Potty Day!

All day today Natalie kept asking to go to the potty. She didn't want to sit on the training potty. No! She wanted to sit on the BIG potty! For those of you who don't know her, she has only gone "potty" on the training potty a few times. So, she is still in diapers and I have been hoping that she would be ready to be out of them soon. Today when she kept asking to go potty, I thought ... "This could be it! Maybe we are close to having her out of diapers!" Well, I kinda think she was playing more than anything else, unfortunately. I never saw her "do" anything in the potty. She would sit on it for a minute, get up, close the lid, then open the lid and sit back down. However, I think for her to want to be on it is good. Maybe soon we will be able to have another child out of diapers! Wouldn't that be bliss!!

Here is a funny video from our bathroom time today! Natalie is quite the character, so I laughed at her more than once while I was in there with her waiting on a "job" that never came!

Recording Fun

In the midst of having a kidney stone to deal with last week, there was some sunshine in my week. Our church started recording its second CD with Integrity Music and I was blessed to be able to sing on it. After my kidney stone attack on Wednesday morning, I recuperated enough to attend the recording session held at our church that night from 6-10pm. We had a huge mass choir that night and the recording went very well.

I prayed that the rest of the week I would be able to attend the ensemble recording sessions that I had been asked to be a part of. Thankfully, my body cooperated! So, I was busy recording Thursday night, Friday night and some of Saturday. While I was at Integrity on Saturday, we decided to also record my solo on a song called "We Cry Out." That went very well and I'm excited to hear the final product.

Make sure that you go to your stores in May and buy a copy of the CD!!! It will be titled God Hears. I think it will be an awesome album and you'll be glad you invested in it. There will also be companion products available for churches that wish to purchase them. We are praying that many will be brought into God's presence through this special recording!

Here is a funny video that I took while we were in the studio. I thought you might get a laugh from it as I did!



PS - If you would like to purchase a copy of our church's first CD with Integrity Music, contact our church directly at http://www.northmobile.org/. The name of the CD is called Believe. I sing a solo on the title cut and was also blessed to sing background vocals on that CD, as well.

Rolling Stones

Well, for those of you wondering ... my stone has NOT passed yet. I had another "attack" yesterday morning. I was miserable and had to take a pain pill. It took about an hour for me to have any relief at all. I just laid on the bed and moaned while Mark tried to keep all the girls from bothering me. Elyssa was at school so she didn't have to hear her momma in such pain. Natalie probably wondered what in the world was wrong with me, but she didn't seem too worried about my condition. Mark came in and checked on me every few minutes. He would try to make jokes to lighten the mood, but I wasn't a very good audience.

I got in to see a Urologist yesterday afternoon and he let me know that my stone was still very close to entering my bladder. It is just a matter of time. He also informed me that I have another kidney stone in my left kidney. PLUS, I have a few in my right kidney. Oh, Lordy! I'm going to have to go through this multiple times? So, thankfully, they are all very small. No surgery will be needed, but unfortunately, I just have to wait these suckers out. In the meantime, I covet your prayers on the passage of my current stone.

May it's passage be quick and painless!

PS - For those of you wondering ... kidney stones are as painful to me as labor. However, with labor, you at least have a few minutes to recover in-between contractions. My experience with kidney stones has been that of constant, stabbing pain around my left kidney. It is a terrible pain I wouldn't wish on anyone!

Sunday Morning LIVE!!!

Yesterday started out as the typical Sunday. Everyone was getting up, eating breakfast and trying to quickly get dressed for church. I did my usual "packing of the bags" for all the girls to make sure I had all the necessary diapers, juices and such for whoever needed it. Somewhere in the midst of all the hullabaloo, I noticed that my left side (toward the back) started to hurt. It was a constant pain and continued to build into more of a sharp pain. I was scheduled to sing a solo in church and was thinking through whether I thought I could sing or not with this type of pain. I told Mark that I was hurting but thought I would try to see if I could deal with it. As we drove to church, the pain worsened and brought me to the point of moaning and tears. With all three girls in the car, me scheduled to sing and Mark being one of the pastors of our church ... we bypassed the church exit and headed straight for the nearest hospital. It just happens to be the hospital that I delivered two of my girls at and have visited the emergency room recently when I had an allergic reaction to a medication last year.

