everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Our New Little Man

Introducing Caden Joseph! He has stolen our hearts and is the most handsome, precious and content little guy. Birth story forth coming when sleep amounts to more than four hours a night. In summary he made his debut after a long 22 hour labor with a successful VBAC. A lot bigger than what the doctor expected, 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long.

Everyone in our house is completely smitten by him and the boys only wish they could take him to school with them so they could hold him all day. They were ecstatic that he has black hair just like them!

Grace has instantly become mother hen, she is a little helper although sometimes a little too much. She shows so much care and concern for him and thankfully hasn’t shown signs of being jealous yet.

My mom was with us for the first week, which was an absolute life saver and now we are flying solo and learning to adjust to a family of 6!! From 0 to 4 kids in two and a half years, nothing is impossible with God!! Our hearts are beyond full! Thank you for all of the prayers and love.

Vacay

Has it really been two months since I last posted, yikes! I apologize for my absence it was an unintended vacay.

The last two months in summary, we finished out our homeschooling year (yay and yippee especially from the teacher), we are enjoying checking items off our summer bucket list and starting to prep for the arrival of the newest Everts in just 11 weeks!

We just returned from a short little family vacation and now I feel like I need a vacation to catch up on sleep. Not sure if it’s third trimester fatigue or that we packed a lot into our three days away. No matter how long or short it seems like the prep, planning and packing before hand is tiring enough leaving you feeling exhausted before the trip has even started.

It was such a blessed time to have as a family, I only wish it could have been longer. Memories made and time to just focus on the kids before the family dynamic changes again.

Saying Good Bye

We just returned from a long weekend away, I feel exhausted mentally and physically, drained and kind of in a daze as I sit here tonight. I wish I could say it was spring break or for a fun vacation, but our trip was back to my home town to bury my grandfather. Papa as we called him.

I can’t say that I didn’t know it was coming. My grandfather had suffered from Parkinson’s for years. When we saw him over Christmas I could tell his health was further declining and in the back of my mind had a feeling he would probably only be with us a few more months.

He was 90 and lived a full life. Those words are suppose to bring consolation, yet saying good bye doesn’t seem any easier. I was blessed to have had him in my life for so many years, still my heart hurts.

As my children are full of questions now about death, dying and the afterlife my own mind wrestles with the idea. I believe in eternal life and profess it as a part of my faith, yet why does it seem so hard to face. Why does my mind want to escape the thought of having to say good bye to those I love.

I knew his days were drawing to an end and I wished that distance didn’t keep me away so I could see him one more time. Just hours before he passed my dad called me and asked if I wanted to talk to him and say good bye. I am so grateful that I had those moments. Although he couldn’t respond he could still hear me. I talked to him, prayed with him and the boys and I sang to him.

When we hung up the phone, Kolbe put his head in his hands and said I don’t want him to die yet. A grandfather they only knew 2 short years, but loved nonetheless. All I could say was me either buddy, me either.

Why is it so hard to say good bye when we have the promise of the resurrection and new life. Is it because we are the ones left to grieve, we are the ones feeling the loss, we are the ones who say good bye.

I struggled to find the words as the end of the conversation neared. I couldn’t say it. The words wouldn’t formulate. It all seems too final. My dad in his own grief spoke the words for me, until we meet again.

So until we meet again Papa, I will pray that your soul is resting with our Lord. That you are at peace and sharing in eternal happiness. Until we meet again, please pray for me.

The Infield is Covered

We are excited to announce the addition of the newest and smallest member of our family arriving September 4!! Fifteen weeks and counting! (Title credit, Aaron Everts. We are on our way to fielding a baseball team!)

The kids found out on Valentine’s Day when they opened a heart with the eight week ultrasound picture. They kept saying, look Gracie this is you when you were really little. After giving them a few hints it clicked. Kolbe and Ethan began screaming and dancing around the living room with much excitement. They kept repeating, I can’t believe we are having another baby!!! Kolbe glanced at my stomach, look mom’s tummy is getting so big!!

The excitement was followed by a million questions and them wishing the baby was already here. The next day Ethan carried the ultrasound picture around the house the entire day. He even stood in front of the keyboard holding it as he played the baby a new song. Melt my heart!!

They made sure to get the important details figured out immediately; such as the seating arrangement in the van, a schedule of who is holding the baby when and the birth plan. Their birth plan includes the baby being born on time and not too early, the baby being in the room with me and not in the NICU and them coming up to the hospital immediately to see and hold the baby.

A list of names has also been started as they discussed if the baby would be a boy or a girl. After much thought Ethan stated, it doesn’t matter we just want the baby to be healthy and that is his one prayer intention every single night. I love seeing their enthusiasm and excitement as they prepare to welcome their newest sibling.

Thankfully I have been feeling pretty good and for the most part am out of the morning sickness and extreme fatigue stage. I still have major food aversions and some nights find it hard to make dinner, because nothing sounds good. Interestingly all of my aversions are the exact same as they were with Grace.

So far no bed rest and we are praying it stays that way. Everything has looked great on all of the ultrasounds and seems to be going as it should be. My progesterone levels are being monitored closely and I get to have the fun injections again, but at this point I consider that routine for me. At the same time I realize we have a long ways to go and are not in the clear until baby is here, so I appreciate any extra prayers.

God continues to amaze me!!! Ask me three years ago I would have never thought we would be the parents to four beautiful children. His goodness and kindness far exceed our hopes and dreams.

He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Gifts of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my dear Lord gave to me three beautiful children!!

Two years ago on the Epiphany we brought our sons home.

One year ago on the Epiphany we brought Grace home from the NICU.

I love this picture as they just threw their arms around each other without any prompting.

For years Aaron and I would pray the Christmas novena with the intention being for the gift of children. I had heard so many promises associated with the novena, how powerful it was, the answered prayers that came from it. So each year we prayed this beautiful prayer and it seemed far too many years went by and I was still left hoping. Disappointed as I wondered if my prayer would ever be answered or if it was being heard.

Fast forward years later. We received word the beginning of December 2014 that we could finally travel to Ghana to get the boys’ visas and meet them for the first time. We left for Ghana the day after Christmas, met them for the first time on my birthday and landed home on the Epiphany. The twelfth day of Christmas.

Last year our little Grace made her arrival six weeks early via emergency c-section. After being told she would be in the NICU two to three weeks she only had to stay for nine days. We brought her home on the Epiphany. The twelfth day of Christmas.

Do I believe in Christmas miracles. Yes. Does God still manifest his face today as he did at the very first Christmas in the infant lying in the manger. Absolutely. All I need to do is look at the sweet face of each of my beautiful children and I see God’s love, I see his face. Each one of them an answer to my prayer, a prayer I thought had gone unanswered.

The tradition only seems fitting then that we wait to celebrate our family’s Christmas until the Epiphany. As the wise men brought their gifts to the Christ child, I wonder what gift I can ever give him in return for the gift of these precious souls he has entrusted to me.

Some say it is coincidence, but I say it is providence. God’s perfect plan revealed at his perfect time.