Just a Quick Hi there and Hello!

I wanted to pop in and say-  I haven't forgotten about y'all. 

I've got lots going on here-- and this post is actually on borrowed internet /pc time.  My set up at home is on the fritz for now. 

I don't have a picture for you but Lil' Easton is growing.  He already weighs 7 lbs 6 oz.  as of yesterday. 

And the best news of all is He may get to eat today!  He stooled yesterday ...FINALLY.  He has had a few procedures in order to help the process along. I think they are waiting to see if things will 'push' forward on their own.  But for the most part--- it looks like he may get a taste of Mommy's milk before the day is out.  It won't be much-- maybe a teaspoon.  He has to be able to tolerate it as well. 

Remember-- he's only been fed these 19 days of life through a Broviac IV-- 

It is touch and go. Slow and steady wins the race. 

Thank you all for the prayers. I ask that you please continue to pray for Easton when you think of him.

On another note.  It seems we may be experiencing Strep-throat as well, in our tightly knit little family. So that means visits to the hospital will be limited. Big Brother Weston went to the doctor this morning and that is the Dr.'s diagnosis for him.  I'm not feeling so well-- and Mommy is just beside herself, she can't go to the hospital until she knows for sure she is out of the woods and won't get Easton sick.

WE know the situation is in God's hands--- we are very hopeful.  We may ask for physical healing-- But it is God who determines the time and place.  He may have other plans for Easton and another purpose for the circumstances. We merely need to trust Him in all these things.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

God Bless you 
and 
Thanks for reading!

The Thinker-

I thought I'd post another update on Easton ; he is our littlest and latest GRAND!

He is two weeks old today.  

He still isn't able to eat. 

We are waiting on him to 'stool'.  I told you before that he was born with Gastroschesis  that is an anomaly pertaining to the bowel being formed outside his body cavity.  

So far he is coming along as normal as can be expected for this ABNORMAL SITUATION. 


Today he had two dye tests to see that his bowel is able to pass and make sure that there are no obstructions. 


We were told today  that this is the case-- no obstructions. We are still waiting on his bowel to 'wake-up' and work on it's own. 


Specifically- we are praying for his bowel to work. 
After that happens, we're praying that he will have the desire to suck and eat on his own.  These 'belly babies' have a tendency to forget to eat. 




We ask that you join us in prayer on these two issues regarding Easton's health. 
We ask that you also Praise God for what He is doing-- because we are merely human and cannot fathom the work he doing;Just know it is for His glory and only trust Him!

Isn't he a cutie?  I wonder what he is thinking about?  14 days old and already resembles a deep thinker! 

 LORD, You have searched me and known me.
  You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
  For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
  You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.  Psalm 139:1-6 


God Bless you 
and 
thank you for reading.

Twig Gate...

We made this twig gate

For our compost bin. 
I'm not decorating with it. But I am using it. To keep the dog out. you can click on the picture to read more about twig gates and fences. 

* edited to say...Ooops! click here instead to read more.  Thank you.


Check out more gates here; 









God Bless you 
and 
thanks for reading. 

Painted Gifts- Prior Lives

I went around taking pictures of the things in my home a while back,  that my daughters have painted or drawn for me; and that have decorated my home over the years.  I decided to group them all together here, and show case them. 
I love them all! 


Some of them also have Prior Lives as you can imagine...so I'm linking up to Lezlee's Prior Lives Party #4  


Here

This little watering can, a souvenir from an Arkansas Flea 

---painted by my youngest daughter when she was just a young girl. 

This framed artwork painted by my oldest daughter-- when she was 15 yrs old. 

It is a rendering of her Grampa's barn---they (he and Granny)  had two, this one was at the bottom of the mountain. It's titled 

"the Lower Barn" 

A skillet... now artwork for my kitchen. 

I think of breakfast being cooked before morning chores, when I see this skillet. 

