Thank You For...

Thanks to the Lord for unexpected gifts, blessings unasked for, things we didn't know we needed but couldn't live without. At this time last year we had no idea what was in store for us, and today I wonder what's in store in the days to come. As Archer and Shelly bring home projects from school and church that list the things they're thankful for I'm proud that they list each other, "I'm thankful for my brother/sister." Today was a rough day, I think both kids got hurt at least five times as a direct result of rowdy play. But I'm thankful that none of their injuries were major. And that they love playing together. And that they're healthy enough to be running around. And that I get to be part of it too. And that I didn't cause many of the rough-housing injuries... only one, I think.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
~ Acts 17:25

David said to me that he thought Shelly needs to have her eyes checked. She had just walked into something or tripped over something... Shelly was on the other side of the room and to check her eyes he held up three fingers and called out to her, "How many fingers?" "Three!" she shouted. He gave her the thumbs up an she shouted, "One!"

As I type this she's singing a little made-up song. She never stops talking, singing, whispering... Except of course in crowds, then she completely clams up. But the girl always has something to say!

Friends and Treasures

Archer grumbled, "I have no friends."
Shelly said, "I'm your friend!"
"No you're not, you're my SISTER."
"Sisters can be friends."
Oh how true, Shelly!

David pulled the coffee maker out of the closet and removed the following items from the carafe: grocery receipt, two erasers, a binder clip, strange orange spiky toy (made to resemble a ladybug? or elephant?), magnifying glass and pink wooden bead. "That's where I keep my treasures" Archer told me once. Where will he keep his treasures now that we're making coffee?

The Sweetest Sound...

is hearing my children laughing together.

And hearing them sing to their baby brother when he starts to cry.
Hearing one of them say to the other "are you ok?" after they've played too rough and someone's gotten hurt.
Hearing "you're the best mom EVER!"
Hearing them screaming "Daddy!" when he walks through the door in the evening.
Hearing Shelly say "aww you're a cutie pie" to her younger brother.
Hearing Archer patiently explain the rules to a game for the 20th time even though I'm pretty sure Shelly will NEVER understand what he's talking about.

Hearing Elijah's first cry. And Shelly's and Archer's. Hearing my children breathing peacefully as they sleep next to me in my bed. Why aren't they in their own beds???

Archer and Shelly were running around screaming and laughing tonight and I thought, "that's the sweetest sound I've ever heard." Then I thought of all the other sweet sounds and couldn't decide which was really the best. I guess I don't have to have a best. They're all so wonderful to hear.

Happy Birthday Elijah Graham!

The waiting is over. Our precious wonderful amazing little miracle was born on Friday morning. Elijah Graham came into the world at 7:42 weighing 10 lbs, 8 ounces and he was 22 & 3/4" long. Hello beautiful! Although we had a couple of small issues, he's now doing well and he's perfectly healthy and we're all perfectly happy to have the youngest member of our family home with us. Now that I've seen him on the outside of me, I can't believe he was ever INSIDE of me, how could he have been crunched up so tight to actually fit in there? And how could he MOVE? It must have been awfully cozy for him!

We stayed in the hospital for three nights after he was born and each night my heart grew more uneasy at being away from Shelly and Archer. Tonight we're all together again and it seems that all is right in the world. Or at least in our family.

Thanks are in order...

Thank you Mom and Dad for taking Archer and Shelly, for driving back and forth to get Archer to and from school and the kids to and from the hospital for visits. Thanks for letting them move in with you and interrupt your lives for a few days, hopefully they haven't worn out their welcome TOO much! They loved being with you and cherish every moment of games and story time and fun that they have with you.

Thank you Denise for joining us at the hospital and being such wonderful support to David and I throughout the entire experience. You were such a stable presence, constantly encouraging and helping and you are an amazing blessing in our lives. God has truly blessed me with you as my sister and friend.

And most importantly thank you David for putting up with your frustrated, grumpy wife for the last few months as I complained about having to wait so long, and about all my little irritations and frustrations. Thank you for helping me with the little and big things. Thank you for holding my hand and encouraging me through every minute of labor and every moment before and after. You are such an amazing husband. You're a wonderful dad. God is amazing to have placed us together and I thank Him every day for you in my life.

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of the warrior

are children born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

 ~ Psalm 127:3-5

Strike Two

A couple weeks ago I thought I was in labor, called the doctor and told her what was going on and she told me to come into the hospital. We packed up the kids, dropped them off at Mom & Dad's and went in. After many hours of waiting the contractions slowed down and we were sent home. All late at night. Strike one.
Last night our baby boy gave us a liitle scare, I called the doctor and she said to come in right away. So once again we packed up the kids, dropped them off with Mom & Dad and went in. They checked us out and everything was fine. And though I was having regular contractions I still wasn't in labor. Again, all late at night, of course. Strike two.

