How We're "Dew"ing--Christmas 2010

Dearest Loved Ones,

Thanks for visiting the blog and indulging us in our effort to conserve and simplify. This post is our official Christmas letter. We rejoice in God's mercy and grace at the close of 2010! Baby Dew has brought us such unimaginable joy and pleasure. Here's a recap of the last year.

In November 2009, Mike took a job at our church as Stewardship Pastor. He was ordained at the end of the month, and on the same day we found out about our new blessing. Of course, blessings often come in a mixed bag as was the case for me. The sickness was the worst I have experienced with any of my pregnancies, and the pregnancy itself was very different from the ones before. So, in summary, new job, new pregnancy, new sickness, homeschooling...you get the idea.

I started to feel better around February, and we were able to make it down to Florida for our annual Detroit Tigers Spring Training trip. Many thanks to my dear in-laws who make it possible for us to go.

The heat of summer rolled in like a freight train and I am pretty sure I didn't leave the house for 2 months--except for doctors' visits. As a matter of fact, I hardly left the couch. I was carrying 60 extra pounds and it was hot. On July 11, 2010, at Greer Memorial Hospital, we welcomed little David Andrew. Well, I use the term "little" loosely since he was a whopping 9 pounds, 7 ounces! He made a dramatic entrance as he had tied a knot in his umbilical cord and then wrapped it twice around his neck. Not only that, but on day 2 he was transported to Greenville Memorial for tests relating to pneumonia. Thankfully, he never developed pneumonia, but we spent 4 days there trying to convince the hospital that our baby was not sick**rolling eyes**

Well, that brings us back to a new school year, a new baby, and a new year just around the corner. Bella started Kindergarten and has beautiful handwriting which she gets from her Daddy. Ben and Joey are inquisitive and imaginative 4th graders who will soon build us a new car out of Legos. Most likely, it will run better than the van we're driving now. Mikayla is a brilliant 6th grader, and she has started ice skating lessons for the first time this year. It is something she has always wanted to do, and she spends a lot of time practicing at home. You probably never realized how well a kitchen floor works as an ice rink.

Mike's position at the church has brought him joy upon joy, but, as with all blessings, it has come in a mixed bag with sorrows, trials, and testing. God has blessed him with leadership and discernment. You guessed it, another mixed bag. I am so thankful for the love of my husband and his mixed bag. And I think he is thankful for mine (most of the time.) These mixed blessings define us and refine us. They sanctify us before a Holy God if we let them. But we first have to give up the control that we really don't have in the first place and allow Jesus to re-define us. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. And the only reason that God took on flesh and lived among us was to unite us to Him. We are separated from Him by our sin. He took our sin upon Himself in His death, and rose from the dead to bring us victory. He is a Living Savior. His Law is written on our hearts, and yet we break it every day. There is no life apart from Christ. I hope that you believe these words, but if you don't, repent (acknowledge that you are a sinner and need to be saved from your sin) and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! "Though He was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8

David Andrew is such a gift to our family. The big kids have loved him from the first day they heard of him, and I can't be more thankful for that. But most of all, I am thankful for a God who is faithful when I am not, and One who has given me everything that I never asked for. This year, I hope to be more intent on giving God control. I am certain He knows better than me.

Already December??

This blog post was in the works for several months. September 22 was my sweet Bella's birthday. Six years old and no longer the baby of the family! Thanks be to God for this precious, lively, smart, beautiful and opinionated kindergartener:)

Beach Fun

Our few days at the beach were such a blessing to our family. Mike will leave October 19th for East Asia, and we will miss him terribly! I think the kids really enjoyed the vacation, too, since we haven't seen the beach for a few years, and they have mostly been cooped up in the house for the entire summer. The weather was perfect and the waves were grand. Thanks, Bethany, Courtney and Mom for giving us a place to relax!

When Does a Blog Become a Scrapbook?

When all the posts are pictures! Sometimes I'm a writer--other times I'm a photographer. Can't be both at the same time!

Turn Back the Clock

I finally figured out how to download pictures from an obsolete cell phone. One of me, baby, and my mom. The other of me seeing Dew off in the infant transporter to Greenville Memorial NICU.