It helps that I love old cast iron skillets and still cook with one almost everyday! 

A painted bird house. 

The purple tree on this bird house has significance to my daughter. 

I home schooled my children all from birth, but my oldest attended K-5 for one year. 

She remembers  a piece of crumpled up artwork hanging next to her class mates, after she had drawn and colored a purple tree, only to be laughed at by her peers. She didn't want to hang it. Her teacher gave it to me and I explained to my daughter that there ARE INDEED PURPLE TREES. Not all trees are green. The purple ones are beautiful and hidden amongst green trees you have to look hard to see them and when you do you find a unique and rare beauty! 

My daughter is a unique and rare beauty. 

She and I hung her artwork in the hall that afternoon. Very proudly!  

Yellow Enamel-ware casserole dish makes a wonderful sized canvas-- can you tell my oldest likes barn scenes. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl! 

She also drew this during school. 

It's called " A purple Iris" in pencil. 

These were painted by each of my girls. They've signed them

but I can't remember at the moment who painted which. 

They were for Dad. They are in our work room now.

The piece below is my favorite piece of my oldest daughter's work. 

We call it her Van Gogh-- she didn't like it. It was painted on a scrap piece of plywood-during her highschool years we were doing an Art study on Van Gogh. She didn't like the way it turned out. I saved it from the burn pile. Hid it for years and hung it after she moved out. 

I love the yellow flowers in the field by the stream. 

The little picture of the cows below- was found in an old family trunk from my mother's side of the family.

I showed it because it had a prior life some time before it got stored in that trunk. I wish I knew the story to tell it. But someone thought it was special enough to stow away. 

--it is a little water color 'paint by number' I think. It has been altered and is out of square. I couldn't frame it, so I made a snazzy 'plate hanger' that I found a tutorial for on someones' blog, out of baling wire. 

And hung it from a nail it hangs below the lower barn. 

The day I hung it up- my daughter saw it hanging- and asked 'who painted the cows?'

I told her I don't know. 

Cause I don't--- she said "they look like Rex and Tex Grampa's first Cows he got when he moved to Arkansas! They look good near the lower barn, like they belong together." 

That's my Prior Lives stuff--- for the party. 

Don't forget to check it out- 

 

God Bless you 

and 

Thanks for reading! 

Gratuitous Grandma Photos-- to follow

 We are finally getting to hold our little one. 

Praise God! 

I don't want to frighten anyone one; but the photos that follow might be a bit scary to some. As you've never seen the likes of these on my blog, and may not again until necessary... (I'm not a fan of the camera!) 

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

         And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

         And forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities,

         Who heals all your diseases;

Who redeems your life from the pit,

         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good things,

         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

The LORD performs righteous deeds

         And judgments for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses,

         His acts to the sons of Israel.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

         Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

He will not always strive with us,

         Nor will He keep His anger forever.

       

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
         Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
         So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,
         So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children,
         So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame;
         He is mindful that we are but dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
         As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
         And its place acknowledges it no longer.

But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
         And His righteousness to children’s children,

To those who keep His covenant
         And remember His precepts to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
         And His sovereignty rules over all.

Bless the LORD, you His angels,
         Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
         Obeying the voice of His word!

Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
         You who serve Him, doing His will.

Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
         In all places of His dominion;
         Bless the LORD, O my soul!

God Bless you and Thanks for reading! 

Green with Inspiration!

I like this color combination.

Industrial stove -check

Vent hood ( big and chunky!) - check 

Love the variation of texture throughout. (Board and Batten walls) and the bead board below...

Tall upper cabinets or open shelving or NO uppers...all ok with me!  I'm not picky here. 

What I really like is the mix and match model! 

Love the door and the way the red/orange tone plays off the green.  And that 

bead-board...ah! 

OH! and don't forget-- the favorite all time must have in any Cottage Kitchen--- 

Painted floors!!!!!  Dreamy.   ssshhhh, I'm dreaming.  

