We are having our third little baby! So whenever I find out someone is pregnant I have lots of questions that run through my brain so let's see if I can answer anything you might be wondering.
Yes this baby was a big surprise.
Tommy is 34 months old and Silas is 9 months old. When the new baby comes Tommy will be 3 1/2 and Silas will be 16 months old.
My due date is September 13th, 2013 and I am currently 11 weeks along.
We will be finding out if our little one is a boy or girl this time! Woo - fist time we're ever finding out so this has made me super excited. I am hoping for a girl, Kyle thinks we're having a boy. We should find out mid to end April.
We are very happy and very excited, truly, even though this was not what we had planned. God clearly has a plan for this child's life and we're excited to see what it is.
If the baby is a girl her name will be Ella Christine, if the baby is a boy we have no idea what the name will be. Tommy has suggested Abracadabra.
We do not have a set number of children we'd like to have it honestly I would be A Okay with three little blessings. I say that now but time will tell. And clearly it is not just up to us.
Yes we do know how this keeps happening.
So far family and friends have been super supportive and encouraging when we've shared the news and we are very grateful for that. When I first thought that I might be pregnant I felt a little embarrassed thinking people would think we were being irresponsible. But we know God is in control and His will is better than ours, and we know He says children are a blessing, and we agree!
I have been feeling pretty good, nauseated at times but overall it's been tolerable. I am tired but it seems like I have more energy this pregnancy than I did with Silas. I have started getting the dreaded tension headaches that I got with both boys but warm showers to loosen my neck muscles and caffeine seem to help the most. With Silas Benadryl helped tremendously but not this time around.
I am having a lot more difficulty with food this pregnancy. It's insane. Things that I usually love sound repulsive and I can't eat it. It's becoming difficult, annoying, and wasteful. Something will sound good, I'll make it, take a few bites and I can't eat it. It's gross. This is so sad because I love to eat. I need to eat but sometimes it's so discouraging I wait as long as I possibly can.
I am still nursing Silas. Breast feeding is not birth control. Poster child right here. Yes the doctors and nurses warned me, but what do they know? Haha! I am weaning him now, we're down to one feeling a day and soon I will be finished all together. I'm super pumped about this! (For all you moms out there wondering, I was nursing four times a day when this sweet surprise happened, he was eating baby food too though)
I have no clue where we are going to put this third cold. Our house is perfect for our family of four but will be cramped with five, but that's okay we're blessed to live here for such a good deal ;) right mom and dad?! (They own the house we live in and are very generous landlords. The best I've ever had!)
We will be looking into getting a better minivan, we have a suuuuuuuper used van that is running out of steam and is really only used on occasion.
The boys are really excited. Just kidding, they have no clue what's going on, but if you ask Tommy if he wants to be a big brother again he says "yeah". He also says that if you ask him if he wants a spanking. ;)
I think that about covers it. The end.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Mushy Monday - Tommy's sickness
January 28th 2013 - the first time Tommy ever threw up, and I wasn't even there. I took they boys to spend the night with my parents last Monday night, only to return to pick up Tom about two hours later. He was committing, had diarrhea and wanted his mama. My mom said after he threw up he pointed at the door and was whining and she said you want mama? And he said yeah. Poor pitiful Tom!
I rushed to pick him up and felt so bad that I wasn't there when he got sick. He threw up for a little under 24 hours, got a fever, and then had horrible diarrhea for a few days. If you think this is gross, you didn't have to clean it up, and please don't feel pressured to read this. It really is for my memory sake. This is the sickest Tom has ever been. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday and he said it was the stomach bug and to do culturelle which is a kids probiotic powder to get his belly back on track. (FYI much cheaper at Walmart then it is at Walgreens, lesson learned). The doc said I could give Silas the probiotic too (1/2) the amount to try and help his stomach not get it. So far the rest of us have been spared, praise The Lord and pray that continues!
