America the Beautiful

Status on this day in 2010:  "Stacia LOVES this country, all it stands for, it's freedoms, and all those who sacrifice for it!"

Today:
 "Since I was a little girl, the Star Spangled Banner has given me chills. It was the first song I sang to my children and will make me tear up everytime. There are no words to describe the feelings I feel for this country, for our founding fathers, for the sacrifices that so many servicemen, women, and their families make, for the freedoms that we so often take for granted, for those lost on Sept 11th, for so many heroes, and for those who live on. God Bless America!"

Our Sweet Little Miss

Arahlee Jayde

joined our family

February 28th, 2011

at 7:03pm

7 lbs 8.5 oz
19 1/2 in

She has been such a sweet little addition to our family and of course, the boys just can't get enough of her or give her enough kisses. (Especially her smitten daddy.)
We are so grateful she made it here healthy and safe!

I feel something should probably be documented about this pregnancy. And being that I still have not taken a single belly picture, this will have to do. Oh, and since I got in trouble for not letting either of my sisters know what is going on, here's the latest....

Around 32 weeks I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. It is considered a mild case but regardless, my dr won't let me go past 38 weeks. Of course, I already felt like it was coming way too soon so I was not thrilled with the idea of her coming early. In the meantime, I go have NSTs twice a week, an ultrasound once a week, bloodwork and other tests done once a week, and a dr's appt once a week. Super, huh?  There have been a few little scares here and there but when Little Miss was measured via ultrasound at 34 weeks she was around 4 lbs 5 oz and healthy. I was given steroid shots to help her lungs develop in case I don't make it to 38 weeks.  Since I have had a c-section previously, my dr won't start me but he did say he would strip my membranes twice that week  and then break my water to see if my body would do anything. If not, I will have to have a c-section. Nate will be out of town training a new hire that week so hopefully she'll wait until he gets back! Until this pregnancy I loved being pregnant. I don't know if it's the fact that it's a different gender, the lack of recovery time in between pregnancies, or that I'm getting older but this one has just been difficult. I hate to say it, but I'll be glad when it's over. 
I cannot wait to meet this little miss, hold her in my arms, and paint her fingernails. :) Tayv is so excited to have a little sister and Tahn repeatedly pats my belly while saying baby. It makes my heart happy.
Mostly, I'm just grateful right now to know that things will work out the way they're supposed to when they are supposed to. We've been so blessed with healthy, happy children and are at peace with how this baby is developing and all that has happened.

It's Christmas Night...

It's Christmas Night

By: Max Lucado

It’s Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den. Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards, tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of Christmas day.

It’s Christmas night. What a day it has been! Spiced tea. Santa Claus. Cranberry sauce. “Thank you, so much.” “You shouldn’t have!” “Grandma is on the phone.” Knee-deep wrapping paper. “It just fits.” Flashing cameras. It’s Christmas night. The girls are in bed. Jenna dreams of her talking Big Bird and clutches her new purse. Andrea sleeps in her new Santa pajamas. It’s Christmas night. The tree that only yesterday grew from soil made of gifts, again grows from the Christmas tree stand. Presents are now possessions. Wrapping paper is bagged and in the dumpsite. The dishes are washed and leftover turkey awaits next week’s sandwiches.

It’s Christmas night. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeer.

It’s Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop watches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips. And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem’s mystery is in reality, a reality. “Come and behold him” we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them toward the Christ-child.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty. All of a sudden he’s everywhere. In the grin of the policeman as he drives his paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.

In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children. In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas. He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes. And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.” Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin — lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half-price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?

Merry Christmas! May joy, love, laughter, and most importantly, the love of our Savior be with you now and always!

This tender little heart....

I've always struggled to describe Tayvin's tender little heart. He is what I need when I'm upset because he can give the most innocent compassion. My mom has always told me that I was the same way and I feel like, unfortunately, I've let the world get to me and corrupt it. When I see somebody hurt or embarrassed or in need, I hurt with them. And I WANT to do something. But I over analyze and can't decide what to do. So I do nothing. But not my sweet Tayv.... he just doesn't care what others think. Tonight reminded me of his innocent heart of gold.
We were watching Toy Story 3 when all of the sudden he just started crying. I say crying but it was really hysterical bawling. He couldn't stop, he couldn't breathe, and he had no idea what was wrong. 10 minutes later when I got him calmed down, he finally figured out what was wrong. He was sad "because the baby in the movie wanted it's mommy and didn't get her."  :)
It made me want to cry thinking about what the world will probably do to my sweet little boy. So now I'm on a mission. More than I ever have been, to make sure that he is always confident enough to really care about people and to use this gift he's been given.

Grateful

I've been thinking lately about how differently our attitudes affect the outcome of situations and how they affect our view on our lives. So I've been working on my attitude. :) Since I don't write in my journal, I'll be documenting here my feelings and most especially the things I'm grateful for...

Today, I am grateful for these sweet spirits that my Father in Heaven has entrusted me with and for all that I've learned from the amazing experience of being a mother.  I'm also grateful for the sweet baby that is on it's way to our family.