Marley (our 4th kiddo)

Our Shank Family is asking for your prayers through a hard time. We just got some news yesterday from our vet that saddened us into tears and heartbreak. Many of you know about what is going on because of our calls for comfort. Many of you love our dogs and are hearing about this for the first time.

A week ago, I saw Colten lift up on Marley's chin. Marley yelped in pain. I automatically thought "Oh no. What's wrong with his spine?"

Very shortly after the thoughts I had subsided after a little comfort from Kale. I thought I just overreacted as I usually do.

A few days later I realized he wasn't himself. He actually wasn't himself at all.

Marley is Dominant. He eats and then when he is done, Jackson has his turn. Well, for a few days I noticed that Jackson was eating and Marley was not interested. The night before last and yesterday morning Kale and I witnessed Marley fall to his right side a few times. That's when I really knew something was wrong.

I told Kale that I would be taking Marley to the Vet. With Christmas in sight and much money spent on gifts and all sorts of other expenses, Kale had asked me to just be careful. We have so much to take care of right now and he feared paying hundreds to a vet over a simple pulled muscle that will heal in time. I actually was convinced after seeing him stumble that he really did just have a pulled muscle.

So, along we go. The vet bill was supposed to be around $50. I even called to find out the charges. We do love our dogs but vets like to charge for anything and everything.

So, after she did an evaluation (which was actually a neurological evaluation) later finding this out.... she must have known the whole time....

she broke the news to me. Colten is sitting right beside me the entire time. She said that he had a spinal injury. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Did she really just say spinal injury. I wasn't alarmed or scared. But then she mentioned a surgical referral. I started getting scared. Humans have insurance for these things. Well, our pets do not. I knew that it would be big and that would be o.k. What I wasn't expecting was $3000 plus big right out of the gate. There is no way that we can put our family through a surgical procedure financially knowing that he will never be the same, he might now make it through and all the rest that goes along with one surgery after another.

I knew when she said this that our family just can't afford these type of expenses. I immediately lost it. I mean I lost it. Here I am so concerned over a pulled muscle sitting beside my oldest child (whom the dog was bought for in the first place as a gift) and I am being told that I have to euthanize my own dog.

So, the story begins.

I'm heart broken. I can't believe what is happening. Our pup and our LOVE is going to die at our hands? I know, he isn't a human but oh my goodness he is such an important part of our family.

Right now, we have him on medication. He takes a anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxer and a pain killer twice a day. The other reality to this situation is that these meds are $150 every 7 days. How long can we budget this? How long can we watch our dog be in pain and then get relief knowing that it will never get better?

He will go on this way until the neurological damage is so severe he can't walk. That is not something I wish to put my dog through.

Marley goes back to the vet on December 28th for a follow up. This will be the time we get an x-ray to confirm and then make our decisions. I know that we will make the right decision and I know it will be what is best. I am not ready to say good-bye. Needless to say, he slept at my feet all night last night. ALL 100 pounds of soft, snuggly Marley! Love Love Love him!!

~Love

Our Shank Family

Time For A Change

So, now that I am back on blogger and have been writing posts at least once a week...I started getting really bored with that old blog header that is probably almost a year old already.. So I changed it up and created a new look for our family blog! I think it's cute and it has very recent photos of the children on it. Sneak Peak at what a lot of you will be getting in your mailbox very soon!! Hope you like!

Christmas Present have been arriving daily at the Shank House! I can't believe it is almost here!!

We love you and miss you all!

Love,

The Shank Family

Thanksgiving 2012 {part 2}

Are you really ready for part 2? I think part 2 is the most fun part of this years little Thanksgiving story. Why? um...because I LOVE to shop!! 

All the Black Friday madness...it all started with a simple question..."What's the deal with Thursday Night?" Sent to me from my best friend Beth of course.

So, the boys and the baby chilled out with Kale. I believe more football/television was their agenda. They might have even rented a movie or two as well.


