I want to remember it!

Today was one those days when you just want to throw in the towel. There were bright spots, for sure, but it's been a tough one, too!

It's always a little harder when the new baby is fussy all day and hardly sleeps. Poor Davey did not have a great day today. I took his temperature a few hours ago, worried that he may have gotten Mac & Corrie's nasty virus. Thankfully, his temp. was fine. Phew!

It took almost two hours just to calm him down and get him to sleep tonight. But that just made one particular part of our evening together even more special to me: He gave me his first smile!!!

I started talking to him, and for the first time it seemed he was actually looking at me - right into my eyes. Then he made the funniest face, which made me smile...and he smiled back! That made me laugh...and he laughed back! He actually laughed!

It was so wonderful. I'd say the whole interaction lasted about 3 seconds, but time stood still for me. Then he went back to crying again.

Just wanted to record this event. Very special!

I wish I had a picture of that moment to share, but here is a video of Corrie and Davey instead.

How's it going?

Now that I am starting to venture out of the house more, people are asking me how we are adjusting to Davey's arrival. As I thought about how to answer that question, I realized that I may have a way of presenting things as more perfect than they really are.

Believe me, we are far from having it all together!

For example...

I look at the sink and I see this: 

(How do dishes multiply like rabbits over the course of only a few hours?!! The thing that really got to me this particular day was when I saw the soccer ball in the sink).

I look at my oldest son and see this: 

(How long did Mac have this lollypop stick in his hair before I noticed it?
Even worse: how long did it take me after I noticed it to actually remove it?!!)

We go for a walk looking like this:

(I don't care what the neighbors think...this rope has provided much sanity for me!)

I check in on Corrie during naptime and see this:

(Did Corrie not get the memo that you take a nap with a blanket?)

I go to check on the baby and see this:

(Poor Davey)

I go the bathroom and see this:

(An entire box of wipes in the toilet!)

I go to do the dishes and I see this:

(Corrie has been helping with the dishes!)

Those are just a few examples of the day-to-day chaos that pervades our lives right now...but seriously...I want to be sure and clear the air: 

We are pretty desperate for the Lord's grace and love to us everyday!

It's not that I don't enjoy celebrating all of our great family moments, but the reality is that there is just a whole bunch going on in between these pictures and posts that is not so cute and funny. And even though Davey is such a joy and comfort to us, things have been pretty tough for us all since he arrived. 

We have been wrestling through many difficulties together. The fact that we have been fighting colds and viruses non-stop has created two very sleep-deprived and cranky toddlers (who were already struggling with adjusting to mommy's new responsibilities as mother of three). It seems like the constant sound-track in our house for the past two months has been crying, whining and complaining...and I am not just talking about the baby and toddlers!

We are all depending on God to help us through the growing pains that He has brought into our relationships with each other and with Him. 

It is so hard! 

Below is a quote by Hudson Taylor (a doctor and missionary to Inland China and the source of baby David's middle name). When I first read this quote, I loved it, although I admit that I could not quite wrap my mind around it very well. I just knew it was true and I wanted to know it better:

"[I had] learned to think of God as the one great Circumstance in whom we live and move and have our being, and all lesser circumstances are necessarily the kindest, wisest, best because they are ordained or permitted by Him." - J. Hudson Taylor

God has used these hard circumstances to reveal His goodness to me so intimately...I am starting to know this quote a little bit better.

Well, not to change the subject, but on another note...an unexpected blessing from today: 

This unseasonably warm weather has allowed us to have the windows open all day...so good to clear all of the sickness out of the air around here! (And it seems little Davey likes napping in the fresh air, too!)

(He will only sleep if he is wrapped up like a little burrito, just like his big brother was!)

Thanks for praying

Corrie and Mac seem to be on the mend, and although I was up all night with this bug, God is taking great care of us.

Please pray that is this little (well, not so little) guy will be spared from this. And pray that daddy will stay healthy too!

Pray for Corrie

Another long night. Sweet little girl does not like throwing up! :-(

We are getting more stream-lined: don't even bother with sheets at this point (towel with a plastic picnic table cover underneath is the way to go) and start working on the trash can skills early.

And don't forget to pray for Corrie!

Good Morning

I don't really love being woken up, but I do love your little squeaky noises, Davey. :-)

Hospital Family Photos

I am really late on posting these photos, but it is fun to look at them again. It was a new experience for us to have so much family come to visit us at the hospital. I was so thankful that we got to see Jeremy and Joy!

This photo is memorable for a few reasons. First, we almost missed out on Corrie being in the picture (she kept trying to escape off the bed) but I was able to hold her down with my feet. Jeremy and Joy...did you guys plan that pose, or are you just that in tune?

Joy and Rachel

And here are the attempts at a photo of just the five of us...

