Freedom - A Photo Album

I won't get on any soapbox here, but with all the talk about immigration from both sides of the fence (or wall, as it were), my heart has been feeling tender.  I don't like my heart to feel tender when I write posts. because I am likely to say something out of deep emotion that triggers someone that I love to comment in defense of some toe I have stepped on.  

This isn't about that.  It's just about my heart.

I feel so grateful each fourth since 2013 when Natalie's and my life (lives? how do you say that?) were saved by amazing doctors and nurses, by prayer, by faith, by science and the time period and place we were lucky enough to be born in.

I'm grateful on the fourth because the month after Nano was born, on the fourth, I walked to see the fireworks with my family (though I had to get a ride back home).  I was still only halfway through the ordeal with my bloodclots, which would return twice more, and my pelvic veins were completely blocked, but I could walk, I had my leg, I had my baby, and I had my life.

I'm grateful because on the following fourth, I ran in my first ever 5K.  I came in 14 million and twelfth.  I was awesome.  Moms pushing double-strollers were passing me, but I did it.

The next two years blurred into that blissful place of New Normal; not what they once were, but certainly not what they could have been.

And this year, as I sat with my family, a new feeling of gratitude arrived.  I am grateful that my children are safe and protected in this place I am blessed to live.  They have food security and all the simple things in life that make the difference between peace and worry, even if those things are humble at times.  They are as safe as I can make them from a world that would take them and hurt them; that would take away their childhoods and replace them with fear and trauma and distrust forever.

I am so grateful to live here.  With all it's flaws and struggles to get it right for EVERYONE, which I hope we will ever be working towards, I can acknowledge the good while holding hope for a less troubled future for this country that I love.

We are blessed.

*****

My little peanut, always full of her own kind of fireworks!

Hmmm, something just doesn't quite look right here...

There, that's better!

We call this his "Flynn Ryder" (look it up).

This is the year she has changed the most.

He usually shys away from my camera, 

but so far, not from the offer to snuggle.

Snuggles for everyone!

It's getting dark! 
The fireworks take forever to start when you are five.

But once they do, you can almost touch them!

Natalie danced to the music the ENTIRE time. 
She started out plugging her ears, but by the end,
 she was more fun to watch than the fireworks!

*****

In Amador county, the Fourth is so fun they start on the third! 
That leaves the Fourth for family time and play, the whole day.

We always reach out to Dr. F 
on the Fourth because it is also his birthday
(though I spelled his name wrong, whoops!). 
One more reason to be grateful!

Tessa and Big Ellie fought over Erin's Baby Ellie all evening.

Bill and Syndi Dyer bring a spark of joy with them 

(which is good, because it's the only sparking we can have in the woods!)

Dad joined us, and where dad is, there is Penny!  So fun to have him here.

And Erin was joined later by her hubby, who we seldom get to see

 as he works protecting our state from wildfire.  More gratitude.

This could be a Normal Rockwell painting!

Jonah planned a water balloon fight, and everyone loved it.

After it was over, there was a water-balloon-picking-up-contest. 

 The winner got a baggie of nickles!  Congrats Aeron!

(best dollar I ever spent!)

As is our family tradition, we watched The Music Man once the sun went down, only this time we did it projected on the garage on a sheet.  Those who could stay had a ball.

 It was chilly, so everyone bundled up for the show.

This was the only picture I got of Bonnie and Peter... and the Uhri's evaded my camera this time as well.  I need to be a better photographer next time. Ethan now lives in Sacramento and decided to hang out there for the Fourth.  My kids they is growin' up!

Can't wait till next year!

Tender Mercies

My new wheels.

 

I can't think about today's news anymore.  I am all cried out at the moment.

 

Here is what I am grateful for right now:

 

A husband who:

- takes Ethan to boxing and Adam on a date to try to help everyone feel normal.  

- holds me when I cry. 

- tries to help me see past all the scary "ifs" to what we have right now that is not broken.

- cuddles me at night, and flirts with me and makes me feel as sexy

 as a beached walrus can possibly feel.

- wants to take care of things so other's won't feel a burden.

 - rubs my sore leg.

- tells me spring flowers will be here next year. 

- takes care of 15-year-old homework procrastination.

- calls me to remind me to take my shot.

