2011 recap

Our first married New Year's Eve (2000) we spent with these lovely people . . . (a picture of a picture!)

Ben & Laura, Stacy & Matt, Jay & Amanda

It was the year 2000. The Santen's had 2 kids. The Teodoro's and the Tuel's had 0. We piled in the Santen's relatively new green Honda Odyssey and went to Hibatchi for dinner. I don't remember much about dinner other than we had a lot of fun. We went Kroger on Patteson drive afterwards to get whatever champagne they had left. It was gross b/c there was no selection at 9:00 on New Year's Eve. Matt would only drink his with orange juice. As I was recently thinking of this, I realized he was drinking mimosa's. I think that might be good reason to take away his man card. We played games (I believe win, lose or draw was a hot one that year) and maybe some cards. And rang in the New Year together. It was really, really fun. And the one we kind of compare the rest to.

I believe the following year we did go to Hitbatchi again. I know for sure we went with the Teodoro's. The rest is kind of fuzzy. We had moved to Charleston then. And a couple years ago we did Hibatchi in Charleston with the Santen's and the Young's.

Last night, we did Hibatchi yet again with the Teodoro's, Josh & Bethany Underdonk, and Cameron and Sarah King. We had 7 kids at our house and 2 sitters. I had high hopes of talking about the highlights of 2011 and goals for 2012. But we had the most horrendous seating. We were all together technically, but really our food was cooked and served in two different areas, at two different times. It was nearly impossible to talk. But, either way, it was fun to be out with friends. Some of our longest and newest friends. But I've certainly decided that we absolutely can not celebrate New Year's at Hibatchi without either the Santen's or the Teodoro's. Thanks, friends, for celebrating with us! I'm so disappointed that I didn't take any pictures.

Anyways, I'm still fighting this cold thing and wasn't feeling well this morning. So everyone went to church without me. I spent about 2 hours reading over my journals from this year and really looking at all that God has done this year. Astounding. So here are 3 words to sum up the year 2011 . . .

1) provision - We spend 5 months of the year 2011 on reduced or no salary. In all reality, it should have been much, much more. We are beyond thankful for the months of January-April and Oct-December that we got full paychecks. Our missing salary was mostly covered in the most amazing ways and we had a savings account to help us. Even with Ted's surgery we have been so blessed with good insurance, our deductibles being covered and so much I can't even tell you.

2) hard - this was a hard year. Not going to lie. Ben was gone a lot in the spring. We were finishing up getting out of the old office. Preparing for a program assignment that was just straight up hard. I worked a summer job that was brutal. Financially it was stressful - although the Lord provides, it still hangs over you. Ted's surgery. The first half of the year was just still figuring things out for the area and being fairly overwhelmed. But, what I really understand is that had hard does not equal bad. This was still a great year. The Lord taught us much and showed Himself mighty faithful. Hard does not equal bad.

3) God's heart - There were several times this year that I really felt like God showed me His heart about certain things for our family. And instead of nagging to make them happen or manipulating things to make it the way I wanted and I thought that God had showed me, I prayed about them and I was responsible for myself. And I watched God transform the hearts of those around me, and my own. Really, it's pretty impressive and way less responsibility on me. I loved being in a place where I could hear what He wanted from us.

So, here's to 2011. Bring it, 2012!

christmas 2011 - part 2

We drove across Route 7 to New Martinsville Christmas Day in the afternoon. We listened to our "Church in a Box" on the way. There's something really special about thousands of people listening to the same church service on Christmas morning representing 4 different churches. Pretty darn cool. 

We opened presents at Doh & Pap's and had our traditional Goddard/Tuel/Slider Christmas lunch/dinner. I love that we can do that. 

Aunt Courtney, Thor and Rock Star Girl putting on a concert with
the new microphone. Definite the hit gift of the day.

Second runner up in the gift catagory: some Wii hunting game. All the men played
for a long time. A lot of (inappropriate) words and smack talking were exchanged.

Ted narrated Ben's new Wii Punch Out Game with the microphone. Not annoying in the least.

Sara, Charlie & Laura

Aunt Sara and Ted broke out our old legos at Grandma and Gary Pap's.

Monday afternoon we had the Slider Christmas.

