Baby Dedication

We had Jude's Baby Dedication on Sunday. It was a very special time of reminding ourselves to Whom Jude belongs and our responsibilities as parents to raise him in a home that loves and honors God. Our Pastor read scripture and talked a little bit about the commitment we were publicly making public raise him in the manner we're called by God. Then our church family came and surrounded us and prayed over us and Jude. It was a sweet time.

Happy Easter

One of my favorite times of the year, Easter. I love the way this season and time is a reminder of my life in Christ. With the spring flowers blooming and the trees and grass starting to turn green again I too get a feeling of renewal. I also use this time to reflect on my growth, I know some do it at the beginning of the year. This is my time, when things are coming alive again and I reflect on the cross.

Of course, we got the kids an Easter Sunday outfit and our family color this year was yellow.

I had to insert this photo of Papa. I think he was jealous he didn't get any green sunglasses.

Jadon's Day

On Saturday we had a Jadon day. Jadon got to pick what we did for the day. He was rewarded with a day because he has gone 2 whole weeks without sucking his thumb, only at nap and bed times. This is a huge acomplishment for him and we are so proud. For the day we went to the zoo and then we went to McDonald's for lunch. Our favorite things to do at the zoo, feed the giraffes and visit the snake house. Jadon also got to ride the train since it was his special day.

This is how Jude spent the day, chilling in the stroller sporting his zebra bib.

The Easter Story

This week the kids and I have been talking a lot about the Easter story. You can't go to the store without seeing all these great toys or candy and I want our children to know that all this stuff is not why we celebrate Easter. So, we've been discussing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we celebrate because He did not stay dead, but He arose.

Yesterday, after having talked about the reason we celebrate Easter earlier in the day, Jadon came up to me and said, "can I read you a story from my Bible?" Of course, I love hearing him read stories from his Bible. He opened it up to some random page and started "reading".

"Jesus is gone from the tomb the people put him in." I love hearing the things we talk about coming out in his own words. His words are so simple and true. I often times have to remind myself of that childlike faith. Jadon and I can talk about things and he just accepts it and I'm sitting there trying to figure out a way I'm going to explain it to him.

We had another conversation a few weeks ago and he was asking where God lived. We talked a little bit about God and then I asked him where Jesus lived and his reply was, "in God." I sat there again trying to think of a way to explain that to him and then I was reminded that I don't have to explain everything, that is what faith is. I am so excited that Jadon and I are starting to have spiritual conversations with each other.

After Jadon read me the Bible story he asked if he could have his picure taken with his Bible.

Pictures of My Favorite Little People

Wordless Wednesday

Ramblings of a Mother

I took Jude to see our Doctor yesterday to be weighed and heart checked. His heart is still beating on the faster side, but our doctor doesn't seem to be worried about it and he is now a whopping 9 lbs 13 oz. Jude has gained 3 lbs and 10 oz in a month. You can really see it in his little face, it has really filled out.

I just went back to check on Jude, all kids are down taking a nap. I really appreciate the 2 hours I have in the middle of the day to myself. Anyway, as I walked by Jadon and Haven's room I heard Jadon saying he needed help. I stooped by his bed and asked him what he needed help with and he repeated he needed help a couple more times and then he finally said he needed help with the box. I asked him if he needed help opening it or closing it and he said he needed help closing it. So, I told him I closed "the box" and he went back to sleep. A few nights ago Todd heard him and went in and he was saying his room was too tall. Todd walked over to the window and pretended to pull it back down and Jadon went back to sleep. We've asked Jadon about these episodes when he wakes and he always remembers what happened.

I've got a cute story to tell about Jadon. We have on our curio letters that spell JESUS. Well, the J E and S had fallen over and Jadon noticed it. He told Todd that the letters had "fell". Todd asked Jadon if he knew what the letters spelled and he said, "yes, they spell Jesus and he's my best friend." Oh, how we pray that is always true in his life.

Enjoying the Beautiful Weather

The weather here this week has been absolutely beautiful. It makes the heart yearn for Spring. Donna and I took the kids to the park on Wednesday. It was a great time of getting out of the house and enjoying the fresh air, Jude slept the entire time. His first trip to the park and he slept through it. I'm sure there will be plenty of firsts he sleeps through this Spring. I tried to talk my mom into playing hooky at work, maybe next time.

Jude's 1 Month Today

It's both hard to believe that Jude is 1 month today and only 1 month. It always amazes me how someone can come into your life and you can't remember what it was like before they were there. I especially do this with my husband. It is hard to remember a time that he was not a part of my life. I enjoy life with him so much that it feels like we've always been together. I feel that way about my children too. I look at them and think, my goodness they are growing up way to fast, it was only yesterday they were brought home from the hospital. Then I feel like they've always been here.

