Where did the last 6 months go?

I guess I knew it had been 6 months, since I last blogged. Things have been busy here in our little place in the world. We had a good summer and are having a great fall.

James's allergies are finally under control, although they are flared up at the moment. It has been a long process to get them under control, but I love the allergist. He answers every question when I call with the best thing to do for James. We have managed to avoid the pediatrician for the most part other than well-baby visits, height/weight checks, and the flu. Compared to last year we are doing great with the allergies. James is growing like a weed. He has finally gained enough weight to keep us out of the pediatrician's office except when sick or yearly. Thank goodness!! He talks so much and can carry on a wonderful conversation with you. It melts my heart every night when he tells Bethany he loves her. He is quite the big brother. He worries about where she is and what she is doing.

Bethany is beginning to lose that baby look. She is getting taller and almost has all of her teeth. She still has that beautiful red tint to her hair. Her hair is finally long enough to put in pig tails, and she looks absolutely adorable with the pig tails. She still isn't saying a whole lot but is definitely trying to repeat what is being said to her. So, we don't think it will be long before she is talking like James. She loves to play with James's toys. He tries to give her baby dolls to play with, but she wants his stuff.

Barry is still enjoying his job. He gets a long with the guys he works with, and we have been out a couple of times with the group of them for going away parties. We are making lots of lists of projects for the house come this spring.

I am back to school. I have an awesome homeroom this year and am working with 2 great ladies. I am still at Dollywood and enjoying that. It keeps me busy, but we are enjoying paying for Christmas with no debt involved this year.

Well, I should post pictures but don't have any recent ones of the kids downloaded to the computer. I will try to post some pictures again soon and hope that it won't be 6 months between entries.

Oh my how time flies!

Don't know why the blog wants to put James's picture first. It won't even let me move things around today. So read on to see what has been happening around here.

James Arthur--21 months

Didn't realize it had been 2 months since I last updated the blog. We've had a busy few months I guess. I've added some pictures from the kids at Easter. They do include Bethany's 6 month pictures. We haven't downloaded the camera yet from our trip to Mimi and Pap pap's house. I suppose I should do that soon.

James is growing like a weed. He now weighs in at 25 1/4 pounds and is 33 1/2 inches tall. He is now tall enough to ride all of the kids rides at Dollywood with the exception of the Veggie Tales Coaster. He loves balls and trucks, and he is always busy. James has discovered in the last few months that he really does love his little sister. He is always willing to help with feeding sissy and getting things for "Beney", as he calls her. We have managed to avoid an ear infection since January. However, we've battled strep and now a sinus infection in the last month. The doctor is very positive that if we can get this sinus infection cleared up that we should be could through the rest of spring. Barry took James to see the allergist again the end of March. They were very pleased with how his concoction of medicines is working and will see him again in August before fall hits. So far he is doing well. The tree pollen has really been bothering him this week, but he keeps trucking.

Bethany is our "chunky monkey". She weighed in yesterday at 20 lbs. 2 oz. She was 26 3/4 inches in March. She can still fit 6-9 month clothes, but she is beginning to wear 12 month clothes. Looking back she weighs more than James did at this point but is a little shorter. Hmmm...the doctor yesterday thinks when she gets this crawling thing down that her weight will even out. She is rolling everywhere and no longer uses the positioner in the crib. We found her in her pack n' play at Mimi and Pap pap's with the positioner in the air waving it around. She is trying to crawl...although she goes backwards. But yesterday she was able to get her belly off the ground and one knee forward, so I don't think it will be long. She is now battling her second ear infeciton in a month. The doctor doesn't think the first one ever cleared up. Go figure! You'd never know it to look at her. She is just happy as can be. The only reason we found out is that her right eye was almost swollen shut when I picked her up yesterday, so the doctor wanted to check it out. He said it was just the tear duct, but asked if she'd had any symptoms of ears. I was shocked, because she hasn't run a temperature or been pulling at the ears.

Barry is loving his job. It keeps him busy. He is also working on his spring project outside. He decided this winter that we needed a patio for our table and chairs we got really cheap last fall. So, he has started it with James's help. I'm hoping it gets finished really soon with this beautiful weather we've been having. I am back to working 2 jobs again. Dollywood opened for its 25 season at the end of March; I've been there 9 years this year. Doesn't seem possible! I am working on Saturdays that Barry doesn't have to work. It is TCAP time in Tennessee, so this is a long week for me. I dread this week every year, and I think the kids do too. We will make it through and then there are only 5 weeks of school left. Where has the first quarter of 2010 gone?

We visited PA during my spring break. James has named Barry's parents finally...Mimi and Pap pap. They really enjoyed the visit and got the biggest kick out of James chasing the rabbits in the back yard. Barry's decided he doesn't need a beagle to hunt with he's got James.

