Janell's Blog

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2008-11-25T23:09:00.002-05:00

www.foureverblessed.com

2008-10-07T23:28:00.002-05:00

Alexander Kai Campbell (Xander)

2008-09-09T10:35:00.006-05:00

This is our beautiful brand new baby boy!!Alexander Kai was born August 22, 2008 at 1:48 am. He weighed 8 1/2 lbs and was 22 inches long. We had a home birth (www.scmidwife.com)with Xander and it was the most beautiful experience we have ever had. The Lord blessed me with a 3 hour labor and the best support team in the world. Thank you HONEY! Thank you for rubbing my back when i desperately needed it and for cooking many a dinner when the last thing i wanted to see was food. Thank you my love for taking this amazing journey with me and always looking forward. Thank you my love for being the best husband and father in the world. I would also like to thank my mom and sisters for helping me in so many ways when my day to day tasks were far from reach.

My little guy has skin as soft as melted butter and amazing silky black hair. I love to run my fingers through his hair while he nurses. His long fingers always clutch my shirt when i burp him or hold him tight. I love when he is fast asleep and i notice him smiling about his dreams. What could such a little guy be dreaming about i wonder.Every so often i catch him with his thumb trying to make way to his mouth. A few times he has succeeded and that site leaves me speechless. Xander is smothered with love by his sibling probably every second of the day and his plump cheeks are constantly receiving nice big wet ones. Sometimes he looks at me as though he understands everything i am saying. I know that when he gets older that will definitely change. Bath time relaxes him and if he could sleep in the bath i have no doubt he would. He unwilling shares his Binky with Vienna who playfully snatches it from him when he is in his bassinet sleeping. I love this part of life. I have the best job on earth caring for, teaching, loving, and showing Gods unconditional love to my children. I am amazed at how much i learn in turn from my children everyday. Xander, We love you!

Looking back at posts started, but not finished.

2008-08-21T13:40:00.008-05:00

I had this picture post in my draft and had to post it. I found it very funny that i was setting out to post this August 21, and Xander was born August 22. The Lord new that i couldn't take another day pregnant. That my frustrations with day to day tasks had reached its limit. I was so ready to have my baby and hold him in my arms. My prayers were answered.

Flowers for mom!

2008-08-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

I melted into a thousand pieces.

Fireman Samuel

2008-08-05T13:49:00.000-05:00

Samuel has been reading a lot of books on firefighters and he is convinced that he would be the best fireman in the world. Except for the crocs that he was wearing with his fireman outfit he looked like an authentic fireman. That day he extinguished the fire in my closet and kitchen. The best part of the day was feeding this hungry fireman.

Who needs a theme park when you have Ethan!!

2008-08-05T11:53:00.003-05:00

It's way to much fun to have an older brother that loves to push you to and fro.
I can proudly report no spills of any kind even though some of the corners are a bit dicey. Maybe i should have Vienna wear a helmet. My grandparents would love that idea.

Ethan and Vienna take laps around the house in the dolly stroller. He never seems to get tired of pushing her and she is always up for a spin. Anything Ethan can find to push Vienna in he tries it. Some of the rides that happen exclusively at our home are the laundry basket slide, the grocery cart push and the ice cream truck spin. My baby Ethan was born bouncing out of the womb just like tiger. If i had the energy he has my day would be much easier.

A Bubbly Afternoon

2008-08-05T11:27:00.002-05:00

2008-07-22T22:12:00.007-05:00

Vienna and Ethan get a long great and he loves showing her the ropes. Unfortunately there are times when a fun afternoon turns to tears. Vienna and I were playing dress up when Ethan came in the room and decided to show her the new tricks he taught his dog. Vienna insisted that Ethan should no longer be the dogs rightful owner. Ethan ran out of the room with his stuffed doggy and Vienna sprawled out on the carpet in full tantrum. I wiped away her tears and slowly rocked her to sleep. It was about that time of day when a nap was more than needed. I watched her sleep from my rocking chair and caught up on some reading. Reading- a wonderful thing i rarely get to do.

What a handsome man!!!

2008-07-19T15:01:00.002-05:00

My kids love playing dress up whenever they get a chance. I haven't bought costumes in a while so most of the costumes hit Samuel mid calf and don't zip up in the back, but that doesn't seem to bother the boys. Samuel and Ethan take turns dressing up as Spiderman, Fantastic four, army commando and too many other characters to name one by one. I love seeing the cool costumes they invent. On those inventing days their organized clothes are guaranteed to be sprawled all over the floor waiting for me to neatly fold them yet AGAIN. I have been blessed to receive lots of wonderful suites and pants in years past for about every stage. Dressing them up for church has always been a blast.
I was folding clothes on my bed and caught of guard when Samuel yelled, " Mam you are under arrest. " I looked back to find Samuel fully dressed in church clothes with a huge grin on his face. He was " SPY GUY aka BOND- JAMES BOND. As he was describing how he picked out his choice of attire he stopped mid sentence and said," Mom i forgot to get Gel." I agreed with him - all spy guys have to wear gel. We headed to Sam's Gel stash and found something titled GLUE. I felt that was an appropriate title for the occasion so we started to pile on the glue and make silly hairstyles. I ran downstairs to get my camera and started snapping away. I love moments like these. I had just finished putting away my third load of laundry and i desperately needed a good laugh.

Samuel finds a little bird- again

2008-07-15T20:38:00.005-05:00

About a two years ago we thought that our house might have some very uninvited guests so we hired a pest control company to spray every month and set traps in our garage. The only thing we managed to catch was a tiny little bird that sadly found himself wandering into one of our poison glue traps. That morning Samuel wandered as well into the garage and found the little bird half dead and he went ballistic. Sam and i rushed to see what was the matter and we found Samuel crying and all he could say was," Daddy save him, please save him." Sam and I exchanged a glance of frustration and knew that there was nothing we could do for this little bird that was half dead and completely stuck to the plastic glue box. We sent Samuel inside the house and told him that daddy would help him get back to his mother. We thought at the time that was the best thing to say since he was so distraught over this poor little bird. Minutes after sending him inside he burst open the garage door only to find Sam putting the bird out of his misery and setting him in the trash. Samuel couldn't stop crying and calming him down was practically impossible. That memory is one i will never forget and a situation i wish we had handled much differently. Unfortunately all those memories came flooding back Friday morning. Samuel came in sobbing after playing in the back yard. He told me he found a little birdie in the backyard and tried to help him fly again, but he just kept falling to the grass. So we all followed Samuel to the birdie who was alive and well, but seemed to be missing two toes. What Samuel said next made me want to cry. With tears in his eyes he looked at us and said," Daddy don't kill him like you did the other birdie - PLEASE- I will make him my pet and take care of him." We knew that was out of the question, but we had to solve the problem. I told Samuel that we would call the wildlife rescue to see if they would come to pick up the birdie. His attitude changed and he was gun hoe to help me get this birdie to safety. To make a long story short we followed orders and put the birdie in a basket with straw and hung it from a tree. The wildlife lady said emphatically," 8 out of nine times the mommy bird comes back to get her baby." A few days past and Samuel would check on the little birdie morning- noon- and night. I am sad to say that we did our best. The birdies mommy never came and he died. Samuel was very thankful to us that we didn't give up on the little bird. My son has a very big heart and we are so thankful to God for the appreciation, love and concern he has demonstrated for life at such a tender age.

Andrea Congrats!!!

2008-07-14T09:43:00.007-05:00

I finally received a picture of my little sisters graduation. I have to share this picture being the very proud older sister that i am!! She is the most beautiful girl both inside and out. She has an outgoing and independent spirit. The distance between us and my very pregnant state makes it very difficult to participate in such special occasions such as this one. I only wish that i could have seen her walk down the isle to receive her very hard earned diploma. I wish i could have gathered with my family around my Aunts big table to celebrate what her future holds, laugh and talk about our memories of her as a child. I have missed out on a lot of special memories that my family has had and sometimes it make me very sad. Hopefully after this baby is born i will venture to and fro with little ones in tote for a casual weekend up North or Down South. I will convert my LARGE SUV to run partly on water to make no excuses for not being there when such special occasions demand it. I know most of the nations family's face the same dilemma as i. Enjoying moments that can't be repeated through pictures and email. It's very hard to believe that my little sister is no longer the little baby i used to cuddle to sleep and stuff her pudgy cheeks with oatmeal. She graduated with honors and plans on attending Miami Dade in the Fall. She is working very hard this summer and gaining valuable experience in the workplace.

Macalaaca - I love you!!

Pretty Baby

2008-07-05T21:51:00.006-05:00

She didn't hesitate when i pulled them out of the bag. It was like she always knew that this is what they were used for. How could she know? I never use rollers- on the contrary i use an straightening iron to get rid of those obnoxious curls that frizz on me during the summer time. Vienna sat in front of me quietly as i put each roller in her hair. Her hair is very thin and very straight. Only when she finishes her bath and i add a little cream to her hair can i achieve to get a glimpse of what a curl would look like. She was so delighted and couldn't stop smiling when i did her hair. When i finished putting the rollers in she made sure that her daddy and brothers noticed her transformation. She walked up to each of them whacked them for attention and then smiled. When time had come to take them out her facial expression of happiness quickly turned to discomfort. I had sprayed some hairspray and the rollers did not come out as gently as they had gone in. Growing up i played with dollies and did what every little girl does: I changed their diapers, dressed them, built a tent out of sheets for them, strolled them around the house, nursed them just like my mommy did and now to see her playing and loving to participate in such things i am in heaven. My mom recently found in a box a cloth front pack i used to carry my dollies around the house in. Vienna is now playing with it and i can't help think WOW - is this my baby that was just born 18 months ago.

July 4

2008-07-04T11:43:00.006-05:00

On July fourth we decided to go get some delicious burgers. If you have never been to RED ROBIN you need to make a visit soon. The burgers are pricey,but worth every penny. The options are endless and for the healthy goers the chicken Sandwiches rank right up there with the juicy burgers. Samuel was feeling a little upset to his tummy that morning, but insisted that he would feel better once he ate. I had a little feeling his tummy ache was just the start of something else, and I was right. I have learned to always carry a thermometer with me where ever i go and when Samuel started turning white halfway through the meal i knew it was time to use it. Sure enough he had a fever of 101 degrees and we called it a day. We headed home to take care of Samuel and celebrate the holiday. Sam left to buy a couple of fireworks and sparklers for the boys to enjoy later that night. Sam had quite an audience of neighborhood kids watching and begging for Sparklers once the show was over. Vienna was really scared and had such a bewildered look on her face she didn't know what to make of the loud noises. Samuel had a persistent fever that never broke till Monday morning. It was the weirdest illness i have ever seen. All the kids eventually got it, but it was truly baffling. They all complained one day of a tummy ache and headache, but other than that it was just a high fever for 5 days. I am just glad to be over of it. I checked out a lot of wonderful books at the library on our nations holiday. Hopefully we can get to it this week-better late than never.

