Please Pray For Her Rescue

Dear Friends,
This is the quickest take there is! I am hopping on and linking up with Kelly to ask for some fervent prayers for a special little girl.

Lily, who is named for Our Lady, is desperately ill and in so much pain.

Her mother explains the situation here:
"Lily was just diagnosed with Macrophage Activation Syndrome. A serious complication of SJIA. Her immune system is attacking her blood cells. We are trying an aggressive treatment at home but may need hospitalization. MAS gets bad FAST and its deadly. It's also heartbreaking because only 3% of kids with SJIA get MAS the fact that she did so soon after diagnosis is not a good sign. It means her case is more complicated than we hoped. She has a more serious case. Lily is hurting." 

Lauren, her mother, says the steroids seem to be helping but this poor baby is still suffering and far from out of the woods.

Lauren and her husband, Erik, have asked for this request to be shared on as many prayer chains as possible. Please pray and share!

The photo above is Lily's twin praying for her! Thank you! 

My heart is so heavy for my friend and her baby, thank you for caring!

Dear Father in Heaven, hear our plea and delivery baby Lily from her suffering!

Do you have an intention in need of prayer? Please comment below so we can pray for each other.

Little Lady's Baptism in #7QT

So, it's been awhile, huh?  I never planned on taking such a long break but such is life.  I really wanted to share these last week, but missed the link-up.  I'm linking up with Kelly, who has some fantastic news, for #7QT

1

 

This little lady was baptized on January 22nd.  It was, coincidentally, also the 23rd anniversary of my first date with Hubby.  Hard to believe it has been that long.  

2

 

We asked our dear friends from Teams of Our Lady to be Little Lady's godparents.  They were thrilled beyond belief.  It was such a blessing to have godparents so in love with getting to be godparents. Here is Godmommy getting Little Lady dressed. {Please don't tell anyone, but with every baby, we take over the hospitality room at church.  No one has ever said we can't but I don't think we have ever asked if we could.} 

3

 

Just like for Little Man and Cowgirl, I had a gown made for Little Lady. It was a special one because it highlighted little treasures that had been my grandmother's.  Her bonnet I made from the handkerchief my grandmother carried for my wedding.  The under skirt lace is from my grandmother's curtains.  The vertical lace detail on the skirt is made from two lengths of lace that I found in my grandmother's drawer when cleaning out her house. They were all rolled up neat and proper, the way my grandmother always did things.  I like this gown so much because every time I look at it, I like it even more!  It is beautiful and a wonderful heirloom.

4

I added some finishing touches to the gown.  Hubby's aunt visited us about two weeks before the baptism. She brought to me a miraculous medal that had been sent with her by her friend, who just so happens to be the founder of Carrabba's Italian Grill.  Mama Carrabba's pastor had traveled to Rome recently and she asked him to bring her back a box of medals to hand out.  He did even better, he bought the medals and then had them blessed by Pope Francis during a private audience. She sent one with Aunt Kathy for Little Lady and I am so immensely touched.  

I decided to attach it to her under skirt with a pin that my mother had sent me at college.  It had been attached to a card with a "Prayer for My Daughter" printed on it.  On the back of the pin, it says, "God bless you, always!"  This will now be Little Lady's treasure and I can't wait to get to tell her how special it is and how much her Grandma would have loved her.

I also made a little corsage for Little Lady, as I had made boutenierres for the boys' baptisms.  However, I realized half way through the baptism that I forgot to put it on her!  Oh, well!  I'm still going to keep it with her little keepsakes from the baptism.

5

 

It was a beautiful baptism and oh so perfect.  We kept everything simple, partially because it was planned last minute.  We scheduled the baptism on Wednesday afternoon and had it on Sunday afternoon. Not many people could make it, but the most important ones were there--Little Lady, her godparents, and Our LORD.

I was a little disappointed, though, because I had been saving a veil that had been gifted to me just for this occasion.  It is a beautiful black veil made of the softest fabric.  However, I had not thought to bring a clip or any bobby pins with me.  After fighting all Mass to have the veil stay on my head--and losing--while I nursed and bounced and tended to Little Man, I had to admit defeat.  I didn't want to be a distraction to the baptism, so I had to remove my veil.  I still had on my everyday covering, but I had so wanted to wear that beautiful veil and it was odd not to have my head fully covered.

