A wonderful gift

Make that two wonderful gifts I have this holiday season! I know my last post was sort of a bummer-that's what happens when you're just in 'that' mood. Last week was rough. My mom's dog was suddenly gone, we had the first taste of what holidays will be like without my little brother (though we couldn't be more proud of him), and Spencer had his ECHO last week which showed that his PFO is still present (which is probably what really brought about my mood). Since there was a holiday last week, we still haven't heard the actual results from the ECHO. We are only hoping right now that there has at least been some improvement and that it is at least starting to close on its own. Hopefully, we'll hear this week because I'm going nuts worrying about it! Anyway, I have decided to focus all of my energy on the beautiful family that I am blessed to have. My kids amaze me with something new everyday and I couldn't be more thankful for that! One of the most awesome things about my kids is seeing them together. Avery is absolutely the most wonderful big sister and Spencer looks up to her so much (both figuratively and literally!).

After bath time...can you believe the jammies Spencer is sporting are the very same ones Avery wore just last winter??!! He is growing too fast!

Avery was showing Spencer how to color (Aunt Beth and Uncle Dave, she is obsessed with this gift from you!).

Moments before I took this picture, Avery was holding Spencer's hand. It was the most incredibly sweetest thing ever! I am so lucky!!

In a mood...

Have you ever just been in a certain mood that you can't shake?? Ugh, I have been in one of those lately. Maybe it's all of the talk of the holidays. Most of my family knows, I'm not a huge fan of Christmas. I know, gasp, right? There's just something about the holiday that I get all scroogey about. I'm really trying to be more in the "spirit," for my kids, but it's not working so far. Maybe it's because Artie and I don't have all of the traditional 'close-nit' family warmth to make me cherry during the holidays. Or maybe, it's all the 'crazies' that go nuts with the shopping "spirit" and forget to stop and think about what Christmas should be (*I do not mean offense to those 'crazies' that possibly enjoyed the adrenaline of sales this past Friday. I too am a sucker for bargains. I am simply referring to those that possibly over extend themselves, become nasty with fellow shoppers, try to outdo others, etc.).

I do know that I can't wait to get 2009 over with. The year has been unbelievably rough for us and I'm hoping 2010 brings many more positive things. Plus, a whole new tennis season will start in January and I can't wait! Though I'm really looking more forward to Christmas being over than actually getting here, I do have much to be thankful for this year and that's what I will focus on. Avery's definitely old enough to understand getting gifts and such, so this year we are really going to try and start working with her on more of the giving aspect. We will be cleaning out old toys and clothes and donating them. And giving old blankets and sheets to the animal shelter. We're going to put Christmas decorations up today, which, I do like pretty decorations at the holidays (the tree ornaments are my favorite-most of them have such great memories):) I absolutely think the holidays can be a great thing-so I'm hoping you're all finding your little secrets to starting yours off wonderfully!! Okay, that concludes the bah hum bug tone of this post...

Moving on. It seems the kids this week have changed by leaps and bounds. It is really incredible how fast they are both growing up. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a small gathering at my mom's house, very nice-though she lost her beloved dog, Simon, a few days before to complications from diabetes and it was very sad not having him begging for leftovers:( Jake was also very missed, of course. We're counting down the days until he flies home on the 18th (a bonus of the holiday season this year!). I was also lucky enough to get to talk to Jake this week. He's very sick so any prayers his way for a quick recovery would help, I'm sure:)!! Being sick can't possibly be very fun when you're in basic training. I'm just a worried big sister because I know that he doesn't have a chance to rest and take care of himself like he should-and he's too stubborn to get any sort of medical treatment (though I do understand why). Other than being sick (and having excruciating blisters from his boots) he has a great attitude and seems to be doing pretty well. Anyway, the winter weather has finally set in-I was so enjoying the extended fall season! The skies are grey, the temp is cold, the air is wet. However, it is a great time for yummy soups and warm, cozy jammies:)! And, for some growing up to occur-my children are going to emerge from this winter season completely different kids!!

My big girl showing some artistic skills while painting a picture to send to Uncle Jake.

This is just hilarious. Avery started doing her version of pushups while Artie was doing his:)

This was my big guy's very first introduction to a sippy cup! He isn't a champ at it or anything yet, but at least he will take liquid from it!

Since I was taking a picture of Spencer during lunch, Avery insisted I take one of her too! She is almost completely off the sippy cup, such a big girl:) And, has been requesting soup for lunch a lot lately!!

Spencer eating his fruits and veggies in the highchair, ahem, I mean Avery's seat that we bought her last year in Charleston because we didn't pack one. She's a little confused on why he gets to use her beloved "Tigger and Pooh" seat-but it's a great way to teach her about sharing.

Here's another hand me down from Avery-the cart cover. So, if we thought we'd be using this again with, say, a boy, we might not have purchased a pink one for Avery. No matter, Spencer could care less what color it is. He likes it because it's cushy and holds toys for him to play with. Such a big boy, this happened to be his first ride in the front of the shopping cart, he has just plain outgrown his baby carrier:(!!

Enjoy the first week of December!

