It Never Rains But It Pours

That old saying seems to be kind of a theme around here lately. Last week Connecticut had more rain dumped on it than it has in a long time. As a member of the local Emergency Management garage, Jeremy was out for over 36 hours strait delivering sand bags, etc. The flooding, extensive as it was, caused no damage for our immediate family. The New England hills give a whole new dimension to flooding that I'm not accustomed to after growing up along the coastline down south.



The Saturday before the flooding hit, Jeremy took the Norwich Police Department"s physical agility test, the one he'd been anticipating for six long weeks that weren't long enough. About a week before the test, he timed his 1.5 mile run, and after thinking it was a great run, found he had come up 13 seconds short. That last week before the test, despite his best efforts, life conspired against him and he didn't get to put in much more training at all, so he was extreamly nervous going into that test. It ended up being a very cool opportunity to see God's hand at work in our lives, because on test day he beat the run time by over a minute.

To follow up that display of God's grace, in the past week Jeremy has suddenly been innundated with more work than he knows what to do with. After going for so many months with next to nothing, and definitely not enough to keep living on, now he's realistically looking at hiring.





Mid March we went over to a friends house for lunch, and while all us Moms were sitting talking in the living room, Reuben came trotting through, tripped on a pillow, and smacked his head on the fireplace hearth. It busted open a 1" x 1/8" hole right in the middle of his forehead, and our hostess (who used to be a nurse) quickly pronounced this injury worthy of a trip to the ER.

They were able to glue it shut as opposed to stitching it, which was a blessing at the moment, but about a week later when the glue had come off it just busted open again. This time we just patched it up at home, and as of today, it's almost completely healed.

Later that same week Reuben busted his head open right next to his eyebrow, and Anna bruised her forehead in two places. I was getting about ready to wrap 'em in bubble wrap and duck tape them to the ceiling for their own safety.



Reuben and Anna are enjoying their baby sister more all the time. Every now and then I'll bring Laura along when we put the kids to bed and help her "give them kisses and hugs" (sorta stick her face close enough she can slime their cheek), or I'll "help" Laura chase them around, which they think is totally hysterical.

A couple weeks ago I decided to start potty training Laura. Yep, three kids at once. Laura was very consistently filling her diaper toward the end of each feeding about a minute after she got all squirmy and red in the face. It finally dawned on me that it was kinda silly not to put her on the potty if I clearly knew she was about to go. It's not taking much extra time, it just takes the extra effort to get up and go do it.

I've been amazed how quickly she's caught on. I'm not aiming for perfection here, just saving her the discomfort of sitting in her own poo whenever I can, and hopefully it'll be easier for her to grasp the concept of taking herself to the toilet when the time comes. It's turned out to be great "bonding" time for me and her too - one of the brief periods we get one-on-one time during the day. Comically enough, Laura sucessfully goes on the potty more than the other two kids combined.



Reuben specially asked me to get a picture of him brushing his teeth, and when I told him we could send the picture to his Honey Bear he was quite excieted and started happily waving and yelling, "Hi Honey Bear! Hi Honey Bear!"



We finally managed to catch Laura smiling, though we still need to get a shot of when she's really grinnng. You never saw such a face splitting grin! It's adorable.



Sadly, most of Laura's waking hours are spent screaming. Over this past weekend I started getting the feeling something was off. She was puking in vast quantities after every feeding, choking and gagging, miserable, not sleeping well, sudden fits of apparent pain for no obvious reason. So, I google searched "excessive spit up" and sure enough, that's not normal baby behavior.



Though I haven't had a professional diagnose it, it would seem my little Laura may be a victim of acid reflux. As one of the causes is a dairy intolerance, I cut out dairy and her symptoms have cleared up almost immediately. She's still pretty grumpy, but she's keeping her food down now.







The day before Easter Sunday Jeremy taught a Basic Pistol class, using our church for the classroom time. We'd pre-arranged for me to order them some pizza and then go pick it up and bring it to the church when Jeremy called for it. Well, that ended up being a bit of a disasterous experience all in itself - a rather hysterical story, but longer than I care to put you through here.

