8 Years

Eight years ago today I made a really good choice.  In fact, the best choice I've ever made outside of my personal decision to be a follower of Christ.  I often look at this picture that sits in our family room and think of ourselves on that day.  We were young.  We were in love.  We had big plans for our future. But, honestly we had no clue how hard the next eight years were going to be. I know if you would have asked us, we'd honestly admitted to knowing the whole "for better or for worse" meant there would be some "for worse," but I am pretty sure we thought we had a good 40 or so years of happily ever after before we got there. 

I can honestly say that there really is something to doing it God's way.  No, it doesn't mean that life is going to work out the way you wish.  But it does mean grace upon grace and that adds up to a lot.

I can also honestly say that we have grown the most in our marriage in the really hard times.  We've faced issues that the world would say would tear a young marriage apart and come through them stronger and more in love with each other.  I know this is not on account of us, but rather God working in our lives. 

The past eight years have brought so many blessings too.  I can hardly remember what my life was like before we were married.  I am so thankful that I can honestly say that I love you so much more today than I did eight years ago. It truly does get sweeter with time!  Happy Anniversary!

Friday's Appt.

The blog has been pretty quiet again.  I have a great reason.  I had two sick sweeties all week long.  They had some yucky viral thing that caused fever, rashes, vomiting...the works.  It made for a long week.  My sister Jess surprised us with a visit home, and I do not know what I would have done without her help each day.  She has been such a help with the girls, cleaning, cooking, etc.  And what do we in appreciation for all she did...we shared our germs with her sweet little guy.  We all pretty much knew it was inevitable. The good news is that they all had it right about the same time and so they are ALL finally better.  I always think once we get over a sick bug that I am sure glad that I didn't know it was coming or how long it would last.  I have found that to be true in life as well!

I had my weekly appointment today.  I am almost 28 weeks!!  I am so thankful to be closing out the 20's and heading into the final trimester of pregnancy...which most likely will be a short one!!  The not so good news first is that Eli's ventricles continue to increase a little each week.  They really need to stop!!  They are not bad yet but we are at the point that we don't want to them to get larger.  I really really wish that we could avoid a brain shunt.  This would be major!!  Now for the good news.  We finally saw some leg movement today.  The ultrasound guy worked really hard to get them to move and finally we saw him ever so slightly move both of his legs a bit.  He even bent one knee a little.  I know this sounds like so little, but after not seeing any for 5 weeks we were very worried.  Please continue to pray that the Lord would heal the little nerves that are not working normally in his legs.  Please pray that he can have as much leg function as possible as he grows.  It made our day and I was a very proud momma! 

I would like to ask you to pray for a girl who had the same surgery as we did, but a week later.  Her amniotic fluid was very low this week and she is on hospital bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.  I learned of her story through her blog and I am praying for her and her little Andrew.  I cannot imagine how hard this would be and I know that I could easily find myself there if a complication arose. 

Woo hoo for a long weekend and daddy being off of work for a few days!!  Yeah!!!!!

Easter Pic. Update

These pictures were taken the week before Easter.  I knew I'd still be in the hospital on Easter Sunday, but I still wanted to take our yearly Easter Sunday pictures. So, this was our early Easter of 2011!

Nobody fuss at me for lifting Eliza!  This was taken at 22 weeks just prior to surgery!
And just to note...I've grown a ton since then!!

Daddy and his best girlies!

4th post op appointment

We had our weekly ultrasound and appointment today.  It went pretty good.  There were no major changes and so far so good.  Eli's right ventricle is still normal and is left is slightly enlarged.  There was a tiny bit of an increase since last Fri. on that side.  Please pray that it will stabilize.  It def. does appear that his right foot is clubbed.  That makes us sad, but in the scheme of things it isn't as major.  My fluid levels continue to be great and I am feeling really good.  I wish that since I am feeling so good that I could resume my normal activities, but since pre-term labor is such a known risk following the surgery...I will continue to take it easy.  We got several great 3d pictures of Eli today and we got to watch him put his toes in his mouth!   It was crazy! He weighs 2lbs 1oz. as of today.    If you pray for him please pray for his leg movement and function, his ventricles to stabilize and not continue to increase and that he will stay snug inside for at least 7 more weeks.  Thank you for praying for us!

