Cousins

This picture was taken last summer, I can't wait until I can get another one of them together in a few weeks when they visit!

Alicia and Emily have been on a playdate for the last 2 hours with their cousin, Autumn, via telephone. Yes, they have been chatting away, coloring together, even playing with toys all the while talking and interacting through the telephone. They even tried to watch tv together until I reminded them that I had told them no more tv earlier in the day. Autumn told Alicia that she could listen to her tv though. Thanks Autumn! ;)

Autumn is my sister Charity's daughter. Alicia and her are only 2 weeks apart in age. Unfortunatly they live about 8 hours away. Despite the distance though, the girls have really become good friends over the years. I am so thankful that the girls can be so close to Autumn because I never was that close to my cousins. So, until I can convince my sister to move closer ;)(hint, hint) I will have to make due with having the girls play together and become better friends over the phone.

Just Call Me... Nurse Mommy

That's how I feel right now. I love Alicia very very much, however, she is probably the most dramatic patient ever! When I say dramatic, half the time, she is the sweetest sick kid, wanting to be cuddled and loved and pampered, the other half of the time I'm not sure if she is just sick or possibly dying. I almost rushed her to the emergency room thinking something was really wrong with her stomach and five minutes later she was fine. Talk about a rollercoaster. She was diagnosed with Strep Throat on Thursday and has been on medicine since then, but she doesn't seem to be a whole lot better. No sore throat, but she is still not feeling good. So far, no one else has gotten sick. (knock on wood, cross your fingers, say a quick prayer) Of course I have been carrying lysol around everywhere I go. :)

Hopefully she will get better soon! Poor kid!

Sick Days

Well, yesterday I noticed that Alicia's eyes were looking a little puffy. It sounds weird, but when she doesn't feel good her eyes are the first sign that something is not quite right. By last night (and throughout) she had a fever and today has not been much better. Poor thing. No other major symptoms though except for a headache.

Anyway, today I spent the day taking care of my little sick one, and cleaning and sanitizing the whole house. I can go a little nuts, when it comes to lysol and spraying down the house, but hopefully I can keep whatever Alicia has from spreading to much. Kind of an impossible task in a family of 5, but I gave it a shot anyway.

A Day at the Beach

One of the things I love about being a parent is that you see the world in a whole new way when you look at it through the eyes of your children.

I recently took the kids to Cape May. They were so excited because they have never been. Sad, because we really don't live to far away from the ocean, but I am going to be sure to try and take them on a regular basis from now on. I had forgotten too, how much I missed the beauty of it.

We did not get there til alost 8:30 in the evening, but we had to stop and just take a look. The children were totally in awe. They kept laughing in excitement. Emily kept asking over and over if she could just swim in it. (Even though it was in the low 70's, if that, and I was freezing) Ethan clapt his hands and the girls danced around in delight.

The next day was even more fun. The girls had so much fun running in the waves and feeling the tide pull them out. Emily looked for shells for hours. We have a whole bucket full of broken shells. :) Ethan was quite content just to bury his car in the sand for hours. (Literally) He would put his feet in the water, but only when I would hold him. Alicia on the other hand was braver than brave. She would jump in it was in total bliss in the water. The first time a wave made her tumble she got upset but she got the hang of it. We even saw dolphins, which was very very dramatic! Thank you God for sending the dolphins!

All in all it was one of the days that I will treasure in my memory for a very long time!

Family

Today Dave's mom invited me and the kids over for a lunch. She had taken a week off of work and wanted to get all of us girls in the family together to have a nice lunch get together. It turns out that it also included a baby shower for me and the soon to be arriving little guy. They all did such a good job of making the day special. It was nice to be able to spend the afternoon with all of them.

It was such a beautiful day too. It was great to see all of the cousins running around and playing together. I am so happy that my children have the gift of a close knit family. I am so thankful for days like these.

Ethan's Checkup

Ethan had his 3 month check up today at St. Christopher's. Everything is still looking very good. They did an EKG on his heart and it showed to be the same as last April which was good. (When they had done it last in April it showed to be normal) The doctor listened to his heart and said that it sounded very good. He also said that Ethan was a miracle which we already know is true. Praise God!

We were also able to see some of the doctors and nurses who worked so hard on Ethan's behalf. It was good to see them again, and even better to see them on such better circumstances!

We also ran into the chaplain of the hospital. He was a great help to us when Ethan first got sick. He stayed with us throughout all Ethan's surgeries and prayed for us and Ethan. He was such a great encouragement throughout our stay at St. Christopher's. It turns out that he not only Pastors at Calvary Chapel in Philadelphia, works as a chaplain at the hospital, but also is an actor. crazy huh? Dave and I discovered it quite by accident while watch the latest Rocky movie. Both of us jumped at the same time when we saw him dining at Rocky's restaurant. We had to ask him about his acting today and it turns out he still acts every once in awhile and is in a new movie coming out soon. He told us he was saved out in Hollywood in the '70's while working as an actor. He was even in Grease.... It is so cool how God uses so many people with so many talents.....

