Is School Really Over?

How sweet is this......for the last day of school, the kids wanted to walk there. Since we always walk on the first day, I decided it would be a good idea. I think I kind of forgot that I am pregnant and really slow! Since we were walking, I didn't take my camera, and I really wished I would have. When we got to school, Ethan told me he drew me a picture. He wanted to show it to me, and when I got to his classroom, all the kids had drawn different things with sidewalk chalk all over the ground. It was super neat to see all of their pictures. Ethan took me over to where he had a chance to draw, and instead of a picture, it said, 'I Love Mom So Much, Love, Ethan.' Yes, I was in tears, and I thought, what a sweet boy I have to do something like that.

Test Results

The last couple of nights have been rough. I have turned into an insomniac, due to anxiety over the test results. Now that I made it through the amino, I need to prepare for what comes next. Today, I had a chance to take a nap, and I actually prayed that I would just be able to get some rest so that I will have all of the energy and strength that I need to deal with the test results. I immediately felt such a sense of comfort and peace, knowing that I will indeed have the strength to deal with this, and I crashed for 1 1/2 hours!
This afternoon, the lab called me. Since I didn't expect the results for another week at the earliest, I was immediately thinking that they didn't collect enough amniotic fluid to do the necessary test, and that I would have to go back for another amino! But, the lady said, "I have some good news for you. Your baby is fine and all of the chromosomes are normal. She doesn't have down syndrome and is in fact very healthy from what we can tell." I immediately lost it! I was in such tears and she asked me if I was OK. I told her, "Yes, it has just been such an emotional roller coaster." She went on to confirm that we are indeed having a little girl.
To be honest, at this point I don't even know what to say. I immediately gave a prayer of gratitude for being blessed with another healthy child.
A couple of days ago we decided on her full name. She will be Reagen Dorothy Smith. Dorothy is my mom's name, as well as her aunt's, and it means 'gift from God.' We knew that whether she had down syndrome or not, we were still blessed to be able to have another daughter, and has always been our 'gift from God' since the day she was conceived. Oh how blessed my family is.

My House Is Too Small!

I was complaining yesterday about tripping over Gavin's shoes on my way down our very narrow hallway! Then I thought to myself....someday I will have a home with a wide hallway, and someday there won't be any kids shoes to trip over anymore....(looking 20 years into the future)...so I thought to myself...I am so thankful that Gavin left his shoes so that I could trip over them!

Amino

I was pretty calm all day considering my appointment wasn't until 1:00 p.m. I think I only had about three anxiety attacks before I got there! I started with genetic counseling, which was actually very helpful. They went over the results of my actual AFP test with me, and determined that the odds are 2 in 10 that Reagen has down syndrome. Then, I went through the ultrasound, which showed no markers for down syndrome. Her heart, brain, and kidneys are all fine. I got a bit of relief out of that. It does not mean that she is free of down syndrome, but if she does have it, there are no major defect with her heart, kidney, and no cysts on her brain! Then came the amino....I was so nervous. It actually was not that bad. The initial prick of the needle only hurt like when you blood is being drawn. However, when he went through my uterus, it was a bit of paralyzing pain! I started singing my favorite hymn to myself, and by the time I got through the first verse of "How Firm A Foundation" it was all over with! I was shocked that it went so quickly! Now, we only have to wait two to three weeks for the results! Thank you to all who kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I felt a lot of comfort and strength today!

Needing Prayers

So many emotions are running through me. Last week, I took the expanded AFP test. I found out yesterday that it came back positive for being high risk for down syndrome. I am calling on all my family and friend to please pray for me and the baby at this time. Next Tuesday, I am going to see a specialists, who will give me genetic counseling, a specialized ultrasound to look for certain traits of down syndrome, and then an amniocentesis. I am more scared about a needle going through my stomach than anything, and just pray for the strength to get through this! It will take two weeks for the results to come in, and I know in the long run I will be able to find the necessary strength to deal with the results.

I Love Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day, because I love homemade gifts from the kids. I always tell the family not to buy me anything at all, because all I want are the girt that the children make for me! I treasure them more than anything that can be bought in a store!

So, on Friday, when I picked Averi up from preschool, she had a card for me that she glued all these foam sticker on, and a flower made from pipe cleaners. She was so proud of herself! After I opened her gift, when made me wrap it all up again and do it a second time!

