Saturday, December 29, 2012
Merry Kissmas and a Happy New Year!!
I, Emily, LOVE, taking pictures!! :-) So, you are subject to lots of photos! We are enjoying the snow, by sledding, of course. (and Mom went into the creek...) Anyway, the top couple ones are when we went to go get our Christmas tree. Dad and a couple of boys were hunting and a storm was coming, so we were missing a couple of people.
This is Mom, she had her hood snapped on wrong, which was entertaining. ;-)
There was alot of discussion going on about which was THE PERFECT TREE. (ok, I'll admit, it was mostly me saying it wasn't perfect.) Joey is saying "Come on."
Lydia kept saying, "This is our tree!"
Once we finally found THE TREE, Robbie made sure... "This is the one?"
Joey, dragging the tree.....:-)
We had to imitate Love Come's Softly.....By riding the christmas tree!
:-) This was funny!
The dog at the Christmas tree farm. Isn't it cute?
And big? And strong? YES. Mom was having a real tug of war with it!
?????? UMMM, not so sure about this....
This was on top of Dad and Mom's wedding cake. They got married December 16 and just had their 23rd anniversary!
Making Christmas cookies!
Robbie making his cookie!
Robbie and Mom laughing at ???
Ben, frosting his cookies.
Which he decided to do very thickly.
Lydia was very careful...
And very focused!!
However, they tasted delicious!!
Elijah and Megan!!
Lydia eating her chocolate bar!
(I don't think she ate it alllll.?????)
Lydia and her hat, which she wore alot!
Matthew and the book "The adventure's of Jimmy Skunk"
Daniel and his M&M shirt!
Megan and Elijah when they opened a present which said "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you" (which is from Pride and Prejudice)
Emily with her purse!
Dad when he opened Ground Kangaroo!!
"!!!!!!!!!!"
Joey and his burger t-shirt. (if it is far away, it looks like a "scenery scene," which kinda made Joe go "huh?" then when he figured it out, he loved it!
Ben getting ready to eat a crunch candy bar!! :)
Then, I asked if I could take some pictures of Megan and Elijah, and they most obligingly agreed!! :D (Be fore-warned....kissing pictures ahead...you can't stop 'em. (But I didn't try) :D
We had a Christmas dinner, and had some friends over from church!!
Then I went outside, after it snowed (YEAH!!!) and took some pictures!
So anyway, we had a awesome Christmas! Now we're looking forward to New Years and Dad's Birthday, which is Dec. 31st!
And, Daniel got two "wabbits," which will be very tasty!!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
January 11, 2012
This was the date of Robbie's EP test. Going into the test both of his cardiologist were 99.9% sure that he would need a pacemaker. His heart monitoring was showing his heart slowing and then actually skipping beats. A pacemaker would kick start his heart to beat more regularly.
A pacemaker would mean a drastic change of life. No sports, no wrestling, no flipping siblings because of the sensitive spot the pacemaker is positioned. And Robbie has always known a life full of all the above! But it would allow him to function normal, not be so tired and drained.
In attepts to try everything we could to avoid a pacemaker, and prove those doctors wrong, we suggested to Robbie that he cut out everything that would potentially cause heart problems such as caffiene and sugar. So for 3 months before, during all the festive holidays, he complied to no avail.
He actually got worse. In our minds it assured us that he really did need a pacemaker because he was like an 80 year old sitting in a chair most of the day unable to do much of anything.
One of the most encouraging part of all this was the friends and family that surrounded us with uplifting, encouraging, prayers, visits, and cards. We affirmed that we are surrounded by so many amazing, godly people, who poured out such a love that makes such a trial bearable.
Robbie's CP friends collected money for him to fly to the west coast for a retreat. This was to take place just 10 days after his surgery, and worried a mother's heart. But I had the assurance of Sam as a guardian. This meant so much because it gave Robbie something to look forward to, assurance that life would go on with a pacemaker. It touched all of us to witness such generosity and love from these young folks.
Before the surgery we went and played lots of basketball. Jeff and Robbie had been playing on a church league and it was a sad last game. All the players gathered around and prayed for Robbie and the upcoming surgery it was really a touching moment. The night before we all went to the college for a family game, split up and had a blast. Bittersweet for sure!
Jeff, Robbie and I went to stay at the hospital the night before to be sure we were ready at 6am! The hospital accommidations were fine, except we couldn't get the shower to work. We called the maintenance man and he tried to explain things over the phone, "Pull this lever." Me, "Uh, sir, there is no lever." Him, "Oh, there is a lever!" He finally came and looked and couldn't believe there was no lever. So we showered with a bucket. Fitfully slept, with the heat stuck on high so the windows had to be open, listening to a lullaby of sirens around busy Detroit.
When we woke up Robbie suggested we read Psalm 91, his favorite, before we go, and we prayed.
Things moved quickly and other than a small wait in the waiting room, just long enough to realize that our problems aren't nearly as bad as to what other's are going through. In a timely fashion he was ushered into surgery and we waited. Oh, that is always the worst! It's so humbling, so hard to see so many people hurting! I would look and wonder if these people had the Lord to lean on and trust the end of the day to.
