"Spooky" turns twelve!

The year is 1997 and the day is June 24. I had had enough of the miserable pregnancy and I would do almost anything to get my baby girl out! I had become quite close with my Ob/Gyn since Lauren's birth. We would even make time for the girls lunches out. I knew that a small bribe would do the trick! I was three weeks early, but was sure this baby was twice as big as Lauren. She was nearly 8 lbs three weeks early! I had my speech all ready..."it would be darn right dangerous to go one more day!" I walked into the office, presented my speech along with a gift bag and then begged her to take the baby out. I may have even shed a few tears.
She looked and me and said "Ok. Grab your bag and meet me in one hour." I was so prepared to argue when she told me no, I was stunned. "You mean I have to go deliver a baby today?" Reality started to set in. The veil of forgetfulness they always talk about was lifted.
I headed to the hospital and anxiously awaited my epidural, just like last time. The doctor broke my water and figured she could go see 20 or so patients waiting in her office across the street. Within minutes I went from please let me have this baby to begging everyone in the room to kill me! It was excruciating! The anethesiolgist sauntered into the room with his cocky, handsome self and gave me the epidural. I anxiously awaited relief from this hell I was in. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes pass...no relief! They are rubbing wet cotton balls on my belly asking where it hurts....Lower dummies! They finally decide to check me and "surprise!" There is a head down there! My doctor is called and takes what feels like 24 hours to run across the street. When I see her, I scream to get her *#@ gloves on! If you know me, shouting profanities, is not really in my nature. She gets her gloves on just in time to tell me to push. Then she says, "Reach down and grab her, Cheryl! I give her this "Do I have to do everything", look. I put my hands under her little arms and pull her tiny little body onto my belly. Ellyse Leigh Ann Haws arrives! She's nearly two full pounds smaller than Lauren, my bad. It must have been the donuts.
When I see her for the first time she looks back at me with the biggest, roundest, bluest eyes you ever did see. Her little mouth is in the shape of an O. Thus the nickname "Spooky!" She is just itty bitty and beautiful!
Ellyse was so so cute, but so so sad her first couple of years. She cried and yelled at us so much that we replaced the nickname "Spooky" with "El Diabla!" She even promted the statement "Ellyse doesn't care about love, Mom." from her three year old sister. One day though, and I don't even remember when it happened....Ellyse saw the world through rose colored glasses. She became this happy, sweet, loving, funny, beautiful blue eyed girl! She can get on the floor and be a companion to her baby sister and hold her own in a ball game with her younger brother. She even went to girls camp for the first timethis summer and shocked everyone with her bubbly personality!
It's not always easy being the middle child and it is for sure not easy growing up in this crazy world. I'm just grateful to have the privlage of sharing that with our little Ellyse!
We love you Lulu!
Happy 12th birthday!
xoxox
Mom

Toddler Recession and Gay rights...

This is a ridiculously busy week, but having the kids all home seems to be helping...just kidding!
I just have to take a second to share a few comments my kids made that reflect our excellent parenting.

Milan (8) "Mom, are lesbians terrorists?" (They are the worst kind son!)
Lani (2) Mom says, "Lani, it's bed time. You lay back down!" Lani looks me in the eyes and says "you give me dollar!" I gave her a dollar and she went right to sleep. I should write a parenting book!

Also a special thank you to the best sister in the whole world. She let me bring 10 crazy scouts for slip n slide and homemade ice cream at her house. You know how I thank her? Make her watch my kids for a week while we go out of town!
Christy, there is a special place in heaven for you, just don't get translated!
xoxo

Anniversary by the numbers....

Last night Christopher and I had our 15th wedding anniversary. It got us thinking about what can happen in 15 short years. I believe it was my fabulous sis in law that did this in one of her blogs...so I figure it would work for me too. Math was never my strong point, but that is really what it came down to...the numbers.
15- years married
14- years married without kids
4- months Christopher had to enjoy my abs without stretch-marks...not to mention all the other things that got stretched out...but let's keep it PG!
4- children
14- years we've been parents
7- houses we've lived in
2- cities we've lived in
6- times we've been to Europe together
9- times we've been to Canada together
45- states we have visited together
? - times Mom and Dad babysat while we went on trips...countless! (You're the reason we're still married, Mom and Dad!)
2- added body parts
1- lost body part
?- arguments...why count...I'm so over it ;)
0- arguments I've won

You know, Christopher and I hardly knew each other when we got married. It was either truly inspired or the craziest thing I've ever done. We've had our ups and downs, our struggles and triumphs. I can say with all honesty that I love him more than I did 15 years ago and I can't imagine having anyone on my team but him.
Humor has been the one thing that has kept us sane these past 15 years. His closing remarks to me at the end of our night out on the town were, "I never said it would be easy being married to me. I only said it wouldn't be boring!" Now lets just hope it's worth it!
Here's to another 15! (Then we'll evaluate things from there.)
Love you Christopher!
xoxo
Cheryl

Lauren

(Lauren, Middle)

Fourteen years ago today, 20+ people crowded into a tiny hospital room. There were so many first about to happen...I was becoming a mother, Christopher a father, 4 were becoming grandparents and two more great grandparents, not to mention aunts and uncles. All of them for the first time. After a seemingly endless pregnancy, it was almost over. One last push and a then her first cry, followed by a loud cheer and applause in the room. Everyone was in tears and no one would be the same. The doctor that delivered her had never wanted kids, at Lauren's delivery she changed her mind!
Lauren and lived up to that dramatic entrance into the world. She came out perfect in every way and has become more than we ever imagined in a daughter. Sure she has a messy room and gets a little annoyed with her parents. But she has been more than happy to let us do all our practicing on her. She knows we're making it up as we go and she tries so hard to be patient with us. Truth be told she's raising us, not to mention all her younger siblings! Lauren...you make us sooo proud. We can't imagine our life without you in it!
Happy 14th Birthday angel girl! We love you more than you'll ever know!
xoxo
Mom and Dad

What did we do to deserve this?!

There have been a few moments in the last few years when we have asked ourselves this question...What did we do to deserve this? We've had our ups and downs for sure. But I have never asked myself that more than when I look at my little Elan "Lani" Haws. She just turned two yesterday and has spent every waking moment brightening our lives beyond belief! She can turn the most horrific day into the happiest day of your life. Whether it's her "deetle,deetle,deetle" (tickle,tickle,tickle,) or her "Are you OTAY?!" I'm pretty sure her Dad would have lost his very mind if it weren't for her undying love for him. Sure she also refers to her Uncle Wes as "Daddy," but we know her heart only belongs to Daddy. I thank my lucky stars for being able to physically pull off one more pregnancy with this aging body so we can have little Lani in our family! I know for sure Heaven knows us and sends little guardian angels to help us get through this life. I just hope I can be the Mother these sweet kids of mine deserve!
Happy Birthday little Lani! We love you more than you can imagine!!