A few pictures of my incredibly handsome baby boy. Just because. :)
Who can resist that beautiful face and those gorgeous eyes??
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Halfway There!
Well, today I'm 20 weeks pregnant, which means I'm "halfway" through my pregnancy. I suppose halfway is a relative term, considering I did not make it to 40 weeks with either of my previous pregnancies, but who knows, maybe this time will be different! Although if my due date comes and there is still a baby inside of me, I don't really know what I'll do, having never been pregnant for that long before. Oh well, guess we'll just have to see when this little girl wants to make her grand entrance!
Anyway, so far, I am feeling great. I'm actually feeling better than I did when I carried my son, so hopefully that is a good sign. I am still getting weekly progesterone shots, which are rather unpleasant and leave me surprisingly sore, but if it helps keep this baby where she belongs, then it's worth it. I am also continuing to see the specialist, and as of right now, everything looks exactly the way it is supposed to. I tend to get a little anxious before I go, because I am so afraid they are going to see something wrong, or start to see signs of pre-term labor, but so far, things are good. So I am taking it one day at a time, and trusting in God's timing for our little one, whatever that may be.
I also have an unbelievable amount of ultrasound pictures of this precious girl, which I LOVE, but also makes me feel a little guilty, because I am so lacking in pictures of my other two! Oh well, I guess that can't be helped. But even though it's not my fault, I feel like it's "not fair." I guess that's just life, haha! I will add the picture later, but today we watched as she tapped herself in the head with her toes, completely folded in half. It was SO cute!! We could see her toes wiggling and everything!
Her head is to the right, and you can see her leg stretched above her body and her foot touching her forehead. I guess that's a comfortable position for her, ha!
Well, that's all the update for now. Please continue praying friends!! :)
Anyway, so far, I am feeling great. I'm actually feeling better than I did when I carried my son, so hopefully that is a good sign. I am still getting weekly progesterone shots, which are rather unpleasant and leave me surprisingly sore, but if it helps keep this baby where she belongs, then it's worth it. I am also continuing to see the specialist, and as of right now, everything looks exactly the way it is supposed to. I tend to get a little anxious before I go, because I am so afraid they are going to see something wrong, or start to see signs of pre-term labor, but so far, things are good. So I am taking it one day at a time, and trusting in God's timing for our little one, whatever that may be.
I also have an unbelievable amount of ultrasound pictures of this precious girl, which I LOVE, but also makes me feel a little guilty, because I am so lacking in pictures of my other two! Oh well, I guess that can't be helped. But even though it's not my fault, I feel like it's "not fair." I guess that's just life, haha! I will add the picture later, but today we watched as she tapped herself in the head with her toes, completely folded in half. It was SO cute!! We could see her toes wiggling and everything!
Here's the picture!
Her head is to the right, and you can see her leg stretched above her body and her foot touching her forehead. I guess that's a comfortable position for her, ha!
Well, that's all the update for now. Please continue praying friends!! :)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Summer Fun!
This week, I got the kids down for a nap, packed the bags, got them up, fed them lunch, got everyone lathered in sunscreen, dressed them in swim diapers and bathing suits, loaded up the car and headed to the pool.
I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's quite an ordeal to get everyone ready and everything packed and all three of us in the car, fed and napped and ready to go. In fact, it took so long, by the time we got there it was almost time for my son to take a nap again. But that's ok. Because it it was a great time, and once we got there and I saw my daughter having so much fun, it was all worth it. Plus, it was surprisingly relaxing for me. Of course, I guess that's the point of lounging by the pool-to relax-but I thought it would be stressful. But I had a friend there who helped wrangle the kids and kept an eye on things, so it was actually quite nice!
My daughter LOVES the water, and splashing in the fountain:
While my son is content to just sit on the sidelines and watch his sister...
It was a quick trip, only about 45 minutes, but the kids enjoyed the fresh air! :) Maybe next time their daddy can go too!
I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's quite an ordeal to get everyone ready and everything packed and all three of us in the car, fed and napped and ready to go. In fact, it took so long, by the time we got there it was almost time for my son to take a nap again. But that's ok. Because it it was a great time, and once we got there and I saw my daughter having so much fun, it was all worth it. Plus, it was surprisingly relaxing for me. Of course, I guess that's the point of lounging by the pool-to relax-but I thought it would be stressful. But I had a friend there who helped wrangle the kids and kept an eye on things, so it was actually quite nice!
My daughter LOVES the water, and splashing in the fountain:
While my son is content to just sit on the sidelines and watch his sister...
