The Fight

There are many things that I don't understand or that I can't fully relate to, and I know that the same goes for everyone. We have never walked in anyone else's shoes and we don't need to, as we all have our own to fill.

We all have a choice to fight or not fight the battles in our lives. Some people fight with diseases, some with finances, some with infertility, some with abuse, some with things we cannot even fathom, and any combination of the above.

One of the greatest callings we can have is to be a parent, to be given the blessing and responsibility of raising, molding, influencing, and fostering a child to grow for the Lord. I think as a parent, young or old; biological or not; current, past, or future; planned or unplanned; some of our biggest battles are related to our children. Keith and I have been blessed with precious children. For us, the course of getting them here has been a HUGE battle - fighting for them and with them, for their safety and development, for their health, for their survival, for THEM. Sometimes the battles seem overwhelming, unending, hopeless, or downright frightening! Thankfully, I have a God who is sovereign, who is unchanging, and who promises to be our healer and our provider. God promises to come to our rescue EVERY time (Psalm 34:19) and NOTHING is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37). Though we are inevitably going to face difficulties, we are never alone.

Right now, we are in the midst of a fight. I am 30 weeks pregnant and we've gotten some tough news from the doctors. While at my doctor's appointments Monday, I was told that due to my having gestational diabetes, Declen has Pericardial Effusion (fluid on his heart) and Hypoxia (limited oxygen particularly to his brain). Declen is measuring 4 pounds 8 ounces which is four weeks ahead, but this is size only; his organ development is still that of a 30 week baby. My blood sugar is not reacting to what I eat/don't eat, so I have started taking some medicine. Hopefully the medicine will decrease the junk in my system and ultimately take some stress off of Declen's little body. My doctor said that if this medicine doesn't do the trick, there are other medicines we can add to the mix.

We are so blessed to have a group of great doctors, family, prayer warriors, friends, etc to surround us during this time! But more than anything else, we are so blessed to have a God that can handle this. God is not a god of infirmity, pain, fear, or suffering! He is the God of peace, love, healing, strength, and power. These conditions (gestational diabetes, hypoxia, pericardial effusion) are names, and with a God whose Name is above ALL names, these names have to submit. I find so much peace in knowing this!

Please join us in prayer as we claim victory over these diagnoses and watch what God has in-store for Declen's precious life!

Twenty Nine

It's that time of the year again... MY BIRTHDAY!

I think the main thing I've dreaded about 29 is that it's one of those ages that no one believes (unless they know you actually ARE 29 and not just claiming it). But I DO keep thinking about how old 29 seemed for SO LONG... I mean 29 was practically 30, which was practically "middle age" when I was younger... clearly I had a skewed perspective, but then again a WHOLE LOT can happen and change within (almost) 3 decades! I mean, a TON has happened in just the last decade of my life!

29 Things I've Done (or that have happened in my life) over the last decade:

1. Attended, transferred, and graduated from college
2. Had 3 different college majors
3. Traveled all across this country numerous time (by car and plane)
4. Traveled to Peru
5. Traveled to Africa
6. Met my husband
7. Been engaged
8. Got married
9. Learned how to be a wife
10. Been pregnant 3 times (obviously still in the midst of one)
11. My feet and my ring finger have grown 1 full size (since my 1st pregnancy)
12. Become a mommy
13. Become an aunt
14. 2 C-Sections, sinus surgery, spinal blocks, & ear tubes
15. Been hospitalized for kidney stones, pregnancy complications, births, pneumonia, and a stomach bug
16. Had a total of 5 cats (not all at once): Gus, Milo, Charley, Cali, and Tilly
17. Worked 3 "grownup" jobs: Cache (Assistant Manager), Wells Fargo (Interim Loan Processor), Alabama Power (Admin Assistant)
18. Grown from being a college KID to being an adult
19. Owned a total of 5 cars (and yet I still drive the car I got when I was in high school)
20. Moved 8 times (all within the same state)
21. Discovered the value of family
22. Learned to really seek God and His will for my life
23. Gained a true appreciation for my parents (and all parents)
24. Learned how to forgive (others as well as myself)
25. Grown from being a victim to helping victims
26. Actually ached for the pain, suffering, and salvation of others
27. Learned (and continuing to learn) that God ALWAYS provides and that His plan is PERFECT
28. Discovered that no matter how much I research/read/consult/etc there are some parts of parenting that are completely new territory which NO ONE is prepared for!
29. Kept an amaryllis plant alive for 2 years and counting (my 1st plant to NOT annihilate)!!

Keith's 1st time to make a cake

Joint Birthday for me and Janeen
Ok, so it's not really the best pic of any of us, but I love how excited Landen is!

