A step closer...

Well...today I passed my test for my job so woohoo! I get to stay employed! I am super duper excited about my job and getting into everything. I was lucky enough to have one person in my class who is as excited about poop as me and what do you know she sat next to me! Yea Amanda! I was scared to death to take the test but I did well enough. I am now off for 2 days and then I start working on the floor this weekend. I will be in training with someone for a few weeks, but MAN OH MAN! I am ready. I know that I will have a million stories to share and you know that I like to share them with you especially if I know you don't appreciate the nasty stuff. My heart is so happy and feels like I am doing the right thing. I feel that I am going to make a difference and that makes me beside myself.

I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve. I am SO excited. I want to stay awake and make it come early. I cannot wait to watch the kids and be with the fam. Tomorrow Alex and I are off so I will make breakfast and then we will head to Mom's for dinner. The Melendez gang will be joining us again and then we will head to church. We were asked to light the Advent candle so that is pretty special since our whole family will be able to do it.

I am truly blessed. I love that I can get excited not only for the presents, but more importantly what Chirstmas is all about. It is different now that I get it and feel it in my heart. Man God rocks! Much love to you all! Safe travels and may you be blessed in your life and more importantly, in your heart. May you open your heart to the Grace of God!

Update

Well we are in full swing for the holidays! Andy and Ashley got here Saturday and Alex's parents get here on Monday. I was hoping they would vcome for Christmas, but that is OK. I thouhgt it would be really cool to have them here since all the kids would be here this year. We are having Christmas with my Dad on Sunday. I like that we get to spread it out even if it is for just a little bit. The job is going well, but it is so weird. I take my test tomorrow for the training class and then I head to the floor on Saturday. I am SO excited and I cannot wait to get into it and learn all the details. I start school on January 4th so I will be adjusting to being back in school and working nights...woohoo!!

The boys are fab! Adrian is just so stinking happy and adorable. He looks just like Alex and he is HUGE! I cannot believe that he will be 6 months next month-WEIRD! Aaron is so happy that Andy and Ashley are here-it is just so amazing to watch how much he adored them. We are very blessed.

I pray that you all have a wonderul holiday season! Much love!!!

Dana...awesome birthday present from the hubby! (this was easier than commenting on your blog)

Wow!

This will be an absolutely random post...sorry!

Adrian rolled over this morning! Holy cowabunga! It is hard to believe that he is 5 months old already...my my my how time flies!

The trial was this week...Zach plead guilty and that is pretty much all I can say on such a public forum. The moment that I laid eyes on him was one of the most emotional minutes of my life and I pray to never feel that way again. I can tell you this-I am more than relieved that he plead guilty because there is no way that we could have gotten through a trial. At some point one of us would have lost it. On the upside, I sure am blessed to have his family a part of me and it was nice to spend time with them-even at the cemetary. I don't think any of us feels that he is really gone.

Visitors...Dave arrived yesterday and will leave Monday. Today Dad and Sandy come and tomorrow the rest of the Streans come. It will be a packed house...8 extra bodies tomorrow night but what is the sense of having a house if you can't pack it to the gills once in a while?

I am excited and scared about starting work. It will be an adjustment for all of us. Nights will be hard but I will adjust at some point! I have been studying everyday for my NET test that I take on Friday so please keep in your prayers that I pass. If not, it will be a stressful road for me.

Andy and Ashley come on the 19th and Alex's parents come the 28th. I start school on the 4th...wow how life changes!

Thankful...

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I am thankful for and to be quite honest I don't even know where to begin...

This year I am thankful for...

My growing Faith

My wonderful, supportive, gorgeous husband

Our 4 beautiful and healthy children

That Aaron calls me Momma and wants me to cuddle him every night

That Adrian looks more like Alex and the way Aaron loves him

That Andy & Ashley love me and I love them-A LOT

That Andy's laugh is embarassingly annoying

That Ashley can talk to me

My Mom and John for their love and support. I am not sure where we would be without it

The way my Dad looks at the boys like he could burst at any moment

That my in-laws are wonderful and love me

My rock star, courageous, amazing and HAPPY sister

Our small group and the way it is growing

My friends

That Missy & Colleen have been in my life more years that I care to count

That I met Elisa on January 2, 2001

For Beth growing our personal friendship and our families together

For Dan and Collin and all of their love

That I worry about Dan

That Collin is beyond strange

That Abbie is still here even though I try to get rid of her

That I still have hope that Alex will buy me a push present someday (maybe with #3)

For CLOGGING!!!

