Happy Valentines Day

So, much to celebrate in a weekend, plus.  With Chinese New Year, Valentines Day, Presidents Day and Brent's birthday (as you have already seen), what a week we had.  We enjoy celebrating Chinese New Year even though we have no heritage there.  I guess any excuse to eat Chinese food is good.  This was especially fun as we got to celebrate it with my friend Lien and her her family.  Lien was born in Vietnam and blesses us occasionally with Vietnamese food.  They live out of town but their children had activities here, so they were able to come to town and we got to have real Asian food for Chinese New Year.  Lien really out did herself and brought plenty of food.  I added a little with some help from Costco and we had fun.

Lien's bow ties and my "blessing" cookies

Next we had our annual Valentine's Family dinner.  It was lovely.  We have a fun time dressing up, cooking a special dinner, and sharing small gifts and cards with each other.  I am so thankful for the gift of family that God has given me.

Breakfast, red, chocolate chip, strawberry pancakes for breakfast

Dinner with family

Latisha made a wonderful Mocha Cheesecake

 

David and I 28 years ago when we had first started dating at a Valentine dance and now.

Now we have a day to celebrate our Presidents.  As a nation we have had some amazing men that have taken on the task of leading this great Nation.  My heart is very concerned for the future of our nation and I pray often for this next election.  May this country find a man of integrity to lead our nation in a righteous path for the next four year.  I ask you to please seek God as you prepare to vote, and please do vote.

Speaking of this great country and the men and women that have made it what it is, I just want to thank those who sacrifice so much on a daily basis, in protecting our country.  My nephew just left last week for  his second deployment oversees.  My heart broke as he left.  I am not sure why, but it is sad to have him leave the safety of our soil. It is easy to take for granted the sacrifice many have made as they leave their family to go oversees to protect our country and our freedoms.  Let me just say a huge thank you to all who have served and are serving this country.

God Bless have a great day.
Alicia

My nephew a few years ago when he started in the Navy.
Remember our military men and women.

Brentie

Happy birthday to my favorite son-in-law! It is Brent's birthday  or Brentie as Aidric likes to call him.  We are just so blessed that God put Latisha and Brent together.  Brent has always been a blessing to our family, since he and Alex were friends writing songs together and performing them in their band to his relationship with our daughter developing into a lovely marriage and now our first grandson. Thank you Brent for your hard work and love and commitment to the Lord and our daughter.

Last night Latisha threw Brent a great birthday party complete with curry chicken and crockpot chocolate cake.  It was delicious and we enjoyed celebrating Brent's birthday. It was fun to get together with the in laws and spending time with little August is always a joy.  By the way August is crawling now. Move everything up Mom and Dad  :).  Good times ahead.  

God bless

Alicia

Brent opening presents at their home.  

The cute little family at our home for super bowl.  

Never a Dull Moment

We have been considering getting Isabella a Service Dog.  A dog that could alert us to when Isabella is having a seizure or when Isabella wanders off or when she is in something that she shouldn't be in.  The other morning Isabella woke up to a seizure.  Sierra alerted us and began the timer.  Our little poodle began to bark in the other room and wanted out of the room he was in.  Danika let him out and he ran into Isabella's room and jumped on her bed and began sniffing her.  I pushed him off and he ran to her face and began to lick her.  I had Sierra remove him.  This poor little dog, that has had quite a hard time becoming the perfect dog we would like him to be, has a natural, God given sense that alerted him to Isabella's seizure.  Maybe we have our Service dog and we just didn't realize it.

Unfortunately her seizure went over 5 minutes, I had to administer her medicine, and David called the ambulance.  This was the first time I administered her emergency medicine.   We were told by the doctor the first time we gave her the medicine we were to call 911 and get her to an emergency room. Thankfully the medicine did it's job and we probably didn't need to go to the hospital but we did as we were told.  Poor little baby was so tired and exhausted.  Then she had to give 9 vials of blood.  Once we got home we were notified that they goofed and needed two more vials for testing the Geneticist wanted done.  I told them we were giving Isabella a break.  Giving blood is very traumatizing for her and they had to poke her three times.  Yikes.  She is doing better and we pray that is her last seizure.

The day after the seizure I had to run to the store.  Isabella was still a little wobbly but Danika was walking with Isabella.  The store was very busy and we were headed out.  Aidric and Cassandra were both talking to me and I didn't even notice Isabella had tripped and her legs were all tangled up with her boots.  Danika was hovered over her on the ground trying to protect her from the onslaught of carts trying to get around them.  Cassandra yelled, "Mom, Danika!"  I turned and was appalled, not one person offered to help her and I was upset with myself for not noticing she wasn't right behind me.  I was so worried one of the the shoppers would run over her hand with their cart in their hurry to exit.  I ran back and quickly got her off the ground.  Things like that make me check my own heart to make sure I am more aware of those who could need a little help around me and aren't in to much of a hurry to walk by someone who could just use a helping hand.

Anyways, God is still good and we are all back to normal.  I hope you are all having a blessed day.

Alicia.  

Isabella at the hospital with Daddy

She just really wanted a nap

Out little sweetie "reading" her book