Christmas Part II

So, Christmas Eve came and my parents joined us for the afternoon and a nice supper (prepared by my mom!). We then hung out at the house until it was time to go to the church service. David did a FANTASTIC job putting together a really great service. It was full of the Spirit and the Gospel and well, it was just great. I was very proud of him and all the effort he put into it! One of the highlights was a children's sermon he did. I took Cora down to the front with the other kids. She obviously was NOT into sitting listening to  Daddy speak so she entertained her self quite nicely by running up and down the aisle to and from Grampy and myself. Sigh... At one point she spotted the piano, looked at me and I mouthed, "NO!" and before I could get her BANG!!!!!! I quickly carried out a screaming child. :) 

I tried to get a photo of her in her pretty Christmas dress from her Grandma. To no avail!

 Christmas Morning

It was just the three of us for Christmas morning. We got up when Cora was woke up. Thankfully, she's not too aware yet of what Christmas is (presents in the morning!) so there was no waking us up at 4:00 a.m.! We both showered and just kinda too our time with the morning. We exchanged gifts with each other and had a fun time watching Cora open hers. Well, she got through 2 of her gifts and once she saw the Lego Duplos she was NOT interested in any others and cried loudly when we tried to get her to open her 3rd gift! :) Oh well, more for Mommy to open! :) We had invited one of the single gals from church to join us for a late breakfast. We had a good time visiting with her. We then got ready and left for my aunt's house and spent the rest of the afternoon with my side of the family. We had a great time, watching the kids open their gifts and be more interested in each other's gifts then their own! :) All of us adults were tired, so we just let the kids do their thing and were able to visit. It was a really good day and we returned home EXHAUSTED but happy! 

Ok, TERRIBLE photo of me, but the only one showing my awesome copper frying pan! 

A photo taken in Ireland by one of our photographer friends!

At my Aunt's house...

Cora and her 3rd cousin (my cousin's son)

The littlest cousin by a month (my cousin's other son)!

My nephew and receiver of the gift everyone else wanted! :) 

See what I mean?

It had been a long day only with 2 longer days before it and well, Rudy seemed a good spot to take a rest! :) 

Christmas Part I

So, this year for Christmas we have had a lot going on, and we're still not done! Rather than try to lump everything into one blog, I'm doing separate blogs for each event, starting with the Reynolds family gathering. My parents, sister, BIL, nieces and nephew joined us at our home for supper, presents and Birthday cake for Jesus. We had a great time! We had Sophia, 6; Riley, 2; Cora, almost 21 months; and Haddie, almost 9 months! Oh, and one in the cooker! Hard to believe there will be 5 of them next year, and it'll just be that much crazier!!! :) We laughed as the kids seemed more interested in each other's gifts then the ones they had received. Kids will be kids and what can you do about it? :) Sophia, being the oldest of the crew, received some pretty special gifts, one being a horse for her one doll. I had to chuckle as she was very adamant to Riley and Cora that it was her toy and they were not to touch it and then we'd catch them trying to ride it. We had a fantastic time laughing, eating and just being together as a family. Here are some photos of the evening! Hope you enjoy! :)

Some year, when they're all much older, we'll get a photo where they're all looking at the camera at the same time with nice smiles! :) Not this year, apparently!

David received some good cognac from his brother-in-law! What a brothers for? :) 

Cora received a FANTASTIC gift--a Book of Cousins! It's a photo album full of photos of her beloved cousins! :) 

Dad received a Lego model of the "Falling Waters" home by Frank Lloyd Wright. We thought it would be a good challenge for him... he's already put it together... in 5 hours. 

We all got Mom a pretty cut glass pitcher with matching cut glass glasses! :) I think she likes it! :) 

"Happy Birthday Jesus!"

I sure do love my sister!

Our husbands were being very silly. Too much holiday cheer, I say!