That we are blessed with Katie Banghoff in our life

That we have a beautiful home filled with love

I can cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for my family

We are able to turn on the heat when we need to

That we have clothes and water and vehicles

That I finally have the courage to pray out loud at night with Alex

For our Sunday School kids

That we have kind of adopted Sam and Allison

That our friend Gallagher is in a good place

That if we ever have a little girl we have a name picked out-Anna Kristen

There is hope that if we have another boy his middle name with be Calixto after Abu (my wish)

That my Grandparents were the BEST in the world without a shodow of a doubt

That I waited until I truly felt I found "the one" before I got married

That I have ten phone numbers in my Verizon account that count as phone to phone minutes

That Aaron is majorly loving

That Steve and Angie are trying for a baby

That we have Denise who I will always swear was my biggest prayer answered

I have been successful at not spending money on anything but groceries for over a month

That I have been given the opportunity to pursue my dream

For Adrian being a happy baby

That Aaron likes to take medicine and is not afraid of the doctor

That my husband tolerates me

That my Mom lives around the corner

That we continue to be blessed with a growing church family

That the Melendez family is joining us again for Christmas Eve

That my whole family LOVES the Monster Trucks

That Missy never forgets anything going on in my life and I can share anything with her

That I am learning to adapt to having less stuff

That Heidi is having a healthy pregnancy

That the kids will be here for Christmas this year

For the fact that my sister plans to move back home

That Alex is my husband

Ahhh! I could go on and on forever and I may continue to add to the list but for now...

Getting close...

One week from tonight I know that I am going to be an absolute wreck. It will be the night before the trial is set to begin. I have so many emotions running through me right now about it. Mostly I am looking forward to attending it and the closure that I think is going to come with it. I think I have been able to rid myself of anger towards Zach and have accepted that it is not me that should judge him. I am thankful for my Faith as I know that is what has helped me get through this. Losing someone you love is never fun, but when it is one of your very best friends before he is 30 it is rather difficult to accept. I miss Don so much, but on the other hand my life has been enriched through the loss. I know that sounds weird, but it truly has. I treasure my family and friends more and have inherited 2 little brothers that drive me crazy (just like Don did). Dan is the one that stresses and worries me and Collin is the one that always says things that he just shouldn't. They are SO SO SO Don and I love that I am blessed to have the opportunity to have them in my life because I still have him in my life through them. I will be holding hands with them next week, fighting my anger and sadness and doing what I can to be there for them...for Don. Please keep Don's famile and friends in your thoughts and prayers through the next few weeks-we are all going to need it.

Don...Golden...I love you and miss you-STILL!

hello world

not much new going on here. just wanted to post since i am trying to be better...

SLACKER!!!

YUP-that is me what can I say??? We have been adjusting lately to this new routine and once we get fully adjusted all hell is going to break loose that's for sure. I took a class to be a STNA and passed my state test. WOoHoo!! That is the first step in this new goal of mine. Next up is starting a job and then school. I am registered for 2 classes for winter quarter and will comtinue to take 2 classes for the next 7 quarters. Slowly but surely I will get there. I am taking the entrance test for the nursing program next month so I will start studying this week. I plan to do at leat an hour every day. It is rather critical that I pass this test when I take it so I am going to have a crap ton of anxiety until it is over and I get my results. If all goes as "planned" (in my head that is) then I will be completely done and ready to take my boards in Spring of 2013-wow that seems really far away but that is OK. I also have the option of extending 2 or 4 more quarters if I need to but I really would rather that didn't happen. So that is that!

