Smith Family Christmas!!

What a blessing to get to be a part of my family Christmas!  I was worried that after missing Brian's family Christmas I would miss mine too.  We were a little unsure if we were going to be out of the NICU in time, but it all worked out!  I knew that our individual family Christmas could be done anytime after we got home from the hospital, but to reschedule the big family Christmas would be unrealistic.  So, we are thankful to be a part of it.  We woke up yesterday and celebrated with just our family of SIX and then loaded up the van to make it in time for the 5pm candle light service at Orchard Hill Church.  We then headed over to mom and dad's for our traditional appetizer supper and to spend the night.  Emily's family didn't stay but Jamie's did.  We were all pretty tired so we didn't stay up too late doing our usual game playing.  We mostly just sat around eating and talking!  We woke up Christmas morning and the kids were so excited of course!  Mom made an awesome breakfast and Emily's family came back right away in the morning so we could eat and get started on opening gifts!  It always feels so good to give gifts and having had Keziah's help in wrapping this year, I would say she had just as much fun giving away the gifts she helped with as she did opening gifts!  One last gift to open was Austin's from my parents...he got a really nice cross bow.  He couldn't stop grinning!!  The box it came in ended up creating much entertainment for Keziah, Adah and Ethan.  I think it was turned into many different things.  They used other boxes to tape to it and a whole lot of tape too!  Adah just liked to lay in it!  The rest of the day we were pretty lazy (except mom preparing our lunch!).  We played with toys and picked up and did a lot of eating!  Mom made an excellent lunch for us all!  We have been so blessed to have each other.  What a great way to spend Christmas!  Merry Christmas every one!

Surprise!!!

Adam had the brilliant idea to throw Emily a surprise party to celebrate a few things that are happening in her life! First of all she completely finished college-never going back! She went back to school to get her endorsement in school counseling. So on top of that she started a new job as a student counselor for the Denver school system, working with kids k-8th grade. Lastly, it's her birthday on Monday and she turns a young 32 years old! Emily has come a long way. Being pregnant with Alanna and getting through school wasn't easy along with being a mom, working a full time job and worrying about where life was taking her next consumed her everyday for the last couple years! I am so incredibly proud of her. I have no idea how she survived it and I'm sure she is wondering the same thing. I know there were days she was barely getting through! But it has all been worth it and best of all God's plan is all coming together for her with the new job that she has and LOVES! We wanted her to have something new for her desk at work so we got her a willow tree angle that's holding an apple. She is making such a difference in the lives of all of those kids and it's exciting to know what an impact she is having on them (as all teachers are).  The angel says 'You are the best.  Thank you for making a difference.'  I thought that was pretty fitting!  We also gave her a little birthday money so she can get herself something to enjoy!  Happy Birthday, graduation, new job Day, Emily!  We love you!
Emily says she was very surprised and had no idea anything was even planned!  We all hid upstairs at Peppers in Cedar Falls and when the waitress pretended to seat them up there we all yelled, 'surprise!'

Alanna Rae is Here!

What a fun and exciting weekend. We got home on Thursday morning from the river and were only home for the night before getting a phone call at 2am from Emily saying that her water broke. She had plans for the boys for that night to go to their babysitters house so they didn't need anybody at the house right away but didn't know what they were going to do with the boys for the weekend. Since mom was held up in Iowa City with my dad having surgery, she wasn't available to be with the boys. So I had the privilege of hanging out with them all weekend. There would be way more photos too except my camera battery died so this is what I got! We had so much fun! My mom slept at Emily and Adam's since she needed somewhere to sleep so she had to go back and forth between IC and Independence (so she was there a little in the evenings and in the mornings). That was a huge help! We are so thankful that she had safe travels going back and forth all the times that she did. Friday, after my dad came out of recovery, mom gave hugs and kisses and then headed to Adam and Emily's for the night. Once she arrived, we fed the kids supper and all hopped in the car to go to the hospital. The boys were so excited to meet their new baby sister! We didn't stay long since with us came a lot of chaos with that many kids! Brian met us there and then drove on to Independence to stay the night. On Saturday we played all day long! Mom wanted to get back to dad right away in the morning so she had to leave. And Brian left at about the same time too (he wanted to go home to golf). Saturday night I got all the kids baths and in bed-definitely not a small feat! I gave Ethan, Bennett and Keziah one all together (another great photo op:(). They were having so much fun I felt bad making them get out. When they were all dressed and in bed I bathed Adah (who was incredibly tired and hungry but patiently waiting with Austin until I could help her). Austin was such a big help all the time too. Ethan adores Austin so he came in handy when Ethan woke up from his Saturday nap missing his mommy and daddy a bunch. He was also a huge help with Adah. If I was busy helping the other three with a meal or something, Austin would keep Adah company or at least watch her while she played on the floor.

