Life's Blessings

I am blessed! I thank God everyday for what He has given me. I know that sometimes I get lost in life's daily challenges, but I do know what is most important in my life.

Even though summer ended some time ago now, I never stopped to post about how wonderful it was. We were not as busy as usual because it's harder to travel with a newborn. As a family, we went to Port Aransis to visit my Dad and Dale. My dad to have a chemical stress test and he was really worried there would be complications. After much prayer, it went fine. His heart is not strong enough for the knee surgery he needs, but he will get some kind of routine shots that are supposed to help. The boys each went back seperately for about a week to spend time with them (and to take a break from each other). It's so different when one of them is gone. The dynamics really change. I missed them while they were gone, but it was nice to spend one on one time with each of them.

Zoey and I flew to Nashville for my cousin Tiffany's college graduation. We actually missed the graduation, but were able to spend a few days and celebrate with them. Towards the end of the summer, the kids, mom, and I drove back to Tennessee for another visit. Uncle Ronny gave us scare with his heart, but he is now okay. Geesh, my family and their heart.........what am I going to do with them?

Why did Darrell not go with us, you ask? Well, the Lord works in wonderous ways. There was quite a bit of turmoil with our vacations being changed up and Zoey and I having to fly to Nashville alone. During all the confusion and trying to decide what to do, Darrell actually got two job interviews for Asst. Principal positions. I can't even put into words how I felt as everything unfolded. In the end, he was hired at a wonderful elementary school. When he started to work, it was a little hard because we were still home playing. That's when I decided for the second trip to Tennesse. I've prayed a long time for God to send a way for me to be a stay-at-home mom. I believe we are on that path. Stay tuned.................

Zachary has now started 5th grade. Where has the time gone? I just can't believe that my baby is in his last year of elementary school. I can't imagine him in middle school, the same age as the kids I teach. He is still so young and naive. Just recently the Tooth Fairy's secret cover has been blown. Can you believe he lost and tooth and did not tell his parents, just to see what would happen. I made sure to explain to him and Zander that if you don't tell your parents, then we can't communicate with the Tooth Fairy. He's not buying it. I don't know if he has thought about a certain jolly old man yet. We'll see very soon. My motto is going to be, "if you believe, you will receive."

Zander is not so babyish any more. He seems more mature than his brother did starting 1st grade. I think he is going to be so much more independent. I guess that comes from being the 2nd child. He makes friends so easily and really seems to be a leader. I do hope he continues with that confidence. However, he is as stubborn as his dad. I do dread when Zander is a teenager. I think he will really give us a run for our money. He still loves to cuddle, though. He is the first to crawl up in my lap and snuggle. My lap would be his permanent seat if I would let it. He is going to make a fantastic husband and dad one day. You should see him with Zoey. So loving!

My sweet baby Zoey is growing like a week. On August 24, she was five months old. Can you believe that??? Yesterday I held a newborn and I really realized how big Zoey has gotten. She is still on the smaller side of the baby percentiles and I hope she remains that way. The boys were always so big, so it's nice to have a delicate little girl. She really is the textbook baby... sleeps great, eats great, and just smiles all the time. I do hold her too much but I just can't help myself. I hate having to leave her each day, but I know she is in loving hands with Nana and Grandma T. I could go on and on about how precious she it, but I'll some pics to prove it. When she turns 6 months, she is getting her ears pierced. I hate to cause her pain, but I can't for her to have earings. She has not choice but to be extra girly!

Darrell loves his new job. I absolutely love hearing the stories about what goes on with the little kids. I just crack up and there is always something different everyday. He really needs to blog about his experiences, becauce they are priceless.

Summer is here, FINALLY!

I am so thrilled for summer to be here. I did have to work the last 8 days of school, but it wasn't too bad. My mom and mother-in-law kept Zoey, so I knew she was in good hands. I just missed her dearly! We have a busy June with traveling so that should be very interesting with an infant and her two restless brothers.

They boys did so well in school in this year. Zachary ended up with all A's for the entire year. He worked so hard (with our encouragement, of course), and it really paid off. He did well on his TAKS test and even made Commended Performance on the Math. He barely missed Commended on the reading and writing. He derserves a huge break. However, I told him that he has to learn how to type this summer, so he's not too happy about that.

Zander did great as well and graduated from Kindergarten. He is reading so well. They grade them by letters, with level F being the highest (Fall of 1st grade). His teacher gave him a G! I don't know if that was a mistake or what, but we told him G means "Good golly, you're off the charts." He also scored 3's for all of the different masteries of Kindergarten, which is the highest. However, he received a 2 in PE. He swears that must be a mistake. Oh well, nobody's perfect.

Zoey is as sweet as ever. She is already 10 weeks old and getting so big. I could not ask for a more perfect little angel. She eats great, sleeps great, and is just so happy. She smiles so much and is gooing at us all the time. You can see in her little eyes that she has so much to say. I just can't say enough how blessed I feel.

Darrell is hard at work applying for administrative jobs. He deserves something perfect, but he is having a hard time being patient waiting for it. He finishes his classes in July and then he can truely rest. We will be praying on June 27, when he takes his certification test.

Me, I plan on taking it easy and enjoying my family. I am praying so passionately that God sent me a way to stay home once school starts again. Only He can take care of our financial needs and help me take care of my family.