Tommy got so weak he couldn't walk, his little legs would just shake and wobble and give in. Today, a week later he just got his full appetite back but is still to weak to walk more than a few steps. But you can tell he feels so much better! When he was sick we would hold him and he would just scream & cry and there was nothing we could do to comfort him. It was awful. He slept a lot. We put the pack n play in the family room & he would sleep through us talking, watching to, etc. he was wiped out.
I am thankful that he has never been this sick before and I wish he would never be this sick again, but it's bound to happen. It broke my heart to see my boy in so much discomfort and to not be able to help him. But I am so glad that it was temporary and he's doing great now! Thank you Lord!
So I can't remember if I posted that Silas started clapping and signing more last week! And I'm too lazy to go back and read before posting, so oh well if I repeated myself! Silas is trying to actually say more too. It's pretty cute. It's crazy to think that Silas will probably talk and say words before Tommy. It will be weird but so fun! It was so sweet the first day Tommy got back on the floor to lay around, rather than always being in our arms & being purposefully separated from his brother, you could tell they missed each other. So sweet. And Maggie missed Tom too!
My parents were so kind and selfless to help while Tommy was sick. My mom kept Silas Tuesday, which allowed me to focus on caring for Tommy & my dad took Wednesday off of work to come and help me ALL day while Kyle was gone to class (it was his first day of class otherwise he would have skipped to help me) & work (which he had almost missed two weeks of from him having a horrible cold & some of his students being sick). Pap Pap used his vacation time to help me, and I would not have made it through the day without him, literally! Tommy wanted to constantly be held & I can't do that & feed Silas. Poor Silas was neglected some this past week but we're trying to make up for it now! Thank you thank you thank you mom & dad! You are the very best!
My sister Jennifer came over Friday night to help too! It was so nice to have a visitor and she entertained Tom & gave me a break. She went and got him his own ice cream sundae from McDonald's too! She kind of spoils him. Just a little bit.
I rushed to pick him up and felt so bad that I wasn't there when he got sick. He threw up for a little under 24 hours, got a fever, and then had horrible diarrhea for a few days. If you think this is gross, you didn't have to clean it up, and please don't feel pressured to read this. It really is for my memory sake. This is the sickest Tom has ever been. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday and he said it was the stomach bug and to do culturelle which is a kids probiotic powder to get his belly back on track. (FYI much cheaper at Walmart then it is at Walgreens, lesson learned). The doc said I could give Silas the probiotic too (1/2) the amount to try and help his stomach not get it. So far the rest of us have been spared, praise The Lord and pray that continues!
Tommy got so weak he couldn't walk, his little legs would just shake and wobble and give in. Today, a week later he just got his full appetite back but is still to weak to walk more than a few steps. But you can tell he feels so much better! When he was sick we would hold him and he would just scream & cry and there was nothing we could do to comfort him. It was awful. He slept a lot. We put the pack n play in the family room & he would sleep through us talking, watching to, etc. he was wiped out.
I am thankful that he has never been this sick before and I wish he would never be this sick again, but it's bound to happen. It broke my heart to see my boy in so much discomfort and to not be able to help him. But I am so glad that it was temporary and he's doing great now! Thank you Lord!
So I can't remember if I posted that Silas started clapping and signing more last week! And I'm too lazy to go back and read before posting, so oh well if I repeated myself! Silas is trying to actually say more too. It's pretty cute. It's crazy to think that Silas will probably talk and say words before Tommy. It will be weird but so fun! It was so sweet the first day Tommy got back on the floor to lay around, rather than always being in our arms & being purposefully separated from his brother, you could tell they missed each other. So sweet. And Maggie missed Tom too!
My parents were so kind and selfless to help while Tommy was sick. My mom kept Silas Tuesday, which allowed me to focus on caring for Tommy & my dad took Wednesday off of work to come and help me ALL day while Kyle was gone to class (it was his first day of class otherwise he would have skipped to help me) & work (which he had almost missed two weeks of from him having a horrible cold & some of his students being sick). Pap Pap used his vacation time to help me, and I would not have made it through the day without him, literally! Tommy wanted to constantly be held & I can't do that & feed Silas. Poor Silas was neglected some this past week but we're trying to make up for it now! Thank you thank you thank you mom & dad! You are the very best!
