Celebrating Kaci

With all the joy going on over the last few days, we have also experienced sadness. Cory's sister is now completely healed and restored and dancing with our Lord in heaven! While we weep over the loss of her on this earth, we rejoice in her life and ministry! Kaci was an amazing sister to me and to Cory and a wonderful aunt to our boys. We will miss her terribly and covet your prayers for us and for the rest of her family over the next weeks and months to come. If you want to go over and love on Ryan and the kids, please do so! Cory and I are heading to Guymon today sometime with Crosby, while the other 4 kiddos stay here with my mom. Thank you all so much for your love, support, prayers, offers to help, etc. We feel them all and appreciate them all...it is such a blessing to be loved :)Job 1:21 "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." We are praising God today for ALL of his blessings. For giving us Crosby and for Kaci. Our sister is dancing at the feet of our Savior, no doubt hearing 'well done, good and faithful servant'.

Happy 2nd Birthday Cole!

Two years ago today while I was supposed to be at Caden's preschool celebrating his birthday, our lives were once again blessed by the birth of Cole Jackson! Of course God had different plans than I did but that is fine by me! Cole has been such a wonderful addition to our family and we love watching him grow and develop his personality!

1 day old, August 30, 2008

Being his usual goofball self, July 2010
Happy Birthday Col-e Bear! Momma and Daddy love you so much!

Happy 6th Birthday Caden

6 years ago today our world was changed in a moment! Caden is our little miracle baby from God and we have been blessed by him ever since! I am not real sentimental, but I truly love how he has grown and developed over the last 6 years. He is our wonderful 1st born and we love him so!

2 days old, August 31, 2004

1st day of school this year, August 19, 2010
Happy Birthday Caden, Momma and Daddy love you so much!

Meet Mr. Crosby!

Well of course I wasn't planning on having a baby Friday, but that is how God works with me...teaching me things when I least expect it! So crazy story, as usual, but I went to my appt. having contractions as usual, but I had progressed enough that my doctor knew I would have him this weekend and she wasn't going to be in town. She told me she didn't want to miss it and if I wanted to have him Friday, we could! So of course I said yes!!!

But then came the tricky part...I had Cole with me, and didn't think I should go up to L&D with a 2 year old :) Cory wasn't picking up his phone (he was in a business mtg out of town), Carter had to be picked up from school, Caden and Lizzy had to be picked up before my mom could get here, and my bag wasn't packed!!! So after calling Cory several times with no answer, I called my mom and got her headed this way, then called in reinforcements...thank you to Mandy, Becky, and Tisha for being at my beck and call! Also thanks to Devin for letting me call and explain the chaos to someone who would truly understand!!! Love you girls and thank you so much for BEING THERE for me!

So after taking Cole to Fargo to meet Tisha and heading back to Shattuck I went up to be admitted. The nurses had put out APB on me. They were calling me as I walked back into the hospital wondering where I was! So funny. Things progressed slowly at first but once they upped the pitocin we were on a roll. He came so quickly that his poor little face was bruised really bad! So there are no close ups yet :) But enough chatting here are the pics you are waiting for...

Momma and Daddy with their 4th little blessing!

Cole is totally in love with his brother! So proud!
My 4 little men

All 5 of my guys! I am one blessed lady!

Family Portrait

This is our latest family portrait, drawn by Caden. I thought everyone would love to see it!

I am sure you can pick out a few, but here we are from L to R...Mom, with Crosby in the belly :), Dad, Caden, Carter, Cole, and Lizzy. He labeled us all by name but it is hard to read. He worked very diligently!

This part cracked me up. Here is a close up of my giant belly, he even labeled Crosby and drew him in my belly!

So proud of his work!
I wanted to proudly display this on the fridge or something, but no...it was for Daddy to take to his office and display there. So if you go by SPC you can see it in person!

Big Kids' 1st Day of School

We had another successful 1st day! We even got ready in time to take more pictures!

I am so proud of my guy...he jumped right out of the car and barely even said "bye". He was ready to go!

Pretty Lizzy in her 1st day of school dress and pink bag!

My two big kids :)

Cole got really mad yesterday that he didn't get to stand on the fireplace and say "cheese" so we let him today! He just marched right up there and kept yelling "cheese" until I snapped a pic!

Again we are so thankful that my Mom was here this week to help us manage the chaos...so here is our best family shot. Carter was a bit ticked that he didn't get to go to school today, so pardon the attitude!

Hopefully tomorrow goes as smoothly. There were lots of issues with drop off today at their new school, but that is to be expected. Just have to have lots of patience and kindness! I pray that I can get the two big kids dropped off and Carter to his school on time! My mom is leaving tonight, so I am at it alone...here goes nothing :)

Carter's 1st Day of School

Carter was so excited today to start his first day of school! Gigi was here so, of course, he got donuts for breakfast and chocolate milk. We didn't have to go early so we had lots of time for pictures.

Trying to get him to smile with his eyes open is always a challenge...

Carter and Momma. I finally got a pic with the boy, so thankful Gigi is here.
He also wanted a picture with Caden! He loves his big brother!

We headed next door to Mimi's to pick up Ben to take him with us to school. Not sure which boy was more excited :)

They were so giddy and totally cracking me up.

Carter got to pose by the bear on his "beary" first day! I love that they alternate years of lessons at Free Spirit, so since Caden and Carter are two years apart they get to do much of the same stuff at school. Caden posed with this bear his first day too...I LOVE IT!

Carter had fun playing in the truck station with all the cars and trucks.

He also had a great time making a craft with his buddy Ben! These two spent most of the morning together, so cute...just like their brothers in 2008, Caden and Sam

Carter also loved to play with play-doh. He was his usual self...quiet, kept to himself some, just played in his own world. So cute!

I love Carter and how different he is from Caden! So cute to watch him grow and learn. He is getting to be such a big boy and more and more like his Daddy...so precious! He had a great first day, which is a relief!

Crosby - 8 months update

Here is your much anticipated Crosby update :) If you want to compare, here is Cole's. As with Cole I have been having some contractions, but these are a little more painful. So when I went to the doctor Friday, I was hooked up to the monitors and watched. This happened several times with Cole but there was never enough concern, so I was just sent home and told to rest. But these, as I suspected were more intense.

So my doctor sent me upstairs to L/D and they gave me two bags of IV fluids and two shots of terbutaline. This didn't really help but they went ahead and let me come home because of course I had a birthday party to host :) The nurse told me to take it easy and rest as much as possible. If you know me well that is hard, espcially around here! I am trying though. I have another appointment this week on Thursday so we will keep you posted!

I am 35 weeks as of Saturday, and I will be almost 36 weeks when I go back to the doctor, so who knows what they will do. Here is the lovely 8 month photo!