Pregnancy Stuff: Week 30

• How far? 29 weeks, 4 days (That's right... I'm 29 years old and I'm 29 weeks - I couldn't have planned it better if I'd tried)
• Bump? Of course! See picture below

Our family of 4 (and a bump)

• Weight Gain? I've gained 1 pound (so I'm at ZERO from pre-pregnancy)... though from the looks of things you probably wouldn't believe it!
• Belly Button? Shallow, but IN 
• Blood Pressure? 126/83
• Fundal Height? 31
• Fetal size approximation? 33 to 34 weeks
• Maternity Clothes? Definitely
• Fetal Heart Rate? 133 bpm
• Movement? This kid has a TON of energy and with his tushy and feet up it's very apparent!
• Cravings? LEMONADE, key lime pie, lemon stuff... not sure what's going on with the sweet/sour thing
• Aversions? Strong smelling stuff, green grapes, red beans, sausage, onions, FISH
• Symptoms? Some swelling of my fingers and feet by the end of the day, Headaches, Exhaustion, Moody, Emotional, Back Pain, some rather unpleasant things...
• Sleep? Meh it's alright, once I get comfortable. 
• I had a VERY weird dream last night though... something about me being pregnant and then the baby being born and I was out of town so wasn't there for the birth so I didn't get to see the baby for a few days because I had to come back in town to see my baby... I dunno... I was crying in my dream though.
• Gender? Definitely a BOY!
• Name? Declen Miles
• Best Moment? Finding out that the oxygen levels in Declen's brain looked good!! AND seeing his hair on the ultrasound (crazy right!?)!
• Doctor's Report? So I had a good visit to all my doctors on Tuesday. My blood sugar doesn't seem to be related (much at all) to what I eat, which means it’s the placenta that’s causing the craziness – if my blood sugar continues upward, then I will be placed on some medicine, but right now I’m just having to track my meals and blood sugar closely. The oxygen/blood flow to Declen's brain looked really good on the ultrasound/doppler and he had only grown 1 week's worth over the course of 1 week (Good job buddy!). I also learned that my High Risk OB is NOT an advocate for bedrest unless it's absolutely the last resort AND that we are going to try to get this baby as close to 40 weeks as safely possible! :)

Pregnancy Surprises

Well, so far (excluding the 1st Trimester) this has been a rather non-eventful, normal, healthy pregnancy... or so I thought.

Things changed this week. Actually, things probably changed a while ago and we just didn't know it yet...

I went to my OB/GYN on Monday to take my Glucose test. I didn't pass it. so I had to go back Wednesday to do the 3hr Glucose Tolerance Test, which I didn't pass failed miserably.

Here’s the report I was given:

I have gestational diabetes. As a result, Declen is measuring extremely large. After doing some tests, the doctors are concerned about the blood flow and the oxygen levels in his brain. They told me that they're going to try to do everything they can to keep Declen out of the NICU, but there's a good chance he'll be a NICU baby.

I now have a list of health care providers: My OB, a High Risk OB, a High Risk Nurse Practioner, and a Nutritionist. I’ll have to go in to see the High Risk doctor weekly. They'll be doing weekly advanced ultrasounds/doppler to measure Declen's size, blood flow, oxygen levels, & fluids. I have to track my blood sugar throughout the day each day and then on Tuesday I'll meet with the nutritionist to see what kind of diet I need to be on based on how I am responding to foods, as well as what medicines I need to take. 

In addition to this, I have been experiencing some bleeding this again week and we aren’t yet sure of the cause. At some point (based on the Ultrasounds/Doppler results) I will start doing non-stress tests at the hospital 1-3 times a week. 

General Pregnancy Update: Week 29

1. How far? 28 weeks, 3 days 
2. Bump? Of course!
3. Weight Gain? I've gained 2 pounds (so I'm at -1 pound from my pre-pregnancy weight)
4. Belly Button? Shallow, but IN (unless Declen kicks me - then it pops out momentarily. It's a bit weird)
5. Blood Pressure? 126/76
6. Fundal Height? 30
7. Fetal size approximation? 32 to 33 weeks
8. Maternity Clothes? Definitely
9. Fetal Heart Rate? 141 bpm
10. Movement? This kid has a TON of energy!
11. Cravings? Not much of anything... just thirsty
12. Aversions? Strong smelling stuff, green grapes, red beans, sausage, onions, FISH
13. Symptoms? Some swelling of my fingers and feet by the end of the day, Headaches, Exhaustion, Moody, Emotional, Back Pain
14. Sleep? Not too bad, once I get comfortable
15. Gender? Definitely a BOY!
16. Name? Declen Miles
17. Best Moment? Watching sweet Declen suck his thumb on the Ultrasound

In OTHER News:

Our kids have continued their fascination with the toilet. As a result, we had to replace a toilet this week. The culprit - makeup brushes. The guilty party - still a mystery.

We adopted a new friend - Tilly

We now have bunk beds for the boys to grow into!

Football Season, Conversations, & the Bump

Football

Let me start by saying... We live in the South, there isn't much choice in whether or not we celebrate football season, and in our state, we WILL root for either Alabama or Auburn... it's just the way life goes around here. That being said... ROLL TIDE! :)

We don't have internet or television at home, so we went to my parent's house to watch the first game of the season. Landen actually was FASCINATED with it! He was very intent on finding the players wearing red shirts and wanting them to catch/hold the football. He also noticed that the players "fall down a lot," in an effort to NOT promote rough play in our 3 year old, I agreed that's what they were doing; Keith felt the need to explain that the players were tackling each other to take the ball away from the other team. Oh well…  

Anyway, Landen surprised me with the amount of time he willing sat still and watched the game. Brayden would periodically come over and watch a few minutes of the game before heading off to play with the barnyard toys. I think he was more interested in not missing out on what his big brother was doing. It was cute though, when they would sit together and watch the game and when Landen would attempt to explain the game to Brayden. My boys are so precious (I might be slightly biased)!

