My Mommy Journey

Pregnancy Update- 26 weeks

2012-01-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

How Far Along: 26 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is about the length of an english cucumber and about 14 inches long

Total Weight Gain/Loss: according to my scale at home, I am up 10lbs total. I took Kaitlyn to the pediatrician though on Thursday and he told me that I need to "grow that belly" and that he likes "squishy newborns"! Guess I need to eat more ice cream!!!

Maternity Clothes: all maternity, all the time. I found some great sweaters at Target that I got on sale. It was finally cold here this week, so I am glad I got them!

Gender: It’s a Boy! Isaac Scott

Movement:He has days where he moves tons, and days where I worry about him. Lately he has been poking me hard at times and I can tell he is running out of room!

What I miss: Feeling comfortable in my own body- I am having trouble 24/7 being comfortable in general. Isaac is very low at times, which causes extreme discomfort.

Sleep: See above- I have trouble getting comfortable at night. I have also had horrible reflux that wakes me up in pain and gasping for air. Not fun! I plan to get the dr to prescribe something when I go on the 19th for my appt.

Symptoms: Situational vertigo, heartburn/reflux, slight swelling in my feet.

Best Moment this week: Making it to the 3rd trimester. At the start of this pregnancy, I was not sure if we would make it to the end of the 1st trimester. I am so thankful for scientist who figured out how to make synthetic hormones that keep women like me pregnant in the beginning before the placenta takes over.
Here is a photo of my baby bump as of this week! I look so much smaller at this point than I did with Kaitlyn. I can only assume it is because he is so low!

Pregnancy Update- 24 weeks

2011-12-23T16:51:00.001-05:00

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is about the size of a large ear of corn and weighs close to the 2lb mark

Total Weight Gain/Loss: went to the dr yesterday and showed a gain of 4 on top of the 5 I lost for 9 total!

Maternity Clothes: all maternity, all the time. I broke down and bought some winter stuff since it is starting to get colder.

Gender: It’s a Boy! Isaac Scott

Movement: He moves more and more each day and has the hiccups at least 2-3 times a day! I swear there are moments where it feels like he is punching me in the cervix trying to get out!

What I miss: Sleep and being able to shave my legs with ease!

Sleep: Some nights I sleep straight, and some I have to get up to potty. I am waking up with bad reflux and heartburn lately too.

Symptoms: Still having the situational vertigo and my heartburn is starting to get worse and more frequent. I have moved from tums to pepcid.

Best Moment this week: Going to the de and hearing his heartbeat and being reassured that everything is going good!

Here is a photo of my whale of a belly!
I am also slowly losing sight of my feet! LOL

Pregnancy Update- 22 weeks

2011-12-14T16:51:00.000-05:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 22 Weeks (23 today actually- better late than never though!)

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is about the size of a large mango this week! Around 11 inches long and a little over a pound!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I weighed myself this morning and showed a 2lb gain on top of the 5 I lost- so 7 total

Maternity Clothes: all maternity, all the time. I broke down and bought some winter stuff since it is starting to get colder.

Gender: It’s a Boy! Isaac Scott

Movement: He moves more and more each day and has the hiccups at least 2-3 times a day!

What I miss: Sleep and being able to shave my legs with ease!

Sleep: Some nights I sleep straight, and some I have to get up to potty.

Symptoms: Still having the situational vertigo and my heartburn is starting to get worse and more frequent. I have moved from tums to pepcid.

Best Moment this week: Finding a great deal on a new stroller/ carseat! Target had a cute boyish set on sale for 149.99 with free shipping and you also got the matching swing for free! So I paid about 162 out of pocket and got all 3!!! Yippie!

I will try to get a photo up this week of my belly - it is getting huge!

Pregnancy Update- 20 weeks, It's a....

2011-11-25T08:55:00.006-05:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is the length of a banana this week!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Holding steady with no real gain yet. Dr said she wants to see some weight gain by the next appointment. She said at this point she is not worried because the baby is right on track for growth.

Maternity Clothes: all maternity, all the time. I broke down and bought some winter stuff since it is starting to get colder.

Gender: We found out last Thursday that.... It's A..... BOY!!!!!

Movement: I am feeling a lot more movement now, which is so reassuring. I found out at my visit last week that the placenta is directly in the front, so that explains why it took a little longer and why I feel it mostly on the sides and very low.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night and being able to eat food without heartburn.

Sleep: Some nights I sleep straight, and some I have to get up to potty.

Symptoms: I am having some really bad situational vertigo. The Dr suggested that I take a allergy medicine with a decongestant in it to help.... the decongestant keeps me up all night, so I am just dealing with it!

Best Moment this week: Finding out that we are having a boy and being able to call him by name now. My joy was temporaryly taken from me as we announced our good news, but friends, some family, and coworkers along with Will helped to quickly restore it!

What I am looking forward to: starting get the house ready to welcome our new little boy into the world. I am also looking forward to buying little boy clothes!

Here is a photo of our gender reveal cupcakes we made to tell our families on Thanksgiving day and also a 20 week photo of me! Sorry the one of me is at a weird angle- Will took it while he was laying in bed!

Pregnancy Update- 18 weeks

2011-11-09T15:01:00.001-05:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is the length of a bell pepper

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am up to 3 lbs gained, but still down 2 from the 5 I lost.

Maternity Clothes: I am in all maternity all the time now. It is much more comfortable!

Gender: I still think it is a boy- but who knows! They changed my appt to November 17th, so we are even closer to finding out!

Movement: I am starting to feel more movement, but it is still sporatic. I could be remembering wrong, but I really think K was moving more at this point.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night and my belly button looking normal!

Sleep: Some nights I sleep straight, and some I have to get up to potty.

Symptoms: Just some lower back pain really at this point. I am praying I do not get sciatica again like I had with K

Best Moment this week: Finding out that my appointment was moved up so we get to see what this little bean is sooner!

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex, feeling more movement, looking more pregnant and less like I had too much to eat!

Pregnancy Update: 16 weeks

2011-10-28T07:32:00.004-04:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is the size of a Avocado this week! We had some guacamole to celebrate!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am up to 3 lbs gained, but still down 2 from the 5 I lost.

Maternity Clothes: 4th pregnancy/ 2nd baby means mostly maternity. I can still wear some pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned, with a bellyband, or with a hair elastic

Gender: I still think it is a boy- The heart rate was in the 150’s at my appointment on Wednesday. We will find out for sure on November 21st and will “reveal” it to our families on Thanksgiving with some cupcakes with a pink or blue fruit filling!!

Movement: I feel something every now and then, but I am not sure if it is lunch digesting or the baby! Ha!!

What I miss: Being able to pick Kaitlyn up- she weighs right at 30lbs, so I am not suppose to pick her up and carry her. I also miss sleeping through the night and being able to bend over with out grunting

Cravings: Lately I have been craving Lemonberry slushes from Sonic and Buffalo Wings!

Sleep: Some nights I sleep straight, and some I have to get up to potty.

Symptoms: Just some lower back pain really at this point. I am praying I do not get sciatica again like I had with Kaitlyn

Best Moment this week: Hearing the baby’s heartbeat at my appointment and getting that reassurance that everything is ok since I am not feeling movement yet!

What I am looking forward to: feeling the baby move and my appointment and ultrasound in 3.5 weeks. I can not wait to find out if this is a baby Isaac or Maddison and start shopping!

