I Ain't Lion, I Love You!

Lexi had to make a Valentine's Day box for school and she has been begging me to make it with her everyday! Finally yesterday I gave in and we had a nice afternoon making her box. It was so much fun!

She took it with her this morning to "display" in her classroom. She was grinning from ear to ear as she carried it into school. It made me smile just knowing how proud she is of it.

Shoe Box $0
Supplies to Make Lion $5
Smile on Lexi's Face PRICELESS!!

I love moments like these :)

Battery operated!!

Elijah came to me yesterday and announced he had just swallowed a magnet. Of course I was panicked and when he showed me the remaining of the "magnets", I was even more panicked! It wasn't a magnet at all, it was a battery! He said he was cleaning them since they wouldn't stick together (of course) and it got slippery and he swallowed it. I took him straight to the ER.

At the ER they took an xray and called poison control. We were told that if it wasn't in his esophagus, they would just let it "pass". It was in his stomach, so we headed home.

Once we get home I get a call from the hospital telling us that the GI surgeon said he needed it removed by surgery and told us we had to go to a different hospital because they didn't do peds there. So we headed to the other ER to get more xray's and many, many opinions...... all different I might add!!

The one who would actually do the surgery was of course the last say. He said to wait 24 hours to see if it would pass into his colon before considering surgery. Surgery had a bigger risk than just letting nature take it's course. If it was still in his stomach they would do surgery right away.

We went back in today and thank God it was in his colon! Now I have the lovely task of checking stool for the next 24 hours. If it still hasn't passed then he will have a more invasive surgery on his bowels. Please pray that it passes quickly!!!


On a side note he has been saying some funny things. When he was shown the xray of his belly he announced
"I thought it was in my legs because they are feeling really energized."
"Mommy I can run faster now, so I bet it made it's way to my legs."
"Mommy, is it still in my gis-test-ins?"

The mind of a four year old!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

My four year sold and I were in Target one day and he kept on "Holding" himself in that certain area (you know what I mean). I am alarmed as I don't want him to get into this habit! He's only four, haha. So I ask him politely, " Do you have to go to the washroom?"
He replies, "No Mommy."
He continues to "hold" himself and I ask again "Do you have to go to the washroom?"
"No Mommy."
It continues and I am getting rather impatient! I ask once more, with a more serious tone, " Do you have to go to the washroom??"
Well he was getting impatient with me too! I had asked him a few times and he had answered me, so he says in a higher tone.
"No Mommy! My penis just ITCHES!"
We got a lot of curious looks and laughter from other mom's nearby. Thank God they all understood the mind of a four year old!

Please look here and pray!

I have been following this blog for a couple of weeks now. She is so heart warming and funny. Please follow the link and pray for her new baby girl

I am a Mom

I am a Mom because even though school was canceled today, I was up at the crack of dawn feeding my kids.

I am a Mom because I picked up empty juice boxes up from underneath my bed........ and I don't drink juice.

I am a Mom because I had all three of them in the bathroom with me as I took a bath. They were arguing over a ONE snack!

I am a Mom because I just put the same shirt I JUST cleaned in the washing machine AGAIN! I swear I told them to put it away, and that was not intended for them to put it BACK in the laundry.

I am a Mom because my son did NOT just write on my sofa with PERMANENT marker!!!!

I am a Mom because I just spent an hour scrubbing it to see if it would come off. It did lighten it, miraculously!

I am a Mom because I just fed the kids lunch, after just feeding them breakfast and cleaning up those remains!

I am a Mom because I can hear them loud and clear, even though they are downstairs and I am upstairs on the opposite side of the house.

And the days not even over with!

