The Vennell's

Mommy's Helper

2010-07-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've been praying that Karis will have a servants heart since I knew that I was pregnant. It's my and Mike's desire that our kids will be loving, kind, and helpful to others - among lots of other things. This week I got to see my prayer for Karis start to take action. She's REALLY mobile now, and is following me all over the place. It was so sweet to see that she takes such joy in trying to help mommy. I'm going to continue to pray that she has a servants heart, and I'm super excited to see how the Lord answers it! Here are some pictures from the last week of Karis being a helper.

She helped Mommy cook, and even practiced some taste testing! I know that soon we'll be making some scrumptious meals together!

She even helped unload and reload the dishwasher.

The next day Karis helped me reorganize my shoes.

At the end of the week when Mommy was tired, she "read" Mommy some of her favorite stories. She's already a great reader! They were full of expression. One went something like this: "ba ba bababa! dada da! Baby! baba ba Mama!" It was great!

July 4th

2010-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

For the 4th this year we just relaxed, went to church, grilled out, watched a few fireworks, and had some chocolate vanilla swirl yogurt. It was great!! This weekend we also went to the park to play and did a few odds and ends at the house.

This weekend Karis is also 11 months old!!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown! It's kind of sad to me how she's not really a baby anymore. :( Karis is doing so good! She's crawling all over the place, pulling up on anything she can manage, and she's "talking" away! She does say mama, dada, pawpaw, dog, baby, and yea. Her vocab is definately starting to grow! She loves dogs and her baby. She also loves her daddy!! I love how she crawls up in his lap and lays on his chest. It's precious!!!

We've also had to start "loving" on her a little bit when she throws a fit or won't listen. That's been a little difficult, but I definately want her to learn right from wrong. I am starting to see just how much I don't know about raising a baby and how much I need the Lord's guidance. It's a little overwhelming sometimes to think how I could make it without the Lord's help. Thank you Jesus for being such a great, gracious teacher!!

Here are some pics from the weekend!

The Month of June

2010-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of our trip into Amarillo. We went into town to see my brother & sister-in-law before they move half way around the world for a few years. Tim and Tonya are missionaries for MAF. They recently recieved a new assignment to Kenya. It was really good to see them, even if it was only for a few hours! Please support them with your prayers as they are moving themselves and their five kiddos to Nairobi. We will try to post more about them later on when they get settled. You can also go to the link at the bottom left that says "Tim & Tonya" for more info.

We also visited my parents while we were in town. Karis LOVES dogs. She found a new friend in Yaffie while we were there. Here are some pics of Karis and Yaffie and her PawPaw.

My wonderful Hubby, Mike, also celebrated his birthday while we were in Amarillo.

The last weekend in June we took Karis to the aquarium. She absolutely loved it! I couldn't get very good pics of her though because she was glued to the fish and other animals. She would literally try to move me out of the way so she could see. Here are some of the ones that I did get.

The rest of these pics are from the park and just hanging around the house.

Catching Up Is Hard to Do!

2010-06-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So sorry for being a bad blogger! The past two months have been super busy for us! We've been wrapping up a lot of loose ends and getting ready to start a new school-free chapter in our lives. Here's an update on what's been going on with us.

         1.Mike passed his Part 3 National Boards!!!!! (This was a super huge answer to prayer!)
         2.Karis now has 2 teeth and counting. . .
         3.My kiddos at school did awesome on the TAKS!!!
         4.Mike took Part 4 Boards. (The last round of them, thank the Lord! We're still waiting on results.)
         5.I had my 1st Mother's Day!!! So Fun!
         6.We started 'Operation Move' in May.
         7.Karis and I wrapped up the year at school; I mean packed up and all!
         8.Our house is on the market!!!
         9.Mike took his AK test and we're waiting on those results as well.
         10.Mike had his 1st Father's Day today!

Whew! In the midst of all of that we made 2 trips into A-town, and needless to say we are a bit worn out! Here are some pics of Karis over the last couple of months.

1st Easter

2010-04-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

Karis' 1st Easter was full of excitement! On Good Friday, she had an egg hunt at school, which was so cute!! They laid out eggs all over the floor and let the babies crawl after them. Karis wasn't crawling just yet, but was able to scoot around enought to grab 2 eggs, one for each hand. Once she had an egg in each hand, she was happy and didn't care about the rest of the eggs. Here are some pics of the hunt.

Friday evening my mom, brother, and sister-in-law came to visit. Well, it wasn't really a visit, but to help. I had been sick all week and needed to sleep, and Mike had been super busy with school and stuff. They were so sweet to come to the rescue! They cleaned, watched Karis while I slept and rested, and stalked us up on groceries. It was so helpful!!! I miss my family so, so much! Y'all are such a HUGE BLESSING! Thanks again guys!

On Easter Sunday, we went to church. Karis was all dolled up in pink and black with some adoreable shoes that her Uncle Dustin & Aunt Colleen bought her. We usually keep her with us during praise and worship because we want her exposed to it, and she LOVES music. This Sunday we didn't; the church was too crammed with people. We even got there extra early so we could get a good seat. (They even had 22 services!) So, I took her to the nursery instead of in the service with us for worship. After worship was over and the message had just started, her number flashed up on the screen for me to come and get her. (It's kind of like an SOS.) She was bawling her eyes out and the workers said that they couldn't get her calmed down, which is so unlike her. I went and picked her up, and she immediately stopped crying. :) So, I decided to take her back in the service with me so I could listen to the message and sit with my handsome husband. She was SO good. I guess she missed coming in there with us for a while.

Spring Break

2010-03-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe spring break has come and gone already! Karis and I stayed home and relaxed most of the week, which was so nice. We went to the park and swung in the swings for the first time one day when the weather was just about perfect. Karis just loved playing outside!

Poor Mikey didn't get a spring break. :( He had class as usual and had his third round of boards. Thank you everyone for all your prayers!!!! He felt that the tests went really well. We'll find out exactly how well in about 6 weeks.

My parents, brother, and sister-in-law came for a short but sweet visit this last weekend. We had some great conversations and did a little bit of shopping while the guys went to the Super Cross at Cowboy Stadium. Thanks for the fun time! We miss you and can't wait until next time!! (We miss our family so much!!) It's always great to spend time with people who lift you up and encourage you.

Here are some other pics that were made in December in Amarillo. Karis has grown so much since these were taken!!!

Please Pray for Mike!

2010-03-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for Mike this week and weekend. He is about to take another round of national board exams. These are the tests that allow him to have his liscense to practice when he graduates. (Which is now only 5 MONTHS away!!!!!!) Pray that he gets enough rest & sleep before the exams, and that he studies the correct material. They have soooo much stuff to study! It's insane! I'm praying that he will not only pass the test, but with flying colors! I'm also praying Ephesians 3:20 over him; sometimes with so much to study and get done in the clinic things get a little bit overwhelming, especially when you look at the big picture instead of the everyday. I'm asking God to do immeasurably more than Mike can imagine this week for him.

"God is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20

I'm so proud of my husband! He has done so well in school this far and is going to finish it up strong. I can't wait to see him practice! I get "sneak peeks" when I go up to the clinic, and see him work with people and adjust them. I know that God has called him to Chiropractics, and it's fun to see the passion that Mike has for helping people. It's like getting a little glimpse of God's heart. :)

We should know how he did at the end of April/beginning of May. In May, he will have 1 more board exam, the clinical one and then all he'll have to do is finish up his clinical hours and walk across the stage as Dr. Vennell!!! August 14th here we come!!!!!

Karis is counting down for Daddy too!

New Food & a Visit from the Grandparents

2010-03-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

This week Karis tried some bananas. She absolutely LOVED them! She was too cute when she ate them. With EVERY bite she would say "mmm", "mmm"! It was hilarious. She even starts to wine and cry when her bowl is empty. I hope that she continues to love fruit that much!

My parents came to visit for a few days this last week also. It was a really quick trip, but I'm so glad that they got to come down. It was a lot of fun to spend some time with them. We haven't seen them since Christmas, so a visit was long overdue!

