tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74521480692029634132024-03-13T04:26:41.690-07:00And Baby Makes FiveThis blog is to help family and friends keep up with our baby's unfolding story and to let you know how you can pray for us.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-34222983321491044432012-02-06T07:40:00.000-08:002012-02-06T08:03:52.181-08:00Book Recommendations and Signing OffI've been reading! In the last few months, I've been sneaking in some time to read here and there, and it's wonderful! This is going to provide strong evidence for just how much of a nerd I am, but here are my recent reads: <u>Bringing Up Geeks: How to Protect Your Kids' Childhood in a Grow-Up-Too-Fast World</u> by Marybeth Hicks, <u>Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches</u> by Rachel Jankovic, and <u>Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living</u> by Tsh Oxenreider.<br />
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Obviously, I have some sort of addiction to books with lengthy subtitles. Nonetheless, I would recommend all three. The first book offers some advice on how to help your kids resist the hyper-materialistic, hyper-sexualized culture that works so hard to suck them in. The second is a very encouraging and very convicting book on relating to and loving your kids in a godly way. The third offers an approach to scaling down a house and a schedule that are over-packed with unnecessary stuff.<br />
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This is the topic that I wan to address just a little more. In <u>Organized Simplicity</u>, Tsh encourages her readers to spend some time thinking about a purpose statement for their family. And the short version of the rest of the book is that anything that doesn't mesh with that purpose statement should go. I am at the very beginning of this process, but our purpose statement is very likely going to grow out of this: Our purpose is to glorify God. This happens to be strikingly similar to the purpose statement that Tsh came up with for her family, but in my defense, I thought of it before I turned the page and read her family's purpose statement, so I'm still claiming it as our own.<br />
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Now, a tangent: I have been having a hard time blogging lately. While Gavin was being monitored and going though tests and his surgery, I really enjoyed blogging. Not just about him, but about other things going on in our lives, too. It was such a great outlet for me that I thought I would really miss it if I stopped after Gavin was better. So I continued. But life is crowding it out now. I find that it is a chore. I find that I need to play catch-up. I didn't get around to blogging that Carter fell and got stitches. I didn't get a chance to report that I'm taking violin lessons again. I haven't been feeling up to writing about our whole family being sick right now. I've been too busy nursing the hurts, taking temperatures, and practicing for my next lesson.<br />
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So that leads me to conclude that blogging has to go. (At least for now. Maybe I will take it up again if I have just cause.) Hopefully it has served my purpose in desiring to glorify God, but I can't keep up with it well enough for it to continue to do so. If it was energizing to me and helped my serve my family better by being a creative outlet, that would be fine, but honestly, I'd rather be playing the violin (or reading a book...or organizing a closet) than typing right now. (Yes, organizing is energizing to me. But that shouldn't be surprising--think about it: I even read about organizing.)<br />
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I'd like to think the blogging world needs me, but my family needs me more. They need me to spend my down time with things that energize me and make me a better mom.<br />
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To my blogging friends, I hope you are hearing me clearly: it is absolutely not wrong for a busy mom to spend time blogging. There are plenty of ways that blogging can an does fit within your purpose and schedule. It just doesn't fit within mine.<br />
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So in the next few months I am going to be analyzing the rest of my life. I'll be taking a good look at my stuff and my schedule and purging the things that do not belong. And if you want to hear about it, I guess you're just going to have to call me. :)Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-79480885649056787472012-01-05T08:25:00.000-08:002012-01-05T09:07:08.995-08:00ResolutionsI never make new year's resolutions. I figure no one ever keeps them; I wouldn't either; so why bother in the first place? This year, though, I've decided to make a few resolutions. The obvious thing to do at this point is to publish them on my blog so that friends and family can see how I'm failing to keep my resolutions. Yep, good idea.<br />
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1. I will read my Bible more. (Note how I left out a specific goal.)<br />
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2. I will exercise...at least once this year. Gotta start somewhere.<br />
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3. I will invite people over to my house more often. I will fight my perfectionist tendencies and accept the fact that my house does not need to be flawless and my cooking does not need to be amazing. I will recognize that time spent with friends is what's important. (That's three for the price of one.)<br />
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4. I will start things and not finish them. Not as easy as it sounds. With three kids running around, I pretty much know that I will get interrupted. It doesn't matter if a task takes five minutes or thirty; there's no way I will get from start to finish without at least one sidetrack. This is sometimes paralyzing for me. I can't bring myself to start anything because I don't know when it will get finished. No more. I will start doing dishes. I will start doing laundry. I will start sorting through the giant pile of stuff on my dresser. I am determined to just start. And start again. And again. Because getting something done is better than getting nothing done.<br />
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That's enough because that's probably more than I can handle in one year. If I think of it, I'll let you know how it's going.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-19536863059960620572011-12-19T14:45:00.000-08:002011-12-19T14:45:04.015-08:00ChristmasChristmas preparations are in full swing around here! All the presents are not only bought, but thanks to some help from my hubby, they are wrapped and sorted by event. Some Christmas cards are in the mail, and another round is getting set to go. Carter and I just made a batch of cookies and hopefully we'll do another batch tonight. I love it when December goes this way. Some years it doesn't--sometimes the before Christmas to-do list gets done around December 29. Or parts of it don't get done at all. But every year I look for ways to make the list shorter and easier in an attempt to focus on the more important things.<br />
