My Big Boy

This week has been a rough one for Eli and I... but we made it to Friday and neither one of us is dead!! :) On a postive note, it did get better as the week went on. But as much as it's been a struggle... I love this little guy.

He's got a great personality (actually I think it's alot like mine, so of course I think it's great:) and he really is a fun kid!! Because him and I are alike, we have a tendency to butt heads frequently... grrrrrrr. But he's got a HUGE heart and a zeal for life that I am so thankful for. Plus, look at him, he's just so darn ADORABLE!!

I love you Eli!!

Dinner with Uncle Jason and Aunt Sahsha

After our visit with Jackson, we were lucky to have Jason and Sahsha come over for dinner. It was so nice to have them over, eat, and chat. :) After dinner Nico snapped a few pics of the boys with their beloved Uncle Jason and Aunt Sahsha. They were too good not too post.
Love you 3... including Jackson!! :)
Ok, look at Eli's face... looks like he's up to something :) :)

Newest Jackson Pictures

Last night I got to go up to see Jackson. It had been WAY TOO LONG since I'd seen him. This time not only did I get to see him, but I got to hold his hand and play with toes!! :) I loved it. He's getting strong every day. He's off his oxygen and the only tube he has is his feeding tube. That will be there for probably another 2 weeks. He's officially 2 weeks old today!! He's up to 3 lbs 7 oz and growing!!

You may not notice, but in the first picture, he still had some of his cord attached to his belly button, but his "anal father" (not my words, but Jackson's mommy's words) wanted it off. It hanging by a tiny piece of skin, so they cut it off. So in honor of your dad Jackson, I took another picture of you, this time, with your cord gone!! :)

Babysitting the Cousins

Monday, Eli, Zeb and I, got to spend some quality time with Keenan and Cora... unfortunately at the expense of Kenny... he was having hernia surgery (which on a side note, please pray for him... he's still in a lot of pain!!)

I picked Keenan up from Kindergarten and then later, Cora up from 3rd grade. Since it was such a special day, only ice cream could be the way to celebrate it. So here are the oldest ones eating their ice cream.

Then we came back and played outside!! But of course, Aunt Abby made them take some pics before they left.

Thanks guys for coming over and playing with Eli and Zeb... we'll do it again soon!!

Smores Fun

Sunday was a cool Fall night, a big odd for the middle of August, but we took advantage of it and cooks some smores. You guys built a bonfire you might ask?? Nope, we just roasted marshmallows in our chimanea!! :)

Eli loved it... wish I would have taken another picture after he was done eating, because while he's a little gooey here, by the end he was a marshmallow mess!! It was hilarious.

Zeb didn't partake in the smore fun, but did hang out outside with us.

I guess Sunday night was also "White T-shirt" night in my house. Here are all 3 of my boys sportin' it!!

After the fun we had... I'm sure there will be many more Smore nights in our house!!

George McKinney Night

This year Carroll High School is celebrating 40 years of Charger Football. So for every home game they are welcoming back alumni from each decade and honoring coaches at half time. The first coach they honored was the first Carroll Football coach EVER... George McKinney!!

Little background on George... George was my government teacher in High School. He also was the Senior Class Sponsor which put him in charge of graduation... in turn he chose me to help him with graduation, so we got close during that time. After retiring he and his WONDERFUL wife Betty, spend winters at Ft. Meyers Beach, where we always go for Spring Break, so we often see them down there. When he's not in Florida, he subs... lots in our building. He's taken maternity leave jobs for people on my team, so I've worked with him quite a bit... I was his technology buddy. And now to top it off, he's taking my maternity leave, which I am SUPER excited about... now ask him if he's that excited now that school has started and he may not be!! :)

Now I guess from reading the program and listening to them introduce him at the game, he did a lot of monumental stuff for Carroll Football, but I was so concerned about snapping his picture, that I really didn't pay attention so I can't remember all that stuff to put on here... Sorry George!! :) But I did promise him that Tammy and would cheer for him when he got his plaque and shout "That's my maternity sub!!" Which we did!! :)

Thanks George for all you've done for me throughout High School and now taking care of my classroom. You are a Class Act!!

Love this look... I got it from time to time in High School... and I still some times get it from him!!

Ball State Fantasy Football Draft

Last weekend was the draft....Every year Nico's college friends get together to draft their Fantasy Football Team for the upcoming fall. It's a day of eating, drinking, corn hole playing, drinking, trash talking, drinking, and more eating. :) It's pretty much a "Boys Only" event, but lately wives with kids have stopped by so everyone can meet the newest arrivals. That's where I come in. I was instructed to bring Zeb (and Eli) to the draft so those that hadn't yet, could meet him. Not that I mind... it's time for me to say hi to all these guys too!!

Good luck this year guys!

Friday Photo

Most of these pics have been sent out to everyone, but they were just too cute... I had to post them.

We picked Keenan up from school today, so here are the 3 boys...

Look at my 2 handsome boys...

How can you not LOVE this ADORABLE face... ok, I am a bit biased but still...

I know these last 3 are not oriented right, but I promise you I have spent the last 35 minutes trying to fix them and I can't!! :( :(

So you'll just have to bend your neck to get the best picture viewing angle!! :)

Hope these put a smile on your face like they did mine!!

Molly and the Boys...

The past 6 months or so, we've try to have a monthly meeting with Nico's friends from college who are still in Fort Wayne (that's not to say they aren't mine friends now too, but they started off friends with him first :) The guys say it's a chance for the kids to get together and play, but the wives say it's mostly for the big boys to get together and play!! :) No matter... its fun for all. This summer our group has expanded by 2. Now if I was an on the ball photographer I would have gotten a photo off all 6 kids together, but things are a bit hectic with 6 kids and it was forgotten. But here's how it plays out..

