Bitten afresh by Tolkien

Well, Matt and I (me especially) have been bitten with the LOTR bug again. Before and during the movie releases, I read the hobbit and the LOTR trilogy to prepare myself. During the process I realized how much I love the writing style and depth of J.R.R. Tolkien. I continued by reading the silmarillion, Tolkien's history book of the mythology he created in the LOTR. It's a wonderful read and provides much background for the books and movies. For any fellow Tolkien nerds out there, I just read on D. Griffith's blog that a "new" Tolkien book was just recently published. Apparently Tolkien begun a story about Hurin, a character from the early history of middle-earth, and his son Adam finished it and published it just last month.

Last week Matt rented the fellowship of the ring dvd and we have begun the long process of watching the trilogy again (though I have to close my eyes when the orcs show up - those guys are disgusting). This time with all the special features! I think I'm honestly more excited about the special features than the movies . . . .

The LOTR movies are so well done and the story is so excellent, I feel that I could watch them over and over and over again! What favorite movies could entertain you endlessly?

Some new pictures and skills

Chloe's new thing is to try to pick up several objects at a time and carry them around with her. It's quite comical to watch! Outside last week she had about 5 things in her hand and kept dropping one. You could just see her brain puzzling as she'd pick it up and shuffle things around only to lose another object.

Chloe is a little parrot lately! Her words are getting much clearer and she's attempting 3 syllable words and phrases. She's also exhibiting more and more of her silly side. Sometimes when I'm on the phone and she wants me to get off she'll say, "Bye-bye!" loudly over and over. And last night after dinner when we read and prayed together it was obvious she wanted to get down. She tried to petition us with "Out" and "Down" but when that didn't work she said desperately, "Poopy!". After smelling her bum, I called her bluff. :)








Chloe wore this adorable green outfit to church yesterday. She was a doll and did a great job in the nursery though I wasn't too pleased with the lazy workers. When I walked in to pick Chloe up, two ladies were sitting in EXACTLY the same spot as they were when I dropped her off! Poor Chloe saw me and started crying to get out and the workers took their sweet time retrieving her for me. Grrrrrrrrr . . . . .























This is Chloe's "serious face".























Chloe's new train track (a 75 cent yard sale find)!























Another of Chloe's new skills is climbing and balancing. She really wanted to see her cd case so she got herself up there by standing atop my exercise ball. I wanted to see if she could do it so I didn't intervene and she balanced really well!

Pregnancy details

Not too many details to report as of yet since I haven't yet attended a doctor's appointment (the first is set for June 20th). By my reckoning I'm a mere 6 weeks along with a due date of January 10th. I suppose I should have waited to tell you all until the 12 week mark but I was so very excited it spilled over! :)

No nausea for me so far (yay!) though I have been extremely tired and hungry every 3 hours or so. As far as cravings go, I've been yearning for salads, cereal and nutella (not together). I just bought a box of rice chex on Thursday and I'm seriously 1/2 way through it already! I eat cereal every night for an evening snack.

My belly feels so big already! Can any of you 2nd time moms confirm that your belly popped out sooner than it did with your 1st child? Or am I just gaining way too much weight? I bought a prenatal pilates dvd off ebay last week and did my first workout today. It felt so good though it was really hard for me in parts. Are any of you pregos doing a workout routine?

Tag-a-licious

Ok, I've been tagged three times now so I guess I can no longer put off posting 8 weird/interesting facts about myself. Here goes . . .

1. I know almost all the lines by heart of the movies The Princess Bride and Back to the Future II.
2. I think porcelain faced dolls are very creepy. The seriously scare me. (I'm sure it's due to the first horror movie I ever saw when I was an impressionable 6th grader. The movie was aptly entitled Dolls.)
   
