Party Time

Our family was invited to a birthday party for a special little boy whose family attends church with us. Daddy had to work, but Momma and the kids went to celebrate Jacob's first birthday.

There were lots of outside toys which kept the kiddos very busy, my kids didn't even want to stop to eat cake!

The Barbie jeep was a big hit, even for Aus!

Aiden enjoyed riding the scooter.

Looks like trouble!

The puppet show was also a big hit!

Patiently waiting for his cake.

Baby Jacob is so cute and we feel blessed to know him and his sweet family! Happy Birthday Jacob!

The Zoo

Back in April, (I know this is June!) we went with our friends to the Memphis Zoo. We spent the day seeing some animals, did lots of visiting and then met up for dinner after leaving the zoo. It turned our to be another late night getting home, but we had a lot of good fellowship with our friends. Here are some pics from our zoo trip.

Most of the kids checking out the meerkats.

Austen

Ava was very hungry at this point and not very cooperative.

Aiden

Addy and her Daddy

Ava's holding on tight!

 

Everytime we go to the zoo, we have to get a picture of the kids on the cow.

2010

 

2012

2013

 

And of course, who wouldn't want to attempt a group shot with 17 kids?

 

 

Arynn says, "Enough with the pictures, Let's go home!"



Dixie Cafe

Before we went to Garvan Gardens, we met our friends for what was supposed to be a lunch date. Somehow we ended up crashing their party and tagging along with them to Hot Springs.

Daddy and his "Baby Dog"

Ava is proud of her ice cream and the fact she is sitting at the "big kid" table.

Aus always has smile!

These two boys get mistaken for brothers we when go out, I have even overheard someone ask if they were twins. I agree they may look alike, but their personalities are even more alike!

 

We love Dixie Cafe and eat there way too much! On Saturdays from 11-4 they have Family Day. You can order an adult entree for $6.99 and add a kids meal for $1.99, this includes a drink and free dessert for the kids. Since the girls don't eat a lot, we just order two kids meals and they share with the boys. We can eat at a sit down restuarant for the same if not cheaper than what we pay for fast food. Not a bad deal for a family of seven. We even have our favorite waitress who knows our drink orders if that tells you how often we visit! 

17 Kids and Lots of Fun!

The Friday before Easter, we had plans to go to the Memphis Zoo with our friends the Tims and Witchers. We woke up to lots of rain at our house and were unsure if we should make the drive just to be rained out. Thankfully our friends suggested the Children's Museum and the drive to Memphis was worth the sweet time of fellowship we had with our friends.

Who knew checkers could be so much fun?
Austen is making big plans.

The first stop was at the checkerboard. The kids were excited to see each other and get some energy out, so no one actually played a game of checkers. It didn't take long for them to make up their own game of making a tower with the checkers.

Austen and his hula hoop.

Madisyn finally got to hold Arynn, I know she was wondering if she would ever get a chance! When they came to visit, I sat and rocked her all day. It wasn't until they left, that I realized I hadn't offered to let Madisyn hold her! You can tell just how much Madisyn loves babies! 

Madisyn holding Arynn for the first time.

I didn't get near as many pictures as I would have liked, but it was pretty hectic that day at the museum. So to see more pictures of our fun day visit the Tims' and  Witcher's blogs. *Disclaimer- My goal is to become as efficient as these Mommas, so one day they can link to my post!!!*

Aiden, Griffin, Ben, Grady, Lee and Austen

Altogether we had 17 kids, ages 1 month to 11 years, and 5 adults. (Mr. Kent met up with us a dinner time.) It is funny to see other people's reactions to our group as we walk by. Lots of people count, some shake their heads in disbelief, but it is such a joy to receive compliments. At dinner that night, multiple people (including the manager) commented on how well-behaved our kiddos had been. We had a wonderful visit with our friends and a great start to our 3 day weekend!

Fort Rock Marriage Retreat

A few weeks ago, Jake and I were able to attend a marriage retreat. I have been trying to get caught up with everything blogging so this is behind, better late than never!

Last fall, we attended a Maxwell conference with our good friends the Witchers. (It was not the first one we had attended with them, in fact we met their family for the first time at a Maxwell conference in September of 2009. Back when we just had 3 kiddos and they only had 5, before we needed 12 passenger vans!) At the conference last fall, we were blessed to meet another new family, the Tims. Candyce sent me a sweet card a few months later letting me know she wanted to keep in touch. We had exchanged info but she had misplaced it and googled us! I'm doing good to remember my own name, let alone someone else's! She later sent a package in the mail for Arynn and I finally got around to calling her back. I do have good intentions, but I just can't seem to get it all done!

