Smiles and Laughter

Hospital Memories...

A couple weeks ago I headed down the all too familiar road to Saddleback Memorial Hospital...for an amazing celebration of birth, my best friend of 17 years gave birth to her twins...we share so much and now we share double blessings..boy/girl twins!!!

As I walked through the same doors to the women's hospital, memories came flooding back. These are the very same doors that I came through during my pregnancy at 13 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and then a long hospital stay 22 weeks, we were so scared that we were going to lose our babies. The NICU staff wouldnt even talk to us because they felt that if I delivered they wouldnt be able to save our babies. It was a time that I clearly remember flooding the feet of my God with tears, pleading that he would protect our son and daughter. Worshipping without restraint and surrending my heart completely to His will. 10 weeks after I was discharged we returned through the same doors to give birth to our daughter and son.

As I waited in a small waiting room to see these beautiful new arrivals I realized that the room right next door to me was the exact same room I was in 18 months earlier. It was empty so I walked right into the room, it was quiet, nothing had changed but everything had changed. As I stood there I remembered so clearly the song that John and I had worshipped to every day and night while we were there (see below) and while the chorus played in my mind the images of Mia and Jacob smiling, giggling, talking, walking and everything else in between in this last year sent chills through my body. Gods will had perservered even when my body had started to fail, His strength sustained my weaknesses, His healing touch gave life to our son and daughter. There is a will to be done in their lives a purpose they are too fulfill and a perfect plan He will see through to fruition. I'm so blessed to have had that moment back in our room to reflect in His perfect plan.



This is the song by Casting Crowns that I listened to in my headphones all day and night in this hospital room.

Mothers Day!

Well its not June yet so I still have time to jot down my mothers day treasures :)

Mia and Jacob,
I can't believe my second "Mommy's" Day has come and gone. Every morning when I step out of bed I am in awe of Gods goodness as I start to hear your giggles and squeals coming from your room. Nothing could have prepared me for what it would be like to be your mother. Its true what they say, its like having your heart walking around outside your body. From the minute I heard you both take your first breath my heart was gone and will forever be in each step you take. You have filled me with greater joy than I have ever known and my heart leaps at the joy of knowing God chose me to be your mother. I am honored and so blessed to be able to wake up every single morning to your smiles, to go on adventures with you two and see the world through your eyes, to wash you up each night in one of our splash parties and wrapping you warmly up in love. I treasure every night as I rock you both quietly to sleep together, praying over you as we end the day together. For now you still both fit snugly in my arms every night, cuddling and patting each other to sleep. My sweet babies thank you for giving me the best 16 months of my life and the sweetest mothers day I could ever have imagined!
Love, Mommy

Fun in the Sun!!

More than a few weeks ago we almost hit the triple digits in SoCal!! We spent the weekend at our pool and then we dropped the kids off at Nana and Grandpas so that Mommy and Daddy could have a date. The kids LOVE their pool at Nana and Grandpas!! So fun!!

a case of the sickies......

So John and I were hoping we were in the clear, it had been 1 week since Mia came down with the dreadful Bronchiolitis and we were back to our happy, smiling joyful girl. Saturday morning Jacob was coughing, but still full of smiles and laughter, Saturday evening he started to get tired and cranky so we put him to bed early, by 9pm we were back up screaming and that was how I started my Mothers Day. Sunday he did ok, not too bad and no need to run to the urgent care but by Monday morning we were miserable so off to see Dr. Ball we went. Turns out Jacob not only has Mia's Bronchiolitis virus but a double ear infection as well. We have learned now that anytime Jacob gets a tiny cough it quickly turns into an ear infection. So far we have been miserable all day and were preparing for a long night again. Praise God Nana will be here first thing in the morning to help!!
Heres my sweet baby....

Sick Days!!

On Saturday evening Mia started to cough, not your usual run of the mill sneeze, runny nose, low grade fever cough but a whooping, croup like cough, 102 degree fever for more than 24hrs and to say the least a very unhappy little girl. John and I had forgotten (which is amazing) how we made it through 9 months of not sleeping through the night. Mia was up for 2 nights straight crying and didnt sleep more than an hour at a time. Off to urgent care we went on Sunday morning and she was diagnosed with Bronciolitis, inflammation of her little bronchioles. They put her on nebulizer treatment every 4hrs (which she screamed and kicked through the first 3) Steroid injection, and antibiotics. We prayed over her and by Tuesday afternoon she was back to her old self... a lot more cuddly and in need of lots of hugs and kisses but shes on the mend!!! Keeping our fingers crossed Jacob doesnt catch it since they share EVERYTHING!! As hard as we tried to keep their sippy cups separate they would run over and pick it up before we could even blink...oh well :) So far so good!

I had to get our their big swing just to make her comfortable while she watched Praise Baby downstairs and wouldnt you know it guess who thought it was for him!!


This is how we spent all day Monday and most of Tuesday morning

Fun at Fashion Island, Newport Beach