The Yankees

2008-07-04T11:41:00.006-05:00

Samuel is a Yankee and loving it. He slides into home plate every time he rounds the bases. His encouraging chants can be heard all the way from the positions he plays. His team this year is wonderful and we are blessed to have a great coach. As many unhappy parents can probably attest this is a huge deal. I wouldn't have put up with a horrible coach anyway. Sam coached third base at Samuel' s first game and had a great time arguing more than one play to a very ROOKIE umpire. That umpire should have had his rules memorized like Sam does then he wouldn't feel so silly when a parent calls him out quoting pages from the rule book verbatim. I love it. Samuel's first game was a tie and his second was a win by 2 runs. The games are on Saturday mornings early and the field is perfectly close to the parking lot so i don't have to walk a mile to get there. His practice was canceled tonight because of thunderstorms which seem to greet us every late afternoon. We need this rain so badly. Hopefully it will come without fail everyday and our brown grass won't feel so painful underfoot.

Little angels change diapers too

2008-06-24T21:28:00.004-05:00

Nothing you say mom will make me finish my food!!!!

2008-06-20T15:56:00.000-05:00

Summer day getaway

2008-06-14T00:58:00.000-05:00

We decided a few weeks ago to go on a summer day getaway. We took advantage of our Dollywood season passes we purchased last year and took off for a day at the park. The Hot day was cooled off by all the very cool new water themed rides they opened up this year. The boys didn't seem to mind that the majority of the day they ran around in very wet and sticky clothes. We ate delicious kettle popcorn that left me craving it everyday since then. I am so glad we went that day. Samuel was over his cold and Vienna was showing much improvement with her foot. I needed a day away from cleaning and Laundry. We left early that morning to ensure a great parking spot but we were sadly disappointed. The mile walk to the park was long and Samuel wanted to sit in the stroller with Vienna because his feet hurt. Ethan never complained. We had to practically run to catch up to his hopping all the way to the park entrance. Once we entered the park the long walk was forgotten and excitement filled their little bodies. Ethan happily rode every ride that he possibly could despite his height restrictions and Samuel (with no restrictions) vouched for the calmer less jolting thrills. Sam was a real trooper riding in the piggy to comfort his baby girl. She had just finished riding the bumble bee and was a little unsure of the piggy. She refused to ride unless her daddy was right next to her. I stood with a big smile on my face as the ride attendant made sure Sam was strapped in. As if he was going to fly out of a ride that we practically had to pry him out of. I mostly took pictures and strolled Vienna along in the stroller. I made sure not to miss any of the refreshing water mist stops. I have less than 65 days to go till baby and it seems each day it just gets hotter and hotter. I think i will have to get a bigger kiddy pool for the backyard so i can submerge everyday.

My first big boo-boo

2008-06-03T12:19:00.007-05:00

Vienna had her first trip to the hospital for her first big boo-boo. She is at a very fearless age and keeping up with her is a full time job. She runs around the island in our house and there is nothing she thinks to impossible for her to climb. On this horrible day she had a run in with our dining room chair and her little foot was hit as the chair toppled over. She cried and I cried. I wanted so desperately to take on the pain she was feeling. She held her little foot and kept saying mommy - mommy. The nurses at the hospital were very sweet and Vienna was amazed at everything going on around her. We cuddled on the bed in the ER and watched spongebob on the TV. I brought her dollies and she showed them to the nurses and took great care in singing them to sleep just like i do to her. The doctor told us she had a little fracture that would heal very quickly.

It's now been a couple weeks and she is doing great. She started walking 10 days later and just in the last few days she is running without hesitation. I love seeing her back to her little active self. Vienna loves to color. She could be crabby and really tired but if you give her a crayon and a sheet of paper she forgets all her troubles.

Happy Birthday

2008-05-25T16:24:00.002-05:00

My Little boy turned 8 years old on May 24. I am so amazed at how time has passed and my little boy will be in 3rd grade come fall. I am amazed at how i used to carry him up the stairs with ease (when he fell asleep on the couch) and now that is practically impossible. My little boy was counting down the days to his happy day only to end up sick and on lots of yucky antibiotics. The Iron man video game gave him a smile and since smiling was so hard with all his cold sores it was truly priceless. He wasn't able to eat his cake and blowing out the candles was quite a chore, but Ethan ate cake on his behalf. I baked him a transformer cake and we bought him the transformers that he requested. My little buddy spent the afternoon playing transformers with Ethan. He was feeling better toward the end of the week and we new that Samuel was back to his old self when he asked me for an appetizer before breakfast. :)

Family reunion

2008-05-25T14:45:00.002-05:00

Last week we had a wonderful family get together. My husbands brother Clayton and his wife Stacie came to visit with their little ones all the way from California. With so much distance between all of our family members these moments are treasured. All the kids got along so well and the little girls played dolly's and dress up. Sam and I thought it would be a wonderful idea to fill the sandbox before all the kids came over. Beside the occasional sand grain underfoot in the living room I think it was all together a great idea. The best part was watching the little ones
try and cover themselves in a sandbox 2 x 3 feet. We all toured the town on Monday and ate delicious pizza at Mollie's house. The kids ran around transforming Henry's Transformers and playing with all of his very cool wooden toys. Vienna will miss Penelope desperately -her princess companion is now gone. It was so wonderful to see all the kids together- playing and getting acquainted after such a long time apart. The day that Clayton and Stacie left for home we had a horrible stormy afternoon. That afternoon Vienna and I crawled in our very cold sheets and slept to the sound of lightening and pounding rain. I hadn't napped that long in a very long time.They had to return to our house later that evening because the weather had caused them to miss their connecting flight to Atlanta (secretly we were tickled pink they had to suffer this delay to get the joy of having one more night in their company). Life is too short to have family visits every 2 years.

Congratulations !!

2008-05-23T20:28:00.000-05:00

Baby EvriaMalei was born on May 23, 2008. She weighed 7lbs and was 19 inches long. My sister Vianca had her first Baby on a beautiful May Afternoon. She labored for 18 hours and had the baby all natural.

Congrats to the new parents!!! She is so dainty and precious. Her head full of hair ready to wear all sorts of gorgeous adornment. We thank the Lord for her and for the proud new parents that brought her into this world.

2008-05-07T10:54:00.002-05:00

The summer is here and i am so excited to be able to see cute little toes in open sandals. I love the selection of wonderful little shoes that Target has for little girls. My first intention was - buy one pair of sandals and when she wears them out well buy another. I couldn't decide with all the options they had and i ended up buy 4 pairs of sandals. I only wish i had a selection like the one that Vienna has. I woke up and found that my husband had cleaned last nights dinner mess and had fresh coffee ready to go for me in a rather large soup mug. I can't tell you how relieved i was to wake up to find such a treat. I am now 25 weeks pregnant and my energy comes in rather short bursts. Coffee helps me a little but soon its effects wear numb. Our school year is coming to an end soon and a nice long break is much needed. Today Samuel wrote a get well card for his aunt Rina who was hit in the face with a baseball. His letter was very cute and heartfelt. He placed his letter in the mailbox and raised the flag and gave me the classic Samuel look of excitement. If you have seen that face then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

2008-05-05T19:59:00.001-05:00

Ethan - the big brother always makes sure his little sister is cared for. We went to the park for the afternoon and after a short 20 minutes the rain came pouring down. I didn't understand it. The forecast was for blue Skies and after being indoors all day the park was much needed. I took some very disappointed Kittys to Sonic and bought them their favorite-blue slush. Vienna always loves the Strawberry limeade and with out fail she wears lots of it every time. As we arrived home the sky was blue and the darkness was no where in site. The boys rode their bikes up and down the street with lot of energy to burn. Vienna strolled along longing to ride with them. As fast as she's growing that moment will come all to quickly.

Paint the roses red

2008-05-05T19:43:00.000-05:00

My rose bush is finally in bloom. Last year it didn't produce many roses and the site of it was very depressing. After seeing my roses bloom so beautifully i feel that i must plant them all along the side of the house and in different colors. I am not a very good Gardner. I try so many times, but eventually my plants die. This year will be different though - i can sense it. Sam and I were talking the other day of having a wonderfully potted vegetable garden on the deck. How wonderful it would be to have fresh vegetables all summer long.

Catch me if you can

2008-03-20T12:56:00.001-05:00

Our intention was to go to the park and launch off the storm launcher -but fate wouldn't have it so. We planned the event for weeks and thought we had prepared all the essential items necessary to launch the rocket,but we forgot one crucial piece-"the Lithium battery". That day two little boys sulked and wined all the way from the soccer field to the play ground. Maybe next time I will do my homework and not forget that essential lithium batter. In no time at all they recruited a group of kids to play tag. Dad was elected tagger most of the time, but in this instance Samuel was it and couldn't catch up to Ethan. We ended the day with delicious ice cream from Bruster's and then vegged out watching movies all afternoon. I can't wait for Easter weekend. Vienna will sport a new dress and the boys will have pressed shirts. Maybe i can get a Christmas picture taken that morning before church. :)

Little boys in the kitchen

2008-02-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

Samuel decided he was very hungry and he wanted to make a sandwich. He put together an array of turkey, shredded cheese stick and lots of mustard. He was so proud of his wonderful creation that he stared at it for several minutes upon completion .
I stared at him putting together this sandwich without my permission, but definitely with my acceptance. He carefully cut his sandwich with a butter knife. He noticed me staring at him with a smile and immediately offered to make me one of his delicious sandwiches. I gratefully declined. Once Ethan learned that Samuel had made his own sandwich he wanted to make one also. With moms assistance he made a mustard sandwich. I offered him turkey & cheese, but he insisted only on the mustard. He folded his sandwich in half and gifted it to me.I was very thankful and ate it in secret as one can only do when its a mustard sandwich.

Painting at its best !

2008-02-05T11:16:00.000-05:00

Ethan and Vienna painting Patrick.

2007-11-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

2007-10-29T18:53:00.000-05:00

Just what i needed.

2007-10-24T01:06:00.000-05:00

Today was a pretty grueling day. Samuel threw up all over the living room floor, couch, and managed to get some inside his favorite sneakers. We started the day out in a normal fashion. Samuel and i ate cereal together, and started our school day. He was finishing up with history when he told me his tummy hurt. I had him lie down on the couch and rest. Five minutes later the scene unfolded. Rather than cleaning the chunks that graced the living room - i took out the carpet instead. YUP , i ripped it out. I don't think carpet should have ever been invented. The person who thought it ideal to place beige carpet in homes was not right in the mind. What in the world. I know i did the unthinkable, but trust me if you had experienced what i did you probably would have done the same thing. Carpet and Kids just does not function. I felt great relief to walk on the cold cement floor. And boy did i feel at ease when Samuel later spilled his drink all over the cement floor. Hopefully by the end of the week i will have something functional in its place. Ethan was my little helper today. It's so much easier when they get older and can help entertain the little ones. Ethan sang for Vienna and kept her laughing while i cleaned up the messes. Late afternoon Samuel started feeling better and insisted that if I give him spaghetti's he will be cured of all sickness. Wiping his little tears and telling him he can't eat just breaks my heart. Later on he ate some crackers and was able to keep them down. I hope this will get out of his system quickly. During my adventurous day today I peaked out my backdoor and saw the most inspiring, beautiful, bright colored rainbow i have ever seen. I felt like I could just reach out and grab the rainbow. What a beautiful promise God gave us.

