14 weeks and growing!

Whew! Whew! A blank page, and so much to fill in! First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRANDPA GEORGE!!! Yeah, it's a little late...I fail. But we love you tons anyway-you are on our minds! Dad broke the cell phone with free long distance, but when the insurance finally gets the new one here, we'll give ya a call.

Our little Oliver George (yes, named after his grandpa) is growing big and strong. He is up to 13 pounds and 9 ounces. And one inch shy of two feet (23 inches) He's ready for some new clothes! He is still a champ at his kicking kicking kicking. He has also mastered aiming those flailing hands at dangling objects-toys, mama's hair, daddy's mustache, a brother head that is too close. And he's open close open close, starting to grasp things. Only problem is when he does manage to grab a toy, getting it to his mouth is still a little jerky and he nails himself in the nose or eye at least twice a day. I suppose I should give him softer toys. eh heh. He coos and talks all day long. He drools like a madman and will leave big wet spots on the shoulder of anyone who hold him. He may taste your shirt too, which is hilarious to the older brothers. He's just the love and joy of the whole family. Jacob and Bradley fight over who gets to hold him and who held him longest last time. It's kinda cute.

All the kids are back to school -Thank GOD!- Summer was about to kill us all! Jacob is back for round two of Jr High-with hand picked teachers by mom and the principle (after having some issues last year) and so far it's good. He's organizing himself and taking much more initiative...hopefully this lasts long term. I'm not holding my breath. The near teenager has been known for his up and downs in school. I am paying much closer attention this year! He's started off very well though.

Bradley is back for his last year in elementary...I just can't believe it. Next year is Jr High for him. How on earth does time fly so darn fast!?! He gets up every morning and readies himself and rides his new bike to school. He got the bike from the school last year for perfect attendance. He did it all himself. So independent that one is. Now if I can get him to quit teaching the four year old to do things like shake his booty at people....boys!

Ryan started Kindergarten. Oh what fun that is to watch. He was really ready for the structure, but I gotta say if you ever get the chance you absolutely HAVE to watch a group of 20 Kindergartners on day one. It's flippin hilarious. There's Alfonso, the little one, who was crying when I dropped Ryan off and crying when I picked Ryan up. He saw his dad coming to pick him up and started to sob. The dad was even laughing...apparently the kid is never clingy or teary. There's Emma who said a bad word and all the kids looked at her so she covered her mouth and got big eyed. There's a whole group of them that are fascinated with the bathroom that has a toilet one foot off the ground. The part that really got me snickering was at pick up time. The teacher had the whole class outside, and was teaching them to line up. There's a big yellow line about 6 inches thick and she's telling the kids to line up on the yellow line, stand on the yellow line. And they are in la-la land. Literally staring at the ceiling or totally distracted. Some of them couldn't find the yellow line haha! Finally they are all on the line and then she starts walking away...they have to follow her, AND stay on the yellow line. It may as well have been rocket science. The first 10 kids did good. Then there was a kid who slowed down, so all the kids behind him...well it went to chaos. Some started passing, some started crying, some got mad at others because they left the yellow line to pass! Poor teacher had to go fix it all. It was a riot! As they all walked past me she looked over and gave me a laugh-oh the things we learn in Kindergarten. If only those rules still applied as adults. Those of you who drive past the line of cars backed up due to construction and weasel your way in the front...I am speaking to you...! Wait your turn. And stay on the yellow line. It's six inches thick, you can't miss it. If you need to cry because you have to wait, take three big breaths...no, not like that, the biggest ones you can take, make a huge production out of it, and the whole class will be giggling and you will be over yourself! It works. It works on 4 and 5 year olds.

There's a little goo baby kicking both feet at once at me and cooing rather loudly. Something about mama get of the laptop and play with me. I'll have to end this post here- a little short, but it's something. Now that the kids are in school, I hope to get some more creativity back on here and get regular again. My mornings are free!
I'll talk to you all soon and get some pics up, my camera is full again!! Check back soon!
Love
Randi Fay

Oh how I love the word normal.

Tell me my friends...does it get more normal than this? My lil amazing one :)

Summer Days...