And, who can forget these two? We love you!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone! :)

Well, hopefully all of your shopping is done, wrapping and baking is getting done and you're starting to revel in what this season is all about. We're done with our shopping and I have 1 gift left to wrap--if it'll ever come in the mail! I have done no baking this year, for obvious reasons, but due to the love and generosity of friends and family David and Cora have still been able to partake in Christmas goodies! :)

It looks like this year we'll be having a quiet morning at home with just us--David, Cora, Molly, Baby Sprout and I. Plans have changed (David's dad and step mom were planning to join us). It'll be different, for sure, but I think it'll be nice. We'll then head down to Akron to spend the afternoon with my family. That is always lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to going. Tomorrow, my sister and her family and my parents are coming so we can all exchange our gifts and spend some quality time together just the Reynolds. Every year it gets more and more exciting as children are added to the mix and the ones already born get older and gain more understanding of what's going on! :) This year we'll have Sophia, 6; Riley, 2; Cora, 21 months; and Haddie, 9 months! :) It's gonna be a good time!

We'll be heading to Columbus for New Year to spend with David's mom and step dad. We're looking forward to that! While there, we hope to connect with the small group we had joined while we lived there. So, should be great!

I'm glad I'm feeling so much better now and can enjoy Christmas and New Year without too much nausea joining me. I still feel some nausea throughout the day, but rather than it being overwhelming and forefront in my mind it's taken more of a back seat and isn't nagging--PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

I hope you and your family have a very wonderful and blessed Christmas and happy New Year! Blessings to you and yours!

That's...not my husband!

Yesterday we went to Gander Mtn. to get David a pair of winter boots. It would seem we have chosen to live in a VERY snowy area where shoveling is a daily thing. Somehow in all of our moves we managed to get rid of David's winter boots, so we were on a mission yesterday!

We couldn't find his size in a particular style so I went to find an "associate" (as they were called in this store) to help. I found a man, told him my husband needed help with a boot size and we proceeded to walk back to the boots. The associate stops at the first man he sees and starts helping him. I said, "Oh, sir, that's not my husband." The other shopper looked at me strangely, and the associate just kept going. I thought maybe he didn't hear me so I said it louder, "Sir, that's not my husband!" Again, totally ignoring what I'm saying. I look up and the shopper is confused, MY husband is confused, and I'm about to burst into laughter at how hilarious this was all becoming. FINALLY, the other shopper realized what was going on and at the same time I said EVEN louder, "SIR! THAT IS NOT MY HUSBAND! My husband, here, needs help!" The associate was very embarrassed by the whole situation, and I just thought it was hilarious. He was UBER helpful from that point on, even to the point of walking us to the register. Still makes me giggle!

Stuff

I can't seem to come up with creative blog titles these days.

We had our annual Christmas Open House on Saturday night. It was a great success but only due to the help of others! I have been feeling so terrible and me and the kitchen just aren't getting along so my mom, sister and a few of the ladies from church baked up lots of goodies for the open house. I felt so blessed by their generosity and help! I told many that if it had been up to me they would've had pretzels! :) We had MANY people come. Not sure of the exact count, at least 50, probably closer to 70. We went through 3 1/2 bowls of punch, 2 pots of coffee and a carafe of hot water for tea! :) Though tons of treats were eaten we had a lot left over because that's HOW MANY cookies and other things we had! :) It seems a good time was had by all. There was much laughter, lots of good conversation and just a real spirit of love and Christmas. David, Cora and I had so much fun and were so happy to see everyone else did too! I can't wait for next year! :)

After we cleaned up and got Cora to sleep (which was a challenge) we were called to pray for my sister's FIL. He had been at a concert with his wife, had fallen asleep and couldn't be awakened. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and is currently in ICU, intubated and not doing well. However, he is doing better than last night, so that's good. Best they can tell it was a bad reaction to medication he had taken earlier in the day. If you think of it, please for T, and his wife, S and my BIL Jamie, especially. Jamie is an only child so it's hard to carry this alone. I'm so thankful he has my sister there by his side. We are thankful it seems T will come out of this and the doctors are hopeful he'll recover. Nonetheless we are reminded at just how precious and fragile life is.

It would seem I am definitely pulling through worst of my sickness! After our open house I was not at all hopeful that I would be going to church the next day. However, I did go and I didn't feel like death and I was even able to eat a large lunch! Cora and I both took long naps Sunday afternoon and that really helped. I have made it through 2 days of taking only 1 nausea pill, so that has to be good! :) I'm still taking each day as it comes, but I am so thankful that it seems the worse is over.