Being at home all the time is having its time with me. I know for sure that this is not something that I would want to do forever. I want more time with the boys but I miss working and being out there being "Amy". I am loving clogging again and have been practicing daily to learn the song we have been learning. I want so much to be able to perform at Emmaus and church so I will continue to practice.

Alex is great-when I am not a raving nut job. I know that if I was ever home all the time we would not have a good marriage. I have been rather difficult lately to say the least. I know that I need to be better with my words and actions. He is still going to school taking 2 classes at a time and is really thinking of pursuing his Masters degree so he can teach online. He is super active with the youth at church and has really taken the lead in our High School Sunday School class. He does such an amazing job-he is awesome at it thats for sure! He is at the game today with John and is SUPER excited because his BFF Dave is coming for a visit in December.

The boys are wonderful. Adrian is growing so much. He is 26 inches and 17.5 pounds. He look so much like Aaron but I also see so much of Alex in him. Aaron is obsessed with him and it doesn't seem to be even starting to wear off. I will go as far to say that I think 3 years is not the right number of years apart (for me). I think 2 would be good or maybe 5. Yikes! I am pretty sure that there will be just one more addition to our family of A's at this point. I always dreamed of having 6 so this will get us just one shy. However, with school I am not sure what the plan is and you know that I always have a plan. Aaron is doing gresat in pre-school. His teachers only have good things to say about him and he is a favorite among the kids too. We started Adrian on cereal this week and he is LOVING it. I pray that he is a good eater like Aaron and by good I mean he eats pretthy much anything (with teh exception of mashed potatoes). He will definitely tear up a chicken nugget or hot dog but I am glad to say that they are not staples in our house. Being a Mom is an extremely precious gift that I treasure every day-even though I am pulling my hair from time to time...just being honest.

Krissy moved back to Nashville. She has had a lot of change lately in her life and it is all for the better. She is in a happier place but it was a logn and hard road getting here. I am SO proud of her for setting her mind to her dream and going after it. She is home this weekend and we have seen a lot of her. She will be back for Thanksgiving and then she should be done with her classes in May and be back home again. I love her for sure and really wish that I didn't worry so much about her!!

Well-that is it for now. I wish I could be better at the frequency I have at updating this...Her is hoping!

Pinch me please!

Well well well...here we are. My first day of not being a full time worker (temporarily of course) and I am not really sure how to feel. We slept in a teeny bit, had breakfast and then I got to take Aaron to pre-school. What an incredible feeling to watch your baby walk into his class and just fit it, go with the groove and smile so big that your heart just about ruptures. I was so thankful to take him this morning and then to pick him up this afternoon-WOW! is all I can say.
I start my STNA class Monday and will then be taking my entrance exam for school. Life is changing and I am SO stoked. I am scared, nervous and really thankful. How blessed am I to be here and be pursuing my dream? Wow! It just doesn't seem possible. Thank you Alex for supporting me and loving me enough to allow me to do this-I love you!

The BIG news

This Wednesday will be my last day at DSW. It is time for me follow what I truly feel in my heart that I should be doing with my life. So...I will be taking a STNA course in a few weeks so that I can work as an STNA while I attend school to become a RN. I am SO excited and terified all at the same time! I have put all of this in God's hands so it may be a rough road but I know he will be walking with us! So friends if you have any connections and get help me get a job-please let me know!

Tomorrow is the day

Well tomorrow I head back to work and I am completely overwhlemed with emotions. I cannot believe that it has been 12 weeks already. I have cherished every minute I have been home with the kids. We have had some major transitions this summer and are about to have even more over the next few weeks. I know that I am blessed with a great husband and wonderful, healthy children. God is SO good and I am SO thankful that I have Him in my life. Life is never easy, but with my Faith I know that I will get through.

The next step...

