Trains, Helmets, and Memory Lane

I love three.

Full of mischief, excitement, and surprising comments; not a day goes by that I do not chuckle at Bryce. I adore this age....you know, minus the whining and destruction part.

Three years ago, he was this little bundle of ooey gooey goodness.

And now, he wants to wear a bike helmet to bed.

Opening presents in the morning.

After ripping open a present, Bryce would say "What's next?"

Kayden opening their joint present from Justin and Amber.

Birthday cake complete with working train, thanks to Gma and Gpa Bird.

All in all, a great day.

Dutch roots backfired

Birthdays were always made a huge deal growing up. My mom and dad always took great care to make us feel special on our big day. They still do. During teenage years, my mom even let me skip school to spend one on one time with her at Woodland Mall every November.

As I have gotten older, it is definitely more fun to celebrate the boys' birthdays than my own.

Great Wolf Lodge has become the place we gravitate to celebrate. Kayden requested it two years ago, and the tradition has carried down to Brycer.

The only problem: it is far easier to get a room mid-October than first of April.

The closest we could get was last weekend. We banked on staying two nights, but only booked one. Every other time we have gone, a slip has been placed under the door offering a great deal if you extend your stay to the second night.

Josh awoke at 7 am and headed to the front desk to partake in our good deal. $369 for the same room we had just paid $160 for. Guess we will have to book two nights next time. The Dutch roots backfired on me:-)

Kayden was so proud that he rode the slides by himself, and Brycer had a great time hopping the slides in the kiddie pool. Both boys favor the basketball hoops, although it was out of commission the first night after a Code AFR.

Upon leaving, Kayden burst into tears, wanting to know when we could visit again.

Overall, it was a great overnight trip to celebrate Bryce's upcoming birthday. Cannot believe my baby is about to be three years old!

Pet Peeve of the Week

Perhaps having the flu made me cranky, but these things annoyed me this week.

In descending order:

3. Wearing your sunglasses indoors. At ten o'clock at night. I might understand if we, you know, actually had sunlight here in Michigan.

2. Using text language in real life. Hearing WTH? or LOL or TTYL roll off a person's tongue just doesn't seem natural.

1. I am not opposed to dog sweaters, or canine clothes for that matter. I don't mind dog purses, but I don't love puppy strollers. What really annoys me most of all is....dog shoes. It just seems inhumane. I have yet to see a dog walking normally while wearing a pair of boots.

I suppose it could be worse, though....

I am guessing they are not Louboutins.

Something dawned on me tonight

Upward Basketball

Our Saturdays this winter have been spent watching Kayden play basketball.

One phrase has pretty much summed the experience: "Pass the Ball!"

We have quite the ball hog on our hands.

It is a process.

I could not be more impressed with the league.

Ever week at practice, the final few minutes are spent in devotions. Each child gets a Bible memory card. If they remember the verse, the next week they get a star to iron on their shirt.

Coming out of the "pre-game locker room"

As each kid gets their name announced, they run from behind the curtain. A spotlight shines on them, with smoke billowing as they enter. I think this is my favorite part. The never ending chaos of confusion of where to run provides a good laugh each week.

At half-time, a short devotional from the weekly verse is preached. I have really enjoyed the devotionals- the leaders have made them interesting and relatable.

After the game, more stars are handed out for Christ0like behavior, good defense, etc. A snack is provided in the "post-game locker room".

Kayden wore the uniform for three days straight when he got it. He loves this league, and I am so disappointed it is almost finished!

All Clear for Takeoff

My kids are absolutely fascinated by airplanes. All summer, we went to the Grand Rapids Airport overlook to watch planes. Many an afternoon was spent eating lunch on the grassy space south of the runway.

The treat of all treats came today, as a friend of the family took the boys up to the control and radar room. I can honestly say that I enjoyed more than they did! It is interesting to see what all goes into moving airplanes in and out.

In the tower, you can see for miles and miles--all the way downtown, and out to the smoke stacks on Port Sheldon. It was neat to hear the pilots talking to the tower and see airplanes taking off and landing first hand.

We also got to go into the radar room, which is unlike anything I expected. Completely black, with just the lights from the radar screens and clocks illuminating the room. I felt like we were on a space ship LOL

It was one day the boys will never forget! Kayden already asked me if we can go back on Monday, to which we told him this was a one-time deal.

This lady

ADVANCE NOTICE: I am about to get sappy.

I mentioned in my last post that this pregnancy has been an uphill journey for me. The support of my friends helped me tremendously.