Mary

This is the 2nd year I've been pregnant during Christmas. And I find myself thinking a lot about Mary, again. What it must have been like to carry the Son of God, did she have morning sickness, did she worry about the health and safety of this child too? Did she have bad days and wonder how was she going to get through this? What was her spiritual journey like during this time of pregnancy? So many things. So many questions without any answers. One day I suppose I'll get to sit with her and ask. This year I've thought a lot about the spiritual aspect of her pregnancy and what lead to her actually being chosen to carry Jesus.

We know Mary was young, probably 14-16, and she had "found favor in God's eyes." That's all we really know for sure about her. However, I think finding favor in God's eyes says a lot! What does it mean to "find favor" in the eyes of God? Mary was many things--innocent, yet I would imagine wise, obedient, and willing to allow her God take her on the path he had for her. I have a feeling 14 was a lot older back then than it is now, but still, seems a lot to ask of a young teen--to be the mother of the Son of God!

I have been thinking about her parents, too. They aren't mentioned in Scripture, but I think we can still speculate a couple things. Because of what we know of Mary's character I have to wonder if her parents were also strong believers and followers of God. I have to wonder if they didn't take their religion and move it into more of a relationship. I'm sure they followed the Law, but I also figure they followed it as an act of worship and obedience to God and not just to follow the Law. I have a feeling they brought Mary up in the Synagogue and taught her everything they could about God. I'm guessing they were a little taken back when she broke "the news" to them, but I imagine their response was similar to their daughter's. Again, just speculations...

And then you have Joseph. I have wondered at times that this man also was a strong believer in God to take an angel's word that Mary was pregnant with God's child and that Joseph should marry her anyway. We all know what the Law said about such situations, but I believe Joseph was a wise man and knew his God well enough to know it was better to obey then to do things his own way or the way the man-made laws said to do it.

I get frustrated at times when I can't go to the library and pick out the biographies of these different characters, but I suppose their complete life stories is not the point. The point of this season is for us to remember that our God loved us so very much that he sent his ONLY son to earth, as a helpless baby, so that we might experience true hope, peace, joy and love.

Update

Well, I'm still here. I have not vanished from life, just life in the blog world. As I sit here snow continues to fall (it appears our new town gets WAY more snow than our town in Michigan! Go figure!). We have close to a foot now, I would think. But, I find myself not minding it so much this year. Maybe because I'm not having to scrape my car in the morning and evening to get to work and then back home. Maybe because I've pretty much shut myself in the house as I wade through these awful weeks of nausea. Maybe, and this is probably the real reason, it's because Cora seems fascinated by the snow and in an effort to teach her to be thankful to Jesus for all things we are daily thanking Jesus for the snow! :) I know, what has happened to me???? :) :) :)

Though I feel terrible, life keeps marching on. We hosted a birthday party for my sister in early November. She turned 30 and I was excited to be able to help and host this momentous occasion! :) We then hosted Thanksgiving at our house. I know, what was I thinking? Well, all of these things were planned BEFORE I knew I was pregnant. :) We had 22 people in our home, 20 of them sitting around tables eating. 2 of our munchkins are still too little so they played happily on the floor! :)  I choked down some stuffing and green bean casserole and promptly excused myself to go nap. Thanksgiving this year also marked my eldest nieces' SIXTH birthday!!!!! WHAT?????? How on earth she's 6 years old I will never know! Incidentally, she was born on Thanksgiving day 6 years ago. I spent much of the day thinking back to that day. I teared up a few times thinking of how special it had been for me to be in the delivery room the moment she entered the world.

My parents treated my sister, BIL, niece, David and I to a nice dinner and show just this last weekend. We had a really great time and I loved watching my niece "float" down the grand staircase like her princesses do in her videos! :) We have lots of other holiday festivities coming up--Saturday we're hosting a Christmas open house for our church people; next week is a choir concert at church and a wedding. And, I think that means the NEXT week after that is Christmas!!!!! We still have much to get done to be ready for that day!

