My little man turned 4 today. I never knew I really wanted a son. I never prayed for one. But Mr. J. P. was for sure prayed over. It was an unexpected pregnancy; only in the sense that there was a 6 year gap between him and his older sisters. From the very start, even the Dr. did not think I was pregnant. Yep stupid but true. They did not much believe me when I told them I had miscarried the very month before either. And that was equally dumb. However, 4 months after his arrival..."that" Dr. office called to apologize!!! Ya think. Point blank right from the start they told me to prepare myself for this child to be unviable! What...? Yep that's what was said. Then when that was OBVIOUSLY wrong; they began to find something wrong at every Dr. office visit. I soon became numb to the mess and flat out said...I DO NOT see it. God's got this! NO we are not aborting and NO amniocentesis!!! I was old and fat and high risk with Diabetes...so yep we were doomed according to the PROFESSIONALS!!! So we prayed and our church prayed and our family prayed and our friends prayed....Clear up to prepping be for birth they kept preparing us for the worse. They said because of the diabetes he might "crash". They said his heart was not OK. In came an infant cardiologist!!! Then they said "remember what we said about the spine." If it is open and not formed we are not sure how this is going to go...said the nurse. And in my loveliest calm but screaming voice...as the catheter spinal whatever was jabbed in and then out and in again for a second go of it... I said SHUT UP and OUCH.....that HURTS...and Have I not told you people a hundred times GOD HAS....scream again...GOT THIS. Now go get MY HUSBAND and let's do this!!!!! Poor hubby was listening to me moan and scream out in the hallway aka..Daddy holding area!!! ( Also known as the place they put the dads that might puke or perhaps even kick their butts )So....Jasper was born!!!
I did not get to see even more than a smidgen of a glimpse of his tiny face. Yes tiny...they were wrong about that too. They would not tell us a thing...except one nurse turned to me....as I began to hurl my cookies while laying on the cross!!! The "cross" is the contraption or position they strap you down in...both arms straight out . One has the iv...the other the bp cuffs!!! Yep it is a cross board of sorts...and so they had to toss the entire table over to a tilt for me to ...do what I was doing....and continued to do the rest of the night!! Morphine and I do not agree! That one nurse comes over and says to Rob and I, "that boy is perfectly fine...perfectly!" Rob goes over cuts cord...take pics...everybody is cheering and doing the Daddy got his boy high fives..well kinda sorta without actually slapping the hands...Cause they had to keep everything sterile. I go back to tossing cookies while over and over saying...HE's FINE...really HE'S FINE? Of course after all that...and the slip of telling me he was fine...They revert back to well we gonna take him to NICU and observing him and do a in depth examination....PEOPLE....have you not got this YET!! GOD has got this!!!! But wait what about his spine...no answer! Hours later he's in my arms and in need of a diaper change....And what do our wondering eyes do see...............???? A scar on his tushie crack! A scar/ dimple of sorts. No not on the sides of his tushie cheeks but right there at the base of his spine just as his crack splits is.... a closed up what was once open spine!!! It was weeks before my hubby and I could really process what we knew right then and there to be. OUR God had indeed GOT THAT!!!!
So baby boy who is no baby no more....HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May you live a long, healthy, and happy life. May you always find the air pop popcorn popper facinating! May you always love to ride your blue scooter in my kitchen...May you be everything YOU were born to be...called to be destined to be. And....should things get rough and you find your self with those who would disbelieve. Show them your CRACK!!!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
We ARE Expecting....
YES, you just read that right! And no...it does not involve any new rescued four legged friends. The Paul family is expecting. We are expecting BIG BLESSINGS!!! This and so much more. But we are still expecting. However, I with any luck will not be having this one...or these!!!! Don't take that wrong... I have so been blessed but one is all good!!! Yes I do believe one is a rather terrific number. Especially if you are expecting!!! Occasionally multiples are good too.
Confused yet? Still pondering it? That's ok so are we! But none the less we are expecting big blessings because God is a BIG God and although he can do"it" little....he can and DOES do "it" BIG. So despite my little needs and an endless list of things that need to get done we are praying for BIG things. So far things are going just as expected. And really we are ok with that too.