Mark let me out at the emergency room door while he stayed in the van with the girls. We had called my parents to meet us there. Thankfully, they were not in church yet and could head to the hospital to meet us. I went in to register myself and the dreadful waiting began. When you are in pain, the waiting seems forever, even though it might only be 10 minutes. Mark came in soon after I signed-in and he sat with me in the waiting area. As I sat in the waiting area, I could only keep my eyes closed to breathe and deal with the pain. Finally, my name was called and we went back to the registration area where they ask you a bunch of medical questions and inquire about your current condition. At that point, I really began hurting. I hated to moan out loud around people, but I couldn't help it. I did the best I could to control myself, but it was terribly hard. After I finished answering questions (with which Mark had to help me with some), we were told to go back out into the waiting area. I had started feeling nauseous by this time and didn't want to return to the same "general public" waiting area. We found a bathroom near the waiting area and went in there. Sweet Mark stood by my side while I hovered over the toilet in case I threw up. I never did, but wanted to be close by just in case. We finally went back out into the hall where I sat in a chair waiting for my name to be called. My name was called a few moments later and I couldn't have been more relieved.

I was taken back to a small room where I had to change my clothes and put on one of those embarrassing gowns that tie in the back. Honestly, after having three babies these past three years, I don't really care who sees what when I go into a hospital! So, I wasn't too concerned about the gown. I was just hurting and wanted relief. I was asked a few more questions and then a nurse came in to start an IV. That is always "fun" for me because I am a hard stick, I've been told. After a few tries, she finally got a vein. The vein lasted long enough for her to give me several different drugs to relieve my pain. I began to feel much better. After a few moments, I actually didn't feel any pain. I could just lay and rest, even though I still knew what was going on. They got a urine sample and took me for a CT scan.

Turns out that I have a small kidney stone on the verge of entering my bladder. My urine sample came back negative, so thankfully there was no infection there. When the doctor came in, she told me that they would send me home with some pain medication and also a medication that will help me pass the stone a little easier. We were allowed to leave, after I put on my "normal" clothes again and headed home.

At this point, I don't think I've passed the stone yet. I've been using the "strainer" but haven't seen anything yet. We are praying that this "passing" is a quick process. I've not taken any pain medication yet and don't plan to unless I start having terrible pain again.

Please join me in thanks for my wonderful husband who took charge of the situation and rushed me to the hospital, which was where I really needed to be. And, join us in prayer that this stone will "let go" and "get out!"

Fun Videos

Here are a few fun videos I wanted to upload for your viewing pleasure! Hope you enjoy them and maybe they will bring a little smile to your day!

This video is from Christmas morning. We have decided that Natalie may just be a physical or occupational therapist one day. She is always handing Victoria toys and trying to help her during her "play" time.


Mark's sister, Karen, got the girls some water flutes to play with in the tub. Here they are playing some songs during a recent bath time.


Here is a video of Natalie and Elyssa singing to Victoria!


Sometimes I get so cracked up watching Natalie and Elyssa playing pretend together. It is absolutely wonderful to see them playing so well together now!


Elyssa reminds me so much of my sister in this video. I remember an old movie of my sister, Shana, reading to us kids and none of us payed much attention to her. And, Natalie cracks me up grabbing Victoria's phone rattle and pretending to talk on it!

Happy New Year!

Well, it appears that 2008 is now just a memory and 2009 has rushed in suddenly. It's hard to believe that so much has happened in the Messick household in a year!

A year ago today I was celebrating Mark's 36th birthday, planning Natalie's 1st birthday party and nervously awaiting the arrival of Victoria Jayne into our lives. Little did I know that when March of 2008 arrived (when Victoria was born), my life would forever be changed. I had no idea that I would experience so many emotions within the span of a year. From joy, to fear, to grief ... I would say that I had 'em all! But, because the Lord was with me through it all, I survived. And, I would also say that I'm a much better person because of the roller coaster of experiences that came along my path.

Victoria is such a joy to me. All the fears and worries I have about raising a Down Syndrome child seem to melt away each day I see her smiling face. Every time I hold her in my arms, I feel such peace that I was blessed to have her as my daughter. I feel a special plan was laid out for our family and we will experience things that most families will not. We will experience the sheer joy of a child who seems to have unending smiles. We will experience abounding hugs from a girl that just loves being a part of our family. And, when her sisters act like crazy goofballs, I have a feeling that Victoria will be the one who says, "Just behave and be happy!" I think she will continue to add such a wonderful dimension to our lives and I'm forever grateful to the Lord for all He has done in our family this year.

I've included some video of Victoria. I think when you see her, you will see the same things I see ... the blessings and grace of the Lord.

This video is of Mark loving on Victoria. She loves back with all that she is!

In this video, you will see how Victoria is such a tactile baby. She loves touching my fingers. She is, also, constantly rubbing on different materials close to her surroundings. I love that she is so "touchy! It's very sweet!

In this last video, Victoria is getting some "air!" The girl can bounce her legs so high in her bed that the rest of her body probably becomes airborne for a second!