Life and Death
It's been an emotional week. Two girlfriends both had girls on Monday (congrats to Julie and Susan!!) then the Beckwith's welcomed Caleb on Thursday and the Rogers had Hallie on Friday...week of lots of babies (still waiting on Ginger Wells to show up!). In the middle of all of this joy and new life two lives were lost. A woman my age from church not only lost her child she was carrying, but in the course of that tragedy also lost her on life. How to attend the funeral of a 32-year-old mother and keep it all together...go numb. I still don't think it hit me. Even sitting in the church and looking at her husband (who taught our sunday school class a few times) and her sister (who is a friend of ours)I had a detatchment to it all. I still can't wrap my mind around a girlfriend losing her unborn child and now to know of a mother and child taken too soon together. I look at my life, and my family. Our life is hard, our future with Ella is so unknown; but we have her and each other. I feel like I can't complain about much. I realize that we are all given our challenges. I sat with a couple during the funeral who have tried and prayed so hard to get pregnant and God chose not to answer their prayers. I talked to an old friend today who just suffered a miscarriage. I read blogs where mom's hearts are breaking over the loss of a child or the realization that they may never be able to conceive. My challenge seems so small next to these, and then I realize that God gave me my own struggles. It seems silly to complain about my day with two, seamingly healthy, children. However, I know that God has blessed me and challenged me with the children I have in my care. Ella is happy and a joy, but there are so many daily concerns and frustrations. So often I want to scream "WHY?", "why did you have to allow so much of her brain to be damaged?", "why can't she just enjoy some of the activities that typical 2-year-olds enjoy?", "will she ever communicate, walk, talk, feel, or just be able to eat normally?". These are my challenges and I know that I'm not better or worse for having them, they are just what God is giving me to grow me into the wife, mother, and woman that I am called to be for Him. Today the pastor talked about hope...I love the word hope. There is so much freedom in knowing that one day my child will run on streets of gold and climb stairs in the mansion that God has built for her and sing praise songs for eternity...and for now that is my hope during my own challenges.
missing post
You may have noticed a post was up and went missing...it's because someone wrote a weird comment, so now my comments are moderated...no biggie, I may repost he dancing Mitchell's soon. Just so you know what happened.
Pain & Suffering
There is a lot of pain & suffering going around right now in my circle of friends and acquaintances. I have a friend who has just miscarried again and she is feeling lost and broken. She is dealing with something she can't truly understand and has no desire to be in this situation yet again. My heart breaks for her and her family.
I know another who had her water break at 21 weeks. 21 weeks! They had to take the baby last night due to an infection. My heart breaks for her and her family. I can't even begin to fathom what they are feeling or even understand why God is bringing them to this place. All I can do is lift them up in prayer. I have a hard time with God's plan in this situation. Both women are strong Christian women who love the Lord. Who do their best to live their life as an example for Christ. Why them? Why anyone? I don't know the answers and neither do they, but I do trust in God's plan. I have to. We have to.
Part of Hebrew 13:5 says " Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you".
1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you".
A & J, and anyone else struggling right now (whatever your struggle), hold onto God's promise. He will never let you go.
I know another who had her water break at 21 weeks. 21 weeks! They had to take the baby last night due to an infection. My heart breaks for her and her family. I can't even begin to fathom what they are feeling or even understand why God is bringing them to this place. All I can do is lift them up in prayer. I have a hard time with God's plan in this situation. Both women are strong Christian women who love the Lord. Who do their best to live their life as an example for Christ. Why them? Why anyone? I don't know the answers and neither do they, but I do trust in God's plan. I have to. We have to.
Part of Hebrew 13:5 says " Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you".
1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you".
A & J, and anyone else struggling right now (whatever your struggle), hold onto God's promise. He will never let you go.
Signed, Sealed and waiting to be Delivered!
Well at our free 3-D sonogram we were told we were having a little girl, but I was a little hesitant to be all out excited that we were having a girl. I wanted to be sure, so today it was confirmed by my doctor that we are definitely having an Audrey. Now I am way excited and ready to throw myself in planning mode. I have included pictures of today's sonogram. (Please note that there is a girl part picture--I'm sure Audrey will just love knowing I put her "stuff" out for all to see!). The other picture is her profile. It was amazing to see her on the screen. All her parts (brain, heart, legs, spine, etc) all seem to be in working order, PRAISE GOD! We can't wait to meet her in August! Everyone says the time will fly by, but August seems so far away! I can wait though. Enjoy the pictures and I'll post again soon!
Here is her sweet profile.......
Here is the proof: 
Here is her sweet profile.......
Here is the proof: 
He Is Risen...He Is Risen Indeed
Easter growing up was always about the resurrection of Christ and I want the same for our children. No Easter baskets or candy or egg hunts this year, but we did get to lavish them in Easter outfits. The pastor, Dr. Jeffress, made a very valid point...Christ didn't leave bones or flesh behind...he rose from the dead to pay the debt for all of our sins...isn't God's grace and mercy priceless?!
