Update Feb 26, 2013

     So much is going on and I've been way too busy to post an update until now.  The kids are all doing well.  Not sure if I posted an update in August but we have housemates; Tiffany and David.  They will be with us until Huck gets back from deployment next year.  They fit in great in our household and David and my boys get along pretty well.
     We've had to make some major changes over the past several weeks.  Huck has been having stomach/intestinal issues for a long time everytime we ate anything with wheat/flour in it and the final straw was when he almost ended up in the hospital.  I did everything I could to help his pain; pepto, mint tea, heating pad to stomach, etc.  Since then we made sure that he didn't eat any gluten and his problems stopped.  Like his mom and sisters, he has celiac disease (self diagnosis because he doesn't want to tell doctor but its genetic).  Huck was not the only one allergic...Elijah had a gluten reaction as well.  I wasn't home to see it but from what I was told he was doubled over and screaming in pain.  He no longer wants to eat bread or pasta that has gluten in it.  We have gone gluten free and it's expensive.  I've discovered gluten free spaghetti, macaroni, muffins, pancakes and more.  It is hard to find items and you have to know where to look for them.  We are slowly replacing milk products with substitutes as well.  We have found almond milk to be great, especially vanilla flavored.
     Over the past couple of months we have been preparing for a one year deployment and my blood pressure has slowly been rising.  It's only been a few days and I'm so stressed out that I don't know if I will have any hair left this time next year.  Today when I came home from school (I have one year left, 2.5 semesters), I decided to lay down because my stomach was hurting and I took a nap.  I woke up with a start from a horrible dream and a sleeping anxiety attack.  I need prayers for my sanity over the next year.  School has been hard for me this semester because of the stress I've been under and the fact that I am also taking 16 credit hours.  I have a heavy courseload unlike any I've had since being at JU.   
     I finally get to see the neurosurgeon tomorrow to see if he can do something about my neck and back pain.  I pray that he can because I can't live like this for the rest of my life.  I need some relief.  If I can remember I will post more updates later.