Well, April and May have been a whirlwind at the Allen house. I had to have surgery in April for retained placenta, Samuel has had an ongoing ear infection that is still not well and Steven has been off work since the last week of May. We have managed to enjoy ourselves despite all of this. We spent Mother's Day at the Lake with Buddy, Pops, PawPaw, Uncle Matt, Aunt Katie and LeLe. We had a great time. Easter was a blurr as I had to work. We celebrated it in pieces with the family. We have been using our Zoo pass and playing outside alot. I just returned from a 9 day business trip that was exhausting, but worth it for the money. I missed my babies so much and was so very happy to come home to them. Thank you all for helping with my angels. I hope to post some pictures as I get them from all who helped!!!
Hope you enjoy these random pictures from April and May 2009!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It has been way too long since we did portraits, so, here they are, finally. Jason is three, Sara Kate is 19 months and Sammy the bull is 2 months. They are growing up so fast. Enjoy!

Jason turns 3!!!

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Ok, so for those of you who pay that much attention, I retroed the date... I am so far behind, but trying!
My first baby, Jason turned three! I can't believe it! He has changed so much in the last year. He is so full of life, imagination and animation! He cracks us up on a daily basis. He is so sweet and loving, such a good big brother and such a sweet spirit. I am so thankful every day for him and what he has brought to our life.
We had to cancel his birthday party because he and Sara Kate are getting over strep throat and the weather was cold and misty... too much for an outside party. So, we will have to reschedule a Spiderman cake eating party for a later date. Instead, we met the family at Frontera grill in Trussville. We had such a great time. My Sam, Grandaddy, Buddy, Pops, PawPaw, Uncle Matt, Aunt Katie, LeLe, Poppa, Uncle Josh and Aunt Amanda all showed up to celebrate our special boy. He had a great time wearing the sombrero and singing. What a great time!
Then, on his real birthday, Buddy came over to make cupcakes. He can take them to school so she came to help us make them and spend the day with us. He and SaraKate had such a ball with her. They made a huge mess and enjoyed every minute of it!
Then, I took them to Publix to get a cookie cake and some chicken for supper. We sang to our biggest boy and had some wonderful cookie!
We love you so much Jason, Happy Birthday big boy!!!

One month old!

Baby Samuel is now one month old! Can you believe it? He is doing great. He now weighs 11 lbs and 3 oz!!! He is 21 and 3/4 inches and a chunky little monkey. His siblings absolutely love him and want to touch and hold and just be near him. They really are so sweet! He loves to look at them and is even trying to squeal or coo at them. Saturday, he smiled for the first times on cue. He has a precious smile and a dimple on his left cheek! He has rolled over once and when he gets really mad, he tries again and again... He is rather spoiled and loves to be held. He does have a bit of reflux and is now on medicine, he seems so much more comfortable now. I am so thankful too because he seemed so miserable in the evenings! Jason and Sara Kate's new favorite thing is to put all of their toys in the crib and then climb out and put them in the big boy bed and back and forth and so on.... so here are some pictures of our fun!

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Three's Company

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We have been having so much fun getting to know Baby Samuel and just playing together. Last weekend it snowed and Jason and Sara Kate and Daddy went out in it to play with our neighbors, Ms. Deanna and Mr. Billy. They loved it. The kids were so tired when they finally came in that they slept right through the afternoon with no power in the house... Baby Samuel is doing great, he eats every two to three hours, which leaves Mommy little time to do much else. He is a sweet boy and LOVES to be held. His big brother and sister just adore him and so far, have not been jealous.

February update....

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Well, the past week has been a blur! We came home on the 18th, PawPaw's 81st birthday. So, we had a little party for him at the house and a little welcome home dinner for Samuel with PawPaw, Buddy and Pops. Then, on Friday, I took Samuel to Dr. Huie for his follow-up visit. He was back to birthweight and doing fantastic. Dr. Huie told me I could take him out some, just to be careful... that being said. I decided not to miss another of PawPaw's birthday parties, like last year. So, we suprised everyone by coming to the party in Anniston...(half way for the Atlanta part of the family and the Alabama part). We all love PawPaw so much and love to get to see each other on this annual celebration! We had such a good time. Then on Sunday, Mimi, Poppa, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Josh came to meet baby Samuel. We enjoyed them so much. Between all of this, we got some candid shots of the kids loving on thier new baby. Sara Kate thinks he is hers and wants to carry him around and squeeze him and love on him... it is just priceless. Jason is a little more timid, but loves to kiss him and look at him and talk about him. Neither seem to be jelous and both are doing so well with him.

Tuesday, I decided to be brave and take the kids to Chick-fil-A for a change of scenery.... it was a disaster. When we got there, we got our food and sat down. Jason was so excited about playing that he began eating so he could. Samuel was starving and crying so I was giving him a bottle and setting out the other's food... all of a sudden, Jason got a funny look on his face and began vomiting, all over the table and his shirt... So, I stop feeding Samuel to clean him up and strip him (of course, I had no change of clothes for Jason). Sara Kate decided she was finished and started trying to climb out and Samuel started crying for more bottle... so then I get the bottle going again and Jason is melting down because now I can't let him go play in case he is sick (though, I really think he just gagged on too much). Then Samuel spits up all over himself and now, I am done. SO, I pack them up and head to the van. On the way, Sara Kate finds the red button on my key chain and sets off my car alarm... so, needless to say, we won't be going anywhere alone for a while.... if I had gone anywhere but Chick-fil-A I would likely still be there cleaning up and crying, but the staff was just so helpful and kind that I survived and now am just laughing at the whole story. Great baby book story for sure!

Baby Samuel is HOME!!!! He has done so well and finally, we brought him home today. His bilirubin stayed down and he moved to a crib yesterday. He has maintained his temp and is eating like a line-backer. He is only 1 oz. to his birthweight! Today is also PawPaw's 81st birthday, so the family is coming over for a welcome home/birthday party. More updates to come from that! Thank you all again for your prayers and support. They are so appreciated and still so needed!!!