Spring is here!

Gracie in her high chair

Rocky striking a pose =)

Praise the Lord, our health is much better since the last blog. Kids are healthy again, and I'm almost there. It's hard to get much rest with two little ones, especially lately. For the last two weeks, Rocky has been waking up during the night hungry. He'd been sleeping through the night just fine, and all of a sudden he started getting up at 5:30 a.m., then it was 4:30 a.m., then 3:30 a.m....We're hoping it's just a growth spurt, and he'll stop soon. He is such a big baby--not chubby, just big. I had to buy him 12 mo. shirts the other day because I couldn't snap his 9 mo. ones! (He's only 4 mo. old). He and Gracie can actually wear the same size diaper now (she's on the small side). He's developing well, though, and smiling a lot. We love that. Gracie is learning her animal noises; it's so cute. We'll ask her "What does a lion say?", and she'll say "RRRAAARRRRR!" And whenever she wants something, it's "Pease, pease"; she hasn't quite the "pl" sound yet. I love watching her with Rocky, too. She'll want to hug him and hold his hand. She'll try to give him toys and put his pacifier in his mouth. This morning, she lifted up his pj shirt and kissed his tummy--so sweet. He loves her, too; he's all smiles when he can see her. I'm so grateful to the Lord for those moments; I try to think about that when my patience is low or when they're cranky.
I can't believe April is almost over. Time is just flying by! The spring flowers are out all over the Cape. I love this time of year. Gracie, Rocky, and I have started taking walks on our street. I put Rocky in his infant carrier and let Gracie walk. We have to stop and pick up every dead leaf and pine cone, but she loves it! My mom and dad just got her a little ladybug sand box; it rained today, though, so she hasn't had a chance to try it out yet.
Lou is still quite busy at the church. We've started a Sunday school class for 3-5 year olds now that we have a need. They have to meet at a table in the foyer because there nowhere else to put them, but it's nice to see people willing to serve in whatever capacity. We praise the Lord that we are able to work with these kids.
I'm sure there is other news, but the lack of a full night's sleep is catching up to me....

In Sickness and In Health

Lou and Gracie at West Dennis Beach yesterday

A little over a week ago, Gracie started it all with a runny nose and a cough. Then, Rocky got a cough and a fever. When we couldn't get his fever to leave, we brought him to the doctor's, only to discover that he had a double ear infection. By this time, I was starting to feel sick, and within two days, I had laryngitis/conjunctivitis/tonsillitis. I think this is one of the worst illnesses I've ever had. I praise God that my mom was able to come over and help me with the kids; it was tough. Thankfully, we are all on the mend now. Gracie is all better; Rocky is just about there. He'll finish his medication on Wednesday. (Giving a baby medicine is horrible!!! He cries, tries to spit out the medicine, and in process chokes on it). Thankfully, each day I'm feeling a little better, too. Thank the Lord, Lou has somehow managed to stay healthy through all of this.

To celebrate our improved health, we went to the beach for a little while yesterday since the temperatures were in the 50s (this is spring for us). Lou and Gracie flew a kite on the beach, and then, Gracie and I gathered some shells. Rocky slept through most of it. It was beautiful to be out enjoying God's creation; I never get tired of looking at the ocean. I love that we live so close to it.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for my dad. We are still waiting for all the facts on his cancer. He did have a cat scan last week, and so far, it looks like the cancer hasn't spread. He'll have another more precise test tonight to find out for sure. He's also meeting with a surgeon this week to talk about taking the tumor out of his esophagus. In the meantime, he's having an increasingly difficult time eating because of the tumor; this is especially concerning since he's a diabetic. Please continue to pray as we wait to learn more. Praise the Lord for faithfully providing the medical help he's needed.

I'm grateful that God has given me Gracie and Rocky to keep me busy; otherwise, I might be tempted to dwell on all of this instead of trusting the Lord. They keep me laughing, too. Earlier today, Gracie dropped one of her toys on the floor, and it made a loud noise. So, I said, "Crash!" She thought this was funny, so she started throwing toys on the floor, yelling "Crash!" Poor Rocky didn't know what to make of all the noise.

For Prayer

We've had some serious news, and we would like to ask you to pray for my (Amy's ) dad. As you know from our last post, he had a diabetic episode recently. This led to some further tests to make sure he was ok. He had been having trouble eating for a while now, problems with phlegm...we won't get into it. The doctor thought he had a sinus infection, but it turns out he has esophageal cancer. We just found out last Friday when he had a biopsy. Please keep him in prayer as we wait to find out more. He did have a catscan on Friday night, and praise the Lord, it doesn't look like the cancer has spread. We're still waiting to hear the results of the biopsy and what sort surgery/chemo/radiation we're looking at. Obviously, this is all very unexpected, but we praise the Lord that He is sovereign and He makes no mistakes. Please pray that we would glorify Him through all of this as we seek to minister to and encourage my mom and dad. This hymn has been especially encouraging to me this week...

"All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell,
For I know whatever befalls me
Jesus doeth all things well."

~Fanny Crosby