It's an adventure, Charlieeeee...

Ah, yes, I love the Charlie the unicorn videos.  However, I feel like I lose a few brain cells afterward.  :-P 

If you get a chance, or the courage, you should check it out.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YOi2kDs-LE

ANYWAY.

So, we had a little "adventure" this week.  Last Monday (the 21st), I took Mackenzie to the doctor for an ear infection.  This was only her second infection, so rock on!  Yummy bubblegum medicine, here we come! 

Here we are the following Monday evening, after bathtime, I notice two red spot where her diaper was (on her legs) and I thought it was just rubbage - hello, chubrub - so I lovingly put some hydrocortisone cream on, like I do for all her little eczema spots, and her yummy aveeno oatmeal lotion. 

Next morning, I get her up from bed and unzip her sleeper.  HELLOOOO RASH.  All. Over. Her. Body.

So, as I'm trying not to panic, I try to reassure her, comfort her and call the doctor all at the same time.  They got us in at 10 am to see a different doc as hers was not in that day.  Come to find out my poor girl is allergic to penicillin!  I guess my mom's mom was also highly allergic.  Who'dathunk?

Naturally, the doctor advises that we stop the amoxicillin immediately and just keep up the benadryl and do a dose of zyrtec at bedtime.  I thought all would get better.

Nope.  Wednesday morning it's so much worse.. my poor baby!  Now it has spread all over her body - not just spots, it was completely connected - and to her face and scalp.  She wasn't bothered much Tuesday, but Wednesday she was scratching at it and just generally fussy.  :-(  So I called the dr office again and they wanted to wait a bit to see how the benadryl took affect.  These pics are were taken at 10 am - she got a tsp of benadryl at 8 am....

Uhhh... Houston, we have a problem!!

Luckily, my doctor is an amazing Christian woman, and knows I'm a good momma, so she trusted me when I said it wasn't getting better, only worse!

On the road again.... got back in to the doctor at 12:15 - and she went to get another doctor and a student to come see.  My daughter got quite a few looks and chats that afternoon!  I hope Mackenzie's reaction was helpful to the student and doctors in the office so they can be better doctors! 

Now, we're on Day 2 of steroids and holy moly, have they made a HUGE difference!  She still has the hives, but now they are almost completely gone from her face and there are just a few spots on her abdomin and back.  The worst spots are her arms and legs, but they are gradually getting better. 

Word of the Wise:  ALWAYS trust your maternal instincts!  I thought she was worse and needed something in addition to the benadryl to get her immune system to chill, and I was right!  I thank God for giving me my maternal instincts to take the best care possible of my sweet girl, Mackenzie!

It's an adventure Charlieeeee.... Biliip Biliip  (I know you wanna go watch that video now....)

Plans with a hope and a future

The books I have been reading by Karen Kingsbury have really reached out to me.  One passage keeps coming up again and again.  It's found in the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I have a friend who has been heading down a path of destruction the past several months.  I haven't approved of her actions, but I have tried to show her God's love through compassion and unconditional love.  No matter what she does, I will love her.  Because really, it's not her that's bad, it's the lies and evil that the devil has fed her that are bad. 

As you know, I gave up Facebook for Lent.  I have never given anything up before, but I have been doing well.  I've been praying for my friend.  I got on FB Sunday (after finding out that was acceptable!) and found that I no longer had my friend on my list.  It seemed like she had deleted her account (which I thought was strange) because I couldn't find her when I searched.  However, just today, my discipline was tested.  My mom called to let me know that she hadn't deleted her account, she simply unfriended all of us that disapproved of her actions.  My mom found out through another mutual friend and he also told us that just 9 hours previously, she had updated her status about "papers being filed."  Talk about a blow.

This is totally the devil at work!  I am praying for God to give me the words as I call her on my way home today.  I want to get the whole story.  Miraculously she finally replied to my text messages (yes, I can be quite badgering when I want to be ;-P) and I asked her if it was okay to call her later.  She said yes and something else that really broke my heart.  She unfriended us because she was embarrassed and she didn't feel worthy of our love. 

That made me think about how many people are out there that feel that way.  They shut out the Christians because they are afraid of judgement and snide remarks and "I told ya so's".  This is no okay with me.  Jesus has called us all to love.  To love the way He has loved us.  So what if she does things that we don't find acceptable?  The only way to show her the truth and light is to love her NO MATTER WHAT! 

So, please, my friends.  Pray with me.  Pray for my friend and her husband.  Pray that they see the lies that they've been believing.  Pray that I be given the words to guide her and to love her.  I'm not ready to be out of her life.  I believe God has brought us together for a reason, and I'm just hoping the reason isn't over yet. 

God wants SO much for her.  He has a future and a hope - and it's not one that will harm her, like the way she's heading right now. 

Please, Lord, work a miracle in the life of my friend and her husband.  Please use me, in whichever way you can.  I am Yours to use.  Please help her see that her life can be fixed.  Please help her see that she's worthy of love, unconditional everlasting love and compassion.  Help her see that she's worthy of YOU and Your love, that You died on the cross for HER and You want a relationship with her.  Please give her a sense of Your peace at this very moment.  I ask all this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Don't pinch me!

