Our family of 5!!

My last post was a quick one as will all my blogs for the next few weeks I am sure, but that is to be expected. We are all doing so well and for all of you who are praying, "Thank you". This transition is definately adventurous, but going incredible. Isaiah is the most sweetest lil boy ever. All he wants is to be cuddled and he can't get close enough to you. If you put him next to you, he will turn his entire body around so that he is completely next to you. He reminds me of Joshua alot, both physically and emotionally. I have some sweet, sweet boys. Joshua and Abigail have not gotten over the newness of having baby brother. They adore him. They can't hold him enough, touch him enough, or give him enough kisses. They are overtaken with him as he is with them. When ever they are in the room, Isaiah is the most calm. He looks for them when he hears their voices and is completely still while they hold him. It is amazing and nothing less to watch God write our family's story.

Daddy has got to spend lots of time with Abigail this week which has been pretty special for them. You will see some cute pics to follow. Joshua is also loving Daddy take him to school and have him pick him up. He walks in with his head just a tad bit taller then usual. Today, Daddy suprised him at school and had lunch with him and went to recess time with him. I am sure his day couldn't get any better. I just wish I could have been there to see his face when he saw his Daddy.

I am good, great actually. There really isn't anything else to say about that. The only words that I can use to describe where I am is these,

"My cup overflowth." Psalm 23:5

Is this not the most precious face EVER!?!

Playing with all three of my kiddos. Joshua and Abigail loved having Isaiah in the floor with us.

Abigail helping Daddy saw some branches outside. I love this picture.

Joshua holding Isaiah before heading to school. He HAS to have his time with Isaiah every morning and he tells him everyday, "Your big brother will be back."

This is what they do when Isaiah is in his swing, they just sit and watch him.

I hadn't heard Abigail in awhile and wondered where she was. This is where I found her.

Yes, I have chewed on his cheeks a lil, but who can blame me?

See, what I mean...

"My cup overflowth."



Introducing Lil Man...

Drum Roll please...

Introducing Lil Man

now aka

Isaiah Michael

Born on 9-21-11

at 10:39pm

6 lbs. 6oz.

19 1/2 inches

and

CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!

Check him out for yourselves!!

(Mommy and Isaiah are doing fantastic!!)

Meeting Big Brother for the 1st time!

Meeting Big Sister for the 1st time!

Proud Daddy and Isaiah Michael

(yes, he does get his good looks from this hubs of mine!)

Momma's boy already!

 Did I mention he was cute?

If you didn't get that he was cute yet, I know you did with this picture. I think this one really captures his personality already. He is a hoot!

Getting ready to take my boy home. The moment I have been waiting on FOREVER!!

Our self portrait.

This one the nurse took for us. We couldn't wait to get home with this boy of ours!

All ready to go home!

Joshua and Abigail were waiting at the door for us to arrive.

I would say she is a happy sister. Do you think he might be a little loved?

And all I can say about this Big brother is that he is so PROUD!

Our first family photo!!

Cracks me up, but it really captures the moment.

And there you have him...

Isaiah Michael, our sweet gift from the Lord!!

The Yielded Life is the Fulfilled Life

I am sitting here and thinking to myself, "Just how much am I giving up because I am not willing to give up something or someone that was really never even mine to begin with?"

God is speaking to me. And I love it when He does.

One of our principals in BSF last week was...
 "The yielded life is the fulfilled life."

Then through a daily prophecy I get every morning, yesterday's prophecy was this...
Move quickly through the responsibilities of this time, for you are transitioning into a new season and a different set of circumstances. Clean up and clear out things that are no longer significant or relevant to your spiritual growth and kingdom position. Deal with distractions that keep you from complete concentration on being yoked with me in kingdom work, says the Lord.

And then today, as I am reading the notes for BSF for this week's lesson...
"As individuals indwelt with the Holy Spirit learn more about Jesus and increasingly yield themselves to Him, they are filled with His person and power."

Also, in the same lesson,
"Each time a person yields his will in obedience to the truth of the Bible he is filled with the Holy Spirit."

I know the Spirit is leading me to give up or yield something in order to be more filled and yoked with Himself. God knows this is my heart's desire, to know Him fully and be filled with His Spirit more and more everyday. Yet, somehow in this season of my life, I am keeping something to myself .