Here is a photo of our baby avocado! And yes, this is the avocado I used to make the guacamole- LOL

Pregnancy Update : 14 weeks

2011-10-12T11:17:00.005-04:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 14 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is the size of a lemon this week

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have lost 3 lbs since I found out I was pregnant- it was actually 5, but I have gained 2 back

Maternity Clothes: 4th pregnancy/ 2nd baby means mostly maternity. I can still wear some pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned, with a bellyband, or with a hair elastic

Gender: I think a boy- only a man could make a woman this sick! lol We find out the week of Thanksgiving.

Movement: I feel a flutter ever once and a while, but I am not sure if it’s the baby just yet!

What I miss: Being able to pick Kaitlyn up- she weighs right at 30lbs, so I am not suppose to pick her up and carry her. I also miss sleeping through the night- I am getting up at least once to go potty.

Sleep: See above. I am also still waking up hungry in the middle of the night sometimes.

Symptoms: Nothing right now really- I had some round ligament pain yesterday, but I have been drinking lots of water and it seems to be better today!

Best Moment this week: Just making it to this point and getting through the first trimester!

What I am looking forward to: feeling the baby move and my next appointment in 2 weeks. Because I am not feeling the baby just yet, it will be nice to hear the heartbeat and have that reassurance!

Pregnancy Update : 12 weeks

2011-09-30T21:05:00.000-04:00

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 12 weeks 2 days

Size of baby: According to babycenter, the baby is the size of a lime this week

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have lost 3 lbs since I found out I was pregnant- it was actually 5, but I have gained 2 back

Maternity Clothes: 4th pregnancy/ 2nd baby means mostly maternity. I can still wear some pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned, with a bellyband, or with a hair elastic

Gender: I think a boy- only a man could make a woman this sick! lol We find out the week of Thanksgiving.

Movement: No movement, but the dr said by my 16 weeks appointment I should be feeling something

What I miss: Being able to pick Kaitlyn up- she weighs right at 30lbs, so I am not suppose to pick her up and carry her

Sleep: I sleep a few hours each night. I wake up on the nose in the 1:00 hour each night starving! I try to go back to sleep, but sometimes I have to give in and eat something!

Symptoms: I was horribly nauseous for 6 weeks thanks to the progesterone supplements and pregnancy in general- hence the 5lbs lost. I am off the supplements now and feeling much better. Things in the bathroom area are getting better too! Progesterone cause constipation.... bad constipation!

Best Moment this week: Finding out my hemorrhage had re-absorbed and that I could come off the progesterone! Will was happy to hear I was off pelvic rest LOL

What I am looking forward to: feeling the baby move and my next appointment in 4 weeks- I was nice going every other week, but I am glad to have a normal pregnancy now. It's been a long road to get here, but worth the wait :-) Please continue to keep me in your prayers though- I can not help but still be a little nervous!

Here is a photo from my ultrasound yesterday- my little lime :-)

Five Minute Friday: Home

2011-06-17T14:30:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up again this week with Gypsy Mama for 5 minute Friday. Today's topic is Home- here are the rules:

In just five minutes.

To paint a verbal picture. To just write and not worry if it’s just write or not.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Get a little crazy with encouragement for the five minuter who linked up before you.

Enjoy!!Home….such a relative term isn’t it? Home means so many things to so many people, but here is what home means to me. Home is holding your newborn daughter for the first time and realizing you were a mother before, but now you are a mom. Home is seeing the look on your son’s face when you give him his first cell phone and loosen the apron strings a little so he can start being more independent from you. Home is spending one on one time with your son watching a movie he wants to see, no matter how foolish it seems (or how many times they say the word fart!). Home is also remembering when you first starting dating your husband and being thankful that he chose you to spend forever with. In light of father’s day, home also means remember back when your dad was the only man in your life and how special you felt when he cooked your favorite meal and greeted you by picking you up when he got home from a weekend away for Guard duty. It’s remembering grandfathers who have passed and trying to hold on to the memories you shared. Home also makes me think of the song by Miranda Lambert “The House that Built Me” – home is a place with 4 walls, but it also a place in your mind where life is lived and love is shared. Some days I long to go home to a time before work, kids, and the demands of life- and yet I remember how much in those times I longed for a life full of work, kids and life. Home….

5 Minute Friday- On Forgetting

2011-05-27T09:35:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up with Gypsy Mama again this week and today's topic is On Forgetting. Enjoy!

Got five minutes? Here’s a great way to spend them.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat without editing your voice.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Pony up the comment love for the five minuter who linked up before you.

Ready. Set. Go!

I think in motherhood, or possibly adulthood in general, I spend most of my time trying not to forget something. Where are my keys? Where are K’s shoes? Where are my shoes? Did I pay the water bill this month? Did I remember to sign P or N’s permission slip? Did I remember to tell Will to turn off the sprinkler so the garden doesn’t DIE!? And then there are the important things too I find myself trying not to forget lately- the time spent as a little girl with my Big Daddy in the pool. The moments spent with my grandpa in his garden and at his house each Christmas Eve. The sound of love one’s who have passed voices. The softness of my Nana’s skin. The feeling of sweet baby kicks and hiccups when I was pregnant with K. The excitement and nervousness of my wedding day. The sweet, light smell of a freshly bathed newborn. The fun moments and memories with friends that seem a lifetime ago. And many, many more things. I force my brain often to remember these things. I mostly try to remember things that I can tell my kids about my grandfathers. I lost one at the age of 9 and another at the age of 16- I was more than old enough to remember things, but as I am getting older- it seems a lifetime ago. Forgetting seems to just come with age- the more we try to remember, the more we seem to forget.

And… in light of this coming Monday- let us not forget the sacrifice that has been made past and present by the members of our military. Thank you for your service and the gift of your life to keep us all free! Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-05-25T10:17:00.001-04:00

5 minute Friday (on Monday): When Seasons Change

2011-05-23T13:48:00.000-04:00

Saw this article- and then saw what 5 minute Friday was on, so I thought it would be the perfect time to share a little humor and knowledge!

Here are the rules according to Gypsy Mama’s blog:

“Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s finger paint with words
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button in my right side bar}
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minute artist who linked up before you {and if you love us, consider turning off word verification for the day to make it easier for folks to say howdy}
It’s a great way to catch your breath at the end of a long week.”

Today’s topic is : When Seasons Change. Ready…Set… Go!

When seasons change, for the most part I get excited. Excited that Summer has become Fall -finally some relief from the heat and humidity, Fall becomes Winter -possibility of snow flurries anyone?, and Winter becomes Spring -excuse to get a pedicure since it is flip-flop time!! Not a huge fan though of Spring becoming Summer. My Casper skin turns red at the slightest amount of heat and sun and starts to burn. Not to mention you can only get so naked and yet you still feel hot in your bare skin- under the fan on high- with the a/c set to 70, in a bath of ice cubes!! (You can thank me later for that wonderful mental photo!) It get's hot as Hades here in the South!! I would not trade living in the land of sunshine and 85* on Christmas morning for anything though! Another part of Summer that I am not too fond of is the beginning of hurricane season. While the idea of no work for a few days has it's "exciting" points- packing up and sitting on I-16 for 15 or so hours only to make it 200 miles to Macon is not "exciting". This article was released by the CDC last week and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to remind everyone about hurricane preparedness. I know the article is about Zombies- but it would appear that you can save yourself from the Zombie Apocalypse the same way as you can save yourself from a hurricane! Hot Dog! So- read up on the tips, get a plan in place, and make sure you have a bed ready for me when I have to evacuate because " the hurricane of the century is gonna kill us all"!

http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp

Happy Monday!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T16:58:00.001-04:00

* Photo by Ashley Goss of Emmava Photography

Five Minute Friday: On Distance

2011-04-15T09:44:00.000-04:00

In an effort to revive the blog a little, I decided to try and be apart of Gypsy Mama’s 5 Minute Friday post. This post is not going to be light-hearted today, because my heart is heavy right now, but I’m gonna give it a shot! Here are the rules according to Gypsy Mama’s blog:

“Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s finger paint with words

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button in my right side bar}

3. Go leave some comment props for the five minute artist who linked up before you {and if you love us, consider turning off word verification for the day to make it easier for folks to say howdy}

It’s a great way to catch your breath at the end of a long week.”