I have since ordered sew on clips and will be wearing it again this weekend. I am planning on having Hubby take photos so I can post a full and proper review of the veil. Please stop back, these veils are absolutely wonderful!

6

 

I do wish, sometimes, that I could hire a photographer for events like this.  Pictures never turn out exactly how I would like and there are always one that we miss taking.  But that really is a frivolous luxury, so I am choosing to be content that we have the photos we do.

 

This is my friend, Marie, who made Little Lady's gown with lots of love and prayers.

7

Well, the best laid plans of Mice and Men....We had planned on just having take out from a diner down the street which has lots of gluten free options with the godparents and their children for supper.  We spent so long thinking and choosing what to order.  Then Hubby called to place the order and the restaurant was closed!!!  CLOSED!  What diner closes by 2 on a Sunday?????

We thankfully found another restaurant to get take out and finally had something to eat.  For dessert, I made an allergy friendly, blueberry pie, and bought some allergen free cookies.  No pictures...just know the pie was delicious!

Welcome to the Church, Little Lady!!

SQT: Our Little Christmas Present

This post has only taken 11 days to write, I don't think it is a record or anything but I thought I would be honest.  Linking up with Kelly this Friday.

1

My last post I highlighted all the activities we had going on this advent.  I kept joking that I had a break on my calendar from the evening of the 18th until the afternoon of the 21st; just enough time to have a baby and make it home from the hospital.  Hubby asked if I had conferences with the baby on that and written it on her agenda.  Everyone laughed, but....

2

The evening of the 17th, I started to feel off.  After a night of contractions and no sleep, I knew labor was on it's way.  We got the kids packed up and the house in order, then headed to Mass. It was Bambinelli Sunday, something the kids look forward to each year.  I gathered up all our bambinos into my purse; but accidentally forgot Little Man's.  He was not happy with me, but I was too distracted to really be upset about it.  As Mass progressed, I knew for sure this was the real thing.

3

After Mass, Hubby asked Father if he would hear confession for me since I had not felt well enough to make it the day before.  (I have been fighting a nasty cold since the 16th, it just won't go away.)  Father agreed, he asked if I was uncomfortable and I said yes. He got nervous and said, "Okay, we'll get this done quickly."

I cried through confession--another sign labor was hitting.  Afterward, Father gave me and the baby a blessing and said that he would be praying for us.  We headed to the car, and I told Hubby it was definitely time to drop off the kids.   

4

We drove the kids to my friend, Mary's house, and then called the midwife.  My contractions were now about 2 minutes apart and building in intensity.  The midwife was already at the hospital so she asked us to come straight there.  We arrived at the hospital at 4:30 pm.  (Three hours after leaving our parish--that was a long car ride!)

Even though the contractions were close and strong, Hubby was right, we had plenty of time.  It was a long day with intensifying labor, and a cold that wouldn't quit. If I wasn't breathing my way through a contraction, I was blowing my nose--sometimes both at once!

By 1:45 am, I was tired and baby still wasn't born.  The midwife tried re-positioning the baby's head and then broke my water.  The contractions became overwhelming.  Just when I thought I couldn't do any more, delivery began.  

5

At 3:04 AM, Cecilia Anne made her arrival into my arms.  She was a little slow to cry because she had swallowed so much fluid, but has since made up for it and has a very strong pair of lungs.  My midwife took pictures, but I don't have them yet.  Here is on from that morning...we were so disoriented from being up all night.

 

For this blog, she will be known as Little Lady.  Look at those long fingers, perfect for the harp, don't you think?

6

After a very busy two days at the hospital, we finally headed home.  Arrived just in time to get the kids fed, changed, and out the door for Cowgirl's Christmas concert.  Mission accomplished.  

It was a very busy rest of the week adjusting to the baby, getting the kids resettled and gearing up for Christmas.

  Ready to head home, snuggled in the blanket my mom made for my trip home.

7

Christmas was quiet but good.  Mass, gifts, Chinese food, and movies.  Little Lady slept through the Mass in her carrier, which was great because we got there a couple minutes late and it was standing room only.  

