Blizzard '09

We, along with much of Virginia, got pounded with lots and lots of snow* this weekend. 16 inches by our estimates. Snow began to fall Friday afternoon around 3:30 and it didn't stop until Saturday mid-afternoon. We bundled up and trekked outside to play in the white stuff. Brian pulled me in the sled to pack down the snow to make a track for the boys. There were many snowballs flying, shovels shoveling, and two very snowed in vehicles to be unearthed. We couldn't even see the tires of my van. I didn't get any pictures Saturday, but Sunday was a different story.

*the exact words of the news caster on Thursday.

Sunday, we made a snowman, went sledding in the yard, and had a huge snowball fight. It was so much fun...


Brian and Garrett were in an all out war. I just love this shot...


And with no significant warming in sight, I think we'll get to enjoy the white stuff for a few more days! They're even calling for a bit of snow on Christmas. We'll see about that...

Where does he come up with these things?

Garrett is one of the funniest kids I know. He has impeccable timing, and honestly, I think he knows that he is funny. Last week, I was telling him to pick up his toys that he left on the floor in the family room. He was crouched beside the couch so I couldn't see him. From beside the couch I hear a voice say, "Garrett is not home right now. Please leave a message." I tried to maintain my composure so he'd know I mean business, but I failed! I laughed and he laughed. Eventually, the toys made it back to the playroom. Eventually.

On our way back from the Outer Banks last weekend, we stopped at a Wendy's for dinner. After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, Garrett was eager to say the blessing. He must have told us two or three times "I'll say the blessing! I'll say the blessing!" We didn't acknowledge him soon enough. Then we heard, "Blessing starts in 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1..." It is really hard to keep a straight face around this kid! But, laughter does a body good, so I guess I'll keep him around a while.

My Little Hunter (named Garrett)

Confused by the title??? Saturday, Brian took Garrett hunting for the first time. He said Garrett jumped up out of bed (well, actually, out of his sleeping bag) when Brian woke him at 5:30 AM. It was a rainy morning, but not too cold in Danville (at Uncle Paul's). While Garrett, Brian and Paul went hunting, the rest of us slept in until 8:00. It was really nice!

Garrett was singing some battle song as they rode down the driveway...he was ready to kill something...or, watch while Daddy killed something. While they didn't actually kill any deer, they did see several little bucks, a doe, some squirrels, and they heard turkeys gobble. Garrett had a little trouble staying still and quiet in the tree stand (no big shock to me!), but he can't wait until he gets to go with Daddy again. Hunter planned to go in the afternoon, but as the day progressed, he decided that going to a movie with his cousins sounded like a better option.

This is the hunters as they returned. It looks like a good time was had by all!

First sleep over

This past weekend, the boys had their first "friend" sleep over. I decided that I could be brave and allow another child spend the night with my spirited two. I arranged to pick up Josiah before I got the boys from school (as a surprise) and they were thrilled to see their buddy at school. We came home and they played Star Wars with all of their dress up items and light sabers. Then they rode bikes and ran around outside. I was hoping they would get rid of some of their energy, but evidently, fresh air can have the opposite effect on three boys! We ate pizza for supper and then watched the first Star Wars. The boys were beyond excited about watching Episode 1. I finally put them to bed at 9. Garrett quickly fell asleep (my plan was working, I thought). But at 11 when I went to check on the supposedly sleeping lads, Hunter and Josiah were still talking. They were just so excited. They were not quite as excited when Garrett decided they should all be up at 6:30! Saturday morning I made the boys pancakes and made them go outside again to play. It was supposed to rain, so I wanted to cease the opportunity to be outside. Much bike riding and running was done, and by noon, my boys were really tired. But would they concede and take a nap??? Not a chance! Lack of sleep aside, they had a wonderful time without a doubt!

What a week for Garrett!

