This is Marian posting for Hannah.
They took Asa back to TX Children's Hospital in Houston by ambulance. Hannah rode in the ambulance with Asa and Kevin followed in the van. Asa's white blood cell was up again and the enzyme count of that one enzyme that I can never remember the name of was also elevated (15,500 fyi Sarah) When Asa first woke up from his nap earlier today the pain was pretty bad and Hannah didn't waste any time. She had him at the ER pretty quickly and even though it was really crowded they admitted him right away. Bloodwork was completed within 2 hrs. (This was fast compared to last time) The 3 hours we spent in the ER Asa struggled some with pain, but not nearly as bad as last time, and there was no pain medicine given. The doctor went ahead and ordered it in case Asa would need it in the ambulance. So that's what I know for now. Thanks so much for praying. Also, last time some of you sent emails through the hospital website, and I know this was a great encouragement. And even after Asa came home, the hospital snail mailed those emails that came after Asa was released. So I'm going to paste that address below again. It's real easy to do. I did it with each kid and it took about 10 minutes. Average time 1 minute 10 seconds per kid). And the hospital takes each email and puts it on its own individual 5x7 post card. They are very cute, and I know that Asa, Kevin and Hannah loved them all. Thank you so much for your prayers. Well, motherhood and "aunt hood" are both calling. Thank you so much for your prayers.

The website is: www.texaschildrenshospital.org/parents/patientgreeting/default.aspx

Happy 16th Anniversary Baby!



16 things I love about being married to Kevin:

1. He loves Jesus.

2. He knows how to tell a good story.

3. He makes me laugh. . .really laugh. . .like girly, giggly laugh.

4. He is a great father and a wonderful uncle.

5. He is loyal. . .to his family, his friends, his job, his favorite teams & NASCAR driver.

6. He has a great, dry sense of humor that throws off even his closest friends from time to time. (I'm talking to you Franklin. Quit laughing Matt, you're not immune either.)

7. He gave me roses for our anniversary.

8. He tells me I'm beautiful, even after all these years.

9. He still believes in working hard and protecting and providing for his family.

10. He smothers our children with love.

11. He knows how to play a good practical joke.

12. He can handle the grill.

13. He looks great in camo shorts and hiking boots. (That's for you, Heather!)

14. He changes poopy diapers.

15. He washes dishes and does laundry.

16. He's a stud.

I love you Kevin. You are the love of my life and I cherish our days together. I'm thankful that God brought us together when He did and I look forward to what He has in store for our future.

WE ARE HOME!


Asa is doing much better. Thank you to everyone who prayed, sent e-mails, babysat kids, made meals, sent presents, cards, and notes and the countless other things the body of Christ did to take care of us. I am unsure of how to write about it yet, because it all seems surreal and overwhelming. But to quote my husband who said from the very beginning of all this, when we didn't know if Asa would come home with us or not, he said(choking back the tears and through his clenched jaw), "Hannah, God is good. No matter what happens. God is good."

And so that is what I want to convey here. God is good, no matter what, God is good.

8 Things You Don't Know About Kevin:



1. Kevin was quite the prankster in college. He has never met a building he couldn't get into or a lock he couldn't pick. He once broke into my dorm room and left me a card and some presents that I didn't find until I woke up the next morning.

Another time he broke into the library on campus (by climbing in an upstairs window)to accomplish some kind of prank and was met inside the window by the Librarian who asked, "May I help you?" He came up with some "story" about having to copy some info. from a resource and then said Librarian "helped" him find the book and then let him make copies before letting him back out the front door.

Once he and a bunch of his buddies took all the hot water handles off of the girls showers in one of the dorms. I think it took 3 or 4 days to get that one straightened out. It wasn't pretty with all those girls walking around without having their showers. Kevin and his co-horts had to do "time" for that one and got stuck re-painting the lobby of the guys dorm.

