God's Deliverance

I still can't wrap my mind around all that has happened over the past few months. I'm so incredibly grateful. I just wish I had a full night sleep so that I could really really enjoy the news :) I've learned so much through this experience/trial. And even though I'm grateful for God's healing and mercy on us, I still wonder why He doesn't heal all the time. Why isn't it always the ]good news' we desire? What about those beautiful Fragile X parents I've met over the past months? Why didn't God spare their family of this horrible disease? And then my thoughts run to the fact that just because Weston doesn't have Fragile X it doesn't mean he won't experience heartache, loss, sadness, disease on this earth.
So many thoughts...
But instead of focusing on the what ifs, or the whys, I am determined to be grateful for God delivering Weston from the evil of Fragile X. I might not ever know why, but I hope and pray that as long as I live, I will thank God for this blessing. I know life will bring other trials in the future but right now I plan to enjoy this blessing; God's gift of a healthy Weston.
I can't wait until Wyatt and Weston are old enough to have the Fragile X conversation. What will they think? Will it make a difference in the way they live their life? I hope so. And I hope all this news will make a difference in the way I live mine...
Here are the latest pics I took of Weston at 2 1/2 weeks:

Clean Bill of Health!

Tim called for Weston's blood test results on Friday. I was incredibly nervous and almost thankful when I heard we wouldn't know anything until Tuesday. At least we'd have a 'happy' weekend.
So we picked strawberries, had friends over, Tim made 2 different types of ice cream and I pretended like nothing was wrong with Weston. Of course, the questions were always at the back of my mind. I continued to do the research.

Were Weston's eyes tracking? Did he have low muscle tone? etc etc.
The more research I did, the more I realized that I had no clue how his story would begin/end.

On Monday night Tim and I sat on the couch. What news would tomorrow bring? We reminded ourselves that even if Weston were Fragile X free, life would be sure to bring its own trials. Our parents would die one day. Our sons might even die before us. One of us might get really sick. Lovely huh? But most of all we reminded ourselves that God loves us and that He is in control of our lives. That was my comfort as I fell in and out of sleep all night. (nursing Weston)

Today arrived and with it the looming news that finally after waiting 4 months, we'd finally know the news. I drove to Starbucks drive thru with the kids in the car and upon arriving, got a phone call from Georgetown Hospital. It was the geneticist. After she introduced herself and asked if I was Weston's mom, I started to cry. I was too scared to hear the news. Right away she told me, "I have good news for you." I started to cry harder. "Weston got your healthy X. It's a number 30." I thanked her and thanked her and hung up the phone.

Words won't do justice to how I felt. I started making phone calls. First of all to my husband and then to my mom. I drove through the drive thru with a wet face in somewhat disbelief of Weston's news. This will be a day I will never forget. So much more to say about God's goodness, this result, being thankful, but I will leave that for tomorrow's post. I am at home today by myself with 2 little ones and it doesn't leave me much time to process. Mainly I just wanted to share this good news with all of you who have walked with me through this time. More to say tomorrow...

Introducing Weston Royer Schultz...a little miracle from God:

You Scream, I Scream

We All Scream For Ice Cream! This past weekend I pulled out my ice cream cups. Tim bought a ice cream maker after discovering this new book. We made salty caramel and it was amazing... Tim's idea: make ice cream every weekend as a weekly family tradition. I'm in!

Proud ice cream maker!

A Picture Is Worth

a thousand words...

This picture about sums up my day yesterday.
My mom who was suppose to be here to help got sick while visiting my sister last weekend. Apparently my sister's kids had colds and mom caught the bug. Tim has a huge work conference on Thursday so he is completely occupied with work. Both situations have left me alone. I thought I could handle it, but yesterday proved to be a huge disaster. (just being honest)
There were many breakdowns. MANY tears. Mr. Wy went from being the golden child to being a complete mess. I think he is still struggling with the new 'new' at home. He wants my attention and will do almost anything to get it.
Thankfully my friend from Capitol Hill showed up. Suzanne, you saved the day by bringing us a meal and providing a listening ear. Without you, I would've felt very alone. Thank you for coming at the right time.
My other news is that Tim called for Weston's Fragile X test results. Apparently his blood was sent to the Mayo Clinic and *might* take a month to get back. A month? Oh Lord, I can't wait a month. Please continue to pray for us. I need it!

