From Tiny to 10

Trevor was born at 4:20 am, 10 years ago.  Of all my scary pregnancies and births, his was the scariest.  Partly because it was my first experience with child birth and I didn't know what was happening, but also because he was born the most premature, and when he was born he was not breathing and they had to revive him.  It was a very quiet room.  You never know the joy of a crying baby until there is no sound.  He didn't cry at all for days, and then it was just a tiny, small sound.  Now, nothing he does is small or tiny.  He's loud and happy, and life is one big, grand adventure for him.  He sucks information up like a sponge, always looking for something new to absorb, something to add to his already vast collection of knowledge.  He's also a very serious kid at times, and can often be found somewhere lost in a book.  I really love that kid.  I often wish I could be more like him.  Happy Birthday T.  I will always count you as one of my greatest blessings.

Friends

There is a road by my house that has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour.  A few years ago a friend showed up at my door to take me to get some ice cream and tell me that she was moving away to a teeny tiny town in Wyoming.  It kind of took the fun out of the ice cream.  We drove home on that road and she crawled along at about 30 mph much to the chagrin, I'm sure, of the drivers behind us.  I always think of that night, and her, when I am following someone going slower than the speed limit on that road and am happy for the reminder.  My mind then often moves on to the many good friends I've had along my journey, and the many goodbyes I've had to say over the years.  I have been blessed with good friends that have helped shape who I am now and am so grateful for the influence each has had in my life.  I am glad for the occasional reminder when someone helps me slow down, and remember.

Barfing and Hospitals (who needs 'em!)

What a month!  The night of the twins' birthday Joshua threw up.  We thought it was the cake and excitement, but the next day he was still throwing up and his diapers were, well, sick.  Joseph started in on it 2 days later, and for the next 2 weeks, I was cleaning up a lot of barf, and changing "sick" diapers, and I learned to never, ever, leave a diaper off a sick baby for even the tiniest of moments.  Very gross. Thankfully, Isaac was the only other one to get it, and it lasted only 2 days for him.  Joseph ended up being dehydrated enough that he was admitted to the hospital for IV fluids, only they couldn't get the IV in and we just gave him 1 tsp of pedialyte every ten minutes.  All day and night.  At the hospital.  With no nurses showing up except to take vitals every 4 hours.  Not sure why we had to be at the hospital for that one!  Anyway, a week after they stopped ralphing all over they had their 1 year well baby appointment where the doctor decided it was time to further investigate the sore on Joshua's bum that has been there for at least 9 months, maybe 10.  2 days later they did an ultrasound on it and 4 hours later Isaac was in the car headed for Denver Children's Hospital with Joshua so they could do an emergency surgery on his little hiney. He had a fistula that had abscessed ( it was an infection that went directly from his rectum out to his skin).  Anyway, the fix is to cut it all open and let it heal itself.  Without stitches.  It's almost healed and I am excited for him to have pain free diaper changes for the first time since he can remember.  I wonder if that's why he's been so fussy.  With all that going on, it is time for the end of school year activities, programs, projects, field trips, etc. and Lucas is getting tested and signed up for kindergarten in the fall.  I'm not sure which way is up or down or sideways right now, but at least we all seem to be fairly healthy again which I don't actually want to say too loud for fear of the germs hearing me and showing up again!  I'm pretty sure we'll all survive though.  If it doesn't kill you it only makes you stronger.  I think.

Two are 1

 

We survived the first year. The twins are 1 year old today!  (Phew)

My favorite 5

My little Lucas is 5 years old today.  He has been a little raging ball of fire from the beginning, but he also has the been the sweetest, most loving child I know.  He spontaneously gives me hugs and kisses and declares he loves me many times a day.  It takes a lot of hard work and coaxing, but if you win this kid over, he is yours for life! We are so grateful for the blessing he has been to our family.  Happy birthday my little Plum!  I'll love you forever and ever.  (He was going to have a batman cake, but then last night he decided to have a "church boy" cake!)

Weighing in at 6 lbs 1 oz, Lucas is my biggest baby!

5 years ago....

Chickies

I've been wanting a few chickens for our backyard for about 2 years now.  Partly because chickens have always intrigued me, partly because I have good memories of hunting eggs in my grandmother's chicken coop, and partly because I'm trying to be more aware of where my food is coming from and being more self sufficient.  None of my reasons matter, however, because my propery isn't zoned for chickens.  Well, Trevor and I went to Murdoch's a couple of weeks ago to buy a spring for his science project (which was due the next day mind you, but that is an entirely different story) and there in big, shiny bins were CHICKS - hundreds of them.  I wanted them - BAD.  So, I went home and researched how to build my own chicken coop, how many and what kind of chickens I needed, and read the statute about zoning to see if there was ANYWAY around that pesky rule.  I even almost signed Trevor up for 4-H thinking they would allow us to have chickens if he was doing it for 4-H.  Right?  Well, then it occured to me that my great sister-in-law has been wanting backyard chickens for a while now too and she actually lives somewhere that allows them.  So, of course I called her up and asked her if I bought chicks and let my children name them and get attached to them if she would raise them (and do all the work) in her backyard - 50 miles away.  My sweet brother said that would be wonderful and he'd move the shed and convert it into a coop and I should go right ahead.  Awesome.  2 days later, I fed my children breakfast and loaded them into the car and drove to Murdoch's where a very, very helpful saleslady guided us through picking 10 little chicks.  The fact that I took all 5 kids out all by myself to a store with live animals proves how desperate I was.  Since the twins were born I've tried to avoid taking them all out by myself at all costs.  I've gone grocery shopping at 5 AM.  I've gone without food for days (powdered milk isn't so bad).  I've worn maternity pants because I only own 2 pairs of pants that fit and they were dirty  (you only need 2 pairs of pants anyway, right?).  But, I digress.  We got 10 sweet, peeping, pooping, scratching, fluffy chicks.  So cute!  They've been here 5 full days and I still love that chirping over in the corner.  So, Julia, here are your 10 new little ladies.  Thanks for letting me "feed my need" vicariously through you!

Lucas and Darth Mader

Joseph with Harper, Precious, Nugget, and Shy

Joshua holding Precious

 

Trevor with Freckles

Joshua with Harriet

8 is Great!

Our little Mia was baptized yesterday. I was very emotional all day. Everytime I looked at her I would see this beautiful little lady who has become so poised and confident even at 8 years old. We are so proud of her, and so grateful she is in our lives.