We are on our Disneyland countdown! We are all getting so excited. I'm hoping we can take it easy at the parks -instead of trying to hurry, hurry - and enjoy whatever it is that we get to do and see.
Updates on the boys:
Dominic - still smarter than a whip. We haven't gotten his gifted results yet. He made a big step last week and is now excited to attend a summer enrichment program all about dinosaurs! Baseball has also started and the transition from coach pitched underhand to coach pitched overhand is proving harder than it sounded to Dominic. But he is still doing great and is excited to have Dad as the assistant coach. Too bad his glove tends to have a "hole" in it when it comes to picking up grounders!
Luke - amazes me everyday with his ever increasing vocabulary and stories. This kid can spin a tale that is nearly impossible not to believe. He is very excited about our trip and being nearly finished with preschool. He is also playing baseball again this summer. Mark is the assistant coach for his team too. Luke has such a natural swing - he is very fun to watch. Luke's glove seems to have the same problem as Dominic's - grounds like to go right through!
Both boys are looking forward to spending hours at the baseball field, swimming pool, and Baring Lake.
Isaac - nearly 10 M old already. Where has the time gone? He is finally saying MAMAMAMAMA!!!!! We don't think he is ever going to crawl with his belly off the floor - at least not before he takes off running. He loves to stand and walk holding hands. He is still ever the explorer.....and ornery!!! My goodness... I think he is going to give Luke a run for his money in that department. His newest accomplishment (if that's what you can call it) is mastering an alligator's death roll while being strapped to the changing table all the while squealing/screaming like he is being tarred and feathered - all this in an attempt to escape the dreaded diaper change....because, heaven forbid, he miss anything with his brothers, etc., for 2 mins of his time! Speaking of brothers....he loves them dearly. No one can get Isaac to smile as big or laugh as hard as his brothers. He wants to be with them all the time. He "looks" for them when they are at school. He calls out, "D....D....D...." Luke says its not fair that Isaac can "say" Dominic's name and not his. I told him that its like saying Mommy or Daddy.....the D sound is just easier at first. Now that Isaac is nearly 1 yr old, I'm thankful he never liked a pacifier....just wished he liked any sippy cup! I almost forgot - he finally cut his top tooth (or teeth - can't tell yet). It is just barely through but it's sharp!
We are still in the decision making process about to build, buy, or stay put in our house. My vote is not to stay put! I'm also glad that school is almost out so we can slow down some - yeah right - but it sounded good! At least we won't have to worry about homework.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Happy Birthday Mom!
I was surprised last night with the best homemade card ever! I need to take a picture of it. The boys grilled steaks - yummy! Since Mark and I have been working out (oh yes - we have been doing the Insanity workout!), they decided we could do without cake. I informed my family that there is always room for cake! But they put some candles on some yummy strawberries instead......then I had a bowl of ice cream!
Happy Easter 2012
Easter was wonderful this year watching Isaac explore all the "new" things. He loved the fake Easter grass and all the colored eggs. Dominic and Luke always have a great time at Grandma's spending time with cousins.
It was just a matter of time before the egg and grass went into his mouth!
Isaac exploring his basket at Grandma's house.
Luke is ready for the cousins egg hunt. I guess he thought it was going to get rough and he needed a helmet!
Isaac's egg hunt consisted of 2 eggs and crying in the grass!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
I Couldn't Write It Any Better
How Infertility Made Me a Better Mom
By: Amanda LaConte
I saw this article and thought it was great! I know lots of women who have struggled with infertility and hopefully this will help them. Thank you so much for allowing us to share your article, Amanda!
"Everything happens for a reason." "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." You hear these kinds of things a lot from well-meaning friends and family when you're struggling with infertility, often accompanied by a story about their sister's best friend or co-worker's cousin who tried for "x" amount of years and eventually got pregnant. As anyone going through the trials of infertility knows, one becomes very tired of being told that somehow there is a silver lining to the grief they're experiencing. Having been through infertility hell and back, all I can say is ... they're right. Looking back, I wouldn't change a single thing about that long painful road, because I know if any part of it didn't happen exactly as it did, my husband and I would not have exactly the blessings we have today. Beyond the little angels themselves, we got a few other things out of the experience - some life lessons. Lo and behold, it just so happens that these newly acquired life skills are some of the most important when raising a child.
Humility
Infertility can arguably be particularly difficult for "type A" personalities (not naming any names). Oh, you will try your heart out to control the situation. You may start by timing your cycles or taking your temperature every morning. You may proceed to getting every diagnostic test known to man. You may even move forward with IUI and/or IVF with the best specialist in town, maybe even multiple times. Guess what? You're not in control. Whether you believe it is God's will, as I do, or simply a matter of fate, you will have a baby when you're supposed to. Translate this to taking care of a baby. You can read the books, watch the videos, talk to all your friends, and double-check every message board online. None of this will prevent your baby from having colic, being a picky eater, having reflux, or refusing to sleep through the night (to name just a few possibilities). Sure, there are ways to manage these situations, but the hard fact is that if they have it, they have it, and the best you can do is manage it until they grow out of it. Then, just when you get it all down pat, your next baby will be completely different.
