9-11 Baby?

When Brian and I arrived at the hospital on July 5th, 2002 a nurse met us and said, "Oh a 9-11 baby, huh?"  I was confused and it must have shown on my face.  She went on to explain that there had been a baby boom nine months after the terrible acts of 9/11 occurred.  I had read articles that talked about this exact thing, but hadn't put much thought to it.  The nurse went on to say that they had seen a spike in births at our local hospitals as well.  I assured her that Jacob was NOT a 9/11 baby.  But then I wondered. . .

Why did we finally decide to have another child?  After all, Zach was already four.  He had a major heart defect at birth.  Why press our luck with another child?  Did we really want to start over?  Yes, we did.  I can't tell you why.  But maybe it DID have something to do with 9/11.  Maybe we didn't want Zach to go through those kinds of atrocities in the future without a sibling, Lord willing.   Maybe we realized that in this crazy, sick world, family is important and if the Lord allowed, we would add to ours.

While I am not completely sure what tipped the scales for us, I vividly remember that day in September, 2001.  At the time, I was doing home daycare.  It was a late start kind of day and I was slowly getting ready while listening to the radio.  When I think of the announcers voice as he broke in and announced that a plane had just hit the Twin Towers,  the hair on my neck still stands on end.  I hightailed it to the living room and turned on the news.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  I called Brian and told him to turn the TV's on at work.  Then I called my dad.  My dad is a news junkie.  I just needed to talk to someone who was watching and could help me process this crazy event.  For some odd reason, my dad had not turned on the news or radio that morning.  When I told him what happened, he thought it was some kind of sick joke.  Then he turned on the TV and saw it for himself.

Within minutes and short hours, the news got progressively worse.  I tried to go on with my day.  I turned off the TV so the day care children wouldn't see it.  I packed them up and took them to story time at the library.  I am not sure I heard one word of the story that day.  My mind was racing.

That evening, after my day care children had left, Brian, Zach and I attended a prayer vigil at a local church where we also watched President Bush address the nation.  At bedtime, I couldn't put Zach to bed in his own bed.  I wanted us all together.  I made a bed for him on the floor in our room.  I put it close to the bed so I could reach over and just touch him.  I did that several times that night.  My mind was racing and I could not sleep.  Brian kept getting out of bed and heading to the office.  He was continuously checking the news to see if anything else had happened.  That night was one of constant anxiety.

I am not sure when that anxiety disappeared.  Quite frankly, I am not sure it ever did completely.  Even today, I don't believe that I feel as safe and as at peace as I did prior to 9/11.

If I were to see that nurse today (which I might since she lives in our hometown), I would have to change that "NOT a 9/11 baby" to "MAYBE a 9/11 baby."

To bring some levity to this post, we all got a good giggle when Jacob was born and weighed 9 lbs and 11 oz.  Yep, he WAS a 9'11" baby!

Down Time

We enjoyed a little down time during our trip too.  

Have to find some time for some Minecraft.

Dad tried teaching Lizzie the two step with no luck

Playing a game with Grandpa on the iPad

We also played Rack-O.  It is a game that my Grandma Ellis played all the time.  The kids enjoyed it.  Jake enjoyed winning.  Lizzie?  She just enjoyed doing the opposite of what dad suggest she do!

Conner Turns One

We celebrated my nephew, Conner's, birthday while we were in Indiana.  I forgot how fun, yet disgusting,  it is to watch a little one dig into the cake!

HEY!  Is that for ME?

He wasn't sure at first. 

Then he took a few little licks of the icing. 

 Finally, he decided he would just dive face first into the sugary goodness!

Wedding

We had the honor of being a part of my brother's wedding day.  It was a beautiful wedding.  I don't have many pictures on my camera but here are a few of what I did get.

Brian and my step-mom. Karen.  Love this picture

The bride with her Jr. Bridesmaids

All the girls post hair but pre dress!

Ivy and Brycen

Jacob keeps saying that he did NOT dance.  I have proof otherwise!!

Jacob was not overly thrilled to be wearing a tux.  But he looked so cute.

My neice, Kaitlyn, sat perfectly still and silent when she was getting her hair curled.

Side view of Lizzie's hair.

 My niece, Kelsey, did NOT like hair spray.  She would smile until they sprayed and she gave this look. . . 

Zach helps my nephew, Brycen with  his tux.

Festival

Our town hosts a music festival every August.  This year, the Christian band, Big Daddy Weave played.  It was a great concert.  But you can't go to a festival without riding some carnival rides.  Correct?

Lizzie enjoyed the Scrambles.  Look at their hair flying.  I almost threw up just watching them whip around.

Jake was with friends and apparently he rode this ride several time.  Round and round and round it goes - and then it goes upside down!

He learned that if you ride that ride several times on an extremely hot day on an empty stomach, you will end up looking like this. . .

Fall Sports Kick-Off

Zach started his 2013 golf season with an injury.  Poor kid has had so many injuries.  This time last year, he was having hernia surgery.  At the end of summer, he strained his rotator cuff.  After PT with an incredible therapist, he was feeling well enough to try out for golf.  After the first day, he slammed his finger in his locker and when he went to pull it out, he shut the door on it even further.  So, we ended up once again at Sports Med and received the diagnosis of a Boxer's Fracture.  I assumed that they would just buddy tape it.  Nope, they had the choice of a cast or a splint.  After much promising of not taking it off (he lied) we went with the splint.  He now has the cast off and is ready to qualify for some meets!

Even in his splint, he had a smile on his face at the Fall Sports Kick-Off when they totally butchered his name!

School Days

They say that all good things must come to an end.  So, summer 2013 is in the books and the 2013-2014 school year rolls around.

I was very nervous about this year.  Jake moved to a new building.  He is in 6th grade and in the Junior High.  Lizzie also moved to a new building.  She is in 3rd grade and moved to the 3rd - 5th grade building.  As a sophomore, Zach is an old pro at the High School.

We could not have asked for a better start to the school year.  Everyone is doing well and enjoying school.  That includes me as well!

First Day of School - August 21st, 2013

Zach - Sophomore

Jake - 6th Grade

Lizzie - 3rd Grade

Our traditional "Back To School" cake.  Lizzie picked out the theme this year.

"Floating Into School"

Monical's Pizza was a unanimous vote for our back to school dinner!