Prayers for Katie

Katie is scheduled to have dental work done under general anesthesia at the hospital tomorrow. Would everyone please pray with me for a safe procedure and recovery? Thanks!

Update 2/29/08 10:20 p.m.:
Thank you everyone for your prayers! Katie did really well with the anesthesia. When we went through this with Sammy, he had a very hard time waking up from it, and keeping his oxygen levels up. Katie's recovery was a breeze compared to his. When they brought me to the recovery area to be with her as she woke up, they took the oxygen away while I was taking her from the nurse, and her levels didn't fall, so they just kept it off. She was fidgety coming out of it until she got to nurse, and then she calmed right down and took a nap. But her vitals were great the whole time. And her dental restorations went very well. She got a filling in one of her molars and caps on her 4 top front teeth. Only the front 2 had cavities (right in the middle, at the gumline where the enamel is bad), but the two on the sides had the enamel problems too, and the dentist felt if he left them as they were, they'd decay and need work, too.

She slept most of the time at the hospital, and all the way home, but as soon as we got home, she had to go find her brother. She apparently missed him very much. She also started playing and running around like normal as soon as she got a little applesauce in her belly. I was expecting her to sleep all day like her brother had... Nope!

A Little Update

We've been hiding!

No, not really. Caught the flu last week. Knocked us out starting Friday. FOR A WEEK!

That same Friday, Rachel and family arrived from NM. What a time to visit. Rachel got FIRST PLACE in both her skating competitions in Pueblo and I was too sick to go see it! MawMaw and PawPaw arrived Tues and have been taking good care of us. We gave Rachel's Dad the flu. And our dad came down with it last night. I hope nobody else gets it!

Katie and her godpapa (Rachel's dad) and Rachel reading a pop-up story book.



Katie on day 2 (worst day) of the flu, would NOT be put down, and I had to make gumbo for David since I had promised and he was leaving the next day. (Then he caught our flu and didn't even get to enjoy it!) Katie actually took 2 decent-length naps in the mei-tai (carrier), probably better than if I had left her sleeping solo on her bed, so it was really good that I thought to put her in it. I was glad I'd forgotten to send it to Jena to use with Little Lilly (new neice, born 1-15). It is a custom from Annabear Babyware.


Katie spent most of the past week hiding from MawMaw and PawPaw. When she doesn't feel well, she apparently wants mama and her house all to herself. No sharing allowed. One time I realized that Sammy was watching a video, and Katie was not attached to me or calling for me. I couldn't figure out where she was. Or why she wasn't watching the video too. Then I figured out, she WAS watching it. In the privacy of her very own little house, where she didn't have to worry about anyone else seeing her. Little monkey!

(Yes, that is the "kitchen sink" she is sitting in!)

New PJs

Sammy and Katie got new PJs from my cousin and his wife for Christmas. My mom hand-delivered them, which is why we are just now getting them. Sammy's were only a 3. I was afraid he might have gotten too tall for them in the last growth spurt he had right before Mawmaw showed up. Luckily, they seem to fit. Or at least, he didn't complain about them pulling on his shoulders. Katie's 2 is a bit too long for her, but hopefully that means she can still wear them first part of next winter, too.

Katie loves new clothes. Especially if it has pink in it. I was suprised she consented to wear anything that didn't let her toes out, but her love of new obviously overshadowed her hatred of hidden toes. She also seemed to like that she and brother were (sort of) matching.


Sammy has gotten VERY tall! His sister is trying to catch up, but I doubt she ever will!

10, 20, 30, ... 100

Sammy surprised the heck out of us today by counting to 100 by tens. (Thank you Math Circus!) I think if someone bothered to put all of elementary school in fun cartoon videos, and we got ahold of them, he'd be ready for high school in another 3 or 4 years.

Katie also surprised me a week or two ago by counting to 14 in English, and to 5 in Spanish.

Happy Birthday Mason!

I can't believe my Roomie's baby is a year old!

40 Days for Life

This is an awesome, ecumenical ministy that is seeing lots of fruits from their prayer and fasting. Please consider joining them in some way, even if only as a prayer partner. www.40daysforlife.com

Here is the email their prayer partners received yesterday:

I have NEVER been more hopeful about seeing theend of abortion than I am today! The phones have been ringing off the hook and we have been pounded with e-mails as media outlets, Christian and pro-life leaders, and people acrossthe country are wanting to know more about the 40 Days for Life that kicks-off in 59 cities across 31 states TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 6. All morning and afternoon I've been fielding interviews with Focus on the Family, the USA Radio Network, and numerous local newspapers and radiostations. Over 275 people have already posted prayers andencouragement on the last 40 Days for Life blogupdate. And I can honestly say that I'm AMAZED at theintense level of excitement about this spring40 Days for Life campaign...

...All because people of faith and conscience arewilling to take a courageous stand to end abortionin our land through:

* 40 DAYS of prayer and fasting
* 40 DAYS of peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities and Planned Parenthood centers
* 40 DAYS of local pro-life outreach

There are many blessings in store for you duringthese coming 40 days, but I wanted to give you anadvance "heads-up" about one of them...

Each day, from February 6 - March 16, you willreceive a short daily devotional with a prayer intention, a scripture passage, and a reflection,to help focus and unite your prayers with those of believers across the country and around the world. These inspirational pro-life messages are for all Christians, and have been written by influential clergy and leaders, including:

* CARMEN PATE, Point of View Radio Talk Show * KEVIN BURKE, Rachel's Vineyard Ministries * FR. FRANK PAVONE, Priests for Life * REV. JOHN BROWN, United Church of Christ * REV. ROB SCHENCK, Faith and Action * GEORGETTE FORNEY, Anglicans for Life and Silent No More Awareness * DENNIS DIMAURO, Lutherans for Life * RANDOLPH SLY, National Pro-Life Religious Council * FR. TERRY GENSEMER, Charismatic Episcopal Church for Life * ERNEST OHLHOFF, National Right to Life * REV. J. KIRK VAN DER SWAAGH, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference * REV. BEN SHELDON, Presbyterians for Life * REV. CLENARD CHILDRESS, Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN) * REV. PAUL STALLSWORTH, United Methodist Church * VERA FAITH LORD, Alpha/Omega Life Ministry

I know you will be blessed by these devotionals,so look for them each day in your inbox!

Now, on this Super Tuesday -- and the day beforethe Christian season of Lent begins -- here are5 things YOU can do to help end abortion:
1.) Pray for God's will to be done throughout this 40 Days for Life effort from February 6 through March 16.
2.) Forward this message to everyone you know, asking them to sign up for e-mail updates and the 40 Days for Life devotionals.
3.) Commit to pray and fast (at whatever level you feel called) for an end to abortion during each of the 40 Days for Life.
4.) See if there is a 40 Days for Life campaign happening near you. If there is a nearby location, click on the link to visit their local web site and find out how you can get involved locally.
5.) During the 40 Days for Life, share your stories with me of how you see God at work through the 40 Days for Life effort, so I can share them with others and we can celebrate what God is doing. Send your stories to david@40daysforlife.com.

Let's work like it depends upon us, and pray likeit depends upon God -- because it does!

Your Brother in Christ,
David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Happy Birthday Granny!

My granny turns 74 today. Here is a photo of her when she visited us back in August:

Granny is my mother's mother. See any resemblance? (Most days I think Katie looks more like either of them than she does like me.)