I *think* I'm starting to round the bend as far as the nausea is concerned. I seem to be regaining some energy and am interested in eating more than just toast, crackers and pretzels. It's been a long trimester, but it'll officially be done Dec 29 and yes, I am counting! :) David has been a trouper. He's had to pick up my slack with laundry, cleaning and cooking as well as watching Cora. Not to mention all his "normal" paid work he's also having to do. I am so blessed to have him as my husband. We have been getting help during this time, too. David's mom has come up a few times to do our mountains of laundry, cleaning, cooking and playing with Cora. We've also had a couple ladies from the church come over to help with Cora so I could rest. We could not have made it through without all of this help and are SO thankful for these women!!! I will be glad when I'm totally out of this time and able to function a lot better!

Cora has also been such a trouper. She knows Mommy doesn't feel good and though she has become a bit insecure and more clingy to me, she has done so well. I pray for her daily to find things to occupy herself. She has willingly let me read to her for hours, and though I can quote most of her books now, it's been a good activity for us. She is growing SO FAST!!!!!! She loses her baby look more and more every day. I can't believe she is 20 months now. She LOVES to pray before meals and we are often told, "I pay", which is how she says, "I pray!" She gets a very serious look on her face and tucks her chin under, holds out her hands for us to hold while we pray several times during each meal. :) I pray she continues to hold a sensitivity to the things of the Lord and that she never loses her desire to pray. We have always celebrated Advent in our home, using our own Advent candles. This year Cora is interested in the candles and we have taught her to say "hope" and "peace." She's getting it, and I can't wait for future Christmases as these concepts start to sink in and make sense to her.

I am now 11 weeks along!!!! WOOHOOO!!!! This means I'm that much closer to the 2nd trimester! I had my 2nd OB appt yesterday and all went well. We got to see an ultrasound of the baby, who's heart is beating well and who's little legs are kicking furiously! :) Cora was there and got to see it all, though I think she was thinking more along the lines of, "why are we so excited about a blob?" :) :) :)

I hope I will not be so absent as the days go on! Thank you for sticking with me and reading this today, if you're still out there! :)

Struggles

Ok, so I really need to get up photos and a blog about my sister's 30th b-day, but the camera is downstairs, and I'm upstairs...

Second baby, second time to go through the joy of finding out we're expecting again. Second time to go through the sickness. Second time for everything, really. I have to say that I've been struggling a bit. I don't think my struggles are unusual or anything, just new for me.

My first struggle is working through how I'm going to be a mom to TWO kids! I mean, I feel like I barely make it with ONE and in about 9 months we'll have TWO! AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! Phew! I feel better now! I'm sure I'll figure it out. Many have gone before us and have survived.

My biggest struggle right now is coming to terms with the care/lack-of-care I received in Hillsdale. A small town, 1 hospital, 1 OB-GYN, 1 midwife--who actually was like a 2nd OB-GYN, meaning she wasn't a very traditional midwife, but was there mainly to catch the baby. My options were limited. Yes, I could've gone to the next small town over (30 min) away, or an hour north, or 50 min to a larger area, but you know, when it's you're first you want to stick as close to home as possible because dontcha know the baby's gonna just slide right out with no warning! :) Ok, not true, but I think first time moms get a little panicky! I had been told good things about Dr. B. We had met with him numerous times when trying to get pregnant. He is very caring, compassionate, jovial, etc. I felt good going into labor/delivery with him as my dr. Until I was about a month from my due date. Oh the pressure to be induced!!!!!!! WOW! Suddenly, things changed. The dr. who was so willing to go along with whatever was not so much that way. I was told Cora was going to be over 9 lbs, by body wasn't big enough to deliver a baby that big (he obviously hadn't paid much attention to my body...), I would for sure need a C-section, on and on the pressure went. On and on we were scared into believing a C-section WOULD happen unless I was induced. Oddly enough, a C-section should've happened because I was induced. I talked to my sister and some friends and all were supportive of whatever we chose. Hindsight is, of course, always 20/20 and even at the time I knew I shouldn't go through with it, but felt I had no other choice. My induction lead to 22 hrs of PAINFUL labor. INTENSE pain, needing and epidural, an episiotomy (which I was not warned of was to happen), the vacuum being used on Cora and finally the forceps due to her heart rate plummeting (C-section probably should've been done somewhere in there!). My baby came out limp, almost lifeless and I had no idea what was going on. No apologies were given, no explanations where offered. A job was done, a baby delivered, no one died, so I guess it was a successful day. It took me a long time to even WANT to have another child for fear of this all happening again.

