Saturday, September 10, 2011

It's a GIRL!

(Sorry I wrote this Friday night - but just saw that it didn't post!!!)

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.


We would like to announce the arrival of

Hadassah Love Kuenzi

Born September 9, 2011


At 12:07pm


Weighing 6lb 7oz


Length 19in


Head circum 13 1/4


at Paoli Hospital with Dr. Anne Bussard






Hadassah Love - our little girl! We fell in love with you the moment we saw you. Your Daddy is totally smitten with you and has already said he is going to have to be careful not to spoil you too much so that you will grow up to be a godly young lady. Your big brother Jay is also smitten by you! This letter is to you Haddie, so you will know why Dad and Mom choose your name.

Before we were married, Mom was reading the book of Esther in her devotions and saw that in Esther 2:7 Queen Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah. Mom called Dad and told him about the name. At first he wasn't sure of it, but the next time we talked he had changed his mind and he did like it. So before we married we both liked the name Hadassah - if we ever had a girl. We have waited through your three big brothers to finally get to name a little girl!




Queen Esther is a woman we would challenge you to be like. She had boldness, but grace. She was outspoken, yet respectful. She took a stand for what was right, although putting her own life at risk. Queen Esther knew the power of God, but she also knew the power of prayer and fasting. She was faithful to God, she was faithful to her people, but she was also faithful to her husband. Hadassah means myrtle flower which is sweetness. Queen Esther lived her life in a way that was a sweet savor to Almighty God. Haddie, we want you to grow up to be a woman who will follow God, do whatever He asks of you, and remember that God created you for "such a time as this".

The middle name Love is from your Great Grandma Schnarr. When she married, she took her maiden name as a middle name since she was not given one at birth. Great Grandma Schnarr is also someone we would challenge you to be like. She is an example of a proverbs 31 woman. She faithfully stood by her husband and supported him through their ministries. She loved poeple, even the people who opposed her husband. She helped Grandpa as he Pastored church, was a missionary, and even when he was a painter/paperhanger. Great Gramma is sweet and strong at the same time. While Mom was pregnant with you, Great Grandpa went Home to Heaven after fighting horribly painful cancer. Great Gramma stood by him every step of the way and is now going on without her husband of 52 years, trusting God every step of the way. Great Granma was a big part of your Mom's life when she was growing up and taught her many things. They shared a love for ice cream and other sweet things, but also a love of spending time together. Great Gramma would come to every important school event, take Mom to church sometimes, played games with her, rubbed her hands and feet at night as they sat together watching a movie or TV. Great Gramma is also a prayer warrior and prayed for Mom to be saved, until one day at 18 she finally did see her need for salvation and trust Jesus Christ as the only way to have her sins forgiven. Great Gramma's influence has made a difference in Mom's life and that is why we wanted to remind you of her by the middle name of Love.

We love you little Haddie, and although we will not be perfect parents we will try to raise you to remember to serve God first with your life and to always look to him for direction and wisdom just like Queen Esther did.




Love,


Daddy and Mommy






Birth story:


Thursday I saw the doctor again and for two weeks waqs 5cm and 80%. We had decided not to induce, because we wanted to let you grow if you still needed to. After my appointment (I think the Dr did something to try to jump start labor) I was miserable. I was having contractions more often, but not regular. My stomach was sore, and you were as active as ever. The next morning Daddy had to go to work early and the nurse (Miss Jeniffer) came at 8 so we could attend the first MOMS meeting at church. Jay, Truett and I sat down to eat some cereal I noticed my contractions were coming pretty regular so I started to time them. After 6 in a row about 4 minutes apart I called Daddy at work and asked him to come home. I also called a friend, Stacey, from church and asked if she could come sit with the boys. We left for the hosptial shortly after. We arrived around 9:30am, just over an hour from my first contraction. The contractions were still pretty light at this point. They got me in the room and all hooked up and said I was about 6cm and within 30 minutes they broke my water. They checked me again and I was 7cm then the next check - after the contractions were very painful I was almost ready. Several more minutes went by and they brought in the chart with all the supplies and the bright light and all and I kjnew it was almost time! The doctor came in and I pushed through two contractions. Then one more push as I helped lift you up to my chest! (You were the only one I got to do this with) You were laying with your tummy to mine and we didn't know who you were for a few moments. Then as we turn you Daddy and I both saw and said "Its a GIRL!" You were born at 12:07, with just under 4 hours of labor.




