Life.....

Our friends had a baby today. It brought back so many emotions for me that I fought tears almost the whole time we were visiting with them. I cant believe its been almost 5 months. Our baby, our tiny little 5lb 6oz baby, is 11 lbs now, rolls around, smiles and laughs and sleeps through the night. Life. It goes so fast.

I remember being so sad that I didnt feel this overwhelming sense of love for her. I felt love, just differently. Mostly I felt this overwhelming sense of protection. Thats probably what helped me for those middle of the night feedings and days of 3 hour sleep. I feel it now. Once I got that first little response from her I was flooded with Love. We were SO unprepared for her arrival. I told myself she wasnt coming for at least 4 weeks. Mostly I think I was still in denial that we were actually having a baby. For 8.5 months it was so surreal and now 5 months later I still say everyday, "shes really, really here and shes really, really ours". Well, mostly ours. Shes Gods gift to us for a while. That reality is the only thing that kept me from going crazy and thinking she died in her sleep everyday. 3 days in I said "I cant do this". and that night was the first night I prayed over her thanking God for her life so far and giving her back to Him fully. I still do it everyday but add a few other things in that prayer now.

I read a blog that makes me cry everytime I read her posts. Angie lost her husband in a racing accident. Her blog is such raw emotions written for the world to read. She speaks truthfully and boldly about her journey through grief. I just read one of her posts and it brought me to tears. This to me, is the best part.

the hopes we had once

not too long before

shared.

hopes that

then

and now

belong just to me.

all your hopes

now fulfilled

and here i am

wondering what to do next.

life. I cannot imagine not having the Hope in Christ to keep me grounded and remind me that...There. Is. More. To. This. Life. His hopes are now fulfilled because he is with Christ for eternity. But she still wants him back and misses him everyday. I dont know what I would do without Mike in this world my heart would be forever torn.

If you think about it say a prayer for her. Shes been through a lot.

we've been a little busy....

Its been a while to say the least. These last 4 months since K was born have flown by. I find myself saying "when she was little" but shes only 4months now! :) In my own defense she was TINY for so long. She has really started to grow and gain good weight now. Up to about 11 lbs, and long, shes gonna be tall. When its Mikes turn to watch her, I generally come home to find them asleep in all sorts of places and positions. These are some of my favorites.



We've traveled with her and done all sorts of fun things. We went to Hawaii at the end of June to see Mikes family then K and I stayed until July 22nd on Maui with my brother and his family.

This is at Sharks Cove on the North Shore. It was a first for both K and I. Her Daddy is SO happy that she LOVES the water.

I cannot believe we have a kid. I look at her everyday and think..."she's really ours". Thank you Jesus for dreams come true and many, many, many prayers answered. :)

Keona Uluwehi Evangeline HePing

"God's gracious gift growing in beauty bringing good news of peace"
Yes, we know. Its a big name for a little girl.
Keona was born Friday March 26th, 2010 at 1:40pm
She weighed 6lbs 3oz and is 19 inches.
She is lovely and we are in love. Even one week later it is still so surreal. We have a kid. A real live human being we are charged with raising. It is exciting and scary all at the same time.

I developed pre eclampsia and went in for a non-stress test on Thursday and they wouldnt let us leave. :( She was 3 weeks early but perfect. Labor was different than I expected but so worth it in the end. There are no words to explain the flood of emotions when she was born. My hubby was unbelievably amazing the whole time. He prayed over me and reminded me so many times how he believed in me and that he knew I could do this. My body was designed to give birth. He was a rock and still is. Watching him father our baby girl makes me cry with delight and pure joy.

We had a rough start with feeding and jaundice but things are looking up today. I dont know how we would've made it without all our friends and family supporting us. They have been wonderful. Food, cleaning, sleep help. We are blessed.

Thank you Jesus for this gift. Thank you for this time of remembering what you did for our souls. Thank you for the cross and for sacrificing your life for ours. I am just now beginning to understand the love you have for me as your daughter and why you would do such a thing to save me from evil. Thank you for letting me see you in my daughters eyes and cry and smiles and when she is sleeping.

Blast from the past

I was putting some things away this weekend and found a box of old childrens books my mom gave me. In the box was my baby book. Its old and seriously 70's, but full of sweet things. I sat down and looked through it and got all emotional. My mom had saved cards from when I was born and from a few early birthdays. They were so sweet. Sweet notes from my grandparents who are no longer living and lists of gifts and people who came to visit my parents in the hospital. It really made the fact that I am going to have a baby in 6 weeks so REAL. The cards had "congratulations on your new baby girl" and "Welcome baby girl" written on them and it just hit home. We are having a girl, a daughter, a family.
I also found a box I had saved of my own baby clothes my Mom gave me to use for dolls when I was little. It was so fun to see pictures of me in them and have the actual dress right in front of me.
People have been SO generous. Gifts and hand me downs have been pouring in, she will want for nothing. I think my favorite gift is a photo album Mike's mom sent me of when he was born. Its so sweet. All black and white photos and old, old, old medical equipment. The best are the photos of Mikes Dad suited head to toe in scrubs and masks and gloves. My how things have changed. We are really missing him right now. He would have loved to meet his Granddaughter.
33weeks and 6days. She'll be here soon!

Coupons have changed my life

i have been wanting to post this for a little while. I didnt want to share with the world my secret, sorta wanted to bask in it for a while, but really EVERYONE needs this one.
In an effort to make some long term goals and to save some $ in preparation for this baby's birth I went to a class on coupons. At first I thought "oh, great, what is she going to teach me about using coupons". Seriously, whats so hard, you see the stuff you want, you cut them out you take them to the store that week and use them. BAM, 45cents off a $5 product. Saving money right?
No sir-ee.
2.5 hours later my mind was spinning. Honestly, I was more ashamed at how much money I was wasting, and shocked at how often I was getting ripped off by simple mistakes.

I know what your thinking..."I use coupons sometimes", "I shop at a place that is already low priced without coupons" or my favorite, "I dont have time for that". Trust me friends YOU have time. If you care about your family or wanting to save $ you will find time. Just get off Facebook for an hour. :)

So, here's my 1st tid bit of the secret life of couponing....I follow a blog that tells me what to do. That blog right now is....www.hip2save.com

I went to the class in December and can tell you it helped save me $100's of dollars at Christmas. I'm stockpiling diapers.....8 packs (30-45diapers each) of organic, chlorine free diapers and 4 tubs of wipes for $32 TOTAL! Now, tell me you dont have time.

Check back soon for a fun post of one of my shopping trips....but mostly CHECK OUT THAT site. I promise you will be inspired.