Stormy Weather Ahead.........

Well, it's been a very long time since my last post. We have been crazy busy around the Robert's house the last couple of months. The holidays are always busy, but we celebrate 7 different birthdays of immediate family members between the months of November and January. Four of those are in my house!! Since my last post Cliff turned 35, Rhys turned 4, Maggie turned 1, and Turner turned 8!! Looking back on last year...I just wonder where the time has gone. We have all taken a beating with colds and ear infections this winter. I am definitely looking forward to warmer weather to come. Turner is about to finish with basketball season and Rhys is about to start baseball/Tball. Maggie insists on breaking in 4-5 teeth at a time these days so she is very restless at night. It's been so much fun watching each child become their own.....their own distinct personalities and facial expressions. They are all sooooo very different, but similar in some ways. I have completely enjoyed Maggie's first year. I was able to take advantage of the first three months of her life and stay home with her (thanks Cliff). It has been as close to "normal" as I could have hoped for. I "missed" that with Turner because of his heart surgery and all the weeks in the hospital and MD appointments for the next year. It didn't slow him down, but it slowed me down quite a bit!! Rhys was this beautiful healthy chunky little boy! He didn't have any problems; however, I had some medical issues during our maternity leave so I couldn't thoroughly enjoy our time off together. He is such a loving child (physically and mentally challenging, but loving)! So Maggie and I had the opportunity to really enjoy our time together. She is such a spunky little thing. I do believe she is going to give all of us a run for our money! We are excited about what the Lord has in store for us in the future years to come. So, regarding the weather forecast in the title......Maggie was born with an enlarged right kidney. All hopes and prayers were that it would resolve itself without intervention. It has not. So last week following a renal scan (which is a lot of fun with a 1 year old, but I do not recommend running out and doing it), it was determined that Maggie needed surgery to remove the blocked section of her right ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder). This is scheduled for March 19. We will be in the hospital about 3 days, so if anyone is in the area, we would love to see a friendly face. We KNOW everything is going to be okay. We have been rushed with memories of Turner's surgery, hospitals, doctors, needles, holding baby down.......the storm. We know it's coming, we are preparing, we don't want it to come, we're gonna get wet....we would rather stay nice and dry and warm! We know we have to do this or it will mess up her kidney.....we just don't wanna! We know for a fact without a shadow of a doubt that..."The Will of God will never take us where the Grace of God will not protect us." So just be thinking about us the next month.....we need calmness and peace..............Have a wonderful 2009! I know we will!

Thankful for.....

Wow! I cannot believe it is Thanksgiving already!! I am thankful for so many things.....here are 10 of those things on my list:
1. My Savior
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Church
5. Mexican food
6. Massage therapists
7. Irish tea
8. Disposable diapers
9. Dansko shoes
10. Daycare.....and the teachers because without them I would have never
seen my baby boy do this:

Don't worry, I was in your shoes....I had no idea what he was saying (he is also worried that he is going to miss his cartoon). The song is:

Albuquerque is a turkey and he's feathered and he's fine and he wobbles and he gobbles and he is a friend of mine. He's the best pet that you can get better than a dog or cat. He's my Albuquerque turkey and I'm might proud of that!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Rhys and Reese!

