Happy Birthday Ashley

   How do I describe her.  Bundle of energy, doing everything with all of her.  All the knees in every pair of pants are gone, and yet a princess in every way.  Nothing is ever hidden, she wears it all up front so you can see.  She will always try to make you happy, she's very good a co-operating.   Organized, well maybe not.   Ready for adventure, always.
   Can't believe she is 9 now.  How did that go so fast?  Like her entrance into this world, a mere 45mins in hospital, gave that nurse a run for her money!  The Dr. arrived in her pjs just in time to catch!
   That's Ashley our little lightening bolt!  Bundles of muscle and life, full of loveliness.
  She has a talent for art, in fact she NEEDS to draw.  She goes through withdrawals and pleads "Mama I just need some paper PLEASE" bouncing up and down in desperation.  I hand her yet another piece from my printer.  Aaahhh, a big sigh of relief and she quickly sketches it full.  Back for more!
   Ashley who makes a friend where ever we happen to be.  At the pool, at the park, on a beach.  "Mom this is my new friend _____"  She's done this through the grocery store before. 
   My girl, you delight me.  I am so amused watching you and full of excitement for your life and what it shall behold.  
   In Christ she lives.  Through her Saviour conquered her fears.  She clings to Him and builds herself in His truths.  She draws them out and tapes them on the wall above her bed.  So at night when she feels the lies trying to creep into her mind she reads her verses, truths He gave her.  She smiles rolled up in His love and sleeps soundly through the night.  I am in awe.
Happy Birthday Sweet, Vibrant Girl, I love you!

Happy Birthday Bevan

 Bevan's favorite colour is green.  He is very organized and keeps his room neat and tidy.  For that he can thank his father.  He absolutely hates change.  Here he can thank his mother.
  Changes are hard.  Sometimes I love it, like changing seasons, I love for Spring to come and turn into Summer!  Other times change is hard, like life changes, where things are not like they were.  Oh we adjust of course and we think back to the "good ole days". 
  My kids are growing up.  Bevan turned 12 this week.  It doesn't really feel like that long ago when I brought my 8lb 11 oz baby boy home.  He's getting taller too, pretty soon he's going to pass me.  What happens when Mom's are now smaller than you?  Will I still be Queen?  Will they still obey and listen to me?  I feel like I'm shrinking into the incredible shrinking woman.  I have a small squeaky voice as I follow them around..."get back here and do your chores! Where are you going? You can't ignore me"  I don't know what it will be like.  My brain is still having a hard time switching from Toddler to Big Kid.  Now the Big Kids are turning into Young Men, with their sisters not far behind.  Well I mean I know their sisters won't be young men!
   Young Men, Wow.  Just the thought of those words makes me feel so inadequate.  And thank God that I am otherwise I might not ask for His help!   I was going to ask how you raise Young Men, but I'm thinking that by the time they get to that stage they've already been "raised".  Now is the last bit of training and teaching that I can squeeze in before.....the young men turn into Men.  Yikes!
    This is the coaching faze.  Where they get to go out and make the plays on their own, but I still get to call "time out" from the side lines.  One day soon I won't get to have that job, I'll be a spectator, with no say.   I can cheer and boo, but that's about it!
   This post is suppose to be all about my Bevy boy! He's the big Birthday Boy Young Man.   For his birthday dinner he asked for his favorite, mashed potatoes, corn and steak (done schnitzel still).  Ice Cream Cake to top it all off. 
   He had some buddies come over and they played for a few hours, ate chips and hot dogs.  At the end of the day he said "It was a good day, I had fun."  Just what I wanted to hear.
Happy Birthday my son.  May you continue to grow in the Grace, Knowledge and Love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

