What's New?

"I want an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle and I PROMISE I won't shoot my eye out!"

Don't they all look THRILLED?

So....it may in fact be a Christmas miracle...Hope (who cries when ANYONE but mom or dad hold her) did NOT cry for Santa!

"I am pretty sure this is a fake Santa" says Luke, "but he probably works for Santa so I will tell him what I want anyway."





I am sorry it has been so long since my last blog post, but life here never seems to slow down! :) Ben has recovered well from surgery and is now potty trained! Potty training is something we had done a bit, but because of his "issues" it was very frustrating for him and just four days after surgery he asked for his big boy undies and we haven't looked back. He has had a few accidents here and there but is doing great and I am relieved that despite my previous hunch, he will likely NOT go to college in a diaper. In fact, he is even staying dry through the night! YAY!

Luke is doing well. He loves finding all of the things that fit in the new gap where his tooth used to be! He is liking school but is having a difficult time that he doesn't get as much "mommy time" as the other two do. I am trying to compensate by snuggling with him a little extra at night but he still feels slighted. :) He is learning that despite all the commercialism, that the holidays are for giving, and not for receiving and has donated many of his toys and clothes to the City Mission.

Hope is also doing great. We have increased her diet to include pears, apples, and bananas. She had no interest in any of them for a few weeks but just yesterday started opening her mouth for them and acting like she wanted to eat! She is now napping in her crib like a big girl, but still sleeping with mommy at night. She amazes us every day. She has developed a bit of eczema recently and we are unsure if her new diet, laundry soap or just weather are to blame so we are experimenting with those things to try and help her fragile skin a bit. Otherwise she continues to thrive and be a reminder to us that with God all things are certainly possible.

Howard...well...required a trip to Urgent Care on Monday. For what?, you ask. He hurt his toe! Seriously. He. hurt. his. toe. Sunday night he carried the sleeping children to their beds and walked on tip toe (to avoid walking on wet pant legs) through the house placing each in their respective bunk. Later that night he was up with THROBBING pain in his big toe. He was unable to sleep because of the pain, so Monday morning we headed to see a doctor, which is the FIRST time since I have known Howard that he has seen a doctor, so I knew that though a hurt toe seems like a LAME excuse to miss work, he must be hurting.

As it turns out he has something called Sesamoiditis. Which only makes the condition sound more ridiculous. Doesn't it seem like an ailment affecting one who has endured one too many episodes of Sesame Street? LOL! Howard did not appreciate my lame attempt at humor that day. :) He has been relatively drugged since that day because there is little that he can do aside from resting and allowing the little bones in his foot to recover from the strain. He is however walking with a cane and kind of reminds me of Greg House MD. :)

And as for me? I am trying to hold down the fort. You know...the life of a mom...not very thrilling, yet crucial. :) I make meals, clean, pay bills, wipe noses (among other things) and read bedtime stories. Add to that the added responsibility of wrapping Christmas gifts (of which each child is getting four this year, one from Santa and three from us, because Jesus received gifts from three wise men), addressing Christmas cards, and planning birthday dinner for my amazing husband. I AM headed today for a little blood work just because I am not feeling myself and am having a few strange symptoms so if you all could pray for those results I would be grateful.

Mostly, we are learning more than ever to lean hard on God and He will not let us fall. We know that if we remain committed to living life according to His plan that he will guide us and make our paths straight. It has been amazing to see how He provides just what we need when we least expect it. We are truly blessed and looking forward to celebrating the birth of our savior next week! We are also looking for some new family traditions to add to our mix. What family traditions do you participate in for the holidays? (ex. we get the kids new pjs that they get to open and wear Christmas Eve.)