Update full of Random information

(from a note I wrote to Nick giving him an update on the family happenings)

Athena and I decided to take the kids to Busch Gardens....by ourselves! CRAZY! As a VA resident you can buy a ticket for $56 and use it all summer long. We first used our tickets in May and this was our attempt to get the most out of our money. We got two hotel rooms for one night and went to the park for two days. The first day was a little rough, getting the hang of it, but the second day was very nice. The kids had a blast! We're going to try to go back again before the end of summer.

We got a LOT of looks with our eight children. I get a lot of looks having FOUR children! People stop me and inform me that I have too many children - always men:) Women give me lots of ooohhs and aaahhhhs...men actually blurt out profanities...it's pretty funny! I had one man walk by me and say "no more! They're cute, but no more". Of course Gavin is never with me when this happens - usually just me with the girls - so I'm sure they must assume I'm this out of control, horny, single mom who is too irresponsible to take birth control. It's pretty funny.

Eliot Katherine is amazing. She sings her ABC's and can count to 20. She loves Kung Fu Panda right now!! Elle is so smart. There isn't a single day that goes by that Gavin and I are not amazed...literally. She recently lost her little pink baby bear. We can't find him anywhere. We've all looked every place we can think of and nothing. She was without him for over a week when I bought a new one - bigger and brown - looks nothing like her other one. Jenny and I were together when I got him. We put him in her arms while she slept and she woke up the next morning with him, and in love!! We told her that baby bear sent his cousin, Barry, to be with her while he was gone. She said for a while that baby bear was in school, but yesterday she told mom, out of the blue, that she lost him.....:( Elle really loves her new "baby bear" though - so I'm very happy about that.

Reece - Roo loved VBS this year and it got her thinking about school. She's VERY excited about starting Kindergarten. We'll take a tour of the school and find out who her teacher is in late August. She'll be going to Great Falls Elementary, like Rae did for K. She's so beautiful and has such a great personality. I'm taking her out on a date this week while we're at mom's.

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that I decided since we were already in the southern part of VA that I would go ahead and drive to mom's for a visit. We're here for the next week and then meeting the Blake's at the beach. Gavin is going to take the train down to meet us here and drive over with us to the beach. We're all very excited about that!

Mom had stints put in two major arteries at her heart last week, to everyone's surprise. One artery was 100% blocked and had started it's own bypass called collateralls (sp?) and the other was 95% blocked. They said she was a walking time bomb. Thankfully, they were able to completely open up the one blocked 95% and the other they are treating with medication since it was already starting to take care of itself. She's completely changing her diet, too. She's still staying away from carbs, but no more fatty meats. She's doing well.

Raegan is doing great. She's very dramatic, as usual. The Lord has brought her some great friends from school and she's excited about getting into her year of 2nd grade/French Immersion. She really enjoyed VBS this year, also. She told me that she wants to be a missionary and has talked about it often since. I can definitely see her doing that. She lost both of her front teeth. They are already starting to come in again. We think she's come pretty close to kicking the whole sucking her fingers thing....fingers crossed.

Sutton is changing so quickly. I had to stop nursing her because she was reacting so badly to my milk. I gave up dairy, which helped a little, but her little tummy was still all torn up. She's doing great on formula. It was hard for me to give up because it was just so outside of what I expected....consistent with her so far. I'm definitely having to surrender all expectations when it comes to this little one! She is such a good baby, though, and I'm crazy about her.

Gavin and I are doing great. He's still my best friend and there is no one I would rather be around than him. We are celebrating our 12th anniversary this next week (August 9th)!!

There has been a stirring among Gavin, Jenny and myself lately. We feel a new season coming that will require even more sacrifice. We have no idea what is around the corner but we are trusting in the one that does know. We know, and declare, that He is a good father who knows how to give good gifts and we trust Him. We just want to be about His business.... I've gone through my checklist, personally, and I know that all I have is His and is in His hands. I hold every blessing he has given me with open hands. I'm so thankful for every day I have with my precious blessings, but I know they are His.

I'm anticipating normalcy once school begins. In the mean time, we're out enjoying this summer! I hope you all are, too!
much love,
em

Single handed...

Th phrase "single handedly" conjures up thoughts of great accomplishment, usually. It most recently, however, describes the way I'm having to type...which may explain why I'm not doing much of it lately. As I type this, single handedly, Sutton is sleeping in my arms. She's such a cutie!