Last week, Brian and I had the opportunity to go with Garrett's kindergarten class to an apple orchard in Bedford. The children had so much fun picking apples. I couldn't recall a time when I had picked apples before, so unless I have poor recollection, this was my first time picking apples too! Garrett was very careful selecting just the right apples. He wanted to pick mostly granny smith apples, because they are his favorite. He picked me a purple apple, since I love purple. He picked Hunter a yellow apple because he was sure Hunter would like to try it. The purple apple was delicious, and I have no idea what type it was. I wish I did, because I would definitely buy them again. Hunter had no interest in trying a yellow apple, so perhaps I will have to eat it. The children got to see where they store the apples, and everyone got to eat an apple from the cold storage. We sampled some cider, and we liked the cherry apple cider the best. After the apple orchard, we took all the children to Liberty Lake Park in Bedford to eat and play. The children had a wonderful time!Friday, when I picked the boys up from school, Garrett came running to the car holding an envelope. He shouted, "I lost my tooth jumping up and down in music." I asked if he had been wiggling it while jumping and he said, "Nope, it just fell out into my lip." Since the tooth fairy doesn't visit our house, he traded his tooth for ice cream! Garrett has another wiggly tooth, so we shall see how quickly it decides to come out!

Out of the mouthes of babes

Garrett must really be enjoying school. When he got in the car this afternoon he said, "Mom, I want to give Miss Stanley some food or something." I asked what he had in mind. He told me, "You know, butter or something like that." Then he said, "Or maybe we could get her a dress. She likes to wear dresses." I asked why he wanted to give Miss Stanley butter or a dress or something, and he said, "Because I want her to know she is my favorite teacher." When we got home, Garrett went to my closet and said,"maybe we can give Miss Stanley one of your dresses. You do have a lot of dresses. That would be nice." What a generous kid he is!

I think we will definitely give Miss Stanley something, maybe not butter or a dress, but something!

A more detailed update...with pictures!

The boys started school on August 24th. I was really dreading this day coming. I just didn't know what I should be doing. I have been a stay-at-home mom with kids at home for 7.5 years. Caring for my children is what I do...er, did.

As the day drew closer, the question on every one's mind was "What are you going to do now that the boys are going to both be in school?" My first reply was, "Cry." Then I would tell them, "I am looking forward to cleaning my house and it staying clean for more than 5 minutes." While I did shed a few tears the first morning, and I have cleaned my house, I realized I have to adjust to this new "normal."

Now the question that people like to ask is, "Are you going back to teaching?" I really don't know. I like being able to volunteer at the boys' school and be involved in the classroom without an every day commitment. I may substitute. I may go back to school and get my master's (in what, who knows???). I may read every book in the county library, but probably not. For now, I am volunteering Tuesdays for about 2.5 hours helping in the lunchroom and in Hunter's art class. Mondays I still lead a women's Bible study, Wednesday mornings I meet with other moms at the school to pray for the students and teachers. And, every other Friday, Brian has off, so we will get to do some fun things together without the boys and without a babysitter. Really, I don't feel like I have a ton of free time on my hands, but I am making good use of my time, I think.

Enough about me. Here are a couple of pictures of the boys on the first day of school. Notice Garrett and Hunter are both wearing the same color uniform shirt...Garrett wants to be just like his big brother and wear the same color shirt as Hunter. The only problem is that they don't have many of the same colored shirts. It is sweet to see, none the less. Brian and I walked both boys to their classes the first day. Garrett was a little hesitant at first, but he settled in quickly. When he came home, he was upset because his teacher only had "girl" toys. I assured him that she had "boy" toys too, and the next day, the "boy" toys appeared.



