Monday, December 22, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

22 lbs and counting

To some of you 22 lbs doesn't seem like a big deal... some of you might want to lose 22 lbs.... Americans eat on average 22 lbs of candy a year...the Israelis eat over 22 lbs of turkey in a year... Americans also eat 22 lbs of tomatoes (mainly in the form of ketchup) in a year .....22 lbs in our house is a big number any way you look at it. We weighed in today for Claire at just over 22 lbs... we have not seen that number on her since she was one! yeah! And yes.... still seizure free! Hallelujah! Keep packing on the pounds Claire. Her therapists continue to be surprised and impressed by the progress she is making.... We will take every baby step we can get.

And the countdown to Christmas continues. Another link from our paper chain gone. The excitement is building. Are you waiting in expectation of some great gift you have hoped for? or are you waiting in expectation for the celebration of Jesus' Birthday?

Friday, December 5, 2008

2 months

As I sit here in a rare moment when all 3 girls are asleep for a nap at the same time I thought I would reflect a moment.

2 months and Claire is still seizure free! What an extended Thanksgiving we are having. She continues to do well. Gaining strength almost daily. She loves sitting in her chair and playing, viewing the world. Today we got her in her chair and let her play her favorite computer cause and effect game. She really loved being right up at the computer. Much easier for all of us instead of me holding her in my lap.

And now to Molly.... she is crawling and pulling up and talking more. My oh my. As Russell said the other day, we are so glad we decided to have a 3rd child. What a sweet and lots of times funny little blessing she is.

And Miss Hope....we have moved on into our 1st grade phonics and she is doing great. In fact we will probably finish this out by Spring Break. She is a joy to watch as she learns and discovers new things. She is really growing up. She continues to amaze us with her vocabulary (always big), her bigger than life persona and her unending love for her sisters.

We are onto the countdown till Christmas. Hope pulls off one chain from her paper links every day. She can hardly wait. Although I think she is most excited about Georgia and Maggie (my brothers 2 dogs) coming to Grandmommy's house for Christmas. The presents under the tree are killing Hope that she can't open them yet. I mean after all what good are they doing sitting there looking all pretty when I could be playing with them.

But somehow admist the busyness of Christmas and the "I want" attitudes.... we have managed to find a time almost every evening to remember the advent. A couple of years ago we started with Hope a daily advent reading... this year we have expanded that to lighting the advent candle, reading the scripture and Daddy leading us in prayer. It is exciting to see how Hope is getting into the spirit of Jesus' Birthday and gaining an understanding of some of the scripture we are reading about Christ's birth. May we all take time daily during this season to remember just exactly why we celebrate this blessed.

And on that day in the city of David a Saviour will be born to you and you shall call his name Jesus.