Smell

Yesterday Owen had a field trip to the pediatric ER at the hospital I was at, St. Mary's Hospital. When I picked him up, I could smell the soap that they have in the hospital. My first reaction was a fondness - oh, remember when Lucy was born, how sweet she was, etc. etc. As the afternoon wore on, the smell of the soap was not going away. The longer I could smell the soap, the more I remembered how hard it was to be away from my family before Lucy was born, washing up to go into the NICU to see Lucy hooked up to all of the monitors, etc. etc. It's amazing what a smell can do! I am so thankful to be home using our Walmart Anti-Bacterial Foaming Soap!

Three

Just some pics of our three kiddos. As hard as they can be, they sure are a blessing!!

Not getting anything done

We are about 6 weeks into Lucy's life here with us - crazy to think! In so many ways, we are back to "normal" - I can make lunch, do the laundry, Matt can work normal hours, the boys are in school, etc. etc. There are also many things that we are still adjusting to.

I am back in the realm of eat, wake, sleep repeat ever 3 1/2 hours. Lucy is still a very content sweet baby, but she also really likes to be held and has some reflux issues we think (so she doesn't love to lay down on a blanket or in her bed etc. - thankfully she loves her bouncy seat). Because of all that loving and caring for Lucy entails right now PLUS the boys I feel like I am not getting anything done. The basics are getting done - we are eating, we have clothes to wear - but everything else is hanging on waiting for me to pay attention to it.

I was feeling like my days were a waste (or close to it) in light of all that is going undone, when the Lord reminded me of this truth from Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." I realized that God has good works prepared for me each day. Some days, that will look like getting a lot of things accomplished. Other days, He wants me to work hard at loving my kiddos and caring for our sweet Lucy. Cuddles and snuggles and diaper changes and PBJ making and train playing are ALL included in the good works that He has prepared for me for this day. It gives me great hope and great joy and great rest to know that HE has prepared these things. That way, if a day comes and goes with out a closet being cleaned out or a floor being vacuumed, I know that HE was the author of that day, and I can trust that the good works that He did have prepared for me were accomplished.

I hope this makes sense...it is bringing me great peace and joy right now. I hope that it can help you in whatever your days look like!

Hello again muscles!

I went for a 20 minute walk today - Matt snapped this shot as I left our driveway. It felt good! It will be a long road back to recovery - no Monument Ave 10k for me this April! - but it's great to be on the road!

One Month Old!

Can you believe that our little Lucy is one month old today? I can't! What a joy to have her here, and to be one month into all of the feeding/diapers/sleeping/etc. that is involved in having a newborn. She has been a really great baby - eats well, sleeps well, is generally content. She has started to have some more alert time during the day which is fun - the boys LOVE when her eyes are open! I can't wait to see how she grows in the next month!

Christmas Cousins

We were able to spend three nights in Harrisonburg with my family after Christmas - it was a treat to see them and have them all meet Lucy. Lucy met a total of 14 family members in one week! She did a great job traveling which we are thankful for! Here are some pictures of the cousins enjoying each other. We had some more time as adults chatting too which was great!

Owen and Anna - sweet friends (playing Wii!)



Lucy getting some cousin love.



Snuggle time with Megan - she is a sweet big cousin!



The Gillan/Purdy cousin crew!
(Left to Right: Reese (12 1/2), Nathan (3), Owen (4 1/2), Baxter (2 1/2), Anna (4 1/2), Jake (2 1/2), Megan (10), Lucy (3 weeks))



Lucy with Aunt Becky and Cousin Megan (Megan is the one who Lucy's middle name, Grace, comes from. We love you Megan Grace!)