Saturday, September 7, 2013
Gearing up...
Is there much better than a breakfast of blueberry muffins made with blueberries frozen but picked by your precious girls? Is there much better than spending time with dear friends at the birthday party if their little girl, enjoying the kids playing, whipped cream icing cupcakes, and being with other parents? Is there much better than a sweet son falling asleep in your arms as you chat with said parents? Is there much better than 2 pounds for a dollar Roma tomatoes and 3 for a dollar avocados at sprouts? Is there much better than a hubby that troubleshoots cable problems while you get time to straighten up the house? Is there much better than Aggie football with friends while kids (for the most part) shriek with delight, happy to be together? Is there much better than a fridge full of leftovers and relaxing after a full day? We are blessed!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Two girls and a boy
My ears hurt. The girls were extremely talkative and on the wild side for the latter part of the day. It's probably mine and my moms fault...we gave them ice cream. Mac talks a lot and Keegan is doing her best to keep up with the word quota. I had Matt wait in the car while I ran into Walgreens today and relished in the relative quiet for a few minutes. The girls are sleeping, probably tuckered out from all the talking. After today, I think Johnny is going to enjoy our days of just me and him while the girls are at school. I swear he looked at me and rolled his eyes several times today. Poor guy. They sure are sweet to him though!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
First Day 2013
The girls had their first day of their new school today. I had their bags, outfits (that they picked out), and lunches ready to go last night, they woke up to have waffles which they loved, we took pictures, and made it to school with plenty of time to spare.
MacKenzie walked into her class, put her backpack up on the hook, put her lunchbox in the basket, and moved onto crafts without a word in my direction. Her teacher said she had a great day, that she was quiet at first, but by the end of the day was much, much more communicative. I think that is code for "wouldn't stop talking". MacKenzie said she loved playing in the gym, that they learned about the letter "m", and that she didn't play on the playground, she just learned about fire there...not sure what that is all about!
Keegan was a bit more timid and insisted that Mac go to her class first. She hesitated at the door to the classroom before remembering that there was a toy cell phone she had played with in our meet the teacher visit. She located it within about 30 seconds of entering the room, came back to grab her backpack and lunch, and went off to play, fingers in mouth and trying to peel her glasses off her face. They said she used the potty every time the class went and several times between (not all the kids are potty trained in her class, so they talk a lot about potty) and Keegan said she played outside and learned about the letter "a".
They were both very excited to see Johnny and I at the end of the day, both fell asleep in the car while running errands, and happily showed me their work while having a snack "picnic" on the living room floor when we got home. I happily met a friend for brunch, a friend for CostCo perusing (cannot decide if I am up for changing my entire way of shopping to make a membership worth it), lunched with Johnny, and ran into Kroger before it was time to get the girls. I love that we can all enjoy our day and then be excited to be reunited at the end of them!
Keegan was a bit more timid and insisted that Mac go to her class first. She hesitated at the door to the classroom before remembering that there was a toy cell phone she had played with in our meet the teacher visit. She located it within about 30 seconds of entering the room, came back to grab her backpack and lunch, and went off to play, fingers in mouth and trying to peel her glasses off her face. They said she used the potty every time the class went and several times between (not all the kids are potty trained in her class, so they talk a lot about potty) and Keegan said she played outside and learned about the letter "a".
They were both very excited to see Johnny and I at the end of the day, both fell asleep in the car while running errands, and happily showed me their work while having a snack "picnic" on the living room floor when we got home. I happily met a friend for brunch, a friend for CostCo perusing (cannot decide if I am up for changing my entire way of shopping to make a membership worth it), lunched with Johnny, and ran into Kroger before it was time to get the girls. I love that we can all enjoy our day and then be excited to be reunited at the end of them!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Buddy Walk 2013
We are very excited to announce our participation in the DSAH Buddy Walk 2013! We had thought about joining in last year, but seeing as Johnny was only a week and a half and we were playing the jaundice game, we skipped out. But now we are very excited to be part of this great event. The DSAH plans events, activities, gives resources, support, and is generally available for the Ds community and their families in the Greater Houston area. The Buddy Walk is both one of their largest fundraisers and biggest events, bringing together families from the whole area. We would love to raise money for the organization (we picked $1031 in honor of Johnny's birthday), but I think, more important to us, is being joined by family and friends who have come to know and love Johnny just as we do, extra chromosome and all. The walk and festivities are on November 9, at Minute Maid Park, from 10-2.
We chose to play up the Johnny Football name and hope that friends will consider being a part of the 12th Man!
I put together a little video for Johnny this year here is the link if it doesn't play... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvQENAwGKbg&feature=player_embedded
https://secure.ezeventsolutions.com/fr/DSAH/2013BuddyWalk/JohnnyFootballandthe12thMan
Song is by Imagine Dragons, titled "It's Time"
We chose to play up the Johnny Football name and hope that friends will consider being a part of the 12th Man!
I put together a little video for Johnny this year here is the link if it doesn't play... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvQENAwGKbg&feature=player_embedded
https://secure.ezeventsolutions.com/fr/DSAH/2013BuddyWalk/JohnnyFootballandthe12thMan
Song is by Imagine Dragons, titled "It's Time"
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Trust
This past Sunday our guest speaker gave me a lot to think about. So much so that I even took notes (which I usually don't) and have been chewing on what he said for a couple days now. Within his sermon, he spoke a lot about our trust in God. I instantly felt wrapped up in what he was saying and this spoke to me a lot.