A Mother's Love

More Waiting

I feel like all we have been doing is waiting the past couple of months. I have good moments in our waiting process and bad moments as well. Advice from my friends in the Fragile X community: "enjoy your son." I've been trying my best not to label Weston. I've racked my brain trying to figure out what his life will be like. I dream about it in the few hours I have to sleep each day. Truth be told, the Bible tells us that we don't know what tomorrow will bring. (with or without Fragile X) Lord, help me to learn these lessons now.
While we wait, I fall more in love with my precious baby boy...

And I try to take some fun pictures of his first few days of life :)

Welcome Weston!

I'm happy to report that baby Weston is home, safe and sound. Thankfully his stay at the hospital was a lot less uneventful than Wyatt's. No trip to the NICU and my doctor was able to deliver him. (which is incredibly rare)
Tim and I went to the hospital on Thursday, May 10th. I was induced at 3:30 and had Weston at 7:47. He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and is 20 inches.
Thankfully I had an incredible nurse and team of doctors/help both from the main labor and delivery floor, and from the NICU. The NICU wanted to check out Weston because of the possibility of Fragile X. They ended up taking his umbilical cord blood and sent it to the labs the next day. Testing for Fragile X should be available "in 7-10 days."
Weston looks like a perfect healthy 'normal' baby- the doctors checked him for all the Fragile X signs that might appear during birth and he showed none of them. Of course, that doesn't put him into the clear category, but it is hopeful.
And that's where I struggle. I love this little guy so much. I AM hopeful for healing- and yet at the same time, I'm scared about the phone call (with test results) that are to come my way soon. Please continue to pray for our family, that we would trust God no matter what the outcome.
Here are some pics from our hospital stay:

Thank you friends for walking in this journey with us.

Weston Update

Hi friends! I just wanted to give you all an update on Weston. It's been an interesting week of driving both to and from Georgetown Hospital, taking naps, and walking A LOT!
Tim and I spent all Monday night on the 3rd floor of the hospital. I guess you could call it our trial run. I had contractions fairly steady and strong for 4 hours and they were 5 min apart for about an hour before we left for the hospital. Alas, once I arrived, they stopped. The doctors decided I could stay and try to walk the baby out- so I spent 2 hours (with People and US Weekly) walking back and forth on the labor and delivery wing of the hospital. Unfortunately I didn't dilate any further and was sent home.
Today after a visit with my doctor I made the decision to be induced. (tomorrow at 1:00) I am dilating more, and my body is ready to have this baby. My doctor will be on call tomorrow night so we elected to deliver when she would be there. I am grateful and asking your prayers for a safe arrival, and for healing for baby Weston. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of him here this weekend.
Again, thank you for your love and support. Tim, Lisa, and Wy.

While We Wait...

I'm 4 days away from my actual due date. It's hard to wait. Thankfully my husband encouraged me to fast from all things Fragile X so I'm definitely less anxious. Then again, the anxiety has just transferred itself to labor! So I wait and wait in anticipation to meet little Weston.
I can't thank you all enough for so many prayers. I know they are helping. The support from my friends during this tough time has been amazing. I'm deeply grateful.
While we wait...we've tried to keep ourselves busy.
And the highlight of the weekend? Our neighborhood "Truck Touch" where all the little boys and girls come out to sit in vehicles of many kinds. We ate snow cones, hot dogs, rode toy trains, sat inside a firetruck, dump truck, mailman truck, a digger truck, a concrete mixer truck, a garbage truck, and of course, Wy's favorite school bus. All of this on a Saturday morning. Only 15 minutes from the Capitol, I love my neighborhood.

Sometimes All You Need

Is some ice cream...

And a little bit of time with mom at work with...

the best view in town.