Update Samuel

Two weeks ago Samuel did a 24 hours urine catch so his urine could be studied to see if there was anything visible there that might be the cause of his kidney stone(s). Last week the results came back, and he does have very high levels of calcium and oxalate in his urine. Not what we wanted to hear. This means one of two thing: either his body is making too much of these two substance that his kidneys are unable to process the extra amount or his kidneys are not filtering the normal amount of calcium and oxalate his body makes. I think I would rather his kidneys be working normally and that he is just producing too much. We were referred by our urologist at Children's Hospital to a nephrologist there at the same hospital. Soooo here we go again. Our appointment is next week. We will be checking to make sure he is currently stone free (which I have my doubts) and talking about diet and possible medication that would control these levels. Pray for us and Pray for Samuel. I will keep everyone updated!

New Favorite Word.........NO

Looks can be deceiving! Jacks new favorite word is NO. Not just no but NO!!! As always, anything my baby Jack does is the cutest and sweetest (to Mommy) and this is no exception. Kris is not so thrilled nor does he think it is cute. Good thing I'm here to rescue him from big mean Daddy!!! I do ridiculously love this child!!!!

Oak Mountain......A Must in the Spring!!!!!

My parents are very brave indeed. They have all three of Jennifer's and Hamilton at Oak Mountain State Park for a few days of camping. It is close enough where Anna and I can make day trips with the babies. We went over yesterday and had a blast. It is a wonderful place to visit in the Spring. The petting zoo was full of baby animals. We fell in love with the baby lambs. Hamilton really feels like one of the big boys now. I really am missing him though!! This is Hamilton paddling their fishing boat. Turtles are everywhere in the water!!
Michael and Jack out in the boat. Jack does what the big kids do. I couldn't pay Samuel to get in the boat. He watched from the pier!!!
Samuel and the baby goats. Is this not the sweetest?
Hamilton holding a 3 day old baby goat. Hamilton wants a farm and Mommy does too.
Michael, Eli, and Hamilton. I think Michael is a stud!!!!!

Easter!!

Hamilton and Jack dying eggs. Jack watched closely and copied exactly what Hamilton did.
Jack trying to steal an egg!!
Our crazy dog waiting for an egg to drop so she can claim it.
We gave the boys their Easter baskets on Saturday this year. We really wanted Sunday to be a day of celebrating Christ's Resurrection. It worked really well. The boys got to play and eat candy all day Saturday. Sunday, we celebrated at church and then I cooked for our family, Anna, Blake, and Ben.
Jack really picked up quickly that the "Easter Bunny" bought candy. He is still going to his basket checking to see if any treats are left. I love that sweet baby!!!!!

Children Desiring God Regional Conference

A few months ago Kris and I were asked to head up our Sunday night children's program a Church. After researching various children's bible study material and speaking to various church's that have adopted this curriculum, we settle on Children Desiring God (used in John Piper's church and written by a team of children's ministers there). I love it. Preparing and teaching is such a joy. The kids love it. So when the church asked if we would like to attend the conference, I knew I wanted to be there. Really it was more like God wanted me to be there. So through child care issues, storms, and not really wanting to leave my 2 babies, I made it to the conference this past weekend. Can you say the sovereignty of God!!!!

It truly was a life changing experience. They talked about being a church with a vision and heart for children. They discussed their program and how it differs from most current children's bible studies for ex.. alot of studies conceal the main character in the Bible
ex. The story of Noah is not a story about Noah, the ark, and the animals. It is a story of God's justice in a sinful world.
Can you imagine teaching this truth to five year old? Teaching the Bible with misplaced emphasis on a man or bible character rather than on God distorts the message. Our desire as parents and children's leaders should be to breed bible saturated children. Children that are like sponges so that when they are squeezed they are dripping with the word of God. That starts in the home with parents teaching their children the word of God. I fall so short when it comes to teaching my boys scripture. They can memorize songs, books, and poems even as early as one and two years old. We must as parents teach our children scripture, and scripture that we know they need to fight battles as one, two, and three year olds. (ex. being scared of the dark or fighting with siblings) One of the speakers said "why splash your hands in a few chapters of the Bible when you can bath and soak in one verse". I love that!!! Our children should be meditating on the word of God. We as parents need to be setting that example.