:)

Josiah Part 2

It was a hot May day. Hotter than normal. I'll never forget what I was wearing. I had just bought some orange shorts and a white t-shirt, since it had gotten so hot. I threw those clothes on and headed to the doctor's with my husband and kids in tow. I didn't cause a stir, not even with my husband. I told him I had to go in because I hadn't felt the baby kick in a while. He, being not as 'informed' , didn't think anything of it, I suppose.
We walked into the doctor's office and they led me back to the observation room right away. Kind D stayed in the waiting room with Princess A and Dancer C. I don't think he knew how serious those moments were. I think he thought it was just "routine" and it hadn't struck him our child might be gone.
I was strapped to the non-stress test machine and the nurse kept on moving it to try to pick up the baby's heart beat. She couldn't find it. She tried and tried and nothing. She then announces to me that she often has trouble with finding hearbeats and heads out to find another nurse. Second nurse comes in and tries and tries again, and nothing. I was then lead to the ultrasound room downstairs.
On the way out, we had to go through the waiting room, so I announce to my Kind D that they can't find the heartbeat and I needed an ultrasound. I'll never forget his face. The look of doom and fear looked right back at me...... I didn't know what else to say, didn't know what to do. I didn't cry. I was stunned. I was shocked. I was in denial.
They proceed to make me drink gallons of water. The nurse and King D sat with me as we waited. I had these uncontrollable shakes that overwhelmed me. I don't know if it was me being scared, anxiety kicking in, or my body just knowing my son had passed. I couldn't control how badly my body was shaking.
I went to the US room alone with the tech and nurse. The tech then told me I didn't need the gallons of water they had made me drink. They thought I was only a few weeks along. She didn't expect a 33 week baby in my belly. I laid down as the warm gel engulfed my belly. I glanced at the screen for a split second, not wanting to see what I already knew. Silence filled the room as the tech moved her wand around. I saw my baby boy laying there, limp, not moving and nothing flashing on the screen. I still didn't cry, since I hadn't heard the "announcement" yet. I was terrified, scared, and really hurt. I was let go to use the washroom and I remember the nurse and tech whispering in the next room, whispering about my baby being gone. I really don't know how I didn't just lose it. I still remained calm and walked out. I look back and know it had to be my Jesus just filling my spirit with calmness until I could be with my family.
We went back to the doctor's office and were led to a room where we sat and tried to wait for the doctor. She wasn't in yet because she was deliverying someones live baby. Knowing the anticipation was waering down and me, the nurses came in and asked me, "Do you want me to tell you or do you want to wait for the doctor?"
I immeadiately burst into tears and whispered, "I already know, I already know."
Dancer C jumped out of her daddy's arms right then and became quite hysterical since she had never seen me cry like I was. I tried to keep it together for her. I didn't want her to know the devastation that had just hit out family. The nurses tried calming her down but she just ran to me and hugged me. How did God know that I needed that hug in that very moment? She wouldn't settle down until she squeezed the life out of me. God knows just what to do in the most difficult times.
My dear King D was so in shock. His face is instilled in my memories. He called my mom and asked her to pick up the kids at the doctor's office. I'll never forget his mutterings on the phone "The baby died." I imagine my mom thought it was Princess A or someone else's baby because he then said "No, the baby in her belly."


As you can see I have NEVER forgotten ANY details of this horrific day. It feels good to write them down and cry. Letting all the emotions on this page has been very theraputic for me. I will write more excerpts later, when I can calm down :(

Flaws

I like this one!

One Flaw In Women...

One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -and she will do everything with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."

"But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough.

You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
PLEASE remind the women in your life just how amazing they are

Josiah

This is really for myself, since I have never written these words down. I always play the memories in my head, and they have never faded. Yet, I am always afraid they will. So maybe my mind will be at ease if I can write these down so I can remember these moments for years to come. Don't feel like you have to read.

Almost seven years ago I was pregnant with our third child, our first son. I had waited to tell our families about the news, since Lexi was still an infant herself! We told everyone at Lexi's dedication, when everyone came over to our house. I'll never forget the day that I wore my red turtleneck and showed off my 20 week pregnant belly.

The pregancy was strange. I don't know why or how. I just always had this dreaded feeling something awful was going to happen. I dismissed these ideas as anxiety, since our oldest had just been diagnosed with diabetes a few months earlier. There were times where I would just feel oddly dizzy and I would have to lay down wherever I was until it passed, whether it was on the floor in the room or in the bathroom. I never discussed it with my OB, since I had thought it was anxiety.