Grandpa and Grandma Johns

Update

So thankful that Mac seems to be on the mend! He did not throw up last night, thank the Lord. A positive outcome from this stomach bug is that Mac can now throw up in a trashcan by himself (instead of all over the furniture, floors, his bed, clothes, etc.) I cannot explain what a relief that is!

When I saw him playing with Corrie this morning, I knew he was starting to feel like himself again. It is still so funny to me to see the difference between their two coloring styles. In the video below, Corrie is making "letters," and Mac is making "SUPER POWER!!!"

Corrie is still learning to stay in her bed at naptime and bedtime. Seems like keeping her room picked up is a lost cause, but we will keep at it. When I looked in on her this morning, this is how she was sleeping:

Mac and Corrie continue to be infatuated with their little brother. Unfortunately, I am constantly teaching them how to interact with David in a kind, safe way. This morning Mac ran over to me and said, laughing, "I threw lots of clothes on baby David!" Then he thought about what he just said and quickly told me, "But I didn't mean to!" Sorry Buddy, but that little phrase does not exonerate you from your actions!

And speaking of baby David, even though it seems like he hardly eats very much at a time, little Davey is not so little at all anymore. I put a 3-month sleeper on him yesterday and it was almost too small. He is getting pretty heavy, too. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago he was this tiny...it seemed like I could almost fit him in my hand!

Now he can hardly fit on my chest to sleep. And he is so strong! A couple weeks ago I sat him on my lap to burp him while feeding him in the middle of the night. Instead of supporting his chest/chin in my hand, I was amazed that he actually sat up and looked around! "What in the world?!!!" Was I just delirious, or did I have some kind of robot baby? What kind of 3 1/2 week old does that? 

All in all, I would say that we are slowly beginning to find our footing as a family of five!

Pray for Mac

Sweet little guy is sick again :-(
Threw up at least six or seven times last night...

Mommy is starting to get the hang of holding a crying baby in one hand and catching throw up in a trash can with the other!

A praise: I have been experiencing 2 Corinthians 12:10. (But don't forget to pray for Mac!)

The Boys

Lucky toe

One the best things about stealing away for a few moments to give Davey a bath is getting to see his cute little lucky toe!

"Nap" Time

Mac and I came to get Corrie from her nap today and she said, "I went to sleep on my bed, Mac."

Somehow, I highly doubt that, Corrie!

Big Girl Bed Update

Last night was Corrie's first night her "big gol bad" (big girl bed). I was wondering how it was all going to shake out through the night and in the morning. I went to check on her once and the bed was pushed away from the wall and her legs were dangling off of the edge with only a tiny piece of the blanket covering her. I pushed the bed back against the wall covered her cold little feet back up.

Around 3am there was a loud "thump" and some crying. She only fell out once...not too shabby!

Here's a picture of her at bedtime:

And here she is this morning. Even thought the bed is a tiny one (just her crib w/out the rails), she still looks very tiny in it! She survived the night and even waited in bed until I came to get get her...great job Corrie!

My favorite part of the big girl bed is hearing Corrie tell me all about it in her cute little voice. It makes me laugh so much seeing how she gets in her bed. Makes perfect sense to her!

Corrie Johns

In a ponytail and brushing your teeth so well all by yourself!

Big Brother and Big Sister Pictures

I wondered a little what type of welcome Mac and Corrie would give their new little brother. I would say it has been a pleasant surprise: they really seem to love him already. Of course, the way that they like to show their love keeps mommy on her toes!

When I finally get Davey to sleep in his crib, Corrie runs in the room and yells, "Mommy! Don't wake him up!" Mac is always trying to "help him feel better" by jamming the pacifier in his face or dropping one of his favorite toys (usually a fire truck or a robot) in Davey's crib precariously close to Davey's head!)

I am not even going to try to describe how adventurous nursing Davey can get sometimes.


Every day they ask me if they can hold Davey. I keep telling Mac, "when he grows up a little bit more, Macky!" And everyday when he wakes up, Mac says, "Mommy, did David grow up yet?" So, the other day I let them hold Davey. It was very dangerous and very sweet all at the same time!

Even though David was crying and Mac was having a hard time waiting his turn, Corrie was in absolute heaven. I have never seen an expression of such contentment on Corrie's face! Priceless. 

When Mac got to hold him, he was so happy and giddy that he could not stop laughing and giggling uncontrollably! (Davey was not quite as enthused). Should have tried to catch that one on video!

And here's some pictures of Davey on his 3-week birthday. What is happening to that dark head of hair? Anyone else see a little red tint beginning to show?

9:33pm

7:20pm

How Can This be Happening...

When this is happening in the next room?!!!

Needed this encouragement today. Thank you, Lord.

"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you." –George Mueller

Mac & Corrie

I missed you guys.

I missed your singing:

And I missed watching the way that you like to play outside: 

And I LOVED watching you meet your baby brother :-)