Everyone Else!

        Since I've obviously updated about Flint's progress, I thought I'd better catch up on the rest of the family too!  We had a fun Halloween and we're very excited for the upcoming holidays.  We're going to San Antonio for Thanksgiving and then spending Christmas in Idaho, so we can't wait for some nice downtime with family.  Here's what everyone's been up to over the last little while:
        Davis has been busy being a surrogate mother to my boys when Brock and I have been dealing with baby issues.  She is a wonderful helper and leader, and her brothers all look up to her and love her.  She plays the piano beautifully and LOVES reading!  She's a great athlete, but also willingly took a break from sports for the last couple of months so we could simplify life a little.  She did get to run in her first road race (2 miles) and finished in under 20 minutes - pretty good for someone who had never run long distances before!  She was also chosen as one of two MCs who got to introduce her choir program at school.  She is growing up way too fast and I am so grateful to have such a sweet daughter in our family!

        Duke is loving life as an 8 year old.  He is so proud of his baptism and carries such a sweet spirit with him in all that he does.  He also LOVES being a cub scout.  Almost every night, he pulls out his Wolf book and asks us to help him pass off a requirement.  Hmmm...I'm seeing a future for him that is much like his dad's, who was an Eagle Scout at the age of 13!  While Duke doesn't LOVE playing the piano, he was a wonderful attitude while he practices each day and is a pretty awesome player.  Duke has also finally decided that he really likes football, and had a great time playing flag football this Fall.  His ultimate love at this point though, is rocks.  He LOVES collecting rocks, and always has.  Just like his father, he is truly a gentle giant!

        Gage is such a funny 5 year old.  He has always been "an imp" (as my mom calls him), and he keeps us laughing with his witty and fun take on life.  He's the oldest in his preschool class and is starting to read and write.  He loves all things boy, especially super heroes, power rangers, ninjas, and FOOTBALL!  This kid is obsessed with football, and can commentate on the plays like a pro!  Seriously, as the play happens, Gage will be sitting on the couch shouting things like "OH!  He threw an interception!  Whoa, that guy is FAST, they never catch him!  That was a good tackle!  They better punt the ball!"  It really makes me laugh that my 5 year old understand football better than I do, but maybe that's not really saying much! While he waits to be old enough to play football, he passes the time as a really good soccer player.

 

        Trayson is my little buddy and constant companion.  Oh, if I could count the number of doctor appointments he's been to with me and Flint over the last 6 months!  He knows all the different doctors and asks which one we're going to at each visit.  Of all my kids, Trayson's life has probably been the most affected by the craziness.  Between feeling horrible my whole pregnancy both physically and emotionally, and then dealing with the extra demands of Flint being in the NICU, Trayson has gotten a much different mom than my other kids did at his age. Because of this, I often worried that he would resent Flint, but I could not have been more wrong,  He is absolutely IN LOVE with his little brother and always wants to kiss and hold him.  He too, is ALL BOY and always has a car, sword, gun, or ball in his hands.  He also has a wonderful imagination that cracks me up.  When we were driving to an appointment last week, I could see him in my rear view mirror, talking to himself.  He was very intent on the other cars on the road and seemed very intense as he watched them.  Finally I heard him sing "Go, go Power Rangers!" and then say "Beat them Mom!  Pass them!"  Wherever we go, Trayson thinks we are in the middle of a car race and it is important that I pass everyone else and win!  He also frequently sets his football up in the living room in just the right way, sings the "kicking song" they always play at the high school football game here, and then runs and kicks it into the imaginary field goal.  He just makes me laugh!

        Last, but certainly not least, is my husband.  Brock is A-MAZ-ING!  It is all I can do to take care of one baby and 4 kids each day, but somehow, he manages to balance so many different responsibilities without any problem at all!  He is the BEST husband, and always steps up to help without me asking.  I've given up on worrying about our house being cleaned for the next several months, but all on his own, Brock will come home from work and do dishes, the laundry, sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, or anything else that may need to be done.  And he doesn't do these things because he's disgusted with me for not doing them, he just does it to help.  He helps the kids with school work and plays with them outside when I need a break.  He goes to work each day as a very busy college professor who teaches, researches, advises students, and works hard to grow his program.  On top of all this, he serves as the Bishop of our church congregation and works hard to lead, serve, counsel, and help the members of our ward.  I have always been amazed that he married me, but I have become even more amazed by him throughout the last several months.  He really is one of the greatest blessings in my life and I am SO in love with him!
        As for me, all I can say is that I am one lucky, blessed girl.  The greatest blessings in life are the relationships we have and these people make up the most important relationship that I enjoy - my family!