Paige Barnes

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Reason #9 that I love my husband: He can handle things. You know most guys can't handle all the "mom" stuff that we do. I work weekend nights and hubs has the kids all by himself. He's doing a fabulous job! In fact, this weekend he will be taking Big Red to two birthday parties and take care of a sick newborn. Fatherhood looks really good on him and there is no one I trust more with my babies than their wonderful daddy. ~Paige

Make a Smilebox greeting

Reason #18 that I love my husband: Some of the things he does. Like he went and bought me feminine products when we were on a trip once. Keep in mind this was before we were married. We were engaged at least! He commented that in that particular country town in Alabama that probably made us legally married! :) Like the fact that today he is going to buy special formula and gas drops because I can't get out with the baby and she's not tolerating her formula well. Like the fact that he could hold his own with a Diabetic Educator on such topics as insulin pumps, carb counting, and diabetic foot care. Like the fact that he is learning infant CPR because we have a new baby who was sick when she was first born. Like the fact that he hates needles, but can give an insulin shot or implant the new insulin port without flinching. (Although he, we both, hate having to do that). Like the fact that he is now our son's new Cub Master, even though he doesn't like standing in ...

Big Red the cowboy! Daddy and his girls. Reason #22 that I love my husband: He has given me two beautiful children. Big Red (7 1/2) is outgoing and outspoken. He is funny and creative and so smart. He has a tender heart, and is very inquisitive. He likes to learn about all sorts of things. He is a strong, brave boy, who truly is my hero. He prays every night for lots of interesting things, but he never forgets to pray for all the kids who have diabetes that don't have access to health care - that they will be taken care of. That humbles me. He is the most beautiful child in the world. Baby Girl (3 weeks) is dainty and girly already. She has her daddy and mommy wrapped around her small little finger already. She is a happy, contented baby and is such a joy to us already. She gave a quite a scare during my pregnancy and when she was born. We look forward to watching her grow. She is the most beautiful child in the world. ~Paige

Reason #23 that I love my husband: I overheard him say this... "Sweet baby Kate, you have no idea how much I love my babies" . I was fixing my hair in the bathroom this morning while he was holding and talking to our new baby girl. Now, that's a man for you - a strong man of God, wonderful husband, and amazing father.

Happy 30th Birthday to the love of my life! I will be posting 30 reasons (in random order) that I love my husband for the next 30 days in honor of his 30th birthday! Reason #30 that I love my husband: My children adore him. Big Red is as much a mama's boy as he is a daddy's boy, but he has always had a special place in his heart for his daddy. He lovingly makes him books of printer paper colored with his favorite things (Star Wars, Transformers, and pictures of our family) and stapled together and titled "Dad". He always asks his daddy if he can "come home early from work today". He told my husband one day that he wanted to be an engineer like him and work in his office one day. He always wants me to call or IM his daddy when we get home from school and something great has happened. He loves to play video games with his daddy. He thinks his daddy knows everything there is to know about everything in the world. He thinks his daddy can fix anything th...

Mommy finally at home with her babies! Kate in her going home outfit. A dress worn by her cousin and a vintage sweater and bonnet worn by all the girls in daddy's family. Mommy and her babies. They had to test Kate's carseat before we could get her ready to come home. After nine days in the NICU (with WONDERFUL doctors and nurses) we could come home! Praising our sweet Jesus for healing and allowing our family to all be together again. We are looking forward to the midnight feedings and dirty diapers!

Big brother holding little sister for the first time on her 1 week birthday in the NICU! On our 4th day in the NICU they told us that Kate would be moving to the other side which they called Progressive Care. It's like the NICU step-down unit. We were still a little concerned about her eating, but she was keeping her food down and so at this point of our journey we were making sure the food continued to stay down, she was peeing and pooping, and gaining weight. They were still monitoring all of her vital signs and such. She was still losing a little weight, which is normal for babies, and especially since they had not let her eat the first three days of her life. Her IV was out so she was not getting any supplementation. On Thursday, her 1 week birthday, we went in that morning expecting to take her home. But her bilirubin level had gone up and she was back under the blili-lights. We felt as if the wind had been sucked out of us. She would stay under the bili-lights for the nex...

Big Brother can't hold little sister, but he can kiss her! Mommy holding baby Kate in the NICU. Daddy feeding baby Kate, and hoping it will stay down! Kate stayed 4 days in the NICU side. They were constantly monitoring her heart rate, respirations, oxygen level, and temperature. On day two she went down for her tests for her bowels. We had been praying for poop as this would let us know that her bowels were functioning correctly. I even had one friend tell me "I have prayed for many things in my life, but this is my first poop prayer"! I was allowed to accompany the nurse and Kate to radiology, but had to wait in the waiting room during her test. I was told not only did she poop, but she pooped across the room on the radiologist. Yay for baby Kate! Prayers were answered. The neonatologist told us there was no evidence of the Hirschprung's Disease. She was also having trouble on the upper end of her gastrointestinal system - not keeping her food down. The doctor...

Mommy holding baby Kate in the Special Care Nursery for the first time since the delivery room. Baby Kate and her little IV. Before this was all over she had an IV in three different places, bless her little heart! We were so proud to welcome our new baby Kate into the world. She started her journey in the nursery with some minor breathing problems because she was born about 4 weeks early. She was then moved to the Special Care Nursery because her abdomen became distended (swollen) and she was not keeping any of her food down. We were allowed to see her when we wanted to, but she wasn't able to come to our room. Big Brother was not allowed to see her except through the nursery window. He was so sad that he couldn't hold baby sister. He loves her so already! They put an IV in her and were not allowing her to eat. We were so worried about our little girl, so the prayers started going up! We knew God had our baby in His mighty hands so we prayed for healing. Now we would jus...

Kate Jillian Barnes October 1, 2009 @ 11:53pm 7 lbs and 18 inches

We are having a girl! We will name her Kate Jillian (the Jillian part being after her aunt B). So, since we are having a girl, here are a few things I have been looking at.

While people are rushing to the polls today to get their vote in, I am sitting at home with the boy. We just had a long conversation about what we are thankful for. The stuff that most often we take for granted because (thanks be to God) we've always had it. But this is not the case for many people, children, in other parts of the world. For the past three years our family has sponsored a child through Compassion International . We've prayed for him, sent him money each month, and wrote him letters. This has been very rewarding for us in many ways. We know that God has called us to do this. But today, I feel that God is telling me that we aren't praying enough or writing enough or doing enough. Several months ago, I felt a pressing on my soul to adopt a child. My heart leaned toward Ethiopia. I prayed about it very much. The hubbs did not feel that same calling. It came to a head with me going away to a monastery for two days on a silent prayer retreat. I began ...