Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
loving Emmett
So I can't decide what to title this post. And it is more a Kristen thinking out loud trying to digest the weeks events.
I had a new nephew born Tuesday night. His name is Emmett Jared Erickson. He is the son of my brother just younger than me and brave wife Cassie. Emmett was delivered by an emergency C-section at 26 1/2 weeks. He weighs 1 lb 15 oz. and is just longer than Jared's hand.
I don't want to tell the whole story out of privacy and respect because I was not there and really have no way of comprehending the stress, fear, and joy that those two have been through in the last week.
A breif overview however is probably necessary so here it is. Cassie got pre-eclampsia and within 24 hours her body was shutting down. Intitially the doctors thought Cassie could make it to 28 weeks with medication but there was a very sudden turn in health Tuesday afternoon. From what I am told, she was close to dieing when they delivered Emmett three hours later.
I received a phone call to tell me what was going on Sunday and immediately began praying for my brother, his wife and their unborn child. I got on the computer and looked up statistics and what 26 weeks meant for the baby and pre-eclampsia meant for Cassie. As I was reading I just began to sob. I could only imagine the fear that Jared had to have been feeling as he watched his wife go through so much pain for this little boy inside of her that neither of them had met but loved.
I was so consumed by it all. I couldn't think or do anything. I just milled around the house unfocused on anything. I prayed and prayed and prayed. There have been few times that I have felt completely helpless in a situation. This was one of them. I was forced to put all my trust in the Lord that he would provide the comfort to Jared I so wanted but couldn't give him. That he would ease Cassie's pain and if it was his will that Emmett would pull through. I questioned the strength my faith. Was it really enough to bring about a miracle for Jared and his little family? I prayed that my faith would be enough. I fasted more diligently and completely than I have in a long time.
I wanted so badly to be there for Jared but I knew that the only person that could truely be there for all of them was our Heavenly Father. As they face the long months ahead, I know he will continue to watch over them and his will, will be done.
I think of Cassie and tears come to my eyes. The sacrifice she has so willingly made for Emmett and will continue to make as she stays by his side to watch over him as he grows. The role of motherhood has become hers and she so willingly has taken it.
When I got this picture from my dad I was overwhelmed with pride and love for Jared. It is a weird feeling when your younger sibling, who you have always been able to give advice to, grows up in ways you have never experienced. When they are going through something you have no reference point for and no understanding of. But, in this one picture my little brother grew up in my eyes. I can see his tenderness and love for his little child. He is a father and husband of a family. And he is a worthy priesthood holder who could bless his family when they needed it. I just can't really express my feeling about that. But my heart is so full.
I have yet to meet Emmett but I love him so much. I have thought, if I prayed as diligently for all those I loved as I have for Emmett, whom I have not met, would I have these deep feelings of love for them also. I know I would.
The events of this week have strengthened my testimony and recommitted me to the small and simple things that bring miracles. Prayer, the priesthood, faith and fasting. I know that motherhood and fatherhood is a divinely appointed role and that families are ordained of God. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows us and loves us.
I had a new nephew born Tuesday night. His name is Emmett Jared Erickson. He is the son of my brother just younger than me and brave wife Cassie. Emmett was delivered by an emergency C-section at 26 1/2 weeks. He weighs 1 lb 15 oz. and is just longer than Jared's hand.
I don't want to tell the whole story out of privacy and respect because I was not there and really have no way of comprehending the stress, fear, and joy that those two have been through in the last week.A breif overview however is probably necessary so here it is. Cassie got pre-eclampsia and within 24 hours her body was shutting down. Intitially the doctors thought Cassie could make it to 28 weeks with medication but there was a very sudden turn in health Tuesday afternoon. From what I am told, she was close to dieing when they delivered Emmett three hours later.
I received a phone call to tell me what was going on Sunday and immediately began praying for my brother, his wife and their unborn child. I got on the computer and looked up statistics and what 26 weeks meant for the baby and pre-eclampsia meant for Cassie. As I was reading I just began to sob. I could only imagine the fear that Jared had to have been feeling as he watched his wife go through so much pain for this little boy inside of her that neither of them had met but loved.
I was so consumed by it all. I couldn't think or do anything. I just milled around the house unfocused on anything. I prayed and prayed and prayed. There have been few times that I have felt completely helpless in a situation. This was one of them. I was forced to put all my trust in the Lord that he would provide the comfort to Jared I so wanted but couldn't give him. That he would ease Cassie's pain and if it was his will that Emmett would pull through. I questioned the strength my faith. Was it really enough to bring about a miracle for Jared and his little family? I prayed that my faith would be enough. I fasted more diligently and completely than I have in a long time.
I wanted so badly to be there for Jared but I knew that the only person that could truely be there for all of them was our Heavenly Father. As they face the long months ahead, I know he will continue to watch over them and his will, will be done.
I think of Cassie and tears come to my eyes. The sacrifice she has so willingly made for Emmett and will continue to make as she stays by his side to watch over him as he grows. The role of motherhood has become hers and she so willingly has taken it.