Mike and I both had school during the day, so we didn't see them all that much. But, I don't think that was their plan anyway. :) They kept Karis at home and spent some time with her. I know that she had a great time with them. She's been babbling a lot lately and it sounds like she's saying "Papa". My dad is so excited! I guess he did rub off on her! The picture above is of Karis shopping with her Grandma. She loves shopping! Thanks Grandma for the new outfits!

Here are some other pics of this week. She's growing so fast and changing so much from week to week! I can't believe how fast time is going by. It seems like yesterday that she was born! I guess time flies by when you're having fun! & We have a TON of fun!!!

New pics from this past week. . .

2010-02-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

Avocado Please!

2010-02-21T17:07:00.000-08:00

This week we started Karis on solid foods. She was way more ready than I was. I finally gave in when Mike pointed out that she was salivating all over herself and following the food from our plates to our mouths. I feel like such a nerd; I got so emotional when she took her first bite. (Mike made fun of me for
crying.) My little baby is getting bigger all of the time!

We decided to skip the grainy cereals altogether and go on with the fruits and veggies. I've been trying to study up on what to feed her first. I'm sure that I made it so much harder than it should be, but I really wanted to make the right choice. I read several books and looked on tons of websites. I finally decided on avocados. They're full of nutrients and fats that her body needs. I also decided to make her food instead of buying the jars from the store. (I know, I'm kind of a hippy that way!) We have a Vita-Mix machine and it has come in really handy! It makes the perfect puree! We definately scored! Karis seems to really LOVE her avocados and gets so excited every night when its time to eat them.

Here is an awesome website for feed your baby solids if you're in the same boat I was or just want some good recipes. http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Snow Day Fun!

2010-02-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

We had a snow day on Friday due to 12 inches of snow. So, we spent our day relaxing and playing dress up thanks to Aunt Colleen and Uncle Dustin. The out fit was too cute! Thank you!!!

1/2 Birthday!

2010-02-03T18:38:00.000-08:00

Karis turned 6 months old yesterday! How time flies by!! She's rolling around everywhere and is sitting up pretty much on her own. I'm so blessed to have such a joyful, happy, and healthy baby!

Last Week . . .

2010-02-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

The last week of January is always a special week for us. This year, on the 26th, we celebrated our 4th year of marital bliss! I am so blessed to be married to my best friend! The past years have been a ride, to say the least, and I have enjoyed every minute with my hubby! Mikey - I love you and I'm looking forward decades of love and fun with you by my side! I know God has big plans for the two of us!

It's Snowing!

2010-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Love this Age!

2010-01-25T15:17:00.001-08:00

Karis is almost 6 months old and I LOVE this age! She's so much more expressive and is starting to get more mobile everyday. She is also becoming very loving, which is awesome. She is such a 'cuddle bug'! One thing that she has been doing for the past few weeks now is giving me those open mouthed, slobbery kisses. I LOVE THEM!!! (even if my face gets slimmed and I have to towel off my cheek afterwards :) ) I almost cried the first time she did it. Her kisses are just so sweet! Her daddy was a little jealous when he saw her do it for the first time. But, since then she's given Daddy a kiss or two. It's so sweet to see her with Mike. He just melts every time she gives him a smooch or a big toothless smile! He's so wrapped! Karis is also teething right now. So far she hasn't been too bad. We've only had one sleepless night over the gums hurting. So, keep me in your prayers and pray that Karis' tooth will pop out soon!

Haiti Update

2010-01-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

We talked to Tonya, my sister-in-law, on Friday evening. Tim made it safely to the MAF hanger. From the time he got there to Friday morning, they had moved 40,000 lbs of cargo and supplies through the hanger. He had also endured 2 pretty big aftershocks. He told Tonya that all they could was drop whatever they were doing and run outside and stand there until the aftershocks were over. Crazy!!! I can't even imagine what that would be like! Please continue to pray for protection and provision for Tim and the people of Haiti. I'll update more as I find out!

PLEASE PRAY!

2010-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

I'm asking everyone to join in prayer with me for my brother-in-law, Tim, and for Haiti. Some of you know that Tim is a missionary with MAF. He has been on furlow here in the states, and is being sent out today to Haiti. Pray for his protection, as it is very unstable and dangerous there right now, and pray for Tim to be used in mighty way. This trip he will be going alone, so please keep his wife, Tonya, and their 5 kids in prayer as well. (Lauren, Lydia, Natalie, Courtney, & Carson)

Our Sweet Pea

2010-01-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here are more pics of Karis from her photo shoot with Ginny in November. These are from Ginny's website http://www.graceglimpses.com/.

Playing Catch Up

2010-01-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

A whole lot has happened in the past two months! We've been crazy busy and I've been a super bad blogger lately! So here's some of what's been going on with us.

1. Karis turned three months in November and was dedicated to the Lord on the 15th. We were so excited to dedicate her. I never really realized the fullness of responsibility that comes with raising a child until I held her in my arms after recovery in the hospital. It all of the sudden hit me like a ton of bricks! Mike and I are the two most influential people in her life and are supposed to guide and lead her in life and teach her how to live. It took about a nano second, if that, to understand we cannot do it without God. So, on the 15th of November we officially made a promise to God in front of a crowd of witnesses and our families that we would do our upmost best to raise Karis in the knowledge and wisdom of God in partnership with Him. Thank goodness that we're not alone!

ris celebrated her 1st Thanksgiving in Houston. She meet some of her cousins for the first time & loved every minute they spent with her! She just smiled and laughed as she watched their every move.

3. In December, Karis turned 4 months and met Santa for the first time. It went pretty well. She would not smile for anything, though! I guess that's better than her screaming at the top of her lungs like the baby did before her.

4. Karis also got a good-ole fashioned panhandle, white Christmas. She did catch somewhat of a cold there and ended up staying inside a bunch, which was ok with us. I guess we've climatized to warmer weather because it was bitter cold, colder than I remember it being before. She got a jumper for Christmas, which she LOVES!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we took Karis to her 1st pumpkin patch! She LOVED it! I wasn't sure if she would stay awake or not, but she surprised Mike and I both and was awake the ENTIRE time. We got some really sweet pics of her! I think her daddy and I had just as much, if not more fun than she did!

Psalm 55:22

2009-10-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

"Cast your burden on the Lord, And He will sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

I was reading my Bible and praying this morning and this scripture just jumped out at me. I felt really impressed to share it.

sustain - from the word chul- "to maintain, to nourish, to provide, to bear, to hold up or support, to defend by His strength, to supply the means necessary for living"

God knows your need, your situation, and has the ultimate power to sustain you if you'll let Him!

2 Months, a Job, and a Full Night's Sleep

2009-10-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Karis is two months old! She's changing ad growing so much! Last Thursday night she slept all night long! I never thought that a full night's sleep would feel so good!

I had to start back to work last Tuesday. It was so hard going back! I started crying about it about two weeks before I had to actually go back, and the night before I bawled and bawled! Leaving Karis at the daycare was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do!

I really enjoy all of the people I work with, but if I had the choice to stay at home with Karis, I would jump on it! I do have to say, though, that I have been extremely blessed with the most awesome co-workers. Everyone is so understanding and uplifting! They've been a huge help! I also get to keep Karis on campus at the daycare at my school. It's really nice because I still get to go and nurse her and hold her on my breaks. I also prayed and prayed that Karis would have a good teacher, and I got what I prayed for! Ms. Debbie is so kind and she just loves on the babies like they were her own. Here's a picture of Karis getting ready to go to school.
My parents came through two weekends in a row to visit. It was so good to see them! I really miss my family, and I wish that we lived closer so we could hang out more. Karis just loves her grandparents! Of course they spoil her silly by the time they leave. :) I was also able to get caught up on my housework thanks to my mom! She helped me a ton this past weekend! I finally got caught up so hopefully keeping it clean won't be so hard now that I'm back at work.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

2009-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

It's been raining for days! It was nice the first 2 days or so, but it got old fast. It did rain hard enough that we lost internet service, so I haven't been able to post anything. But, We finally have our internet back after days of bordem. Karis and I didn't have too much to do, but "talk" to each other and ponder things.

