Thoughts

No one told me that when you have 4 children, there is never enough time or energy to go around. Especially when you are the only parent most of the time. Lately I feel so pulled in so many directions. Ayden and Thatcher are still very little so they need lots of attention for every day things. Caroline and Kylie are older but they need help with homework and they need to study. They also need to chat about thier friends and thier day. By the time they go to bed, I basically just sit very still and try to empty out my brain. I am usually physically tired but not as much as I am emotionally exhausted. I have also learned that no matter how good a husband you have they will never take the place of mom. Trust me, I have one of the best guys out there and yet I still am needed more than he is.

My next thought revolves around our move. It hurts my heart to see Caroline tear up when we talk about moving. She is so grown up about it and understands we have to do it but the bottom line is she is only 7 yrs old. This house is her home. She is very close to my mom and sisters. Then she loves her school, her friends. She has some very special little girls as her friends and it tears me up that I have to take her away from them. I know that this is all God's will and this will all work out for the good. I have explained that to Caroline a million times. The problem is no matter how great it will be down the road, it is going to be miserable right now. The mother in me does not want my precious little girl to hurt at all. I am very thankful that we have been able to teach her about God and how he can be a rock when you need someone to lean on. I hope that by giving her that gift, she will lean on Him and he will comfort her. I am trying but I am not quite as powerful as He is.

My brave little girls

I must confess. I am a horrible mom when it comes to keeping my kids up to date with thier shots. I have torn opinions about vaccinations. I just worry about giving my babies so many vaccinations at one time. I also HATE bringing my kids to get a shot. Well due to this, my girls are behind on thier shots. This has not been such a big deal, since they go to private school and the school doesn't push the issue. Well as of January, we are going to public school. I brought them on Monday to get shots. It worked out okay, Kylie had to get 3 actual shots (not sure how many vaccinations) and Caroline had to get 4 to catch them up to date. I had promised them that if they did not pitch a huge fit we could go get ice cream afterwards. I was pretty sure Caroline was going to be okay. She is my little toughy. Kylie, on the other hand, I feared for the nurse's life. She is our drama queen by far. So I have to admit, that I was more than impressed when neither of them cried, screamed, or hit the nurse. In fact, neither of them even flinched. My kids surprise every day.

In other news, we close on the house tomorrow. I go next Mon. and Tues. to clean the house, and tour the girls new school. Then 1 1/2 week from today we move all of our things over there. The kids and I will come back for thier last week of school. It is very exciting and terrifying at the same time.

Everyone has been sick.

It all started two weeks ago, about 4 am on a Saturday morning. Ayden woke up whining and breathing rather funny. He would grunt like he was in pain and then just constantly whine. We gave him his bottle and he eventually went back to sleep. Well he woke up again at 6 am and was doing the same thing only this time he felt warm. We took his temp and it was 99 degrees. I started rocking him and trying to comfort him. I was moving his limbs trying to figure out if maybe something hurt. He continue to whine and grunt and he was constantly getting warmer. His fever spiked from 99 to 104.6 in 20 mins. I remembered my mom telling me that babies under 2 months do not run fever that high unless something is seriously wrong. So Jeremy packed him up and took him to the E.R.. About 9 am, Jeremy texted me to let me know that Ayden was being admitted and they thought he had pnemonia. Of course, I called a babysitter and headed up to the hospital. Over the next two days, we learned that he did not have pnemoinia but Group B strep. Something pregnant moms can give to thier babies when they deliver. I was tested for it and my results came back negative but I was told I could be a carrier and it would not show on the test. We spent Sat. through Thurs. in the hospital rotating between the hospital and home. Jeremy spent most nights and I did the days. My mom and Pud came over to help when we need them. Ayden spent 6 days on IV antibiotics and then we took him up to the hospital for 8 days to get antibiotic injections. He had a spinal tap but they were not able to get enough spinal fluid so they are treating him like he has menigitis.(which is what most babies get with Group B Strep). He goes to get his hearing checked next week to see if his hearing was affected by any of this. We thank God every day, this could have been so much worse.

While we were in the hospital Kylie developed a cough and then it turned into a fever and a cough. That Wed., Jeremy took Kylie to the dr. to find out she had an upper respitory infection. Friday, Caroline was running fever. Saturday, Thatcher woke up breathing like Darth Vader. We watched him closely and took him to the dr. on Monday to find out he had croup. Then Caroline started to run fever again on Wednesday, only to find out she had bronchitis.

