Remembering Kaylee Hope

Today we celebrated the life of Kaylee Hope White at her memorial service.  (See my previous post.)  She passed away at just 22 weeks gestation, yet her life was meaningful, treasured, and a cause for celebration and thanksgiving.  This is the video that her daddy, Joey, made and was played at her service.  Bittersweet and beautiful.  You will not be forgotten, Miss Beautiful.   The other babies in the video are her older twin siblings, Carson & Keira, who are 1 year old.

On Second Thought...

Okay, remember I said before that these were worthless? Well maybe I was wrong. Apparently they double as screwdrivers.

Getting Into the Spirit of Things

(This post is from the other day)


They all gave birth to their beach balls today.

Emily pointed out that everyone was pregnant in this house, except for God.

Abby wants to know what it's called when you have seven babies at once.

Responses

Alright, Erin & Carla, you asked for more :)

A few of the comments & responses from the fam...

Emily (age 6): "Mama, I was hoping you would have a baby, and my dream came true!"

Nathan (age 2): "Where is it, Mama?" (Inspecting my tummy.) "Is she (we don't know the gender) just a widdow-tiny-bit, wike de Itsy Bitsy Spider?" (Does hand motions to demonstrate.)

Abby (age 7): "Oh mom, I can already see the baby making your tummy stick out a little!" Um, no, that would just be my tummy leftover from the previous 3 of you.
Abby also asked me randomly a few weeks ago, before she even knew about the pregnancy, "Hey Mom, how big does your v_____ have to get to pop out a baby? 'Bout like this?" (Used hands to make a baseball sized circle.) Yeah, about like that I told her.

Wade (age 35): "I can't wait until you start showing." I then asked if he was excited about baby. "VERY!" He confirmed. He'd also told me "I can't wait until this bugger joins the other little buggers."
Me, too, Honey.

More Labor and Delivery :)

I've mentioned before that Abby and Emily have always loved playing labor and delivery. Usually they themselves are the ones with dollies stuffed under their shirts as they coach one another through their 5 minute immaculate labors.

The other night they were playing labor and delivery again--but this time, Barbie style. I wish I had taken a picture...Barbie lying in bed with little cribs next to her, a makeshift bassinette warmer, items for examining a newborn baby, and even a waiting room with chairs & coffee table.

They say children model what they live--this goes for playing, too. I guess that would be accurate, as they just found out this past week that there will be a new addition to our family in 7 months!
That's right...we're going to increase the population of Hudson by one more.

Baby Prestrud #4 is scheduled to arrive at the end of February! We had an ultrasound last week, and little Peanut looked very much like the 7 week ultrasound picture above. Just a little bean with a blinking heartbeat. We brought the girls along for the occasion, and announced the good news to them at the Doctor's/Midwife's office.

Yay! :)

Happy Birthday Emily & Ryan!

Happy Birthday to Emily who is 6 today! And Happy just born Birthday to our new nephew Ryan, who was born yesterday! (Born to Wade's brother Chad, and his wife Jennifer.) That makes 12 Grandkids on the Prestrud side so far! (This photo is just of our 3 and Chad's 4.)


Emily will be celebrating Scooby Doo style today. Em, you are such a blessing in our family. I love your kind, gentle spirit, your childlike excitement about life, your generosity...I love the way you play with your little brother and try to include him even when he pesters you. I love it that you like to snuggle. And I'm so glad that your heart is tender toward the things of God. We pray blessings for you on your birthday, this next year, and beyond. May you come to know even more the God who loves you and gave his life for you. He is the only One who satisfies, the only One who can sustain true joy. I see Him often in you, my little girl.