She's starting to jabber a little bit, which is so cute! You can tell she's wanting to talk so bad! I love the fact that she's starting to develop a personality. She's such a happy baby and smiles a whole lot. It just melts my heart every time I see her big smile!

She also loves music! (A baby after my own heart!) Worship music seems to be her fav right now. She loves the mix that I made her. We sing 'Jesus Loves Me' a whole lot, but we exchange the word 'me' for 'Karis' and she just grins from ear to ear! It's so precious!

It's Sunday!

2009-09-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

" This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it." ~Psalm 118:24

Whew! - 1 Month Already!!!

2009-09-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

Karis is already 1 month old! Time has really flown by! She has been such a joy & a blessing; a lot of work too!I apologize for not posting sooner. I feel like such a bad mom! The surgery, along with adjusting to having a newborn, was a little harder to handle than I imagined. I guess I'm not superwoman after all!

Here are some pics of her from the past few weeks.

The past few weeks we haven't done a whole lot: eat, sleep, change diapers, repeat. We did get to go to Amarillo for a quick trip. And - we started walking this week. We've also tried to get Karis on a good nap & feeding schedule. If you haven't read the book Baby Wise, I would highly recommend it. I think that this schedule that I got from the book is going to work out pretty good. I'll let you know here in a couple weeks.

Little Karis is getting more and more of a personality every day. She's pretty much a happy baby, except when she's tired or has a gassy tummy. I love the fact that she smiles a lot already! (She even smiles in her sleep.) Here's a picture of what I woke up to one morning last week. I was awake; Karis is still asleep. Isn't that just precious!

Introducing. . . . .Karis Brionne Vennell!

2009-08-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation & 20 hours of labor plus a c-section she's finally here! We proudly introduce the most beautiful baby girl ever, born on August 3, 2009, Karis Brionne - 7lbs. 1 oz. - 19 inches long.

We're all doing good, but are still resting and recouping. We have tons of pics to share, so there'll be much more to come! Thank you for all your prayers! Mike & Leslie

STILL NO BABY!!!!

2009-07-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

I'm almost half way through my 39th week of pregnancy & still no Baby Karis! I wasn't supposed to make it this far, but I guess the doc was wrong. :( My first due date was July 31st, which is only about 4 days away, so hopefully I'm on the home stretch! I've been praying, well more like begging, God everyday that today would be the day. I do want God's perfect timing and will for Karis, it's just so hard to be patient! You would think this is a test or something! :)

My doctor appt was on last Thursday. I was still dilated the same, but the doc said that the Karis' head was just right there and that my 'bag of waters' was bulging and would probably break on its own. I'm really excited about that one, seeing how I'm not very fond of the idea of using a crochet needle to break it for me! Ouch!!!

My mom has been staying with me for the last week or so. We have been having so much fun! It's helped a whole lot having her here! It makes me feel more secure knowing that I have someone with me in case my water breaks and Mike is at school. We've been doing lots of shopping, watching movies, cleaning house, and making jewelry for Karis. She's already a blessed baby! Tons-o-fun!!!

The rest of my family drove down again this weekend again just in case I went into labor. I feel so sorry for them having to travel 350 miles one way to get here and then another 350 miles back! But, I do feel extremely blessed that they are sacrificing money & time to try and be here when Karis comes. It means so much to Mike & I!

This outfit is what we're thinking of bringing Karis home from the hospital in. What do you think?

Well, if you think about it, keep us in your prayers. Pray that Karis would make her debut this week! Also, keep Mike in your prayers. With all the baby excitement, he still has school, tests, and finals start in a week and a half. He's been trying so hard to keep everything up, but it has been hard for him to really concentrate how he needs to. We need him to keep it up!

False Alarm! :(

2009-07-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning we had a false alarm!

I started having contractions every 3 - 5 minutes late Sunday night, and by the wee hours of Monday morning they had gotten closer together and longer in length. They were every 2 minutes for about 90 - 120 secs each. We went back and forth on what to do because I couldn't really feel them very well. Sometimes I knew I was having them, and other times I had to ask my husband or my mom to feel and make sure it was contraction. So, to be on the safe side, we headed up to the hospital to get checked.

We got there, got hooked up to the monitor, and sat for 2 hours! My contractions were the same and then a little stronger. I was 50% effaced, but my dilation had not changed since last time I was checked! My water is still in tact, but I did lose my plug. The nurse was a little puzzled, but said that everything looked fine so not to worry. My blood pressure was still about the same (106/68), the baby's heart rate was normal, and Karis was really active. Needless to say, I was sent home!

It's a bit disappointing! My whole family was here. It would have been the perfect time for Karis to make her entrance! We got all excited and then nada! Hopefully I'll start dilating more & fast! I guess God is still putting the finishing touches on Karis. We want her to come at God's timing for her, not our own time even though it would be nice to have her sooner than later!

No Baby Yet! :(

2009-07-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's Monday & no baby Karis yet! This waiting around stuff is for the birds!!! It's so, so hard to be patient right now! Here in the metroplex my neighbor's thermometer says 107 degrees outside. They've been coming over to check on me, and to make sure that our air conditioner is working good. It is thank goodness!!

All I've done lately is stay in the house. I'm beginning to feel like a hermit. I don't think I've been out of the house except to go to church on Sunday, and to Wal-mart & Target today. It's just too hot to be out and about. Tonight I have a chiropractor appt., and Weds. is my next obgyn appt. Hopefully I won't have to go to the obgyn appt on Weds. :) I've been praying my guts out that things will start happening soon!

I think that I've gotten everything ready to go now. My bag is packed, Karis' bag is ready, I've already cleaned the house like 4 or 5 times, I've sprayed for spiders (with a mask), gotten all the laundry caught up, the baby book is up-to-date, finished making bows, the nursery is done, and we just finished our birth plan last night. What else is there to do?? I've been trying to busy my self by reading books, soaking in the bathtub, exercising, and wandering mindlessly through the Internet for recipes to make your own baby lotion, wipes, & powder, etc.

Well, I think that you could say I am officially bored!!

Fun stuff I forgot to share. . .

2009-07-09T05:28:00.001-07:00

I forgot to show off pics of my diaper tote. It's so cute! Some ladies that I work with had it monogrammed for me with Karis' name & the cutest little elephant! I also got a great accessory! Isn't the diapees & wipees case just adorable!

Doc. Update!

2009-07-09T05:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the doctor, & all is looking great! Karis is still head down and in postion, & heart rate and blood pressure are still good. I'm also already dialated to a good 3, almost 3 1/2! Hopefully it won't be too much longer!!! I'm praying for this weekend. It might be wishful thinking, but I'm ready! We have pretty much everything ready to go, so I've just been doing little things here and there to keep myself busy. It's so hard to be patient at this point!

My family is having fun trying to guess the date she'll arrive. So, I thought it would be fun for everyone to vote on it. Put your guesses on the poll to the right!

Beating the Heat

2009-07-06T13:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we FINALLY had a break from the awful heat! We had a light, steady rain for most of the day. It was wonderful! The few days before we're a little steamy with temps reaching 105 on Saturday. Yuck! So, I had to keep myself busy inside. (Most of you know that in the summer I love to be outside, but being 9 months pregnant, I can't really handle it as well.)

Here's some projects that I finished:

1. Bow - o -rama

I probably went a little overboard, but didn't really realize it until I counted how many I made. I made 14 clippies, 21 bows, and 6 headbands. Ooops!

2. Finished up the beginning of Karis' baby/scrapbook.

3. Did an at-home-spa day! I loved this one the most! I made an avocado/egg hair mask, an all over body exfoliant, and did a mani & a pedicure. It was pure bliss!

4. Got my postpartum belly wraps in! I'm really excited about this one. It helps hold your separated stomach muscles together for a faster healing time. It is also supposed to help your uterus shrink back down to its pre-prego size quicker. The only catch is you have to wear them for 40 days/nights.

5. We started on the rocking chair project, but it was way harder than expected. It will have to get done little by little when it's cooler outside.

