Continue to Pray for Payton

I haven't posted an update on Payton in quite a while. A couple of months ago he had surgery to remove the tumor on his ribs. The surgery was quite successful and he has been healing and coping with chemo since then. As the treatments go on, his little body is having a more difficult time recovering and bouncing back between treatments. Here is a message Terry left on their caringbridge site yesterday:

The Blood Count Lottery……………..

As you may know, Payton has blood drawn twice a week to monitor his counts; white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, etc. It is very similar to playing the lottery. The clinic calls us back with the results: hemoglobin 10.8 (great number), platelets 180,000 (alright ….. one more number and we’re good for the next round), white blood cells 500 ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, so close but no good. Payton had to have a blood transfusion earlier in the week because his hemoglobin was so low. The transfusion took care of the hemoglobin. Then Sunday he really started feeling bad and running a temperature. So we were off to the ER at Cook’s again. They took his counts there and they were all low, except the hemoglobin. We were admitted late Sunday and Payton received platelets early Monday morning. So now his hemoglobin and platelet count is fairly strong, but his white blood count is VERY low. He is going to stay in the hospital until his white cells are high enough to fend off illness. We have no idea how long that will be, but we know he will not start the next round of chemo until he is much stronger. That will probably not be until after Christmas. Please pray for his little body to bounce back quickly this time and for each remaining round of chemo. It appears to be harder and harder on him each time and some of the side effects that were not having are now starting to rear their ugly heads. Thanks for lifting up our little boy. We appreciate your ongoing prayers.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

What a Moron!

*Disclaimer: If you are one of the precious, more mature ladies of my church, you may want to stop reading right here. Trust me. If you continue to read, I apologize if the language or content of this post offends you in any way. Remember, I warned you.

The Munday Moguls have advanced to the state championship game that will be played this coming weekend. We decided not to attend last week's game because, frankly, we're exhausted! Between soccer games, holidays, and December playoff football games, we haven't been home on a Saturday in months.

So, we listened to the game on the radio, from the warmth and comfort of our home.

Well, one of the senior players is a member of our church. Sunday morning I congratulated him on the victory and then, knowing that the playoff games have been tough and intense, tried to say something like "Did you get roughed up very much?" or "Did you get knocked around pretty good?" Instead I said,

"Did you get knocked up?"

I quickly corrected myself and walked away in complete humiliation. He must have been thinking, "Did our pastor's wife really ask me if I got knocked up on the football field???"

Of course, I told his sister, mom, and everyone else around me just what I had done - and then had a huge laugh! It's not even a phrase I use. My brain was working at a different rate than my mouth!

Go Moguls!

Today I was trying to describe Texas high school football to someone who lives in Iowa. There is no way she'd ever be able to wrap her brain around the phenomenon - unless she moved here and experienced it. But even then, being a Midwesterner, I don't think she'd ever really get it.

Our little town's varsity football team is undefeated and just became the Regional Champs. Even though only 1500 people live in our small town, there were 4000 fans at that game Saturday night! It's a good thing no one back in town needed emergency services, because our cop and volunteer firemen were ALL at the game!

I missed the whole first quarter because I was turned around backwards in the stands painting faces. Kids just kept coming!

It's My Birthday!

Today I am 39 years old. Wow. I don't really mind that number, but what I keep dwelling on is that this is the first day of my 40th year. That has a completely different feel to it. When I was a kid that sounded so old, but I don't feel old. For all of my adult life, I've been the youngest. My friends have always been a few years ahead of me. But since moving here 2 years ago, my girlfriends here are younger - like 5 to 10 years younger. Since our kids are the same ages, it feels like we're all the same age. Except when playing trivia games with them at game night. KD has a hard time answering questions from the 80's since she was only in elementary school!!

I'm not feeling all that reflective today, as I often am on my birthdays. Maybe that will come later, after my second cup of coffee.

But I do have one question. Why is it that on your birthday, your first priority after looking at your face in the mirror is hair removal? I'll just leave it at that.

***Update***

So far it's been a wonderful birthday! One friend brought me a homemade lasagna, 3-Layer Pie, a cookbook and a Willow Tree to add to my collection. Another friend brought me a gorgeous silver bracelet. And a woman in my church sent me beautiful flowers! Plus I've received lots of cards, phone calls and text messages! Oh, and hubby picked up DQ for lunch. (There ain't too many options in this town!). Later weevilwoman stopped by with some coffee goodies.