Well yesterday the trial dates were set for Zach-October 1st and 2nd. My stomach is in knots at the mere thought of having to put my eyes on him. I cannot believe that it has been over a year and a half ago that we lost Don. Such a shame to lose someone SO important to so many people. I know that he is in a better place. I know that together we are going to get through this. I know that my life is forever changed because of my friendship with Don. I know that he touched the lives of so many people in an amazing way. I know that I have grown as a person through my loss of him. I know that I am thankful for Dan, Collin, Sheree and Don. I know that they will forever be a part of our family and us a part of theirs. I know that I treasure my friends even more since that fateful day. However, I still feel in the most bottom part of my heart that Don is sad and angry that he is no longer here. A very special, amazing and promising life cut way too short. Ahhh-my heart breaks just like it did when I heard the news. I wish for it to stop, but then again the pain makes me remember all of the memories of him that I will hold forever in my heart of hearts. Don-I still love you and miss you terribly-today, tomorrow and forever!

Family pictures are in!!!

A few years ago we started getting family pictures done in the summer along with individual pictures of Andy & Ashley. It seemed that we were never clued in on when school pictures were so we went 2 years without getting them. After spending a lot of time upset that we missed out we just decided to have them done ourselves. The great part is that they are more the kids because they are allowed to shoe their personality and be more comfortable. I LOVE pictures and so does Alex-as you can tell by our walls huh? (No smart comments) Picture day is ALWAYS an extremely stressful day for me because I get so tense and freaked out and then it ruins the day for everyone. Well this year I decided I didn't care enough to get all stressed and it totally worked. I was calm and the day was much more enjoyable-a novel idea huh? So here are our "fancy pictures" our Christmas card pictures were still taken by John and our theme this year was skulls-very traditional I know. We haven't got those yet so that will have to be for another post!

AARON & ANDY

PAPA & MACHO/CHOOCHIE/BUBBY
ADRIAN

ASHLEY

ANDY

Latest updates

cool dude

watch this adrian
clean baby

a late night snack of string cheese

bed time!

I have not been all that good at updating the blog lately huh? I guess I just haven't taken the time to sit down and ponder my thoughts other than for the boys journals. Man! I thought keeping one journal was rough, now that there is 2-oh my!!

Yesterday was Adrian's 2 month check up and he is all good! He was a little cranky from the shots but did well for the most part. He is 14.2 pounds already. He is still not sleeping all night, but that is quite OK. I have been enjoying more and more those middle of the night feedings as I know they are precious time. He was also circumcised last week so he has been through the ringer lately. He is cooing and making all kinds of noises and loves to smile and follow people. He will follow Alex all around-it is quite awesome! Most people are saying that he looks more like Alex than me, but we will see!

Aaron has been quite the pistol-still! I think he needs to get back into a routine and back to Denise. She has so much more patience than I do, but man have I learned a lot from her. He is such a great kid, but then he has his moments of terror. But, I guess we all have those-even at 32. I am really excited about his starting pre-school. Next week we go to orientaion to meet the teachers-YIKES!

Andy and Ashley are both home safe and sound which is a blessing. Andy starts school next week and Ash started last week. She will return on 12/18 for Christmas but I am not sure on Andy yet. This will be a crazy year with all 4 of them here! I cannot wait to watch Aaron's eyes light up. Andy has been going to football practice and Ash helping take care of Jackson. She is a really good sister and I am sure her Mom is loving how helpful she is! I guess she got some pretty good training with Aaron and Adrian huh? I am still hopeful that they are both going to fall madly in love with someone here and move at some point in their lives!

Other than that...I am going to be back to clogging in October, returing to work on the 14th and have started training for a 5K I am runnign with my friend Katie in October. Wow! Life is busy. Until next time...much love to you all!