"I have set my rainbows in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. So Go said to Noah, "this is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth." Genesis 9:13-17

KFC

2007-10-23T22:49:00.000-05:00

This Sunday after church we decided to go to KFC for lunch. Cor.Sanders would be so disappointed to find out that his chicken is overpriced and his buffet pathetic. The sweet potato casserole, corn and warm fluffy biscuits were replaced by other items like: kidney beans, cottage cheese and green beans out of a can. It was truly a sad experience. When we have gone on other occasions the buffet has been delicious. I don't know what the deal was.
But that didn't stop Samuel from getting seconds. He ate lots of mashed potatoes, gravy and chicken. Somehow he dug into his chicken just fine with his plastic spoon. Sam and I just watched him in amazement. Ethan moved up in Sunday school; he is now a part of wee worship. In class he made wonderful bracelets. He made a bracelet for himself, Vienna and Samuel.He choose to stay and make a bracelet for Vienna and Samuel while the other children had playtime. He insisted that it would not be fair if his brother and sister didn't have a bracelet too. He has such a beautiful spirit. He always thinks about other people rather than himself. He told me he wanted to get a birthday present for me and Samuel on his birthday. What kid says that.

I can't believe he will be turning five already. We will be celebrating his birthday this weekend when Sam is home. On our way home from lunch we stopped by blockbuster and bought Transformers. Sam had never seen it and loved it. The special effects are top notch. The boys loved the fighting scene at the end of the movie. They must have re-run that ending 3 times. Sam spent the afternoon playing golf and catch with the kids. I think if Vienna could have joined in on the fun she would have. She was so anxious to get up and go. She has become my little wiggly worm. Every time i hold her i feel i am holding a slippery Salamander. Sam and i watched some of the republican debate. I don't think i can take much more of these guys bashing each other. Our night ended like usual. We cuddled on the couch and watched discovery.

The Blue Ridge Parkway!!

2007-10-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

Grandma Kitty with the grandbabies

2007-10-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

We had so much fun with the new arrival of Baby Lola. She is precious and has big beautiful eyes. Just yesterday Vienna was a newborn. It's hard to believe that she is now trying to take her first steps. Vienna met her Grandma Kitty and uncle Joe for the first time. Her expression was priceless.

This week we ate a lot of wonderful food and spent marvelous afternoons on the deck. Samuel and Ethan kept Joe very busy playing. I think Joe drank lots of coffee to keep up with the little ones demanding his every attention. During Grandmas visit we enjoyed looking at scrapbooks and reminiscing. We had the great privilege of celebrating Grandma kittys birthday with her. Once the cake was lit the little ones wasted no time in blowing out the candles.

Grandma and Joe left this morning after a full belly full of Eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, peppered gravy and of course an assortment of donuts from the famous donut shop. I only wish they could have stayed longer. We ate dinner last night at Mr. Salsas. There is nothing more delicious than white melted Mexican cheese on a nacho. Vienna sat most of the dinner with

re -fried beans and avocados drooling out of her mouth. Her smiles were returned by two little boys that sat behind our table. Ethan told me the best part of his week was playing candy land with grandma kitty. He insists that he won every time. On Sunday morning grandma came over bearing gifts,brownies from heaven. They were truly the best brownies I have ever had. I say this often and i will say it again - Time goes by way to fast.

Viola Grace Greene (Lola)

2007-10-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

www.greenephotographs.com/lola
Click on the site to see the new addition to the family!
My Niece was born on October 9, 2007.
She weighed 8 lbs and 5oz. She is such a gorgeous baby. Before we know it she will be running around with Vienna at the park.
Congratulations!!

Great cookies!!

2007-09-29T18:25:00.000-05:00

I recently made some cookies that were so delicious. Even though the cookies contained whole wheat flour and flax seed( great source of omega - 3) my boys loved them. Not only are they healthy, but boy are they moist and chewy. I altered the recipe a bit and listed those changes at the end of the post.

The recipe can be found in "The Good Cookie" cookbook by Tish Boyle.

Banana -Pecan -Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 3/4 cups of quick -cooking rolled oats

1 1/2 cups of all- purpose flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 cup ( 1stick) unsalted butter
softened

1 cup of firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup ( 6 ounces ) semisweet chocolate morsels

1 medium sized ripe but firm banana - peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces

1 cup of coarsely chopped pecans

1. preheat-375 degrees -lightly grease two baking sheets

2. combine oats -flour -baking powder- baking soda - salt and cinnamon -set aside

3. electric mixer , using paddle attachment , beat butter and sugars at medium speed until combined about 1 minute. Add the egg -vanilla - beat until blended. At low speed, add the flour mixture one -third at a time, mixing just until blended. Using a wooden spoon stir in
semisweet morsels
bananas
and pecans. ( its okay if the banana pieces get a little mashed)

4. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared sheets spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. Moisten your palm to prevent sticking, and flatten the mounds of dough slightly. Bake one sheet at a time for 11-13 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack to cool. ( Do not over bake)

*** Instead of using all purpose flour i used WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR- same amount.
*** I also added 4 tablespoons of flax seed- ground.
*** Since I added whole wheat flour i put about 1/4 cup of milk to moisten the dough since whole wheat flour tends to be dry.

2007-09-25T14:28:00.000-05:00

Ethan gets his own room

2007-09-14T20:22:00.000-05:00

The cold crisp air will be greeting us soon and a certain someone only wants to wear Thomas sandals. I feel i will have to stock up on wool socks so those little feet stay nice and warm. I thought he would have outgrown Thomas by now -but i was wrong. We just gave Ethan his own room and he loves it. Since he's had his room he's shown such independence. He really feels like a big boy. I think it was a great move. I believe this change will allow Ethan to have his own space to explore, play and discover. His room is decorated in projects we do in school and he has even glued some to his wall. I took him to Wal-mart and let him pick out one item to decorate his room. He meticulously selected a Mater nightlight. His heart was set on it. It glows beautifully and casts a warm yellow light throughout his room. It sits on his nightstand next to his picture from this years baseball season.

2007-09-08T23:11:00.000-05:00

Update

2007-08-31T16:43:00.000-05:00

Vienna broke her fever on Thursday morning. Much to my relief, a little rash is now covering her body. Our suspicions were confirmed, roseola. I feel so blessed to see her wave at me with one hand and yell dadadadddaaa at the top of her lungs. Thank you for all your prayers and concern. On a different note, I will mention a much needed prayer request concerning the state of my father. He had to be rushed to the hospital on Tuesday because he was complaining of a severe pain in his leg.The doctors discovered a large clot in his leg. It was later discovered through numerous tests that the clot in his leg broke off and traveled to his lung. Please keep him in your prayers as he will be recovering in the hospital till his pt levels are normal. Once the pt levels stabilize he will be sent home with bed rest and medication. This week has been very crazy for me. Sleepless nights and worries that only God can calm. Through all the chaos i have managed to get homeschooling done quite early every morning. At the end of our week I can proudly say Ethan's handwriting is legible. I did a comprehensive review of the year for Samuel.

Baby,what i would give to see you well!

2007-08-27T16:18:00.000-05:00

We just returned home from our trip to Miami. We made the trip in two days. We stayed the night at my cousins house on Saturday. The trip was very difficult. Vienna- is very sick and has a constant high fever. Traveling on an airplane, with a baby that has a 103 fever is scary. I was so anxious to get home and get to my Doctor. Her fever started low on Saturday morning and spiked to 104 Saturday night. Alina, THANK YOU!! Alina helped me through the night and calmed my panic. I get so freaked out when my children are sick. I hate it. I found myself in the bathtub fully dressed, with Vienna in arms- trying to lower a temperature of 104.5. She shook in the lukewarm water and her little face was scared at the sudden burst of my actions. What else could I do? I called my doctor and he agreed to see her as soon as we landed on Sunday. With a dose of Tylenol and Advil her fever came down only to greet me again as soon as the medicine wore out. The doctor started her on antibiotics and a round the clock dose of Tylenol and Motrin. He suspects roseola, but only time will tell when her fever breaks and the rash appears. I felt such relief to see my husband waiting for me at the gate. Such relief to be in my home and taking care of my Vienna. The boys didn't understand what was going on and their actions confirmed it. I would say come and they would say go. I would say no and they would say yes. But i can't expect them to grasp the seriousness of the situation when they were just ecstatic about flying. My mind was not on the clouds that looked like animals or all the candy the terminal displayed or even the gate area (racetracks) that was filled with spectators. I look back and wish i had demonstrated a little more patience. My boys are just as happy to be home as i am. As soon as we arrived, they raced up to their room and started playing with their toys. The trip was so wonderful. I relished every moment i had with my family. I took a lot of pictures to document my trip and enjoyed the use of my new camera. Right now, I just can't wait till her fever breaks and she is back to her active self again. The beautiful little girl whose smile shines so bright. Even now, feeling horrible, she still smiles because her personality is such. Please keep her in your prayers.

2007-07-19T23:34:00.000-05:00

Go Baby Go

2007-07-19T23:23:00.000-05:00

I set her down on the floor and now there is no turning back. As a result of her new found freedom- she tolerates her bouncy for shorter periods of time. She presses her face up to the playpen and smashes her nose against the mesh. She then screams bloody murder till i pick her up (you all know what i am going to say next). When I pick her up she smiles and soon her little tears fade and her nose goes from pink to white again. She coos and gurgles as if to say mommy this is where i belong - attached to your hip( I do love it). Although, I sadly have to speed through my showers and bathroom brakes. Samuel and Ethan went through the same phase, but they were a little older. When she takes a nap she would prefer to sleep on my shoulder -of course. She senses immediately when i set her down and her little eyes open wide and she starts crying again till i rescue her from her misery. I feel like the one armed woman. I have learned to do just about anything with my ONE arm. I can make sandwiches, do laundry, dress the boys, and fix my coffee ( grandma if you are reading this i am very careful not to let her get near the coffee) etc. I gave the boys room a great cleaning today and alternated their toys. They felt like it was Christmas time. Although- Ethan did hold onto his precious Thomas train so he would not end up in the toy pile scheduled to come out in one months time. After i dropped Ethan off at camp this morning i came home and plopped on my couch. I turned on the TV and watched "The Aviator." No, not the one with Leonardo DiCaprio, but the movie with Christopher Reeves. It was and older movie filmed in 1985. The acting was horrible. There was one scene where he gets attacked by wolves where i thought for sure he would rip off his shirt and turn into superman. I don't know how the movie ended. This being, simply because, the laundry beckoned, Samuel wanted to play the Wii and Ethan had to be picked up from camp. One thing is for sure, Christopher Reeve- will always be remembered as superman. In every movie he played in I can only see superman. I forgot to mention there is one exception- Somewhere in time. Its very late so i am going to get to bed. I have my coffee set on delay brew ready to greet me at 7:00 am. My mom will be coming by early with Rina after they drop off Micah and Gipa at the airport. They will be gone for 10 ten days on a mission trip to Ghana so please keep them in your prayers. My brother is taking his guitar and heading up the music for the trip. He has been practicing everyday and learning new songs that he can teach to others. Please also keep my little sisters in your prayers. My sister Andrea is on a mission trip to the Ukraine and Natalie is helping build homes with her church in Mississippi. I remember when i went on my mission trip to the Ukraine. It was one of the best experiences i have ever had. We shared Christ and held wonderful bible camps for kids. I look back and remember wanting to bring every single kid home with me. We are so fortunate and blessed.

