Thankful...

I don't mean to get all sappy on you, but I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Here are the top 4...

Disneyland 2009

Last winter we were thinking what is the most ridiculous thing we could do just a couple of months after the baby is born? I know, let's go to Disneyland for 5 days! It will be easy right? Babies sleep through the night before they are three months old, right? We won't need much luggage, baby things are small, right? What a couple of rookies. Except we aren't rookies, we have three kids, we are just overly-ambitious Disney-loving IDIOTS! So, when Jackson was just shy of three months old and almost sleeping through the night, we packed up everything we own and hopped a plane for the happiest place on earth. And guess what, it was not easy and the baby did not even come close to sleeping through the night and we paid luggage fees equivalent to another round-trip ticket, but it was SOOOOOO FUN and we would do it again in a heartbeat....

We enjoyed our time in Disneyland and the kids were CRAZY! Isaac is the bravest seven year old that I have ever met! He even had Bubby going on the Screamin' California roller coaster and loving it! Reiley had a super time too with a visit to the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo Boutique and Salon for a makeover. It was especially fun to spend time with Aunti Pup, Uncle Aaron and cousins Luke and Peter (no Nattie this time) and Bubby (no Papa this time). Here are some pics from the trip...

Love the ears!

Jackson enjoyed the view from his stroller!

Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo!

Toon Town

Toon Town

Cute cousins

One of the many character photos!

Goofy kid!

Okay- which one of you made the baby cry?

Bubby and the kiddos

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pics of our Halloween fun!

Jackson and his pumpkin - is there a resemblance or is it just me?

Ooh scary skeleton and pretty Cinderella!

Trick-or-treating to Daddy's office.

Pure princess.

I just love his costume - it was so soft and cuddly.

Dedicated

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

We had Jackson dedicated at church recently. There is something very special about standing up in front of family, friends and our church and promising to raise this little boy to love God and serve Him. What a triumph that after the struggles that we all endured this past summer, God was faithful and delivered to us a happy healthy son (and brother). I know that God has great plans for our family and for this little boy.

Jackson,

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

2 months old - where did the time go?

Wow - today was Jackson's two month well baby check up appointment. It was first thing this morning, so we were on a tight schedule in order to make it on time. You would think, as this is my third child, that I would have learned that you can NEVER have a tight schedule and a baby. Jackson is usually a pretty content little fellow, but this morning he was a little upset after a feeding and we had to get dressed and leave the house in less than 10 minutes. I changed him and dressed him and buckled him into the bouncy seat so that I could get ready. When I turned to walk away from him, I heard the sound that no mom likes to hear - the distinct sound of poo being blown out all sides of the diaper... So, I turned around and lifted him gingerly from the seat and he spit up, although "spit up" doesn't do justice to the volume or the force of the ejected milk. So, with just 10 minutes before I planned to impress the pediatrician with our shiny, clean, happy and well-fed baby, I found myself standing in the bathroom in my spit up covered jammies holding a baby covered in poo and puke... So goes the life of a mommy! A speedy bath, new diaper and outfit for Jackson and ponytail and sweatpants for me and we were ready to go... I kid you not, we were out the door in ten minutes flat and get this - WE WERE ON TIME! Jackson had a great appointment where he wowed the doctor with his superior intellect and witty sense of humor...okay he wowed her by more than doubling his birthweight and smiling! These are big things for a baby! He weighed in at 12 pounds 10 ounces (70th percentile) and 22 inches long (2oth percentile)! So, we have a happy, healthy, rather short and extremely chubby baby and to this mommy, it doesn't get any better than that! Love Love Love this baby boy!

Boys will be boys... no matter their age!

The last 6 weeks

The last 6 weeks have flown by... and boy has a lot happened in those six weeks. We had a few birthdays (Jackson, Reiley and Papa), our 12th anniversary, the first day of school, a new car purchase, a baby shower and a trip to Eugene for a Duck game. The Lesyk family does not slow down for anything.

Jackson is doing beautifully and has gained nearly 4 pounds in his short 6 weeks. He has sweet chubby cheeks and at least 2 chins (check out the pic). He is starting to sort out the difference between day and night and has given us a couple of sweet smiles. I feel so lucky to get this one last chance to snuggle and love a newborn. Although they are an overwhelming amount of work, they are also overwhelmingly sweet and so tiny and new. I could go on for days about how in love I am with my newborn son.

My joy.

"For you O Lord have made me glad by what you have done, I will sing for joy at the work of your hands." Psalm 92:4

I heart baby feet!

There is nothing sweeter than a cute little pair of baby feet! Are you jealous? I get to kiss these toes every day!