A few surgery Pics

 We were lucky enough that our sweet fetal surgery coordinator who is a part of the fetal surgery team was able to take some pictures of my surgery. Don't worry...I left out all of the close-ups!!  We have pictures of my uterus completely out of my body with Eli inside.  I had no clue how big my uterus already was at 22 weeks at the time of my surgery!  No wonder my clothes were not fitting. We also got some pictures of his spina bifida lesion prior to repair on his very very tiny little back.  I am so thankful for each of the individuals in this picture.  They are everyone from my surgeons, Eli's neurosurgeon, and anaesthesiologist, and a ultrasonographer.  I am so thankful for the team that the Lord used and equipped for us that day!  I am thankful for their value of this little life inside me.  But, I do believe with all my heart that if our eyes could really see...

 We would see that...

 We were not alone!

(I recently saw this picture and immediately loved it!)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecc. 11:5

Someone's not such a fan of the pool!

What I am looking forward to... and not forward to....

What I am looking forward to:
1. Getting to go out to eat in two weeks when I hit 28 weeks with doc. approval.  It just happens to be our 8th wedding anniversary so that makes it even better.

2. Kev being done with this semester in 3 more days.  I don't know I've ever been so ready for him to not have school on the agenda.  He is taking one class this summer, but it is an easy one.

3. Going out without a wheelchair.  This experience has given me a new appreciation for those who daily face this.

4.  Finally seeing Eli for the first time.  I feel like we both have been through a lot together in the past few weeks and I am excited to see his sweet little face.  I know it will make it all worth it.

5.  My body going back to normal.  I am so ready to not be pregnant.  I know that sounds terrible to some, but I am really ready to get through this physically.  I am ready to lose the pregnancy pounds and get back in my clothes and feel good.  This will be my 4th time to shed the pounds in the past 5 years and I am ready to not do it EVER again. While I am so thankful for my children, there is a part of me that is really ready to to be done with pregnancy. 

6. Watching the girls love their brother.  Ella said the other day that she didn't want a brother because she doesn't want us to have boy toys.  Eliza is very jealous if I hold anyone other than her or Ella.  It will be a learning process for us all.  I know they will be great big sisters.

7.  Eli turning one.  How crazy is that! I think that by then life may seem normal to us an we will have begun to adjust to our new normal.  I in no way want to rush through his baby days.  I want to enjoy each and every one...but I have to admit that I am scared of what his first year will hold.

What I am not looking forward to:
1.  Having a C-section in a few short weeks.   My incision is just now healing nicely and I dread doing that again so soon.  I also had a plastic surgeon (just part of the process) for the prenatal surgery and I have heard that I have a nice incision.  I am doubting it will look as nice next time.  I have heard the recovery should be much easier and that will be good. 

2. As much as I am ready to really be done with pregnancy, it makes my heart so sad that this is for sure our last child.  We have both decided that this is best for our family without a doubt.  It still makes me sad that this chapter in my life will be ending.  I still feel young and it has gone way to fast.  I have decided that I probably would feel this way no matter if I had 3 or 10 kids.  Someone always has to be the baby.

3. Eli's first few days/weeks.  I always have my babies room in with me as much as possible from the time they arrive.  This time will be totally different for us.  I don't really know what to expect as far as NICU time and I am already dreading most likely leaving the hospital without my baby.  That is something I never wanted to do again although thankfully the circumstances should be very different. 

4. The challenges of nursing again.  Need I say more!  I am thankful that it has worked in the past, but I know how hard it can be in the beginning.  I know a NICU stay may make it a little different this time too.

5. The frumpy stage.  Those first few weeks after having a baby are just NO fun for me.  Nothing fits right in any spots.  I am starving constantly.  The feelings of anxiousness over this new little life.  Trying to keep the newbie well without being overly paranoid.  Trying to get everyone back into a normal new schedule.  Whew!!

After all that....I may enjoy these next few weeks of bed rest a little more!