(1019,2,'2012-01-13 15:28:52','2012-01-13 20:28:52','Before my first child was born, I was concerned that I would never wake up if he cried in the night.  I was SUCH a sound sleeper BC (before children).  But I needn\'t have worried. As soon as Andrew was born, I discovered I had developed a \"mommy brain.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-448  \" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"501\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou mothers out there know what \"mommy brain\" is: that condition where you become mentally fuzzy on details you thought you\'d never forget, while at the same time you develop an uncanny ability to hear your baby\'s cry and know whether he is hungry, tired, sick, bored, in pain or just wants his mommy.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"prenatal_origins_ of_infant_maternal_bonding\" href=\"http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/6/384.abstract\" target=\"_blank\">A review of new research</a> suggests that \"prenatal hormone exposures are critical for priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood and have implications for the mother’s brain structure and function that may last the rest of her lifetime.\"  And mommy brain probably explains why new mothers wake up when their babies merely whimper in their sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, age 3, with Debi, doing some mother-daughter bonding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214\" title=\"Debi with Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Debi with Lisette\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDuring pregnancy, a mom  is exposed to a massive hormonal shift, that according to this research, readies her brain for the challenges of motherhood, \"helping her becomes less rattled by stress and more attuned to her baby’s needs.\"\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><dl id=\"attachment_453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-453\" title=\"LisetteNewbornFeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured-300x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" /></a></dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Debi and Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.</dd></dl></div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, in the same way that a mother, and how she takes care of herself during pregnancy, impacts the baby, the fetus affects the mom. When a baby moves in utero, even if the mother cannot feel the movement, the mother\'s heart rate rises and her skin conductance response is aroused - the phenomenon when skin momentarily becomes a better conductor of electricity, indicating an emotional response.</div>','New Evidence Confirms Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1000-revision-9','','','2012-01-13 15:28:52','2012-01-13 20:28:52','',1000,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/13/1000-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1020,2,'2012-01-13 15:37:14','2012-01-13 20:37:14','Before my first child was born, I was concerned that I would never wake up if he cried in the night.  I was SUCH a sound sleeper BC (before children).  But I needn\'t have worried. As soon as Andrew was born, I discovered I had developed a \"mommy brain.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-448  \" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"501\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYou mothers out there know what \"mommy brain\" is: that condition where you become mentally fuzzy on details you thought you\'d never forget, while at the same time you develop an uncanny ability to hear your baby\'s cry and know whether he is hungry, tired, sick, bored, in pain or just wants his mommy.\n\n<a title=\"prenatal_origins_ of_infant_maternal_bonding\" href=\"http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/6/384.abstract\" target=\"_blank\">A review of new research</a> suggests that \"prenatal hormone exposures are critical for priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood and have implications for the mother’s brain structure and function that may last the rest of her lifetime.\"  And<a title=\"pregnancy_and_mommy_brain\" href=\"http://www.newsucanuse.org/pregnancy-and-mommy-brain/\" target=\"_blank\"> mommy brain probably explains </a>why new mothers wake up when their babies merely whimper in their sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, age 3, with Debi, doing some mother-daughter bonding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214\" title=\"Debi with Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Debi with Lisette\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nDuring pregnancy, a mom  is exposed to a massive hormonal shift, that according to this research, readies her brain for the challenges of motherhood, \"helping her becomes less rattled by stress and more attuned to her baby’s needs.\"\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><dl id=\"attachment_453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-453\" title=\"LisetteNewbornFeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured-300x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" /></a></dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Debi and Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.</dd></dl></div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, in the same way that a mother, and how she takes care of herself during pregnancy, impacts the baby, the fetus affects the mom. When a baby moves in utero, even if the mother cannot feel the movement, the mother\'s heart rate rises and her skin conductance response is aroused - the phenomenon when skin momentarily becomes a better conductor of electricity, indicating an emotional response.</div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"> </div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, from the very beginning of life, mothers and their babies are fearfully and wonderfully made.</div>','New Evidence Confirms Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1000-revision-10','','','2012-01-13 15:37:14','2012-01-13 20:37:14','',1000,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/13/1000-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1021,2,'2012-01-13 15:38:37','2012-01-13 20:38:37','Before my first child was born, I was concerned that I would never wake up if he cried in the night.  I was SUCH a sound sleeper BC (before children).  But I needn\'t have worried. As soon as Andrew was born, I discovered I had developed a \"mommy brain.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-448  \" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"501\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou mothers out there know what \"mommy brain\" is: that condition where you become mentally fuzzy on details you thought you\'d never forget, while at the same time you develop an uncanny ability to hear your baby\'s cry and know whether he is hungry, tired, sick, bored, in pain or just wants his mommy.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"prenatal_origins_ of_infant_maternal_bonding\" href=\"http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/6/384.abstract\" target=\"_blank\">A review of new research</a> suggests that \"prenatal hormone exposures are critical for priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood and have implications for the mother’s brain structure and function that may last the rest of her lifetime.\"  And<a title=\"pregnancy_and_mommy_brain\" href=\"http://www.newsucanuse.org/pregnancy-and-mommy-brain/\" target=\"_blank\"> mommy brain probably explains </a>why new mothers wake up when their babies merely whimper in their sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, age 3, with Debi, doing some mother-daughter bonding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214\" title=\"Debi with Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Debi with Lisette\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDuring pregnancy, a mom  is exposed to a massive hormonal shift, that according to this research, readies her brain for the challenges of motherhood, \"helping her becomes less rattled by stress and more attuned to her baby’s needs.\"\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><dl id=\"attachment_453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-453\" title=\"LisetteNewbornFeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured-300x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" /></a></dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Debi and Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.</dd></dl></div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, in the same way that a mother, and how she takes care of herself during pregnancy, impacts the baby, the fetus affects the mom. When a baby moves in utero, even if the mother cannot feel the movement, the mother\'s heart rate rises and her skin conductance response is aroused - the phenomenon when skin momentarily becomes a better conductor of electricity, indicating an emotional response.</div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"> </div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, from the very beginning of life, mothers and their babies are fearfully and wonderfully made.</div>','New Evidence Confirms Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1000-revision-11','','','2012-01-13 15:38:37','2012-01-13 20:38:37','',1000,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/13/1000-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1022,2,'2012-01-13 15:38:48','2012-01-13 20:38:48','Before my first child was born, I was concerned that I would never wake up if he cried in the night.  I was SUCH a sound sleeper BC (before children).  But I needn\'t have worried. As soon as Andrew was born, I discovered I had developed a \"mommy brain.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-448  \" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"501\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou mothers out there know what \"mommy brain\" is: that condition where you become mentally fuzzy on details you thought you\'d never forget, while at the same time you develop an uncanny ability to hear your baby\'s cry and know whether he is hungry, tired, sick, bored, in pain or just wants his mommy.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"prenatal_origins_ of_infant_maternal_bonding\" href=\"http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/6/384.abstract\" target=\"_blank\">A review of new research</a> suggests that \"prenatal hormone exposures are critical for priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood and have implications for the mother’s brain structure and function that may last the rest of her lifetime.\"  And<a title=\"pregnancy_and_mommy_brain\" href=\"http://www.newsucanuse.org/pregnancy-and-mommy-brain/\" target=\"_blank\"> mommy brain probably explains </a>why new mothers wake up when their babies merely whimper in their sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, age 3, with Debi, doing some mother-daughter bonding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214\" title=\"Debi with Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Debi with Lisette\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDuring pregnancy, a mom  is exposed to a massive hormonal shift, that according to this research, readies her brain for the challenges of motherhood, \"helping her becomes less rattled by stress and more attuned to her baby’s needs.\"\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><dl id=\"attachment_453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-453\" title=\"LisetteNewbornFeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured-300x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" /></a></dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Debi and Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.</dd></dl></div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, in the same way that a mother, and how she takes care of herself during pregnancy, impacts the baby, the fetus affects the mom. When a baby moves in utero, even if the mother cannot feel the movement, the mother\'s heart rate rises and her skin conductance response is aroused - the phenomenon when skin momentarily becomes a better conductor of electricity, indicating an emotional response.</div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"> </div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, from the very beginning of life, mothers and their babies are fearfully and wonderfully made.</div>','New Evidence Confirms Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1000-revision-12','','','2012-01-13 15:38:48','2012-01-13 20:38:48','',1000,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/13/1000-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(1085,2,'2012-03-24 12:41:39','2012-03-24 16:41:39','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','publish','open','open','','spring-is-in-the-air','','','2012-03-24 12:59:27','2012-03-24 16:59:27','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1085',0,'post','',0),(1066,2,'2012-02-15 20:18:27','2012-02-16 01:18:27','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\r\n\r\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\r\n\r\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\r\n\r\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\r\n\r\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at 6 years\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1075 \" title=\"Matt6yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"689\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.\r\n\r\nHis hair was also red, but much brighter, darker red than his brothers.  And wiry, tight curls that people loved to touch, just to see what they felt like.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew with his friend Tim Davis, the day he graduated from Berry College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1073 \" title=\"MattBerrygrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"686\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMatthew always knew what he wanted, and was determined in his pursuit of that. He wanted to attend Berry College. He did not want to apply to any other college.  He wanted to major in physics, and never changed his major.\r\n\r\nAs a freshman, he worked in the physics lab at Berry.  He found some old telescopes in the lab, and tinkered with them until he had them working again. He talked his professors into starting up an Astronomy Club at Berry, and as the president of the Astronomy Club, he organized \"Star Parties\" where they set up the telescopes at the Berry Observatory and invited students to come out and see the stars.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1071\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1071 \" title=\"MattEmily\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHe worked as an intern for three summers, and a semester, at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, doing solar research. Then headed off to Darmouth College, in New Hampshire, to work on his masters degree. There he met his beautiful wife Emily.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','publish','open','open','','matthew-shaw-lewis-miracle-baby','','','2012-03-24 13:01:07','2012-03-24 17:01:07','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1066',0,'post','',0),(1026,2,'2012-01-16 11:11:45','2012-01-16 16:11:45','<h1>How to Lower Your Workplace Stress</h1>\n&nbsp;\n\nBy <a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=RUTH+MANTELL&amp;bylinesearch=true\">RUTH MANTELL</a>\n\nYour workload has increased, so have your boss\'s expectations. But scaling back could mean losing a job.\n\nTalk about stress.\n\nPaul Baard, an organizational and motivational psychologist at Fordham University\'s graduate business school in New York, knows just how stressful a work environment can get. He has consulted with athletes in the high-stakes, high-pressure world of professional sports.\n\nWhat secret has he passed along to those clients? When you are in a slump, you can still contribute by encouraging your teammates.\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"articleThumbnail_1\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n\n<a>Enlarge Image</a>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<a><img src=\"http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-RJ455_15MWc_D_20120113120521.jpg\" alt=\"15MWc\" width=\"262\" height=\"174\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"0\" vspace=\"0\" /></a>\n<div id=\"articleImage_1\">\n<div>\n<div><a>Close</a></div>\n<img src=\"http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-RJ455_15MWc_G_20120113120521.jpg\" alt=\"15MWc\" width=\"553\" height=\"369\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"0\" vspace=\"0\" /></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<cite>Christoph Hitz</cite></div>\n</div>\n</div>\nRather than burdening a team with distracting self-doubt and pity, try to help others, he advises. \"In order to remain self-motivated, research has found that the innate psychological need for competence must be satisfied,\" Mr. Baard says. \"This drive pertains not only to the ability to do a job but to achieve something through it—to have impact, to contribute. A way an employee can expand opportunities to satisfy this need is to help her team succeed by encouraging others, even if her direct contributions are limited.\"\n\nAge, occupation and family circumstances, among other factors, can all play a part in how workers respond to different stressors. But experts say there are steps that can help you take control of your happiness at work this year.\n\n<strong>Find meaning in your tasks.</strong> Commitment to a goal beyond self-promotion can help a worker manage stress levels, says John Weaver, a psychologist at Psychology For Business, a Brookfield, Wis.-based employment consultancy.\n\nSeveral years ago, Mr. Weaver consulted for a long-term-care facility in Wisconsin that had flooded. Because of the water damage, the residents and employees had been forced to move into an already occupied facility. Employees felt cramped and annoyed, he says, and pettiness abounded.\n\nTo help the workers regain a positive attitude, Mr. Weaver asked each person this question: Why do you do this work?\n\n\"People don\'t work in nursing because it pays so much or it\'s glamorous or it\'s easy,\" he says. \"As they heard the question you could see their attitude change. They could see the reasons why they needed to work together, to put aside difficulties and compromise, and residents were treated better.\"\n\nRemembering why you are in a business can help you manage stress, Mr. Weaver says.\n\n<a name=\"U603411682654IED\"></a>\n\nWhile working on his dissertation, Rick Best, now a health-services scientist for Lockheed Martin, researched stress among nurses who work with veterans, a group that faces high demands with low resources. One might have expected elevated levels of burnout. But there were high levels of satisfaction.\n\n\"The meaning they got from their job was high,\" says Mr. Best. \"They went into the profession of nursing to help people. As a consequence, they derived much meaning from what they were doing, and they were better able to handle stress.\"\n\n<strong>Reduce your expectations.</strong> Given how much energy employees devote to their job, there can be quite a few expectations wrapped up in work. Workers often look to employers for career, socialization, and personal and intellectual growth opportunities.\n\n\"With so many expectations, it\'s no wonder that work can\'t meet all of that. So we get disappointed, but I don\'t know that work could fulfill all those things,\" says Ken Pinnock, associate director of employee relations and services at the University of Denver.\n\nDue to so many layoffs in the last few years, many have lost friends and colleagues, and have realized that job security, taken for granted at times, is gone. There have also been cuts when it comes to extras, such as educational opportunities, celebrations and room for career advancement.\n\n<a name=\"U603411682654I0E\"></a>\n\nThere can be an element of loss when employees realize that the workplace has changed. However, personal and professional goals can still be pursued without an employer\'s support.\n\n\"The way back from this is to try to gain perspective about work, realizing that we are still ultimately in charge of our careers and work, and we don\'t have to turn to our employers to develop ourselves, or look to them to be responsible for us,\" Mr. Pinnock says.\n\n<strong>Look at \"challenges,\" not \"problems.\"</strong> Rather than perceiving problems at work, look at them as challenges.\n\n\"The people who approach work as an opportunity to learn are much more satisfied with their jobs and performance, and find themselves eager to take on new challenges,\" Mr. Weaver says. \"They aren\'t trying to prove that they are the smartest. They are more likely to learn from their own experiences and mistakes.\"\n\nSetting intermediate goals can also help workers derive a sense of accomplishment, and keep pace with longer-term targets, Mr. Best says.\n\n<strong>Write to </strong> Ruth Mantell at <a href=\"mailto:ruth.mantell@dowjones.com\">ruth.mantell@dowjones.com</a>','Lower Work Stress','','inherit','open','open','','1025-revision','','','2012-01-16 11:11:45','2012-01-16 16:11:45','',1025,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1025-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1029,2,'2012-01-16 13:07:14','2012-01-16 18:07:14','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1032\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Josh, Matthew, Mother, holding Jessica, Amanda, Lisette, Daddy holding Brannon, Andrew hugging Daddy, summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1032 \" title=\"thegrandkidsJuly86\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\r\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','publish','open','open','','children-can-be-so-childish','','','2012-03-24 13:08:43','2012-03-24 17:08:43','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1029',0,'post','',0),(1030,2,'2012-01-16 12:40:21','2012-01-16 17:40:21','','JoshMatt1983','','inherit','open','open','','joshmatt1983','','','2012-01-16 12:40:21','2012-01-16 17:40:21','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1031,2,'2012-01-16 12:40:24','2012-01-16 17:40:24','','grandkidsJuly86featured','','inherit','open','open','','grandkidsjuly86featured','','','2012-01-16 12:40:24','2012-01-16 17:40:24','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/grandkidsJuly86featured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1032,2,'2012-01-16 12:40:27','2012-01-16 17:40:27','','thegrandkidsJuly86','Josh, Matthew, Mother, holding Jessica, Amanda, Lisette, Daddy holding Brannon, Andrew hugging Daddy, summer 1986.','inherit','open','open','','thegrandkidsjuly86','','','2012-01-16 12:40:27','2012-01-16 17:40:27','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1033,2,'2012-01-16 12:43:38','2012-01-16 17:43:38','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\nThat one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision','','','2012-01-16 12:43:38','2012-01-16 17:43:38','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1034,2,'2012-01-16 12:52:26','2012-01-16 17:52:26','','girlcousinsMexicoBeach','Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation','inherit','open','open','','girlcousinsmexicobeach','','','2012-01-16 12:52:26','2012-01-16 17:52:26','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1035,2,'2012-01-16 12:56:13','2012-01-16 17:56:13','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\nThat one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision-2','','','2012-01-16 12:56:13','2012-01-16 17:56:13','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1036,2,'2012-01-16 12:59:44','2012-01-16 17:59:44','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\r\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\nThat one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\r\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision-3','','','2012-01-16 12:59:44','2012-01-16 17:59:44','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1037,2,'2012-01-16 13:05:29','2012-01-16 18:05:29','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1032\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\" caption=\"Josh, Matthew, Mother, holding Jessica, Amanda, Lisette, Daddy holding Brannon, Andrew hugging Daddy, summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1032\" title=\"thegrandkidsJuly86\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"558\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision-4','','','2012-01-16 13:05:29','2012-01-16 18:05:29','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1038,2,'2012-01-16 13:05:50','2012-01-16 18:05:50','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1032\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Josh, Matthew, Mother, holding Jessica, Amanda, Lisette, Daddy holding Brannon, Andrew hugging Daddy, summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1032 \" title=\"thegrandkidsJuly86\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\r\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision-5','','','2012-01-16 13:05:50','2012-01-16 18:05:50','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1040,2,'2013-10-19 12:17:06','0000-00-00 00:00:00','<div>\n<h2><a title=\"Mommy_Brain\" href=\"http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2017234037_medical17.html\" target=\"_blank\">Medical: Baby changes the brains of parents</a></h2>\nParenthood sets in motion an array of hormonal and even structural changes in the brains of Mom and Dad.\n\n</div>\n<div>\n\nHaving a baby, so the cooing commercials say, changes everything.\n\nWhile perhaps not changing everything, parenthood does set in motion an array of hormonal and even structural changes in the brains of Mom and Dad, in ways that researchers continue to try to understand.\n\nRecent studies have made it clear that, contrary to the ditsy moments once dismissed as \"mommy brain,\" mothers of newborns — whether or not they already have kids — tend to experience growth in key brain structures that influence motivation and maternal behavior.\n\nIn a small study, neuroscientists compared the brain images of 19 Connecticut women taken a few weeks before and several months after they gave birth. They found a small but significant increase in the amount of gray matter in several areas: the hypothalamus, which supports maternal motivation; the substantia nigra and amygdala, which process emotions and rewards; the parietal lobe, source of sensory integration; and the prefrontal cortex, which makes judgments. None of these regions otherwise grow in adults, the researchers noted in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience in October 2010.\n\nThe researchers suggest that the surge in hormones — prolactin, estrogen and oxytocin — during and after birth may make mothers\' brains more susceptible to such reshaping.\n\nMany more maternal brain studies have involved animals. One reported in October from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem showed that mouse moms undergo neural changes integrating odors and sounds from their pups, particularly in a region called the primary auditory cortex. The changes were particularly strong in mice that were nursing their pups.\n\nAnother recent review of links between changes to the maternal brain done by Chapman University psychologist Laura Glynnn suggests that the restructuring actually begins early-on in pregnancy, through not only hormones, but also physical signals such as fetal movement that raise heart rate and skin conductivity, and even the movement of fetal cells from the womb into the mother\'s brain.\n\nThere is no evidence yet of such direct tweaking, but \"it\'s exciting to think about whether those cells are attracted to certain regions of the brain\"that may be involved in optimizing maternal behavior, Glynn and colleague Curt Sandman wrote in the December issue of Current Directions in Pyschological Science.\n\nSo what\'s going on with the daddy brain? First, most guys make some hormonal adjustments, beginning with exposure to pregnancy hormones through their partners\' sweat glands.\n\nMen produce less testosterone after entering stable relationships and becoming fathers. Those who are most involved in taking care of their kids have the lowest levels, according to a report published last fall based on a long-term health survey of 600 men in the Philippines.\n\nAnother study published last fall in the Journal of Marriage and Family tracked 200 high-risk males ages 12 to 31. It found that, aside from all other factors, fatherhood made them less likely to commit crime, drink alcohol or use tobacco.\n\nOther recent studies of animals and men have shown that exposure to infants gives males higher motivation and they become more skilled at problem solving, even when the babies are not biologically related.\n\nMany men also experience heightened senses of sound and smell with fatherhood, and actually holding their baby particularly perks up prolactin levels and bonding behaviors.\n\n<em>(Reach Lee Bowman at <a href=\"mailto:bowmanl@shns.com\">bowmanl@shns.com</a>.)</em>\n\n</div>','The Science Behind Mommy Brain','','draft','open','open','','','','','2013-10-19 12:17:06','2013-10-19 16:17:06','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1040',0,'post','',0),(1055,2,'2012-03-11 21:04:50','0000-00-00 00:00:00','\"One of the best gifts I ever gave you,\" my mother told me recently, \"was your brothers and sisters.\" How very true!  I LOVE being a part of a large family - seven siblings, five girls and two boys.  What a joy to have four sisters and two brothers!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1057\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My parents, with all my siblings and my grandmother, at their 45th anniversary celebration in 1983. This is one of the last formal pictures taken with my Daddy.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1057 \" title=\"Anniversary_45th\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"274\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen I saw an article,<a title=\"The_Omnichild\'s_Dilemma\" href=\"http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-30/opinion/30674003_1_child-abuse-parents-friend\" target=\"_blank\"> \"The Omnichild\'s Dilemma,\"</a> I clicked on the link and read one woman\'s tale of being a singleton.  She referred to being an only child as \"child abuse — a cruelty that only gets worse as the Baby Boomers age.\"\n\n\"Consider my friend,\" the author says, \"an only child struggling to care for her parents. . . but with young children and a full-time job, my friend can only do so much. Limitless, however, is the crushing sense of responsibility, angst, and guilt.\"\n\nAs I read that article, I thought of the contrast with my family. Last month, my brother-in-law had heart surgery. My sister had two siblings to sit with her through the long day of surgery, and other siblings who took turns coming by to encourage and distract her, to pray for her and her husband. Those at a distance called to offer their support.\n\nUnlike people who have only one sibling, I have six people I can turn to when I need someone who has known me all my life, who remembers me as a stubborn preschoolers or a shy middle-school kid.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','The Joy of Siblings','','draft','open','open','','','','','2012-03-11 21:04:50','2012-03-12 01:04:50','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1055',0,'post','',0),(1043,2,'2012-01-18 22:35:25','2012-01-19 03:35:25','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nWhite Chicken Chili\r\n\r\n1 onion, chopped\r\n\r\n1 green pepper, chopped\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons olive oil\r\n\r\n1 pound chicken diced\r\n\r\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\r\n\r\n1 cup water\r\n\r\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\r\n\r\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\r\n\r\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the diced chicken pieces. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd water and the seasoning package and stir.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1047\" title=\"Seasoning\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\r\nServe with bread and toppings.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','publish','open','open','','white-chicken-chili-for-a-cold-evening','','','2012-03-24 13:07:48','2012-03-24 17:07:48','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1043',0,'post','',1),(1044,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:23','2012-01-19 03:19:23','','WhiteChiliFeatured','','inherit','open','open','','whitechilifeatured','','','2012-01-18 22:19:23','2012-01-19 03:19:23','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChiliFeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1045,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:25','2012-01-19 03:19:25','','SoupSimmering','','inherit','open','open','','soupsimmering','','','2012-01-18 22:19:25','2012-01-19 03:19:25','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SoupSimmering.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1046,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:27','2012-01-19 03:19:27','','AddBeans','','inherit','open','open','','addbeans','','','2012-01-18 22:19:27','2012-01-19 03:19:27','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1047,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:30','2012-01-19 03:19:30','','Seasoning','','inherit','open','open','','seasoning','','','2012-01-18 22:19:30','2012-01-19 03:19:30','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1041,2,'2012-01-18 01:19:12','2012-01-18 06:19:12','<div>\n<h2><a title=\"Mommy_Brain\" href=\"http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2017234037_medical17.html\" target=\"_blank\">Medical: Baby changes the brains of parents</a></h2>\nParenthood sets in motion an array of hormonal and even structural changes in the brains of Mom and Dad.