And NO, I'm not pregnant!!!!!  :)

I've decided to switch my blog over to a different site.  This one is becoming a bit boring to me, and I love the layouts I'm able to use on the new site.  Click HERE to see my new address.  :)

I just realized I had forgotten to post an update on Trenton's biopsy.  Here is an excerpt from Mari-Jo's email to our family:

---Our doctor was able to look at the bone marrow right away, and saw that it was great!  There were tons of platelets, which means his bone marrow is doing what it’s supposed to be doing.  She said there is nothing like leukemia or anything going on (which was my fear deep down).  This doesn’t really answer anything at this point, but it eliminates a scarier problem.  We won’t get results from the piece of the bone for another day or so, it has to mineralize or something.  But she will call us.

So, now we wait some more.  We’ll go back in three weeks and check his blood again.  If it still hasn’t gone up then we’ll talk about other drugs/treatments to try.  He’s not going to take anything right now, she really wants him to fix this on his own.  So, we are relieved, but still on edge with this not getting any better. 

Trenton seems to be doing fine.  They said he would be a little sore, but he doesn’t seem to be in pain at all, which is wonderful.  He’s such a trooper.  I think the not eating this morning was the hardest part.  I handed him a cup of juice (which is all he could have) and he kind of looked at me like, “that’s it?”  But he really did very well. ---

We are so relieved that leukemia was ruled out so quickly, but we continue to pray for Trenton, Tyler, and Jo as they wait for more definitive answers.  Thank you God for your goodness and faithfulness!

I'm back.  And I'm still having a severe case of 'blogger's block'!  I seriously don't even know where to begin, so this post may be completely random.

I guess I'll go back to the fall, when Tessa joined our family.  It seriously has been one of the smoothest transitions!  She's such a good little baby, and started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks...the earliest of any of my babies.  I can hardly believe that 4 months have gone by already.  She's growing too quickly for me...already pushing 15 pounds!  Her smiles light up the room and it's cute to hear her discovering her voice.  She loves watching the older kids, and I think her favorite is Adam.  He is right by her side anytime she's in the room with him.  He adores her.  We had her dedicated at church last Sunday, and she wore the same dress Annaliese wore almost 7 years ago.  It's the dress my mom hung onto after we girls were dedicated 30+ years ago. 

The older kids are doing well, although we've hit the 'winter blahs' around here.  It's always tough for me this time of year.  It's too cold to send the kids out to play, so we all get a little too much togetherness.  I've started taking advantage of my health club membership again, though, so that helps a lot. 

I know that I struggle with seasonal affective disorder each winter, so I try to give myself some extra grace, but it's hard.  I feel so short-tempered a lot of the time, and that translates to a lot of impatience with the kids.  It's hard not to completely beat myself up over this one...there are days that I feel like a complete and utter failure.  I am so thankful, though, for my husband and dear friends who encourage me greatly each day!

I've also decided that this year is THE year that I will get myself back into shape.  Each time I have a baby, the extra weight is still there from the previous ones, and that has added up to too much!  I've made a goal for myself...I will be 60 pounds lighter by next Christmas.  It's a lofty goal, but if I don't set it high, I won't go for it.  I'm going to start counting my points again and exercise consistently.  I already feel like I have more energy, so that's been a huge bonus so far.  I'm going to get back to my weight loss blog, too, but I am making it private this time so I can post some pictures that I wouldn't normally post.  I don't want the world to see me in a sports bra and shorts...no 'Biggest Loser' for me!

I'll leave you with our family Christmas card picture from this year...this is the only picture I have of all the kids that is recent.  I hope to keep up with blogging again, but Facebook is so much easier and more instantly gratifying, so I have to work at it here!  Be patient with me!