From start to finish...every moment of every day is for us a GOD thang! And if God wants to close the door and change the course we have stepped out in faith to take....well then HE CAN. For now I am "nesting" big time. Every room in my house is in some stage of being scrubbed, reorganized if not remodeled in preparation for our new arrival (s). As the time neared for the arrival of each of my children, I was a CRAZY nesting Mommazon... THIS is so way worse!!!LOL!!! Makes it so much more interesting when you are EXPECTING a visit from DSS!!!! And worse you invited them!!! Who the crack does that!!! No body in their right mind for sure. Oh DSS? Yes that would stand for Department of Social Services. Talk about some standards to meet. Apparently even God himself does not have standards like these. You know what I mean.......BECAUSE I would not be expecting if he did!!!!...Funny and not so funny all in the same sentence.
Do we have doubts? You bet we do...a long very long and growing list of them. So don't add to them. We have beat you to the punch. Encouragement is and will always be....so totally very welcome. Yes yes...we thought of that too. See told ya... So folks if you'd like to see or be apart of BIG BLESSINGS just let me know....cause I got a LIST.
Here is THE LIST:
Prayers
Mini Van and or mini bus that seats 7 + Oh hush I said we were planning big...never hurts to plan. ( A 7 seater will be fine!)
One set of STURDY Bunk beds new, used, or homemade...possibly two but I have other options already here in the home
One very good electrician who will work for pennies and the cost of supplies.
Someone to pour a small cement sidewalk...who works for pennies and the cost of cement.
Someone who does small home repairs and small remodel jobs...such as applying caulking in a bathroom or painting a window sill....Who...you guessed it works for all but free...maybe some hugs and chocolate.
A load of gravel
A load of mulch
A fenced in metal dog lot of any sorts you may know of somewhere anywhere....
Someone who can rip out carpet and lay new carpet and or vinyl flooring...one room at a time and for pennies...and supplies. We will need free estimates for any and all of the above....if ya know someone struggling to get by who needs some work and will not rob us blind or steal from us...and does not mind working around lots of kids...Let me know of them and I'll offer the situation up to them for prayer and consideration.
A used but new to us stove and new hood...removal of old hood involves Bees and lots of them...you are forewarned!!! Only 2 burners on my current stove work...in case you are wondering.
Twin and full sized bed sheets (possibly toddler bed sheets)
Towels and wash clothes...
Pack and Play or Crib ( may be needed to borrow...may not be needed ) I have a cradle.
Someone to crawl under our house to remove and place the dryer vent pipe and to flush the water filter..( ya just got to pull or push a lever for that little job...Hubby 6 foot 5...not happening! LOL!!! )
One or two tall dressers...tall ones because they require less floor and wall space
Used or new swing set
Used or new sand box...load of sand or bags of sand
Child care....occasionally....must pass criminal checks
Prayer
Prayer
Prayer...
This is an on going revolving list. Not all items are needed RIGHT now...please pray and ask around. I feel the Lord will lead us to his helpers and he WILL continue to open this door and bless us by allowing us to walk through it WITH HIM. If you would like to be a part of this...let me know. If not that is so ok too.
Let your heart lead you as we have allowed ours to be led.
Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control ..... spread them around...share them...see what happens...Likely it is going to be BIG...as in lots of BIG BLESSINGS!
Confused yet? Still pondering it? That's ok so are we! But none the less we are expecting big blessings because God is a BIG God and although he can do"it" little....he can and DOES do "it" BIG. So despite my little needs and an endless list of things that need to get done we are praying for BIG things. So far things are going just as expected. And really we are ok with that too.
From start to finish...every moment of every day is for us a GOD thang! And if God wants to close the door and change the course we have stepped out in faith to take....well then HE CAN. For now I am "nesting" big time. Every room in my house is in some stage of being scrubbed, reorganized if not remodeled in preparation for our new arrival (s). As the time neared for the arrival of each of my children, I was a CRAZY nesting Mommazon... THIS is so way worse!!!LOL!!! Makes it so much more interesting when you are EXPECTING a visit from DSS!!!! And worse you invited them!!! Who the crack does that!!! No body in their right mind for sure. Oh DSS? Yes that would stand for Department of Social Services. Talk about some standards to meet. Apparently even God himself does not have standards like these. You know what I mean.......BECAUSE I would not be expecting if he did!!!!...Funny and not so funny all in the same sentence.
