Caleb Jon McAvoy

He's here! Caleb Jon McAvoy was born on March 6, 2015 at about 2 pm.  He weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz (my smallest baby), and was about 20 inches long.  He's got some baby-fine blond hair and no eyelashes or eyebrows.  He is absolutely adorable, and so much fun.  I will write more later, I just wanted to post this picture that I took to show him off.  I am so in love with him!  Welcome to earth, Caleb!

Courage

Tomorrow I meet my new son.  Caleb is scheduled to be born via c-section on March 6, 2015 at 12:30 pm.  As long as everything goes according to plan, today is the eve of his birth.

He is my last baby, the conclusion to this chapter of my life.  He is what makes our family complete.

I am excited to meet him.  And, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous.  I am.  I always am.  I am thankful that I live in a time in which modern medicine and doctors and nurses have such knowledge and ability, and that I have access to their care.  I know that I will be in good hands, and that my baby will be in good hands.  That does alleviate my fears somewhat. It's difficult to imagine what other women of other times must have felt prior to birthing their own babies--or their husbands for that matter.  I know that Jon Mark is nervous as well.  He obviously doesn't like seeing me in pain.

I was watching the Mormon Channel today and I saw a video about courage.  It showed Esther preparing to approach the king.  You could sense that she was afraid, but she had a resolve about her. Her faith in the Lord gave her courage to do what she needed to do.  Then, the video showed three women of modern times.  Each of them had experienced something difficult.  One woman lost her husband in a car accident and she talked about how she had to find courage through her pain so that she could live life meaningfully in spite of it.  Her faith gave her courage.  Another woman had to find courage to quit her job.  The company she worked for had done some things which were contrary to her beliefs and she knew she needed to approach her boss about it and trust that the Lord would take care of her.  The third woman went through Cancer.  She said, "you never know how strong you are until being strong is all you have left." Each of them faced their trials with faith in the Lord, that all things were apart of a bigger plan, and that He was aware of them.  When we grasp this concept, how can we not find courage in even the hardest hours?

Millions of women have given birth before me, and millions of women will give birth after me. Giving life to another is not new, I am sure that women from all around the world have felt as I feel...

Delivering a baby is as exciting as it is scary. It is learning how to trust in others. It is as beautiful and heart-warming as it is self-sacrificing--which only adds to it's beauty.  It is seeing the great compassion in my husband and feeling his strength and love. It is putting someone else's life above my own and knowing that no matter what, that little life is precious and perfect and vulnerable, and that he needs me, his mother, as much as he needs his father. Giving birth requires courage--courage to do what is right for the baby, courage to accept the Lord's will, and courage to trust that God is in the details.  He is indeed in the details.

So, as Jon Mark and I embark on this "5th baby adventure" together, we will have courage in our hearts and we will soon hold even more love in our arms.  

33 Years Young

This year marks my 33rd year.  Crazy!  How did 33 years go by?  Well, I will tell you that 33 years passed me by about as fast as it takes for salt to dissolve in water.  Life has been good to me.  I have 5 children and a husband.  Our nights are never quiet.  My health is good.  What more could I want than that?  Jon Mark told the kids that I am 29 again for the fourth time.  This confused them.  He said that it was an old person joke.  So, does that make me old then?  I don't know about that, but I do know that no matter how old I get, Jon Mark will always be older, so the joke's on him!  :) 

Mercedes kept telling everyone that I was 23.  At 23 I was just getting married and starting a career that would last 2 years as a 3rd grade teacher.  That year, I worked my way into being in the best physical shape of my life (in preparation for the time in which I would get pregnant). I was hiking and running so frequently and the outdoors were my "quiet place". The year 23 was a good year, but so is 33.