This week we celebrated Rhys' 4th birthday on the 17th. It is an emotional time in so many ways. My baby boy is growing up.....he's 4 years old! I remember when we found out. It was so exciting. We had moved back home to Tennessee less than a year prior to finding out and really had been through a lot (relatively speaking). So this was exciting times for us. Turner was 3 and would be almost 4 when this baby came. We had made some friends where we had moved from who also had a son Turner's age. So it was even more exciting to find out they were also pregnant with their second child. We didn't talk daily but we kept in touch. We were even brave enough to put on bathing suits that summer together at her mother's pool to catch up on our son's and baby/pregnancy stuff. It was really fun to be pregnant with a friend (I was about 1 month ahead of her). At no point did we ever discuss baby names....ever. Then we found out what we were having and decided on names. We were talking on the phone and it was at that point we found out that she was having a girl and naming her Reese. I was having a boy and naming him Rhys. Isn't that weird?? We couldn't believe it....we laughed and of course griped about normal pregnancy stuff.
Well, time passed and it was time for my Rhys to come on Nov. 17th. Scary and exciting times!!! We called everybody that was on our list.....exciting times. We brought our precious little baby home on the 20th. Later that night my friends mom called us to let us know that baby Reese had died and was born on this day. This is a dark day.....how could this happen....why would this happen....my heart was heavy with saddness, frustration, guilt (for having this perfect little baby to hold).....so many emotions....I couldn't stop crying....not for me, for my friend. There just isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about her and her family to this day. I think about her just about everytime I look at my Rhys when he's playing or pestering his brother......when he's in trouble (which has probably saved his hiney a few times). My friend has been blessed with another beautiful little girl since then. I stand amazed how she has allowed God to work in her life through this tragedy! She has truly been an inspiration to me and many around her. I use to think...."how do you over something like that??"......it wasn't until recently when another friend lost her husband tragically (he was in his 20's and their baby was only 6 months old).....that I realized that you NEVER get over something like that....you just have to let God carry you through it. He promises that He will, you just have to be willing to give it up to Him. These two friends are doing that and God is AMAZING. I can just see Him up in Heaven tapping every passer by ...."Hey...come her....you see that woman...yes, that one....she's Mine...look at her shine in My Glory, look at her....." He must be beaming with pride when he sees my friends.......just like a proud Father. When I lost my dog this summer...it hurt, I was sad.....but (and this is gonna sound weird) it made all of these feelings more significant.....when my friend who lost her husband told me how sorry she was for my loss I started crying...not for my loss, but for hers (I couldn't tell her that or I would cry even more...just what she needed!!). Yes, I am a cryer....don't talk to me about it....I'll cry. They are amazing women with the strength of God behind them.
So I would appreciate your prayers for my friends...God knows their names...and everyone else dealing with the pain of losing someone.....pray for the ones that know God and pray for the ones that don't......
So here is a big Happy Birthday wish to Reese who must be having the greatest birthday party in Heaven today! And a big prayer for her mom who can't be at that party today......but will see her again!

I Know How Ya Feel!

This is on our way home from Disney. This is how I feel a lot lately!

Can I get an "Amen Sister!"???

We went, We saw, We conquered! (continued)

Okay, the hamburger guy is my nephew. I know exactly what they mean when parents complain about having to feed a teenager!!! Although, my baby Maggie hasn't missed a meal yet!!

We went, We saw, We conquered!

So, we went to Disney World and Universal/Islands during our fall break. We had a really good time. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be (you know, taking a 7 yr-, 3 yr-. and 10 mo old). We had a lot of help because we went with my parents and my brother/sis-in-law and nephew. For us it is the best time to go. Magic Kingdom has the "Mickey's Not So Scary" Halloween party where the kids get to go trick or treating in the park at night in full costume. They even have a special parade. Magic Kingdom breaks out the Good candy, too. None of that dollar tree stuff made in China thats been recalled!!! Maggie slept thru the whole thing.....such a good baby!! The kid adults like to go the the Universal/Islands Haunted Halloween, too. We really had a great time! Here are some pictures. I did notice that I didn't have very many pictures with this trip.......maybe having a 7, 3, and 10mo old had something to do with it?????

Time Travel....

I think someone is messing with time....no I don't mean daylight savings time. I really believe that someone is punching the fast forward button on my clock. October flew by.....we are involved in a ministry and Cliff was gone the first weekend (thur-sun) with that...then we went to Disney the next two weekends (for fall break) then Cliff went to visit a friend in Kentucky....then Cliff and Turner had their first CubScout camping trip the next weekend!!! Now we (me and hubby) are going out of town this weekend to a B&B in Illinois. It has been CRAZY at our house for the last 6 weeks. I have got a lot to catch up on with the posts and pictures. I will start slowly as not to be overwhelming (more for me!). So for now....this is all you get...just an explaination of why the big delay in posts on my blog. Sorry!! Thanks for your patience.

Friday Absolute Favorite!

Okay, I am giving in to the Friday Favorite thing. There is a lot of things that I really like and some that I love, but this.....I really love!!! Bart Millard from Mercy Me (a christian group) has a CD out called "Hymned Again". It is a must have. It just makes ya happy! No matter the mood, it just makes ya Happy! Click on the boxes at the top of the blog and hear 4 different songs from the CD. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.....as our preacher says....if you aren't moved after listening to these songs....you can't be moved!!!! Don't forget to support your cubscouts and/or troops. See previous post on how to do this!!!

