Christmas Eve

Well, it's Christmas Eve: Mama is getting the day rolling, Daddy's at work, and the Madden Kids are still in a deep slumber. A perfect time to start our blog :] Admittedly, I've pondered the idea of using blogspot for more than a few years, and as I begin mine this morning there is a slight tinge of regret for waiting so very long...So, without further delay, here's our status:

Daniel: is wrapping up 13 years of service at the family business, Madden Millworks, after receiving a significant pay cut due to our crumbling economy. So far we have two leads working locally; we'll see the beginning of January if they pan out. He is also going to meet with a recruiter to discuss signing up for the Air Force Reserve, which we all think is very exciting! We've been hosting a college group at our house for several months now, but Daniel recently told Jeff our good times would be coming to an end as we prepare to downsize to a more humble abode to accommodate our new level of income. I can see Daniel is unburdened and excited about all of these changes and the doors opening up for our family.

Jody: is relieved at how sovereign the Good Lord is in providing all of our needs. For a while there things were looking grim as far as securing a home at half the rent for a family of 6. Two weeks went by with countless applications going out and no call backs for Daniel's field of work, and I was relieved when we discussed the AFR as a backup. I've been blessed by amazing friends and a loving church, and a wonderful family...it's honestly the happiest I've ever been :] My experience working with families who are afflicted with fetal disorders over the past year has been so enriching. It has been a pleasure getting to know the man who operated on my girls and ultimately cured their TTTS. Our friendship has grown and we've been able to work together on different projects to help the Fetal Therapy Department at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. I am so excited about the new year and making more progress!

Devan: is all boy, and then some! He goes by "Devan Boy" (Adele's invention) and loves being surrounded by beautiful girls. I don't think a moment goes by that he doesn't have one of them physically glued to his body. The babies crawl up to him and tug on his jeans until he picks them up; Adele just climbs him like a monkey on a palm tree. Yes, he tolerates them well, and still manages to get all of his studies done. Devan is excelling in our home studies, progressing from Kindergarten to 2nd grade between June and now. We are so proud! In his spare time he loves to play with Adam and Paul, engage in sword fights, build legos, play video games, go on special outings with me, and of course anything manly with Uncle Daniel.

Adele: is something else. Now that she is talking in full sentences, her personality is really shining through. She corrects us, argues, shares inside jokes, and reveals her endless imagination. Her favorite person in the whole world is her beloved Devan Boy. She loves to go into his room and make him dance with her to "A Whole New World" on his piano, and he does. I believe she might have him wrapped around her finger. For now she has him quizzing her ABC skills during "ABC Time," reading her books during "Story Time," building her forts to play in, fixing all of her broken toys, and riding him as a horsey. She also enjoys her baby sisters immensely, and when we walk into her room at 1 AM to see why three little girls are jumping on the bed, squealing, she announces, "WE'RE HAVING A SLUMBER PARTY!"

Ginger: is our go getter. From day one, at 2lbs 14oz, she has been a little fighter...and as she's grown, so has her temper. I have never seen someone that small be so determined and fierce. At birth she was ripping out her tubes and wires so they had to tape her little arms to the isolate. I remember when she was about 6 months old she grabbed Giselle's pacifier out of her mouth and threw it across the room. The other day she crawled over to her sister, stole her bottle of milk and helped herself. She's very intense and fearless and still has very little baby fat. I think she works out. Many times she is the leader of the baby train that tours our house and the culprit behind the expeditions they embark upon. Recently I discovered Giselle holding the pantry door open while Ginger unloaded the bottom shelf...I can only imagine what they'll be doing a year from now.

Giselle: is our sensitive child. Mind you, definitely not as sensitive as Adele. Giselle is very patient, and rarely becomes jealous unlike her twin sister. She doesn't take a pacifier and everything has to be just so for her to fall asleep. She loves to smile and has a gentle spirit, but hates to go to bed. She stands in her crib and bellows the most pitiful, "Mamaaaa" she can muster and it works every time. Giselle dominates Ginger at times when it comes to sharing toys, and more often than not tries to use her as a foot stool. For example, the other day she tried to climb up on the couch and used Ginger's back as her boost. The bottle theft incident occurred shortly thereafter when I put both fussy babies to bed. I'm sure they'll work out their differences soon enough...

We are moving to our new place on December 27th. It's 1000 square feet smaller than where we currently live and has a postage stamp sized back yard, but we love it! This is the perfect opportunity to purge ourselves of unnecessary material things that have accumulated over the years and store away all of the "essentials."