Jake lost his first tooth!!!

I have never seen such a thing. Jake Austin came to me on Thanksgiving Day asking if he had a new tooth....he opened wide and sure enough there was a big tooth growing in behind his baby tooth. About 2 weeks later the one next to it started to grow in. All the while, his baby teeth are still there. Well, on December 21st he and Daddy sat and shimmy and shook that baby tooth to the left until it came out! YAY!!!

Here's a pic of what I saw....have you ever seen such a thing???



In case you're wondering...he grinded his teeth for years...that's why they look the way they do on the tops. And the holes in his teeth aren't cavities. I thought they were...in fact he just has deep somethings. Aunt Kris could probably tell us what they're called! I have such a bad memory....

Merry Christmas

or should I say Happy New Year?? I'm so glad that Christmas is OVER!!!



I tell you what, having four kiddos is TOUGH! Since bringing McKinley home on the 14th I've managed to get next to nothing accomplished!!! I have wrapped a few presents to get ready for Christmas, did a load or two of dishes, a few loads of laundry...the rest of the time has spent with family and feeding her. She never stops eating!!! (In case you're wondering about the mountain of dishes that must br growing in my kitchen....luckily, I have one dynamite hubby who has jumped in to overdrive to pick up all of my slack! Thanks Babe!)




We had such a great Christmas this year. The food was good. The presents were great. The time spent with friends and family was even better!!!

Aunt Kris, Uncle Adam and all the boys!


My hubby and his favorite sister...


Kris got Jake a poster of his favorite gal! :o)


Jake got a skateboard! (and a DS from Santa!!!)


Jonah got some shootin' thing...he looks thrilled huh? LOL (his favorite gift was his DS from Santa!!!)


Jett got Kota the dinosaur!!!


There's so much to say...but I'm too tired....and well, it probably won't make much sense! :o)

Sweet McKinley is home!!!

We brought our precious baby home on Sunday. Jake and I have been on a crazy roller coaster of emotions over the past week.

Here's a small glimpse of the first few days of her life....

December 9th- McKinley Rose was born.

December 10th- She is doing great!!

December 11th (wee hours of the morn)- McKinley is taken to NICU because she spit up bile.

December 11th (around 6:00am)- we go see our little girl in the NICU. I can't describe the emotion one feels to see something so precious hooked up to so many wires and tubes. We're told she'll be there for at least 48 hours to run tests and to do an upper GI to look for a possible blockage in her intestine. I talk my doctor into giving me one more day in the hospital. (I couldn't bear leaving her there....me going home without her.)

December 12th- I head downstairs to the NICU for the GI results and the doctors tell me there is "no medical explanation" as to why our daughter was sick. She continues with "she is clinically HEALTHY"!!!! Now, you tell me prayer doesn't work! There were folks all over the country praying for McKinley! The power of prayer will never cease to amaze us!!!! Our daughter is HEALTHY! I'm able to push my discharge time back as late as I could....I go home at 9:30pm....without McKinley. (they wanted to continue observation on her)

December 13th- I get up, leave Daddy and Big Brothers at home so I could go to the NICU to spend the day with her. She's such a sweet, sweet girl!! Daddy went to see her right after I got home. He was there until late that night. (Jake cannot deny the softy he's become for his little princess!!! He would have been by her side 24/7 if he were able!) We are told she can go home tomorrow!!!!!!!

December 14th- We all get up and get ready to go get Baby Sister!!! We drop the boys off at Ganny and Poppy's and head straight to the NICU!! Our little girl is waiting!!! She's got her IV out...YAY!! Her heart monitor was still attached but that's ok....it was nice to not see the other stuff we knew was uncomfortable for her. We get her dressed, get the run-down on how to be parents (DUH!) and we are off!! McKinley Rose is in the truck with us and we are taking her HOME! We make a pit-stop at Great Grandaddy and Great Granny's house and then picked up the Brothers....and then she was home!!!

