re-circumcision- check

Thank you for your prayers! They were heard and appreciated.
The morning started a little earlier than planned, Benny woke up in hysterics at 4:10am and did not want to go back to sleep...so we left a little earlier than planned since he couldn't have anything to drink. I wanted to keep him distracted.

We got to the hospital, checked in and then I just let him wander around. There was a big fish tank that he was quite taken with. We waited for about an hour and then headed back to the room where we...yup, waited a little more :) Thankfully the staff was quite taken with him, so we just lapped the pre-op area for a while.

Then the dr and anesthesiologist arrived, gave me the run down and then our nurse Taco, yes, his name was Taco, gave Benny his "relaxation juice" which was hilarious. He was so totally rummy. He kept trying to lift up his head and then his eyes would roll back in his head and he'd start giggling.

Then the OR nurse took him and I waited. The dr came back about hour later and said it went great. Not one complication. I came back to this little sleepy head

He woke up rather quickly from the anesthesia and was TICKED. So, the nurse rushed as quickly as she could to get the iv out, bandage him up, get some juice in him and then I carefully diapered, dressed and got him and he fell asleep on my shoulder. I had a bottle all ready to go in the car, which he gladly took, and then I looked back on the drive to see this:

Sweet baby boy. So proud of him! We're now home safe and sound and he's been asleep ever since.

pre-op

Well, tomorrow is the day.

Just got off the phone with the pre-op department to get the last minute details of Benny's re-circumcision surgery. It hurts just typing that. Poor lil man.

He and I will head to Sunnyside for a 6am check in, they anticipate we'll be home by 10:30.

Prayers welcome for smooth, skillful hands for the surgeon, pain tolerance for baby boy, zero complications and a super speedy recovery over the weekend.

xo
The Mama

running dates

Matt and I went for an 8 miler together on Sunday afternoon. I wasn't really in the mood for it, but the sun was shining, Chuck & Lisa were gracious enough to take the kiddos and we had a killer route mapped (down along the river), so I got in the mood rather quickly.

My favorite part of running these days is Matt. If you have never run as a couple I highly recommend it. We usually start out listening to our music and run side by side, then towards the middle of the run we each take a head phone bud out and talk the remainder. Sun+ endorphins + un-interrupted time + best friend = great meaningful conversation. I truly wouldn't trade this time together for anything, and one of the best parts...we don't spend a dime! Cheapest date ever :)

Some of the clearest thoughts in my head come to me when I'm running. I wish there was some way I could get those thoughts on paper or in the notes section of my phone. Things I came up with:

1. I should start writing/mailing notes to loved ones more often
2. Plan a spontaneous picnic on the next sunny evening
3. Start meal planning for the month rather than each week

So random, but SO good for me to just think about NOTHING, just whatever comes into my head.

My first half marathon of the year is right around the corner, so training is in full swing. I'm still on the fence about joining Matt for the Portland full in October. My head says no, my heart says go for it. What's the worst that could happen- walk part of it. I'm going to see how I feel after next months race.

Love this

xo
Lauren

Easter weekend

What an amazing weekend! Such joy, so filled with meaning. I loved listening to sweet Brooklyn answer when we asked her why we celebrate Easter. Her first response was "to get candy eggs and other treats". Umm, false, but still sweet :) She loved to hear (and was full of questions) about Jesus giving His life for ours "but why", "but why". She often says to me "Mom, I'm so sad that Jesus had to die" and I love to catch a glimpse of her face when I say, "yes, He did die, but remember, He rose again!" 

We started off the weekend with a Friday night service at church which was incredible. Then Saturday morning I took the kids to the zoo with two dear friends and their kiddos for the egg hunt and Matt enjoyed the morning of quiet to watch some of the masters.

