May/June Post

A few months ago, I started a photo a day project and had been doing really well at documenting our life using this format.  Then, we entered the crazy time of Luke's birth and our family life was turned upside down.  So, I thought I would just do a giant post with our monthly happenings and get back on track in July with the daily photo documentation.

So here it goes......

The day all the craziness began.  I woke up with a strange stomach pain that took me to the hospital for an overnight stay.  The pain was never diagnosed, but it was the beginning of a very strange week.

Aunt Leslie was kind enough to take off work and spend the weekend with us helping Mommy with the kids.  We were battling the virus that eventually caused Luke to arrive 6 weeks early.

I love this picture that Aunt Leslie snapped of the girls while she was here helping us out.

Sunday, May 27th brought the very unexpected early arrival of our Luke.  Not feeling the amount of movement I was used to feeling, we went to the hospital at dinner time.  The nursing staff was not happy with the results of our monitoring and consulted with my doctor on call.  The decision was made to deliver Luke that night by c-section. 

First time seeing Luke in the NICU at St. Mary's Hospital.

Seeing my sweet boy go through so much was the most heart wrenching experience of my life.  I wanted more than anything to snuggle with him and comfort him, but I couldn't hold him.

Sweet friends from our life group supported us during this time period.  These beautiful flowers brightened my day while I was recovering in the hospital.

Both sets of our parents came to help us out with the kids while I was in the hospital and during the week that followed while Luke remained in the NICU.  We can never thank them enough for giving up their time and commitments to be there and support us during this time.

Andrew started summer school with Mr. Collin and rode the school bus for the first time.  It has been wonderful for him to have this structure and he has enjoyed riding the bus.

Luke was treated by the amazing NICU doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses at MCG Children's Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.  I'll admit that I would never have chosen this path for our family and for the birth experience I had with Luke, but God's ways are always the best and I feel strongly that we have grown as a couple and a family in our faith through this experience.  We received so much love, support, and prayers from both family, friends, and complete strangers to Brett and I during this time that only God could have orchestrated.

Our sweet boy was very sick.  Countless prayers were said on his behalf from Pennsylvania to Kansas to Texas to Florida and Georgia.  Many high school and college friends lifted him up in prayer.  Our old life group in Texas stayed in close contact through email to receive updates and current prayer requests.  Our current life group brought meals/ groceries, babysat for our children, and supported us through prayer.

Faithful prayers allowed us to experience this day...My Mom was able to hold Luke.

Daddy was able to feed Luke a bottle on Father's Day!

and after 23 days in the NICU, we were able to bring our little guy home.

While I spent the time in Augusta with Luke, Matt, Andrew, and Kate were having a great time with Grandpa and Grandma in Florida.

Caroline and Jake stayed home with Daddy and enjoyed some fun times like this one. 

(Spending the day with Dean boating on Lake Oconee)

And Nick and Emily had a fabulous week with Pop and Nana in Pittsburgh.

Having a new baby at home means adjustments for everyone!

All the new baby stuff around the house causes curiosity for the youngest ones.  On this day, I set down Luke's bottle and when I went to find it, I discovered Caroline chugging down his breast milk.

The best moments from the month were when our kids finally got to meet Luke.

We are so grateful that the events of this month brought us this blessing!

"From the fullness of His grace, we have received one blessing after another."

John 1:16

 

Miracle Moby

My sister and I recently conducted a trade.  I sent my ergo baby carrier to her and she sent me her moby baby carrier.  The moby works like a charm.  Within 5 seconds of tucking Luke safely inside the folds of this wrap, he is sound asleep.  Most days this is the only way I get dinner cooked!

I am loving how easy the moby wrap is to wear and bring along to the park and church.

"Then they asked him, "what must we do to do the works God requires?"  Jesus answered, "The work of God is this; to believe in the one he has sent."

John 6:28-29

Heat Wave

This weekend the thermometer shot up and the temps soared above 100 for three days in a row.  Years ago we purchased a pool for our backyard, but it hasn't been out of the box in four years.  Our kids have been begging us to set it up.  So, on Friday night Brett dug out the pool which was in surprisingly good shape for being stored in a box for the past four years.

The kids have been having a blast in the pool.  They probably would swim nonstop if we let them, but since Mom or Dad has to sit outside in the heat we have introduced the "everything in moderation" policy!

And here is what happens if you're the new baby brother of the family

You spend your afternoon napping either on Mommy's lap or the camping chair!

" I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10:10

Luke is 1 Month Old

It seems hard to believe that Luke could be 1 month old already.

This week at your weight check you weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces.  You weigh 1 pound more than you did when you were born.  You were 19 1/2 inches long.

You still have lots of dark hair and blue eyes.  You are nursing well, but haven't got on a schedule yet.  Your awake time is from 8:00 pm till Daddy gets you to sleep usually between 10:00 and 11:00 pm.  You get up every 2-2 1/2  hours at night to eat.