Bethany Grace--6 months old

These pictures are very difficult to get. The photographer just snapped away whenever James got close to her. This is one of my favorites.

James figured out the egg hunting this year. He enjoyed the Eggstravaganza at church a lot more this year than last. I think he'll show Bethany how it is done next year.

Snow Days

Well, today is another one of those infamous Sevier County Snow Days with nothing on the ground here to explain being out all day. I took the kiddos on to daycare, so they could play with their friends and mommy could get somethings accomplished.

James is growing taller but losing weight at the same time. Poor kid finally made it to 25 pounds at 18 months and is now back down to barely 24 pounds. The pediatrician isn't to concerned yet, because James has been battling so many illnesses this fall/winter. We spent 4 1/2 hours at the ER with him two weeks ago for a diagnosis of an ear infection....AGAIN!!! His ears looked good last Friday afternoon, but little man woke up this morning congested. Can the poor kid not catch a break??

Bethany apparently rolled over at daycare for the first time yesterday from her back to her front while sleeping. Of course she won't do it here. I let her lay on the ground last night for about 30 minutes. She'd get to her normal side and stop. She was trying really hard though. She now weighed over 16 pounds at her last doctor visit and looks so much longer. I can't wait to take her for her six month well-baby check in March. It's hard to believe she is 5 months old already.

Time is flying by it seems. I didn't realize it had been a month and a half since I updated the blog. I will try to add some pics soon of the kids. Barry got some really cute ones last night of them playing together on the floor. James just loves his little sister. I think he'd like her to be a little bigger so he can play with her.

Reflections of the year with pictures

It is hard to believe that 2009 is drawing to a close. We have had such an eventful year.

Christmas 2008 brought us a Christmas to enjoy with our first born. James was only 6 months old and didn't really understand the concept of opening presents and the reason for the season. He sure knew how to play with the many toys though. This year James is 18 months old and a bundle of energy. He listens intently at church when Ms. Lovella tells him stories about Jesus. This year he enjoyed ripping into every gift and even practiced earlier in the week with Bethany's gifts that were under the tree from us and Grandma/Grandpa. He has brought us joy and never ending excitement. He also enjoyed eating birthday cake yesterday for Jesus that his cousins made and decorated.

We added to our family in September with the birth of Bethany Grace. As we celebrated her first Christmas we see the many resemblences she has to my mom and her big brother. She had no idea what was happening yesterday and can't really play with any of the toys she recieved. However, big brother is making a good attempt at keeping her toys warm for her until she can play with them herself.

This year has had its ups and downs. As 2009 started Barry learned that he would be laid off in March. This was about the same time I discovered I was pregnant again. We were excited about the new addition but worried about the financial aspect of an extra person to feed and clothe. We trusted in God and knew that He would provide for us. He provided Barry with a new job as his unemployment was running out in June. He gave us the wonderful gift of a healthy baby girl in September. He gave James the understanding to be gentle with sister and protect her. Which he does quite well. We have been blessed beyond measure in 2009 and look forward to what God has in store for us in 2010.

Please enjoy the pictures below from our Christmas celebration.

James, mommy, and Bethany opening one of Bethany's presents.

Bethany and daddy watching James play on his slide from Santa.

Bethany hanging out in her bouncy seat while James opens presents.

All the presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

James and Bethany dressed in the Christmas outfits.

Bethany's 3 month picture

Bethany (3 month) and James (18 month)

Almost Christmas

Well, I know I've been seriously lacking in the posts. Bethany is growing like a weed. She weighed in on Saturday at 15 lbs. 2 oz. James weighed in at 25 lbs. We go to the doctor today for his 18 month well-baby check and visit the dentist to get his teeth checked out. He really isn't going to like mommy today.

Bethany is currently seeing a GI doctor and a pulmonologist. Love the pulmonologist...not so much the GI doctor. We go back to see the pulmonologist next Tuesday. She has to see him for the next couple of months to make sure her lungs stay clear after having bronchiolitis before 2 months of age. The GI doctor is for her acid reflux which isn't getting any better. Although, we are not following his orders due to the pediatrician's new orders. The GI doctor wanted to change her formula and medicine. The new medicine made things worse. Go figure!

James has still been sick off an on for the last 4 months. We actually went two weeks without antibiotic. He goes to see an allergist next Wednesday in hopes of figuring out what he is allergic to. We are currently carrying an epipen until we visit the allergist due to his last reaction.

I will try to post some pictures when we take a break for James's nap today. Have a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Almost 2 months

Where has the last 7 1/2 weeks gone.