Anyhow, we're at church enjoying some pizza with Jeremy's class and the kids were getting roudy, so I took them outside to enjoy the glorious day we were having. It took less than 10 minutes for Anna to find some left over tar from a basement repair that was in progress. By the time I figured out she was playing in more than dirt, she had it all over her mouth, hands, and clothes.

Tar doesn't come off easily. Just in case you were wondering. One of our friends who was taking the class started scouring the church for any substance that could possibly be of use, while I got her stripped down and into the kitchen sink in some soapy warm water. Ultimately we discovered that Vasaline works wonders, and much to my relief we did eventually get Anna clean.





Several weeks ago I picked up a marketing book while nursing Laura, and as I read God started revealing a pretty glaring blindspot in my life. I've always helped Jeremy with his business, but the truth was I hadn't been totally dedicated to it the way he needed me to be, and his level of success was hurting because of my unreliable level of participation.

So I've started getting myself more organized. There really isn't much extra time in my day with three kids three and under, so each day is set asside for a different category of my varied responsibilities, and whatever time I can muster that day is dedicated to those tasks. So for instance, Monday is park day in the morning and business marketing in the afternoon, Tuesday is grocery shopping day in the morning and graphic design work in the afternoon, etc.

The key has been getting into the mentality that I am Jeremy's personal assistant, and if I don't do my job I won't get paid. Technically I don't get paid regardless, but the reality is that Jeremy's paychecks reflect both of our efforts.

This past Friday Jeremy came home to a one page "Weekly Report" that summarized what I had accomplished that week with the books, bills, and marketing, and what was on the agenda for next week. It has brought me to tears to see just how relieved and happy Jeremy is to have me working with him whole heartedly now, and to realize what a discouragement I had been to him before without ever realizing it.

oh, Anna!

If you could peek into my living room when Laura is nursing these past few days, you would see me re-reading Michael & Debbie Pearl's book "To Train Up A Child". And, once you take a look at these pictures, you'll start to understand why.







Our little Anna is a case! She's been caught standing in the bathroom sink and sitting inside the toilet more than once too, and her latest facination is washing her "softy" (silky blanket) in the toilet and then walking around the house leaving a trail of potty water dripped behind her. She's one of the most troublesome, adventurous, inquisitive, intelligent, adorable, sweet, and precious little girls I have ever met - let alone lived with. She always giving somebody a hug or kiss, always climbing something, always getting into something, and always grinning that impudent, adorable, head to toe smile of hers. She's just a mess.

Speaking of smiles, Laura finally started smiling at me last night. I was talking at her, just like good parents are supposed to do, and she actually started staring in my face, and then started grinning and smiling at me like I couldn't hardly believe - for a good 10 minutes or so. Same thing again today. It's so cool when a baby finally begins to interact and develop some personality. It's especially nice to get smiled at by this little one, since the last three weeks of nursing her has been excruciatingly painful. Makes it hard to love having a newborn in the house when it's all work, pain, and lots of screaming baby in the background. Poor kid, being baby #3 she is so often just left crying because it's physically impossible for me to do everything and keep her happy all the time too.

Anna and Reuben are continuing to bond with her with each passing week. Anna's forever pulling blankets off of her so she can see what she's hugging and kissing, and Reuben very compassionately puts blankets on her when he hugs and kisses her, particularly when she's crying and he wants to comfort her.













Reuben turned three a few weeks before his cousin Katie turned four, so we had a combined family party for the two of them on March 6th. Sadly, Reuben threw up on the way to his own party, fell asleep right before we ate, and when he woke up he still felt sick enough he wasn't even interested in birthday cake or ice cream. He was pretty excieted about his presents though, and has been having loads of fun playing with them ever since.





I used birthday money from Reuben's great-grandparents to get him all set up with some pre-school activities. A whole year ago I got some books on teaching pre-school at home, made great plans, but never actually got the stuff to do it. So finally I made a trip to Wal-Mart and Goodwill, and I am amazed at how totally facinated and engrossed Reuben is with simple scooping, pouring, and pinching exercises. Next we get to do colors, shapes, and matching; once I finish assembling the stuff to do it anyhow. He's gotten so much more interested in books lately, finally! It's so awesome watching him grow beyond toddler to being a "real boy."







