Touching Hearts

It has been a long time since I updated, so I will try to remember what has happened in the last month that is worth sharing.

A month ago I was invited to speak at a local MOPS group about Nichole. I was so excited to go and share how beautiful life is with a child that has a disability. I wanted to talk about the "real" feelings I experienced, as well as the beautiful road we travel, and how the Lord led us to that discovery. I wanted to share my heart towards Nichole and the beautiful world she has opened up for us.

One thing I know, is that the Lord has a plan, and His plan for our lives include Nichole. I also know, that Nichole was sent to us to touch our lives, and the lives of her family and those around her.

I was excited, but I was also nervous. I was for the first time going to share with a group of women the really ugly parts of my heart during those first couple of weeks. But I was also going to share the powerful love of God that has overtaken me as I chose to love this small, precious baby. And I was going to share how this road is the sweetest, most wonderful road I have traveled.

My friend Melinda came with me. My friend Kim had invited me to speak. It was wonderful to have those familiar faces. I cried a lot, after all, Nichole was only six months old, and this journey is still fresh. I was honest and open, and I prayed and prayed that the Lord would use the words that came out of my mouth, and that Nichole and our family would not simply be a "story."

When I was done, the Lord continued to move. Through tears a mom shared that her son also had a disability. She confessed that she had been carrying guilt around for the feelings she had had towards her son, but now, she could say she had felt the same way, and know that it was okay, and that God had forgiven her. Another mom shared she had never loved her sister who had a disability, but from that day on, she would chose to love her. Two other women talked to me after we met and they shared their stories. Their children are 'typical,' but their little ones in fact, belong to the Lord, and it is an honor that He had chosen them to be their mother.

Nichole is seven months now. Somehow, she inspires love in people. Somehow, her smile seems to splash you with rays of love from God. Her life has already changed the lives of so many people. Most of all, my own.

The Blessings of Being "Mommy"

This is a pretty typical sight at our house. Ellie loving on Nichole. And Nichole looking like, "When is this girl going to stop hugging me and kissing me?" But I have to say, Nichole smiles every time Ellie is around, just not that much when she is stuck in a bear hug for what seems like hours (if you were a baby, you would think it was hours too!)

I love being a mom. If you could hear Ellie's sweet voice when she says' "Mommy." You could not help but smile. Many times, I have wondered if we have that same effect on our Heavenly Father. Maybe He smiles as soon as we utter the words "Father."

Ellie is in such a fun stage. She talks all day long, she has a big imagination, and she lives in her stories, having fun and playing all day (some might say she takes after her mother). She loves to hear stories, and she can make up her own, just as well as anyone else. You would be surprised that she is only two! She has started to pray on her own, and it is so sweet, she tells God stories as well. I can only picture His face beaming with pride as His little princess takes time to talk to Him, not just to go through a list of "please do this for me" or "thank you for such and such," but just to take the time and talk to Him, tell Him stories, be thankful and excited for the little things that happened during the day.

Nichole, well, I continue to be amazed by her. I know that when some people hear the words"Down syndrome," it seems that the Lord is taking us on a "tough road." Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is the sweetest road I have traveled. Not the road I would have willingly chosen, but now that I walk it, I would choose it a hundred times. This little baby girl can touch my heart like nobody else can. Her smiles, I believe, have a little bit of a "heaven tint." It is a beautiful road where we can stop and enjoy life, and discover, along the way, the true value and meaning of life. I pray that someday, the Lord will use me so that others can see, how beautiful it is to have a child with an extra chromosome. That maybe someday, as women hear a pre-natal diagnosis of Down syndrome, they will smile and say, "I am sooo lucky." Because I now know, that I am.

Here are some pictures of Nichole. She is now 6 months old.

"I am soooo confused"

"I guess I will take a bath if I have to"





Here are some pictures of our princess Ellie. I realize that I have no pictures of her wearing a princess crown, butterfly wings, a custom, or her Cinderella dress. I will post some later.
"I love chocolate"

John 9:1-3

Nichole is five months old!

Time flies by, and at the same time, I feel like she has always been around.

More and more I realize how perfect she is for our family. At least she is perfect for me. The Lord has used this baby to do in me, many marvelous and wonderful things. I am not the same person, and that is because God chose a little baby with Down syndrome, to change my life forever!

The Bible does not talk about Down syndrome, actually, I have always wondered if some of the characters we read about had Trisomy 21. Back then, there was no label, they were just people. As a mom, I wish my daughter didn't have to grow up with that label either. However, back then, they did have labels for other disabilities, and I found a story about a blind man. His story has encouraged me and confirmed in my heart what the Lord's plan is for Nichole.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind."