6. Almost packed for the hospital!

Happy Independence Day!!!

2009-07-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July! It's so much fun with all of the good food, watermelon seed spitting, family, friends, and fireworks! It's also such a great time to remember how blessed we are as a nation, and what our freedom cost.

To all of you that have served or are currently serving our country, law enforcement, and any type of civil servants that protect and guide us, THANK YOU!! Most of all, we need to thank God for the tremendous blessings and freedom that we experience everyday here in America. We also need to take this time to repent for our nations downfalls and pray that the leaders of our nation would have ears to hear what God is speaking and follow the direction of the Lord for this country.

So, with all that said, you and your family take some time today and thank God for all the blessings & freedoms that we have in this AWESOME country! God Bless the USA!!!!

Also, here is a great video. Enjoy!

The Last Week or So. . .

2009-06-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

This last week or so has been full of things!

1. My parents and aunt & uncle stopped by for a quick visit on their way to help my brother & sister-in-law move back to Amarillo. It was a lot of fun, but I wish that they had been able to stay more than just one night!

2. This last week, my friend, Katy, came for a visit while she was working market in Dallas. We had a great time just being able to catch up and talk. She gave me some great pointers for how to deal with the hospital when it's time for Karis to come, too! Girls nights are so fun!

3. I started, and mostly completed, many projects.

A. I decided not to do the traditional baby book. Instead, I'm doing a scrap baby book. I got some ideas out of baby books I'd seen in the stores and did only the pages that I really liked. Then I'm also going to do scrapbook pages of pics & stuff. I'm thinking that I'll probably only do it until Karis' 1st birthday. (I tend to get burned out on scrapbooking real easy.)

B.The nursery - well, it's pretty much completed. Here are some pics so far.

C. I'm going to give making headbands and hair bows a try. Well, see. . . I'll keep you updated.

D. The rocking chair - We found a great little rocking chair, but we're going to strip the varnish and paint it white to match the other furniture in the nursery. Don't worry. When I say "we", I really mean Mike. :)

E. Lastly, well for right now, all I need to do is get my hospital bag packed and pick out a coming home outfit for Karis. I can't believe it's getting so close! Oh - My doctor thinks that Karis will probably come a little sooner than the 31st. We're thinking maybe around the 15th or so. I'm so glad!

One more thing - Keep praying for rain here in the metroplex! It's been so ridiculously hot!!! We reached 104 on Saturday, and then on Sunday we had a "cool front" come in at 100. We did get a little bit of rain on Monday, but not enough to really cool things down. Pregnant or not, 104 is just too hot!!!

Prepping

2009-06-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

With only a little over a month left until we get to meet Karis, I've been trying to "prep" Mike for all things girly. (i.e. dresses, matching hair bows, the color pink, mini skirts, accessories, etc.) I saw this video and it was just too cute! I showed it to Mike so that he might have an idea of what's possibly in store for him in the future. Enjoy!

"Are All Women Born This Way?"

7 1/2 Weeks Left!

2009-06-09T04:33:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I only have 7 1/2 weeks left!! Mike & I are so pumped to meet Miss Karis! Last night we were talking about Mike's birthday coming up, and when she heard us say birthday, she started kicking and moving like crazy! I guess she's just about ready for her birthday! I've also been emailed and had messages left for some updated belly pics. So, here's the update!

The 1st one is me at 5 months, and the 2nd is me at 8 months.

High School Memories Tag

2009-06-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Jenifer. Here it goes!

1.Did you date someone from your school? Yep. Jerad, for reasons still unknown.

2.What kind of car did you drive? I first drove the ghetto Honda, but then I was redeemed and drove a Chrysler Conquest. It was so fun & fast! I do have to admit to racing it a couple of times. :)

3.Were you a party animal? Nope. I went to parties, but "animal" doesn't really describe me.

4.Were you considered a flirt? I don't think so. I hope not!

5.Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Choir for a while.

6.What was your most embarrassing moment? I really can't think of one.

7.Were you a nerd? Probably. I still kind of am. ;)

8.Were you on any varsity teams? soccer & cheerleading

9.Did you ever get suspended or expelled? Didn't come close!

10.Can you still sing the fight song! Uh. .yea! Probably in my sleep!

11.Who were your favorite teachers? I liked most of them. Can't really name just a few.

12. What was your school's full name? Randall High School

13.School mascot? Raiders

14.Did you go to homecoming? With who? Usually I went stag because I was cheering, but I did go once with Jerad.

15.If you could go back and do it again, would you? Nope. High school was fun, but I'm glad to have moved on!

16.What did you remember most about graduation? I remember thinking that I might not ever see some of my classmates again.

17.Were you in a club? Yes. Way too many to list out.

18. Have you gained weight since then? Yep. Gained then lost, and now pregnant.

19.Who was your prom date? Jr. year: Brian Evans, Sr. year: Jordan Jackson
Both were a lot of fun!

20.Are you planning on going to your 10 yr. reunion? I planned to, but then was unable to make it!

21.Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Just have fun and don't hold back!

Now I tag these people: Brandy, Colleen, Kendra, & Jennifer T.

Whew!!

2009-06-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

The last month has been super busy! I've been to Amarillo & Corpus, had 3 showers, a graduation, went to a nursing class, moved my classroom for next year, and started on the nursery. So, needless to say, my blogging has slacked just a bit!

Shower #1:

Here are some pics from the baby shower in Amarillo. It was awesome! We were so blessed by people's generosity!!! Karis definately will not lack anything!

Shower #2:

My 3rd grade class also threw me a shower at school. It was so sweet! They worked real hard on keeping it a secret. I was so suprised and taken back by how kind & giving they were. We got so many cute outfits and tons of diapers!!! I have the best 3rd graders in the world!!!! (Sorry. No pics of this one! Privacy issues.) :)

Shower #3:

The 3rd grade team of teachers that I work with also threw me a shower. It was so great! The people I work with literally "showered" me with gifts! Mike & I were so blown away by all of the great stuff we got! (I haven't gotten the pics from this one yet.)

My brother also graduated from college this last month. We are so proud of him for going back and finishing after taking a hiatus to play minor league baseball & get married. Way to go brotha!

I went to a nursing class about a week ago at the hospital that I'm going to deliver at. It was a little different. Not really what I expected. I kind of cracked up a little because we had to practice the "positions" with baby dolls. My fav: the football hold. You literally hold the baby like your a running back dashing down the field trying to score. It was a little awkward! I thought it was also a little ironic that we got these free gifts when the class was over that contained cans of baby formula. Hmm. . .

Finally, I got the crib bedding in! Here's a pic of what it looks like. (This is NOT Karis' room.) I haven't gotten to finish the nursery yet, so pics of that will come later!

I can't believe I only have about 7 1/2 weeks left until Karis gets here! This pregnancy has gone by so fast & has been so much fun! I might be crazy, but I like being pregnant! I've been very blessed to have no sickness, swelling, or complications of any kind! It's been pretty sweet! Karis has also been head down the whole time, thanks to my wonderful husband adjusting my round ligament every other day. Thank you, babe!

MIKE PASSED HIS BOARDS!!!!!

2009-04-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

We have very exciting news!!!! On Friday, we found out that Mike passed all the sections on part 1 of his medical boards!!! This is such an answer to prayer! Thank you to everyone who joined in praying for him! Now only 3 more sets of boards to go and then he'll finally be "Dr. Vennell"! He also just finished up tri 5 in school, so starting in the middle of May he'll finally get to start clinic hours and begin actually adjusting people. (This is the part he's been really looking forward to. He's such a 'hands on' type.) Also, beginning in September, if you're in the area you can come and sign up to be his patient at the clinic. The last full year of school he'll have patients through the school's clinic to care for. We need at least 10 new people, so if you're interested, let us know!

Other news: I've been such a bad blogger lately!