Today is the most beautiful day out! And it's not the first either, it's slowly been warming up and turning Spring-like around here, and I'm THRILLED! Right now all the windows are open, it's bright and beautiful outside, and I've gotten to take my kids outside to play several times in the last week or so.







Business has been picking up a bit for Jeremy lately. With the weather warming up we're putting together marketing materials to target houses that have paint peeling off of them. Seems like a worth while plan, just praying that God will bless it with good success. Asside from work, Jeremy's also been preparing for the Norwich PD physical agility test coming up March 27. The Haiti Benefit concert he organized turned out beautifully (or so I'm told, I was home with sick kids) though Jeremy was extreamly dissapointed he didn't get the place packed out. We're also working on a website with one of our town councilmen who is runnng for state assembly. So, keeping busy, which is always good.



You know, I once wrote down a list of things I wanted to do before I died:
-do the Texas Water Safari
-hike the appalacian trail
-become a bush pilot
-etc.
I no longer want to hike the appalacian trail, and I don't even enjoy riding in planes anymore, but I did complete the Safari four times. I don't remember what else was on that list, but I do remember that "become a baby factory" wasn't even a runner up. Yet, here I am...three children in less than three years.

Lately I've been reflecting on just how much my life has turned out different than I expected it to as I was growing up. The wonder of it all, is that the life God has given me is perfect. Not perfect in the sense that it's problem free - quite the contrary. Perfect in the sense that this is what God made me for, and it's hard, and so much of the time I totally suck at it!, but... I can't really put it into words, but somehow the life God is laying out for me is so much better for me than the life I had dreamed up for myself.

new years resolutions

So, this year I resolved to start a little journal to note anything interesting in the growth and development of my children - sickness, new words, new tooth, funny experience, whatever. And so far I've been doing pretty good with my little "Mom journal".

I also resolved to update my blog once a month, just to make sure I really do share pictures and news with our out-of-state family on a regular basis. But then January went and got crazy on me - so it's time to catch up.

Our first bit of excitement for the year arrived when the timing belt went out on the van. Jeremy took a day out to try fixing it himself, but ultimately discovered he just didn't have the tools or the time required, so it went back to the shop. In the meantime there was a week or two in there we were borrowing Jeremy's Mom's Jeep Cherokee to get around. By the time we finally got all the repair work done, we were so glad we could return Mom's vehicle to her, and so grateful to have our own wonderful little van back in service.

Otherwise, January brought me some graphic design work that kept me plenty busy. Work for the business was very slow, in fact January was when Jeremy and I started settling into a new level of faith. Financially our circumstances were totally bleak - and still are, but it was beginning to sink in that God always comes through, and somehow the world doesn't come to an end. Panic doesn't help anyhow, though 8 months pregnant and nothing in the bank account equals periodic emotional breakdowns despite the head knowledge that everything is going to be ok.

the train set Reuben got for Christmas

Anna giving Daddy a pretend drink from one of her new tea cups





Me, very pregnant



Our little reader

Morning snuggle time with Daddy

About the point that I was wondering how on earth I was going to keep fitting into my pants for another month, and nesting instinct was starting to really take hold, life took a crazy turn. January 20th was a Wednesday, and I felt really weird and tired all day long, but I still could keep myself from rearranging half the house anyway. Thursday morning at my prenatal check up they discovered that I had developed pre-eclampsia, and sent me to get lab work done then to go home and rest, and come back first thing the next morning.

The next morning Jeremy and I packed bags for ourselves and for the kids and left them at Grandma's on the way to the Dr. My condition had only worsened overnight, so I was immediately admitted to the hospital and they started induction right away. The whole thing was very distressing to me, I knew the induction process for pre-eclampsia would be miserable, and I was really afraid the induction would go wrong and I'd end up with an emergency cesarean.

God was very good to us though, and despite my disappointment that I didn't get to go into labor under normal circumstances, and my labor involved more drugs than I ever want to experience ever again, God was still sovereign through it all. So many people were praying for Laura's safe delivery, and God just poured out His grace and peace on me, and it all just worked out in the end. My Mom was able to hop on a flight and got there well in time for the delivery, and best of all Jeremy finally got to be there for the birth of one of his children.

