New Baby Brain

Oops! It was brought to my attention that I didn't actually use Raisin's name and so those that voted in our name poll don't know which one won! Blame it on lack of sleep please! OK, he is Grayson Dale. He was born April 9th. He was 8 lbs 10 oz and was 20.5 inches long. Labor was only 17 hours this time, WOOHOOO!

Cheeky Babes, Hot Sun, and Honors All Around!

It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, having a baby will do that to you and all, but having a #5 baby? Yeah, I'm just proud of the fact that he is only 2 months old instead of 2 years old when I finally have gotten around to blogging about him! The debut of the Cheeky Babe! He has a nickname, thanks to Jaden. He is called "Raisin" around these parts!! Upon meeting him for the first time, I looked at him and thought to myself, "I've seen you before!" I don't mean that he is a cookie cutter version of the rest of the kids, because he's not, but take another look at the pic I posted of him here, and then scroll down to the last post with the 3D ultrasound picture. Amazing isn't it!! He is a happy baby for the most part, very laid back (huge blessing, let me tell ya'!) Unfortunately for him AND me, he has reflux and the dairy protein sensitivity that Jaden had as an infant. No ice cream for me again, how sad!! We are fortunate that I recognized the signs and symptoms of the 2 problems right away. He and I didn't have to suffer through weeks of screaming, crying (both of us!), 2 dozen trips to several different doctors, 2 ER trips, several medications, a barium swallow test, and severe weight loss (Jaden's only, unfortunately). I am so grateful to be able to skip all of that, just because I recognized the same thing in Raisin. I guess you could say that at least there was ONE good thing to come out of Jaden's troubles. As far as looks go, I think Raisin is a hybrid child. He has Ethan's eyes and nose, but the other's chins (yes, I know, there are 3 or 4), mouth and jawline. For a Hutcherson boy, he has tiny feet!! I know, you all are thinking, "not possible!" and all, but really his feet actually fit on the little footprint card that they give you! First time that I don't have card with a bit of toe and/or heel missing from the print since Kaylee was born! I don't think Chubs will be a light weight though. Maybe his body spent all it's extra time growing those cheeks instead of growing his feet!

Well, school is out for the summer now too. As of last Friday, the kids are home full time. All of them. YIKES!! We started swim team a few weeks ago and now that school is out, the practice times have changed. We are fortunate that now the little boys and I are only outside for 30 minutes and that half hour is at 815 in the morning! So much better then the hour and a half at 530 in the afternoon that we had been spending at the pool for practice! Jake, Ethan and Kaylee have improved their swimming skills already, and I am hoping that they will be little fish before summer's through! I know, I know, how thick is the irony that it is MY kids that can't swim, right? I mean, I had chlorine running through my veins in high school!

Jacob did really well in school this year. He's a reader!! He LOVES it! He will do well in first grade I'm sure. He had a fantastic report card. He only needs to learn to tie his shoes. He has struggled with that and can't seem to get it down. Now that summer and flip flop season is here, we are going to have to make a point of having him practice. He and I will both miss going to Mrs. Pritchard's class. She is just the best! He's enjoyed having her as his teacher very much and I have loved being able to go in once a week to help out. Mrs P. is the best! Ethan also had a great report card again this nine weeks. 1 B and the rest A's. He has turned into quite the reader too. He read 174 AR points this year. He got a trophy from the librarians for reading more then 150 points. This from the kid who was in Title One (remedial) reading just last year! He is a number hound, math is his favorite subject and a strong point for him too. He loved Mrs Salot, his teacher and it showed in the effort he put into his work for her. Kaylee had a much better year. What a relief! Mrs Beazley, her teacher could not even believe that Kaylee had had such an awful year last year. She thinks Kaylee hung the moon. Kaylee made the All A average honor roll for the year. She also read a TON of AR books. She was also given a trophy for her efforts AND a $50 gift card to Books-a-Million!! She had the top AR score in the school at 387.4 points. I'm amazed. That doesn't include at least 2500 pages she read in books that are not AR books and therefore don't count! She'll be in middle school next year! AGH!! Help me now! Stay tuned for the drama of middle school age girls!