Thankful Thursday with a prayer request

McKenna's about to turn one and it's been a rough year for her. Definitely not picture perfect. Tons of ear infections, a hospital visit at two weeks old for the flu (that was scary), pneumonia twice and lots of other respiratory issues and a diagnosis of reactive airway disease. BUT she is a happy, healthy little girl. We can handle all of her issues and I know that her second year of life is going to be much easier for her. There won't be the constant teething and now that she's got tubes in those little ears I'm expecting to have no ear infections. We've learned how to handle the reactive airway disease and I think we can manage it pretty well. I feel confident that she'll out grow it! SO WE ARE BLESSED! God has been so good to us and I am so thankful for our healthy children! Most of you can probably say the same thing right now! Isn't God so good? But let's not forget to be faithful in praying for those dealing with the illness of their child.
I don't know if you've checked in our sweet cousin Olivia lately, but she really could use your prayers right now. You might remember how we've prayed her through several heart surgeries and we rejoiced this summer when Olivia's leukemia mysteriously disappeared! Well, Olivia was just diagnosed with something called MDS (warning: I don't really understand all of this. You'll have to read her blog to really understand it). MDS is a form of pre-cancerous leukemia (If I understand it correctly). She has 5% blasts (I don't know what "blasts" are, but it's not good) in her bone marrow and you are diagnosed with leukemia when you have 20% blasts. Her parents and doctors are trying to decide what to do right now! PLEASE PRAY! I'm praying that the leukemia will mysteriously disappear again and that it WILL NEVER COME BACK! Just please keep their entire family in your prayers.

And then there's this little cutie named Cora! She reminds me so much of McKenna. I think Cora and McKenna are basically the same age. This fall Cora was struggling with constant ear infections and respiratory issues (sounds familiar doesn't it???). Several doses of antibiotics later she still wasn't well so the doctor's drew some blood, got the results and sent her immediately to the hospital. That all took place on January 22nd. Just a few days later she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. It has spread all over her body. This family NEEDs a miracle and Cora NEEDs your prayers. Please get on your knees and beg our heavenly father to spare this little girl's life. Please join with hundreds of others in praying for Cora and in encouraging her family on their blog.

Under Construction

Yes, I did put my kids in a BOX to get some pictures for a new blog header! I'm going to be working on the blog today. I think it's just too busy (visually speaking), too much going on, so I'm going with a plainer look. Christian was not so thrilled about the "box" photo shoot! But he loved playing in the box as soon as I put the camera down. He told me, "You take too many pictures." Imagine that :)

First Taste

Of Cake!

Picking it up!

Inspecting it!

Into the mouth!
Looking for more!

Now she's ready for her first birthday!

Where's McKenna?

There she is!
You just never know where you're going to find her these days!

His compassions are new every morning

So I guess you noticed that I didn't have such a good day yesterday :) Thanks for bearing with me as I vented. I guess I just want to make this blog reality. I don't want to only share our JOYs with you because that doesn't paint the full picture of our lives. It's easy to make life look picture perfect on a blog, but the point of this blog isn't to make me look like a fabulous mom/wife/aunt/sister. The point of this blog is record real life. I don't want you to know this made-up, super spiritual, super mom version of me. I want you to know the real me. The good, the bad and the ugly. Sure we have days when we do crafts, bake muffins, read books and adore each other all day, but the reality is that parenting isn't easy if you try to do a decent job and I'm hoping that some of you can find some encouragement in the fact that you're not alone in trying to do your best, yet falling short sometimes. I hope I'm not alone in the fact that mushed up goldfish crackers in my carpet makes my blood pressure rise :) So today we start over and I just know it's going to be a great day! Em, Abby and Nate's Dad is coming out to spend the afternoon with the kids since Emma has a half day. He must have decided to come save them from ME after reading my post yesterday (hehe)!!!

Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Seven

• Emma's age for just four more days!
• The date of Emma birthday!
• How much McKenna weighed when she was born (and Emma too).
• The number of days in a week.
• The date of my twin niece's birthday (in May).
• The first number of my area code.
• The Biblical number of perfection.
• THE NUMBER OF TEETH MCKENNA IS CUTTING RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to resume my normal existence and become a happy mom again once those SEVEN teeth are done making their appearance! I actually got my finger in her mouth tonight and was a little shocked at what I found! I was actually relieved to know that we're getting it all over with at once and that there is a reason for the sleepless nights and endless days of holding her!

Longing for Spring

It's a good thing I've got this scripture memorized today: Proverbs 15:1
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." It is taking every bit of my will power not to just scream. What am I going to do with these children? They just can't seem to get along.
Edited to Add:
I think our main issue is that we need spring. My house is just NOT big enough for five children, although my fenced yard can handle them. Nap time is a nightmare because McKenna is a light sleeper and Christian and Abby are SO loud! Emma is home a lot more this week too. She has a half day Mon-Wed because of teacher conferences and Emma loves to talk. Today she's even been telling me stories of things that happened at school months ago. Stories I've already heard a few times. And then there is the discussion of what she should bring for snack on her birthday. We've been talking about this for two days. Don't get me wrong, I love talking to Emma and hearing all the ridiculous things that go on in second grade. I love Nate, even though he only speaks in one volume. I love Christian, even though he has an ear piercing cry and a temper in need of constant attention. I love Abby, even though she's been having an issue with truthfulness. I love McKenna, even though she fusses EVERY MINUTE THAT I'M NOT HOLDING HER (Lord, please just let those teeth come in)! I love them. We just need spring. We need a little space from one another. We need to take our noise and our messes and all of our creativity OUTSIDE! I'm not sure why the entire roll of toilet paper is soaking wet right now. I'm not sure why there is a screw driver in the bathroom. I'm not sure who's idea it was to get out paintbrushes and paint the walls with water. I have no idea who dumped an entire bottle of milk into the nebulizer. And we won't mention the nose bleed from yesterday (Christian lost that one and Abby definitely won. I think Abby was even a little surprised at her brute strength and the sheer amount of blood she was able to draw from another person). (And just in case Child Protective Services is reading my blog - I do watch my children, just not all five at the same time :) And that's why I better get off the computer and check on everyone. Right now each of the five is in a different room reading books or napping. It's been working pretty well for about 8 minutes, but you know how the attention span of a three year old can be :)

The Latest!

So we've recovered from our ice storm!

It was beautiful, but I was happy it was 50 degrees today!


McKenna is getting ready for a pretty big event!

Hmmm...what's she going to do with all those pink tutu's?

This is definitely NOT a flattering picture of McKenna. I was basically flashing the camera in her face to try to get a picture of those new teeth coming in. I think she's working on FIVE at one time. Did you get that?? FIVE! No wonder she's cranky! Maybe I'll get to sleep once they all arrive!

I had to include this picture, because the one before wasn't so becoming. Look at that cute little smirk!

And then there's Christian! He's starting to be sneaky and get into stuff he's not supposed to all the time. We keep finding our alarm clocks hidden around the house going off. There's been ginormous amounts of toilet paper in the potty. He smeared mud all over the side of the hosue today while he was playing outside and last week I caught him walking around with my glasses and a headband on! He was pretending to be a spy with his Thomas flashlight. What will he think of next?

And one last picture of my girl on the move. I love how she sticks her tongue out when she crawls! And here's a little quiz for you: What new word/sound can McKenna say? She says "Mama, Dada, this, a duh (all done) and _________________. " I'll give you a hint! You can definitely tell she has a big brother!