Nanny_Kate_1's Xanga

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:32:29 GMT

This past summer has been so very busy. Is there anybody out there still interested in what's going on with us? Ali has been home since April awaiting the birth of her first child. Sophia is due to arrive within the next 4 weeks. We have spent the summer preparing for her arrival. Lee is deployed somewhere overseas and will probably be back sometime soon. Billy spent the summer here at home helping me with the littles. What a blessing it was to have him here. He is now in school at the community college working on his degree in business and marketing. Elijah was diagnosed with autism and the doctor recommended we enroll him in school. He and Matthew both are going to a charter school that specializes in special needs. Both are doing very well and enjoying going every day. There are only 5 kids in their kindergarten class. Their teacher is very committed to their success.

Jonmark is a handful. He doesn't sleep much which means we don't either. With the big boys in school, I have more time to work with Ninamarie and we are having alot of fun doing crafts together and such.

Ali will be going back to San Diego soon after Sophia is born and I will miss her much. Thank goodness we have technologies that allow us to stay connected.....

Here are some pics that have been taken over the summer months. The kids have grown so much..... Being home has allowed Ali to connect with the littles in a way that she hadn't before. She and Ninamarie are so very close now. Jonny calls her "Sally" and rubs her tummy alot....

Elijah is still as elusive as ever but school is helping him to connect with people a bit better.... Ninamarie is mostly always happy and trying to please.

and Matthew and Billy just get more and more handsome.....Matthew of course is the story teller and loves going to school to see his new friends.

So here they all are. Growing, learning, living life.....

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and hopefully it won't be too long before I post some more.

God revealed.....

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:18:47 GMT

Earlier today, Ninamarie got a few splinters in her fingers. I tried to get them out but with my eyesight not so good and Ninamarie squirming and crying so much, I couldn't get them all out. I bandaged over them to keep her from hurting them anymore and we waited for her daddy to come home.

I was awestruck watching my daughter stand perfectly still, though screaming very loudly, while her daddy dug the splinters out of her fingers. It hurt so very much and yet, she trusted him completely to make it better.

I started to think about how we need to be like that with God. We need to trust Him completely, kicking and screaming, knowing it will hurt, but trust Him and allow Him to do what needs to be done to us and for us in order for us to be better.

I want to trust in my Daddy like Ninamarie trusts hers.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:10:56 GMT

I am so blessed that you have missed me and think of us often. I sure do appreciate the prayers.

I am still homeschooling the boys and they are doing so very well. I'm using the weaver curriculum from Alpha and Omega. It is very easy for me to teach from and the boys catch on fairly quickly and enjoy learning. Elijah especially enjoys doing his letters. I am teaching them that writing is a form of drawing and expression. They love to draw so have caught on to that concept really well.

Matt is already reading simple words on his own. Sounding out all the letters and then saying the word. It's very impressive to me how he does this. He asks lots of questions about all sorts of things and is very interested in just learning about everything.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day. Billy is going to take all the littles to the zoo and give Joe and I some time to get some errands done or do nothing at all, he said. I was very blessed when he offered this. He is a good man, son, brother, father.

Joe took this picture of my peace rose last fall. I can't wait for them to bloom again in the spring. It's so beautiful.

Love you all much, Kate

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:14:47 GMT

It has been so long

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:58:09 GMT

It has been such a very long time since I blogged. If anybody is still wondering how we are doing, here is a brief update. My sister, the travelling nurse, decided to travel out this way last October. After being here for a few weeks she decided that she wanted to stay!!!! She landed a permanent job in the ICU of the University Medical Center. We are having so much fun together. Shortly after the first of the year, her son and his family followed her. It is so wonderful having some of my family here. The children love their aunt and cousins.

The kids continue to grow very quickly. Ninamarie will be 4 next week. Elijah and Matthew will turn 5 and 6 shortly after. Jonmark is the most active little boy I have ever met. He climbs everything!!!! and received his first stitches from falling last week. He hit his head when he fell off the roof of their play house. Thankfully, he didn't do to much damage to his head.

We are going through kindergarden with both the older boys right now and they are enjoying it. Elijah is picking up the concepts very quickly and Matthew is already starting to read simple words on his own.

Sadly, Billy and Leanna have decided to get divorced after only 2 years of marriage. However, both are totally committed to parenting their Travis together. Bill is there to put him to bed with Leanna every night, missing only when he was in bed with the flu. I get to see the baby every few weeks or so. Leanna is still part of our family and we include her in all our family get togethers.

Ali and Lee are still in San Diego. She is expecting their first child in the fall. Lee will be leaving for Spain mid-March and will return just in time for the baby's arrival. They could use your prayers concerning the pregnancy and their separation. Joe and I will be taking the kids to visit her at the end of March to celebrate her 21st birthday.

That's about it. My days are busy with the children so not much time to be on the computer. I will try to post some pictures soon.