The end of Summer

So this is the guaranteed dreaded part of our year by far. There is always so much excitement and planning that leads up to the kids being here and then once they get here it is over before it even begins. I myself have always been amazed at easy we get back into the swing of things like they never even left. This year was no different than years past. We picked up right where we left off with everything...toothpaste in the sink, dishes in the sink, empty toilet paper rolls in the bathrooms,socks under the end tables-Oh and Lots and Lots of LOVE! We started each of their arrivals with the same routine-going through their suitcases to see what they brought and take inventory of what we need to go and buy. This year was better than ever before and we didn't have to spend a ton of money on summer clothes-Praise God! This summer has seemed different than all the others and I think it is becasue the kids are getting older. There are things they want to do and people they want to see so our house is a buzz with activity. I always said that I wanted our house to be the house where the kids went and by golly it was this summer. I pray that all the other kids still come around because this is a really hard time of year for our family, especially Alex. I cannot imagine the anguish in his heart and I NEVER try to pretend that I do. My heart breaks for him just thinking about it. I think if I truly went back and tracked the days there would not be one day where it was just the 5 or 6 of us here. It is overwhleming at times, but at those times I truly stop and ask God for his help and the feeling is gone. We are truly blessed to have our home and have the opportunity to open it to the kids and their friends. We have had a blast with Oasis on Fridays and I am rather sad to see it come to an end. Over the next few weeks please keep us in your prayers, especially Alex as Andy and Ashley leave us while we adjust back to our "other normal". Pray as well for Andy and Ashley for safe trips and adjsuting back into their other worlds. Ashley's Mom had her baby yesterday so Ashley will be adjusting to having another little brother when she gets home as well.

Prayer Requests-pray for me as my leave comes to an end in a few weeks. Our friend Scott needs your prayers as he looks for a new job. Missy's Grandpa Ed fell and is not doing all that well so pray for his recovery and health. My friend Emily needs prayers as she is going through a really difficult time. And finally our friends the Timmons need your prayers-Kenny is slated to come home this Friday-PRAISE GOD!

Until next time-God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

BARF!

Ashley and Katie

Andy & Aaron
Adrian!
WOW! There are 6 of us now!

That is what is going on around here tonight! Adrian has been fussy all day and tonight he went into full out crying fits. He barfed twice rather large amounts and continued crying and crying. I of course freak out and think the worst and Alex stays calm trying to make me feel better. Right now Aaron is asleep in our bed, Ashley just went up to bed, Andy is out at the movie and Adrian is asleep on top of Alex on the couch. Abbie got back home today from spending the last 12 days with Mom and John while Aya and Abu were here. Aya is allergic so thankfully we can just send her to Mom's while they visit. Updates...

Last week we took Adrian to the doctor for his skin rash and he weighed in at 12.2 lbs-that means in the month since we left the hospital he gained 4 lbs.-not bad. He was actually off the charts so he is obviously getting his nutrients! (hehe) He is changing everyday and now keeps his eyes open a lot. He also has more awake time and will not keep to a schedule.

Aaron is awesome-just a pistol-sure doesn't make me love him any less though. He has been a little challenging, but I cannot blame him. We have had more change in the last 2 months than most people I know and I am not dealing with it well so how could he at the ripe old age of 3? Next week I plan to get him back on our Denise schedule and prepped for pre-school. Yup! He is going starting in September.

Ashley is doing really well. She is just our little social butterfly as usual. She goes home on the 20th and we are all dreading it...especially her friend Katie. She has been a great help this summer with keeping the house clean and I am more than thankful for her. It is so weird to watch her grow into this young woman, but I enjoy it at the same time. She changes SO much every visit!

Andy is quite the ladies man as usual! He is so handsome he cannot keep them away-I DREAD when Ashley gets old enough for this stuff! He is great with the kids, especially Aaron. Aaron finds him hilarious which just adds flame to his fire! He leaves on the 25th and I know a few hearts that will be broken when that day comes. It will be really nice to have them here for Christmas this year though.

Alex is great! He is enjoying work and trying really hard to do everything he can for me. I have been quite blue lately so I know that I am making things hard on him. God bless him though he never gives up on me. After the sermon on Sunday I was finally able to be honest with him about some feelings in my heart and I have felt better ever since. God works in amazing ways-let me tell you!

Well...I am about all typed out. I pray that you are all doing well. Thanks for all the love and support! Until next time...

