Three little angels

Not sure where to even start with this post but after a wonderful week in Colorado this week has seemed to be all a blur. We came home and on Monday I had an appointment with the specialist for the baby. My babysitter fell through, so I had both kids with me. I knew almost immediately that something was wrong. Long story short, the baby stopped growing at 8 weeks and there was no heartbeat. I was just devastated----but thankfully, I looked to my right to see 2 of the most beautiful miracles with me, and in some ways I was glad they were there.

Chris rushed to the hospital and we had some sweet cries together as a family. Mary Cate even said-----no more baby mommy.....maybe next time. Well, I am not so sure about that, but it was sweet none the less.

Chris and I have so many questions, that will probably go unanswered, but we are grappling together and hoping that we can come out of this stronger. This is our third miscarriage and I think I have come to the conclusion that I am just not one of those people that was made for pregnancy. None the less my two sweet girls have brought me more joy in the past 2 days than I ever thought they could. I look forward to the day when I can hold the three sweet angels we have lost throughout the year

The fallout only continued to get somewhat worse. I had the option of taking medication that would hopefully he;p the miscarriage along or set up an appointment for a DNC. We opted for the DNC but could not get on the schedule until next Monday. Neither of us wanted to wait, so I took the medication last night and that may have been a mistake. Long story short, I ended up passing out three times before Chris decided we needed to get to the hospital immediately---he actually admitted had he not been so scared, he probably should have called 911 the first time it happened. I got an emergency DNC this morning and was resting comfortably at home by 9am.

I have never been more amazed by my supportive husband who was up all night loving me through this awful process. I am thankful for the great treatment I received and I honestly feel great tonight. I will continue to take it easy through tomorrow, but was told that the recovery should be somewhat easy, which I am finding. Of course we still grieve our loss, but rejoice in MC and Maggie who have eased this blow.

Not a whole lot else is new around here, thankfully. We are all ready for a calm and relaxing sring. Enjoy these pics, as Chris's computer is finally back AGAIN!!!

Big Maggie's visit----she came bearing presents, which is MC's FAVORITE

Look at my new apron----now lets make some cupcakes---thanks Aunt Madalyn

Ready to cook

Big Maggie did not get a whole lot of time with her goddaughter Maggie---MC was in LOVE

preparing the pans

These were some chocolates we got at a local chocolate store-----SOOOO PRETTY AND SO YUMMY

A little one on one for little Mags

St. Patricks Day----I have visions of them being the best of friends

Kisses

Going out on our 5 year anniversary

Look---I can hold my puffer all by myself

So pappa Denny taught MC how to shake out the garbage bag and she taught Maggie---now they do it together when they finish breakfast

This is so much FUN

Still trying to unpack from Colorado---Maggie loves to play in the suitcase

I could just eat her up

Wrap up of our trip

I am back from our getaway, and it only continued to get better from my last post. I really can't begin to put in words how refreshing and energizing it was. I hope that we can continue to make it a priority for our marriage and our family. We did not bring our camera, so the only picture I have is below....Chris took it with his phone so it is not that great.

Chris stayed a few extra days and had the chance to go skiing at Breckenridge and then golf today. He has continued to have a fabulous time, and I am so glad he got some good time with some of our good friends out that way.

It was so WONDERFUL to see the girls when I got home. I got home late on Thursday night and MC got up in the middle of the night---she was shocked to see me, but I could not have asked for a better greeting. And nothing ever beats Maggie's smile first thing in the morning.

The original plan was that MC was going to stay with our friends the Johnson's and Maggie as going to stay with Auntie Trista...who, bless her soul was on Spring break from law school. Trista had planned on going to her best friend Lona's house with Maggie---Lona has kids the same age as my kids. Well as luck would have it----last Sunday MC came down with a fever and we left her puking at Mema and Grandad's house. Long story short Mema took the entire week off of school and stayed home with MC so that the Johnson kids would not get sick. In an effort to help out, Auntie Trista stayed at Mema and Grandad's house as well. We owe them all our life. It was so kind and generous of everyone to pitch in so that we could relax and reconnect. To add to the drama on Monday morning, we called when we landed in Denver only to be informed that Maggie had already been to the Emergency Room. She had a sudden allergic reaction to something and had to get a shot and some medication. Everything was fine but poor Auntie Trista had to deal with the stress of it all. After the week, I am pretty sure I heard her say that Bagdhad was a walk in the park compared to watching the two kids :)!!!! She is an Angel to have given up her vacation for us and we are so thankful!! Enjoy the pics.

Chris at the top of a double black diamond---what a freakin stud

This is me right outside on the porch of where our room was

Break away

I have been wanting to post for the past two days and time has not allowed. Chris and I left Monday morning for our very first trip away from our children. Young Life has a benefit for all full time staff that allows you and your spouse to go to a marriage conference once a year, all expenses paid. You are free to go to anyone you want, but they do offer 2 a year at one of their properties in Colorado. We have been trying to find one that would work into our schedule for the past year and nothing worked out. We were on a waiting list for this one and like I said, got the call about month ago that a spot opened up. We were so excited. I quickly arranged for childcare, was so organized and we were ready to head off to the mountains.