Help the Troops and Cub Scouts

So Turner wanted to join the CubScouts.....Cliff wanted to take him to his first meeting to do the sign up thing. I gently reminded him to ask certain questions (you know how I am....gentle and all). I just didn't want to be left in the dark about anything. So they went and got home 2 hours later...said there was a lot of paperwork involved.....okay. Then a little later I start asking questions....I won't drag this out as long as Cliff did....so long conversation short....apparently Cliff volunteered to be the Den Leader!!! Because he doesn't already have enough going on............well, anywho......we are selling popcorn like items for the scouts and the Troops. So please order popcorn OR you can make a donation of $25 to the troops and this company will send stuff to the military troops serving our great country. So basically if you don't buy something or donate the money....you are telling the US Military "No" and the Cub Scouts of America "No" and they could be the ones defending you in a few years.....but there is no pressure.....I'm sure Turner won't cry himself to sleep many nights if you don't buy something.......................anyway look at the "Check it out" section of my blog and type in Turners code: TEZXRA3 so he can get the credit for the sale. Thanks for suffering thru this blog. Go to: www.orderpopcorn.com Pictures of him in his cute uniform to come..........

Enough Already!!

I know you all are sick to death about seeing Maggie!! Yes, I have other children....and I love them too! I promise this is the last milestone I will publish for a long time. I do have a milestone of the boys too!! They are actually playing nice together. What they are playing, I do not know....some sort of Spiderman (the "misunderstood" spiderman) on a motorcycle and Spiderman mutated with Batman kind of thing....but who cares....they are not fighting. Woohoo!!

Whoa, Nellie!!

Ever want to know what country folk give their babies to play with? Well, I just wasn't going to buy Maggie a baby "walker". She just needed to slow down and smell the roses. I guess I thought my little boycott would slow her down. I think it is a pretty reasonable request from a mother of three.....well, Nellie didn't think so. I apologize to all of my PT friends, anyone who can appreciate nice floors, and those with sensitive ears! What your are about to witness is....pitiful!



P.S. I bought her the cutest baby stroller walker you have ever seen last night!! I love havin' a girl!! (love my boys, too!)

Jacob Milo July 1997-July 2008

Do dogs go to Heaven??? I think so. This is....was my Jacob. Most people called him "Jake." His mommy called him Jacob Milo Jingle-heimer Schmidt. He was my first born, my sweet boy. I loved him very much. My heart hurts. Jake left us to be with Jesus on July the 8th 2008. He had a very short illness-cancer of the spleen and possibly the liver-that was diagnosed on the 7th. He left behind his dad and mom, three brothers (Turner, Hooch, and Rhys), and a sister (Maggie). We miss him. Jacob was a sweet boy with a wonderful spirit. Some of the things that Jake loved were: peanut butter, bananas, cheese, "Bic-Bic's pound cake (I pretended like I didn't know this!), and his family. He loved his family. Jake was one of those quiet folks that only said things that needed to be said. He loved everyone......well, except the home health nurse that was sent to our house after Turner's heart surgery. For whatever reason he did not like her getting close to Turner. He would just stand there between them. It's hard to move a 100++ lb dog who does not want to be moved! Needless to say after two days, we had a new nurse. Jake didn't seem to mind her coming close and taking care of his little brother. I miss him. He was so smart. He helped potty train his little brother, Hooch, when we first brought him home. He was the best big brother anyone could ask for. He didn't mind all the kids using him as a horse or a jungle gym. He just didn't care. He was our protector, our confidant, our friend. We miss him. I got Jake when he was seven weeks old just before I started OT school. It was not the best of times. I know God gave me Jacob to help me through those valleys in my life because my walk with God was NOT where it needed to be. I am so thankful for the time I had with Jake. I am so thankful that his suffering was short. I am so thankful for two wonderful veternarian clinics that helped me through these decisions. Jacob was a wonderful dog.........I wish you ALL knew him the way we knew him. There is a hole in my heart and my life that will never be filled. As hard as I (and my oldest son, Turner) are taking this.....Hooch is taking it worse. In six years he has never gone outside by himself.....he has never eaten alone.....he has never used the bathroom by himself......he has never slept alone...............he has never gone to the vet alone........he is really sad. My heart hurts for him. I know it may seem silly to go on and on about a dog.....he was my friend, my sweet boy, my baby for 11 years. I miss him.

Are you there Sheri? It's me, God.