\n\nBy <a href=\"http://search.nwsource.com/search?searchtype=cq&amp;sort=date&amp;from=ST&amp;byline=LEE%20BOWMAN\">LEE BOWMAN</a>\n\nScripps Howard News Service\n\n</div>\n<div id=\"stBackgroundLabel\">\n<h3>Related</h3>\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/services/newsletters.html\">Sign up for our Health newsletter</a></li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/rss/health.xml\">Health RSS feed</a></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Most Popular Comments</div>\n<a> Hide / Show comments </a></div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Seems like anything requiring interaction changes the brain. Not that surprising. (January 17, 2012, by GreyGhost) <a href=\"http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?thread=616195&amp;direction=DESC&amp;column=rating&amp;offset=0#post_3402922\"> MORE </a></div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div>Wow! Evidently, there just isn\'t a downside to multiplying. How greatly affected are... (January 17, 2012, by rincon) <a href=\"http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?thread=616195&amp;direction=DESC&amp;column=rating&amp;offset=0#post_3403771\"> MORE </a></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div><a href=\"http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?source_id=2017234037&amp;source_name=mbase\">Read all <strong>2</strong> comments</a></div>\n<div><a href=\"http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?source_id=2017234037&amp;source_name=mbase\">Post a comment</a></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"admiddle3center\">\n\n<img src=\"http://local.ads.nwsource.com/ads/adv.gif\" alt=\"advertising\" width=\"70\" height=\"7\" border=\"0\" vspace=\"1\" />\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n\nHaving a baby, so the cooing commercials say, changes everything.\n\nWhile perhaps not changing everything, parenthood does set in motion an array of hormonal and even structural changes in the brains of Mom and Dad, in ways that researchers continue to try to understand.\n\nRecent studies have made it clear that, contrary to the ditsy moments once dismissed as \"mommy brain,\" mothers of newborns — whether or not they already have kids — tend to experience growth in key brain structures that influence motivation and maternal behavior.\n\nIn a small study, neuroscientists compared the brain images of 19 Connecticut women taken a few weeks before and several months after they gave birth. They found a small but significant increase in the amount of gray matter in several areas: the hypothalamus, which supports maternal motivation; the substantia nigra and amygdala, which process emotions and rewards; the parietal lobe, source of sensory integration; and the prefrontal cortex, which makes judgments. None of these regions otherwise grow in adults, the researchers noted in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience in October 2010.\n\nThe researchers suggest that the surge in hormones — prolactin, estrogen and oxytocin — during and after birth may make mothers\' brains more susceptible to such reshaping.\n\nMany more maternal brain studies have involved animals. One reported in October from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem showed that mouse moms undergo neural changes integrating odors and sounds from their pups, particularly in a region called the primary auditory cortex. The changes were particularly strong in mice that were nursing their pups.\n\nAnother recent review of links between changes to the maternal brain done by Chapman University psychologist Laura Glynnn suggests that the restructuring actually begins early-on in pregnancy, through not only hormones, but also physical signals such as fetal movement that raise heart rate and skin conductivity, and even the movement of fetal cells from the womb into the mother\'s brain.\n\nThere is no evidence yet of such direct tweaking, but \"it\'s exciting to think about whether those cells are attracted to certain regions of the brain\"that may be involved in optimizing maternal behavior, Glynn and colleague Curt Sandman wrote in the December issue of Current Directions in Pyschological Science.\n\nSo what\'s going on with the daddy brain? First, most guys make some hormonal adjustments, beginning with exposure to pregnancy hormones through their partners\' sweat glands.\n\nMen produce less testosterone after entering stable relationships and becoming fathers. Those who are most involved in taking care of their kids have the lowest levels, according to a report published last fall based on a long-term health survey of 600 men in the Philippines.\n\nAnother study published last fall in the Journal of Marriage and Family tracked 200 high-risk males ages 12 to 31. It found that, aside from all other factors, fatherhood made them less likely to commit crime, drink alcohol or use tobacco.\n\nOther recent studies of animals and men have shown that exposure to infants gives males higher motivation and they become more skilled at problem solving, even when the babies are not biologically related.\n\nMany men also experience heightened senses of sound and smell with fatherhood, and actually holding their baby particularly perks up prolactin levels and bonding behaviors.\n\n<em>(Reach Lee Bowman at <a href=\"mailto:bowmanl@shns.com\">bowmanl@shns.com</a>.)</em>\n\n</div>','Science Behind Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1040-revision-v1','','','2012-01-18 01:19:12','2012-01-18 06:19:12','',1040,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/18/1040-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1048,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:32','2012-01-19 03:19:32','','CookChicken','','inherit','open','open','','cookchicken','','','2012-01-18 22:19:32','2012-01-19 03:19:32','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1049,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:37','2012-01-19 03:19:37','','SauteOnions','','inherit','open','open','','sauteonions','','','2012-01-18 22:19:37','2012-01-19 03:19:37','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1050,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:39','2012-01-19 03:19:39','','whitechilimeal','','inherit','open','open','','whitechilimeal','','','2012-01-18 22:19:39','2012-01-19 03:19:39','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1051,2,'2012-01-18 22:19:41','2012-01-19 03:19:41','','WhiteChickChiliingredients','','inherit','open','open','','whitechickchiliingredients','','','2012-01-18 22:19:41','2012-01-19 03:19:41','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1052,2,'2012-01-18 22:27:12','2012-01-19 03:27:12','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nWhite Chicken Chili\n\n1 onion, chopped\n\n1 green pepper, chopped\n\n2 tablespoons olive oil\n\n1 pound chicken diced\n\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\n\n1 cup water\n\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\n\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\n\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd the diced chicken pieces.\n\nCook until the chicken is no longer pink.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd water and white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\nServe with bread and toppings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','inherit','open','open','','1043-revision','','','2012-01-18 22:27:12','2012-01-19 03:27:12','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/18/1043-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1053,2,'2012-01-18 22:33:29','2012-01-19 03:33:29','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nWhite Chicken Chili\n\n1 onion, chopped\n\n1 green pepper, chopped\n\n2 tablespoons olive oil\n\n1 pound chicken diced\n\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\n\n1 cup water\n\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\n\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\n\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd the diced chicken pieces.\n\nCook until the chicken is no longer pink.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd water and the seasoning package and stir.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1047\" title=\"Seasoning\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\nAdd the white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\nServe with bread and toppings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','inherit','open','open','','1043-revision-2','','','2012-01-18 22:33:29','2012-01-19 03:33:29','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/18/1043-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1054,2,'2012-03-24 13:02:39','2012-03-24 17:02:39','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nWhite Chicken Chili\n\n1 onion, chopped\n\n1 green pepper, chopped\n\n2 tablespoons olive oil\n\n1 pound chicken diced\n\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\n\n1 cup water\n\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\n\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\n\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd the diced chicken pieces. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\nAdd water and the seasoning package and stir.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1047\" title=\"Seasoning\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\nAdd the white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\nServe with bread and toppings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','inherit','open','open','','1043-autosave','','','2012-03-24 13:02:39','2012-03-24 17:02:39','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/18/1043-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1056,2,'2012-02-01 21:43:01','2012-02-02 02:43:01','\"One of the best gifts I ever gave you,\" my mother told me recently, \"was your brothers and sisters.\" How very true!  I LOVE being a part of a large family - seven siblings, five girls and two boys.  What a joy to have four sisters and two brothers!\n\nWhen I saw an article,<a title=\"The_Omnichild\'s_Dilemma\" href=\"http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-30/opinion/30674003_1_child-abuse-parents-friend\" target=\"_blank\"> \"The Omnichild\'s Dilemma,\"</a> I clicked on the link and read one woman\'s tale of being a singleton.  She called being an only child, \"child abuse — a cruelty that only gets worse as the Baby Boomers age.\"\n\n\"Consider my friend,\" the author says, \"an only child struggling to care for her parents. . . but with young children and a full-time job, my friend can only do so much. Limitless, however, is the crushing sense of responsibility, angst, and guilt.\"\n\nLast week, my brother-in-law had heart surgery. My sister had two siblings to sit with her through the long day of surgery, and other siblings who took turns coming by to encourage and distract her, to pray for her and her husband.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','The Joy of Siblings','','inherit','open','open','','1055-revision','','','2012-02-01 21:43:01','2012-02-02 02:43:01','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/01/1055-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1057,2,'2012-02-01 22:03:02','2012-02-02 03:03:02','','Anniversary_45th','My parents, with all my siblings and my grandmother, at their 45th anniversary celebration in 1983','inherit','open','open','','anniversary_45th','','','2012-02-01 22:03:02','2012-02-02 03:03:02','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1058,2,'2012-02-01 22:03:05','2012-02-02 03:03:05','','SiblingsChristmas1992','','inherit','open','open','','siblingschristmas1992','','','2012-02-01 22:03:05','2012-02-02 03:03:05','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SiblingsChristmas1992.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1059,2,'2012-02-01 22:03:07','2012-02-02 03:03:07','','Bairds1984jpg','','inherit','open','open','','bairds1984jpg','','','2012-02-01 22:03:07','2012-02-02 03:03:07','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Bairds1984jpg.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1067,2,'2012-02-15 11:48:00','2012-02-15 16:48:00','On Thursday, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would happen','','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision','','','2012-02-15 11:48:00','2012-02-15 16:48:00','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1068,2,'2012-02-15 11:50:39','2012-02-15 16:50:39','On Thursday, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\n\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\n\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had not idea when our second child was due.  One doctor assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement','','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-2','','','2012-02-15 11:50:39','2012-02-15 16:50:39','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1183,2,'2012-06-08 02:51:27','2012-06-08 06:51:27','We were in California the summer of 2006 when we got a phone call from our son Matthew, telling us that he had proposed to Emily Brown . . . and that she had said \"yes.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1185\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1185 \" title=\"MattEmilyRed_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"506\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe had met Emily - and fallen in love with her - when we\'d visited Matthew in New Hampshire earlier that year.  We were overjoyed with their good news.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1186\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1186 \" title=\"moosilauke\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"356\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHow well suited Emily is for Matthew! They both love hiking.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1193\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\" caption=\"Emily grew up doing some mountain climbing. Here she is at 7 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1193\" title=\"EmilyClimbing7rs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"629\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And she is an incredibly gifted artist. You should check out her quilts, and her photography on her website at <a href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\">http://greensandjeans.com/</a></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\" caption=\"Emily at 3 years. What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1194\" title=\"Emily3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr-759x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"782\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of their wedding on July 7, 2007 was that, in preparation for the rehearsal dinner, I got to put together a slide show of photographs of Emily and Matthew, as they were growing up.  By the time I had gone through all the adorable pictures of Emily as a baby. . . and a two year old . . . and a teen, I felt almost as if I\'d gotten to see her blossom as a child.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"457\" caption=\"Emiy at 9 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1192 \" title=\"Emily 9yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1190\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"493\" caption=\"Emily in high school\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1190\" title=\"Emily teen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"493\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1188\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1188 \" title=\"MattEmilyGile\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1187\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A few months before their wedding\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1187 \" title=\"MattEmilyBaltimore\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"535\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1184\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church&#39;s Live Nativity.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1184 \" title=\"M&amp;ENativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHappy Birthday, precious Emily.....You are a gift from God to us (and Matthew).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Emily!','','publish','open','open','','happy-birthday-emily','','','2012-06-08 02:51:27','2012-06-08 06:51:27','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1183',0,'post','',0),(1070,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:00','2012-02-16 00:29:00','','Emily&Matthew 7-7-07','Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007','inherit','open','open','','emilymatthew-7-7-07','','','2012-02-15 19:29:00','2012-02-16 00:29:00','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1071,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:01','2012-02-16 00:29:01','','MattEmily','Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.','inherit','open','open','','mattemily','','','2012-02-15 19:29:01','2012-02-16 00:29:01','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1072,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:05','2012-02-16 00:29:05','','MattGrandpas','Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad','inherit','open','open','','mattgrandpas','','','2012-02-15 19:29:05','2012-02-16 00:29:05','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1073,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:08','2012-02-16 00:29:08','','MattBerrygrad','Matthew the day he graduated from Berry College','inherit','open','open','','mattberrygrad','','','2012-02-15 19:29:08','2012-02-16 00:29:08','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1074,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:12','2012-02-16 00:29:12','','Matt4yrs','Matthew at four years old','inherit','open','open','','matt4yrs','','','2012-02-15 19:29:12','2012-02-16 00:29:12','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1075,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:14','2012-02-16 00:29:14','','Matt6yrs','Matthew at 6 years','inherit','open','open','','matt6yrs','','','2012-02-15 19:29:14','2012-02-16 00:29:14','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1076,2,'2012-02-15 19:29:20','2012-02-16 00:29:20','','Mattbaby','Matthew at 4 months old','inherit','open','open','','mattbaby','','','2012-02-15 19:29:20','2012-02-16 00:29:20','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1077,2,'2012-02-15 19:30:09','2012-02-16 00:30:09','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1076\" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"993\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\n\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\n\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had not idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\n\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981.','','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-3','','','2012-02-15 19:30:09','2012-02-16 00:30:09','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1078,2,'2012-02-15 19:50:44','2012-02-16 00:50:44','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\n\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\n\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\n\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\n\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-4','','','2012-02-15 19:50:44','2012-02-16 00:50:44','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1079,2,'2012-02-15 20:13:50','2012-02-16 01:13:50','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\n\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\n\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\n\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at 6 years\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1075 \" title=\"Matt6yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"689\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.\n\nHis hair was also red, but much brighter, darker red than his brothers.  And wiry, tight curls that people loved to touch, just to see what they felt like.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew with his friend Tim Davis, the day he graduated from Berry College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1073 \" title=\"MattBerrygrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"686\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMatthew always knew what he wanted, and was determined in his pursuit of that. He wanted to attend Berry College. He did not want to apply to any other college.  He wanted to major in physics, and never changed his major.\n\nAs a freshman, he worked in the physics lab at Berry.  He found some old telescopes in the lab, and tinkered with them until he had them working again. He talked his professors into starting up an Astronomy Club at Berry, and as the president of the Astronomy Club, he organized \"Star Parties\" where they set up the telescopes at the Berry Observatory and invited students to come out and see the stars.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1071\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1071 \" title=\"MattEmily\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHe worked as an intern for three summers, and a semester, at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, doing solar research. Then headed off to Darmouth College, in New Hampshire, to work on his masters degree.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-5','','','2012-02-15 20:13:50','2012-02-16 01:13:50','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1080,2,'2012-02-15 20:16:59','2012-02-16 01:16:59','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\n\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\n\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\n\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\n\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at 6 years\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1075 \" title=\"Matt6yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"689\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.\n\nHis hair was also red, but much brighter, darker red than his brothers.  And wiry, tight curls that people loved to touch, just to see what they felt like.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew with his friend Tim Davis, the day he graduated from Berry College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1073 \" title=\"MattBerrygrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"686\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMatthew always knew what he wanted, and was determined in his pursuit of that. He wanted to attend Berry College. He did not want to apply to any other college.  He wanted to major in physics, and never changed his major.\n\nAs a freshman, he worked in the physics lab at Berry.  He found some old telescopes in the lab, and tinkered with them until he had them working again. He talked his professors into starting up an Astronomy Club at Berry, and as the president of the Astronomy Club, he organized \"Star Parties\" where they set up the telescopes at the Berry Observatory and invited students to come out and see the stars.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1071\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1071 \" title=\"MattEmily\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHe worked as an intern for three summers, and a semester, at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, doing solar research. Then headed off to Darmouth College, in New Hampshire, to work on his masters degree. There he met his beautiful wife Emily.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-6','','','2012-02-15 20:16:59','2012-02-16 01:16:59','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1081,2,'2012-02-15 20:19:01','2012-02-16 01:19:01','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\r\n\r\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\r\n\r\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\r\n\r\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\r\n\r\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at 6 years\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1075 \" title=\"Matt6yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"689\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.\r\n\r\nHis hair was also red, but much brighter, darker red than his brothers.  And wiry, tight curls that people loved to touch, just to see what they felt like.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew with his friend Tim Davis, the day he graduated from Berry College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1073 \" title=\"MattBerrygrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"686\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMatthew always knew what he wanted, and was determined in his pursuit of that. He wanted to attend Berry College. He did not want to apply to any other college.  He wanted to major in physics, and never changed his major.\r\n\r\nAs a freshman, he worked in the physics lab at Berry.  He found some old telescopes in the lab, and tinkered with them until he had them working again. He talked his professors into starting up an Astronomy Club at Berry, and as the president of the Astronomy Club, he organized \"Star Parties\" where they set up the telescopes at the Berry Observatory and invited students to come out and see the stars.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1071\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1071 \" title=\"MattEmily\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHe worked as an intern for three summers, and a semester, at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, doing solar research. Then headed off to Darmouth College, in New Hampshire, to work on his masters degree. There he met his beautiful wife Emily.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1066-autosave','','','2012-02-15 20:19:01','2012-02-16 01:19:01','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1082,2,'2012-03-11 20:58:30','2012-03-12 00:58:30','\"One of the best gifts I ever gave you,\" my mother told me recently, \"was your brothers and sisters.\" How very true!  I LOVE being a part of a large family - seven siblings, five girls and two boys.  What a joy to have four sisters and two brothers!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1057\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My parents, with all my siblings and my grandmother, at their 45th anniversary celebration in 1983. This is one of the last formal pictures taken with my Daddy.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1057 \" title=\"Anniversary_45th\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"274\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen I saw an article,<a title=\"The_Omnichild\'s_Dilemma\" href=\"http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-30/opinion/30674003_1_child-abuse-parents-friend\" target=\"_blank\"> \"The Omnichild\'s Dilemma,\"</a> I clicked on the link and read one woman\'s tale of being a singleton.  She referred to being an only child as \"child abuse — a cruelty that only gets worse as the Baby Boomers age.\"\n\n\"Consider my friend,\" the author says, \"an only child struggling to care for her parents. . . but with young children and a full-time job, my friend can only do so much. Limitless, however, is the crushing sense of responsibility, angst, and guilt.\"\n\nAs I read that article, I thought of the contrast with my family. Last week, my brother-in-law had heart surgery. My sister had two siblings to sit with her through the long day of surgery, and other siblings who took turns coming by to encourage and distract her, to pray for her and her husband. Those at a distance called to offer their support.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','The Joy of Siblings','','inherit','open','open','','1055-revision-2','','','2012-03-11 20:58:30','2012-03-12 00:58:30','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/11/1055-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1083,2,'2012-03-11 21:03:26','2012-03-12 01:03:26','\"One of the best gifts I ever gave you,\" my mother told me recently, \"was your brothers and sisters.\" How very true!  I LOVE being a part of a large family - seven siblings, five girls and two boys.  What a joy to have four sisters and two brothers!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1057\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My parents, with all my siblings and my grandmother, at their 45th anniversary celebration in 1983. This is one of the last formal pictures taken with my Daddy.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1057 \" title=\"Anniversary_45th\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Anniversary_45th.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"274\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen I saw an article,<a title=\"The_Omnichild\'s_Dilemma\" href=\"http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-30/opinion/30674003_1_child-abuse-parents-friend\" target=\"_blank\"> \"The Omnichild\'s Dilemma,\"</a> I clicked on the link and read one woman\'s tale of being a singleton.  She referred to being an only child as \"child abuse — a cruelty that only gets worse as the Baby Boomers age.\"\n\n\"Consider my friend,\" the author says, \"an only child struggling to care for her parents. . . but with young children and a full-time job, my friend can only do so much. Limitless, however, is the crushing sense of responsibility, angst, and guilt.\"\n\nAs I read that article, I thought of the contrast with my family. Last month, my brother-in-law had heart surgery. My sister had two siblings to sit with her through the long day of surgery, and other siblings who took turns coming by to encourage and distract her, to pray for her and her husband. Those at a distance called to offer their support.\n\nUnlike people who have only one sibling, I have six people I can turn to when I need someone who has known me all my life, who remembers me as a stubborn preschoolers or a shy\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','The Joy of Siblings','','inherit','open','open','','1055-revision-3','','','2012-03-11 21:03:26','2012-03-12 01:03:26','',1055,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/11/1055-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1086,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:38','2012-03-24 16:14:38','','forsythia4','','inherit','open','open','','forsythia4','','','2012-03-24 12:14:38','2012-03-24 16:14:38','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1087,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:40','2012-03-24 16:14:40','','forsythia3','','inherit','open','open','','forsythia3','','','2012-03-24 12:14:40','2012-03-24 16:14:40','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1088,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:43','2012-03-24 16:14:43','','forsythia2','','inherit','open','open','','forsythia2','','','2012-03-24 12:14:43','2012-03-24 16:14:43','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1089,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:45','2012-03-24 16:14:45','','forsythia1','','inherit','open','open','','forsythia1','','','2012-03-24 12:14:45','2012-03-24 16:14:45','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1090,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:48','2012-03-24 16:14:48','','dogwoodfulltree','The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.','inherit','open','open','','dogwoodfulltree','','','2012-03-24 12:14:48','2012-03-24 16:14:48','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1091,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:50','2012-03-24 16:14:50','','dogwoodfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','dogwoodfeatured','','','2012-03-24 12:14:50','2012-03-24 16:14:50','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1092,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:52','2012-03-24 16:14:52','','dogwood6','','inherit','open','open','','dogwood6','','','2012-03-24 12:14:52','2012-03-24 16:14:52','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1093,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:55','2012-03-24 16:14:55','','dogwood5','','inherit','open','open','','dogwood5','','','2012-03-24 12:14:55','2012-03-24 16:14:55','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood5.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1094,2,'2012-03-24 12:14:58','2012-03-24 16:14:58','','dogwood3','','inherit','open','open','','dogwood3','','','2012-03-24 12:14:58','2012-03-24 16:14:58','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1095,2,'2012-03-24 12:15:00','2012-03-24 16:15:00','','dogwood2','','inherit','open','open','','dogwood2','','','2012-03-24 12:15:00','2012-03-24 16:15:00','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1096,2,'2012-03-24 12:15:03','2012-03-24 16:15:03','','dogwood1','A \"perfect\" dogwood blossum, from the tree in our front yard.','inherit','open','open','','dogwood1','','','2012-03-24 12:15:03','2012-03-24 16:15:03','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1097,2,'2012-03-24 12:36:47','2012-03-24 16:36:47','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\n\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','inherit','open','open','','1085-revision','','','2012-03-24 12:36:47','2012-03-24 16:36:47','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/24/1085-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1098,2,'2012-03-24 12:39:49','2012-03-24 16:39:49','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\n\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','inherit','open','open','','1085-revision-2','','','2012-03-24 12:39:49','2012-03-24 16:39:49','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/24/1085-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1099,2,'2012-03-24 12:40:16','2012-03-24 16:40:16','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','inherit','open','open','','1085-revision-3','','','2012-03-24 12:40:16','2012-03-24 16:40:16','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/24/1085-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1100,2,'2012-03-24 13:04:33','2012-03-24 17:04:33','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\n\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','inherit','open','open','','1085-autosave','','','2012-03-24 13:04:33','2012-03-24 17:04:33','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/24/1085-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1102,2,'2012-03-24 12:41:39','2012-03-24 16:41:39','We moved from Carol Stream, Illinois to Rome, Georgia almost 24 years ago. Georgia, the land of dogwoods and azaleas, the state where I spent most of my growing-up years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1096\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A &quot;perfect&quot; dogwood blossom, from the tree in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1096 \" title=\"dogwood1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"397\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew was 8 years old, Matthew 7, Lisette 4 years old and Benjamin 3 when we moved to Georgia.  I was pregnant with Jonathan, who was born in September that year.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1095\" title=\"dogwood2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of living in Georgia again was driving \"over the mountain\" - actually through a mountain pass - to take the children to elementary school. In the early spring the dogwood trees blossom before other trees fill out with leaves. So the dogwoods stand out in the forest and are a beautiful sight that announces the coming of Spring in the South.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1090\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The largest of the several dogwood trees in our front yard.