Sickness and Photoshoots

This has been a very interesting week so far.

On Sunday evening Merek started to feel sickly and within an hour she had a fever of 104.7 and could barely walk. Everything immediately became about keeping whatever she had away from Dexter. So in-between every interaction with Merek we were scrubbing and Lysol-ing and washing our hands before handling Dexter. It was a tad but chaotic. After a few hours of this her fever finally came down enough to be able to sleep. She never really complained about anything specific feeling bad she just was immobile from the fever. Thankfully the next morning it continued to come down and she has been fine since Monday. Strange to say the least.

Then the next day the princess decided she wanted to take pictures. So that's exactly what we did. I took her downtown to the old train station (one of my favorite places in town) and she posed the afternoon away. I did have second thoughts about the whole thing when we were getting ready to leave and a scary gentleman on a bicycle started circling where we were and watching a little to closely for my comfort. So we quickly got into the truck and left much more quickly than we came. But all in all I got some great shots and she was very happy with them.

Unfortunately this is the one time of the year when Ryan has to travel for work and the last two times he washout of town one or more of us were sick. Perfect timing. But thankfully he was here to help with the very sick little princess. She really does adore her daddy.

On another note we are getting excited about the warmer weather and even more excited about events to come. Our birthdays and anniversary are coming quickly, the Dean's are coming down from Iowa and we will finally get to meet out newest niece Leeza and see Jo, Grace, and Kasia as well. AND Dexter seems to think he is a superhuman baby and is already supporting his own wieght while standing and sitting up! Gracious!
Also coming up on march 14th is Merek's entrance exam for Grace in the fall. We are SO excited that we have the ability to send her there and cannot wait to see what is in store for her!

My Reasons

Today I am finding myself so blessed. Being a mother is the greatest gift my God has given me. Looking back I can remember thinking I would never have children and now I see that Gods plan was quite obviously better than my own. My sweet children have given me so much joy and love. They have taught me what true unconditional love means. I think before I understood what it meant to feel love for my family, friends and even myself but when I held Merek in my arms for the very first time and looked into her sweet steel blue eyes I finally realized what love was. And then when Dexter was born and at the sound of my voice he stopped crying and stared up at me my heart grew to double its previous size. 

Without those precious children my life would be so different. Not just physically different but literally I would be less of a person. I would obviously get more sleep, worry less, and have more time for me. But without my children I literally wouldn't have a purpose or direction. 

When I first discovered I was pregnant with Merek my world turned upside down and until she was almost six months old it stayed that way. But when I was free to see her beauty and her sincere love I realized that God really does give SO much good out of something we perceive as bad. She was my good. She was and still is my reason for getting out of bed every morning. And now that I have Dexter those feelings are ten fold. I want nothing more than to raise them to the best of my God given abilities. To watch them grow and learn and love. I thank my sweet and wonderful Lord everyday for the two beautiful gifts he gave me, and for the amazing husband He allows me to raise them with. Ryan is my rock and the best friend I have ever had!

I look back a few years and I am amazed at how much changed and how much I grew in such a short time. I would not have it any other way because in a few minutes a beautiful little girl with a heart the size of Texas will come walking down the hall asking for a snack and a sweet baby boy will wake up from his nap and want me to hold him. How on earth could it get any better than that!!!