An Oreo of News

When I was going through school to become a teacher, my professor always told us to make our news like an Oreo.  Tell the parents or student something good, something not so good, and then finish with something good.  While this professor did not always follow her advice I am going to use her "Oreo Model" to give you a very glad, sad, glad family update.  Here we go!

Number 1: Glad News

All of our Georgia family and friends will be seeing a LOT more of us next year!  (I hope this is good news for you because otherwise the whole effect if ruined.)  We have missed you so much and can't wait to see you again on a daily basis!  Woohoo for Georgia - the only place sane people live!

Number 2: Sad News

I won't type about this for long because I will get all teary-eyed.  The reason for all our time in Georgia is because Danny is being deployed.  For the safety of him and his team I will not share dates or locations on social networks.  However, I can say he will be home for Christmas 2012 and 2013.  Please begin praying now for safety of all involved.  We will miss him like crazy!  I will stop now while I can still see to type. . .

Number 3: More Glad News

Well, "glad news" is a little more than deceiving because what we actually have to share is SUPER DUPER AWESOME NEWS.  I have been holding it in for almost fourteen weeks now.  (And you thought I couldn't keep a secret!)  Drum roll please ._._._._._._._._._.  (Nice drum roll huh?)

**There will still be FIVE of us traveling to Georgia!** 

I will give you a second to count - hee hee.  Yes, that's right.  We are having a precious baby! 

Now before you start thinking, "They are crazy!" and, "Do they know what causes this?" let me say a few things.  Yes, we do know what causes this.  No, we are not crazy.  Yes, we did it on purpose.  No, I don't need your "funny" comments.  They might just hurt my extremely hormonal heart. 

When we found out we were moving to Fort Bragg they told Danny he was going to be a part of a unit that was not going to deploy until 2015.  Our original plan was to wait a few years and have another baby.  However, with this new timeline that would leave me with a newborn and no help.  So we decided to go ahead and try for another baby.  A little too late in the game the ever-changing Army calls back to tell us that Danny is moving to a different unit that is deploying . . . soon.  So the waiting game began.  We moved and a week later Eli told Danny that he was going to be a big brother!  We were thrilled but it was also bittersweet.  Danny wouldn't be here for the birth or most of the first year of this baby's life.  We also have early pregnancy issues that needed to be handled and we couldn't find a doctor anywhere! (Our Army insurance hadn't kicked in yet.)  Many tears later I found a doctor that would see me once before the Army insurance would takeover. 

I went to my appointment, got the medicines I needed, and waited for an ultrasound.  The ultrasound didn't show anything!  I was so deflated.  The Army doesn't give ultrasounds until 20 weeks and with our past I couldn't wait that long!  But, I had to.  So, I got sicker and sicker (while taking care of Danny's finger along with everyday things).  Thankfully the sickness hasn't been anything like with Jonah or even the little boys.  Finally, my sweet hubby went to the equivalent of a complaint department and got my ultrasound moved up to 10 1/2 weeks.  Talk about a nervous wreck!   I walked into that appointment wound up tight. . . until I saw that sweet heartbeat.  I sight that will steal any mother's heart. 

Now we are almost 14 weeks.  It is on my bucket list to not find out what we are having.  Since I can't wait until I am 80 to do that one, we have decided to do it now.  We will find out if our baby is a boy or girl on February 15, 2013 (or close to it). 

Will Danny get to come home/stay home to see the baby?  How will everyone handle a short-term move?  How will we keep the new baby safe around Jonah who has already said he is going to give it a bear hug?  We still have a lot of questions but one thing we know:  We are held in God's hands and as long as we are there we will be just fine.  We appreciate your prayers and support on this wild journey.

Out Of The Mouths . . .

After being up with Jonah in the middle of the night and waking up to more sick babies, I was ready to set aside every parenting book I have ever read and have a whole day of cartoons and pajamas.  My dish had another idea - it was out.  Jonah was worried, and I told him that Daddy could fix it when he came home for lunch.

Daddy comes home and can't kind the problem right away.  He comes home to eat - not play Mr.Fix-It - and told Jonah that he couldn't fix it now.  Jonah looked at him with a weary face and sighed, "Mommy said you could fix it.  You just have to work harder!"  I think Jonah believes his Daddy could fly to the moon if he tried.  He is Jonah's hero!

My Sweet Little Eli

I am posting this to ask prayers for my littlest boy, Eli.  We had some disheartening news yesterday at the doctor.  I could tell something was a little off with Eli, especially compared to his other brothers.  However, he is so darn sweet that I tend to overlook the areas in which he falls behind.  Before I go any further I want to say that I know many people out there have it much worse, but when it is your kid he is really all that matters to you.  I am thankful that he is as healthy as he is and that we have the means to help him as he needs.  I am asking for prayers because I also know I have a Father who cares about the big things and the little things.

