A Review for a great sunscreen....

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5 Years old!!! WOW Happy Birthday Abigayl...what a miracle you are...

5 Years ago today I went in for a routine ultrasound  at 35 weeks only to be told...there is a problem Mrs. Reynolds...I was in SHOCK!!! I was there alone with my 3 year old son as we weren't expecting the news...They came back and told me that there was fluid in abigayls chest cavity surrounding her lungs...she for one could not be born natural...plus they didn't know what was going to happen even after she was born.....

I immediately called shon on the phone frantic and crying he came to the doctors right away...we sat and talked to them about what the next step would be and they told me I would have to deliver you that day and by C-section...more SHOCK!!! I worried were you ready to arrive, what was the c-section going to be like as my last five births had all been natural....

so we went home and dropped off my younger two with Darlene my sweet friend and she said she would care for them I then went home made a few phone calls and packed my bags for the unknown...I arrived at Sentara Norfolk General just after lunch and they did more ultrasounds and spoke with more doctors as to what the plan would be....the decision was made you would be delivered by dinner time...

I had alot of anxiety about the c-section and what was going to take place when you were born...but Our campus Pastor Debbie Warren came with her husband and prayed for us and helped calm me...they stayed during the surgery in the waiting room.....

minutes after you were born they immediately took you over to a table and started to pull the fluid out with a needle very scary to watch but if they hadn't of removed it you wouldn't have been able to take your first breathe.....they then stabilized you and then took you over to CHKD where you 6 week adventure began.....

I was able to go over and see you after I was awake and feeling better by then they had tapped your lungs a few more times.....this went on for a few days in the meantime they intubated you and gave you meds to keep you sleepy so your body would rest.....they started discussing what you may have and they said it was either a chylothorax or lymphatasia (sorry about the spelling) so they started treatment on the chylothorax but a few weeks into it we were not seeing a change...our hopes were dashed and we were very tired....we spent about 3 times a day making drives to and from CHKD from Va beach to Norfolk all the while trying to heal myself from a lovely spinal headache from surgery and caring for my other 5 at home....we had generous people from church bringing us meals and helping get kids to camp...what a blessing that was....

at about 4 weeks of age you became not well at all...everything they were trying was not working to bring the levels down...the left side has resolved itself a few weeks back but the right side was still putting out over 400 cc a day of fluid YIKES!!! so we were called in for a care conference with the doctors, nurse, the surgeon and a chaplain....They told us you were VERY VERY ill at this point and each and everyday was touch and go....our only option at this point was to go in for surgery and place a shunt in your chest cavity to your bladder to expel the fluid and let your body do the work....but we were told that they didn't see you living till about age one or so even with this option...Most children they have found with this disease was in autopsy...(tears were streaming down both of our faces) we didn't know what to think or do but it looked like that was our only option....

so after leaving the conference the chaplain pulled us aside and asked us if we would like to go back to your bedside and pray over you....we agreed because at this point it wouldn't hurt anything..so our Day nurse Lisa, shon the chaplain and I all went back to you and he spoke the most beautiful prayer and we weaped some more and just sat looking at you for hours after that....we went home that day in very somber moods....we didn't know what to tell your siblings and we didn't know what lied ahead for all of us...it was very hard to sleep that night but we did the best we could....

The next day we got up showered and prepared for our drive in to see you....When we got there we were shocked and amazed....you were starting to show signs of improvement the fluid levels were dropping YEAH!!!!! we tried not to get our hopes up but that week was your best week yet...the levels kept dropping and dropping till there wasn't almost any fluid  coming out then they made the decision to take your breathing tube out and let you wake up more..NO SURGERY NEEDED!!!...then days later came trying to feed you (mommy's milk too!!! something they told us you probably wouldn't be able to ever have) and then they moved to to the step down unit where we were able to hold you all we wanted ( we first got to hold her at 2 weeks of age and not really anymore after that) which was so nice your daddy would come and just sit in the recliner and hold you and talk and sing and sleep with you....to see the smile on his face was priceless....at six weeks of age on July 28th, 2005 they released you out of the hospital and home with us the best day of our lives...God has definitely given us a miracle and we never take it for granted....

