tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74933235229873295322024-03-14T00:53:33.833-04:00My Little Black SweatsMy wonderfully [not so] glamorous
life as a stay-at-home
momRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-68712033177583921882013-10-22T21:37:00.000-04:002013-10-22T21:57:44.705-04:00A few family photosI always love getting family pictures taken in the fall with all of the beautiful colors. My wonderful sister-in-law offered (again) to snap some pictures of us with her fancy camera. And I am so thankful we didn't have to hand over a big fat check to a professional this year because it was pretty much chaos and pit stains from the word go. It is hard work to capture our 3 lovely children sitting poetically still with actual (not CHEESE) smiles, looking remotely in the same direction at the same time. But Rebecca was patient with us and managed to grab a few precious moments in time at this busy phase of our lives. Thank you, my friend, we don't deserve you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4v0INNXmkeE/Umcnwep0P5I/AAAAAAAABMg/JSgfk1gVuRA/s1600/IMG_4624-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4v0INNXmkeE/Umcnwep0P5I/AAAAAAAABMg/JSgfk1gVuRA/s400/IMG_4624-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6EoEqiPdMU/UmcjIZZg6MI/AAAAAAAABKY/Zy_kFPZ3VRI/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6EoEqiPdMU/UmcjIZZg6MI/AAAAAAAABKY/Zy_kFPZ3VRI/s400/IMG_4403.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYpnU9PiChk/UmcjcPrVeNI/AAAAAAAABKo/A6eHPI1JSlw/s1600/IMG_4425-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYpnU9PiChk/UmcjcPrVeNI/AAAAAAAABKo/A6eHPI1JSlw/s400/IMG_4425-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-4dlVxgECA/UmcjV_uOeXI/AAAAAAAABKg/Pc1oWGXpgeo/s1600/IMG_4460-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-4dlVxgECA/UmcjV_uOeXI/AAAAAAAABKg/Pc1oWGXpgeo/s400/IMG_4460-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvg8CAr4jI/UmcjkFrdnYI/AAAAAAAABKw/_R2D9suZvfo/s1600/IMG_4464-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvg8CAr4jI/UmcjkFrdnYI/AAAAAAAABKw/_R2D9suZvfo/s400/IMG_4464-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVnh-zSil4/Umcj46sBV7I/AAAAAAAABK4/XaWe0ggCsBs/s1600/IMG_4495-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVnh-zSil4/Umcj46sBV7I/AAAAAAAABK4/XaWe0ggCsBs/s400/IMG_4495-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgdo7-YCR8Q/Umcj4-3ir2I/AAAAAAAABK8/KGQc_08C1-0/s1600/IMG_4516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgdo7-YCR8Q/Umcj4-3ir2I/AAAAAAAABK8/KGQc_08C1-0/s400/IMG_4516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpavI18T3IM/UmckF3GtFVI/AAAAAAAABLI/t8Xr0uavsQc/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpavI18T3IM/UmckF3GtFVI/AAAAAAAABLI/t8Xr0uavsQc/s400/IMG_4532.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYnkWaSofOM/UmclNBzRQtI/AAAAAAAABLY/FPNiK6Dxq8M/s1600/IMG_4545-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYnkWaSofOM/UmclNBzRQtI/AAAAAAAABLY/FPNiK6Dxq8M/s400/IMG_4545-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okQB-ABFdsc/UmcsoYizAqI/AAAAAAAABMw/4OXMRpy1-1c/s1600/IMG_4604-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okQB-ABFdsc/UmcsoYizAqI/AAAAAAAABMw/4OXMRpy1-1c/s400/IMG_4604-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq0t-Evf4oQ/UmclXEJRRhI/AAAAAAAABLg/IZFHhqcGikc/s1600/IMG_4567-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq0t-Evf4oQ/UmclXEJRRhI/AAAAAAAABLg/IZFHhqcGikc/s400/IMG_4567-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyWeWMx7N9o/UmclkHCx6DI/AAAAAAAABLo/XcG3SrNgwJs/s1600/IMG_4574-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyWeWMx7N9o/UmclkHCx6DI/AAAAAAAABLo/XcG3SrNgwJs/s400/IMG_4574-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3INk81EVRQ/Umclla3-ThI/AAAAAAAABLw/yNfrV1A65BM/s1600/IMG_4621-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3INk81EVRQ/Umclla3-ThI/AAAAAAAABLw/yNfrV1A65BM/s400/IMG_4621-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IawmklNvgo/UmcmTdq6OLI/AAAAAAAABMI/UnWwg4Oqz6E/s1600/IMG_4645-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IawmklNvgo/UmcmTdq6OLI/AAAAAAAABMI/UnWwg4Oqz6E/s400/IMG_4645-001.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypvTQ3SnJ9A/UmcmCZb1rrI/AAAAAAAABMA/t-JQmiXMhWM/s1600/IMG_4650-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypvTQ3SnJ9A/UmcmCZb1rrI/AAAAAAAABMA/t-JQmiXMhWM/s400/IMG_4650-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2Sj6m3z2_4/UmcmBLjO3KI/AAAAAAAABL4/rKDclf1m370/s1600/IMG_4652-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2Sj6m3z2_4/UmcmBLjO3KI/AAAAAAAABL4/rKDclf1m370/s400/IMG_4652-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8oQZNZ_oMB8/Umcmb549XxI/AAAAAAAABMY/F8zhRQcb2S4/s1600/IMG_4678-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8oQZNZ_oMB8/Umcmb549XxI/AAAAAAAABMY/F8zhRQcb2S4/s400/IMG_4678-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogxB6IQnq_I/UmcmWZlc3oI/AAAAAAAABMQ/TM3Wq4AwstI/s1600/IMG_4695-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogxB6IQnq_I/UmcmWZlc3oI/AAAAAAAABMQ/TM3Wq4AwstI/s400/IMG_4695-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-66115010733386427952013-10-10T19:54:00.000-04:002013-10-11T20:27:21.427-04:004 monthsToday marked Gavin's 4 month hearing birthday. Hard to believe its already been that long. His activation day is still so clear and fresh in my mind. Unless you have lived through the experience of a diagnosis of deafness over your child, the uphill battle of an entire year of pain and unbearable silence and so many appointments and so. much. waiting- it is impossible to appreciate the hundreds of tiny miracles and bursts of joy that occur here every day now. Gavin is hearing. Praise God! Progress is slow and even tedious sometimes, but every day he is discovering something new about his world. Hearing his squeals and baby babbles is a healing ointment to my soul.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, while outside playing, as a gift to me to mark his 4 months of hearing, he whipped his little face up to the sky at the gentle rumble of an airplane flying far overhead and watched it, mesmerized until it disappeared out of sight. And then I called his name and he came crawling happily, chubby-cheeked back to me to finish our game of bubbles. What a kind and generous God we serve.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIaaU3PnlIo/UliXMy5GBTI/AAAAAAAABJQ/Ze2mXjcD4a8/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIaaU3PnlIo/UliXMy5GBTI/AAAAAAAABJQ/Ze2mXjcD4a8/s640/IMG_2396.JPG" width="516" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-90161514097259953652013-09-03T21:30:00.000-04:002013-09-03T21:32:55.858-04:00First day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-wiAYgGl8I/UiaLDu5HqFI/AAAAAAAABIs/9oKHEWpJ34Y/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-wiAYgGl8I/UiaLDu5HqFI/AAAAAAAABIs/9oKHEWpJ34Y/s640/IMG_2387.JPG" width="378" /></a></div>
<br />
Day 1 of our homeschooling adventure was a success. And we didn't actually do any of our work from home. Ironic, isn't it?<br />
<br />
I am so grateful to be the one spending the hours with this handsome, intelligent, ornery boy. Such a gift.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-78758290277897017612013-08-11T20:26:00.001-04:002013-08-11T20:26:57.936-04:00Kindergarten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rv29K-zwqX0/Uggrm6V42RI/AAAAAAAABIQ/hfPZmlEpcWs/s1600/back-to-school-supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rv29K-zwqX0/Uggrm6V42RI/AAAAAAAABIQ/hfPZmlEpcWs/s320/back-to-school-supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
As summer is winding down and parents and kids are gathering up their supplies and preparing to head back to school, we are preparing for a new school adventure here as well. Eli will be starting kindergarten this fall, and we have decided to homeschool him for the upcoming year. And although for many, the very notion of homeschooling conjures up images of unsocialized kids sitting around in their pajamas watching "educational" cartoons and combing each other's bowl cuts, let me assure you just how far home-education has progressed from that stigma. It would be more accurate to state that we have decided to "alternatively educate" Eli this year, since he will be out taking a variety of classes with his peers just as often as he will be learning from home. The reasons we came to this decision are many and varied, but we came to it with the absolute certainty that this is where God was calling us to follow Him this year. Homeschooling has always been on my radar. However, with all of the unexpected stress, and time, and energy we have been pouring into caring for Gavin and getting him to all of his appointments for the past 14 months, I honestly didn't think I could handle it anymore-or that I even wanted to. John and I have been praying over school decisions for over a year (as in public or private options), knowing that time would creep up on us and catch us unprepared if we didn't. And the more I poured out my heart to God and asked Him to show us where to send Eli, the more my desire to educate him at home grew. Much like Gideon though, my faith was weak, and yet each time I asked Him to confirm His will by keeping the fleece dry and the ground wet or the ground dry and fleece wet, God answered. The confirmation was all around us and eventually, we settled into the idea and started to get excited about it. We are heading into this year with open hands and open hearts knowing that it is going to be a trial. We have not committed ourselves to 12 years of homeschooling, knowing full well that God is full of surprises and that only He holds tomorrow. <br />
<br />
I am a bit terrified of course, because this is all very new to me. But after reading what seems like 100's of books on learning styles, teaching styles, curriculum, educational philosophies, socialization, behavior, etc, etc...I am getting pretty excited to get started. <br />
<br />
Eli will proudly tell anyone who asks him about kindergarten that he is going to be homeschooled. He thinks its pretty cool that he gets to travel around the city for classes and have mommy all to himself for a few hours a day (sort of, at least). And to me, homeschooling is simply the gift of time with my child that I don't have to miss out on. And the fact that I get to be his favorite teacher.... for a little while longer at least.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-89652058726469757022013-07-30T22:36:00.002-04:002013-07-30T22:42:31.452-04:00The first annual and perhaps one and only Kid's DayThis year was the first where the concept of celebrating Mother's Day and then Father's Day actually meant something to Eli. He watched as the honoree was given a card and a gift and rewarded with breakfast-in-bed and a day of special privileges and allowances. After Father's Day in June, Eli asked us excitedly, "so when is kid's day?" I automatically snickered because let's just be real here people-- when you are a stay-at-home mom to 3 young children, <em>EVERY </em>day is kid's day. Which is why 9 out of 10 mom's idea of the perfect Mother's Day is to be given a cup of coffee, a good book, and just left the heck alone for a while. <br />
<br />
