I am awake!

I realize that I have not posted any pictures of Nichole when she is awake! And she really spends most of the day awake fighting to take naps. Probably because she is getting used to being held all the time, especially since she was just sick.

Yes, Nichole did get sick. Last Friday she had a fever of over 101, and because her liver has not been oficially declared "healthy," I could not give her tylenol. So to the ER we went on Friday night where they did a nebulizer (sp?) treatment and they told me she could take advil for the fever. She is healthier now, but still has a runny nose and healthy lungs that help her tell the world she is not happy I put her down for a nap.

Have I mentioned that she can roll over? She does it all the time and she is only 2 months old! She is even trying to go from her back to her tummy no. (At least it seems that way).

And I had to add a picture of Ellie. On Sunday night we put the Christmas tree up and we were listening to Christmas music. Ellie would lay down in front of the boom box and sway to the music. It was so very cute.

Sunday's Message

I forgot to mention on my last post that Andy got to share a little bit about our God journey at church on Sunday. I did not get to go to church because I stayed home with sick babies, God knew he was supposed to share and not me. If anyone would like to hear what Andy shared, we have a link to our church (Bethany Alliance Church) on the right hand side column. Messages get uploaded every Sunday, so you can listen to November 25th.

Thanksgiving

It has been a while since I last updated our blog. Sorry for those of you who have been checking it hoping to learn more about what has been going on with Nichole and our family.

Two weeks ago, at Nichole's 6 week check-up with her cardiologist, thay did an EKG scan. Everything with her heart looks great, and the doctor said that he could hardly hear her heart murmur, which means that the small hole she has, is closing up very nicely. God is good, and He continues to take care of our little baby girl!

Nichole's blood count also continues to improve, so we are hoping to be done with mediacations this week. This, however, means two more times being poked. We were supposed to have that done this week, but Ellie has been really sick with a sinus infection and is now on her second antibiotic (but this one is working!). Right now we are praying Nichole does not get sick, since Andy and I seem to be fighting this bug as well. It is already Wednesday and we might not make it to the hospital until Friday to get her blood drawn.

So as life was getting in more of a routine, sickness happened, and it has been crazy at the Stumbo house.

The week after Nichole was born, Andy and I were talking, and as I was crying I said, "Well, God does not give us more than we can handle, right?" I had the answer in my head, "No, He does not." And then Andy said, "I think sometimes He does, because it is then, and only then, that we completely trust and relay on God." "But what about that Bible verse?" I asked confused. "That Bible verse is taken out of context because it is refering to temptation, not to the different paths tha the Lord takes us through." Wow! I didn't know that, being married to a pastor does pay off.

I always thought of it as the Christian cliche we all have heard, God will not give me more than I can handle, but here I was, sitting on our bed, realizing that maybe Nichole's condition and health issues were more than I could handle, but also knowing that God intends all He brings to my life for good, and that now, I could experience what it means to trust in Him with all that I have. I think back to when I felt God asking, "Do you trust me?" "Yes Lord, I do." and then with a smile, and with more love than I ever will know He said, "I will teach you how to trust me." And He is doing just that. I think I was getting too comfortable again, getting in my routine, having things figured out. I needed God to remind me that I need to depend on Him, and to trust in Him with evrything that I have. It has been a hard week with Ellie being so sick, I am feeling like I am about to get rally sick, and I worry about Nichole getting sick. It has been days of trying to hold two girls ALL day long and a lot of crying because Ellie's throat hurts whenever she eats, coughs, swallows, or mommy has to feed or change Nichole. It has been draining, and I have found myself thinking, "I don't know if I can handle this." Oh, but when I give myself in complete trust to the Lord, knowing He can do it, then I don't have to hope that I will pull through this sickness time, I know I will, because He is leading, and He takes care of us, oh how He does." And when we are weak, He is strong. "For He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I am honored that the Lord takes the time to work in me! In me! There was never before a time when I felt God's steady and loving work in my life like these last few months. "All I want is to know Him" and to know Him more and more deeply. What an amazing journey He has taken me through, it is the adventure of a lifetime.