Today’s topic is : On Distance. Ready…Set… Go!

Distance. Distance is what happens when you have a miscarriage that is unexpected. You distance yourself from friends, distance yourself from God, and distance yourself from family- Heck, you even distance yourself from…yourself. A year ago today I went to the doctor for one last ultrasound before heading to the hospital for my surgery- I needed to be 500% sure that there was no chance a miracle had happened and my babies showed signs of life. By that point I had already come to terms with the reality I was facing, but I had to be sure. My babies went to Heaven before I knew they were gone, but I feel like the day of my D&C was when I lost them. The distance between 1 year, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds is much shorter than you think yet it feels like a lifetime ago. I am working to change the distance I have put between my heart and life and the lives of others, but it has been difficult. While many think the distance of a year should have me OK and “healed”, I am far from OK, and working on the “healing”. Keep me in your prayers, if you would- today is hard and sad. I know “Joy comes in the morning”, and I am trying to focus on that! Happy Palm Sunday to all- remember what this weekend signifies and rejoice with those before you: “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" John 12:13

Another Moth bites the dust

2011-03-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

So....P fractured his ankle at the hands of a moth! Let me explain- for those of you who mother boys, this is what you have to *possibly* look forward to! LOL W was out of town last week for some sales training for work from Tuesday- Thursday, so needless to say by Thursday evening we were doing good with out daddy, but mom's energy was getting low. I was in my room getting ready to take a shower when I heard P and N bickering back and forth about something- I heard N say a few times, "I'm going to tell mom if you don't", so I figured it was something that needed to be checked into- not just a normal *brotherly* fight. When I came in to the living room I saw them both on the couch and P's foot propped up on the arm of the couch. I asked what was going on and N said "his ankle is bothering him and looks bigger than his other one, but he didn't want to tell you yet because he wanted you to get a shower first". I looked at P's ankle and noticed it looked like a 1/2 of a golf ball was under the skin. I immediately got some ice for it since I could tell, at the least, it was sprained. I then asked P what happened and this is the story I got:

"Well I was taking Louie to the use the bathroom (around 7pm) and I saw a moth. It was flying around near the edge of the deck, so I ran and jumped off the edge to try and catch it, but when I landed I twisted my ankle kind of funny. It wasn't hurting at first, but now it hurts to walk on it and it is hard to move it. I'm sure it will be fine though. I twisted it the other day trying to catch a Nerf bullet, and it was ok after a day or so."

I then gave him some Motrin, made sure it had the ice in the right location, and began to *measure* the swelling with my sewing tape measure. I was about 6 cm edge to edge when I got in the shower and 15 minutes later was about 10 (around 8:30pm) when I got out of the shower. I was becoming clear that he sprained it bad and something needed to be done. Thankfully W got home around 9 and after measuring it again- it was about 12 cm at this point- we decided to call Nurse 1. We were instructed to take him to the ER since he could not bear any weight on it and since the swelling was not getting better or staying the same with ice. W and P left around 9:30ish and returned home around 2am! What a night!!! The next day when I got off work, we took him into the Pediatrician for a *quick* follow-up and were told to return Monday morning at 9am, because they did not have the ER paperwork yet, it was already in a splint, and they needed to look at the ER records and X-Rays. They gave us a prescription for Tylenol 3 in case of pain - 15 bucks and 10 minutes later we were on our way. We needed to stop and get some more flooring to finish the living room (long story- totally my fault)- so as W was around back loading it into the van, I noticed the ER paperwork in the back and started to read over it... the diagnosis at the top said: FRACTURED ANKLE, to which I started to panic. W assured me that the paperwork was incorrect and that the Dr. said it was only a very bad sprain- he saw a small sliver of bone, but it would re-absorb and the swelling would go down over the weekend. We went about the rest of our day and weekend icing his ankle, keeping it elevated, and giving him medicine to help with any pain.... thinking we were dealing with a sprain... until Monday morning.

I took him back to the Pediatrician at 9am, where 15 dollars and 25 minutes later we were told it was a fracture, something the ER doctor should have relayed, and that we needed to see an Orthopedist. So, we drove a block over to the Orthopedist office and he and his PA confirmed it was indeed fractured in two areas where the leg bones meet the ankle bones, and that he would be the proud model of a cast for the next 3-4 weeks so it could heal. P, seeing it as a badge of honor, asked if he could have a camo cast... but settled for green when he was *sadly* told camo is not on the market yet. He then told me that when he returned to school the next day, he planned to tell all his friends he was wrestling a snake in the back yard, and that is how he hurt it. A true sign of coming manhood- the desire to elaborate a story to make yourself the hero! LOL

So that was my wild and crazy weekend. I'll have to come back and post a picture of the cast and all it's signatures. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week and weekend! If no one else get's hurt or sick, I will call this week and weekend a success!

Blogging is my free therapy!

2011-03-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

The last 11 months of my life have been by far the toughest and loneliest of my life. I feel by nature I am a very outgoing person, but over the last year I have found myself becoming an introvert. I'd much rather be alone in my room reading a book, taking a bath, or sleeping. I think it is partly depression and partly that some people just change in time. I am making some changes and with the help of W keeping a watchful eye, realizing when I am spending too much time alone, crying more than normal, or in general acting odd. On to the recent miscarriage- I feel I need to write about it to help the process. Feel free to skip this post if you want :-)