But my darling husband, who has always been much nicer than I am, jumped on the opportunity to remind our children just how special they are."Kid's day is coming up in just a few weeks guys." So while we kind of forgot about that whole conversation after a few weeks, Eli reminded us (several times actually) and wanted to get the specific date pinned down on his mental calendar. He had pretty high expectations. He requested cards, breakfast-in-bed consisting of a bacon and cheese omelet, yogurt parfait, and orange juice, and gifts. Norah debated about her breakfast options for a few days before agreeing to yogurt, peanut butter toast, and milk. <br />
<br />
So on our first annual celebration of Kid's Day in the Costello house, John and I got up early to cook breakfast for our kiddos and served it to them bedside. The day was spent bike-riding, eating mac' and cheese, playing Trouble, and having ice-cream for dinner. The best part is that Eli firmly believes that this is a National Holiday celebrated by all. But they went to bed happy, knowing the joys of having special privileges and allowances for a day of their very own. I guess a little spoiling here and there is good for all of us.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
The excitement of breakfast-in-bed was overrated when we actually tried to wake up these sleeping bears. We call Eli "The Teenager" in the morning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-AUWmhCjmE/Ufh0tb7ElcI/AAAAAAAABHE/9q13g3cmwxo/s1600/IMG_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-AUWmhCjmE/Ufh0tb7ElcI/AAAAAAAABHE/9q13g3cmwxo/s320/IMG_2227.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Warming up. And yes, Eli has been sleeping on the floor in the tent John built him for Christmas for 7 months and counting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZV9D0ARrwg/Ufh0qIkWaEI/AAAAAAAABG8/6dteN8cBV9c/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZV9D0ARrwg/Ufh0qIkWaEI/AAAAAAAABG8/6dteN8cBV9c/s320/IMG_2230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
And here's our pretty princess alert and fresh at 7am</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyqfpMmXkY0/Ufh0jVNKL9I/AAAAAAAABG0/YLBcZglCKxI/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyqfpMmXkY0/Ufh0jVNKL9I/AAAAAAAABG0/YLBcZglCKxI/s320/IMG_2232.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
And warming up to this special treat</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni19gvwhiBk/Ufh0uAK1AII/AAAAAAAABHM/iPAo5Aotx1k/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni19gvwhiBk/Ufh0uAK1AII/AAAAAAAABHM/iPAo5Aotx1k/s320/IMG_2234.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Gavin was very supportive, although not impressed as he drinks his breakfast bottle in our bed every single day. Suckers!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1t6ZPgVM1A/Ufh0-8ngeLI/AAAAAAAABHc/KJ4pSRrtw3U/s1600/IMG_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1t6ZPgVM1A/Ufh0-8ngeLI/AAAAAAAABHc/KJ4pSRrtw3U/s320/IMG_2239.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Breakfast-in-bed party of 1 was lonely, so they decided to eat together in Norah's room</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWC0k9NNCkA/Ufh1CkoxSII/AAAAAAAABHk/rUHkWNYl8U0/s1600/IMG_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWC0k9NNCkA/Ufh1CkoxSII/AAAAAAAABHk/rUHkWNYl8U0/s320/IMG_2242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Such sweet kiddos</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_cz8IQaUm0/Ufh05ioT0EI/AAAAAAAABHU/AearmiV38sI/s1600/IMG_2244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_cz8IQaUm0/Ufh05ioT0EI/AAAAAAAABHU/AearmiV38sI/s320/IMG_2244.JPG" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
.......The remainder of the day's events were not captured on camera, but just know they were totally awesome.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ending with ice-cream for dinner!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b53IpfL5VLc/Ufh1NA2G-EI/AAAAAAAABH0/NwvYcy_-SmI/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b53IpfL5VLc/Ufh1NA2G-EI/AAAAAAAABH0/NwvYcy_-SmI/s320/IMG_2284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-24664190376471193322013-07-21T18:35:00.001-04:002013-07-21T18:36:15.404-04:00Happy National Ice-Cream Day!There are no excuses for not celebrating this one....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoaakHMv-gU/UexiK4bo-fI/AAAAAAAABGY/6ObJsadVWds/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoaakHMv-gU/UexiK4bo-fI/AAAAAAAABGY/6ObJsadVWds/s640/IMG_2289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-82301420894917559542013-07-14T22:30:00.001-04:002013-07-14T22:30:14.386-04:00When life comes at you fastAfter spending 7 <strike>relaxing</strike> energetic days <strike>lounging</strike> wrangling little people on the beaches of Lake Michigan, we came straight home to spend 7 days hanging out in one of the tiny <strike>cells</strike> rooms of Children's Hospital. Remember in Monopoly that whole "<em>Go straight to jail, do not pass go and do not collect $200"</em> card? That's kind of what it felt like. Ah, life! But let me back it up to the beginning.<br />
<br />
On our second to last day of vacation, I was watching Gavin splash away in the baby pool when I noticed a small lump on his head directly over where his right cochlear implant was implanted 6 weeks ago. When I touched it, it felt squishy and filled with fluid and completely not normal. The Holy Spirit set off an alarm within me and let me know this wasn't something I could ignore. I showed John and started making some phone calls back home to our ENT clinic and was told to take Gavin to the nearest Emergency Room for an assessment. John and I decided to wait until the next day when we would be heading home anyway so that we could take him to our own hospital where people knew about his situation and had all of his information already. Again, thanks to the Holy Spirit's prompting. We drove the 5 hours home and I convinced John that it would be easier just to drive straight into the Emergency Room with all the kids and the loaded van instead of going home first. I was expecting our little ER visit to be short -maybe an hour- so someone could examine Gavin, assure us everything was fine, and send us on our way. <br />
<br />
I will spare you of all of the sequential details lest I bore you to death, but our "little visit" turned into a 14 hour party in the ER, followed by an inpatient stay for 7 days. It turns out any kind of infection around a cochlear implant is cause for serious concern because of the direct pathway from the cochlear implant device (embedded surgically in the cranial bone) to the brain itself. Gavin had a cerebral spinal fluid leak, which had turned into a Staph infection, which had the potential to turn into Spinal Meningitis if not promptly treated with strong and specific antibiotics. The next days were filled with ultrasounds, cerebral needle aspirations, labs, an emergency I&D surgery, CT scan, spinal tap, more labs, 8 IV starts and failures, and finally a PICC line placement. It was enough to break even the strongest of mothers having to watch your 13 month old being held down while screaming for one procedure after another day after day after day. It was just so unbelievably hard. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
One afternoon when I had finally rocked a tear-soaked and exhausted Gavin to sleep in my arms after IV attempt #7, I started sobbing from the stress and the heart-ache and the fatigue. I had the radio on to the local Christian station that normally drives me bonkers except for when I'm desperate. "The River Positive Thought of the Day" came on (ridiculous one-liner pick-me-ups that John and I always make fun of), and it really made me stop and think.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>It's the things in life that you cannot change that end up changing you.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And cheesy as that is, isn't it so true? God has been molding me, molding my marriage and molding my family through every set-back and trial we've faced with Gavin. And all the fighting and kicking and screaming on my end doesn't change anything about the circumstances. But when I allow God to change me through the hard times that I'm desperately trying to push away, then I come out of them a little bit stronger and looking a little bit more like Jesus. Or at least I hope to. And then I can look back and see just how closely He was holding onto us when it felt like everything was falling apart. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Gavin is home now and is on the mend. We were so thankful not to have had to remove his cochlear implant and go back to the beginning. He will remain on IV medications at home for the next week to hopefully wipe away any remaining traces of infection and then we will have his PICC line removed if all the labs come back clear. This boy has a heart of steel. He has been through more medical torture in one year than most adults have in their lifetime. He may subconsciously hate the color of hospital gown yellow forever, but we certainly wont hold it against him!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkrIkI8a4M/UeNdNZbr0dI/AAAAAAAABFA/BYS6WRGSsMc/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkrIkI8a4M/UeNdNZbr0dI/AAAAAAAABFA/BYS6WRGSsMc/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HLFGLLOcAd4/UeNdL2Ky77I/AAAAAAAABE4/N-OHkJu5zac/s1600/Gavin+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HLFGLLOcAd4/UeNdL2Ky77I/AAAAAAAABE4/N-OHkJu5zac/s320/Gavin+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chdhgHj6UG4/UeNdRHzs6fI/AAAAAAAABFc/DcGYOFBTEIQ/s1600/gavin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chdhgHj6UG4/UeNdRHzs6fI/AAAAAAAABFc/DcGYOFBTEIQ/s320/gavin+2.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOU1tMrH_ls/UeNdP5x8a_I/AAAAAAAABFI/MgcDDvUC8hw/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOU1tMrH_ls/UeNdP5x8a_I/AAAAAAAABFI/MgcDDvUC8hw/s320/IMG_2133.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--_ORJ7sJnC4/UeNdQ8IKZrI/AAAAAAAABFY/I20QqzyhH6E/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--_ORJ7sJnC4/UeNdQ8IKZrI/AAAAAAAABFY/I20QqzyhH6E/s320/IMG_2134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9kzPKNWjC9c/UeNdQPgOe_I/AAAAAAAABFM/-BU_phHUWIE/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9kzPKNWjC9c/UeNdQPgOe_I/AAAAAAAABFM/-BU_phHUWIE/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-82761363433902706792013-07-14T10:46:00.002-04:002013-07-14T10:49:56.933-04:00Costello family vacation 2013This year we switched it up from our usual route to the Outer Banks and headed to Union Pier, Michigan for our annual family vacation. It was my first time visiting the beaches of Lake Michigan and let me tell you, I didn't miss the ocean for even one second. Lake Michigan has pristine white sand, clear calm water, gentle rolling waves, and breathtaking sunsets. And it was only a 5 hour drive, which is like winning the lottery with 3 antsy kids. This year we were 17 adults and 18 kids under one roof and it was loud and messy and so much fun. As always, this trip wouldn't happen without the generosity of John's parents blessing us with this chance to be together for one uninterrupted week. We are so thankful that every member of the family makes it a priority to come and make these special memories. Here is the highlight reel:<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8H1VfWQZelo/UeK1TBpkTsI/AAAAAAAAA90/VN9b3_udm8k/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8H1VfWQZelo/UeK1TBpkTsI/AAAAAAAAA90/VN9b3_udm8k/s400/IMG_1802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NqvI4UrDQVg/UeK1TPFOj-I/AAAAAAAAA9w/Hoq_cbfw9Aw/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NqvI4UrDQVg/UeK1TPFOj-I/AAAAAAAAA9w/Hoq_cbfw9Aw/s400/IMG_1818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJAbnXBjsvk/UeK1T3kaGuI/AAAAAAAAA-A/j_GJ1YgIWJA/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJAbnXBjsvk/UeK1T3kaGuI/AAAAAAAAA-A/j_GJ1YgIWJA/s400/IMG_1821.