March 1st, then and now

5 years ago March 1st took on a different meaning for me. In the past it had always just been "another day"~ another number in the 365 days that always seem to go by too quickly. Days seem to fly by no matter how much we try to keep them moving slowly~ This has become much more apparent to me after I had children.

5 years ago March 1st was supposed to be "another day".....just another Wednesday that I would be seeing my OBGYN for an appt. I was 26 weeks pregnant with McKenna and had been on bedrest for 6 weeks. I was supposed to go to stay at Aunt Diana and Uncle Rick's for a few nights for a change of scenery but things went a completely different direction when Aunt Diana had to drive me to the hospital for what would end up being an 8 week long stay before Kenna was born 6 1/2 weeks early.

March 1st is different for me now. It means much more than just another day. It might be categorized as the hardest day of my life. The scariest day of my life. The day in my life that I cried the most. However it has made me a different person. It taught me that I'm stronger than I give myself credit for. It taught me patience. It gave me a new respect for what it means to be a nurse and what it means to be a patient. It taught me the strength of relationships, of families. It made me grateful for what I have be given.

It hit me like a ton of bricks today at work. I was in the breakroom making my lunch when a nurse asked me "So, how old is your oldest daughter now?"

"Four and a half" I said, my mind swirling as I realized it was March 1st.

I pondered the date for the 20 minutes that it took me to eat, then, in the quiet of my office, I cried. I cried as I relived the emotions of that Wednesday in 2006. I cried as I thanked God for the experience. I cried as I thought of the amazing four and a half year old that God blessed us with!

I still have a card that I was given by a friend during that time. I have held on to it becase the message is so true. I believe that God gave us that experience for a reason! He wanted to teach me things that I could only learn through that experience, and for that, I am grateful.(Not to mention that I got an amazing little girl out of it!!!)

The card says:
"You are going through trials and difficulties, not because God has abandoned you, but because He has chosen you and called you to know His heart. ~Roy Lessin
There is a purpose in what you are walking through, and God would never allow it if He could not keep you close to His heart and use it for good in the plan He has for your life"

This card is so true. And I believe, that March 1st 5 years ago, He wanted to teach........

Conversation with Kenna

I know! I know! I am a HORRIBLE blogger! I'm pretty sure my last post was in September.... maybe my new years resolution needs to be that I blog more!

This will be short until I have more time, but I HAVE to share a conversation I had with Kenna in the car on the way home from preschool this morning. We were talking about the birth of my friends Gabe an Jenn's new baby girl, Caroline.

Me: "Kenna, today we are going to go see a new baby and guess what her name is?"
Kenna: "What?"
Me: "Caroline"
Kenna: "Caroline? Now there are 2 Carolines!!!"
Me: "Yep"
Kenna: "How many is she?"
Me: "She was just born yesterday"
Kenna: (silence) "So she just came down from Heaven?"
Me: "Yes, God just gave her to Gabe and Jen"
Kenna: "Where does he live? Did he get married and move?"
Me: "Who? Gabe? Yes, he got married and now they have a baby girl"
Kenna: "No, I'm talking about God. Did he move?"
Me: "No, God lives in Heaven. He has always lived there"
Kenna: "But it's not comfy there. He has no blankets"
Me: "I'm sure God has blankets"
Kenna: "But where does he sleep? Are there beds there?"
Me: "Yep, I bet he has beds"
Kenna: "Lots and lots of beds?"
Me: "I bet he does"
Kenna: "Does he have 2 beds? One for God and one for Jesus?"
Me: "Yes"
Kenna: "Oh mommy, its like a SLEEPOVER!!"

Hahahahaha.... just had to share.........

As I am looking through my pictures I feel a little bit bad. I'm not eactly sure where August went. I realized that I only took about 5 pictures the whole month!!

We had a garage sale mid August. Kenna was very ecited about having a lemonade stand! (But got a bit bored with it when it wasn't busy)

Granny was her first customer!

Earlier this summer, Tony built me a clothesline in the backyard by connecting a wooden post with the playset. It has been nice to be able to hang my diapers outside!

The Wednesday after Labor Day was a big day for Kenna! It was her first day of preschool! I can't believe that my baby girl is going to preschool now! It seems like she was just born a few weeks ago!

She was SO PROUD of her backpack!

Last week Angela and I took the kids to the zoo.

This picture was trying to portray how HUGE the leaves on this plant were

I think it is just amazing how no matter when or how many times we go to the zoo, there is always a sense of wonder that can be seen in her eyes. The experience at the zoo is never the same and we (all of us) always come home with stories of what we have seen!

As Delaney gets bigger, she just loves to jump right in there and play with the big girls!

Taylor was terrified that it was going to rain. She cried almost the entire time we were there. We really had to twist her arm to get her in this picture!

Bill the lion was laying on the rock ledge next to this window. It was totally impossible to get them all to look at the camera. Delaney was very photogenic though!

The three girls in the tents...

Again, miss Delaney was very cheesy as she posed for the camera.

This picture really made me laugh when I saw it! Kenna always loves to feed the giraffes. This time she was so in to the feeding that she even stuck her tongue out too!!

The giraffe Kenna fed was Mystic. As I was standing watching Mystic close to the stand, I realized she had some interesting markings..... directly in the middle of her right side, one of her spots looks like a Mickey Head (maybe I had Disney on my mind since I watched a show last week about Disney World and the "hidden Mickeys")

As I mentioned earlier, Taylor cried almost the entire time we were there because she was afraid it was going to rain. By the time it actually did rain, she was hysterical......