That has been my last two weeks. I have been to the dr. for each child and to the Walgreens pharmacy every day this week. The pharmacist knows me by name now. Everyone has been on antibiotics and it seems like it is all starting to look up. All the kiddos are feeling better. Now you notice through all of this, I have not been sick. This worries me, because what usually happens is everyone gets better and I get sick. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hopeing that I might have just missed being sick this time.

Even though the last 2 weeks have been rough, I have been reminded every day that we are truly blessed. My kiddos made me smile and laugh when I was so tired. My husband helps in so many ways and gives me a break anytime he can. Hopefully now we can get back to packing, enjoying our last holiday in this house and moving on to our new home!

A big change is coming!

It has been awhile since I have written anything on here. I seem to have all these great ideas on things to write but never quite enough time. I figured that we should update everyone on what is going on over here.

Over the majority of the last 3 years, Jeremy has worked away from home for 5 days a week, only coming home for the weekends. It has been estremely hard considering I was pregnant through 18 months of that. His home office is in Metaire but his job takes him to different courthouses in LA and TX. I have to say the reason he has stuck with it this long is because he loves his job and is very good at it. We always said that we would move closer to his office eventually, but we live close to my family and have had lots of help while he was away. I was always scared we would move over there only for him to go to work in some place like Shreveport and not be any closer to home. Well in Aug. his boss told him that the majority of the work he wanted Jeremy to work on would be in the New Orleans area.

So we sat down and went over everything and well we figured out finiancially we couldn't move. I was really bummed. It looked like it would be at least 2 more years before we could move over there. Jeremy was going to miss everything from soccer games to first steps. I remember crying to my mom about how we were never going to live together again, about how I had not signed on to be a mom with a husband who "visits" on the weekends. My mom (who is rather wise sometimes) reminded me that when it was in God's plan things would just fall into place. That night Jeremy called me to let me know his mom and dad had decided to help us buy a house in Mandeville (about 30 mins. from Jeremy's office). I was dumb struck. I know I should know by now that God can do all things but I guess, I am still learning.

Since then everything seems to be moving kinda fast. We decide that we would try to be over there by the time Christmas break was over so the girls could start school at the begining of a semester. We made a bid on one house, only for it the fall through. We are now negotiating on our second house, which I might add, is our favorite. It is going to be very hard, my kids family is here. I will miss my sisters terribly. Caroline is leaving some very good friends. It is one of the hardest things I have had to explain to her. But overall, I know God has a plan for my family and I and I am very excited to start this new adventure in our lives.

Funny things

Everyone knows that when you have children, you never know what will come out of thier mouths and when it will happen. I thought it would be funny to share some of the things said at our house. With 3 kids talking, we have plenty to share.





Mommy: "Kylie did you go to speech class this week?"


Kylie: "nope"


Mommy: "Are you sure?"


Kylie: "no mommy, I didn't go."


Mommy: "Are you sure Kylie? The speech teacher said she would start this week."


Kylie (said with exasperation): "Does it sound like I went to speech class?"

We have a refrigerator where you can get water out of the door. Kylie is waiting for her turn behind Jeremy. Jeremy is filling up a huge cup. Kylie's comment" Daddy, hurry up! You are holding everyone up!" A few seconds later from Kylie "Daddy thats enough water, you are going to teetee in bed!"

I asked Caroline the other day if there was a little boy in her class named Cameron. Her reply is "yes, and he is, like, sooo in love with Mia (caroline's best friend). It is just so awkward when he is around." Later that night she asks me "Mommy, what does awkward mean?"

Kylie: "Caroline, do you know what daddy does for a job?"

Caroline: "Nope"

Kylie: " He is a Landman. That means he goes out and finds land for other people."

As you can tell our comedian is Kylie. She doesn't mean to be but she seems to think much differently than most 5 yr olds. Caroline is our reasonable one and Thatcher is our stunt man. Only time will tell were Ayden fits into this group.

The end of a very long month...

I have considering writing a blog about the events of August. For some reason, the task is just too overwhelming so I decided to give you a summary of everything that has happened.

