It was one of those mornings where I was trying soothe Nora with a bath, take a shower, brush my teeth and hair, give Nora her medicine and a bottle, get dressed, and clean up the kitchen all at the same time. Add to that, I needed to somehow get to Bible study by 9:30. It seemed like I should have some quick-paced, old fashioned piano music as the soundtrack such as in silent films. I somehow managed to get it all together, walking in only minimally late (I think?). It was, of course, another great message and I was so glad to have put forth the effort of getting there–even if my hair was still wet and hurriedly tied back in a bun!

Nana and Nora hung out for the day. Nora’s cold is still lingering on. Hopefully the breathing treatments are helping her. She’s in GREAT spirits otherwise and had a terrific day of milkies intake! Here are pictures from today:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
( Romans 12:12 NIV)

The news story about Beautiful Beginnings Birth Photography (that we were interviewed for) aired this evening on WCPO. I think I speak for everyone involved that Channel 9 did a great job of acurately portraying Melanie and Kelly’s amazing birth photography.

I’ve tried to embed the video of the segment into this post but can’t quite figure it out. So here is a link to the story. There is a VIDEO link on that page. Obviously, click that to watch it.

I got so teary seeing those pictures of new baby Nora, knowing they were being broadcast all over the tri-state. The raw emotion, the agonizing uncertainty of one moment to the next. I then got teary at the realization of how far we’ve come from that day. I went from not knowing if my baby girl was going to take her first breath to having a baby girl that “happysqueals” so loud, I wonder if she’s waking the neighbors. WHAT. A. MIRACLE.

Awhile back Melanie had posted a few pictures from the photo shoot she took of our family at the end of September. I wanted to share the slideshow of some more of those incredible photos:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I meant to post this yesterday, alas…

(Greta)

I love that her running mate is a cat! How could this world not be a better place with a kitty cat as Vice President??

I’ll be the one driving around with the “Don’t blame me, I voted for Greta” bumper sticker.

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I hate to abruptly shift gears to a not so funny topic, but Nora seems to have come down with another cold. There does not appear to be that many boogies associated with this one, but we had a little bit of a scare this afternoon. Our home care nurse that comes to visit every other week noticed a little bit of wheezing when she listened to Nora’s lungs. This was yet another instance of the right people being in the right place at the right time. Because of a conflict in schedules she didn’t make it to our house last week and came this week instead. With this knowledge we immediately made an appointment with our pediatrician who was able to see us right away – during his lunch hour, no less! After a breathing treatment, Nora’s lungs sounded much better. Her color is great, she’s eating great, and she’s in good spirits. What baby “happysqueals” when they’ve got a stethoscope pressed up against their chest!!?? We were sent home with a prescription for some more breathing treatments in the hopes that this will all be cleared up by Friday. I pray that it will.

Pictures from today:

I was able to get out for a little bit this evening with some girlfriends from the ‘hood. Obviously it wasn’t a “wind up at Waffle House at 3 am wearing sombreros and ponchos” kind of night, 😉 but we had a good time, none the less! Missed you girls!

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PS – If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, there is a news story featuring our awesome photographer with Beautiful Beginnings Birth Photography. We were interviewed for the piece. It airs Thursday evening on Channel 9, WCPO during the 5:30 segment. I hope I don’t sound like a bumbling idiot — I was nervous, add to that a mourning dove that repeatedly kept crashing into our window over and over and over again while the cameras were on. First and only time THAT has ever happened!! Thank goodness for editing!! But just incase, I apologize in advance, Mel!!

Monday

Oh, hi! I just woke up!

I think I like baffs a lot.

And milks.

Did I mention baffs? I'm voting for baffs.

Tuesday

Good morning!

I've been thinking about changing my vote (and my diaper).

I'm going to go on ahead and vote for milks.

Mommy and Daddy are tired. Mommy will write something tomorrow! Goodnight! I love YOU!

