Finally...Pics of Tyler...

The kids have torn up my camera, so now I have to fill up the memory stick and then go to Wal-Mart and order a CD to get my pics...so until I get a new camera, pics will be posted in mass quantities, sorry. But the cuteness should well make up for it, okay?

When we first brought him home...poor kid...This first one is a great shot of his scrawny legs that aren't so scrawny anymore...

Okay, and in the spirit of keepin' it real...Final shot...

Though my hair looks awful...I just thought that this shot was so hilarious!!!!

Have a blessed day!

Seeing Things Through Different Eyes...

What a morning! Loaded all 4 kiddos up and was at the Health Dept. at 8 am. Chloe was being very difficult, but we made it through without too much incident. Then went to Wal-Mart and a nice elderly man, as I was swiftly passing by, said "My look at all those children..." Uh-oh, here it comes, I thought...I waited..."What a blessing." he said and smiled real big at me. I breathed both a sigh of relief and a breath of satisfaction. See, when I go out with all the kids, which isn't very often , I'm used to hearing lots of things. If you have more than two, possibly even more than one, child, you've heard them. The snide, often times rude comments people make. Even worse are "the looks". Anyone out there know what I'm talking about?

Well, I had to go to Kroger as well and that experience was quite different. The kids were all in meltdown mode and Lillie pitched the biggest Diva fit ever in the frozen food isle because I made her get off the bottom of the cart and let Jack ride because that little goober couldn't keep his shoes on his feet and Chloe was...well, Chloe...getting her little hand slapped repeatedly. THe only one that was good was Tyler, but he was asleep somewhere under the frozen food, I think. LOL. (Note to Anyone pondering having lots of kids real close together: Think about buggy/shopping cart logistics LOL) Well, so we're in the checkout and the meltdown is well into it's 2nd round. I'm writing checks, scanning cards, smacking hands, you name it, I'm multitasking. And then I catch it: The lady behind me. With "that look" on her face. That look of disdain and disbelief and near disgusted, the one that shouts "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for having that many kids , let alone bringing them out in public." . ANd I'm gonna get real here...for a moment, the enemy made me ashamed. He used that one look to shake me up , real good. I was, honestly, for a minute, ashamed of myself and almost cried right there in the checkout...but I couldn't let that happen. I rushed out and loaded the kids into the car and just sat in my seat and ate half a pack of two bite cupcakes (which, by the way, I can eat in one bite when I'm stressed) and fought back tears.

Della, you ought to be ashamed..but not of the size of your crew, but of your attitude towards what God has blessed you with.

I'm so glad GOd loves me, even when I mess up and let things go through my thoughts that shouldn't. That he forgives my moments of ingratitude. That lady behind me wasn't looking at my situation through the right eyes. I turned around and looked at my crew...really tried to see them as the One who created them and gave them breath sees them. Much like he sees you and me. Cranky, rebellious children with our selfish acts and tendencies, our inability to obey simple commands. Yet He loves us with a love that is not measureable by man's standards. So I challenge you that interact with children, to see them like God sees them...like He sees you.

Have a blessed day!

What My Children Have Taught Me...

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

As a mama to 4 (still can't get used to writing that) small children, my aspiration is to teach them everyday. Some days I teach them good things. Other days, to my shame, I'm afraid they're not learning to much good.

But every mama , I would imagine, could say that her children have taught her far more...things about herself, about life, and about God. I was pondering this thought the other morning and tried to think what my children have taught me about God, in particular.

Lillie, for instance, has taught me that God can completely transform a person's life, their attitudes, their point of view when they fully surrender and let him. I was saved by God's grace two days before I found out Lillie was on her way. Before that day, children were the furtherest thing from my mind. Children tied you down, made you give up things, were harder work than they were worth. I'm being honest. But I have maintained that God knew I would not be the best mother I could be aside from His hand on my life, the change salvation brings. So, he worked on me for a long time and when I finally accepted Him I had no idea that change was immediately on the horizon. I was scared sick when I found out I was pregnant. I am so not cut out for this, Lord was my thinking. But God knew otherwise and worked on changing my attitude and my heart and my nasty little ways from square one. Am I the best mother I can be? Nope, not by a longshot. But I am thankful that my attitude was changed and that God's hand has been so apparent in my life as I've tried and am still trying to learn how to be a mom.

