MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

From our family to yours....we wish you the MERRIEST and BLESSED of Christmases!

JOY TO THE WORLD!!! THE LORD IS COME!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Small (and One Big) Successes

1. Somehow I missed last week! I remember why...constant illness in our house! Baby Gift had croup, Valiant had a fever, I was getting ANOTHER sinus infection in the SAME month after getting over the previous one....ugh! It was not pretty here! I did however do catch up posts in the last week you can scroll down to see. Many of them are pictures of our days. I still need to update our Advent, so check back for that! It hasn't been the Advent I would have planned for us...but I'm accepting it as a true time of preparation and penance!

2. Despite all of us being sick, we've kept up with homeschooling. You can click to see our plans and scroll down for other ideas and catch up lesson posts. Taking the advice of a dear friend, I simplified for Advent. Boy has it been the right decision with all the illness in the house and my reduced energy level.

3. I took care of ME this past weekend. Our family has been sick since before Thanksgiving, and this past weekend I got worse. I decided to go Sunday to the doctor and found one in my plan that had weekend hours some distance from my home. It didn't start off being a JOYFUL Gaudete Sunday and feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but I walked out feeling joyful because I had some health answers for the first time. I need to do a post all on its own, but it was joyful success. I do ask for prayers because this afternoon I have the start of some medical testing to get to the bottom of my chronic sinus infections. I learned Sunday from the doctor (a SMART one who made a connection none of my other doctors have made this year) that my constant battle with sinus infections is pretty much related to the fact I am a carrier for the recessive Cystic Fibrosis gene. I don't have CF, but I learned many carriers can suffer symptoms of CF especially with the sinuses. It wasn't until I was pregnant with Gift that we learned I was a CF carrier, so before that we never knew this information. Since I was a child I've suffered infection after infection. Allergies never seemed to be the cause, my immune system always was low, and every cold became an infection, and I seemed to make so much mucous that went into my lungs. I've posted so many posts tagged  "sinus infection" or "sick" over the years. Now, learning this connection offers HOPE!! I was given a new antibiotic CF patients use (I haven't been able to nurse Gift with it - BOO!), and later today I will undergo a CT scan of my sinuses with IV contrast (which leaves me unable to nurse for another 48 hours until I'm no longer "radioactive" in my milk) to see if I have any structural markers or polyps and surgery could be an option. Could you please spare me some prayers for that, and for little Gift and that the time away from nursing happens ASAP. I hope he'll still want to nurse - I'm nervous!

Now that I know the CF carrier connection, my heart goes out even more than before to the sufferers of CF. If what I feel is barely anything a CF patient faces - they are truly the heroes we all know them to be! I can't imagine dealing with the sinus side of it all, and lungs, and digestive issues in this terrible affliction. I shouldn't complain at all!

Whew! I know when I do a real post after this afternoon and the info there, and a new meeting with an ENT, I'll have even more to share.  Until then...how are YOU??! 

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for....

1. Great doctors!

2. Good medicine.

3. Good health when we have it.

4. the support of my husband.

5. our kids.

6. the blessings we are given.

Much love! Thanks for the prayers!!

Joyful Sunday

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent and one of Joy!! It is Gaudete Sunday. I woke up not feeling so joyful  though. I was so sick I needed to meet with a weekend doctor. But, I left the doctor appt feeling joyful and hopeful about my chronic battle with sinusitis. I'll write more about it after a nap (the facts I learned today were astounding. My problem is GENETIC and I do have to do some testing - but I will have answers and maybe better treatment!)  but the news I got gave me joy! 

Today is also a great feast and celebration in the church. I'd write more about it, but I'm tired. I'll link to my friend Kate who posted this morning about it. I actually said the prayer she posted this morning and I'm not shocked at all at the answers I got today and how I know my heavenly Mother had her hand in it all as my advocate. 

Blessings! Joy!!!!

Brunch with Santa and Family

Today was our 7th annual Santa Brunch with our family. It's such a fun, sweet, time. Of course good ole' St. Nick is ALWAYS the same for EVERYONE but to be serious, this Santa IS the only Santa my children know, and he DOES know their names. All our pictures over the years are THIS man. He's a generous, giving, man with such a love for God.

As you can tell - they all love Santa. LOL

Mrs. Claus (yes...she really is...)

Proud Grandparents and grandkids!

I LOVE my children!

Cousins

The last picture is the best family picture we could get, and so how our lives are  - perfect picture!!

It was a wonderful morning!!!

Mommy's 1st Haircut

Well, not MY haircut...but my FIRST attempt at cutting my child's hair. I've NEVER cut hair before...ever. I'm too afraid. But...I did it...and, it isn't too bad! I have some places to fix tomorrow - but for the first try, and an angled bob look....I'll take it.

Beginners luck I'm sure. Don't ask me to do this again lol!!!

BEFORE: (oh, did I mention we are potty training?? HAHA)

AFTER:

hair down:

with hair bow:

I'm so happy. I needed a success after a LONG day (Gift has croup).

TGIF!!

Invite and Expect to be Carried

This post may seem random, but I read something on a blog today (I wish I could call this an IRL friend) that was written so well and so clearly about a topic I've tried hard to express to people when I've been questioned about my faith, or God in general. What she said was how I feel. It is what I expect.

