So Much To Catch Up On

Wow. You know I always have such good intentions when I start blogging again, I do well for a couple of months and then just stop. Ugh. Well, no promises this time. I will do the best I can to do better than I have in the past in my attempt of blogging and keeping record of things that happen in my life in order to preserve for future memories.





My last post was in November of 2010, shortly after Matt and I exchanged our vows. As many of you may know, a lot has happened since then. In brief summary, on January 4, 2011, we found out that we were going to have a new addition to the family. We were so excited! This was my only "planned" baby out of the lot of them. :) Matt and I had been trying to conceive (from the start of our marriage), but due to past complications from my traumatic delivery of Zion, I had been advised by doctors that I may not be able to conceive and I may not be able to carry to full term. So, one hurdle had been overcome, we were expecting. Now, to take it easy and keep our mouths shut for a while until I was a little farther along. We waited to tell a few family members when I was about 8 weeks, and asked for their prayers as I was getting very sick. My pregnancy's with Peyton and Zion were also very difficult and sick pregnancy's, so I wasn't surprised when it happened again. Now, when I say sick, I don't mean a little nauseous, I mean can't keep anything down for weeks, on IV's and frequent trips to the ER and OB. Here we go again. The benefit to having a hubby who is medically trained...he can give me IV's at home. That's what began to happen. Honestly, it got to the point where I stopped even trying to eat. I knew it was just going to come right back up. Zofran is my saving grace and has been with all three pregnancy's (Drew has been my easiest child to have since I didn't have to be pregnant with him :)). The bad side affect to Zofran, it constipates you. And I don't mean a little bit, I mean 6 weeks without going to the bathroom, even with the aid of fiber drinks and stool softeners. Now, I wasn't eating food, so there probably wasn't a huge need to even have to go the bathroom. Anyway (tmi right)...we made the announcement at 12 weeks. We were so excited, though I was barely functioning through the day. I got up and got the boys to school and dragged, literally dragged myself to work. If it weren't for the financial need of our family for my income, work wouldn't have happened, but I knew that we could not go without my income. Since I am an independent contractor (legal assistant) I don't get paid vacation or sick time. So there was none of that available. Often I was making a mad dash to the bathroom across the hall, or regretfully using the office trashcan behind a closed door.





We had one ER scare when the doctor did an ultrasound and couldn't find our baby. He said that I had either miscarried or it was an ectopic pregnancy. I was devastated to say the least, and Matt looked numb. Another doctor who had seen me in triage came into the room and asked if we minded if he took a look. Of course not. After a few minutes of searching, he found a perfectly formed 11 week old baby. He said that I had so much scar tissue and adhesion's that things weren't exactly where they should be and it just took some searching. He called the other doctor back in, showed him, and quietly reprimanded him for not searching longer. Thank you heavenly Father!





I didn't start to feel like I was back with the land of the living until about 22 weeks. I hadn't put on any weight at that point and my tummy barely looked pregnant let alone 22 weeks. Some would be thankful, but I was worried that the baby wasn't getting what it needed nutritionally. Our ultrasound at 20 weeks showed that our baby was on the small side. I should know by now how amazingly God has designed a woman's body to carry a child and through it all, the baby thrives. We found out the day after Easter that our precious baby was a little boy. After having three sons I am definitely not going to deny that I wanted a little girl, I have always wanted a little girl, but God, in His infinite wisdom, gave to us what was and is perfect for us. And of course, we are in love. Girl, what little girl? Are you kidding, we adore our son.





After the 22 week point, the food started staying down and my health started returning. Through all this I had also remained full-time at Regent University, not wanting to delay my grad date any further. By God's grace I kept up on all my classes and completed every one of them taken during my pregnancy (and since) with a 4.0. How His grace has sustained me. Oh, and having the most supportive, helpful and never runs out of energy husband to help me through it all was a big plus too. ;) My amazing Matt.





