A boy and his dog

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah!

John is the "political" one in our family. He loves to watch all those shows and read all those articles. He is a real "poli-freak".
Me, not so much. I can never sit in the same room and watch all that debating all the time. John just eats it up. I don't see why I would need to get fired up about most of that stuff....
I have found one thing that's actually got me excited in politics...SARAH PALIN (McCain's VP).
Here's politician, a woman, I can relate to. She has five children, the youngest was born in April with Special Needs (Downs Syndrome). She is a wife, mother, and, oh yah, governor, now VP candidate. I actually TURNED ON Fox News and sat and watched with John last night. In my opinion, if she can run her family, she can run this country.

Crackin'

I had an appointment with the chiropractor the other day and had to take the kids with me. Rebekah was very concerned for me.
Is he gonna crack you?
Is it gonna be loud? I will cover my ears.
Is he gonna crack your brain?
Is he gonna crack your head off?
Meanwhile, Josh was just excited to see me get cracked!

Off To A Great Start??

Yep, that's right. I had to go pick up Benjamin from school today and he'll be home tomorrow too. And yes, it is only the SECOND day of school.
Ever notice how in all of his pictures Benjamin shields his eye, particularly his left eye?
He has issues with it; it's sensitive to light, he gets styes easily and it gets dried out. Well, this morning I was in Wal-Mart and got a call on my cell phone from the nurse. She was concerned about his eye, it's all red and puffy. I assured her that he's been under the care of both the family doctor and a pediatric opthamologist. We have a treatment we do for it as well as medicine and gel we regularly put on it. I think certain thing seem to trigger it, namely lack of sleep.
Well, the nurse was concerned that it was pink-eye. I told her about seeing the doctors and said I would get a note to put in his folder. The pediatric opthamologist is concerned that it may be pink eye and wants to see him, but can't get him in until next week, Tuesday. So, Ben will be home, missing school because of his irritated eye. Nice way to start off a school career. Well, I know he won't be getting any "Attendance Award".

The First Day of Kindergarten

Yes, Benjamin started Kindergarten this morning. I got a bit teary-eyed as he got up on that huge bus. He was such a little man. He stopped at the first step, turned around, gave a little wave and was off.

Isn't he just the cutest?

I have never thought that I would ever homeschool, but for just a minute last night, as I was getting his backpack ready to go, I thought about it.

Ok, one down, THREE MORE TO GO!!!

The Winner!

We have our very own "Tiger Woods" in our midst. John played in a work-golf outting on Friday. He and his teammates came in FIRST PLACE, which is fantastic since John only golfs once a year at this outting. The kids are so excited and think that John's just the best golfer ever. ;)

We Survived

Well, the wedding weekend is over and it went extremely well. The kids traveled wonderfully (amazing what a dvd player can do). They had a great time at the wedding and slept like a rock in the hotel room. Only Rachel was a little fussy, but she would be no matter if we were at home or not.

Here's a picture from the wedding. My sister took the pictures. She does an amazing job. I've tried to link her page on here but haven't figured it out yet; I just haven't had the time. So, here's her photo page. (By the way, the picture of the eagles on one of the new coins is hers!)http://photo.net/photos/srspears


What a beautiful picture! Take a look at all the happy people in the wedding party...notice anyone, oh I don't know, out-of-place? Yep, that's my little peanut doing her "potty-dance", and the thing is, she didn't even have to go to the bathroom. But, here's the picture, for everyone to see for all eternity. NICE!

A Wedding

We are going to a wedding on Saturday. My brother, Randy, is getting married to Brandy. (Yes, they really are Randy and Brandy.)
Here's a picture of them...oh, that's the whole Spears clan last summer, before we had Rachel.

Here they are, the newly-weds. The wedding's in the Poconos.

Best wishes to the happy couple!!

A Budding Artist

Benjamin got a hold of the camera today and got some shots. ENJOY!!

Losing My Marbles

I am not going to lie to you: it's been a really rough couple of days. I have thought, several times, that I just can't do this... Josh has been sick and not sleeping. When he's awake, he's crying and not happy about anything. We have not been out of the house in days.

In the midst of that, Rachel is still trying to get into some kind of schedule. She is not sleeping through the night yet and seems to be cutting her night-time sleeping back every couple of nights. So, we are trying a new thing with her: big fat bottle, then bath, then bed. Seems to get her down ok, and she'll sleep a little longer, but she's still up once during the night.

All this to say, I have just about lost my marbles these last few days.

This afternoon, after a morning of nurturing and comforting, I finally had enough and put both Josh and Rachel in bed with the door shut. I could hear them crying, so I turned up my music louder. (I knew they weren't hurt or anything, so no hate mail!) It was for my their own safety that I put them down...well, wouldn't you know those two little stinkers are now peacefully asleep, just as I need to get them up and get Josh to the doctors.
I should never go to Vegas because I can never win!

