"a tough stick" That's lab lingo for people who are difficult to get blood from.  Seth is one of those.  He has been poked a lot and his veins are small.  He is such a strong boy and he keeps fighting.  We just finished having blood drawn...from his head again.  The nurses always start by looking in his arms, hands, and feet, but I always notice them eyeing the veins in his head.  Now he has recovered and is sleeping peacefully on my chest...peace has been restored.  The lab came early this morning to draw his blood and a young man came hrough the doors.  I was immediately apprehensive and asked about his experience with small veins.  He assured me that he would get someone else if he didn't feel comfortable.  Although a bit skeptical, I allowed him to look for a good vein.  30 seconds passed then a minute, then two...he is feeling for a vein in the bend of Seth's right arm.  The charge nurse comes on the scene and I have lost the small ounce of confidance I had in the young plebotomist (sp?)  "I don't think you have enough grey hair for this one" was my diplomatic way of stating "buddy, you haven't got the necessary experience with small veins to get blood from my boy"  He wasn't offended and bowed out...whew...I spared Seth some discomfort.  The experienced nurse was called in and we got what we needed in one poke.  Sigh...will this ever end??  At vacation bible school this week Cody was asked who his hero is.  My dad. spiderman, superman, are a few examples of how I expected him to respond.  His teacher was very touched when she told Thad that Cody's hero is "my little brother Seth because he keeps fighting and doesn't give up"  Thad and I both got tears when Thad told me about it.    Seth means "chosen".  I can't wait to see hat God is preparing him for.

I just bought a Thomas Hammer mug from the coffee shop here at Sacred Heart.  In March when I was at Children's Hospital during Seth's second surgery I bought a Tully's mug from the coffee shop there.  When we would spend time (many many hours) with our babies at the Group Health Nursery in Seattle it was Starbucks that fueled our ambitions.  I think I should take some stones and build an altar at each of those coffee shops to mark the significance of what God has done along the way on our journey.  So, I guess buying the mugs is my visible reminder of what the Lord has done and what He has brought us through.  On the lighter side, they're just cool mugs I will be sipping my General Foods International Coffee's White Chocolate Mocha from each morning as I get up at 5:00am, enjoy the sunrise, read my bible and get some housework done before all my precious children awake to greet the day!!  :)  If you believe all that, you must be thinking that those MUST be some pretty spectacular mugs to help me accomplish all that!!!

Hospital livin' ain't so bad, but I am soooo very anxious to be home again where we can all be together.  Hopefully by Tuesday Seth will get to go home again.  He is doing well.  His name means "Chosen".  I am really excited to be a part of what God has planned for this little man.

I hope you are all enjoying spoiling your honeys today.  :)  Have a good one!!

Hi All :)  I am so sorry for teh lack of creativity thus far in posting...but I gotta figure it all out.  When I get back home I can add some fun pictures.  I don't think you'd all be interested in seeing sights from around Sacred Heart :)  Being "anonymous" was no fun and lacked the luster that I am needing in my life, so I decided to create an account :)  Reading your posts these past few weeks has been such a blessing to me.  I feel like I am getting friend/social time.  

Seth survived his barium enema (dye study through the rectum) today and we are praying it gives some answers to what is going on inside the little guy.  He is soooo tough!!  We're all hanging in there.  I will be sending out an e mail update soon on his current status.  Happy Posting!!!   :)Diane

PS...I had no idea coming up with a screen name would be so difficult...others in the running were
quintessential
gr8expectations
sleepisoverrated!!