So Much To Be Thankful For

 Today 2 years ago a precious baby girl joined our family.  She came to us the usual way, with a bit more difficulty then some of her siblings.  My pregnancy with her was much the same way, usual with a bit more difficulty than the others.
  I will never forget July 20th 2008.  That was just the beginning it was the next day that was the hardest.  We flew quickly to Vancouver's Women's Hospital.  We sat under an ultra-sound for 3 hours.  We watched helpless as our little baby's heart skipped beats and jumped every few minutes into what the doctors call SVT (supraventricular tachycardia).  Her heart rate sometimes over 300 bpm. 
   There is lots that I remember feeling in those moments and the days that followed.  But what I remember most is how God met us at every turn.  He had gone there before us and was showing us how.
   I was not scared, I don't think I would call it anxious, maybe a form of anxiety I've never experienced before.  The only way I can explain it is that I had no peace.  I felt like the ground was gone, like I was loosing my grip.  Grip on what I hadn't decided. 
   I KNEW that God was there.  I didn't KNOW what He wanted us to do.  I was glad the Doctors decided not to take Madalyn.  By that I mean force her to be born at 29 weeks.
I worried about the toxic drugs they were going to give to me and my sweet growing baby. 
   We could refuse and go home and pretend everything was fine.  It would all be ok if I didn't take them...right?  That was a question I couldn't answer, and I felt God was silent on the subject.  He wasn't silent of course.  Josh was completely at peace, he KNEW that we would be ok.  He also KNEW I should take the medication.
  Of course I did take the medicine with strict instructions about each dose.  Sotalol is a beta-blocker.  It also has serious possible side-effects. 
   "What kind of side-effects?"  I ask.
   "Oh it could knock your heart out of rhythm" says Dr. #1.
   "But don't worry about that we'll just knock it back in"  Dr. #2
   Great how comforting! I think to myself.
   "What are we risking if we don't take the drugs, what can happen?"  me.
   "Baby could suffer heart failure and go into cardiac arrest."  Dr. #1
    "Your body could mirror her body and you could also suffer cardiac arrest."  Dr.#2
   The possible side effects of not taking toxic drugs, not acceptable.  So we take the drugs!!  And pray my heart stays in rhythm.
   It took me a few days to find peace.  The Lord's peace.  Heart peace.  It was the song by Casting Crowns, Praise You In the Storm that made me cry.  (A different cry then I'd already been doing those few days).   Then I KNEW what I should have all along.  I will Praise Him in this Storm. 
   It was a storm to me.  Things, and words were whirling all around me.  I couldn't tell if I was up or down.  Josh didn't understand me.  His words where,
  "Do you think that God has abandon us?  Cause He hasn't you know."
  "I know He hasn't."
  "I'm worried about you, I watched you go through your Dad's death and other babies, and you didn't react like this at all, this isn't like you?"  My poor husband.
   I didn't have an answer for him either.  I didn't feel like I was without God, I knew He was there.  He showed me in so many little ways.  Like my favorite coffee in decaf at the hospital cafeteria.  My parents were able to come see me.  The ultra sound tech was a Christian and she prayed with us.  The first medicine they tried worked and I only got the mildest of reactions to it.  This was an answer to pray because if this med didn't work it would be more toxic ones to try!
   It was my peace I could not find, not in the word, not in prayer.  But I did find it, in a song.  And the lights went on.  I can pray and pray and read and read.  These are all good and will not come up void, but if I do not praise Thee, I am missing an important piece.  The peace I had been longing for came raging like a flood, when I lifted up my heart and sang my Praises to the Lord.
  And today I am so thankful for my baby's 2nd Birthday.  She lives without SVT and is no longer at risk for SVT for over a year now! 
I am thankful for God's grace that is always there.  It is after all not about me, it's about Him.

Josh and I during our Hospital stay in July.

Sept. 21. 2008 Madi is born! Here she's almost a week.

One Year and No longer at risk for SVT!

Turned 2 today and was hiding around my legs, she wouldn't let me take her picture! Funny kid!

And still SVT free!

My Ashley Girl

  This post is actually for April 8th Ashley's birthday.  For some reason I never get to blog when Josh is home!

   My little Ashley turned 8 on the 8th!  I can't believe 8 years have flown by.  Last year after she turned 7 she had to keep reminding me she was 7, whenever someone would ask her age I would always say 6! 
   Ashley is full of energy and laughter.  She is the truest form of a live wire if there ever was one.  She makes us all laugh.  If you need a hand she's the first one to run and help.  She loves to go anywhere you go.  She is concerned with how each person feels, and she seeks to make everyone happy.  She is also very loud, you can never mistake that she is not around, if she is you will know it!
   Ashley loves the Lord and is memorizing scripture to get over her fear.  She reads at a level way above grade 2.  She loves art and is always drawing, writing and creating.  She began with crayons on my walls at 1 1/2 yrs.  Not just on walls but herself as well!  Thankfully she now has learned not to do that! 
  Right now she's outside helping her Daddy do yard work!

Ashley at a few weeks

Ashley about 4 or 5 months

Ashley's first Birthday!

