Trudging Through the Fall

It has been a HARD several months.  I love our children, but when it comes to pregnancy, I would rather pass.  And with my added years, pregnancy just gets more and more difficult.  It's not just hard on me; it's hard on the entire family.  But life must go on even if I'm not at the top of my game... the children must be fed, school projects completed, extracurricular activities attended, laundry washed.... and thanks to my saintly husband, family, and friends, we are trudging along.  And we are pulling through.

Still, at our slow pace, we have been busy this fall!  Here's an update and some of our favorite pictures from the (aaahhhh.....) cooler season:

Alex decided to give Tae-Kwon-Do a go this fall, and he is really excelling and enjoying the new sport!  He recently made his first big step to a yellow belt and loves to threaten his brothers:  "If you're not nice to me, I'll Tae-Kwon-Do you!"  I have never seen him work so hard physically with such a smile on his face!  He also keeps busy with the school's Lego Mindstorms Robotics team (which Daddy coaches), and is breezing through the sixth grade.  This boy is doing algebra and studying the atomic periodic table--things in my day were reserved for high school!

David has really been shaping up this fall with the Swim Academy.  That boy can glide through the water several hundred meters at a time, while I get tired just watching him swim one lap!  He is also somewhat of a "Dog Whisperer" and loves hanging out with and taming our crazy puppy.  He is enjoying the fourth grade and doing fairly well, even though sitting still in class and concentrating can be a real challenge for him.  Though he is growing older and definitely not a "little boy" anymore, David still remembers how much I love big hugs and kisses and is still not "too cool" to show me affection.

Joseph is breezing through the second grade and always has something intriguing to tell me that he learns in class each day.  His favorite after school activity, second only to eating and eating and eating, is running around outside with our neighbors and enjoying the cooler fall temperatures.  Joseph is easy to please and so happy-go-lucky, it's sometimes hard not to overlook him when we are "fighting" other battles in the household.  His toughest challenges right now are growing in adult teeth in front (they are taking their time) and dealing with his awful seasonal allergies.

Sammy started Pre-K this fall and is also an up-and-coming soccer star.  He, too, has really hit a growth spurt and developed quite a voracious appetite.  When he's home, he helps keep Zachary entertained and shows him how to be a superhero!  Samuel amazes us with his more grown-up insights and is such a busy boy...  it is hard to believe he is still only four years old!  He is really looking forward to Halloween and Christmas this year!

Zachary is my sweet baby and my little stinker all at once.  Every day that he asserts his energy and his toddler independence and attitude, I thank God he is living a normal life.  He talks nonstop (makes me wonder why I was concerned about his speech just months ago?) and GOES nonstop all day, less nap time.  And we are finally having some potty-time success, but just when I start to get excited, he fill his pants.  Oh well, the time will come, I keep reassuring myself.  Zachy is so excited to be Spider-Man this Halloween, and really seems to understand the holidays this year.

Number Six is growing and kicking, just as he (or she) should at this point.  He has sure turned our household upside down for being so small!  We are asking for lots and lots of prayers for his health, as our 20 week sono is November 8 and we hope to see a beautiful four-chambered heart.  We also need name ideas...  it seems we have exhausted our options (we have already been through the alphabet, A-Z) so if you have any suggestions for classic, traditional names please pass them along!

Toothless Joe tames our psycho puppy

Sammy gets full of mud on one of our last warm days

David found a friend at Daddy's company picnic

Samuel enjoys the tree house at Botanica

Pumpkin patch time!

Joseph and Alex... lost in the corn maze?

Uh oh... emergency diaper change!

Daddy is about to capsize the boat...

Local CHD heart children and their siblings

Zachy loves Chipotle!!!

Alex tests for (and earns!) his yellow belt