When I got this picture from my dad I was overwhelmed with pride and love for Jared. It is a weird feeling when your younger sibling, who you have always been able to give advice to, grows up in ways you have never experienced. When they are going through something you have no reference point for and no understanding of. But, in this one picture my little brother grew up in my eyes. I can see his tenderness and love for his little child. He is a father and husband of a family. And he is a worthy priesthood holder who could bless his family when they needed it. I just can't really express my feeling about that. But my heart is so full.
I have yet to meet Emmett but I love him so much. I have thought, if I prayed as diligently for all those I loved as I have for Emmett, whom I have not met, would I have these deep feelings of love for them also. I know I would.
The events of this week have strengthened my testimony and recommitted me to the small and simple things that bring miracles. Prayer, the priesthood, faith and fasting. I know that motherhood and fatherhood is a divinely appointed role and that families are ordained of God. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows us and loves us.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Three girls in Philly
Scott had some training meetings up in Philadelphia this week and thought it would fun for us to come along. We were hoping he could get in on some of the site-seeing action but as you can tell from the pics it was me the girls all day. We were there two days and packed them pretty full.
I have to admit I was pretty proud of the way I found my way around the city by myself with Kayt and Ella. They were troopers though.
The first day we headed to Independence Square to see the Liberty Bell which Ella describes as "tall, tall". The bell was definitely the highlight of her day. There weren't any crowds (it being January and 30 degrees outside) so we just took our time seeing what we wanted to see. It really was fun. I did receive a few lessons from the city on this first day.
1) small denominations of cash are a must. DO NOT PUT $20 into a token machine. You will get $20 worth of tokens, not change
2) Subway workers are not happy people and do not like to answer questions. Just give them the token and find the main service desk hub.
3) Subways are not like the D.C. Metro. They stink and are a little scary and they don't all have elevators. Stop at one that does or you will haul two kids and a stroller up two flights of stairs.
4) Parking costs A LOT of MONEY!!!
On day two we headed to the Academy of Natural Sciences and The Ben Franklin Institute of Technology. We could have spent a week in the Institute of Technology alone. It is hands down the coolest science museum I have been to. The highlight of what we saw, was a a full sized train engine and all the interactive stuff showing how it goes. We also went to a show in the planetarium about telescopes. I have decided I am would pay a lot of money to actually look through a telescope and see a planet. How cool would that be. We also got to walk through a giant heart. It was awesome.
My favorite part was the butterfly conservatory. It was a huge room with tons of butterflies just cruisin' around you. The girls were a little freaked out by it. There big blue butterflies that flew a little too close, all the time.
Our hotel room had a sweet corner view and a swimming pool. The girls couldn't have asked for much more. They spent a lot of time standing in the window watching cars and the Hard Rock Cafe guitar turn around (it was right across the street).
Poor Scott had to be in trainings all day but we got to meet him for dinner which is a rare occasion now a days and hang out with him at night.
We finished our trip with a Philly Cheese steak on our way out of town. It was a great time. The people we nice, there was a lot to see and do and we had an adventure.
I have to admit I was pretty proud of the way I found my way around the city by myself with Kayt and Ella. They were troopers though.
The first day we headed to Independence Square to see the Liberty Bell which Ella describes as "tall, tall". The bell was definitely the highlight of her day. There weren't any crowds (it being January and 30 degrees outside) so we just took our time seeing what we wanted to see. It really was fun. I did receive a few lessons from the city on this first day.
1) small denominations of cash are a must. DO NOT PUT $20 into a token machine. You will get $20 worth of tokens, not change
2) Subway workers are not happy people and do not like to answer questions. Just give them the token and find the main service desk hub.
3) Subways are not like the D.C. Metro. They stink and are a little scary and they don't all have elevators. Stop at one that does or you will haul two kids and a stroller up two flights of stairs.
4) Parking costs A LOT of MONEY!!!
On day two we headed to the Academy of Natural Sciences and The Ben Franklin Institute of Technology. We could have spent a week in the Institute of Technology alone. It is hands down the coolest science museum I have been to. The highlight of what we saw, was a a full sized train engine and all the interactive stuff showing how it goes. We also went to a show in the planetarium about telescopes. I have decided I am would pay a lot of money to actually look through a telescope and see a planet. How cool would that be. We also got to walk through a giant heart. It was awesome.
My favorite part was the butterfly conservatory. It was a huge room with tons of butterflies just cruisin' around you. The girls were a little freaked out by it. There big blue butterflies that flew a little too close, all the time.
Our hotel room had a sweet corner view and a swimming pool. The girls couldn't have asked for much more. They spent a lot of time standing in the window watching cars and the Hard Rock Cafe guitar turn around (it was right across the street).
Poor Scott had to be in trainings all day but we got to meet him for dinner which is a rare occasion now a days and hang out with him at night.
We finished our trip with a Philly Cheese steak on our way out of town. It was a great time. The people we nice, there was a lot to see and do and we had an adventure.
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