I think of you all and read your blogs via the digest when I check my e-mail. It is always a blessing to me to know how you all are doing. much love and blessings to you all, Kate

My Sister

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:48:16 GMT

My older sister works for a Traveling Nurses Organization. She is their Featured nurse of the month. I am very proud of her for what she does. She's planning on coming to Arizona (Tucson) for the winter months.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:35:38 GMT

I was walking into my bathroom, kicked a wooden magazine rack and broke my toe! It hurts terribly. Thankfully, Joe was home when it happened and I was able to immediately put ice on it and have him wrap my toes together. I kept it elevated until it was time to make dinner and then I put my protective immobilizing boot on it from the last time I hurt my foot. Or maybe it was the time before that. It's hard to keep track of the many times I have broken my toes. I'm such a klutz.

Things are pretty much the same in other areas. My sweet little Jonny is still having a time of it with cutting those teeth. Ninamarie is still Ninamarie. Elijah finally has an appointment to be evaluated for fetal alcohol and drug use by his bio mother. Matthew is doing well in learning to write his numbers and letters. He is very smart and tells the best stories.

Leanna starts her new job tomorrow at Guitar Center. She is very excited. Billy has decided it's time to go back to school and will be registering at Pima for classes starting at the end of August.

Lee is on another mission leaving Ali at home in San Diego for 20 days. I don't know if she will ever get used to him being away. She is doing drill this weekend for her Reserve Enlistment, so that gives her something to do. She sounds pretty up beat about life right now. I know she loves living in San Diego. Ever since the first time we went there when she was about 5, she has talked of wanting to live near the beach. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, soon I hope and pray.

I think of you all often and read your blog entries when I get my digest. I pray you are all doing well.....

Updates....

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:56:59 GMT

I have been having a difficult time physical of late. My blood pressure has been sky rocketing out of control. After a month now on medication and having to switch to a new medication, it is finally at a more acceptable level. I would like to see it go down even further and am taking the steps to make sure it does. This is an issue that runs in my family history and I have been dealing with hypertension for the past 6 years or so. Anyway, it's getting under control and I have lost 10 lbs. Yea me!!!!! I want to be a size "I'm going on a cruise with my husband in September!!!!!"

In other family news, Jonny is still cutting teeth. It is a very slow process for him. He has 2 on the bottom and 1 fang on top. He is walking/running now and having a blast chasing whomever around the house!

The older littles are tired of it being too hot to go outside to play. I'm trying to keep them busy but they are bored until 5 o'clock comes and most days daddy takes them for a swim.

We were able to go visit Ali over 4th of July weekend. Sadly, Lee wasn't home but we had a wonderful visit with our daughter. We took the kids to the beach and if I can ever figure out how to put video on this site, I will show you how much fun they had. Until then, here are a few pictures.

My little kids playing in the sand. Ninamarie and Matthew taught themselves how to body surf. They would lay in the wet sand and wait for the waves to sweep them onto the beach. Jonny didn't like the cold water so much and Elijah was busy building things as usual. What a great day we had!

Me and my beautiful daughter. She is doing well. Her husband has been home for a few weeks now but is leaving again in a few days. I don't think she will ever get used to him being gone. She will have to though as this is his job and he's very good at what he does. She has met a few of the other wives whose husbands go out on missions often and they keep one other company. Oh the sacrifices these young couples make to keep our country safe! God bless them!!!!! I am so thankful for what these young men and women do for us. Please keep them in your prayers.

And of course, here is my faithful driver!!!! What an amazing, wonderful husband God has blessed me with. He knew how much I was missing my Ali and didn't hesitate to suggest we jump in the van with the littles and go see her. Oh did I mention that he hates the beach? What a man!!!!!! I don't think there is anything he wouldn't do for me and the children, no matter how old they are.

Billy and Leanna are doing well. Leanna has been hired to work and Guitar Center. It is part time and she is very excited. Travis will be spending the mornings with his Grandma Rose. They want to move out soon and this will enable them to do so. Billy broke his wrist 4 weeks ago and will be in the cast another 2-4 weeks. I will miss them when they move but I suppose all young families should have their own home. I remember how excited we were when we were able to move out on our own.

I have more pictures and more things to share but will have to wait for another time. I thank you all for caring enough to read about my family and of course I covet and appreciate your prayers.

Love to all.....

What has been the biggest challenge in your life so far?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:38:12 GMT

My biggest challenge happens to be the greatest blessing I have ever received. My 4 special children that were especially handpicked by God to be mine. It is my challenge for obvious reasons. I'm selfish and don't like to give up all of my time to them. They are very needy. I have health issues. However, I truly am blessed having these 4 children call me mommy. They are wonderful people. Funny, loving, eager to learn. My prayer is that I can rise up to this wonderful challenge daily and not let them down.

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If you had to be stuck in an elevator for 2 days with someone, who would it be and why?

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:30:42 GMT

My husband. He is the only person in the world that I would want to spend that much time alone with. It would give us an opportunity to focus on one another, which with 6 kids, is not easy to do. This makes me want to go find an elevator to get stuck in......

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