Many illnesses too :(

Before pnemonia struck Zoey, this was what she looked like for Picture Day at school. Emily had her pictures done the day before with her hair straight. But she really wanted her hair done again. I got up an hour earlier to curl Zoey's hair. She really wanted her hair curly for her picture. I put so much hairspray in her hair it didn't even look like it had moved all day long when she got home. Emily's also! I was amazed. I think they looked so cute. Within 3 days though, Zoey was in the hospital ER @ the new Diamond's Children Hospital @UMC. It took 4 1/2hrs to been taked back to a room and another 1 1/2 to see the doctor. They did x-rays and you could see the softball size in her lower right lung. No wonder shes couldn't bend over or walk for a day. they gave her an IV and antibiotics and debated for an hour weather to keep her there. She did better in an hour and they decided to send us home because she didn't have the swine flu. Which most of the ped patients did that were admitted. She is slowly recovering. We go for my x-rays tomarrow. Hoping all is well and she will be able to go back to school. She's lost 4lbs and looks very unhealthy. Her appetite is coming back though. Thanks for all the prayers on our behalf. Please continue because we have Jake with strep and Emily with Croup. We will get through this winter healthy; at least that's what I say every morning to myself!

Many happenings....

Jake loved looking at all the monitors and snakes!

September:
We went to the Tucson Reptile and Snake Show in September. The kids LOVED IT!!!! Zoey really wanted to buy a Blue Tongued Skink for her birthday. We figured the amount out and how long it would live and what we would need to take care of it. IT's like a child that will never leave your home cuz he lives until he's 40yrs old. It costs as much to raise this thing too. We said no way but she really begged us. In this picture it peed on her shirt. And not just a little. Emily looks scared but she loved it too. Preston wouldn't put the thing down. I even picked one up also but then screamed when it started moving. It was so much fun there. The oder was very gross to say the least.

October:
We were at the Foothills Mall to pick up our Family Portrait clothes. Mikey had so much fun on the green gecko. He kept looking at it like it was going to take him for a ride any minute. Then a couple nights later he fell asleep in his high chair from ehaustion. His upper tooth finally broke through. He wasn't getting much naptime. I am thankful he finally slept the whole night through again. I also found this onsie and socks at Target for dirt cheap. Elmo is the only thing he will stop and watch on the TV. He just stares and then starts laughing histarically. It's so fun to watch.

We told the kiddos that we wanted to have another baby. I was suprised to see Emily happy about this discission. She wants another sister. I really hope the Lord hears those prayers. I would love either but I am leaning towards another daughter. I must be a glutton for punishment. Gary even helped pick a name out for another girl. We are keeping that a suprise until we find out if we'll have another baby though. Other then these fun things we are happy here.

We Have Decided

So Gary and I were talking again about having another child. It wasn't scary and I had a good feeling that I wanted another but I wanted to take the time to decide when. So we decided to listen to each other and our prayers. Hopefully there will be another Baby Affleck next year. After that we are done. I am sad that I can't have anymore after the 6th but I don't think I could handle any more than that. I know most of my family and friends think it's too much. I appreciate all your input. We have been thinking about this for months now. I would always laugh and say "no way, we're so done." But I didn't know. I kept having a nagging feeling that there was another baby. I just didn't know if we could handle another child with all of Preston's challenges. We are now discovering that Emily is exhibiting some of the same autistic characteristics. So our plate is full.

Which leads me to the follows revelation: I am truely blessed with the family I have and I have enough love and sometimes energy to give 1 more baby. So I hope that all my friends and family will help support ary and I as we continue on our journey of building a happy family. Thank you to all my friends that gave us their opinions and advice. We love you and really appreciate all that you do for our family.

So wish us luck or send some prayers; however you feel about it.

Now peel yourselves off the floor and just be glad it's not you. LOL. And by the way, I'm not quitting anymore. Gary gave me a little me time with my girlfriends. What a wonderful hubby. Sometimes he really knows how to pamper his wife.

I Quit!

I Quit! I Quit! I Quit cleaning anything and everything! I Quit trying to keep the kids clean and respectable; the house clean; my husband happy; my self bathed; my family fed; my yard weeded; my hair perfect; my laundry washed, dried, folded and put away. I Quit! Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I have to get back to work. Thanks for listening. Or at least glancing at this message and hitting delete.

Never Leaving

I am sitting here thinking about how much our family has grown. Gary said when we got married, "we'll only be here in Tucson for the next 5-7 years". Those 7 years were up 3 years ago. Of course when we bought our home it was to be a "starter home". Now it is 10 years, 5 kids and the same "starter house" later. I have realized we may never leave. This is the longest I have ever lived in one home. I should be grateful! But I'm getting antsy. So, I have started a project for our house: I will be pulling up the living room carpet from entry way to kitchen. I am hoping to lay laminent wood flooring there soon. This should really help the cleaning process! Don't know when we'll be starting this project but I am already pricing and measuring the floor. Next will be a coat of paint for these white walls in the living room. I'm thinking brown. We'll see because Gary always has an opinion about my decorating. Why couldn't I have gotten a husband that didn't care?

Been Awhile...lol

Flying kites with daddy

Emily & Olivia

Domino & Zoey

Saying goodbye to the Holladay's :(

Mikey standing for the first time.

Emily's birthday cake that Jake destroyed.

My Aunt Maggie and Mikey @the pool.

