The Family is Growing

I am so happy! I will be an aunt again in November and then again in January. My little sister Alisa is Due in January 12th with her first little bambino. I am so happy for her and Todd and can't wait to find out what she is having. She is going to be such a great mommy because she is such a kid at heart. I love you guys so much.

Baby Wren

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law Nicole and Elliot are preggers as well. They are Due November 28th. We don't know what they are having yet, but can't wait to find out. Congrats to you guys as well.

Baby Johnson

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AVERY!!!

My Avery turns 4-years-old today. She has grown up so fast. She is such a little sweetheart and yet such a challenge. I wouldn't change her for the world. She is so smart and beautiful. She is so loving to her family. She can always make me smile. She loves to sing and dance. She loves being the center of attention, yet she gets shy and embarrassed when people pay to close attention. I have so many hopes and dreams for her and look so forward to seeing her continue to grow. Happy birthday my little angel, we love you so much.

5-days-old.

3-months-old, she looks so much like Erynn in this picture.

8-months-old.


1-year-old.

Andie and Avery Christmas '06

2-years-old

Avery Dance '08

Easter '09

Jon & Kate?

I am so sad. I have seen all the tabloids and the news about Jon & Kate Gosselin, the parents of twins and sextuplets, but I was in denial. I love this show. I watch it all the time. I thought it was so nice to see a family that cared about one another, but was able to have arguments and a house that was dirty from time to time. I admit, Kate can appear to be a little overbearing and bossy, but she is the woman in this household. She has 5 girls to be a good role model for. She has eight kids to provide for keep safe.

All I really have to say is that if it is true about the hole infidelity and open marriage crap, I think that is so wrong. How hard is it to keep marriage vows? I think that the minute you start to think that way, one should immediately try to not put oneself in that position. I have told Lucas time and time again, if he for any reason feels there might be someone better for him out there, or he has found someone else, I would rather he tell me and leave, rather than sneak around and have me catch him.

I can't imagine how much it would hurt to have rumors spread around about my husband being unfaithful. It is just another reminder to me that fame isn't everything. I am quite happy and content with my situation. I have a lovely house, three beautiful healthy daughters and a husband that I consider not just my love, but my friend.

I pray for all couples that they can keep in mind and in their sights, all the good things that originally brought them together. Marriage isn't easy, but it is worth it. I hope that anyone that reads this has that special someone, or is able to find them in this lifetime.

I Have Started a New blog

As most of you know, I am a bow freak. I love making hair bows for my girls and have started making bows for other people. I have started a new blog to display some of my work, more like a gallery. I also figure this can be a way for people to see what I am working on and the kind of bows I make. Then, if they would like me to make a few for them, they can pick the kind they like and place an order.

I can't believe how expensive bows can get in this town. I saw some the other day, a set of two for $13.99. I couldn't believe it.

Anyway, check it out sometime, and feel free to share your thoughts and ideas. Amber I am going to look into your suggestion about the Velcro.

The Start of Our Summer

Schools out for Summer!!!!!!! We are so happy, well I know that I am. I can't wait to spend some time with my girls and my husband. We have already painted our nails, planned a trip to Phoenix, and made our "Things to do this Summer" lists.

It was so cute. I have grown out my nails and believe it or not, they are all the same length. So I did a french manicure on them. Well of course if I did my nails, my girls want their nails done. I started with their toes and then did their fingers. My sister bought me this pretty, sparkly, pink nail polish. Both Andie and Avery wanted that for their toes. Then Avery picked this really light pink (I tried to talk her out of it). I went ahead and put that on her right hand. She looked at it all disappointed and said how you can bearly see it. Then she looked at me and said, "I shouldn't have picked that one." She was just so cute. She then said she wanted her's like mine so I did a french manicure on her nails. It looked so pretty. She looked down at her nails and said, "They are beautiful!!!"

We have still not seen Taylor (our new niece). Can you believe it! We are planning a trip to Phoenix next weekend. You know, stay in a hotel, go swimming, do a little shopping, just relaxing. I know that the girls are going to have such a great time and it will be the first swim of the summer.

This week we have some fun things happening. Both Andie and Avery start their ball games this week. It should be fun. Avery's b-day is this Wednesday, she will be 4-years-old. I want to cry. I can remember when she was born like it was just yesterday. We are having her party on Friday. I am actuallly really excited about the party. We went with a Minnie Mouse theme. I found adorable tableware and the cutest Pinata. I have even thought about playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey, with a twist. I call it "Pin the Bow on Minnie". I hope that it comes out the way I am imagining it. I have also found these cute Minnie head bows, that I am making for all the little girls that come to the party.

