Hello Friends and Family,
I have been longing to write and update everyone on the birth of Marabeth, but we actually came home from the hospital to two sick kids. The first day home, Ryleigh had a fever of 102, which made me really nervous. We had her on antibiotics for an ear infection, breathing treatments, and we had been given steroids if and when they were necessary. Aubrey had a double ear infection and croup, but had already been taken to the doctor, and was doing much better by the time we got home. Ryleigh we thought was improving by Tuesday, and then Tuesday night something changed. She started coughing all night, so we called the doctor Wednesday, and she had said to start the steroids. Unfortunately they did not help her at all. By Thanksgiving Day we were in the emergency room with her. Come to find out, she has RSV. We now are thinking most likely Aubrey had RSV too, which was diagnosed as Croup. We still are at Children's Hospital, and we are praying tonight is our last night there. Ryleigh has not been able to be without oxygen since we got there. We will not be able to go home until that changes. Rod actually took Aubrey back to the doctor yesterday, because she still had a runny nose, even after 10 days on antibiotics. Come to find out, the antibiotics did not get rid of her ear infection, so she is back on antibiotics once again. It has been really difficult as a Mommy to not only grieve the loss of a child, but deal with two sick kids at the same time, and one that is in the hospital.
I know we are not the only people that have gone through multiple trials. Our preacher did a sermon about the trials we face this past weekend. Paul faced many trials in the Bible, some of which are: prison over and over, faced death over and over, received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times, shipwrecked 3 times, and the list goes on and on. I know that Paul was deeply loved by God, and so I know that our trials have nothing to do with God's love for us, but at times I have struggled with wondering, "Why", and wondering when things are going to get better. I know that God's grace is supposed to be sufficient, but I have moments of really struggling with the journey we are on. I have also realized that I have been struggling with fears of what is to come next, since so many of my fears have become a reality in the past few weeks. I know that Satan is resting there, because he knows that's the best way to get me. I keep trying to remind myself of the verse, "The Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self control." Please be praying for our family for strength, and for the Lord to take away my fears.
I still would like to post about Marabeth's birth, but I wanted it to be written separately, and I am not going to get to write that today.
I wanted to let you all know that we are going to have a service for Marabeth Saturday, December 10 at 10:00 am. Please email me or call me if you would like to know of the location.
We love you all so very much, and we appreciate you more than any words could say. Blessings, Kam
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Our Sweet Marabeth is In Heaven
Hello Friends and Family,
Today is a day I hoped would never come. I wanted so deeply for Marabeth to be the miracle story that blew all the doctors away. I never gave up hope, never. I had not really been feeling movement with Marabeth, since Saturday. I thought I felt something last night, so I truly was not prepared for today. I did have more fears going into this appointment, but I guess nothing prepares you for what we went through this morning. The doctor felt around my stomach for what felt like hours, only to hear my heartbeat. We waited for what felt like an eternity, for a sonogram that confirmed Marabeth's passing. I sat watching Marabeth, hoping to see a flickering heart. Instead we saw a still, lifeless little baby. I knew in that moment, that my fears had become a reality. She was gone.
The nurse was sweet about letting us go through the back way, so we didn't have to go through the waiting room. When Rod and I were in the car, Rod asked if I wanted him to pray. I cannot describe it, but when he started the prayer, I felt a peace come over me. Somehow, praying to God gave me a new comfort, because I knew that we were praying to Marabeth's home. It was as if I saw God holding Marabeth in his lap, as we prayed for comfort.
I know that many of you know of people who have lost babies, or maybe you have lost one yourself. Marabeth will definitely have her share of playmates. A little over a month ago, my twin sister Tami had a miscarriage at 6 weeks. We have been pregnant together with each of our babies. We have always had a desire to raise our children together. Now our two babies can grow up together in heaven, with not a care in the world. My Aunt who died in September, and never had children, now has the opportunity to hold two babies in heaven.
