Evelyn

I braved the flight (big big bravery) and got to meet our sweet granddaughter today.  I’m so glad I finally got to see her!  

The other kids are having a great time having snacks with their dad.  I miss them!  

A few pre-baby celebrations....

We had one of those crazy weekend.  Lots going on, lots added in because of our Christmas blessing.  My extended family got together yesterday for a Christmas dinner.   It was so much fun seeing them all.  I enjoyed visiting and seeing the kids. We had brunch at church this morning for the feast of the holy family.  It was a fun party too.  Our little church family is an amazing group of people.  

This little miracle has us all sorts of busy preparing.  I have been trying to catch up the laundry, clean the house, pack, buy easy meals for the kids and Jim, make breakfast foods, I feel like maybe Madison skipped pregnancy and nesting, but now I am nesting on her behalf.  Some of it is nervous energy because I don’t fly.  As a matter of fact, Evelyn is probably the only person who I would agree to get on a plane for.  I cannot wait to meet this sweet little baby.  

Today we had Christmas dinner with Jim’s side of the family.  The kids had a good time playing on the walkers, and scooters.  I think Saige loved riding around with grandpa Ken.  It was nice for the kids to see their cousins. I think the Christmas celebrations are now all finished for this year.  I’d say I am sorry, but I am honestly never really sad to pack Christmas away.  This one was a blessing filled, amazing crazy ride.  Now bring on the baby!  

More break

I promised Preston a trip to the DMV over the break.  Since I am leaving, we squeezed that in today.  The DMV is one of the places I hate to go because despite calling, reading, and preparations I am always one thing short.  They changed the regulations for a farm permit and we didn’t realize before we got there.  We will need an affidavit from grandma (which she already agreed she would sign) but without it he could not take the driving test.  He went ahead and took the written test and he passed.  This got him a learner’s permit. This isn’t all bad, he can now legally practice driving before trying to convince a DMV person he knows what he’s doing.  He was excited to get the written test over with....too many older siblings telling him horror stories had him nervous.  

My Jim is famous for “pulling a Jim.”   He tends to run out of gas.   A lot.  He ran out tonight and I had to go rescue him.  I let the dogs go along - they love to ride in the car.  Let’s just say that Jim wasn’t the only one with gas problems tonight.  I think Ollie has been taking advantage of the girls being home and he’s been eating a lot of people food.  It was a long, long drive into town!  

Last year, for Harper’s birthday, I took her and some of her friends to see the Ferdinand the Bull movie.  When we left she told me she hated the movie and thought it was too long and super boring. Her friends agreed.  Tonight, we saw it was on TV.  She told Saige they should hurry and take their baths so they could watch it because it is the best movie ever made.  Uhhhhhh what?  Haha. Maybe she forgot?  They were laughing and saying they hoped it was on again so they could save it on the DVR.   Crazy kids!  

My daily dose of Evelyn.  She got her first bath today.  She HATED It!  Madison said she was not a happy kid.  The binky cracks me up....it is as big as she is!  Madison says she loves it!  She lost a little bit of weight but is starting to gain it back. She is having to spend less time under the billi lights.  Madison was able to hold her for several hours today....which makes everyone happy.  They are busy making plans for when she gets out of the hospital. In proud of them for how they are handling everything.  I am also counting down the minutes until I can meet this sweet baby.  

Break

I have always enjoyed the kids being home for any kind of a school break.  I rather enjoy lack of a schedule and laid back family time.  This year isn’t any different, with the exception of being anxious to get to Arizona!  

Mallory and I are both needing a baby fix!   She’s so desperate, she has been practicing on the cat.  Poor cat!  

We had some interesting Christmas gifts.  The kids all got shirts and a tie dye kit.  They had a great time looking up ways to fold their shirts to accomplish designs.  I wouldn’t say they were successful exactly, and my hands definitely took a beating.  The shirts turned out pretty well....the kids are thrilled!  It was a fun project to do together.  You can see the girl’s shirts in some of the pictures below.  

In this house, I can never find a pen.  Every single time I go into Walmart or dollar general, I buy a package of pens and yet, I never have a pen when I need one.  I grumble about it frequently.  I have tried putting my name on the pens, buying them in feminine colors, hiding them, threatening lives.  No pens.  Ever.  The kids found a place online that sells a box of mess-up pens.  These have smeared logos, grammatical errors, and a few other odd qualities but there are 300 pens in this box.  I found it to be an amusing gift.  I also give it 3 weeks before they have stolen all of these pens and I will not be able to write stuff down.  

Our sweet grand baby is making big strides.  She has gotten off oxygen and is on room air. Breathing on her own.   She got her feeding tube moved to her nose so they can use her mouth to try some nipple feedings, and pacifiers.   She is doing fabulous.  Madison and Andrew got to hold her for the first time today.  These pictures melted my heart.  I know how anxious they have been to hold their baby.  I remember days spent in the NICU when the twins were born. They are hard days and my heart goes out to them.  I cannot get to Arizona fast enough!  I have never made it a secret that I want the kids to move closer....now more than ever.  

Saige has finally stopped telling everyone she is “an Uncle” and is happy to be an aunt!  She has watched the videos no less than 100 times.  She and I both had a hard time not buying out the baby section when we went shopping today.  We settled for a gingerbread house kit instead.  The girls had a great time putting this together, and I must say this year looks more like a cute house instead of our traditional gingerbread crack shack.  

We also managed to squeeze in Cameron’s birthday dinner and cake before he headed back to Manhattan to work.  I truly feel like the break is amazing. 

Merry little Christmas

We have had a merry Christmas here at home today. The kids were excited, but managed to wait until 7 to wake us all up!  Mallory and I did some amazing cooking. And we spent part of the day begging Madison and Andrew for pictures and videos of Evelyn!  We missed them and Spencer.  It was still a great day!

The baby is doing great.  She got to try mouth feedings and is absolutely beautiful and perfect.  It was one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had!