Stellan's Gallery

As most of you already know. One of the blogs that I follow (MckMamma @ mycharmingkids.net) is going though a horrible ordeal with her littlest child Stellan. As a way to remember how everyone prayed for him they made a gallery of the many ways people spelled out Stellan's name. Here is our tribute to Stellan.

Wii love and Pray for Stellan.

Get well soon Little Stellan. Go to Knowing Norrah and see what everyone else has done and upload your own photo to let MckMamma and Stellan know we are thinking of them. Little Stellan still needs our prayers.

Ended up being a good day.

Yesterday ended up being a good day. We were off to a rough start but things did get better. The kids and I played outside for most of the afternoon. It was really a gorgeous day.

The Kids loved playing on the swings. It was a warm day, but not warm enough for bare feet. Ryan on the other hand couldn't wait to have socks and shoes off. The boy never feels cold.

Zachy loved the swing too. He almost fell asleep.

And then there is my STUD Muffin. Sometimes a working man is so sexy. Plus the carharts...what a nice ass butt.

How cute are the two of them. Daddy and his baby. A nice ending to a beautiful day.

****Remember to Pray for Stellan today. According to MckMamma's tweet this morning he is was in SVT all last night and this morning, but did get some sleep***

It feels like Monday...

I am sure the calender says Wednesday, but the way the morning has gone I swear it is Monday. It all started with Zachy getting up at 6:00am. I don't know about you, but we are not morning people. We roll out of bed at 7:00, shower, dress, try to eat and out the door to school at 8:00. So, 6:00am is a little too early for us. Then Zachy would not eat, which makes going to the bus stop a little less fun (he will whine and cry because he is hungry). Ryan decided he would go with Daddy to the bus stop, so I thought "Phew, dodged a potentially rough day". Well I spoke to soon. Jonny called from Griffin's school. It is picture day, we haven't handed in the payment and order form, Griffin isn't wearing anything picture worthy, and his hair is crazy, needing a cut. Oh well for the hair, but then I had to find the order form, find a shirt (clean) and run everything down to school, with fussy Zachy who hasn't eaten and Becca.

Really is it Monday?

We made it all in one piece with a little crying, but we are back. Zachy still hasn't eaten, and Cassie (my dog) is being a little attention hog. At least it is warmer today. The kids will have to play outside (even in the mud) just so I won't lose my mind today.

Checking Mckmamma's blog did not help. I am so sad about Stellan. I just can't believe nothing is working for that poor little guy. I will keep Praying as I have been all night. As I was being to feel helpless and discouraged about little Stellan I can upon this prayer. It was just wanted I need, so I have been repeating this endlessly.

Prayer for Trust in Jesus
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
--- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Please take so time to Pray for Stellan, maybe just pray. Think of the Lord as a friend that will listen to all you have to say. Good, bad, thankful, ungrateful, God will listen. Enjoy this day, it is a Gift from God.

Ryan waiting for the bus with Daddy. I miss doing the school things.

Spring in Vermont

It is spring! But here in Vermont sometimes it isn't much different than winter. The days are longer but not necessarily warmer. When it is warmer there is nothing but mud. So we do have a 5th season here...Mud Season. Last week we saw a glimpse of mud season. The temperature was up into the 50's and we were out without jackets, raking the brown dried crap lawn. The next day the snow was flying and everything was covered in white. Underneath that white is still the mud, but the last couple of days have been so cold it is a little frozen. With a little sun and warmth the mud will be back, but in the mean time...

I sent the kids out in their winter jackets and mud boots to play in the sand table. Forgetting to put their gloves on so they came in after a few minutes. But it was a few minutes I was able to make lunch without three little ones under my feet.

****Please continue to Pray for baby Stellan. Things are not looking any better.***

Oh Mondays!

This morning I had an apt with the Pediatrician with Zachy. We have all been sick, but Zachy has been sick with cold symptoms for 2 weeks without ever really improving. My hubby has been telling me to go to the Dr with him but I have been in so much in the last couple of months and having the Dr tell me that it is nothing but a cold, I kept putting it off. Well after yesterday with Zachy crying and screaming when he was laid down, I finally called. They could not get us in until this morning, which was fine, what was one more night without sleep. Come to find out, yes it is just a cold but a cold with an ear infection. Boy, I felt like such a bad mom for not bringing him in sooner. So, he is on antibiotics (which I hate having my boys take), and will probably end up with a yeast diaper rash.

Then I opened my blogger dashboard and saw that MckMamma is at the hospital with her little Stellan. My heart just about stopped. Their story is nothing short of miraculous. I could not believe my eyes when reading about Stellan and his heart. If you have a minute please say a prayer for little Stellan and stop by MckMamma's blog to read their story.

Me and my sick baby Zachy. This is the only way he will sleep.

"Tradition meets Inspiration!"

C.C.at His Heart has a great idea for a blog carnival "Tradition meets Inspiration!". Hop on over to her blog to see what others are posting and post your own.

This recipe is a family tradition. My aunt Barbara gave it to my Mom (Dot) and she has made it for every birthday cake for years. It is the most wonderful chocolate fudge frosting ever. It is really easy to make but what makes it our own is actually making it "wrong". It is suppose to be smooth but everyone loves it grainy. So we make it "wrong" to make it "right.

Grandma Dot's Fudge Frosting

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
2 squares unsweetened choc
1/2 cup butter (1/4 cup crisco & 1/4 cup butter works better)
1-2 tbs Karo syrup
1/2 cup whole milk
1-2 tsp vanilla extract after it has cooled a bit

Instructions:
Heat on med heat until it comes to a rolling boil. Cook at boil for about 2 minutes. Just a bit longer is better (that is when it gets grainy). Remove from heat and stir until it cools enough to spread. Some people say until you can put your hand on the bottom of the pan and leave it there. If it gets too hard to spread just put it back on the heat for a bit. This recipe can cover a regular 2 layer cake or a small sheet cake. In rainy weather you will have to boil it a little longer.

I hope you all give this a try.

Its been too long

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I am just so tired. Too tired in fact to think about a "Not Me!" Monday post. Something is up with Zachy. My normally good sleeper is waking every 2 hours for that last 4 nights. I am not happy about this...must be he is reminding me what it is like to have a newborn, since I have been whining about having another baby. I just don't know what is wrong with him. I thought he could be his teeth, then maybe that he was hungry so we fed him more before bed. Nothing seems to help. I am getting so tired!

On another note...Jacob is home and doing well. Jodi is having a hard time nursing him. She is not getting much milk. Jacob won't nurse without the breast shield on and when she pumps she is not getting much. Does anyone have any suggestions for her? I have breastfeed my 3 boys but they were full term and able to nurse from the minute they were born. Jacob was just too little and needed something right away, so he had a feeding tube and now is on the bottle. If Jodi's mild supply was good he won't need the bottle, but I have given her all the tips I have and even looked up info on the Internet for her. If anyone that had preemies have any suggestions please leave a comment. Thank you.

The weather here has been nice. It has been pretty warm (42 degrees) so that most of the snow is gone leaving mud everywhere. That is March in Vermont...Mud season. The boys are loving it. They have been riding bikes though the mud which sprays up their backs. They think it is too funny. So we have been going though 3 to 4 outfits per boy a day. And people wonder why I buy so many clothes and do so much laundry. We went for a couple of good walks this weekend. The dog had a blast but she has been terrible on the leash. I had to use her gentle leader (head harness) to keep her from pulling my arm out of joint. It is rather funny to see her in this. She looks like a bucking bronco. I will have to video tape it for you.
Well Zachy needs a nap. I will try to write later.