6 Month Old Baby in Da House!!

Mr. Spencer turned 6 months old Friday and we celebrated by having a great check up at the doctor!! Since Spencer's had his "ordeal," going to the doctor with him is a real stresser. But, the little man is doing really well (thankfully!). We are going to schedule a follow up ECHO to check on the PFO murmur that he was born with, but the doctor did not hear it at this check up or his four month check up...but, we're going to be sure and have it checked. So here are his latest stats: weight-16 lbs. (25th percentile), length-26 1/4 inches (30th percentile) and head-17 1/4 inches (50th percentile). In other Spencer happenings, he is now on only 3 meals and 2 naps a day:) He is sleeping 12 hours every night and eating like a champ! He now gets cereal and fruit for breakfast, fruit and veggie for lunch and dinner to go along with his formula. He is absolutely loving his food and we have had to majorly stock up because he is eating at least two #2's at each meal!!

Yay for the ducky tub! Avery loved this tub, and this week, we put Spencer in it for the first time-he loved it because he could kick! By the way, check out that scar now (if you can find it!!) compared to this. Isn't it amazing how well babies heal!

We took the kids to the park today because it got in the 50's and Avery was in some serious need of fresh air (the kid is nuts right now!!) So, here is Spencer enjoying his first swing:)

Now, this is what enjoying the swing really looks like!

Such a big girl now at the park.

She was just too stinkin' adorable:)

Tunnel time...there was a time when Avery wouldn't step foot in these, now she just loves going through them (especially if mommy or daddy are at the other end!).

Spencer's first trip down the slide...he really didn't know what to think!

I have made it through the first week with Jake gone. I am becoming more adjusted to the idea of him as a soldier, but it is still a bit surreal. If you didn't get to see my update on the last blog, Jake is in Oklahoma instead of Missouri, but he seems to be doing really well. I have gotten to talk to him since he's been there and he seems to really be falling into his routines and making friends quickly. He is supposed to start actual basic on Wednesday (he is currently in "reception" where they learn all of the formations and chants and do all of the medical work ups, sign paperwork and get all of their military uniforms), however, there is a chance that if he is not in the first 500 in the alphabet that are there, he won't get to start until January! That would be a real bummer so we're hoping he's in that first 500 (though with a last name beginning with R, I'm not sure if his odds are good). We're so proud of Uncle Jake in this house and can't wait to see him in his uniform at Christmas:)!!

Saturday, I got a much needed break from my awesome (but tiring) kids. So, Artie and I headed out to see New Moon. I liked it, but Artie was a bit confused (even though he'd seen Twilight). I think that it follows the book well, but if you haven't read the book you may have a hard time tying things together without being able to fill in the holes (from what you know from the book). But for fans of the book, it was great!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

In the Army Now

*UPDATE, Monday, 11-16: Well the military has already thrown Jake a curve ball! As I said in the original post, he was due to leave today for basic in Missouri. Well, first, there was a problem with the computer system in Indiana so he (and all the others with him) couldn't be officially processed to leave. So, he will be leaving tomorrow. The second change is that instead of going off to Missouri, Jake will now be at Fort Sill in Oklahoma! Guess we'll have to be saving up for those plane tickets to attend his graduation instead of just driving!! So, since he wasn't leaving until tomorrow, Artie and I packed up the kids and headed down this afternoon for a few hours to take his mind off things and get him to eat (he hadn't eaten since Saturday because he was so nervous). It was nice to see him one final time and we took him his cell phone so he can at least have that when he flies home for Christmas. So, we're learning very quickly that things can change at any time when you're in the military!!

Oh man, I'm filled with emotions this morning as I post this. I just got back from watching my brother's van pull out of Fort Wayne, headed for Indy where Jake will depart to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri (on probably his first plane ride). Thanksgiving will feel pretty empty this year without him, but thankfully he gets a break from basic and will be home for 2 weeks at Christmas before heading back to finish up the first of the year. After basic, Jake will be home for a few days before a 5 month sting at Georgia's Fort Gordon for his AIT training...then, well of course we don't know what happens after that. Will he deploy? Where will he be stationed? Just don't know. For now, we get to focus on seeing him in 4 weeks for the holidays:) I miss him already.

Here we are this morning before our goodbye. The cutest thing was that as Jake was walking to his shuttle, Avery called after him and went running to him saying, "Uncle Jake, Uncle Jake" for one last hug and kiss goodbye.

A little family pic of us in front of our house yesterday (yes, it was warm enough in Indiana for RT to be wearing a T-shirt!!)

The whole family for a group shot after lunch to celebrate our last day with Jake:)

The rest of the pictures are just some shots from this week.
This is my little guy trying to crawl-slow down already Mr. Spencer!! But, he sees his sister running all over the place and just wants to do what she does so badly!

Avery enjoying Spencer's bumbo-so hilarious that she fits in this thing and loves to sit in it!

Spencer is enjoying some saucer time here-watching some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which he apparently loves! And yes, Halloween lives on in our household (thanks for the shirt Aunt Cindy!)...but hey, he isn't going to be able to wear it next year so while it still fits-he wears it (Avery's still rockin' her Halloween jammies and clothes/socks too!).