 

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

   

 

Advent Plans in SQT

So, I realized again last night that I have not written anything is days and days.  Kelly asked everyone to put down their Advent plans and link up, so that is what I am doing. 

1

How is it December already?  I was reading off the schedule for my children's art school to the family, it was in the latest email update, when I finished, I said, "And just like that it's 2017.  I haven't even gotten used to it being 2016." 

Hubby replied, "That's because we are getting old!"

After that I didn't want to admit that I still struggle with the fact that we are even in the 2000's and lived to tell about it.  As a child, it seemed too hard to believe and life was supposed to be like a Sci-Fi movie by year 2015....anyway back to Advent. 

2

On the note of time flying, though, my biggest plan for this Advent is to have this baby.  Even more than not believing it will be 2016, I can't believe we are just a couple of weeks, literally days, from having a new little one in this house.  Can I admit that I am still in disbelief that I'm even pregnant!  I know a whole lot of surprised wonderment going on here!

I am trying very hard to get everything packed up and ready to go.  I was so focused on what the baby and I need for the hospital that it took until last weekend to remember I need to pack for the other kids, too.  I'm almost there.  In figuring out what the kids each need, I realized that Little Man would not make it through if I packed up a few shirts because he often goes through 3 shirts a day and despite me getting him fall clothes (with the help of his aunt) he never seems to have enough as it is.  

So I hit the Cyber Monday sales and got some great deals at Kohls. I then began to worry that throwing new clothes into a suitcase and shipping him off may be more than he could handle.  He is attached to his clothes and a homebody. So, before I submitted the final order, I had him pick out what HE wanted from my own highly clearanced choices.  Now, he can't wait for the clothes to arrive and I am hoping it will be a happy surprise when he opens his suitcase.  I know, this still has nothing to do with Advent...bear with me..my brain is on lots of hormones. 

3

Normally, we would decorate gradually for Christmas, putting out just the Advent wreath and a nativity and then building from there. I like to save the big decorations for closer to Christmas so that we have more of a delineation between Advent and Christmas.  However, this year, I decided I needed to just get it done while I could.  So, for the first time ever, everything came out on Black Friday.  Then I took a nap! :)

4

The one piece of the decorating puzzle that I couldn't figure out was the tree.  We usually buy a real one a couple days before Christmas.  This year, the cost of a real tree just wasn't something we could afford.  In addition, it would require me figuring out how to get it decorated either extremely pregnant or with a brand new baby.  Then there i the watering and cleaning up needles.  It just wasn't happening.  I announced that we would have a fake tree and began surfing the whiles of the world wide web for  a deal.  And boy did I find one, only $16 for a 5' tree with shipping.  Buddy helped me pick it out and we eagerly waited for it to arrive.

AHEM...it arrived all right!  And I learned once again that you get what you pay for.  It is a darling little tree, and is still bigger and fuller than Charlie Brown's, but that is about as much as I can say.  Our Jesse Tree is actually taller!  Sigh....at least we have one.  

The kids decorated it and threw on some big old-fashioned lights and now it looks almost as glorious as when the Peanuts gang finished sprucing up the tree for the Christmas spectacular.   

5

This is the first Advent that I was not crawling around in a super short attic with barely any light trying to find Christmas decor.  Now that everything is piled in our storage room, I can't believe how much we have.  There must be a million ornaments--ironic considering quick take #4!

I have realized something else, though.  Over the years we have worked to turn our entire focus to the birth of Christ not the hoopla of the commercial holiday, and our decorations reflect that.  Aside from the millions of ornaments, most of our adornments are nativities.  I think we are at 10 and counting! Oh, wait...make that 11, we have one for outside that needs to come out of the shed.

I am pleased and blessed to see how our Advent and Christmas traditions have developed, and also that my children love all the nativities so much.  For them it really is about waiting for Jesus, with some gifts on the side.

