Home Sweet Home

The kids and I left Clanton yesterday. We finally got in the car about 7:45 a.m. Ben,of course, was ready to eat. Finally left about 8. Topped of the gas tank and hit the interstate. We all settled in for a long ride, or so I thought. We get to Calera and next thing I know I see dust and a car hitting the guard rail and then coming back across the interstate. The car came to a stop on the side of the road. We stop and I call 911. The lady was awake and responsive but not moving her neck or back. I went back to the car and the kids and I were on our way again. Clear sailing from there. We stopped in Leeds so I could feed Ben. A few movies and John a nap later we were in Anderson, SC. We stop at a rest stop and all go to the bathroom. I wake Ben and change and feed him. Ella had to potty again so we all get back out and go back in. Next exit we stop to fill up with gas and hop across to McDonalds for lunch. We ate in the car and about 3:45 central time we pulled in the driveway of our new house. It is nice to be here. The kids were great. No meltdowns and Ben slept. No phone or Internet yet. Upstairs is unpacked but I am still working on putting everything away. Downstairs is another story. Good news is it isn't going anywhere. :)
The kids are loving their new rooms and the rest of the house. I will get pictures up when we get our Internet service.


-- Post From My iPhone

My first test

I have only been home with Ben for four days and i am already being tested. Ever since we got home things have been wild. Between getting settled, visitors and getting Ben to his check ups every other day, i have had to deal with sick kids. Yes, it started with John Saturday morning. He woke up and got sick in his bed. He seemed to do better through the day (except for throwing up in the restaurant at lunch) but then he was sick again Saturday morning. He wasn't eating or drinking much and was running a fever so we were getting concerned. Trying to deal with a clingy not feeling good , one year old when you have a newborn can be challenging. Sunday, came around and there was no vomit but he was running a fever again and was really grouchy. He and Eric slept until lunch while the rest of us went to church. He got up and drank some fluids but was back asleep until the afternoon. We spent the rest of the evening dealing with diarrhea. I got all the kids in bed sure that a good night sleep would help, i hear the call....MOMMY! I walk in the room to hear Ella say "Jack threw up on me". Great! Here we go again. Jack continued to throw up about every two hours through the night. I am not sure how many towels and sheets we went through. This morning was more of the same. Laundry was a non-stop process today. I finally got his fever down and thought we were looking up, only for him to throw up in Dad's store and then again when he got home. I am hopeful that this will all be passed when he wakes in the morning. We have to be at the Dr. appointment for Ben at 9. I would like to say that i was successful in handling all the sickness and other kids at the same time but i didn't. Thank the Lord that Wes and Mom were here (Dad too, he is really good at holding Ben :)). They were able to do what i couldn't when i was tending to Ben. Of course, they were both gone at 12 today so i did have to wing it until Mom got back home. I was relieved to hear her come through the door! I thought things would be a little easier when i came home. I could have never prepared for this. This is my life as a mommy of four and i am happy with that. :)

Eric's trip to NC

Eric had to be at work this morning in Statesville. He left about 3:30 on Sunday and was prepared to drive the 7 and a half hours there. We were pretty sure he would run into part of the snow storm that had moved through early Sunday morning. No biggy. He made really good time getting to Atlanta. He checked the traffic on the radio...uh oh...power line down across I-85 (the interstate taking him to Charlotte) in Commerce, GA. What to do??? They were talking about closing the interstate so Eric took an alternate route. A little out of the way and definitely taking some extra time but better than being stuck on the interstate. He was on his way. Started snowing but he was making it. Driving 50 and seeing snow plows so it was looking promising. WHAA WHAA WHAAAAA! Spartanburg, SC and it comes to a stop. Not a stop and go but a STOP. I call and he had been sitting for about an hour. I call back a few hours later after a round with Jack and he is still sitting there. That goes on through the night. He took a few naps and waited. He finally started moving again about 6 a.m. our time. Turns out traffic was backed up for about 50 miles due to an accident.  He finally made it into Statesville, got a hotel room and took a shower. He headed to work about 10 our time. Traveling to and from North Carolina hasn't worked out for Eric very well lately. Good thing he is staying put for a while.