- does his job and then comes home and does mine.

- holds it together, even though this has got to be as hard on him as it is on me.

 

A baby who:

-is alive

-has the hiccups right now and makes me smile.

-has made it this far and is perfect.

-God sent, and has protected thus far.

 

 

Children who:

cook me a high protein breakfast, bring me apples, fill my water (again!), clean up my water after Jonah spills it (again!), teach each other to cook french toast, help me get things onto my feet, comfort each other, change poopie diapers, bathe and dress Jonah, feed him, and wipe his tears,

hug me and tell me they love me.

 

Friends who:

call

cook

help

call

hold me while I cry (thank you, Ellen)

swoon over ultrasound images that look like a cross between

 Skeletor and Alien II, and still tell me my baby is pretty

call

post uplifting scriptures and thoughts on Facebook

take my kids to classes

act like there is no inconvenience at all in picking up the pieces of my life

pray.

 

A dad who:

calls every day to check on me, even though I know he is really upset by it all.

emails funny stuff.

tells me every time we talk that he is praying for me.

 

Siblings who:

are fasting and praying

call

write

send flowers

share their stories of faith and hope

 

Other things I am grateful for:

 

Gail's soft blanket... when I hurt in the night and the house is quiet,

 I hug it and remember I am not alone.

 

Homeschool; I feel needed even though I can't do much right now,

 and it gives me a sense of normal.

 

Windows and spring-like breezes.

 

Heating pads and Tylenol.

 

Doctors and nurses and medicines that are saving our lives right now.

 

The scriptures, especially ones I know by heart.

 

Prayer.

 

Answers to prayer.

 

 

 

Today we got a scary blood test back.  I am RH negative, and was sensitised by Jonah's birth so that my body made anti-bodies against his blood type.  At some point in this crisis with the blood clot and blood thinners, my blood mixed with this baby's blood, and antibody levels have begun to rise, indicating that this baby also has a positive blood type that my blood will attack.  The worry here is that this means that somehow our blood has or is currently mixing, leading to the assumption that there is a problem with the attachment of the placenta.  The attack on the baby's red blood cells can be treated by a blood transfusion after, or if very serious, prior to birth.  The scary part is knowing that the blood is mixing and that could mean a far more dangerous placenta problem; placental abruption.  If it is slow detachment, it could clot and stop, and the baby could make it fine to the birth.  The blood thinners could keep it from clotting, and it could continue to separate.  If it does, the baby will have to be delivered right away to save it.  Symptoms are bleeding and contractions, but not all women have them. 

 

Okay, I have to go back up and read my list again now. 

อาหารค่ำกับเพื่อน

Or as we say in our backyard:

Dinner with Friends

It was time again for our sort-of monthly sometimes-foreign dinner with Dave, Steph, Kathy and the Bishop.  He has a name, but we just call him Bishop. 

Guy, fab-husband turned master Thai chef was in the kitchen chopping for about 4 hours.  He then diced, minced, marinated and braised.  In no time he was stirring and finally...

Wallah!

(which is Arabic for คนฝรั่ง)

(which is Thai for "Ta-da!")

He created a Thai feast.

I set the table. 

Hey, too many cooks

spoil the Thai Coconut Chicken soup.

We sat out in the warm July evening breeze, ooh-ing and ah-ing over each course.  We laughed and took seconds.  We were serious a little, here and there, but usually not for long.  As the sun set, the twinkle lights lit the gazebo with a warm glow.  It was, as Steph told me later, a meal she would have paid $100 for.  But the company, of course, was priceless.

At the end of the evening we each opened a fortune cookie.  Fortune cookies aren't a Thai tradition, but technically they aren't really Chinese, either.  We giggled as we took liberties modifying our fortunes.  Then Kathy read hers.  I believe it said;

"Appreciate the caring people who surround you."

ฉันจะทำ.

I do.

 Orange Salad with toasted coconut and fresh mint

(Thanks Kathy!)

Roasted Eggplant Salad with Cilantro and Lime

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Butternut Squash and Chicken Curry

 Paht Thai Noodles with Pork



 Pork and Zucchini in Red Curry Sauce

Chunky Baby with Rice

  

 

Homemade Coconut Ice Cream with Peanut Battered Banana Fritters

 in Strawberry Sauce