Family Time

We are so, so grateful for all of the support from family and friends during this time. We had such an abundance of food, surely we won't have to cook or grocery shop for the next month. It is always so nice to see family from far away and know that they have dropped everything to be there for us. Thanks to all who came, it was much appreciated and needed!Here is Aunt Joanne and Trav cleaning up after one of many meals.

Dad and siblings
Callie warmed up to Abby and Natalie and couldn't stop hugging and kissing on them, oh and patting their backs. Thanks girls for putting up and helping out with the kids!



Always good to see my aunts!

Wrestling and Spinning

I'm not sure about this new game that Tyler and Shane decided to play with the kids- Swinging them around by their feet. Of course they loved it but all I could picture was heads slamming into walls...

Cade getting a little rough...


Everyone thought is was so funny to spin them around and then watch them walk. Cheap entertainment I guess...

Playing Wtih Cousins At The Park

It was a cold weekend but we tried to get out of the house a little bit. Our Iowa cousins didn't quite think it was as cold as we thought it was.Cade watching intently as Abby and Natalie swing around.
Thanks to Abby, Natalie, Mary and Amy for helping chase my kids around the park!

Stuck In Bryson's Bumbo

Big Momma

Callie has always doted on Emily. She loves to drag her around, sit her down, and bring her things. She gets frustrated with her and yells when she doesn't listen. She has always bossed around Cade as well and is always the first to yell at him when he gets out of line. Bryson is her newest baby. She loves him and has to take constant care of him. She is always yelling "paci, paci" whether he is crying or not and shoving a dirty paci in his mouth. She always wants to hold him and burp him. She colors in front of him in his bumbo so he can see. She keeps a burp rag handy to wipe up spit up or "bubbles." In fact sometimes I think she is calling him bubbles. She is so funny and this week she earned the name "big momma." Here she is caring for her baby.
No Bryson, you need your paci

covering him up with his blankey...
poor Bryson wants to get back to Kansas where there are no big mommas.

We miss cuddling with Bryson in the mornings!

Nursing Home Stay...

Cade had to stay one night in the nursing home to qualify for medicaid. It is a confusing process but I am glad we found this little loop hole. Well last Monday night, Cade and I filled the nursing home requirement. We drove all the way to Kileen together and stayed at this run down nursing home. The people were really nice and Cade loved them. He looked like he was campaigning for mayor walking through the dining hall (his new thing is shaking hands.) The old people thought he was beautiful! I didn't take pics of the elderly shaking hands with Cade. It would have been hilarious for ya'll to see but I didn't want to offend them.He kept wanting to go out of our room and socialize. I just wanted to hide out in our room and watch the Bachelor until it was all over.
The nice ladies at the nursing home gave him a box of toys to play with. Guess what he played with for an hour...
It was nice to spend the day with Cade. We went shopping and out to eat together.

Missing Rachel

We will forever miss Rachel. My kids will always know about her. They will always know there should be another smiling cousin to play with. That she loved them and they brightened her day when she couldn't even get off the couch. They will always know they have their own special Angel looking out for them. But we will always miss her. And I pray the emptiness we feel now will be filled with happiness for her, that she is with God, laughing and playing and not hurting anymore. I can still hear her voice and her laugh and I hope that never fades. We can't wait to see her again.
I am so thankful that the kids do not understand. They have made the past 2 weeks bearable with their smiling faces. This was last week when we were taking turns watching them and being with Rach, Amy and Michael at the hospital...
Ty Ty was a little overwhelmed
Thanks to everyone who helped out and everyone who offered to help!

Our Angel

And this was the day we promised her to God...

Pray For Rachel!

Check out what's going on with my poor little niece on my sister's blog...
http://jostfamily.blogspot.com.

Send Off For Rach

Make A Wish had a send off party for Rachel at Chuck-E-Cheese (oh yes, at that place again) on Friday night. Callie was so excited she screamed "E-cheese" the whole way to San Antonio. Here she is dancing with Emily and dragging her all around.
Rach enjoyed herself and watched everything but she was really tired.
Thanks Uncle Blaine...






Callie has her "toat" on and she's ready to go.