Campfire fishing stories

Yet another year of Fall Fishing with the Drapers... and Butts, and Hosiners, and Morris', and Warricks, and Frenchs, and Mitcheners has come to an end. It is always a time of the year I look foreward to, sitting around the campfire in sweatshirts and drinking hot chocolate! We had a good year for fishing, the guys had a pretty good string! We definitely had enough fish for the much awaited fish fry. This says more than last year... no pressure guys! Our family has done fishing trip to Lake of the Ozarks for 35? or so years. It is very special to our family and everyone really tries to make an effort to come every year.

Here are a few moments of reflection...

Wow! That's a big white bass, papa!

This is the future of our fishing trip! Boys, Boys, Boys!

Double trouble for sure!

The amazing disappearing marble..

Yep, you guessed it! You know, I always wondered how things like this could happen, now I know! Very quick and for no good reason! Silas thought it would be a good idea to put a 1/2 in. stainless steel ball into his mouth and swallow it. This event took place on Thursday, now it is Sunday and we still haven't had any reappearance of the marble. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE digging through his poop, but how much fun can one person have? Oh well, I guess if it's not out by tomorrow, we will go back for another x-ray and see how much progression we have or have not made!
I guess on a more serious note, I should be glad it went down his esophagus and not his trachea. Thank you Lord for directing the little marble. Now, if you could just direct it out!

We have our ultrasound tomorrow to check out the progress of the newest Mitchener and see if it will be a boy or girl! Please be in prayer for us, as we all know what a miracle it is for ANY baby to be born healthy. It is only by the grace of the creator that these precious babies are born, praise God for his creation!

Baby Brain gets the best of me..

I can't believe it's been OVER a month since I last blogged. Wow! How irresponsible of me! Well, lets see..

Silas is now finished with his grand slam basketball season and we are kicking around during soccer season. Soccer seems to to going a little better than basketball as he definitely has the running thing down. Even if it IS running AWAY from the ball. Oh, well. I am just enjoying watching him have fun with the other kids!

We are now 17 weeks pregnant. It seems like this is going so much faster this time. Probably because I have had Silas to keep me busy. We have our ultrasound the 28th, when we will find out if we will be blessed with a boy or a girl. I think we have decided to find out the sex, but keep the name until the big day. We need some surprise, right?

Now, on more of a sad note, we sold our camper yesterday. I can't talk about it too much or I will cry. You know I am emotional these days. We just decided to sell now while we could and not worry about storing it all winter and paying taxes on it. We know this will be temporary, we just want to take a break while we have a small baby and then get back into it in a couple of years.

We have made a commitment to becoming debt free and we are getting closer and closer. We feel like the money from our camper could be used in a more productive way. Thanks Dave Ramsey!

No blog would be complete without pictures..

At the foot of the mountain..

I am really dreading this weekend, I am on call for the hospital until Monday morning. I haven't been feeling well and am now on 2 nausea medicines. I haven't been throwing up, but haven't been able to eat. Not feeling well and not sleping well doesn't seem like the most pleasant thing to look foreward to this weekend. Pray for me, I am going to work and sleep!

Four?! No way!

Well, although I am fighting it, I have finally come to grips with the fact my baby is turning four! He won't officially be four until Thursday the 13th at 8:58 PM, but who's counting? We celebrated his birthday last Saturday with our family just the way he wanted; Chinese food, chocolate cake, presents, and go-karts! He had a blast! He even helped make and decorate his Birthday Cake! Here are a few moments from the bash! We love chocolate cake! Especially homemade, and self-decorated!

No birthday is complete without some TOYS!! Because he doesn't have ANY!!!

Here are David and Silas "blowing the doors off" of his Papa French and Papa Mitchener! It doesn't come much better than this!

Got some good news!

