Chunks!!!

Oh my! This week has been an incredible week of firsts for Grant!  I cannot tell you the transformation my little man has gone through!  Grant has always been my quiet, laid-back baby. Now he's my extremely happy and quiet, laid-back baby!  His smile could light up a room.  Yesterday afternoon when I put him in the pack'n'play in the living room to nap, he just laid on his back playing with his bottle and laughed and laughed.  I'm not sure what he was finding so funny but my heart just melted at the sound.  Prior to Sunday, when I would go to pick him up, he was indifferent.  When he'd catch sight of me, he'd watch me but his expression would show no feeling.  Now when I go to take him out of his car seat or pick him up off the floor, he smiles as big as can be, revealing those two tiny teeth, and wiggles around as if he is genuinely excited to see his mama.  That in and of itself is HUGE for me.  Grant has always shown such disinterest in mama.

Last Saturday Grant was finally able to figure out how to use those little legs and arms and started belly crawling. Paul and I were absolutely fascinated with how quickly he mastered the skill.  Just a week later, he began crawling.  It took Bryce nearly a month to master crawling but Grant was able to master it in just one week!!  God is so good!!  Paul and I have sat back and watched in wonder as the baby that for so long laid on the floor completely frustrated because he couldn't figure it out was now crawling all over the place and getting into things.  This in itself is enough to make my heart full to overflowing but God has poured out even more blessings on us!

Grant has struggled with feeding for the past 4 months. He did well at purees in the fall of 2011 but when we tried to challenge him with texture at the beginning of December he decided he wasn't going to eat anything for me.  We have spent the last three months trying to get him to trust us with feeding again.  In February we were able to get him to willingly take pureed jar food.  After a week we were able to add rice cereal to it and he took that well. However, he has been unwilling to progress beyond puree.  Though you can thicken his food up considerably with rice cereal, he does not like two different textures in his food.  Today God led me to a section of jar food that was labeled "textures".  The problem with most baby foods is that there is no transition from 2s (pureed) to 3s (pureed with large chunks of food).  Its too big of a difference in texture - even Bryce gags when we try 3s.  These "Textures" jars were labeled 2 1/2s. I decided to grab a few and try them with Grant. If he didn't like them, at least Bryce would eat them.  After I got Raegan settled down with breakfast (Bryce and Brooklyn were still asleep), I sat down with a jar of apples and mango that I'd mixed with rice cereal.  The chunks of mango were between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch so he'd definitely notice them but  still smaller than the 3s so we gave it a try.  As always, Grant was very guarded but did very well and finished the entire jar!  What an incredible accomplishment for him.         ...... I don't mean to end this here but the girls are starting to get into things and we just got word that a friend's little one just passed away this morning so my mind is not really focusing on updating the blog anymore....   Hope that everyone is having a blessed week!

On the Move (Mama is in Trouble)

I am so excited that I could jump up and down and dance in the street!  (seriously)  We have been working on Grant to get mobile since November.  Bless his heart, he wanted to move so badly but could just not figure it out. He wouldn't bring his knees underneath him. He couldn't even army crawl.  He just couldn't quite figure out how to get those legs working. I will admit that I struggled with worry that he had something that was keeping him from advancing.  Praise God that He guarded me from entertaining those thoughts as well as protected Grant!  Almost 3 weeks ago, God revealed to his therapists that he was not at all recognizing where his little legs were.  He had no idea they were there so there was no way he could voluntarily move them.  They started him on different exercises and added special weights to his legs to help him recognize that they were there and Oh My how he has taken off since then!  First it was pulling his legs underneath him and keeping them tucked under him.  Then practically overnight (again, seriously) he started army crawling this past Saturday.  We could see that he was quickly learning how to use those little legs to get him places and that it wouldn't be long before he was crawling.  What an understatement. It took Bryce nearly a month to transition from army crawling to full-fledged crawling.  It took Grant just over a week!  How great is our God!  I am so proud of my little man. He tried and tried and tried so hard and when he got it, boy how he got it!!! :)    Now, what do I do that I have TWO mobile boys?!  LOL

ps  Bryce in the past 24 hours has discovered that he can climb.  Mama is indeed in trouble! ;)

Moving Along

Boy! What a week last week was!  Brooklyn had an asthma attack on the way to the pediatrician's (for the boy's 15 month check up).  They had to give her a breathing treatment at the office and also gave us an inhaler so I'm not having to fly home to the nebulizer whenever this happens. Praise God for that inhaler.  Spring has sprung and so most likely allergies are what triggered the asthma issues.  We sent out an urgent prayer request and by the next morning, she was breathing so much better. :)  She's back to her old bubbly self - she's been feeling like crud the past couple of weeks.

