October 27, 2008 Disney World Edition

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hello Everyone-

WOW! What a week we have had.

On October 16 we woke the kids at 6 am and surprised them with a video detailing our trip to Disney World over their fall break. Our plane left at 10:30 that morning and we were packed and ready to go. The kids had no idea. It truly was the surprise of their life.

We spent 8 sunny days in beautiful Orlando on Disney property. We were able to see all 4 of the parks more than once. We had some great meals and met some great characters along the way. The kids filled up their autograph books and posed for over 1100 photos. We would wake up and leave our room by 9 am most days only to return sometime around 11 or midnight.

I have to brag for a minute and say I have the BEST kids any parent could ask for. They were ANGELS the entire time we were gone. They begged for nothing, they cried for nothing and they were just happy go lucky kids. They had so much fun and were so consumed with excitement that lasted for days.

We learned a few things about Gavin while we were gone. He loves characters.....even Captain Hook! He LOVES rice krispie treats.....chocolate covered is best. He really can thrive on only a brief nap per day and still smiles like always. He loves to see a good parade! He likes elephants, giraffes and okapi. Tigger makes him laugh and Pooh does too. He thinks he is old enough to share a beer with daddy and not get caught. He likes to be a big boy and sit on the curb with his brother and sister for parades and shows. He can sleep through the noise of Indiana Jones and Beauty and the Beast. He HATES fireworks and really is not into 3D movies all that much. He does like to chew on 3D glasses. If you are not quick enough he now stands in his high chair and will make a move to get out....if he thinks you are not watching!

Gavin had his last flu shot the other day. At his appointment he weighed in just shy of 13 lbs. He is growing in more ways than one. He is starting to look more and more like a little boy and less and less like a little baby. He can pull himself up to virtually anything these days and loves to cruise. He adores his new activity table and will play there for hours. He likes to roll the ball back and forth with his brother and Ian claims he can play catch as well. He is still on Synthroid for growth and will remain on it for 3 years minimum. He will begin receiving synagis in November as we enter into RSV season. We are back into really good handwashing and being pretty cautious who we invite over that may expose him to that evil winter cold. While we were gone we discovered that Gavin was getting 2 more new teeth. Those top two are about to pop through any day now. I would look for Gavin to be walking very soon. He is very impatient and does not really like to sit still for too long these days....he wants to get down and go.

Ian and Brooke are back in school as of today. They were both excited to go back and tell all of their friends about their trip. Colin returned to work......a bit hesitantly I think.......as for me, just trying to get ourselves back into a routine. Gavin was able to take a 3 hour nap today. I was able to get to the gym this morning. The house is clean and I am working to finish the remains of Florida laundry. Life is good in our house.

We are looking forward to Halloween this week and the kids cannot wait to go trick or treating. Stay tuned to see their costumes because they totally changed gears on us last week. I will keep it a surprise for them to show to you.

Thanks again for all of your continued thoughts and support. This past week was amazing for us to be able to share together as a family. It was a treat for Ian and Brooke for all they were through last year when Gavin was in the hospital and to see their excitement and enthusiasm really was a treat for all of us!

Peace and Love-

Colin, Juanita, Ian, Brooke and Gavin

October 15, 2006

Hey Everyone-

It's me, Gavin. I promised you that tonight would be the "BIG" night.

I have to tell you a few things though....my brother and sister, they don't know the secret....they will find out in the morning.

The other thing I want to tell you before I let you in on the big deal is that mommy wants everyone to be clear that I "AM" the baby in this house. There will not ever be another baby.....cause I am it. So for all of you well wishers thinking my sister might just get a little sister....It aint gonna happen....that's what mommy says. Besides, I like being the baby!

Ok now on to the big deal. Mommy and Daddy have been planning all year to take us on a special vacation. You know while I was in the hospital last year my brother and sister lived away from home for almost 5 months. It was hard on them so mommy and daddy and me too.....we wanted to do something special for them. So, mommy and daddy are taking us to Disney World. We leave in the morning and I cannot wait for Ian and Brooke to find out. They are going to be so excited.....poor Ian is worrying tonight about his math test for tomorrow and getting his reading for the week done before Friday. I told him "no sweat dude" but he didn't really believe me that it would all be ok.