This is the "lump of coal" my dad gave all the Grandkids for Christmas.

We had some serious matches of Connect 4 Launcers

And played a lot of Apples to Apples

We came back to Morgantown Monday evening and got fairly unpacked. Thankfully, because I spent Tuesday in bed/on the couch with flu-like symptoms. Thankfully, Ben was on top of the kids and had a fun play day playing games and playmobil and letting me sleep. Since then, I've been fighting just feeling kind of yucky in general and it has moved on to almost no voice. I have been enjoying long nights of sleep with night time cold medicines.

Wednesday afternoon, we went to Parkersburg for the Morford/Tuel/Goddard/Benson/Kozel Christmas - did I forget anyone? It's been a fun, new thing to do the past 3 years. Although I think we missed last year because I was sick. Must be an annual thing. Thank you for hosting, Aunt Lois. Such a fun, fun evening together!

Ted & Wyatt are 4 months apart. They have always played well together
and really enjoyed each other. Wednesday was no exception.

Sophie joined in on the fun and did just fine too!

Ted & Cameron (Ben's cousin) both had the same surgery for arachnoid cysts this fall.
Cameron had his in September, Ted in November. Same doctor.

Comparing scars. Ted says he wins.

Sophie (3), Ted (6), Lilly (7 months) & Wyatt (5)
Lilly is the CUTEST but does not want anyone but her mother to hold her.
Everyone tried to prove Joanna wrong. I believe no one was successful

And a good sleep on the way home from plenty of fun and good food!

christmas 2011 - part 1

Family Week concluded with chocolate chip cookie making. Each kid made their own batch.

Loving using those hands to mix in the chips

Anxiously awaiting the finished product.

watching movies while the cookies baked

 We also did the traditional "sleep under the tree" on Friday. We watched the Shrek Christmas show and Emmit Otter's Jugband Christmas. After a little switching and some threats, everyone finally fell asleep around 9:30. At midnight, Ben was up googling the ingredients in cough medicine to make sure it didn't have a medicine he's allergic to. We made the executive decision to put everyone in their beds to avoid a 5:30 wake up time. At 7:30 the next morning, Ted stood about 2 inches from my face and loudly "whispered", "Mom, why are we in our beds?" 7:30 was worth it.

Christmas Eve we let them each open one present - pillow pet slippers. Ben played drums for both Christmas Eve services at South Ridge. And the glow sticks for Silent Night and Joy To The World were a huge hit.

Sophie found it necessary to sleep with her slippers and even pulled off the nose and antenna the second night. Needless to say, she doesn't sleep with them anymore.

Christmas Morning was really fun for them (and us!)

waiting for permission to come downstairs

post-breakfast face with chapstick

Each kid got:

a Playmobil item (RV & small dollhouse)

pillow pet slippers (dog & lady bug)

ornament that represented their year (bandaid w/ drs & princess carriage)

game (Connect 4 Launchers & Busytown Mysteries)

misc item (paperjam drums & wvu jersey) 

Connect 4 Launchers is super fun!

We got Millie a new bed for Christmas (thank you Sam's Club for a STEAL of a deal!). The kids thought it was their own personal lounging bed in the living room until she game home yesterday.

family week

Last weekend Ben and I went to Deep Creek Lake for a little weekend away! Ben was asked to speak at a staff/leader weekend for Delaware Young Life. So, the kids headed to New Martinsville and we went to Deep Creek. It was a great weekend away for us. Since Ted's surgery and a couple of other unrelated circumstances in November, it was just pretty stressful around here. Although it was a weird thing of them to ask several months ago, it ended up being the best timing.

We could've stayed in a beautiful vacation home with the Delaware peeps, but instead we chose to stay at a condo that some Bridgeport Committee people own. It was great to have our own space and no cell phone service. Ben got to do something that really fills him up (teaching), we got time together, went out to dinner, took naps, read, slept in and talked a lot. I always love getting to hear Ben teach so it was a blessing to me as well. Without having to entertain or shush other little people. Thanks Doh and Pap for keeping the kids.

Ben deemed this "Family Week." Each day we're doing something special as a family.

