Remembering April 9, 2012

Do you have a day that left a scar/wound in your life? Unfortunately, this question is answered with a yes to often. A day that left an impression in our family's life is April 9th. Our second child was suppose to make his/her arrival on that special day. Instead, we're reminded that our child is in Heaven with our Father. Since August when we found out we had miscarried, my emotions as well as Logan's have been all over the place. Thankfully, we had support from our doctor, family, friends, counselor, church, & most importantly our Savior. This life is definitely not easy at times. But we can rely on our faith to know we are not alone. As most of you know, we experienced another miscarriage very soon after this one. I know both of our little ones are in Heaven. Miscarriages are hard on anyone no matter if you are the mother or the father. It causes you to become initiated into a group that you pray to never be a member. I want this experience to help me become a better Christian, wife, daughter, mother, & friend. Miscarriages are all too common. Many people experience this tragic loss but may only let it be known when someone close to them experiences the same tragedy. I want to do the opposite. May God use this time in my life to help others. Logan & I also decided to sponsor a child through World Vision that had the same birthday as our second child (April 9th). His name is Dickson (I've posted on the blog previously about him) from Zambia. We enjoy sharing the gospel with him & knowing Stryker will have someone to write in the future. He is part of our family & hopefully will be able to meet him one day. April 9th will forever be a day heavy on our hearts but God has a plan for all of this. As for as we are concerned, our family consists of our son & baby Green as well as our two children in Heaven. We may never know exactly why we lost two children but excited about welcoming a baby in October.

There is a song that always makes me think of our experience & how I cried out to God for Him to intervene in a different way. He is always with you no matter the circumstance, good or bad.

"The Same God" by Newsong

Back to the wall, scared you'll fall

What you going to do

Day and night,

Don't know why its like the world's against you

You're praying for a breakthrough

There was a day

When your faith couldn't be held down

God was near enough to hear every word

But somehow you wish He heard you right now

Don't you know

The same God who was with you then is with you now

The same God who led you in will lead you out

So take all the fear and doubt

Go on and lay them down

The same God, the same God is with you now

Can't you see

Everything happens for a reason

There's a time, there's a place

For every season

He knows what's best for you

So don't be afraid

The same God who was with you then is with you now

The same God who led you in will lead you out

So take all the fear and doubt

Go on and lay them down

The same God, the same God is with you now

Just keep holding on

Oh keep holding on

The same God who was with you then is with you now

The same God who led you in will lead you out

So take all the fear and doubt

Go on and lay them down

The same God, the same God is with you now

Baby Green: 14 wks & 3 days

We've made it 14 complete weeks pregnant!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1

Our last doctor's appointment was Tuesday (April 24th). Anxious & worry consumed my thoughts over the days leading up to the appointment. The Bible verse below is something I would repeat numerous times a day to calm my fear of what might happen on Tuesday. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

Logan & I rode together to the hospital with my hand gripping his, not saying much, & wanting the next hour or two to come fast. I read my Bible on my phone to keep me calm in the waiting room (well, as much as possible). We were called back for the routine check-up that consists of urine test, weight, temperature, & describing any problems. Logan & I were both hoping for an ultrasound to confirm that all was well with Baby Green but unfortunately we'll have to wait a few more weeks. A nurse led us to a room where she asked me to lie down in order to check the heartbeat. Logan stood beside me while the doppler head was placed on my tummy. The nurse asked if we had successfully heard the heart last visit. We gladly said yes & informed her we were only 10 weeks along at the time! She began remembering I carried our first child low & knew she would find the heartbeat lower than normal. After several minutes (I'm sure it might have only been 1-2 minutes), I started to panic looking at Logan's face as well as the uncertain expression of the nurse. She attempted to calm our fears by explaining that it can take several minutes to find the heartbeat depending on the location of baby & made sure that we would have an ultrasound if she wasn't able to find it quickly. I began closing my eyes praying for patience/comfort when I asked the nurse to try lower on my abdomen. She agreed & was able to successfully find baby's heartbeat!! A strong 167! (For those of you who are automatically thinking it's a girl because of the fast heart rate, think again - Stryker's was high as well). Thank you Lord! She allowed us to listen for several minutes to relax as she  told us to inform future nurses how extremely low I carry my children. You would think with my long torso that I wouldn't have that problem. Stryker didn't have much room & I guess this baby won't either! Can't treat our children different, right?! Dr. Adcock entered the room moments later to let us know how wonderful the pregnancy is progressing. He removed my restrictions with the understanding of staying smart. Plan of care: May 8th appointment to discuss beginning & learning how to administer our weekly shots to hopefully prevent premature labor (say a prayer that Logan will be able to administer them), May 29th appointment for the gender ultrasound! It's nice to know your doctor personally. It made me realize that he was not concerned about another miscarriage at this point since he was able to shoot the bull with us for a few minutes. We're very thankful for his knowledge & aggressive treatment during this pregnancy. 