This miscarriage I had in January was different than the one last April. This time is was a blighted ovum, which means the sperm and egg met, the egg was fertilized, but that was the extent of the cell growth. I am of the strong belief that the life of a child begins at conception- I believe when the egg and sperm meet and and the one lucky sperm makes his way in, life begins. It's up to God what happens and if that egg will become a baby in 9 months, but the starts of life have begun. People have voiced their opinions on the fact that this time we do not lose a baby- which is fine, we are all entitled to our own opinions. Thankful most of the people who's opinions and thoughts matter to me, know it was a baby and have not tried to minimize my loss. We knew something was wrong from the beginning- I went in a day after finding out I was pregnant and my numbers were very low. I was told that I would probably miscarry over the weekend(it was a Friday), but if didn't the dr would see me the following Wednesday. The weekend was very tough, I was constantly running to the bathroom checking things out. When I wasn't in the bathroom, I was laying in bed crying feeling utterly alone. We made the decision to not tell our family about the pregnancy until we knew it was not going to end in miscarriage. The were a couple of people who knew, but other than cancelled plans and a text to see if I'd be at work, there was silence. In a way, the silence was good because it gave me time to grieve what I knew was coming, think about how I expect too much from friends, and made me rely on W during a time when I was trying to avoid letting my guard down around him. We survived the weekend and start to the week and my bloodwork at the Wednesday appt showed an increase in numbers and I was started on progesterone since that level was still a little low. They scheduled me for another appt the following week with and ultrasound- which is when we got the bad news. The screen showed an odd shaped little oval (not the normal round gestational sac) and areas where it was already starting to detach and prepare to be miscarried. This was much easier to take this time though- the last time we saw 2 very perfect little babies in normal sacs. It was very apparent they made it to a certain point in growth and God took them home to heaven. I chose to wait and see if my body would miscarry on it's own- which it did on Friday Jan 21st. It was the most traumatic, painful thing I have ever experienced. My husband showed me a love like no other during that time- he called my mom and a friend who is an OB/GYN doctor's nurse for advice, called my doctor to find out what he needed to do to take the edge off my pain as well as what to expect, when to his parents house at 10 at night to get some pain medication for me (his mom had just had back surgery and it was faster to get something from her than drive all the way to Savannah to pick something the dr called in up), made sure our children had no idea what was going on in the bedroom that night, and in general made me feel and know I was not alone.
Things are getting a little better each day. I do not understand why this happened to me again, but I know it happened for a reason. Could have been to show me who and what really matter in life- could just be a part of a much bigger picture that has yet to come into focus. My body is still having some problems getting back on track hormone-wise so I am taking birth control for this month to help even things out.... oh how I despise birth control and it's *nauseating* side effects! Like I mentioned in my last post, W and I have been navigating some rocky terrain lately, but things are getting more positive by the day. We still have bad moments, but nothing like the recent past. I am still convinced that marriage will always be work, the problems just get less significant as time goes and you learn what things do and not matter in the grand scheme of it all. It's the things that matter in the Kingdom of Heaven that matter, not those of the Kingdom of Earth. I'm writing this at 11 at night- so I probably need to call it a night, edit in the morning, and get some sleep. P broke his ankle last Thursday and is now in a cast- so that will be the next thing I will write about I guess! Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Gotta start again somewhere...

2011-02-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

Happy *late* 2011! I hope your year is off to a decent start- mine started out a little rocky, but is on a path that is a little "smoother" right now! I have been hesitant to blog for a while because I felt like I had nothing good or positive to say. Since my last blog in November many things have happened in my life: K turned 2, I turned 30, I found out I was pregnant on January 6th and lost the baby on January 21st (I'll write more about this later- it's a detailed post that I want to get out), Will and I began a marriage class that is slowly transforming our marriage and the way we relate and deal with one another, I'm learning deep things about myself and the unrealistic expectations I place on others and myself, learning that I can not expect people in my life to be perfect and never let me down- because I am not that way, P turned 11 and N will be 10 on the 17th, went on an amazing Valentine's dinner date with my hubby this past weekend, and learned how to lay hardwood flooring on Sunday!

As you can see, we have been pretty busy the last month and 1/2. W and I have had some *extreme* marital trials during this time, but are starting to turn a corner thanks to a wonderful book we are reading and video series we are watching at a marriage class at church. They are is nothing more comforting to be in a room with other couples and talk candidly about some of your struggles and know that you are not alone. It's also good to hear from couples who have been marriage for 15+ years that have managed to survive the bad fights and come out stronger. The main thing I have learned so far in the 6 lessons of 10 we have done is the pure and simple fact that I am a sinner who is married to a sinner and we live in a fallen world full of sinners just like us. W is not perfect and in some ways, I have expectations I am having to change of him. Many of my expectations have been extreme and unrealistic to expect of anyone. I am learning to change the expectations of have of friends and family too. A lot of my unhappiness in life over the past few years has been directly related to high expectations of others that are never met and leave me mad, upset, and/ or disappointed. I was setting the people I care the most about up for failure without even realizing it. I was also blaming my bad mood in many cases on those failures- when in fact it was my own issue that put me in that mood not them. An example that has stuck with me since session 1 of our class is when you shake a bottle of water, water comes out- not because you shook the bottle, but because that is what was inside. When I am shaken to my core and angry words come out of my mouth or into my head, it is not the fault of the person who shook me- those thoughts and word have always been on my heart and mind just waiting to come out. That's tough to realize and digest. I am well aware that a 10 week class is not going to fix my marriage for good- I am convinced that marriage is a life long fixing-process, the things that need fixing just get less threatening as time goes on. I have noticed though that as I am more focused on working on myself, my issues, and my struggles- things are getting better with my marriage. The man who told me to “lawyer up” in the heat of a really bad argument is expressing daily how important I and our marriage are to him and that he will fight to the end to keep it intact. The woman who went to her parents for a night to prove a point, is expressing daily her desire to fight to keep her marriage her 2nd priority and the rest of the world-friends, family, work- of lesser importance. We are on the right track... it's not until you realize that only God can fix your marriage and you are willing to admit that you, not your spouse are the problem, that the transformation can start.

I have many reasons to believe that 2011 is going to be a fresh start in many ways for me. I am prepared this may be a year when I loose certain things- it's already started- but I firmly believe that things I am going to gain as a result will be even better!

A picture

2010-11-22T22:39:00.000-05:00

My little K will be 2 in less than a month! Here is a picture of her in one of her sweeter moments!

I'm wearing purple today are you?

2010-11-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

Today is National Prematurity Awareness day and I am wearing purple! I am wearing purple in honor of my cousins who were both born early and spent time in the NICU and in honor of my friends Nikkie and Erik’s little girl Brady who was due 2 months before K, but came much sooner than expected. Nikkie ended up giving birth to Brady at 28 weeks because she developed pre-eclampsia or “pre-e”. This is the same reason my aunt delivered my 2 cousins early- her blood pressure both times got to dangerously high levels and the only cure is to deliver the baby. In her situation delivery was more about saving her life than my cousins. Her oldest suffered a brain bleed as a result of the dangerously high blood pressure levels- but is a walking miracle who turned 22 just last week!

Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature and 1 out of 8 babies born each year falls in this category. As a state, Georgia received an F this year and the US as a whole received a D on this years report card put out by the March of Dimes. To receive an F a state must have more than 13.2 % of all births be premature- In Georgia 13.4% of all babies are born prior to 37 weeks. More newborns die each day from prematurity than any other cause. In most cases this is not the fault of the mother and is something that is out of her control. In the case of my friend Nikkie and my aunt- nothing they did caused their blood pressure to increase to dangerous levels and nothing they could have done would have prevented it. This is a scary thought- when I had my miscarriage I was convinced for the longest that it was the result of something I had done wrong … not taking my vitamins one day, falling down when I was bowling, taking too hot a shower… I can only imagine the thoughts that would have gone through my head if K had to spend any time in the NICU when she was born.

Because of Nikkie and my aunt, I knew just how lucky I was that I was able to hold and nurse K almost immediately upon entering recovery and for her being able to stay in my room the whole time we were at the hospital. Mothers of preemies do not get to hold their babies most times for days or weeks and nursing is out of the question in the beginning. It also made me cherish even more they day we went home. Most parents of preemies have to leave their babies behind at the hospital for additional days, weeks, and months. I want to burst into tears just thinking about how hard that is.

I encourage you today to check out Nikkie’s post today about Brady and why this day is so important to her and to also read some of her older post from when Brady was born. God has worked miracles in that little girl’s life in the 2 short years she has been on this earth. She started out weighing less than 2lbs and is now the most adorable little toddler who brings her parents such joy! I encourage you also to the visit the March of Dimes website and read up on this important issue. Pass the info along to those you know who are pregnant and arm yourself with life changing knowledge. Donate even if you can and feel led to. Be a voice for those who are too small to talk and be the kind of change this world needs!

