reformation day 2010

Two puppies, a kitty and ...a pirate. The pirate manifested last minute from a birthday party (theme) that Gavin attended the day before.

I didn't do makeup cuz it was a school night. But, note the improvement on the costume :)

Birthday Boy

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Quote of the day

At Auntie Kim's for Auntie Tracy's Bridal Shower today my mini me eight year old says, "Mom, this chocolate fountain is killing me."

Guess what day it is?

you guessed it...

and more snow...

Two birthday girls, one party.

You say it's your birthday?It's my birthday,too.We got some really awesome gifts from really awesome family.
Yeah, I know. We should do this every year.
It sure would be easier on mom to have one party even though our birthdays are 10 days apart.It's a plan then, at least until we are able to talk:)


We celebrate birthdays in church by counting pennies for each year. I have had a child up front every Sunday so far this month so Pastor just went ahead and opened this morning by saying,"Rani, do we have a birthday?" to which I replied, "nope, not until next week".

We had a family party for the girls today. Maleah kept us all grounded. She said, "Mom, Nora turned one on Thursday and Addi doesn't turn two until next Sunday so right now we have two one year olds."

Yep, she's right. At this moment I have a seven year old, a six year old and a couple of one year olds, prayers are appreciated:)

Happy birthday you beautiful little blessings!

Babies don't keep.

One year ago, tonight, I was lying the hospital trying to enjoy the free movies through contractions. Tomorrow morning my littlest will be one year old. It seems like this year went SOSOSOOSO fast. It feels like only a few days ago I was pregnant.

Today, while Addison slept, I played peekaboo and chase with Nora for a long while in the living room. She is so full of joy... and the giggles:) I adore her. I don't know where the time went this past year. She was just a tiny baby in my arms and now she is a little line-backer pushing her way to the front of the action. I studied her face her dark eyes and her chubby cheeks and I thought to myself how much longer do I have with her? How many more rockabye nights? How many more games of peekaboo? Not enough, I fear.

Every time I look at her, or anyone of my children I am reminded of how blessed I am. In the same moment my heart aches with the responsibility I have been trusted to. Last Sunday, Pastor reminded us of our responsibility as parents, as adults in society. He spoke from these verses.


And Jesus called a little child to Him,
set him in the midst of them, and said,
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and
become as little children, you will by no means
enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one little child
like this in My name receives Me.

But whoever causes one of these little ones
who believe in Me to sin,
it would be better for him
if a millstone were hung around his neck,
and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
Matthew 18:2-6 New King James Version

Did ya catch that last part? Train up a child...what a responsibility? I have a lot of work to do.

I finally moved the crib out of our room. I am almost too embarrassed to write that, I never kept a crib in our room longer than the first few months with the older kids and with Addison and Nora we just waited too long. Dad is working nights this week so I thought I would put the girls in a room together and see what happens. Tonight is the first night. I put them both to bed, we prayed and I turned the light off. They gabbed a bit, it was so cute, and then silence. I hope the quiet means the night will go smoothly.

Listen to me mommies, they do grow up fast, too fast. Hold them tight while you can:)

I am thankful for all four of my beautiful little blessings, but tonight I am thinking about my little Lou Lou. Thank you, Lord, for Nora. Thank you for helping her grow (even if it seems like it is happening too fast)and for keeping her healthy and so adorably giggly and happy. Please bless her tonight in her 'new' room. Be with her and comfort her. She is an amazing and special blessing to our family. Help me teach her about Jesus so that she, too, can enjoy the gift of heaven. In your Holy Name, Amen.

The gingerbread man, aka the Gavinator, is a preschool graduate!

Gavin poses with his preschool teacher! Preschool is in the past.

Good luck trying to hear Gavin's lines over Addison's chatter...he played the gingerbread man. They also said the 50 states but my camera died in the middle of it:(. This fall will be the first year in four years that I don't have a preschooler. It will be different.

here's why I have been a bad blogger...

It's been crazy here, as I am sure every one's home is this time of the year. We are all on antibiotics at the moment, except #3, of course. She sounds the worse, though. I just can't stand to hear a baby cough. We have all had our noses swabbed or fingers pricked and the best the doctor can come up with is our blood counts are just bad enough to warrant a bit of the old zithromax.

Today I am finishing up a bit of the baking for Christmas and #1's birthday. My hands are raw and bleeding from washing so often. I am pretty much done, though. Ginger bread cookies, dipped Ritz peanut butter sandwiches, peanut blossoms, brownies with Reese's cups, homemade Snickers and Bing bars and chocolate coated pretzels are in the freezer waiting to be devoured. I just can't make it unless chocolate is an ingredient. The round cakes for the palace cake for #1's birthday are in the freezer,too. As this is my next venture. I will try an decorate it this afternoon and snap a photo. I hope it doesn't flop. Last week as we were baking I watched out the window as some construction workers were taking down a building, it was quite a site. The photo does not do it justice.

Of course the weather is looking down for tomorrow and I am planning on taking my whole family plus 5 of #1's classmates into town for swimming and pizza to celebrate her 6th birthday. Too bad I was on the ball this year and sent out invites 2 weeks early or we could have just went ice-skating for her birthday...

All the presents have been delivered. Thanks amazon.com, er um... Santa.
Most are wrapped and under the tree. I have overdone it again this year. Those $5 toys are so easy to buy and wrap and I know that the box they came in will probably bring more minutes of play time for the kids. But, I can't stop myself. Brrr, there is a definite spending freeze in my future. You know what they have been playing with the most lately? The stockings!

The Christmas cards have been sent. I wrote a quickie letter on the 6th and finally got my photos in the mail a week later. Then the magnets I ordered for some cards were too heavy and needed an extra 17 cents to mail. AARRGGHHH. But, they are out. So far, I haven't gotten any cards from anyone who wasn't on my mailing list. But I am sure I will soon and then I will spend time mulling over whether I should make up more cards and send them or not. Happens every year. I drive myself nuts.

#2 has his Christmas program tonight. The other day we were out shopping and found him a orange sherbet shirt and navy and orange tie. He was so excited. I told him he would look so sharp. On the way home he drowsily said to me,"Mom, I need to sharpen my hair" I figured he was dreaming but he continued."if I put some spray in it like daddy then I will match my sharp clothes."

I got a half of a Christmas card in the mail today from my auntie. It looked like an alligator took a bite out of it. It was in a clear window envelope from the postmaster that apologized in a few proper paragraphs that try as they might to be perfect, accidents happen. The top half of the card was gone, but the bottom part with the message from my auntie was clear as day and I thought to myself how lucky I was that it didn't get eaten from the other side...my cup is half full today, must be the antibiotics talking...

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

How could I not beat this?

I was nervous. Even after the massive amount of prayer and spiritual warfare my friends and family have been sending my way. Even after the outpouring of support from my community. Even after the vitamins, the supplements, the extra care I have been taking with my diet. Even after I stopped having night sweats, the cough went away and I gained my 15 pounds back plus a few more joiners. Even after the four rounds of chemotherapy pumped into my veins.

But I shouldn't have been. The PET scan did not detect "any convincing evidence of active disease at this time...Overall, one would judge the appearance of this study to be consistent with an excellent response to the patient's chemotherapy over the last several months" Hallelujah!
He knows I ain't giving the chemo all the credit for this one! AMEN!

I have to continue chemo until the end of the year. Another PET scan early next year and then probably pretty frequently for awhile. I am in remission. Who could ask for anything more?