What? Stryker gets in trouble at school?!

Coco picked Stryker up from school yesterday because of our doctor's appt (more on that later). As she walked into his classroom, she spotted Stryker standing very still facing the wall along with 2 other boys while the rest of the class participated in an activity with the teachers. "Oh, looks like someone got in trouble," said Coco. Mrs. Kelley (Stryker's main teacher) agreed. Stryker immediately smiled & ran over to Coco giving her a big hug. Mrs. Kelley told Coco that she felt so bad because this was the first time Stryker has ever been in trouble at school. Stryker then ran to Mrs. Kelley for a hug. She told Coco that it was difficult to punish him because he is such a sweet child. Logan & I both "discussed" this little incident with Stryker last night but he kept smiling, saying "nawww", & changing the subject. If anything, I'm thankful that this was the reason he was in trouble & nothing worse. We all know how hyper boys can be.

Day Out with Thomas

Saturday (April 14th) was "Day Out with Thomas" in Calera. We left that morning in plenty of time, we thought...Traffic was bad & we walked up to find our train racing down the track. Thankfully, the train station was able to switch our tickets for the next available time about 30 min later! We used that time to participate in the other activities.

playing in the train station

Train sets & lego tables under a big tent for the children.

building with daddy

All aboard!

Love my family

Stryker received a Jr. Engineer certificate!!!

playing in the sand box (we had to get him out later when he wanted to throw the sand to see how far it would fly - such a boy)

Bubbles!!!

riding the outside train (we sat directly behind the conductor)

my 2 handsome guys

More yummy cookies

More yummy cookies from the Great American Cookie Company!

He would take a bite off his baseball cookie & then scrape icing off other cookie to have between bites!

showing mom the bright green icing

The 2 cookies before Stryker got a hold of them

Easter 2012: Part III

Happy Easter from the Green family!

We attended church with Logan's family in Oneonta because Isabella got baptized! After church, we ate lunch & had an egg hunt for Stryker at Pawpaw's.

family of 3 (soon to be a family of 4!)

my guys riding the 4-wheeler

Isabella & Stryker playing ball in Pawpaw's front yard

acting silly

Isabella & Stryker

Love that face! Grandmomma gave Stryker some candy & the Chipmunk's movie.

hunting eggs

The afternoon was spent at home with Coco & Fletch. We made snacks & homemade ice cream. Stryker loves to help Coco make the ice cream. Coco gave Stryker a chalkboard for Easter.

Stryker showing off his drawing skills for Coco

How many guys does it take to hang the chalkboard?!

Notice how crooked it is (compliments of Fletch)?!

This is perfect (I aligned this one). Can you tell how OCD I am?!

I might say Stryker dropped this egg, but it was actually Coco!

Watching the machine go around & around.

Logan's 33rd birthday: Part II

I gave Logan an early birthday present back in December (too excited to surprise him later)...tickets to the Casting Crowns concert!!!! We had a busy, fun-filled day especially since it was our first Saturday that Logan was off. Our church's egg drop was earlier that day followed by playing outside at home with Stryker. Coco came to the house around 5pm to keep Stryker while we enjoyed our date night/birthday celebration! We had amazing seats (about 5 rows up from the floor & on the end for my hubby's long legs).

my happy hubs

Lindsay McCaul

Royal Tailor

Matthew West
Never knew how comical he is! Want to tell you a story that he told us...

He was playing "Lifeguard" in the pool with his 6 y/o & 3 y/o daughters. It's a game where he swims out into the pool & fakes drowning. He then will yell, "lifeguard," so his 6 y/o daughter can come save him. After numerous times, the game changed causing Matthew's daughter to teach him a Biblical lesson without intention. He began calling for her help to save him. Her eyes began widening as she struggled to figure out a way to get to him. A couple of minutes past before Matthew realized that he had drifted into the deep end (note: his daughter cannot swim in the deep water). She finally told him, "come a little closer & I'll save you." It immediately hit him that this is a lot of people's mentality to God. If you come a little closer (do better things, read more of the Bible, etc), then God will save you. This is not the case. Come as you are. God gave His life for us. He is ready & willing to save your life at any point.

Casting Crowns

"Come to the Well" by Casting Crowns

"If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns accepting their AMA/Dove award since they were unable to attend the ceremony.

Easter 2012: Part II

Saturday (April 7th) was our church's helicopter Egg Drop at Cullman's fair grounds. Stryker definitely showed his competitiveness during the egg drop. That's my boy! (Can you tell I'm very competitive?!)

My buddy

Here comes the helicopter!

dropping the 25,000 eggs

Logan & I had to pick the candy off the ground because Stryker was only determined to grab the eggs no matter if they were half or whole.

proud of all the eggs he got

showing one of his Sunday school teachers all the eggs

In the toddler tent, playing at the sand table. I think more sand ended up on the ground than remained on the table!

Ball Pit!!!! He would literally dive into the pool of balls!

No fear!