Our Sick Little Guy

Poor John Whitten has been horribly sick over these last couple days. He was fine on Friday morning, but around lunch his fever spiked and by 3:30 we were sitting at the doctors office. After two doses(I even gave him more than the recommended dosage) his fever was still 104.8 when the nurse first took it. Thirty minutes later they took it again and it was 105.4!! Now I am not a panicky parent and my kids usually have high fevers so I am use to them, but 105.4 even made me more than a little nervous. It made me nervous mainly because we couldn't seem to get it under control. Our nurse told us that our pediatrician might want to send us to children's, and that didn't help my panic. Luckily we got to come home, and after picking up his prescription we were snuggled up on the couch together.

It was a long night with a lot of tears, a lot of medicine, a couple of cold baths and a lot of prayer but his fever finally broke around 3 AM. Today it has only gotten as high as 103, so we have been really thankful for that. Shaun and I are just praying that he is 100% back to his wonderful self Christmas Eve! On the plus side, I have loved getting all of the extra cuddles that comes along with a sick little one.

iPhone Photo Dump

It was time to clean out some pictures that I have been storing in my cell phone. Happy Monday!

Enjoy...

at the children theater to see Peter Pan

He always falls asleep with her when he puts her down

she's getting so big

the cousins

a boy, his truck and his baby

my sweet chef

love how handsome he looks after a hair cut

Shaun always paints John Whitten's big toes for him

playing with Jack at the playground

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sing: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

Tis The Season

We spent the whole weekend getting all of Christmas decorations put up and Shaun even put light on the house this year. I LOVE having everything out; it gives our home such a festive cozy feel. Shaun and the kids worked hard most of Saturday to get the lights hung on the house. Lillian and John Whitten loves climbing the ladder with Shaun-don't worry, we didn't let them go up high. It was so nice to sit down Saturday night and cuddle up with our babies by the fire and watch The Lion King together surrounded by all of our Christmas cheer. 

I was so excited for thanksgiving to be over and for the Christmas season to get here. I am extra excited to start the advent season and hang our advent ornaments on the tree each night together as a family.

hanging the lights

finished product

after a long day we all cozied up by the fire 

I of course had to snap a couple pics in front of the tree sense they were in matching pjs

silly boy

staying cozy by the fire together

morning cuddles together

such a camera hog...I love how he turned and smiled the second I started to snap a pic

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 

Psalm 145:7

Lillian's Fall Choir Program

Last week Lillian had her very first choir performance at church. She did SO good and Shaun and I were so proud of her. She had told us earlier that week that she was a little nervous so I really didn't know what to expect once she got up there. She LOVES going to church and Sunday school every week, and she really loves Wednesday night choir but her shyness can sometimes get the best of her. However, it didn't get the best of her last Wednesday night! She sang at the top of her lungs and was smiling the whole time she was up there.

Shaun and I cannot say enough about our church home. We love it and want everyone we know to go there just because it has been such a a huge part of our lives. I am so thankful that our children have such an amazing church family!

Lillian is second row in the middle (purple dress)

Shaun and Simon. They are bff

Lillian and her great grandfather Joe!

As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Lifeline Fundraiser Dinner

This past Tuesday night Shaun and I got the opportunity to attend Lifeline's Annual fundraising gala. My parents actually bought a table at the event so they invited Shaun and I, Alli and Korey, my aunt and uncle and another couple that they are good friends with. Lifeline staff did an excellent job and dinner was very yummy. We hope that we will be able to attend this banquet every year. Who knows, maybe next year we will be attending it with our newly adopted little one. 

Shaun and I were especially excited that my parents where there and got the opportunity to learn more about adoption and just what an amazing ministry it truly is. They both come from a time when all adoptions where closed and very hush-hush. International adoption wasn't even heard of, and open adoptions where just crazy. It was a great chance for them to both really see where Shaun and mine's hearts have been this whole time, and I think they they both left with a better understanding of why Shaun and I have chosen to follow God's plan for us and grow our family through adoption. 

our kids insisted on jumping in the pic

dinner was yummy!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

Bus's Best Cookies

Last week we went on a tour at our local cookie factory, Bud's Best Cookies. They took us on a train all around the factory and we got to see where an how the cookies made and how they were packaged. The man who gave the tour was so nice and really great with the kids. And of course the beat part was that we got to sample fresh, yummy cookies. After the tour we even got to take a free bag of cookies and a coloring book. John Whitten liked the cookies the most and Lillian loved the coloring book.

Halloween 2012

Halloween was a lot of fun but also exhausting! We were still all recovering from John Whitten being sick and having asthma like attacks two and three times a night. We went to the Hoover Hayride on Saturday night and Lillian went to my grandparent's church's trunk or treat on Sunday night while John Whitten and I stayed home. Shaun had to work on Halloween night so the kids and I went over to trick or treat with Alli, Korey and the boys. We had a lot of fun and their neighborhood put together a great little Halloween party at their neighborhood park complete with hotdogs, chips, drinks and lots of treats and goodies. The kids had a great time playing at the park before trick or treating. Lillian was really into it this year. She loved going house to house and say, "trick or treat...happy Halloween". John Whitten thought he had to the candy the second that he got it, and that we couldn't go to the next house until he had eaten the candy he had been given at the previous house. Needless to say he was in a sugar high the rest of the night and didn't go to bed until 11:00!!

We had a great Halloween season, but I was GLAD to see it end! I am ready for thanksgiving and Christmas!

Hoover Hayride!

getting her face painted...it looked pretty cool!

John Whitten got a spider painted on his

Lillian and Jack

John Whitten and Jack

decorating halloween cookies w/ Clara

halloween story time @ the library w/ the boys

Aunt Mel and Simon

this decoration was so scary, but John Whitten LOVED it! He kept waving at it and wanted to sit next to him while he ate his snack.