Thankful for Prayers Answered!

First off, some pictures!

 My happy baby smiling during some tummy time on the couch :) If you click on the picture you can weigh in on whether you think his eyes will be blue or not -- I'm convinced they are blue!

Sweet big brother smiling on a beautiful February day!!!

This may seem like a minor thing, but to me it was a much-needed reminder that nothing is too big or small for the powerful love of God to overcome!

The past month has been a doozy for the Dalgetys. The boys have had a vicious combination of allergies and viral pinkeye/respiratory issues that WOULD NOT GO AWAY. Every time I thought their virus symptoms were gone, one or the other would wake up with goopy eyes again and we had to start the treatment all over with both (and giving eye drops several times a day to a squirmy toddler is NOT fun). I ended up catching the virus too which came with a lovely sore throat. I ended up on antibiotics and this caused Aiden's thrush to get worse and I ended up getting thrush too. My mom even came for a few days to help out, and she got infected with the virus a few days later. I started feeling like we were all under house arrest to keep from starting a worldwide epidemic!!


The worst part was missing church and missing Bible study. It seemed like everything would come back at exactly the time to miss those things. I don't know what you believe about things like that but I started to feel like we were under some kind of spiritual attack. I was feeling very isolated and discouraged, and starting to get fearful about my children's health and doubtful about my ability as a mom.


Anyway, yesterday my sore throat got much worse, to the point that I was afraid I was getting strep throat. I could barely talk and I was afraid of how I would manage the kids because Mark is working today. I had already asked my community group to pray and some dear friends at church. I also called my parents and they prayed immediately right there on the phone. My throat did not feel better immediately but I prayed that God would heal me and help me to trust Him.

This morning I woke up with much less throat pain, praise the Lord! I think it is just an ear infection which is something that will either resolve itself or can wait until Mark's off days to take care of.


I'm thankful that God does not give us more than we can handle, and that sometimes even though I know I COULD handle more, I'm thankful that he gives me grace and doesn't MAKE me handle everything at once.

And I am SUPER thankful for praying parents & church family. I'm thankful that when we are weak, HE is strong. I hope this will encourage you to trust God to handle whatever stuff you're dealing with these days!



Aiden's Birth Announcement! (A little late...but it's done at least!)

Storytime Blue Baby Announcements

Find 100's of cute birth announcements at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

The piddly things I would buy...

There are a million little piddly things I'd like to buy on a daily basis. However, our money lately has been going to doctors' office visits and pharmacy copays. We have been to the doctor almost every week since Aiden was born! Gavin and Aiden have had pinkeye, not once but TWICE. I ended up catching it this last time, and I've also got some kind of sinus infection. Gavin has had an upper respiratory infection, Aiden had thrush (not sure but I think he's better), and Mark has had allergies/sinus problems. So ALL of us are on prescription medication right now!!!

Here are a couple of things I'd buy today if I had all that money to spend the way I'd like to instead of on all this health stuff (but praise God for insurance, doctors and medicine!)

1. Professional Family Photos...to capture moments like this without my husband in a grey T-shirt and without wrapping paper, clothes, etc. surrounding them.

2. A million open cardigans. SO comfy and it makes nursing easier.
 3. Comfy flats to look cute with my cardigans.

4. Crest Whitestrips. I could use the pick-me-up of a brighter smile!

Even though I'm wishing I could blow some cash on these frivolous items, I'm very thankful that we were able to pay for the doctor and I'm thankful for our health.

What piddly items would you buy with your spending money?