It was a quick trip, only about 45 minutes, but the kids enjoyed the fresh air! :) Maybe next time their daddy can go too!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The More Things Change...
...the more they stay the same.
We have been through a lot in the brief time we've been in ministry. Good times, hard times, lonely times and joyful times. The more I see and experience, however, the more I realize that things are not so different from one church to another, and things are not so different from the struggles of the early church to the struggles of the modern church in America.
However, no matter what a church is going through, or what I myself am going through personally, we must be diligent to press on, and look forward to the path ahead. It can be so easy when times get tough to look to the past, to the "good ole days," and wish everything was back to the way it was. But this is exactly what the Israelites were doing when God was trying to deliver them to the promised land.
We have been through a lot in the brief time we've been in ministry. Good times, hard times, lonely times and joyful times. The more I see and experience, however, the more I realize that things are not so different from one church to another, and things are not so different from the struggles of the early church to the struggles of the modern church in America.
However, no matter what a church is going through, or what I myself am going through personally, we must be diligent to press on, and look forward to the path ahead. It can be so easy when times get tough to look to the past, to the "good ole days," and wish everything was back to the way it was. But this is exactly what the Israelites were doing when God was trying to deliver them to the promised land.
"Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. “If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. “Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.”
Numbers 14:1-9
God had delivered them from slavery. And they thought it would be better to return to Egypt and die there than to press on to the land that God had promised them? It looks and sounds crazy to us now, but the reality is, we do the very same thing. "Oh, if only this hadn't changed, or we had just stuck things out there, or done that instead..." And so on and so on. It's your typical, everything is greener on the other side (or in some cases, in the past) mentality.
But I am trying very hard not to look to the past, or to the way things were, and pine for those times. Because God has called us to new things, and new places. He has called our friends to different cities, and it is hard not to wish that they were still here. And although I cannot see what lies ahead, I am trusting in His timing and His plan.
But I am trying very hard not to look to the past, or to the way things were, and pine for those times. Because God has called us to new things, and new places. He has called our friends to different cities, and it is hard not to wish that they were still here. And although I cannot see what lies ahead, I am trusting in His timing and His plan.
So instead, I am looking forward, and am continuing to strive to be the Godly woman that God is calling me to be. And I am not going to give up on God's plan, or think that we need to return to the way things were, because I am trusting that God has an amazing plan for us and our family. I will strive to live by the words of Paul to the Philippians:
"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." Philippians 3:12-17
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Growing Up
My babies are growing up WAY too fast.
My son is getting better at sitting up everyday.
He still falls over...
but he is learning to catch himself.
And he can sit for up to 5 minutes!
My sweet girl (independent one that she is)...
is feeding herself with a spoon.
It's still in the messy stages, and means mealtime takes quite a bit longer...
but she's so proud of herself, and so am I!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
True Sacrifice
I have been thinking a lot lately about the word "sacrifice." I hear it used quite frequently in our culture, and I have begun to wonder just what exactly is a sacrifice? What does it mean and more importantly, what is truly deemed a "sacrifice" in the eyes of God? Unfortunately, I feel like most often, the term is vastly misused and misunderstood by Christians in America.
In my bible, the term is defined as the "offering of a life (noun)," or "to offer a life (verb)." Honestly, this definition caught me off guard. That is certainly not how it is most commonly used when someone says they had to "sacrifice this or that."
Wikipedia states that "sacrifice is commonly known as the practice of offering food, objects (typically valuables), or the lives of animals or people to the gods as an act of propitiation or worship... Recently, it has also come into use as meaning doing without something or giving something up."
Doing without something or giving something up. This is how I typically hear the term sacrifice used. For example, "I sacrificed my cable tv for months to save money..." or "I sacrificed my entire afternoon to spend time with you..." or "I sacrificed my nice, fancy car in order to get out of debt..."
But are any of those things really sacrifices? Is it really that big of a deal to give up cable tv? Or a fancy smart phone, or a new car, or any other number of silly, frivolous things? Consider this: There are more Christians in prison or in detention in China than in any other country in the world. Churches have to meet in secret, and risk breaking the law just to preach the gospel. In India, persecution of Christians has spread throughout the entire country, as radical Hindus seek to purify India of all religions except Hinduism. On April 5, Pastor Yadal was attacked in the village of Vadarpalaya, Karnataka. Police officers stopped and beat Pastor Yadal while he was on his way to preach at the House of Salvation church. In North Korea, being a Christian carries a more severe punishment than espionage. In addition, one out of four Christian prisoners are sent to political prison camps where prisoners almost never leave.
