Lately...

- We FINALLY received the bulk of our medical bills from Rhett's hospital stay with Kawasaki Disease.  I was fully expecting to get it on Christmas Eve, so I was pleased to see that pink envelope in the mail yesterday. Speaking of bills, did you know that medical bills are negotiable?!  I have heard of such things, but have never been brave enough to ask.  Well, yesterday was the day.  I simply asked if there was any kind of discount for paying the bill in full over the phone.  She offered me a 10% discount.  I countered with around 20%, and about 5 minutes later (after confirming with the powers that be) we had a deal!  I couldn't believe it really.  I felt a little like I was buying a used car, but the fact that I was not face to face and we were negotiating over the phone provided a little more boldness.  I wish I would have known this when I had my babies...next time!!!  Oh, and praise the Lord for good insurance...yikes!

-We have been thinking about buying some land.  The thought of building a house on said land in the future makes my stomach hurt, so land-looking turned into home shopping.  The thought of moving anytime soon gave me a major pain!  I love our house, our neighborhood, our school, our mortgage and our overall situation.  We decided to remain content where we are for now.  We are blessed.  Maybe a third boy will seal the deal on moving to land:).

-Rhett is not liking to sleep these days.  It's not the sleep he minds, but the falling to sleep that's rough.  It's been this way since we took his crib down.  He runs right out of his room...87 times a night, and it is getting old.  He is always crankers because he is always tired.  I've resorted to taking him on walks or driving around in the car at nap time to get him to sleep.  He's like a newborn all over again:).  Rhett has always been a great sleeper and this has thrown us for a loop.  He's just so darn cute, I can't be mad at him, but something has got to give brother bear.

-Dallas and I are excited to take another mission trip together.  We have two in the works right now, but will likely have to choose just one for 2012 due to funding and time off from his work.  Both trips involve safe houses and rehabilitation of human trafficked victims.  God laid this on our hearts almost 2 years ago,  and it is so neat to see how this is all working out.  We are very blessed and excited to help out however we can.  We will either be traveling to Belize or Belgium in twenty-twelve.

-Jude's little (BIG) personality is really coming out these days.  He is such a little smarty and so very organized.  He very much likes his routine and doesn't much like for things to be out of order.  He organizes his room daily, and likes things in just the right place.  He is meticulous about washing his hands and cleans up his messes after meals.  I'm hoping to break him of some of these things as they show little signs of stress in him, but for the most part I don't see anything wrong with a very clean, organized and orderly little boy.  He had an issue with our advent calendar while we were making it this year.  The lines weren't straight (on purpose), and well that's just not right!  We are trying to show him that little things are not a big deal.  It's working somewhat, but he still thinks he can tell me how to drive from the backseat.  I had to tell him last week that mom and dad have been to driving school and took a special test, so I know how to drive:).  Dallas always looks at me and says,  "hmmm...wonder where he gets this..."

This is the advent calendar Jude has a problem with:).  It is supposed to be slanted.  It is all I could come up with using the resources in my home :).  Jude was also very bothered by the fact that the last row only has 4 tags while the othesr have 5. I am excited for Dec. 1 to get started on all of the fun activities on the back of the tags!  

- The boys and I got to meet our new sweet little friend Whitney this month.  We have taken some walks together and she is just so precious.  Congratulations to Sarah and Jon on your beautiful girl!

 Rhett is quite enamored by her...

- I am going on week nine of healing from my bone graft.  Things seem to be going well.  I have totally cut out caffeine, running, alcohol, most sugar and processed foods.  I'm sure I am overall much healthier, but I really do miss me some running.  I have been walking, but there is nothing quite like a good run on a cool fall day.  It is nice to know that my body doesn't fall apart when I stop running.  I've managed to maintain my weight, even lost a few in the first month.  The no sugar is probably balancing out the no running:).  

-  Rhett has to go back for another echo next Wednesday.  Long story short...The infectious disease doctor was not pleased when he received the last echo because he could not see a clear picture of Rhett's coronary arteries.  He needs to see these to make certain there are no aneurisms and no cardio-arterial disease from the Kawasaki disease.  He didn't see anything alarming, just wants to make sure.  He was however dumbfounded by the correction of his mitral valve leakage.  I told him that we believed that God healed Rhett and he said, "yeah...something!"  Oh, and did you know that a echocardiograms costs $1900?!  I had no clue, but sure, let's get another!  

I think that's about all that's happening around here:).  I wish you all a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving!