Sarah is 4

"Together is a wonderful place to be."

So our little peanut Sarah is 4 today!

She was so little when she was born. She weighed 4 lbs.

Now she is a beautiful, healthy, smart little lady.

She is loving Preschool. She comes home and first tells me what snack they had that day, then she tells me about her new friends.

Unfortunately, she didn't get to spend her birthday at school.

She was so excited to pass out treats to her new friends. But she had to stay home and get "treated." Yesterday I was called to come pick up Rachel from school. Lice. I have never dealt with this before. I went to pick up Rachel and asked them to have Noah ready too. Then I called Leah's school and told them I was coming to get her and could they please have the school nurse check her. Leah had it too.

The last 36 hours have been tough. I am exhausted! I have done everything I can to clean their hair, clean our home. I hope it is enough.

I have contacted everyone I can think of that needs to know.

Our street has many cases of it. The kids play together, ride the bus together,...We normally have many children at our bus stop. This morning there were four. I have a feeling this is a huge outbreak.

The girls will need to be checked by the school nurse before they can return to school. I just pray that other parents are honest and that they report to the school that their child has it and has them treated and checked. I don't want to go through all of this just to send our children back to school to get it again. Our little cul de sac has been communicating well since we first knew. We even sat outside today and checked each other's children and each other's heads. I'm pretty sure we started some odd conversations when our other neighbors drove or walked by and saw us picking at each other's hair.

This morning we put a candle in Sarah's waffle and sang Happy Birthday to her. Then the day was just busy and messy. I told her I owe her a "redo" when everything calms down again.

When Tom came home we had to take the Rug Dr. back, so we took Cameron, Jacob, and Sarah to the store with us. We let Sarah pick out a treat, some stickers to share with her classmates, and a Dora play phone. She was very happy! Then when we got back home, Tom surprised Sarah with 4 big beautiful pink roses. She had such a smile on her face! But then it was time to go to bed. Sarah didn't want to go to her bed, so I carried her then sat next to her. I told her all about the day she was born. I could tell she loved hearing about that day. And soon her little eyes couldn't stay opened anymore and she fell asleep. Her special day had a good beginning and a good ending. We will do something special to make up for the whole in-between.

Happy Birthday Sarah Christine. You are so very loved. 

A New School Year

"A journey begins with one step."

Brandon, Ethan, Noah, and Rachel all started school yesterday.

So far so good. Everyone is happy with their teachers and classes.

Today Leah started Kindergarten and Sarah started Preschool.

Tom stayed home to watch them get on the school bus.

Leah is on the same bus as Rachel and Noah. She hesitated a little, but got on and smiled out the window.

Sarah's bus came a few minutes later. She started to cry as we walked to the bus. Then she started to scream and cling to her Daddy. Tom had to get on the bus and help her get to her seat. She continued to scream and cry and reach for Tom.

I was holding Cameron, Tom was holding Jacob, and we were both very teary-eyed as we waved to Sarah on the bus.

Heartbreaking.

Even Jakey started to cry when we went into our home. I asked him if he missed Sarah and he said "Yea."

When Sarah's bus came back at the end of her morning, she got off with a smile on her face. She told me they had apple juice and bear crackers. She liked her teacher and had nice kids in her class.

She says she'll go back tomorrow.

Leah also had a great first day. I think she likes being on the bus with her siblings and her neighborhood friends. She likes her teacher and is making friends.

Girls are cute that way.

Rachel has two new friends in her class. I think it's sweet that she asks other girls if they want to be friends and they ask her.

Boys just kind of hang out together.

I think it is going to be a good year. The only thing that worries me is that Brandon gets his permit next week! He is in Drivers Ed this semester. He did bring home a form that our doctor has to fill out first. It's because Brandon has Tourette Syndrome. His tics aren't too bad so I don't think it will be a problem. I'm just waiting to hear back from the Doctor's Office.

I am praying that this year goes well.

Good grades, good choices, good friends, and good times.

School

"The secret to having it all - is believing you already do."

Summer break is over. 

Four of our children go back to school tomorrow. Two more will start the next day. We went to meet some of their teachers last night. So far I am very happy. Tomorrow morning we go to Preschool Open House. I pray Sarah goes without crying or screaming. She screamed all the way from the parking lot to Leah's school because she thought we were going to hers.

Tomorrow might not be fun.

I am going to miss having our children home during the day.

I enjoyed our summer. It went very fast. Of course, having a new baby usually makes time go by quickly. Cameron was born the same week summer break started - and now here we are starting a new school year. Amazing.

My plan is to get up around 5:00am, get myself ready with coffee, and spend a little quiet time with Cameron. I am hoping to have Cameron all comfy and fed by 5:30 / 6:00 so I can focus on getting breakfast made for the rest of our crew - including my Tommy.

I will have to get six children ready and out the door five days a week.

By 8:15 I should be able to sit down.

Hopefully Jacob and Cameron like that plan.

Jacob Edward 2

"Having a place to go is Home. Having someone to love is Family.

Having both is a Blessing."

Today we celebrated 2 little Shermies.

Jacob and Sarah.

Sarah will be 4 in a couple of weeks, but Jacob is 2 today.

We had a little party at our home for them. It was nice. It was loud.

I am used to the noise, and I actually love it. I hope it wasn't too overwhelming for our guests. God did give us a beautiful day, so some of us were able to enjoy being outside while others were inside.

Tom and I gave Jacob and Sarah a new sandbox.

Sarah spent a lot of time in it. I'm sure Jacob will tomorrow. I think it was a little too crowded for him.

We also gave Jacob a Mickey Mouse stuffed doll. He picked it out while I was at the store with him. He reached for it and didn't want to put it back. We gave Sarah a Dora shirt she can wear to preschool.

They were given other wonderful gifts from our friends and family.

They were definitely surrounded by people who love them today.

I love having parties like this and celebrating our children.

When the party was over, our children just started falling asleep anywhere and everywhere. Right now I have Cameron asleep in my arms. Our other children are asleep downstairs, except our 2 oldest boys. One is playing Monopoly with his friend from up the street and our other is playing video games with our nephew. We have a couple of extras tonight for a sleepover.

Sometimes I wish for a bigger house or better stuff,

but these are the moments when I realize how nice our home is.

It's not just a house - it's a home.

I love that we can have friends and family over and hopefully they all feel comfortable. Our home was filled with children having fun together and adults enjoying each other's conversations. And we fed everyone well too.

I am thankful for today. And may God give extra blessings to our children as we celebrate the days we were blessed with them.

Jacob is 2 years old today!

The Good News

"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had,

and dealing with fears you didn't know existed."

Jacob has, I mean had, a broken collarbone.

Mother of the Year.

I know exactly when it happened, but I had no idea.

We thought we had checked him over completely after he fell off his little art desk. He likes to climb on it to look out the front window. Poor guy.

The good news:

Thankfully his collarbone healed itself - and healed well. The callus it formed is normal and will eventually go away.

Took Ethan to his school today to drop off all his supplies and to find his locker. 2nd year of Middle School - and play practice will be starting soon too. Ethan is going to be in Guys and Dolls this Fall.

Tonight at Tumbling class our little Rachel did 3 back flips in a row and got to ring the bell. I called Tom and he was so sad to have missed it. He was just pulling into the parking lot. He came in and soon we saw Miss Rachel do 4 black flips in a row. Tom got to see her ring the bell that time. What a great night at Tumbling!

Now Leah wants to work really hard at her kick overs so she can ring the bell for the first time. She'll get there.

Tomorrow we will have a 2 year old in the house.

Jacob will be 2 and we are celebrating with a little party.

We are also going to celebrate Tom's dad's birthday.

It's fair.

Jacob shares his birthday with one of his grandpa's and his name with his other grandpa.

Sarah's birthday is later this month so the party will be for her too.

Praying for a fun, wonderful day.

Big Boy Cam

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."

I took Cameron to the doctor for his 2 month check-up today.

He was very chatty. Loved it.

Our little boy gained about 5 pounds since our last visit and grew about 2 inches. Big boy! He is 13 lbs 23 in.

He also got his 2 month shots. And right now he is still fussing.

Poor little guy screamed when he got the shots and has been a bit crabby since. All I want to do is comfort him.

Tomorrow I am taking Jacob to the doctor.

I found a bump on his collar bone a couple of days ago. At first, I got nervous. Then I read that if a child fractures this bone, they get a bump.

A few weeks ago Jakey fell off of the art desk we have in the playroom. He likes to get on it so he can look out the window. He slipped and fell with the chair. All day he was kind of fussy, but we couldn't figure out if or where he got hurt. He could move everything, but when he was picked up he would whine a little. We figured something was just sore from the fall. It was the weekend so we agreed to keep a close on eye on him and take him to the doctor on Monday if he was still whining. On Monday, he wasn't.

So now I am wondering if he had injured his collar bone that day. He did fall on the side where the bump is. I am pretty sure we'll end up getting an x-ray tomorrow and we'll find out.

I am praying that all is ok.