How do you think Christians in these (and so many other) countries would define sacrifice? All over the world, Christians are willing to go to jail, or prison camps, get beaten, or even killed, for the sake of the gospel. And yet we can't "sacrifice" an hour a week for bible study? Or thirty minutes a day for time with God? Or give up our piles of stuff?
Obviously, Christians do not face this kind of persecution here in the U.S. But Christ does call us to count the cost and make sacrifices for His name's sake. So what does that mean for me? For you? What is a sacrifice, really, and what is just me being selfish and not wanting to give up something that I don't really need anyway?
And then I think about the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus, and really nothing can ever compare. He gave his own life so that I might be forgiven and made right in the eyes of God. There is nothing that I can do or give up that could even come close to what Christ did for me.
So as a follower of Christ, what kind of sacrifice am I expected to make? I don't know. I really don't know the answer to my questions for me personally, or for anyone else, because I am sure God asks different things of different people. I don't know what God will call me and my family to do, or what things I will be asked to surrender to Him. I only know that I do not want to be caught up in the American dream, surrounded by comfort and nice things, only to completely miss what exactly God wants me to be doing. And I know that I do not want to live my life striving after the wrong things, or clinging to the things of this world.
"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15
In my bible, the term is defined as the "offering of a life (noun)," or "to offer a life (verb)." Honestly, this definition caught me off guard. That is certainly not how it is most commonly used when someone says they had to "sacrifice this or that."
Wikipedia states that "sacrifice is commonly known as the practice of offering food, objects (typically valuables), or the lives of animals or people to the gods as an act of propitiation or worship... Recently, it has also come into use as meaning doing without something or giving something up."
Doing without something or giving something up. This is how I typically hear the term sacrifice used. For example, "I sacrificed my cable tv for months to save money..." or "I sacrificed my entire afternoon to spend time with you..." or "I sacrificed my nice, fancy car in order to get out of debt..."
But are any of those things really sacrifices? Is it really that big of a deal to give up cable tv? Or a fancy smart phone, or a new car, or any other number of silly, frivolous things? Consider this: There are more Christians in prison or in detention in China than in any other country in the world. Churches have to meet in secret, and risk breaking the law just to preach the gospel. In India, persecution of Christians has spread throughout the entire country, as radical Hindus seek to purify India of all religions except Hinduism. On April 5, Pastor Yadal was attacked in the village of Vadarpalaya, Karnataka. Police officers stopped and beat Pastor Yadal while he was on his way to preach at the House of Salvation church. In North Korea, being a Christian carries a more severe punishment than espionage. In addition, one out of four Christian prisoners are sent to political prison camps where prisoners almost never leave.
How do you think Christians in these (and so many other) countries would define sacrifice? All over the world, Christians are willing to go to jail, or prison camps, get beaten, or even killed, for the sake of the gospel. And yet we can't "sacrifice" an hour a week for bible study? Or thirty minutes a day for time with God? Or give up our piles of stuff?
Obviously, Christians do not face this kind of persecution here in the U.S. But Christ does call us to count the cost and make sacrifices for His name's sake. So what does that mean for me? For you? What is a sacrifice, really, and what is just me being selfish and not wanting to give up something that I don't really need anyway?
And then I think about the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus, and really nothing can ever compare. He gave his own life so that I might be forgiven and made right in the eyes of God. There is nothing that I can do or give up that could even come close to what Christ did for me.
So as a follower of Christ, what kind of sacrifice am I expected to make? I don't know. I really don't know the answer to my questions for me personally, or for anyone else, because I am sure God asks different things of different people. I don't know what God will call me and my family to do, or what things I will be asked to surrender to Him. I only know that I do not want to be caught up in the American dream, surrounded by comfort and nice things, only to completely miss what exactly God wants me to be doing. And I know that I do not want to live my life striving after the wrong things, or clinging to the things of this world.
"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15
Monday, July 19, 2010
There is No "Good" in Goodbye
You may have noticed I've been pretty absent from the blogging world lately. I apologize for that, but things have been so crazy and busy. I actually don't think I have opened my computer since Thursday, which is incredibly strange for me.
Anyway, I have been spending my time these last few days preparing to say goodbye. As I was thinking about how difficult goodbye's are, I realized this doesn't always have to be the case. Saying goodbye to the NICU when my son FINALLY came home, was wonderful beyond belief! We were happy to say goodbye, and hope we never have to say hello again!
But saying goodbye to your best friend is infinitely harder. No, it's darn near impossible.