I have shed so many tears today, and I know the hardest part is yet to come. Friday morning we are going to start the process of inducing labor.I know it's going to be a difficult day, but I pray that we are able to cherish the moments we have with our sweet Marabeth. She weighs less than a pound, but her strength and determination weigh so much more. She fought the fight for as long as she could, and I am so proud of her.
Here are two verses that I find comfort in today...
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Continue to pray for our family in the difficult days to come. We love you all!
-Kamara
Today is a day I hoped would never come. I wanted so deeply for Marabeth to be the miracle story that blew all the doctors away. I never gave up hope, never. I had not really been feeling movement with Marabeth, since Saturday. I thought I felt something last night, so I truly was not prepared for today. I did have more fears going into this appointment, but I guess nothing prepares you for what we went through this morning. The doctor felt around my stomach for what felt like hours, only to hear my heartbeat. We waited for what felt like an eternity, for a sonogram that confirmed Marabeth's passing. I sat watching Marabeth, hoping to see a flickering heart. Instead we saw a still, lifeless little baby. I knew in that moment, that my fears had become a reality. She was gone.
The nurse was sweet about letting us go through the back way, so we didn't have to go through the waiting room. When Rod and I were in the car, Rod asked if I wanted him to pray. I cannot describe it, but when he started the prayer, I felt a peace come over me. Somehow, praying to God gave me a new comfort, because I knew that we were praying to Marabeth's home. It was as if I saw God holding Marabeth in his lap, as we prayed for comfort.
I know that many of you know of people who have lost babies, or maybe you have lost one yourself. Marabeth will definitely have her share of playmates. A little over a month ago, my twin sister Tami had a miscarriage at 6 weeks. We have been pregnant together with each of our babies. We have always had a desire to raise our children together. Now our two babies can grow up together in heaven, with not a care in the world. My Aunt who died in September, and never had children, now has the opportunity to hold two babies in heaven.
I have shed so many tears today, and I know the hardest part is yet to come. Friday morning we are going to start the process of inducing labor.I know it's going to be a difficult day, but I pray that we are able to cherish the moments we have with our sweet Marabeth. She weighs less than a pound, but her strength and determination weigh so much more. She fought the fight for as long as she could, and I am so proud of her.
Here are two verses that I find comfort in today...
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Continue to pray for our family in the difficult days to come. We love you all!
-Kamara
Sunday, November 13, 2011
October
Since I became pregnant, and then finding out everything we did with Marabeth, I have been horrible about updating what is going on with my two other precious girls! Aubrey and Ryleigh are such a breath of fresh air throughout all of this. I am so grateful I have two little distractions during the day from what is going on in this pregnancy.
Aubrey thinks that she has a baby in her tummy now too. She will even say things like, "Don't hurt the baby." If I say, "The baby is sick" and touch my tummy; Aubrey will lift up her shirt and say, "Oh, my baby is sick too". She will also pull up her shirt and say, "Look Mommy, it's growing." She has such a sweet, sweet spirit. I know I am her Mommy, so I am going to think the world of her; but I do think it's true. She is so in tune with other people's emotions. She has even started getting upset with me when Ryleigh cries while I am changing her diaper. She will say, "Stop Mommy! Your hurting her!" A few days ago when we were at the park, she told another kid to "watch out for Ryleigh". She is so proud to be her sister. She actually gets upset when Ryleigh leaves the room. I know Aubrey may not always want Ryleigh near the way she does now, so I am enjoying the season we are in.
Aubrey has also come out of her shell some at school. She loves going to school, but she always seems hesitant when I drop her off. She usually walks in with her hand in her mouth, or clothes in her mouth. It's a nervous habit, for sure. I think she is learning a lot though, and I love her teachers. When I ask Aubrey who she plays with at school she says, "Mrs. Julie." Rod had a conversation with her about how to talk to her friends and she looked at him and said, "I can't think." Oh, how I love her. Her teachers have let us know that she has opened out a lot!