I had to pick the boys up early from school, in order to get to my doctor's appointment on time. Gavin had been working hard in class, and gave me this card he made, with a necklace, made of purple string with beads, that had a big plastic sign that said '#1 Mom' on it. He said to be, "I got to color it with permanent markers, and I didn't get any on my skin! Will you wear my necklace mom?" So, of course, I wore it proudly all day, even to my ultrasound appointment!

Ethan made me this sweet card in class and I actually cried when I read it. It came with coupons for chores that he gets to do for me. Then he said something that I will never forget. He was so sincere when he said this that it touched my heart so much. He told me that his teacher said that he need to make me breakfast in the morning and bring it to me while I am still in bed. Then he asked me, "Mom, what it your favorite kind of cereal?"....I laughed, thinking to myself...I am such a lucky mom....does it get any better than this?

Morro Bay

Last Saturday, the family packed a bag and headed out to Morro Bay! It was bit of a spontaneous trip, and we were supposed to go with the Hull Family, but Krystal ended up sick. We decided to head out there anyway, since I have been promising to take the kids to the beach for a while now. They had so much fun, and it was so nice to get away and relax! Once we checked into our hotel room, we immediately headed to the 'big rock' and to play at the beach. The weather predicted rain, but we didn't care...and it ended up being beautiful there. Steve had a heyday with my camera, and here are some of the results! The town of Morro Bay.

Wyatt's first experience with the ocean. The second we put him down, he was off.....

His first taste of sand. He loved digging in it, but didn't think it tasted so good!

As you can see by Averi's expression, she was so excited when we arrived!

She immediately wanted to go to the water, which was cold!!!!!

Ethan and Gavin helping Wyatt get his feet wet! They are such good helpers with him and both say, "I love that little boy!"

I had to help keep Wyatt upright because I was afraid he would try and eat the seaweed.

Cute picture!

I felt like a genius of a mom the day before when I went to WalMart and bought sand toys for the kids. I made sure everyone had a bucket and pail, and it ended up being such a good idea to get them!

Ethan and Gavin also got some squirt guns that they had a blast with.

How sandy can one little boy get? Well, Wyatt ended up with so much on him, that we had to take him over to the showers that the surfers use. He didn't like that experience so much!

Averi spent most of her time digging rather than playing in the water.

Yes, and actual picture of me...relaxing, in my pregnant state of mind!

The kids enjoyed climbing on the rocks there. I tried to get a picture of the big Morro Rock behind them.

We ended up Saturday evening going downtown, where I found a homemade chocolate shop! Need I say anymore!.....

The next day we decided to head down to Montana De Oro, where we camped with the boys years ago. We forgot how long of a hike it is down to the beach, but we wanted to see the tide pools. About a quarter of a mile into the hike with four kids, strollers, and sand toys, we decided it wasn't going to work. The trail was only about a foot wide that we were hiking on, and it was just to difficult to get the stroller through. Also, when I spotted the beach, it was high tide, and we knew we wouldn't get to be able to get to any sand for the kids. We started to head back to the car, and low and behold.....Steve says ,"Averi, hold still." We all froze, and Steve proceeded to pick a tick off of her shirt! (How ironic is it that Averi is the one child the tick finds?) We all double times it back to the car after that where I basically made the kids strip down, so we could do a tick check on their bodies!

We ended up down the coast a couple of miles at Avila Beach. One of my favorite places on the coast! I think it is the best beach to take children too. It turned out to be another sunny and beautiful day, and we stayed there for a couple of hours before we had to head back to reality. It was so nice to get away.

Pinewood Derby!

I should have updated this earlier this week, but I am still getting to know my new computer, and just downloaded all of my camera software today! Last Tuesday, we had the Pinewood Derby. Talk about fun! Steve went over to the church late on Monday night for two hours to set up the track. I was very appreciative of this. We only have three scouts, so I thought the evening would be a bust, even though the boys were really looking forward to it. However, I was wrong. Many family members showed up and we ended up having a great time. I have to say we were packed solid up in the scout room. My first rule was that nobody touches the track. I thought the thing would fall apart because it is so rickety!

The boys and family members worked hard on their cars, and Ethan didn't even care that his lost all of the races! Yes, next year we need more weight on his car.

The scouts showing their pride with their cars, along with me and Sister Rivera!

My crew before the derby!

I went home exhausted and had to take a two hour nap on Wednesday just to recover! I am however, looking forward to next years derby!