Alyssa Out of Surgery

As we shared this morning, Alyssa Webster had her second cardiac ablation surgery today. According to Kelly Bates, the surgery was six hours long, recovery was four-and-a-half hours, and Alyssa is now experiencing normal, post-operative discomfort and exhaustion.

On a positive note, the doctor told the Websters and Bates that he feels good about how the surgery went. Please continue to pray for Alyssa and her family, as the recovery from this procedure is lengthy.

Alyssa's Second Surgery

John Webster and Alyssa Webster arrive at the hospital this morning

On April 11th, Alyssa Webster had her first cardiac ablation surgery, hopeful that it would cure her supraventricular tachycardia (a fancy medical term that essentially means abnormally fast heartbeat). Unfortunately, the condition returned, and she was scheduled for another surgery. That surgery is today.

Alyssa and John arrived at the hospital early this morning, and Gil, Kelly, and Callie Bates came along for support. The surgery is now underway, and we know that the Websters and Bates would appreciate prayers for Alyssa.

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Bates #5 Turns 26

Kelly Bates and pilot Nathan Bates

Nathan Bates (well, technically his legal name is Kenneth Nathaniel Bates) turns 26 today. Happy birthday, Nathan!

Nathan Bates

Medical mission trip in the Middle East

Lawson Bates, Trace Bates, Nathan Bates

Nathan evacuates Hurricane Harvey victims

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, lawsonbates.com

Evan's Birthday Trip

Carlin Stewart

In celebration of Evan's 24th birthday, he and Carlin ventured to Charleston, South Carolina, for a little getaway. If you remember our post from two years ago, Zach and Whitney Bates and their kids visited Charleston in June 2017. Josie and Kelton Balka were there in April on their babymoon. Have you been?

Whitney Bates, Bradley Bates, Zach Bates, Kaci Bates

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of Evan and Carlin Stewart, Zach and Whitney Bates

Bates Boutique Warehouse

Carlin Bates, Erin Paine, Whitney Bates

2018

The biggest news from the Bates these days is that the Bates Sisters Boutique now has a warehouse! (While they call it a warehouse, if you're picturing a 1-million-square-foot Amazon warehouse, scale that down by quite a bit--this warehouse is on the smaller side.)

The guys in the family, especially Chad, are still working on finishing it up, but we expect there to be pictures soon. In addition to storage space, the warehouse also has a spot for photo shoots, which will prevent Erin, Carlin, and Whitney from having to rent space to shoot photos.

Photo courtesy of Carlin Stewart

Bates Attend Paine Wedding

If you have been a long-time fan of the Bates family, you have probably seen photos and footage of Abby Paine, one of Chad's nine siblings. Although she is from Oklahoma, she has spent a significant amount of time in Rocky Top in recent years as Kelly's homeschooling assistant/tutor.

Yesterday, Abby married Jeremiah (Jay) Unruh in Oklahoma City. Some of the Bates attended the wedding. Erin Paine, Tori Smith, Carson Paine, and Brooklyn Paine were in the wedding party. 

Kelly Bates, Abby, Jay, Gil Bates

Trace Bates and girlfriend Chaney

Gil Bates, Brooklyn Paine, Carson Paine

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Bates Now Returning Fall 2019

We have some good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that UPtv just released a fun Bates promo video that you are sure to enjoy. The not-so-good news is that Bringing Up Bates is now slated to return this fall, rather than at the end of summer. We will keep you updated and will let you know as soon as an exact date is announced.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Keilens Celebrate 4 Years

Has it really been four years since we watched the beautiful wedding of Michael Bates and Brandon Keilen? Happy anniversary, Keilens! For fun, we have included a video of the two newlyweds on their Montana honeymoon.

Michaela and Brandon Keilen

2019

Michaela Keilen and Brandon Keilen

2015

Photos courtesy of brandonandmichaela.com

3-9: Boys vs. Girls

Kelly Bates and Everly Paine

 

2019 is shaping up to be the year of baby girls, for both the Bates and their close friends the Duggars. In the Duggar family, Jessa delivered Ivy in May, and Anna, Lauren, and Kendra are all due with baby girls in November. In the Bates clan, Josie had Willow last month, and Erin and Whitney are expecting baby girls in December and November.

By the end of the year, Gil and Kelly Bates will have 12 grandchildren--nine girls and only three boys. The girls are Allie Webster, Kaci Bates, Brooklyn Paine, Lexi Webster, Zoey Webster, Everly Paine, Willow Balka, Khloe Eileen Bates, and Holland Grace Paine, and the boys are Bradley Bates, Carson Paine, and Kade Smith.

The Duggars are slightly more boy heavy, but not by much. They have nine grandsons, seven granddaughters, and one still to be revealed (John and Abbie's child).

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Kade Turns 9 Months Old

Robert "Kade" Ellis Smith IV, is nine months old today. Time sure has flown by--it feels like proud parents Tori and Bobby Smith were just sharing the first photo of their son, and here he is approaching his first birthday. Below are two pictures, a new one and a newborn one, so you can see how much he has changed.

Kade Smith, (almost) 9 months old

 

Kade Smith, newborn

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of Bobby and Tori Smith

Balkas Buy a House

Josie Balka, Kelton Balka, Willow Balka

 

Another big change is in store for the Balkas. Little Willow hasn't even turned three weeks old, and they are getting ready to hit another huge milestone. New parents Josie and Kelton just closed on their first house, and they are planning to move in at the end of August, after they complete some renovations. And it won't be long before the premiere of Bringing Up Bates season 8B (premiere date to be announced soon).

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Brooklyn Turns 3

Brooklyn Paine, 3 years old

 

July and August are big birthday months for the Bates clan. Kelton and Lawson celebrated birthdays in July, and Willow was born on the 19th. This month, we have already seen Callie turn 10 and Josie turn 20, and today is Brooklyn's 3rd birthday. Happy birthday, Brooklyn! Evan and Nathan also have birthdays at the end of August.
 

Brooklyn Paine and Kaci Bates

Spring 2019

 

Carson Paine, Everly Paine, Brooklyn Paine

October 2018

 

 Brooklyn Paine and Carson Paine

May 2018

Brooklyn Paine, May 2017

 

Kaci Lynn Bates and Brooklyn Paine, September 2016 

Erin Paine and Brooklyn Paine (3 weeks old)

Photo courtesy of chadanderin.com

Bates #10 Turns 20

Wishing Josie Balka a very happy 20th birthday!

Josie Bates

Bates family vacation 2007

 

Josie and Kelton Balka 2019

 

Josie Balka, Willow Balka, Kelton Balka

July 2019

Photos courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com, thebatesfamily.com, Josie and Kelton Balka

Willow's Newborn Shoot

Josie Balka, Kelton Balka, Willow Balka

Isn't she just darling? Josie and Kelton Balka did a newborn photo shoot with Taryn yager. Willow is two weeks old.

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com, Josie and Kelton Balka

Bates #17 Turns 10

Wishing Callie Bates a very happy 10th birthday! Her full name is Callie-Anna Rose, and she is the youngest Bates daughter.

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, brandonandmichaela.com, UPtv

Erin's 5th CD

Erin Bates Paine has just released her 5th piano CD. This one is a compilation of some of her favorite hymns, including "Be Thou My Vision" and "Near the Cross." The physical CD can be purchased on Erin's website (link below), and the download is available on iTunes. We have also included purchase links for Erin's previous CDs, in case you would like to buy them for your music collection.

Hymns
Lullaby
Comfort & Joy
Down Home Gospel
Merciful and Mighty


CD cover courtesy chadanderin.com