A little bit of this and that

Rachel and Madelynn

Joshua and Madelynn

Joshua's First Fishing Trip

Last weekend, Joel and Joshua went camping with friends John and his son Boston. They camped Friday night, did a little fishing, then on Saturday took a boat out and fished some more. They had a great time. Lots of little Perch, a Sunfish, Joel caught a Pike (a pretty good size, but just as John was going to grab it, the Pike spit the hook out and, hasta la vista baby), and the big one of the day: Joshua caught...a log!

They all had a good time, bugs and all. They got home smelly, tired and dirty, but golly I love them!





"This one's for Mommy!" is what Joel says in this video. At the very end Joshua grins and says "I love you Mommy!"
You don't see that part because Joel stopped recording just before Joshua spoke. Isn't my son sweet?

Madelynn Video 2

Baby Tip #1: How to Unclog Nasal Passages

What you will need:

A small medicinal syringe
A few cc's of breastmilk

What to do:

Gently squirt a small amount of breastmilk into your baby's nostril using the medicinal syringe. Wait a moment. Your baby should be cleared up in a few minutes. Repeat on second nostril when baby is ready.

I learned this tip from a friend. It works really well, much better than a bulb syringe or Q-tips. And Madelynn cries a whole lot less.

The long awaited Warmth of Summer

Summer is finally here with perfect 75 degree (F) weather. The lilacs have bloomed this week (they are a summer flower here), along with the lupins, buttercups, bluebells, hawkweed, apple trees and so many others I don't know the name of yet.

Madelynn has grown another chin (this is her third). I had to use the booger sucker (bulb syringe) on her last night for the first time. :( Babies don't like them very much. This past week we've also started cloth diapers. They are so tiny! But they look alot more comfortable than disposable diapers.

The other two kids have been enjoying the sunshine, the pool, their new water squirters (as opposed to water guns), and their shorts with no long johns underneath.

We are hoping to go strawberry picking sometime after the Fourth. No jam this year, we're just going to freeze them whole and use them next winter.

Tonight Daddy and Joshua are going camping and then going fishing tomorrow. This will be Joshua's first fishing trip. We bought him his own fishing pole this week and he is SO excited to use it. They will be going with John and his son Boston, who is Joshua's good friend. Pictures to come!

What are they Doing?

Here's some updates on the kiddos:

Madelynn turns three weeks old Friday. She is turning out to be a really good sleeper, a pretty quick eater-(though she swallows air as she nurses and isn't very good about burping so we've had a few wet and smelly episodes throughout the day and night.) She's a good pooper. (So best three out of four isn't bad.) She has big blue eyes and brown hair that is about a 1/2 inch long. She has long fingers and toes, a wonderfully fat double chin with two large cheeks, and looks like Joshua did at this age. I await her first real smile with great anticipation.

Rachel is slowly learning new words: pie, sticky, pool, up, down, stool. She is up to par with her weight. Hurrah! The gluten free diet has really done the trick. She has grown so much in the past six months, about one pound/month. She is definitely taller, too and outgrowing her clothes quicker. She is becoming a typical two year old: learning how to communicate her needs, how to control her emotions, when to say please and thank you. She can now count to the number two and recognizes the letter O. If you are wondering, potty training is on the back burner right now, we are taking a break until life becomes more manageable and Rachel ages a bit.

Joshua talks Mommy's ears off and asks lots of questions trying to figure out his world and why things are the way they are. A common phrase that strangers will hear from him: "I'm four and I can hold the baby all by myself." His vocab is growing everyday. He loves to talk about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He is learning to obey, to share, to let others be first, to be polite, and not talk to strangers (hard to do when you live in a small town). He helps Mommy with Madelynn, watches over Rachel, and teaches Rachel how to sound out words. Joshua is looking forward to his first fishing trip with Daddy.

Mommy is a mommy trying to adjust to having three needy children instead of just two. Her days are bit more full though somehow she is finding time to still blog, email, and facebook. Sustaining grace is within her, laundry and dishes are kept up though cleaning is lacking. Postpartum depression has been nil, though her patience is continually stretched past its limits. She's loving the sunshine and the 75 degree summer days. Joel has been great about watching the kids so Mommy can go on a bike ride and keep up with her gardening.

Joel is doing well. Jobs still keep popping up here and there. Right now they are thirty minutes away framing a cabin and hopefully will be able to do all the finish work.

Thunder Boomer

The other night we had a thunderstorm. This was the first one this year for us here in the cold northland. Of course the kids were scared. Rachel still does not have too many words, so she made up a "sign" for thunderstorm- clapping her hands with a wide clap and saying "way!" Way as in Away. Go away. Come back another day. Well, eventually it did, much to Joshua and Rachel's relief (and me and Joel's).

