1-24-11

Congrats to Adam & Jill for the birth of their new

Baby Girl yesterday! (They waited to find out, so She was a Surprise!)

Adalynn Bailey was born at 5 p.m., weighed 6 lbs, 6 oz. & was 21 in.

She is precious!

I was the official Baby photographer & was there as an observer for the whole experience.

Sorry - no photos to share! I used Jill & Grandma Peggy's cameras! :)

It brought back a Lot of memories! :) It made me think about both of my labor stories with the boys. Made me think about watching Jen's birth to Zoe, and Kaden's birth! Grandma Peggy says I'm a Pro! 3 babies I've seen delivered, plus my two! Pretty awesome experiences, each of them. I was in awe and I was in prayer and I was nearly overwhelmed with anticipation and excitement and JOY for them and their new little one. It is just something indescribable to be in the room and witnessing the miracle of life. :)

My mom is at home with my boys today while Grandma Peggy spends time with her new granddaughter and family... Thank You Mom!

Jermie's mom & Grandma are in flight to Taiwan to visit his uncle and family and observe their mission work there...

I'm feeling happy and blessed today. Love my boys, my family, my friends. Better get my mind on work now... hope that's possible! :)

Gabe

On my table right now: a new table cloth I got at Wal-Mart. What a difference it makes to have the table cleared off. I could sit at my laptop for hours now...
Also on my table, a blue vase full of beautiful colored carnations that Gabe & Jermie brought home for me last weekend after a quick run to the store. Jermie said Gabe picked them out, then carried them around, telling everyone at the store they were for his mommy.
:)
Last night, the boys came home and immediately were in their superhero costumes. Jermie said he had to run to the store to grab some charcoal, and Gabe wanted to go, so then Ashton wanted to go... And yes, Jermie took both of them - in their Superhero gear - to the store with him. The boys were thrilled and I'm sure they got lots of smiles.
Makes me remember one time this past summer I went to Sonic for a couple drinks, with Gabe in the back seat. The girl who brought me my limeade asked sweetly if she could bring Gabe an ice cream cone. I thought it was nice and said sure... took me a minute to turn around and remember that he was in his carseat with his superman costume on. That thing gets him so much attention and he loves it.
:)
This morning Gabe woke up at 5:30, and Jermie was up getting ready. He put Gabe in bed with me for some snuggles. I got up at 6 but told Gabe to Stay in Bed or he would be too tired for school... About 10 minutes later Gabe comes downstairs with a big, happy 'Boo!" Jermie starts to get on to him about "What did your mom say?" So Gabe says he had something to tell Dad. What? "Um, that I love you. And that I need a hug." Of course, after being scooped up for a hug and a kiss, he was okayed to stay downstairs and awake. That boy has us wrapped around his little finger.

Then he pulls crap like this:
I took him and his brother to Wal-Mart this morning. He tells the Greeter, "You look old." She smiles and says, "I am." She took it very good-naturedly. Then he pushed it even farther. "You look like you're about to go to heaven." She kind of frowned, "Oh, I hope Not!" :/
UGH! The things kids say!

updates...

Updates...

Jermie is doing better... Not 100%, but better. He has had a week of strong antibiotics, a steroid, a nasal spray and some other medications, and is at least improving. He is feeling good enough that he went to the gym yesterday and today, so that's a huge improvement from the sick husband who would be in bed when I got home from work a few weeks ago...

The boys are doing fine. Ok, well except for Ashton's attitude lately - Terrible Two with an AttiTWOde. Gabe got a good talkin' to from DAD last week, and the complaints about school have been much fewer since... Always something to work on...

In the moments when they actually are being great though, Ashton has loved building blocks and towers lately, and Gabe loves this big drawing pad he got at Christmas. He likes the mazes and tracing, and he also likes flipping the pages over so he has a big white page and drawing big Batmen! (stick-figures with real heads shaped like a cat or screwdriver - too funny!)

