Adjustments

Shalene is still being spoiled!!! Pastor Matt and Christina stopped by to visited and brought her the beautiful roses and teddy bear. I must say Shalenes room is smelling good.

We have been feeling very overwhelmed with trying to count and get the right dose and such. Trying to keep in mind that we take it one day at a time and eventually things will come naturally to us. Its a little more overwhelming once we arrived home and realized that it was just us now. The counting carbs for each meal and such seems overwhelming, but again, I have to keep thinking that things will click in as time goes and it will become easier. I do ask that you continue to pray for us.....Wisdom is needed and God's touch daily to help us with this overwhelming task ahead.

This evening Shalene has been having an extremly rough time....things are beginning to really bother her and she is having a hard time dealing with all of the life changing things that this involves. Looking at the years to come she is really getting overwhelmed and stressed. .....I ask that you would pray for her to take one day at a time and not get overwhelmed. Its really hard watching your daughter, who has her life ahead of her, go through this. But with faith we are trusting God.

When the nurse spoke with us today to see what Shalenes counts have been she was very happy and said she could not ask for anything better. This was ecouraging -- they are still monitoring things and making sure that they have the correct dosage and such for her or if things need changed.

Back Home

This is how Clayton was feeling when Shalene was away. He was so sweet...when Steve arrived at the hospital with her bag of jammies and blanket, etc. we found notes stashed throughout all of her stuff. There was even a note taped to the corner of her blanket!!! Such a sweetie.

And this is how He looked once we arrived home....his playmate is home.

Below is what we came home to. Ugh, I must admit that we are feeling a bit overwhelmed. However, the Lord has been with us through this whole ordeal. The first evening in the hospital was very difficult...her IV was in a very uncomfortable spot (her veins would hide) she was having a lot of pain that evening. We prayed together and the Lord filled the room with his presence. Shalene commented about God being there to help her. Shortly after that she had complete relief.

We are told that if we'd have waited another day to bring her in she would have been in the ICU and taken longer to be discharged...so though we are learning we are thankful things are not worse.

Doing Better

Isn't this the cutest!!!! An arrangement that looks like a sundae...Shalene says that it makes her hungry!!! Its so cute.

Shalene is doing better!!!! Some of her tests are coming back better and Shalene is feeling a bit more encouraged. She has enjoyed the flowers and all the wonderful things that have been sent her way. Many visitors have stoped by and encouraged her.....

They have been wonderful here at the hospital-- the nurses are great and the staff has gone above and beyond with helping us. Shalene will probably be getting at min. of 4 insulin shots a day so life will be taking a big change at our house. (When she first arrived she was getting insulin shots every 2 hours so she is thrilled that that has stopped) The Lord has really been good to us through this whole ordeal and we have seen the Lord working in all things.

Thank you to all who have visted, called, sent flowers and most importantly prayed for Shalene. We do ask that you continue to pray for her as life will not be the same as it had been......things will change and it will take awhile to adjust but I'm sure the Lord will help.

Pray for Shalene

We are at the hospital right now with Shalene. Our doctor sent her to the ER yesterday afternoon (We are at the Geisinger hosptial) and they have admitted her. At this point they are saying that she has Type 1 Diabetes. (This was VERY unexpected!!!) She had a rough evening with tests and shots every two hours.....these pictures above are this morning after the iv and all were taken out...feeling better. She will be in the hospital for several days until she is regulated and taught all of the stuff that is needed to know....we would appreciate all of your prayers.

Haiti Missions

Update: Jan 24th -- Here is another blog that you can look at for more photos of the team and what they are accomplishing. There were 2 teams sent out so the photos have some of all of them in. Continue to pray for strength and wisdom for the workers and especially the missionaries who will still be there once our teams leave. Shalene, Alyssa, Phoebe, Stephanie and Sofia worked on getting the baby supplies together....formula, diapers, meds and stuffed animals.

Here is one of the crates Valerie and I compiled....IV Drips, surgical tools, gloves, and lots of surgical items...

Dr. Slaves is one of those going on the trip. Along with Meagan and Matt from our church. Several other local God's Missionary Church nurses will be attending.

Tried compiling the pills (you know all that open space at the top of each bottle) that way we could toss several bottles and make more room.

Rows of supplies....needles, meds, IV's, gloves, etc.

Members of our congregation are joining the medical team that heads to Haiti tomorrow.

The God's Missionary Church has sent several medical groups to assisit the GMC missionary that is in Haiti.

Tonight a group of us (Shalene, Alyssa and Amy among lots of others) gathered and helped package over 30 crates of medical supplies and items to ship out with this group ....thanks to many who donated supplies and helped in this.

You can see updates on the mission trip and what is going on here.

Please pray for safety for our team that goes as well as wisdom and strength.

Farm Show

Reuben and Clayton enjoying the animals.

Clayton and Reuben LOVED to walk through and get all of the food samples....below is Clayton expressing how much he enjoyed the food.

Here is a view of the arena....I think they said about 6,000 were there for the jr. rodeo. Below are pictures that I had to zoom in ALL the way across the arena.....as you can tell Shalene and Alyssa went off with friends and didn't hang around mom and dad.

Stephanie, Katie and Shalene....blurred because they were all the was across the arena.

John, Alyssa and Phoebe.

Okay, so its blurry but I had to have a little fun...and pink ALL the way.

For those of you who did not attend....here is the butter sculpture. 1,000 pounds of butter -- 10 days to scuplt...will be processed into fuel.

(Okay Tom, hope this is updated for ya!!!)

Catching Up

Okay - I'm so behind on the blogging...here are pics of Shalene's birthday from Nov. 27th.....The holidays really did me under with getting so behind on everything. Anyways, Stephanies spent the weekend with Shalene. Saturday I took the two out to Red Robin and shopping....they had fun.

More Catching UP

Well, I'm trying to catch up with my blogging and posts. Here are some pictures of Christmas in Ohio. My grandmother is 93 and not doing the best health wise...we wanted to spend the holidays with her and had a wonderful time.

Here is grandma praising the Lord while they were singing hyms. Shalene and dad along with others were having a great time.

See they really do love each other

This is our New Years Party (above and below....due to Steves grandma passing away we really didn't have a Stahl Christmas) We all gathered at our house and had TONS of food, games and fun.

Marlin and Myrna opening gifts.

Some fancy layered cupcakes that Alyssa created.

A Good Laugh

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HI T THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.DAILY THOUGHT:SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

A frazzled day. And a camera.

This is what happens when he comes home from a frustrating day of work.

The play-by-play according to me, his daughter :)
___________________________

So... he goes to work.

He's tired, but he gets through the day and *hopefully :* wires all of that electrical stuff the way its supposed to be.

He then climbs into his truck... and watches for the Miffliburg policemen as he races toward home.

He pulls his truck into the garage and turns the truck off.

(The following is a daily ritual- one that nobody can figure out)

He then sits in his truck. while it is off. in the garage. and he sits there. I think he messes with papers or something... who knows?!? Maybe he just admires his handywork and how good it feels to have a garage.....

Next- he walks into the house.

And this day, the camera is sitting on the counter. Just tempting him. To pick it up.

He yeilds to temptation and.....

This is a true story. I really didnt make it up. (I was uploading pictures for my puppy website when I found these mixed in with all of my puppy pics)

P.S. PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!! He isn't going to be very happy when he finds out about this. I may only have a few days left to live!

♥Alyssa