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We met over 8 years ago at church as Shaun was walking in and I was walking out. The few words exchanged sparked an interst that kept Shaun coming back. When we FINALLY began dating 4 years later we soon knew there was something special here. Our first year quickly flew by and we both decided we never wanted to spend another year with anyone else or without each other. We married in the place where it all began on January 1, 2011 (1/1/11) and gave birth to our beautiful daughter Ava Marie on September 22, 2011 our next little one, Clara Rose came 16 months later on February 11, 2013. This blog began with our preparation with our wedding and has entered into recording the days and events of our newlywed life and new motherhood.

The Happy Couple...

Daisypath - Personal pictureDaisypath Anniversary tickers

Ava Marie

Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Third Birthday tickers

Clara Rose

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Gabriel's ticker

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Twins ticker

Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Pregnancy tickers

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Blog worthy for sure!

So... I know I've been out of the blog loop for nearly a couple of weeks and have missed blogging about all sorts of things like:  New Years, A great visit from my family, progress on the new home, our ANNIVERSARY, Epiphany and more... BUT after a recent visit to a little boy who has captured all our hearts, I knew it was finally time to pick up my very tired pregnant body, drag it over to the computer and finally write about something worthy.

I think most of you have been following the happenings of little Dominic Pio and if you're anything like me, have fallen in love with him.  Perhaps you also have been saddened and heartbroken when he or his family suffers and have rejoiced in his healing and have been inspired by the example of his whole family, but especially his mother, Mary who has shown us all such an honest, beautiful, and REAL example of the "unconditional love" and "strength made perfect in weakness" of a mother. 

(here are a few photos of them together)

"I love you so much, Mommy.  Thank you for taking such good care of me!"




Well... my ankle was finally well enough to try for a quick trip up to Boston to visit these wonderful people in person.  This past Sunday Shaun, Ava and I enjoyed our Epiphany with them and were certainly able to see how Jesus can make himself manifest in the face of a little baby... only this time, instead of the innocence staring back at the magi... his face looked like this...




Ava was introduced...
 
"What's your name?"

"I'm Ava."
 
"I'm Dominic"
 
"I like your nose!"

and since she's been praying right along with us and blowing kisses at the computer screen whenever a post was made on him...




She was happy to finally do the honors in person.

(I think he liked it!)

She LOVED him and pushed him ALL over the hospital, singing with daddy and protesting if someone else wanted to push him instead.

"Come on Dominic... I'm gonna take you for a walk"

"It's ok, Mrs. Mary, I've got him!"

"Let's go this way..."

"Now this way..."

"How're you doin up there?"

"This is my Daddy.  He's a good singer!  Just listen to him." "...sing to him Daddy!"
 
Back...

and forth...

Back...

and forth...

ALL over the place...

"You still ok, Dominic?"
 
"ok, let's keep walking!  I'll sing you a song... Daaaaa-daaaa Daaaa-daaa"

And kisses and kisses and more kisses for him...




When I finally met Mary, I felt as though I'd known her forever.  With some people you just "click" right away, and honestly it makes sense because her son was put on my heart as if he was my own.  While he's been sick, they have been the first thought I've had in the morning, the last one I've had at night and many whispered prayers throughout the day had the names Dominic and Mary wrapped in them.

It came time for us to go and we parted as new friends brought together by heartache and grace.  Great "cement" for beginning or old friendships.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers as God's plan is always perfect and always best even when we don't understand it, but when we don't understand it, it can be a heavy weight until the fog lifts and his will reveals itself.  Pray for Mary's and her family's strength and Dominic's continued recovery (and while you're at it, if you can remember young Megan who was a patient in the hospital with them and still struggling as well, that would be wonderful.)


Many blessings (and blog posts) to come!

17 comments:

  1. Isnt it great to make friends in Blog Land? That was so nice of you to visit! But Xander says Dominic better watch himself ;)

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  2. Awwwwww, I cried through the whole thing. You got some great pictures of them--you all look so wonderful!! I feel like you took us with you--thanks for visiting and sharing the visit with us!

    Dominic is looking so wonderful!

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    1. Oh Jamie! I love that heart of yours. Your welcome. I'm so glad I finally was able to make it up there as it was really pressing on my heart. He looked so good! SUCH a cutie pie. Ava loved him.

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  3. How precious is that?! So wonderful that you were able to meet up and see him. What a fun trip you brought us on!! ;) I loved that Ava pushed him around and the photos were just too cute. Thank you for sharing!

    Really though, sometimes Miss Ava from the side reminds me of a little girl I know....

    ps....do you realize your due date is 26 days away? Oh, of course you do. Just checkin' {{hugs}} and can't wait for your little girl to arrive.

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    1. Lol, Sarah... I'm SO in denial... or I was. Today I went to see my midwife and go over my birth plan and I always feel so vulnerable around her that I almost burst into tears when I just looked at her. I'm fighting through anxiety, but I know when the time comes, so will the strength I need. It's flown by so fast!

      Uh, yeah... Ava certainly DOES remind me of a certain little Miss. I think it all the time as well.

      I was so happy to get to see them all. She was SO funny! A little "mom" taking care of him. Daddy was singing and then she would sing "DA-Daaa DA-Daaa" walking along with him. I'm so happy he's healing so well, but he still needs continued prayers.

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  4. How wonderful to see Ava and Dominic playing. Thanks for posting all these wonderful pictures.

    Lena

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    1. Your so welcome, Lena! Mary is so busy being a wonderful Mom, she shouldn't have to worry about a thing. What an amazing woman. Thank you so much for visiting!

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  5. Thanks for posting all the pictures. I have been following Dominic's blog for over a month and you are right that you do fall in love with him completely. Mary has such a great smile. Beautiful woman in many ways! We will continue praying too.

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    1. Don't you just love him!? Mary is such a beautiful woman inside and out. I thought the same about her smile... stunning. Keep up those prayers. If you've been following, you know how powerful they are!

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  6. Ohhh, I love these pictures! I have been chucking "watching" your daughter tote little Dominic around. How cute, funny, and just well, cute!

    So wonderful of you to visit Mary--I know she got lonely in that hospital. I wish I could have visited myself but it gave a lot of comfort to know that she had made a new friend.

    :-)

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    1. Becky, I felt blessed to be finally able to do so. They were so close that it was really pressing on my heart.

      Ava is a hoot and she was definitely loving toting Dominic all over the place. With a new little one on the way it was great to see how she was with another baby that was younger than her.

      You have given comfort from where you are. I'm sure she knows her sister loves her. And your rosaries... I've been looking at all of them and they are simply beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous craftsmanship! Our Lady is certainly pleased!

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  7. Oh my goodness, I mean that I have been "chuckling" not chucking!! Spell check where are you when I need you?!?

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  8. Oh Hurrah! Ava got to land a kiss on Dominic's forehead for all of us! Thanks for the cheerful hospital visit!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Abigail. She planted MANY for all of us. LOVED Dominic (but how can you not?)

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  9. I just met Mary and Dominic last summer at Schoenstatt in Waukesha. They are a very special family and thank you for this beautiful post. God's Blessings on your pregnancy as well.

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    1. Awww. Thank you so much Debbie for the prayers and for stopping by. They are such a beautiful family and though I wish the circumstances had been better, I'm so happy God brought us together somehow!

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