What is it?

God show me.

Reveal to me whatever distraction is keeping me from receiving more of You.

Give me the courage and boldness to release it to You as You do.

Help me to not to grieve You nor the Holy Spirit by keeping something or someone in my life this is hindering You from filling me more.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much that you would use so many different avenues to speak to me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

38 Weeks and Still Counting

Wow, I am officially writing that I am 38 weeks today. Brent and I are excited that Lil Man is growing and getting bigger and bigger everyday, but can I just say... we are so passed that now. We are just so ready to meet this promise that I can not take it anymore!!! I want him here!!!!

No, I can wait.

But, I have definately thought through the whole starting labor naturally and what all that means. I have really thought hard about it too. My mind keeps wondering how in the heck can I break my own water. You may be laughing, but I know this would definately mean meeting Lil Man and if there was a way I could do it, I probably would or at least I would seriously consider it. You see I am tired of going to the hospital and leaving without a baby. I am going to 3, yes 3, Dr appts weekly. 2 of those 3 are at Deaconess  and that is a good 30 mins from my house. I am exhausted. Last week, just did me in. I had my regular OB appt on Fri of all days. That would be the 16th and that would be the one yr anniversary of losing our sweet angel just last year. It was SO HARD to even go back to the Dr that day, but I did. I get there and she immediately sends me to the hospital and in so many words tells me that we would probably be having our Lil Man that day. Okay, that one I had to swallow. But, as I left and drove Abigail to her Grammy's house and met up with Brent so we could go have our Lil Man, I thought, "WOW, God you really are in the details. You give and you take away and I may not understand it and this is not exactly how I would do it, but I really can see how sweet you are being to me today. Thank you Lord!" And so, I accepted it. I knew that two of my babies already share the same birthday and that two of my other babies would share really sweet days together too. One, their Happy Heaven Day and the other, their Happy Birthday. It was alot, I won't lie, but God was sweet to me and His grace always sees me through.

So, Brent and I go all the way to the hospital. I get hooked up to all the monitors and a few hours later, they come in and say they are sending me home. My blood pressures (the reason I was sent in the 1st place) were down and the Dr wasn't going to deliver me. WHAT???

So, I lost it... And in more ways then one. Thankfully, my sweet husband was there and he got me through it. But really, could the day be anymore difficult.

So, we left and we can home and thus I am writing you now and I am still pregnant. Good thing I know, but not necessarily easy.

And with that update, I am signing off for now. I have my BSF study to get to and I have a scoop of peanut butter dipped in chocolate chips calling my name from the kitchen.

Happy Heaven Day!!

My sweet peanut angel,

It has been one yr. this week (September 16th), that I walked into the Dr's office, excited to hear your little heartbeat again. I remember that morning posting on facebook that there was nothing like the sound of a baby's heartbeat and the joy that it gives to his/her Mommy. Little did I know, I would never hear yours again. As the nurse and Dr both tried to find your heartbeat, I remember feeling very uneasy, yet I had no idea what was in store. Mommy's doctor took me to the next room, so we could see your heartbeat instead. I was only 15/16 weeks so that was probably why we couldn't hear it with the fetal heart monitor, she said. So, I went.  I laid there as the doctor took the machine and touched my belly.  I immediately saw you. You were right there and you were laying so peacefully. I thought to myself, "Wow, he seems so at peace. I've never seen a baby look so peaceful." And then, I heard,

"I am so sorry, Kari. This is not good."

Those were the words I heard as I laid there thinking next, "He is just so still, why is he so still." And somehow, it all came together. My thoughts and the doctors words collided and I knew, you, my sweet baby, were with Jesus at that very moment. I knew I would never see you or hold you. I would never hear your cries or laughs. Your Daddy, your big brother, or your big sister would never meet you. There was so much pain and so much loss at that very moment, but at the same time, there was peace. I can't expain it and at the time, I sure didn't accept it, but it was there. I saw it and felt it in the deepest parts of my heart the moment I first saw you as the Dr started the ultrasound.