I am doing good. Enjoyed a training for one of our grant programs on Monday and Tuesday as a co-host, which meant little stress and a lot of just hanging out. I am down two of approximately 32 classes this semester! :) Assigned my first little homework paper and got back 14 of the 17 on time. Had my first class with Full attendance on Tuesday - 17. 10 in Wellington and the rest via distance learning. Should have known those were just people skipping because they knew all we would do is discuss the syllabus and blah blah blah! Still getting used to that whole computer thing. Still very shy about Zooming In on My Face for the outside classes to see when I am talking. Actually, I have Never done it! Instead, I show about the front row of students and myself, standing behind a tall desk... hahaha. I'm a dork. I was pretty happy with the timing of the second class period - worked out so they were busy up until the last few minutes, which is better than the first class, where I was done pretty early. Lets see what tomorrow brings.... Oh, snow! I'm a little afraid of having to commute in the morning if the weather is going to be bad. :/ Yuck. Why did I sign up for an 8 a.m. class again!? on Tuesday, I had the kiddos loaded up and was on Gma Peggys dirt road when she passed me, headed in to our house to pick up the boys! I felt like such an Idiot! I knew she had offered - I just get going and hardly realize what else I need to think about. It was 7:45 a.m. on Monday, with Gabe loaded into Jermie's truck, before I realized he was out of school for MLK day! Oh, the things I could write in a Not Me post right now!!! :) But instead I will log off and go pick up my boys, come home and enjoy our warm house while it freezes outside.

Leftovers tonight. I've got papers to grade! :)

Once upon a time...

'Twas a cold & snowy night...

So, right after dinner mom bundled up the boys...



And we headed outside to play in the snow!

Then the brothers went inside happy
And snuggled warm in their beds
While visions of snowmen
Danced in their heads...

:) G'night!

Did it!

Taught my first class - and Survived. Went great - seems like a great group of students. 15 enrolled, but only 11 attended. One is a female Doogie Houser - an 8th Grader officially moved up to HS and in band/choir... Several of my students want to be doctors & veterinarians. Smart class... let's hope!

More later - it's a blur. I was excited. I kind of loved it, but it was also probably the easiest class of the semester... :)

Also - CONGRATS to Brian & Jen for welcoming their new baby boy early this morning! Very happy & excited for them! :)

10 Things - Too Many - On My Mind Tonight

That about sums up my life right now!

Jermie – saw a specialist in Wichita today who seemed concerned with his health and symptoms. The doctor did Not like hearing that he had been sick for so long and had tried 2 antibiotics & 2 steroids and Still has ‘blockage’ in his lungs… ugh. So, he was given several Seriously Tough medications/treatments. He was given some serious allergy testing to determine the possible cause of this sickness. And, he was told that if he doesn’t get healthy in 10 days, the doctor will want to do a CT scan. Let’s hope this doctor can get him into shape! (I seriously love that we have good health insurance.)

The spider bite was all scabbed over & looking good. I won’t go into detail on how it looks right now. Seriously GROSS. But it’s not looking like he needs an amputation…yet.

Gabe – Got in trouble by his mom this morning when she dropped him off at school and within a minute he was loudly telling his teacher that He Hates Chapel. Ummm… my kid is going to be kicked out of his class and sent to Public School! Seriously though - he needs to Stop being a complainer and whiner and change his attitude! :/

Ashton – Needs to stop coming to my room in the early morning hours. I barely wake up but I also simply cannot resist his snuggles! I also don’t want him to get into a habit… ugh. The struggles of letting/making your baby grow up. :) He is ornery.

Grant Work – lots of big things happening Right Around the Corner! Have I got everything done, everyone contacted & after working at home for two days this week…what does my boss have for me to do & did I get all that done? :)

Oh, and did I mention that Tomorrow I start Teaching!?

Yeah – a lot on my mind! :)

Tonight Jermie and I went out for chinese food. Grandma Peggy is watching the boys overnight so that I can have the morning to myself... So Much Appreciated... Always is.

:)

Quiet, well, except for...

Quiet around here.... Except for the following!

Hey, Good News ~ Matt & Alli are officially engaged! Congratulations! Matt got the ring and couldn't wait to give it to Alli! I saw it on her finger this weekend and it's a Sparkler! Very pretty. Such happy times for them. Now they'll take about 18 long months to plan the wedding, enjoy the engagement, and save for the honeymoon. Ahhh... very sweet. Very exciting. Very happy times.

