Blessings

Another enjoyable trip the local nursing home. To see the smiles on the faces of those who live there is all worth it. They really enjoy seeing and holding babies and playing with the girls. I'm so proud of Lucy for doing such a great job loving on old people that she doesn't know :) Of course Grace's favorite thing to do, still, is eat when we go there. But that's ok. She does eventually make her way around and cheer up a few folks.

Surgery

Took Lincoln and Gavin to the urologist on Monday. They were both born with Hypospadius...a condition where the pee tube comes out the underneath side of the penis rather than the tip. It appears to be fairly common - occurring in about 1 in 300 boys. It seems to be a minor case for both of them. They will have to have surgery to correct the condition at the end of November. It's a 2 hour procedure. So it'll make for a long day - about 9-10 hours - considering we need to be there 2 hours before the surgery and stay 3-4 hours for recovery. Pray for strength for us and the boys and that there are no complications (they will be put under for the procedure). Also please pray that they heal quickly with minimal pain.

More Random Pics

Susan holding Jaden (Caitlin in the background)

Lucy and Grace sitting at the Train Station.

LUCY took this picture of Jamie and me.

Random Pictures

My three little monkeys.

A purple sugar cookie attacked Grace and she's mad.

Lucy and Grace watching TV together.

Grace - she did this all on her own!

Lucy on school picture day.

Six Month Pictures

Lincoln


Gavin


Vaughn

Grandpa and Grammy

Well, Grandpa and Grammy left yesterday. They came Saturday and have been busy taking care of babies (all 5 of them!), doing dishes, laundry, cleaning, reading books, playing, hanging out, more laundry, more dishes, and planning our next reunion (if anyone has any ideas - we went to Lake Lure 2 years ago, a cruise last year, and are considering the beach in North Carolina or the mountains in Colorado - any other suggestions???). They are spending a couple of days at Susan's house and then back to North Carolina. We miss them already!!!
Grandpa and Lucy

Grammy sharing ice cream with Grace

Grandpa "taking care" of Vaughn

Grammy going crazy!! Too many kids!! Lucy, Grace & Caitlin.

Ghost Train

Had one of the funnest evenings we've had in a while. Had pizza at Hawkeye Pizza and then to the Old Threshers Grounds in Mt. Pleasant Friday night with Jenny, Paul and Hilary. Girls got to jump in the big jumpy thingy's (someday I'll learn what those are really called) and then we rode the Ghost Train. Before boarding the train, Gavin would scream in fear every time the train blew it's whistle. On the train, everyone was doing great...even when the lights went out. UNTIL...a creepy masked man ran a cow bell right outside the window where Lucy, Gavin and I were sitting. Then I screamed and jumped a mile high. Which scared Lucy and Gavin - sending them into an uncontrollable screaming fit. Hilary screamed when the gun went off...but Gracie quickly shushed her.

Six Month Checkup

Lincoln: 14 lbs 14 oz.
Gavin: 16 lbs 3 oz.
Vaughn: 16 lbs 12 oz.

Gracie

Go Hawks!

Grace

Grace has come to love the show "Deal or No Deal" as much as her sister. Tonight, Lucy asked her if she wanted Daddy to give her a spanking because she kept getting out of the bathtub - Grace shouted "No Deal". (We weren't even watching the show and hadn't seen it for several days!)

Lucy

Last night Lucy and I were journaling. I was asking Lucy questions and writing them down in her journal. Questions like, I love God because..., I am thankful for..., I would like to pray for..., I am sorry for... (Something I found at the dollar store.)

Well - first I was absolutely amazed at some of the answers she was giving. But the part that was so stinkin' cute was that then she wanted to ask me questions. Questions like, "Do you love Susie?" Yes. She "wrote" that in her journal. "Why." Well she's my sister and I love her. She "wrote" that in her journal. "Oh, ok. What else." And I said some more things and she continued writing...then she moved on to other people, wanting to know if I loved them, why I loved them and what else I could tell her about them. She had these perfectly straight scribble lines in her journal - up and down the entire page.

Josh & Molly

Congratulations Josh and Molly on the birth of my three future daughter-in-laws:

Anna Kathryn
Ava Elizabeth
Ella Ann

Triplet girls born on Friday the 13th.

Squeaker

Lincoln should be nick named Squeaker. He's started squeaking all the time. Rather than cry - he lets out high pitched squeaks.

No Two Days Are Ever Alike.

Tonight...Lucy and Lincoln (The L's as Grandma affectionately calls them) are spending the night at Grandma's house. Mom came up and did my laundry...again. And my dishes. And some cleaning. And helped me take the boys to the doctor. Then took two children home so that she could spend some one on one time with them.