Patience
One of the hardest parts of the infertility rollercoaster is the waiting. Every month that you "try," whether the natural way or by some form of infertility treatment, there is that crucial day or two (ovulation); after that, all you can do is wait two weeks to find out if you're pregnant. If you are not, you then have to wait another two weeks to try again. And so on. You learn to take lots of deep breaths, ask for help when you need it, and keep your eye on the prize. To say that mommyhood requires a lot of patience is an understatement. Babies and toddlers are very demanding, and they constantly test your patience before they even know how to do it on purpose. The same exercises mentioned above are crucial to maintaining your sanity. This mommy finds that the deep breaths are sometimes best accompanied by tightly squeezed shut eyes - just a tip. Ask for help when you need it; your kids will remember you for your love, not for how many tasks you were able to handle by yourself. And in this case, keeping your eye on the prize means reminding yourself how much you love your little angel(s); the soothing effect does wonders for your nerves.
Appreciation
Appreciating what you have and not dwelling on what you don't: It is good for anyone's soul, but especially important when going through the trials of infertility. On those days when you're feeling particularly defeated, it can be hard to do, but those are the days it is most important. Despite being unable to have (what seemed like) the only thing in the world I wanted, I knew that I was so blessed with a loving husband, a strong marriage, and an amazing network of supportive family and friends. You hear stories about infertility tearing marriages apart. As sad as this is, I can't help but recall our old friend, "Everything happens for a reason..." A solid marriage is the foundation on which a family is built. Don't get me wrong, infertility is one of the biggest strains that can be put on a marriage. But if children do eventually come into the picture, it definitely won't be the last storm to weather. And thank goodness you know you can do it together!
Carpe Diem
The full phrase from the Roman poet Horace is "Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero," commonly translated to "Seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future." Or as affirmed in more recent times by Dave Matthews, "The future is no place to place your better days." Infertility can completely consume you if you let it. It's easy to fall into the thought pattern of, "We'll focus on that after we get pregnant" or "We'll do that someday once we have a baby." Go on that vacation now. Become members at a church now. Start a gym membership now. Reconnect with family or an old friend now. If everything is "I'll do it when...," you may never do it. Who knows how long this leg of your journey will take. In the meantime, enjoy the scenery. Now as a mom, this is one of my biggest priorities in raising my children. The dishes and laundry can wait when it's a beautiful day outside or even when a good song comes on the radio that requires some singing and dancing. After all we went through before being blessed with our children, I don't want to miss a moment of any day.
I saw this article and thought it was great! I know lots of women who have struggled with infertility and hopefully this will help them. Thank you so much for allowing us to share your article, Amanda!
"Everything happens for a reason." "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." You hear these kinds of things a lot from well-meaning friends and family when you're struggling with infertility, often accompanied by a story about their sister's best friend or co-worker's cousin who tried for "x" amount of years and eventually got pregnant. As anyone going through the trials of infertility knows, one becomes very tired of being told that somehow there is a silver lining to the grief they're experiencing. Having been through infertility hell and back, all I can say is ... they're right. Looking back, I wouldn't change a single thing about that long painful road, because I know if any part of it didn't happen exactly as it did, my husband and I would not have exactly the blessings we have today. Beyond the little angels themselves, we got a few other things out of the experience - some life lessons. Lo and behold, it just so happens that these newly acquired life skills are some of the most important when raising a child.
Humility
Infertility can arguably be particularly difficult for "type A" personalities (not naming any names). Oh, you will try your heart out to control the situation. You may start by timing your cycles or taking your temperature every morning. You may proceed to getting every diagnostic test known to man. You may even move forward with IUI and/or IVF with the best specialist in town, maybe even multiple times. Guess what? You're not in control. Whether you believe it is God's will, as I do, or simply a matter of fate, you will have a baby when you're supposed to. Translate this to taking care of a baby. You can read the books, watch the videos, talk to all your friends, and double-check every message board online. None of this will prevent your baby from having colic, being a picky eater, having reflux, or refusing to sleep through the night (to name just a few possibilities). Sure, there are ways to manage these situations, but the hard fact is that if they have it, they have it, and the best you can do is manage it until they grow out of it. Then, just when you get it all down pat, your next baby will be completely different.
Patience
One of the hardest parts of the infertility rollercoaster is the waiting. Every month that you "try," whether the natural way or by some form of infertility treatment, there is that crucial day or two (ovulation); after that, all you can do is wait two weeks to find out if you're pregnant. If you are not, you then have to wait another two weeks to try again. And so on. You learn to take lots of deep breaths, ask for help when you need it, and keep your eye on the prize. To say that mommyhood requires a lot of patience is an understatement. Babies and toddlers are very demanding, and they constantly test your patience before they even know how to do it on purpose. The same exercises mentioned above are crucial to maintaining your sanity. This mommy finds that the deep breaths are sometimes best accompanied by tightly squeezed shut eyes - just a tip. Ask for help when you need it; your kids will remember you for your love, not for how many tasks you were able to handle by yourself. And in this case, keeping your eye on the prize means reminding yourself how much you love your little angel(s); the soothing effect does wonders for your nerves.
