Christmas

Crazy Frog

When it Rains, It Pours

You know that old saying?  Well, it's definetly pouring in the Umphress household.  Wouldn't you know it right before the Christmas holiday our van decides to go kaput on us?  Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!  Frustrating!!!!!   Decisions, decisions to be made.  Kev and I lived with one car for many, many years.  Many, many years ago we didn't have two kids though and kids schedules like we do now.  Kev needs his car more often now as do I.  Soooooooo, for now, we live with one car as we make some decisions on what to do this week with the van.  I know.  I'm complaining about our van and I know there's many people out there that have no transportation at all.  Didn't I just come off the Thanksgiving holiday giving thanks to the Lord?  Yikes!  Lord, help me to not complain too much about the van being down.  I know you can work wonders and miracles so I leave it into your hands.  Thanks God!

Questions

For some reason the boys have gotten on this kick about being adopted.  They, mostly Zayvn, ask if they are adopted.  Kev and I tell them they WERE adopted.  Zayvn has been asking a lot lately about his birth mom.  When we adopted both boys I told myself that I wouldn't be bothered by questions if the boys asked.  We've always been open about their adoption and open to if they have questions.  I really thought I had years (like when they were in their teens!) before I had to even give answers to their questions.   We explained to both boys that when they turned 18 we would do everything in our power to help them find their birth moms if they so chose.  Zayvn has such a tender heart.  Mostly his questions are why did she gave him up?  Did she have a bad life that she gave me up to give me a good life?  Does she have dark skin like me?  He even went so far as to go to the prayer room at church tonight and pray about it.  A friend of ours was in the prayer room and Zayvn asked if he would pray for his birth mom that she would have a good life.  Our friend was so touched by that that they came to me to share about it.  We reassured Zayvn that God chose him to come be a part of our family.  That his birth mother thought no less of him, but in fact loved him so much she gave him up so he could come be with us.  So that he could have a much better life than maybe what she could have given him.  At 7 years old I'm sure it's a hard thing to process.  Yet, I don't doubt that he won't quit asking.  I know when he's 18 he will ask us to help him.  When that time comes I will help him with a willing and grateful heart.  

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a nice day.  Skyped my parents in the morning.  I love Skype!  It's such a wonderful way to connect with those back in OR, especially when I miss them.  In the afternoon we headed to Bob and Dee's for a wonderful meal.  Ate too much and then just sat around and visited.   Bob took the boys on the ATV for a ride around the property.  They love to do that with him. 

Friday morning Kevin got up to go watch all the Black Friday shoppers.  No, not to buy.  But to watch all those people who came out the night before to get a special deal.  He ran into several people from our church who were looking for those great deals!  We put our trees up (yes, 2 this year!) last night.  We put our formal tree (purple and silver) upstairs and then the family tree downstairs.  We  had a blast decorating the tree and house!

This afternoon a friend of ours (thanks Angela!) gave us tickets to the Festival of Trees downtown at the Convention Center.  Such beautiful trees!  We ran into some friends of ours whose daughters were dancing with their dance club so we decided to stay and watch that.  What a great afternoon of fun and fellowship we had. 

Boys playing football after the meal

Zayvn and Drew getting an ATV ride

Still eating....

Kev and I in front of fire

Our formal tree

Kev decorating tree

Renn decorating tree

Family tree downstairs

Zayvn decorating tree

Festival of trees

Snowman tree

Toy Story tree

Day Seven

I am thankful for the Lord who so graciously saved me from a life of ruin.  He picked  me out of the miry clay and set my feet upon the solid rock.  I am thankful that He loves me just as I am.  I am thankful that He provides for me and my family and loves us with an unending love.  Without Him I would be nothing.  Thank you Lord for everything.

Can you be just a bit more ruder?

