The Stickle Family

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Ellie and the Potty

Knowing she was getting closer to using the big girl potty,
i decided we needed to get one for grandmas house...
since we have one at home, at nana and papas and in the car...
so, off we went.
pink it is. shocking, i know!
and we had to buy toilet paper and we got some big girl underware too!
then, at the store...she swore off diapers!
she wouldn't even put one on to travel to church! scary!
but, only one accident...
and lots of sucess on the potty!

way to go ellie!

can't wait to see what the week has in store!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Ever just have one of those days?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and 20 wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, and so the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.
In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled onthe counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles ofclothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out thebathroom door.
As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toysstrewn over the floor.
Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in thebed in her pyjamas, reading a novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.
She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

i'm still laughing ...and the laughing has turned to tears!! hahahahahah!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Words do NO justice...

I just want to take an opportunity to thank everyone that helped us get through this summer! Thank you to those who watched my kids, took care of me, brought us food, sent well wishes, prayed for us and a special thanks to our parents who did most of the listed above, some at the same time! We wouldn't have made it through without all of you!

We are finally back into routine, just in time for school to start back up! The kids are missing their play mates that they got so used to visiting! And I am finding joy in the simple things!

I am feeling great! Physical Therapy has been great! I am progressing but will continue to go.

So, after spending two seperate occassions on "bed rest" for at least three weeks, I continue to ponder what God was teaching me through it all.

And to me returns a verse that a wise woman spoke to me almost three years ago now...

"Be STILL and know that I am God."

Always working on being still!!!

Jen

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

something to smile about!

Ok, so here's how the story goes:

Mom goes to take Matt's (or anyone for that matter)

picture. Right before she snaps the photo,

her red eye light (it's really orange) lights up!

She has taken so many pictures that even if you just push

the button down half way, causing the red eye light to come on,

this is the look/smile you get from Matt!!!

hahahahahahaha!!

notice how even Aunt Nelle is laughing!!!

this is him laughing with us,

not knowing we're laughing at him!!!

The Reception

I love my husband for taking this picture!

It's my favorite!

Monday, July 6, 2009

"Perfect"

As I awoke in recovery, I saw Dr. Maroon approaching me.
"Your surgery went perfect." he said.
"Good." I said, still half out of it.
"No, perfect." he said.
then he blamed it all on my dad which was sorta funny! : )
so i knew he had already talked to adam and my dad who were patiently waiting for me to wake up!
~
Dr. Maroon was so genuine. and everyone at Presby was so wonderful. I wish I could have thanked than nurse anethesis (sp?) but I was out before I knew I would be. I'll just leave it in the Lords hands to reward her for her company and patience and care. I was definitely where the Lord wanted me.
Today, I am in very little pain and I am drug free! There is some tenderness around my incision and I am uncomfortable from having to "act like a log." I cannot bend, twist or lift anything over 5lbs until aug 4th when i am released by the doctor to life as normal. So, I long for the fetal position, only because i can't sit in it now.
My foot still tingles after I stand for an extended period of time since the herniation that Dr. Maroon removed was the size of a grape! so, my nerve is still calming down after a very long temper tamtrum! but the pain is nothing like it was! what a blessing!
~
There are no words of thanks that are enough for everyone who has reached out to help. Especially with the children. They are well taken care of and I think they are loving the extra attention from all the friends and family! Ellie will be happy to show you her finger and toe nails painted by the Kiefer's and today they came home with ice cream mouths from their walk with grandma into town today. And Josh is already asking when Ben will be here to pick him up tonight! The 4th was some what normal as I asked Adam to take all three to the parade (all by himself) a project he should be more than proud of! I hated to miss it, but was more happy that they didn't. And we got to watch the Zelie fireworks from the front yard! And Sunday rounded out 6 wonderful years of being married to the love of my life!
Adam has been amazing and is exhausted at the same time! He is doing the job of two parents as well as having to take care of me, the fourth child! When tested with the "sickness and health" I am blessed to have him as my husband!
~
But most especially, thank you for your prayers. I have truly felt them and I know that the Lord has his hand on me.
I am learning today to not take tomorrow for granted. I no longer care if my kids wear me out, if i have 4 poopy diapers to change before lunch or if i have to struggle with the one that won't eat their lunch or play with josh who just want to hit baseballs over and over and over and over again. I can't wait for July to be over so I can do it all again. I will let them wear me out and thank the Lord for every minute they do. And then I will enjoy my nap time with them only to get up to the witching hour all moms know as 4pm and find joy in being able to do it again. at least for a few days. ; )
Right now, I am most especially enjoying cuddling with them and a good book in bed. I get them right before nap and bedtime, but then they realize they haven't seen me all day and long for more time with mom (especially Ellie...matt is on the move right after i get my hug! there is no stopping that boy now! he is so close to walking and i fear i'll miss it), making those times harder than they already are as a parent. (For example, Ellie was in our bed until 1am last night and after moving her, we awoke to her right between us again!)

~
So, once again, thank you and keep praying!
and sorry for the delay in the post...
I can only do so much with my itouch...and typing in this text block is not one of them.
love yall!
Jen

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

prayers needed!!

