Life . . . =0)

Okay, so it has been a while since my last post . . . sorry. =0}

Anyway, I decided that it was about time to post at least a little something. =0)

My Dad:

My Dad hasn't been feeling the greatest lately. He has been dizzy and just in a lot of pain. He tires easily, and sleeps a lot! When he is asleep, he jumps like crazy. When he falls asleep in his chair, it looks like he is going to jump out of it! He's just not himself - he's not talkative anymore. It could be that he has just run out of things to talk about (which is why it's a good thing he's going to Maryland and West Virginia next weekend), or it could be that he just doesn't feel like talking. Either way, it's just not my dad. He stays mostly to himself, and if he is in his "usual" spot (the green chair in the living room), he just sleeps. Please keep him in your prayers.

Isaiah:

Isaiah turned 3 (on June 25th)!!!! I can't believe my baby is 3! He's no longer a toddler, but a preschooler!!! It's crazy how time flies!

Isaiah has been doing really good. He had an allergist appointment about 2 weeks ago (I know, I know . . . I should have posted sooner) =0) and his allergist is pleased with how good he is doing. His appetite was great at the time, and his asthma is under control - he's on a new med . . . Advair twice a day. It seems to be working quite well (even in the midst of the controlled burn behind our house 2 weeks ago that left us in a hotel 2 nights), and doesn't make him jittery or anything. The Advair contains two medications in one - a stronger medication to prevent asthma attacks (a little like the Pulmicort) and another that is a long-lasting albuterol (which treats an asthma attack). It's still very overwhelming that he is on all of these meds (still 10 a day), but I know that God is in control and that He will take care of us and our needs.

As far as the rashes . . . they come and go. The allergist said that they are "normal" for him and should be expected. As much as I hate that Isaiah's "normal" is rashy, I can at least be thankful that the rashes aren't the huge blisters and cracks. It's weird to continuously treat these rashes with the topical steriods for 2 weeks, then to switch them to the Protopic for 2 weeks (so that his body doesn't get used to the medications and so that the side effects are lessened). The house is always cold - sweating makes it all worse - and Isaiah stays inside apart from our trips to K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or Target. =0) Oh yeh, there was also the quick walk by the river (the Indian River) when we had to stay at one of the hotels . . . we saw a mommy and baby manatee (which Isaiah named Mrs. Barbara Manatee and Baby Barbara Manatee - thank you, Larry the cucumber)! It was amazing. They swam right up to us as if to say hello - and they were probably thinking, "Wow! There's a mommy human and baby human!" =0)

We did have a little scare this past week. Isaiah lost his appetite, and started having some digestional problems (sorry for those of you with weak stomachs, but . . . diarrhea). He also got more of a rash on his cheeks . . . I have no idea what happened, but his appetite returned at dinner time - 3 chicken legs; 3 ears of corn; some broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots . . . and a cookie!!! =0) He's a little piggy! =0) Which reminds me of his new favorite phrase . . . "a chinny, chin, chin!" If you haven't guessed it, it's from the story of the Three Little Pigs. Isaiah decided that I was to be the wolf, and he was the little pigs. When he comes up to me and starts saying "Little pig, Mommy," I'm supposed to reply, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" You get the point. =0) He laughs so hard when I blow on him!! He has such a wonderful imagination! He also has the most contagious laugh!!! I'm so glad he has found it again! =0)

I also enjoy hearing him speak and sing more. I'm not sure if I had posted this, but I was a little worried about his speech development. He wasn't speaking much beyond jibberish before we went to Lakeland. Since our first visit, Isaiah has been speaking almost non-stop! His speech is much clearer, and he even understands more!! He even sings along with the radio!!!! One of his favorite radio songs is "My Savior lives! My Savior loves! My Savior's always there for me! My God He is! My God, He was! My God is always going to be!" Of course some of the words don't come out all that clearly . . . it's more of " . . . My Savior always for me! My God is! My God was! My God alway gunna beeeeeee!" =0) It's awesome! The first time I heard him sing that, I got all teary-eyed! =0) I was worried, but God proved that He's in control. Not that I doubted that He knew what He was doing, but He definately proved that as well!

God is always faithful, and He knows what we need when we need it. I couldn't imagine life without Him. He is truly amazing!

God's blessings upon you and your family,

Kelly & Isaiah =0)