Grins

See how she grows....

We've been getting some new faces.......

Some Sad

Still some concern in her brow

Some happy

 She's our little snuggle bug

Hosea

This little man has been cracking us up lately.  Perfect role for the only brother, keeping things light hearted.  People often ask how does he like being the only boy. Shiloh would say "what about daddy, he's a boy".  I would say; as far as I can tell, he loves it!

He's All or Nothing. 

He and Shiloh have opened a store.  They glue beads together and sale them to us for a cent, "so it will be a good deal".  They love to tell us the "store is open for business". 

We had a family night and did a fire and hot dogs and mallows out back, they love this! 

 Hosea's been brushing up on his culinary skills. He loves making scrambled eggs.

When i put Salem on her play mat, he exclaims "yeah I get to snuggle". Here he is snuggling.

He likes to play shoot guns with Aggie. No I do not let him shoot Aggie. He pushes her around on her horse while she says "neigh, neigh, neigh........" then he stops and throws his velcro bullets at her "gently".  I guess it's sort of a cowboy and indian variation? They both really like it.

He ran his eye into the corner of the kitchen chair while walking with a shirt over his head. I asked if he was ok and if he needed anything and he replied "my pirate eye" and ran off to fetch it. 

I love my little dude!

Muscle Biopsy

Aggie had a muscle biopsy today.  They called last Thursday and decided it would be better done sooner rather than later.  We met the surgeon Monday, had surgery this morning.  We won't know the results for several months.  God is good and has provided for us in many little detailed ways.  We are thankful, and a little tired. Makes me long for the rest that will never end in the life to come, where my heart should be longing for.

Aggie-Genetics/School

We've heard back from the genetics Dr. this week. The good news is Mike and I are not carriers, which is fortunate for the other children. The location of aggies gene mutation is so rare that there is only one other person reported with the same mutation in that location, but even then the mutation it's self is different. The Dr. wants to do another muscle biopsy so they can test the effect of the mutation on protein, allowing them to possibly project the effect the mutation will have on Aggie at a cellular level. We have an apt. with the surgeon in March. This news is two fold for me, as it is nice to know what is causing Aggies difficulties, but having to put her through additional testing/trauma makes my heart sink. As she grows older and stronger these things become more difficult, as her understanding is minimal. 

She is loving school. We like it too.  I am told that she is very popular, as teachers pop in to play with her.  The only other little girl in the class has become jealous, I'm told. Aggie has no clue. She has started doing a swim class every friday at school. It is an 8 week program where they do therapy in the pool. A neat opportunity for her. It is a perfect amount of time allowing me to get most, if not all of school done with the other children before she returns home.

Salem Ann

Littlest lady had her 2 week check last week. She has been such a good eater, she came out rooting. So thankful! Any who...... she weighed in at 9 lb. 2oz. a very significant increase from her 7 lb. 13oz. birth weight. I've been exclusively nursing her, the Dr. asked if I'd been supplementing b/c of the major weight gained. I just said "God wired me to produce some hardy milk".  This has been one of many ways I've seen God providing for me and caring for me in this time of change.  Sweet girl is such a darling baby.  My first female baby to enjoy snuggling on my chest. Her spitting up is minimal, she is already sleeping a good 5 hour stretch at night (now I just need to figure out how to coordinate her feeding with that feeding pump).  I hate to say it, but if all babies were like Salem, who knows how many we would have? But alas, they are not, we are all created in own unique way, with individual strength and weakness. Her only issue for now is a clogged tear duct, and I'm praying for that to resolve.

On a side note...... to re-answer the "how are things going" question, as I seem to get it a lot.....

Last week was very difficult. I usually find my self crashing on week 2 when the adrenaline of "new" wears off. But I would have to say week 3 this time around proved to be most challenging.  I won't go into too many details but just a couple of the rated PG items on the list; i burnt my right hand and it was painful for a couple days, it was a steam burn from opening a lid on some steamed broccoli in a poor direction.  Shiloh neglected her earring maintenance and allowed for the back of her earring to grow into the back of her ear, that's right, it was embedded. We had minor surgery and a firm lecture on my bed.  Hosea had some sort of flu, thankful for the short 2 day version. I'll stop here.

Amidst the chaos of it all God is providing for me.  Mike's work schedule has loosened significantly which is unmerited favor given to him from his CO, resulting in being granted additional days off, and he has really stepped it up in intent and execution of serving within our home.  He has started taking an online class, kicking off seminary, so he has been also doing that.  He is loving it, it has put some pep-in-his-step. He has been intentional in being helpful, which is a huge blessing to me.  Additionally Salem's temperament, has been an answer to prayer, and thus provision from the hands of her creator.  We've had meals prepared and brought to us, and have been served by many eager hands.  Thank you Lord for your kindness!

Confession

I just got on my blog to be reminded how to make hooded towels, and got sucked in to reading it for about 5 min. and then realized that I was on here to do something??? What was it? Oh, yeah towels.