This is Jackson, just before he went in for his MRI on Wednesday. Our Jackson has been complaining of pain and swelling in his ankles and knees for about a year now and has recently been experiencing fevers also. He has been recently seeing a Rheumatologist, because they thought that it was JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). The MRI was supposed to comfirm the diagnosis. Well, we didn't get a comfirmation, but we did get some great news. The MRI was done on his right ankle (it seemed to be the worst, and at the last Dr appointment it was the one that was swollen) and they didn't find any Arthritis!!!!!!! They did however find a stress fracture :( Although it doesn't explain all of his symptoms that he is having, I am so excited that he doesn't have any permanent damage done. He is one tough cookie I tell you.

 Last week was super rainy and the kids were so bummed that we couldn't swim. We were actually on our way to a playdate when it started pouring rain. So, we turned around and headed home. The kids were all in their bathing suits and they were dyingto get wet, so they did what every child dreams of..... played and danced in the rain!!!!!!!

There is something to be said about playing in the rain. I remember when I was is college and a room mate and I got our grubbies and rain boots on, and out in the rain we went and stomped in as many puddles our hearts desired. By far one of the best days I had at college.

I used to put bows in Londons hair all the time. I love big bows in little girls hair. I think that there is nothing girlier. She fights me every Sunday when I try to put one in her hair. BUT today she let me!!!!!!! Ever seen anything cuter than this?????

We had signed up Bailee for a British Soccer camp several months back, and had said that we would be happy to host a coach from over seas. I had totally forgot that we had signed up as a host until last Thursday when I recieved a phone call from them saying that we needed to pick our coach up on Sunday at Katy park. We have never hosted anyone before, and I think that I was more afraid of what he would think of the chaos of 5 children running around more than anything. I was blown away by how gentle, kind, loving, and curious Craig was to our family. The kids fell in love with him and so did we. He left for another camp Sunday morning, and our home doesn't quite feel the same without him.

Harrison has become quite the swimmer this summer. He has learned to swim across the pool and now is able to swim to the bottom all by himself!!!! My favorite thing is to watch this kid swim unde water. He always has the biggest grin on his face, kind of like this one :)

Are these two not the cutest!!!! London has taken a liking lately to Jackson, more so than usual. She loves to follow him around and do exactly what he does.

 

Up until recently I had never thought of myself as a great mother. Now don't get me wrong, I love my children, love being their mother, I just never thought that I was very good at it. I liked to bake, but only when the kids were asleep (because it was always a bigger mess to clean up when they helped), I love to sew and do crafts, but just cant find the time to do them for myself and my family, not to mention the kids and all of their classmates,.... and I have tried joy school with my children, not once, but twice.... and hated every minute of it. So, there is a little glimps into why I did not feel like a great mother.... especially when I compared myself to other mothers I knew (because isn't that what us mothers do... we compare ourselves, our children, and our lives toeveryone elses).

 

Maybe it is one of those maturity things, (you know the ones that you say after the fact... "if I only knew then what I know now"). I realized that for me, that there has to be a time, and a season for everything. I used to always say that I was a stay at home mom and in my spare time I went to work a few shifts at the hospital as an L&D nurse. Well it has been almost 2 1/2 years since I have had any spare time and hence, have not worked a shift at the hospital. I really struggled being okay with not leaving the house to work. the hospital was my outlet, it was where I could be me, instead of someones mom or wife. It was where I was being praised for the good job I was doing.... And yet, I have learned, over all of this time out of work, that it is home where I have learned and grown the most.