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1090 \" title=\"dogwoodfulltree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwoodfulltree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"293\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1092\" title=\"dogwood6\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dogwood6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"391\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">When we moved in, a bank of 5 or 6 azalea bushes graced the front of our garage.  All but one of those bushes died in the Georgia blizzard of March 1993. But the one that is left is spectacular this Spring.  <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1086\" title=\"forsythia4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1089\" title=\"forsythia1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"287\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1088\" title=\"forsythia2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"349\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1087\" title=\"forsythia3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/forsythia3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" /></a></p>','Spring is In the Air','','inherit','open','open','','1085-revision-4','','','2012-03-24 12:41:39','2012-03-24 16:41:39','',1085,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/03/24/1085-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1103,2,'2012-02-15 20:18:27','2012-02-16 01:18:27','On Thursday morning, July 3, 1980, my husband Gregg was getting dressed for the day. I was still in bed, having gotten up in the night with our 10-month old son Andrew.  Gregg was telling me what he would be working on that day, when I told him, \"I just felt a baby move.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGregg looked up and saw that I had my hand on my belly.  \"You . . what?\"\r\n\r\n\"I just felt a baby move!\" I repeated.  He and I just looked at each other. After all the fertility doctors we had seen, in our efforts to get pregnant with our first child, we couldn\'t believe that a second \"miracle\" would just happen.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Great-Grandpa Lewis, Matthew, Grandpa, Andrew and Dad\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1072 \" title=\"MattGrandpas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattGrandpas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLater that day, I saw my doctor, had a pregnancy test and was told that we were expecting another miracle.\r\n\r\nSince I had not had a period since before Andrew was born, we had no idea when our second child was due.  Our favorite doctor did some measuring and calculating and judged that our new little one would arrive around February 1, 1981. Another doctor, in that practice, assured us that the due date would be in December, since I could not possibly have felt movement that early.\r\n\r\nMatthew, our precious second son, arrived on February 15, 1981. Eighteen months, to the day, younger than Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at four years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1074 \" title=\"Matt4yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt4yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy husband and I loved our first son Andrew so much that, before he was born, I worried about our second child. How on earth could we possibly love a second child as much as we loved Andrew?  Then Matthew was born and we discovered that we could indeed love him, every bit as much as we loved Andrew. Although our love for Matthew was unique, just as our love for Andrew was unique.\r\n\r\nWonderful how that precious Matthew made his way into our hearts, and our hearts just expanded to make room for him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew at 6 years\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1075 \" title=\"Matt6yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Matt6yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"689\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAmazing how Matthew was so completely different from Andrew!  Such a calm, cuddly baby. When he cried, his cry was so soft, I was concerned that I would not respond quickly enough.\r\n\r\nHis hair was also red, but much brighter, darker red than his brothers.  And wiry, tight curls that people loved to touch, just to see what they felt like.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew with his friend Tim Davis, the day he graduated from Berry College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1073 \" title=\"MattBerrygrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattBerrygrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"686\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMatthew always knew what he wanted, and was determined in his pursuit of that. He wanted to attend Berry College. He did not want to apply to any other college.  He wanted to major in physics, and never changed his major.\r\n\r\nAs a freshman, he worked in the physics lab at Berry.  He found some old telescopes in the lab, and tinkered with them until he had them working again. He talked his professors into starting up an Astronomy Club at Berry, and as the president of the Astronomy Club, he organized \"Star Parties\" where they set up the telescopes at the Berry Observatory and invited students to come out and see the stars.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1071\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, when they were dating, on one of their mountain hikes.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1071 \" title=\"MattEmily\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MattEmily.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHe worked as an intern for three summers, and a semester, at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, doing solar research. Then headed off to Darmouth College, in New Hampshire, to work on his masters degree. There he met his beautiful wife Emily.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Matthew Shaw Lewis, Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1066-revision-7','','','2012-02-15 20:18:27','2012-02-16 01:18:27','',1066,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/15/1066-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1104,2,'2012-02-07 15:17:04','2012-02-07 20:17:04','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nWhite Chicken Chili\r\n\r\n1 onion, chopped\r\n\r\n1 green pepper, chopped\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons olive oil\r\n\r\n1 pound chicken diced\r\n\r\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\r\n\r\n1 cup water\r\n\r\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\r\n\r\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\r\n\r\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the diced chicken pieces. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd water and the seasoning package and stir.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1047\" title=\"Seasoning\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\r\nServe with bread and toppings.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','inherit','open','open','','1043-revision-4','','','2012-02-07 15:17:04','2012-02-07 20:17:04','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/07/1043-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1105,2,'2012-01-16 13:07:14','2012-01-16 18:07:14','My sister and I have children the same ages. One day (when they were small) I called her and told her what my kids were doing to drive me nuts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1030\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"331\" caption=\"Matthew and his cousin Joshua. In most of the photos of Josh as a boy, he has a bruise on his face.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1030\" title=\"JoshMatt1983\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JoshMatt1983.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"405\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe laughed and said, \"How childish of them!\" And I laughed too.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1032\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Josh, Matthew, Mother, holding Jessica, Amanda, Lisette, Daddy holding Brannon, Andrew hugging Daddy, summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1032 \" title=\"thegrandkidsJuly86\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thegrandkidsJuly86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThat became a joke between us.  She\'d call me, all stressed-out from some crazy thing her kids had done, and I\'d tell her that her children were being SO childish.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\" caption=\"Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, Summer 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That one phrase reminded us that they were, after all, just children.\r\nAnd when one of us said, \"How childish!\" we would both laugh.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">What a great motherhood stress reducer!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>adapted from<a title=\"Debi’s books\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/debis-books/\" target=\"_blank\"> Stressbusters for Moms</a>.</em></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]','Children Can be SO . . . Childish!','','inherit','open','open','','1029-revision-6','','','2012-01-16 13:07:14','2012-01-16 18:07:14','',1029,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1029-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1106,2,'2012-01-13 15:40:53','2012-01-13 20:40:53','Before my first child was born, I was concerned that I would never wake up if he cried in the night.  I was SUCH a sound sleeper BC (before children).  But I needn\'t have worried. As soon as Andrew was born, I discovered I had developed a \"mommy brain.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-448  \" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"501\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou mothers out there know what \"mommy brain\" is: that condition where you become mentally fuzzy on details you thought you\'d never forget, while at the same time you develop an uncanny ability to hear your baby\'s cry and know whether he is hungry, tired, sick, bored, in pain or just wants his mommy.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"prenatal_origins_ of_infant_maternal_bonding\" href=\"http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/6/384.abstract\" target=\"_blank\">A review of new research</a> suggests that \"prenatal hormone exposures are critical for priming the maternal brain for the challenges of motherhood and have implications for the mother’s brain structure and function that may last the rest of her lifetime.\"  And<a title=\"pregnancy_and_mommy_brain\" href=\"http://www.newsucanuse.org/pregnancy-and-mommy-brain/\" target=\"_blank\"> mommy brain probably explains </a>why new mothers wake up when their babies merely whimper in their sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, age 3, with Debi, doing some mother-daughter bonding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214\" title=\"Debi with Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Debi with Lisette\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDuring pregnancy, a mom  is exposed to a massive hormonal shift, that according to this research, readies her brain for the challenges of motherhood, \"helping her becomes less rattled by stress and more attuned to her baby’s needs.\"\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><dl id=\"attachment_453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-453\" title=\"LisetteNewbornFeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured-300x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" /></a></dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Debi and Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.</dd></dl></div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">So, in the same way that a mother, and how she takes care of herself during pregnancy, impacts the baby, the fetus affects the mom. When a baby moves in utero, even if the mother cannot feel the movement, the mother\'s heart rate rises and her skin conductance response is aroused - the phenomenon when skin momentarily becomes a better conductor of electricity, indicating an emotional response.</div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"> </div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\" style=\"text-align: left;\">How amazing! From the very beginning of life, mothers and their babies are fearfully and wonderfully - an intricately - made.</div>','New Evidence Confirms Mommy Brain','','inherit','open','open','','1000-revision-13','','','2012-01-13 15:40:53','2012-01-13 20:40:53','',1000,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/13/1000-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(1107,2,'2012-01-07 16:10:47','2012-01-07 21:10:47','On January 4, 2012, soccer player Tim Howard became the first goalie in English Premier League history to score from his own penalty area. He kicked the ball downfield, from his own box, to about 30 yards from the net. The ball then bounced over Adam Bogdan, the opposing goalkeeper and into the goal.\r\n\r\nYou can see the amazing <a title=\"Tim_Howard_goalie_scores\" href=\"http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Everton-united-states-goalkeeper-tim-howard-makes-premier-league-history-with-goal-010412\" target=\"_blank\">film footage here</a>.\r\n\r\nI\'ve watched that clip five times now, and laughed and remembered the afternoon, 17 years ago, when our son Jonathan, then six years old, accomplished the same feat.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_987\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"389\" caption=\"Jonathan, age 7, with his arms in the air. His team, the Georgia YMCA state champs, had just defeated the Alabama state champions.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jsoccerteam7yr.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-987 \" title=\"Jsoccerteam7yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jsoccerteam7yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"389\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAll five of our children played soccer. And we ALWAYS attended our children\'s sporting events.\r\n\r\n\"Why do we watch you play ball?\" we would ask them.\r\n\r\n\"Because you love us,\" they answered. We wanted them to be clear on that point.\r\n\r\nWe cheered on a lot of soccer sidelines over the years!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_975\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Andrew at age 8.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-975\" title=\"Andrewsoccer2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2-246x300.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew at age 7.\" width=\"199\" height=\"243\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_974\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"184\" caption=\"Matthew at age 6.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Matthewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-974 \" title=\"Matthewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Matthewsoccer-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"184\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne Fall they all played on select, traveling soccer teams.  Andrew and Matthew, fortunately, played on the same team that year. But that still left us with four different traveling teams to follow.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_973\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 13.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-973  \" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"297\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_977\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Lisette at age 11.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Lisettesoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-977 \" title=\"Lisettesoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Lisettesoccer-245x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a>\r\n</a>That year, we made the decision that we would make the home games, if possible, for all five, and as many of the away games as we could, for the three younger children. We were not able to make any of Andrew and Matthew\'s away games.\r\n\r\nWe explained our decision to our children. There were only two of us; we could only do what we could do. We could not be in two places at once. Our children understood and accepted that.\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\r\n\r\nThe year Jonathan kicked a goal, as a goalie, was the year he was six years old. The first year he played organized soccer.  But certainly not the first year he\'d played soccer.\r\n\r\nHe\'d kicked the ball around with his siblings since he could walk. And while they cut him a little slack for being the youngest, by the time he was six, he knew the game and was accustomed to playing with much older players, who expected him to play by the rules and contribute to his team.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_982\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\"Jonathan kicking the ball in high school.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jonkicking.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-982 \" title=\"Jonkicking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jonkicking-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"446\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The other six year old boys at the YMCA played \"herd ball,\" running up and down the field in a group, laughing and giggling, only occasionally trying to figure out where the ball might be. While Jonathan took the ball down the field and kicked it into the goal. Over and over. Boys on both teams cheered each time he scored.  Twenty times that Fall, in the 5 or 6 game season.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_984\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"346\" caption=\"Jessica, Jonathan&#39;s wife, was also a high school and college soccer star.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JessicaHSkicking.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-984 \" title=\"JessicaHSkicking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JessicaHSkicking.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"346\" height=\"434\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In one of the last games of the season, the coach put Jonathan in goal, presumably to give one of the other boys a chance to score. As goalkeeper, Jonathan kicked a punt down the field, over the heads of the other boys, and into the net on the far end of field.</p>\r\nThe official wasn\'t sure if the goal could count. Finally, he decided it could, but only because the other keeper had reached up and touched the ball with his fingertips, as the ball soared over his head.\r\n\r\nNothing in today\'s news indicates that the opposing goalie in the English Premiere League game touched the ball. But Tim Howard\'s goal definitely counted, and made soccer history.  We have no idea if Jonathan made local soccer history 17 years ago - if any other 6-year-old has ever scored a length-of-field goal at the YMCA in Rome, Georgia.\r\n\r\n</div>','Soccer Goalie Scores a Length-of-Field Goal ','','inherit','open','open','','971-revision-10','','','2012-01-07 16:10:47','2012-01-07 21:10:47','',971,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/07/971-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1108,2,'2012-01-06 22:15:33','2012-01-07 03:15:33','I LOVE being a part of a large family!  I am one of 7 siblings, five girls and two boys (now, of course, women and men).  And we all have children and some of us have grandchildren.\r\n\r\nSeveral days before Christmas my sister Carol and her family visited my Mother.  And Carol\'s three granddaughters helped me make some <a title=\"Family Christmas Traditions: Chocolate-Caramel Pretzel Treats\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/21/family-christmas-traditions-chocolate-caramel-pretzel-treats/\">Christmas Pretzel treats.</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_964\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Even Evey, who is not quite 2 years old, unwrapped the kisses and put them on top of the pretzels. And if she missed the pretzel, the other girls helped her get it right.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilySophieEvey.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-964 \" title=\"LilySophieEvey\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilySophieEvey.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"299\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_962\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Such concentration!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEvey.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-962\" title=\"LilyEvey\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEvey.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"344\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_961\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Then Evey decided she could eat a kiss or two.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/EveyEatingKiss.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-961 \" title=\"EveyEatingKiss\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/EveyEatingKiss.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"568\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_959\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Lily teased her younger cousin by eating a kiss, too.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEatingKisses.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-959 \" title=\"LilyEatingKisses\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEatingKisses.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"275\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_960\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"When they realized that I&#39;d gotten their exchange on film, they posed for me.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEvey2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-960 \" title=\"LilyEvey2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LilyEvey2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_957\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Sophie waited for the finished product to nibble on one.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SophieEating.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-957 \" title=\"SophieEating\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SophieEating.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_958\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The perfect hostess, Sophie made sure everyone tasted their masterpieces.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SophieServing2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-958 \" title=\"SophieServing2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SophieServing2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"401\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Memories of Christmas 2011: My Sister\'s Granddaughters','','inherit','open','open','','956-revision-7','','','2012-01-06 22:15:33','2012-01-07 03:15:33','',956,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/06/956-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1109,2,'2012-01-05 21:37:02','2012-01-06 02:37:02','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The weather in Georgia turned cold this week. So it seemed to be a good time to make Brunswick Stew, one of our favorite cold-weather meals. I go with an \"easy\" version.  The old-fashioned style of Brunswick stew used turkey and beef and chicken left-over from the holidays, and took lots of time and effort to de-bone and chop all the meat.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BrunswichStewIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-950\" title=\"BrunswichStewIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BrunswichStewIngredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"551\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">My mother\'s recipe for \"Instant Brunswick Stew\" called for 10 cans of meat , tomatoes and corn.  Unfortunately, I can no longer find all those ingredients in the grocery stores near me.  So here is my adaptation of Mother\'s recipe.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Easy Brunswick Stew</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4 pounds of fully cooked pork barbeque</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">3 13-ounce cans chicken breast</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">1 10-ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilis</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">2 15-ounce cans creamed corn</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/StewStuffAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-949\" title=\"StewStuffAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/StewStuffAdded.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I open those packages and cans and dump it all into my largest crockpot. Usually I break the chicken and the pork into smaller pieces. Tonight my sweet husband cut the meat up for me.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MixUpStew.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-948\" title=\"MixUpStew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MixUpStew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"503\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I stir it up.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/finishedstew.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-947\" title=\"finishedstew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/finishedstew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I leave it in the crockpot to get good and hot.  Although, tonight, I heated it up in the microwave to speed things along.  Gregg and I were both hungry! We served it with hot corn muffins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">You can leave the Rotel out, if you want your Brunswick stew to be mild.  We like it with the extra kick that the can of Rotel gives.</p>','Easy Brunswick Stew for Cold Winter Days','','inherit','open','open','','946-revision-4','','','2012-01-05 21:37:02','2012-01-06 02:37:02','',946,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/05/946-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1110,2,'2012-01-04 21:06:04','2012-01-05 02:06:04','For most of the 23 years we have lived in Georgia, we have gone to Silver Creek Christmas Tree Farm and cut down our Christmas tree.  That\'s one of our best Christmas traditions.  In recent years, as our children have grown and left home, we\'ve settled for doing that with whichever members of our family are at home on the Friday after Thanksgiving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_938\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Lisette, Gregg and Benjamin look at a tree that Benj has selected as a possibility. Gregg is carrying a stick that measures the height - and price - of the trees.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lookingattrees.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-938\" title=\"lookingattrees\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lookingattrees.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"264\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Yes, we leave our Christmas tree up from the end of November until after Christmas Day.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treefarm.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-937\" title=\"treefarm\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treefarm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"265\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Silver Creek Tree Farm has Carolina Spruce, cedar, and long-needle pine trees.  We usually select a long-needle pine for our Christmas tree. But it takes us a while, roaming around the tree farm to finally pick a tree that suits us all.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_935\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Lisette started the cutting.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LisetteCutsTree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-935 \" title=\"LisetteCutsTree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LisetteCutsTree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen we arrive, the owner greets us, says, \"Don\'t have to tell y\'all what to do!\" and hands us a saw and a measuring pole.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_933\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin took a turn with the saw.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BenjCutTree2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-933 \" title=\"BenjCutTree2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BenjCutTree2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_932\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin and Andrew carry the tree up to be bundled.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BenAndcarrytree.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-932 \" title=\"BenAndcarrytree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BenAndcarrytree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"374\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_930\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"The tree farm has this contraption that covers the tree in netting, and makes it easier to transport.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treewrap2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-930\" title=\"treewrap2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treewrap2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"281\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_929\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"We tie the tree to the top of Lisette&#39;s Jeep and haul it home.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treeonjeep.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-929 \" title=\"treeonjeep\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/treeonjeep.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"326\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI did not get a good photo of this year\'s Christmas tree, decorated and lighted. So below is our Christmas tree from 2007, with many of the same ornaments that were on this year\'s tree. Most of the ornaments on our tree were hand-made by us, over the years. Each has a story behind it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_818\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"399\" caption=\"Our Christmas tree in 2007, the one year we bought a Carolina spruce.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree07.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-818\" title=\"ChristmasTree07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"399\" height=\"762\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>','Christmas Memories 2011: Cutting down a Live Tree','','inherit','open','open','','928-revision-6','','','2012-01-04 21:06:04','2012-01-05 02:06:04','',928,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/04/928-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1111,2,'2012-01-01 21:48:49','2012-01-02 02:48:49','Our church, <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity  United Methodist in Rome</a>, Georgia, began a Live Nativity in 1957. And for the past 54 years, for the five nights before Christmas, Trinity folks have dressed up as Mary and Joseph, wise men, shepherds and angels to represent the birth of Christ.\r\n\r\nOne of our most enduring and memorable family Christmas traditions has been to stand in the Live Nativity.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_902\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My niece Haley and great nieces Sophie and Lily as angels in 2010.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/angels2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-902 \" title=\"angels2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/angels2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"447\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Adults stand in 30 minute shifts. Children rotate in and out every 15 minutes or so. At least ten people are needed for each shift: Mary and Joseph; 3 wise men (or women), 3 shepherds and 2 angels.  But, most of the time, we have more than 2 angels, and shepherd boys, baby angels and, in recent years, we\'ve added a page who holds the rope for the camel.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nativity2010.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-904\" title=\"nativity2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nativity2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_901\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"In addition to the people who stand in the Live Nativity, several people serve each night, helping people to get into costume.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LilyDressed2010.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-901 \" title=\"LilyDressed2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LilyDressed2010-300x234.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOur church is on a major five-lane road, in the middle of town.  So hundred of cars pass us every night in the two hours (7 pm - 9 pm) that we present the Live Nativity.\r\n\r\nI played the part of an angel, as a teenager, in the 1960s.  And my husband Gregg and I and our children, would stop by and take a turn, whenever we were in Rome visiting my brother Terrell, even before we moved back to Georgia in 1988.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_909\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Once everyone is dressed, we stand for a photo. Then we pray that as people drive by they will remember that Christmas is Jesus&#39; birthday.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/NativityInside.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-909 \" title=\"NativityInside\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/NativityInside.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"238\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe also have animals, usually a donkey and two or three sheep.  For two years we hired a live camel.  