Jeff and I were quiet, this was no fun. They were taking longer than suggested. Finally, our doctor with a strong Indian accent called us into a room. He started explaining things in a foreign terminology. I was lost the first 5 minutes of the explaination, until I heard him say, "so he doesn't need a pacemaker". What? Jeff and I looked at each other in unbelief. That was just what we wanted to hear! We hugged and cried and thanked God!
Until we could see Robbie we tried to piece together what the doctor explained. He has a hyper active vagel nerve. This nerve is what calms the adrenalin that our bodies build from exercise or excitement that can make our heart beat fast. The vagel nerve slows the heart back to normal. But normal isn't good enough for Robbie's vagel nerve, his likes to go extreme, slowing the heart too slow, even skipping beats.
So the cure? Caffeine! That's why he was getting worse when we took him off of caffeine and sugar the previous months. Caffeine will keep his vagel nerve more active and keep his heart rate from dropping.
It's been an experiment to see how much caffeine and how often to get to a point to feel back to normal, but it's working! And without it he's quickly back to feeling bad and not functioning. He's adapted to rich, hot, black coffe, but truly loves a cold Mountain Dew!
The doctor said he may outgrow this in a couple of years, so we'll see. For now he's so thankful to be active and living and enjoying life as normal as we know it!
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the reace that is set before us.
A pacemaker would mean a drastic change of life. No sports, no wrestling, no flipping siblings because of the sensitive spot the pacemaker is positioned. And Robbie has always known a life full of all the above! But it would allow him to function normal, not be so tired and drained.
In attepts to try everything we could to avoid a pacemaker, and prove those doctors wrong, we suggested to Robbie that he cut out everything that would potentially cause heart problems such as caffiene and sugar. So for 3 months before, during all the festive holidays, he complied to no avail.
He actually got worse. In our minds it assured us that he really did need a pacemaker because he was like an 80 year old sitting in a chair most of the day unable to do much of anything.
One of the most encouraging part of all this was the friends and family that surrounded us with uplifting, encouraging, prayers, visits, and cards. We affirmed that we are surrounded by so many amazing, godly people, who poured out such a love that makes such a trial bearable.
Robbie's CP friends collected money for him to fly to the west coast for a retreat. This was to take place just 10 days after his surgery, and worried a mother's heart. But I had the assurance of Sam as a guardian. This meant so much because it gave Robbie something to look forward to, assurance that life would go on with a pacemaker. It touched all of us to witness such generosity and love from these young folks.
Before the surgery we went and played lots of basketball. Jeff and Robbie had been playing on a church league and it was a sad last game. All the players gathered around and prayed for Robbie and the upcoming surgery it was really a touching moment. The night before we all went to the college for a family game, split up and had a blast. Bittersweet for sure!
Jeff, Robbie and I went to stay at the hospital the night before to be sure we were ready at 6am! The hospital accommidations were fine, except we couldn't get the shower to work. We called the maintenance man and he tried to explain things over the phone, "Pull this lever." Me, "Uh, sir, there is no lever." Him, "Oh, there is a lever!" He finally came and looked and couldn't believe there was no lever. So we showered with a bucket. Fitfully slept, with the heat stuck on high so the windows had to be open, listening to a lullaby of sirens around busy Detroit.
When we woke up Robbie suggested we read Psalm 91, his favorite, before we go, and we prayed.
Things moved quickly and other than a small wait in the waiting room, just long enough to realize that our problems aren't nearly as bad as to what other's are going through. In a timely fashion he was ushered into surgery and we waited. Oh, that is always the worst! It's so humbling, so hard to see so many people hurting! I would look and wonder if these people had the Lord to lean on and trust the end of the day to.
Jeff and I were quiet, this was no fun. They were taking longer than suggested. Finally, our doctor with a strong Indian accent called us into a room. He started explaining things in a foreign terminology. I was lost the first 5 minutes of the explaination, until I heard him say, "so he doesn't need a pacemaker". What? Jeff and I looked at each other in unbelief. That was just what we wanted to hear! We hugged and cried and thanked God!
Until we could see Robbie we tried to piece together what the doctor explained. He has a hyper active vagel nerve. This nerve is what calms the adrenalin that our bodies build from exercise or excitement that can make our heart beat fast. The vagel nerve slows the heart back to normal. But normal isn't good enough for Robbie's vagel nerve, his likes to go extreme, slowing the heart too slow, even skipping beats.
So the cure? Caffeine! That's why he was getting worse when we took him off of caffeine and sugar the previous months. Caffeine will keep his vagel nerve more active and keep his heart rate from dropping.
It's been an experiment to see how much caffeine and how often to get to a point to feel back to normal, but it's working! And without it he's quickly back to feeling bad and not functioning. He's adapted to rich, hot, black coffe, but truly loves a cold Mountain Dew!
The doctor said he may outgrow this in a couple of years, so we'll see. For now he's so thankful to be active and living and enjoying life as normal as we know it!
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the reace that is set before us.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
School is off to a good start! So very thankful to be able to teach my children and watch them learn! To see a new concept click in their minds is an amazing gift!
