Little Clancy

Here's a recent favorite picture of mine...

This is last Tuesday at Altru.  Clancy had to put on a hospital gown because he had an MRI.  He was born with a sacral dimple.  I don't know all the technical terms, nor do I want to, so here's just what I know and have experienced through all of this.  He was born with a sacral dimple.  At the top of each child's butt is a little dimple...instead of being closed like most other kids', Clancy's is an open hole.  When he was about a month old, we did an ultrasound to see if it was open all the way to his spine or if it was closed.  We didn't find out because he was a squirmy baby that day, and they were a little worried about the bottom of his spinal cord. They thought it might be tethered.  So, they told us that we'll do an MRI when he's 6 months old, see what we find out, and go from there. If it's open/there are problems with his spinal cord, there would be surgery.  If it's closed and all looks well with the spinal cord, nothing would happen.  Well, after a stressful day at Altru (stressful for me...just worries and whatnot), we went home to wait for results.

Wednesday evening the doctor called to say that all is well. He's completely normal, won't have developmental issues related to his spine, and his sacral dimple will eventually just close up.

We're so thankful that all is well and that our little boy is completely healthy.  How lucky and blessed we've been with all our children.

Praise God!

Babies, Babies, Babies

We're full of life here at our farm...so many adorable babies here...cute kid babies, cute calf babies, and Cliff's favorite, cute little lambs!
Here are some fun pictures of the babies that have made their way into my basement...sorry for the messes you see...it's just a storage/work space, not a great place to hang out.

Clancy had to come down to the basement to help daddy feed and warm up our first set of twins!

He's so good at what he does.

Hey, Clancy...he wanted to show off the new babies.

And then we got baby lambs.  I know what you're thinking...in my house? I promise it wasn't for days or anything...just the first night.  Cliff's in heaven.  The sheep are his favorite. They're the first thing he thinks about in the morning, and he loves playing with them outside. Sheep are perfect for little kids...they follow them around like puppies, but don't jump on kids or knock them over.  Cliff has become a very dedicated little farmer.

Two new babies from this last week when we got a bunch more snow...this is Matt's NICU.

Warming up the baby by giving it some milk, drying it off, and putting the heater on it.

Cliff's been getting better at helping out with Clancy. He liked when I'd put Clancy beside his farm on the floor; he'd hand him a cow to play with every once in a while.

My little kitchen helpers.  They're always willing to lend a hand.

Cliff loves laying next to his sweet baby brother; most of the time he's really nice.

And you don't see many pictures of Clarence...this is because:

• He is in Kindergarten
• the minute he's off the bus, he changes into play clothes and he's outside until he gets hungry or tired
• he doesn't really like me taking pictures of him
• It's hard for me to run outside and take random pictures of him because of the people in the house

Clarence has been busy this winter; most days, even on the really cold ones, he'd spend outside.  He's a great help for Matt...he opens gates and keeps animals in the pens while Matt feeds; he loves having bottle calves and likes to go out and feed them in the barn, and he's really big on finding his chicken eggs again in hopes of finding a lot so he can sell them.  I tell them if he finds them and washes them, he can sell them (unless I'm out in the house).  This is all the motivation he needs.

Hope you're all having a super night!

Oh, and had to share...On our walk tonight, Clarence had to bring a grocery bag.  He's really into picking up garbage and saving the Earth.  

He told me, "Mom, only Kindergarteners save the Earth. We're the only ones who pick garbage up." 

I said, "Oh, that's so great of you. Thanks for helping out."

He replied, "Yeah, we're learning about it in school, and it's so bad to throw your garbage out."

He loves saving the Earth.  I'm so proud of him. He'd stop his bike for every scrap of garbage he found, and came home with a grocery bag full.  Please don't throw your garbage out into the ditches.  Clarence and the Earth thank you!

The House Project

Here are some photos of the inside work we've done on the house....we're done with the downstairs now, and love having the extra space.

As you will see, we had a lot of great help.

The addition looking at the original house and into our old living room.

Opposite of above...old living room looking out into addition.

We took out the window and part of the wall to make one big opening.

Ripping all the old plaster and lat board (sp?) out of the old living room...what a mess!

Only the beginning of a big mess!

Such good help...they ripped out tons of nails and helped pick up the garbage.

This was after Matt finished with the ceiling.

All the kids loved helping with the project.