Missing: Reward Offered

MISSING: One pink and white "DOLLY" (see picture), very special to one little girl who wants to share her favorite DOLLY with her new baby sister. (Girl in picture is older sister.)

Mom has searched all over the house, but to no avail. She has torn apart boxes, searched through closets, and even dug through the basement.

REWARD OFFERED: If found, please contact Melanie.

Also missing:

*one tiny "Princess Leia" character

*one "Luke Skywalker" character, in his black outfit

* about half of my baby girl clothes

Cleaning off my camera

Here are a few random shots:

Benjamin playing his video game.

Sicky, still smiling...


Baby Rachel

Rebekah decided to dress herself today. Whatever floats her boat!

Dr. Giles, who delivered Rachel 17 weeks ago today.

The kids love the tv show WIPEOUT. They decided to turn our living room into their own version.

:(

Josh has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. It's a viral infection that causes sores in the mouth and blisters on the hands and feet. He is miserable. He is not getting any sleep. We are miserable. We are not getting any sleep. Rebekah had it too, but without as much pain. Pray that this passes quickly!

elaT yriaF A

A long time ago, there was a beautiful maiden. She was young and smart and full of wealth (well, not really the wealth part, or the smartz...)and independence. But, she was lonely.

And one day, she met a prince (or a Jedi Knight)and they fell in love and got married.

He took her from her palace (just a really cool trailer IN TOWN) to his kingdom in a place far, far, FAR away (also known as Franklin Township).

And in this kingdom, the fair maiden met four dwarfs, each with its own strange and wonderful powers.

There was TALKY, the boy who would chitter-chat all day long. He held magical powers of "The Force" where he could open automatic doors at the grocery store.

Then there was FRUITY, the girl with the ability to blend into her surroundings. Her magical power was to cause "Frustration". "Does Rachel have a brain? Don't take her brain out. Is Jesus in her brain? Why does the doctor want her brain? I will lick her head and cool her brain. Is her brain hot or cold? Is her brain in her tummy? Is Rachel going ot the baby school? Tell Rachel that she can go to the baby school. What is Rachel afraid of?" Oh, the power that little girl possessed.

Another wonderful creature was MESSY. He had the ability to cause a giant mess wherever he went.

And finally, there was CUDDLES. She held the most power of them all; what seemed like a simple little smile could melt your heart. And don't even get me started on the power of her giggles...

So, the fair maiden left her fairy-tale-life and went to live in this strange and wonderful new world where she learned that it's not beauty or wealth or youth that bring happiness and contentment, but LOVE. And they all lived happily ever after. THE END.

Just a Year Ago

It was about a year ago that we found out we were pregnant. Isn't it amazing that with all the technology out there, we still don't know exactly when the moment of conception occurs?

Just a year ago we had no idea how eventful our lives would be and how much we would celebrate a year later.

Some of you are new to our story, some may have forgotten...when I was pregnant with Rachel at 20 weeks, I went in for a routine sonogram. It showed major problems with the baby. We were told that she would not survive. She might live a day or a week, but not very long, that she was probably already brain-dead. We were told that we would have to consider termination, that her condition was not compatible with life. We were told that I could carry her to term and then donate her organs to help another baby. We were told that these things happen. We were told that there was no hope.

But (isn't that just the greatest word in the English language??) that wasn't the case. Another doctor diagnosed Rachel's condition as Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. She would live. She would lead a normal life. She would walk and run and go to school. (You can go to our Caring Bridge site for the back story www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachelmischler)

Benjamin and I took a drive the other day and I stopped to get this picture.

Take a good look at it. What do you see? That's where John's brother Dan is buried. Take another look, what do you see, or rather NOT see? You do not see the name

RACHEL ELIANNA MISCHLER.

You see the place where my child is supposed to be buried. You see, that's what was supposed to happen. She was not supposed to live. She was supposed to die. She is supposed to be buried right there beside her uncle Dan. But, she's not. She is alive and healthy and fat and oh so happy. What you see there is an empty grave.

Just a year ago when I suspected I was pregnant, I had Strep Throat and a very high fever. No one will give me a clear answer, no one knows for sure, but all the books say a high fever could be a cause of Neural Tube Defects (Spina Bifida). I keep thinking that just a year ago, I was still innocent about babies and death.

In this past year, we have become acquainted with loss and death and hope and life. John and I talk often and remind ourselves of the magnitude of what has occurred, of what God has done. This is a miracle. Rachel is a miracle. God has done something way beyond the scope of our understanding and expectation.