I wanted to devote an entire post to these people, though. My parents.

Going in to egg retrieval, the doctor's knew there was a pretty good chance I would get really sick with OHSS. And oh, did I get sick. A good, solid 5-6 days of being sick. About three days into it, I could not keep any food down, so they wanted me to come in for an ultrasound and IV fluids.

I will never forget the love and support I felt as I was sobbing on my bed, and my parents loving embrace as they tried to comfort me. I was beside myself that, on top of all the money we had to pay, I might have to pay $1500 more to have fluid drained from my abdomen.

Time and again, they have stepped up to the plate to help me out. Only in my adult years have I learned that not all parents are like this. Not all parents will drop everything in their own life to support their kids.

Throughout these last few emotional weeks, my mom has been by my side every day to keep my mind off things.

Blessed beyond measure, I am.

A little late

...but I guess better late than never!

Christmas was weeks and weeks ago, and I just recently dusted off the old camera to take a peek at the pictures.


Unfortunately, this one represents Christmas all too well. Kayden playing keep a way with Bryce's pipe.

With Token (Amber and Justin's new dog). The kids are in love.

Papa and Grandma always spoil!

New Lego shoes from Justin and Amber

Yes, this was the best picture I got with my boys.

What color is the theme of the day?

So thrilled with their Legos!

Birthday Cake for Jesus

The best picture I could get of all five of them. Bryce was not.into.it. At all.

We had a great Christmas, and are so thankful for great friends and family, and especially Jesus birth over 2000 years ago.

A Year in the Making

Last year, I went to New York with Michelle and Katie. The second day there, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive.


I was thrilled.


Unfortunately, the day after we got home, it was confirmed that I lost that pregnancy.



I was crushed.


We decided to take six months off, and save some money for the IVF process. It has been a difficult road, to say the least. Day after day, I poured my heart out through a private blog, recording my feelings (and thankful for an outlet to vent about the process). As time went on, Michelle, Natalie, and Cara were so involved with cheering me on, crying with me, and uplifting me that it become my way of communicating with the three of them.


In the past few days, I have shared the link with more and more friends going through the process. It can be really helpful to know you are not alone, what to expect, etc. You are welcome to check it out here:


infertilitystruggles.blogspot.com


I am breaking precedence and outing myself early (I am 6 weeks, 4 days pregnant). I know all of you old school moms are cringing:-) But, I really feel like I need the prayers. Please pray for my acceptance of God's will for this baby, no matter what. 33 more weeks feels like a LOOONNGG time.

Our precious bean, Baby Birdie Number Three. Due October 1, 2011.

Pit Stop

When I was in junior high school, one of my mom's best friends was my Sunday School teacher. One week, she shared a story that I have not forgotten.

Her brother was a respected OB/GYN. After graduating, he felt the Lord leading him to work in low-cost clinics to help woman that could not afford proper medical care.

The clinic was so poor, in fact, that they did not have extra staff to spare a nurse's presence in the room for physicals.


One afternoon, he cared for a woman who ultimately accused him of assaulting her. Although my mom's friend knew he was not guilty, the high powered attorneys representing this woman shed a doubt over his innocence and he was sent to prison for many years.


She went on to explain that once her brother was convicted, her life went on hold. She likened it to a race track. God and life had continually gone around the circle, yet she felt like she was in a spiritual pit-stop. It took letting go of it all in order to continue her relationship with Jesus.


As uncool as it was (I was in junior high, remember), I choked back tears hearing her pain and being touched by the honesty in which she spoke of her spiritual struggles.


Little did I know it would be 16 years later I recalled it.

I can pinpoint my pit-stop exactly. Bryce contracting RSV; that was the moment for me. Until then, having a healthy child was a given. I carried the illusion that bad stuff would happen to someone else, not me.

Sitting in that hospital room, praying over his little body after being told they were uncertain if he would live or die. The ache I felt in those moments has left me paralyzed with fear for the past few years of my life.


Looking back, it's interesting to me how long ago that was and how blessed we have been since. Everything turned out okay, and yet I remain focused on fear instead of deliverance and gratitude.


I have felt frozen.

It felt that if I let go of control, God would not carry me. I realize control is an illusion, but there were certain things that I just wasn't willing to completely surrender.

I do not want to go into exact details, but these last few weeks have been really tough for me. It has made me realize my deep need for Jesus, in spite of everything else that I have grasped so tightly these past few years. That He is the only thing that matters.

I know, it is a weighty post for a Monday evening.

