isn't she lovely.....

The first time ever I saw your face.....

My little homeboy.

I just had to throw this in....he's too cute and dressed himself.

A New Normal.

Ok...so we're 4 weeks into our new life with 3 kids. It's been a whirlwind of a month, but a good whirlwind. Nothing to complain of...everything to rejoice. Though my labor and delivery didn't go as I had planned, it went as I hoped: with the outcome of a healthy baby. For those of you who didn't hear, I had an emergency c-section within 1 hour of my water breaking....Anna's heart rate was dropping with each contraction. The cause was the cord wrapped around her neck and the result being a 3 day, $20,000 stay in the NICU!!! Thank God for good insurance. :) She and I have recovered nicely and quickly. She is a very sweet baby with a sweet spirit...very joyful...though she hasn't smiled in response to anyone yet, her eyes smile when you talk to her.

Home life is adjusting as well. Ethan and Bella LOVE their baby sister....it's hard to keep their hands and lips off of her! Mike and I, mostly me, are limited in our sleep of course and learning how to juggle 3 kids. You know how with each new baby you have, you think back to life with the last and say, "having only 2 kids was easy!"...that's the stage we're in now. 2 Kids was a lot of work, but seemingly EASY compared to 3 kids! I'm happy that Annie is such an easy going and patient baby, who hardly ever cries....it makes our life easier when we have a Ethan and Bella to tend to as well. Is that just the way the 3rd baby is because they have to be? I'm assuming so, either that or God just knew we needed a mellow baby for the time being.

So, all in all, things are finally back to normal....but normal has changed and we love it. :)

There go my babies.....

Today was the first day of school. Bella is in the 1st grade and Ethan started pre-k. I wasn't fully prepared for this morning. Don't get me wrong, their clothes were ironed and sitting out, shoes by the side, backpacks at the door, lunches made, paperwork filled out.......I was physically prepared. But, like every mom, I wasn't emotionally prepared. They were resilliant....a little shy and tired, but they put on brave faces and took on the challenge.
Being a teacher myself, I see this transition every day and every new year.....so I know what's best....I put on my brave and excited face, reassure them that this is the funnest thing ever, and tell them I will pick them up this afternoon, give them a kiss, hug, another kiss and an extra hug and say good-bye. As I walk out the door of the classroom, Dr. Jekyll turns to Mr. Hyde as I fight back the urge to run in there and give them one more hug or even just keep them home with me for one more year. I'm also holding back tears as I walk out of the school just to give in to them, the minute my feet hit the parking lot.
Oh, but it gets worse.....I get back home to a quiet, empty house and sit on the couch. Next to me I find Ethan's "nigh-night" and "pandy" (his blanket he's slept with since he was born and his panda bear he's become attached to since his surgery last spring). I then "lose" it. I call Mike and just cry. My kids are still my babies, no matter their age, grade or size. I still long to carry them and cuddle them...I can't resist sneaking into their room at night and just kissing them on the cheek. I still miss them when they're just sleeping. I am so blessed to be a mother of 2 (soon to be 3) amazing children. They fill my heart with so much joy, I can't contain it.

the normalcy of life spoils us.

So, today a friend of mine, Amber, is deeply on my heart. Her father was in a tragic and unfortunate accident last week and has been in a coma in the i.c.u. ever since. Today, they removed him from life support and he has passed. Please pray for her and her family.
I have to speak what is on my mind and just get it out:
I can't imagine what she is going through....it all happened so quickly. How is she coping through this? I know if it were me, I'd have been praying every second, daily for God to heal my dad. I can't imagine how she is dealing with that. Why God does things the way He does. Would I be in a world of doubt right now? Would I allow anger to rise up in me against Him? I naturally think I would be shaken to the core as anyone else, but would hope my faith in God would somehow rise above the bitterness and loss.
The other thing that naturally comes to mind is the importance of things around me.....what's more important? Having my dream house or not being stressed and driven to make money that I am not the mother God made me to be to my children. I think of those moments where, "I lose it" with the kids and immediately feel guilty. Why do I act like this.....it's because I am spoiled with life....the normalcy of everything...the fact that my kids have always been healthy, my husband has always been around, we've always had a roof over our heads, cars to drive, food in our pantry. I wish this is something I would realized on a second by second basis and not just occasionally or when the tragedy of life hits. I wish I would react with this in mind, the next time my kids argue and whine at me or they fight over a toy. How bad can it be? How bad do I have it? Spoiled, I tell you....Spoiled because I am blessed.

Good-bye

Today my dad, Jureen and baby brother Jaret moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. We love them and will miss them terribly. It has been a blessing being so close to them and watching Jaret grow up and become buddies with our kids. As emotional as I am in this pregnancy, it was not easy saying "good-bye". I hate being away from family, thus our decision to move to Gig Harbor as soon as feasibly possible.....