Monday: We took the kids to their first Mountaineer Basketball game. Thanks Kellie and Christie for the great tickets. Ted is into basketball so it was fun for him. Sophie was all about the Mountaineer and could tell you at any give time where he was in the Colosseum. We made it until a little after halftime.

Ben caught a shirt. We were so close that's an usual feat.

Tuesday: We had family movie night and watched "Home Alone." There's a lot of name calling in that movie! Funny how you watch things through the eyes of a parent. But the kids loved it.

Wednesday: Ben has worship rehearsal tonight. So we had an after-school/pre-dinner snack at Natticakes. Natticakes is a new, really cool yogurt shop in Morgantown. Lots frozen yogurt flavors with a topping bar. My personal favorite is the raspberry sorbet with angel food cake and strawberries.  It's amazing what kids will put on yogurt that really have no flavor relation - gummy bears on chocolate would be an excellent example. We've become friends with the owner. She has Virginia Young Life ties. After leadership a couple of weeks ago, we took everyone over there. It's a big hit and a crowd favorite. All the kids at the table beside us are MHS kids!

Tomorrow night we're going to bake chocolate chip cookies to send to Uncle Jim for Christmas. He doesn't read this, but don't tell him. Friday is sleep under (beside) the Christmas Tree. Saturday will be Christmas Eve Service (Ben's playing drums for both services) and chinese for dinner. I say that's a pretty fun family week. Next week includes trips to New Martinsville, Parkersburg and Charleston.

christmas letter 2011

 

Christmas 2011

Another year has come and gone. To say that it flew by is an understatement. A couple of weeks ago, the peppermint chocolate chip milkshake reappeared at Chick-Fil-A and it seemed almost impossible that it could be back already.

It’s been a good year of finally feeling settled in Morgantown. In January we decided that we would start investing ourselves in church again. We settled at South Ridge Church in Fairmont (a sister church of River Ridge). Ben is on the speaking and worship rotation – which he missed dearly – and I have helped some with Family Ministry and Women’s Ministry. The kids love it there and so do we. It feels good.

Young Life in the Mountaineer Area has seen a lot of healthy growth this year - leaders, ministry, YL College, committees and financial. It has been incredibly encouraging. Ben has learned a lot this year about boundaries, delegating and realizing he can’t do it all. It’s healthy but hard. It still seems like there’s so much left undone. The Lord has entrusted him with much and he wants to do it well. I’ve started helping with some administrative stuff and it feels good to be able to help him and be part of the big picture. Ben had a program assignment at Timber Wolf Lake this summer with his 5^th program partner. We’re thankful for a break this coming summer and already have several family vacations planned.

I had a brief stint at going back to work this summer, but it wasn’t at all what was best for our family in many ways. So I’m working part-time at home for a friend who has started his own business. It’s great for now. Next school year Sophie will hopefully be enrolled in the WV PreK several full days a week and I will definitely have to get back into the working world. It’s been a stretch but it’s also been what’s best for us. I am so thankful we’ve been able to make it work. A highlight for me this year was a trip to Florida and a couple hours a week on my own while Sophie does a Mom’s Day Out. It’s a whole different kind of freedom.

Ted started Kindergarten in August and turned 6 in October. He loves the adventure and privileges of being a big kid. He had a great summer learning to swim, conquering the zip line at Timber Wolf and learning to ride a bike. He lost his first tooth and also got glasses. His big story for the year was a cyst we found on his brain after trying to find the cause of headaches. He had surgery right before Thanksgiving and spent that entire week in the hospital. His recovery has been so fast and impressive. We had a minor setback with a seizure as a side affect but he seems to be fine after that. He’s on restricted activity level for 3 months as far as climbing and helmeted activities – we are so, so glad we did this in winter and not in the summer. He loves Kindergarten and all that he’s learning. After 3 years of preschool, it was time to move on. He rides the bus less than a mile to and from school, which has been a big treat after the initial trauma of it all.