6

I am also planning St Nicholas Day and everyone is so excited.  It will be a simpler celebration this year than most, but isn't that more in keeping with the spirit of the feast!  I have some special meal plans--still working on breakfast!  Some little treats have been gathered for shoes.  Our cousin gifted us with two bags of crafting items (Thank you Jesus) including a huge fit to build and decorate a foam gingerbread house.  We usually make our own gingerbread or graham cracker on St Nick's day, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get the money to buy the supplies--lo and behold, God always provides.  It is a silly thing, but my kids are thrilled. So, it may be a toned down celebration, but we will have all the special elements they look forward to each year--including the gingerbread house.  I'll post pictures next week sometime, I promise. 

St Lucy's day, I still need to work on A LOT!  At least, this year we know where the crown and gown are--last year everything was still in boxes.  I'm not sure what to do for treats.  Hubby and I don't drink coffee anymore and I can't have gluten and milk.  Need to find a allergy friendly option that doesn't require pricey ingredients.  Suggestion would be greatly appreciated! 

I usually make a Swedish feast for dinner for St Lucy's, but I think we are just doing the pea soup and buttered noodles this year.  It will be special to mark the feast and I am trying to remind myself that it is about celebrating the liturgical calendar, not going all out.

Then there is Our Lady of Guadalupe and St Juan Diego to consider...at least Mexican food is an easy option.   

   

7 

We have concerts and recitals, a gallery opening event (for Cowgirl's graphic design class), a book report meet-up, 4-H, volunteering, a healing Mass with the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a craft fair to work, cookies to bake, a charity celebrity to meet, bambinellis to get blessed, and a partridge in a pear tree in the coming weeks.  Once all of that is over, the time of waiting for this baby will be, too!  Then comes the most special birth of all--Christmas day!  It is going to be a busy and wild season but it is very blessed.

What are your plans for Advent this year? 

Seven Super Quick Takes: First Week of School Lessons

I am linking up with Kelly--a little late but I hear late is better than never--to share what I learned this first week of schooling!

1

Scheduling two birthday parties within five days is kind of crazy.  Scheduling two birthday parties within five days when it is the first week of school and you are six months pregnant should be considered criminally insane!!!  What was I thinking?  

Buddy had a party on Sunday which included an "old fashioned, proper, sit-down family dinner" with his best friend (and future bride) and her family.  Cowgirl is currently downstairs in the family room making s'mores on the fireplace with dad and two of her best friends (camping got rained out) and we will be doing a campfire breakfast in the morning.  All good kids, all great memories, still one tired mama!

2

The curriculum I planned for the year seems to be working well, but I got all the plans together too late and am struggling to catch up with the prep work--like reading all the books I assigned my children.  Next year, I will be going back to my usual plan of having a rough plan done by the middle of June.

3

If you write an article outlining all your grandiose plans to make this year super special, but forget to write these plans in your planner--they probably won't happen.  I am going to make up for it on the feast of St Therese.  

4

Audio books of all sorts are a homeschooling mom's best friend!  I know I haven't gotten the rest of my plans posted--see number 5--but I have added in audio books for Buddy and Cowgirl, along with audio textbooks for Buddy.  It really has made schooling so much easier.  I still need to supervise their progress, but it gives them independence and me a little more time to work with the other children. A bonus is, they WANT to do the subjects on audio more than any others.  SCORE!  Oh, and if you have never heard of Phonetic Zoo, check it out, best spelling program and completely hands off for the mom.

5

Pipe dreams and delusions, I say! I somehow thought I would not only accomplish a week of school with all new curriculum, write five blog posts, host two parties, and get my garden weeded this week.  I blame the hormones.  So the plans are still coming, but at least I got this up!

6

To eliminate the glut of "not-me's" glasses that would fill up the table and sink each day, we got each person their own, distinctive glass. Amazingly, not-me stopped showing up and raiding our glasses.  I am thinking that I need the same thing for plates.  The amount of dishes we have been going through as my boys eat eight meals a day is mind boggling.  I just can't keep up.  Anyone ever try this?

7

A "Great Books Story Time" curriculum was the perfect fit for Little Man.  However, I need to discover some clean, hands-on, engaging activities for when I can't be reading stories.  Coloring with markers was great, until he colored most of his hands and then started running through the house as I chased him envisioning red hand prints on every wall and piece of furniture from now until the end of time.