My due date was 9-10-11, what a cool date, and exactly one month before our first anniversary (10-10-11). However, after having had 2 c-sections, and all my high risk complications, a schedule c-section would be planned. I think it was originally scheduled for 9-2-11, but they ended up moving it back (or would it be forward...) to 8-31-11. I struggle with envy and jealousy over those that are able to go into labor on their own and have such easy deliveries. I have always wanted to go into labor naturally, have my water break, rush to the hospital and make it through with no meds. Oh well, such is not for me. Peyton was an emergency c-section when they couldn't get his shoulders through and started talking forceps. He was a 23 hour labor, with no epidural until time for the c-section. I remember the pain and delirium that I experienced through that labor. Zion was a scheduled c-section since he was only 13 months after Peyton. They (and I) were afraid of rupturing, so we scheduled the c-section. The pain I experienced during Peyton's labor was still pretty fresh on my mind as well. With Zion, it was a good thing he was a c-section because after they delivered him and they went to remove the placenta, they found it had attached to my uterus. Not good. If it had of been a vaginal delivery they would have probably ended up doing a hysterectomy (I was 24 yrs old). But again, God and his infinite wisdom new best, and since it was a c-section and I was already "cut open" they separated the two from one another and put the uterus back (though somewhat damaged) inside of me. Thus the high risk part for any future pregnancy's.

We went in on Wed the 31st for the c-section. After much delay and much nervousness the surgery began. They anesthesiologist gave me not only an epidural but a spinal tap as well, in case the surgery ran long. The two doctors ran into further surprises and complications while delivering our baby, and found that not only are my insides a mess with lots of adhesion's and scar tissue, but that I am missing a layer around my uterus and as soon as they cut into my stomach muscles they found that they were cutting into the placenta. Not quite what they were expecting. So this time, the placenta didn't attach to the uterus, it attached to my stomach muscles. But, all the drama aside, Lincoln Michael Stoltz was born sometime around 1pm weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 19.5 inches long. It took them about 2 minutes to get him to breath, he was born blue and floppy (not something that a Mom wants to hear), but he was and is perfect. We had a couple stop breathing scares the first month of his life, and he still sleeps with a breathing monitor, but seems to have outgrown those troubles. I'll post pictures in my next post.

One of the doctors who was performing the c-section came and visited us the next day and drew on a blackboard a nice diagram of my insides. She left us with a pleading to not have anymore little ones as it my risk both my and my baby's life. Devastating to hear as Matt and I had hoped to have one more. She said that my uterus is so thin and weak that there would be a strong chance of rupturing, and because of all the scar tissue and adhesion's inside of me, if I ruptured they may not have enough time to get to the baby and may actually have to go through my back to remove the baby. Um what!!!! Well, that's all Matt needed to hear. "No more kids Jess." They wanted to tie my tubes, but couldn't get to them. It will be another surgery for me and will require them making an incision above my belly button and inserting a camera to find my tubes first, then doing the procedure. It's going to get done, Matt just hasn't been home a lot since Lincoln's birth for us to get it scheduled. In the meantime, we are taking necessary precautions and praying.

Matt was able to take a whole month off from work after Lincoln was born. Thank you Father! I couldn't have done it without him. With his family living so far away, and my Mom still working full-time, I don't get the privilege of having family help me afterwards. Boy did I need my hubby. Staying on top of school alone with having a new baby was hard enough, let alone staying on top of the house, the other dudes, their homework and classwork, and P & Z's crazy football schedule. I couldn't have done it without him that month. Then he left in October for 2 months. It was nice while I had him.

Well, I will stop there for now. Caught up a year or so. :) So many more exciting and happy things have happened since them and I am excited to share them soon.

Jessica

Matt's Vow To Me (10-10-10)

This is the vow that Matt wrote to say to me:

"I, Matthew Michael Stoltz, take you Jessica Nichole Sherman, my best friend, to be my love, my life, and my wife. I promise to love you forever and always, through hard times and good times. I promise to always be the strength you need when you need support to continue on, or even a push out of bed in the morning sometimes.

I will always protect you Jessica and the “knuckleheads” before myself and give you the best life possible. I will trust you and honor you till the day I die, I will laugh with you and hold you when you are sad. I will care for you when you are ill, and warm you when you are cold. You’re the only one I want see when I go to bed and smile at when I wake up.

