Classic Hilton's

Where do you see yourself in five years?  Isn't that a strange question to ponder? My life today is so drastically different from where we were one  year ago, I can't even begin to imagine what five years might be. Brooklyn will be 11. ELEVEN!!  Jr high! Puberty!! Grayson will be six, and tiny, newborn Madi will be five. So hard to imagine! I can only hope that Ray will be working steadily as an actor, earning enough to cover our bills, and that I will be coordinating multiple classes and shows for CYT Smyrna which by then will be boasting enrollment numbers in the hundreds and a staff of more than two. I can dream.  Why am I looking so far ahead? An excellent question. Today was my six week postpartum checkup. In some ways it is hard to believe it's only been six weeks! Anyway, the doctor gave me a clean bill of health and the nurse had nice things to say about how good I'm looking, which, even though I know it's a stretch is still nice for a recently pregnant wo

Poor Grayson! This kid had a rough  day!! In fact he spent most of his time in bed or in trouble for all the hollaring, hitting, and general temper tantrum throwing he did. I'll say it again - Rrrough!! I have a few theories for why it was such a difficult day. 1. He is very tired. He's been very busy the last few days running a fever and cutting new teeth, and his body just reached the limit of what he is physically capable of handling. So he was in a bad mood. This theory is supported by the fact that he couldn't walk more than a few steps without tripping over his own feet or running into a corner! 2. He is 16 months old and toddler's like to test their limits. He's not called Tenacious G for nothing! As a matter of personality Grayson has always been loud, intense, and relentlessly uncompromising in his pursuit of what he wants. Someday these will be great traits that make him a strong leader. Right now they just equate to non-stop temper tantrums. Th

Okay, I don't actually have seven thoughts, but rather thoughts about our experiement based on the book "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess". We have completed two weeks (you can read the terms here ), so now is a good time for an update. The thing I am the most disappointed and frustrated by is the Sabbath. At about the same time we started our experiment, Ray started working seven days a week. His boost in hours is welcome and greatly needed, but it makes finding a day to rest and worship together very difficult. We did have one day that I felt loosely qualified. The basic elements were there: a nice meal, all of us together, a restful, unorganized time of play, and time spent in prayer. Even if it was a short time, it was extremely rejuvenating.  I believe the Sabbath is a gift God gives us because he knows how our minds and bodies work. He knows that we need this time of rest and connection. I'm not trying to be legalistic about this, but I do think there

Okay, so life with three is just a little crazy. In fact I frequently find myself starting blogs that never get finished or published! As I type this fine Saturday afternoon, Ray is at work, Brooklyn is running errands with her grandparents, Grayson is napping (the's been running a low fever for the last few days, poor guy!), and Madi is practicing her tummy time surrounded by the baskets of laundry that I've been meaning to finish folding and put away for the last two days.  We are six weeks out (from the birth) and overall things are good. My wound prognosis is very good. I don't even have any more appointments on the calendar, just instructions to make sure the area stays clean and dry, and the reminder not to overdo it with the heavy lifting. My six week postpartum check up is next week and I fully expect to come away with a clean bill of health and a prescription for birth control! August looks to be an exciting month for us. Ray opens Avenue Q. He's been pra

Madilyn Rae Hilton. Born at 8:05 am on Friday June 22nd. 18 inches long, 7 lbs 11 oz. Absolutely beautiful. Absolutely perfect.  I just knew we were going to go into labor early. I was ready, pretty much once June hit. We had so many contractions each night, and every day it seemed that I was in more and more pain from the pressure. I was also convinced that her head must be huge and that she was at least 8 lbs because she felt so much heavier than I remember the other two feeling!  Thursday, 6/21, we had our pre-op appointments. I registered at the hospital and had the doctors and nurses all guess how big she was going to be. (Points to Dr. Alarcon who guessed mid-7's!) I did my best the remainder of the day to rest and soak up as much of Grayson and Brooklyn as I could. Isn't it amazing how knowing you have to stop eating at a certain point makes you that much more hungry? ;0) Funny.  Four am came as early as it usually does. Ray and I gathered everything we needed,

Once I had a secret love, that lived within the heart of me. All too soon my secret love became impatient to be free. Now I shout it from the highest hill. Even told the golden daffodill. At last my heart's an open door, and my secret love's no secret anymore!   Our secret little love, Madilyn Rae, is one month old today. Time certainly does fly! Actually, looking back over the last few weeks it's hard to believe it's only been a month -- so much has happened!  Of course there was the birth (that wonderful event that started it all!) followed by visits from Mamaw, Aunt Judith, and Justin. Mommy has been busy with a very difficult recovery that included extra surgery and lots of trips to the doctor. Last week was your first VBX, and I'm pretty sure you loved it!  At one month old you are approximately 8 lbs, 19 inches and growing steadily. You are a very polite, efficient eater. You can smile a little bit and you can roll from your back to your tummy when

I've mentioned before how the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Exess by Jen Hatmaker has been so convicting and influential to me since I read it a few months back (See post In Which I Am Struck by Seven ). Basically it helped give some shape, some structure to the nudges I have been feeling for some time. There are some heart issues that I struggle with, that I see my family struggling with, that need to be dealt with if we are to continue to grow in Christ.  So it begins: the Hilton Family's Experimental Mutiny Against Greed, Gluttony, Laziness, and Excess! For us the issue is one of stewardship. We have been blessed with so many wonderful resources that we not only take for granted, but grossly misuse.  For the next seven weeks (July 15-August 25) we will be restricting some behaviors and putting others into practice, thereby shaking up our comfort and leaving room for the Holy Spirit to move, teach, and shape us for the next chapter in our stories. I document

Wow. Three weeks old. Hard to believe. After my fluid pockets were drained, I felt a thousand times better and I sort of forgot exactly how bruised and battered my body still is. I may be feeling better, but I still hurt and need to take it easy. I actually think I'm doing pretty good finding that balance between resting and getting things done. Today I'm getting laundry done (with much help from mom and Ray!). My greatest challenge right now is eating (big surprise). I am making good choices, but I don't think I'm eating enough, considering that I am nursing and rebuilding and healing abdominal muscles. So that's me. The kids are doing well. I have to remember that they are still adjusting too. Grayson had a short night terror last night. I sat downstairs holding the monitor and cried right along with him. Brooklyn is sleeping with my mom while dad is out of town. I know we're going to pay for that later! Madi has decided she would prefer to sleep in someon

It's 3:45 AM. The house is quiet. Everyone, including the newborn, is asleep. But my mind is racing and won't settle down, so...I blog ;0)  I've tried on multiple occasions to put down everything that has happened in these last two weeks, but the task has proved a little difficult. It's been a bit of wild ride - meeting Madi, coming home from the hospital, dealing with the wound and the internal fluid pockets - I am only just now starting to feel like normal is a possibility.  I have three holes in my stomach. Actual, literal, open holes. Two are very small, the result of the doctors draining two pockets of fluid that were putting some very painful pressure on the rest of my body. Together they were only about 100 cc's, which is less than 4 oz. Not very much to be causing so much pain, but that is the beauty of the human body. We are so perfectly created that it only takes a little thing in the wrong place to throw us off. The other hole, which we call my wound,