So, I meet Beth at Walmart around 5. Realizing when I got there (30 minute trip) that I forgot my camera. So I drove all the way back home and then all the way back to Walmart. Then we stood...

and stood...




and stood...

For heavens sake we really needed a TV for Beth! So we stood some more...


It was totally worth her saving $300 on a 60" television!

Here are some shots of the events taking place that night...

people lounging in lawn chairs that are for sale...

stuff falling everywhere and being thrown around...

and the really sad part? People everywhere were on their cell phones! Seriously??

Then the bell goes off...people go crazy and I can't wait to get OUT of Walmart!! We did score some great deals on gifts for the kids and hubbies though!!

Then we headed to the mall. Oh My Goodness were there some really awesome deals going on. So good that I waited in line (all by my lonesome) while the Best friend went home :( Deals were too good to go home. I ended up getting home around 4:00am. So tired and beat down. Thank goodness Kale was off the next day. I got to sleep like a baby.

I scored though and everyone was happy!!

The End!

Next Black Friday...I'm just not sure about YOU!

Thanksgiving 2012 {part 1}

Well, Happy Thanksgiving 2012 from the Shank Family!

 We enjoyed Thanksgiving as a family of 5! We had tons of fun with Sharin being the busy shopper and Kale being the chef.

Kale spent the day with the boys watching (I believe) a football game played by the Kansas City Chiefs. I heard lots of yelling and screaming throughout the house by all 3 of my noisemakers!

Kale decided to cook a spiral ham this year. Alone. Yep. Alone. He made us a Honey Spiral Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, rolls and dessert.

It was fabulous being able to sit back and enjoy the day with Morgan while the hubby cooked!

He was incredibly proud! Pictures of this ham were necessary for future reference!

And of course the taste testing began... If Kale had a bigger stomach..he would have taste tested himself into a coma!

We spent the day lounging around and being lazy. We definitely got fattened up for the Holidays. I think we ate most of that home and all that went with.

We also got some shots of little Miss Morgan chowing down! She ate this meal like it was her last.

We are so thankful for our family of 5. It has been a blessing this year enjoying much time with Kale as his new jobs allows. I enjoy seeing him happy and active. He has so much energy for things like this now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We love you all!!

~The Shank Family

Tyler

I love my kids!

I love them all equally. This one is a little special! Why? Well, its a very long story. It has everything to do with my recovery and the choice I made to stay sober. A life isn't a life if you don't have anything to live for. I lived for this little boy right here! I am so thankful everyday that we (Tyler and I) made it through something very special and dear to my heart. He was the one I had my eyes on during my crises of recovery. He is the one I chose to LIVE for. He is the little boy that hugged me so tightly during the most painful time in my life. I couldn't be happier to have lived through the hardest thing I have ever been through with him right beside me!!

I love you Tyler Shank. I am so grateful to have you in my life. 

(and my new photography logo)

Love mommy!

This post was inspired last night when I had a meeting with my Mary Kay consultant. { she was trying to recruit me }. She is a great woman who has been through some things herself. She had asked me some important questions in regards to my past etc. This little boy came out in my small story. I was very happy to tell it. I am very happy to be sober and to be living the life that the LORD has chosen for me. 

~ Love the shank family

Morgan's First Birthday ( the inspiration )

Morgan's First Birthday is coming rather rapidly. Up until about a week ago...it seemed as if it was months away. Kale and I were having a conversation and out of nowhere he asks, "You do realize that her birthday is just two weeks away right?" I freaked. I mean freaked!

If is was an already hosted party somewhere like Chuck E Cheese or somewhere that only involves bringing a cake and buying pizza than I think I would still be in the safe zone. But nooooo...little miss crafty crafter DIY'er has to go all out and get crazy with it.

So... I did. I got a little crazy. All of these photos were pulled off Pinterest (of course)!

Here is a small sampling of the ideas I have been eyeing for at least 6 months now!

( the link for this image goes no where from pinterst )

This table is more or less the inspiration. Along with about 1200 other Soiree inspired tables I have chosen from Pinterest. This is so beautiful. I just can't stand it!