It looks like I will be busy this week!! I love Summer!!

Avery's Spring Recital

This past Saturday, Avery had her Spring Dance Recital. The theme for the recital was "When I Grow Up". Avery loves to dance and it is so much fun to watch her perform. She actually told me that she loves to be on stage. She did such a good job at the actual performance. I taped her at the rehearsal and here are her dances. Please excuse my friend Jamie. She takes all the pics for the dance studio at the shows and always tries to get great pics of the girls for me. She is the one that took Andie's awesome ballet pic last year. Avery's ballet dance was "Happy Birthday Princess" saying that they wanted to be princesses when they grew up. Her tap dance was to "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid, which so happens to be her favorite princess. Any who, I hope you enjoy!

Erynn on the Move!!

We are so excited. Erynn has been working on rolling over for quite some time now. She has moved from back to belly and belly to back. Lately, she is rolling all over the place. I finally got it on video. I came home from work and Luke said how she has been rolling like crazy. Sure enough as soon as I put her on the ground, she started to rock onto her side and onto her belly. Here is our video!!

Oh My Poop!!

Do you see that little angel face, well looks can be deceiving. Erynn was being such a good girl, playing in her bouncer being all quiet. I should have known.

The calm before the storm. "I'm innocent, I swear!"

"Oh my gosh!", at least that is what I said when I saw this mess.

All over her little toesies.

What a mess. Luckily, Lucas was home with me and was able to help in the cleaning process. He suggested "hosing her down". Well that is pretty much what we did, in the shower. She was not very happy by the end of that bath.

Gymnastics Open House

Last night, Andie had her Gymnastics Open House for the year. This is like her recital for us to show us how she has been doing this year. Andie loves gymnastics and we were so happy to go and watch her do her stuff.

Here is Andie after they gave her her medal at the end of class.

Andie mid-cartwheel. Luke did a pretty good job with my crappy camera.

Andie doing a great handstand, look how well she pointed her toes.

We thought that her bridges have improved since the beginning of classes.

Well she is no Shawn Johnson, but she is our Andie Johnson and we were so proud of her. Way to go Andie!!

A Day in the ER

Well, I guess there has been a stomach thing going around our little town, big deal right. Well, yesterday morning I was at work, about 4am, I started to feel really nauseated. I figured that I was just really tired and needed to eat. I got home about 6:30, had a bowl of cereal and layed down with Erynn for a nap. Well, about 9am, I woke up to feed Erynn and had the worst stomach ache. I called my dad and he told me to go over to his house so I could rest and he would help me with Erynn. So, I went on over and layed down. 10am the diarrhea started (sorry). I layed down for a nap and at 12:30pm was having horrible pain that radiated to by back. I felt like I was having labor pains all over again.

At this point, my father was asking me about what I had eaten and said it looked like I had Salmonella. My pain would come and go, start in my abdomen, but then end up in my back. I was extremely nauseated, by this point. I called the clinic only to find out that they had no appointments and if I wanted to be seen, I would have "walk in" between 2-3:30pm. I went ahead and walk into the clinic at 2pm. I waited about 45min, saw Dr. Kartchner. He was assessing me. Asking about my appendix, abdominal tenderness. He then check up under my ribs for "Murphey's Sign". I about lost it. I couldn't help but start crying. It hurt so much in my back when he pressed in. At this point, he thought that I might have something going on with my gallbladder. He then said I needed to head on over to the ER.

I went to the ER, the whole way having pain when I breathed in my back. I was given an IV and thankfully, pain medication and nausea medication. I was so dang tired from not sleeping. They ran blood, I had an x-ray, and everything came back normal. At 7pm I was released. The Dr. said he thought that it was just a viral thing. So frustrating. I was so concerned about my kids and my poor husband was with me the whole time in the hospital. I am so glad that it wasn't anything serious, just hated all the hoop la. I went to bed super early last night only to find this morning that I still have the back pain and no kids. My sister took Andie and Avery for the night. I was so grateful. They had them sleep over, got Andie ready for school and Todd (my brother-in-law) took Avery with him to Benson for the day. Thank you guys so much. Unfortunately, Lucas now feels under the weather. He woke up this am with n/v/d. I hope that his isn't as bad as mine was.

Kind of crazy huh.

