Ladie has been sick for the past couple of days.  She is not the pull yourself up by your bootstraps child.  Which, I guess I kind of deserve.  She is after all one hundred percent me.  But, being pregnant and sick and dealing with a child with the lovely mystery fever and NO OTHER symptoms, will just about push one over the edge.  In fact, I don't even think that I brushed Ava's hair before she went to school.  In the words of my mom, "She looked like an orphan baby.  Like nobody loves her."  Well, at least she was dressed.  Adelaide on the other hand is still in her jammies that are covered in strawberries.  Well, at least she ate something.  The most frustrating part of this whole thing was Saturday night when Ladie was in the worst of it.  She woke up at about midnight with a fever.  I gave her medicine and put her in the bathtub to cool her off.  She was miserable and up until 4.  Bobby was home and luckily did not have to work in the morning.  I literally lay in bed with them trying to help, but my pregnant body kept betraying me.  I could not stay awake!  I crashed at some point and slept for two hours while my poor husband was up with our sick baby.  I know that God gives a child two parents for times such as these, but.... It's really frustrating.  And then I tried to talk to Bobby about how I was supposed to be the one taking care of her, but he just got offended.  Now, I know, I  am crazy blessed.  I have a husband that will give up sleep for his children and doesn't just expect me to do it all.  But do any you moms get this?  She came from ME.  I want to be there when she's sick.  I don't always trust Bobby's instincts with sick babies.  Does he know that if her fever spikes to put her in the bath?  Does he know the tylenol/motrin schedule?  What will he do if she gets worse suddenly?  Does he know when to call the doctor?  Will he know the questions to ask if he does call?  I guess you can tell.  I struggle with control when it comes to my children...

This is our Family

I am a mom who is incredibly proud of my family.  I just needed some extra place to tell all about what's going on in this hectic household.  We live our life first and foremost, to honor Jesus Christ.  Alexis, our six year old is so precious.  She accepted Jesus into her heart at the age of three.  She had done something wrong and I explained to her that she had sinned.  I also explained that it made Jesus sad when she sinned. She was very distraught.  She told me, "Mommy, I don't want to fin anymore."  I explained to her that because she was human, she would sin.  But that there was a way she could ask for forgiveness and work on things that were hard for her.  It all came down to Jesus.  I asked her if she remembered the Bible story at Easter.  When Jesus was killed on the cross.  And how He rose again.  I asked her why He would do that.  We discovered that He did that so that He could cover her sins and they could share a relationship.  She was very excited and said the sweetest little prayer asking Jesus to come into her heart so that they could be friends.  She still sins, but now she knows that she can always go to her Friend and ask for forgiveness and help not doing that again.

Ava Rose, my precious four year old, is a newer Christian.  This summer, while getting ready to go on a camping trip with her grandparents, we took the time to put on the armour of God.  We started with the helmet of salvation.  Ava asked me what that was.  I explained to her that it is the knowledge that Jesus Christ had saved her from her sins.  She asked me if she knew that.  I responded by telling her that you can only know that if you have asked Jesus into your heart.  And that you are trying to live in a manner pleasing to Jesus.  That you can be Jesus' friend and talk to him.  This was quite a revelation to sweet Ava Rose.  While waiting for Nana to arrive, she asked Jesus to come into heart and forgive her.  She was that warm summer morning at our kitchen table.  When Nana arrived, Ava Rose ran out to tell her all about our morning.  She was very excited when Nana explained that now they were sisters!  WOW!

My sweet precious Adelaide is just a year old.  Though she has not come to understand how much Jesus loves her, I know that one day God will reveal Himself to her.  She has such a wonderful example of a loving father that would give his very life for her.  Her older sisters are also wonderful pictures of Christ's love.

  She is the loudest of all of us.  Maybe, that's because she has to be.  With two talkative big sister's, it's hard to get a word in.  Adelaide is the first grandchild that my mom has said gives her deja vu.  She is me all over again.  And though that fills me with no small amount of pride, it scares the stew out of me.  She is energetic and lively, but also somewhat spoiled.  She expects to get her way and throws the biggest fits when she doesn't.  It's something we are working on.  But at the same time she has such a kind spirit.  It's hard not spoil the one like you but also not be too tough on them either.

Bobby is the most amazing father that my girls could hope to have.  He works so hard to support our family.  He would much rather be at home with us, but puts his wants aside to do what is most important.  He is a hands on Daddy.  He changes diapers, plays games, makes lunches.  He truly is my partner.  He is such a gentleman to our three girls.  His desire is that they know that God made them ladies and that anyone they interact with should treat them as such.  He is a gentle, kind and understanding husband.  However, he can be firm when he needs to be.  He is striving to be the leader that God expects him to be.

I am Vera.  I love that I get to home school my sweet Lexie.  This is our first year at home together and it has been amazing!  Ava Rose is in four year preschool at our church.  Though I miss her for the three hours that she is gone, this has been a good experience for her.  She will be at home with me next year.  I keep my sweet nephew while my sister is at work.  Trey is the most precious little boy that I have ever been around.  He and Adelaide are five weeks apart, so they keep me on my toes.  We live with my mother-in-law and her mother.  After my father-in-law passed away, we found that not only could we save money in this manner, but we could bless them.  Our girls give Great Grandma a reason to get up in the morning.  They add fullness to her small life.  She is deaf and practically blind, but they give her such joy.  And when we moved in, I will admit, Grammy was not my favorite person.  However, God has changed my heart toward her.  I have truly understood more of what has gone on in her life.  And how these things have hardened her.  It is amazing what God can do!  I have a wonderful family, fantastic friends and a relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Monetarily speaking, we don't have much.  But I do believe you would be hard pressed to find someone as blessed as I.  I look forward to sharing with you what God is doing in our lives.