Then a church member constructed the camel statue, pictured below. Our camel is named Craven, after Paul, Frank and Allen Craven, the three generations of Craven men who have constructed the stable scene over the past 54 years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_913\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Live Nativity 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fullnativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-913\" title=\"fullnativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fullnativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"251\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOur family usually stands on two of the five nights of the Nativity - the night assigned to our Sunday School class and on Christmas Eve.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_912\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Our DIL Emily as Mary, our son Matthew as Joseph, Christmas 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/EmilyMattMaryJoseph.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-912 \" title=\"EmilyMattMaryJoseph\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/EmilyMattMaryJoseph.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"460\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_921\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Matthew as a shepherd boy, Christmas 1988.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MatthewShepherd1988.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-921 \" title=\"MatthewShepherd1988\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MatthewShepherd1988-664x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"536\" /></a>[/caption]','Christmas Traditions: the Live Nativity','','inherit','open','open','','885-revision-14','','','2012-01-01 21:48:49','2012-01-02 02:48:49','',885,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/01/885-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(1115,2,'2012-04-24 14:12:28','2012-04-24 18:12:28','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift - that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\r\n\r\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin (27 this month) into our family.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen we called to tell my parents that we were expecting a fourth child, my mother gave us this wonderful advice: \"People are thrilled for you when you have your first child. By the time the second one comes along, people take that for granted. . . no big deal,  just what they expected. When you have a third one, especially since your first two were boys, they\'ll think you are hoping for a girl. But when you have your fourth, people don\'t understand why on earth you would do that. But you will love this baby just like you love the others and will wonder how on earth you would have lived without him.\"  And she was, as she usually is, right!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day, while I walked back toward the breakfast room.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photographer use them in an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1131\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1131\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes, his little nose only a inch or so from mine, and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\r\n\r\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\r\n\r\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom, greeting the other children as if he were king of the class, without a backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway, her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.  What WAS the last few weeks about anyway??\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1130\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"303\" caption=\"Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1130\" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"303\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\r\n\r\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\r\n\r\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\r\n\r\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1135\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Today Benjamin is getting his doctorate at Catholic University in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1135 \" title=\"Ben2012\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"577\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1136\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"464\" caption=\"Benjamin attended the Lewis Academy Prom with his friend Lauren.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1136 \" title=\"LewisProm\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm-777x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"611\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\r\n\r\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suit coats as well on Wednesdays.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John, at their graduation from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1133 \" title=\"BenjJonNathanDrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"332\" /></a>[/caption]','Our Son Benjamin, Artist, Scholar, Amazing','','publish','open','open','','my-son-benjamin','','','2012-04-24 14:42:08','2012-04-24 18:42:08','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1115',0,'post','',3),(1116,2,'2012-04-23 21:27:40','2012-04-24 01:27:40','My husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-174 \" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"558\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had Matthew (now 31).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family.','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision','','','2012-04-23 21:27:40','2012-04-24 01:27:40','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/23/1115-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1117,2,'2012-04-23 22:07:36','2012-04-24 02:07:36','My husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-174 \" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"558\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had Matthew (now 31).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family.','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-2','','','2012-04-23 22:07:36','2012-04-24 02:07:36','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/23/1115-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1118,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:34','2012-04-24 16:34:34','','Benjteddybear','','inherit','open','open','','benjteddybear','','','2012-04-24 12:34:34','2012-04-24 16:34:34','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjteddybear.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1119,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:36','2012-04-24 16:34:36','','Lisette6mo','Lisette at 6 months old','inherit','open','open','','lisette6mo','','','2012-04-24 12:34:36','2012-04-24 16:34:36','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1120,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:38','2012-04-24 16:34:38','','BenJonAndrewatMothers','Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.','inherit','open','open','','benjonandrewatmothers','','','2012-04-24 12:34:38','2012-04-24 16:34:38','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1121,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:41','2012-04-24 16:34:41','','BenjDaddy1986','','inherit','open','open','','benjdaddy1986','','','2012-04-24 12:34:41','2012-04-24 16:34:41','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjDaddy1986.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1122,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:43','2012-04-24 16:34:43','','BenjRalphtickle','Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.','inherit','open','open','','benjralphtickle','','','2012-04-24 12:34:43','2012-04-24 16:34:43','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1123,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:46','2012-04-24 16:34:46','','DaddyBenjNewborn','','inherit','open','open','','daddybenjnewborn','','','2012-04-24 12:34:46','2012-04-24 16:34:46','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1124,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:50','2012-04-24 16:34:50','','BenjJonAltoPark2','Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan\'s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!','inherit','open','open','','benjjonaltopark2','','','2012-04-24 12:34:50','2012-04-24 16:34:50','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1125,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:53','2012-04-24 16:34:53','','Benj3yrs','This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photogher use them as a advertisement.','inherit','open','open','','benj3yrs','','','2012-04-24 12:34:53','2012-04-24 16:34:53','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1126,2,'2012-04-24 12:34:58','2012-04-24 16:34:58','','benjnewborn','Benjamin as a newborn','inherit','open','open','','benjnewborn','','','2012-04-24 12:34:58','2012-04-24 16:34:58','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1127,2,'2012-04-24 12:35:03','2012-04-24 16:35:03','','Andrew6mofingers','Andrew at 6 months old - love those big, observant eyes!','inherit','open','open','','andrew6mofingers','','','2012-04-24 12:35:03','2012-04-24 16:35:03','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1128,2,'2012-04-24 13:28:52','2012-04-24 17:28:52','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift, that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\n\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin into our family.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photogher use them as an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\n\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\n\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\n\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom on the first day, greeting everyone cheerfully, without even one backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway with her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.\n\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\n\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\n\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\n\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\n\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\n\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\n\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suitcoats as well on Wednesdays.\"\n\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the fa','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-3','','','2012-04-24 13:28:52','2012-04-24 17:28:52','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1130,2,'2012-04-24 13:46:30','2012-04-24 17:46:30','','Benjsoccer','Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.','inherit','open','open','','benjsoccer-2','','','2012-04-24 13:46:30','2012-04-24 17:46:30','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1129,2,'2012-04-24 13:29:24','2012-04-24 17:29:24','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift, that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\r\n\r\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin into our family.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photogher use them as an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\r\n\r\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\r\n\r\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\r\n\r\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom on the first day, greeting everyone cheerfully, without even one backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway with her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\r\n\r\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\r\n\r\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\r\n\r\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\r\n\r\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\r\n\r\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\r\n\r\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suitcoats as well on Wednesdays.\"\r\n\r\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-4','','','2012-04-24 13:29:24','2012-04-24 17:29:24','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1131,2,'2012-04-24 13:47:30','2012-04-24 17:47:30','','BenDebiJon','Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother','inherit','open','open','','bendebijon-2','','','2012-04-24 13:47:30','2012-04-24 17:47:30','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1132,2,'2012-04-24 13:49:24','2012-04-24 17:49:24','','BenjDebi','','inherit','open','open','','benjdebi-2','','','2012-04-24 13:49:24','2012-04-24 17:49:24','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjDebi.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1133,2,'2012-04-24 14:10:26','2012-04-24 18:10:26','','BenjJonNathanDrew','Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John','inherit','open','open','','benjjonnathandrew','','','2012-04-24 14:10:26','2012-04-24 18:10:26','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1134,2,'2012-04-24 14:12:08','2012-04-24 18:12:08','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift - that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\n\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin (27 this month) into our family.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photographer use them in an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1131\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1131\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes, his little nose only a inch or so from mine, and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\n\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\n\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom, greeting the other children as if he were king of the class, without a backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway, her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.  What WAS the last few weeks about anyway??\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1130\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"303\" caption=\"Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1130\" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"303\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\n\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\n\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\n\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\n\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\n\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\n\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suitcoats as well on Wednesdays.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John, at their graduation from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1133 \" title=\"BenjJonNathanDrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"332\" /></a>[/caption]','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-5','','','2012-04-24 14:12:08','2012-04-24 18:12:08','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1135,2,'2012-04-24 14:33:37','2012-04-24 18:33:37','','Ben2012','Today Benjamin is getting his doctorate at Catholic University in Greek and Latin.','inherit','open','open','','ben2012','','','2012-04-24 14:33:37','2012-04-24 18:33:37','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1136,2,'2012-04-24 14:33:41','2012-04-24 18:33:41','','LewisProm','Benjamin attended the Lewis Academy Prom with his friend Lauren.','inherit','open','open','','lewisprom','','','2012-04-24 14:33:41','2012-04-24 18:33:41','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1137,2,'2012-04-24 14:38:25','2012-04-24 18:38:25','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift - that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\n\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin (27 this month) into our family.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen we called to tell my parents that we were expecting a fourth child, my mother gave us this wonderful advice: \"People are thrilled for you when you have your first child. By the time the second one comes along, people take that for granted. . . no big deal,  just what they expected. When you have a third one, especially since your first two were boys, they\'ll think you are hoping for a girl. But when you have your fourth, people don\'t understand why on earth you would do that. But you will love this baby just like you love the others and will wonder how on earth you would have lived without him.\"  And she was, as she usually is, right!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day, while I walked back toward the breakfast room.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photographer use them in an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1131\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1131\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes, his little nose only a inch or so from mine, and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\n\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\n\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom, greeting the other children as if he were king of the class, without a backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway, her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.  What WAS the last few weeks about anyway??\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1130\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"303\" caption=\"Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1130\" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"303\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\n\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\n\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\n\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1135\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Today Benjamin is getting his doctorate at Catholic University in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1135 \" title=\"Ben2012\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"577\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1136\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"464\" caption=\"Benjamin attended the Lewis Academy Prom with his friend Lauren.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1136 \" title=\"LewisProm\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm-777x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"611\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\n\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suitcoats as well on Wednesdays.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John, at their graduation from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1133 \" title=\"BenjJonNathanDrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"332\" /></a>[/caption]','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-6','','','2012-04-24 14:38:25','2012-04-24 18:38:25','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1138,2,'2012-04-24 14:40:17','2012-04-24 18:40:17','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift - that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\r\n\r\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin (27 this month) into our family.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen we called to tell my parents that we were expecting a fourth child, my mother gave us this wonderful advice: \"People are thrilled for you when you have your first child. By the time the second one comes along, people take that for granted. . . no big deal,  just what they expected. When you have a third one, especially since your first two were boys, they\'ll think you are hoping for a girl. But when you have your fourth, people don\'t understand why on earth you would do that. But you will love this baby just like you love the others and will wonder how on earth you would have lived without him.\"  And she was, as she usually is, right!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day, while I walked back toward the breakfast room.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photographer use them in an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1131\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1131\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes, his little nose only a inch or so from mine, and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\r\n\r\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\r\n\r\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom, greeting the other children as if he were king of the class, without a backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway, her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.  What WAS the last few weeks about anyway??\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1130\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"303\" caption=\"Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1130\" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"303\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\r\n\r\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\r\n\r\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\r\n\r\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1135\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Today Benjamin is getting his doctorate at Catholic University in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1135 \" title=\"Ben2012\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"577\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1136\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"464\" caption=\"Benjamin attended the Lewis Academy Prom with his friend Lauren.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1136 \" title=\"LewisProm\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm-777x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"611\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\r\n\r\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suit coats as well on Wednesdays.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John, at their graduation from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1133 \" title=\"BenjJonNathanDrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"332\" /></a>[/caption]','My Son Benjamin','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-7','','','2012-04-24 14:40:17','2012-04-24 18:40:17','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1139,2,'2012-04-24 14:41:28','2012-04-24 18:41:28','Before we had children, my husband Gregg and I had two different fertility specialists tell us that we would probably never have children. Then, when we had been married for six and a half years, we had our precious son Andrew (now 32).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1127 \" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"685\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEighteen months later, to the day, we had adorable Matthew (now 31).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1076\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Matthew at 4 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1076 \" title=\"Mattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"596\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo and a half years later we had our beautiful daughter Lisette (now 28).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"386\" caption=\"Lisette at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1119 \" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"522\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo boys and a girl. Most people thought we had our perfect family. BUT, we had decided that, since God had given us children as a \"miracle\" - an unexpected gift - that we would continue to love whatever children God wanted to give us.\r\n\r\nSo, nineteen months after Lisette, in April 1985, we welcomed our amazing son Benjamin (27 this month) into our family.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1126\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"522\" caption=\"Benjamin as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1126 \" title=\"benjnewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/benjnewborn-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"522\" height=\"719\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen we called to tell my parents that we were expecting a fourth child, my mother gave us this wonderful advice: \"People are thrilled for you when you have your first child. By the time the second one comes along, people take that for granted. . . no big deal,  just what they expected. When you have a third one, especially since your first two were boys, they\'ll think you are hoping for a girl. But when you have your fourth, people don\'t understand why on earth you would do that. But you will love this baby just like you love the others and will wonder how on earth you would have lived without him.\"  And she was, as she usually is, right!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"My Daddy rocking Benjamin to sleep\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1123\" title=\"DaddyBenjNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DaddyBenjNewborn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"417\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I have MANY cute Benjamin stories to tell. That makes it difficult for me to pick only one or two to tell in a post, for his birthday.  Do I tell about the day he wanted to cut his OWN apple? I\'d handed him a slice of apple with his breakfast and put the knife away - W-A-Y back on the kitchen counter. Then I\'d walked to the front door, picked up the newspaper off the front stoop, and started scanning the headlines for the day, while I walked back toward the breakfast room.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin loved for his Grandpa to tickle him.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1122 \" title=\"BenjRalphtickle\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjRalphtickle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"589\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen Benjamin screamed. I looked up to see that he had set down the apple slice I\'d given him, pushed his chair over to the kitchen counter, climbed onto and across the counter, grabbed the knife and tried to cut his own slice of apple.  Cut himself to the bone. Needed stitches.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1125\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"This whole series of photos, taken when Benjamin was three years old, were given to us free, in exchange for letting the photographer use them in an advertisement. We were not the only people who thought he was a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1125 \" title=\"Benj3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benj3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"597\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell about the day of his kindergarten \"round-up,\" when he was NOT in the mood to answer the questions, with which the school would place him in a kindergarten class. First one teacher, then another, asked him the required questions and he refused to talk. Finally our friend Augusta Davis, the third kindergarten teacher, tried. For her he condescended to answer two questions. What does your Daddy do for a living? He writes books.  What does your mother do? She washes dishes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1131\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin (7) and Jonathan (4) with their mother\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1131\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt the END of kindergarten, his teacher told us that he was the first student she\'d had, in 30 years of teaching, who had a \"perfect\" record, not a single mistake on any worksheet or test, for the entire year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"521\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten. What a great big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1124\" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonAltoPark2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"521\" height=\"885\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of the month before he started kindergarten, when every night for three weeks, he climbed into our bed, between 2 and 3 a.m., cuddled up next to me, put his sweet little hands on my cheeks, looked imploringly into my sleep-dazed eyes, his little nose only a inch or so from mine, and woke me up, saying \"Mama, please don\'t make me go to kindergarten.  PLEASE, I don\'t want to go to kindergarten.\"\r\n\r\nBy the time school started I was prepared for the worst first-day-of-school ever. We had talked about the possibility of homeschooling him if the first month went as badly as we thought it might.\r\n\r\nI was NOT prepared for him to run into the classroom, greeting the other children as if he were king of the class, without a backward glance at his mother. Who was standing in the doorway, her mouth gaping open, wishing he would at least give her a goodbye hug.  What WAS the last few weeks about anyway??\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1130\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"303\" caption=\"Benjamin played soccer for the Arsenal, a club team.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1130\" title=\"Benjsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Benjsoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"303\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOr do I tell the story of his freshman year of high school, when doctors discovered a tumor in his ear. We spent a week waiting for the pathology report that told us - good news! - it was benign. The bad news was that, even benign, it needed surgery to be removed and had eaten away some of the bone around that ear.\r\n\r\nBenjamin missed 18 days of school that year. But, even so, at the end of the year was still in the top five students at his high school, one of the students in the running for valedictorian.\r\n\r\nThat summer, he came and asked for a meeting with his Dad and me, to discuss the possibility of our homeschooling him for the remainder of high school.  Why? we asked.\r\n\r\n\"I already don\'t have enough time to play soccer or be in the band at Rome High, and also be competitive academically. I want to have time for art and music. Time to think and to play soccer. Life is too short to not have time for those things.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1135\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Today Benjamin is getting his doctorate at Catholic University in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1135 \" title=\"Ben2012\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ben2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"577\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe homeschooled Benjamin - or rather he homeschooled himself - his last three years of high school. Friends gave him a prom - one many said was the best prom they had ever attended.  He put out a CD of his own music -written by him, sung by him and for which he played the piano - before finishing high school. We have a house full of his art work. He sold 50+ t-shirts emblazoned with the Lewis Academy emblem.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1136\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"464\" caption=\"Benjamin attended the Lewis Academy Prom with his friend Lauren.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1136 \" title=\"LewisProm\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LewisProm-777x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"611\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne last Benjamin story: one morning, he came to breakfast dressed in a button-up shirt and tie. \"Are you going somewhere special today?\" I asked.\r\n\r\n\"No,\" Benjamin replied. \"The student body at Lewis Academy has decided on a dress code. Shirts and ties on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Suit coats as well on Wednesdays.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin, with Jonathan and Andrew, dressed for homeschool.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd one very last story: the student body of Lewis Academy got up early each morning and fixed the family breakfast for all the years he was homeschooled.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Benjamin with his three best college friends, Nathan, Drew and John, at their graduation from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1133 \" title=\"BenjJonNathanDrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenjJonNathanDrew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"332\" /></a>[/caption]','Our Son Benjamin, Artist, Scholar, Amazing','','inherit','open','open','','1115-revision-8','','','2012-04-24 14:41:28','2012-04-24 18:41:28','',1115,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/24/1115-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1140,2,'2012-04-28 08:35:27','2012-04-28 12:35:27','Over and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Not even your Mama. Only Jesus got to be perfect.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"475\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"256\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\r\n\r\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, and to forgive themselves.\r\n\r\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while I included a photo of Jonathan (our fifth child) with his older brother Benjamin, I did NOT include a cute baby photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1142\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"355\" caption=\"Jonathan, our fifth child, born 3 1/2 years after Benjamin. He is three months old in this photo - 23 years old now.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1142\" title=\"Jon3 mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"533\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And, in the last blog post, I was wrong about the dress code days at Lewis Academy. Benjamin dressed in dress shirts and ties on Mondays and Fridays, and added a suit coat to that on Wednesdays.  But Tuesday and Thursdays were \"casual\" days.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Please forgive me for my mistake. After all, nobody gets to be perfect.</p>','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','publish','open','open','','nobody-gets-to-be-perfect','','','2012-04-28 08:35:27','2012-04-28 12:35:27','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1140',0,'post','',0),(1141,2,'2012-04-28 08:06:50','2012-04-28 12:06:50','Over and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Even your Mama.\"\n\nWhen their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\n\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, to forgive themselves.\n\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','inherit','open','open','','1140-revision','','','2012-04-28 08:06:50','2012-04-28 12:06:50','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/28/1140-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1142,2,'2012-04-28 08:17:39','2012-04-28 12:17:39','','Jon3 mo','','inherit','open','open','','jon3-mo','','','2012-04-28 08:17:39','2012-04-28 12:17:39','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1143,2,'2012-04-28 08:17:58','2012-04-28 12:17:58','Over and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Even your Mama.