Last year on June 19th, 2009 we got another scare that brought us to our knees in prayer when you swallowed a button battery out of a remote control.....we almost lost you again and this time was just as scary as the first time....but the doctors were there and god was watching over you....he isn't ready for you yet...so we live everyday with you and enjoy every moment as if it would be our last life is precious and you are a gem...

So today you have turned 5 and are registered for kindergarten...you have had 4 chest tubes and you still have the marks in your heal from all the blood taken for blood gases, you have had 3 eye surgeries and had your tonsils and adnoids removed...you are one of the strongest, sweetest little girls I have ever met, you are filled with wisdom beyond believe and you make me laugh each and everyday....you are a beautiful young lady and I cannot wait to see what god has laid out for your future BIG THINGS I can see....

A life changing moment!!

I was able to attend this years Ewomens Conference with a Very dear friend of mine...I went into it thinking it would be great speakers and of course was looking forward to seeing Jeremy camp and mandisa on stage...But little did I know that god would work in my heart so much I was brought to tears, laughter and deep thought during these two days I am Forever Changed...God is working in me and I am loving it!!!!...if you ever have the chance to go to one of these conferences I highly reccomend it...

Another Teenager Comes along....

(Jill the best cake maker in Hampton Roads :o) )

Yeah we have another Teenager in the house...Mackenzie has proudly turned 13 May 25th...we held a sleepover for her with 4 of her friends..Shon and I put together a Scavenger Hunt in two vehicles which was alot of fun we each had 3 girls in our vehicle and to watch these girls use their wisdom it just amazed me they were great team players and in the end it was down the the wire on who won CONGRATS!! to both teams...

                                                     ( mackenzie was very surprised when we showed her the cake)

                                           (Time for presents....LOTS AND LOTS of make up)

(Everyone gathered at the table for yummy pizza,cake and ice cream)

(Brooke...Mackenzie's best friend since kindergarten) 

we then gathered at the table for Pizza had cake and ice cream and the girls played games and watched a movie...the pool was too cold to swim in they stayed up late giggling and laughing and I wouldn't have had it any other way...Life is sure interesting in the house now with 3 teenagers challenging for sure but it just the way life is some days are great and others we have a few more challenges to face and to learn from one another...I am really proud of you Mackenzie as you head into your last year of Middle schoool you have grown so much and you are such a beautiful young lady with such a generous heart...HAPPY 13th to you....

If you have a Camera Check this out!!!! you need one!!!!

I am the owner of a few cameras and I feel the owner of a strap cover is a Necessity!!! I mean the strap that comes with your camera is sturdy don't get me wrong but it's WAY uncomfortable and rubs on your neck especially if you are in the hot sun in the summer time...now right now if you hop on over to  http://thatsitmommy.com/2010/05/25/photo-tuesday-review-capturing-couture-camera-straps/  you can win one of these FABULOUS camera straps in beautiful colors and it won't rub on the back of your neck plus it will look very stylish!!! Hurry this contest only runs through June 7th but it's real easy to enter.....no cost at all.....Best of luck to everyone....take pics if you are the winner of this fabulous strap and send them to me I would love to see it and drool over it...If i don't win I may order one myself...this is AWESOME!!!!

A letter to my children....

Today was Mothers Day and when I woke I had a big smile on my face....I sat and thought on how lucky I feel to be your mom....Not everyone is lucky to have a child let alone "6"...god truly has blessed me with some sweet little blessings....You fill my days with busy days and nights sometimes through the night when you are not feeling well...you give me last minute target runs for needs for school projects or an addition to an outfit that is needed for a concert for school...

You have given me tears of saddness when you do not comply with the rules set in this home and when you fall off your bike when just learning....but nothing could bring me greater Joy than just having this job of being your mother and teaching you and guiding you and showing you that God will grant us forgiveness when we need it...and we need to forgive others when they have wronged us....I thank god for choosing me to be your mom I prayed for this since I was a child and I feel honored to be your mom...You made my day today when I opened all my gifts...I wasn't expecting what I opened but I saw that your heart and soul was poured into each and every gift and that just brought such joy to my heart....

I know we have challenges between us but I thank you for sticking with it and working through all things together and help making our family great!! I can see a difference when each one of you is missing like when you are at a babysitting job or a sleep over or with a friend...there is a hole missing and it makes me a little sad to think we don't have much time left for all of us to be this way much longer...so lets make the best of the next year!!! soon you will start graduating and going off to college and it will be more difficult to bring us all together as frequent as now....Thank you for being you!!! I love you all for who you are and what you give to me and each other you are wonderful kids and I am proud to call myself your MOM :o) LOVE Traci

Watching life come alive....

