Team Tate On The Road Again

This past Thursday Blake, Tate and I were on the road again to UW Madison for Tate’s six month check-up with his orthopedic surgeon.

We had any early start of 7 a.m., which is not near as an early start as we sometimes have!

The ride there was uneventful, and as usual I was done sitting still after about one hour.

Of course we had to wear masks once inside the medical building.

We had practiced this with Tate since he has never worn one.

Maybe I should have practiced too since I have only worn one twice before.

He did great, and his Mama pulled his mask out from his nose often so he could get a deep breath of air.

Tate had new imaging taken first (five different views) and then we saw his surgeon.

UW Madison is a teaching hospital, which I LOVE – first of all because this surgeon really should tell someone everything he knows!

He is one of the top Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons in the U.S.!

I also love the teaching because we get to listen to what the surgeon is teaching the residents while he is checking Tate over and measuring his new images!

The surgeon told us that he compares Tate’s new images to images he had two years ago (instead of the ones taken six months ago) because watching bones change is kind of like watching grass grow.

You look at your lawn on Monday and think it looks great.

Tuesday you look at your lawn and can tell it’s growing, but it still looks good.

Wednesday you look at your lawn and you see that it is growing, but think it can still wait.

Then Thursday you mow your lawn and when you are done you realize how badly it needed mowed!

Since there is a degree of error in measuring images, if the surgeon measures Tate’s curve and it’s 54 degrees, which is two degrees bigger than six months ago at 52 degrees – that degree of error would make him say those two measurements are the same.

But if next time it is 56 degrees and he looks back to this time when it was 54 degrees and says “well there is a degree of error, so it’s the same” – Tate is now four degrees different in one year, even with that degree of error.

Measuring with older images shows a more accurate picture of the progression of Tate’s severe scoliosis.

Hope this makes sense!

I am typing it here because I want to remember that he said this!

THE BEST NEWS OF ALL?

Tate is measuring the SAME as two years ago, and in the side view image of him standing he is standing STRAIGHTER than he was two years ago!!!

I. KNOW.

We were BEAMING!!

The surgeon said “Well, it would be hard to make Tate more perfect than he is….see you in one year!!”

I still cannot stop smiling!!

Blake and I told Tate that the Lord might allow Tate to live his whole life just the way the Lord made him – severe fused scoliosis and all!!

Of course we headed right to Starbucks to get treats – at Tate’s request!

Cheers to an amazing doctor’s appointment!!

We then headed to Costco to stock up on grocery!

It makes me giddy to stock up on grocery!!!

Blake bought me these dried apples – something I would never buy – and I love him for it!

They are yummy!!

By then it was time for some lunch, and Blake got us all some take out Chipotle at Tate’s request as well!

The ride back home was uneventful and it was a beautiful day!

We arrived home around 3 p.m., unloaded all that grocery, and jumped in the pool.

Medical days – even the ones with the BEST news – are exhausting – I’m here to tell ya!!

I guess you don’t need me to get crying in my eyes and tell you how AMAZING it is to be Tate’s Mom.

Or how MIRACULOUS it is to watch him run, jump, play, swim, bike, and THRIVE.

Well, here’s the tears.

But you guys – being Tate’s Mom IS amazing!!

We are not worthy.

We are SO thankful.

And we love him with every bit of our hearts.

Praise the Lord with us for this great report!!

Tate Owen, you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Praise the Lord!!

Father’s Day Weekend

We have had SO much to look forward to throughout June!

Many fun plans, events, and get togethers!

It has been very nice – especially Father’s Day weekend.

On that Saturday Addie and I headed over to Kay’s for a Young Living event!

The Young Living convention was cancelled, but was live streamed instead.

Kayla had a get together for some of her Young Living people to watch the convention and spend the day together!

Addie Mae took charge of the food!

We assembled dessert before we left home.

I enjoyed being a part of this day very much.

I am a Young Living member, but I have not pursued the business avenue of that fact.

It was neat to hear the business side of things!

If you do not know what Young Living is – check it out here.

The lunch table was GORGEOUS!!

It was so fun to help Kay with this event!

The next day we had two fathers to celebrate!

Blake and David!

After church we had a family swim – the first time all eight of us were in the pool together this year!

Kay’s came over after the grand baby’s naps.

We had a delicious meal, of course, and we made our traditional Sunday night homemade ice cream!

As usual I do not have good photos!

What would my scrapbook making self of long ago say to me now??!!

The memories were made, and they have been kept anyway!

We are SO grateful for Blake – more than ever as he remains our steady rock during these crazy times.

We are SO grateful for David too – another steady rock in our family!

Happy Father’s Day to our two great guys, Blake and David!!

A Recipe//Zesty Lemon Coconut Bars

Good Monday morning!

I have a wonderful recipe for you all today.

I only know that because we have made these bars a gazillion times!

They are a refreshing summer treat.

A tiny bit sweet, a tiny bit coconut, and a delicious amount of fresh lemon.

I only know that because I just ate one for breakfast!

I was thinking of you all, of course, because I needed a photo!

I found this recipe on Pinterest years ago.

I just searched for it again so I could give credit where credit is due, but I could not find it.

Let’s get to the recipe so you can add these to your Monday to do list!

