Isabelle feeds chickens in 2010

Found a video of nephews playing outside.

Watching the scene from Anne Of Green Gables where she serves "raspberry cordial" to Diane... Isabelle says "what are in those jars Mom?" I tell her "2 are juice and 2 are wine". "Why is it called wine Mom?" "I don't know", she says "Oh, I know, because after she drinks it, she whines."

No Babies for This Belly

     Yesterday we had a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist. At that appointment we asked the primary concern "Is there a medication that is safe to take during pregnancy to keep my heart in sinus rhythm?" The answer is "No."
     That was the last question that we needed answered to know that I cannot and will not carry another pregnancy. It is the answer that we expected, but there has been a small glimmer of hope this whole time.
    Now we have clarity on that portion and we have other decisions to make. Are we done with babies? Will we try to adopt a baby? Will we use a gestational carrier?
    Along with those questions come the ethical questions. Is it right to use a gestational carrier or are we playing God? Is it right to spend money to add to your family? Is it wrong to allow our one biological child remain the one and only?
     Only time will tell.

New Words in Her Vocabulary

Today our licensing worker was visiting the house. As she prepared to leave she asked if I had any concerns. Our daughter piped up, "I have concerns."
"Oh really? What is concerning you?"
"I am concerning because my brothers need permission to go to MN with us, and if they don't then they will be here and I will be there and we will be sad."

I didn't know that my 4 year old knew the word concerns, and yet, she used it correctly.

no longer trying not to get pregnant

Hubby and I have been talking to each other for a while about the pros and cons of "trying". I know that he'd love to have a biological son, a namesake. The selfish part of me really wants to try the whole pregnancy/newborn thing again. 

The last time we spoke with the doctor about it, he warned against it. However, I have always struggled with trusting a doctor over allowing God's will. Hubby has been a bit more cautious. I suppose he has more to lose, in a way. After all, if I leave the face of the earth, he is left alone with small children. 

So, the final decision has become, "we'll see what happens"....

What a sweet child

My daughter disappeared, I saw her run into my room, then into her brothers' room, I asked what are you doing, "I'm cleaning".... Huh? So I followed her into her brothers' room, where she has picked up all their toys and is vacuuming with our tiny vacuum.
I left her alone. A few minutes later she says, "Am I doing a good job?" I said "yes, but why?" Her answer makes my heart swell with pride.
"Because, I want to clean it for them and it will make them so happy"