Christmas Fun

In order to help me get out of my funk yesterday I took a little trip to Hobby Lobby. This therapy session was exactly what I needed. We haven't done a whole lot of decorating for Christmas this year, knowing that as of next week I will be in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. I love Christmas- I actually look forward to it all  year round- so this has been a little bit hard for me. Well, yesterday I decided that we are going to embrace the time that we do have. I picked up a little tree for Bryson, complete with a golf tree skirt and lots of cute little ornaments. The ornaments are things he loves- dinosaurs, vehicles, and of course, golf balls! We had a special tree trimming session while Jason cooked dinner (best. husband. ever.).

 B's little tree fits perfectly on the little side table in his room. He loves it, and especially loves to turn off the lights in his room while the tree is lit up.

 Next it was time for some Christmas crafts. Thanks to Pinterest (once again!) we had some really cute items on the agenda.

Here we are painting Bryson's hand to make a Christmas tree painting. He was so ticklish- he giggled and giggled- which had Jason and I laughing really hard, too. So cute!

 Then it was time for thumbprint reindeer (or goat as Bryson calls them) ornaments. I have decided that it would be fun to make an ornament with my kids every year. Love the idea of having ornaments on the tree that show their growth throughout the years.

 After all of that was said and done B got to paint the other canvas all on his own. He was in Heaven!

His masterpiece!

 The finished products!

 Here is a picture of our mantle and tree. I'm loving having four stockings this year! Can't wait for next Christmas with two little ones!

 My mom gives us an ornament every year. This is the one for this year. Couldn't be anymore perfect.

Hope you are enjoying celebrating this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party {Home Church Style}

Meet our home church. This amazing group of people have taken us in (we just joined their group last Spring), loved on us, provided meals for us, prayed over us, arranged house cleanings for us, and the list goes on and on. Really-- doesn't get much better than these folks right here.

Last night we all dropped our kids off at one house with babysitters and headed to another house for dinner.It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy adult conversation, all while celebrating the true meaning of the season.

 Just the girls!

 After dinner we rejoined the kids and had a Happy Birthday Jesus party. Megan read the Christmas story, complete with using the Fisher Price nativity set as an illustration. She did a great job and the kids really enjoyed it. I couldn't believe how well they all listened.

 Then it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat cake! 

 Our crew...

Have you ever seen cuter kids?

Our little {but growing!} family...

We are so thankful for these wonderful friends.

Merry Christmas!

***On the way home we drove around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. Bryson got so excited and yelled "Whoaaaa! I see goats!"  Cracks. Me. Up.  :)

Today

I have been crying lately. A lot. It seems like I was doing pretty well for a while, was able to put on a strong face and say what needed to be said. Today is not one of those days. Last night I cried. Cried the really ugly, I can't think or talk, or see because my eyes are so swollen cry. I hate that. I hate this place I'm in because I desperately want to get out of it. But today, today seems to be another day for crying. I am ripped apart emotionally. I know that I have so much to be thankful for. So many blessings. But something inside of me is still so sad. I know I will get through this. I will climb my way out of this hole.

Yesterday I talked to my Dad who told me about a link my Aunt found about an in-utero Spina Bifida repair done in Houston earlier this year. I decided to look for it this morning, and I found it. You can read about it here, and watch a video explaining the procedure. What really got me (once again) was seeing the sweet baby girl. I think things may be a little easier when I can hold my baby girl and love on her, and see her precious face. I just feel like I need that tangible goal in mind, to remind me that all of this pain and surgery and all of these tears will be worth it when I see my precious daughter.
Please continue to pray for us. This road is long and often times so sad I can hardly stand it. We know that God is with us and will get us through. Please pray.

Will you join me?

I saw this sign in Canton and fell in love with it (now I just have to figure out a way to recreate it for our house). It says exactly what we have been doing. Praying big. Praying bigger than we have ever prayed before, with more people joining with us than ever before. And we are hoping that God answers in a BIG way.

I thought that I would be the first to undergo the in-utero spina bifida repair at Texas Children's Hospital, but it turns out I will be second. Tomorrow morning there is another lady scheduled for the procedure. I don't know her name, or age, or race, or religion. But what I do know is what she is facing tomorrow. While I have no doubt that our situations are somewhat different, there is something that she feels that I completely understand and know all too well. So, I feel an undeniable connection with this other mom. She will check into the hospital at 5pm today. Will you join me in praying for her and her sweet baby? Pray for calm nerves and for the surgeons who will complete this procedure, and pray for the little life that grows inside of her- for healing.

