Josh man

I thought it was about time to do an update on our diet and let you all know how Josh is doing! We are still following our gluten free, organic, raw milk diet. It is going very well. We found the jackpot for gluten free snacks at, of all places, Toys R Us! Who would have guessed! But we are very happy to have a bigger variety of snacks to choose from! The kids have not complained at all, in fact I'm not sure they really know that anything is different. Their food is always gluten free, but it is there and they can eat it whenever they are hungry. We also found organic suckers that are colored with different fruits and veggies, so no dyes(that we stay away from). The kids are all excited to have candy sometimes again! I'm still Diet Coke free. It is the longest I've ever gone without when I'm not preggers. I must say, I'm feeling much better and have tons more energy!!!! And, I'm even happier to tell you that Josh is doing so so good! He still has Autistic characteristics, but he is making huge progress. He is not only communicating with us, he is actually initiating spontaneous conversation!!!! He is also driving his brothers and sisters insane! You may not think that a good thing, but we do ;)! For a long time, he did not even acknowledge them. So, poking at them is a very good thing! This week he is driving me crazy getting into things that are just plain naughty. Including getting children's motrin from the top of my dresser and sharing it with the girls. Not good...but thankfully the nice lady at Poison Control said they would be fine...and they were. He is getting into trouble in the world around him...not stuck so much in his own! Don't get me wrong, there are many times he is there, but he is making a LOT of progress. I'm convinced that it is mostly because so many people are covering my little man in prayers, and I am so grateful for that. We plan on getting him screened again when the schoolyear starts so that we can see how much progress has been made, we are very encouraged. Please keep praying for him and for us as we have a lot of decisions that need to be made very soon!!!

Abigail Grace

You are my sweetness! I am so in love with your tender heart. You are so easily contented, so happy to just mosey through whatever comes your way...unless someone tries to take your food! You not only put up with Sarah's leadership, you thrive under it. You do not throw fits when you are angry or upset, but you have a mean glare and you aren't afraid to use it! You are quiet and more reserved than your brothers and sister, but your smile can melt any one's heart, mine doesn't stand a chance! When you look at me with those big brown eyes and that sweet Abby grin, I just can't resist. You are content being my "baby" and I am so glad for that! Your cuddles are the best, as you just melt into your hugs! Your body is not the most graceful, but your heart is filled to the brim with Grace! I cannot wait to see what God does with your sweet spirit and tender heart. I pray protection for those beautiful parts of you all your life.


At 2 years old you:

~walk and run...finally!!!!

~love to climb things

~go up and down the stairs on hands and knees...not so sure of your balance yet


~love to take care of your baby...especially feeding her!

~follow Sarah everywhere, doing whatever she does...and it is SO cute!

~take your earrings out and lose them constantly! We joke that you are the great earring Houdini

~suck your thumb when you get tired


~still love to hold a sock when you suck your thumb...we keep clean ones around just for that purpose!

~are a Daddy's girl to the core!

~love to pretend to talk to Granny on the phone...although you are speechless when there is really someone at the other end of the line!


I love you more than words can ever say, my sweet Abby girl. You have been the biggest surprise blessing I have ever received. Number 5 wasn't planned in our Earthly minds...I'm so glad that God knows so much better. My life would not be complete without you in it. I have loved every minute of these last two years and I can't wait to watch how God uses your sweet life for His purposes! I pray that you will always be sensitive to Him and that your heart never stops being overflowing with love!

Sarah Elizabeth

You are my spice!!! You add a dimension in our family that is all your own! You are so chuck full of spitfire personality. You are so sure of yourself and have a confidence that I often wonder at. You amaze me as much as you exasperate me! You do not feel anything just half way! You do it all to the extreme! I find it strange that I admire you at 2, I can't wait to see the person God molds you into and how He will use you. You have a special place for your sister in your heart. Constantly watching out for her and making sure she has some of whatever you do. Unless of course, it is the baby stroller and then it is just not so pretty! You have the uncanny gift of making me want to laugh hysterically and pull my hair out at the very same time! I love you so much, sweet girl! I pray your heart will be open and welcoming to our Lord as you grow, that you will use all these wonderful traits for Him someday!



At 2 you are:

~talking in full sentences that almost everyone can understand...and you are HILARIOUS and witty when you do!

~running

~jumping with 2 feet

~going up and down stairs on your feet...even without holding on(although that makes me hold my breath until you get all the way!)

~in charge of all little people in our house. It always amazes me how Michael and Sam even follow your lead as you set the pace.


~love playing pretend...mostly being a dog!

~love your baby and take extra good care of her.

~very aware of Abby and her needs. You take care of Abby just like you do your dolls.

~stubborn beyond belief! You have been known to sit in time out for 45minutes or more just because you refuse to say sorry.

~a mama's girl! You love the nursery and playing with Abba, but you light up when I come in a room and it makes my day!!!!

~addicted to your pacifiers! Our new rule is that they stay in bed or the car seat...but you have them stashed all over our house and are not happy when I see it and take it away!

~the most determined, persistent little girl I know, but you do it in such a sweet way that I love you for it!


I love you, my sweet Sarah! I cannot wait to watch you grow. I thank God for you every day! I am so thankful that He has allowed me to have you for this time. You have taught me so very much in your short 2 years. I'm sure there are many lessons that are still to come in the years ahead! Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Happy Birthday, my girls!