We decided on a name for our baby girl! We're going to name her Karis Brionne. (You say it like Paris, but with a 'k'.) It has a biblical meaning of graceful & mighty. We've actually had this name in mind for quite some time (before we started trying to get pregnant) but only decided on it for sure a few weeks ago. She's been very active lately. This last week we've been able to see her move, which at first was little freaky, but is just so neat!! We were watching tv one night and I could feel her moving all over the place, I looked down and my stomach was moving like crazy! You should have seen Mike's face! I wish I had a camera in my hand at the time! We've also been able to hear her heartbeat with Mike's stethoscope.

Everything else lately has been pretty normal. Mike's been studying hard, and I've been working. I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I'm trying to get all the reading and research done before Karis gets here. I know. I know. I sound like a big nerd, but I do like to prepare as much as possible!

ANSWERED PRAYER!

2009-03-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

After 55 days in the hospital, Ryland is finally HOME!!!! Shane said that they are doing well, but are a bit exhausted! Ryland is doing just fine, although he's still a little bit weak. (He does laugh, though, when his legs start to shake. :) ) He still doesn't quite understand that he can't get up and run around like he was used to.

Keep the Reese's in your prayers as they continue to re cooperate! Praise God for His miracle- working power in Ryland's body!

We'll let you know how Ryland is doing every so often!

IT'S A. . . .

2009-03-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!!!!!

We are so excited!!! Finally we know for sure! I can't wait to buy dresses & bows! (Mike's already talking shot guns on her first date.:) )Granny, you were right all along! Those of you who voted "girl" on the poll, great guessing!!

More importantly, the doctor said everything looks wonderful!! The baby is forming perfectly & everything looks normal!! She has two hands and feet, a healthy heart, & other organs look great! I told the sonographer that it always helps to have both hands & feet. She looked at me weird. I don't think she thought that was too funny! Anyways, We have a healthy girl!!!

If you look closely, she's waving "hello".

We'll See. . . .

2009-03-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day! We'll finally get to see if we're having a boy or a girl!!! From the poll, most of you think that I'm having a girl, but it's only by a small margin! It has been a lot of fun hearing everyone's guesses and why they think they're right. It's kind of wierd too, though. When everyone stares to guess, it makes me feel like they're sizing me up or something. Mike & I are both really, really excited, and we don't care either way what it is. We just want a healthy, happy baby. We'll let you know!!!

Also, here's my first belly pic! My mom took it a few days ago. I think it just looks like I had one too many Twinkies. I still haven't worn any maternity clothes. Although, I don't think it will be too much longer. I don't have too many clothes that still fit comfortably. :) I do have this really great button extender that I'll probably start trying out. I hear it's better than the rubber band trick. (Thanks Brooke!)

Doing Great!!!!

2009-03-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's day 52 at BSA, and Ryland is doing so well!! He is now in a normal room, doing speech & physical therapy, and they just removed his feeding tube! The doctors are really surprised at how fast he has been recovering. Tomorrow night they will be conducting a sleep apnea study on him to see if he still struggles with it. So far, he's gone 3 nights without any trouble. They're guessing that he might be able to go home sometime next week!!!

Keep praying that he'll continue to progress as fast as he has been, and that he'll be allowed to go home next week. Pray for Shane & Shana as they start to prepare things at home. Pray that they have all the help that they need, as well as some down time to relax. Also, pray that they will be able to minister to people at the hospital and bring others hope that are in the same situation. May God receive all the glory for this miracle!!

Prayer Request!

2009-03-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Please pray for my husband, Mike, today & tomorrow! This afternoon at 1:00 p.m. he takes is first round of medical board exams! Tomorrow he'll finish it up. We've been preparing for a while now, but can still use all the prayer we can get!!! Pray that he would have confidence knowing that he's done all he can do to prepare, and remember that if he's done his part, God will do the rest! We should find out how he did towards the end of April/beginning of May!!! He's one step further to becoming "Dr. Vennell" :)!!! I'm so proud of him!!!!

We Prayed. . . He Breathed! (on his own!!!!)

2009-03-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Ryland is officially ventilator free!!! This morning, just before eleven, the ventilator was take out of his mouth and rolled out of the room! He has had a little bit of trouble with some congestion still, but he is finally breathing completely on his own. Thank you all for joining with us to pray for him. He still isn't completely out of the "woods" yet, so keep praying that his body continues to heal and get stronger. Also, keep Shane and Shana in your prayers. They still have a long road of recovery ahead. Pray that they will continue to feel the love & peace of God all around them and that they would be able to be rested for the days ahead.

James 5:16 - "Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

Still Improving!!!

2009-03-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was day #35 in PICU for Ryland, and he had some great news! All of the results from the cultures that they took from his lungs came back negative!!!! These results let doctors know that he isn't getting any more of those nasty infections. He was also moved down to level 10 on the ventilator, which is getting closer and closer to being completely weaned off of it. In fact, doctors told Shane & Shana that they would be taking the ventilator out of the room on Monday or Tuesday!!!! Ryland was also taken off of another antibiotic yesterday. So, now he is only taking pain medication and one anti fungal med. They hope to take him off of the anti fungal in a day or two.

Ryland has been sitting up in bed a little bit every day, but is still very weak. So, keep praying that his muscles would strengthen and gain back some endurance. Continue to pray that his lungs would keep getting stronger and start breathing entirely on their own. Pray for Shane & Shana to keep on enduring this long process of healing, and to continue being a strong fortress for Ryland. Also, keep Shane's job in your prayers. Since his absence, due to Ryland's situation, he has been running into some issues.

Overall, everything is looking great! We expect it to only get better and better from here! Keep on praying!!! If you haven't noticed from this situation, there is power in prayer, and power when God's people join together in prayer!!

Baby Update!

2009-03-02T15:26:00.001-08:00

I'm now at 18 weeks and Baby Vennell is the size of a sweet potato!

Last week I had a doctors appointment, and everything seems to be going wonderfully! The doctor told me that I am one of the healthiest pregnant women she's ever seen, and that the baby is completely healthy too! The baby's heart rate was at 140, so that's right on the line of the old wives tale of whether or not it's a boy or a girl. I guess we'll just have to wait and see! I go in for an ultra sound on March 25th, so I have 23 days until we find out!!! Mike and I are really, really excited!! We're taking a poll on what everyone thinks we're having, so go vote!!!

Ryland had a great weekend!!!

2009-03-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Ryland has had a great last few days! His lungs are slowly getting stronger, and he is able to be awake for longer periods of time. They have taken his breaths per minute from 24 to 16 over the past few days, and are hoping to take him to 14 breaths per minute tomorrow! The goal for Ryland is to reach 6 breaths per minute and then take him off of the ventilator. Once that happens, he will have an over the face mask to wear that is hooked up to a machine that will sense if he stops breathing and will force air into his lungs.

Ryland has been a little bit congested yesterday and today, so continue to pray that his lungs clear up and the congestion will go away completely. Keep on praying for the Reese family. They are doing much better, but still have such a long way to go!

Happy Anniversary!!!!

2009-02-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

Happy 31st Anniversary Mom & Dad!! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful example of how marriage can & should work! Thank you for loving each other so much! We hope that your day is wonderful and that you both feel extra special today!! We love you!!!

Ryland's Improving!

2009-02-25T14:12:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Ryland made some big improvements! His fever finally broke and the new x-rays came back looking a little bit better. As you can tell from the picture, his swelling has come way down! Doctors also decided to take him off of the paralytic meds, so he was able to see his mom and dad and start moving around a little bit. He's almost back where he was before this last episode!

The doctors have warned Shane and Shana, though, that when Ryland starts to come down off of the paralytic he'll probably start being mad, confused, and in some pain. They will keep him on some pain medication, but will also start to wean him off it as well. It will be a really slow process because the doctors do not want him to go through really bad withdrawals.

So, keep Ryland in your prayers. Pray that he continues to heal, and that he won't experience bad withdrawals or pain from coming off of the paralytic and the morphine. Pray for Shane and Shana, that they will be able to help keep Ryland as calm as possible and remain strong for him. Let's keep on praying until Ryland has a total recovery!

Ryland's Website

2009-02-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

Ryland's website is up & running!

