We are Homeowners!

June 15th we settled on the house. We were already moving stuff in by the time we went to settlement because the owner opened the door for us early. It took about a week but we are finally completely unpacked, which I am assuming that is good because people were telling me that after months they were still living out of boxes. I can't do that, which is why I waited until the night before to finish completely packing. Although, that wasn't the only reason, the real reason was laziness. hah. Oh well. At least I am unpacked. :) Here are a few pics of my new place. Which by the way I am never ever moving....at least not until my kids are grown and moved out, then Leo and I can downsize so they can't come back hehe. 

Our house

our room...(and Molly)

our basement living room

Alanna's room (I made the letters)

play room

Our Deck

kitchen

Maddie's room 

Maddie's room

Caden's room

 Caden's room

Alanna Robin

I usually write about each one of my children on their birthday. However, this weekend has been crazy! We move in less then 2 days in to our very own home! That's right we are going to be homeowners! I am so excited, so stressed ,and so overwhelmed! Anyway, I will write all about it tomorrow, this post is all about little Miss Alanna! :) I can't believe she is TWO!

When I found out I was pregnant I was so excited. Leo had been joking around for weeks saying that I was, and I warned him that if he didn't stop then he's in for a surprise. haha and Sure enough October 21st I took a test and it came back positive. Leo thought I was joking to get back at him but when I showed him the test he just stared. Then we started laughing. I guess the surprise of it all and we were filled with so many emotions. We were nervous, and so excited. My whole pregnancy was pretty easy, minus the fact that I was HUGE and miserable at the end. We had a very hard time coming up with a name once we found out she was a girl. We had a boy name already but we couldn't decide on a girl. At first we decided on Brooklynn, but then decided against it. We chose her name while driving up to PA one afternoon. I'm not sure why but the name Alanna popped into my head so I asked Leo what he thought of it and he liked it so there it was. We chose Robin to honor his aunt who passed away a few years before. She lived with down syndrome. I never had the pleasure of meeting her but I've heard many stories of her and I think when Alanna grows up she will be proud to have her namesake. For our baby shower his other aunt gave Alanna , Robin's favorite doll, along with a note of memories for her to keep.   We put it up for when she gets older, and Leo can share all of his memories with her. It will be nice for her to know a little about who she is named after.

I was awake the entire night before. I was exhausted but anxious. We made our way to the hospital at nine but didn't get prepped until about twelve. Alanna Robin made her entrance into the world June 12, 2009 and she was 7lbs 4 oz. The smallest of the three. All three was born exactly one week early and all on a Friday! Alanna came out with strawberry blonde hair. All of the nurses commented about it because she was the only baby with blonde hair in the nursery. She was beautiful! I was so in love the moment I saw her. We were released to go home on the Monday but as it turns out, just like with Madison I developed Eclampsia and had to be admitted just two days later. I was in for another three days before I was able to be home with my babies. It was terrible, and I was so glad to be home.I just can't believe that was already two years ago! Where did the time go?

Alanna is now so active! She didn't walk until she was 16 months old but boy is she making up for it now. She is such a diva too! Everything has to be her way or no way and loves to be center of attention. I will say she is the friendliest little girl I have ever seen. She speaks to everyone wherever we go. It doesn't matter who it is she says "Hi" and blows kisses. She cracks me up because she is so silly all of the time but she is so lovable and has daddy wrapped around her little finger :) We are so blessed to have her in our lives!


Happy Birthday sweet baby girl! I can't believe you are already TWO YEARS OLD! We are so blessed to have you in our lives and I thank God every day He chose us to be your parents! We love you more then anything in the world!

Busy Busy

I've been a terrible blogger! Truth is I just haven't had the time. Madison started teeball, dance is finishing up, and we are in the process of buying our first home! I just don't have time to blog. We finally are settling on a house. I LOVE it. It's perfect for our family and we are looking at June 15th for our settlement date. We are meeting with the mortgage guy tomorrow...fingers crossed we can get in there soon!

This weekend is our recital. I haven't danced in over 6 years and I am a little nervous, but I'm super excited too! I'll be sure to post pics of everything.

Easter Sunday

I sat down to talk to Madison and Caden about the real reason we celebrate Easter. I was floored with how much they knew. Madison told me that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we celebrate Easter because He rose from the dead! I feel incredibly blessed that my daughter at 6 years old can tell me about the love of Jesus!

How lucky are we that he was beaten, and crucified on the cross. And 3 days later has risen from the grave so that we can live for eternity!


