The Big Move

Oh my gosh.  Where do I begin?  It's been a while since I posted.  A lot has happened in the last month and a half.  Still waiting for A LOT more to happen in the next couple of weeks...

A few updates on our lives since the beginning of May:

I went home to WA for Angelica's funeral and to be with family.  All of my siblings except for Kashann were able to come.  It really was a beautiful experience.  It made me ponder more on my belief that families can be together forever and how much I want that.

While I was in WA, Stephen was finishing up his classes and then flew to the Czech Republic for four different recitals in and around Prague.  He was there 10 days.  Then he flew home, packed the rest of our stuff into our car, then drove to UT to our new home.  We were apart for three full weeks. We missed each other desperately.   It was so sweet to see Jonathan reunited with his Daddy.  It takes Jonathan awhile to warm up to other people and I wondered if he would forget who Stephen was and not want to go to him at first.  I was relieved to see that was not at all the case.  He was SO happy to be with his Daddy again.  In fact, he clung to Stephen and would not come back to me.  Even though it was 10:00 at night, WAY past his bedtime, Jonathan was SO hyper for the next hour, playing excitedly with his Daddy.  They are two peas in a pod.

Our new townhome we're renting is in Woods Cross, UT.  We love it.  THREE TIMES bigger than our apartment in Stony Brook, much nicer and the same price :)  We're happy to have left behind east-coast prices.

The last few weeks have been so great.  We have enjoyed being all together again.  Stephen has taken off most of the summer so he can be home when the baby comes.  He practices about 4 hours a day, on OUR piano IN our home.  He's home all day and I LOVE it.  Although he does start to think he knows more about cooking and housekeeping than I do...I frequently get some piece of advice or warning from the piano as he practices and watches me at work...something like, "Did you set the timer for that bread?" or "Don't you think it would be a good idea to take mix the granola so it cooks evenly?"  He's SO helpful :)

I'm also happy to report that I've finally made my foray into gardening, independent of my mother.  After convincing Stephen that $40 dollars was worth it, I purchased two pots, some soil and six plants (2 basil, 1 thyme, 1 rosemary, 2 cherry tomato).  I'm not sure I can call it "gardening" when I'm growing them from pots but at least it is something!  And as silly as this may sound to you folks who have acres of garden, I have found so much satisfaction over tending these little plants.  I planted them a week ago, and they are starting to look bigger!  Who would have thought?!  It was NEVER this exciting when I was little and slaved away in my family's garden.

A couple days ago it got really hot, and we looked outside to find our basil plants totally wilted and looking hopeless.  I should explain that the pots we bought are self-watering -- we fill up the bottom compartment with water and then the water is SUPPOSED to travel up in the dirt by osmosis and give the plant all the water it needs -- not too much, not too little.  So anyway, we had been filling this dutifully every day.  When we saw the state of our basil, the only thing we could figure is that for some reason the watering system wasn't working, so we poured a bunch of water on the plants.  In about an hour, we went and check on them again to discover that an absolute miracle had taken place -- the basil had perked right up and was full and beautiful again.  Growing stuff is so much fun!

I digress...

The last thing to report on:  I am still very pregnant.  We're 12 days from my due date.  Jonathan was born 12 days early.  So it's hard not to HOPE that things will happen very soon.  But I don't think we'll be that lucky this time around.

For the life of us we cannot settle on a name for this boy.  We have being tossing around the same 5 or so names for months now and don't feel any closer than when we started.  At this point, my only hope is that he will be born wearing a nametag because that might be what it will take for us to finally decide.  People have told us that they went into the hospital with a couple of possible names and then when they laid eyes on their baby for the first time they "just knew".  We're banking on this happening.  I don't want to be panicking last minute as we sign the birth certificate.

At this point in my pregnancy, I'm down to running a mile at a stretch before I stop to walk.  I've gained HALF the weight I gained with my first pregnancy, thank you very much.  And I have been so much healthier and feel so much better.  I haven't had carpel tunnel (had that for the last 3 months of my first preg), I'm not bloated (I was a MARSHMELLOW last time), I am still sleeping really well, my wedding ring still fits, I have more energy, and just feel more fit in general.

BUT I am SO SICK of the scale.  I weigh myself almost every day to make sure I don't let things get out of hand before I realize it.  It helps me stay accountable.  But lately I just wanna eat what I wanna eat and stop being accountable!  It would be really stupid though to lose sight of my goal now and then gain 10 lbs in the last week of my pregnancy.  Trust me, that totally could happen.  We have four half gallons of Tillamook ice cream in the freezer right now (it was on sale).  It totally could happen.  So I just need to hang in there till the bitter end...and then lose all the pregnancy weight...sigh.  I guess the scale is not going to get to go away for a long time.

Sweet Angelica

Angelica passed away peacefully this morning.  Here is a link to my sister's blog.  Her husband wrote about the incident.

peterandcandice.blogspot.com

Thank you to everyone who have been praying for them throughout this experience.  The Lord really answered our prayers.  This has turned out to be such a beautiful and tender experience for our family.

