Disney World

We went to Disney World to celebrate Norah's fifth birthday and stayed through Halloween. It was our first real family vacation and we all had a blast. Our first day in the park was Norah's birthday so we had lunch and birthday cake at Cinderella's Castle. We spent the second day at the Animal Kingdom, and really enjoyed Finding Nemo - The Musical. We went Soarin' at Epcot on the third day. Once the rain cleared on the last day we had a great time at Hollywood Studios and then went back to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Norah and I stayed at the dance party until almost midnight. I think it was the best day of her life.

Here is an exhaustive list of all the attractions we managed to fit in:

• Met Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Cinderella at the Town Square Theater
• Rode the Walt Disney World Railroad
• Rode on the Teacups (a.k.a. the Mad Tea Party)
• Rode the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Met Rapunzel
• Rode Dumbo The Flying Elephant
• Rode the carrousel again
• Rode the teacups again
• Had lunch at The Cinderella Castle where we met Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, and Ariel
• Rode "it's a small world"
• Rode The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Saw Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
• Met Vidia and Tinkerbell
• Rode Peter Pan's Flight
• Rode the teacups again

And that was just the first day!

Isaac Finley

Most of you already know that my new son was born on Tuesday, December 21st at 4:11 p.m. He weighted 8 pounds and 3 ounces. I started working on this post shortly after his birth while we were still working on picking his name. At the time, we were calling him "Bear", a nickname that the nurses thought fitting given his barrel chest and ability to hold his head up.

We ended up Naming him Isaac Finley. The middle name is after my grandfather (or me if I am feeling particularly self-focused). His first name has a story.

About year ago, Erica came to me and told me she wanted to try again. By this time we had already lost 4, and I had given up. We were done with our foster care training and I was focused on that. Nevertheless, I told her I'd pray about it. I was prepared to take the next step, which was to contact the specialist and have them do bloodwork. I figured the diagnosis would reveal that having a child would be difficult and expensive, and we could move on.

While we were waiting on the results one of Erica's friends had a prophecy. I should preface this by saying that this doesn't happen very often to us or her friend. She said God told her that we would have a son within a year. Sound familiar?

When God sent his angels to tell Abraham he was going to have a son, he had already given up as well. In fact, rather than rejoicing, he said "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing". Translation: I've already got this figured out, and my way sounds much better. My response to the prophesy was similar. I wrote it off as bad pizza and was secretly upset when Erica believed it.

When the doctor called with the results, Erica and I interpreted his findings differently. Erica: "Great news, I have a treatment plan that will work for you!" Me: "This is going to be expensive, painful, and obviously not the right thing to do." I was surprised that Erica was ready to try again. I felt like I was swimming upstream. I convinced her to wait a week and make our decision when we got back from our working vacation in Evanston, IL.

On our second day in Evanston, we found out Erica was pregnant. The news was terrifying. The Doctor said we had a 30% chance of success, and finding out of state treatment was harrowing. My mother's response wasn't helpful: "You do know where baby's come from right?"

The real work began when we returned. Erica had to get IV infusions Every two to three weeks. Insurance wouldn't cover it, the costs were staggering, and that wasn't the worst part. Each night I pleaded with God to keep our baby alive; terrified this would be our fifth miscarriage.

After a few months Erica didn't need the infusions anymore, and fear gave way to hope. Finally, on December 21st at 4:11pm, God fulfilled his blessing.


In my next post, the delivery.

The Delivery

Erica and I woke up in the morning of December 21st 2010 and headed to baptist hospital at 6:45 for our scheduled induction. We had to schedule an induction 10 days prior to the due date in order to get the timing right with her blood thinner, which is a whole other story. We were in the waiting room for 2 hours because there were no available beds in labor and delivery. I was impatient, but Erica was just excited. Once we got a room Erica got all hooked up on monitors and they started giving her pitosen to induce contractions by about 10 a.m. After about an hour, the Dr. Breniman broke Erica's water and said it should increase her contractions. It worked, and within about four hours Erica was ready for her epidural. It took two anesthesiologists three tries to get the epidural in, but it did the trick. Not long after that Erica called me (I was in the waiting room updating family members) and told me that the nurse felt Bear's elbow. Did I mention that his nickname is bear? I'll tell you more about that later as well.

 Anyway, baby's don't come out elbows first, so she called the doctor. Dr. Breniman said he was going to try pinching bear's fingers and hoped that he would pull his hand back. He sat down and took a look and said, "well, that isn't going to work." Before I had time to ask him why not, I saw the problem...fingers? Bear had his arm so far down the birth canal that the doctor was shaking his hand. The nurses thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen and were lining up to shake hands with my son. Erica was not amused. She knew this meant C-section and wasn't looking forward to major abdominal surgery.

After that things started happening very fast. The nurse threw me some scrubs and by the time I had changed and called a few family members they were ready to take Erica to the OR. I sat in a chair and talked to her during the operation (luckily she already had an epidural).  It was an incredibly graphic display that I may never forget, but it wasn't long before they where wheeling Erica back down the hall with our son in her arms. His first activity was nursing, and his second was meeting his big sister.

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