Celebrating our first "gift!"

Lauren is 7 today! Lauren was 12 days late when she arrived after 18.5 hours of labor. When they placed her on my chest my first comment was, "She has hair!" And then, "She looks JUST LIKE ME!" Then I said, "She's so heavy!" She didn't feel heavy on the inside and I had only gained 18 pounds, but she felt heavy in my arms. She weighed 8 pounds, 1.5 ounces and was the girl I had always hoped for.

Lauren learned to sit up when she was six months, crawl at nine months, walk at 14 months, and became a big sister just before she turned 15 months. And now, she is a big sister to four little brothers!

Lauren is completing first grade. She is our little artist. She has been good at writing letters and drawing since she was 4, and continues to surprise me with her artwork. Lauren is always working on a picture for someone to "make them feel special." She loves to help me cook, and wants to learn to sew. She is excellent at memorizing scripture! She can get a bad attitude here and there, but is learning to change it by getting alone and praying. She is actually very patient with her little brothers (for the most part!), and I think Miles has her wrapped around his finger.

Lauren, you will always be my baby girl. You were our first "gift" and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be your mommy. You are a very special girl with a kind heart and beautiful smile. My greatest desire for you is that you would grow up to be a godly woman, always seeking God's will and living out the joy He has placed in you. I love you, Boo!

Ian--Twelve Weeks...almost

Ian will be 12 weeks tomorrow! Tomorrow is Lauren's birthday, so the blog will be all about Lauren! Ian is doing great! His nights are extending and so is his body! He is getting his last bottle (6 ounces) at 9:30 and then begins his day around 7:00 the next morning. If he isn't awake I go ahead and wake him up, so I can keep him on a good schedule for the day. He is not only getting chubbier, but much longer, too! I put him in pj's last night that he used to swim in, but decided that it would be the last night he could wear them because they are too small. He is a happy little guy. When he gets tired he falls asleep quickly if I put him in my baby wrap, or he will just lay back in my arms and fall asleep, or I put him in bed and he sleeps until his next feeding. He is so easy! He doesn't like his pacifer anymore, and he hasn't found his thumb, so holding him is his only form of comfort, which I love to do anyway!

I'm in a funk

I don't know why, but I am in a funk. Nothing seems to be going right. It's been this way for a few days. I don't seem to handle anything very well right now. It's kind of one of those moments in life that I wish I could go lay in bed with the covers over my head, and cry, pray, sleep, or do whatever, and come out when I feel better.

It's a rare occassion for me, but I feel down.

There you have it! How is that for "keeping it real?"

The Shealy Five

A little update...

Lauren is turning seven this Thursday!!! It seems like yesterday that I was pregnant, overdue, and so excited to see her, and to especially see if she had hair(She did!). She is mostly done with first grade already with the exception of some reading. Yes, she is reading! She is so good at doing her schoolwork! Her newest interest is learning to sew.

Franklin is five. He is still working on kindergarten. We took a break for while because he didn't seem ready yet, but now he is ready, he loves it, and he is doing really well. He loves to read and learns to read words quickly! He is still into superheros and has a great imagination.

Ari will be four next month. Everything to Ari is about Daddy! He asks every morning if daddy can stay home and play. He pretends to be daddy every day and calls me "Kerry" and tells me what to do ("Mommy, I'll do _____, and then you need to do _____, and you call me Roger and I'll call you Kerry.").

Miles is two...and every bit of two. His sensory issues are so much better, and we are working through the tantrums. He speaks really well. He loves playing with his sister and brothers. He is constantly grabbing Lauren and Franklin and saying, "Let's go to Chuckee Cheese!", which is in his bedroom. He has also decided that he needs to be in every picture I take, so it is hard getting a picture of each of the kids by themselves!

Baby Ian will be three months next week. He is possibly our best baby yet! He is healthy, chubby, smiley, loves to coo, sleeps well, falls asleep on his own, and loved by everyone. The kids fight over who gets to talk to him. There have been no jealousy issues from any of the kids...they just truly love him! Blessing!

Roger is doing well. After losing the race for County Commission last November by 0.59% he is repeatedly asked what he will be running for next. I would love to see him in Congress someday, but I think that will be down the road. There are a few options, and I don't mean to keep you in suspense, but my lips are sealed! Actually, no decisions have been made yet! The next election will be in 2010, which is coming very quickly when we think about getting petitions signed to get his name on the ballet and campaigning. So, he will be running for something in either 2010 or 2012! Stay tuned!

Me...I feel like I have adjusted very well to having five children. Roger is a HUGE help! I have more laundry and lots of bottles to wash, but I really enjoy having my five little people! I just started my own little business. It is called "Lil' Arrow Baby Wraps." Email me for a picture if you haven't seen one yet. I get asked about my wraps constantly when I am out, so I began making them to sell. I sold three last week, have one on order, waiting to hear if someone wants another one, and handed out a business card to a lady at the grocery store yesterday who said, "I MUST have one of those!" I bought my own sewing machine, my mother-in-law is teaching me to sew, and I am having fun...and making money, too!

Ian--Eleven Weeks Old

Our little love is growing chubs! He is quite the healthy little guy! He so happy and content and smiley, and he gives us wonderful coos when we talk to him! He still eats 5 oz of formula every three hours during the day and gets a 6 oz bottle between 9:30-10:00 at night. He sleeps until around 7:00 every morning, and wakes up ready to eat and start the day. He already falls asleep on his own. About 1.5 hours after he eats he is ready for a nap, so I lay him in his crib and he goes right to sleep. Wow! What an easy baby?! He loves being carried in my baby wrap, and goes right to sleep whenever I put him in it. He loves to lean his head back when he is in the baby wrap and stare at my face. I don't think it could get any better than this!

