Baptist-Health NICU Reunion

All the NICU graduates hands...this will be hung up in the unit!

Mac's flower in the "Garden of Hope."

Mac and Mrs. Sherry...he is more interested in his sucker!!

Mac's smeared handprints on his paper for the day!!

Painting Mac's hands for his paper.

In conjunction with the March of Dimes walk today, our family attended Baptist-Health's NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) reunion. I am glad that we went, but I was a little disappointed that we didn't get see any of the nurses that helped take care of our little man when he was born. We did see Mrs. Sherry, who is the nurse manager of the NICU. She rocked Mac on many occasions. She always commented on how he was such a good baby. There were other booths set up, and they also had the "Garden of Hope." The former preemies were given a "flower" with their name on it in the garden. It was very lovely. Hopefully next year we can attend this again, but next year I want to walk in the March of Dimes Walk for Preemies. This year was too hectic with today also being Emma's birthday party. I'll post that later!!

Dress Up

Emma came to the living room last week, and this is what she looked like. She had found her dance costume from last year and put it on along with her princess slippers. Is she really a princess, or is this just an act? Decide for yourself!!

Mac's New Hiding Spot

Mac has discovered that he can crawl into our built-in book case onto the bottom two shelves...as much as he likes monkeys, I think he is turning into one!!

Mud Play

This afternoon, Randall was getting the backyard clean for Emma's birthday party tomorrow. He had washed Mac's Fisher-Price car, so there was a mud puddle in the yard. I looked outside, and both kids were covered in mud. This was what they looked like.

The Wonders of Nature

Mac looking at the ladybug crawling up Emma's arm.

Look what I have!!

With this afternoon being a glorious day, Emma and Mac played in the backyard while I made strawberry freezer jam. I went out to take some pics while I was letting the jam sit. Emma had found a ladybug and was so excited. She would pick up the ladybug and let Mac look at it. After a minute or so, she would drop it and have to pick it up again. This happened several times before I finally convinced her that the ladybug needed to be let go to live outside. It was very hard for her to understand that the mere insect couldn't survive in our house. This is a hard concept for her to grasp as bringing home caterpillars is becoming a daily occurance!! She is so interested in nature. I can't wait for a free weekend soon so we can visit the zoo. It will have to wait a few weeks because this weekend is her birthday party and Mac's NICU reunion in conjunction with the March of Dimes Walk. Anyone wanted to sponsor us may click on the right side of the blog to do so.

Easter Sunday

They were saying "Cheeseburger!!"

Silly boy!!

"CHEESE!!"

Ok, it's so hard to get them to pose together and get a good picture!!

He did not want to stop long enough to get his picture made...notice the Crocs!! That's all he would wear, so I had to find a navy pair!!

My big girl!!

Emma's Easter Basket

Mac's Easter Basket

Today is Easter Sunday. We started off our day early by getting up and going to early church at 8:00. We started our Revival today with Testify bringing the music and Steve Hale preaching. This morning was wonderful. Randall's mom went to church with us today. After church, a continental breakfast was served in the Fellowship Hall. We came home and I got to work on lunch...BBQ porkchops, macaroni and cheese, salad, and potato fries baked in the oven. Apple turnovers with vanilla bean ice cream was served for dessert. I don't cook often, but this was a good meal!!

The kids loved their Easter baskets. Emma got High School Musical 3 and a princess plate and bowl. Mac got Handy Manny and a Lightning McQueen plate and bowl. They both got fruit snacks (I found HSM3 for Emma!!) and a little candy.

AWWWW!!

Do you see his "Get It" blanket? It's laying to the right of him!! We don't go to bed without it!! We actually have 2 so one can be washed and we still have another!!

Isn't he precious?

Don't you just love a sleeping baby?! I do. I could sit and watch Emma and Mac sleep forever. Right now Randall and Emma are fishing, and Mac is taking a late nap. We had a busy morning, so his nap was delayed a little. We spent the morning playing outside for while, then we headed out to get Emma new flip-flops. We had lunch at Frozen Delite (YUMMY!!) and went to the Fish Bowl. Emma begged for a new puppy (they had the most adorable Boston Terriers!!), but she settled for 5 Neon Tetra fish! Now I am just waiting on this precious little boy to wake up so we can go outside and play!!

