Sophia has an announcement to make!

She wants to tell everyone that she is going to be a big sister!:-)
WE ARE EXPECTING!!!! WE found out in January, things are going fairly well so far. We were starting to talk about getting pregnant again, but probably waiting until the summer or fall. We certainly didn't expect it to happen as fast as it did. We are thrilled, the kids are happy although I am not sure that they completely understand what is going on

We have been to high risk OB as well as the regular OB. High risk OB basically said, yeah I definitely have the risks for HELLP and pre-eclampsia again. But she said is that my only risk factor is that I have done it before. SO unfortunately there is nothing that I can do to decrease my chances of getting it again, but we are praying hard that it doesn't happen again. I certainly am praying for full term and healthy with no complications, and while I am at it, for a VBAC will you join me?
I am feeling ok although definitely tired, and quite often weak as I am vomiting a lot. The OB that I am seeing now doesn't typically do anything for the nausea so at this point I am just trying to deal with it.
We finally started telling people this week as we are 13 weeks tomorrow! Our due date is October 7th:-)

Day 11

Playtime with Uncle Bud! He is looking pretty pale today:-(



We thankfully made it safe and sound to my aunt and uncles last night. The driving was a little nerve racking but God protected us and here we are. Sammy had an ok day today, it seems as though he rallies in order to be able to play, but then turns around and is pretty wiped out and crabby. Eating is continuing to be a huge challenge.
His night last night was pretty awful. I did end up calling the doctors office this morning. The nurse was really concerned and recommended that I take him into the ER to get him evaluated. She then proceeded to warn me how long of a visit it woudl be. She said that she thought he was dehydrated. Then my nurse brain kicked in, I knew that he wasn't dehydrated enough to warrent IV fluids, and therefore we would sit in the ER for who knows how long, exposing him to who knows what! I told the nurse that I really just wanted someone in the office to see him, but she said it sounded more as though the ER should. I decided against the ER with the thought that if things got worse I would bring him in. Thankfully they didn't get worse!
I got a whole glass of milk into him this morning and he had some soup as well. Keeping him nourished and hydrated is a huge challenge. I am so thankful that I have been staying with people who love him too and who are just as invested in getting him better. This is certainly a full time job!
He is just loving playing with Uncle Bud:-)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year was a busy wonderful day. Unfortunately Matt had to work so he was unable to join in the day with us. We started the day by going to my mom's, where four of my five siblings and spouses were. Unfortunately my brother DJ and his wife Lyndsea were in florida so they couldn't join us. We had a great time at mom's playing with friends and family.

Sammy with Dennis and Johanna's snake "Moses"




My beautiful new nephew Darius Jeremiah


Sam and his friend Kaedan


Sophia and Sydney

We left my parents house and then went to a church that we had not attended before. Our friend Joan was actually singing several songs and invited us to see her. The kids did really well. They got loud occasionally but they did a really good job. I was so thankful to attend.
After that we went to Matt's grandmothers house. It was super busy there this year. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins, Allayna, Jacob and Ava. "Nana" read the Christmas story to the kids, and then asked them questions about His birth. It was really cool to watch. We then sang several songs, and Sophia was thrilled with the singing.
It was close to 10 when we got home. The kids went to bed and then the Christmas morning preparations began...

Luke 2:10-11
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Christmas Tree

The four of us with our Christmas tree (which by the way is TALLER than me even when it is on its side)


Matt and Sam


My youngest sisters, Deanna and Doreen


Sophia and her "Auntie Reen"



My parents:-) They have been married for more than 31years!


Our GIGANTIC Christmas tree



We had such a wonderful time this weekend going to pick our own perfect Christmas tree and cut it down. We have never gone to this particular farm before and it was wonderful. They had a hayride that brought you down to the area where the trees were. We then wandered all through the trees looking for the best one. This year my parents and younger sisters came with us. It was so awesome. I am hoping that this can become a family tradition every year.

Papa's Birthday

The man of the hour



My niece welcoming him to the party


Sam and my niece Ava cuddling with Papa


(not the right order) this is when he first arrived


Greeting my nephew Jacob


This is a perfect example of my father in law. Just prior to him walking in the door Sophia got her fingers shut in the hinge side of a door:-( It was terrible, and I was so so thankful that her fingers weren't broken. She desperately wanted her Papa because she knew he would make her feel better, and he did:-)



Sleeping beauty sleeping on her daddy


The cake:-)


Blowing out the candles with his grandchildren's assistance


The photo book we made


The whole Weber family

We also got to celebrate my wonderful father in law this past weekend. This man is truly wonderful and I am so blessed to be a part of his family. He is kind and compassionate, loving, funny, hard working, dedicated, selfless, and most importanly a Godly man.
I can't even begin to tell you how much he has helped us and been there for us through all kinds of things. If he is needed he is there. He has been so helpful with so many household projects, and has also been willing to go to work a few minutes late to help us with childcare several times.
So this weekend we got to celebrate him and his truly amazing "Legacy of Love." Matt's brother Tim and his family along with ours made book for him entitled the legacy of love. It was one of those photo books. He seemed as though he really enjoyed it. I am thankful that I could take part in celebrating him. My sister in law Tracy planned the whole party. She is very talented at organizing and planning (something I am truly terrible at):-) So I was so thankful that she did this whole party, and just let me know what I needed. It went very smoothly and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks Tracy! You did a great job!!!

