Smashing Pumpkins

I remember Halloweens growing up, always waking up, November 1st, to smashed pumpkins all over our street. Our beautiful pumpkins, smashed to smithereens.

This year, I gave the boys the option to smash their own pumpkins before someone gets to them first. So far, only Jack has taken my up on the offer. Drew likes his too much to smash it, he thinks it is disrespectful to smash his as it has the Ohio State block O on it (can you tell we talk a lot of respecting the flag and evidently this also applies to Ohio State stuff, Drew is as patriotic about that as he is the American flag) and Tommy, well just not interested.

So here was the smashing this afternoon....

P.S. Yes Mom, we did clean it up and throw it away after we smashed it. :)

A teary Mom, some pumpkins and a happy Jet Fighter

It is Beggar's Night in Iowa. The only place in the world I have ever heard of this...everywhere else does Trick or Treat on Halloween. Oh well, when in Iowa, do as the Iowans do.

Jack is really our only trick or treater this year. Drew went for the first few houses with Jack and then decided he wasn't up for it. Tommy was home handing out candy and that got a little boring I guess... he just decided to run out and catch up with Jack and Dad and get some candy.

As of this morning Jack was going to be a hamburger, we had found a cute hamburger costume last October at PB kids to use for this year. But in the last few months he has asked to be a Star Wars character, anyone would do, he even had gone so far as to make one out of construction paper that he has worn around the house the last month taped together.

The costume he made out of construction paper earlier this month

We had said no to buying a Star Wars costume since we had the other costume, and I wasn't all that into him being a Star Wars character.

BUT this morning after he went to school, and after the older boys had informed me they didn't want to dress up...I caved. I figured there are so few years you WANT to dress up for Halloween. And those years have gone too fast for Tommy and Drew. I actually got a little teary about it and ran the idea by Scott...he was all for me going out and getting him the costume Jack had wanted. So as of 9:15 this morning I ran to the costume store in the hopes I could find a Star Wars costume. I found a few and the Jet Fighter Pilot one seemed like the perfect choice. He could pretend he was Luke Skywalker, the Jet Fighter Pilot. I even bought a lite saber, a first for this house of boys.

After school I surprised him with it...he was in SHOCK. Should have taken a picture of his face when I handed it to him. So cute. Loved the moment.

Think the smile says it all...

Drew and Jack requested to carve their pumpkins...Tommy opted out of that venture.

Scooping out the guts...

Drew concentrating on his pumpkin project

The Storm Trooper face...Tommy and Baby's pumpkins and Drew's OSU Block O

We ate a Jack O'Lantern Pizza for dinner and Luke, the Jet Fighter Pilot is out in the wind and rain smiling from ear to ear collecting candy.

It's a happy evening....

Giving thanks to God....

This is part of the script from the boys school. They have chapel on Wednesdays and their principal, who is also the Varsity football coach, led chapel. I thought this was excellent. Great reminder for us all...who we are here to please! Doing our very best for Him.

I’d like to talk about something we’re doing at the football game tonight.

I believe the Bible speaks about math, social studies, and football.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 reads,

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. . . .” (New International Version)

Whatever your hand finds to do – whether it’s math, whether it’s social studies, whether it’s a silly game like football – do it with all of your heart.

Tonight, we don’t play “to win” We don’t play “to lose.” We will play the best that we can play, because we know why we’re playing football. Whatever our hand finds to do, we will do it all of our might.

There will be a lot of people at the game tonight. People will be excited. Remember – when you do things, and you do them well, and you do them for Jesus – he is pleased with that effort. You’re not trying to get a good math grade for your Mom, Dad, or your teacher, but because Jesus asks you to do your best.

Colossians 3:17 reads,

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NIV)

Do you think that includes football? Do you think that includes science? You betcha!

Do you do it in the name of Mr. Lambert?

No!

You do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. He gives us opportunities every day – whatever it is – to do it in His name.

There is no greater privilege than Jesus being pleased by your effort in school or in cleaning your room or in whatever you do.

Have you ever thought about that?

When you obey your parents, whenever you’re doing the right things in recess, Jesus is pleased with that.

