Gracie girl.....

Scrub-a-dub-dub....3 Babies in the Tub

We wished you a Merry Christmas.....

Well, here I am....back from the land of NO BLOGGING....I hope that each of you had a very Merry Christmas! The last few weeks have been full of cleaning, wrapping, shopping, cooking, and "refereeing" children....I am happy to report that everyone was feeling well for this holiday celebration...except for Cole...he is working on his first 2 bottom teeth..nothing that a little Tylenol won't fix! :) Speaking of our precious boy..we just celebrated his 4 month milestone!! He is just so perfect right now---laughing and cooing all of the time...he is cuddly and sweet--what a blessing he is!! I only say "perfect" because I just appreciate the gentleness about him after dealing with the terrible 2's and terrible 1.5's!! Just kidding! They all are precious...and even my little Cole is going to be heading toward the "terribles" before long!

Our Christmas was very eventful....as always....every day Christmas week was spent at some part of the family's house...we opened gifts here at home on Christmas Eve night--much fun especially for Gracie and Ty!! It is great to have all of our kids together to share special family times....who knows how many more Christmas' before the older kids will have families and kids of their own!!

We always have Christmas at my dad's parents house on Christmas Eve...growing up it was such a magical thing to drive home wondering if Santa was in the air yet....to lay in bed quivering with anticipation about when he would arrive at my chimney. I had the passing thought this year driving home....what about Jesus? Do I anticipate the celebration of His birth like I did Santa coming to bring me gifts? Jesus gave the ultimate gift..which is His life! He gave His life because someone had to be the sacrifice for my sin. If He had not come, the only option would be for me to die---but He loved me so much that He gave up His life for mine....and He IS coming..."like a thief in the night"......He loves each one of you, too....enough to give His life so that we could all be blameless before Him...are you ready?

Happy 2009 !! I always love a fresh start!! Here are some pics of our Christmas memories!

Thanksgiving Day-Throwing Up---Oxymoron??

Well, this years Thanksgiving celebration has been very different....good for the scales but bad for tradition. To make a long story short....we have been sick here at the Holland patch for the entire Thanksgiving holiday---I have had a terrible bladder infection which included a high fever and throwing up, and Ty was throwing up simultaneously as he had picked up a stomach virus....this all started Wednesday night and last night Eric was up throwing up....we have spent today nursing him back to good health. Ugh...we missed all of our holiday plans....my brother came home and we have not seen him at all....Devan came from Toccoa with a friend from school....needless to say we haven't been very good "house hosts"....and Eric's sister and her family are here from Arkansas and we have only seen a little bit of them.

My precious husband has taken the kids and house over for several days while I rested...and Thanksgiving morning he told me "Happy Thanksgiving" and then reminded me that we had a lot to be thankful for...and we do... I obviously had a lot of time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and there are so many that I take for granted.....but over and over I have had the reoccurring thought of how grateful I am that we were able to bring our little Cole home from the hospital. What a blessing he is to us....I am so grateful that he is ours to hold for a little while...

I hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving celebrations!! I am sure that someone out there ate enough for me, too!!

MOOOVE over Chick-fil-A Cows...here come the Holland babies!!

Wednesday night was our Trunk or Treat at church...this year was a competition and so I flexed my creative muscles....but my husband beat me for first place as he was "Bubba" the mechanic with old, greasy clothes and "Bubba" teeth as well!! Oh well, it was cute....and I really do love Chick-fil-A!!! :)

Little Cole.....

Well, on the 29th Cole will be 2 months old!! I can't believe how he is growing!! He continues to do well--eating and sleeping...he is a great baby!!! His new trick is smiling...so cute!! Yesterday, he looked at me and smiled like "Momma!!" It just melts your heart!! He and Eric have frequent conversations with each other and Cole almost laughs at what Eric is saying!! He is just precious!! Sorry the pics are blurry....I don't know why they are...but his face was too cute to delete!! :)

the Corn Maize....

Yesterday we went to the Rock City Corn Maize with some friends from church. I was a little bit disappointed because the corn was dead....it wasn't full and tall like I expected. It was still fun..the babies enjoyed riding the "cow train" and the hay ride...they had the luxury of being carried through the maize...and of course Cole was tucked warm and cozy in his seat the entire time! Maybe next years crop will be better!!

Pretty Girl...