I cannot believe that my baby girls are 2!!!! I'm still trying to figure out how that happened! I still remember sitting in my OB's office as she was reminding me to breathe and telling me everything was gonna be okay as I stared in disbelief at the ultrasound screen! I remember feeling like I just got the wind knocked out of me. So many emotions wrapped in just a moment of time. Excitement, FEAR, joy, FEAR, relief, FEAR...but most of all, overwhelming love as I watched those 2 little heartbeats on the screen. It is amazing to me how fast I fell in love with these two little people even before I had any idea of who they were going to be! I remember the day they were born. I was SO scared to have a c-section, scared they were not going to be okay. I remember the relief as I heard both girls crying and got to see them face to face before they were scooped away to NICU. I remember the panic when they said Sarah was not doing well and could not breathe on her own. The fear, frustration, and helplessness of not being able to be with my baby girl as she was being placed on the ventilator while I was tied to the bed and drugged up big time. I remember the great nursing students who helped me through the birth and how they took pictures of my little ladies and came to tell me every detail about them, down to their little fingers and toes. How they encouraged me that Sarah would be okay. I bet they are really nurses by now, and I hope they are just as tenderhearted to their patients as they were to me that day. I remember the first time I got to hold Abigail. She was a feisty little thing, putting those big babies in the step down nursery to shame at feeding time! I remember seeing Sarah, not able to hold her because of the wires, IVs and oxygen. I stood for an hour just whispering and stroking her tiny head as she stared into my eyes. I honestly don't remember much of their first 8 weeks or so...except that I learned what it meant to be drop dead tired for the first time ever! It all seems like just yesterday...I am still trying to figure out how 2 years fit between the then and now, but they sure have. I remember wondering how on earth we were gonna get through it...but we have! It wasn't always graceful or pretty, but here we are and I am loving every minute of it!

Marvin's mom(Lola) and her husband(Grandpa Al) came up from California for the weekend to celebrate with us. We had such a good visit with them! We had a quiet party with just the family and a few friends. It was very nice. Since we now have 2 2year olds, we did a tutu party. Let me tell you, since the moment I knew we were having twin girls, I was planning this party!!! How fun!

We opened presents first thing in the morning, first glimpse...

Abby and her birthday baby

Sarah is taking her baby for a walk in the twin stroller that Granny and Grampop sent

Abby feeding her baby

Abby feeding her baby in the stroller...can you tell Abby likes to eat?

Sarah peeking from time out(she liked the stroller a bit too much!)

"I'm sorry" hugs

Abby looking cool in her shades from Lola and Grandpa Al

Sarah's walking in style!

Abby is a cool mama!

cool chick

practicing with candles before the party

Abby is not so sure about fire

Sarah blows them out quick

Abby just glared at them until her brothers helped

sweet girls in their tutus

sharing food

Sarah is loving the birthday song
(the cakes had an unfortunate accident with the girls' fingers...gotta love a 2 year old!)

Abby is even smiling this time!

blow them out...

Abba to the rescue!

Abby stops for some Abba cuddles

Grandpa Al gets sweet snuggles

tired girls with Grandpa Al

Sarah asks Abby to go for a walk...

Abby drags Grandpa Al along for the stroll

sweet

tired girls stopping for a Noggin break before bath time

mesmerized

looking a bit shell shocked. They were SO tired.

MAN! Have things ever been crazy around here this week! A good crazy, but crazy none the less! With 5 kids, crazy is just the state of being around here! I've put the computer aside a bit this week in order to reconnect with my munchkins and my hubby a bit more. It has been a blast! We spent Saturday at a local lake that is part of a military park just down the road a bit. It was so much fun! Then it got cold. So much for El Nino!!!!! To be honest, it was pretty nice to get a break from the heat for a bit, but only because the heat came back today!!!!! I've been trying to get the girls' 2 year old photo shoot done for 2 days now. However, Sarah decided that she wanted to go grunge and wiped Aquafor ALL over her head. I've washed her hair 7 times and it is still looking pretty greasy! Hopefully it will be better tomorrow! Marvin's mom and her husband, Al, are coming to spend the weekend with us to help us celebrate the girls' birthday this weekend. So, I'd like to get the photo shoot out of the way before then. We'll see how my grease monkey is looking tomorrow!

Abby says, seriously????

hopefully swimming is easier than walking!

Abba with 4 fish!!!!

Abby prefers soaking up the rays with Mama!

Abby climbed up by herself, but getting down is way harder!

Sarah isn't phased by the up at all!

Sweet Sarah

Sam the bullet. This was the only time he was still enough for a picture.

Sarah is worn out!

The big 3-0!

Yesterday was my birthday, but between a sick Sarah and myself not feeling great(most likely because I was up with sick Sarah all night!), I took a birthday rain check. Thankfully, we were all feeling better after a good night's sleep. I can't think of a better birthday present!!! After nap, we decided that a trip to the park was in order. It worked out perfectly because the little store that we get our raw milk from is right across the street from a great park. So, we played for a couple of hours and then got our milk before going out for my birthday dinner. We left the park just as Marvin was leaving work in time to meet at the house and go to Red Robin for dinner. On the way home, we stopped at Dairy Queen for an ice cream cake. A perfect birthday, even if it was a day late!

Abby girl checking it all out!

Not so sure

Josh bosh!

Abby making a silly face

Joshman

Silly man Sam

Sarah wants to go higher!

Abby says that is plenty high!

The boys met a pro basketball player in the body of a 4 year old!
I think his dad must be a basketball coach and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

He is teaching the boys to dribble

Michael shows off his skills!

A thirsty bird getting a drink from the water fountain!

My monkey girls!

Sarah says, "WEEEEEEEEE"

Waiting for birthday cake is hard stuff!
In their defense, the cake was SOLID and took FOREVER to cut!

We had no candles, but lots of left over sparklers! The kids LOVED it!

Happy Birthday!

They are in awe

The big 3-0!