Ryleigh is busy, busy. She has places to go, and people to see. She is a fast little thing too. She has such a strong laugh, and it's impossible not to smile when you hear it. Most of the time she is laughing at Aubrey. She has gotten so incredibly verbal now. She loves music, and will try singing a long to many songs like the ABCs, Wheels on the Bus, the Itsby Bitsy Spider, and more! She runs up to Rod when he gets home and says. "Daddy!" She will repeat just about anything we ask her to, and she says many many words very clearly. Aubrey, Carly, Maggie, Baby, Mommy, Daddy, Yeah, Nana, Papa, Mimi and Papi are just some of the words in her vocabulary. She can understand commands and follow through. For example, "Go pick up the crayons." Or, "Can you bring me the sippy cup?" We are so proud of her and how far she has come! She is still only weighing 19 1/2 pounds, but she is quite an eater!
Despite this hard journey I am on with Marabeth, this is my favorite time of year. I love the Christmas music, I love all the Christmas decorations, and I love the simple things like Mint Frappacinos at Starbucks. For some reason I find comfort in drinking them. Drinking them just makes me think of the holidays! I love the cooler temperatures, and I love just taking the time to enjoy the little things about my girls that make them special. I don't want to look back on this time period and feel like I missed seeing the milestones my girls are making daily. They are only going to be this age once in their life, and I want to cherish it.
Anyways, here are some pictures over this past month!
Tami and I love to meet at The Preserve. So do our girls!
Ryleigh and Carly
Aubrey thinks that she has a baby in her tummy now too. She will even say things like, "Don't hurt the baby." If I say, "The baby is sick" and touch my tummy; Aubrey will lift up her shirt and say, "Oh, my baby is sick too". She will also pull up her shirt and say, "Look Mommy, it's growing." She has such a sweet, sweet spirit. I know I am her Mommy, so I am going to think the world of her; but I do think it's true. She is so in tune with other people's emotions. She has even started getting upset with me when Ryleigh cries while I am changing her diaper. She will say, "Stop Mommy! Your hurting her!" A few days ago when we were at the park, she told another kid to "watch out for Ryleigh". She is so proud to be her sister. She actually gets upset when Ryleigh leaves the room. I know Aubrey may not always want Ryleigh near the way she does now, so I am enjoying the season we are in.
Aubrey has also come out of her shell some at school. She loves going to school, but she always seems hesitant when I drop her off. She usually walks in with her hand in her mouth, or clothes in her mouth. It's a nervous habit, for sure. I think she is learning a lot though, and I love her teachers. When I ask Aubrey who she plays with at school she says, "Mrs. Julie." Rod had a conversation with her about how to talk to her friends and she looked at him and said, "I can't think." Oh, how I love her. Her teachers have let us know that she has opened out a lot!
Ryleigh is busy, busy. She has places to go, and people to see. She is a fast little thing too. She has such a strong laugh, and it's impossible not to smile when you hear it. Most of the time she is laughing at Aubrey. She has gotten so incredibly verbal now. She loves music, and will try singing a long to many songs like the ABCs, Wheels on the Bus, the Itsby Bitsy Spider, and more! She runs up to Rod when he gets home and says. "Daddy!" She will repeat just about anything we ask her to, and she says many many words very clearly. Aubrey, Carly, Maggie, Baby, Mommy, Daddy, Yeah, Nana, Papa, Mimi and Papi are just some of the words in her vocabulary. She can understand commands and follow through. For example, "Go pick up the crayons." Or, "Can you bring me the sippy cup?" We are so proud of her and how far she has come! She is still only weighing 19 1/2 pounds, but she is quite an eater!
Despite this hard journey I am on with Marabeth, this is my favorite time of year. I love the Christmas music, I love all the Christmas decorations, and I love the simple things like Mint Frappacinos at Starbucks. For some reason I find comfort in drinking them. Drinking them just makes me think of the holidays! I love the cooler temperatures, and I love just taking the time to enjoy the little things about my girls that make them special. I don't want to look back on this time period and feel like I missed seeing the milestones my girls are making daily. They are only going to be this age once in their life, and I want to cherish it.
