Carmen has a fever again. She just finished another round of antibiotics but only lasted a couple of days before the fever came back. Carmen is not doing too well on antibiotics anymore. She has chronic oral thrush and diarrhea. No fun at all. She is requiring more and more suctioning to keep her from choking on saliva. Today was OK but yesterday I suctioned her out over and over. Well, the good news is that Ativan every 6 hours is still working well. She sleeps soundly at night and is awake during the day but seems comfortable and relaxed. I am amazed that she gets 3mgs of Ativan during the day and still stays wide awake!
Happy 25th month birthday, sweet Carmen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have decided to start a new tradition- Family Night. I believe in giving credit where credit is due so I need to say that I got the Family Night idea from Heather. http://whittakerwoman.typepad.com/ Tonight we decided to do Beach Night. We didn’t make it to the beach this year so we brought the beach to our house. Lauren wore her swimsuit and we put beach towels on the kitchen floor. The MOPS moms have been blessing us with meals (THANK YOU!) so we had Tammy’s pasta and cucumber salad. I made a yummy chocolate pudding and vanilla wafer concoction and layered it in Lauren’s sand bucket and topped it with crushed vanilla wafers for sand. We scooped it out with her sand scooper. It was simple and easy and Lauren was beyond excited. Most of you are WAY more creative than I am so make a date and do Family Night!
A couple of pictures from tonight….
You have the best ideas. I never thought of doing that before. Thanks for sharing. We hardly ever get to take our kids anywhere. Its hard to travel with Molly and finances are usually not the greatest either so I will have to try a fun family night also.
what fun!!!! Love the pics!
I LOVE the photo of the girls!! I’m still praying for you guys daily!!
Another good idea but a bit messy would be to serve dinner, being spagetti on a plastic table cloth with out bowls. She could eat with her hands. I hear it is allot of fun.
Hi, That is a pretty cool idea I am glad you all had so much fun. Your girls are adorable. God bless. In Christ, Joe
Hi Lana,
I want to come over for beach night! Is really food in the sand bucket? It so looks like sand! Carmen and Lauren are so lucky to have such loving, devoted and creative parents. These are times Lauren will always remember and cherish. And what fun for Carmen! How could anyone feel yucky when getting such a nice hug from Lauren!
Hugs and prayers,
Kim
I think you are very creative!! I love the dessert/bucket of sand idea and that you are making such great memories. Carmen looks so cute in the sunglasses!
I pray God’s all sufficient grace for all of you as you face these increasing medical issues.
Talk about a family night. What a honor it is for me to see you do this with your Amazing family. Thank you for being such an example! H
What a beautiful family you have! I just read over the story of your adoption and just believe that God has big things in store for you and your girls. I came here via Heather’s blog, and will be praying for Carmen and your family. God Bless yall…
Wow. What an inspirational family night. A true family!
Great idea! I am sure Miss Lauren liked beach night more than the real beach since she didn’t get all sandy. Love the pictures!
i read through some of your blog entries, and i am praying for you guys. your girls look precious.
What a beautiful family night. Your girls are gorgeous. I can’t wait to ready your story. God bless.
I found your website because of Heather Whittaker. I am bawling after reading everything. Thank you for sharing your story. We recently started doing Family Night (because of Heather) too, and we just love it. I look forward to reading more about your family. My prayers are with you. Thanks again for sharing your story.
i clicked over here from heather’s…and am so glad i did…i’m headed to read more about your story!
Also from Heather’s site. Just spent over 40 min here. And the video you put together describing your journey with Carmen is one of the most touching things I have seen in a very long time. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Another from Heather’s site….Your family is truly amazing…..I really do think that God has already begun to use Carmen’s time here to help other people….I am very blessed to have healthy children, but reading your story makes me realize that i take that for granted every day. I want to Thank You from the bottom of my heart for sharing your families story….I will try very hard not to take another day for granted….I will pray for God to heal Carmen through a miracle…..But i believe that when he created her, he knew that her entire life would be a miracle and that her story would be as well.
God Bless you all,
Cissy
Mebane, NC
Oh Lana. I think I’ve yet to visit your website without being overwhelmed with your family’s struggles, hope and strength. It makes me cry every time. I’m sorry life is so hard and yet I know you see Christ more clearly than most being in such trials. I hurt with you and want to be with you so very much. Love you, Becca
I clicked over here from Heather’s site and have been reading a lot of your entries. Your family is amazing!