It has been awhile since I last wrote. It is ironic that on the last day that I wrote to you was the day our precious little one made his debut!
So what about Kansas you say. Many of you know that my original goal was to have Zechariah at home. We spent more than 2 months planning and purchasing all the supplies to have this little man in our front room. We went as far as getting all the medical supplies and the birth tub. My heart was set. I began practicing and following exercises to help me prepare. Again, I say my heart was set on a home birth. My children were going to be there with me.
On that morning I was excited my midwife was coming to the house and we were discussing the where and how the birth should go. Those of you who know me, know I love a plan well executed. Half way through the visit we began the actual medical portion of the visit. Desiree began to listen to the babies heart rate, immediately she said she would like to call the hospital and see if we can have an ultrasound. I did not pick up on the cues. I just said,"ok." She told me to call Adam and have him meet us there. Half way through the call I asked her if she really felt important for him to be there since it is a pain for Adam to leave work. She insisted. I still missed it.
Desiree drove me to the hospital. When we arrived they immediately checked me in. That was a first. I could not help but noticed that Dr. Dion was there. Tell me that isn't God. (I love her, she was my OB with Hannah and most of my pregnancy with Zech. The main reason we decided on a home birth was because of the H1N1 scare and the fact that my kids could not be at the hospital. It was much later that I fell in love with the idea of being at home.)
In the Triage they informed me that since Dr. Dion was on call and their records still indicated that she was my Dr. I could have her! :) Again, tell me that isn't God.
The nurse could not find Zech heart beat. It took her more than 10 mins and finally Dr. Dion came in with the ultrasound machine to find it. Once connected I could see the concern for the first time. (Duh!) They immediatly called a perinatologist. He informed us that the baby had a heart arithmyia. Which means his heart beats at it's on pace. Too be continued...
Sacrifice is never easy!
I spent most of the day in pain yesterday. This little man is sitting funny and my only hope is to hold on and enjoy the ride! "Enjoy the ride?" you say. Yep, not long from now I will be holding this precious one in my arms but for now I am looking for beauty in ashes.
There is something about pushing through the pain that makes you appreciate the little things in life. I had to run 5 errands yesterday. Minor to say the least. However, with every stop of the car I would have to mentally prepare for getting in and out. The pain so excrutiating I had to mentally rev up before fighting back the tears. With every step through the parking lot, telling myself to wipe the look of pain off of my face. Others don't need to see it. By the time my errands were through God had sustained me!!! I now had a new appreciation for elderly people who can't make it to a store or in and out of cars. Thank you Lord that every day of my life is not like this.
We have a woman at our church who lives in constant pain. My heart goes out to her as I rest and begin to pray for a pain free day for her. What a welcomed relief that will be for her. How she must long for even a small break in the pain.
God takes our suffering and turns it into beauty.
As I looked around last night surrounded by my children and reflecting on the sacrifices we have made this year. I think hard and long about the physical suffering. It is nothing and yet my children are so understanding. So willing to help, ok not always excited about it but still, willing. They get sacrifice. They get that family is more important than stuff.
I can only pray that as they grow older and wiser that I too can keep that at the forefront of their minds. That sacrifice is never easy but always worth it in the end.
There is something about pushing through the pain that makes you appreciate the little things in life. I had to run 5 errands yesterday. Minor to say the least. However, with every stop of the car I would have to mentally prepare for getting in and out. The pain so excrutiating I had to mentally rev up before fighting back the tears. With every step through the parking lot, telling myself to wipe the look of pain off of my face. Others don't need to see it. By the time my errands were through God had sustained me!!! I now had a new appreciation for elderly people who can't make it to a store or in and out of cars. Thank you Lord that every day of my life is not like this.
We have a woman at our church who lives in constant pain. My heart goes out to her as I rest and begin to pray for a pain free day for her. What a welcomed relief that will be for her. How she must long for even a small break in the pain.
God takes our suffering and turns it into beauty.