Brayden Pictures: He has some strange obsession with putting this laundry basket on his head... and wearing it around the house as if it's totally normal.

Climbing with the basket hat

So happy to play cars while wearing the basket hat

Peek-A-Boo! 

  

Conversations with a 3 year old are fun! 

Landen’s imagination is growing exponentially and he is grasping new concepts, daily. His memory and the ability to make connections to past/present/future experiences, in combination with his somewhat skewed logic leads to some REALLY funny situations.

Random spoken thoughts. They come out of nowhere and lead to nothing (but laughter and confusion): 

Random # 1:

• Landen: “Gooey turns into Goofy”

Random # 2:

• Landen: “Chicken-flay is my favorite” (referring to Chick-Fil-A) 

Random # 3:

• Landen: “That’s trippy” (anytime something COULD possibly cause him to slip, trip, or fall)

Random # 4:

• Landen: "Barney Bear likes to sit on my shoulders so he can see. You need to take a picture of him, Mommy. He wants a picture."

Meals & Snacks Talks

Talk # 1: 

• Landen: “You’re full, Mommy?”
• Me: “I’m getting full.”
• Landen: “Why?”
• Keith: “Because Declen is in Mommy’s tummy.”
• Landen: “Cause Declen is food?”
• Me: “No, Declen isn’t food. He’s in Mommy’s tummy so he grow.”
• Landen: “Oh. ‘Cause he likes food?”

Talk # 2:

• Landen: “Barney Bear is sitting in your chair, Mommy.”
• Me: “Oh, well I guess I’ll just have to sit on him.”
• Landen: “NO! ‘Cause he’s my friend!!!!”
• **We ended up having to pull an extra chair to the table so Barney Bear could eat with us.**

Talk # 3: 

• Landen: “I’m hungry.”
• Me: “Do you want some Fritos, like what brother is eating?”
• Landen: “I’m hungry a lot. I want orange chips.”
• Me: “No, those are too messy.”
• Landen: “OK, I can have orange chips and a napkin.”
• Keith: “No Landen, you can have Fritos.”
• Landen: “You have three more chances, Daddy.”
• Keith: “OK, you can have Fritos, veggie sticks, or a fruit bar.”
• Landen: “Um…….. FRITOS!”

Just saying.

Saying # 1:

• I was reading a book just after lunchtime on Saturday…
• Landen: “Mommy, talk.”
• Me: “What?”
• Landen: “It’s time to talk! It’s not 8 o’clock, yet. It’s not bedtime. Talk to me.”

Saying #2:

• In the car - Keith and I were discussing a conversation he had with someone named Ryan…
• Landen: “Lion. Lions say roar.”
• Brayden: “Roar. Roar”
• Landen: “You see a lion at the zoo, Daddy? Do you see a lion at the zoo?”
• Keith to Landen (confused): “Sometimes. Do you see lions at the zoo?”
• Landen: “No.”
• Keith: “OK, buddy.”
• We continue our conversation… and I said Ryan’s name
• Landen: “Lion!”
• Me: “Landen, Mommy & Daddy are talking about someone whose name is Ryan.”
• Landen: “Nope. Lion. Lion, Mommy.” 

Postponing Bedtime (entire conversations are in whispers).

Whispers #1:

• Keith (tucking Landen into bed): “I love you. Goodnight.”
• Landen: “Sumpin’s missing. We’re missing sumpin’.”
• Keith: “What is it?”
• Landen: “A little man. A little man that’s like a bug. A lady bug is like a bug. Yeah!”

Whispers #2:

• Me (tucking Landen into bed): “Goodnight, Buddy. I love you!”
• Landen: “Wait. I gotta tell you sumpin’”
• Me: “OK. What do you need to tell me?”
• Landen: “Um… we’re missing sumpin’.”
• Me: “What are we missing?”
• Landen: “Um… um… the white part. The white part is long. The white part is long on my fingers.”
• Me (I look at his recently cut fingernails): “No it isn’t. Go to sleep.”
• Landen: “But it’s long, Mommy. It will scratch me. We have to cut them.”
• Me: “No Landen, it’s time to go to sleep.”
• **I have never known a child who despises having his nails clipped, as much as Landen… he was REALLY desperate to avoid sleep that night**

Pregnancy Update 

Week 26: Size of a Head of Lettuce

• How far? 25 weeks, 3 days
• Bump? Can’t miss it
• Weight Gain? -3 pounds (slowly gaining)
• Belly Button? In but getting more shallow
• Blood Pressure?
• Maternity Clothes? You bet!
• Baby’s Heart Rate?
• Movement? Definitely! AND other people can see my stomach moving when he kicks/rolls
• Cravings? Milk, Chicken Tetrazzini, SOME sweet stuff, eggs
• Aversions? Grapes, Red Beans & Rice, Sausage, Bacon
• Symptoms? EXHAUSTION, forgetfulness, bleeding gums, a little uncoordinated,
• Sleep? It’s decent. Always sleepy, though.
• Gender? Most definitely a boy!
• Name? Declen Miles Thomas
• Best Moment? Watching my stomach as Declen dances/kicks/punches/flips around
• Doctor Report? I go back on Sept 23… Glucose Tolerance Test. Ugh!

