Yes, you caught me

This post is just for Melissa...but anyone else is free to read too :) I am currently about 8 weeks pregnant. I wasn't trying to be subtle in my last post; I just figured word had gotten around to most of the people who read my blog. The kids are happy, and we are joyfully trusting God. You never know where your life will take you: ours is headed toward a completely packed, every seat taken mini-van.

good mom

At the park today I had an older woman look at me and say, "you're a good mom". My response was something along the lines of, "well, my kids sure don't think so".  I wish it hadn't been. I wish I had thanked her, really thanked her. That woman had no idea how much I needed to hear her say that in that very moment. I had seen her eyes glancing in our direction from the time we pulled up. My dear Ana began crying the minute we got out of the car. She HATES the park. I make her play! We had brought a picnic lunch and decided to eat it up on the grassy hill that overlooked the rest of the park. Ana stood crying at the bottom because she had no desire to climb the hill. Once she realized there was food in the deal however, she decided to comply. The woman glanced our way periodically as we ate lunch, usually when I was explaining once again that nobody was going to have marshmallows until they ate some fruit. 

After lunch we headed down the hill for play time. Cue tears from Ana. I brought bikes, scooters and even the sin-mobile (the little tikes cozy coupe) for the kids to ride on. Each kid grabbed a set of wheels and headed in a different direction, Ana screaming uncontrollably at this point. Alex quickly decided to opt out of rule following for the day. He refused to stay on the path with his car and earned a time out. While he sat I grabbed Ana by the hand and told her she needed to find something to do. I sent her off to climb the rock wall (something she is totally capable of) reminding her that once she got to the top she could go down the big slide. I cheered her on while she, in full blown tantrum at this point, reluctantly climbed. This was the point that dear angel of a woman made her remark. 

It was only a few minutes later that she was on her way out with her granddaughter, but that comment got me through the rest of the day which included: AN HOUR AND A HALF of non-stop tantrum from Ana, 4 time outs for Alex, bath-time and meal-time battles with Luke, meal-time battles with Alex, and oh yeah let's not forget about the awful "morning sickness" that I am feeling. The point of all of this is not to say that I am a good mom. The point is that if you ever encounter a mom looking like she is at her wits end as she tries to hold everything together, please tell her she is doing a good job. I don't think I am a good mom, and God knows the truth of the way I struggle, but sometimes I need to stop and remember just how many balls I am juggling and give myself a pat on the back, albeit a quick one lest I drop one of those balls. :)

So to all of my mommy friends I want to tell you that you are a good mom!

Hagler Family Fun

We work hard around our house. We homeschool 4 days a week (for those wondering, we are LOVING using Sonlight curriculum - super complete and all the planning is done for me), have homeschool co-op 1 day a week, the little ones go to preschool 2 mornings a week, and we stay busy just keeping up with school work, potty training (down to nighttime diapers only - YEA!), cleaning and training.

Our daily school schedule


But we also know how to have fun!!!

 Painted Faces

As long as she has food Ana is happy.

Making applesauce

The incredible hulk

Picking up her brother's basketball habit

spikey hair

Found this stuff at Wal-Mart called Squishy Baff. It was pricey, but I couldn't pass it up. There are all different colors you can buy. It changes the water colors and makes it well...squishy!

It is sort of like the gel on the inside of a disposable diaper (if you have ever had one of those explode you know what I'm talking about ;)

Going through a snotty phase my girl woke up like this one morning, hair all crusted to her face. It made me giggle and she seemed to be in good spirits about it.

Wow! Aunt Melina and Uncle Scott scored bonus points on this birthday gift!

Happy 6th Birthday Trey!!!

As my crazy-haired little boy blows out his birthday candle on his red velvet cupcake, my mind can't help but wander down memory lane...

..."I'm so sorry to tell you this, but your pregnancy isn't viable. You will miscarry. We have scheduled you an appointment with your OB for tomorrow to discuss your options." The words felt like a boulder crashing into my chest. I sucked in the little air I could manage before my desperate attempt to hold back the tears was foiled. Two babies in just a few months time. Two babies stolen from me...


..."Well, it's a very good thing that you did not have that procedure. This is a picture of your baby, and right here you can see your baby's heartbeat," the ultrasound tech pointed to the monitor and yet again it felt like the air had gone from the room. But this time, I wasn't searching for oxygen or trying to hold back the tears. Gary and I both let them flow freely as we continued to stare at our baby and listen to the rhythmic and wondrous sound of his heartbeat.


..."MY WATER BROKE!!! GET OUT OF BED!!!" Think, Lindsay, think. Okay call the hospital let them know you are coming. "Yes, I just wanted to let you know that my water broke and so I am coming in to have a baby." 
"How far along are you? Oh, just 36 weeks. Well, you can come in and bring your bag with you just in case you really are in labor." 
JUST IN CASE I REALLY AM IN LABOR!!!! THERE IS A SWIMMING POOL IN MY BEDROOM FLOOR, LADY!!! 


