The Paradoxical Effect

Well, it is Sunday morning here at the DeFoor house and normally we would be hustling about getting ready for church, but not this Sunday...we are recovering from several things around here...snotty runny noses, hacking coughs, swollen lymph glands and last but not least something called the Paradoxical Effect. Some of you might be wondering what in the world the last thing is or some of you might be painfully aware of it if you have ever had a sick child who has had an adverse reaction to some medicine. For those of you who might still be scratching your heads, let me explain.

The Paradoxical Effect: A paradoxical reaction is when medical treatment, usually a drug, has an opposite effect to an effect normally expected. An example of a paradoxical reaction is when a pain relief medication causes an increase in pain. Some sedatives prescribed for adults, actually cause hyperactivity in children.


Both of our kids have been round for round this winter with "the crud" as I like to call it and this time has definitely been the worse. Our little Kate has really had it bad with a cough that shakes her entire precious body with each spell. I finally broke down and took them to the doctor and we discovered that she had some fluid behind her left ear and that we needed to go ahead and treat it for safety precautions. If any of you know me well enough, you will know that I am VERY conservative on giving antibiotics and prefer not to at all costs, but I felt with the trifecta of symptoms she was experiencing we had better bite the bullet. Anyway, in conjunction to the antibiotic the doctor recommended to give her some benadryl to help dry up all the "crud" and give her some relief. Well, after last night, we have discovered that she doesn't respond to Benadryl in a very "typical" manner. Most children I guess get very drowsy and sleep more soundly with a drug like Benadryl, but not Katie. She was bouncing off the walls or at least the rails of her crib into the wee hours of the morning. It was like she was on speed! Whew!!! She finally crashed sometime around 2:00am and then was up again at 6:30ish. She is usually a very good sleeper, but with this cough and benadryl reaction she has been giving most insomniacs a run for their money. The beauty of Kate's personality is that no matter how little sleep she gets or how yucky she feels, she just keeps on trucking with her very sweet smile and personality.


Well, we have learned new things this weekend and definitely been given a test in patience and determination, but I just know we are on the road to recovery and a healthy spring!!

How You Live (turn Up The Music) - Point Of Grace

Verse 1:
Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want But want
what you have
And don't spend your life lookin' back

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
Cuz it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

Verse 2:
So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth
'Cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be okay

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

Bridge:
Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin

Verse 3:
So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
E'en when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end there's nobody else

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

Bathtime Mischief

Bathtime around our house is always a hoot...now it usually wears Rob and me slap out, but nonetheless it is always FUN! As you can see from the pictures we still have to put Kate in her own separate tub inside the big tub to shield her from the shenanigans of her brother, but she loves it because this means she has free reign to splash as much as she wants in her own "private" tub. Sometimes Sam just looks at her like "listen girl, you are going to have to control yourself." Another reason I love bathtime with the babies, is because they smell so amazing afterwards and I will forever treasure that aroma. I will be sad when they stop letting me lather them up with lavender scented lotion. To be honest, bedtime rituals is probably my favorite time, because they both become so cuddly and sweet when their eyes are growing tired. They both love their beds and enjoy crawling in and cuddling with their "lovies". Hope everyone has a good week and Happy Bathing!!

Reverend LeRoy Cleveland

January 17, 1920 - March 8, 2008

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

Loran's grandad "Pappy" claimed his heavenly citizenship on Saturday. It was a hard day and a joyous day all in one. We are saddened at our loss, but comforted in knowing he is living with Jesus and we look forward to the day when we can join him in his heavenly home. He spent his life serving others always and was an example to us all in how to live a life for our Saviour. He was a retired Baptist minister and brought joy and happiness to us all. We love you Pappy!!

Our New "Park"

Well, it's almost that time of year where we are about to celebrate the birth of our two wonderful babies!! In April Sam will turn 2!! In May Kate will turn 1!! It is amazing to me that we are the parents of these two beautiful children. That news aside...my parents (Nana & Papa) decided to give birthday gifts a little early and also decided to give one enormous gift for the both of them and for me (mama)!! You guessed it... a new playset or "park" as Sam refers to it. It is so awesome and a great way for Sam to get plenty of exercise while we are still relegated to being home in the mornings while princess Kate is sleeping. He loves it and can go up and down the ladder a thousand times to slide and never grow weary. We feel so blessed to have a big fenced yard for him to run around in and be safe or at least as safe as an almost 2 year old can be. Nana and Papa are heroes in our eyes and Sam and Kate's. What a terrific birthday surprise and one that will get lots of mileage for sure.