10.20.2013

Perspective

This weekend was a hard one to swallow.  Our plans were to head out of town with all of our best friends & their families for some much needed time with the gang & the littles to all be together; we are like family & these kids are like cousins to my kiddos.  Well, our plans changed last minute as a few of the kids were getting over a cough/cold virus & as badly as we wanted to go we chose to stay behind because we just cannot knowingly expose Emmeline to germies.  Let me tell you I was a wreck, just ask my hubs!  It may seem trivial to be so upset about something so minor, but being on bedrest for 14wks, then with a NICU angel babe for 3wks and now living a life of crazy regiments just to keep germs at bay & away from our family WE NEEDED THIS BREAK with friends to just make life feel a little more "normal".  I kept trying to justify in my head "we can do this, we will just constantly sanitize B & E down and they will sleep with us rather than their friends".  I knew in my heart what I neeeeeded to do, but selfishly I kept trying to justify it.  So I picked up the phone & called my doctors office, who, in not so many words, said I'm an idiot to even consider going & exposing not only lil E, but also Braden & Elyse who could catch it &  bring it into our home.  So I decided no at that moment.  Then the nxt night I was with my girlfriends & I kept trying to justify it, I even told them  that evening that we will be there.  At 3:15AM {Sat} that next morning I woke up & had a terrible anxiety attack as I felt lil E and she was BURNING up!!  My amazing hubs was on daddy duty when I went out and had her all swaddled so cozy, and praise the Lord after I frantically took her temperature (as I felt as though I was going to pass out at the thought of her getting sick!!!) it wasn't even at 98.6, it was 97.9.  I still sat up watching her & constantly feeling her for the next hour as I was so panicked!!!  I finally was at peace knowing she was just fine & I got some sleep...when I woke up in the am I kept reflecting back & talking it over with my hubs, who got woken up at 3:15am to FEEL HER HEAD SHES BURNING UP!!!  But she wasn't, it was all in my head & I came to realize this had to be Gods way of saying "You idiot!  Wake up!!!  Why would you even think of exposing her to anything, especially intentionally?!!!  Just for 24hrs of fun, is it worth it??"  I am 110% certain God was giving me a glimpse of what it could have looked like should we have gone & she got sick and ended up back at the hospital & it just wasn't worth it. I've never ever had that experience before & it honestly scared me to death at the thought of her back there!!!  So yesterday {Sat} AM I needed to talk to my NICU doc just for one last confirmation (can you see a pattern of me really struggling with what I knew in my heart to do, but what I really wanted to do?) and he said no, stay home.  So after a good sob session & being all hormonal & stuff my sweet hubby said "let's go to your favorite place, Avila beach".  I felt so bad for B & E to have a fun wknd cancelled &  was so thankful when Braden grabbed my hand and said "it is what it is mama" and his smile was priceless!  So we did a staycation with our amazing lil crew who I feel so blessed to call mine.  The word PERSPECTIVE came to mind as I just read on a friend of a friends post that they are in the hospital waiting for blood work to determine if their daughter has leukemia....my heart sank & makes me want to slap myself in my face at my ridiculous trivial saga as I'm holding my perfect baby girl in my hands!!!!  Perspective is a mighty powerful thing, and I choose to get over my petty little meltdown & pray for this little girl who may have cancer.  It makes me focus on the priorities in life, happy & healthy kids that are so full of joy regardless of where we go or what we do.  They are thankful & I need to be thankful too.  I am going to be more intentional about counting my blessings & focusing on the happy thoughts instead of the ones that are out of my control.  Please say some prayers for this family & this little girl!!!!  I know I am beyond thankful for my awesome hubs, my 3 healthy little ones, amazing family & friends, our great community, etc.  We are all so fortunate!   
Have a happy week friendsđź’—

