Much to be thankful for...

Wow..this 'black, Friday' didn't go as planned. Let me get the whole story out to you. Wednesday Elliette fell and hit her head on the edge of a table. Nothing major, just a bruise, life went on. Thursday afternoon we headed to my in-laws house, and when we first got there I thought I saw E shiver a few times. I didn't pay much attention to it, but as the night went on I noticed a few more times that she kept putting her head down and shaking. Just for a few minutes, nothing drastic. I got worried about it, but then it just stopped for the rest of the night and I let it go. Friday morning we headed out to do some shopping and I started noticing it again. Elliette would drop her head against her right shoulder and then shake a few times; sometimes she would even just drop her head to her shoulder and then bring it right back up again. I called the doctor and made an appointment. The doctor sent us to Children's hospital almost immediately to start running tests. Her actions were somewhat suggestive of a seizure, although she did not have many of the other things which usually go with it. They also discovered that she has a nasty double ear infection. The drew blood and put in an IV. We also had to take her down for a CT Scan. It was so horrible seeing my baby held down so many times when she was so scared and there was nothing anyone could do. Her CT and initial blood work came back negative which means it isn't anything super scary like a bleed or mass or something. They gave us some uber antibiotics hoping that it may be possibly caused by such a large infection; if clearing up the ears doesn't work, then we have to go see a seizure specialist. All in all it was a pretty rough day, but I am so grateful that the final diagnosis wasn't something horrible. We will get through whatever this is, and Elliette will continue to be the amazing baby that she has always been!

I'm not sure...

But I think her nose may still be the same size!

photo dump

Lack of internet has made it difficult to post...more to come...

He got picked to blow up a balloon against an elephant...guess who won...

So sweet, but so strong willed. Wonder where that comes from?

Taste of St. Louis...

Not very impressed with sippy cups!

been a while

So, it's been a while since my last blog, sorry! My camera died on the first day of school and I have been mourning it's loss... I borrowed a camera from my mom though and even though I don't like it as much I will have to start using it, I'm missing so much! School is going pretty well, I have a good group of kids this year. My patience is low with my kids though, because I'm exhausted all the time with work and home stuff and the baby still getting up once at night. Jackson is really liking his teacher, which is nice and he is starting to adjust to real, EVERYnight homework (oh my!). Elliette is doing well with daycare. I love being able to just hope down to the other building and check on her during the day. The first week there she didn't sleep, but has adjusted enough that she is taking 2 2-hour naps which his good. She's rolling around all the time adn on her belly can spin around in circles. She thinks her brother is HILARIOUS and loves any chance she gets to jump and bounce. We are working on big girl foods, and so far peas, avocados and carrots are her favorites. She doesn't care to eat food in the morning and we have yet to find a fruit that she actually likes except watermelon! She's been teething for what feels like forever, but still no tooth!! Oh well, gotta go, but here is a picture of her in Jackson's first Bridge Of Hope shirt.

One week down...

The first week of school is over!! Well, it isn't 'school' school yet, but we're getting there. I feel like my classroom is NEVER going to be ready. I was really worried about having to leave baby girl. Cried a lot Sunday night and when I left her Monday morning; but we both did really well. I was so busy most of the time that I almost didn't have time to miss her, which is nice I guess. She was with Josh's sisters and grandma last week, but will be at daycare at work starting next week. I am looking forward to having her so close so I can just go check on her when I want. I can't believe how big she is, SHE'S ALMOST SITTING UP! With a little assistance or padding she can sit and stay sitting for a pretty long time. Here she is on the couch, with a pillow on one side and my leg on the other...

We took her in for shots this week and she's 14.5 pounds and 24 1/4 inches. I think they said she's like 75% height and 50% weight, or maybe the reverse of that, I don't know!

I was eating a bowl of fresh fruit one evening and had a bunch of raspberries. Elliette stuck her hand in and grabbed some, which of course squished all over the place. She and I both though it was kind of funny so I let her keep going. Eventually she and I were both covered in raspberry goo and had to be rescued by daddy. Later I decided that it was probably a decent sensory motor activity so maybe we will do it again some time!!

