Did You Get a Push Present?

I took care of someone the other day that was asking about a "push present" (while they were pushing, ha!) They'd recently heard of it, and were asking me if I had ever heard of it. Working where I do, of course I've heard of it! I have had this conversation so many times. The woman mentions it, the husband thinks it something that SHE made up in order to get something new. And I always side with the lady, confirming that the push present is for real. It's actually a much bigger deal in other countries. Which I found kind of ironic, being that we Americans are probably the most spoiled of all people in the world.

Have you ever heard of a push present? If not, it's a present a woman receives after having a baby, or... after pushing out the baby. Yes, I understand that not all women "push" their babies out. It's just the name of the gift. I didn't create the name... I just received one. ;) See, not making it up.... Lots of people haven't heard of one. Lots of people also think it's ridiculous, and a lot of people think it's a great idea. I've heard it all. Trust me, I work in it... so, I'm serious, I have heard it all. :)

I did want a push present, but I didn't want something big and extravagant and ridiculous. Although, carrying a human around for 9 months and then pushing it out of my body, was certainly no walk in the park. Even if I'd never had a kid, I really truly believe that a woman deserves SOME kind of recognition or appreciation gift (from her spouse or significant other) for doing just that. Just my thought. Think what you may. Anyway, Derick also liked the idea, so we thought long and hard on my push present before Jake was born. In fact, I thought so long and hard, that I didn't go pick it out until after he was born.

I wanted something that every time I looked at it, I would remember it. I wanted it to be important and not just like flowers that quickly die, or a gift certificate that I would spend and forget what I got. I wanted something that would last.

My push present

My push present was this Pandora charm bracelet. I've seen tons of these, and they're SO cute when they're all filled up. I've known people to get theirs filled up really quickly. But I didn't wanna do that. I wanted mine to be first from Derick, and then after that, we decided that when Jake "got" me a present for the holidays, he would get me charms. Each one means something. So, not only did I get the bracelet with three charms to start out with (the baby carriage, the light blue bead, and the J) for my "push present", but each time I get another charm, it means something. And I can look down and know for what occasion each little charm was for too. The first three and the bracelet itself, were for Jake's birth and Valentine's Day. The one that says "mother" on it, was for my first mother's day. The purple-stoned one, I got for my birthday. It's amethyst, Jake's birthstone. All the others are a mixture of birthdays and holidays from then till now. I know what each of them are for, and each one makes me smile. The most questioned one is the owl. I guess it doesn't really look much like an owl, from what I'm told. Then the next natural question about it, is why an owl? Ha. My grandma has collected owls for long before I even came along. And in the past few years, I have become quite fond of owls. My grandma packaged up a BUNCH of her old owl stuff from jewelry to knick-knacks for me. If you ever see me wearing an owl necklace (which I almost always am) chances are highly likely that it came from my grandma. My favorite owl necklace was one that she wore when she was younger than me!

Anyway, my push present turned presents from Jake. :) I couldn't wait for the day that Jake could help me pick out the charms he was "getting" me. For Valentine's Day, he helped me pick out a bead last night. He liked the blue swirly one the best. I narrowed it down to three charms for him to choose from and blue swirly is what we ended up with. :) Eventually I'll fill this one up and we'll move on to another bracelet. I can not tell you how much I LOVE the idea that he's gonna grow up picking out charms. I assume some of them are going to be ones that I would probably never, ever pick out, but they'll mean so much to me because he picked them.

There ya have it!

So, if you have a lucky (pregnant, or someday pregnant) lady in your life... go on ahead... treat her with something special for loaning out her body and birthing your child. ;-) Sure, the baby is gift enough, but trust me,

that bracelet is so special to me and totally worth the thought of a "push present".

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Birthday Number 2!

Happy birthday, beautiful boy!