Our friends, and our church's children's minister, are moving on to begin a new ministry in Mississippi. This opportunity is such a blessing and will allow my friend to stay at home with their precious baby girl, and I'm so excited to see what God has in store for them. But that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier.
This past week has been a whirlwind of planning for their going away party, helping pack up their beautiful baby's room, spending time together, eating good food, and loading up the biggest UHAUL they make.
Friday night we gathered friends together to wish them well, and enjoy some yummy food that they will no longer have in Mississippi. Saturday consisted of packing and loading (of which I was not much help, considering I have two kids to take care of...oh well, moral support!), then another evening of spending time together and eating good food. Sunday was their last day at church, and reality hit me quite a bit harder than I was expecting. But we prayed for them, and had a wonderful time of fellowship Sunday evening to say thank you for their time here and send them on to their new ministry. Sunday night, a few of us got together for one last time, to be hang out, and say goodbye. One by one, friends said their goodbyes and went home. But as completely exhausted as I was, I just wasn't ready for that moment when I actually had to go home and face the fact that they are really leaving.
So we talked, and laughed, and I helped them get the last few things organized and loaded into the car so they could leave as early as possible this morning. Finally, though, there was nothing left to do. No more packing, no more delaying, nothing left but to hug and cry (after a very long day of working very hard to hold it all in) and say it. The word I had been avoiding all week long. Goodbye.
I still can't believe it. I cry every time I drive by their house (which is at least once a day). I was there when they had their beautiful baby. I helped them move into their house right down the street from us. They were there for us every single day my son was in the hospital. And they helped give and host a beautiful shower for my son while he was there.
I knew it would be hard, but I had no idea how hard. I am so excited for them as they begin a brand new chapter in their lives, and get settled and build new relationships in Mississippi. And I will be praying for them all the time, as I know they will be praying for us. And I know we will see each other again, hopefully sooner rather than later. But right now, my heart is breaking.
You mean so much to me and I hope you know how much you will be missed. :)
Anyway, I have been spending my time these last few days preparing to say goodbye. As I was thinking about how difficult goodbye's are, I realized this doesn't always have to be the case. Saying goodbye to the NICU when my son FINALLY came home, was wonderful beyond belief! We were happy to say goodbye, and hope we never have to say hello again!
But saying goodbye to your best friend is infinitely harder. No, it's darn near impossible.
Our friends, and our church's children's minister, are moving on to begin a new ministry in Mississippi. This opportunity is such a blessing and will allow my friend to stay at home with their precious baby girl, and I'm so excited to see what God has in store for them. But that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier.
This past week has been a whirlwind of planning for their going away party, helping pack up their beautiful baby's room, spending time together, eating good food, and loading up the biggest UHAUL they make.
Friday night we gathered friends together to wish them well, and enjoy some yummy food that they will no longer have in Mississippi. Saturday consisted of packing and loading (of which I was not much help, considering I have two kids to take care of...oh well, moral support!), then another evening of spending time together and eating good food. Sunday was their last day at church, and reality hit me quite a bit harder than I was expecting. But we prayed for them, and had a wonderful time of fellowship Sunday evening to say thank you for their time here and send them on to their new ministry. Sunday night, a few of us got together for one last time, to be hang out, and say goodbye. One by one, friends said their goodbyes and went home. But as completely exhausted as I was, I just wasn't ready for that moment when I actually had to go home and face the fact that they are really leaving.
So we talked, and laughed, and I helped them get the last few things organized and loaded into the car so they could leave as early as possible this morning. Finally, though, there was nothing left to do. No more packing, no more delaying, nothing left but to hug and cry (after a very long day of working very hard to hold it all in) and say it. The word I had been avoiding all week long. Goodbye.
I still can't believe it. I cry every time I drive by their house (which is at least once a day). I was there when they had their beautiful baby. I helped them move into their house right down the street from us. They were there for us every single day my son was in the hospital. And they helped give and host a beautiful shower for my son while he was there.
I knew it would be hard, but I had no idea how hard. I am so excited for them as they begin a brand new chapter in their lives, and get settled and build new relationships in Mississippi. And I will be praying for them all the time, as I know they will be praying for us. And I know we will see each other again, hopefully sooner rather than later. But right now, my heart is breaking.
You mean so much to me and I hope you know how much you will be missed. :)
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6
Katie, every time I go to the Carter's store, or work on my scrapbook, or drink a Dr. Pepper, or see a little wiener dog, or hear the name Emma, or eat Chick-Fil-A, or work in the nursery, or go to Harris, or see the Schwan's man, or go to IKEA, I will think of you, and pray for you. Love you all!!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Verdict is In...
