Graduation reflections

I walked in my college graduation yesterday. I was emotional about my accomplishment. I am especially hopeful that my graduation will serve as a reminder to my boys that they can accomplish anything and nothing should ever get in their way. I hope they get inspiration at some point in there lives from my experience. Most of all I thank God for giving me the strength and passion to persevere through it all. Anything is possible!

Christmas

I love this year! Noah is asking so many questions about Jesus. He asked about His birth then we talked about Easter. He asked how He died and where the bad guys came from. I love that he cares about Jesus who truly is who we celebrate on Christmas. I can only pray he continues in his faith walk which has become revealed through Christmas. He is also quite excited about Santa. I have always loved Christmas but there is a new joy experiencing it with my children.

Brothers

I just love watching the boys grow up together and really love each other. Andrew spontaneously kisses Noah and vice versa. They kiss and hug just because they want to and it warms my heart. Watching them laugh, play and create memories is a gift and I treasure their love for one another. Noah is already a great big brother and I can only hope Andrew will follow in his footsteps.

Noah's new hiding place

Someday he will get that we can still see him lol, but it was clever!

Halloween-cutest pirates I've ever seen

Halloween at school

We had our Halloween program and parade at Noah's school. The teachers had to dress up like Candyland characters (I was Mr. Mint) and the classes each recited a poem. Noah did great at remembering his and had no problem standing up and saying it loud and proud.

Birthday Party

We had Noah and Andrew's birthday party on Halloween. They had so much fun. They got to play with their cousins and Noah got to play with his old friend Matthew. They had fun attempting to break the pinata and Andy loved decorating his pumpkin. It was a full day and a wonderful celebration for both of our sons. Andy missed of the party because he was super tired, but I know he enjoyed his nap!

Hide and seek

Noah "hiding" from daddy....lol!

Soccer picture

Happy 4th Birthday

Dinner was wonderful. I am so full with love! Noah came home and went to bed like a champ, and he hasn't opened one birthday gift! I guess it shows that love matters more than gifts. Noah went to the 7 Acre Woods on a field trip, ate donuts, and ate cupcakes at school! He was in the best mood even without a nap. At dinner, he got to sit by his Nina and he went to each person and gave everyone a birthday hug. I am so proud that Noah is so easy to express his love....from our next door neighbor, to a stranger on the street, to his Grandad who he runs across the parking lot to meet, Noah always gives everyone a hello and a hug. Andy is following in the same footsteps and I just feel so blessed to have them both in my life. I can't believe my baby is 4, but as he told me today, he still isn't as big as me and he wants to keep growing. I'm am not so sure I want that though because part of me wishes I could freeze time and hang out with the sweetest most loving son I could imagine having. I can only imagine what the future holds for him, but I know I am excited to find out. Happy Birthday Noah!!

Full time

Well, I am working full time and today was the first day I have ever left the boys for 9 hours! I had a pit in my stomach and I was very sad to do it. They did great. Noah didn't nap, so I am thinking he might be giving it up. Andy only slept an hour-apparently they won't give him his paci. So, needless to say, I have two exhausted boys. I miss them both terrible. Andy learned a new word-STOP with his hand up....hmmm, where did he get that one from, lol.

I did apply to start my alternative certification in special education this am. I am going to work on that so I can at least have holidays and summers off with them if I am going to have to work full-time! Love to all!

BOO, FLU!

We, the Strouds, do love life however we would love to all be well! Noah and Brad have the flu and I am pretty sure Andy is about to. I am not getting it. Please keep the prayers! LOVE to all!

Doc appointment

It went well. The doc said he thinks we are over the hump with it and he thinks it is responding to the antibiotics I am on now. Praise God and thank you for the prayers!

Today-Day 6

Today feels better. It looks a LOT better. I am hoping I am on the better end of this. It is not draining much anymore and my only concern is it is still hard in my lip. I hope it will just go away! I have a doc appointment tomorrow. Noah has a staph infection in his leg at the same time. He developed it after soccer practice Friday. He is on antibiotics and is limping. So if you have any prayers left, please add him. I know they are working! Thank you!

After the doctor

Well he removed the packing tape and it was horribly painful. It feels better now though so I have some relief. The doctor said it looks as swollen as it did when I first went in on Friday so he is not happy with the progress. I told him I thought it was improving so he said we can give it a couple more days. It is still draining from the inside of my mouth. Prayers that we will turn the corner please...Thank you for the prayers so far!

Brad was there to hold my hand through the tears this time. We went to the grocery after and it began to pour rain so we got soaked! Kind of funny really....I lost the car so I am running trying to find it in the downpour.....I will blame the Vicodin but I always lose the car, lol!

Home, home, home

Another day at home! I want to venture out, but I don't want to scare any kiddos! I have been making some calls, and I sound funny because I can't say certain letters. What people must think! Please pray for my doc appointment today.....Relief soon I hope!

