It's a boy!

due December 31st

Norah's Dance Recital

Norah had her first Dance Recital Last week. We weren't allowed to bring cameras to the recital, but I did manage to get video of the dress rehearsal. I think I've watched it about 20 times. You only have to watch it once. Norah is on the far right.

Easter Season

Norah speaks little of Easter Bunnies, but she loved the "Easter Ponies." She road a pony for the first time at the Clinton Museum. She also found eggs, make a necklace and played games. But picking flowers to give away was her favorite activity, after the Easter Ponies of course.

Malika, Norah, Carl, Erica and Finley at the Clinton Museum Easter Egg Hunt (notice the boy standing on Dad's head. oops!)

We went to a Helicopter Egg Drop. Unfortunatley we were 2 minutes late, so Norah did not find any eggs. But a couple of the older kids gave her eggs, and then we went out for ice cream!

On Easter, we had a huge egg hunt in our backyard. We painted eggs and stuffed plastic ones, making up for the previous less bountiful hunts. Then we had lunch with the Vinsons. What a Easter. Fin said I went a bit overboard, calling it "Easter Christmas."

Perhaps, but the best part of the Season was a Maunday Thursday service we attended at church. That plus nightly family Bible time really grounded the season for us. The fun time with family was icing.

A snapshot

I am preparing for a dear friend's shower. It's been emotional; it took me two trips to the store Target to decide what to buy. You see, our babies would have been born within a month of each other. I heard from another sweet friend, who recenlty found out their baby no longer has a heartbeat. And another friend is getting her 20 week ultrasound this week, a healthy baby after a string of miscarriages. I pray blessings on all of them!

Testing

We sent our first test to California yesterday! I was so nervous all day, nervous about starting the process and about the possible pain from the procedure. Well, the biopsy wasn't bad, but it was rough after for a few hours. On Monday, we go and do all the blood draws, 3 for Fin and about 35 for me; I know what to expect there so I'm not as nervous. Results coming soon . . .

Snow Days

Norah and I got out today, after 2 days at home because of the snow. On the way home from a difficult lunch at Chick-fil-A (I was "the" mom leaving with a screaming child), we had this conversation:

Norah: Mommy, do you like me?
Erica: (thinking this was a heart issue, I emphatically answered) Yes, Norah. I do. I like you so, So, So much!
Norah: Good. (said with a blase voice) I like snow! It's crunchy!

I love that girl!

We've made contact

I heard from the Beer Clinic yesterday; they have all my medical record and my online registration. They are going to review my files in 3 - 4 days and get back to me with the tests needed. It begins!

I read this in his book yesterday, "In fact, Dr Beer has found that women wiht one liveborn child followed by a history of infertility, IVF failure or miscarriage have the highest incidnece of autoimmune disorders. Comprising just a small fraction of all his patients, the unfortunate group has the most difficult immunoligical challenges to overcome in order to achieve a pregnancy."

Needless to say, I wasn't encouraged. But later, God lovingly reminded me that biological children are not our only option. Whatever we discover through these tests, we will be moving into something exciting because it's what God is doing. I have never know so much peace and joy at not getting my perfect way, and let me tell you, I like getting my way! I rejoice that perhaps I am growing in these area! He is very good to me.

MTHFR then what?

Finley and I haven't been secretive about the miscarriages we've had after Norah, 4 in 2 years. We have gone through tests, prayed, gone to adoption Bible studies, and done foster care training. And here we are, trying to decide what to do next.
After all the tests, we know that I have a mild case of PCOS and 1 MTHFR C677t gene mutation. People with two copies of the gene mutation cannot break down folic acid, utilize B vitamins, and can get blood clots (in pregnancy, the blood clots can be in the placenta, killing the baby). I only have one copy, and lots of people do just great with one copy. But my miscarriage pattern (we've lost 2 babies after seeing the heartbeat) seems to be pointing to something immunoligical like this.
We are beyond the expertise of any doctors we know of in Arkansas. So, we have decided to become long-distance patients of the Alan E. Beer Clinic in California and finish our foster care paperwork. As a research facility, The Beer Clinic does some "cutting-edge" tests and treatments that aren't standared. We are going to get the remaining tests, see about the cost of treatment, and pray.
So I am currently peaceful. I am praying that we will be a part of what God is doing, whether through a miracle baby, foster care or adoption.