It was written by Arwen, who is expecting twin babies in June (CONGRATS!!). She has two healthy identical babies. Her pregnancy is proving with each appointment to not be a boring one (is that possible with any pregnancy compounded with the internet and Dr. Google?), with discoveries about the babies, their shared cord, their 15% chance for this and 15% chance for that. There is much to be excited about, and....much to be concerned about as well. With all these percentages and worries, Arwen expresses there is one thing that is 100% - that God will be there every step of the way and provide the grace to take those steps.

I've always known how I've felt, or wanted to feel, but when asked if I'm ok with a God that just "let's things happen" I never feel what I say is adequate, helpful, or states how I feel without making God seem unreachable for a person who really wants to reach for Him, but has doubts. Arwen helped me out big time today. Maybe she can help you or someone else?

I want you to read a little excerpt, and as you read it  when you see the words 'babies', or 'pregnancy' (or related terms) I want you to insert your own worry, question for God, or condition that consumes you. The last paragraph really takes it home for me. See if it speaks to you and is helpful to you.

"[That] evening I hauled myself to Adoration, where I wrote frantically in my prayer journal and stared at Jesus in the monstrance as if He could give me all the answers.


Guess what? He can.

I got the message very clearly that this pregnancy is, yes, a possible source of stress and fear, but also a huge opportunity for God to show his grace in my life. And I get to choose whether I give in to the fear or invite the angels to surround me and protect my peace and the babies' lives.

God won't push it on me. It's my choice.

The prayer to St. Michael saved me during my pregnancy with Camilla, and it is the angels who are helping me now. My guardian, and the babies' guardians, with us every moment, fighting off the agents of fear and keeping us in peace and calm and health.

It probably sounds completely fantastic to those of you who don't believe in such things, but to me it is every bit as real as the chair I am sitting on right now.

Understand, I don't feel I've gotten any assurance that "everything will be okay" or that we will emerge from this pregnancy with our ideal outcome (a full-term birth and healthy babies who come home with their mama). I'm not seeking that assurance and I don't expect God to give it to me. Our relationship has never worked that way. What he has promised me is that he will fill me with his grace every step of the way, as long as I continue to invite him to do so. I don't expect to live life without suffering. I just expect him to carry me through it."

Can you see why I LOVED her insight? I'm so grateful she shared it!!!!

Invite and expect to be carried. It sounds so simple doesn't it? It sounds so beautiful. It IS so beautiful. It's a daily struggle for me I assure you, and each cross makes it easier or harder depending. But, once I invite God in - I can feel the strength pour in, and I can simply expect God will carry me through it - not fix IT, but carry ME through it. Me. God cares about ME. He is consumed with love for ME. He wants to support ME. There is no "it" with him. This is the one time the phrase "it's all about me" has validity. His focus is on me. A flawed world, flawed person, or even flaws in our health may cause an unspeakable pain or situation to occur - but his focus is on ME. He is waiting for my invite to be lifted up, and He will carry me to the other side. 

My friends...this IS my God, my Father. He's yours too. He's waiting.

Invite, Expect, be Carried.


Be loved.


**Thanks Arwen for sharing your faith and congrats again! Two times over!! I'm praying for you!!*


 

Our Mother

If I only had the time, and the words, that Kate has on this special Feast Day.

Please, go check it out! 

Blessed Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

6 Months old

Sweet baby Gift is SIX MONTHS OLD!! How? Really? Our sweet boy with the happiest, easiest personality has already hit 19 pounds, has two bottom teeth (owww!), and the start of solid foods:

He is so strong...full of personality. He's saying syllable babbles (Da, Da, Ba, Ba), and can rock on his knees as well as scoot backwards (though he is sneaky).

He smiles all the time, belly laughs, coos, loves to roll to me to cuddle, loves to nurse, and is slowly trying solids.

He is still co-sleeping with us, but we're working his room eventually - but we are in no rush. This is such precious time and it goes TOO fast.

He has gone from this tiny baby:

To this big 6 month old:

How has this happened? Please...tell me?

Dearest Gift...thank you for being one of the best gifts we've ever received. God, thank you for the gift of our son. We once thought if we'd have one baby...then one more...now...we have three. God IS Good. But do I HAVE to plan a 1st b-day in 6 months? Why does time pass so fast?

Love you dear son!!

Fall Catch Up

With homeschooling this fall, I've gotten terribly behind in blogging our daily life - and this is about the only record I have going for me. I've failed at baby books, calendars, and lists lol! I also blog our pictures to help in that record. I have pictures from before Halloween to share. So...here are some highlights. I'll add info in the captions as I can!

Trick or Treating at the Zoo

Spider Girl

Friendly Witch

Looking at the Elephants

Aunt J and our Goddaughter E

homeschooling on a nature hike

heaven

little Gift enjoyed hiking!

Only God can paint these colors

Peace

sisters messing around

enjoying the leaves in our yard!

poor little brother!

The Two under Two

Making Daddy's B-day Pizza

Happy B-day Daddy!

What happens when you have older sisters!

Val's turn!

All the grandchildren at Thanksgiving!

The Grandparents and their blessings!

Nerf Gun War!

Nerf Gun Fight!

Daddy fights Lovely!

attacking the nephew!

Blessing before Thanksgiving

outtakes from grandkid pic

Val is so happy to be in picture...

An early Christmas with out of town relatives

Pop naps with the dog

BUBBLE BATH!

Val is not even in the tub and she's bubbly!

off to see Christmas lights..packed car!

nephew in sun roof

Sweet moments

more nerf war!

GIRL POWER!

The guys1

chest butting!

It's been a fantastic fall!