( Tutorial Here )

So cute and thankfully Tyler loves the IZZY Clementine pop drinks from Starbucks.

( Tutorial Here )

These look so delicious. I can't wait to make these and then eat them all up before daddy Kale gets them! I want to make these minus the stripes and sprinkles. I'm thinking edible glitter.

( Tutorial Here )

These look so good too. Can you see a pattern yet? Yes. Pink everything.

I can't remember where I scored this photo. It must have been off Pinterest. I am thinking pink and silver instead. I love the glitter. It could be overwhelming if I go too crazy but at this point I think it will be alright.

( Tutorial Here )

These are adorable. I love the little flags and the polka dots. I definitely am loving these polka dots!

I think you guys get the point. This is going to be so much fun to create. I can't wait to get started on all of these fun projects. First...I must go SHOP!!

Love,

The Shank Family

( and your crafty little crafter DIY'er ME )

I Think We are Back

Well, I want to say I think I am gonna be coming back to blogger! I am really excited because it has been so long since I have created a blog post. I will start out by telling everyone that I love them and I miss sending these out! Our Shank Family is doing pretty good these days. Look for an email update regarding "us" and what has been going on within our family soon. Good news to come. 

Here are some updates:

Morgan's First Birthday has been organized. It will be out at Burdette Park this year as we have family coming in town and needed to provide additional space. We also wanted a mini vacation for the celebration as well. Burdette Park was the ideal place to have this wonderful FIRST birthday for our little Morgan.

The official invitation design by mommy Shank:

Kale is really loving and enjoying working out at Bristol Meyer Squibb. It is a completely new atmosphere for him. I couldn't be happier seeing my husband walking through the back door everyday with loads of energy and a huge smile. I am so glad he is not burnt out anymore. He used to come home stinky, sweaty, irritated and tired. Normally he would pass out on the couch and I would have to get him to bed. He helped around the house but not as much as he does now.

I am truly grateful to our Lord for providing this door that opened for Kale. The power of prayer is so unbelievable. We just recently found out that Abengoa Bioenergy is moving a lot of managers to other job sites around the US. They will not be replaced. This is a sign that shutting down this ethanol plant is coming soon. I am really glad that Kale has a new job and we don't have to struggle when that time would have come. I do, however, pray for the families that will be enduring this job loss.

He now has the energy a daddy needs!!

Colten is gone for Thanksgiving. He is in Texas! I am sure he is having a blast seeing all of his family. His Aunt Jana is getting married which is a great deal. I am very happy that Colten gets to be part of her wedding party!!!

Tyler is doing well. He is my handsome little helper around the house. He loves to help me cook. I doubt (or well I'm hoping) that will never change!!

Morgan is getting bigger and bigger! My little girl at 11 months old is wearing 12-18 months in pants and 18 months in shorts. She is a little chub! She has 4 teeth. She is eating like a monster! She is our little hunny.

I am currently still in school. I have a little over a year and a half left. I am about to up my game here after the holidays and take on school full time. I am really hoping that I can handle the load. I have also started a small business with Photography!

I am really excited to share this. It is nothing big and does bring in some income. However, I have been investing all of my profits towards my business so it hasn't helped our family financially but it has given me a good ground start business wise. I keep buying templates, seasonal cards, prints, lenses and more. I think this is the smarter way to go about it and of course Kale does too.

Here is some of my most recent work:

I am a little proud I guess but shouldn't I be? I guess that I have finally found my TWO passions in life. Photography and Design.

I plan on merging these gifts here in the next few years. I do plan on owning my own business. I must be a little entrepreneur because I have set out to be my own boss and I am pretty confident my career will lead me to this.

Well. So far that is all I have. I will definitely be posting at least once a week.

We miss you and love you all!!

Oh - and don't bother copying these pics. I will be making everyone in the family a CD (now that I know how) of our family for your use. I think this will be a great gift or gift add on for everyone.