Do we have doubts? You bet we do...a long very long and growing list of them. So don't add to them. We have beat you to the punch. Encouragement is and will always be....so totally very welcome. Yes yes...we thought of that too. See told ya... So folks if you'd like to see or be apart of BIG BLESSINGS just let me know....cause I got a LIST.
Here is THE LIST:
Prayers
Mini Van and or mini bus that seats 7 + Oh hush I said we were planning big...never hurts to plan. ( A 7 seater will be fine!)
One set of STURDY Bunk beds new, used, or homemade...possibly two but I have other options already here in the home
One very good electrician who will work for pennies and the cost of supplies.
Someone to pour a small cement sidewalk...who works for pennies and the cost of cement.
Someone who does small home repairs and small remodel jobs...such as applying caulking in a bathroom or painting a window sill....Who...you guessed it works for all but free...maybe some hugs and chocolate.
A load of gravel
A load of mulch
A fenced in metal dog lot of any sorts you may know of somewhere anywhere....
Someone who can rip out carpet and lay new carpet and or vinyl flooring...one room at a time and for pennies...and supplies. We will need free estimates for any and all of the above....if ya know someone struggling to get by who needs some work and will not rob us blind or steal from us...and does not mind working around lots of kids...Let me know of them and I'll offer the situation up to them for prayer and consideration.
A used but new to us stove and new hood...removal of old hood involves Bees and lots of them...you are forewarned!!! Only 2 burners on my current stove work...in case you are wondering.
Twin and full sized bed sheets (possibly toddler bed sheets)
Towels and wash clothes...
Pack and Play or Crib ( may be needed to borrow...may not be needed ) I have a cradle.
Someone to crawl under our house to remove and place the dryer vent pipe and to flush the water filter..( ya just got to pull or push a lever for that little job...Hubby 6 foot 5...not happening! LOL!!! )
One or two tall dressers...tall ones because they require less floor and wall space
Used or new swing set
Used or new sand box...load of sand or bags of sand
Child care....occasionally....must pass criminal checks
Prayer
Prayer
Prayer...
This is an on going revolving list. Not all items are needed RIGHT now...please pray and ask around. I feel the Lord will lead us to his helpers and he WILL continue to open this door and bless us by allowing us to walk through it WITH HIM. If you would like to be a part of this...let me know. If not that is so ok too.
Let your heart lead you as we have allowed ours to be led.
Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control ..... spread them around...share them...see what happens...Likely it is going to be BIG...as in lots of BIG BLESSINGS!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Princess Castles and Fire Trucks
You just may be a mother of a young son if....you wake up in bed with a fire truck jabbing you in the butt crack!!! Siren blaring even!!!! But in his defense he plays equally nicely with a beautiful pink and purple miniature castle. And honestly the tip of that thing is way more painful...think medieval castle tower with flag waving in the breeze. Did you get that picture? Now picture...being in a sound sleep and realizing very early in the morning that....THAT is not your husband!!!!......!!!! Generally this occurs during nap time. I am at that point with the boy...that I am hanging on to every last moment of his babyhood...and nap time. He proudly tells me, " I do not have to take naps once I turn 4." Yes Yes yes buddy....which means MOM will no longer get a nap. This bites!!! I need a nap with or with out the fire truck noises. But alas, my little man is growing up and recently I got to thinking about the differences in raising a son verses daughters. There are several differences that I never anticipated...some I did. Like I never anticipated trying to teach him to hold his parts while taking a whiz! Seriously isn't that just something MEN know how to do?
