Happy Number 4!

Our little princess turned 4 on Saturday!  We didn't have a party for her this year, and it's a good thing we hadn't planned one, because mommy was feeling pretty awful that day.  I think Elliott even felt sorry for me, because after talking about her heart-shaped birthday pancakes for a couple days leading up to the big day, on the morning of her birthday she decided she didn't want them.  She wanted Fruit Loops instead.  Poor babe.  But Fruit Loops are a rare thing in our house, and she was perfectly happy with them!  

We were blessed with a beautiful day, and the one thing she asked for, like a million times, was to "please, PLEASE, please run barefoot in the grass."  Those were her exact words.  Over and over.  So we went outside, she took off her boots, and ran around in the grass with all the glee of a little girl reunited with her best friend (which, I suppose, the grass is.  She is such an outside girl.).

Her other best friend, Emma, did come over that afternoon to bring her a present and play for a bit.  

 Don't ask me what she's wearing or what's up with her hair.  This was her fourth or tenth outfit of the day, and I was beyond the point where I could care.  I told you I was sick.  That was a birthday bonus for her:  she got to wear what she wanted (which apparently took some deliberating - her room looked post-apocolyptic), and I didn't fuss with her hair once all day.  

Since I didn't take many pictures of her on her actual day, I thought I'd put a few random Elliott pictures here.  

 

We love you so much, you crazy, sweet, happy girl!!

before my very eyes

On Valentine's day, Kellen celebrated his 14th birthday.  I've had a front row seat while this

has become this.

 What a blessing and a privilege it is to watch this young man grow.  We love you, Kellen. 

Giving Thanks (or, What a Difference a Week Makes)

This has been an amazing week at the Gifford house, and I feel the need to take a moment and give God thanks for the crazy amazingness.  

To understand why this week is so great, you have to know how not-great last week was.  Last Monday, after months now of various tests, scopes and scans, we got the word that Wyatt has gall stones.  At the ripe old age of 11.  His GI doctor called to say he was referring us to a pediatric surgeon for the removal of his gall bladder.  Then last Wednesday, our dentist shows me Kellen's latest X-ray, and tells me he's referring us to an oral surgeon for the removal two impacted teeth. 

Surgeries for two of my kids was bad enough. But we were not prepared for the next curve ball, which we got at our 20-week anatomy scan/ultrasound last Thursday.  In addition to being told our little Cinco is a boy, we were told that he had two markers for Down Syndrome, and we were being referred to a high risk doc for a Level 2 ultrasound and possible amniocentesis.  Then on Friday and Saturday, we moved everything we own into a new house.

The Bible study I'm a part of has recently been discussing how God created us to be super at everything we do (with His help, of course).  I usually like to believe that - that with Him I am a super-mom, super-wife, super-friend, super being.  Last week, in the midst of the chaos of moving and the chaos of our lives, I felt decidedly un-super. What a difference a week can make.

This week started with a surgical consult for Wyatt, at which the surgeon told us that Wyatt's gall stones are shrinking and don't require surgery right now (or maybe ever).  Then on Wednesday, the orthodontist tells us that Kellen's impacted teeth are actually in a great position (as good as they can be, for being impacted) and he thinks they'll move right into place once the baby teeth are pulled.   No surgery for Kellen either.  

And finally on Thursday, we had our follow-up ultrasound and genetic counseling.  The Level 2 ultrasound measures 10 Down Syndrome markers, and our little Cinco had only one.  (He still has an echogenic focus in his heart, but his kidneys are no longer enlarged.)  With just one marker, my risk of having a baby with DS is no greater than any other woman my age, about a half a percent. 

What happened between last week and this one?  Prayer.  Lots and lots of it, from all directions.  Family, close friends, pastors.  

So our new house still has lots of boxes in it, and I can't find much of anything I'm looking for.  But I've certainly found one thing that I didn't have last week - peace.  And for that, I am so thankful.

it's a...

We're halfway through our journey to meet Baby "Cinco."  Today we had our anatomy scan ultrasound where we learned that Baby Cinco is......

 A BOY!

Miss Elliott will remain the reigning Princess Gifford.  She was pretty disappointed with the news, but I don't think it'll be long before she realizes how sweet it is to be the only girl.  Especially with four brothers to look after her! 

I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going, especially considering that I was pretty miserable for about 12 weeks.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that 20 weeks is a drop in the bucket compared to the 177 weeks of my life that I've now spent carrying children (Kellen - 39, Wyatt - 38, Elliott - 40, Cade - 40 and Cinco - 20).  Or maybe it's because the four who are already here are so full of life that I don't have a whole lot of time to ponder the fact that I'm actually pregnant.  I do know that the second half won't go as quickly as the first, especially since I won't have the holidays to keep me busy towards the end like I have with my January and February babies. 

Any way you look at it, we are so excited to meet Baby Cinco.  Now we just have to come up with a name for the guy.  Considering how long it took us to name Cade, we could be in trouble.  Maybe we ought to just go ahead and name him Delia (that's the name we had picked out for a girl).  I'm sure he'd forgive us, right?