JJ 8K Race For Hope

Saturday David and I ran in the Jimmy John's 8K Race For Hope.  Actually, David and Stephen ran, I walked, ran, crawled, and walked some more:)  My lovely friend Shannon stayed with me the entire race, even though she could of ran the entire thing.

The kids did a kids 1/2 mile run.  We were so proud of them.  They ran the entire 1/2 mile and never gave up.  They had smiles on their face the whole time.  Big run for a little kid!

You can see pictures of the race here.

The Never Ending Entryway Project

As part of my decorating-without buying art-only using pictures or 2nd hand finds-journey I decided to do a wall of old pictures, consisting of our parents and grandparents.  Well, that became the longest, never ending project EVER!  I guess I didn't take into consideration the time it would take to collect and copy all of those pictures.  I am 99% done!  I only lack 1 picture and 1 T.  So, here I go....

Here is the entryway before:

David decided to "fix" the drywall.

Here is the blank wall painted, with the added chair railing with hooks David put up.

I started by collecting frames and pictures.  I wrote out everyone I wanted to incorporate in the collage.  I started cutting paper out the size of the frame and writing on the paper what size and color it was.

I finally collected all my frames and arranges them 100 times on my floor to finalize where I wanted them on the wall.  I tried the best I could to arrange it by family.  I also tried to keep the colors somewhat evenly distributed.

I mostly used command strips.  I flipped all of my photos over and decided how I was hanging them.  If I was using a nail I marked on the paper where the nail was needed.

 The lighting was NOT good.  Sorry.

 S is for Skinner (my mother's maiden name).

 H is for Holsclaw (my maiden name).

 T is for Trivette and Thomas

 (Thomas is David's Mom's maiden name.  Trivette is his Dad's name).

So there you have it!  Our finished family wall.  

Hello Spoon!

Levi fed himself refried black beans tonight. I guess taking the time to feed him is equal to the time it takes to clean him up?!?! Pretty sure he'll be going from the table to the tub tonight:)

Here We Go....

Levi's Birth Story

Sweet Levi.  He has truly been pure joy and I thank God for him everyday.  His 1st Birthday and the weeks leading up are not like the other 2.  We did have a scare with Luke when he was 6 days old that left us uneasy for a few months, but we believe that was only preparation for Levi's birth.

This time last year I was very very very hot.  I was huge.  I was depressed.  I was struggling.  I DID NOT WANT to have a c-section.  My placenta previa did not resolve itself like the other 95% of placenta previa cases.  I was the 5%.  Lovely.

I went in for my last ultrasound on Monday, the 16th, knowing in my gut I was not going to hear what I wanted to hear.  My mom was here and I know it was hard for her seeing me so not myself.

Did I mention I was hot?  We bought a new house, with no air conditioning, in the hottest summer in B-burg in who knows when.  Wasn't the smartest decision David and I have ever made.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  Now we feel blessed.  Thankful.  Pruning perhaps?  Def.

My due date was September 5th.  I was confident in our conception date, therefore I was confident in our due date.

At my ultrasound, Monday, it was confirmed my placenta had not moved, and it was now complete placenta previa.  Meaning my placenta was completely covering my cervix, meaning when I went into labor and my cervix began to dilate my placenta would begin to separate from my uterine wall and I could bleed to death and/or the baby can die due to lack of oxygen.  I was extremely thankful I made it full term without bleeding or having to be put on bed rest.

On Monday my doctor talked about scheduling my c-section for the following Monday but then called me back to say with complete previa they do not recommend going past 38 weeks.  So, Friday it was!

The thought of being on a surgical table, being cut open, recovering, etc. made me want to puke or pass out or both.  God and I spent some serious time together, preparing my heart that week.  I was at peace.  I accepted it.  But that didn't mean I had to be happy about it, just content, seeing his glory.  I wanted my way.  My natural child birth.  Didn't get my way.

I knew I could and would do anything for one of my children.  That got me to the table, without falling apart.  I have a weak stomach so I knew I might get a little queasy once they put me on my back.  Yep, I was right.  Instantly felt like I was going to pass out.  I made it through surgery.  I made it to recovery.  I was so excited to get my hands on Levi and to see how big he was, how long he was, and kiss his chubby cheeks.  You only get a little sneak peak while in in the OR.

I finally got back to my room and immediately starting texting and calling saying I made it!  They were continuing to work with Levi and soon mentioned some of his stats were low/off.  They quickly informed us they were taking him back to the nursery to monitor his O2 and his respirations.

I got to hold him for literally 30 seconds before they took him.

The hours then began to drag.  I soon realized he wasn't coming back to our room that 1st night, or the 2nd.  Since Levi was our 3rd, we anticipated the long, sleepless first night.  It was sleepless, but not because we had a hungry, crying newborn.  His first nights were spent with hourly trips to the nursery checking on his stats.

The 2 days in Radford are a big blur.  I barely remember when they said what.  I do remember learning he had a pneumothorax.  Premature babies are sometimes born with a pneumothorax, but they often resolve themselves, and most of them they never even know about.  Levi was 8 lbs 3 oz.....not so much a premie.....you'd think!  The lungs develop between 32-38 weeks.  Levi was 2 weeks and 3 days early.  

They aspirated one of the air pockets.  They tried the oxygen hood.  One resolved itself.  But, they kept coming back and getting worse.  They sent his x-rays to Roanoke and decided he needed to be cared for in a NICU.  


