Sickies

I am so grateful that we have enjoyed good health so far this fall and winter.  The last few weeks have been rough!  Lydia had RSV for 8 days and now it's the Flu and stomach virus--all under one roof.  Here is a little chart I made to keep up with our Tamiflu dosages.  Graham tested positive for the flu, so he will take two doses per day for five days.  The rest of us take (prophylactic) once per day for ten days.  Poor Millie has the stomach bug, but I am grateful that she is now old enough to (mostly) make it to a receptacle of some kind.   Hoping that we'll be on the mend soon.

our little helper

Millie loves to help.  Whether it's spreading butter on a piece of toast, folding a towel, or mixing up something special in the kitchen, she's game!  Today she's helping me take some letters to the mailbox.  

Such a big girl!

March Miscellany

Between being pregnant, finishing up our Classical Conversations year, enjoying the beautiful weather and lots of birthdays, March FLEW by!

Playdough was a hit this month.  The girls made many creations.  Here are some of Reecie's favorites.

We are not big network TV watchers (mostly Netflix shows for us), but the month of March is the exception.  Basketball has been our background noise for much of the month.  :)

The kids made these awesome models at CC that show the layers of the earth + the layers of the earth's atmosphere, both were included in our Science memory work.

Daddy helped everyone fill out their own March Madness bracket.  My alma-mater FGCU made it to the sweet 16...very exciting times for our little town to be all over the news media.  They've nicknamed Fort Myers "Dunk City".  Not bad for a school that's only 16 years old.   

 I was not loyal in my bracket, however, and went "chalk" for the winning bracket. Winner gets to pick a family fun day after Lydia is born.  Hmmm, what shall we do?  :)

More basketball!

 On Logan's birthday, he asked me to take these pics and tell anyone who messes with Lydia "they can have some of this from her cousin Logan".  :)  He is so excited about her!  Always running up to give my belly big hugs and says "I just can't wait for Lydia Kate!!" Sweet cousin.

Graham is blazing through books these days.  His favorite series is Encyclopedia Brown and he can burn through 2 or 3 each day if he has enough free time.  Enclopedia Brown with a little Star Wars on top.  :)

Big Sibs

We are all getting excited about Lydia's arrival!  This anticipation is expressed in many ways and here are a few:

some of us make Lydia a "pretty house" out of paper

Some of us drive Lydia's momma CRAZY stalking around trying to snuggle with the belly

the sister-types like to practice their swaddling methods

and practice rocking the baby

and practice kissing the baby

and some of us get ready for Lydia by putting the baby's porta-bed together with great care.  :)

Some of the things I want to remember are not easily photographed, but are so precious, just the same:
-prayers of thanks for "our baby Lydia"
-the many many pieces of artwork creatied for Lydia Kate
-the way Camille breathlessly tells folks about our baby "Alivia Kate"
-the way every new baby and stuffed animal is now named "Lydia Kate"
-the way Reecie wraps her arms around my belly to give Lydia hugs and kisses
-the way Graham sings "Hush Little Baby" to Lydia each night:
Hush little Lydia don't you cry, Bubba's gonna buy you....
-the many, many conversations about who will change, feed, burp, help, sit next to in the truck, and be with Lydia each moment of the day  :)

I'm so excited to enjoy our precious people together and watch their relationships grow into something so beautiful!  

cooties!

Dan has been struggling with allergies for several weeks now, but when he came home from church on Wednesday night, I knew he was really sick.  He was achy, feverish, coughing, and sick to his stomach.  First thing on Thursday morning, I called the doctors office, on a gut feeling that he may have THE flu (influenza A).  Since it's been considered an epidemic this year, and Dan is constantly in contact with folks at church and on hospital visitations, I knew it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.  Upon mentioning to the receptionist that I am 30 weeks pregnant, I was so grateful that they had him come in for the first appointment for a "swab" test.  Sure enough, he tested positive.  This led to a quick call on the way home to my OB/GYN and the kids' pediatrician to request Tamiflu.  None of us had symptoms yet, so we took it as a prevention.  And although the Tamiflu was pricey and gave us belly aches, we decided it was worth it, especially given the potential side-effects of the flu  during pregnancy.  Dan's worst symptoms only lasted about three days and the rest of us stayed flu-free.  I am usually so leery of drugs like this, but in this case--I felt total peace.  It was truly a blessing (protection + provision) from the Lord.  

In addition to the flu, all three kids came down with a nasty cold (RSV)...poor Millie was the worst.  

So here's a few pictures that capture some of the ways we spent an entire seven days in quarantine: 

napping

eating yummy food (for some reason, when the family is sick I go into feed my family mode, so we ate really well this week!)

soaking up some extra vitamin D in the sunshine

watching way to much tv

taking our yucky-tasting meds

painting nekkid, just because it makes her feel happy instead of sick and grumpy :)

bickering because we're tired of being cooped up in the house all week, group time-out is highly effective discipline (ha ha ha!)

looking at photo albums and reading books together

lots and lots and lots of snuggle-therapy

playing games new and old

and praising the Lord for his healing touch!

Early Riser

Millie usually rises between 5-6:00 every morning.  We moved a tv into our room several months ago (which I've been staunchly opposed to in the past)  partly so that I can get some extra sleep on mornings when Dan has to head out early to play basketball.  On this morning, I set her up on the Ipad to watch while I made breakfast and lunches before we went to Classical Conversations. Little cutie.  :)

Camille's favorites (on Netflix) are:  Sesame Street, Good Luck Charlie, Fireman Sam's Christmas, Super Why and Strawberry Shortcake.

Favorites

This "grabber" is my constant companion as bending down with these achy hips is such pain (literally!)

