Birthday girl

So here we are 8 yrs later celebrating our only daughters birthday. She had told me months ago she didn't want a party and she didn't want presents she just wanted her best friend over for the day.  So I took it upon myself to plan a fun day for the two of them! 

We started of with a birthday card holding a wad of cash for her to spend for the day!

Then we got dressed, dropped off brothers and headed into town! 

-Dutch Bros her very favorite coffee shop 

- we then met up with aunt Nicole to get our shopping on! "Payless,Old Navy,"and another favorite little shop that gives delicious free samples the size of an actaul purchase.

-"The Harvest Company"

 We then headed to the mall and stopped at

-Build a bear, Claires, and H&M

We were famished! So we headed out to her Favorite restraunt 

- Olive Garden it was delicious and gave us the energy to keep going. Lol shopping with two 8 yr old girls who have money felt like a day of math class for me! "How much will I have left if I spend this much?" "how much is this?" "what's on sale mean?" Needless to say we made it out ALIVE and with Tons of good stuff. She is quite the little shopper, had her list, her ideas, and got it all! 

We ended the walk out of the mall with a

-Jamba juice ( moms favorite) and Id say it was a win win for everyone. 

Two pregnant moms and two 8yr olds, 7hrs of shopping and lots of cute clothes later she had a wonderful birthday! 

- note the many wardrobe changes during the day?;) 

Oh I almost forgot!!!! We found Chase a birthday twin at the mall. The wonderful and friendly store clerk at Forever 21 heard it was chases birthday and told us it was hers also, so we got a birthday twin picture with a stranger (Chase has never met a stranger she doesn't make friends with!) 

Happy birthday my sweet, energetic, loving, free spirit. I love you! 

Bumpie..ssss

Well it's been days and I've wanted to write but felt I didn't have much to share. However today marks wk13 in pregnancy #4 and I would love to dump my bumpies for you to see and share with me! 

My mom recently moved to a different state and can't watch me grow as she has in the past so I thought this would be a fun way to do so. Also as I have kept up my running rutiene and healthy eating for ONE, not two and I feel a very fun adventure at each week, and want to remeber what I was able got do with #4 that I didn't with the first three. Anyway.... Here we go! 

Week three: the day I took the test and was completely shocked and surprised and excited. 

Wk4: 

Wk5:

Wk6: 

 And this brings us to today: yes that is only 13wks! NO I am not having twins, although it has always been a prayer and hope of mine. Here are a few more just for fun pics of me and my family or friends and this baby bump of mine! I do enjoy pregnancy and I hope this helps you enjoy it too hahaha. 

Me and my chasey girl at a dance recital this past weekend. 

My new red pants that I could just wear EVERYWHERE, I love them.... Although my belly has grown quickly as it does I have only gained 6lbs in four months, I will probably NOT share my weight gain with you again lol but for now I am proud. Baby is healthy and growing and so am I! 

Be blessed! Happy baby bumpiesssss

Take a breath

This week marks my 12wk of pregnancy with #4 which most of you know also marks the end of one trimester and the begining of a new one. Not just a new one though, let's be real.... The best one! At leat that's what "they" say. So far my gagging and complete nausea due to the pure thought of cooking a meal have subsided and I can almost sleep though the night with only one trip to the bathroom. WHY by the way does a baby the size of a bean-lime have the power to make you pee 100 times a day?! Ok anyway, malachi my youngest and only child not in school was with me for my doctors check ups today and I knew that he would get to hear the heart beat so I was excited, especially because as the baby of the family till now he has his moments when a baby isn't even a welcome thought. But as we layed there looking for the quick flutter flutter of the babies heart beat, my doctor couldn't find it. 

Pause..... I was holding my breath.... I've done this enough times to know they find it fast and always do unless something is wrong, so I just layed there and prayed silently "lord this baby is fine, just hiding" so within maybe 1-2 min total she had an ultrasound machine and was plugging it in and telling me as calmly as possible that it will take a second to warm up but we will find his baby. 