Whenever there was an eventful prank on campus, the dean of students, Dean Krall, would head to Kevin's door first. Dean Krall would always say, "Did you do it? If you didn't, you know who did." I am sure that Kevin has gotten credit for things he didn't do just because of all the things he did do.

2. Kevin was in Jr. ROTC when he was in high school and was the 2nd highest ranking officer in the state. I always thought he would join the army and become a ranger.

3. He can play the drums.

4. He worked in the grocery business for 12 years before joining Best Buy. He loves grocery stores. Whenever we go on vacation, he checks out all the grocery stores within a 10 mile radius of where ever we stay.

5. Kevin acquired the nickname, "Smokey", from a close friend in West Virginia, because he used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Thankfully, he doesn't smoke anymore.

6. Kevin is an only child, but when he first went to college, he and his cousin, Brad, told everyone they were brothers. When they finally tried to "come clean" that they were only cousins, people didn't believe them.

7. He proposed to me in a hot air balloon, on a morning of which, I was sure, he was going to break up with me. THAT turned out way better than I expected. ;)

8. I think if he had to choose one person he could meet, on this side of heaven, it would be Mark Martin, the NASCAR driver.

Anna-Kate's Winter Ballet Recital. . .
took place last Saturday morning. Here are a few shots from the event:

Anna-Kate with her hair braided AND in a bun. . .that is WORK my friends.


The boys got a front row seat (from l to r: Joshua, Colin, Addison, Austin & Micah)


Anna-Kate with her teacher, Miss Victoria.


A couple of the girls in the younger class. First is Emma and then smiling Fiona.



Next we have Lizzie and Bella in action.


From left to right: Veronica, Bella and Anna-Kate (Bryn is sitting in the doorway)


Of course Aunt Mar took one of all of our kiddos together.

I love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer:
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice;
my cry came before Him, into His ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because He was angry.
Smoke rose from His nostrils;
consuming fire came from His mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under His feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him--
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at Your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from Your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me. . .

. . .You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With Your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me Your shield of victory
and Your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle;
You made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them--
to the LORD, but He did not answer.
I beat them as fine as dust borne on the sand;
I poured them out like mud in the streets. . .

. . .The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men You rescued me.
Therefore I will praise You among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to Your name.
He gives His king great victories;
He shows unfailing kindess to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 18: 1-19; 28-42; 46-50

An Ayden Funny. . .

"Look mommy, I can eat a banana sideways!"

"Look at that. You sure can. Just like corn on the cob."

Off he runs giggling and eating his banana. . .sideways.

How about 8 things I'm thankful for. . .

since it is Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll do the 8 things you don't know about me another day. Maybe I won't.



1. I'm thankful for Kevin. He loves the Lord and he loves me. He inspires me to be a better mom because he is such a great dad. I'm thankful for his ability and commitment to work hard at everything he does. I'm thankful for his ability to see when I'm stressed or struggling and not ignore it. He often can make me laugh through my tears. I love that.









2. I'm thankful for Austin. He offers a helping hand to the moms in our church by looking out for the little ones. He has a tender heart and a deep sense of commitment when it comes to his friends. He plays sports with that same sense of commitment and he is very coachable. He has a desire to be obedient to God and to his parents. I love that.


3. I'm thankful for Addison. He seems quiet and reserved on the outside, like his daddy, but he has a quick wit and a great sense of humor. He loves music and video games. He is our night owl and can often be found after 10:00 pm reading a book or playing some lone adventure game in his bed. He is a natural athlete, and like his brother, is coachable. He is quick to admit his sin and say he is sorry. I love that.


4. I'm thankful for Anna-Kate. She is outgoing and fun. She has a boatload of energy and does her best to keep up with the boys in her life. She enjoys her ballet and art classes, and then it's off to soccer and basketball. She's a giggly girl during playtime and an attentive learner during classtime. She prays earnestly every night for the Fergusons and the Andersons, and that she'll get a cat for Christmas. I love that.

