December photos

I am sure our December is much like everyone else's- busy busy. The kids are growing so much- I am amazed at how they have changed in the last few months. I attached a few recent photos of our December so far. It has been a fun December- watching Christmas through their little eyes... they love seeing the Christmas lights, our tree, finding our Elf on the Shelf, etc. Christmas morning should be AWESOME!



Jack is REALLY enjoying a cupcake made by my friend Julia



Jack, Anna Grace and Mike Wazowski at John's office Christmas party. Jack LOVED Santa and Anna Grace treated Santa like she treats most people... with total indifference!




Anna Grace's favorite get-up. She will take off her clothes and put on this tank top of mine, my coach purse (good taste), and John's gangsta cap... which is cute at first... but when I am trying to get everyone dressed for school and she comes out with this on after I already had her dressed?? I have tried to hide the tank top too but she always seems to find it.

Picking up the pieces...

It has been a blur of a week - which has felt more like a month- as John and I are getting back into the busy-ness of life. It seems like I should be able to get a "time-out" and take a break from all the reality of work, school, etc, but that is not how it happens, I guess. John has been great through the physical recovery- letting me sleep in (which means getting up at 7 instead of 5) and rest on the couch when I need to.

Thanksgiving was quiet this year - I slept through most of it myself- but we do have a lot to be thankful for in spite of what has happened recently. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, my sweet babies, our health, my beautiful home, our jobs, our families, our friends... God has blessed us abundently.

Jack was evaluated for speech therapy this week- and has been accepted into the speech program... so that will start after the first of the year. This was to be expected with his having had a cleft palate and the underdeveloped jaw. Although I have known since he was born that he may have some speech delays... it was still very emotional and hard to have someone else watch and analyze my sweet boy talk, play, respond, etc- I felt very defensive! (I felt that some of the tests were WAY too advanced for a 2-year-old, and that even Aggie would have had problems answering them- and my girl is the sharpest little 2 year old I have ever known!) They say that he is not far behind other 2 year olds with his speech and language, but will just need to be taught the things that Anna Grace will naturally pick up. But of course he won them over by the end of the session- there is just something about my Jackie-boy that draws people to him... he is so affectionate and sweet- he loves everybody- and was hugging everyone in the office by the time we left.

I did pick up the remains of baby James this week- it was unexpected but I felt such a sense of relief to have them with us now. The physical pain is subsiding, but I find the emotional pain to be at times overwhelming. I just feel such a sense of loss and emptiness- and although this baby was only a part of my life for 15 weeks- I will never forget him or the impact that he had on me and our family. His little life had meaning, and purpose and will always be a part of his mommy's heart.

I have just been overwhelmed with the outpouring of LOVE and compassion by our friends. We appreciate all the notes, emails, calls, flowers and MEALS! I am just blown away that our friends have committed to bring us meals through the month of December- they are just unbelievable. I was telling my friend Pam last night, who brought dinner, that I am able to make dinner and go shopping now- but she said to let everyone do this for us... that it is just their way of showing us love. It means so much to us. Thank you.

It is with a very sad heart

that I share the news that John and I have lost our baby.
On Monday morning, we went in for what we thought was a routine check up of the baby, when the Dr was unable to locate a heartbeat through the Doppler. He then did an ultrasound and it was confirmed that there was no longer a heartbeat and that the baby had passed away.
The baby was 15 weeks along and too large for me to have a D&C, so they scheduled us to induce labor yesterday morning at 9am. It was a long, hard day but at 7:30pm, I did deliver the baby... which was a little boy.
John and I were both able to hold the baby, and have an opportunity to say goodbye and tell him we loved him. I even fell asleep with him in my arms- which is something I did with both Jack and Anna Grace when they were babies. It was so hard to let go, knowing this was the only time I would get to hold my baby.
We named him James.
His little body was send to the funeral home for cremation - and John and I will decide what to do with the ashes at a later time. We know there won't be much, but we wanted whatever there was to be with us.
On Monday afternoon, I was absolutely inconsolable. John and I were both just terribly heartbroken. As he and I sat together and cried- something came to him. He remembered something his dad had said right before he passed away. He said that one of his biggest regrets was that he would not be around to see his grandchildren. As soon as he reminded me of this- I felt a great sense of peace... that little baby James will be with his Grandfather in heaven- how happy he must be to have a grandchild with him. I never met John's dad but I always imagined him to have John's quiet, gentle spirit- and I am so glad to know that someone like my John was the one to meet him in heaven.

Thank you for the prayers, emails, cards, flowers, and food that you all have sent to us. We are so blessed with amazing friends and family.

Thank you for your continued prayers through this grieving time.

Love, John and Suzanne

Through the 1st trimester...

Well, I made it through the first trimester... I was beginning to think I was just going to sleep through the whole thing. I was not tired at all with the twins, but this one baby has worn me out- all I want to do is sleep. I am beginning to feel a lot better- and actually able to stay awake past 8:00 PM. John has been great with helping with the kids, helping around the house- and he has even made dinner a few times (mexican food, of course).

We have had just a few issues with this pregnancy with some bleeding, but the Dr says I am still doing fine. I went to see him just last week and heard the baby's heart beat strong.