I've been thinking a lot lately (that is never good for me or my family) about life and purpose. I often wonder if I am really fulfilling my God-given purpose for my life. How do we truly know? Does He let you know somehow? Well, I don't think I am in that spot right now. I look around me and see weird and tragic things taking place in my family and friends lives and think "What am I doing here?" Then for a split second I think "Are you there God? It's me Sheri." Then as quick as that question comes the answer follows. He has always been there and always will be here. It is me that strays from the path. I just forget sometimes. I get so frustrated with my kids when I get on to them for...oh, I don't know....keeping their hands to themselves....and their answer is "Oh, I forgot....." I wonder if thunder is really God banging His head against a cloud when we do something so completely ridiculous while saying, "What Am I Going To Do With You?!?!?" He has given me all the tools I need to get through life and sooooo much more. A wonderful husband, three beautiful children (and I'm not kidding--they are BEAUTIFUL), a great church (a God-fearing/loving church), an awsome Sunday School Class, I teach the special needs class at church.........why do I feel like something is missing?? Yes, I know I am neurotic and selfish. I just need accountability (is that a word?-sounds weird). I have been reading some awsome blogs lately....some awsome spiritual blogs (thanks Steph for yours and all the other links--you are amazing). They have taken my journey and my thoughts deeper. I am not as elegant as they are when writing my thoughts. My husband calls it "snowballing". No one really knows what I am thinking or saying half the time---just not a writer--Sorry! Thanks for enduring my "snowballing"................

Sit Ubu Sit

Look at me!! Please ignore my big brothers in the background-- it's all about me!

If she is close to someone or something, she tries to pull up to standing!! She wants to keep up with her big brothers.....Lord help us!

Three Little Monkeys

We had 3 month pictures taken for Maggie (yes, I know she is almost 6 months old--we are getting those pictures done at the end of June) with a Wonderful local photographer, Emily Peyton Cook in Covington. She did a fantastic job capturing the kids' personalities. Rhys got so caught up in the moment that he yanked out one of her tulips to give to me!! Emily didn't even get upset with him.....she said it was because he was just being sweet giving his mommy a flower. The patience of Job, I tell ya! She is also the photographer that had to deal with the bunny poop incident......you remember that don't you?? We have really enjoyed working with her. She does a great job on the prints, too. We play around with the funky shapes and they look wonderful. Time is really flying by way to quickly. I am glad that Emily has the baby plan (she lets the whole family in them). It holds me accountable to get their pictures done. A good friend gave us a gift certificate for a family portrait as a baby gift (thanks, Connie). I put it off thinking I would take off some of this baby weight......it ain't happenin'!! So I guess I'll make an appointment for those to be done before the kids are off to college.

Got Herbs? No, Got Milk!

We went to a local herb festival this weekend. It was interesting, you know the kind of interesting

I'm talking about...you load up all the kids, drive

10 minutes up the road, unload, walk around about

5 minutes before you start hearing "this is boring".

I actually love going to small (and it was small) local festivals, just not feeling the love from the kids when we do it!! We redeemed ourselves by

letting the kids milk a goat, even Maggie got her
turn!

Okay, just kidding about Maggie! Please don't call

child services!

Mom's Day gift pictures

Here are the pictures of the gift the kids (and Cliff) made for me. I have really enjoyed going to my herb garden and picking fresh herbs to eat. Didn't they do a great job?!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!! Okay, I'm a little late! Hope everyone had a great day. We went to church and had a baby dedication. It was real sweet. Then I got to spend the rest of the day in bed while hubby made a wonderful International meal for my mom (I should mention that I apparently got a 24hr stomach bug!). I hear that the dinner went well and everyone loved the Filipino cuisine. Do you know how long I have been waiting to make all that stuff and pig out on it?? Well, as long as mom enjoyed it. Daddy and the kids planted me several herb pots. I loved them. All of my favorite yummies! I will get pics and post soon. I do have some pics of Maggie eating and Rhys singing. He's a natural!

Roll, Maggie, Roll!!

Maggie is growing so fast!! We have introduced rice cereal this week (she's not a fan). She is drinking 6oz of milk and acts like she wants more!! Her dark hair keeps sticking around as though it wants to stay, we hope. Big brother Rhys is growing out of his 3T pants. We had to break out Turner's old stash! We wouldn't be able to keep up with Turner if it weren't for our friend Holly who gives us Grants clothes!!! It seems like Turner was in 3Ts just last year! Oh, he was, never mind! (for those of you who don't know Turner, he is very small for his age) Here is a recent movie of Maggie's new trick:

Sorry Hooch!

Sorry Hooch!! I did not leave you out of the other pictures on purpose. It wouldn't let me add another picture. Hooch is treated like the red-headed step child.