A Small Update

I thought I should take a moment and update before the crazy weekend gets here. We're about to celebrate Rylan's 2nd birthday and planning a weekend of festivities with family and friends. Fun, but time consuming to think everything through for a party!

Our little girl is turning into a big girl very quickly. We've noticed a lot of small changes in Rylan lately that add up to lots of fun! First, she is a bit more, um...let's say...controlled now. She doesn't spend as much time dumping toys and being a tornado as she used to, focusing more on one thing. Her words, once just one or two at a time, suddenly come out in sentences. Sometimes it takes a minute to understand, but most of the time we get the idea. She is more into reading her books, though when she does she speaks another language! She is fairly proficient at dressing herself now and even wants to pick out her own clothes. We are on day three of no pacifier at bedtime or during car rides and so far, so good!  I could go on and on about all of her changes but that would make this post a lot longer than it needs to be.

Rylan Renee's birthday is on Saturday. She recently found a party hat from last year and has been wearing it around the house declaring, "My Happy!" I've been doing lots of talking about her birthday, and she will finally say "My Happy Day." I think she's going to have a ball this weekend.

Life other than that continues to chug along. I'm on Spring Break from classes, thank goodness. I'm looking forward to them being done. It's officially state testing time at school, and who knew that even though I left the classroom I would still be stuck testing. Bleh. I'm filling in for a 3rd grade teacher who is on maternity leave. Leaving the Library is a pain, but I did get a chance to finish a book for one of my classes, so I guess that's good.

Shaun knocked a wall down in our kitchen, so I'll have to snap some pics of it when he is done. He has a deadline of Saturday! What a hard worker he is. Anyway, I'm catching up on some movie watching while Shaun works nights, so I'll add my pictures and be done for now.

Modeling the hat from last year's birthday

Wearing a hat from her her other coat-a true goofy grape!

Kind of a blurry shot, but I still like it-mostly because of Ry's cute pose!

An odd pic to add, I know. Last week I was listening to Tenth Avenue North's newest song on their website. Rylan came over and saw the middle guy and said, "Tu-ter!" (Tucker, our friend across the street who is still working in CO and hasn't been home for a long time). She blabbered on and on to the screen like it was really him, then kissed the screen and told him good night. It was hilarious!! And I  think crazy-she truly hadn't seen him for six-seven weeks when it happened.

The outfit Ry helped pick out today. What a cutie!

I've been experimenting with straightening her hair. Probably sounds crazy, but it's fun to see how long her hair is without all of the curl!

Stay tuned for a birthday post soon!

We're still here...

Yep, you read right. We do still exist. To say that life has been a little bit crazy would be underestimating things a bit. They started getting crazy when we left on our cruise. It was an amazing time and we had a blast! I have many more pics on Facebook, but these are my favs.

We're still in a winding line to actually enter the ship here. It was soooooo cold in Miami. I didn't get warm until Friday when we were in Mexico.

The cruise ship from the tender to Grand Cayman. This was the day of the earthquake in Haiti. Apparently there were tsunami warnings for the ship that we never knew about (Mom overheard staff talking about it).

Our last dinner on the ship. The dinners each night were probably one of my favorite parts. I loved getting to pick whatever I wanted off the menu and have it brought right to me every night! The best was a strawberry bisque. To. Die. For. Seriously.

And when we came home, life just went back into full swing. We were so glad to see Rylan again. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave her again for that long. Our internet bill from the ship was pretty hefty, as Betty Jo was awesome about e-mailing me and keeping me updated about all things Rylan.

I started another two classes for my endorsement in Library Media, and that is the reason life feels crazy right now. They take an obscene amount of my time and energy each week. I've struggled each week with feeling like I can't do it anymore and wanting to tell my teachers off. Everyone needs a Shaun in their life-he took over most of the household stuff while I got myself settled and in a routine of homework and reading. He's awesome. On his 35th birthday we went to Rapid to celebrate Aiden's 4th birthday(two days later) at Chucky Cheese's. Aiden has been doing pretty awesome lately. Lots less seizures and falls. He got into the Children's Center, which is totally exciting. They'll be working with him on some skills that have fallen away. They also just got a referral to do more testing down at Denver Children's Hospital. Your prayers in that area are always appreciated!

