Head Above Water....?

I know, I know. It's been a long time since I have updated. Sorry. Things have been quite hectic around the Stephens' household over the past few months.
I'll begin by saying I hope everyone stuffed themselves for Thanksgiving, received everything they wanted for Christmas and rang in the New Year on a good note!
I know the last time I updated Zach had been sick a lot. Well, that continued....through Christmas. We had our first real asthma attack (not fun) and found that he is allergic (highly sensitive)to a few foods. He also still isn't really talking, which puts him a little behind for his age. So, long story short; we had tubes put in his ears on 1.08.08 and I took a FMLA leave of absence from my job starting 12.27.07. Since those two things happened we now have a different child. He is starting to talk and for the first time since OCTOBER, he has gone more than 10 days without an ear infection. We are weaning him off of his steroids and introducing some of the foods that we had to avoid only a few months ago. We (his MANY doctor's and I) think that his little system was just so weak that any and every little thing made him sick and being in a daycare was the worst thing for him. We still have to be careful around food and watch him closely if he gets a cold, but it's no longer PANIC PANIC PANIC on a daily basis. This is good, so good Im thinking about staying at home on a permanent basis.
Lacey is doing well. She will be 4 tomorrow. I can't believe it. It seems like I just blinked my eyes and she went from being Zach's age to 4 whole years old! She loves me being at home, but I am searching for a church pre-school of some sort. The girl is busy...and very social. She needs an outlet. She is still very much a Daddys girl!! She also loves her little dogs. The boy, Drake, is still small. She carries him around like he is her baby. I think he thinks he a baby too because he never runs from her, he always comes to her. He also loves snuggling up with her when she lays him down in the midst of all of her baby dolls at nap time. It is just the cutest thing. Boxers and children are made for one another and it is so sweet to watch.
Andy and I are doing really well. I am a little bummed about what is going on with my job. I am first and foremost a mother and a wife, but following closely is an independent woman who enjoys working. I have a great job. The pay is outstanding and the people are great. I know it like the back of my hand. But when I see the difference I make in my sons health by staying at home, none of it matters. Staying at home is a little bit of a challenge for me. I like to stay busy and I like to get things done. You can only mop the floors so many times, ya'll. I have created little projects to do around the house and I make sure that we get out of the house (even if its just to go to the post office) at least once a day. A month into it and it seems to be working. Im very grateful I have this option, and while my mind isnt made up yet (I have 12 weeks) Im leaning towards staying at home. I think I may even start back to school. Im only 25. Still plenty of time to get my education, right? Ive got the time and scholarships, why not? Anyways, I always wanted to make sure I received some sort of higher education degree for the kids. Statistics show that if you went to college, you children are more likely to also.Andy is very happy with his decision to change jobs. Right now he is working out of town a lot, but the pay and the hours are good and thats what we need. Since I am not working, we are able to take little trips to visit him. He also brought me home a present a couple of weeks ago. He gave us a sweet little puppy, a boxer to be exact. She was a runt and no one wanted her. Andy has always loved Boxers and he has been on the lookout for one for a while now. A week later he brought another one home. This time it was a boy. Andy has decided he would like to maybe breed them one day. Im ALL for it. I love dogs. Boxers are one of my favorite breeds too. So right now Im here with two kids and two puppies. Add to that, one little boy who I am starting to potty train and two puppies that I am trying to house train. So I am VERY busy. ALL the time. It bugs me when people ask me what it is I do all day. And no, I don't watch Oprah thank you very much. :)
Hopefully that catches everyone up. If you think about it when you say your prayers, pray for us. We have been searching for an answer on what to do with my job. Given the state of the economy it is, quite frankly, very stupid to GIVE up a good job. We also hope that Zachs tubes STAY in his ears and he continues to get better!

Overdues....

Well, I see once again I let too much time go by before doing an update. Not too much to update here.
Zach turned 1 year old on 9.18. Poor thing. He was sick, for literally, a month. Including his birthday. We also found out the hard way that he is allergic to eggs. Well, we think. We still have to take him for allergy testing to be sure. So we didnt do a birthday cake for him. :( I felt so bad. We also didn't really do a party. He was so sick and I had missed so much work. I know he doesn't care, but I feel guilty. Maybe we will just do a HUGE 2nd birthday party to make up for it. I might even learn how to bake a cake with those fake eggs.
He has decided his new favorite thing is to hit and bite. This is new to me. Lacey never really did that. He only really bites at school. He hits at home, and we are working on that, but he and Lacey play so rough sometimes...

