The Meaning of Love

As most of you know, Annie is in the third grade at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park. All of the education there is infused with teaching the students to care for , respect and preserve our environment. It is located in regent square and Frick Park is their outdoor classroom. Right now it is only grades K-3 and it will add a grade each year until it is K-8. All of the classes go outdoors many times throughout the week for Environmental Science. They walk through the park and observe it's ecosystem and how the living and non-living things interact.

One day in December Annie's class was out on a hike and they came upon a homeless man laying on the ground. Anyone who knows Annie knows she is quite a sensitive little girl who loves people. When Alex was working in Oakland we would often meet him for lunch or dinner. If we ran into homeless people we would give them our leftovers or gift certificates for food...so Annie was familiar with the issue of homelessness and sensitive to it. But out on a hike with 20 third graders - it isn't smart to approach a stranger so the teacher wisely moved the class along. Annie came home that day absolutely broken hearted. She was just despairing over this man and that she hadn't been able to talk to him or help in some way. She just kept saying "mommy he must be so cold".

I started telling her about homeless shelters and the good work people in Pittsburgh are doing with the homeless. I told her to think and pray about what she could do to help. A few weeks later she came up with the idea of holding a blanket drive at her school to benefit the homeless. So with the full blessing of the principal at school Annie got up in front of the whole school and explained her idea. Since it was in February she called it the Have A Heart Blanket Drive. In just 10 days her classmates donated close to 50 blankets! On Valentine's day our family went down to Family Links' homeless shelter for youth in the lower Hill District and gave them the blankets.

It was amazing and Annie is already talking about expanding the drive next year to involve more schools. She is hoping to be able to donate more than 200 blankets next year. I'm attaching some pictures of Annie donating the blankets. Isn't she just amazing!

Sledding!

School Days, School Days...

Well it's over, the first day of school that is. The girls had a great time. We got off to a rocky start when their bus didn't show up. Alex and I had planned on follwing the bus anyway and attending the morning meeting (they meet each morning as a whole school). So we hopped in the car and drove to school. We made it in time and both girls were greeted with big hugs from their teachers. (we had gone to meet the teachers on Monday so they weren't strangers)

We sat through the meeting and then they were off to their classrooms. They were excited and smiling - it felt great. I shed many tears in the car on the way home - even though I am confident this is the BEST thing for our family, I will miss those two. The house was quiet today...Jack and I played many rounds of Bingo and Go Fish. We all have to get used to this new paradigm and it will take some adjusting, but it feels so right and that gives me great peace in my heart.

Here is a picture of my gorgeous schoolgirls...

Well...DUH!

Researchers have published findings this month that say when a woman sees her own baby smile it stimulates areas in her brain that trigger feelings of happiness.

What a shocking revelation!!! Read the whole article here.

Stop The Madness

If you have daughters please read the following article before allowing them to receive the Gardasil vaccine. It hasn't been proven safe and real young women are dying after getting the vaccination.

Click here for the article

Click here to read a blog about a young girl who has been irreversibly harmed after receiving the vaccination.

The information on the commercials regarding this vaccine are misleading. If you aren't convinced by these articles then do your own research. See how fast this vaccination was pushed through the channels...see how little research was done in comparison with other vaccines...and see how the drug companies pockets are being FILLED with three shots in the series at close to 300 bucks a pop.

Allow your daughter to be ONE LESS getting this vaccination.

Of Smiles and Coos

I have to admit that I am unashamedly soaking up every single minute of Wyatt's life. I am cuddling him, holding him LOTS, responding to every little noise he makes and loving on him at every turn. I'm sure I don't love him more than my other kids but I am enjoying this stage of his life more than I did with the first three. Why? Because, like others, with my first I was a touch neurotic...and then the other two came in such close succession that I never really got to enjoy the newborn and infant stage all that much. I was so busy caring for other babies and toddlers that I was too crazed to appreciate it all.