3. I have no middle name.
4. When I read a book and it contains words I don't know, I list them on a scrap of paper and then use that paper as my bookmark. As I go through the book I keep adding unknown words that I come across so I can look them up and learn their meanings. (I've been doing this since highschool but now I do this every time I read a Charles Dickens book. Dickens is my all-time favorite and I've vowed to read everything he's ever written; his Pickwick Papers is the funniest book I've ever read. And I learn tons of new-to-me vocabulary from reading Dickens. I don't know how my vocabulary survived without convivial or stentorian.)
5. If I would have had my way, Chloe would have been named Aurora. :) Thankfully Matt talked me out of it. Can you imagine a little kid trying to say all the r's in Aurora?
6. When I was single I used to own an entire shoe rack (3 tiers high) for all the black shoes I owned.
7. I have been a bridesmaid 7 times. (Not including my sister's wedding which was unconventional and didn't have any bridesmaids. I was her coordinator person though.)
8. During my first semester at Northland I tried to throw a polka party in my room. I made fliers and put them in all the girls' mailboxes. I didn't have much common sense back then (I still lapse into those moments now that I'm an adult). Hello, a polka party at Northland BAPTIST Bible College?!? Mrs. Arndt didn't think it was a good idea. :) Another funny NBBC escapade involved putting blackcat firecrackers in the rec hall's fireplace. Hee-hee. I heard the dating couples looking into each others' eyes got quite a fright when they went off.
   

So, now I tag the following friends to post 8 weirdo facts about themselves. Consider yourself tagged Mary Ann, Carissa, Tracy, Janelle, Sarah, Tricia, Karis, Heather

A message from Chloe

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Prayer Updates

Much thanks to all of you praying out there for my sis-in-law, Beth and my friend's baby girl, Charis. God is proving Himself good and faithful in both their situations! Here's the latest:

Beth
Beth's surgery went well on Wednesday and she's recovering quickly at home. The surgeons removed 8 of her lymph nodes and after biopsying them discovered that only 2 were cancerous! Also, they found that of those 2 that contained the cancer, the cancer hadn't "broken out" to spread to other organs of her body. That's FANTASTIC news! It changes the picture tremendously and makes the outlook much more positive. There's still a chance that there might be small areas of cancer somewhere in her body that haven't been picked up through scanning so she'll still be doing chemotherapy in about 3 weeks. Pray for her recovery from surgery and strength for her body before chemo begins.

Charis

(Update from Aaren, Charis' mom) Thank you so much praying for our baby girl! Charis was taken to the O.R. at about 2:30pm yesterday (Thursday). Of course, there was a lot of prep work to be done before the heart arrived. The donor heart arrived at about 5:00pm. We received word about an hour later that the new heart had already begun to warm and beat in Charis while still being sewn inside of her chest. Most often, they have to do procedures to cause the new heart to begin beating. The new heart is bigger than her heart, so it started beating a bit too vigorously. They gave her some medicine to lower the blood pressure. I won't give all details, but everything went smoothly and she was taken from the O.R. at about 10:00pm. They never had to put her on echo-mo--a machine that would pump blood for her nor did they have to put her on a lung machine. God is good!

We watched as they walked down the hall with all of her equipment. We were told we would be able to see her in about a 1/2 hour. Ten minutes or so later, two folks from the surgeon team informed us that there was more bleeding in the chest cavity than they wanted to see, so our Surgeon was going to clean out the chest cavity and see what was causing the bleeding.

An hour and a half went by, our Surgeon came personally to tell us that he had cleaned everything and found a small leak in a line. He used one stitch and everything seemed under control. He told us that we should be able to see Charis in about a 1/2 hour.

Several hours passed, finally the nurses remembered that we were waiting and came to find us. I cannot describe to you the scene that awaited us, but I pray none of you ever have to see your child in that condition. I actually felt faint and could only stay about 15 minutes. Jason wasn't feeling much better!

The next 48 hours after surgery are really a minute by minute watch and concern. So far the reports have all been good. This morning they took her off the medicine that caused her body to essentially be paralyzed. She is moving a little bit on her own, even though she is still fully sedated. So we continue to wait and pray.

