It's been too long!!

Well, I guess it's about time to do some updating again! Hopefully it won't be too random, but I am out of practice and it IS late... Bear with me. But what to say? We have just been crazy in love with our little Ivy, and busy as can be with the boys (Josh included) and their school and other activities!

Josh is stretched just as thin as possible these days what with working full-time, taking school classes, homework, and even taking a non-credit CNA class (which takes a lot of time!). Even with all the demands that are on him though, he finds time to be a loving daddy and sweet husband. He takes it all and still has a pleasant demeanor and sense of humor. Thankfully there is beginning to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. It just can't get here soon enough.

Paul is doing really well in school, pulling all A's. He is involved in a lot of athletics and is really enjoying shootin' hoops and playing his guitar. (He's got a natural ability in the music department.) He's growing like a weed, and is such a great help to me and Josh. It's funny how busy a 9 year old can be, too... School, scouts, sports, music, homework, lots of eating(!!)... It adds up! For sure, Paul fills my heart with such love and joy for what a good and sweet boy he is!

Nick is still doing amazingly well. We have gradually been decreasing his heart meds, and at the end of January actually took him OFF the meds! He had a bit of trouble that week, but to our knowledge hasn't had trouble since! SUCH A BLESSING!! His appetite has grown immensely, he's becoming sturdier in his stature, his color looks soooo good, and he's just a living, breathing, daily reminder of the Lord's tender mercies and miracles. My heart just swells and makes me feel like my chest can't possibly contain it when I think of the miracle we are experiencing. Nick is smart as a whip, and has a really great sense of humor... always saying something funny.

Andrew is becoming a great reader and trying to keep up with Paul in the sports department. He's loving bike riding, basketball, and baseball. He seems to be really liking building things too. Andrew, like Paul and Nick, is totally smitten with Ivy and is very protective of her. All 3 boys fight over whose turn it is to sit be her in the car, EVERY TIME. (It's really cute. lol) Andrew is growing up so fast and it kind of breaks my heart to have my littlest man be so big. He's such a tender heart and so sweet to me. What a lucky mom I am to have such wonderful boys in my life!!

Ivy is 3 month old... today. WOW. The time goes by so quickly once the babies are born! It seems like while you're pregnant time practically stands still, but once they get here, *BAM* -- there goes the days, weeks, and months in just a blink of an eye! Ivy is smiling, cooing, and giggling, and pretty much wrapping us all around her tiny little fingers. =) She's as beautiful as they come, and just melts my heart. I don't know how we ever got along without her!

So let's see here... Pretty much I have a full, joyous, swollen, broken, melted heart... Just LOOK at what these kids do to me! lol

I've been busy but when I go to tell doing WHAT I've been busy doing, it somehow escapes me! All I can seem to come up with are one word spurts... kids, house, baby, cooking, washing, FHE... But my life is so good!! I'm in heaven with this new baby, my boys are all so great and amazing, my husband is working hard for our future, We're just GOOD! ... Hmmmmm, what else? I've gone to a couple of ZUMBA classes lately (Fun, but I gotta admit I'm pretty much the epitome of the "white people can't dance" stereotype. No joke.) But maybe with more practice... =) I also have been having a lot of fun finding new favorite recipes online and out of cookbooks! What can I say? I just really love making good food! Sometimes I just wish I had a bakery or something so I would at least have an excuse for baking so much!

I think that's about it for now. Like I mentioned at the beginning, it's late and I am out of practice. I'll work on it. =)