Hello Oregon

Quite a bit has happened within the last year and here is some of what has happened and is going to happen. We moved from Colorado to California early September of 2012 to be close to my side of the family. Wess was blessed with a job at UPS in Ontario and the ability to transfer with Starbucks. I was able to coach volleyball at Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley until late October when the season ended. Shortly after we moved to California, my grandpa (my mom's dad) was diagnosed with prostate cancer and my grandma (with dementia) was moved into a new home at Integrated Care Communities. This became a stressful time for the family, especially my mom. We spent some much needed time with both my grandpa and grandma through the holidays. My grandpa said it was a Christmas that he will never forget with the great-grandkids and the grandkids running around, hugging and kissing on him. He was healthier after his time spent with us in December that he was able to live on his own, with regular visits from my mom, for a few months. Before we knew it he became ill again due to the cancer and some other issues. We thought for sure nothing could keep him down because of the way he kept on going, but the Lord eventually took him home in March. We celebrated his life as a husband, father, grandfather, and police officer. He was such a wonderful grandpa and is greatly missed by so many. I was so thankful to be here for my mom during this time and for Isaac to meet his great-grandpa. Shortly after my grandpa passing Wess was contacted about a possible youth pastor position in his hometown at his home church, Calvary Chapel Mcminnville, Oregon. We didn't think much of it because we just moved to California, but gradually God started working out all the pieces for this youth pastor position to become a reality. Wess didn't apply for this position, but the senior pastor, Ron, said that Wess came to his mind first thing when they knew the current youth pastor was moving on to another ministry. We were already planning a trip to Oregon before the offer and when we were there they had Wess teach youth group and we met with Ron to make things official. We are so excited about this and see God's hand in all of it. We were in California for a short time, but believe it was necessary. It is definitely bittersweet, but we are so excited to start this new journey and season of life. 

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated through all this. 

Thank you,

Wess, Lauren, and Isaac Root

New Life

We have a baby boy! (in case you didn't know by now) Isaac Richard Root was born on September 3, 2011 at a healthy 8 lbs. 12 oz.! He is everything we imagined and more. Isaac's original due date was September 5th, but God had other plans. A couple days before Isaac was born, I was feeling strange, but just kept going about my day which included having a doctor visit that was normal and no signs of delivery. The next day, September 2nd, I felt the need to visit my doctor again because I thought my water had ruptured, but was not sure (first pregnancy = not sure of anything). My doctor said that it was not probable, but she will check. Well, she was wrong! My doctor was shocked and gave me orders to go to the hospital directly after that visit. I was prepared with bag in car (I had been prepared for a month!). My mom and I made our way to the hospital, calling Wess on the way, arriving at 11:00am where the nurses had a room ready and made me get in a gown, that I didn't know at that time, I would be spending a whole week wearing. I didn't really know what to think, except for READY OR NOT HERE HE COMES! Waiting 9 months to see your baby's face is nerve racking, but when the day comes to see their face its even more nerve racking! The nurses hooked me up to Isaac's heart monitor and an IV amongst other things that I don't remember what they were. My mom picked Wess up from his job and he arrived right on time... TO WAIT! I had been laying in the bed for hours and only made my way to ONE centimeter and a half. About TWENTY hours after the previous check I was still ONE centimeter and a half. I had not felt any of my contractions (mind you, I was not on any kind of pain reliever) even though the machine I was hooked up to showed that I was having them. The nurses kept asking me, "Can you feel that?" and I was like, "feel what?". Due to the facts that my water had ruptured, Isaac was losing the amniotic fluid he needed, and I was only ONE centimeter and a half after 22 hours, my doctor recommended a C-Section. Not only was I extremely tired from my body trying to deliver and lack of sleep, I was emotional! The one thing I didn't want to happen was going to happen. My doctor explained her reasoning and left Wess and I to decide what we wanted to do. As I was crying I realized that God is here and He is taking care of us. I decided to go through with a C-Section because I felt as though God was protecting Isaac and I from something worse than a C-Section. I signed consent papers and was filled up with pain relievers then rolled into the operating room and carried over to an operating table. Wess had to put on scrubs and wait until he was told to come in the operating room. Waiting outside while I was getting prepped for a major surgery was the longest 10 minutes of his life. Wess was able to hold my hand and sit next to me when he came in. I could not feel my body and actually took a quick nap while my doctor and Isaac's pediatrician pulled him from the womb. I heard Isaac cry as I shed a tear of joy.

Isaac was beautiful and we were ecstatic to be parents of such a perfect baby boy. We were in the hospital for about one week including the day we arrived and my recovery time from the C-Section. We left the hospital (so nervous) and arrived home to a decorated garage, "It's a boy!". My parents and brother were anxiously waiting for Isaac to come home. I was so excited to give my parents another grandchild and my brother a nephew.