So, Sunday morning the amazing transport team came to take my sweet baby away.  My two day old baby that I hadn't held or fed.  I didn't experience him in his little rolling bed beside me, all swaddled up, crying to be fed.  He spent his 1st 48 hours laying in the nursery with only a diaper on, not wanting to even be touched.  

He thankfully made it to the NICU.  Waiting to hear he made it safe and sound was probably the most agonizing time.  We were terrified knowing he was driving so far without us.  The Lord's comfort and grace is amazing.  The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in time of trouble.  Ps 9:9


I was released from the hospital a day early.  David went on to Roanoke to try and make it there when Levi did.  I came home to see the kids before they left for TN for the week.  We have amazing friends who took care of them while we were still in Radford.  David's aunt Kat drove up to get them and take them to TN to stay with my father-in-law.  David's mom is a RN so she stayed with us.  David made arrangements for us to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.  I went straight there from Blacksburg.  I wasn't ready to take on the NICU journey quiet yet.

When David arrived at the NICU Levi's left lung had collapsed, he had stopped breathing for 60 seconds and they had already inserted his chest tube and the ventilator.  We were told those were things they may have to do in the next 24 hours, not upon arrival.  Our little fighter was exhausted and made it there just in the nick of time.

 Here's what our sweet sugar looked like his 1st 2 days in the NICU.

We were so blessed by the Ronald McDonald House and by the amazing staff in the NICU.  We will NEVER forget many of the nurses that cared for us.  We will never forget the dings, and ringings of all the monitors.  The required 2 minute scrub down before you enter....where I would stand every morning and ball my eyes out.  Pod C.  6th bed from the left.  It was such a short period of time but so impressionable.  

On Monday I woke up wondering how in the world I was going to do this for 7 days.  I quickly reminded myself the Lord only provides me my manna for that day.  Tuesday's manna would have to take care of Tuesday.  

He was taken off the vent once on Tuesday, but was put back on it.  I think he finally came off of it for good Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.  His chest tube came out on Wednesday afternoon.  

The feeding was a slow process.  I finally was able to nurse him on Saturday.  He was given bottles of milk I had pumped for all of his feedings.  He didn't latch on right away.  By the time we got home on Sunday he was only nursing (no bottles:).

He finally graduated from the warming bed to his own bassinet.  So precious.  

 Luke meets Levi.  Or should I say Spiderman?

Halle meets Levi.

We are so blessed and we are so thankful for the gift of children.  Levi's first year has brought me so much joy.  He truly fills our house with love.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for out little miracle.  

Green Eggs

The kids made their own "green eggs" this morning for their snack. I guess David taught Luke how to cut his food because it is his new thing or skill, if you will. He looks so grown up doing it.

Well, the big yellow (I say orange) school bus came by our house today, and Halle did not get on it. The fact that we are keeping her home has become a reality! I had tears:(. She is glad she is staying home, but not so glad our neighbors, I & C, are going to school.

Having her home today, knowing she would of started K today, is complete affirmation from the Lord that we are doing what he has called us to. I feel confident He will provide me with the skills and knowledge I need to obey. Apart from Him, I am completely incapable.

Chore Chart

First, let me say I am not posting this because it is worthy of posting, but because it was so

  cheap and easy!  I wanted something inexpensive, durable, portable, easy, and that I could change if I wanted.

I am in desperate need of some organization/help/structure to my/our day.  The kids are more than capable of helping out and pulling some of their own weight.

First, I spent a rather lengthy deliberation period gathering my thoughts:

Then, I gathered my supplies:
$ Tree cookie sheets
contact paper (already had)
scrapbook sticker letters (already had)
woodsie star: $2.24 with coupon
magnets: $5.24 with coupon
paint and supplies (already had)
electrical tape (already had)

I placed the contact paper on the cookie sheet, created my lines with electrical tape, and did my word with my sticker letters.

Next, I cut mounting squares and attached the stars to the magnets.  Then, I painted the stars and used the same sticker letters for the H and the L.

I have 1 job board for the morning.  These are the things I want the kids to do before they come upstairs in the morning (after their Sleep Buddy goes off:).  It stays downstairs and is for the both of them.  I will hang it with Command Mounting Strips when I decide on the right place.  I may end up making another one so they both have one in their rooms.

I listed their To Do list on the left with a Done column on the right.  After they complete a task they move a star with their initial to the space provided.

I also made job boards for upstair.

Most of these things they already help me with, but it wasn't consistent, they complained, and I would often just do it myself rather than deal with them.

The 1st 4 jobs are daily jobs.  I also created weekly jobs (not attached to the sheet), assigning one job per day, that I will change daily(attached a magnet to it).  I plan to laminate the verses and the weekly jobs.  I hope it will help Luke to learn the days of the week!

I will keep their weekly jobs on a separate sheet and rotate them in the morning or the night before.  I also wrote out several scriptures that I want them to learn that correlate with work, obeying, etc.

Each of the boards are different.  They will trade boards on Mondays, therefore changing up their jobs.  My intention is to create a time in the day that we do chores/tidy up, which will be when they complete most of their jobs!  Helping me unload the dishwasher will depend on what time of day it was ran.  Feeding Ellie breakfast, obviously, is a morning job.  I hope to give them their sheets at breakfast so they can start marking off what they do.

I recently realized trying to keep the house picked up all day is worthless and a total waste of time.  Instead, doing it all at once in the evening, hopefully before dinner, makes more sense.

I usually change my mind with the weather, so I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money on this.  As sure as the sun will set tonight, I will change my mind about something tomorrow!