Kamryn - Our little miracle baby is truly a miracle. She's now 19 months old, and she's a lot of fun for the whole crew. Many of you may remember she had her little bout of croup at the beginning of December, which landed her in the hospital for a few days. That did not bode well for winter, but I am happy to say that she's been awfully healthy ever since. Last winter we had kept her sheltered, but this year she's been completely exposed to everything, and she has quite a strong little immune system. We've seen some sniffles here and there, but it always just goes away, and she never seems to get sick. Even when our crew got the stomach bug in Colorado, it barely touched her despite all kinds of exposure. We are so thankful that the Lord has given her what appears to be a strong immune system that has strengthened with age. As far as development goes, she's just fantastic. She's a very bright little thing (though we are completely biased). Her vocabulary is constantly increasing as is the clarity of her many words. She also seems to be a climber like Ryan and Jenny, and despite her tiny frame she can really stretch when she wants to climb on something. She's also a little helper around the house, and she loves to pick up any little piece of trash she finds and get it to the trash can. (We are particularly pleased that her mouth is no longer her destination of choice for such objects.)
In summary, Kamryn is amazing. Other than being a little on the small side, she still shows no developmental delays or medical difficulties, and she's just a happy, healthy, and very enjoyable toddler. Thank you all for your prayers - God has answered them!!!
Kylie, Ryan, Jennifer, and Emily began public school in late January after we had home schooled in the fall. That transition has gone better than expected.
Jennifer is 7 and in second grade. She is a very sensitive and creative child. She is more bold and impulsive than the rest of the bunch, which is sometimes a strength and sometimes gets her into trouble. She is also on the tall side - she and Ryan are easily confused for twins even though she is actually closer to Emily in age. Jenny has always said that she wants to be a mom when she grows up, but occasionally she is now saying maybe she'll be a teacher and a mom. She loves to read, and despite her bold exterior nature, she can often be found sitting quietly alone with a book under a blanket somewhere. 
Ryan is in third grade and is everything you would picture in a nine year old boy. He is always active, and he can do some crazy maneuvers on play equipment. He reads less than any of our other kids, but he scores perfectly on nearly every reading test he takes. When he does read, it's usually non-fiction. He is full of facts and information in every subject - he loves to learn. He loves math as well and he'd pretty good at that too. He's a little impulsive but a whole lot of fun despite that nerdy nature.
Kylie is 11 and in 5th grade. Kylie is very sturdy and responsible. She does not understand why other kids break rules. She wants to be a lawyer/judge when she grows up. She is a top-notch student who is pretty much good at anything she sets her mind to be good at - mostly through hard work and determination. She is helpful and is particularly good with Kamryn; they have a special bond. Kylie tends to have a small group of really close friends. She can get along with anybody, but she tends to get the closest to kids who share her values.
Jacob is 12 now and in 6th grade, and we waited to get the other kids settled before we put him back in school. Jacob began junior high almost 3 weeks ago, and he is adjusting really well also. Jacob is very sweet, and he is most attached to his family and his "home," so we are glad that he has truly enjoyed his transition back to school. His natural abilities in mathematics are incredible, but communication skills slow him down. He is taller than me and growing quickly these days. It's hard to believe how much older he looks now than a year ago. Jacob is the first one to offer help when someone is crying or hurt and is very sensitive. His best friend is his brother Ryan.
So, that's a longer-than-expected update on the crew. I feel like I see the Lord's creativity when I see just how different from each other they are. Together they are a lively, fun and sweet bunch.
