Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Kings Island




Our first trip to Kings Island this year :)


Ben was so cute getting his picture taken. He's growing up way fast now it seems. I remember age 3-4 being a major personality/maturing time in Nate and Jake, too. Aww...


Couldn't go without Mamaw!


Waiting for the car ride.


Can't believe Joshee is old enough to do this! :0


We fill up an entire car!


Me and my last baby.... My Joshua.


Train ride with Mamaw :)


Brothers...


Great time. Great weather. Since school isn't out yet, we were able to walk on every ride. No wait. We better go everyday this week! ;)


Random pic of Joshua by this Pampers box because I thought he looked like the baby on the box. He's famous! :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, May 10, 2013

Pics from my phone :)




Jacob is an unbelievable brother. Joshua cuddles on him just like me or Rodney. It's so sweet.. Melts my heart.


Ben traced his hand all by himself ;)


Oh my goodness. Nathan posed this all on his own. He's a goof ;)


Morning cuddles with my Joshee!


Chillin at Target ;)


Natey in his lamb costume for the musical last weekend at church :)


Last week in awanas was crazy hair night! Since I was buzzing their hair for Summer anyways, I had fun with the cut for this night ;) we buzzed it all of when we got home. Jakes was killing me! haha


This is the only pic of Jake I can find on my phone by himself ;)

Night all!

-posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Is case you haven't heard....

 This past Friday we had Ben's 3rd MRI out of his 4 required after his eye was removed November, 2011. While the results are (more in the beginning than now) stressful, the hardest part for us is putting him to sleep. A three year old obviously can't stay in the MRI machine thingy for 90 minutes, and so.. he has to go to sleep every time.Which (usually) is horrible!
I don't know if it was him being older that helped?.. or all the prayers.. but the kid was aaaamazing! I'm talking, aaaaamazing. We got up at 5:45 am, and he perked right up and didn't make a peep the whole way there. I had actually prepped him the entire week as to what we were going to do. When this all first started, he was younger.. and we could kinda "trick" him.. but.. he's a smart little boy now.. and he would've figured it out on the way ;)
SO! Checked in at 7am, headed back.. he cooperated with the weight, temp, wristband (he's never ever worn one) (not even for surgery!) and he even let them do the pulse/ox finger thingy and blood pressure! Rodney and I were shocked! We kept waiting for him to "turn".. and it be stressful.
So.. when they called us back down the hall.. something that I never forget.. it's like deja vu every time..because they are literally all standing there in a semi circle and you standing in the middle of them.. that has to be scary for a kid!.. and so.. they asked us their normal question.."Does he like any flavor in the gas?".. I tell ya, that question kills me every time. I mean, I know they are all about  comfort.. but really.. as the kid is screaming bloody murder and held down.. do they really think the kid is going to be like.."Oh wait! This gas tastes like strawberries!? Yummy! I'll stop crying now!" ;)(same deal with stickers) again, I know they are trying to help.. but the day of his surgery to have his eye removed.. I told Rodney.."If one more person asks Ben if he wants a sticker while he's crying, I swear I'm gonna scream." Okay.. small vent over. Anywho!
He has had to be held down by Rodney the 4 MRI's we have done. Screaming isn't the word. Arches his back.. until he's "out"..
Praise the LORD, he didn't make a PEEP this time?! We both didn't say a word for fear he'd think he better start screaming. I could not, and still cannot believe it! I'm talkin.. just sat there with the gas on his face watching the Ipad till he fell asleep!
Guess we should've picked a flavor if I knew he'd actually sit still and breathe it ;)

Rodney and I in the cafeteria waiting for the MRI to be over. We actually sat on the same side of a booth ;) Can't say we've done that before..lol.. it was like a little date :) "Date Night at Children's Hospital" Actually.. that'd be "Date Morning"..but.. ya know ;)
His lunch of choice this time was Cracker Barrel! Good choice, dude! Typically, we get the results of the MRI before we leave the hospital, which is so nice. But, this time.. his oncologist was out of town, and so we got to leave right after the MRI..and get the call later. Hallelujah is was clear, again!
Now that he has had 3 of the 4 MRI's come back clear, he will only have the 1 more, with yearly bloodwork. No more MRI's. Unless his oncologist thinks he needs one..which he has already told us he's comfortable not doing them.
People have asked me if that bothers me. Which, that's a very understandable question. If this wasn't us, and I was watching this story from the other side.. my gut would say "let's do at least one a year for another 5 or so years just to make sure..".. but, the type of cancer it is.. the % is SO low of it coming back.. that we are comfortable with the decision.
The told us in the beginning, that if it wasn't hereditary.. and he didn't carry the gene...(which, we are 99% sure he doesn't, but will find out 100% come October) then the chances of him getting cancer somewhere else in his body is the same chance as me and you. No difference. SO! If you were wondering about that :)
He will still see the surgeon once a year, and his regular eye doctor for his good eye...
Thanks for all the prayers for our "baby" Ben!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Boys to Men