\"\n\nWhen their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\n\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, to forgive themselves.\n\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while I included a photo of Jonathan (our fifth child) with his older brother Benjamin, I did NOT include a cute baby photo.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"475\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"256\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1142\" title=\"Jon3 mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"533\" /></a>','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','inherit','open','open','','1140-revision-2','','','2012-04-28 08:17:58','2012-04-28 12:17:58','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/28/1140-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1144,2,'2012-04-28 08:22:49','2012-04-28 12:22:49','[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"475\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"256\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOver and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Not even your Mama. Only Jesus got to be perfect.\"\n\nWhen their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\n\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, and to forgive themselves.\n\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while I included a photo of Jonathan (our fifth child) with his older brother Benjamin, I did NOT include a cute baby photo.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1142\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"355\" caption=\"Jonathan, our fifth child, born 3 1/2 years after Benjamin. He is three months old in this photo - 23 years old now\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1142\" title=\"Jon3 mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"533\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','inherit','open','open','','1140-revision-3','','','2012-04-28 08:22:49','2012-04-28 12:22:49','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/28/1140-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1145,2,'2012-04-28 08:24:14','2012-04-28 12:24:14','Over and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Not even your Mama. Only Jesus got to be perfect.\"\r\n\r\n<dl id=\"attachment_747\" class=\"wp-caption \" style=\"width: 485px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"256\" /></a></dt></dl>When their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\r\n\r\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, and to forgive themselves.\r\n\r\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while I included a photo of Jonathan (our fifth child) with his older brother Benjamin, I did NOT include a cute baby photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1142\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"355\" caption=\"Jonathan, our fifth child, born 3 1/2 years after Benjamin. He is three months old in this photo - 23 years old now\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1142\" title=\"Jon3 mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"533\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','inherit','open','open','','1140-revision-4','','','2012-04-28 08:24:14','2012-04-28 12:24:14','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/28/1140-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1146,2,'2012-04-28 08:32:34','2012-04-28 12:32:34','Over and over, while my children were growing up, I told them \"Nobody gets to be perfect.\"  When I made mistakes, I would own up to them, apologize and say, \"Nobody gets to be perfect.  Not even your Mama. Only Jesus got to be perfect.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"475\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"256\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen their friends would do or say unkind things, I would explain that \"Nobody gets to be perfect, not even your best friend.\" And I would urge them to forgive and go on with the friendship.\n\nWhen they made mistakes and felt stupid, I would reassure them, \"Nobody gets to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Don\'t be so hard on yourself.\"And I would encourage them to admit their mistake, ask for forgiveness where needed, and to forgive themselves.\n\nIn light of \"Nobody gets to be perfect:\" I am admitting two mistakes in my last blog post.  First, I included baby photos of my first four babies, as a part of telling the lead-up to Benjamin\'s birth.  And while I included a photo of Jonathan (our fifth child) with his older brother Benjamin, I did NOT include a cute baby photo.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1142\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"355\" caption=\"Jonathan, our fifth child, born 3 1/2 years after Benjamin. He is three months old in this photo - 23 years old now.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1142\" title=\"Jon3 mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jon3-mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"533\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And, in the last blog post, I was wrong about the dress code days at Lewis Academy. Benjamin dressed in dress shirts and ties on Mondays and Fridays, and added a suit coat to that on Wednesdays.  But Tuesday and Thursdays were \"casual\" days.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Please forgive me for my mistake. After all, nobody gets to be perfect.</p>','Nobody Gets to Be Perfect','','inherit','open','open','','1140-revision-5','','','2012-04-28 08:32:34','2012-04-28 12:32:34','',1140,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/28/1140-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1147,2,'2012-04-30 22:26:05','2012-05-01 02:26:05','In Fall 1969, as a freshman at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, I was assigned to a lab table in Biology 101. My lab partner and I sat on one side of that lab table and Gregg Lewis and his lab partner sat on the other side. Gregg Lewis . . . a tall, blond basketball player, a good-looking jock. But I had two classes with him and quickly discovered that he was  a very bright student, as well as a good-looking athlete.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Gregg as a cute, blond kindergartener.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151\" title=\"GreggKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt one point that Fall I learned that he had grown up in Wilmore. So I asked my friend Julia, also from Wilmore, what she could tell me about Gregg Lewis. \"Oh,\" she exclaimed, \"Gregg is wonderful. Really smart. A great basketball player. A very nice person. But, he is going steady with Donna.\"\r\n\r\nOver the years, when I would tell this story to our children, I would invest my voice with scorn when I said the name, \"Donna.\"\r\n\r\nI always picked up my mail at the CPO before going to Biology class. One day, I sat down at the lab table and opened a letter from my sister Janice. Gregg looked across the lab table and saw the return address.\r\n\r\n\"You know Janice Crouse?\" he asked.\r\n\r\n\"She\'s my sister.\" I answered. And Gregg told me that he had gone to church with Janice when her husband Gilbert was the music director at that church.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"336\" caption=\"Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1152 \" title=\"Shawmen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"230\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother day I opened another letter, this one from my sister Joan. Again, Gregg looked at the return address and asked, \"You know Joan Turrentine?\"\r\n\r\n\"She\'s my sister,\" I told him. And learned that Gregg had played basketball with Joan\'s husband Jim, and that Joan had taught at his high school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1159\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"278\" caption=\"Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1159 \" title=\"GAMbasketball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball-698x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"408\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLater that Fall, my BIL Jim had tickets to the Atlanta Braves playoff games. I went home to Georgia to watch the Braves lose to the Mets.\r\n\r\nMy first day back at Asbury, after the Christmas break that year, I was cleaning steam tables in the cafeteria, one of my campus jobs, when Gregg Lewis walked up and asked me if I\'d like to go snow sledding that evening. I assured him that sounded like fun.  We double dated with my brother Mark and his then-girlfriend Martha Crouse.\r\n\r\nAfter sledding down the hill several times, we went to the Grill for hot chocolate and conversation.\r\n\r\nWe married on March 9, 1973, during Spring Break of our senior year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1155\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1155 \" title=\"GMarkMackwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1154\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our wedding took place at Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1154\" title=\"DGweddinggaze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1170\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1170 \" title=\"DGgradcollege\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege-695x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1171\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"469\" caption=\"In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1171\" title=\"Greggfishingyellowstone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"612\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1165 \" title=\"Gproudpapa\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"325\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1168\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg with Matthew in 1981.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1168 \" title=\"GMattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1172\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, &quot;And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.&quot; Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1172 \" title=\"AMLGreading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1153\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"489\" caption=\"Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1153\" title=\"Gat28yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"582\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he&#39;&#39;s had 50-plus books published?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1161 \" title=\"RuthCharlesGreggMatt\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"420\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1156\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1156 \" title=\"MGJBvermont\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1162\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg&#39;s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1162 \" title=\"GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1148\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our family last June, at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1148 \" title=\"AMLBJJGDwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 30 is Gregg\'s birthday. Happy birthday to my tall, good-looking husband!','My Husband\'s Birthday','','publish','open','open','','my-husbands-birthday','','','2012-04-30 22:26:05','2012-05-01 02:26:05','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1147',0,'post','',0),(1148,2,'2012-04-30 21:09:49','2012-05-01 01:09:49','','AMLBJJGDwedding','Our family June 2011, at Jessica and Jonathan\'s wedding. ','inherit','open','open','','amlbjjgdwedding','','','2012-04-30 21:09:49','2012-05-01 01:09:49','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1149,2,'2012-04-30 21:09:51','2012-05-01 01:09:51','','ALBJJGDgrad2011','Lisette, Andrew,Jonathan, Jessica, Benjamin, Debi and Gregg, the day that Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University, May 2011.','inherit','open','open','','albjjgdgrad2011','','','2012-04-30 21:09:51','2012-05-01 01:09:51','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ALBJJGDgrad2011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1150,2,'2012-04-30 21:09:55','2012-05-01 01:09:55','','Gregg2009','','inherit','open','open','','gregg2009','','','2012-04-30 21:09:55','2012-05-01 01:09:55','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gregg2009.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1151,2,'2012-04-30 21:09:58','2012-05-01 01:09:58','','GreggKinder','Gregg as a cute, blong kindergartener.','inherit','open','open','','greggkinder','','','2012-04-30 21:09:58','2012-05-01 01:09:58','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1152,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:00','2012-05-01 01:10:00','','Shawmen','Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s','inherit','open','open','','shawmen','','','2012-04-30 21:10:00','2012-05-01 01:10:00','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1153,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:02','2012-05-01 01:10:02','','Gat28yrs','Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.','inherit','open','open','','gat28yrs','','','2012-04-30 21:10:02','2012-05-01 01:10:02','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1154,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:05','2012-05-01 01:10:05','','DGweddinggaze','','inherit','open','open','','dgweddinggaze','','','2012-04-30 21:10:05','2012-05-01 01:10:05','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1155,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:07','2012-05-01 01:10:07','','GMarkMackwedding','Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!','inherit','open','open','','gmarkmackwedding','','','2012-04-30 21:10:07','2012-05-01 01:10:07','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1156,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:09','2012-05-01 01:10:09','','MGJBvermont','Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.','inherit','open','open','','mgjbvermont','','','2012-04-30 21:10:09','2012-05-01 01:10:09','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1157,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:12','2012-05-01 01:10:12','','GDAMLBportrait','','inherit','open','open','','gdamlbportrait','','','2012-04-30 21:10:12','2012-05-01 01:10:12','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GDAMLBportrait.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1158,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:15','2012-05-01 01:10:15','','GDMattgrad','','inherit','open','open','','gdmattgrad','','','2012-04-30 21:10:15','2012-05-01 01:10:15','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GDMattgrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1159,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:17','2012-05-01 01:10:17','','GAMbasketball','Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.','inherit','open','open','','gambasketball','','','2012-04-30 21:10:17','2012-05-01 01:10:17','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1160,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:21','2012-05-01 01:10:21','','GDAM','','inherit','open','open','','gdam','','','2012-04-30 21:10:21','2012-05-01 01:10:21','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GDAM.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1161,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:23','2012-05-01 01:10:23','','RuthCharlesGreggMatt','Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he\'\'s had 50-plus books published?','inherit','open','open','','ruthcharlesgreggmatt','','','2012-04-30 21:10:23','2012-05-01 01:10:23','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1162,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:26','2012-05-01 01:10:26','','GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG','Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg\'s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.','inherit','open','open','','grpalewisgrpamag','','','2012-04-30 21:10:26','2012-05-01 01:10:26','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1163,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:28','2012-05-01 01:10:28','','GreggLisette3yrs','','inherit','open','open','','gregglisette3yrs','','','2012-04-30 21:10:28','2012-05-01 01:10:28','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggLisette3yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1164,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:31','2012-05-01 01:10:31','','GD&A15months','','inherit','open','open','','gda15months','','','2012-04-30 21:10:31','2012-05-01 01:10:31','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GDA15months.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1165,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:34','2012-05-01 01:10:34','','Gproudpapa','Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.','inherit','open','open','','gproudpapa','','','2012-04-30 21:10:34','2012-05-01 01:10:34','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1166,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:37','2012-05-01 01:10:37','','Andrewnewfromhospital','The day we brought Andrew home from the hospital.','inherit','open','open','','andrewnewfromhospital','','','2012-04-30 21:10:37','2012-05-01 01:10:37','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrewnewfromhospital.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1167,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:39','2012-05-01 01:10:39','','AwithGGrandpaLewisGra','Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis','inherit','open','open','','awithggrandpalewisgra','','','2012-04-30 21:10:39','2012-05-01 01:10:39','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1168,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:42','2012-05-01 01:10:42','','GMattbaby','Gregg with Matthew in 1981.','inherit','open','open','','gmattbaby','','','2012-04-30 21:10:42','2012-05-01 01:10:42','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1169,2,'2012-04-30 21:10:44','2012-05-01 01:10:44','','MattGrad7ofusfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','mattgrad7ofusfeatured','','','2012-04-30 21:10:44','2012-05-01 01:10:44','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MattGrad7ofusfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1170,2,'2012-04-30 21:24:53','2012-05-01 01:24:53','','DGgradcollege','Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.','inherit','open','open','','dggradcollege','','','2012-04-30 21:24:53','2012-05-01 01:24:53','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1171,2,'2012-04-30 21:24:57','2012-05-01 01:24:57','','Greggfishingyellowstone','In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.','inherit','open','open','','greggfishingyellowstone','','','2012-04-30 21:24:57','2012-05-01 01:24:57','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1172,2,'2012-04-30 21:24:58','2012-05-01 01:24:58','','AMLGreading','Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, \"And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.\" Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.','inherit','open','open','','amlgreading','','','2012-04-30 21:24:58','2012-05-01 01:24:58','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1173,2,'2012-04-30 21:25:31','2012-05-01 01:25:31','','DGgradcollege','','inherit','open','open','','dggradcollege-2','','','2012-04-30 21:25:31','2012-05-01 01:25:31','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1174,2,'2012-04-30 21:25:34','2012-05-01 01:25:34','','Greggfishingyellowstone','','inherit','open','open','','greggfishingyellowstone-2','','','2012-04-30 21:25:34','2012-05-01 01:25:34','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1175,2,'2012-04-30 21:25:36','2012-05-01 01:25:36','','AMLGreading','','inherit','open','open','','amlgreading-2','','','2012-04-30 21:25:36','2012-05-01 01:25:36','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1176,2,'2012-04-30 21:30:10','2012-05-01 01:30:10','','DGgradcollege','','inherit','open','open','','dggradcollege-3','','','2012-04-30 21:30:10','2012-05-01 01:30:10','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1177,2,'2012-04-30 21:30:13','2012-05-01 01:30:13','','Greggfishingyellowstone','','inherit','open','open','','greggfishingyellowstone-3','','','2012-04-30 21:30:13','2012-05-01 01:30:13','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1178,2,'2012-04-30 21:30:16','2012-05-01 01:30:16','','AMLGreading','','inherit','open','open','','amlgreading-3','','','2012-04-30 21:30:16','2012-05-01 01:30:16','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1179,2,'2012-04-30 22:14:32','2012-05-01 02:14:32','In Fall 1969, as a freshman at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, I was assigned to a lab table in Biology 101. My lab partner and I sat on one side of that lab table and Gregg Lewis and his lab partner sat on the other side. Gregg Lewis . . . a tall, blond basketball player, a good-looking jock. But I had two classes with him and quickly discovered that he was  a very bright student, as well as a good-looking athlete.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Gregg as a cute, blond kindergartener.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151\" title=\"GreggKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAt one point that Fall I learned that he had grown up in Wilmore. So I asked my friend Julia, also from Wilmore, what she could tell me about Gregg Lewis. \"Oh,\" she exclaimed, \"Gregg is wonderful. Really smart. A great basketball player. A very nice person. But, he is going steady with Donna.\"\n\nOver the years, when I would tell this story to our children, I would invest my voice with scorn when I said the name, \"Donna.\"\n\nI always picked up my mail at the CPO before going to Biology class. One day, I sat down at the lab table and opened a letter from my sister Janice. Gregg looked across the lab table and saw the return address.\n\n\"You know Janice Crouse?\" he asked.\n\n\"She\'s my sister.\" I answered. And Gregg told me that he had gone to church with Janice when her husband Gilbert was the music director at that church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1152\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1152 \" title=\"Shawmen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"328\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnother day I opened another letter, this one from my sister Joan. Again, Gregg looked at the return address and asked, \"You know Joan Turrentine?\"\n\n\"She\'s my sister,\" I told him. And learned that Gregg had played basketball with Joan\'s husband Jim, and that Joan had taught at his high school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1159\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"464\" caption=\"Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1159 \" title=\"GAMbasketball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball-698x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"680\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that Fall, my BIL Jim had tickets to the Atlanta Braves playoff games. I went home to Georgia to watch the Braves lose to the Mets.\n\nMy first day back at Asbury, after the Christmas break that year, I was cleaning steam tables in the cafeteria, one of my campus jobs, when Gregg Lewis walked up and asked me if I\'d like to go snow sledding that evening. I assured him that sounded like fun.  We double dated with my brother Mark and his then-girlfriend Martha Crouse.\n\nAfter sledding down the hill several times, we went to the Grill for hot chocolate and conversation.\n\nI dated no one else at Asbury.  We married on March 9, 1973, during Spring Break of our senior year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1155\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1155 \" title=\"GMarkMackwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1154\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"We married at Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1154\" title=\"DGweddinggaze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1170\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1170 \" title=\"DGgradcollege\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege-695x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1171\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"469\" caption=\"In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1171\" title=\"Greggfishingyellowstone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"612\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1165 \" title=\"Gproudpapa\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"325\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1168\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg with Matthew in 1981.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1168 \" title=\"GMattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1172\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, &quot;And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.&quot; Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1172 \" title=\"AMLGreading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1153\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"489\" caption=\"Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1153\" title=\"Gat28yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"582\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he&#39;&#39;s had 50-plus books published?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1161 \" title=\"RuthCharlesGreggMatt\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"420\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1156\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1156 \" title=\"MGJBvermont\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1162\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg&#39;s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1162 \" title=\"GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1148\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our family last June, at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1148 \" title=\"AMLBJJGDwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, April 30 is Gregg\'s birthday. Happy birthday to my tall, good-looking husband!','My Husband\'s Birthday','','inherit','open','open','','1147-revision','','','2012-04-30 22:14:32','2012-05-01 02:14:32','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/30/1147-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1180,2,'2012-04-30 22:19:44','2012-05-01 02:19:44','In Fall 1969, as a freshman at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, I was assigned to a lab table in Biology 101. My lab partner and I sat on one side of that lab table and Gregg Lewis and his lab partner sat on the other side. Gregg Lewis . . . a tall, blond basketball player, a good-looking jock. But I had two classes with him and quickly discovered that he was  a very bright student, as well as a good-looking athlete.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Gregg as a cute, blond kindergartener.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151\" title=\"GreggKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAt one point that Fall I learned that he had grown up in Wilmore. So I asked my friend Julia, also from Wilmore, what she could tell me about Gregg Lewis. \"Oh,\" she exclaimed, \"Gregg is wonderful. Really smart. A great basketball player. A very nice person. But, he is going steady with Donna.\"\n\nOver the years, when I would tell this story to our children, I would invest my voice with scorn when I said the name, \"Donna.\"\n\nI always picked up my mail at the CPO before going to Biology class. One day, I sat down at the lab table and opened a letter from my sister Janice. Gregg looked across the lab table and saw the return address.\n\n\"You know Janice Crouse?\" he asked.\n\n\"She\'s my sister.\" I answered. And Gregg told me that he had gone to church with Janice when her husband Gilbert was the music director at that church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1152\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1152 \" title=\"Shawmen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"328\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnother day I opened another letter, this one from my sister Joan. Again, Gregg looked at the return address and asked, \"You know Joan Turrentine?\"\n\n\"She\'s my sister,\" I told him. And learned that Gregg had played basketball with Joan\'s husband Jim, and that Joan had taught at his high school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1159\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"278\" caption=\"Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1159 \" title=\"GAMbasketball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball-698x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"408\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that Fall, my BIL Jim had tickets to the Atlanta Braves playoff games. I went home to Georgia to watch the Braves lose to the Mets.\n\nMy first day back at Asbury, after the Christmas break that year, I was cleaning steam tables in the cafeteria, one of my campus jobs, when Gregg Lewis walked up and asked me if I\'d like to go snow sledding that evening. I assured him that sounded like fun.  We double dated with my brother Mark and his then-girlfriend Martha Crouse.\n\nAfter sledding down the hill several times, we went to the Grill for hot chocolate and conversation.\n\nI dated no one else at Asbury.  We married on March 9, 1973, during Spring Break of our senior year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1155\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1155 \" title=\"GMarkMackwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1154\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"We married at Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1154\" title=\"DGweddinggaze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1170\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1170 \" title=\"DGgradcollege\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege-695x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1171\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"469\" caption=\"In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1171\" title=\"Greggfishingyellowstone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"612\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1165 \" title=\"Gproudpapa\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"325\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1168\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg with Matthew in 1981.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1168 \" title=\"GMattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1172\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, &quot;And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.&quot; Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1172 \" title=\"AMLGreading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1153\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"489\" caption=\"Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1153\" title=\"Gat28yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"582\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he&#39;&#39;s had 50-plus books published?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1161 \" title=\"RuthCharlesGreggMatt\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"420\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1156\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1156 \" title=\"MGJBvermont\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1162\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg&#39;s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1162 \" title=\"GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1148\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our family last June, at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1148 \" title=\"AMLBJJGDwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, April 30 is Gregg\'s birthday. Happy birthday to my tall, good-looking husband!','My Husband\'s Birthday','','inherit','open','open','','1147-revision-2','','','2012-04-30 22:19:44','2012-05-01 02:19:44','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/30/1147-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1182,2,'2012-04-30 22:25:57','2012-05-01 02:25:57','In Fall 1969, as a freshman at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, I was assigned to a lab table in Biology 101. My lab partner and I sat on one side of that lab table and Gregg Lewis and his lab partner sat on the other side. Gregg Lewis . . . a tall, blond basketball player, a good-looking jock. But I had two classes with him and quickly discovered that he was  a very bright student, as well as a good-looking athlete.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Gregg as a cute, blond kindergartener.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151\" title=\"GreggKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAt one point that Fall I learned that he had grown up in Wilmore. So I asked my friend Julia, also from Wilmore, what she could tell me about Gregg Lewis. \"Oh,\" she exclaimed, \"Gregg is wonderful. Really smart. A great basketball player. A very nice person. But, he is going steady with Donna.\"\n\nOver the years, when I would tell this story to our children, I would invest my voice with scorn when I said the name, \"Donna.\"\n\nI always picked up my mail at the CPO before going to Biology class. One day, I sat down at the lab table and opened a letter from my sister Janice. Gregg looked across the lab table and saw the return address.\n\n\"You know Janice Crouse?\" he asked.\n\n\"She\'s my sister.\" I answered. And Gregg told me that he had gone to church with Janice when her husband Gilbert was the music director at that church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"336\" caption=\"Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1152 \" title=\"Shawmen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"230\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnother day I opened another letter, this one from my sister Joan. Again, Gregg looked at the return address and asked, \"You know Joan Turrentine?\"\n\n\"She\'s my sister,\" I told him. And learned that Gregg had played basketball with Joan\'s husband Jim, and that Joan had taught at his high school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1159\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"278\" caption=\"Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1159 \" title=\"GAMbasketball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball-698x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"408\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLater that Fall, my BIL Jim had tickets to the Atlanta Braves playoff games. I went home to Georgia to watch the Braves lose to the Mets.