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We are looking forward to spending time with both our families this Christmas and New Years. We have so much to celebrate. At Christmas, we celebrate our Savior's birth. And as we look back on a year filled with challenges and blessings, we celebrate Gavin's health, Jeff's steady job, and some of the most amazing family and friends anyone could hope for. We are truly blessed.<br />
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As I look forward to the new year, I pray (1) that we will not use our health insurance nearly as much as we did this year. (2) that if we do, God will continue to give us peace and help us trust in him. (3) that He will continue to guide our little family to trust Him and serve Him. And (4) that we will be faithful stewards of the three amazing boys He's given us, consistently making decisions that help them grow into men of God.<br />
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Merry Christmas, everyone! And Happy New Year!Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-73541324947384363772011-11-21T12:50:00.003-08:002011-11-22T20:26:40.642-08:00Catching UpFirst things first. Gavin is doing really well. It's been almost three weeks since the surgery and he is just as happy as ever. The minor issues that we were concerned about after the surgery have taken care of themselves. I took him back for a follow-up with the surgeon today and it was uneventful. The surgery didn't throw off Gavin's development in any way, and he is getting better at sitting up on his own. He is also rolling and scooting backwards, so we can no longer trust him to stay put when we leave the room. Christmas decorating will be interesting this year!<br />
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We've had a lot going on at our house, and I haven't really felt like concentrating on blogging, so I've been negligent lately. I'm going to try to do a few blogs soon about what's been on my mind lately, but here's a quick recap of what we've been up to in the last few weeks:<br />
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My parents came up a couple days before Gavin's surgery, and as long as we had the extra hands, we decided to blow insulation into our attic. It needed to be done very badly and there was no other time to do it, so we did it the day before surgery. 'Cause that's how we roll. That same day, right on cue, the floor drain in our basement backed up. (It happens every once in a while--always at the most inconvenient times.) So while Gavin was in surgery, Jeff was on the phone with a plumber. The drain got fixed (hopefully for good this time) and we were able to concentrate on taking care of Gavin.<br />
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My parents stayed through the start of the next week and then my brother and his family came for a visit the next weekend. We had a fun time with them and the cousins always love to see each other.<br />
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Since then, we've been taking a break from projects and we're concentrating on every-day stuff. It's been really good because I've been feeling disorganized and really "out-of-it" for a while. Hopefully the cloudiness in my head will continue to fade and I'll be able to relinquish my self-proclaimed title of "World's Worst Kindergarten Mom." More on that later...Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-90331507487022628872011-11-21T12:50:00.001-08:002011-12-06T08:52:12.549-08:00One Thing I'm Thankful For: A Late Thanksgiving PostOne of the things I have been exceedingly thankful for over the last year is my friends. I am always grateful for the wonderful people that God has put in my life, but have been particularly aware of these blessings in the last year. I have been itching to publish these pictures to illustrate my point, so ladies, I hope you don't mind!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGrHMOB3kNE/Tt5CjfZaTLI/AAAAAAAAACc/upIyl0Wm3OI/s1600/DSC_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGrHMOB3kNE/Tt5CjfZaTLI/AAAAAAAAACc/upIyl0Wm3OI/s320/DSC_0932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I love this picture. It was taken a little over a year ago at a baby shower. Can you guess the common denominator? (Hint: Look at the ladies on the left.) Yep, all seven of us were pregnant, and we were standing in order of our due dates. There were two other women at the shower, and they had had babies within the last year, so we can't blame them for not jumping on that bandwagon. Some of these women I know well; others I am just getting to know, but I can't tell you how grateful I am to have these friends to encourage me and bless me as we raise our kids together.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzjlWIu0MnA/Tt5C2jMhC7I/AAAAAAAAACk/pHpi9p7KNBY/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzjlWIu0MnA/Tt5C2jMhC7I/AAAAAAAAACk/pHpi9p7KNBY/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a>Here is another picture that I will cherish forever. This was taken on the day we dedicated Gavin. We were privileged to have two other families dedicate their children in the same service. These families are not just people who happen to go to the same church, they are families that laugh with us, love us, and support us. These ladies are two of my closest friends, and I am so glad that these children, who are less than a month apart, will be growing up together.<br />
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So much to be thankful for!<br />Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-86184735400867951822011-11-06T19:37:00.000-08:002011-11-06T19:37:49.307-08:00At HomeThursday night was another good night in the hospital, so we felt good about going home on Friday. We got the ball rolling for discharge as soon as possible in the morning, but the pharmacy held us up and we didn't leave until almost noon. We were so glad that we hadn't tried to leave the night before.<br />
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Gavin has been doing very well at home. He slept a lot the first day, but is getting back to a more normal amount already. He is off pain meds for the most part. The boys have enjoyed having grandparents around to entertain them while Jeff and I take care of Gavin and catch up on things from the short time we were away. I've enjoyed having grandparents around to help with cooking, cleaning, and running errands.<br />
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Gavin has had a couple of small issues that we think will be resolved soon, but we'd love prayer for them in the meantime. Every once in a while, he spits up small amounts of blood. We called Dr. Saltzman, and he said that it could be due to the tube that was down Gavin's throat during surgery, but we should keep and eye on it. Also, he occasionally wakes up suddenly, crying like he's in pain. These episodes don't generally last long enough for the Tylenol we give him to kick in, so I'm not sure what causes them or what makes them go away. Hopefully these things will just resolve themselves soon.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-6487488887039685292011-11-03T18:42:00.000-07:002011-11-03T18:42:36.707-07:00Hospital, Day 2What a difference a day makes! Yesterday, Gavin slept the entire day in between pokes, checks, and medicine doses. He slept well last night also. This morning, he woke up ready to eat and after a bottle, he was ready to face the world. He was wiggling, reaching for toys, and he even gave us a smile--something we hadn't seen the day before. After Gaivn's chest x-ray, Dr. Saltzman stopped by, reviewed the x-ray, checked Gavin's fluid drainage, and suprised us by saying that things looked so good he could probably go home today.<br />
