The Schmidt Family

The Strikers had a great fall season! I can't believe how much these boys improved from last spring. They scored more goals, ran faster, kicked harder and even started to understand which direction they should go lol!!! We started playing with a goalie this season, and all the boys seemed to love that.

Life at our house for the past few weeks has been a little strange. We have been consumed with something that put our world on hold and drew us closer as a family.....penis pain.
It started about a month ago when Ivey wouldn't be still for his nap. He kept saying "I have to wiggle around because my penis hurts!" We didn't think much of it at the time, but then it got worse...a lot worse:  he began holding himself all the time. He even had episodes of pain so severe that it literally would make him fall over and scream out in pain.
So far, we have seen 3 different doctors.
All of the tests have been normal. No UTI, no stone, no blockage, NADA.
We definitely baffled our pediatrician, Dr. Sultemeier. He has done everything he could, including running 3 different tests for cancer. CANCER. When someone puts your child's name and the word "cancer" in the same sentence, your heart stops beating. For 5 days (not that long, I know but it felt like a century for us) we waited for those test results. Crying, praying, holding each other tighter. Praying, praying and more praying. I was gripped with a fear that I could never have imagined. I knew in my heart that Ivey didn't have cancer, but until we got the test results back I felt like I couldn't breathe. And through that whole time, his pain was there. He would double over and cry and look at me for help. And I could do nothing. I felt so helpless.
After we saw a urologist here in town who couldn't help us, we were referred to a pediatric urologist at Children's Medical Center in Plano. We were scared, frustrated and exhausted but we just knew that all we had to do was make it to that appointment and we would get some answers and resolution of Ivey's pain.
Well, that wasn't exactly how it happened. The good news is that there is nothing seriously wrong with Ivey. He doesn't have to endure more tests or scary treatments.
The bad news is that there is no diagnosis OR CURE for his problem. According to the doctor, this problem eventually will just go away on its own....IN WEEKS TO MONTHS!!!!!
Hearing that was like being kicked in the stomach. Yes, I was thrilled, beyond thrilled, to hear that my child is cancer-free and that nothing "serious" is wrong. However, I still have a son who is in pain. He hurts, he doesn't understand why, and he is exhausted.

This (hopefully short) season in our lives has been hard to say the least.

It has forced me to look at my faith in a new way. I can't just praise God through the good times, when the sun is shining and when all things go my way. I must praise Him and trust Him no matter what. God is good all the time. My circumstances don't change that. He makes ALL things good. ALL THINGS. Even penis pain. I have put my son into my Lord's hands and I am trying my best to trust that He loves Ivey more than I ever can.

Right now we are taking it day by day. Pain meds seem to help sometimes. If I could take this pain from him and bear it myself, I would do it in a heartbeat.

So if you see my son holding his crotch or moaning or crying
or if you see me and Frank looking exhausted and frustrated beyond belief
please bear with us, and our penis pain.

****There is a silver lining to this: we got to take a trip to Dallas with Ivey and go eat at The Magic Time Machine. It was a lot of fun and nice to spend time with our boy. Riley stayed home with Nana and they had fun too. We told Ivey we were celebrating his birthday at a special restaurant.


He got a special magic drink, complete with dry ice!



I'm 5 years old!!






There were lots of cool characters the night we went. We had to search all over for this guy. Superman! Yes, he had a very large head for his body and his fannie pack was very awkwardly placed, but we got him to sign our autograph book :)



Shaggy from Scooby Doo



Our waitress, Supergirl. Ivey liked her...a lot. When she introduced herself for the first time, Ivey whispered, "Look at her belly button, Momma!"



Snow White



Rapunzel



Birthday dessert included a song and a cookie with ice cream and a cancle!!!





....And whipped cream!!!



A hotel stay wouldn't be complete without jumping on the bed!




(1/3/12 Update: Ivey's pain is much better. It actually started getting better the week after we got back from seeing the specialist. Since our trip home from Dallas, he has had ZERO episodes of doubling over and screaming in pain. Praise God!!!! He still holds himself and complains about pain, but it seems like it gets a little better each day. God answered our prayers and is lifting this burden from my son's body. I am so very grateful to Him for His faithfulness and His provision. Looking back on this post brings tears to my eyes as I think back to the worst of the pain. I am so very grateful to be leaving this horrible issue behind us! GOD IS GOOD. SO VERY VERY GOOD!!!!!!)

Ivey had a super fun 5th birthday. He has been asking to have a Chuck E Cheese party since he turned 4 lol! We had a great night. He had a lot of friends come to his party, and afterwards the grandparents and Rara came over to open gifts.

I CANNOT believe my baby boy is 5. He is growing up so very fast. He asks me everyday to measure how tall he is, and he always has questions about growing up.
Bonus: When he is grown-up I get to go spend the night at his house :) He told me!