Bedrest

Greetings from the couch. I haven't been here for a whoping 16 months. I got put on bedrest at the beginning of March 2012 and ethan was born the 25th. I was put on house arrest 2 weeks ago and bow on solid bedrest. This go around it seems to be progressing faster. The one thing i do not like about Preeclampsia is that theres nothing we can do to stop it. At this point we can have T today or a month from now!

Before Preeclampsia I HAD to know the plan. Even vacations had to be micromanaged. The idea of Let Go and Let God was a ridiculously foreign idea for me. Even my "letting go" had steps i needed to follow. Having P taught me there are things that you simply CAN NOT control and things we have to surrender to. God wants us to rest in the knowledge that He has us- I can often here Him say "Sarah, I've got this!"

There is a peace that I have never known since I've been stuck on bedrest. Gods got us- if we just surrender snd relax.

the P word

This picture is from the day after Ethan was born. The effects of Preeclampsia are evedent in both of us. It made me hold a ridiculous amount of water, go into labor 8 weeks early and have Ethan in the NICU learning to breathe and swallow on his own for 5 weeks. We were told after E was born that there was no telling if it would happen again. Everything was a 50/50 chance. This go around though I was it better shape than I ever had been and feeling great. We thought we avoided the dreaded P when we reached the 32 week mark. But, IT'S BACK! My kidneys are deciding to not work as best as they could and my BP is slowly hiking. So, looks like Tyler will be making his way early like his brother- just not as early I am praying. Each day he stays in is one more day he doesnt have to stay in the NICU. Right now I am on "house arrest." The goal is to never have me on my feet more than 5 minutes at a time. This should be very interesting with a 15 month old. =) As much as this stinks however, I would rather be home snuggeling with my kiddo than on hospital bedrest. Send some prayers our way that we can keep sweet Tyler in as long as we can!

Sweet Triple Chin Love

We are so blessed to have 3 grandmothers for Ethan. My mom (moke) is 10 minutes away and has been a huge help, Bryans mom (Lele) is 40 minutes away and Ethan thinks she's simply the best, and our bonus grandmother Donna (GMD) has been a second mom to mom for over 16 years.

GMD has been a blessing to us since Ethans arrival and he simply adores her! This week we went to play at her house. Toys, puppies and swimming- nothing better for a little boy. GMD is also an amazing photographer and certainly has her work cut out for her with a moving target- here are some from our last visit!

Summer Stacation

Bryan finally had a whole week off (a rarity around here) and we were excited to have a week together. It was so very fun to see Ethan and Bryan have so much time together. Ethan had a "I want mommy" phase for about a week (sad for me) and is now certainly ALL BOY and wants ALL DADDY! He wants to be with daddy, wrestle, hold his hand, play at the park, share snowcones, and ride with him on the riding lawnmower. With this whole week it was day after day of daddy fun. Last week we had our 4th anniversary, and my mom volunteered to take Ethan for the day so that Bryan and I could have a free baby day. We actually go to see a movie and eat lunch SLOWLY at a "real restaurant". Then the rest of the week it was the three of us! We went to the pool or the park every day, spent a day at the zoo, went to dinner with my sister and brother in law, we got ice cream with Moke and Diesel, we visited Papi and Lele in the hospital, went to the arboretum... a FULL FUN WEEK!

This week has made me realize how very blessed we are and how excited I am to add another boy into the mix. God certainly knew what he was doing in giving us boys. I can't believe that Bryan's next vacation will be when Tyler is born.

It Takes a Village- I Love My Village

Things have changed around here. I have left the church and am now a stay at home mom and love it. One of the amazing things, however, that has come out of the last several years of working with teens is the relationship that I have with some of my girls. This particular group of girls has been there through the good and bad. They were the first ones at church that knew that I lost a baby, they were the ones who asked EVERY WEEK if I was pregnant yet, they were the ones who decorated the nursery when I was on bedrest, they were the ones who visited Ethan in the NICU and were the same ones ready to keep up with us over the last year. This picture was taken May of 2011. The girls had just graduated from high school and were talking about all that they were excited about in the coming year. It was one of Ethan's first outtings and so very fun to see us all on a new beginning.

Just this last week, we met back up (well most of us) to meet for lunch again. The girls had just finished their first year at college. They were excited to share about the church homes they had found, the sorority activities, boys they were dating, and their summer plans. This time however, Ethan was flirting with them the whole time. =) Oh what a year can do.

I am a firm believer that God created us for community. We are not meant to be alone, and we are not meant to raise children alone either. My boys will need a variety of people in their lives to help them find out who they are and what God has in store for them. I am grateful that God put these sweet girls in our lives. I can't wait to see where God leads them in the next several years as they become the women of God that He created them to be. I can't wait to see the relationship my boys have these sweet hearts. And I am beyond grateful everyday for the village He has blessed us with.

Life according to Iphone

I feel like I take so many pictures of daily life that I want to remember. So here is our life via IPhone.. Daddy and Me Time- these two are best buddies

We went met up the godparents at the Dallas Zoo. We are so lucky to have such amazing Godparents/friends for Ethan.

Tyler is getting big! 6 months!

We are learning to climb on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

We have loads of toys at our house- but the favorite toy for the week is a plastic bowl.

Our friend Ty gave us his little red wagon. Ethan likes to jump in and wait for someone to push him around.

Daily trip to the park

Date night at Chipotle- our favorite!

Teething makes for a very fussy little man!

Easter and Tyler

I feel like when I was pregnant with Ethan I wanted to document everything. What my cravings were, how big I was, when I first felt him kick. With Tyler, its not at all that I don't want to do it, but with a 12 month old running around the house I simply don't have time. So here is me catching up so I don't forget.

I am 25 weeks pregnant. I honestly, don't feel pregnant at all until it's time for bed. Sleeping is certainly a struggle already. And if anyone saw how much I ate it would certainly be clear that I was pregnant as well. =0)

I don't have many cravings at all- just hungry - A LOT! I haven't gained as much in this pregnancy, and I have Ethan to thank for that I am sure. However, if I am put on bedrest, I am sure that weight will catch up with me.

I love laying in bed at the end of the day because I finally have time to sit and feel him kick- he is certainly a mover- and I am afraid may be just as active as his brother.

____________________________________________________________


Speaking of his big brother- We had a fabulous Easter. Last Easter Ethan had just gotten home from the NICU, so it was so much fun to allow him to run around and play all day. He got his first Easter basket-filled with candy for daddy of course! =)

Then we headed off to church. Bryan had to work so he came for church and the Easter egg hunt and then had to leave before family time. Ethan sure does love his daddy and I certainly did miss having someone to help me rangle this guy around the house.