So tonight I took Renn to get some oil cards he is selling for his baseball team (btw, if your interested, they are $25 for 5 free oil changes, here in the Des Moines area) at the Batter's Box.  After getting the cards they gave us two free tokens to go into the batting cages.  I decided to let Renn do some batting.  We are waiting our turn and I happen to hear this girl say Renn's name and then cover her face.  She then proceeds to lean over to her dad and whisper something.  She then tells her parents that "he's the boy that always gets the punches in class and he has about 20 of them".  They ask if the punches are good or bad and the girl says those are bad.  Now, I'm standing there listening to this whole thing going on, not believing my ears.  Are they seriously having a conversation about my boy like that in front of him and me?  The mom looks up at Renn and says "I hope you work on that a little bit better!"  Who does that lady think she is?  Man, was my blood boiling.  I so wanted to open my mouth and spew out some not so kind words.  However, after Pastor Gary's sermon on Sunday night talking about evangelism and how to reach people I'm not so sure that would have been very Christlike.  I walked up behind Renn and told him not to pay attention to those people.  He shrugged it off but if he was like me as a kid you don't shrug those things off very easily.  Who in their right minds let thier kids talk like that about other kids in public so everyone can hear?  And the parents are standing there talking about it as well?  I told Renn as we were leaving that I didn't say anything because I was trying to be Christlike.   I was trying to be an example for my kids.   Then I got to thinking, after we got home, what if Renn thought I wouldn't stand up for him for something major?    I reassured him that I would stand up for him and would always stand up for him.   As we were saying good night and praying I could tell that what those people said really bothered him.   We prayed about it and I asked the Lord to help Renn and to help those people who talked so wrong about him.   Some people just don't have any common sense!!  Guess I better ask the Lord to help me calm down!!

Day Six

I am thankful for my husband of almost 15 years. He loves me in my worst times (yes, there are a few!) and my good times. He's always there for me when I need him. He can still make me laugh after all these years. Thank you Lord for bringing Kevin into my life and allowing me to be married to him. Love you babe!

Day Five

I am thankful for hot water and a warm house on cold mornings like today.

Day Four

I am thankful for the weather we are having. Temperatures have been in the high 30's to mid 50's and no snow in sight! Thanks Lord for the wonderful weather thus far!

MegaMind

On a Saturday that was rare for us to have open we decided to take the boys to go see the Megamind movie.   Great movie for the kids to see and even Zayvn sat through the whole thing.  The beginning was a little questionable however, the way the beginning began set it up for the rest of the movie.   Wonderful afternoon treat for all of us!

Day Three

I am thankful for the ability to work.  I thank the Lord for providing jobs for Kevin and I.  Jobs that are flexible and a job that I'm able to have the same school schedule as the boys.  Jobs that provide for our family and keep the bills being paid.  Thank you Lord!

Day Two

I am thankful for my children who bring such joy into my life.  The Lord hand picked Kevin and I to raise Renn and Zayvn as our sons.   Full of laughter and energy they are.  They have their moments where I want to say "Calgon, take me away" yet I thank their birth mothers who gave them up so they could have a life that was good and healthy.  Thank you Lord for my children.

A Week of Thanks ~ Day 1

I'm thankful for the wonderful church family we belong too.  Kevin and I are blessed to be a part of such great church who love us and care for us and our boys.  That brings comfort to our families back in OR! 

Goodbye my friend

Today a wonderful man was remembered and laid to rest.  He was a good friend of ours from Salem, OR.  He wasn't just a good friend.  Jerry was like family to us.  We came to love him and his family.  His daughter and son in law are good friends of ours.  When we lived in Salem and even this past summer when we went back for vacation we spent time on the farm enjoying one another's company. Visiting, laughing, talking.  Sunday morning Jerry passed from a sudden heart attack.  Kevin had just talked to him three days before.   I am still in disbelief when I think of him being gone.  He loved the Lord so much.   I can't imagine what his wife and two daughters and thier families must be going through.  On the outside he looked like a tough old codger.  However, on the inside he had the sweetest heart.  He loved his family so much, especially his grandchildren.  I can't explain why the Lord brings our loved ones home so suddenly and so young (Jerry was 68) but one thing I do know is this.  We have re assurance that someday we will see them again.  In that wonderful place called Heaven.
On Sunday night we were singing a song called The More I Seek You.  As I was weeping for the friend I had just lost the Lord brought to my attention the words of the song.   The words of that song is exactly what Jerry was now doing. 

I wanna sit at your feet

Drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beat
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

You will be greatly missed by so many people, Jerry.  You will be forever in our hearts.

Convoy of Hope

Saturday the Royal Rangers and Mpact from our church helped bag beans for Convoy of Hope.  Total adults and children were 36!  You can go to the Filling Station blog at http://www.theefillingstation.blogspot.com/ to see pictures that I uploaded there.   Knowing that we had a hand in helping someone else in need was such a blessing!!  Look forward to the next time we can help them out!