It’s in the Bible. God says so.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

As you obey your teacher and do your homework, you’re ultimately doing these things for Jesus Christ. Give a great effort. He is pleased with your effort. That’s one of the great things about being a follower of Jesus. You’re not doing things for yourself or for someone else’s satisfaction. It’s all for Jesus. You can trust and love Him.

I’ll see you at tonight’s football

We’re excited, not because we have a chance to win, but because we have a chance to please Jesus!

Sunny and 79

That's the weather report for Orlando today. As we sit in pouring rain, dark and 45 here. Boys are very excited, we leave on Monday. I am hoping to start packing it up today or tomorrow.

It's been a good week. Boys are all better, still some lingering coughing, but nothing bad. My cough is still there at times. Scott has seemingly escaped it all. The house has been cleaned and sanitized several times over now. Scott was able to get both his seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 yesterday at our Dr's office so he is covered now for when baby is born.

Today we have a regular Dr's appt with our OB. The wonderful glucose test for me, drinking the sugar syrup and then being poked like a pin cushion an hour later...I have veins that do not like to cooperate so if you are wanting something to pray about around 2:30 today, you can pray I have an excellent blood lab nurse. Drew's conference today after school and Tommy has his first basketball game tonight. Can't believe it is starting already, he still has one football game left on Saturday too.

Jack has been drawing up a storm lately, loves making pictures...mainly of Star Wars people. Drew and Tommy have been outside playing a lot this week, basketball and some football too. It's been wonderful to have a week of normal after last week.

Those cheeks...my heart melts

Scott and I just got home from our 28 week ultrasound of baby. Baby is looking great. Measuring a little over 2 1/2 lbs and growing just as he/she should be. The umbilical cord continues to have excellent blood flow and that is our big blessing. We go back in another 4 weeks for another check in on baby. This time we will take the boys with us, again, so they can see baby in 3D.

Here are some of the shots of our little sweet pea.

Look at Love

This was the daily devotion today on one of my favorite blogs...Lysa Terkurst. What a great read to start my Monday and week. Hope it inspires you too.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Gut honest look at love

This morning I am feeling so challenged to look at love a little differently. Sometimes in the gut honest quietness of my heart, I look at love through the eyes of what it will offer me.

I hold out the little cup of my heart to my husband, "Will you fill my empty spaces? Today will you do that one really romantic thing and make me feel like I'm the most terrific and special woman in the world?"

Then I hold it out to my children, "Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you do something today that makes me look really good as a mom so I'll feel a little more validated?"

Then I hold it out to my ministry, "Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you provide something today that makes me feel more significant?"

Maybe a Monday morning is an odd time to consider such things.

Or, maybe a Monday morning is the perfect time to hit the reset button on my sometimes frail heart. Love is a tricky thing. Our hearts were created to crave it. God proclaims that love is greater than hope and greater than faith.

Amazing.

God also proclaims that love never fails. And in the quietness of my heart that verse from 1 Corinthians 13 makes me squirm a bit. I see love failing all the time. Or do I?

If my only view of love is what it will give me, love from others will fail me every time. It's not that love fails. It's that other people were never meant to be my God. Even a great husband, wonderful children and a thriving ministry can never truly fill me up, right all my wrongs, and soothe those deep insecurities.

No, I can't read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with eyes hungry to see what love should give me and then demand it from those around me. I should read those steadfast Scriptures with the realization, this is the kind of love I can choose to give.

I can choose that my love will be patient. My love will be kind. My love won't keep a record of wrongs. (Ouch- that's a hard one. right?)

I can choose that my love will protect and persevere.

And I can choose to lay the cup of my heart at Jesus' feet and stop twirling, twirling, twirling... hoping- no demanding that those around me do things for me they were never meant to do.

Interestingly enough, when I read 1 Corinthians 13 again this morning I found an odd yet perfect verse toward the end of the this chapter. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." (verse 11)

Yes indeed.

Love isn't what I have the opportunity to get from this world. Love is what I have the opportunity to give.