20 months...

2010-08-16T15:40:00.001-04:00

Photo taken by Jessie Morgan- Jessie Morgan Photography

My sweet little K-boo, you turned 20 months old this past weekend. WOW! It is so hard to believe that just 2 very short years ago we found out on August 13th that we were having a little girl and instead of peanut, you became K. You will always be mommy’s little peanut though! It amazes me and daddy each day just how fast you are growing and how smart you are! You pick and learn things so fast- like saying “bless you” when someone sneezes and, unfortunately, repeating things like “I said no” when your brothers tell you do something. You absolutely adore your brothers though and love to play with them and ask where they are when they are gone. You also love our doggie Monkey and Nana and Pop’s dogs Molly and Isabella. You had to go to the dr this weekend and weighed almost 26 pounds!!!! At your 12 month appointment you weight 18 pounds even and I was convinced you would never hit 25 pounds so you could move to your new car seat! You have had a HUGE growth spurt this summer though and are looking less like a baby and more like a toddler. It also means that mommy has gotten to buy you lots of new clothes to wear- daddy secretly likes getting you cute stuff too! You have 12 teeth completely in- including your 2 year molars already and you are cutting 3 or your 4 eye teeth…. hopefully the 4th one is on the way!

Some of your favorite things right now are:

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• Sesame Street and Elmo’s world
• Singing wheels on the bus, itsy bitsy spider, and twinkle twinkle little star
• You have also begun to try and sing your ABC’s
• Listening to music and dance to it – in the car you like to clap your hands and wave your arms to the music
• Your favorite foods are grilled cheese, cheerios, and chicken fingers
• You will eat almost anything though that doesn’t try to eat you first!!
• You always pray before you eat and go to bed on your own- mommy loves to see you fold your hands and say “dear God thank-you” and “Amen”
• You are very attached to your pooh head blankie and refuse to sleep without it
• You got rid of your paci back in June and have not looked back- mommy and daddy were so happy you did this on your own and we did not have to be the bad guys!
• At last count you can say well over 150 words and have started to use 2 and 3 word phrases to convey what you want or need
• You are very caring and get upset with Daddy and the boys play fight- you tell daddy to stop and sometimes cry because you think he is hurting your brothers
• You love books and for me and daddy to read to you- you sometimes “read” to yourself and follow along the book with your finger

You are such a special, sweet little girl K! Mommy and daddy can not wait to continue to watch you grow and become the girl and woman God designed for you to be. We love you very much and are so honored to be your parents!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

You:Create - week 2

2010-07-08T21:27:00.003-04:00

Our computer is still not in full working order, but I did not want to miss out on week 2 of You:Create. I tried around Christmas of last year to make K a pillowcase dress...and failed miserably! So whe the time came for her to take some 18 months photos I had a friend who makes great pillow case dresses (along with a million other adorable things) so I got one from her. Well since that gave me a template, I decided to try again. The dress in the photo is not going to be able to be worn - there are many defects, but I created it! My mom is going to try and help me work on another one...so, we'll see! thank you for stopping by to see what I created! don't forget to stop by on Sara's blog to see all the other ones and link yours! Have a great Friday and weekend!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.4

You: Create - week 1

2010-07-01T19:48:00.002-04:00

So here is the post I told you about earlier today! I tried to think of something to create that would be quick and easy for the first week. I wanted to sew something simple, but the weekend got away from me. So.... I created this layout from the night W and I got engaged. It's nothing spectatular and fancy, but as Jessica over at The Mom Creative says " It tells a our story". Click on the photo to make it larger.

Be sure to click over to Sara's page and check out all the other great creative things people have done!

Finally....a new post!

2010-07-01T16:03:00.001-04:00

So let's just be honest- I am not very good at blogging. It's not that I don't try, but at work I am busy... working, and at home I am busy... doing more things than one person should in a short period of time- ie: too exhausted to blog when the time is available. I'm tired of apologizing and making excuses for myself and have just decided that it is what it is. I do however have some good news for the 3 of you who like to read this "blog"- Thursdays are going to produce a post God-willing! I am accepting a challenge that has been present by blogging/twitter friend Sara aka: Gitz and will be taking the time for myself to create 1 "something" each week to display and post the blog along with other bloggers as part of You: Create. It will not be the same thing each week, but there will always hopefully be something! I encourage and invite you to join us- today is only the first week, so you are right on time to join! You can go to this link to read what the "project" is about, and this link for this weeks "homepage" to link your project to. I will be posting and linking mine up when I get home, but wanted to go ahead and post about this and spread the word. I really hope you will join us and can not wait to see what you will create!

Elizabeth

18 months... where has the time gone?

2010-06-22T14:28:00.001-04:00

How is it that this little angel

has become this little toddler who is into everything?

Still here..

2010-05-07T21:25:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I am still alive and doing ok. Things are getting better as each day passes and the pain and hurt of what I have less is getting less. I keep finding myself trying not to dwell on all that has happened, but it is hard sometimes. I am more grateful than ever though for the 3 wonderful children and amazing husband that I have- especially my husband, W. This house would not have functioned at all if it were not for him for about 1 month straight- I was here, but not here at the same time. He washed clothes, washed dishes, fed children, fed me, and made sure bills stay paid, kids made it to school at daycare, and I made it to work. My parents and close friends have been awesome during all of this too- constantly checking on me and reminding me that I am loved and cared for. I will be back soon with some post, links, and pictures- if I can ever remember to upload them!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and happy mother's day to all- if you have ever cared, loved, and nurtured a child in any capacity- you are a mother and this day is to celebrate you and all you do!

Sometimes life hurts...

2010-04-22T03:20:00.002-04:00

Many, many things have happened since I last updated the blog- most of which have not been good and are the reason the blog has been neglected. I am still trying to process all that has happened, and will probably write things here and there as I do process things. I am at a crossroads of wanting to get back to normal and resume life and then not being quite ready to do so. Any who, here is the scoop on things for those who do not already know, or only know some of the details.

W and I found out on March 6th that I was pregnant- I had a feeling something was going on, so I tested that morning and gave him the shock of his life since he had no clue I was taking a test. We were not trying to have another baby, but we were also not going out of our way to prevent it other than not DTD during the time I was ovulating. The 4 weeks between finding out and waiting to go to the dr for our first appt was filled with excitement, nervousness, starting to plan on how to make the house work for a family of 6, and discussion of needing a bigger car. We told friends, family, and coworkers of our "surprise" blessing and were met with mostly exciting responses. On Good Friday we went into the dr for the first appt and u/s to get the exact due date and see our little bean for the first time. From the moment the u/s tech started the scan, W said he could tell by the look on her face something was not right. Shortly into the scan I also noticed something was not right and we were delivered some shocking and very sad news. I was pregnant with identical twins and neither had a heartbeat. They were also only measuring 6w5d and 7w and I was 2 days shy of 8 weeks pregnant by my LMP. We were crushed. Nothing, absolutely nothing, prepares you for news like that. I had no signs what so ever that something was not right- no spotting, cramping, and my morning sickness was still in high gear along with other pregnancy symptoms. I think those facts were what made it all the harder. My dr's office set me up for a follow up appt for the following Thursday for another u/s- which gave us 6 days to go over a million and 1 scenarios in our heads of what the outcome could be and left me feeling like a ticking time bomb waiting for something to happen. We received all kinds of advice, words of encouragement, and prayers during that time which were very comforting and appreciated. Some people were expecting the outcome to change, but I must be honest as bad as it seems, I never expected anything to change. It wasn't that I did not think God had the power to change things, or that I thought my dr was wrong- it was just that it was easy to accept everything, start the grieving process, and start living in survival mode.

