One week old...tummy squirts and cookies

Happy One week to Lizzie. Cannot believe it, the time is already flying by.  Last night she was booted out to bunk with Grandma D. JJ spiked a temp and threw up. Poor Bubba was so hot and kept telling me about how his tummy squirted. Boy howdy it sure did!  Things settled down so as a treat we cooked up some dough in a roll. Apparently sugar cookies are best with both m & m's and red frosting.

An Awfully Perfect Miracle

As many of you know, I have been on a hiatus because of sweet baby girl was born and came out to Florida last Saturday.  It's been quite the week and I am finally starting to feel like I have some footing now...helps that this monster cold that I have had is finally beginning to ease up so I thought I would catch up a little bit.

Elizabeth Jenae born on 12/10/14 at 5:25 pm Central Time weighing 7 pounds 15 ounces.

On Wednesday, December 10th at 8 am Gabe and I checked into the hospital with Erica in preparation for our baby.  They hooked her up to the monitors and she was really good at enduring the forced all day fast.  The c-section was scheduled for 3 pm but the staff said that it probably meant we would go back to the OR at 5 and a baby by 6!!!

Erica was so thoughtful and giving to include us in every step of the hospital process.  She invited me to be in the c-section.  As the moments drew closer, so did the tears.  It was reminiscent of the my wedding day when I cried my false eye lashes off before the ceremony actually began...tears of joy and a bit anxiety.  So as we walked and yep, Erica too...walked to the OR room, the tears began to flow.  Thankfully, they had me sit down outside while they started the spinal block.  I booed outside and tried to clean myself up before they called me.  Wonderful nurses gave me water and paper towels to mop up the pool that was forming.  I was called back in to see Erica all set up.  I thought I was going to lose it again.  Talk about humbling to see a woman bring her child in the world knowing she was going to give her to me.  At 5:25, we heard the cries of our baby girl.  I finally asked permission to peak over the curtain and saw my amazing daughter with her head of hair!

I was able to cut the cord...it was a lot more like rubber than I had expected...

Our first Mommy/Daughter photo...

Still hadn't held her and was not the first one to hold her....

Lucky Daddy!!!  I was blessed to be able to stay at the hospital with Lizzie.  We bunked in the room across the hall from Erica and would spend most of our days with her.

One of my favorite hospital photos.....such love

Friday, the 12th was the awfully perfect day had arrived. We were all discharging and Erica would sign the adoption papers.  This was the day I had dreaded and lived in anticipation for.  My joy at being a mother was at a very real and painful sacrifice.  Nothing I can say here will ever come to express the depth of gratitude that I have for both of my children's first mothers.  

Soon the papers were signed...tears were shed...and shed some more...hugs and cuddles were shared..and we wheeled out to all leave together just as we came with one difference...Lizzie was in the car seat and no longer in Erica's belly.

Thank you Erica and Thank you Sonya.  I do not know how you drew the strength but I love you both very dearly.  Thank you for honoring me with your children.....

Making friends....Heavenly Father knows exactly who we are and what we need...and Chocolate Peppermint Cake!

Happy Thursday folks!  Been a busy week trying to prepare for our upcoming adventure to family of four status and taking time off work.  Picked up little man from preschool to find him covered in cupcake from a birthday party, so we went home, cleaned up and headed to the park to work out the energy surge!

Luckily we found some willing kids that seem to speak the same language of screaming on the playground that JJ possesses.

And tonight, a rare tender mercy as I witnessed Heavenly Father remember a precious child who had had just one more trial added to and he sent enough of a help to lift spirits.  You never know when you might be that angel who answers the prayer of someone who has just had enough.  I know that I truly am grateful for the many angels in my life.  This time of preparing for baby has been tremendously joyous but also stressful.  And I have had angels take me by the hand and guide me to safety.  I am so thankful to celebrate this Christmas season.  I know that my Redeemer lives and that my Heavenly Father knows each of us and is keenly aware of exactly what we need and when to give it.  I am more superficial level...very thankful for the angels that took me to lunch for an early birthday celebration and for the chocolate peppermint cake that I nibbled on all afternoon and night long.  Superbly delicious!!!  But seriously...shout out to one of my favorite renditions of this song that reminds me we are not alone!