The other day I received an email from a woman I have never met who is a follower of the blog. I was especially touched by her message to me after I had written to her about a story she had shared with me about the sad loss of a little boy named Ty. With her permission I felt compelled to share her email:

Aleisa,

It’s bittersweet, isn’t it, how the worst of circumstances bring out the best in people. While I’m not involved personally in either your story or Ty’s, I think that one of the things that has given me the most comfort as I’ve seen your stories unfold from afar is to see how much love has been showered upon your families; both from those you know and those whom you have never met. I also think it helps remind me how much more we have in common than we sometimes think. So often it’s easy to see how we all differ -particulary in these highly polarized political times. Coming from the Jewish faith, I seek G-d through a different path than you. I live in an entirely different part of the country. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have fairly different political points of view. I am not a wife, nor a mother. Of all the things that we often consider the cornerstones of our identity, we share few obvious threads. However, as I read your writings, as I look at your photographs, and as I gain an ever growing window into who you are, it becomes clear how much those things don’t always matter. I believe that your story has touched people across political, religious, and societal spectrums because of the love you have for your family and the strength you find in yourself through them and your faith. You call Nora your prophetess, and that may be true, but you gave life to her body, and a voice to her journey; you are no less of a prophet than she.

I hope that you continue to find strength in G-d, your family, and the wide support network that you have been blessed with. I hope that in times of setbacks and frustrations you can remind yourself of the admiration that you’ve earned from so many. On those days, when you feel that Gavin and Greta may not get as much of your attention as they deserve, remind yourself that the joy that radiates from their faces in every picture is proof of the love they feel. As Nora continues on her journey, in whatever directions it may go, please remember that each day, hour, and breath of life that she has on Earth is a direct result of you making one of the most selfless decisions a person can be asked to make.

I wish all the best to you and your family.

Amy

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Sidenote: Amy explained, “In the Jewish faith, we traditionally omit the o when writing G-d’s name in a non-prayer capacity as a sign of respect.” And out of respect to Amy, I’ve left her letter just as she’d written it. (incase you were curious, as I was.) 🙂

Her letter revealed to me the great magnitude that God is really at work in my life. I’m joyful that the generous heaping of love which has been bestowed on my family from all of you is so obvious to someone on the outside looking in. I’m humbled that Nora’s story has crossed any possible cultural, social, political and religious barriers, proving the divine venation through which we are all connected. All the more evidence of God, as I certainly can’t take credit for any of the glory. Thank you again, Amy for your letter.

Pictures of Nora from today:

An afternoon visit from Nana & Papa!

Hanging out with Daddy while Mommy and the big kids went to see a movie!

Here is a picture I forgot to include yesterday. Someone got themselves tired on the way home:

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (John 15:5-7 NLT)

Thursday

Nora spent the day with Nana while I went to Bible study and then took a luxurious nap followed up with teacher conferences for the big kids in the evening. Thank you so much, Mom for staying the entire day long!

Friday

Today we busted out of the house and took a road trip to my sister’s (Aunt Sarah’s) house. Everyone in her household was certifiably cold-free so our Mom, Nora and I made a day of hanging out with Sarah and little Keira (aka Bonnie). Sooooo nice to get out on this beautiful day!

We like milks.

Although we had a delightful day together, my heart was saddened this morning to learn of the sudden passing of a friend from long ago. My prayers are with his family, especially his teenage son.

Wish I had time to write more, but I am completely exhausted!

For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NLT)

Happy Halloween from Nornor, Greta and Gavin!

It's my first Halloween!

They are now nestled all snug in their beds (except for Nora who may have decided she’s not going to go to sleep tonight!!??)

Tricks or treats? Mmmm... No thanks.

I'll have milks or baffs, please.

All the costumes are put away, colored hairspray washed down the drain, and battery operated jack-o-lantern candles turned off. The smell of roasted pumpkin seeds, banana bread, homemade chicken soup and WD-40 linger in the air. The result of a cooking/baking frenzy and a desperate attempt to remove a “theatrical scar” from Gavin’s cheek when it was discovered that the “Cinema Secrets Makeup and Adhesive Remover” nonchalantly referred to in Step 4 was conveniently sold separately from the “Cinema Secrets Special FX scar kit”. Good thinking, Cinema Secrets people!

Nora wanted nothing to do with a cold, rainy Halloween night and bid her brother and sister farewell as they headed out into the neighborhoods with their chaperoned groups of friends. Her  warm baff was the “treat” she was indulging in when her damp and frozen siblings returned a couple hours later laden down with several pounds of candy. They were each eager to get out of their costumes and right into bed. They probably would have have done just that without any concern about any face makeup or how it might affect their bed sheets. Thank goodness for moms! And showers!

Greta’s bedtime routine involved the extra step of putting her tooth under her pillow — the first tooth she’s ever lost!  It was actually a little witch who lost her tooth while she was getting ready this evening! I helped Greta compose a sweet note to the fairy (only because it was screaming late) to which hopefully the tooth fairy will respond!

