Happy Birthday!!!

On Thursday at 5pm we checked into the hospital......
On Friday August 15th, 2008 at 1:22p.m., we welcomed Calista Kay into the world........... weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. She is perfectly healthy and absolutely beautiful.

After a long and tiring night, the doctor came in at 10:30a.m. on Friday morning and informed me that I wasn't progressing as well as they had hoped. After all of that time I was only dilated to a 5........... but worse yet the cervix was not where it was supposed to be. He said he would be back at 1pm and that he would check again and if I hadn't progressed that we would have to have a discussion. I knew what he meant. I did not want a c-section so I was a woman on a mission...........praying, changing positions, wiggling and shaking..............literally. My epidural wore off and I refused to get more until after 1pm!!! I didn't want to take a chance of the medication slowing contractions even more. The nurses came in at 12:50 and checked me..................I was fully dilated and Cali was crowning! That would explain the pain! The doctor came in, I pushed through three contractions and Cali was here!!! It was so wonderful!!! And despite all of the pain due to a lack of pain medication..........I wouldn't have changed a second of it!! A perfect birthday for our sweet Calista Kay......................


As I held her in my arms for the first time I honestly felt the world stand still. I forgot every care and fear I have had. I am so in love with her! I can't stop looking at her and I can't put her down........................

And neither can Daddy. There is something about a Daddy and his daughter that just melts your heart. Shortly after Cali was born Marc was staring into Cali's eyes and she looked up at him and you could just see an instant connection. It was such a moment.

Kyle and Bella have both been to the hospital and met Cali and were very excited to hold her and give her kisses. It was amazing to see the three of them together. I have three children!!! Wow! It still doesn't seem real. It seems like it's a dream. Even when I hold her, pull her close to nurse her, kiss her sweet little forehead, smell her new baby scent.............. it doesn't seem real that she is here. She is perfect in every way, she is healthy, she is whole, she is mine.

Thank You God for our new miracle: Calista Kay.

Thank You all for your thoughts and your prayers! As you can see- they work!!!

Happy Birthday Cali!!!

~Heather :)

We Sing HIS Praises!!!!!!!!!!

I was laying in a hospital bed this morning. It was 5:30 a.m., my heart was heavy, I was hungry, tired and scared. The pre-op room was eerily quiet as Marc and I sat there waiting. I said another prayer with tears in my eyes. I told God that I trusted in Him and knew that He would take care of us, but that He knew what I wanted- He knew the desires of my heart. I asked that He put his hands on Cali and wrap His love around me and protect us. I felt a new sense of calm.
A few minutes later a doctor came in and said he was going to do one final ultrasound before taking us into surgery. I watched the little black and white monitor and tears filled my eyes as the doctor told us the great news. "Against all odds............." My body was so light I felt as though I were floating!!!!!! Cali is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! All threats, all complications and all risks have disappeared!!!!!!!!!!! GONE! As if they never existed. Against all odds?? I think not! GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!! He answered every one of the prayers that were spoken!!!!!!!!
Less than a half hour later Marc and I were bouncing down the hallway on our way back home. We are now able to let nature take it's course and bring Cali into this world the way she was meant to!!!!!!!
Praise be to GOD!!!!! I can not tell you how wonderful and full of His spirit I feel today!! I can not express how grateful I am TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for your prayers, your thoughts and your concerns for our family. I BELIEVE in the power of prayer- today more than ever.
Please know that I consider each and every one of you a blessing in my life!!!
Thank You all so much!
God Bless,
Marc and Heather :)

Thank You

I want to thank everyone for their prayers. They mean so much to Marc and I. Even though there are complications the doctor has assured us that Cali is going to be okay.
We will be able to update you soon.

Thank You again for being there for us at this time.

God Bless,
Heather

Prayer Request

Today I had another doctor's appointment- followed by yet another ultrasound. The news we received was not the news we were hoping for. Far from it actually. I could tell by looking at my doctor's face that he hated saying the words just as much as Marc and I hated hearing them. I have a fantastic doctor, and medical care that is above and beyond. He tried to answer any questions that we might have but I couldn't think of any. I couldn't think at all. I sat in the office and my entire body went numb and everything around me was suddenly quiet.

Marc and I have tried all night to make sense of everything. Try to absorb the news......but it doesn't seem real nor do we want to accept it as real. We know that God has a plan for us. We know that God knows our needs, the desires of our hearts, our hopes. I have made a claim and I believe that God will acknowledge that claim.