When we went for the follow-up, every thing was the same- the babies were the exact same size as the week prior and still had no heartbeats. We met with my dr after the u/s and discussed the options since it was a missed miscarriage and my body had yet to recognize I was no longer pregnant and start the process. I made the decision to have a D&C and they scheduled it for me the following Thursday. That was probably the toughest decision I have ever had to make- part of me wanted to give my body time to start the process and the other part wanted to just have the surgery so I would not have to see physical proof of what happened. Up until having K in 2008, I had never been in the hospital in my life (except for my own birth) - so even the thought of being there scared me to death. I cried everyday up to the surgery and cried like a baby the day of surgery- the worst part was saying bye to my parents and W and knowing that when I woke back up- the last evidence of the little lives inside of me would be gone. I know that they went to heaven long before I even knew what happened, but up until the surgery I still felt very pregnant. The surgery went very well and except for some slight cramping and bleeding, I am physically doing ok. Mentally- I am still a mess. I am still very much in survival mode trying to finish one day only to have to figure out how to start the next.

Along with great friends and family, one thing that has helped me a little was the early arrival of Angie Smith's book “I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy". Angie wrote the book about the loss she experience when sweet little Audrey was born and lived for 2.5 miraculous hours on this earth. This book has helped me so much- even though my babies never made it far enough to enter this world, the loss is still real and stings. This book has been good to read too because I have been reading Angie's Blog - Bring the Rain- since she started it and reading this has been much anticipated. I feel like I have lived part of the story along with her and it is comforting to read her words and see what an encouragement she is even in times of deep sorrow. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever experience any type of loss of someone very close- not just a child. Angie does an excellent job of showing and illustrating how Jesus never changes, even in the sad time, and his love is always constant and real.

Things are getting better as time progresses. I still have moments where I just break down and cry and seek answers to questions I will never know this side of heaven. W and I do not know what the future holds in regards to more children- we have been very blessed already with 3 wonderful children and that is 3 more than most people have. People have told me that we will know when the time is right- if ever- and to wait until we both feel ready. I do not wish to ever have to go through this type of physical, mental, and emotional pain ever again- and would not wish it on my worst enemy- but I feel like it has truly made both W and I stronger as a couple and individuals. During this time, we covet your prayers and appreciate each and every one of them. I am a date person, and have a very hard time forgetting dates. These dates in April and our EDD in November are ones I am hoping I will be able to forget though- and I know God has the power to do that so I am praying it will happen.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with family- I will try to upload some pictures on here when I get a chance to share with everyone. K was a big girl this year and got to do some Easter egg hunting so we have some fun pictures to share! Hope everyone is having a great week!

Click Happy- Baby Addition

2010-02-25T16:27:00.001-05:00

Because I know that some of my readers are either already a mom, mom-to-be, or will be in one of those 2 groups soon- I thought I would post about some items that have made life with a baby easy and enjoyable. I have not been paid to review these products and these are my own opinions.

Boppy pillow- I can not say enough good things about my boppy. These are great for both mom and baby. It can be used during nursing, bottle feeding, tummy time and learning how to sit up. K likes to use it now to lean back on and "read" her books. I could notice a difference in both my back and shoulders when I nursed with it and without it. It definitely did the job of taking some stress off an already achy, fatigued body area.

Miracle Swaddling Blanket- Oh. My. Goodness! This blanket is the best thing that was ever invented. I started out using another brand of swaddling blanket and did not have good results. My pediatrician mentioned that this blanket at K's 2 week appointment and I immediately purchased it. Her sleep habits changed drastically when we started to use it. She slept longer and more peaceful when swaddled with this blanket and as a working mom, those longer stretches at night were pure heaven. She eventually weaned herself from it around 5 months. I have bought a couple of these as baby shower gifts and believe they are worth every penny.

Baby Einstein Lullaby CD- Since day one 2 things have remained constant when K goes to bed at night- the sound machine playing the sound of waves and her Baby Mozart CD. I hit play after we have read our book, sang our song and said our prayers every night. The CD plays softly- and it may be mind over matter- but the music seems to have a calming affect on her. We also have some other Baby Einstein CDs that we listen to sometimes during the day and in the car, but her favorite is the lullabies at night.

A&D Ointment- I started out using different "white" types of diaper cream with zinc oxide in them. It became apparent to me very fast though that once K got a diaper rash, these types made her worse instead of better. I started reading up on the problem and found my suspicion to be true. My mom suggested A&D ointment to me so I decided to give it a try- K's diaper rash looked much better over night and was completely gone 24 hours later. I like that this product can be used for other things too- like chapped cheeks and other skin irritations.

I Love You All the Time and Good Night Moon are 2 of K's favorite books. These are the ones we read every night- sometimes both and sometimes just one. I really like both book and how they are quick reads. I Love You All the Time has great illustrations too!

Pooh Security Blanket- This is K's little lovey that she likes to sleep with, play peek-a-boo with and carry with her at home and sometimes in the car. I kept saying that I would buy more than one and put it in the closet in case we ever needed a replacement, but waited too late. They no longer sell it at wal-mart. I highly recommend purchasing some small item for a child to use as comfort at night and during scary times- like shots at the dr. K's "Pooh Head" and come to the rescue many times.

Glow Worm- I had a Glow Worm as a kid and when I saw one at Target I decided that K needed one too! This one is very cute and plays lullabies at the flip of a little switch on the back. We keep her on the light- only mode and will push it when we leave the room at night. It stays on for a minute or so and provides a small amount of light to remind her that things are ok even though mommy and daddy have said good night.

Duck Faucet Cover- I am not sure if this is really one of K's favorites or mine, but I love this cute little duck. I like that it opens at the top to dispense bubble bath into the water. The only down side is that because it is so cute- K now likes to stand up in the bath tub and open and close the top! oops!

So what products do you have that make things easier? I would love to hear about them! Hope everyone is having a great day!

Disclaimer: Affiliate links used

Woo Hoo- We have a winner!

2010-02-23T16:24:00.000-05:00

Well, not as many people commented as I was hoping but I am so glad that the 3 people did and I really enjoyed reading your comments! I put the numbers in random.org and it said that #1 was the winner!!! So Heather- send me your address through facebook or email me at ev102007@gmail.com and I will get the book into the mail for you ASAP. Nikkie- I am going to try to get another book and if I do, I will send you a message to get your address so I can mail it to you! Thanks again for commenting!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!! I should have a normal blog post up this week with some new pictures and some new links!

Hear No Evil- Blog tour, review, and giveaway!

2010-02-18T18:07:00.002-05:00

I got the great privilege of receiving an early copy of Matthew Paul Turner's newest book Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost and oh my goodness- what a good, funny, memory inducing book! MPT was raised much like me in a Baptist home where religion was the heart of the family and everything revolved around that. I was raised Southern Baptist- so things were not quite as strict in my home as his, but the churches were very similar. This book made me sit back and laugh (and commiserate) at many different points about the “bubble” Christians sometimes live and put ourselves in. I still have very vivid memories of a parents meeting held at our church by the youth pastor where he told all the parents that MTV was of the devil and that we all needed to be saved from it! He even had some video put out by some extreme group with various video and sound clip- not used in context- to prove it. My parents came home and blocked MTV from our television and I do not think it was unblocked until almost 10 years later when my sister and I were both in college. During those 10 years without MTV- we just figured out other ways to watch it: baby-sitting, at a friend's house, at our aunt's house. So we still got our MTV and oddly enough appear to have turned out just fine :-) I also remember this same youth pastor having a problem with the song "One Hand in My Pocket" - He was convinced that the other hand had to be doing something of a sexual nature. As a result of all of this and other insane things a lot of my friends and visiting youth were very turned off by church, religion and everything of the nature- which is really sad in retrospect.