David had gotten laid off of his job and he was the only one working. Needless to say things were tough. In order to make a little extra money, since we know you are rich on unemployment (haha), I was making cakes. Cakes were my passion. I loved doing it. However doing it with an eight month prego belly was more than a challenge! It was May 25th, my husband's b-day, and I had a huge wedding cake due. I remember sitting on a stool at the kitchen table decorating the cake. We delivered it successfully and even helped at the wedding. The bride loved it.

The following Monday was Memorial day and my nephew's b-day party. I had made him a Winnie the Pooh b-day cake that day. It was at a park and the day was extremely hot. My cousin had just had her baby boy and I held him in my arms. I whispered to him "Tell the baby in my belly to hurry up, I want to meet him." They were odd words, but for some reason I spoke them. Little did I know my words would become true. I held him and waited for my baby to kick me, nothing happened. I held my breath and waited for a kick..... nothing. My sister was making hamburgers (what I craved for during that pregnancy) but oddly enough I wasn't hungry. It was in that moment that I had realized all my pregnancy symptoms were gone. I wasn't hungry, I didn't feel him kick, I didn't even have to pee that day! I dismissed it as being too tired since I had all that cake business going on.

The next day as soon as the OB's office opened I called. I spoke to the nurse and told her "I haven't felt my baby kick in quite sometime, I need to come in"

Reply "I'll put your name on the list and have someone call you back"

OK???????????

Ten seconds later a REAL nurse calls me. "We need you to come in right away."


Part 2 will come later, gotta run to a meeting!

Little Miracles

Today I am sitting her at my computer reading some of the stories about infant losses. Everytime I read them I start crying, knowing exactly how that mother felt as their baby was ripped from their womb. I was overcome and started asking God why do people have to go through this? Why do the moms that want a child the most, can't have them?

It then comes to my memory of how my children got here. One month before I got pregnant with Cerriah, my doctor had told me I possibly could never get pregnant on my own. To my surprise, I did. God had provided me a miracle.

When I was pregnant with Lexi, they told me at her ultrasound that she was missing a chamber in her heart. When she was born they did an eco and her heart was normal!! God had given me another miracle!

My little Elijah! I was in the hospital for a week before I had him and they finally had said they would induce because his heart rate would disappear from the monitors several times a day. He was 4 weeks early. Thank God they did induce because I had a placenta abruption that same day. If I had not been in the hospital he would have died. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck as well, and as he came out he was spinning. He had unwrapped the umbilical cord himself! The doctor was amazed. I knew it was God's miracle again.

Just a few seconds ago I get an email from my little Lexi, telling me she loves me and misses me in school. How blessed I am to have my kids. I sometimes dwell on the bad things, like them having diabetes and my son passing, but I was just reminded by God how sometimes miracles do happen.

Don't lose hope. I know the journey seems long and slow, but I completely believe in miracles. I am a product of them.

I am praying for some people right now, for a miracle to happen in their life. There is one in particular that I hold my breath for. I know she would make the best mommy ever, and I want to see that happen. MAY MIRACLES FALL ON YOUR DOORSTEP IN 2009!

NOT ME!!!

I found this link and it is so neat to "pretend" I didn't do these things. So in the words of my kids..... NOT ME!!


I got on the scale and I did NOT gain 4 pounds!!!

I did not let out a huge gasp, emptied out my bladder, took off my clothes to verify my weight gain........... it was NOT ME!

I did not let my son go to bed in his clothes last night because I was so tired I didn't want to fuss about jammies ;)

I did not put a t-shirt and dyed my dogs hair on her head pink to make my girls smile.......... nope....... (by the way it was totally safe for the dog)

I did not just send in the teachers Christmas gifts today with my kids because we had a "snow day" on their last day before vacation.

I did not take the kids to Chuck E Cheese yesterday because I felt guilty about not taking them anywhere over Christmas break. I also did not make them wash their hands 10,000 times while we were there ;)

I can't believe all the things I didn't do!!!!!!!!