Summer Waves

Written in August 2013...
We've done several things to celebrate Mark's birthday starting with dinner a Joe's Crab Shack with my family, a family cookout, and, today, we went to Summer Waves. I'll have to find the video of Mark dancing the funky chicken at Joe's... It's pretty funny.

We went to Summer Waves in Jekyll Island (not Valdosta) with Darci, Josh, and Kaylee. They've got a great splash park for the little kids with a slide. Grant kept standing in the wrong line and then getting mad when he didn't get to go down the slide he wanted ("mommy! That boy said I couldn't go down the yellow slide!").
We tried out the lazy river and everybody had a good time... Except Owen. He wasn't feeling the lazy river.
So, we headed to a tube slide where each kid could go down with an adult. Carson went down a fast slide at the same time and lapped us... Twice! Owen went down the tube slide once but wasn't interested in going twice. Reed, Grant, Carson, and Mark went a second time while Owen and I checked out a splash pad where there was a giant bucket of water that dumped on your head. He liked that. Go figure.
Next we hit the wave pool and everybody had a great time there. I think O liked the fact he could touch the bottom and he practiced swimming some.
Ice cream before we all piled in the car to go home. What a great day. :)

Little man...

I haven't posted here in quite a while but I wanted to write down what is happening with our 5th little one.
He is due on 3/16 and on 1/25 my water broke while we were at a 5k for Carson (running of the seahorses for Seabreeze Elementary). I called the doctor and, on the on-call nurse's advice, I went home to rest and call her back if there were any more leaks, contractions, etc.
I took a nap and about 2:15pm I got up and had more leaking. I called the nurse and was told to go ahead to the hospital.
I'm here now at the hospital. Both baby and I are fine... There was an ultrasound yesterday and amniotic fluid looks good and baby's weight is estimated at 4lbs 9oz.
I'm on antibiotics for 24 hours and I've gotten the first of two steroid shots for lung maturity. I'm 33 weeks today and they're going to try to keep me here for another week. Then they'll deliver.
So many people are praying for us. Your siblings can't wait to meet you. We love you so much! Hang out for another week, little man, and be strong.

Update: so Dr Boyd just came in and said they might let you go till 35 weeks. Hang tight little guy!

We tell the kids if they're having a brother or sister

Went to the doctor today and found out we're having a little boy!

We had a cupcake reveal after dinner...









Here is the video of their guesses and reactions. Reed calmed down soon after this when she realized that she'd eventually get her own room this way. :)

We're all so very excited :)

Reed's new earrings!

On Sunday, I took Reed to get her ears pierced. This is how it went...





















She cried some but she was very brave and some rainbow lip gloss from Clair's made everything seem a bit better. :)

Random photos from a Tuesday

We harvested a cucumber and lots of cherry tomatoes out of the garden.


We crashed out on the couch and watched Chimpanzee the movie.


I put everyone (except Carson) in their beds and then when I came to bed this is what I found.


Everyone got shuffled back to their own beds but these two photos are from Wednesday morning. Love wake up cuddles :)

#5

Haven't written here for a while but wanted to document how we told the kids about baby #5...

http://youtu.be/d6pp9XDNj2E

They're all very excited. Carson had the best reaction. He got emotional. I love them all so much :)

Father's Day at the Fort

The day started with pancakes and the post-pancake nap.

We headed to Castillo de San Marcos in St Augustine in the afternoon on Father's Day.

Got there just in time to watch the soldiers fire the cannon!

Cannons are loud.

Photo after the cannons

Carson showing me how to hide and shoot from the wall.

Helping Grant see through the window in the tower.

Posing with this lady in a pretty dress. Boys got in on the action, too...

Checking out the "time out room."

We explored a lot and then found out about a Junior Ranger program the kids could do. They were really excited.

Ended our afternoon at the fort with a time-honored tradition... Rolling down the hill. I think it's a requirement.