Our Summer

It has been forever since I have updated my blog! Keeping busy with the kids will do it! How do I summarize the summer besides it seemed to be only a few short days.

Isaiah wrapped up his school year and "graduated" into going into third grade. I am amazed again at how well he did at school in addition to his ability to speak so well in Spanish at such a young age. A few short days later we headed straight into summer with a trip up at Big Rock Resort and had lots of fun together as a family along with Grandma and Grandpa F. and caught lots of fish. Fishing seems to be the highlight as Daddy, Isaiah and Grandpa can't seem to get enough of it!

We then spent some time with Nanny & Papa and swam a lot in the pool as well as had lots of fun being completely spoiled as always! That is a role for grandparents, and my oh my do they get spoiled! The girls stayed with my mom as Isaiah and I flew to Washington D.C. for a very quick tour of our nations capitol. It was both of our first times and John did a great job at being our tour guide! We were able to see the White House, Lincoln's memorial, go up in Washington's monument and went to both the Museum of Natural History as well as the National Air and Space museum. It was a fantastic trip.

In July we celebrated Gabriella's 4th birthday several times! She loves birthday parties, the more the merrier! She was so happy to finally be four! She has talked about it since she turned 3 (a lot)!! A few days after her birthday we headed down to Florida along with John's parents to visit Great Grandpa and had a very nice time. It was so nice to see him perk up throughout the week and I think it was exactly what the doctor ordered...to be surrounded by his loved ones and the kids! Gabriella talks about Great Grandpa often and this visit gave her fond memories of being silly with Great Grandpa.

The following week Gabriella ended up getting sick with some sort of virus and for the next 3 weeks we were in and out of the hospital for a total of 12 days. We are thankful for the prayer warriors that prayed on her behalf and give God the glory for his mercy and grace in healing our precious little girl. She has been sick only a couple of times in her first 4 years of life and it was not like her to be sick at all, since I would always classify her as the one who is the healthiest of the three. She continues to thrive now and has put on all her weight she lost and maybe has even gained a pound or two! She loves to eat! She always wanted to be a doctor before being poked countless times for blood tests, IV's or protted for endless tests. She marveled at all the appointments she tagged along with as Isabella had her well check ups and even Isaiah but was never on the recieving end like this before. I was telling one of the child life specialists before the placement of her PICC line that before all of this she wanted to be a doctor when she grows up and she said she would give her a bag of goodies, and oh my she did! A bag filled with surgical hats and masks, gloves, syringes, medicine cups, tape measurer and lots more. Needless to say the desire to be a doctor has grown even stronger, as she cannot stop playing doctor!


Isabella is growing like crazy, both up and across! She has packed on some weight, which is good since she was so tiny her first year of life, she has made up for that now. She is talking like crazy and getting a mind and a will of her own, and she lets us know her desires very strongly! For she is a princess, just ask her! She has a doting brother and sister who bring her anything she desires and a Mommy and Daddy who still think she is a baby, so disciplining thus far has not been initiated quite yet! Which brings us to another point....she still is not walking. We are eagerly anticipating it to be soon though. She is content with crawling and pushing her seems to send her into a mini-rebellion where she won't even stand. So we try not to push too much and know she will start when she is ready. Hopefully sooner than later!

We are ending the summer (yes, summer is still thriving here in MN in the middle of September) on a very good note, some more time up at Leech Lake and a fun get away on the beach with our dear friends Russ and Lisa who invited us to vacation with them down near Charleston, SC.

As I remember our highlights of the summer, I stand amazed and in awe of God's presence in our life through His amazing love, mercy, and grace He so lavishly bestows upon us daily. He is an amazing God, full of power and majesty. Thank you Lord for my three precious miracles and an amazing husband.

 

We had a fabulous time in Mexico! We missed Isabella but were able to talk with her daily via webcam! I love technology! She did great with Grandma & Grandpa and her cousins who visited frequently. Some of the greatest highlights were watching Isaiah amaze so many locals by his "Spanish", our cenote kayak and snorkel trip, our tour to Talum and Xel Ha where we saw some ancient Mayan ruins and snorkeled in an amazing ocean "pool" where we got to see lots of colorful fish, Isaiah & Daddy eating a gourmet appetizer later finding out it was cricket (Daddy said it was good not knowing it was cricket and then Isaiah spit out a whole cricket!), swimming in the pool, soccer, volleyball, boogie boarding, Isaiah and Gabriella both held parrots, lizards and monkeys, Isaiah and a few boys doing karoke, being completly pampered at the resort, getting our nightly dessert room service but most of all being with each other.
We feel so blessed to be able to take a trip like this and it would never be if it were not for the generosity of John's parents gifting us with the beautiful timeshare week and for the free airline tickets!