I could go on and on about what God taught me over the weekend. I learned so much. Truths that will help me be a better lover of the Lord, a better wife to Kris, a better mother to my boys, and a better teacher of the Word to children at our church. In my Sunday school class this past Sunday (4 and 5 year olds), one of the little girls was praying and her prayer was "......Jesus we just want to be in heaven with you so we can get all of your sweetness". How perfectly said by a five year old. That is childlike faith!!

Road Trip to Chattanooga!!!!!!

This past weekend Kris, Hamilton, and I headed to Chattanooga. I was a attending a Children's Desiring God conference and Kris and Hamilton were able to spend some great father/son time. We drove up Friday evening. I became a little worried when Hamilton began crying in the car and missing his brothers. Once Mommy got in the backseat with him, he cheered up and the rest of the trip was a blast. Kris did a great job of making the weekend all about Hamilton. He picked Outback to eat at Friday night, which was wonderful for me because I am an Outback freak. When we got to the hotel, we had 2 queen beds. Hamilton insisted I sleep with him, so of coarse I did. The next morning he rolled over and said he had sweet dreams because he slept next to me. Oh h0w I LOVE my first born son!!!!!!

Saturday morning Kris and Hamilton dropped me off at my conference, and they spent the day at the Chattanooga aquarium. They had a blast!!! Hamilton's favorite part was petting the stingray. They had such a great time, we plan to return will all of the boys in the future.

Beautiful Lessons From My Savior

The last few weeks have been so hard for me as a mother. The boys and I have been sick with colds. We can now add Daddy to the list. So there has been more whining and general neediness by all of my boys. Growing very frustrated at my lack of patience with them, God decided it was time for a reminder of my biblical duty to them.

As Christian mothers, we are called to walk in the spirit (Ephesians 5 :18-21). This means that the spirit of God should control me and direct my every step. As mothers and believers period, we should be bear the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy , peace, long sufferings, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are biblical principles I grew up knowing, but my Heavenly Father knew I needed a gentle reminder of them. I have not been full of joy, peace, and kindness the past few weeks. Little things stressed me. I am so blessed. I have three amazing boys. The responsibility given to me is great. As if that lesson were not enough, God reminded me we are all here on this Earth to serve HIM and others. How can I serve others if I am not even serving those living under the same roof as me? I should be serving my children on a daily basis and sacrificing myself for them with Christlike humility. God never promised me my job as mother would be easy or that my children would be easy. If they came into this world perfect, they would not need Kris, me, or a Heavenly Father. But they are sinners. And God has given them to me (for a short period of time) to raise into God fearing, God honoring, and God loving men. How better can I teach them these qualities than to possess them myself. Thank you Lord for this beautiful lesson.

My Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Jack and Sam still playing "snow"
Hamilton cleaning......the dustbuster didn't work either
Sam covered in potting soil
Jack probably thinking "what in the world have my brothers gotten me into this time"
At the end of the day we are all one big happy family!!!!!!!!!!! I do love love my boys!!!!!

Yesterday was the most challenging parenting day I have had by far. I woke up to a head cold. No big deal, just did not feel my best. It was Kris's birthday, and since the boys and I had been in South Carolina over the weekend, I had many errands to run. I jump in the shower to peace and quiet. The boys were nowhere to be found. I thought they were just glad to be home and playing quietly in their rooms. So I begin blow drying my hair, thanking God for a few minutes to myself to get ready for the day. Next, Hamilton walks in with something white all in his hair wanting to know if I wanted to play in the snow with them. Wondering what in the heck is going on, I immediately stop what I am doing and run to the back of the house. I find Jack's floor covered in tiny pieces of styrofoam. They had helped themselves to one of my storage cabinets, taken the styrofoam out of a Christmas decoration box, and crumbled it into tiny pieces. Then after it was small enough, they began throwing it like snow. This stuff was impossible to get up. It doesn't vacuum (mine is currently stopped up from trying to vacuum the mess). It sticks and clings to everything....furniture, walls, curtains, EVERYTHING! After cleaning for 45 min and having it spread all over the house, I gave up and got the kids ready to run errands.........