Prater's Mill....

Today we went to Prater's Mill Fair in Dalton....it was a fun day although blazing hot and humid!! We had a little picnic of hot dogs, funnel cake, and peach pie....oh so healthy for little kids growing up, right?? Ty rode the kiddie train with his daddy...Gracie was not interested..here are some pics..notice Gracie's new haircut--I chopped it yesterday....I absolutely love it!!! Also, the last pic was last year--with Ty in tow....this year another little red-headed cutie...fun, family times!!!

Brothers and Sister.....

Cole is 1 month old....

Tomorrow, September 29, is Cole's 1 month milestone!! Wow....an entire month has passed since he was born!! He is doing very well...eating and sleeping just like a normal baby...no problems since NICU!! Praise the Lord for our little blessing....he is truly a sweet little bundle of baby!! We are blessed that the Lord chose us to raise him!!

Playdate with "Anna Cake"

4 Years....

This past Sunday, Eric and I packed up and headed off to Jonesboro, Ga....Atlanta basically. He had a youth pastors conference on Monday and we had decided before Cole was born to make a little get away out of it....we came home on Tuesday. It was great to get away....so nice to do nothing!! We had fun eating out, getting to actually have serious conversation without interruptions, laughing at each other over silly things, and just being together....it was very refreshing! Oh, and of course, we took little Cole with us...but the other little ones stayed at home...

Our anniversary is tomorrow....September 18.....another reason why we decided to get away. I was thinking the other day about the things that we have faced in our short 4 years of marriage...the passing of Eric's grandmother, a job change, a move to a different house, a church change, moving a child to college, 3 births, 1 traumatic miscarriage, 6 days in NICU......some of those things happening at the same time....several of them on the list of "most stressful life experiences". The world has created this fantasy, feeling-based idea of marriage...once the feelings are different or perhaps gone the relationship is over....and reality is that some days the "feelings" are there and some days they are just not...we know that we cannot rely on our emotions...they are always changing! But the one thing that we can rely on is our Lord Jesus....and He says that marriage is a commitment...for better or worse...until death do we part. There is nothing better than knowing that your spouse will stand by you no matter what....so on this night before a new milestone in our lives I would like to honor my husband---

Eric, there is no one in this world that I would rather walk through this life with...you are the answer to many, many prayers. I could have never picked for myself a better mate...you complete me in many ways. I look forward to the years ahead of us...Happy Anniversary!! YOU are the man of my dreams and the hero in my life---I love you!!

Ty's First Haircut.....

The first thing that I did when we got home from the hospital was cut Ty's hair....it was almost long enough for a "redneck ponytail"....not even hair gel could get him through another day without a haircut....so I put the booster seat on top of Gracie's helper stool and got my tools out.....and as the red locks fell to the floor...a cute little boy emerged again!!!

A Journey from Birth to Coming Home....

Cole's Story.....

Well, at this time last week I was laying in the hospital preparing myself for the birth of Cole....this week he is here asleep in my bedroom....sleeping peacefully. For any of you that don't know what this past week has been like...I would like to share with you...

After my last labor and delivery being 5 hours long I expected to experience an even shorter labor...but I actually was in labor for 11 1/2 hours! After about 3 pushes, our baby Cole was here...but in not so good condition. To make a long story short, he ended up having fluid in his lungs and he was having to work very hard to breathe. We just spent 6 days in the NICU at East Ridge Hospital....slowly making progress to where we could finally come home. After 37 weeks, this was such an unexpected event for me....I had in fact told people that I expected him to be the healthiest of our babies because he wasn't going to be preterm. Eric and I were shocked and heart broken when the NICU nurses came to tell us that Cole needed special help. It was probably the most "helpless" feeling that I have ever experienced and yet we both had a peace in our hearts that our Heavenly Father was not only looking after us but also taking care of Cole. Some days were harder than others....the time table of recovery was up to Cole....and no one could tell us exactly when we would start to see improvement...we lived for 10am everyday because the doctors would come in and give us the report and the plan for the day. Sometimes the news was good and sometimes it was disappointing. At the same time, the Lord was making fingerprints everywhere that we looked....and those things were comforting to us. Monday our little Cole really "labored" and made some great improvement. They had started antibiotics 48 hours earlier even though every lab test was clear....Tuesday was a little better....and by Wednesday we were nursing for the first time. It was amazing to watch him move from struggling to breathe while resting to breathing well even when he was moving or upset and to go from feeding tube and IV fluids to nursing and taking bottles.
We have been told about people all over the United States who have been praying for us....that has meant the most. I now know just how long those days are as a parent in the NICU.....the Lord has shown Himself in every way...financially, with love from our church family, involving unbelievers around us, even down to providing a room at the hospital for me every night so that I wouldn't have to leave Cole. Last night, I got to have him in the room with me all afternoon and night...something that I am blessed to have been able to experience.
I have so many thoughts tonight of all of the things that the Lord did and so many things that he impressed upon our hearts....I don't think that I will ever be able to get it all out on this page...but I was reading last night in Psalms 94:17-20....a passage that I had circled earlier and it caught my eye again....now it is starred in my Bible as a testimony passage....testimony of Cole's birth.
"If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my
anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul."