Lacey is doing well in school. She had a small little stint where she was talking too much and getting into trouble. I would rather have that personally. Not a big fan of biting or hitting. She, of course, is one of the brightest in the class. She loves to go to "her school". She has made some "best friends". Lexi, Joycee and Lacey are inseparable. She has, knock on wood, managed to dodge being as sick as Zach has been. Actually, she hasnt been to the doctor at all in months. They say it takes two years in the daycare system for a child to get their immunity up to where it needs to be. I guess they are right. Lacey has been in day cares for right about two years now. She is still a sweetie, but growing so fast. She isnt even 4 yet and 4t clothes are too small. Her little feet are a size TEN. She defiantly will not get my small feet. Her vocabulary has just taken off. She likes to talk and talk. She gets up talking and goes to bed talking. I love to hear her little voice and all of her ideas, but I gotta be honest. When she is telling me all about her pop tarts first thing in the morningI want to turn her volume down.

Andy started a new job. He had been at his old company for 8 years, so it was a really big decision for him. He gets job offers from other construction companies about every 6 months or so. He is one of the best foremen in the state for in his line of work. He is very loyal and he is a little older. He didnt want to loose his tenure and have to start over somewhere only to find out it was a mistake. The new job offered the same health insurance, ect. They also provide him with a F450, a gas card and a raise. That truck and gas alone is a major expense that is gone. Gas prices are outrageous. He and I both drive a lot of miles, so it adds up quick. We also were able to scale back to one car. Its a sacrifice, but if that is all we NEED then that is what we should have, you know? Maybe once we can get these kids out of the outrageously expensive daycares, we can buy another car. Actually, we could buy three for what we pay monthly. He has been at his new job for right at a month now. He said it is the best career decision he thinks he has ever made. I am very proud of him. He is such a great husband and dad. He has a HUGE job in Atlanta that they are working on right now. Right at 13th, 14th and Piedmont. Right around the corner from me. His hours you ask? Sunday through Monday 7:30 am to 10:00Pm. He only has had to work those hours once or twice, but hes been putting in a ton of time at work. Right now he works until the job is doneno matter how late. It could really open a lot of doors for them. A downtown Atlanta job is a major job. He cant make any mistakes. Hes been doing really well! He has managed to finish his bores ahead of schedule so far. He put in 60 hours on the clock last week. Then the commute is somewhere around an hour to an hour and a half. And he didnt have to work the weekend. On top of all that, he got sick back when Zach was so sick. He was just starting to really get over it this week, but had to work out in the pouring rain on Monday and Tuesday. I felt really bad for him. I know hell recover and be okay. So basically, things have been going really well for him.

I have nothing really new to report. Things at work are getting better. They finally got rid of that idiot manager that we had. Sadly it was only after he had wreaked havoc on everyone for a year. Our moral is just awful. We have a new manager that is great. Hes also a sales manager and has been with the company for a long time. He is changing a lot of things and isnt really sparing anyones feelings. He is very dont take it personal, its business kind of guy. I like it, but it also makes me nervous. I know I am valuable at the company, but the kids get sick a lot. Especially Zach. I missed close to a whole month of work with him in September. I dont think things would really change, but I dont know. Next time, because I am sure there will be a next time, when I am out a lot because of one of the kids being sick, he may just decide to replace me with someone who doesnt have kids. Maybe not. He is so friendly and genuine and asks me about the kids frequently. I know when we first found out he would be taking over the dept he called a meeting and sincerely asked about the kids and told me that he wouldnt want me to work with him if the kids werent my most important priority. So maybe hell stick this winter flu season out with me and the kids. If not, itll be fine. Im sure of it. Andy working so many hours is really worn me out. I already have to get the kids up every morning, but now I am rushing to the daycare to pick them up, give them baths, feed them, wash dishes, pack diaper bags, pack book bags, laundry, ect. Whew. Just thinking about it wears me out. Poor Andy is just as tired. Ive decided I am going to try to get this house decorated and more like a home. When we moved in I was already pregnant and since then, with two kids and a full time job I havent really had that much time to paint or decorate. Not sure what I am going to do, but as soon as I get it done, I might just take some pictures and post them up here. See what everyone thinks.
I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all. I hope you have a wonderful November!!

Paul Harvey

Words for my children by Paul Harvey:

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated and that you learn honesty by
being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed, mow the lawn
and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new
car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you
can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get
a black eye for fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you
have to share a bedroom with each other at some point. And it's all right
if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when one of
you wants to crawl under the covers with with the other because
you are afraid, I hope you let him.

If you want a slingshot, I
hope your Daddy teaches you how to make one instead of buying
one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read
books.

When you learn to use computers I hope you also learn to add
and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends
when you have your first crush on a boy/girl.

I don't care if you
try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.

I sure hope
you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma and go fishing with your
Grandpa.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the
holidays.

These things I wish for you - tough times and
disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to
appreciate life. Written with a pen; sealed with a kiss. I'm here
for you.