As I looked around last night surrounded by my children and reflecting on the sacrifices we have made this year. I think hard and long about the physical suffering. It is nothing and yet my children are so understanding. So willing to help, ok not always excited about it but still, willing. They get sacrifice. They get that family is more important than stuff.
I can only pray that as they grow older and wiser that I too can keep that at the forefront of their minds. That sacrifice is never easy but always worth it in the end.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all!!!
Today was so much fun. Hannah did not understand why we were ripping the paper.
The kids were so great about understanding that this could not be a huge Christmas. After all we are going to have the best gift of all.
I love this picture!
Kayden got new bedding for Christmas! He chose it himself.
Brooklyn wanted her webkinz and her brother bought them for her!
Thank you brother.
That lasted long. Hannah took possesion of the webkinz!!!
Ok, so I did not get to take a shower since I was getting Hannah ready. However, this was funny. Adam filled my stocking with things around the house. Mostly, Mary Kay products he grabbed off my shelf. Notice the bear I use for wrapping gifts for my customers!!!
He found a gift card that I got for my birthday from my unit and he took the Starbucks gift card out of his stocking and put it in mine. I laughed so hard I started crying!!! He really knows how to make me feel special. No sarcasm intended.
Thanks Grandma Penny
Thanks Grandma Geneie
Hannah opening her first present! She really did not get the hang of it. I am sure by next year she'll be shredding the paper and having a blast.
Brooklyn decided to help Hannah.
The animals were tuckered out!
Traditions
Today we made our gingerbread men!!! This is a family tradition my mom started and we have continued. (Mom, we missed you.)
We invited our friends The Parkers! It was Tyler's birthday. What a fun way to celebrate.
This is the prep time before our guests arrived.
We had so much fun! Time to go to bed! Merry Christmas to all!
We invited our friends The Parkers! It was Tyler's birthday. What a fun way to celebrate.
This is the prep time before our guests arrived.
I think I was wearing more than the blender!!!
That is not a a basketball under my shirt! (Nor twins!)
Hannah's first gingerbread cookie!
Lauren's gingerbread man!
Kayden's man (Notice Hannah eyeballing it)
Kayden and Tyler
Yvette's little man
Hannah soaking up the sun shine!
We had such a great time. Brooklyn was not able to make it but, will decorate her man tonight.
Why not end a day of fun playing with your sister and brother!
"I want your water"
I am going to get you!
Got you!
Roar!!!
More, More, More
Double the blessing!
I am so excited. This weekend we found the crib I had been dreaming of on craigslist for $275. You may be gasping but it is brand new just sent from babies r us. Still in the box and it sells for $430 if I bought it from them. Adam put it up for me the same night. It was such a wonderful gift. This crib goes from a crib to a toddler bed, then to a day bed, and then turns into a full size headboard and footboard!!! Did I mention it is solid cherry wood. Ok so I am drooling all over again.
God is so good. We were able to pay cash and the best part was I had a gift card to babies r us for $70. So, I did not even have to use all of our own money to pay. I consider this to be a huge blessing.
It works perfect for Hannah.
"But wait," you say. The title is double the blessing.
We loved the crib so much that we decided that the other crib was not going to cut it. Safety is important for the new baby and after all these cribs are going to last a long time.
So, after searching craigslist we found a lady who sold us a voucher for her recalled crib and then babies r us gave us a 20% off coupon, so we were able to buy the crib for $260!!! Can you stand it?!!! I know $500 seems like alot and it is but, If I had bought them directly from babies r us we would have paid $860!!! Believe me you, I have been eyeballing these cribs since I found out I was pregnant with Hannah!
Here is Zech's crib with his new bedding!
Drama in the house!!!
Can you say drama is draining?!!! (Emphasis added)
Brooklyn had to have a minor procedure done on her lip today at the dermatologist. Minor is the key word. However, the second she saw the Dr. the tears began. He left us to calm down 5 different times. 2 of which he said I would have to come back another day. Don't get me wrong, I am sympathetic, however this was not going to happen. We drove all the way downtown to fix the problem and by golly it was going to be fixed, TODAY!