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A doctor came by in the early afternoon to remove the drainage tube. He ordered another x-ray for 6:00 and told us that Gavin could be discharged after that or we could stay the night if we were more comfortable doing that. We hadn't even held Gavin until the tube was out--we'd been givng him bottles of pumped milk instead of breastfeeding (And I never want to see my pump again.), so we thought we should work on that a little bit before going home. We also know how slow discharge can go, and we didn't want to arrive home at 9 or 10 and have to get settled and figure out how to take over medication dosing, etc. while we were half asleep. So we opted to spend the night and Gavin will be discharged in the morning.<br />
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Praise God everything is going so smoothly!Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-26366842748449266122011-11-02T16:03:00.000-07:002011-11-02T16:03:35.680-07:00Surgery DayRight now Gavin is sleeping amidst tubes, wires and monitors, and he is minus one bronchopulmonary sequestration. Our little boy has been a trooper today. Everything went well; he is on the mend; and we should be home in a few days.<br />
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We started the day at 3:00 AM, wich was the last time that I could feed him. He went back to sleep; I did not. We had to be up at 4:30 to leave the house at 5:00, so I was just thinking too much to sleep. I wasn't anxious, just alert. We got to the hospital at 5:30 and got checked in ok. I was concerned that Gavin would be screaming by the time he went into surgery, since he hadn't eaten since 3:00, but he did really well--he only fussed once in a while. We met with a variety of nurses, anesthesiologists, and the surgeon. Gavin charmed them all. At 7:30, it was time to send him off to surgery. He did very well and so did we. We really felt comfortable and at peace with the whole process. <br />
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The nurse called us once from surgery to let us know everything was going well. Before we knew it, Dr. Saltzman showed up to let us know that the surgery was done and Gavin was in recovery. He brought us a picture of the artery that had been feeding the mass. He was impressed with the size of it: "Almost the size of the aorta," he said. The tissue that he removed was about walnut size. Gavin hardly lost any blood though the surgery. The scope worked well, except that one hole had to be wideded at the end of the surgery to remove the mass.<br />
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Gavin had apparently been very "uncomfortable" (hospital-speak for in pain) when he got to recovery, but the nurses had given him morphine and had it under control by the time they brought us in. He's been getting regular doses of morphine since then. We can tell that he is in pain when each dose starts to wear off, so we'll keep that up a little longer, but by tonight, we might try something not quite as strong. The biggest discomfort, and the thing that will determine the lenghth of our hospital stay, is a tube draining fluid from his chest. When the fluid buildup slows down and the tube can be removed, Gavin should be able to go home. The doctors expect that to be in 2-3 days.<br />
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Thank you for your prayers, everyone. We are blessed by you all. Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery!Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-89865720812628367242011-10-12T08:11:00.000-07:002011-10-12T08:11:10.936-07:00Surgery Date Confirmed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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We met with Gavin's surgeon, Dr. Staltzman, again today and were very
pleased with the results of our meeting. Now that Gavin's CT scan has been read
and we are all on the same page (had a little bit of trouble with that the day
of the scan), we were able to talk specifics about the surgery. We had already
talked to the scheduler and gotten November 2 reserved for surgery, but we
weren't sure we'd get to keep that date. It turns out, though, that we can! We
are so relieved to have an end in sight and we can stop wondering how long this
will be hanging over our heads. Not only that, but it is much better for us,
financially, to have this done before the end of the year.<br />
<br />
Dr. Saltzman was pleased to see how big and healthy Gavin is. He is going to
try to do the surgery with a scope, but warned us that the instruments are not
made for infants and there is about a 50/50 chance that the scope won't work
and he'll have to go in through a larger incision in Gavin's side. While they
don't see babies with bronchopulmonary sequestrations every day, they do
frequently open up babies' chests to remove things that shouldn't be there.
(All kind of jokes come to mind, but I'll refrain.) So in other words, Dr.
Saltzman does this type of operation frequently and Gavin is in good hands.<br />
<br />
We have been told to expect 2-4 days in the hospital and Jeff and I can stay
with him the whole time. Since the Amplatz Children's Hospital is brand new, it
sounds like the accommodations are pretty nice. I was surprised to learn that
Gavin should be able to nurse as soon as he wants to after coming out of
surgery, so I will be able to hold him at least for that. There will be tubes
and such to work around, but we've done that before.<br />
<br />
Long term, we expect Gavin to make a full recovery. The surgery will remove
much of his lower left lobe, but there will still be part of the lobe left,
which will grow and fill in the void. He will function as a completely normal
little boy.<br />
<br />
Please continue to pray for us and our wonderful little boy. Pray that we
would continue to be at peace with this and trust God and Dr. Saltzman to take
care of Gavin. Pray that Gavin stays healthy prior to surgery. And pray that
God works in us and though us during this time.<br />
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<br /></div>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-48925874493008691322011-10-01T12:04:00.000-07:002011-10-01T12:04:57.817-07:00Bifidous RegularisLast Wednesday night, the boys and I were headed out the door to go to church when my nose detected that Logan needed a diaper change. I hauled him upstairs, trying to go fast so that we wouldn't be late. As I instructed him to lay down on his bedroom floor and got out a new diaper, I realized that we weren't just dealing with a dirty diaper, we were dealing with a diaper explosion. I'll spare you the details and just give you a list of the things we cleaned that night instead of going to church: Logan (twice), the bedroom floor, the bathroom floor, the tub, Logan's clothes, and my socks.<br />
<br />
On Friday, there was another incident. Not nearly as bad, but it got me wondering what was up. Logan seemed perfectly healthy except for his powerful poop. Jeff and I were both at a loss as to what would be causing these incidents.<br />