I will see if I can post some pictures when I am down there. You know my daddy never leaves home without his laptop. So keep checking back and see what kind of fun times we are having.

I gotta get to bed now cause tomorrow is gonna come really early and I want to be well rested. Mommy told daddy tonight she was worried about me wanting to stay awake on the plane for the whole ride.....I guess time will tell huh!

I love you all....

Gavin

October 14, 2008

Hey Guys-

Mommy and I were talking today.....my friend was there too! I think we decided that tomorrow would be my grand day to make my special secret known.

Mommy only said one thing.....that I had to wait til after Ian and Brooke are in bed....so tune in tomorrow night! I will try to make sure that they go to bed early. I think they might put up a fight over that though!

You are all gonna be so surprised...I can't wait!

Love,

Gavin

October 12, 2008

Hey Everybody-

My friend and I talked about my secret again today.

He thinks it is BIG too! He reassured me that he won't say a word!

You all are going to be really, really surprised! I can't wait.

Now I am going to go play with my brother and sister....

Maybe I will chase them for a while. Mom says they sleep good after we play chase!

Love,

Gavin

October 10, 2008

Phew!

I made it on here without mommy seeing me! She thinks I am fast asleep...hehe!

My brother was asking about my secret tonight....he thinks it is a Tree House!

I cannot wait til he finds out what it is....boy is he gonna be surprised cause it is HUGE...GINORMOUS...BIG....BIG...BIG!

Stay tuned to find out SOON!!

Back to bed for me....morning comes early ya know!

Love,

Gavin

October 7, 2008

Hey Everyone-

I sneaked on here for just a minute to tell you....

SHHHH!! Still keeping my secret......but just a hint...

It's a big one!! Big, BIG, BIG secret....

You all are going to be surprised!

My friend isn't telling either!!!

October 7, 2008

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
Galatians 5:22

Hello to all our wonderful family and friends-
It is at this time of year that people begin to focus on the holidays. The weather is changing, leaves are falling and the days certainly seem a bit shorter.

Fall always brings a feeling of upcoming cheer.....anticipation for the months ahead.
We spent some time shopping this past weekend.....for Halloween costumes of course! Brooke has decided to be the queen diva Sharpay......no costume is necessary although, she was not convinced of this. Ian has chosen to be a vampire.....not much by his own personal choosing but with a bit of a creative mind and mom and dad's help. Gavin is still undecided.

This experience truly made me reflect upon the "season." This is the one time of year that you can be anyone or anything you want to be....and have approval for it. I just wonder if people really choose to be something they want to be......or do we choose to be an alter ego so to say.....something daring.....something far reaching....perhaps something that would not normally draw approval on any other day. So with that....it draws me to reflect on whether or not I am living daily....the life I want to live.

Do we live our life to the fullest....fulling embracing all opportunities that the Lord presents to us? The past year has been a challenge....that goes without saying. We have learned to look at life with a bit of a different vision.....I think for months, perhaps years even, we were living in the Halloween world of being anything we wanted to be....during this time.....we lost sight of what the Lord was calling us to be.

Today, we live fully clothed in the grace of God. We have embraced his challenges and we are excited for what lies ahead. We live embraced with love both for each other and as a family.
I know I have shared with you my fondness for Peter Mayer. His music seems to speak to us and about us more clearly than ever. It is as if he wrote them for us personally. Recently I have been drawn to his song "Blueprints." We have wrapped ourself around our blue print and we continue to learn and grow every day....individually and as a family...

There is a wind that moves all around us
Making the sound of a song if you listen
And yet we wander over the world
For a place to belong to replace what we're missing
We bring our differences, our hopes, our faith and fears
We'll build a home for love in this family
For the light that brought us here

Chorus
With a blueprint for living
Each new day is lifted up
For this house we lay a foundation
On the cornerstone of love

The face of this world is changing and turning
What are we learning and what is our vision?
We build the walls of strength deep inside us
They must not divide us, become our prison
We bring our differences, our hopes our faith our fears
We'll build a home for love in this family
For the light that brought us here

Chorus
With a blueprint for living
That calls you back from where you've been
In this house we build a doorway
To send us out and welcome in