Bryce and Grant are getting so  big!  At their checkup this past week they weighed 17 lbs 4 oz and 17 lbs 5 oz.  Grant is just one ounce bigger!  Love it!  Grant is 27 1/2 inches long and Bryce is 27 inches long so they're still little bitty.  Grant has been doing really good with therapy and has made some small (but big for us!) attempts at crawling! We're so excited for the progress that he's made in the past week alone!!  

The girls are doing really well.  Haidyn had her kindergarten program called "Squirm" last night. It was so cute. She even had a speaking part (referring to spiders) "Some are big and some are small. As for me, I'm afraid of them all." It was adorable.  No, I didn't manage to get a single picture but I'm praying that I can get someone else who was there to share a pic or two with me!  I promise I will send them your way if I can get some! :)

This week has been equally busy.  My schedule looks like this:  Monday was First Steps and Women of Charity (local missions at Stonebridge) meeting. Tuesday was MORE Bible Study and Haidyn's Kindergarten Program, tonight is First Wednesday at church (potluck and then prayer meeting) and then I have a meeting for the Body Shop (a clothing/household goods ministry) after church.  Tomorrow I have NICU Family Group. Friday is our "Let Your Light Shine" Women's Conference at church.  Saturday is Joshua's birthday party.  *sigh*  LOL  I will not be home one night this week!  Craziness, huh?  Next week is calmer and I'm looking forward to it! 

Change of Plans

We've been doing speech and occupational therapy at the hospital with both boys for a year.  Every Wednesday from 10am - 12pm.  In October, we added physical therapy on Tuesdays from 1-2pm.  We also have First Steps on Monday mornings which provide all three therapies.  Add to that my bible study at church on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:30 (sometimes noon), NICU Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm and my week is crazy even without anything else coming up.  God laid it on my heart to drop therapy at the hospital a couple of weeks ago but I didn't out of worry that our therapists there (Kathy and Marilyn) would be upset.  Of course, that was just satan trying to convince me of that so that I would be disobedient to what God had called me to do.  Well, I haven't cancelled therapy and something has come up every single week, usually sickness, that has forced me to cancel for that week.  I went in this past week to let them know that I needed to drop services but when they mentioned switching therapy to Thursdays, I caved.  Oh the things we go through when we're not obedient! I know the reason that He was having me cancel was because my schedule was overwhelming and the boys are doing just fine with First Steps only.

Last night was crazy.  The boys were up nearly every hour for one reason or another.  They also woke up Brooklyn at one point, which Paul graciously took care of for me.  We had incredibly broken sleep. I woke up this morning feeling like I was hit by a truck.  I rushed about getting the kids ready for therapy at the hospital and just as I was getting ready to head out, there was a knock at the door. It was our speech therapist from First Steps. I'd completely forgotten that I'd scheduled her this morning!  So I was double-booked and I had to call the hospital and cancel the first session of therapy this morning.  I felt extremely overwhelmed.  Then I got a call from a friend (Lauren) from church.  I had texted her to ask her a question about bible study and she decided to call and catch up with me since we haven't seen each other in several weeks due to illness in one of our houses.  God spoke so much to me through her about trusting Him and about His provision.  I received an email from a friend (Jodi) requesting prayer for a really stressful situation.  God gave me Philippians 4:7 to share with her.  After I got off the phone with Lauren, I sat down and reread the scripture He had me give to Jodi.  What peace that verse brought me!  I knew when I got off the phone with Lauren that I needed to call the hospital and cancel services.  After meditating a bit on the verse, I called and got the department voicemail. I explained the situation and then asked Marilyn or Kathy to call me back.  So now I wait for their return call (we're scheduled with them at 12:30pm this afternoon).  For the first time, however, I have complete peace on this situation.  I have known for two weeks that I needed to drop services but kept putting it off due to fear and look at the mess that unfolded because of it.  *sigh*

Our weeks are looking a bit less hectic now. Praise the Lord.  I am so grateful for a God who has patience on us, infinite grace to forgive us when we disobey or question and overwhelming peace to give us when we repent and continue to walk with Him.