My sister Jennifer came over Friday night to help too! It was so nice to have a visitor and she entertained Tom & gave me a break. She went and got him his own ice cream sundae from McDonald's too! She kind of spoils him. Just a little bit.
Monday, January 28, 2013
The Wonder of the Cross
This is probably my favorite song. If you can listen to it and not raise your hands - you're crazy. Here's a link to listen to it - I like the song without the video (personally).
http://youtu.be/qvP4ongeNN0
Wonder of the Cross (By Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt)
Oh, precious sight, my Savior stands
Dying for me with outstretched hands
Oh, precious sight, I love to gaze
Remembering salvation's day
Remembering salvation's day
Though my eyes linger on this scene
May passing time and years not steal
The power with which it impacts me
The freshness of it's mystery
The freshness of it's mystery
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
Behold the God man crucified
The perfect sinless sacrifice
As blood ran down those nails and wood
History was split in two
Yes, history was split in two
Behold the empty wooden tree
His body gone, alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy
For sin and death have been destroyed
Yeah, sin and death have been destroyed
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
http://youtu.be/qvP4ongeNN0
Wonder of the Cross (By Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt)
Oh, precious sight, my Savior stands
Dying for me with outstretched hands
Oh, precious sight, I love to gaze
Remembering salvation's day
Remembering salvation's day
Though my eyes linger on this scene
May passing time and years not steal
The power with which it impacts me
The freshness of it's mystery
The freshness of it's mystery
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
Behold the God man crucified
The perfect sinless sacrifice
As blood ran down those nails and wood
History was split in two
Yes, history was split in two
Behold the empty wooden tree
His body gone, alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy
For sin and death have been destroyed
Yeah, sin and death have been destroyed
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
Mushy Monday - Dancing
I had hoped to share some videos of the boys but apparently this great website won't allow it. My blog may soon be looking for a new home. Boo - frustrating.
Anyway there is a super sweet story from this week that I wanted to share anyway. Tommy loves to dance! Usually it consists of him spinning around and around and around in circles until he gets really dizzy and basically falls down. He'll "snap" (tries to snap) while he spins, he claps, he shakes his hands, he points his fingers in the air, he'll pat his legs, he'll pat his head - all while spinning. It's pretty darn cute. Well his love started out for dancing when I would hold him and we would dance but we don't do that as often any more b/c frankly it wears me out. It's good exercise. Yesterday I had Pandora on - Tom loves oldies music, it's his favorite. Anyway I was sitting in the recliner b/c I had a headache and my sweet baby came up to me and took both my hands and was asking me to dance with him. Melt my heart. I couldn't resist. I picked him up and we danced around the room. Some day this kid might be too cool to dance with his mom. I say might b/c I mean really - can a mom get much cooler than this?! Haha just kidding! I know he won't always want to dance with me. But I felt like he was such a little gentleman how he came up and gently took me by the hands. Precious boy.
Sweet Silas baby is doing all kinds of things this month. He started signing "more" (especially for puffs) and clapping his hands today! My little chubby cheeked man! He is a cutie pie!
Tommy also figured out how to climb up his slide this week! Woohoo! Kyle brought his slide in from outside - I cleaned it off - and Tom's been having a ball. It's fun but it takes up way to much room in the house. Some day we hope to have a big play room where we can have fun things like that in the house all the time.
Here are my little sweetie pies! Getting so big - Tom is 2 years and 9 months old and Silas is 8 months old here.