<br />
Then today at lunch, Jeff looked at Logan eating his yogurt and asked, "Has Logan been eating a lot of Activia lately?"<br />
<br />
Oh.<br />
<br />
You see, last time I went to the grocery store, we needed yogurt, and me, being the bargain hunter that I am, found some coupons for Activia and bought some. I know full well what they advertise. In fact, my Dad and I have laughed over their secret ingredient "bifidous regularis." What kind of genius came up with that name? If you've never thought about it before, take a minute. You'll get it.<br />
<br />
I wrote it all off as a bunch of hot air. Most products don't do what the marketing team claims and I was sure that this was no exception. It's just yogurt. So I didn't think twice about giving it to Logan. And he liked it. He really liked it. And ate it every day.<br />
<br />
Even after two diaper incidents, I didn't put two and two together until Jeff asked me how much Logan had consumed. Poor Logan. I think I'll head to the grocery store now to buy some bananas. Hopefully that will counteract the "bifidous regularis." I guess sometimes you can believe what you hear on TV.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-21315785370781753012011-09-22T12:28:00.000-07:002011-09-22T21:57:05.209-07:00Ch-ch-ch-changesLife is a series of changes, but for our family, last couple weeks have seen quite a few more changes than usual. Some are little and some are big, but regardless, this adds up to great fun for me. I actually welcome--and tend to thrive on--change. I love change in our routine and change in my environment. So here are some of the changes that are energizing me lately.<br />
<br />
- Getting into the school routine.<br />
I was concerned about the early mornings, but it's actually been quite good for us to get up, get going, and be ready for the day. It's also nice to have Jeff's help in getting out the door--something we wouldn't have if we had to leave for school later. I will certainly change my tune when the weather is 20 below, but for now, I'm really enjoying it.<br />
<br />
- Wednesday night activities have started at church.<br />
Jeff is still helping with the Jr High; Carter is now old enough to have a class; and I am helping with nursery some weeks and attending a parent class when I can.<br />
<br />
- Swimming lessons. <br />
Swimming lessons are on Tuesday and Thursday, so having to be done with dinner and out of the house by 6:15 three evenings in a row (with church night sandwiched in between swimming lesson nights) is going to be difficult. Fortunately, swimming lessons only last a month.<br />
<br />
- Bunk beds!<br />
Last Friday night, we moved Logan's crib into Gavin's room and assembled bunk beds in Carter and Logan's room. We inherited the bunk beds that Jeff's dad made for him when he was a kid and our boys are so excited to have them. So on Friday night all the boys, even Gavin, slept in new beds and it went really well. Nap times started out rough (It took Logan two hours to fall asleep the first day.) but are going much better now.<br />
<br />
- Rice cereal<br />
Gavin is now eating rice cereal and loving it! I wasn't excited about starting him on solids before six months, but we are doing it in an effort to beef him up before surgery and hopefully help him sleep a little better at night.<br />
<br />
- Jeff did away with his goatee.<br />
Random thing to include on the list, but my husband looks different. I notice. <br />
<br />
-It's time to get out the warm/bigger clothes.<br />
Last week I dug through the huge pile of diaper boxes that comprise my clothing organizational system and pulled out seasonally-appropriate, size-appropriate clothes for everyone. It's fun to get out the warm, snugly clothes and I'm getting excited about fall cooking, too.<br />
<br />
- We painted the trim in our kitchen. One step closer to done.<br />
<br />
- We've gotten serious about buying a minivan.<br />
By this time next week, chances are I will be a minivan-driving mom. We've been thinking about this change since we found out that Gavin was on the way, but have managed with our mid-size SUV until now. Getting Carter to and from school has finally pushed us over the edge. I'm not enjoying the backup that happens behind me in the drop-off lane when I have to help Carter unbuckle (because his buckle is underneath Gavin's car seat and it takes some tricky maneuvering to get to it) and open the door for him while he crawls under his brother's legs to get out.<br />
<br />
I have actually rationalized my way to thinking that minivans are cool now. Just in time. ;) No offense to those of you who drive one; remember, I am joining you.<br />
<br />
So, anyone in the market for a 2000 Nissan Altima?Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-67378789089480822992011-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:002011-09-14T12:07:02.006-07:00Gavin's 4 Month Check-upStats:<br />
12 lb 15 oz<br />
25 1/2 inches long<br />
<br />
Gavin is slowing down his growing a bit, but that is on par for my kids at four months. Since he is waking more to eat at night and we want to bulk him up for surgery, we'll be starting solids soon. I can't believe it's already time for that.<br />
<br />
We looked at the report from Gavin's CT scan and learned that the BPS is contained in his lower lobe, so we know that both lobes of that lung are there. Unfortunately, that's all the additional information we got from the report. I talked with the doctor about our upcoming meeting with the surgeon and got some ideas on what kinds of questions we could ask, so I'm starting our list for that meeting.<br />
<br />
The shots went well, and he didn't spit up all over the nurse when she gave him his rotovirus vaccine like last time...so it was a good visit. :)Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-15167898301874099192011-09-14T11:50:00.000-07:002011-09-14T11:50:45.299-07:00KindergartenCarter had officially started Kindergarten!<br />
<br />
Last Tuesday, we attended an open house to meet his teacher and look around his classroom. We also had a short conference with his teacher on Friday to talk about Carter's strengths, challenges, and what she could do to help him succeed. While we were waiting for our turn (a wait that turned out to be rather lengthy), Carter struck up a conversation with an aid who was working nearby. It so happened that she was to help out in his classroom a few days a week. I think she was amused by him. Leave it to Carter: he's already making an impression on the staff. :)<br />
<br />
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Carter was excited for Monday morning to come. We got him dressed up in his uniform, took lots of pictures, left the other two boys with Grandma and Grandpa (who were staying a couple extra days after dedication weekend) and he and I were on our way. He led the way to his classroom and, after helping to unload his backpack and get him settled, I left him all alone in the great big world of Elementary School. It didn't phase him one bit. He was more than happy to see me leave and get his Kindergarten career started.<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, got choked up on the drive home. I spent the morning thinking about what he was doing and whether or not he ever paused in his chattering long enough for the teacher to get a word in edgewise.<br />
<br />
