Keegan Joy

Keegan Joy arrived last Wednesday for anyone who may not know already. Life has been a bit hectic and I haven't been able to update the blog as much as I would like lately.

She was 7 pounds 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. Far from the 9 pounder they told me I would have :)

Right now she has been admitted to a local childrens hospital for jaundice. Her levels have come down some but they are also looking into a few other things. We are waiting this morning on her Doctor to round and also a gastroenterologist to come by and check her out. They did some bloodwork last night and will do more this morning around 8:30. Her thyroid levels came back elevated - we haven't been able to talk to the dr to find out what this means yet. We will this morning when he rounds.

Thank you to those of you who have been praying. Please keep praying for her and for us when you think about it.

Delay Consequences?

The other day Ryan got into some trouble because of his mouth. The best thing in his world right now that really bothers him if taken away is his football. He just got it for his birthday and it is TORTURE when he cannot play with it. So, we decided that this particular time the consequence of his mouth/disrespectfulness would be the loss of his football for a day. Then the mouth just kept going and so he lost it for two days - Friday and Saturday. Ryan was so disappointed because he had a play date with his daddy all set in his mind for Saturday to play football outside. He asked that we take the football away on Friday and Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday. He wanted to delay his consequences so that they fit his agenda. We of course did not give in and he actually wound up losing the football for all 3 days once it was all said and done - sometimes he doesn't know when to just be quiet.

I started thinking about his response and just how much we all do this. We hate the consequences for our sin, especially when they interrupt our plans. I think Ryan learned a lesson this day and hopefully, our steadfastness and not giving in to his request taught him that consequences are real and that obedience is better / respectfulness is better. Sometimes, parenting is hard. Every ounce of my being wanted to give in and say you know what, you are a good kid, just don't do it again and go play with your football. It's hard to discipline your kids, especially when you see the pain it causes them to loos privileges. At least it is for me. I hate seeing them sad, but I also do not want to see them continue down a path that will lead to further trouble in the future if not nipped in the bud now.

Hopefully, Ryan learned a lesson - sometimes finding consequences to match the offense is hard. Especially when one method doesn't work and you have to punt to find something that does work. I'm constantly reminded of the verse in Hebrews ... 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

Discipline is not easy, but necessary for training up our sons/daughters to be adults. I remember a sermon from our old pastor on parenting and one of his lines that he said stuck with me and it was ..." you are not raising infants or toddlers. You are raising your children to be adults ... to leave your nest and function in the world around them." I sure hope that we are doing an OK job at raising our guys/gal(s) to one day be an adult and function in a world - to show them Jesus and his love.

S E V E N !

Seven years ago today, I became a mom! It still seems so surreal to me. I don't feel like I'm old enough to have children of my own. :)

Today, my Ryan is 7! This morning he was in the bathroom doing his thing and I gladly interrupted him so that I could sing to him and the look on his face was priceless. I would have recorded it had he not been in the bathroom. :) He looked shocked and said "wait, I'm 7? really 7? today 7?". It was cute to watch.

Ryan, you are such a joy to parent. You have an amazing heart that blows me away and challenges me. You love to serve others and you love to help those around you who are in need. You also love to pray and you pray frequently for others. I love how you take your requests to him - Don't ever stop! I am amazed at what God is doing in your little life and I know that he is going to do something great if you allow him to continue to use you. You have taught me so much through the 7 years of being your mom. You are such a blessing in our lives and I am so thankful that of all the mommies in the world, I was chosen as yours! I couldn't imagine my life without you in it.

I pray that you will continue to run the race before you. That you will run and not grow weary. I pray that you will continue to hide God's word in your heart and that you will always turn to him and listen for his voice in your life guiding you left or right. I pray that you will continue to have the faith of a child, that you will trust in Him even when you cannot see Him or understand Him! Remember, that your dad and I are always here for you, we love you more than you will ever know - to the moon and back, and back and back and back!

Happy 7th Birthday son! You are loved to infinity and beyond!

Awaiting Keegan Update

Yesterday, I was sent by my OB to a high risk OB doctor. I have been feeling very dizzy / light headed for a few weeks and then I fainted on Wednesday and fell. I'm still feeling very dizzy / light headed. So they wanted to determine why. She did an ultrasound and looks like Keegan is already the size of a 37 week baby even though she is only 34 ... what can I say ... we grow them big in our house :)

My regular OB had put me on bed rest because of the contractions I have been having. The high risk doctor told me I didn't have to be on bed rest but to limit my activity alone due to my sciatica and falling. The bed rest is aggravating the sciatica and making the pain / falling worse. She said that she would not stop labor at this point if my body decided to do it on it's on - she felt Keegan would be just fine if I went into labor at anytime. If she does not come on her own before Dec 20th we will have an amnio that morning and if she is ready induction later that day / evening! It is still surreal to me that I could be holding my new bundle of joy in just 18 or 19 days ... or less if she decides to come on her own.

It just seems so much more real to me now that it is winding down .... ready or not family of 6 here we come! :)