Another Kinney Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that Coleman is doing much better. You may have seen on a comment my mom left on our blog, Coleman was taken to the ER last Sunday with a temp. of 104. The doctor didn't think it was pneumonia but Meghan asked for an x-ray and sure enough it was pneumonia. She was sent home with some meds and is doing well now. Matter of fact as I am typing this she is standing next to me and kissing my knee.
So thanks so much for all your prayers for Coleman and for my staff they have all returned to good health. Even Lauren is doing well - the report I got today is that she is missing work and wants to get back. She is still tired and catching up on some sleep.
If you are reading this Lauren, get well soon, we all miss you and can't wait to have you back at work.
So I think we are back to health here in the Kinney home! At least I hope so we have a big weekend planned - we are watching Cora and Connor this weekend. Cora is going to be a big help for Meghan as she just loves Coleman and Connor and Cooper are the same age and love playing together. It should be a fun filled weekend - and when I say filled I mean with children.

Prayer Requests

Hey gang if there is one thing I am 100% sure of, it's that God answers prayer! Here is a few things that I would like for you to join me in praying for...

• Lauren H. - 24 year old co-worker who had surgery today to remove thyroid cancer. They found more and had to remove the whole thyroid as well as some lymph nodes. She will start radiation treatments soon. Please pray for her and her family as this was not the outcome they were expecting today.
• Terri S. - another co-worker who has strep throat
• Melissa P. - another co-worker who has some kind of stomach bug that won't let go. Plus her daughter has her first dance competition this weekend - pray she is well enough to go and watch
• Mariann C. - another co-worker (I know, I should look for a new job - or staff that doesn't get so sick) who has been battling the flu all week
• Char O. - friend in PA who has surgery on Wednesday - pray for a speedy recovery for her and keep her husband Dave in your prayers as well.

Thank you so much! I know there are a bunch of prayer warriors out there so lets get to our knees and take these boldly before the throne of God!!!!

Update on the Kinney Fam!

As you know I have the best job in the world, I LOVE WHAT I DO! But even though I love what I do, it doesn't mean that my job doesn't come with some stress from time to time. This week stress is an understatement. I have taken on some new responsibilities at work and until I get the hang of them there is going to be some level of stress added with the extra work. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I see the light, it's just getting to that light that has been the challenge. I'm also the type of person that when I stress I don't sleep well. I'm constantly in work mode and always thinking what the next work day will look like, thus losing sleep.
On top of work stresses we have had some sickness in our house. A couple of weeks ago both the boys had strep throat and Coleman has been teething (five teeth at one time - her poor parents). Last Saturday morning we took her to the ER because she was having difficulty breathing, due to congestion. Since she had pneumonia last year at this time, we didn't want to take any chances. By the time we got to the ER she was talking and making all kinds of sounds. Coleman was diagnosed with croup. They gave her some meds and we headed home.
After returning home for the ER, Meghan went to the doctor to find out that she had strep throat. As if all the morning sickness she's had the last 9 weeks wasn't bad enough. Yep morning sickness as in pregnant...you read correctly, the Kinney's are expecting again - November 3rd. Don't worry, it's okay to laugh, we laughed too when we found out. And yes we know what is causing it but for some reason God wanted us to have this precious child. Without going into details all I will say is Meghan only has one fallopian tube and the box said 99.8% effective.
Since the shock has worn off we can say we are excited about the upcoming arrival of Drayton Issac (meaning laughter) or Drayton Elizabeth (favorite Jane Austen character) this fall. We ask that you would keep us in your prayers as we prepare for the new arrival and we will keep you posted on all the cool and exciting things God is doing in our lives at this time.
I do have to say that the night we found out I struggled with the idea of having another child, not because I didn't want one, but because I wasn't sure where we were going to put one. (no comments Lori) 1,000 square feet only holds so much and so many. But God already is working that out and we will fill you in more on that as it progresses. The one big thing we are learning is that God is in control and we need to trust Him.