Hunter also has a wonderful teacher this year. She is so precious and her love for the children is so evident. Hunter went right on into his new classroom without any hesitation.
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Labor Day weekend, we went down to Uncle Paul's lake house. The boys were so excited to be going to see their cousins. It was sweet! Grandpa also came down, and we all went out on the boat. The weather was perfect and we had a great day on the lake. The boys tubed, swam and water skied. I continue to marvel at how easily Garrett got up on his skis. The boys are getting braver and like to have "rough" rides in the tube. They got some serious air hitting some wakes. It was fun to watch, but I didn't want to participate in such a rough ride.
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We celebrated two big events this September. First, Tiffany and Chris had their newest baby, Eva Kaitlyn. She is just adorable. The boys have been asking why they can't have a sister like David. I told them they can just enjoy David's sisters! Our second celebration was Nanny and Mac's 90th and 95th birthdays. It was a really nice party. I think Nanny and Mac both enjoyed themselves.
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Last week, I got to go to Richmond while Brian stayed home with the boys. The purpose of my visit was to spend time with Uncle Bob and Aunt Linda, who came in for a long weekend from Florida. It was really nice being able to spend time with my parents, with my aunts and uncles and with my granddad without distraction. While in Richmond, my family got me "hooked" on a new game, Quiddler. I can't wait to play it again!
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Well, that's all folks! I'm off to go gather my sons from school!

Update

So much has happened since the last time I posted, I am not sure I will remember it all...but I will give the short version now, and go back to fill in the details in another post.

*We spent much time at the pool this summer. Hunter and Garrett have both become proficient swimmers, and can go off the diving board.
*The boys attended several Vacation Bible Schools in the area and loved it!
*We went the Myrtle Beach for vacation in August. While at the beach, Brian and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary.
*Garrett started Kindergarten at Timberlake Christian School, and Hunter started 2nd grade. Both boys have fantastic teachers, and they REALLY love school. Well, they really love lunch and recess, which they get to do at school.
*We celebrated Nanny and Mac's 90th and 95th birthdays.
*We welcomed Eva Kaitlyn Douglas to the family (congratulations Tiffany and Chris!).
*I am in Richmond visiting with Uncle Bob and Aunt Linda, who made the trip from Florida.

So, that about covers the highlights from the last couple of months. I will post pictures and expand on some of these highlights when I get back to my computer and my pictures. Have a great day!

The pool is opened...

and we love it! The boys and I have been three or 4 times this week already. It is so convenient to be able to go swim for an hour or two and then come home. Since the pool is just around the corner, we can fit in a trip to take a dip just about any time! Today we packed our lunch and went for a couple hours. I am really looking forward to the boys starting swimming lessons soon, too!

Thanks, Brian, for making the pool a possibility this summer! We are really enjoying it!

I'm so proud of my boys

Hunter got his end of the year report card Friday. He finished his first grade year with straight A's for the 4th quarter and straight A's for the year. I believe his final averages were between 97% and 104%! He had a fantastic year!!! Garrett also completed his preschool year with an outstanding report card (yes, they gave us a report card!)...he is "more than ready" for Kindergarten. (the exact words of his preschool teacher). He had outstanding behavior at school, too. Both boys were rewarded for their hard work. We took them to Cici's Pizza where they can "help themselves" to all the food they want. Garrett loves that idea (sounds like his mother). After Cici's, we took the boys to get some books. They both love books, and we figured they were a good treat for excellent grades/hard work! Hunter found some Hardy Boys books and he loves them! Garrett got some Star Wars books that he is equally fond of.

Speaking of accomplishments, Garrett is also reading! He is able to read more and more words every day! He will insist that he can't read, but I assure you, he is reading! He prefers to be read to, so we usually take turns reading pages. Again, I am proud of these kids!

Fun in Photos...

I believe a good time was had by all!

The challenge begins...

...to keep the boys entertained this summer! I do want them to have fun, and as soon as the neighborhood pool opens full time for the summer, I am sure that is where we will spend lots of time. But this week, the area public schools are still in session, so we will have to get creative...no pool, no "good" parks (school playgrounds)...but we have water guns and a hose.

Today I will be purchasing a new sprinkler to add to the excitement. We tried to use our old one last weekend, but there was no life left in it (It was about 4 years old and was left outside most of the winter). I also have plans to take the boys to a smallish park nearby for a picnic. They want to show me the trail in the woods where they saw a snake last time with Daddy. Oh, boy! I can't wait to see that!


Hopefully, a new sprinkler, a picnic at the park and water guns will count for a fun day! Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll even convince the boys that a washed car is fun, too! I won't hold my breath...


I will try to capture the fun moments from today on film. Who uses film anymore??? I will try to take photos of all of our fun!

