The "New Normal".

"Normal".... Whats that supposed to mean?

Is it the setting on the washing machine?

Does it mean having 10 fingers and 10 toes?

Does it mean having 2 eyes that see?

How about 2 legs that walk?


 "Normal"- for us is probably not the same "normal" for you...

Everyone has their cage of "normal"- 

Ours just happens to be a bit crazier on the inside. ;)

So when I refer to our "Normal"-

 It was a day where all 5 kids were healthy, 

without attachments. 

A day where I pulled 7 plates out of the cup-board, 

and set 7 around the table.

A night where I tucked my kids into bed- 

without life supporting machines. 

An evening where bath time was safe 

and enjoyed by all. 

A trip to the store 

that only required unloading 1 power-chair. 

A drive to see my sister in Atlanta once a month, 

with the occational trips to specialists or doctors. 

That WAS our normal...


It was glorious- 

and I want it back.

Even though our "normal" was a little tough then... 

I want it back! 

I want the days back where I have 5 children

 that can eat and enjoy food.

I want the days back where "unloading the kids" does 

not take a full 10 minutes to complete. 

I want the days back where SMA had not 

progressed to where it has today. 

I want it back. 

oh my aching heart... 

I want it back so bad.

But- 

Its not mine to have.... 

It was mine to enjoy while it was here. 

And mine to remember and reflect upon in the days ahead. 

Because now we are facing a 

"NEW NORMAL". 

A day where my youngest can't go more than a couple of hours without being attached to a feeding pump and bag. 

A day where 7 plates are no longer needed- 

because my youngest has lost most of her swallow.A night where I tuck 2 of my kids into bed- 

and hook them up to "life supporting" machines, to give their bodies a break. 

An evening where bath time is eliminated- 

because the "special shower chair" takes up 89% of the bath tub- making it safe to now wash my 2 children with special needs, but taking away 'bath time' for my other 3 children. 

A trip to the store- or anywhere outside of the home, 

 now requires unloading 2 power-chairs 

(that are not safe together) inside the family vehicle. 

A drive to see my sister in Atlanta is now 

 multiple trips a month- 

for Doctor appointments, surgeries and more consultations. 

When friends ask "how we are doing?"... 

I simply say, "Adjusting to our 'New Normal'".

Its such a loaded answer-

and 

Its not an easy task. 

But I will cherish it for as long as I can. 

Because- "adjusting" is all we can do. 

So, we will continue to "adjust"- because

There are more storms brewing... 

On May 9th- my Youngest will be admitted to the hospital and on May 10th she will have surgery to place a G-tube. 

We will be in the hospital for 3-5 days- 

depending on how she does.

She needs this surgery so we can best manage her 

feedings and care. 

The "phone call" Today-

 I received information that the girls now need to go see an Orthopedic Doctor- 

Their spines are curving. 

The disease is progressing. 

They both have slight curves in their spine- 

with my youngest being more severe. 

She is only 3. 

My oldest is only 8. 

"Adjusting to the New Normal" for them- 

is just another day to be 

SHINING, 

JOYOUS

and 

LOVING. 

So- no matter where you are- or who you are- 

Embrace your "normal"- and shine your light to others. 

Thats what the Voss girls would tell you to do... ;) 

Be richly BLESSED~

- Natosha -
*~* One BLESSED Mommie ~*~

Ps. If you are looking for a "skin care gal"- I'd love to help with your skin care concerns! Not gonna lie- Rodan and Fields allows me to provide for my family- amongst the "New Normal" adjustments. It has been the "saving grace" these past couple of months- and with more appointments, trips to the doctor, therapy, and extra needs coming up in the near future- it will continue to bless our family and cover the needs that arise.

 The skin results and transformations within 
"my care" have been so rewarding.
Rodan + Fields has blessed our lives and the lives around me- 
and I am excited to see where it is heading!  
If you are curious about the business or products-
 Now would be the opportune time to talk.

Lets get you the best skin of your life! 

You only have one face to wear- so wear it well. ;) 

More TIME Please....

Each of us are given only a moment in time.

For some of us- those moments turn into;

 hours, days, years and decades.

For others- a moment is all that is left.

Memories are like that.

Some have years, upon years of memories- 

while others have a moment with a memory.

Memories are made in the moments... 

When we take out most precious resource of TIME- and use it to its greatest purpose-

it can make the most magical moments and memories.

We are not able to get the moments and the memories back- 

once time has slipped through our fingers. 

I don't want to have life slip through my fingers.

I want TIME.

Sure- Financial Freedom is good and all... 

BUT- 

I have figured out TIME FREEDOM goes above and beyond Financial Freedom. 

My soul longs for it. 

Because really- TIME is really all we have...

I don't need all the money in the world- 

I just need TIME.

I don't need Big, Fancy houses- 

I just need a home and TIME spent in it.

I don't need to travel the world and stay in exotic places- 

I just need TIME to lay in bed with and snuggle with my babies- 

I don't need to be at the Ocean all summer- 

I just need TIME to sit on the front porch swing and sway back and forth- 

I don't need to keep chasing worldly treasures- 

I just need TIME to simply enjoy the countless blessings I have from the Lord.


But HOW?

 HOW do we get TIME freedom?

How do we get freedom when there are bills, and payments,and hungry little mouths?

This was my search. 

This was my quest.

Currently- I have a home sewing business- It makes me money, but robs me of my time. 

I needed something that would allow me more time doing the important things- 

in the moments I have with my children.

I needed something I could do to help with medical bills- 

yet- it needed to bless the lives of others.

I had to have something I could do from home- 

while caring for my daughter and family.

It had to be flexible-

yet sustainable.


Rodan + Fields
was the answer.

R+F is a virtual business. 