Please stop by and check out Ryland's updated site. A lot of new things have been added since the end of last week. You can read Ryland's story, look at photos, read his patient journal for updates on his progress, and leave encouraging messages for Ryland and his parents in the guestbook. There is also a section of links through the CDC where you can look up specific diseases or conditions. So, you can study up on what all Ryland is dealing with. As always you can donate towards Ryland's cause.

**For those of you who have a blog, there is a downloadable logo that you can add to your pages. It looks like this:

Go to caringbridge.org and click on the 'How to Help' button. Under 'Other ways to help' there is a link for bloggers. Click on it, and then click on 'Logos for Display'. When you copy & paste the html code into your blogger format, you can add in Ryland's address.
Ex: "http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rylandreese" (I added it to the first caringbridge address. There are 4 caring bridge addresses in the code.) This should allow the logo to take you straight to Ryland's page.

The more awareness we can create on Ryland's condition, the more people we can recruit to pray with us for his healing. There's power in prayer! The more people praying, the more power!
Here's the latest from Ryland's journal:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009 04:53 PM, CST
"Ryland has been running a fever for about 24 hours. They took and sent off a bunch of cultures, and so far nothing has grown from them. It could take up to 3 days to see lab results and to find out what might be causing his fever. Ryland is getting a tiny bit better each day, and x-rays seem to be improving. His immune system is so compromised and weak, that just one of us going into the room or someone visiting could introduce a new infection or cold. When we get home eventually, we will be seeing an immunologist in Lubbock to help ryland with his immune deficiency. We have taken steps forward the last 4 days, but it seems to be a roller coaster ride in here sometimes. We hope that he can get off of his paralytic soon, so he can start moving around again. He muscles are very weak, and it will take a long time of therapy to regain that strength back. Thank you for visiting our web page on Ryland, and were hoping he will get better soon. Please continue the prayers. Love The Reese's"

Let's continue to lift up the whole Reese family in prayer. Pray that he will continue to improve and strengthen. Pray for his immune system to build back up, and allow for both of his parents to be in the room with him. For Shane & Shana, pray that they will continue to have hope & remain positive as Ryland's recovery continues. Be Blessed everyone!

Pics & a Website

2009-02-20T15:51:00.001-08:00

For those of you who have been praying, here is a face to go along with his name. This is sweet, little seven year old Ryland Reese.

This is Ryland befor he got sick and put in the pediatric ICU on January 31st.
The picture below is Ryland in the ICU at the BSA hospital in Amarillo, TX.

Ryland has been in ICU since Saturday, January 31, 2009. That is 21 days of being in critical care, and having to lay still. In order to give the Reese family support during Ryland's critical illness and monsterous expenses of being in the hospital for that long, they have set up a website for Ryland through a charitable organization call Caring Bridge.

On his website you can leave encouraging messages, look at the patient care journal for updates, donate money to help the family cope with hospital bills, make financial tributes, look at uploaded pictures, and read Ryland's story.

His website was just set up in the last day or two, so there isn't much on there yet. But, here is the link if you wish to stop by and have a peek, leave a message, or give a financial gift.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/rylandreese or click on the Caring Bridge logo to the right

Some News. . . .

2009-02-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been able to update the last 2 days! We didn't hear anything until this morning. So we figured 'no news is good news'.

Shana and Shane said that the doctors think Ryland has a combination of the fungus, strep, and a viral infection. They will continue to test for all of those. So for now, his doctors have diagnosed him with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The good news. . . Ryland is in critical condition still, but is stable. His oxygen has been brought down from 100% to 40%, which is amazing!!!! Especially considering how critical things were just 2 days ago!

The not so good news. . . Ryland is having to take blood pressure meds to keep his bp level down. He might also have to be kept in the hospital for up to 2 months for the steroid treatment, and to wean him off the ventilator. He might also have to do daily breathing treatments for up to 2 years.

The AMAZING NEWS!!!!. . . . Ryland's lungs have a 100% percent chance of healing in time! It's amazing to me how God created our bodies to heal themselves! Psalms 139:13 & 14 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are WONDERFUL, I know that full well." How wonderful are our bodies?!

I thank the Lord right now for Ryland that his body is fearfully and wonderfully made. That, through time, his lungs will heal because that is how God created bodies, to heal themselves. Let's all continue to pray that Ryland's body reacts well with the steroid treatments, and with the help of doctors and medicine that his body will begin and continue to heal. Pray for the critical care team that is overseeing his treatment. They need wisdom to figure out what is causing the problem, and how to treat it efficiently. Pray for Shane and Shana. They are worn out and tired from being up at the hospital with all of the ups and downs. Pray that they are continually filled with peace, and continue to lean on the Lord for their source of strength.

Not Much Change

2009-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Mike just got off the phone with Shane this morning, and there has not been much change in Ryland's condition. Doctors have told them that the fungus actually looks a little bit worse. Shane said that the antibiotics that they gave him aren't really doing much. They are going to give him a steroid shot this morning and see if that helps his body fight off the fungus. If nothing else helps, they are talking about flying Ryland to Dallas where he can hopefully receive better care. Keep praying!!! I'll update more hopefully sometime this afternoon.

Urgent

2009-02-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

Please pray! Ryland has had a major set back today. Doctors have found a fungus growing in both of his lungs. The fungus is from all of the antibiotics that he had to take. They said that both lungs look very bad, and that the only thing they could do is give him the strongest antibiotic that they have available and see if it can kill the fungus. They gave him the meds this evening. Doctors have told Shane and Shana that if the medication does not work, they can't do anything else.

Let's all agree together in prayer that God will once again intervene and heal Ryland's body. Pray that his immune system would be able to handle the round of harsh meds that they are having to give him, and that doctors would have the wisdom and knowledge needed during this challenging time. Pray for Shane and Shana to have strength of mind and to remember that God is still in control. May they keep in mind that God didn't give them a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. May a spirit of peace engulf them tonight as they wait and pray for the fungus to leave Ryland's body.

Thank you for all joining in prayer with us! We know that there is power in prayer, and power when two or more gather and agree together in the name of Jesus! We'll update as soon as we hear something!

Ryland's Surgery Update

2009-02-13T18:20:00.001-08:00

Late yesterday evening we heard from Shane that Ryland's surgery had gone well! The doctors only had to remove the middle section of his right lung instead of the middle & lower section that the x-rays had shown needed to be removed. The surgery lasted about 4 - 5 hours, and when we briefly talked to Shane, Ryland had just gone into recovery. The late hours of yesterday and the early hours of this morning were really crucial. Ryland's body had to accept all the changes from the surgery, as well as a blood transfusion.

Just a few minutes ago, I received an email telling us that Ryland is doing very well! His body is seeming to accept everything so far. He is resting and in stable condition!! Shane and Shana's email also said that during surgery, the doctors removed the tube from his left lung and replaced the one in his right lung to continue draining off blood. The doctors have said that they are hoping to wean Ryland off of the ventilator within a week and move him to a regular room where he can continue to recover and begin therapy.

We need to continue to pray for Ryland's body to recover quickly and completely. Since he has been laying still for 12 - 13 days, his muscles are very, very weak. Because of the downs syndrome, he has more obstacles to overcome. Shane told us that he probably won't be able to hold up his head on his own when he wakes up. He will also more than likely have to relearn everything. (crawling, walking, etc.)

Let's continue praying for the Reese family. Pray that their strength would be renewed as they begin the road to recovery, and that Ryland's body won't take long to remember how to do things. Pray that his muscles would quickly find their strength again, and that therapy wouldn't be as tough as the doctors are saying. Let's all agree together for God to receive the glory for Ryland's healing!!

Ryland's Surgery

2009-02-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Ryland is going to go ahead and have surgery tomorrow on his right lung. The doctors believe that he is strong enough for it. So, let's all be in prayer for him as he goes in at 12 noon tomorrow. Pray that the surgery would go well, that his body would remain strong, and that the doctors wouldn't find anything wrong. We're believing for a complete healing for him. Pray that the surgeon would have wisdom and discernment concerning the care of Ryland, and that the surgeon's hand would be guided by the Lord. Also, be in prayer for Shane and Shana as they wait for the surgery to be completed. Pray that they would have peace and strength of mind as they wait for the surgery to be completed. We'll update as soon as we hear how it goes!