I was angry, and still am at times to be completely honest. I miss you. I never could imagine the pain I would feel over losing a child. And that you are, my angel, you are my child. You are Daddy's child. My love for you is no different then exactly that. I long to see you when I get to have my heaven day. I know you will be there, waiting to show me everything you are experiencing right now. I long to bend down and pick you up in my arms and give you all the kisses and hugs that I haven't gotten to. I long to smell your smell and hold your lil fingers in mine. For Mommy, I feel the loss of you, I know it and I live it daily. But, my comfort is in knowing you don't feel that. You don't know pain or sorrow. All you know and have is love. I know the love that you have with our heavenly Father is so much more then I could imagine and in that truth, I have peace.

Over the past year and in the midst of alot of pain, Mommy thought at times that I wouldn't be able to take my next breath. The pain was and is still at times, almost more then I can bear. But, the same Father that is holding you is holding Mommy too. He is a big God and although I may not understand His ways, I know I trust Him. I have over time began to accept the peace that God has been giving me from the very beginning and breathing is a little easier. I know that God's plan for you is something I will never fully understand. But, I can rest in also knowing that His plans never fail. Your life counts, my peanut angel. God's plan for your life is beautiful. I am honored to be your Mommy and I want you to know that. I am honored to have gotten to hold you within me and know you in a way that no one else will ever know. You are my child. You are not forgotten. You are apart of me and my heart forever. I love you so much, Peanut.

"Happy Heaven Day!!!
(the day, your story and purpose began...)

Just a few pics I have to share...

I just downloaded all the pics off of our camera and there were a few I just had to share with everyone.

Here is Abigail's self portrait. I was and am pretty impressed with her artistic abilities at such a young age, but they don't suprise me. She has quite a few artistic family members from both sides and I think she is coming by it naturally.

Daddy took these next two himself. I love them. He has his nightly ritual he does with both of our kids and goes in to make sure they are tucked in real good before he heads to bed himself. He does this everynight without fail and I guess he couldn't help but take their pictures this night.

Here is "My Man" and "Big Man" getting ready to head for church last Sunday. They are to handsome for words!!

I can't wait to post one with "Lil Man" too.

Here is Lil Miss Abigail getting ready to go to church too. She just had to have EVERY necklace she owned on.



I LOVE MY FAMILY!!

Happy Labor Day!

The past 3 days have been amazing. Brent, the kiddos, and I have spent some incredible family time together. The weather is awesome and we are soaking it in. I told Brent today that it truly felt like medicine to my body. My body hurts, I won't lie. I can tell my hips are spreading and Lil Man is dropping, but today while being out, I wasn't able to pay any attention to the pain. All I could do was breathe. It has been so extremely hot here for so long that breathing hasn't been so easy. So that is what I did. I took this fresh air and received it as God's grace over me and my family. It is 4:15pm now and we have been out since 9am. We let our kids skip their naps and we all just soaked this special time together up. What a huge blessing it is to have this before Lil Man comes. I am very thankful for this holiday. It couldn't have come at a better time.

And now
a
drum roll...

Today... I hit 36 weeks.

WOW! and WOW!

It feels great. I love knowing my Lil Man is getting bigger and bigger and what a huge relief it is for this Mommy's heart.  Here is a picture of me and all 3 of my kiddos. Lil Man's big brother and sister are ready and waiting for his arrival. Abigail will just throw herself on my belly and say, "Oh, baby brother, you are never going to come." This Lil Man has so much love waiting on him.

35 weeks and 4 days (oh yes, you read that right)

Can I get an AMEN!!

I am so super, duper, excited today.

Can you tell?

I mean, I did just write super, duper.

Yes, I am officially 35 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Folks, I have NEVER been pregnant this long. (Joshua came at 34 weeks and 6 days and Abigail came at 35 weeks and 3 days). This is an answer to so many prayers. Thank you to everyone who is praying for me and Lil Man. A week and a half ago, I didn't know if I was going to get to write this post, but here I am writing it and I have my Lil Man going crazy inside my big belly getting bigger and stronger everyday.

The medicine the Dr gave me for my blood pressure is working and has made a huge difference in everyway. I feel so much better. Yes, I am getting bigger and I am very tired, but WHO CARES? I don't. That just means I am in the last month of my pregnancy and I will be holding my baby boy and giving him so many kisses that he won't know what to do with them all. My jaw is clinching just thinking of what a cute lil face he is going to have and the lil button nose. I  can't wait to meet him.

And then I get to introduce him to you.

I can't wait.

So stayed tuned.