Clothes laid out the night before:
William all ready to go to church:
Easter breakfast:
Ready for Sunday School:
Happy parents:
Clothes laid out the night before:
William all ready to go to church:
Easter breakfast:
Ready for Sunday School:
Happy parents:
Happy 30th Shelley!!
Shelley (Holloway) Wilmot and I have been friends for about 13 years...Joe and I got to attend her 30th birthday party this weekend (hosted by her lovely husband).
We got home and this was William crashed out on the couch (thanks Mitchell's for watching the kiddos)
We got home and this was William crashed out on the couch (thanks Mitchell's for watching the kiddos)
Just For Fun
I recieved a slideshow from our wedding photographer (Melanie Levin) today and thought I would share. It's just a snippet of our wedding day and my bridal portraits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mglev/sets/72157604177871810/show/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mglev/sets/72157604177871810/show/
Picture Update
I've been reminded that I've been a blog slacker. I can now understand why people with more than one kid are slow to update (however, if I can do it, so can you!!).
Last Sunday after church.
Sibling play time (you have to really watch E around him)
Bathtime with Daddy
Last Sunday after church.
Sibling play time (you have to really watch E around him)
Bathtime with Daddy
Sense of Humor
Apparently only a few people thought my joke was funny. (See post below this one). I thought it was funny along with Bryan and my dad. Oh well. Welcome to my sense of humor!
Anyway, we had another sonogram today and I am pleased to announce that Bryan and I are expecting a GIRL!!!! For real, no joke. We are both shell-shocked because we just knew it was a boy. We are beyond excited though or we soon will be. I'm having trouble wrapping my arms around this. All I can hear in my head right now is the speech Tom Cruise gave at the end of Cocktail that says "and if it's a girl that comes to bless our clan......" I won't repeat the rest, but if you have seen Cocktail then you know how it ends! It is going to take a while to change my train of thought. I'll attach the 3-d picture of our baby girl soon.
So the nickname of Ziggy no longer applies. From this moment on we will be calling her Audrey. Audrey is named after my Great-Aunt Audrey who lived in Zinc, Arkansas. Yes, there is a very small town called Zinc. My mom's side of the family can all vouch for that if you don't believe me. I've always liked the name and Bryan agreed on it as well. Actually, before Bryan and I even got married we picked 2 boy and 2 girl names out and we haven't even considered changing. Even when the nurse said it's a girl (and I said: Are you sure?), I immediately said her name is Audrey. So bad luck or not, the full name is Audrey Elaine! I'll go ahead and give a disclaimer that we have every right to change our minds, but for now it is Audrey.
Okay, there you have it. I'll post more soon!
Anyway, we had another sonogram today and I am pleased to announce that Bryan and I are expecting a GIRL!!!! For real, no joke. We are both shell-shocked because we just knew it was a boy. We are beyond excited though or we soon will be. I'm having trouble wrapping my arms around this. All I can hear in my head right now is the speech Tom Cruise gave at the end of Cocktail that says "and if it's a girl that comes to bless our clan......" I won't repeat the rest, but if you have seen Cocktail then you know how it ends! It is going to take a while to change my train of thought. I'll attach the 3-d picture of our baby girl soon.
So the nickname of Ziggy no longer applies. From this moment on we will be calling her Audrey. Audrey is named after my Great-Aunt Audrey who lived in Zinc, Arkansas. Yes, there is a very small town called Zinc. My mom's side of the family can all vouch for that if you don't believe me. I've always liked the name and Bryan agreed on it as well. Actually, before Bryan and I even got married we picked 2 boy and 2 girl names out and we haven't even considered changing. Even when the nurse said it's a girl (and I said: Are you sure?), I immediately said her name is Audrey. So bad luck or not, the full name is Audrey Elaine! I'll go ahead and give a disclaimer that we have every right to change our minds, but for now it is Audrey.
Okay, there you have it. I'll post more soon!
It's a GIRL!!!!!
For my friends Chad and Cara! (Sorry parents and in-laws...I couldn't resist titling the post that!).
PLEASE SEE BELOW:
I want to take a quick minute to congratulate my friends Chad and Cara on the birth of their baby girl Cadence. Cadence was born (very quickly from what I hear) yesterday afternoon. Mom and baby are doing great.
Congratulations Chad & Cara!!!
PLEASE SEE BELOW:
I want to take a quick minute to congratulate my friends Chad and Cara on the birth of their baby girl Cadence. Cadence was born (very quickly from what I hear) yesterday afternoon. Mom and baby are doing great.
Congratulations Chad & Cara!!!
Saturday Shower
On Saturday we had a shower for Dori Rogers...her's the group of girls celebrating:
Andrea and Catherine Couch
Andrea and Catherine Couch
Patio Party
I took the kids out to the back patio and let Ella "feed" herself...you can tell how much she got IN her mouth. We ended up getting locked out of the house...always an adventure with two.
Best Buddies
Cousin Micah decided he wanted to help feed William...aren't these precious pictures. He really loves them both and can now say both of their names.
First Date
Here is William on his first date...I told him that Shelley was married, but he didn't seem to care. Ella and I tagged along, but only as chaperones.
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