I was all smiles for the first and all tears for the second. What a difference one day can make!

Photos by Mom

David Andrew-6 weeks

Don't Forget the Twins

I unintentionally forgot to post about the boys' birthday. Their big day was actually the day after my due date. So, on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, we celebrated our twins' 9th birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Yes, baby had his first CEC experience, too.

I hope Ben and Joey enjoyed their day. I hope they know how special and important they are even when their birthday falls eight days after Mom has a baby. I hope they know that every new year we celebrate is another wonderful blessing to Mike and me. I hope...

I love you, precious boys. Unfortunately, I lost my pictures of my boys when my new phone bit the dust (the pictures were on it.) I do have a video that Mikayla took, but I don't know how to attach it:) Maybe later.

Looking Back

The last three weeks have been wonderful and emotionally draining. I feel like I have run a marathon, but honestly, I don't think I could run across the yard if I tried. David Andrew (or "Dew" for short) is such a blessing to our family, but the new routine, or lack of one altogether, is taking its toll on everyone!

In the midst of adjusting to a new baby, my oldest baby has gone to camp for the week! She has rarely even spent the night away, and at the last minute we decided this opportunity would be good for her. She had a tough time deciding whether or not to go, but in the end I don't think she wanted to miss out on the experience.

He is here!

David Andrew Fitzgerald Kuckel was born on July 11, 2010 at Greer Memorial Hospital at 1:45 pm. He weighed in at an astonishing 9 lbs 7 oz (although I wasn't too surprised...) and measured 22 inches.

At this point, 5 days after his birth, David Andrew is doing great. There were some initial complications, though, that had him being transported to the Greenville Memorial NICU on day two. At birth, he had a true knot in his cord which was itself wrapped twice around his neck. In addition, the stress must have brought on the meconium in the amniotic fluid. Amazingly, by the grace of God, he was able to be born naturally and quickly. He was well-suctioned and seemed to be adjusting just fine to life on the outside.

The next morning, it was decided that he was breathing too rapidly and a chest X ray was ordered which alerted the doctors and nurses to the possibility of pneumonia. The decisions were made, the transport team from Greenville was sent, and I was prepared to be discharged. I have to admit, my hopes were dashed, and I felt completely lost at that moment. I thank God, however, as He used this opportunity to remind me that He is sovereign. I also thank my husband who reminded me that our first responsibility is to bring glory to God in the way we approach our trials.

We are so thankful for friends and family who have shown such support to pray, bring meals, send notes and flowers, and even visit-- like my dear friend Tina in the picture above. We also enjoyed visits on Sunday from my mom, dad, sisters, and brother and his family. David Andrew was discharged from the NICU on Thursday afternoon with no pneumonia! To God be the glory!

Here is Mike on baby's first day home!

Baby is Getting Close...

My amazing friend, Tina, threw a special shower for me. It was such a fun, sweet time with lots of friends and family. My professional photographer for the morning was none other than Mikayla!

Happy Father's Day

A Spring Birthday

We enjoyed celebrating Mikayla's 11th birthday on Tuesday. She requested decorate-your-own cupcakes and root beer floats. We were all bouncing off the walls by the end of the evening...

What a blessing she has been to us! She is excited about the new baby, too. I know she will be such a big helper and will love her baby brother.

Family Togetherness

Here we are at the Lego store in Orlando (with Lego Indiana Jones)...












...and making Resurrection cookies at home!

Happy Easter!

The Cost of Following Christ

Mike shared this one with me. If you have the time, it is worth a listen.

Mercy and Anna Grace

I thank God for Anna Grace Bentley. She has been testifying of God's mercy for as long as I've known her name. Now, at just over a week old, she amazes everyone who has been touched by her life. Anna Grace is recovering from open heart surgery at MUSC in Charleston with her precious parents waiting and watching to spend every moment they can with her. Each hour is critical right now. We are praying for you, Anna Grace. Thank you for allowing God to use you to reach a lost and dying world. You give me hope.

Visit Anna Grace through the blogs and twitters of her mom and dad. Thank you Brian and Tina for sharing intimate and painful details with so many. You exemplify courage.

"Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." 1 Corinthians 4:1,2