Yesterday,we went to church and then to my moms for dinner. It was the perfect day, absolutely beautiful outside. The kids had a blast and we even got a nap in, lol. Here is a few pics from yesterday:

My nephews Devin,  Darron and the kids

Undo Me

For the past few weeks I have been down. I feel like something is missing and I knew what it was but I wasn't ready to face it. God. I have been running, for what reason? I have no idea. Maybe lack of motivation? Desire? I'm not sure what. All I know is I am empty.

 Last night I was driving to pick up Leo from work, and I started praying, asking for guidance to bring me back to him. I need to know where I belong, I need a church that can help me get to where I need to be. Everything was lacking. I needed him to reach out and grab me and pull me back in. So after my prayer I was flipping through the stations and Undo by Rush of Fools came on. I have heard this song a thousand times, sang along too, but never really listened to the words. But last night I heard it clearly, really for the first time. This time it had meaning. It was everything I was crying out for and everything I needed in that moment. It's funny the little ways God can touch us , just in the right time, in the right moment. When we need him the most. This was my prayer......

Undo

I've been here before

Now, here I am again

Standing at the door

Praying You'll let me back in

To label me

A prodigal would be

Only scratching the surface

Of who I've been known to be

Turn me around, pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, I need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one

Who can undo what I've become

I focused on the score

But I could never win

Trying to ignore

A life of hiding my sin

To label me

A hypocrite would be

Only scratching the surface

Of who I've been known to be

Turn me around, pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, I need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one

Who can undo what I've become

Make every step lead me back to

The sovereign way that You

Turn me around, pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, I need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one who can undo 

You are the only one who can undo

You're the only one who can undo

What I've become

Caden Bryce

(A few hours old. (Photo by Matt Ryb)

I am a day late because my computer was being fixed, but yesterday was Caden's 4th birthday! I remember the day I found out I was expecting. It was a pretty crazy time in my life. I was battling depression, a failing marriage and then I found out I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, I was excited but scared all at the same time. Things were not great in my life. For some reason the first few months were a daze, I was sick, and spotting and stressed, but I remember clearly the day we found out he was a BOY! I was thrilled, I am not sure what happened but I instantly felt bonded to this baby inside of me! My entire outlook was changed, not because he was a boy, but because seeing him for the first time, this beautiful little peanut, it made him real and I was completely in love.

My entire pregnancy I had my mind made up that I was going to try for a VBAC. I intended to have Madison completely natural but she had other plans, haha, and she ended up as a c-section. So I was determined this time. By the time I was in my 8th month my Dr. broke the news, she said it's not going to happen. She thought he was too big to risk it, so we scheduled another c-section for March 16. And with the date set , it just made the whole waiting thing that much harder. I was so anxious , I could hardly contain myself.

When the day finally arrived it was actually snowing! Yes, in the middle of March! So we geared up and headed in. I was scheduled for 9am but didn't even go back to the OR until 12:30. Can you believe someone had the nerve to go into labor that day, and the Dr. had to go deliver another baby? Sheesh! (I'm totally kidding!!) Anyway we went back and preped for surgery and at 1:01pm my little miracle entered the world weighing 8lbs 6oz and 20 inches long! The time after the surgery was 100x better then with Madison, they knocked me out and took her to the NICU. With him I got to spend those minutes with my beautiful son in the recovery room. I was so much in love. He was PERFECT! I felt instantly that we were bonded. He was going to be a mommas boy! And he absolutely is hehe.

He is my little cuddle bug, he will sit and cuddle with me on the couch and watch TV for hours.  And I can't believe how smart and funny he is. Always making us laugh. I just can't believe it has been four years already! Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday my special little man! I couldn't be more blessed to have you as my little boy! You are such a joy and I thank God everyday that He gave me you! I am so proud of you and I love you more then life itself! (And by the way, could you slow down a little bit? At this rate you will be a teenager the next time I blink. And I'm not ready for that  yet! :) )

And We Move Forward...

Things are moving forward in the house hunting. We went Friday and Sunday and I fell in love! We found the perfect house for us. I LOVE it. We put the contract in today. Please pray that everything works out accordingly. I am so excited about it. It is a split level, 5 br 2 bath. It is enough room for all of the kids to have their own , although we will be putting Alanna and Maddie together until she gets a little older, since there are only 3 bedrooms on the first floor and the other 2 are on the second. But we have a lot of much needed space. Fingers crossed that they accept our offer and we will be homeowners very soon!

On another note; I am not sure if something is in the air tonight but the kids and the dog are driving me crazy! Madison has been whining for the past 2 1/2 hours over everything! The dog has been NON STOP barking all afternoon, which is not like her at all! All I know is I am on my last straw and in about 5 minutes they are heading to bed early, otherwise I may unravel!