Date Night with your spouse!

So I married my high school sweetheart and we literally had our first baby a month after we got married! I am so thankful we had "us" time in high school. But over the 16 yrs we have been married, we have both grew up a ton. I believe we have always been wiser than our age but we have learn a lot about marriage and love! Above all, we have learned a lot about what God wants our marriage to be. First, you can read my past post about marriage for some details. But for this post I want to talk about making your marriage and spouse a priority. Date night is important even when you have been married 16 yrs. and even when you have you have children. Communication is a huge part of marriage and you need make is clear what you are feeling. If you are feeling a little distant you may need some "time" together. Sometime even the best marriages need to just go get a bit to eat or take a walk alone. Some other suggestions would be a movie, or take a drive together. Also sounds a bit crazy but you could go grocery shopping just the two of you or walk around target. When it comes down to it, what you really need is to just spend time together with out someone or something getting in the way.

Since babysitter or lack of one can be a problem, I would recommend making date night a priority.  would said to wait until the kids are asleep- trust me I get it you are tired and want to pass out when they do. But if you don't make time for you sometime, you can drift further a part which will only cause more issues. If money is a problem- do free things or cheap. Go get drinks and desert instead of dinner. Or go to the park with a picnic lunch. Go for a walk around your neighborhood. What ever you chose to do, do it with purpose! Love him/ her, flirt with each other. Compliment each other, hold hands, hug, kiss. We all love our families but it can get overwhelming trying to catch up with your spouse when there is always something that needs to be done. dinner needs to be cooked, lawn needs to be mowed, kids need bathes, you hear mommy, daddy, can I, why?, or what is..... (kids and others)

Please let me know of your ideas for date night, stories of your good dates with your husband!  Thanks ~

symbrachydactyly

What is Symbrachydactyly?
Taking the word literally, "sym" means joined (like "syn"), "brachy" means short and "dactyly" means finger.  So, the word means "Short joined fingers."
Symbrachydactyly (sim-brak″e-dak´tĭ-le) occurs during normal embryonic development. When a baby’s hands begin to form in utero, they are shaped like mittens or paddles. Then the fingers divide. In babies with symbrachydactyly, the fingers (and sometimes the hand and arm) don’t fully form during this time. This may happen because the area doesn’t get enough blood flow or because of some other problem with the tissue. It’s not caused by anything the mother did or did not do while she was pregnant.
This hand disorder characterized by abnormally short fingers that are sometimes webbed or conjoined. Most children with symbrachydactyly have the "short finger" type in which the thumb is essentially normal but the remaining fingers are short, stiff and may be webbed. In other cases, only the thumb or the thumb and little finger are present. In more severe cases, all fingers are missing and small nubbins of skin and soft-tissue (little stumps) are located where the fingers would have developed. Research continues into further understanding why this happens.
 This limb difference occurs in every 30,000 to 40,000 births. It’s not passed down in families (inherited). If you have a child with symbrachydactyly, you are not at any greater risk of having another child with the condition.There are 7 different classifications of symbrachydactyly. Nubbins, one of the classic findings in symbrachydactyly, can be present with any of these except the short finger type.

1.short finger
2.cleft type (thumb and small finger present)
3.peromelic (nubbins)
4.monodactyly (only the thumb present)
5.wrist bones present (but nothing more distal)
6.wrist bones absent (ie, arm ends at the end of the forearm)
7.transforearm (amputation at mid forearm level)




When my 1 1/2 year old was born we noticed her left hand was missing fingers, I held my baby & said "babe look" to my husband. He said "She is ok, she will be ok" I didn't realize how right he was. I was worried when I saw it because 1. I didn't know if she was in any discomfort. & 2. If she would be in the future. Plus I worried about if she would have struggles that other children didn't have. But honestly she showed me immediately she was going to be more than fine :) Some parents find out their child has this while they are still pregnant. We didn't- when we saw her ultrasound, it looked like she was making a fist. This is my beautiful- perfectly created by God, my sweet little gift from the Lord!! She is our baby girl!

One of the things I have done with all of my other children was teaching them (ASL) American Sign Language. When I thought about trying to teach her and if she would be able to, I got very determined. I was amazed on how well she picked up the sign with some exceptions. I love ASL & I love teaching my kids this so I was one happy mama when I realized my daughter was becoming very good with this!!!! 

 She has her left thumb which is a blessing in my opinion, she thankfully has shown me how she can still grip things. She could hold a cookie just as any baby. Now that she is almost 2 yrs old I can tell you there is almost nothing she can't do. Anyone who meets her is inspired by her as I am too!!! She make me a stronger person! I look forward to seeing all the future victories she will accomplish!

My advice to parents who find out you child has symbrachydactyly, Don't Stress!!!! You will be amazed! Let your child show you- God created them, he didn't make any mistakes!!! Be strong, Pray, Have Faith. I have learned over time, it is ok if she does things a little different. She is beautiful, and so perfect!!!

www.luckyfinproject.org/ is a wonderful organization!!!! 

I would love to talk about this if you have any questions please let me know!!!!! 

Have a wonderful spring!! ~Jen