Looking at the Calendar

I looked at the calendar and realized that I am a very bad blogger as I last posted in June and now it's ALMOST JULY!

Can we say busy?

Yes we can!

This has been a very busy summer!

So Far this summer:

The kids have gone camping twice.  Jaron caught 1 fish, Janea 3 fish.  They had a great time with their grandparents and I am grateful for the time they have with them.

The Firstborn well, she is now officially a TEENAGER!  I am not old enough to have a teenager!  I can't believe how mature and awesome she is and I am looking forward to seeing how she will grow and change.

Dan and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary by going out for a steak dinner and seeing Monster's University without the kids.!  It's amazing how far we have come in our marriage and seeing how much better friends and partners we are as the years go by.

We spent the 4th with friends and had fun lighting off fireworks and such, Jayden isn't a huge fan of the noise though.

Jayden has moved into pullups and we are beginning the potty training process.

School starts for me the 5th but for the big kids on the 15th.  So we are gearing up for the new school year and hoping we get everything done!

It's a crazy life, but it's mine!

Future Cities Competition

We had our first taste of crazy competition timing. For something other than sports...we don't do sports.

The firstborn was here, on a field trip for STAR for school.  She has been working on this project for several weeks with her class at school.  They have to design a city, build a model, create essays and papers, and then present it for judging.

I think this is great, it builds teamwork, critical thinking skills, a lot of thinking outside the box, hands on learning.  Janea has had to work in a group(something she is not good at), deal with stresses that she has no control over, and be content with things not being as perfect as she envisions them in her head!  I'm happy that she is able to work on these projects and do this type of learning...she needs it.

The only downside, it's at K-State, a 2-3 hour drive away from where we live, and the competition starts at 8:30 with check in at 7:30....so they had to leave at an obscenely early hour, 4:30 am. The firstborn is not a morning person but she got up, the husband was very gracious and took her this morning so I could sleep longer.  

They just got back and while she didn't win, she had a good time.  Glad she gets these opportunities to grow and learn!

January is Flying By

Wow!  It's been crazy around here.

Life is moving rapidly and I feel like I am constantly playing catchup.

Jayden turned 9 months old on Tuesday and I tried to take his picture with his bear but it didn't happen.  He was cranky and disagreeable so we will try again hopefully this weekend.

Work is going good, the kiddos are back in school and Janea hasn't gotten the chickenpox.  Dan is busy, I am busy and on top of everything I am taking a class for work online and it's good but makes for busy days.

Looking forward to a three day weekend and getting things put away and organized around her. 

As I said...it's a busy crazy life....thankful for my life but sometimes it moves faster than me.

7 month's Old

7 months old...can't believe how big he's getting...some stats and facts:

• wearing 6-12 month clothes
• loves eating in the high chair
• Cheerio Champ
• army crawling and scooting
• sitting up ALL by himself
• starting to try and stand up
• giggly
• happy
• loves tickles and tackles!
• fun little boy!



Happy Birthday Jaron

Jaron turned Nine on October 26th!  I can't believe how old he is now!  It seems like he was a baby just a few years ago....I love this kid to pieces

At nine Jaron is:

fun

energetic

LOUD!!!

exuberant

lover of all things Wii and DSi

Super excited by little things

Growing up

3rd Grader

Awesome Reader

Math Machine

Jesus Follower

Big Brother

All around Super kid!

We love you Buddy!  Have a great year being 9!

Job Update

I'm officially back to work after taking almost 7 months off!

It's been a good first week, I'm still learning the ropes, we have a HUGE class...like over 15 every day.  That is both a good and bad thing...it's good because there is lots to do, stuff to learn and all...it's bad because today we had 22 kids and it was CRAZY!!!!  Looks like Wednesdays are the highest day of the week.

Baby is doing good at the babysitter...she loves him to pieces and so do her girls...so I am happy about that...and Jayden is taking bottles like a champ and I am able to pump at work and I am producing a good supply to take the next day...also good!

I'm excited to see what the upcoming months hold...learning the routine and working hard...so if I blog a little less that's why...

Top 5 on Friday

1.  I have 3 great kids who make me smile, laugh and love.  I'm thankful for a little boy who will stop and fold his hands to pray for mommy before he goes to school!

2.  Great friends who are an encouragement.

3.  A husband who works so hard to support the family even when he isn't feeling really good...thankful he has a 3 day weekend to continue to feel better.

4.  The growth process of waiting for places to call and offer or not offer jobs...I'm not great at waiting.

5.  That we have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and air conditioning in our home...there are a lot of people not as fortunate as we are.

Doctor Drama

Yesterday was a dramatic day for me...a tiring, stressful type of day.  Filled with DOCTORS....I'm getting to the point that I HATE going to the doctor. 

