Rambo's Rampages...

Taking the little one to the doctors today. Nothing serious, at least not that I'm aware of. Just a low grade fever for the past few days. Have a great Thursday one and all.

It just hit me. Just as I rolled my eyes and got up from the chair because Theodore was fussing again. I was wondering when it was going to be my turn for a break. When do I get the chance to stop answering questions and breaking up arguments and disciplining and rocking to sleep? And then (unfortunately, but fortunately) it hit me.  It's not about breaks or time outs. It's not about the number of minutes a day I get to do nothing. In a previous post when Theodore was extremely ill I quoted, abbreviated, from a book that is special to my heart: Cheerfully and gratefully I lay my life and all I am or own at the feet of Him who redeemed with His precious blood,  engaging to follow Him, bearing the cross he lays upon me. This is the least I can do and I do it while my heart lies broken and bleeding at His feet. -Stepping Heavenward Do I only lay my life before Him when my child is close to death? What about the everyday? How could I give that up gratefull

That is the name of the game this year. I'm talking full blown, easy, ready made, taking it slow simplicity. And I have a few ideas on how I might make that happen... you know, if I actually play them out. Last nights post was all about how my day was anything but simple. Today is a new day. Thus the simplicity begins. I hope. Starting off on a good note, I am so happy to be snapping pictures away on our camera capturing those wonderful sweet moments of the day. The moments unlike when the dog wakes me up at 4am because he has somehow managed to pull the shotgun case (with shotgun inside) onto his bed and open it and it's now taking up all of his space. Don't ask me how that happened, I honestly don't know. It was impressive though. Albeit, a little unsettling.  Here is how a few of our days have been spent.   Such a techie. Ben, look away. This isn't what you think. He absolutely is not holding my phone.   Clothes picked out by children. Cats s

Finally sitting on the couch. Cat, belly up, sleeping next to me. Dog at my feet. The same dog who almost knocked over our very-expensive-couldn't-afford-to-buy-it-again-(couldn't-really-afford-to-buy-it-the-first-time) air purifier. Kids upstairs waiting to be tucked in. Smallest kid hooked up to his vent. Just waiting for the nurse. Feet up for the first time in what feels like 1,029 hours (in the words of Emma). Lights dimming each time the air conditioner kicks in. Almost silence.  Today, oh Today, you persistent demanding thing. You were a pain in the butt at times. I, like many of you, hit the ground running and have not been able to stop until falling dead asleep from exhaustion in a nice comfy cool welcoming bed. Or, in my case, our awkward-for-the-neck couch. I'll take it. Today was the kind of day where you feel pretty accomplished but wonder if it was worth it. A day when you feel on top of everything until mid afternoon and you suddenly hit panic mode because

This is quite possibly going to be the most annoying blog post ever. Enjoy. I said in an earlier post that the majority of our time at the hospital was spent singing songs to Theodore. Seriously at least 65% of the time that is what we were doing. So it's no surprise that I have these songs rotating through my mind constantly. The following is my effort to get them into your head and out of mine! Thus the list begins: Oh, Susanna! She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes. Yankee Doodle. Twinkle, twinkle little star. I've been working on the railroad. Clementine (which, if you didn't know, has some seriously disturbing lyrics.) If all the raindrops were.... Jesus loves me. Row row row your boat (in round form, of course) The alphabet. Cuckaberra. Oh little playmate (Grandmom's pick - not mine, but it would be the one that got stuck in my head above all others.) How much is that doggy in the window? Do your ears hang low? Jesus loves

I seriously hate technology. Except for, of course, the stuff that saved my sons life. But every thing OTHER than that I hate. From phones that randomly shut themselves off to computers that tell me I'm putting in the wrong password to things that tell you every ten minutes to update, I'm swearing off technology.  No, I'm not. I think taking Theodore to Baltimore in a horse and buggy would quickly become trying to say the least. Also, keeping him alive would be difficult. But I do appreciate more and more the technology free aspect of the Amish. Plus their food. And their quilts.  Today has been...... okay. It really has. It's just the million little things, mostly but not limited to technological issues, that have driven me crazy. It's the fact that there is no food in the house. (The kids had one tortilla with peanut butter and a small bowl of dry cereal for breakfast.) It's the flour - the completely sealed unopened flour (two bags)- that have those dirty

Not having a convenient internet connection has really cramped my style and in turn, left you all out in the cold. Which may not be that disagreeable to most of you considering our recent heat wave. So for the second time, here is a much needed update. We are home! Kind of. If you consider the Eastern Shore home, then yes, home we are. And it was a quite a sigh of relief to be here- hopefully to stay. Especially with views like this: You don't really get that in the city. A concrete jungle is a most accurate description and I'm sure that some prefer that. I, however, will take green anyday.  Being at our actual house is another story all together. I said before that Theodore tested negative to the allergy tests they ran. That left us with getting our house and equipment tested for anything that might be irritating his system. What did we find?? I really couldn't tell you. Not specifically anyway, but both the house and his equipment were extremely high on the '

I know that an update is desperately needed, but I have very little time with internet access. Hereis an updare in a million words or less: We are no longer at Johns Hopkins. We have found ourselves yet again at the precipice of hell: Mt. Washington. Okay, thats maybe a little harsh. I've shared my feelings about this place before and don't need to rehash the past. I will just say that we put up a darn good fight but push came to shove and we basically got steamrolled.... right out of Hopkins. Stinking insurance...... or so they say. I digress. Rambo is doing wonderfully. In fact, he is learning new skills and his strength finally appears to be what it was. We have completed our two days of vent training at home and several times I have given him the shot he will be receiving twice a day for the next several months. Just call me wonderwoman... or Amanda... or lady who likes to toot her own horn. Although, I can't really toot my own horn too much considering the fact that