Early Arrival!

On December 22 at 4:26 pm a new addition was welcomed into our family 14 weeks early. M was 2lbs and she is 13 in. long!  So tiny! My sister was pregnant with her first little one.  Her and her boyfriend were so excited and happy when they found out!  We all were...She loved finally being able to show off her bump...She couldn't wait for it to be HUGE!

This is her Dec 18 4 days before delivering.

Unfortunately, she won't get that experience this time around...It seems she has the same condition I do, incompetent cervix...Its every woman's worst enemy that has it when pregnant...No woman knows she has it and there are not any tests to find out if you do...She was such a warrior through it all...She was calm and relaxed...She was fully dilated for 16 hours!  Her goal was to make sure she got the 2nd surfactant shot and she did!  I am so proud of her! M was born in her amniotic sac.  I never saw my son come out of me.  I was too drugged up with the magnesium sulfate and so was she...She did get to see her after they got her intubated to help her breathe though...

M is doing great and so is my sister..The respirator is only breathing 30 breaths a min for her right now and she is doing the rest!  For her gestation that is WONDERFUL!  They are only allowing parents and grandparents to see her right now.  Once she is bigger and stronger others can come see her.  She is definitely a mini version of my sister.  We already love her so much and know God has big plans for her!  If you read this can you please send up lots of prayers for her!

       Prematurity is not as uncommon as people believe...I too had a preemie...He was 13 weeks early and doing fine.  You can't tell he was a preemie at all.  Doctors are not sure what causes my sister and I 's incompetent cervix.  Some believe its genetics other think its just something that happens...  Since my sister has the same condition as me I and going with the genetics belief...esp since we have not had any damage done to our cervix...Please be aware of any signs of premature labor...For her and I hip pain, leaky breasts around 17/18 weeks gestation, feeling like our stomach were stretching earlier than normal,  a heaviness in our pelvis, were our signs...She had spotting and cramps when she went to the hospital with no clue what was going on...For me my amniotic sac was protruding out of me already...I am hoping this article could help someone who may be experiencing these symptoms...Don't ignore them and if you get to the dr and they say you are fine, then better be safe then sorry....

Merry Christmas everyone!  God gave us a true blessing this year!

Its THAT Time of Year! Pt 2

     Its the time of year when everyone is "supposed" to be joyful and happy all the time....Spreading good cheer...You know the drill....It doesn't always go that way though....
     The kids seemed to be hopped up on sugar that you know they didn't get from you 24/7...They are fighting more than ever and being even more resistant to what you tell them to do.  It seems like things are not going to be "normal" again.  You try to put on your happy face but lets be honest some days it seems impossible and maybe it is impossible...I'm going to try to be positive though but first things first the terrible 3's!
     My 2 year old insists he is NEVER naughty....hmmm...i think other wise mister, he is very strong willed and wants things his way....He thinks Santa is only bringing him presents.He says no one else is getting any..He is definitely at the terrible 3 stage of me, me, me, and only me even though he has a bit over a month til his birthday...

Right now this is our "normal".  My 2 year old thinks he is allowed to beat his older brother up even though he has be repeatedly told no and given many time outs...

This is the look I got when I told him to stop...Its the "What?! I wasn't doing anything" look.  He knew he was in trouble.

My oldest doesn't believe in Santa anymore at the age of 8!  That's ok though.  He does know what Christmas is about and was happy to get to pick his sister and brother a gift...He wanted to use his money but I told him I would buy them and for him to save his money for something important....

My 8 year old has been very winy lately and has become a home body...We had to make him go place with us this weekend...He then acts tired the whole time...He wants to be playing INFINITY...

He does enjoy himself when he goes with us but I have to be quick to catch the moments he has forgotten about being at home.  I LOVE his smile...Please don't stop blessing the world with your kind, giving, and loving heart...He really is wise beyond his years with some of the things he says when we have deep discussions but his 8 year old self makes itself heard for sure...

Bella is Very much into Christmas...She is typically happy and she seems even more so here lately...

You can often find her dancing in the kitchen to Katy Perry or OneRepublic with her version of ballet.  She has spunk and a fire I never want to see dim...I love how she can make a whole room smile with her happiness radiating off of her...She has actually been on her best behavior lately and the first to tell the boys to stop and behave...

Here is our picture with Santa this year...It may not be your version of perfect but this is what our year has looked like at times...2 grumpy boys and one happy girl...Its not always going to look this way, but I want to remember these years how they actually were.  So to me its our perfect.