6.03.2013

My baby turns FIVE

Maternity Pics with Braden in my belly at 38 weeks
...we had no clue if it was a boy or girl, but we suspected boy :)
It's midnight & I have been laboring at home for about 2hrs, cleaned house, showered & now...
we are finally headed to the hospital!!!
It's a BOY!  {we did surprise}
11:37AM our beautiful, sweetest baby boy was born. 
We CANNOT believe that was 5yrs ago!
Kisses from his VERY PROUD MAMA & DADA!!
Serious cuteness going on here...
he was photographed pretty much every second he breathed
one week old handsome dude
I can't get this pic to flip around, but had to include it as it has his "bippo" that has been around since he was born and is still his "lovey"
Our fav place :)
best daddy in the world
me & my baby boy 2 weeks young off to his first party!
seriously, how cute is this lil guy?
his adorable, customized nursery ~ mostly done by Daddy :)
1st 4th of July!  He's 1month!
he was tuckered out from the firework show
6 weeks with his Great Grandma
6 months
1st Christmas ~ 6 months
7 months
1st & last photoshoot @ 11 months
1 Year Old!
1st trip to the East Coast ~ 13 months with his Great Grandpa
Announcing his only child status changing to the world :)
13 months old
Meeting his baby "dister" for the very 1st time...
Dister is what he called her from day 1
(he's 22 months here)
1st Family Photo as Family of 4
Home sweet home & he is so excited to see his Dister again!
Fam pic when we got home from hospital
Happy 2nd birthday sweet boy!  Fun pool fun!
Best friends in the world ~ 3.5yrs
Mama & her little loves
Happy 3rd Birthday!  Train party fun!
Fishing at our fav spot
Surprise getaway weekend trip for his 4th birthday!
I LOVE this lil boy of mine ~ thank you for making me a Mama sweet boy!!
{sibling reflections}
his last night as a 3 year old...holding his best friend (sis) hand
I'm FOUR!


4th Birthday party w/ Friends
My big boy at 4 years old!
his future wife :)  besties since age 2
1st day of Preschool!
we have a preschooler?!  what?  
I think Elyse's expression sums it up best ;)
Woo hoo!  Although this Mama certainly wasn't "woohoo-ing" when we dropped him off
best buddies

Exactly 5yrs ago at 11:37am our sweet boy, Braden Steven, made me a Mama!!!  We didn't know what we were having, although I always dreamed of having a boy first & for some reason was pretty sure we were having a boy!  In fact, I was so sure that we painted his nursery baby blue w/ chair rail & light brown & beach theme :). Braden not only looks like his Daddy, but his personality is also quite identical; tender hearted, genuine character, very down to earth & just all around awesome!!!  We have had so much watching him grow into his own little being over the years & been amazed at watching him grow so much just this past year since he started school for the 1st time ever....from the lil guy that didn't want Daddy or I to leave him that 1st day, but we've gotten to watch him blossom into this independent little guy that has made friends w/ everyone in class, he thrives off of the other kids & just loves life & loves school.  We are so proud of him!  Watching him care for his sister is absolutely heart warming & the way he cares for his Mama will melt anyone; he has the biggest heart.  We cherish these years with our growing boy & thank the Lord for such a sweet blessing he is in our lives!!  We look forward to continuing to watch him grow into a little boy, although Jesse & I have such a hard time w these milestones, we just can't believe how truly fast it flies by & are trying to just take in all these days as they fly past us. Braden, you're our dream boy & we love you to pieces!!  We know God has incredible plans for you & we cannot wait to watch those unfold!!!  Thank you for always being such a sweet soul & loving all who cross your path!  You are a very handsome boy, both inside & out and we pray your values will only grow deeper into the boy you grow into!  We pray you never lose site of what's important!!!  Happiest 5th birthday sweet boy; we love you to the moon & back!  Lots & lots of love baby, Mama, Dada, Elyse Pie & littlest sis

Questionaire for keepsake:
How old are you? FIVE!
What makes you happy?  My friends
Whats your favorite animal?  Deer
Whats your fav thing to eat?  Orange chicken
Whats your favorite thing to do? Play with Daddy & Mama
Whats your fav TV show? Chuggington
What are you really good at?  Tackling
Whats your fav movie?  
Whats your fav color?  Orange & blue 
Whats your fav song?Blind Pilot
Who are your friends? Elyse, Presley, Drake, Hunter, Jack, all my school buds
What do you like to do w/ Mama? Play the monkey game
What do you like to do w/ Dada? Hang out in the garage
Where is your fav place to go?  Gilroy Gardens
What's your fav book?  The boy with the purple pen
What do you want to be when you grow up? Be just like Dada