My Little "Owls" - Pictures to follow
The 4 younger kids attend a school called Oak Hills Terrace and the official mascot is the Owl. At the end of each marking period (nine weeks) teachers select kids who have either shown 'remarkable improvement' in all fields of study - known as the Gold Owl; or kids who display 'outstanding achievement' in all fields of study - known as the Blue Owl.
This marking period we have one Gold Owl and two Blue Owls.
Congratulations to Teagan and Hayley for their Blue Owl awards. Hayley also made a the A-B Honour Roll, and Teagan the A Honour Roll.
Congratulations to Garrick for his Gold Owl award.
Pictures will follow but Terry is on a deadline and doesn't have the time to download them from the camera at the moment!
Our Lennon Nephew
Terry and I have three nieces and nephews - two from his sister and now my brother Peter and his wife Jenny have a son, Michael Lennon. Here he is - he is 8 months old and according to family quite precocious!
I think my parents despaired that there would be a Lennon to carry on the family name, we have my in-laws quite nicely covered with the three Smelker boys, but my parents didn't have an 'heir' until my brother finally married Jenny (the sweetest gal!)
I need to get some recent photos of my niece and nephew, Kianna and Devin so I can show them off too - they closely resemble our children, whereas Michael must take after his mother's side of the family - check out his blond hair (none of mine were ever that blond!)
Labels: Michael
Twins are three weeks old today
A friend emailed me on Friday to remind me that the 21st was my due date for the twins, and wasn't I glad I didn't carry that far? I emailed her back and said the 21st would have been out of the question anyway because it was Garrick's birthday and I was not about to have the twins on his birthday!
I reflect on the intervening three weeks and I am so grateful I took this opportunity to carry the twins for Wendall and Laurie. Their struggle to have children opened my eyes to a whole demographic of the human population who, for a variey of reasons, are unable to carry biological children of their own. I will never look at fertility issues in quite the same way again. It also makes me so grateful to realise just how easy in comparison my own pregnancies were and how I took them for granted.
To all those who have struggled with fertility issues, keep up the good fight, and remember, God is bigger than any problem you face, and He has the answer for you.
Labels: God, Surrogate, twins
Parties and Pottery
Today we celebrated Garrick's 7th birthday at Peter Piper Pizza. Here are a couple of photos of him having fun:
I have also mentioned Teagan and her love for pottery and how good she is. Here she shows off her finished work - note the coffee cups in the front! I think they hold about 4 ounces of coffee, but the important thing is she made them herself for us!
Labels: Birthday, Garrick, pottery, Teagan
Our Senior
Warrick has decided to do his Junior and Senior years together and then head off to College at age 16 (he turns 16 in less than 2 weeks). We will have senior pictures taken later on in the year, but he FINALLY got his year photo taken - here is my phantom son - I have friends who don't believe we really have 5 kids!
Labels: Warrick
Happy 7th Birthday Garrick!!
Our 4th child, Garrick celebrates 7 years today. I have to remind myself that he is not so little any more. He is now in 1st Grade and is bright, funny and extremely sensitive.
Happy Birthday Garrick - we love you!
Labels: Birthday, Garrick
Busy Lives
When did we get so busy?
Tomorrow (Saturday) is insanely busy for the Smelker family. Teagan has pottery lessons from 10:30 to 11:30, the same time as Hayley's swim practice. From 11:30 to 1:30 Teagan has a birthday party to attend at the local pizza joint - which fortunately is where Garrick's birthday party is going to be from 1:00 to 3:00. I am meant to attend a Mary Kay party at 3:00 but I think I might give the make up a miss, and spend the rest of the day with the kids!
Next weekend doesn't look any better!
Labels: Birthday, Garrick, Hayley, Teagan
Adding to the Family - Auto that is
Well, the Smelker Seven are now proud owners of a Chevy Conversion van. Take one Express van, tear it apart, put it back together with a full size bed, captain's chairs, custom CD player, 17 inch TV and you have our van. Here it is! Oh, we even nicknamed the vans so the kids know which one we mean. Our green van (which has been an absolutely wonderful van) is called "Kermit" and the blue one is "Big Blue".
Labels: van
Creating Books
I think many of you know that I have kept a journal of my surrogacy journey and plan on turning the journal into a book that explores not only the adventure itself, but the spiritual and theological implications involved. I have heard so often from people, "Oh, if it was God's will for those people to have babies, He would have opened her womb..." But those same people who might believe it is God's will for someone to have cancer will encourage them to get chemo. The logic doesn't follow.
Anyway, I have written about half of the book and to keep me motivated, Terry created a lovely book cover that I hope we can use for the book when it is done (which should be in November).
Labels: Surrogate
Royalty?
On Wednesday night Terry took the kids to a local restaurant called Gringos (awesome salads, best I've ever had!) Well, not only is the food good, the entertainment is great too and a balloon man walks from table to table making balloon shapes. Our kids decided seeing they have had to take a back seat for a couple of weeks whilst I was in the last stages of pregnancy, that this was time for them to be treated like royalty.
Don't they look great?! Oh, and both boys lost a tooth while eating ice cream, so the tooth fairy made a visit too!
Labels: balloons, Terry
Babies, Babies!!
Terry and I are excited to let everyone know that after 37 weeks and 4 days
of pregnancy, the OB determined I had carried long enough and decided to
induce the babies. (I think she felt sorry for me because one of the babies
was breech and had taken up residence under my ribcage!)
They both arrived safely on Tuesday October 4th. Wendall Carter III arrived
at 9:13pm, weighing a hefty 6lbs 10oz, and measuring 19.75 inches. Kendell
Sarah roared into the world 11 minutes later weighing 6lbs 6oz and measuring
19 inches. Labour lasted a total of one hour from first real contraction to
birth.
The babies went home with their parents this morning, and I came home to
resume our family life - for which my children will be eternally grateful.
Labels: Surrogate, Terry, twins