This is an excellent book and I recommend it to both Christians and Non-Christians- everyone will be able to relate to and find humor in this book. It is very funny and extremely well written- it is more like reading someone's journal than reading an actual book. MPT is such a good writer and story teller- he has a true talent for making you feel at home within the first page of his books and speaks his mind by saying things that we all want to say about religion, but are too afraid to do so. If you do not win this book, I highly recommend purchasing a copy or getting in through Kindle- you will be glad you did! Be sure to check out his blog- he always has great post and cute photos and videos of his adorable son, Elias! Also check out his wife Jessica's blog if you are a mommy- she always post great deals, tips and advice for moms of toddlers, photo and scrapbooking ideas, and has such a sweet heart!

Now for the exciting part- I have one copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!!

To win leave a comment on how religion has shaped your life and who you are today- be it the way you live, raise your kids, or if the religious experiences of you youth has actually caused you to steer way from church. I will pick one winner with Random.org next Tuesday, February 23 - commenting will close at 9pm on Monday, February 22. Good luck and I look forward to reading everyone’s comments!

-----------------------------------------
Author Bio:

Matthew Paul Turner is a blogger, speaker, and author of Churched: One Kid’s Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess, The Christian Culture Survival Guide, and several other popular books. After a childhood in rural Maryland, Turner attended Nashville’s Belmont University, where he received a BBA in music business, and was the editor of CCM magazine before leaving to pursue writing as a career. Turner has written for Relevant, HomeLife, Christian Single, and other magazines. He and his wife, Jessica, have one son, and live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his website: http://www.matthewpaulturner.com/.

Random House

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Disclosure: Compensated affiliate links used

It's here, it's here!

2010-02-05T10:48:00.001-05:00

The day is finally here- as of Tuesday- of the release of Beth Moore's new book So L ong Insecurity, You've Been a Bad Friend to Us!!! Words can not describe how incredibly excited I am to read this book. To make things even better (like reading the book is not awesome enough), there is going to a discussion group on the LPM blog about the book! It will last 9 weeks and start next Tuesday -I am so excited to be able to read and talk about this book with other ladies as well as discuss it with Beth herself! The book is only 12 dollars right now on Amazon- which is a STEAL considering it is in hardback... and written by Beth Moore. Angie over at Bring the Rain is also giving out 4- yes 4!!- copies to all those who comment by tonight! I'm not a math wiz- but free is even better than 12 bucks... I'm just saying!

I have never been disappointed one bit by anything I have read of hers or any bible studies I have done. She is so geniune, down to earth, and honest. I like to that she is real- she does not pretend to be perfect or have it all together and is not afraid to let the world know that. She is also funny too- I subscribe to the LPM blog in my reader and sometime Beth leaves me laughing and smiling all day from something that she said.

So, if you are looking for a good book to read- I hope you will consider this one (and maybe even joining in the discussion group). We all struggle with some level of insecurity and I know that I am really going to benefit from reading this book! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Disclosure: Compensated affiliate links used

So very nervous

2010-01-28T13:48:00.001-05:00

Not much to write, because I really don't know what to write. K has her surgery in the morning to get her ear tubes. Please pray that things go well and this surgery helps to decrease the amount of ear infections she keeps having drastically. Pray also that this helps her hear better and have better balance. She has been walking for a few weeks now, but I think the constant fluid in her ears makes her more unsteady than she should be and in turn causes her to not want to walk. The surgery itself should only take about 5 minutes and we should be home from the hospital by mid morning imagine. Thanks in advance for your love, prayers, and support! Hope you are having a great Thursday!

Blah- this is why I haven't felt like blogging much...

2010-01-20T13:36:00.013-05:00

What is it about the first of the year that brings an onset of drama into people’s lives- including my own? W and I have been dealing with some EXTREME drama over the course of the past 3 months- since about the end of October. While it has not been family drama- thank God- it has been with people we were close to. In the course of 1 phone conversation where I called to check and see if some plans were still good and to ask a simple question- that I had ever right to ask- the relationship changed drastically and I saw a very ugly side of someone who should not act in the way they did because of a job they are associated with. They were rude, judgmental, venomous, and just flat out mean and nasty to me. Once the phone conversation was over, after about 30 minutes of pure verbal vomit, I just sat in my car and cried. I had no idea that someone could be so mean to another person, especially someone they claim to love and care for. I told W that I just felt so gross after the call and even after a long, hot shower- just could not wash it off. I made the decision to no longer speak to this person, and have not since. W and I found more things during the month of November that made us very upset and in turn had to send a very difficult email about an on going issue, that caused even more drama. How sad is it that some people are so down right mean that you have to result to sending emails back and forth about relationship changing issues. I do not think sad is even the word. Sending an email though instead of “fighting” for something you love and miss is sad though. Not realizing that you have to make a choice because in life you can not have the best of both worlds – and then choosing the side that has lied, cheated, stolen, abandoned, and left destruction in their path is just plain stupid, irresponsible, and ignorant. Thankfully- my family has experience such abandonment before, we know how physically and emotionally detach and walk away.

I have friends experiencing hard stuff and drama too- in-laws who are rude and non-existent, siblings who refuse to share the love and spotlight, problems at work that lead to overall discontentment and frustration, problems with peoples perspective about their life and the need to verbalize it for the entire world to see and read. The first of the year should bring about changes and a desire to improve upon the weaknesses and negativity of the year(s) past. Instead of looking for ways to cause drama and misery- people should instead look at ways to “fix” broken relationships and better themselves.

If you can’t tell- I am hurt, upset, and in general pissed about the way this part of the New Year has begun. Nothing is harder than to sit by and watch someone crash and burn and not fight for the things and people they love and care for. It also takes a lot for me to lose respect for someone- but these people have successfully lost all of my respect. I try not to judge people’s claims of Christianity because I feel that is God’s job as he is the only one who knows their heart. These people though are the farthest from God honoring and following individuals I have ever encountered. And that makes me sad to admit, because so many people look to them for leadership and example.

Well- this post has gotten entirely too long… but God do I feel better getting all of this off my chest. If you made it to the end- thanks for reading. Please be in prayer for this situation- things will never go back to the way they were EVER, but maybe these individuals will come to their senses and realize how wrong they are in the way they are handling things.

30 things by the time I'm 30

2010-01-19T10:37:00.004-05:00

If you read my old blog, then you know I made a list of 29 things I wanted to accomplish before I turned 29. Of those 29 things, I was able to accomplish 16 things, which is only about 55% :-( Hopefully I can accomplish the 30 things I have listed for my self by the end of the year when I hit the big 3-0! Wish me luck!