More about Thanksgiving

Auntie Johanna and Sophia


Sammy eating cranberry sauce (yes he ate the whole bowl)


Auntie Deanna and Sam


My two brothers carving the turkey, Dennis and DJ


Deanna and Doreen, the twins:-)


Doreen and Matt


Sam and Uncle Dennis


Sophia and Uncle DJ



We got to go to my mom's this year. We had 14 people. It was the perfect size. The kids were the only kids there so they were spoiled which of course they love. My brother DJ came up from Florida which was fabulous. My brother Dennis and his wife Johanna (along with her parents and sister), my sister's Deanna and Doreen and my parents. It was awesome!
The food came out really well. My brothers and father fried the turkey and it was delicious. We had sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, squash, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin rolls, corn bread, mashed potatoes, rolls, and stuffing (although we forgot to serve it!) It was all delicious:-)
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. And at this time of year I am reminded how blessed I am. Both Matt and I have dependable jobs that provide for us, we have an amazing church and church family that is so wonderful and supportive, we have family that is so so helpful and loving, I have two amazing children. We have wonderful doctors taking care of Sam, we have wonderful neighbors. And most importantly we have a God who loves us unconditionally and who supplies all our needs.
It is easy to get caught up in the stress of having a sick child, or in the disappointment of what we would like to see happen, or what we wish we had and don't. But if you take a step back, and look around there is such tremendous provision from God. Yeah maybe we wish we had more of something, or that someone was a little different, or that Sam wasn't sick, but in the place of those wishes we have been given something we wouldn't otherwise have. My faith has certainly been stretched, my heart has been broken and is being reshaped. My mind has been in turmoil, but God gives me rest. My body has been in pain, but God comforts me. I have been filled with fear, but I KNOW that God is in charge and that takes the fear. Each trial we face brings us to a deeper relationship with our maker. And although I am not to the point where I can say I am glad that Sammy is sick, I can say that I am thankful for the places it has brought me.
WE go into MassGeneral tomorrow for another sleep study. And although this sounds weird I hope he has a tough night sleeping, so that they can see how much he struggles so often at home. So please keep him in your prayers. Pray for his doctors that they have wisdome to help him, and for us that we make the right decisions regarding his care.

Tuesday

So tuesday this week was my birthday:-) I am super old now, or at least feel it. You know when you hit a new decade it just changes things. But anyways, we had playtime with a friend. I got some beautiful flowers from my cousin. The pictures don't at all do the flowers justice. But it looked like an actual cake! It was so cool. Thanks K!!! Love you! And then my bestest friend in the whole world had us over for dinner and made our all time favorite food, the food we ate ALL THE TIME when we were in high school. It was like comfort food. And then brownie sundays. IT was a lot of fun:-) Thanks Chantal, I am so blessed to call you my best friend.

Christening Gown

I feel so priviledged to be a part of this beautiful legacy. My grandmother's christening gown has been worn by many people including her in 1924!!! The pictures don't do it justice. It is the most beautiful exquisite gown I have ever seen. Many of my uncles, my cousins, my second cousins, my niece, and now Sophia has worn this gown.

This is a picture of my grandmother in her Christening gown in January of 1924!!!

And here is my niece Dasanee wearing the gown, at her and Sammy's dedication in September of 2006

And here is Miss Sophia in the Christening gown at her dedication in August of 2008

Grammie's funeral

What an amazing celebration of life we had for my grandmother. I am truly blessed to have known her and had her be such a huge part of my life. She truly inspired me. Her overwhelming kindness and love touched hundreds of people. She had 8 children, and 7 of the eight were able to be there. She had 19 grandchildren, and 16 of them were able to be there. And she has 18 great grandchildren, with three on the way! 6 of the great grandchildren were there:-) It was wonderful to see so many of our family and friends that we don't often get to see.
Although on this earth she is no longer among us, and we will miss her greatly I am so thankful that this is not for eternity, I rejoice in knowing that I WILL see her again:-)


6 of Grammie's 18 (+3 more on the way!) Great Grandchildren