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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Monday, December 28, 2009
Get Ready for the Update
So...I have to give myself a bit of break after having to do Christmas all by myself this year, giving a talk in church, giving a lesson in church, Scott giving a talk in church, hosting company twice and teaching my online class. However, I have been a very bad blogger. Who does not post about two birthdays and two holidays? So here you go, my vomit update (for lack of a better word). Proceed with caution.
National Christmas Tree
The first snow of the year here we decided to go into the city and see the National Christmas Tree. People are afraid of snow so that meant small crowds. It was great. We went to the national arboretum and say an incredible train display in fairy forest made all out of plants.
Then we went and say the tree. It was a great time.
Arlington National Cemetary
Each year a company in Maine makes wreaths and drives them down to be placed on older sections of Arlington National Cemetery. They ask for volunteers to come and help lay them and remember our veterans. This year, we got to participate. It was awesome. Going to Arlington is always an overwhelming experience. This time it was nice to say thank you in a very small way.
God Bless Us Everyone!
Our Christmas this year was great. We were more than a little sad we would not be celebrating it in Idaho but we had a great time out here. I had all of the shopping done before Monday the 21st so the last week was spent just having fun. We made snowflakes and cookies, and chocolate covered pretzels. We went to a party for the BYU bowl game. When went to a live nativity at a baptist church up the street and to the Christmas lights at the temple. We sipped hot chocolate and read Christmas stories. It was just so fun.
I think what I have like most about this Christmas is being able to read the stories, from a book my mom gave me a few years ago, by the light of Christmas tree each night before the girls went to bed. When you don't have places you have to be, you have time to do little things like that.
Scott and I spent weekend before Christmas finishing up homemade gifts. He would burn videos on the computer while I made the girls baby carriers. It was just so fun. And we listened to Christmas music and talked about past Christmases. I know it sounds lame but we really were straight out of movie.
On Christmas Eve we did a Nazareth night, Scott's families tradition. Kayt was Mary, she has been prepping for the role all month. Ella was a Sheppard. I was the angel and Scott was Joseph and the Wise men. Kayt was insistent that we act out the Christmas story as Scott read it. I am glad she was. It was so nice and calming and really helped us focus on Christ.
Then it was opening up Christmas P.J.'s and off to bed. I still get excited to open the present on Christmas eve, even though I know exactly what it will be. Scott's grandma gave us our Christmas p.j.'s this year and they were perfect.
Kayt was so excited she could not sleep. Every sound she heard shot her straight up in bed, peeking out the window. She was so concerned about going to sleep she couldn't go to sleep. Scott finally had to go in a lay by her and rub her hands to get her to calm down.
Much to Kayt's excitement Santa came to the Smith house! Kayt and Ella were so excited. It was so great to watch their eyes pop as they saw what Santa had left. They are both so pleased with the simplest things. I wish we didn't loose that along the way. Every little detail was the coolest things they had ever seen. They were extra kind and sensitive all day. Ella literally did not stop hopping around until she went down for a nap around 3pm. It was so sweet.
Later that day Cody and Skye Beckley our good friends that live in Maryland came down to spend the day. They had Christmas dinner with us and spent the night. We played games and ate treat and watched movies. It was great.
Saturday we went to Annapolis, Maryland. It is the coolest place I have been out here for sure so far. I loved it, even though it was raining the whole time. It is so old and right on the harbor and so quaint it was awesome. We ate a place called Sofi's crepery and checked out the navel academy and boats on the water. It was so fun. After Annapolis we sadly parted ways. We love the Beckley's. Again, they are our family away from family!!
We finished our Saturday at the Frost's home, one of Scott's mission companions and good friends of ours. They invited us to the big Christmas feast with his whole family. It was great to see them Ryan and Alie again.
Finally, Sunday was our ward Christmas program. I started singing we the ward choir and have loved it. I really like to sing. It has helped me get to know more people as well. The music was beautiful, the spirit was strong and the meeting was made perfect by Scott's fabulous talk! HE was bit intimidates being the only speaker on the Christmas program and coming after, Jenny Baker a super accomplished Violinist played Ave Maria and the choir sang and wonderful vocal solos and....But Scott did fantastic. His message was so simple; each of us needs to decide each day to let Christ into our lives. We each get to decide if we are going to get caught up in the details of running our lives or if we are going to step back out of the wind and feel the love of God.
All in all, it was a fantastic Christmas, filled with the glow of Christmas. We had time to do the little things, visit some widows in the ward, go to nativities, read good stories, sing the Christmas songs, talk with family, watch Christmas shows. Just enjoy each other and remember Jesus. We are so blessed.
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