Today was the first full day I had here with my six children. It went surprisingly well and I just thank God for getting me through the day. He has taken care of this little mama today, and I have this hymn running through my mind:
“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.”
“When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving has only begun.”
“His love has no limit; His grace has no measure;
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!”
~ Annie Johnson Flint
“He giveth more grace” James 4:6
I believe it with all my heart, and thank God for His provision. He gives more than we can imagine, and helps us in ways we don’t even recognize or fathom. We thank and praise God NOW, but when we fully know, someday, what God really and truly has done for us, we will be singing His praise for all eternity.
My oldest and my youngest. Jacob is 12 and Seth is almost 3 weeks old. The little outfit that Seth has on was the one he came home in from the hospital. I put it on him today and called him my little sausage, because I had to basically stuff him into it one last time. Seth is sorry to be growing so fast and making his mama sad.
Grace and Ethan played Bananagrams together.
Poor Caleb spent his first night back home, throwing up. Sorry, I don’t know any other way to describe it. It all started at about 1am. THANKFULLY, Rich got up with him through the night. It’s our unspoken rule, that when I’m getting up with a newborn he gets up with Anyone Else.
Caleb’s sheets are still out on the porch, waiting for someone to shake them out. Ew.
He had a nice hot bubble bath this morning, and of course he takes trains with him, the metal and plastic ones (the wooden ones lose their paint if they get wet).
The train under the white washcloth is Percy. He was a ghost. I kept hearing alarming ghostly sounds coming from the tub.
Caleb has a fascination with Seth’s diaper changes and likes to watch and observe the whole process.
If Grace ever becomes a nurse or caregiver, she’s going to need more practice. I get pretty thirsty these days and there was a time today that I had to ask Grace to get me a drink of water. She came right back with a TISSUE. I told her to try again and she came back with a mug not even half way filled with water. After I told her to fill it up and put ice in it, she came back with the mug filled to the uttermost tippy top of the mug and sloshed water into the chair when she handed it to me! It was all fun. . . . .we all got some good laughter out of that episode. It’s just a good thing that I personally did not get wet.
We watched a movie . . . . . . .it was cozy.
These are the books I am reading, and I actually read a few pages today from The Prodigal God.
The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian
I was freaked out two times this morning. Once was when Seth started crying and Ethan came carrying him to me. The other time was when I went in the livingroom and found Grace with him in her arms.
Seth was wearing a onesie that says HEARTBREAKER on it. Rich thinks he looks scared in this picture, but he wasn’t. He was safe on my lap and sister was right next to him, too. We were talking to him. On second thought, maybe he WAS scared. 
Last but not least, my new sweater came today. It is SO ME. When I saw it I had to have it. It’s my cheerful green sweater with cheerful white polka dots. Love it!
Okay, that wraps up my day in photos.&nbs
p; Sethie woke up while I was finishing this up and Rich is walking around with him. It’s time for his dinner. . . . .
HUGS and LOTSA love to you all!
~Shanda
Good to be Home 
blessings on the weekend and praying no one else gets sick….pics are great…..i absolutely love the sweater!!!
I’m so glad you have all your babies home with you. Grace looks like a natural holding her little brother. I’ve seen some adults hold babies less secure than she is. 🙂 Drinks lots of water and get lots of sleep this weekend.
What a wonderful day!! I love how God pours out His grace to us til we are overflowing! This post reminded me of this verse: “From the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another,” John 1:16. God dispenses his grace like a mighty waterfall – not one drop at a time! Your Jacob looks so big next to tiny Seth! It must be wonderful to have them all together again (and I LOVE your new sweater!!)
lol – loved this post and the photos and your sweater!!!!
How wonderful to have everybody at home again — and to have your oldest 3 wanting so much to help! I love the story about poor Grace bringing you a glass of water — lol !
Looks like you have some great help with Seth 🙂 I like the sweater – very nice!
Love the sweater so much…you’re right…it suits you! So glad your day was good and you made it through!!
I think you may be able to trust Grace. She looks like she is doing everything right! Can you believe Seth has grown so much in just 3 weeks???!!!! And your sweater – green AND with dots . . . how can a gal go wrong?!Hugs and lotsa love back atcha!
Sounds like you made it through. yay! Love that song and the words are so true!You’re sweater looks so cute-I love polka dots as well as green 🙂
I love Stormie O’Martian. I’ve never even heard of that one before. As coincidence would have it…I just bought “Power of a Praying Woman” at the Half Price Bookstore today! “Finding Peace for Your Heart” is my favorite of hers…followed by “Stormie”.
