New Job!!

Some of you may know that on Jan. 29 Paul got the unfortunate news that his position was being eliminated effectively immediately and that he would be on a paid (thank you Jesus) administrative leave until April 9. If a new position in the company was not taken by that date then his employment would be terminated and he would receive a small severance package based on his length of service. It was pretty shocking news - Paul had heard rumors that there was going to be some restructuring but several sources thought his position would be safe. They were wrong. So wrong. The company was not completely heartless though - they did pay all these displaced employees for the leave and set up a website where they could apply for jobs within the company. Sadly though Paul had to give back his company car leaving us with only one car. His boss was very positive that Paul would find another position in the company and faithfully Paul applied for positions that were posted. Weeks passed and he heard nothing. We prayed and prayed that something would come his way. Finally in early March he got 2 phone calls for phone interviews for 2 different positions. Then the next week he had in person interviews. Then we waited. And prayed. And waited. And prayed. And applied for more jobs outside the company. And prayed some more. And finally, yesterday he got offered a position as a Compliance Manager in the same company. So..no benefits lost and he gets a company car again!

To say we are relieved would be an understatement!! It's very scary to think of not having a job, especially in such a tough economy. Paul really tried to keep his stress hidden from me and the kids but I know as the weeks went by he's been getting more and more nervous. We held on to our faith that God would provide and I truly believe He did. The position seems to be a good one though Paul will have to do more traveling than we're used to. I'm not complaining though - just so thankful he has a job!!

It's somewhat hard to believe it's been 2 months since he had to go to work. We've gotten so used to him being home! I've been really spoiled with him around to help with the kids. He gets up with the kids letting me sleep later than I deserve and often feeds them breakfast. He's also been the best "babysitter" (is it really babysitting when they're your kids?) ever - often keeping Jacob & Julia so I can do stuff at school or run errands. He and Jacob have bonded like crazy these past 2 months so much that Jacob will now run to Paul first - it's so cute!! He does the afternoon carpool run a lot and it was great having him around while the kids were tracked out. The hardest part was working around only having 1 car (we had sold his car last year since he never drove it and didn't want to buy a new one until a position was secured in case he got a position with a company car). But we managed and survived and it all worked out just fine.

I think we've both learned some things these past 2 months. Most definitely we've learned patience and gratitude for what we have and how blessed we've been. We've learned to keep being hopeful and to have faith. And though he's enjoyed his time home I think Paul is really ready to jump into his new position!

So thanks so much to everyone for praying for us, thinking of us and sending your positive vibes! We really, really appreciate it!!

Keep Your Camera Close

Or you might miss moments like this:

Methinks he liked dinner....

The Gum Incident

My kids are obsessed with gum. I mean obsessed. I can pretty much get them to do anything they don't really want to do if I promise gum. (Not that I ever do that or anything..I'm just saying they would, for example, happily clean windows if gum was the reward.) I didn't really want to venture into the gum territory and I held off for a long time for my oldest. I think she was like 5 before she had gum. It may have been a grandmother who first gave them gum but I'm not pointing any fingers. The younger two girls had gum much earlier thanks in part to generous older sister(s) and loving grandmothers and aunties who supply the gum habit. My 3 year old is especially fond of gum and generally does a good job keeping it in her mouth. Generally.

However, Sunday afternoon we were sitting at Daisies when a lovely friend sitting behind us said "um...does Julia have gum in her hair?" I am thinking, why of course not, how would she get gum in her. And then I looked. And horror! Yes! It was gum smack in the middle of the back of her hair! Might I point out that this kid was bald until she was 2 and it's only been in the last few months that her hair has really started to grow. We had plans to go meet my aunt in Roanoke Rapids so I couldn't deal with the gum then and there.

When we finally got home a few hours later I addressed the gum. I tried peanut butter and was able to get some of it out. But I had to use scissors and cut most of it out. It seemed to be a huge chunk of hair that came out. Huge. However, I am very thankful that her hair is curly so you can't really tell where I cut. I still can't figure out where the gum came from but I know that they are cut off from gum! Grandmas, Auntie - are you listening??