Begining of August: Ayden is born.
Kylie starts Kindergarten.
Caroline starts 2nd grade.
Jeremy celebrates his 28th birthday.
End of August: Jeremy gets a raise.
We celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary in the ER.
Kendra is extremely sick for a week due to gall stones left
from a former surgery and the wrong medication.
Thatcher turns 2.
We all recover and prepare for Jeremy to go back to work in
New Orleans.

Now here are some pictures from August:

Little Ayden has arrived!!

Ayden James made his appearance into the world on August 4, 2009 at 2:37 pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 1oz (exactly what the ultrasound said the day before) and was 20 inches long. I went in Monday, August 3rd at 10 pm. They hooked me up to a monitor and said his heartbeat was a little strange so they were going to watch him for awhile before the induction. We did not start the induction until about 2 am. I had my water broken about 9 am and my epidural in at about 11 am. I have to admit this was my hardest labor yet. The contractions seemed to start much stronger than the other times and they didn't seem to make as much progress considering how much they hurt. I do not know how I did it mostly natural with Caroline. The only thing I can figure is that when you go in with your first, you are much more rested. I was exhausted before I even stepped into the hospital. My epidural did wonders and took most of my pain away. The delivery went smoothly and my dr. was prepared for my tendency to hemorrahage. So when I started, I got tons of drugs to stop the bleeding. Needless to say, I was horribly sick for about 30 mins. after the delivery. Overall though, it was very nice to have a normal delivery without any big complications.

We were able to go home the next day and everyone is doing fine. The girls love having a baby around and even Thatcher has taken to Ayden. Thatcher points at Ayden and says "my baby, mine." Ayden is much different than Thatcher already. He seems to be fiestier, LOL! He does not like being messed with, so he screams when his diaper gets changed or we change his clothes. Everytime he opens his eyes, he wants food. Kinda funny since, it seems like he eats more even though he is the smallest of them. Here are a few pictures of Ayden.

Separation Anxiety

Well Monday afternoon my girls left with their Daddy. Jeremy works closer to his parents house, so during the week he stays with his mom and dad versuses driving home each night. The girls are going with him this week, since I can't really travel and they really love visiting G.G. and Paw. I have to admit,I started to miss them on the first night. Thatcher is still with me (I just couldn't let him go, he is too little still). Since they have left, I have spent my days gathering the rest of all the things I need for Ayden. (and some of the things I want). I also got my hair cut, which was much needed. I have talked to them each day and it seems to be going very well. They have been so cooped up b/c of me being preggo and the heat. They call me each night and recap thier days.

Thatcher and I have been doing well. This morning I thought I would attempt potty training, HAHAHA!! I thought that if he did not have the girls around as an audience maybe he would do better. Well I am sure he would do fine, if I could make it through it. The wet big boy pants are not the problem, it is the dirty ones. For some reason, cleaning them makes my gag reflex go crazy. So after about 2 hours of potty training I threw in the towel. I guess he will just have to wait until after Ayden gets here.

On a last note, Ayden should be here pretty soon. I go Friday, the 25th to do all my preadmitting at the hospital. Then the next week we will have an ultrasound to see what size he is. If he is like his sibling he should be here by the end of the next week. We are gettting down to the wire and are very ready for him to make his appearance!!

Caroline's First Swim Meet

This morning was an early morning for all of us. Jeremy got Caroline up and at the pool for warm-ups at 7am. I had the other 2 little ones dressed and at the pool for about 7:50 am. The meet began at 8 am. Caroline was chosen to be in a the 100 yd freestyle relay for girls 8 and under. To prove to you guys how new we are to this whole swimming thing, Jeremy tells Caroline she was chosen to swim on a relay team. Caroline's response "What's a relay, Daddy?".
Now I must warn all you swim fanatics that we swim for a very small team and it is very laidback.

Caroline was the 3rd leg in the relay. Well the race began, and as a mother(and a non swimmer) I don't understand everthing those coaches do but the first little girl that swam was a considerable amount smaller than the other girls on her team and even in that heat. So the other teams wiped her out and Caroline got confused. When all of the girls that were on the block with Caroline jumped in, Caroline assumed she was suppose to go, even though her teammate was no where near touching the pool on Caroline's side. BUT Caroline swam an excellent leg, so we were very proud any way. She didn't even know she messed up until Jeremy told her. The other race she swam in was the 25 yd freestyle. On this race she knew what she was doing and she came in 3rd in her heat. Overall, Caroline came in 24th out of 40 girls 8 yrs and under. Her time for the 25 yd freestyle was 31.99 which is a whole 10 secs off her practice time.

