Coffee CubBuster

Silas was in the NICU for 4 days; Levi was in the NICU for 135 days; Roman came in second place with just over a week at 8 days. After some prayer and pleading, we were able to bring our sweet baby Roman home last Saturday night. I don't think we could be more thankful this Thanksgiving! The boys are all sweet together, and it's a miracle to have a healthy baby in our midst. As I approach Kyra's birthday this weekend, I am reminded at how precious our time is on Earth, and I am grateful little Roman, Rome, Roe, Ro bro, (whatever we call him) can bear a name of a place that meant so much to my best friend. Love and miss you Ky! I know you'd be anxious to get your hands on little Rome as soon as you could! Thank you for all who prayed for our littlest one!  We love you, and we are so very grateful for you! ~Roman Buster

While I would never put myself on the level of those fighting on the front lines, or having served our country nationally and abroad, I do think Matthew and I have become veterans of the Northside Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. After a mandatory (due to Levi's birth) scheduled c-section, the newest addition to our family, Roman Samuel Smith, came into the world on 11/11/16, Veteran's Day. He bears the strong name of the Italian city that my sweet friend Kyra was called to serve, love, and spread the good news of the gospel. While we both did well during surgery, Roman took on some fluid and was quickly taken to the transition NICU in hopes of recovering easier before I could hold him. Needless to say, he had to be fully admitted to the intensive car unit about six hours after "working too hard" to breathe. When I heard that he wasn't as "strong" as his name would lead you to believe, I was devastated. Having all three of our children consecut...

Question: What do you do when your semi-brand new coffee maker randomly stops working, everyone is coughing up crud, it feels like your favorite fall day, and it's your final days a a family of four? Answer: Grab a box of tissues, antibiotics, your Moka espresso pot, some mini marshmallows, and pretend your the last people on earth as you set up a tent in your back yard (and stop by a local driving range). Love knowing my boys will be hanging out as I am away from them soon! Levi was awesome as a first time ranger- he worked on "teeing up the ball" So proud of himself! Even though we may all be coughing still, we are feeling pretty good and ready to meet our new littlest brother the day after tomorrow! Thank you Lord for sweet memories and strength! ~Coughing CubBuster

As a young girl, I remember desperately wanting to cling to traditions, even if it meant forcing an experience that wasn't necessarily purposeful. Traditions hold beauty in one context and forced stagnation in another. I see my eldest son repeating my innocence to the point of absurdity. If we've had a particularly great experience, or an unexpected bout of laughter, Silas will try to re-live, recapture, and reminisce that moment until it no longer holds any true authenticity. His motives are sweet and innocent, but I've come to see the peril in my passing of this tradition trait. When I was young, I loathed change. I wanted to remain in the good moments for fear that I wouldn't retain them otherwise. All I could imagine was what was right before me, and if that focal point was pleasant, or better yet, wonderful, then I must try to remain in it as long as possible. I dare say this wasn't just a part of my childhood. I've maintained this desire into adult...

There is some truth to the saying: "No pain, no gain." However, now that I have no choice but to schedule my c-section for baby boy three, taking much of the expected labor pains away, does that mean I'm gaining less in my delivery experience? Of course not. There is plenty of pain during the preliminary nine months, as well as the c-section recovery as I learned with baby boy two. Pain also doesn't always have to be physical. Baby boy number one has recently decided on a new way of expressing his frustration at my discipline and superior authority as he hopes to inflict emotional pain on me. When he has no choice but to submit of suffer, he likes to say, "I do not love you mommy" and now he's adding, "And I do not care about you mommy! Does that make you sad!" The first time it came out of his mouth, I immediately felt a little sad at the quick switch to adolescence, but I quickly recognized and told him that I'd rather he hate me and dea...

Have you ever worked your heart out to get caught up on something? I mean really dug in your heels, focused, drank an extra shot of espresso, and gave up sleep to stay on top of a job? Then just as soon as you feel a little relief and celebratory dance moves begin, you accidentally delete all your work with  absolutely no hope of recovery. This happened to me when I first began teaching high school, and I thought I'd get way ahead during summer pre-planning. Almost as soon as I pat myself on the back for being so diligent during my months off, my work was gone. Even after several calls and web searches regarding recovery, I was sadly informed by the brightest minds that everything I'd toiled to accomplish had been in vain. Last week, I felt an equivalent sense of frustrating failure. Instead of documents and lesson plans, I watched my baby boy struggle once again with losing weight due to constant diarrhea and vomiting for seemingly no reason except maybe some budding teeth an...