Kindergarten, Here He Comes!!!

Today Garrett graduated from preschool. The ceremony was complete with caps and gowns for the kids, blue for boys and pink for girls. Those kids looked adorable. The tassel on the cap was quite a nuisance for Garrett, though. The kids showed off their amazing skills they have learned this year. The can count to 10 in many different languages: spanish, french, german, korean, and chinese. Oh, and of course in english! They also can count by 10's to 100 and by 2's to 20 (almost...they got to 16 then said 17, 18, 19, 20). The kids each recited nursery rhymes in groups. Garrett and his friend Kylie said "Jack and Jill". They played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on hand bells (so adorable!) and they sang a couple of songs. Each child marched across the stage to receive his/her diploma and of course pose for the cameras. At the end, as they marched out, Garrett lost hold of his diploma. He looked panicked..."Do I get it or do I keep the line moving???" He got it and ran to catch up while EVERYONE laughed.

There was a cake and punch reception following the ceremony. We ended Garrett's special day by going to La Carreta for lunch with his buddy Ethan's family.

The only sad part of today was that I couldn't be at Hunter's awards ceremony today. He got an award for field day participation and for completing the Book It program. Hunter was only one of 4 from his class to complete the Book It. I am pretty pleased by that! Brian was able to attend the awards ceremony for Hunter while I was at Garrett's graduation. We met for lunch after both, so all's well that end's well!

Two days left...

...for this school year! How in the WORLD is that possible?!?!?! Hunter has two half days of school left for the year. Tomorrow is a fun day where the entire elementary school is going to Putt Putt. Friday is his awards assembly. They don't really give out special awards in first grade, but he should get one for completing the Book It program and one for field day participation. Tomorrow for Garrett is his end of the year picnic (hopefully the weather will cooperate!) and fun day. Friday is his preschool graduation ceremony. Don't you know, both Hunter's and Garrett's events occur at the SAME TIME!!! So, Brian and I will have to each go to one event. How guilty I feel, though, because I don't want to disappoint either of the boys, nor do I want one to feel I love the other more because I went to his event. Oh, the joys of motherhood...

But on a serious note, while the year has flown by, it has been a wonderful experience for Hunter and for me. I would gladly homeschool again if for some reason Timberlake Christian Schools (TCS) doesn't work out, but until then, I am very content with the arrangements. Hunter has thrived in the classroom, and his teacher was wonderful about challenging each student at their own level. This took a lot of time and preparation, and I am truly grateful that she cares so much for the children.

Garrett is officially enrolled in the Kindergarten program at TCS next year. And, they are moving the Kindergarten to the main campus, so both boys will be in the same building! That means less stops to make in the morning/afternoons!!! It is a win-win for everyone.

I shall post some pictures of the events upcoming this week!

Follow up hearing test

Back in March I wrote about how my amazing ENT patched the hole in my ear drum with cigarette paper. Well, we knew that was temporary, but the hope was that the ear drum would start to regenerate, using the cigarette paper as a lattice. Today I had a follow up appointment and a hearing test to determine how well things are healing. Not surprising, my hearing test shows hearing loss. This is not a surprise to me for two reasons: 1. the paper patch came out Sunday and 2. I have such scarring in my ears from years and years of tubes.

So, before I even saw the ENT, I knew there was still a hole of some sort in my ear. (I know this because they could not a normal pressure reading in my ear, which indicates a hole of some sort)But, this is not the end of the story. I am sitting here, as I type, in pain because of the amplification of sound in my ear! I now have another paper patch because the first one enabled the hole to close up approximately 75%! I will gladly suffer a little bit of pain for less-impaired hearing. I am hopeful that this will work to restore much of my hearing! We shall see...

Boys+water guns+rain=2 happy children!

Tonight our friends, Brian and Debbie had us over for a Memorial Day Cookout. The dinner was simple, brats grilled and pasta salad for the adults and nuggets and fries for the boys. Needless to say, everyone was pleased and ate well. After dinner, the boys wanted to play outside with their water guns. They had a blast! I wish I had pictures of the huge smiles upon their "sweet" little faces as they completely soaked each other. This was probably the first time today that they actually played well together. After the guns ran out of "ammo", it started to rain. The boys asked if they could play in the rain. Why not, they were already wet! They had a ball.

