..... he has come so far!

Luke is doing great in Kindergarten! He is making so many new friends and his teacher said he is always smiling. His maturity is growing everyday and he is able to understand more and more. Here he is doing his first homework packet, I love how in Kindergarten they are still so excited about homework. Thanks everyone for your prayers for my anxiety for him. If you forgot his background you can go back and read it here: http://the6steins.blogspot.com/2009/08/to-vaccinate-or-not.html

Happy 8th Birthday!!!!!!!!

Today is Addisyn's 8th Birthday! We can not believe how time has flown by. She went from being our sassy chubby baby to a thin mature girl. She is an awesome BIG sister and a great friend.

We love you BUGGIE and are sooooooooo proud of the BIG girl you have become. Keep up all your hard work and keep seeking God's feet. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Surgery went great!

Ainsley's surgery went great today. We are so grateful and thankful! Every person that we came in contact with at the hospital was so caring and kind. We are so lucky that we have health insurance for our kids.... it is a blessing we should not take for granted.

When we walked into the recovery room I was so thankful our baby girl was laying there sleeping in peace. She would open her eyes and look around and then go back to sleep. After about 10 minutes she started demanding her "wants". She wanted a drink, to eat, go bye-bye, and saying she was all done. We jumped on her demands and we were leaving the hospital a little less than an hour after her surgery was done. By the time we got to my sister's house to pick up Karsten she was running, singing, dancing, and happy as can be. We are praying that this positive attitude of hers stays and that she isn't too sore in the morning. Thanks again for all your prayers..... it is seriously unbelievable how many Facebook messages and texts we got today! We are sooooo thankful God gave us a community of friends and family to gather around us and lift our needs to Him.

today is the day!

Today our precious baby girl is going in for surgery. We are praying that everything goes smoothly and that the doctor is able to get out all of the needle from her leg. Thanks to everyone who is helping us with the other kids and for all of your prayers.

.... surgery.... maybe Tuesday

Today we met with the plastic surgeon that will be doing Ainsley's surgery. We are hoping that all the paper work goes through and she will be set for surgery on Tuesday. Dr. Ray said she will make a diamond shaped incision and go in and wash it all out and get as much as she can out. Ainsley will have to go under and I'm a little sad that the parent's can't be in there for that part but totally understand liablity issues. Please join us in prayer for our precious baby girl.... as it beocomes more of a reality I'm getting anxious. I know MANY kids have gone through many surgeries so I probably sound like a baby but she is OUR precious little girl. We trust God to take care of her. Thanks again for everyone's love and support. We have had many friends and family step up an offer to help. We appreciate every single one of you!

..... roller coaster of emotions...

Tomorrow we are heading to Loma Linda to talk to the plastic surgeon about Ainsley's leg. My emotions keep switching. At times I'm mad that a church would hold a nursery in a place where old women sew and could potentially drop needles that end up in a babies leg to.... well at least we found out it is there and have health insurance to take care of it. I go from being mad and upset to being thankful it never got infected or caused any other problems. Please pray for us as we meet with the doctor and decide what is best for our precious little girl. We are sadden that this has happened to her but we want to give God all the glory. We truly believe that everything in life happens for a reason and all the glory is HIS. Thanks for loving and supporting us in this situation we have had the most out pour of love and concern.... more than I ever imagined. Thanks for being there for us and concerned along with us we truly have the BEST community of friends and family!

breaking the rules...

I have been going through some weird medical issues the last 2 weeks and feel like I have lost control of my life. Not really..... but boy are we breaking all the rules right now! I'm trying to keep on track but man it is hard when I don't feel like following through. I find myself giving in to the kids more and more. Here are some examples from the last two weeks:

-Addisyn doesn't feel like having her hair done...... ok 1 less thing for me to do in the mornings

-Luke wants cookies everyday for snack... fine with me those are super easy to throw in his backpack

-Ainsley wants to pick out her clothes, shoes, and bow..... yep she was wearing her snowman bow and Mickey Mouse Halloween skirt the other day

-They want to eat snacks all the time.... sure this week it is not worth the fight

-They want to give the Polly pockets a bath in the front yard with all my Tupperware.... go ahead just let me sit here and watch

-They want to watch a movie every time we get in the car... sure then I can enjoy a little peace... even though we don't go far enough to get past the previews

-They are playing Wii a lot more lately.... at least it's good hand/ eye coordination

-They want to draw all the time and keep getting out my computer paper..... oh well we will save the trees next week

-Karsten didn't want to run errands so I bribed him with a large grocery store donut

Oh well...... we will get back on track and I will look back at these days and just laugh! Good thing for GRACE!

Lions & Tigers & Bears.... OH MY!

A couple of weeks ago we spent on afternoon at the LA Zoo. We had a great time seeing all the animals but boy they have a lot of hills at that place! We are so thankful that we get to do things as a family and we enjoy every minute of it!

Karsten and Daddy under the waterfallWhen did she get so big? She will be 8 in a couple of weeks..... seriously it makes me want to cry!Karsten..... so precious!My handsome boys!Too cute!Watching the sea lions....So adorable!This dragon was totally watching Tim's every move. Tim would walk one way and it's head would turn and follow him, he would go the other way and the dragon would not take his eyes off of him. Kind-of scary!Ainsley's face is so funny in this picture!Animals are amazing!Look at that precious face!His eyes light up the room!Ainsley making monkey noises.So serious!

Wordless Wednesday.....

..... getting what she wants

This past weekend I went scrap booking at my friends house. When I got home yesterday the kids were SOOOOO excited to see what I did. I think it is awesome how they all enjoy looking at the pictures in their albums. Today I found Ainsley up on the table looking through Luke's scrapbook. When I said, "What are you doing?" She said, "Me see." She is getting more and more independent and thinks she is just as big as her older siblings. That sweet face and smile is going to get her out of a lot of trouble I think.

She is too much.....

... thats our boy!

..... one minute.......... the next minute.....

....park fun with awesome friends

Today Ainsley and I met some friends at a beautiful park in Oak Glen. The weather was perfect.... clear blue skies with the sun shining bright. All the kids did great together and us moms even got to talk.