Dampen OUR Spirits? NEVER.

 GREAT NEWS: I got Jackson to hold still for some pictures! :) What a cute-ikle. I cannot believe how big he is getting... I love how he put his hand by his face. What a little model.

Hann had a Birthday! Shout HURRAY! Sweet 16! Her Birthday was... quite the day. Details to follow.

I made her the ever-popular kissing license. ;) Look out boys! [Especially buff potato farmers.]

I had a nerve conduction study/ EMG done yesterday morning. ... I would not wish this upon anyone.

I had heard this described as... unpleasant. Every time someone went to explain it to me they would pause exactly like that. "It's...... unpleasant." I get it now. That is exactly the way to describe the experience.

Here's what went down: This nice man sticks electrode things on me and pokes me with... a tuning fork? Then he turns up the frequency and yeow! He did this all over my leg and foot. Some places were more unpleasant [and sometimes downright painful] than others.

 The best way I can describe the feeling is what happens to a string instrument when the string is struck. Except with electricity.

 

 They were really ubrupt and... powerful shocks. And I was often concerned that the nerve was going to jump out of my body to escape... or maybe just explode. ... Unpleasant. ;)


Then came the needle part. [The good news: I did not pass out! Can you believe it!?! I am getting so good at being poked. I might even put it on my resume.]

Dr. #10 put electrode things on me again and stuck a thin, but long needle in my muscles. 5 different muscles. Again, some were worse than others.

 He did not just stick it in and take it out, OH NO. He would put it under my skin and wiggle it around and keep moving it up and down in and out of my muscle. Then have me flex and relax.
"Ok. I need you to relax your leg muscles." Ha! Ok. As soon as you take that needle out or at least stop moving it around! Haha

Unpleasant. :)

But no lasting effects other than being a little sore. And the study was normal. This means no nerve damage. This is good. Time to look elsewhere for answers, I suppose!


All of us girls [including Malena] went shopping for Hann's Birthday. We also played around on the piano and ate sushi. :) Jo, you sure know how to celebrate.

 Then all hail broke loose. Literally. We got the biggest storm I think we have had [excepting snow perhaps] since we have lived here.

 This is a picture of the earlier, less severe bout of hail.

 Major flooding, tornadoes a little south of us, and hail, hail, HAIL!

The crazy storm could not dampen our spirits though. :) What a blessing to be able to stay safe, dry, and happy inside our house with the BEST company. Happy Birthday again, Jo. :)

The damages: All of the cars outside took a major beating. :/

 Here's my baby. Just adds character. ;) Too bad it's covered, huh? I kind of like it like this...

And the roof is totaled. Yikes!

 Luckily I was playing with Mom's camera outside just a bit ago so I can give before and after pictures!

Before: Pretty, perky flowers.

 After: Mangled... discouraged flowers... [We all feel like that sometimes, right? I'm sure they will make a comeback.]

 

Before: Clean, smooth grass.

 After: Leafy, holey lawn.

Looks like Autumn came for a little visit in June! Haha

BUT we got a lot of moisture and a free lawn aeration.... :)


Want my oh-so-thoughtful life metaphor of the moment?

Too bad. I'm gonna type it anyways. :)

Things are better when you look past the mustaches in life.

... I'll explain. Mustaches are... gross. But sometimes attractive men [Of course I am not referring to anyone specific] decide to grow a mustache. Does this make them unattractive? No. You just have to look past the mustache. :{D

Why say "look at the glass half-full" when you can say "look past the mustaches in life." ? Much more exciting and meaningful.

Here's to Hail-fire and looking past mustaches. :) Thank you for your prayers. They are felt.

Much Love!!