Tips and Facts

2007-07-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

Tip #1 Sinks knobs

The sink is always a huge pain in the butt to clean. The dirt and toothpaste that gets piled up under the sink knobs is extremely gross. Many a time i have used a toothbrush, a rag, a paper towel etc.to get under those knobs that accumulate gross guck. Well, the toothbrush can't get in the cracks very good. A rag tends to have to thick of an edge to slip under the knobs and paper towels always rip. So to get the job done right, you need a pair of old underwear. Slip the elastic band of the underwear under the knob and rub in a circular motion. The underwear is thin and yet sturdy enough to stand up to the small cleaning area under the knob. Try it. I am a firm believer- that if you figure out something that helps you clean, share that information. And for those of you that don't know that part of the knob gets gross -heaven help you. Take a look.

Fact#1 Vitamin C does not help you when you get a cold.
Recent studies have determined that it does nothing for you. If you want to know what studies those are- ask Rush Limbaugh.

Butternut squash soup

2007-07-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

I discovered something delicious today, i added a little bang to one of my favorite Campbell select soups. Here is my spiced up version. I know you won't be disappointed.

1 box of Campbell's select (gold label)butternut squash soup.

1 chicken bouillon cube : with no MSG so you don't get a migraine

1 3/4 cup of water (add more water if needed)

1 squash sliced mediums

1 can of corn

1 green pepper chopped

2 stalks of celery chopped thick

1 green onion chopped

Salt and crushed pepper to taste

Serve with Stone Wheat crackers and you will be in heaven.

Put all the ingredients in one pot and simmer till vegetables are soft. The soup with be thick in texture ( almost like stew) and a little spicy.

One carry on please!!

2007-07-13T10:53:00.001-05:00

I have never been known to travel light. We could have camped out at the park if we had too. :)

Four lightsabers aren't enough

2007-07-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had the cousins over for a cookout. Sam went to the store and returned with really thick burgers and lots of goodies. I seasoned them with delicious spices i received for my birthday. I set the outdoor table with my blue china and beaded napkin holders. I also adorned the table with some green shrubs from my yard. The key is not too formal, but still kid friendly. It was really pretty. I should have taken a picture, but i forgot. Soon after they arrived, I took the little ones for a wagon ride around the block.We past a pirate house with a great big red flag and speed down the mountain of doom. The Kitty's got along great for the first few hours then things turned a little ugly. After they called each other stupid, and beat up on one another - we separated the kids and gave them each a playing zone. That lasted about five minutes. A little later we all sat down to watch Deja Vu. I can speak for everyone when i say- it felt like we were watching the movie on TNT, but with longer commercial breaks. All in all we decided to stop the movie when the commercial breaks ( kids fighting) started happening more often. Although, the night was highlighted by great coffee and cheesecake. I do have to say, the time out chair was kept warm most of the night. Somehow all the action didn't seem to make my boys any sleepier. When bed time came around they were still wide awake and ready for another round of rough play. But such is life. After the cousins left we watched a little Thomas and Friends to settle down for the evening. We all cuddled under our new favorite blanket. I can't believe I'm saying this but, hearing only the voice of Thomas and his lucky engines was amazingly soothing after a night filled with many unhappy little voices. Sam carried the boys up to bed and we finished watching Deja Vu together. The movie was great. It sort of reminded me of the movie "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve. You know that movie. The one where you wonder where did the penny come from. Sam left us this morning for work and i am missing him terribly. I hope this week goes by quickly. Maybe it will go by faster if i paint something. HMMM.

Hiding from the sun

2007-07-05T20:20:00.000-05:00

Can you guess what this white stuff is? Let me tell you. I wish it was whip cream. I wish it was finger paint. I could have even settled for some hand cream, but i was not so lucky. The boys decided to play with the waterproof 50+ SUNSCREEN. The following day i was still trying to get the sunscreen out. This stuff sticks. I think it was so hard to get out because of the amount that Samuel put in Ethan's hair. I do have to say- these boys had a blast and i had fun taking pictures of them.

The other day i was strolling down the aisle at Wal-mart and I spotted something that caught my eye. Isn't that how it is with us women. When "that" little something catches our eye we run toward it like a shooting bullet. This was the just the case for me. I spotted the HOSE HOLDER i have always longed for. I will tell you, with the summer heat the hose is constantly out. Its impossible to wrap it up in a perfect circle all neat and tucked away. I think it stays like that for a few minutes before someone is tripping on it yet again. This might seem like a silly entry - but for those of you who are constantly tripping over your hose or untangling it from the hundreds of kinks it develops daily the SMART REEL IS FOR YOU. I love this thing. It winds up by itself using water pressure. Watering the plants and cleaning up has been much easier for me. I am sucker for things that make life easier. For example, we just purchased a garage door opener. Granted, I could have lived without one, but pulling into my garage when its pouring rain out with all the kids makes the purchase of it worth every penny. My grocery shopping experience is more delightful and I only have to walk a few steps to unload into the kitchen. I cleaned out the garage before the installation of the opener and what i found when i was cleaning was horrid. Apparently, my garage was a cozy place for little mice to call home. I only wish they were the cute little mice I saw on Ratatouille (great movie- i highly recommend it). I found two mountains of poop which i disposed of as quickly as possible. Then i proceeded to sanitize the concrete. I never thought i would look forward to sanitizing concrete, but i did it at least 3 times. The mouse traps are waiting to be set. I am just mustering enough will power to set them and retrieve them when they are full. I bought the box killer so i don't even have to look at them. I get chills just thinking about it.

2007-06-28T22:29:00.000-05:00

Vienna has found a new thumb.

2007-06-15T12:16:00.001-05:00

Onward, to the hospital we go. Last night, we were all excited to see Mollie and the cousins. They had been in Illinois for a few weeks visiting family. The original plan was a Sweet onion burger cookout, but the rain started to come down relentlessly. It Showed no mercy to our guests as they arrived at our house drenched. I decided to go to plan B. I fired up the George Foreman , which worked wonderfully. As the burgers were sizzling (saying goodbye to the fat that drooped onto the catch plate) a little cry was heard upstairs. As the boys were heading upstairs one of my picture frames fell. The picture left Ethan with a bruise under his eye and a cut on his forehead. Mollie watched Samuel as i headed in the pouring rain with Ethan & Vienna to the hospital. I was glad to see that the hospital room was empty except for another couple . I soon found out even if there was a handful of patients waiting in the ER my wait wouldn't be any shorter. We arrived around 7:00pm and i walked in the door to my house at about 10:30 pm. Ethan received 2 stitches. He tried to tear them off this morning because he claims they were too itchy. I stopped him scratching before that scene ended up badly. I got home just in time to watch the end of the NBA game,but my eyelids would not stay open. Sam had to recall the final happening of the game to me this morning. I wish Cleveland would have won. They can only blame themselves for horribly managing the fourth quarter.
Vienna is currently battling it out with her dolly in the playpen. She loves to smother the dolly and slobber her hands. The dolly is untouchable after Vienna has had some play time with her. She loves to hold the dolly between her feet and launch her. It truly is an adorable sight.
Today for lunch i made spaghetti's with homemade sauce. The boys loved it. The extra garlic gave it a fantastic taste.
Well, I am on the tread mill. I am blogging to pass the time. I would watch TV,but i feel that would be too chaotic right now. The TV tends to create unnecessary chatter at times. Sometimes there is nothing sweeter than just relaxing in a still quiet room. Tonight we will attempt to meet again with Mollie and the kids. Hopefully, no one will get hurt, and the kids will have a great time playing together. On the menu tonight: PIZZA!!
Did i mention amidst all the happenings of last night my car gave me a hard time starting. Yes, It was an adventurous evening.

A Day Out With Thomas

2007-06-13T00:07:00.000-05:00

2007-06-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

The minute Thomas pulled into the station one little boys dreams came true. The little boy glowed from the inside as though he swallowed a light bulb. This little boy stared at Thomas for what seemed like hours. He talked to him and asked him politely what he thought of James and the other engines. He examined the wheels and the puffy cloud that floated above the little blue engine. Thomas pulled into the station every 25 minutes.He took children for a delightful ride through the forest. Little Indians and large plastic Buffalo's posed realistically in the brush. Thomas music played throughout the park and i found myself singing along. You should have seen the look on these children's faces when they saw Thomas. It was as though nothing else mattered.
We arrived at the Tweetsie railroad starved and already tired from the long ride in the car. Sam suggested we get something to eat before entering the park (boy was he right). I declined the idea because i was anxious to get out of the car and just "get there." Sam definitely had the right idea. We soon realized that all the eating establishments were lined with people that just wanted to "get there" too. The line to eat an overpriced pizza was over 30 minutes and the empty tables were few and far between. It was a funny sight to see familys hovered over other familys eating; ready to pounce once the table was vacant.
Ethan and Samuel had a blast. They visited the Thomas tattoo parlor. Ethan sported James proudly on his forearm along with the left over tattoo's from VBS. Samuel picked out Harold for his tattoo choice. Staring at the stroller parking area was hilarious. You could truly have your pick of any type of stroller imaginable. I loved that my stroller folded into a backpack and fit comfortably on my shoulder in hard to get to places.
We contemplated not going to Thomas since Sam was only going to be in town for a day and the trip was well over 3 hours long. But we managed to dismiss any excuses when we read that Thomas wasn't going to be back in town for another year. Besides, Ethan is the biggest Thomas fan ever. I thought, what if this time next year that little engine magic and fascination is gone. Well, nevertheless, we went and he enjoyed his cake and ice cream too. Sam took the boys on the Farris wheel which creeps me out. I don't know what it is about those things, but i just hate them. Maybe in my old age i am becoming a
wimp. I will ride roller coasters, but there is something about a Farris wheel that is just creepy. Does anyone else feel the same way? We ate dipping dots ice cream next to an Indian tepee. That was great until the boys mixed spit with dirt and started playing with it. Little boys, rocks, and spit go together like Pb& J. It's hardwired into them. If they see a rock they are over come with this incredible overwhelming urge to throw it.
The boys took pictures with sir Topham hat and coincidentally we exited through the gift shop. Ethan picked out out some souvenirs while Sam and Ethan took a quick ride on the ski lift. The ride home was very long. Vienna, bless her heart, was so well behaved. When she fussed, Samuel, was eagerly stuffing her Binky back into her mouth. On the way back home the outline of Grandfather mountain was a beautiful sight. The experience for Ethan was priceless. I know he will never forget the day he met Thomas.