Being a mom of four boys is not exactly how I had envisioned my life as a mother. When I was in  Jr. High, I was already picking out names for my little girl I was (of course) going to have. Christina Lynn. (totally wouldn't have stuck with that now, but..hey) I even bought a dress with ruffled socks for "her"! No, really. I did.
Anywho! As my life has unfolded, we all know that Christina Lynn is not in the picture ;)...but I do however have four boys. Which is, ya know...turned out much better than my plan. But still.
It's four boys.
Four.
Boys.
Don't know if you've noticed.. but.. I am not a boy. Nor was I ever interested in boyish things. I played with Barbies and dolls till like, 8th grade or something like that. No, really. I did.
So.. knowing Jacob was a boy kinda shocked me, but I (of course) knew the next one would be a girl. Welcome, Nathan. Oh, but the next one would be a girl. Welcome, Benjamin. And then, it was like.. "who's kidding, our next one will be a boy.." ;) and, welcome baby Joshua.
(no, btw..this post isn't leading to the fact that we're pregnant and it's a girl) just to clarify.
SO! I have totally rambled on and not even making the post or point that I have totally be rattling in my head for months!
SO! Being the mother of boys now that I am... my intentions and things I feel about raising them are of course far more complex than the superficial ones that I had in Jr.High and even when I first found out I was pregnant. Once the baby is here, and they start to grow up.. you start to think.."what is it that I really want for my child." and in my case, our sons.
Obviously, having a relationship with Jesus and following Him in every aspect of their life, mind, and soul is at the very top of the list. Having a desire to serve, to help, to witness and pray! To worship, and to glorify the name of Jesus wherever they go! That, is obviously any mother's prayer, to see all their children saved and serving others.
But, that is not what this post is about.
Having sons, makes me watch boys all the time. I don't mean little boys.. I mean, highschool boys;) ya know.. boys that are becoming men. Boys that are almost adults. Boys that shouldn't be acting like little boys anymore. They should be maturing, and becoming real men...
Examples!
Ooooh the examples
Example 1-
Ok.... A few months ago, the boys and I were at Chick-Fil-A (whoot-whoot) and, as you all know, they are always so helpful there. Well, me and the boys had just finished up, and I was going to go throw our trash away. There were several High School students there because Centerville has open lunch. Just as I was getting to the trash can..(just me)... four of the High School boys also came to the trashcan. We kinda both got there first, and so we both just kinda stood there for a second.. ya know..."trashcan etiquette".. me in my "line" of one... and he in his line of four. Being a mom, I say, "go ahead".. (but ya know, in my head, I knew he'd say..."no, you go ahead".. but.. he didn't. He threw his trash away, then the next boy stepped up and threw his trash away, then the next boy stepped up and threw his trash away. But, on the last boy, the last boy...he looked at me and said.."go ahead.".. to which I of course said, "no, it's ok.. go ahead."...
But, my first thought was.. would my son have been the one to say "go ahead".. or would he have been one of the ones that just followed in line.. never looking to see that a woman was standing there. Not that I waited all but maybe 2 minutes, but still. The last boy recognized....look, a lady is standing here waiting to throw her trash away, I'll offer she goes first.
That's not a big deal you say? I'm looking way to into it?!.. (which, totally may be) but.. I am all about my boys being chivalrous and gentlemen like. Especially when we are in public. I'm not saying they are all the time.. I mean, they're 8,5,3 and 1... but, they are definitely being guided in that direction. Jake has held the door open for more people than I can count.. and Nathan is already following in his footsteps. But why.. why do they do it..? Because they recognize someone is coming, and they can hold open the door for them.
Example 2-
This one beyond boils my blood.
Easter. Easter lunch. We went to Mimi's café. Long story short, we missed our reservation and so we had to wait. Like, be put back on the list and wait. Well, it's Easter. There's a million people there..so.. it's gonna be quite a while.
So.. we're standing there, (totally willing to stand).. Rodney is holding Josh (who wanted down) and the other three were just standing there. I was literally just standing there holding my purse. This old man... like.. I'm talking in his 80's.. got up from across the room.. came and got me, and literally made me sit in his chair. He said, "Here, take my seat. I can stand." My heart, of course, melted for the man.. because in just that 10 seconds we'd "known" each other, in my mind the man was a "poor little old man,  a widower, who fought in the war and never did a thing wrong his whole life!"  Ya, my mind thinks like that ;)
So! Being respectful of his offer (yet actually far from the kids and easier to be standing with them) I sat there. He stood only a few minutes and another chair opened up. He sat... but only for literally a minute or two, and then.. a lady walked in. He literally (it was like he was watching) got up, went to the lady and offered her his seat. She said no, because she was much younger than him, and probably knew he needed the seat more than her. But, he kept asking. She again said no, but he insisted that she took his seat. Then!... (ahhhh!) this is the part...seriously my hands are shaking typing...The MAN she was with.. said..(literally arrogantly).. "Well, I'm not into this chivalry stuff, I'll take it!" And he went and PLOPPED.. no really, he plopped.. into this old mans seat!!!! I. thought. I. was. gonna. blow. I was speechless. So was the woman actually, and the old man.
I watched him. He never looked up once the man took his seat.
He heard what the guy said.
I honest to goodness think it took a stab to his heart really...
He wouldn't look up. Almost like he was too embarrassed. Instead, he took out his pocket watch (awww..) and he kept staring at it.
I know, I know.. I should have stood up, and said..."Sir! Take your seat back from ME!".. ;) but, I didn't. I did get up though.. but I just walked by them all. I was so stunned at what that man had just done. And then, as you know where I'm going with this one.. I had the thought again.. "Which one of those men will my son be..."
Will they recognize that an old man was giving the seat to a lady? Or will they be the old man. Or, surely to goodness no, will they be the man who took the seat?
What I'm trying to say.. is that I want my boys to be men. Men that are men! Treat women like women and not be ashamed to step up when they need to.
Now, as my boys grow up, I know I can't be there beside them 100% of the time.. but I have to pray that the things that I am teaching them now, will stick! And, they will recognize these situations. Most of what boys learn is from watching their father. I know that. But, I also know, that the mother (most often) is with them far more than the dad.. and it's my job (with the Lord's guidance) to guide them into being the men they are called to be!
This post has literally took my entire night, and I don't know that I said everything how I wanted to say it.. but it's something that I am passionate about! Raising Godly men. Raising respectful men. Raising loving, kind, gentle.. but yet competitive, brave, and strong men! To  recognize things, and people.. and be pleasing to Him.
Like I said... my life as a mother isn't exactly what I had thought it would be. It's better...