18 Months (& 24 Weeks)

Brayden is an 18 month old! How is that even possible!?

He is an absolute blessing! His laugh is so heartfelt. His love is so genuine and constant. His curiosity and determination are so defining and encouraging. His words are so carefully planned and practiced. His little heart is so big, while his little body is so small. It is so hard to imagine our life before he joined us!

Sweet boy, you are treasured, loved, and blessed beyond measure! You are a perfect creation by God!

Most children at age 18 months are well beyond wearing "baby" clothes or have completely outgrown "baby" toys. For Brayden, this is not the case. Mentally, he is on (above) "par" but size wise he is small, very small. At this point, we don't know if Brayden is just a late bloomer that will fully catch up or if there is something "wrong". Either way, Brayden is exactly how God made him and that is perfect. He has never let his size hold him back - the child can climb anything! He can wrestle Landen as if they were the same size. If he is meant to have a small stature, then that's how it is and he will be perfectly equipped for whatever the Lord has in store for him.

He had his 18 month appointment on Friday. Brayden has grown 1/2 inch and gained 2 ounces since his last well child checkup. For this reason, our pediatrician wants us to see a specialist - to make sure there isn't something going on that we are missing.

Side Note: We've always known he was small for his age, but it really didn't seem like that big of a deal until we realized he was being held back from kids his age & maturity because he was "too small" or because it wasn't "safe" for him to be in a room with kids that were "so much bigger" than him. It was at this point that it really hit me how people are categorized, and as a mom it made me feel horrible. At 17 months old, he was still in the newborn class. Sure, he had precious teachers who had some great one-on-one time with him (because the babies were sleeping a good bit during the day), but he wasn't getting to play with kids his age - or kids at all, really. It wasn't until registration for this new year, that we realized he was being placed in the infant class AGAIN. Don't get me wrong, we have a great daycare that does a LOT of wonderful things! It's because he's the same SIZE as the babies - he was just being overlooked. This hurt. I mean, he didn't know any different and he was content, but he also wasn't being challenged intellectually. He wasn't getting to play outside, he didn't have interaction with kids, the toys were way to young for him, everyone in his class drank out of bottles and were fed by the teachers (if they were at that point) - how had I missed this!? This child that was "too small" is the same kid that can: flat take-out my 3 year old (who happens to be a FULL FOOT taller than him), climb the shelves in our closet, throw a ball right.into.your.hands, sit at the table (in an adult chair) for meals, speak 70+ words (that I've been able to write down), sit and "read" books to himself, etc. He needs to be challenged, to play, to explore, to grow (in whatever way that may be).

Currently, we are waiting for the appointment to be set up for us to see the specialist. In the meantime, the pediatrician (actually the nurse) called to let us know the initial/preliminary blood work came back normal! :)

Pregnancy: 24 weeks

So this week marks one of the biggest milestones of pregnancy for me. This is because it is, what is generally considered, the age of viability. I mean, I know that this baby is NO WHERE NEAR being ready to join the air breathing world, BUT I also find a certain level of peace in knowing that IF something were to happen, there is a chance he could possibly survive outside the womb. <= Don't worry, I plan to keep him in there for at least another 13 weeks (hopefully more), as I'm counting on this being the longest pregnancy I've had yet... anyway... this post is intended to be mostly a Brayden post, so I'll save the rest of my pregnancy stuff for a later date :)

I didn't forget... I just didn't have time!

Okay, so it's been A WHILE since my last post... and honestly, I haven't had a moment between then and now to post anything! (<~ it's hard when I don't have internet at my house)

Let's play catch-up...

• Brayden has started talking up a storm! 
• Both boys had a stomach bug.
• Keith and Landen had a nasty summer cold.
• My grandmother fell and broke both hips, had a heart attack, then had surgery.
• Two of my family members (on my dad's side) passed away.
• A friend of mine (and co-worker) had a baby.
• I collapsed at work from intense uterine pain... we determined it was some scar tissue tearing (baby and I are fine)
• Brayden is cutting 4 teeth at once... 3 of the 4 have FINALLY broken through the gums
• We have had the mildest, wettest weather I can EVER remember having in Alabama during the month of August. EVER!
• Brayden went potty IN THE POTTY! (one time thing that hasn't happened again)
• My 10 year high school reunion is this weekend... I'm not going
• Brayden has started saying bedtime prayers and blessing the food when we do! It is PRECIOUS!
• Keith's mom broke her leg

