Okay, I know

Hello! I know, know, long time, no blog. I am finding that managing 3 kids and a hubby is a challenge at times. Not a whole lot to report at this time but I will try and break it down one at a time.

Riley- is now a second grader- ahhh! He just finished his first year of all day school and is now reading and writing like a pro. He has grown so much! I also mean that literally- he is the tallest in his class! He loves soccer and seems to be improving more and more. He still dreams of being a farmer and just spent the last few days taking care of baby calves, cleaning up manure (which he loved) and doing anything else to get dirty. Needless to say my dad is one proud papa!

Carter- is now a kindergartner---AHHH! He is my little book worm and can still be found reading and writing. He LOVED preschool and made so many friends- they all became so close. He is the one most often inside, but loved being outside today catching toads with Riley. ( They caught 7!) He also has grown a foot and is trying to read and is writing all the time. My baby is not a baby.

Miss Morgan- is a toddler--BIG AHHHH! Our last one is now talking, walking and actually has hair! She is a sweetheart and loves to give hugs and kisses. She is a big Sesame Street fan and is mommy's helper. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She is truly a completion to our family and we feel blessed everyday we get one of those hugs or kisses.

Dad & Mom (aka- Keith & Wendi)- We are holding our own. Keith is very busy with work and a church softball league. We did get to go to Grand Rapids for a couple days in May which was very nice-even though Morgan tagged along. Keith is still City Planner of Midland(thought I should add that considering the unemployment rate for MI is 14%!) and staying VERY busy with lots of meetings and activities. He is often found outside playing baseball with the boys when has a chance though. As for me I am doing all the mommy duties. I was room parent this year and found myself planning all the parties and trying to implement them. I tried to help out at Carter's preschool when I could and spent some time with the preschool mom's when I could. In regards to the dreaded asthma- it still is annoying and problematic. I spent a week in the hospital the end of April but I am trying out a new drug that - I'm praying- will offer some relief. It has truly been a struggle.

Thank you all for your prayers and continued support and I will try and do better with this whole blogging thing-sorry! Take care!!!! =)

Updates

Hello all, I am so sorry that my blogging has been so bad. We have had a rough January and a busy February. To make a long story short, Jan 3rd I ended up in the emergency room (yes, again) with what I thought was aminor astha attack. Well, I ended up having a bad asthma attack and bronchitis so guess who ended up staying at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall, MI- me. Let me tell you it was far from fun. I had an inexperienced Dr who gave me too much meds, the wrong meds, etc and left me in a very drug induced state. I do not remember an entire week! Poor Keith, he picked up the slack and I must say did a very fine job. We owe a HUGE thank you to our families who have been our support through all of this. They have been there through some really rough days. Another huge thank you to everyone who called, sent a card, sent flowers, visited, etc. You will never know what a HUGe impact it made. THANK YOU!! Okay, so back to the good stuff. Riley lost his first tooth! He was so worried it was going to hurt and it came out on its own. I am just waiting for the rest to start falling out- poor tooth fairy! Carter is loving school and trying so hard to read. He is really ready to learn and I know he with catch on very fast. He is just a happy little dude. Morgan is busy! She is such a girl and loves baby dolls and anything that sparkles. She sings all the time and has 6 teeth now. I am pretty sure that the others are going to be in soon. Keith is working hard and is getting into a busy season. He is loved by the community and has had some challenges come up that he has handled like a pro. We are all so proud of him. So, that's about all with us. We are waiting for spring to come- HURRY- and I'm praying we can go somewhere warm soon! (I need a vacation!) God Bless all of you and we pray you are all doing well.

Merry Christmas- our online newsletter!

