Bubbles!!!!

 I've been researching some teaching methods lately and I've really been looking at more hands on things for the boys to do together, so here is a post on just that. I visited Rhys' nursery a few weeks back and they do a bubble time at the end, which is highly successful! Who doesn't love bubbles? Well, I remembered that for Rhys' birthday, he got a bath time bubble machine from one of my best friends from high school and I thought this would make a great way to have bubble time. Little did I know it was going to be so successful! They had a blast and I've been meaning to do it more often, but just haven't gotten to it. Now that I'm feeling better, I think I'll definitely be doing more of the hands on play in our house! Who would've thought that having a fun bubble time could double as a way to wash my table too!?!

 They got to where they were starting to blow the bubbles around instead of just smacking them.

Andy looks like he's having a lot of fun! He's really thinking about this one!

This has absolutely nothing to do with the bubbles, but I wanted to post it because I just thought it was a way cute photograph of Rhys with his little puppy he got for Christmas.

When It Rains It Pours...

Blessings!! And you thought I was going to have a negative post, right?! It has been such a crazy, crazy week! First with me finding out that I'm pregnant and then Jared's surgery on Monday, which went well and he's recovering quite well, and now, drum roll please...This is what we've all been waiting for (for two LONG years!)...Jared FINALLY has a full time, steady job! He starts at Nestle on March 12th! Happy Birthday to Andy! He will work night shift, which will be an adjustment to us all, especially him. We've known for a couple of weeks now that he had the job, but we wanted to wait until he had the physical and passed it all to make the announcement. We are so, so excited and ready for this. It will work out perfect for his school schedule too because he'll work 2 days on, have 3 days off, then 3 days on, and 2 days off at 12 hours each shift. After a year he can bid on new positions and what's even better is that they reward employees who are attending and graduate from college while employed with them! Yipee!! We can't wait, plus think of all that chocolate milk we'll be able to get at discount! Yoohoo! (pun intended, even though I'm not sure that Nestle makes it, just thought it'd be funny)

**Update on Andy. He got the blood test results back today for the Crohns and such and it all came back normal! Yes! This means no major problems for him! Now he just has to have his ultrasound on his stomach and if that comes back normal, then it will probably just be acid reflux or his meds causing the stomach discomfort. We are starting a new med today, Ritalin. It worked for Jared, so we're hoping since they share DNA that it will work for Andy. I'm really hoping the third time's the charm on this! I'll be posting some fun pics from our "Let's Go Lego" adventure at the library from last night, but for now we have to get ready to have Mason, Isaiah, and Elijah over for the evening!

Outnumbered

Last night I went to the ER because of the pain that I have been having on my left side with the 4 mm cyst. I had barely been able to walk for most of the day because of it and I said enough was enough. I had been to my OB/GYN the last couple of to get blood work, ultrasounds, etc. and they hadn't figured out what was causing all of the pain. They were supposed to call in a script for me yesterday, but they dropped the ball on it and there was no way I could wait through the weekend. Instead of driving all the way to Riverview like I normally would, I went to a local hospital only 5 minutes away. My parents came over to help out by taking me so Jared could get the boys to bed.

We waited, and waited in the lobby until a couple of hours there they finally called me back. They asked me questions and took blood and urine samples. The decided to do an exam and after the exam the PA came in and said, "Guess what, you're pregnant!" I couldn't believe it! I had been to my doc and everything and they hadn't caught it! I think I had to have screamed or yelled because of the shock of it all! They walked me back down to the exam room where my Mom was waiting on me and I couldn't help but smile. She asked what was going on and when I told her, she was like, "You've got to be kidding me! Really?!" and her face probably reflected the same expression that I had when they told me.

My Dad was out in the car resting and waiting, so Mom called him to tell him to come in. She didn't say anything else, so when he came in he was expecting to hear really bad news or something. When I told him, he was completely shocked too! He kept saying, it's going to be another boy, the cycle isn't going to be broken! Mom kept teasing saying her and Dad aren't going to have anymore sleepover for Andy because this is what happens when they do! (this happened with Rhys too, it was a big surprise with him) They took me up to get an ultrasound and to make sure everything was looking and measure well and they figured I am about 5 weeks along.

We left the hospital and I called Jared to tell him we're on our way home, but that was it. He came and unlocked the door and in a really serious tone, I said, "Here, these are my discharge papers and I think you need to read them so you know what my treatment will be like." He started to read them and of course it says to take prenatal vitamins and to follow up with my OB. He read it and was like, "That's weird, prenatal vitamins? Wait, wait a minute, are you, you're pregnant?!" I thought he was going to have to be transported to the ER himself because he was in such shock! (remember, by this time it was at a least 1:30 in the morning and he was very tired) I think we both slept very restlessly last night and it was a lot to take in at first, but we are really excited for this, especially when we thought there might be a possibility that I might not get to have any other children, well that's what the OB said could be a possibility due to possible surgery. oops! There's a big difference between Endometriosis and pregnancy! Guess I'll be finding a new OB! I am due October 21st. We will officially be outnumbered! Needless to say that Nana and Grandpa and the rest of the family were just as surprised as we were!! 

Best $5 Spent EVER!

Sorry it's so blurry, but I had to share what I got today at Goodwill for $5. I've been looking for one for a while and didn't want to spend a lot of money, so here it is! Andy is loving it and it's practically brand new! Yay!

A Quick One

Just wanted to update everything that's been going on. We are one VERY busy family here lately with doctors appointments and such. Both of the boys have been sick with bad colds and have been back and forth to the doctors. Andy started his new meds, but we had to take him off because the Focalin was causing hallucinations and major anxiety. We call tomorrow to figure out a new treatment plan. He sees his GI doctor on Wednesday to find out what is going on with his stomach, hopefully they'll say it's nothing.

I have been having some health issues with the PCOS and now they are saying it might be Endometriosis along with it, so they are starting my treatment plans next week to hopefully get some of the bothersome symptoms to subside or else they're going to have to do surgery. Let's pray that the meds work and I don't have to worry about surgery for a LONG time!

Jared has been having some Crohn's issues over the last few months and now that we have insurance, he is finally going to get  lot of it taken care of starting with a week from today with a long overdue surgery to fix some of the fistulas. He got an email from a potential employer we've been waiting on for a while saying that he's still in the running for a position, but they just are waiting on a spot to open up.

Lots and lots of prayers are needed our way. (thanks in advance) I know this sounds like a lot, but we have truly been blessed lately with all that we need and the Lord has truly helped us out over the last two years. It's officially past 2 years since Jared lost full time work and I am still in awe at all of the blessings we've had in the last two years! We've not wanted for anything, the Lord has provided all that we've needed and then some, including keeping me calm! I am truly blessed to have the life that I have.