1 Month (and 4 days)

I heard of the idea to take a picture of baby with the same bear each month during the first year. The idea is that you have consistent object to show his growth. I heard of it when I had my first two children but never got it started. I was reminded of the idea right when Garrett was about 1 month old. My great friend and the kid's "auntie Michelle" gave this bear to Garrett. I thought it would be neat to use it in this way. So, here is his 1 month picture with the bear but I was a few days late so it was actually taken on Sep 9 instead of Sep 5. Can't believe we have his two month coming up!!!!

And Then There Were Three

Three children in carseats that is. :-) Life just got a little more interesting around this household but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I am the happiest and most joyful that I have ever been in my life (despite being somewhat sleep deprived). I thought I would share a funny "then there were three" story in this post. I joined a MOPS group this year and a couple of weeks ago was the first meeting of the year. I really wanted to go to the first meeting and needed to get the bigger kids out of the house. So, we all four packed up and went to the meeting. I have to give major credit to my dear sweet husband who is the only reason we made it out the door on time. Once there we were fine walking in and getting checked in etc... It was the leaving that was hard. There was about 30 minutes of the meeting left and Garrett was sleeping in my arms. I kept thinking I should wake him up to eat because if not he will want to eat when I am trying to leave. Well, I ignored myself and that was the single mistake I made that led to the following. As soon as the meeting was over and it was time to go pick up Braedon & Kaley, Garrett was screaming because he wanted to eat. When I got to Braedon's room and walked up to him I smelled poop. Thank goodness he had a pull up on but still it was a mess to clean up. The four of us headed over to the restroom where I proceeded to nurse Garrett while instructing Braedon on how to clean himself up and helping as much as I could. All the while Kaley is running in and out of bathroom stalls and I am just sure she is going to lock herself in one or trip and fall head first into a toilet (she didn't, thankfully). Garrett also needed a diaper change so I changed that before we left the restroom. The four of us then proceeded down the hall (pushing the stroller with Garrett already latched on eating)to the nursing room so I could sit and be comfortable and let Garrett eat. Garrett finished eating and I smelled poop again. This time it was Kaley. I was almost laughing out loud at myself thinking what in the world have I gotten myself into. I can testify that it is only by God's grace that I was not in a heap on the floor whining about not being able to handle the three precious gifts that He has given me. It was/is a lot of work but God is faithful and I have been praying hard for His strength to respond well in whatever situation no matter how hard or stressful.

Celebrating Life in God's Timing

Today would have made 40 weeks of pregnancy with Garrett and 9/16/2010 is what his official due date was. I know that he would not have been born on this date for one because my OB would have planned my repeat C-section at 39 weeks instead of 40. Additionally, rarely are babies actually born on their specific due date. It is all in God's timing. Since Garrett ended up being 6 weeks early today also marks his 6 week birthday. Knowing that the official due date was approaching, I was trying to think of a super-special post for today. I kept thinking the most special post is the one that glorifies my God. So, I thought I would recollect all of the ways God had his hand on our family throughout this pregnancy and birth of our precious third baby, Garrett.
We actually started "trying" to get pregnant several months before we were successful. Again it is all in God's timing. Looking at the circumstances of it all it would have been a LOT more difficult timing-wise if we had gotten pregnant sooner.
We knew that my work schedule was going to change after the third baby came. We were considering me stopping working at least two weeks before baby. The company I worked for was acquired and my position eliminated in April but the separation package carried us through the end of August, which was two weeks before Garrett's official due date.
Since I already was not working, I didn't have to miss any work when I was hospitalized in July.
God used all of the wonderful people He put in our lives to provide for our family while I was in the hospital. Childcare was our biggest need so that our situation would not impose too much on my husband's job. Over four weeks of being hospitalized my husband only had to take 4 unplanned vacation days because the rest of the childcare was covered by precious friends from our church.
God laid a woman on my heart who was also in the hospital down the hall from me. I don't know her or her circumstances but I knew she needed some encouragement. God gave me an idea of a unique way to minister to her. Therefore, I had the privelege of sending some encouragment her way.
My mother was able to come and help for three weeks after Garrett was born. That was followed by a week with Andrew's mom. What a blessing to have help for that long.
God used my hospital stay to strengthen our marriage and mature us as a couple.
The only explanation for the peace I had while in the hopsital was that it was peace straight from God.
God gave us peace about a planned pre-term delivery at 34 weeks and He is so faithful that He took care of every detail of Garrett's health. Though tiny, Garrett is as healthy as a full-term newborn. He only spent 20 hours in the NICU for observation because he did have some fluid on his lungs. However, it was not from prematurity and it cleared itself up by the morning following his birth.
There was some maternal risk involved with the c-section because of the previa but my faithful God had his hand all over that too. My c-section nurse told me that she had never seen anyone with previa have as little bleeding as I had. I told her it was all because of prayer and she said that God sure did work a miracle.
I was praying since I became pregnant that I would be successful at breastfeeding this baby (I was not successful with either of the first two). We are six weeks in, exclusively breastfeeding and Garrett is gaining weight good. Praise God.
These are just some of the ways God had his hand on us through our most recent adventure. I can't physically put words to everything but God is so into every single detail. Praise God for the hope and help that comes in any situation through knowing Him and His son Jesus Christ.