Isaiah

Last year on this day, I was delivering Isaiah at 20 weeks. I think about it and still am amazed that I was able to survive the situation. I still get upset/sad/mad at times, but this morning as I was driving to work, crying I prayed "Thank you that I was able to “know” Isaiah as much as I did. I could have miscarried earlier and not ever have been able to feel him move or kick inside me. To me that's the best part of being pregnant is feeling the baby move around. I look back and unfortunately feel like I didn’t marvel at them like I should have, was too busy with life and work. And I'm so thankful that I got to hold him in my arms and that Chris got to hold him, my mom and in-laws. He was perfect in everyway, had all of his fingers and toes, arms and legs, fully formed little baby. To see firsthand the miracle that babies are leaves me speechless and I will never forget. He was one loved little boy that never took a breathe here on earth. But in Heaven he is complete and whole and in Jesus' arms." That is what I hold onto that I will one day hold him again. I have a reminder of that on my foot and everytime I look at my tattoo, that's what I think of. I know when I get pregnant again, I will treasure every moment, movement, hiccup and God-willing a full term baby. Please pray for us as we are hoping/praying that God would bless us with more kids and soon! :)

Fran and Ernesto's Wedding!

The nieces and nephews handed out programs to those attending the wedding. They all looked adorable (especially the two youngest, I mean seriously how cute are they?)!

Gavyn and Abraham

Here are the bigger kids, Grace, Naomi, Mikah, Hannah and Josiah - they all took their job very seriously! My mom made the girls dresses, very simple, yet very pretty!

Fran and Ernesto

Jackie (my oldest sister), me, Emily and Wendy (Fran's roommates) and her friend Jenna, she had two other bridesmaids, her friend from her Eddie Bauer days Amy and then Ernesto's sister Maria (but they aren't pictured, blame Chris-he had the camera).

Exchanging rings

After the wedding, me with my love!

Me and the kids

Kissing - LOVE the red flats my sis wore! After we left the church the wedding party went to Montrose Harbor to take some outdoor pictures. I should have grabbed the camera from Chris, cause the pictures there were AMAZING!

Reception!

Fran had some wonderful friends decorate for the reception. This is one of 3 banners that hung behind the wedding party during dinner. It's hand painted! Love it! The place it was held, "The Loft" was amazing - wood floors, with one brick wall.

Her cake was amazing! I loved the Chicago skyline made out of white chocolate, it was yummy!

Fran and Ernesto cutting the cake.



Aunt Fran and Mikah

Aunt Fran dancing with Gavyn (she talked about nothing else for 2 days, but dancing at the reception)!

Dancing with Daddy! Too cute!

Me dancing with Mikah (somehow I made it the whole night without taking off the heels, don't ask me why - I don't know.)

I'm the mom of a 5 year old!

That's right, our little guy turns 5 today and poor little guy is sick with a fever (he is acting fine, just has a lowgrade fever)! :(

I can't believe it, it seems like it was just yesterday he was a tiny baby that I had no idea what to do with! Now he is growing up and I still don't know what to do with him AND he starts kindergarden this fall! :) Oh what will I do?! 

Despite the fever we took him to IHOP this morning to eat pancakes  (he has been talking about this non-stop for the past week) and Chris' parents met us there which made it extra special.  We are supposed to go Incredible Pizza tonight with the whole family (which he also has been talking about), so we will see how he is feeling and hopefully his fever will be gone for good. 

Anyway - here is the birthday boy, sporting his new shirt from SuperDawg in Chicago! 

Barfootmommies.com

I'm the newsest product tester for Barefootmommies.com! So I will be contacting different companies to review and/or giveaway products...I'm really excited about this newest venture. Check out my pic and bio on the Barfootmommies blog! Oh and pics of my sister's wedding coming soon!

Remembering

On the way to work this morning the song, "Praise You in this Storm" came on the radio and I just started crying. This was one of the songs that Trent Austin sang the weekend after I delivered Isaiah. I couldn't sing...I just sobbed and sobbed right there in church. I remember Chris lead me down to the front to take communion and pray with me. I knew that God was there but I just couldn't physically sing. I haven't heard the song since then and this morning for the first time I sang along while tears were streaming down my face. So glad the kids were in the backseat playing/talking with each other and didn't notice mommy crying. I feel like I am getting hit all day with little reminders of our little boy that is in heaven with Jesus, first I read this post by Angela Smith while at work and my eyes welled up, and then Marcy's song "House of Mourning" came on my itunes right after that. Feel like I've been hit by all sides today. All I want to do is go home, climb in bed and cry it all out but unfortunately life won't let me do that today. Maybe tomorrow...

Also if you aren't following the Compassion bloggers during their India trip, you are missing out on some wonderful, heart-touching and wrenching stories of what Compassion is doing to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Love it!!!

Rumble!!!

I was going to wait to share more pics (story about that is below), but my big sis is impatient...love you Jackie! :)

Meet Rumble...he is the newest member of the Branson family.

He is part Beagle, part Border Collie. Mikah named him Rumble after the OKC Thunder Mascot, Rumble the Bison! The photo was taken when he was 6 weeks old, he is now 8 1/2 weeks old. This is the only picture I have right now. We let Chris' dad borrow our camera as he is on a trip with the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma to Armenia and Isreal for 2 weeks (very excited to hear all his stories and see pics when he comes home). When we get the camera back, I will make sure and take lots of pictures of Rumble to post his cuteness!!!

Mikah and Gavyn are enjoying him (well when he isn't jumping or nipping at them-we are working on that) and are learning how to take care of him. Gavyn is like a little mother, "Rumble, Rumble, be careful, Rumble" which is so cute in her little 3 year old voice.

He is almost housebroken...only a few accidents in the house, so that is a good thing. I have been going home during lunch to let him out (we have him in a kennel) and run around the yard with him. He has been waking up around 6 every morning, so I have been using that time to read my Bible and pray, which has been really good for me. Don't have/make much time for that most days.