Bebe'

~Well, my lack of posting has been because of the beautiful weather we had all last week. We were literally out from morning till dark! (Except for naps...for all of us--me included!) Today it's very green outside and rainy. That's ok with me. It's Monday. That means catch-up day for me!

Playing McDonalds...

Samuel pedaling away

Evangeline~

I-man

William watching the kids from the window and eating some chex

Samuel was proud of his backpack...


See that curly hair?

My boys...

~I've got some good lookin' men around my house~ :)

The boys and I decided to get some pictures of them wearing their matching overalls.

They are pretty goofy!

And kinda tricky to photograph...

HALLELUJAH!

**WARNING** ONLY A MOTHER WOULD THINK THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ARE CUTE...(and maybe Auntie Krista :)

Well, I didn't get time to post the reason we're rejoicing at William eating real food! He's been so finicky for months, and I could never figure out why! He gagged at everything I tried to feed him, including cereal, applesauce, and all baby food. His only source of nutrition was 1 qt. of goat milk a day and plain yogurt.

Grandpa Max always says that the Millers come from a long line of good eaters. William's definitely one of them now!

So my light bulb moment came when I realized William wanted real people food and not the yucky pureed baby food! Ah ha!

So here he is thoroughly enjoying spaghetti and meatballs and carrots.

He also is eating scrambled egg yolks and homemade waffles, now. Hooray! (I don't like feeding baby food...can't imagine having to eat it, either!)

Don't blame ya, buddy.
-Mommy-

Boys Weekend

"The glory of sons, is their fathers" ~Proverbs~

Samuel proudly displaying his first fish!

Justin and Pat get the patience awards for the day: fishing for an afternoon w/ 2 and 3 year olds. :)


Samuel just wants to be with his Daddy! (William's not far behind!)

Huh?

"Huh?" "What you say, Mommy?" ---Samuel's signature saying this month. I think there's too many guys around here that have been around loud machinery. :) (I know Samuel's not hard of hearing--yet. Selective...maybe)

The Jack-o-lantern Look

Here's William and his new teeth. (no wonder he was up so much in the night!) :)

Puffs...

William is 9 months~

He likes to play "pat-a-cake"

And taste everything...edible and non-edible

His newest words are "Dada" "Mama" & (his beloved)"Nana"!

Grace's Update

Thank you for all your prayers. I know George and Krista really value them! The dr's identified Grace's bacterial pneumonia as strep. They believe Grace aspirated some fluid when she was born, which explains the strep bacteria in her lung.

She has to stay a minimum of 10 days in the NICU to finish the penicillin she's on. George and Krista went home Sunday night w/out Grace, but Krista goes in to the hospital to feed her. Yesterday Krista just stayed w/ Grace at the hospital all day and went home last night after her last feeding. She told me that the baby's birth was perfectly timed by the Lord b/c George is not as insanely busy, since he just finished up a unit. He's making up the test he missed on Friday and will be able to drive Krista back and forth between his classes. The good thing is that they're only 5-6 blocks from the hospital. That's too far for Krista to walk still. But all in all, the Lord is working things out for them. It's also a blessing in disguise, since Krista and George are able to get a full night's rest. They are rejoicing and of course, can't wait to bring their little girl home and be a family.
That's it for the update. Thank you for your prayers. I'll post more pictures when I get some. Krista said Grace is adorable w/ her eyes open. We haven't had any dark eyed babies around here, so that's fun! Mom, Dad, and Therese are going up tomorrow, so I'm sure they'll be lots more pictures soon!

~M~

Prayer

Here's a note from Krista, I received via email. Many of you probably already know of Grace's complications. I know you readers will pray. Thank you!
~Meg~


We are so privileged and grateful to announce the birth of our firstborn,

Grace Aladi Ochenjele
Born April 11, 2008 at 6:13am
7lbs 9oz, 20.5 inches

Please pray for her and us, though, as she had to be admitted to the NICU last evening. She was having some difficulty breathing, and the doctors think that she has pneumonia. She will have to stay in the hospital for 7-10 days to receive IV antibiotics. Last we checked on her, she was doing well...had a little IV and a little nasal cannula with some oxygen. It will be hard to have to leave her here on Sunday when I'm discharged, but we are trusting that the Lord gives that which is good! Thankfully, we live about 5-6 blocks from the hospital and we are also very grateful that it was caught early!