Johnny 3... just turned in June

Molly 2... will be 3 in October

Eli 2... will be 3 in Dec

Sammy... almost 1 in Sept

Zeb... 11 weeks tomorrow

Max...6 weeks Monday

Now you know why I said it was hectic AND why the title of the post is Molly and the boys. Poor thing all her life she'll be over protected by the boys her age and bothered by the ones younger that her!!

This month's "meeting" was at the Ankenbrucks. We had tacos (always a favorite in the Tigulis house) and then for dessert, we had this WONDERFUL Carmel Smores thing that was outstanding... and the older 3 made it. Here they are making the treats!!Then they of course had to try their creations... How ADORABLE are these 3!!!After some yummy treats, it was time to work off those calories with some basketball.

Look at Molly's follow through... a natural.

Here's Johnny after a basket... looks like he's ready to "chest bump" somebody.

Then we have Eli going in for the slam!! We all had a GREAT time... including the little boys even if they didn't any camera time. Next time that's my mission. Thanks Ankenbrucks for hosting!!

Wednesday's Play Date

All last year, Kim Ginder watched Eli for us and it was such a blessing!! Brenna and Eli became like brother and sister.... at least they fight like brother and sister!! :) We got together a few times this summer, but now since I'm home for a bit, we thought we'd set up a Play Date for every Wednesday.

This Wednesday, we went to Shoaff Park. We played on the toys, had a picnic lunch, and Brenna played at the Splash Pad... ever since Splash Universe and that HUGE bucket dropping on Eli, he's ANTI splash things. But he loved the slides and all the climbing toys!!

This picture cracks me up...Here's Brenna on the BIG slide...Here they are playing Hide and Go Seek from Kim and I. If you notice... they are hiding AND have thier own eyes covered. :)

The two of them had a great time and have already planned next week's date... a trip to the pond.

Thanks Ginders for a GREAT Wednesday!!

More Jackson Pictures

Here are some more pictures of Jackson... with his eyes open!! :) These were taken today by the NICU nurse... isn't that so nice of her. :) The nurses up there are just OUTSTANDING!! I think this one is my favorite

He's BEAUTIFUL!!!

Introducing.... Jackson Tigulis

We've had an exciting few days to say the least in the Tigulis family. This could be a very long story, so I'll just hit the highlights!! On Thursday, Sahsha was admitted into the hospital because of preeclampsia (basically VERY high blood pressure) and they were told that it was best for the baby and for Sahsha for her to have a C-section on Friday. While we were SUPER excited to meet baby Jackson, Sahsha was only 30 weeks along and we told that at this point Jackson was weighing 2 lbs 8 oz. The good news was the the doctors were VERY positive about Jackson. They were more worried about Sahsha then about Jackson.

As soon as we heard the news the prayers started!! We are so blessed to have such GREAT friends and a wonderful church family who started prayer chains and prayers around the clock for Jason, Sahsha, and Jackson.

We were told that Sahsha would have a c-section at noon on Friday. Friday morning was never-racking... we all were attached at the hip to our cell phones. Eli, Zeb and I were in the Target parking lot at noon. So we stopped and prayed for the situation. Then, we started driving and Eli told me that HE wanted to pray for Aunt Sahsha and baby Jackson, but I had to close my eyes. So, I pulled into a parking lot and he made sure I closed my eyes, and he prayed... "Dear Lord, be with Aunt Sahsha and baby Jackson, help them. Amen" When we both opened our lives, needless to say I was crying tears of joy that my 2 year old son said such a heart felt prayer to an AWESOME God for an aunt and a cousin he loves so much!! While my heart was still worried about Sahsha and Jackson it was overflowing with love!!

Then we got the good news...Friday at 12:25 Jackson Cory Tigulis was born. He tipped the scales at 3 lbs 1 oz... he was a "chunk" compared to what we were told... YAY!! Other than being small, everything else was looking good!! GOD IS GOOD!!

Sahsha is recovering but still having some struggles with her blood pressure. Jackson is doing well but is struggling with some apnea. But we were told he most probably will only be in the NICU for 6-7 weeks instead of 8-10 which we were told earlier. WONDERFUL!!

We ask for continued prayers for this family... for Sahsha's recovery, for the bonding between Jackson and Jason & Sahsha, and for the overall health and growth of Jackson.

So this post was longer what I was expecting, but I don't think you'll be upset. :) But I know here's what you really want ... pics of Jackson:

We thank God for all he's already done in Jackson's life and for all he's going to do in it.

We serve a GREAT God!!

Sahsha's Baby Shower

Nico's youngest brother Jason and his wife Sahsha are expecting a baby boy come October. We are SUPER excited for Jackson's (that's his name) arrival!! But before he can come, mom and dad have to get stocked up on goodies!! So... Saturday was Sahsha's Baby Shower.

Here is the BEAUTIFUL mom to be and her YUMMY cakePresent time!! They got a lot of very practical and very cool things!!I told her this was a good gift!! We love ours... it hooks underneath tables so that you can have a highchair just about anywhere. She got some cute clothes. Her comment was "Wow, these are tiny!!" :) :)
Sahsha's good friend Jamie, stole the show with her gift...we ALL loved it!!
Sahsha explained to everyone this was Jason's football number in High School. How ADORABLE is this!! I then explained how this was ALL THREE boys' football number in High School, so I thought I'd take it right now and put it on Zeb!! :) They actually are thinking about framing it and putting it in Jackson's room. That would be a COOL piece of art work!!

In Sahsha's words the shower was "Perfect" so mission accomplished!! Now we are just waiting on Jackson. Can't wait to meet him!!