Grace, Gavin and Vaughn went to Jean's house with Brad and Jackie.

Jamie and I got to go to our Tuesday night small group with no children. It was so wonderful. For as long as I can remember we've taken Grace and Lucy with us. 9 month old Sawyer was there. What a great glimpse of what our boys will be like in 3 months. They are growing so fast.

Jamie and Jackie taught Gracie to put her thumbs in her ears and chant "nanny nanny boo boo you can't catch me". Only she couldn't get her thumbs in her ears. But still very cute.

Kim and Jeebs stopped by before we left. Made us feel very loved.

It's nearly midnight and I'm still awake. When I'm short two children...it's hard to sleep. Part of me just misses them. Part of me is excited that I have a little extra free time. Which I don't really have...my mind is playing tricks on me.

So tired. Off to bed.

6 Month Checkup

Lincoln - 14 lbs. 14 oz.
Gavin - 16 lbs. 3 oz.
Vaugh - 16 lbs. 12 oz.

Thanks Aunt Jean and Uncle Rich for the beautiful blankets!!

Unworthy

Every week Jamie and I are blessed over and over with the kindness of other people. I'm overcome with emotion tonight as I sit here so thankful for the people God has put in our lives. Do you ever wonder why God is blessing you so much...and feel guilty because you're afraid that at any moment the walls are going to come crashing down on you. Do you ever feel so unworthy of what has been bestowed upon you? I love my children so much that it hurts. It's hard for me to comprehend that God loves us even more. And all the wonderful things I want for my children - God's plans are even more grand than I could imagine. I'm scared because I know that no one can go through life without pain. I don't understand the evil in this world. But I trust that God will fulfill His promise and someday I will be loving my family and friends in heaven for eternity. Someday I will kneel before the Throne of God and be filled completely with His love and joy.

Lucy

Get MySpace video codes at onetruemedia.com

Weekend

Nana and Papa took the train to Colorado Saturday. Met them at the train depot to see them off. Girls thought it was pretty cool. Gracie cried because she wanted to get on the train too. Met the Conrads from Salt Lake City, Utah while we were waiting for the train. 51 of them took the train to Burlington so they could go visit the new Morman temple in Nauvoo. In their family there are 4 sets of boy/girl twins...so they had fun telling us stories. There were lots of little kids with them...thank goodness Nana and Papa had a sleeper car!

Since no one was at their house...we decided to spend the night there. Caught Gracie playing with the phone. Soon we started receiving phone calls but no one left a message on the machine. When we finally picked up, we found out that Gracie had been pranking the police. :)

Sunday we went to Coralridge Mall. The girls had a blast reading books at Barnes and Noble. At playland we saw Uncle Tim, Aunt Susie and cousin Caitlin and Jaden. A fun day.

Free to a Good Home

Or Not So Good Home

This is only about half of what I walked into today! Boston covered our bedroom and laundry room with what is apparently from someone's garbage can. I've already got new carpet ordered. Thank goodness I had JUST thoroughly cleaned my room and the laundry room Thursday. Seriously...God is watching over us because had this been last week, this mess would be all over clean clothes, dirty clothes, books, toys, etc, etc, etc. I hadn't cleaned those rooms in weeks - maybe months!

ps - for the full effect, click on the picture so you can see it larger. The picture does it no justice. I can't even begin to describe the smell. And...I have to strip my bed and the curtains to wash them.

Give Give Give

In a newsletter forwarded to me from Donna:

“I’m fed up with the church and Christianity. All I ever here is give, give, give!’ The pastor looked intently at the youth, and replied, “Well, can you think of a better definition of Christianity than that?” God “loved the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jn. 3:16) Christ came “to give his life to redeem many people” (Mt. 20:28). Jesus said to his disciples “my peace I give you” (Jn. 14:27) Paul summed it up, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Cor. 15:57).

The Negotiation

In Awanas last night, we listened to a gal talk about Operation Christmas Child. It's a program where you put together a shoebox filled with gifts for needy children. On the way home, I asked Lucy if she'd like to share some of her toys with needy children. She said "no". I then explained how many little girls and boys don't have anything and how she has so many toys and wouldn't she like to share her toys with another little girl. She said, "No, let's share her toys." I was cracking up. I said..."What about sharing some of your pencils?" "No." "How about some books?" "2 books. Because if I share a lot of books then I won't have a lot of books." I was laughing out loud by now and she said, "It's not funny."

The fact that I've tried to convince Lucy so many different times to say, do and think the "right" thing...and have failed so many times at it is scary. She's only 3. I thought as a parent it would be easier than this.

