Graduation

Yeah, I know it was over a month ago but we had stuff going on to say the least. I did want to post pictures of the blessed event because it really was an accomplishment that we are very proud of (we are proud of Brad, he's proud of his accomplishment)! We were lucky to have Grammie, Pops and Lisa here to celebrate the big day and then help us move!

Just in case you don't know, the kids and I are so proud of Brad!! He is the best dad and husband anyone could ask for! We are so happy that now he can come home and see us on a daily basis! We love you Dad!!! Congratulations!

Clapping and almost crawling

It's been forever...you might not recognize our little mohawk baby Olivia but here she is clapping and almost crawling. We are already in our new place for now but not quite to the point where I'm happy to share pictures. Give me a little bit and we'll get some up for ya'll.

Things are very good in Colorado! We really like it here so far. Brad has a commute he isn't a fan of and it makes his hours about what they were when he was in law school but, it's SO nice for him to be making real money, and not to worry about being prepared for tomorrow's class.

All the kids are doing well, growing like weeds and have acclimated to our new surroundings quite well!

We are so grateful for everyone who has helped us through this process, especially Grammie, Pops and Lisa who made the trip with us and worked tirelessly moving us in, building something, cleaning or watching the kiddos. You were lifesavers! And also to Brad's work...I cannot find words to express our thanks for everything these last 3 years of school.

Pictures to come shortly!!

So funny

The 6 month sit

Olivia has learned to sit. She's a little wobbly but can do it.

Just one more thing to brag about...

Poor Brylie must be so bored here...she learns things faster than I can teach her! A few days ago, we were all just sitting around while Brody read books, Olivia played with toys and practiced rolling over, and Brylie was coloring letters as she calls it. She kept asking me how to spell my name so I told her letter after letter not really paying attention. Then I saw this!

You can see, even Prince Charming was crying with joy. I shrieked with joyous surprise and then saw this!

Cute girl! Like father, like daughter. And yes, she did just turn 3 in February!

Fly Whisperer

Lately, we have had ridiculously large amounts of flies in our house. At first I blamed it on the maggots we had in our big trash bin outside that turn into flies and then fly into our home through the gap in the weather stripping (it's like the size of a peanut at the very bottom corner) but now I'm beginning to think it's because of this guy. Meet The Fly Whisperer!

Now when you think "whisperer", you assume they have the best in mind for their animal but not in this case! He lures them in and then kills them. I have watched him catch one hanging out on the window sill, dropped it and then picked it up again. And I assure you, it was alive both times it was caught. He has brought me dead flies in his hand and most recently, in his toy microphone.

And then there's those I just find laying around.

Poor guys! But I really don't care how they get out of our house as long as they are gone! And you never know, Brody may star in the next Animal Planet's "Fly Whisperer".

Out with the old, in with the semi-new

We said goodbye to the much loved "Amry" last week and welcomed a new vehicle into the driveway. Unfortunately, when Brad went to renew the safety on the Amry, the guy wouldn't do it because he'd be surprised if it lasted another 100 miles. So we did some shopping and found this awesome buy and I think it suits Brad very very well!!

Position of choice

Olivia is such a funny sleeper, the second I put her into the crib (she's already asleep, I know, I know, she should fall asleep on her own by this age) she immediately turns her head back into this position. Can't be that comfortable, can it? Maybe I should try it.

Michelin has a new face...

...or could with this hot bod!!

What do you think?

It's Not Easy Being Bald...

Poor Olivia...We can do a few things with a mohawk...

But hair has nothing to do with how cute this baby is!!!

What a haircut can do

Last night I gave Brody the summer buzz and have been amazed ever since at how grown up a haircut can make him look.

My oldest two can now pass as twins.

And here's some more just for good measure!

For your sakes...

I will update for all of you who are hanging by our every blog post...you've been hanging for quite some time now. My kids will look so different to you all. Well, maybe not THAT different but Olivia might. She is growing up faster than I imagined. It really is true, the older you get the faster time goes. Unfortunately for my kids, I'm getting older making time go faster for them. Well, at least in my eyes. I can't believe how much kids can change in such short periods of time.


Brody is talking more than ever and often makes us chuckle with his phrases. He is such a boy but has no steady playmates that are male so he thinks playing with dolls and being a princess is typical boy behavior. He figures out ways to incorporate his lion and tiger into the mix to add some testosterone. I can't get over how cute he is! His run is darling with one arm pumping for speed, or as fast as his short little legs can carry him! He is my little buddy and I'm finding that he truly treasures the cuddles I give him in between my constant time with Olivia. We manage to squeeze some in there.Brylie is getting so big, I think I give her way too much responsibility. She doesn't let me down however and I feel a little bit better when I realize that I was in her shoes and did fine with the responsibility and even enjoyed it. In fact, I think I'm doing her a favor to a degree. Some kids don't learn responsibility until they move out of the house. She could move out in a few short years with all she's getting. Although, I'd like to keep her as long as possible!

Olivia is growing bigger in height and girth! She probably weighs in around 17 lbs if you ask me. She is cooing like crazy and has started laughing a little. She is also learning to form sounds with her little mouth and is almost blowing bubbles. She eats up any attention she may get and lets us know when she's not getting all she wants! I love that she's getting a little older in that she is spitting up less and going longer in between feedings! I can't believe she is almost 4 months old. Her sleeping habits are becoming more frequent in the night...I am dreading the time we teach her how to sleep through the night (cry it out).