\n\nMy first day back at Asbury, after the Christmas break that year, I was cleaning steam tables in the cafeteria, one of my campus jobs, when Gregg Lewis walked up and asked me if I\'d like to go snow sledding that evening. I assured him that sounded like fun.  We double dated with my brother Mark and his then-girlfriend Martha Crouse.\n\nAfter sledding down the hill several times, we went to the Grill for hot chocolate and conversation.\n\nWe married on March 9, 1973, during Spring Break of our senior year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1155\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1155 \" title=\"GMarkMackwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1154\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our wedding took place at Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1154\" title=\"DGweddinggaze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1170\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1170 \" title=\"DGgradcollege\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege-695x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1171\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"469\" caption=\"In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1171\" title=\"Greggfishingyellowstone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"612\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1165 \" title=\"Gproudpapa\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"325\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1168\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg with Matthew in 1981.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1168 \" title=\"GMattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1172\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, &quot;And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.&quot; Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1172 \" title=\"AMLGreading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1153\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"489\" caption=\"Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1153\" title=\"Gat28yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"582\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he&#39;&#39;s had 50-plus books published?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1161 \" title=\"RuthCharlesGreggMatt\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"420\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1156\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1156 \" title=\"MGJBvermont\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1162\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg&#39;s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1162 \" title=\"GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1148\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our family last June, at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1148 \" title=\"AMLBJJGDwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, April 30 is Gregg\'s birthday. Happy birthday to my tall, good-looking husband!','My Husband\'s Birthday','','inherit','open','open','','1147-revision-4','','','2012-04-30 22:25:57','2012-05-01 02:25:57','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/30/1147-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1181,2,'2012-04-30 22:20:04','2012-05-01 02:20:04','In Fall 1969, as a freshman at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, I was assigned to a lab table in Biology 101. My lab partner and I sat on one side of that lab table and Gregg Lewis and his lab partner sat on the other side. Gregg Lewis . . . a tall, blond basketball player, a good-looking jock. But I had two classes with him and quickly discovered that he was  a very bright student, as well as a good-looking athlete.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Gregg as a cute, blond kindergartener.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151\" title=\"GreggKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GreggKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"389\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt one point that Fall I learned that he had grown up in Wilmore. So I asked my friend Julia, also from Wilmore, what she could tell me about Gregg Lewis. \"Oh,\" she exclaimed, \"Gregg is wonderful. Really smart. A great basketball player. A very nice person. But, he is going steady with Donna.\"\r\n\r\nOver the years, when I would tell this story to our children, I would invest my voice with scorn when I said the name, \"Donna.\"\r\n\r\nI always picked up my mail at the CPO before going to Biology class. One day, I sat down at the lab table and opened a letter from my sister Janice. Gregg looked across the lab table and saw the return address.\r\n\r\n\"You know Janice Crouse?\" he asked.\r\n\r\n\"She\'s my sister.\" I answered. And Gregg told me that he had gone to church with Janice when her husband Gilbert was the music director at that church.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1152\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Ron, Gilbert, Jim and Terry, David and Gregg in front, 1980s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1152 \" title=\"Shawmen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shawmen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"328\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother day I opened another letter, this one from my sister Joan. Again, Gregg looked at the return address and asked, \"You know Joan Turrentine?\"\r\n\r\n\"She\'s my sister,\" I told him. And learned that Gregg had played basketball with Joan\'s husband Jim, and that Joan had taught at his high school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1159\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"278\" caption=\"Matthew dunks the ball, while his Daddy holds him, and Andrew waits his turn.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-1159 \" title=\"GAMbasketball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GAMbasketball-698x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"408\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLater that Fall, my BIL Jim had tickets to the Atlanta Braves playoff games. I went home to Georgia to watch the Braves lose to the Mets.\r\n\r\nMy first day back at Asbury, after the Christmas break that year, I was cleaning steam tables in the cafeteria, one of my campus jobs, when Gregg Lewis walked up and asked me if I\'d like to go snow sledding that evening. I assured him that sounded like fun.  We double dated with my brother Mark and his then-girlfriend Martha Crouse.\r\n\r\nAfter sledding down the hill several times, we went to the Grill for hot chocolate and conversation.\r\n\r\nI dated no one else at Asbury.  We married on March 9, 1973, during Spring Break of our senior year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1155\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg with his brothers Mark and Mack at our wedding. In 1973. A VERY 70s wedding!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1155 \" title=\"GMarkMackwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMarkMackwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"286\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1154\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"We married at Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1154\" title=\"DGweddinggaze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGweddinggaze.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1170\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"348\" caption=\"Since we were married before graduation, we walked across the stage together. And Dr. Dennis Kinlaw handed us our diplomas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1170 \" title=\"DGgradcollege\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DGgradcollege-695x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1171\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"469\" caption=\"In 1974 we traveled to Yellowstone. Gregg LOVES fishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1171\" title=\"Greggfishingyellowstone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Greggfishingyellowstone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"612\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Gregg, with his parents, Margie and Ralph Lewis, and Andrew on the day we bought Andrew home from the hospital in August 1979.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1165 \" title=\"Gproudpapa\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gproudpapa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"325\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1168\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg with Matthew in 1981.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1168 \" title=\"GMattbaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GMattbaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"427\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1172\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Gregg with Andrew, Matthew and Lisette, reading, &quot;And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street.&quot; Love that book. Love those children. Love that man.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1172 \" title=\"AMLGreading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLGreading.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1153\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"489\" caption=\"Gregg at age 28. He was an editor at Campus Life Magazine when this was taken.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1153\" title=\"Gat28yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Gat28yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"582\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Gregg reading to Matthew, while my Mother and my Daddy look on. Did I mention that Gregg is an author? That he&#39;&#39;s had 50-plus books published?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1161 \" title=\"RuthCharlesGreggMatt\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RuthCharlesGreggMatt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"420\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1156\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Tall, good-looking man, with three of his tall, good-looking sons. . . Matthew, Gregg, Jonathan and Benjamin. Andrew and Lisette were not with us on that trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1156 \" title=\"MGJBvermont\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MGJBvermont.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1162\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Grandpa Lewis, Matthew at 6 months, Gregg&#39;s dad, Andrew at 2 years, and my tall, good-looking husband.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1162 \" title=\"GrpaLewis,Grpa,MAG\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GrpaLewisGrpaMAG.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"311\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1148\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Our family last June, at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1148 \" title=\"AMLBJJGDwedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AMLBJJGDwedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 30 is Gregg\'s birthday. Happy birthday to my tall, good-looking husband!','My Husband\'s Birthday','','inherit','open','open','','1147-revision-3','','','2012-04-30 22:20:04','2012-05-01 02:20:04','',1147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/04/30/1147-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1184,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:40','2012-06-08 06:13:40','','M&ENativity','Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church\'s Live Nativity.','inherit','open','open','','menativity','','','2012-06-08 02:13:40','2012-06-08 06:13:40','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1185,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:44','2012-06-08 06:13:44','','MattEmilyRed_1','The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that!','inherit','open','open','','mattemilyred_1','','','2012-06-08 02:13:44','2012-06-08 06:13:44','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1186,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:46','2012-06-08 06:13:46','','moosilauke','Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke','inherit','open','open','','moosilauke','','','2012-06-08 02:13:46','2012-06-08 06:13:46','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1187,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:49','2012-06-08 06:13:49','','MattEmilyBaltimore','A few months before their wedding','inherit','open','open','','mattemilybaltimore','','','2012-06-08 02:13:49','2012-06-08 06:13:49','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1188,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:52','2012-06-08 06:13:52','','MattEmilyGile','Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.','inherit','open','open','','mattemilygile','','','2012-06-08 02:13:52','2012-06-08 06:13:52','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1189,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:54','2012-06-08 06:13:54','','Emily20s','','inherit','open','open','','emily20s','','','2012-06-08 02:13:54','2012-06-08 06:13:54','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily20s.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1190,2,'2012-06-08 02:13:57','2012-06-08 06:13:57','','Emily teen','Emily in high school','inherit','open','open','','emily-teen','','','2012-06-08 02:13:57','2012-06-08 06:13:57','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1191,2,'2012-06-08 02:19:09','2012-06-08 06:19:09','','Emily3yr','','inherit','open','open','','emily3yr','','','2012-06-08 02:19:09','2012-06-08 06:19:09','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.tif',0,'attachment','image/tiff',0),(1192,2,'2012-06-08 02:21:05','2012-06-08 06:21:05','','Emily 9yrs','Emiy at 9 years old','inherit','open','open','','emily-9yrs','','','2012-06-08 02:21:05','2012-06-08 06:21:05','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1193,2,'2012-06-08 02:21:08','2012-06-08 06:21:08','','EmilyClimbing7rs','','inherit','open','open','','emilyclimbing7rs','','','2012-06-08 02:21:08','2012-06-08 06:21:08','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1194,2,'2012-06-08 02:22:52','2012-06-08 06:22:52','','Emily3yr','Emily at 3 years.  What a cutie!','inherit','open','open','','emily3yr-2','','','2012-06-08 02:22:52','2012-06-08 06:22:52','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1195,2,'2012-06-08 02:46:28','2012-06-08 06:46:28','We were in California when we got a phone call from our son Matthew, telling us that he had proposed to Emily Brown . . . and that she had said \"yes.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1185\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1185 \" title=\"MattEmilyRed_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"506\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe had met Emily - and fallen in love with her - when we\'d visited Matthew in New Hampshire earlier that year.  We were overjoyed with their good news.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1186\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1186 \" title=\"moosilauke\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"356\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHow well suited Emily is for Matthew! They both love hiking.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1193\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\" caption=\"Emily grew up doing some mountain climbing. Here she is at 7 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1193\" title=\"EmilyClimbing7rs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"629\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And she is an incredibly gifted artist. You should check out her quilts, and her photography on her website at <a href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\">http://greensandjeans.com/</a></p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\" caption=\"Emily at 3 years. What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1194\" title=\"Emily3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr-759x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"782\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of their wedding on July 7, 2007 was that, in preparation for the rehearsal dinner, I got to put together a slide show of photographs of Emily and Matthew, as they were growing up.  By the time I had gone through all the adorable pictures of Emily as a baby. . . and a two year old . . . and a teen, I felt almost as if I\'d gotten to see her blossom as a child.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"457\" caption=\"Emiy at 9 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1192 \" title=\"Emily 9yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1190\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"493\" caption=\"Emily in high school\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1190\" title=\"Emily teen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"493\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1188\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1188 \" title=\"MattEmilyGile\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1187\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A few months before their wedding\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1187 \" title=\"MattEmilyBaltimore\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"535\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1184\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church&#39;s Live Nativity.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1184 \" title=\"M&amp;ENativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Emily.....We love you!','Happy Birthday, Emily!','','inherit','open','open','','1183-revision','','','2012-06-08 02:46:28','2012-06-08 06:46:28','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/06/08/1183-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1196,2,'2012-06-08 02:48:20','2012-06-08 06:48:20','We were in California when we got a phone call from our son Matthew, telling us that he had proposed to Emily Brown . . . and that she had said \"yes.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1185\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1185 \" title=\"MattEmilyRed_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"506\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe had met Emily - and fallen in love with her - when we\'d visited Matthew in New Hampshire earlier that year.  We were overjoyed with their good news.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1186\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1186 \" title=\"moosilauke\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"356\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHow well suited Emily is for Matthew! They both love hiking.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1193\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\" caption=\"Emily grew up doing some mountain climbing. Here she is at 7 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1193\" title=\"EmilyClimbing7rs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"629\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And she is an incredibly gifted artist. You should check out her quilts, and her photography on her website at <a href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\">http://greensandjeans.com/</a></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\" caption=\"Emily at 3 years. What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1194\" title=\"Emily3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr-759x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"782\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of their wedding on July 7, 2007 was that, in preparation for the rehearsal dinner, I got to put together a slide show of photographs of Emily and Matthew, as they were growing up.  By the time I had gone through all the adorable pictures of Emily as a baby. . . and a two year old . . . and a teen, I felt almost as if I\'d gotten to see her blossom as a child.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"457\" caption=\"Emiy at 9 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1192 \" title=\"Emily 9yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1190\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"493\" caption=\"Emily in high school\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1190\" title=\"Emily teen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"493\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1188\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1188 \" title=\"MattEmilyGile\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1187\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A few months before their wedding\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1187 \" title=\"MattEmilyBaltimore\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"535\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1184\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church&#39;s Live Nativity.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1184 \" title=\"M&amp;ENativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHappy Birthday, precious Emily.....We love you!','Happy Birthday, Emily!','','inherit','open','open','','1183-revision-2','','','2012-06-08 02:48:20','2012-06-08 06:48:20','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/06/08/1183-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1197,2,'2012-06-08 02:51:23','2012-06-08 06:51:23','We were in California the summer of 2006 when we got a phone call from our son Matthew, telling us that he had proposed to Emily Brown . . . and that she had said \"yes.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1185\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1185 \" title=\"MattEmilyRed_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"506\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe had met Emily - and fallen in love with her - when we\'d visited Matthew in New Hampshire earlier that year.  We were overjoyed with their good news.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1186\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1186 \" title=\"moosilauke\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"356\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHow well suited Emily is for Matthew! They both love hiking.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1193\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\" caption=\"Emily grew up doing some mountain climbing. Here she is at 7 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1193\" title=\"EmilyClimbing7rs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"629\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And she is an incredibly gifted artist. You should check out her quilts, and her photography on her website at <a href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\">http://greensandjeans.com/</a></p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\" caption=\"Emily at 3 years. What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1194\" title=\"Emily3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr-759x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"782\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of their wedding on July 7, 2007 was that, in preparation for the rehearsal dinner, I got to put together a slide show of photographs of Emily and Matthew, as they were growing up.  By the time I had gone through all the adorable pictures of Emily as a baby. . . and a two year old . . . and a teen, I felt almost as if I\'d gotten to see her blossom as a child.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"457\" caption=\"Emiy at 9 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1192 \" title=\"Emily 9yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1190\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"493\" caption=\"Emily in high school\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1190\" title=\"Emily teen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"493\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1188\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1188 \" title=\"MattEmilyGile\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1187\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"A few months before their wedding\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1187 \" title=\"MattEmilyBaltimore\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"535\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\" caption=\"Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1184\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church&#39;s Live Nativity.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1184 \" title=\"M&amp;ENativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Emily.....You are a gift from God to us (and Matthew).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Emily!','','inherit','open','open','','1183-revision-3','','','2012-06-08 02:51:23','2012-06-08 06:51:23','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/06/08/1183-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1201,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:34','2012-07-06 03:27:34','','AndrewGradGDJ','','inherit','open','open','','andrewgradgdj','','','2012-07-05 23:27:34','2012-07-06 03:27:34','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/AndrewGradGDJ.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1200,2,'2012-07-06 00:01:35','2012-07-06 04:01:35','We got the first phone call just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2006. My husband Gregg was already home from church, starting Sunday dinner. When I walked in the house, just after noon, he told me, “Andrew’s in the hospital in California. They think he may be having a stroke.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew as a newborn[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn 2006, our oldest son Andrew was 26 years old. For two years he had been working for Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Los Angeles, reaching out to gang members already in trouble with the LAPD.\r\n\r\nAt first, Andrew’s friend and YWAM boss, Lisa told us that Andrew was conscious and doctors were hopeful.  We began to discuss which one of us would fly out to California to be with Andrew, and which would stay home and drive our youngest son Jonathan to Camp Glisson.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1204\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1204\" title=\"GD&amp; A15months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"818\" /></a> Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And we called friends and asked for prayer. And those friends called other friends.</p>\r\nLisa called again with a report, and then again a little later. Each call painted a grimmer picture of what was happening with our oldest son. He’d lost consciousness. . . . They’d had to intubate him to keep him breathing. . . . An MRI showed a bleeding brainstem stroke. . . . People rarely survive a brainstem stroke.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1207\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1207\" title=\"Andrewkindergarten\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"797\" /></a> Andrew in kindergarten[/caption]\r\n\r\nOur friends Amanda and Greg called and offered to take Jonathan to Glisson. Our friend Wynn called and offered us his Delta frequent flyer miles and then called Delta and got us both on a plane non-stop to L. A.. My brother-in-law Jim called and told us that he and my sister Joan would drive us to the airport.\r\n\r\nWhen Wynn called with our flight info, we had ten minutes to pack and leave the house. We walked back to our room, grabbed suitcases, threw things in them. Somehow we managed to climb in the car with Jim and Joan ten minutes after Wynn’s phone call. I packed a book on American Sign Language, but forgot to take a nightgown.\r\n\r\nI will always associate the clothes I tossed in the suitcase that day with the events of the following 7 weeks.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1208\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" title=\"Andrewbaseball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"841\" /></a> Andrew playing baseball at age 6[/caption]\r\n\r\nStill in shock, we just chatted with Joan and Jim on the way to the airport. On the plane we were not seated together. We each sat alone in a jam-packed plane and wondered if our Andrew would still be alive when we arrived. Prayed and asked God for a miracle.\r\n\r\nA friend of Andrew’s - neither of us remember who - drove us straight from the L.A. airport to Olive View Medical Center, a UCLA teaching hospital on the edge of the San Gabriel mountains.\r\n\r\nI have no visual memory of walking in and seeing Andrew attached to all the tubes and machines. Shock can be a blessing that way.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first couple of weeks, Andrew’s life hung in the balance. We prayed. We cried. His YWAM friends came, hugged us and prayed with us over Andrew. And I sang.\r\n\r\nAndrew was hooked up to a machine that took his blood pressure every 10 minutes. We watched the machine as his blood pressure zoomed up and down. Listened as the nurses urgently discussed what to do when the readings hit dangerous, stroke-level highs. Heard the panic in their voices as they called doctors and pharmacists and asked if there was <em>anything</em> else they could possibly try.\r\n\r\nAt one such panicky moment, in the first 24 hours we were there, the doctors and nurses had done all they knew to do to bring Andrew’s blood pressure back down, and nothing was helping. All signs indicated an eminent, almost-certainly fatal, second stroke.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1167\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1167 \" title=\"AwithGGrandpaLewisGra\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"337\" /></a> Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis[/caption]\r\n\r\nNot knowing what else to do, but wanting to do SOMETHING for my 26 year old baby, I started to sing to him. As I had done when he was little and needed to calm down enough to sleep. I’ve always believed the idea was inspired by God.\r\n\r\nI sang Isaiah 43:<em> When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And the waves they will not overcome you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One, of Israel, your Savior. Do not fear. Do not fear. I am the Lord.</em>\r\n\r\nAnd I sang: <em>Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. . . Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.</em>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1209\" title=\"Andrew grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad-776x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"765\" /></a> Andrew\'s high school senior photo[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd I sang Isaiah 40: <em>Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, Creator of all the earth, never grows weary. He never gets tired. His understanding is beyond compare. And He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. He will give you strength. He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. Those who wait for Him</em>.\r\n\r\nAnd when I sang, Andrew calmed down. Just like he had as an active baby. And his blood pressure inched back down to safer levels.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1205\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1205 \" title=\"Andrew2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"518\" /></a> Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game[/caption]\r\n\r\nMore later about those seven weeks of our lives, and the way God’s hand moved in the life of our precious son.','I Sang My Baby to Sleep','','publish','open','open','','i-sang-my-baby-to-sleep','','','2012-07-06 00:01:35','2012-07-06 04:01:35','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1200',0,'post','',5),(1202,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:36','2012-07-06 03:27:36','','Andrewcollegegrad2','','inherit','open','open','','andrewcollegegrad2','','','2012-07-05 23:27:36','2012-07-06 03:27:36','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewcollegegrad2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1203,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:39','2012-07-06 03:27:39','','Andrewcollegegrad','','inherit','open','open','','andrewcollegegrad','','','2012-07-05 23:27:39','2012-07-06 03:27:39','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewcollegegrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1204,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:43','2012-07-06 03:27:43','','GD& A15months','Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old','inherit','open','open','','gd-a15months','','','2012-07-05 23:27:43','2012-07-06 03:27:43','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1205,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:46','2012-07-06 03:27:46','','Andrew2010','Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game','inherit','open','open','','andrew2010','','','2012-07-05 23:27:46','2012-07-06 03:27:46','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1206,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:54','2012-07-06 03:27:54','','Andrewnewborn2','Andrew was born at Hospital in St. Charles, \r\nIllinois','inherit','open','open','','andrewnewborn2','','','2012-07-05 23:27:54','2012-07-06 03:27:54','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1207,2,'2012-07-05 23:27:56','2012-07-06 03:27:56','','Andrewkindergarten','Andrew in kindergarten','inherit','open','open','','andrewkindergarten','','','2012-07-05 23:27:56','2012-07-06 03:27:56','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1208,2,'2012-07-05 23:35:21','2012-07-06 03:35:21','','Andrewbaseball','Andrew playing baseball at age 6','inherit','open','open','','andrewbaseball','','','2012-07-05 23:35:21','2012-07-06 03:35:21','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1209,2,'2012-07-05 23:35:24','2012-07-06 03:35:24','','Andrew grad','Andrew\'s high school senior photo','inherit','open','open','','andrew-grad','','','2012-07-05 23:35:24','2012-07-06 03:35:24','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1210,2,'2012-07-05 23:43:01','2012-07-06 03:43:01','We got the first phone call just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2006. My husband Gregg was already home from church, starting Sunday dinner. When I walked in the house, just after noon, he told me, “Andrew’s in the hospital in California. They think he may be having a stroke.”