Life is never dull...

We found out today, from Scott's MRI of his knee on Friday, that he does need to have knee surgery. He has a torn meniscus. He had his ACL done 8 years ago on this same knee and then hurt his other knee in November. We were hoping it would heal on its own with rest, but considering he still is unable to run or work out we feared this was the situation. MRI confirmed it. Torn...bummer

The tricky part is when can we fit his surgery in with this baby and my csection. Please do pray that there will be some opening in the Dr's schedule. Scott even tried to schedule it for tomorrow, or later this week, just to be done with it. But of course schedules are filled...we would rather do it before baby than after. We can't have 2 of us down at once.

Birthday and Basketball

This weekend has been full of basketball and today is my birthday.

Yesterday Tommy was in a tournament and Jack had his last YMCA basketball game. Scott and I had a date night out to a customers Christmas party then a trip to Target, while Emily and Ross were here.

Jack on defense

Jack takes a shot

Tommy and best buddy Will, lives across the street, they have been friends since they were 5

Tommy has a slight size disadvantage #31, I'd say 100 lbs. :) But still takes the shot

And yes, 38 years old today! The boys have showered me with love and affection, breakfast in bed made by Drew (he is the King of making scrambled eggs and toast), phone call including singing from my Mom and Dad, church (including a birthday song by the entire 5th and 6th grade Sunday School class), lunch out at Jason's Deli, a basketball game for Tommy, home to make peanut blossom cookies, deliver cookies to the neighbors for Christmas, a nice nap on the couch and dinner out at Biaggi's. Then home for cake and ice cream. The boys each made me lists of 10 things they are Grateful for in their Mom...that was the BEST part. Special day...

And if I am correct, my pregnancy goes officially today from "Advanced Maternal Age" now to a "Geriatric Pregnancy"....what a day. :)

Cake Drew and Scott ordered from Hyvee...notice not a Christmas themed cake and note the cute baby booties on top. Sweet.

Tomorrow we have another ultrasound to check in on baby, probably the last one...we pray he/she continues to be doing well and can stay put for another month. One month from today, January 20th we will meet this little one. If NOT before...

Prayers and Praises

This fall in Columbus, Kathy, Tommy (looking cool in sunglasses) brother Doug and Scott

We would ask that you would please pray for Scott's sister Kathy. She is in the midst of getting a full diagnosis for breast cancer. She is trying to determine the best treatment options and plan of action. She has a lot of decisions ahead of her and seemingly, and understandably overwhelmed by it all. Kathy is 2 years older than Scott, she is a high school teacher and an active tennis player, she has never been married and does not have kids so in many ways it makes it harder without having a spouse or children to walk through the little details with you. She does live about 30 minutes from Scott's parents and they have gone to an appointment with her which is a blessing.

She has had an MRI and it looks like the cancer is contained in the one breast, although there are some signs of it in the other breast as well. She will have to undergo some chemotherapy, a possible mastectomy or double... the full course of treatment has yet to be determined. She did have Non-Hodgins lymphoma about 20 years ago and had success with that treatment. So we pray the same will go for this...

But we do ask for you to pray for her, pray for wisdom as she chooses her Doctors and treatment plan.

We are grateful, PRAISE HERE, that the cancer has been found and is at a seemingly treatable stage. We are reassured with the many breast cancer survivor friends and family we have, and feel great about that.

If you would like to, I am sure she would love a note of encouragement or prayer. It's always nice to know you are being prayed for by people, even if they aren't anyone you know. I will include her address....Kathy Shisler 1591 Wiltshire Road Akron, OH 44313..and if you want to send her a note and let her know you are praying that's great.

Thank you...

Car Seat Shopping

Tonight we all went to pick out a car seat for the baby, you would think with 5 personalities we would have had a hard time agreeing on one...well, we didn't. I knew what brand and style I wanted...it was a matter of color and pattern. Here is what was unanimously agreed upon. Do you think it has something to do with the color scheme? Oh funny..yes it's a Buckeye colored car seat and matching stroller as well. Those people at Graco sure knew what colors to go with.

We also purchased diapers and wipes, SO if baby does decide to enter this world earlier than January 20th we are now prepared. I do need to get a video tape for the camera....but we have the basics we need for baby. Baby got some onesies at the shower, and I have a blue and pink knit hat and found 2 different going home outfits today too.

Ahh...all set to go now.

Must Do's

Okay I am on to my MUST DO list, not the to do's, or hope to get to's but the MUST DO's. After spending from 12:30-4:45 am in the hospital last night, maternity triage, I realized I need to get the must do's done "just in case".