So release your breath with me... Baby was fine! Kicking and squirming and waving. Heart beat was normal and going strong. While the baby was on the screen my son was immediately overcome with excitement and asked the doctor if he could touch my stomache, of course she said "yes", so he was touching the baby talking to it and loving it! It was one of the coolest moments of my life and another perfect reminder of Gods creation and splendor 

Ecl 11:5 

And you knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so you knowest not the work of God who  doeth all. 

 There are moments in our days, weeks, lives that take our breath away. Some good, some scary like today. But through it ALL God is still God. His word is still true. You might say this is easy for me to  say cause it turned out well for me, and I will say today yes it did. But there was an appointment once in my life when it didn't. I've been there, ive had to deal with that loss and I've felt that heartache  and I still choose to praise the Lord for His mercies endure forever. 

Malachi and Judah say this is a "boy" chase and mom say this is a "girl" daddy doesn't care but we will all find out in roughly 4-6 weeks so stay tuned!! And GOD BLESS YOU! 

Storms

Storm by definition is a violent condition, an unexpected attack, causes worry or distress, grief, affliction, loss, adversity. 

And for the most part the cause of a storm in our lives is one of two things.

1. A storm we've caused (consequential) 

2. Innocent storm ( a problem we didn't cause and can not change) 

We have all had a storm, will have a storm or are going through a storm right now, but the results in my opinion will all depend on how we deal with our storm.

We had a prophetic service in our church today and during one of the songs (great I am) I was instantly reminded of a moment I had last week, when I felt overwhelmed by the storm we are in right now. As the service kept going and our guest speaker ( pastor Dick Iverson) was preaching, I was amazed (as we always seem to be) when the word lined up with what the Lord was speaking to my heart during worship.

I have never believed that God causes storms or bad things to happen to good people I think it would be really hard for me personally to serve a God if I believed he could punish me at any time due to my obedience or attitude. Instead I've always believed that we live in a sinful world, with sinful natures and consequences that follow our sin. Because of that we have to TRUST that God knows our needs, our desires, our hearts cry. We have to STAND on His Word daily and CHOOSE to walk those promises of Gods word in our lives daily. 

The storms will come (Is 43:1) "WHEN" you pass through the waters, not if you do, WHEN you pass through I will be with you. 

I told you earlier I had a moment this week, my son who was diagnosed with a kidney syndrom two months ago has been on a high dose of steroids, they have MANY side effects and we are doing everything we can to monitor those, but in the big picture of how well the medicine is working we have to take it believe it's for the best. Well we have been able to lower his dose and walk this out so far without any "relaps" which we were told WILL happen. However I found myself assuming that since he was doing so well he wouldn't have an issue, he was "healed" or "the exception" to the syndrom. But we have had days that showed us that wasn't true, that he has this condition and needs this medicine. I don't know how to explain it to you, it's not like I didn't believe the doctors, I did.  But I felt like I had all the sudden been lied to or disappointed with the results we were getting. And that's just not the case, the reality was he is doing very well. He is responding to his meds and we are working on the diet to keep his kidneys under control. But he isn't out of the muck yet, he is human and I need to stand on Gods word and His promises for my family that with medicine and diet and healing my son will walk in health. It's a storm for us right now, not one we caused, not one we could have stopped or saw coming. It's living on earth in an age with sin and disease. BUT.... We have the Lord. We have His promises and we will stand strong through this storm until the "WHEN WE PASS THROUGH" is done. 

I encourage you no matter what your storm has looked like or may be right now, to open up your bible, pray one more time. Expect that Lord to show you his promises and allow Him to be faithful to you today. 