\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew as a newborn[/caption]\n\nBut, at that point, Andrew’s friend and YWAM boss, Lisa, was telling us that Andrew was conscious and doctors were hopeful.  We began to discuss which one of us would fly out to California to be with Andrew and which would stay home and drive our youngest son Jonathan to Camp Glisson.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1204\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1204\" title=\"GD&amp; A15months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"818\" /></a> Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And we called friends and asked for prayer. And those friends called other friends.</p>\nLisa called again with a report, and then again a little later. Each call painted a grimmer picture of what was happening with our oldest son. He’d lost consciousness. . . . They’d had to intubate him to keep him breathing. . . . An MRI showed a bleeding brainstem stroke. . . . People rarely survive a brainstem stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1207\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1207\" title=\"Andrewkindergarten\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"797\" /></a> Andrew in kindergarten[/caption]\n\nOur friends Amanda and Greg called and offered to take Jonathan to Glisson. Our friend Wynn called and offered us his Delta frequent flyer miles and then called Delta and got us both on a plane non-stop to L. A.. My brother-in-law Jim called and told us that he and my sister Joan would drive us to the airport.\n\nWhen Wynn called with our flight info, we had ten minutes to pack and leave the house. We walked back to our room, grabbed suitcases, threw things in them. Somehow we managed to climb in the car with Jim and Joan ten minutes after Wynn’s phone call. I packed a book on American Sign Language, but forgot to take a nightgown.\n\nI will always associate the clothes I tossed in the suitcase that day with the events of the following 7 weeks.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1208\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" title=\"Andrewbaseball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"841\" /></a> Andrew playing baseball at age 6[/caption]\n\nStill in shock, we just chatted with Joan and Jim on the way to the airport. On the plane we were not seated together. We each sat alone in a jam-packed plane and wondered if our Andrew would still be alive when we arrived.\n\nA friend of Andrew’s - neither of us remember who - drove us straight from the L.A. airport to Olive View Medical Center, a UCLA teaching hospital on the edge of the San Gabriel mountains.\n\nI have no visual memory of walking in and seeing Andrew attached to all the tubes and machines. Shock can be a blessing that way.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nThe first couple of days, Andrew’s life hung in the balance. We prayed. We cried. His YWAM friends came, hugged us and prayed with us over Andrew. And I sang.\n\nAndrew was hooked up to a machine that took his blood pressure every 10 minutes. We watched the machine as his blood pressure zoomed up and down. Listened as the nurses urgently discussed what to do when the readings hit dangerous, stroke-level highs. Heard the panic in their voices as they called doctors and pharmacists and asked if there was <em>anything</em> else they could possibly try.\n\nAt one such panicky moment, in the first 24 hours we were there, the doctors and nurses had done all they knew to do to bring Andrew’s blood pressure back down, and nothing was helping. All signs indicated an emminent, almost-certainly fatal, second stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1167\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1167 \" title=\"AwithGGrandpaLewisGra\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"337\" /></a> Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis[/caption]\n\nNot knowing what else to do, but wanting to do SOMETHING for my 26 year old baby, I started to sing to him. As I had done when he was little and needed to calm down enough to sleep. I’ve always believed the idea was inspired by God.\n\nI sang Isaiah 43: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And the waves they will not overcome you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One, of Israel, your Savior. Do not fear. Do not fear. I am the Lord.\n\nAnd I sang: Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. . . Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1209\" title=\"Andrew grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad-776x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"765\" /></a> Andrew\'s high school senior photo[/caption]\n\nAnd I sang Isaiah 40: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, Creator of all the earth, never grows weary. He never gets tired. His understanding is beyong compare. And He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. He will give you strength. He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. Those who wait for Him.\n\nAnd when I sang, Andrew calmed down. Just like he had as an active baby. And his blood pressure inched back down to safer levels.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1205\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1205 \" title=\"Andrew2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"518\" /></a> Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game[/caption]\n\nMore later about those seven weeks of our lives, and the way God’s hand moved in the life of our precious son.','I Sang My Baby to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','1200-revision','','','2012-07-05 23:43:01','2012-07-06 03:43:01','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/07/05/1200-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1211,2,'2012-07-05 23:44:49','2012-07-06 03:44:49','We got the first phone call just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2006. My husband Gregg was already home from church, starting Sunday dinner. When I walked in the house, just after noon, he told me, “Andrew’s in the hospital in California. They think he may be having a stroke.”\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew as a newborn[/caption]\n\nBut, at that point, Andrew’s friend and YWAM boss, Lisa, was telling us that Andrew was conscious and doctors were hopeful.  We began to discuss which one of us would fly out to California to be with Andrew and which would stay home and drive our youngest son Jonathan to Camp Glisson.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1204\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1204\" title=\"GD&amp; A15months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"818\" /></a> Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And we called friends and asked for prayer. And those friends called other friends.</p>\nLisa called again with a report, and then again a little later. Each call painted a grimmer picture of what was happening with our oldest son. He’d lost consciousness. . . . They’d had to intubate him to keep him breathing. . . . An MRI showed a bleeding brainstem stroke. . . . People rarely survive a brainstem stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1207\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1207\" title=\"Andrewkindergarten\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"797\" /></a> Andrew in kindergarten[/caption]\n\nOur friends Amanda and Greg called and offered to take Jonathan to Glisson. Our friend Wynn called and offered us his Delta frequent flyer miles and then called Delta and got us both on a plane non-stop to L. A.. My brother-in-law Jim called and told us that he and my sister Joan would drive us to the airport.\n\nWhen Wynn called with our flight info, we had ten minutes to pack and leave the house. We walked back to our room, grabbed suitcases, threw things in them. Somehow we managed to climb in the car with Jim and Joan ten minutes after Wynn’s phone call. I packed a book on American Sign Language, but forgot to take a nightgown.\n\nI will always associate the clothes I tossed in the suitcase that day with the events of the following 7 weeks.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1208\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" title=\"Andrewbaseball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"841\" /></a> Andrew playing baseball at age 6[/caption]\n\nStill in shock, we just chatted with Joan and Jim on the way to the airport. On the plane we were not seated together. We each sat alone in a jam-packed plane and wondered if our Andrew would still be alive when we arrived.\n\nA friend of Andrew’s - neither of us remember who - drove us straight from the L.A. airport to Olive View Medical Center, a UCLA teaching hospital on the edge of the San Gabriel mountains.\n\nI have no visual memory of walking in and seeing Andrew attached to all the tubes and machines. Shock can be a blessing that way.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nThe first couple of days, Andrew’s life hung in the balance. We prayed. We cried. His YWAM friends came, hugged us and prayed with us over Andrew. And I sang.\n\nAndrew was hooked up to a machine that took his blood pressure every 10 minutes. We watched the machine as his blood pressure zoomed up and down. Listened as the nurses urgently discussed what to do when the readings hit dangerous, stroke-level highs. Heard the panic in their voices as they called doctors and pharmacists and asked if there was <em>anything</em> else they could possibly try.\n\nAt one such panicky moment, in the first 24 hours we were there, the doctors and nurses had done all they knew to do to bring Andrew’s blood pressure back down, and nothing was helping. All signs indicated an emminent, almost-certainly fatal, second stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1167\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1167 \" title=\"AwithGGrandpaLewisGra\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"337\" /></a> Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis[/caption]\n\nNot knowing what else to do, but wanting to do SOMETHING for my 26 year old baby, I started to sing to him. As I had done when he was little and needed to calm down enough to sleep. I’ve always believed the idea was inspired by God.\n\nI sang Isaiah 43: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And the waves they will not overcome you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One, of Israel, your Savior. Do not fear. Do not fear. I am the Lord.\n\nAnd I sang: Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. . . Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1209\" title=\"Andrew grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad-776x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"765\" /></a> Andrew\'s high school senior photo[/caption]\n\nAnd I sang Isaiah 40: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, Creator of all the earth, never grows weary. He never gets tired. His understanding is beyong compare. And He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. He will give you strength. He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. Those who wait for Him.\n\nAnd when I sang, Andrew calmed down. Just like he had as an active baby. And his blood pressure inched back down to safer levels.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1205\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1205 \" title=\"Andrew2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"518\" /></a> Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game[/caption]\n\nMore later about those seven weeks of our lives, and the way God’s hand moved in the life of our precious son.','I Sang My Baby to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','1200-revision-2','','','2012-07-05 23:44:49','2012-07-06 03:44:49','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/07/05/1200-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1212,2,'2012-07-06 00:00:46','2012-07-06 04:00:46','We got the first phone call just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2006. My husband Gregg was already home from church, starting Sunday dinner. When I walked in the house, just after noon, he told me, “Andrew’s in the hospital in California. They think he may be having a stroke.”\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew as a newborn[/caption]\n\nIn 2006, our oldest son Andrew was 26 years old. For two years he had been working for Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Los Angeles, reaching out to gang members already in trouble with the LAPD.\n\nAt first, Andrew’s friend and YWAM boss, Lisa told us that Andrew was conscious and doctors were hopeful.  We began to discuss which one of us would fly out to California to be with Andrew, and which would stay home and drive our youngest son Jonathan to Camp Glisson.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1204\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1204\" title=\"GD&amp; A15months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"818\" /></a> Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And we called friends and asked for prayer. And those friends called other friends.</p>\nLisa called again with a report, and then again a little later. Each call painted a grimmer picture of what was happening with our oldest son. He’d lost consciousness. . . . They’d had to intubate him to keep him breathing. . . . An MRI showed a bleeding brainstem stroke. . . . People rarely survive a brainstem stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1207\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1207\" title=\"Andrewkindergarten\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"797\" /></a> Andrew in kindergarten[/caption]\n\nOur friends Amanda and Greg called and offered to take Jonathan to Glisson. Our friend Wynn called and offered us his Delta frequent flyer miles and then called Delta and got us both on a plane non-stop to L. A.. My brother-in-law Jim called and told us that he and my sister Joan would drive us to the airport.\n\nWhen Wynn called with our flight info, we had ten minutes to pack and leave the house. We walked back to our room, grabbed suitcases, threw things in them. Somehow we managed to climb in the car with Jim and Joan ten minutes after Wynn’s phone call. I packed a book on American Sign Language, but forgot to take a nightgown.\n\nI will always associate the clothes I tossed in the suitcase that day with the events of the following 7 weeks.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1208\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" title=\"Andrewbaseball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"841\" /></a> Andrew playing baseball at age 6[/caption]\n\nStill in shock, we just chatted with Joan and Jim on the way to the airport. On the plane we were not seated together. We each sat alone in a jam-packed plane and wondered if our Andrew would still be alive when we arrived. Prayed and asked God for a miracle.\n\nA friend of Andrew’s - neither of us remember who - drove us straight from the L.A. airport to Olive View Medical Center, a UCLA teaching hospital on the edge of the San Gabriel mountains.\n\nI have no visual memory of walking in and seeing Andrew attached to all the tubes and machines. Shock can be a blessing that way.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nThe first couple of weeks, Andrew’s life hung in the balance. We prayed. We cried. His YWAM friends came, hugged us and prayed with us over Andrew. And I sang.\n\nAndrew was hooked up to a machine that took his blood pressure every 10 minutes. We watched the machine as his blood pressure zoomed up and down. Listened as the nurses urgently discussed what to do when the readings hit dangerous, stroke-level highs. Heard the panic in their voices as they called doctors and pharmacists and asked if there was <em>anything</em> else they could possibly try.\n\nAt one such panicky moment, in the first 24 hours we were there, the doctors and nurses had done all they knew to do to bring Andrew’s blood pressure back down, and nothing was helping. All signs indicated an eminent, almost-certainly fatal, second stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1167\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1167 \" title=\"AwithGGrandpaLewisGra\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"337\" /></a> Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis[/caption]\n\nNot knowing what else to do, but wanting to do SOMETHING for my 26 year old baby, I started to sing to him. As I had done when he was little and needed to calm down enough to sleep. I’ve always believed the idea was inspired by God.\n\nI sang Isaiah 43:<em> When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And the waves they will not overcome you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One, of Israel, your Savior. Do not fear. Do not fear. I am the Lord.</em>\n\nAnd I sang: <em>Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. . . Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.</em>\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1209\" title=\"Andrew grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad-776x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"765\" /></a> Andrew\'s high school senior photo[/caption]\n\nAnd I sang Isaiah 40: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, Creator of all the earth, never grows weary. He never gets tired. His understanding is beyong compare. And He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. He will give you strength. He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. Those who wait for Him.\n\nAnd when I sang, Andrew calmed down. Just like he had as an active baby. And his blood pressure inched back down to safer levels.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1205\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1205 \" title=\"Andrew2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"518\" /></a> Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game[/caption]\n\nMore later about those seven weeks of our lives, and the way God’s hand moved in the life of our precious son.','I Sang My Baby to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','1200-revision-3','','','2012-07-06 00:00:46','2012-07-06 04:00:46','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/07/06/1200-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1214,2,'2012-07-07 12:17:43','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Five years ago today, our son Matthew married Emily Marie Brown, in the chapel at Dartmouth College.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a> Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew on 7-7-2007[/caption]\n\nWe LOVE our son Matthew.','Happy Annivesary to Emily and Matthew','','draft','open','open','','','','','2012-07-07 12:17:43','2012-07-07 16:17:43','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1214',0,'post','',0),(1215,2,'2012-07-07 12:16:09','2012-07-07 16:16:09','Five years ago today, our son Matthew married Emily Marie Brown, in the chapel at Dartmouth College.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a> Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew on 7-7-2007[/caption]\n\nWe LOVE our son Matthew.','Happy Annivesary to Emily and Matthew','','inherit','open','open','','1214-revision','','','2012-07-07 12:16:09','2012-07-07 16:16:09','',1214,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/07/07/1214-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1220,2,'2012-08-22 11:19:44','2012-08-22 15:19:44','Two different fertility specialists told us that we would probably never have children.  When I discovered that I was pregnant with Andrew, our first child, we were seeing the doctor who was the head of the fertility clinic at Loyola University in Chicago.  She referred to Andrew as our \"miracle baby.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew was born at Delnor Community Hospital in St. Charles,<br />Illinois[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew was the first \"Leboyer\" baby ever born at Delnor.  As soon as he was born, the doctor handed him to his daddy and Gregg held our precious baby in a warm \"Leboyer\" bath, to sooth him at his entrance into a new world.  And Andrew looked around.\r\n\r\nThe doctor commented that he\'d never seen a baby, who cried only once, and then appeared to examine the delivery room intently.  That was our first clue that Andrew would be a very visual learner.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old - love those big, observant eyes![/caption]\r\n\r\nI knew I wanted to breastfeed our babies. I did not know how much I would enjoy breastfeeding.  And Andrew latched on quickly and nursed slowly.  He would nurse a little, then look around the room.  Then nurse a little more and look around again.\r\n\r\nHe is still a visual person!\r\n\r\nBefore Andrew was  born, I was SUCH a sound sleeper!  I worried that I would never wake up when he cried at night.  The first night we were home from the hospital, I heard every time he turned over. And every car that pulled out of our apartment complex.  And all the people who talked on the sidewalk outside beside the apartment.\r\n\r\nAt one point, I turned to Gregg and asked if we needed to call the police. Surely something was wrong! He laughed and assured me that cars and people came and went every night. But, before, I had always slept through the noise.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"554\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrewnewfromhospital.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1166\" title=\"Andrewnewfromhospital\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrewnewfromhospital.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"584\" /></a> The day we brought Andrew home from the hospital.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other personality trait we learned early on was that Andrew is a very active person.  He loved to move as a baby.  And he is a do-it-now, get-it-done person as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_975\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"357\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-975\" title=\"Andrewsoccer2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"357\" height=\"435\" /></a> Andrew played soccer from 6 years old through high school.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThings I still love about our first-born son. . . 1) He is such a happy, eager to please, eager to smile person. He gives everything he does 110 percent of his energy and enthusiasm.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew\" width=\"500\" height=\"619\" /></a> Andrew when he was a year old[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"424\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"603\" /></a> Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I\'ve-got personality trait, is it?[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother thing I love about Andrew. . .2) He is such a spiritually sensitive person.  Before his stroke in 2006 - at age 26 - he worked with inner-city gang kids in Los Angeles, with the mission organization <a href=\"http://ywamla.org/home/YWAM_Los_Angeles\" target=\"_blank\">YWAM-LA.</a>  He was not afraid to spend time in Watts and Gardenia - some of the worst areas of that big city - talking with and ministering to young people who needed Jesus.\r\n\r\nEven as a child, he was eager to know more about Jesus. He was only six years old when he asked Jesus into his heart.\r\n\r\nAnd 3) Andrew is such a good big brother. He takes his responsibility toward his younger siblings, very seriously.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"560\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"400\" /></a> Benjamin and Jonathan with Andrew - always a good big brother.[/caption]\r\n\r\nOn August 15, Andrew celebrated his 33rd birthday.  Happy birthday to our precious first-born son!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Andrew, Miracle Baby, Visual Learner, Good Big Brother','','publish','open','open','','andrew-our-miracle-baby','','','2012-08-22 12:39:12','2012-08-22 16:39:12','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1220',0,'post','',0),(1243,2,'2012-09-03 07:35:57','2012-09-03 11:35:57','We were in California the summer of 2006 when we got a phone call from our son Matthew, telling us that he had proposed to Emily Brown . . . and that she had said \"yes.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1185\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1185 \" title=\"MattEmilyRed_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyRed_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"506\" /></a> The evening Matthew proposed. How could we not love a woman who looked at our son like that![/caption]\n\nWe had met Emily - and fallen in love with her - when we\'d visited Matthew in New Hampshire earlier that year.  We were overjoyed with their good news.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1186\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1186 \" title=\"moosilauke\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/moosilauke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"356\" /></a> Matthew and Emily, at the top of Moosilauke[/caption]\n\nHow well suited Emily is for Matthew! They both love hiking.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1193\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1193\" title=\"EmilyClimbing7rs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EmilyClimbing7rs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"629\" /></a> Emily grew up doing some mountain climbing. Here she is at 7 years old.[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And she is an incredibly gifted artist. You should check out her quilts, and her photography on her website at <a href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\">http://greensandjeans.com/</a></p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1194\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1194\" title=\"Emily3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily3yr-759x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"782\" /></a> Emily at 3 years. What a cutie![/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of their wedding on July 7, 2007 was that, in preparation for the rehearsal dinner, I got to put together a slide show of photographs of Emily and Matthew, as they were growing up.  By the time I had gone through all the adorable pictures of Emily as a baby. . . and a two year old . . . and a teen, I felt almost as if I\'d gotten to see her blossom as a child.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"457\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1192 \" title=\"Emily 9yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-9yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"360\" /></a> Emiy at 9 years old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1190\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"493\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1190\" title=\"Emily teen\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Emily-teen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"493\" height=\"512\" /></a> Emily in high school[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1188\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1188 \" title=\"MattEmilyGile\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyGile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"234\" /></a> Emily and Matthew have done a LOT of mountain climbing.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1187\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1187 \" title=\"MattEmilyBaltimore\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MattEmilyBaltimore.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"535\" /></a> A few months before their wedding[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"232\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1070\" title=\"Emily&amp;Matthew 7-7-07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EmilyMatthew-7-7-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"234\" /></a> Matthew and Emily on their wedding day, July 7, 2007[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1184\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1184 \" title=\"M&amp;ENativity\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MENativity.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a> Last Christmas Eve, Emily and Matthew played the roles of Mary and Joseph, in our church\'s Live Nativity.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Emily.....You are a gift from God to us (and Matthew).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Emily!','','inherit','open','open','','1183-autosave','','','2012-09-03 07:35:57','2012-09-03 11:35:57','',1183,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/03/1183-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1222,2,'2012-08-22 11:12:56','2012-08-22 15:12:56','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','1220-revision','','','2012-08-22 11:12:56','2012-08-22 15:12:56','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1223,2,'2012-08-22 11:13:39','2012-08-22 15:13:39','','Andrew, Our Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1220-revision-2','','','2012-08-22 11:13:39','2012-08-22 15:13:39','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1224,2,'2012-08-22 11:15:34','2012-08-22 15:15:34','We got the first phone call just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2006. My husband Gregg was already home from church, starting Sunday dinner. When I walked in the house, just after noon, he told me, “Andrew’s in the hospital in California. They think he may be having a stroke.”\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew as a newborn[/caption]\n\nIn 2006, our oldest son Andrew was 26 years old. For two years he had been working for Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Los Angeles, reaching out to gang members already in trouble with the LAPD.\n\nAt first, Andrew’s friend and YWAM boss, Lisa told us that Andrew was conscious and doctors were hopeful.  We began to discuss which one of us would fly out to California to be with Andrew, and which would stay home and drive our youngest son Jonathan to Camp Glisson.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1204\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1204\" title=\"GD&amp; A15months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/GD-A15months-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"818\" /></a> Gregg and me, with Andrew when he was 15 months old[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And we called friends and asked for prayer. And those friends called other friends.</p>\nLisa called again with a report, and then again a little later. Each call painted a grimmer picture of what was happening with our oldest son. He’d lost consciousness. . . . They’d had to intubate him to keep him breathing. . . . An MRI showed a bleeding brainstem stroke. . . . People rarely survive a brainstem stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1207\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1207\" title=\"Andrewkindergarten\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewkindergarten-745x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"797\" /></a> Andrew in kindergarten[/caption]\n\nOur friends Amanda and Greg called and offered to take Jonathan to Glisson. Our friend Wynn called and offered us his Delta frequent flyer miles and then called Delta and got us both on a plane non-stop to L. A.. My brother-in-law Jim called and told us that he and my sister Joan would drive us to the airport.\n\nWhen Wynn called with our flight info, we had ten minutes to pack and leave the house. We walked back to our room, grabbed suitcases, threw things in them. Somehow we managed to climb in the car with Jim and Joan ten minutes after Wynn’s phone call. I packed a book on American Sign Language, but forgot to take a nightgown.\n\nI will always associate the clothes I tossed in the suitcase that day with the events of the following 7 weeks.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1208\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" title=\"Andrewbaseball\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewbaseball.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"841\" /></a> Andrew playing baseball at age 6[/caption]\n\nStill in shock, we just chatted with Joan and Jim on the way to the airport. On the plane we were not seated together. We each sat alone in a jam-packed plane and wondered if our Andrew would still be alive when we arrived. Prayed and asked God for a miracle.\n\nA friend of Andrew’s - neither of us remember who - drove us straight from the L.A. airport to Olive View Medical Center, a UCLA teaching hospital on the edge of the San Gabriel mountains.\n\nI have no visual memory of walking in and seeing Andrew attached to all the tubes and machines. Shock can be a blessing that way.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nThe first couple of weeks, Andrew’s life hung in the balance. We prayed. We cried. His YWAM friends came, hugged us and prayed with us over Andrew. And I sang.\n\nAndrew was hooked up to a machine that took his blood pressure every 10 minutes. We watched the machine as his blood pressure zoomed up and down. Listened as the nurses urgently discussed what to do when the readings hit dangerous, stroke-level highs. Heard the panic in their voices as they called doctors and pharmacists and asked if there was <em>anything</em> else they could possibly try.\n\nAt one such panicky moment, in the first 24 hours we were there, the doctors and nurses had done all they knew to do to bring Andrew’s blood pressure back down, and nothing was helping. All signs indicated an eminent, almost-certainly fatal, second stroke.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1167\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1167 \" title=\"AwithGGrandpaLewisGra\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AwithGGrandpaLewisGra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"337\" /></a> Andrew with his Dad, his Grandpa and his great-grandpa Lewis[/caption]\n\nNot knowing what else to do, but wanting to do SOMETHING for my 26 year old baby, I started to sing to him. As I had done when he was little and needed to calm down enough to sleep. I’ve always believed the idea was inspired by God.\n\nI sang Isaiah 43:<em> When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And the waves they will not overcome you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One, of Israel, your Savior. Do not fear. Do not fear. I am the Lord.</em>\n\nAnd I sang: <em>Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. . . Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.