Happy Anniversary Alex

Well...today marks 4 years that Alex and I were married. I cannot believe that it has been such a short time to be honest. It feels (NOT in a bad way) that we have just been together forever. I am SO SO blessed to be married to such an amazing guy. He is a wonderful husband, loving father and great companion. He is loyal, protective, understanding (when I let him understand me) and supportive of me and our children. I am not the easiest person in the world to be married to so today he definitely gets a badge for putting up with me. I know that he was placed in my life for a reason at the perfect time and I will always be thankful for him. We have our fights indeed, but I never love him any less than before. I wish that today we were able to get married again-maybe at 5 years he tells me-becasue out wedding day was my most favorite day ever and I pray that it always is.

Alex-I love you! Happy Anniversary!

What is going on???

My babies

There really are 4 aren't there?
This is the cake Ashley baked & iced and then Aaron decorated for Krissy

My sweet, sweet babies

How we start our mornings now

Hey there folks! It's been a week-Sorry...and I was doing so stinking good huh?
The little one is 3 weeks and one day old today-crazy huh? He is changing so much everyday. He still looks just like Aaron and it is really funny when I put him in something that was Aaron's. It is so amazing to me that he is here and just part of the chaos now too!
This week is VBS and we have all been attending. Andy, Ashley and Aaron are going to class and he looks so adorable walking around with the kids holding onto the little rope. Ahh-it makes my heart just burst when I see him. He has received GREAT reports from the teacher. What a little boy huh? Today he went to Denise's to play with the boys so I am sure he will be in a great mood come the end of the day. Alex is working security at VBS and I was helping with registration. When we are done checking in I have been just hanging around and socializing. Last night Steve came to hang and tonight he and Beth are coming-WOOHOO!!!
Today I met with an academic advisor about returning to school so now Alex and I have to sit down and figure that all out and do lots of praying about it as well. God willing I will be able to return to school!
Andy is going on a date tonight...fancy huh? Ahhh! The good ole days!
This weekend starts our busy time...small group outing, Alex's parents coming, Strean family picnic, Adrian's baptism, the fair and then of course the dreaded end of summer when the kids return home. Man it sucks...like they say on John and Kate...it's a crazy life, but it's our life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN LEIGH STREAN!!

Yea--tomorrow Little Strean turns 30! There are so many things about my sister and I. If you took a list of likes and a list of differences the tally would be just about the same on each side. We are as alike as we are different and I am OK with that. Over the years we have learned to figure it all out and I have learned to count on her time after time. I think the best gift she has ever given me was when she moved home when I was pregnant with Aaron. I was SO happy to have her here to be part of it with me. She was the first person I called and I will never forget hearing her scream and then her telling the members of Little Big Town the news. My sister is so special to me and a BIG part of my life. We have had so many fights and differences over the years but there is no one other than my children that I am more protective of than her. I love her fiercely and sometimes my protectiveness is to a fault (sorry). She and Alex are close and she is hands down one of Aaron's favorite people in the universe. She will always be the fun Aunt-getting down and dirty and acting silly with the kids and that too is OK with me. I am blessed to have her in my life and to be able to share my family with her. So please pause today and say a prayer for her to have not only a Happy Birthday, but a life full of love, peace and happiness.
Krissy-I love you! Thank you so much for being not only my sister but my friend!

Matching dresses for my wedding shower-she loved it!

This is the first time she met Alex-we went to Nashville to see her!
Aunt Krissy's first picture with Aaron A birthday picture from many many moons ago!

Aunt Krissy's first time holding Adrian-she was the first person to hold him

Already 2 weeks!

So proud he can take off his own shirt!

Adrian and "Baby Girls"
Love bug
Hanging at the pool

WORD!

It doesn't seem quite possible that Adrian is 2 weeks today, but isn't that always the case? At this point we have adjusted to our new blessing, but I am still trying to get faster at getting out of the house. Between nursing, pumping, washing bottles and freezing milk there isn't much time left is there? Oh well-such is life. We went for our first big walk today-45 minutes worth so that is quite an accomplishment considering I still have this big cut in my stomach huh? Now it is time for breakfast for me and Aaron and at some point I have to wake Andy up. Until next time...Much love to you all!

P.S. Please keep our friends the Timmons family in your prayers

Adjusting

Today is day 5 at home and we are all adjusting to the newness of Adrian John. I am really blessed to have such a wonderful family to bring this baby home to.