It was fun to watch them enjoy something so simple as playing in the rain. Too often they seem to want to be entertained by "something" like a movie, a video game, or a TV show. Tonight the boys got to be boys! Note to self: water guns make the boys really happy! Maybe this won't be such a long summer after all!

(I am really trying to make an effort to post more often. I don't know if anyone even reads this, but nonetheless, I am making an effort!)

Strawberry Pickin' (or NOT)

Today we planned to have lunch with the drama team from church and families and then we were supposed to go strawberry picking. Well, it seems everyone had the idea to pick berries, as the farm we were going to go was closed because they were out of berries! Garrett has looked forward to strawberry picking for a year, and I hated that we had to break his little heart. He took the news well, though. He was very busy playing with our friend's daughter, Gillian, that he didn't have too much to complain about. They were just too cute...

...playing with night crawlers!!!!

Trying something new...

Today, I am going to make my own household cleaners. I was literally out of everything, so I had to go to Walmart anyway, so I purchased borax, vinegar, and baking soda and will now attempt to clean with these products. I am really excited about this (not sure why, but I am). I will let you know how it turns out (the two of you that might actually read this, that is!).

BTW, I am also on a organizing binge, so I am cleaning out closets, clearing off shelves...please, someone stop me...I'm out of control! But, my husband will ADORE me for the organized house!

Fishing, Field Day and Soccer...oh, my!

Just to keep everyone up to date (yes, I know I have been really bad about updating the blog lately), here's what is going on in the lives of Hunter and Garrett.

Two weeks ago we took the boys fishing at our friends, Hutch and Linda's house. They have a pond on their property and the boys just love to fish there. Garrett fished with his Spiderman fishing rod (is there anything else???), and immediately after casting the first time he got a nibble. The little fish got away with the worm, though. He did manage to keep a few fish on the hook, and even caught a decent sized cat fish.

Hunter's evening didn't start off as well. He kept casting, but couldn't get any bites. Finally, he cast across to far bank, where the fish were biting, and caught a "fish stick" as Brian calls it. Hunter lost his hook and bobber in the tree. But after that, he was able to catch a few fish. Brian and I were also faring pretty well that evening.

This spring we have Garrett signed up for soccer. This has to have been the wettest spring on record...at least it seems that way. He missed 5 practices/games in a row. Every Monday and Wednesday for over two weeks it rained! He is having fun running around aimlessly, but I am wondering if he is really learning anything about soccer. I will say that he is quite fast, so when they run in the beginning, he usually is one of the first to finish.

Garrett tends to spend a lot of time on the ground...

...or playing with his shirt! Yes, number 5 is Garrett!

Tuesday, Hunter's class had Field Day. With the younger children, they only do relay-style events. One of my favorites was the ping pong ball relay, where they had to blow through a straw to get the ball to a cone and come back. That ball went all over the gym. I got a good laugh out of that. They also had a water slide for the children. Keep in mind it was barely 70 degrees for the high that day, and Hunter's class used the slide at 11:15...it was quite cold, but the kids had a blast! Garrett was able to participate in most of the events, too, including the water slide. All three of us were worn out after that fun-filled day!

That about sums up the highlights from the last week or two. Next week is the last week of school for both boys, so there will be more to post then!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma

Sunday we celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday. Her family (5 children+spouses/significant others; 14 of 15 grandchildren+spouses and 8 of 10 great-grandchildren) surprised her with a luncheon. I have never seen my Grandma look more radiant. You'll see what I mean in the pictures I post.

My Aunt Marjorie and Uncle Parke hosted that shindig at their home that is a renovated barn. It was one of the neatest homes I have ever seen! Aunt Anita and Aunt Marjorie arranged for all of the grandchildren to share a favorite "Grandma" memory and the great-grands all made cards for Grandma. It was a general consensus that Grandma is quite a remarkable woman. I hope that I could have such a legacy when I am older.

