Random News

Happy Belated (much) New Year from all of us.

Little Man doesn't like to show his face much in group shots, but he sends smiles.

I just couldn't leave the blog world like that! Never updating....So here goes...Ms. Sweet thing was born early November, a few weeks early. She had some distress during labor and had to be delivered by c-section. She is perfectly healthy and perfectly beautiful...

Meeting little sis for the first time....so sweet

Everyone in the hospital, glad the room was big!

Another attempt at a Christmas photo! (Funny thing is, none of these made their way out in the mail. Little Man was not cooperating AT ALL, and when he did decide to grace us with a face shot, someone else invariably decided to be doing something else in the photo. Fun times. I'm going to start taking pictures of feet like everyone else. ;) Could you imagine, sending out Christmas cards with a picture everyone's feet? Oh my goodness, that is too funny. I might have to do it!

Or, I could just send this one....

Behind the scenes...

We were able to spend a few weekends with my brother and his family as they came home for a few months last year. They were special, wonderful times. We were so happy to see them again! They were able to see their new niece before heading home overseas.

We are just trying to soak it all in, and enjoy each day. We are beyond blessed to have our sweet girl and so thankful that God has put her and all of our children in our lives. Each and every day is such a blessing. (And so much FUN)!! I'm not sure I will be blogging much, but I couldn't leave the blog like that. Like a book with a bad ending...

Have fun, and don't take yourselves too seriously!

Much Love,

Exciting News!

We have had a lot going on lately....PSAT's, SAT's, ACT's, learner's permits, you name it. Life is so full and fun! Now we have sickness circulating that has the babe down with slight pnuemonia and Little Man with double ear infections.... Whew...I'm tired just writing that...;0)
Anyhow, the exciting news is not that, it is that God has blessed us once more and come November we will be welcoming a brand new little babe to the bunch!
BEYOND EXCITED!!!!!
Just can't wait to hold this little one in my arms and so blessed that God has decided to entrust us with another life to raise for Him.




God is so good!

Two songs that have touched my heart

Not exactly a new song, but my prayer for the last few months has been this song. Every moment counts. Every word counts, every second of our lives count. Whether it is changing a diaper for the 9000th time, trying to urge my 5 year old to speak or sign, or listening to one of the older children tell me about the things that matter in their hearts. It is all so worth it. I don't want to miss a second of any of it!

This song is more of a calling to me. The first stanza of this song brings tears to my eyes. The picture of millions of beautiful children left alone today goes through my mind....but especially those here. God, please be Father to them all.

Hello!

Yes we are still around! Life has been busy, good busy, and 5 months have passed just like THAT! We had a glorious, blessed Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year. Now we are just getting back into the swing of things. Reworking schedules, making new routines...all that boring stuff that you HAVE to do!

Lil bit is such a blessing to all of us. He fills our days with joy and laughter (and our nights with sleeplessness). He is THE most restless sleeper, even talking in his sleep! So funny! Such a little blessing from God. We are so thankful for him.

Lil man is growing like a weed. He is still nonverbal. We don't know why, and are working like crazy to get him to talk, but at this point I'm not so sure he ever will. I know I shouldn't give up. Nothing is impossible with God. In my flesh I am so weak, always telling God what He can and cannot do. He is so good, so faithful, to put up with a sinner like me;0)

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

No God, there is nothing too difficult for you!

When Little man was born, the verse that the Lord gave to me was out of Isaiah. I always thought it was a strange verse for the situation, but over the years it has become more clear what He was telling me.

Isaiah 43:18-20

“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.

19“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.

20“The beasts of the field will glorify Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.

21“The people whom I formed for Myself
Will declare My praise.

God continues to amaze me with the way He is stretching me, testing me, and growing me. In ways I never would have asked for, but I know that with Him, it is all gonna be okay. Somehow, someway, He's gonna use it all for His glory through me. Praise God! Keep doing the new thing, God!

Our trees were so beautiful this year! The leaves were spectacular!

