Get in the Picture

I am sure by now many have read this article.  I loved it when I read it, and realized I do try to get pictures of me but it is almost always a posed shot.  So I had Stephen snap of few of Sarah and me.  I had had very little sleep and no make up on, but I really want to photograph more real life shots of our interactions.  I know that the time will soon come that she will be grown, and I don't want to forget this stage right now.

A Visit from Aunt Liz

Stephen's sister Liz came for a visit.  We had a great time with her here.  She brought everyone a perfect present (really the gifts were so personalized for each person ~she is a very thoughtful gift giver). Sarah received a beautiful name picture that Liz made her using a quilling technique; Jacob received a light-up matchbox car; Emma received sparkle nail polish; Benjamin received a Ninjago lego pen; Stephen received special Asian spice seasonings; and I received a purse holder that hangs on a table so that you don't have to put your on the floor.

Some other highlights of the trip were Liz making Benjamin's birthday cake for his friend party this year.  Here is a picture of the process.

We also had some great food to eat.  Liz and Stephen went to our favorite restaurant one day, then we got Sushi take-out, made a delicious Asian pork recipe that Liz had made before, and fried (outside on the camp stove because I hate how fried smells last for a long time inside) homemade onion rings with slider hamburgers.  Liz always has yummy recipes for us to try!

Thanks for the great visit.  The kids have been talking about things they want to show Liz every since she left!

Benjamin's 8th Birthday Party

We don't usually do birthday parties with friends.  Usually we just do a family event with sometimes a special family invited over for dinner.  We did promise Benjamin a big friend party for his 8th birthday, and he choose the local jump place.  Everything turned out great (with Liz's help on the cake and lunch preparations).  Benjamin invited all the boys from church around his age and one friend from his class last year.  I didn't as many pictures as I would have liked because I was too busy chasing little Jacob around which makes me a bit bummed, but we will always have the memories!  Happy 8th Birthday Benjamin!

the box lunches which were so great to not be handing out food

Liz brought awesome birthday candles there were 8 that spelled Benjamin!

2 Month Comparison

 Emma at 2 months

Sarah Jane at 2 months

House of Many Colors

 I bought this cardboard house that was going to be a Christmas present, but the little kiddos found it so I just kept it out.  They have been begging me to get it out and color it.  So we pulled it out and all colored a bit before bed tonight.  Stephen had Sarah, and it felt so good for me to do an activity with my oldest three.  The best part was that everyone was happy participating, sharing, and creating.  That to me is a miracle because it is hard to find something that an 8, almost 4, and 2 year old can all do together.  Hooray for the cardboard house!

Tender Mercy

I haven't gone into much detail, but Sarah is having more problems.  We did see some improvement on the hypoallergenic formula but there was no improvement with the refluxing.  The pediatrician had her on two different antacids to try and make some difference.  Meanwhile this last week has been terrible.  Poor little girl has been crying, fussing, spitting up, and NOT sleeping.  We have had a rocky road, and it has been very difficult.  I walked into church on Sunday with a crying baby and ushered the older three in to the pew to sit with our adopted ward Grandma and then left to feed and rock Sarah in the mother's lounge.

As I sat in that cold room, I was feeling sorry for myself.  Why me?  Why another fussy baby?  Why do I have to miss the sacrament yet again?  After the feeding another mother came in to nurse her baby who looked about the same age as Sarah.  My eyes welled with tears as I watched her hungry baby latch on to nurse.  I started to feel even sorrier for myself.  Why couldn't I breastfeed my little girl?

The other sister started up a conversation with me.  Our little ones were just two days apart.  She asked me if I was getting any sleep, and I just told her that we weren't getting much because of the some possible allergies and reflux issues.  She then pointed to her little one and said "we are three for three with allergies."  It was amazing how similar our stories were.  All three of hers have had similar problems to Jacob and Sarah.  We compared notes on medicine, doctors, and just overall compassion because we knew what each other was going through.

I left the mother's room with a warm heart.  My sorrowful feelings were gone and replaced with a knowledge that Heavenly Father knows me.  He knows my heart.  He knows my imperfect feelings.  He knows me.  How grateful I am for His love and blessing me with a beautiful tender mercy.

Happy 8th Birthday Benjamin!

Benjamin had a great birthday celebration that lasted all weekend long.  He brought a donut cake to his class for a birthday treat on Friday.  

Then on Saturday we had Benjamin's favorite dinner of Japanese take out (no pictures).  

Sunday morning he opened presents bright and early before Dad headed off to meetings.  Benjamin got a new set of scriptures, cub scout supplies, and a new suit and white shirt for his baptism.   

 Then we had cake (my horrible attempt and making a lego brick).  Aunt Liz is flying in to make the "real" cake for his friend birthday party on Saturday so I don't feel bad about him getting my lame-o cake on his real birthday.  

 Happy 8th Birthday Bud!  We love you and can't wait for your baptism!

Family Update

Thanks to the friends that have called, texted, and emailed.  Things are looking up now.  There were some very hard things (like for me giving up breastfeeding Sarah to keep her on the hypoallergenic formula which was extremely difficult and deserves a post of its own), but we made it through and things seem to all be doing better.  Sarah got on some stronger acid reflux medicine and her long bouts of crying have been significantly less since starting the medicine and being only on the formula.  We still do have some episodes like last night for about 4 hours but those seem to be fewer and further apart.  Our week has been busy but more than ever I am very grateful for the power of prayer.  It truly is sustaining, peace giving, and empowering.  I feel very indebted to a loving Heavenly Father who blesses me when I need it the most!