Crazy Hair Day

No this is not a cousin to the Bird-of-Paradise flower,

but instead it is part of the fun of Crazy Hair Day at school! Wow, I love being in this family.

Just another day here at our home

So this afternoon I was doing some research on dyslexia, finding some amazing tools to help with Sarah and Math. I was soooo into it. I told her that she could go play for about 30 minutes, so she did. Everything was quiet until she came out and said, "Look at your gorgeous little baby." I turn around and here is what she did.

She even had a ribbon tied on his tail and a small sweater on his back. But, by the time I clicked the picture, he had just the foo foo pom poms in his hair.

Right at this moment, as I type this, she is screaming at him because he got one of the pom poms off and ran with it. She is running around the house trying to get it back.

On another note, just found this picture. Again, the lows that we have sunk to. Now the toilet is on the table where we eat our food. God help the Gisberts.

New Blogger

Heyyy give a warm welcome to Brandi as she enters the world of blogging. Yipppppeeeeee!

Porcelain God

We do not worship any god other than the true living God here in our home. But, by the way we are carrying on today, one might think that we have a new idol. Our toilet.

Our kids get excited over many things, but today, this toilet brought us all more joy than most things. Let me just pics instead of words. You might enjoy that more.

Yes, that is the toilet seat sitting on the edge of the couch. It just amazes me at the trailer trash we have become.

But, we do have some standards so I promise that if you ever visit us, we will not make you use the toilet in the living room. You can use the one out back!!!!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

You know those precious moments when your children just humiliate you? Well, something happened a few weeks ago that a friend reminded me of today.

I was teaching in Kids' Church about obedience. We were doing a Sword Drill where you quickly look up verses that someone yells out. I had thrown out a few but on the last one, Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, I say to all of the kids, "This one is my favorite verse. My kids know that I believe in the verse with all of my heart. What is it Jacob?"

He screams out, "Genesis 2:25 And the husband and wife were both naked and felt no shame."

Apparently, he has sensed my enthusiam over that verse a few too many times.

No More Tonsils

Yesterday, we took Sarah to the hospital to have her tonsilectomy. Wow. You go through a lot of things being a parent, but this was something else. Wow, again I have to say. While, everything went just fine, no complications and even a surprise, it was a rollercoaster of emotions for me.

Big BUT here..while she is recuperating as she should be, she is not happy at all. Last night it wasn't so bad, but today....yikes she is hurting. She is not enjoying the popsicles as much as she thought she might. She says she hates her life she says to me. She theorizes that since she has not died yet, we had no good reason to put her through this trauma. "So what if I could breathe at night. I didn't die yet." "WHHHYYYY???" Oh I think this is going to be a long week.

BEFORE:

Settling in.

This is Dr. Li. She is the anesthsiologist. She came in to introduce herself and meet Sarah. After she asked if Sarah was allergic to any meds, I told her that she wasn't but please be careful because she has a very loose tooth. I knew that it would probably get knocked out with the tubes during the surgery, however, I was not prepared for what really happened. Dr. Li looks at the tooth, wiggles it once or twice and just YANKS IT OUT OF SARAH'S MOUTH. All of us just stood there stunned. Sarah was shocked. Then her mouth starts to bleed.

I think Dr. Li realized that she just should not have done something like that. Maybe it would have been better to wait until Sarah was out. Golly, it was so stunning.

AFTER: Post-Op in recovery. Oh, she looked so good yet so pitiful. All kinds of tubes, an IV, an ice pack on her throat, two foam pillows to prop her to the side, a warming blanket, and the little emesis basin just in case. She was eating ice chips when we got there.

I knew this one was coming. I knew that in addition to supporting Sarah, I was going to be controlling my overactive, very vibrant husband around all of that medical stuff. Apparently, he isn't satisfied with his own fingers in his nose, he has to get the rubber glove to do it too.

People, he truly embarrasses me.

Going home. Not happy at all and frankly, very pale.

