Laughter

I am honored to watch my niece, Ally, once a week, every Thursday. She is absolutely the most awesome niece that I have (even if she is the only one I have!). This week I was able to watch her twice. On Tuesday Wyatt and Ally were their usual selves going in and out of the house, tracking in sticks and dirt, carrying out the toys, playing with the dog food, dumping the dog water, dragging the hose all over, and much more. About 20 minutes before their nap time I hear Wyatt laugh. Not just any laugh but a belly laugh. I wanted to see what they were up to because it really couldn't have been any good. I took a peek out the kitchen window and what do I see? Ally dropping handfuls of dirt onto Wyatt's leg. I know Wyatt started it because he loves dirt, as most kids do. Ally learned quickly and joined in the fun. Obviously the kids were a mess come nap time. So why didn't I stop them? Because they were having so much fun. I hope to never stop their fun even if it means more of a mess for me to clean. The laughter is always worth it!

Picking up the dirt

Dropping the dirt

How life gets in the way

Life. It's busy. It never stops. I have spent this last year reading many blogs and knowing that mine was waiting for me to return. I just couldn't bring myself to sign on and write more. Who knows why. But this last year has been hard. Jason and I have already overcome so much that when more was heaped on the plate we just didn't understand how we could endure it. But we did; we endured another pregnancy, early birth, hospital visits, loss of jobs, insurance nightmares, sickness of loved ones.

God blessed us with another child, a girl we named Haley Jane. Christmas Eve 2009 I found myself 25.2 weeks pregnant and in the hospital. Once I passed 25 weeks I thought I was going to make it to 40 weeks, but alas, three days later into the hospital I went. I began feeling contractions and all through the Christmas Eve service I was trying to talk myself out of them. We got to my parents house, where we planned on spending the night with my sisters and their families, and I pulled my mom aside. Away Jason and I went to the hospital to be monitored. Jason, my mom and I spent 5 days in the hospital, and on one of those very uncomfortable Labor and Delivery beds might I add. The doctors tried 4 different medications to stop the contractions. The final one was a pill that tasted like barf. But to no avail did the drugs stop the contractions. On Tuesday Dec 29 the doctor decided to do a c-section because she was worried about a placental abruption. And sure enough, the placenta had ripped.

On Monday morning my doctor was on call and he came in to talk to us. He said some women in my circumstance can last weeks on bed rest. I did not find this comforting and finally cried for the first time. I prayed so hard that day and night for the courage and patience to last a few more weeks on bed rest. As every doctor didn't fail to tell me, "You don't want the baby to come this early." I think I knew this having gone through a premature birth before. I woke up Tuesday morning ready to be in bed for weeks, even two more months, to give our daughter more time to grow and mature. My breakfast of liquid came. (I was put on a liquid diet: broth, juice, tea, and Italian ice.) After drinking my breakfast, I gushed some blood. The doctor didn't like this, and neither did I.

I met the anesthesiologist, Dr. Reed, and was wheeled off to have my baby. Having a c-section is a bit surreal and I didn't like it at all. I was breathing very deeply so I wouldn't burst into tears because I knew what my life was going to be for the long months ahead; pumping, buying milk bags, visiting the hospital, washing for 3 minutes causing very dry hands, and a roller coaster of emotions as we watched Haley struggle to grow bigger and survive this harsh world too early. With Jason by my side, we heard Haley cry for the first time and even score an 8 on the apgar test. She was wrapped in saran wrap to help keep the moisture in as she was taken to the NICU. She was 13 inches and 1 lb 15 ozs, the same as Wyatt. Jason followed Haley and the doctors and I spent the next lonely hour in recovery watching the monitors beep through my heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

Jason and I were not sure we wanted another child after what we had gone through with Wyatt. But God knew better. I was much more excited through this pregnancy. It was fun to tell Wyatt he was not the big brother who needed to look after and protect his little sister.

I sit here and remember and know that this is not the last struggle and hurddle I will have to endure. I was made stronger through this and know God is glorified when I obey. So I will keep on obeying and He will keep on blessing me.