2012

Another year has come and gone. 2012 was a difficult year in our house, but it was a wonderful year too. For every challenge there was a blessing, for every heartache there was more reliance on God. This year medically for both boys was very overwhelming and scary. But this year also was very rewarding medically. In being vigilant and proactive, we have finally gotten some answers to Sam's abdominal issues. And although the eosinophilic colitis was certainly a scary diagnosis I am praising God we found it, that we were able to pinpoint the foods that were bothering him and remove them. Praise God that this year was a year of healing for Sam's stomach. As we look forward to 2013 and realize that there may yet be some more scary news in the first part of the year for him, I am placing my trust in Him the one who created Sam and us. The One who knows the answers, the One who knows the outcomes, the One who will walk with us through each step with Sam. Rejoicing in knowing that whatever comes in 2013 for Sammy that God will be there too. Sammy has thrivied this year emotionally and spiritually. When I listen to my children' pray I am so blessed to know that they KNOW that God is there and that He hears and loves them. Sam has really become a much more sensative individual this year. He has definitely reached out to those around him that are hurting. I am so proud of the person he is becoming, a person who enjoys helping others, and is aware and sensitive to others feelings.

In 2012 Sophia has just blossomed into an even more compassionate caring child. She has thrived in almost every group setting that she has been in. She has become a leader in her class. Things that people have said about her were so awesome to hear. At the end of last years preschool, the teacher was very quick to tell me that she was the ring leader of the class, that she always included everyone and wanted to make sure no one felt left out. This year the teacher has stated that she is very charismatic, and kind, that she has a giving heart and that she hurts when others hurt. She has had a very challenging person to deal with this year and I am so proud of how she handled it for the most part, she tried so hard to get this person to be kind to her, but it just wasn't working. I am so proud and thankful to have this loving kind hearted little girl. What a priviledge to be raising a little girl who so fully loves and cares for others. She has become keenly aware of God and what she perceives to be His feelings. I am so blessed to be her mommy, to have the great challenge to share and teach her about God, but also to watch as she understands more and more about Him,

In 2012 Preston has really developed quite the personality. Again I feel so blessed to have been given the blessing to have this little boy. God has blessed us so much with him. Medically this year has been pretty scary for him. I have been so overwhelmed thinking that we would have another immunocompromised child. And as things have played out and my fears have become reality and then some, God has showed Himself again and again in those difficult places. As we have just started IVIG with him and are really trying to figure out his specific GI stuff, I am confidant in the fact that God will continue to walk this journey with us.

As a person I have grown so much this year. As a wife, a mom, and a believer. The challenges I have faced this year have been overwhelming and scary. There are many times especially dealing with the boys that I have become fearful and so sad that there is so much chronic illness that the boys have to face. But in those moments of crying out to God, He has met me in a way that I have never felt Him before. As I have struggled with a relationship situation this past year, that has repeatedly been so devastatingly hurtful, God has comforted and sustained me. I certainly don't know what God has planned for that relationship, but by faith I am believing that His will will be done. With my own back injury this year and the ramifications and possibilities of not being able to continue the job that I love so dearly, God has met me there and is igniting new thoughts and dreams of what the future will hold. 2012 was definitely a challenging year, but it was an amazing year! I am so thankful for this year and for what I have learned about myself and others. For what I have been shown by God about faith and trust, for how He has comforted me so many many times this year. For the strength and hope that He has given me. I am so blessed to know My Creater, My Redeemer and Friend. I look forward to serving Him in 2013 and for what HE will teach me!!! Praying for God's richest blessings for your family in 2013

My niece and nephew...

Matt has one sibling, his brother Tim. Tim and his wife have three children. Today was a special day for their two older children. Jacob got baptized. In our faith, we have a "baby dedication" when a baby is born, as at that point we as parents are responsible for teaching our children about God, and we allow them to make the decision to be baptized when they are old enough to understand what that means. Well today our nephew Jacob made that decision. What a special and most important decision to be making. Unfortunately wiggling doesn't lead to the best quality pictures...

And Jacob's older sister Allayna became an Honor Star. This is a tremendous accomplishment. The MPact girls group in our church is like the AG version of Girl Scouts, it is a biblically based program that teaches young girls from the age of 3 up through highschool about being Godly women. They complete each level and earn badges, if they go about and beyond the expectation and complete multiple other requirements they become an Honor Star. Our whole church honored her accomplishment. We are so proud of her and the beautiful young woman of God that she is becoming. This is Allayna with her dad:

What an awesome responsibility that God has given us parents to raise our children to love and serve the Lord. I am so thankful that our entire family knows God and serves Him :-) Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

More Christmas festivities

There are a few things we did during the Christmas season that I haven't posted about yet. One of them was making some giant gingerbread men/women at my mom's house. The kids had a blast :-) It made quite the disaster at my mom's house though... And unfortunately most of the pictures are on my sisters phone. But here is a picture of the completed cookies.