Sleep tight!!!

It's Raining!!

We are finally having a good rain right now and JJ is loving it! We definitely needed it out here.  Had to get some soup for lunch to warm me up. JJ insisted he have an umbrella and tell me why all the good stuff has to be pink? So my very secure 3 year old is enjoying his new Dr. McStuffins "kabrella".

He also came home and apparently had invited the missionaries for dinner unbeknownst to them or me. Served a fine array of silverware and paper plates.

Keeping it real!

Early riser, mustaches, and baking

My sleep is way off and baby is still cooking so it's not her fault! JJ has a cough that been waking him up...last night at 2 am, night before 3:40 which apparently meant it was time for the day to get started.  Despite early morning hours in which I felt like a truck ran me over we have managed to do a few things. Yesterday was clean the house day. And no one was immune to the chore list.

We also tried out the mustache look...someone was enjoying his chocolate milk.

Did a little baking as well. JJ's favorites to make and eat were the cinnamon rolls.  It might have been a combo of the deliciousness and the fact the resembled snakes in the preparation of them.

Hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving and T weekend.

A disco start to Christmas

JJ wanted to start getting ready for Christmas. So we pulled out his disco tree and sang some carols. He exclaimed...Lizzie is gonna love it!!  What a sweet thought!!! Love this boy.

An epic meltdown

We had a fun weekend....JJ and I hit up the mall and checked out the mall rides and enjoyed some Panda. He loves the orange chicken.

We found some time to hit the park and when it was over.....we had an epic meltdown! 

Gratefully, Gabe and I were able to also get in a date night and celebrate our anniversary.

What the deal?

I totally had an awesome post last night...so proud of myself and then it was nowhere to be found! Did I dream that!!??!!  Man...what a bummer...Don't think I can recreate that again..So, here goes a new post.

We are all doing our part to prepare for our trip to Florida....

3 WEEKS!!!!  We are almost there and just cannot wait to spend some time hanging out with Lizzie's birth family before her arrival.  The last two months has been completely surreal.

We even thought we'd let JJ get some driving practice in this week, just in case...you never know when it will come in handy!

Where it began....

Looking into heaven!

Four years ago, our family officially began!  What a special day that was for me.  I was so overwhelmed with joy, happiness, and love that I cried my false eye lashes off before the ceremony began.  As faithful LDS members, we chose to be sealed together for time and all eternity something that I had yearned for, cried for, and prayed for a VERY long time.  It seemed like forever before I found Gabe and in Mormon years I was practically a senior citizen!  But nonetheless, I found favor with the Lord and the Heavens opened and poured out the blessing of my sweetheart.  Nothing makes me feels safer than his arms wrapped around me.

I have decided to join the ranks of blogging as we are growing our family...not only in children but in extended family members and want a place for them to be able to see the happenings of our lil J crew.

Gabe and I found ourselves 4 years ago trying to start our family from the very beginning but pregnancy was not happening.  A few months after we were married, I had a positive test early but it only last a couple of days.  We fervently prayed for guidance and direction on how to build our family. I remember praying should we start the adoption process?  The answer was no...you will be given a child.  So, ok, we moved forward but I am not one for waiting as many who knows me knows.  So, we started infertility treatments.  During the second failed attempt, we had learned about a little boy and we wondered...is this the answer to our prayers?  I had a dream about a boy smiling up at me....when I met JJ for the first time...I knew that whatever happened in our adoption journey this was meant to be because he was the little boy in my dreams.

Not only did our family increase by one....we increased in having JJ's birth mom, S, become a part of our family as well.  We have loved every time we are able to spend with S and so happy to see the things she is accomplishing in her life these days.

September of this year we were chosen by another amazing birth mother, E, who has joined the ranks of the J crew, along with members of her family.  We are having a little girl! Elizabeth Jenae is scheduled to join us on December 17th and we cannot wait!  We are so humbled at how the Lord has literally opened the heavens on November 20th and poured out his blessings upon us!