Overwhelmed Mom...

Howdy everybody! I started this blog last November for two reasons: To alert everyone of our urgent prayer requests and to keep family/friends updated about the "happenings" of the Rumuly 7, especially in times of need or crisis. Really, I look over the last few months and realize that our family definitely has been blessed with good health which has awarded me the enjoyment of writing stories for the blog instead of relating to everyone our special needs.

It seems time that we meet with the inevitable, so today my blog will not be a funny story but one to request intersession for our family during some recent difficult circumstances. Instead of going into lengthy detail I have decided simply to list without too much explanation specific prayer needs in hope friends/family reading our blog will lift up our family. I've included some quick links for those with time and interest. Thanks in advance for keeping up with us.

1. Safety with sedation for Cam and clear results of MRI (brain&spine) which is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, investigating further Cam's tethered cord

2. A second try to get Cam into Scottish Rite to get a specialist to examine thoroughly his feet for the possibility of partial clubbing and treatment if needed

3. Drawing blood work from Aly that includes a new comprehensive test for Rett (including finding any deletions), correction of a problem with her thyroid level (high) and testing of her seizure medicine levels

4. Coordinating a time to travel this summer to Houston to visit with the Rett Team of specialists, including a cardiologist, at the Blue Bird Circle Center for RS in Texas Children's Hospital

5. Consulting with a urologist concerning possible damage done to some of Cam's organs and any testing if needed

6. Keeping normalcy for everyone in spite of the added stress of phone calls, doctors' appointments and testing

7. Ethan's possible tic disorder not interfering with his studies or ability to not be a distraction in the classroom and seeing Dr. Owen this summer

6. Filling out the paper work to add Cam to the waiting lists for medicaid-waiver programs which take 6-10 years to receive

7. The twins have colds (Kas also has a cough) and Aly to stay healthy


These are the most pressing of my recent concerns. Will also needs prayers concerning work and availability to attend appointments with me and the children. Thank you so much friends and family. I hope to return soon to my regular blogging where I enjoy telling stories about the Rumuly 7. It seems once again that my plate is too full for my eyes.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will answer him;
I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation...
Psalm 91:14-16


I'll update later, the overwhelmed M&R7

Aly's 10th Birthday Fireworks

Daddy's Star Student

Here is a lovely letter that Will wrote for Kassidy's class to honor her on the day she was the class' Star Student. He is so sweet to think up something so original!

Dear Mrs. Thompson and Kindergartners,

Once upon a time there was a family that was missing two letters. They had an “M”, “A”, and “E” but needed something else. The Mommy and the Daddy prayed for a new letter.

Then something magical happened. God gave them two letters, “C” & “K”. The “K” was a very special letter. It helped the Mommy and Daddy to experience happiness, beauty, hope, healing, snuggly hugs, and abundance. The “K” came with a “C” to bring glory to the “J,” Jesus. The “K” is Kassidy and the “C” is her twin Cam. And all the letters help to make the “Rumuly 7.”

By Kassidy’s Daddy

UGH! How to get out stubborn stains...

This weekend, I escaped my crazy home and retreated with my mother to a lovely, local eatery to enjoy lunch. Afterwards, we went shopping for shoes before returning to her house for afternoon coffee, made by my favorite "barista", Grumpy. Believe it or not, he makes better coffee than that famous coffee chain, "Toomuchbucks" or something like that. Ha! Anyway, Mom was hunting for new walking shoes because not only has she worn out her favorite pair but the previous evening she had managed to splatter them with a large, permanent, greasy spot of BBQ sauce, also covering the shirt she was wearing at the time of the incident, now lovingly referred to as..."The Runaway BBQ Rib!"

Anyone who knows my mom knows that she inherited the family's "drippy" gene which causes her to drip food on herself at any and at most meals. Let me make a note about Mom for those who do not know her: She is not a messy eater. She has very polite manners. However, she inevitably drips something on the front of her blouse regardless of her very serious intent to be careful.

