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Play Time (7-8 Months)

2009-05-27T23:20:00.002-06:00

Best Buddies... Xander & Rheya Lee (7 months)

2009-05-27T23:13:00.001-06:00

St. Patty's Day 5K Run

2009-05-27T23:06:00.002-06:00

Tia C Made A Cute Hat! (6 months)

2009-05-27T22:59:00.002-06:00

First Food! March 3 (6 months)

2009-05-27T22:55:00.002-06:00

2009-05-27T22:38:00.005-06:00

I'm sorry I'm so horrible at posting updates. I figure nobody looks at this until I talk to one of you on the phone and you get on me to post some pics!

Rheya Lee will be 9 months on the 5th of June. WOW! Time flies when you're having fun. She is sitting up, not crawling or walking but definitely moving. She really enjoys clapping her hands together and is waving, especially when she gets super excited. She loves patty cake and go's nuts when we say 'put it in the oven' and then claps afterwards. She eats her food well... and I think it's really awesome when she spits it out ;) She loves her Jumper Roo and falls asleep while jumping, almost on a daily basis. I can go on and on and on, so here's some pics, January-February...

(4-5 months)

Christmas

2008-12-25T13:44:00.001-07:00

3 Months Already!!

2008-12-25T13:30:00.003-07:00

Meet Will aka Hootie aka Rheya Lee's boyfriend. LOL. This is my friend Stephanie's little boy. We met at birth class and had our babies two weeks apart. We now go walking a couple times a week... we have created our Mom's group... you know, we get together and hang out in our Mom jeans! Great times!

We were having a 'Santa's Workshop' at work. The night before, while we were setting up, Shannon couldn't resist! Doesn't she make a great Mrs. Clause?!

Thanksgiving Ft. Collins Run

2008-12-25T13:01:00.005-07:00

What great fun! Katie, Karen, Brian, Shannon, all the tookies & I did the the Turkey Trot this year. I was so excited to do it all together. We all promoted Bloomba, it's Fort Collins newest kids playplace! (www.playeatbloom.com) I started assistant managing there in October. Well we got there and both Katie & my stroller wheel was flat. Long story short, Shannon, Brian and I ran a mile before the race even began to fill the tires!! It was a lot of fun though!

Rheya Lee Lane Rocek

2008-09-08T22:00:00.001-06:00

The Beautiful Birth

2008-09-08T21:00:00.000-06:00

Where to start...

When I found out I was pregnant with Rheya Lee, I knew she was meant to be and that God has a divine purpose for her life. As my pregnancy progressed, God made it so clear to me that HE is in total control. I began to confess & pray specific prayers and make daily choices to line up my words with His Word (I highly recommend reading the book Supernatural Childbirth). I knew that nothing was too big for God, that no worry or fear was too great & that I didn't have to buy into worldly views about pregnancy, labor, birth and raising children. As Proverbs 18:21 says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.' I spoke & thought on only words of life... the power of positive thinking and speaking, and received only words of encouragement. I know God is faithful.

I went to my 37 week check up on Wed, Sept. 3. My mid-wife told me it's fine to deliver anytime here on out. When she checked me, I was already dialated to 3cm and effaced to 80%. The next day I started having very light contractions. Friday morning at 1am, I woke up to consistent contractions that started to build. I didn't know how hard the contractions would feel because I was praying for a quick, pain-free labor/delivery. We went in to the hospital at 3am. The contractions started to become inconsistent and they were going to send me home but my blood pressure was high so they admitted me until Heidi, my mid-wife could see me in the morning. I did not want to be induced or have them give me any medications, so while Mom, Christy (my birth coach) and I relaxed for awhile, we continued to pray for what I believed. About 8:30am, my contractions began for real. I knew this was the real thing. Heidi came in around 9am and I was already dialated to 4-5cm so they decided to keep me and let nature take its course, unless they saw a threat to me and baby. I knew it would go fast because that was what I was believing for. They wouldn't let me walk around because of my blood pressure but Heidi gave me the go ahead to sit in the whirlpool. My contractions became very intense at this time so I knew I really had to tune into God and focus my thoughts on His promises. There were a couple contractions where I let fear come in, tensed up and they hurt... bad. As soon as I refocused though, it was just a lot of pressure. My Mom & Christy were there the whole time to keep me in check & keep me relaxed. We joke now, that I don't know how they knew what I needed because I was so focused, the only communication was a raised eyebrow, a chin raise, an open mouth, and so forth... but somehow they knew! About an hour and a half later I had the urge to push so they got me back in bed. Within 30 minutes or so, my water broke, I was dialated to 10cm and we were ready to have a baby! I had prayed over our medical staff, and the best medical staff we had! They went along with us, in not using the word pain throughout the labor and now that it was time to deliver, they dropped the end of the bed and put up the squatting bar quickly just as we talked about earlier. I squatted rather than lay down... did you know almost every developed country does this other than America? You work with gravity rather than fight against it. I pushed about 3-4 times and since I was squatting, I could see Miss Rheya Lee being born. I could see the faces of my Mom, Christy, Heidi and our two nurses Kristi & Erin. They were lit up and I knew what a beautiful moment this was. After Rheya Lee's head was born, Heidi told me to reach down there and grab her under her arms. And I did, and swept her right up to my chest. It makes me cry every time I think about it. It was the most amazing thing I've experienced. I know God is good and He just surpassed all my expectations of any birth experience I could have ever imagined!

