life is busy

We have been a busy gang. I really need to update with a lot of pictures of our happenings the past few months. But, for now this is all I have. These were taken by our friend Shane for our Christmas card. It was so cold and windy that day! All in all the kids did pretty well. Ella couldn't take anymore of the cold after about an hour (neither could I!!!!) so we left the boys and let them take some more cute pics.

Cooper turned 3 on Dec. 19th and Carson turned 5 on Jan. 19th....photos to come soon! I think I still need to update with Thanksgiving and Christmas pictures, too. Oh, and we went to Great Wolf Lodge in October. Excellent vacation! Carson asks on a weekly basis when we are going back.

Other than a few sicknesses, we have been doing great. Carson had a perferct 1st report card in pre-k. He is growing up way too fast! Cooper goes to preschool one day a week and is finally getting close to being potty trained (beginning yesterday :) Ella is as sweet as ever! Still not walking yet but she is getting closer. She weighed in at 19lb 1oz for her 15 month appt. so she is still in her carrier in the car facing backward :( Jason is training for the full marathon for the OKC memorial and I'm training for the 1/2 marathon. So, running is keeping us BUSY! Life is good!

more photos

(all the above pics were taken by our friend, SJ - thanks bud!)

At the request of Auntie Deana, I decided to post a few more photos of my beauties and some of their friends. I am so in love with my kids right now!!! (maybe it's b/c all 3 of them are asleep right now). They are just so precious. I've heard too many heart wrenching stories lately that have just brought me to tears. Life is precious. I praise God for my beautiful family, and I pray that He will always be glorified.

Today, is Ella's actual 1st birthday. I've been a little emotional and thinking back to that scary day. The more I recall, the more I realize how much God brought life to Ella. She came into this world not breathing - she was a blue baby and it took several minutes for her to be resuscitated. She had Apgar scores of 1, 1, 7 (that is bad!). Then she had a seizure from a grade III brain bleed. Then possible hydrocephalus and she had to have 3 spinal taps things to remove the excess fluid. We were told that brain damage had been done, but it was unknown how much. She went on to have a couple EEG's, MRI's, CT scans and several ultrasounds on her brain. Ella finally got to come home one month later and on an apnea monitor for 6 long months. But, after all those months, this little girl is a miracle. She is still little, but is doing amazing things. Dr's can say one thing, but we have a Greater Physician who is beyond all modern medicine. I praise the Lord Almighty!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ELLA!

Best Friends!

I'm finally back to the world of blogging. It's been a busy past 3 months. Jason and I did the dreaded p90x. We're finally done, so I have a small period of time to blog tonight. By the way, p90x was totally as unenjoyable as it sounds, but 100% worth it!

Ella turned 1 on October 2nd. We had a huge birthday party for her with lots of friends and family! Thank you to you all! Ella is such a joy. She is crawling and pulling up to everything...but not even close to walking. I love this girl so much! Carson and Cooper are so precious, too. Carson is doing so well at school. He loves to sing, sing, sing. Coop goes to preschool once a week and is loving it. Coop is learning a lot of songs, too from hearing his big bro sing :)

11 months

11 Months this picture depicts all (Ella bugging Carson...Cooper bugging Ella.....)
Party of 5!

Baby Dedication at church (Daddy picked out her dress)

Boomer!

Sooner!

My 3 JOYS!

sleeping beauty

one day I know I'll miss all these cars randomly on the floor, so I had to take a pic of them

Cooper - 2.5 years - 1st day of preschool 2010

Carson - 4.5 years - 1st day of pre-k

Carson - 1st trip to the dentist

I totally missed updating with Ella's 10 month post. And, the pics are somewhere on some hard drive that isn't my laptop. So, sorry baby girl, no 10 month pics on this blog :( Ella started officially crawling about 2 weeks ago. She is a busy girl and into EVERYTHING! Her brothers are starting to think she is a tad bit annoying. But they still can't keep their hands off of her. She says "bye-bye", "baw" (ball), and an occasional momma and daddy. I think she spouted out "uh-oh" today. Ella loves to clap, especially when her brothers sing "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands..." She also gives us a nice Boomer Sooner touchdown here and there.

Carson started pre-K a few weeks ago. He loves it!!! I was a little concerned that he wasn't going to get out of the car, but he is a big boy. He loves to learn. He finally went to his 1st official dentist visit on the first day of school. He was a pro! We found out he has a loose tooth along with an extra tooth. Dr. M. said that just means he's that much smarter :) We were supposed to go to the dentist on the day Ella came home from the hospital back last November. Obviously we chose to take her home instead of getting our teeth cleaned.

Cooper started back to his preschool one day a week. He's still trying to get back into the groove of it. I have enjoyed spending a little one on one with Coop when big brother goes to school and little sis is taking a nap. It's a very special time that I'm soaking up making memories!

Carson asked the other day how much longer he has to go to school. It's so weird! We are officially in school......forever!!!! I know you Mom's all understand. It's sad, but it's so fun watching them mature so much. The days are long but the years are short! (stole that from my friend, MB)

We have started planning for Ella's big 1st Birthday! Can't believe it's almost here!

pics

9 months....hard to find a good pose
2 legged race (Carson in blue, cousin Reid in red, Uncle Mark coaching)

doing a great job! CRASH! this was hilarious!

she doesn't quite like her bows these days He loves his sister
His Dad is #1 potato sack race (Jason came in 2nd b/c the guy in the blue cheated)

turtle race - thanks James for the turtle....which didn't move an inch!

Grandpa and Ella. I love this pic!

9 months later - the room is finally complete

Girly!

Aunt Deana painted this. Amazing!!!!

All boys!!!! Carson, Cooper and cousins Reid and Parker

Redhawks GameBowling with Auntie Deana

I'm trying to get Domestic!!!
My 1st cake

Homeade cinnamon rolls

Delicious pretzels that are fun to make with the kiddos

(I stole the idea from here: infarrantly creative)