this is how my heart behaves

I was going to post about our Christmas, but that seems and feels completely irrelevant right now. I will soon, just not today. Instead, I wish to express my deepest feelings - in all seriousness. Joking aside. A dear, dear friend of mine is due with her first baby on January 17th. Just a few weeks ago, they discovered that her sweet baby girl would be born with a major heart defect that would require surgery soon after birth. Success rates of the surgery gave much needed hope. Silver lining to the dark clouds. Yesterday, the situation deteriorated in a matter of hours and an emergency c-section was preformed (at 37 weeks - full term). The heart defect was worse than anyone had anticipated; her tiny heart was just not strong enough. My friend's dear little one only lasted a few short hours on this earth before passing on.
I am devastated. My friend is such a magnificent person; it pains me to think of her tremendous loss. I know how much she longed to experience motherhood. I know how much she had been looking forward to the day when she would be able to hold her baby in her arms. I cannot comprehend what my friend must be feeling at this time; if my heart is breaking, I cannot imagine how hers feels. Many tears have been shed for her today. The only consolation is the knowledge of eternal families. If not for that, I do not know how anyone could rise above such painful circumstances.

If there is room in your heart and change in your pocket, please click on the REMEMBERING ELLA link below. The family is struggling to find the necessary funds for the funeral.

REMEMBERING ELLA

be merry

one hundred percent

December 22nd was SUPPOSE to be the ultrasound where we found out baby number three's gender. But since we already found out, December 22nd was the ultrasound where we were one hundred percent certain our baby is a boy; we had only been ninety nine percent sure before. I would have been concerned if certain parts had disappeared... So, as much as is possible right now, we "introduce":

Daniel Liam Root

And here is mommy at 4 months...

He's a kicker...

something

I finally have SOMETHING worth blogging about. A couple things, actually. First and foremost, Robert GRADUATED! He received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Arizona State University. I talked him into walking at convocation, which was held on Dec. 16th (my birthday). Second, my birthday. I turned 25; it feels no different than 24. But it IS weird to think I am a quarter-of-a-century old. Robert and I went out for dinner and a movie. Childless bliss (I love my children. I also love breaks). Third, friend play-date. A friend, Nadene, is visiting AZ for Christmas. A group of friends took advantage of her trip home and held a play-date for us and our little ones. 5 friends. 8.5 babies (though one was a friend's nephew). It was... tiring. entertaining. FUN. Now... to survive the remainder of this week...
Please disregard my painful smile in the birthday picture...

oops

Sometimes I forget I have a blog. Sometimes I just don't want to make the effort. Sometimes I feel guilty for not posting; I know how disappointed I get when I visit blogs that are not updated. I would share our latest and greatest with you, but I have not touched my camera since Thanksgiving. Seriously. Not once. Concentrating on Christmas decorating, Christmas treat making, Christmas presents (minus one person, DONE!), etc. I am also working on something special (which I will share with you VERY soon). In the meantime, skip over us for today. Check back in a few days... we will resume our photo-filled fury SOON (we have a lot of fun stuff coming up).

Oh, and if any of you are curious as to my creative use of words while blogging, I use an online thesaurus more often than not. There. Spilled my literary secret.

Dang. Now I am craving this...