Thankful Thursday Christmas Edition!

 Thankful 

so very thankful

for this man

Our 16th Anniversary was December 20, 

spent in the hospital with Simeon

(we'll celebrate later)

It's too special to not mention

 Thankful Simeon turned one--see his finger?  One! 

Thankful another surgery was done and we were home for his birthday!

I'm going to have to start thinking about giving him a blog name...

Little Red?

 We got a few smiles, but there were also lots of tears...

He wanted nothing to do with his cake, didn't have much appetite, we put his fingers in it

and he looked at us like "What the heck?" and then pushed it away!

 This would happen in the middle of opening his gifts, 

It was kind of a sad birthday, but a Thankful celebration at the same time!

And Thankful he's doing much better today

(only crying when he pees or poops)

 Thankful for all these beautiful gifts in front of our tree!!

 Thankful everything was new again for this little girl,

"Mommy, I yike Jesus's birthday!"

 Thankful these sweet kiddos were so sweet and patient with waiting to open gifts!

Sweetie Pie: "I open pesents daddy?"  "Not yet, it's not your turn"  "OK Daddy"

 Thankful for Santa butts...

 and boys who can't carry any more presents...

 Thankful Simeon was feeling a little better than his birthday

and was getting the hang of opening presents

 Thankful for our Midnight Bliss Chocolate Cake for Jesus's birthday!

(yummy!)

 Thankful Santa came, dropped off gifts and filled stockings!

 Thankful Daddy can take everything apart and put all things together!

 Thankful for Legos

 Thankful for Wal-mart dolls--as I said on Facebook,

 Can't get much more American than that!

 Thankful for these Cinnamon Rolls, we have every Christmas morn!

Straight from freezer to oven, done in 30 minutes, tastes better than homemade

(yes, that's possible)

Why would I do homemade when Rhodes makes these?

 Thankful for Grandmas and Grandpas (legs) and aunties and uncles...

(This is the only picture I got Christmas day of our guests--too busy I guess)

 Thankful for tiny paintable tea sets--thanks Christine!

 And Thankful for little cars!  Simeon loves them...

 Thankful for games played...

 and new clothes to wear!

(Thanks Grandma!)

 (Thanks Auntie Heidi!)

 Thankful for girls who like Hero Factory, Legos and Ninjago!

 Thankful for big sisters who love to give lovin',

 even if baby brother doesn't want lovin'!

Thankful for Christmas tree Crafts

and our Completed Jesse Tree!

We worked our way up, I decided Jesus should be on the top,

"The Light of the World!"

There's so much more to be Thankful for

 but this keeps me thinking about the simple things, 

the things easily forgotten.

There are blessings in every single day

I hope you find yours

Back to add:
Thankful Baby Dominic is out of ICU!! 
He and his family still need our prayers, 
Let's pray him home! 

God bless you!

Dominic Pio Needs Prayers Tonite!

We are asking for a Christmas Miracle, Lord of Lords, You are King, Master Healer, Divine Physician, please heal Dominic, help him to get better each day.  Please help his family to be healthy and strong, physically, mentally and spiritually.  Thank You Lord, Praise You Lord, We Love You Lord Jesus.

For the latest updates go here

Wishing You a Blessed Christmas!

 From our house to yours

 From the girls

And the boys

We wish for you the most blessed Christmas of all!

May you find the Peace and Joy that only the Christ Child can give.

Simeon is One!

 How can one baby bring so much joy, love and thankfulness? 

We were given a wonderful gift a year ago

It's been a long year, and yet, here it is

Simeon is one!

 He has moments of happiness and moments of sadness, 

It's so pitiful, seeing your baby so sad, especially on his birthday

 We got him this motorcycle, and it brought some smiles this morning

it also brought some temper tantrums (see background)

(click on pictures to see them better)

It's so hard when you are 3 and your little brother gets cool toys!

 We look back to the day he was born and the changes we've gone through

including his birth stay, we've been in the hospital 5 times this past year

Yet, we are so blessed, we are home,

 he is healing

 and we are done for a few months with surgeries

 Happy birthday my sweet Sims

God bless you and fill you with His blessings and graces!