Basically, in many of our struggles as humans, God is asking us, "Do you trust me?"
I really feel that God was asking us this question with our pregnancy with Johnny, "Do you trust me? You have a plan, but my plan is better. Do you trust that I am God and I will lead you where you need to be?" We had to submit to his will in the pregnancy. Because termination would never be an option for us to consider, we were pregnant with a child with Down syndrome no matter what we wanted. So Johnny was coming regardless of what we felt was our plan and we needed to adjust to that. And it was an adjustment and more than being mad at God, we questioned Him. Why us? Why now? What is the purpose for this? Which way are you taking us? It is so hard for us humans to be instilled with that questioning nature and then to not know what our end result will be. We really came to terms with God's infinite plan and the fact that He knows where we are going. If we were to believe that God has a plan for us, which we do, then we were ordained to be Johnny's parents and he was ordained to be our son. And it comes with struggles and responsibilities that we didn't foresee, but there is always grace and redemption and God is the giver and sustainer of life. He gives us trials and He gives us the strength to deal with them. He yearns for us to rely on Him during the hard times and to praise him during the good times. Even in our hard times, it is hard not to praise Him, because we are so immensely blessed despite what we saw as a huge obstacle.
The sermon spoke of the Israelites in the desert and how they were forced to wander for years. Each night they would go to bed not knowing where there next meal would come from, praying and trusting that God would provide and each morning they arose to the realization that He does as manna was given to them by the Great Sustainer of Life. Thus we trust in God to provide for us, maybe not what we thought we needed, maybe not what we desired in our hearts, but the manna we need for sustenance and strength nonetheless. And honestly, with how blessed and privileged we are, he provides so much more than manna for our family and for that we are thankful.
Our manna, and milk, and honey, and whatever other good analogies there are...
Basically, in many of our struggles as humans, God is asking us, "Do you trust me?"
I really feel that God was asking us this question with our pregnancy with Johnny, "Do you trust me? You have a plan, but my plan is better. Do you trust that I am God and I will lead you where you need to be?" We had to submit to his will in the pregnancy. Because termination would never be an option for us to consider, we were pregnant with a child with Down syndrome no matter what we wanted. So Johnny was coming regardless of what we felt was our plan and we needed to adjust to that. And it was an adjustment and more than being mad at God, we questioned Him. Why us? Why now? What is the purpose for this? Which way are you taking us? It is so hard for us humans to be instilled with that questioning nature and then to not know what our end result will be. We really came to terms with God's infinite plan and the fact that He knows where we are going. If we were to believe that God has a plan for us, which we do, then we were ordained to be Johnny's parents and he was ordained to be our son. And it comes with struggles and responsibilities that we didn't foresee, but there is always grace and redemption and God is the giver and sustainer of life. He gives us trials and He gives us the strength to deal with them. He yearns for us to rely on Him during the hard times and to praise him during the good times. Even in our hard times, it is hard not to praise Him, because we are so immensely blessed despite what we saw as a huge obstacle.
The sermon spoke of the Israelites in the desert and how they were forced to wander for years. Each night they would go to bed not knowing where there next meal would come from, praying and trusting that God would provide and each morning they arose to the realization that He does as manna was given to them by the Great Sustainer of Life. Thus we trust in God to provide for us, maybe not what we thought we needed, maybe not what we desired in our hearts, but the manna we need for sustenance and strength nonetheless. And honestly, with how blessed and privileged we are, he provides so much more than manna for our family and for that we are thankful.
Our manna, and milk, and honey, and whatever other good analogies there are...
Monday, September 2, 2013
Teething
Ladies and Gentlemen. Ten months, two days, and almost five hours into his life and I think Johnny is getting his first tooth. The drooling, the chewing, the fussiness, have all given way to a hard little bump under his gums. The little man isn't doing so well with the teething and is much fussier than his sisters were about their teeth coming in. I think that his teething so late is such a waste on a baby that isn't breastfed, but what can you say? I can't complain too much though, his fussiness has meant lots of snuggles and naps on my chest and he is still sleeping well through the night. I'm interested to see what he looks like with little teeth. I love his big, gummy smile so much, it will be hard to watch it change!
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Babies!
No news on our part.
But I got to snuggle a sweet one and a half weeker today. And I am busy wrapping my head around a birth I got to be a part of almost two weeks ago.
AND...
I'm trying to figure out how to exactly determine what day one of my besties, Crystal, might have baby #3, because she is due all the way in the wasteland of SLC. Theoretically, depending on when her labor started, I could totally fly up there and make it in time based on her two previous deliveries. But that's so risky...anyone want to be on standby to fly me up that way?!? I'm so excited for them that I have almost blown it by accidentally "outing" her on Facebook several times. I always caught myself before I did, but its Ben hard being in on this secret for awhile now. It will be hard to be away for this pregnancy, who else will walk her around malls? Who will hold her hand during delivery? And how long before I get to snuggle that little baby? I'm so excited for them and send them all sorts of wonderful prayers until I get it all figured out!
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