Stacy and Liberty, Candyce and Clara, Jess and Arynn

We kept in touch and she told me about a marriage retreat coming up in the spring. I told Jake about the retreat and passed the info along to Stacy. Jake begged for me to go, but I wouldn't commit because the retreat was too close to delivery day, especially since our babies like to come late. Then Stacy told me they were definitely going and Candyce was too, I couldn't miss out on a chance to hang out with these wonderful ladies, so we signed up! We prayed for an easy recovery and we ended up going with our 3 week old baby girl! No regrets we had a wonderful time!

 

Kent, Jake and Don

Jake and I were looking forward to spending the weekend together, but we were both more excited about spending time with our wonderful friends. We enjoy visiting and letting our kids play together, but sometimes it is difficult to carry on a conversation while keeping up with our little ones. We knew this would be one of the few times we would have the luxury of uninterrupted adult conversation!

A group shot 

Fort Rock is a family camp set up like a fort/town from the 1800s. They offer family camps (Lord willing, we will be attending in the summer) and marriage retreats. The speakers for this retreat were Dr. S. M. Davis and THE DUGGARS! I had purchased a DVD from the Maxwell conference from Dr. Davis on reverence, which I highly recommend and I was excited to be able to hear him in person. There were so many key points we wanted to remember, so during our retreat, we bought a collection of 150 of his messages. Jake has been enjoying listening to them on the commute to work and I have been listening to them at night before bed. There were multiple things he talked about that really hit home. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged but we felt so uplifted after leaving this retreat. Not only is it helping our marriage, but a stronger marriage benefits our children.

Jake being the guinea pig.

There were lots of activities including a zip line, archery, tomahawks, rifle range and horseback riding. I used the "only 3 weeks postpartum" excuse for the zip line. But honestly I would not have attempted anyway! Jake was the first in our group to do the zip line, Kent and Stacy followed. Jake liked it so much he did it a second time. I feel like if the weather would have been better he would not have ever gotten tired of it!

My brave husband!

Arriving safely on the other side.

Couples were a team for some activities and they kept score at the rifle range, archery and tomahawks. The prize was a gift card to Olive Garden. Needless to say we didn't get a gift card. : -(   Jake says I have to put in a lot of practice before we go back in July!

Kent and Jake practicing.

Don and Candyce (she looked like a pro)

Jake getting some tips on how to throw the tomahawks. It is much harder than it looks!

Not sure how Jake managed this one.

The girls

The guys

Jake signed up to ride horses without me, but didn't get to go. At the end of the day, they asked if he wanted to help take the horses back to the barn. I got brave and decided to go with him. Stacy and Candyce were going to watch Arynn. I was on my horse for literally 1 minute and it did not want to listen very well. Jake told them if there was any question on whether or not I could control it, I needed to get a different horse. I decided I would rather stay and not get a new horse! When they returned, Jake said I made a good decision because I wouldn't have liked it.

Kent and Jake taking the horses back home.

Saturday evening Jim Bob and Michelle arrived. Before their speaking session we played a few games. I'm pretty sure Jake and I could have won the "newlywed game" if we were called. It was fun to watch the other couples' anwers. We also played a game where everyone stood up and as they called certain situations out, you would sit down if it applied to you. The last couple standing won the prize. Jake and I were pretty close to winning that one but he had to sit down on "if you have ever painted your wife's toenails!" I can't believe he admitted to doing it but he has done that for me almost every pregnancy! He's such a wonderful husband!

Michelle and Jim Bob playing the "newlywed game."

Our last pic before going home.
Thanks to Jamie for taking this picture!

We ended the night with a visit with the Duggars. They truly are precious people. I am working on speaking to my children in my "Michelle voice" but I need lots of practice. I admire their dedication to their family and God. It is refreshing to be able to speak to someone who knows what you are experiencing and has not only survived but their family has thrived. I pray God will grant us mercy and grace as He has for their sweet family. We ended up leaving that night and didn't get to finish out the last session on Sunday morning. We heard it was just as great as the others. The whole experience was wonderful and Jake and I feel so blessed to have been able to attend. You might also want to read about Stacy's and Candyce's experiences at Fort Rock.

Arynn @ 2 Weeks

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 2 weeks old!

Arynn and proud sister Addy

You went with Momma for her 1 week check-up to see Dr. S, he checked my platelets which had doubled since delivery. They were 132 and I was released from the hematologist. Thank God for answered prayers!

 

I took you back for a weight check on Wednesday, hoping I could skip Friday's weigh in. But you still weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces. You attended your first Wednesday night church service, which we spent in the nursery because you decided to eat every hour that night!