We had the opportunity to purchase a butterfly habitat at the store the other day and the younger kids were beyond excited as they had never had chance to take this on before...the older kids did but it was before the younger ones were even born....so we purchased the habitat brought it home opened it up and set it up and set it up on the bar in the kitchen....the next day I then quickly got online and ordered the little caterpillars so we didn't have to wait long to get started on our little adventure....mean while the kids kept asking are they here yet mommy are they here????

finally one day when we stopped at the mailbox and opened it there was a key for the larger compartment and we thought it must be them...so we opened it up and sure enough it was a little box containing our 5 little guys/gals...on the box it said handle with care...Jamisyn was the one to carry it home and she did it with such loving care it was so cute :o).....so we got it home and read the next paragraph as to what the next step in the process was...we were told to just set the cup out and let them munch on the lunch they had in their cup and let them get fat and full....the kids remembered the story of the very hungry caterpillar so I had them go find the book and I read it to them.....it took about 4 days to finally get full and happy then they hung from the top of the cup and all got in their cocoons ready for hibernation.....oooh the excitement was building in our house!!!!

so now came the fun part we got to place them in the habitat....so I opened the cup and removed them CAREFULLY from there and taped them to the habitat ready for their stay in their quiet little spa....waiting patiently well some of them not so patiently slowly one by one they emerged from their cocoons....what beauty it was and how special to watch them emerge and stretch and flap their wings pumping the blood through them....well one problem their THE CATS!!!! forgot to even think about that!!! after a few days and the third one had emerged max was so intrigued by them and kept jumping on the bar which he NEVER does my cats are not allowed on my counters!!! knocking down the habitat to the floor attempting to open it up which of course he was never going to be able to do because it was closed with a zipper....

so I finally had to place the habitat on the fireplace hearth after the 4th and 5th butterfly emerged which wasn't any fun anymore because the kids couldn't really watch them from that height....you are supposed to be able to keep the butterflies after they emerge for at least around 3 weeks after that...well we made the informed decision with the way we now had two cats behaving badly to free them so they didn't feel under attack and like they were going to be eaten as a meal.....so after only having them for only 4 days we set them free...we took them outside on a nice sunny afternoon and opened the habitat and the first one flew out immediately...LOL I'M FREE!!! I am sure it was saying the others didn't really want to come out the were stuck to each other in twos...LOL so we got them out gently and onto a our fingers then placed them a bush where they rested and I guess later flew away...Be blessed little butterflies I hope you have a good life......

"Honey Do" forever ongoing....

I keep lists running lists of things that need to be done grocery lists, to do lists and honey do lists...lately we haven't had much time to tackle our "honey do" list and that is no one persons fault...with ice skating, ballet, soccer, bible study, teen activities and just plain family fun I guess we have just been taking care of the basics around here...plus with us living in a fairly new home there hasn't been much to tackle on the honey do list but I am looking around lately and there are a few things that I would love to accomplish...

1. Rechaulk the shower...the builders didn't do it correctly in the first place

2. Painting the stairway and the hallway...I will admit I am afraid of heights

3. repaint the deck...the builder used cheap paint and It needs a new coat to make it shine :o)

4. steam the carpets on all floors of the house

5. Finish decorating the Teenagers room.....once they decide on a theme ;o)

I am hoping once school is out we can start tackling some of this but yet I don't want it to bump into spending time with the kids the school year is busy and having all 6 of the kids in school this year I want to spend as much time with them as I can....so we will see how far on the list we can get...I will be happy to accomplish half of it....

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Nobody said this was going to be easy.....