She beamed when she got out the pool and handled the whole day so well. She loves to swim and seems to be very good at it. We are so thankful she has found a sport that she loves that much. Overall it was a wonderful day, filled with nerves that mostly came from Jeremy and I, Caroline was just as calm as you can get.



The pool area in Jennings is small so here are some of the pictures I could get.





Waiting her turn.

Waiting on the block for her turn on the relay.

Getting ready for the 25m Freestyle.

Waiting patiently.

Diving in...well her attempt at diving.


Swimming to the finish line.

Almost there

Well this week I will be 34 weeks pregnant and I have to admit the nerves are kicking in. This pregnancy has been probably my easiest. I still had some problems with my hips and back but for the most part, I have felt well. Ayden is going to be our fourth baby and he seems to be progressing in the same fashion that all the others before him did. He is going to be large, we just don't know how large yet. Caroline and Thatcher were both well over 9 lbs and Kylie was just under it weighing in at 8lbs 12 ozs. He seems healthy as far as all the ultrasounds have gone but the worrying has begun.

If anyone has ever had a complication during pregnancy or labor, they know that the next pregnancy they wait fearfully for it to happen again. When I had Caroline, I hemorraghed and lost about 2 pints of blood. There was no one to blame, since there is no warning of hemorraghing until it actually happens. It doesn't matter, it makes you feel awful afterwards. I was green after I had Caroline and it took months for me to gain the energy I lost from losing all that blood. With Kylie, it didn't happen, well I should say it started slightly but the doctor caught it quickly and gave me a shot and that was it. It was wonderful, to feel so good after a delivery and be able to go home and enjoy my baby. Then came Thatcher and it happened again. That time, it took two shots, 3 pills and two iv bags to fix it. I lost 2 more pints of blood. So needless to say that I am terrified of it happening again with Ayden. We do know now that it has to do with the size of the babies. (the bigger the baby, the more likely to have problems) I am not afraid of death or anything that horrible. I am afraid of the feeling of exhaustion that comes with the blood loss. This time I will have 4 kids, I won't have time to be that tired.

Along with the medical fears that come with this 4th baby there are other psychological fears running through my head. Caroline and Kylie will be in school next year. How am I going to take care of a baby, a 2 yrs old and help them with thier homework? Jeremy is gone most of the week, so it is just me most of the time. How am I going to stretch myself that thin? I know I am not the perfect mother, in fact, I know I am not close but I do try and one of my biggest fears is neglecting one of my kids. I was the quiet one in my family and I was always pushed aside for those "squeakier wheels". I do not want to do that with any of my children. Sometimes with just 3, I feel pulled and stretched from so many different directions and now we are adding another.

I guess I should put a disclaimer at the end of this. I am not complaining about having 4 kids. We wanted all of our children and God seems to always know the best time for us to have each of them. These are just somethings that run through my head lately. Do other moms have these same fears? I always feel like the frazzled mom while all those other moms have time and money to get thier nails and hair done. They always look put together and I, well.... I always seem to have a few hair out of place. Did I miss some mommy 101 class, that gives you hints on how to handle all this and do it while looking your best? It is only by God's grace that I seem to keep it together, which I guess is more than enough.

A puzzle

Ayden will be arriving in about 6 to 8 weeks and Jeremy and I are having to deal with what feels like a jigsaw puzzle at our house. We live in a small 3 bedroom 1 bath house. The puzzle is how to best fit all of us including the 6th member of our family comfortably into this little house. We would love a bigger house but in the process of making our family larger we did not realize one important factor. We out grew a starter home before we actually bought a starter home, so now we are scrimping and saving so that we can maybe buy in about year, until then, we are stuck here.

So back to the jigsaw puzzle... where does everyone, and all of thier toys go? Right now Thatcher's toys are in the living room and it makes our living room really crowded. He and Ayden were going to share the smallest bedroom but we are not so sure anymore. All of our babies spend the first 5 or 6 months in our room b/c I don't like depending on a baby monitor. So Ayden's crib is being transferred into our room. The girls have the biggest bedroom which works out nicely except Thatcher usually wants to go to bed with his sisters. So we are looking at putting the girl's and Thatcher's bed all in the big bedroom along with the girls dresser. The little bedroom will become a toy room for all. Hopefully this will also helps with us being able to keep up with cleaning too.