I didn't think mom was going to be coming back Saturday since dad was begging to get out of the hospital, but they couldn't get his pain under control so they told him he needed to stay another night. So once again mom made the drive back to Independence. She got back just in time to walk in the kitchen and start doing dishes and cleaning with me. We also wanted to put together some kind of dish for super on Sunday once they all got home from the hospital. It was another long day for mom! But we treated ourselves with some ice cream from DQ! Sunday was a great day too. We got up and started planning for Alanna's arrival. The kids all got really excited to decorate letters spelling out a welcome home for Alanna (I wish I could have gotten a picture of it!). Mom left shortly after banana chocolate chip pancakes (delicious)! Brian went to church in the morning and then came to Independence to welcome Alanna home and get another glimpse at her. Emily and Adam and Alanna arrived home about 2pm. All the kids were taking naps so I got to have Alanna all to myself for a little bit! What a sweet and precious gift from God. Babies are so amazing!

My kids did great too. I was very impressed with how well they all played together. Ethan and Kezzie tend to work against each other but this weekend they got along so well! I was particularly impressed with how well we all did sleeping in the same room. The only bad habit we have brought home from there is Kezzie insists the door not be closed all the way at nap and bed time (being in a strange place, I never closed the door all the way the whole time we were there). It's one of her favorite phrases now when it comes close to time to go to bed, 'don't close the door all the way?!'

Celebrating Baby Alanna!

Emily is fortunate to have two sister-in-laws that thought of throwing her a girly baby shower. Since she has previously had two boys she is in desperate need of some girl clothes and girl items. What better way to get those things than from family and friends!

Bennett Turned 2!!

Bennett turned 2 today. He is such a doll and growing so much! Emily and Adam did a mallard duck theme since he is so into ducks. I designed the invitations again which is always such a pleasure for me to do! The cake was adorable and very yummy too! I think Ethan did more of the blowing out the candle then Benne though! It was great to see Adams family too. It's hard to believe that it's been two years since he was born. Oh how time flies!

Emily update!!

I did get the OK from Em to tell you they are having a GIRL! How precious!
Yesterday Emily had another ultrasound. God is hearing our prayers and answering them. Everything is looking great. Praise the Lord. We got some good news! The doctor spent an hour alone looking at her heart and felt it looked normal with the exception of one of the arteries being a little bigger then normal. Almost all the fluid around it has gone away. He doesn't think she will have any heart problems at all when she is born. He looked at her brain and said the ventrical that was enlarged has now shrunk to a normal size. Amazing. Her limbs are still short like Bennett's were at this point but they are no longer curved which can be a sign of a more severe case of dwarfism. The doctor thinks she is going to be a very similar case to Bennett. What a miracle they both are!

Please pray...

Yesterday Emily had her ultrasound. The news was heartbreaking. It turns out that the baby isn't developing like it should. It is similar to Bennett but worse. The limbs are about 2-3weeks behind already and are starting to curve, there is fluid around the heart, and one of the ventricles in the brain is enlarged. Emily will have another ultrasound next month. Please pray for peace and comfort. Pray that God will overwhelm them with love and that they will just know that God is in control. Bennett is such a miracle and is it wrong for me to think they are deserving of another one? I will keep quiet about the sex of the baby until I am given the ok to announce that...it's definitely something to celebrate!
It wasn't just a couple hours later that my mom called me after talking to Emily. I thought she was just calling to talk to me about the news of the baby. It turned out she had news of her own. She was at Allen with my dad. He had been having heaviness in his chest all day and decided to stop at the doctors office on his way home from work to make an appointment instead of calling. They wouldn't let him leave and instead took him by ambulance to Allen. After spending the night and doing an Angiogram this morning, they decided to put in 3 stints. I asked my dad how blocked he was to which he responded, 'almost 100% in several places'. Praise God that he didn't have a massive heart attack. Just pray for continued healing and restored life. Pray that he will be able to be strong in changing his eating habits since this is going to be quite a lifestyle change for him. And pray that he will live many many more years!
And a word of PRAISE...
Bennett's surgery went very well. I had mentioned in a previous post that Bennett was having surgery this morning. He had a hernia in his testicle allowing the small bowel to go down into it. I guess this is pretty common and easily fixed. He had to be put under for it but was in and out in under 35 minutes. The day couldn't have gone smoother. He was able to rest in Emily's arms for what would normally be his morning rest time. They were able to get in the car and home by his usual lunch time and he was able to be in his own bed for his usual afternoon nap. He is doing great and as Adam says 'he is running on all eight cylinders!'. Praise God!

Oh yeah...

I guess I am safe to tell everyone now...I am going to be an Auntie again! Emily and Adam are expecting their third baby in August. That puts her at about 14 weeks. Family has known for a while now but since she has finally announced it on her blog I feel safe announcing it on mine! I can't wait! She has an ultrasound on March 8th to have the limbs measured and the heart checked. The doctor is doing this to just keep track of the baby's progress and help put Emily's mind at ease a bit. We all agree that we would take another Benne in a heartbeat though! There is a good chance that since she will be 17 weeks along at that apt. they may be able to find out the sex...I can't wait!