Roo's new haircut and Sutton

I had been promising Reece since January (when I cut Rae's hair) that I would cut her hair shorter. I LOVE the girls with long hair, so I've been stalling.... Until this week, when Reece went to sleep, undetected, with some Easter gum and woke up with it in her hair. I'm sure I could have probably gotten it out with much work, but decided it was a good time to deliver on my promise. I love her new cut, and so does she. It suits her - cute and fun!

The other pictures are of the girls with Sutton. They (We) are all still very smitten with our little Sutton. She is precious.

Sutton Vian

Pictures!!!

The beginning of this year was a big one for Reece. You'll see pics of her getting ready for surgery. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed. (difficult recovery but major blessing!!) We also celebrated her 5th birthday. She had a little celebration with her Montessori Country School class, and a tea party at our home. I also threw in pictures of our extended family having prayer time together, and a few random pics of Elle and Rae. Oh, and the one with us wearing shower caps is when we were fighting off lice....not fun.

It's been a BIG year already! I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord will do with the rest of 2009. Now that I have my cord back I'll try to be more regular with pics - for you Mom!!

One last note: We celebrated Elle's 2nd bday, but incredibly I don't have any pics of the event!! ....heart sinking.... We had a small family celebration for her. She's so precious and full of life. I just love that girl!! Maybe mom has some pics of the evening...

Over the Initial Shock

Well, last night was much better. I guess I just needed to get over the initial shock of the recovery process. Thank you, Daphne, for your much needed encouragement! I really appreciate hearing from "those that have gone before me"...

Sutton is such a doll. The girls are all still doing wonderfully with her. They can't get enough of their new baby sister. Elle is such a great big sister already. Reece is a constant - so caring and nurturing. Rae is on top of everything baby, but is still very focused on what she happens to be doing - whatever that may be.

I had a wonderful visit with my dear friend, Meridith, today. She came over and just held Sutton while I napped. Mer knows how to love, especially love on me, and I'm so blessed to have her friendship. She came bearing many gifts - for the girls, she brought crafts, which they loved; for Sutton, she brought three adorable outfits; for me, a bag of goodies: relaxing shampoo and conditioner, the latest and greatest mascara to look fresh, almonds for added protein (did I forget to say they were covered in chocolate......;), and several other thoughtful and fun things. I'm so blessed.

Gavin took Raegan and Reece to the Easter vigil service at the Church of Ascension and St. Agnes, in D.C. - where our dear friends, Sammy and Renee, serve. Father Sam, I should say, is one of the priests there. It's an amazing service - so special. Gavin says it's his favorite service of the entire year. I agree. It's long (2 1/2hrs), but so worth it. The girls got all dressed up in their Easter dresses, and Gavin wore his nice suit and bow tie. They all looked beautiful/handsome. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures tomorrow.

I LOVE Easter! What an amazing season, and what an amazing God we serve.

Happy Easter, everyone!!

In Need of Advice!!!

Oh my goodness, last night was hard!! C-section recovery is WAY worse than vaginal. Sutton was having a hard night - not a big deal, except that I couldn't get to her. I couldn't sit up, roll over, barely move without help.

HELP!!!! I need some advice from those of you who have had C-sections. Advice? Tips? Words of wisdom?

I'm so spoiled to being able to come home and just take care of the baby...which is a big challenge by itself. I'm NOT used to not being able to do that very well. This is quite different.

I'm all ears.

Counting my Blessings

I have so much to be thankful for, as I sit here in my room. Gavin is wrestling with Elle on our bed; Marno is braiding Raegan's hair; Reece is walking around brushing her hair having just had a bath; Sutton is sleeping (I'm not sure how) in her cradle; and Mimi is watching it all smiling. This is our first day home since we left on Monday for the hospital.

I definitely envisioned this moment, but could never have anticipated all that would take place from Monday until now...

Reader's digest version: I started having contractions Monday morning around 7:30, called Gavin and asked him to come on home from work around lunch time, headed into the doctor's office and found out that my water had been broken for days (a small pin hole leak), and checked into the hospital by 1:30. After intense labor for 5hrs and no progress, and seeing that the baby was in distress, the doctor determined that I would have to have a c-section. Minutes later I found myself in the operating room. Sutton Vian was born at 6:11pm. ...it was very surreal, and strange, and surprising.

As I've reflected on all that happened, my heart has caught up with my head and I'm so thankful. It would be untruthful to say that I wasn't a little disappointed about not having a boy, or that having a c-section wasn't a sad thing for me. I knew at the time that the most important thing was getting the baby out safely and that having a c-section was NOT a big deal - with tears streaming down my face, it was clear that my heart wasn't there.

I've said from the beginning of this pregnancy that I had released the desire to have a boy. I really do trust the Lord and His divine wisdom in the make-up of our family. I completely want whatever He wants for our family. ...but in these last few weeks I had started to hope for a boy. When I heard we had just given birth to a girl I knew that was God's divine wisdom and was thankful for a healthy baby girl - but my heart wasn't there.

Gavin is amazing. He's so thrilled with our little girl. I know how much he wanted a boy, and yet he is truly thrilled, and content with all our girls. He is so happy.

I talked to my friend, Meredith, the next day and told her that my heart was having a hard time catching up with what I knew to be true. She loves me, and encouraged me to remember that hormones had a lot to do with that, but I knew there was something more. After hanging up the phone, I took a deep breath and started counting my blessings. I haven't stopped since...

The Lord lovingly reminded me of something I already knew. When we had Raegan we were told that I have an inverted pelvic bone. That not only makes the birthing process extremely painful, but also extremely difficult. Raegan, Reece and Eliot were all smaller babies than Sutton. She was over a pound bigger than Elliot, the biggest of the three. Sutton would never have made it through my body.

God is good. I have an inverted pelvic bone and yet I have four babies, three of which made it through my body without major surgery. That is amazing.

God is good. We have four beautiful girls. Raegan is our thinker, Reece is our care-giver, Eliot is our activist, and Sutton is our peace maker. That is amazing. I'm so excited to see how they each develop and grow in their relationships with the Lord, each other, and in these gifts they've been given.

Sutton is precious. She has such a sweet disposition. She's dreamy. My heart is full. I'm so thankful. The girls are beside themselves with excitement. Eliot loves her baby sister. She's already very proud of her. They can't hold Sutton enough.

God is so good. I have SO much to be thankful for, and I am. Thank you all for your loving encouragement.

(I found the cord for my camera and will be uploading pictures tonight!! stay tuned:))