Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year on Thanksgiving Day we found out this little guy was on his way.



Of course, we didn't know it was a boy. Thanks to my slight OCD-ness though, we did know the approximate date of his expected arrival. August 7, according to the American Pregnancy Association. We were so excited and couldn't wait for our family in the states to wake up so we could skype and tell them. I don't think anyone was more shocked than my mom but I guess that makes for a great story.



As most of you know, Bryce made his entrance 3 weeks early and we discovered that, although perfectly healthy, he would need surgery to remove a cyst from his small intestine that, if left untreated, would cause serious complications.



This gave us the opportunity to trust God. For wisdom and for comfort. We also trusted that He was and is sovereign and that he chose to allow the cyst for reasons beyond our understanding.



In the midst of everything, we also felt your prayers for us. Looking back, I honestly don't know how we (especially me) made it from one day to the next. Living on very little sleep and under more stress than I've ever experienced, it was your prayers and divine strength that helped us through. Handing my 2-week old son to a Hungarian surgeon and watching her carry him into an operating room was absolutely the hardest thing I've ever had to do.



God was and is faithful. He delivered our son through the surgery, even though it was not the simple procedure we had hoped for. Even though the recovery was longer than we had hoped for. He is faithful.

We are so thankful for our beautiful little boy and so thankful to have family and friends like you who prayed with us and for us. Who worried and cried with us and for us. We are so thankful.

A Change

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you that I'm not really the festive, holiday type. I really can't stand to hear Christmas music anytime of year except about a week before Christmas. So Sunny 99.1 in Houston was always banned from my radio the entire month of November and most of December. Lately, however, there's been change a-stirin'. I'm not sure if it's the fact that this will be our second holiday season to spend 5000 miles away from family or because it will be our first holiday season with our bundle of joy. Either way, I'm getting in the spirit. A little. I'm not about to break out the Christmas tree yet, (like crazy K!) but I am feeling the urge to visit Ikea and my favorite Czech handmade store and see what kind of decorations they have. Our Christmas decorations last year were pretty pathetic. We had exactly 4 ornaments on our tree. Sad, I know. I vowed last year that our child's first Christmas would be jolly and bright. And our tiny Christmas tree would be full of ornaments. And since Granny's coming, it will also be full underneath with presents. Speaking of Granny, we got 2 packages from her this week, one of which contained these adorable outfits. I can't wait to get Bryce in them. Can you believe he'll be 4 months old on Tuesday?

Here's the boy doing what he does best: looking cute, of course.

And here he is again flying with Daddy. He likes it.

Anyone remember this?

Well it turns out Matt has done some damage of his own to his knee. After 3 doctor visits (2 to the same doctor in a town 3 hours away), we've discovered Matt has not torn his ACL as was initially diagnosed, but has instead torn his meniscus. He just couldn't be the only one in the family not to have surgery. He was scheduled to have it repaired today actually in Olomouc, Czech Republic -about 3 hours away - with one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country. Unfortunately, our supervisor who was also serving as our translator (they don't speak so much English in Olomouc) has been quarantined to his home with what might be swine flu. Don't worry, we're staying very far away (and have been for awhile now). We'll let everyone know when we get the surgery rescheduled. The good thing about having the surgery in Olomouc is that the procedure will be much more like in the US. Matt won't have to spend the night. He is very thankful for that. I'll be documenting the process as always.

*More cute photos and videos here.*

Think Your Monday Was Rough?

Poor Bryce had his second round of shots today. He was pretty good for a few hours afterward, smiling and talking. By this evening, though, he was really fussy and after crying for awhile finally conked out. We decided napping on Mama and Daddy's bed is a good reward for being such a brave boy.

Bryce at 15 weeks:
13 lbs 10 oz
24 inches