Saturday in the Fall

Countdown to Disneyworld

On our computer we have a ticker that lists the "Countdown to Baby Shisler". I noticed this morning Tommy added another Countdown ticker...this one "Countdown to Disney trip". Cute. 1 week, 2 days is what it is listing at this moment.

We have been planning this trip since this past spring. It was initially planned to be a surprise Christmas gift to the boys, we were going in January right after Christmas break for a week to Disneyworld. They are at the perfect ages to go, we felt. 12,10 and just about 7! Well, then when we found out about the "Bonus Shisler" , as the boys sometimes refer to baby, Scott and I quickly moved the trip dates up to November. It has remained a Christmas gift, but the boys do know about it now and are SO EXCITED!

We leave on Monday, November 2nd for a week. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney are all on the agenda for the week. Staying at the Grand Floridian on the lake right there, so we are only a monorail or shuttle away from all of the parks.

We have been excited about it for some time, but after being sick for a week, the excitement is at a very HIGH level. We have looked through a lot of Disney books, read an autobiography about Walt Disney, watched DVD's, looked at maps, researched online...we are busily planning away.

The boys have been there before, all on dates where it coordinated with business trips for Scott. Never as a planned family trip. Tommy has been at age 18 months, 4 and 6. Drew 2 and 4 and Jack at 14 months. Really all too young to remember much of it at all. SO this is our BIG trip, we are hitting it all and can't wait!

So gratefully, and hopefully, H1N1 is done at this house so there is no fear of illness on the trip. (All boys are in school today and Scott seems to be holding his own against getting this)

Let the Countdown begin.....

What to do when you're home sick

Found these on the computer tonight, along with many others. Drew and Jack entertained themselves evidently while I was not in the kitchen.

Note the artistic antibacterial soap portrait they made

Really Big Things

Okay I am finally going to write about something other than health around our house. Enough for awhile on that.

There is a show on the Science channel called Really Big Things with Matt Rogers. Not sure if any of you have ever watched it but it is one of our very favorite shows. We Tivo it and the boys LOVE it. This guy Matt looks into about 3 REALLY BIG THINGS on each 30 minute episode. And it's always behind the scenes how things work kind of stuff. It is fascinating. I love it as much as the boys, Scott and I laugh out loud at this guy too as he has a great sense of humor. We watched it tonight and for example he showed behind the scenes of the Good Year Blimp, this very cool Giant compactor Tractor at landfills and then behind the scenes of a Vegas show. The scenery and acrobatics etc. SO interesting.

-Did you know there are only 3 Good Year Blimps? (and a side note Scott's parents won the chance to take a flight on the one based out of Akron Ohio a couple of years ago)

-That it takes up to 5 years to fill some of the largest trash dump sites with the use of the Giant Conpactor tractor. It is the coolest looking tractor/monster truck thing with giant teeth on the 5 foot tires.

-The Vegas show they showed was amazing, cannot remember the name. But acrobats free fall from 80 feet in the dark onto these air mattresses below stage another 25 feet. AMAZING. The other day they did the Vegas show called La Reve that is a water show. Divers dive down into the stage and never come back up. They show the scuba divers below that grab them underwater put a regulator in their mouths and push them down tunnels out of the water back stage. AMAZING stuff.

If you haven't ever watched it, and have cable or Direct Tv I would highly recommend it. Scott hit the nail on the head tonight too as we were talking about what makes it such a great show. This guy, Matt Rogers, is as excited as a 5 year old over these things and the very best part is that as he talks to the stage hands, truck drivers, trash coordinators etc...people who are usually not in the spotlight for what they do..Matt makes them out to be the coolest guys and girls in the world with amazing jobs! Which they have but I don't think they normally get the credit for. Matt does an excellent job of showing the tv audience how everyone is equal and how EVERY job is super cool. I love that about the show. It teaches such great lessons in how to treat others, even those so different from ourselves.

Great show....good stuff.

Grateful

I am grateful today...