Jayden is 4 months old and had his 4 month check up yesterday.  We made it on time, got back to see the doctor, his check up is going really well until our Doctor is concerned about his weight on the growth charts.  Jayden is no small tyke...he is a BIG baby.  The scale at our Doctor office said he weighed 21 pounds, I had been weighing him regularly at home with me and I was sure he was around 19 pounds.  So I was a little bit surprised.  Well based on their measurement and his position on the growth curve for a child his age the doctor was concerned that there might be something causing it...like his Thyroid.   So he wanted to do some bloodwork.  Well, we finished up the appointment, got our shots, and then heading next door to the hospital to have our bloodwork done.  As we get to the hospital it's beginning to rain and a very nice man in a golf cart gave me a ride to the door...so nice!

After checking in at the hospital and heading into the lab we are called in.  Where they proceed to take 3 vials of blood from his heels...jaundice tests are done in the heel but call for a small amount of blood...getting 3 vials from the heel is a grueling process and super stressful for both Mom and baby.  Finally we get finished and head to the lobby where it is poring down rain....sheets of rain...so we waited till it lightened up and then got a ride back to the car by the same nice man in the golf cart!  I seriously love him!

I get home...and notice our power was on but that it had gone off again during our visit...it had been off and off all morning before our appointment.  I get Jayden down for a nap, sit to take a breather when the Doctor's office calls me...Jaydens initial bloodwork has come back showing HIGH Potassium which could be stressful on his heart and I need to take him to Children's Mercy to have them redo the lab and check him out.  PANIC mode sets in... I immediately call my parents and ask for prayer, start praying, call my husband, and I called my buddy Katy and told her and she offers to go with me...PRAISE GOD for friends!  I am so thankful for my friend who stepped in to help me through this.  I get ready to go and we are off...my mom called during this time to see if I wanted her to go with me and I told her Katy was with me and could she help with the big kids instead...and she said yes....just keep her posted.

We get to Children's Mercy...tell the nurses what was going on...called the Doctor to confirm...and then we WAIT...and WAIT....and WAIT...after 2 hours we see the Doctor...he doesn't think that the weight is a problem or the Thyroid...and their scale is showing Jayden at 18-19 pounds...big but not a concern...but he does agree that we need to redo the Potassium levels...finally we get the test done...and Finally the result comes back and HE IS FINE...normal levels, not a problem...WHEW....Thank you Jesus!  4 hours later we get to leave...

On the way home I get a call from a place I have applied at and they call me for an interview...so Tuesday(today) at 2:30 I will go and interview and if it is God's will I will get the job!  I'm thankful that so many things worked out yesterday.

Hand of God Moments:
*my parents(who work at the same place) took 2 cars so my mom could come and meet the kids after school!
*my buddy Katy is home from the Phillipines and works mornings so she could come with me!
* my interview was scheduled after I knew my baby was fine!

Thankful for God's provision and a Healthy baby!  Looking forward to the rest of the week...oh and Jayden slept really good last night....poorthing was all tuckered out!

First Day of School

Ready for the first day of 3rd grade!

My Handsome 3rd Grader!

My serious 6th grader...can't be bothered to smile for Mom!

That's right...I like school...Here's a smile!

Ready for the 1st day of school!

Why can't I go to school yet...oh that's right...I don't know what school is!  I'll stay home with Mom!

The Final Days of Summer

The Final Days of Summer are upon us.  Kids go back to school on Wednesday.  They need to go back to school.  They are at that point where the only things they can think of doing is annoying the tar out of each other and being mean. 

Today was a chore day...or lets finish projects...and we're about half way done.

I heard back from one of the 2 jobs I interviewed for 2 weeks ago and I didn't get it...they do want to keep my info on file so there is hope but its still very discouraging.  I had such a good time at the interview that I could totally see myself working there and being part of the team.

Baby J had an atypical day...3 naps today.  A morning nap for 2 hours an early afternoon nap for 2 hours and a late afternoon nap for an hour.  Really hoping he still sleeps tonight...Sunday's are hard on him and that means his naps get thrown off on Sundays.

Well, that's what's up with us and all...busy week and busy schedules ahead!

So Big

Jayden is Growing and Growing and Growing.  We had our 2 month checkup today and he is 16 pounds, 25 inches long that's the 90-95 percentile for both height and weight.  He is in good proportion for his size.  He is a little bit bigger in head circumfrence and the doctor wants to keep an eye on that but otherwise he is growing really well.  He is definitely our biggest kid at this age!

Janea's Birthday!

My Baby isn't a baby anymore...actually she hasn't been a baby for many years. 

She turned 11 this month..Boy does she make me feel old!  I can't believe she is a tween already! 

We had a small get together with cake at Grandma's house.  

