Daddies and Birthdays!

L's sweet daddy turns 34 today. What a great number. You want to know why it's a great number? Because 33 was amazing. The most important age in Jesus' life was also the most important age in my dear husband's life. The significance of God's presence in our life was so amazing. God gave us our son in a way that we never thought would be possible. Not only did he bless us with the light of our eyes, but we started the paperwork on my husband's birthday last year. February 22 will no longer just be my husband's birthday, it will be a day I put my husband up on a pedestal for giving the gift of eternal love.

My husband is the kindest human being you will ever meet. Gosh if you ever get lucky enough to meet him he will leave a footprint in your heart. He is kind, generous and has a gigantic heart. Shane is a people person, he will take the shirt off his back for a stranger. Imagine the things he does for those he loves.

I am lucky to be growing old with him. Although, of course, I see him as a lover, he is way more than that. He is my best friend, my confidante, the light of my eyes. Shane is the person I run to when I am sad, happy, anxious, scared. He always knows how to calm me down, he knows to tell me things will be alright... and somehow they always are.

Shane has the ability to look beyond whatever is going on right now and make things better. Even on days when we have found ourselves with $87 to our name and a million bills to pay and formula to buy, he has stood there and with his feet firmly planted on the ground and his faith in God he has told me that it WILL be ok... and then it IS OK. How he does it, I don't know. I don't want to know. I have him to save me, and that's all that matters.

My husband is the rock of my little family. Even though my personality is stronger and I tend to be more of a "tough" girl, he is gentle and caring. He is the manliest man I have ever met, yet the sweetest. He is not afraid to show emotion and tell us that he loves us. He will hold my hand and kiss me on a stage full of a million spectators. He will offer to change his son's diapers and gets upset when the men's bathroom doesn't have a changing pad. He loves to cook and do household chores and he would love to be a stay at home dad.

My AMAZING SUPER HUSBAND is one of a kind and I am the luckiest woman in the world for having him in my life.

And now I have to go, because he'll be home any second and I have to dedicate the rest of the weekend to show him how lucky I am because I am his wife.

Talk to you soon!

Jen

A little blog crazy?

Ok so clearly I've gone crazy. I don't think I have ever blogged three times in one day. Obviously the fact that L is taking a super long nap totally is helping. However it's funny that I am inspired to write. I miss that about myself. I loooooove writing. I love spilling my beans, I love sharing. I think it has to do with the fact that I am an only child and always crave having someone to socialize with.

I have to say though that I haven't lost that inspiration to write. I just haven't really had the time. My writing consists of updating a baby book or a facebook status about what my cutie is doing today. I've been so busy pouring all my love over baby L that I don't have time for anything else. No, really, I have no time. The last pedicure I got was over 9 months ago. (Don't fret, I do at home ones in the middle of the night... my feet don't look like those of a zombie).

I recently printed my previous blog into a book and received it in the mail. Flipping through that book made me realize that I really enjoy documenting our memories. That book is full of wonderful memories of the first few years of my marriage. I can't wait to print many more books with many more memories.

Ok so now I'm going to do a recollection of what I've been really enjoying lately so that when I am flipping through that book in the future I can remember how wonderful my life is/was. :-)

- I have discovered youtube videos. Oh my goodness my eyes are glued to these videos. It's crazy how interesting they all are. People are doing reality shows on there. Makes me want to start videotaping myself. If only I was good at editing. Anyone know of any good editing softwares? Easy ones please!

- I love shopping for baby boy clothes. I thought I would always be drawn to girlie clothes but there are so many possibilities for baby clothes. You can make them intellectual-looking, rugged, sporty, classical. And then you add an adorable hat and your heart melts.

- I still love shopping for myself. There isn't a baby store or a baby department that I don't enter... However... I still enjoy finding great makeup or accessories. Mama still needs to be styling.

- I miss the movies. I use to hate going to the movies. I think part of it is because I have ADHD and I don't like to sit in one room longer that I have to. I don't like being confined and unable to pause and go do something else. However I miss our dinner and a movie dates. The hubby and I use to love our routine of going out on dates. These days those dinner dates still happen but there are sippy cups and quite a few diapers changes involved.

- I've been enjoying spending more time at home.

- I've been enjoying decorating our new home (I have to blog about our move! We don't live in the tiny townhome anymore!).

Ok my tiny boss is calling. Gots to go.

Have a great day webbie friends!

Jen

Baby Fashion

Baby Fashion is going to make this mommy broke...

Almost 9 months old.

Dear Baby,

How does that happen?

In what seems like just yesterday we were looking into your eyes and falling so deeply in love with you that we couldn't contain our tears. Then a month passed and we couldn't get understand how we got so lucky in finding you. When you turned two months we were so smitten by you that we didn't want others to hold you. We were your parents from before you were born. We wanted you since before we knew we wanted you.

At three months you started smiling and had the cutest personality ever. At 4 months you started doing things that mimicked your dad's silly faces or mommy's cuddling. At 5 months you started to want to sit and crawl and we started noticing how independent you were going to be. At 6 months you were a giggle monster and while you learned how to giggle prior to that it was really when your social personality started to emerge. At 7 months you began to look like a big boy and I could close my eyes and picture what you would look like as a toddler.