I eventually had to threaten Brooklyn with no friends, computer, or books for the next month, before she would calm down enough to let them numb her lip. I know I deserve the Mom of the year award for that one! But, What is a mom to do? I knew once it was over with she would be fine and guess what? I was right!
The rush of adrenaline through Brooklyn's body nearly knocked both of us out. I was so tired afterwards that I probably spoke 5 words during dinner. Adam kept asking if I was ok. After dinner Hannah and I took a 2 hour nap. I am telling you, drama wipes me out!
Other than a little tenderness, Brooklyn is fairing well and will survive.
Brooklyn had to have a minor procedure done on her lip today at the dermatologist. Minor is the key word. However, the second she saw the Dr. the tears began. He left us to calm down 5 different times. 2 of which he said I would have to come back another day. Don't get me wrong, I am sympathetic, however this was not going to happen. We drove all the way downtown to fix the problem and by golly it was going to be fixed, TODAY!
I eventually had to threaten Brooklyn with no friends, computer, or books for the next month, before she would calm down enough to let them numb her lip. I know I deserve the Mom of the year award for that one! But, What is a mom to do? I knew once it was over with she would be fine and guess what? I was right!
The rush of adrenaline through Brooklyn's body nearly knocked both of us out. I was so tired afterwards that I probably spoke 5 words during dinner. Adam kept asking if I was ok. After dinner Hannah and I took a 2 hour nap. I am telling you, drama wipes me out!
Other than a little tenderness, Brooklyn is fairing well and will survive.
Off to the see the lights
What a crazy life we lead!!!
Today we ventured off to the Zoo. This was Hannah's first time and she had no idea what to expect. Nor did I. Almost all the animals were asleep; but the lights were out in full array.
This is Hannah dressed in full Diva attire at the front gate. She was mesmorized by all the lights.
Joy is my girlfriend Leslie's daughter. Brooklyn has know her since we moved here 9 years ago. They reconnected this year at the Red Cross babysitters class. The two of them could not be seperated.
Joy, Hannah, and Brooklyn
"Can we go in yet"
Part of the fun of Zoo lights is to ride the Christmas train through the Zoo and see all the lights. Hannah has a love/ hate for the train. She was in love with the movement and even the toot of the horn, however, only one toot and forget the brakes. The squeel sent her into tears.
Brooklyn and Joy enjoying the train ride.
What evening would not be complete without your very first bottle of hot chocolate!!!
Ok, for those of you who know me, you know this went against everything within me. Not the hot chocolate, but the fact that she has it in her bottle. It was well past her time to have a bottle and with the train sending her over the top, I knew I had to act quickly. With no microwaves or even hot water near by we improvised and gave her 1/2 hot chocolate and 1/2 milk. As you can see, Hannah was quite pleased with the concoction.
You gotta love the chocolate mustache!
This is a small portion of the group we went with. Thank you Mary Kay for forcing us to go do fun and different things with our family. In 9 years of being here this is the first time we have ever gone to Zoo lights.
As we made our adventure through the Zoo, Hannah could not be more excited about animals.
I just love this picture of Hannah starring at the fish.
"OOOH!!!" gasp, "Mama" gasp.
These fish were as big as her.
If you look closely you can see the fish. Bonk!
This is Kendra's Dad holding Hannah. He is more excited about it than she is.
We closed down the Zoo! Literally the kicked us out. Ok so not literally. However, my body felt like the train had run me over. Hannah was exhausted, she fell asleep in the car and Brooklyn was talking a million miles per hour. I am not sure if it was the giant elephant ear she shared with Joy or the excitement of the day. I was so tired all I could do was listen. It is amazing when you listen to your children the joy and fulfillment you get from hearing things from their perspective.
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