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Liam and Ace

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Liam started running a fever on Friday. I took him to the after hours clinic on Saturday and he had fluid in both ears and ulcers on his throat. He’s being treated with an antibiotic. The fever broke on its on on Saturday night and he’s back to eating and drinking normally.

Ace woke this morning with a fever and generally not feeling good. We just got back from the doctor. The in-house strep test was negative. His throat is red and pussy like strep. His pediatrician thinks it may be just the same viral infection Liam had but in-house strep tests can sometimes be negative. They’ll call tomorrow if the overnight culture is positive. Please pray he gets over this soon so he can be around baby and me whenever the baby comes!!

Still contracting 🙂

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Still Here

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Well, I got about two to three hours of sleep last night…then the boys woke up early. Fortunately, Ace is getting some rest. Liam is hanging out with me right now.

I woke once because of contractions but really couldn’t get a clear count on them. I wound up falling asleep on the couch for about an hour and half so they must not have been too close. I woke again around 3 and was up until 5 but no real sign of contractions getting any closer. They are still very strong at times. I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon…we’ll see what he says.

I’m planning on taking the kids out to get a Swaddleme blanket for Josiah and then do some laps around Babies R’ Us! Stay tuned…

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Contractions

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Well, we just got home from the hospital a little over an hour ago. I am contracting about every 10 minutes…unfortunately, I am not dilating that fast, so I was sent home…mainly going to try and walk some before bed and then try to take a nice warm bath and get rest. The contractions are pretty strong so I am not sure I’ll be able to rest. Right now, I’m having a lot of pain in my lower back so rest is going to be even harder…I’m praying and pretty sure it will be tonight or tomorrow. If I don’t get much rest tonight, I am planning on calling my doctor in the morning to see what we need to do.

Mark or I will keep everyone posted on what’s going on…not up to the minute because we have neither a laptop or other wireless device to transmit up to the minute blogs.

Keep praying that he’ll come soon!!!

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A Sad but Joyous Day

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Our family’s dear friend, Kennis, who had been bravely fighting a form of brain tumors, has gone to be with Jesus this morning. We are extremely sad around here and abroad. My sweet niece (Kennis’s best friend since they were in diapers) will have a hard time grieving as well as the rest of our family.

We are sad here but she is no longer sad or hurting! These past few months have been tough as the cancer came back suddenly and aggressively. My family has had to watch sweet Kennis slowly slip away mentally. We are so thankful that she is no longer hurting and that she’s up in heaven praising Jesus!

Please pray for the Nix family and all the friends grieving the loss of such a special young lady. I am very frustrated that I can not console my niece or nephew at this time because of the baby coming soon. Please pray for comfort for them. My niece is 8 and my nephew is 6 and this is a hard age to learn what it means to be mortal and to also know where eternity will be spent. I praise God that they are all Christians and have a good grasp on His unfailing love during this difficult time.

To send condolences, you can sign Kennis’s Caring Bridge site at www.kennisnix.com

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Laundry Detergent Recipe

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With help from www.frugalshopper.com

I’ve had several requests for my detergent recipe, so here goes!

18 c water
1 bar soap, grated (any bath bar soap or Fels Naptha Laundry Soap)
1 1/2 c Super Washing Soda (I purchase it from www.soapsgonebuy.com)
1 1/2 c Borax
24 quart bucket (I purchased the exact size I needed at Wal-Mart and it has a locking lid to keep prying toddlers out of)
12 c hot water
hot water

Mix soap in a saucepan with 18 cups of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in washing soda and borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 3 quarts hot water to bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until thickened. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

**Detergent will not suds but that does not mean it won’t work**

Consistency should be a little like gel but sometimes if too much water is added it will be watery (but is still useful).

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Roanoke Island Festival Park

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On the way out we stopped at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This was a neat park. Lots of hands on for the kids. They enjoyed the games and the Adventure Museum. Mark and I are still trying to figure out if there are any theories as to why the Roanoke colony just disappeared. There were no theories listed. The only history recorded about the disappearance that we could find was that when Sir Walter Raliegh returned to the colony, there was nothing there except the word “Croatoan” carved on a tree. He could not look for the people because of an ocean storm. That’s it!