You need to be bundled in order to stay asleep. 

We are working with you to take a pacifier.

You are also starting to like your monkey bouncer.

Happy 1 month to our sweet boy.  We can't wait to see how God blesses our family through you.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 27:14



The Next 23 Days

The next 23 days after Luke's birth were a test of patience.  However, it was also a time in which God's love for our family was shown on a daily basis.  Soon after birth, it became apparent that Luke was affected by the virus that I had.  He remained in the NICU at St. Mary's Hospital until Thursday when they let us know that his condition was above what they felt comfortable handling and were going to transfer him to a children's hospital in Augusta, GA.  This hospital was over 100 miles from our home. 

We would not have been able to make it through this time without the support we received from our parents.  They each spent over a week at our house watching our other children and then both took children home with them so Brett and I could be at the hospital with Luke.  Friends from our life group at church provided meals, groceries, and many prayers.  We received cards from many family members, friends of my parents, and others telling us they were praying for Luke's full recovery and for our family.  Friends of my parents contacted friends they knew who lived in Augusta and arranged for me to stay with them while I was in Augusta with Luke.  The outpouring of support and prayers sustained Brett and I during this time and allowed Luke to do as well as he did.

                                  

23 days in the NICU

Luke on his way to the helicopter for his transfer to MCG Hospital in Augusta

His first and hopefully only helicopter ride!

Vent settings were finally decreased, which put us one step closer to coming off the vent!

Off the vent, starting to show signs of getting better.

 

A lot of our time in the hospital was spent watching Luke sleep, gain strength, and get better.

Final steps- off the nasal cannula and feeding tube

Moved to my big boy bed.  I'm just days away from going home!

Day before discharge-having my carseat test completed.

In my carseat, ready to leave the NICU for home.

A picture of me riding home from the hospital.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; Mourn with those who mourn."

Romans 12:15

In God's Timing

The past 3 1/2 weeks have been crazy in our house. We were expecting our eighth baby in the beginning of July. The kids had just gotten out of school and we were ready to enjoy a month of summer vacation before our new little one arrived. I had been hard at work preparing a summer schedule to keep us busy.

Throughout my pregnancy the most asked question by our kids was "Mom, when are you going to have the baby?" Our answer was always the same...only God knows when our baby will arrive. I believed this to be true, but still was shocked by the turn of events that happened. The last day of school was Friday, May 18th. Andrew was not feeling well that day. He started with a stomach ache and by dinner was running a low grade temperature. I didn't think too much of it. He wasn't acting too sick. Over the next week, the virus hit all the kids and myself.

The following Friday night, I came down with the virus. I was sick all weekend and by Sunday had noticed that the baby was not as active as he normally was. I called the doctor on Sunday morning to ask about being sick and whether or not it would affect the baby. They suggested coming into the hospital, but I put it off all day because I didn't want to go and them tell me I was fine. By dinner, I was getting worried because the baby really hadn't moved much,so Brett convinced me to go to the hospital. Once there things progressed quickly. The baby had 2 decels in his heart rate and the next thing I knew my room was full of nursing staff. Within a few minutes I learned that I would be having my first c-section because the baby was in distress.

Luke was born a few minutes before 9:00 pm on May 27th at 34 weeks. He weighed 5 pounds and 14 ounces and was 19 inches long. At first glance he looked healthy. They took him to the NICU for observation after I got a quick look and kiss.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.  Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.  How joyful is the man who's quiver is full of them"

Psalm 127:3-5



Week in Pictures

We had a busy week with this being the last week of school for the kids.  Matthew finished up his baseball season with three games this week.  Jake completed spring football training.  Emily, Matt, Andrew, and Nick had field day at school.  We are looking forward to our first week of summer!

Sunday was Mother's Day.  I had a wonderful day and was spoiled by Brett and the kids.

On Monday, Andrew entertained himself by wearing my glasses while we waited in the car rider line to pick up Matt and Emily.

On Tuesday, Kate, Caroline, and I had a surprise visitor in our house!

On Wednesday, I took a picture of what our laundry room looks like everyday.  I wash, dry, and fold at least 3 loads of laundry everyday to keep up with the never ending piles of dirty clothes and towels used by our family. 

On Thursday, Emily and Matt had field day at school.  It was also Andrew's last day of pre-k for the school year.  He celebrated with his own field day and an ice cream party with his class.

Friday was the last day of school for Matt, Emily, Nick, and Jake.  Matt and Emily both had class parties and Nick had field day.  Jake's class went to a local park and then came back to school for a cook-out.

On Saturday, I was treated to a pre-natal massage and pedicure at a local spa in Athens.  This was my mother's day present from Brett and the kids.  It was a very relaxing morning!

"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

1John 3:18