Christmas with the Thomas'

We had a wonderful Christmas- complete with several adventures we didn't count on.



We spent Christmas Eve with Patty and John. Our children are so lucky to have Aunt Patty and Uncle John. They love them and spoil them rotten! The kids loved opening their presents and Uncle John taught Philip a new trick or two. It was a wonderful way to start our Christmas celebrations although I know that Patty missed Candace terribly. Maybe next Christmas we'll have our girl home.



We went home and got the three little cubs settled. They were reminded that Santa WOULD NOT come until everyone in the house was asleep. Randy and I started working on peeling the potatoes we were taking to Mom's on Christmas Day when Grace appeared on the stairs and asked when we planned on going to sleep. We told her soon. I think that we finished in record time because we were excited about Santa coming.



Christmas morning came and surprise of all surprises, Grace was the first one up! She had tried to sneak downstairs to see what Santa brought, but couldn't thanks to the baby gate we had put at the top of the stairs. The children loved seeing what Santa brought and then they opened the gifts we had given them. The living rooms was packed with gifts and wrapping paper.



We got dressed and loaded in the van to head to Jan's house. Randy turned the key in the ignition and ...... nothing. The battery was just about dead. So we had to push the van out of the garage so we could jump it off with Randy's truck. Simple enough except it was pouring down rain. 5 minutes later, we are on our way to Jan's house with two soaking wet adults.



We had a wonderful breakfast and enjoyed spending time with Randy's mom and sister. The kids enjoyed playing with Hunter. We left Jan's and had to go to the hospital so Hope could have her 3rd Rocephin shot. I took her in while Randy stayed in the car with the older two.


The staff at the hospital were wonderful. It just took such a long time to get her registered, get the medication from the pharmacy, get the shot, and then wait 15 minutes to see if she had a reaction. One of the nurses said that she was sorry that we had to be there on Christmas. I told her that is was fine. I was able to leave with my baby while there were plenty of families that couldn't leave the hospital. We are so blessed to have three healthy children that a two hour stop at the hospital on Christmas wasn't that big of a deal.

Then it was off the Yadkinville. When we got there, we ate and then enjoyed exchanging presents with my family. The kids had fun being with their cousins and unwrapping presents. We enjoyed our visit there and headed home after dark.

We were just about home with two of the three children fast asleep, when we came upon some cows that had gotten out of their fence. The farm is a family operation so we stopped at the house to let them know the cows were out. I went to the door while Randy went across the road to shoo the cows out of the road and back toward the barn. Unfortunately no one was at home so I took the car and went to the next house up the road while Randy stayed with our bovine friends.

I got out of the van and was greeted by a beautiful weimaraner that wasn't too sure he wanted me to visit. I stopped walking and just talked to him and in a few seconds he relaxed and let me pet him and walk past. Luckily the folks at this house were a part of the family and were able to come and put the cows up.

What a way to end a Christmas Day! Our best gift on this day is the baby who was born to set us all free. Even on our worse day, there is a God who loves and cares for us and promises us a place with Him. Randy and I feel blessed to know this Lord and are thankful for all the gifts we have been given; our three beautiful children, each other, and our family and friends.

Merry Christmas.

Hope is 8 Months Old

Hope is growing soooooo fast! She remains the easiest baby around. She is fairly content most of the time and has accomplished several new things this month.



- She sits well by herself and loves to play with her toys. She doesn't roll or crawl because she doesn't want to. I read that a baby uses the same muscles to roll over that she uses to sit up unassisted. Hope can sit up by herself for 30-45 minutes at a time. She can roll over; she just doesn't want to. She does turn herself around while sitting using her feet and one hand.



- She eats very well. We are doing a combination of baby food and table foods. I give her table food when we are eating something healthy. So far she had loved mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, green beans, blackeyed peas, toast, biscuts, and several others I can't think of. She does drink out of a sippy cup. She nurses well when we are together and gets breastmilk bottles when I am at work.



- She still doesn't sleep through the night:( She takes two naps during the day and does a great job of putting herself to sleep in her crib. I have mixed feelings about this. I've given myself a deadline and if she's not sleeping through the night by then, I'll get serious about sleep training.

- She is been plagued with ear infections. We have tried all kinds of antibiotics and even had three Rocephin shots to try and clear them up. We have an appointment with the ENT the 2nd week in January.

- She talks. And talks. And talks. She loves to babble and there have been several times when all three of them are talking at the same time. Randy and I just look at each other and shake our heads.

- She loves her pink blanket, Honey Bunny, and her Bees.

Hopie, we love you so, so much. You are such a great baby and we love watching you grow and change.