This video brings tears to my eyes,

It was taken today and shows how life is going healing after surgery

but

 it is a great synopsis of our past year,

filled with happiness and trials 

our "Joyful Mysteries" as Dominic's mama has perfectly worded it

(please keep praying for him)

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are:

The Annunciation

Mary, saying yes, to joy and sorrow, the questions, the fear, the excitement

The Visitation

Mary visiting and helping Elizabeth, making a long journey while pregnant

The Birth of Our Lord

Great Joy, and Great sorrow, probably of the unknown, knowing He was to save the world,

but all the questions that must have troubled Mary, yet she trusted.

The Presentation
Luke Chapter 2 

(and who Simeon was named after)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Losing God, such sadness for Joseph and Mary as they searched for 3 days,

I cannot even imagine losing my child, let alone, God!

And the Joy they felt when finding Him teaching in his Father's house

See?

 Joyful Mysteries

I Love you Sweet Sims!!

God bless you!

Here's the Video!!!

You can  hear him crying in the background, because he's in the highchair wanting out!
I had to go through Youtube for some reason Blogger would not let me upload it.

He would smile and wave and sometimes talk, especially to our 6 year old, every time he saw her,
(pictured here) he'd say "Ga" "Ga"!

With homeschooling, our babies are so used to being around everyone all the time, being at the hospital, a hour and a half away, well, it just didn't work for them to visit, the youngest was not even allowed to come, because of their "no 5 and under" kids.  SO, this was so nice, even just for the noise!  

 Thanks again Nicole, all but a few times,
 this is what comforted him, and to a mama, that means the world!

Video of Home

 Nicole suggested I make a video of the kids for Simeon,

so he could see them while he was in the hospital
(for some reason, Blogger won't let me upload it)

This was such a lifesaver!!  I bet we watched that video 50 times at least!

The nurses all thought it was a great idea!

Every time he'd fuss and cry, (which was alot)

I'd play the video, he always perked up and loved watching it, 

he'd talk back to them and wave bye bye at the end! 

Thanks Nicole!

We got home last night.

He was so happy to see his brother and sisters!  

He had a good night

He's only eating a couple ounces at a feeding

but we're hoping that gets better each day

He's pretty fussy, not letting us put him down at all

especially mama.

Thank you for all your prayers

Update

 On our way in, we left home at 4:45 am

 Happy baby waiting for surgery....

After surgery, resting, in a pain med sleep....

Pain will start tonite, with bladder spasms...not looking forward to that

Poor baby

Surgery went good though, we get to come home Thursday!

Thank you for your precious prayers, we appreciate them so and pray for all of you too!

God bless

Please Pray--Simeon's Surgery Tuesday

 Simeon's surgery is on Tuesday at 8am

(This time it's not a cranial/facial surgery)

This surgery is on his ureters, they are long and coiled and blocked.

The doctor will cut them and re-attach them to his bladder.

He has hydorneurphrosis in his kidneys, (fluid in his kidneys)

the left one being more severe than the right.

It's an easy thing to forget about, he's so happy and seems healthy on the outside

This, is supposed to be a "pretty common" surgery

maybe common to a Pediatric Urologist, but not to us!

He is also being circumcised,

 because of all the catheters he needs with all his surgeries

It's just better for less chance of infection and easier access.

 He had his pre-op appointment last week and is a hefty

19.13 pounds!

And he is no longer anemic!!

 I need to pack and get as much laundry done as I can today

 We will be in the hospital til at least Friday

I don't have a way to post updates 

til we get home, so please 

check the comments, I'll call Christine to let her know!

(I love jammie pictures!)

I'm a nervous wreck, on the verge of tears constantly and sick to my stomach

I know I won't sleep tonite so I'm offering it all up for my sweet Simeon

and their sweet Dominic, who will also be in surgery on Tuesday morning,

to revise his nose for better breathing.

Our God is an awesome God and can heal, guide and comfort these two babies

at the same time!!

Thank you so much for all your love and support!

2 Last Things

 The last of my Jesse Tree ornaments are done!

I don't like how the flower one turned out, but it will do for this year!

I saw this frame (above) on Pinterest

I plan to make some of these for Jedi, but it gave me the idea 

for a great gift for him to give to his best bud!

This is what I came up with!

We bought 2 new mini figures and glued the 4x4 Legos on the sides,
and put the figures on, so they are interchangeable, and put a picture in it!

I tell you, the ideas are endless on Pinterest!