Praying that God answers in a BIG way...

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew 21:22

A few firsts...

Bryson has recently started crawling INTO his crib. The other day he was upset about something, and really wanted his pacifier (which he can only have when he is going to bed), he went and crawled in his crib. He stayed there for about 10 minutes, having his own little time out, and then called me to come get him out. Surprisingly he has not climbed out yet. This has surprised us because he is such a little daredevil. But, we know it is only a matter of time. So, off to Target we went to buy a bed rail.

He is snoozing peacefully in his big boy bed for the first time as I sit here and type this. I kind of wanted him to stay in his crib a bit longer, just because I think it might be easier to have him in the pack-n-play if he stays with friends or at the Ronald McDonald house with us after my surgery (but maybe he will still sleep in it other places??). Unfortunately sometimes our children have their own timing and we have to adjust. So that is what we are doing.

Hoping for a good night and an easy transition!

(I would also love to get the crib set up in Caroline's room!)

Our big boy (ya-ya and all!) (and with Caroline's bear!)...

~~~~~~~~~~

Another first...

The other night Bryson and I were in the crazy long line at our insane McDonalds on Rock Prairie (they have two places to order and never can seem to get orders straight!). Bryson started SCREAMING that he needed to go to the bathroom. We were stuck! Then I remembered that I had never taken the little potty out of the back of my car after B potty trained at Erin's. So, what did this mom do? I got out of my car, opened the back, pulled out the little potty and put it in the seat next to B. He stood up, dropped his drawers, and went to the bathroom- with half of the population of College Station knowing what we were doing. I even got a really dirty look from the lady behind me.

After I buckled him up and drove away with his happy meal, a deep sense of satisfaction came over me. Crazy- I know! But hey, the car seat was dry, my kid was comfortable, and I didn't have a mess to clean up!

When we got home I cleaned out the potty--- and put it right back in the back of my vehicle. We have already used it again in the Target parking lot. I must say that I prefer a potty in my car over taking a two-year-old into a public restroom any day.

The date is set...

After lots of prayer and thought, we have decided to move forward with the in-utero intervention. We feel like this is the best shot that we can give out daughter, and therefore feel like it is the only real option. We know that it is not without risks, as every option in this situation is, so ask that you continue to cover us in prayer. Just knowing that so many people are praying for us has brought an indescribable comfort. We are forever grateful for those who are interceding on our behalf.

I received a phone call from Angel late Thursday night confirming that we (Caroline and I) will be having surgery on December 15th. We will have to check into the hospital on the evening of the 14th, so that they can complete all of the routine pre-op lab work, etc. Then Thursday morning is go-time!

Nervous doesn't even begin to describe what I am feeling. I worry about the surgery itself (I have only ever had a c-section!) and also worry so much about Bryson. We are trying to arrange schedules so that Bryson is taken care of and someone can be with me for the 2+ weeks that I will be in Houston. Not to mention the aftermath of this procedure- I was told that I will not be able to do anything that increases my intra-abdominal pressure- including bending over to pick up laundry! I can't imagine 10 weeks of not being able to do ANYTHING, especially pick up my sweet boy. I am already driving myself crazy just thinking about it! If anyone has any projects that they can recommend (that can be done in a sitting/lying position) let me know!

And on a side note- I just want to mention a little bit of a breakthrough that I have had in the past few days. We have been so focused on this huge issue at hand. Focused on words like disability and shunt and brain surgery and wheelchair. These are pretty scary words, especially when they all get thrown at you at once. But, in the past few days I have been hit with the fact that we are having a daughter. And daughter is the most important word of all.

I was watching Bryson in the bathtub wondering what bath time will look like for Caroline. Will she be able to sit up, splash around, and slide back and forth like Bryson does? No one knows the answer to those questions, but what I do know is that she will be a little girl who likes to splash in the water just like her big brother. If she has half the personality of Bryson I know that we will wonder what we ever did without her. 

So, I have to believe (and cling to the hope that) all of those scary words will become our norm, while Caroline lights up our lives every day.

I cannot wait to hold this sweet girl (but will be focused on keeping her in the womb until at least 34 weeks!). We love her so much already.