Another Zoo Day

"Life is a great big canvas. You should throw all the paint you can on it."

Spent Sunday at Brookfield Zoo.

Beautiful day.

Cameron's first time at the zoo - and we brought our neighbor for her first visit too. It was nice to have our 12 passenger van. First time in 2 years I didn't have to follow behind Tom to the zoo.

We had a great time. We got our annual family picture by the baboons.

On our way home we stopped at my favorite pizza place for dinner.

We usually stop there after the zoo.

Once seated, our waitress came in and said "Oh, you had your baby!"

I looked at her and said "You remember us?"

She said yes she tells everyone about us. So many kids, so well behaved.

Nice to be remembered like that.

I finally gave Jacob a little hair trim this weekend.

I just cut his bangs so he could see.

Our girls, especially Rachel, can't stop saying how cute he looks.

Jakey is a cutie.

Big beautiful eyes. Big beautiful smile.

Loves to sing. Loves to dance.

And such a personality.

He is talking a little more. Still calls dogs "Woo Woo Woo's."

He did say please for a nana this week.

Saying Mama and Dada all the time.

I feel so blessed to be Jacob's Momma.

I feel very blessed to be all of our children's Momma.

Today we found out our children's teachers for this year.

So far I am very pleased.

There was only one teacher I did not recognize, but I heard she is wonderful.

I keep talking to Sarah about preschool and riding the bus.

She says she is going to get on the bus.
We will see.

And today we celebrate the Assumption of Mother Mary.
Cameron and I went to mass together.
Tom dropped us off because I was running a little late.
It was a beautiful mass and such a beautiful night.
Cameron and I had a nice walk home after mass.

Tomorrow is Cameron's 2 month check-up.

I can't wait to see how much this little guy weighs.

He eats all the time!

Sleep and eat, sleep and eat,...he is my big boy.

He has a huge, beautiful smile. Beautiful blue eyes.

He is adorable.

My Blessed Life

"It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time."

It's been a nice couple of days. The weather has been beautiful and my backyard has been full.

I do love having the children in our neighborhood at our home.

Having baby Cameron and little Jacob, it is nice to be able to keep an eye on my own children and still let them have fun outside with their friends.

I try to be the "nice" mommy and keep everyone happy with lemonade and pb&j sandwiches.

I am glad that children - young and older - feel comfortable at our home.

So I had written about Tom and I having a wonderful conversation the other day about the different ways we found out we were pregnant.

Tom told me I should write it all down.

I have started a blog called My Blessed Life.

I am trying to write a little every day. So far so good, but it's only been a few days. Hopefully I will continue.

I don't want to write too much each day because I think that would make me feel overwhelmed. If I keep it short, I should be able to commit to writing daily.

I feel that my life took a huge turn for the best once I met Tom.

That is where I chose to start my writing.

Plus, I think it'll be fun for Tom and I to read together and someday I hope our children will enjoy it too.

They are here because of the love between me and Tommy and our Faith in God and His plans for us.

Getting Ready

"Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me."

School starts in a couple of weeks.

I can't believe summer break is almost over.

I am ready for some structure in our days, but not ready for early morning busses and late night homework.

I have gone out to several stores to gather up all the supplies on our children's lists. We will have 6 children going to school this year. That equals a lot of stuff. And every year I think - I'm going to shop early and have fun with each child. Never happens.

Cameron is more social now.

He smiles a lot, Coos, and sometimes lets out a little giggle.

He is so cute. So sweet.

I love how he grabs onto my hair and just holds on when I'm carrying him.

He is very much a Mommy's Boy.

This morning I had him on his tummy, on my chest. He was picking his head up and resting on his arms. Strong little man.

He was looking me right in the eyes and smiling. I think he was pretty proud of himself. Amazed that he could look around.

Tomorrow our oldest will get his school schedule.

I am curious to see when Driver's Ed is going to happen this year.

I am not looking forward to that at all.

I can't believe I will have a child old enough to drive a car.

And what to teach him on?

The 8 passenger van or the 12 passenger van.

Ha! Not the best choices.

I'll have one learning to drive while another one is learning to walk.

Eucharistic Adoration was last weekend. It was an all night one.

I loved it!

Cameron and I went at 11:15 pm and stayed for an hour.

It was a wonderful way to start a new day, a new week.

I loved that there was always at least a dozen people in the church.

I hope they do this again. It was so peaceful.

Cameron fell asleep while we were there and then I came home to a house full of sleeping children.

Tommy was "kind of" awake, so we spent a little quiet time together on the couch.

It was nice to have the peaceful feeling last.