Today was one of those unseasonably warm days. It was in the mid 60's. I will not complain, espe after all the ice and snow we have had.
I told the children we would go to the park today. So after doing some schoolwork, we packed up and went to enjoy the afternoon.
They played on the swings, climbed on the monkey bars, spun around on the merry-go-round. The bigger girls took a walk, and Bethany rode a skateboard.
We all took turns watching Christopher. For a while, he enjoyed swinging, while I pushed him. Then he wanted down to run and climb. He really can climmb well! He prooved that today.
At one point, while on Sarah's watch, while I was nursing Trinity, he managed to take off and climb the slide. This is one of those really high slides, at least twice as high as I am tall, so about 10-12ft. I glanced up and saw Sarah standing on the top step with him, calling for help! Bethany ran to help, and all three threatened to topple off. Bethany was finally able to get herself turned around and carry him to safety, but not without weaving and wobbling in the process.
This makes me realize we need to come up with a better plan for keeping Christopher safe when warm weather comes to stay awhile. Christopher knows no fear, so we need to help him with boundaries.
The other thing I realize today......my need for hair color has greatly increased! I must have grown a whole new crop of greys after seeing my two daughters and my little son teetering at the top of that slide!
I like my nice safe sofa, but I know that is not the best place for Christopher to learn and grow.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Some Recent Projects
I made diaper covers for a co-worker of my husband. They work at the railroad, so I thought Thomas the Tank Engine covers for their new baby boy would be fun:)
Trinity is growing so fast, and is in need of larger diapers. This is one of her new ones. I used bamboo fleece for the lining and for the insert. It is one of the most absorbant and cozy-feeling diapers I have ever made and used.
I love making and using pretty things on my baby. It is a very satisfying feeling. I need to make a date with my sewing machine and make more diapers and covers for my little princess.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Your love, O Lord, endures forever
The Lord continues to deal with me regarding the pride I have in my heart. I am continually reminded that I have nothing that the Lord has not given to me. My pride only stands in the way of my relationship with God and with others.
Psalm 138:6 Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
I do not want the Lord to know me from afar, I want a close relationship with him.
Psalm 139:1-6 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you percieve my thoughts from afar. You descern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
I am always in awe of the Lord after reading this passage. It is amazing to me that after searching me and knowing me, that God would still love and care for me. My thoughts are not always what I would want the Lord to know, even though I know he already knows them. The words that are on my tongue are not always words I would want the Lord to hear, yet he knows them before they are there.
Anyone who knows much about me knows I am clausterphobic. Yet the very idea that God hems me in, he is close behind me and before me, is comforting, rather than confining.
I can say, like King David, "The Lord will fulfull his purpose for me, your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands." Ps. 138:8
Psalm 138:6 Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
I do not want the Lord to know me from afar, I want a close relationship with him.
Psalm 139:1-6 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you percieve my thoughts from afar. You descern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
I am always in awe of the Lord after reading this passage. It is amazing to me that after searching me and knowing me, that God would still love and care for me. My thoughts are not always what I would want the Lord to know, even though I know he already knows them. The words that are on my tongue are not always words I would want the Lord to hear, yet he knows them before they are there.
Anyone who knows much about me knows I am clausterphobic. Yet the very idea that God hems me in, he is close behind me and before me, is comforting, rather than confining.
I can say, like King David, "The Lord will fulfull his purpose for me, your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands." Ps. 138:8
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Some Pictures from My House
The view from my window sil. This reminds me that unless the Lord returns, we will have spring again:)
A sweet picture of my babies. If you are on momys.com you are already familiar with this darling picture. But I like it so much I wanted to post it here, also:)
A sweet picture of my babies. If you are on momys.com you are already familiar with this darling picture. But I like it so much I wanted to post it here, also:)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Life Changing Experiences
I debated about sharing my thoughts today. I know by doing so I will be setting myself up for misunderstanding by some.
Yesterday was Joshua's 6th birthday. He and I looked at his photo album together. We talked about how tiny he was, compared his tiny foorprints to his big ol' feet.
The day he was born was so full of joy. Even though I had a long labor and bled heavily afterward, I was so delighted at my perfect little son. Late that night, I was looking through his hospital chart and saw that the nurse was unable to see both red reflexes in his eyes. I figured it was because it can be hard to get a good look in tiny newborn eyes, but decided to ask our doctor about it when he came in the next day.
Little did I realize how dramatically different my life was about to become. Joshua indeed did not have a red reflex in his right eye, but our family doctor did not know why. We had an appointment set up with a pediatric ophthalmologist, next door to the hospital. When we were discharged, we were to go directly to Joshua's appointment.
I will never forget the day they pediatric ophthalmologist diagnosed Josh with PHPV. I sat and cried, the tears would not stop. I was not crying because my little son was not perfect. (He is perfect.) I was crying because of the suffering he would need to indure, the uncertainty of his prognosis.
I still cry when anything changes with Josh's condition. There is never any guarrantee that all will be well with Josh. His surgeries were not a cure, or permanent fix.
Two years and one day after Josh was born, we gave birth to Christopher. When they placed Christopher on my tummy, I saw in his mouth his cleft palate. I was stunned into silence. Two precious babies in a row with surgical needs.