I am still scheduled to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday July 2nd) at 11:15.
I'll post news on my recovery as soon as possible!
~
Thanks in advance for your prayers
Pray that I am brave, and peaceful.
Pray that Dr. Maroon is focused.
Pray that Adam is peaceful.
Pray that the children find comfort
Pray for strenght and endurance for our support team
Pray that I have a quick recovery!
~
Love ya all!
Jen

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Matt is baptized

He came up out of the water

and the heavens were opened

and the Spirit of God descended upon him.

Matthew 3:16

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Martin

Faith, Hope & Love remain,

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Change of Plans

Thank you for all the prayers all of you have already spoken from your hearts. I believe the Lord is listening.
That being said, a brief run down of my day yesterday:

1:25

phone call from Operating room nurse telling me my surgery was scheduled for 4pm and to come at 2pm. oh, and by the way, don't forget not to eat past midnight the night before.
1:31

enter panic mode. last surgery of the day! no eating all day!
1:32

text the key players the time of the surgery so they can enter panic mode too.
1:35

call Adam to tell him I don't feel good and can he bring me something to eat when he comes home.
1:38

text messages from Adam asking me what I want to eat...I'm not really hungry for anything, except steak sounds good.
2:00

calm down and fall alseep just thinking about the relief I will feel in my leg when it's all over!
2:30

Woken up by Adam entering house
2:31

Phone call from scheduling nurse to say that my doctor has left town on an emergency and asks me if i would like to get on the other doctors schedule or wait until Dr. El-Kadi returns (July 17th!) I agree to switch doctors...the next date he has available...July 2nd.
As she trys to give me directions I instead hand phone to Adam because I still don't feel good and now, I'm sad and mad and confused and just don't want to talk on the phone. Poor Adam nows nothing and trys to catch up!
2:41

We rush out the door to try to get to church (I had scheduled an apointment to go talk to the priest and go to reconciliation at 3pm)
2:49

Send out a new text message to key players informing them of the reschedule, thus, causing more chaos and more questions!
2:50

Dodge phone calls and text messages as I am trying to recompose myself to go into the church!
3:04

Explain to the priest that I just found out about my surgery reschedule and apologize for any inconvience and I will be happy to come on Saturday when they offer reconciliation to the public as a whole. then, instead he offers me the Annointing of the Sick. That was very nice of him and I kindly say yes! and ask Adam to come in and pray with us!
3:25

Leave the church and head home
3:40

Return home to find my birthday present still sitting on the floor...unopened! I must say I exhibited much self control! Since it was in a UPS mailing box, I say to Adam, well, (in my sweetest teasing voice) I know that it's not a Pandora charm! He looks at me with a sad look, wondering what I must have thought it was. I was struggling with the tape and he helped me, and when he opened it, and pulled out the tissue, the package got smaller. And, as I opened the tissue, it got even smaller, until I was holding a little gift bag from a boutique that sells, none other than Pandora Charms!! I opened it only to find one of the same charms Danelle gave me for being a bridesmaid in her wedding! It's called "Everlasting Love" and I was touched when Danelle gave it to me as a reminder as the never ending love she has for me...and equally touched for the same reason when Adam gave it to me!!
Well, he was so bummed out...he did not know that is the one that she gave me! And so, right then and there, he started the arrangements for an exchange, that is after he picked a new one out..."Red Hot Love"...one only Adam could get me! : )

4:00

Feelings of joy after a really really crappy afternoon!

I DEFINITLY HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!
7:00

Feelings of joy in my stomach after eating the steak my dad made me!!
oh yeah, and still tingling all down my left leg! I hope it makes it until July 2nd!

~

So I begin a new waiting game in need of more prayers.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Surgery

Ok, so as many of you know, I have been having back problems.
After the flair up over Memorial day weeekend, my PCP ordered an MRI.
While we were gone on vacation, the results came in.
They showed a herinated disc L5-S1 (for those of you who know what that means).
The disc is sitting on my nerve that runs down my leg to my left foot. This is where the bulk of my pain is coming from.
I shared the results with my chiropractor and my physical therapist and talked about pain management ideas before going under the knife.
Both agreed that surgery was needed since the disc is already herinated and cannot be "put back in". The best description i have been given is it is like putting shaving cream back into the can. Since it expands as it's released, you can't put it back in. and even if we could relieve the pain, the disc is still sitting on the nerve and eventually, there would be long term nerve damage.
After our meeting with the neurosurgon on Thursday, he strongly suggested surgery.
This morning I scheduled a microdiscectomy for Tuesday June 23rd. We won't have a time until the day before.

If you would pray for me and my family, especially my support system, since I will need them now more than ever. I will need to spend the night in the hospital and if all goes as planned, i will be released the next day to go home. I should be pain free when I wake from the surgery, only having aches that are normal with surgery. This will be a huge relief from what I am feeling now. I will be doing minimal activity (walking is ok) until released from the doctor (should be around 10 days). However, I will not be able to lift anything over 5 lbs for about a month after surgery. This is where prayers for the kids come in. ; )

Thanks in advance for the prayers!
I'll keep you all posted on my recovery!