Happy 5th Birthday, Lauren Elaine!

Honey my words cannot express how much we love you. The day you were born changed our lives forever. When I held you in my arms and looked in your eyes I fell in love like I have never done before. Your daddy and I realized at that moment what it was going to be like to have our entire world focus around one little perfect baby girl. You have brought joy and laughter to us like we had never known before.
Right from the first minute you were born, you were daddy's girl. He would do anything for you. Remember someday when you find your husband...daddy loved you first! There were times I had to say, "hey! I want to hold my baby!" Just to get you away from him for awhile!
We would sit and stare at you and admire how beautiful and precious you were. As you are growing we are finding more and more things to love and adore about you...as well as a few things that cause us to pull our hair out! :)
We love how you are a princess at heart and how you want everything in life to be beautiful and in order. We love watching you learn and watching you teach your sister new things. Your sweet tender heart is always looking out for others feelings and you are so quick to notice when someone is not feeling happy. You will no doubt make a wonderful mother someday!

One thing I want you to remember, like I have always taught you...Cinderella and Prince Charming may have lived Happily Ever After - but it wasn't with out a lot of HARD WORK!

Lauren dont grow up too quickly, I love having you as my little girl.
Thank you, for teaching me how to dream and for making my dreams come true, all in the same moment. Happy Birthday Sweetheart...

Love mommy and daddy


Lauren - 18 months


Lauren and Mommy


Lauren and Daddy

More pictures of Lauren ...

Felix Grundy Days - July 2003


Daddy Time - Summer 2003


Lauren and baby sister Avery - June 2004


Our Princess - November 2005 - 4th Birthday


Lauren and baby brother Sullivan, February 2006

Our Deal...

Lauren and I made a deal this summer. She could have a birthday and even a birthday party but she was NOT allowed to actually turn 5. Unfortunetly Lauren did not fulfill her end of the deal. Lauren turns 5 tomorrow! Here are some pictures from the first 5 years. Sorry, I went a little crazy, I could have looked at these pictures and scanned them in all night long. What wonderful memories!
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Lauren and her Papa Richard - December 2001


Daddy reading books to Lauren - Spring 2002


First Birthday! November 2002


Lauren and her grandmas - November 2002


Lauren and ALL of her GREAT Grandmas - November 2002 - What a lucky girl!

Saturday

Sully's flu has been pretty light compared to how it hit the other two. Although we thought he was 100% better and then apparently fed him way too much for supper because that came back up - after not throwing up for 24 hours - weird. We aren't the brightest parents. He was literally smiling for the camera and then threw up and then started smiling again - who does that? He is so happy.
We are considering putting a quaranteen sign on our front door. Here are some pictures from our day locked inside!

Even though it was cold - they had to be princesses and dance for awhile.


Then because Avery was involved, the princesses had to wrestle.


Reading books after bath and before bed!


Literally seconds before he threw up!


Trying to find a block under the couch - SO cute!

Weekend Plans

I had big plans for the weekend. Big plans to relax and just enjoy the family.

Unfortunetly Sullivan is now puking. I dont even know how to deal with a 9 month old with the stomach flu.

Just another blessing...

Sully and I went over for his dermatologist appointment today.
I am very pleased with how it went. The dr. was great. She spent the first several minutes of the appointment just playing with Sully - always a good sign.

She looked him over really well and said he definetly has a bad case of eczema but not like some she sees. She said many kids with the rash this bad also have it covering their faces. I cannot even imagine that!

Her biggest concern is that some of his worst spots look on the verge of infection and with the time of year she thinks he could start to have a problem there. So we are putting him on pretty strong oral steriod for 9 days. She called it a miracle drug. She said he will look like a new baby. Unfortunetly, that wont last once he is off the steriod...but it shouldn't be as bad. (She said some of her patients have to schedule things like baby photos around times that they are on this steroid because it is the only time you would even think about getting their pictures taken - how sad!)It sounds like we will be using this steriod off and on to take care of flare ups.

Sully will also be on a topical steriod mixed with a lotion that will allow him to use it more often and for a longer period of time.
She gave me the good news that most kids with eczema like this will see it disappear or GREATLY diminish by the time they are 3.
She also said that often kids with this in their history will not have any trouble with acne! So, we have to take him to the dermatologist now, but not when he is a teen!

I am feeling really good about the hope of clearing Sully up. I find the gift God gives to dr.'s to heal and give hope so amazing.

On another note - Avery is feeling much better too! Daddy took her to the park this am and he is with them all this afternoon while I am at work.

How do you know when Avery is feeling better?

You get in the van with her and she says, "Mommy! I want to hear 'Free Fallin'!!!
And then sings along at the top of her lungs.

Avery update

Our trip to the pediatrician was uneventful for the most part. He said that if probably would have admitted her to the hospital last night if he had seen her. He said she sounded on the verge of 'danger'. (Um, hope I never hear those words again when talking about my child.)
He said what he has seen with this virus is that diarreha will come next. YEAH! Cant wait.