Homemade matching dresses

Ok, after this post, I promise to bring the blog back to the present. I really wanted you all to see the beautiful matching dresses Mrs. Horn made for the three little girl cousins.

My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress. She brought the fabric along to our house without a plan or pattern. After shopping at Gymboree on Friday, Mrs. Horn got her inspiration. That afternoon she started cutting (sans pattern remember) and sewing. By Monday evening she had three matching dresses made of different sizes!

So again, the three cousins were subjected to mandatory matching and excessive photo taking. Ashton had to be coerced with lipstick and hairspray applied by Auntie Miranda.





















I think Grace and Chloe are jealous of Ashton's lipstick.

















Holding hands again.






















Ring around the rosy. (Ahna didn't get a matching dress but she is styling her new sarong from world market.)
















The best shot I could get of Chloe and Tia Miranda.


















What lovely blue eyes Grace has!

The Horn family reunion

Though it was a whirlwind of a trip last week (have I mentioned that enough times yet?), we all thoroughly enjoyed being together as a family. The last time all the Horn siblings were together was at our wedding - nearly five years ago!

Here's the rundown of our time together. We arrived Tuesday afternoon and then all the adults had a light-hearted time to visit at a local fondue restaurant while the kids were babysat by some gals from the church (all except Chloe - she got to hang out with her gramma who lives nearby). A family from the church had given Sam & Beth a gift card for the Melting Pot so we all ate for free! It was such a unique experience for all of us and a great time of unhindered fellowship.

After some laidback visiting and football playing on Wednesday, we dressed the kids in some adorable and colorful outfits that Diane had bought for all the cousins. Thanks, Diane! Then we played photographer in the backyard. I will NOT divulge how many shots I took; thank the Lord for digital cameras! Diane, Miranda, Ahna, and I did some afternoon shopping (my first experience with World Market - wow, what a cool store) and then it was time for dinner and church. After church we did more photos, this time with a real professional, of the whole Horn family. I can't wait to see how those turned out!

Our visit with Matt's folks

Before our crazy traveling began last week, Matt's parents flew up from Texas to spend a few days with us. It didn't take long for Chloe to re-acquaint herself with her buelita (that's a Mexican term of endearment for gramma) and grampa Horn!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We took them to our favorite little town, Hudson, for some sunshine-y window shopping, library browsing (Hudson has seriously the best library I've ever seen), and cupcake eating (yes, there's a whole shop JUST selling cupcakes!). They even got to experience 50 cent day with us at our local thrift store! I get way too excited about 50 cent day. 50 cent day did not disappoint me this time; I found a toy sewing machine for Chloe for, guess how much . . . FIFTY CENTS!!!! Woo-hoo!

Another urgent prayer request

This afternoon a good friend of mine's newly born baby girl will be undergoing heart transplant surgery. (For those of you who might know her, her name is Aaren [Krause] Lepien - she was my roomie and teaching buddy for a few years).

As most of you out there are moms, you can imagine with me what a soul-wrenching experience this is for my friend Aaren and her husband. Please join us in praying for baby Charis!

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." [James 5:13-16]

One test down, three to go!

Yesterday Matt successfully completed and passed his Latin translation exam! Great job, honey! He sat and translated for 4 hours straight and then answered questions for 1/2 hour from the classics professor over the text.

We celebrated with dinner out at a local restaurant (this also served as my belated mother's day gift). Now Matt transitions into hard-core study mode for his next test; his medieval reading exam is coming up in just 10 short days.

Matt hopes to study about 6 hours a day in preparation for the medieval reading exam. Though this is going to be a rough period, I am so thankful we're getting closer and closer to Matt's dissertation.

What a lovable brainiac!