You will never be alone; I will always be in your corner and back you with everything. I will be your rock, my Love will never waiver for you only grow stronger. You have made me a better man, you have turned me into a father figure, and you and your boys have given me a purpose in life, for that I will always be eternally grateful.

You’re the girl of my dreams Jessica, you gave me what I wished for, So in return I give you my heart, my soul, my life. I promise to give you your Disney fairytale happy ending that is long overdue and so deserved for the rest of our lives together. I love you Jessica and I promise this will never change."

My Vow To Matt (10-10-10)

This is the vow I wrote to say to Matt:

"When we decided to write our own vows to each other, I knew that it would result in a problem for me. When I get flustered or nervous the first two things that go are my memory and my ability to be able to communicate an intelligent thought. Thus leading me to decide, for the sake of embarrassment, that I was going to need a cheat sheet.

We live in a world full of modern conveniences and technological advances like cell phones, texting, email and facebook. With all these advances, there has been a significant decline in couples writing each other love letters, so that’s when I decided that I was going to type my vows as a love letter to you.

My dearest Mattie Matt,

These past 14 months since I met you have sincerely been some of the happiest months of my life. I rarely stop smiling or laughing when I am around you. You have opened up a side of me that I thought had gone away. We joke when we aren’t around each other that we are missing an appendage, but I really don’t feel complete when I am not with you. I have come to depend on you and lean on you for everything. When something good or bad happens I can’t wait to talk to you about it.

I want to thank you for the amazing man that you are. Thank you for loving me, taking care of me, supporting me and always being there. Thank you for loving my sons and taking them on like they were your own. Thank you for the hours you spend helping me and helping them, and sacrificing all “alone” time that you may have had 14 months ago. Thank you for encouraging me when I get frustrated with life and school and parenting. Thank you for always hugging me when I am down and telling me that I am doing a good job.

When I think of you the first word that comes to my mind is selfless. You have literally but yourself aside and put 4 people in front of you and you never once complain. I am absolutely sure that God sent me the most perfect man for me when he sent me you.

I vow to love, honor and cherish you, I vow to be ever faithful. In sickness and in health till death do us part. I vow to support you and encourage you in all your dreams and aspirations.
I love you more than words can clearly express, and I thank you for asking me to be your wife.

Love, Jess "

10-10-10

Our wedding day! October 10, 2010. What a gorgeous day. Everything went perfectly. The weather was warm and sunny, which was good being that the wedding was on the water. Our colors were purple (lots of shades of purple), silver, black and grey. The groomsmen were in black tuxes with silver vests and ties. Matt was so handsome in a black tux with a purple vest and tie. Peyton and Zion were our ring bearers, but they carried the rings down on an LSU football (Matt's college team), and a Saints football (Matt's NFL team). We tied purple ribbon around the footballs and attached the rings to the ribbon. Matt was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. So he is a die hard Saints and LSU fan (not just since the Saints won the Superbowl :)). Peyton and Zion matched Matt with black tuxes with purple vests and ties. They looked like quite the little stud muffins. :) My maid of honor was my sister Emily, and my bridesmaids were dear friends, Stephanie, Jackie, Melissa, and Nicole (also my sister in law). I let my girls pick out their own dresses, any style, length or shade of purple. The array was gorgeous! They all looked so beautiful! My "bubble" girls were my two precious nieces, Lilly and Caroline. I had them come down the aisle blowing bubbles instead of throwing flower petals. They were adorable. They walked down first with Matt as he went to the alter.

Matt and I wrote our own vows to each other, and it turned out so well. I will post our vows as soon as I get a copy of Matt's vows. After the ceremony, we had hors de vours while the pictures were being done (and there were a lot of pictures, I have a large family). After that was a sit down dinner that my Mom and my cousin Sean prepared. It was so good!!!! Then was the toast given by Matt's best man (Justin, childhood friend), and my sister. After that was the first dance (Our love is a song by Switchfoot), the father/daughter dance (Unforgettable by Natalie Cole), grandfather/granddaughter dance (to Somewhere out there, it's been my and my Poppa's song since I was a little girl), and the Mother/son dance (Mamma by Boys II Men). Then Matt and I slipped away for some romantic pictures taken by Melanie Wasko and Amy Bare. Since we were on the water we did a lot of pictures way out on a dock as the sun was setting. I can't wait to see them!!!!