A dream is a wish your heart makes

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when your fast asleep" Can you hear the soft song being sung by the beautiful Cinderella? Well that's how I feel lately and this is why: 

 I am 30 years old, married at 18, kids at 19, been a wife and mother longer than one of my closest friends have been around to know me. But this year my two best friends and I get to be mommies together!!! I was so thrilled when my best friend Nicole found out she was expecting her second, and thrilled when I found out my other bestie Kourtney was trying for number three, but to be honest I was feeling slightly left out. I have been there, done that, it's not like I wasn't ever going to experience being pregnant or even being pregnant with them, because I've done that too. But on Christmas Adam (as my eleven year old informed us) we surprised our closets friends with the news that we were expecting. 

 We cried.... No we bawled....like giant babies because she blerts out " I AM TOO"  Ohhhh myyyy gosshhhh. We couldn't have planned this or prepared for this we were both waiting to tell each other. So for the first and most likely the last time EVER the three of us get to be pregnant together. 

-Nicole (on the left) is do in just over a month with her second 

- Kourtney(on the right) is one week behind me, due in August, with her third 

- I (in the middle) am due the last week of July, with my fourth. 

We are all very different! different sizes, different ages, personalities and challenges. It would be easy for us to beat ourselves up cause we don't do it the same way as the other, but instead we encourage each other, love each other and lift each other up. I can't wait to see what our futures will hold with these babies and our family's but I am thrilled to say the least.  Thanks besties for all you do, who you are, and what we will become! 

The Unexpected Surprise

Hello again, I introduced myself in my first blog and thought I'd introduce you to my family in this one. It only seems right since my name is "four kids and crazy" that you would meet my four kids😜
 I had mentioned before that I married my high school sweet heart the same year I graduated, Yes that's to young! But I was in Love and I knew God had called us to be together and lets be real at 18 you know everything right?! Anyway I got married in December and by February I was pregnant with our first child, a boy! We were unprepared, excited, unknowing, joyful, and expecting. Our lives would forever change when that baby boy was born four weeks early weighing in at a whopping 5.3lbs His name is Judah. He was and is the calmest, most gental, giving, considerate, Son and big brother. He teaches us how to listen to Gods voice and to be obedient to Him on a daily basis. He is quick to forgive and forget and is loved by many. He is a perfect example of the Lords desire for us to treat others and walk with Him daily. Judah is 11 yrs old and he is also the son who is dealing with the kidney issues.

Three years later we added our beautiful daughter Chase. She is vibrant, crafty,musical, artistic, loud, joyful, and everything you would wish for your child to be that you could never instill in them yourself. I knew she was a go getter from day one, as she had me on bed rest for almost four month! She was constantly making me contract but to no avail she didn't come till her due date. Who does that? Chase does😄she has her own time line, then and now. She writes her own script. And it's a MESS.... I daily ask the Lord for guidance and ideas on how to teach and train a child that has so much life and does life so differently from my own way of thinking and doing. Chase is beautiful inside and out and she teaches us to use our words wisely (or you'll hurt her feelings) to take EVERYDAY for what it is, and to never go to bed with anything hanging over your head. She is life and color and a perfect example of the Lords love for us. Chase is turning 8 yrs old this month although some days it feels like 18😳

Three years after our daughter we added another son. Pregancy and delivery were easy. Malachi is the third child. CRAZY!!!!! Capital C. He is spunk, energy, dare devil, concushions, did I say Energy? He is the most handsome little boy with the biggest smile and the most jokes. He is the life of the party and feels the need to be so daily. He grabs life by the ears, nose, toes, hands, and makes sure nothing gets missed along the way. Malachi LOVES his big brother, DEALS with his big sister and is the BIGGEST cuddler of them all. He kisses me everyday more times than I can count and constantly tells us (me) how much he loves us and misses us. He was😁 the perfect book end to our family of five. He keeps my days busy and our lives full. Malachi turns 5 in February and is a perfect picture of Gods humor, kindness, gentleness, and love for us. Daily I'm shown how much our Heavenly Father must loves us if I can love this boy so much.

