Summer Progress

I cannot believe the girls have already been out of school for a month; which means we only have about 5 weeks left of summer!  Ah! 

We've been busy bees and lazy bums...we've watched the entire season of Psych, Flashpoint, and are currently working on Monk...maybe too much of the lazy.

On the busy bee side...

We've been camping.

Jazz has picked up running again; the dance thing she decided wasn't her thing (too MUCH drama) so she's back to cross country. :)  She has practice twice a week and has been building her mileage and endurance on the off days-so excited to see her progress!

Visited with friends.

I've re-furbished some tables. 

Window shopping.

Sleep-overs.

Hair and make-up overs.  I think this longer hair on me is coming off soon! :o

We've made some bracelets, hair pins and tee-shirts.

And today we made home-made Big Hunks!  As you all would agree; pinterest is DA BOMB!  That's were we turn for our ideas lately. :)

Oh Mister Gideon!  He's trying not to be still or he might just fall asleep.

He didn't help with the candy making...too sleepy.

Now to get on with our to-do list for the rest of the summer! ;)

One Hard-working Man

This weekend we celebrated our hard-working man! 

This year we decided to give Jer a taste of the world in beer.  The girls chose a 6 pack variety at World Market.  We made our own labels and decorated the box vintage style.  And we picked up some of daddy's favorites that I NEVER buy...cheese puffs, summer sausage and cheese block.  WHY?  I don't think its nutritionally suitable for my hard-working man. :)  He was happily surprised.

No Gideon that's not for you!

Oh the cheese puffs!

Gideon didn't want Jazz by him so he blew in her face--thus a good laugh by all!

And since our daddy is literally a blue collar man; we made him a blue collar card. 

It looks like a police uniform, oh well.

Later we enjoyed some smoked brisket (hubby didn't get the whole day off) and fixins. We made it up to him by making his favorite carrot cake. :) 

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating their hard-working man!

Thank you!

Today the girls and Gideon picked up the mail and brought in a package from Owl Love You Forever.  Upon opening was this sweet owl that brought a smile to us all.  I casually flipped it over and upon a heart was stitched Grant James, June 3, 2012...his name was so handsome and it brought tears to my eyes.  Thank you dear, sweet, loving friend who had this sent to me.  It was very special to us all! :)

Things that Make Me Smile

Although this has been probably the most difficult week in
my life thus far; God has been faithful in His love.  He blessed us with the loving kindness of
sweet friends in their words, meals and sweet treats.  And He blessed me with His word.  And He blessed me in listening to sermons
from my church, Dr. Charles Stanley, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyer.  And blessed me in the quiet time I spent
journaling or praying to Him.  He has
blessed me with peace beyond my understanding. 
He reminded me in 2 Samuel 12:23 that…”I will go to him”…when referring
to the loss of David’s son.   And I know
when I arrive and meet my Savior; I will also see our Grant and we’ll greet
like my children and I do now…”Hi Mama!” 
“Hi baby” (yes I still call them baby at 15) and it will be like we were
never apart.  Smile.

So on to things that made me smile this past week; one for
each day.

#1 These words from a pastor …our sweet baby has only known
the love of his mother, father, and family in the safety of his mother’s womb
and the love of Christ in heaven. His knowledge of love and provision are so
pure.   Smile.

#2 Learning that my husband dances like Steve Carell in Dan
in Real Life…I told Jazz please don’t let your Daddy act a fool and dance like
that…she started laughing and said mama that is how Daddy dances. (When they
were young they attended Father/Daughter dances together) Smile.

#3 Realizing although my hubby appeared relaxed in the back
seat as Jazz took the wheel; he was really freaking out. Smile.

#4 My husband that is loving, strong, sensitive and reminds
me he loves my smile-sigh. Smile.

#5 My children giving me hugs and kisses at night with an I
love you attached…I hope this never ends. Smile.

#6 Warm oatmeal cookies…seriously the BEST minus
the dulce de leche. Smile.

#7 Philippians 4:8   Smile.

 

Moon Dough

A little project from pinterest...moon dough.  Who knew all ages would enjoy it. :)  Geez my children look more grown up too.

Even in Loss, God is in the Details

God is in the
Details

First and
foremost please don’t shelter me from your joy if you learn you are expecting, are
expecting or have a baby…I love my family/friends and share in their joy.

On Friday
morning June 1^st I headed in for a routine appointment.  The girls and Gideon stayed home which I
believe was ‘in the details’ as they were to come with me.  And Jeremiah had gone off to work.

Once we got
to the heartbeat of the appointment it was taking a long time for her to find
it…so they called over to ultrasound and squeezed me in.  I thought this was the longest wait…little
did I know.  So I sat there already overcome
and trying not to get too worked up as it could be nothing.  The ultrasound confirmed the baby’s heartbeat
had stopped and she walked me back to the office were they gave me instructions
to head to the hospital…thankfully my doctor was on call (in the details)…and I
waited for my sister and called Jeremiah. 
Ugh I couldn’t even talk…he said that was the worst drive of his life.

We headed
over to the hospital as I’d have to be induced and deliver the baby at this far
along—16.5 weeks.  I know my faith is
firmly planted in the Lord and I tried to pray but felt so overwhelmed and so I
left that in the hands of close friends and family.  I was induced and soon after Jeremiah arrived
and my sister headed home to be with the kids…I am so thankful for her and her
family!  We cried a lot and got little
sleep.  The induction was slow going so
on Saturday, Jeremiah went home to be with the kids a while…Gideon especially
needed this as he kept asking for me. 

My aunt and
sister came to be with me until that evening. 
There was really no progress beyond effacement even with mild
contractions so my amazing nurse (in the details) suggested a Foley bag
traction to help speed up dilation.  The
other amazing doctor I had thought it was worth a try.  Since it was a slightly uncomfortable
procedure and I needed rest, I got an epidural first.  God is in the details…this all happened
within 10 minutes just as shifts were changing…the nurse suggested, the doctor
agreed, the anesthesiologist was walking by to see if anyone needed him and it
was all done.  I was thankful, for the
wait just prolonged my sadness. 

Later that
night my sister and aunt left and Jeremiah came back to be with me.  After about 9 hours from the Foley the nurse
came in to relieve my bladder and said the baby was on the way and she’d call
the doctor.  By the time she came back
the baby was out.  The doctor arrived
took care of me and moved to taking care of the baby.  We didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl as
that ultrasound was in a few weeks…

Grant James
was born at 2:11 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012. 
He weighed 3.35 ounces and was 7 inches long.  He was perfect…God was in the details…as when
anything passes things change but he was just perfect…very red and thin skinned
but perfect little hands, feet, body, mouth and bum…I love baby bums and his
was no different just the size of my upper pinky.  We were able to hold him, take photos and
grieve.  It helped in seeing him.  Later that morning we were able to be
discharged and I was ready to be home…I missed my family.  Leaving the hospital with a memory bag of him
was the worst feeling…I know it’s supposed to help and it did but it’s just not
the same.

Although it
is very overwhelming…I wanted to get this out so I don’t have to keep reliving it
each time I see or hear from someone. And it seems writing it has helped me
spend time thinking on God’s love; even through pain. Thank you for your
thoughts and prayers in advance.

Our
sadness comes in waves but we are thankful to have been walking with our God
for we know Psalm
147:3  He heals the brokenhearted and
binds up their wounds. And Romans 8:28 We
know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

As this post
is titled I believe God is in the details as you read.  Furthermore, He gave me a sister, a doctor, a
nurse, and an anesthesiologist that had experienced the loss of their baby at
some point in their pregnancy and were able to give me great love and
compassion.