At home in her sick bed, letting the morphine take over. Ahhhhhh. Nighty night Sarah.

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

What do popsicles, ice cream, pain medication and antibiotics have in common???

Tonsilectomy and Adenoidectomy.

Tomorrow, Sarah is going to the hospital to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. She has never really been prone to illness or recurring infections, but instead she stops breathing at night because her tonsils collapse. Whhhhattttt?????? Yes, they collapse and she can not catch her breath. So we are taking an otherwise healthy child, having her put under and surgically removing part of her body. I am struggling with it all.

She, on the other hand, is quite excited about the attention she will get from visitors and the attention she will be giving to all of those popsicles and ice cream.

Yesterday morning, she had to do a pre-op visit and have blood drawn. I don't have any pics because I, being the most supportive mother ever, completely freaked out at the thought of having to sit in the lab with all of the needles. So I made Lenny take her. But I did stay home and hyperventilate while imagining her making a fist. Does that count?

Here she is getting ready to leave for the lab.

Just about 5 minutes ago, she did come up to me and say, "Of course I am scared. I have never ever in my whole life had surgery. It's gonna hurt, I just know it."

My response: "Yes, Sarah it is going to hurt after. That's why Dr. Golund told us to get ice cream. A bowl of ice cream will make all of your pain go away."

I thought of how nice it would be to always eat ice cream to make the pain go away. Lucky little girl, she is.

Bathroom Change

Next week I am having a Southern Living at Home party. So I mention to Lenny that maybe I should go get a new shower curtain or some rugs for the gross and very ugly front bathroom. It is the only room that we have never touched since moving into this house almost 5 years ago.

The next thing I know, we are at Lowe's and Home Depot looking at cabinets. Didn't find any that would match the odd dimensions of the existing cabinet. I kind of shrug it all off as a whim, but Lenny. Woah something took him over. Something scary. This was last Saturday.. 4 days ago.

He has since, ripped out the toilet,gotten rid of the bathroom mirror, ordered new cabinet doors for the existing cabinet, repaired the wall, plastered, mudded, and is now at this very moment, painting the inside of the drawers. I have bought new linoleum and it is coming tomorrow morning. I know, linoleum????? Yes, linoleum. People, we are on a major budget and this was supposed to be just a quick project. Besides, ANYTHING A N Y T H I N G would be better than this. Tile is coming when we decide to really remodel the pit of a bathroom!

Today is Wednesday, tomorrow is completely unavailable for working in the bathroom (see next post), and Friday the flooring people are coming. So that leaves, Saturday... no wait, Lenny works, ok, Sunday. But Sunday we go to church and just hang. Ok, Monday. Nope, Monday Lenny works and Tuesday is the day everyone is coming over. Hmmmmmm.

I wonder if we can pull this off. I will let you know. I hope soon because my poor kids have no place to bathe!

So that is what the bathroom looks like right now. Here is what our front yard looks like right now. Think Trailer Park!

the Luecht's

Check out this website for a few pics of Matt and Dani's wedding. It belongs to the photographer, so scroll down to his blog and read about "the Luecht Crazybooth." There is a funny picture of Lenny and Ron Cherryholmes together and maybe one of you too!

51 more like 22

On Monday, my beloved husband enjoyed yet another one of life's great gifts. A birthday. Yes, we all marked off another year of the Lenny Calendar. While I have been a bit resistant to this new decade of his life, I have decided to look at it in a different light.

Last year he turned 50. And let me just tell you how hard it was for me. For him, not so much, but for me, I had a mid-life crisis in his stead. For reasons that are just too personal to reveal here, I seemed to have viewed his chronological age with well, sadness. There were things that I felt like we were missing out on, life's pleasures that we passing us by and opportunities lost. I am ashamed to admit that I let the printed number of his age take forefront to the attitude and exuberance that he displays before me each day.

