Thought I’d Share

For all of you who have helped support JDRF in honor of Philip, I thought I’d share an exciting new development that they are working on.  All of the $1,600+  that was raised for “Philip’s Future” went toward the Artificial Pancreas Project that JDRF funds.   Here is a link to an interesting update on the project:

 http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=104576

This other link is totally random and simply made me smile so I thought I’d share it.  You may have already seen it (it’s had 11,000,000+ hits) but if not…I hope you enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0&feature=player_embedded

You gotta see this…

I took Anna and Luke creek stomping this afternoon.  We really had a blast and got really dirty – good times for sure.  Here are some pics.

 

Thompson Kids Play – 4 Parts

I wish I had a better way to do this, but follow the below links to see a play that the kids put together the other day.  They are in order and are each really short.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n8fiMZZXLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK8RhprE-kY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2IEHz1-J_E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQbP6hHmATQ

 

And for the most disturbing thing you have seen all week, I have posted Nate’s winning performance in the NorthBeach talent show Friday night.   He and Nate Sharkey put a couple of weeks worth of practice into this. 

Nate Squared… and the Digits 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njYiTPT2mtc

Back in the Saddle

Why is it that once you step away from something, it is so hard to get back on track?  The gym and blogging have been my neglected areas lately.  I did put on my Pilates DVD yesterday because I could feel my hips expanding as I walked back to the kitchen for one more handful of blueberry pomegranate trail mix crunch.  Ms. Windsor and her routine of torture did something, because today I feel like the muscles in my legs are wound up so tight I am sure they would snap if I attempted to stretch my legs out into a fully extended position.  That is why I am currently sitting here at the computer with the bag of blueberry pomegranate trail mix crunch right next to me, so there is no need to get up and walk anywhere that might lead me to think of the gym, or Pilates, or the likes. 

Since Pilates didn’t sound like any fun at all, I decided to make myself sit down at this computer and blog.  I really have wanted to, I’ve just needed about five or six more hours in my day to fit that in.  It’s one of those nights  mornings that I am waiting up ’til 2am to check Philip’s blood sugar, so I thought I’d fill my time catching everyone up on the completely insignificant happenings of our lives the past week or so. 

 First off, something not so insignificant.  Luke has been pooping on the potty for one week now.  No accidents.  Every time.  Hallelujah.  We have a ways to go on the tinkling.  (The boys hate that word – tinkling.  It’s what a bell does, they say).  Regardless, I am praising God that I haven’t changed one dirty diaper in over a week.  Do you know how many years it has been since this has happened to me?  Over six years, four months, and five days.  That’s a long time.  That’s why Wayland and I signed up to start working in the nursery at church.  I just can’t let it go.

Also, something seemingly insignificant, but not.  I can do laundry whenever I want.  I can shower two times a day if I feel like it, and I no longer have to spray my children down with a hose in the front yard to replace their bath time.  Such is life with city sewer services.  I am using thick, plush toilet paper and sometimes I just walk by a bathroom and flush the toilet for the fun of it.  It has honestly been life changing.  I mean that in the most non-dramatic way possible.  Really, it has revolutionized my life as a SAHM with four children.  I don’t care that it cost us more than 1/4 of what we paid for our first home.  This feeling of wasteful water use is pure bliss.  (Please don’t judge me.  I’ve been rationing water for the past 18 months, so I should be able to enjoy a week or two of being a tad irresponsible). 

Philip started his football training camp this past Monday.  It has made his numbers crazy, but what would we do if we didn’t have a new hurdle to overcome in dealing with diabetes?  We just met another family, who goes to our church, with a daughter a year older than Philip that was just diagnosed.  She is a gymnast and tennis player.  We took over some of Philip’s favorite snacks and shared the littletiny bit of wisdom we have acquired in the past seven months.  When I got in the car to leave, I cried.  They are two weeks in.  At two weeks in, you feel like you’ve been thrown enough information to last you a lifetime.  You feel like you can’t turn your back for a moment, or allow sleep to fully take you in it’s grasp.  You are tired of counting carbs, checking blood sugars, and adjusting insulin.  You’d like things to go back to normal.  At two weeks in, you are just beginning to realize that normal will never be the same.  

Philip is totally pumped about football season and the team his dad will be coaching for his 5th grade year.  NotreDame Fighting Irish.  (The draft was last night and Wayland walked away with a great group of boys – not just athletically, but character wise as well).  First team practice is Tuesday and the first scrimmage is one week from today.  Nathanael would be heartbroken since his football season hasn’t yet started, but he has been named the honorary “line” coach for Philip’s team.  He will relish this role like you couldn’t imagine. 

