It may take some time

but he should get the hang of it before varsity tryouts!

everything you wanted to know

Well, maybe not EVERYTING.

First off, can I just tell ya'll that the space bar on our keyboard is sticky... it does not always give me a space when I gently tap it. I have to be EXTREAMLY intentional with my want of spaces. If I am not, Iget sentenceslike this.   This is the bane of my blogging existence!!!!

About the remote... since so many of you noticed our little man playing with one in my last post.  It is an old remote with no batteries that I have turned into a toy. He was always wanting the real one. So now when he reaches for it, I can give him his own. He does love it. I think there is enough drool stored inside it to officially put it out of use forever.

About the book: http://www.blurb.com/
It is a 12x12, hard cover, image wrap, 158 page glory!
You download the program onto your computer, design until your heart is content, then upload your creation to their website and they print it for you!!! LOVEY!!
They have a "blog to book" option, where they "slurp" your info from your blog for you so you do not have to copy/paste all your stuff. It is brilliant!

About my baby weight...since the very kind lady asked. NOPE! not all gone. I have about 20 more pounds to go before I am back to my "pre-baby" weight. I happen to gain my weight all over, so when/if I lose it, it will make all visible areas of myself a tish bit smaller...well, not all...I was born with quite a bit of junk in the trunk, that happens to stay put no matter my size or weight.

About the Colts win and their upcoming Superbowl game...WHOO HOOO!!! Could not be more stoked!  I am looking forward to putting on my gear and cheering like a crazy lady! And then bragging because of their win! (as if I had a lot to do with it!)

So if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I am all ears....

you could do

with a view

of one of the greatest smiles EVER!

a gift rebounded

I mentioned before that I turned my blog into a book as a Christmas gift for our parents. It was a huge hit. I spent HOURS puting it together.  I used an online program and was able to design the cover and all the page layouts myself...and when it was done, I just uploaded it and had it printed. I was in love with it the moment it came in the mail.

 It. was. gorgeous.

Since I had it published myself, and it was rather large (12x12)... it was kinda pricey. We were only able to get 2. One for my parents, and one for the captain's.
I had it in the back of my mind that I could save some money and buy myself one later...

but now I do not have to.

On Caden's birthday both Andy's parents and mine pitched in and gave us our own book! And because I am not stingy (about most things... ;)...I will share with you...

2

I have many thoughts... I will leave you with just one.

She would have been 2 today.

Groupies

The captain and I...we are fans

Rigg even cheers 'em on

he roots for them with his daddy...

I mean, it really is a family affair

The captain says they are #1

and I have to agree

GO COLTS!

rock star

We are super pumped about being home. Riley was GREAT and all, but as I said before, there’s no place like home…well, maybe a lush condo in St. Lucia…but I digress.

All of the nurses LOVED Mr. Rigg. He was smiley and giggly the whole time he was there…aren’t sick babies supposed to be grumpy? He didn’t even mind his ”chicken wing”, as the captain so lovingly referred to Riggs bound up arm.

Being at a children’s hospital really makes a HUGE difference when you have a sick kid. Everybody loves on the kids, there are extra toys everywhere and a nice elderly gentleman comes around with a “magic” castle on wheels to pass out toys to all the kiddos. Well, at least that happens at this children's hospital...

Rigg got a new stuffed animal from Mr.” Magic” castle, and it has an excellent story attached to it...
I came back into the room from treating myself to a nice, cold diet coke when I saw the captain playing with Rigg. He was making the stuffed animal dance in the air toward our son and saying in a sing-song voice “here comes the zebra.” I looked at him and said in the exact same sing-song voice “it’s a giraffe.” To which the captain, with only the briefest pauses, sing-songed back the reply… “daddy had brain surgery.“ I laughed so hard my stomach ached.

My dad did bring Rigg a small Grover which has quickly become one of his (Riggs not dads) favorite chew toys. (dad prefers big roast beef sandwiches and steaks)

As we left the hospital, all the nurses waved and said how much fun Rigg was and how much they were going to miss him…The captain told Rigg he was a rock star. And after seeing all the nurses faces as we were leaving…I had to agree.

