My little Chef

On Thursday, Kent was off work, so we decided to make a big dinner. (Now, we usually don't because Kent is a manager at McDonalds and so that means many dinners by ourselves). Well, anyway, so we decided to make Spaghetti that night. It was tons of fun. We really enjoyed the family time. Especially Asher, he has become such a DADDY'S BOY latley! Well, we had lots of fun and a good laugh. Take a look at some of these photo ops from our comedian son.

I was informed by a good friend that we must be old fashioned because apparently in this day and age you need beaters to make spaghetti. LoL

(He pulled them out of the drawer and tried to hand them to me to stir the spaghetti sauce....it was quite funny actually)

This was the scene in our kitchen (on our kitchen floor) on Thursday as we prepared our family meal.

Stirring the sauce

Yeah, we don't really know what this one is about.

Needless to say, we had a blast as you can tell. Asher just joined right in. (When Kent put a little on the spoon to let me taste it...Asher did the same thing) HaHa...such a little copy cat.

Enjoy!

Okay...so here is what happened....

As many of you know our family has suffered a terrible loss over Valentine's weekend. I know what some of you are thinking...of all times...why then? Well, we will never know until we get to heaven and can ask God ourselves why He did what He did. But His plan is perfect, and so we just have to trust that He knows what He is doing and what is best for our family at this time. Jer. 29:11 has been a verse that I have clung very tightly too latley.
We found out on Jan. 31st that we were expecting our second child we were soo happy. We knew that our little Asher would be the best big brother out there. He is soo happy and soo gentle with babies and LOVES babies.
I will say though that when I found out that I was pregnant again, I was a little weary and concerned. I KNEW that God had a plan, but at the same time knew that it was not the best time for us to bring another life into the world as there were many things going on in my life at the point (there still are), and a lot of stress, so even though I was concerned I tried VERY HARD to let the Lord take control and let HIM have HIS PERFECT WILL. So, although I knew that something was wrong the whole time, I was trying to keep a positive attitude. Well, everything seemed to be going find until about Wednesday (Feb. 10) I started spotting and cramping just a bit. I (being the paranoid person that I am) ran into the bedroom and told Kent and then immediatley called my Dr., Kent tried to console me and tell me that spotting is normal and that there is nothing to worry about. I being the stubborn person that I am, wanted to hear it for myself. Well, then when the dr. finally called me back, he did say that spotting/cramping in the first trimester is normal, but to just take it easy, stay off my feet if I could, and if anything gets worse to call the office again. So, I did. Well, I tried to stay off my feet, but with a two year old running around the house, and you are the only one taking care of him because your husband is working, I did the best that I could. So, Thursday I started bleeding REALLY HEAVY and having BAD cramps. So, when I called the dr. office, they told me to go straight to the ER for some tests. We had some friends watch Asher for us, and Kent and I packed up and loaded in the car (not knowing how long we would be up there) and headed to the hospital. I was immediatley seen by the triage nurse who asked me a series of questions and took my blood pressure. They got me back in a room where I saw the ER dr., they did an hCg test and two ultrasounds. The hCg test was actually higher than it had been the day before and the two ultrasounds showed the baby and that it was not an ectopic/tubal pregnancy (which was thier first fear), at which point the ER dr. came in gave the news and told me that vaginal bleeding/cramping was probably just due to my early stage of pregnancy. (Let me state, I had NO bleeding WHATSOEVER with Asher, which is why I was soo paranoid this time) Since the hCg test was higher (not as high as they would like), and the sonograms were both good, they sent me home with strict orders to take it easy and go back Monday (the 16th) for another hCg test. So, I went home took it easy (well, those of you that know me, know that easy for me, is not easy for alot of people, LoL), and then the next morning, started bleeding again. I called the dr. again, and I saw the prenatal nurse who ordered the same blood test that the ER dr. had ordered the day before. This time the prenatal nurse put me on complete bed rest (no getting up AT ALL except to go to the bathroom or get something to drink-which again, if you know me-was REALLY HARD, but I knew that if it was going to help me and the baby, I was going to have to do it), so I was on complete bedrest all weekend and then when Monday (16th) came around I was to go straight to the outpatient surgery center and get the test done again, so I did. So, after the test I came home and went straight back to bed and waited for the dr. to call me with the results. That was the LONGEST day of my life, let me tell you. Well, at about 5:15pm the dr. called me. He had bad news, and I could tell from his voice that it was not good. He confirmed my worst fear. I had lost the baby. Now the best I can tell is that she was gone on Fri., but we won't know until we get to heaven.
Now, to those that don't know how the levels/tests work. hCg is the hormone that women produce when they are pregnant. It is only given off by the baby, so it is very uncommon to have a false positive. My tests at home (all three) were positive, but when I went in to the dr. that test was negative, so that is when they did the blood test (which is pretty much 100% accurate). The hCg levels are supposed to double exponentially every 72 hours. When I took the blood test on the 2nd it was only at 183, then when I took it again on the 9th it had gone up a little, but only to 283, and then at the ER on Thur. it was only at 338. By Monday the 16th, it had dropped back down to only 37. The hormone level is detected at 25, so that confirmed it for me, I had lost our little girl (we felt VERY strongly it was a girl).
So, Kent was actually at work when I got the call, so I called him and he came home from work early and we just hugged and cried and sat on the couch and snuggled, I asked why...that kind of thing. We named her....Jordyn Blaire. She is in heaven with Jesus right now, laughing and having a great old time. We will one day see her beautiful face. We loved her so much! The people that don't think it's a baby from conception...it is, and you are just cold-hearted!
We don't know why GOD chose to take her from us, there are soo many firsts that we will never get to experience. Her first cry, her frist crawl, her first steps, many many more. But I just have to keep reminding myself that she will never experience hunger, tears, pain, or anything else negative because there is none of that in heaven.
Now, even though there is nothing that I did to cause this, I will tell you that I don't believe that (at least not yet), I still find myself asking why and what I did to cause my body to reject the pregnancy of a beautiful (no matter what) little gift from the Lord.
And yes, I do plan on telling Asher about his little sister (that he never had the privledge of meeting) that is in heaven with Jesus.