Pics from Samuels Birthday.

2007-06-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

2007-06-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

Time goes by way to quickly! Our little girl is now bouncing and eating Cereal and Bananas. It seems like just yesterday she was born. Vienna is now Four months and 3 days old and filling out tremendously. A lot has happened over the past few weeks and i haven't been able to keep up with my blogging, but hopefully that will change. My sister got married, Samuel can now swim with out a floaty and our deck and fence has been finished. The days have been filled with more sun than you can imagine and every time i look at my kittys i see Tan Sams. It's the cutest thing ever.

More beautiful than ever!

2007-05-18T09:19:00.000-05:00

Abuelita

2007-05-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

El Cubano!

2007-05-12T17:48:00.000-05:00

I received this in an email and i think it's hilarious. If you are Cuban - the likelihood of having heard some of these sayings is probable. I know i have said many of these sayings myself. So read and enjoy!

DICCIONARIO DE CUBANISMOS

El cubano no corre: echa un patín.
El cubano no se trepa: se encarama.
El cubano no habla mucho: mete tremenda muela.
El cubano no se enamora: coge tremendo metío.
El cubano no es inteligente: es candela.
El cubano no es manipulador: es un tártaro.
El cubano no anda en ómnibus: monta guaguas.
El cubano no dice niño: dice fiñe.
El cubano no tiene los ojos grandes: los tiene saltones.
El cubano no dice come despacio: dice respira niño.
El cubano no consigue: resuelve, mete mano, engancha.
El cubano no es experto: es un bárbaro, un salvaje, una fiera.
El cubano no se baña: juega a los bomberos.
El cubano no llena mucho su estómago: se jarta, se empacha.
El cubano no se baja: se apea.
El cubano no tiene una novia delgada: es un bacalao.
El cubano no molesta: jode.
El cubano no fracasa: se destimbala.
El cubano no te dice que hiciste algo excepcional: te la comiste.
El cubano no baila: echa un pie.
El cubano no dice un español: dice un gallego.
El cubano no es haragán: majasea, no dispara un chícharo.
El cubano no piensa: el cubano legisla.
El cubano no conquista una mujer: liga una jeva.
El cubano no tiene mellizos, ni gemelos: tiene jimaguas.
El cubano no se vuelve loco: se desconchufla, o se le cruzan los cables.
El cubano no tiene axilar: tiene sobaco.
El cubano no tiene mal olor a sudor: tiene peste a grajo.
El cubano no usa bolsas para sus compras: usa jabas o cartuchos.
El cubano no se equivoca: se trafuca, se enreda.
El cubano no se muere: canta el manisero, guarda el carro, o se mete en la cajita de Dulce Guayaba.
El cubano no tiene obsesiones: tiene matraquillas quisquillosas.
El cubano no se encapricha: se pone perretúo.
El cubano no se enferma: se pone matungo.
El cubano no se retira: cuelga los guantes o el sable.
El cubano no forma confusiones: forma arroz con mango.
El cubano no es ostentoso o jactancioso: se da lija.
El cubano no le pone un vestido a una niña: le pone una bata.
El cubano no se cansa: se desguabina, se descuarejeringa, se desmondinga, se despetronca o se destimbala.
El cubano no es gordo: es un barril.
El cubano no dice me lo has hecho difícil: dice me la pusistes en China, me la pusiste dura.
El cubano no pasa hambre: se come un cable, o come tierra.
El cubano no es pobre: está en la fuácata, o está pelao, está palmiche,está pasmao.
El cubano no es culto y educado: es una polilla, es una mente.
El cubano no da indiferencia: tira a mondongo.
El cubano no dice toca mal el piano: dice machaca las teclas

2007-05-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

yummy tuna

2007-05-11T21:18:00.000-05:00

I have to share this with everyone because this sandwich was truly exquisite. I made a tuna fish sandwich janelly style. A lot of people just like tuna fish with nothing but mayonnaise. But why add just mayo when you can add everything but the kitchen sink for a real gourmet feel. First you must start with solid white albacore tuna fish. To use any other type of tuna fish would be a mistake. You can almost guarantee no cartilage or bone with solid white tuna and that makes the sandwich much more enjoyable. Well let me tell you what i put in this sandwich to make it so delicious. The ingredients might be a little weird, but you can't knock it till you try it. Trust me.

"Janell's tuna delight"

2 - 3 cans of solid white tuna fish
1 tbs of mayo
1 tbs of spicy brown mustard
2 tsp of lemon juice
1 small box of raisins
1 small apple diced small
5 Roma tomatoes quartered
1/2 a yellow pepper diced
3 tbs of pickled Artichoke hearts
1 tbs of diced onion
salt and ground pepper to taste
1 tsp of fresh chopped cilantro
mix all the ingredients together

Next, toast your favorite bread. Don't make the mistake of using ordinary white bread for this treat. It would be pointless to do so. Instead pick a bread that is thick and soft, but yet crunch when toasted. Homemade whole wheat bread is perfect. Load your bread with the tuna mixture and top it with a spring salad mix. Choose a mix that preferably has arugula in it. the taste is beyond delicious and blends perfect with the tuna.
Eat up and enjoy!

2007-05-10T23:18:00.000-05:00

Vienna and I woke up before the boys and decided to go downstairs where it was a little warmer. I had left the air on all night and it was a chilly 67 degrees upstairs. I wrapped Vienna in my cuddly flannel bathrobe and she loved it. She always wakes up so happy. I poured myself some half calf and was ready to start the day. Shortly after the little pitter patter of feet headed down the stairs to join me for breakfast. The boys ate some pop cereal and chocolate milk. I gave Samuel his assignments for the day and left him prepared with sharpened pencils and lots of crayons. I decided to get on the treadmill since everyone was settled. Just two minutes into my walk on the treadmill -Vienna wants to feed- Ethan had scooted a chair to the freezer (to eat chocolate ice cream )and Samuel sneaked in a rescue hero under his shirt. He was involved in the battle for his pencil instead of his math assignment. I need to wake up earlier. I will never get my walking done during the day. It's far to difficult. My day was not the easiest. Ethan decided to use the bathroom in the car on the way to our swimming lesson (of course it was the one day i did not bring a change of clothes or wipes). Samuel didn't want to do school today and gave me a hard time with his assignments.When it came time for him to clean his room he pouted and pouted until he forced me to collect his game cube and hide it in a secret spot. Well nothing will ever be perfect, but God gives us the patience and direction we need to make it through the day. The best part of my day was when Ethan and Samuel decided to help me unload the car after our Wal-mart adventure. They used their little tike grocery cart to help me unload the trunk. They did such a great job. Although the milk in now leaking and the ketchup bottle broke open after being dropped twice. I know that in their little hearts they wanted to be the best helpers ever.
Vienna formed her first tantrum today. She did not want to go in her car seat. She cried the whole way home. The minute i got her out of the car seat she smiled at me and gave me a loving coo. She is spoiled and wants to be carried at all hours of the day. I am at fault for this behavior because i have her in tow 24 hours a day. She lives on my shoulder and not in the play pen. I can't stand to hear her little cry it breaks my heart. So if she wants to be carried -i give in. I have to enjoy this stage while it lasts.

2007-05-04T14:57:00.000-05:00

Samuel's swim class

Poco a poco llegas a Roma

This is getting difficult and i would really like to take an eating break.

You want me to jump ? "Yes," says the teacher. But your standing to far to catch me.
"I won't let you drown," says the teacher. Okay I'll jump and i won't be scared. Samuel managed to jump all the way to the teacher and defeated the whole purpose of the exercise. Which was of course to jump and start swimming to the teacher. I bet the teacher never thought a six year old could jump that far.

Go Padres!

2007-04-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

A Pink car seat- What more could you ask for.

2007-04-23T22:19:00.000-05:00

I just purchased this new car seat for Vienna. She had been using Samuel's infant car seat. It conveniently died on me upon entering the Target shopping center. The plastic hook took its last breath. I did get a lot of use out of the old car seat. A lot of great memories.

The sentimental thought that all my babies came home in it makes me cry.

I am so amazed at how sturdy the Britax car seat is. It does not budge. It has reclining positions so she will be able to rest comfortably and extra padding for her head and shoulders. I love that its PINK and so dainty. The extra safety features are a plus. It cost more than the average, but i am more comfortable knowing she will be safe in case of an accident. She can use it till she is almost 50 pounds and that is one feature that sold me right away. Did i mention its PINK. :) I am going to go to the firehouse on Thursday to make sure i installed it properly.

2007-04-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

Vienna has discovered her little hands

Don't Talk to Strangers!

2007-04-23T21:17:00.000-05:00

On Friday we went to the mall for a safety class (protecting our brains-and eating right). My neighbor came with me and we had our hands very full: 6 kittys all together. The rule: every one should hold hands- lasted about 5 minutes and the boys were all running in opposite directions. We went to all the booths and collected papers that sadly went straight to the trash after we got home. The boys were able to touch a fake brain which was really quite gross. The brain booth illustrated how helpless and gooey our heads are with out the protection of a helmet. They sure did scare me into understanding the importance of a helmet. The boys also had the opportunity to grocery shop and see what healthy choices they would make. An evaluator would then unload their little carts and grade them on their choices. Samuel seemed to make all the right choices and Ethan (my sweet tooth baby) didn't do so bad either. As a reward for their effort the boys were given a Go Tart " A very healthy choice." hm mm. When it was the boys turn to talk to the police officer i gulped. I thought for sure they would say something bizarre or embarrassing. Yet haven't we all been there and done that. Kids say the darnedest things. Samuel asked the police officer for his autograph which in turn he responded with a tender and proud look on his face. The Police officer did ask Samuel to point out what type of car seat he uses. Samuel Smiled, looked at me and said, "i never sit in a car seat." I just thought oh boy i am going to get a scolding. As it turns out the police officer did a seat test with Samuel and determined he was ready to sit in a car with out a booster. I sighed with relief as he gave me the thumbs up. I thought there was a small chance Samuel still had to be in a booster. I have not used the booster since Vienna was born because the three car seats just did not fit.

I think we need to go over more safety issues. At another exhibit there was police officer asking kids what to do if a stranger approaches them in different situations and my boys failed that test big time. Ethan said he would help the old man find his doggy. Samuel said he would give someone directions if they were lost. Forget the Candy question - My boys both raised their hands. I thought to myself- have i failed as a mom? Is this what my kids would really do if a stranger approached? How many times have i had THAT conversation with them. I guess not enough.

After the exhibits i took my wedding rings to the jewelry store for repair. I was so excited. It has been at least 3 years since i have been able to wear them. They will be ready next Saturday and i can't wait to make that trip to the mall. All in all we had a great day. As we were leaving the mall Samuel got separated from me and i just freaked. I found him in ladies wear. He forked around the cosmetic counter and headed the wrong way. He looked at me with such relief when i found him. I could hear fear in his little voice as he called out mommy mommy. This happened in a matter of seconds. I think i will have to get a stroller that seats three to avoid any of us separating.