Having explained that, I was surprised at all the damage this BBQ sauce had caused, especially because Mom usually wears a bib, really an apron, whenever she eats food at home. Although this one time, she actually had forgotten to wear it. And despite forgetting to wear her apron/bib as she "rubbed" (seasoned with sauce)the ribs and even had eaten the BBQ, she remained clean and clear. She was so proud of herself managing to prepare and eat this very messy meal without ANY splatters or even small drips. Actually, realizing she had forgotten her apron and feeling proud of herself occurred simultaneously with the launching of the Runaway Rib. It was when she was clearing the table and began removing the ribs from the pan to the plastic container that it happened. Happy with herself and proud that she had avoided making a mess especially without wearing a bib, she reached in with the tongs and picked up a rib high above the left-over pool of BBQ sauce. Then, she lost grip of the rib (sauce-dripping, meat-covered) causing it to flip back into the sauce which launched a huge tidal wave onto her shirt and shoes. It's not funny, but the image in my head of this scene is of the rib as if it were the Runaway Gingerbread Man. Remember in the children's story, he sings to the farmer's wife, "I am the Gingerbread man and you can't catch me!"

Needless to say, Mom did not have to chase the rib back into the container as it teased her, nor did she eat it up quickly like the farmer's wife did the Gingerbread man, but she did begin aggressively treating the new stain on her shirt before it set permanently. As far as her shoes, she decided to take "the high road," figuring her old, newly-greasy shoes perfect now for gardening.

It really was inevitable that this happened. I mean, she forgot to wear the apron and she did inherit the "drippy" gene. Just like the fate of the Gingerbread man resulted from his constant teasing that challenged anyone to catch and eat him. Someone had to gobble him up! What is funny about this is that Mom never has like gingerbread. Ha!

Now to get out that stubborn stain! Oh Boy! I know a lot about stubborn stains since one of my chores each and every day is to wash a load of laundry generated by the Rumuly 7. And although the ingredients staining my children's clothes have changed from mashed carrots and biter biscuits to school paint and grass stains, getting out difficult stains from the laundry remains my mission. Hmmmm...Sounds more like Mission Impossible, only without Tom Cruise and relying mostly on Shout It Out.

Yeah, getting out stains can be an impossible mission. Even in church this morning we talked about getting out stubborn stains. What I mean is that every time I make a mistake or do the wrong thing it puts a stain on me. Really, I can't help getting stains because I, too, inherited the "drippy" gene. And even though I try to be careful by wearing a bib when I eat, sometimes I just forget to put on my apron. Now there might be times when I feel proud for not getting messy in spite of forgetting, but it's right then that the inevitable always happens: A tidal wave of BBQ sauce launches onto my shirt and shoes. I just can't help it. Hmmm....

Seriously, how can a person get out these stains? You might think that scrubbing Shout It Out onto the stain and letting it soak works best. You might think buying something new is the only resolution. But listen to the coolest and best way, and it doesn't require scrubbing or buying something new: "...but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." (1Cor. 6:11) Wow! That means my stains simply disappear when I call out to the Lord and confess that I am stained. So without using Shout It out and without just throwing me away for something newer and better, Jesus washes away my stains, my sins, making me better than new! Now, you can say that God actually completes the impossible mission!

Have a great week, and think about those nasty, permanent stains on your clothes, in your life. Remember who completed the impossible mission! I will not forget! M&R7

Okay! Some of you are thinking: What has gotten into Mindy that she has made three postings in ONE week?! Well, I just have to share the things that have been gifted to me this week, whether the links in the previous posting or this amazing video. Please feel as affected as I am by this. Please share this with everyone:

The R Word: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoqaNG0Ozqc

Never forget the reason(s) to never use the R Word again. M&R7

Some amazing links...

As a new blogger, I am interested in other people's blogs especially because I want to learn new technical tricks to add to my own blog. What I have found astounds me, and it's not just the technical savvy of people that impresses me either. Another part I find fantastic is the camaraderie of bloggers and their readers. These writers share their very personal thoughts, feelings, dreams, and prayers with readers whom they have never met or might not ever know. I have four new blogs that I am following closely and that are affecting me deeply. These people are amazing and certainly I share some of their special concerns. I wanted to share with you their links: MckMama, CFHusband, Bring the Rain, and My Rett Body.

They are inspirational with how they genuinely share their innermost selves. From their own sincerity and without even knowing me, they are challenging me to become translucent in my own blog and not just funny, entertaining, or anecdotal. Somehow, The Lord has brought me to these blogs.

Please, join me as I pray for Stellan and his family. M&R7