Happy Sunday:)

Baptism, Miracle Man Style

That's right, Spencer was finally baptized today:) Don't be upset if you didn't get an invite...it would be because we didn't send any out! We nearly had Spencer baptized in the hospital, on a few occasions, but decided to hold off in hopes of having it in the same church we were married and had Avery's baptism. He's nearly 6 months old and we finally got to have it! Jake and Cim (my brother and sister) are his sponsors, and since Jake leaves next Sunday for basic, we wanted to have it this weekend before he left.

I had tears in my eyes today as he was being baptized and thinking about when Pastor came to see him in the hospital. He was so sick and we were such scared parents thinking we might lose our beautiful son. Today, Pastor wouldn't have known he had been such a sick boy if he hadn't seen it for himself! Since Spencer is older than most babies when they get baptized, he's a bit heavier to hold and didn't fit in the traditional outfit! Plus, when Pastor was holding his hand over Spencer, Spencer grabbed it and put it in his mouth:) It was so cute.

So far, as time has gone by, the pain of what happened to Spencer hasn't eased at all. There hasn't been a day go by that something hasn't triggered a painful memory from the 6 weeks we spent in the hospital. I'm not so sure time will ever heal this wound. As a mom, I feel an enormous amount of guilt because I should have known my baby was sick while I was carrying him. I don't think I have ever publicly shared this, but what happened to Spencer should have never happened at all. At my 8 week lab draw (yes, the appointment you first go to before you ever see the doctor), it was detected that I carried the anti-E antibody (It's a minor group incompatibility like the Rh- one everyone is familiar with only much more rare). Very complicated, but basically Avery and I had a blood incompatibility and I developed antibodies to fight it. Then, Spencer had the same antigen in his blood Avery did that was incompatible with my blood. Since I already had the antibodies built up, they attacked him. For 30 weeks, this information sat in my chart, unknown to my doctor because the person that read the results signed off on them. I carried a high risk pregnancy to term without ever knowing anything was wrong. Had someone read my results thoroughly and saw this, I would have been monitored by a specialist the entire time and other measures would have been taken to avoid what ended up happening to Spencer. What's done is done and we are trying to move forward, but knowing that my baby and I didn't receive the best care in the hands we trusted during a delicate time, makes the healing process much tougher.

Then, there was a beautiful day like today-literally. It's 70 degrees and sunny here in Indiana, in November!! We couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day. Watching Spencer get baptized was such a wonderful moment. It was a wonderful moment with Avery too. But Spencer is our Miracle Man. Things could have been so much worse than they were, but a miracle let my little boy stay with me. I couldn't be more thankful. He is the most wonderful addition to our family. Spencer Cole, it is truly an honor to get to be your mom, I love you baby boy:)

Here we are with Pastor Al:) Notice Spencer opted for a shirt and tie with khakis instead of the traditional garb...he did have cute little white socks with a cross on them:)

Just the 4 of us:) Aunt Beth & Uncle Dave, I know this isn't the best picture to tell, but Avery is wearing the beautiful pink dress you got her!!

Us with Spencer's sponsors, Aunt Cimmy and Uncle Jake.

Avery wanted in on this one:)

Us with the grandparents...my mom and stepdad on the left and Artie's dad on the right.

Uncle Chad and Aunt Jamie celebrated the day with us...cousin Garrett was a sleepy little man today:)

Me and my siblings...I love these guys:)

"Zoo"ky Fun!

For Halloween, we took the kids for some safe fun at the zoo. We knew that Avery wouldn't get an overload of treats there and that it would be fun and more of a controlled environment for her first trick-or-treating experience. We had a great time. It wasn't very crowded at all since it was open the same time as regular trick-or-treating hours in town.

My little monkey man (referring to Spencer, of course!)

My Tinkerbell princess

And just a 'from the back' shot for good measure-she was so stinkin' adorable:)

He's ready for his first Halloween! Thank goodness we went with the monkey costume for him, it was freezing cold Halloween night and this costume had built in mittens and was very warm!

Waiting in line to get in was a bit of a challenge for Avery. We are working on patience! Once we got inside, she was nothing short of excited about everything!!

They had this cute mini maze with hay, Avery insisted on going through a handful of time before daddy convinced her to give the big corn maze a try...

Once we were in, our little Tink took off and laughed the whole way:) She made it out the right way on the first try!

Avery, trying her hand at some pumpkin bowling. She didn't really understand the concept of rolling the pumpkin.

This is how Spencer enjoyed his first Halloween experience...he was so cute (and apparently that costume was just too warm and toasty!):)

They had some really cool displays all around made from pumpkins...

This is for Uncle Chad. Avery posing in front of the Veggie Tales display.

I just thought these were really cool. They were painted squash!

We had a really fun Halloween with the kids and then went home to warm up and watch ND pull off a nice victory-including Ft. Wayne native John Goodman's first touchdown (my brother played baseball with him:))!

*Side note: my blog has not been updating in the list, so even if it says I haven't posted anything new, I just may have!