We have several pics of Cole...I will post some soon...tonight I am too tired to wait on the camera to do its thing...thanks Jodi for the meal!!! It was all really good, and you can't get chicken rolls or cheerio treats from the hospital cafeteria!!

A trip to the doctor----Take #2

Ok, so after my disappointment yesterday....I developed a really tough headache last night and as of right now...I have been up since 3:30am...I still have it. I called the doctor during the night and she asked me to come in this morning....after a non-stress test and multiple lab tests....plus having my blood pressure taken twice----she concluded that toxemia is starting to set in. My blood pressure was great yesterday....and today...not so good. So, Eric and I are headed to the hospital tonight at 8pm to start my induction....baby Cole should be here early tomorrow!! So, obviously my blog will be stagnant for a few days...I will post pics asap!!

Hurry up and wait....

Clean house? Check. Laundry done? Check. Groceries bought? Check. Bags packed? Check. Haircut? Check. Toes polished? Check. Legs shaved? Check. Baby Cole? Nope!

I took my bags to the doctor today absolutely sure that today was the day!!! Feeling miserable I carried myself into the office and waited....for my answer.....can we have him today?? Well, actually I am still at 3cm...I have walked the track, played some tennis, worked around the house, and done laundry....still at 3cm!!! AAAHHHHH!!!! So, to anyone who is wondering....the "plan" is to take my bags with me next Wednesday....doctor's orders....and hopefully she will be able to find some medical reason to induce me....she seemed to think that maybe she could....she is on call Wednesday night and said that if she is able to get me in...we should have our little Cole by the evening time!!! Finally, hope....light at the end of the tunnel!!! There are certainly no guarantees but I was encouraged that she seemed to think that this plan would work!!

Let me just say....kudos to Women's East for offering manicures and pedicures...and candlelit dinners for new moms and dads....I think that it is a great idea...considering the fact that those things may very well be OVER for new parents or parents bringing their third baby home....also thank goodness for Sonic ice!! Nothing has gotten me through my pregnancies like Sonic ice...thankfully they sell 10 lb bags.....I can just about devour an entire bag by myself in 2-3 days...and their burgers have become a fattening favorite of mine....:)

Photography by Sunny Kelly

Wednesday's doctor's appt....

Yesterday, my appointment was again...more of the same. I am still at 3cm...if I go into labor I can have him and if I don't hopefully we will induce in 2 weeks at 38weeks--an all time record for me!! I am feeling pretty good...uncomfortable but oh so glad to be able to do things again!! No more bedrest....just taking it easy as I feel that I need to take a break! Hopefully, that will help me enjoy the time that I have left with just 2 little ones telling me what they need and don't like about what I am doing! LOL No, they really are precious and I have missed them being gone during the day as they have spent alot of time with my sweet neighbor Julie. They LOVE her and her kids which has been so nice....but at the same time...my life being centered around my husband and kids...I have really missed them!!

Today, we had some maternity pics made with a friend from church who does amazing work......Gracie had "Farrah" hair as I curled every inch of her long locks this morning....she looked precious and posed like a little model!!! Ty on the other hand could have cared less about the pictures...he was interested in all of the things that he wasn't supposed to be playing with! We did manage to get some good shots of him though....:) I cannot believe that in just a little while I will be holding another precious little one....I love the snuggly, quiet, "I need you, Mommy" stage...it is my absolute favorite!!!

M-Day....

