Happy Birthday Ethan

Every year the essence of this child encourages me to write long emotional dedications. 

While they are all true, this year I can't help but think his cake is on fire. 

Growing up will do that to a cake I guess. 

10!

He is the Gift

Every day since Thanksgiving it has been the same. Children presenting lists of Christmas wants that have barely changed since that time. 

Determined to give my kids' the three gifts* they wanted the most, I started on my Christmas shopping. I was done in no time, except for one. 

Every time I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, I got the same answer "I want everybody to know the true meaning of Christmas."

After a couple weeks of my prodding for other gift options, he added jelly beans. Sometimes he would add gummy lifesavers, but his number one gift that people know the true meaning of Christmas has never changed. 

For my Ethan:

Dear world,

I believe in Jesus. I celebrate Christmas in honor of His birth. Christmas is literally "Christ's Mass".

Jesus has brought me peace in life. May you feel the love and happiness you deserve through Him. 

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Remember the reason for the season for me... for Ethan... for Him. 

Forever in Love,

Me

*based from the three gifts Christ received

Happy 9th Birthday

Nine years ago my doctor recommended a modified bedrest to make sure my baby was not born too early. 

However, when I got the green light, he would not come!

I hated being pregnant, and I wanted to deliver him before the new year.

On January 1st, depleted, I got down on my knees and cried. I begged The Lord to help me accept my baby's time frame.

He was born the next morning, and it was my easiest labor. 

At the time, I didn't realize how much I would need that pray to be his mother. 

I love this kid. Happy birthday. Thanks for helping me slow down and enjoy the moment.  

Life saver

Yesterday Larissa told me that Ethan saved her life. 

Curious, I needed details. 

I had the blessing of having two kids very close in age and only one grade apart. Every other year, they have lunch and recess together

Larissa had nothing to do and no one to play with at recess.  For Larissa (and I back in the day), this is a big deal.

"Mom, he gave me a hug at school and played with me the whole time!"

This morning Larissa reminded me, "Ethan saved my life one day ago."

School Pictures

Sled Dogs

"Mom, did you know sled dogs will still run injured? They follow the lead dog even if their feet are bleeding and don't want to continue. All the dogs do it because they love their Master."

Summer Worksheets

At work, I tell the nurses if you truly understand the disease process, you can explain it to someone without medical knowledge. It is the litmus test for understanding. 

I should have had Ethan tutor him earlier. Our lower case "e" is sharper, and the other letters have the right animal hump. 

I love the way Ethan explains it. 

(Don't notice Ethan's proof reading worksheet nearly empty from avoidance.)

Tennis Love

I was lucky to go to an awesome high school. If you wanted to play a sport, you usually could.

I was on the tennis team in high school, probably because I looked so good in those skirts! 

My Dad jokingly says his tombstone will say, "He bought lunch."  Mine will say, "She kept her promises."

For as long as I can remember, Ethan has been asking for tennis and golf lessons.  When I found a good tennis racket at Good Will, I knew it was time to start. 

Pinewood Derby Time

It was Ethan's first pinewood derby.

The Children's Blessings

Raea

Ethan

Larissa

Herston

Annastasia

 

Nearly the same age.  All dressed in white.  So grateful for these experiences & children.

Our baby

It's hard for me to fathom that I almost let this miracle pass by. Annastasia is truly a blessing.

A constant reminder.

This is your life.

Enjoy it.

The gap in my children's ages has made this infancy easy. It's not my baby. It's OUR baby.

The preschool teacher remarked that I am always holding the baby.

It's true.

I could take the baby in the carseat and run in and run out, but for some reason, this time, the car seat seems too far away.

So I'll hold her.

We will all hold her.

My January Babies

Ethan was so excited to have his little sister arrive just in time for his baptism.

 

I was just excited.

Toe Jam and Earl

Last night the kids wanted me to tell them a bed time story about video games when I was younger.

I went off about Atari and Nintendo... and most importantly my favorite game, Toe Jam and Earl.

And their dancing. The pointless smooth walking to find the next exit. The uncovering of the map. The game of patience and no strategy. Uncle Joe's boredom with the game. The funny insults and awesome jammin music. How I was the only human who liked the game.

This morning Ethan said, "I figured out their walk!" "Jammin'!"

He had found Toe Jam and Earl on YouTube.


Tom Jam is a wiener... err winner.

Ethan's Baptism

Things are easier the second time around.

Ethan was baptized on Saturday. He practiced his Articles of Faith, and he was truly prepared.

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Ethan's Birth Story

I am a planner.

This has never been as apparent than with the timing of Ethan's conception.

I was graduating nursing school in December.  I knew I would not be able to have a newborn while doing clinicals, and it killed me that I had to wait to have him.

For almost six months in advance, Grant and I had a date circled on our calendar.  Since I was very regular, it was a pre-calculated fertile date in the Spring 2004.  This would mean that I would be due in January right after graduation.

I am blessed to have a very supportive husband.

Much to the chagrin and dismay of people around us, I got pregnant with Ethan right on time. 

Beside mild morning sickness, this pregnancy was much better, and the time zoomed past.  I was on my feet a lot because I did full time clinicals on the weekend, but I reached my graduation date without problems.  Just like I wanted.

A couple days later around 34 weeks, I went to OB triage for some very mild bleeding, and I just wanted to be cautious.  Surprisingly, I was actually in labor and contracting.  I was given terbutaline injections which successfully stopped my labor, and I was sent home on bedrest.

At 36 weeks, my doctor gave me the green light to go off bedrest and have the baby.  With a week left of 2004, I tried to have the baby before the New Year.  We exercised.  We hiked mountains, but the baby wasn't coming.  Ethan was happy and content inside.  (I think it matches his personality now.)

Very early in the morning on January 2, I started contracting.  Grant responded on my first attempt, and we quickly dropped off Raea at a dear friends.

Raea's delivery was so violent, so loud, and so quick.  We were going to be prepared.

As soon as I got to triage, I asked for an epidural.

In my labor and delivery room, Grant, my mom, and I watched TV, joked, and had a good time.  What a contrast!

The nurse came back to the room to check me.  I was a ten, and she wanted to do sample pushes.  I think Grant was so traumatized by Raea's birth, he went into coach mode.

"Turn off the TV.  It's time to focus."

I was suffering with a bad cough, so when it was time to push, I started coughing instead.  My doctor said that was perfect. 

"Do it again with a contraction."

And on my next contraction, I coughed out a beautiful baby boy.  37 weeks.  7#0oz.  22.5 inches.

Ethan was an ideal delivery.

~*~*~*~
I was interning, and later my first nursing job, at the post-partum unit I was transferred to after delivery. My co-workers loved that Ethan was the tallest, skinniest baby they had ever seen. He hasn't changed much. 

To this day, I have yet to see a baby as long as Ethan was. 

Ok, besides Grant.  I found his birth card that documented his length at 23 inches.

So I have these kids

I am a mom.

It is more important than any position or title I have ever held.

I am not perfect.

My kids are not perfect.

But they encourage me to be a better person. They encourage me to slow down. They remind me we are all human.

I am a mom.

FUNdraiser RUN

All of my school kids participated in their school Fun Run and did great.

Ethan ran much more than estimated. I think he has found his sport.

(I had to post the "Fall Guy" picture as this is just Ethan's personality, and it makes me giggle.)

Last games of the season

Bittersweet.

All four kids just finished fall soccer.

We will be taking next sports season off, minus a few exceptions.

Getting in newborn mode.

Nutcracker

So while Raea and Larissa enjoyed the Nutcracker, I hung out in my pajamas.

And there was a lot of this.