-grateful for a husband who has ran to Hyvee and Walgreens numerous times in the past 5 days to pick up whatever we need and has cared for all of us so well while juggling laundry, yard work, a job, vomit clean up....he does it all

-grateful that no one is worse today, everyone is either maintaining or improving

-grateful for bright cheery flowers that came yesterday from my parents (photo from phone again so a bit fuzzy)

-grateful for good friends who brought dinner last night, homemade chicken noodle soup for lunch and another who is bringing dinner tonight

-grateful to read that once you get the H1N1 virus you cannot get it again

-grateful I can snuggle my boys again, we all are sick so no fear of germs.

Jack on my lap...taken from my phone.

911 call...(don't be alarmed, funny story)

Oh and to top it all off Tommy was down playing video games with Drew about 30 minutes ago and I got a call from the police reporting a 911 call from here...I was very confused. Went downstairs to ask the boys if they had the phone as Jack was with me, Scott was at Walgreens picking up meds for them...hmm while Tommy was waiting his turn on the video game he grabbed the phone and randomly pushed buttons. Nice, he called 911, by accident--so the sheriff just left here. Lovely Hope the policeman doesn't get sick too :)

Tommy was very sad as he apologized to police man at the door. Police man couldn't have been nicer.

About that time Scott got home from Walgreens with meds and there were 2 large dogs running in our backyard, the fence was left open. A german shepherd and a lab. So he ran them out.

What will be next? I hope the neighbors aren't watching too closely today.

PS Boys all napping now. I am going to lay down too, although I think I cough less when I sit up.

Pray

Well so much for turning that corner....it was not a good overnight.

back to the Dr I went this morning, with Scott taking me. This time my regular Dr. and she says H1N1. So back on the tamiflu I go and keep taking the zithro to prevent pneumonia. Lungs sounded clear. More blood labs sent away, pin cushion I am with my nasty to find veins. And back resting I go and drinking LOTS of fluids. (I hear you Mom)

Boys ALL home from school today with various signs and symptoms of the same thing. Scott has them at the Dr as I type this. Scott now the lone healthy one.

Pray for easy recovery for all, protection of baby and prevention of pneumonia.

Jack's TD

Jack called right after his football game to tell me he got a TOUCHDOWN!

Jack: "Mom it was on the first series and I ran it all the way down. This guy tried to get my flag but he couldn't. When I was running a guy had his hand on my flag and I kept on running and he fell right over."

He was pretty proud, I was sad to have missed it but know he understood. Daddy took the whole team out for ice cream cones to Dairy Queen afterwards to celebrate their season!

On the mend...we pray

After 2 straight days of being in bed, I am up and showered. Feeling better, not great, but certainly much improved. Tommy had a fever of 102 yesterday and that has come down to around 99 today as well, with Tylenol and Motrin. My cough isn't as painful as it was, my fever seems to be holding around 99.0 with Tylenol.

I feel we have turned the corner. I did opt out of going to Jack's last football game today at 3:00 :( which makes me sad to have to miss it, but I just don't want to push my luck. Of course my Mom would be LESS than pleased with me if I went out today. (I hear you Mom!)

Prayers for continued recovery for both Tommy and I would be appreciated. Prayers for protection that the rest of the house doesn't come down with this stuff. I do think we had different things, mine seemed to be more infection like pneumonia stuff and Tommy's is more of the H1N1 typical symptoms I have heard. The Dr didn't specifically diagnose me with either yesterday, just that the white blood count was middle of the road, not right. So she treated me for all the above. I have not taken the tamiflu today just sticking with the zithromax and hoping it is treating it alone. Don't like taking too much stuff with baby in my tummy.

I will keep Tommy home tomorrow as he will not have been fever free for 24 hours, doesn't count as fever free if it takes meds to keep the fever down. :) He is much perkier today following the NFL games on TV.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers....

H1N1 debate over

Well after MUCH debate and discussion, research, analyzing, prayer, more debate, more prayer, more discussion, phone calls to any Dr's I know, phone calls to Dr's I don't personally know, microbiologist research friends of mine, CDC connected friends of mine, Mayo Doctor college friends of mine, more prayer, more internet searching....

The decision was made. The Shisler boys and Mom have all been vaccinated. Today as of 4:00 pm the debate is over.

Scott and I are at peace with the decision. End of discussion. :)