5. I'm thankful for Ayden. He has spunk and a laugh that would melt a heart of steal. He notices when I am sad and offers comfort with hugs and kisses. His favorite color is orange and he loves to play with his good friend, Jack. He's a cuddler and he's ticklish under his chin. He sits on my lap during church every Sunday. I love that.



6. I'm thankful for Asa. He wants his "grace" bar (nutra-grain bar) first thing every morning, even before hugs and kisses. I usually make him hug me first anyway. He is very verbal and can usually tell you in complete sentences what he wants to say. When I have been gone, or just after his nap, he greets me with enthusiasm and excitement. I love that.


7. I'm thankful for the parents and the siblings God gave me. My parents taught me about Jesus from a very young age. I don't ever remember a time that He wasn't a part of our lives. I love each of my sisters and my brother and would proudly call them friends, even if we were not related. Mom, Dad, Beth, Laura, Jenna, Wyndi, Marian, Esther, Sarah and John, I love you and I thank God for you. I'm especially thankful that God allows me to live near my twin sister, Marian and her family. I can't believe we are raising our children together. I love that!

8. Most of all I am thankful to God for sending His own son to die and pay the penalty for my sin so that when I die, it is only an earthly death and not an eternal one. I so love that!

8 things you don't know about me. . .

I really could think of nothing that ya'll don't already know. Seriously, I'm an open book, but I'll keep thinking. In the meantime, Anna-Katie revealed a few things about herself. Enjoy.


1. I like to play games. . .beanie baby games.

2. Last night my pants were on the gray side and they were itchy so I took them off, after putting my blanky over me, and put them on the blue side. (giggle, giggle, giggle)

3. I'm drinking out of a teacup and eating off of a plate that belong to Aunt Marian.

4. My favorite song is "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord".

5. I'm a tomboy. (I told her I thought most people already knew this. She disagreed.)

6. I keep gatorade bottles after I drink out of them.

7. I like creating things like Ayden.

8. My second favorite song is "Our God is an Awesome God".

Week 2--Going through withdrawal--Again

Psalm 119:133

Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me.

Sugar has ruled over me for much of my life and so this scripture convicts me every time I see it, hear it, read it, or pray it. I have attempted to go off of it a number of times in the past two years. I am giving it another try now. I tend to be an "all or nothin'" kind of gal and so it's just better for me if I can stay away from it all together. This time though, I am allowing myself a "treat" once a week while I'm on my date with Kevin and that gives me something of which to look forward. (This may actually negate the "all or nothing" mentality and so I confess that I struggle with having even some, but at the suggestion of several friends, I have allowed myself an "out" once a week.) I don't know, maybe that helps, maybe it hurts. I can't really tell at this stage. Since this is the second week, I am noticing some things about myself that I HOPE are just withdrawal symptoms. For one, I am SOOO emotional. For those of you who know me know I shed my fair share of tears, probably your fair share too. But this week. . .wow! I am like a roller coaster--up and down, up and down--cry, laugh, cry, laugh. Ugh. Somebody stop! I can't take it! And so, I digress. Secondly, I am tired and sleepy. It is difficult to get out of bed in the morning and mid-day, I am ready for a nap. I guess it doesn't help that I have also given up aspartame. I made the switch from Diet Coke to unsweetened tea. I'm not very happy about that either.

On a more serious note, I know that part of what I am struggling with has to do with mourning Knox's death, maybe all of it has to do with Knox and I just need to be able to blame it on something else. I ask myself, "Is is ok that I still miss him, that it still hurts like this?" I struggle with mentioning it at all for fear that someone will tell me that I need to go on some drug to help me cope. And for the few who have suggested that to me, I know that you mean well and that you only recommended it because you love me, but I don't see myself taking that kind of step anytime soon. That is not the answer for me. It's just not. At any rate, my heart. . .my body. . .they're aching and hurting. I miss that little guy and I know his family misses him more. I find myself saying, "Ugh". That's all I got. . .Ugh!