R+F is an inheritable / residual business. 

R+F has an amazing compensation plan with lots of perks. 

R+F only needs internet to survive- I can basically work anywhere. 

R+F was created by the Proactiv Doctors- and is the "iPhone" of skin care. 

R+F is there when I am ready to work and will continue to work when I can not. 

R+F is transforming hundreds of lives across America, Canada and soon Australia!

Rodan and Fields changed my own skin-

It Changed My Life- 

And I believe Rodan + Fields- will give me the most precious gift of all:


 Time Freedom. 

What do you want out of this life?

Making excuses for "busy days" is not enough...

Don't settle.

Make up your mind to have the TIME FREEDOM you want-

and Lets get there together! 

 "Make Time" to have an appointment with me.

prairiefaithdesigns@gmail.com

Send me a Message

and

Congrats on Time Well Spent. 

~Blessings~

~*~One BLESSED mommie~*~ 

Natosha
Rodan + Fields Consultant

I Needed to Write...

We have been in Georgia for over 6 months now- 

and I am forever behind in keeping this blog current. 

And Oh- 

the stories I could tell......

But tonight-

 I just needed to write...

I have been longing to sit down and capture the emotions swarming around inside my head and heart- 

but fear has always got the best of me...

I fear that my words will come out with a "pity party". 

I fear my words will hurt someone.

But my greatest fear- is speaking the words out-loud...

My eyes fill up with tears, just thinking about it. 

I feel as when the words are spoken- 

then thats it. 

But- I can't hold them inside any longer...


Here it goes.........

(((  The girls are progressing in their disease.  )))

There- I said it...

 and it hurts.

My heart clenches, my eyes burn and the air leaves my lungs...

This is so,

 so serious. 

They both have had a really rough go this winter- 

and the effects are starting to show. 

At first it was just a slight change.

A drop of a cup.

A sputter at the dinner table.

A, "Mom, please come help with 'such and such'..."

- knowing she was able to do it her-self just a few short weeks ago. 

Change and progressions of weakness... 

I easily find my-self going through the motions every day 

and just "dealing with it".



But, this last week...

 it has been rough......




Just tonight, Denalli was laying in her bed playing around while I was getting all the machines ready for the night.

She would raise her right hand straight in the air and while trying to "write her name" on the ceiling.

It would work for 1/2 a circle, 

then it would crash down beside her.

I sadly watched from a distance. 

She would try and try to make it go a complete round-

 to form the letter D- 

but she couldn't. 

Then the question came...



"Mommie- why does my arm not work any more?? See watch...."

She tried again, with all her might....

"It just falls down and I can't keep it up..."

Oh mercy.... 

Oh Lord.. WHY? 

Once again- 

Eyes burning, heart clenched and a sucker punch to the gut... 

<<(no words)>>

(What am I to say!?!)

"Keep working hard my dear- and just do your best..." 

She smiles and continues to try a few more times...

BUT- 

She knows... 

She knows she won't get it back.

Thankfully- she is strong and determined... 

And she will find a new way and conquer SMA once again. 

And then there is Ryka...

She has struggled the most these past few months-

 

Her body has adapted to SMA so much different than her sister.

She has never: Crawled, Stood, Walked, ect.

She can: Sit, she can sorta "Scoot" and she can slowly Roll. 

Thats it. 

Therefore- 

An illness takes her down- SO much more aggressively. 

The beginning of November she spent 13 days in the 

PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for RSV. 

And about 7 days in- she turned Septic...

It was horrible.... 

And it hurt her little body- 

more than we know. 

Since then:

We have seen a "rapid decline" in her functions.


Things she was once able to do- 

are slower, harder or not possible at all...

We have recently fought another major sickness 

since being in the hospital in November.

 

This time we were able to steer clear of the hospital- 

Due to us being able to place a feeding tube here at home.

And again-

due to the toll the sickness has placed on her little body, 

she has weakened to the point that

the NG tube has not been able to be removed.


She has lost a bit of her swallowing function- 

and she is having a hard time eating food and drinking water.   

This. Is. Tremendous.


This... 

this progression here- 

is life altering. 

The ability to swallow and not choke....

Have you thought about that?!? 

How many times do you use the simplest function on a minute by minute basis?


Take that away-

or

Make it weak, so that you are afraid to use it. 

>>>

I have no words.

>>>

When this realization hit me the other night- 

I cried. 

I cried so hard-

My heart cried. 

I couldn't breathe.

My bones hurt.

And my body ached...


I know this situation here will seam tiny as time passes- 

and I know others have it so much worse tonight...


But, right here- 

right now... 

It hurts.....

Today, we set up an "immediate appointment" to talk

 about G-tube placement. 

Again- time has a way of giving us perspective- 

But, 

Right now-

Surgery is Scary.

And it confirms the progression. 

And its more hospital time. 

And its More time the family is apart. 

And its taking away her perfectly soft tummy. 

And its plain Scary with all the junk that she has had-

 and the junk going around. 

And, And, And... 

BUT- 

Not one day passes- 

Not even one minute that goes by- 

that is a surprise for the Lord. 

He knows this!


He knows their pains, their fears, my heartbreaks

 and this journey in life. 

It doesn't necessarily make it "easy". 

We still have to wake up every morning and Face the Day.

We still have to walk through the appointments, therapies, schedules, routines, and day to day life...

But- I know there is a plan and a Greater Purpose.


I don't understand it.


Not one bit....


But it is there. 

And it is here.

Its in all the heartache, its in all the moments of joy,

 its in the way we now and the way we live each day.  

My hope is that you don't take what you were given for granted.


We all have our own stories. 

You are the author of yours. 

Make the best of it.

>>>

Blessings~ One BLESSED mommie