LOVE the sweater! Love Seth’s “scared” face, Grace holding him, and they hymn…I need to write that one down! Glad you’re doing well. 🙂
BTW, where’d you get that sweater?
That is one of my favorite hymns. Looks like you have lots of help with baby Seth — I agree, Grace looks very natural holding him — he’s growing so fast!
LOL Casey would have brought me the wrong thing, too. That made me chuckle. I was even thinking wow, Jacob looks so OLD in that picture, with those long legs and all…yikes. That’s definitely a Shanda sweater…I love it. Listen, please let me know when I can bring you guys dinner, ok? I didn’t get to do a frozen one, and I wanted to do one for you. Please let me know, ok? Love ya!
I love your posts! I always want to comment on everything… but I will try to keep it short.I wish I could remember this song when my days get tough!! I need to print it and frame it for my wall!! thank you for the reminder. I actually have a post brewing on some “little” things that God gave me this week!!love, love, love the trains and wooden track in the bathtub!! I never would have allowed that. I wish my house was bigger so that Nathaniel could have his trains and track out again… right now they are stuck out in our shed!I have been wanting/trying to do The Power of a Praying Wife for some time now… I started it a few years ago, but I need to pull it out again!thanks again!
Cute sweater … I like your necklace, too. I’m laughing b/c the trains in the tub look like something my boys would do. Have a great weekend. I pray no one else gets the “bug”.
Yeah I like your happy green sweater! So funny about the scary ghosts noises, Eti was cracking me up today when he was playing with his little lego guys, whenever he makes toys “talk” they always have a British accent, what is up with that?!
I had fun spying on your living room, it really feels like I am peeking in the windows! LOL!
Shamda, I’m glad everyone is under the same roof again, though I’m sure you enjoyed a bit of a breather. I always felt a bit uneasy til everyone was home together. The pictures of Jacob and Seth together are so sweet and adorable! The Lord is surely shining His face upon you and giving you His peace! love, Gail
Glad to hear the boys made it back home:) I’m sure they missed you all as well. Looks like you did well today:) I hope Caleb is feeling better. My oldest is sick, she can’t keep anything down either. I have sheets in the washer now at midnight:)
Love Caleb in the tub with train ghosts! LOL! What an imagination! Thank you so much for posting even when you are stressed and tired. I do appreciate knowing how things are going. I know it can’t be easy, but I think you are amazing! Well, especially you with God’s abundant grace!!!! That is a cheery sweater! Have a lovely weekend!
I love the pic of Grace holding Seth…so precious…
Love the look on Jacob’s face as he holds baby brother in the first picture! I had to laugh over the sausage comment- I remember a certain sleeper that was the “sausage suit” for my babies. Good job on your first day alone with your whole brood! Your new sweater is perfect for you!
This was so cool to read and see the photo’s. It’s amazing how quickly Seth is growing! I love your new sweater. I see things that are that green color all the time and I think of you. I love you, Lish
Praying for the blessing of health in your home. Thank you for sharing another day with us.
The sweater is perfect! It is cheerful. I’ve been drawn to green lately too, not sure if that is because it is becoming more popular or just because it is in fact CHEERFUL. Is Seth really three weeks already!?! How can it be? And he’s already outgrowing his clothes. Wow. The book that your son is reading (The Scarlet Raider) looks fascinating. Enjoy your Saturday my sweet friend!
A new sweater is a perfect post-partum solution!!!! =)
Just taking a walk through Xanga and came upon your site. What a lovely family you have, you are truly blessed.
Oh would you mind telling me how to play Bananagrams? The tiles the kids were using look like the letter tiles I made for a game I made thats called Take Two.
Blessings
that’s one of my favorite hymns… aren’t those words just wonderful! as are all your pictures. your little guy in the tub w/ his train is too sweet. and i love your green polka dot sweater. something bout polka dots just seem fUN!<3
Love love love this post, feel like I just dropped by for a quick visit to see the new baby! I would have been dropping off a Tamale Pie casserolein my stone ware deepdish pie plate for your dinner too
and, I love photo of the trains lined up on the bath rim
your place looks very well lived in. Ive always loved places like that, they give you that welcome feeling
Great to see everyone living life and loving it. Praying you all stay well. Such a happy green sweater. Glad you have those extra helpers…even if they are still in training
I LOVE the green sweater!! Think of you often, happy weekend. Love, Marcialee
Ooooo ~ I love your sweater too! I just ordered a green hoodie with navy stripes, but I reallly like your polka dots ~ Yeah, he looks scared ~ LOL!