But now??? I am giddy with each and every smile. My heart leaps at the sound of even the smallest coo. I am so grateful for this chance to experience a baby without the anxieties of the first child or the busyness of having children close together. Annie, Lucy and Jack are all fairly independent and they are so awesome to indulge their crazy mama while she stares at and holds onto the littlest one among us. They love him too, they sing to him so he'll smile, they kiss his toes and his head, and they want him to do everything with them. "Mama just put Wyatt on the bed while we jump, he'll have fun!"

I'm just amazed once again at how God has expanded my heart to accommodate the vastness of love I have for Wyatt. It's always hard to imagine how much your heart can hold...I'm so glad God had the confidence that I could love Wyatt well. I cannot imagine my life or our family without him.

Life with Wyatt

I cannot believe my last post was 9 days ago! Time is going by so fast right now. usually when I bring babies home the first few weeks seem to last years but this time is totally different. Time is racing by and I can't even tell you where the days have gone.

Wyatt is settling in to life around here. Some of the amazement is wearing off for the older three kids - and it seems as if Jack is experiencing twinges of jealousy here and there. I understand that because he had been the "baby" for 4 years before this little interloper came along and usurped his role. So we hear a lot of "don't nurse Wyatt!" and "mommy will you sit next to me?".

I'm loving breastfeeding again - it isn't without its stessors and moments of feeling so tired that I'm ready to give up - but all in all it is going well. Wyatt is gaining weight the doctor said he looks great. Unless I have some major concerns I don't have to go back until his one month appointment - which is unbelievable only 12 days from now.

We have a new nephew - John was born to Jay and Linda on April 12. My sister in law is a total beast - as she pushed out (in right about 10 minutes) a 10 pound 6 ounce baby! YEOW! John had his own stay in the NICU but is home now and doing really well. Thanks be to God! My mom has been out in New Jersey all week getting to know her newest grandson...and believe you me her 4 grandchildren here have felt her absence...not to mention their mother!

Well my little alarm clock is squeaking - must be time to open the dairy queen again or as Alex says "time for milking". Just laugh along with me!

So Yummy!!!

My dear friend Sarah is starting a photography business and took some pictures of Wyatt yesterday. Here is one that I love love love. If any of you in the Pittsburgh area want to contact Sarah about pictures just let me know...I will happily put you in touch. Thanks Sarah!

Welcoming Wyatt

One week ago today on April 1, 2008, our son, Wyatt Gregory was born. He entered the world at 9:05 pm weighing 8 pounds and 8 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches. His debut was not an easy one...I labored for close to 19 hours and pushed for 2.5 hours. He came out "sunny side up" which made for a interesting time...but he is here now and we are deeply in love.

We came home on April 3rd and then, sadly, Wyatt was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on April 5th with high bilirubin counts. He was there for 48 hours and came home yesterday. He is still on a bili blanket to continue his healing but hopefully that will be gone by this afternoon or tomorrow and then we will get to the real business of settling in and finding our new normal as a family.

Annie, Lucy and Jack are all doing wonderfully with the baby. They love him so much they sometimes don't know what to do with themselves. When you have older kids bringing home a baby is a very different experience...it is the family's baby and I have to get used to that.

I'm experiencing all of the hormone changes and new mom exhaustion that are par for this stage of the game but I feel so grateful to be home and so happy to have my son in my arms...that most of the other stuff seems inconsequential.

I will be posting pictures soon...they are all on Alex's laptop right now. Thanks for your prayers and love and please continue them as we welcome baby Wyatt.

Is that the END of the Tunnel???

There has been sickness in da house. Icky, exhausting and annoying sickness. First Jack got it, then I got it, then Alex got it. Annie came down with something entirely different. Lucy has remained unscathed...and I'm nervous even writing this post because for sure she will get sick tonight.

And that is another thing, why do kids always get sick at night...right when you need to rest most. I mean how are parents ever supposed to get better when they can never sleep?

