Coincidence or God?

Do you ever wonder just how much detail God cares about? Something happened early this morning that left that question in my mind: "Does God REALLY care about such trivial matters?" I'll tell you the story and let you draw your own conclusion.

This summer, we were out garage saling and happened upon a house that had old edition but still packaged Nascar cars and collector cards. Since we moved over to this part of the state, my life-long friend, Janiece and I usually buy small gifts for each other's kids and it's no secret that we often glean them from clearance aisles. No need to be pricey because after all, it's the thought that counts. Tony got to thinking that these might make great gifts for her boy's September and November birthdays so we picked up four of them.

This morning, I was getting Talon's ready and realized it was his 13th birthday. I was feeling kind of bad that I hadn't thought to get him something more special than OLD edition cars. And yet, I knew there probably wasn't much to be done about it since in this struggling economy we are pinching pennies every which way we can.

It was then that I noticed the year in the upper right-hand corner of the car package...would you believe they were put out the very year he was born?!

Now you tell me, was it coincidence or was it God?

The Most Recent Birthday Girl

Blowing out EIGHT candles! (p.s. she had a choice between a store-bought cake or special ice cream from the Schwan's guy w/basic homemade cake - she chose the latter)

The wished-for Webkinz

The birthday treats that had to sit an extra day since Kerrigan was sick on her birthday :(

And Nonnie would title this picture, "The Lollapalooza"

8 Years Ago Today...

...I was at St. John's Hospital in Anderson, snuggling a new born. My new born.

I remember the day I called to tell my parents we were expecting a surprise. I cried when I broke the news to Dad because I was afraid that something would be wrong like with our previous births. But he assured me in his gruf voice that this time everything would be okay. "And I believe that," he said with much conviction.

And everything was okay...with the delivery and following. But the pregnancy sure was a bumpy ride. I was in the hospital twice over weekends and twice in ER for fluids in my first trimester. After many trials of meds, the last resort was a Zofran pump. And thank the Lord, that last resort worked to keep me out of the hospital and to keep food and water in me.

Britnee became the Mom for both me and Janae while Tony was away 9 hours a day plus 2 hours or more in commute time. It wasn't easy but we survived.

And at 10:40 a.m. on the 12th of January, we got to see the reward of our labors when we welcomed our third princess into our family, Kerrigan Brook, (whose name was chosen by a wishbone - click here for that story).

The last 8 years around our house have not been without laughter, thanks to our little comedian.

Happy Birthday, Kerrigan! We love you lots!

Happy Birthday, Janae

I'll blame it on my prego brain...the fact that I forgot to do a birthday post for Janae. It's certainly not because we forgot about her birthday, though. We probably work extra hard to make sure that her birthday is special. With it being so close to the holidays, her day is often forgotten by others in the shuffle of Christmas preparations.

We started by planning her school birthday treat to share a couple days in advance since her actual birthday fell on FCA's Christmas party day.

Then, as usual, because we have open Christmas presents early here due to trips to Michigan every year, we let her open her gifts a couple days in advance to keep more of a distance between the two occasions. She received Apples to Apples Jr (a very fun game!), a 'Lil Kinz pig she named Curly, a Magic Treehouse book and her very own MP3 player.

Happy 11th Birthday, Janae! In a few days, you'll be able to say, "next year, I'll be a teenager!" (we'll let everyone mull that one over for awhile :)

When is Old?

Last night, I laid in bed tossing and turning, body-tired, brain-wired...unable to fall asleep. My mind went back to a conversation earlier in the day that I never finished with a friend. We were discussing the difference in being pregnant in your 30s. I remembered my sister saying over the years how much different her last pregnancy was compared to the previous three when she had been in her 20s. And then, of course, my mind went to ME and MY age. I'm not just in my 30s...I'm pushing 40!

I kinda started to freak out. 40? I will be 40 in a few short years!?!! I was starting to feel really old right about then, like my life was spiraling out of control and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I tried to calm myself by realizing that my mother had me when she was in her 40s...42, to be exact. My dad was 44. And suddenly it hit me. 40 isn't old. I didn't even KNOW my parents when they were 40. How funny is that?

The first birthday that I remember my dad having was when he turned 50. He was in Tortola helping to build a house. So we didn't actually to celebrate that big day with him. We just heard about the pineapple piiiieee he was served for the next 20 years.

The first birthday that I remember my mom having was when she turned 54. I remember my sister teaching all the grandkids something about "Grandma being 54, she must have rode a dinosaur." Mom was NOT pleased.

So no, 40 isn't old.

I'll let you know how 50 looks in about 10 years.

World's Best Husband

Yep, he's mine...all mine! Even the lady at Motherhood Maternity shop told him I would be happy with his thoughtfulness. Apparently they don't see many men in their shop.

I had requested a maternity jean skirt for my birthday because the waistband on my regular one is bulky and very uncomfortable on my queasy stomach. Then a couple days before my birthday, I exercised a woman's right and changed my mind, telling him on a down day that, "I wasn't go away anywhere anytime soon anyway, so you can just wait on that request."

So for my birthday, I got a very nice warm, soft fuzzy blanket (for all those chilly days on the couch - the wind has been terrible and makes this house drafty) and a pair of big pajamas. Well, the pajamas were surprisingly a bit too big (that hardly ever happens to me...I can never find them big enough to be comfortable!) so he had to return them.

When he walked in the door today, he had a large bag from Motherhood Maternity. It had this jean skirt (which fits perfect and is soooo cute!)