This afternoon I had to make my own birthday cake. Only because my boys really wanted cake! Anyway, we ate the delicious lasagna, had birthday cake, and opened a few more gifts. My older child had picked out a candle for me and was very proud of it! In fact, he kept trying to get me to say it was my favorite gift! But, it's hard to compete with a homemade lasagna!

This one-more-year-til-I-HAVE-to-have-a-mammogram girl feels very special and blessed!

Why Clowns Should Avoid Crack

Last month I posted a picture of my son's school spirit. I got lots of kudos on my job as face painter and how it was hard to recognize D.

Well, not every picture turned out that great.

This Post is in Honor of Conbob and ShelleyRo

When I was a kid, we didn't recite the pledge to the Texas flag. Until my own child started his public education career in the great state of Texas, I didn't even know what the words were.

The pledge of allegiance to the Texas state flag is

"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

Kristy, who teaches 4th grade, had a student who had struggled and worked hard to earn the privilege of leading the school in the morning pledges over the PA system. Well, the morning came last week and there he stood at the mic. Kristy was so proud of her student. He started with the Pledge to the American flag and then followed with the Texas Pledge. But what started well certainly didn't end well (but I guess that depends on your sense of humor).

This is how he ended it, "...one and indivisible...CHICKENBUTT"

Silence.

Apparently the principal kept her cool until all announcements were over, but I don't know what happened to Kristy's student after that. I doubt he gets that privilege again!

By the way, the reason this post is in honor of Conbob and ShelleyRo - Conbob is my aunt and is a school teacher. Not only will she love this story, but she's probably had several dozen kids who would have done the same thing. Her daughter ShelleyRo and I have been calling each other "Chickenbutt" for YEARS! We won't discuss the other nickname we have, though!

White Rabbit Monkey Boy Chick Magnet Turns 4

Birthday Pancakes Make a Wish

Trick or Treat!!!

My boys with our good friends Brandon, Courtney, and Christina
Brandon pooped out early...
...and his head ended up in his trick or treat bag!

Yes, he's sound asleep with his head in his candy!

Pumpkin Carving

Boo!

This is appropriate for Halloween.

Now That's School Spirit!

High School Football is HUGE here in Texas, especially in small town West Texas! Each Friday there is a different theme for the pep rally and the kids dress in that theme all day. My 2nd grader had really wanted to get dressed up last week for "Tame the Wildcats" circus theme. Being close to Halloween, finding makeup and wig were no problem. So, we got up early and started putting on the clown face - something I've never done before!

Now, I'm all for school spirit, but I don't know if I would have gone to school like this! He had so much fun! When the kids in class saw him, they thought it was perfect for the class clown to dress like one!

Look at That Old Lady

Last month I was in the doctor's office, waiting for my yearly exam. (Sorry brother, you probably didn't want to know that). The other patients in the room were pregnant. One was barely showing and had obviously just moved to town (they were a military family). One was probably fairly close to her due date and having contractions. One woman came out from having seen the doctor carrying ultrasound pictures of her TWINS. I just sat there reading a magazine for first-time parents who haven't a clue what they're doing. I didn't say a word to anyone, I just listened and observed. I quickly assumed that all the women there were first-time moms. I wondered what they were analyzing as they looked at me. Did they think I was pregnant, too old to be pregnant, beginning menopause? Did they think, "Oh, I hope I'm not having kids when I'm that old!"? Facing my 39th birthday soon, I kinda hoped they didn't think I was too old to have a baby. There were moments that morning that I felt that longing to have just one more baby. Going to the doctor is the fun part - hearing the heartbeat, etc. (Not fun at the end, though! No one likes getting checked, thankyouverymuch! )

Everything in the room was fairly quiet, except for one mom. She received a phone call and proceeded to talk loudly about her baby and what they will name her. "We really like Lily Kate, but we really haven't decided." I found myself quite annoyed at her lack of respect. So much so that when I got a phone call from hubby, I went to the farthest part of the waiting room and spoke softly. He was out shopping for our son's soccer shorts and shin guards. He needed to ask me about some sizes, etc.

When the call was over, I had to chuckle at the stage of life I find myself in right now. Although being pregnant is a terribly exciting time of life, so is being a "soccer mom". My boys are growing up, becoming more independent, becoming little men. I love this stage. I don't miss the baby years. They were sweet at times and I loved them, but I'm embracing this stage too!

So, I find myself with a very typical job description that I'm really OK with. I'm a minivan-driving, work-at-home, President-of-the-PTO, soccer mom.

