Summer Fun - Catching up

So after telling a few people we had a family blog, I remembered I hadn't really posted anything in a really LONG time. So much has been happening with our family, I have gotten behind in many projects.

Here we go...

Both Bryndan and Kaitlyn celebrated another birthday. I now have a big 5 year old boy, and a very vivacious 3 year old girl. They have been so much fun this year, learning new things, playing together better and big helpers with the baby. Braxtyn is growing like a weed, has a total of 4 teeth, and is almost walking. It is all going by so fast. Bryndan finished Pre-K in May, and is looking forward to kindergarten in the fall. We have already met his teacher, and believe this is going to be a great school year. Kaitlyn and Braxtyn will both be going to PDO on Thursdays this time and I am looking forward to a small amount of time each week for myself. Both Bryndan and Kaitlyn took swimming lessons for the 1st time in June.

In February I hurt my back, and after months of therapy, spinal shots for pain and such, I lost the feeling and mobility in my left foot. So on the 1st of June I had back surgery. I have had to really rely on the love and care of my family these last few months. To not be able to lift your own baby causes a lot a problems for a stay at home mom. My sister and her 5 daughters have been taking "shifts" with me and I am so very thankful for them and their work. I have now regained the feeling and movement in my foot, but the healing process for the nerve is a very long and painful road. My back itself is still somewhat painful, but it is funny how at this point my foot hurts worse.

We were very blessed to just attend New Life Ranch family camp in Oklahoma . It was wonderful to spend the time with each other and with other families in a fun, safe and christian environment. Shane and I learned SO MUCH, and since we had been praying for help in this area of our lives, it was amazing to say the least. The speaker was great and we will be working on "Winning, coaching and releasing the hearts of our children into a world that stands in need of their leadership." We want to raise our little ones into men of blessing and a woman of honor. I am so thankful to Shane for the father he is and the father he wants to become. I am truly blessed. The kids had a blast canoeing, swimming, riding ponies, playing games and watching fireworks. I have promised myself that next year I will tackle the zip line and archery. We had a counselor assigned to our family named Carole and she was a blessing to us as she helped us with whatever we needed. Since I had a rough time even walking around so much, she was especially a help to me and the baby as she took him to the nursery and back several times a day.

One the way home, we were able to eat and visit with some friends of mine from back in Utah days. It was so neat to see Steve and Shannon and their precious little Wrigley.

Now that we are home again, we are just resting up and trying to keep cool for the rest of the summer. Shane is back to work in full swing, and I am doing all of the camp laundry bit by bit. Should be done by next year.... ;)

Post Thanksgiving - Pre Christmas

Ok, so I have made my traditional template change for the holidays.

Thanksgiving was good this year. We went to Shane's Mom's and waited for him to get there after work. We ate really good food. The Cowboys and the Jazz won. The kids played and played and played.

We are going to my sister's (Diane in Amarillo) for Christmas, and all of my family is scheduled to be there. It will be one full house. I am looking forward to showing off the baby and seeing how much all of my nieces and nephews have grown. I am not going to panic about Christmas this year, but I am trying to do something memorable for the kids, since they are getting old enough to know what is going on. If anyone has any fun ideas, please comment and let me know.

Thanks!!! :)

Trunk or Treat

Our kids are now old enough to attend Kid's Club on Sunday nights at our church. This is a time for them to make friends and fellowship with kids their own age in a safe and fun place. This last Sunday they held a Trunk or Treat in the parking lot. They had to say their memory verse to get candy. They had so much fun, even though it got really cold all of a sudden. What a fun and happy time!!

2 months = Really Fast

Today I took Braxtyn to his 2 month checkup. It went really well and he checked out a-ok. He is now 12 lbs 2 oz and 22 inches long. So I am not imagining it, he really is growing like a weed. A really cute weed. Two months have really gone by too quickly. I have already had to "retire" 3 outfits and that part did make me tear up. He is such a good and easy going baby. He really puts up with being smothered by his siblings and hardly complains about anything at all. The last four nights, he slept for a block longer than 6 hours. That is a really wonderful thing. He has brought us all so much happiness and fun. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family who gets along and loves each other so much.

Not to make Bryndan and Kaitlyn feel left out, I will say that they are doing well right now too. Bryndan is excelling in school and has made many new friends. You can hardly tell he was delayed at all. Kaitlyn is also thriving and has made new friends at PDO and with some kids from the Mom's Group I meet with. She is becoming quite the social butterfly, and still maintains her own sense of girl style.

Braxtyn Update

I can't believe that Braxtyn is already 2 months old. It seems like just yesterday we brought him home. The big kids love him so much and he has fit right in. This is a video I recorded for my parents so that they could see how big Braxtyn is getting. He smiles and giggles regularly now, and is a pretty happy boy!!

Family of Five

Ok...so I am really behind, but it has taken a while to get things back together here at the house.

On August 4th at 10:04 pm, we were blessed to meet Braxtyn Joel Thomas. He weighed in at 7 pounds 9 ounces and he was 20 inches long. We had been at the hospital since 6:30 am, but with delays breaking the water, (Dr. was at another hospital) and the fact that he was "sunny-side" up, it took a while for him to get here. After a long labor, he finally rolled over at about 9:45, and arrived at 10:04. He is so beautiful. He was alert and hungry right away, and just brought so much joy. Shane was with me, of course, but this time both of my sisters were in the room as well. It made for a fun, yet interesting time. It was neat to share this experience with them. Since we have been home, I have taken some pictures but not as many as I would like. I just don't seem to have the time to get to the camera before the next thing happens. It is kind of like a non stop crazy party over here. Many friends and family have helped out tremendously with food and support. It has been wonderful to have people stopping by and for my Mom to be here. Sadly, she leaves this Friday :(

Bryndan started Pre-K on Monday and seems to be doing well. He likes his new teachers and friends and has made the transition well. We had a rough time yesterday morning getting him on the bus for some reason but he had no problems today. Kaitlyn will start PDO again next Thursday, and we went up to meet her new teachers on Tuesday. She likes her new room, and is looking forward to playing with new friends.

Both of the kids really LOVE Braxtyn. They like to help and bring things for him and they let me know when he is crying. Kaitlyn especially likes to hold him and give him hugs and kisses.

I am doing well, and except for the lack of sleep I am feeling relatively good. My back had been hurting so bad that I couldn't sit or move without agony, but since I've been home and have made it past the first week, it has really been doing better. It is nice being able to move around again. Braxtyn has had no trouble learning to breastfeed and except for a few times, it has really been no problem. He just gets the hiccups a lot!!!

Well...that is it for now...the children are calling!!

Promise to blog

Ok...so I promise to do a full "new baby" blog soon. I am just too tired right now. But I will do it and post new pictures and spill all the "gory" details...

Later...

I promise!!!

:)