Busy Weekend

It's been a long week. Rachel has not been feeling well all week, so it's been very busy trying to keep up with the boys and everything else. She is at church this weekend for a women's conference. Here are a few pictures from last night.








Not enough time to post much more. Soon after Rachel gets home, I'll be headed to church to do the sound for this weekend's services. Afternoon rehearsals, Saturday evening service, then two more services Sunday morning makes for a fun but very long weekend.

Here are some recent videos. If you are reading this in email, click here to view the actual blog so you can watch them.

Jack and Luke watching one of their Praise Baby DVDs. At the end of the day when they are getting tired and grumpy, this will instantly quiet them and calm them down.




Luke and Jack watching and laughing at each other




Jack does NOT like being in the grass. He stands on one leg like a flamingo.

Lots Of New Pictures

We are loving the cooler weather - so glad that fall is here! I know it's been two weeks since an update, but we have been taking pictures and trying to keep up with everything the boys are doing. Jack seems to always get more attention and the most pictures, but Luke has been doing more and more lately.

Luke is still under 12 pounds, and every day he's eating as much as he can. He is still on high-calorie formula, but has never really liked trying baby food. Last week we found out why - Rachel had made some toast for breakfast and Luke kept reaching and grabbing for it! He has no interest in baby foods, but wants to skip right to table food. He likes pudding, ice cream, rice, meat and anything else we will let him try.



Luke has one bottom tooth breaking through, but it is very hard to see. He likes to make lots of noise, but keeps those lips tightly closed anytime you want to see inside. Jack has had two bottom teeth for a few weeks. His favorite thing to help his gums has been frozen pacifiers (his regular pacifiers chilled in the freezer). We keep a carrot for him in the refrigerator, and he likes chewing on it for a little while.



Luke is crawling around quite a bit now. He still doesn't go too fast, but can move all over the room to get whatever he wants. He still naps and sleeps in his Nap Nanny sometimes, but this is what happens when we try to keep him still for just a few minutes...



He won't even stay in the swing very long without trying to escape



The boys love playing together, especially now that they are on the floor together a lot.



The boys got Arkansas Razorback gear just in time for football season and wore them for the first game



They also have had Carolina Panthers outfits since before they were born. We've waited and waited and finally got to wear them this weekend for yesterday's game (too bad the boys didn't bring them much luck...)



One more picture of Luke in his favorite PJs

Ready For Fall

It's been a LONG summer and I am so ready for fall to be here! We have been stuck inside trying to stay cool for what seems like forever. September is here, football season is just around the corner, and I can't wait until the heat is gone for good and we can spend more time outside.

I thought staying home with the boys would give us all kinds of time to take walks, go to the park, or do any other fun things we wanted. But with Rachel gone three days each week working, therapy four days a week, and months of temperatures in the 90s and 100s, some days it's hard not to go crazy being around the boys all the time. When Rachel is home, I usually jump at the chance to run errands, help at church or anything else to get out of the house and be around people who speak with words (not ear-piercing screams).

Sometimes it's hard for us to see, but Jack and Luke are growing and changing every week. Jack has been crawling for about three weeks and Luke learned quickly and started last week. The living room has been rearranged a little and is mostly baby-proofed. Luke stays content and usually plays without moving too far. Jack will crawl all over the place and will follow you everywhere. Here are some pictures from the last month:

Jack trying to get himself under the couch (probably trying to get one of Lily's squeaking tennis balls)


Jack loves playing in the walker and trying to chase Lily


Luke likes having more time in the exersaucer since Jack is spending more time on the floor


Jack is everywhere - even getting stuck under the walker going after a toy


Taking a short nap


Jack laying in his crib


Luke in his crib


This is what we find some mornings - rolling over, trying to get close to each other, sometimes reaching through the middle trying to touch each other...

A Week Of Beginnings

It's a great week and we have two exciting things to share. The first is that I (Ken) had a great meeting this morning and may have the opportunity to work with Community Connections. They help special needs children by providing free extra-curricular activities like soccer, flag football, dancing and acting classes. I would be able to spend most of my time at home with the boys and would help with fundraising, event planning, marketing and promotion of their programs and activities.

The second (and more exciting) is that we can now share some news from our friends Jesse and Jodie. Here is what she posted last night:

Spring is coming in the McGinley Household. Due April 2011- A miracle of all miracles, the strongest of all heartbeats, a gift that we found out about on August 8th, Eli's 1st Heaven day. God knows whats best for our lives!

They have more details on their blog here.

Jack is now crawling all over the place. Luke is still mostly rolling around to get what he wants. Our house is getting a lot busier these days! I will work on getting some video so you can see for yourself.

Last set of pictures from SC trip

Here are a few more pictures from our SC visit last month:

Luke and Jack with their grandpa


Luke sitting outside getting ready to swim


The boys swimming in the baby pool


Family picture of our generation with my grandparents


Lots of family pictures + lots of waiting = grumpy and hungry babies. Uncle Frank and Aunt Lisle came down from New York - the picture might not show it, but she loved Luke and wanted to take him home.


The Barnes men

Project E.L.I. Featured On Local News

Here is a segment about Project E.L.I. that was featured on the local news last night:

Link to video

Eli's Legacy

It's been a long and busy weekend. Friday night Lindsey, Jesse, Jodie and Walker came over and we had a great time. The boys played together, we had great food, and had a lot of time to relax. We got to know them better and learned a lot more of their story as we all shared what we have been through this past year.

Jack had fun playing with Walker


Lindsey had a great time with her boys


Jesse, Jodie and Walker


We also have some great news to share - we met our fund-raising goal! Those of you who follow the blog know that we have been raising money to send Jesse and Jodie to the AWHONN annual convention next month. This is a national association of women's health, obstetric and neonatal nurses and Eli's nurses will be speaking about him. Eli lived only five days and was born with multiple birth defects, including spina bifida. Through many generous donations, they now have their flight, hotel and money to cover all of their meals and other expenses. Thanks so much to all who gave! We are so happy that everything came together for them. Jesse and Jodie are one of two couples we know of that in the last year have had twins and lost one. At times we question why we were blessed to bring both Jack and Luke home when others do not. We just wanted to do everything we could to help them and it blessed us just as much as we hope the trip blesses them.

Saturday night was the Project E.L.I. documentary premiere, and the turnout was great! Jesse and Jodie's church was filled with over 200 people. Their story was included in a documentary about spina bifida which was just finished and will be sent to hospitals and women's doctors all over the state. It will be a great tool to support expectant parents who have just found out that their child has spina bifida.

After the documentary, Jodie shared a video of their journey. On Saturday, August 28th we will be walking for Eli at the Easter Seals Walk With Me 2010 in downtown Little Rock.

I have pictures and videos of the boys to post this week, but for now, this was much more important.