Anyway there is a super sweet story from this week that I wanted to share anyway. Tommy loves to dance! Usually it consists of him spinning around and around and around in circles until he gets really dizzy and basically falls down. He'll "snap" (tries to snap) while he spins, he claps, he shakes his hands, he points his fingers in the air, he'll pat his legs, he'll pat his head - all while spinning. It's pretty darn cute. Well his love started out for dancing when I would hold him and we would dance but we don't do that as often any more b/c frankly it wears me out. It's good exercise. Yesterday I had Pandora on - Tom loves oldies music, it's his favorite. Anyway I was sitting in the recliner b/c I had a headache and my sweet baby came up to me and took both my hands and was asking me to dance with him. Melt my heart. I couldn't resist. I picked him up and we danced around the room. Some day this kid might be too cool to dance with his mom. I say might b/c I mean really - can a mom get much cooler than this?! Haha just kidding! I know he won't always want to dance with me. But I felt like he was such a little gentleman how he came up and gently took me by the hands. Precious boy.
Sweet Silas baby is doing all kinds of things this month. He started signing "more" (especially for puffs) and clapping his hands today! My little chubby cheeked man! He is a cutie pie!
Tommy also figured out how to climb up his slide this week! Woohoo! Kyle brought his slide in from outside - I cleaned it off - and Tom's been having a ball. It's fun but it takes up way to much room in the house. Some day we hope to have a big play room where we can have fun things like that in the house all the time.
Here are my little sweetie pies! Getting so big - Tom is 2 years and 9 months old and Silas is 8 months old here.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Mushy Monday!
Sorry for no pictures recently, the IPad won't let me upload them on the blog. Boo. I'm currently not in a mushy mood the past couple of days Silas has been fussy. Not all day, praise The Lord, but for a good chunk of time here & there. He was just fussing up a storm before bed, one of those nights your not sad to put your kids to bed. Tom has been great though, I think The Lord is so kind to me in that its typically only one kid struggling at a time.
Ok my mushy memory is Tommy's new found love for our dog Maggie. He goes over to where ever she's laying down in the house lays flat on his belly & gets face to face with her. So cute! Then he sits up & puts his hands out for her to lick, then his feet, then he puts his head down because he likes her to lick the top of his head not his face (thankfully). It's like he's her little puppy & she's giving him a bath. It somewhat grosses me out at times but it makes them both happy & it's super cute! He loves to pick up her chew toy/bone and take it to her wherever she is in the house. And he likes to take it away from her & tease her with it. She is always so gentle & sweet to Tommy too. I hope Tommy has one of those really sweet & close relationships some people have with their pets, for some reason I have never experienced that but have always wanted to.
I also look forward to a time when the boys will care for Maggie & I don't have too!!!! I don't wish the time away though, it blows my mind that Tom will be THREE years old in April! It just doesn't seem possible!
Ok my mushy memory is Tommy's new found love for our dog Maggie. He goes over to where ever she's laying down in the house lays flat on his belly & gets face to face with her. So cute! Then he sits up & puts his hands out for her to lick, then his feet, then he puts his head down because he likes her to lick the top of his head not his face (thankfully). It's like he's her little puppy & she's giving him a bath. It somewhat grosses me out at times but it makes them both happy & it's super cute! He loves to pick up her chew toy/bone and take it to her wherever she is in the house. And he likes to take it away from her & tease her with it. She is always so gentle & sweet to Tommy too. I hope Tommy has one of those really sweet & close relationships some people have with their pets, for some reason I have never experienced that but have always wanted to.
I also look forward to a time when the boys will care for Maggie & I don't have too!!!! I don't wish the time away though, it blows my mind that Tom will be THREE years old in April! It just doesn't seem possible!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The grass is green on both sides!
I have been thinking about how Tommy has an extra chromosome. Usually when you have extra of something it's a good thing. Extra brownies = always a good thing. Extra money is pretty nice. Extra time is always a plus. But this extra chromosome Tom has creates challenges for him & makes typical things harder for him. Doesn't that seem weird? Something we can't see inside of his body that he was born with makes it harder for him to speak, to have natural coordination, etc.
