Life.

FRIENDS! Hi. :)

Well we're still alive. I know I write that for the second time, but I just can't seem to get things all together on our end. I have hope, however, that I will soon!

I certainly don't want to complain that life is hard. We are certainly blessed beyond measure with a very comfortable, happy life, and I know that there are many others that are suffering from various trials even as I write this. So I'm not going to say, "boo hoo, woe is me." I will say, however, in regards to our current situation right now... It is a successful day if I eat and shower. Haha!

Maybe in four years I'll say something different, but right now, I don't see how families with more than two children get through the day! Between Lima Bean's toddler antics and Firecracker's need to eat all the time, I find myself occupied all day. Again, this is not a complaint... it's just the truth. Real life in the Jones' right now is a lot of poopy diapers, toddler meltdowns, and "no no no's".

But I'm still rejoicing in the God who gives strength to the weary!

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

I have been taking a lot of photos. Over the next week, I am going to update you all on life by way of the camera.  So be on the lookout for photo overload.

As for now, in response to what I've been asked the most, Firecracker (Jane) is doing very well! From my point of view, she is a healthy, rapidly plumping baby. Last Thursday, she had an overnight pulse ox sleep study. We had to keep a pulse oximeter hooked to her foot starting Thursday evening (around 6 p.m.) to monitor her throughout the night without oxygen. Originally I thought the study just went through the night ("sleep" study, right?), but we were instructed to leave the monitor on her until our home oxygen delivery company came to pick up the machine Friday afternoon. We are now waiting for the pulmonologist to read the results and let us know what she thinks... can she come off of the oxygen now? Does she need to go to the hospital for an overnight sleep study to test for conditions like sleep apnea? Obviously we are praying for complete healing with a report that she needs NO MORE OXYGEN!

Right now, because her pulse ox is always 97% or above when I monitor her, I have been leaving her off of the oxygen almost all of the time. She appears to be thriving and content without the oxygen, so as long as her numbers are high, I have no problem letting her go cannula free.

The other question I've been asked frequently is "how's Andrew and the store?" Andrew is doing very well! He is working a lot, which we expected would be the case. Last week he put in a little over 100 hours. Whew! Almost everyday last week, he was gone before I woke up and came home after I was asleep. Poor fella.  We are praying that extreme schedule won't last much longer as he gets his team and leaders trained. So far the store numbers (profit) are right where they were projected to be. That's encouraging! If you think to pray for him, please pray for energy (and a chance to get more sleep?), wisdom in managing/training his team (especially his leaders), and increased sales.

Up next on the blog, look for Firecracker's birth story. It won't take long to tell as there wasn't much to it. ;)

Blessings to you all!

Lima Bean loving on Firecracker