Early For Church Again
July 21, 2011Yogi Bear Park
July 13, 2011Back in May, we went to Yogi Bear Park for J’s birthday. We went the week before she turned 4, upon learning that 3 and under were free. Turning 4 meant paying fees at other places as well, such as Cici’s pizza. Why would anyone eat at Cici’s pizza anyway? I think it is dirty and they skimp on the cheese. The concept of sweet pizzas make my stomach churn. But, the rest of my family seems to LOVE it. So, we find ourselves there more often than I’d like to admit. Now, paying for 4 lovely buffets instead of 3!
Back to Yogi Bear Park….This is a campground/waterpark. They have locations all over the US, or at least Texas. It is kind of a ‘poor man’s vacation’. Or, at least that is their marketing strategy. Lets just say the kids got a good tatoo education that day because we certianly saw a few! They also weren’t quite as safety concious as one would think a water park would be. J wasn’t quite tall enough for the big slides but nonetheless, they let her go as long as an adult was with her. I’m not complaining. This was all fine by us. We slid and played all day long and had a blast!
The park is ideal for kids the ages of ours. They could do everything- all two ‘big’ slides and yet they were still young enough to love the mini slides and water play area also!
I sure was proud of the not-yet-4 birthday girl for going down this big one!
In case you are considering a trip of your own to Yogi Bear Park, I’ll also say that I’m not sure it would have been worth the trip on a weekend. During the week, while school was still in session, we never had to wait in line. I hear that the weekend is a different story. And that’s lots more tattoos to explain too!
New Floors
July 11, 2011A few weeks ago, while the kids and I were at camp, J took advantage of an empty house and replaced N’s carpet with laminate flooring. This is one of our steps in trying to better control his asthma. We also bought he and J new mattresses and removed stuffed animals from his room. I am now committed to washing his sheets, three remaining stuffed animals and curtains each week although I might just take the curtains down to save the trouble. J did an amazing job on the floor.
Before
After
J did such a great job and N, who usually does not embrace change, loves driving his cars on the new floor! The only hitch in the whole thing was accidentally dropping the saw in J’s room and cutting through the carpet! ARRG. Oh well, you learn as you go!
Happy Birthday SK!
July 9, 2011Well, SK’s birthday was actually June 29th. I had meant to post on her birthday but somehow it didn’t happen. I still wanted to write about her first year and spend a moment celebrating her precious life.
SK was a few days past her due date when I went in for my OB appointment. There had been a scheduling error and they had mistakenly canceled my appointment earlier in the week and moved it to one of the first days in July. When they realized the error, they called, on June 29th, asking me to come in that day. I really wanted to go into labor naturally and was very much against inducing. But, the Lord had other plans.
My first two births were in Central Asia and I realize that somehow, on the other side of the ocean, it was ‘easier’ to trust God with every step of the process. Here, I would find myself not trusting the doctor’s decisions as though she wasn’t also in the hand of God through our prayers. I wasn’t so sure when she told me I couldn’t leave the appointment that day but instead needed to go over to the hospital to be induced. My NST was showing signs of distress. I really wanted to go home and wait but thankfully, my requests weren’t heard.
To circumvent a long birth story, SK had myconium in her lungs, thus causing the alarming heart rate as she struggled. This was discovered before she was born so that neonatal team was already in the room when she was born. Most likely, she had been breathing it for a couple of days. When she was born, there was an eerie silence and a few weak gasps for air. A concerned look on my doctor’s face. She was passed into the hands of the specialist as they simultaneously tried to suction out her lungs.
She was rushed out of the room. First, they came back in and asked to see Dad outside. This didn’t make me feel too confident. The specialist came back in with J after a few minutes and told me that she was having trouble breathing and would be taken to the NICU. First, they would bring her back in for me to be able to see her. I didn’t want to see her, I said. I wanted her to get the help she needed as quickly as possible. All I could think about was getting her help. No, they said, you need to see her. After J’s year of being a hospital chaplain at Texas Children’s, this could only mean one thing to me: the possibility that this would be my only time to see her alive. In hindsight, I was totally panicked and this probably wasn’t what they meant to convey. Nonetheless, this was my thought process as I looked at her sweet face for the first time.