So, to keep this short, we're doing well. Sweet T is on a three hour cycle, with one four hour gap at night. The girls are all still amazing with her, especially Reece. Rae finishes up 1st grade next week. They don't get out until the 18th - does that seem really late or is it just me?! She loves the French immersion program and will be returning next year.

Jenny is home, asof the 1st of June. We're thrilled to have her home!!

The Woodson family is still living with us, but we are very hopeful about some recent developments. Please pray for clarity, healing, redemption, and wisdom in this situation if the Lord lays it on your heart.

Nick is practically engaged to a girl we love, Traci, and having an amazing time on the World Race through AIM (Adventures in Missions). He plans to marry her when he gets home at the of the year! He has lived with us for the past three years and we're so proud of him!

Mom comes up next week for a long visit!! We can't wait! Then we'll be heading down to NC for a visit. I LOVE summer!!

pictures coming soon...

Keeping it Cool

I'll be back soon with more pictures and updates, but in the mean time enjoy this faux-mercial...I think it's hilarious!!

Roo's new haircut and Sutton

I had been promising Reece since January (when I cut Rae's hair) that I would cut her hair shorter. I LOVE the girls with long hair, so I've been stalling.... Until this week, when Reece went to sleep, undetected, with some Easter gum and woke up with it in her hair. I'm sure I could have probably gotten it out with much work, but decided it was a good time to deliver on my promise. I love her new cut, and so does she. It suits her - cute and fun!

The other pictures are of the girls with Sutton. They (We) are all still very smitten with our little Sutton. She is precious.

Sutton Vian

Pictures!!!

The beginning of this year was a big one for Reece. You'll see pics of her getting ready for surgery. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed. (difficult recovery but major blessing!!) We also celebrated her 5th birthday. She had a little celebration with her Montessori Country School class, and a tea party at our home. I also threw in pictures of our extended family having prayer time together, and a few random pics of Elle and Rae. Oh, and the one with us wearing shower caps is when we were fighting off lice....not fun.

It's been a BIG year already! I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord will do with the rest of 2009. Now that I have my cord back I'll try to be more regular with pics - for you Mom!!

One last note: We celebrated Elle's 2nd bday, but incredibly I don't have any pics of the event!! ....heart sinking.... We had a small family celebration for her. She's so precious and full of life. I just love that girl!! Maybe mom has some pics of the evening...

Over the Initial Shock

Well, last night was much better. I guess I just needed to get over the initial shock of the recovery process. Thank you, Daphne, for your much needed encouragement! I really appreciate hearing from "those that have gone before me"...

Sutton is such a doll. The girls are all still doing wonderfully with her. They can't get enough of their new baby sister. Elle is such a great big sister already. Reece is a constant - so caring and nurturing. Rae is on top of everything baby, but is still very focused on what she happens to be doing - whatever that may be.

I had a wonderful visit with my dear friend, Meridith, today. She came over and just held Sutton while I napped. Mer knows how to love, especially love on me, and I'm so blessed to have her friendship. She came bearing many gifts - for the girls, she brought crafts, which they loved; for Sutton, she brought three adorable outfits; for me, a bag of goodies: relaxing shampoo and conditioner, the latest and greatest mascara to look fresh, almonds for added protein (did I forget to say they were covered in chocolate......;), and several other thoughtful and fun things. I'm so blessed.

Gavin took Raegan and Reece to the Easter vigil service at the Church of Ascension and St. Agnes, in D.C. - where our dear friends, Sammy and Renee, serve. Father Sam, I should say, is one of the priests there. It's an amazing service - so special. Gavin says it's his favorite service of the entire year. I agree. It's long (2 1/2hrs), but so worth it. The girls got all dressed up in their Easter dresses, and Gavin wore his nice suit and bow tie. They all looked beautiful/handsome. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures tomorrow.

I LOVE Easter! What an amazing season, and what an amazing God we serve.

Happy Easter, everyone!!

In Need of Advice!!!

Oh my goodness, last night was hard!! C-section recovery is WAY worse than vaginal. Sutton was having a hard night - not a big deal, except that I couldn't get to her. I couldn't sit up, roll over, barely move without help.

HELP!!!! I need some advice from those of you who have had C-sections. Advice? Tips? Words of wisdom?

I'm so spoiled to being able to come home and just take care of the baby...which is a big challenge by itself. I'm NOT used to not being able to do that very well. This is quite different.

I'm all ears.