I {heart} the Fernando Ortega station on Pandora with Selah and Watermark for variety.  I turn it on especially in the mornings and evenings for a peaceful tone.

This tea with lots of honey has been a staple in this pregnancy.  I have totally given up decaf coffee because it just does not taste good to me right now.  Also, hot chocolate...I love it with LOTS of marshmellows.  :)

snuggle wiff daddy

Dan was out of town for a few days at the Fellowship of Presbyterians conference in Orlando. Hannah Reece (as usual) needed to sleep with daddy's robe each night so that she could "smell" him.  Both girls slept with me in our bed.  Graham and Charly crashed together on the sofa in the living room.  The hardest time is from 4-bedtime because those are the hours that we're used to daddy livening things up around here!  I'm tired, the kids are getting tired and we're just all missing him something awful at night.  Usually I stay up super late when he's gone, but I was so beat that I crashed with the kids!  :)

When Dan got home, it was close to nap time for Camille.  She said, "I wanna snuggle wiff daddy." The two of them piled up in our bed together and took a FOUR hour nap!  All snuggled up together.  Girl LOVES her daddy.  

I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.  Camille is wearing her favorite princess nightgown. Camille says those princesses on her gown get "scared of monsters" at night and so they tell her to get in momma and daddy's  bed to feel better.  ;)

Blessings + favorites

This morning, I caught a glimpse of this:

and it took my breath away.  

How many moments, like Mary, mother of Jesus, have I treasured up all these things and pondered them in my heart?  (Luke 2:19)  More than I can count!  It's one of the many things I love about recording our memories here on this blog.  These memories are a treasure, a gift from the Lord.  

I'm not raising the "savior" but raising a child is hard, holy, precious work.  The other night, Dan said, while watching the kids, "I'm trying my best to engrain this moment into my memory."  I smiled and laughed!  I couldn't have said it better!  I feel that way hourly, it seems.  Even in the hard moments of mothering, it seems that God ,in his rich mercy, provides perspective and grace.  I know that these precious moments with our children are just a blink in time...in the span of their lives.  What a privilege to witness the making of these future man and women. 

That candle is one of my favorites!  It is some type of fresh pine scent from Mrs. Meyers brand.  I burn it from morning till night.

I think Trader Joe's makes the YUMMIEST semi-sweet chocolate chips!  I've been enjoying them   all by their yummy little selves, but I can't wait to load up some homemade cookie mix with these bad boys and some pecans, too!

My favorite Pandora station "George Winston (holiday)" plays all. day. long. in our living room.

I discovered "kits" this week at our public library.  Each day, for the first thirty minutes of quiet time, Graham reads his chapter book (currently reading "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever") I lay down with Camille for the first part of her nap, and I've needed something "independent" for Reecie-our beginning reader.  I was looking for the old school tapes with books at the library, but these are even better! She LOVES following along with the books on cd and it makes her feel so big to have her cd walkman and headphones on.

We have been working on memorizing Exodus 20 with a song and hand motions this semester in Classical Conversations.  I put the self-timer on my camera to work so that I can remember these precious moments with our children!  I didn't notice at the time, but the way Reecie is helping Camille with her motions makes my heart just ache with love for them!

I feel like this Christmas/advent season, I am moving slower, enjoying the ordinary, savoring these moments more than I ever have before.  I'm just so grateful for God's grace and the opportunity to set a comfortable pace.  No rushing, no hustle and bustle, no unrealistic expectations on myself or on the kids.  For me, this has been one of the greatest blessings in our home school journey so far.  Pacing ourselves.  Being intentional.  Not feeling the constant external pressure to be, do, and fulfill obligations.  I am a happier, more content person, and I think it is making a difference in the way that I nurture and love our children.  So thankful for these people God has entrusted to Dan and I!

Boy or Girl?

Dear baby,

Today is the day!  We will find out if you are a boy or a girl.  I think you are a girl...but maybe it's because those are my most recent memories from our last two babies?  Daddy is sure you are a boy.  Graham has pleaded with you since you were 4 weeks old "PULEEEZE grow a p*nis!!!  Bubby will be SO happy if you are a brother!"  Ha ha.  Hannah Reece has waffled between boy or girl and I think she'll be happy with either one.  She's excited to share diaper duty with me this time.  :)  Camille is SURE you are a girl.  Every time we are at Target, she veers off to the baby section to look at all things pink for her "baby sistah".  Whatever gender you are....we are thankful!  You are a reward and a blessing from God!

I can't wait to see your precious growing body wiggling all around at today's ultrasound.  I am up super early (5:30) thinking about you.  Mornings and nights are the times I think about you the most.  These are quiet(er) times in the house and my mind and heart are still amazed that God has given us you.  You are our fourth child and I think it's so cool that as soon as you come into the world FIVE people will be ready to overwhelm you with love and care.  Not to mention all of your Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who love you, too!  When we are together or at church, your nine-year-old cousin Logan embraces me with the sweetest (and gentlest) hug and says "I can't WAIT to see our baby!!!"  And then he reminds me exactly how many days until we find out if you are a boy or a girl.  So precious.

I've felt your "flutters" of movement several times in the last week or so.  Tonight though,  I felt a quick "bump".  I knew it was you.  I love you little one!  You already make momma smile.  xoxoxo

This is what you look like  today, at 16 weeks..

ice skating

Why on earth would we be donned in our winter gear in 90 degree weather??

ICE SKATING LESSONS!

 up and down, up and down...but not for long!  :)

sneaking in sugars and snuggles with daddy

"Mom, guess what?  Today I just fell three times.  I never want to stop skating.  I wish for skating lessons every day!"  -Hannah Reece