Saturday, June 28, 2008

Win a Babywearing Dream Stash!

As anyone who has been around me much knows, I enjoy using baby carriers. In fact, I find that they are indispensible. Whether it is trying to make it through the night walking up and down the stairs to get a collicky infant to sleep 0r just trying to get something done using both of your hands, I have found my baby carriers to be things I can't live without.

Well, the cool people over at Along For The Ride have a contest going on until July 31st where you can win a great collection of different types of carriers.

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Once you enter, why not head back to the main site and shop their great selection or check out their information section?!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Update on Lucas

Lucas is doing well and in high spirits. His surgery on Wednesday went well. I'm not sure exactly what they did, but it involved plates, rods, and screws being put either in his back or his left foot. They sat him up in bed today (the first time he has been able to sit up in a week) so I think that made him feel better mentally. They hope to re-introduce solid foods tomorrow. Pray that he doesn't have the same reaction he did last time (he couldn't keep anything down in the beginning). Depending on how the next couple of days go, he may be out of the hospital by mid-week next week and could possibly be home the first week in July. Thank you again for all of your prayers.


Now, for some more recent pics of the kiddos:
Can you believe how big they are both getting! Katherine looks more like a little girl every day and Jack has definitely left the newborn stage behind. I can't take pictures often enough to capture their transitions!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Thank You and an Update

A heartfelt thankyou to everyone who has been thinking of and/or praying for Lucas and the rest of our family! We are overwhelmed with the support.

Update on Lucas: We have more concrete information on his condition (two broken feet and several dislocated vertebrae) and have been told that he will undergo surgery in Barcelona on Monday (or possibly Tuesday). We haven't spoken directly to a doctor yet so have not been able to ask questions regarding extent of the injury to his feet, what procedures will be done during the surgery, or potential recovery time.

We are blessed to have a friend who lives and works in Barcelona. Emil has been able to visit Lucas in the hospital, spoke to the doctors (which netted the additional information since he is fluent in Spanish and not full of pain meds), and provided Lucas with a cell phone to use while he is in the hospital. Emil has been an amazing and invaluable friend!

Thanks to the cell phone we have been able to talk to Lucas at greater length. I don't know whose spirits were lifted more by our ability to just chat with him, ours or his! The family contact has been great for Lucas, he sounds much better after having an opportunity to be in contact with us.

So, we'll just take things one day at a time and provide updates as we are able!

We Need Your Prayers

We found out yesterday afternoon that my brother Lucas was in an accident in Barcelona, Spain. His injuries are not life-threatening, but he is in the hospital in a fair amount of pain and looking at surgeries on his back and at least one foot.

He was not traveling with anyone so is alone in a foreign country whose language he does not speak. Please pray for his physical recovery and that his spirits don't fall too much. We have no idea when or how he will be able to come home so we can use all the prayer we can get!

Thank you and God bless you and yours.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

How sweet it is to be loved by you...

...Katherine. Although I am often frustrated with the developing mind and emotions of a 2 1/2 year old girl, there are times when I have to hold back tears because she is so sweet. I'm not even talking about the random acts of kindness she does for others (like spontaneous sharing - unheard of for her age), the way she squeals and runs toward a friend (or stranger she has decided should be her friend) enveloping them in a bear hug, or the times when she thanks the check-out girl in the grocery store without being prompted.

No, I am talking about the little things she does or says to me, James or Jack that just melt your heart. One example is her new habit of asking how our day is. It could be breakfast time, we haven't even been up 30 minutes and she will look over and ask, "how is your day Mama?" Or we could be getting ready for a nap and she will inquire "how is Jack's day Mama?" She asks James the same question at least once a day. It is heartwarming to have someone so small, who your main job in life is to take care of, have a genuine interest in how you are doing.

She is also so much more observant than I thought. A couple of months ago I got my hair cut. When I got home she looked at me kind of sheepishly and said "I like your hair mommy, it's short." Granted, I cut off ten inches to donate to Locks of Love (I took advantage of how fast your hair grows during pregnancy), but I was still surprised that she not only noticed, but commented and was complimentary!

The same thing happened this morning. I put my short hair into two pigtails so that it would be out of my way because I had to bake six dozen cookies for our La Leche League chapter. I have not been able to pull my hair up much since getting it cut so this was a new "configuration" as Scuttle the seagull on Little Mermaid would say (I know, I just quoted an animated bird). I came downstairs where she and James were eating breakfast and she once again said, "I like your hair mommy." How sweet is that?!

She has also given me rave reviews on something I have cooked or made. "This is really good mommy, it's my favorite, thank you so much" is one such review. Comments like this will hopefully tide me over during the adolescent years when I am sure to hear "yuck" and "I don't like that," etc. I know those days will come, no matter how good an eater she is now. I think my brother Lucas and I were so good at those adolescent comments that my mom gave up cooking in a way she could enjoy. I'm jealous that after I left home she really started to experiment and make great food! Sorry Mom!

Oh well, the cookies are done, Jack is asleep, and Katherine and James are on their way home from swim class - I'll have to blog about that later, she isn't always a fan of the water. I need to package up these cookies and clean the kitchen!