Shutterfly

Some photos were uploaded to Shutterfly: http://kirbyrosepatrick.shutterfly.com/

Enjoy!!

It's been almost a month!

I can't believe I have not had a chance to post something on here in almost a month. Crazy! I love my blessed life, but I hate that I do not even have a chance to take a deep breath right now. I really do not like this rushing around all the time, especially with work. I can not wait for my Mary Kay business to replace my school income. It will happen, it can happen, God can make it work! :)
I am on my lunch break at school right now so I can't post any pictures. Stay tuned ... Saturday I will hopefully get a chance to post some pictures of precious Nathan and Kirby playing together, as well as Thanksgiving pictures with the family.
Kirby is 14 weeks already. I honestly can not believe how quickly it has already flown by. She is really into smiling and giggling right now. Especially when she is eating and almost done. She unlatches and gives me the biggest grins. I have to remind myself not to talk to her or look at her until she is "all done" or she will never finish. I blesses my heart every time, though. She loves her Bumbo ... they are the best things ever invented. They are really helping her learn to sit on her own. She is already super strong, but the Bumbo is really helping with the core muscles. We put animals on her tray and she talks to them for about 10 minutes at a time. This morning when CR went to pick her up out of it, SHE REACHED FOR HIM. It was the most adorable thing ever. CR took her to the orthopedic again on Monday and the doctor said she still needs to wear the brace ... boo! Hopefully this is the last month. He said we are super close, and if they didn't have sonograms he would probably take it off, but since he can see it is still slightly out of socket, to leave it on again. Pray with us that we can stop after December. 4 months is enough if you ask me!
Stay tuned for pics on Saturday. Love and cherish you all ...

Mother

Today is a very special person's birthday ... my mother's! Today she is 59 - what a wonderful age for her. She has 2 beautiful grand-girls that love and adore her. She has 2 daughters that cherish her wisdom. She has a husband that loves her. What more could a woman want?! Knowing her heart, I know she longs to know God more, be closer to Kirby, CR, and I and to not have to worry about a thing. My mother is a strong woman who I see grow every year in many ways. I look forward to seeing what year 59 looks like for momma!

Back at school

Many are wondering how my first 2 days back at school went. They, of course, went very well. I do love my job, my students, my co-workers and everything about it; however, I love my child and our time together more. Each morning I think will be easier, but thus far each morning has been harder than the last. Kirby is getting to the stage where she really smiles and laughs at her momma. It is so exciting to go wake her up in the morning and see her get the biggest grin when I get to her bed. When I sing, "This is the day" to her she almost moves her body along with excitement. I just love it and it only gets to last about 30 minutes before I must leave for work. Of course as soon as I get home I get it again, but for 9 hours I have to miss what she is learning to do. I DO NOT LIKE THIS. I know that my mother-in-law is doing and will continue to do an amazing job with Kirby, but that is my job that God blessed me with. So again I find myself pondering and praying about stay at home options. There are many I am looking into:

1. I am going to start really selling Mary Kay ... I have done this for 5 years now for myself and family, but over the next 6 months while still teaching I am going to see if I can actually get some clientele built up. Don't worry, you will be getting an email soon enough about it and promotions! I believe in this product, use it myself, so I am going to put my heart into it.

2. Teaching at a community college in the evening. I am looking into Del Mar to see if they have late afternoon classes I could teach (1 or 2 a day would be ok).

3. Offering TAKS tutoring for all age levels in writing.

4. Making wedding,birthday, special occasion cakes and cupcakes.

5. Medical transcriptions - suggestion from someone at church and they said it is in high demand.

Please join with me in prayer. I know the Lord has a plan and a purpose. I know I have a gift to teach, and that gift will not be wasted but possibly put on the side while I raise children up in the Lord.