Its been frustrating and at moments scary and I confess I've let fear take over faith a few times. But God has been faithful to us and He's been keeping our little miracle safe and healthy. Every time we visit the doctor, whether for regular appointments or late-night checkups, the report has always been, "You have a very healthy happy baby. He's doing great." Praise God! And each time that we've woken the kids up, stuck them in the car and dropped them off with Mom and Dad they've taken it in stride and come home the next day as if this is all a normal part of life. Thank God for children's resilliance, for family and friends, for all the little and big blessings in life that are too many to count. And let's hope the next time we have to go in, its a home run instead of another false alarm!

Indoor Baseball

Right now the kids are in the other room screaming at each other. Its escalated to the point that I normally would intervene but I'll try an experiment and just let it work itself out. Oh, they just ran in here tattling on each other. Wait, now they're laughing and running back out...
Yesterday Archer received a plastic baseball and bat from Awana and the kids spent the rest of the evening playing indoor baseball.

Game: Batter sits on the floor with the bat, pitcher sits approximately five feet in front of batter and rolls the ball to the batter. Batter "swings" the bat (sweeps it across the carpet) and hits the ball. Pitcher crawls to retrieve the ball.

Potential Improvements: Batter actually tries to "run" the bases by crawling to predetermined landmarks in the room. (This is just my idea, they don't know enough about baseball and didn't have enough time for this to develop.)

Potential Evolution (when parents leave the room): Batter hits the ball more and more violently until the ball no longer stays on the floor but actually flies through the air. Pitcher no longer rolls the ball but starts throwing it. Crawling is too slow so all players stand up and run to chase the ball. No one sits on the floor anymore, the bat is being swung for real and the ball is being thrown randomly (because a 3 year old pitcher doesn't have good aim yet) at the batter. Someone gets hurt. Or more likely, something gets dented, knocked over, or broken.

I sometimes marvel at the amount of "what will happen next" thinking I've learned to do. "What will happen when..." And after six years of parenting its so automatic. What's more surprising is when I forget to think this way and then I'm shocked by what happens. And then I catch myself thinking, "Why didn't I see that coming?"

Tools & Trucks

Today we entered a new phase, the one where Archer doesn't need me as much as he used to. Ok, I guess that's EVERY day, and that's the point of kids growing up, right?

Archer made an announcement that his truck needed new batteries. I ignored this announcement because that means I don't have to listen to the dump truck noises all evening long. Archer found a screwdriver, removed the door to the battery compartment and replaced the batteries. All on his own (mostly). Now I get to listen to dump truck noises all evening long. Way to go Arch!

Miscellaneous Stuff

We've been having little adventures here and there, doing well at school and church and we've started setting up furniture and organizing clothes for our baby. Its a funny thing that happens when there's a baby on the way... At no other time in a woman's life is it ok for anyone to comment on the size of her tummy. Now its an almost daily occurrance. Family, friends, strangers... I myself comment to David because I just can't believe how big this boy feels. He feels so big. A couple of ladies today asked me when I'm due and were very surprised when I said we have a month to go. "Are you sure its only one?" Someone yesterday told me there's no way he's going to wait a whole month before arriving. Oh well, only God knows and we're waiting on Him to decide when the best time is!

Today Archer and Shelly had flu shots. This was one of the most traumatic days of their lives, I think. It was horrible. My normally friendly and obedient children were hiding behind me howling and bawling. Archer went first so when it was Shelly's turn I actually had to CHASE her down and CATCH her. (Have I mentioned how big my tummy is? This was not a good thing when chasing my three year old terrified little girl.) We all cried. This was followed by a visit to the fire department which I hope made up for the morning's trauma. Yaay! The kids had a great time climbing in and out of all the vehicles and spraying the fire hose.

To anyone who reads this, please do not mention the shots to the kids, we're moving on... And to Archer, someday when you look back and see that we don't have as many pictures of you its because you always ran away when we were taking pictures.

Too Tired

A few days ago Shelly and I were driving home and she was singing and in the middle of her song I heard a HUGE yawn. "Shelly, that was a big yawn, are you tired?" "Nope." No more than thirty seconds later she was asleep.

Today we were again driving but before we even got in the car I asked her if she would sleep and she said yes. Sure enough, she slept. What's amazing, though, is that when we got home and I woke her up to go inside she wandered in and then laid down on the floor in the hallway and fell right back to sleep. Usually she's ready to go after a nap in the car. Maybe she's going through a growth spurt? Archer's been sleeping a lot lately too, I've had trouble getting him up for school. Or maybe we're all coming down with colds. We've all been sniffling lots the last few days. Funny we should have colds in the middle of this late September heat wave!