Christmas Decorations

Norah decorated the house this morning. We have bows on knobs, pulls and all appliances. The door to her right is the trash. She said, "Look Daddy, now the trash is all beautiful." You go Norah, make the world's trash beautiful!

Christmas Treats

Here is our "cookie house." Before you get too awed, it came pre-assembled. We just made the icing (which you cannot eat because it's made with egg whites!! What?!) and decorated it.

My mom and I made Christmas cookies every year when I was young. It was one of my favorite traditions. Norah stuck out the whole process; she helped make every cookie. The thumbprints are my favorite. My Grandma Struck made me a whole tin full the Christmas before she passed away.

This fudge is much easier than the one my mom and I made. I chose it so we could do shapes and decorations.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Norah's 3rd Birthday

We had Norah's "Chuck E Cheese Princess Party" with "lots of friends" last night.

She had so much fun, and we were blessed to have so many friends and family members come!

Norah and I decorated the cupcakes. I didn't expect her to help me, but she really liked it.

I love Norah's sweet smile and Kyah's facial expression!

The kids

and adults had a good time!

Happy 3rd birthday Princess, Ballerina, Cinderella, Cooker and Our Little Girl!

Pillow Proud

I am so proud of this pillow! It is the first thing I have sewn. I started a sewing class last night, 6 -9 pm. I thought we were going to take all 4 weeks to make our pillows. The teacher laughed. We made them in one night. My family was SO sweet. Norah asked for one. Finley asked for three. I should get pretty good at making pillows. Any Christmas requests?

Norah made her bed

Norah made her bed for the 1st time this morning, and I didn't even ask her to! I must deserve some sort of Mom medal for this right? Probably not, especially if you look at the rest of my still-unpacking-unorganized-house. All the same, I am so proud of her, and it will remain all day, even the babies on the floor. Fin remined her to put them on the bed, and she informed him that there is simply "no room".

Going "bumpity bump"

Finley and Norah took a Sunday last month and went off-roading at an ATV park in Hot Springs. They had a great time! Norah thought it was funny that the leaves were "tickling" Daddy's truck.

Dance Class

Norah started dance class on Tuesday. Fin and I got to watch, and I was really impressed that they were learning real dance moves. All in all Norah did great, but at times, she was so funny. I wish I had a video of the teacher gracefuly pointing and tapping alternate toes while Norah's interpretation included bending her knee, grabbing her foot and bouncing.

Mother's Day is past

"It has been Mother's Day at the Vinson Blog for a while," Sarah McGooden recently told me with her normal Sarah-tine whit. So, I will attempt to update and get back on track. Thanks for your gentle proding, friend.
Things we have done this summer:

1. MOVED! Oh yes, I am still unpacking.

2. Finley recently resigned from DCI. He will be the Traffic Engineer for Conway.

3. Gone to our new neighborhood pool and Wild River Country (Norah loved both)

4. Norah moved seamlessly into a big-girl-bed

5. Erica got heat stroke.

6. Norah is getting so funny! Today, she followed me around Kroger singing, "I have decided to follow Mommy. I have decided to follow Mommy, No turning back, No turning back . . ."

Norah' new room

Our new backyard

Norah and Reagan in the creek by our new house

Mother's Day

I woke up first on Mother's Day. After Norah had been up for a while I asked Norah to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. She replied, "Naa, it's too scary." But I did get a Mother's Day dance and lots of cuddles, and the scary eventually wore off. : )
Thank you Finley and Norah for a wonderful Mother's Day.
I am so blessed to be your wife and mother!

Historic Arkansas Museum

I was so glad to see a friend at the fair who could take our picture.  And we should be having a dress-up picture coming!

Making a mother's day card.  She gave it a lot of time and care and made dots for the first time.

Norah got to pet a chick, goat, snake and baby alligator.  Yesterday, she told me, "Mommy, my love snakes."  So she was very excited to get to touch one!  Whose child is this?

We ate lunch at the RiverMarket.

Trip to the Zoo

I could not believe how long this grizzly bear's claws were or how much (s)he liked attention. After multiple passes, Norah decided that the bear was "no scary anymore" and let me get this picture.