I went to the doctor on Monday for my 11 week check up. After waiting 2 hours in the waiting room I finally saw the doctor and boy was it worth it! She looked me over and we found the baby's heartbeat, which was 165. I had lost 7 pounds this month due to some strong food adversions, so she put me on some medicine to help with that. She reassured me that finding the baby's heartbeat at this stage and have the good ultrasound reduced my chance for miscarriage to less than 2%! I still can't find total comfort in her assurance, and lean on the power of prayer for peace. She had me schedule our 15 week appointment and our ultrasound at 19 weeks. So, the end of Sept. is when we will be finding out the sex of the baby! How exciting! I know alot of you have been praying, and I am eternally greatful for that!

Table Rockin' and Rollin'... for a week!

The annual Draper side summer vacation came to a close today. We spent a week at Old Highway 86 campground with my Grandma and Grandpa Draper, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Walter, my cousin Shelby and his wife Kaysie and their kids, and my cousin Amy and her husband Jason and their kids. We also had various visitors throughout the week.

There were several activities going on at all times, so there was never a lack of movement. Grandma and Grandpa's motorhome was the hub of the camp. From fishing trips and swimming to bike rides and the playground, we were busy. Even Amy's 9mo baby Owen had several trips in the wagon!

These times are some I cherish, and some I could never forget. Our family is so blessed, and we have so much to look forward to in the future.

Silas had his second basketball game with the Blue Buffalos and he scored a basket!! These kids really pick up on the game quickly! All of the kids were great, especially my Air Mitchener!

Air Mitchener

Silas had his first basketball game tonight. He is in a 3-4 year old league. He didn't score any baskets, but he has the running thing down for sure! The kids were so cute and everyone comes out a winner!

We are packing the camper tonight to head out to Table Rock Lake for a week. We will leave tomorrow afternoon and spend the week with my mom's side of the family. It will be alot of fun, we have been looking foreward to it all summer. I am sure I will have alot to blog about when we get home!

The Fruits of our labor

This year we put out an experimental garden. We didn't really expect much as a return. But, despite our greatest efforts, we were able to harvest a few things over the past couple of weeks. This is beautiful cilantro and our first green pepper. Since this picture, we have harvested some red and yellow tomatoes, a few cucumbers and some jalapenos. We are counting it a success!

Silas and I played trains one afternoon and I thought he was really cute in his train conductor costume, so I had to include this picture!

Landmark!

Well, today i am 5weeks and 3 days. This a landmark for me to pass since I lost my last baby at 5 weeks and 2 days. Now, I'm just counting each healthy day as a blessing. I have been feeling pretty good aside from the occasional nausea and being so tired. But you won't see me complain about it, I am welcoming it with open arms!
Today David is mowing and it is in the mid 90's. I feel terrible that I can't help him. I'm not good at being a Spectator. Silas and I are playing play-dough and getting ready for the Draper picnic tonight. It should be interesting, it always is!

Our Fantastic Scary News

Okay, since no one knows about this blog, and I am busting to tell SOMEONE, David and I are pregnant again. We found out on the 16th of June. This makes me 5 weeks today. I went to the Dr. yesterday for the first time. She drew lab work and ran through a quick check-up. She wants me to come back next Monday the 29th for the full exam. She says she is keeping a close eye on me. I am very nervous. I am overly in tune with every little twinge that occurs in my body. I have been having some of the same cramp type feelings that I had when I miscarried, but they are not near as bad. The Dr. seems to be okay with it. I am just supposed to let her know if they get worse. Anyway, some of you will read this in a week or so when I tell my family about this blog. Until then, this will be my vent. Please pray for protection and God's will for this baby. This would bring more comfort than anything.

The newest Mitchener

Meet Charlie, the newest member of the Mitchener household. Charlie was a stray David picked up ona job site. He is 7 lbs and black as night. Charlie is about a year old according to the vet and was in desprate need of a bath and a haircut! He is making a really nice pet, and we look foreward to his first camping trip over 4th of July weekend!

To New Beginnings..

Okay, so this is my first attempt at blogging. I'm not sure what I am supposed to be saying, but I will figure it out as we go!