Rigg still has the nasty cough, which the doc says could stay around for a week or so. But he is eating Much better and keeping food down. Thank you so much for allayer prayers, for Riggs health as well for my peace of mind and rest for our whole family. They mean more then I could express.

There's no place like home...

About noon we tapped our ruby slippered heels together and were sent home.

FYI: Andy looks stupid in ruby slippers. :) I look fabulous in them...

Thanks for all the prayers. Rigg still has a nasty cough that can lead to vomiting if it is hard and deep enough, but he is no longer dehydrated.

 Now, I am going to gorge myself on pizza and take a nap in my own bed. Hospital chairs that turn into beds do not a good nights sleep make.

Chewing on Grover

Hello, people. This is not Cari, but Cristi. I have been talking with her and she asked that I post some information for you all, so's yo uknow what's going on.

Yesterday Cari & Andy took Rigg to Riley hospital on the advice of his doctor (Rigg's, not Andy's). Anyway, they stayed overnoight with Rigg on IVs.

He was partially dehydrated, but his IV intake has been cut in half now. They are trying to get him to take more liquids.

He has been diagnosed with RSV, but it is on the upswing, and he should be getting better. They will be staying one more day at the hospital.

Rigg is in good spirits and Cari & Andy are doing well. As I was talking to Cari, she said that Rigg is having fun chewing on the head of a Grover doll that her father got him.

I hope you don't hold my writing against Cari, I just happen to be easy to reach! My family & I will continue to pray for them all, as I'm sure you will as well.

diagnosis

So we went to the Dr.

Rigg has a double ear infection and a viral respitory thingy...that we need to keep our eye on in case it should get worse and turn into RSV.Howdoes my son get sick sooften? I mean, we do not even go anywhere most days...we are home 4 out of 5 days on a busy week!

We start antibiotocs for the ear, and keep a close watch on the little guys breathing. Thanks for the prayers, I am doing much better this time with all o fthis...much more peaceful.

God is good.

Prayer please

My little guy is sick...please pray for him...and me. :)We all know I do not do to well mentally and emotionally when he is not feeling well.

We had a late night last night. He is having trouble keeping food down. Luckily (?) he does not have a fever. Just a nasty couch and some congestion...oh and the vomiting thing. (he has been doing better today...but is still not up to snuff...)
I plan on taking him to the Dr. tomorrow.

Please pray for sleep, that he could keep more food down, and that he would take more liquid.  As well as for peace of mind for the captian and me...

I will keep you posted.

If you find a sleeping dragon

If you find a sleeping dragon, it stands to reason you might want to take a picture.

But, be careful, if you take a picture, you might wake the dragon.

When he realizes you are there, the dragon might do terrible things, like:

Bare his teeth, or

Open his ferocious mouth menacingly.

He might try to smash you with his hammer… (dragons have hammers!)

He could get so angry he starts to drool uncontrollably.

Yet, he might be in the mood for some company, and if you are lucky, He might try on his new hat to see if you like it.

You should probably say you do, because he could give orders for his vicious beast to attack!

But, after a while, the dragon will get sleepy…as all dragons do.

And, if you find a sleeping dragon, it stands to reason you might want to take a picture.

But, be careful, if you take a picture, you might wake the dragon!

 

9

I am supposed to be cleaning my house. You see, we put our house up for sale and we have a showing tonight. And my house is most definitely not showable in its current state.


Yet, here I sit…

I am feeling sentimental today. Maybe it is lack of sleep, maybe it is hormones…maybe it is the fact that I am cleaning my house in order to help it sell, knowing full well that if it does, we will be leaving the only house Caden ever knew… the only house I have memories of her in.

Maybe it is the knowledge that in 9 days’ time she would have turned 2. I have no doubt that she would have been driving me crazy with requests for cake and squealing with delight at all of the undivided attention she would have received…the one thing the girl loved was attention…and squealing.

Some days the pain of a baby girl gone is debilitating, the memory of her is like salt on an open wound… other days her memory is a sweet reminder of Gods goodness and gifts. Most days anymore I can sit and think of her with a smile or a laugh. But, today… today it has me in tears, wishing I could hold her once more. To snuggle her soft baby cheek and kiss her silken baby hair. To hear her squeal like a tea kettle or chatter to herself as she plays.