And now, I find myself going through pregnancy again. We have opted to use a midwife this time. I have had 1 appt thus far (mainly to get proof of pregnancy for insurance to and nail down a due date) and have already been shown more care and compassion then I did with Dr. B. I'm sick, puking, not eating much and my midwife asked if I had taken anything when pregnant with Cora? No, I said. I wasn't given the option. I was told by the dr. that his wife had survived 3 pregnancies, puking from start to finish with every one of them so I would be fine. My midwife was appalled. Needless to say, I'm on medication to help with the nausea now so I can eat and nourish myself and the wee baby. The reasons given me for being induced were apparently just excuses. I told them to my midwife and she was AGHAST at them, wondering where on earth this dr. would come up with such stuff? To have been induced before my due date was another misstep--should not have happened. Makes me wonder if there was a family vacation coming up around my due date?

I am fighting old fears right now. I'm fighting the fears I had throughout my labor/delivery with Cora. But, I feel so much more at peace with the group of midwives I am receiving care from right now. Partly, I'm sure is that I've been through it already. But, mostly, I'm convinced is because I know what to ask for, I know how to better speak my mind and God has helped me and David learn from previous experience. A hard lesson. I am overwhelmed, still, at the thoughts of what could have happened to Cora, or myself. I am overwhelmed by the ways the Lord protected both of us. It saddens me that I wasn't stronger, but I can't dwell on that and I need to move forward.

This journey with this child will be different. We're in a much better place now (physically, spiritually and emotionally) and that is so helpful. I am excited to see where the Lord takes me with this child.

UG

I feel so horrible. I'm 7 weeks and 1 day along. if I remember correctly, with Cora, that is when things really started getting going as far as the morning/all day sickness was concerned. And, it appears we're not to be disappointed this time either. This week I have been feeling significantly worse and well, I hate this part of pregnancy. This will, I'm guessing, last at least the 1st trimester, which won't end until after Christmas. We'll see from there. David and I have decided to ask a couple ladies from church to come help me 1-2 days a week. This is really hard for me to do as I don't really know anyone all that well yet, but the reality is that I can't care for Cora the way she needs to be and deserves to be right now. If you think about it, pray with us as we find someone. Pray that God will send just the right person (s) to us who will be great with Cora and whom Cora can really have fun. God is faithful through this time and it's just a part of it. One day I'll realize that I woke up and didn't need to eat NOW and I'll start realizing doing things like taking a shower isn't so bad and laborious after all! :) Oh, may that day come soon.

It's Back!

So, the HIGH hopes of not feeling totally ill and horrible with this pregnancy have been dashed and I begin the LABORIOUS process of daily figuring out what I should/can/want to eat and pray it stays down. The intense fatigue is there, and all the other weird stuff pregnancy produces. Though I am sick this time, believably I have not thrown up yet! I have come close many times but have yet to do so. I am SO thankful for this! So, that means that every small thing I get in has stayed and is nourishing me and the baby to some extent. The hardest thing for me to get down is WATER! It's so strange. If it's not ice cold forget it! I have been trying hard to sip water all day so as not to dehydrate. And, suddenly my prenatal vitamins feel like I'm swallowing a log.

Oddly enough, though I am sick, it's a different sick then with Cora. Mornings aren't AS terrible (still terrible, just not AS bad) and my worse time is from supper on. I lay as still as possible in bed and though I know he's not, it feels as though my husband is making every possible effort to move the bed as much as possible! :) I am also VERY weepy this pregnancy. With Cora I kept waiting, but hardly ever had a meltdown. Now, though, I feel like I am or could be crying every few minutes at ANYthing. I have also been very motion sensitive this time around. I feel, almost all day, that I'm on a tilt-a-whirl. Not fun.

I'm SO thankful not to be working outside the home full-time this time around. I truly can't help but wonder if this is why I'm not AS sick. Cora and I can play quietly in the house and if I don't get a shower, oh well! :) I have also come to realize the true miracle of birth: after feeling so horrible with Cora I'm pregnant again and going through it all again. In my lowest moments it doesn't feel worth it, but the reality is that it is ALL worth it when you get to hold your little one for the first time. That, folks, is the true miracle!

