Pink and Blue Collide!!

The other day I was getting Toby ready in the morning, and had Caris in his bed too (which frequently happens).  Toby's care is pretty extensive in the morning...and I looked down to notice that Caris and Toby's blankies were lying next to each other on the bed.  Such irony, I guess.  Up until 4 months ago, our house and my world, was just a world of boys.  I was completely okay with that - love boys (even the rowdiness to a degree).  When I was pregnant with Toby (our third), didn't really even want a girl; just content with the way things were.  Then, as time drew closer for me to have our fourth (we didn't know gender), for the first time in 6 years, I had such a strong desire to have a girl.  I am the oldest of 3 girls - very close with both of my sisters and my mom, it sparked a desire to have that same kind of relationship with my own daughter.  I imagined 18 years down the road when my boys will leave me to be with their own wives...let's face it that old adage "you lose your sons" is true.  Then God saw fit to bless us with a precious baby girl.  I didn't think I would really get into the clothing, hair bows, and fun accessories (up until this point tights and hair bows scared me.  I enjoyed the simplicity of the buzzed hair cuts and boys' clothing - it's much faster out the door in the morning),but my view has changed.  Bruce can barely keep me out of the Carter's store - their sales kill me, and I enjoy buying dresses and all the fun things for a girl!!  The other part of this is the love that the boys have for their sister.  All 3 of them just adore Caris, Toby is enamored.  We were really nervous about having this fourth baby - up until her birth Toby was scared of kids 12months-2 years old, and would cry when they were around him.  However, things have been wonderfully different - God answered our prayers and Toby just LOVES his sister.  He thinks she is his baby and constantly wants to hold her.  God has certainly blessed us with this precious daughter and she has completed our family.  We have now closed the book on my "child-birthing" years, our family is complete!

Organized Chaos

Organized Chaos - that is the story of our lives.  I have come to grips with the fact that having four kids and one with special needs means chaos, and that's what our past weekend was like. 

It consisted of two baseball practices (Conor and Garrett), one t-ball game (Toby), one Cubbie picnic, and a Crew Game. In the middle of all of that, I spoke at an event on behalf of Nationwide Children's Hospital - sharing our story of Toby and what the hospital has meant to us. It was for a group that raises money for the hospital.  In the middle of all the chaos, I have asked myself is it worth it?  Yes, yes, and yes; I certainly am determined not to over-schedule our kids, and really they are only involved in a few sports a year, but it's important to me for Conor, Garrett, and eventually Caris to not feel as if Toby prevents them from doing certain things; yes it will happen in some cases.  Like, I still haven't completely gotten over the fact that we may never be able to go camping again or spend days and days on the beach (with Toby's trach)...so that's when opportunities arise for the kids to participate in other activities we do it and try to schedule the chaos!

Toby started playing t-ball this season. 

He's playing in a league specifically

designed for kids with special needs. 

I love this photo of his hand over

his heart and his hat off for the

National Anthem. 

We're Starting Again

Since I'm not very computer savvy, working through setting up a new blog is taking forever, but I decided to "give it a go" yet again.  This blog will chronicle our family's story - four kids, one with special and medical needs, and most of all the joy that we have because of our faith in Jesus Christ.  Hope you check back often; I will do my best to post often!