Cartoon Evangelism

This morning I picked my almost 4YO up from Sunday school. They had been discussing the importance of church, what the church is, church attendance, etc. On his activity sheet there was a picture of a church building he'd had to circle.

Just outside that church building G had drawn a little Spongebob. You may recall his recent fascination. Maybe his teacher had mentioned the importance of bringing friends to church. Or maybe it's the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Or maybe he's just simply obsessed with the stupid little yellow sea creature!

Chumbley Update

Landry Andel Chumbley arrived this afternoon! Mother and daughter are doing very well. I tell ya, nobody has babies like Robin! She's a champ! I talked to her on the phone tonight and she doesn't even sound tired. She's quite amazing.

Please take the time to read Terry's post on their caringbridge site. You will laugh and cry. It was quite a day for him!

Prayer Requests

***UPDATE*** Thank you for praying for Kati. She did miscarry her baby last night. Please continue to pray for her physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

Last month we found out that our niece is pregnant. She's 24, single, and had no plans of starting a family. She didn't really want to be pregnant, but she is. So she made her announcement to the family, will have the baby in the spring and get married sometime after that. Of course, it's a much longer story than that, but that's the nutshell version.

Well, tonight it appears she is miscarrying. She's on bedrest and may not know until Friday what's happening to her baby. Although she never planned this, I would imagine that in the last few weeks as she has been trying to wrap her brain around the reality, her heart has already begun loving and dreaming and breaking - just like all mother's hearts do during pregnancy. Please pray for Kati.

It's been a while since I posted about Payton Chumbley. I try to keep everyone updated through emails. He has finished Round 6 (of 14) of chemo and has a couple of weeks off. Then they will redo all the tests to see how big the tumor is. Of course, the hope is that the doctors will be dumbfounded when there is NO TUMOR! Our God is huge and we are trusting Him.

Robin, Payton's mom, will deliver Landry tomorrow. This is great because we want Robin to be well on her way to recovery when Payton has his surgery in a few weeks. Tomorrow's event is doubly sweet because it is Robin's birthday. She will share her birthday with her only little girl (for now!?)

I'll post all the good news tomorrow!!

You Know What Day It Is!

MissyMom

I actually have 2 sets of friends who are missionaries in Prague. I've blogged about the Chumbleys, but I've not mentioned the Barnwells. They have been in Prague longer than the Chumbleys and have an adorable family. Tina and I worked together for a couple of years at the seminary while our husbands were students and I wouldn't trade that time together for anything! She is funny, sweet, creative and a lot of fun.


After dealing with infertility for a few years, Jerry and Tina adopted a beautiful little girl they named Karis (that's Greek for "Grace"). By the time the big "Gotcha Day" arrived, Tina was pregnant - WITH TWINS! God must have been chuckling as they realized she might actually be pregnant!






So, by summer of the next year they had 3 kids in diapers! They are a beautiful family and I can't wait for them to return to the states so I can meet these kiddos!



Well, Tina has her own blog now that I'm really enjoying. I'm so glad I can keep up with her and stay connected!

Funny Kiddos

Here is a sample of G's latest artwork. He is going through his "abstract on markerboard" stage. Can you guess his subject?

This summer my niece shared her favorite movie with D. Now he is obsessed with High School Musical and HSM2. Last month we taped the first movie and he has watched it many times. This weekend we taped the Dance-Along version of HSM2 and the boys have been been practicing their moves! Since Dad has been known to tape something for D and then eventually tape over it (much to D's disgust), D made the following statement:

"We're never, NEVER until I'm DEAD taping over High School Musical 2!!!"

I imagine in the next few years, he will be very embarassed he ever made that comment!

2nd Grade

This is our 3rd year to pose in this spot. I love that picture behind him - he was one week old!

Such little monkeys!

Saying goodbye to little brother

I think he was a little embarrassed that his mom was taking his picture, but I didn't care! He should know by now that I take pictures of everything.

Another Picture of Caden

My sister has posted the cutest picture of Caden. He has a cleft in his chin and now we know why God gave it to him!!

Fun at the Park this Morning

He's Eight!!

Pictures of Caden

The boys and I just returned from a wonderful week loving on Baby Caden. He is a sweetie and he completely stole our hearts! We miss him terribly and we are certain that he misses us too!!!

D loved holding Caden. Being a big brother, he seemed very natural holding a baby. G was quite the monkey. He adored Caden, but sometimes got a little too close. Fortunately, Caden still has both eyes and his nose is still intact!


More pictures to come.

If you haven't been there yet, check out the new mommy's blog.