I never once , even now think about the girls as someones future wife. Well sometimes I do...but right from the start I have always said...some day he will be someones a husband...and a son in law. So I have opted to raise him accordingly. Opting to do so and doing so are likely two different things. Bummers! But in reality children do grow up and I want for him more than his father was taught and more than I was taught. It's kind of scary to think of the things your kids might have to face. How do I cover it all? Lesson one...put that toilet seat down...is in full swing! But WOW where do you begin the rest? Some day he will be responsible for supporting a wife and children. He may someday indeed be changing my diapers. How the doodles do you prepare them for THAT!!!LOL!!! Lesson two...we do NOT hit girls is not coming along so easily. Just ask his sisters.
Recently, two of my friends have been having marital trouble. Now as disheartening as that is to see, hear , feel and listen to; almost immediately I began to think about how can I teach my little man to be a bigger and better man...than THOSE men. I think the first thing to do is...pick a great father to begin with. Ummm? Love my husband to pieces...but none of us are the best of role models at times. So then what, how, and when and where...and then back to how? It is my personal believe that the best thing we could now or EVER do for him or for our daughters is to take them to church. Not just take them and drop them off, but take them and get involved in their lives and their learning. Learning about God and life in general is of utmost importance. I would say a few good lessons in personal finance would also help out every kid. But if I screw up everything and fail at it all....for him to see LOVE and GRACE in all walks of life , good days and bad, may just very well cover over some of the not so great things we do or forget to teach. I want him to know he can always come to us and we will always offer advice. But I will not be THAT kind of a mother in law! Y'all listen to this and remind me later.
No matter what I simply want to show LOVE. I want him to LOVE. It's not the LOVE part that cheats on ya wife...and love does NOT load up ya wife's things and hall them off to the dump. Mistakes are made...I know that. Forgiveness can be beautiful and teaches valuable lessons. But I am so banking on the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the ability to love through all things...to carry my little man through thick and thin. Conflict resolution, communication skills are a plus. LOVE, however some how some way will ....lead to just that and all that. Not just love on the good days but the love that shows up on the bad days. And I can not for the life of me think of a better example of that than in that of God and the life of Jesus Christ.
I never once , even now think about the girls as someones future wife. Well sometimes I do...but right from the start I have always said...some day he will be someones a husband...and a son in law. So I have opted to raise him accordingly. Opting to do so and doing so are likely two different things. Bummers! But in reality children do grow up and I want for him more than his father was taught and more than I was taught. It's kind of scary to think of the things your kids might have to face. How do I cover it all? Lesson one...put that toilet seat down...is in full swing! But WOW where do you begin the rest? Some day he will be responsible for supporting a wife and children. He may someday indeed be changing my diapers. How the doodles do you prepare them for THAT!!!LOL!!! Lesson two...we do NOT hit girls is not coming along so easily. Just ask his sisters.
Recently, two of my friends have been having marital trouble. Now as disheartening as that is to see, hear , feel and listen to; almost immediately I began to think about how can I teach my little man to be a bigger and better man...than THOSE men. I think the first thing to do is...pick a great father to begin with. Ummm? Love my husband to pieces...but none of us are the best of role models at times. So then what, how, and when and where...and then back to how? It is my personal believe that the best thing we could now or EVER do for him or for our daughters is to take them to church. Not just take them and drop them off, but take them and get involved in their lives and their learning. Learning about God and life in general is of utmost importance. I would say a few good lessons in personal finance would also help out every kid. But if I screw up everything and fail at it all....for him to see LOVE and GRACE in all walks of life , good days and bad, may just very well cover over some of the not so great things we do or forget to teach. I want him to know he can always come to us and we will always offer advice. But I will not be THAT kind of a mother in law! Y'all listen to this and remind me later.
No matter what I simply want to show LOVE. I want him to LOVE. It's not the LOVE part that cheats on ya wife...and love does NOT load up ya wife's things and hall them off to the dump. Mistakes are made...I know that. Forgiveness can be beautiful and teaches valuable lessons. But I am so banking on the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the ability to love through all things...to carry my little man through thick and thin. Conflict resolution, communication skills are a plus. LOVE, however some how some way will ....lead to just that and all that. Not just love on the good days but the love that shows up on the bad days. And I can not for the life of me think of a better example of that than in that of God and the life of Jesus Christ.
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