The whole experience is kind of a fuzzy memory due to all the drugs I was on, but sometime Saturday afternoon right after the nurses changed shifts, Laura Leigh was born weighing 6lb 10oz, and measuring 19.5in long. She was pretty blue, and got whisked away by nurses before I even got to see her, and it seemed like they were rubbing her down and messing with her for the longest time before I finally got to hold her (which was very annoying to me in my semi-deranged state).

My Mom and newborn Laura Leigh

Anna meeting (and hugging) baby Laura for the first time (with Jeremy's Mom)

When we finally got out of the hospital Monday evening Laura's due date was still two weeks away. The day I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia was the day I was going to get the van cleaned out. The day I was admitted to the hospital was the day I was going to clean my house. None of these things happened, indeed, I was cheated out of my "nesting" phase almost entirely, and came home to a house that was a disaster zone. Mail was already piling up, laundry was still in baskets, and I was still barely able to move around.

To make life just a bit more interesting, Laura had a mild case of jaundice that first week, so after getting home Monday evening we were out the door first thing Tuesday morning for a check-up at the pediatrician. They sent us right over to the hospital for lab work, and several hours later we got the call that Laura would need light treatment and we should report to the hospital as soon as we could get there. So from about 3:00p.m. Tuesday until 3:00p.m. Wednesday I was camped out in a hospital room with Laura, missing Reuben and Anna terribly, and incredibly grateful that my Mom was there and at least they were getting in some good Honey Bear time. Then Friday morning we were back at the pediatricians office for yet another check-up...and at that point I was so sick and tired of doctors and hospitals I just wanted to cry. Really, if Mom hadn't been there that week, we don't even know what we would have done - she was a life saver.

Watching YouTube videos with Daddy

My Mom and Laura, trying to stay warm

Reuben, holding Laura for the first time (didn't last long ;)

Laura Leigh

Our little monkey girl...still don't know exactly how she got up there by herself

Friday and Saturday I was finally recovered to a point that I could enjoy Mom's visit, and then early Sunday morning it was already time for a tearful farewell before Jeremy took her to the airport in Boston.

Since I started out already way behind, getting caught up after Laura was born was...a lengthy and frustrating process. Just this past week things have finally started feeling "under control" again, though in reality I never actually have control over much of anything (chuckle). Work has started to pick up a bit for Jeremy, and graphic design projects somehow keep coming in for me - though unfortunately those don't involve much income, if any.

So often during Laura's pregnancy I would happily imagine how much Reuben and Anna would enjoy having a new baby sister, and much to my delight, it's even better than I pictured it. Anna adores her, and both kids are so good with her. I often find them leaning over her softly stroking her hair, giving her kisses, and/or pressing a cheek up against her (their version of a hug). It's really precious.

Reuben has begun potty training, (Anna too, to a certain degree) and he's doing pretty good with it - though I've a feeling it's going to be a long process with him. His vocabulary is constantly growing, and he's started taking on the role of protector of his little sisters - which is good, 'cause Anna needs all the looking after that we can muster. That girl is a one person demolition derby like I've never seen. She's the sweetest little thing ever, but you never met a little girl so curious. Always investigating, always climbing on something, always, always into something she shouldn't be. She's also the kid most likely to sit down and read a book, or put together a puzzle. I won't be the slightest bit surprised if she's constantly giving Reuben a run for his money when they start school.

Daddy with his littlest girl

Sleeping Laura

All three kids in our bed



like father like son

and...like mother like son too I guess ;)

Reuben on his little potty

Smiling baby Laura



goofy little Anna



Anna loving on her baby sister

About a week ago Jeremy got a letter from Norwich Police Department, indicating they would like him to begin the application process - beginning with the physical fitness test in about six weeks. Jeremy had about given up on becoming a Police officer, and had stopped pursuing applications so he could just focus on the business. But Norwich is our hometown, and his dream department (more or less), and in less than half an hour he decided he was actually excited about applying for Norwich. He's started working out in earnest, and this evening he's out doing a ride along with some lucky Norwich cop. We don't know what God's up to, and we're both tired of guessing wrong, so we're just hanging loose and waiting to see what God does...or at least we're trying not to get our hopes up too much. God will only open the door if that really His best, that much we know.

Anna holding her baby sister - with much needed help

Anna's new little toddler bed, that Reuben likes at least as much as she does ;)