Anyway it has been such a blessing to have Tommy with DS and Silas without it. The Lord is showing me that the grass is beautifully green on both sides! I am thankful for Silas' insane muscle tone, that he is belly crawling, able to hold a cup, babble three distinct noises (mama,dada,nana). But at the same time I feel kind of bad for Silas because to be honest his accomplishments aren't quite as exciting. And it's not b/c he is the second child, it's because with Tommy we had to work sooooooo hard to help him figure these things out & some he still can't do (the babbling). I am proud of Silas! He is so strong, handsome, and smart - just like his big brother! I am continually amazed at how Silas figures out how to get to the toys he wants & then play with that toy for such a long time! I have found myself saying to Kyle - man it just doesn't seem fair, parents that don't have kids with special needs will never know what a miracle it is that their kids can figure these things out so quickly & virtually on their own. So I am blessed to see both sides - to see how through time & effort we can teach Tommy to do all of these things & to learn patience & how amazing our chromosomes are to function in our body & tell us how to do everyday things - like using our hands together (that's a big challenge for Tommy right now.) And then with Silas I get to see how his chromosomes make him genetically inclined to figure these things out. It's amazing! And don't get me wrong I get excited when Silas does new stuff but it is different, and different is not bad.
I have also been learning why it is that so many moms of kids with DS seemed so "sensitive" before. It's b/c a lot of people who don't have the opportunity to know or get to know Tommy will only see him as having DS. I don't know if this will make sense to everyone else or not. But if you know Tommy he has such a sweet, funny, and individual personality! Basically you don't know Tommy unless you spend time with him. So just b/c you know things about DS does not mean you know Tom. Does that make sense? I think that's the way it comes across a lot, that b/c people have a family member, friend, or just "love" people with DS does not mean they know Tommy. That would be like saying oh I know a boy, so I know Silas. No you don't. Because Silas is a specific boy & Tommy is a specific boy. Now granted there are common "boyish" traits - being rough, tough, mischievous. And there are common DS traits too but there's a lot more to it than that. Anyhow I'm thankful for this better understanding & ability to relate to other moms who have kids with special needs. And the majority of the time Tommy doesn't seem like he has special needs to me.
God is amazing how He designs our body to function! Don't forget to thank The Lord for the many things you do each day without even thinking about it, and the many things your sweet children do too - special needs or no special needs. It is truly amazing! The grass is beautiful! (Too corny? I don't care!)
Anyway it has been such a blessing to have Tommy with DS and Silas without it. The Lord is showing me that the grass is beautifully green on both sides! I am thankful for Silas' insane muscle tone, that he is belly crawling, able to hold a cup, babble three distinct noises (mama,dada,nana). But at the same time I feel kind of bad for Silas because to be honest his accomplishments aren't quite as exciting. And it's not b/c he is the second child, it's because with Tommy we had to work sooooooo hard to help him figure these things out & some he still can't do (the babbling). I am proud of Silas! He is so strong, handsome, and smart - just like his big brother! I am continually amazed at how Silas figures out how to get to the toys he wants & then play with that toy for such a long time! I have found myself saying to Kyle - man it just doesn't seem fair, parents that don't have kids with special needs will never know what a miracle it is that their kids can figure these things out so quickly & virtually on their own. So I am blessed to see both sides - to see how through time & effort we can teach Tommy to do all of these things & to learn patience & how amazing our chromosomes are to function in our body & tell us how to do everyday things - like using our hands together (that's a big challenge for Tommy right now.) And then with Silas I get to see how his chromosomes make him genetically inclined to figure these things out. It's amazing! And don't get me wrong I get excited when Silas does new stuff but it is different, and different is not bad.
