Christmas morning

Christmas morning!!!

Fun in the Tub

Worry

Miss Natalee is 16 1/2 months and I feel like I have been in constant battle with in over her!!  When will she come out?  Will it be before Josh's exam?  Why is she choking so much on my milk?  Pertussis?!? WHAT?!? Why isn't she smiling, rolling over, sitting, crawling??  Her core control is so weak.  Her feet turn in.  Why is she getting so many ear infections?!?  We have tubes, why do they keep coming?  Why is she not walking yet?!?  

It seemed like the worry and doubt would never stop.  No matter how much progress she made there was always something.  I am NOT that way with Garrett and Haylee, why am I that way with her???  

This weekend after talking with Josh and some friends I decided I was going to call physical therapy to get her back in because she still was not walking.  Yes she had taken up to 11 steps but that was maybe twice.  Most of the time it was 2 steps and then down she went....since the middle of August.  I had a plan, my mind was made up...come Monday morning we were making an appointment with physical therapy.  

Monday morning comes around and she takes a good 20 steps....one time.  But 20 STEPS!!  Ok so maybe I shouldn't call.  Just give it more time, she's progressing.  

Tuesday (today) comes around and she gets out of her crib and walks....all over the place!!!  Yes she's still wobbles and falls but she's walking!!  30....40.....steps at a time!!!  

I feel right now that God is telling me OVER AND OVER AND OVER again to trust Him.  I know Natalee will be fine.  I've known that.  So why do I worry??  

I know my battle with worry is not over but I pray that I can learn a little more each time.  I strive to get to the point to not be anxious but to give God everything because he is the one that understands it all.  

Natalee started walking today!!

 Just about done with taking pictures......almost

We LOVE you so much Natalee!!

Crazy Life!! New Job, 80th Birthday Party, Starting School, & So Much More.....

Last day of SUMMER!!  No better way to spend it than with friends at the pool!!!

So yes I'm way behind and I have thought about just forgetting the blog but I love going back and reading about our lives!!  It's fun to look back and pictures and what was going on!!  So I'm going to try to be better about posting!!  Even if it's just for myself!!  

So a lot has happened....nothing exciting but a lot!!  

The kids started school, my grandpa turned 80 and I started a new job!!

I started an ER position at the local hospital here in Tulsa.  It's been a learning experience but I'm loving it!!  I am planning on working one night a week to stay up on nursing skills, have adult time and of course make a little extra cash!!  

Garrett started the THIRD GRADE!!!  He is in Mrs. McCleer's class (who happens to live 2 doors down from us....very convenient!!)  He's loving life.  He's happy, fun, loves his friends and loves to find himself in trouble (guess he's a normal 8 year old boy!!)

Miss Haylee started KINDERGARTEN!!!  I know it's crazy!!  She was so excited and so ready!!!  She has a new teacher....that we love!!  Ms. Smith!!  Haylee prides herself in being one of the best kids in the class!!  They have different colors that represent their behavior and she has NEVER gone down in a color (apparently only two kids have achieved this)!!  

Our neighbors and friends!!  

Mrs. McCleer and Ms. Smith

My grandpa turned 80 this year!!  I can't believe that's possible!!  I have so many memories with him!!  Driving his old grey truck (and crashing it in his mailbox), going and getting peacock feathers and a neighboring farm, helping him and my grandma feed the baby cows a bottle, eating pita bread and salsa as a bedtime snack, and looking at those really neat pop-up books that we were not allowed to touch without them with us!!  I'm so happy that my kids are not getting to create memories with him!!!

a selfie I took of us!!

Natalee's cousin Dorthy who happens to be 6 months younger than her!!

We Love you Grandpa!!!

Fun at Grandma & Grandpa's

While we were having our couple's weekend the kids went to my parents house for a FUN filled weekend!!  I was a little bit jealous of how much fun they had!!  My parents kept them busy!!!  They went and watched fireworks, went to a water park, went to the farm (AKA my grandparent's house) where they got to shoot arrows, ride the four wheeler, and see cows, camp outside, roast hot dogs, fly kites, go fishing, and who knows what else!!!

 playing tic tac toe with Grandpa

 FIREWORKS!!!!!  

My parents wanted to look at the stars and point out different things but as soon as the kids got in bed they were out!! 

All of the kids slept until 9am the next morning after my parents brought them home!!!