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJkcx_EIWtE/UeK1WbyQFUI/AAAAAAAAA-I/upZuj8uUuSA/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJkcx_EIWtE/UeK1WbyQFUI/AAAAAAAAA-I/upZuj8uUuSA/s400/IMG_1833.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GO3uN0_Gxg/UeK1Xe-oeGI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/mzO-_0U14xc/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GO3uN0_Gxg/UeK1Xe-oeGI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/mzO-_0U14xc/s400/IMG_1849.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVOYKYLZyw/UeK1YxNgOII/AAAAAAAAA-Y/sPy-x4z0IJM/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVOYKYLZyw/UeK1YxNgOII/AAAAAAAAA-Y/sPy-x4z0IJM/s400/IMG_1855.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH12Yfzh5Io/UeK1asxHu9I/AAAAAAAAA-g/Xbr1NJw4IcE/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH12Yfzh5Io/UeK1asxHu9I/AAAAAAAAA-g/Xbr1NJw4IcE/s400/IMG_1858.JPG" width="291" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6f-9fjMWmI/UeK1bAyj4XI/AAAAAAAAA-o/Kn46yCjWiD0/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6f-9fjMWmI/UeK1bAyj4XI/AAAAAAAAA-o/Kn46yCjWiD0/s400/IMG_1862.JPG" width="346" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-660DW1wTwFs/UeK1e0Yn3qI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Tf55UdVOsLQ/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-660DW1wTwFs/UeK1e0Yn3qI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Tf55UdVOsLQ/s400/IMG_1877.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAs8gHzNTJo/UeK1RTXTFCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/yAQuvZn1aXo/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAs8gHzNTJo/UeK1RTXTFCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/yAQuvZn1aXo/s400/IMG_1778.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqq5XjK2r8U/UeK1dhgHUYI/AAAAAAAAA-w/hYlahs_zZt4/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqq5XjK2r8U/UeK1dhgHUYI/AAAAAAAAA-w/hYlahs_zZt4/s400/IMG_1881.JPG" width="323" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9VPf3et7wug/UeK1eE7PWdI/AAAAAAAAA-4/xqUZsnNwhRY/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9VPf3et7wug/UeK1eE7PWdI/AAAAAAAAA-4/xqUZsnNwhRY/s400/IMG_1888.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yuFroq0c0J0/UeK1hmw-RJI/AAAAAAAAA_M/3uzS3KDDf4A/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yuFroq0c0J0/UeK1hmw-RJI/AAAAAAAAA_M/3uzS3KDDf4A/s400/IMG_1893.JPG" width="331" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0fMKD-XbGbo/UeK1hpDMS3I/AAAAAAAAA_I/qE4c1ks4O4Y/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0fMKD-XbGbo/UeK1hpDMS3I/AAAAAAAAA_I/qE4c1ks4O4Y/s400/IMG_1894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEFn0Mdn-D0/UeK1iEptG1I/AAAAAAAAA_U/c-aYPTP_Fqo/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEFn0Mdn-D0/UeK1iEptG1I/AAAAAAAAA_U/c-aYPTP_Fqo/s400/IMG_1897.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eamWQjX2On4/UeK1kDXtiQI/AAAAAAAAA_g/w9LuLxh_TAQ/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eamWQjX2On4/UeK1kDXtiQI/AAAAAAAAA_g/w9LuLxh_TAQ/s400/IMG_1898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVl-TFYPUSU/UeK1knULI6I/AAAAAAAAA_o/dHoFUpyTHjo/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVl-TFYPUSU/UeK1knULI6I/AAAAAAAAA_o/dHoFUpyTHjo/s400/IMG_1902.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ2rt6LzbtQ/UeK1npydwLI/AAAAAAAAA_w/VXrLSLihhjw/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ2rt6LzbtQ/UeK1npydwLI/AAAAAAAAA_w/VXrLSLihhjw/s400/IMG_1904.JPG" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fd8ke73U9-U/UeK1n-gCOLI/AAAAAAAAA_0/yvbKjYAviNc/s1600/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fd8ke73U9-U/UeK1n-gCOLI/AAAAAAAAA_0/yvbKjYAviNc/s400/IMG_1905.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cRyDk7GHtU/UeK1pQtUG9I/AAAAAAAABAA/B7bF7Y8fHzc/s1600/IMG_1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cRyDk7GHtU/UeK1pQtUG9I/AAAAAAAABAA/B7bF7Y8fHzc/s400/IMG_1913.JPG" width="333" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZn3AzZKpUk/UeK1q46zgEI/AAAAAAAABAI/7EyAkjfFnMY/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZn3AzZKpUk/UeK1q46zgEI/AAAAAAAABAI/7EyAkjfFnMY/s400/IMG_1922.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ByAyk0WD0F4/UeK1r_8imeI/AAAAAAAABAQ/TrUy-R3u7LY/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ByAyk0WD0F4/UeK1r_8imeI/AAAAAAAABAQ/TrUy-R3u7LY/s400/IMG_1932.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXRFlgNLfCE/UeK1tdy9JWI/AAAAAAAABAY/wdUXJMKJggA/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXRFlgNLfCE/UeK1tdy9JWI/AAAAAAAABAY/wdUXJMKJggA/s400/IMG_1937.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5PnAVxk1qQ/UeK1vF86z3I/AAAAAAAABAk/LUFOENA01zA/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5PnAVxk1qQ/UeK1vF86z3I/AAAAAAAABAk/LUFOENA01zA/s400/IMG_1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9vTe7qHd4Y/UeK1u5H6xEI/AAAAAAAABAg/yogKmKtWASc/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9vTe7qHd4Y/UeK1u5H6xEI/AAAAAAAABAg/yogKmKtWASc/s400/IMG_1940.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWhvyRsm-xw/UeK1x7VFi5I/AAAAAAAABAw/vXz-u07_42o/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWhvyRsm-xw/UeK1x7VFi5I/AAAAAAAABAw/vXz-u07_42o/s400/IMG_1952.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB_Zq49pqy0/UeK1zZIZP7I/AAAAAAAABA4/Q9gY9SHorp4/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB_Zq49pqy0/UeK1zZIZP7I/AAAAAAAABA4/Q9gY9SHorp4/s400/IMG_1957.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_p9X6kHGIZo/UeK1z2fY-wI/AAAAAAAABBA/VboR1gogl3g/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_p9X6kHGIZo/UeK1z2fY-wI/AAAAAAAABBA/VboR1gogl3g/s400/IMG_1963.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O424kl1QoMc/UeK14P3ZxgI/AAAAAAAABBM/GrKxW-EOLjs/s1600/IMG_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O424kl1QoMc/UeK14P3ZxgI/AAAAAAAABBM/GrKxW-EOLjs/s400/IMG_1964.JPG" width="351" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-0aNeC9LKM/UeK14AoDiRI/AAAAAAAABBQ/7teYxwiNQQA/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-0aNeC9LKM/UeK14AoDiRI/AAAAAAAABBQ/7teYxwiNQQA/s400/IMG_1974.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFxP9760IkE/UeK14DcckNI/AAAAAAAABBI/DI4k2XjhGcA/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFxP9760IkE/UeK14DcckNI/AAAAAAAABBI/DI4k2XjhGcA/s400/IMG_1980.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNGfeCXThFo/UeK17CpAZcI/AAAAAAAABBg/6sHuuIA1hok/s1600/IMG_2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNGfeCXThFo/UeK17CpAZcI/AAAAAAAABBg/6sHuuIA1hok/s400/IMG_2007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urLaOdA48cs/UeK19szXNZI/AAAAAAAABBw/-rHGzSSm5jU/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urLaOdA48cs/UeK19szXNZI/AAAAAAAABBw/-rHGzSSm5jU/s400/IMG_2016.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFRShPl080c/UeK19LyyRaI/AAAAAAAABBo/okRFlWPH_3s/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFRShPl080c/UeK19LyyRaI/AAAAAAAABBo/okRFlWPH_3s/s400/IMG_2020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-juvfz8IYkWo/UeK1_ZUQaaI/AAAAAAAABB4/4WhC7Knw7D8/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-juvfz8IYkWo/UeK1_ZUQaaI/AAAAAAAABB4/4WhC7Knw7D8/s400/IMG_2025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad6YzUlHeiE/UeK2B8A8mxI/AAAAAAAABCA/hvQUPiP0y2c/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad6YzUlHeiE/UeK2B8A8mxI/AAAAAAAABCA/hvQUPiP0y2c/s400/IMG_2028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSSuoKM6y_I/UeK2DHvJxcI/AAAAAAAABCI/HJuW_ShFmTw/s1600/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSSuoKM6y_I/UeK2DHvJxcI/AAAAAAAABCI/HJuW_ShFmTw/s400/IMG_2029.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg1pCYfglVo/UeK2C6epF_I/AAAAAAAABCM/DQDny_jeGek/s1600/IMG_2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg1pCYfglVo/UeK2C6epF_I/AAAAAAAABCM/DQDny_jeGek/s400/IMG_2037.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8c-ROERhITI/UeK2FXwRWSI/AAAAAAAABCY/y-obrq7eoRo/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8c-ROERhITI/UeK2FXwRWSI/AAAAAAAABCY/y-obrq7eoRo/s400/IMG_2040.JPG" width="350" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJtvgxWJcvw/UeK2Gg--GMI/AAAAAAAABCk/9Td8d2oiau8/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJtvgxWJcvw/UeK2Gg--GMI/AAAAAAAABCk/9Td8d2oiau8/s400/IMG_2043.JPG" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD9KvWvGeAc/UeK2GkWKryI/AAAAAAAABCg/2u2HBh9mv7M/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD9KvWvGeAc/UeK2GkWKryI/AAAAAAAABCg/2u2HBh9mv7M/s400/IMG_2051.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3126PEzFk/UeK2HqSNlOI/AAAAAAAABCw/6OofFEj_uu0/s1600/IMG_2053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3126PEzFk/UeK2HqSNlOI/AAAAAAAABCw/6OofFEj_uu0/s400/IMG_2053.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uh07Q62SP8/UeK2JcBrsqI/AAAAAAAABC4/lqi1eAGIEwY/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uh07Q62SP8/UeK2JcBrsqI/AAAAAAAABC4/lqi1eAGIEwY/s400/IMG_2059.JPG" width="325" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EM-quQBXSpA/UeK2QmNphLI/AAAAAAAABDk/jtSgdvvAeWg/s1600/IMG_2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EM-quQBXSpA/UeK2QmNphLI/AAAAAAAABDk/jtSgdvvAeWg/s400/IMG_2067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1AxtiBVNlQ/UeK2LQtcajI/AAAAAAAABDA/jYkbWVm7E7I/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1AxtiBVNlQ/UeK2LQtcajI/AAAAAAAABDA/jYkbWVm7E7I/s400/IMG_2069.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWjAE2vG-Qs/UeK2MBZXldI/AAAAAAAABDI/0fVzCKuJpbU/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWjAE2vG-Qs/UeK2MBZXldI/AAAAAAAABDI/0fVzCKuJpbU/s400/IMG_2071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHxvgY0qAwg/UeK2QCdcKxI/AAAAAAAABDY/dP0UeTIBNCI/s1600/IMG_2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHxvgY0qAwg/UeK2QCdcKxI/AAAAAAAABDY/dP0UeTIBNCI/s400/IMG_2078.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEcvlu1IFAQ/UeK2O8Np5qI/AAAAAAAABDQ/j70j2yUwbsM/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEcvlu1IFAQ/UeK2O8Np5qI/AAAAAAAABDQ/j70j2yUwbsM/s400/IMG_2079.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MfFsnXkyb4/UeK2Q3orE-I/AAAAAAAABDg/2pFWCEGbEHM/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MfFsnXkyb4/UeK2Q3orE-I/AAAAAAAABDg/2pFWCEGbEHM/s400/IMG_2083.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnRcFwosKLg/UeK2SjLtH6I/AAAAAAAABDw/ISzztevaljI/s1600/IMG_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnRcFwosKLg/UeK2SjLtH6I/AAAAAAAABDw/ISzztevaljI/s400/IMG_2086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC9ZgaOxJT4/UeK2TO-Z59I/AAAAAAAABD4/XFYzkrK7NLU/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC9ZgaOxJT4/UeK2TO-Z59I/AAAAAAAABD4/XFYzkrK7NLU/s400/IMG_2090.