July Update (Benson is here)

I just found this post that never got published. So here it is a few months late. For the update I wrote today, just scroll further down, I can't figure out how to swap them.

Benson Clyde Cox was born on July 6, 2012 at 5:39 am. He was 7 lbs 5 oz and 19 inches long. He is a sweet, quiet baby and we are settling into a routine. I am still nursing Cumorah, so I've been able to nurse him as well. They are 11 months apart. Benson waited until just after Ryan came home from the hospital and after we went to see fireworks. He was induced Thurs night, but not expected to come as fast as he did, so they gave his birth mom a sleeping pill. That made labor and delivery harder and she was worn out by the time he arrived. I was able to stay at the hospital (since I was his food source), and we were greatly blessed to have my sister-in-law Mary nearby. She helped watch Cumorah so I could be there at delivery and kept us fed at the hospital. We hope to be able to finalize the adoption in August.

Cumorah is a pro at hanging out in the hospital. Her and I stayed with Tyler in April for 5 days, with Ryan in June for 5 days, and Benson in July for 2 days. Hospitals are not much fun for a baby who wants to crawl and move, but she did really well. I hope we don't go back for a VERY long time. Ryan is recovering really well. The hardest part now is not being able to do his normal things, like carry or hold Cumorah. She is now 17.5 lbs and 28 inches long. She is crawling and pulling herself up on everything. Tyler is now just over 2 months out from surgery, but because he is healing so well, the dr. has lifted most of his restrictions. He was most excited to be able to vacuum again and now to be able to carry Cumorah. He will run his first race post surgery tomorrow.

Fall Update

Wow, where did the time go? So much has happened since I last managed to post anything. The pictures are on a couple different camera, one of which is on a campout at the moment. (The one with most of the pictures, of course). Ryan did end up having his surgery the end of June. He was in the hospital for 4 days and then came home. We were blessed and he felt better really fast, which was kind of essential since Benson was born just a couple days later. Benson is the baby boy we've adopted and I was able to be at his delivery and then stayed at the hospital with him and Cumorah so I could nurse them both. (Cumorah also stayed with me at the hospital with Tyler and Ryan, which is hard for a newly crawling baby.)

I've continued nursing them both which has been good and hard at the same time. I'm glad I don't have to deal with bottles and formula, but some days I feel like I'm nursing 24/7 and up all night.

Benson is a wonderful, sweet, happy baby. He was born July 6th. He's almost always happy, he never spits up, and loves being held. He has an adorable giggle pretty much on demand. He has big eyes and lots of dark hair.

Adam had surgery to put caps on his teeth because he was grinding them down flat. He now credits his silver teeth with everything from making him a faster runner and better at math to making him stop chewing his fingernails.

Melynda got married on August 24th to James Quintana who has 2 kids ages 6 and 8, making me a grandma. She is also expecting in March.

We finalized Benson's adoption and bought a short sale house to fix up and rent out to pay for mission in the future the same day (which also happened to be the first day of our homeschool co-op that I'm in charge of with 100+ kids to coordinate). Carpet was put in today and the fix up is now finished. YEAH!

We started back into homeschool routine. Ryan is in 7th, but taking some extra outside high school level classes that other parents are teaching. Number theory, Computer Programming, US History, and Chemistry. Tyler is 5th grade, Eli is 3rd, Jeanisha is 2nd, but works at 3rd with Eli, and Adam is K. Doing 4 levels of lessons can be a little crazy sometimes, especially with Lincoln to keep entertained and out of trouble and two babies to love and cuddle and care for. :)

Then on Oct 4, my grandpa Jack Tolman passed away and we got hit with a flu bug. We were grateful it was short and we were able to go with the kids to his funeral and celebrate his life with my cousins and extended family.

Ryan and Tyler took Hunter Education and went hunting with my dad and brothers, and Stephen. Ryan got his first deer 5 minutes from the cabin on the first day with one shot through the heart and lungs. The other 4 each got a deer as well and my brother Gary shot a bear. Overall, it was a very successful hunting trip.
 
Our Primary Program is Sunday and I'm planning a 2 week vacation to Disneyland/Southern CA in December. But once those are taken care of, life MIGHT slow down so I can add some pictures.