Aaron has been NOTHING short of amazing. We thought he would be, but we were trying not to get our hopes us as I cannot imagine how hard it is to adjust to a new baby. He is tender, loving and very proud to be a Big Brother. He likes to show off his little brother and has held him and fed him and also helped put on his butt cream. Two funny things he has said...yesterday he told the doctor that Adrian poops out of his eyeballs and then on Friday he told our 12 year old friend Sam that Adrian drinks milk from Momm's boob-ahhh kids!

Andy has not had a moments rest from playing with Aaron which is a BIG help. It helps me to not feel as if I am neglecting him when I am taking care of the little one. He is such an amzzing big brother and our children are blessed wwith a gift from God in having him to model the way they love one another after. He is willing to anything that we need or ask of him and when Aaron goes to bed he is quite content watching a movie with Alex and hanging out. Even at 16 he is a Daddy's boy and Alex is loving having him here.

Ashley is helping with the baby as much as she posibly can. She is very into helping and learning how to take care of him. Today she cleaned the bathroom after I showed her "how to". One lesson I learned from my friend Elisa is that you cannot get angry at kids for not doing something correct if you never took the time to show them what you expected. I realized that while Ashley has chores and we have expectations we have never shown her what they were so a new approach starting today! (Thank you Elisa) She is also busy with friends-she is definitely the social butterfly of the group and would be happy having something to do 24/7. Typical of an 11 yeard old I guess. She is great with the baby and I enjoy having the special moments with her that I do.

Alex is simply amazing. I told him on Tuesday night that I was looking forward to falling in love with him all over again because that happened when I had Aaron. My husband is truly the most special gift I have even been given from God. Yes we fight and argue, but I truly feel that he was meant for me. He is more than supportive and loving. He is up with me at every feeding whether I am breast feeding or bottle feeding. He changes as many diapers as I do and he tries really hard to keep me resting. He has been cooking and cleaning and getting the kids to help around the house all the while adjusting to being a Daddy again. He is so patient and understanding when I am crying and emotional, although I know he is as worn out from my emotions as I am. Again, I will say that I am very blessed. Alex-I love you!

At home

Our last picture as the 5 Aces!

One last kiss for baby

Daddy gets the first picture

Pure bliss Yesterday we were able to come home-Thank You Lord! I am sure that I could have afforded medically to stay in the hospital for another day or two, but my doctor gave me the option as she knew how much I wanted to go home. I was miserable in the hospital and now I am able to relax at home while we are all together. Our first 24 hours ahve been going well. My milk is coming in and I am trying really hard not to give up on breastfeeding. This time I really really do not want to end up pumping. Aaron continues to be loving and gentle with his little brother and last night when he was going to sleep he asked if Adrian could lay with him-of course I gave in to that request. We are so blessed-our God is an awesome God!

Our first pictures as the 6 Aces

Aaron's first kiss and hold

Mommy and Adrian
Home at last

Welcome little one!!

Our little miracle has arrived safe and sound into the world. Adrian John Rodriguez was born on July 1st at 5:05pm. He weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce and was 18.25 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. He is rather sleepy as am I, along with sore. All is well...Thank you for your prayers!

It's finally here

I cannot believe that today has finally arrived! I am so excited and nervous all wrapped up into one tight bundle! I am so thirsty and a little hungry so I wish our appointment was a lot sooner than 5:30. Oh well, such is life. I am tired and ready for a nap as well. I made all the kids skull shirts this morning and I am almost packed. Alex will be home around 12:30 and we will head to the hospital around 3:00. Oh gosh! I cannot believe it...boy or girl. I really have no definite feeling either way! Well...I am off to finish my list of things to do and to snuggle with my Papa before I head to the hospital. Keep all of us in your prayers...we will be in touch!

Gallagher...I hope you have a wonderful time with...well you know who!

Key item found!!!