Then all of the sudden you turned 8 months old. On Valentine's day you said your first word... of course it was papa for your daddy. You love him so much. You and him are best friends. Don't get me wrong you do love your mama. You look at me like I am the center of your universe, but daddy is your best friend, your partner in crime. You guys do naughty things together like fly up in the air as if you were superman. You guys play the tickling game and stay up way too late. I can only imagine the kinds of trouble you two will get into in the very near future.

You are about to turn 9 months old and I can't figure out where the time went. I miss the tiny baby that use to just sit there and coo but at the same time I can't wait to see the toddler you become, the little boy, the big boy, the rebellious teenager and the gentleman that so many ladies will swoon over.

I can't wait to see what life has in store for our beautiful family of three.

We are the three amigos. The three musketeers. Your daddy and I are so in love with you, our sunshine.

Thank you for blessing us with your smile every single day of our lives.

With all my love,

Your mama.

Where did the last 5 months go?

Hello dear friends, 

In the blink of an eye 5 months have passed since my last update. Oh and what a great 5 months they have been! 

You must be wondering what I've been doing...

Mostly cuddling with this guy. 

And taking tons of pictures of all the little details... 

* I've also been singing all kinds of silly songs and a whole lot of "You are my sunshine."

* I've been tasting all sorts of interesting veggie jars of baby food and some surprisingly good fruit ones. 

* I've been going on adventures to mommy and me class (Oh, How I miss those... little guy has his first ear infection) and walks at the park. 

* I've been reading up all about being the best mommy I can be. 

* But mostly I've just been cuddling with the sweetest little guy in the world. 

Until next time, 

J. 

The Hospital Days.

The days that Sweet Baby L spent in the hospital were the most bittersweet days of our lives. We knew he was our SON. We were so happy to go visit him and cover him in kisses but at the same time we were so eager to bring him home. Every time we went to the hospital we went with the hopes that he would be coming home... and each time we were disappointed.

Baby L was in the hospital from the day he was born (obviously 05-25-2012) until Monday June 11th, 2012. Our little man was born a preemie, just a few weeks earlier than what is considered full-term so in order to be cautious the doctors at NorthShore Hospital decided that it was best for him to put on weight and regulate his temperature before he would be allowed to come home.

As you read on my previous post we met baby L on June 6, so those 5 days were totally stressful for us. Not only were we new parents but we were not able to fully enjoy our new bundle of joy because he was being kept at the NICU. I must clarify for when Baby L reads this in the future that there was absolutely no danger to his life. The doctors just wanted to make sure he put on the appropriate weight necessary to maintain his temperature above 98 degrees.

At first the doctors told us that we would be able to take our sweet angel home on friday june 8th and we were so excited and prepared everything for his arrival at home. Baby L drank his milk like a champion and even worked hard and staying warm enough by not breaking out of his swaddle (he hated being swaddled!). But unfortunately when friday came along, a nurse reported that L's temperature had dipped to under 98 so they decided he was not allowed to come home.

At that point we got really sad. We are both in the medical field and we know how Hospitals work. We know that they are staffed differently on the weekend and we knew that the doctors that were going to be there were not familiar with L's story. We lost hope that he could come home. To our surprise the weekend staff was phenomenal. We were so blessed. They decided they were not going to let little L out just yet... but they allowed us to SPEND THE NIGHT as a family!!! So, on Saturday June 9th, 2012 we checked in to the maternity floor and we got a room. They wheeled baby L into our room and we got to spend the night together. We fed him, bathed him, cuddled him. We sang as a family. We took pictures and videos. We could have stayed there forever. In fact, we would have moved in had they allowed us too!

During our overnight stay we heard a rumor that after caring for L an entire night they would let us go home. We had taken our baby CPR classes, we had taken care of our son all night. Once again we got our hopes up... and once again we were shot down. Let me explain how things went down. After spending the night they came in at 6 am and took baby L for routine nurse shift changes. At that point they asked us to leave to get some rest while they got caught up with paperwork and doctor rounds. We didn't want to leave but figured we could shower and get ready for coming home. At about 8 am we went back to the hospital to make sure we did not miss the DR rounds. We wanted answers as to when baby L was coming home. Sure enough we made it on time to speak with the doctor in charge. She stated that she had given orders for baby L to stay one more night because he had a significant drop in temperature over night. At this point we wanted to just grab baby L and run home with him.

But we didn't. Instead, we calmly explained to the doctor (who had not treated L before) what the situation was. We told her (even though it was part of his medical records, which she SHOULD have read!) that baby L was maintaining steady between 97.5 and 98.5. We told her that his treating doctor was happy with that. We told her that we had done the night trial as our last step before getting discharged. At that point she stated that she had no idea we had spent the night. She admitted the temp drop was environmental (the room we were in was COLD!). And then she told us... "sorry but I already wrote out the orders... he has to stay." And then I cried. And cried. And cried.