After the pictures we cut the cake, and the grooms cake. The main cake was actually a cupcake tree with 5 different kinds of cupcakes. Me and my sister in law made the cupcakes. We had red velvet with cream cheese icing, peanut butter with peanut butter icing, chocolate with mint icing, strawberry with strawberry icing and banana with caramel icing. We put food coloring in the icings so that we had purple, white, and black icing to go with our colors. I made fleur de lis candies to go on the top of each cupcake for an edible decoration. We did have a small 6 inch cake to put at the top of the cupcake stand (which by the way, when I post pictures, my awesome brother Aaron made the stand!!!!!). We wanted to have a cake to cut in to for pictures. As a surprise for Matt I had a special grooms cake made for him, a replica (smaller in size of course) of the Superdome in LA (where the Saints and LSU play). He was so surprised!!!! The 6 inch cake topper was banana (my favorite) and the grooms cake was strawberry (Matt's favorite). I also had a blast the day before putting together all our flowers. I used flowers in different shades of purple, white and added in some "black" roses (more like a very dark, deep, red, but they added a gorgeous touch). The bouquets for myself and the girls were all roses. I made the corsages and bouts as well. Since it was a sit down dinner, we had centerpieces to do. Over the past few months I had ordered off of ebay about 30 amethyst vases, all sizes, shapes and different shades of purple and amethyst. Each table had about 6 centerpieces on it (10 foot long tables). I loved the variety!!! Each centerpiece was unique from another, no two alike. Of course now I have 30 purple vases that I have no idea what to do with. :)

What an amazing day. I am so happy and so thankful to the Lord for blessing me with the best man in the world. :) It makes me smile to hear people call me "Mrs. Stoltz" now. :)

Pictures to follow!

First Day of School for P & Z

The first time Zi has ever been on a bus, and I don't have a camera (thank you neighborhood thieves). I did get a couple shots with my cell phone and will upload them to fb soon. Even though they are growing up, and things like this come with the territory, but I can't help to get teary eyed watching them both walk up those bus steps. Amazingly I was awake enough at 6:50 in the morning to comprehend what was going on.

Their day seemed to go well. But, their bus ride, not so good. Their bus driver has been running that route for 6-7 years, and she runs a tight ship. 2nd graders in the back, 1st graders in the middle, and kindergartners in the front. Girls on the left side and boys on the right side. So....my little one's (sometimes affectionately referred to as "thing 1 and thing 2" or "knuckleheads") decide to not only not stay seated, but then Peyton throws an open bag of chips (his) to Zion (to eat, trying to share, for once), who missed catching the open bag, and chips go everywhere. Not a good thing in her bus, a bus that she doesn't allow any eating in. So....when she pulls up to drop them off, I get the report. Zi is already crying, and Peyton is avoiding eye contact. THE FIRST DAY!!! Can a get a break!!!!

So, the punishments commence. Sigh. The next day they apologized as soon as they walked up the bus steps, she gave them both hugs, and so far so good the last 2 days. Thank you LORD!!! Now, if I could just get Peyton's behavior at football practice under control before he gets kicked off the team (a little to aggressive and not listening to the coaches). Sometimes I wonder if I really am teaching them, or if I just imagine that I am teaching them and not really doing it. I mean, if I were really teaching them how to act, manners, behavior, etc, shouldn't they be catching on by now?

31 Days To Go

Yep, 31 days till I am exchanging vows with my love. I am definitely excited, more and more each day. What excites me the most is not the wedding, not the gown, not the family and friends coming to see us get married (sorry), but what excites me the most is exchanging vows and committing my life to Matt, and our marriage to the Lord. Honestly, at this point in my life, I have learned the hard way that grandiosity means nothing, big houses, nice cars, designer clothes do not make you happy and make you have a good marriage. If anything, those items can prove to be distractions from your marriage and can really be a wedge in your marriage. I really could care less if it rains (though I hope it doesn't for the sake of everyone being dressed up nicely), could care less where we are married at, I just care that Matt is there and we are pledging our lives to each other.