Isaac will be 9 months old on the third of June! I cannot believe how fast the time has flown. Wess and I praise God everyday for giving us the privilege of raising such a beautiful baby boy. Not only are we blessed for how healthy he is thus far, but how EASY he is (for now). Isaac started sleeping through the night (10 hours!) at 2 months old. He started laying down for naps, no questions asked at about 6 months. We have no problem with feeding him because he LOVES to eat. With all that said, we are so happy with how the pregnancy, delivery, and baby turned out. We thank all of you who prayed and have been praying for Wess, Isaac, and I.

Our next journey is moving from Colorado to California this September. We are moving closer to my parents, brother and his family, and Wess' brother. We have wanted to be near family, but never wanted it more than we do now because of Isaac and hopes of having another child. Living in Steamboat Springs, CO for the past year has been a test of patience because we knew we were going to move to California prior to the birth of Isaac. Those of you who have children know how awesome it is to have family around, but we don't. I have struggled these past 8 months with feeling alone not only because we aren't near family, but because Wess is having to work two jobs. The last few months have been better because I am getting the hang of being mommy, but there are moments where I wish I had my mommy and daddy to share Isaac with. Today I read two verses that I have read before, but they spoke to me more than ever. Psalm 27:14 says to, "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!". I have been waiting, but definitely not on the Lord. I have been so discouraged because I'm trying to trust in my own strength instead of the mighty strength of God. Proverbs 19:21 says, "There are many plans in a mans heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel - that will stand." God's plans are so much better than mine and I have seen examples of this in my life, but I tend to forget what God has done and will continue to do. I'm so excited to wait on Lord and see what He has in store for us and our new life. 


Thankful for your prayers,

Much Love!
Wess, Lauren, and Isaac
www.teamroot.blogspot.com

Growing Family

Long time no update once again. We are horrible at this whole blog thing, but love to keep family and friends updated. Most of you already know that our Root fam is growing! We are expecting the little guy, Isaac Richard Root, pictured below, September 5, 2011 (hopefully more like the end of August). He will and already is our pride and joy.

Right: When we were about 8 weeks along in the pregnancy in January. The heartbeat of that little guy inside there was amazing. I couldn't believe that he had already had such a powerful heartbeat when he was the size of a bean. I really didn't think that he would be so small and thought that he would at least look a little like a baby.

Left: Prior to this ultrasound we had spent a week in California with my family going to disneyland and spending some much needed time with my niece, Madison who was a year at the time. It was perfect timing to be pregnant because we were able to tell my family in person the great news. Everyone was so excited and are working hard on planning a trip out here for Isaac's arrival.

As soon as we were back home in Colorado, I was dealing with morning sickness all day long which was a good sign that everything was going good even though I felt horrible. This lasted up until the nineteenth week and still occurs every now and then.

Left: We were 20 weeks along in the pregnancy which was only 12 weeks after that first ultrasound and he had grown so rapidly. This ultrasound was when we found out the gender. The doctor asked us what we thought it would be and I was convinced it was girl because I could only think of girl names, but I wanted a boy. Wess guessed it to be a boy. It took the doctor a while until she finally saw the gender and said, "It's a boy!" We were so absolutely excited and could have about jumped up and down. If it was a girl we would have been just as excited.

We are just so excited to grow our family and train up our children in the admonition of the Lord. It is such a blessing to have this opportunity of raising this little guy and prayerfully more. God's timing has been so perfect and His provision is never ending just as He promised His children. My Grandpa has purchased everything needed for the crib and Wess' co-workers from Starbucks have given us so many boy clothes, blankets, and toys. Isaac definitely has better furniture and more clothes than Wess and I combined. He has yet to arrive and he is already spoiled.

Right: Here I am at about 22 weeks. Time has gone so fast and know that it is just going to get faster and faster. Isaac is jumping around inside up and down off my bladder. Wess keeps trying to feel him from the outside, but every time Wess tries Isaac stops completely. I think Isaac is playing freeze tag with daddy. Wess did feel him once and I think he caught Isaac off guard. It really is just an amazing miracle growing a baby inside of me. I see God's divine creation at work every step of the way. There is no way that we could be doing this on our own and we give complete glory to God for this new life.

I am only working part time at my job in the Safeway deli because I get fatigued really fast and can't handle a 40 hour week on my feet. Wess had been applying for another job that would help out and probably be a more guaranteed job for our new situation. He applied at a plumbing facility, a cable company, and a local bank. It took a while, but he finally heard back from the local bank and they wanted to offer him a full time teller position. WOOHOO! Now he gets bank holidays! God is working everything out for us as we take the footsteps. Now that Wess will be working full time at the bank and minimal hours at Starbucks he will no longer be serving as youth pastor at our church. This is our first time having a baby and want to focus on this new journey we are on. Wess wants his priorities to be God and family first and foremost. Just taking it one step at a time.

We are so thankful for your prayers!

Much love,

Wess and Lauren