And as if that was not enough, my friend Tina from MOPS called me today saying two of my other friends from MOPS want to bring us a meal. Just today I told Andy I had a dream that someone had left us meatballs on our porch. I actually looked outside the window a few times. God knew I needed that, and He uses people that are dear to us to show more and more of His love. Thanksgiving time, where do I beging to count my blessings?

Our beautiful family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving with my dad and sisters up in Minnesota. (Unfortunatelly Ellie got sick that night). But we did have a wonderful and meaningful time with them.

Always daddy's little princess.

Nichole is 5 Weeks Old!

Time flies by! I cannot believe that Nichole is already five weeks old. Life with a second child is finally becoming more "normal" since we are getting in more of a routine.

Well, first things first. Nichole got her blood checked on Wednesday. As of today (Friday). I had not heard from the doctor in Mayo so I called. They told me they had not received the results from Charles City, so we called her doctor in town thinking maybe they got sent to him instead. Well, they did, and we know that her numbers continue to go down (which is good). I called the Charles City lab and the lady that works there said that she personally had sent the repot to Mayo on Wednesday, so I suppose it is a waiting game for us from their end. We are just happy that Nichole is doing better.

I have been doing some research on the internet about Down syndrome. As a mom, I better be an expert on my daughter, right? I came across a poem by Erma Bombeck. I thought she was just a regular mom witha child with Downs, but then Andy mentioned she was actually a well known writer (I suppose she was not big enough to be known in Mexican literature). This is just the end of her poem, it is God speaking to an angel...

"There is a woman that I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people see my creations.

I will permit her to see clearly the things I see---ignorance, cruelty, prejudice---and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

I realize some of what she wrote was in a time when people with Downs were not welcome or included in society. Things have changed, but I have already experienced some of the ignorance that she mentioned. I was once of of them! But what an honor to be that woman, and what a strength to know that God will be with me every minute of every day for as long as I stay by His side.

Nichole is alrady teaching us that we really do not know what to expect. She is our "low muscle tone" baby, but she can roll over! She did at 19 days, and on her month birthday she started doing it regularly. She can lift her head and body even better that Ellie could at her age. Wow, so little, and yet she has already taught us so much.
Our beautiful girls. Ellie continues to be a great big sister. She asks people if they want to see her baby sister. She hugs and kisses her all the time. Yesterday at the library a little girl tried to touch Nichole (more like pull on her). Ellie looked at her and shook her finger, "No, no." What a great sister.
This is Ellie's friend "Pam." We have no idea where she got the name from other than one of her Sunday School teachers is Pam, but we never heard her say her name before (sorry Pam, but she must really like you)
She gets kissed by mommy all the time. Ellie is now old enough that she can say "No kisses mommy." So I better enjoy kissing Nichole until she can say that. Luckily for me, it might take a little longer that it did with Ellie :)

Praise God!

Our two little girls.

I used to think Ellie was my baby, and now every time I look at her she seems so big! It is hard to imagine she was as small as Nichole.

These are all pictures from the time that we stayed in Mayo.

Proud aunties, Alex and Luise.
My mom loves her new baby girl, she is a proud grandma and a life saver! She came and picked up Ellie while we had to be in Rochester. Between her and my sisters Ellie had a wonderful time and Andy and I were confident that she was not going to be missing us!

Yesterday we took Nichole back to Mayo to meet with the GI doctor. It turned out to be a crazy day. As of Friday, there was nothing scheduled for her to have her blood drawn and check her numbers, I explained to a lady on the phone that it would be pointless for us to be there at 4:00 PM for our appointment if the doctor did not have her lab results. All she was able to tell us is that if we had to do lab work, we needed to be there 3 hours before our appointment, so as we were planning for 1:00 PM, we got a phone call that morning saying we had an appointment at 10:00 AM! We explained we lived 1 1/2 hours away, and we did not make it until 12:00 PM :)

(If you know me at all, you won't be surprised) :)

Nichole slept through her blood being drawn! meanwhile I was standing outside the lab room thinking maybe the rooms were soundproof! I realized they were not as I heard Andy talking to the nurses. At 4:00 PM when we met with Dr. Freeze (who was also her doctor during her hospital stay) she said her numbers looked beautiful! Praise the Lord!