Brad and I couldn't ask for better kids and cuter too! And I couldn't ask for a better husband! He truly works as hard as he can to juggle all he is working on currently! He is a trooper and I love and appreciate him! Thanks hun!!

Hope these pictures tide you over until our next post.

Miracles DO happen

Brylie decided to be potty trained and when I say potty trained, I mean she's only had 5 accidents and wakes up dry. It has been about a week now! I am so proud! And she's not 5 years old like I thought she'd be!!!

We had an outdoor activity at our house that was fun for the kids but Dad wasn't so thrilled about it (writing on the door). Sidewalk chalk works on more than just sidewalk.

It has been fun to see how much Brylie loves Olivia and how much Olivia loves Brylie. Here is a video of the two talking!!

Can't Get More Precious Than This

Nipples...

Today Brylie said to me while we were sitting down for dinner, "Mom, I need my nipples; they're over there." Now we've had the nipple conversation with me nursing Olivia so I know she knows what nipples are so I thought she was trying to be silly but her face told me she was serious and she really "needed" her nipples. So while I was quickly thinking of a tasteful way of telling her, "No, remember what nipples are..." she said, "They're over there in the window" where we keep her chewable vitamins. And it clicked. She was not really talking about nipples at all. Phhhhhew! Silly girl! I love you! And then I gave her a vitamin and she was happy!

Olivia

After several requests, here is Olivia today smiley as can be! We are so glad to have her in our family and healthy.

Birthdays galore!

We have managed to work it (unintentionally) so that all our family birthdays land within 2 months of each other!!! We can get all the present opening over with and then have 10 months to build our excitement of opening presents again. Brylie has said many times, "tomorrow I will be four!" only to be disappointed when I say, "no, you still need to have a halloween, and thanksgiving and christmas when you are three". She has even tried to trick me by saying, "mom, when I turn four tomorrow, I will go pee pee and poo poo in the potty". I have seriously debated letting her "turn" four prematurely just for the chance she would go on the potty. Just another attempt at almost successful manipulation.

As seen here, I turned 31 to start off the celebrating of birthdays, that is, after the actual 'birth day' of Olivia on the 29th of December. We had a few friends over for delicious princess ice cream cake. Brad picked the cake up on the day of so there weren't many to choose from. Princesses fit me better than dinosaurs, I guess. I had a great birthday as usual and am delighted to turn 31!?!

Brylie could hardly wait for the 3rd of February to come so that she could actually be 3. We had talked about it for a very long couple of months and she had no problem abandoning the 2. We opened presents that morning and she enjoyed cards and phone calls from relatives throughout the day. We had another princess cake and opened remaining presents. She had an awesome day and as mentioned before, wants to turn four tomorrow.




Brody had to wait a whole 20 days and then got to celebrate twice because I was in the hospital with Olivia over his birthday. He opened a present or two and had a brownie with candles that night for dinner. He heard from family on the phone also and enjoyed many cards. We finally opened all of his presents and had his alligator cake Friday the 5th of March. Needless to say, he had a great birthday and loves being 2.


The last birthday was Brad's 29th. His was the 26th and I was still in the hospital with Olivia so we postponed the celebrating. We did open his presents around the same time we opened Brody's but today we are having his birthday dinner and cake. Pictures to come!

So now we have a whole 10 months to get excited about present opening and to discuss going pee pee and poo poo in the potty today without turning four first. So many fun things to anticipate!

Together at last!!

We came home today! So nice to be back!

News from the hospital...

For those who are unaware of the last week, our whole family got a cold and regardless of our efforts to keep Olivia from getting it, she did and we wound up in the hospital. We have been here since Sunday morning. Olivia sounded pretty good except for a cough that made her gag on her own secretions and she had a fever. Her fever persisted a few days and then went away but she started to sound bad again when she should have been sounding better. She then got another fever so the doctors began to look for a secondary infection. And they found out this morning she has pneumonia. So hopefully she will respond to the antibiotics quickly and the crap in her chest that is causing this cough and difficulty breathing (meaning her oxygen saturation hasn't been as high as it should be) will resolve and she can come home. We anticipate Sunday or Monday, however, you never know what will happen and I don't have much confidence in predictions as we have been disappointed with them so often in the past.

Here is Olivia in her mist tent. This is like a big localized humidifier. Very high tech!

You can't see in the picture but she is on oxygen and has an IV. It took 6 pokes and she has had 4 different IV's that eventually didn't work. She is so strong physically (she'll be my "sporty" daughter) and emotionally. It's nice to be able to calm her in these tough times! I guess the Lord knew we had been through this before and could handle it, or we just haven't learned the accompanying lesson. I know I learned this, all of our future children WILL be born after RSV season, so in the summertime!

A large THANK YOU to everyone who has helped out, expressed concern, given a meal, called us on the phone, visited the hospital, watched our kids or watched Olivia for us and more! You have no idea what an outpouring of blessings we have received and I have been able to see our prayers and your prayers on our behalf answered through all of you! It's been very humbling and testimony building. I can't express my gratitude enough! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Can't stay out

of the hospital that is! I don't know what it is I'm doing or not doing but we just can't seem to keep my newborns out of the hospital with RSV! Olivia was admitted on Sunday with RSV and we don't know when she'll come home! Keep her in your prayer and we'll keep you updated!

Thanks to all those who have helped out so much! Especially Grammie for being able to visit and take care of Brylie and Brody. What would we do with them otherwise?