Pregnancy Update: Size of a Cantaloupe

1. How far? 23 weeks, 2 days
2. Bump? Oh yes!
3. Weight Gain? I gained A LITTLE, so I'm now at -5 pounds
4. Belly Button? In
5. Blood Pressure? 118/80
6. Maternity Clothes? Yep
7. Baby's Heart Rate? 150s
8. Movement? Definitely, especially mid-afternoon and around 7-8 pm
9. Cravings? It varies from day to day, but my appetite is definitely increasing
10. Aversions? Red Beans & Rice, Sausage, Bacon, & Onions
11. Symptoms? Gastritis, Tired, FORGETFULNESS!, Back Pain
12. Sleep? VERY weird dreams
13. Gender? Boy
14. Name? Declen Miles
15. Best Moment? Landen & Brayden talking to Declen! 
16. Doctor's Report? Everything is looking good! My doctor was glad to see that I actually gained a little weight at this appointment & Declen is growing well. My blood pressure is doing fabulous. Not having hardly any swelling.

Pregnancy Update: Banana Baby

Pregnancy Update: Size of a Banana

• How far? 19 weeks, 1 days
• Bump? Can’t miss it
• Weight Gain? Still -6 pounds… mostly due to gastritis, BUT this is number SUPER confusing to me since I am nowhere near being able to wear regular clothes
• Belly Button? In
• Blood Pressure? 118/82
• Maternity Clothes? You bet!
• Baby’s Heart Rate? 152 bpm
• Movement? Yep! He’s a kicker (luckily for me, he’s still little enough that it’s painless)
• Cravings? Pineapple, milk, juice
• Aversions? Red Beans & Rice, Sausage, Bacon
• Symptoms? Some heartburn, acne, EXHAUSTION, hips getting a little achy, forgetfulness, bleeding gums
• Sleep? Not sleeping too well… Hard time falling asleep, I keep waking up, never really feel rested
• Gender? Most definitely a boy!
• Name? Declen Miles Thomas
• Best Moment? Seeing Declen on the ultrasound today
• Doctor Report? Baby Declen is looking great! He’s measuring right on target and all parts are present and accounted for. His neural tube is closed and his spine looks great! He is head down and facing forward. My blood pressure it doing great! I was “diagnosed” (I have no idea if that’s the right word) with having a grade III Partial Placenta Praevia 
• Pictures?
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Profile (He's looking UP with head middle right and body on the left)

    
  
  
• Video? Okay, so it's pretty obvious that this video was taken toward the end of ultrasound.... poor buddy had been punched/prodded/etc so now he's all over the place.... BUT it's fun to see him move around :)

His Birthday

27 years

27 years ago, God already had a plan for him

27 years ago, I was a toddler and God had a plan for me

27 years ago, two families’ lives were changed forever, though only one family knew it
27 years ago, my family lived in Alabama while his family lived in London

27 years ago, there was love, there was pain, there was prayer, and there was a plan

27 years ago, a beautiful, healthy baby boy was born into this world, a child of the one true God

27 years ago, God already knew his name, his future, and every hair on his head

27 years ago, was July 24, 1986

27 years ago, Keith was born

27 years later, that baby boy is now a daddy, a husband, a brother, a son, a child of God

27 years later, I could not be more grateful to God for the incredible man he created and planned for me to share life with!

Keith,

Thank you for being such a wonderful, Godly husband! I am so grateful for everyday I get to share with you! You are an awesome spiritual leader to me and our kids. You are so patient, loving, generous, and committed. You set an incredible example for our family, and bless each one of us in ways you may not even realize. I love you so much!

really old picture but I love this 

17 months

Brayden is 17 months old today. 

He weighs approximately 18 pounds, wears size 12 month clothes, and I completely forgot how tall he is… Mom of the year right here!

Brayden is becoming SUPER talkative and babbles almost constantly… though he actually says only a handful of recognizable words… BUT over the past couple of days, he has really begun repeating words he hears us say. He is such a happy and content child!

His favorites: being independent, his stuffed lion (given to him by his Papa), dogs (and barking like them), Cali (our cat), giving kisses, Landen (and anything Landen does), water play (outside, inside, sink, shower, tub, toilet… whatever), emptying drawers/cabinets, climbing on everything, singing, books, dancing, cheerios, crackers, the litter box, his bottle (we almost got rid of it altogether, but then he got sick), most anything he can make noise with, trashcans, sleeping ON mommy’s face, and bananas

His LEAST favorites: closed doors/gates, mommy or daddy leaving the room, nebulizers, vacuum cleaner, being told “no”, being restrained/confined, and being fed by someone other than himself

I cannot imagine my life without this precious child. He is so adventurous, fearless, independent, funny, intelligent, sweet, and sensitive.

~~ In other news ~~

• Brayden’s bronchiolitis is MUCH better!! He’s gone 2 full days without needing a breathing treatment! We are keeping him out of daycare for a while to help him rebuild his immune system
• Keith had to get stitches Saturday for inadvertently attempting to amputate his big toe… complements of a hammer, an old dilapidated lawn chair, and his flip-flop… he’s fine now (stitches can come out in a week)
• Landen had a fever on Sunday that was 105.8*F and went to the ER, after already having been to Children’s After Hours Clinic… apparently he has a virus
• We have decided to name Baby # 3: Declen Miles Thomas. Declen (a variation of Declan means Prayerful man)

7 Eleven

So many things have changed, grown, blossomed, and occurred over the course of the last 4 years.