If you know Lenny, you know his character to be well, quite a character. He is personable, likeable, warm, caring, energetic, incredibly generous, kind, strong both in strength and will, humble and forceful when necessary. He has had quite a bit of life experience in his 5 decades. He has seen a lot in life both from the fun and recreational pursuits of the outdoorsman that he is and also from what he sees each day as a fireman. Now that he is married and a father, he has experienced even more in life. And let me tell you right now that he is a stellar man. He takes each task that he is given whether it be on the job, at church, in our marriage or in our community and he shines.

Let me give you a vague example. I wish I could be more specific but since this is a work related issue, I can not. Lenny has given his entire heart and soul to God. Not just part of it, but all of it. That means that everything that he does, he does it from a point of view that would be pleasing to God. Doesn't mean that he never makes mistakes or slips, but his ATTITUDE is a godly one. When he falls, it doesn't take long for him to go to God to ask for forgiveness.

A situation arose at work that involved him. It was not anything horrible or an emergency but rather something that he knew would be something that he should be involved in. No one had done anything offensive or anything like that. It was simply a logistics issue. He politely and respectfully took the appropriate steps to get the situation resolved. And it was resolved to his satisfaction.

But it hasn't been easy for him. People don't always understand standing up when no one else stands with you. It is easy to be part of a crowd or a rally, but when your voice is the only one speaking out, well, that can be lonely...awfully lonely. But he hasn't backed down. He continues to stand, stand tall and do what is right. For that, I am awfully proud of him.

Lately, we have been talking about our bodies, how we are breaking down, his shoulder, my headaches, his knee, my cracking bones, his booty owie, my wrinkles and his gray hair, my weight/his weight, oh and so much more. It is almost comical at how we are changing. It is good though.

Those wrinkles and gray hairs mean wisdom. That sore shoulder means that he has been using it. His stingray mark means that at 50 years old he is still out in the ocean in the wintertime boogie boarding while his 9-year old and and the neighbor kid sit up on the beach because they are too tired to keep up with dad. His knee pains him because of all of the years that he RAN MARATHONS and TRIATHALONS.

He kicks butt!

Monday was his 51st birthday. I swear it looks like he is gonna make this year more remarkable than many of the past.

Sarah INSISTED on putting exactly 51 candles in addition to the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" set of candles.

Notice how bright the cake is????

Made his wish and now blows them out......

"I did it!"

Last weekend, we went to Pastor Matt and Dani's wedding. It was wonderful and so much fun. Well, there was a dance floor, music, a cheering crowd and Lenny. Hmmmm. It couldn't be helped. He had to do it.

Last night at church, one of the groomsmen, Tim, came up to me and said something like "Lenny is the man." He was referring to many of the moments similar to this one above from the wedding. We laughed and then I said, "I know, he is crazy. And he even turned 51 on Monday two days later." Tim looks at me, shocked, and says in all seriousness, "yeah 51 more like 22." That made Lenny's day.

Happy Birthday Lover.

Update!

I so wish I could post pictures of Lenny's medical malady, however, my blog would drop quickly from a G rating to most possibly a PG-13 or worse. So sorry that I can not satisfy the curiousity of you sickos out there. Really, I am because these pics just crack me up!

On a more serious note, Lenny's booty owie is indeed infected and he is now on antibiotics and anti-itch cream. Re-reading that just grossed me out. Although I am sorry that he had to deal with this, it sure has made for some great fun!

Funny and not so Funny

Lenny comes home yesterday after spending the day at the beach boogie boarding and says, "I got stung by a sting ray ON MY BUTT." He then proceeds to pull down his pants and show me his owie. That was funny. Even he thought it was.

The not so funny thing is that today it is severely infected and he has spent that last 2.5 hours sitting in urgent care waiting to be called by the nurse. Jacob is with him, and while they have spent the last 150 minutes perfecting their Poker strategies on the waiting room table, patience is wearing thin. It's a real pain in the butt. Hahhahahahaaaaaaa.

By the way, isn't Urgent Care a misnomer?

That's all, just some random thought from our life here.