Sophie is 3 ½ and the light of our house. She is pleasant, kind and FUNNY! She narrates every minute and detail of life, smells everything she can get her hands on or get close to, and has a real fetish for chap stick. She goes to “Tuesday School” (a mom’s day out) and has a sitter with 2 friends on Thursdays. It’s a nice break for the two of us while I work. She is fearless and always up for an adventure. This summer she was a little too carefree at the pool and lake and went tubing several times without a second thought. She is my sidekick in life. A big highlight for her (and me) this year was getting 13 inches of hair cut off to send to Locks of Love. We all love her new haircut!

           

All in all, this was a fun year. For the first time, it was more fun and less of a chore to do fun things as a family. The kids were so much fun at camp (which makes me only slightly sad we’re not going this summer). The kids and I spent some time with friends at their Michigan lake house at the beginning of assignment. We went to the pool a lot. And family bike rides have hopefully become a new regular family activity. The season of life with small children is coming to an end. And, although that’s sad in some ways, it’s really fun too.

I would say the word to really describe this year is GOD’S PROVISION. I guess that’s two words. It’s been a great year to see the blessing of obedience as we feel we’re right where God wants us. It’s definitely not easy or fun all the time. It does mean we get to be part of what The Lord is doing and watch things unfold. So, for that, I’ll take the detours, the not-so-fun things and the heartache over comfort, non-adventure and missing out on seeing God work any day.

Wherever this finds you at the end of 2011, I pray you can find Jesus there. Right smack in the middle of everyday life – the mundane and repetitive as well as the big and life changing. We love you!

Ben, Laura, Ted & Sophie

 

hair - or lack thereof

Not too much happening here. Ted went back to school and got his stitches out 10 days ago. That's kind of a long time! It only took me and 2 nurses and lots of sweat to hold him down to get his stitches out. Since that time, we also went to the doctor for possible strep. The doctor felt so bad for Ted that he didn't even do the strep test. Just gave us the antibiotic. Ted may use to learn his puppy dog eyes with all doctors.

However, Ted has lost two pretty good size chunks of hair. He would not let us get the glue off his head from the surgery and then the paste from the EEG. So, earlier this week, we kind of pinned him and scraped it off. His hair came right out.

This is the biggest spot.

It's the side shot that really gets you. There's also a spot on top of his
head from where they used something to hold his head during surgery.

Then there's the patch to the right. Not nearly as big. But it was the first spot to loose the hair.

We had the back of his hair trimmed a little. I'll take him back in a couple of weeks to do it again. His hair grows really fast so I'm thinking by New Year's it should be pretty much even.  His scar is still tender so we won't be able to do much with the top for now. I need to get over it. He doesn't mind too much. He's thankful for his tobogan he wears to and from school and mostly when we're out.

It's been pretty uneventful around here. Which is what we neeed. We had our Leader/Committee Christmas Party, Ben's 36th birthday, got the year end letters out today, shopped for people that stay at the Ronald McDonald House with the Hoss Foundation and have done a little Christmas shopping. I realized I can no longer Christmas shop with Sophie. She uses no discretion in what she shares with people. So Ben and I actually went on a little lunch/shopping date on Saturday. We've never Christmas shopped for our kids together. It was fun! So, we're officially back to boring. Looking forward to Christmas, some family time and hopefully a couple of days in Charleston.

Ted rearranges the various nativity scenes that we have each day and sometimes lets them interact. Today it was the Little People and Willow Tree Nativity. And he threw in a dinosaur. 

 On a completely unrelated note, Sophie just called for me from bed. When I went to see what she needed she said, "Can I have breakfast in the morning." Yes, Sophie. Yes you can.

thankful tree

For most of November, we made a thankful tree. Each day, we each colored, cut out and wrote on a leaf something we were each thankful for.

So, here's what we were each thankful for in no particular order. Something was only allowed to go on the tree once. No duplicates. Ben, Ted and I all did fall colored leaf. Any misc color or multi-colored leaf would be Sophie.

This is our tree minus the last 4 (16 total) we each did. No one was really in
the mood to cut all of them out. You get the visual picture!