She was in a plastic box. Completely enclosed. There were two arm holes on either side that we could open and reach in to touch her tiny hands. J held one, I held the other and we embraced as we entrusted her life to God. I don’t know why they needed so many nurses and other professionals in our room during this ordeal but I do know that this room full of people came to a standstill as we poured out hearts on her behalf. Emanuel. God with us. His presence filled the room.
Before every birth, we pray for the nurses and doctors who will be with us during the birth- such an intimate and vulnerable time in our lives. We pray that they will know the Lord’s goodness and love as a result of our interactions with them and with one another as they become a part of such a special time in the life of our family. Each time, I’ve had a doctor who isn’t a believer and each time, the Lord has given me such a love and compassion for her to know Him.
After a couple of long days in the NICU, SK was fine. Sure, there were challenges along the way. Of course it was difficult to wait to see her, then wait to hold her, and other challenges that come along with a baby that has been in the NICU. How wonderful it was to hold her for the first time without any wires or monitors!
Over the past year, I have thanked God thousands of times for this sweet baby.
Her life has brought such joy.
Her life has brought such gratitude.
And just maybe on June 29, 2010, her life stirred the heart of a doctor, nurse or technician who previously didn’t know Him.
I’m Not a Compulsive Liar….
July 7, 2011really, I’m not. Lately, I’ve been telling people J and I have been married 10 years. I brought my wedding pictures to a party where we all looked at old pictures this week and let everyone know, this is year number 10. I have been thinking about how we should celebrate the big 10 this December. It has just flown by. In fact, it doesn’t seem like it has really been 10 years at all.
Last night, I was telling J quickly the years have flown. I always tell him how I pray that the Lord will give us the privilege of being married for 50 years. I want us to know every thought, spend every moment together and even start looking like each other as some cute old couples do.
I was going on about how the first 10 years hasn’t felt like 10 years at all when he interrupted to say….
“We’ve only been married 8 years.”
Dress Up Adventures
July 5, 2011The things kids come up with through imaginative play never cease to amaze me. This particular day, N and J were in some type of 20,000 leagues under the sea world of their own. I love blending into the background and watching what they come up with.
This particular day included:
Map of Waco (check.)
Small cooler (check.)
2 pairs of boots (check.)
One pink Barbie (check.)
A rather large bag of cheerios (check.)
A random pink shoe (check.)
Who knows where this adventure took them but I know that I choose to stay at home with my children for the joy of being a fly on the wall, along for the ride.
Brothers
July 3, 2011N wants a little brother more than anything. As you might remember, this was his reaction when he was in the ultrasound room and found out that SK was a girl:
Tears turned to sobs and J finally had to take him out of the room. The ultrasound tech couldn’t believe he was genuinely so upset. He frequently talks about names for his little brother, prays for him and saves things for him.
A few days ago, he took these two guys with him all day long.
Watching TV
Lunch- complete with real food.
Bedtime- with their baseball hats side by side.
I was surprised that it was N that played baby all day instead of J but then again, he’s the only one who has ever done this too!
N, you are an AMAZING big brother to your sisters. You are such a protector and friend for them. Keep praying for that brother. May the Lord bless your nurturing, loving and inclusive spirit!
Girls Camp
July 1, 2011Two weeks ago, I spoke at a Girls Camp. N and J had such a fun time being mini-campers amoung the seas of 1st-6th grade girls!
They were quick to make lots of friends.
We got to hike, go out on a paddle boat, swim, watch the 6th graders on the ropes course and go to worship.
Thanks Grandma for coming along to help with the kids!
It was so much fun to stay in a little cabin. N and J got to sleep in the loft which was quite the treat.
After hanging out with 600 girls all week, N wore a pink shirt one day and a purple shirt the next! 
Girls camp was a great experience for all of us and we are so thankful that we were able to be a part of such an amazing week!
Backyard Garden
June 27, 2011
The lettuce and carrots are from our garden. I wish I could say how delicious and wonderful this salad was. The carrots were VERY good. Such a better taste than ones from the store. But, the lettuce variety was quite bitter. We tried our best to eat it but I’m thinking J will choose a different variety for next year!
Napping in the Pool
June 21, 2011We recently went to a fun water day at church. The ice cream truck even came and we had two very happy kiddos.
SK napped most of the time in her new stroller. Hopefully this is confirmation that we can just get by with a travel stroller from this point forward because we need the trunk space for the rest of the family!
But, my favorite part of the whole day was seeing our friend’s baby fall asleep in the pool and then continue her nap here:
What a life!