I've been tagged . . .

2009-02-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of us with our friends Trent & Katy. This is the day that Trent graduated from Parker last summer. Katy was just about to get ready to have little Jenz a few weeks afterward. We are so blessed to have them as some of our closest friends!

Directions:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder.

3) Explain the picture.

4) Tag people to do the same.~No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.) Have fun!!

You're it!

The Halls

The Bruns

Please join me!

2009-02-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

As I was praying for the Reese family today, my heart broke. I started sobbing and couldn't quit for several minutes. I felt several emotions all at once. I thought about how they must be feeling right now. (scared, worried, fearful, helpless, etc.) The Lord gave me a verse to pray over them.

Proverbs 18:10 - "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe."

As I was praying this over them, I was reminded of how powerful the name of the Lord is, and how many names He has. These are the ones that I am praying they will come to see God as during this time. PROVIDER, HEALER, HELPER, OVERCOMER, VICTOR, FRIEND

Please join me as I pray that the Lord will touch them in a special way today. I pray that they will know God as their provider, healer, helper, overcomer, victor, and friend. May they run into the arms of a mighty God, who is strong in their weakness!

The Last Few Days. . . .

2009-02-07T07:30:00.001-08:00

Ryland Reese - 7 years old

Ryland has had a lot happen the last few days. This Thursday the doctors decided that in order to keep his good lung strong (the left one), they would have to go ahead and puncture it to drain off the fluid that has been building up. They could not do it with a needle for fear of collapsing it, so they had to make an incision on the side of it. They also decided to turn Ryland on his stomach and side every few hours to get the fluid moving around so it would rise to the surface where it could be drained out. When they went to move him from his stomach to his back again, he was not ready for the change. It took several hours to get his heart rate, oxygen levels, and his body to settle back down. With each turn after that, his body dealt better and better with every move.

Ryland has been waking up more often, but is really scared and disoriented. He gets really mad and tries to talk, but can't. So, he starts biting the tubes in his mouth and grinding his teeth. They are having to sedate him when he wakes up to keep him from moving around too much, and to help him stay calm.

Saturday we heard that he had a really good night on Friday, and that his oxygen levels are almost down to regular room air!! The doctors are going to give him about a week to let his lungs heal and his body to gain some strength back. Then, they are still talking about surgery if he is stable enough to handle it. That's all the news we've heard so far, but we'll keep updating!

Let's continue to stand in the gap for the Reese family! Keep praying that Ryland's body will continue to heal and that he would be at peace as he gains back strength. Pray that Shane and Shana would be able to rest their own bodies and minds, knowing that God is in control and watching over them. Pray that God would continue to lead and guide the doctors as they care for Ryland and that they would have supernatural wisdom in making decisions for him. Let's keep believing for a miracle in the Reese family!!

Ryland Update #2

2009-02-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

This evening Shane said that things were going a little bit better. Ryland is still in coma, but not as deep of one. He has started to respond a little bit by wiggling around, which is a really good sign! The doctors did find a small cyst in the lower right portion of the lung (the 1/4 that they might need to remove), and will try to prod it and let it drain tomorrow. Ryland will also undergo a cat scan tomorrow to get a better view of which portions exactly are damaged by the bacteria.

Let's continue to pray for a complete healing of Ryland's body, especially for the right portion of the lung. We're standing in faith that his cat scan will come back clean and there will be no permanent damage. Pray for the doctors that are treating him, that they will have supernatural wisdom concerning his care, and will be lead to make right choices for him during this critical turning point. As for Shane and Shana, pray that their expectancy will remain high as they continue to watch and wait. May their faith be strengthened as they watch the miracle of healing in their son unfold!

Ryland Update #1

2009-02-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

We spoke to Shane and Shana today, and Ryland has had a big break through! The doctors did a culture on the bacteria and figured out exactly which strand of pneumonia it is, and which medicine it responds to the best. So, Ryland is not taking the five antibiotics that he was on yesterday. He is now only taking penicillin. His fever has also came down to a 99.8.

He is still in a coma, but has started breathing more on his own. Instead of being on 100 percent oxygen, he is now on 60 percent, which is the lowest percentage you can be on before being taken off of the ventilator. Ryland's body is getting stronger and starting to respond very well to the medication. His improvements are small, but are beginning the road to recovery.

Continue to pray for Ryland to have a complete and total healing in his body. We are even believing that the surgery won't be necessary as his body continues to heal. Also, pray for Shane and Shana. They need continued prayers for strength and peace of mind. Today they were encouraged and uplifted at the good news, and the support and prayers of everyone. Let's continue to pray this sweet little boy's healing into existence!!

PLEASE PRAY

2009-02-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

Our friends, Shane and Shana, from Amarillo desperately need prayers right now! Their sweet little boy, Ryland, is in intensive care right with a bacterial strand of pneumonia. Normally for a 7 year old this would not be a life threatening thing, but Rylan has down syndrome and with that has a weaker immune system right of the bat. His body has not been able to kick the pneumonia, even with the medication and being comatose. The doctors are waiting for him to get a little bit stronger so that they can do surgery to remove the lower 1/4 of his right lung that has been too badly damaged by the bacteria and is no longer usable.

Please pray that Ryland's body will strengthen and fight off the pneumonia. We are also believing that he will have a complete and total healing. Pray for his parents, Shane and Shana, who are worn out, tired, and living every minute on the edge of their seats with Ryland's condition the way that it is right now. Pray that they will have peace of mind, knowing that God is in control.

For those of you in Amarillo who feel compelled to go and be with them, they are at BSA in the ICU critical care unit, room 4. Shane and Shana are already appreciative of all the people praying already. Let's keep it up until something changes!!

Still Honeymoonin'

2009-01-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Mike and I's anniversary. It's hard to believe that we've been married for 3 years. Time seems to be flying by! I am so thankful to have married my best friend in the whole world! He makes life much more fun! It's strange how you can love someone so much, and then look back and see how your love has grown and deepened for them when you didn't think it was humanly possible to love them more. We talked yesterday about how we can't imagine our lives without each other. I couldn't do life without my partner in crime!!

We celebrated our anniversary early during Christmas break by taking a few days off from everything and hung out in San Antonio. It was a much needed break, and we fully took advantage of just hanging out with each other. It was so relaxing! Yesterday, we celebrated by going out to eat at this little quaint Italian restaurant called Don Comillo's. It is WONDERFUL!!! Those of you who know me best know that I don't care for Italian food much, but I would eat this food any day! All in all, we had a great anniversary and are looking forward to many, many more!!!

Ist Trimester Down! 2 to go!

2009-01-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Just an update: I am officially through my first trimester and working on the second! The first trimester couldn't have been any better! I did not have any morning sickness, and thanks to my chiropractor, my handsome husband, I have not had any backaches or pains! I'm not showing yet, so I don't have belly pics. Sorry!

Baby Vennell weighs about 1/2 an ounce now and is about the size of a plum!

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes. . . .

2009-01-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's right! We're pregnant! We are so excited to be parents! I am 10 weeks now, and can finally post about it! It was so hard not telling anybody for a while until we were able to go back to Amarillo and tell our families. Yesterday I had my 10 week Dr. appointment and was able to hear the heartbeat. It was so incredible!!!

Keep us in your prayers as we are about to embark on several changes this year! We are praying for wisdom and discernment as we become first time parents. We are so excited for what's to come!

Give Thanks!

2008-12-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving this year was at my house. It was so much fun! My parents came in from A-town, and my brother and sister-in-law came up from Corpus. We had a great time just sitting around and talking with everyone. I realized how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. I married the handsomest man in the world, have the best parents, and have the greatest brother and sister-in-law that I could imagine! Most importantly, though, I am thankful that each us loves the Lord! It's so much fun being a part of a family that loves Jesus! Life can't get much sweeter!

New Presidential Candidate!!!

