A grateful healthy 9 months!!!!

Today I am feeling very grateful to have a happy, healthy and full- spirited 9 month old boy. I am reminded of how precious his life and health are to us, as another baby (Stellan), 2 days younger then Ryder currently struggles for his life. Baby Stellan's heart has been at a dangerous rapid heart rate called SVT for 3 days straight. He is being air flighted to Boston any moment to have a high-risk heart surgery.

Please keep Stellan and his family in your prayers.

Sweet Baby Stellan

Give your babies an extra hug and kiss today because we never know what tomorrow brings, but be grateful for today.

Ryders first family vacation

FYI- this will be a longer then usual post to catch-up

We took our first family vacation as a family of 3 last week. We drove to Atlanta, GA to visit friends and family. Our good friends and X-roomies, Pat & Kate moved 20 minutes from Kevins' dad and step-mom last weekend as well. We helped them unload their truck load of furniture Saturday and anticipated spending more time with them later in the trip, but did not get a chance. Kevin is very sad his best friend has moved far away and is already planning a trip back during the football season. Kevin & Pat have watched many bears games together over the past years.

Our love bunches did very well in the car seat for 14 hours on the way down and almost 16 back. He only whined a few times and then mommy spent time entertaining.

This is Madison's new ride. Ryder loved the corvette and bright pink huggie Care Bear.

Madison & Ryder...she helped entertain him and shared her toys as we unloaded the moving truck.

The guys

Pat & Kate's new back yard that looks like a golf course

The New Kimball Casa

Someone loving mealtime

Daddy and Son

Kevin & Ryder at his Grandpa and Grandma Thurstons home right off Lake Lanier

Grandpa T, Grandma T (MiMi)....love this picture

Ryder loved Sandy's stone jewelry.

Sandy & Ryder

Sandy looks awesome despite her current pain and health condition. She continues to amaze us with her wit, energy, perseverance, and outlook. We found out after our visit that she had multiple broken bones from the multiple myloma during our visit. They recently found that the experimental treatments she has been on over the last 6 months has not improved her myloma, thus causing the bad cells to become more aggressive in the bone marrow. You would not have known by the way she kept busy gardening, cleaning and moving about.

Please say a little prayer for Sandy as her body battles this nasty form of cancer. We are hopeful her new treatment regimen will create positive results.

We went out on the lake with Ryder

He loved the water, but kept pulling off his hat.

He got really tired by the end of the adventure

Tom, Kevin & Ryder on one of the sand bars

A tired Moo shoo porky

momma and my baby

Ryder & Grandpa T's last picture the day we left for home.

We are so grateful for the time we spent with family and friends on our trip. The time just flies on vacations. Now we are back home and I am trying to catch-up with the house work and laundry before leaving again to visit the Bowmans in Bloomington later this week. Did I mention Kevin has been cooking wonderful meals since he has been off this past week. Hope this lasts cuz God knows I am on empty by 8pm at night when I get time to feed myself.

Thank you Tom and Sandy for making us feel at home, cooking fabulous dinners nightly, pedicures, golf, good company, all your love, and much more.

We look forward to our next visit hopefully in the fall.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you."
~Desmond Tutu

"Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted."
~Paul Pearshall

"The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us to become our best while looking our worst."
~Marge Kennedy

The Zoo

We had a great adventure at the Brookfield Zoo this week with my sister in law Erin and nephew Logan.  The kids were great!  We were all tired after a long day of walking and moving the babies in and out of the stroller.  I may need to invest in a good baby Ergo carrier for next time to simplify a little.  The weather was awesome.  The boys enjoyed the sea lions under water, and playing in some dirt-sand in the Hammil childrens play area.  We had to cut the play short when Logan began eating the dirt and sand.  

Please see video (never mind my annoying voice).

My little baby is growing up:(

So hard to get a good pic of these 2 looking at you.  

Someone crawled away from me to play with the wildlife.  

He was making noises while exploring.  

Our little oinkers

Erin and Loggie bear

Final Stop.... the Carousel

The boys were way tired at this point

Taking self portraits is tricky

Logan got a little spooked by the carousel

Cranky

Someone has been ................

because ........

he has 3 new teeth with 1 more on the way

So that is a total of 5.  Two bottom and 3 top

Enough pictures mom

Actually he has not been that bad at all unless tired, only a few restless nights with interrupted sleep.  

The 4th

We made a quick trip to Peoria to celebrate the 4th with family and friends.  I got a ton of cute pictures of Mr. Smiley (my nephew Logan).  He posed for all the pictures.  He is a pro.  Ryder on the other hand was not as cooperative since he just woke-up from his nap.  I finally gave up on capturing the perfect picture of the 2 in their matching shirts.  We had a wonderful time....thank you Plues and Neffs!  

Photo Shoot Video

my nephew Logan- 8 months

With Grandpa Bowman and Uncle Jesse (brother)

the 2 on Sunday playing with toys