For her birthday she also got to go and see a movie with Dad and brother and we will be updating the decor in her room and making it a little bit cooler! 

All in all a great day!

  

 

11 years old...Janea is

ambitious,

brilliant,

 a little mother to her baby brother,

 creative,

interesting,

opinionated,

 dramatic,

Lover of Jesus,

praise singer,

awesome kid!

Two Month Pics...

Better late than never I always say!  Jayden turned 2 months old on Friday and while I got his pics taken I didn't get them posted...Saturday we went to pick up the kiddos from camping with my parents and spent a lovely day outside by the stream enjoying the wonderful beauty of God's Creation and cool weather! Sunday was jampacked and I have been fighting heartburn recently so that is my excuse for that...so here he is at 2 month's old.

Click here for his one month old pictures

So much for good intentions

I started May with the intent to be a good blogger and for the beginning of the month I was.

However, life got more hectic and I kept putting it off and here we are the last day of May and I haven't blogged in over a week.

Some of life's little things this month

Jayden turned 1 month old, found out he's growing great was 12.6 pounds at his one month checkup which was actually when he was 5 weeks old.  He got his first shot...poor thing and he's starting to smile and be more awake for us.

Janea is finishing up 5th grade.  I got to go with her on a field trip fishing with her class, such a pretty day for that.  She has been privileged to have lots of field trips this quarter and has 2 this week...the last week of school.  She also was in the school talent show and did a good job in a magic act with a friend.  On a side note, she is learning to knit and does a great job.

Jaron is finishing 2nd grade.  He's reading at an advanced level for his grade and we are very proud of him.  He needs to work on his spelling but for the most part is doing well.  He can be really squirrelly  but that is part of being a boy I think... He's looking forward to summer vacation but will be going to Summer School to help mom out and make some friends since he will be switching schools in the district next year.

So that's a little bit of what's going on with us...hope life is treating you well and i hope to do better for the month of JUNE!

Wordless Wednesday

Finding the Balance

We are working on making sure that the big kids stay active in their lives even with the baby being here.  We don't want to shut down and have them become resentful of their brother simply because he is a baby and we are trying to be careful with him.

Yesterday Janea had tryouts for the Talent Show at school and we let her tryout...even though it meant picking her up later...fortunately for me that meant Daddy could go and get her.

Today was Muffins with Mom at Jaron's school...so Jaron, Jayden and I headed to his school and Jayden slept while Jaron and I enjoyed eating Doughnuts(no muffins at this event) together before his school day.

The babies schedule is now thrown off some and I may pay for it later but it's important for me to spend time with Jaron too

It's all about finding the balance of it all.

Thanks I Needed That

Woke up this morning feeling hot and sweaty and yucky! 

Crying baby while making hubby's lunch is tiring...and frustrating.

Gathering Garbage for Garbage day is not my favorite job.

Looking at the clock wondering if I can get stuff done before kiddos go to school.

Janea offers to watch the baby so I can take a shower.

20 minutes later I emerge refreshed, feeling more human than before, ready to tackle the day ahead.

Thanks Janea, I needed that!  You rock!

A Nap, A Pizza and Target

Today was better than yesterday on the baby front.

Jayden was very fussy yesterday and he wore me out.  Sleep was a slight struggle so I was tired this morning. and after taking Jaron to school this morning  both the baby and I took naps...for over an hour and let me tell you it was one of the best rests I have had in the last 22 days!

I took a trip to Target and was able to get what we needed for only a little bit out of pocket and I got a 5 dollar gift card to spend next time.  Plus I picked up a pizza for the kiddos and we had a Digiorno for Dan and I so it was pizza night for dinner. 

All in all it was a much better day and we are looking forward to tomorrow.

Things I Had Forgotten

Since we have not had an infant in the house since Jaron was a baby I had forgotten what life with a newborn is like.

I forgot what it feels like to be so tired.  We've been home only 2 nights and already I feel like I will not really sleep again.  I forgot what it feels like to get up with someone in the middle of the night.

I forgot how tiring a newborn can be...they don't really do anything but they are exhausting...I think it's from the nursing and trying to establish a pattern.

I forgot how much your body changes and how hard it works to get a baby out...I forgot that it takes weeks to get your strength completely back.

I forgot how happy a little one can make you.  The sweetness of a baby and just the wonder that you helped to bring this little one into the world.  I forgot how the world seems to stop just because you have had a baby.

I've forgotten a lot but I am remembering and enjoying this new little person.  I'm really tired and very thankful for the fact that my parents have been able to help us out!  Dan's already back to work so I am home with the baby by myself but I am not as overwhelmed as I was when Janea and Jaron were little.  So it's a good thing...Jayden is doing well and we are learning how to be a family of 5!

Wordless Wednesday