Ok, now this next picture has some green-ish turqoise--in it and doesn't exactly look like kitchen inspiration but believe me, I'm inspired. 

I have a project that I'm working on and I hope to reveal it soon--- 

I'm SO inspired! 

That's it. That's me sharing a little day dream- Kitchen episode with ya. Have fun with it!

God Bless you

and 

Thanks for reading! 

(now, when I drafted this I knew who to give credit to for the first 2 photos. Now I can't remember please forgive !  If you know who let me know I'll gladly post the credit) 

****NOTE**** 
If you've been brought to this page via your current mode of SEARCH ENGINE... you may click HERE and see what I've done with The Color GREEN in my home. It's not the kitchen. But, I'm pleased with it. 
It's cottage-y; And I like it! 

Thank you for stopping by! 

Off the Ventilator--

This is one of the latest pictures- a favorite of mine, of Easton after he is off the ventilator. 

Check out that beautiful smile! 

He still has the (brovac) IV in this photo. But that is gone now too. 

*edited to say he still has the brovac (that has to stay during his hospital stay, he got to lose one of the other IV's in his hand)

My Daughter came home today. With quite a bit of feet dragging and crying. 

But our SIL has been so strong for her. I have seen this young man grow up from a boy to a man. He is doing a wonderful job with his family---especially his wife. 

This is definately Praise Worthy to God. 

We waited 24 hrs after Big Brothers stomach upset over Sunday and today before spending anytime with Momma and Daddy.   ( We think it might have been Mc D's food) All is well, we're all doing fine.

Momma and Daddy have gotten to have snuggle time! 

Yay!  I'm so happy for them. He has really warmed up to them too. 

They are learning so much and are being allowed to assist in some of his care now. 

The hardest part about this whole ordeal is waiting. 

There is always the next step in Easton's care and they have to wait for the Medical staff to give the 'go-ahead' every step of the way.  I know that God is really teaching this young couple patience. I know that he is giving them  measure of FAITH.  They are watching and waiting.  

I hope they are able to see God's Grace and Mercy in all of this. Because that is all I can see! 

Grace and Mercy. 

"Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10 

God Bless you 

and 

thank you for reading! (and Praying) 

Thank you

I just wanted to say Thank You. 

Thank You to my readers and blog friends who have offered up prayers for our little 

Easton and our whole family.

I talked to Momma last night before bed and his blood gases were good and they were able to take him off the ventilator. 

Yay! Hallalujah and Praise the Lord! 

They go minute by minute with these little babies. 

This morning I spoke with her and she said that around mid-night she couldn't sleep and 

went down to his floor to see him, They told her then that he'd probably get to take one of the IV's out on Sunday (today) AND! she got to be there when they changed his bedding, diaper and such---she got to hold him for the nurse. 

While they were doing all this the first time was with a blanket between them, but then they changed that blanket and it was skin to skin. 

She said that she didn't get to nuzzle him yet, but it was more like a fork lift, she just held him out over his bassinet.  The nurse asked if she was getting tired. 

Momma said, "No, I could hold him forever." 

I am proud of her and daddy and when she tells me this my heart is just broken at the same time. 

Praise God, praise God, praise God! 

I'm seeing her spirit being lifted. 

I know this will be a roller coaster for her. 

*On Friday we were told that he will remain in the hospital for about 3 months. 

He needs 2 more surgeries and they will be approximately 6-8 weeks apart. 

So yesterdays and this morning's news was certainly encouraging. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On another note. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I won't be getting to see her or the baby today or maybe even tomorrow. Because Big Brother (Weston) is sick this morning. He's had an upset stomach, so Honey and I are staying home from church. Hoping he gets well.  I'm off to get some Gatorade and soda crackers in a bit. 

We have to keep him well. Otherwise--none of us can go and see the baby. Or Momma-- I don't want to make her sick either. She can't afford to be sick. 