Cancer and Sin

Has it hit anyone else like it has hit me? Cancer is really overcoming the human race. In this month alone, two people personally close to me have gotten news that they have cancer. Two beautiful, young women who have children and have wonderful things ahead of them. My cousin Jenny's cancer returned. I am not clear where exactly it is, but it was in her uterus before so it may be there again. I know it is in that area. The doctors are hopeful and said that it looks like with chemo things should be on the positive side. She begins her first treatment tomorrow. Please pray that her blood levels stay well and that she has the strength that she needs. My friend Shayla is the epitome of a healthy woman. She is in her early 30s, runs all time (encouraged me to run my 1/2 last year), is full of life and has 2 sons (a first grader and a 2 year old). She has Hodgskins Lymphoma (spelling is probably wrong). It is the bad kind. However, her doctors say that the treatment plan they have her laid out with has a very high success rate. Please pray that this is true for Shayla's case. Pray that her body accepts the treatment. Pray for Shayla's heart, the boys, and her wonderful husband.
This cancer stuff just seems to take over our bodies just as sin takes over our hearts and minds. It starts slow and then begins to cloud our bodies and our very being if not taken care of as soon as possible. As soon as they find cancer, they have to attack it or it may take over every part of the human body. As soon as we find sin in our hearts, we must attack it with every effort or it will take over every part of the human body. Weird to me how they are so much alike.

Kirby is doing well. I am still researching internet plans for our new house so that is why there are not many updates or posts. I think she is growing way too fast. She will be 2 months next weekend. They say that really she is only 3-4 weeks old gestationally, but I do not believe that. Here is why:

She engages very well.
She holds on to whoever is holding her.
She tries to stand on your lap.
When she lays down on the floor on a play mat, she kicks the ball that hangs above her feet.

All things that are right on target for 6-7 weeks.

We are going to be in Montgomery next week and I can not wait!

Family

Since the last Thursday in September - don't ask me the date - Kathernine, Jody, Caleb, Porter, and Anna Kate have been in Texas! Whohoo! The first week they stayed with the Simmons and this last week they have been with the Patrick's. It has been such a nice time having them around. It is bittersweet that they have to leave. I know they are going to do God's mission He has set them out on, but it is going to be hard letting them go. The church had a wonderful reception for them the first Sunday they were here. They had pastor's from around the area come and speak some wise words of wisdom to them. They had other mission families there and they had local church choirs come together for a big presentation. It brought tears to my eyes to see God's love pouring out to them as a family - even people that had no clue who they were, were singing their hearts out and showering them with prayers. This weekend we had Shannon, Ken, Sadie, Meg, Rob, and Eva out to the house for a nice family dinner with everyone. It was such a blessing to get to have everyone together one last time before they head off across the world. Even though I was pretty busy with Kirby Rose and did not get to visit as much as I would have liked to with our company, I could tell that everyone else really enjoyed the time they had together.

The boys showing Eva how to play the piano.
The Patrick children with all their kiddos!

Shannon and Anna Kate.

The choir presentation for Katherine and Jody.

Granny and Grandaddy with all their grand kids.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with this wonderful family. Thank you for not letting me let CR go when I thought that is what I needed. Thank you for your province, your mercy and your grace.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife ... " Eph. 5:31

With Christ

Yesterday we went to the orthopedic. Her left hip is not completely developed. From the way they showed us on the xrays and a drawing, basically her ball and socket are not fitting together right now. There is a gap between them. She will need to wear this brace for up to 4 months. It could come off sooner! They will check with an ultrasound every month and then update the brace or take it off completely. Yay! She is just like her mother ... this is similar to the brace I had to wear when I was born. It doesn't seem to hurt her in any way, she just seems uncomfortable. However, she is such a happy, easy going baby she is really taking it well. This combined with her gassy/colicky tummy was not fun at about 1:00 this morning. I ended up taking the brace off so that she could kick and pump her legs around like she likes to whenever she has a belly ache. Then we both slept well. They told us the more she wears it the better, but that we could take it off for a period of time each day to let her move; that might end up being middle of the night.
I am so thankful that this is all that we have to deal with. Yesterday while we were at Driscoll Children's Hospital I was very humbled. There were children there from about 1 to 15 that were in permanent braces, casts, wheel chairs, and walkers. There were children there for occupational therapy and mental issues. I kept thanking God over and over for the blessings we have. If this is the cross we have to bear for the moment, thank you Jesus, for it is a learning and growing of our faith even more.
I keep thinking about part time work, and then another doctor bill comes in. Where in the world do they come from and why can they not bill everything at once?! I know I need to work and I am reminded every day of that, but come October 28th it is going to be really hard. There is something that I am thinking about and going to propose to our ESC. Be praying for that, please. I am constantly reminded, though, of that simple and oh so known verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13. I know that many people think it is cliche, but that verse does speak volumes and volumes. There are so many things we can do with His strength and His strength alone. Kirby can get through wearing this brace and Lauren can get through going to work!

