Happy Earth Day, Weight Gain, Prayer Needed

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Today is Earth Day and we like to celebrate it. Not the earth, we don't think that it has any special mystical power or significance other than that the Lord gave it to us to take care of and dwell on until He returns. And you know me. I love all things biodegradable, recyclable, and Earth-friendly. So, Earth Day is a great day to talk to the kids about things we can do to help preserve God's creation. I even had a great Dora book about Earth Day that Snug (who loves her...library DVDs have corrupted him) got in his Easter basket. However, the book is NO WHERE to be seen today. I even had #1 check at the library to see if we had accidentally returned it with the library books. Oh well.

Potato prints are always a hit. Take a potato, cut it in half, and carve a shape you want to print on each side.

Here is an up close. I score around the edge, about 1/4 inch. Then I kinda draw on top what I want and then carve away until I have the shape.

Snug painting the "ocean" on his paper plate.

Mother Hen and Little Miss E painting their "land". The paint is squirted onto things that would have hit the trash recycle bin. They are still headed there, but got one more use.

Do you like our Earths?

We also planted some 4 O'clocks today (flowers) in little pots with my friend Mindy and her daycare kids, but I forgot to take pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it. To see a picture of Snug last Earth Day, click here.

Baby J had a weight check (at home) today and he weighs 16 lbs 14 oz! That is up 7 oz from last week (and the week before, when he'd had no gain). Praise the Lord. We also think that he is beginning to recognize his name! YEAH

This is Kayleigh, and she is four days older than Baby J. She has never been home from the hospital because she was born three months early. She weighed 1 lb 1 oz and was 10.5 inches long. She has had a hard battle to live, and every time they are about to send her home, something else happens. I asked via Twitter for people to pray for her last week as she underwent a surgery that was going to allow her to be cared for at home. She was recovering nicely until last night.

You'll have to click here to get the specifics, but it appears that something during/after the surgery has made her brain dead. Before that she was growing (approaching 9 lbs) and batting at toys and reacting to everything around her. The picture above was on her blog a few days ago showing off the first thing her parents bought when they found out they were having a girl. It fits now.

Please pray that they will get to take this little girl home, and that they will have the strength to deal with everything that is going on. We know God can heal. Our family knows this firsthand.

Kayleigh's story was brought to my attention by my mom. My husband told me I was not allowed to read one more "sick baby" blog, but being that she and Baby J are so close in age, and that Snug was a preemie, it struck close to home for both of us. She has older siblings at home, her mom's name is Aimee and her dad is Adam.