Little Duckling!

First Day of School

Here are some pics of the kids on their first day of school. Isaac started second grade and Reiley is now in kindergarten!

Reiley's Birthday

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet little girl. We celebrated our 5th year with our creative, friendly, bright, loving little chatterbox. We hosted a party at Sherwood Dance Academy for Reiley and her friends and a party at home for family! Check out the pics below...

First Days At Home.

Quiet time with Isaac

First bath.

Headed home.

Large carseat, tiny baby.

Getting ready to go home

A Family of Five

Wow - I am so sorry that it has been so long since my last post, but as most of you know, life got a little hairy at the end of June. I spent one week at Meridian Park hospital in pre-term labor and then I spent the next 5 weeks on complete bed rest and medication at my parents home and at our home. Baby Jackson stayed put - praise the Lord- until 36 weeks gestation. I went off bedrest and medication in the morning on August 5th and by 6pm that evening, I was in full blown labor again! We went to the hospital around 8pm and at 8:21 am on August 6th, we welcomed Jackson Stone Lesyk into our lives. He weighed 6 pounds and one ounce and was 19 inches long. It was a very joyful and emotional time. I spent so many hours and days and weeks feeling great anxiety about maintaining my pregnancy and keeping that baby in...and in an instant, I was holding my miracle, a perfect healthy tiny baby boy. He did beautifully after birth, with just a few routine preemie issues. He was beautiful and pink with tons of blonde hair. He cried right away - much to the relief of this mama. I cannot explain the kind of overwhelming relief, gratitude and joy that I felt.

This baby is the answer to the prayers of more people than I can count. He is the answer to the prayers that began years ago for me. He is the child that completes this family. He is simply a miracle.

"For you formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14

brand new baby boy

a family of five

Isaac and Reiley were so excited to meet their brother

Daddy is in love

Mommy and Jackson

Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry...

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.   2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I read this verse today while laying flat on my back and trying desperately to convince an uncooperative body that this baby needs to be allowed to stay for a bit longer.  I am definitely not delighting in this hardship, but we all have room for improvement right?  Currently, I am just trying to remember that God loves me and this baby and somehow we will both make it through this tough time with His help.  I will admit in the midst of flurries of contractions, I am having a tough time remembering that His grace is sufficient for me.  I want so desperately to take control of this uncontrollable situation and engineer an outcome that I think will be best, but when things quiet down and I can listen to my own heart, I know that God is in control and I need to let go of the need to control this and just do my job.  My current job is to rest flat on my back and relax and try not to panic at the idea of delivering a 31 week old baby into this world.  

So far, the nurses and doctors are doing a great job of slowing down my labor and controlling the situation with medications.  They have been patient and understanding and positive and I thank God for each and every one.  Evenings are difficult as this is when my body seems to kick into overdrive and really want to contract through the meds.  If you have a spare minute in the evenings, say a little extra prayer for peace for both me and Jackson. 

Most importantly, it needs to be noted that Jackson looks great, he is tolerating all of this beautifully.  His ultrasound looked perfect and placed him somewhere over 3 pounds and super active.  He had been monitored continuously by the doctors and has been right on track.  He has now received the full benefit of the steroids that will help mature his lungs and will likely do well no matter when his arrival date.  It won't be easy, but his long term prognosis is good.  

Whatever happens over the next few hours, days and weeks, please know that your prayers and support mean the world to me and I thank God that I have such a great support system.

Amy and Jackson (31 weeks 1 day and praying for many more)  

Tiny dancer

Here are some pics from Reiley's dance recital last weekend. She did a great job and made a very cute fairy!

On to 2nd grade

Isaac on the first day of first grade.

Isaac and Mrs. S. on the last day of first grade.

Isaac at the talent show telling his jokes!

It's official - we have a second grader. Isaac finished up his first grade year and we are so incredibly proud of him. He learned a ton, made lots of new friends and thoroughly enjoyed school this year. He is a great reader and his favorite class at school is computers. He had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. S., who made this year really fun and productive and we feel very blessed that he was able to be in her classroom. She was the perfect teacher for our son. At the end of the year, Isaac participated in the talent show, telling jokes onstage to over 100 first graders and some parents. I was amazed at his enthusiasm and bravery. He wasn't a bit nervous... He must have gotten that from his dad, because even in first grade, I would have been terrified to stand up in front of a crowd :0) Also at the end of the year, Isaac won the first grade award for PE and was very proud to bring home a certificate and medal.

When I look back at this year, I am so pleased that Isaac was able to attend Archer Glen. We are very lucky to live in this town that values its' kids and their education so much!