Prayer Request

Don't have a lot of time (we have to go take care of a pig that has prolapsed - don't ask!), but I have a huge prayer request from you all. My cousin Jenny has cancer again. I do not know all the details but I did get to talk to her this morning. She is still in the hospital in Katy where they discovered this, but will move to M.D. Anderson soon (hopefully). She has to get her blood pressure down before they can release her. She will have to do Chemo instead of radiation because she did too much radiation before. She has 3 beautiful daughters and is young. She has so much life left to live. Please pray for comfort for her, for knowledge for the doctors, and for the healing hands of God to work wonders only He can. Thanks and I will try, I promise, to update with some pictures and info soon! Kirby goes back to doctor for well visit Friday ... :)

Refreshed and blessed!

This past week Kirby and I were able to go visit Montgomery for 5 days. It was much needed! Since we have been home from the hospital, every time she is resting I have been trying to organize or clean up the new house. Since we were not home, that could not happen. I was able to rest easily while we stayed with Kirby's great grandma. This is my grandmother's 5th great grandchild, and yes they are all girls! What a blessing it is for mine, Elizabeth's, and Jenny's children to get to know their great grandmother. She loved having us stay with her and Kirby snuggled up in her arms very well. While there, the rest of the Hemken side of the family got to come over on Sunday to meet Kirby Rose. Megan was a natural at holding her, and Aunt E got some good snuggle time in as well. Cousin Kyleigh was such a big help changing diapers and cuddling with her. Paw got to play with her and watch her grow everyday. Each day while we were there she changed in some way; the biggest was her legs - she has started to actually keep them straight now instead of so tucked in.

Update on her hip: we got the sonogram done yesterday and now they referred us to an orthopedic specialist. We go on September 29th. We are praying that it is not anything major and just something that her pediatrician needing clarification on.

She is such a great baby. She has some signs of possible colic - she gets very gassy, but I am hoping it isn't colic. We are trying some remedies :). When she isn't hungry or gassy, she is a happy, happy baby. She contents herself very well and smiles often. She doesn't LOVE tummy time, but she is getting to like it better. She doesn't cry when she is on her tummy, just kind of scoots and moans.

Her hair is growing in and this morning it was super crazy bed head (see pic above). I love it! Her eyes are still deep blue and her belly button is an outie! I love to smell her and rub my cheek against hers. Every time she cries I hold her close and remind her we are learning together and that her daddy and I are so blessed to be holding her in our arms. God is so good and His timing is impeccable!

Short and sweet

Happy birthday to my best friend and the best daddy Kirby could ever dream of having!

Gotta make this quick before dinner, but so many are wondering what is going on. Tomorrow I go to doctor and Wednesday Kirby Rose goes for her 2 week check up, so I will sit and update details then.

As for now ...

1. I can not believe she is already 2 weeks old. I cried for about 20 minutes today while I was holding her thinking about having to go back to school at the end of October. Please, share with me any ideas you have for me to be a stay at home mother - ideas where I can work from home. All suggestions will be thought and prayed about because my heart really wants to be home and not at school.

2. Kirby scoots up my belly and holds her head up for a little bit. She is very strong. I noticed today that she has her daddy's long arms. Sometimes when she has her eyes open she looks a lot like my daddy.

3. I got to make CR a birthday cake today and even put away clothes and kitchen items from some boxes, but I mainly snuggled and loved on Kirby.

4. God reveals Himself throughout our daily lives and it excites me when I just know it is all Him.