Coffee CubBuster

It's funny how humans are such creatures of habit. We all know it. Take seating for instance: even if there aren't assigned seats, on day two of class, most people will sit in the same seat or same seating section as the day before. Do you sit in the same area at church? Dinner table? Or take toddlers as another example: once they have a semi-established routine, their feathers get pretty rustled when forced to adapt that routine (unless it involves cookies, ice cream, or the like.) Likewise, even during an undesired life change, we quickly establish a new routine and get quite comfy, quiet quickly. I believe it all stems from our desire to control our own lives. If we have even the smallest grasp of future outcomes, we feel a bit more at ease with the present. Also, believing that we can predict our future to some degree puffs up our own pride feathers (whether we admit it or not). Recognizing that our perceived control is merely a mirage enables us to open our eyes to the d...

I don't think I've ever stayed in Atlanta for Memorial Day or any of the warm weather holidays. We are always with family at the beach or lake. It is kind of strange how quiet it feels here, but amazing at how little traffic there is too! It's been one of the best staycations I've ever had! Prayers were answered- rest for our family: a togetherness that only hardship could create. Laughter chasing Silas around the house, and even laughing at 2 am because Silas wet the bed when we realized Matthew decided to put him in pajamas without any pull ups! Camando is a side effect too much fun.... picnics in the parks, live music, dancing, and a special father and son trip to Lego Land while mommy got to be with her newborn at Northside! Moreover, Levi's doctor gave him a break this weekend. He remained on the same level of 6 on the oxygen "high flow." He got his two month vaccines though, so we were glad he had a break oxygen-wise in order to withstand the vacci...

influence....... influenced. The latter word signifies a condition where someone else has an effect on your life. Taking off one little letter seems to insight a condition where you are the one acting upon the lives of others. I wish I could claim that I am rarely influenced by the opinions of others, but sadly that is not the case. If it does not go against my beliefs, principles, or well-being, I am one of those people that can easily jump on a bandwagon if presented with the material in an intelligent and legitimate manner. For that reason, I stay away from most things that can have a potential momentary or negative influence on my life. Unfortunately when it comes to little Levi, there are many different people taking care of him, and there are many different opinions regarding his current and future condition. For some reason, since the day Levi was born though, I have not searched the internet for a single thing regarding his care or condition. I believe God has protected me fro...

So much can change in an hour, a day, a week. If you love or even hate your current moment, don't worry, it will change soon. It's hard to remember that fact if your current moment is a sour one, but hindsight proves much sweeter, so don't be afraid to wait patiently. (I am telling myself this very notion every day.)  I was thinking the other day how much I love my life though. Each of us has our own story, and I really do love my story. It's incredible to see how God has so specifically and obviously answered some of my past prayers with our little Levi. Some time ago, I began to pray things like: Please help me NOT to look like the rest of the world, but to view the world as you do.  Please help me never to be comfortable in this life. Please help me not to get sucked into the "stuff" of the world, but to be changed from the inside out so that I may not be seen as a hypocritical Christian.  Please help me to praise you when times are good and when tim...

Silas is certainly at the "sponge" age. He can repeat just about everything I say. When he has his little meltdowns, I simply say, "Okay, go ahead and have a meltdown right there, that's fine." Now, whenever he doesn't want to do something, he simply sits down and calmly responds, "Mommy meltdown right here." He's certainly missing the definition of a meltdown, but he's smart enough to recognize that we all have a right to a meltdown now and again. I exercised that right yesterday. After holding myself together for quite some time, I was utterly lost after an extended phone call with one of Levi's doctors. Without going into all the complicated medical details, let's just say that Levi is a big question mark with regard to his apnea. Thus, there are plans for him to see a neurologist, another ear, nose and throat doc, a plastic surgeon, have a sleep study, a swallow study, and still try to figure out if he has a bladder infectio...

If we all look like a hot mess in this picture it's because it was 90 degrees and the weekend was a bit of a mess. Instead of rose petals and fireworks for mother's day, we were simply trying to hold down our breakfast during this selfie. Thank goodness Silas was the only one with the 24 hour stomach bug. The good Lord spared the rest of us, but it was touch and go there for a while. When Si-man started coming around late Saturday, I decided to do a little finger-painting in the unfinished basement just in case we had any other bodily fluids to clean up. While Matthew masked up and visited Levi, I left Silas alone for just a moment to grab some water upstairs. When I returned he said excitedly, "Mommy look!" "What is it buddy?" I looked in the direction he was pointing and gasped as a small critter was hiding behind some Matthew's tools. Breathing heavily I looked for a weapon, but could only think to grab our paint pallette (a brown paper bag) and ope...

 The past 48 hours have been quite a roller coaster, and while I should be feeling a lot of emotions, I am not. If feels as though I'm numb from all the constant ups and downs; my mental and emotional capacity has hit its maximum. Or it could just be that God's loving angels are protecting me from losing myself in the storm. The constant prayers that are flooding our family have enabled us to experience a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. Thank you Jesus. After Levi's constant episodes Monday and Tuesday morning, the doctor actually put him on "high flow," which has been our current goal. It means his lungs are strong enough to get off the bubble CPAP. I was a bit confused, but the doctor explained that when he's not choking or obstructed, he doesn't require additional air, so testing him on the High Flow would help get some of the unnecessary pressure out of his tummy and lungs, which the bubbles from the CPAP can cause. I was thrilled...

I heard a story once about a man who had been sitting at a red light for what seemed like days. He was inching his way to the traffic light at snail speed trying to maintain his composure as he was already extremely late for a very important meeting. Finally, he only had one car in front of him. Suddenly the woman chose to get out of her car and rummage through the back seat. She was certainly trying to move quickly, but he couldn't believe that she chose that moment to grab something from the back. The light turned green, and she continued to scurry around in the back. He laid on the horn to give her a reminder of their current traffic situation, but she didn't budge. More cars began laying on loud honks as the woman was now holding everyone hostage at this horrific light. Finally, someone heard her scream for help beneath all the honking, and ran to her aid. Lo and behold, the woman had an infant who was choking in her back seat. While this story has multiple morals, it c...