Speaking of Nathanael…and football…and coaching…you’d find it interesting to note that he appeared in full drag last night for the youth group’s annual talent show.  He and a group of friends did a little number to Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believing.”  He was the small town girl.  What a scary girl he was.  They did win the contest, though.  Ended up just being bragging rights and high fives, but he walked away happy with the win.  That’s Nate for you.

And this is also Nate for you

We also have video that we will try to upload.  It’s quite a riot.   

Guess that covers everyone except my sweet baby girl.  She has been quite the girly girl this week.  Today we took a walk to the school with our babies in their strollers.  She is constantly changing her doll’s clothes, and taking them with her everywhere she goes.  We’ve played Barbie’s, Strawberry Shortcake, and My Little Ponies (just the two of us – NO BOYS ALLOWED).  We did a makeover the other night before Philip’s football practice.  I walked away with tons of glitter (she did the same thing to my sister when she was here a couple of weeks ago), purple eyeshadow, and pink and purple painted fingernails (I’ve only peeled off half of mine so far, so right now it is quite a sight).  She is so funny.  Last week all she wanted to do was climb trees and catch fireflies.  This week, she keeps calling herself “the little mommy.”  When I grow lighten up, I want to be just like her.

School starts in a little over two weeks.  I just can’t believe it.  We are going to have to make the most of the next few days before the chaos ensues.  Anna is already complaining that she will have homework everyday.  (Thank you Philip for being so excited to point that out!)  She’s never even had homework, and she is already acting like it’s the plague or something.  Granny will be here next week to help us close out our summer with a bang.  Everyone is excited to have more family back to visit.  The good news is, she’ll be able to bathe whenever she wants.  My poor sister and brother weren’t so lucky.  I’m not sure they’ll ever let me live that down.

Just what the doctor ordered…

So we figured out the best way to shake off the dust of a pretty stressful week.  I don’t know if we are ever happier as a family than when we are out hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the great outdoors in general.  We went to Cataract Falls today – the largest waterfall(s) in Indiana.  Who knew such beauty was just an hour away – and God blessed us with a high of 66 degrees today (note the long-sleeves). 

Mill Creek covered bridge in the background

Mills Creek (yeah, it's just a creek)

just above the upper falls

hiking down to the base of the upper falls

unrivaled beauty (the waterfall is not bad either)

next time we will hike down and go behind the waterfall

hiking down to the lower falls

boys being boys

Kaleesha and kids just a few feet away from the edge of the upper falls

peace like a river

Luke being Luke at lunch

a little fishing to end the day (not even a nibble)

stand back when she is casting

my kind of fishing

All That I Can Say…

As you can see, Wayland was able to revive our computer.  Thank goodness. 

First off, update on Nathanael:  MRI came back.  Good news.  No ligament damage…just a “substantial bone contusion.”  Two more weeks in a splint and we should be all ready for football season.  Praising God that no surgery is in our future.

Second, looks like our insurance will approve an insulin pump for Philip.  Waiting to speak with our doctor on getting him all set up.

Third, we are finally hooked up to city sewer services.  Our faulty septic system is a thing of the past.  Almost two weeks of no laundry, minimal bathing, and infrequent flushing is enough to make a woman like me crazy.  It almost did.

Finally, these words from David Crowder’s song,  All That I Can Say  sum up all my feelings right now:

Lord I’m tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I’m so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I’ll stop
Rest here a while

And didn’t You see me cry’n?
And didn’t You hear me call Your name?
Wasn’t it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You’d remember
Where you sat it down

Chorus:
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give

Bridge:
I didn’t notice You were standing here
I didn’t know that
That was You holding me
I didn’t notice You were cry’n too
I didn’t know that
That was You washing my feet

I’m fighting some kind of funk right now.  I’m not sure why.  I’ve seen God’s faithfulness displayed through acts of amazing kindness from our outstanding neighbors this week.  They allowed me to bring over obscene amounts of laundry and went the extra mile to help me fold them. On top of that, they opened up their home so we could all shower and bathe on Wednesday.  If that wasn’t enough, we got two homemade sugar cream pies out of the deal.  Best cream pie I’ve ever tasted.  (Best neighbors in the world!)  We also got a rebate check from our escrow account at “just the right time.” (His hand of providence at work?!?) Put a dent in the plumbing bill if nothing else.  Still, in the midst of all the ways God is showing me He is right here “in the thick of it” with me, I feel like I can’t take another step.  Ever feel that way?  I hope I’m not the only one.  Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be cool (almost COLD!) and I think the six of us are heading over to do some hiking at a lake with some waterfalls about an hour west of here.  I think the change of pace might do me some good.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for our family this week…I guarantee you, they were definitely needed.