Love from,
George, Krista and Gracie

Lil' Blessing...

...some pictures of my delightful afternoon with some of my favorite people and my beautiful new niece! Enjoy...










~Krista asked me not to post pictures of her...no problem! I definitely know the feeling, sister!~ But for the record, you looked great for being up since 4 am yesterday morning, laboring all day and night, and delivering a healthy baby in record time! I remember the feeling well...running on adrenaline, supremely happy, but so very exhausted. Rest well, let George pamper you, and enjoy your little girly. ~M.

It's a girl!

Grace Aladi

Friday, April 11th (good girl, came on her due date!)

7 lbs. 9 oz

21" long

~One very happy auntie is here in the waiting room w/ Nanna and Eva. Can't wait to meet her! I'll take lots of pictures, of course. I've heard she's beautiful~~

I'm an Auntie!!

As of 6 something am I became an aunt!! Baby has lots of hair and that's all the info I know for now. Yipee!! I can't wait to see her.

Congrats George and Krista!

One of those days

It's amazing how God uses our circumstances to change us, eh? Another day to ask for God's grace and see him answer that prayer! Sick baby since Friday, the opportunity to see every hour on the clock last night, cleaning up baby throw-up and other lovely things at 1 am, laundry, trip to the Dr., teaching students, etc...life can be hectic and the Lord often completely changes my plans for the day. I'm so glad that I can depend on God's strength and not my own. It seems like there has been a lot of that the past few months. When I look back at the "hardest" times in my life, I've noticed that's when the Lord has gotten the most increase in my heart and life. This is another season of my life to depend on God's strength. It's easy to be joyful, to trust God, to be content, etc, when I feel great and the sun is shining! The test comes when none of those are there and all I can do is cling to God's promises.

I was chatting to my Mom about the "trials" of my life and how hard being a mom can be at times. Her response was that (1) the Lord can uses the hard things to teach me, but also (2.)to bite the bullet, basically. Thanks Mom! Sometimes we just need to hear truth! In her opinion, women these days are wimps, and I'm one too! When I think about the pioneer women, missionary women, Biblical women...what do I have to complain about? Many probably had their babies close together, had sleepless nights, husband and children to feed, plus no help! Here I am, w/ all the modern conveniences, (and my family nearby) and still have a tendency to complain!

I was reminded of my need to focus on the truth of God's Word, when I'm thinking wrong thoughts. Instead of "I can't"--"I can do all things, through Christ..." "I'm tired"--"My grace is sufficient for thee, My strength is made perfect in weakness." "Come unto Me, all ye who labor, and I will give you rest." "In everything give thanks" "Pray without ceasing"

The Lord is using motherhood to teach me many invaluable lessons. No, I'd have it no other way. I love being a wife and a mother, but it's not for the faint of heart and requires plenty of hard work, stamina, and God's grace! I had no idea it could be so hard, but in laying my life down for others (my family), I'm learning, that's true Life! I look into the eyes of my husband and my children at the end of the day, smile and say to myself, it's totally worth it! Thank you, Lord!

Blurry and big

Sorry about the blurriness. I tried to take the picture w/out a flash and it was on some strange mode. Can't believe how much the baby is popping out! I think this is a record for me. :) 23 weeks down.

A bit of seeing me doing real life...sweats on, vacuum in the background, but I did throw on some mascara today. William threw up all over me this morning and was in the bath tub 3 times. Eww! Eva, Samuel and Wills all laid down together for naps, though. Missy is up, so I'd better go read w/ her.

For my sisters who feel they are out of the loop...

Hey girls, here's the finished dining room. Now, you just have to come over for dinner!


...and since girls like details...

boys

Instead of pizza

Therese called us while we were out the other night to inform us that while she was cutting up Samuel's pizza, he informed her that he "ony eats buck meat" Justin told Therese to tell Samuel that it was buck meat pizza. Yum.

This series of pictures made me laugh. But, I think I posted them in a backwards sequence. Oh, well.

Date Night

I'm so spoiled to have my family close by. I have eager babysitters at the drop of a hat. Nothing like coming home to a house cleaner than how I left it and adorable pictures on the camera. Plus, it's nice not to have to worry about the chickadees while we're out on a date. :)



Thanks to this fun babysitter, we all had a great time! Thanks Therese!!!

Me and my hubby!