Drugs are good...at least the prescription kind. My OB put me on one and Annie is on one. Annie's transformation in the first 24 hours of hers was incredible. We must have caught her strep really quickly becasue she has bounced back like a super ball on speed. Mine has definitely helped - I can sleep lying down again - rather than upright in a chair so I don't cough ALL night long. And let's just say that a intense cough and being 31 weeks pregnant with a baby right on your bladder don't mix all that well...shudder.

So it hasn't been fun...not one bit. But yesterday I was reminded of something great while Annie and I sat in the doctor's office. Until yesterday, Annie hadn't been for a sick visit in more than 18 months. She has had colds here and there and the occasional stomach thing but nothing that warranted a doctor visit in that long. For Lucy it has been 14 months and counting, the last time she even darkened the door of the office was for her well check last March. Jack had a rough year in 2007 being hospitalized twice for stomach flus...but even with that he hasn't been to the office since April of last year. (we never made it to the office in Sept we went right to the ER)

All this to say that even though everyone being sick at the same time really sucks...we have been blessed with health recently. And last week was an okay week for us to have to slow down and focus on wellness. To drink lots of yummy warm beverages and eat healthy and hearty meals. To rest when our bodies said rest and have an opportunity to care for one another in ways we don't always do when we are well. It felt nice to be taken care of...to have the kids bring me ice water and fresh navel oranges. I was touched by how they all asked me several times a day how I was feeling. They all seemed to understand in a different way what it meant for mommy to be sick.

Alex was a beast when it came to laundry and cooking. He ran this ship very efficiently - put me to shame really. It's so funny how spouses do things so differently. His strengths really do compliment my weaknesses and vice versa. It's great to be reminded of how God designs it all.

I think we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Alex is gone this weekend at a retreat...please send all of the good vibes our way for a healthy and fun weekend sans daddy.

Celebrating Zachary and Ethan

On January 6th of last year my dear friend Sarah gave birth to twin boys, Zachary and Ethan. They were born at 28 weeks gestation (normal is 40 weeks) due to the fact that the bag of waters around Ethan had been leaking for 10 weeks. Sarah endured a lot in those 10 weeks including bed rest and a 4 week hospitalization. Both boys were very small when they were born and rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where they were attended to by their mom and dad as well as some of the most gifted doctors and nurses in the city.

Sadly, the struggle for life was just too much for little Ethan and he passed a way on January 7, 2007...one year ago.

Zachary has thrived - he is a normally developing one year old who has the most amazing eyes you've ever seen. His mom calls him a superstar and that title is so very accurate for this little man. He is a wonderful child. Yesterday we joined in the celebration of Zachary's first year. Their house was filled with people who love Zack and were eager to party in honor of his birthday.

Then today, with a smaller group we joined in on the celebration of Ethan. We went to a local park and after Sarah and her mom read a Jewish prayer of mourning in Hebrew balloons were released. Even the weather was perfect...it was warm and cloudy with some peeks of blue in the sky. It seemed to be saying that it understood what was going on. Zack held onto the balloons with his mom and dad and when they said so he let go and then we all watched as they soared into the heavens...a birthday present for an angel baby who was with us for far too short a time.

Happy Birthday to the little superstar, Zack and also to his angel brother, Ethan.

Even Steven

Well today was the big ultrasound! First and foremost, the baby looks wonderful...healthy and gorgeous! We thank God for that above all else.

And from the looks of things, it appears that we are having another boy!!! So we are going to have 3 males and 3 females in the house - making everything even!

We are going to try and scan in some ultrasound pictures and if we are sucessful I will post some here.

Thanks for all of your prayers and good wishes!

Baby Update

I went to the Doctor this morning for my monthly check up. Everything looks great and I hear the heartbeat! I had seen it on the ultrasound a month ago but hearing it is so reassuring and wonderful. I just love that sound - like a washing machine whooshing away - and it is such a beautiful reminder of the REAL life that is within me.

The positioning of the baby this morning leaves no doubt in my mind that what I'm feeling every now and then is the little one kicking me. I can't wait until the kids can feel it. I scheduled my ultrasound for December 3 so in three weeks we will (hopefully) know what flavor is in there and the the name game can begin in earnest. Right now it's pure speculation so we aren't getting too attached to any names.

