Giving Back

We had an awesome event at our church tonight! We packaged over 300,000 bags of food, that will be shipped to Africa. It was so much fun, and it's something our family could do together. We had an assembly line and we all had our little parts in this amazing process. After we got done doing our job we headed to one of the best places to eat, Chick Fil A. Maddie loved helping out, and we talked about how blessed we are to have something to eat, when we are hungry and how some kids even though they are hungry have nothing to eat. I love those teachable moments, when your kids really appreciate what they have and want to give back. She was so touched that she wanted to ship her toys, and it just melted my heart! Her prayer for dinner tonight was something like this " Dear, God please let all the kids have food, and bless this food that you gave us. Thanks so much for not letting us go hungry" I pray that all of these experiences help her have a humble heart. Needless to say, after all this I smell like onion powder, but oh well it was for a good cause.

We are so blessed to have food to eat and a warm house, and I pray that every time I start feeling like I "need" something, that I reconsider and remember how truly blessed we are.

We are getting OLD

I have come to the realization that we are getting so old! Remember when you were a kid and the thought of a minivan would make you squirm? Well this last week, we became the parents with the van, and to tell you the truth, the worst part is that we are actually loving it!

We have been thinking about getting a van for a while now, and we just could not justify it after all we only have 2 kids. Well the timing could not be better, our suv started to have a few issues, so then came decision time, do we fix it? or get a new car? We decided that it was time for more space, after all the kids are going to want to bring friends, and to tell you the truth we outgrew the CR-V. We are now proud owners of a Honda Odyssey. I know lame.

In another note Bryson started to eat solid foods, finally!! He is only 6 months old. We started with sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas (I broke the rule, I know you should not start on fruits right away) He is enjoying it so far, and we are hoping this will help him put on some weight, so the doctors stop thinking I starve him.

Madison is getting ready for her first Kindergarten Christmas concert, we are beyond excited. She is getting so big, so fast! Does it ever slow down?

I hope every one has a great Thanksgiving.

The Boy is Getting BIG

Bryson is so alert now!

You all know the newborn stage, when all that babies do is eat, sleep, and cry. Well Bryson is getting out that stage!! Don't get me wrong, I love every stage they are in, but I feel they are so much more fun when their little personality starts to come out. Bryson is getting there, he is smiling all the time and he actually seems to respond to our voice. He is such a cutie and a joy to have in our family, he is so sweet.

He is trying to roll over, and he does a half way job about it. He is almost there.

He is now 4 months old

weights 12.5 pounds

23 inches long

He is such a blessing to our lives.

Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks

School is in Session

Maddie has started school, and we are still trying to get into the routine of things around here. I can't believe that she is Kindergarten, it seems like just yesterday she was born.

We love her school and her teacher, she is awesome! Maddie is super excited to be a "BIG" kid.

I did not realize how busy moms can be once their kids start school! I feel like I can barely hang on, and truth be told I don't know how I will do when we have 2 kids in school. I have lots of respect for mothers of multiple children in school.

Well I always wanted to be a really involved parent when it comes to school, but I think I'm in over my head. I have been helping out in the classroom 3 times a week for a 1/2 hour, which is not bad at all...but of course when they asked for help in the PTO, I was there in no time. I am now in the crafts committee for a Santa breakfast that the school puts together. I can't believe I just wrote Santa in a SEPTEMBER post! I will let you know if I handle it all or if I fail. I think, I can, I think, I can!

Here is to our big girl!

Wedding

Sorry, it has been a while my friends and really I just have no excuse this time. We just recently got back from CO this fourth of July, and it was super busy. I guess that's what you should expect when your not so "little" sister gets married. Alex and Sam got married at this beautiful place filled with gardens, it truly was a beautiful wedding. I'm so glad that we got to be a part of that. As the youngest sister, she was just chill about everything and me the oldest sister was freaking out about every detail of this wedding, as I look back I wonder why did I stress my self out so much? anyhow, at the end it was beautiful thanks to our amazing friend Lisa who has an awesome eye an incredible attention to detail. Well it was a bittersweet day for me, because in a way I felt my little sister was so grown up! She is one of my best friends, and even though we live many States apart we are still really close. I just pray that God blesses them and guides them through this life, and I'm so glad that she found the one that God created for her. Here are a few pictures of that day. Congrats Alex & Sam!