Technical Difficulties

If you are wondering why we have not posted or returned any emails, it is because our laptop is currently dead.  I am writing this post from a hotel in Michigan – I will try to fix the computer when I get home tonight.

Pray for Kaleesha this week:  football camp for the boys, VBS for the little ones, getting tied into the sewer system, an MRI for Nate’s wrist, and getting the news that Luke probably has asthma have been her realities this week.   All of that and the computer going down taking away her outlet to the outside world equals a difficult week.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are experiencing some spiritual warfare right now.  Pray that we would remain faithful and that our faith would be strenghtened through it all. 

WT

Week in Review

Well, TEAMThompson is flying solo again.  My sister and brother, along with my precious nephew and niece, left Indiana this morning to head back to the Lone Star State.  Honestly, I’m wiped out.  Don’t get me wrong, we had a great time - all ten of us together, but I am completely wiped out.  My poor sister is too.  Those of you who are moms know how hard it is to travel with small children.  It’s just hard to be at someone else’s house; on someone else’s schedule.  It’s even harder to do it for five full days, and then face a twelve hour drive home.  I’m feeling a little guilty that I have spent a good portion of my day on the couch, vowing that I wasn’t moving unless the house was burning down around me.  I just need a little recoup time before a really busy week ensues on Monday morning.  Two football camps, Adventure Week (our VBS), working at the school (time to get ready to go back already!), fixing our septic system and connecting to the sewer, doctor appointments…it’s going to be a hectic one, for sure.

Until then, I’m just going to focus on the great time we had this past week.  Hanging out, cooking out, playing games, swimming, go-karting, mini golfing, sight-seeing, museum experiencing, downtown eating, creek stomping, crawdad and snake hunting…we packed it pretty full.  I had a great time reconnecting with my sister, and loved seeing our children play together.  One of my favorite moments was when Noah looked at me and said, “Aunt Kaleesha – you’re the best Aunt Kaleesha in the world.”  What a sweetie!  Kenzie Jo fell pretty hard for cousin Philip (even though it was Nathanael who kept pushing her in the swing – one of her favorite things to do).  I think she wanted Philip to hold her the entire time at the museum and walking around downtown Indy.  Anna E. just loved everyone and was really sad to see her family say goodbye.  (She even got down her bag to try and hitch a ride back to Texas with them!)  Luke’s breathing started getting yucky and he began running a fever yesterday, but it didn’t keep him from soaking up as much playtime with his cousins as possible.  He’s told me several times already that he misses them.  Everyone was a little surprised to see just how much our Nathanael is growing up, both in stature and personality.  Wayland was in his element (trying his hardest to live up to one of his hero’s, the late Steve Irwin) taking everyone creek stomping and nature hunting.   The big boys played many rounds of golf on the X-box with Uncle Kaleb, and Anna E. and Luke snuck up into his lap or onto his back when they saw an opportunity.  I just can’t get over my baby brother.  He’s going to be 18 in less than two weeks.  It just doesn’t seem possible.  He’s a great kid young man.  Quite the comedian, as well.  I have no doubt he’s going to turn out just fine! 

In a little over a month, my other two sweet nieces (Reece and Rynn) are coming to see us (along with their sweet Mommy and Daddy) – I can’t wait!  Well, actually – I had better.  After some much needed rest, TEAMThompson will be ready to go at it again; doing something we all love and cherish dearly, spending time with family! 

Digging for dinosaur bones at the Children's Museum...(thanks Sissy and PaPa for the pass - we're going to enjoy it time and time again!)

 

Lukersaurus

Kenzie Jo the carnivore?

Literally, ALL day long!

 

Wrangling a Nile Crocodile

Tuckered out

Checking In

Yes, we are alive and well in Indiana.  This past Sunday, my brother, my sister, my nephew and my niece all came to visit the Hoosier State (and TEAMThompson who resides here).  We’ve been having ourselves a ball.  I thought I’d share a few quick pics of our time together to date. 

Kayli, Me and Kaleb

All the cousins

Anna E. and Aunt Kayli

Aunt Kaleesha and Kenzie Jo

Go Kart and Mini Golf Fun!

Anna E. and Noah

Kenzie Jo and Luker Duker

We’ll check back soon…we’re off to the Children’s Museum!  Fun, fun, fun!