So there ya go, this week, I blame it all on the sugar and the aspartame, or at least, the lack there of. And because I hate to leave you on a downer, here's a shot of how I think I feel and look this week. (Thanks to Marian for her wonderful gift of capturing a moment.) ;)

Aunt Marian took soccer pictures of the kids on Saturday. Here are their individual shots. They are in order of their ages: Austin (11), Addison (9), Anna-Kate (7), Ayden (5) and Asa (2). Asa doesn't really play on a team because he is too young, but he likes to dress in a uniform (one from last year) like everyone else.

Thanks for the cupcakes Mrs. Rachel and Mr. Jon!

HAVE YOU SEEN IT YET? HAVE YOU HEARD?

This just in. . .

I just thought I'd bring it to your attention. . .This is the new heading on Rachel's blog:



Rachel's Blog A family of eight with one in heaven's gate


What do you suppose she is trying to tell us?


Congratulations Anderson Family!

"BASED BY A TRUE STORY. . ."

Ayden came in this morning and said, "I had a dream last night, mommy, that was based by a true story." He then proceeded to tell me the "true" story of the people who shrank and lived in a drawer and then they grew big again. I looked at Kevin who was already looking at me in disbelief and I said, "THAT is a blog spot waiting to happen."

There ya go. Thanks for sharing Ayden!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KNOX












WE MISS YOU

PAJAMA RUN ANYONE?

What is a "pajama run"? you ask. Well, you put your kids to bed, say their prayers and then let them think they are going to go to sleep. Then after a few minutes, you go in and yell, "Pajama Run!" They scramble around looking for their shoes and then you all pile in the car and head out for ice cream, or some other fun night-time treat.

My sister, Esther, came to visit this week and she wanted to share in the fun of a pajama run with her Texas nieces and nephews, but she wanted to do it "Oklahoma Style", meaning instead of ice cream, they go to Starbucks for a cold, decaffeinated shake-like treat. I think it's called a frappucino. What a treat for our kiddos! They had such a good time with their Aunt Esther and cousin, Jonathan. Here are a few pictures from our late-night adventure. Thank you Aunt Esther. Thank you for spending your fall break with us. We love you!

Here they are just before heading into Starbucks (If you click on the picture, you should be able to see it a little better). . .


A little closer up. . .


Aunt Esther and Micah


Ayden


Austin


Asa


Cousin Jonathan


Anna-Kate


Add


Micah


Christopher


Addison, Christopher & Joshua


Group shot


Buds-Ayden & Christopher


Thanks again Aunt Esther & Jonathan (& James) for coming to see us. We love you and we'll miss you.

Another fun Saturday morning at the soccer fields. . .

Six of our seven players had games this morning. While watching Austin and Joshua play, the kids had fun playing in the back of dad/Uncle Kevin's truck. Here are Ayden and Micah, who both played well today. I couldn't keep track of all the goals in Ayden's game. The other team scored, then we scored. It just kept going back and forth. Ayden said he got a goal too, but I missed it. I was trying to watch his game and Austin's at the same time. Micah's team won and he had 2 goals. Wahoo Wahoo!!


Cara Beth is such a cutie petutie.


Asa and I (or do I say, "Asa and me"?)


Joshua and Austin played an all-girls team. There are only 2 all-girl teams in their age division, so they get to play the boys. The boys won today. Joshua had 2 goals. Way to go Joshua! Here is one of them. If you click on it, you can see it better.


After his 2 goals, he played keeper. Here he is manning his post.


Austin played a good game too. He had some shots on goal. I missed much of his game as I was watching Ayden play on another field. Here he is dribbling the ball.


Anna-Kate's team got a win today. She played some in the beginning, but was having leg cramps so then she sat out. Here's the only action shot of her today.


After half-time, coach put her in as keeper, which I thought was very considerate of him, seeing as she still got to play. All the action was happening at the other end of the field, so she didn't have to run, and her coach gave her a big high five when she came off the field. Although the action was occurring on the other side of the field, you can see that Anna-Katie didn't have much trouble finding ways to pass the time. . .









And a smile for the camera too!