The hunt itself turned into a disaster. Without going into the whole long story, Brooklyn was crying because she didn't find any eggs, so while consoling her, Ben saw his opportunity to make a run for it. No, seriously, I lost Ben at the zoo. He was gone, like record time, mock speed, no where to be found in the middle of a sea of 200+ kids. Total nightmare. Alas, we found him, and that's that. I cried the ugly cry, people were staring, it was a sight to see. The weather was beautiful though (that's all the bright side I have for this one folks).

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The sun was shining from sunrise on Saturday all the way til sunset on Sunday. This is unheard of in rainy Portland. So we took FULL advantage. After nap on Saturday we went to the park before we had a wonderful dinner with Chuck, Lisa, Jack and Bethany on Saturday night. The kids were extremely pleased with their Easter baskets and the egg hunt Jack and Lisa set up for them. 

B & grandpa going off to hide while the eggs were being dispersed

The "hunt" was so fun we re-hid them and did it a second time :)

Then Sunday we went to a wonderful Easter service at our new church (well, semi new, it was our first Easter there) where we were greeted by smiling faces we have come to love dearly, heard a great message, then headed home.

Brooklyn rocking her Easter gown

Benny fell asleep on the drive home, so Matt fed B lunch while I went for a long run in the sun. Ah-mazing!

Then we went to one of our favorite parks to let the kids play before heading to Cris' house for dinner with my mom, dad, ash and Bethany. Wonderful food, company and the kids were in great moods! I'm telling you, my children need a nice dose of the sun as much as I do. It just radiates through them (might have been the sugar from all the Easter treats too ;)

happenings

Took the kids swimming today, they had a blast. Ben seems to follow in his sissy's foot steps in the fearless department. I kid you not, I hadn't even set my bag down and he had already darted to the pool. They swam non stop for 2 solid hours.

Yesterday we had the plumber come out to see why our hot water had suddenly turned ill (totally red with sediment, yuck) and got a rather unfavorable diagnoses. Corroded pipes. Ugh. So, lot's of new to do lists with insurance adjustor's, leak detection companies, appraisers and plumbers for second and third opinions.

I am so very appreciative of the man I married though. He calmly reassured me last night that nothing is too big or insignificant for our God and it's only a house. So very true. It's only pipes, only a house and in the end, even if it costs as much as we were told, it's only money. I keep thinking of the precious mama friend of mine who lost her battle with cancer last October, and I hear her words "don't take anything for granted, enjoy making your child's peanut butter sandwich, it's a gift". Perspective.

Brooklyn funny of the week. Benny got busted trying to climb on top of the toilet and Brooklyn came bombing into the bathroom and shouted "Benjamin Jose Feenstra! You get down!" ha

Wanted to share a recipe I'm going to try out tonight to go with our mexican lasagna. Doesn't this look amazing?! mmmmm.

Happy Easter weekend. He is risen!

Tex Mex Couscous

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup shallots, finely chopped

1 cup uncooked couscous (about one box)

1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes with chiles

3/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup frozen corn (mexicorn would taste good too!)

1 Tbsp lime juice

1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

 

 

vacation

Matt and I just got back (well, a week ago) from our long planned for vacation to Cabo San Lucas.

Many thanks to the team that made it all happen, my mom and dad, Matt's mom Cris and sister Bethany. I don't think I could have gone had I not had complete peace that our kiddos were in the second best hands to our own. I ached to get home to them, but tried my hardest (per my dear friend Erin's advice) to not wish it away, because life would return to normal and I would long for the warm weather, sand in my toes and intimate conversations with Matt once we were home.

So, we ate, drank, laid in the sun, walked, worked out, slept in, ate some more and repeat. It was heavenly. I realized how much I was in need of the time with Matt more than the time away itself. We hadn't had more than one night, 24 hours, alone since Brooklyn was born...going on four years. That is too long.

My babies had the time of their lives. No, seriously. Came home to find two spoiled rotten children (in the best sense of the words). All was well, and we were extra blessed to have Matt home with us for four days after that! So it was just a fantastic week all around.

Here are a few pics from the trip.