She said most likely she just had an immature liver, and it took a little longer for things to go through. So now we are weanning her off her 2 medications. he will be done with one this week, and hopefully done for good in the next two to three weeks.

The Lord is good. So many answered prayers, and so much love shown to us during these last 4 weeks. We are blessed, and His blessings continue to pour down.

Great is His faithfulness.

Back Home!

Well, we were wrong - we said that we would for sure be at Mayo for one more night, but after we posted the doctor came in and asked if we wanted to go home (silly question) and then moved the blood test from evening to afternoon. The test came back with the level being the same and so they will have us come back in a week to check her and see where she is at. We were able to leave the hospital around 5:00 and headed up to Minneapolis to pick up Ellie. We stayed there for the night and came home today. We are praying that her bilirubin level has dropped significantly by the time we see them again so that they are not concerned about additional problems with her liver and do a biopsy. We would also love for her not to be on medication. But, it is great to be home - thanks for praying!

Liver Biopsy?

Hello All - the results from the blood test showed that her level hadn't really gone down or up which means that they are leaning towards doing a liver biopsy. They are planning to draw her blood again tonight and see where her level is at. At this point, if it hasn't gone up dramatically, then we will go home and they will give the medications some time to work. After a week or so, they would then determine if biopsy is necessary. So, for sure one more night - maybe more. We will let you know if anything changes!

HIDA Results

The doctor just told us that the gall bladder is working just fine - which means they have completely ruled out biliary artresia! That is good news because artresia meant surgery for sure and at some point in her life most likely a liver transplant. They are still not sure why her bilirubin levels are high, but are going to check her levels again to see where she is at. If the levels have gone up, they will most likely do a liver biopsy on Monday. If the levels have gone down, they will most likely send us home and put her on a few medications to help the level continue to drop. We are feeling pretty positive right now that the level has dropped because Nichole is finally gaining some weight and we think her color is looking better. Pray with us that we will be able to come home soon and that Nichole will be healthy. Thanks for all your prayers and support over this past week!

HIDA Test

Nichole had the HIDA test done this afternoon. They basically take "pictures" of her liver, gall bladder, and small intestines. So far it looks like the liver is doing it's job, so now we are looking at the gall bladder. Tomorrow morning we go back and they will see if the gall bladder is getting the bile to the small intestine.
We won't really know what the next step is until tomorrow's results, then the doctors will hopefully have a better idea of what is happening in Nichole's little body.
Andy and I are exhausted. We got little sleep last night and it has made it a long day. We pray we can go home soon.
One of my friends from MOPS is our next door neighbor. It was good to see her since she moved last summer. It is nice to have a familiar face around, and we get to talk about our new babies.

Mayo Day 2

Nichole had her 2 week chekup in Charles City with doctor Schrodt this last Monday. Doctor Schrodt thougt that Nichole still looked jaundiced and decided to do some more blood work. As a mom it was hard since Nichole had been already been poked every other day since we got home to check on her billirubin (I am not sure how to spell it). I thougt, "better safe than sorry." Doctor Schrodt also thought that she seemed bloated, so he wanted to do also a CBC (Complete Blood Cell-Count). Her billi looked great, but the CBC was definitelly not good. Doctor Schrodt had Nichole come back to do a Liver Panel on Tuesday. On Wednesday Doctor Schrodt called and said we needed to do something, "this afternoon, we cannot wait." My heart sank. Doctor Schrodt had contacted Doctor Chandra (Nichole's pediatric cardiologist in Waterloo), and they decided that it was serious enough to act right away.
So we packed up and got ready to come to Mayo, knowing we would be here for a few days. Our dear friends from church came to our house before we left and prayed for us. The Lord surely is sustaining us and encouraging us through our friends and family.
My mom met us at mayo and picked up Ellie. She has had a tough time missing her daddy, but loves being with grandma and her aunties and Opa.
So here we are. Day 2, and we still don't know what Nichole has. Originally they thought it was Billiary Atrasia (?) but today she had an ultrasound and everything looked normal. They continue to take blood to run different tests, but her blood continues to clot. They are not sure if this is related, or the problem. Andy and I are waiting, and praying, but we are not too woried at this point. Maybe because the doctors here have no idea what she has! We know God does, and we know that He will take care of us.
So we are praying that the doctors can figure it out (after all, it is Mayo Clinic), and that we can come home soon. It is a time of waiting. Tomorrow they will do another test in the afternoon, a HIDA (don't know what it is, but it somehow will "color" the tract that her food takes as it travels through the liver and to her intestines).
I will update tomorrow as soon as we know something else.

