My, how time flies! Libby is 20 months old and Will is 5 months old. The days are running together and there is rarely time to reflect on all that’s happening. 
We took some pictures of Will to show some before and after shots of his growth over the last five months. It's unbelievable how much he's grown (and that he's STILL a newborn!). Looking at the pictures, I can't help but cry. He's so beautiful now and was then too. It was so scary to wait through those first few days but I am so thankful to see how the Lord has walked beside us through all that's happened since then-- even through those things I wouldn't have chosen for us.
After lots of evaluations, phone calls to insurance and letters from the pediatrician, Will is all set up for in-home physical, speech and occupational therapy. I love the women who give him therapy and Will seems to like them too. Libby gets in on the action and often wants to do the same things that Will is doing. It’s a little crazy sometimes as I try to learn the exercises for Will and keep Libby occupied. Thankfully, the therapists understand that when working in pediatric therapy, the most important word is “flexibility”. In addition to the therapy provided by insurance, a friend of mine who does pediatric physical therapy offered to come over on Fridays to work with Will just because. It’s a huge help to have him in physical therapy twice a week.
Will is making progress. His legs are fine, he’s eating well and gaining weight (13.5 lbs), and he’s a pro at tummy time. His neck is still weak when he’s laying on his back but he’s doing a lot more with his arms and hands. Tonight he acted like he couldn’t get them in his mouth fast enough and kept them in there for almost five minutes! Our prayer for him right now is that his neck and shoulder area would be strengthened through therapy and that he would start keeping his hands open more than 50% of the time. We were prepared to work on legs, but it seems our focus is on arms and neck. This roller coaster never stops! Please pray for his therapy—that he makes progress weekly, that I won’t be discouraged so easily when concerns arise, and that Libby will be a willing participant in activities. 
Two Fridays ago, he laughed for the first time at my dad who was tickling him. It was so funny and we were all laughing so loud, we could barely hear him!
I've tried to keep getting together with friends so Libby will have some contact with the outside world since we're pretty much at home all of the time. She's really enjoying the times we've spend with friends!
We took some pictures of Will to show some before and after shots of his growth over the last five months. It's unbelievable how much he's grown (and that he's STILL a newborn!). Looking at the pictures, I can't help but cry. He's so beautiful now and was then too. It was so scary to wait through those first few days but I am so thankful to see how the Lord has walked beside us through all that's happened since then-- even through those things I wouldn't have chosen for us. After lots of evaluations, phone calls to insurance and letters from the pediatrician, Will is all set up for in-home physical, speech and occupational therapy. I love the women who give him therapy and Will seems to like them too. Libby gets in on the action and often wants to do the same things that Will is doing. It’s a little crazy sometimes as I try to learn the exercises for Will and keep Libby occupied. Thankfully, the therapists understand that when working in pediatric therapy, the most important word is “flexibility”. In addition to the therapy provided by insurance, a friend of mine who does pediatric physical therapy offered to come over on Fridays to work with Will just because. It’s a huge help to have him in physical therapy twice a week.Will is making progress. His legs are fine, he’s eating well and gaining weight (13.5 lbs), and he’s a pro at tummy time. His neck is still weak when he’s laying on his back but he’s doing a lot more with his arms and hands. Tonight he acted like he couldn’t get them in his mouth fast enough and kept them in there for almost five minutes! Our prayer for him right now is that his neck and shoulder area would be strengthened through therapy and that he would start keeping his hands open more than 50% of the time. We were prepared to work on legs, but it seems our focus is on arms and neck. This roller coaster never stops! Please pray for his therapy—that he makes progress weekly, that I won’t be discouraged so easily when concerns arise, and that Libby will be a willing participant in activities. Two Fridays ago, he laughed for the first time at my dad who was tickling him. It was so funny and we were all laughing so loud, we could barely hear him!I've tried to keep getting together with friends so Libby will have some contact with the outside world since we're pretty much at home all of the time. She's really enjoying the times we've spend with friends!
Libby has finally grown enough hair in the back for pigtails... but she does not appreciate anyone trying to put them in...
And she learned how to climb up on the dining room table, pour salt all over and say, "Cheese" when we discovered her! So talented!