Our bedroom is going through a makeover, it is getting a new paint job and maybe the floor will get painted also, since the carpet is old and ugly. The only really nice thing Jeremy and I own together is our bed, we bought it about a year ago. Our room is usually the one that gets neglected. So we are trying to make it more of an escape haven (well except the crib will be in there.). So today we spent the day painting and moving stuff out of our room. I have felt so good this pregnancy that I didn't realize how easily you can tired in your 8th month. Thank goodness Jeremy is so easy going and willing to help where ever he can.

Hopefully by the end of this weekend there will be pictures to post of our new arrangement in our house.

And time goes by....

I can not believe that it has already been a week after Thatcher's surgery. He is doing very well, in fact, probably much better than I ever thought it would go. He still needs his pain meds every once in awhile but it seems to get further apart with each day. He is eating pretty much everything and drinking great. He has lost some weight, so he looks like a runt. I call him Chicken Little, because he looks like a little rooster walking around with his skinny shoulders and pot belly.

On to the girls, Caroline is doing swim team this summer. I have to say she is making me so proud. Each time we go to practice, it seems like she improves 100%. She is in the youngest age group right now because we can't seem to convince her she is good enough to move up. Her stroke is beautiful and Thurs. at practice they had a mock meet, she wiped out everyone who she raced by half a lane. It is hard to believe that she is getting so old. Her and Kylie are both doing Terrific Tuesdays at Bethel (the church we attend). It is alot like bible school but is only on every Tuesday of June instead of just one whole week. Kylie is having a blast, making new friends. I get nervous leaving her because I have never really left her with people she didn't really know. She seems to handle it very well and is growing so fast. Her thought process is so deep and different from Caroline's that she is constantly surprising me with comments and questions she asks. It is so nice to have them both home this summer and I am kinda sad to think they are both going to be in school this August.

And then there is Ayden.... for those of you who don't know, Ayden is our 4th and has yet to be born. He is doing well and I am down to two week appointments at my OB. My last appointment was Tuesday and we got to see some of him on the ultrasound. He is already all folded up and we discovered that I am basically all baby. I am at 31 weeks and he is measuring 33 weeks, so it looks like is going to be another big one. We will be doing a ultrasound at about 36 or 37 weeks to determine his actual size and the dr. will decide then how early he will let me deliver. We are doubting he will make his due date, he may not even make it to August.

Finally there is Jeremy and I. Jeremy is still working 4 days a week across state. It gets harder each time he leaves but we are so blessed that he still has a job with this economy, that we can't complain. He stays with his parents, so he gets to hang out with Jason a lot and they are playing touch rugby together. Jeremy is really enjoying spending time with his brother and he really loves his job. As far as me, I am doing okay. Some days I feel like I am going to lose my mind but most of the time I am just thankful that this pregnancy I feel so good. The last week has been hard because we have been waitng for Thatcher to recover, so we are stuck inside alot. He is also very demanding and when it is just mom around, I get all the attention. (maybe too much sometimes).

So that is what we all have been up too. Time seems to be going by so quickly, I can't believe it is almost the middle of June. Jeremy and I are trying very hard to make the best of those days our family are all together. We know our kids will not be this age forever and these memories are not ones we want to miss. We feel each day that God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.

Our experience...

Thatcher had his tonsils out Tuesday and after spending Tuesday and Wednesday at the hospital he came home today. The whole experience was not as horrible as I thought it would be. My son is such a wonderful little trooper and he never cried for more than about 5 mins. He is like his momma and doesn't like to be messed with when he feels bad, so that was probably the worst part. He did not like the blood pressure and temperature checks nor did he like some strange lady shoving medicine down his very sore throat. Tuesday afternoon and most of Wednesday he refused to eat or drink but I think it had alot to do with his pain medication. Once they changed it, and had him on a normal schedule with it, he improved abundantly. Thank goodness today, the dr. realized that Thatcher just might need to go home to do any better. He was right. We have been home and he is playing with his big sisters whom he missed horribly. He is asking for drinks and food. It seems the worst is behind us... Thanks to all who kept him in thier prayers. Here is our visit in pictures.

Waiting for surgery with Daddy.



He got a little loopy with thee meds they gave him.


Me and my "high" little man



After surgery, sleeping it all off.


Keeping himself entertained with a book.



Posing with Daddy.



Posing with Handy Manny.