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Photo shoot at my Grandma BoBo's

                                                                     Blessing #1
                                                                     Jacob Isaac
                                                                        Blessing #2
                                                                       Nathan David
                                                                       Blessing #3
                                                                 Benjamin Matthew
                                                                       Blessing #4
                                                                   Joshua Michael

I was so happy with the way all of the pictures I took this week turned out! Happy to get at least one good one of each boy! However, the group shots didn't turn out. Like.. at all! But, those always seem to be the funniest.. so I'll share those too. My favorite is this one of Ben...
                                                This is, "There's a bee coming!".. haha..
 This was pretty much the majority of Joshua's pictures.. I had just given up, and I told him to "go! run!".. and when he did.. he fell.. and I made a silly noise.. and he started laughing! So, I kept doing it (and that's how I got the picture of him above of the good ones) Phew!..
                                                              Love this... hahah
                                                         Nathan's trying to hold Josh back...
                                               Jake had had it! No one would listen but him!
                                                                             Seriously.
                                      Maybe when they're 4,6,8,and 11 I can get a good pic ;)

Thursday, April 4, 2013

photo shoot with b

I wanted to get a good picture of  Benjamin without his glasses on. Even though I am 100% used to him having them on (it actually is weird to me when he doesn't!) I just wanted to get him without them :) It hard though, because not only do I have to get him to smile, but I always have to get his eye right when I take the pictures. I never want to "photoshop" or change his eye to look "perfect" to the other one..so, I just take 100 pictures till I get one that looks pretty great! He has a beeeautiful smile, and when he smiles his big, real, smile.. his prosthetic eye closes! lol.. this next pic was what I got when I said..."smile and open your eyes real big!"... haha.. riiiight...try and do that (Amanda) and see what your picture looks like! ;)
 Opening eyes real big, forcing a smile.. aaaand a hand in the picture.. not the pic I was going for ;)
 Evidently the finger is poking him now.. but is very funny! I swear I love this kid too much...
                                                                       Then I got one...
                                                            ..........and another one.....
"My beautiful B"
 
*oh, and this is totally my second post today..and not even from my phone! go me! ;)

Easter 2013

                                                   We have a new family picture! Yay!
                                                                    My big boys!
                                                            Four handsome boys!
                                                       Big Jake holding little Jake ;)
       Joshua is in Jacob's Easter outfit from 2005. Jake says, "It's like I'm hugging myself".. lol
Our family Easter with my side of the family!
                                                     All the boys after the egg hunt!
Here they are with their baskets from Mamaw Becky. I don't have any pictures from home with their Easter baskets, because they (once again) got up and opened everything before we were even out of bed! (remember Christmas 2011?! almost aaaaaall their presents were open when we got up!) The only reason we knew they were opening stuff was because they ran in our room asking us to assemble something they had opened! (sigh)...