That brings us to number four!!!! Number four? What I'm having number four? That sounds CRAZY. Even to me and I'm the one growing this little bean. My husband and I were both very much done at three. It's plenty, it's a lot actually. We are busy people, church, school, sports, coaching, doctors appointments, family, friends, and all the other things life brings. Why would we want to add another one to this? Well because for the last two years my heart was shifting, softening, and there was a longing I couldn't put my fingers on. So I started praying and asking the Lord to show me what He was stirring inside of me. I also started praying that my heart would "line up" with my husbands which ever decision that might be. I didn't want to make this decision without him, to him, or against him. We are a TEAM, we are a unit, one designed by God. My children who have been getting older and smarter started asking for a baby sister and I told them, pray. I won't make this decision based on feelings or wants, but only if the Lord wants us too and if we are all on the same page, as this will change our lives forever. Well needless to say we all agreed!! But not quite the way I had seen it all going down. God is gracious and he is real with us. And I believe that our surprise baby was the perfect thing for our family at the most perfect time.  The weekend after we got home from the hospital with our oldest and his sudden kidney syndrome , I took a pregnancy test ( cause I knew in my knower) it was POSITIVE! It had been less than three weeks since my husband and I had officialy agreed to see where this decision would take us, and definitely before our unexpected health issues, and life changes. However we couldn't have been happier or more surprised. now we had an amazing gift to share with our family and friends for Christmas of 2014!  So baby number four isn't here yet, the little bean is due in July 2015. But we are preparing for the bean and our new family of six.

Thanks for reading, and learning about my family. I love them to pieces and love being their mom. Can't wait to meet this little baby and add them and all they bring to our crazy mix!

Silently waiting

Hello my name is Cassi and I am a newbie blogger! As a wife and mother of three, soon to be four, my husband said my blog name should be "Four kids and crazy" I said " I'm not crazy though!" He said "I know your not crazy but our life is." So that is where we will begin. It's january 4th, 2015 and I am ready to start something new and fun and see where it goes. I've never been a good writer or good at English so "IM SORRY!" But I am real, I'm human, I'm me😄  
November of 2014 just a few short months ago my life got flipped upside down and I did the only thing I knew to do, write. I started when I was young and I've continued to rely on my journal all through marriage and kids and the ups and downs they bring. So in November when were told to rush our oldest son to Doernbechers children's hospital due to kidney issues, I started writting! The day's felt long, the nights even longer and although we were able to leave earlier than planned and with a plan, I needed to release my thoughts and prayers out of my head and heart and onto paper. There's just something about that isn't there? It could be the same words as in your head but written out on paper seems to give them meaning, or understanding, sometimes a hope or a future. Words can be soooo powerful and meaningful. Anyway, as I layed there watching my son go through a super scary situation with his head held high and faith in us and his doctors ( he didn't have any reason not too) I found myself resting in the peace of God in a way I had never before in my life. I wasn't scared. I wasn't nervous. I KNEW in my knower that the Lords hand was on my son and that he would walk away from this. I remember listening to the doctors and the nurses, I remeber asking questions and getting clarification so I could understand, and then I would sit and release those things to the Lord, like a silent prayer. I would tell the Lord what the doctors said we needed and then I'd wait for them to say it had come. And it DID! Each and everyday. With each and every step of meds, test, results, the Lord would come through. This is what I want to share with you. My husband and I have both been born and raised in the same church, grew up as friends and left as high school sweethearts that got married and started early. We've had ours ups and our downs. We've been through hell and back it seems some years. But through it all we have had each other, our family, our church and more importantly we have the Lord. 

My son is now living with a kidney condition called "Nephrotic syndrome" we left the hospital with a very strict, low sodium diet (more to be blogged about I'm sure) water restriction, potassium restriction, daily meds, weight watch and urine tests. The understanding is he will grow out of this but for now our lives have changed and daily we are learning something new and growing as a family through it all.