The NICU doctor was called in to see Christopher. He said he would like to draw blood for chromosomal testing. I remember weeping and shaking all over, so much so that the NICU doctor asked my husband if I was ok. I felt like I was a bystander in the room, they weren't talking about me and my baby. When I asked the doctor if he meant testing for Down syndrome, he said "yes', but he did not think Christopher had it, though. He wanted to do the test just because of my age and the cleft palate.
The test took four days. In this time, we went home from the hospital, only to be admitted to the pediatric unit due to Christopher developing jaundice. My husband went home for the evening, and I was alone with my new baby when our doctor came in to tell me the results of the testing.
I know some folks would say I was selfish, or not truly prolife, or whatever else, because I wept when I was told my son has Down syndrome. I was heartbroken that my little son would suffer. He would suffer not only because he needed surgery to repair his cleft palate, but because of how others percieve people with disabilities. I was crying because I would have to go home and tell my other children they would need to see another baby brother suffer. They would watch him struggle to do the things that come natural and easy for other babies.
I have not stayed in the mourning phase. I have moved on. I have experienced much joy becuase of my precious children. But my life will never be the same. But different can be good. I have learned so much, met many wonderful people, and discovered a lot of areas in my life that I needed to turn over to the Lord.
I am not the same person I was six years ago, or even four years ago. I continue to be a work in progress, clay in the Master Potter's hands. Sometimes, when he squeezes it does not feel to good. Sometimes he sees bits and pieces that need to be removed to make the finished product more lovely and functionable. But I will never be the same.
Yesterday was Joshua's 6th birthday. He and I looked at his photo album together. We talked about how tiny he was, compared his tiny foorprints to his big ol' feet.
The day he was born was so full of joy. Even though I had a long labor and bled heavily afterward, I was so delighted at my perfect little son. Late that night, I was looking through his hospital chart and saw that the nurse was unable to see both red reflexes in his eyes. I figured it was because it can be hard to get a good look in tiny newborn eyes, but decided to ask our doctor about it when he came in the next day.
Little did I realize how dramatically different my life was about to become. Joshua indeed did not have a red reflex in his right eye, but our family doctor did not know why. We had an appointment set up with a pediatric ophthalmologist, next door to the hospital. When we were discharged, we were to go directly to Joshua's appointment.
I will never forget the day they pediatric ophthalmologist diagnosed Josh with PHPV. I sat and cried, the tears would not stop. I was not crying because my little son was not perfect. (He is perfect.) I was crying because of the suffering he would need to indure, the uncertainty of his prognosis.
I still cry when anything changes with Josh's condition. There is never any guarrantee that all will be well with Josh. His surgeries were not a cure, or permanent fix.
Two years and one day after Josh was born, we gave birth to Christopher. When they placed Christopher on my tummy, I saw in his mouth his cleft palate. I was stunned into silence. Two precious babies in a row with surgical needs.
The NICU doctor was called in to see Christopher. He said he would like to draw blood for chromosomal testing. I remember weeping and shaking all over, so much so that the NICU doctor asked my husband if I was ok. I felt like I was a bystander in the room, they weren't talking about me and my baby. When I asked the doctor if he meant testing for Down syndrome, he said "yes', but he did not think Christopher had it, though. He wanted to do the test just because of my age and the cleft palate.
The test took four days. In this time, we went home from the hospital, only to be admitted to the pediatric unit due to Christopher developing jaundice. My husband went home for the evening, and I was alone with my new baby when our doctor came in to tell me the results of the testing.
I know some folks would say I was selfish, or not truly prolife, or whatever else, because I wept when I was told my son has Down syndrome. I was heartbroken that my little son would suffer. He would suffer not only because he needed surgery to repair his cleft palate, but because of how others percieve people with disabilities. I was crying because I would have to go home and tell my other children they would need to see another baby brother suffer. They would watch him struggle to do the things that come natural and easy for other babies.
I have not stayed in the mourning phase. I have moved on. I have experienced much joy becuase of my precious children. But my life will never be the same. But different can be good. I have learned so much, met many wonderful people, and discovered a lot of areas in my life that I needed to turn over to the Lord.
I am not the same person I was six years ago, or even four years ago. I continue to be a work in progress, clay in the Master Potter's hands. Sometimes, when he squeezes it does not feel to good. Sometimes he sees bits and pieces that need to be removed to make the finished product more lovely and functionable. But I will never be the same.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Pretzel Making
My boys love to make things in the kitchen. They love it almost as much as eating things made in the kitchen.
Before they all had the flu, we decided to buy a couple of those Auntie Ann pretzel kits. The boys had so much fun kneeding the dough and rolling the pretzels. It gave them a bit of perspective about the work that goes into one of their favorite treats.
(Sorry the pics are not the best. They were action shots taken with my cell phone.)
Before they all had the flu, we decided to buy a couple of those Auntie Ann pretzel kits. The boys had so much fun kneeding the dough and rolling the pretzels. It gave them a bit of perspective about the work that goes into one of their favorite treats.
(Sorry the pics are not the best. They were action shots taken with my cell phone.)
Fun Pictures of Christopher
He was delighted when he got to wear the broken tenacle ball. Even more delighted when he got to wear big sister, Allura's wig!
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