Feeling poetic as we near Jack's birthday...

To Jackson:

On the day Will was born, I looked at him
And my heart nearly broke from the weight
Of all the joy that filled it up.
Oh, that powerful love is great.

As my belly grew full with Molly,
Worried I couldn't love another as much,
All my fears were pushed aside,
With that first soft, lingering touch.

A family of four, the perfect size,
A boy and a girl, then we're through.
But I didn't know that perfection could grow
Until we added you.

Little brother, sweet son, precious child,
I've watched you grow strong for a year,
And every day I see your bright smile
Is a day I will always hold dear.

To describe the blessings you are,
The words seem to little to start.
You three children who fill my lap
Also fill to overflowing my heart.

Thought I May Never Get to Blog Again!

It has been a crazy couple of months for the Bennett Family!

As most of you know, Molly was admitted to Texas Children's Hospital for ten days for a staph infection in her hip joint, bone, and muscle. She is doing well at home now. She has a PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) through which Dave and I give her IV antibiotics three times a day. She will have this for a total of six weeks, after which she will have two to three months of oral antibiotics. Then, we should be DONE! Yea!! She has been such a little trooper. Our most difficult times were when she kept blowing her IVs in the hospital and would have to get "pokes" over and over again. Mommy is likely going to be traumatized much longer than poor Molly! Yesterday, we discovered that her surgery incision is infected at the surface so we are applying lots of Neosporin, changing the dressing three times a day, and keeping an eye on it. Hopefully, it will clear back up soon! The nurse will be coming this afternoon (as she does once a week) to change the dressing on the PICC and take some labwork. I'll ask her how Molly's labs from last week were and keep everyone updated. We thank you for all of your prayers, gifts, support... everything! We have truly seen the generosity and love of our friends and family through this time!

In other news, Dave had a fun birthday and is now officially closer to 40 than 30! ;) Jackson had his first trip to IHOP for blueberry pancakes, and the kiddos had a fun time at the Fall Festival. We split up so that Will could jump on the inflatables and Molly could play the little games. Being the feisty girl she is, I thought she'd fight me, but she was plenty happy to hang out in the stroller and get lots of candy!

Jack-Jack makes me think he is going to start walking every day, but still prefers the security of the ground! He will pop out a word every once in a while and then never say it again... "cracker," "Papa," "nana." But by far, his favorite is, of course, "Dada." As for "Mama," I only get smiles. Unless you count "mamamamamamamamamamamamama!"

"MMMMMM... these blueberry pancakes are GOOOOOD!"

"I don't know which is weirder... Daddy's big purple hat... or those really loud men!"

The whole family. This is when we still thought Molly's hip infection was viral
and I was carrying her around because she could barely walk.

Molly's hospital bed with all her new friends. Taken with my mom's phone.

Molly with her walker on the day we went home. She's getting around great now.

Molly finally gets out and has some fun for awhile!
This was the day of the Fall Festival and she was EXHAUSTED by bedtime!
A few days later, she went to bed at 4:30 and slept 15 hours!
She's catching up from all that great hospital sleep!

My Star Wars Fans at the Fall Festival

I mentioned a while ago that I'd post Jack's first teeth. Well, here's all five of them!