We love you little Angelica.  I look forward to meeting you someday!

Updates on Angelica from my parents

Candice and Peter took Angelica home yesterday afternoon.  Yesterday, I talked to Candice on the phone and she said that the Dr had come in before they were released to answer questions on how to take care of Angelica on their own and what to expect.  The Dr began explaining how there may come a time when Angelica starts turning an ashy color and that this means she's not getting enough oxygen and may even stop breathing all together.  While the Dr was explaining this, Candice said she looked down at Angelica and noticed that she was starting to look sort of ashy right then.  She alerted the Dr and the Dr said that was exactly what she was talking about.  Then Angelica started turning more ashy, losing all pink, and turning sort of blue, and then stopped breathing entirely.  After just a short time, Candice said that Angelica suddenly gasped for air and resumed breathing again. Candice really felt comforted that this first scare came when the Dr was right by their side explaining what to expect.  She had been nervous to take Angelica home, but now that she sort of knew what to expect, she felt more confident.

Late last night, I got this text from my Dad:

"Mom and I are at the Denver airport.  We just heard from Candice and Peter.  It seems they had two more incidents where Angelica's system went into pause.  That would be the third time today.  Each time after a few minutes, she breathes again and color comes back to her complexion.  The last two times occurred after they left the hospital.  It is surreal in a way -- a somber yet peaceful scene.  The Lord has given them glimpses and moments of happiness and preparation for the ultimate separation.  Whenever it now comes, only the moment but not the event will catch them by surprise.  The tender mercies with which the Lord has tempered this most traumatic and unusual family advent are sweet to contemplate.  Candice was heard to say yesterday that she had just experienced the greatest day of her life.  Who would have thought it so?  Certainly we have witnessed miracles from the Lord.  We can be assured that the Lord is mindful of each of us, loves us, and desires to bless us.  His blessings will often come disguised, I suppose as a mortal test.  I hope these and other experiences help each of us grow in faith and trust in God as a result.  There will be other tests for each of us.  You can count on it though you would not seek them out, nor should you.  Peter probably did well on his annual finals but he and Candice have really shined where it mattered most.  I am so proud of each of them.  I know that whatever happens from here on out will be the will of the Lord."

My Mom texted me this this morning:

"We spoke with Peter this morning and Angelica had a good night.  No more episodes.  She drank from her bottle, filled some diapers and kept the shift of loving caregivers awake like all newborns do.  She is pretty and pink this morning.  She continues to amaze us all by beating the odds.  As the doctor said, 'There must be some higher power that is part of this family.'  Thanks for all your prayers.  Her parents have treasured every minute with this special angel."

More pictures of Angelica and family

As of 9:00 this morning when I spoke with my mom, Angelica is still alive and well!  She started getting fussier in the night and everyone took turns holding her so Candice could get at least a little sleep.  They have a big decision to make this morning -- they are considering taking her home.

Here is a link to the some beautiful pictures taken by Candice's photographer friend, Abbie.

http://abbierufener.com/blog

Angelica update

Angelica was born alive at around 10:00 this morning (EST that is...it was just before 9:00 Nashville time) and is still doing well!   She is a beautiful little angel.  We're overjoyed that they are getting some time with her.  What an emotional day it has been!

Candice said Angelica has hardly cried and is very peaceful.  She is not showing any outward signs of struggling or imminent crisis.  The Dr. has come in several times to check her heart and he said it's surprisingly strong.  We're all so grateful!  Thank you for your prayers!

A lot of people have been telling me that these pics did not load in the last post.  Here they are again, posted from Stephen's mac instead of my dell.  Let me know if these ones load or not.

Candice and Angelica

Angelica with her Mommy and Daddy

She's here!

Angelica's here and alive!

Angelica and her Mommy

Angelica with her Mommy and Daddy

Of the Angels

My sister Candice (eight months pregnant) with her daughter Laura 

I am the youngest of seven children.  The sibling just older than me, Candice, has been my closest friend for as long as I can remember.  We talk on the phone daily.  I have always looked up to her and wanted to be like her.  The older we get, the more I feel that way.  Her compassion for others and strength inspire me.  I have never felt more that way than now.

Candice and her husband Peter are expecting their second daughter.  She will be induced tonight at 9 pm.  At the 20 week ultrasound, they learned that they were expecting a very special little girl.  She has Trisomy 13, which means she will be born with numerous defects that will make survival outside the womb unlikely.  The doctors say they do not expect her to live more than a few days, maybe even hours, or maybe not even survive delivery.  

In the past few months since finding out about their baby's condition, Candice has been so strong through it all.  She has had so much faith and optimism.  She feels this pregnancy is so special because while the baby is inside her womb, she feels like she's protecting her, knowing that as soon as she's born she will not live for long. 

We are all praying that they will at least have a few precious moments with their sweet baby girl before she passes into the next life.  Please pray for them, too.

They have decided to name her Angelica, which means "of the angels".