On a different note Vienna decided to empty her bowels during the officers speech and boy was it noisy. She hadn't gone in a few days and her outfit displayed the evidence thoroughly. The day was fun but very tiring. We headed home with miniature flashlights-band aid holders-brain erasers- edible goldfish and Polaroid pictures we took with safety bear.

Picture Day!

2007-04-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

Today was picture day!! Our morning started out very crazy, but all the while we had fun. I set my alarm(my phone) the night before to wake up on time for pictures at 9:00a.m. I woke up this morning and realized that my cell phone had died in the middle of the night. I was devastated when i saw the clock in my room flashing 10:00a.m. I felt so bad. I immediately thought i had missed Samuel and Ethan's picture day. I looked next to me and Vienna and the boys were sound asleep. As i hung my head low i heard the sweet sound of chirping birdies. I suddenly realized those birds don't chirp unless its before 8:00 a.m. Sure enough -i ran downstairs and the clock said 7:47a.m. I need to get a functional clock upstairs. I plop with relief back under my cuddly covers with the warmth of my babies and the gentle sound of their breathing. Due to my scenario I couldn't resist closing my eyes to take a small cat nap. Just a few more minutes of rest i told myself - It's Saturday. I arose to realize my little cat nap was a little too long. The clock was flashing 8:30 am. I had half an hour to get Vienna out of her PJ's- with butt washed and the boys all dressed and of course looking ever so dapper for pictures. We made it just in time; we arrived with 3 minutes to spare. On my way out the door i grabbed some snacks and juice pops so our tummies wouldn't get the better of us during our morning adventure. When we arrived kids were running all over the place and parents were standing in long lines to get their individual childs photo taken. I stood in line patiently and watched with a smile on my face. I watched my boys laughing and playing "tag your it" as we waited in line. I ordered lots of pictures and I can't wait to display them on my wall. I am one proud mama. We finished the pictures just in time to make it to Ethans baseball game that started at 11:00a.m. I do have to mention as i was placing my order at the picture table this very rude baseball dad butted in front of me and gave me attitude. The cashier realized i had been first in line and turned her attention toward me as the next customer. This dad proceeded to throw down his pictures and huff and puff. I politely told the very patient old lady to attend him so we can get rid of him. This baseball dad woke up on the losing end of the game. His child saw how he behaved and i know one day if he is not taught differently he will sadly behave in the same manor as his father did. Ethan did a great job at his game today. He scored a running point and decided to run the bases while his team was in the outfield. He made it around twice when his coach tending to other matters noticed and sent him back to second base. It was a very cute site though. Just like last week -a train passed by capturing all their little attentions and the game was at a stand still till it passed. We celebrated a great day with a wonderful Arbys outdoor meal. The boys ate lots of curly fries and drank down all their sprite before their chicken sandwiches were consumed.

The sound of crushing waves - The smell of the salty sea!

2007-04-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

A little nap anyone!

This is how I feel when i am sitting in my new patio furniture.
Nothing like having a refreshing drink in hand and a comfortable place to sit.
I think this is as good as it gets!!!

The furniture is Black Resin so it can stand up to any weather. My cushions are a beautiful red and yellow color. I love the contrast between black, red and yellow. It yells Warm- Inviting- Comfortable. Vienna got a great nap in this morning as I sat next to her enjoying the sun. Samuel came and sat outside this morning with blanket in tow and asked for some morning breakfast outside. I wanted plenty of comfortable sitting room for family and friends that come to visit. I think i will have to start reading again. I think i will have to fill my table with Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living. I think i will have to have tea party's with lots of cake and ice cream. I think i will have to sit under the stars with Rod Stewart playing in the back ground. I am so delighted i purchased this in the beginning of the summer. I can't wait till my honey gets home and we can sit together and let the children run a muck in the back yard. I would like to thank my neighbor for helping me carry my little slice of heaven home. Karen, my neighbor- is an angel. I started to share with her my vision early yesterday morning as we chatted in my yard. She was so excited for me. She said,"You can pile everything into my big trunk- can you be ready in 15 minutes." I am so thankful. With my car I wouldn't have been able to fit anything. Oh the coming of the summer heat was never so exciting.

Daddy's happy birthday cake!

2007-04-06T13:42:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful day on Sam's Birthday. Our morning started out with a little car trouble that needed fixing.We lugged both cars and kids to Asheville to my mom's mechanic and what we thought would be a very expensive job turned out to be a bolt that needed to be changed and welded. My mom babysat the Kittys and Sam and I went for a tour around Asheville. He ate a wonderful Birthday lunch at Asiana( all you can eat Chinese) and we were able to engage in adult conversation that didn't include trains or spiderman. We strolled around shops hand in hand and drank lots of coffee. We had a lot of fun dinking around with a lot of gadgets at Best buy and Circuit city. We both fell in love with the touch screen computer from HP. I think i love the title best : Kitchen companion. It was every women's dream. I ordered all of Sam's birthday presents on the Internet and received them the day after he left for work. So when he comes home we will have to have Birthday party all over again.

2007-03-31T19:47:00.000-05:00

My Samuel - The Catcher

2007-03-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

This morning started out full of zest and excitement. Although by the end of the day we were tuckered out like you can't imagine. This morning i decided to wake up my little all star to an all star breakfast. The breakfast I made consisted of his favorite : Bacon, sausage, and waffles. He was hesitant to eat because he said he was nervous, but with a little encouragement he ate more than half his plate. Today was a big day; it was his first baseball game ever and we arrived right on time. Actually, we were the first one's there for quite some time and i was starting to wonder if i was in the right place. Becca Deserves my props for helping me make it through the day. I don't think i could have done it without her help. The catcher on Samuel's team didn't show and he was thrown into the job. His first time ever in this position and i was anxious. Although the catcher didn't show for the game Samuel filled his spot like a dream. He was a little awkward at first, which was to be expected since he never wore all this position entails, but after a few innings he was brilliant. He made a lot of stops and even endured a straight shot to the elbow which left him a big strawberry to show off. He was hot and tired but he stuck it out with a smile on his face and energy that came from a hardy spaghetti dinner the night before. Samuel ran in a leading point and got three base hits . I am so proud of him. He loved the fact that his gear was just like the one his dad has sitting in the garage from umpiring. Hopefully we will play tomorrow so Sam can see him play. The tournament was called Blue Ridge Little league and it was not very well organized. The kids played back to back games with the first starting at 11:00 am and the last ending at 5:00 pm. We didn't win any of the games but you couldn't tell by looking at the kids faces after they finished their games. They smiled and most importantly they had fun. Some of the parents left after the second game not knowing we had a 3rd game and we had to borrow players from another team. The Umpires were all dressed and one was taking the game way to seriously. I think if Sam had been there he would have reminded him that they were six and seven years of age. Samuel's pants were a Little to big and he flashed us all rounding second. Vienna did great all day. Bless her heart she endured the heat,but yet sat pretty comfy in the shade of her fancy stroller. Ethan decided he couldn't hold it and pee peed among the crowd unbeknown st to me. He later decided that the trip to the portable potty was a little to far. Thank you Becca for enduring that trip to the port- ta -potty. The field was just under construction so bathrooms were still in the first phase of construction: a cement slab. One thing that ticked me off is that i didn't know i would have to pay to park at the tournament. I never carry cash. So with a long line of cars waiting to get there children started to practice i was sadly holding them up writing a check for five dollars. We ate burgers for lunch at the concession ( which i also had to write a check for). Next time i will come prepared. I was delighted to see my neighbor and her newborn daughter at the tournament. Her son Owen was playing against Samuel. I thought Vienna was little and fragile and my neighbor shows me her beautiful 4 pound daughter Sophie Aubreyann who was so tiny. I couldn't believe such a little baby was out and about. Well we had a great day. Drank a lot of iced tea and forgot our sunscreen. We all have very red faces and my shoulders look like they would blend perfectly with a cute little lobster tail. We walked in the door after long day and hopped right in the shower for a scrub down. The boys water was a perfect tar looking color and after the water drained the muck in the tub was crusty and pasted to the side. I think i will need to give the bathtub a scrub down later. Becca left us and started her much deserved journey home. Home sweet home. The boys have not stopped yawning since their bath so you know that bed time is not far away. My first ever tournament experience was nice. The boys loved playing. I think the headache i currently have is from cheering so loudly. I told my self many a time when i was watching SAM umpire: I would not be that mom that shouts so loud she will blow your eardrums out, but i just couldn't help it. I wanted my baby to know that he had my full support, especially since it was his first time as catcher and he had no clue what he was doing at first. I got a kick out of some of the players on the team including Samuel climbing the dugout fence during the game. Boys will be boys.

What cute little ears!

2007-03-30T15:28:00.000-05:00

We decided to get her ears pierced last Monday. Yes it was very difficult to watch, but the 3 shots she received that day wasn't any easier either. She cried and puckered for a few minutes and then she fell asleep wanting nothing but mommy and daddy to cuddle her. Her shots did giver her a low grade temp so she had her first dose of Tylenol ever in her life. She loved it(My sweetheart). Her brothers think she looks so pretty with her ears pierced. I think she looks so dainty. Sam was a little torn over it and was hesitant about the pain she would endure but loved how they looked. She is our own live dolly. Her hair as you can see has a reddish hue and her eyes i say will stay blue just like her daddy,but only time will tell. She smiles a lot and gurgles words i only wish i could understand.

2007-03-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

I am always the one taking pictures so many times i download my camera to find myself absent in all the memories. I finally had a few snaps of me and my sweethearts taken- so here they are. I think all mothers experience this as we are always camera ready all set to point and shoot. I have been really wanting to upload short videos, but i can't figure out how to do this. If anyone knows please tell me. i would love to learn how. I would also like to learn how to add links to other blogs. My family has such wonderful blogs i would like to share with everyone.

Ahh the sweet smell of coffee!!

2007-03-22T10:48:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up to the sweet smell of coffee. I have not had a more delightful awakening in a long while. I set my coffee maker on delayed brew the night before. The sent of hazelnut mocha traveled up the flight of stairs around the corner and swept into my bedroom -stimulating my nostril's in a pleasant good morning song. I must do this every morning. I felt so happy. I strolled down the stairs with such delight. I was actually excited to get out of bed and face the day. What is it with coffee. The smell of it just says," rise and shine get out of bed you sleepy head." Yes this is how I feel. The grinds i used were from Hawaii (Kona) and for my little taste of paradise i paid 7.99 but it was worth it. www.mauicoffeecompany.net
I found my Kona coffee at Old World Market, but one can easily order it online. I mixed the coffee with just a little bit of evaporated milk and the day has begun.
I made cinnamon rolls for the boys this morning and they were so delighted. They managed to clean the baking sheet of any cinnamon bun trace. Samuel after finishing his frenzy asked me for some cereal. I told him to wait a few minutes. The truth is, i was giving his brain time to register he had eaten. Of course, ten minutes later he forgot. The boys woke up this morning with watery eyes and noses.
I hope this is all it is. As i venture out of my home for some milk later i will need to pick up vitamins for them. Ethan received 3 shots at the doctors office on Tuesday and what a trooper was he. He did not cry or shed one tear he looked at the doctor with a half smile. I would have cried. I have to ask my mom if i did cry. He left the doctors office with 5 lollipops and two stickers.
I am excited about the spring. I strolled down my street yesterday with little ones in tow. My neighbors pushing mowers - planting flowers and trimming corners. I am so excited to get in and get dirty.
I love yard work and this year i plan on going all out. I decided since i can plant but can't upkeep i am going to do a potted garden. I almost wrote a pot garden and that would have probably left you all wondering. Well i will make the trip to Lowe's and by all the supplies. Samuel told me today he is ready to help mom plant a garden. The weather is perfect!!