Family Fun Festival

I won tickets to the Family Fun Festival this past weekend at the fairgrounds.  Saturday was too busy to go so after church on Sunday we went over there.  Boys had fun going from inflatable to inflatable and seeing the reptile animals.  We ended our time there with some much needed ice cream!

Follow Up & Tourette Syndrome

Tuesday the boys went back to the U of I for follow up on the medicines they have been taken.  Dr. Brandt decided to change both boys medicines and thus far both of them are doing quite well.  Kev and I have not seen a change in personality which is real good.  We didn't want the boys to be on meds that would make them zombies.  Kudos to Dr. Brandt for working so diligently with the boys.

While doing the follow up Dr. Brandt also diagnosed Zayvn with Tourette's Syndrome.  Not a clue what that was but as I looked up Tourette's it became clear to me.  So many times I've told Zayvn to quit with the sniffing of the nose, or go get a Kleenex.  I've told him to quit clearing his throat or quit making those funny noices.  However, those things are all part of Tourette Syndrome.  Boy did I feel awful after reading about it.  I can still see myself getting after him about that. 

Tourette's is basically a tic.  Something that is done repetitive, over and over.  In the case of Zay it would be clearing of the throat, sniffling and more recent a little noise that comes from his throat.  Once we get Zayvn on a steady basis with his medicine Dr. Brandt is wanting to put him on a medicine for Tourette's.  For now, we wait and with that comes the explaining to his teachers about him having Tourette's. 

Not everyone understands Tourette's.   Especially those people who do not know us.  Take for instance:  sitting in the midst of people watching a play and here my boy is making all those sounds.  I could see people turning their heads and I wanted to stand up and yell at them to just mind their own business!!  The other part of me wanted to run out the door with Zayvn because I know it was distracting to those around us.    He can't help it, poor guy.   I am learning to have more paitence with my son and not to be so harsh on him.   I'm also praying that I will be kind and loving in a Christlike way when people make rude comments or look in rude ways.   Maybe I'll just tell them it's Tourette's and they need to go look it up.

I've copied some info on Tourette's and this website was very helpful in me understanding it.  http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/tourette.html


What is Tourette syndrome?


Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the pioneering French neurologist who in 1885 first described the condition in an 86-year-old French noblewoman. The early symptoms of Tourette syndrome are almost always noticed first in childhood, with the average onset between the ages of 7 and 10 years. Tourette syndrome occurs in people from all ethnic groups; males are affected about three to four times more often than females. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of Tourette syndrome, and as many as one in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms such as chronic motor or vocal tics or transient tics of childhood. Although Tourette syndrome can be a chronic condition with symptoms lasting a lifetime, most people with the condition experience their worst symptoms in their early teens, with improvement occurring in the late teens and continuing into adulthood.

What are the symptoms of Tourette syndrome?

Tics are classified as either simple or complex.

Simple tics
Simple motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements that involve a limited number of muscle groups. Some of the more common simple tics include eye blinking and other vision irregularities, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Simple vocalizations might include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.

Complex tics
Complex tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of movements involving several muscle groups. Complex motor tics might include facial grimacing combined with a head twist and a shoulder shrug. Other complex motor tics may actually appear purposeful, including sniffing or touching objects, hopping, jumping, bending, or twisting. Simple vocal tics may include throat-clearing, sniffing/snorting, grunting, or barking. More complex vocal tics include words or phrases. Perhaps the most dramatic and disabling tics include motor movements that result in self-harm such as punching oneself in the face or vocal tics including coprolalia (uttering swear words) or echolalia (repeating the words or phrases of others). Some tics are preceded by an urge or sensation in the affected muscle group, commonly called a premonitory urge.

Some with Tourette syndrome will describe a need to complete a tic in a certain way or a certain number of times in order to relieve the urge or decrease the sensation. Tics are often worse with excitement or anxiety and better during calm, focused activities. Certain physical experiences can trigger or worsen tics, for example tight collars may trigger neck tics, or hearing another person sniff or throat-clear may trigger similar sounds. Tics do not go away during sleep but are often significantly diminished.

What is the course of Tourette syndrome?

Tics come and go over time, varying in type, frequency, location, and severity. The first symptoms usually occur in the head and neck area and may progress to include muscles of the trunk and extremities. Motor tics generally precede the development of vocal tics and simple tics often precede complex tics. Most patients experience peak tic severity before the mid-teen years with improvement for the majority of patients in the late teen years and early adulthood. Approximately 10 percent of those affected have a progressive or disabling course that lasts into adulthood.