Wow!

It has been a few years since I have updated my blog, but one of my goals this year is to keep it updated so there's a record of what's been going on in our lives. It is now 2011 and I have not posted in 2 years!! That is crazy! A lot has happened in the Butler house since then! It's hard to think back and remember all the things that have happened.

Dave, Elysia, Gage (6), Bostyn (3), and Taytem (newborn)
BUTLER………REWIND to 2010

At the beginning of 2010 Dave was still looking for a job after being laid off from PreCast Concrete. He really enjoyed the time that he was able to stay home with the boys. They definitely were able to bond and become closer, but he was sure feeling the need to find a job quickly. Luckily, he was able to get a temporary job at TaxWorks with my brother, Drew, during the tax season. When April 15th, the last day to file taxes, was approaching, we were getting very worried because we knew that Dave would again be let go from this job as well. At the end of March Dave was able to land a job with Ascent Healthcare Solutions and that is currently where he is still working. He loves his job! He works with great people and is able to be up and active which is perfect for him!
I am still working as a 7th and 9th grade English teacher at West Point Jr. High and I really love this job! Teaching fits my personality and it is so fun to interact with the students and try to prepare them for their future. Hopefully somewhere, somehow a little bit of learning takes place along the way as well. At the end of the school year I took on an adventure that has been a really different experience for me. I became the Cheerleading Advisor! I have absolutely no talent or coordination with anything that has to do with cheer, but I accepted the job before Dave received his current job position and knowing that I needed to make whatever extra income I could. My summer was taken over by this new position and I was burned out before the school year even started. Being in the cheerleading world is so much different than living in the soccer world that I grew up with!
We ended up getting pregnant in April and my sickness began! I really don't like being pregnant, but the end result is so worth the sacrifices that we have to make. I was really sick for the first 4 months of the pregnancy and I know many are familiar with Zofran for morning sickness...this was the only way to get through the day and keep at least something down. At 20 weeks I went into preterm labor again (I had the same thing happen with my pregnancy with Bostyn). I started contracting and was immediately given Terbutaline and weekly shots of Alpha Progesterone to stop the labor. I made it to 26 weeks before I was put on bed rest and had to come home from work. For anyone who has been on bed rest, they know that is absolutely horrid and miserable. Sure it sounds good when you are really tired and need a break, but honestly a day or two is all anyone needs to cure that desire for a long campout in the bed. Thanks to my amazing husband for taking care of the kids and fulfilling the role of both mommy and daddy while I was laid up. He was so amazing during this time and he provided me with so much service. We also had so many neighbors, friends, and family who were willing to help us out with dinners and taking care of our kids. Without all the help, I really don't know how we could have done it! We managed to make it to 37 weeks and delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She was born on December 28, 2010 and we named her Taytem Anne Butler. She is a perfect fit into our family. The boys absolutely love her and Dave and I are already wrapped around her precious little finger.
In August 2010, Gage (6) started Kindergarten and he absolutely loves it! He loves to read and enjoys being around other kids and socializing. It is really fun to see how he is learning and developing as he grows up. Recently Gage has started doing Jijitsu and Kickboxing and he is enjoying be active and learning new moves. Gage is full of life and he loves to sing and dance. He loves his friends and feels he needs to be playing with someone every second of the day or else he will “die of boredom.” We love having Gage in our family! He is always providing us with entertainment and laughs.
Bostyn turned 3 this year and he is so full of energy and loves to run around and chase his older brother everywhere he goes. Bostyn is really into Buzz Lightyear, Ironman, and Spiderman. He loves to use his imagination and play with his toys and play make believe. Bostyn is my little smile bug. He is always smiling and offering hugs. He makes you feel so important and I just light up every time I see that little boy.
That is the quick recap of 2010 for the Butlers! We are doing great now and are so thankful for everything that we have been blessed with and for our wonderful little family!

I hope all of you have a fabulous year in 2011!!