My little genius

Just have to brag on Tradd's intelligence. Yesterday I was reading one of his dinosaur books to him and instead of skipping over the "millions of years ago," blah, blah, blah part, I accidentally read it and then I said, "whatever." Tradd asked why I said that so I briefly explained a little about evolution. Very briefly and probably most crudely. I said that some scientists believe that some fish used to be land animals and that some land animals used to be fish and that they adapted when their environment changed. I said that evolution even says that way back, our relatives were monkeys or apes or something and he laughed!! Well, today he can talk about nothing but evolution. He said "mommy, you know my movie about dinosaurs?" I said, "you mean Fantasia?" He said, "yes." "Well, you know that part where the fish are wiggling and changing and then some start to walk instead of swim? Is that evolution?" I was floored,"OH, MY GOSH!! Yes!" So he wanted to know more about evolution so we talked about Darwin. And, I told him that I was pretty sure Darwin even changed his mind about this theory but nobody ever talks about that. (will have to do some homework on that) So he later was making all kinds of dinosaurs and fish with his play dough but he would make them all a little different to demonstrate evolution. Then, tonight he gets his story Bible out because I had told him that it's possible that God made some animals with the ability to adapt to a changing environment but that certainly the part about how something came from nothing is impossible. I told him that the Bible tells us that God was always there and he's the `something' that created everything. We read about Adam and Eve and all of creation and he didn't want to stop so we read up through Joseph. Then he asked Scott if they could watch the Moses movie and that's where they are now. Scott just said that he was in there with them during the part where God promised Canaan to the Israelites and when Tradd heard about the "land flowing with milk and honey," he said he would really like that place because he can't get enough milk and honey. Kids say the greatest things!! Cooper is at the stage where he shows more emotional/relational intelligence than IQ. (His IQ especially shows in his attempts at manipulating situations to get his way and especially manipulating his brother to get Tradd into trouble.) Anyway, he's so caring for his sister when she's upset. About a week ago we were at another church during morning bible study and when Coleman got upset in the nursery, they walked around with her and Cooper came up to the worker with Coleman and patted her head and said "I right here Poleman, don't cry. It's all right!" So sweet and tender. Well, I could write for hours but I'm tired. Just had to brag. Coleman is great and healthy but having difficulty teething. She's cruising mostly to the right so we work on the left side. She loves to stand up and frequently thinks she can do it without holding on. Good thing her bottom is well padded. Well, Good night! Many blessings to you!

God's Easter gift to me

For the last 7 years (pretty sure every year since we moved into this house) when I get into the car on Easter Sunday, no matter what service I attend on this special day, I get blessed with the old song from Don Francisco "He's alive!" The words of the song tell the story and it all builds to the chorus basically I think from Peter's perspective when he proclaims "He's alive!" I'm all ready for church, even have makeup on my eyes, and I end up crying like a baby. I literally blubber and can't even sing the greatest, most important words of the song. "He's alive! He's alive! He's alive and I'm forgiven Heaven's gates are open wide!" That pretty much sums up Easter and Christianity. Even more though, he was dead (because of our sins) and now he's alive!!! Whew!! I've spent most of the day wiping away tears of joy and overwhelming blessing!!!!!!! Jesus is Risen!!

computer outage

Sorry it has been so long since we have posted! We have experienced a computer glitch. Things are good at the Kinney House and God continues to bless us.

My mom was in town with her friend Donna for a couple of days and the kids loved having Nana around.

Lady and the Tramp, our guinea pigs are doing well, I think they are getting used to us and the craziness of the house.

Here are some pictures that our friend Chelle Fazal took for us. Interested in having her do some family shots for you? Go to her website (after April 1st) http://www.chellefazal.com/

I took this picture of Meghan and Cooper, just love it!!!!

I'll try to post more often!

Winter break and boys birthday

Wow, it has been a busy month for us, but a very fun month...

The end of February we took a long weekend and headed down to Florida to visit my cousins Lydia and Julie, and Lydia's mother-in-law, Janet. Meghan and I were a little nervous about the trip - five people invading a home, but I believe everyone had a great time. I know our family did. The boys hated to leave, I think it was the nice warm swimming pool that Lydia had in her back yard, plus all the fun with Lydia and Julie.

We left Lydia's on Monday, February 25, which was Tradd's birthday, so we stopped at Downtown Disney to have lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe and to have some fun shopping for the boys' birthdays. (Cooper's birthday is March 1st) We had a blast, but let me tell you we were worn out when it was done. So we left Downtown Disney (sorry but this really is the short version of everything - plus there will be pictures to follow) and headed up towards I95 where we got the first exit and met up with our friends Jen and Lee and their children for coffee and catching up. Jen and Lee moved to Florida four years ago and we haven't seen each other for at least two or more years, so it was just great catching up and seeing them, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Then we headed to Edisto (an Island just south of Charleston). My former assistant and wonderful blessing to Meghan and I, Kay, has a beach house on Edisto and offered it to us for the week. So we spent the rest of the week at the beach house just hanging out as a family and enjoying time together. It was a true relaxing vacation and just a wonderful time together.

Now as for today and the boys' birthday party - what a blast. I'm going to try and post a video of the boys and their cakes. We're hoping this video makes us some money on AFV. But here are some pictures as well from the party. If you read this blog you know that Tradd is really into rats. So some friends called Meghan today to ask if they could buy him a hamster for his birthday - Meghan's first response was, did you ask Scott? She then told them it would be ok. Well praise God they did not get the rat-want-to-be but got the boys Guinnea Pigs instead. Tradd quickly named them Lady and Tramp (because there is a rat in the movie which I think is where this whole rat thing started.) Well, we now have reason to believe that Lady is a tramp and Tramp is a lady - and if they have babies, everyone we know will be getting guinnea pigs as gifts...

Anyway we have had a blessed and wonderful month - we will try to get better with updates more often and keeping everyone informed. Enjoy the pictures...