Brinsley Diane has arrived!!

At my dr. appointment last Friday, May 23rd, the dr. sent me to the hospital to run some tests due to the fact that my blood pressure had been elevated for two appointments in a row. Steve drove me to the hospital where I completed my testing for the day. The dr. asked that I come back the next day (Saturday) for some more tests and then she would make a decision as to whether I should be admitted or not. When I arrived at the hospital on Saturday, I was fully expecting to be released. After more testing, the dr. determined that I had pre-eclampsya and needed to be admitted and induced. My head was absolutely spinning after the dr. gave me this news. I hadn't been prepared for that! I hadn't brought anything with me to the hospital, hadn't even packed a bag at home! Steve went home and collected all of the essential items that I would be needing. Fortunately, my mom had arrived just a few days before that and was staying at home with the boys! What a blessing!

I was induced late Saturday evening, my water broke around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning and I received my epidural around 8:30 a.m. Brinsley Diane made her entrance into this world at 10:54 a.m. Sunday, May 25th. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long!

We were in a complete state of shock after she was born. We had decided early on in the pregnancy not to find out the gender of the baby. Steve and I were both fully expecting a boy...probably because that's all we knew and we couldn't imagine any different. We were so excited to find out that we had a beautiful baby girl!! Of course we are a little partial but we think she's the most beautiful baby girl in the world! :)

Here are some pictures of Baby Brinsley!!


This is me late Saturday night a couple hours after induction



And here's Brinsley!!!


Getting her first test...the apgar. She passed with flying colors! :)


What a precious moment!



Daddy & Brinsley



Grandma and Baby Brinsley



just a few hours old


The hat & blanket were handmade and given to Brinsley from the hospital



All dressed & ready to come home from the hospital


sleeping peacefully at home...just 3 days old

Fun Times & Awards!!

Last Saturday, our church hosted it's annual block party in which we rented bounceables for the kids, gave out lots of free food and had a worship band. It was so much fun for the kids!! The weather was perfect and Greyson and Cael had a GREAT time playing! Before the Block Party that day though, the Awana kids and some others in the church participated in a grand prix. Steve and Greyson bought a car kit, sanded it and painted it for the event. Greyson actually painted the car all by himself and helped Steve with all the rest of it. The grand prix race took place in our church gymnasium. Out of four races, Greyson's car won two of them! Also, he took second place for best car design! He was so proud of himself!

Last night at church (Wednesday) was the very last day of Awana for this year. It was kind of sad because it was also Greyson's last day of ever being a Cubbie! When Awana starts back up in the fall, Greyson will be in kindergarten so he will be in the Sparkies class. He really loved Cubbies but I think he will do well in the Sparkies class too. Several of his friends are also moving up to the Sparkies class with him.

Cael was a Puggle this year in Awana. I think the Puggles is a fairly new program and it's designed for two year old children. They teach basic truths each week such as, "God made the sky" and "God loves me". Each week they learn about something new that God made and they color a picture of it. Cael absolutely loves going to Puggles!! He will still be a Puggle in the fall because he doesn't turn three until December.

Last night we had an awards ceremony for all of the Awana kids, from Puggles on up to T&T (Truth and Training:3-6th grade). Greyson and Cael both got awards...I was so proud of them!! Greyson won two awards: finishing his book in record time and always coming to class prepared. Cael won a participation award for Puggles.

Here are a few pictures of the weeks events...

Greyson's award winning car (the red one on the very end)


And they're off!! (Greyson's car is third from left)


Greyson & his award winning trophy (2nd place-best design)


Greyson & his friend Kristen dancing at the block party while worship band plays


Redneck Cael...we took his shirt off because he spilled his snow cone all over it


Cael waiting to receive his Puggles award...he looks thrilled, doesn't he? :)


Here he is receiving his certificate from Awana Director, Mr. Rick


Cael & Carla Jean with their Puggles certificates


Cael & his Puggles certificate


Greyson and Megan with Cubbies certificates


Greyson proudly displaying both his certificates


'Always coming prepared for class' certificate


'Finishing book in record time' award


Greyson with fellow Cubbies, Miranda & Kristen celebrating in the gym after ceremony (not sure who girl in pink is)

Wow! Where has the time gone??