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLomUDJ2BpA/UeK2V2QPlXI/AAAAAAAABEA/ieZUW5WKEKY/s1600/IMG_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLomUDJ2BpA/UeK2V2QPlXI/AAAAAAAABEA/ieZUW5WKEKY/s400/IMG_2092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llhEzve0yA8/UeK2V0LGwAI/AAAAAAAABEE/06aeyslgZvU/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llhEzve0yA8/UeK2V0LGwAI/AAAAAAAABEE/06aeyslgZvU/s400/IMG_2101.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYZaQb5x3R8/UeK2XM58WLI/AAAAAAAABEQ/QllnDW7MQus/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYZaQb5x3R8/UeK2XM58WLI/AAAAAAAABEQ/QllnDW7MQus/s400/IMG_2111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Dx97Bh5YyU/UeK2a7Dc45I/AAAAAAAABEY/2Gf1aZLRbjY/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Dx97Bh5YyU/UeK2a7Dc45I/AAAAAAAABEY/2Gf1aZLRbjY/s400/IMG_2115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJFD4JoZdAo/UeK2be7CPwI/AAAAAAAABEg/n6aTg9k91R4/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJFD4JoZdAo/UeK2be7CPwI/AAAAAAAABEg/n6aTg9k91R4/s400/IMG_2118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cu0xVzFAd8c/UeK2b_E_LTI/AAAAAAAABEo/SBT8_tJQvZM/s1600/IMG_2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cu0xVzFAd8c/UeK2b_E_LTI/AAAAAAAABEo/SBT8_tJQvZM/s400/IMG_2123.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-75506748213760413232013-06-15T14:48:00.001-04:002013-06-15T14:48:07.793-04:00Activation DayJune 10th, 2013 was Gavin's hearing birthday. The first day he's ever heard sound of any sort. A day we'd been waiting for since he was 4 weeks old. And what a cherished and miraculous memory it will forever be for us. We are so thankful for this amazing technology that enables kids- who would've otherwise gone their entire lives stuck in a silent world-to finally hear. Now the hard work really begins for us and for Gavin as we work to catch him up on a lost year of speech and listening. Cochlear implants certainly aren't an instantaneous "fix." It will be through weekly speech therapy sessions and a continuous devotion to practice and repetition of sounds and listening that Gavin will learn to communicate and develop normal speech just like any other kid. It will be harder for him and wont come as naturally as it does for others, but due to his early implantation age, Gavin's prognosis is excellent and his speech should be clear and entirely unaffected as he grows. We are praising Jesus for bringing us over the hurdle of the past year and back to the starting line of a fresh new beginning for our precious son.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"Congratulations!</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Today is your day.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>You're off to Great Places!</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>You're off and away!</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>-Dr. Seuss</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_6DT5jhVj5A" width="560"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-90698272931656365202013-06-12T14:21:00.000-04:002013-06-17T09:14:00.711-04:00Gavin's 1st Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Gavin tuned one on June 6th and we celebrated with a pool party at my parent's backyard retreat. It was a beautiful afternoon and we filled the backyard with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and lots of happy, splashing kiddos. Gavin loves to be in the water and seemed quite pleased by the chosen venue. What a blessing to celebrate this guy's first year of life and the adventures that await him in the year to come. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdY2GoWPelA/UbisMhtRymI/AAAAAAAAA70/FZLFLct122w/s1600/IMG_1709-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdY2GoWPelA/UbisMhtRymI/AAAAAAAAA70/FZLFLct122w/s320/IMG_1709-001.JPG" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRmzBQwEQc4/UbirauzGvTI/AAAAAAAAA7M/7UYmo82Ho3c/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRmzBQwEQc4/UbirauzGvTI/AAAAAAAAA7M/7UYmo82Ho3c/s320/IMG_1692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiBCFUN6kmY/UbisFHqrKlI/AAAAAAAAA7U/zPsLEcGbZcs/s1600/IMG_1699-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiBCFUN6kmY/UbisFHqrKlI/AAAAAAAAA7U/zPsLEcGbZcs/s320/IMG_1699-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0oRIYlE1Is/UbitF_b23pI/AAAAAAAAA88/vHQ5zb6Av3E/s1600/IMG_1714-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0oRIYlE1Is/UbitF_b23pI/AAAAAAAAA88/vHQ5zb6Av3E/s320/IMG_1714-001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZxb2owGKyU/UbisIyRfKdI/AAAAAAAAA7o/6698F4cSTOg/s1600/IMG_1702-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZxb2owGKyU/UbisIyRfKdI/AAAAAAAAA7o/6698F4cSTOg/s320/IMG_1702-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8MJxBOpCRzY/UbisHG5FWJI/AAAAAAAAA7c/HKY8jD52OEo/s1600/IMG_1705-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8MJxBOpCRzY/UbisHG5FWJI/AAAAAAAAA7c/HKY8jD52OEo/s320/IMG_1705-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luFbghwI_bE/UbisJOqNptI/AAAAAAAAA7s/gGxGdwKhnP8/s1600/IMG_1708-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luFbghwI_bE/UbisJOqNptI/AAAAAAAAA7s/gGxGdwKhnP8/s320/IMG_1708-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvu5Vb7Hiq0/UbisNWytmPI/AAAAAAAAA78/Zea2B3UKrdM/s1600/IMG_1735-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvu5Vb7Hiq0/UbisNWytmPI/AAAAAAAAA78/Zea2B3UKrdM/s320/IMG_1735-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HIK4knDQ_c/UbisN4vGeJI/AAAAAAAAA8A/x4g2TEECM6U/s1600/IMG_1738-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HIK4knDQ_c/UbisN4vGeJI/AAAAAAAAA8A/x4g2TEECM6U/s320/IMG_1738-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkf0AO8kRB0/UbisQgSe7PI/AAAAAAAAA8U/k-Nfa8eKWXQ/s1600/IMG_1740-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkf0AO8kRB0/UbisQgSe7PI/AAAAAAAAA8U/k-Nfa8eKWXQ/s320/IMG_1740-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meZ28iTnOIw/UbisQPXpETI/AAAAAAAAA8M/dKEgFZaYJfY/s1600/IMG_1745-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meZ28iTnOIw/UbisQPXpETI/AAAAAAAAA8M/dKEgFZaYJfY/s320/IMG_1745-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sC_XAYQzmGc/UbisSqwCxhI/AAAAAAAAA8c/YUb_M5duq-E/s1600/IMG_1746-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sC_XAYQzmGc/UbisSqwCxhI/AAAAAAAAA8c/YUb_M5duq-E/s320/IMG_1746-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MoW7ZcU5MlQ/UbisS94CvBI/AAAAAAAAA8g/tE6yrBbgeP0/s1600/IMG_1752-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MoW7ZcU5MlQ/UbisS94CvBI/AAAAAAAAA8g/tE6yrBbgeP0/s320/IMG_1752-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8csJP06Tmfg/UbisTfYVjnI/AAAAAAAAA8o/ssSelXByJ1w/s1600/IMG_1754-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8csJP06Tmfg/UbisTfYVjnI/AAAAAAAAA8o/ssSelXByJ1w/s320/IMG_1754-001.JPG" width="221" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Gavin,</i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wow, what a year it has been. Holding you for the first time in that hospital room, I had no idea how much our lives were going to be changed by your arrival or just how far out of our comfort zone God was going to ask us to step. We were so unprepared for the heartbreak we would feel when we were blindsided by your diagnoses. A parent can never be prepared for that. I held you and wept over you for hours and days and weeks trying to wrap my mind around what wasn't supposed to be happening. You were so perfect to us, so tiny and full of possibilities. I thought I would never be able to look at you without feeling overwhelming sadness and that physical ache in my heart. The road ahead looked dark and unfamiliar and I just wanted to go backwards, back to the delivery room, back to the naivety of not knowing.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But then slowly, tenderly, God showed us how to be brave. He reminded us that HE created you. That HE knit you together so perfectly for us and that HE never makes mistakes. God asked us to be brave for you, to teach you to hold your head high and be strong, even when it seems scary. He reminded us that HE was dancing over you and that He was so delighted in you. He urged us to speak boldness over you and pray continuously that your testimony would point to Jesus. He assured us that He would walk the dark and unfamiliar road beside us, and carry us when we thought we couldn't go on. He called us to rest in His peace-the peace that passes earthly understanding- and entrust you to Him. He promised that He was far bigger than anything we would ever face on earth so we didn't need to be afraid.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And we began to heal. We began to get stronger and we began to see God's heart for you. When we look at you now we are filled with indescribable joy. What a faithful God we serve. He will never let go of your hand, Gavin. God has called you to be a mighty warrior for Him. Your hearing loss will never define you. It will only give you a deeper compassion for the needs of others and ears finely tuned to the voice of God. Your testimony has only just begun. Happy first birthday, our sweet and charming boy. How very lucky we are to be your mommy and daddy.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xoxo</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-11652130160820017862013-05-26T09:31:00.000-04:002013-05-26T09:31:30.293-04:00The SurgeryFriday was the day we've been waiting for ever since Gavin was 4 weeks old and we received the devastating diagnosis of his profound hearing loss. Although back then, it was more of a "worst case scenario" and "we doubt it will ever be necessary" kind of thing. Cochlear implant surgery. A year ago, I didn't even know what that meant. I'd never heard of a cochlear implant. I'd never even seen a hearing aid up close. I couldn't imagine that <i>my son</i> would ever have to wear something like<i> that</i>. <i>Why would he? This kind of thing just didn't happen to our family</i>. <i>This must be a mistake.</i> <i>What would everyone think</i>? <i>How awful for him, for us.</i><br />
<br />
I feel like I don't even recognize that girl who had those thoughts while holding her 4 week old son last year. I was prideful, and selfish, and oh so hung-up on what a "perfect" American family should look like. I had no idea how much God was going to rock our world when He gave us Gavin. We were so unprepared, so scared. But God wasn't.<br />
<br />
Flash forward to 11 months- months of fruitless hearing-aid attempts, 150 doctor's appointments, one unsuccessful attempt after another to get sound into Gavin's ears-and what a different tune we were singing. We became desperate for the cochlear implant surgery. We talked about it all the time. We couldn't wait to have a surgery date on the calendar, because we knew it was the only way Gavin was going to hear. Of course we prayed, begged, and pleaded with God to heal our son. We never stopped praying and crying out to Him. But God's ways are not our ways, and while we waited for His healing, God gave us the peace and confirmation to continue moving forward toward the surgery. We both felt so confident (and terrified!) that God was leading us to cochlear implants.<br />
<br />