A little update

Well, things sure have been busy around here, so I will just give some highlights!

First, and foremost, it has been 3 weeks since I had a child on antibiotics for strep!!! I am really thankful for that. We did take Hunter to the ENT to discuss removing the tonsils, but he preferred we try one more antibiotic (if he starts with the strep again) and if that doesn't work then we will consider a tonsillectomy. While we were at the ENT I also had an appointment. One of my permanent tubes had pulled out, which I knew was the case. Upon further examination, it was determined that I had a hole in my tympanic membrane (ear drum), the very one that had been reconstructed 2 years ago. I figured I was starting down that road again, of dealing with hearing loss that would progress until I decided to get the reconstruction surgery again. But, the doctor placed a paper patch on my ear drum...and I immediately could hear! I didn't realize how much I wasn't hearing until it sounded like a microphone was in my ear! The hope was that somehow my ear drum would start to heal with the patch in place, and 3 weeks later, my ear drum is healing! I am praising God for this! I go back in 2 months for a hearing test to see how well it has healed!

Hunter now has the cutest toothless grin I have seen in a long time (possibly since he was a baby without teeth!). He lost his first front tooth on his birthday, and one month later, he lost the second. Now Garrett wants to lose teeth!!!

On a serious note (and many of you already know this)...My sister-in-law Marcia's cancer has returned. She has several tumors in her lower back, a couple in her neck and there is something in a lymph node in her sternum. We are still waiting on more information, but it seems she will start chemotherapy in 2 weeks, and they will continue as long as the tumors are responding or until Marcia says she's done. Please keep Marcia, Jay, James and Laurel in your prayers. I pray for the doctors to have wisdom to effectively treat the cancer. I pray for Jay to stay strong for the kids, but also that he take the time he needs to process everything and to take whatever help is offered. I pray for Marcia to find relief from the pain she is suffering.

Tomorrow, I am running/walking in a 10K run in Richmond with my sister in law Jennifer. We will be participating in honor of Marcia, as this run benefits the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond. We are really looking forward to this! Well, that is it for now...I must get a child off to school!

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

5 years ago (at this hour) I was holding in my arms my 2nd beautiful son, just 2 hours old. I was so blessed by a FAST labor and delivery. I delivered Garrett just 44 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. He was a very healthy 8lbs 9 oz and 22.5 inches long (not quite as big as Hunter, but not a runt for sure!). Our 5 years with Garrett have been anything but dull, that is for sure. He has such a sense of adventure (knows how to make my heart stop!), and he has fun doing everything. We've had our share of medical issues dealing with all of his allergies and the effects of them, but we are definitely on the upswing now...we've reintroduced some artificial colors and he did not react! Garrett loves books and is well on the way to learning how to read. Of course, Spider-man and anything super heros is a favorite, too!
Hopefully, today will be a special day for Garrett. We were supposed to have family come today to celebrate with us, but Garrett is a bit under the weather. He has an ear infection, strep throat and a fever that won't go away. You would not know at this moment that he is not well...he is doing karate in the other room with Hunter (poor Hunter!). So, the family will come another day. Today will be just the 4 of us.

Happy Birthday, again, Garrett! I hope today is a great day and that we spend many, many more birthdays with you! I love you, Gar-bear!

Pardon me while I whine just a bit...

I am tired of germs! Can I say that any clearer??? Yesterday was Hunter's birthday. Want to know how we started the day??? With Garrett coming in my room at 3AM to tell me his throat felt funny and that he thought he was going to throw up. He was right...he threw up! And he was running a temperature of 102. I looked in his throat, and saw the red, swollen tonsils and knew exactly what I was dealing with...STREP!!! I called the doctor and they couldn't get us in until 2:30...grrr...poor kid was sick and needed to be seen! So at 2:30 we go (after I had to get Hunter from school early) and Garrett slept the whole time we were there. How pitiful is that?!?! The doctor did a rapid strep test (which came back negative) but concluded that he does, in fact, have strep. He also has an ear infection. Thankfully, his flu test came back negative. Today, the little guy says he feels much better, despite the 102 temperature (that is not responding to Motrin). I am getting very worn out with all of the sickness. February started with strep and looks like it is ending with strep!!! Maybe I can rest in March!!!