Avery is better but no where near good. Actually the only difference is that she is not puking. She has a little more energy but not much.
She lost over a pound since she was in 1.5 weeks ago with an ear infection. Considering she weighs 26 pounds, that is a lot. He said that if she starts to get even a little like she did last night that we needed to head to the ER. Her reserve is low now so apparently we have to be even more careful.

I am not resting easy tonight. Neither is Avery. She cant seem to sleep or relax. She is agitated and fussy. I am pushing fluids but I think she has had it with that. But she FINALLY had a wet diaper so that is good news.

Isn't it amazing how you dont appreciate 'normal' until you dont have it?

Please pray for Avery tonight.

POOR POOR BABY!

Well Avery and I had an eventful night. She went to bed at about 8 and woke up abotu 9:30 throwing up and very agitated. That lasted till about 1 when she threw up neon green bile. I about lost it. Then she proceeded to begin shaking in a way that I have never witnessed and I thought she was convulsing or something. So I called her pediatrician and talked to the nurse on call who advised me to get my butt to the ER with her.

So off we went at 1:45. They took blood and ran some tests and Avery kept on puking the green stuff. They decided to try a suppository to stop the vomitting before putting in an IV. THANK GOODNESS.

1/2 hour after the suppository they started giving her some small amounts of liquid. It was the saddest thing ever. She would take this tiny little cup and suck it dry and then try to lick it out and then put her finger in to make sure she got all the liquid and she would lick her finger. Between cups of liquid she would fall in a dead sleep in my arms. Then instantly jerk awake when it was time for another drink. I have never seen someone so thirsty. It was pathetic.

After 2 hours of that they tested her blood sugar again and it was rising - good news. They sent us home and said if she started vomitting again we needed to head to Allen to have her admitted.

She slept from 4:15 till 7:15 and is up now. She is acting better but still very very sick. We are headed to the doctor for follow up later today.

Please pray for Avery. I'm missing her spunk - 24 hours without it is enough!

Happy Anniversary

Well I can't say that this is how I planned for tonight to go but...

Happy Anniversary Jordan. 7 years. We talked last night that if either of us had known that 12 years after our first date we would have 3 kids and have been married for 12 years, we probably would have never gone on that first date - out of total fear!!!
I am blessed to have married my best friend. The one person that I know God chose just for me. We have gone through some rough moments and seen each other through the happiest, saddest and hardest times in our lives. I have no doubt that we are one of the strongest couples I know. I take no credit for that. We have only Christ to thank. Our marriage is a marriage of three. Without that crucial third person I am sure we would have fallen apart years ago.

Thank you Jordan for being a man of God who leads our family and puts us first in his life.

I have more fun with you than anyone else I have ever spent time with. I laugh with you, cry with you and am myself with you. You know everything about me, even more than I know about myself, and yet, you keep coming back for more. Thank you.

I love you more today than I did when we walked out of the high school holding hands, more than when I said 'I do', more than when our first child was born and more than I did yesterday. Thank you for seeing me through so much.

I love and trust you with all my heart. I cannot wait to see what the next years hold for us.
Always,
me

Lucky Thirteen

13 times, she has thrown up 13 times! She is tiny the way it is and she seems smaller now. She is finally sleepng. Pray for little Avery tonight. At this right I am praying that a trip to the ER isnt in store for us tonight.

Poor baby...

Avery is sick...again. I swear if there is a bug, she will catch it. She has thrown up 7 times in 3 hours. All she wants to do is cuddle, so I know something is wrong!

Memories

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. I love celebrating my anniversary. I love remembering our wedding day. But this year is different. This year I/we are remembering a lot about that day and how my dad played into it.

I remember when Jordan asked my dad if he could marry me, I remember when my dad literally ran into the house to see my engagement ring. I remember sleeping in my parents bed with them the night before my wedding. I rememeber the look on my dad's face when he saw me in my dress and the shock I felt when SECONDS before we walked down the aisle he leaned over and said, By the way, I split out the seat of my tux while we were decorating your car!

I miss him. I miss knowing how proud he was of me/us. I miss seeing how much he loved Jordan. I miss the man that was THE man in my life for 18 plus years. He told me that when he gave Jordan my hand at the end of the aisle he knew that he was doing the absolute right thing. He knew that Jordan would make me happy and take care of me and treat me like only a Godly man can.

We went out to the gravesite yesterday and it was the same beautiful November weather that we had for our wedding day. Lauren asked me as we sat there, "What is Papa doing in heaven?" I tried to imagine but, I can only imagine...but I do know the look on his face, the smile that I miss is most definetly being displayed. I love you dad. I miss you every single day.

Pumpkins

Just cute...