I just couldn't resist...

posting this pic of my little man...Sunday after the birthday party, we had to take his clothes off to spray the red icing...he wanted his diaper off, so we decided to try big boy underwear. He looks even smaller with them on!!

Camp and Cash's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday, Cash!!

Happy Birthday, Camp!!(the first born twin)

Emma on the jump house slide!!

Mac getting ready to slide!

Today we enjoyed a great afternoon by attending Camp and Cash's birthday party. I met Camp and Cash's mom, Amy, at a playdate at McDonald's last year, and we hit it off...maybe that's because we had so much in common. Her twins are also preemies who were delivered at Baptist and were in the NICU. Mac was already home by the time they were born, but it's nice to have a friend who has been through the same ups and downs and knows about having a preemie. Camp and Cash were born at 29 or 30 weeks (Sorry, Amy, don't remember exactly which!!). They both weighed a little more than Mac (he weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces!) Camp, Cash, and Mac are all miracle babies who were sent here by God!! I am so glad they are getting the chance to become great friends!!

First Softball Practice

Emma is old enough to play t-ball this year, and today was her first practice. Her team is Diamond Girls. Her coaches are Melanie and Mitchell Kiinhl and Greg Butts. When we got to practice, Emma was very clingy and wouldn't let go of my leg. Randall was working so I had both kids out there trying to help Emma. Eventually she went with Mrs. Melanie, and I think she has a new friend!! She started trying everything they asked her to do. We have a lot of work to do with her at home, but I think she really enjoyed softball once she got over her shyness this afternoon!!

Easter Egg Hunt

He should've gotten the prize for finding the biggest egg!!

Poor baby duck!!

Dropping eggs in the basket.

He went up to the blow up rabbit, then it started to fall over so he ran away!!

Eating a hot dog!

Today while Emma was at Chandler's bowling party, Mac and I attended our church's annual Easter egg hunt. I am on the children's committee, so I was out there early hiding all the eggs!! When we got there, Mac at a hot dog, then Bro. James broke out the resurrection eggs that he does every year. I love them because it really teaches the children what Easter is really about. After that, we got to go EGG CRAZY!! Of course, they were just laying on the ground, and Mac did a great job picking them up...UNTIL...he figured out most of them had candy inside them. I had to open a kit-kat before he would gather more eggs. He gather 49 eggs by himself...yep, you heard right...I didn't help. I only carried the basket. He had 4 money eggs and earned $1.00...of course, all in quarters so he could put them in his pocket. He then found the baby ducks and decided he could "pick" one up. I feel so sorry for the duck. Luckily, a former student of mine was right beside him and took the duck away since I was on the other side of the pool taking pictures. As we headed home, Mac fell asleep in the van. He is now peacefully sleeping while I am waiting for Emma to come back home from the party and Haley to join her in some playtime!

Besties!!

This is Emma and her best friend Chandler (also in the pic is Avery, Chandler's lil sis!!). Emma spent the night last night with Chandler for Chandler's 5th birthday, then she enjoyed a bowling party today!! I am so glad they have become friends at pre-kindergarten this year because they will be going to the same school for kindergarten next year!!

Pretty in Pink

Ok, I just couldn't resist. Emma's favorite color is pink, and when I saw this pink/navy blue striped onesie for Mac, I just couldn't resist!! I love the way it looks!! He wore it to church this morning, and Emma wore the cute pink/black outfit. I bought both of the outfits when we were in Branson this week.

First Hair Cut

Not really sure about what is going on!!

Mrs. Diane cutting Mac's hair!

Before shot...back of hair.

Before shot...side of hair!!

Before shot...front of hair!!

I took Mac this morning for his first official hair cut!! He did a great job of sitting in the chair for Mrs. Diane. He fussed a little, but I didn't have to hold him. I'll post after pictures later...he went to Grandma's after this since he hasn't seen her all week. I'll have to take pics of the "after hair cut" when he gets home!!

My Silly Son

Mac figured out while we were at the hotel that he is still small enough to fit in a drawer...he even told me he wanted to sleep there!! Enough said!!