Kenna thought it was kind of funny that we all were soaked as we ran for cover!

Mommy and Delaney VERY wet!

This weekend, we went to Turkey Run State Park to go camping with Gabe, Jenn, Artie, Amanda, Savannah, Mitch, Andrew, and Kati. McKenna and Savannah had a great time playing all weekend.

Delaney and Mitch also had a great time playing together!

The guys had a well planned set up so they could see the TV in our camper to watch the Notre Dame game.

Yesterday we took the kids to the Nature Center and out to the suspension bridge. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of live animals for the kids to look at, but they still had fun!

The whole gang on the suspension bridge!

We had such a great time with a great group of friends but also had fun as a family!

Baby Mitch giving a big binkie CHEESE smile

The Strack family

We decided to go on a short hike. It was really a good hike with the kiddos in tow!

We had such a great time!!!

Andrew and Gabe on the BIG rock!

Sleep girls on the way home...................

Another update- finally!

The weekend of July 4th, we went to Ohio to visit the Dees and the McCabes. The girls were being so cute together! They even let me take a picture of them on the stairs- which is a rare occaion for Kenna. She usually doesn't smile, doesn't look at the camera, or makes a strange face (You may see each of those in the following pictures! haha!)

For lunch on July 4th we went to probably one of my favorite places in Sandusky! It is A TGI Fridays right on the water. The boats can pull right up to the dock and park. We always sit on the patio/deck when we eat there. Daddy and Kenna were walking on the patio when they spotted a snake in the water

This picture shows a bit better the view of the patio area. I love it!

Poor Delaney was VERY sleep

We attempted to get a group picture. Kenna would not look at the camera!

McKenna is sitting next to me as I type. She just said "I wish we could go there again"

After lunch, we went to the beach. I was driving around attempting to find a parking spot. I found one at the back of the lot but failed to realize it was mostly sandy so I ended up getting the trailblazer stuck. Tony took over and I took the kids out to the beach. Luckily some nice people helped him get it un-stuck!

Once at the sand it was VERY HOT. I really think that I burnt the bottoms of my feet when we walked on it because they burned for quite a while after the trip. Despite the hot sand, the water was gorgeous! Delaney LOVED it.

On our trip, we also went to the annual 4th of July parade at Reeny's house.

After the HOT parade (which very well could have been the LONGEST PARADE EVER) we went swimming in Reeny's pool. Kenna had such a great time! She LOVES to swim!

Grandma, Bobby, and the girls posing for a picture before we leave! I didn't realize Bobby had on the "Its all Muscle" shirt until I was reviewing the pictures on my camera! haha!

As everyone probably knows, I have been cloth diapering Delaney. I was doing the laundry and had all the diapers stacked up on the couch so I decided to take a picture of them!

Then Delaney decided to pull the diapers off the couch and run with them! It was too cute!

As the girls were playing around the livingroom, I noticed the Delaney's hair was just barely long enough for a teeny pony tail on the top of her head. Unlike Kenna at that age, it only stayedi n long enough for the picture and was immediately removed. Kenna never bothered her pony tails! (I was trying to snap the picture fast before she pulled it out and I'm so mad I cut Kenna out of it. It would have been a great picture of her!)

Oh how can 365 days go SOOO fast!?!??! Look at my baby on her 1st birthday!

Delaney getting some Nana love on her birthday!

This is my sad attempt to get her lamb picture. She must have known it was her birthday because she was all smiles and all energy! To get her to stay still for any amount of time for a picture was nearly impossible.

We call Delaney our "Laney-Bug" so it was fitting to have her birthday a lady bug theme. Mom did an awesome job on her cupcakes and her birthday cake! They were ADORABLE!

Delaney is such a food-lover that she didn't resist the temptation to dig in to it! She carefully picked the ladybugs off first to eat......

She had a look of panic on her face when Kenna decided to stick her finger in to enjoy the icing. I think she was afraid that Kenna would eat the whole thing!

But she was sure to get that icing before Kenna could!

Then she thought she could just stick her whole face in it!

MMMMMM.....CAAAAAAKE

NOW it's time to get SERIOUS about eating the cake!

What a messy baby girl!

All the kids enjoying the pool. We bought this pool not too long before the party. The one I had gotten that was simlar had a leak in it that we couldn't find! This one was MUCH bigger!

Not sure what this face means...................

Delaney wasn't took excited about opening the presents~ She just wanted to play with them after they were opened! She was very happy to have the baby doll from Papa and Nana!

SO happy!

As the party was winding down, we were able to get a calmer picture with the lamb.........

Kari and I went out to a few garage sales one Friday and Delaney latched on to a little baby. Then she found the baby car seat, and I was amazed at how she knew just what to do with the baby!

This is why we don't let Daddy do her hair....

Mama Dee and Tay on the boat

Angela and Papa Dee

Grandma Dee, Bobby, and Amy came over to Tom and Jean's house for a day of fishing

Daddy and Delaney

Bobby gave us the thumbs up indicating he was having a great time!

What a beauty!

Delaney attempting to walk around the boat with her huge life vest on!

Delaney was a sleepy baby after all her fun in the sun! So precious!