Ashley 7yrs, making a fort for her baby sister

Ashley on her 8th B-Day! (her friend Miss Ry there too:)

I love you my Ashley Girl! 

My Boy

       The years seem to fly by don't they? It doesn't feel like 11yrs ago today that my second boy made his way into this world.  Weighing 8lbs 11oz. What a sweet little baby boy.

      He is still a sweetie. My little softy. He loves babies, he's a big mush. He is organized and likes to keep his room clean. He likes to pack wood, only because it builds big muscles!
     He is still just as cuddly as when he was little.  He doesn't like to play in the rain and he hates getting water on his clothes.  He can get very annoyed with us if we change plans on him, (a little like his mom that way).
       He's also a little ham, he makes us laugh a lot. Maybe he'll be a comedian one day, or maybe a reporter like he wants to.

       It seems like yesterday he was that cute little baby. Now he's a handsome boy. Ready to take on his older brother, maybe;)

Oh ya, he loves to play drums and his favorite colour is green.

Happy Birthday my Bevan! I love you!

First Year

Hmmm, I think my frustration with Google Blogger is growing. My pictures are backwards and if I try to rearrange them the page stalls forever!!
So bare with me as I blog despite the mistakes and think about switching my Blog host!!

Madalyn's first year has flown by. I can't believe it was 1 year ago Sept 21st that she was born. It just seems like a couple of months ago.

She's been such a joy to us all. The kids are as enthralled with her as we are. Having a huge space between the kids is like having the first one all over again. All her little "firsts" are so fun and we revel in each one.

So Happy First Birthday my little darling baby. May you always be as sweet as you are now. And like all my babies before you, you will always be my baby, and Daddy's little sweet heart.

And Praise you Lord God for healing our little baby girl. She is no longer at risk for SVT.

My First Baby Girl (sry the pics are messed up)

Nat 2 Natalie age 9

1yr

couple mons

newborn

So Aug. 29, 2000, Natalie Michelle Davis enters the stage. She joins the Losh&Jollie Davis clan as the first born girl. What a lot of hair!! Thick black hair with frosted tips! Is she ours? After 2 mostly bald boys it's hard to tell. What a sweet little baby girl. Pink is so fun. After she was born pink officially became my favorite colour. The first 4 weeks were perfect. Then the colic started. How we survived I don't know, but thankfully it only lasted 3 months. At 4mons she was back to angel baby, as if nothing had happened.

Natalie has been such a joy. Some of the things she use to say were. "I luss you" "iceceem" "beva hit me" "brada hit me" "lets go"

Her hair was always amazing. I was so sad when she was 4yrs I had to cut lots of inches off. It was past her bottom.

I love having my girlie:) (All my girlie's but this post is about Natalie;)

Now my little girl is 9. Overall she is very nice and well behaved. Although like anyone she has her moments. :)

Natalie is very creative and likes to sew with her sewing machine. She draws very well. This year she requested a bow and arrows for her birthday. So that's what she got:)

So you can probably tell I got most of these pictures from my album. I do scrap booking so I couldn't' take them out and scan them without ruining my pictures. I have no idea how to fix them or why they came up sideways!

Looking forward to watching her continue to grow:)

My First Baby turns 13

I'm feeling, well not sure how I feel. I love watching him grow up, but so sad that it happened so fast. Tomorrow he turns 13 and leaves the world of "littles" behind.

Of course he will always be my baby. I am reminiscing about his first day in this world, and the 9 months of excitement and anticipation before he arrived.

Becoming parents for the first time was one of the greatest adventures Josh and I have had. I wish I had lots of videos to watch of him growing up, but we only have some that Josh's parents took. I have lots of pictures.

I think that Bradon and I will sit down tonight after all the "youngers" go to bed. We'll have tea and look at all his baby pictures. I'll tell him as many stories as I can remember.

I feel like I'm running out of time. I still have not finished teaching him all that he needs to know and correcting some of those annoying habits, such as bossing the younger children, arguing with Mom.

I am so proud of who he is. He is well mannered (mostly), he loves Jesus and wants to share Him with the world.

I'm excitedly anticipating his future just as we did before he was born. I know he'll be a good man, like his Daddy, but what will his job be? Will he live near or far? Will he marry? Who will she be? I know what I hope for him and pray.

I hope he will be happy and have true love, and be truly loved. I pray he will stay walking close to the Lord and follow His word. To live righteously and lead a holy life. To follow his dreams.

I love him so much, my heart overflows.