The Club No One Wants to Join

When you first become parents, you feel like you have joined a club.  At least, my husband and I did.  You know, you see another parent dealing with a fussy child and even though they are strangers, your eyes meet and you silently acknowledge..been there done that. 
In the past few days, my husband and I feel we have been forced out of a group and into a club we want no part of.  In our church we were one of five pregnant couples.  Now they all have their babies and ours is in Heaven.  While I am beyond thankful that their babies are safe, we are now out of that group (so to speak).  We have now become part of a club...parents who have lost a baby.  And it is not fun.  Through this, I have been so blessed by others who have come forward and shared their stories.  No two stories are the same.  Every situation was unique and every single lost baby...so very well loved.  I will say this, until you have lost a baby you cannot imagine what it feels like, and I pray you never do.  It is a different kind of loss.  Our family feels smaller.  It truly does.  Our family is no longer complete and will not be complete until we are reunited in Heaven.

Loss

I really do not want to share this.  Today we went in for our 15 month check up.  Everything was going along nicely, until they went to find the heartbeat.  The doctor tried and tried and eventually took me to the ultrasound machine.  She could not find the heartbeat there and the baby was measuring three weeks small.  I was sent to hospital and had more ultrasounds done and was given the news that our special Blessing #4 is in Heaven.  To say we are heartbroken is an under estimate.  We feel this loss keenly.  In our minds we were a family of 6 and we feel incomplete.  My eyes are swollen and burning and it really feels like I should not be able to keep crying...but I do.  Since my body has not miscarried I have to have a surgery done.  Please keep our family in your prayers.

I love Fall!

I love our kids!

Fall!

I LOVE Fall!  And so do the kids.  We have had gorgeous weather lately and spent lots of time outside soaking up the sun....and leaves.

Do you do the flu?

Well, actually I mean flu shots.  Do you get them?  Why or why not?  I took the Professor in for his 15 month check up.  He is in the 58th % for his weight, the 81st for his height and 87th for his head.  Looks like he will be tall and smart! LOL!  While we were there he got his flu shot and I got mine.  I told my sister-in-law and she went to get hers.  The girls are getting theirs tomorrow.  What about you?

Halloween is Coming!

Are you ready for Halloween at your house?  Do you celebrate Halloween?  We let our kids dress up, but only in happy costumes.  We also live in a town that upholds that "Halloween is about dressing up and getting candy" mentality.  So our trick-or-treating hours are always on the Sunday before Halloween from 2-4 in the afternoon.  No worrying about late nights, cold weather and kids darting across dark streets.  I don't think there is a house in town that does not have someone at the door passing out candy.  Families like us who are out with their kids, just leave a big bowl of candy and let people take it.  And yes, they have been totally honest.  We even had leftovers last year.  So our family IS ready.  The girls will be beautiful princesses and the Professor will be Kermit the Frog!

Waffles

The other night my husband was traveling and I was alone with the kids.  I was tired and I was hungry and we were all ready for dinner.  I had just enough mix to make waffles for myself and the kids.  I did not count on the Professor liking them as much as he did though.  The Hippie ate two waffles, the Genius ate 3, the Professor ate 1 and I ate 1 1/2.  The girls LOVE when I make waffles.  Now, I better remember to add that to my grocery list next week.  Waffles are a tradition in our family.  Any time we are rained or snowed in, I make waffles for everyone.  Do you have any traditions like that?