With being so sick over the past few months, there is another piece of my life that has been missing. I haven't been able to be part of the youth ministry that I love so much! A few have come over here and there, but it isn't the same as being there week after week. This weekend was our church's D-Now weekend. (Disciple Now) And although I am still not allowed to do much, and most certainly am exhausted from it, I had a blast being part of it and taking lots and lots of pictures!

I had to smile Friday night when a group of them were talking about my blog. A lot of them read it. So when the question came up of what will it take to get on my blog, I simply answered, it has to be good…and worth blogging about! You gotta love the passion!

For instance, to be part of my blogging about teens when there's a variety of stuff to choose from, you have to be willing to fight for it!

You have to be a good friend (after all, this weekend was all about building great relationships!) and be willing to force a helmet on someone with hair like this!

So that they can turn around and do something like this!

You have to be tough!

B-boo was the only girl left!

But she was also smart…when pastor offered to pay the boys $20 each to
get her into the trash can, she quickly bowed out of the game and let
the boys duke it out!

You have to be willing to laugh at yourself! This one was supposed to be blowing the feather to keep it in the air…not biting catching it between his teeth!

You have to show kindness. The boy in the back recently had a 12 hour surgery to correct severe scoliosis. He wasn't able to participate in the games. But the teen in the front made sure to play safely so that he wouldn't get hurt, but have some fun in the day!