We: (In no particular order)

• got married
• learned how to pray with and for each other
• have been pregnant 3 times
• graduated from undergrad (neither of us were on the 4 year plan)
• moved 3 times
• owned 5 different cars
• started (and almost completed) Physical Therapy School (Keith)
• changed churches (though we ADORE both)
• survived some SERIOUSLY trying times
• have grown tremendously in our Faith and Hope in the Lord
• have seen our love has change, mature, and deepen like we could never have imagined
• made some TONS of mistakes
• learned to work through disagreements and stubbornness
• faced death: Keith’s Grandma Shirley, my Aunt Sara, and my cat (Gus)
• learned about priorities
• survived a couple kitchen/grease fires
• learned to budget and balance finances (as a couple/family)
• became parents
• are blessed in every aspect of our lives and have honestly witnessed that God ALWAYS provides
• have lived a total of 3 years without television (3 years and counting)
• learned through several attempts, that NEITHER of us can build (or sustain) a fire (in the fire place)
• destroyed clothes, phones, sheets, haircuts, shoes, dishes, a dvd/vcr, glasses, some plants, a hair straightener, hair dryers, dinners, lamps, toys, a fan, a car, chairs, umbrellas, and so much more, BUT learned to repair chairs, glasses, clothes, shoes, toilets, door knobs, toys, lamps, an attic door, carpet stains, seat belts, etc.
• learned how to cut hair on adults and children 
• laughed with and at each other
• cried with each other
• overcame kidney stones, cysts, swine flu, regular flu, pre-eclampsia, colds, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, stomach bugs, snot, strep, poop, migraines, immunizations & reactions, pink eye, mastoiditis, eczema, slap cheek (5^th Disease), diaper rashes, thrush, reflux, colic, RSV, allergies, surgeries, and hospitalizations
• Made new friendships and rekindled some old ones

I knew that I loved Keith when I married him. I knew that God brought us together. What I DIDN'T know was what an incredible blessing he is in my life and how much more I would/could love him now! I couldn't have asked for a better husband, daddy, friend, or partner! 

Kid conversations

More love: 

Me (to Landen): "You know what?"
Landen: "Yes"
Me: "You do? What?"
Landen: "I love you"
Me: "Aww, buddy I love you, too!"
Landen: "I love you more"
Me: "I love you more"
Landen: "NO! I love YOU more... and daddy, and Cali (our cat)..."
Me: "and Brother?"
Landen: "Yep! I love Brayden"

Gold digger:

Me (to Landen): "Landen, don't pick your nose"
Landen: "I has boogers"
Me: "Yeah, that's gross"
Landen: "Brother has boogers, now"
Me: "What?"
Landen: "Brother has my boogers!"
Me: "Did you give your boogers to brother?"
Landen: "Yes"
Me: "Landen! That's yucky! Boogers have germs!"
Landen: (gasps with shock) "Oh! I sorry, mommy!"

Jesus in my tummy:

Keith: (singing)
Landen: "What your singing?"
Keith: "I'm singing to Jesus"
Landen: (looking around) "He's not here"
Keith: "He's in my heart, just like baby brother is in mommy's tummy; you can't see him but he's there. WIth Jesus in our hearts, we can ask him to help us and he will!"
Landen: "Oh." (long pause) "My heart is in my tummy and Jesus is in my heart!"

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

We learned this past week that baby #3 is a BOY!

I was certain this one was going to be a girl… partially because Landen was certain it was a girl and because I am easily persuaded by my 3 year old, apparently.

Landen: 3 years

No longer seems to care about snuggling with Curious George at bedtime… he is OBSESSED with a stuffed 3.5 inch tall stuffed reindeer with a gimp antler (thrown to us during a Christmas parade). He LOVES it! It doesn’t have any special name; Landen just calls it his reindeer. Keith and I seriously hate that stupid reindeer because it is SO SMALL. It gets lost multiple times each day and the Where’s Waldo skills of a 3 year old are pretty useless, so we are regularly on the floor searching for this toy – his nose has fallen off, it's shirt unraveled, and his right felt antler is rapidly being stretched & twisted leading me to believe that in the VERY near future we are going to have a shirtless brown unicorn without a since of smell. It’s not that we have a shortage of stuffed animals… we have plenty to choose from… so why the trashy reindeer became the favorite is completely beyond me.

Landen LOVES Brayden. Landen will hold his hand and walk him around to help Brayden find his cup. He’ll “read” to Brayden, sing to him, tell him “It’s okay brudder,” share his food with him, give him hugs & kisses, and even share his toys without being told (on occasion). They really are precious together!

Landen still doesn’t like the vacuum cleaner, but when he knows it’s about to turn on, Landen will get out HIS vacuum cleaner (the FisherPriceLawnmower) and help! Landen loves wrestling with Daddy and Brother (modified). He talks to “Silly,” the baby in mommy’s tummy and LOVES for me to read him stories. Landen’s imagination has really grown lately and we will overhear him talking on the “phone,” racing his cars and declaring the winner, pretending there’s a big green giant, and other really silly things.