I cannot believe that I haven't posted anything since around Thanksgiving and here it is nearly the end of May! So much has happened since that time, it's overwhelming and exhausting to even think about it.

First off, I spent most of December and the first part of January up in Michigan with family. Greyson, my mom and I drove up in early December and Cael and Steve flew up to meet us on December 23rd. We were all set to spend a wonderful, relaxing Christmas vacation together with both of our families. On Christmas morning though, we received a phonecall that completely changed our lives. We were at my parents house and had just finished opening up gifts with the boys when Steve's cell phone rang. It was his dad telling him to come over right away. We left immediately, but before we arrived, Steve received a phonecall from his brother telling him that their mom had passed away. She had been sick for quite awhile and maybe I had been living in a state of denial, but I certainly didn't expect to hear this news on Christmas morning. Steve and I and his siblings and spouses met up at his dad's house and just talked and mourned together for quite awhile. Anybody who knew Diane knows what a great loss this truly was and still is. She was exceptional in EVERY way! She was a very godly woman who would give all she had to help someone in need. I have never in my life known someone with a more forgiving spirit or a more generous, tender heart. We rejoice knowing that she is in paradise with the Lord Jesus and that, given the opportunity, wouldn't come back to this world for anything! We miss her so very much but live daily with the eternal hope that we WILL see her again...face to face in the presence of our Savior!

Steve & his mom on our wedding day, October 7, 2000


We arrived back home in early January and life, of course, had to go on. It was very difficult at first to just jump back into life as if nothing had ever happened. It almost seemed wrong in a sense. But, life DID go on.

I took on the position of nursery/pre-school director at our church right after I arrived back home. It pays just enough for Steve and I to hire a babysitter once a month and spend a nice, relaxing evening out! We love our kids more than anything in this world, but we do look forward to our date nights. :)


We are currently expecting our third child! My due date is June 1st, so I have about two more weeks to go...although, my dr. seems to think I just might go early with this one. We will see! We don't know the baby's gender, we wanted to be surprised as we were with both of our boys.

A 3-D ultrasound picture of our baby...so cool!!



I am also directing Vacation Bible School (VBS) again at our church in July; that has been keeping me quite busy lately! With the baby coming so soon, I am trying to get as much done for VBS as possible.

Steve is keeping busy at the church and with the youth. Our church now has a fitness center and Steve is overseeing that ministry. He teaches discipleship classes to our teens weekly, conducts youth on Wednesday nights and during Sunday School, preaches monthly to the congregation and stays busy with visitation and counseling. We also plan youth outings one to two times per month. We are taking the youth to summer camp this year at Word of Life Youth Camp just outside of Tampa, FL. My mom is coming down to stay with our kids (with the boys anyway...I will be taking the baby) while we take off for a week in June with the teens! It really is a fantastic camp and we and the teens are all looking forward to going back this year. This will be our third year (and counting) at Word of Life!!

The boys are really growing too! Greyson is 5 1/2 now and is enrolled in kindergarten next year at Park Avenue Christian Academy just down the street from us. I am really having a hard time with the whole idea of him going off to school. I just can't believe he is about to enter kindergarten! It just doesn't seem possible for him to be that old already! He has lost two teeth recently and his permanent teeth have started growing right in.

Cael is 2 1/2 and gives the term 'terrible twos' new meaning. He is into EVERYTHING. He is the most curious two year old I have ever known! He is as cute as can be and I love him TO DEATH but he sure is a handful right now.

Here are a couple of recent pictures of the kids...

Greyson in his soccer uniform and medal


Cael just after a fresh homemade haircut by daddy! :)




Well, in a nutshell, that is what has been going on with us. We are hoping to make it back up to Michigan this summer at some point. We miss all of our Michigan friends and family members and look forward to seeing you all very soon!! I am really striving to keep up with this blog, so be sure to check back often for updates! :)