I have also been learning why it is that so many moms of kids with DS seemed so "sensitive" before. It's b/c a lot of people who don't have the opportunity to know or get to know Tommy will only see him as having DS. I don't know if this will make sense to everyone else or not. But if you know Tommy he has such a sweet, funny, and individual personality! Basically you don't know Tommy unless you spend time with him. So just b/c you know things about DS does not mean you know Tom. Does that make sense? I think that's the way it comes across a lot, that b/c people have a family member, friend, or just "love" people with DS does not mean they know Tommy. That would be like saying oh I know a boy, so I know Silas. No you don't. Because Silas is a specific boy & Tommy is a specific boy. Now granted there are common "boyish" traits - being rough, tough, mischievous. And there are common DS traits too but there's a lot more to it than that. Anyhow I'm thankful for this better understanding & ability to relate to other moms who have kids with special needs. And the majority of the time Tommy doesn't seem like he has special needs to me.
God is amazing how He designs our body to function! Don't forget to thank The Lord for the many things you do each day without even thinking about it, and the many things your sweet children do too - special needs or no special needs. It is truly amazing! The grass is beautiful! (Too corny? I don't care!)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
5 things
Through out my busy day of taking care of everyone in the household, including the dog, I tend to mentally complain. So to help combat that urge I want to think about 5 things I love & am thankful for in each person in our house, even the dog.
Kyle:
1. His sense of humor - he always makes me laugh
2. How he spends time with us - we love when we have good shows to watch on Netflix together
3. The way he loves & plays with the boys
4. When he gives me a break by taking a kid off my hands for a while
5. The way he provides for our family by working & by his leadership
Tommy:
1. His sweet & caring personality - he is so affectionate
2. His laughter!
3. The way he LOVES to dance
4. How precious & kind he is to Silas
5. The way he surprises me each day with how smart he is
Silas:
1. Those cheeks! That smile! Those eyes!
2. How strong & mobile he is
3. The sweet noises he babbles
4. The way he LOVES his big brother - melts my heart
5. How he loves tags, jumping, puffs, and ice
Maggie:
1. She's the prettiest dog I have ever seen
2. She is beyond amazing with the boys - Tommy will take her bone out of her mouth while she's chewing on it & she gently takes it back.
3. Tommy & Silas love her
4. She is submissive
5. She is smart for a dog ( I clarify saying dog b/c I wish she was people smart)
Everyday has different challenges but I praise The Lord for how He has blessed me through my family. Even on long, rough days there are still lots of hugs, kisses, snuggles, at least one good belly laugh from my boys, and most likely at least one dance party to some oldies music with Tommy. I am beyond grateful to be able to wrap my arms around my boys and love on them each day. They're asleep right now, I find I feel strong affection towards them at this time ;) I love my days with them, and I love nap & bed time too!
Kyle:
1. His sense of humor - he always makes me laugh
2. How he spends time with us - we love when we have good shows to watch on Netflix together
3. The way he loves & plays with the boys
4. When he gives me a break by taking a kid off my hands for a while
5. The way he provides for our family by working & by his leadership
Tommy:
1. His sweet & caring personality - he is so affectionate
2. His laughter!
3. The way he LOVES to dance
4. How precious & kind he is to Silas
5. The way he surprises me each day with how smart he is
Silas:
1. Those cheeks! That smile! Those eyes!
2. How strong & mobile he is
3. The sweet noises he babbles
4. The way he LOVES his big brother - melts my heart
5. How he loves tags, jumping, puffs, and ice
Maggie:
1. She's the prettiest dog I have ever seen
2. She is beyond amazing with the boys - Tommy will take her bone out of her mouth while she's chewing on it & she gently takes it back.
3. Tommy & Silas love her
4. She is submissive
5. She is smart for a dog ( I clarify saying dog b/c I wish she was people smart)
Everyday has different challenges but I praise The Lord for how He has blessed me through my family. Even on long, rough days there are still lots of hugs, kisses, snuggles, at least one good belly laugh from my boys, and most likely at least one dance party to some oldies music with Tommy. I am beyond grateful to be able to wrap my arms around my boys and love on them each day. They're asleep right now, I find I feel strong affection towards them at this time ;) I love my days with them, and I love nap & bed time too!
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