Anyway.... I just wanted to update all you out there on how well Ethan is doing. Thanks for praying for him and us.

Bambi

I was never that fond of the movie, Bambi, growing up. More than anything, I thought it was sad (Poor Bambi's mother dying and everything) However, my children have become obcessed with the movie and with deer in particular. They ask to watch it almost every day. Even Ethan- I had to do a double take when he asked to watch Bambi because he is usually obcsessed with the Cars movie.

As for the deer, they seem to be everywhere. We see them now every night. We even had one running through our neighborhood recently. Poor scared deer. I have to admit though when we saw two twin fawns yesterday with their mother I was even impressed. They really were cute!

Our Visit to Lititz Spring Park

Packin' It Up

Ok, every once in a while I take a long look at my kiddos and think, "this is going by way to fast....." I love being able to stay at home with them, but at the same time I feel as though I don't get to really spend time with them. There is always so many things that need to get done. It makes me sad because they are growing up so fast and I feel as though my head is spinning with the things that I want to do with them and never get a chance to do.

For instance, Alicia is six years old. Six whole years have passed since she was born.. She seems so grown up for six too. More like six going on thirteen... Yikes.....

There are times when I feel as though life is way to busy, that I should pack it all up and head out to the hills of Tennessee ( or some other remote place) and just live with the family..... No outside distractions or influences... Or maybe just move out into the country and homeschool the kids... except realistically, I don't think that I ever could do that either... I have to admit though, I really admire all of you moms (and dads) out there who do homeschool... I just don't know how you do it all..

It's not going to happen.. but there are times, especially late at night when I feel like I want to keep my children small and innocent forever....

Things to Be Thankful for on a Scorching Hot Day

1. Central Air
2. A pool Membership
3. Hubby having off of work to go help with the kids at the pool!
4. Ice!!!!!!!!!
5. Not having to work outside.

"July Picnic"

Alicia kept asking all day when we were having our "July picnic" I think she meant the 4th of July picnic (which we did have on the actual 4th of July) Unfortunately though, it rained alot that day so we never actually picniced outside.

However, Michelle and Dennis came to the rescue by having us over for a picnic tonight. We had such a good time too. Thanks guys for opening up your home to us all (as well as feeding us all) We had a good time with everyone! It was especially nice to be able to enjoy the fireworks from their "side" yard. Much better than enjoying them from the local cemetary like we have in the past few years.

Woes of a Pregnant Woman

As much as I love bringing home a new baby from the hospital, I do not enjoy being pregnant as much as some women out there do. I start out my pregnancy, and if I am lucky don't finish it out as well, being as sick as a dog. Thank God, this has been a very easy pregnancy. I was only really sick for the first 10 weeks or so. So, really, I shouldn't be complaining, and yet I sit here feeling very annoyed and very much like I need to get some things off of my chest.

First of all, if you don't have anything nice to say to a pregnant woman, please keep your comments to yourself. Yes, I know that I look tired, I don't need to be reminded constantly. Yes, I need a nap, but it probably is not going to happen. Please don't tell me that I really don't look good. (I did look in the mirror this morning.....you are not making me feel any better.)

Also, Please, Please don't ask me if I am sure that I am not having twins. I would have told you if I were. You are basically just telling me that I look like a beached whale. (At least that is how I am taking it)

Now, I am very sorry if I am scaring you right now, or making you feel like you should never talk to me.... please don't feel that way. Honest. If you want to make a comment, I DO like hearing things like, pregnancy becomes you, or you have a special glow about you. (yes, it may be sweat, and I do know it, but it will still make me feel better)

Ok, I am done my hormonal rant.. Thanks for reading....:)

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July Everyone! We had a nice day here. My parents and inlaws stopped by for a small barbeque in the wet weather. We had a good time though. It wouldn't be Independence Day without hamburgers, hotdogs and of course, fireworks. Yes, poor Dave braved the drizzle (in between storms) to set off 3 very unscary (for Emily's sake) fireworks.

I am so proud to live in this nation! God Bless America!

Reasons I love Chic-fil-A

1. The grilled chicken sandwich....Yummmmm...... (especially with the honey barbeque sauce
2. Waffle Fries dipped in honey mustard sauce.......Mmmmm......
3. Sweet Tea!
4. Milk shakes!
5. Playland!!
6. Hand Sanitizer...(I know it's weird but you all who know me well know how important that it is to me. ;)

I love Chick-fil-A. In fact, I crave it. (At least in the first trimister of my last two pregnancies, it must be the boy ;) I don't just love it for the food though, and I DO love the food. I like the atmosphere too. It is always clean, and the people are friendly. Most of all I love the fact that after we eat, I can sit and relax while the kids are occupied for as long as I want to stay with the playland.