Rylan and Aiden on some kind of game. I don't think it's as cool as it was back when we were kids and it was Showbiz Pizza!

We started potty training Rylan. It was either that or work on giving up the pacifier. The latter scares me, so potty training it was! Most days she does pretty well at telling you she needs to go. She's mastered the art of taking her clothes on and off (and majority of the time she prefers them off)! She's also talking a ton. If you know her lingo it's pretty easy to understand. Today we played "puppy." She wanted me on all fours and then to ride around on my back. I kept telling her I was a pony, but puppy worked better for her! Oh, she got a cat! A one-year-old rag doll who is pretty awesome. Rylan named her Zoey and she LOVES her. It's one of the first things out of her mouth when she wakes up or when we get home from somewhere. Life with Rylan is never dull. We're starting to plan her (gasp!) 2nd Birthday party. It's just three weeks away. How can that be?? 

One of her favorite things to do still-play the piano.

Really, it's not right that she's getting so old. And so adorable. 

I haven't been very good at reading blogs lately, since all I ever seem to do is homework, but tomorrow looks like a good day to catch up. We found out yesterday that Ry has RSV, so we're quarantined and won't make it to church. She's acting fine-just has a cough and major runny nose. Like I said, never a dull moment around here. I should quit rambling and post this thing already, or it might be another five weeks before I get it up!

We're out of here!

My love and I are madly dashing about making last minute preparations for our cruise. Rylan will be in the very capable hands of some dear Aunties but I am so going to miss her!! Maybe once I'm on the ship I'll relax and quit worrying about how things will go while we're away....

Love this song right now-it speaks to Shaun and I at this time! See you in a couple of weeks!

Christmas in Pictures

Once again, I'll let the pics do the talking. We had an enjoyable, fairly quiet Christmas. I LOVE that we get to do Christmas at home and then journey over a block and open presents with my family!

Christmas Day, we woke to new snow on the ground.

Aiden opening a present with Mema and Papa

Echo holding Baby Lucas, Paul and Aiden

Shaun got a new camera from Rylan to replace the one that died in April. We've been using the "big" camera since and he was dying for a new one for the cruise. I told him no! Ha. Here he is playing with the black and white action and caught Ella with her tongue out-just like her Mommy does!

Rylan wanted to help pass out presents-and thought they should all be for her! She got the table and chairs from her Mema and Papa!

Damion and an unhappy Baby Lucas-he's very quiet until he's mad!

Aiden had his helmet off for a bit-so Rylan thought she should try it on!

After Christmas at Mom and Dad's we came home for naps and Ry got to play with her new kitchen. She loves it!

I love to cuddle with a sleeping baby-it's the best!!

After Christmas dinner we played Bingo. Ry can spy a camera any time it's pointed toward her!

A semi-cute picture if we didn't look so exhausted.

The day after Christmas, the wind made 5 inches of snow feel like much more. Shaun borrowed the snow blower from Tucker's house since he's not home to use it. Thanks, T!

Out and about running errands in town

Getting to enjoy her favorite treat-blueberries!

I am thrilled that we are leaving for Minnesota tomorrow! Mom and Dad changed their travel plans so that Rylan and I can make it to our friend Lexi's wedding. Her older sister and my oldest friend, Andrea, is home from South Korea. I don't think I've seen her since before I was pregnant--so I'm excited to see her and introduce her to Rylan. It is going to be frigid-but I've packed us warm clothes and I'll get to break in my new Uggs-my present from Rylan and Shaun! It will also be a quick trip, as we will head to southern Minnesota after the wedding to see my Great-Grandpa and wish him a Happy Birthday then get back home for work on Monday. Grandpa Ringen will be 99 on January 4th! Stay tuned for pics of the coming adventure!!

December Stuff

I can't even believe that I haven't posted a thing this month. Instead of lots of stories, I think I will post through pics, though there aren't many to choose from. We've been doing what I'm sure you are doing-making Christmas goodies, shopping and wrapping presents, going to Christmas parties and spending time with family!

I had my first Great Northern Book Fair December 3rd. It was the most successful one Conestoga has hosted! We had live music, hot drinks and yummy treats, and my boss read aloud Polar Express and had his train on display. I got over $500 in books for free off my commission!

I think my mom is laughing at something one of my friends-who were very helpful throughout the evening-must have been telling her.