Last Saturday, my parents kept Will so that we could have some time with Libby. She’s doing really well with Will but we can tell she missed having us to herself—and we miss it too! Will gets lots of one-on-one time in the evenings after she goes to bed but she misses out of having both of us spending time with her.
Last year...
We went to an apple orchard, 
the same pumpkin patch from last year, walked in the valley, saw the choo-choo train
and ate lunch at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula. She had a great time but was not interested in modeling for the camera— just like last year!
When we went to pick up Will, my parents’ neighborhood was having their fall party and had a hayride that went around the block. Between Nanny, Papa and Mommy, Libby rode three times! She loved it (and really loved throwing the hay!). It was great to have a day of fall fun.
I read What to Expect the First Year for the first time this morning. The title is actually hilarious to me— as if any book could have told me what to expect in this first year of Will’s life!! I’ve been reluctant to read it for many reasons but was happy to see that Will is keeping up with the expectations for his corrected age. His thrush has gotten a lot better since he started on Diflucan and he’s such a smiley baby now!
Many of our friends have recently had their second babies. We are all in the same boat of chaos and it's been good to have people around who are feeling as crazy as we do. There have also been lots of girls born to our friends. Will has met them all and we'll start praying for his wife-- it would be great if it were one of these fine ladies!
My mom treated Tiffany and I to mani/pedis in honor of her mom who would have been 90 on Saturday. She told us that our Nanny would have been so proud of the mommies and wives we've become and that we should celebrate by having some pampering! Thanks mom and Nanny!
With two little ones needing so much attention from morning til night, it’s been hard to stay as focused on reading the Bible and praying— although I feel like I pray all through the day sometimes! When I do have the chance to sit and study, it is refreshing to be reminded of God’s faithfulness throughout the Bible to people who did not deserve it. I am humbled because of my need for a Savior— One who is perfect, loving, kind, merciful and trustworthy. There are days when I know my family would appreciate a wife and mother who exemplified those qualities! I am encouraged and strengthened often as I am refocused on an eternal perspective because the worries of our little world seem overwhelming many times.
Over the last few weekends, we’ve been able to see old friends at two different weddings. So many times these friends said to us, “We’ve prayed for you every day and we still are.” No matter how many times someone said this to us, I had to catch my breath and fight back tears. I am nowhere near that faithful to pray for people everyday or even every other day but I am thankful beyond words for our team of prayers. We certainly feel it!
Although Will continues to thrive, we are still praying for health (and all of our), especially through this flu season. He is going to get shots once a month that help prevent RSV and will also get the flu shot in November. Andrew and I have been able to have some dates over that last couple of months and we’ve needed the time away. We continue to seek to have a marriage that is Christ centered now more than ever. We are tying to figure out a schedule for church since we don’t want to take either child around that many people and expose them to various bugs. We’ve missed being able to go regularly but are hoping to rotate services with my parents so we can all go.
Most of all we are thankful for this period of sweet baby time with Will. He’s a doll and Libby is a very good big sister to him. We are enjoying being a family!
And she learned how to climb up on the dining room table, pour salt all over and say, "Cheese" when we discovered her! So talented!Last Saturday, my parents kept Will so that we could have some time with Libby. She’s doing really well with Will but we can tell she missed having us to herself—and we miss it too! Will gets lots of one-on-one time in the evenings after she goes to bed but she misses out of having both of us spending time with her.This year...
Last year...We went to an apple orchard, the same pumpkin patch from last year, walked in the valley, saw the choo-choo train and ate lunch at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula. She had a great time but was not interested in modeling for the camera— just like last year!When we went to pick up Will, my parents’ neighborhood was having their fall party and had a hayride that went around the block. Between Nanny, Papa and Mommy, Libby rode three times! She loved it (and really loved throwing the hay!). It was great to have a day of fall fun.
I read What to Expect the First Year for the first time this morning. The title is actually hilarious to me— as if any book could have told me what to expect in this first year of Will’s life!! I’ve been reluctant to read it for many reasons but was happy to see that Will is keeping up with the expectations for his corrected age. His thrush has gotten a lot better since he started on Diflucan and he’s such a smiley baby now!