 Also, I found all these great documentaries that go along with our curriculum so I could have some time off when I needed it when baby comes--or when I am just too uncomfortable to deal with it all as I wait for baby to come.  However, Murphy is a cruel companion.  Our Wii has decided to stop working and that was our source of "TV."  Now, I need to research other options or figure out how to fix the Wii, however, I know if I call customer service they will laugh that I want to fix a Wii that "we just got" six years ago!

How did your week go? 

  

A Rosary Shower for Baby

I have so much updating to do, including finishing my posts on the mother/daughter event.  Where did the time go?  As the summer draws to a close, I am getting more excited for fall and our coming child, as well as overwhelmed, by everything I must accomplish in the next three months.

Every child is a cause for celebration and a special gift from God.  I wanted to do something for this baby to celebrate the amazing joy that has come to our lives through this pregnancy. Despite all the difficulties and complications I have faced over the years with every pregnancy, I still truly have enjoyed being pregnant whenever I have been blessed to be so.  However, there is something truly special about this pregnancy.

I have not had one single complication or issue, it has been smooth sailing the whole way.  If I were only about six years younger, it would be considered a picture perfect pregnancy.  It has been a great blessing and gift, and my husband and I are just overflowing with joy and happiness.

One of the members of my online pregnancy group posted the idea of a rosary shower.  It seemed like just what I was looking to do.  So, I sent out evites to the special ladies in my life from church and long time friends asking them to gather for a rosary to pray for baby.

Every new baby is a cause to celebrate. Come celebrate with us as Jennifer gets ready to welcome her new child.
Please join us for a “Visitation” where we will pray the joyful mysteries of the rosary for Jennifer, Drew, and Baby.
The Annunciation –Like Mary she has conceived and will bear a child
The Visitation – Like Mary, she has been blessed and prayed and trusted in God to give her children
The Nativity – We will celebrate the birth of her child
The Presentation in the Temple – Like Mary & Joseph, Jennifer and Drew will bring their child up in the Catholic faith, beginning with a baptism
The Finding in the Temple – Jennifer and Drew will teach their child to proclaim the messages of the HEAVENLY FATHER
Please join us for a tea and light refreshments.  This is NOT a gift giving event, only a chance to gather and pray.  Thank you.

Pretty

 

I truly enjoy fancy tablecloths with linen and lace.  Pink is my favorite color, always has been. I agonized over whether to use a pink or blue tablecloth, though.  Pink because it is so pretty, blue for Our Lady.  I knew either one would leave people reading into my choice, when it had nothing to do with the baby itself.  I was relieved when I realized we needed two tables.  So, I used one of each.  

I even broke out the good china, silver flatware, and crystal glasses.  Some of my guests were a little afraid to use such nice pieces.  If a miracle baby isn't reason enough to use the good stuff, I don't know what is.

 

A dear friend from church brought me this beautiful rose.  It made the perfect centerpiece.  Have I mentioned that pink roses are my favorite flower?

I was blessed to be able to have the pilgrim statue this week.  She was really the only decoration I had for the shower.  I found my mother's pressed rose rosary and her Infant of Prague statue to complete my display.

  Happy

 

I was so happy that my best friend and college roomie was able to make the long drive for the shower.  We are like sisters and often got mistaken for twins in college.  There are many things that computers mess up, and quite honestly they often complicate life instead of fixing it.  However, a computer randomly matched us up and it couldn't have been more right.  Kim is the perfect compliment for me as far as friends, and one of the only people I would ever willingly choose to be my roommate. I always joke about playing the lottery to win millions, but truly I have already won the best lottery there is.  I not only ended up with the best roomie ever, I have a best friend for life!

Funny

 

I have not perfected the art of entertaining, serving, AND photographing events.  Photos always seem to fall off the radar for me.   However, I wanted some photos of the event.  My Comare (Godmother) always takes pictures of the food at events, then we discuss the amazing menu.  She was sick the day of the shower, so I wanted a photo for her.  I was rushing, and am not quite tall enough to get a good aerial view, so this is what I ended up with.  Please, believe me, it was much more impressive in person.  We dined on Gluten free goat cheese, cherry tomato, and purple basil pizza, zoodle cucumber salad, homemade caponata (an Italian eggplant stew), roasted chicken, farro salad, gluten free blueberry lemon cake, vanilla meringues, hazelnut chocolate wafers, and lemon tartalettes.  