Family Adventure

Since the kids are out of school and Paul's been around I decided we needed a family adventure. So yesterday we decided to head east and visit the Fort Fisher Aquarium..a place that neither Paul nor I had ever been. Paul fixed green pancakes for us in the morning then we all donned our St. Patty's day attire and headed out. The trip was going well until the policeman who stopped us on 40 gave Paul a ticket for exceeding the speed limit therefore turning our "cheap" family adventure into one expensive family adventure. As Paul remarked: "we could have just gone back to The Great Wolf Lodge for what this will cost." Great.

We finally get to Wilmington and grab the kids a Happy Meal and head toward Fort Fisher. I'd never been to that part of the NC coast so it was neat to drive through Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. There are some adorable, colorful houses down there and we loved looking at them. Just seeing the ocean got us all excited about summer! We finally arrived at the aquarium and were delighted to find that 3 of my kids got in free! We had a great time looking at all the fish and underwater creatures. The girls were fascinated by Luna, the albino alligator. They also loved watching the scuba divers in the large tank cleaning the coral. It's a nice aquarium, though a little small, but still a fun adventure. After we finished up there we drove down to the Fort Fisher park and walked out onto the beach. The girls were so excited to take off their shoes and run in the sand. Sadly it was about 50 and windy so the fun didn't last too long. It was so cute to watch how excited the kids were about running around on the beach. Can't wait until it's summer!

Here are a few pictures from our adventure:

7 Years Ago...

my life changed in the most extraordinary way when we welcomed little Emma Katherine into our lives. She was born at 2:59pm on March 12, 2003 weighing in at 6lbs, 9oz. Two days before her due date and the smallest of all my babies. I had been to the doctor the day before and when we left the appointment I had no idea the next day my life would forever change. Paul had been with me and he had worked overnight the night before and was exhausted...needless to say he's still catching up on missing sleep! About 8pm I started having some back pains. The pain continued and shortly after midnight I started having some contractions. They weren't awful but were coming pretty regularly. About 4am we called the dr on call. She said I probably wasn't in active labor but we could come in and get checked if we wanted. Paul & I debated for a few minutes and decided to go in. We called all the parents on the way to the hospital and told them we'd keep them posted. We get to the hospital and they hook me up to the monitors to check on little Emma. Turns out she was pulling on the cord and her heart rate was going up and down. Since I was so close to my due date they decided to keep me, break my water and see what happened.

A couple hours later my mom shows up, then Paul's mom and finally our friend Frances, who brought food for Paul. They broke my water and for a while nothing was happening. Finally some action started and the contractions started to hurt. I got an epidural and they started me on some pictocin to speed things up. Emma continued to have some problems with her heart rate going up and down so they had to put internal monitors on her so the nurses could keep better track. I remember at one point having the nurses rush in to give me oxygen to help stabilize her heart rate. I also remember that Paul had eaten a Whopper for lunch and I thought the smell of onions was going to make me sick so I yelled at him to "do something about your breath." (He never ate a Whopper during a delivery again) I thought the epidural was wearing off but turns out it was time to push. I pushed for 30 minutes and they ended up having to use the vacuum to get her out. Meanwhile our moms and Frances were waiting outside the door trying to hear what was going on! At 2:59pm she entered this world..crying, pink & absolutely perfect and we fell hopelessly in love with her and parenthood.

It's hard to believe that little baby is now 7 and the oldest of 4 siblings! How our lives have changed in these past 7 years...how much we've learned and grown as people and as parents. I can't even put into words how much I love her and how thankful I am for her. She is a joy and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her. I love you Emma Katherine...Happy Birthday!!!

Forgive Me?

Yesterday I'm upstairs folding laundry and the older girls were outside playing the driveway. I hear the door open then really loud screams coming from my eldest daughter. Then I hear her younger sister say "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry." They both run up the stairs - Emma into my room and Lily to her room. Apparently Lily had "accidentally" slammed Emma's arm into the door. A couple hours later I "catch" Lily giving Emma this note:

Dear Emma I am srooy for sohntye the derre on you Do you Forgive me All Litn you sep with me Irf you Forgive me and you can writing a letter in my writing kit to your bote fidnod like Miggine if you For give me and Fadre Love Lily.

Translation:
Dear Emma. I am sorry for shutting the door on you. Do you forgive me? I'll let you sleep with me if you forgive me and you can write a letter in my writing kit to your best friend like Meghan if you forgive me (and I have no idea what the last word is) Love Lily

I thought that it was so sweet. And, I'm pretty sure Emma forgave her.