Jake is TWO years old! We are celebrating pretty low-key today with a Jake-day (do whatever Jake wants all day). This included going to the store for balloons and stopping for chicken nuggets and fries, and watching lots of his favorite shows. Birthdays are for spoiling, so it's back to normal tomorrow. :) This weekend, we'll have his big YO! party, party!

My, how time passes. This child of ours is so fun and lovable. He spends most of his waking hours talking. He now speaks in full sentences and ideas. I know kids are funny and they say the darndest things, but holy cow... he's a riot! We just got back from vacationing with my mom's side of the family and one night at dinner he literally had us IN TEARS!! He's a mess. I have no idea where it comes from. His daddy is one of the funniest people I know, seriously. And the smart aleck side... well, I KNOW where that comes from. ;) He is king of eye rolling right now. Oh my. And tell me about the "terrible two's". Wait, I can tell you all about it. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. That kid produces more delight and blessings in my life than I ever thought possible. Those simple "wub you, momma"'s before bed will melt my heart every single time.

On vacation, two things were vital to Jake. Mickey, and me. I already know he's a momma's boy... but gooood grief. I was telling everyone at dinner one night that I always longed for a kid that would want me the most, that I would settle their tears and kiss away their owies. Well, ladies and gentlemen... I have all I ever wanted and more.

And I wouldn't it trade it for the world.

Let it go on record... everyone that said how much boys love their mommas... well, they were not kidding. Little boys LOVE their mommas. :)

I have been updating Jake's likes and size and what-not's, but other than the serious conversing he does now, nothing else really has changed. He still loves Gabba, McDonald's chicken and fries, playing outside, water, coloring, tv (oy), sleeping long naps :), jumping off of things.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NEWBORN BABY I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!

A COUPLE HOURS OLD


I can not believe it has been two years since these pictures were taken. They still completely melt my heart.

We love you, baby boy.

Grace Is All I Need

Up until this past year (you know, the one where I had 3 miscarriages in one calendar year) yeah, up until then... I could have literally counted on one hand, the number of times in my life I can remember having had ANY lab work drawn. Seriously. In the past year, I have sat in this chair at LEAST 20 times. The usual draws were like one, maybe two labs at time. Not a big deal at all. And really, today was no big deal (mainly because of the totally rockin' phlebotomist). Well, have yourself three miscarriages in a row and you get what you see below. One of the girls in the office was helping the sweet (and phenomenal) phlebotomist get all my vials and paperwork that went with them ready. I heard her say, "Yeah, all 16 or 17 of them".  I laughed, I thought she was kidding. The phlebotomist didn't wanna tell me how many tubes of blood she was drawing when I asked her, but she said since I was nurse she'd tell me, there were 16 tubes to collect. My response? "At least it's not 20!!" :) "Spoken like a true medical professional", she said. Well, in the medical world you know it can always be worse.

 This week/month/season of life I am working on thanking God, truly thanking Him, for my losses. Paul tells us to rejoice in our weaknesses. I have come across 2 Corinthians 12 so many times the past week (it was even randomly text to me, thank you, Stephanie) it says...

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

God will use this time in my life for a reason. Of that, I am certain. Still a little (or a lot) foggy and confusing. But deep down, I know.

I am praying that an answers lies within one of those tubes!! Will you pray with me?

I AM the One Percent

Doesn't that sound so cliche? Recently, I've seen so many dumb pickets that say something similar to this. But today, when I say it, I am fully serious.

I am... 1%.

Trust me, I wish I was the 99%.

1 in 100 women will experience recurrent miscarriages (I've also seen this dubbed "habitual aborter", what the HECK! isn't that a rockin' way to define such a miserable diagnosis?!) This is defined as 2-3 miscarriages in a row. There is sometimes a bit of a grey area with the 2. A lot of doctors want to see 3 in a row before they do testing. My case was a bit confusing, so we didn't do testing after the second miscarriage because they seemed to be two separate fluke events with completely different circumstances. Well, hindsight...

