not to leave him out...

This is what Zachariah did the entire day we were out for Rachel's day. He was so good, he really likes his new stroller!

Rachel's Birthday Celebration in pictures

Help me make it through this day

I want to thank everyone for all your kind words, encouragement, and prayers. You don't know how much that means to me. I need it! This is not easy at all. I cried when I went through and read everything yesterday.
It was a very smooth and easy adjustment getting Zachariah, but these 2 new ones....WHEH it is a challenge! And, my kids are home sick from school, so that makes it even wilder. I like the kids, and want to make it work, it is just hard, and Clay and I are both sick too, so you know how hard it is to be patient with everyone when you are sick. And I have no choice but the be patient. I have to hold it all together, and not even show weakness for Clay, b/c he is already convinced this is too much and wants me to call our caseworker to find a new home for them, and I need to prove that I can do it all, b/c I want to make it work so they can stay here. Why would we do all this, to give up the 2nd time we get a placement? I know it will get easier with a routine, and I am willing to stick it out, but I also don't want him resenting me either. So, now that I got all that off my chest this morning, I need to go see about rearranging bedrooms. Amber takes ownership of everything she touches....this is MINE just b/c it is in the room that she is sleeping in. I think there needs to be a girl's room, a boy's room, and a toy room. Let's see if I have the energy to make that happen today!

More from today

I am up now waiting on Zachariah to call it a night. He came to life whenever I got the other ones to bed. I don't really mind since I didn't have any down time today to just sit and hold him, but I am oh so tired! I had about 3 hrs of sleep last night. The kids all slept great, but I couldn't sleep b/c I kept worrying what Amber would do when she woke up in a strange place. As it was, she woke up about 8 this morning, and I heard her in there quietly talking, and I went in and introduced myself, and about that time the girls woke up and you would have thought she had known us forever! She has talked about her family a lot today. She seems really close to her papaw. I don't know what that situation is like, but I hope maybe it will be where he will be able to take the kids. She was telling me how he takes her to church, and then she asked me if I go to church!

She was a big challenge in the sharing department. And it was worse b/c she wanted to play with all Rachel's toys she just got for her b-day. But, all in all, it went very well considering how bad it could have all gone! ha The 2 baby thing is just a huge challenge. Hunter is a really good baby even, and Zachariah slept a lot....(explains why he has been wide awake the last 3 hrs, he sleeps better during chaos I have determined) but I didn't have one minute of downtime until 9 pm. The day all just kinda seems like a blur to me.

My mom and sis are coming tomorrow, and I am excited about the extra hands to help hold babies! They are coming though to help with everyone b/c I have to take Zachariah to court. His judge requires the children to be present. I am unsure what that will all be like, and will probably be seeing, possibly meeting his parents tomorow. That makes me a tad nervous, but at the same time, I want to. I am thinking sitting in on this I will probably learn more about him and his parents than any other way. I do wish Clay could go with me but he has to work.

Well, baby Z has been quiet for a bit, so I guess I am off to bed. I pray I get to stay there for at least 4 hrs before I have to get up again.

Look at those curls on the end of her hair!! I love them. I wasn't able to brush her hair at all today. Oh, I wanted to so bad, but it was still pretty. And she also has a lot of pretty natural shades of different color through out it. I took Amber to WM to get her a few things. I picked her out this gown, and then decided to get the girls both a matching one. It was a hit, and a great bonding time, they all got excited about it, and seemed to play together much better afterwards.

They wanted me to take a picture of them pretend running
He is such a happy baby. He doesn't cry much, and when he does it isn't loud.

Our 1st day with 6 kids.....

I am exhausted. That is all I have the energy to type!

Here they are!

This has taken me the entire day to get these 3 pictures on here. Wheh...any volunteers to come do laundry, clean the kitchen, or feed one of 2 babies?? LOL WHEH!!!

Here's Hunter

Noah trying to lure her into the "dark side"....aka she has played Star Wars video games, and light saber fights as well with him.
As I said before....her hair is beautiful. It is down past her waste, with beautiful curls on the end. And she is so tender headed, and won't let me touch her head for nothing! Washing her hair this morning was quite the challenge.

Her name is Amberleigh, but she said she goes by Amber
I better go.....I am hearing lots of loud banging!

You'll always be my baby....

It is now officially September 2, the day I gave birth to my youngest daughter. I did not know she was a girl until she arrived, and I had been sure all along she was a boy. My pregnancy with her was just like the one with Noah's, and Leah's had been very different, so I was so certain she was a boy. It didn't matter to me one bit the minute she arrived. I was so happy to have my other little girl.

I can't believe she is 5. She is such a big girl. These last 2 weeks have been full of a LOT of changes in her life, and she has handled it all with such grace. She does want me close by more now, but I don't mind that at all. In 2 weeks, she went from being the youngest, and at home with me, to starting kindergarten and having 3 younger siblings. WOW....I know that is a lot for her. She was so excited though today that Baby Z would be part of her special celebration day. When we got the call for the new kids, things got crazy, but she didn't mind. And, at 10:00 pm she remembered that we hadn't gotten around to icing and eating her cake. I asked her if it would be o.k. to wait so that her new sister could share in the cake festivities, and she got so excited! I pray that today will be a smooth day, and she can enjoy her 5th b-day. I think I may be calling Dominos to deliver! LOL

Happy Birthday to my beautiful brown eyed, thumb sucking, silly face little girl. No matter how many kids come along to our family that I will love, Rachel, "you will always be my baby". I love you so much, and am so proud of the young lady you are growing into.