August 2008 - stuff and camping at Mammoth Cave for Labor Day

August's events:
We went to the Children's museum with Jen and Marc jr and samantha
hanging out with friends,
we sold some of our old furniture and Gabby cried...she is going to be a bit like her mommy!
Lex moved to her big girl bed
Ty tried the potty for the first time! no - we're not officially training, but he's interested...soon, though, really soon!



We bought a camper and decided our first camping trip in it should be to Mammoth Cave campground...actually, here's the real story...
Steph and Dave invited the fam down to get together...and decided on all meeting at Mammoth Cave KY. We were going to all rent a cabin at Jellystone...but by the time it was decided to do so, all the cabins we were interested in were sold out. Steph and Dave were tenting it and Dave's fam had a camper...so we could either rent a camper or tent it...or...buy one for ourselves. Seeing as how we love camping and would love to start camping with our kids (but we'll never be in a tent with all of them...) we started looking. after some looking and reserving one to rent...we finally found the one - i told jer - it was my birthday - so today would be the day...and we found our camper on my birthday! we cancelled our reservation and got our camper the weekend before leaving for Mammoth Cave! and that is the story...you're wow'd by it aren't you!

Update on my neice's baby - Matthew Robert

Here's the update on Matthew Robert - my neice, Holly's baby that was born three months pre-mature...please pray for baby matthew's health and for his mom and dad as they learn what they need to know.

Monday, August 18, 2008

my pumpkins sick
I just wanted to throw in an update. Thingss really have been crap lately. Ive been so miserably worried its making me sick. Im going on little sleep right now.
Matthew has something called necrotizing enterocolitis. Pretty much what it is part of his bowel is really infected (or possibly dead) so hes been very sick. They are giving him medicine to treat it but if it doesnt treat it all of the way he is going to have to have surgery to remove part of the bowel.
He was supposed to have PDA surgery on his heart valve but they need the infection in his stomach to clear up first so he doesnt get any sicker.
I never in my life imagined how heart breaking it would be to see your son in so much pain. That poor baby has had to endure more in 3 weeks than most people do in a lifetime.
Not a whole lot can be done right now on my part other than letting him know im by his side and it hurts me because I just want to make him better.
Ill keep everyone updated but just keep praying for his health to get better and that Matt and I can be strong enough to stick together as a family during these times.
Thank you to everyone whos sent me messages seeing how were doing and letting us know they care.

This mommy's on a mission...

alrighty...as some may know, i still have quite a bit of baby weight left on me from my last child - born almost 17 months ago...ugh. oye. suck. Those are all the words I like to use to describe it! It's got to go, as I have realized that I need to take care of myself if i am going to take care of my children and my husband! If i don't feel good about me...I tend to not feel good about them. I have gotten myself an elliptical and am watching what i eat (most of the time - carrots and grape tomatoes have become my best friends - that and water!). Once i get my masterful hubby to put my elliptical together, i'm going to get my booty (my belly, my arms, my legs, my back...are there any more parts that can be put back into shape, if so, then those too, cuz it all needs it)back in shape. I know it will be slow going...as the first 50 pounds were...but i can do it! You'd think that having/lifting three kids 4 and under would have kept my arms in shape, but no...I have to actually work at it! If i'm brave enough...after i loose some, maybe i'll do before and after...um, ok...well, probably not...but anyway, if you could all keep encouraging me with your kind words and prayer that would be great...i want to be healthy and well to raise my wonderful little miracles that the good Lord has blessed me with! and teach them to be the same as well!

Here's to Mission POSSIBLE!

Wow, how cheesy am i? oh well...that's it for now.

July 2008 in pictures, etc...

Ok...the above...we started out July with Jeremy installing our Air Conditioning!!! Yeah. he finished it on the 4th of July! Other than that, it's just the kiddos playing. Gabby loved dancing in her new dress from Aunt Monica, Lex loves wearing mommies shoes and Tyler still loves trucks! and they all love making forts out of couch pillows.

These are pics of the gang at Wilson's cottage...The Raaymakers, Butter, Wilson's, Ambrose's and us! What can we say. we have a blast wherever we all go!

This is a picture montage of the rest of the month...
Trip up to my parents cottage
Deer at the house (fawns! so cool to watch.)
Gabby in her new bed and moving Lex in with Ty
kids helping dad
putting the swing set up
Ty the tool man Tyler
petting zoo
Tyler - as Mike D
day at the Park
celebrating with Don and Conny
Gabby's friend Jaedon's 5th Birthday party

July 20, 2008

Here's the Boo walking. She stopped (as we joked, the gravity changed when we went south...so she had to re-learn how) walking...so here she is after a hiatus of not walking...

Matthew Robert - born 7-25-08 at 26 weeks

here is the newest addition. My neice Holly gave birth via emergency C-section to Matthew Robert on 7-25-08. She had just hit the 26 week mark and was in the hospital since tuesday. Preclampsia with other things bringing about the early birth of this little man. He will be in the hospital until his term date (at least) which is end of October. They aren't sure when Holly will be discharged as her BP is doing ok - but she's still on the Mag for it, and her platelets are still low and something with her liver, i think. They were living up in Gaylord, but i guess will be going to live with Matt's grandparents in Middleville so that it will be easier to get up to the hospital. There are prayer needs that abound, but i will email those to my family separately. But, i wanted to share the couple of pics and video that i got of him when we visited.

Little Artie Fartie is gone...

Grandma just called to let me know that Artemis fell asleep and took her last breaths with Grandma petting her this morning. She wasn't doing very well last night, so they were going to get her through today and take her tomorrow to put her to sleep, but this morning while Mr. Miles was napping, Grandma laid down to pet artie and she was convulsing and not comfortable. A little while later, Grandma laid down to pet her again and artie fell asleep by her mommy and didn't wake up. Grandma is heartbroken, as am i...If you all know me, you know i become a little attached to my pets. They are little kids to me. Artie was our first pet as a couple, but went to stay with Grandma, as Artie and I had issues...Grandma loved that cat and she was so good to her. Thanks grandma for the call and for giving Artie such a great and loving home! Love you Artemis!

Holly and Matthew robert

***UPDATE*** As i was writing this, i got a call from my mom at the hospital. they found Holly unresponsive at 5 this morning, and their weren't a lot of details available to my mom, but she was also having chest pain at some point...so in they went for an emergency c-section. She is in recovery now and they said she did well through the procedure. I believe they named him Matthew Robert, and he is 1lb 14 oz. he is with us, but obviously has some hurdles to overcome. Please pray for baby and for my neice Holly. My sister and i are going to go up tomorrow to see them, pray that i know the words to say, that i can be supportive and loving. Thanks so much!