Bryson's Big Debut

On 5/3/11 this girl had a regular doctors appointment and an ultrasound appointment right after that, I had a funny feeling all throughout this pregnancy that I wasn't going to carry full term.

Well I was put on high risk from the beginning of the pregnancy because one my hormones was too low, so because of that I had an ultrasound every month of my pregnancy to ensure everything was going ok. Needless to say I never was really worried about it because all along I knew that God was in control, and if he allowed us to get pregnant he had a plan for this baby and our lives. Back to the morning of May, 3rd...I went in to see the doctor first, and she did a quick ultrasound and said everything was great! My amniotic fluid was at a good level and the baby looked really good. Then right after that, I went in to see the ultrasound tech, and as soon as she looked at the screen she said "oh no!" not the words that you want to hear ever from a health care professional! Well she said "I have to get the Dr. right away" and walked out. All while I'm still laying on the bed and by now freaking out. The Dr. comes in and looks at my fluid, which just a few minutes ago was perfect, well my fluid level was at a 3 when very low is considered 5, and I was at a 3! They started running all these tests on me and the baby, and Bryson seemed fine in all of them, but they couldn't understand why my fluid was so low. After a couple of hours, the Dr. comes in and says "we are keeping you overnight, we think you are dehydrated" In my mind I knew that could not be possible because I drink water all day. They said the other opinion was that my water was broken! I really started to worry a little because I was only 34 weeks along. Well they kept me overnight and pumped in a million gallons of fluid, then they were going to check my fluid level in the morning. Of course there was no other explanation to me than that my water was actually broken, but the fluid kept coming back negative in that test. Well next morning sure enough my fluid was ever lower, but still could not send me to the other hospital that has a NICU because the test for the broken water kept on coming back negative. Finally after another long day...5 doctors looked a the fluid and decided I actually had my water broken for 3 days!! If only they had listened to me from the beginning! The doctor came in and told me I had to ride in the ambulance to the nearest hospital with a NICU, I was at the base hospital. I really did not want to ride in the ambulance, I did not want that kind of drama. After they explained to me that I could have this baby any minute, I guess I had to do what they said.

As soon as I got the hospital, they were ready for me! They had to induce me and don't be jealous...I did not feel one contraction! I had the epidural right before they started inducing me, I got hooked up for sure. I slept for a few hours then in the morning it was go time, he was here after 7 minutes of pushing. The doctor said my body was made to have kids, it's just easy for me to have them, I guess.

Bryson was born at 5lbs. 6oz, and I did not hear him cry. I was a little worried, Brandon ran back there and then I heard him. Since he was a preemie, I did not get to hold him or see him for 6 hours, which seemed like an eternity to me. As soon as I was able to move my legs, Brandon took me to the NICU where I could finally see my baby. He had oxygen, feeding tube, and was in an incubator. It made me feel really sad to seem him there struggling to breath, but still I knew God had it control.

The next day, we get a call to our room saying that the cardiologist wanted to speak to us about our baby, we headed to the NICU right away. Well...Bryson was born with a little hole in his heart, and will need to have open heart surgery by the time he is 9 months old. He has been doing so great in the NICU, and his oxygen level is great! The doctor says that we are blessed because babies that are born with this condition usually have to have surgery right away because they are blue, and our baby is rosy pink. Bryson is a great candidate for the surgery and will do great. Meanwhile he is still in the NICU getting stronger by the day, and hopefully will come home soon. We ask you that you keep him in your prayers.

This has been a hard time for our family, but we have found so much strength in God and the support of our family and friends.

