A Long Overdue Update: Deployment and Lily's Birth

Well, folks… it has been a really loooong time since I’ve updated the blog. There is quite a bit to talk about, but I’ll just focus on the two biggies: the birth of our daughter and Mike’s deployment. I've also included a few other pictures.

Enjoy! I’ll be better about keeping you all up to date! Also...please ignore the misspellings and grammar errors, I've been looking at the post for so long now I don't even see them:)

Deployment

Mike deployed to Afghanistan in November. His unit left in August but he was giving permission to deploy after Lily was born. Mike is assigned to the 101^st Combat Aviation Brigade here at Fort Campbell. While deployed he is the OIC of the AMR Cell for TF Eagle Assault. So….that means he plans 2-days out all of the UH60/CH47 PAX/cargo missions for their AO. He also coordinates AH-64 coverage. His role is met with mixed feelings through the ranks because he is a 2LT and an AS3 Plans OIC (normally a CPT position).  He is super, super busy. Which he says is a good thing because there isn’t much to keep him occupied if he isn’t working. (psst---havent had a day off of 12+hr shift in 2.5 months----mike).

We get to Skype with him nearly every day, which has made the separation so much easier. I feel so blessed to live in a time when we can so easily communicate. At first, James didn’t understand that we were talking with Mike on the computer, but has gotten the hang of it. He recognizes the Skype ringtone and get so excited when his Daddy is calling. His newest thing is to ‘play’ with his Daddy over the computer. James loves bows and arrows so Mike drew a target and keeps it with him; when James wants to shoot bows and arrows Mike pulls the target out and they can ‘play’ with each other. Also, Mike draws coloring pages and sends them to us. James colors them and we mail them back to Mike. It is just one more way we try to stay connected with each other.

At first, the separation was very hard for James and I, especially because I had a new baby to take care of and poor James wasn’t getting nearly as much attention as he needed after his Daddy left. But as time has gone by we’ve settled into a pattern, life has it’s rhythm, and we just keep going. I am so grateful for all the prayers on our behalf. Truly, Mike and I feel them buoy us up.

Mike will be returning home this spring, a new 1LT. Its about time!!! Really, the time really is going by so fast and Mike will be home before long. We are getting so excited!

Saying goodbye.

"I Love You" from Afghanistan

---I wanted to add that I am extremely grateful for the pkges/letters sent my way. I am very, very, very busy and have fallen behind in correspondence. Sorry...My thanks and love to you all---Mike 

Lily’s Birth Story

A year ago (February 2012) we learned we were expecting our second baby. We were so very excited! The due date was set for October 25^th. There was only one drawback, Mike was slated to deploy with his unit in August. I had always felt I could go anywhere and do anything the Army asked of us if Mike could just be there for the birth of all our children; I was particularly sad about the way things were turning out. It wasn’t until summer, after Mike’s block leave, we learned he would be able to deploy late, after Lily was born. We were so happy, and frankly, I was relived! Mike’s unit deployed during the month of August and he remained on rear detachment.

As the due date approached we became more and more excited, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect having been induced with James. I had been cramping for several weeks and at my last appointment before Lily was born I was dilated to a three. But I wasn’t expecting to deliver before my due date because I had been overdue with James; and I didn’t want to have the baby before my mom was in town. I was worried about the possibility of having to leave James overnight. That would have been hard for him…and whoever watched him for us!

 In the early hours of Ocotber 24^th I awoke to some cramping, but went back to sleep(they were contractions, but having been induced the first time I didn’t realize it). At this point I was starting to think I might not have the baby as late as I did with James, but I didn’t think I was going to deliver within twelve hours! That morning I said to Mike, “What if we have the baby today?” And he replied, “Don’t say that… you’re making me all jittery!” Hahaha! Little did we know!

That day Mike didn’t have to go into work because he had several last minute, pre-deployment things to take care of. So we decided we would run the errands together as a family. While we were out, we decided to stop by the hospital on post and find out exactly where labor and delivery was. We really procrastinated that oneJ (Also, as a side note…the nurse who gave us the tour that morning was actually present at the delivery.) We also stopped to let James see the decommissioned airplanes and helicopters on post. By this time, I was starting to feel rather uncomfortable and told Mike it was time for us to go home.

We got home around lunchtime and I went upstairs to take a nap, a little while later Mike and James took a nap also. I was still having contractions but they weren’t coming consistently enough for me to worry about timing them. And I kept thinking, “Ah, I’m not having a baby today. I didn’t have James early and besides mom won’t be here for a few more days…so I can’t have the baby.” While Mike and James were sleeping I went to go visit a friend (who had just had a baby of her own). While driving home I called my Mom and told her what was happening. She later told me that she know I was in labor and would most likely have the baby pretty soon, but was going to let me figure that out for myself!