On New Year's Day, we were out of town celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary, we woke up to find we were expecting. Yes, again. I just knew this couldn't happen three times in a row. Well, it doesn't matter what I think. Que sera, sera. I thought I knew it couldn't happen twice in a row, and it did.

As of today, it's official. Three in a row. In every study, case, whatever... 3 is the bottom line. And I am there. In only 50% of that 1% will an underlying cause even be found. And to answer your question, yes, we will be doing testing. My case is kind of confusing, though, because we have Jake. He was my first pregnancy. It was completely perfect. Aside from having to take medicine to GET pregnant, the pregnancy could not have been a more perfect one. So why then? Why would you have one perfectly normal, healthy pregnancy and child, then not be able to complete 3 pregnancies, back-to-back??

So let it go on record. THREE miscarriages in ONE calendar year.

That's right.

I just so desperately want Jake to have a sibling.
I want a big family.

But for now I will love on the little family God gave me and let them love me back. And I will praise God for the perfectly beautiful baby boy that He has given us. Oh, and I'll also grab a case of Dr. Pepper, of which I have not had a drop of since I found out I was expecting. Less than two weeks, sure... but DP is my main go-to!!

Please say a prayer for me tonight. I'd really appreciate it. :)

wee hands

I was "pinspired", as I like to call it, by a poem I read on Pinterest.

I searched high and low on the internet for an already made one of these things to just print out. I couldn't find one!!

So I made one. I'm gonna print it and put it in my kitchen. :) I love it.

Happy Tuesday, friends! 5 more days till Christmas!!

Mary, Did You Know?

Since becoming a mother of a baby boy of my own, the words to this song have resonated so deep within my soul. I could not even fathom living in Mary's shoes. Knowing that she was holding the Savior of the world, a perfect tiny child that would someday be the Living Sacrifice for all mankind..."Heaven's Perfect Lamb". I know that as a Protestant, myself... I very often mark Mary off as just another Bible character. But Mary, she was the MOTHER of our SAVIOR. She was created by God to carry Him and mother Him. And since becoming a mommy, it has really struck me hard just how VERY special of a lady she was. She was chosen for, and took upon the single most important mothering responsibility in the history of all mankind. Take the time and really read these words. Try and put yourself in her shoes for just a second.


Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? 
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? 
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? 
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? 
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again. 
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? 
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? 
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM. 

Do you think she did? Do you think that the young teenager, Mary, really knew what was ahead for her in her years to come as a mother? Since she was highly favored by the Lord, then certainly she had heard the stories of the Messiah and what the Scriptures said of Him. Of course she knew. Could you even imagine knowing what she knew? Living through what she lived through? Anytime he fell and scraped his knee, sending him out to run errands alone, can you imagine how responsible she must have felt? I seriously can not imagine any of it. If you have never listened to this song while holding your own little sleeping baby boy (or baby girl, if you aren't lucky ;-) enough to have yourself a boy), well, then... I suggest you put it on your list of things to do before you can't. I can not listen to this song without shedding at least a tear.


Only watch this video if you were able to tolerate the movie, The Passion of The Christ. Parts of it are very graphic. But so was what our Savior went through that day on Golgotha. Again, this is a very, very graphic video. I don't think our human minds could ever come close to comprehending what Mary went through as the mother of  Jesus Christ; but I think this video comes as close as a small idea of that. 


This is NOT a video to watch with small children around. <--that was my disclaimer.

I don't know if that was as rough on you, as it was on me. Wow. To lighten things up a bit... did you know... (no pun intended) that this song was written by the Christian comedian, Mark Lowry? It was news to me. :)

Mister Bear

LOOK who finally made it home!!! We accidentally left him at Nena and Bop's in the wash on Saturday just before Jake got sick. He cried and cried for bear while he was sick, so Nena & Bop mailed him to Jake so he didn't have to wait anymore. Welcome home, Mister Bear!!!!