December 15th- We are still in awe of how GREAT God is! We have such a precious little girl!!

December 16th- I'm at home with 4 kiddos...Daddy's at work...tell me this gets easier!!! :o)

So, without further ado...here is our Princess!!!!


I love this little hat the hospital nursery gave her. These are all made by elderly ladies in nursing homes. They then take "field trips" to the hospital to deliver them....how stinkin' sweet is that??!!??


McKinley Rose and Great Grandpa


in the NICU...she was so rested and peaceful! This was a huge improvement from a few hours prior. She was obviously uncomfy before she went to the NICU.




after the tube was removed...YAY!!!


Daddy's Girl! (and that's my handsome hubby!!!!!)


It's time to go home!


McKinley and Great Granny


One proud Big Brother!


Another proud Big Brother! (Please excuse his eyes...this child has the hardest time with the flash! LOL)


Who does she look like??? She is a spittin' image of her Daddy!


This next pic is completely off topic but I had to share! This is our Santa pic. We drove all the way across town for the two youngest boys to be near terrified...and for them to tell us that we only get two shots with our camera and we could buy the one they take. HA! I refuse to pay $20 for ONE 5x7...not happenin'!!!! And well, I think I captured a pretty good shot of all of my boys! (even if it is a teensy bit blurry and Jake's eyes are closed...look at sweet Jonah peeking around Daddy!)

McKinley Rose

She's here!!! McKinley Rose was born on December 9th at 4:38pm. She is just beautiful!! Everyone says so!! :o)

No pictures just yet though. We had a bit of a scare. On day two she spit up bile. The doctors all thought that she may have a twisted or obstructed intestine. Correcting that would have meant surgery....Praise God the tests all came back normal. She is clinically healthy!!! She'll be home with us in a couple of days.

Please be patient...I promise pictures will come soon!

Got Turkey?

I know this is a little late...but better late than never right???

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I was telling Jake that I think it was one of the best yet!

We ate SO much food! I think we were close to needing to be rolled out of our stops! First we went to Aunt Debbie's. I had turkey, green bean casserole, dressing (with no innards!!), corn casserole, a Sister Schubert yeast roll (which I think are a bit over rated)...what else??? I think that was it. But, it was SO GOOD!!!!

The kids played hard at her house too! Jett and Jonah enjoyed the playground while Jake Austin ran around the pond with his cousin and caught tadpoles and minnows and a crawfish! Because of this I have very few pictures of him on this day....but, I do have one of the tadpole!

He is now the proud daddy to about 10 tadpoles, 5 or so minnows and one crawfish...that he would rather not have! He loves the tadpoles and minnows but the crawfish freaked him out a bit! :o)

I was able to catch one quick pic before he ran off to catch some more! He kept saying "this is the best day EVER!!!!!" and then he'd run off!



Here are my other two turkeys!










This picture is just too sweet not to share...Jake got into the tire swing and Jonah crawled up into his lap....sweet boy!


After Aunt Debbie's we headed over to my Dad and Julie's. More yummy food waited for us!!! Oh my goodness...there were turkey breasts topped with a peach something, green bean casserole (you can NEVER have enough), cucumber salad, mashed potatoes, dumplings...and then desserts...wow! I was so stuffed! I sure could go for round two right now! :o)

I only took one picture that night...it was night time and we were outside most of the time...I should have pulled out the camera and took some of us eating! That would have been a hoot! I bet I'd have one or six of Katelyn showing me her food!!!! LOL We did have so much fun over there! We were all suppost to write something we were thankful for....well, I wrote I'm glad God made me (among other things) and Dustin went behind me and scratched out ME and wrote his name. LOL!!! Jake was thiankful for his "onederful" family! This is big Jake I speak of! We were having a blast!

Ok. So here's my one pic. It's not even a good one. It's of Easton, Jett and Jonah going on a Nanny pulled wagon ride!


Well, there you have it. Our Thanksgiving 2008!