Catch Up

It's been forever, I know. And I'm sure my 5 readers have been pining away wondering what's happening in my oh-so-exciting life. Pretty much same stuff, different days. A lot of stuff, jammed into every day. So in terribly bad form, I'll do a brief rundown.

Steve's birthday gift - ended up going with the iPod nano for no real reason other than it was at Sam's Club and so was I. He loved it and is now trying to figure out how to work it.

Bridget - is living each day as a gift from God and a testimony to His goodness in her life even in the midst of tragedy. She started chemo about a week ago and seems to be tolerating it ok. She has been able to go home and control pain ok. It sounds like they are planning to try and have the baby. 24 weeks is about as early as a premie can survive, but every week longer is even better. They said without the chemo, Bridget had ~30-60 days; with it maybe up to a year. So keep them all in your prayers. My cousin (Steve), sends me periodic emails and I think it has to be so surreal to have all that going on yet still have the many responsibilities of work and providing for your family.

Gabby - scored a goal in last soccer game! Yeah!! She would have scored 2 if the goal had been a little taller:) She also started horseback riding lessons last week. She absolutely LOVES it, which may not surprise you, but does me a little since she's always been on the shy side about the horses. Her instructor is very pleased and says she's come as far in two weeks as her agemates have come in a year. Do ya think this may be due to some inherant balance that she has since she's been riding since she was in utero?

Gabby's quote of the day while we're driving: "Mom, I'm so mad at Gigi (her great-grandma)!" "Gigi? Why?" "I'm mad because she had Grandpa Art fired up and now he's in little pieces at Uncle Phil's house!" She was so indignant that my grandpa had been cremated:)!

Rylee - she thinks she should be playing soccer and riding horses, but alas, not yet little one! So instead all she does outside is play soccer in Gabby's old uniform. She's going to be a ball hog I have a feeling. She got kindergarden tested and will be going to kindergarden next year which is good.

C.J. - now over 20lbs at 6 months. Causing me serious shoulder pains already. I think it's time for a diet, but as you'll see from the pictures, he hasn't seen a meal he doesn't like. He's doing a crawl-roll-scoot thing that allows him to travel most of the living room. I'm dreading full mobility - I can hear the female shreaks of distress as Barbies, Polly Pockets, and Pet Shops are held hostage by a slobbering brother.

His previous great sleeping habbits had really fallen short in the past month or so, so mean mommy has been implementing the cry all night routine rather than the multiple bottles he was previously demanding. So far, moderately painful (more because loving hubby does not tolerate crying babies in the middle of the night), but I think we're breaking through.

So I think that's it for that infinately long update. Now for the fun stuff!

I told you he didn't miss many meals. Occasionally he does share with his furry friends, though.

They're so cute you'd never believe how loud they can make me scream! (Note: you can't quite see it, but C.J. is wearing the maize and blue)

The die-hard soccer chicks. It was like 35 and quite windy.

I went with Gabby's class trip to the Kalamazoo museum. It was a lot of fun trying to keep up with her and her little friends.