2008-10-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

View this video to find out who the new Presidential candidate is. I'm kind of partial, but I think he could win!!!

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Njlf&altl=Wfoofmm

Let me know what you think!

Too Funny!

2008-10-05T17:46:00.001-07:00

Sorry babe! The last one kind of looks like a pic of my dad back in the day! he he he!

Quote Worthy

2008-10-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." ~Jack LaLanne

Last week Mike had 'Parker Seminars'. Jack LaLanne was one of the speakers for the event. For those of you who don't know Jack is not only the guru of health and wellness, but is also a chiropractor. He set a record at the age of 60 doing 1,000 push ups and chin ups consecutively. (I was a little jealous that Mike got to hear him speak.) He has a ton of wisdom! On Friday, Mike got to go to Jack LaLanne's birthday party. He turned 94! I think that it is so amazing that he is in such great shape. I aspire to be like that at 94. Taking walks or jogs with the great, great grandchildren is something I look forward to. Maybe even a little swingfest too, Heather!:)

EXCITING NEWS!!!!

2008-10-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

1. My cousin, Jessica, is engaged to be married in December! Congrats, Jess! We are so excited for you, and can't wait to meet him!

2. My dad finished his detox last week, and his results are amazing! He did lose weight, 16 lbs. to be exact, but most importantly he brought his blood pressure way down. The morning of his last day on the detox his blood pressure was 108/80 with a heart rate of 61 beats per minute. (That's better than most 20 year olds.) Dad, we are extremely proud of you and your hard work! Mom, we're rooting for you now!

So Proud. . .

2008-09-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have to share this story from school. On Monday, we were talking about money in math. We were discussing the presidents on the coins. My kids knew who was on the penny and nickel, but were a little stumped when it came to the dime. Needless to say, I got some "creative" guesses. The guess that cracked me up the most was. . . . . George Clooney! At that moment all I could think of was how proud I was that my class knows their celebrities, but not their presidents. I can't lie, though. I did laugh even though I tried not to. :)

Can you see the resemblance??

Detox #2 Update

2008-09-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Since my experience with Standard Process' detoxification program went so well, I talked my husband into trying it for himself. He's done so great on it! Today is his last day. His experience has been just as good, if not better, than mine. He has more energy, mental focus (which is HUGE since he studies a lot), and is sleeping better than he did before. He's also lost 15 lbs.! I know. . . he didn't need to lose ANY, but he feels great. And no, he doesn't look Ethiopian! He's still got big muscles!!! Babe, you're still ripped!!

Some other family members are also trying out the detox. My dad is currently doing it. In the first seven days, he's lost 10lbs. But, even more awesome than that, within the first two full days of the detox, his blood pressure came down 15 points!!! It's just amazing to me what cleaning out your body can do! I'll keep you updated on his detox when he finishes.

We're so excited about how this detox is so affective, and how it's not harsh. We will definately be using it our practice! It'll do awesome things for our patient's all around health, as well as, help the body hold adjustments longer!

Southwestern Spinach Salad

2008-09-07T06:11:00.001-07:00

Ingredients: 1/2 cup picante sauce or homemade salsa

1/4 cup Italian vinaigrette salad dressing

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

4 - 41/2 cups fresh baby spinach

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 medium red bell pepper, julienned

1/2 cup sliced red onion

8 turkey bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

4 hard boiled eggs, sliced

Directions: Combine the picante sauce, salad dressing, and cumin in a small bowl. In a salad bowl, combine spinach, beans, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, and bacon. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Garnish with egg slices.

This recipe is soooo good! I came across it this summer when I was looking for some healthier recipes to try at home. Mike and I liked it so much, we ate it four nights in a row for dinner. It's really, really yummy! I wasn't able to eat it while I was on my detox because your not allowed to have regular salad dressing or picante sauce (due to salt), but I did eat it afterwards. I do have to say it's becoming one of my favs. It'll suprise your taste buds, it's easy to make, and there's hardly any clean up! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Happy taste testing!

Almost forgot. . .

2008-09-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to say that I tried something new this summer. I did a detox program. I know most of you already think that Mike and I are a bunch of health nuts. Well, I guess we're getting nuttier!!!

Since Mike has been in school, I have been going with him to some nutrition classes and seminars. They are so interesting! I have learned a lot of new things about health and nutrition. One seminar we went to talked about the importance of doing a detox. I was really curious about it and how it would affect me, so I decided to try it this summer.

It really works!! The program is a 21 day whole food supplementation detox and is supposed to clean your body of toxins. You're supposed to do it once a year. I didn't know it, but your body stores toxins in fat cells, and fat cells any where it can cram them in, so pretty much everywhere. Even the skinniest person can be really fat on the inside. Crazy!

Well, I commited to the program and when I was through, 21 days later, I had lost 13 pounds and felt better than I had in a long time! I didn't lose much on the outside. Mom, all my clothes still fit. But I lost it on the inside, which is super gross to think about, but I am a lot less toxic! I am sleeping better and have a lot more energy than before. I'm hooked! I'll be a detoxer for life. If you want to know more about it, just ask!

Where Did Summer Go?!

2008-09-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

This summer has flown by so fast!! I can't believe that it's over already! We didn't get to do too much this summer, but it was kind of nice. We were able to just relax a little.:) Mike was in school the whole time, so I was on my own during the day. I taught summer school the first half of summer which gave me just enough to do that I didn't get bored too quickly. The rest of the time I cleaned house, tried new recipes, worked on my scrapbooks, layed out in the sun, read books, took long walks with the dogs, worked on our yard, and played my guitar. It was great!

We also had lots of company this summer. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Darryl and Sandra, came to visit with my nephew, Aaron. We did the six flags thing with them. Such fun!! My parents came through a few times on their way to move Dustin and Colleen to Corpus, and then again when they met up with Dustin and Colleen in Houston. (They evacuated because of the hurricane.) Then, my other brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Brian and Julie, and my two nieces, Meredith and Madison, came to visit for a couple of days. The next weekend one of my bestest (I know. It's not the best English, but she is.:) ) friends, Heather Love, came to visit!! It was so refreshing to hang out with her. Heather, I miss you so much!!! Finally, this summer my cousin, Chris, got married to his long time girlfriend, Christy. So, with the wedding, came the family. I got to see my cousins Tasha and Christie, and my aunt Doris. It was really fun to see them. I haven't gotten to spend much time with them since I moved. It was fun girls!!!

1 Down, 2 to Go!!!

2008-09-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Yea!!! We made through the first year of med school!!!! I am so proud of my amazing husband! He has worked so hard and accomplished a ton this year. Handsome, I am so proud of you! It's been really neat to see you grow into your calling! One year down, two years to go!

Getting Up To Speed

2008-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

This year has been a whirl wind!! Those of you who know us well already know that this year has been a year of change and new things. For those of you who don't know us well or haven't been kept up-to-date, I'll fill you in on our past year.

1. We moved from our hometown and families to pursue our calling in life.

2. We bought our first home!!!

3. Mike quit his job and started chiropractic school! This was a little scary, but God has totally provided for all that we need or even ask for.

4. My little brother got married in November to Colleen, so she's now officially my sister!

5. My mom hit the mid century mark! (Sorry Mom, I love you!!)

6. Mike and I had our 2nd anniversary!! Isn't he a hunk?!!

7. My parents had their 30th wedding anniversary! We are so blessed to have parents that lead such a good example of how marriage should be!

8. My grandparents had their 5oth anniversary!! What a legacy they are leading for our family!

9. We found a new church home and the best life group ever! This is Jennifer C. and me after our lifegroup garage sale for Project Sozo, which we were able to buy school supplies and shoes for needy kids in Nicaragua.

10. We've come to realize that no matter what God loves us, always provides, and never leaves us. This might not seem like such a big deal to some people, but when you're in the midst of things, it's nice to be reminded. Some changes have been tough (I won't lie), but in the end we know that the "joy of the Lord is our strength"!

Newbies

2008-07-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ok. . .here goes nothing! Hopefully we'll be able to keep everyone up-to-date with what's going on with us. I hope everyone enjoys our journey!