I didn't feel well yesterday afternoon and evening, after calling the on call nurse around 11:45 they said I needed to come in.(thanks to my good friend Shannon for coming over and sleeping on the sofa while we were gone) I thought I was just crampy but told Mom I just felt different yesterday. I guess I was right, I was having contractions every 3 minutes when we arrived. The tears came as the nurse said she would talk to the Dr about our options, and mentioned delivering the baby...she walked out of the room and I told Scott I don't even have diapers or a car seat yet. Which he replied, I can go and buy those, not a big deal. Very true but at that moment seemed like a big deal.

I have never gone into labor with any of our boys, always made it to the planned csection date and good to go, so this was all new. Long story short, the contractions were not causing me to dilate and baby was very happily moving around so they had me drink a lot of water and stay for observation. After a few hours on a terribly uncomfortable triage TABLE oops I mean bed, the contractions became less frequent and we were sent home.

I am laying low this morning....hope to get out for that carseat and diapers later today for peace of mind more than anything. Praying that this was a one time thing and all will be well. The good news is that we are 35 weeks and so IF baby needed to be born it should be okay. But we would like this little one to stay snug as a bug for about 35 more days, but who's counting?

oh Happy day

Just getting home from the OB Doctor. Baby is fine as am I. We have another ultrasound on Monday to check in on baby. Probably will be our last one. Scott asked, once again, about the hospital policy on siblings visiting the baby when it's born. The Doctor said while the policy at the hospital still states no one under the age of 18 is allowed to visit, and this policy will be in effect until March or April....he said that the boys could visit! yipee. He said many have been coming and as long as they stay in our room, and don't wander the halls they can come. They have relaxed the rules and are allowing siblings.

SO I am doing a happy dance and thrilled that the boys can now come and visit us and meet the baby the day it is born!

This IS a big answer to prayer for our entire family.

Funny one for winter...

Blessed...

Today I feel just blessed...so grateful. We had a wonderful weekend, very full but very wonderful.

Scott arrived home from Chicago on Friday (yeah), my parents then arrived in time for dinner here on Friday night (glamorous goulash vs the fancy steaks in Chicago Scott had all week). And then the boys enjoyed a quiet night at home with ALL of us. Mom and Dad kept saying our house was chilly, so I loaned Dad my Ohio State Snuggie Jack had given me this fall, and he loved it and read books with Jack. :)

Proof of Dad in the Snuggie

Saturday was a full day from start to finish. Mom, Jack and I ran a few shopping errands in the morning. Dad, Scott and Drew all went to Tommy's basketball game. The boys all had their school Christmas programs on Saturday afternoon, Jack's at 1 and the older boys at 2:30. They were wonderful programs, and put us right in the spirit of Christmas. We went to church at 5:00 then, we were already dressed up. And this week church offered a Saturday night option since it was our "Christmas with Friends" church weekend, so beautiful music and a wonderful service. Felt like Christmas Eve. After church we headed home for a ham dinner, to celebrate Christmas early with my parents. We opened gifts after dinner and the boys were thrilled, as you can imagine, to get to open some gifts early.

After both Christmas programs at school and church

Photo taken at church

This morning we were able to be lazy...since we had gone to church last night we stayed in jammies and ate a big breakfast. Mom, Jack and I headed to a baby shower sweet Emily hosted for us along with her Mom, and another friend Erin. It was a small group of girlfriends there and I was so touched. Touched by the thoughtfulness of friends to care so much about this baby, and friends who have prayed so much for us and continue to do so. Friends like that are rare and the older I get, the more I realize the treasure it is to have friends who truly love and pray you through thick and thin. It was special to me that my Mom could be at the baby shower as well. And as Emily led us through a time of prayer for the baby and for me, and for our family tears just fell like rain off my face. As I was rocking my friend Makila's 12 day old baby Gracelyn and listening to her sweet baby sounds, my Mom holding my hand on my right, Jack leaning over and kissing me off and on and knowing how loved this little one growing inside of me is...sweet words of prayer and blessing from dear friends.

Jack practicing...holding baby Gracelyn

My heart is full...what a weekend of blessings for our family.

I'm on my way home...

"I'm on my way home", music to my ears. Scott is enroute home from Chicago after being there since Monday. He left from Chicago, driving, at 4:40 am, can you tell he wants to get home?

The boys are SO excited to have Daddy back home. Jack came in our room this morning very EARLY, and said in a sweet quiet voice to me, "Mom today is the day Daddy comes home. I can't wait can you? I hope he picks me up at school because I want to give him a super squeezer hug". Tommy and Drew are excited too. And so AM I! I miss him when he is gone. I miss so many things, the little things maybe the most, holding his hand and praying at night, the smell of him right out of the shower, going to sleep beside him, the sound of him walking in the door..hearing his laugh. So sappy I know but I do...

We have a very full weekend ahead...my Mom and Dad will be here in time for dinner later tonight. And I know I will sleep more soundly with the security of Scott being home...