When I went to pick him up, there he was, holding the hand of the aid he had befriended last week, excited as all get out about Kindergarten. <br />
<br />
On day two, Carter learned that the all-day Kindergarten kids get to have lunch and school and do gym class. We had tears. Why, oh why, he wanted to know, did he have to be in half-day Kindergarten? Couldn't we change it? Please?? With day three under our belts, the love affair with Kindergarten continues, and we are still getting requests to change him to full-day. Fortunately without tears now, though.<br />
<br />
Today on the way home, he informed me how to say "good-bye" in Latin. Don't ask me to repeat it, I can't. But I thought, it has begun: my child knows something that I don't know. Something Jeff or I didn't teach him and couldn't teach him. This is the tip of the iceberg. An iceberg that apparently begins with "good-by" in Latin.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-6739300054335770222011-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:002011-09-14T08:06:15.583-07:00Dedication DayLast Sunday, September 11, we dedicated Gavin. It seemed a little strange to be dedicating a child on 9/11, but also very appropriate. What better way to declare that we have hope and a future, that we are not afraid, that we trust God. We are reminded that God holds Gavin's future and he couldn't be in better hands. While I would like to be the ultimate authority in Gavin's life, I don't understand as well as God does what is best for Gavin and how to take care of him. Jeff and I cannot be with him always; we cannot guide the surgeon's hands; we cannot protect him from Satan's schemes. But God can do all that an more, so we dedicate him to God's care. We also dedicate ourselves to bringing him up to know Jesus and to love him. That is an awesome task in our world, but with the help of God, our church, our family, and our friends, we will do everything we can to achieve that end.<br />
<br />
We were also privileged to have three other families at our church dedicate their babies on the same day. Three families that are near and dear to us. Families that support us, love us, play with us, and advise us. We are reminded once again, that we are blessed with a wonderful church family.<br />
<br />
On a more humorous note, we only had two hiccups in the process. It's quite a task to try to get a four-month-old to not be hungry (but not fed too recently; spit-up is still a major issue) or tired at a specific time of day. He cooperated nicely though, and we managed it. He did, however, spit up a flood on to my skirt when I fed him just before the service. So as we sang worship songs, I swished my skirt like a four-year-old in an attempt to dry it out before going onto the stage.<br />
<br />
Also, I was concerned about Logan behaving himself. I wasn't too excited about bringing an energetic two-year-old in front of the congregation surrounded by a stage full of tempting toys like drums and guitars. I picked the wrong child to worry about. Carter didn't try to play with the instruments, but he was very bored in the two minutes that we were up there, and Jeff had his hands full trying keep him from laying down on the stage and rolling around. <br />
<br />
And last but not least, one of the most adorable moments of the day was watching Logan during the worship songs. He's quite the little copycat, so as we sang "I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned..." he looked around at many people with their hands raised and raised his little hands, too. I wish I'd gotten a picture, but instead, I just teared up and enjoyed the moment. I hope before long he's raising his hands with full knowledge that he is lifting his hands to the Lord.<br />
<br />
What a good day.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-30938246338739202162011-09-12T08:27:00.000-07:002011-09-12T08:27:15.769-07:00Sapshots from the last coouple weeksIt's been a while since I've sat down to blog. Here are a few things we've been up to.<br />
<br />
The weekend before last, Jeff took Carter camping. It was the first of hopefully many such trips and was a huge success. When they returned, I asked what the best part was. His answer: "I got my own can of pop at dinner and I drank the WHOLE thing!" Not exactly the type of memories we're trying to create, but, hey, it's a start.<br />
<br />
Because some construction at Carter's school was delayed when the MN government shut down for a couple of weeks, the school is starting a couple weeks later than originally planned. Since that freed up some time around Labor Day weekend, we decided to go to my brother's place for a few days. Since we haven't visited them since they moved two and a half years ago, we figured it was about time. Also, they had not had a chance to meet Gavin yet.<br />
<br />
At the beginning of the trip, we stopped at my parents' house for a day to see my aunt and uncle who were visiting from California. Then we drove on to my brother's place and had a great weekend and I learned several things: 1. My sister-in-law makes awesome peach crisp (or cobbler?). No surprise; she is a great cook. 2. I still can't remember the difference between crisp and cobbler. 3. Jeff and my brother can replace a window in a surprisingly short time. I'm beginning to wonder if Jeff should tackle our windows himself instead of hiring it out...(famous last words) 4. Touring an 1880s town with five kids 5 and under is not only doable, it's really fun. 5. You have to scare a prairie dog to hear it bark. (Just the men and kids went and no, they didn't scare them.) 6. I need some new creative ideas for entertaining kids in the car. (We have a no DVD rule in our car.)<br />
<br />
I was also reminded of a few things: 1. It's stinkin' windy out on the prairie. 2. Sharing inside jokes with family is just about as good as it gets. Except for maybe creating new inside jokes. 3. Standing by the no DVD rule is only going to get harder and harder.<br />
<br />
On our return trip, we spent an evening with friends that we see far too rarely. We were blessed with wonderful food and great conversation. I love it when conversations with distant friends are as comfortable as if you see them all the time. Our boys had a great time with theirs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I started this post about a week ago and am finally going to publish it. Hopefully additional blogs will follow about dedication weekend and first day of school...Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-32384415222947673482011-08-23T12:09:00.000-07:002011-08-23T12:09:39.502-07:00Grandparents are the GreatestOur boys have been blessed with really wonderful grandparents.<br />
<br />
We just had a long weekend with my parents and had a great time. The boys were all spoiled and so were Jeff and I. Carter got to make a bird feeder with Grandpa. We put Grandma and Grandpa to work running errands, hanging curtains, and babysitting. We got a date night while they watched the boys. We were planning to put them to work painting, too, but we hadn't gotten enough of the prep work done before they arrived, so we'll have to get them to do that another time. ;)<br />
<br />
We get spoiled by Jeff's parents, too. A few weeks ago, they were here to take Carter to the zoo. Oh, my goodness. That boy had a blast. He came home toting his little souvenir binoculars with many stories of all they got to see and do.<br />