In 9 days it will be Caden’s birthday. This year it lands on a Sunday. I am going to sing a song at church. I did last year as well. God has been faithful to the Captain and I. He has carried us through and comforted us in ways I could never have imagined. It is my hope to sing a song once a year around Caden’s birthday in honor of my daughter and in testimony of what God has done in our lives.

Please pray that I can hold it together and sing for Him…and honor her.

the straw

As I sit here crying I am reminded that God is good.


God is good.

God is good.

I say this because right now I am feeling overwhelmed, anxious, angry and sad. (I think maybe a bit insane too from feeling all of these emotions at once.)

For the past couple of days I have had this icky feeling...an unsettled, discontent, anxious feeling. I am not sure what it is from. The past week or so has had it's ups and downs...like most weeks at our house...or anyone’s house, for that matter. I have been trying to focus on God and His never changing character...because, even though I feel icky...God is the same God as when I feel happy or content. My emotions are not as important as truth...and God, who never changes is truth.

What ever has me mad and upset is fleeting...although, I do wish it would fleet a bit faster then it is. Today was just the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. At one point this morning I sat and burst into hot angry tears. I told God just how I felt in no uncertain terms. I am sure he listened. I am also sure I sounded a bit like a grouchy 3 year old. As I sat there angry and now a hot mess to boot, I thought...."I need a friend." So I called one.

She was just what I needed. Good for a chuckle, a listen and a good verse.

Psalm 94:19
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.

She said we have to do nothing for our anxious thoughts to multiply within us...but when we focus on Christ and the consolations He gives...our soul will be delighted.

I shall, indeed, try to change my focus to His consolations. For it is not my situation that needs fixing (which I can do nothing about anyway) but my attitude and focus.

How do you measure up?

I love to measure things, to count things, to contrast and compare and add up… it is true. As you may remember I was a measuring fool about my rapidly protruding mid-section when I was Prego with the Big Rigg. I have often fantasized about having a magical tape measure like the one Mary Poppins has, so you can see how people measure up…Cari Chastain, practically perfect in every way…ahem…I was daydreaming again…sorry.


I love to know how tall/long Rigg is, how much he weighs. I like to know how many calories he has eaten (Rigg, not me…I never count my calories…hello!, like I really want to know that?!)
It is fun to know how many miles it is from one place to another, and how many waffle houses are from milemarker 103 on interstate 65 and Orlando Florida…93, or there was in the spring of 1998.

The idea of things being measurable is nice. We can count and see if we are doing more or less, we can build upon goals, or just add things up for fun…as in the waffle house addition game.

When I was in college I was involved in Navigators. It was so very good for me and my spiritual walk. At the end of each weekly study was an application. What will you do differently in your life because of what you have learned this week? A lot of bible studies have applications, and I think it is one of the best thing about bible studies…I mean what is the point of reading the bible if you are not going to conform or let Christ conform your life to it’s standards….anyway. One thing I learned from that great group called the Navigators is to make your applications measurable.

So if you finished an awe-inspiring study about God and His sovereignty and you put down for your application that you will trust Him more…how do you measure that? So, then our study leader would help us figure out how to make it measure able…so instead of saying that you will trust Him more, you can say I will find a promise in scripture about trusting God and claim that promise in prayer every morning. See the difference. This way you can make sure you are applying your applications. I just LOVE this!

So, now every time I decide on a goal or application from a study, I try to make it measurable. One of my goals this year is to memorize more scripture. I can make this measurable by deciding how many verses I want to memorize week, a month or over the course of the whole year…

Are your goals measurable?

I plan on finishing off some candy today…this is measurable, after they are gone I can count all of the empty wrappers and then burn them to hide all evidence! Ahh…sweet!

victorious!

The gauntlet has been thrown.

A new challenge has been issued.

Mighty and difficult is the road ahead.

But our hero will not waver,

He will not be thwarted.

He will meet the challenge head on...

and he will prevail,

and he shall be victorious!