This morning I got them started at the table and moved to the couch to briefly switch hats and start folding the mountain of laundry. Benjamin got up from his chair, grabbed his pencil, paper and verses and pulled his chair by the couch. All in one impressive swoop! I was waiting to see what he was doing before I commented or told him to get back to work. He knelt on the floor and laid out his stuff on the seat of his chair, looked at me with an adorable grin, and resumed writing.
"Whatcha doing Benny?"
He grimmaced his lips and said, "Just wanna be close to you."
Needless to say I didn't send him back to the table. And I folded laundry with renewed joy!
Not only am I so grateful for such moments, to be able to be close to my children, to have the time, but I'm ever so grateful that God changed my heart to want to! It truly thrills me!
I know it must sound ridiculous to the unsaved world because I hear the shocking remarks all the time of "I could NEVER do that!" "you're crazy!". There is nothing special about me. It's all because of God and Him molding me, purging the old sinful self. He put that desire in me, and I am ever so grateful!
It just makes me want more of Jesus!
This morning I got them started at the table and moved to the couch to briefly switch hats and start folding the mountain of laundry. Benjamin got up from his chair, grabbed his pencil, paper and verses and pulled his chair by the couch. All in one impressive swoop! I was waiting to see what he was doing before I commented or told him to get back to work. He knelt on the floor and laid out his stuff on the seat of his chair, looked at me with an adorable grin, and resumed writing.
"Whatcha doing Benny?"
He grimmaced his lips and said, "Just wanna be close to you."
Needless to say I didn't send him back to the table. And I folded laundry with renewed joy!
Not only am I so grateful for such moments, to be able to be close to my children, to have the time, but I'm ever so grateful that God changed my heart to want to! It truly thrills me!
I know it must sound ridiculous to the unsaved world because I hear the shocking remarks all the time of "I could NEVER do that!" "you're crazy!". There is nothing special about me. It's all because of God and Him molding me, purging the old sinful self. He put that desire in me, and I am ever so grateful!
It just makes me want more of Jesus!
Romans 8:13 (ESV)
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
BOYS, listen up!!!
Ben and Joey were cleaning a closet and started playing tug-of-war with a broom. Something went astray and Ben somehow got hurt. Then Lydia stepped in. "Boys, who started this?" The Boys both denied it. Then Lydia said "Who told the other person to stop first?" Joey said he did, and Lydia turned towards Ben. Then Ben said he did, and Lydia turned towards Joey. Then Lydia said "Joey, Ben is always going to be right.
-Daniel
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Catching up!
There are just some things that I don't want to leave out of these memoirs of our life so forgive the order, but don't want to forget the happenings!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Pictures!!!
I have made ANOTHER blog for all of our family pictures, just in case this computer dies. Which would be sad. So, have fun looking through our random collection! :-)
kunkelbunchpictures.blogspot.com
kunkelbunchpictures.blogspot.com
Sunset Pictures
Here are some pictures I have taken of a few different sunsets. And for those who haven't seen them, here is the link for Megan and Elijah's wedding photos. http://lifelightimage.smugmug.com/weddings/elijah-and-megan
-Daniel
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
;-)
Looking through old pictures and found this one of Lydia. :-) :-)
And another she'll appreciate when she's 15!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Life..........
Hi Y'all
Megan is married. Elijah is married. WOW!!
Sooo, What have we been doing? Nothing!! Not really. Since we had a spring break, a vacation break, a wedding break, a Christmas break, a Thanksgiving break, and a lot of other breaks from school, we are now doing school and laundry. We went to FL for a last family vacation and got home about 2 weeks before the wedding, so we were very busy!! If you would like to see the pictures of the wedding, go to lifelightimage.smugmug.com/weddings/elijahandmegan these are the photographers pictures, and they are AMAZING!!!!!! Find Elijah and Megan and have fun!! Also, this is the link to the picture slideshow with music. It is very cool! http://vimeo.com/41036647 There is about 400 pictures there. Here is a couple of pictures I took for you:
Megan is married. Elijah is married. WOW!!
Sooo, What have we been doing? Nothing!! Not really. Since we had a spring break, a vacation break, a wedding break, a Christmas break, a Thanksgiving break, and a lot of other breaks from school, we are now doing school and laundry. We went to FL for a last family vacation and got home about 2 weeks before the wedding, so we were very busy!! If you would like to see the pictures of the wedding, go to lifelightimage.smugmug.com/weddings/elijahandmegan these are the photographers pictures, and they are AMAZING!!!!!! Find Elijah and Megan and have fun!! Also, this is the link to the picture slideshow with music. It is very cool! http://vimeo.com/41036647 There is about 400 pictures there. Here is a couple of pictures I took for you:
A kissing bell, and Megan's bouquet.
This picture is highly edited, but I think it looks cool! (Ocean)
Shell on the beach.
MEGAN'S drawing in the sand.
UNTIL, a wave came.
Mustering up courage to try to get closer!
Elijah and Megan came for church and lunch the Sunday after their honey-moon.
AND THEN, somebody, somewhere, SOMEHOW, not naming the person, Mom spilled the chocolate sauce. And did a very good job too. Dad helped her clean it up. It was so cute!
And that is our life.
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