..."I'M GOING TO DIE!!!" 
" You are not going to die, Lindsay. Just one more big push. He's right there. You can do it."


...Into the world he came all 5lbs 7oz of him. Early, but healthy. Refusing to eat, but content to just be held. The little boy who would put an unquenchable craving for Christ into my heart. The little boy who would teach me what it meant to be selfless. The angel who would later whisper, "we will be his family" into my ear as his heart broke just like mine for an orphan on the other side of the globe. The child who reminds me daily that the words of God are truth, not just good advice. 


And here we are 6 years later. Some days I still see that tiny little baby and other days I find it hard to believe that he is only 6. Sometimes he still needs to be held by mommy and daddy for comfort, but other days I look and I see the 3rd adult in our family.  He is growing and changing before our eyes. He is learning lesson daily and teaching us more than he knows.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREY!!!

Making big brother's birthday cupcakes

Go Blazers!!! Trey and Luke are "on the bench" in between quarters ;)

Pretending we are not singing to him

Trey and Anna sharing their birthday celebration like the good friends they are

Beach baby! I swear this kid was born to live at the beach.

Never without a basketball

All ready for the game. Trey has been to 4 Blazer games this season, and he is well outfitted for them. His wardrobe is complete with 2 jerseys, 2 Blazers T-shirts, A Blazers hat, 2 NBA headbands, and even a shooting sleeve (see picture above with him and Lukey together).

Hoping the next 6 years go a little slower :)

When God brings the rain...

... go puddle jumping!!!


One of our favorite things to do is go to the empty field near our house and take advantage of the uneven ground that allows for huge rain puddles to collect. 

My little duckies testing the waters.

And the fun takes a turn.

I showed Ana how to "whistle" with a piece of grass. This is her attempt.

I wrote my last post...and then THIS STORY showed up on the news last night.

I have been physically ill since hearing it. In case you choose not to click the link, here is the rundown. A couple chose to do prenatal testing. The testing indicated that their child, a little girl, would NOT have Down syndrome. She does. The couple sued the hospital for $7M. They won $2.9M. In the article the couple claims that this was not about making a decision to abort. It was about them "wanting to be prepared". Their claim is that a child with Down syndrome is a financial burden, and they wanted the money to cover the cost of lifetime care.

Here are just a few of the MANY problems I have with this story:

1. If this was never about aborting, then how were the parents going to "prepare" and get the millions of dollars that they claim they will need for their daughters care?

2. I have 2 children with Down syndrome and their care has not cost us any more than our other children. In fact, because of their diagnosis they are entitled to much more free care from the government, and having a disabled child gives you tax breaks. (Not that these are reasons to have a child with a disability...just making the point that money is a lame excuse)

3. The parents go on to say that they want their daughter (who is now 4) and love her very much. I imagine you can already see the problems in this statement, so I won't even add in my 2 cents.

In my experience as a parent, if you loved your child, really truly loved your child, you would be so happy to have that sweet little girl in your arms that it wouldn't matter what doctors said or didn't say. You would be on your knees thanking God for what He has so richly blessed you with. Let's be real, that precious life would not be here if that test had said otherwise. I think those parents should be paying the hospital $2.9M for the blessing of having that little girl with them today.

I know this post may come across as judgmental, and I am sorry for that. I have been praying and asking God to change my heart toward these people, but in truth this is the sort of thing that makes me sad to live in this place and in this time. It is the sort of thing that makes me angry at the godless society we have become. It makes me seek the Lord's forgiveness for our whole country as we decline morally. It terrifies me for the world that my children will grow up in. And it brings me to my knees in pain for all of the children who are seen as "worthless".

We can shake our finger at other countries who place children with Down syndrome in mental institutions, but are we really that far removed from that? We say things like, "well, in that country they consider these children to be throw-aways". WHAT DO YOU THINK WE HAVE DONE WITH PRENATAL TESTING?????? We have figured a way to decide which children are our "throw-aways" and get rid of them before they ever see the light of day.

Excuse my passion. And God please help us!!!

WDSD

March 21 is World Down syndrome Day. 3/21: celebrating the 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome. To all of my friends who have babies rockin' that extra chromosome. Happy WDSD!!!! Celebrate the life that is your child, celebrate all of the lessons you have learned, celebrate all of the lives that your child has touched, and praise the creator who in His great wisdom chose to bless you.

Please remember that 90% of children who are prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. Why? In truth, I believe it is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of a life different than you had planned. Let me just say that fear can keep you from some really beautiful things in your life. If you want to know what it's really like to have a child with Down syndrome, don't ask the "experts". Ask the parents. Here is what we have to say:

Choose Life...For Everyone!!!