When Keith and I were discussing baby names, we named a few and Landen chimed in, giving us his total disapproval of the names we were discussing, saying “NO! Those aren’t names!” At which point we asked him what HE thought was a good name for baby and he said “Silly!” Fortunately for baby, we are NOT going to name him that.

We have moved on from having to give Landen a Whopper with each trip to the potty. Occasionally he’ll still ask for one, but he goes to the potty on his own accord now! Landen also wanted to help change Brayden’s diaper the other day… that was interesting.

Brayden: 16 months

Brayden is starting to speak with words, REAL words! He can say doggy, woof woof, outside, duck, sunny, no, mommy (the catch all term for “I need something”), cup, ball, tiger, roar, daddy, Landen (though we can only recognize that’s what he’s saying when he is repeating it after us), kitty, etc. He also says sfumny, a lot (a catch all word that is used in any and all situations, therefore we have no clue of its meaning). He also LOVES giving hugs and kisses (to people, animals, toys, books, the door, you name it). He is completely obsessed with books! Though he might only spend 30 seconds per book, if you leave him alone at the book shelf he’ll “read” for 1 – 1.5 hours at a time (and bring you every other book he handles, to let you see a picture or read approximately 5 words of it to him)!

Brayden is into EVERYTHING! He has this ridiculous obsession with the trash can; he really enjoys throwing things away… and digging things back out. Unfortunately, the things he throws away are usually NOT trash and the things he digs out are usually disgusting. When we tell him no, he’ll usually take one more step toward what he wants before giving in to the spoilers of all fun (parents). Periodically, he’ll just flat pretend not to hear anything and proceed as planned, especially if it involves the litter box, trash can, or toilet. As a result of his "into everything-ness" I get a call from daycare at least twice a week, because Brayden has bumped his head on something. Brayden will eat ANYTHING off someone else’s plate, but when he’s full food WILL be thrown… we’re working on that! He is fearless (aside from the vacuum cleaner)! An animal 4 times his size is fair game for him, and should probably beware! I think he may be teething again because he is biting things (and me occasionally) all the time.

Brayden ADORES Landen. He is finally able to really play with his big brother, now. They play cars, chase each other, spray each other with the sprinkler hose, share (to some degree) with each other… it is awesome! They “read” books, cuddle, watch movies, share food, dance, bathe, and sing together!

Baby Bump: 16 weeks

• Bump? Yeah… I haven’t been able to wear regular clothes in a while now, despite losing weight… I make myself feel better by telling myself it’s because this is my 3^rd baby…
• Weight Gain? Lost 6 pounds… gastritis. It’s great for weight loss, I guess…
• Belly Button? In
• Maternity Clothes? Yes
• Movement? Yep! Little flutters and a couple kicks 
• Cravings? Pineapple! I am no longer craving green grapes, but I could eat my weight in pineapples!
• Symptoms? EXTREME fatigue, fibro flare-ups, oily skin & hair, already getting some sciatic pain, stomach pains/lack of appetite (gastritis)
• Blood pressure? 120/74… WOOHOO! So far so good!
• Sleep? I pretty much want to sleep all the time, though I never really feel rested…
• Gender? BOY
• Heartrate? 140s
• Best Moment? Seeing this sweet boy on the ultrasound!

He's being shy... hand up at his head looking away

Feet crossed, legs stretched out... confirming gender.

The Father's Day that wasn't...

Well... He didn't get the praise or recognition he deserved. He didn't get the rest and relaxation that he needed. He didn't get any gifts, special meals, etc made just for him from me or the boys. We need a do-over!

I have avoided catching the "bug" that's been passed around our office for the past month, that is... up until this weekend. Of all weekends, it had to be FATHER'S DAY weekend. Being sick AND pregnant, I didn't feel like getting up to brush my teeth or take a shower, so doing something special for anyone seemed impossible. I didn't feel like having ANY kind of noise around me, so quality time with Keith was shot and keeping the kids so Keith could have some time to himself was unthinkable. The idea of food made me nauseated, so cooking/dining was out of the question. To be perfectly honest... when I woke up on Sunday, I completely forgot about it being Father's Day... ALL I could think of was the fact that my head was actually splitting open, caving  in, bursting, and pounding all at the same time!  Keith got gypped!

The thing is, Keith, of all people deserves to be recognized, honored, even pampered (for lack of a more masculine word) on any day... ESPECIALLY Father's Day!

Keith is an INCREDIBLE spiritual leader, husband, daddy, and friend. He is one of the most hardworking selfless people I know. Being married to someone with chronic pain, who is pregnant, while going to school full time, and having two toddlers, he NEVER gets a day off. Keith does the majority of house work, almost all the cooking, plays with the boys, cleans the litter-box, pumps the gas, handles grocery shopping, takes care of Brayden during large chunks of the night, studies his school stuff, etc. and still manages to wake up at 4:30 every morning to do his quiet time. Even with all this on his plate, he maintains an awesome attitude and never gives up... more than that, he'll even offer to rub my feet! Keith most definitely exemplifies the meaning of having a servant's heart!