Happy to be home

After 7 days away, spent at 3 different locations and 30 hours of driving, we are extremely HAPPY to be home! I thought about titling this post, "Honk if you hate driving through Chicago" but my overwhelming jubilation for being home won out. [Chicago did indeed contribute greatly to our 30 hours of driving though . . . grrrrrrr. Seems that God is really pounding away at teaching us patience when it comes to traveling.]

I'm past ready for a nap, so I'll make this update short. My sis-in-law, Beth is doing much better! After a multitude of tests and scans, her cancer picture is looking much more optimistic. She'll have surgery tomorrow (please pray!) and then will begin chemo the following week when she's recovered a bit from the surgery. As it looks now, the docs can't see that any cancer has spread throughout her body; it's isolated to her breast and lymph nodes right now. So chemo is still an important step here to hit the cancer in her lymphs before it spreads.

Though we were all weary, it was a true joy to have all the Horns together again. Pictures and stories to come. Thanks to all who were/are praying!

Leaving bright and early

Many thanks to all who are praying for my sister-in-law's healing! After a week of diagnostic tests and a consultation with her coordinating oncologist, things are looking positive. The cancer seems to be contained (for the moment!) but they are still headed towards surgery and chemotherapy.

Tomorrow at 4 a.m. (yawn!) we'll be hitting the road for Wisconsin with Matt's folks. We're so very ansy to get there and give our love and hugs and support! Though we'll all only have a few days together, I'm sure they will be packed as the cousins enjoy playing together and all the Horn siblings tease each other and revel in family memories and time-worn stories. This reunion will be the first in 5 years that all the siblings and family have been together in the same place at the same time. I'll be sure to post pictures when we get home and the excitement dies down!

Please continue to pray for our family - especially Beth, Sam, R.D. and Ashton. I'll be an absent blogger this next week. I can't wait to share good news with you all of how God's grace and goodness prevails in these events!

Please join us in prayer

By now many of you have already heard the news of my sister-in-law, Beth's diagnosis of cancer. Please join us in prayer for her healing and for God's grace and strength to flood her and her family.

This week has been filled with daily diagnostic tests to see just how far the cancer has spread through Beth's body. Most of these tests have come back with positive results, praise the Lord!

The entire Horn extended family will be convening in Milwaukee during these weeks to support Beth and to spend some much-needed reunion time together before her treatments get rough. Matt's folks flew here to our house a few days ago and we'll all drive to Wisconsin together early Tuesday.

We're clinging to the promises of God and seeing His goodness in this. Thank you in advance for your prayers!

Psalm 38:15 "For I hope in You, O LORD;
You will answer, O Lord my God."

James 5:14-15 "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."

The final countdown has begun!

Matt's final day of the semester at Kent State will be Monday, May 7th. Yipee skippee! He's got one more big requirement to do (a take-home exam which he is working on as I type) before then. He's been SO DILIGENT at his studies this semester! His two big major papers are already completed, revised, and turned in.

I'm so very proud of him and I can't believe the end of the semester is here already! There were so many times this term that I thought we'd never make it to the end. But God has brought us through and has been so faithful to provide strength and grace to our family. My heart is singing the doxology - very loudly I might add!

The end of this semester marks more than just a regular semester conclusion. For Matt, it marks the end of his phd coursework. No more classes to take to earn his phd! Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he's in the clear yet . . . .

The ending of his coursework signals the beginning of a new phase in his studies. Now he starts the exams-portion of his phd program. He'll first be tested in Latin by having to translate a portion of Latin text. Then the reading exams begin. Or more accurately, then his study for the reading exams will go into full-swing-mode. He will be tested over three areas: Medieval Religious Literature, Critical Theory applied to the Renaissance, 17th century literature of dissent in England. For each test he has to read and know the content of 30-40 books that are essential to the topic.

Maybe I should have titled this post, "Everything you never wanted to know about Matt Horn's phd requirements" :)

Now you can understand a little bit of my pride in his studies! He's such a hard-working brainiac and I'm incredibly proud of him. Way to go, schmoopsy-poo! We love you!