7 Years Ago...

I was returning from having an ultrasound done (in labor) and they told me my baby was 10 lbs! I was horrified and in disbelief. I was hoping and praying that they were really off. Then I promptly got into the hot tub and labored some more. 2-3 hours later, I had endured enough pain, and asked for Tylenol. Yep, Tylenol! Since that didn't even stay in my stomach 5 minutes, I then went for the big guns...the epidural! Since I was 8 cm dilated when I got the epidural, I was afraid I was too late. But, my contractions slowed, and they had to give me pitocen. By 6 I was fully dilated and told to rest...my contractions were not very productive. An hour or so later I started pushing...and pushing...AND PUSHING!!! I pushed for 1.5 hours, rested, and pushed another 1.5 hours. FINALLY, at 10:48 PM Hunter Gabriel Bowles arrived, weighing a whopping 9lb 15 oz and was 23.5 inches long! No wonder it was so hard to push him out...he was HUGE!

So today I reminisce about the long day of labor that resulted in the most precious gift a person could EVER get...a beautiful, healthy baby boy! My life with Hunter has been so blessed, I can't imagine not having him with us! Happy Birthday, Hunter-bug! I love you!!!

Update on Hunter

Well, it would appear that 20 days of antibiotics did not quite get rid of the strep bacteria in poor little Hunter's throat. He still has some pockets of strep infection on one of his tonsils. Our doctor said to give him 4 more days of Omnicef (b/c we have some) to give him 14 days of this particular antibiotic, and we have an appointment with the ENT for March 3rd. If, in the meantime, he should spike another fever and the strep rears it's ugly head, we are to either call our doctor or go straight to the ENT. I really just want Hunter back to his normal self. They checked his hemoglobin yesterday just to make sure he is not anemic...his color is really pale and he just doesn't look well. That did come back normal, so this infection has just wiped him out.

So now I can get on to thinking about birthdays that are coming up this week! Hunter will be 7 Wednesday and Garrett will be 5 on Saturday!

Germs, Germs GO AWAY...

...And Please, please, DO NOT RETURN!!!

I am really worn out lately. Why? Because apparently strep throat LOVES Hunter. Poor Hunter finished a 10 day course of antibiotics, only to start running a fever again the very next day (last Sunday). By Monday morning, his temperature was 103.7, and he had a horrible cough and very, very red, swollen tonsils. Back to the doctor we went. She took blood to check him for mono, strep, and other infections that could be causing Hunter to be so ill. By lunchtime his temperature was 104. He slept all afternoon and into the evening. Several days later, I got the blood test results...STREP!!! Well, I knew it was still strep, but was glad that mono was ruled out. Hunter kept a fever all week, despite being on antibiotics. Finally by Friday evening he was fever free. Today is Wednesday (I think...) and the last day of his more powerful antibiotic. I looked in Hunter's mouth today to still see on very swollen tonsil with several white spots on it and some blisters in the back of his throat. I called the doctor's office and his doctor is out today, but we will see her tomorrow. She told us last week if he doesn't respond to this antibiotic that we will have to see an ENT to remove his tonsils. I don't know if that is what is next, but if it is, I need lots of prayers for some extra strength and patience. I will update after we see the doctor tomorrow!

Teeth, and magic tricks...

In late December, we all went to the dentist for cleanings. I had a filling that needed to be done, so the dentist decided he could do that and the cleaning together. The only problem with the idea is that it is really hard to swish with a numb mouth. When they were all done with the cleaning, I was to swish some water around and then they would use the "sucker"...well, that didn't quite go according to plan. I tried so hard to swish carefully, only to feel water gushing down my face and neck. Evidently, my lips did not close as I thought they had, and I made a big mess. The hygienist and dentist got a big laugh. I didn't think it was too funny at the time.