Just For Fun

I found this on my friend Annie's page and thought that I would do it. It has been awhile since I have completed one of these surveys.

ONE WORD
1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2.Your significant other? Sweet
3. Your hair? Brown
4. Your mother? Driven
5. Your father? Compassionate
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? Worked
8. Your favorite drink? Dr. P
9. Your dream/goal? Happiness
10. What room are you in? Hospital
11. Your hobby? Reading
12. Your fear? Zombies
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
14. Where were you last night? Work
15. Something that you aren't? Perfect
16. Muffins? Blueberry
17. Wish list item? Quest
18. Last thing you did? Drink (Dr. P)
19. TV? HGTV
20. Your pets? Chiweiners
21. Friends? Family
22.Your life? Wonderful
23. Your mood? Chipper
24. Missing someone? Heaven
25. Drinking? Dr. P
26. Dancing? Hip Hop
27. Your car? Elle
28. Something you're not wearing? Earings
29. Your favorite store? Kohls
30. Your favorite color? Pink
31. When is the last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Who will resend this? ?
33. Where do you go to over and over? Wal-Mart
34. Five people who email me regularly? email?
35. My favorite place to eat? Mexican
36. Favorite place I'd like to be at right now? Bed

It is hard to think of only one word answers.

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day!! I got off of work this am and was greeted by my wonderful family. My sweet husband gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure and a sweet letter, that made me cry. My little Andie gave me a homemade card off of her Arts and Craft Station, so sweet!! Avery colored me a piece of paper purple. I even got a present from my wonderful little sister. My older sister texted me and put up a sweet slide show. Lucas and I even got my parents to watch all three girlies and he took me out to dinner. It was so wonderful. I wouldn't have wanted to spend the day with anyone else or doing anything else.

Thank you to my fabulous family, Muah!!

Playing with Daddy

I love this picture. This was the one I wanted to put in the last post, but it is such a pain after you have already started writing. She loves her daddy so much!!

3 Months

Three months old already! Erynn is such a sweetheart! So far, she is still healthy, no new infections. She is all smiles and loves to play with her family. Her sisters can always make her smile and I know that she will be talking early. She coos and gurgles all the time. Her newest game is kicking off her blanket when she is in her bouncer. She sits there all calm and as soon as I place the blanket on her legs, she kicks as hard and fast as she can. It is adorable!! A couple of times, I swear I have heard her laugh. She has rolled over a few times already, when she is in just the right spot and when she cries, I swear I can hear "Mama" in there somewhere. Here are a few pics of her adventures in the last month.

NO, Erynn cannot walk yet, but that doesn't stop her daddy from trying. Kind of freaked me out when I turned around and saw her there, LOL!!

Lucas can't wait to throw her around. I have a really cute pic with her smiling.

Erynn loves her little friend on her bouncer. She likes to sit up more these days and is always grabbing at the bears, trying to put them in her mouth.

Avery playing with Erynn on her mat, too cute!

This is how I have found Erynn a time or two. Who needs Binkies?

Fever, Cough, etc. etc...

We received a phone call on Friday that Andie wasn't feeling well at school and that she had a fever of 100.7. Lucas picked her up and then the rest of the day, she acted totally normal. Saturday came and we were supposed to drive to Phoenix to see the new baby, but halfway there, Andie began to vomit. We ended up turning around and coming home. Sunday came and went with Andie looking better. Sunday night, Andie woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. She stayed home on Monday as well. I called the office and decided I would give her one more day. So Tuesday I took her temp and it was 101.7. She was staying home another day. I took her into the clinic yesterday morning. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long, not having an appointment and having all three girls with me. It turns out that Andie has the Flu, Type B. The swine flu is a Type A flu. We ended up getting a prescription for Tamiflu to help with her symptoms and here's the real kicker, no school for the rest of the week.

I hate it when my kiddos are sick, but I have been home with all three for almost five days now, with at leas two more days coming up. I work all weekend and let me tell you, it will be a nice change in pace. Andie pretty much just lays around the house all day. I have to do my best to keep her away from Avery and Erynn. Really don't want a sick baby on top of all this. Avery is so bored that once the afternoon comes, she wants to play outside with the neighbor until dinner. My biggest gripe, is the whining. Avery and Andie bicker so much, like all sisters do, but it is really getting on my nerves. I am just so grateful that Lucas has been able to be home the last few afternoons to help out.

Wish me luck!!! We have this saying at work "You never shake a baby." I am now singing, "You never shake an 8 or 4 year old!"