Sappy Memories

On Friday Rob and I will be celebrating 16 years of marriage! Thinking on this has caused me to think back to how it all began! My brother Aaron, and Rob's sister Kristie wanted to go to the State Fair and our Mother's would not let them go without a chaperon. So the two of us were CONNED into going:) Who would have thought that 2 years later we would be married. In August we will have been together (including dating years) HALF of our lives!!

God allowed me to marry my best friend, and we are still best friends today! In April of 1998 we said goodbye to my Dad. That was one of the hardest things I had to do until the following May when I lost our first child. I was so excited, and it was so hard to go through at the time. We then found out I had endometriosis and had to have surgery to remove it, and then the Doctor said if I didn't get pregnant within a year I probably would never have kids without help. In April of 2000 God called us to go to Florida and work in a Boarding school for troubled teens. This was a wonderful time in our life. We left Indiana in October of 2000 to train in Missouri. In February of 2001 we arrived in FL. Two years had passed since the miscarriage so I had given up hope of ever having a child of our own. In April of 2001, Rob was in TN when I found out I was pregnant with Hannah! She arrived in January of 02. In November of 2002 we found out I was pregnant with Elizabeth. She arrived in July of 03. In May of 04 God moved us back to Indiana. In October we found out God was blessing us again with Rachel. In Feb of 05 we said goodbye to Rob's Grandma Beaver. At the end of May God blessed us with the home we live in now. Rachel arrived 2 weeks after we moved in. I will spare the details of the next three children, but know that we feel each is a direct blessing from God, ESPECIALLY when we look back to 1999 when we were told it was possible we would have no children. I will always praise His name for my kiddos. They are not burdens but blessings from God. I never dreamed we would have 6, but God is so good to me!

I am blessed to get to be home and teach my children. I have a husband that works hard to make it happen, and I know he sometimes sacrifices things that he would want so that he can provide for his family. I never want to take that for granted!  I know there are people who think we are crazy because we have 6 blessings, but they are MY blessings that God has entrusted to me and I will love and raise each one the best way I can!

Time is FLYING!

It is hard to believe that Priscilla will be 7 weeks on Monday! Time just keeps going by and some days are better than others! The more weight she gains the better she acts! She was 7lbs 8oz on Wednesday :) I am so thankful that God is answering our prayers by helping her get stronger each day!! I am so thankful for everyone that has prayed for her and continues to do so.

On Wednesday we said goodbye to my second cousin John, and we got to see family. Priscilla got to get her picture taken with my cousin Priscilla. I pray that she has the same disposition, and manners that she has.

Last night Rob and I got to have a date! It was so nice even though we are OFFICIALLY old people!! We went to dinner, and shopped for a bit! LOL, it was so nice to grocery shop WITH ONLY Priscilla!! I got a HUGE surprise when I got home. ALL of my dishes were clean, AND Hannah organized my pantry AGAIN! I was so thankful I ALMOST cried. Those of you who know me well KNOWS I do not cry often, and it takes a lot for me to cry. Last night I realized that we have not had to buy a SINGLE diaper for Priscilla! God has blessed us so much!

WOW! A month goes by so quickly!! (and I am behind)

We have been home a little over 2 weeks, and Priscilla FINALLY gained weight! She is now 6lbs 3oz:) I am so thankful that she gained weight! Doc. Vik said if she didn't gain today we were being admitted to see what was wrong. Thank you Lord! We will be going back next Thursday to check weight again and then we will not go back until her 2 month check. One thing that saddens me is we found out this week that she was not gaining weight because my milk production was not enough :( BUT on the plus side Dr. Vik gave me 6 cans of Enfamil for FREE! God is good!

I want to apologize to the people who have given me things for Priscilla, and cooked meals for our family! I am behind on Thank You cards and feel really bad about it! Now that things seem to be getting ready to calm down for us I will be getting those out!

We have done a few things since Princess P came home. One of those things was going to Fort Harrison State Park. That is where we snapped our first family photo with Princess! On Friday I am taking the girls to Natalie Reese to get their pictures taken! I can't wait to see what she does with them:)

School has started back up for us, and boy am I TIRED! I love doing school year round because the girls do a lot better with small breaks between quarters. I like it because we can schedule breaks to work in our schedule! Unfortunately, with Priscilla in the hospital for 2 weeks we were 2 wks late starting back, BUT we are catching up quickly! I was cracking up today because the girls are so OPPOSITE! Hannah dreads Math and Elizabeth LOVES it! Hannah LOVES Language and Elizabeth dreads it! She HATES to write, and Hannah HATES to do math problems!

At least the one thing I am not too far behind on is housework! I got caught up on most of it before we started  back to school :D I feel like I have rambled long enough so I will close with a couple of pictures!!

Photo Card

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When will life get back to "NORMAL"

We are on day 3 of being home and I am more tired at home then I was at the hospital! I think I was spoiled by the nurses in the NICU! Today Sandy came and picked up Hannah, Elizabeth, and Rachel for Bible School, and Rob is getting them at church tonight. It has been a nice break and the house has been so quiet!! Julia has been the biggest sister today and has had control over what movies we watch today! Anne of Gables is what she wanted to watch, BUT completely out of order! The child CRACKS me up completely! ONE DAY she will understand the importance of order! We have had a great day so far!

I have been blessed with another sweet baby! She only fusses when she is ready to eat! I can tell you though that she goes from sleeping soundly to throwing a fit to eat within a matter of moments! I told the nurses this while in the hospital, and they never believed it until they saw for themselves! What fun they had trying to assess her while she was screaming for food! :) Today is also the first day that I have had some energy and able to function without needing a nap an hour after being up!

Finally HOME!!!

After 2 weeks in the NICU Priscilla is HOME! I am so thankful that we are now home and things can get to normal! (Whatever normal is) I have not accomplished much today, and hope to get some things done tomorrow! Mama being away for 2 weeks has taken a toll on the house, and attitudes of certain children! I am so thankful for all who helped take care of my girls and the food that was provided for my family:) I have a feeling that in the middle of the night I am going to miss the nurses that helped me take care of Princess P!

Trials Bring Growth

Have you ever felt torn between two places? That is how I have been all this week. Priscilla needs me here at the hospital, but I have 5 others who need me too! It kills me every evening when I leave the hospital, and kills me when I leave the girls to come back! I am thankful for the people who have helped make it possible for me to be in 2 places each day! What has been great too is that when I get home in the evening there has been a meal waiting for me to heat and serve my family! I praise God for each of you!

I have clung to Psalm 121 this week because I KNOW all of my help has come from the Lord this week! I am so thankful that I can rely on Him and he NEVER lets me down! I have cried many tears since Sunday, and I know God has seen each drop and knows I do not doubt what He is doing! The other day Bro. Jon and Linda V came to visit. Before Bro. Jon left he gave me some tracts:) I set them out on the shelf and I know that the nurses have taken some. There is a lady here whose job is to stock the rooms with diapers, wipes, etc. She stopped me yesterday to thank me for the tract and made sure it was ok that she took it. She told me that she wants to visit the church. I hope she comes to visit.