There is a river of life all around us
It's our common ground, the gift we are given
Ocean and sky, the wild of the forest,
Were here long before us and meant for all children
We bring our differences, our hopes our faith our fears
We'll build a home for love in this family
For the light that brought us here

Chorus
In this blueprint for living
From the word that touched the earth
Round this house we plant a Garden
God's grace is our rebirth
Lend your voice in celebration
Lend your hand in lifting up
This is the day of creation
Built on the cornerstone of love

It is because of this "blueprint" for living that we are able to be successful in life. We are able to build our family based upon love. We are able to build that doorway to send us out and to welcome in. We are working on our garden......where grace has been reborn. These are the days of creation.......built on the cornerstones of love!

Gavin continues to do well....and really thrive! He is over his ear infections of recently and I think we are beyond the spots too....chicken pox seem to be all gone. He has new tricks now too. Gavin can now pull himself up on things. Just this morning for the first time, he pulled himself up to the couch. He is crawling on his hands and knees and only really uses the army crawl if he needs to get somewhere fast. He has mastered the task of getting himself stuck in tight places. I definately would have to say of my 3 children....he is the most precoscious. I think my years are going to be filled with running and chasing after him because he has NO fear! He has two beautiful new bottom teeth and has also discovered chocolate donuts are really good. His daddy would be proud to let you know that more and more often he is uttering the word "dada" The two of them have a bond like no other.

Ian and Brooke are excited for their fall carnival at school this week. They cannot wait to get dressed up and play games and eat candy with their friends. I think they especially like the cake walk. Ultimately, they cannot wait til Halloween....and, it's on a Friday this year so that means even more trick or treating.

We hope you are all enjoying the fall season and the changing of the colors. Thank you for your continued support. We could not have made it this far without all of you.....

Peace and Love-
Colin, Juanita, Ian, Brooke and Gavin

October 2, 2008

Shhhhh.....I still have a secret!

I shared my secret with one of my friends.....

but....

I don't think he is gonna say a word!

Love,

Gavin

October 1, 2008

Hey Everyone-

I have a secret......

Shhhhhhhhh!!! Don't tell......

It's coming up soon......so keep checking to see what it is!

And whatever you do.....don't tell mommy I posted this!

Love,

Gavin

September 30, 2008

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Hello to all our family and friends....

It has been a while hasn't it?

Life has been......well, LIFE!

Here we are in the beginning of fall. How did it get to be October already? We have been busy with kids in school, kids in sports, doctors appointments and other activities.

Gavin has had an interesting ride the past several weeks. He got an ear infection the beginning of September and was on antibiotics for it. It cleared up and 2 weeks later re-appeared. He is back on antibiotics to treat that and in the middle of the antibiotic treatment he now has what appears to be chicken pox. Poor baby cannot get a break. Through it all though.....he smiles!

Gavin had his well child check a couple of weeks ago. He weighed in at 12lb 4oz at that time but since then has lost a bit of weight from being sick. He is now on whole milk fortified with carnation instant breakfast for extra calories. He loves his table food and eats at his high chair 3x a day now. He loves to be a part of dinner time. Recently he seems to have an aversion to the bottle....presumably from ear infections however, only time will tell. He has changed his nap schedule to napping only once a day now.....which has been a bit of a challenge with school drop off and pick up times.

He is crawling......army and otherwise. Gavin is on the move. He officially took his first tumble down the basement stairs....lesson learned.....keep the door shut! He smiled when he got to the bottom. I think mommy was more traumatized than Gavin. He is sitting up very well now on his own. Just within the past few days he is exploring the option of pulling himself up on stuff. It wont be long now and he will be standing and cruising.

Ian and Brooke are doing well. They are busy with school, friends and sports. Ian is playing baseball again this fall and is working on his pitching and catching skills. He hit 2 balls in the game last week and was on cloud nine. Brooke is playing soccer again and loving every minute of it. She is star of the week at school this week so she loves being the princess.

Colin and I are doing well. We keep busy with work, chasing kiddos and attending many kid related functions. In between all of that we try to make some time for ourselves as well.

I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying our beautiful weather. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please continue to keep Gavin in your thoughts for health and healing.

Until next time......

Peace and Love-

Colin, Juanita, Ian, Brooke and Gavin