<br />
Mark and Judi, I know you're looking forward to retirement so you can spend more time with the grandkids, but look out; we have big plans for putting you to work! Just ask Dale and Karen. <br />
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We are so grateful to be blessed with wonderfully supportive families. Thank you Grandmas and Grandpas for all you do!Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-45351372165233016922011-08-16T13:53:00.000-07:002011-08-16T13:53:23.586-07:00If you leave a door ajar...If you leave a door ajar while Gavin is napping, Logan might just barge in when you're busy elsewhere and wake him up. When you discover Logan, you'll whisk him away to his room to find something else to occupy him, hoping Gavin goes back to sleep. When you open the door to Logan and Carter's room, you'll discover that Carter is getting dressed. Carter, who was planning to surprise you by being dressed without being having been told to do so, might be offended. Very offended. He might be devastated that his surprise was discovered and his plan irreparably ruined. He will probably put his pajamas back on in protest. After trying to console him unsuccessfully, you might give up and go back to eating your breakfast, still hoping Gavin will go back to sleep. Then you will hear a door slam. You might react childishly to your child's childishness, and head to his room to read him the riot act for slamming the door. When Carter finally gets a word in edgewise, he will inform you that it was Logan, not him, that slammed the door. You might have to eat humble pie and apologize to you child for yelling at him for something he not only didn't do, but that you shouldn't have been yelling about in the first place. You might have to indicate that you fully expect him to be in his pajamas for the rest of the day, in hopes that he will see another opportunity to "surprise" you. Then you will probably have to give up on Gavin's nap and get him up because he obviously did not go back to sleep with all the commotion. When you put him down for his next nap, you will remember not to leave the door ajar.<br />
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Some mornings start out rough, but it's good to be able to laugh about it later.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-49671627617146626192011-08-03T07:22:00.000-07:002011-08-03T07:22:36.926-07:00Update on GavinYesterday Gavin re-entered the world of tests and procedures. We took him back to the U of M for his CT scan and a meeting with the surgeon. Our friend, Mary, was kind enough to take on the job of watching both of the other boys for the whole day, and the boys were thrilled about spending some quality time with Aaron and Grace.<br />
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The first thing they did once we got to the imaging center was to work on getting an IV into him so they could inject the dye for the scan. That' not an easy thing on a person with very little veins. The nurse tried unsuccessfully to get it in each hand--there was scar tissue in both hands from the NICU IVs that was blocking the way. So we called in someone from "Vascular Access," which is a team of people who sound like they should have their own reality TV show. They are the IV gurus and can get IVs inserted when no one else can. The lady from Vascular Access had an IV in Gavin's arm in no time and we were ready for the scan once again. With all the poking and prodding he'd been through, Gavin was pretty tired, so when the tech got him all wrapped up and strapped down, he was cozy and fell asleep. He stayed asleep through the scan. The actual scan took just a minute or two and we were on our way to lunch.<br />
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Since Gavin was undressed to his diaper and wrapped in hospital blankets, they let us borrow the blankets so we didn't have to wake him up. I felt a little guilty walking to Davanni's with the hospital blanket, but I was glad to be able to keep Gavin asleep and happy. After lunch we went back for our meeting with the surgeon.<br />
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Unfortunately, the scan hadn't been read by the radiologist yet, so the surgeon was not prepared for our meeting. In retrospect, it was really a waste of time because we knew more about Gavin's situation than the surgeon. We were, however, able to look at the scan, see the mass, and discuss surgery possibilities.<br />
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Shortly after we got home from picking up the other boys, the surgeon called to confirm that the diagnosis is a bronchopulmonary sequestration. Whether or not there is still a CCAM remnant left is irrelevant--the sequestration has the potential to cause heart problems, so it has to come out. Since Gavin is doing so well, we still have a little time, though. Right now, the plan is to wait two months and then go back in for a follow-up visit. The goal is to do the surgery in November, when Gavin is six months old. We are hoping that he will be big enough by then so that the surgery can be done with a scope, rather than opening up the whole chest. The instruments would be too big if we tried to do it that way right now.<br />
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We are hoping that the November timeline actually happens. While we want Gavin to be as big and strong as possible, we also want to get this done before before the end of the year when our insurance deductible goes back to $0. <br />
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So now we go back to waiting and concentrating on normal life until sometime in October, when we will again return to the world of tests and scans to get another update. We are thankful that Gavin is doing well so far and pray that he continues to be our healthy, happy little boy, growing and developing right on target.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-79278141247772522022011-07-25T13:31:00.000-07:002011-07-25T13:31:56.824-07:00A Birthday, an Allergy Test, and an Amazing Big BrotherLast week Logan turned two. We celebrated with pizza, cake and a water balloon fight. I'm finally starting to admit that my second baby is no longer a baby. He is a happy, passionate, always-hungry, always-moving little boy. Somewhere along the road, he turned into a Daddy's Boy. He asks where Jeff is when he's not around, and his enthusiastic exclamation of "DAAAAAAAA!!" when Jeff comes home from work is completely adorable and melts Daddy's heart every time. He is Jeff's little shadow. When Jeff isn't around, he's Carter's shadow. And when Carter is unavailable, he's my shadow. When did I become a last resort?<br />
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But I digress...<br />
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Along with a birthday comes a doctor visit. And since Carter is allergic to peanuts and a few tree nuts, I thought it was time we had Logan tested. The doctor agreed that we should test him for peanuts and a variety of common food allergens. A lot of blood is needed for allergy tests, so they had to take it from his arm. To get a two-year-old to hold still for a blood draw, they strap him to a board with Velcro (kind of looks like a big swaddle). This was a little horrifying to Mommy, but Logan handled it like a trooper. He only whimpered a little and signed "all done" with his other hand. It was sad, but it was over before we knew it and Logan got down to business examining the cartoon band-aid.<br />
