Our Life in 2012

2012 has gone by so fast for us. With a roller coaster of emotions all year long, we are forever grateful for the good and the bad, and the blessings that come in ways we don't always understand.

January started out with a big hopeful with our first IVF attempt (don't worry, I'm not going through every month!). After it failed and we were basically told we may never have kids on our own, the much needed break came. Although devastated, we were aware that all things work together for those that love God according to his purpose. And although we knew this, it was quite hard to swallow.

March was a fun-filled vacation with my family :) 8 people in an 8 passenger Yukon is the best idea ever! We had some laughs and some fights and went through about 3 boxes of Kleenex!

April came and a trip to Haiti forever changed my life for the better. A little bit of my heart will forever be there with the children in the orphanage and the people of Mariani. Such sweet, innocent faces and looking for hope in whoever will give them a glimpse of it.

June we decided to go for a second opinion with fertility in Oklahoma City. Dr. Kallenberger and his staff are truly a blessing in our lives. The hope they gave us, the attention that was given to us, and the professionalism of their clinic was far beyond what we could have expected. I remember him saying, "It's not a matter of IF you get pregnant, it's when and how." I guess God led us through the bad to bring us to the good.

July was the IVF procedure and although scared to death to get the same results as last time, we went ahead with full confidence. And we had 5 perfect little embryos. We found out shortly after that we would be expecting our miracle baby in April 2013. Baby or babies??!! Just one :)

October is when we found out we were having a boy. I searched and searched for a name that fit. We came up with "Brasen" which means "God's gift." I didn't want to change the spelling or anything from when I found it because it was perfect to me.

December Kyle had a much needed surgery to remove cysts (everything is ok). He is still on the mend and hopefully will have a full recovery and the cysts won't return!

We are looking forward to a great year and we cannot wait to meet our baby boy in just a couple of months! I know some of you are going through times in your life that are not so great. Remember that God has a plan for your life and He always knows best. Our job is to follow after Him and seek Him in all we do and He will always take care of us.

Happy New Year!

Help

Tragedy has struck and we are all left wondering the same question: Why?

How someone can take the life of an innocent child (or anyone for that matter)- whether it be one or 27 is incomprehensible.

There is fund set up to assist families in need by the United Way of Western Connecticut. You can read more about where the funds go here. It's set up through the Newtown Savings Bank.

Kyle's cousin has set up a page where you can directly donate using paypal. Each week the donations will be forwarded on to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund (set up by the United Way mentioned earlier). This is just an easy way for those of us that do not live near to feel like we are helping out. If you feel uncomfortable donating something over the internet, or do not have a paypal account and would like to help, please get with me. I have the physical address to the support fund. Go here if you would like to make your donation online.

Even just a dollar would go a long ways. Most of all, lets keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

6 months

To our sweet baby-

You are now 6 months old (in the womb!) We cannot believe how fast you are growing and how fast time is flying by. Mommy and daddy have been super busy. Your room is all cleaned out and I have the paint samples to pick out your wall color. Your walls will be gray and the accent colors are white, yellow and turquoise. Painting in just a few short weeks! What a sweet baby you will be in your room. Your Papa is making your crib, and your Mamaw is helping refurbish your changing table and rocking chair. Your cousin Peggy is making your crib blanket and I am so excited to see it. Your KK and Pops have already bought you a mound of clothes and books. Mommy is filling your closet with clothes and shoes (on sale of course!). You are one very special and blessed little man.

You are around 12 inches long and weigh about a pound and a half! Your skin is beginning to get pink since your blood flow is increasing. Your lungs are also growing and becoming more mature each day! Your little nose is opening this week and your are beginning to practice breathing (with fluid!). What have you been doing? Well, you are kicking like crazy. You can get in some awkward positions and make it hard for mommy to breathe! You like my right side and my bladder. Daddy tries to feel you kick sometimes and you all of a sudden go into hiding. Which is hilarious.

We have registered for you some things that we think you will need. I hope your friends who welcome you into the world don't laugh at what we picked! We have no idea what we are doing and no idea what we will need. So we just kind of winged-it! You will have all you need, I do know that. Guess who was complaining of their back hurting after registering? Your daddy! Poor guy can't hang. We can run circles around him!!

Happy 6 months, Brasen! You are our miracle. We love you so much.