Jude is doing great, he has really taken to his schedule. He sleeps really well and eats very well. His little face isn't so little anymore, it's quite chubby with the whole double chin thing going on. Jadon and Haven still adore him and want to hold him (sometimes fight over who gets to hold him.) Jude loves the sound of his Daddy's voice. If he is crying Todd will start singing the hymn It Is Well and Jude almost instantly stops crying. Todd loves the fact that Jude will stop crying when he starts singing.

Haven holding Jude's hand

Wordless Wednesday

Our New Task At Hand

This weekend we started working with Jadon on not sucking his thumb. He will be 4 later this year and we are hoping that by then this whole thing will be kicked. We did try to start him off on a pacifier trying to keep this very thing from happening, but when they start taking the pacifier out to put their thumb in there's not much a parent can do.

So, we've started off by using band-aids on the thumb he sucks. I took him to Wal-Mart on Sunday and let him pick out his band-aids. Now we have array of band-aids that he gets to chose from everyday. He gets to take it off for nap times and bed times other than that the band-aid stays on. He has done surprisingly well, we've had one major breakdown on the way to church Sunday. He wanted to take the band-aid off for class. This was a big deal because the sweet teachers in his room will let him sit on their laps and suck his thumb while snuggling their hair. He knew with the band-aid on he wouldn't be able to snuggle their hair as he loves to do.

We've threatened him that if the band-aids don't work then we will move to Tabasco sauce like his cousin Gavin had to do. So, far that has worked to keep him from slipping the band-aid off.

I had to post some photos of Haven. She just woke up from nap and wanted her hair done, but wanted to do it herself. I remember when my sister, Mallory, was about Haven's age and a little older she was always doing her hair. She would come up with some of the craziest hair-dos and we would always tell her how pretty she was. The more accessories she could put in her hair the better.

Matters of the Heart

I was just reading a friend's blog and she was commenting on one of her entries about being vulnerable and honest. Todd and I too have been holding onto something that we've only shared with our families. Partly, because we didn't know any answers and didn't know what exactly to tell people and partly because I still needed time to process everything.

Ours starts with our little Jude. Wednesday, February 27 he was 2 weeks old, I took him to his 2 week appointment on Thursday. Everything started out great with him gaining almost a whole pound (he was 1 oz. shy of gaining a whole pound from birth weight) and growing an inch in length. By the way, Momma's milk is doing him very good. The doctor did his regular questions and did his checks and then it came time to listen to his heart. I stood there as the doctor kept listening and kept listening and I thought that maybe he was hearing congestion since we've all had the runny noses in the house. The doctor finally looked up and said his heart is beating really fast, a lot faster than he thought it should be. So, to be on the safe side he wanted to do an EKG. We did an EKG there in the office and after looking at that he decided we needed to call a pediatric heart specialist and just check with him about his heart rate. After talking with the specialist it was agreed that we needed to do another EKG at the hospital and do some blood work to test for anemia and thyroid issues and the specialist would take a look at those results to see if we needed to do anything else.

After the second round of tests the specialist called us and wanted to see Jude for himself and do an EKG and an echo cardiogram in his office. My heart sank and I spent the rest of the evening in tears. It was so hard thinking that there might be something wrong with my son's heart and at the same time not knowing what could be wrong.

Friday was our appointment with the specialist and after meeting with him we did eliminate a heart rhythm problem and mechanical problems, his heart is very healthy. Praise You, Jesus. But with not having the blood work back there could be thyroid issues causing his fast heart rate. The specialist sent us home with a 24 hour heart monitor, he wanted to see how Jude's heart did at all stages of his day.

Tuesday evening we got the results from the 24 hour heart monitor and the blood work. He does have an "abnormally" high heart rate and the blood work came back good, he does not have thyroid issues. So, with no anemia, no thyroid problems and no rhythm problems we sort of have the doctors perplexed. We talked about our options and Todd and I really feel comfortable with taking him to our doctor for regular check-ups and keeping an eye on it. With his heart being mechanically in great condition, no murmurs and all ventricles working properly, it may be that he has a faster heart rate.

This is him hooked up to the heart rate monitor.

Jude's First Bath

Jude got his first bath over the weekend. He didn't scream or cry, he just layed there with this look of why are you doing this to me. Of course, what would be a first bath (or any bath for that matter) without the fountain of pee. I got a picture of it, but didn't feel quite right sharing it. Afterwards I lotioned him all up and he smelled so good. I love the smell of babies right after a bath and lotion. Here's our little man growing and changing so much.

Praise Chuck E Cheese

I never thought I would be singing the praises of Chuck E Cheese, but when it affords you an opportunity to get out of the house you've been stuck in for days because of weather, it is a God send. I just happened to have cut out a coupon for the place a few weeks ago for a just in case, I am so glad I did. The kids had a blast running around and seeing if Daddy and I could keep up. The most dissapointing thing of the whole evening was that the basketball game was broken and not handing out tickets, this is Todd's game to play because he can rack up the tickets for the kids. So, needless to say he was a little sad. Jude was awesome and slept the entire time.

Thank you God for a time away from the house and time together as a family.