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Today, the doctor's office called with the results. The tests were negative. All of them. No allergies. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I was just thinking about emailing Jeff the news when Carter, who had overheard the message, piped up. "Negative? What does that mean? Does Logan have a peanut allergy?" An I stopped short as my eyes welled up with tears.<br />
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You see, in the last three years, Carter has mentally processed his allergy in several ways. He's asked questions about why he has an allergy and why other kids don't. He's pretended that he is not allergic to peanut butter and everyone else he knows is. Once, I looked a worksheet that he was working on and asked why he had crossed out all the chickens. He told me that they were all allergic to peanuts and that they had eaten some and so they were "all gone". Yikes. Because he doesn't have regular interaction with anyone else who has a peanut allergy, he feels like he's the only one in the world.<br />
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So, in spite of the fact that Logan's diagnosis (or lack there-of) is a wonderful thing, I was suddenly struck by the fact that this could make Carter feel even more alone in his situation, so my words tripped over each other as I tried to explain and make it "ok" at the same time: "No, Logan isn't allergic to peanuts, but he still won't get to have them because we still won't have peanuts in the house. So nothing is going to change."<br />
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Carter responded, "But it's good that he's not allergic to peanuts. That way, if I ever get not allergic, we can have them."<br />
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"Yes," I said, "it's good that Logan isn't allergic."<br />
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And that was the end of our conversation. What a kid. I am thankful that Logan appears to be allergy-free. And I'm thankful that Carter is handling it so well. I have such great kids.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-91922694026006907612011-07-18T13:02:00.000-07:002011-07-18T13:02:39.170-07:00Gavin is Two Months OldThis is old news, really. Gavin was two months old on July 6, and he is now over ten weeks old. The time really has gone fast. Having three kids is challenging, but somehow the newborn thing doesn't seem as hard as it used to be.<br />
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Gavin had his two month check-up on Wednesday. (Our first doctor visit in SIX weeks! It was a nice break from the world of medicine, but I actually miss my midwife and my MFM doctor a bit. We had such a great team taking care of us.) His two-month stats: weight - 11 lbs. 3 oz., length - 24 inches. He is incredibly healthy in every way except for that pesky area somewhere in his adorable little chest. We have two weeks to go until his CT scan to find out exactly what's going on in there. We're still praying that the mass has disappeared altogether and Gavin won't have to have surgery.<br />
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At this point it's hard to think of surgery. We feel like we've left the world of tests and procedures behind and we're totally in new-baby mode. Our greatest concern on any given day is trying to figure out how to juggle everything that needs to get done and still spend some quality time with our boys. If Gavin has to have surgery, it will be hard to hand over our little boy (who appears perfectly healthy and happy) to a team of doctors and nurses. I'm sure Gavin will be as well-taken-care-of through this as he was through pregnancy, but I know it will be hard to hand him over to someone else's care. I just need to keep in mind that he is now and will always be taken care of by his Heavenly Father and that's far better care than I could ever give him.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-80489682809974264202011-07-05T19:49:00.000-07:002011-07-05T20:07:06.503-07:00Great WeekendWe had a wonderful holiday weekend with friends and family. It started on Friday night with dinner with our church Small Group. We had a fun evening and left just as a storm was blowing in. We were very relieved to arrive home in one piece after having to wait out torrential rain and hail under an overpass.<br />
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We spent Saturday at Vassars' house, helping re-shingle the roof. The boys and I, of course, were indispensable. We worked hard all day to make sure that food got eaten and all the toys got tested and rearranged. I'm pretty sure Jeff, on the other hand, was up on the roof sunbathing all day. :)<br />
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Then on Sunday, we embarked on a brief road trip to Jeff's sister's (our first trip with all three boys). The rest of his family was there for the weekend and most of them didn't know we were coming. Because of a series of minor delays on the way, we happened to arrive exactly when everyone else arrived home from church. The timing was perfect and the surprise was fun. We had a great time. And the boys traveled well enough that we may actually travel with them again. Eventually.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQDVzXQmQyk/ThPLfaQrUfI/AAAAAAAAACU/9A8TjQeKDa4/s1600/DSCN1420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQDVzXQmQyk/ThPLfaQrUfI/AAAAAAAAACU/9A8TjQeKDa4/s320/DSCN1420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie and Gavin all ready for fireworks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We returned on Monday in time to unload the car and pack it up again, this time for an outing to see fireworks. We met Vassars at Round Lake for an evening of blowing bubbles, chasing balls, snacking, waving sparklers, and watching fireworks. Even the babies liked the fireworks, but it did help that we were prepared. Having an excuse to put a baby in noise-canceling ear muffs really is one of the highlights of the Fourth of July.<br />
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All in all, it was a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-71320509743815924502011-07-02T12:58:00.000-07:002011-07-02T12:58:46.770-07:00Playing GodSince becoming a parent over five years ago, I've enjoyed observing the parallels between a parent's relationship with a child and God's relationship with us. I love that God has made human relationships reflections (verrrrry imperfect reflections, I might add) of his relationship with us. One parallel that I've observed:<br />
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Logan is constantly mad at me for spoiling his fun. I stop him from doing all sorts of wonderful things: climbing on the backs of chairs; running out into the street; eating plants in the yard; stuffing whole bananas into his mouth (you wouldn't think it would fit, but Logan has proven that he can get a lot more in there than you'd think); and stuffing small objects up his nose. This is just the tip of the iceberg, people. All of these things and more sound like really great ideas to him, but they obviously don't to me.<br />