There is still so much planning to do. I am making all the flower arrangements myself (to help with the budget and because I am a control freak), this includes the centerpieces, bouquets, corsages and bouts. I have also decided to make gourmet cupcakes instead of a cake. I have had fun deal shopping on ebay and amazon for my centerpieces, cupcake sleeves (that match my colors), candy molds (for the themed piece of candy to top off each cupcake). I am actually more excited about making the cupcakes than I am about dress shopping.

And no....I haven't found a dress yet. My budget for the dress is small. But I know it can be done. I am searching all over at online (If I can't do it on the computer, then sometimes it doesn't get done), consignment shops, ebay, craigslist, etc. It's out there, I'll find it, hopefully by 10-10-10. :)

Location, location, location. Yah, that's been the biggest issue the whole time. The day after we got engaged, my Mom was texting me that she knew the PERFECT location. An old, restored plantation on the York River. She and my Dad had been there for an event, and they found out that to rent the house, and the 9 rooms inside (perfect for Matt's family from NOLA) for $700.00 for the wedding. I said perfect! I don't even need to see it, I want it. Matt and I knew more than anything we wanted to get married by the water. So, Mom called, and emailed to see if the date was available. This took almost a week to hear back from, the owner was out of town (of course). So, a week after we got engaged, we found out that "no" the house wasn't available that weekend. Why did we need to get married that weekend? A couple of reasons, my Mom was catering a wedding on the 9th that she would be able to double her recipes for the food for my wedding (which is my parents wedding gift to Matt and I), and my brother and his family would be able to be in the area (easily, without getting in the way of moving plans). So, the house wasn't available, ok, then we will do it at my parents cottage on the James River. I can accept that, and I was grateful for that. It would be a little tighter, and we wouldn't have the 9 bedrooms for family, but it wouldn't come with a rental price tag. So, I start working on the invites, found nice sets of 40 invites, plus RSVP cards, and envelopes for $6.99 box. Nice!!! About 6 days later, last Friday, right before the invites go to get printed, my Dad calls. He says that he and Mom are meeting with the events coordinator of the plantation, and praise the Lord, the house is now available the weekend of my wedding! Yippeeeeee! Pause the printers, address on the invite needs to be changed. Matt and I needed to go the next day (last Saturday) to look at the house. While there, with my Mom, falling in love with this plantation, the events coordinator says...well, the rental wont be $700, that amount is for events other than weddings, we haven't done a wedding here before, so we are coming up with an amount for weddings. Ok......hmmmmm, wedding, party, conference, they are all events, why should weddings come with a higher price tag???? Well, I wasn't going to argue, I told her that we had a small tight budget that we needed to stick to. She said that the owner should have an amount in a few days. My Mom kindly asked them to hurry, because we had invites to get out. She said she understood. So, Sunday passed, no word, Monday is a holiday, no word, Tuesday, no word, my Mom calls. Wednesday morning, they call, so the amount for weddings???? $3,100.00!!!! Yep, I am not kidding. Some how, that amount doesn't fit into a "small, tight budget" that I need to stick to. Still would need to rent a tent, tables, chairs and some other things. So, the location is back at my Mom and Dad's cottage, and the invites are finally being printed....

Explode!

Well, I had a melt down tonight, and I am feeling really guilty for it. I think that Matt was prepared for it a little, but I wasn't kind to Peyton in particular. He's been very argumentative lately, and constantly picking on Zion. He also hasn't been very respectful to Matt. I know Matt loves me, and I know he loves my boys, but deep down sometimes I fear that all the responsibility that being with me brings will scare him off. Anytime I mention that Matt gets upset and hurt that I even think it, but sometimes I just can't help it.

