The Smell of Christmas!!!!

Well first off - Daddy's home!!! Four day beard and everything! Except a deer! He didn't even see one! All on his trip came home empty handed! He returned to work only to discover that everyone that he knows came home empty handed - the weather wasn't right. At least that's their story and their stickin' to it!

Jourdyn had her band concert today at school! Grandpa and Gramma came over to see her play! This was her debut saxophone performance and she was awesome!!!! She has completely caught up with rest of the band and is even a little beyond them!!



And I finally got my live tree! It is huge! It was over 9 feet - but our living room has 9 ft ceilings! So we cut the top branch just a tad and cut off a couple inches of the trunk and voila! It fits!!!!
It is much more round than it looked at the store. When they are cold they tense up - like us! But when they get warm they sprawl out and show their true beauty! It's a douglas fir - which means that we have this awesome smell in the house. It's evergreeny but also has a orangy smell to it!

I know, I'm a freak! But I love Christmas trees! I won't get anymore until after the season - then I'll get clearanced ones - hey mom, I like the small woodsy ones they have at walmart - they are different sizes, the tallest like 2 1/2 feet. You can't hang ornaments they are meant to just sit and look cool! If you have them and they go on clearance get them for me!!! Here they are already sold out!

Update

I talked to our doctor today. He says that we have to keep on eye on him at night to see if it happens again. It could be sleep apnea, or night tremors or on the rarity there is some kind of seizure that it could be. But that is completely rare. So I have to let him sleep with us for a while and see what happens. If it is apnea - it won't necessarily happen to that extreme every night.

What happened when he was in NICU was what he would say was sleep apnea but since it was while he was in the NICU so long ago - he can't count it in the evidence of symptoms. Now we just wait and see what happens!

Spotlight!!!

Here's a picture of Rowan in the tub! His hair is getting long again! So I was able to spike it up! Doesn't he look bad to the bone????

Well, last night I had the wierdest experience. At 1:30 am, Rowan woke up screaming bloody murder. He must of had a nightmare, so I brought him to bed with me since Rob is gone hunting. At 3:30 I woke up after a dream (don't remember it). I kinda panicked because Rowan wasn't in my arms anymore. So I sat up really quick and look over to the other side of the bed. He was there but he was ice cold. It was mostly dark but he looked blueish. He had my pillow by his head. I lifted him up because I was scared and he was completely limb. I held him in my arms but I couldn't feel him breathing and he still looked blue. I couldn't reach the light from where I was - so I tried to wake him and he wouldn't wake. So I started to blow in his face. A couple of seconds later, he gasped but didn't wake up and was still limp. I could feel him breathing now and he snuggled up to me and moaned a couple of times. The limpness went away. We covered up and went back to sleep.

Okay, so this really freaked me out! But it made me think. When he was newborn he was in NICU for tons of wierd symptoms. He did this there. His breathing nearly stopped, his body temp crashed, his heartrate crashed, he went limp, they rushed in the docs and nurses in the middle of the night and pushed me aside until they stablized him. He doesn't sleep with us - he sleeps in his own bed. Could this have been happening his whole life so far????? What is it? Is it like sleep apnea? I know some of you are nurses or know doctors. I am going to ask our doctor but he'll probably look at me like I'm crazy.

Thanksgiving Festivities

Well, Thanksgiving was different for me this year. I didn't have to cook - half of my family is in Idaho. The kids and I got up and watched the parade, which was really good, as always. We went first to my Uncle Scott's for a meal and fellowship with my maternal side of the family. This is always fun since my Uncle Scott and Aunt Jo have I believe 31 kids now! It was also fun to see some of their faces when I told them that I am going to school to get my ordination as a Pastor in the Nazarene Church! (That's a big no-no in their books!) But oh well, I know what God has called me to do and He didn't say that He gives certain gifts to certain people. He has given spiritual gifts to all Christians and calls all of us to be ministers! Jesus also encouraged women to be His disciples and learn from Him!