We love you Jordyn Blaire!!! Mommy, Daddy and Asher already miss you!

It's a sad day!

There are not going to be 4 of us at this time.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!! Do not try to comment or ask me what happened. I don't want to talk about it right now. Maybe later, but not right now!

Thank you in advance, for those who respected my privacy!

And now there are 4....

I am very happy to finally announce that Asher Kent is now going to be a big brother sometime either at the end of Sept. or beginning of Oct.
Please keep us in prayer as we are going to be going through a time of adjustment, but we also ask your prayers for a healthy baby.

We are not really concerned with the sex of the baby as much as we are the health of the baby. We are going to be thrilled with whatever God gives us. Although we already have a boy, so a girl would be nice. We do have names picked out, here they are:

Girl: MaKara Jade
Boy: Zorrin Kale

(P.S. I was so kindly reminded by a good friend that now I have to change the URL..any suggestions...LoL)

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I must start by saying that I give my sister-in-law the credit for this picture (seeing as my son was holding my hand and I didn't take the picture). She did such an awesome job.

Updates and such!!!

Okay, well since I have been asked for an update on the life of the Stafford's. Here goes....

Asher is a bouncing, vibrant 20-month old (I don't know where he gets all of his energy, but I do know that I am too old to keep up with him some days.) who loves life and pretty much anything and everything else. His new things now are "gucks and panes" (for those of you who are unfamiliar with 2 year old jargon that's "trucks and planes"). He had a great CHRISTmas this year, as it was really his first CHRISTmas to really enjoy all the gifts and the boxes that the gifts came in (which were a greater hit than the toy sometimes). He has a "mammy" (That's what he calls Handy Manny) doll that goes everywhere with us, and he even has some "mammy" jammies that he got from his Mama Joan and Papa Mike that he likes to wear fairly regularly (as a matter of fact he has them on right now.)

Kent is now working at a different location than he was about 3 weeks ago, and that is going wonderfully. There is A LOT less stress, and he even actually likes his manager. He still works for the same owner, who is a wonderful man and very Godly as well. He is still also serving as the music minister for the time being until they get a permanent one....He will admit it does have it's challenges, but he really enjoys doing it. He is also still acting as bi-vocational student minister and ABSOLUTLEY LOVES IT!!!

I am still staying home full time with Asher and enjoying EVERY MINUTE of it. I would not trade staying home with him for the best paying job in the world (which I know that I mentioned that before, but can you tell I'm really enjoying myself). I am contemplating going into photography for myself, but I don't know what all that will entail (I have actually been thinking about that for a VERY VERY long time, and had SEVERAL people tell me that I should). I am also thinking about going back to school to finish and get my elem. educ. degree, but again, I am contemplating and don't know what all that will entail.

Well, since it's a new year....I thought maybe I would "try" to set some new year's resolutions. I'm not sure how they will pan out, but maybe if I publicly state them, I will have better luck. :)

1. continue working out on a daily basis (I have already slacked in that area and missed some time)

2. loose this extra baby weight that was put on with Asher

3. be a better housewife

4. be a better wife to my husband

5. be a better mother

6. be a better person in general

7. daily be in God's word and strive to be more like Him.


Maybe, hopefully, someone reading this will help hold me accountable.

Well, maybe none of this made sense, but these are my ramblings and just thought I would write them down. Hopefully someone some where will get this. LoL

Texas 2009

Well, as some, or many of you know, Kent, Asher and I took a family vacation to Texas for the week of Jan. 2-10. We had a blast, but are glad to be home again. It was a very relaxing weekend. Here are a few pictures from the trip.