Journey With Jen

Faith in 2005 (3 1/2 yrs) And 2010 Last, but not least, my baby girl. I always wanted a little girl. Growing up, her name was going to be Amanda. Then, as I went through school, the Amanda's I met were not very nice so her named changed to Destiny. In fact, in 2000 I was pregnant with what I knew was a little girl. My pregnancy was different than the boys. I wasn't sick very often. I kinda glowed -- a little. LOL I went to my checks ups which were all normal. Until the 5th month, when I would have my ultrasound. There wasn't a heartbeat. She was gone. I refilled my pain medication they gave me. (I wouldn't do the D&C) I had a hard time after that. I had my boys to help me, but I just wanted my girl back. One year to the date (my check up after my miscarriage), I found out I was pregnant! I was feeling pretty good again. I craved soup like I did with my previous pregnancy. God gave my my baby girl. But, her name changed from Destiny to Faith. Faith is what kept me go...

Luke holding Faith at the hospital in 2002. Luke in 2010. It is amazing to me how much they haven't changed! And how much of their personality is just them. Notice the cowboy shirt? :) When I think of Luke, I think of the past struggles as well as the future. I remember those days of falling on the floor screaming ~ after the two's. In fact, his tantrums didn't start until after the two's. Luke was born screaming, spent the first nine months crying with colic, and then became a pretty happy little toddler. He didn't talk a lot, just pointed. We figured it was because Joey was there and he didn't need to talk much. But before kindergarten, we got him tested for speech through the co-op because the daycare mentioned it. I jumped on it. I knew something was wrong. He still wasn't talking. He fell down a lot. He had meltdowns or tantrums still. And, he didn't seem to be learning at a 'normal' pace. (I was working on ABC's, Counting, and colors) L...

Joey in 2005 & 2010 Isn't it amazing that he really looks the same? :) Yes, of course, a lot bigger. He is now 5'6" and wears a size 10 in men's shoes. But, still the same Joey. I remember being pregnant with Joey. So Sick! Not the glowing pregnancy every woman dreams of. I soon realized that an 8 month pregnant lady should not be sick over a toilet. Very hard to get up! :~D But, with the joy of preclampsia, he arrived four weeks early. A very loud screaming five pounds! He was SO tiny. But, with God's blessings, he was healthy enough to come home when I was released from the hospital a few days later. He was a very easy baby. Happy. As a toddler, he was so funny. I think one of his first words after 'mommy' and 'daddy' was 'wipe-y.' Every time he'd get his hands dirty, he would hold them up and want a 'wipe-y.' Of course, at the time, it was cute. (as a teenager, I have to remind him to wipe his hands on a napkin!) He became...