Appreciation
Appreciating what you have and not dwelling on what you don't: It is good for anyone's soul, but especially important when going through the trials of infertility. On those days when you're feeling particularly defeated, it can be hard to do, but those are the days it is most important. Despite being unable to have (what seemed like) the only thing in the world I wanted, I knew that I was so blessed with a loving husband, a strong marriage, and an amazing network of supportive family and friends. You hear stories about infertility tearing marriages apart. As sad as this is, I can't help but recall our old friend, "Everything happens for a reason..." A solid marriage is the foundation on which a family is built. Don't get me wrong, infertility is one of the biggest strains that can be put on a marriage. But if children do eventually come into the picture, it definitely won't be the last storm to weather. And thank goodness you know you can do it together!
Carpe Diem
The full phrase from the Roman poet Horace is "Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero," commonly translated to "Seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future." Or as affirmed in more recent times by Dave Matthews, "The future is no place to place your better days." Infertility can completely consume you if you let it. It's easy to fall into the thought pattern of, "We'll focus on that after we get pregnant" or "We'll do that someday once we have a baby." Go on that vacation now. Become members at a church now. Start a gym membership now. Reconnect with family or an old friend now. If everything is "I'll do it when...," you may never do it. Who knows how long this leg of your journey will take. In the meantime, enjoy the scenery. Now as a mom, this is one of my biggest priorities in raising my children. The dishes and laundry can wait when it's a beautiful day outside or even when a good song comes on the radio that requires some singing and dancing. After all we went through before being blessed with our children, I don't want to miss a moment of any day.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Time To Update
I'm terrible at keeping up with more than one "place" for all this information. I've been busy on Facebook lately beginning to sell baby items Isaac has outgrown. I'm going to attempt one massive update post! So here it goes:
1. Isaac's adoption was finalized on March 7, 2012! We are beyond excited and thrilled. We can proudly say we are done with the adoption process and move forward with our family of 3 boys!
2. Dominic finished up his 1st wrestling season at Rookie State in St. Joseph. He wrestled....despite having Influenza A and a 101 degree fever. He placed 6th out of 12 wrestlers in his bracket. He was very disappointed but we told him that the sign of a true champion is getting out there despite the odds of winning. Digging down deep to find the strength and energy to overcome your doubts. He learned that day that courage is having the heart to do something even though you are afraid.
3. Isaac is quickly learning his way around "gadgets". Here he is helping Luke play Angry Birds!
4. All the boys are growing up too fast. Dominic is finishing up 1st Grade. He took the gifted/talented assessment again on the recommendation of his teacher. We don't have the results back yet. Luke is getting excited to be done with preschool yet sad at the same time. His best buddy is moving when school is out. Isaac is nearly 9 months old. Holy cow.
5. Isaac's current milestones: He is now eating mostly table food. He is not a fan of the texture of purees any longer. He can feed himself finger foods too. He is not interested in a sippy cup! He is still army crawling but can pull himself up to his knees and standing without any problems. He loves to cruise around the furniture too. We still call him "Isaac the Explorer" because he can often be found under the table, behind the couch, in the bathroom (we shut the doors now!), etc. Isaac is not fond of the grass! He is on-the-go when awake. There is no moss growing under this boy's feet! These are the most current pictures of him:
6. The boys are now the proud owners of a 4-wheeler. I'm the proud owner of more "worries".
7. We have been hiking several trails lately with the warm spring weather. We are having a ton of fun exploring the great natural wonders in our local area. It has also given me a great backdrop for some photos of the kids!
8. That about sums it all up. Isaac's first Easter is tomorrow. I'm just hoping he doesn't eat too much fake grass! We are still super excited about our Disney Land trip coming up soon. We have been working hard on Isaac's Life Book too - his adoption story about his birth family. We are also seriously considering undertaking house building this summer/fall!
1. Isaac's adoption was finalized on March 7, 2012! We are beyond excited and thrilled. We can proudly say we are done with the adoption process and move forward with our family of 3 boys!
2. Dominic finished up his 1st wrestling season at Rookie State in St. Joseph. He wrestled....despite having Influenza A and a 101 degree fever. He placed 6th out of 12 wrestlers in his bracket. He was very disappointed but we told him that the sign of a true champion is getting out there despite the odds of winning. Digging down deep to find the strength and energy to overcome your doubts. He learned that day that courage is having the heart to do something even though you are afraid.
5. Isaac's current milestones: He is now eating mostly table food. He is not a fan of the texture of purees any longer. He can feed himself finger foods too. He is not interested in a sippy cup! He is still army crawling but can pull himself up to his knees and standing without any problems. He loves to cruise around the furniture too. We still call him "Isaac the Explorer" because he can often be found under the table, behind the couch, in the bathroom (we shut the doors now!), etc. Isaac is not fond of the grass! He is on-the-go when awake. There is no moss growing under this boy's feet! These are the most current pictures of him:
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