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The difference? The ability to see into the future. Not that I can literally see into the future, but I know what is likely to happen if Logan succeeds in getting a hold of the saw that he is so desperately reaching for. He, on the other hand, is clueless.<br />
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God can actually see into the future. If I know with my limited knowledge what is good for my son, how much more so does God know what is and isn't good for me? When he directs my path, when he tells me "no," when he throws a wrench into my plans, I may have no idea what catastrophe he is saving me from.<br />
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I'm so grateful that I have a heavenly father looking out for me. Because even though I'm all grown up, I still need someone who can see farther into the future than I can to direct my path.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-24926932375971143572011-06-22T20:33:00.000-07:002011-06-22T20:33:10.897-07:00An Old StoryI was reminded tonight of a story I told on Facebook a couple of years ago. It's a story that brings tears to my eyes, but I love it anyway. It reminds me of how much I need to give up control and trust God. So I thought I'd re-publish it for anyone else who could use a reminder, too.<br />
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Carter and I have started listening to "GT and the Halo Express" CDs whenever we're in the car. These are mini audio musicals from back in my day. They tell stories that teach Bible lessons and incorporate songs that are scripture put to music.<br />
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So we were listening to a song the other day about "walking through the valley," which, of course, is actually about hardship, but that fact is lost on a three-year-old. Out of the blue, Carter blindsides me with this: "I want to go to the valley, Mom. I want to go to the valley. Will I go to the valley, Mom? Will I? Will I? Will I? Will I? WILL I?"<br />
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He was so cheerful and obviously wanted a "yes" answer because whatever "the valley" was, it sounded like fun to him. But I couldn't answer. I have thought too long and too hard about the reality that is contained in the answer "yes". <br />
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The fact that my children will suffer in life is something I try not to think about. If I do, I tend to let fear come crashing in. I want to protect them from every imaginable danger. That's my plan, but God's plan is bigger. God is sovereign and He loves my kids even more than I do. So once again, I'm forced to take a deep breath and remind myself that when I cannot protect my kids from hardship, God is in control, and they are much better off in His care than mine.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-23624866772475159672011-06-17T13:08:00.000-07:002011-06-17T15:17:49.833-07:00BlessingsWe are in the midst of a baby boom at our church. It's been so fun to share the journey of pregnancy with other women and now we are getting through the ups and downs of having newborns together. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. But today it was a bit of a challenge for me.<br />
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One of my friends tried a certain trick with her daughter and she slept through the night. So another mom tried it and it worked with hers, too. So I tried it too. I didn't expect anything great--all babies are different and I've never had a baby that was a good sleeper early on. But still it was worth a shot.<br />
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It didn't make one bit of difference for Gavin. It was what I expected, and I was ok with it at 2 AM. I was ok with it at 5 AM. I was NOT ok with it by 7 AM. I was mad. I thought, Why can't I have <i>one</i> child who sleeps through the night on his own? As I went about my morning and the fog lifted from my brain, I realized just how unreasonable I was being. Gavin is only six weeks old. He has lots of time to figure this out on his own and if he doesn't, we'll still get through it just fine--we always have. But there is still this little nagging thought in my brain that says it's not fair and wonders how I can get some sleep <i>now</i>.<br />
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And then in the car this afternoon I heard Laura Story's song, "Blessings." This is the chorus:<br />
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Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops<br />
What if Your healing comes through tears<br />
What if a thousand sleepless nights <br />
Are what it takes to know You’re near<br />
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise <br />
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I was brought to tears as I thought, What if this isn't about Gavin; what if it's about me? If God uses all things for our good, then he's using <i>this</i> for my good. Perhaps there is something I need to learn in the wee hours of the morning. Perhaps this very small, very expected, very normal trial is preparing me for a larger trial or is teaching me something.<br />
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I just hope it doesn't take a thousand nights for me to learn it.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452148069202963413.post-49249130684249497182011-06-15T13:10:00.000-07:002011-06-15T13:10:44.251-07:00Spit-upOoo. Fun. Just what you were hoping for when you logged onto the computer, right? A blog about spit-up.<br />
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Well that's what's on my mind, so here we go. :) Spit-up is s becoming a bigger and bigger issue here and I'm a little scared. Here's why: we've been through this before with Logan. In spite of our doctor's tips and tricks, that boy spit up large quantities of milk until he was over one year old. I remember Jeff commenting at one point early on that he didn't need to ask me each morning how the night went; he could just count the number of wet pajamas piled by the changing table and he would know. Three was normal; five was a bad night; I think seven was the record. It's hard to get out of bed after having just climbed back in because a little boy just woke himself up by dousing himself with milk. I hope we're not headed there again. I remember our doctor telling me that she usually prescribed reflux medicine for babies with acid reflux, not just reflux, but said, "If you twist my arm, I could be persuaded to prescribe him some." I declined, not wanting to give my baby any medicine that wasn't necessary. Now I wonder what was I thinking?? That could have made nights so much more bearable. We've had to switch doctors since then, but I hope that if Gavin's reflux gets that bad, our new doctor is willing to help us out.<br />
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Logan continues to warm up to Gavin. We've only had one rough day recently when he decided to test what would happen if he stepped on or hit the baby. He wasn't angry; I think he was just interested in Gavin's reaction. Hopefully he got the message that those things are unacceptable--he hasn't tried doing either after that day.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09757597378681094480noreply@blogger.com0