Time flies when you are having fun! How cliche is that? How true it is though. With two little ones in the house their is NEVER a dull moment. (Three if you count Lucas) I have always thought that the older we become the less hectic our life would be because we would be settled into routine and more organized. I have been totally wrong in thinking that! It seems that everyday is a juggling act and we are hoping to get balance but it will probably never come. This is what makes life an adventure.
This year Robert has grown to become such a little man. He has taken to becoming a big brother much better than and has such a strong love for Thomas. Robert spent three weeks away from his mom and dad this year visiting New Mexico and for the first time California. In May, the Shiver's visited Kathy and Jason in the Washington, D.C. area and Robert saw his second professional baseball game and got to ride the Metro. (which he talked about for weeks afterward) His mind is quickly developing and he is beginning to make personal connections to the things around him. The brain is such an amazing tool! Robert started soccer this fall and seemed to enjoy it most of the time. (As long as too much attention was not directed to him) He is beginning to understand letter sounds and learn to write. He is a perfectionist and is working on accepting things that are not perfect on his first try.
Thomas has had a great 8 months. He is developing quite a personality and loves Robert just as much as Robert loves him. In October, he had outpatient surgery at Riley Children's Hospital in downtown Indianapolis to remove a small hemangioma on his face. It was not causing him discomfort but once he began to gain more control of his arms and hands he would scratch it and cause it o bleed extensively so we decided to have it removed. We thank everyone who prayed for Thomas and the staff Riley as the procedure was a textbook surgery, in and out in 5 hours. Thomas began to crawl this past week and is really beginning to love his new mobility.
Our family increased by two this year, obviously one being Thomas and finally our baby girl, Sweet Mary, a.k.a. the new greyhound. She is tiny and petite (for a greyhound), only 50 pounds! Unlike our other greyhounds who rocked the scale in the upper 70's and low 80's. She was a perfect match for Buddy who was becoming lonely without Rambler. Their friendship was short but they comforted each other when they needed it most. Buddy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in the summer and left our family in September. It was a difficult time for everyone but we are once again adjusting to life with one dog.
Lucas is a little more than half way through his MBA program and looking forward to his graduation in the spring of 2010. He once again will begin a new position at work for the new year. The travel will be minimal, thank goodness!
After havig Thomas in March, Michelle began to get her résumé together and apply for jobs. She knew that in His time the right job would come along but it was disheartening that she did not get a full time position at the beginning of the school year. Thankfully she is now employed as a Title 1 Instructional Assistant in the Franklin Township school district and as an independent distributor for Premier Designs Jewelry. When you ask you will receive, both jobs started the same week!
Christmas is looking to be rather hectic, we leave for New Mexico in one week and will be there for 10 days visiting family and friends in Albuquerque, Carlsbad, and Cloudcroft. Despite the craziness of driving all around we are excited to see people and introduce Thomas to green chile......well, we'll see if that happens.
Merry Christmas and God Bless.
Luke, Michelle, Robert, Thomas and Mary