February 22nd

I'm going to be updating this at least every other week, mainly for Mama. It probably won't be all that interesting or entertaining but I will try to keep you all up on how the kidlets are growing. :)


Brooklyn is our "sickie" right now.  I noticed a week ago that Brooklyn's diapers smelled kind of strong but hoped that pushing the fluids would clear up the concentrated urine.  Yesterday morning when I was changing her diaper, I noticed an ammonia-like smell and knew that it was time to call her pediatrician. I took her in this morning. She has a severe urinary tract infection.  We have been working on potty training her and her pediatrician thinks it may be due to her holding her urine from that.  She is on antibiotics for 10 days but it should start to improve within the next 2-3 days.  If it returns, he wants us to put potty training on hold for a little while.  I'm praying and believing this is an isolated incident and that she can continue with the potty training as she shows interest.  She has been spiking a fever from the UTI so she's been a little bit sluggish lately and not really interested in sitting on the potty.   I'm looking forward to having my smiling baby back soon!  She is getting so big!  Prior to the UTI, she was self-potty training which made me very happy. One less in diapers would be a blessing.  She's the clingiest of our kids so far but, for the most part, I love it.  She loves to help with the dishes and laundry (we have a little step stool in the laundry room so she can peek into the washer while I'm loading it.

Bryce and Grant are doing really well.  They're getting so big.  Grant weighs 17 1/2 pounds and is approx 27 inches tall.  He isn't crawling yet but loves to get up on his hands and knees and is very close to it.  No rushing on my end, though.  I don't mind having them immobile for a while longer! LOL  Bryce, however has other pounds.  He mastered crawling last month and seems to be in a hurry to walk as he is already cruising around furniture and pulling himself up on everything.  He's still a tiny thing at just over 17 pounds and 27 inches and I'd be happy having him crawling a while longer.  ;)  Bryce is starting to eat some soft table foods like rice, soft carrots, pasta noodles, etc that are slightly fork-mashed. He can self feed pretty well for being a tiny tot.  Grant is taking things a bit slower in the food department. He is still on pureed jar foods and does NOT like texture (like you get with home-blended).  We're letting him get comfortable with an array of veggies and such with the 2s before we try to challenge him with textures again.  We tried challenging him a bit in December and he disliked it so much that its taken us nearly two months to get him back to eating anything at all.  He'll get there.  He's just a lot more cautious about change.  I'm very proud of how big they've gotten and how well they are doing.  They're next major check up is in March.  Right now they are seeing the physical, occupational and speech therapists every Monday with First Steps and on Thursday with Mercy hospital (formerly St John's Hospital).

Raegan turns four years old next month. Craziness!  She is becoming quite the mama's little helper though I do have to watch her a bit more with the boys.  She likes to try and "carry" them to me though she doesn't at all have the ability to lift them! She wants to be just like her big sisters! Morgan and Haidyn are doing very well in school.  Both got perfect marks this past quarter (Morgan had all As while Haidyn had "+" for everything - which is excellent).  Haidyn has really excelled in her writing abilities and her teacher has been challenging her with 1st grade words.  I'm very proud of her.  She has a speaking part in the upcoming Kindergarten program in a couple of weeks.  Morgan is, as always, a blessed help and is growing up WAY too fast.  She is set to take the Red Cross babysitting classes in the fall and asks about it quite often. She has been able to get out a lot more this winter with her friends.  She's done several over-nighters and has had a blast.

I am baby sitting so I need to go check on the little ones!  May the remainder of your week be peaceful!  God bless you!

In the Midst of the Storm

John 14: 27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." NIV


God is greater than anything we can ever hope or imagine. (Eph 3:20)  No cirumstance that we may be facing, no storm that may be raging around us can change who God is.  He is our Healer. He is our Redeemer. He is our Comforter and Protector. He is our Refuge in the midst of the storm.  These days there seems to be so much in the way of storms and turmoil. In the midst of these struggles, we often hear Satan whisper that there is no hope, no joy to find and that we have been left to drown in the muck and the mire.  In the middle of this I take great comfort in knowing that God IS my refuge and my strength.  The bible says that Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy but God has come so that we may have life and have it in abundance. (John 10:10)  God's purpose for our life is not to be trampled in the trials of life but to over come them. To seek Him in such a way that His love overflows to us so that our life may be abundant in the things of His kingdom - peace, joy, contentment....  I am not saying that as we seek to know God and learn to live in Him that we will not have trials. Certainly not.  But what I am saying is that we can find a peace in Him that helps us over come whatever Satan tries to throw at us.  He will be with us every step of the way. One of Satan's favorite tools is loneliness and separation.  He wants us to feel alone in our struggles. He wants us to feel isolated and that no one understands, no one cares, no one hears.... do NOT accept these things! They are all lies!  So many times during His time on this earth Jesus stated that He is always with us. In Matthew 28 He says that He is with us always, even to the very end of the age!  When Satan tries to tell you that you are alone in your struggle, take heart! You are not alone!!  


