Vacation

Lesh and I decided last Sunday that we would be leaving in two hours for Branson for an impromptu vacation. We tend to do most of our getaways like that. :) We didn't do a lot as far as shows and sites as it is still difficult for him to get around, but the change of scenery was wonderful for all of us. Lesh really only leaves the house for church and for doctor's appointments. It was a much needed get-a-way and the boys had a blast..I will post a few photos that I took on my phone (poor quality..hurry up Sony Ericsson! I can't wait for the C905a to come out! 8MB camera phone!! Woohoo!! :)

Sights
We did a drive-thru exotic animal safari in Strafford, Missouri off Hwy. 44 and it was so much fun! Completely worth the money we paid. Lesh fed a huge buck with a huge rack right out of his hand. He pet it on the head..amazing. He also made a good friend in something that I think was a Zedonk..or at least a close relative..he trotted along with our car for several hundred feet hoping for more food..cutest thing ever..the boys were cracking up laughing. Lesh has good pictures of that on his phone. They boys fed fawns and baby goats. Jude was fearless. We saw baby ligers that played and growled at each other..so cute. Monkeys, a wolf, wallabies, exotic birds, a lion, a tiger, camels..really neat place.

Good Eats
We shared a funnel cake at the cute little fifties diner on the strip..can never remember the name of that place..ate "espensive food" as Jonah puts it, at Red Lobster and ate less than stellar food at Lone Star. Ugh..

Fun
The boys and swam in a pool I have a sunburn to prove it. Haha. Lesh tried to fish several times but Lake Taneycomo was too high for him to venture into..he's barely mobile so trying to navigate flowing water wouldn't be a smart thing to do. We did visit the Bass Pro on the Landing and the one in Springfield so that was fun for him..he added to his fishing supplies. One evening we took the boys to a toddler ride area on the strip..they loved riding this little train and ringing the bell..a miniature ferris wheel, swings, saucers, and Jonah was even able to drive a gas powered go-cart!! Scary!! He did fine until he kept looking at me on the sideline..he would come around the circle, look at me as I waved and grinned, and then he would crash into the same place in the wall...at least four times. Finally, I stopped waving and told him to keep his eyes on the road. He was so proud of himself...too cute.

Hope you all have a wonderful day! I'm so happy to be home so that I can worship with my church family..I want more of God today!

A New Kind of Normal

Hi all. Been so busy I've not had much time to post, but here I am. We are doing well..I am exhausted and the boys are antsy, but we're all making it. Lesh is ready to get on to the next step, but he's still pretty exhausted most of the time. We venture out to doctor's appointments and not much else. He has been given good reports (see our facebook page for details) and is progressing faster than his doctors expected. God is so very good. We are grateful he is alive and doing so well.

I clean. A lot. Because of home care and helpers, we have people in and out of our house everyday. My first luxury, when I am able, will be to hire a cleaning service. Our church friends have been awesome with bringing in meals several times a week. We appreciated that so much. We are still getting meals some Wednesdays and that is hugely helpful. That is a big day for us. There are several guys taking turns on our lawn and Don Shields mows the field around the church. Andy Grace drags our smelly trash bins down our long driveway to the road..he deserves some kind of medal for that (think diapers). I'm not sure what we would have done without the help we have received. We are blessed with wonderful friends.

Church is going great..we have had wonderful speakers and Lesh is able to speak some now too, so that has been nice. Our music is getting better each service and it's great fun to worship with, and play with such fine musicians. Our worship team are awesome too..they are sincere worshippers and what a difference that makes.

Jonah is going to be starting Kindergarten soon..here at home. We will be trying out the DVD teaching series Abeka offers. We have his curriculum already, but I still need to order his DVD's. He is ready. He's sharp..asks a million questions (does every kid do that??? makes me tired) and he has a memory like an elephant. He knows every restaurant and store in town...and remembers things from when he was two and three...things I don't even recall. Amazing.

Jude is sounding more like a little boy now. He's also very intelligent..intuitive, loves to sing..just like his big brother..and sounds like a chipmunk..he loves to hug and snuggle. I LOVE it. He also drives me crazy when he whines. Because he received very little discipline during Lesh's hospitalization..his behavior suffered. Since daddy has been home, we've cracked down again and he's doing much better.

I bought the boys a Hotwheel racetrack the other night and they absolutely adored it..wish I had been recording when they first turned it on..they were so sweet..they squealed and laughed and thought it was hilarious. Jonah hugged me, unprompted, and thanked me for the "cool toy". Made me cry. Love my boys and am so thankful for them.