Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Date Night

One of the things we learned at our marriage retreat is something we already knew. It is so important to not neglect your spouse so you can take care of your children! Your spouse should always come first!
Arynn was ready to eat!
For a long time now, my sweet husband has insisted we have date night. We are so blessed to have parents who want to watch our babies which allows Jake and I to go out once a week.
Mommy and Arynn
 Jake used to work second shift and we weren't able to have a night out, but he has been on days for about year. Our date night consists of dropping off the kids (nursing babies go with Momma) around 5:30, dinner and usually some type of shopping/errands. When I was pregnant we would buy groceries so I wouldn't have to go during the week with the kids. We try to pick up the kids around 9:00.
Daddy, Mommy andArynn
 I know it is a luxury and most people don't have a babysitter but I encourage you to make time to talk to your spouse. Even if you just have to put the kids to bed earlier and have a date at your house! I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! We cherish our time to talk and the kiddos enjoy visiting with the grandparents.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Momma's Birthday

On Tuesday night, we went to celebrate my birthday with Mimi, Poppa, Keith and Cabrina. Unfortunately, Arynn was pretty fussy and I didn't even get my camera out of the bag. :-( But the food was wonderful, she made an awesome dessert and I got more photo albums! I only need about 500 more!!!

On Wednesday, my actual birthday, we celebrated with Nana and Poppa Kenneth. Nana wanted to have it on my birthday even though it was church night. We went to their house for pizza, went to church, then we came back for cake. They got me a gift certificate for a much needed pedicure! I feel so blessed to have wonderful parents and in-laws!


Aiden's favorite spot is with Poppa is his chair. (Poppa is thrilled that I am taking his picture!)
Can we say "cheese?"

Not to be outdone...
Our crew waiting on cake, everyone except Arynn, I think Poppa was holding her.


Taken by Aiden, it was supposed to be of me unwrapping my gift!
My last birthday in my 20's. Where has the time gone? Somedays I feel like I should still be Aiden's age! I can't imagine how my parents feel to know their baby is almost 30. I remember when my Mom turned 30 and it was a big deal, black balloons and I was thinking..."I'll never be that old" and now I'm almost there. Birthdays are a blessing and I am thankful for everyday, no matter how young or old I am! Although to hear my kids tell it I should be getting mail from AARP.

Austen asked the other day "Momma, are you really old?" Me- "Pretty old." Aus- "Like really, really old?" Me- "Yeah" Aus-"Are you like as old as Ms. ______?" (An elderly lady in our church) Me- "Not that old, but pretty close!!!" Out of the mouths of babes. :-)

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Arynn's Birth Story

On February 26th around 4:30 am, I woke up with light contractions. We were 40 weeks and 6 days. Around 5:30, I woke Jake and told him today might be the day. I still wasn't convinced because contractions were 8 minutes apart, and nothing like the fast and furious labor we experienced with Addy. Jake went ahead and called into work to tell them he wasn't going to be there and then he called Nana. She arrived around 6:15 and we got to the hospital by 7:15. Jake wanted to make sure we could beat rush hour traffic. We were a little gun shy after our experience with Addy.
9 pounds 7 ounces
21 inches long
Once we got to the hospital we found out we were going to have a baby soon. I was dilated to 5 and contractions were coming regular but still around 8 minutes apart and very manageable.  Our OB was not on call, but Dr B was very nice and reassuring. He made sure the staff was on top of my platelet issue and to our surprise they had came up since the previous week. He offered to break my water around 8:00 to help speed things up, but I declined. I was okay with a slow labor this time.  
Meeting family for the first time.
 
Sometime later Dr B came back and offered to break my water, Jake and I still weren't ready to have any interventions so he left and then came back to tell us my Dr was going to check on us around lunch time. Dr. S came in around noon we were dilated to 9 almost 10 and he offered again to break my water, I still didn't want to just because I remembered how much more intense the labor was after that happened with Addy. I really wanted to just let things happen naturally. He told us he would eat lunch and come back in 30 minutes. 

Nanny Lee holding her 5th great-grandchild. Arynn is named after her mother, Mary Lizabeth, who would have been 113 years old on March 4th.
At 12:40 Dr. S came back, this time I was complete, but no urge to push. Arynn was still -3 station and posterior. He said if I would let him break my water she could rotate and come down like she was supposed to. I wasn't convinced but Jake knew if we sent him away again he might not make it back in time. So we agreed.

Mimi holding her 5th grandbaby.
Everything happened just like he said, I guess 50 years of delivering babies counts for something. : ) Arynn was born at 1:00 pm, no complications for either of us and Dr. S didn't even have to reschedule his afternoon patients!
Nana checking out her 3rd granddaughter's chubby cheeks.
Arynn made her appearance during the day so we had visitors come and welcome her. We actually were able to take pictures! (This didn't happen with Addy because she came in the wee hours of the morning and then went to the NICU) Bro. Ben came and stayed for a while but had to leave before he got to see her, so we don't have any pictures of him. 
Gary and Ann meeting baby Arynn.
We were so blessed with a wonderful labor and delievery. God knew the exact timing that was needed. We are thankful for all of the prayers about mine and Arynn's health. Not only did God answer those prayers but He blessed us even more with an easy labor, delivery and a speedy recovery. This has been the best postpartum experience compared to all of our other babies!
First photo as a family of seven!
We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to us with our 5th baby. We jokingly said it has been more like a first baby! We have had many meals prepared, gifts for Arynn and myself, prayers on our behalf, calls and visitors. We feel loved and blessed to have so many friends and family showing their love. We are thankful to everyone and love each of you! We are happy to have a new blessing in our lives! Welcome Baby Arynn, we love you!!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

One Year Ago...

I was holding this sweet baby girl in my arms as she feel asleep.

A few minutes later, I was holding her hand in the emergency room, praying for her life. We weren't sure what was happening or why. She was seizing, they couldn't get it stopped and we didn't know if she would be the same again. An hour later, she wasn't actively seizing but she was unresponsive and on a breathing machine from all the medications. We were transported to Children's Hospital and we continued to pray for her recovery.


God answered our prayers and she is very happy and healthy today. It took a week to get back to normal, but we have not had any problems since that awful day.


It is amazing how your perspective changes when you go through difficult trials. Just the day before this incident, I was complaining about how hard it was to be a Mom of three small kiddos. The next day, I was shown the alternative and I was praying that God would allow me to continue to be her mother and not take her to be with Him. I have always been thankful, but this incident completely changed my life. I now realize what is most important. The house can be dirty and laundry can pile up, because it will all still be there in 20 years. My kids are just temporary, just on loan to me and in 20 years, this season of life will be gone. This trial taught me that tomorrow is uncertain, there are no guarantees and I want to show my children everyday how thankful I am to have them. I am not sure why God has blessed me with a wonderful family, and I definitely do not feel worthy, but I am so thankful to have this opportunity. I pray that I can continue to be their Mom for as long as He allows, and that I can do this in a way that is pleasing to Him.  I am no longer a nurse, just a Mommy and wife. It is the most important and humbling job out there. The benefits are overwhelming and the rewards are out of this world. When I have a hard day, I just remember how fragile life is, and look at all the blessings in my life.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3