Rheya Lee came out pink skinned and flawless. Her vitals & tests came out great and she is healthy. Praise God, for He is good!

2008-09-08T20:00:00.008-06:00

2008-09-08T19:00:00.010-06:00

2008-09-08T19:00:00.009-06:00

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers & for coming to visit us. (I forgot to take pictures of everyone... I still love you all!!)

GG, Mom, Karen, Xander & Dad

Katie & Heather Hoffner

Riley, Rob & Jada Grosboll

Christy & Shelby Grosboll

Christy & Erin Grosboll

Lana Mondragon

Carrie Barber

Janelle Hunt, Karen & Brian Bjortomt

Sally, Trinidy & Melody Easter

Shannon's *Bling-Bling* for Ling Ling...

Coming Home...

2008-09-08T17:00:00.003-06:00

Sunday, September 7

Xander...can you believe he was an ounce smaller when he was born 14 months ago?! He loved seeing Rheya Lee & was totally intrigued with her feet. So cute!

Blue Light

2008-09-08T16:00:00.001-06:00

Thursday, September 11
Rheya Lee's bilirubin levels are high so she has to spend the majority of her time having a bilibed (light therapy) directly on her skin, alternating the front & back. I have to take her in every morning to get her heel pricked so they can test her levels. She's been very patient, two of the four times she didn't even wake up. The sunlight helps lower the levels but unfortunately sunny Colorado has been cloudy! She doesn't seem to mind the bed too much... it just means I have to wait to put her in all her precious clothes!

2008-09-08T15:00:00.003-06:00

Rheya Lee & Grandma

I could have never thought about or planned on raising a child as a single mom but now as I sit here sobbing, looking at my baby girl, I know the Lord has a far better plan than I could have ever put together. I lift my hands up to the Lord because He’s filled my heart with joy in knowing that He is the ultimate “Dad” and can fill the place that for a time, I thought, could not be filled. I now know it’s so true what other mothers say, it’s a love you can’t explain. Babies are miracles and the life of Rheya Lee is a testimony of God’s love.

Rheya Lee's First Walk

2008-09-08T14:00:00.002-06:00

Sunday, September 14

I got the Chariot Carrier the day before the birth. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT!!! It will fit in perfectly with our lifestyle and I'm so excited to use it! We will use the stroller like in the pictures until she is 6 months old. After that... game on! It converts to a jogger, a bike trailer, a hiker and there's even an attachment with skiis so we can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Today was our first walk with GG, Grandma & Grandpa.

2008-09-08T13:28:00.004-06:00

WoNdErFuL cOuSiNs

Hannah

Micayla

Sammy Jo

Xander

2008-09-08T13:00:00.004-06:00

We spent the week up in Leadville with my Dad (he has a home up there because that's where he's working right now). Mom, Rheya Lee & I spent the day on the town.

Yes, that is Rheya Lee poking out...

Oh... There she is!!

By the way, If you like Rheya Lee's flower hat and have little ones to buy for, we'd love your support for our family's new venture while we give you some kick tooshy gear & services!
TooKi LooS
Chic Baby Clothing, Accessories, Decor & More!
www.tookiloos.blogspot.com

2008-09-08T12:23:00.002-06:00

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…"
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rheya Lee's photographs were taken by my good friend & Rheya Lee's God Mother, Christy. I would highly recommend her for maternity, baby & family pictures. Well, any photographs you need done! You can see her work at www.christypictures.com.

2008-09-08T12:00:00.001-06:00

4 Weeks Old

5 Weeks Old

(Beautiful day for a walk!)

6 Weeks Old

(She's enjoying watching her mobile now & is loving noises!)

(Skol Vikings!... Too bad that stunk it up that game!)

7 Weeks Old

(Getting ready to go out and about)

(Bundled up for our first cold walk and as happy as can be!)

8 Weeks Old

(Halloween... Any reason to play dress up!)

(GG's bean bag is pretty relaxing!)

(And it makes me happy!)

9 Weeks Old

(The tooki is getting big... 9 lbs, 9 oz!)