The McMillins

Well, today was the first day of Corey's recovery from having all 4 of his wisdom teeth pulled. He started off the day eating scrambled eggs and sausage. Then, he went outside to mow the grass. It probably helped that he took his pain medication at breakfast. He went with Gretchen and Zach to Zach's Allergist appointment. He started to really hurt by that time because he hadn't taken his pain medication. So, we went to Ye Old Fashioned Ice Cream and both had a brownie sundae. We went home and all 3 of us took a nap. When we got up, Corey was hurting really bad. He's starting to see some swelling. He layed on the couch with an ice pack on his cheek tonight after dinner. Poor thing!

Well, Corey started out the day without being able to eat because of having his wisdom teeth out this afternoon. He did have Bible Study at our house. Then, we moved our desk and computer around.

Good friends of ours, Skip and Kelly, took Corey to the Dentist to have all four of his wisdom teeth out. Gretchen couldn't go because of needing to be at the house for the furniture.

The furniture came right before Corey got home. He was very tired so Gretchen went to go get his prescriptions filled for him. When she got back, she started putting the end tables and coffee table together. Unfortunately, she broke a piece of the coffee table (fortunately, it's a piece you can't see that goes underneath the actual table). Then, Corey helped her finish putting them together. The loft upstairs is soooo comfortable now.

Gretchen received flowers at the house from Corey today! How sweet is he? What a wonderful husband! They are beautiful and he is so wonderful to be so thoughtful!

We haven't really been doing much lately. Gretchen went outside and played with Zach on the neighbor's swing set yesterday. Then, we came inside and we played with play-doh, colored and painted. Gretchen usually has Zach color or paint while she has house work to do. Zach has been doing so well with potty training. He doesn't even want to wear a diaper at night but we still make him.

Corey has been working the past couple of days on night work. We had some pretty bad thunderstorms on Sunday and it rained all day. So, it made it a little easier for Corey to sleep during the day. He loves to sleep when it's raining. Tonight will be his last night. Then, he gets his wisdom teeth out on Thursday! What FUN!

Today we played a lot with Zach. Zach got to watch "Mickey's Clubhouse" on Disney Channel. It only comes on on the weekends. So, while he watched that, we read a chapter in the book "Footsteps of the Messiah". It's a REALLY good book. Corey and Gretchen do devotions every night together, read a couple of chapters in the Bible (starting with Matthew and going through the New Testament) and then read a couple of pages in this book. We also sometimes go through an online "School of Theology" course on carm.org.

This afternoon, we wanted to make some Shrimp Gumbo. So, we bought 2 lbs of fresh jumbo shrimp as well as some other ingrendients to make it. It's pretty good! We almost didn't make it in time for Corey to take to work with him tonight. He goes back to work tonight on night work. He has to take lunch with him because the cafeteria at his work is not open at night. We also bought some more cheesecake from Walmart. So, Corey has a pretty good lunch with him tonight.

Corey woke up at 5 AM today to go scuba diving. He traveled 77 miles one way to be there at 7 AM just to find out that it was cancelled! Poor Corey! He hasn't gone scuba diving since January. He was hoping to go before getting his wisdom teeth out next week because he won't be able to go for a couple of weeks after he gets that done. He came home and took a nap for 2 hours. Corey and Gretchen spent today just relaxing, while Zach was taking a nap. We woke Zach up and Corey played tractors with him.

We've really been working with Zach with potty training. Gretchen's parents told them to make Zach run around naked from the waste down to help with potty training. We did it. He went to the bathroom a couple of times on the carpet but got punished for it. He did that about 4 times and now he goes in the toilet everytime. He hasn't had any accidents. We're so proud of him!

Yesterday, Corey, Gretchen and Zach went to the beach with Corey's co-worker, Doug, and his kids, Hayley and Bradley. (Doug's wife was at a prayer camp) We had a lot of fun. Doug napped on the beach while Corey and Gretchen played in the ocean with all the kids. It was a lot of fun!