</em>\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1209\" title=\"Andrew grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-grad-776x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"765\" /></a> Andrew\'s high school senior photo[/caption]\n\nAnd I sang Isaiah 40: <em>Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, Creator of all the earth, never grows weary. He never gets tired. His understanding is beyond compare. And He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. He will give you strength. He will lift you up on eagle’s wings. Those who wait for Him</em>.\n\nAnd when I sang, Andrew calmed down. Just like he had as an active baby. And his blood pressure inched back down to safer levels.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1205\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1205 \" title=\"Andrew2010\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew2010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"518\" /></a> Andrew in 2010, watching his youngest brother film a baseball game[/caption]\n\nMore later about those seven weeks of our lives, and the way God’s hand moved in the life of our precious son.','I Sang My Baby to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','1200-autosave','','','2012-08-22 11:15:34','2012-08-22 15:15:34','',1200,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1200-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1225,2,'2012-08-22 11:14:06','2012-08-22 15:14:06','','Andrew, Our Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1220-revision-3','','','2012-08-22 11:14:06','2012-08-22 15:14:06','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1226,2,'2012-08-22 12:38:32','2012-08-22 16:38:32','Two different fertility specialists told us that we would probably never have children.  When I discovered that I was pregnant with Andrew, our first child, we were seeing the doctor who was the head of the fertility clinic at Loyola University in Chicago.  She referred to Andrew as our \"miracle baby.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1206\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"509\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" title=\"Andrewnewborn2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrewnewborn2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"585\" /></a> Andrew was born at Delnor Community Hospital in St. Charles,<br />Illinois[/caption]\n\nAndrew was the first \"Leboyer\" baby ever born at Delnor.  As soon as he was born, the doctor handed him to his daddy and Gregg held our precious baby in a warm \"Leboyer\" bath, to sooth him at his entrance into a new world.  And Andrew looked around.\n\nThe doctor commented that he\'d never seen a baby, who cried only once, and then appeared to examine the delivery room intently.  That was our first clue that Andrew would be a very visual learner.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1127\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"580\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-1127\" title=\"Andrew6mofingers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrew6mofingers-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"828\" /></a> Andrew at 6 months old - love those big, observant eyes![/caption]\n\nI knew I wanted to breastfeed our babies. I did not know how much I would enjoy breastfeeding.  And Andrew latched on quickly and nursed slowly.  He would nurse a little, then look around the room.  Then nurse a little more and look around again.\n\nHe is still a visual person!\n\nBefore Andrew was  born, I was SUCH a sound sleeper!  I worried that I would never wake up when he cried at night.  The first night we were home from the hospital, I heard every time he turned over. And every car that pulled out of our apartment complex.  And all the people who talked on the sidewalk outside beside the apartment.\n\nAt one point, I turned to Gregg and asked if we needed to call the police. Surely something was wrong! He laughed and assured me that cars and people came and went every night. But, before, I had always slept through the noise.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"554\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrewnewfromhospital.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1166\" title=\"Andrewnewfromhospital\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Andrewnewfromhospital.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"584\" /></a> The day we brought Andrew home from the hospital.[/caption]\n\nThe other personality trait we learned early on was that Andrew is a very active person.  He loved to move as a baby.  And he is a do-it-now, get-it-done person as an adult.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_975\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"357\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-975\" title=\"Andrewsoccer2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Andrewsoccer2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"357\" height=\"435\" /></a> Andrew played soccer from 6 years old through high school.[/caption]\n\nThings I still love about our first-born son. . . 1) He is such a happy, eager to please, eager to smile person. He gives everything he does 110 percent of his energy and enthusiasm.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew\" width=\"500\" height=\"619\" /></a> Andrew when he was a year old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"424\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"603\" /></a> Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I\'ve-got personality trait, is it?[/caption]\n\nAnother thing I love about Andrew. . .2) He is such a spiritually sensitive person.  Before his stroke in 2006 - at age 26 - he worked with inner-city gang kids in Los Angeles, with the mission organization <a href=\"http://ywamla.org/home/YWAM_Los_Angeles\" target=\"_blank\">YWAM-LA.</a>  He was not afraid to spend time in Watts and Gardenia - some of the worst areas of that big city - talking with and ministering to young people who needed Jesus.\n\nEven as a child, he was eager to know more about Jesus. He was only six years old when he asked Jesus into his heart.\n\nAnd 3) Andrew is such a good big brother. He takes his responsibility toward his younger siblings, very seriously.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1120\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"560\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-1120 \" title=\"BenJonAndrewatMothers\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BenJonAndrewatMothers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"400\" /></a> Benjamin and Jonathan with Andrew - always a good big brother.[/caption]\n\nOn August 15, Andrew celebrated\n\n&nbsp;','Andrew, Miracle Baby, Visual Learner, Good Big Brother','','inherit','open','open','','1220-autosave','','','2012-08-22 12:38:32','2012-08-22 16:38:32','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1227,2,'2012-08-22 11:19:44','2012-08-22 15:19:44','','Andrew, Our Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1220-revision-4','','','2012-08-22 11:19:44','2012-08-22 15:19:44','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1228,2,'2012-08-22 11:35:09','2012-08-22 15:35:09','Two different fertility specialists told us that we would probably never have children.\n\nWe had been married five years when we began our infertility journey.  I took my temperature every morning. Each month saw a fertility doctor.  Every few months we got moved along to another, more specialized doctor.  Each doctor ran tests, which became increasing invasive, more expensive, more embarrassing.  And each month we got bad news.\n\nWe would leave the doctor\'s office, and just make it to our car before I would dissolve into tears.\n\nWe were finally bumped up to a fertility specialist in a neighboring suburb, who still holds the record for most obnoxious, unkind, unfeeling doctor I\'ve ever had the misfortune to see as a patient.\n\nI left his office, determined to never see him again. I called the fertility clinic at Loyola University and made an appointment','Andrew, Our Miracle Baby','','inherit','open','open','','1220-revision-5','','','2012-08-22 11:35:09','2012-08-22 15:35:09','',1220,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/22/1220-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1229,2,'2011-10-19 11:48:34','2011-10-19 11:48:34','<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word_Bible_Study_Fellowship\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690448&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\r\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\r\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','inherit','open','open','','25-revision-5','','','2011-10-19 11:48:34','2011-10-19 11:48:34','',25,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/19/25-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1265,2,'2012-09-10 22:58:45','2012-09-11 02:58:45','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\n\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\n\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\n\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\n\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1246\" title=\"JessicaKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"592\" height=\"755\" /></a>\n\n2) She is a sweet Christian, who encourages Jonathan to be all God is calling him to be.\n\n1) She loves Jonathan. How could we not love a woman who looks at our son this way?\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1262\" title=\"JessJonMillBerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"409\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Happy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1247\" title=\"JessJonengageparty\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"405\" /></a></p>','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-8','','','2012-09-10 22:58:45','2012-09-11 02:58:45','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1231,2,'2012-08-25 23:27:06','2012-08-26 03:27:06','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So that Gregg could \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\r\n\r\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\r\n\r\nLisette spent a lot of time watching and laughing at the antics of her two older brothers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Shaw side of our family had four boys born in quick succession: Joey; Andrew; Joshua and Matthew. Then four girls: Amanda; Brannon; Lisette and Jessica. (Our son Benjamin was born between Lisette and Jessica.)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo Lisette had close-in-age girl cousins to play with. Brannon was only 19 days older and lived in the same town.  And she had a brother only 19 months younger.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself. She was - and is - courageous and adventuresome.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd she is a WONDERFUL sister! To the two brothers who are older and to the two brothers who are younger.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\r\n\r\nLisette spent two years as a missionary-teacher in Kenya, running a one-room school for the children of missionary doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. She plans to return to Kenya again next January. Check out her <a title=\"Third World Viewpoint\" href=\"http://http://lisetteinkenya.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">blog here.</a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"199\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">She is amazing!</p>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','publish','open','open','','every-mother-should-have-a-daughter','','','2012-08-25 23:27:06','2012-08-26 03:27:06','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1231',0,'post','',0),(1232,2,'2012-08-23 22:17:32','2012-08-24 02:17:32','[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"799\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"799\" height=\"559\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"576\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"422\" /></a> Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision','','','2012-08-23 22:17:32','2012-08-24 02:17:32','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/23/1231-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1233,2,'2012-08-23 22:23:06','2012-08-24 02:23:06','[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"799\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"799\" height=\"559\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"576\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"422\" /></a> Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself[/caption]','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-2','','','2012-08-23 22:23:06','2012-08-24 02:23:06','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/23/1231-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1234,2,'2012-08-23 22:24:34','2012-08-24 02:24:34','[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"799\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"799\" height=\"559\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"576\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"422\" /></a> Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself[/caption]','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-3','','','2012-08-23 22:24:34','2012-08-24 02:24:34','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/23/1231-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1235,2,'2012-08-23 22:34:33','2012-08-24 02:34:33','[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"799\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\">Our only daughter, Sarah Lisette, was born on August 23, just before 9 on a Tuesday morning.<img class=\"size-full wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"799\" height=\"559\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"576\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"422\" /></a> Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-4','','','2012-08-23 22:34:33','2012-08-24 02:34:33','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/23/1231-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1237,2,'2012-08-24 02:49:49','2012-08-24 06:49:49','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So Gregg got to \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\n\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-6','','','2012-08-24 02:49:49','2012-08-24 06:49:49','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/24/1231-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1236,2,'2012-08-24 02:39:56','2012-08-24 06:39:56','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 8 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette - and three of her brothers - were born at home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in  attendance.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"576\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"422\" /></a> Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-5','','','2012-08-24 02:39:56','2012-08-24 06:39:56','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/24/1231-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1238,2,'2012-08-24 02:59:17','2012-08-24 06:59:17','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So Gregg got to \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\n\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nLisette spent a lot of time watching and laughing at the antics of her two older brothers.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\nThe Shaw side of our family had four boys born in quick succession: Joey; Andrew; Joshua and Matthew. Then four girls: Amanda; Brannon; Lisette and Jessica.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\nSo Lisette had close-in-age girl cousins to play with. Brannon was only 19 days older and lived in the same town.  And she had a brother only 19 months younger.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself.[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-7','','','2012-08-24 02:59:17','2012-08-24 06:59:17','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/24/1231-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1239,2,'2012-08-25 23:18:06','2012-08-26 03:18:06','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So that Gregg could \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\n\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nLisette spent a lot of time watching and laughing at the antics of her two older brothers.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\nThe Shaw side of our family had four boys born in quick succession: Joey; Andrew; Joshua and Matthew. Then four girls: Amanda; Brannon; Lisette and Jessica.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\nSo Lisette had close-in-age girl cousins to play with. Brannon was only 19 days older and lived in the same town.  And she had a brother only 19 months younger.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself. She was - and is - courageous and adventuresome.[/caption]\n\nAnd she is a WONDERFUL sister! To the two brothers who are older and to the two brothers who are younger.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\nLisette spent two years as a missionary-teacher in Kenya, running a one-room school for the children of missionary doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. She plans to return to Kenya again next January.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-8','','','2012-08-25 23:18:06','2012-08-26 03:18:06','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/25/1231-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1240,2,'2012-08-25 23:18:20','2012-08-26 03:18:20','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So that Gregg could \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\r\n\r\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\r\n\r\nLisette spent a lot of time watching and laughing at the antics of her two older brothers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Shaw side of our family had four boys born in quick succession: Joey; Andrew; Joshua and Matthew. Then four girls: Amanda; Brannon; Lisette and Jessica.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo Lisette had close-in-age girl cousins to play with. Brannon was only 19 days older and lived in the same town.  And she had a brother only 19 months younger.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself. She was - and is - courageous and adventuresome.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd she is a WONDERFUL sister! To the two brothers who are older and to the two brothers who are younger.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\r\n\r\nLisette spent two years as a missionary-teacher in Kenya, running a one-room school for the children of missionary doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. She plans to return to Kenya again next January.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"249\" /></a>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-9','','','2012-08-25 23:18:20','2012-08-26 03:18:20','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/25/1231-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1241,2,'2012-08-25 23:26:51','2012-08-26 03:26:51','Our daughter Sarah Lisette was born on August 23, just before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning.  Lisette was born at our home, with a doctor and a nurse-midwife in attendance.  Dr. Griffin, dressed in jeans and a wrinkled short sleeve shirt, slouched against the door frame of the bedroom and gave my husband Gregg instructions. So that Gregg could \"catch\" Lisette as she was born.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"335\" /></a> The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.[/caption]\n\nOne of the joys of home birth is having older siblings included in the birth. Andrew and Matthew came into the room to greet their sister just minutes after Lisette was born.\n\nLisette was SUCH a happy baby. She enjoyed nursing. She gurgled and giggled and played and smiled. And smiled.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1119\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1119\" title=\"Lisette6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lisette6mo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"653\" /></a> Lisette at 6 months old[/caption]\n\nLisette spent a lot of time watching and laughing at the antics of her two older brothers.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" title=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette\" width=\"499\" height=\"655\" /></a> Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles[/caption]\n\nThe Shaw side of our family had four boys born in quick succession: Joey; Andrew; Joshua and Matthew. Then four girls: Amanda; Brannon; Lisette and Jessica. (Our son Benjamin was born between Lisette and Jessica.)\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1034\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"518\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1034\" title=\"girlcousinsMexicoBeach\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girlcousinsMexicoBeach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"335\" /></a> Lisette, Brannon, Amanda and Jessica, four girl cousins having fun at the family beach vacation[/caption]\n\nSo Lisette had close-in-age girl cousins to play with. Brannon was only 19 days older and lived in the same town.  And she had a brother only 19 months younger.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"659\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"363\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"363\" height=\"472\" /></a> Lisette braved the zipline over the Hersey River, by herself. She was - and is - courageous and adventuresome.[/caption]\n\nAnd she is a WONDERFUL sister! To the two brothers who are older and to the two brothers who are younger.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a> Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall[/caption]\n\nLisette spent two years as a missionary-teacher in Kenya, running a one-room school for the children of missionary doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. She plans to return to Kenya again next January. Check out her <a title=\"Third World Viewpoint\" href=\"http://http://lisetteinkenya.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">blog here.</a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-584\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21-e1321227694118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"199\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">She is amazing!</p>','Every Mother Should Have a Daughter','','inherit','open','open','','1231-revision-10','','','2012-08-25 23:26:51','2012-08-26 03:26:51','',1231,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/08/25/1231-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1244,2,'2012-09-10 23:00:26','2012-09-11 03:00:26','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\r\n\r\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\r\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\r\n\r\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\r\n\r\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\r\n\r\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\r\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\r\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\r\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1246\" title=\"JessicaKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"592\" height=\"755\" /></a>\r\n\r\n2) She is a sweet Christian, who encourages Jonathan to be all God is calling him to be.\r\n\r\n1) She loves Jonathan. How could we not love a woman who looks at our son this way?\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1262\" title=\"JessJonMillBerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"409\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Happy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1247\" title=\"JessJonengageparty\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"405\" /></a></p>','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','publish','open','open','','happy-birthday-jessica','','','2012-09-10 23:00:26','2012-09-11 03:00:26','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1244',0,'post','',1),(1245,2,'2012-09-10 08:02:58','2012-09-10 12:02:58','','JessWaterfall','','inherit','open','open','','jesswaterfall','','','2012-09-10 08:02:58','2012-09-10 12:02:58','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1246,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:02','2012-09-10 12:03:02','','JessicaKinder','','inherit','open','open','','jessicakinder','','','2012-09-10 08:03:02','2012-09-10 12:03:02','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1247,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:04','2012-09-10 12:03:04','','JessJonengageparty','','inherit','open','open','','jessjonengageparty','','','2012-09-10 08:03:04','2012-09-10 12:03:04','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1248,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:07','2012-09-10 12:03:07','','Jessica3yrs','','inherit','open','open','','jessica3yrs','','','2012-09-10 08:03:07','2012-09-10 12:03:07','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1249,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:10','2012-09-10 12:03:10','','JessicaJerry','','inherit','open','open','','jessicajerry','','','2012-09-10 08:03:10','2012-09-10 12:03:10','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1250,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:12','2012-09-10 12:03:12','','Jessicasoccer','','inherit','open','open','','jessicasoccer','','','2012-09-10 08:03:12','2012-09-10 12:03:12','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1251,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:15','2012-09-10 12:03:15','','JonJesswedding','','inherit','open','open','','jonjesswedding','','','2012-09-10 08:03:15','2012-09-10 12:03:15','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1252,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:18','2012-09-10 12:03:18','','JonJessLuOscarfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','jonjessluoscarfeatured','','','2012-09-10 08:03:18','2012-09-10 12:03:18','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscarfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1253,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:22','2012-09-10 12:03:22','','JonJessLuOscar','','inherit','open','open','','jonjessluoscar','','','2012-09-10 08:03:22','2012-09-10 12:03:22','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1254,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:24','2012-09-10 12:03:24','','JonJessDec2011','','inherit','open','open','','jonjessdec2011','','','2012-09-10 08:03:24','2012-09-10 12:03:24','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessDec2011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1255,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:26','2012-09-10 12:03:26','','JonJessGtown','','inherit','open','open','','jonjessgtown','','','2012-09-10 08:03:26','2012-09-10 12:03:26','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1256,2,'2012-09-10 08:03:30','2012-09-10 12:03:30','','TonyaJonJessChris','','inherit','open','open','','tonyajonjesschris','','','2012-09-10 08:03:30','2012-09-10 12:03:30','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1257,2,'2012-09-10 08:02:16','2012-09-10 12:02:16','','Happy Birthday Jessica','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision','','','2012-09-10 08:02:16','2012-09-10 12:02:16','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1258,2,'2012-09-10 21:17:27','2012-09-11 01:17:27','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\n\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\n\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\n\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\n\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-2','','','2012-09-10 21:17:27','2012-09-11 01:17:27','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1259,2,'2012-09-10 21:17:33','2012-09-11 01:17:33','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\r\n\r\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\r\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\r\n\r\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\r\n\r\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHappy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-3','','','2012-09-10 21:17:33','2012-09-11 01:17:33','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1260,2,'2012-09-10 22:32:26','2012-09-11 02:32:26','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\n\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\n\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\n\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\n\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-4','','','2012-09-10 22:32:26','2012-09-11 02:32:26','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1261,2,'2012-09-10 22:34:27','2012-09-11 02:34:27','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\n\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\n\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\n\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\n\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1246\" title=\"JessicaKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"592\" height=\"755\" /></a>\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-5','','','2012-09-10 22:34:27','2012-09-11 02:34:27','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1262,2,'2012-09-10 22:53:21','2012-09-11 02:53:21','','JessJonMillBerry','','inherit','open','open','','jessjonmillberry','','','2012-09-10 22:53:21','2012-09-11 02:53:21','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1263,2,'2012-09-10 22:39:25','2012-09-11 02:39:25','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\n\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\n\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\n\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\n\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1246\" title=\"JessicaKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"592\" height=\"755\" /></a>\n\nHappy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-6','','','2012-09-10 22:39:25','2012-09-11 02:39:25','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1264,2,'2012-09-10 22:55:20','2012-09-11 02:55:20','On June 11, 2011, our youngest son Jonathan married his lovely wife Jessica, in High Bridge, Kentucky. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1251\" title=\"JonJesswedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJesswedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"360\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIn recognition of her birthday, here is a list of Ten Reasons We Love Our DIL Jessica:\r\n\r\n10) Jessica is adventuresome, fearless and willing to try new things.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1245\" title=\"JessWaterfall\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessWaterfall-688x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"863\" /></a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">9) She, like Jonathan, is a dog-lover. And, like Jonathan, Jess grew up with and loves boxers. And she LOVES Oscar and LuLu, their dogs, pictured below.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1253\" title=\"JonJessLuOscar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessLuOscar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"363\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">8) Also, like Jonathan, she was a competitive soccer player. Jessica played on an Olympic Development soccer team when she was in high school. And, again like Jonathan, attended Asbury University on a soccer scholarship.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1250\" title=\"Jessicasoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessicasoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"603\" /></a></p>\r\n7) As an athlete she takes her health seriously. And consequently, she cooks healthy, delicious meals for our son. And for us when we visit. Below is a photo of Jonathan and Jessica, the first time we visited them in their apartment in Georgetown, Kentucky.\r\n\r\nI still like to roast veggies the way Jessica prepared them that evening. We enjoy <em>herbs de provence</em>, one of her favorite herbs for seasoning. She is an amazing cook.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"JonJessGtown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JonJessGtown-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"773\" /></a>\r\n\r\n6) She is studying health and nutrition, in order to become life coach.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n5) And she values love, friendship and family.  She is a loving daughter to her father Jerry.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1249\" title=\"JessicaJerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaJerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"307\" /></a></p>\r\n 4) She is a loving and courageous daughter to her mother Tonya, and loving sister to her brother Chris.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1256\" title=\"TonyaJonJessChris\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TonyaJonJessChris.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\r\n3)She is a beautiful young woman and was an adorable little girl. Here she is at three years old. What a cutie!\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1248\" title=\"Jessica3yrs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jessica3yrs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"435\" height=\"606\" /></a></p>\r\nAnd here she is in kindergarten.  See what I mean about being adorable?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1246\" title=\"JessicaKinder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessicaKinder.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"592\" height=\"755\" /></a>\r\n\r\n2) She is a sweet Christian, who encourages Jonathan to be all God is calling him to be.\r\n\r\n1) She loves Jonathan. How could we not love a woman who looks at our son this way?\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1262\" title=\"JessJonMillBerry\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonMillBerry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"409\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Happy Birthday, precious Jessica.....You are a gift from God to us (and Jonathan).  We love you!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1247\" title=\"JessJonengageparty\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JessJonengageparty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"405\" /></a></p>','Happy Birthday, Jessica!','','inherit','open','open','','1244-revision-7','','','2012-09-10 22:55:20','2012-09-11 02:55:20','',1244,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/09/10/1244-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0);
