The New "Normal"

I want to say thank you to all those who have allowed us to add them to our poem.  We are going to enjoy seeing your names and having the opportunity to pray for you for years to come. 

Going from four people in one house to seven has been quite an adjustment to say the least.  There are times Micah and I look at each other, surrounded by kiddos, and shake our heads in amazement.  Things are definitely busy.  I have never been more glad to let non-essentials fall by the wayside!  And while the sleep deprivation is taxing, the joy is exceeding.  We are sharing the joy and sharing the exhaustion.  Consequently, Micah has even joined me (after years of surpassing me in lucidity) in mixing up words in sentences.  Suddenly, "onesie" has become synonymous with other baby related paraphernalia and one might find refrigerator items in the dishwasher and vice versa.  There are plenty more examples but I shall resist.  We have learned however that in God's perfect design, delirious mommys understand delirious daddys.  So far, no one has tried to diaper the big boys or the dog... yet.   

Speaking of the dog, Anakin came home last week.  We thought we needed another eating-and-pooping being in the house so we added him back to the mix.  He had been with friends of ours since I went in to the hospital.  He has been so polite.  When we first introduced him to the babies, he was a bit concerned, but now he is just curious.  He maintains a respectful distance, but is getting used to their noises.  If we can just get him to stop barking when people knock on the door...

In a commitment to keeping everyone healthy, I had vowed not to leave the house for months~ or at least until RSV season is over.  What I didn't know is that life at home with three babies and two big boys can feel like a mouse wheel upon which one has to get off sometimes.  Getting out of our apartment is a challenge, since we are on the second floor.  This past Sunday, we decided to head to church~ during a small Kentucky monsoon.  Needless to say, I spent the drive drying receiving blankets in the floorboard of our enormous vehicles!  We were all soaked, but glad to be together again heading to worship Jesus.  When we go out other places, being out in public is very different.  If not for the three babies inside, our triple stroller (for which we had to purchase above-mentioned enormous vehicle) is an attention magnet.  Ladies appreciate the storage and the men love the steering wheel.  The cute little faces inside are indeed difficult to resist.  Just beware, we may spray you with Purell as you approach:)  We have ample opportunities to share what God has done in the life of our family with all those who stop us.  It is my prayer that all those we talk to leave saying ~ not look at that family ~ but look at the power of Jehovah, made flesh in Jesus, and at work today.  He healed and continues to heal our little ones today, but heals hearts everyday. 
Ashely Claunch of Ashely Claunch Photography was so kind and did a photo shoot of our family to help celebrate our new normal.  The photos in this blog post are from that shoot.  She does beautiful work~  Please visit her website here.  If you are on facebook, you can see more of our family pictures here.

So from here, we continue to learn this new and wonderful "normal" and are so glad you are one part.