The last picture was taken yesterday, and as you can see he is getting bigger and stronger by the minute. :)

Easter

Here in the Webster's house we tend to make a big deal out of all the Holidays, I just have this way of thinking that these are the best memories Maddie will have when she grows up. It all starts with of course all these egg hunts, candy, and Maddie's favorite dyeing eggs. Maddie and her dad do that every year, and she looks forward to it every year. Of course we also have the Easter basket that the bunny brings every year filled with goodies, to tell you the truth I don't know who gets more excited for this time of year me or her.

This last Saturday we were sitting at the table having lunch, when the question came up about Easter and the why we celebrate it. Well we started talking about the real reason for Easter, and how Jesus came to die on the cross for us. Maddie was so touched in her heart that she decided that she wanted to give her heart to Jesus, and we prayed the prayer of salvation with her. This was the biggest blessing in my life, she said "Mom, I really want everyone to be saved!" I know that God will use her in many ways. So, if you ask me this was the best Easter season ever for me.

Since we are away from our family we are going to celebrate Easter at a park with a bunch of friends, and I will have lots of pictures. We are having a egg hunt, and just enjoy each others company. I always heard this quote "Friends are the family you choose" and I truly believe this is so true, God has blessed us with some amazing friends. It for sure makes it a lot of easier for us being away from family and friends.

I hope you Easter is filled with blessings and Laughter.

FUN

Does time ever just get away from you? Well it sure did for me this week! To tell you how out of it I was, that I did not even realized that today is Thursday. If it wasn't for my little Google calendar, Maddie would have missed gymnastics today..yikes! Kinda felt like a bad mother, however I did get manage to get there so I felt sort of redeemed.

My sister in law was in town for a couple of days, and we had a lot of fun. It's always nice to have family around, I sure miss that. Well we went to IKEA, and if you have ever been there you know that you can spend all day in that store. Also just to put it out there I'm in LOVE with that store, not only is everything super affordable, they have free childcare for an hour, and they have a restaurant there that is super yummy and again affordable. We spend about four hours there walking around, and getting ideas for decorating. I have been informed that they are opening an IKEA in CO sometime this year, and everyone should go you won't regret it. Just a piece of advice stay away from it on a Saturday, you might not get out of there alive or sane.

We've had sun out this week, and it was the first time in this season that I was able to go outside without a jacket. I'm not a big fan of this weather, it's just too cloudy and cold. I don't mind the cold if there is some sun with it, but if you have cloudy and cold it just makes you grumpy. I can

not wait for Spring!

Pregnancy

I know by know most of you know that we are expecting a baby boy in June!! We just can't wait for summer, well mostly because this baby has made me really sick. I know most people say that girls make you really sick and for me it was the opposite, with Maddie I was hardly ever sick. Anyhow, I really look forward to having a boy and at the same time I'm kind of nervous. Will I be a good mom to a boy? I have 3 sisters and really have not grown up with boys, so I don't understand how their little minds work, and to tell you the truth I'am a little intimidated. This is me being transparent on my blog! I have ordered Dr.Dobson's "Bringing up Boys" to kind of get a little inside of their world. Maybe I'm making this a little more complicated than it should be, but really all I ever hear is that boys are harder when they are young, but easier when they grow up. What do you think about that? Another thing that worries me is that everyone says "oh you have a good little girl, you know what that means" and NO I don't know what that means, does it mean that Bryson is going to be a terror? I have seen some of my friends who have two really well behaved kids, and I guess I just hope this is what happens to us. I could really use some tips...

This is what is on my mind right now :)

Christmas and New Year

Well this year was different for me and my family, we got to spend the Holidays with the other side of the family. This year for the Holidays we went to North Carolina since we are only 9 hours away, and well it's just not financially possible for all of us to fly to Colorado all the time. All though I miss my family terribly I was surrounded by Brandon's family and they were great.

I was really cold for the trip and they got 11 inches of snow! I thought we had escaped the snow, but I was terribly wrong. However it was nice to have some mild weather when no jacket was required.

Maddie was totally spoiled and of course so were we. Now it's time to get back into the "normal" schedule, and end vacation mode. I have enjoyed spending some time with my husband and family. Here are a few pictures of our trip.