Tonight, Doug and his kids came over to the house along with another one of Corey's co-workers, Mike, and his wife Kim and their 2 kids. Both Mike and Doug attend Corey's Bible Study. Corey grilled hamburgers (or MERN-burgers, lol) on the grill. Kim made some delicious potato salad and Gretchen bought some cheese cake at Walmart. It was all DELICIOUS! All the kids had a good time playing with each other while the adults had a good time of fellowship. We were talking about Jesus and the word of God. It was an awesome time of fellowship. Of course, we had to throw in a few stories about potty training since Zach is in the middle of that. It was a lot of fun and we are so thankful for the good friends that God has placed in our lives!

We got 2 hours into the trip last night and decided to turn around and come back home. We decided that it's just too dangerous to drive through the night, anymore. Zach started whining an hour into the trip and between that and being VERY sleepy, we just decided to go to Missouri another time. We're thinking about flying so that we don't have to make a 12 hour trip. We feel horrible because we know Zach was looking forward to going fishing with PapaLarry. Plus, we know Corey's parents were looking forward to spending some time with all of us. It would have been nice to see them.

We're VERY tired today but we're just relaxing and NOT driving anywhere. Corey will probably go diving this week (since he won't be able to go for at least 2 weeks or longer). We may go to the beach but we'll see. Corey needs to rest from working his 12 hour shifts.

We're going to Missouri! We've got a nice long 12 hour trip ahead of us tonight. Corey is working and won't be home until 8 p.m. Gretchen is cleaning the house, packing and making sure everything is taken care of before the trip. Gretchen will be napping with Zach this afternoon b/c she is driving probably most of the night. After Corey working his hard 12 hour day, he's going to be exhausted. Gretchen has had some trouble sleeping lately, anyway, so it shouldn't be too terribly bad. Zach will have to sleep in his carseat! He'll be nice and comfy. He's used to sleeping in his carseat on the way up to Maryland (which is an 8 hour drive).

We should have some fun! We are going to Kennett, MO to visit with Corey's family. This is where Corey is from. We'll get to spend some time with Corey's dad and his wife, Brenda, as well as his mom. Gretchen will get to meet Corey's grandparents and possibly some other members of his family. We'll be staying with Corey's Dad! We may even get to sneak out for the evening by ourselves while his parents get some quality time with Zach. :)

Happy Father's Day to both Gretchen and Corey's Dad! We both hope that both of you have a relaxing Father's Day! You both deserve it for putting up with each of us for so long! :) We appreciate everything that you've both done for us and what you've been to us. We thank Jesus for being blessed with Dads like both of you!
You have helped us both in guiding us on how to be good parents!

This is Corey's 2nd day of work. He gets up at 5 AM, gets ready for work and then gets back in bed to cuddle with Gretchen for a little bit. HOW SWEET!! Gretchen should get up when he leaves but she doesn't. She falls back asleep until Zach gets in bed with her to watch some DISNEY Channel. Then, we get up and eat breakfast. Today, Zach colored while Gretchen did some laundry and cleaned up a little bit. Then, Zach wanted to play with play-doh. So, Gretchen and Zach played with play-doh together.

Gretchen did some exercises and now is getting ready to fix some dinner for Zach. Then she fixes another dinner for Corey so that it's hot when he gets home from work. He's starting to go to the gym after work so he's getting home later.

Well, the house is really starting to come along. We took our home gym down yesterday. That really opened our loft area. We moved the armoire that we got from one of Corey's co-workers into the loft along with the 36" TV. We've got it set up with the xbox for Corey to play. Although, Gretchen plays it with Corey every so often. We just bought a microfiber couch and chaise along with end tables, a small table and an area rug to go upstairs. That won't get delivered until June 29th. So, as soon as we get that I'll have to post a picture. Picking out drapes should be fun but we'll see when we get to do that.

There's no painting going on yet. We're trying to establish what exactly is going to be our permanent decor. God has really blessed us with nice things and a big house. Of course, there will probably ALWAYS be something to do to the house. So far, all 3 bathrooms are done and the guest bedroom is done. Our bedroom is ALMOST done. If we can just figure out what to do with the windows, it'll be done.

We did finally get a bunk bed for Zach about a month ago. Here's a picture of Zach and Corey after we put it together.

Today is Corey's first day back to work of his 4 days. So, Gretchen is just situating and reorganizing things in the house while Zach is taking a nap.