The Handmade Dress

I was going to write a long post today about what's going on here right now, but I can't. The words aren't there yet. So I'm going to tell you this: I miss you all desperately! And I miss being here. Baby Caffee is still hanging in there, I'm trying to cook this little one for 5 more weeks (that will get me to 37 weeks). I'm doing bedrest the best I can with these precious littles underfoot and God is pouring out lots of grace!! My little Lyric will be with us a while longer, we have custody of her until May. She is so sweet and learning and growing fast! She is my first baby to sit up in the first week of her 5th month. Little stinker! She fits in perfectly with these little girls, Penny and Claire adore her and I can tell already these three are going to be a hot mess in a few more months! Claire has taken to the roll of "big sis" perfectly and can boss the life out of them! Ha! My big kids are so much help, I couldn't do it without the...

  Oh wow. That was one more Christmas. We haven't actually had Christmas yet, so it was just a day really. The mother of all flu bugs hit my house and our extended families on the Monday before Christmas, and we are just now coming out of the fog! We haven't even had a bite of Christmas food yet! Now that I have had the real flu, I can honestly say that I think that's the first time I've ever had the flu in my 34 years! I couldn't even walk for two days! Praise God that Ben only had a touch of it or this place would have certainly fell apart! All 6 kids were taken out and mama got the worst end of it. Bless that man! He ran his own little war hospital out of our living room. There were mattresses and sick children everywhere. He even did laundry!! Y'all, I have never been so glad to be better in my life!!! I'm still struggling with a bad cough and sinus issues, but I don't feel like I may die anymore! The kids have recovered much easier that their b...

We have had a rough week. I've had four sick kids with the meanest virus out there. It was a five to six day fever, with coughing, wheezing, congestion, and all around misery. It involved a regular doctors visit, an after hours visit, two emergency room visits, and a three day stay in the ICU for our tiny Lyric. I'm happy to say that we are now home, and everyone is fever free except for Lyric who should be on her last day of this. I'm so happy to be home with this sweet baby girl. She gave me a pretty big scare! You know it's bad when you walk into the ER and within five minutes there is a doctor, two nurses, and a respiratory therapist that doesn't leave your side for over an hour. This mama is so grateful for all of my babies tonight. I'm praying that they all continue to heal and get better and the next few days are completely UNEVENTFUL!! Please keep us in your prayers, especially Lyric. Thanks so much friends! xo, Sam   Posted with Blogsy

What a difference a year can make! Or maybe not?! Ha! Hey, I did get a pair of skinny jeans! Woot woot! My older children were super pumped about that! I can't believe it has been a year since my Penny Pie was born, and really a lot has changed. She is now walking everywhere, we have a sweet new foster love (Little Lyric Lou Who), and it's a pretty sure thing now that her two brothers will be with us soon too. We have been working on that process for about six months now (they are in another state) and now we are close to the finish line. So last November we had 4 children with 1 on the way, and this November we have 6 with 3 on the way.....and next November? Well we will just have to see what God has for us then! I've learned to never plan or predict! Ha! I'll just be wherever he needs me to be. How has your life changed in the last year? xo, Sam   Posted with Blogsy

(Lyric is a huge fan of the sling :) We now have five little girls living under our roof, and for a girl like me...that's perfect!! Don't get me wrong, I love my boy with all of my heart, I'm just not disappointed in the ratio of boys and girls. I'm happy. One of my most favorite things about baby girls (which I have three of at the moment) is dressing them! Oh my goodness! I don't think I could ever get tired of it! Every night before we have to go somewhere I lay out their outfits with all of the pieces so that the big kids can help me dress them. I love mixing leggings that came with one thing with tops or dresses that came with something else. I rarely ever dress them in an outfit that came together. Then around the age of 2 1/2 - 3 I let them take the lead a little, and that makes it even more fun! To get to see their personality in what they have on is so cute! I remember Maddie once running to the hardware store on a Saturday morning wearing po...

This had to be documented while she was asleep because that's the only time she's still enough lately! Our new walker has the markings of a new walker...a pretty nice shiner. Claire keeps asking if she can "wear make-up like Penny Pie". Ha! It may sound crazy but I always try to take pictures of their little goose eggs and purple eyes, it's like a right of passage in that transition from baby to toddler...it's just so fast. I wish I had done more of that when Molly was little. Remember those days of disposable cameras that never got developed? Ahhh! And now we have a camera on our phone, our tablet, a big camera, and any photos can be shared with just a click of a button. I'm glad it's that easy now that I have so many little ones, but I wish it had been that easy then too. What would it be like to go back there for just one day and see her like this? I'm just going to keep soaking up all that I can! The fun stuff and the boo-boos that can be ...

  This little person knows just how to drive her mommy batty in the doctor's office! Her strategy goes something like this: "Let me touch everything in sight and then lick my fingers! And then ask to go potty and touch the toilet seat! Yeah!" For someone that doesn't have a germ problem AT ALL most of the time, I have a BIG problem with hospitals, doctor's offices, and public bathrooms. The good news is that my baby Lyric has finally turned a corner and can breathe better! Praise God! Having a three month old that can't breathe is so stressful, and her little body needs a break from the stress too. Tomorrow will be a nice peaceful day at home....and this mama can't wait! I wish you a happy happy Saturday! xo, Sam   Posted with Blogsy