We Have "Peeps" Just in Time for Easter...

The chicks are less than a week old.

Aren't they sweet...

As a customer at Orchelins told us, "You are now in the egg business." That is what we are hoping for anyways. Maybe not a business, but eggs for ourselves. We go through about four dozen a week currently and that number will only grow. We are proud owners of 15 chickens of 5 different varieties.

Illness Update

Two more down and two to go (hopefully not). This morning Josiah told me he threw up last night. I said, "Oh good!" I meant it to. The sooner everyone gets it, the sooner we know it is over and done with. He seems to be feeling okay this morning, just a little belly ache. Josh is the other who started throwing up before bed last night. I think he did during the night also. I heard he missed the bowl. I haven't investigated that yet this morning and he is still in bed. I pray Abby avoids it all, but if she does it will only be by God's grace. She spits up all the time anyways, so I'm not sure I'd know the difference.

Oh and another bit of info. We close on our refinance loan this week or next. We are saving a whole percentage point and over $200,000 over the life of the loan. What a deal! I'm so glad we looked into it. I don't like having such a big loan over our heads.

Spring has Sprung!

The "Men's" Camping Trip
Jedaiah's stitches. He saw this picture after I took it and said, "I've got to clean that." Yes, I'd agree, Mr. Egg Face

It only took about a week before Jesse learned how to start on his own without someone holding the bike for him to get him started.

If she's going to be anything like the last one who sucked his fingers (Josiah), we are in for a treat. He is such a sweet boy.

Abby has started rolling over. She will be four months old next week (the 11th). She also has found her finger and seems to enjoy sucking them. She is still an easy baby and such a joy. Rachel was sick this week and had to go a whole day without holding Abby. It was torcherous for her.

In other news, Jesse has learned to ride a bike without training wheels. Rachel taught him and he loves it! He is outside riding his bike all the time. Today he fell and thought he broke his arm. The verdict is still out on that one. It wasn't obviously broken.

Speaking of bikes, we had a lot of interest in biking lately. Everyone has been riding, well except Jonathan who is more content to be inside or to play a real sport like baseball or basketball. Anyways, today Jedaiah got three stitches in his head. If his dad wasn't a doctor, I probably wouldn't have taken him in. Some butterfly closures would have probably done okay, but James thought it would be a better scar if he stitched it.

With all that going on we have also been battling a stomach bug this week. First Rachel started with it last Saturday night, next Jesse two nights later and then Jonathan on Tuesday afternoon. By Tuesday evening both James and I were not feeling well, although we both avoided the vomiting. Jay got it this afternoon. That leaves Josiah, Josh, Jedaiah and Abby to go. I'm hoping this will run its course before Easter. I'm also hoping Abby will not get it. Overall it isn't too bad of a virus, but still no fun and has kept us from a few activities this week.

A few weeks ago, James took Jonathan and Josh on a man trip. They went hiking on the Ozark trail. I think it was Bell Mountain. Anyways, they had a great time and even started a fire using flint, (I think that is what it was). They were pretty excited about that.

Well, the kids are ready for me to open the pool. Crazy warm weather we've been having, but it seems to be cooling down. I'm glad about that. I don't like having to use the air-conditioner in April.

It has Been a While...

I've been meaning to update my blog for quite a while. Most times when I sit down to the computer I am nursing and it is hard to type then. Anyways, I've been quite busy lately. Abby is growing so fast and time is speeding by. School is winding down. We've just got a couple weeks to go. We'll take a couple weeks off and then fall into our summer schedule. I'm not sure what that will look like, but I'm sure it will constantly change, based on the weather and whatever else is going on.

We've celebrated a few birthdays these past couple months. Gardening and baseball have begun. The weather this past week has been like summer, so focusing on school is more of a challenge. Here are some pictures and I'll trying and post more soon.

Here's Abby on her 2 month old day.

Josiah turned 8 March 1st. He is getting old enough to help more around the house. He even does a rotation of dishes now, which his brothers like. He has come a long way from hiding under the table when it is time to clean up. He would tell you he'd rather play then do school, but he does it willingly and does a good job. He also has some talent in drawing. He seems to enjoy drawing and doodling.