I am asking all of you for prayer. I believe in prayer............and I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that God will welcome Calista Kay into His beautiful world safely, healthy and whole- the way He intended. I believe that God will protect me and keep me safe and healthy as well.
Please keep us in your prayers.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

I will keep you posted.

Hugs & God Bless,
Heather :)

Goin' To The Zoo- How About You??

On Saturday we decided to take the kids to the zoo. The plan was two-fold. One- to have a fun family day with the kids and Two- to try and encourage Cali's arrival. The kids had a ball but I ended up with not the first contraction. Part two was not as successful as part one! LOL!!! We asked Marc's Aunt if she wanted to join us (she has a son Kyle's age and a son who is 15 months old) She was excited to come and also brought her niece and nephew along. So- we ended up with six kids who ended up doing great! I was so proud of all of them.
We got out of the van and Kyle kept asking "Where are we going? What is this place? Is it going to be fun?" He was excited to find out and very excited he got to push Bella in the stroller!!


He is such a little man.....

Our first stop was the elephants. Elephants are probably my favorite animal. I just love their chubby, wrinkly bodies and their big ol' ears! How much cuter can an animal get?!?!

I love how this one is crossing his back feet!

Aren't they beautiful??

Next stop was Koala Junction. A train ride through the Australian Outback...... well.....as close as it gets in Ohio................

Kyle was in heaven! He loves trains so he thought he was cool stuff on this train ride. It was so fun to watch him- his eyes were the size of oranges the entire journey as he tried to take everything in. It's amazing how you can watch a child and then look at things in a different perspective.....pay more attention to the little things................

We got to see Kangaroos being lazy............

And Sandy the Camel...........................

Bella really enjoyed the ride too!! She kept giggling because the breeze was tickling her face!

After the train ride we got to pet two donkeys.... Jenny and Annie............ at first Kyle wasn't too sure about them but then he decided he really liked them.

Awww.... Daddy and Kyle went to get Mommy some water. They are so cute.

Kyle had fun listening through Kangaroo ears.....................

These birds were so pretty and the way the sun was reflecting off of their white feathers was just beautiful..............

This tree was incredible. The sun was shining just right through the branches and leaves and it looked liked something from a dream. It gave me the most peaceful feeling and I felt so small standing underneath of it. I think I snapped 20 some pictures of it!!

Next the kids, Marc and his Aunt went down a huge tube slide that came out in the base of a huge tree where we got to see this scary guy................

He was a mechanical alligator but boy did he look real! Yikes!!

The kids then got to play in another tube tunnel. This one was a lot closer to the ground!! The ran through the tunnel and played while the adults took a little break!!! I love this picture of Bella looking out one of the windows of the tunnel. It reminds me of a little doll in a box...

Kyle having a ball running through the tunnel......................

Bella having fun and trying to cool off under the mister.......

Next stop- petting zoo! All of the animals in here were so cute I wanted to take them home. I don't think they would be too happy in an apartment though! Maybe I should buy a farm!

These sheep were so cute................

This little miniature horse was stubborn! I could not get him to look at me for anything! I guess he has learned to ignore people!!

And this little guy I feel in love with! He was so precious and my favorite part about him? He was a ham for the camera! I snapped and snapped and he just kept showing off!!! Maybe he's a fellow blogger!

There were so many gorgeous flower beds and planters at the zoo. You can get so many ideas for your own garden!! These had to be my favorite! I just loved the color!

We stopped to see the Lions next. They were lazing around too. The one lion was laying on his back and rolling around. His girlfriend never even offered to scratch his back for him. Maybe he has learned in the past not to ask!!! LOL!!!

And then we have my king of the jungle. He's very tame though- and what a cutie!

Marc's Aunt took a family picture for us. I love her because she is picky like I am and knew to take several pictures!!! This was the best one out of the bunch...........my kids don't stay still very long!!

Okay, let's say goodbye to the lions!

And go see the flamingos....................

It amazes me that these birds can hold themselves up on those skinny legs. What's even more amazing is that they sleep standing on one leg! How can they get any rest like that???

On the way out I saw this beautiful flower display of the American flag. Oh how I wish I had a garden to do this in!! Isn't it gorgeous?? I would love to sit down and talk with the people in charge of landscaping at the zoo. Oh think of how much you could learn!!!

Okay, it's getting late and we need to head home. Goodbye animals! Thank You zookeepers!

It was a fun day and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Actually the adults did too! The weather could not have been more beautiful. Boy was I tired when we left...................and the van seemed to far away!! We wanted to all go back Sunday but the weather didn't cooperate so we stayed home and just relaxed.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

~Heather :)