Visitors, Visitors, Visitors

Since arriving home Baby Ben has had many visitors. Aunt Dale and Aunt Betty were able to come up Thursday night. They came bearing ice cream so Ella, Jack and John were thrilled. We had a nice visit and then they had to head home. Friday was a quiet day. We were out and about. Saturday brought lots of people to the house. Mr. Mark, Mrs. Connie and Eric's Grandmother, Robbie Dear, came in from Dothan; My Grandma and Papa came over from Columbus, Wes was here and my cousin Shellie came in from Gulfport. It only rained in the morning and everyone got to visit so i would consider it a success. It was nice getting to sit a catch up with everyone. The kids loved having all the company. Ben slept through most of it, as usual. I am enjoying all the sleeping because i know it will soon change. A couple of neighbors brought some delicious food by on Sunday. A great big thank you to everyone who has taken time to come by and visit. It really means a lot to Eric and I to have people that care enough to take time to come see us. Thank you.

A classic

As i think back to my childhood and the time i spent at my Grandparents i remember cow feeders, a creek, a brick hut with a tin roof, a wooden rocking horse, goats and a pony, and most importantly...a tire swing. I don't remember much because the tree was lost in a storm some years ago but i do remember swinging on the tire swing with my cousins in the pasture. That seems like something you only see "The Wonder Years" reruns these days. Everyone goes out and buys swing sets with slides, swings, monkey bars, and a sandbox. Yes, they are fun but nothing can replace a good tire swing. In an attempt to occupy the kids my mom put them to work making a swing. They got the rope over the limb and then realized they had no tire. The kids called Grandpa to see if he had a spare "wheel" (jack's word). He didn't. The next few days Dad looked for a tire for their swing. Finally, Thursday it was finished. Eric got the tire tied up and off they went. I am glad they will have fond memories of a tire swing too.

Welcome Home Baby Ben

We rolled into Clanton about 2 p.m. and made our first visit to Grandpa's store. Mom and the kids were headed home from the park and they met us there too. All the girls got to see. I always enjoy showing my kids off. :) We headed home to get settled in. We were greeted by Mom, the kids, and Uncle Wes. It was nice to be home. The kids started fighting as soon as the truck door opened. They all wanted to see. After many passes back and forth between the kids they moved on to something else and we got unpacked. Ben has been wonderful. Sleeping most of the time. Everyone slept well Thursday night. I think i woke Ben up a couple of times when i got up to go to the bathroom. I forget what an adjustment it is to sleep flat with no baby in my belly. Weird. Friday, we were up early. We all got dressed and went to see Mom at school and then to lunch. I had to get Ben up to Alabaster for his pediatrician appointment at 1:30 so it was rush rush getting through lunch. Time to leave and of course all the bad weather is moving in and Ben is hungry. I wasn't too late. He weighed 6 lbs and 12 ounces. His jaundice was up so we had to take him back Saturday morning for a follow -up. The follow-up was good. I have to take him again Tuesday morning for another check. Sunday, brought snow. Church was delayed and Ben and I were a little late. He likes to eat and poop when we should be leaving. :) He has been such a good baby. He eats about 11 and then isn't back up until 3 and then again about 6:30. I am thrilled with that. He isn't a big crier. He doesn't like to have his diaper changed. He is becoming more alert everyday. He has been a total joy. We are so glad to have him home.

Baby Ben, Day 2 and 3

I am a little behind on the blogging but i will do my best to catch up. Day 2 and 3 were spent at the hospital. Wes brought the kids up on Wednesday morning for a visit. They kids were so happy to see Ben. They pass him back and forth like a doll. They were so proud of their "big sister and big brother t-shirts". Brother Randy, my hometown Pastor, and some other friends from church stopped by to say hello. It was a really nice visit. Scot, a co-worker of Eric's, came by that night and he and Eric went out for dinner. I had some nice quiet time. Thursday we waited. I hate discharge day. They always come by early in the morning and tell you they will get all the paper work done so you can get on home and it is after lunch before you ever get out. I used my time wisely though, i napped. They let us out about 12:30 and then we had to run to Target before we headed home. I couldn't wait to get back to the kids. No doubt they weren't missing me as much. Grandma had a fun day planned for them. The hospital days are never fun. Ben was poked and prodded everyday for his pediatrician evaluation. He always came back with a new band-aid. The food wasn't great and the cable left something to be desired. Nothing to watch, a sleeping baby and a quiet room is really no fun when i am used to having three kids as entertainment! :) Overall, the staff was great but i am glad that it was my last stay in a LDR room. Here are some more photos from the hospital.