Trick or Treat

Another Halloween, we're all another year older.
Is there any other night of the year that is so tiring?

Lauren (Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, complete with rubby red slippers) LOVES Halloween because dressing up is her most favorite thing in the entire world.

Avery (a tiger - very fitting!) LOVES Halloween because eating candy is her most favorite thing in the entire world.

Sully (a pumpkin - we had the costume and it sort of fit so we used it!) tolerated his first Halloween very well!

Jordan and I (party poopers did not dress up) survived. It was a lot of fun and very very cute, but man I am exhausted!

Silly Spiders

We made spider cupcakes for the kids' party at Stacie's tomorrow. Lauren had a blast.

I am not the most creative or artistic mommy but I'd have to say these are pretty cute!

An Unwilling Fan

At the beginning of the season Jordan vowed he would not watch ISU Football until they went to a BCS bowl (So NEVER!). He said they were horrible and he just couldnt watch...
Well he watched them. So, because he broke the vow he has wear an IOWA shirt to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with my family.
My mom brought over a present for him today. I dont think he has ever looked so handsome. (He was not as pleased as we were!).
Cassie, this photo is just for you!

Bacon or Pizza?

Just a fun little Avery story:

The girls and I dropped off Jordan at work this morning and the following conversation resulted...

"Where is Daddy going?" Avery
"He is going to work." Mommy
"Why?" Avery
"Because he has to bring home the bacon." Mommy
"NO! I dont like bacon, I want PIZZA!!!!." Avery

Followed by hysterical laughing from Lauren and Mommy and crying from Avery.

It's just plain sad...

Note to self...dont go into marriage thinking you can change a person...

The rivalry has been going on between Jordan and my family since the beginning, Fall 94 to be exact. It has involved anonymous calls playing the Iowa fight song, and then the ISU fight song back, drive bys with the fight songs playing, painted houses, posters in yards, cars painted, wearing the clothing of the oppositions opposition for the week... You name it, they've done it.
Today was no different. I dont think Jordan even cared that Iowa State lost, I think he was just happy that Iowa lost. We have to blame ourselves a little, a little over confidence and a little more boasting...those are definetly traits of my family!

Today Jordan ran into my mom's house wearing his "gear" and then ran back out, prank called 2 of my brothers and gloated all evening. The only thing that could have made it better for him (besides ISU winning, Im sure) would have been if my dad had been here to be on the receiving end again...

Anyway, I'm embarrassed of him and I have been asked today, 'why exactly did you marry him and bring him into our family?' But he is pretty cute, I guess we can give him that.

First Half:


Second Half:


Victory:

Lonely

It is truly embarrasing how much I miss Jordan right now. I cant sleep. I cant even think about it.
Anyone got a remote control so I can fast forward about 20 hours?

My mom

This is my mom. She has taught me more about being a wife, mother and friend than anyone else ever could. She has given 100% to me and my brothers for our entire lives. When she hurts, she pushes it aside to be sure that we are not. When she is tired she goes on for us. Someday I hope to be half of the woman of God that she is...

Tonight I am grateful to her and for her.

She represents one of the countless gifts that Christ has given me.

I love you mom, Thank you, again.

Cousins and Sisters

Sully and his cousin Alexa are so cute together. He is pretty fascinated by her.

He is not so fascinated however with Avery. I think he could do without her. She sees him as a lifesized play toy. Poor kid.

New Look

I haven't been happy with the options available for the blog template I chose so I switched to one that I knew I liked the format of...thanks Jody...

NO!!!

Pumpkins!

One of my favorite days of the year is the day we go to the pumpkin patch. Unfortunetly when we arrived today Avery was not in the picture taking mood. But we still had fun!

More Decorah

Decorah

We headed up to Decorah for the day on Saturday to enjoy the beautiful fall day. The leaves were a week or two past their prime but it was still amazingly beautiful. We went on a picnic, to the Ice Cave, the top of the Palisades, a waterfall and the Seed Savers Exchange. My mom and grandma came along. It was a blast!

I Won!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

It is probably no secret that I LOVE to win. Especially when my husband is involved. My competitiveness might be one of my worst faults.
Anyway, thanks for voting in my little poll.

Cassie, you were correct, I do NOT feel it would be acceptable for Sully to wear Avery's old winter coat. Jordan however feels that it would be fine. "It's purple Becky, not pink!" I corrected him, "It's LILAC!" (Jordan found VERY funny that you knew him well enough to know who wanted what.)

Let me tell you this dilemna cause quite a ruckus in our household last night. Now I realize that these stupid coats are expensive ($45) but seriously, its a GIRLS!!!!!!

Anyway, I won. And I thank you all. Hopefully Sullivan's pride will not be forever ruined now.

Please settle this marital dispute...

Be honest, Would you allow your son to wear this lilac/purple snowsuit?

Jordan and I are not agreeing. I'll let you know who said what tomorrow. Please vote.