Please continue pray. 

I thank you again for your prayers already. 

I thank God for hearing and answering those prayers. 

As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 18:30

I hope to post a new picture soon, right now he has a tape-mustache in all his pictures.

God Bless you 

and 

Thanks for reading! 

Little Crate

I have a little crate.
Its an August Sebastian Country Wine crate. 
It was curbshopped by my Mom before she passed away...years ago, in fact my kids were little. I think I only had 1 at the time! Gosh, that was a long time ago.  


Anyway, I've used this little wine crate to hold  a chicken knick-knack collection, video games (in my boys' room) , dvds, and now my old canisters. 

Can you spot a difference? 
Remember the little song, from Sesame Street... 


'one of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong... 

I only had a set of 3 canisters. I had a tin I've used for years for filters, so the day I decided to hang this crate... I spray painted my 'filters' can with  EL CHEAPO silver spray paint and stenciled 'FILTERS' on it.  I also found, in the pots and pans district of my kitchen, an old skillet lid with a black knob (AND NO SKILLET) and unscrewed it from the lid, drilled a whole  HOLE in the lid of the tin and --TA-DA!  
*edited to say-- how many times must one misspell 'hole', before speller checker tells you, 'Hey! don't you mean HOLE?'  This concludes this portion of blog reading otherwise known as a RANT! thank you. 


NOW... it is a subtle difference. QUIRKY yet interesting; and gets a giggle when someone notices!  
It usually sparks conversation in the kitchen--- which is where all the action takes place, right? 


And then there is this! My 'mag-wagon' I call it.  Just in case you've not seen it... I thought I'd show it again.   You can see the full post here. 

I'm linking up here...







Check out the party and the other party goers at Donna's FJI--SNS #34 


God Bless you 
and 
Thanks for Reading. 

Finally I can Say it...

It's a BOY!   He's here! We've been waiting for this day!


A.N.X.I.O.U.S.L.Y!


Our little fellow is finally here.





It's been a long 38 weeks. Yes, he is early. But very healthy considering the health complications we learned about at 17 weeks.  Our little guy has Gastroschisis.  


He was born at 4:51 pm Thurs. June 10, 2010 and has already had surgery that lasted about 1 1/2 hrs... he is so strong! Got good lungs, and you can tell he is such a fighter!


I praise God for this little baby.  I can't wait until I get to hold him and cradle him --- I know my daughter is longing for that moment even more than I .  I want to touch his little hands and feet.  I want to nuzzle his little cheek next to mine.  I want to hold him and sing to him. I know my daughter will do these things-- she is a good mommy.  
But as his Oma-- I'm just saying, I want to do these things too. 


I am so proud of her.  She is so strong. She is young and has been through a lot in her young years.  I'm proud of my SIL too--- he did a great job today, he was strong for my baby girl.  He kept his cool.  He kept us informed. 
I can't stand waiting!   It was almost unbearable.  Honey got there WITH THE BIG BROTHER, WHO KEPT ME COMPANY  (smile) --after she was taken back to surgery--- and in NO time at all, it was announced that he was here!  Born already. This is our first C-section in our family. It goes quicker than I thought!   
No one was allowed back except for Daddy (SIL) ---until the baby was stable, AND THEN IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER HIS SURGERY!  


But they finally let us come back there.  I whispered to him what a big boy he is; A big boy  and at 6 lbs 2 oz. --  that is a good size for a Gastroschisis baby (they typically have low birth weight)   I told him that I love him and that Honey loves him. His Mommy loves him. 


...and I told him that Jesus loves him.  He's old enough to hear the Gospel now, I figure.  :)  

The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.  Proverbs 20:12   


Praise God! 


He may still need a few more surgeries.  But we have confidence first in God and then the Doctors he has given to provide  care. 


If you think of our little one-- would you say a prayer for his recovery?  


God Bless you 
and 
Thank you for reading!