We adore you! We helped to dress you after your first bath in your little pink outfit with pink socks and a pink head band! It is so weird to say "she" and "her" I called you "buddy" and then realized - you're not a buddy! :o)


Tuesday, September 06, 2011

No Baby Yet

Hi Everyone,

I know people keep checking to see if there is a baby yet, so I just thought I would tell you that we are STILL waiting! I am 39 weeks 3days... which is 5 days longer than I have ever been pregnant before!
I really don't know what this lil one is up too or when he/she will decide to stop hiding in the my nice quiet safe belly and come meet his/her older brothers...but I'll let you know when the time comes.

Thank you for continuing to pray for a safe healthy Baby and a safe healthy Mommy.

Every day Jays tells the Baby to come after dinner. One of these days he is bound to be right! Although instead of thinking that is is about to happen at any moment I find myself thinking that this baby is never going to come! I have to remind myself now that it REALLY WILL happen pretty soon!

I'm a mess! :o)

Saturday, September 03, 2011

39 weeks!

I am 39 weeks today! I have never been 39 weeks pregnant before!

This baby seems to be taking his/her good ole time! On Thursday the doctor said I was 4-5cm and 80%. At 39 weeks the doctor was willing to induce and we were thinking of doing it. josiah's first answer to me was, are you sure this is safe for the baby? Are you sure there is no risk to the baby? Mom K and I stopped and prayed for wisdom in knowing what we should do as I started to research it. At first I was reading all minor, rare side effects to the Mom and I was sure we could do it. Then we prayed again and I started finding the side effects to the baby. Josiah and I then decided against being induced for now at least. I already have precipitous labor which means my labors are less than 3 hours and the contractions are stronger, longer, and closer together than normal. Pitocin makes them even stronger, longer and closer yet.

I had pitocin with Jay's birth b/c my water broke and 8 hours later I still was not having any contractions, but he was born with his face as gray as gray could be. But it all made sense as I was reading about pitocin it said that when you have contractions the blood (and therefore oxygen) supply to the baby is cut off. So when I had almost back to back contractions with only extremely short breaks in between for 30-45 minutes so it would have been decreasing the blood and oxygen supply off for most of the labor time. I read a lot about how women are given pitocin then later the baby goes into distress and then they need a c-section and the doctors say "wow, we saved that Mom/Baby" but the truth is the baby went into distress only because of the extra stress from the pitocin which was given often just because the labor was taking longer than the doctors wanted.

We decided it was not worth any risk to the baby to try inducing him/her early. We are going to wait a little longer and see what happens. This baby is only about 6 pounds so maybe he/she needs more time to grow and get stronger. If it is necessary to start my labor at some point that will be different, but we see no reason to try to induce - risk any possible harm to the baby - for our convenience.

This just means we have to trust God to work out the details of when this precious little one arrives. We don't have family here the whole time so working everything out so we will have someone to care for the other 3 kids so we can quick run to the hospital. Mom K is planning to leave sometime between the 4-6 depending on her back (she hurt it while trying to pick Jay up and is not able to sit/walk very well - please pray for a quick full recovery for her). My parents will be coming the 9th, if the baby is born already. Otherwise it will be the 10 or 11 until other family arrives.

So we are waiting, waiting, waiting......

I can't wait to see if I have a fourth little man or a little lady!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Our 6th Anniversary


Josiah and I celebrated 6 years of wonderful marriage on August 20! I am so blessed to be married to Josiah! I love you Dear and am so thankful God brought us together. As you sang to me on our wedding day, "Only God could love you more!"

The boys playing dress up


My tiger


and my lil skunk

Josiah went out and bought me roses Saturday morning!

i don't know how this one turned out like this but I love it!

I never took pictures of my engagement and/or wedding ring with flowers so I thought I would do it this time.

Josiah had to work for several hours in the morning/afternoon but then we went to a park to take some family pictures

Our family - who would have thought six years ago that we would be sitting here with three wonderful little boys and another child on the way

Dillon and his youngest sibling

Jay kissing the baby

Truett is a BIG brother? Wow that is crazy, he is still a baby himself!

Family! Thank you Lord for my wonderful family - I love them all so much!



Grandma and her boys


Brotherly love! Jay hugging Truett and Truett looking at (and sometimes kissing) Dillon
37 weeks with Baby #4! I can't wait to meet him/her - but I'm glad he/she waited till after our anniversary! :o)


Daddy kissing our sweet lil one!


I love my husby!!



Walking to the car

Our back seat. Here soon there will be another car seat where Grandma is sitting

Grandma and her favorite 5 year old!

Josiah being silly right before we went out for dinner. Mom watched the boys so we could enjoy a dinner out alone. Thank you Mom!