Some things I'm thankful for today :)

It's been a crazy week so far, but surprisingly that has made me realize just how much I have to be thankful for!!!
I'm thankful for snuggles with a sweet baby.
I'm thankful for other sweet moms who share advice and encouragement (including my friend Holly, other friends on Facebook and at Gavin's preschool, and especially MY mom!).
Also thankful for my sweet husband who speaks my love language in creative ways...earlier this week he bought me a Snuggie since we can never agree on a temperature in the house (obviously, I'm always cold and he's always hot). It's hideous and huge, but so warm and cozy. I LOVE IT. And yesterday he brought a Sonic Oreo Blast home for me from work...with hot fudge mixed in, which is exactly the way I like it. Little things like that totally make me feel loved. And Mark has helped me a lot with the sick boys this week which has been an enormous blessing - it seems like we have been to the doctor &/or pharmacy almost every week since Aiden was born!
I'm thankful that Gavin went down for his nap with no pacifier and no drawn out standoff of tears. And I'm thankful that he seems to be turning a corner after being sick all week (pinkeye and respiratory infection). And I'm thankful that he doesn't fight getting his eye drops quite as badly now that we are on day 4. And thankful that Aiden is actually very good about getting his eye drops (yes, he got pinkeye too...Gavin kisses him all the time so I guess he got infected before we knew that Gavin had it!). And I'm thankful that Mark & I seem to have eluded contracting the dreaded pinkeye!!! (My hands are raw from antibacterial lotion and obsessive washing!)
Thankful for possibilities and can't wait to see what God has for us in 2012...there are a couple of things I hope to be able to post about here soon but don't want to get ahead of myself!

Thoughts

Naptime :)

Aiden had his first "rough" night last night - due to congestion, he was up about every two hours. I can't find the nose sucker thing that actually works (does anyone know where you can buy one that works? The only one we have that works was from the hospital, and it seems to have disappeared. I'm tired of wasting my money on those smaller ones!). So anyway, my poor baby was struggling to breathe all night. Saline drops just weren't cutting it. Thankful that he seems to be breathing easier today.

Mark went back to work yesterday so this is my second full day of having both boys at home by myself (Gavin goes back to daycare on Monday for 3 days a week). It was a pretty good day! We even made it to our small group last night which was great since it's rare that Mark gets to come too and it was our first time there since the baby was born.

Today is going well so far too. I didn't go anywhere yesterday, but today I actually got both boys in the car and went and bought a Coke (don't judge!). Small victories :) Next I think I'll try the grocery store. Whew! Thankful for the beautiful 65 degree weather here today!

I'm also thankful and really excited that we got tickets to see JERRY SEINFELD at the end of this month!!! We saw him when we were dating and I laughed so hard I thought Mark would think I was a dork. It was a surprisingly hilarious and clean show! (I'm not always a huge fan of the Seinfeld show on TV...it has its moments but usually doesn't make me laugh out loud). We are going with some friends. I can't wait to laugh and have some fun time with grownups! I'm trying not to think about having to leave my children...but we have a sweet babysitter lined up who keeps our kids during small group and she is awesome. So I think she will do great.

2012 Word for the Year: GIVE

I read an article in Guideposts this month (thanks, Grandma, for the subscription!!!) about Debbie Macomber's tradition of focusing on one word each year (Here is a link to the article, "Choosing Words to Live By" - very inspiring!!!) I am often overwhelmed by the idea of New Year's Resolutions, but the idea of choosing just one word and making it a way for God to speak and help me grow all through the year is very intriguing...and a little intimidating!

Debbie made the point that the words that she has chosen over the years (or that she felt were chosen for her) were not always pleasant or easy. She chose words like "brokenness" and "hunger." To me these are brave words to lean into and learn from instead of running away from them or only wanting to think about "positive" words!

My word for 2012 is GIVE. I have felt a tug on my heart for some time now to be more generous - with my time, attention, service, and resources. Very often I have allowed fear and anxiety to prevent me from living generously. I have been guilty of trying to hold onto a false sense of "security" instead of living (and giving) with faith in my Heavenly Father to provide all my needs. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19


 I am praying that God will use this word in 2012 to change my heart and make me a more cheerful giver. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7


So, what will be your "Word to Live By" in 2012?

Aiden is Here! (Sorry for the late update!)

Aiden Peter Dalgety

Born 12/13/2011 at 12:46 p.m.

7 pounds and 20.5 inches

Aiden with his Nanas (he's still a little camera shy!)

Family Christmas Picture

Quality Time with Daddy :)