Life Cycles

Tonight on the way home Jackson started asking me questions about 2nd grade and if I knew what he was going to learn. Having been working on my own science curriculum today and comparing notes to other grade levels, I said "Well, I know you're going to learn about life cycles". Obviously he wasn't sure what it was, so we talked about how it is just like how something goes through from birth to death, we talked about butterflies since he has observed their life cycles before. He figured it out and then sat for a few moments before announcing..."I have a funny life cycle. Egg, chick, chicken, chicken nuggets!"

Back to school, back to school...

I can't believe it is time to go back to school. I report back Monday and I am so not ready! All the work/school stuff I said I wanted to get done this summer just didn't happen and neither did most of the fun summer stuff either. With Elliette being so young there were just so many times we couldn't go out and do things because of the heat. I am starting to look forward to cooler weather though when we can take her to do things (and when I can wear hoodies!).

Jackson is pretty much ready for school. All the supply shopping is done, new backpack and uniform clothes purchased and he's started to get excited. He has a teacher who is brand new to our school this year and that is worrying him a little bit. He knew the other teacher that he was supposed to have and her classroom and he was looking forward to it. Now that teacher took an administration job at another school and his classroom got traded from the big bright one to one of the less cool rooms with no windows!

Baby E will be starting daycare too and that has mommy a little nervous. In some ways I am excited for her to be able to socialize with other babies (there are so many this year) and maybe break out of her 'only mommy' phase some, ut that is what scrares me a little too! She is such a mama's girl and a lot of nights won't even let Josh put her to bed or down for a nap; so I am a bit concerned how she will do at daycare. Plus she has to go from all my attention on her to it being spilt at daycare. I just keep reminding myself that this isn't a bad thing and she is just a building away from me if she needs anything. I really wish they'd just let me put a pack in play and toys in my room and let her stay there!!! I definately need to get back to work. Being at home everyday is starting to make me a little crazy. Not to mention with not being able to take her outside for walks with St. Louis heat, this staying at home thing has made loosing baby weight almost impossible!

Oh well, guess we all will adjust! Here's a picture to make you smile...

a prayer...

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.


Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.


Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.


Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, how patience, empathy and love.

Wordless Wednesday

camp and city garden

Jackson spent the week down in Fredericktown at Campmeeting with my mom. He had a blast! Elliette and I went down for the last 3 days and she loved it too! The weather was unusually cool and so she got to spend tons of time outside which she doesn't usually get to do in the typical 90 degree weather. Neither myself or my mom took any pictures except these for posterity before we left...

E got a tat like mommy's

We finally made it out to City Garden today and LOVED IT! Elliette went on her first real picnic and had a blast. Unfortunately I thought my camera was charged and it wasn't so it died after about 3 or 4 pictures and before we looked at the garden stuff at all. We had a blast anyway and I told Josh we have to go back next week on his day off so I can actually get some pictures!

Happy Anniversary

Married 2 years today...hmm...why does it seem like so much longer than that???

Hope it keeps getting better! Love you ALWAYS!

3 months

Can't believe she's 3 months old already! Where does the time go?? She is so sweet tempered and laid back. A natural charmer! I can't wait to see what she blossoms into. Happy Day Sweetness!!

Call it a good one

Let's see...

* Caught a 30 minute nap this morning

* Celebrated the last day of summer school and the green team's win at field day with snow cones

* Went to the library and got to read to my little man for the first time in a while

* Got to hear little man read to me - always fun

* Fed baby girl carrots and sweet potatoes without getting them all over myself

* Little man got to play outside with friends riding bikes and scooters and jumping on the tramp until dusk

* Told the boy child he could have breakfast with his friend next door tomorrow...became the worlds best mommy and got a dozen kisses

* Got both babes bathed and dressed in jammies. Sent one to bed with a book and the other with her arm around her ducky

* Got 1 load of laundry put away and another is drying

* Gonna take a shower and go to bed

...I'd call it a good one

Better late than never

Pictures from the 4th...

The day before the 4th my mom and I took the kids to the pool. Elliette wasn't so sure it was as fun as everyone thought!