But if you are willing, I would love to hear about any pit-stops you have had in life. Any verses you used to get past them?

Hold me close, Lord. Don't ever let me go.

Fish Follow Up

One down, Three to Go...

Eleven Years

More than any other year, I have really gotten to "see" Josh this year.

I have had to rely on him in ways that I haven't in the past.

Lessons have been learned about how awesome he is as a leader, and just how much that man loves me.

The boys adore him, and I sincerely thank God that they have such a wonderful role model to look up to. If both of them turn out just like him, I would consider myself one lucky lady.

Thus far, they both have the basketball part down.

Unofficially titled "Why Josh is the Coolest Ever":

Even when he deserves to be, he is never critical. Never once has he told me my breath stinks, I look fat in a dress, or if I could please not wear my retainers to bed.

This summer, when my brother got married, almost every picture of Josh was of him engaged in an act of service for someone else- holding the door open, moving flowers, helping the minister out. Can you find him? :-)

Last Saturday, I went to Chicago with my mom and sister in law on the Amtrak train. Josh woke me up to make sure I got out of bed on time (with a back rub, none the less). A peeled orange was on my dresser for breakfast when I got out of the shower. When I came downstairs, Josh had my gloves and hat laid out for me, along with GPS directions in my phone for how to get to the train station and where to park.

I am humbled that God chose me to marry this man.

In an effort to lighten up this post, I have included a few pictures from years past. My digital camera only goes back to 2004, but here are a few favorites:

Yes, that is our dogs in a baby stroller. No, he did not take them for a walk.

Neglected

This blog has been neglected.

Partly because I have not had much to say.

Christmas concerts,

seeing the trains at Meijer Gardens,

lots of MMBG work,

seeing Santa, and all the other activities surrounding this joyous time of year have kept the Bird household very busy.

Hope your season has been as activity filled and happy as ours.

My handicapped fish

We have a 20 lb aquarium set up in our kitchen that housed 3 goldfish. We have had it for a few years, and I have found goldfish therapeutic. Sometimes, I put my face next to the tank and watch them scrounge for food or pick at each other's fins.


To my surprise, I noticed we had a handicapped fish. He was missing his left eye. As such, he became my special buddy--the one I consistently dropped food near. He needed an advantage, right?


At the Halloween Hulabaloo this year, my kids came home with 2 new fish to add to the aquarium. There also were about 15 additional fish left over that I took home.

If 3 are good, 20 are better, right?

Wrong.

Every last fish turned up dead within a week of Halloween. The Hulabaloo fish even wiped out my handicapped one.

The dismal sight of the empty tank had the kids begging for a trip to Meijers, but I thought the tank needed a breather. Actually, I needed a breather from netting them out.

Tonight was the night, however, as they were on sale. Marked down from 19 to 17 cents.

Kayden picked his out and quickly lost interest. Bryce, however, would not let that fish bag out of his tight grip. Sloshing the fish around, I think they hit every last aisle display on the way to checkout.

As we headed out to the parking lot, I heard the familiar splat of goldfish hitting cold concrete.

I am sure my fish are secretly calling Bryce Darla tonight.

Let's take bets, shall we? I give them a week.

When Mom and Dad are away

When Mom and Dad are away at Bible study, and Grandma and Grandpa come to babysit, this is what can happen:

Who would have thought? My kids don't usually "craft" with me, but they did an excellent job on these with my parents.

Now THIS is the kind of turkey I like- adorable and handmade:-)

I Hate Turkey

UPDATE: I thought it would be fun to update with the finished tree. I loved this idea and plan to make it a yearly thing!

The calendar flips to November, and my countdown to Christmas starts.

In years past, I have sailed right through Thanksgiving without giving it proper prominence. The orange around the house starts to look dusty and I long for the warmth of Christmas decorations to fill each corner and cozy up our home.

As I was reflecting on why I brush off Thanksgiving, a realization dawned on me.

I hate turkey.

I don't like the flavor of it, nor it paired with stuffing, yams, rolls, etc.

Seeing that the day seems to center around that big bird, I have come to detest "the eating holiday". A small annoyance on the route to the bigger and better holiday celebrating Christ's birth.

In an effort to remember the spirit of Thanksgiving, and what it really stands for, we have put up a Thanksgiving Tree. My friend Kirsten had the great idea, and I love creating a leaf each night and placing it on the tree.

It's not pretty, but it's helping me remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. So far, Kayden has put up "Grandma" as the thing he is most thankful for and Bryce's was Mommy.