May 2016

May always begins with the celebration of my Husband.   Happy Birthday Robbie Black.  You are a gift to us and the world.  Praise God for you and your life.  Thank you for being my husband and Father to our children.

Look at this beautiful 7 year old!  I was blessed to be her hairdresser today as we celebrate the day Dad, I and the grace of God, and Aunt Aimee :) brought you into this world.  This is a day etched into my memory forever.  The day Beautiful Joy entered into our lives forever!

Our cousins were able to come over and celebrate Bella with us.  It was a beautiful and fun day!

Homemade cake, Bells request from her talented cousin Lucy.  Thank you Lucy!

Darling Evelyn

Celebrating George Brett's Birthday with Royal pancakes

These two are quite the pair and work very well... a little to well together! :)

Hello Bed Head!

Sweet boy took a cat nap while playing with his favorite turtle

Spring Ball begins for the 3 older kiddos....

It's needless to say that May was a build up to Thomas' long awaited open heart surgery.  I took this picture and thought, "he has no idea what is about to happen."  He wasn't happy to not be able to eat or drink though.  Sweet boy.

Surgery was quick.  I think they began around 7 and he was out by 10?  (it'd help to have written that same month about it instead of 9 months later to have more accurate information.:)

Everything went very well with only one complication.  The nurse accidentally inflated the catheter before it was in Thomas' bladder and it caused a hole in his ureter.   Rob was with him when he passed blood clots after surgery.  He mentioned that he was glad I was not there because he'd never seen Thomas in so much pain.  Which says a lot for the toughest boy we know.   I'm Thankful for Daddy being there with him.

The kids couldn't wait to get up to the hospital and see him.   At one point during our night prayers Anthony Thanked God for Thomas not dying.   I think he put into words that night what all our hearts were feeling before and after.   We'd been waiting for Thomas' surgery for 4 years.  It wasn't until after the surgery, noticing the relief that I felt, that I realized the heaviness I had been carrying around in anticipation of the surgery.

Robbie and I switched nights/days there.  He went in on a Thursday and was discharged Sunday late afternoon.  The nights I stayed there he was restless sleeping in the crib.  I ended up sleeping in the crib with him because that was the only way he would calm down and sleep.  I think at the time it was sweet, him cuddled next to me but mostly it felt like it was the only option if I wanted him and myself to sleep.  Looking back on it, it is mostly a cherished memory of cuddling close, being his momma and a grateful heart to have my boy with me.

His sweetness is absolutely heart-warming.  Thank you Lord for your grace.

Post surgery, still playing the tunes on his piano with his feet while staring out the window.  A favorite past-time.

Out on our daily walks around the hospital.

He loved watching the cars drive down the hill from the bridge walk.

keeping busy passing time in the play area.

Evi pushing him in the swing.

Family play time at the hospital

Discharge day!

Leaving the hospital and found this as we were walking out.  I knew exactly who it belonged to!

Thomas left the Hospital on Sunday and by Monday evening was his old self.  We joked that the surgeon must have drawn on the scar line because you couldn't tell Thomas had just had open heart surgery.  He had more energy than ever and was his joyful self.  There were only two signs.  He wouldn't climb out of his crib on his own and he wouldn't lean his chest on the sink to get a drink.  I was grateful he showed those signs of caution with putting pressure on his chest.  He bounced back quickly and has continued to do very well.  He breathes easier and doesn't have the bluish discoloration of his skin like he used to.

These last few pictures are from mid-may before Thomas' surgery , which was on May 26th, the day after his last day of Pre-school.  

May 7th we were absolutely blessed to witness our brother Dominic and his fiance, Stephanie get married!  It was a beautiful, beautiful day.  Around that time most of the family was in town and we were all together celebrating and enjoying each others company.  What a blessing family is.  We wish we could all be close together all the time!

Huddled in the basement during a tornado warning makes for good times with family:)

The Infant of Prague.  I had his image on my phone for the longest time.  He answered many many prayers and helped me through many anxieties.  Sweet baby Jesus showered many graces on myself and my family.  Infant of Prague 9 hour novena.  If you are in need, he has never left a prayer of mine un-answered.  Sweet Infant Jesus, pray for us!  Thank you for your love most pure Infant.

O Jesus, who said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you", through the intercession of Mary, your most holy mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Make your request)

O Jesus, who said, "all that you ask of the father in my name he will grant you", through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your father in Your name that my prayer be granted.
(Make your request)

O Jesus, who said, "heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass", through the intercession of Mary, your most holy mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request)

Prayer of Thanksgiving for graces received from the Infant Jesus
I prostrate myself before your holy image, o most gracious infant Jesus, to offer you my most fervent thanks for the blessings you have bestowed on me. I shall incessantly praise your ineffable mercy and confess that you alone are my god, my helper, and my protector. Henceforth my entire confidence shall be placed in you ! Everywhere I will proclaim aloud your mercy and generosity, so that your great love and the great deeds which you perform through this miraculous image may be acknowledged by all. May devotion to your most holy infancy increase more and more in the hearts of all Christians, and may all who experience your assistance persevere with me in showing unceasing gratitude to your most holy infancy, to which be praise and glory forever, amen.

My handsome hubby and I on the party bus.  Sooo sooo much fun together!  Thanks Dom and Steph for getting married and asking us to share in your lovely day!