The Ol' Bait and Switch

You know what bait and switch is--you are given a great product for a great price and then when it comes time to deliver, oops! We can't actually do that! SUCKER!!!!! Well, that's exactly what has happened to us! David has bad wanted an iPhone since they came out, so I finally relented (actually, I really didn't care) and he got one. Since the only place you can buy one is at AT&T we figured we'd also get our internet through them. Enter "bait." We were told we could get a certain speed of internet, that's what we bought and for a month now we have waited for this to actually happen--enter "switch." We were FINALLY told this past Sunday that, "sorry, we actually can't deliver what we promised." So, that afternoon David set us up withe Roadrunner (Time Warner) and Monday cancelled our stuff with AT&T--minus the iPhone! :) I'm tellin' ya folks! This just shouldn't happen, and I really have no remorse sharing the company's name on my blog!

Things 1 AND 2, a Mermaid and a Kitty Cat

David, Cora and I headed down to my sister and BIL's house/neighborhood last week to do trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. I had come up with a (ahem) brilliant idea to had my nephew and Cora dress up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from "The Cat in the Hat" book. I had wanted my eldest niece to be The Cat in the Hat but she refused (it's a boy costume, apparently) and our littlest niece be the goldfish. But! though we didn't have all the characters we did have Things 1 & 2 and they were pretty darn cute! And, my nieces were adorable and beautiful too! :) Thanks to my sister for creating the costumes! She is a brilliant one too and far more creative than I! So, without further ado...

Thing 1

Thing 2

The beautiful mermaid--my niece is VERY creative too! She gets this after her Momma!

Meow! 

Is she not adorable????? How can you NOT love this little one? 

Thing 1 and Thing 2 in their full get up. My sister found blue hair spray paint that we used in place of a wig! :) We were asked often through out the night if they were twins. Nope! Just cousins, 7 months apart! :) The kiddoes quickly caught on to what was happening when we went up to houses. :) 

Isn't she gorgeous??? I just love her!

Do ya think she's changing?

November 2009--Cora, still a baby, only 7months old

October 2010-- Cora, no longer a baby, 1 year and 7 months old. Where has the time gone?

Hardin News!

We'll let Cora tell you our big news!

That's right! We are expecting baby #2 sometime late spring/early summer! I need to find a midwife  and all that sort of thing, so I don't have an exact due date yet! I'll let you know when I do!

Ok, so I hope this photo isn't Cora's REAL emotion about her becoming a big sister! :)  No, this was taken after many tries of getting her to sit still, have the letters show, and have a smile. Apparently, she's had enough! :)  We have taught her to say "baby" and have shown her where the baby is (Mommy's tummy). She's got that down pat! :) 

Trick-or-Treat Street

Cora and I were invited by our neighbors to go to "Trick-or-Treet Street" being held at the I-X Center. THey had it set up with a "street" around the edge that the kids could stop at different "houses" and get candy. In the middle were all sorts of kid-sized fair rides. Cora surprised me by wanting to go on some of the rides and overall I think she had a blast! It was nice to get out with people of our age and have a fun time too! Due to me not being too in to Halloween and not being overly creative when it comes to costumes our neighbor let us borrow her girls' tu-tu, princess hat, a wand and sparkly purse. I only barely got the tu-tu on Cora! :) Oh, well, she's cute regardless! 

I hope Cora and "J" become good friends. J is a few months older than Cora.

This is J and her sister E. Cora thought this was the life, being strolled around and having candy handed to her! :) 

We found some pumpkins for a cute photo op!

All the girls! 

Taking a ride on a real live pony!

She LOVED it!!!!!!! I had to pull her off the pony!

On her first fair ride--LOVED it!

She and J would smile and wave every time they came around to us.

Unfortunately, she wanted to ride this ride--just like the teacups at Disney World. I was not impressed, but she thought it was grand!

My little princess fairy ballerina, or...just plain cutie! :)

Apparently, princess fairy ballerinas can't feed themselves! :) J would lick all the cheese off and then we found Cora eating the cracker...oy vey!

Not too impressed with this ride. It was REALLY fast and we thought too fast for the little ones. Oh well! She lived! :) 

Mmmmmm... M&M's! :)