We stayed with baby L the rest of the day, only leaving to buy the necessary things like food. Monday morning I had absolutely no hope. I figured it would be another week of the "same stuff". S on the other hand was hopeful. He kept telling me that God had a plan. Little did we know that God's plan was to send that baby home. THAT MONDAY! On the day we least expected. On the day where we didn't push the doctors. On the day we had accepted our resignation that we had to go with God's plan... That's the day we got to bring home our son.

It's amazing how things happen. It's amazing how you have to trust God's timing. We kept wanting for things to happen our way... we kept trying to convince doctors that we were ready to become a family. We kept trying to manipulate the situation to achieve the results WE wanted... all while forgetting that these life-changing decisions are not in our humble human hands. The day we let go and let God was the day we got to bring our gorgeous son home.

Today, August 6, 2012, exactly two months after we met our son, I sit here as he naps, listening to his breathing and Thanking God for his health and the happiness this child has brought into our lives. He came to us at a tiny 4 pounds 4 ounces. We brought him home at a whopping 4 pounds 13 ounces, and here next to me lies a big 9 pound 3 ounce baby boy who has mastered the art of smiling and tummy time. A baby boy who brings a smile to our face multiple times a day every single day of our lives.

So that's the recount of our hospital stay. It's not witty. It's not funny. It's just filled with details because I never ever want to forget our hospital days. Those hospital days made us a family and for that I am thankful.

With Love,

L's proud momma.

And then there were THREE!!!

Hi Dear Friends,

I know I said I would keep in touch, and I plan to... however life just got a WHOLE LOT BETTER! In our last few posts we talked about our recent heartbreak. Today we talk about how our lives were recently changed forever!

As you all know sometime in May we lost our first baby adoption. We experienced an adoption miscarriage, which is basically a match gone wrong. That broke our hearts and shook our spirits. S always remained hopeful, but I was so hurt that I stopped going to baby stores and looking at my dream items online. I focused on my everyday life because I was SURE that we were not going to be matched for at least 18 months... I wanted a baby NOW... not 18 months from now. I knew that first baby was not for us, but I wanted my baby to join our family already!!!

Then... on Tuesday June 5th, 2012 I went to work as usual... I was in my tuesday meeting when my phone rang. It was the adoption agency. I figured they were calling to check up on us. Either way I could not answer because I could not leave my meeting. But then... THEY CALLED S!!! He didn't answer either. He never ever answers his phone. The agency people were persistent (THANK GOD!) and they called S's office. Sure enough... they had a match for us!!!

Meg, the social worker that spoke to S told him that she had good news for him. And oh, boy, did she have good news! Not only had a birth mother picked us but the BABY WAS BORN!!! No waiting period. No anxiety! Nothing!

(I'm not going to go into details about any of that because that is the baby's story not mine. If you are interested in adoption and really honestly want to know how it works send me an email and I'll be glad to share what we feel comfortable with.)

The baby was OURS!!! So of course we wanted to meet him. Our sweet boy was born on May 25, 2012. We met him and became a family on June 6, 2012 when he was just 12 days old. He had been patiently waiting for us for 12 days! He never lost hope, he knew we were coming!

That beautiful Wednesday morning of June 6, 2012 we met our Son. He was bundled and perfect. He was a tiny 4 lbs 4 ounces but FULL of love. He was healthy and strong. He had been fighting for 12 days waiting for his mommy and daddy to come pick him up and that day he greeted us with a smile. (It could have been gas, but it could have been a smile!). The moment we laid eyes on him we fell in love. There was absolutely NO GOING BACK. We were a family of THREE!

That night we went back to the hospital and hung out with the little man some more. He was in the hospital for a MINOR reason... but his stay was long(ish) so I will blog about that experience after.

Wednesday night we got to give our son a bath. We bonded and fed him and put him to sleep. We were so smitten. That night we couldn't sleep. The following day was going to be the most important day of our lives.

On thursday June 7, 2012 we signed all the legal paper work to become L's parents! It was THE BEST legal paperwork we've ever had to sign. We left the agency feeling so good and so ready. We were now responsible for a human being! Our SON. We have a SON.

We've been home for some time now. We've gotten to know each other and we all fit like pieces to a puzzle. He is the perfect addition to our family. He is mellow and sweet and smart. He even looks like S which is just the sweetest thing.

We have been busy getting everything L needs! We had no idea he was coming this fast so we've had to hustle... and let me tell you its been the fastest funnest shopping experience of our lives. We have the essentials but we have everything HE needs.

You guys I can't tell you enough how happy I am. I cry every time I look at his face, hands, feet. His tummy is like a magnet for kisses and I get happy when I see poop in his diaper. The highlight of my day is making sure I get all the boogies out of his nose so that he can breathe better at night.

All the things I thought I would care about... the fancy stroller, the cute clothes, the amazing pinterest inspired nursery are pushed to the side. I ONLY want my son to be happy and healthy... and he is... so I am complete.

I'll be back soon with his "hospital stay" recount.

Much Love and THANK YOU for the support!

A very HAPPY MOMMA!!!