May 24th came, and as we drove to the hospital before the sunrise, we couldn't believe it was actually <i>the </i>day. The beginning of Gavin's journey to hear. We were so ready. Not ready for that moment when you kiss your baby goodbye and they wheel him away to the operating room while he looks at you confused and scared. It is impossible to be ready for that. But our hearts were leaping with joy because we knew that this was only the beginning. We've met with families who have been here before us and we've seen their children talking, and turning their heads when their name is called, and hearing the birds chirping. Now it was Gavin's turn.<br />
<br />
The surgery couldn't have gone any better. The doctor, who was doubtful that he would be able to implant both ears at once and told us that we might have to come back again in a few months, was amazed by how smoothly it went. But God wasn't. Our family and friends who have been prayer warriors for us from day 1 weren't either. God has been holding this little one in his hands before we ever got to.<br />
<br />
We came home that afternoon with both implants in place and a huge bandage around Gavin's head. The recovery so far has been hard. Harder than we expected. Its terrible to watch your baby screaming in pain and miserable and not be able to take it from them. After 2 days he is slowly starting to feel better though and we are delighted when he smiles or laughs at something like he used to. Hopefully in a few more days he will be back to his old, silly self. And now we wait. It's a bit anticlimactic actually, because after you get the surgery, there is a 2-3 week waiting period before the implants are "activated" or turned on. This is to allow for complete healing of the incisions. Our activation date is June 10th. It will forever be Gavin's hearing birthday. I don't think it would be possible to explain the emotions that we are feeling about that day. I just have no words. What a miracle it will be.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your encouragement through this process, for your prayers and notes, and hugs. Gavin's story is already such a testimony of God's lavish love through the body of Christ. We are just surrounded by love and support, without which, we certainly would have fallen apart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pre-op cuddles</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZqtML4DPaw/UaIL5n6grRI/AAAAAAAAA54/SEihBygYRpY/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZqtML4DPaw/UaIL5n6grRI/AAAAAAAAA54/SEihBygYRpY/s320/IMG_1601.JPG" width="270" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QC4_bB6QtRw/UaIL68AhgBI/AAAAAAAAA6A/i4Egne_WLI8/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QC4_bB6QtRw/UaIL68AhgBI/AAAAAAAAA6A/i4Egne_WLI8/s320/IMG_1607.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHh6NivrQYE/UaIL9relqdI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/xpVeUNTF128/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHh6NivrQYE/UaIL9relqdI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/xpVeUNTF128/s320/IMG_1611.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Recovery room</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WrS-fEokrmE/UaIL9C1gKKI/AAAAAAAAA6I/czzMBeprSLc/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WrS-fEokrmE/UaIL9C1gKKI/AAAAAAAAA6I/czzMBeprSLc/s320/IMG_1614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QcBFtGexmpc/UaIL-p5LD6I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/m3i2pz6brcQ/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QcBFtGexmpc/UaIL-p5LD6I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/m3i2pz6brcQ/s320/IMG_1615.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Day 2 at home-starting to feel a little better</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbwF8TNMTvA/UaIM7aIZxsI/AAAAAAAAA6k/Ieo97IhmWmo/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbwF8TNMTvA/UaIM7aIZxsI/AAAAAAAAA6k/Ieo97IhmWmo/s320/IMG_1618.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4jTjoImIR4o/UaILWjDW-sI/AAAAAAAAA5w/qLxDOQo1NWg/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4jTjoImIR4o/UaILWjDW-sI/AAAAAAAAA5w/qLxDOQo1NWg/s320/IMG_1633.JPG" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-11427467375124980502013-05-02T21:21:00.000-04:002013-05-02T21:21:12.642-04:00Happy Birthday Norah Dee!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I have to admit, this birthday was a tough one for me. There is something so fleeting and unbelievably precious about the innocence of a 2-year-old daughter. I was kind of hoping that Norah might just stay our little one forever. But alas, May 1st came and went and now she is 3. I'm praying this isn't the year that she stops asking for a "yoyurk carfe" for breakfast, or else my heart might break.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Norah Dee, it is an honor to have you as a daughter. Your personality is like a jar of jumping jelly beans. Everything delights you, everything makes you laugh, everything is the best news you've ever heard in your life. Except when it's not. And then oh boy, do you ever know how to pout. You bounce through your days eager for the next activity and always up for anything your big brother tells you to do. Because of him, you've learned how to be pretty tough. You request peanut butter and jelly every single day for lunch even though you never eat more than 2 bites and then lose interest. You are persistent and silly and great at making other people feel special. You love with your whole heart and its pretty easy to be melted by your cuteness...even when you're really really mad.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Happy 3 years sweet girl!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyDheNi_EXw/UYMLEfyuq9I/AAAAAAAAA38/e55px6j_c38/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyDheNi_EXw/UYMLEfyuq9I/AAAAAAAAA38/e55px6j_c38/s320/IMG_1439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96VMkNVcQyc/UYMLGxgubFI/AAAAAAAAA4E/mztfzj1OF6k/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96VMkNVcQyc/UYMLGxgubFI/AAAAAAAAA4E/mztfzj1OF6k/s320/IMG_1455.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xopN2Ds2HSI/UYMLHza2csI/AAAAAAAAA4M/cc_qBgeermE/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xopN2Ds2HSI/UYMLHza2csI/AAAAAAAAA4M/cc_qBgeermE/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfQVYmNv_dU/UYMLIMoYXsI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/5t0GoL04UM0/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfQVYmNv_dU/UYMLIMoYXsI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/5t0GoL04UM0/s320/IMG_1464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-14228086721060231662013-04-22T21:58:00.001-04:002013-04-22T21:58:40.213-04:00Happy Birthday Eli!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday Eli turned 5 years old. It turns out he inherited his mother's <em>slight (</em>barely noticeable really) tendency to be a birthday diva. We heard a lot of, "<em>I can do that because it's MY birthday", </em>and "<em>Its still my day, my birthday isn't over until next week" </em>kind of comments. I'm sure it will be just as charming when I repeat those sentiments come August. But anyway, he was one excited little boy. We celebrated with an overnight hotel trip, lots of swimming, eating out, ice-cream, new golf clubs, his pick of the dinner menu, and more ice-cream. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Eli, what a huge personality you have. You are loud and strong and can talk just about any of your friends into doing anything you come up with. Already, you are such a leader. You are the best child-negotiator I've ever met and will someday have quite the booming sales career, if you don't end up competing for the MMA championship instead. Your favorite question is "why" and you tell BIG stories, so we know you have a fantastic imagination that will always keep you dreaming. You are tenderhearted and kind, and love to do things that will make people feel happy. You have a keen sense of observation, often complimenting me on a new shirt or the way I've rearranged the pantry. Life is one big race to you, and you are in it to win it. If we give you a task and a timer countdown, you will not disappoint in meeting any goals. God knew that your parents could never be satisfied with a docile, laid-back, shy little boy. And so he gave us you. And we couldn't be more thankful for the amazing kid that you are becoming. You are going to be a world changer, little one.</em></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Happy 5 years! xoxo</em></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5R23M5PXRA/UXXi7puJJrI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/B1cAixCWdpc/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5R23M5PXRA/UXXi7puJJrI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/B1cAixCWdpc/s320/IMG_1417.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgPAtlmPClk/UXXi6cEXJQI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/_Rribbh7eB8/s1600/IMG_1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgPAtlmPClk/UXXi6cEXJQI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/_Rribbh7eB8/s320/IMG_1415.JPG" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HacAH1Qkm_0/UXXi7q04aEI/AAAAAAAAA3k/swbjRSNHsxI/s1600/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HacAH1Qkm_0/UXXi7q04aEI/AAAAAAAAA3k/swbjRSNHsxI/s320/IMG_1423.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-63607534675497252832013-04-02T14:04:00.001-04:002013-04-03T08:54:00.813-04:00Is this thing on?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPrqre1EmOM/UVwmQ5Xp5wI/AAAAAAAAA3A/SPTmw_1hqKI/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPrqre1EmOM/UVwmQ5Xp5wI/AAAAAAAAA3A/SPTmw_1hqKI/s400/IMG_1412.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Since I've fallen way too far behind to give a detailed account of all the happenings in our crazy, busy lives of late, I will borrow from my favorite FOX "News by the numbers" segment and fill you in with just the important stuff.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">147</span>-</strong>is the number of doctor's appointments I have driven Gavin to in his almost 10 short months of life. That is not a typo, I actually went back and counted. Need to be organized much?? This kid has a rap sheet a mile long and just about every specialty and sub-set of medicine has gotten their hands on him at some point.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>6- </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">has been the average number of appointments per week since Gavin was 3 weeks old. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></strong>-is the number of ways I bribe Eli and Norah during above appointments. Tablet games, stickers, and lollipops. Because finding a babysitting 147 times just isn't possible. And they have been amazing through it all.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">52</span></strong>- is the number of days until Gavin's cochlear implant surgery is scheduled. May 24th. We are finally in the home stretch! Praise God.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">100,000</span></strong>- is the average cost of getting bilateral cochlear implants. Thank goodness for insurance, and secondary insurance, and a husband who is gainfully employed to cover the rest.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">65</span></strong>- is the number of days until Gavin turns 1. And what a birthday present he will be receiving. If all goes according to plan, Gavin's implants should be getting activated right around his birthday. He will <em>finally</em> be able to hear us tell him how much we love him. And oh what an earful he is going to get from me!<br />