The month has flown by!

As of Friday, we have been the party of 5 for a month now. It's like Zoey has been with us forever now. Here are few pics to enjoy.

Life Moves On!

Well, we are now pretty much settled in with a new baby in the house. The mornings are still tough for me because I am just so sleepy. My mom and mother-in-law have still been a tremendous help in getting the kids to school and picking them up. This week I hope to share more in those responsibilities. Zoey and I had several outings this past week by ourselves and she did just great. She is sleeping pretty good for the most part, especially during the day. At night she gets up 2 or 3 times to nurse, but each time takes about 45 minutes. Hence, my being sleepy in the mornings!!

The boys have really taken to her and it seems like she has always been here. Zachary is a huge help because he's really comfortable with picking her up and comforting her. Zander is in the process of still learning to pick her up from her bassinet, but I'm still not so comfortable with that. He just likes to move so quickly that it makes me nervous. I'm just glad they both love her so much!

Darrell is so busy with finishing his Master's degree and school contest. He also has a couple of interviews lined for Assistant Principal positions. Keep him in your prayers. He is really ready to move to the next step in her career.

Picture, Pictures, and more Pictures

Zoey enters the world with a bang!

Well, Zoey is finally here. On March 24, 2009, Zoey Crisslynn Tompkins was born - exactly 9lbs, 20 1/2 inches long, 6:04 a.m.

All seemed perfect as she took her first breaths and let out several cries!

However, because Zoey was 3 weeks early, there was too much fluid in her lungs, causing her to breathe too fast. For 6 days she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) being treated for Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN). It occurs in about 1% of newborns, especially babies born early and through C-section. In the end it is easy to fix with observation and treatment. However, it was a very difficult 6 days for our family. When you hear about babies with lung problems at birth, you always feel bad for the baby, but you can never understand the real fear that the parents go through unless you experience it first hand with your own precious newborn.

Looking back at each day that she was in the NICU, it seems like it actually lasted a month. It broke my heart see the C-PAP machine covering her little face. I didn't get to see her until about 12 hours after having her. That was so hard, but I was very motivated to get up and moving so I could see her. It also broke my heart see the iv in her tiny arm and the feeding tube in her nose. She could not take a bottle because of the rapid breathing. Of course I prayed constantly but I could not stop feeling helpless, because there was nothing I could do to help my baby. Finally on the third day of feeling so guilty and helpless, I realized that there was nothing I could do. I had to completely turn my baby and her healing over to God. I had not done this yet, which is why I felt so helpless. Something I've known to do all my life, for some reason did not come automatically when it had to do with my new baby.

It is so amazing what happened next. In that instant, God took over and began the quick healing of our baby girl. Zoey still could not drink from a bottle, but that very same day, the NICU nurse called for me to start trying to nurse her. What a miracle! Zoey did perfectly and then that night was able to take a bottle. From then on, each of the items on her little body started to come off. They had already taken off the C-PAP machine and replaced it with a nasal cannula tube of oxygen. That was removed, then the iv, then the feeding tube. By day 5, she only had the monitors on her to watch her respiration, heart rate, and oxygen levels. Unfortunately, that was the day I had to go home, without my baby girl. Even though I knew it would only be a couple of days before she came home, it was still very difficult. I think I could have filled the oceans with all of the tears I shed over this week!

The NICU doctor did say that it would only be a couple of days before she came home, because her respiration rate was still a bit too high at times. Darrell and I went back up there that night and the nurse commented how well she was doing. The next morning, we got up early to head to the hospital. On the way, the nurse called my cell phone and said to be sure to bring Zoey some clothes and her car seat because she may get to come home today. The doctor was not in yet, but little Zoey was completely fine now! The doctor arrived shortly after we got there and said we could take our sweet baby home! The long 6 days in the hospital were over and Zoey was now a perfect newborn baby.

During all of this, our boys had to be shuffled around by Darrell and the grandparents, who were such a tremendous help to us. I know they were so worried about me and their new sister, but they were troopers. They were really ready for all us to be under one roof and just wanted to hold their new sister.

She has been home for almost a week now, and she is such a good baby. She sleeps well and does not cry too often. Zach and Zander just love her and want to hold her all of the time. It's amazing to think what we went through during those first few days of her life. I always had faith that God would take care of us, but it wasn't until I truely turned it over to Him that we could see Him in action. Our children are a blessing, and I pray that God uses each of them to do His work in this world.

Zachary & Zoey

Zander & Zoey

Bed Rest and Ready for Zoey

Well, I am officially on strict bed rest now. I spent a couple of nights in the hospital over spring break because of my blood pressure. Everything is still okay, though. As long as I don't get up, my pressure stays down. I hope to keep my blog updated every couple of days, so I can update everyone. I can't stay on the computer too long, because I am suppose to be laying on my side as much as possible.

This does make things very difficult for everyone, especially since school starts back tomorrow. Our families are such a blessing, because they are and will be helping so much. Where would we be withouth them??? Darrell has a lot on his plate, but he is really taking such great care of us! Zachary and Zander are just ready for it all to be over and have their new sister. Zachary understands what is going on and is being so mature about things. Zander is having a rougher time, especially when I was in the hospital. He says he just wants to take care of me and be right by my side.

Anyway, please keep our family in your prayers. We know what God's timing is perfect and we will wait on Him.