Blue Valentine Greeting

Yesterday morning, I noticed this Valentine greeting on our marker board....

Now before you start thinking that I have the least romantic hubby alive, let me tell you the story.....

Sometime in January, we realized that the van ran out of inspection the end of December.  We have not received any awards for being the most observant folks, but we were a little surprised that we missed such an important date!!  We are thankful we didn't receive any fines, but just a friendly reminder from a police officer at the gas station, "your sticker ran out, better take care of that." Anyway, we faced a dilemma, our van seems to be hobbling along on it's last leg (oops, I mean tire), sputters and shakes whenever it pleases, and we were informed that it would not pass inspection unless we had some welding done to the frame.  I would get concerned, and "shaken" up, if I had to drive a far distance and Dave would feel frustrated, for he tried to fix it himself to no avail.  Is it worth spending the money to get it fixed?  Will money fall out of the sky for another vehicle?  Well, our dearest son-in-law said he would do the welding and our nephew does our mechanical work (for a reasonable fee) and he said he could finally inspect it yesterday, so we decided to try to get some more life out of the jitney.  So, when Dave wakes up on Valentine's morning, his "blue" mind thinks, "yes, today the van will be fixed!" and my "pink" mind, after seeing the board's message, goes, "I'm in trouble."  My pink quickly starts to fade into light purple as I mix in the blue of the situation and realize, he loves me so much and wants me to have a safe vehicle to drive.  He works so hard to meet the needs of our family.  He is a responsible husband. 

HE LOVES ME!!!  ♥

 And I know he is more romantic than a blue (yes, he deliberately made it blue) message on a marker board!  In fact, he loves giving and receiving flowers more than I do.  I would rather go for a walk with him.  Different languages, but still love! 

Well, we get our van back in the evening and it still sputters!   Instead of seeing blue or pink, we both were tempted to see red!   Maybe it is on it's last 1/2 of a tire!  I don't know, maybe our family should consider taking up marathon running, or bike racing.  We could still go places, plus get in excellent shape and no state inspection sticker required!  Can't decide if that thought would be considered more blue or pink?  ;)

Happy Belated Valentines Day.  Hope it was neither blue nor pink, but light purple!

(to understand the differences between "blue" and "pink", we highly recommend the Love and Respect by Emerson Eggrichs)

Until next time....... 

Double Digits for Oliver

10 years old is such a milestone in a child's life.  Sounds more grown up than just plain old number 9.   Oliver made that milestone yesterday, the 4th.  To think that our youngest is now in the double digits is a thought that Dave & I aren't sure we are comfortable with.  Too bad, though, right?  Can't stop growing up from happening, so we stop, take a look at our children, increase the hugging, and remind ourselves to take more pictures!!

At Oliver's first exam in the hosp. after his birth, the Dr. heard a heart murmur.  Knowing the history of Solomon's congenital heart condition, the Dr. sent Oliver for an echo.  Sure enough, he also had a coarctation of the aorta.  They prepped him to be flown to Hershey for surgery.  At 3 days old, Oliver had the narrowing repaired, which was done through the ribs on his left side.  He spent 5 days in the PICU and was sent home with a nervous mama and papa.  He thrived and grew quickly. 

However, like Solomon, he had a weakness for croup.  Over the last few years, whenever he got a simple cold, it escalated quickly into a tight cough and the need for meds that aren't good for a person.  These episodes became more frequent and more frustrating.  At the beginning of January, this year, we saw a pulmonary specialist at Hershey.  She suspected he has reflux, which was confirmed with an Upper GI.  We then saw a GI specialist, who also wanted to do some tests.  Fact - reflux can cause respiratory illness - just in case you didn't know. :)  Today, Oliver had a bronchoscopy (where they take a look at the airway with a scope) and endoscopy (taking a look at the esophagus and stomach) done at Hershey.  Both tests looked good, but we still have to wait for biopsies to come back.  He was a trooper today!  So proud of him!  However, I became a wreck!  First of all, they wanted Dave & I in the room till he was put to sleep.  I wanted to be there for Oliver's sake and he remembers us rubbing his arm and legs while he went to sleep.  But, watching the Dr. put that mask over his face and watching Oliver slowly lose conscientiousness is not a picture I want to store in my mind.  It was my undoing.  I know that I have shared before that I have scars from all the scary medical events we had with our children.  Scars are the markings of hidden pain and scary memories and sometimes those scars open up and all the hidden is relived.  That is what happens to me and today was one of those times.  I relived the anxious moments in that waiting room and hallway, the anxious moments of standing beside the boys cribs wondering when, or if, they would come home.  Hershey Hosp. is a great place!  They save lives, just like they did for Solomon and Oliver.  But inside those walls are many parents, children, brothers and sisters, and grandparents every day experiencing anxious moments for loved ones.  Life moves on and those moments, including the feelings and emotions, become past tense, but for me, and probably many other people, they remain in our minds and hearts forever.  Maybe for some, it a mother thing, or personality thing, a perspective thing or what ever else thing, but I know it is a real thing.  I also know that words of thanksgiving can be proclaimed from the silo tops, for we can celebrate each birthday knowing what a gift, what a blessing, our children really are.  Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Happy 10th birthday, Oliver.  We loved you meal selection of mashed potatoes, meatballs and corn and you did a great job decorating your big cookie!

Until next time................