by this time I really had turned into a witch and threatened the kids with their life about misbehaving in the store. We get to Walmart, ( which I hate doing especially with 3 children) get one of the big buggy's that hold 20 kids, and start working on getting my grocery list as quickly as possible. Of coarse, Samuel begins kicking and pulling Hamilton's hair, which causes Hamilton to go into meltdown mode. (We returned from SC at 2:00am Saturday morning so they were still tired from our trip). He screamed and cried and layed down in the floor and refused to get up saying he was too tired. As I am dealing with Hamilton, Jack has gotten out of the buckle and is hanging from the top of the buggy over the side. After getting only what I had to have, we check out. When we get to the car, I show them my wooden spoon I carry in my purse. Threaten if they ever act like that again I will all but beat them..........

headed to T.J Max to buy Kris a tie. At this point I really just wanted to go home.....really I wanted to drop the boys off at a daycare somewhere and then go home. But it was Kris's birthday, and I wanted him to have a gift to open. I can usually find him some pretty ties at great prices at tj max so we headed there. As soon as we get out the car, Hamilon started about being too tired to walk. We get in the store and Samuel starts running through clothes, pulling everything he can off the hanger. I grab ( literally grab 3 ties) and run to the check out. At this point, I take Jack out of the buggy and put Hamilton in because he is crying uncontrollably. As I am checking out, Samuel grabs the buggy with Hamilton in it and pushes him into a purse display. Of coarse, all of the purse fall to the ground. At this point I am fuming and probably need to spend some time in jail cooling off. I get them to the car as fast as I possibly can with Hamilton still screaming at Samuel for wrecking the buggy. I put everyone in their car seat as calmly as possible, lock the doors, grab my spoon, and head to the back to beat the tar out of Hamilton and Samuel.....

All is good for awhile, Samuel and Jack nap when we get home, I chatted with a close friend about my horrible day and she assured me I wasn't the only mom who had ever completely lost it with her children. Hamilton's Sonlight Homeschool material came in for next year which was exciting to go through. I began cleaning, baking a cake, and cooking dinner. (I did check my e-mail to find someome is taking legal action against me for selling something on ebay. Good thing my husband in an attorney.....bring it on!!!!) They boys get up happy and I was a happy mommy again. The weather was beautiful, so Hamilton suggested they all head outside. GREAT IDEA ......

while the boys were outside, I began to try to vacuum the remainder of the mess from the morning. All of the sudden, I heard banging on the back door. I look up and see Hamilton and Samuel necked, wet, and covered with black dirt. They had striped necked, played in the water hose, and then Samuel dropped one of my glass pots on the deck and potting soil went everywhere. Of coarse they had to have a dirt fight with it. I just started crying. Kris was on his way home, supper was not ready, the house was a wreck, the boys were past dirty, the deck was covered in potting soil. It looked like I has just layed on the couch all day while the boys had the run of the house...... when I had really been busting my butt trying to have a special evening for Kris. ..........

I guess some days really are like that. I am so glad it is not the norm at my house.

Happy Valentine's Day

My little Jack Jack eating pizza!
Abigail and Rebecca
Marc (Donna's oldest)
Gabriela and Hamilton loving Valentine's Day!!
Cutie Julia (Donna's baby) eating cookie cake!

Yesterday, we had a Valentine's Party for a few of our special friends. We iced cookies, made Valentine Bags, ate pizza, and cookies cake. Even though it was crazy, I think the kids had a great time. Enjoy the pictures!