Ben
Jesus
church
music
beer
coffee
fall weekend
ipad
young life leaders
opportunities
monday night football
music ability
cable (we get cable for football season each year and then go back to basic cable in january)
home
God's word
solitude
a morgantown committee
jacob nixon (a leader he disciples each week)
diet coke
mac (as in mac computers)
west "by god" virginia
the mountaineers
living close to Ruby Hospital
xm radio
gift cards
walmart

Laura
hugs and kisses
date night
redemption
forgiveness
sophie
healthy kids
good health insurance
fountain coke in styrofoam cups
ann taylor loft (after my last trip to charleston and the jackpot in sales)
morgantown
charleston
laughter
friends
naps
sunshine (after many nice days in november)
god's timing
staying home
technology
prayer
mileage reimbursement (after we turned in our first reimbursement in over a year!)
doctors
god's provision
generosity
scotch-a-roos
my nook
commercial-less kids tv (pbs & disney channel)

Ted
millie
grandma & pap
mom & dad (after talking with a girl in his class who's mom is in jail)
fair (that would be town & country days)
army (after some army guys came to his class around veteran's day)
the santens
school
young life camp
basketball (after signing him up this season)
family
crafts
bike
bus
shoeboxes (after doing the shoeboxes for samaritan's purse)
mario kart
sabertooth tiger (don't know where that came from)
the river
burger king
mom's phone
family trips
picture day (after family pictures)
christmas trees (after helping put up the tree)
monster truck from mr. jay (his small group leader at church visited in the hospital and brought him a monster truck!)
chicken crescents (his all-time favorite food)
shows (tv)
coloring books (the special one katrina sent him)

Sophie
god
doh & pap
mommy
ted
club (after going to mhs club with ben & ted one night)
milk
tuesday school
snuggling
chap stick (is she ever!)
scooters
thanksgiving
popcorn
singing with ted at church
daddy
wrestling w/ ted & daddy
cleaning w/ mommy (she does love this)
zoo (i guess she was thinking back to our summer trip to the zoo?)
toys
my thumb
playing w/ daddy
play doh
myself
aunt sara (after spending the day with her while ted had surgery)
straws (???)
christmas

And there you have it.

all is well

Just for better images in your head, Ted is doing just fine. Aside from our incident Tuesday, since Sunday he's been happy, pain free, headache free, energetic and driving me crazy! Currently, he and Sophie are covering each other with napkins. Kind of the equivalent of burying someone in the sand.

Seriously, it's impressive the swift return to normal since we've been home from the hospital the first time. He's around 90% - the other 10% is just making sure he doesn't knock his head around. Which is next to impossible with a 6 year old boy that's feeling good. I feel a little bad for him b/c we've had to be hard on him. He's tired of sitting still and being careful.

We had a follow-up appointment with his pediatrician on Thursday to get him in the loop. Yesterday, we went to his class to see his friends and show them his stitches and give his teacher need to know info. They were so happy to see him. We went to the WOW Factory afterwards and painted some Christmas presents. It was actually fun this year and they both put some thought and effort into their ornaments and painted for longer than 5 minutes.

Last night we went to the Morgantown Christmas Parade and this morning we did some birthday shopping for Ben. We're a little behind. So thankfully he went to the GW Football Championship Game today which bought us some time!

He goes back to school on Monday and gets his stitches out on Monday also. He might actually sit still more at school than here. He's been a wild man all cooped up. The anti-seizure medicine seems to be agreeing with him so there's not a lot of concern there.

So, all is well here. Thanks for all the sweet cards to Ted. He's getting used to getting things in the mail everyday. He's pretty amazed at all the people who have been praying for him and love him. Thanks for the love, prayers and encouragement!

sophie sue

This little lady needs a little shout out for the past two weeks. She has been the best and most flexible child. She brings so much life and laughter to our house. I missed her a lot. She's my side kick.  She spent a week in New Martinsville for the initial surgery and then went back after the ER/nightgown epidsode. When she got there, she laid down the law. "One night Grandma's. One night at Doh's. And then I'm going home." She only had to stay one night, though. She narrates every waking minute of life and has a nose like no other - she has to smell everything. We love you, Sophie Sue! (Sue really isn't her middle name, although she probably thinks it is. That's just what we call her.)

Conversation with Ben this morning:

Ben: "Hey Sophie. We can go to the Christmas Parade tonight but you have to be a good girl today."

Sophie: "Okay. I won't pick my nose!"

Hanging with Ben while he practiced songs for Leadership one evening.