So cute!  They had to wear masks when Matt was sheetrocking and sanding.

Adina's a climber...we couldn't keep her off the ladders or scaffolding.

Almost done with the ceiling...it was so high right there in the middle...I was very scared having to help with that last board in the middle.

The old living room and the furniture uncovered after about 2 months of living pretty much only in the kitchen.

Hi Matt!

Laying the floor in the new living room...again, great help!

The old living room now complete as a play room...so nice!

The new living room...Adina received a pile of new clothes last night and we had to look through it all right away! She's having fun changing outfits today.

More angles...

\From the front door looking back at the old living room.

Last one...

A Snowy Day and My House

What a beautiful snow we're having today!   I love the weather we've had so far this winter - not too much snow, not too many cold days...

Clifford and I are sitting here eating lunch...Clarence is at school, Clancy's taking a rare nap, and Adina and Matt just left for town to bring her to preschool.   I thought I'd take a moment to update, since it's been a month now that I've written again.  Here are some pictures of what's going on at our house: an addition!  We decided in August or so to add on quickly before winter.  Thanks, Mark, for your awesome help!  It's a family room with a big deck on the east and south sides.  The old living room will just be a piano/play room for now with hopes of someday turning into my kitchen...all in due time, I guess.

Matt ripped the rotten deck off the house with the tractor.

No more deck.

Getting ready for cement

Putting plywood up on the outside...can't say that I helped much...I just made a lot of meals for the guys.

Came home from hockey practice one night to find this...it was sure cold in the house that night!

This is Matt and Mark shingling on a warmer day in early winter.  Now it's all closed in, all the windows are in, and it's opened up to the old part of the house.  I'll post pictures of what it looks like on the inside some other day.

Other than working on the addition, we've been feeding cows every day, Matt's gone fishing a couple times, we're running to hockey practice and a few jamborees, and just enjoying being home with our fun kiddos.

Have a wonderful day!

Yep, I'm Already 4 Months Old!

Hi, My name is Clar.....er Cliff.....er Clancy!  Ha.  Mom and Dad do that a lot, it seems.

My name is Clancy Lowell Robert and I was born September 8th...4 months ago, and Mom hasn't written a word about me.  She's pretty busy, usually busy holding me and doing something else.  That's why you haven't heard much about me.  Well, in honor of me turning 4 months old, she's doing it...writing about me... and, guess what?  She even had me weighed this week.  She's trying to stay on top of things. ;)

Here are some facts about me:

• My siblings love me
• Adina does everything she can to help Mom out with me...she pushes me in my swing, talks right in my face, sings to me, bounces me, holds me  (for 10 seconds max), etc.  She's a great big sister and I love her a lot.
• Clifford loves me too. Sometimes he shares his cows with me. Sometimes he gives me a fast, hard ride in my swing.  Sometimes he pushes my bouncy seat all the way to the floor, then lets go to see how high I bounce.  Mom keeps a close watch on me when Cliff's around.  He's a fun brother and likes to hold me (2 second max) a lot, too. 
• Clarence is really busy...He loves me and he loves his farm life. He talks to me and hugs me every once in a while, and tells Mom, "Clancy's really cute."  However, Clarence is busy with life.  He goes to school every day, then when he comes home, he plays outside or with his cows up in his room, or he's hungry, or he has to be read to, or he falls asleep REALLY early...like at 6 or 7 pm.  
• I weigh 17 lbs. 9 oz. 
• this means that I love mealtime.  
• Mom notices weekly that I don't lose weight, I gain it. I'm wearing 6 and 9 month clothes.  I'm really happy that Auntie Nikki bought me some new clothes for Christmas because the clothes my brothers wore were looking a little stained and ragged.
• I like to be held
• A Lot.
• Because I like to be held a lot, Mom's noticed that I've used all the baby accessories we have way more than the others (in an effort to distract me from being held)......the johnny jump-up (which I can only be in when Clifford's sleeping), the swing (my favorite), my bouncy seat (which I like less and less each day, unless Adina's playing next to me), and my Bumbo (my least favorite...I just feel stuck).
• I have slept through the night
• a month or so ago...not recently, though.  I miss my mom during the night, so we've been pretty close lately.
• I like to smile a lot....

Here are a few pics of me:

I worked really hard this day!

Yesterday...4 months old!

Have a nice day!

Love, 

Clancy