Just Stroll-ing Along . . .

We had a very fun, very short trip to Philly & a busy Memorial weekend! Wednesday was spent in the car, the dinner, then crashing at our hotel; Thursday was Brandon's graduation & fabulous party at the Fraziers; Friday was the Philly Zoo & celebrating Mar's birthday (and holding Joshy after another seizure that night); Saturday was spent driving; Sunday was spent at church and having breakfast with Brian's folks & celebrating his brother's birthday that night over dinner; Monday we made a quick trip to Jackson so the kids could meet their Aunt KD & then had their former foster parents over in the evening after supper.
See? Busy!
We're in the process of making some big decisions for our family, so prayer is definitely needed. When I know more, and when decisions have been reached, I'll be posting.
In the meantime, I'm off to pick up the kids to see Wendy before she flies back to MT! Happy Tuesday!

May is always a busy month, but this year it seems like it's busier than usual! ---- Congratulations go to Brandon (our favorite Ph.D!), Bobby (on his M.Div), my cousin Erin & her fiance Mike who are getting married this weekend in Savannah, to Myrna & her fiance who are getting married this weekend in NC, and best wishes to Adam & Angie on their anniversary (today!), to Brian's granny on her birthday (today!), to my Mar on her birthday (Friday) and to Brian's little brother Chris on his birthday (Sunday).
We leave tomorrow morning to celebrate with Brandon in Philly for the weekend! Hooray!

My first horrifying experience as a mother happened on Monday night, as I watched Joshua turn purple and have a seizure on Kayla's bedroom floor. It lasted maybe 20 seconds, but seemed an eternity. As soon as it stopped and he went limp, I scooped him in my arms and ran for Brian. He took Josh to the ER right away, and as soon as Mar came to stay with Kayla I left to meet him there. We spent 4 hours there with our little boy, who was exhausted and was poked & prodded. After instructions to increase his medication, we arrived home after midnight and I spent yesterday on the phone with his neurologist's office, trying to get him an appointment.
The last seizure he had was either in September or October -- supposedly it happened because they were trying to wean him off his medication. He has been at the same level since then, and my guess is the seizure happened because he is growing and the medication had not been increased. That's my hope, anyway.
He seems to be acting normally, and will see his neurologist on Friday afternoon. I don't know what they will do -- maybe some tests, who knows. All I know is that Monday night was very scary and I hope it doesn't happen again for a very long time.

As I celebrated my first Mother's Day this past Sunday, and even now, as I sit at my desk and look at photos of the beautiful children God has entrusted to me, I think of all the women I know who struggle(d) with infertility and decisions to embrace a different life God has planned for them. I pray for these women, for comfort, peace and joy in the life God has given them, and for hope.
Infertility is still very much a part of my daily life, even with Kayla and Josh around. I still long to have a child that is mine; that will grow in my womb, to experience pregnancy, to hear a newborn cry. Everytime I hear of someone I know being pregnant, somehow it always seems I lose a little bit more hope. And so I pray for patience and hope for me, too. And while I may never hold a baby in my arms that will have Rice eyes and the curly Stroll hair, I am so, so grateful for my children, to have become the mother of Kayla Cadence and Joshua Samuel Quinn. We may not share DNA, but I couldn't love them more, even if I had given birth to them.

To My Mom, and to her Mom -- you both are inspiring Mothers & I love you!

Congratulations, Dr. Withrow!!

They're ending it.