So much going on.

God has amazed me with the most amazing children. We are needing to do so many things right now, and they just come along side us and are part of it all. Jared has been working alot in Springfield, IL. This was getting really hard on Ariyah, so if possible we go up and stay at a grandparents house so we can all see him, and saves gas money also.

Jareds Business seems to be keeping us busy, but if that is not enough, I have started substituting at a handicapped school in Carlinville to help out with our finances. It has been quite a blessing. They have been letting me take both kids with me. So Ariyah is not missing her schooling on those days since the students are pretty close to the same educational level as she is. Actually there are days that she gets to help teach because she has already learned what they are doing. Ariyah is a natural teacher. She enjoys helping others and is always helping me teach Isaiah. ;)

This is a picture of Ariyah helping me put Dishes away. don't worry I am never far away. If you look close you will see that we have also already started our garden. Daddy and Ariyah have planted our tomatoes and peppers. Last I looked only Ariyah's tomatoes are sprouting. Jared took these up to his shop so they could more sun, and not be in my kitchen. :) what a good man. :)

Isaiah Michael Stuemke

Our sweet baby boy entered the world on Oct 19th 2010. My delivery was picture perfect. My water broke at 9:15pm. I put my baby girl to bed at my in laws and waited for Jared to drive up to Springfield and meet me at the hospital. we were admitted at 12:30am and my contractions were just starting up. My wonderful Hubby was the only one in the room giving me all the support I needed. (of course the nurse came in to check) Our midwaife was great, and gave suggestions for the contractions, and let me get in the bath tub for a while. At 3:00am we called the nurse and told her they better hurry. At 3:17am Isaiah entered the world. He was perfect.

Ariyah absolutely loves him, and is now asking for a sister next.. haha.

I am feeling soo big

So I will be 40 weeks on Friday.. hopefully Isaiah will come out soon. Uncomfortable and contracting are a good sign, right? The weather has gotten a little warmer, so now I am burning up at night. Ok, Ok I will stop complaining. I really am excited, so is Ariyah.

Ariyah moved into her big girl bed last night and did great. She is so proud of herself. The room still has a lot of little things to be done, but nothing that makes it unlivable.

My next appt is Wed. hopefully we find out I am farther along than I think, but we will see. We had a completely natural birth with Ariyah, and that was amazing, I am hoping and praying we can do the same with Isaiah. It is such a special moment. We have chosen to use a midwife, but we will still deliver in hospital. best of both worlds. :)

Our Unknown Baby

Today marks the due date of baby Stuemke that has never been met. 5 years ago today we should have been welcoming our first baby Stuemke. Although I am still saddened by the fact that my child is not here with me. I am comforted by God who holds my baby who is waiting for me to finish here on earth. The pain dulls with time, but the memories of love for someone I have never met strenghtens with time. God has allowed us to grow as a family, and I have learned just how precious children are to Him.

Today is a day I remember to pray for the other women who have lost a child. I pray it will not deter them from God, but bring them closer, that they will find another women who has gone though it.

Before my miscarriage and my 1 1/2 years of depression to follow, I had not known anyone else to lose a child. But I soon realized that it wasn't that it didn't happen, it was that women didn't speak of it. which meant they weren't able to console others who were suffering. I soon found out that of my three close friends, and a few family memebers have had one. I then decided that I wasn't going to dwell on this, but find out what God wanted me to do with these feelings of hurt and emptiness. Soon after that I was pregnant again. My little Girl was born that June beautiful and perfect.

I have realized that I am not to start a club or an organization, but to be open when I find a friend. Since the loss of our first baby, six of my friends have lost babies of thier own, some have lost two. I now know how to pray and love them in the propper way. And stay back until they are ready for any comfort.

My God is amazing and can use anything or anyone for His glory.

I will never forget my unknown baby, but instead we remember with angel food cake once a year. We don't sing or anything, just remember.

9 months pregnant..

Today I am 36 weeks pregnant. Baby Isaiah has dropped this week, so maybe 2-3 weeks left. I am so ready to meet my little boy. He is taking up all room left in my toro and then some. :)
At the same time there is so much to be done. The men in my family work so hard and long hours, so anything I have needed help with for the bedrooms has been put on hold. Jared has had alot on his plate lately, like his job (thank God for providing the clients), his brothers leaving for basic at end of month. and me the crazy preggo lady at home plus he is taking ministry classes once a month. So any free time he has we just wanna play with Ariyah. Except now I am getting anxious and doing my best not to nag him...
Ariyah is getting her big girl room, and baby Isaiah is getting a baby room. plus we have to move our desk and junk upstairs so we can use the room downstairs for our toy room. No more running upstairs to find kids in the bathroom..
So tonight now that Ariyah is sleeping and Jared is gone at class, I am going upstairs to sand some drywall, trying to keep the process going.

Summer of 2010

I have decided that life is crazy andto not plan on a slow week ever!! This summer not only did my little girl turn into a BIG three year old, but My mommy moved to Nevada while leaving my dad here (yes their marriage is fine).

We also found out that we are having a baby boy, which will be my parents first grandson. Ariyah is so exited!! Right now we are trying to explain the fact that she won't be able to give the baby bottles due to me breast feeding. So at church she runs up to a friend and says "my mommy is going to feed our baby with her boobies" REALLY loud. all I could do was laugh.

As a family we have been running non stop. Between jareds jobs and kids camps and family events, I am not sure how much time we were at home. Our Garden has produced wonderfully if you enjoy diggin through the weeds that are taller and stronger than you are. :)

And now Aug is over and i was planning on having a simple last month of being preggo, but my plans have been uprooted again. I took my dad to have a minor surgery, and we found out he has a tumor on his Ureter (tube between kidney and bladder). At first we were all freaking out, because they didn't have any more information than that. WE have now found out that the tumor is cancerous, but low grade. This means that they will be removing his left Kidney and the Ureter and a piece of his bladder. They don't think he will have to go through any Chemo. My bigest prayers are that my family will have more open hearts to God. Only God can reach them, and I pray he will. Now we are waiting for a date for surgery.

Ariyah's third Birthday

Although i will have to post pics later, Ariyah had a great birthday. Or should I say Birthdays. She turned 3 on June 30th, but we had to celebrate early on Father's day weekend. That Saturday we had a party with my family and her cousins, and on Sunday we celebrated with Jared's family. So she got two cakes. One with Horses and the other a castle. Her cakes are part of her present from my cousin who owns a bakery in Benld, Otherwise she would get a box cake :)