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned" said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

The work of God will be displayed in my daughter's life! In Nichole's life! And you know? It already is.

I feel like I have learned so many lessons, so profound, so mysterious. And she is only five months old! I have so much to look forward to!

Ellie is great with Nichole. She loves hugging her and kissing her. As a matter of fact, Ellie kisses Nichole more than she kisses her mommy or daddy. And Nichole loves Ellie too! She smiles at her and watches her all the time.

The Lord has blessed us with two beautiful daughters. I am so humbled that He hand-picked me to be Ellie's mom, and Nichole's mom. I think of how Mary felt when the angel of the Lord announced to her she had been chosen to be Jesus' mother. My assignment might not be as big as hers, but I was chosen too, and He has entrusted me with these precious little girls. I pray that I will do the best job at loving them and raising them.

Nichole at 3-months

Do we have the cutest baby or what!

I know Nichole is almost four months, but I figured I should post some of her three month old pictures. It is amazing how many more pictures the first born children tend to have! We have tried to have Nichole's professional pictures taken every month like we did with Ellie. So far we have done her month old pictures...and hopefully on Friday her 4 month pictures :)

Ellie is the greatest big sister. She loves Nichole. She constantly tells her, "I love you Nichole;" "I love you baby sister;" and perhaps one of my favorite ones, "You are my best friend Nichole."
Yep! That's right! Some rolling over action going on here! And do you see the one arm lifted off the ground? She is amazing!
"Thanks for looking at my pictures."

Breath of Heaven

Christmas is over. I am hoping to put the Christmas tree away soon along with all the other Christmas decorations. I cannot believe that it has come and gone. Time flies by. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were putting the Christmas tree up... listening to Christmas music. My favorite Christmas CD is Amy Grant, Home for Christmas. I have listened to it every Christmas for the last 12 years and I know all the songs by heart. But this year, it was different. As Breath of Heaven started to play, and I started to sing along, tears started coming, "This is my prayer." The Lord knows what an amazing journey He has for me, He chose me to be Nichole's mom, and for that I am deeply thankful.

Breath of Heaven (Ellen's song)

I have traveled, on a selfish life

Now I am weary, with a babe with Downs

So I wonder, what good I've done

Holy Father, you have come, and chosen me now

to love on Nichole

I am waiting, in a silent prayer

I am frightened, by the load I bear

In a world as cold as stone

Must I walk this path alone

Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, breath of heaven

Breath of heaven, lighten my anxiousness

Pour over me your holiness, for you are holy

Breath of heaven

Do you wonder

As you watch my faith

If a wiser one, should have had my place

But I offer all I am

For the richness of your plan

Help me be strong, help me

Isaiah 41 :13 says "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you."

I offer all that I am, and I am certain that the Lord will be with me, He is my help. What a comfort to know that the Lord holds me by my right hand.

Christmas 2007

Come On Ring Those Bells!

Ellie sang at church during our Christmas Service. She did a great job ringing her bell and singing. She actually knew all the words and was not intimidated by an auditorium full of people. She did a great job.

Ellie's Christmas Excitement

We love Nichole

Sometimes life is hard as a baby!

Tia Ale loves Nichole, and so does grandma Chachi.

The Extra Fun

We spent Christmas with my family. We were there for a week. Unfortunately, us Stumbos had the stomach flu. We are thankful that Nichole did not get sick. And then when we were all getting better, I got a sore throat and nasty cough.

Thanks mom!

Andy is so silly cuddling his new socks.

Stumbo Family

After spending time with my family, we came back to Charles City and Andy's family came to celebrate Christmas. From Montana, Ohio, Washington, and Taiiwan, it was good to be together. There were three new baby girls and also sickness. From stomach flu (again) to colds and coughs, but we had fun hanging out.

Grandma Stumbo loved holding her new babies.

Nichole's Baby Dedication

On Sunday Nichole and her cousins were dedicated to the Lord. It was special to have their grandpa Stumbo dedicate them. I feel like Andy and I were the ones dedicating ourselves to the Lord, that we will raise Nichole to know Him and love Him. That we will seek to be examples to her of what it is to follow the Lord. We know full well that the Lord has wonderful plans for the life of our sweet little girl, and we are looking forward to this wonderful journey.

Grandpa Stumbo tries to hold all three babies. Didn't go so well :)

Cousins

Ellie, Mikayla, and Alyssa all love to sing. It was so sweet when all three of them started singing "Jesus loves me." How fun for them to be so close in age. They had fun together.

Ellie and Alyssa were great friends.

Grandma Stumbo got matching outfits for the older girls. Getting a picture of them all smiling and looking at the camera was hard, but really funny.

Grandpa and Grandma Stumbo with their 6 grandaugthers.

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.