Finally deciding that popsicles are just not that bad.

Needing Prayers

There are days when you think you are prepared for anything as a mother and then it is kinda like life throws you a curve ball and all those feeling go out the window. We had to bring Thatcher to the ENT today. He has not ever really slept through the night for more than one night here or there since he was born. He tosses and turns and seems to never really fall into a deep sleep. Last week when he went in for his upper respiratory infection, Jeremy commented on his sleeping habits and our dr. noticed he had extra large tonsils for his age. So we did the next logical thing and made an appointment with the ENT. Now my mom and stepdad are both nurses so I basically gave them the third degree hoping to be prepared for any option this doctor tossed my way. I knew when we walk in to the exam room today that Thatcher was going to most probably have to have his tonsils out. What I didnt' know was that I was going to be given two options and the decision would be left up to me.

The dr. basically told me that Thatcher's tonsils and adnoids were huge and needed to be remove. The catch is that most of the time they wait until kids are almost 3 to do this surgery. (for those of you that don't know Thatch will not even be 2 until Aug. 09). He continues to tell me that Thatcher is bad enough were he is comfortable with doing Thatch's surgery now. It is all up to me and what I am comfortable with. He then gives me all the pros and cons and looks at me like "you decide". "WHAT?!?! ME?!?!?" So I took a deep breath prayed for some insight from heaven and said "Now, I guess".

So Tuesday, June 2, 2009 my almost 2 yr. old will be having his tonsils and adnoids out. I do feel like God has his hand in this, due to how quickly it was all scheduled and fell into place. But I have to admit, that I am also terrified. It is very scary to think your baby will be put to sleep and cut on. A small part of me, kinda laughs when I think about being upset about this bascially simple surgery, knowing there are children out there that have gone through much worse by the time they are Thatcher's age. I know God has his hand on all of this and I need to basically let him take care of Thatcher.

We would much appreciate all prayers said for Thatcher in the next few days. I promise to keep everyone updated as soon as I can.

Our week in photos.

Alot of things happened this week so I thought I would share with more pictures than words.


Thatcher got sick and did his first round with breathing treatments.



The girls finished school so we had some fun fingerpainting.









They put a play on for Jeremy and I. They both were stars in space!

Being informed

I have to be honest and say that God has truely blessed Jeremy and I with very healthy children. We have bascially never had any serious health issues until lately. It all began probably at the begining of Christmas break 2008. Caroline went from having a very bad cough one night to waking up the next morning running a 102 degree fever. When we got her in to see the dr., she was diagnosed with bronchitis on the verge of phenomia. We did breathing treatments (which was new to me) and I have to say I honestly feel sorry for those parents that have to do that to infants. It must be horrible. Caroline's got better rather quickly but her cough never really went away. Then over Easter break we went to Jeremy's parents for the week. The first night we where there Caroline woke up and sounded horrible. She would gasp for air and then cough. Her cough sounded something like a seal barking or croup (for those more experienced parents). The whole ordeal really scared me but she ended up waking up the next morning acting normal.

About two weeks ago, we started her on the Jennings swim team for the summer. About the third day of tryouts, I could tell she was already not feeling well and then they moved her into the big pool. She freaked!! My very mature, reasonable child became very out of control and unresonable. She cried and started with the barking cough again. I sat there and watch my 7 yr old struggle to breath, and I knew something was wrong. The next day we found out Caroline has allergy and exercise induced asthma.

I felt like a horrible parent because now I look back on certain days when Caroline acted aggitated and out of the norm and now realize that she was actually having trouble breathing. Now I feel like I should shout it from the roof tops that every mom, new or old should be well aware of the symptoms of childhood asthma. Sometimes the signs are not as obvious as Caroline's were but they are still there. Asthma is very common and treatable but I feel like someone should have warned me along the way to watch out for the symptoms in any of my children. From one mother to another please get informed!

Come be apart....

I know I have tried the blog thing once before but this one will hopefully turn out differently. I struggle alot with the fact that close friends and family now live so far away from us. I feel like with this blog we can keep everyone updated on our kids as they grow and experience new things. I am going to try to post a blog once a week, with pictures. This blog will revolve mostly around our kids and the joys (and sorrows) that come with parenting 4 little ones 7 yrs. and under. Please, leave us feedback. I know I will write more if I get some sort of comment. Hopefully this will help those that live far away still be apart of our family.