On The Mend

This deliciousness is for the Grandparents...THE GLORIOUS PIGGIES ARE BACK!!!

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Last week while Andy was traveling, Sarah woke up multiple times every night and I was exhausted.  Being the AMAZING husband he is, he stayed out on the couch in case Sarah came down again on Friday evening.  Around midnight, he brought Sarah in and informed me that he thinks she has croup and is having difficulty breathing.  So, off to the ER they went.  Even though we've experienced it with our other kids, with Sarah we're erring on the side of caution this first time.

After giving her an oral steroid, they sent them both home.  She was the BELLE of the Ball in that ER.  Waving and hugging each and everyone as she left...her way of saying thank you for their kind service in her time of need.  She's making a difference in her own way!

Saturday and Sunday, she'd take many tissues out of the box and then put them back in for future use.

Then, make another bed for herself elsewhere with numerous blankets, water bottles, and books.

She's doing well with some minor coughing fits, mostly when sleeping.
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I've mentioned her DIVAish ways of recent and have been trying new "QUICK" hairstyles that I can do to match the sassiness of Miss Sarah.  This morning, she was the only one who had school (besides me), so I had a few extra minutes.   When lo and behold, her hair is long enough to bestow the awesomest pigtails she had when she first joined our family.  Without further ado...

Seriously...NO MORE PICTURES, Mama.

It's difficult being a star.  Always having to turn down the paparazzi!!

Perhaps if I put my thumb in my mouth, she'll stop.

Guess my grin is too cute!

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Aaron Shust, a wonderful Christian recording artist, was blessed with a beautiful boy this past weekend.  Michael Aaron was born with an extra chromosome and is having some other medical issues.  Aaron writes about their son's birth, the grieving process, and how they are walking God's plan for their lives.  "You don't need to know the future, only WHO holds the future." 

Check out his blog here.

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I know our children have a place in this world.  All the children like Sarah, Michael, Mia and Bree, Bridget and Alina, Nadia and Josi, Pudge and Zippy, Leanne and Josie, Ben and Davis, Nella, Mila and Zoya, Joachim and Sofia...all these children are precious gifts who can teach us all something about love, challenges, keeping it simple, forgiveness, and many more.  

When Sarah comes down at 6am, crawls into bed and says, "Mama," all the while smacking a Good Morning kiss on my cheek;

Or she wants one more hug at bedtime...

It doesn't get any better than that!

Happy Tuesday!

Skills for the Fashion Diva

Once the 5 Christmas events in 10 days were completed, we hibernated at home and spent time organizing closets and dressers.  Our focus on the remaining days was to put Sarah through Potty Boot Camp and to our surprise, she took it quite well.  We continue to be in pull-ups, but she remains dry mostly throughout the day.

Lately, she's had strong opinions about the clothing I pick out for her to wear and changes her outfits multiple times a day.  I've compiled a few visual aids for those who need practice taking off their clothes and acquiring new items for their wardrobe.

  Step 1:
  When Mom is occupied take off all your clothes and TRY to put on a new shirt.  Be Careful because the arms are tricky and they may get stuck behind your back.  It's not fun walking around in that manner.

Step 2:  If said arms are stuck, shimmy your way around and hopefully a kind friend will remove the vile shirt from your body.

Step 3: 
In case the papparazzi appear to snap the obscene photo and keep it hidden for future embarrassment of the clothing debacle, hide your eyes and cover your head.  If you can't see them, surely they can't snap a picture of you.

Step 4:  Walk upstairs and find new apparel that matches your mood of the day, all the while signing and saying stop to the offending person taking pictures.

There you have it.  Sarah's Surefire Smart Steps for Sassy Fashion Changes.
More laughter to come soon...
ADDENDUM:
After tucking her in for the night, I was working on the computer when she proceeded to bring me the outfit I had laid out for her tomorrow and say, "NO!"  So, back up we went and I found another that meets with the DIVA'S approval.  If this is what the future has in store, I'm in BIG trouble...

Christmas Day

 Once you choose HOPE, anything's possible.

Christopher Reeve

I find it difficult to put into words the emotions that surrounded Sarah's First Christmas Day, and that it was on a Sunday was even more special.  I had to wake each child up, comb through Sarah's rat nest of hair, and then the kids walked downstairs to see what Santa and his elves had left for them.

There were moments that morning when Andy and I looked at our kids and the blessings each one has received this year.  Addy, who has taken the role of big sister to the nth degree, and Austin, who in his own way teaches Sarah about the little things in life.  And Sarah, who embraces every moment with gusto.  Our hearts are overflowing.
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 I wanted a family photo before church that morning and try as we might, Miss Sarah would not smile, except for the moments we weren't ready.

As we walked into church that morning, our friends said, "This is a very special Christmas for your family, isn't it?"  And when we sat in the church pew, those who followed Sarah's story knew this moment had great significance for us.

There was a moment during the service when all the children were asked to come to the front for a story by our children's pastor.  Addy and Austin walked down, and Sarah wanted to go also.  When she got down front, our friends saw her make a beeline for  her sister.  Then, Austin moved on the other side of her...and one by one, she reached for their hands.  And tears filled my eyes, and the eyes of my friends who watched that beautiful moment unfold before their very eyes.  My heart took a picture and captured that moment forever.  Then, she stroked Addy's hair, and rubbed Austin's back,  and walked back with her brother and sister to sit with HER family.

She is loved.

She has a family. 

 She will move mountains.
 If I have but one monument in this world, it is that of my children.

Filled with Gratitude, Shelly

From Our Hearts To Yours

Our year has been abundantly blessed by our firecracker, Sarah.  She has wrapped herself around all of our hearts and those she meets on her merry way.

As we nestled our children in their beds this Christmas Eve, I am so very thankful that I am given a front row seat to the miracle show of Sarah's life.  Experiencing her firsts is an amazing way to live this wild, and precious life.

Tomorrow when she experiences her first Christmas, the reason we have this special day, and the love of her family, I will watch her excitement and embrace these special times, capturing them with my camera and my mind's heart.

From our family to yours, may you have a blessed Christmas day.

To the North Pole

It's a magical time when all the stars align, schedules are cleared, and we whisk away for a brief moment in time to celebrate so many miracles.  Two weeks ago, we did just that.  Andy had an idea and my job was to get all the grandparents to clear the weekend and we journeyed, not too far away, but away to celebrate Addy's birth and Sarah's first Christmas.  He had found a Polar Express train ride to take our children on and wanted both grandparents together.

We began with a Christmas Parade in a quaint town that had over 100 carriages of horses marching along the parade route.  The weather was a remarkably, balmy 50 and that's a heatwave for Ohio country in December.

Of course, a sunny afternoon isn't complete without a trip to the park.

Finally, we had someone to take a picture of our entire family together.

Later that evening, our family had dinner together.  Fresh pizza dough was brought out for the kids to mold and keep occupied while we waited.  I looked and marveled at what this past year had brought us.

As Sarah worked her magic around the table from one grandparent to another, my heart was filled with emotion.  So much gratefulness and thankfulness and blessings. Our family's support, love, and prayers provided us the foundation to give Sarah a family and her first ever Christmas.  We are so very blessed and she is daily teaching us to live in the moment.

Our adventure the next day led us to The Polar Express, which in turn broke down and we had to walk to the North Pole.  But, it's the memories, the moments, and the togetherness that matters.  And we took pictures with our minds, hearts, and cameras to remember this special time.

I am so very thankful for our family.  A memory our kids will cherish.  

Merry Christmas!