Ethan at Baseball Practice

2007-03-21T15:31:00.000-05:00

Nina linda

2007-03-21T15:22:00.000-05:00

Esta nina linda que nacio de noche quieren que la lleven a paciar en coche.

Esta nina linda que parece a su mami quiere que la besen en esos cachetes grande.

Esta nina linda que me da tanta alegria quiere que su mami le de lechita rica.

Esta nina linda que me da tanta alegria - Hay mi nina linda te quiero mas que mi vida!!

El tiempo pasa rapido y yo quiero difrutar cada momento tan especial.

La sonrisa bella que me das- dejrite mi corazon. Como tus ojitos brillan mi nina linda. Lo que te espera mi nina linda un mundo tan bello que nos dio nuestro Dios.

Te quiero ensenyar todo- Desde las montanas y cascadas asta el mar tan azul y lleno de pescaditos.

Hay mi nina linda como te quiero. Como te quieremos.

Tus hermanos te aman y te protectan- . Papi quiere que te quiedes bebita para siempre.

Esta nina linda que llego de los cielos. Un dia mi nina linda te voy a ensenyar a cocer y cocinar y vamos las dos de compras hasta la manana que biene. Hay mi nina linda - por ahora voy a difruitar pasiando te en coche.

Esta nina linda que nacio de noche ha cambiado nuestras vida para siempre!

Con mucho amor

tu mami

O what hope we have in Jesus!

2007-03-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

Amazing GraceWords by John Newton 1779
Amazing Grace! How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me!I once was lost, but now am foundWas blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,And Grace my fears relieved.How precious did that Grace appearThe hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snaresI have already come.'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus farAnd Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.His Word my hope secures.He will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand yearsBright shining as the sun,We've no less days to sing God's praiseThan when we'd first begun.

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny.....

2007-03-07T23:03:00.000-05:00

I happened to waltz into Old Navy and couldn't resist trying on bikinis for Vienna to sport this summer. She was not fussy and put up with my heckling her. The pictures are priceless and i am so excited i get to share them with my family and friends. She is really filling out. Her roles are plump and those gorgeous eyes are still a teal blue. At almost 11 lbs. Here she is- Miss America .. Years from now she will probably wonder why i do the crazy things i do, but when she has a little girl of her own then she will truly understand the reasoning of her mother.

Baseball season has begun

2007-03-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

This year Samuel will be playing on the Mets Team. His colors will be orange and blue. His practices have been great. It seems like we are going to be pretty busy campers for a while. He practices two times a week and has allot of games in April to look forward to. At his last practice all the moms had personal heaters. This is an item I definitely have to get since being cold for a two hour practice is not very fun. Vienna of course had a serious poopy diaper on the field and it was also the first time i forgot my wipes. All part of having little ones. Samuel is so excited for his next practice on Friday.

Here are some pics of my buddy- Our future

ALL STAR.

2007-02-25T14:17:00.000-05:00

Samuel and Ethan love playing daddy. They have diapers and clothes on their son's to keep them warm. I am asked allot throughout the day to nurse their son's while they go to work. Ethan goes to his cooker man store and Samuel is head chef. Yes, my boys love to cook. They watch iron chef and Dinner impossible with me frequently, and stay very entertained. I think they will both have a fabulous restaurant one day. Ethan really loved the episode that took place on a moving train (dinner impossible). We need to go on a train ride. Little boys and trains go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just like his Dad, Ethan would rather have Peanut butter toast for breakfast than eggs. Samuel, on the other hand: eggs, toast, cereal, and waffles would be on his plate all at the same time. Today i plan on de-cluttering. I feel like i just did this the other day. I feel so free when i know everything is in its place. Yes, I can be a neat freak- i admit it. Sometimes though this house is far from neat. I just got new glasses - finally. My eyes can breathe and see all at the same time. This is a new thing for me. I tend to wear my contact lenses day and night with no rest in between.
For this very reason the doctor told me my vision is much worse. Well I learned my lesson and contact overuse is bad for you (no duh). I knew that all along i was just stupid about it. I woke up this morning to allot of rain and thunder. I personally like rainy days- just not all the time. I like watching the river that flows through my neighbors back yard when it rains.
A thought for the day:
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:3-14

I just couldn't resist adding one more

2007-02-24T22:44:00.000-05:00

Lady in red... is dancing with me

2007-02-24T19:50:00.000-05:00

Our sleeping Angel

Looking good

2007-02-24T19:43:00.000-05:00

Today I took the boys the get a haircut. Ethan was so thrilled. Just kidding! I think he was irritated at all the hair stuck to his neck. I cant get over how handsome they look. I love that i can see their cute little ears.

If only time could stand still

2007-02-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

Daddy's little girl

Practicing parenthood

2007-02-24T15:13:00.000-05:00

Uncle Daniel and Becca came to visit and practice changing diapers.

2007-02-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

This Is For You Baby

2007-02-18T23:30:00.000-05:00

Honey we can't wait to see you!

Miss you

Our day off with Dad

2007-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:00

Some pics of Our day off with dad. We did just what we said we would do; we drank Starbucks coffee and cruised around town. It was nice to get out of the house for a while. Vienna was probably wondering- what is going on. Her two older brothers took turns smothering her with kisses in her car seat. She was wide eyed most of the night staring and looking towards the different sounds she could hear. I was so delighted; i finally captured a picture of her big beautiful eyes. We had a lot of laughs fitting 3 car seats in the back of our Altima. Sam took us to get some lunch at O' Charley's I had a fabulous salad with lots of fresh strawberries and chicken ; it was so refreshing. The boys did a round of go carts at Frankie's, and we later cruised car lots to see what would best fit our family needs in the future. Eventually, we will need to get a bigger car, especially if we plan on having 20 more kids. :) Sam returns to Charlotte tomorrow, and i am already missing him. We joke around alot that we will have plenty of time to sit and talk when our hair is graced with a silver hue. For now, we enjoy the fast moving train ride. Many years from now when our hair is graced with a silver hue, we will reminisce of our train and all the great times we had.

My Three Little Stars

2007-02-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love digital photography. I had a moment today where i must have clicked 20 pictures in a matter of a few minutes. These are some pics of my moment of frenzy. What sweet little faces. This is truly an example of a proud mommy displaying her most priceless possessions. Of course this was the best part of my day.

The wonders of Breastmilk

2007-02-09T12:57:00.000-05:00

I was searching out information on the Internet this morning for Vienna's cold. I was amazed by what i discovered. I found out that many mothers use a few drops of breast milk in each nostril of their baby to clear up congestion and disinfect. I tried it this morning and it seemed to do the trick. How amazing we are; we are God's perfect creation. I read that it is good to take warm baths and clap there backs as they breath in steam. I need to figure a way to do this without letting her cord get wet. Samuel woke up very chipper and Ethan seems to be in better spirits today. Here are a couple pics of our new addition.

Please keep in your prayers a couple that is facing a difficult time as we speak. I will not name the couple,but they do need prayer concerning their unborn child. The mommy is 34 weeks pregnant ( high risk with diabetes) and her baby was just found to be unresponsive. I hope that all who read will pray for this family who is facing such difficulty. They are in the hospital at this time in God's hands. There are reasons for all things that occur in this life. God gives us such encouraging words we can hold steadfast.

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:19,20

He hears our prayers!

My day

2007-02-08T22:21:00.000-05:00

Today was a rather busy day. We are still fighting colds that linger.The Kleenex box has truly become our best friend. I think the hardest thing i am facing is taking care of Vienna with a cold. Please keep her in your prayers. There are moments that she is so stuffed up she can't breath; it scares me to see her trying to catch her breath. I am doing exactly what my doctor ordered. When she has a moment of difficulty, i grab the green aspirator, suck out all the phlegm, and clean her nose. I try to do it as little as possible because i don't want her to get a nose bleed. Sam bought her a humidifier which is running constantly with moist air to help with her cough. It's so scary when they are so little. She can't express to me her hurts and pains. The only comfortable position she seems to agree with is propped up on my chest. Ethan is doing much better today than yesterday. He slept the whole part of yesterday making last night a very long night with his daddy. Sam stayed up most of the night watching cartoons with Ethan and napping when he could. I guess its that time of year that our household is cursed with sickness. The same thing happened last year around this time. I am glad that i am okay and able to take care of my family. One day at a time. At the doctor visit i was informed Vienna gained 1 1/2 lbs. she is now 8.5. This news thrilled me.
At first i feared she wasn't getting enough breast milk. Today she didn't nurse as great as she should have but i know its because of the congestion.
Sam will be coming home soon and i can't wait to sit down and talk to him. At the end of the day ts nice to just relax and talk. We talk allot through out the day and today was such a torcher since my phone died and my charger would not charge the battery. We managed to keep each other informed today through emails. Its amazing how disconnected one( i mean I) feels with no phone. Today for lunch we ate a frozen meal that my friend and neighbor made for us. I am so thankful. I felt delighted i didn't have to cook with so much going on. I can't wait for all of us to get better so we can go on a family outing of 5. How awesome is that. I think we will all fit in the car snugly of course. Sam's window doesn't work on his car so he drives mine till we can get it fixed. The day that the snow storm came we forgot to put a cover on it and the car was full of snow inside and out. It was upstate snow of course mostly wet and gross. Why can't we ever get big fluffy chunks like up north. I hope to see them here one day. I remember our first year of marriage we had a great snowfall in 2000. Well on our outing of 5 we will visit the park and indulge the kids with ice cream as Sam and I sip on some Starbucks caramel delights.
Till then i will thoroughly enjoy my Maxwell house spiced up with evaporated milk and lots of sugar. I realized that by adding lots of evaporated milk instead of half and half the coffee has a Dulce leche taste to it. This of course is delicious, fattening, and a much needed indulgence in order to get the day started.

Our Pink Princess

2007-02-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

Vienna Josephine is sleeping quietly through all the noise and loud rucous of the day. Both of her brothers are sick with a bad cold. This awful cold is making it hard for the cuddle sessions they have longed for with their little sister. Samuel is doing much better. We have a full day now with no fever and are rejoicing; he is now on antibiotics. Ethan sits to watch movies; he is waiting for his mommy to cuddle and comfort him after nursing his sister. The day is very cold outside, but we are warm and cozy inside- never letting the thermostat get below 70 degrees. Sleep will come in a few months time; yes, i still have my 2 cups of coffee every morning. My mom is still with me; she is nursing the boys back to health, cleaning and cooking great meals. She leaves tomorrow, and I hope i don't cry. I will miss not having her around. My daily routine is feed Vienna, change diapers and put a new outfit on her every time she soils it. I AM LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!! I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE MY 3 CHILDREN!