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Lighthouse and Beach

Last weekend we went to a light house and the beach with the boys. these pictures are in the wrong order, but it wasn't worth the time it would take to change them all around! :o)

Daddy and Truett after cleaning all the sand off of him

Here's all that sand....




Dillon LOVED the water. He was actually standing mostly on his own. All Josiah had to do was hold his head and shoulder. Sweet boy!






Mommy and her boys!




Isn't he adorable?!



Daddy and Jay going to the water!




I love this picture of Dillon! He was enjoying the breeze, wind, smells, etc.




Josiah is the best Daddy! He had to DRAG Dillon's HEAVY chair all the way to the water and back. It was a lot of hard work, but he did it so Dillon could enjoy it too.


We actually did the light house first, but again these pictures are reverse too.


The view...











Josiah went up afterwards, by himself b/c Jay wouldn't go up again. We had planned for Jay to come with me and then with him...



Dillon was there, but of course he didn't get to go up


The light and reflectors



I didn't say it was the smartest thing for me to do - but I did go up. I didn't know it had 228 steps to get up! I was so tired and my legs hurt so bad the next few days that I could hardly walk! No more lighthouses for me - at least not till this baby isn't in my belly anymore!

Once he was up, Jay LOVED it! he was running around the outside and enjoying the breeze and the view!


The only problem was the 228 steps! He was terrified! the steps had grates and I think he thought he would fall through them. At every landing he would go up against the side and not move. I had to carry him up a few steps to get him to start walking again. It was horrible!






This was at the bottom before he realized he was terrified! :o)






































Last weekend







































Baby #4 updates

34 Weeks pregnant with Baby #4


I know my shirt looks silly, but I love how this skirt shows my belly just jumping out!



At my 35 week check up with the doctor I measured a week behind so they sent me for an ultrasound to make sure everything is good with Baby.




here is what they found:




Baby is a tiny Baby at only 5lb 1oz and in the 22% (normally babies at almost 36 weeks are about 6 lbs) His/her head is 31 cm (which is the 6%!) and most babies at birth are 33-35cm. This could make my already fast labors even faster! IKES! Please pray for a safe and healthy Baby, delivery and that Josiah would be there 9not at work).



Baby #4's profile. His/Her face is up against the placenta so that is what you see in front of his/her nose and mouth.





Thank you for praying for us as this Baby will probably be born within the next 2 weeks. Again my labors are fast (Truett was 2 1/2 hours) so please just pray that even if this Baby comes in the car that Josiah would be with me and that everyone will be healthy!




Will keep you updated as anything happens!








Friday, August 05, 2011

Truett's Toddler bed

The day we took Dillon down to CHOP's ER we put the boys down for a quick 10 minute nap. Thankfully that is all they were in there for instead of a few hours like normal! Josiah went in and said Truett's leg was stuck through the crib again and this time it was purple! I decided it was time for him to move to a Toddler bed before it loses a leg! I wanted to make the change right away so he will be used to it before the baby comes.

He LOVED his new bed! (This is one I trashed picked - cleaned up and added one bracket to the side rail!)



Going to sleep for the first time...


I checked on him one time and this is what I found...


Then later I found this....

He has done very well with it. I have had to teach him during nap time not to get up and play, but he is getting MUCH better. He has rolled out a few times in the night but I just kiss him and put him back in and he goes right back to sleep. He LOVES waking up in the morning and being able to play with Jay in their room till it is time to get up. In fact I think they were up around 5:30-6:00 this morning! (yes I had some tired cranky boys on my hands today)

The only other thing we are still working on learning is that blankie stays in the bed and does NOT come down with him! He laughs at me every time because he knows he isn't supposed to have it!

Make-a-Wish


Make a wish approved Dillon for a therapy pool. We had never heard of Endless Pools before they told us about it so we decided it would be the best "wish" for Dillon since he enjoys aqua therapy so much. At first they wanted us to go on a Disney vacation, but that would not be for Dillon. We first started talking with them almost 3 years ago and it is finally happening!



Here is our backyard before...





Day 1



Day 2


Day 3



Day 4




The pool should go in on Monday-Wed then 2 more days of cement work. Make a wish provided the pool, and we are waiting for approval for the funds to do an enclosure around it so he can use it YEAR ROUND! What a blessing! I can't wait to use it with him as often as we can - in our own back yard! The pool is 7 feet by 14 feet. It is not a swimming pool, but it is great for therapy. It has a current that will allow us the same movement without need a huge pool!