I am so frustrated by the storms that have been raging in the lives of those around me.  My heart's desire is to dive into the midst of the storms and take them all away.  Yet on my own, I am powerless to calm the storm.  Through all of this, God has reminded me that HE is our refuge and strength. HE is our redeemer and the restorer of our faith. He is not sitting back and letting Satan trample over His children!  No matter how the tempest rages, there CAN be peace.  Our peace is found in Him who will not leave us in the muck.  Phillippians 4:6-7 speaks of this peace.  In John 16 Jesus is speaking with his disciples saying: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Have faith!  There can be peace in the midst of these storms. I urge you to meditate on these verses. Lay your troubles, struggles, hurts, and fears down at His feet and He WILL give you rest. Seek after Him with all you have. He is aching to hold you, comfort you and bring you peace like this world can never offer!  


John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

My Own Little World

I have spent the past few weeks in a blur. Ophthalmologists, pediatrician, sleep disorder physician, home health nurse, speech therapist.... Have I forgetten anyone? We have had appointment after appointment after appointment. Add to that banking, pharmacy and grocery runs, laundry, vacuuming, cooking, and taking care of six children and you have one very exhausted woman.

I have been completely wrapped up in my own little world lately; completely lost within my list of daily appointments and chores. I have wondered on a constant basis if this is all that my life consists of. I've been whining, complaining and even begging for some time off. I have definitely been productive these days. I am a very busy mother and wife. Yet I am realizing how quickly I've forgotten how big I'm blessed.

Not too long ago, a good friend of mine (and fellow NICU/multiples mom) texted me and asked for prayer for a friend. Her friend had given birth at 31 weeks. The precious baby lived only 5 1/2 hours and then was taken to heaven. I read her text for prayer and cried. Here I have been, completely consumed with all that is going on in my life, and completely forgetting how precious these lives I'm caring for really are. In the midst of all the madness, I forget to say thank you to our Heavenly Father for blessing me with such beautiful children.

Morning comes so quickly in this house lately. Bryce wakes numerous times during the night to nurse. Brooklyn has been a restless sleeper and even the older girls have been a bit off with their sleep patterns lately. This has made for very interesting dynamics in this house. Fussy toddlers, screeching and whiny preschoolers, argumentative little girls. I have found myself wanting to run away from it all for just a little while. Yet again, I'm reminded that God has blessed me mightily. I have a beautiful near preteen (10 in Sept - oh my gosh!!) who loves to help, is always striving to do her best and has such a beautiful heart. I have a sweet five year old who loves life. She is passionate about all that she does. Loving and energetic, she fills the room with smiles. Then there's Raegan. Sweet, ornery Raegan. What a spit fire that child is!! Always so much expression on that little girl's face!! She makes me roll with laughter at her antics. Then there is our miracle baby #1. She is such a precious little one. Always babbling and getting into something. Grabbing a book and plopping down to carefully look through it's pages - such a precious sight to watch. Bryce and Grant.... What miracles!! There was a time when we were not sure we'd ever take them home yet home they are! It has been so incredible to watch them grow and develop. They are two tiny, constant reminders of God's mercy and grace. Each time I find myself getting lost in frustration with my never ending to-do list, I am reminded of these blessings - and so many more - and find myself feeling foolish for complaining about such trivial things.

So instead of stressing over the things left undone today, or complaining about the lack of sleep, I need to count the many blessings God has poured out on me and press on. Embrace the life God has given you. All too quickly it can pass you by.

I have been challenged by the fact that I get so wrapped up in my own little world that I neglect the ones around me. As much as I would like to get out and do things to help others, right now my hands are already full to over flowing. Yet I always have spare minutes that I can use to drop a note to someone and thank them for their friendship, for their help, or just to see how they are doing. I am never so busy that I can't stop to pray when God lays someone on my heart. Yet most days I find myself so buried in my own thoughts that I don't take time for anyone else. I need to stop missing opportunities to say hi, thank you or I love you to those around me. Without those people that God has placed into my life, I would be an utter mess.

Thank you to everyone that prayed continuously for our boy's healing. Thank you to all of you who brought us meals. Thank you for your friendships. For the late night IHOP or McDonaldS trips just to talk. For the days of hanging out in the back yard in the heat of the summer with a lounge chair and a water hose, having fun spraying the girls as they ran around in their bathing suits. I truly am blessed! Thank you, Father, for such sweet reminders!