Stuart's 3rd Birthday

For the last few months Stuart has told us, "I'm three now..." Perhaps it is because all of his friends have celebrated their big day and his was last on the calender. Well, his big weekend arrived. We all had a blast!

Over the last three years so much has been posted about my two girls, Sarah Elizabeth and Catherine. They each had their own caring bridge sites where so many people lifted them up in prayer. The girls each made countless visits to different doctors, clinics, and underwent procedures. Stuart (Praise God!) has not! Yet, Stuart has been through it all. However, I am sure that Amanda will agree that he has been more impacted by the rocky road we traveled than the girls. You see, as we stayed cautious with Sarah Elizabeth's exposure in the last two years of chemo, Stuart was also very close. And, most recently with Catherine's delivery and procedure in Cincinnati - it was Stuart who had the toughest time with all of the bouncing around between friends and family - creating a lot of anxiety. With all of that being said, it is amazing NOW as we seem to further resemble a healthy, HAPPY, normal family that Stuart seems to be "coming out" and really starting to shine! Perhaps it's just me reflecting back on how well things are and really opening my eyes... But, as we celebrated the birthday this weekend and spent time together... I looked up and that little boy is now riding a scooter boldly down the driveway. That little boy is asking big questions, jumping off the side of the pool with no floaties, wearing underwear to bed with no accidents, and CRAVING "just the boys" time. That little boy is such an incredible little man. He cares so much for both his big and little sister. It almost seems as God placed the secret in his heart early that those two girls were going to travel an unusual road early in life and they'll need you to be the brother that loves and stays with them through it all. I am so lucky that God has blessed me with three wonderful children. And, selfishly, I so proud one is a boy. Stuart will never be the middle child. In our family, he's the boy!

We are all doing great. Tomorrow is a big day. Sarah Elizabeth has her check up and immunizations for kindergarten. At the same time, Catherine will have her two month appointment. Both will receive a shot(s). Stuart and I are going for morale support and to hold them down. I leave for Las Vegas on a business trip later this week. So, Amanda and Kristen Moyers are loading our three and her two into the suburban for a 10 hour drive back to Mississippi where grandparents will anxiously await arrival - that's right 5 kids under age 5 and two moms - 20+ hours round trip... crazy, huh? This may be the biggest prayer request posted!

I am sure there will be stories to tell... Thanks for your continued prayers! God Bless.

One month later!

I know it has been quite a while since we posted.... So much going on... Summer is in full swing and we are having a blast. It is so hard to believe that exactly a month ago, Catherine was hooked to all of the equipment in NICU post surgery in Cincinnati with Amanda and I. Sarah Elizabeth and Stuart were in Mississippi with family. It is amazing how much incredible the last four weeks have been as we settle back into a routine... if there is one with three children all under five. God has been so good to us. And as many of you remark as we see you back home, "I followed the caringbridge site daily - praying, waiting for the updates... it seemed everything always turned out to be best case scenario - it always seemed to be good news!" We could not agree more! We feel so blessed to be home together happy, healthy, and completely secure in God's grace. At the same time, it is so easy now to look back and see just how God carried us through Sarah Elizabeth's chemo and Catherine's surgery and stay in NICU that all along His perfect will was being done.

Catherine is doing great! She has been a great baby - sleeping and eating well! She has been perfectly content sleeping through errands, an overnight MOPS retreat with Amanda, a day at the water park at Dollywood Splash Country, church, countless trips to the pool while Sarah Elizabeth and Stuart swim, and even a 4th of July firework display! Catherine has dodged the bullet with a rough fever and stomach virus that hit Sarah Elizabeth and Stuart pretty hard!

Amanda and I have overwhelmingly busy... just getting caught back up. I still feel behind with work. We realized that we have taken very few pictures... some of that can be attributed to it being the third child - while a lot of it can be simply living in the moment (a valuable lesson that I know God was teaching me through our trials). So, we will make an effort to get some additional pictures added soon!

Where do I begin with Sarah Elizabeth and Stuart? Wow, they are growing up so fast before my very eyes. I measure their height on the inside of our pantry door. The last measurement date was 3-11-8. I measured them both this morning before church - they both had grown over an inch in less than four months (almost two inches for SE)! Even more - they seem to be so maturing so quickly. Two weeks ago they both attended our church VBS (Sarah Elizabeth's 3rd this summer!). We purchased the cd with music from the week. It is amazing to hear them belt out the lyrics to "OOOOOooooh wanna be more like Jesus... OOOOOoooo wanna be more like HIM!" To take it one step further.. today at church - Stuart was in the nursery, Amanda stepped out of worship to nurse Catherine - leaving me with Sarah Elizabeth as the Lord's Supper was served. Sarah Elizabeth turned to me and said, "let's talk about this bread - broken body - wine - blood... stuff" It turned into one hundred questions - all of them legit, solid, to the point... and quite honestly, very humbling. She was so in tune with everything happening. It was not the most reverent Lord's Supper I had experienced but most definitely one I will never forget!

Well, we will do a better job of updating! We look forward to the rest of the summer as the countdown to Kindergarten rapidly approaches!

God Bless!

There is no place like home...

Well, we have been home for 10 days as a family - a healthy, happy family I will add. There truly is no place like home. It has been quite an adjustment settling back in (specifically for Stuart). The three weeks of bouncing from friends to Cincinnati to Grandparents to Uncles/Aunts seemed to shake his security. This compounded with the new little sister has left him looking for attention - good or bad. However, we already see signs of improvement.

Catherine is doing wonderful! Her incision is healing well. Our local pediatrician saw her last week and was thrilled at just how good she appeared following such a major surgery. She is gaining weight, eating well, and has actually been sleeping good (typically up once for a feeding). Her prognosis is just like any newborn! She will have a follow up ultrasound in November for observation purposes only. I cannot put into words just what a relief it is for our family to put this chapter behind us and look forward to a healthy, happy, bright future free of chemo, worries, doctor appointments, and fear! We have been so blessed.

Sarah Elizabeth's monthly check up went well. Unfortunately, her left ear tube inserted only three months ago has come out - and (of course) she had a nasty ear infection. She seems to be on the mend and feels fine after a rough weekend. In fact, she is in round 2 of summer VBS and seems to love her time at Nativity's VBS!

Amanda... where do I begin? I am amazed! One month after delivery... house back organized, clothes washed, pantry stocked, kids happy, Dad happy, running errands with all three, nursing, girls night out (last night - Catherine's first), at the pool today with all three. And, she looks great! I mean it. I guess it seems as such a load has been lifted off her shoulder that she is floating on air. In many ways we both seem to be floating in elation at the new road in which God seems to be leading us.

Father's Day was Sunday. Wow, father of three... three wonderful gifts from above... three different ways that God uses to teach me new things every day. I am truly humbled at the love that God allows me to feel as a father for these three children. I also stand in awe at how lucky my family has been to be carried through the valley as we start our climb up the mountain. God is good!