Jack is my little miracle boy. Jack taught me that God's hand protects and that he's in control even when we don't see it and when we have no clue that there is anything we need protecting from. Had things not gone the way they did when he was born, he might not have been here today.

Chloe teaches me about God's patience and his mercy. She hit her terrible threes about a year early and with Tyler's arrival, man oh man, has she ever stepped it up. But then I look at the way she acts and I see, very clearly, that I act much the same way and God still loves me enough to have mercy.

And Tyler....well, he's taught me that God answers prayers and that He's able to do all things. I know God answers prayer...sometimes He does it and we miss it, or He does and , because it's not how we would have done it, we dismiss it. But I can't remember a time in my life since I've been saved that He's blatantly answered so many prayers. God has been with me every step of this journey and He will continue to be...of this I am certain.

So, what have your children taught you?

Have a blessed day.

And Tyler Makes 4....

So, it's been two weeks since we brought Tyler home and it's a madhouse around here! Nothing new, though. The first week I was left wondering when we would feel like a "family". I think there's always that brief time when a new baby is born that everyone is out of sorts, trying to figure out where they'll fit in in this new arrangement. Lillie is faced with more responsibility, something she's done okay with and has been very helpful. Jack is no longer the lone boy and Chloe....well, she's no longer the "baby" of the family. I am no longer the mother of three, but the mother of four and questioning on a daily basis to some extent if I'm qualified. Blessed, yes, qualified...not so sure about that one. But we are becoming a family and for that I am thankful. Having 4 is not much different from 3 in alot of ways. In some ways, like when I took all 4 to the store (crazy, I know), it's very different. But now that I'm in the thick of it, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Have a Blessed day!

Musings of a Last Time Baby Momma...

After the first two days back home, things have fallen easily into place (which by the way makes me nervous). The new has worn off and the kids have resumed their normal mode of craziness, the house is staying relatively clean and tidy, and last night Ty woke up at 1 and 5 and sleeps most of the day which is cool with me cause I can get things done.

But this morning Jack asked me if I was ever gonna stop holding Tyler. I had to smile as I explained that I don't hold him ALL the time, but that he's a baby and can't do much for himself right now.

Then the thought came to me...this is the last baby I will have (as far as flesh and blood babies go). And though I have no qualms about the decision, this realization has changed the way I think and deal with things.

With the other three, there was never that thought of this is the final chapter of babies...there was always that chance. So I remember bits and pieces of when they were babies, mostly cause I was so busy trying to figure motherhood out and finding my niche and keeping it all together as best I could, that babyhood flew right past me before I could blink an eye. Three seasons passed by and I didn't make the best of that time.

So I resolved this morning that I will enjoy this season. All the dirty diapers, the late nights up, the fussiness in the morning, the sweet little kisses and smiles and squeaks and grunts. It is a season afterall, and a short one at that. And when that last diaper goes into the trash , the last bottle emptied, the baby clothes given away, I will be able to look back and say that I didn't endure this time, but enjoyed it to the fullest.

Have a Blessed Day!

Okay, I'm Back...

Have been incredibly busy the last couple of days and not felt much like being on the computer. Tyler Edward was born on July 1st at Erlanger in Chattanooga and a whopping 7 lbs. 5 oz and 20 inches of scrawny goodness. I'm not kidding, he's SKINNY!!!!! Bad thing is my kids have torn up my digital camera so I only have a few pics Dad took while in the hospital. He was healthy and his platelet count though a little low, grew over the next two days so we, thankfully didn't have to stay long. I am glad to be back home, but yesterday was my "What In the World Am I Going to Do " Day. I blame it on the amount of pain and the fact that I can't move like I want to. Today, the pain is much better , so I'm praying for improvement everyday and the Lord has really been with me. I won't write much today, just enough to update everyone and show him off, hopefully I'll get some good pictures with his eyes open. He looks alot like Chloe did when she was born, but he's built like Lillie was. He's pretty mellow it seems for now, though he eats pretty regularly, but so far he also sleeps mostly in the day and wakes up a little at night, but I'm used to being up at night, so I'd rather have the time to get things done during the day. I'll write more when time allows. Thanks so much to everyone who prayed and helped...my parents and inlaws and sister and Shanna for keeping the kids during my appointments and treatments. To Dr. Gernt and Dr. Sunny and Natalie my nurse for doing their jobs right and giving me a laugh while doing it. Thanks mostly to the Lord for he has been so very good to me and answered more prayers than I remember having outright answered in awhile, he's really made his prescence and love known.