A Restfull Night Before the Twins

Cox Hospital provides one of the best patient services I have ever heard of within a health care system..... a hotel within the hospital. Now I know what you are thinking, what kind of a hotel could be in in a hospital??? Let me tell you, this place was very nice, not like a hospital room but actually like a hotel room. Kristy had no idea what I had up my sleeve when I asked for her parents to bring her to the hospital. The fact of the matter was that I could foresee that she would be under allot of stress following the arrival of our twins and this would be the last night that she could get some rest. So her parents brought her to the hospital and I led them up into the hotel.

Before they arrived I decorated the room in pink and blue to commemorate the big occasion.

So we let Kristy get some rest early on in the evening and her Dad and I went to the local auto auction. After the auction I, and I alone, returned to the room where I ensured that Kristy got a well deserved night of rest. After all the Twins were scheduled to arrive the next day at Noon.

Kristy was certainly in high spirits as we slipped into bed for our last night as parents of 2. The next day our joy would be fulfilled with twice as many.....

Transition Item

According to certain theories of psychology a transition item serves to assist an individual with a dramatic life change. The item serves as a means to assist in coping with the many adjustments that will be a result of the life change. In terms of our situation, while Mommy and Daddy are busy with the twins, Molly and Neleha will be busy with their transition item. At least that is the plan......

Thanks to our local Sam's Club we were able to purchase this very unique cabin style playhouse. Having Dale, Tove and Gary here to help me put it together was most welcomed. Relatively, it went together pretty quick, especially the roof, of course it had begun to rain and Gary, Tove and myself didn't feel like taking a warm Missouri shower if you know what I mean. The kids loved it and we got it just days prior to Kristy's scheduled delivery, perfect timing for a transition item.

Earlier.......

The Silence is Broken

After one of the craziest years of our life we are back and roaring on through our journey of life. The delay of chronicle entries came soon after I was elected student council president at my graduate school. Although the experience has been very enjoyable and fulfilling it certainly came with a great time commitment. Along with the extra responsibilities of the council, Kristy and I learned that we were expecting our third child. We were most excited but also a bit apprehensive about our financial situation as we were living on student loans and a work study I was fulfilling at my academic library. So I re-entered the work force as a supervisor with an agency that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. The extra money and health insurance certainly has come in handy, especially when we learned our third child was actually our third and fourth child. TWINS!!!!! Certainly a good thing that I got a job, for sure. Along the way Molly and Neleha have also been keeping us on our toes with all sorts of little adventures of their own.

That pretty much catches you up to present day. I have not officially blogged within this forum since May 2007. I will, slowly, enter and upload late entries regarding our crazy year. For now however, onward we go. Hopefully steadily as well, from a family of 4 to a family of 6 ...... the best of times are ahead!

Loretta Lynn at the RFD-TV Theater

For Mother's Day I got Kristy tickets to a Loretta Lynn concert in Branson at the newly opened RFD-TV theater. Loretta Lynn is kind of Kristy's inspiration when it comes to singing, and Kristy loves to sing. So I thought that it would be important to seize this opportunity for her see her inspiration live in concert. After all Loretta is not getting any younger.

I found it kind of amusing to see all these tractors outside of the theater, especially these old Allis Chalmers which I am sure Kristy's grandpa could appreciate.

Kristy got all dolled up for me and Loretta and we headed south to Branson. As often as we have come to Branson this was the actual first known musical artist that we had come to see. I am sure Kristy would not have had it any other way. Kristy was so beautiful and so happy as we approached the theater, she was like a kid in a candy store.

The first thing we did was grab a few snap shots of Loretta's bus, this certainly started the nights experience out right.

Loretta had a couple opening acts including her youngest two daughters also known as the Lynns. They sang their hearts out but they certainly have a ways to go to fill their Momma's shoes. It was enjoyable all the same to listen to the next generation of the Lynn family.

Loretta Lynn may have some years behind her but she can still sing her heart out like she was a young girl back in the Opre for the first time. She hit the stage singing her hits that everyone knows and loves. The filled theater was a good indicator of how well she has held her fan base through the years but I must admit, I think Kristy and I were the youngest people in the audience.

After her first set of songs they brought out a very nicely decorated rocking chair and that is from where Loretta sang up until the very last set of songs for the night. I guess when you have sung as long as she has in front of audiences you have earned the right to sit on the job.

We had such a wonderful time together enjoying the genuine songs from a genuine American entertainer.

Kristy's face lit up so brightly as she watched and listened as Loretta sang her songs and cracked jokes left and right. After the concert we tried to get an autograph but unfortunately Loretta went right to her bus. We even stood outside of her bus with a handful of other hopeful fans but after a while we all realized that at her age you deserve a full nights rest and so we understood and slowly dispersed. In the end my sweetheart and I had a wonderful night together and were most pleased to share it with the First Lady of Country Music, Mrs. Loretta Lynn.

Dinner for two at Backyard Burger---$17

2 tickets to a sold out Loretta Lynn Concert in Branson---$90

Being able to watch my beautiful sweetheart smile and laugh for an entire evening---priceless

Kindergarten Field Trip to the Nature Center

Molly had the wonderful opportunity to visit our local Nature Center as a end of the year field trip with her Kindergarten class. It is so hard to believe that Molly's first year of school is quickly drawing to a close.

Kristy was able to tag along with Molly's class and Molly buddied up with her best friend, Aaliyah as they explored the Nature Center.

Their tour included actual interactions with animals and all sorts of creatures that live within the center.

The kids had such a wonderful time learning about the lives of animals and insects.

Not only did they learn much but they also got to play much. The Nature Center provides so many fun things for kids to do.

Kristy had such a wonderful time following Molly and Aaliyah around as they learned and played.

Molly displayed her vivid imagination as she donned this antler and pretended to be a deer.

It is so joyful to watch how excited children can be over learning new things about the world around them.

Molly's field trip proved to be an awesome opportunity to spend some last moments with her Kindergarten friends and to learn much about nature and the world around her.