This was the first time that Hunter has had x-rays done, and I am surely glad they did them. One of Hunter's molars can't erupt because it is growing into the "premolar" beside it. His tooth is being eroded, leaving it open for infection. We also learned that his permanent teeth are just too big for his little mouth. This really doesn't come as a surprise, since Brian and I both had to have some permanent teeth removed before we got braces. On the bottom, his next two teeth to come in are the size of the 4 teeth that are currently there. So, we were referred to an orthodontist (at 6 this seemed crazy). He recommended that when we have his eroded tooth extracted (which has to happen, soon) that we also remove the 4 teeth on the bottom to at least make some room for the next teeth to come in. I now have to consult with the dentist to see if he can remove the teeth without sedation or if we need to see a "pediatric" dentist who can sedate Hunter. I do not like the idea of a pediatric dentist or sedation, so I am hopeful that our dentist (whom I trust and the boys love) will be able to pull Hunter's teeth.

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Last week, while meeting some friends at Burger King, Garrett gave me quite a shock. We were getting ready to leave when he came to the play are door, sans clothes. Yes, he had taken off his clothes (except his underwear, thank goodness). I was so mortified, but I had to get his clothes back on him quickly. Hunter was standing in the play area with all of Garrett's clothes in his hands. He said, "I don't know why Garrett took off his clothes!" I didn't know either, and it didn't matter in that moment. But later, when I had my wits about me again, I asked why he took his clothes off. He said, "Well, I was trying to do a magic trick!" (in his innocent little voice). I was unaware that he knew magic, and apparently the trick didn't quite work. His clothes disappeared, but he didn't! Maybe next time...but I hope there is not a next time!

Basketball

Early in January, we got to see Sydney play basketball at Timberlake. It was Hunter's school homecoming, and they were hosting Westover Christian Academy (Sydney's school). Sadly, WCA did not put up much of a fight against the TCS Tornados, but Sydney was a star. She scored half of her team's 10 points, and we were all so proud!



Here she is demonstrating some dribbling skills...

Her free-throw form was beautiful!

Garrett and Cassidy had a great time cheering for Sydney.
We love to be able to see Sydney play ball here in Lynchburg. One day, maybe we will get to see Hunter or Garrett playing ball

My sincere apologies..

I had no idea it has been so long since I last posted. I can't believe it.....

Well, a lot has happened in the last 6 weeks or so. Let me see if I can recap for everyone!
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Christmas lasted for the month of December and into January. We celebrated with Christmas plays/programs, family gatherings and more family gatherings. The boys had a wonderful Christmas...

Hunter was a caroller...

...and Garrett was a wise man.

Battleship and Hulk Hands were just a couple of the favorite presents.

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Christmas day we went to Richmond to attend Uncle Dave's annual Christmas gathering. This was the first time in many years that we have attended the party. We stayed in Richmond for a couple of days, as the Saturday after Christmas was Brian's Uncle Johnny's memorial service. He passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The service was very nice, and we were able to spend time with family we hadn't seen in a while. The boys also got to play with David, Emily and Erin! They just love to be with their cousins!

On the way back to Lynchburg, we stopped at Uncle Jim's house and were able to get a family picture...

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The following weekend we were back in Richmond to celebrate with the Perrin side of the family. Again, the boys had such a great time with their cousins. On the way home, Garrett said, "I love playing with James, Laurel and Ethan. Can we go see them at Granny and Pop's again soon?"

Jennifer tried to get some pictures of the grandchildren...notice Garrett turning away from the camera...And I just loved this one of Garrett and Laurel...they look so sweet!

We had a few family pictures...this one was one of my favorites of the 4 of us...
This picture of the whole family (minus Marcia who wasn't feeling well) turned out really well... *************************************************************************************

January started out well...Hunter back in school, Garrett back in school, Brian back to work, and Meredith just trying to get back into a routine. My routine has changed slightly, becuase now I am training to run in a 10K race with Jennifer in March. I have had to add the training into my already crazy schedule, but I am really enjoying the exercise!

Hunter got his second report card...and again, all A's! I am so proud of his effort, and he is just flourishing! I am so thankful for his teacher and his school! I have to go now...but will continue the update in a bit.