Isabella is one!

I can hardly believe Isabella is one! In some ways it feels like she has always been here and other ways I am completely amazed at how fast this year has gone. Although she will always be my baby!

Here are her accomplishments in her first year...

1) It took her a while to start gaining weight, but she did it and is weighing in about 19 pounds 11 ounces!

2) Slept through the night at 8 weeks old! Mama is so thankful for this one!

3) Rolled over at 3 weeks twice to our amazement!
4) Smiled at 3 weeks old
5) Sat up at 7 1/2 mos
6) Her first tooth came in at 6 mos.
7) Main mode of transportation...rolling and some army crawling
8) Plays peak a boo, so big, claps, waves, and signs for "more"
9) Drinks from a sippy cup
10) Says "hi" and "mama" and "dada" on occasion
11) Plays ball with you
12) Loves to do what Mommy says "no" to and smiles as she does it! Such as dumping her plate or throwing food onto the floor
13) She is our pure entertainment as we love to watch her play with her big brother and big sister and how they all easily amuse each other and are inf actuated with each other
14) A new fondness over babies has just started
15) Loves to give kisses and yes, they are wet and slobbery...just the way I like them!
16) Used to love water over her face and now cries when getting her hair washed
17) Loves her pureed baby vegetables but is not such a fan of the real veggies
18) Is easily amused by door stoppers and vents...Toys?? Who needs them?
19) Loves her new walker
20) She is here and we love every square inch of her and cannot imagine life without her.

We love you Izzy! You are such a joy to us and we know that God has great plans for you! Thank you Lord for her!

Daddy is the Best!

What a wonderful husband and Daddy we all have! Super Daddy! I woke up this morning with Gabriella and Isaiah jumping into bed with us snuggling and John brought Isabella in, for all five of us to snuggle together. Our favorite weekend thing to do with the kids! John let me get ready for the day while he took the kids downstairs and made all of us a hot delicious breakfast. He then went out to snow blow the driveway so I could get Isaiah to his piano competition. While Isaiah and I were gone, he took care of the girls and Daddy and Gabby made Peanut Butter and Jelly Pinwheels from Gabby's cookbook! I get home just in time for John to head off to the airport, he dropped Isaiah off first at a party and flew down to Mexico and back all in one day! He is our Super Hero!

 

As I reflect upon all of our Valentine Day's, I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband who is a wonderful and loving Daddy to Isaiah, Gabriella and Isabella. John and I have been married for almost 12 years this June and I am amazed at how God brought such a special man into my life who truly is my best friend. Isaiah and Gabriella associate Valentines Day with candy and cards but I associate it with a reflection on much I love each of my children and my husband. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a wonderful family!

Update on the Kids

Isabella is getting very close to crawling! She gets what she needs by rolling, pivoting, or army crawling! The girls love to play in the playroom together and recently Gabby is the Mommy and I am the little sister and Isabella is the baby. A lot of times our "Mommy" has to go shopping and "Barbie" baby sits us. We can go on like this all day! I love to watch Gabriella role play but to be honest it is like watching a mirror of myself!

The boys have been playing their guitar every night and we have been having some nice evenings with some Praise & Worship music Isaiah has been working on. Isabella loves to watch them play and we all sing together. Moments like this, I will cherish forever. Thank you God!

Florida

I packed up the kids and took them down to Florida to see Grandma, Grandpa and Great Grandpa! We had a very nice time although a bit on the cold side for Florida, compared to what we left from it was paradise.

We were able to spend a few days in the pool and on the last day before going Isaiah met this wonderful family with kids his age and they played all afternoon in the pool. We went to the Holy Land Experience and the kids were enthralled by the Passion Drama of Jesus. It still sparks conversation with them.

Isaiah golfed at a real course with Grandpa twice for the first time in his life. First score was a 69 and he improved his second time out he shot a 55! Way to go Isaiah! Gabriella shot a hole in one on her last round of mini golf, thanks to Grandpa's foot being in the way!

