sisters

Last Sunday my older sister, Melissa was admitted into hospital in Kalamazoo. Her blood pressure was way too high and she was being watched in the ICU. On Friday morning at 2:30 a.m. we got a call from my sisters son-in-law that the hospital called. Her blood pressure dropped so low, that she was un-responsive and that the immediate family should come right away. What a heart wrenching call to take. I sat in disbelief that this could actually happen to our family. For that instant after the call I had many regrets about our relationship. Regrets about the lack of time I had spent with her, the lack of relationship I had taken time to develop. How I let distance come between us.

I called and talked to the nurse in charge of Melissa, who had reported that she was stable. I then got to talk to Melissa and she was orientated and knew where she was at, and feeling better. Donovan and I sat for about 2 hours in bed (being fully awake-after a call like that) and thanked God for healing her. Thankful for the chance to invest more time in our relationship.

Later that morning we went to see her in Kalamazoo.

My poor sister went through 2 more blood pressure drops before we got there in the morning. Going down to a blood pressure of 30! But this time not losing consciousness. The Dr.'s are still looking for the cause of the drop.

We got home, ate supper and headed out again....because my baby sister, Michele was graduating from high school.

So proud of her. Michele graduated with High Honors and she was a Nationals Honor Society member.

Michele with her boyfriend Lucas, and our kids. Michele will be leaving this fall for college and attending Mid America Christian School.

All the way in Oklahoma...it will be hard to have her so far away!

Quote of the day:

Jack: "When Aunt Michele goes to college she will be in 1st grade college."
Me: "Actually Jack she will be in 1st year of college."

Jack: "And when she graduates she will be a grown up."

thinking pink

On Monday I went along with Isabella on a field trip.

In the morning she came into my bed, like she does every morning and wrapped her legs and arms around me. I love this time. I wish we could stay like that for an hour. She is so sweet and snugly I just love it! So on Monday, field trip day she asked me..."mom, what are you wearing today?" I told her and she asked if she could match me. Well isn't that the bomb? Some of you may think that is dorky. But I take it as a compliment, I just love it!

We went to a local historical museum and it was very interesting. What made it even more fun was my friend Kim came along with her daughter, JD, who is also in Isabella's class. Just playin' her real name isn't JD...but you see these 3 little friends at school have come up with nick names for each other. It is as follows:

JD= Jadyn

Izzy=Isabella

Court Court=Courtney

I double hate Isabella's nick name. With a passion. When Isabella was born my older sister would tease and call her Izzy. Which I hated. I threatened all sorts of things to stop the "Izzy" name calling. But she just kept going. She loves to get me fired up. :) Finally after about 2 years my sister laid off and quit with the "Izzy" I'm sure she came up with something new to get under my skin. In a nice, loving kind of way I'm sure. Anyways when Isabella came home and told me what her friends came up with I was dumbfounded. How could this happen??? I worked so hard to nip that in the rear early on. I love the nick name Ella, which we call her at home. I'll even accept Bella. But the Izzy has to stop. So with her friends on the field trip I tried to re-name her nick name. But the best I got was, "O.k. how about we call her her fizzy izzy?" I'm gonna have to take candy in next time to those 2 little girls! However, despite my dislike......Isabella doesn't mind the nickname at all. Oh brother. Looks like I've got more brain washing to do. So sorry I didn't get pictures of those 3 girls together.

How fun to be around Isabella. She loves to be held and cuddled still. I HEART it so very much. I know my days are numbered, before she will not be so happy to have me holding her in her classroom.

And here is my other little pet.....


These days her favorite thing to do is to go get boots and a hat on. Which is why they are all laying around the house most of the day. She puts them on and randomly takes them off at bizarre places. Then goes and gets someone's shoes and hat and so the game goes.
Suzanna has also enjoyed her brothers Christmas presents they got from my cousin, Jon.




I like how she added the barbies to the cab seat.

I so love having girls. They make me remember my childhood. Well except for the tractor part. I had 2 sisters growing up and then my after my mom died, my dad remarried and had another daughter. So we had no tractors, cars, or morning to night talk of farting. But I love all 4 of my kids. I'm sure I missed out on some really cool things with having no brothers. I remind Isabella of this when her brothers annoy her.



I also love how they love each other. Isabella adores Suzanna. She loves to squeeze her and kiss her. The boys I think will take a couple of years before they do this kind of hugging on their own. :)

Quote of the day
(and no I don't make this stuff up)
William: "Daddy I don't like Jack's snoring-because it's scary and it sounds like a pig and it sounds like war."