11 weeks. 3 days. Maybe it was his little blue onesie. Maybe it was the dim lighting in the office. Maybe it was my sentimental mood. I'd like to think not. The low hum of the fan overhead. The warm breeze blowing in the open window. I paused from my emailing and surfing to cradle him in my arms. Wearing just his onesie, I could feel his little toes flaring wide and gripping my arm on the opposite side. I pulled him up close to my face and kissed his little cheek. Then his nose. Then his forehead. He pulls hard on his pacifier and just watches me soak up his lovin. He is so precious I am completely pulled in. He's sleepy. He stares at my eyebrows-which is his normal landing place when he is looking at someone. I lift them up and down and he immediately cracks a big dimply grin right through that paci. And then-he lowered his eyes and looked directly into mine. He doesn't do this often. He held my gaze. It was like looking into the eyes of God himself. There was no hesitation, no looking away, no unspoken cultural rule about rudeness. Just a lock. So blue. So pure. His eyes dilated as I watched. What do you say when you feel you have captivated the attention of someone so pure? "Hey you."(Genius I am) He was present. Intentionally present. No accident. No coincidence. Everything around us seemed to stop, still and silent. He kept watching my eyes with intent. He was...waiting for more. He was listening to me. He was right there. "I love you...I love you for exactly who you are, no matter what...you got that...?" Say something important I thought and hurry, before he stops. What came to mind next-something I tell all my kids from birth. It just popped in my head. "I love you more than all the starts in the sky...more than all the sand on the beaches...and all the leaves on all the trees...and stronger than the rumble of the trains" The last line was a recent addition to the How much I love you's. He seemed to soak in every word, as I carefully whispered them to his intense blue eyes. He blinked. He refocused on my eyes and cracked another huge grin. Like a little mischievous child waiting to jump out from the couch and surprise the adults. I felt his little toes flare on my arm again and pinch me. He turned his head and that was it. He dropped his paci, and we went back to mom and baby, care provider and little one, as I reached for his dropped paci. But for just a moment, I got to peek into an amazing creation. I got to see for just an instant, a flash, the spirit in this little boy. It brings tears to my eyes. I got to tell him to his soul how much I love him. He has so much to show us all. And he is so in love with life. Growing and kicking and shining every step of this journey. It makes me ponder what I did so right that God would chose me for these blessings.

Those intense baby blues.

Now, I would end this post here...but since it's been so long since I put up pics and a good post...I'm gonna give you a phat update! So, not to break that inspirational mood I gotcha in...but to add some kick I will share another pic...my trash...

Okay, Randi has lost it. She's shown pics of baby diapers before, but this one crosses the line...no? So why am I showing you my trash? See that little prescription bottle? It's Phenobarbital. That's right. We're done. Any signs of seizures? Not one. Not a single twitch. No jerky movements. No cycling. No fisting. Just Ollie. Pure and sweet.

Dad administers the last dose mixed with breast milk before the prescription went in the trash!

Now...would you like some pics of boys doing the back yard camping? Okay then, here ya go...

Jacob and Bradley

Ryan

Mister Blink...

Bradley in whats left of the tree house.

My lil Monkey :)

Okay...no, I am not done. Pics of me-as requested...

Other recent Ollie cuddlers...

Bradley...

Uncle Paul...first hold out of hospital...

The mammy-who will hate the fact that I posted a pic of her posed anything less than perfect-even though she is so beautiful. Besides...you're all looking at Ollie's double chin's anyway right? He loves his gramma. She is the only one around here who gets enough sleep to give her the energy to walk him round and round the house when he fusses.

Here is my attempt at catching that dimply grin...

Random and slightly blurry pic of Ryan we caught the other night...it was taken in the dark, thus the blur...he slept all night like this.

And Ollie...right now while I type...

He's not only getting long, but is stretching out now, unfolding those feet from underneath. Soon his basket which I love so much will have to get packed away and he will use his playpen with bassinet attachment...He's just growing so fast. My sweet baby blue.

(((Hugs to all)))

Randi Fay

A peek at my ongoing list...

~Chunky Thighs
~Pea Sized Toes
~Baby grunts when he swallows
~Tiny hands that open wide
~Contented Sighs
~Grins with Dimples
~Giggles
~Snuggles
~The soft silken skin
~Lavender baby bath
~Soft cotton Diapers
~Full round bellies
~Big Brothers
~New Clothes for school
~An air conditioner that works
~A car that starts
~Indoor plumbing
~A really good washer and dryer
~Garbage disposals
~Locks and Keys
~Fences
~Lowered gas prices
~Chihuahua's
~Lawn Mowers
~Sprinklers
~Wal Mart Kiddie pools
~Ice
~Tea
~Straws
~The ice cream man
~Chihuahua's that clean up melted ice cream
~Hugs
~"Just Because" phone calls
~The words I love you...
~Knowing they mean it ^^
~Health
~The oblivion of what it's like to walk through (fill in your nightmare here)
~The gratitude of having walked through ICU and more than survived it
~Pacifiers
~Baby wipes
~Trees
~Imagination
~Wisdom
~Education
~Disney Movies
~Huge beds
~Big windows
~Trains
~Shade
~Gentle sunshine
~Breezes
~The Ocean
~Sand
~Flip Flops
~Pedicures
~Warm Showers
~Towels fresh from the dryer
~oooohhh...fresh coffee with creamer
~Candles
~Flowers
~Chocolate
~Gratitude-the eyes to see it all...
~Mercy
~Faith
~Abundance
~Ability
~Willingness
~Family
~and last for this list but not least...Midwives...friends.