The Zoo

Notes to self RE: taking the kids to the Cleveland Zoo...
1) DON'T!!!
2) make sure they don't get bored with their "trip bag" in the first five minutes and cry the rest of the way there
3) make sure you double check the toddler's diaper BEFORE he goes down the slide and has a blow out
4) (related to #3) have a change of clothes for said toddler
5) make sure that the exhibit on the far end of the zoo is actually open before hoofing it over there
6) realize that the most exciting thing for the kids was the fish, which they could see at home, for free
7) pay the extra money to get a double stroller for the two older LAZY kids
8) take the tram up the giant hill rather than walk it pushing two preschoolers
9) do count said trip up giant incline as exercise and take a day off from the Y, or rather, eat a LARGE chocolate shake
10) don't go on a day that's 90 degrees
11) realize that the only one who had a great day was the three month old who slept the entire time
12) realize that, despite all the setbacks, it was sooooooo good to get away!

An Ode

Since John and I are coming upon our seventh wedding anniversary, I thought I'd write an ode to John...Seven Reasons Why I Love Him

1) You let me sleep in on Saturday mornings and, sometimes, bring me breakfast in bed.

2) You never question any purchase I make or make me feel as if I'm wasting money.

3) You have always gotten up in the middle of the night for a child when asked (well, expect for that first time last week...)

4) You make me laugh (often at myself) like no one else can.

5) You are the best father I could ask for for my four children.

6) You eat my cooking even when it's a "don't-make-this-again" kind of meal.

7) You see the best in me, what I can be, rather than what I am.


This is a picture of us at our wedding. John is washing my feet. There's a story in the Bible of Jesus washing his disciples' feet, indicating that, though he was the leader, he would serve them to show his love for them. That's called a servant-leader. Since that day in this picture here, John has been that kind of leader for our home.

Psst...in honor of our anniversary, I added our song, I Need You (playing now).

Lucky Number Seven

Well, today John and I celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary. Marrying John was, by far, the smartest thing I ever did in my life.

Up to that point, I thought I would NEVER get married, that I would never find the right person. As the years went by, I saw more and more friends get married, each of them younger and younger. And I thought...I'm gonna have to get a cat, and I don't even like cats! (Please, NO offense to those with cats.)

Well, I moved back home and took a new job. I was the ONLY single person on staff, so I told the rest of the faculty that I needed a date! One kind heart took up the challenge and introduced John and me. Well, she tried...she kept trying to set it up, but I kept backing out.

We finally met and it was love at first sight...no, not really. Well, let's put it this way, John is SO lucky I married him. He didn't talk to me. (Still doesn't, but I kind of like the quiet.)

We met in September, started dating in December, got engaged in January and married in August. So, I've known most of you longer than I've known my husband.

John was always confident he'd get married.

He lived by the motto of his Grandpa Ralph...

The longer you wait to get married

the more likely you are to find the right one.

But if not,

at least you have less time to live with your mistake.

Ahh, truer words were never spoken.

Simple Math

You'd think I'd learn by now...
Last night we were outside and decided to catch some lightening bugs. You'd think I'd learn that something called lightening and bugs would end up being a bad thing. But, I didn't.

We caught the bugs in a canning jar and brought them inside to light up the kids' room. We put them in the room and then went to the bathroom to brush teeth and get cleaned up. While at the bathroom, I heard John walk by the kids' room and say, "Uh ohh...". All of the lightening bugs had escaped. Not a problem until the kids saw and decided to scream in terror until John caught all of them. John is a pretty tall guy (6.1), but we live in an old farmhouse where the ceilings are 9 feet. So, picture this in your mind: lightening bugs scattering, kids screaming in terror, John jumping trying to catch said lightening bugs, right before bed.

And during all of this, Rachel just "happened" to decide that she needed fed, in the other room. ;)

You'd think I could do the simple math LIGHTENING + BUGS = TERROR

**********************************************
And what is inscribed on our wedding rings?

"What God has joined"

A little participation please...

Please have a little pity on poor ole me, stuck here at home with the four kids. I don't get out much or get a chance to talk on the phone without being interrupted several times. Heck, I don't even get to complete a thought...what was I saying? Oh ya, please have some pity on me.
My only "outlet" is this magical portal here that can transport me to other worlds beyond my four walls, crazy kids, and mooing cows, otherwise known as Franklin Township.

I must check my email (both Yahoo and AOL), Facebook, blog, and any other link several times a day. I long for adult interaction. I don't even want to mention what life is like when our Internet connection is down. Let's just say, "Have you ever heard the expression, 'If momma ain't happy...'?"

(OK, sorry, I had to step away for a minute...here I was typing away and all of a sudden I heard something not very common around here, SILENCE. Had to go see what the kids were into.)

Ok, back to ME...please write on my blog. I love to read what you have to say.

So class, for your first assignment, I would like for you to answer this question:
What do you have inscribed on your wedding rings?
John and I are coming upon Lucky Number Seven on Monday (our seventh anniversary, that is), so it's got me all nostalgic.

Answering this is assuming
1)you're married
2) you have wedding rings
3) you've had them inscribed

Just so no one feels left out, if the question doesn't pertain to you for whatever reason, you can answer what you would have inscribed.

I eagerly anticipate your answers....