Update 2010

Today is a big day - except nothing much has happened today.

Fifteen years ago - I was holding my newborn daughter Kendra, waiting for my parents to get to the Springs.  Our homebirth had gotten muddled up and I had ended up with a C-Section that morning.  She was going to be a perfect child and I was going to be a perfect mom .... ummm right, hasn't quite ended up that way.  Where has the time gone, I can't believe how fast she has grown up into a beautiful young lady, smart, resourcful, and talented.   Oh, she's not perfect - and neither am I.

She did get a few presents, grandparents and friends, ... but there will be no cake or party.  She has a nice chunk of change to put toward her future laptop.  I'm not sure what she and Tim are looking at, but I think she's got about $100 to go toward it.  .... if she puts her entire bank savings toward it.  So she's pretty excited.

The whole family is in various stages of a bad cold.  It's been hard on all of us, but I think we are beginning to see recovery.  The cold humidity is not helping.

We also caught a mouse in the mop bucket yesterday ...or  it caught itself.  The kids loved it.  Avery wanted to pet it.   Where there is one, there is often a second, so now, how to catch the other/s.  The joys of country living.  Hmmm?

LaRue is growing ... of course.  She has quite a sense of humor and is turning into a Daddy's girl.  She also prefers Vannan.  Joel is great too - he includes her in all of his games.  I'm sure you saw the Baby Train picture.   He also holds her hand whenever she is in the bouncer rocker and watches her if she's asleep.  He can't wait to be able to feed her.  We also have a followup scheduled next week.  Pray for us as we travel and find out what happens next with her.  Otherwise, she's full of grins, giggles, bubbles and slobber.  She's  a finger/thumb sucker.  And Vannan recently found out she can roll over when she wants to - which she frequently does.

Joel is the over protective big brother.  He rarely lets her out of his sight.  He teaches her the alphabet and colors and counting.  He loves to help - takes out the trash, feeds the dog, and makes tea.  Just now he noticed the plants needed water.  And he fixes PB sandwiches for everybody.   I'm considering taking him to FaceBook anonymous for his FB addiction.

Vannan and Kendra are beginning to get back into the swing of school.  I'm sure I'll get there soon myself.  We are really struggling with the schedules and housework.  We've started Chore Teams and include Rhoda's bunch.  Kendra, Alex, Marriana, and Adriana make the Blue Team.  And Vannan, Anthony, Joel, and Avery are the Red Team.  They have cheers and code names.  

Tim is no longer with the insurance company - so pray for him as he is again searching.

My computer died ... the hard drive.  I'm still waiting to hear if any of it was saved yet or not.  I've been meaning to back it up for months, but something always comes up and I've not gotten to figure out how the back up programs work.  Sigh.  And I know better too.

Marriana is settling back into a routine again.  She loves doing school work with Joel.   She has really been down with this last cold and had Dad up several nights with her coughing.  (And we've been up with LaRue and Joel).  Rhoda had her turn with the this about a week sooner. 

Vannan grew another half inch this past week.  That puts her almost excactly 5 feet tall.

Keep us in your prayers.  I've been really down the last few weeks.  Lack of sleep, not eating right, and this cold have really taken it's toll.  Of course catching your shoe string and falling on a knee doesn't help either.   I was blessed with a phone call from my sister last week.  And strange as it seems, with me being pretty non-social, I've gotten really into FaceBook.  I love "talking" with old friends and family.  It keeps life in perspective, I'm not the only one with trials. 

LaRue is awake - so blogging time is over.  Hopefully I'll still have pictures to post when my computer recovers.  I was hoping it was the mother board and would require an upgrade ... just a little one.  But I'll be happy with working and my pictures back.

How is your New Year going?