*Big Happy Sigh*

We're Famous!

Here is a link to a video to a local newscast about lead levels in toys that all three kids and I are in. You just see Jack briefly in the beginning but he is there! The girls actually speak and I have a short sound byte at the beginning. Pretty exciting. Just click on the picture and the video will start!

Oh and if you'll notice I already missed a day of blogging yesterday...ah well, I'll keep trying!

Happy Birthday to my Firstborn

Here is Annie, 7 years old today, with her present. Yes, a kitten. (Don't think I'm too crazy, the dog is gone...something else to blog about one of these days) So this is Annabelle (named by Annie), she is two and a half months old and just the tiniest and sweetest little thing in the world. She is bonding to Annie...and she slept curled up by her head all last night...it really was too cute.

7 years old?!?! It seems, at the same time, impossible that she has been here that long and that she hasn't been my life forever and ever. She is growing and changing so fast these days. She is into High School Musical (1 & 2), Hannah Montana (concert tickets story coming soon), and everything girly! This Saturday her party is being held a local Tea Room where they have Princess Tea Parties for little girls. So I will be there with 10 little girls dressing up and painting their nails with glitter nail polish...even Daddy and Jack aren't invited. I'll be sure to post some pictures from that adventure!

Happy Birthday Annie - I love you more than my heart can fathom.

I'm Still Here

I know it's been a long time...but between homeschooling both girls and caring for all three kidlets...in addition to trying not to throw up every minute of the day I have been pretty tied up. Things are going well on all fronts...and I'm hoping the morning sickness ( all day sickness is more like it...must have been a man that named it morning sickness :) )will subside soon as I'm nearing the end of the first trimester.

Anyway I received this video in an email and I got a chuckle out of it...I know lots of it will sound familiar to many of you...either you've said it or heard it. Enjoy.

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Alex and Beth version 4.0

We are thrilled to share with you that we are expecting another addition to our family in mid April. We have known for a few weeks but have been enjoying keeping the secret a little longer than we normally would. But now the kids now so it's out of the bag. We have gotten over the initial shock - and yes it was a shock - and now we are over the moon with happiness. So far things are going really well but we covet your prayers for this littlest one among us and for the rest of us as we prepare for this amazing blessing. Another little baby...*big happy sigh*. Here is a little glimpse into what is happening with our tiny wonder...

How your baby's growing:
Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), which will disappear in the next few weeks. But that's the only thing getting smaller. Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — he has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his over sized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers, which already have some color, and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin and his veins are clearly visible.

Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your baby is like a little jumping bean, moving in fits and starts around his watery home.

Magnificent Mama Moments

Ahhhhhhhh...I love days like today. Days where things come together in ways I could never predict. Serendipitous moments that overflow with joy and make me feel as if contentment is oozing from my pores. Yummy days that I want to savor for a long time but, like every other day, they slip away into the darkness of night bringing the uncertainty of tomorrow.

But for right now I'm basking in the glow from this glorious day, smiling a peaceful smile and sighing the good kind of sigh. Maybe the 2 things that happened today will seem insignificant to you, o reader of my blog...but to me they are what life is all about these days. Allow me to share...

Both things happened at the pool. All summer I have been gently encouraging Annie to take her deep water test, which consists of swimming the length of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds. I knew she could do it - but that's not what's important in this scenario...she had to know it for herself. Once she passes the deep water test she can swim anywhere in the pool on her own and go off of the diving board. I can remember going off of the diving board in my youth...over and over again and every single time screaming "mom, watch me!"...I knew Annie would love it. So when we arrived at the pool tonight at half past six and we were pretty much the only ones there Annie said..."hey this might be a good night for me to take my deep water test"...I can only hope my mouth wasn't hanging open too long!