Thank God for my friends and family

So today has been yet another journey. I woke up feeling a lot better. No pain for a few hours. We took Noah to the Redi Clinic because he has an infection on his leg. I was sure it wasn't MRSA but scary anyways. He was put on antibiotics. A few days ago, I decided to watch the PETA video about how we get out meat. It has weighed on my heart for a while now, but I never watched the video. Well, I did and I am a new vegetarian! lol. So Alisha was going to take us to the store to get some fake meat and by the time we got to the parking lot I was in incredible pain again. She turned the car around, and I came in, took more meds and went to bed. When I woke up I knew I needed to pull half the packing material out of my kip like the doc instructed. It brought me to my knees. I am not sure why I would be informed to torture myself in such a manner, but the pain was unbearable. My dear friend had to watch me cry in pain and join my tears. Thank God for her but I also feel incredibly bad because I know how I would feel if it were her in my shoes. You never want to see someone you love endure such misery. I accomplished the goal but do not know where I will get the strength for my appointment tomorrow. From all of the prayers out there I am sure. Right after, Andrew woke up and came to hug me. He accidentally bumped my lip with his head which immediately brought tears. I just wanted to hug my baby, so I did and cried to myself.

MRSA with packing in my lip

As Tyra would say, am I smiling with my eyes...lol! Brad kept telling me too....hmmm I told you he watches America's Next Top Model!

MRSA pics after 1st drainage

MRSA on my lips

On Wednesday night, I went to the emergency room because my lip was swollen in a major way. What I thought was a pimple turned out to be MRSA. I had MRSA under my arm in February, and was instantly fearful of the pain I knew was coming. The MRSA had not hardened yet, so they just put be on Bactroban, Bactrim (antibiotic), and Tramodol (pain killer). Overnight, my lip got no better. I did the warm compresses as the nurse advised me but still no improvement. I went to the doctor in Friday and he said it needed to be drained. Brad was with the boys at home so I was alone and scared. For whatever reason I had little control of my emotions and cried a lot. The doctor was understanding. He told me he didn't like the part of his job where he had to hurt people, and this was one of those times. He gave me a shot of anaesthetic in my lower lip. It was excruciatingly painful. He then squeezed and squeezed and said he could hardly get anything out. He sent me home advising me to go in on Saturday if it got worse. I cried all they way to my car in shock from the pain I had endured.

My lip was more swollen then before, in fact the swelling covered my entire lip instead of just one side. When I woke up Saturday, I knew I needed to go back in. I did not sleep longer than 3 hours even in Vicodin, because the pain was too great. I went to the doctor and saw a nurse practitioner who called the doc in to take a look. He thought she may be able to get some more out if she made the incision larger but wasn't sure. I sensed some serious hesitation from the nurse. They suggested I could go back to the er, but I was hesitant because it was going to be another 150 bucks. I followed my gut however and went to the er.

Alisha stayed with me because Brad had to be home with the boys. I wished he was there, but thank God for my wonderful friend. We waited forever and finally was seen. The nurse said the anitibiotics I was prescribed wouldn't work and I need IV antibiotics instead. Her bed side manner was lacking and the pain was getting unbearable. I finally received pain medication that relaxed every part of my body. The only pain I had left was in my lip! It was under control but still painful. After a couple of hours I was moved back to a room where the nurse opened the wound up in the front and back of my lip. Alisha held my hand and watched over the procedure, she said to make sure they didn't mess anything up, lol. My guardian angel. When she injected my lip, I literally could not breathe. The pain was almost unbearable. I tried not to squeeze her hand too hard because I didn't want to hurt her, but it was horrible. She was gentler on the squeezing part though. She said she got a little bit out.

After she left, I lost it and cried with my beautiful friend by my side. In the midst, the antbiotics began to make me itch like crazy, all over my head and body. Alisha helped me scratch and always got right on the nurses to get me medication. Again, I wish Brad could have been there, but Alisha took wonderful care of me. I am very blessed to have her. I finally got to go home. My lip is packed to keep the wound open to drain. It is starting to hurt again so I guess the meds are wearing off. Time for some Vicodin and sleep.

The main reason I am posting all of these details is because I want to journal my experiences with MRSA. Fear is a difficult emotion to have when it comes to ones health. There is little out there about MRSA and I want to eventually have a place for others to share their experiences, and to come for advice. I am trying a homeopathic route as well. It is collidial silver and I am praying it will be effective.

Thanks to everyone for their love and prayers!

Andrew in his pajamas with feet! too stinkin cute!

MMMM suckers, fast asleep!

Andrew fell asleep sucking on a sucker.

Prayers today

Today at nap time Noah wanted to pray. He always prays for a list of people, including his aunts, uncles and cousins. Well for Nina's house, it is God Bless Nina, Papa, and Miles. Well he added Uncle Michael today without me prompting him, and I just though it was so sweet, it brought a tear to my eye.

Last Monday night we went on our snake hunt...or that is what we call out family walk through the woods to the soccer park to practice for Noah's upcoming games. These are the most perfect nights for me anyways, it just does not get any better! Well as we were walking along, we saw a huge white crane....As it flew away, Noah said, it's not using it's wings to say hi to us anymore! He thinks birds are waving at us with their wings and if you look, it does seem that way. I love how he sees the world.

Awana's Crazy Hair Night

Sunday night was crazy hair night at Awana. Noah memorized A is for all...all have sinned. Romans 3:23.....and C is for Christ, while we were sinners, Christ dies for us. The amazing thing is that we did not work on the scriptures for a week and a half and Noah remembered to say Romans 3:23! His mind amazes me!

Blog

Welcome to our family blog. I just wanted a place to post stuff about us and the boys that people can go to and check out. Plus, my memory is horrible and I don't want to forget anything!