Okay, sorry for the soap box but it is my blog! We headed from there to Rob's mom's. I still after almost two years now say "Rob's parents." Well, like always the food was good, especially the desserts!

That was about it! Here are some of things that I am thankful for:

• My Husband - He is always working to provide for us and to be the best dad he can.
• My children - They are truly gifts from God!
• My family - Mom, Jim, Julie, John, Barb, the nephews, my dad as well
• My Grandfather - He is such a Godly man - not perfect but always seeking God
• My mother-in-law - She is a great woman
• Above all, I thankful that God has given me my life and everything in it! Without Him I would be nothing and have nothing!

For the past few years, well several, I spend Friday morning shopping with Evalee. We go to Perrysburg on Rt. 20. This year Kohl's opened at 4 am - so I was up and out the door by 3:30.

It was great because I don't ever take a list of things I just have to get - I just go and see what the deals are and buy what I give to others. It was also a cheap day for me, because I am not buying Christmas gifts for my children. It was hard because there was so much I could have gotten them. Well, I will post my thoughts on this in a seperate post later.

Rob's gone for most of the week now. Gun season opens tomorrow AM (Monday) for Deer! So he's in southern Ohio. Wish him luck and pray for his safety! (and my sanity!!!)

The most wonderful time of the year is...

CHRISTMAS!!!!



Jourdyn was off school on Wednesday so we decided to break out the Christmas tree and get to decorating it!!! For those of you who have never been to my house at Christmas, beware!!! I don't just have one tree, I will have five this year. We put up my artificial green on Wednesday. This tree holds all of my keepsake ornaments, the ones from my Gramma and ones I have collected through the year that mean something to the family.

We are going to get our live tree tomorrow - and that we have a rustic/outdoors theme. Jourdyn's tree goes up tomorrow. It's white with hot pink, purple, bright blue and bright green ornaments. Nadine's tree I bought today during my Day-After hunt. It's a 3 ft. pink feather tree, we put white, silver and clear ornaments on it. It's adorable. I also have a ceramic tree that was not my grandmothers but like hers. (I bought it at a gargage sale - in fact, my friends - thanks Amy!!!)


I also love nativities!!! If I had the animals I would have a live nativity in the front yard. I don't have a yard nativity yet - they tend to be expensive! But I do have several in the house and I really could use more!!!! :) Walmart has a nativity with scripture on it (hint mom!!!)

This is my Gramma's village - it used to be under her tree every year! However, with my kids it's under my TV! Rowan still tries to play with it though! So there are no cars in the display!

I will put more pics on when I have the other trees up! And the lights on the house!!!

I Can See Clearly Now....

Today, Jourdyn got her new glasses. Her old ones were bent to no tomorrow. But she did good. She's had them for 1 1/2 years.

So here's a pic of her with her new specs!!!! Isn't she beautiful? She's growing way too fast!!!!!!

Change

This past weekend we were very busy at church! Our church building has sold and we have finally begun to build our new building! This was our last weekend in our old building - it was an awesome weekend!

Saturday night we had a Homecoming Concert, if you know who the Gaither's are then you can imagine what it was like. We had previous pastors there and their families, as well as ministers our church has sent out. I didn't get to stay for the whole thing - our babysitter could only stay for a while and Rob had to work. The concert and reception afterwards went until 11pm I was told. But what I did see, I really enjoyed!

On Sunday morning, we had fellowship time and our last service in what is now Ashland Ave. Baptist Church's building. It was really weird to think that we would be sitting in those chairs for the last time. But exciting!

After service, about 75 of us went to Cousino's Steakhouse for lunch. Only I went, the price was too high to take the whole family. Also I am crazy but not so crazy that I would take my 3 kids to a fancy restaurant. We had the buffet - didn't really like it at all. I'm not a buffet person when it comes to restaurants. So that was my weekend!

