I Hate the Stomach Flu and other ramblings

Maddie and Ava had the stomach flu this week!! All I can say is, YUCK!! Maddie, being only two does not know how to use words to alert us that she is going to vomit. Instead, she says "I need some medicine" or "I need a drink". We learned these "code words" from experience.

She was lying in the bed with me, she said

"Mommy, I need a drink"

I turn over in the bed

and

Maddie proceeded to vomit in my FACE.

I am talking my mouth, nose, ears, hair!!

It was disgusting!!!

Maybe the grossest thing that has ever happened to me!

I told Chris that there should be a required course during pregnancy preparing mothers for motherhood :)

So anyway, we all survived and in some crazy way, the stomach flu is good source of family bonding!!

a little miracle....... or two

Our little Ava spent two days in the hospital last week. It was a very scary experience that reminded us of the importance of gratitude and humility and an overwhelming sense of God's grace.

She was limping on her right leg. The peditrician sent us to a specialist and she was admitted to the Childrens Hospital. The doctors were using words like "infection" and "tumor".

The hospital had a huge playroom for the children and these awesome "child life" people that organized activities. Ava was covering her eyes and hiding from the bubbles.

After what seemed like an eternity (36 hours) and lots of medical tests, we were informed that Ava had a fracture in her right fibula. She is now sporting a little pink cast. I never imagined that I would feel relieved to learn that one of our children had a broken bone, but I was!!! I have a new sense of appreciation for healthy children. Take time tonight to hug on your babies, we are all very blessed!!

Wish List

My wish list is much shorter this time..................... I simply must have this awesome quilt from
Pottery Barn, and the shams!!!

Things I Have Come to Realize.....

Another Saturday at the Austin Homeplace, our house had to be cleaned. Cleaning allows me time to think, ponder, reflect, therefore these are the things I have come to realize today:

1. I am blessed to have a home, this world is full of families without that privilage.

2. I really do not mind to clean, it is somewhat relaxing.

3. Families are awesome, God knew what he was doing when he designed them.

4. I need to quit beating myself up, i am never going to be a stay-at-home mom.

5. I am called to have a job outside of my home and my children will survive and maybe even thrive because of that fact.

6. I am blessed to have true love, many never experience that.

7. I am not going to have anymore babies in my belly.

8. We are a society of excess.

9. Children are joy.

10. Desperate people do desperate things.

Things we love about Anna Beth...

1. Her very creative attempts at manipulation
2. She is addicted to cereal (good thing it is whole grain)
3. She loves her little sisters and acts like a little momma
4. She is truly a girl after my own heart (Chris refers to her as a little Kimbo)
5. We have a bond that is priceless and not explainable
6. She looks at the world from a sincere and non judgemental stand
7. She has an uncanny ability to see good in all
8. She loves God with all of her little heart
9. She is spoiled rotten and does not even know it
10. She is happy going anywhere and doing anything
11. She has a sweet, tender heart
12. Part of her reminds me of special people that are watching us from above
13. She is just all together awesome!!

Happy Birthday Sam

We celebrated Sam's birthday with a trip to Atlanta. We sung Happy Birthday more than twice it was a weekend of fun** Sam style** Braves Game, Chuck E. Cheese, Ice Cream, Lego Factory, it was a small glimpse of what Sam thinks Heaven will be!

Harper Wren

Finally, we were blessed to welcome Harper Wren Mullins to the world!! She is a cutie, isn't she?