IVIG and Soph is still sick

Today Sam had his IVIG. On the way into the hospital he totally wiped out on black ice in the parking lot, but thankful he is ok. He will probably have quite the nasty bruise on his leg tomorrow from the fall but otherwise he is fine. We had one of our favorite nurses today, although there are so many that we love at Heywood. Nurse Carol is one of our favorites. On Sam's first admission to the hospital after discharge from NICU she was our nurse. She has been our nurse many times through the years, for Sam and now twice for Preston. We are praying that in 2013, the only time there is a need for nurse Carol is for IVIG :-) But in case it isn't we are so blessed to have her. She got the IV in on the second try which is great, I love when it is the first try but that doesn't always happen. Then Sam played a lego game on the website about Pharoahs. I got to do a little reading which I love to do and don't often have much time for. And then I played SuperHero Uno with him. It was so fun :-) Praising God for a good day!!! But also anxious becuase Sophia is still feeling yucky and coughing lots.

Sick still....

Last tuesday night the 18th Sophia started running a high fever. On wednesday my friend took her for me even though she was sick so I could take Sam to the ENT. On wednesday night Sam started with a cough and a fever too. I brought them both to our doctor on thursday and she checked them both for the flu. I am praising God that it was negative! But Sophia was so so angry at the doctor. When she told Sophia that she was sorry and asked her if she forgave her Sophia said "Hmmm, NO!" and then proptly walked away from her. She was SO MAD! After two days I was speaking with the doctor again (on the phone). Sophia heard me speaking with her, and asked if she could speak with her, so I put Sophia on the phone, and then she told her that she forgave her. I am so thankful that my children understand forgiveness and the importance of it. I am so thankful that each of us, myself included ask for forgiveness and realize what a blessing God's forgiveness of us is. On Christmas night I checked Sophia's temperature when we got home. I felt quite guilty when I got home as she had a fever and I hadn't realized. She had been snuggly and cuddly, but not miserably or crabby. I panicked a little when I checked her temp in her ear and the thermometer said HIGH, all I thought was I think it says HIGH after it reaches 105! So then I tried to check her in her mouth, this time the thermometer said 103.5, but she wouldn't let it go until it beeped! So needless to say she made me a little anxious. I brought her to the doctor first thing in the morning, as it had now been nearly a week since she had started the fevers. So the doctor diagnosed her with a sinus infection and started her on augmentin, with instruction to bring her back if things got worse.... MAN is it a challenge to get this little lady to take medicine. I forgot to post the pics of her the other week when we FINALLY let her get her ears pierced. My parents had my ears pierced when I was a baby, and my sister Denise had her girls ears pierced as babies too. Sophia has asked many times, and her daddy was hesitant until she was old enough to really understand what it was all about. So for the last few months she has been asking and we finally got them pierced. She was SO EXCITED! She just said "OW" when they were done and nothing more :-)

Christmas Day

I woke up so early Christmas morning. I was so excited for the kids. I knew that the gifts we had bought them were going to make them so happy. I was so blessed this year with peoples generosity and helpfulness. I responded to an add on craigslist prior to Christmas for someone who was getting rid of thousands of legos. I responded to the add and the man was so wonderful. He was a Christian and was so generous with what he sent to us. Sam was so excited to get so many legos for Christmas. Sophia got a doll house for Christmas. I was so excited to find it and let our families know about it, and therefore she got some furniture to go with it. But when I asked her what her favorite Christmas gift was, her response was the clothes that she got for her and for her Bitty Baby Baby Jess. I found this wonderful lady (she also made Preston's birthday outfit and bib) and had her make something special for her. If you are looking for something wonderful for your child to wear that is high quality and beautiful, check her out....The fresh vintage shop I don't have any really good pictures of it to post today but I will post them soon. She looks so cute in the outfit. She is wearing it but no great pics of it. Christmas morning we built legos, did puzzles, played with the doll house, and then my parents came over with their gifts for my kids. After my parents left we went to Matt's aunts house for Christmas dinner. The kids just love playing with my father in law as well as their cousins. It was a great time.

Our tree after the gifts were under it.

This might be my favorite picture of all three kids ever. It was so spontaneous and it is so rare to get a picture of Sam, where he is smiling normally and not forcing it.

I love having my parents come Christmas morning. It is fun for them to see the kids with their toys. And I love the tradition of it.

We love our father in law/grandpa so much! I love how hands on he is with the kids. The kids absolutely adore him. I am so thankful to have such a Godly, loving, kind, compassionate Grandpa for the kids.

We unfortunately don't get to spend too much time with all of the cousins (although I am hoping and working towards changing that in 2013). But it was a blast hanging out and spending time with everyone on Christmas. There are no other little kids that were there this year (actually every year on Christmas there isn't, because Matt's brothers family stays home on Christmas) so my kids totally ate up the attention. We are the OLD COUSINS of the bunch :-)

Preston loved his new remote control train!!!

This is Matt's grandmother (and in one his mom too). She HATES to get her picture taken, so it is usually quite the chore. Well she was wondering what Sam was playing with, and so he showed her his Nintendo DS. This picture just cracks me up as she looks like she is playing :-)