October 16-18

Another family trip this month.  We drove up to Roanoke, Va for a couple of days to visit Jonnie's aunt, uncle and cousin & his wife.  Lots of fun, wish we could have stayed longer.  We traveled to nearby Mill Mtn, got to see the Roanoke Star up close (it's HUGE), and visited the Mill Mtn zoo and Discovery Center. 

More photos from Mill Mtn, Va

October 8th & 9th

We spent the weekend of Oct 8 down at Myrtle Beach with my mom and my brother & his family, for a branch of my mom's family's annual reunion.  The weekend was way too short (and much warmer than we expected, hence no bathing suits for the beach!).   

Music to share

 

you test my nerves
it makes me stronger
so could you bother me
a little bit longer

Really love the chorus of this song.  What love is all about!

Round 2

Well, Jonnie had his ankle surgery on Aug 5.  Stitches removed Thursday last week.  Doc told him he could start trying to put some weight on it.  He tried.  It HURT like crazy so he decided to wait a while longer.  Saturday his foot swelled up and the incision split open.  I closed it up with butterflies but he has been in more pain since then. 
And now we're gearing up for round 2.  He has pre-op appt tomorrow for his shoulder.  The injury turned out to be a type 3 separation.  The bone is at a pretty steep angle and will stay that way without surgery.  Because his job involves a lot of overhead work and heavy lifting, it was decided that surgery was the best option.  He needs the stability and the bone poking up into his muscle would continue to cause pain.  Surgery is this Friday the 26th to screw the bones back together.  Recovery time is 8-12 weeks.  He will have the use of 1 arm and 1 leg and will lose what limited mobility he has right now.  Praying for God's grace & strength to get us through the first week or 2.  It will not be easy.
I do have some really good news, though.  He finally decided we could homeschool this year!!! We are excited, nervous, and trying to prepare as much as possible this week before the surgery.  I am hoping that we can start in 2 (or 3) weeks once Jonnie is feeling better and not needing quite as much round-the-clock care.  Life will be super busy but I am so relieved.  Public school starts this Thursday, the day before the surgery.  I can't imagine how difficult it would be to have to worry about the bus & homework & getting them ready in the morning during the first part of his recovery.  So anyway ~ woohoo!!! Praise God for dreams come true, and grace & strength to get us through!

~ what a week ~

Torrential downpours 3 days in a row... which was wonderful... but which led to a wicked puddle in the jeep (that we didn't know about til days later when...) that led to several wet library books ($76 worth - ouchies!) and a few hours trying to suck out all the water from the carpet and get it mostly dry... And then today. 

Jonnie & his best friend, Jason, headed out to ride at a local park dedicated to mountain bikes, known for its difficulty level and number of jumps/drops.  He landed a jump wrong and flipped the bike end over end.  All of his fingers are badly swollen and bruised, a couple are taped, but surprisingly nothing really broken.  The helmet saved his head, but as you can see, completely dislocated his clavicle.  The doctor at the ER said it "should" settle pretty much back into place on its own but the only way to actually "fix" it and get it into the correct position is surgery.... And speaking of surgery - Jonnie is actually scheduled for ankle surgery this Friday (for a work-related injury).  SO.  He can't use most of his upper body, and by the end of the week he won't be able to use one of his legs.  We had to laugh, albeit morbidly, at his predicament.  Looks like I'm about to be very busy!  We are SO very thankful, though, for his friend (who helped us smile through everything today) and that the injuries were not worse. 

Also this week ~ I took our chickie back to the vet to check her wound again.  Two weeks ago the doc stitched her up.  The holes have mostly closed up, but chickie pulled her stitches out and there are still two tiny holes that are trying to close.  I gave her a bath this morning and let her spend some time outside to dry off.  I will have to slowly work her back outside because of the heat.  If I move her out too soon, she could die.  We've already lost one to the heat, but really I think that one had a respiratory issue which made her more susceptible.  The one we lost a week ago was the same breed (and came from the same flock) as the one who was sick all winter and died in April. 



Despite all the chaos (because, really - isn't it always?), we are still smiling.  God is still good, and all has truly been grace.  Praying God holds us together and we are still smiling a week from now!    :)

Just a song...

that happens to be stuck in my head today.  one of my favorites.  completely adore this song.  love it so much i wish it was a book!   :)

Cucumber Canoe by The Missing Piece

Seth & Leah Decker