The Streetpoet

Rebekah Noel came into the world Friday night and delighted her entire family with her dainty pinkness. Her mommy did a wonderful job and they had a beautiful water birth!

Jerome got his cast cut off Friday morning! He’s been counting down the days till he could have it taken off, he had even asked me if I could help him “poke holes” in it so his skin could breath. (I did nothing of the sort) And he was so miserable at night that many nights he needed Benadryl to help him get to sleep. As the saw was buzzing through the red fiber glass I could tell he was excited and nervous, but as soon as the cast was cracked open and the padding cut off, he was instantly rubbing his skin and enjoying the freedom to touch his skin! But he didn’t even try to move his arm. Even after the x-rays and the dr. told him his bone is healed, he said it hurt to move his arm. So he still doesn’t have full range of motion and use of his right arm, but it’s only the stiffness from being in a cast. We’ll go back in three weeks to make sure he has his full and normal use back, but we have some exercises to do until then. He was very disappointed that it still hurt and was listing off all the things he still can’t do (with tears in his big green eyes) so I took him to get a hamburger and a doughnut. 🙂  He’s still favoring his arm and cries when he over extends it during play, but over all he’s doing better just a day later.

It’s been a year since I first started keeping this blog. It’s been so fun! It’s also been a challenge. I don’t have the time to write as I’d like to, but it’s nice to have a place to keep the everyday stuff where my long distance family and friends can easily keep up with our life.

To Peter who set up my blog and website and continues to work on making my computer life easier, thank you! To those who leave comments and e-mail encouragement, thank you! And to my boys who constantly make my life bright and interesting, I love you!

We thought this was the last week before CSUN begins Fall classes of 2008-2009. It turns out that classes actually begin next week. But we had a wonderful day away just Peter and I (for the first time since our honeymoon) on Wednesday. He took me up to Carpenteria and Santa Barbara and we spent the day eating delicious food, exploring the beach, and walking Main Street a few times. We had no plans, no expectations, and just enjoyed some time to reconnect before the school year hits. It was an amazing, beautiful day. We were both missing the boys terribly by the end of the day and had so much we wanted to show them that we’re actually thinking about taking them with us on our anniversary trip! (SHHH!!! Don’t tell Gigi! 🙂 )

We’ve had a wonderful summer together, but the beginning of the school year has always felt like a goodbye to me. My prayer has changed through the years as circumstances have changed, my heart has changed, and as God has faithfully met all of our needs. This year as Peter dives into another school year while working full time, and as we begin Jerome’s formal schooling, I thank God for his continued grace and strength, for His wisdom in teaching and parenting three boys, and I also ask that He will remind me moment by moment that HE is the anchor of my soul and ALL I need.

We’ve always had a laundry room in this house, someone had built it on before we got here and thankfully left their old appliances as we didn’t have any and couldn’t afford them. But it wasn’t an enclosed room until Dad gave us his extra sliding glass door and helped Peter install it, insulate it, and put drywall up on the inside. Since then Peter’s had plans to finish painting, move the appliances back a few inches to the wall, and install a laundry sink and cabinets. Those were his projects for this summer, and with some hired help, a divine gift of a brand new set of washer and dryer, he’s done it! I feel like we have a brand new room, and now for my part, I’m going to learn how to do laundry. 😉