<br />
And that is the quick and dirty version of a very long and trying past few months. We are thankful for God's leading and the peace we are feeling for Gavin's upcoming surgery. This passage has been my sanity check throughout the uncertainty and fear of this whole process. I hope it can be a blessing in your life as well.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">" Oh people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears you, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it."</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Isaiah 30:19-21</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-50679950381692254192013-03-07T20:38:00.000-05:002013-03-07T20:38:13.156-05:00Baths, and PJ's, and just because I canI realized a few days ago that we've never taken a picture of all 3 kids in the bathtub together. A daily occurrence around here, and one that I admittedly sometimes face with dread after a long day, and a day when the daddy Calvary wont be coming home until after the bedtime routine is finished. But these are the moments- chaotic and tiresome and seemingly endless now- that I will one day look back on with longing. There's just something about deliciously smelling, clean kids in their jammies that makes it nearly impossible not to snuggle them. So here is our last month of PJs, robes, and birthday suits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bqkno7jrywY/UTlAZvNsroI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/_2qh24vnlnY/s1600/IMG_1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bqkno7jrywY/UTlAZvNsroI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/_2qh24vnlnY/s320/IMG_1284.JPG" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPJTudpn2Vw/UTlAcWoeS2I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/TtXsodKoKus/s1600/IMG_1286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPJTudpn2Vw/UTlAcWoeS2I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/TtXsodKoKus/s320/IMG_1286.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-CMY2bV308/UTlAeEjcTwI/AAAAAAAAA1g/uAY9xAfO2II/s1600/IMG_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-CMY2bV308/UTlAeEjcTwI/AAAAAAAAA1g/uAY9xAfO2II/s320/IMG_1288.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZnbvbJYiYs/UTlAfJ0GxCI/AAAAAAAAA1o/xnrXx9nXjjk/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZnbvbJYiYs/UTlAfJ0GxCI/AAAAAAAAA1o/xnrXx9nXjjk/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmgRRYZu0tc/UTlAfDumONI/AAAAAAAAA1s/hSdPvdnREQI/s1600/IMG_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmgRRYZu0tc/UTlAfDumONI/AAAAAAAAA1s/hSdPvdnREQI/s320/IMG_1293.JPG" width="271" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5ik2aQ42xA/UTlAhdOxWeI/AAAAAAAAA14/WUsBVgndKYc/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5ik2aQ42xA/UTlAhdOxWeI/AAAAAAAAA14/WUsBVgndKYc/s320/IMG_1303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcCdJQmaMrQ/UTlAjZK1LUI/AAAAAAAAA2A/JYowBrhssfk/s1600/IMG_1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcCdJQmaMrQ/UTlAjZK1LUI/AAAAAAAAA2A/JYowBrhssfk/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" width="279" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T7gb3U4a3Kk/UTlAju_lWBI/AAAAAAAAA2I/qKzeSBOr3Qc/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T7gb3U4a3Kk/UTlAju_lWBI/AAAAAAAAA2I/qKzeSBOr3Qc/s320/IMG_1307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GACFHOOLB0/UTlAk4fsW0I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/tqbz5siPwqs/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GACFHOOLB0/UTlAk4fsW0I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/tqbz5siPwqs/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJskXP3NAM0/UTlAlthyo2I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/JHVpyf0GCi4/s1600/IMG_1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJskXP3NAM0/UTlAlthyo2I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/JHVpyf0GCi4/s320/IMG_1310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv1tF5Wot5U/UTlAmTziGoI/AAAAAAAAA2g/YcHzt9BzHGM/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv1tF5Wot5U/UTlAmTziGoI/AAAAAAAAA2g/YcHzt9BzHGM/s320/IMG_1333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-29244611365526403752013-03-03T14:02:00.001-05:002013-03-03T14:24:23.715-05:00Bookshelf facelift on the cheapMy in-laws handed down to us a lovely, big book shelf a few years ago when we moved into our house. It is old and sturdy and super heavy and matches our garage sale desk pretty perfectly. I recently reorganized and rearranged our office-heaving and shoving an enormous antique piano, equally enormous desk, and the bookshelf all around the room until I was satisfied. Did I mention John was at work? It always happens that my greatest inspirational moments occur during the day when help (over 3 feet tall) is not available. And being the impatient, independent, type A girl that I am, I can usually figure out a way to muscle through the project alone. Johns never surprised anymore when he walks in the house to find something rearranged, repainted, or removed altogether. It kind of takes some of the fun away.<br />
<br />
But anyways, after rearranging the office to a more pleasing layout, I took another look at our bookshelf and decided that it looked a little bit tired. Should I paint it? Stain it darker? Leave it alone? (ha, that's impossible at this point!) What to do? And then I decided to go with the cheapest, easiest option, and use scrapbook paper to create more visual interest along the back of the shelf. One trip to JoAnn's, 30 pieces of paper, craft glue, and $11 later, I was ready to begin.<br />
<br />
It took a bit longer to finish than I thought, mostly because I picked a pattern that required being matched up exactly. It would be much easier to find a design that is continuous to avoid all of the extra cutting and matching. But the finished result is a nice, refreshing update for the old bookshelf that still has a lot of life left in it. They just don't make furniture like they used to. And for $11, its hard to beat the price!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM-3pS1y5RQ/UTOcjpHzVDI/AAAAAAAABtQ/fJUclBuZ444/s1600/IMG_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM-3pS1y5RQ/UTOcjpHzVDI/AAAAAAAABtQ/fJUclBuZ444/s400/IMG_1316.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bookshelf before...at least the bottom half of it. I dive into projects way too quickly to plan out a proper "before picture"</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9X9JEUiVDs/UTOclbolsfI/AAAAAAAABtY/sObpetl4WFo/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9X9JEUiVDs/UTOclbolsfI/AAAAAAAABtY/sObpetl4WFo/s400/IMG_1322.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All the supplies</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc4cpsm7zj8/UTOcmmDasBI/AAAAAAAABtg/EMTY1bwkrus/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc4cpsm7zj8/UTOcmmDasBI/AAAAAAAABtg/EMTY1bwkrus/s400/IMG_1331.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the updated "after" bookshelf</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7z7Oe6-bShA/UTOcnMAnK_I/AAAAAAAABto/eJwVRIKitz4/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7z7Oe6-bShA/UTOcnMAnK_I/AAAAAAAABto/eJwVRIKitz4/s400/IMG_1330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So much more cheerful and lovely</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-4345637416191769652013-02-14T12:30:00.000-05:002013-02-16T08:08:43.417-05:00Happy Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It may be a Hallmark holiday, but it's a day I will always try to make special for our kids while they are young and under our roof. It's another opportunity to teach them about God's unconditional love for us, show them the tangible love of our family, and demonstrate for them a marriage that- although far from perfect- remembers how important it is to keep the romance alive. Our kids are watching us. And the greatest gift we can give them besides Jesus while they are under our care, is a husband and wife who keep on moving toward each other, and a love that is built on the grace of God. And maybe a few stolen kisses here and there that make them giggle now and will someday soon embarrass the heck out of them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuXoEfskf18/UR94ljcw_lI/AAAAAAAAA0w/15_e5_slDis/s1600/IMG_1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuXoEfskf18/UR94ljcw_lI/AAAAAAAAA0w/15_e5_slDis/s320/IMG_1261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwXvYD5z2Xw/UR94lWNVf7I/AAAAAAAAA0s/YTsCo7uvv0I/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwXvYD5z2Xw/UR94lWNVf7I/AAAAAAAAA0s/YTsCo7uvv0I/s320/IMG_1271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-49955800594209945122013-02-07T14:14:00.000-05:002013-02-07T17:30:37.294-05:008 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy 8 months old to this sweet little one! The time has flown by as well as dragged on painfully slow, depending on which day you are asking me. This handsome boy continues to charm us with his steely blue eyes and ever-emerging personality. He is the world's best snuggler, hands down. Just put him up on your shoulder with a soft blankie and his binkie, and he will mold into the crook of your neck like he's been glued on. It is my favorite thing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I noticed that in most of the pictures I capture now, Gavin is sans hearing aids. That would be the result of two very determined little hands being on continuous ear patrol and immediately ripping off foreign offenders as soon as we get them in place. Usually by the time we turn around, Gavin is happily sucking away on his $3,000 teethers. Its been a bit challenging to say the least.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are keeping busy with multiple weekly doctor's appointments and therapies in preparation for Gavin's upcoming Cochlear Implant surgery, which will hopefully be in June. Eli and Norah have really been troopers through it all as I drag them to doctors all over town in support of getting Gavin the best care that we can. They only want to know 1. "Do they have stickers there?" and 2. "Can we play a game on your phone?" Everything else is pretty okay as long as I answer yes to those questions. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Gavin's genetic testing for hearing loss came back negative, which lets us know that we did not pass on any recessive hearing loss genes to either Gavin, or our other kids. This was a huge relief for me. While it would have been nice to have an answer as to the "why," I can live without that knowing that our kids shouldn't need to worry about this in the future with their own children.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And while I could go on and on with boring details and all the research I've been tackling on hearing loss, Cochlear Implants, surgeries, and the like, I will spare you of all that and just leave you with the cutest little face you're ever going to lay eyes on.