Daily Life

So I am so far behind, but my friend, Lauren, had a great idea: to post a picture a week of everyday life. I am hoping to use that idea as well to remember every day life as it is. So this is tonight. On their own volition, the kids put sunglasses on before bed. Also tonight, Zach rolled over from his front to back...what?!

Zach Pics

Zach is 1 1/2 weeks here...I am just getting around to blogging them! Thanks, Rafa, for the great shots!

Halloween

We had so much fun on Halloween due to the Banz's lending us their costumes. Our neighborhood was hilarious with bond fires and the streets were filled with neighbors. We didn't get to too many houses because we just hung out with neighbors! Thank you, Julia, for the great outfits! Grandma even got dressed up in a pumpkin outfit, but Elli started screaming that her G-ma had a stick for a face!

Zachary Jonathan

I am teary-eyed writing this blog as I think of what a big little blessing God added to our lives this week. He is a treasure. Tuesday I went in for a planned C-section due to complications with Elli that we didn't want repeated and it sure wasn't! How fun, to joke with the nurses and doctors while they prep and deliver:) I had a fabulous OB who prayed for us before we went into the OR and was just so tentive to making sure things went smoothly. The delivery went pretty well except it took 7 tries to get an IV and then it infiltrated during surgery so I did get into a bit of hypovolemic shock (low blood pressure) and started vomiting and started fading. But the docs were quick to get me feeling better quick and no other problems. I was pretty drowsy the rest of the day due to those meds, but got to enjoy Zach throughout the day.
But due to Zach having a different blood type than what I have, he has a very high risk to severe jaundice. By day 2, his billi was really high and he had to stay in a photo bed the rest of the hospital stay. The only time I could hold him was 1/2 hour every couple of hours to quickly get enough food in him. It was so stressful because when he was out of his "billi bed" he just wanted to snuggle and sleep because he cried a lot in the bed. I was supposed to get my milk in fast via pumping or giving supplement and then try and make him eat during those allotted times. Needless to say I was in tears quite a bit. By Friday, his billi went down enough for us to take him home (and out of that bed) and it's hard to put him down now! He just loves being talked to and eats like a champ! I can't get enough of that guy!
His name...we went to the hospital without a clear choice of his name! We put so much into a name and nothing was working for both of us. In fact his name was Josiah for a lot of the hospital stay. But as Paul researched Biblical characters and meanings, etc., Zachary was chosen because of Zechariah in the Bible (the prophet and John's father) as well as his name means "God has not forgotten". When we were going through those years of infertility, some of our friends really felt that God laid it on their heart that we would have a birth son. We did, too. We feel like Zach is another example of how God remembers and keeps his promises. Jonathan was actually easy to pick because of Dawson meaning "David" and how David and Jonathan were best friends in the Bible. We hope that is the scenerio at our house as well. Jonathan means "Gift from God" and that is exactly who is he is. A very sweet gift from God. Not one we had "planned", but an amazing gift. Plus he has to have a "j" middle name!
That is the story of our sweet blessing and speaking of Zach...he is hungry!

Zach's First Day Home...SNOW!

We woke up to inches of snow on Saturday! Dawson has never seen snow, but absolutely loved it! With the help of Grandpa and Daddy, our first snowman of the year was built. We had to take Zach to the hospital to get some labs drawn, so he was stylin' it with fleece.

Finally...an Update

Ok, so we finally found a home and our stuff is "moved in", not that it's organized as organizing with 3 toddlers and in the last month of pregnancy is not recommended. Dad and Mom came out for a week to help with the move which was a HUGE help! We fell in love with this house due to neighborhood (close to home school cottage program, walk to restaurants and parks), friends of ours live a few doors down, the views of the mountains and the backyard is a forest...literally. At first we were not sure about it because the city said we cannot cut down any trees in our backyard, but the kids love "going on a nature walk" in the back yard.

I have to admit, it's been a rough road, though God has paved his way through it all. He has provided much grace when I am so exhausted and Paul has been an amazing husband and father. In 2 weeks, we get to meet our sweet baby boy (via planned c-section) and though this pregnancy is pretty rough, I hope baby waits the 2 weeks until we meet because of all the projects and time I want to spend with the kids. We are loving the weather and the community of Colorado Springs, though we miss our dear friends/family in Texas as well as wish we had family closer by. Elli misses her grandparents and cousins. Our next post will probably include a sweet little guy...

Family PIcs

The other day we went to the park with Rafa and he took some fun pics. And yes, here is one of my ever growing belly! Have I mentioned lately how HARD it is to get 3 toddlers to cooperate with pics?