LOVE-

The Shank Family

Maybe?

So I think I might have my schedule down pat enough to be able to come back to blogger. It has been a crazy transition with a baby and school!  

Even if this is as far as I get...for now...its good enough!

We have had so much happening in between our last real post and now!

*We went on a family vacation to Florida

*Colten came home from Texas

*Morgan got two teeth

*The boys are back in school

*Colten is playing football

*Kale got a new job (oops. Did I just spill the beans?)

AND so much more!!!

I can't wait to update everyone on what has been going on with The Shank Family!

Until then...here are some more photos

WE love YOU!

Hello Family and Friends

A little spare time today and we wanted to say hello...

I am nearing the end of my first class. I'm excited to share a little something. I seriously have had a boost of confidence. My first class still remains a perfect 100%. I have just a few days left until I move on to the next course. I'm absolutely stoked. 

I also want to give a lot of this credit to my amazing husband and father, Kale. He has done everything to allow me to attend The Art Institute. We have bent over backwards financially putting up the cash for me to get my degree. We needed to be very smart about this financially and we are blessed that the Lord has provided the financial means for us to pay cash for a lot of my education. We are limited on the "finer" things but it is a sacrifice we are willing to make. We still have our days of splurging but not like before.

Kale has been such an amazing help to me. He has been my rock throughout this very sudden change in our lives. He keeps me going. He also does a LOT around the house. I am sure this is bringing him back to the memories of my pregnancy but he is still amazing!

I have been such a busy student, mom, wife and best friend to my family. I really have not had the time to get on blogger and post. I did want to quickly say hi and post a few pics of the kiddos. I know you miss their faces!

Well. I am going to do better with staying in touch. I believe my next class is a very fun class. I get to start designing!! YAY! Either that or it will be math...BOO!

Where have we been?

This Shank family has been incredibly busy. Between daycare, vacation and Sharin starting school... There hasn't been a lot of time for blogging. 

But as things slowly settle in our lives...

we will be blogging about our latest!

We miss you and LOVE you all!!!

here is a little sneak peak:

GED news

The results are finally in for my GED

I was nervous by the way...why...not sure... Maybe because going back to school depended on these scores.

I passed.

With flying colors.

I'm really excited.

This is just one more thing under my belt.

Foot Surgery {1}

I'm not really sure if all of you knew this but I had surgery November 2010 on my left foot. The procedure (medical terms) was a bunionectomy. I seriously thought that only only old people had bunions lol. No offense.

Well...as much as I hate to admit...I was so wrong. I had a bunion on (in) my left foot. 

Terrible pain. Right before I had surgery I had to stop wearing closed shoes. All I could wear where flip flops. It was terrible.

Here are some photos:

{they aren't that gruesome}

the x-ray that determined my fate... my bone shifted quite a bit to the right causing the pain

My poor foot!

They went in and surgically broke 3 bones and put in 2 pins. All better...NOT.

The pain from this surgery was so much worse than my c-sections.

The doctor told me it was normal for my foot to swell through the first year after surgery. Well..It's been more than a year. My foot is a little swollen everyday. Not noticeable but I can feel it throughout the bottom of my foot. This gets worse especially if I go running. I can only run a few miles right now. I fear any longer of a distance right now.

This morning I noticed it was swollen throughout the top of my foot. Which is no good. I went for an 8 mile bike ride today and came home to an even more swollen foot. I figured if I wasn't running it would be alright. Wrong again.

I called the doctor and they want to see me on Friday.

Please pray for my foot as weird as that sounds. I seriously just had two major surgeries in two years!

Well. I am crossing my fingers that this will be an easy fix.

Love you all!

My Beautiful Babes

I love Photography and I love my kids!

So I took some photos of them today just because. I love Morgan's cute little face...and I love Tyler's blue eyes! 

They are getting so big and so close. Especially Morgan and Colten. They have that 'you can't break us apart' sibling love. Tyler loves playing with Morgan. He loves kissing her!

The greatest gift ever...my children!