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0NkoGcfX4WE/URP3MAVZd4I/AAAAAAAABsc/PZQ9rQCwqEo/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0NkoGcfX4WE/URP3MAVZd4I/AAAAAAAABsc/PZQ9rQCwqEo/s320/IMG_1244.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWGt0NXuovA/URP3OutqlHI/AAAAAAAABsk/-OwvxxI1M18/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWGt0NXuovA/URP3OutqlHI/AAAAAAAABsk/-OwvxxI1M18/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSLkbRIjPy0/URP3Qq7uwoI/AAAAAAAABss/8nljspp7jis/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSLkbRIjPy0/URP3Qq7uwoI/AAAAAAAABss/8nljspp7jis/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BAlTb5qjDpU/URP3Qu7mAtI/AAAAAAAABsw/3F-Df-6Fy2E/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BAlTb5qjDpU/URP3Qu7mAtI/AAAAAAAABsw/3F-Df-6Fy2E/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-17874378041004058172013-01-03T20:53:00.000-05:002013-01-04T22:12:49.489-05:00All Things NewWe finished up 2012 with two lazy and wonderful weeks of celebrating Christmas and spending time with family. John didn't have to report to the office during the holidays and not having him rush off every morning when we've barely just woken up is one of my favorite parts about December. I got to snuggle in bed a little longer and enjoy my morning coffee a few times while he got up with our early birds and fixed breakfast. Ahh, if only it could have lasted forever. Today I was running around like a crazy person trying to get the kids out the door by mid-morning because I apparently have forgotten how to do it by myself. Oh how I miss you already, two-parents-at-home life of leisure.<br />
<br />
Christmas was so fun with such excited little ones and their equally excited cousins.<br />
It just gets better every year. Here are a few of the highlights.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0e4tjlieqI/UOYuCADrmkI/AAAAAAAAAxw/ED0SBf1vU1o/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0e4tjlieqI/UOYuCADrmkI/AAAAAAAAAxw/ED0SBf1vU1o/s320/IMG_1087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn1_RAto7I4/UOYxm0VjqbI/AAAAAAAAAzI/hsoutxwp1bk/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn1_RAto7I4/UOYxm0VjqbI/AAAAAAAAAzI/hsoutxwp1bk/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sN1KHBHRzz0/UOYxm-jD9FI/AAAAAAAAAzM/n7Cl5x-5j_I/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sN1KHBHRzz0/UOYxm-jD9FI/AAAAAAAAAzM/n7Cl5x-5j_I/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jGaGQwDkjI/UOYxnWI_UzI/AAAAAAAAAzU/XDM3ldpF87c/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jGaGQwDkjI/UOYxnWI_UzI/AAAAAAAAAzU/XDM3ldpF87c/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtZ45-pQKnc/UOYt-0sxDII/AAAAAAAAAxI/7V10SfFD2Nk/s1600/012-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtZ45-pQKnc/UOYt-0sxDII/AAAAAAAAAxI/7V10SfFD2Nk/s320/012-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-62B3UsVGXNU/UOYuF2Z-NVI/AAAAAAAAAyg/5mhBs-0RJgA/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-62B3UsVGXNU/UOYuF2Z-NVI/AAAAAAAAAyg/5mhBs-0RJgA/s320/IMG_1117.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsV4hkLRzEc/UOYt_DoKUMI/AAAAAAAAAxM/d8Mf_RXO1Lk/s1600/015-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsV4hkLRzEc/UOYt_DoKUMI/AAAAAAAAAxM/d8Mf_RXO1Lk/s320/015-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFQOPemCeDQ/UOYuAWyAEEI/AAAAAAAAAxY/BJt9YelGuKk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFQOPemCeDQ/UOYuAWyAEEI/AAAAAAAAAxY/BJt9YelGuKk/s320/003.JPG" width="204" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPD-EaCJi9I/UOYuBPMbcYI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yP7t2lRChxk/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPD-EaCJi9I/UOYuBPMbcYI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yP7t2lRChxk/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u6_ktw6Otg/UOYuBYc2bII/AAAAAAAAAxo/-uBghG0_-tI/s1600/232323232%7Ffp734_7_nu=3262_952_588_WSNRCG=3877;2399532_nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u6_ktw6Otg/UOYuBYc2bII/AAAAAAAAAxo/-uBghG0_-tI/s320/232323232%7Ffp734_7_nu=3262_952_588_WSNRCG=3877;2399532_nu0mrj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pocGpG10844/UOYuBQZJ6kI/AAAAAAAAAx0/pBhpNGVsTvw/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pocGpG10844/UOYuBQZJ6kI/AAAAAAAAAx0/pBhpNGVsTvw/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD26UED2E_g/UOYuDDRc2VI/AAAAAAAAAx8/5SNnjYk6qZU/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD26UED2E_g/UOYuDDRc2VI/AAAAAAAAAx8/5SNnjYk6qZU/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-otnEd_J7Q/UOYuDSAzrUI/AAAAAAAAAyE/QwCtnoWoSLM/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-otnEd_J7Q/UOYuDSAzrUI/AAAAAAAAAyE/QwCtnoWoSLM/s320/IMG_1109.JPG" width="259" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qM3WV6xBqw/UOYuD6e8x_I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/sPDUw2gbr1k/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qM3WV6xBqw/UOYuD6e8x_I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/sPDUw2gbr1k/s320/IMG_1114.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uBYjOilMns/UOYuEiR-QcI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Y-XW8_LI0as/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uBYjOilMns/UOYuEiR-QcI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Y-XW8_LI0as/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1605nI9qsdM/UOYuGEOxIjI/AAAAAAAAAyk/lAFdSV4AWqg/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1605nI9qsdM/UOYuGEOxIjI/AAAAAAAAAyk/lAFdSV4AWqg/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" width="257" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXELxIz-8GI/UOYuGRbpFBI/AAAAAAAAAys/jCRjF9Xp56Q/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXELxIz-8GI/UOYuGRbpFBI/AAAAAAAAAys/jCRjF9Xp56Q/s320/IMG_1144.JPG" width="306" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYObkwpCp3s/UOYykEZFY4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/LApyD20zUOQ/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYObkwpCp3s/UOYykEZFY4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/LApyD20zUOQ/s320/IMG_1196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As John and I celebrated New Years this week, we both agreed that we are more than ready to say good-bye to 2012. See ya later! It was a good year, but one with a great deal of sorrow and trials. God has stretched us and tested us, and yet we have found Him to be so faithful and loving to us amidst the heartbreak. We are eagerly anticipating the new things that are coming in the year ahead. The biggest being that Gavin will HEAR this year! Whether God chooses to heal him through His miraculous power or through the medical miracle of cochlear implants, we are giddy with the thought of our son hearing our voices in only a few short months from now. It just can't get here soon enough.<br />
<br />
My verse for this year that God has really been laying heavy on my heart is this:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><em>"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a NEW thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the dessert and streams in the wasteland."</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><em>-Isaiah 43:18,19</em></span><br />
<br />
That is just some powerful scripture, no matter where you find yourself starting out this year. God is going to do big and amazing things, because it's in His nature and, well, He just can't keep Himself from being Himself. He loves us way too much.<br />
<br />
Happy 2013!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-22734544480188906532012-12-16T22:03:00.000-05:002012-12-17T06:34:56.728-05:00We Are FamilyI've got all my sisters with me...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zaiASfDcsE/UM6JwNy6wiI/AAAAAAAAAws/LU54F0A-XZk/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zaiASfDcsE/UM6JwNy6wiI/AAAAAAAAAws/LU54F0A-XZk/s320/IMG_1064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Christmas tradition, the annual Costello sibling's dinner. Hosted to perfection this year by Chris and Rebecca. Well done you two, we were treated to a mouth-watering feast. You make having a 6 week old and throwing a dinner party for 12 look like a cake walk. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-7917356203891121612012-12-09T11:18:00.001-05:002012-12-09T11:18:41.848-05:00Day 18When your kids are too sick to go into the church nursery and your advent calendar's activity of the day is to "set up your Christmas manger" (which you don't have), this is how you spend your Sunday morning improvising:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpc7Yq8O7B8/UMS26uZKHgI/AAAAAAAABrw/jrV2sNAsxqA/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpc7Yq8O7B8/UMS26uZKHgI/AAAAAAAABrw/jrV2sNAsxqA/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmYmW55VokQ/UMS27-6bAfI/AAAAAAAABr4/v3UooyYXyOw/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmYmW55VokQ/UMS27-6bAfI/AAAAAAAABr4/v3UooyYXyOw/s320/IMG_1055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HObLy1z_LSM/UMS28bzAUPI/AAAAAAAABsA/4nYZS40yi9I/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HObLy1z_LSM/UMS28bzAUPI/AAAAAAAABsA/4nYZS40yi9I/s320/IMG_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A big thanks to all the Little People, animals, and construction men for making this scene come alive. And especially to cowboy man, for stepping into the role of baby Jesus. You were the only one small enough to be swaddled in toilet paper and placed in the trough. I'm sure you understand.</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-41053068721426770652012-12-03T22:07:00.000-05:002012-12-04T06:28:01.947-05:006 monthsSo I've apparently gotten into a bit of a writing slump...<br />
<br />
I blame 90% of it on the crazy busy, unending job of feeding and watering 3 little people; and the remaining 10% on my own laziness once those 3 little people finally close their eyes at night. But at least I'm being honest right?<br />
<br />
Life continues on here as the days blur into weeks, which blur into months, which continue through holidays and family feasts, and thankfulness, and replacing pumpkins with garland, and filling up the calendar with so many events you start to sweat a little when you face your Monday morning to-do list. I love this time of year, even more now that Eli and Norah are old enough to be transfixed by all the magic and the twinkling lights. But it does still get a bit overwhelming at times trying to cram it all in.<br />
<br />
Gavin will be 6 months old this week. I would say that the time has flown by, because that's what you're supposed to say as a parent. But sometimes when I look back at all that has happened in our little guy's short life already, it seems much longer. And I don't mean that negatively. Certainly, these months have been emotional, and heart-breaking, and difficult. We would never have chosen to watch our son struggle to hear us, to meet milestones that should come without effort, to deal with an uncertain future. But this boy has wrapped himself so tightly around every inch of our hearts, that it's as if he was never not here. We still are in the waiting phase, faithfully keeping Gavin's hearing aids in for as much of the day as we can, practicing simple sign language with him while we bathe him, play with him, feed him. We still don't know how much language he is getting. We probably wont for a few more months still. And the waiting is so hard.<br />