I think Shaun took this photo on one of his many days at home with Rylan. Rare is the occasion that Titus gets to be in the dining room, so I think he's trying to be on his best behavior!

A couple of weeks ago Ry and Ella wore the same dresses that Mema got them to church. Rylan wasn't digging having her pic taken.

When we got home Shaun took a few more shots so we could get a Christmas picture ready to mail out. We opted not to do a family photo this year-too little time to get in anywhere.

Today I got to have my "cruise do" done. It had been over 14 weeks since I had been in for a color or cut so I was in sad shape. I almost had a meltdown last week when Tucker, who was in town for a wedding, texted me and said that my hairdresser was no longer at the place we thought she was. I was almost in tears-she's done my hair for almost six years and I don't know that I could trust anyone else. Shaun tracked her down at her new place, though, thank goodness! Anyway, I asked her to give me something fun and new for the big vaca-and I'm thrilled with the result. Although I don't know that I'll be able to duplicate all of the curls done with a straight iron!

That concludes this post. Stay tuned for more pics and what not after Christmas!

Oh, Echo created a Caring Bridge website for Aiden. She puts all the latest info and updates there.

Visit Aiden’s website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aidendowney
When you visit you’ll be asked to log in and enter the
website password, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.
Website Password: aidendowney

May you remember the Reason for the Season this week!

Super Spiderman Lucas and other Thanksgiving garble

This year for Thanksgiving, our family kept things pretty quiet. Shaun had to go back to work on the Wednesday before the big day. I was soooooo sad about that and I think I kept a hold of my sadness throughout the long weekend.  In spite of my mood, though, Rylan and I loaded up the vehicle Wednesday night and once Dad was ready we headed to Sheridan.

Thursday was really very nice. Mom and I spent the morning getting food ready, and Daunee' helped as well. Dad had the very hard task of holding Lucas. So far, he's keeping his Mommy's work schedule of being up at night and sleeping during the day. We had a nice afternoon meal and then all took long naps.

That evening Echo, Paul and the kids came over. We kept things pretty quiet again in the evening, eating  leftovers and lots of yummy pies.

Friday we all hung out at the house again. Echo and Paul did Black Friday shopping and then all of the guys went out to check out the guy stores (Home Depot, Shiptons, etc). This is the first year in many that I did not go out. We're so focused on the cruise in January that we're scaling back our Christmas shopping. It's so sad. I love to be out in the crowds and watch how crazy people will act. Oh well, there's always next year!

Friday afternoon, Rylan and I left the Kennedy's house for the first time since arriving to go to the Downtown Stroll. I LOVE downtown Sheridan. Most of the shops were open and there were several vendors offering free treats. We had chili, hot dogs and hot chocolate. It was a fun evening but tainted with Aiden having several small seizures. He fell in the street, then couldn't even eat his hot dog because he was having so many. It made for a sad close to our night out.

Paul and Echo left very early on Saturday morning to get Aiden back to the hospital for blood work. They will be looking to see if the medicine is damaging his liver then decide whether or not to add more medicine. I plead with you to continue praying for him and for the doctors to get his meds figured out. He gets so frustrated when a small seizure causes him to lose his train of thought or drop things.

In his good moments, though, he is as funny as ever. He calls Lucas "Super Spiderman Baby Lucas" and tells us that he is going to baby-sit him and play hide-and-seek. Too hilarious. Rylan wasn't too interested in the new baby, but she did tell him to "Shhhh" every time he started to cry!

Rylan and I headed home Saturday morning and have messed a bit with Christmas decorations ever since. She is totally into helping with everything and unpacking the tubs of decor. "Here, Mommy," she declares over and over as she brings me something to set out. Her work is too fast for me to keep up with! My family said several times that she's like a little adult. I never think about that, but I guess that will happen when you have an only child being raised by two firstborns. We probably expect too much out of her already.

I was moved to tears when I was unpacking the Nativity Set and telling her about why we celebrate Christmas. The weight of our task in rearing a child and teaching her why we celebrate Christmas seems pretty heavy. I showed her Baby Jesus ("Baby Geez" in Ry-speak), showed her His manger and told her it was His bed. Now anytime she walks by the Nativity Set she says, "Shhhh!" The girl makes me laugh. Anyway, here are some pics of our weekend. Hope your Holiday Prep is off to a fabulous start...and may you remember the Reason for the Season...the birth of our Savior!