Our Journey

Last May, when I was 19 weeks pregnant, I had a 4D ultrasound; the kind of ultrasound where you can actually “see” your baby. It was very fun and moving to see Nichole. As I was looking at her, I felt like I needed to ask if her heart was okay. Some of our friends have been through their own journey as their baby girl has had many heart problems and surgeries. I was not concerned about the same thing for Nichole, but somehow I felt like I needed to ask. The technician didn't say much, except that there were four chambers, and it was good. A few minutes later, my midwife said that they had found some fluid around Nichole's heart, and I needed to have a level 2 ultrasound in Iowa City. I remember walking outside the clinic and crying, I called Andy and my parents, Andy called his parents, and many people started to pray, some people that we don't even know. The next day we were flying to Florida for the Alliance General Council and the ultrasound would have to wait one more week.
That first night in Florida I woke up in the middle of the night. I can't remember if I had a dream, but I do remember having an overwhelming sense that Nichole was going to have Down syndrome. My heart felt heavy and I remember thinking, “Not Down syndrome Lord, it is okay for our friends, but not for us.” Some of our closest friends in Charles City have a two year old with Downs, and I love Jennifer almost like a daughter. I got to watch her last year while her mommy worked part time at church, and I have never seen her as a child with a disability. However, it was quite different as I thought of my daughter having Downs. The next day I asked Andy, “What if she has Downs?” and he said, “Then we will walk down that road, and we will not walk it alone.”
At Council, we prayed for healing for Nichole's little heart and the fluid to be gone. I really believed that God was going to heal her heart, and as we prayed, God very tenderly reminded me that He does not make mistakes, and I felt His peace in my heart.
The last day at council, the Alliance Missionaries had a parade, the new workers were introduced, and the ones that were retiring were recognized. We were very moved and emotional. I felt like we were being called to go into missions, and specifically, to go to the places where we would find the “unlovable ones,” those that by our world's standard are less, and have little to give. So we came home ready to start the process of pursuing missions, and asking God for confirmation.
When we went to have the level 2 ultrasound, Nichole's heart fluid was gone. Praise the Lord! We felt in our hearts that everything was okay. The doctor said not to worry, our baby girl was perfectly healthy. I walked away happy, and even then I asked Andy as we left the ultrasound room, “So does that mean she really does not have Downs?” Up until this point, no doctor had even said the words Down syndrome to us.
Two weeks after that we went to my regular checkup. My midwife came in and asked Andy and I how we were feeling about the Iowa City ultrasound. “Great!” we said. “Didn't they tell you?” she asked. “Tell us what? The fluid is gone.” And her face changed, and for the first time we heard someone say, “your baby might have Down syndrome.” And as I sat there God whispered those words to me again, “I don't make mistakes.” “And it will be okay if she does,” we said.
A few weeks later I spent some time in prayer and journaling. I was thinking about the unlovables, “Lord, is that really where you want to take us?” In my journal on June 3rd I wrote:
“It seems to be a time of questioning.....questioning the purpose of these seemingly “complications” during my pregnancy with Nichole. Questioning God's plan and direction for our family. I am wondering if God is asking me, “Do you trust me?” and my first response is, “Of course I trust you Lord.” Maybe He smiles and says, “I will teach you how to trust me.” I know it is not easy to trust God, at least not with.....the trust that requires giving ourselves, yes, our lives, our possessions, our children, our spouse! “Do you trust me” He asks, “Oh Lord I do, but honestly I am so scared, and the truth is, I want to have a perfect life. But more than that, I want to do what you want me to do, and it starts by trusting you, because you are good, and you love me, and true happiness and fulfillment in life come from you alone.”
On October 2nd Nichole was born. Two weeks early, I can't complain! The labor and delivery went almost as smooth and quickly as possible. And yes, Nichole was born with Down syndrome. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.”
All along we were thinking missions, and God had little Nichole in mind. “Will you go to those that the world sees as less? the “unlovable” ones? Will you love them?” “Yes Lord,” I said. “Do you trust me,” He asked, “Oh Lord I do, but honestly I am so scared.”
My “life verse” has always been Psalm 139. I prayed it many times while I was pregnant with Nichole. Today there is even more meaning to these verses than ever before.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you
because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How wonderful are your thoughts for me Oh Lord
How vast is the sum of them.
Were I to count them
They would outnumber the grains of the sand.