So off she went down the pool, 25 meters in all. She rocked it out! She even had to contend with the massive vacuum cleaner they were using at the time and it didn't really phase her one bit. She rested for a moment and then hopped in the deep end for her treading water. Piece of cake I'll tell you! I was bursting with pride...I felt like she had just won the gold medal of life! She faced her fear and slaughtered that beast. She went off of the diving board for the rest of the time we were at the pool...we may never see her in the shallow end again!

A while later, Lucy and I were goofing around in the shallow end and that is when the next moment happened. Lucy swam over to me and threw her arms around my neck...for some reason I didn't say "don't hang on me" which is a mantra of mine at the pool. I'm glad I didn't. Lucy leaned around and said to me "the meaning of love". I said "what is the meaning of love baby girl?" She said " you are the meaning of love mama"...my heart melted into a puddle right then and there. I have never heard such words of sweetness in my life.

What she couldn't possibly know is that she is the meaning of love. Lucy and her brother and sister are the meaning of the love that God has given Alex and I. They are the contents of the most beautiful gift ever created...a gift I couldn't have dreamed up in a lifetime spent dreaming.

Some days are like masterpieces and today was one of those.

Houston, We Have Lost A Tooth!!!

At 8:35 this evening, when all should have been quiet on Maple Avenue, I heard two sets of feet come bounding down the steps. All of a sudden Annie thrusts a sock with a few drops of blood on it in my face with a look on her face that is a mixture of sheer excitement and terror. Seeing as the sock is white, it took me moment to catch on...okay maybe it took her yelling "I LOST MY TOOTH!!!" (are you asking yet what the sock had to do with it??? Apparently it was the first thing she found after she "helped" the tooth out...it really was barely hanging on...I've been amazed by her patience.)

The next moments seemed to move in slow motion...I grabbed the tooth, looked in her mouth to make sure all was well and then I hugged her tightly. My baby, my firstborn had lost her first tooth...this means she will be getting her adult teeth soon and that word...adult...shouldn't be used in relation to her in any way yet. She is my baby! A bittersweet moment for sure.

So we had the ceremonial swishing of salt water around the mouth to rid it of anything evil and potentially harmful. Does that even work? I don't know but the first thing my mom asked when Annie called to tell her the big news was "did you rinse your mouth out with salt water?"...so I come by it naturally. And then we got the camera out. Alex seemed to think this could maybe wait until morning...oh no I corrected him...this was a kodak moment if there ever had been one...find that darn camera! Here are some pics from just a little while ago. First is a close-up of the space formerly occupied by the tooth. Next is Annie trying to show the new hole in her smile holding the tooth fairy pillow with the tooth inside. And finally a close up of the tooth fairy pillow I blogged about a few weeks ago that I made out of an old maternity dress.




Another threshold crossed in the land of motherhood. I never though I would be so excited about my daughter losing something. It's a rite of passage for sure and I can't wait to creep into her room and replace the tooth with a letter of congratulations from the tooth fairy (only for the first tooth) and $1 (also only for the first tooth). From here on out it's 25 cents and a wink as I leave the room!

I just saw this quote posted by (one of my favorite commenters) Sursumcorda on her daughters blog and I had to come right here and post it because it fits so well with my last post on children. It is from Don Aslett's book, How To Handle 1000 Things At Once.

Managing the "little monsters"
Right there is the first mistake we make dealing with kids in our efforts to "fit family into the action." They aren't monsters, and they are the action. Kids are the biggest and best part of the thousands of things we are handling in life, not one more obstacle or appendage to what we are doing. You don't manage kids, they are too smart and move too fast for any of us. You don't train kids, either — you train animals. Our only choice (right and rewarding choice, that is) is to lead and allow children.... You don't make room for kids, they take it. You add them into, not onto your life. Kids don't respond to what is said, only to what they see you do. So lead them in the course you expect of them, be what you want them to be and be it with them. Don't day care them, day share them.... Being bored, mischievous, or underfoot isn't a child's weakness, it's the parents'. Kids tend themselves once they are fueled with direction and example.

This hits the nail on the head. I need to get this book!!!