Gotcha

Video of Madelynn (two weeks old today). Feel free to chuckle. We did. We like the part where she falls asleep at the beginning of the video. There's also some stretching, a yawn, many different facial expressions, and maybe a smile (?).




Here's an adorable photo of Madelynn right after her bath. See how curly her hair is?

Yes, Two Weeks

Madelynn is two weeks old today. How exciting!

I think this week I stopped saying "two weeks old Tonight (8:11 pm)", and just say "yes, she's two weeks old".

Some highlights this past week:

* Madelynn is staying awake a bit more during the day, therefore sleeping a bit more at night.

* I picked her first booger, it was a doozy.

* Her belly button stub fell off.

* First doctor's appt- weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz!! Incredible. Madelynn weighed 6 lb 4 oz at four days old. She gained over a pound in one week! That's a lot of milk...

* Her jaundice is almost all gone (the yellowish tinge to her skin).

* Joshua and Rachel have been incredibly good about having a new sister, as of yet there have been no signs of jealousy.

* Madelynn had one real bath. And will again tonight.

* She is still a really good eater.

I am hoping to get a video of Madelynn on here soon. Maybe today?...

Summer Picnic?

A fire on the beach, with Johnsonville brats and a winter jacket.

Saturday was a beautiful day, though chilly next to Lake Superior. With no baby within, I needed my winter jacket, but the kids were fine with spring coats and big smiles.


Joshua cooked his first bratwurst over an open fire. He sure was proud of himself. Next on his list? Tell his friend, Boston, all about it when they go camping with their Daddies.

Thank you 'Johnsonville' for making brats with no gluten!

Sweet Madelynn

Here are some more pictures for your enjoyment!

Madelynn laying in Daddy's hand

Name Meanings and Updates

Many of you have already met Madelynn. May I explain her name to you?

'Madelynn' means 'woman of Magda'. Mary Magdalene comes to mind when I think of Magda. Mary's life before she met Jesus was very different. She was possessed by seven demons and did not know any kind of joy. When Mary met Jesus, her life was completely transformed and redeemed. She followed Jesus with all her heart.
During labor with Madelynn, I was very depressed. I grieved for Emily and I felt limp and tired. When Madelynn was born, all of that went away. I no longer felt depressed. Like Mary, I just felt grateful. I now had a baby girl to keep and to hold.

'Lynn' is Renee's Mom's middle name.

'Louise' means 'brave warrior' and is also Joel's Mom's middle name.

Update:
Today is Day 6 for Madelynn Louise and she is doing wonderful. She is a good eater and so far, a good sleeper. Joel and I feel grateful for such a good baby. Madelynn's siblings love to hold her and adore her. The thing to do right now is sharing blankies with 'baby'.

Nana and Grampa (Joel's parents) left this morning for Alberta. They were here for 8 days and their help was much appreciated. I did the dishes today for the first time in over a week! The kids miss them though. Joshua said, "I wish they could live here forever!"
Now we all look forward to Shane and JoAnne (Joel's sister) having twins next month! 'Mango' and 'Guava' are due July 22nd but will probably come about three weeks early- the beginning of July.

Madelynn's First Few Days

At the Hospital

Grampa with Madelynn

Nana with Madelynn

At Home (Days 2-5)

Madelynn in Daddy's hand

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

Emily Grace
June 2-11, 2008

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
You who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
You will restore my life again;
From the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
And comfort me once again.

Psalm 71:19-21

Wildflowers in Alberta
(I picture heaven looking like this)


At Emily's graveside (notice pinwheel on lower right)

Welcome Home Grapenut!

Madelynn Louise was born Friday June 5th at 8:11 pm.
6 lbs 9oz
18.9 inches long

Thank God for no ambulance ride, a fast delivery and a healthy baby!
We are all home now with Nana and Grampa.
Joshua and Rachel are very excited about their new little sister.

Some Fun With The Kids

Rachel picking dandelions in our neighbor's yard

A playground for the kids.
Thanks Mike!

Up in the playground.

A crane dredging machine with a couple tugboats visits the harbor to do some work.

Rachel and Joshua play in the swing.

Rachel goes a little crazy.
(She's saying: "yea Josh!")

Bright Life of Joy

Emily Grace
June 2, 2008

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
until these calamities have passed by.
I will cry out to God Most High,
to God who performs all things for me.

Psalm 51:1-2

A June Berry tree in blossom