• On a sour note: Jermie got Bit by a Brown Recluse. At work - right above the knee. It happened Thursday and it already looks pretty terrible. YUCK - ouch - and uh oh!?
• Jermie is also still sick! A doctor appointment on Wednesday with a specialist to check out his Mold Illness! UGH! Poor Guy!
• I have posted my syllabus for English Comp II. It's actually the lesson plans, homework and course Website that I have spent Hours & Hours on... and still need to. First class is this Thursday.
• Still following my diet. Cheated Friday night, but it didn't seem to set me back any and I've been following the "rules" since. I'm glad I started it and hope I can keep it going!
• A friend of mine from growing up, Ash B as we always called her, is a first-time mom! Saw on Facebook that she had a handsome little boy on Jan. 3rd and named him after her dad, Scott. I'm happy & excited for her. I'm also excitedly awaiting the arrival of Jill's baby & Jen's baby. Babies, babies, babies! Love em!
• The boys are good and healthy. Busy brothers. Loving watching movies these days, which is nice for me, plus they have tons of new toys from Christmas that are still getting played with all the time. Ashton amazes me with how much he learns from his brother - he is counting already! Gabe is a thinker - this weekend he asked if I could count to several?

:) Winfield is quietly getting blanketed by snow today. My boys have to be SO Excited! They have waited SO LONG for Snow to get here and I hope to have some good pictures of them out in it to share soon. They are boys and don't mind the cold! :)

Hope all is well with you!

Happy New Year!

Here are some happy partiers at Grandma Peggy's house! They were a riot, but no the police didn't have to get involved. :)

And here are a few pictures to show how we rang in the New Year!


With several of our friends - lots of lovey couples - lots of singing and dancing and general merriment! :) I think everyone got a kiss at midnight as we watched the ball drop and yelled "Happy New Year!" Then Jermie went off to tackle one of the guys and I went around offering everyone a drink from a giant bottle of champagne! :) Fun times. We are really blessed to know such a great group of people and have so much fun with them on the weekends and at these parties we throw. I think it's kind of rare, and it's kind of special, that we are surrounded by so many good people who are also so much FUN! :)

So, the New Year is here. Jermie and I have a handful of resolutions we are kicking into gear, nothing too out of the ordinary. Cut some fat off the budget, save more, vacation more & get into shape! Since we have a Hot Tub now, (LOVE) there is no 'bikini season' at our house! ;) I've actually started a diet plan that I stole from Jermie's sister, and I hope to look like her in the end! (Ha ha - wish me luck!) I've never followed a strict diet plan before, so I am having to really watch myself. So far - no cheats! (Day 3.) lol.

Looking forward.....

2011 - I will turn (dirty) 30, Jermie 34, Gabe 5 & Ashton 3. After summer break, Gabe will start KINDERGARTEN! My family has big things ahead, big new Jobs for my Sister (yay!) and myself (so much anxiety at that thought!) Katy & Josh...? Matt & Alli...? Alli has her 21st Birthday - and big plans for it - and I *think I have a couple invites to VEGAS so I hope I get to go - for the first time!? Jermie and I always talk about going back to Cancun, too, this time with some fun couples/friends/family, so we will hope that we make that a reality in some (?) future. We have some new friends who are currently planning outrageous bachelor/bachelorette parties and a Huge & Fancy Wedding to go to this spring! Yay! And... most importantly... some good friends waiting to welcome their new years BABIES! So many blessings to come in 2011. I hope it is good to us, our friends & our families. I hope this is a year of milestones, new starts, celebrations and smiles. Health & Happiness, and wishes come true. :)

Colorado Christmas

Red Canyon Park

All I have to do is look at these pictures, and I want to go back to Colorado. :)

While we were staying at Jami & Tony's, we spent one morning at this park, free to the public, and climbed around the rocks. It was gorgeous outside, no wind, almost 60 degrees... In the shots of the scenery, you see the one formation more than once - from the ground, while climbing, and eventually from the top - looking down at the Envoy... I have an adventurous husband and two boys who eagerly follow his every footstep - no matter how challenging the climb!

A wonderful morning...