We have been very busy adjusting to having two kids in our lives. It has been a wonderful adjustment. Bethany is doing great. We are battling acid reflux. She was diagnosed at 17 days old. It has been bad. It has caused her to sound congested and has caused croup. We have had our first adventure to Children's Hospital Emergency Room with Miss Bethany due to the croup. Thank goodness it wasn't anything else. She seems to be adjusting to the fourth formula change and medicine. Unfortunately, the acid reflux causes her to often sound hoarse. Which of course had me really worried that the croup was coming back. Alas, no it is just the formula not staying down and cauisng irritation of the bronchial passages. With all the acid reflux problems, we have visitied the pediatirician at least once a week for the last 7 weeks. James has also been battling illness. He has managed to avoid the swine flu...although he's been exposed twice. He has however had a sinus infection, ear infection, and strep throat. He will finish up his 3rd antibiotic this weekend. He seems to only stay healthy for a few days in between antibiotics, so I am praying that this time is the last time for awhile. We didn't even know he had an ear infection. He didn't show the classic signs. I took him back to the doctor, because I thought the sinus infection was coming back...nope he had an all out, apparently really bad, ear infection. Oops!! We seem to be all getting healthy finally. Which is a good thing. The weather is finally getting cooler which is really helping his allergies.

I returned to work on Monday, October 19, 2009. It was a sad day for me. I had to leave Bethany for the first time in 7 weeks. She's been with me every day for the most part. I did pretty good. I dropped her off with plenty of time to hangout and get extra kisses from both her and James. James was surprised that his sissy was actually staying with him at daycare. He had become accustomed to me dropping him off and taking her with me. When I pulled her out of the carrier and handed her to Ms. Crystal, he looked up and said, "Sissy. My sissy!" I told him to be good and take care of his sister. To which he replied, "All done! All done!" I'm not sure if that was he was all done watching her or all done with his milk. Once I got to work, I kept myself very busy until my students arrived. I actually managed not to cry and only called daycare 2 times to be told she was doing great, smiling and talking.


We did go and have some new family pictures done and pictures of the kids. It was a fun experience. This was the first time James wasn't really cooperative for pictures. But we did get some good pictures. Please enjoy the pictures. I will try to update again soon.









Barry and I had our first picture taken together since our wedding. It turned out pretty good. It's hard to believe it has been 3 years, since we were married. What an amazing 3 years it has been though.














This one is of our family. James really wanted the pumpkin. He pitched a fit until I told the photographer to give it to him. It added to the fall feel of the picture with all those fall colors we are wearing. I love Bethany in her overalls.














Bethany did great for her pictures. We were going to wait until her 3 month pictures, but I had to have pictures to take back to school with me this week. I think they turned out great. Especially since she was hungry and sleepy.
















James loves his little sister. He is always trying to kiss and hug on her. When he was diagnosed with strep throat I laughed when the doctor said to keep him away from her. I told the doctor that would be easier said than done, since he has suddenly decided he loves his little sister. Here he is kissing on her. This of course was right before he tried to climb in the basket with her as daddy was grabbing him off of her. He still doesn't completely understand gentle, but he is getting better.

Three Plus One Equals Four

Bethany Grace made her arrival on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long. She is doing beautifully. Her billirubens were up on Friday when we took her for her first doctor's visit. So, we went back on Saturday, and they were still up. We go back tomorrow to have a weight and billiruben check. Uncle Kevin checked her today and said her eyes were white which is a good sign. Hopefully, tomorrow everything will check out good.

We brought Bethany home on Thursday. Her big brother James has been mesmerized by her. He wasn't real thrilled when she cried at first. He is having some issues being gentle. We hope that he will eventually learn how to be gentle with her. We've thought about buying him a baby doll to help him get adjusted to the baby. We probably should have done that earlier.

I've attached some pictures from the hospital of our newest addition. Please enjoy!

Bethany and daddy hanging out at the hospital. Daddy was a little nervous with her at first. He's getting better. She is just so much smaller than her big brother ever was.

Bethany hanging out getting ready for her picture debut in the nursery. Her pictures turned out way better than James's did, because they waited 24 hours to take them. Now, the debate is do we buy them or not, since we didn't buy James's first pictures.

Bethany and mommy together. Bethany sure is a good sleeper in between feedings.

This was James's first visit to see his sister. He wanted to be with whoever had her at the time. Here he is with Uncle Adam and Bethany. She was about an hour old in this picture.

Here is Bethany and mommy immediately after delivery. I was so excited to hold her in my arms. It seemed like a very long 9 months at this point. Although, this delivery was much easier.

I hope you've enjoyed the pictures of our new family member. I will try to update more often, since I will be home for the next 6 weeks. My plan is to go through some stuff and spend some time scrapbooking while Bethany sleeps. Big brother, James, will still be going to daycare to keep him in his routine. Plus it gives him someone to play with during the day while daddy is at work.