It has been an emotional journey, but we know God is good, and our family and friends have poured out their love on us. We have already experienced God's love and blessings in a way that maybe few people get to. Complete trust, that is all we need, unconditional love, that is what we will learn to give. God knew that we needed Nichole, and like Andy said, maybe she needed us too. She is precious in God's eyes and he has entrusted us to take care of her. As we walk this path, we know that their will be hard times but that he will share his joy with us through Nichole.

Some More Sweet Pictures

This last two pictures are of when we finally left the hospital. We had to wait for a long time for the doctor's to let us go home! We also had to stay an extra day because Nichole had an Echo to make sure the valve in her heart was closing, and it was! Praise the Lord! Now we are praying that the hole in her heart closses up quickly.

Our Family!

Ellie is a great big sister!

She wanted to hold Nichole right away and she kissed her and sang to her so sweetly!

The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful family.

Nichole is here!

On October 2nd, 2007, baby Nichole joined our family. She wanted to come early and quick! Two weeks before her due date, and we almost did not make it to the hospital (even though we thought we had all the time in the world).

Our new baby girl.
We were parking outside the hospital at 7:15. I had been squatting through my contractions because I thought it felt better. When Ellie was born, we thought she was coming soon, and we spent ALL DAY at the hospital, so from previous experience, we thought we had a long time and 5:00 AM seemed too early to go. So we showered, I did my hair and make-up since I was determined not to be ugly mom :)

As we walked in to the hospital they took me to a room where they hook you up to determine if it is true labor or not. I think the nurses thought I had a long ways to go. As the nurse noticed my contractions were very close together, she decided to check how dialated I was. "About a 9!" she said, "I will be right back." Andy and I were not sure what to think, but she came back with MANY nurses and they told me not to push yet. They took me to the delivery room and my midwife walked in, then she said, "You can push if you want now." And Nichole was born at 8:22 AM after a very short labor!
I am ready to push!
Yes, a chubby baby. 7 pounds 9 ounces
Isn't she beautiful?

We love you baby Nichole!

Ellie's 2nd Birthday!

Ellie had a fun birthday party! She had so much fun, and so did all her friends. We brought in her slide and a "jump-house" for the kids and they had a blast. Unfortunatelly our digital camara broke and we had to ask someone else to take pictures for us. I am so thankful for Jaime going around and taking pictures for us!

Ellie loves her friends Carlee and Brooklyn.



Ellie decorated her cake, and it was a lot of fun. we had sprinkles, fruit snacks, gummy life-savers, nummy frosting and more goodies! She loved her cake! Well, actually, all she cared for were the sprinkles :)
Blow the candle!

Ellie enjoyed opening presents, but she did not like it as much when we would take away the new present. It was all better when she would get to open a new bag.
Thanks for all our friends that came to Ellie's party. We had so much fun!