Anyways, here are some pictures over this past month!
Tami and I love to meet at The Preserve. So do our girls!
Ryleigh and Carly
Kate and Aubrey
A few weeks ago I came into Aubrey's room, only to find her talking to her stuffed animals. They were all lined up beside her on the bed. She was supposed to be taking a nap, but she said she was "reading them books".
Aubrey loves having time in her room with Ryleigh. She reads Ryleigh books, sings her songs, and introduces her to her toys.
At the beginning of October, Tami and I got away for the weekend to head to Abiliene. We both wanted to go to ACU's Homecoming. I didn't get to go to my ten year last year, so we had a great time this year instead. It was so much fun connecting with old frieneds! We ate at all of our favorite places, we toured the campus, went to Kojie Breakfast, and even made time to see Footloose! It was a great time away for both of us!
In college, Tami, Chris and I used to always make late night trips to the gas station. Typically when we had a test to study for. We made a stop for old times sake, and got a slurpy.
Tami and I have always taken pleasure in making Chris drink horrible things. He was a great sport and drank this really sour candy juice to make us laugh.
Mary's Mexican Food was one of our favorite places to eat in college. I don't love it as much as I did then, but we sure did frequent there when we were at ACU. Brent and Erika used to always eat there too! Chris joined us, although he isn't the biggest Mary's fan.
The new Fitness Center at ACU is AMAZING! Brent, Erika and Chris had fun trying out the new equipment.
Saturday Morning we got up SO EARLY to go to Kojie Breakfast. It was totally worth it though! I haven't sang the Kojie Song in forever. "Ko Jo Kai to you we sing...."
They had aprons available for all the Kojies to take home.
Of course we couldn't miss the Homecoming Parade!
Jessica Goudeau was one of Tami and I's old roommates in college. We had a wonderful time drinking smoothies and coffee and getting caught up. It felt like we were just together yesterday.
Rene Ballard was also one of our roommates. We finally got to meet her precious baby, and spend some time just chatting in our hotel room. It went way too fast!
Tami and I were so surpised to see that our old Youth Minister, Andy Spell was staying at the same hotel we were! We met up with both Andy and Cheryl after church to quickly catch up. Wow, high school was a long time ago!
Aubrey and Ryeligh love going to the Pumpkin Patch. We went with our friends the Hughes and the Robinsons too!
Aubrey's Fall Party
at School
Ryleigh enjoyed the cookie too!
Aubrey's pumpkin that she decorated
Sweet Sisters!
Fall Festival at my sister Sheri's House
Check out my little Bee and Chef!
Aubrey and her cousins Kate and Isabelle
Ryleigh and her cousin Ellee
Ryleigh, Carly, and Ellee
And still more....
Our attempt at getting pictures of all the cousins desperately failed. Not to mention that Aubrey was terrified of some of the boys' costumes.
Pregnant at 19 weeks
Ryleigh loved the game of throwing the rings on the water bottles.
She thought she was mastering it.
Family Pic-Open your eyes Rod!
Aubrey loved helping me make our Annual Pumpkin Brownie. My Mom made one every Halloween for us, and I have carried on the tradition. You just take any brownie recipe, and and pour the batter into a pizza pan. Then transform your brownie into a pumpkin!
Trunk or Treat with Our Frisco Small Groups
It was great having it next to the park! All the kids got to play!
Halloween!
Trick or Treating with the Hughes and Robinsons
After each house Aubrey would say, "Are we going to go to another house?" Ryleigh loved Trick or Treating too! I am convinced she would of gone four blocks away if I had let her!
I love holding sweet John David! Ryleigh was so sweet about the baby!
Ryleigh loved helping herself to some chocolate!
Carving the Pumpking with Daddy! Aubrey and Ryleigh loved taking out the seeds!
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