<br />
But I do know that Gavin (or God rather) is changing me through all of this. I look at Gavin and I see perfection. My mother-bear protective nature over him is something fierce. God has been teaching me so much about my own pride, about waiting for His timing, about releasing the death grip I hold on things I cannot change. And he has also been revealing to me the beautiful heart of the man I married. John cares for Gavin so sweetly, tenderly helping him with his hearing aids, getting up with him during the night, patiently working with him on his development, never complaining about what isn't. I am so thankful for a man who is much stronger than I am at showing grace in difficult circumstances.<br />
<br />
The Bible verse we chose for Gavin's nursery wall when I was pregnant has become the powerful words I pray over him each night when I put him to bed. What a perfect reminder of just how much God thinks of each one of his children.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"The Lord your God is with you.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>He is mighty to save.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>He will take great delight in you,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>He will quiet you with his love,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>He will rejoice over you with singing."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>-Zephaniah 3:17 </b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QfSHd5oEKvc/UL1nQ4Wm7CI/AAAAAAAAAwY/dMPns4w6zbs/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QfSHd5oEKvc/UL1nQ4Wm7CI/AAAAAAAAAwY/dMPns4w6zbs/s320/IMG_0920.JPG" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-41941000946283767222012-10-20T14:29:00.000-04:002012-10-20T15:02:11.508-04:00Fun in the KitchenOne of my New Year's Resolutions for 2012 (yes, I'm a nerd) was to work on being more relaxed and easy-going. Now you may be saying to yourself, "hey, wouldn't an easy-going person NOT make New Year's Resolutions based on the fact that resolving to do something is, in principle, kind of uptight?" And to you I say, "baby steps, my friend, baby steps"<br />
<br />
Anyways, here we are in mid-October and I'm questioning the amount of progress I've made toward my goal. So today, with John working at the office all day and my only plans being to remain in my pajamas for as many hours as possible, I decided it was time to get cool, and be that mess-loving, easy-going mom my kids never knew they were missing out on.<br />
<br />
I saw this idea on Pinterest a while back to create a fun, kid's cooking/baking experience for little ones who love to be involved in the kitchen. And mine do. Whenever I try to sneak away in the afternoon to start whipping up dinner, it's never more than 10 minutes before I have two little helpers sitting Indian-style on the counter arguing about whose turn it is to dump ingredients and whose turn it is to stir. And while its fun bonding for us all, my mild germaphobia along with a tendency to get overwhelmed by a huge mess, make it a continual growing and stretching experience for me personally.<br />
<br />
So for this project, you basically take a muffin tin and fill each cup with all different textures and types of food/spices from your pantry. I used dried rice, marshmallows, spices, pasta, sprinkles, sugar, beans, cinnamon sticks, etc etc. You get the idea, just use whatever you want. Then give each kid a bowl with some flour in it. Spread out measuring cups, spoons, spatulas, whisks, a few spices for shaking and water for mixing, and let the chefs go to town creating whatever their little hearts desire. This blog-which I would link you to if I could only find it again!- suggested putting all supplies in one of those under-the-bed long storage bins to help contain the mess. And I would say this is a must! Thankfully I had one of these bins hanging around still from my college dorm days.<br />
<br />
The kids LOVED this, and once they realized it wasn't actually an all-you-can-eat buffet of "these taste spicy mommy," they got pretty serious about their cooking. They played and played until they had used up all the ingredients and created big soupy, delicious looking concoctions of goop. I convinced them both to taste their yummy creations, to which they both ate heaping spoonfuls, and then quickly spit out in disgust. But I enjoyed a good laugh. It was only once they came up with the brilliant idea to move each other's "soups" back and forth into different containers by scooping it up with their hands that not-so-easy-going mommy came back and we had to call it a day. But it was a great, tactile learning activity for a rainy morning and one that I'm sure they will be begging to do again in the future. And I feel one step closer to being that easy-breezy girl who laughs in the face of that big, giant mess.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhAjvCk-A8U/UILsX2AjIPI/AAAAAAAABo0/QaRksi3Uv1s/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhAjvCk-A8U/UILsX2AjIPI/AAAAAAAABo0/QaRksi3Uv1s/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTUZgd62jtY/UILsZ_FRUZI/AAAAAAAABo8/yHhpj5KUBMw/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTUZgd62jtY/UILsZ_FRUZI/AAAAAAAABo8/yHhpj5KUBMw/s320/IMG_0725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JBfStxtol4/UILscAIrt_I/AAAAAAAABpE/q7Fc0yXqd_8/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JBfStxtol4/UILscAIrt_I/AAAAAAAABpE/q7Fc0yXqd_8/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRs_sY-B3p8/UILvf5TAb6I/AAAAAAAABqM/ZMUjcFp4RSM/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRs_sY-B3p8/UILvf5TAb6I/AAAAAAAABqM/ZMUjcFp4RSM/s320/IMG_0732.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NwvMrl5RsA/UILsfytMtlI/AAAAAAAABpU/n6FtNJNaVjQ/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NwvMrl5RsA/UILsfytMtlI/AAAAAAAABpU/n6FtNJNaVjQ/s320/IMG_0741.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voBhazk4SQU/UILshpjTh1I/AAAAAAAABpk/K2d1TUKGWjI/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voBhazk4SQU/UILshpjTh1I/AAAAAAAABpk/K2d1TUKGWjI/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cS-I8swiDa8/UILsjoTdOJI/AAAAAAAABps/Hn9luAwIXjU/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cS-I8swiDa8/UILsjoTdOJI/AAAAAAAABps/Hn9luAwIXjU/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v78RcQKBmxo/UILslwhc9RI/AAAAAAAABp0/lw277uqiC9U/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v78RcQKBmxo/UILslwhc9RI/AAAAAAAABp0/lw277uqiC9U/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-36924146811808349462012-09-17T22:12:00.001-04:002012-09-18T07:11:42.654-04:00Hearing ClinicToday we took Gavin to Children's Hospital for his first visit with his hearing team. The hearing team consists of an ENT doctor, social worker, Audiologist, case manager, and speech therapist. We will be meeting with this same team every 3 months from here on out, and then additionally with some of the members individually (Audiology & speech therapy) on a monthly basis, which will eventually turn into weekly by 9 months. Along with these appointments, we also have started monthly home visits from an intervention specialist with Help Me Grow as well as monthly home visits from a parent advocate with the Regional Infant Hearing program (RIP). So managing Gavin's schedule has become a full-time job and I'm thinking about hiring a personal assistant for him to help me keep it all straight.<br />
<br />
We switched ENT doctor's after our initial visit in July based on the recommendation of several people, as well as my strong dislike of doctor #1 and I am so glad we did. The doctor we met with today was kind and patient with us, even as I drilled him with my long list of questions and concerns. He sat down (imagine that!) and didn't even interrupt me mid-sentence, which was very refreshing. We met with all the other members of the team after him, who gave us helpful tips on interacting and parenting Gavin in ways that will give him the most benefit with his hearing.<br />
<br />
Basically, we are in a watching and waiting period with Gavin. Because he is only 3 months old and will mimic the vocalization and developmental skills of normally hearing babies up until 6 months, our goal right now is to give him as much exposure to sound as possible-even though we have no idea how much he is actually hearing. The more consistent we are with keeping his hearing aids on during waking hours, (despite their inconvenience and challenges), the more exposure the speech and language centers of his brain will have and the better chances he has of developing normal communication skills as he grows. When Gavin is between 6-9 months old and can sit on our lap unassisted and has good head control, we will be able to have his hearing tested much more accurately in a sound booth and will know how much benefit he is getting from the aids. And although I never wish for my babies to grow up quickly, I am anxious for this time to come so that we will actually know <i>something</i>.<br />
<br />
Gavin will also be scheduled for a CT scan and genetic marker blood test in the next couple of weeks in order for the Doc to *hopefully* be able to determine the cause of his hearing loss. It wont change the course of treatment for him at this point, but its something that we just really <i>need</i> to know for our own peace of mind.<br />
<br />
And while we wait, we continue to pray healing over Gavin daily. Our hearts long for the day when God opens up his ears and restores our son to perfect health. Because no matter how big this all seems, our God is still bigger. Much, much bigger.<br />
<br />
So that is the latest of the happenings with our sweet boy. Are you worn out yet?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GoxSL9aebU/UFfXq4_8FCI/AAAAAAAAAv8/b317ItErW-o/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GoxSL9aebU/UFfXq4_8FCI/AAAAAAAAAv8/b317ItErW-o/s320/IMG_0392.JPG" width="296" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493323522987329532.post-83143463490707235742012-09-16T21:21:00.001-04:002012-09-16T21:21:39.598-04:00S'mores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It may have taken us until September, but we finally got around to making s'mores out back with the kids this summer. Just wanted to document this accomplishment. Turns out Graham crackers taste pretty stale when you're still holding onto last year's box. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OJyRP70omk/UFZ48My-ILI/AAAAAAAABoM/7XlRyK9V_tU/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OJyRP70omk/UFZ48My-ILI/AAAAAAAABoM/7XlRyK9V_tU/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZE4Ljyg0KQ/UFZ4-eby06I/AAAAAAAABoU/1V8AsM2SvJk/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZE4Ljyg0KQ/UFZ4-eby06I/AAAAAAAABoU/1V8AsM2SvJk/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gx4yDGGhCNU/UFZ5AYM8qtI/AAAAAAAABoc/ORRuxKZXxWc/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gx4yDGGhCNU/UFZ5AYM8qtI/AAAAAAAABoc/ORRuxKZXxWc/s320/IMG_0671.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16299627446834274139noreply@blogger.com0