Isabella, our sleeping beauty, would not sleep on the airplane even though it was nap time! Her first flight, she cried a lot, but then the remainder of the flights she did great. She will sleep all day if she is at home in her crib or in a pack and play somewhere else, but forget those days when she would fall asleep in her car seat or anywhere else. She was diagnosed with a double ear infection while down there, but considering not feeling the best, she was a very good little girl! She turned 10 mos while down there and the kids insisted we sing to her and have ice cream in celebration of her 10 mos. birthday! No, she did not get to taste it! She will get her opportunity for her first dose of sugar once she turns one!

Despite a car rental fiascal the first night, we had a very smooth trip. Isaiah was a big help! One of the funniest moments was when we first got to the airport, we had just checked our bags and I looked back and there is Gabriella behind me and her carry on bag was a 100 feet away, I told her she forgot her bag and to go get it. We all stood there while she went back to get it. She bends down and gets out her "Barbie" phone and puts the phone between her ear and her shoulder and talks to "Barbie" as she proceeds to put other things in her back pack and starts to walk, oblivious to the reality world around her as she walks in front of people. Such a classic moment!

Last night seemed like such a special evening with the kids. It was just an ordinary night with helping with homework, reading books and playing with the kids. But I had a moment where in the depths of my heart I felt so blessed to have this opportunity to raise these beautiful little creations that God truly has a special plan flaid out for each of their lives and I get to be a part of it! They are each little miracles and truly do have a personal story about how each of them came to be here.

Isaiah sereneded us with his piano and guitar and of course Gabriella had to perform her songs as well which were wonderful! I went upstairs for a brief moment to help Gabriella and Isabella started to cry (something she does anytime I leave her sight now). I came down to find her smiling ear to ear as Isaiah was playing his guitar singing her a song just for her! It was so sweet watching the two of them.

Our Hour at Church

The kids and I went to church this morning and we were on time! That can be viewed as a bit of a miracle in itself. There was no Sunday School today so the kids went to church with me. They were very good.....with a few everyday occurrences that happen daily in our house which seemed to happen all in our church service! Gabriella decided to have a power struggle with me since she found gum in my purse and after I told her "no" she proceeded to dump it all out, then she "found" a piece she said was unwrapped, telling me she can't find the wrapper. I of course gave in and let her split a piece with Isaiah. You should have seen her smile from ear to ear as she chomped on that gum! Then we went up for communion and a family blessing and Isaiah tells the person who is serving the communion "No, I can't, I have gum". I have some work to do in that area! Meanwhile Isabella's nose was constantly running and I thought I was doing a good job at keeping it wiped until I looked down at my shirt and was disgusted by all the snot all over me. She started to get a bit fussy and so I put her up near my shoulder and then the next thing I know, a man comes up to me and says "your daughter just puked all over you", I look down and sure enough I have puke all on my shoulder and all in my hair (we were sitting near the front, bad idea with kids, I know). I then cleaned it up and said to the kids lets go (church was just getting over) and I looked down yet again, and saw my pants were coming undone in the front! I am utterly embarrassed that this all occurred in one hour plus at church but to be perfectly honest this is my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything! I love these beautiful precious gifts from the Lord!

We have been going a bit stir crazy being confined indoors due to the kiddos not feeling so well this week. So today we headed off to Adventure Peak with their cousins to burn some built up energy!

I think Gabriella has changed into about 8 different pajamas in the last 24 hours. She has this thing...as soon as it starts getting dark, she changes into her jammies. Lately it has been several different ones in a matter of a few hours. She makes me laugh at what goes on in her little mind....Today, I saw her going upstairs with a few different bags along with her winter jacket, hat and sunglasses on. I asked her what she was doing and she replied (with a bit of a sigh like I should know)....."going to school". I took a picture of it since it was just way too cute. I love her imagination!

Isaiah on the other hand is much more black and white which I love too. He is creative in the ways he draws, paints, plays the piano and build legos. He loves to find out how things work. Right before going to bed on New Years Eve night he retired his blue blanket! The blue blanket he has had from birth!

Isabella we are still trying to figure out, but so she loves to smile and her new thing is since she still is not crawling, is rolling, pivoting or doing what ever it takes to get something including whining! Whining when Mommy leaves the room or when someone else but Mommy or Daddy are holding her.