Okay, so I have failed miserably at keeping this updated. SORRY! I will try and do a quick update of the past 2 months. Morgan- she is walking and jabbering nonstop. She has become quite the singer with such hits as "Twinkle, Twinkle", "Happy Birthday" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" being among her favorites. I think we counted 5 or 6 different songs that she sings. I am going to try and get a video- it is so funny. She has gotten so much taller and her hair is slowly but surely coming in. She smiles all the time and is just the sweetest little thing. She also had to give us a little scare as we spent the day before Thanksgiving in the hospital. The Dr. thought she might have a bacterial infection but with a quick round of meds and some monitoring we quickly realized she was fine. Carter- wow that kid has grown! I think Riley is going to have a run for his money! He loves to draw and is my quiet one. He also is the one who wants to climb in my lap. He loves preschool and everyone loves him. I sometimes joke that Carter seems like "an old soul"- he just goes with everything, but DO NOT interrupt his Sesame Street! Riley- is always FULL of energy. He bounces everywhere he goes and I don't know how many times a day I tell him to sit or slow down! He is my instigator and my biggest challenge but he has so much heart. He is the first to ask if everything is okay. He is a thinker and always trying to figure things out- this is good and bad! His greatest joy is being outside especially at my parent's farm and taking care of the cows. He loves it. As for Keith and I, we are doing okay. Keith has been busy with work but not as busy as last year- thank goodness! He played softball in the spring with the church league and leads singing at both the Battle Creek and Midland churches. He has really found his place here and enjoys it. The kids love having daddy time and look forward to his coming home everyday. Morgan wraps herself around his legs when he walks through the door- it is precious! I am working hard to take care of the family. I am a room parent and am in charge of the parties for Riley's classroom. So far, so good. I have also gotten into making jewelry and have had a very good response to it. It has been fun. I have had my excitement with an emergency appendectomy in April and asthma issues. Two weeks ago I went in for what I thought was a "no big deal" asthma attack. Well, they let me out 5 days later. Apparently, my lungs were 1/2 closed on one side and 1/4 on the other. They pretty much said it was a good thing I went in. Needless to say my perspective on a few things has changed. My husband, family and friends have been wonderful support and we feel so blessed this holiday season. We have added a beautiful niece to our extended family and see so many blessings around us. God is truly amazing. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and love you all dearly.

The Baker's

Fall is here

I apologize that I haven't updated recently. It has been very busy around here with school in full swing and Morgan walking everywhere! Actually, we have gone right to running! As for my sister and brother-in-law, they are home with my niece! She is beautiful and all the cousins seem to bond well. In regard to Keith's family, all is almost well. We had a great time with all the cousins and they really enjoy being together. Jodi, our sister-in-law, took these AMAZING photos of the kids and some of just Morgan. The bummer thing is that Keith's mom broke her hip and had to go through a partial hip replacement. I am happy to say she is home and doing a little better everyday. We love you grandma! More to come!

GREAT NEWS!

Okay for all of you who have kept up with the Baker Blog you know that my sister , Marcie, and her husband, Josh, have been trying to adopt a baby from Vietnam. Wellllll, God has blessed our family and next week, yes next Thursday, they will be traveling to Vietnam to get their baby girl. Maeley is now 7 months old and ready for her mommy and daddy. I cannot even begin to explain how hard this whole process has been for them ! We are SO excited to welcome Maeley Bao Hydrick to the family. We love her so much already!

Morgan turns one!

I can't believe that I am saying this... Morgan wil be one on Sunday. What an amazing blessing she has been to us and I thank God every day for my amazing and beautful family. Morgan's arrival was one of anticipation and one of new hope. God called grandma home 2 days (a year ago today) before Morgan was born. This was all God's plan, but trust me when I say it was FAR from easy. Grandma was our teacher, our mentor and, for myself personally, a true friend. Morgan Margaret Suzanne Baker brought a smile to many faces during this very tough time. She is a tiny tot (unlike her brothers) who loves baby dolls and is proving to be a girly girl. She ADORES her brothers and looks out the window every day calling for "dada". She is also a TALKER! Anyone who has called knows how that girl can talk (aka-babble)! She is hysterical! The boys are VERY protective of her and love on her all the time. She is wonderful. Here are few pictures from this year so you can see how much she's changed.

Happy Birthday my little Suzie-Q!

Baker Vacation #2

We have been all over the state in the past week! It has been so much fun seeing new places and visiting family and friends. We started at the Detroit Zoo (the boys absolutely LOVE zoo's as many of you know) and went from there to my Uncle Terry and Aunt Peg's condo in Lexington. It was gorgeous! We were right on lake Huron and work up every morning to God's magnificant sunrises. What a creator he truly is! The weather wasn't exactlt on our side, but we had fun and made due. The kids got very creative with things, especially because we had no media sources. Morgan wasn't so sure about the sand but she loved the freezing cold water. The boys, as you can imagine, loved the sand and I was cleaning up sand the entire time! I know the pictures don't do it justice, it was so pretty.