Ian--Ten Weeks Old

Ian is ten weeks old! I am so in love with this little guy! He coos and smiles, and is just so sweet! He doesn't seem to like his pacifier too much anymore...he gags on it a lot. He hasn't found his thumb either, so I'm not sure what he will like to soothe himself. Lauren sucked her thumb, Franklin had a pacifier, Ari sucks his tongue, and Miles sucks his thumb, and they all have had blankies! We'll see what happens with Ian.

He still eats every three hours during the day. His nights are beginning to extend. He is ready for bed at 9:30, so he gets a bottle and falls quickly to sleep by 10:00 pm. Last night wasn't as lengthy...he woke up at 5:00 this morning, but the previous two nights he slept until 6:30 and 7:15. He still isn't a consistent sleeper, although he consistently sleeps through the night. During the day he is on a perfect schedule. He eats, falls asleep about 1.5 hours later, and wakes up to eat at his typical three hour feeding (beginning of one feeding to beginning of the next).

He looks more and more like Lauren all the time, but I know that could change, too!

Ian in Action

I love those new baby coos and smiles!

My new Venture!

During my pregnancy with Ian I saw an advertisement in a baby magazine for a baby wrap. I thought it was the neatest thing! I already had a sling, but I never really liked it very well. I never felt truly hands-free with the sling. When I saw the baby wrap I could tell that I could be completely hands-free, which was important to me since I was going to have 5 children...6 and under...and trying to homeschool...and a two year old with sensory issues. Roger's mom bought me a baby wrap for Christmas and I couldn't wait to use it with Ian. The one we ordered was cute and I liked the idea of the baby wrap, but the material wasn't stretchy, so I wasn't as happy as I wanted to be.

Everywhere I went with Ian in the baby wrap I was drawing tons of attention to myself. I was asked constantly what it was and where they could get one. So, I began thinking, "Why am I letting these people get away? Why don't I sell them??? This is so simple...AND I could make some money!" I asked a friend of mine if she wanted to make them and we had grand plans to make them together. And then, I wondered if this was something I could do...by myself..something crafty...which I am not. She graciously told me I could try it on my own and come to her for advice. She's awesome!

So, I am making baby wraps!!! They are called Lil' Arrow Baby Wraps. I have been asked for a business card so many times that I have ordered some. I have also ordered some labels to put on the wraps. I am sooooooo excited!

I think I got hit by a truck...or maybe a train?!

I was so sick last week that I felt like I had been hit by a truck...or a train! I had the flu. I got the flu shot last November, so maybe it helped shorten the length of time I had the flu. I would like to think I didn't get the flu shot for nothing!

It started Saturday night. I woke up in the night with a terrible sore throat. I didn't even have to swallow for it to hurt! Then Sunday it was a sore throat and terrible headache. And then it was Monday...I was SO sick! I thought I may have strep throat so I went to the doctor. He said I could have strep throat and definitely an ear infection, so he gave me an antibiotic. My body hurt really bad, I had a migraine, the glands in my neck were swollen and terribly painful (I could barely move my head), I had a fever, chills, sweats, and I was nauseous. The doctor also gave me a prescription pain killer because I had been taking Tylenol and Motrin and nothing was taking away the body aches or migraine. I woke up Tuesday and felt just as bad and then it struck me...I wonder if this could be the flu! I looked on line and had almost every symptom, so I think it was the flu!

I was so sick that I didn't even feel like taking care of Ian. Roger stayed home Monday and took care of everyone. I was really afraid of giving it to Ian, too. Anyway, Lauren got to feed Ian a bottle for the first time. She was so happy to do this! My mother-in-law took care of the older boys the next two days while Roger went to work and Lauren stayed home to take care of me and Ian. She really wanted to stay home and help...and she was a HUGE help. She came in to ask if I needed water or if there was anything she could do for me. So sweet! I would get up every three hours and feed Ian, then I would put him in his bouncy seat and Lauren would take care of him until it was time for him to eat again. He's at a really easy age right now. Roger is going to take Lauren out to dinner soon to show her our appreciation!

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter! What a wonderful day to celebrate the miraculous power of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and then arose from the dead in victory over death! I was home with Miles and Ian this morning because Miles woke up with a sore throat, but nothing could keep me from celebrating today! It seems that I focus on the cross so much each Easter, but this year God has revealed a blessed joy to me in celebrating the victory of Jesus over our sin and then over death. Simply Amazing!

Ian--Nine Weeks Old

Ian was two months old on Sunday! He had begun waking up in the night again, but seems to be working back into a schedule again. He was probably going through a growth spurt. So, he is still eating 5 ounces every three hours and then a 6 ounce bottle at 10:00 pm. He is typically asleep by 10:30 every night and up sometime between 5:00 am and 6:00 am. I am keeping him on Good Start Supreme for now, but may try something else in a few weeks.

Ian had his two month check-up today! That also meant 3 shots and a fluid he had to drink for the roto-virus (formerly a vaccine). Why can't they make all shots something kids can drink???
He actually did very well with the shots. He calmed down as soon as they were done. He weighed 12 pounds, 15 ounces (75th %tile), measured 24 inches (85th %tile), and his head measured 15.5 inches (50th %tile). Overall, it was a wonderful check-up!

Ian--Eight Weeks Old

Wow! Ian is eight weeks old already! It is amazing how much he has grown already! He smiles a little more and coos every now and then. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but his eyes are blue! I included the second picture, so you could see his hair growing back.

Ian is drinking 5 ounces of formula every three hours during the day. He gets a 6 ounce bottle at 10:00 at night. He is generally in bed at 10:30 and sleeps until sometime between 6:00 and 6:30 the following morning.

He is growing out of his size 1 diapers already! I have a package and a half left and then we will switch to size 2.

I need to write a song..."If Only I Could Make Time Stand Still."