Several blogs in one

Things I learned this weekend:

~Nothing moves 4 children faster than to say that you're sweeping a room, and everything that ends up in your pile is going to be thrown away, regardless of whose or how valuable the items in said pile are.

~The more competition there is for Mommy's attention, the louder Alex talks.

~An entire kitchen can become spotless in the same length of time as a commercial break. The trick is to tell those cleaning it (all 15 and under) that the television will be turned off until the kitchen is perfect. I have never seen 4 children work so quickly, nor so cooperatively as I did last night to clean that kitchen.

~Mr. Snow does not like to be drooled on. Especially not by 4 month old babies named Alex. Caleb (age 6) spoke for Mr. Snow.

~Foam blocks can entertain all children from ages 4 mo to 15 years of age. I watched all six of them build castles and knock them down for hours on end.


There were many more things I learned, but those were the most interesting.




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Good news on the camera front:

Several weeks ago my lovely daughter was being a sweetheart at the table when my camera magically hit the floor. No one knows how this happened, of course, because my princess would never do anything that could be construed by the most critical of audiences as destructive. But to suffice it to say, my camera developed "issues" after said fall. The camera took pictures just fine, but the flash would not go off. And yes, this is the expensive camera that I just got for Christmas.

The photographer that shot my mom's "wedding" and recently took pictures of the babies for Easter (link to those photos are to follow) attached an external flash and suddenly everything was working correctly! Thursday I spent researching external flashes and the accessories that would accompany an external flash. It should arrive next week. Be prepared for lots of pictures that day! In the meantime, I have a few to share that I took with the point and shoot that I confiscated from my mother.




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Easter Pictures!

I took the babies to see the photographer that shot my parents' wedding on Wednesday. He added those pictures to the album that was already online from my mother's wedding. To access the pictures
Visit:
www.pictology.com

Acct number:
9329414915

Username:
bigby

Password:
pic


On the left you'll see a tab entitled Stephanie's Pyle. (Don't ask me ..... ) Click there, and waalaa! Easter Pictures!




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I cut my hair!


Before:



After:







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A few pictures of the babies! Well .... maybe more than just a few. ;)

Pretty red dress!



Not so happy w/ her hair pulled up...


What happens when you tell Kairi to sit on her bottom:


Alex loves to play with his octopus!



So Sweet


Watering the Grass


With Mommy!


Showing off our Strawberry Dress!



Not A Happy Baby


Kairi shared the phone with Alex

Adventures with Volkswagen

The weekend before my grandfather went into the hospital, I was in charge of the 14 yo. We went out to eat Friday night, but after that I didn't go anywhere for 3 days. Tuesday morning I had a MK meeting to go to and was in a big hurry. I couldn't immediately find my key and just took my mom's car. That night my grandfather went into the hospital. The next day I tore the house up looking for said key. My brother looked for the key. My father looked for the key. My mother looked for the key. We tore up this house. Moved furniture. Gutted cars. Emptied chest of drawers. Cleaned out the fridge and freezer. Reorganized the pantry. No luck -- the key can't be found.

So I finally call every locksmith in town to have someone make me a new key.
Problem: Only Volkswagen dealerships can replace Volkswagen keys.
Bigger Problem: The closest dealership is 2 hours away.
Solution: Tow car to the dealership and then pay out the butt for new keys.
New problem: Towing the car is going to cost $315. Plus the cost of the new keys.
Solution: Cry on the phone w/ the insurance company and convince them that this qualifies as a roadside assistance call so that they tow your car for you.

My other grandparents allowed me to use their car for the next week. Then Friday, I had the money to pay for new keys ($125 for a standard and $225 for a remote access key, that I had to have b/c my car doesn't lock the driver side door w/o the remote access key). My grandfather and I loaded up the kids, and drove to Lubbock. 30 minutes outside of Lubbock, we get a phone call from the dealership -- they have my car, but for some reason the new keys were not ordered for my car. It will take 2-3 business days for the keys to arrive.

We ate at Olive Garden in Lubbock. Saw some friends of mine from college, and came home. A pointless day.

Tuesday I get a phone call from the dealership. They have had the keys since Saturday evening. My car will be ready to be picked up that afternoon. Why didn't they call me Saturday or Monday to tell me that my car would be ready to be picked up Tuesday?