The little mermaid has finally fallen asleep and now so must I! First I need to make sure the front door is unlocked so the fairy can get in.

Goodnight and we hope your Halloween was happy!

Pictures from yesterday:

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
(Psalm 3:5 NIV)

Happy smiles from Nornor today.

We’re thinking and praying for those in the path of the storm.

The Lord  is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
(Psalm 9:9 NIV)

It’s so nice to have this sweet little bundle of love to distract us from our sadness about Patches. Nora’s sweet smiles ands squeals can brighten the grayest of days. Gavin and Greta seem to be doing fine. They openly have talked about Patches throughout the day. We all agree that we miss her, but we’re glad she’s in heaven now and free from any terrifying seizures. I’ve had a few quiet moments to myself when I got pretty upset. It’s her little footprints still all over in the carpet,  the curtains outside of our bedroom that she was always hiding in just the way she left them, the label that Greta taped above a food dish that reads “Patchy Poo”. These are the things that have tugged the hardest on my heartstrings today and I can’t believe she’s really gone. There is, however, a definite sense of peace. I awoke this morning with the feeling that Patches was so grateful to be free of her seizures. It was a comforting thought.

Here is a video of Nora and Greta this morning.

They really are that crazy about each other! Absolute sweetness!

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
(Romans 13:8 NIV)

It’s been a long, sad day for us. William, Gavin and Greta spent the night last night in a fort they built in the basement so they could be with Patches. I went down this morning to spend some time with her, petted her and loved on her. She loved to bury her head in my hand, where she stayed for a little bit before wandering over to the window to check on the bird feeder. She licked her paws and then made her way over to her food dish. The tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that was going to be her last meal. She had no idea. In these moments it was easy to trick ourselves into believing she was completely fine.

I stayed home with Nora while William took Patches to the vet with Gavin and Greta. The kids wanted to go and we felt that was the best thing to do. There was no sense in trying to sugar coat any of this and felt that being honest was the best route to take. A little while later they arrived back home and set to work digging a grave in our backyard. I was standing in the back window watching their progress when suddenly from around the corner came my little girl stoically carrying her beloved Patches to her final resting spot. I could tell through the glass that William was as taken off guard as I was, but he allowed her to gently place Patches down next to the grave. There I was standing in the warm house, not wanting to go outside because I was afraid to see the lifeless body of the cat who had always been so full of personality. In stark contrast, there was my little Greta taking care of and loving her pet up until the bitter end as if that was just part of her job. She helped wrap Patches in a soft towel before they lowered her onto her familiar cat bed that was resting at the bottom of the grave. They held hands in prayer before gently covering her with the earth. 

Gavin and Greta’s childhood innocence was so beautiful in those moments. Heaven is so tangible and real to them. It’s not just a concept or a theory. Their minds aren’t marred by the cynicism of this world and I wished I could share in their blissful innocent perspective. I hadn’t anticipated that Greta would be the one comforting me when she spotted the tears in my eyes later in the day, “It’s hard to say goodbye to Patchie, isn’t it, Mommy. It’s okay.” (Oh, LUMP in throat!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The gloomy afternoon was brightened by a visit from the sweet woman I met in the grocery store a few months ago after she recognized me from the blog. Suzie made a special trip to our house to bring a special stuffed animal kitty for Greta. The kitty used to belong to her daughter Kayla who was now away at college. They had discussed the matter and both agreed that they would like for Greta to have the kitty. Greta graciously accepted the gift and it has not left her side all day. Thank you, Suzie and Kayla for your kindness!

William and Nora hung out here at the house while the other kids and I went to Crossroads (church).

We’ve finally gotten into the routine of going back to church, but we have to do it in shifts since we can’t bring Little Miss with us. I’m so happy just to be there regularly, but I do miss having my hubz by my side. As we headed back out to the car afterward the remnants of a beautiful sunset illuminated the sky, three birds of course flying overhead. In the blink of an eye the infusion of pink faded to gray and the long, exhausting day had officially come to an end.

About Nora’s heel. It looks way, way better today. The reason there was so much bruising is because they had to squeeze a lot of blood from it (about 4 mL). There were other tests that needed to be done as well in addition to the genetic test. Rest assured, it definitely looks better and she’s never appeared to be in any pain except for during the procedure itself.

More pictures from today:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 18:1-3 NIV)