Yeah, it's St. Patricks Day, and I forgot to wear green.  Please don't pinch me!  I'm oh, so fragile!

In other news... the "Mom of the Year Award" goes to....

Me!  Hooray (or not)

We went to the zoo yesterday, and silly me forgot to slap some sunscreen on my sweet girl's face and hands - the only parts of skin exposed.  And I didn't have the shade out on the stroller.  It was such a beautiful day!  I just didn't think about it.  And now she's pink.  :-(  At least it doesn't seem to be bothering her.

Yesterday was a long day.  And I'm amazed at my child's stamina.  We were at the zoo by 10, walked around, ate lunch...

mmmm, cheetos...

...walked around some more.  Rode the train, rode the carousel, watched the silly polar bear do his laps around the big rock in his pool.  I knew the crash was coming...

Not even 5 minutes after we left (around 2:15 or so), she was mid-sip on her cup, and passed out, straw still in her mouth.  I wanted to get a picture, but as I was driving, I figured that'd be a bad idea.  :-)  So I just hoped she wouldn't move.  She moved, of course - then passed back out, with the straw pushed into her cheek.  That I did get a picture of.

Yes, it's okay to want to die from cuteness... I almost did.  :-)

So, we got home, changed a diaper, and went down for the real nap in the crib.  (about 2:45 now)  She played for a little while and finally zonked back out.  I was hoping for Drew to just watch her since it had been a big day, but that silly man cold was too strong.  :-P  Nah, he was really sick.  So about 4:15, I felt horrible for doing it, but I woke up my sweet girl, strapped her into the car, and took off for church.

And I was there till like 8:30.  Children's choir rehearsal, adult choir rehearsal (for our big 100th anniversary celebration this weekend!  Yeah!!) and then my trio rehearsal.  I was worried Mackenzie was gonna be so fussy, but she did really well!  That stamina I tell ya.  Must be nice.  Anywho, we got home around 9, and she went immediately to bed.  Where she proceeded to talk, kick and shake her crib till almost 10! 

She's with Gugu today, as my mom just went under the knife for gall bladder surgery.  She's out and the surgery went well, btw. 

I never know how to end my posts in a lovely way.  So here's the ending.  :-P

Will it never end?

Snow.  The dirty word.  Yet, at the same time, it's one of the most beautiful things.  Yes, it's March 14th, and we're getting snow.  At least it's not sticking to the roads!

On a more exciting note, Mackenzie is really progressing with her walking skills.  Just last night, she was able to stand by herself!  Without the help of anything or anyone, she got on all fours (like, on her feet and hands with her booty in the air), then crouched and stood up!  I'm so proud!

It's so fun watching her learn.  Every day she's learning new words and getting such a spunky little personality.

Currently, she's laying on the floor by the wall, rolling around, sucking her thumb and holding her "lovie."  Too cute.  :-)

I have been good and haven't gotten on Facebook.  I know it's not the same kind of temptation that Jesus faced here on Earth, but FB is something I like and thought it would be most similar in giving up.  If that makes sense?

Anyway, we're just hanging out in our jammies today.  The wonderful part about being a SAHM.  Guess I should go figure out something for lunch.... (the not so great part hehe)

we're pretty rad

Here are a couple pics for your viewing enjoyment.  ;-)

Born to be a rockstar

"whatever, mom"

Time to set the clocks forward an hour.  My least favorite time of the year.  I think my clocks change automatically.  If I'm late to church tomorrow, you'll know I was misinformed.  ;-)

FBAA

Hi, my name is Meghan and I am addicted to Facebook.

Seriously?  It's only been 1 day since declaring that I am giving up my FB fix for Lent.  And it's proving to be more difficult than I could have imagined!  I feel so disconnected from the world, it's ridiculous!

I have been trying to say a prayer for the unsaved whenever I think about wanting to hop on Facebook.  So that's great.  But holy smokes... ::: breathes into paper bag :::

Lent (no, not the bellybutton kind!)

I didn't make it to the Ash Wednesday service last night.  I feel kinda guilty for just picking up Mackenzie and getting home at a decent hour for her bedtime.  But it had been a long day.  I did, however, read some passages in the Bible before I got up yesterday morning.  One verse, in particular, stuck out to me.  It was from Psalms 143 verse 10 - "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!"

Wow.

Many people think of Lent and think it's just for the catholics.  Drew saw someone at his work yesterday with ash on his forehead.  He thought it was kind of weird.  But it's not really all that weird.  Okay, yeah, walking around all day with dirt on your head is kinda funny, but the message isn't.  At all.  It's a tangible reminder of the reason we celebrate and remember during this Lent season.  Easter isn't just an ordinary day.  It's the day we have set to remember what Christ did for us.  He died, having no sin whatsoever, so that we wouldn't have to pay the price for our sins.  That's incredible!

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!"  I believe it's God's will for me that I pray for the unsaved, the broken, and the needy.  If I can do nothing else, I can still pray, and ask God to find a way into the hardened hearts of His people.  Some of those people are my friends.  And I really don't want to be in heaven someday and realize that I didn't do all in my power to make sure they had a spot next to me.  I felt compelled to give up Facebook because, frankly, I spend too much time on there.  I can use that time I would be scrolling through the pages to pray.

"Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est" - Where charity and love are found, God is there.