So let's start with the summer. We spent alot of time at the pool this summer. Preston learned to put his head underwater and hold his breath. Eventually he tried to swim too. He took lessons at the YMCA but had a hard time waiting his turn to do everything. He was so excited to be in the pool, so we gave up after 2 lessons. I taught him myself at our community pool. Jake of course had to do the same as PReston. He has never been afraid of the water. He decided to try to swim without his floaties a few times without telling me. So needless to say I had to rescue him a few times. I bet he'll be a great swimmer next year. Of course Zoey and Emily are like fish. They had great times there pretending to be mermaids. Takes me back to my childhood in Florida. My sister Sandy and I would do the same thing. Mikey is also a little fish. He loved his lessons and knows how to blow rassberries in the pool. He couldn't quite get the bubbles. He laughed alot!

June was a fun month because I did a craft class twice a week with the kids. We had two of their friends Savanah and Mackenzie craft with us. They made masks, wood people, visors, birdhouses, t-shirts, and much more. The girls really liked it and Preston got his Ocupational theropy with the crafting. (He struggles with his writing.)

July was a different month. I missed my friend Julie though cuz she went to Cali for the month. Took all her girls so that meant I had to entertain my girls. We did get to hang out with Maricella and her kids Alyssa and Nick. So we kept really busy. We swam and went to the YMCA but for the most part we didn't do much. Hung out at Mcdonal's alot cuz the weather was so HOT. Went to the mall too. Anywhere there was AC we were there. Watched a lot of movies too.

August came and went with many ups and downs. Gary's brother was married in the Denver Temple on August 13th @1pm. Gary and I missed it because I was in the ER there in Loveland because of health issuses. (I am slowly recovering from an intestinal blockage.) The girls were beautiful as flower girls. So I hear. I don't have pictures but the relatives are sending them to us. We also came back home to say goodbye to our best friends the Holladay's. They moved to Las Vegas on the 1st. We cried alot and I tried to stop them but I guess a job is more important than me. :( We all really miss them. The girls are struggling with not having their friends here. We have known this family since Zoey was 18mths old. Time really flys. Kids also started school. Yeah for mom! We also celbrated Gary's 36th b-day by giving him a new 6mth old cat named Domino. We adore him.

September is going well. Kids are having fun and learning in school. I am always busy with Preston's needs and keeping girls up with homework. We are trying to get into soccer for the girls too. We are also planning piano lessons for the girls starting next year. Mikey is 10mths and took his first steps a couple weeks ago. All day today he has been standing and taking steps. The most he's accomplished is 4 in a row. My freedom is all gone now! He is so cute and loveable. He is really laid back and hardly cries at all. Eats really well too!

So that is our life here in the Affleck house. Of course Gary and I are just happy to be so blessed. We are very boring people ourselves. Gary started a garden last year and is experimenting with it. Okra seems to be what's growing now and 1 sole watermelon. He also stays really busy at work. We are very thankful for that. Me, I just try to stay awake during the day and asleep during the night. That hasn't happened since I was 21!

Summer Time is Here Again

It's already hot and over a hundred degrees here in Arizona. That must mean school is out and summer break is here again. The girls have graduated to first and second grade. Preston is going into the 4 year old class in preschool this August. So everyone is taking a much needed "brain break". So does this mean I get one too? NOOOOOO!

All mom's have to find things for their children to do during this break so that they don't lose their minds. I count down the days until school starts and the house is quiet again. But I do love going to the pool most days. The kids love it too. I drag the "bucket" of pool things. In this bucket is our sun screen, swim shampoo, comb, pool toys (balls, darts, squirt guns, rings, spider man sticks, diving rods), also the water wings, cups, plates, forks, wipes, diapers, swim diapers, water bottles, and occasionally some soda for mom. I love this big bucket because it can hold everything and then some. Plus it's water proof. I haul it in with the double stroller. Of course Mikey is riding shotgun. I bring a cooler with lunch or dinner (depends on the time) and a shade pavilion that I know how to assemble and take down myself. Can you tell I'm proud of that fact.

The girls know how to swim and Preston is learning really fast with his lessons. I think he'll be out of his water wings later this summer. Jake is also fearless but never without his water wings. I keep a good eye on everyone where I sit near the spa under my pavilion. I have learned to run and jump in when the water is too cold so that I won't get out of the pool fast. The water is still a little chilly. Of course I do hate one part of summer: finding a new bathing suit. Because of course I never fit into the one from the year before. I'm either fatter or pregnant. Oh well! This reminds me that Bella Holladay asked me today, st the pool, if I was pregnant. I said no; just fat. She looked at me then her mom. She signed that I eat alot! Amen sister!!!!! On a positive note, I have lost 5lbs watching what I eat lately. Maybe I won't fear next summer as much?

Of course Gary is missing all the fun! He's working very long hours and when he can get to the pool with us, he's usually cold within 5 minutes. Must suck being so skinny. (I'm not bitter!) He loves being there with us though. We like to play "toss the kids". Jake used to like it until he swallowed a bunch of water and now he'll say "nope" when we ask if he wants to play. HEHEHE!

Life is sweet. It can get hairy here with little space and my Aunt Maggie living with us for now. But all in all, we love the summer time. We're looking forward to camping and going to James' wedding in August. Hopefully we'll get to go visit the Holladay's in Las Vegas too. I don't want them to move in July, but you go where the work is!

Have a BLAST this summer everyone!

Marti