The End

What a scary looking title! What comes after THAT? Well, it is not the end of my blogging days, in case you were wondering... but.... it is the end of a few things for me and my family.

The end of surprise announcements, the end of baby clothes, the end of diapers and cribs and bouncy seats, the end of birth control, the end of worry every month, and the list goes on.

After about two years of debate, discussion and several scares a decision has been made. We will not be having any more babies. At least, not genetically! (I would never rule out the possibility of some amazing opportunity to have someone else's baby live with us! Even though I am not seeking it) Late in August, Andy finally had his "procedure" and in about a month he will be tested to make sure that the "coast is clear"!

Last year I was sad and still conflicted, but seriously, once the decision was made I just wanted to move on and be done with it. After it was over, I thought that I might feel sad but honestly we have been so busy, it has been the furthest thing from my mind. I am happy that we came to this decision and blessed to have a wonderful husband who took care of it and didn't leave it up to me. Getting the appointment was a challenge and took forever (he even had to take a "class" and sign all of the paper work and release forms) but the procedure itself didn't take very long at all. Fifteen minutes? We were in and out so fast our heads were spinning! A weekend of relaxing with a strategically placed ice pack and he was back on the run! The bruising looked horrible, but he said that he didn't feel too bad!

Ahhhhh I feel like I can relax in a way that I have not known for 9 years! It is very freeing and a huge relief, although it still seems strange to have closed the book on this chapter of our lives. I keep reminding myself that there are plenty of chapters yet to be written and I look forward with anticipation to what comes next. My pen is poised. Ready? Yes!

A new baby for the Huffakers!

Well, Andy kept saying that he really wanted another baby. He REALLY wanted three, I have always thought that I would have three kids, but at this stage in my life, I really didn't think that it was a good idea. I have to return to work, full time and we struggle financially as it is, and my patience is pushed to the limit with the two that I have. Not to mention that I just don't think that my body can take the process again. I can come up with a thousand reasons NOT to have another baby, but the Universe has begged to differ. Andy's wish has come true and we are blessed and honored with another baby in our lives. Two weeks ago, we became the proud and beaming Godparents of Alexander Rosario Bono. The ceremony was beautiful, held in the Methodist Church surrounded by friends and family. The party afterwards was big, and loud and full of Italian accents and food. We have been welcomed into this family and are basking in the glory of our new connections with them. We look forward to many years of friendship, love and partnership as we join with this family to raise our children and be the best that we can be.

Alex is the sweetest baby. He was happy and cheerful all day long, he slept peacefully in my arms during the entire church service (after his big debut) and awoke with a crazy, questioning look on his face. He seemed to be thinking, "Hmmm, I wake up in a church with some strange lady holding me, and wearing a dress. What is going on here?" I told his mother that it sounded like a bad night in Vegas. (I know, very irreverent for church.. would you expect any less from me!?) He was delightful and seemed to love all of the attention. He is a BIG boy at almost 20 pounds and only 6 months, so holding him was a great workout.We were exhausted after the long weekend of cooking and setting up, partying and then cleaning up and tearing down. It was a good tired. We can't wait to see that little guy again and watch him grow and learn and love. I am thrilled that we get to have a "third" baby, and that I don't have to stretch out or lose sleep at night (sorry Giac and Kate!), but more importantly, that we get to share the love in our hearts with another wonderful little person!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I cannot wait to be done with this school thing for the summer! I really want to CLEAN MY HOUSE!!! You know how, when you are away from your kids you really miss them? Well, I really miss having a neat house.

Right now, there are things scattered from one end to the other. The house is "clean" really, I mean... Andy is doing dishes and all of that, and we do have a house cleaner. It is the clutter! There is a lunch box on the bench, sliffpers on the floor under the kitchen table that have been there for a week, a magazine tossed in the corner that needs to be repaired, doll stuff in the family room, legos on the window seat, 2 sloppy piles of assorted books on the coffee table and two more on the window seat, the couch is covered with toys and books and the pillows have not been put in their proper places for 4 weeks! There are cd's on the entertainment center and today, while helping Ella to "find" a purse to use, I discovered that her entire doll/dress up area has been picked up and just "dumped" into the baskets and bins. Nothing is where it should be. I asked her why she hasn't played dress up lately and her answer was, "Do you think I could find anything in this mess?"

I won't go on to tell you about the other rooms but they are just as bad... it's not a lot and you can see the floor, it's just that I haven't been going around and straightening up. I could be doing that now, but I felt that I needed to vent! Well, the clutter will wait and I will go into a massive straightening up mode when this is done. I have even been having fantasies about cleaning out the garage!

Our roommate told us that she is going to be moving out in November (or so), which is bittersweet. We will miss her, we will miss the extra income, but we will relish the children being able to have their own rooms. I know that I will spend most of the winter, cleaning closets, redecorating and organizing. I am looking forward to it all.

But, for now... I am heading back to the books. I have several HUGE projects due at the end of the term and I do not want to wait until the last minute to try to pull them together. I am doing really well in my classes. I am keeping up with the work and scoring high on all of my assignments. Most of the work comes easily, although there is just a MASSIVE amount of it. I am trying to figure out what my school schedule will be like for next year (and the next) so that we can see how it will all pan out and when I will be able to start teaching full time. In the midst of that, we are still debating about baby #3... we don't seem to be able to let that go. I just don't know if now is the time, but do I really want to wait any longer? So there is a lot going on in my head and in my heart. Prayers for peace and answers are always welcomed.

It has been a summer of growth for all of us here at the Huffaker household and there is more to come... We will find our answers and our right path... maybe it is under that pile of books in the living room.....

A new light in this world

I was going to sit down and write about my oven, or my weekend, or some other extremely silly thing, but then I got this link:

http://sweetpeakurtz.blogspot.com/

My cousin has just finished a very trying pregnancy. She had the usual complaints, plus a terrible bout of itching, but she found out that her baby had some complications, and then she found out that they had some more. The two big things were, a blockage in the ureter to the kidney and the second was some swelling in the ventricles of the brain. The swelling got worse and the Dr.'s urged lots of testing. Just a mont ago, they discovered that on top of all of that, the baby was breech. Valerie and Doug, after much praying, decided to let God handle it. They knew that the tests could not give them "real" answers, only more questions and they also knew, that they were having this baby, whatever that meant for them. It was an emotional and often scary pregnancy with lots of unkowns... the Dr's told them that the baby could be fine, or she may not live... and anything in between. There was a great deal of concern over Down's Syndrome or other chromosomal disorders and lots of talk about mental retardation and developmental delays. The Dr.'s seemed to paint a rather grim picture, but Valerie kept her eyes on the light of God and hoped for the best. The last ultrasound showed some good news, Baby Girl, had turned around and was ready for a "traditional" natural child birth.

Kelsey Joy was born on Mother's Day. After a quick labor, she came into this world with great, exuberant and lusty cries. She was able to nurse and appeared very "normal", as her Gramma put it. Kelsey went to the NICU to be observed and is doing very well. There have been lots of tests, and there will be more. I ask that you pray for Valerie and Doug, that they may have peace and I ask for prayers for Kelsey, for health and wholeness.

Feel free to check out Kelsey's blog....it really helps me to realize, that a month without an oven, is really... not that big of a deal.