Birthday #12! Thank you God!

Twelve years ago today was one of the most joyous days of mine and Mike's married life, but it was also one of the scariest. I gave birth by c-section to our first daughter, Haley. She was full term and gave a good cry when they pulled her from me. But just moments later things became really hectic around her. They discovered something wasn't quite right, but couldn't tell us more than that until "after they ran some tests". Mike held her briefly so I could see her and they whisked her off to the NICU.

And so it began, our scary journey to a child born with a birth defect, and our education on medical terms we never thought we'd have to learn. Here I am holding her for the very first time, just moments before her intubation for her first surgery, she isn't even 24 hours old.

The medical term for her defect was Tracheoesophageal fistula, and we would learn later that she actually had 2. Type A and an H-type. Her esophagus never attached to her stomach and in her throat the esophagus attached to the trachea. She had 2 surgeries by the time she was 3 weeks old and we were finally able to bring her home at 4 weeks.

She required 2 further surgeries when she was 2 and several tests, and doctors appointment to monitor her growth and etc. for the first 5 years of life. We were truly blessed however!! Most babies born with this abnormality typically have heart, kidney or limb anomalies, she had none. She has 3 permanent scars from the surgery as well as a paralyzed vocal chord, none of which have lasting effects.

My Haley is a beautiful 12 year old girl who came into this world having to fight and be strong. I thank God every day for blessing us with her, but especially on this her birthday!! Love you Haley, your strength still inspires me today!

A Very Big Day!

Thank you everyone for all the prayers on a speedy recovery. Started feeling much better Thursday evening! The only thing that is bothering me now is the side effects of the strong antibiotics, but at least the fatigue is over.

I'm especially thankful I was feeling better before Friday. It was Faith's 6th birthday! We had a great day planned for her and I so didn't want to miss out on it.

We all went for breakfast to IHOP. We haven't been to an IHOP in probably 20 years!! It was AWESOME! Mike and Haley both have birthdays in August and it is most likely IHOP will be on the agenda to celebrate.

Then we went to Toys R Us, to do a little shopping for the birthday girl. She got a great play dough set, a piggy bank and a butterfly net.

Because you have to be six to do rock climbing, that was what she wanted to do. She did really well, and enjoyed it very much. If we do another home schooling rock climbing camp this fall it will be great that she can join us.

Then spaghetti for dinner, Faith's favorite, and Haley made her a birthday cake. It was truly a wonderful 6th birthday... for EVERYONE!

Another Day, Another year

In some families birthdays are like national holidays. Everyone gets together to celebrate and gifts are always given. In my family, growing up, birthdays were never something extraordinary, but rather kind of ordinary. Mom would make us a cake, that would be served after dinner, a card, a simple gift given from mom and dad, and the day was over, very simple.

I'm not complaining!! Just making an observation that I've noticed through the years, lots of families go all out on birthdays. Thankfully, Mike's family was much like mine when it came to birthdays. In fact he can recall one year he had to remind his mother it even was his birthday. Yesterday was my birthday, and it passed without any big blow outs. And you know what? That's okay!

21 years ago, on my 21st birthday we buried my father-in-law. Turning 21 is suppose to be a really big event. Mine was, but for all the wrong reasons. I'm thankful however because I will always remember the date of the death of a man that meant a lot to me! I truly believe that because my expectations on birthday celebrations is so low that it made that particular one passing without celebration bearable. Part of God's great plan? Maybe.

This was my first birthday without my own father, having lost him June 28, 2009. This year has been a many of firsts without him, and I did notice my birthday. Couldn't quite put my finger on what had been eating away at me for the entire day, but later it hit me, dad wasn't here to give me the happy birthday phone call.

I prayed to God yesterday that he would embrace dad for me on my birthday, and to be sure he knew how much he is loved, and missed.

Thank you Lord for another day!

For Your 50th Birthday

(Joe or Susan if you have happened to log in to read this post, please turn around and leave, just this once. Don't want to ruin your birthday surprises.)

My brother and his wife both turn 50 next month, and I've knitted them each a little something. Well in advance of their birthday's I might add. This makes me quite proud and I hope they love them.

(that's my son modeling the sweater, he is too funny)

I made Susan another pair of socks, but knit those back in March, and the pictures are no longer on my computer. But, you get the idea.

Oh how good it feels!

My sister Laura got her knitted wrap I made her for her birthday and she was thrilled!! She loved everything about it, and said she intended to get plenty of use out of it.

It makes me feel so good to know she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.

Now....who to make something for? This is fun giving away knitted items to those you love, especially when appreciated.

Now I've Done It!

Laura, don't read this post!

Among knitters we have this term, "Process Knitting". Which essentially means you teach yourself a new technique each time you take on a project. Or try a new style of knitting. It is all process knitting. I've never really been a process knitter myself, but I do sometimes convince myself I'm ready to try something new.

If you know anything about me, it is that I'm not a lacy, frilly kind of gal. I'm more cotton and denim. So, I've never really considered doing a lace knitted project. Although, I must say I do appreciate the work and the look of something that is lace knitted.

When I decided to take on a knitted lace project, I was both nervous and excited. The biggest challenge was that my first lace knitted item was to be a gift. A gift for my sister Laura's 50th birthday. I'm really pleased with the results and am looking forward to doing something like it again.

Here it is:

Guess being an addict can sometimes be a good thing. Tell me what you think.

Just Everyday Stuff

Not much happening around here.

We had to renegotiate the contract on the house because the appraisal came in lower than buying price. Which is good for us. One more hurdle to hop over that is all. Because it is a new construction there are a lot of forms that need to be completed that we have to wait on. But, we still expect to close before the end of October.

As for knitting, I'm still working on Laura's 50th birthday gift. Almost finished there and formulating the next project. Thinking Dad will get something knitted for Christmas.

Today we all go to mass at 1:00, and then we will do some shopping. Haley is in need of warmer clothes. Then off to Liberty University for Jacob's piano lesson.

Time with Mom and Dad

Mom and dad share a birthday of September 13th. Although mom is quick to tell everyone dad is 6 years her elder. Because we won't be with them for their birthday we decided to celebrate it with them on Thursday 8/21.

Because they seemed to have some trouble with their Mapquest directions in finding sister Suzanne in Charleston, SC and then getting to us here in Lynchburg. Mike insisted we get them a Garmin. Dad proudly named her Josephine.

They used her today, 8/23 to get to cousin Larry's house in Ararat Virginia, and there were no wrong turns or arguments. I would say it was money well spent.

On their last day here we went for lunch at the Golden Corral, a favorite of moms. We all left stuffed to the gills. Since we already had everyone in the car we went to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford Virginia. We walked through and around the grounds and learned a little history. After the huge lunch this walk was welcomed. We all got something from the gift shop and headed home. (Sorry to say it was a last minute idea to go so no one knew to have their camera.)

In the evening the kids decided to pull out their kareoke machine and everyone took a turn at the mic.

We had a great 4 days with "Mem and Pep". Looking forward to our next visit.