He went in for his 15 month appointment.  He weighs a little over 17 1/2 pounds (0%) and is 28 3/4 inches long (1%).  The scary thing is his head circumference went from the 25%-40% where it has been to the 4%.  Of course he has the throwing up issue that we are STILL investigating, but it has gotten better since the move and he continues to stay the same size.

He also fell below average in all the areas of the developmental questionnaire.  He doesn't try to say any words past "dada" and "duck".  He can't use a spoon or suck out of a sippy cup.  They are referring him to have a complete evaluation to see if he needs to start seeing an OT, PT, speech therapist, etc in addition to the pediatric GI doctor that we will start seeing at UNC.

So, please pray for our sweet boy.  Pray that God will heal his body in a miraculous way.  Pray for me as I patiently wait for referrals and results.  Pray for our family as we travel to doctor appointments and have to leave the other boys with sitters.  And if you find yourself like me - so overwhelmed that you don't even know where to start praying - then sit and know that we serve a God that is good, perfect, and powerful and let the Holy Spirit speak on your behalf.

Thanks,

Carly

A "Strong Bond" to the Mountains!

This past weekend was just further proof that I belong near the mountains.  The Georgia Mountains to be specific, but the North Carolina ones will do. 

Danny had the wonderful opportunity to lead a Strong Bonds at Beech Mountain.  Strong Bonds is a marriage retreat and this one happened to be for families - meaning there was childcare and fun family activities.

Friday we drove up to paradise!  Imagine going from 95 degree weather to a high of 75!  It was wonderful!  We stayed in a two-bedroom condo.  They had a putt-putt course, playground, pool, and lots of green grass for the kiddos to run around in.  That night we met all the couples, and Danny taught a couple sessions.  The material was over the five love languages.  I was very surprised at how many people joined in discussion!  I was also surprised that Danny and I had been married the longest of all the people there!  Good thing I know 26 is not old or I might start thinking it.

Saturday morning we had a few more sessions and then we were off for an afternoon of family time.  We took the boys to Grandfather Mountain!  It was perfect for our family.  Here are a few of the things we did:

We saw BEARS!  This photo is not zoomed in - they were really that close!  Jonah was sooo excited.  He kept looking for a bear that would talk to him.  I tried to explain that real bears don't talk. . . he is still convinced there is a talking bear out there just waiting to be found.

I will admit I get VERY scared going around curves at a mile above sea level, so we pulled into a parking lot and hiked the rest of the way up. Jonah hiked the whole mile on his own two feet!  He was dirty, dirty, dirty when we finished but it was worth it.  Most of the trail was big rocks.  He climbed up them and said, "Bears do this!"  

Once we made it to the top we got to cross the swinging bridge.  I crossed with Jonah while Danny held Huxton and Eli.  Then Danny crossed with Jonah while I held them.  It was super windy, and the bridge was singing!

And here are all my boys back on the trail!

Saturday night childcare was provided for a free date night.  Since we hadn't had a date night since moving to North Carolina, we were beyond excited!  We dropped off the boys and went to dinner.  We had a whole room to ourselves!  It was so nice to sit and talk.  We spent the whole two hours discussing the answers to the Q &A session the next day, but we still really enjoyed it.  We found that we like to teach together and we like the time we get to talk while preparing.  We took dessert to go.  The childcare workers said we could stay out until 10 but no one deserves to watch three boys after their bedtime.  So, we picked them up a little after eight, tucked them in, prepared the devotional for the following morning, and ate dessert while watching the Olympics. 

Sunday was the last day of the retreat.  The Q&A session and devotional went so well.  I could already tell a difference in some of the couples.  Of course, I am sure they could tell a difference in me after three days in the mountains.  :D  But in all seriousness, God really put it on my heart to pray for these couples.  It is my prayer that Danny and I can be role models for the other couples here and that they will come to us for help before throwing away something as wonderful as marriage.

We were given the option of staying an additional night for free.  Can you say YES?!  The spent the rest of the day playing outside, napping, and swimming.  It was a much needed rest for our whole family.

Not even Jonah wanted to go home, but all good things must come to an end.

We decided to make a detour to UNC on our way back to Spring Lake.  We were hoping to see the basketball museum and the Dean Smith Center.  Unfortunately, both are closed on Mondays.  However, we still walked around the campus.  The one building that was open was the swimming pool!  This made Jonah's day!  He has been watching the Olympics with us and he is amazed at the swimmers.  He practices going "underwater" and splashing on the couch.  We took this pic just in case he is in the Olympics one day :D

So, we are home now - back to the scorching heat and long work days.  At least we were refreshed and have less than two weeks before we visit Georgia.  Woohoo!  Now, I just need to find a way for Danny to teach some more of these!  :)