When I got home Mike decided to go into work for a few hours to take care of some things. James and I tinkered around the house. All the while, I was still having contractions. It was getting later in the afternoon and the intensity of the contractions were increasing, and I was starting to think I would probably have the baby sometime that night. I was still worried about how James would do if we had to leave in the middle of the night. I just wanted to have James eat dinner, take a bath,s and Mike put him to bed so we could have our friends come over and just stay at the house while he slept. Quickly the contractions started getting harder, and I decided to lay down on the couch and time how long they were lasting. They were lasting a little over a minute and about five or six minutes apart. At this point I realized I was going to have the baby, and pretty soon… finally, it took me all day to realize this! So I called Mike and told him he needed to come home.

While he was driving home I decided to take a warm bath while I let James watch cartoons. By the time Mike got home it was go time! So much for my plans of having James all ready for bed! While Mike put last minute items in the hospital bag I got dressed. He put the bag and James in the car and then helped me get into the car. We dropped James off at our friend’s house (thankfully it was on the way to the hospital). While driving to the hospital I continued to time my contractions, they were getting much closer together, about two minutes apart. We arrived at the hospital a little after 6:00. I’m still not sure why, but it took about ten minutes before a nurse took us back. (A good brother in the branch (Michael Crane) showed up with dinner, CPTs rank, and a helping priesthood hand which may have been why 1-we didnt deliver in the waiting room and 2-why they sped up getting is in a room---mike).  Thank goodness I had Mike, I don’t know what I would have done without him…he kneeled right there on the floor with me and talked me through the contractions! Finally they took us into the monitoring room where I changed and saw a mid-wife. When she checked, I was dilated to an eight. They quickly took us into our labor/delivery room and she told me that when my water broke I could start pushing.

As we came into the room I looked at the clock and it was 6:35pm. I told myself not to look at the clock again because I didn’t want to know how slowly the minutes were passing! At this point the contractions were right on top of each other. Mike was right there with me; helping me relax and breath through contractions. He even cracked a joke about the sacred birthing stones we visited while in Hawaii. (To learn more follow this link: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/kukaniloko.cfm) No, he didn’t get me to laugh while delivering a baby (one of his life goals), but he did manage to get me to smile! I was feeling the need to push but my water hadn’t broke yet. At this point I was starting to get a little loopy because I had entered that crazy place… labor-land. I told Mike, either I was going to start pushing or he needed to get me an epidural! Very soon afterwards my water broke and Mike ran out into the hall to find a nurse (it was just him and I in the room). The mid-wife and nurses came in, put their gloves on, took the bottom of the bed off, and gave me the green light. I pushed three times and our baby was born! Our beautiful Lillian Megan came into the world on Wednesday, October 24^th at 7:02pm, weighing 8lbs 8oz, and measuring 20.5 inches long.

Truly, Lily is a miracle and the greatest joy. We feel so very blessed that Mike was here for her birth. It is the greatest honor to be James and Lily’s parents, and we are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for entrusting us with this sacred responsibility.  

Smile, Lily...your first close up.

Beautiful angel.

Proud Daddy.

Three redheads in a bed.

James loving Lily.

Going Home! Doesn't Lily look so happy in the car seat!

Summer 2009, Mike at the birthing stones in Hawaii:)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few more photos:

Over Christmas... James  at the tide pools in San Diego. He loved the rocks, sea weed, starfish, sand, sticks, crabs...he love it all!

Over Christmas... falling asleep next to each other.

Valentine's Day... will you be my Valentine?

They really do love each other!

James and Mommy all ready for church.

Before bathtime.

Hello Beautiful!

Attempting to get a picture before church!

My sweet boy at naptime.

Trains, trains, trains and more trains:)

The Will of God

There have been learning experiences in my life where I too, have hung my head in disbelief and even anger towards God. My reasoning in most cases, "If you are All-Powerful, why couldn't/why didn't? Haven't I earned it?" Those questions are never answered. I am blessed to have a sweet and loving wife who reminds me that I cannot see the end from the beginning, She encourages me to read my Patriarchal blessing, and pray-humbly to my Father in Heaven for clarity. Those answers always come. - Mike

Summer Vacation: Utah, Colorado, Virginia, and OBX!

The past six weeks have been incredibly fun for our family. June brought an exciting bit of news that we are expecting precious little girl to arrive around the end of October. Don’t ask us about names...because we aren't quite sure yet. Allie has been trying, but I've been a bit difficult. However, we have had an outpouring of love, prayers, and baby girl clothes. It seems nearly everyone is just as excited as we are. Even James knows he is going to be a "brother" and "baby sister" lives in "mama’s” "tummy". James is getting much taller (and thus skinner) and can repeat nearly every word he hears. Allie is rounding out (hehe) beautifully just like her first time, and we love it. Our little girl moves a ton, and loves it when Daddy takes time to talk to her.