Life with Teenagers is anything but easy especially 3 female teens...I have read all of these books from the time I was pregnant on pregnancy then it was on the toddler years I then started reading on the toddler years and discipline...a few years back my mom sent me some from zondervan that focused on the teen years and guiding your children but I never would've imagined it would be this hard...and Maybe it's because I have 3 all at the same time...OY!!!! I have shed more tears these past few months to create a river...but I am giving it all to god...I know he is the one who can lead me to be the best parent I can be...They may not like what I have to say now, they may not like the rules I am setting, the chores they are assigned and it's sad that I am going to have to wait about 15 more years for them to see the good that I am doing for them...but I know it is all for the best...I want what is best for my children...it is what I decided 17 years ago when I chose to have my first child is to stay home with them and be the best mom that god will allow me to be....I know it's not an easy task I am not saying it is...I remember my teenage years and what my mom and I had to deal with and I commend her for a Job well done...she shaped me to be the mom I am today and has given me the tools I have to be a great parent to my children....with mothers day approaching I feel great pride in being a mom I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world...not even on one of the worst days when all six are attacking....I am thankful that I have god on my side to guide me in my ways and I know that I will become a stronger parent, I may not have all the answers we will learn together along the way....

It really saddens me lately in the news when I read storys of people who are hurting their children on purpose...there is no reason on this earth to harm a child....yes they make mistakes we all do we are not perfect but that is why there is grace....I will be praying each and everyday for those hurting ones and for the ones behind it hoping that change can be made....no child should have to live like that....how can you look in these eyes and harm her?? I have made a choice and that was to be a parent and by golly I will be the best one I can be even with tears streaming down my face...

Coming out of Hiding....

We had a little vacation around here called Spring Break....which was no real break for mommy....I loved it though we had a few appts. throughout the week but we packed the week with alot of fun....Bounce houses, laser tag, sleepovers, Tides baseball, Toby Mac/Skillet concert....I was exhausted come friday and was so thankful for a day of rain...it gave me a little bit of down time which I took the truck in for some work...The only bad part is it gave us just a taste of whats to come for summer and we now are all so anxious for it to arrive we have alot planned then too...ocean breeze, summer camp w/ church, concerts, the beach, the pool, soccer camp, skating camp, probably a few more baseball games, busch gardens.....AAAHHHHH oh and a vacation home to see my side of the family and family pics while we are there....I tell you I am LOVING the time I get to spend with my kiddos...it's great when you don't have to worry about naps and such now that our youngest will be 5 soon....well hopefully I won't be in hiding so much I really try to get things updated here but I am the mom of "6" and our schedule is oh so busy but we are loving it...just doesn't leave me much time to settle and gather my thoughts always something to be done around here....Thank you for your patience....What do you have planned for you and your family this summer????

A very blessed day....

Today we started our day with a great service at church....oh how it was a great message and in great timing too...we are getting ready to start a great series and I am beyond excited...We then invited some very dear friends and some neighbors over for Easter brunch and an Easter Egg hunt with the kids..Oh the weather was just so perfect for this day...I just feel so blessed today with the weather, the fellowship and frienship that I have had today...and I think this starts us off to a great Spring break....The only thing better would to be with the rest of my family but I guess we will just have to start a countdown to JULY!!!

Let the Games begin.....

Well soccer season has begun and we couldn't be happier here in the Reynolds house...Shon has played soccer since he was a young child and played all through high school so that is a sport very dear to his heart....So all of the kids have tried to play soccer and now Pation and Abigayl are giving it their all...This saturday was FREEZING though but it didn't stop our children from going out there and giving their all!! Abigayl was too cute running around on the field kicking the ball at times and then also yelling to mom and dad and waving...I don't know if she wants to play soccer or be a model...and can I just say she can sport her new prescription goggles like a pro :o) she looks too cute......Pation on the other hand went out there and fought the fight and was the only one on his team to score a goal....GO PATION!!!! he just loves sports where he can run and run...and I do to by the time the end of the night rolled around we came home and watched a movie together then I had them head upstairs to brush teeth and head to bed....I went to tuck one in then headed up to the 3rd floor and the other two were crashed.....OH YEAH!!! I think I'm going to like soccer season....The one thing that I and a few others were really bothered by is the fact that the team we played against had these two coaches that were putting their kids down and I mean their self esteem...If my child was on their team I would've walked up on the field and removed my child IMMEDIATELY!!!! I was flabbergasted by the comments coming out of these coaches mouths.....I mean these kids are only 7 and 8 years old and it's call "developmental" soccer they don't even keep score..(although pation still tells me that they lost 1-2) they don't even have goalies and such....I am just so thankful and the other parents made the comment as well that My husband made the day fun for the boys and even though they didn't win they learned alot and are very excited for a great season that is what matters!!! and my son's self esteem will still be in tact by the end of the season...THANK GOODNESS!!!