Zesty Lemon Coconut Bars

Base:
1 cup almonds (we use slivered)
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP coconut oil, melted

Run all ingredients in a food processor fitted with the “S” blade until the dough forms a ball. Press dough into an 8×8 pan. Set in the fridge to set.

Filling:
1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut cream from a can
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
fresh squeezed juice from one lemon
zest of two lemons (preferably organic)

Melt filling ingredients together in a sauce pan until smooth. Pour over the base. Set in fridge to let it set up. Store in fridge and serve once firm.

*coconut butter is in a glass jar and can be found near the coconut oil and other coconut products at the grocery store

*coconut cream comes from a can of coconut milk (full fat) that has been set in the fridge. You pour off the liquid and just use the thicker cream. (We keep the liquid in a jar for a smoothie later on.) Another tip is to turn the can upside down before you open it – trust me on that one! It is much easier to separate the liquid and cream that way.

Enjoy!

Summer Time

Life is kind of back in full swing…and I think I miss quarantine just a little bit!

I think we should have had a more gradual start back to life, don’t you?

It’s summer time though, and life always seems more busy in the summer – all of my crew has seasonal jobs after all, and their hours are long during the summer months.

Summer means some beautiful summer skies!

Look what God did!

Now that the world is open again, we did run errands for a full day a couple of weeks ago.

We had some needs – like new shoes for Chad who grows in his sleep every night.

We were thankful that there were a few stores back open and that he was allowed to try on shoes!

Since the other kiddos never got out of the van, we had some treats and lots of Adventures in Odyssey episodes to listen to!

Addie and I spent another chunk of time in town one morning.

She is a fun one to run errands with too!

We usually find lots to do here at Twin Oaks!

We have been here almost three years now, but still have not finished everything that should have been done in the building process – especially outside.

The guys finished the rock under the deck, and they hung a third tree swing for us!

Those tree swings are a hit with our kiddos and anyone who comes to visit as well!

We also got the rest of the garden planted!

I had to order some seeds and they finally arrived!

Lane keeps the grass looking good!

We usually finish up the mowing and trimming in the evening when the other guys get home because it is just too much for one mower.

Our hens are doing great and loving summer as well.

They are still giving us three eggs a day!

We have had a few camp fires in the evening.

I completely blew the grocery budget one Friday and stocked up on gluten-free, healthy, and safe smores ingredients!

Don’t ask how much, but it was so worth it to see how excited the kiddos were!

I stopped at Wal-mart one morning after taking Chad to work and got a bunch of floats for the pool.

These two were diligent in blowing them all up!

No words needed for this next photo.

Except to tell you that I love him!

My kitchen helpers are shorter than they have been in recent years, but they are learning quickly and are all QUITE helpful!!

I did not stop smiling the day we had some of the grand babies over to swim, then Kay came with the rest of them for dinner, then I gave all my grand babies a bath and got them in their jammies and helped load them into Kay’s car to head home for bed time…..

IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!

We were so happy to help Kay particularly during that time of the day because she does not have morning sickness, she has evening sickness and David works long hours too!

Seriously, how cute is this photo?

Tate went home with Kay that evening to spend the night with his nephews and nieces!

Speaking of those grand babies, we LOVE to spend time with them.

One Friday evening before date night I played a quick game of cards with this cutie.

When I got home from date night our score card was framed in a Lego frame on my dresser – very funny, Lane Stevan!!

Speaking of date night – it is still as life-giving as ever and we are enjoying being very consistent in our Friday nights together!

We have been doing some book work here and there!

I just like to keep their minds moving and following a schedule is ALWAYS better than no schedule.

Eliza is growing and changing right before our eyes!

Her legs really are this long!

She loves getting her toes painted.

Our sweet Eliza needed one of her spacers in her mouth removed.

We talked and talked about it, trying to prep her for the appointment and the “tug” that would probably happen to get that thing out.

SHE WAS SO BRAVE!

That’s why she has a new stuffed puppy named Spark.

Would you believe that spacer literally fell out of her mouth!!??

We could not believe it either! Easy peasy!!

We have had many places to be these last weeks!

Not only appointments, but wedding showers, baby showers, graduation parties, weddings….

TAKE THAT, quarantine life!!

We were super duper blessed to be able to serve the reception at a beautiful wedding of two beautiful friends.

Here are two of my favorite people as they headed to a graduation party!

We still have plenty of down time.

Time for naps, books, games and just being together!

I am reading chronologically through the whole Bible this year!

It has been amazing, challenging, wonderful, encouraging, hard, life-giving and life-changing!

I think this beauty is one of the twins that lived on our land last summer.

She spends Bible time with me some mornings!

We celebrated River’s third birthday!

He is PURE JOY.

Of course we have been outside enjoying this summer weather and that beautiful swimming pool.

My trio is very fun to spend my days with!!

I did not really have any expectations for what life would look like once the world opened back up.

Expectations can really lead to much disappointment!

I can’t wait till we can take the younger three somewhere besides church – like the library!

I just ordered them seven chapter books on Amazon today, because this no library life is HARD!

(curb-side pick-up is kind of tricky!)

We are enjoying summer though for sure!

I hope that you all are TOOOOO!!

Happy summer days, everyone!