After picking up Hope today we headed to Walmart for a few last minute items to take to the hospital...low and behold...there it was a light blue beanie in just the right color! My friend Missy is pumped today becasue the dealership finally located her GMC Acadia...I think my $5 light blue beanie may pale in comparison but we are both as excited about our finds! Miss-I wish you were here!

Winding Up

As I try to relax these last days I have not been very successful, but I am OK with that. I feel better when I am under pressure and trying to get a lot of things done at once. Who would think that the one thing causing me the MOST stress would be a need for a boy beanie? Goodness sake alive! Our kids have this thing for skulls-it all started with Andy a few years ago. At first I was against it, then I realized that it is just a skull so I of couse embrace it and buy them all things when I see them. Heck, I even tried to buy Aaron tennise shoes with skulls on them the last 2 days-no luck. Anyways...I bought a boy and a girl iron on skull a few months ago so I needed a beanie for each. I realized that plain white is impossible to find so I started looking for a single blue one and a single pink one over a month ago. I was being too cheap to buy a variety boy pack and a variety girl pack as they are like $7 a pop. I gave up and went to once upon a child and made a purchase there but the girl one was small and I wrooy that it won't fit so Alex talked me into a girl pack. The boy one then looked too worn so I bought a boy pack and it is the wrong light blue so now what do I do? It is Monday...I give up and will make do with what we have-I know, I know isn't this insane? (Shut up Beth)

The kids and I ran around and shopped today from 1-5:30, I am pooped. When we got home we played games, had dinner, folded and out away laundry and then Aaron took a bath. I left them all home in bed watching Beauty and the Beast and went to Krogers. Now I am done for the night...just need to cut up a watermelon...Until next time...much love to you all.

Oh and anonymous if you happen to fall upon my blog again BITE ME!!!

complete...almost

Well Andy's here safe and sound. Normally at this point the excitement for summer would be just about ending, but this year it's just beginning. The small doses are nice to spread around. Why oh why do I need to be awake at 4:21 am? I am not all that thrilled with this business. We got lots done yesterday that was on my list. Today we need to get Andy some shirts and tennis shoes-he only brought 6 shirts and hiking boots. He is so freaking big, 6'5 and so handsome. I am so blessed. Please pray for our friends Kenny and Amy Timmons as they are going through a difficult time. 3 more days...wow!

Are we "all" ready

Aaron and Pa

Daddy and "Macho"

Going home

Big brother and sister

Aunt Krissy, cake lady and one of Aaron's favorite people

Why oh why did I EVER pick this outfit? God help him!

I am pretty sure this was Ash's first diaper change

Little worm

Taken at Mom's right before we went to the hospital

Good morning!

Little love bug!

ONE of my absolute favorites!

Aaron and Mamaw's hand

Now known as Papa T-Rex

The countdown is going so fast and I am anxiously awaiting Wednesday. I don't have that "how am I going to love another baby like I love the one I already have" worry-yet and I pray that I don't get it. What I do have is that worry of "how is my Papa going to adjust to a new baby". Tonight Aaron asked me to hold him while he fell asleep and he has NEVER done that. When he wants to cuddle it is with Daddy, not Mommy. They are definitely cuddle buddies-every morning he wants Alex to cuddle with him in bed. It is one of the most endearing memories that I will always have of them. I wonder how he will react when the baby comes home and I wonder how he will react if it is a girl, because he definitely wants this baby to be a boy. Friends in the past have had older siblings that wanted a fish (Nemo) or a Tennage Mutant Ninga Turtle so I am just trying to be thankful that Aaron wants a baby, he just wants a boy so he can be a brother. He talks all the time about the things he is going to be able to do once he is the "big brother". It seems that he believes that once the baby is born he is going to be a BIG brother liek Andy and will be able to just about conquer the world. He definitely has good role models in Andy and Ashley and I know that having them here is going to be more than a blessing for all of us. I keep looking back at pictures of him in the hospital trying to wrap my head around how in the world the past 3 years went by so fast. It seems that just yesterday we were awaiting his arrival and here we are with him being 3 and awaiting the arrival of our newest addition. So above are some of my favorite pictures from Aaron's arrival.