Tonight was one of those nights. I have been working on homework for 7 hours straight and I still have more to do. The financial stress of the wedding is getting to me. I work part-time, Matt's in the military, we have VERY modest incomes and these wedding bills are already freaking me out. Between the work, the boys, their football schedule, school and the wedding (and not to mention the 10 loads of laundry I've been working on the past 2 days), I just hit a boiling point.

I try really hard not to yell, but I raised my voice, pretty much at all three of them. I apologized, numerous times, but now I am just embarrassed over my behavior, such a poor example to my sons. I need to figure out how to keep it all together these next 5 weeks particularly. My fiance and my children don't deserve for me to loose my patience on them.

Well, back to the homework, tomorrow is another day.

Pictures of Matt and I

My Matt

Shortly after my divorce was final, God brought the most amazing man into my life, Matthew Stoltz. I was very reluctant at first to even go out to dinner with him (which he was so patient about), then let alone enter into a *gulp* relationship with him (yet again patient Matt), but I am sooooo thankful that I came to my senses and did so.

We got engaged last weekend, and we are planning a wedding for October 10, 2010. Yes, that quickly! And, no, I am not pregnant (you will find that I am brutally honest, especially in my blog). That has been somewhat of an implied question by some people. My brother and sister in law are getting transferred (military) and 2 of Matt's groomsman are leaving on deployments, and we want them to be there. SO, October 10th it is!!!!

The past year that I have had with Matt has been amazing to say the least. He is the most encouraging, patient, loving, kind and sweet man in the world. He takes such wonderful care of me, Drew, Peyton and Zion. And yes, even though none of the three boys are his, and one isn't even mine biological, that doesn't matter to him, never has. I warned him up front, when he first asked me out, that I had kids, and he didn't run! That was my first sign that I needed to get to know this man a little better.

Matt is in the military. One of the fine individuals who have chosen to spend their life serving our country. His enlisted in the Navy, but as a recon corpsman he spends most of his time on the Marine Corp side. He is very good at what he does and has so many things that he can do in the military to further his goal of eventually being on the Hostage and Rescue Team with the FBI. He is the baby of three children, he has 2 big sisters, Nikki and Amanda. He has three nephews, Logan, Rayden and Cade. He was born in raised in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana). His Mom and Dad are amazing! So, once we get hitched, his parents will have 5 grandsons!!!! That's a lot of boys. Maybe, just maybe, we will have a little girl down the road. Or, it will just be another son and I will have even more boys in my household. :)

All the boys love him and dote over him, as do I. It takes an amazing man to love and want to be with a woman that has 2 and a half kids. But that's my Matt, amazing.

Recent Pictures of the boys

These amazing pictures were taken by Melanie Wasko

Debating and Finally Deciding

So many of my dear friends have been asking me "what the heck is going on with you" and "why do I never hear from you." Yah, I get those comments quite a bit. So, I decided that it may be tine to TRY to update my blog a little more often.

For those of you that don't know, or have heard, but had questions. My divorce with Alan was final in August of 2009. I don't want to go in to all the details behind the divorce, but lets just say that it was Biblical and necessary. My life has changed quite a bit since then.

Drew, who is now 14, was my step-son, though he was "my son" and I never even thought about the "step" part of it all. Well, needless to say, I don't have Drew all the time anymore. Me and the boys still see him about every other weekend or so, but it's not, nor will it ever be, like it was. That's by far the saddest part of my divorce with Alan, losing Drew. The good news? Drew is still the amazing boy that you all remember. Such a great, sweet kid and getting ready to start his freshman year of high school. :)

I moved into my own little rental house in January of this year, I was able to stay in the house that Alan and I had due to him working overseas. Also in January I started a pre-law program at Regent University. Loving it!!! Hard work needless to say, but I am enjoying what I am studying and learning. I am on scholarship through Regent, and then the Pell grant and VTAG grant pay the rest of my tuition. Praise the Lord!!! I couldn't do it without that.

Peyton and Zion are doing so well. They are 7 and a half and 6 and a half. They are both playing tackle football now (I'll post some pictures soon) and doing very well. Peyton is starting 2nd grade and Zion is starting 1st grade. I know we all say and hear it often, but they are really growing up waaaayyyy too fast.