Mike is continuing to work hard, working with his unit in preparation for the deployment. He turned twenty-seven on June 17th and we got to celebrate it in Colorado with his mother, Cathy. He almost had a mid-life crisis just thinking about turning thirty in three more years... it was quite funny! After a couple of days with Grandma, we were off to UT to hang out with family and visit friends. On a more serious note, while in Provo we had the solemn opportunity to attend memorial and grave-side services for CPT Scott Pace who was killed in Afghanistan earlier in June. Mike was one of four service members at the service, and it was a beautiful, yet hard experience to witness, considering our own circumstances. Bishop, Sister Pace, Rick, and Brook, we love you and continue to pray for you.

While in Utah for two weeks we visited BYU, hiked to Timpanogos Cave, watched Disney's Brave, went trap-shotgun shooting, played with cousins, tried to go to the temple (another story), took family pictures (many thanks Becky), chilled in Minersville, camped on the Colorado River, hiked Arches National Park, stopped again at Grandma's house, and viewed/hiked Grand Mesa, CO before returning home for two days. Plenty of pics of it all to share. A special thanks to Jen, Scott, and their adorable kids for sharing their basement and time with us. Without you guys it wouldn't have been possible!

But wait...there's two more weeks to this vacation. After a short repose at home, we were off again, this time to Fredericksburg, VA to spend some time with Grandpa Craig (Mike's father) and Nana (step-mom). Mikes mornings were spent doing PT, moving and organizing basement boxes with Allie, and spending time with Craig and Jerrilynn. James enjoyed lazy mornings, playing with all of Grandpa’s toys, and watching How to Train your Dragon at least twice a day for 10 days straight. James loved the "big" tv and watching "movie, movie, movie, mooovieeees”.When not helping Mike, Allie spent long overdue free time scrapbooking, and chatting with Grandpa and Nana.

Call it divine intervention, but Mike's leave coincided with his sister's family move to the Fredericksburg basement (explaining the rush to clear it out for them). The day after Mike’s sister arrived we headed to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, to spend our 4th anniversary at the beach with James. We spent two and a half cloudy/rainy days at the beach, eating out, eating in, eating ice cream, getting locked out of our car at the Wright Brothers Memorial, visiting Bodie Island Lighthouse under renovation, visiting Spencer Yachts, and letting James climb in and out of every single Nags Head hammock in the store. Time was short there, but we got our fill of sand and seawater, which was the goal. Allie even tried boogie boarding before calling it quits due to swimsuit-issues. LOL! She blamed it on the rough water and her big tummy. James loved the beach, or as he called it, the "pool". It was wonderful to spend time together as a family and if we ever get the chance we will definitely return to the OBX. It is a beautiful place.We returned to Fredericksburg for a few days. We visited and helped move in family before coming home.

In four weeks, James spent nearly 80 hours in a car seat and still calls us "mama" and "daddy", so miracles do happen:) It was a wonderful vacation and we are glad to have made such great memories. Plenty of pictures to enjoy, and of course videos will be posted on Mike's facebook. Just a warning though... there are a whole lot of pictures!

We send you our love and prayers.

---MAJ+

Driving to Utah.

We found that food, particularly "yummies" (as James calls them) kept James happy while driving:)

More driving.

A break from driving. We stopped in a little town in Colorado to eat lunch and got to watch a tree get cut down. James loved it!

Not so happy in the car... he wants the phone.

Another break from driving.

Mama and the babies.

James kept himself happy by putting stickers all over his books... oh, well.

After celebrating Mike's birthday at Tucano's in Provo. James loved this "motor".

Getting ready to hike to Timp Cave.

At the top, after we went through the cave.

Hiking down. Mike carried him most of the way.

We did it!

Shooting.

Another stop. This time going to Arches.

Setting up the tent in to camp at Arches.

At first, James was a little hesitant to get too dirty.

Running on the bike trail.

James hiked almost the entire way there and back. What a trooper! As soon as Mike started carrying him on the way back he fell sound asleep.

Delicate Arch! The pictures don't do it justice. If you ever get the chance you need to see it in person.

He was pretty tired.

Attempting to capture the sunset... it was a little too bright for our camera.

Although there were only vaulted toilets and no running water... the campground was beautiful. What you can't see is the Colorado River at the base of the cliff.

I love these two!

Playing in the dirt.

James got dirt in his eyes.

Balance Rock.

Eating an icee with Grandma Cathy.

Watering Grandma's garden.

Although it doesn't look like it, we are trying to clear out the basement apartment for Mike's sister and family.

Playing at the beach. James loved it and it didn't even phase him when he fell down and the waves washed over him!

It was cloudy and looks cold, but was quite warm. Especially in comparision to San Diego beaches this time of year.

James loved playing in the giant sandbox.

Our hotel was less than two blocks from the beach!

Have you ever eaten at Five Guys?! This is the soda machine. Pretty cool!

Cool Dude! And then... shortly after this it started to down pour and we realized we locked the keys in the car. Thank goodness for USAA car insurance.

Exact replica of the Wright Brothers airplane.

Making paper airplanes.

Enjoying 7-11's anniversary gift to us... free slurpees!

Ahoy red beard! Bottoms up!

Cousin Cora, Grandpa Craig, and James.

Testing out the hammocks and swings.

Vacation is sweet:)