Jesse turned 4 in January. He got a new bed for his birthday. We put it in the basement with his brothers. He still sleeps some in Rachel's room though. Lately, Jesse has been moody at times. He isn't getting enough sleep, so we are starting to put him in bed earlier at night, along with Rachel. He's always been pretty easy up until now. I hope more sleep will return him to his joyful self.

Here we celebrated James' birthday. He turned 40! He has had a busy few months. Things are busy at the office and church as usual. He is also begun to coach Josiah's baseball team. He is very excited about this. He will be busy every Saturday from now until July will ball practices. Our boys have practice from 7:00 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m. Their pratices are back to back all morning. Four teams, four games a week and four practices, wow we are in for a busy Spring!

Rachel turned 6 years old on February 21st. She got girly legos for her birthday, which she really wanted. I must admit, they are pretty cool and very girly. Rachel is a big help to Mommy with Abby. She gets Abby dressed for me when I ask her. She loves being a little Mommy to her little sister. I just need to get her trained on changing diapers and then I'll be set. She has tried it, but she still need assistance. Right now, since Abby is breast feeding, diapers are pretty easy to change.

Here she is. She smiles and talks all the time now. She is such a good baby and sleeps plenty through the night. Most mornings I wake her up to feed her.

Christmas Time...

We have had a wonderful Christmas break, starting with Abby's birth three weeks ago. Tomorrow begins a return to our routine, although it will be more challenging with a newborn to take care of. We have had lots of fun with Abby. She hasn't quite adjusted to our sleep schedule yet. She is usually wide awake past our bedtime. I try to keep her awake during the day, but I don't always have time for that. We just love her anyways, she is such a blessing!!!! Here are some pictures of our holiday fun.

Matching hats, made by a friend

Lee, James' Dad, turned 70 on Abby's birthday. Here he is with Abby and his great-granddaughter, Reece

Christmas outfits

Christmas Eve after church

Our precious gift under the tree

Jay got a bass guitar for Christmas

Josiah with his new djimbe (an African drum)

Jonathan got an electric guitar

Our sweet girls

Looking at Mommy

Lots of love...

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I was having steady contractions much of the day about 25 minutes apart. James and I went to his office Christmas party at dinner time. I was wondering if I might go into labor during the night. I got into bed and within a couple minutes I got another contraction and during the contraction I felt a pop that made me jump. I wondered if my water had broken (although I was not expecting that at all). I felt no liquid coming out, so then I pushed on the baby to make sure she was okay. She moved around. I layed there another minute and decided I would get up to go
to the bathroom. I almost made it before the gushing began and right away, I knew my water had broken. We were both pretty excited. We called the doctor to see what he wanted us to do. Because the baby had been high, he wanted us to go on down to the hospital. We made it down here at midnight. My contractions eventually got quite strong, but they were pretty far apart. They started the pitosin early in the morning after I got my epidural. It didn't take much pushing before she arrived. I was in shock and couldn't believe she was a girl. It took a little bit of time to process it all. I'm starting to get used to it, saying "she" instead of "he". She is so sweet. She has been pretty alert when she has been awake. I haven't slept much since arriving at the hospital. I'm hoping for some good rest tonight. What a wonderful blessing God has entrusted us with. We couldn't be happier!
When we called my mom after she was born, I was still processing it all. She asked how big she was and I said 18 pounds, then I said 11 pounds and something ounces. She was like "what??" I quickly realized I was not thinking straight. Finally I got it right with 8 pounds, 14 ounces. She is 22 inches long and was born at 10:48 a.m.

Excited Momma

Isn't she precious...

She was pretty alert after being born. I love this picture. James was pretty excited.

November

Last weekend our nephew, Mike, got married. Jesse got to be in the wedding. He did a good job walking down the isle, dispite his poor performance at the rehearsal.

The flower girl and ring bearer

Mike and Katie Miller
Very Sweet Picture!

Daddy and Rachel had a dance. Rachel had such a great time dancing.

My niece, Heather, is closer to delivering than I am, but I sure do look bigger. We are both due December 15th. I am expecting not to deliver too early, maybe a few days. I am ready any time though. I've been so blessed to have such a good pregnancy.

Our traditional "baby kissing the baby" picture. We couldn't quite get it, so we'll try again before the baby comes. He kissed the baby, but he was so quick, James couldn't get it with the camera.