Wednesday, March 17, 2010

One Look is Worth A Thousand Words

I really feel I should break this post into two or three different entries since it's been so exciting, crazy, heartbreaking, scary and full of gratitude these past couple of weeks. But, the pictures are already uploaded and it just takes too much time to start over. Hopefully, it is true that One Look is Worth a Thousand Words because I sure have a lot of pictures and not enough time to write everything down.

Two weeks ago (it was a good week):

Six of our friends from Eugene, OR came to visit us. Our good friend, Brad, had a good number of frequent flyer miles burning a hole in his pocket so he used them to buy six plane tickets to Atlanta. (Everyone needs to have a friend like Brad, but I can guarantee you, he's one of a kind.)

Here is everyone but April and I (someone had to take the picture (April) and someone had to stay home with the darlings (me).)

l-r: Bill, Chrystal, Ashlie, BRAD, Matt & Kevin
at the GA AquariumBill 'n' April and a fish tank

Us ladies in a suite at Philip's Arena watching the Hawks game.
They are all a bunch of shorties.

Matt and I
Tyler especially loved having our guests. He really took to Ashlie...

playing Wii Sword-fighting
Tyler gave her a run for her money.
later Ashlie took him for a ride all over the backyard
(a broken wrist didn't stop her from having fun)

Tyler also enjoyed snuggling with Chrystal.
A big part of their trip had to do with the Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR baby!

Me and Chrystal

Matt and I

Chrystal and Kevin

Brad and Ashlie

Bill and April

While our friends went to the opening day of Six Flags over Georgia, Lauren had her first soccer practice/game.


She wasn't too sure about it at first but after the snacks came out she had more fun.

One week ago (a good and a not-so-good week):

the good:

Grammy came to visit and she brought gifts!

Lauren turned SIX YEARS OLD!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!


Family Party:







Princess Party at Snip-Its

getting her hair and make-up done


guests waiting their turn for hair and make-up

Princess Lauren



Princess Lea

Princess Tera

Grammy and Tyler do not get their hair and make-up done.

time to show off their new look on the "runway")

looking good


all the pretty ladies

cupcake Princess cake


One week ago (a good and a not-so-good week):

the not-so-good:

After two days of high fever and vomiting we decided it was time to take Matt to the emergency room. I thought they would give him some fluids and release him. Not so! They admitted him to Intermediate Care (one level below Intensive Care.)

He was very sick. High fever, low blood-pressure and a very scary high white blood cell count.He didn't respond to the first SEVEN antibiotics they gave him.

swollen fingers
(due to an allergic reaction to one of the antibiotics)
This was a very scary, touch and go experience since he was so very sick. The Dr.s were "perplexed." (their words)

The final diagnosis was sepsis. He caught a bad bug/infection and his body over-reacted trying to fight it.

Finally the Dr.s brought out the "big gun" antibiotics (their words) and they seemed to do the trick.

Slowly, he started to get better.
God always has a plan and I feel he planned this just right so my Mom would be here to look after the house and home and kids so I could spend my time with Matt at the hospital.

My comfy? bed at the hospital


After a week in the hospital Matt was finally released to recover at home. He lost 13lbs and is still pretty weak after spending 7 days in a hospital bed but he is quickly recovering and eating us out of house and home.

We are happy to have him back at home and healthy.
Everyone has been so supportive, kind and up-lifting during this time and I am absolutely blown away. We are surrounded by the best friends and community anyone could ever wish for. I can't wait to repay the favor.

This has been such an eventful and life changing couple of weeks for us. It would take more than a Thousand Words to describe the past two weeks. Hopefully by taking One Look at this blog it will make you appreciate the beauty and fragility of life and friendships.

Thanks for reading (and reading, and reading!)

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