I work part-time for an attorney in Greenbrier. I work only while the boys are in school (or during the summer, the half day summer camp at the YMCA). I am so thankful that I am able to be home with them and not have to put them in daycare. All my classes right now are online, so I get my work done typically after they go to bed or on the weekends.

There is so much more to update everyone on, the biggest being Matthew Stoltz, but I will try to get to everything over the next few days. I did fall of the radar for a while. Though I am not guilty for my divorce, and I know that I did everything I could do and was supposed to do, I was embarrassed for a while and not sure how to deal with telling people (and there were sooooo many people to tell). Since we kept our separation quiet, this info came as quite a shock to people.

I kept the name of my blog, because I still feel it's appropriate to my life. :) I will be deleting some of the posts that don't have to do with just my kidos. So, I guess you could say I am somewhat starting from scratch.

Well, it's Friday, the weekend is almost here. So enjoy it!!!! :)

P and Z's Big Day!!!

Peyton turned 6 on January 11th, and Zion turns 5 on February 11th. So, instead of two separate birthday parties this year, we decided to combine them. This past Saturday the 31st we had their party at the Cinema Cafe movie theatre. They invited all their classmates, kids on their basketball team (that Alan coaches) and of course family and friends. S0, 50 people later, and a packed movie theatre we all gathered to watch Madagascar 2 and celebrate their big days. Now, here is the bad news. I FORGOT MY CAMERA! So, as soon as Grandpa (my Dad) emails me pics, I will get them posted.

The day was great! Everyone had a great time. We asked that people not bring gifts for the boys, but that they bring a toy for the Hope Haven Children's Home. Peyton and Zion are so excited to be able to help deliver them. I am so proud of my boys. They are very blessed to have so much, and I am so grateful that they "get" that there are others out there that don't have much at all.

Parenting is harder than I could have ever have imagined, and I respect my parent's now more than ever. The one thing that I want my boys to be along with being Godly men, is unselfish. I want them to think of others before they think of themselves. Now that's not easy to teach at all, I guess that little sin nature doesn't help. I think they are off to a good start. When they get older and they can read these blogs that I have written, I want them to know how proud I am of them for sacrificing their birthday gifts for others.

Busy Weeks

It's funny to me. I often find myself saying, "when ___ is done, things will slow down." Recently it was, "when the holidays are over, things will slow down." It never happens. Why haven't I learned this yet? I guess that life with Alan, three boys and a business will never be slow. It's not that I want it so slow that's it's boring, because then I get lazy, really lazy. I always get the most done when I have the most to do. I just wouldn't mind a little extra time to keep up with my blog, maybe do some scrapbooking, spend more time with my girl friends, talk to my family on the phone more, play more games with my kids, read more books, etc. Now, as I read back on those things, I am reminded of how selfish I am. Boy there are a lot of self-pleasing thigs on that list. The season of life that I am in now just doesn't allow that much time (if any at all) for those type of things. 10 years from now, when my boys don't need me as much, and the business doesn't need me, I'll be complaining that I have too much time on my hands. Typical woman huh? :-> What I am going to work on this year is being happy with my life as it is. Trials, struggles, joys, sorrows, everything. This is were I am right now, and there will be time for "other stuff" later. Right???

I left for the beautiful Wintergreen Resort last Sunday the 25th to help with the 32nd Annual Special Olympics Ski Championships. What an experience! This was my second time attending the event. Last year I went as an appearance for my title (Mrs. Virginia). Then to my surprise this past summer I received an email from someone on the management committee asking me if I wanted to be on the management committee for the Special Olympics Ski Championships. So after talking to Alan (since I am already very busy with other non-profits), we decided that I would go for it. Drew will be joining me next year, and he is very excited about it. I almost had him come with me this year, but I knew that I needed to be 100% involved in learning what my job aspects would be, and not to have to worry about my 12 year old. I think I may bring Peyton and Zion with me in 2011. My boys have so much that they can learn from these amazing athletes. I have so much to learn from them..... Being surrounded by such wonderful kids and young adults with so many "disabilities" has taught be how many more "abilities" they have than I do. First off, they are so happy! Happy in life, happy to be an athlete, happy to ski, etc. I can't help but smile all the time that I am around them. Secondly, they cheer each other on. Now don't get me wrong, they are competitive to say the least! But they are so happy for their fellow athlete with what they accomplish. Next up, the Special Olympic Summer games in Richmond!!!!