I also found it funny that I discovered this delicious, yet incredibly easy, recipe for caponata for the first time. For generations, my family has been paying exorbitant prices to buy little cans of the stew imported from Italy.  It is a family favorite, but we only ever had it at major events and holidays because it cost so much for so little.  All this time, we could have just made it in the slow cooker.  Wish I could have brought a pot of it to my grandmother, she would have enjoyed it so, and was always my best cheerleader.

 

So, rushing around and trying to take photos before anything got moved led to very blurry photos.  My little set up looked so lovely, if I do say so myself, with my crystal stemware, pretty, blue china, crystal ice bucket, and selection of drinks on a beautiful cream table cloth.  Please, close your eyes and imagine.  I purchases a couple of French sodas, my favorite splurge drink ever. (You can keep you wine and fancy mixed cocktails, I'll savor my French lemonade soda.) a delicious peach nectar, and seltzer.  What's that you say?  There's no tea at my tea party.  Well, you are correct.  I got so caught up in everything, I forgot to make it.  Mea culpa. No one missed it, though.

Real

 

I have been acutely aware of my grandmother's absence this pregnancy.  I miss her so very much and wish she could be here to share in my joy.  It seems difficult to comprehend that this child will never know my parents, nor my grandparents who have meant so much throughout my life.  My heart aches for them every day, but they will only be vague stories and old photographs to my baby.  I prayed on my grandmother's silver rosary and wore her MOM bracelet that my mother had bought her.  

I also wore coral beads that I discovered in the jewelry box I inherited from my grandmother.  There isn't anything very special in there, all her fine jewelry was stolen in a burglary over two decades ago, however it is priceless to me.  I love to go in there and explore to find a piece that matches my outfit. The best part, though, is when I pull out a drawer or open a side, it still smells like her, and for that moment she is close to me, like she never even left.

 

A friend gave me a beautiful swing that her daughter has outgrown.  It couldn't be more perfect.  Another special blessing.  Teddy is keeping it warm for baby.  Despite all that has been lost, every goodbye that I have cried through over these past eight years, there is still so much hope and joy to be sought.   Last year, beginning at Christmas 2014, was a heartbreak of a year.  I lost my mother and my grandmother in four and a half months.  I bid goodbye to my grandparents' home just two weeks later, my favorite place on this earth, as a child, and the most welcoming little space I ever knew.  My heart was shattered, my soul crushed, I reeled from the intensity of the loss, and the trauma of watching the two most important women in my life slip into the hereafter.  I was determined to make 2016 a fresh start, to find my joy and purpose once more.  Now, after all those who I bid goodbye, I am preparing to welcome a new little love.  Life truly is a circle, and God has been so good to me.

Stay safe little one, Mommy longs to hold you close, but for now rest well deep within me and remind me that the best is always yet to be!

 

Pretty- Happy- Funny- Real: The Little Man Edition

I have really been struggling with getting a post up, so I decided to jump on board when Auntie Leila posted her first {p, h, f, r} of the year.

The children are all growing so rapidly, but I notice it most with Little Man. He is decidedly not a baby and changing so much right before my eyes.

Pretty

These two snuck outside for just a short play (It was SO cold!) Look at those pretty eyes and rosy cheeks.

Happy

Buddy is happy with his new bow but still making little bows out of every stick he finds.  He was even happier when Little Man took an interest in his newest creation and said clear as a bell, "Bow, bow!" 

He is in the midst of a language explosion. One of his other new words is "Big," his name for his big brother.

Funny

That funny little face is growing and changing. He has learned how to make silly faces and imitate his siblings. Little Man is very, very busy, so it is difficult to get photos that aren't just blurs. However, when he decides he wants his picture taken, it's all cheese.

Real

At 17 months old, Little Man already knows how to turn sticks into weapons and initiate a duel. His fencing skills are quite impressive, I must say.  Buddy doesn't cut him any slack and he can hold his own. So, to be clear, this little guy REAL-ly did find these sticks in his brother's collection, bring one to his brother, and initiate the fight. I don't know if that is REAL-ly amazing or REAL-ly scary.

How is your week going?