We had quite the morning.

We were driving home from camping, down a two lane highway frequented by semis. It always scares the daylights out of me traveling that road, but it is the only road to one of our favorite campgrounds on the ocean. Anyhow. We were rounding a corner and I noticed a car crossing the centerline coming in the opposite direction in front of us. I always drill myself on what to do if this should ever happen, because, like I said, the road scares me to death. I veered off the road, sideswiping a Bob's barricade on the way off, and watched in utter and absolute horror as the car slammed into a semi-truck two cars in front of us.

When the explosion had settled and I had made sure all in my car were well, I got out of the car and ran to the victims. The woman was screaming, the man was pinned in the car. I am the only one there, and I can do nothing but wait. I screamed at my son to call 911. The lady in the car in front of me just stood in horror on the other side of the road. All I could do was tell them to remain calm because help was on the way, all the time praying that this man didn't die.

Eventually, more people gathered around. Neighbors from houses near where the accident occurred. I was no longer alone.

The most beautiful sound in the world today was the sound of sirens.

The man was extracted using the jaws of life, and life-flighted out.

My prayers have been with the two victims all day, as well as the semi driver. The impact was so severe, they had to forklift his truck off the road. There was no way he could have avoided the car.

Meanwhile, I feel like I need counseling. I'm a nurse and all, but I could never work this aspect of medicine. First responders have my utmost respect. I can't stop shaking, and I can't think straight.

I'm so thankful we were spared. I had all 6 children in the car with me. I thank God I pulled off the road in time. I thank God that he guided me safely through this morning. I thank God my son wasn't driving.

I just want to either throw up or cry for several hours.

And I don't care if I ever see that road again.

Oh. My. Goodnes.

Am I actually going to post? I can't believe it!

Life has been crazy busy here. No seriously. Crazy. Busy. Let's see...well, Peanut has kept me on my toes like a wild woman. There has been a debate here over whether God has a wonderful sense of humor to save the wildest child for my late age or whether Peanut just has more opportunity to do things (because of my being distracted) that my other children didn't.

Either way.

He has kept us on our toes. I had to highlight my hair to hide the gray. Sad state, people. Sad state of affairs, indeed.

Nonetheless, we are so very blessed with this sweet angel. We are all completely smitten with his scrunchy face smiles and sweet kisses.

Little Man, we have discovered, is sensitive to just about every food on the planet. I exaggerate of course. Every food We Americans hold dear, anyway. So we have had to discover an entire new way of eating. Our doctor has discovered he has "off the charts" sensitivities to Gluten (most wheat, grain, products contain gluten...it is easier to say "he can eat rice"), and Casein. Casein is a milk protein found in just about all milks. Goat, Cow, you name it. He drinks almond milk now. It's pretty good, actually. I was never a big fan of cow's milk. yuck. I do like cheese, though. That is a no-no for him. Anyhow. Everything that he ate was causing him problems. Problems like lack of concentration, stomach pain, basic miserableness, even some "autistic-like" behaviors. It is crazy. I knew food affected us, but never knew it could have such an affect. When he was having seizures, I researched like crazy the (name slips my mind) diet that is a protein diet that can literally stop seizures in some people. If the meds hadn't worked, I was going to do that step next. Now I wish I had done it first. The seizures could have been caused by the gluten sensitivity.

Little Man is a much happier person. He is slowly trying to communicate. His eye-contact has improved incredibly. He listens and follows directions much better. Three months into it, I am still learning. It is definitely a process. He may outgrow the sensitivities in time. We will have to wait and see.
He did finally move to a "big boy bed". He is doing awesome in it. In fact, he is probably already ready for a twin bed. Poor little guy keeps rolling off of it at night. Even with bed rails, he rolls off of the foot of it. What a wild little sleeper!

Mother's day Ice Cream outing...

Caught off my parents' dock.

I will try to be better about posting. I promise.

Love to all.

Wordless Wednesday