Many of our friends have recently had their second babies. We are all in the same boat of chaos and it's been good to have people around who are feeling as crazy as we do. There have also been lots of girls born to our friends. Will has met them all and we'll start praying for his wife-- it would be great if it were one of these fine ladies!This last weekend, my cousin Tiffany and her daughter Brooke visited us. Brooke and Will are six weeks apart but should have been about 3 1/2 months apart! Brooke showed us what we should look forward to with Will!
It was a breath of fresh air to have Tiffany here. Not only does she make me laugh like no one else, she's my oldest friend and she loves me unconditionally. She's encouraged me, cried with me, hoped with me, emailed me almost daily and continues to pray for me and my family. How am I so lucky to have a friend like her? (Glad no one is here to see me sobbing my eyes out.) She sent me a card after Will was diagnosed with PVL that I've kept in my Bible. Because I hated going to the hospital for the last month he was there (not because of him but because of feeling so much anxiety), I read the verse she included repeatedly before I walked into the hospital most days. Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." It was absolutely what I needed to remember about God during those days. (This is one of our better pictures together!)
We were able to have lots of time together thanks to Grandma Lyn, Andrew and my parents who babysat at different times. At one point on Friday night, before Andrew and my dad arrived, my mom was alone with all three kids who were ALL crying! She said she almost panicked and then thought, "Wait, I've done this before!" (my two brothers and I were all 20 months apart) and, in no time, all were happy again! Thank you for volunteering to babysit while Tiff and I gallivanted!
Our biggest accomplishment was sorting through tons of clothes for Will from her son Clay and then from my friend and my sister-in-law. Will is going to be set for the next 6 months although I only kept out the clothes for 3-6 months! Brooke also made out on the clothing swap as she inherited all of Libby's clothes and shoes for the next year. Isn't it great having friends?
We were able to have lots of time together thanks to Grandma Lyn, Andrew and my parents who babysat at different times. At one point on Friday night, before Andrew and my dad arrived, my mom was alone with all three kids who were ALL crying! She said she almost panicked and then thought, "Wait, I've done this before!" (my two brothers and I were all 20 months apart) and, in no time, all were happy again! Thank you for volunteering to babysit while Tiff and I gallivanted!Our biggest accomplishment was sorting through tons of clothes for Will from her son Clay and then from my friend and my sister-in-law. Will is going to be set for the next 6 months although I only kept out the clothes for 3-6 months! Brooke also made out on the clothing swap as she inherited all of Libby's clothes and shoes for the next year. Isn't it great having friends? My mom treated Tiffany and I to mani/pedis in honor of her mom who would have been 90 on Saturday. She told us that our Nanny would have been so proud of the mommies and wives we've become and that we should celebrate by having some pampering! Thanks mom and Nanny!With two little ones needing so much attention from morning til night, it’s been hard to stay as focused on reading the Bible and praying— although I feel like I pray all through the day sometimes! When I do have the chance to sit and study, it is refreshing to be reminded of God’s faithfulness throughout the Bible to people who did not deserve it. I am humbled because of my need for a Savior— One who is perfect, loving, kind, merciful and trustworthy. There are days when I know my family would appreciate a wife and mother who exemplified those qualities! I am encouraged and strengthened often as I am refocused on an eternal perspective because the worries of our little world seem overwhelming many times.Over the last few weekends, we’ve been able to see old friends at two different weddings. So many times these friends said to us, “We’ve prayed for you every day and we still are.” No matter how many times someone said this to us, I had to catch my breath and fight back tears. I am nowhere near that faithful to pray for people everyday or even every other day but I am thankful beyond words for our team of prayers. We certainly feel it!Although Will continues to thrive, we are still praying for health (and all of our), especially through this flu season. He is going to get shots once a month that help prevent RSV and will also get the flu shot in November. Andrew and I have been able to have some dates over that last couple of months and we’ve needed the time away. We continue to seek to have a marriage that is Christ centered now more than ever. We are tying to figure out a schedule for church since we don’t want to take either child around that many people and expose them to various bugs. We’ve missed being able to go regularly but are hoping to rotate services with my parents so we can all go.
Most of all we are thankful for this period of sweet baby time with Will. He’s a doll and Libby is a very good big sister to him. We are enjoying being a family!