I have moved... to a new site

I have moved my blogging efforts to a new site.. I have neglected this one far too long and decided I needed a fresh start.  so please follow our family at:

www.bennettsthemusical.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Andrea

Yeah!!!

Just wanted to write a quick note to tell everyone that we just found out Elliot got into The Little Light House!  We had been told that there wasn't space for him this year (they have a pretty long waiting list, do to limited space)... but they called us this morning to tell us someone just told them they couldn't come!   woohoo!  Now, Elliot will be attending school Monday through Thursday 8:30-1:00. 

   For those of you who don't know about the Little Light House, it is a school for children with special needs.  He will be in a class with children his age/ability level.  He will also see therapists while he is there.  We are super excited about this opportunity for him!  Please visit their website for more information if you are interested.  www.littlelighthouse.org 

Thanks! Hope everyone is doing well!

Inconvenient

Well, it's been a while since I have really blogged and expressed opinion/realizations.. so here I go.

Mark and I were talking last night about being inconvenienced.  I am feeling very needy lately, relying on others to help me make it through the day/week...especially when Mark is out of town.  I hate having to rely on others for my sanity, but Mark pointed out that if I/we wanted to stay sane in this life that we were going to have to rely on our friends and family to make it.  And that yes, we will inconvenience people along the way.  That got me thinking... life in general is inconvenient.  I grew up going to Colorado twice a year to visit my mom's parents, once in the summer and once in the winter... and I am pretty sure that was not convenient for my parents, especially when we were in a car that couldn't even make it half way sometimes.  But it was family that we were visiting, and also our family vacation.. and that cancelled out the inconvenience.   I think that is one of the most important things I have learned from my family... that when it comes to family and friends.. inconvenience doesn't matter.  You love them and we have to make sacrifices for those we love to help carry their burden and make it through this life together.  My sister lives in Texas with four kids.. they visit as often as their crazy schedule allows and my parents though both working full time still make time to visit them and see ball games and dance recitals.  Inconvenient? Yes! But does it matter? NO! It's family.   Practial? heck no! But it's family.  For a friends example... My friend's son, Rowin's friend, had a birthday party a few months ago back in Arkansas and we went... inconvenient? yes, but they are our friends it didn't matter.. and we have inconvenienced them many times (even if we hadn't we still would have gone). 

 (I am typing this right next to Rowin playing the drums to his favorite cd.. so forgive me for the rambling ;) )   I think my point if you haven't gotten it is that life is inconvenient especially in the crappy times- our loved ones don't ever pass on at a convenient time do they?  Babies are born early, in the middle of the night... kids get sick, your husband has to go out of town at the last minute for his job when gas is a freakin fortune!  I think we waste more energy trying not to be inconvenienced sometimes than just accepting it.   

 Well, if I am going to be inconvenienced.. I think I would prefer to be inconvenienced by my loved ones and close friends... it doesn't always seem like an inconvenience... sometimes I may pout or cry, but I usually don't even blink, but just go with the flow and accept it and do what they need. 

Hope everyone is doing well, I thought the picture above was appropriate for the topic ;)

Gone Fishin'

Well, sorry it's been a while... Mark is super busy, and I have not been up to bloggin... considering I am feeling like a big blog! hehe. We are 26 almost 27 weeks.. and it's a GIRL! Maggie! woohoo! :) Here are some recent pics of the boys.  Rowin got to go fishin with Peepaw and Uncle Johnny and Daddy and showed them all up with his first fish! No joke! Rowin caught this fish!

Rowin caught that fish with a piece of cheese! who knew?! He then caught a perch with nothing on his hook! a natural fisherman! :) 

Here are some cute pics of Elliot eating prunes and smiling! I will have to capture his cheesy face on camera to show you how much of a ham he is turning into. 

Those eyes are just too much! 

Elliot is scooting and rolling everywhere!  He is still having some weight gain/eating issues, but hopefully we are about to pass all of that.  The baby is coming and he knows he's going to have to step it up ;) hehe.  Also, Elliot is working on standing! and doing a darn good job of it.  He loves his Johnny Jumper and is now catching some air as he bounces along. 

Rowin is 3 going on 12.. he thinks he is so big.  He is hitting the snot out of the ball with a baseball bat. It doesnt matter if the ball is a stuffed animal and the bat is a vaccum cleaner hose.. he makes contact.  My favorite those is pretend baseball... much safer, and nothing gets broken.  Rowin thinks that Maggie is going to have brown eyes, because "geerrls have brown eyes, and boys have blue eyes". 

Well, I better go.. the boys are restless and Mark is out of town.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

Bennetts haven't blogged in a while:

Sorry we've been busy!  Here is an update of what we have been up to since our last blog...

1. Springtime is wonderful in Tulsa!  Rowin is enjoying our backyard and neighborhood every day-- playing all over ever corner of our yard with every type of ball he can find.  He loves baseball and soccer with daddy, but also he is having a blast playing with his imagination.. toy dinosaurs, action figures and his favorite, going on "tiger hunts".  Pretty funny!  You would be surprised to see how many places a Big Scawwy Tiger can appear during playtime wtih RowRow... its hilarious. 

Rowin is still very much enjoying his little preschool, and play time with other 3-year-old friends.  We are starting to be able to have friends over a little more and Rowin is at the age where playtime with friends is critical.  Its fun to watch. 

Elliot is getting some significant time outside finally, cause he can play in his 'johnny jumper' and what not on our back porch.  Pretty nice :) 

Best part about Spring for me, (mark) is the Bennett Ranch.. I have been able to spend some great afternoons and mornings at the farm with JP, my dad and granpa, and of course, with RowRow.  Its been a great place to reconnect with the outdoors and unwind, appreciate my heritage, and just enjoy God's creation.  If you haven't appreciated the outdoors lately, I strongly recommend you find a way to connect!

2. Weight gain issues have been a concern for little Elliot.  If you remember we switched to lactose-free formula (Nutramagen) in January, because Elliot was developing allergies to to milk.  That has been working fine, but, now the numbers aren't adding up.  Elliot weight has leveled out such that now he's way off the growth charts -- stink! 

Well a couple things factor in to this.. first is that Elliot has RSV in february which put him back on oxygen for a while-- it is understandable that he didn't gain weight during that time.  Secondly, Elliot had some kind of stomach bug a few weeks ago that was rough on his system.  Don't forget he had his colon surgically removed last fall, so, every time he pukes, we... well we get tummy xrays and stool samples and have to be sure there isn't scar tissue or something obstructing his system... its unnerving. 

Well all his doctors are taking a special interest in getting his weight gain back on track, so, we will keep you posted.  Probably a new formula coming soon, and new mixtures from the nutrition specialists.  Whew!

3.  We're pregnant, in case you missed that memo...  Yeeehaw!!!  Due in October.. what do you think, is our third little boy on the way, or, a little girl..?

We will try to post some pictures here in the next couple days.  Elliot has grown and learned all sorts of new skills, and Rowin has had a growth spurt recently too.  The house has some new paint in a few places and other odds and ends, so we need to show some of that off.  Its just life as usual with little boys! 

Anyway, talk at ya later,

-Mark, Andrea, Rowin, Elliot, and... any advice on what to name our next little one?  ;)