I go next week to the fetal specialist for a check up and to meet with the genetic specialist. Although Goldenhar's Syndrome is not genetic, since I did have a child with a birth defect, they will keep an eye on me and the baby just to make sure all is doing well. I am also hoping to find out the sex of the baby sooner than later- since I will go to the specialist with the high-def ultrasound machines (I found out with the twins around this time). John calls it "his boy" but I am hoping for another girl!!! I will be happy if it is a boy, but I did want a sister for Anna Grace- after all, where would I be without my sisters??? Oh well- if it is a boy we can always try for a baby #4!!! :-)

I attached a funny video of John playing with Jack- he is screaming like a girl but he really did love it!

Love to all,
Suzanne

A new baby on the way!

Hello family and friends,

John and I are very excited to share the news that we are expecting baby #3! We went to the Dr. earlier this week for our ultrasound and were VERY excited to see that it is just ONE!!! I had prepared myself for the very good possibility of having twins again (since my odds were 1 in 12) but, selfishly, I really was hoping for the experience of one baby.

John and I are very excited- we love our twins so much- they are everything in the world to us- so we are thrilled to bring another someone to love into our family.

Thank you for sharing in our joy!

We appreciate all your prayers,

Love, Suzy, John, Jack and Anna Grace

Two of my favorite things!

First day at Children's Morning Out

Well, it is back to "school" for my babies! There were no tears shed either- they were really excited to go. I attached a few photos of them- they seem like they are getting so big to me- but they are still the littlest ones in their class :)

I just had to show off the little desk John built for me in the kitchen. We had this area next to the fireplace that was just bookshelves- so he removed the bottom shelves and built me a little working area. He did a great job! I thought I would take a picture before it got messy with paperwork. I am still planning to build the stone fireplace like the one I did in the living room- I just got burned out on cutting stone... I needed a break! I will probably do it this winter- I hate the white tile.
I am going to convert my office into Jack's new bedroom- I am never in there anyway since I work off a laptop. It is a lot bigger so I am going to let that be their playroom until we get a separate one for them. John already knocked out his next project on his honey-do list which is to put up beadboard in Anna Grace's room. It looks perfect... now I just need to paint it. Just a few more projects and this house will be done- yay!

Trip to Oklahoma City

Us with John's mom, sister Marian, Ken, and G-Mom


John and his dad's sister Aunt Ann

I think this is a cute picture of me and Anna Grace, but really I put this in here because I don't look fat.

By the end of the party, her sweet white dress is brown :)

The kids with their GiGi

The life of the party!

Anna Grace with one of GiGi's puppies

This looks like a botanical garden but it is really

Mimi and Grandpa's backyard

Grandma ("Mimi"), Aunt Ann and Anna Grace-

I have finally figured out who she looks like- definitely

a Strealy girl!!

Anna Grace is being sweet- Jack wants nothing to do with it

Anna Grace had more fun with the water bottles than anything else

Jack is rearranging Aunt Ann's rocks

My sweet boy at G Mom's house

We just got back from our road trip to Oklahoma City for John's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. It was a great trip! I did notice that I mostly took pictures of the kids (there were other people at the party, really!) but I couldn't help it- they were so cute.

Mom's birthday

All the girls hanging out in my kitchen!


Jack and his grandpa at dinner

We took Mom out for her birthday then back to my house for cake. We got a picture of all the girls- although Dad and Jack are in the background... along with John's underwear which you might recognize from the Brave's jumbotron picture :) Okay- so I was in the middle of folding laundry when I realized it was time to go to dinner!

How cute are these kids?

Jack playing in the birdbath

Anna Grace in mommy's robe

We are going through a fun time right now... lots of time-outs, spankings, scoldings, etc... they are official well into the terrible two's. Anna Grace has mastered the temper tantrum- the girl has some lungs! But Jack is a bit more subtle- he just throws things and hits when I am not looking (or he thinks I am not looking) - he can clear a table or countertop with one swipe of his arm. But then somehow - right before I have a meltdown myself- they will turn around and act like little angels- these are the times I live for!

The Braves game

We took Kelsey, Caleb and Stacy to the Braves game for Kelsey's birthday... but John got a special treat when he was picked by the hot "brave's girls" to play a game on the jumbo-tron. While he was standing on top of the dug out cheering like a crazy fan... I was busy crouched down in my seat pretending that I didn't know him as he showed the thousands of Brave's fans his orange underpants and belly. Nice! (he is really proud of this- by the way!)

Trip to Florida

I had to go to Florida for work, so John flew down with me for the weekend to go to my class reunion and hang out at the beach. It was fun to take him around to my old stomping ground. Did I mention- no kids? We stayed at The Resort at Singer Island which was awesome!

July 4th 2008

We had a great July 4th weekend. Both John and I took some time off of work and spent most of the week at the pool with the kids and my family. On the Fourth, we were able to come up with another convincing excuse not to go to the big golf cart parade in Peachtree City... whew! (I haven't been in over 10 years... I am running out of excuses...) but we hung out at the pool, cooked out at Shannon and Brants, then John, myself, Stacy, Caleb and Kelsey went to see the Braves. It was a great day!

Our first post!

Hello all,

So... I have wanted to start our family website since the twins were born but just never seemed to have the time to do it. It only took 2.5 years to FINALLY get this set up :) Since both John and I have family that is far away- we wanted to have this website to keep everyone in the loop of what is going on with the Strealys! (Although, it might be another 2.5 years before I am actually able to post anything again... but we shall see!)

Stacy and the kids are in town this summer while David is overseas in Baghdad serving our country!! We are so proud of him!

My kids are having a blast with Kelsey and Caleb (also known as Kwaaleb) this summer- I have attached a few picks of them all together.

Thanks for reading our post- I will do my best to keep this updated with photos of the kids.

Love,
Suzy and John