Recent Photos

Boy it's Been a While!

Wow, it's been almost 2 years since I last posted on my blog. Life in the Robinson house has been an adventure! It would be too much to catch everyone up on the last 2 years, so it's best for me to just try to start from now, January 17th, 2009.

Peyton just turned 6. I can't believe this. I remember bringing him home from the hospital 3 days after he was born, and it really just doesn't seem like 6 years ago. He is our most active child, he NEVER tires. What I would give to be able to bottle his energy and use it for myself. His is in kindergarten, and doing well. His is more mathematically inclined, doesn't really want to learn to read, but we are getting there. He loves sports, plays everything. Playing basketball right now, on the same team with Zion. Alan coaches their team, in fact, he has coached all of them since they started playing sports at 3 years old. Every team, every sport, sometimes 2 sports at the same time. They love having him coach, and he loves all these little boys that he gets to coach. It's so wonderful to watch. Peyton is head-strong, determined, passionate and full of life. I should repeat, he is very head strong, wonder where he got that from, hmmmmm, maybe both his parents! :->

Drew is 12 and a half and in 7th grade. Yes, that is middle school! Yikes! He is a good student, all A's and B's. Getting very handsome and making me very nervous. I tease all the boys that they can't date till they have their undergrad and grad degrees, a good job, and money in the bank. Then I say: "why do you need money in the bank," and they all say back "because women are expensive." That's for sure!!!! Anyway, Drew likes to play basketball and recently has gotten into reading more (which I love, since I pre-read most of his books and it gives me an excuse to read and not feel too guilty). He is a very good kid, laid back, easy going, and a very good big brother.

Then there is itty-bit, our little Zion. He still never stops smiling. Our own little sunshine. He will be 5 on Feb 11th. He is in pre-school at the same place Peyton goes to kindergarten. He too is involved in lots of sports, and loves them. He played flag football this last Fall with Peyton and really enjoyed it, he's very quick on his feet. Zion is always happy and cheerful, but doesn't take any crap from his big brothers.

Alan is very busy. We still own the Town Planner in Hampton Roads, business has been hard these past 18 months. Sales are down, and people don't pay us what they owe us very well at all. But we are still hanging in. I try to help him with the admin (or anything else I can do from home) as much as possible. Other than work, coaching the kids sport teams, and golfing, there isn't much time for much else.

As for me, these three boys keep me hopping. I love it though. They add so much joy to our lives. I coach a local swim team, work with Alan on our business, serve on 3 non-profit boards, volunteer in the kids schools, try to keep up the house, and all the other fun stuff that comes with being a wife and mom. I love staying busy though, I always get more done when I have more to do.

Well, that's a pretty quick update on the Robinson's. Thanks for all the Christmas letters and updates! We miss all our friends in far away states. I will try to be more faithful at updating our blog. I enjoy reading everyone else's.

Zion's 3rd Birthday

Hello! We are again back in time, this time back to February 11th, 2007. My little Zion Isaiah's 3rd birthday. I tell you what, time flies! I say it's time for another baby, but God got some work to do on Alan with that one. :-> Anyway, here are some pics of Zion's day:

Note what he is using to try to bust that thing open. Yep, the Robinson house of men have caught the golf fever. All four of my guys have their own set of golf clubs (Alan may have two or three).

2 of the Boucher boys (Elias and Rylan) and Peyton and Zion.

Getting to the goodies!

Quick, get in there!

Ahhhhh...the reward!

Here we are, Zion Isaiah Robinson. February 11, 2004, 7 pounds, 13 ounces, 20 inches long. He is definitely "A beautiful reflection of God's grace." My little guy never stops smiling.