1. ~~Wean K to whole milk 100%~~
2. Lose 10lbs
3. Lose 20 lbs
4. Pay off all compound debt
5. Start chipping away at student loan
6. Start chipping away at car payment
7. ~~Sell Honda~~
8. Go on 1 child free date a month
9. Go away for 1 child free weekend
10. Do Love Dare Day by Day with W for 1 year
11. Cook more meals at home
12. Budget monthly and meal plan
13. Participate in 1 bible study with other women
14. Read 1 new book a month
15. Blog weekly
16. Donate excess money at the end of the month to charity
17. Clean out the garage and attic and donate to charity
18. ~~Throw boys a birthday part with friends~~
19. ~~Make it to work on time everyday for 1 month~~
20. ~~Make it to work everyday on time for 3 months~~
21. Make it to work everyday on time for 6 months
22. Make it to work everyday on time for 12 months
23. Work out 2 times a week
24. Allow Will to do more with K – baths, dinner, getting dressed
25. Limit computer time at night when the kids are awake
26. Play Wii or X Box once a month with boys and W
27. Send a “just because” card to 1 different person each month
28. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture
29. Take more photos of everyday things
30. Try not to dwell on the fact that I’m turning 30!

The incredible, edible egg- Yum!

2010-01-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

BooMama is giving away 100$ visa gift card courtesy of Eggland's Best all for sharing a recipe that includes eggs- how cool is that? So here is my "egg"cellent dish!

Easy Garden Bake:

1 cup chopped zucchini

1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/2 package of sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped squash
1-2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Bisquick Heart Smart® mix
1 cup fat-free (skim) milk
1/2 cup fat-free egg product or 2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray 8-inch square baking dish or 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray. Sprinkle zucchini, tomato, onion and cheese in baking dish.

2. In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour over vegetables and cheese.

3. Bake uncovered about 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes.

As you can see- this dish is very healthy and can be served as a breakfast or dinner meal. You can play around with the veggies and add just the ones you like. So go check out the giveaway and post your favorite egg dish!

Help for those in Haiti

2010-01-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

I copied the below info from Big Mama's blog and wanted to share it with all of you. Just some info on ways to help those in Haiti. Please continue to pray for all the people who have found themselves submerged in such sadness.
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There are so many ways we can help right now. You can text “disaster” to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion’s disaster relief program. They will be working directly with the local churches who know where these families live and will provide immediate relief to them. You can also click HERE to donate.

If you’d prefer to give to the Red Cross, you can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 or go directly to the Red Cross website to make a donation.

Another option is to donate through Samaritan’s Purse.

The needs are so massive right now and every little bit helps.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Cick Happy

2010-01-13T15:27:00.001-05:00

Here are some links worth clicking for this week- enjoy!

Check out these great items Amazon has in one place for meeting your New Years resoultions!
I have Sara's blog in my reader, so I read all of her post. I do not know her personally- but feel like I do. Check out this post she wrote today! It is impossible not to walk away inspired by her once you read her blog! And her dog Riley Joseph is just too cute for words!
Beth Moore's new book So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us will be out soon- I am hoping to buy a copy for a good price once it comes out!
Speaking of Beth Moore- you should check out the LPM blog! Both Beth and her daughter Amanda write on there- some post of funny, some random, and some really challenge you to live better for God.
I highly recommend the book Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson to all who are mothers of boys. I learned some really valuable, usable information from this book

Well- these are all the links I have for today. Hope enjoy checking them out- #2 is really worth clicking, trust me!

Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!

10 links worth checking out!

2010-01-04T16:24:00.002-05:00

In the spirit of 2K10- I plan to try and post something each week or 2 with 10 links worth checking out. Some will be items worth buying, news worth reading, and blog post that make me smile.

Here are this weeks 10 links to check out according to me!

This is the devotion we are doing- check it out!

The Love Dare Day by Day

These are great night time diapers for those of you who have a baby- a friend told me about them and I am so glad I started to use them at night! They are Pampers too- double yay!
Pampers Extra Protection
Check out todays post from Big Mama- she always cracks me up and her daughter Caroline is adorable and funny!
Is this Dr. Seuss onesie adorable- I think K would look so cute it!
Dr Seuss Onesie
I finally preordered my copy of Angie at Bring the Rain's book and can not wait to read it when it comes out!
Angie's Book
I need this game for the Wii!
Fat Game
This is said to be the safest car seat on the market right now- once K outgrows her carrier seat we will be getting it! It rear faces longer- which is a safety must!
Safest Car Seat Ever
Check out this blog- moms need to know- for awesome deals, coupons and money saving ideas!
Dwight from The Office has a blog- Oh. My. Goodness! Check out those Haikus!
Has anyone read this book? Is it good?
Queen of Babble

Well those are my 10 links- enjoy and feel free to comment with a few of your own!

2K10

2010-01-04T15:46:00.003-05:00

10 Random Thoughts and Goals to get 2K10 off to a Start:

1) I seriously need to get in shape and lose like... 15lbs... seriously!

2) I am a super hula hoop champ on the Wii Fit Plus game- how is that since I am no good in real life?

3) The Biggest Looser is my new show obsession- it starts tomorrow! Woo Hoo!

4) K weaned herself from nursing last week- I thought I would get to have 1 last session with her New Years morning... she declined :-(

5) I have not been late to work, missed church, or gained any weight ALL YEAR!! Go me! LOL

6) W and I are going to start the Debt Snowball plan that Dave Ramsey suggest to get our finances in shape this decade...

7) Did I mention that I am out of shape and a little on the "fat" side- because I really need to work on that!

8) The wind chill over the next few nights is going to be in the teens- THE TEENS! Global Warming my a**!

9) W and I are doing "The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples"- we started on January 1st, so I hope we make to day 365 and it strengths our marriage in the process.

10) I have a personal goal I am working on that is between me and God- hopefully through time I will achieve it!

So what are your goals and random thoughts for 2K10 so far?

Christmas post coming soon!

2009-12-29T10:59:00.000-05:00

Sorry the blog has been so quiet- one of my New Year's goals is to try and blog once a week. Things have been crazy this past month with birthdays, parties, Christmas, and drama... I have so much I would love to write, but sometimes can't because I want to keep my business to myself and keep the blog positive! I promise there will be a Christmas post with pictures soon! Hope everyone had a wonder Christmas and that 2010 starts out great for you!

Special Surprise

2009-12-23T13:53:00.003-05:00

Beautiful flowers from my wonderful husband

A wonderful giveaway

2009-12-09T12:53:00.001-05:00

BooMama is giving away the most wonderful prize today on her blog.... an HP touchsmart 600! If I won this computer it would go exactly where she jokingly suggested- in mama's closet where no one else will touch it! I kid- but really, a computer of my own would be awesome to blog on and store and manage all my pictures without fear of little hands accidently deleting something.... or clicking on the wrong link and make the computer sick with an evil virus... not that I know what that's like.
Hope on over to her giveaway page and enter- you may just win!
http://boomama.net/hp-touchsmart-600-giveaway/

Don't know where to start....

2009-12-08T16:12:00.001-05:00

I typed out a very long post with all the happenings from the past month and then went home to add the pictures... The post somehow was lost, yet the pictures remained. So, instead of a post - pictures will have to do for now. I will work on a post this weekend!

K in her first Thanksgiving outfit

All of us in Nassau

P and N in front of the boat

The cruise boat!

Happy 34th Birthday to W

W's plate at the holiday dinner

W and I at the church holiday dinner

K pushing her stroller outside

Cry baby...

2009-12-08T16:11:00.001-05:00

New blog???

2009-12-04T11:09:00.001-05:00

I am starting a new blog to see if I like this better than wordpress. I have had some issues in the past with posting photos on the wordpress blog, so I am trying to see if blogger is a little easier to use. Here is a photo to get started :-) This is K's invite for her party next week!

Test complete.... I love blogger!