Jessica is in town this week.  She called me to ask me what my birthday plans were.  I really didn't have any.  I had already had a birthday date with Mercedes (we got pedicures), and that was all I really wanted for my birthday.  She was so cute the way she giggled and laughed when the man massaged her toes.  She thought that it tickled.  She got so dressed up for our date and looked like a little lady in her long pink dress.  But, Jessica was very thoughtful and didn't want me to feel forgotten on my birthday, so she planned an evening at my house.  The McAvoy's came over and made me a breakfast dinner (which was my request).  We had eggs and bacon and a waffle bar.  It was super yummy and a lot of fun.  Jon Mark offered to pick me up a cake on his way home from work, but I told him that I just wanted him to come straight home so that I could see him sooner.  So, he put candles in my waffles and I blew them out.  I felt very loved. My parents and my in laws went in on getting me a blender for my birthday present.  I have been wanting a blender for quite some time now.  I am excited to use it.  We will also be celebrating my birthday with the Haws's on Sunday.  My mom is making Vanessa and I a cake of our choice and we will be sung to.  

You gotta love the pictures below.  Jaron totally photo-bombed the shot. :)

Joshua Drawings

Joshua usually draws something that has to do with a scene or an invention that he has made up in his head.  I think the first picture is a submarine, but I am not sure as to what was happening in the scene.  Joshua would have a very detailed explanation and be sure describe each little pencil mark.  Everything was made on purpose and everything serves a purpose, if that makes sense.

The other day, Mercedes missed Joshua and so she put together a gift for him and wrapped it in a grocery bag.  It held a sucker from her own candy stash, and some twisty ties from the grocery store because she thought he would like making something out of them.  She sure does know her brother.  She placed the present on his pillow and then got nervous that he would not like it.  She said, "what if he doesn't like my gift, Mom?"  I told her he would.  She was so excited to give it to him and she was even more excited when he reacted with gratitude.  In response, Joshua wrote Mercedes a sweet Valentine note.  Then, he made one for me and Jon Mark and placed it on our pillows.  It makes me so happy when I see my kids doing thoughtful deeds for one another.

Mercedes Drawings

Mercedes went through a short phase of drawing beach scenes and mermaids.  This is a picture of a beach with a rainbow seashell.  She is becoming very detailed in her artwork.

This is a picture of her and a friend at school.  

Luke Drawings

The kids always feel much better when I photograph their artwork before throwing it away.  Luke drew the following two pictures.  The first is, and I quote, "Jesus on a flying skateboard".  And, he made sure to write "letters" at the top so you would know what it was.

This is a picture of two people standing under a rainbow.  He has gotten pretty good at drawing and I have been seeing some great skill development.

Sunny Days, But Good Weather

Arizona is awesome in the wintertime/springtime.  The weather is perfect.  It's a daily routine of our to go outside and play at 4:00.  Our street is so quiet and full of kids, my kids always have playmates.  We don't really have to worry about cars, and we are located right next to a basketball court, sand volleyball court, and soccer field.  I really think we have the best location/lot for our house.

It makes me sad that our perfect weather days are coming to an end.  The kids are excited about swimming, but outdoor play will probably subside somewhat.  

Mercedes took this picture of me and Hannah.It's not the greatest, but she didn't cut my head off.

Mercedes likes being a big sister, although sometimes she doesn't like it so much.  Like at night time when they share a bedroom, she doesn't like when Hannah cries or comes over to her side of the room and takes her books.  She also doesn't like it that I gave Hannah her old cuddle bug.

That big round thing is my belly.  Just as an update: my family fasted for me and my placenta no longer poses a threat.  I heard the doctor mutter under his breath after checking me, "well, I feel much better about things now".  I do, too.  I have had some weird symptoms.  My right arm has been going numb randomly and often.  He says that the swelling in my body is causing a pinched nerve of sorts and it is common.  I also thought that I had broken my sternum.  It's not broken but he says I definitely harmed the cartilage or bruised it.  Neither symptom will really go away until after I have had the baby.  I can't be prescribed any anti-inflammatory medication until after I have given birth. Other than that, things are good.  I am down to four weeks and can't wait.