 

We stayed in our PJ's all day on Thursday!

On Friday, you got to meet the Witchers! Mrs. Stacy brought us lunch (beef and broccoli, my new favorite crock-pot dish) and I sat in the recliner and rocked you all day. Mrs. Stacy didn't let me lift a finger and prepared the food for all the kids. She also brought cookies and muffins for the next day which were quickly devoured! I was so lazy during their visit I didn't even get out the camera! So to see the photographic evidence of their visit click here.

After the Witcher's visit, Gary, Ann, Emily, and Lane came over to see you. It was Emily and Lane's first visit with you and you were on your best behavior.

Aiden, Lane, Emily holding Arynn and Ava

On Saturday we stayed home and Daddy shopped for vans. More on that in a later post.

 

Sunday we went to church and once again I missed most of it because you really wanted to eat non-stop during the day.

 

Monday I took you back in for a weight check to find out the non-stop feeds were really accomplishing something. You had gained 5 ounces in 5 days. You weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces which is only 3 ounces shy of your birth weight. Dr. Mark said you didn't have to come back until 2 months. So now if you want to sleep a longer stretch a night, I will not bother you!

 

You have changed so much and the days are flying by, I wish I could hit the pause button because I know I will blink and you will be just as big as your siblings. I have tried to hold you and just enjoy every moment this week, so much so that I only have two pictures! I hope I can make up for it next week. We love you and are so blessed to be your parents!

 

Arynn's Birth Story

On February 26th around 4:30 am, I woke up with light contractions. We were 40 weeks and 6 days. Around 5:30, I woke Jake and told him today might be the day. I still wasn't convinced because contractions were 8 minutes apart, and nothing like the fast and furious labor we experienced with Addy. Jake went ahead and called into work to tell them he wasn't going to be there and then he called Nana. She arrived around 6:15 and we got to the hospital by 7:15. Jake wanted to make sure we could beat rush hour traffic. We were a little gun shy after our experience with Addy.

9 pounds 7 ounces
21 inches long

Once we got to the hospital we found out we were going to have a baby soon. I was dilated to 5 and contractions were coming regular but still around 8 minutes apart and very manageable.  Our OB was not on call, but Dr B was very nice and reassuring. He made sure the staff was on top of my platelet issue and to our surprise they had came up since the previous week. He offered to break my water around 8:00 to help speed things up, but I declined. I was okay with a slow labor this time.  

Meeting family for the first time.
 

Sometime later Dr B came back and offered to break my water, Jake and I still weren't ready to have any interventions so he left and then came back to tell us my Dr was going to check on us around lunch time. Dr. S came in around noon we were dilated to 9 almost 10 and he offered again to break my water, I still didn't want to just because I remembered how much more intense the labor was after that happened with Addy. I really wanted to just let things happen naturally. He told us he would eat lunch and come back in 30 minutes. 



Nanny Lee holding her 5th great-grandchild. Arynn is named after her mother, Mary Lizabeth, who would have been 113 years old on March 4th.

At 12:40 Dr. S came back, this time I was complete, but no urge to push. Arynn was still -3 station and posterior. He said if I would let him break my water she could rotate and come down like she was supposed to. I wasn't convinced but Jake knew if we sent him away again he might not make it back in time. So we agreed.



Mimi holding her 5th grandbaby.

Everything happened just like he said, I guess 50 years of delivering babies counts for something. : ) Arynn was born at 1:00 pm, no complications for either of us and Dr. S didn't even have to reschedule his afternoon patients!

Nana checking out her 3rd granddaughter's chubby cheeks.

Arynn made her appearance during the day so we had visitors come and welcome her. We actually were able to take pictures! (This didn't happen with Addy because she came in the wee hours of the morning and then went to the NICU) Bro. Ben came and stayed for a while but had to leave before he got to see her, so we don't have any pictures of him. 

Gary and Ann meeting baby Arynn.

We were so blessed with a wonderful labor and delievery. God knew the exact timing that was needed. We are thankful for all of the prayers about mine and Arynn's health. Not only did God answer those prayers but He blessed us even more with an easy labor, delivery and a speedy recovery. This has been the best postpartum experience compared to all of our other babies!

First photo as a family of seven!

We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to us with our 5th baby. We jokingly said it has been more like a first baby! We have had many meals prepared, gifts for Arynn and myself, prayers on our behalf, calls and visitors. We feel loved and blessed to have so many friends and family showing their love. We are thankful to everyone and love each of you! We are happy to have a new blessing in our lives! Welcome Baby Arynn, we love you!!!