Rylan wasn't sure what to think of her chair being packed to go!

Sweet Baby Lucas-he is a very quiet baby. See the new Kennedy Blog for more adorable pics!

Rylan trying to get her pic done like her new cousin

Papa, Ry and Lucas

Can you spy Rylan? She was playing hide-and-seek!

Maybe a little risque-but I couldn't resist sharing. Buck naked except for the adorable boots!

Auntie Z and her favorite nephews

Aiden, Ry and Ella all trying to squish in for a pic

Auntie Nee' and Ry

Daunee' and precious Lucas

Ella drinking her hot chocolate at the Downtown Stroll

Mema, Aiden and Echo

Mema helping Ry with her first taste of hot chocolate

Thank You Lord, for families to spend a Holiday with when my honey is hard at work!

Lucas Jeffrey

Last Friday morning, Echo and I got to drive together to Sheridan to await the arrival of our new nephew. We knew we were having a nephew and that he was going to be big, but we didn't know how long we would have to wait for him!

Daunee' started the induction process at 5 p.m. on Thursday and was pretty heartbroken about having to do it. She so wanted to go naturally, but the due date came and went and her midwife was pretty nervous about the size of the baby. By the time we got to town Friday morning, nothing much was happening; and that was the case for the entire day!

I wish I had taken a picture of our family in the middle of the night Friday. Mom was stretched out on a loveseat and Echo and Dad were curled up in small chairs. Daunee' was only supposed to have 3 passes for guests, but in light of the fact that she is a nurse at the hospital and it was so late, no one cared that we were around. We took turns going to check in on her. She had an epidural so she was in pretty good spirits. At 3:40 a.m. Mom came to wake us up and told us Daunee' had been pushing for about 30 minutes. So we ventured off to finally meet our precious new package!

Mom, still smiling despite having little sleep!

Echo, on the other hand, could have killed me for taking a pic!

After three hours of pushing, we finally had a baby! Lucas Jeffrey was born at 6:14 a.m. He weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 3/4" long! Everyone was right about him being big, but all the nurses who bet Daunee' would have a c-section were wrong! Great work, Daunee'!

Lucas Jeffrey getting his first loves from Mema Wilson.

The nurses were so great-they held up Lucas for all of the flashing camera lights.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but Damion is thrilled to be a Father for the first time.

Damion's kind of a poop, though. He never wants to cuddle and kiss his nieces and nephews, but he announced how much fun it was to have a son to smooch!

I love this pic...Dad didn't leave Daunee's side until he knew she was all clear and the doctor had finished with her. But he is clearly staring intently at what is going on with Lucas across the room.

'Nae Rabbit was totally exhausted, but thrilled to meet her baby boy. She's going to be a fantastic mom!

Dad getting a peek at Lucas up close.

Once all the excitement died down, we left Daunee' and Damion alone and went for breakfast, then back to their place to take naps. I was thrilled that I got to sneak back in before I left town that afternoon to see and hold Baby Lucas for the first time. He is so heavy already! I'm pretty positive he'll be twice Rylan's size by the time he's a month old.

Already sporting a Harley hat and totally content!

It was a blessing to be together as a family for the arrival of our new miracle. Lucas' arrival came at a time when we have all been on edge with Aiden and his seizures. It was a diversion we all needed. Would you please keep praying for my favorite oldest nephew, though?? He continues to have small seizures (sometimes as many as 15 in 25 minutes), and so far the doctors just want to keep increasing his meds. Along with that, Echo and Paul got a letter from the insurance company stating that Aiden's stay at St. Luke's in Denver was not necessary and thus they wouldn't be paying. That is a battle they really don't need to fight right now. We know and understand that God is sovereign and that He will work all together for His glory. It's hard in the midst of the pain, though, to know how or when it will be all worked out.

Family is precious to me right now. I pray that in this season of giving thanks it is meaningful for you, too. Shaun goes back on days tomorrow so we won't get to spend Thanksgiving with him. That breaks my heart. We had a small dinner last night to make up for it but we'll still miss him! I hope that yours is full of fabulous food and great company!

Oh, and congratulations to my best friend Elizabeth, who welcomed her own Baby Lucas today! Now to figure out how Rylan will keep the new babies straight...