It brings such joy to my heart listening to Lucy repeating bible verses from Awanas. I've decided to come up with a list of things that we want Lucy to know about God, being a kind person, loving others, etc. and have her learn those too.

It's 6 am and boys are ready to eat :)

Lincoln

Lincoln rolled over last night!! Yeah!!

Happy Birthday Mac a doodle doo!

Happy 4th birthday to our sweet McKenna! We love you so much!

Apple Orchard

Chris took Jamie to Wilson's Apple Orchard on Saturday after the game. Chris says they have the best Apple Turnovers there. Unfortunately...they were sold out. So Jamie took me and the kids there on Sunday. We called Susan, Tim and the girls to go with us. Ok...so they ARE the BEST apple turnovers I've ever had. They are sooooooooo good. We had a ton of fun walking throught the orchard picking apples. Lucy ate about 5 apples...Gracie...only 2 or 3.

The perfect apple.

Lucy eating the perfect apple.

Aunt Susie running from a snake.

Gracie picking up all the "best" apples.

Grace, Lucy and Caitlin eating apples.

Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa came up Friday night to spend the night. They wanted to see the kids before their big trip. To celebrate their 40th anniversary they're going to Colorado & Arizona by train. Followed by a trip to the Tennessee Smoky Mountains as soon as they get back. Saturday they watched the boys while Jamie was at the game and sent me off for some downtime. Our lucky boys...all three got a bath. Do you really want to know how long it's been since their last bath...I don't think so.

Weird Feeling!!

Saturday - Jamie was in Iowa City at a Hawkeye Football game. Lucy and Grace were in Burlington at Cousin McKenna's birthday party. Lincoln, Gavin and Vaughn were in Muscatine at home with Nana and Papa. I was in Davenport enjoying lunch by myself at Carlos OKelley's, coffee and Barnes and Nobles and a quick trip to Walmart.

Thanks Grandma James!

Mom came up Wednesday and saved our family again :) For six hours she did laundry and cleaned my house. Then she took Grace and Gavin home with her to spend the night. She also took the rest of our laundry home and brought it back clean and folded the next day with Gavin and Grace. Thanks Grandma!! You're the best! We love you.

Sleeping Babies

Lucy was running around crazy this day. Then I went to grab a baby out of bed and came back to this. I thought she was playing with me...so I was poking her and teasing her. But she's really asleep!


Vaughn - asleep in his Bumbo.

Jaden Holds Her Own

Aunt Susie, Caitlin and Jaden came to visit yesterday. Although I felt like it was a little crazy in the house with 7 kids 3 and under...it was a nice chance to hang out. Susan and I used to hang out together quite a bit...but that's changed so much since we started having babies.

I Feel Pretty

Never seen Lucy feel so pretty as when she was wearing her new school outfit (Well - minus the hat & shades).

It's Just Not Right

I'm afraid this is just the beginning.
Lucy thought Gavin would look nice in her Little Mermaid glasses.


Gracie thought Vaughn would like nice in her dress up hat.

Harley Boys

Thanks Penny :)

One of My Favorites

This is from our cruise last year. One of my favorites.

Not Broken

Dr. said he didn't think Grace's nose was broken. He didn't take xrays and said there was nothing he could really do even if it was broken...but he was pretty sure it's not. He said kids' noses don't break as easily as adults. Was hard to get a good picture.

Super Mom?

Well, my "Super Mom" bubble was burst on Saturday. Taking Gracie to the doctor tomorrow for a possible broken nose. While at Mona's house, she fell off a chair into a coffee table. If she does have a broken nose, I'll feel even worse that we waited so long. I didn't even see it happen...I had JUST walked into the bathroom. I couldn't even tell for sure where she was hurt. She had a bump on her head, a white gash on her cheek and a bloody nose. I could tell by her screaming and her glazed over eyes that she was in a lot of pain though. It wasn't until later that night that the side of her nose swelled and turned black and blue. Poor Gracie, what an angel.

Mac Spends the Night

Mac (Cousin McKenna) spent the night with us last night. We traded Aunt Jenna and Uncle Terry McKenna for Lincoln. Jamie and I both could belive how much EASIER it was with only two babies! I remember thinking that when Mom took Vaughn over night. I thought it was because we had the two easy babies.

Gavin Rolled Over

Gavin has been rolling to his side all week. Yesterday he rolled completely over. Every time we checked on the boys in the middle of the night last night...Gavin was on his belly.

Gavin is the happiest of the three babies...always smiling. I'm curious to see how their personalities change - or stay the same - as they age.