The trip has been unbelievable. I am not sure where to even start. The plane ride was heavenly---are you kidding me....not one child??? Going through security was a BREEZE, and I even bought a trashy magazine to read. Can't remember the last time I did this. When we got into Denver we met some great old friends from our small group when we were first married. It was

so refreshing and fun to eat a meal at the same time and not worry about feeding kids or juggling high chairs.....hold for one minute, breakfast in bed just arrived.

....DELISH!! So then we headed 3 hours southwest of Denver to Buena Vista Colorado which is right in the middle of the collegiate mountain ranges. We showed up at a Young Life camp and have been treated like royalty ever since. All the little things that have fallen into place have made our time perfect and SOOOOO refreshing. WHen we got our rental car, we had paid for a full size car. The man who was helping us said that they would have to upgrade us since they were out of full size cars, and Chris got his dream car, a hard top jeep wrangler. At camp we ended up in special housing where we got a king size bed, which was such a treat.

The weather has been perfect, it even snowed a little yesterday, which made me so happy. We have had the opportunity to hear from experts on parenting, marriage and continuing to keep our relationship and family focused on God. It has been nothing but wonderful. We feel so blessed and privledged to be a part of this amazing community that not only cares for us, but for the health of our family. We are relaxed and getting filled up, ready to get back and see those 2 sweet girls we miss so much.

I will write another blog in the future about how the girls are doing while we are here, it hasn't been roses but we are trying not to let that ruin our time and knowing and trusting that they are always safe in God's hands!!

Wish I had the time to share so much more. Sitting in bed looking out our front porch sliding glass door right now and 2 deer are just walking around. The backdrop of the mountains is amazing. Tonight we get to dress up and have a fancy dinner----will share more later, just wanted to check in!! I wish everyone I knew had the opportunity to do something like this, I believe we will do everything we can to make it a habit!!

Ode to Coach Guttery

Many of you may remember the kind words I had for Coach Guttery last year at the end of the basketball season, if not you can refer back to the post last March. I don't have as many words for him this year and the title of this entry would be more accurate if it was dedicated to Fort Myers athletic department, but I like tradition and so I thought I owed it to Scott.

I wasn't sure what this season would bring. With Chris heading up the JV team we mostly went to those games, which were a lot less crowded and for the most part the girls did pretty well......but then there was the end of the season. I was thankful that the playoff games began at 7pm, instead of 7:30pm. This made it more convenient for my girls to make it through the entire game. I am sure they were thinking of me when they scheduled them.

The end of the season was perfect timing in the life of my children.....MaryCate was just potty trained, which is really convenient in a high school gym. I would run her and Maggie to the bathroom, and lifting her onto a toilet with Maggie in my arms was a piece of cake, especially since Maggie is so light these days. I guess I could have set Maggie down----NASTY!! Chris would always mention that I could use Coach Guttery's office-----sure in the middle of the second quarter, I'll just lean over the bench and kindly ask him for his keys. I am sure he would oblige.

Bleachers are awesome places to hang out with 2 1/2 year olds who loves to climb and hate being close to their mother. I wasn't so worried about her, but I am pretty sure that the people around me thought I was so irresponsible. I had no choice but to let her go. Don't get me wrong, I know what she is capable of, and she has a lot more balance than it looks like, but I could have caused a few gray hairs in some folks around me.

Then there is Coach Guttery's kids. They are wonderful and MaryCate is enthralled by them. She seems to think that they are her best friends and I am pretty sure she just annoys them as they are almost 3-4 years older than her. Now I get that they have done their time and probably gone through all these things that i am going through years ago, but when I see them with a simple notebook and a pen, entertained throughout an entire game, I cannot help but get a little jealous. If I gave Maggie a notebook she would eat every page of it. Mary Cate would love to color....for about 5 seconds. She would put one mark on each page and be so over it.

Parking is my last grievance. I get that this team is good---they have a BIG following, great. I do my best to get out the door in plenty of time so I can make it to the game. But it never fails. I am leaving and MC has to go potty. Then I am loading up Maggie and she has a poopy diaper. Then MaryCate needs a snack and a sippy cup, and she just ate dinner....ok you get it, I never leave when I want to. So I get there and I literally park what feels like a mile away. Maybe that is an exaggeration but when you are carrying a 23 pound beautiful girl and dragging the sweetest little 2 1/2 year old who refuses to hold your hand in the parking lot it feels like MILES!

I can only hope that with time it will get easier. I am sure next season I will have it down and it will be a breeze. Let's see, when are try-out's........end of October, oh no, that is when we are due with baby #3, I have been assured that try-out's aren't until the first week of November. PERFECT

GO GREEN WAVE