...a pack of maternity underwear (don't think I've ever even owned those...just got by or bought one size bigger) and two pairs of maternity pantyhose. I'm thinking I might even wear those AFTER the pregnancy! Have I ever mentioned that I HATE tight clothing? But have you ever tried to find support hose without a control top? Nearly impossible!

And in addition to all that, he cooked my scrambled eggs that I hadn't had a chance to fix for myself yet.

Thanks, hon, you are the best!

McCain Rally and Talon's Birthday

We hosted an actual registered McCain Rally at our home for the first of the PresidentialDebates. It was a private party with two other families...both Coopers.

It so happened that it fell on Talon's birthday. We'd been storing a pinata for several months waiting for an opportunity to use it so thought this would be the perfect reason. My batteries were on their last leg and the kids had waited long enough so I didn't get the greatest pictures but here are the most important ones...the birthday boy and then the mighty girl who busted it open.

13 years ago today...

I was released from Central Michigan Community Hospital a day after giving birth to my first child, a 7 lb 7 0z, 20 1/4 inch long daughter. We went home first so I could take a nap in my own bed. Then we hastily packed for a stay in Lansing to be near that baby who was now at Sparrow Hospital.

Upon our arrival in town, we went up to see that little one of whom we’d been given a mere Polaroid photo 30 hours before. It was difficult to only touch her through the holes in the incubator and not be allowed to hold her. We stood and watched her breath for a long time. Then, finally, having been reassured she was getting top-notch care, we bid her goodnight and headed for Meijer to pick up the things we’d forgotten in our hasty packing. I also chose a little mint green teddy bear for her isolette and Tony added to her book collection with a Richard Scary story – his favorite when he was little. (I’d been reading to her incognito for months.)

On our way out of the store, I discovered a do-it-yourself machine that printed invitations and announcements. Tony indulged me and we printed off a few announcing “Our Little Bit of Heaven”. Then we headed to his aunt’s and uncle’s, who so graciously loaned us a room even though we rarely saw them that week (thanks, Barb and Wendell!)

Not exactly how I’d envisioned my first day home from the hospital. But instead of the 7-10 day stay that the doctors predicted, we were able to be home in 4 and by the following Monday everything was back to normal except we had a bassinet beside our bed.

That was then, this is now...

...and I am the mother of a teenager. Happy Birthday, Britnee!

(My excuse for the belated post is that we were gone most of the day and when we got home, I was busy baking birthday cobbler and playing ball with the birthday girl :)

The Girl that Once Was

I see her every day but she is not as recognizable to me as she once was. Her face has filled out over the years. A few wrinkles crease her brow and her eyes. Her hair has taken on an added dimension of white strands. Her dimples don’t show as much as they used to and her eyes rarely have that youthful sparkle anymore. Maybe it’s because when I see her, she is being critical; searching too hard for the girl that once was. Maybe it’s because she’s had a restless night. Or maybe she is in a hurry and doesn’t have time to really look.

But once in a while she does make an appearance, if just for a moment; a fleeting second. Those moments are getting fewer and farther between. But I saw her the other day. I actually didn’t realize that she had been there until I downloaded the pictures from my birthday party. It surprised me! There she was looking into my camera in the mirror…so youthful. So much like the girl she used to be.

I miss her.

Happy Birthday, Janiece!

I thought it was 15 years but according to her blog, it must have been 16 years ago today that Janiece's sister, MaryLee and I gave her a party at the Midland Mall. I always felt bad that she got jipped by having a birthday the day after Christmas. It was too easy for givers to hand her one gift and say it was for Christmas AND her birthday. So for her sweet sixteen, I took a few of her friends to the mall ahead of time. We each picked a different store, bought her a gift, wrapped them in the car, wrote a clue as to where she would find it, took the wrapped gift back to the store we got it from and asked the clerk if she would keep it behind the counter until the "birthday girl" asked for it. I don't remember if she asked at any wrong stores or if it embarrassed her to do this, but I thought it was fun, even if she didn't! lol! Either way, I'm sure it was a day she will never forget.

Happy Birthday to my friend's bratty li'l sister, who soon became: 1/3 of our church youth group, lead singer of the Northern Lights, my friend, my confidante and wife of my husband's college friend - how cool is that?! Hope you have a fabulous day!

P.S. Janice, I had plans to do a post before I read your blog (just so you know you weren't an afterthought :) and I'm sorry the only pic I have of you includes Jerry, but I guess he IS your other half...anyway, I'm on the road posting on Tony's laptop, thus the lack of photos. And last but not least, I haven't called you yet b/c I was waiting until you were out of bed. Now my kids are being LOUD!

Happy Birthday, Janae!

To the little girl who we thought might be our boy. You filled our hearts and changed our world! It was a scary few months there in the beginning! We thought we had it made when the delivery went smooth and we got to take you straight home from Mt. Pleasant without a transfer. Little did we know what we were in for 2.5 weeks down the road. But 3 weeks at Sparrow and Detroit Children's Hospitals and two surgeries later, you were good as new. Thanks to many prayers, Dr. Geurtin, who believed in us when others didn't and Dr. Kline, who believed Dr. Geurtin, we made it! We are so thankful that you belong to us. You fill our lives with sunshine and we are proud of each and every accomplishment :)

Birthday Girl

Britnee shows extreme delight upon receiving the Dogz Gameboy Advance Game

She hates to have her picture taken...can you tell?

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY, BRITNEE!!