My grandparents and I loaded up and went to Volkswagen together, yesterday. $655 later, I am ready to take possession of my vehicle. The lady at the desk went to get the car. She sheepishly walks back in the room w/in 5 minutes. What's wrong? I found something in the passenger side seat. What?????? She hands me my old key. It had slid between the two cushions of the seat and was just slightly sticking out.


They rekeyed the old key, and I now have 3 keys for my car.

Alex does NOT approve

Of avocados!!!















And Kairi likes to wear my shoes:

Looky! Looky!

Newest email from Chris:

I forgot to tell you that I tried out for the next Nashville Star and I got command sponsorship. Basically, I still have to submit a package and see if the show will take me, but the command thinks I’m good enough to give me June through September off if I do get picked up for it. Sweet huh?



Anyway, the next Nashville Star is supposed to be all military. That’ll be cool. I wonder if the recording contract is still first prize.

Sleep ... I miss you!

Dear Beloved Sleep,

Where did you go? Why did you leave me? I know that when Kairi was born that I was not able to spend as much time with you as we were both used to, but I worked hard to dedicate time to you. I found spare moments in the day to share together. Of course, as Kairi continued to grow, the daytime moments grew fewer and fewer, but at night we were doing great I thought!

Even when Alex came we found time for each other. Alex enjoyed his time with you as well. What a wonderful bonding experience for us to all spend time w/ you together!

But recently you seemed to have abandoned me. I cannot find you anywhere. It is really beginning to eat at me. I need you. We all miss you.

Could you please come back home? If not for me, for the kids?

With all my heart,
Stephanie

An Update

The pneumonia is improving! Grandad is slowly being able to breathe better and is finally capable of talking to us. :) Mimi is still struggling to understand what's going on and where she's at, but we expected that. He did pull his feeding tube out last night, and another one will be put in today, but that's the only major complication we've seen so far. I'm hopeful that he'll be able to come home in the next couple of weeks or so. :) God's good, isn't He? :D

A Different Blog Than Planned

Last night I had fully planned on sitting down here and telling you all about Kairi's food allergy issues, about my brother's birthday and the funny gifts we gave him, about how amazing Grandad Bigby was doing, and about how I've started selling Mary Kay and am PUMPED about it. But all that changed last night around 8:30pm when the phone rang.

The phone rang shortly after Micah (23) had left with the afore mentioned birthday presents. Matthew (14) answered and goes "Mimi? I'm fine. What's wrong?" Panicked eyes bored holes into his face. "Mimi, Mimi, wait. Here, tell Daddy what's going on.". Daddy takes the phone. "Mother? What's wrong? Calm down. What's he doing? How long has he been like this? Mother, I need to know exactly how long he's been like this. Mother, let me talk to Dad. I know that he doesn't feel well and doesn't want to talk, but I think that I need to speak to him." The next several minutes felt like hours while we waited for him to come to the phone. "Dad, what's going on? How long have you felt like this? No, it is important, how long? Dad, we need to get you to the doctor. I know you don't want to go tonight, but I think it's important. No, this can't wait until tomorrow. I understand that, Dad, but we need to go tonight. No, Beverly and I will be at your house in a minute and we're going to go a walk-in clinic."
Click.
Silence.
Dad can't breathe. He's panting to talk. We're taking him to the ER. Call Micah, have him meet us there.

Micah made to to Mimi and Grandad's house before Mama and Daddy.

They got Grandad to the emergency room closest to him. He was immediately admitted b/c he has not had any food or fluids since Sunday morning. His body was shutting down. They transferred him to the main hospital last night. He has pneumonia, and other issues.

Please lift up prayers on his behalf.







Btw, check out www.marykay.com/stephaniepyle --> It's how I'm paying to move back!

New Pictures!

Here's the latest pictures.


Panda Clothes!




Tulip Clothes! With food on our face.





Saturday morning -- We found some sticky notes.



Saturday morning -- Just being silly:

At Chris's Family's House!

Here's the photos from the Pyle household!
















And the latest from back in the Bigby household!













We also recently went to my cousin Caleb's birthday party at Mr Gatti's. Kairi had a blast playing w/ her cousin Wyatt!