This week has been pretty normal. Nadine did say something really funny that made me completely just shake my head.

Rowan and her were playing. Rowan fell. I picked him and took him out of the room. Apparently, Nadine hurt herself shortly after and said "Oh Sheeps!" Rob tried to get her to repeat it but she wouldn't. So he called me in. And I asked her what she said and she said it again. So I asked her why she said it. She told me the whole story of Rowan falling and her getting hurt and that was why she said "Oh Sheeps!" I told her not to say that again because it was a bad word (since we all know her intent!) She looks at me with that typical Nadine look and she says, "No that's not a bad word - Sheeps live on farms."

Boy, I think I'm gonna be in trouble with that child!

Miracle on Main Street!

Someone asked me the other day why I post so much! Well, just a reminder to everyone - my mom, brother, sister-in-law, two nephews, cousin & family, Derek & Jackie, Valentina, another cousin and many more, all live in completely different states or countries! This is my way of keeping them up to date - which means lots of posts!!! Sorry!!!!

Jourdyn's Christmas program was last night! I know, Christmas - it's only November? But they made a good point last night - if the stores can start selling Christmas stuff then we can start celebrating and reminding people what it's all about - JESUS!!!

Well, she did WONDERFUL. She has a solo and played Mary in the Nativity scene. She practiced really hard for this! I'm only sorry that I don't have a video camera!!!! That would make a great Christmas present - since we are talking about Christmas!!! :)

This is my Grandpa & Grandma Nuzum - so Jourdyn and Nadine's Great Grandparents! Don't they look GREAT!! I forgot to tell you that Nadine was upset that she couldn't go on stage - she got over that by dancing in the aisle. She had practiced with Jourdyn so she knew most of the moves and words!
We also took Rob's mom with us. Before the show we went to dinner at Chili's. Rob's brother, John was working, so we got to visit with him for about an hour. It's always great to catch up with family one-on-one.

A hunting we will go!

My brother, John, lives in Idaho. Yesterday, he went hunting with my nephew, Nathan and this is what they came home with!

This is what they call a 6 by 6 Trophy Elk - possibly the largest taken in Boise County for this season. Apparently, it took 8 guys to get it up into his suburban. Way to go John!

Not much going on!

Since some have been asking where I am - I am here! There has just not been much out of the ordinary going on in the McQueary house.

I am doing school work, which is really killing me right now. This class is a Biblical Theology class - it's fun but hard. Jourdyn got her grade card and had one B and the rest A's. (She's so smart!!!) She is doing great with her Saxophone and her piano - I'll have to record a song so you can see the change. Her Christmas Program is this Friday - she has a solo and is playing Mary in the manger scene. She's very excited!

Nadine is keeping herself busy and if that's not the case - she is at least keeping me busy! And Rowan is growing way too quickly.

Oh I can tell you a funny story:

We were on our way to church yesterday, in fact we were pulling in the parking lot. Jourdyn was doing her Bible Quizzing. This year they are studying Genesis. She was doing some work and came the verse that says when Isaac was 8 months old, he was circumcised." So here's how it went:

"Mom, I don't get this. It says when Isaac was 8 months old he was circumcised, what does that mean? Does that mean he was baptized?"

"Uumm, No!"

"Does that mean he was anointed with the oil stuff - you know did they put oil on his head and bless him?"

"Uummmmm, Nnnnooooo!"

"Well I don't get it. What's circumcised?"

"Well, Isaac was a boy"

"yeah, so?"

"Well, Boys have different parts that make them boys."

"Yeah, I know"

"Well, it has to do with that"

"Yeah, what do you mean? I don't get it."

"Okay, we'll talk about this later after church! Go inside!"

Nadine was in the car and all I needed was for her to go into church and tell everyone boys have a penis. So I will have to sit down with Jourdyn today and explain what circumcision is. Maybe, I'll use Rowan as an example! Wish me luck!