Baby Time....Again!

Our announcement photo

This has been an interesting few weeks. Maraes second CI surgery was cancelled last minute because she came down with croup. That same week Noah got Pneumonia and we realized Noah had a scrotal hernia that needed to be surgically repaired. Luke also found out he has a torn meniscus and torn ACL that needs to be surgically repaired/rebuilt. A week after scheduling these surgeries and trying to manage a already very busy next two months, we got a little SURPRISE, we are pregnant again! We didn't try for this one. This was a BIG unexpected surprise, but we are excited. We have always wanted 4 kids and it has seemed that God has fostered that desire in our lives even through the chaotic and downright exhausting moments. So, our next and most likely last one, will be joining us in September.

So what now? Well, we live in a small three bedroom house so it's time to go house hunting. I'm really excited about this and though it will be a big responsibility to take on two mortgages, I think becoming landlords is going to pan out in the end. Land in Seattle is a good investment and though we may be breaking even this year, in the coming years we will eventually be turning a profit from a rental. Now we are in the process of determining what all we need to do to get our house ready for renters, and what we really want and need in our new house. Whatever the case we are praying hard that God would give us good direction to help us find the house we will raise the kids up in.

Tomorrow the first of our 3 surgeries will take place. Marae is healthy after isolating ourselves for three weeks. She'll have her second CI done at 11 am. I'm dreading this surgery just because my energy level is so low and I know its going to be a long few days. Hopefully things will go as well as last time... if not better. AND I'll be a bit more on top of the nursing staff making sure her meds are getting to her on time and before her pain gets ahead of her. I will be so happy when CI surgeries will be behind us for a while. At some point in her life she will probably need them redone but hopefully not for many many years.

February 16th we have our big ultrasound to check on the baby and the week after that is cram packed with Noah's hernia surgery and Marae's CI activation and multiple mapping apts, As well as apts with the childhood development counselor and surgeon. Very Busy!
Marae the Day before her second surgery



March 11th is the girls birthdays! We decided to go all out this year and throw them a pony party at a pony Farm in Woodinville WA. Pony rides, hay rides, face painting, bouncy houses, and petting zoo. 2 hours of chaotic fun for 15 little people. The grandparents are coming to town to help us celebrate the big 1 and 4 as well. Then the next week Luke will have his surgery. I'm really hoping and praying that when they get in there, his ACL isn't torn as bad as they think and that just maybe it wont need to be reconstructed. This is a far fetched hope but God is bigger than all this, so why not ask?! Then comes Luke's long recovery. BUT he will have lots of little helpers who already love to do stretches and exercises with him.

We would greatly appreciate many prayers for our upcoming apts, the surgeries and recoveries, our baby, and the many other things that need to be done in the coming months. Lots of details to work out but God is the master at managing details.