Amazingly, I have actually done 2 loads of baby clothes already in the last week. Tomorrow we visit the doctor for the first time; I have a few samples of questionable things to show him. For starters, as a concerned mom, i have to show him her boogers which were clear and now have a nasty green color. Her first spit up at home was brown and yellow; i have placed that in a bag for questioning too. She doesn't feel warm, but she occasionally has a little coughing attack followed by sneezes. All these are concerning things a mother has to reveal.

On a different note my sweetheart finished building her dresser this morning. I can't wait to tidy her room today and put all her clothes in her drawers. I love how her daddy looks at her. He is a man in love. He is already joking about the rules we must put in place for her :). Super bowl Sunday was quiet and I found the half time show so boring. Of all the people to do a half time show why Prince? Why! This week we sign the boys up for soccer and baseball and they can't wait for the spring season to begin. You know you love being a mom when you look forward to sitting in lawn chair for hours, sometimes freezing, sometimes hot, watching your kids do something they love.

Vienna Josephine 7lbs 8oz 20.5"

2007-01-30T12:38:00.001-05:00

All about baby.

2007-01-26T22:07:00.000-05:00

Our bags are packed and ready to
to the hospital.

My favorite item in the house.
The boys love getting their own
water and we all feel very healthy drinking
water all day.

The beautiful dresser that is almost complete for baby.

A really cute outfit i can't wait for her to wear.

The new playpen fitted with high tech gadgets
that will make my life easier.

This is my little dress when i was a baby.
After 27 years it feels wierd thinking i am going to
have a daughter that will be wearing something i
wore so long ago.

A picture album that will soon be full of sweet
little pictures of our baby.

More roast beef please

2007-01-25T21:20:00.000-05:00

A little fun distraction!

2007-01-25T16:11:00.000-05:00

My mom came to visit me this week and helped me out tremendously. I am so thankful to have her only an hour away. By the time she left i was caught up on laundry. My fridge was stocked (At 38 weeks mobility is a very big issue especially around the grocery store) and I had clean sheets on all the beds. Ethan and Samuel clung to Rina and had her full day scheduled with events the minute she walked in the door. We laughed more than you can imagine and cried a lot too. I guess i should say i did all the crying since the baby hasn't come yet and my emotions and mood swings are are truly getting the better of me. We timed a lot of contractions which gave us false hope.Since trips in a car are somewhat forbidden and especially taxing- mom took me out for some much needed fresh air. We visited the best park ever and froze our tails off. We hit some great consignment stores in which Samuel purchased his very own flash light all by himself for .50 cents (he put his receipt on the fridge when he came home and stares at it so proudly) and we found the best pink baskets at Big Lots to hold lots of misc baby stuff. I am sad that she is now gone. Yesterday was Sam's day off and we had a great pajama day. We watched movies and played board games. The boys had a great battle with dad on the floor. Sam made some wonderful lunch as I put my feet up and chilled out. He is my best friend. We laughed a lot yesterday and listened to some great old Dean Martin songs and drank LOTS OF COFFEE. We had so much fun watching American Idol ( what crazy people ).I do have to admit though the best part of my day was my very eventful doctor visit yesterday morning- in which I was told i am now dilated 3 cm and -1 station. I have never been a 3cm at home with any of my boys. I am peacefully waiting for the storm to come. My Braxton Hix contractions have ceased. A much answered prayer request- Although I have the very painful and annoying false contractions to thank for being -1 station and dilated to 3cm. I gained my courage to start using the treadmill again and strapped myself in for a good 2 mile walk last night and another 2 mile walk this morning, but nothing has happened. I was Fragile early on with this pregnancy and now she is sturdier than ever. I am just so thankful to have made it to 38 weeks. All i want is a very healthy plump little girl. Sam and i started building her dresser around 1:30 in the morning last night and after a coffee filled night we just died midway through our project. Our bed called to us and sleep never felt so good. My doctor didn't set my appointment for next week since his assumption is i can go any day now. When your doctor tells you that you know the end is near. I thought for sure that yesterday would be my lucky day (24th) but God has other plans. His timing is always perfect.

The best blocks ever!!

2007-01-25T15:55:00.000-05:00

Samuel and Ethan love their blocks-(thank you grandma kitty)- They allow the imagination to run wild and their creativity to flow. I love that they are so sturdy and practically indestructible.

She's Almost Here! 37 weeks

2007-01-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about our little baby girl. She will soon join us and be able to match all those voices she hears daily with a face. Her little brothers constantly talk to her and I bet she will feel soothed and comforted in their arms. I am as many women in this stage really tired and ready to go. I just went to the doctor on Wednesday to find out I am -4 station and 1 cm. I was completely closed on Saturday so this is very encouraging news. The many contractions and painful looks on my face have not all been in vain. I woke up this morning to see things have dropped a lot and sharp electrical currents have stopped me in my tracts since breakfast. My last visit to the (very very small ) Hospital was depressing. I was contracting regularly, but not dilating, there were no empty beds, and a very brave woman was screaming her head off a couple doors down. She was trying to go it alone with no meds. Till finally she gave in and silence once again filled the halls. I will not scream like that lady. I will not scream like that lady. I am very nervous. I think no matter how many children you have had the experience is new every time. I think the baby will join us on the 24th of January- why because
- Samuel was born on the 24th of May
- Ethan was born on the 24th of October
-Sam and I married July 24th
3 major events in our life have all happened on the 24. I guess I will just have to wait and see. It would be perfect if I started labor this Saturday. I start labor - Deliver on Sunday when Sam is not working and Monday we can chill out together with our new bundle of joy. I will have no pain and Sam and I will be full of energy from a full nights sleep! Every thing back on schedule by Tuesday. Yeah right, as if things would happen that easily. This is gonna be fun! Truth is I will love not sleeping at night if I can just cuddle my baby. My little _____________ Josephine Campbell I have been so anxiously waiting to see. We have a few options for names hence the long black line. I have discovered that naming a child is the hardest decision ever.
I am just happy the Sun is shining and warming up the pavement today. Yesterday it was too cold. Maybe I will have some energy later to go outside and walk with the boys for a bit. I am still drinking coffee and loving it or else I think I would be dragging on the floor and in bed all day. I have cut back a lot since I know when I start breastfeeding I will have to go cold turkey or endure an very hyper little girl. She has to many dresses lined up and ready to wear in her closet and little diapers fill the changing table ready to be soiled. The glue (toothpaste) is ready to go by the changing table to accommodate the many bows that will fit perfectly on her head when she is born. I think I am most excited about the interaction of the boys with their little sister. Already Samuel Allen is so protective of me I can't wait to see what he will do with such a little bundle. Ethan already said he will invite her to his restaurant and cook her some chicken and coffee. Well I must finish school with Samuel. We have been playing Mad libs and he loves it.

Better late than never- Christmas pics

2007-01-19T12:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2006

Bath anyone?

2006-08-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

Our morning was enveloped in nothing but good strong coffee and donuts (this was supposed to post friday, but for some reason it's dated today). After our morning treat the boys sat and watched some cartoons, and I walked on the treadmill determined to rid myself of my guilty donut consumption.
Shortly thereafter, my return from the restroom was greeted with no laughter, and the TV (cartoon network) blaring with no audience in site. Where did these boys run off too? I called out their names only to hear no response in return. I glanced at the kitchen to see Bailey is missing as well. I find the boys outside swinging to their hearts content. I decided then to start lunch while they entertained themselves. As I'm cooking, Samuel calls out to me, “mom I need the soap.” So I gave him some soap and the adventure began. They bathed bailey as long as she would stay still in their grasp
(which was probably a total of 2 minutes) and decided they needed a little bathing too. We had a wonderful chicken quesadilla lunch outside. I relaxed as the boys played, ran, squirted water in each others eyes and teased the neighbor’s dog (who had come outside to take care of some serious business). We ate frozen pops and drank lots of tang. Theirs nothing like Tang; it’s so delicious and refreshing especially when the Tang is about 66% frozen and crunchy. Time had come to rest indoors out of the heat and I sent the boys upstairs for a real bath. As I am picking up their clothes off the floor out comes crawling a disgusting "TICK". I immediately squash it and head for the computer to make sure I have made a proper identification of the creature. Next, I examine Ethan from head to toe, and once Samuel takes a break from his important video game level I will examine him as well. I think I need to have the lawn sprayed. They carry lyme disease you know. Since I found the creature I have been itchy. My eyes are constantly scanning the baseboards, and furniture. I feel they are everywhere. I need a Tang break.
Today my electrical company came to investigate why my bill was so astronomically high. The conclusion, when the air was broken, unbeknownst to us it was still running at maximum potential. The devastating conclusion caused me to nearly pass out beside the curb( I hate visiting my mailbox at the end of the month). I surely thought something was wrong with the meter, but CPW said everything looked in order. The older gentleman that tended my case explained to me how to read my meter. I now know how much I am spending each month ( its .8 cents a kilowatt). I also learned to beware of the flashing arrow on the meter. A fast flashing arrow means death to me at the end of the month. The meter reader explained to me to shut off my appliances one by one until the arrow of destruction disappears. So I decided to turn off my air conditioner, and when I did the arrow stopped blinking. It took only 3 hours for the temperature to register 87 degrees in my house. What do I do? Die of heat, or suffer a heart attack at the end of the month. I need another Tang break...
Does anyone else have this problem? I need FALL to start tomorrow. I need that cool, and inviting fall breeze, gently bringing with it such a wonderful smell of earth. Coffee just tastes better when you’re drinking it in the Fall anyway.

Finally, a picture post!!!

2006-07-31T18:02:00.000-05:00

Finally, a picture of me and my bestest buddies ever before attending church on Sunday. I am now sporting a small pooch which is a little hard to see in my white dress, but i love it. I am now in my 13th week and my baby is a little over 3 inches long. Samuel is sporting his favorite, cowboy boots. He proudly stomps all through the house when he wears them.
Samuel and Ethan decided to do a cheer dance in honor of Samuel losing his first tooth. Of course cupcakes are always needed for an occasion like this one.
Samuel enjoying Dad's big game at knights Stadium. We had so much fun. It did rain a little, but that didn't stop us die hard fans.
Samuel with one tooth gone and one more about ready to go any day now.
Best buddies!!!
Ethan, as always, attached at the hip to his older brother. Isn't that so cute!!! Where thou will go, i will follow. Wheather to mischief or to sit and behave like angels :). I know my boys will grow up to always take great care for one another. Through good times and bad they love to play together. Every night we tuck the boys in their beds and watch them slowly fall asleep. I feel I am in a dream. Blessed with such sweet responsibilty to teach and take care of these little ones. We always pray for great dreams and give God thanks for everything. In the morning without fail we will find them both cuddled tight and in one bed.