One big update!

Editing to say–I accidentally deleted these pictures.  I will restore them as soon as I locate them! 

The last few weeks have been rather eventful.  The most notable event being Shelby’s orthognathic surgery of two weeks ago.  I am pleased to announce the she is doing well, the swelling is subsiding, and she can now talk after having had her mouth wired shut for a week.  She will be on a liquid diet for at least 4 more weeks, but when she can finally eat she will be able to eat like everyone else–biting into a slice of pizza or a burger instead of cutting it up first.  She has never been able to bring her teeth together without dislocating her jaw.  This has caused severe headaches over the years, as well as issues with chewing.  With orthodontics they were able to spread her palate and move her teeth into position, and then with surgery they removed a portion of the back of her upper jaw and put screws and plates in her face.  It was quite an ordeal and she wonders why anyone would CHOOSE to undergo plastic surgery! 

Here she is as she normally looks:



Here she is a few hours after surgery:



Quite painful to say the least!  In a few more weeks I will post after pics so you can see her complete recovery. 

Nathan has started traveling again and made one trip to Nicaragua last month.  He and Alex are currently in Belize where Alex has been able to spend some time with our jungle friends, and attended a Belizean school.  It was 107 degrees there yesterday and he said the classrooms were incredibly hot!  I’m sure he will be almost thankful to return to his air-conditioned school next week…almost!

Alex doesn’t get his picture taken often, but here is one we snapped while he was studying a couple of weeks ago.  He is a good student and maintains straight A’s! 




Abby has been working hard to make sure she is ready to start seventh grade in public school next fall.  I am both nervous and excited for her.  I will miss having her around all the time as she is such a joy, but I also will enjoy not being responsible for anyone’s education for a while.  After 11 years, a little break from homeschooling will be nice.  I’ll have a few years before I start anything official with the little ones.

Here is Abby with her dear circle of friends. 




Phoebe and Hudson really keep us hopping!  Toddlers!!  They are just everywhere at once, aren’t they?  But they also keep us laughing!  Unfortunately, Hudson had two trips to the ER this month.  The first time, Phoebe knocked over a folded step ladder and it knocked him right between the eyes.  He was not himself, and would not respond to me when I tickled or talked to him, but was getting back to his normal self by the time we got to the ER.  Praise the Lord! 

The second trip was due to a quickly developing high fever, rash, and cough.  But another praise, after nearly three weeks he is finally well!  It took forever to shake that cough. 

Here are my babies playing.



Here is what happens when you don’t get a nap before lunch!



Phoebe loves playing with her best friend Sam—also a reversal baby and born only three weeks apart!



And finally….Hudson in a bit of a sour mood.  Could be the bib.  This is what happens when you have a big sister close in age.  Some things just shouldn’t be handed down.  I believe he’s thinking, “Yeah…I’ll show YOU Little Miss Sunshine!”




It has been a busy week!  My nieces came Monday for a spring break visit, and left this afternoon.  Also, Shelby’s friend came for an overnight stay, so I loaded up the whole bunch and met my sister and bub-in-law at Bub’s Burgers in Carmel. Bub’s Burgers Abby and Katie split the Big Ugly, topped off with sloppy waffle fries, and a shake, and are confident that next time they could each eat an entire Big Ugly and get their picture on the wall!  

At the moment, Alex and Nathan are in Belize, Shelby and Abby are spending the night at Grandma’s, and the little ones are miraculously napping at the same time!!  So, I’m going to skedaddle off here and take advantage of the quiet!!