The value of a friend... prayers please

I am taking a break in our vacation recaps,

 instead taking time to acknowledge the value of a friend.  

And to ask for prayers.

Rosie joined our family almost 5 years ago.  Oh how she loved to play!  

and you probably know someone else in our family who loves to play  :)   

She joined our nest about the same time that "others" (namely Hannah and Nolan) were leaving the nest and spreading their wings.......  and while that was an exciting time for them.  It was a time of adjustment for this mama...... and also for Nevin.

Rosie helped Nevin adjust.  

(sorry the video is sideways... couldn't figure out how to rotate it)

While Rosie is my "baby" (huh,  think she helped me adjust, too?

 .....hmm, hadn't thought of that before!)

.... she has been a companion for Nevin.

Buddies

homeschooled together

 played together

Shoveled snow together.

Hannah moved back home for a couple of years while she went back to school.

Sooo,  she's Hannah's baby, too.

 In fact, Hannah has been helping me SO much while Rosie has been sick.

Taking care of her while we were on vacation.

Supporting me both emotionally
 and helping me take care of Rosie.

but now..... Rosie is sick....... very sick.  *tears here*

We don't know exactly what's wrong, 

we have had multiple vet visits in the last 4 weeks.

She seems to have an infection that we can't find 

....and that antibiotics won't take care of.

Tonight, Rosie is in the hospital

Our house feels so very empty!

Please pray for us all!!  

We are all hurting in our own ways. 

We have tough decisions to make about "how far we go" 

and not everyone in our house agrees on the answer to that question.

I don't believe we go beyond our limits, beyond quality of life for Rosie, 

.......... but I am willing to go far for her........ for her unconditional love.....

for her companionship........ for her.  

I would like to be able to know what is actually going on 

and then be able to make an informed decision about the future. 

......... my heart hurts.......

please pray for Rosie's comfort and healing, 

for vet's wisdom, 

for clear answers, 

for our hurting hearts.

Thank you

Vacation: Tuesday- Golf

After a couple BIG days..... we took it easy on Tuesday,  slept in, low key day 

... walked the beach and then 

went Miniature golfing with Uncle Craig, Aunt Renee and Aunt Son.

oh, yeah........ forgot....... Nev doesn't really do anything "low key"  :)

The miniature golf place was a Pirate Ship Theme!!

 Alligators at the miniature golf.  

Then out to eat at a waterfront cafe.

And since Nevin is a full fleged Pirate now, 

he felt free to stand up in the restaurant and wave to his fellow pirates!   :)

Vacation Monday- Universal

The "BIG EVENT"!!   Universal:  Islands of Adventure

Nevin was SO SO excited to meet the villians

and the heroes!!

And he was anxious to see Jurassic Park,

sadly the Jurassic Park River Ride was down for repairs, 

but Nevin always makes fun wherever he goes!

"come'on, Mom., follow me

.....  I NOT scared!" 

oh, what parents do for their beloved children!!

Kevin and I donned our motion sickness patches 

and bravely tackled "most" of the rides.

post-adrenalin explanation!! 

and nope, you're not talking me into going on the Fear Fall

one of Nevin's other goals was to take us on a ride, 

so that MOM and DAD would get wet!

Mission accomplished!

    LOVE this picture.... and yes, I was hiding.... trying to stay dry!  

and......... the MAIN event!! 

Harry Potter's castle.  

We got to Universal early and then "rushed" 

(it felt like the running of the bulls) 

to the castle as soon as the gates opened.  

Only had to wait about 10 minutes.  

Wish I would have gotten some better pictures

....  was having some trouble with my camera settings 

after the "run" to the castle then the wild broomstick ride. 

Nevin got a wand at the wand shop..... 

and I was able to "talk him down" from the $100 Harry Potter robe

..... but it is now on my "to do" list to make one.

  

Nevin has a picture on his phone of him with his wand.....  haven't uploaded it yet.  You'll have to check it out on his photoblog later.  

(ummm... maybe tomorrow night)

It was a wonderful, exhausting, wet day.  

Nevin loved it!!

The Pirate Ship

Ahhh....... the ocean...... the beach!!  

Love the look on Nevin's face in this picture. 

His first time time seeing the ocean.

Yup, the bunny ears are in Florida, too!

"Tenderfoot", heading back to our condo.

Not the usual smile, huh?

I think it was shock.

He couldn't believe it.

The shock is wearing off, he's back to himself!  

There are definitely advantages to being both 

"forever young at heart"and an adult.

When you're "young at heart"

you can get your face painted

..... you get to wear pirate hats 

and raid the treasure chest for a gold necklace.

you get to "get down" with the pirate trainers

and dance with other pirates in training.

But being an adult means you get to have a beer with your dad while cruising on the pirate ship.

Yo Ho Ho and a can of beer?

..... and you can stand on the upper deck with you beer 

and wave at passing ships!

and best of all, if you older than 18 years old

you get to go up on the Captain's deck 

and meet the CAPTAIN!!

And if the Captain considers you a worthy pirate, 

he lets you STEER THE SHIP!!

Yup..... it's Pirate Bunny Ears

and a big day tomorrow........

Vacation......

Vacation.....  finally, we did it!!  we took Nevin and flew to Florida.  

 Can you say EXCITED!!   

It all started at Christmas time, when Nevin got his carry-on bag.  

of course, in his favorite color..... red.

Inside the bag was a book.  

A book about a very big surprise.    

Vacation to Florida!!!

some sample pages from the book

This was a first for us.  Not a first vacation, but it was a first BIG vacation with just Nevin.....  to a state other than Colorado (Kevin's family) or Wisconsin (Uncle Jeff and Aunt Kerry, of course!).    Nevin's second plane trip.    And it was mine and Nevin's first time to Florida.   

Nevin's excitement is so very contagious!!  The people around us enjoyed his "thrill".   

Another surprise after we "booked" our vacation......  

Uncle Craig, Aunt Renee and Aunt Sondra happened to also be going

 to the SAME area, the SAME flights, and staying about 5 miles up the coast from us.  

So we got to share some fun times with them in Florida, too.

yup!! we're here!! ....  Palm trees!!  

tomorrow... a Pirate Ship!!

be sure and check out Nevin's Photoblog for more pictures!