Sophie always made multi-colored leaves for the thankful tree.
And had some pretty funny things to be thankful for. That's for later

I found her watching tv like this one morning.

She loves anything crafty.

Daddy likes doing funky hair do's in the bath-shower!

just couldn't stay away

We went in for Round #2 in the PICU at Ruby this week. Tuesday morning Ted had a seizure. Not the "fall over on the floor and seize" kind of seizure that Sophie had last year. The kind where he stared off into nowhere and there was nothing in his eyes. It was crazy and terrifying and puts sad pictures in my mind. It started that he was moving but not seeing and responding, and then moved to complete nothingness. By the time I got him in the van, the seat belt was the only thing holding him up.

I took him to the ER and they gave him several IV meds to stop the active seizure. I think I knew it was a seizure. But what scared me the most was that I didn't know what effect it would have with regards to the surgery.  Meanwhile, Sophie sat in a chair in her nightgown next to a nurse. I had literally plucked her out of bed and put her in the van - no potty, no food, no nothing.

They gave Ted a CT scan almost immediately. Comparing it to the pre-op and post-op CT scans, his brain and the cyst look great. No swelling. No bleeding. They said it was a seizure b/c his brain was irritated from the surgery. We knew this could be a side affect. I guess I didn't expect something over a week after the surgery. So they admitted us to the PICU for observation and to figure out the game plan.

By the time we arrived in the PICU he was starting to come around a little bit. It's amazing what you can tell by the eyes. It's absolutely horrifying when you look into your child's eyes and there's nothing there. Nothing. But something so relieving when I could see life returning to them. I could tell he was starting to come to and understand although he didn't say a word or even attempt to talk. He slowly began to start squeezing our hands, looking at us and smiling in recognition and nodding yes or no to questions. He didn't talk for well over 3 hours from the time the whole thing started. It scared me - a lot. The right side of his face drooped for quite awhile. The doctors told us that the seizure had most likely started in the left side of his brain (where the surgery was) that has controls for the right side of his body as well as his speech. So it messed with those things considerably.

It wasn't until we were holding him down to put the EEG nodules on his head did he finally talk (yell), "I want Daddy to let go of my face!" Sweet relief! During his EEG we talked with two neurologists who were the Dr's we were dealing with this trip. They said that he obviously had a reason for having a seizure (which is a good thing) because of trauma to his brain. But he's more likely to have more. So they are putting him on an anti-seizure drug (Keppra) that he will have to take twice a day for about a year. After that time period, they will do another EEG and, if he hasn't had any more seizures and the EEG looks good, they will take him off the drug to see if he would have them again. He gave us a very long term picture of what could happen if this became a lifelong issue. The neurosurgeons all said that they believe this will not be a lifelong issue for him. Obviously, that's what we're praying for.

So, now I've been schooled on seizures of all kinds. We spent a little over 24 hours in the hospital and another restless night. Ted was his usual self by lunch time. (This all started around 8am). We're home again - hopefully not to go back. We've added another doctor to our round of follow-up appointments. Would anyone like to tell Ted that his Christmas present is a week's stay in the hospital, a huge scar on his head and a year of anti-seizure medicine? All for being headache free.

Ted's bandage came off on Monday. His incision is way bigger than I thought it would be. You can't really tell but it starts at his ear and curves all the way way up. I'm just going to say that it's bigger than my C-Section scar. And that was for 4 & 7 pound babies! The brown stuff on it is the silver that was on the bandage that acts as an antibiotic and tarnishes the skin. It's slowly disappearing with each shower.  I told Ben that he is totally in charge of showering and putting the ointment on it until the stitches come out. I just can't do it. And, the nurses told me it's curvy because that helps when his hair grows back and making it less noticeable. He get his stitches out on Monday.

 

Ted's class made him a book of cards and his teacher. So we read it in the hospital. It was so sweet. He's read it a lot and misses school. We're going to his class tomorrow to say hi and show them his stitches. He'll go back to school on Monday. I'm ready. He's definitely ready.

 One of Ted's nurses gave him a needle-less syringe. So he did some water experimenting. He was pretty bored while we were there. I'm super thankful for some fun gifts we got to help with the entertainment help.