Today, it is M-Day for us....yes, moving day for Devan! The summer has absolutely flown by...I cannot believe that it is already the middle of August. So, amidst the packing up and moving out Devan has managed to get all of her things together....and is on her way to Toccoa Falls right now!! She is traveling with Eric, Lauren, Logan, and Gracie who wanted to "go to college" with her big sister!

Eric and I spent a few really late hours in the labor and delivery at East Ridge last night....only to be told that a bladder infection was causing contractions....although I am convinced that I had not had it long enough for it to do that much damage....I think that real labor is quickly approaching...so we returned home around midnight to Devan finishing her packing for school....can we have just one more major thing in life to heap on everything else?? LOL My poor husband is on the brink of an emotional melt down I am afraid...LOL Bless his heart...so...I told Devan "see you later" last night hoping to miss the actual departure this morning..and thinking that I would be knocked out from my medicine anyway....but they left a little later than expected and so the tears quickly came....we held hands in the kitchen and prayed before they left...we were all crying!!! It was a sweet moment that we will all remember but the best part was when Gracie looked at us all like we were crazy for crying and then started trying to cry herself!!! It was hilarious!!

Wednesday's Dct Appt...

My appointment yesterday was more of the same...everything is going well and I still have no signs of toxemia!! My next appointment is next Wednesday....my good friend Anjie is being induced that day so it will be exciting and encouraging to meet her little Isaac!!

Update....

Today, I went to the doctor....for several reasons....feeling like maybe Cole was thinking about coming soon. Bummer.....still in the same phase as last time....he IS head down and definitely letting me know it!! I thought after 2 other babies I would be a pro at determining what was happening....turns out--just more waiting!! I am to return to the doctor on Wednesday...it is so hard to know what to do....sit at home and go from 2-10cm in nothing flat or go and be checked only to find out that you are still at 2cm!! Cole and I are finishing our 35th week on Friday....every week closer to 36 is making more and more certain that he will be healthy...although we don't know how much he weighs...I feel like he is 10 lbs right now!! LOL I am sure that every fellow mom out there remembers the "desperate" feeling that comes upon you as you slowly cross each week off the calendar in the end....you want your baby to be healthy and you also want to be able to go 20 minutes without having to pee--again.....we have to sacrifice for our little cuties even before they take their first breath in this world...

Showers of friends....old and new

Sunday afternoon we celebrated baby Cole and his soon to be arrival....my church friends gave me a shower...it was fun and the best part is often seeing friends that you haven't been able to catch up with in a while.....it is always so hard for me to decide where to sit...with family, friends that are giving the shower, people that don't know anyone else and you haven't seen in forever, who knows?? Anyway, we received tons of diapers and wipes...just what I asked for!! I didn't do so well with pics....I was trying to make sure that Gracie didn't eat the entire plate of blue jello and talk to people....between all the activity I didn't really get one good picture. But we did have friends there taking pictures so maybe some of those will make it to the blog before long.

As far as Cole goes, I am currently at 1cm....I go back to the doctor this Wednesday and she has said that if I go into labor after this Friday(34 weeks) she will not stop it....but she won't induce me until 38 weeks(first week of Sept) unless I develop toxemia or some other reason to go early....if I have already put this on the blog I apologize....I can't really remember what I wore the day before, when I last fed my kids, etc these days...:)

Echoes of the past....trimesters that is...

I have never re-experienced things in my last trimester that I did in the first...except for fatigue...but I have really been noticing things like my sense of smell being much more sensitive, nauseous feelings because of certain smells, etc....weird, huh? And unfortunately, not many other things than eating out sounds good to me these days...just like at the beginning when those awful nauseous feelings only permitted random chicken caesar salads and lots of hamburgers...it is only unfortunate because our money tree is really short and not very leafy these days!! :) Has anyone ever experienced this before??

Cousins and more cousins!!

Today, I took the kids to play with our cousins......my grandmother organized a little get together for the little kids so that everyone could visit before school starts again. She made little sandwiches for lunch and we were supposed to swim in my aunt's pool.....but as "motherhood" goes we got swimsuits and sunscreen on just in time to spend 10 minutes in the pool before it started thundering!! So, we played on the carport instead but all of the kids had a great time together and it was really good to get to see everyone! I couldn't help but post a pic of my cutie pie red-head who was intrigued by the cat....I caught a smile that some people don't get to see very often......