Mark practices walking on stilts and does a great job! We stopped at a tent that had all sorts of games that children played in the 1500s.
Liam set up the sticks for a game like bowling.

Demonstrating the rings that the children would play with.

Liam loved the horses to ride.

Zoe tries her hand at stiltwalking.

Zoe enjoyed dressing in 1500s garb.
Liam enjoyed dressing up too.
Trying on hats in a general store.

This is an exact replica of the Elizabeth II that sailed over with colonists. It’s small! And it held 50 men on it. Amazing. The interpreters really knew their stuff and told us all about “pirating” or “privateering” as it was called back then. The English were considered privateers because Spain was in control of the New World at the time.


Looking out of a port of the ship. Ace loved being so close to the water…I just knew he was going to go for a swim. The Elizabeth II sails twice a year with a crew of 15 to 20.

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Wright Brothers Memorial

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On the way to the beach house, we stopped at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk. Zoe, Ace, and Liam loved exploring outside after being couped up in the car for two days. Mark and I loved the history. It was so neat to stand right where the first “plane” took off in to the air. I was amazed by the ingenuity of the Wright Brothers. Starting from failed attempts and working to perfect their own plane.

The kids loved playing in the reconstructed hangar!
The memorial created in 2003 to commemorate the 1913 flight.
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At the Beach

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Carrie with Roman and Mandi with Jacob

Liam’s first reaction to the beach!

Uncle Scott attempted, in vain, to build a sandcastle. As soon as one tower was built, Ace and Liam would knock it down!


Making cookies with Aunt Heather!


Ace loved the babies. He was able to make them both laugh a lot!
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Only 9 more to go…

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My contractions yesterday were not as strong as I thought but they did do something…I’m dilated 1 cm. Josiah is still pretty far up. Of course, my cervix is softened because I’ve given birth to three children….sooooo….we’re pretty much just waiting around for whenever God chooses for Josiah to get here.

My doctor wants to induce before he goes out of town on the 30th…He really wants to be there for the birth. I like to think that it’s just our family that is special but he treats all his patients this way. I told him we would see how I was progressing by the 27th (the day he wants to induce) before I would let him. I really really would like to go on my own. So, all my friends (even if you think I’m insane) please pray that we go into labor before the 27th! Next week would be ideal for family and friends (except Annette…but you’re always out of town when I deliver 🙂

On a vacation picture note, Mark should be getting the camera connected so I can post pictures tomorrow.

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We’re Home!

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One week and 9 hours later, we are home from vacation! We had a wonderful time and I’ll post pictures from our “Bamapalooza 2007” trip later this week. First to unpack. I just wanted to send out a quick note that we are home.

No major injuries…biting flies and dodging crabs all week….Zoe got a splinter in her finger and Liam did good (minus having his thumb closed in the door by Zoe) until last night at our pit stop, he pulled the hairdryer down on his face causing a bruised lip and bloody nose. I’m glad Mark had him or we would have been searching desperately for an ER in the middle of nowhere!

It really was a fun trip with all of Mark’s college roommates and their families. There were 10 adults and 5 kids (all under the age of four) total. Mark definitely has a unique friendship and family bond with these guys. They got Ace out of saying, “Underwear!” all the time…but now (thanks, Uncle Ryan), he says, “I want to ROCK!” What are uncles for huh?! Ace and Zoe have taken calling these four special guys their crazy uncles! Uncle Scott has magic and can make a fire light up in a fireplace with a little wave. Aunt Heather was brave enough to take all three kids on in an effort to make sugar cookies…they may have looked funny but they tasted good.

What a fun trip. We’re looking forward to our next “Bamapalooza” trip in two years! We love you all!!!

I made it through without having a baby…contractions have been really strong and frequent (not consistent) all day today…I think most of that is because of sitting still riding in the car. We’ll see if there is any progress at the doctor’s tomorrow.

I have got to unpack and get some stuff together for Josiah’s baby book…it’s crunch time now!!!

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