2008

Okay, it is a new year and this is the first time I'm updating the blog. Life has gotten much easier but I am having to let some things go. Stephen and I just returned from a super-duper-wonderful FREE trip to the Bahamas for four days. He did a promotion at work for his top sellers and they got to bring spouses, so he did, too!

Family Update:
Stephen is currently at a movie, I think he said it had something to do with U2. Friday night he was like a kid in a candy shop because he organized a rock band competition and he required the attendees to dress up and compete for an actual trophy. He loved every minute of it.

Abby is growing up so fast. She is becoming more and more of a rule follower, which, yes, she does come by honestly! She also LOVES wearing dresses and wants to change clothes 3 or 4 times a day. She also helps me a ton with Brody, Sydney and sometimes with dinner! Oh, and last night I told her the sad news that our friend's grandfather that had cancer passed away. We'd been praying for him and she has been praying that Jesus would heal him. I was concerned about her reaction to the news. When I told her she just asked, "So is Jesus just going to heal him in heaven?" I was blown away. God is so good!

Sydney is growing more and more fun everyday, too. We knew she had a lot of personality but she is seeming to become more outgoing, more funny and more energetic. She also loves to sing and change the words to songs. Lately she's been singing, "Jesus loves so-and-so, yes, I know, for the Bible tells me so..." Usually she sings it about her bear, "B" but sometimes she'll include one of us! And, Sydney has decided that she likes church again, which makes Sundays much easier!

Brody is so much fun, too. He smiles all the time and is constantly babbling. He really has a lot to say. He's also growing like a weed and is in the 83rd percentile for height. He is twice as active as the girls were at this age and he drinks a nice amount of milk, too. He's destined to play football, I just know it!

As for me, I'm driving Stephen crazy trying recipes out of the Deceptively Delicious cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. I am trying to eat super healthy so I can possibly have more energy. The lack of sleep is catching up with me! Sydney loves the spinach/carrot brownies and the whole family loves the mac and cheese with cauliflower puree! I don't think the chickpea chocolate chip cookies will ever be good, though. This is my third batch.

Carrie, the dog, is getting old. She's actually turning gray. I think the kids stress her out.

Anyway, we're busy, not blogging much, but doing super! I am thanking God for His provision, faithfulness and longsuffering right now. We've needed all of it! I better go now, I have to feed Brody again and shower for tomorrow!

Outnumbered

Life with a third is great, we're just a little busier than we were. I think we're busier because it's Christmastime and we have a newborn who is eating every 2-1/2 to 3 hours!

Brody does have acid reflux but we have been "upgraded" to Prevacid from Zantac. As long as he gets it 30 minutes before his first feeding of the day, and it dissolves before he can spit it out, we're good for about 12 hours. He also slept through the night last night, and that is SUPER!

Abby is doing well, she lost a toenail today and that freaked us both out but our resident "jack-of-all-trades", Steve Carson said not to worry that it will grow back in a month or so!

Sydney has a urinary tract infection right now but we started antibiotic yesterday and she hasn't cried about it yet today! Plus, she is acutely aware of when she needs to go, now, so potty training has gotten a lot easier. I still think potty training is the worst thing I've had to do as a parent, though!

Stephen is also doing well. He has Apple's iTouch iPod on the brain and cannot shake it. We're selling things on ebay and he sold his iPod to someone at work so I think he may be able to get it Christmas morning!

I am also recovering. A full nights sleep and a great cup of coffee in the morning really agree with me! I'm so excited about Christmas this year and am loving all my kids' ages right now. I'm also loving how cute my sweet husband is about this whole iTouch thing.

Today is a good day, even if Stephen and I ARE outnumbered.

Thanksgiving

Father, today, in this moment, I thank You that:

1. There are beautifully colored fall leaves covering our yard and the weather is perfect
2. My sweet, handsome, loving husband is blowing the leaves into the mulch - because he wants to
3. It rained last night
4. I have two precious, sweet little girls swinging, laughing and playing outside
5. We got the best surprise ever - a perfect little boy, sleeping away in a borrowed bouncy seat
6. I'm barely 31, am healthy and have a healthy family of five
7. We ate yummy turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green beans, macaroni and sweet potatoes as a family
8. The Christmas season starts tomorrow
9. The Carolina/Clemson game is on Saturday and Carolina didn't lose last weekend (it was our off week)
10. We're getting a Christmas tree tonight - if it doesn't rain, and if it does, thank You for the rain

5 Short Years

Five years ago today Stephen and I became parents. It has been such a short but joyful journey! I loved every stage, every age as much as the first. Abby has turned into a very kind, helpful, loving little girl and we are truly blessed to have been chosen to be her parents. Thank you, Lord, for our beautiful daughter - in every sense of the word.

Here are pictures I took today of the kids in our red chair. We take the kids' picture in it from the time they are itty-bitties until today so we can see how much they've grown.

Abby's 5 year pic

Sydney's 2-1/2 year pic

Brody's 1-month pic

Good News - Bad News

BAD NEWS:
- Brody has been crying inconsolably since Sunday (rarely cried before that - crying right now, in fact)
- He wanted to eat every hour so I fed him...every hour (growth spurt??!?!)
- Stephen was out of town Mon-Wed
- Yesterday the pediatrician said Brody has bronchiolitis, acid reflux or colic
- Acid reflux, colic and gassiness all peak at 4 weeks
- Yesterday the OB said I have mastititis

GOOD NEWS:
- Stephen made it home safely from Orlando
- Brody took his first bottle on Wednesday and took it like a champ
- Molly Burns watched the girls yesterday
- Brody did go through a growth spurt and now weighst 10 lbs (4 weeks old)
- Bronchiolitis is temporary
- Dr. Bass gave us Zantac to try for the reflux
- Colic goes away after 3 months
- Brody slept well last night with the humidifier on and in his carrier
- I slept well and so did Stephen
- We have a beautiful baby boy, two sweet little girls and a Heavenly Father who loves us more than we know

Happy Pumpkin WEEK

So what is more fun than trick-or-treating at your Daddy's office, trunk-or-treating at your church and then getting to trick-or-treat with your daddy and best friends in your neighborhood?

When I asked Abby what her favorite part of Halloween was she replied honestly, "Getting all that candy - my pumpkin was so "heaby" (heavy) I couldn't even carry it!"

Sydney loves the candy too. We call her "close talker" now because when she wants to ask for it she gets in your face and asks as politely as she knows how if she can have a "sucker" please.

Brody is just happy to be fed when he's hungry...doubt he can taste all the candy I've eaten! And the orange outfit is a halloween outfit - don't think we've gone soft on the garnet/black just because we've been losing!

Sydney (Syd-na-rella), Brody (baby in halloween outfit), Abby (Snow White)

Stephen in his costume as a "stick-figure warrior"

Bye-Bye Bili Blanket

I am thrilled to announce that Brody's bilirubin level was only 6.9 at his appointment yesterday. Since it was well below 11 we are able to be D-O-N-E with the bili blanket. I cannot wait for the Apria Healthcare representative to pick it up!

Last night Brody slept in his crib for the first time and I actually got to swaddle him. He slept so much better and so did I!

When I got home from the appointment I immediately changed him into a sweet little gown and left it on him until it was dirty. That was so fun to have a clothed little boy! I also held him a ton and both the girls held him today. I feel like we have our normal baby back and could not be more excited.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and calls. We feel very loved!