He is my superman and he deserves to be honored! 

We WILL have a Father's Day do-over! In the meantime, I just want it to be known that I couldn't have asked for a better husband, partner, or daddy for our children! I am so incredibly blessed!

 

 

I LOVE YOU! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

The Porcelain Throne and some other stuff… *UPDATED*

Landen is POTTY TRAINED! He is wearing big boy underwear to school every day now. He tells us when he needs to go potty, even when we are out running errands (though the time between the warning and the act is still rather brief). It has really given us a new perspective on every store/home/etc we step foot in, as we instantly search for the nearest potty, especially as we are working on our “early warning system.” I’m just so proud of how well Landen has done! Now, we just need to get him to put the lid down for Brayden’s sake…

Brayden, as previously mentioned here, is EXTREMELY curious about the potty (among other things). I blame this on the fact that for the last few months we have put such an emphasis on potty training for Landen… talking about the potty, running to the potty, rewards for going potty, taking the potty with us on excursions, etc.

*Note: We DO attempt to baby proof our house (including the toilets), but you would have to meet Brayden to fully grasp how quick, sneaky, and crafty he is!*

Unfortunately, this fascination has led to some interesting events. There have been a couple instances of Brayden getting to the potty before Keith or I could stop him, when he decided to splash around in the toilet water. Once he snuck into the bathroom while eating a banana, apparently wanting the banana to swim… thanks to Landen’s screaming, “Banana in da potty!! Brudder put da banana in da potty!!” we were able to flush the drowning banana BEFORE Brayden was able to retrieve it to continue his snack! We have caught Brayden throwing entire rolls of toilet paper into the toilet, pushing Landen off the toilet, attempting to climb IN the toilet, and playing with bath toys in the toilet. This weekend, however, reached a whole new realm of potty play…

First, let me set the scene. Keith and I were having a deep conversation and cooking dinner. Brayden was playing with the train set (about 10 feet away from us), and Landen had gone to sit on the potty. Normally, we keep the bathroom door closed to prevent Brayden from entering. Landen, for obvious reasons, leaves the bathroom door opened when he’s in there. Aside from the occasional attempt to push Landen of the toilet, Brayden generally leaves the toilet alone when Landen’s using it. 

Sunday was the exception. 

Brayden managed to drop one of the train cars, from their train set, into the toilet as Landen was reaching to flush the potty. Now this is not a very small train car. We’re talking 4 ½ inches long, 2 inches tall, and about 1 ¼ inches wide. We hear the toilet flush and then we hear Landen scream. Keith went running to save the day and the screaming continued even after Keith reached the scene, “Bwayden put da train in da potty!!! Da train in da potty!!! MOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY!!! DDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY!! Da train is gone!! It’s gone!!”

Keith looked in the toilet and couldn't see anything. I approach (cautiously) and as I do, Landen is explains to me that the train is under the potty now.” I enter the bathroom and start looking under the toilet (I mean that’s where Landen said it is… I follow directions well) and see nothing. I look in the toilet… nothing. Keith and I stand there for a minute, Brayden HAD been playing with the train set, but there was no train car in site. The toilet was not overflowing at all and honestly, how could a train car THAT size get flushed into the exceptionally small toilet hole? We just looked at each other, perplexed. We were trying to figure out if a train car entered the toilet at all or if Brayden just attempted to put it in and then took it somewhere else. I was beginning to think it was the latter.

I get a brilliant idea; I’ll try flushing the toilet again to see if anything seems unusual. YEP! There was definitely SOMETHING blocking the flush and the water rose to the top of the bowl. Great. So I do what any young parent does… I called MY parents. My dad instructed me to stick my hand into the toilet hole and see if I could feel the train car. Nope, I could barely get 3 of my fingers into that hole and all I felt was just toilet water and porcelain. He said if that didn’t work, to get a hanger, make a hook, and try to fish it out. Keith tried with no luck. I called my dad again, desperately hoping to hear some ingenious solution. He said if we still don’t have any luck, then we would have to pull the toilet out of the floor. You have GOT to be kidding me! At this, I decide that I am GOING to get this dang train car out of the toilet with a hanger no matter what! I got some pliers and made a smaller hook on the hanger, I bent the hanger to make it go up and around the plumbing curve, and dangit I was going to find that train car! After some serious finagling and thoroughly covering my arms/clothes/toilet/wall with toilet water I FINALLY hooked and pulled that train car out!

The hook

the (cleaned) train car

The train car

The guilty party (with daddy)

You can call me supermom, but please don’t EVER call me to pull something out of a toilet. I have crossed that off my bucket list and you can call a plumber.

By the way, I cut Landen's hair... I never should have done it. It took the kid a full 2 years to actually get enough hair to have his first hair cut and then one year later I cut it all off... brilliant.

At least he doesn't mind the short hair...

***Update***

This happened last night (Thursday, 6/6/13), while Landen was getting the broom out of the bathroom closet to "clean up"...

Mommy's shoe + big mess