We have wondered and inquired, looked and questioned, but we now know for sure, without a doubt, the sex of our newest babe!
This is big news, because it has been the topic of much debate around here lately. Originally, my gut instinct was that it was a girl. (For the record, my instinct with my son was that he was a boy). Then I took a test from the drug store that is supposed to tell you the sex with 85-90% accuracy, and the test said we were having a boy. Then last week we took a peek at the baby on an ultrasound, but because it was not a super high-tech machine, it was not exactly clear what we were looking at. After the peek, however, my husband was convinced it was a boy. My doctor was guessing girl.
Now, either way would have been perfectly fine to us. We already have a girl, and we already have a boy, so of course, we are just praying for a healthy, full-term baby.
But after visiting a high-risk pregnancy specialist, and looking at our baby with a very nice, in depth ultrasound on a 46-inch flat screen television (yes, it was somehow projected onto a mounted television, making our baby look huge and up-close), the nurse and the doctor agreed.
Our third baby is a precious little baby girl!
She looked perfectly healthy, was measuring right on track for her due date, had a strong heart beat and weighed in at a tiny 6 ounces. As for me, I am doing well so far too, and I have not had any complications. I will be going to see the specialist once a week for the next few weeks to make sure nothing is changing, and I will also begin to receive weekly progesterone shots, which is supposed to help prolong pregnancy in women at risk for pre-term labor. Although, I could not tell you why that is, or if it really even helps or not. It's a little inconclusive, but it can't hurt!
Anyway, I would just like to say AGAIN, that I was right all along, and I am now 2-0, while the gender test is 0-2 (it said my son was a girl). :)
Now all we need is a name. Any suggestions???
This is big news, because it has been the topic of much debate around here lately. Originally, my gut instinct was that it was a girl. (For the record, my instinct with my son was that he was a boy). Then I took a test from the drug store that is supposed to tell you the sex with 85-90% accuracy, and the test said we were having a boy. Then last week we took a peek at the baby on an ultrasound, but because it was not a super high-tech machine, it was not exactly clear what we were looking at. After the peek, however, my husband was convinced it was a boy. My doctor was guessing girl.
Now, either way would have been perfectly fine to us. We already have a girl, and we already have a boy, so of course, we are just praying for a healthy, full-term baby.
But after visiting a high-risk pregnancy specialist, and looking at our baby with a very nice, in depth ultrasound on a 46-inch flat screen television (yes, it was somehow projected onto a mounted television, making our baby look huge and up-close), the nurse and the doctor agreed.
Our third baby is a precious little baby girl!
She looked perfectly healthy, was measuring right on track for her due date, had a strong heart beat and weighed in at a tiny 6 ounces. As for me, I am doing well so far too, and I have not had any complications. I will be going to see the specialist once a week for the next few weeks to make sure nothing is changing, and I will also begin to receive weekly progesterone shots, which is supposed to help prolong pregnancy in women at risk for pre-term labor. Although, I could not tell you why that is, or if it really even helps or not. It's a little inconclusive, but it can't hurt!
Anyway, I would just like to say AGAIN, that I was right all along, and I am now 2-0, while the gender test is 0-2 (it said my son was a girl). :)
Now all we need is a name. Any suggestions???
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
4th of July in Pictures
This 4th of July, we were so blessed to be able to visit some of my family who I have not seen for years. Although it was an incredibly quick trip, with a lot of driving, lack of sleep, and babies out of the normal routine, I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way.
Over the course of three short days, we saw a real mummy in a real sarcophagus, ate delicious ice-cream cake, discovered my daughter loves to eat lemons, drank purple milkshakes, decided at the last minute to head to Grandma's, spent the 4th of July in Tennessee, got to meet my cousin's adorable and lovable boys for the very first time, then drifted off to sleep to the sound of fireworks in the hotel parking lot. We were completely spoiled for the entire visit, and are so beyond grateful for the hospitality we were shown.
And now, onto the pictures:
Over the course of three short days, we saw a real mummy in a real sarcophagus, ate delicious ice-cream cake, discovered my daughter loves to eat lemons, drank purple milkshakes, decided at the last minute to head to Grandma's, spent the 4th of July in Tennessee, got to meet my cousin's adorable and lovable boys for the very first time, then drifted off to sleep to the sound of fireworks in the hotel parking lot. We were completely spoiled for the entire visit, and are so beyond grateful for the hospitality we were shown.
And now, onto the pictures:
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