Not slacking

To all my followers :) I have so many HEE HEE!!!

So I was told I was a slacker the last few weeks so I am just wanting to say hello!!! I haven't gotten the pics downloaded from my camera lately, so I have none to share for 2009 yet (maybe I am a slacker, but isn't that such a harsh word :) Have a great day! Thanks for looking.....Oh and crazy me - you know you are prego when you burn your belly making pancakes for the boys. HAAAA!!! I am to much for myself!

OK - so I am off to a wonderful weekend at an all ladies conference at church. This is such a blessing and I love to watch all the little old ladies clapping and doing their best to sway....Have a wonderful day! I promise my blog will be entertaining again soon......

Baby Update

Well, I don't think I have really even mentioned our new little addition in this blog much at all. It is all so surreal to me. 3 kids in 4 years WHAT? But, I love it more and more each day. There are times I doubt the fact that "all I do" is "just stay home" - sure I take advantage of it way to much, but then again I think of the fact that you know even though the hubby goes to work - he doesn't always work the whole time he is there, right? OK so Michael should get 110% credit for being an amazing husband, father and worker . . . but you see what I am saying :) It made me feel good yesterday when we were traveling behind a school bus and Landon again mentioned that "one day I can ride a bus". He is so wanting to ride a school bus and I can already see the play out of that first ride - through all his excitement, when the door opens and he has to go climb those stairs and sit alone he is not going to be so happy, but let him relish in the idea for now - right? So anyways, he ask me yesterday "Mommy, what are you going to do while I am on the bus?" I said, "Oh, well I will probably watch you get on the bus and make sure you are safe then I will go to work." "Why not home?" he asked. All this to the conclusion that he did not want me to get a job and told me he wanted me to stay at home to take care of everything. How sweet!!!! I know that I am appreciated at home by all of my family, it is just more a personal issue I seem to have :)

So anyways - today is Friday, Feb.27, 2009 - which means that my due date for Baby #3 of April 4th is only 36 days +/- away. Wow - FIVE WEEKS!!!! Where has this time gone. Today was my doctor appointment and let's just say the appointment was for 9:00 and I was in the car by 9:17, so all is going well. I truly am blessed with healthy pregnancies. Sure there always seems to be something that sneaks into each one either during pregnancy or right at the start, but I am SOOO Blessed and thankful for what God has given me. My doctor here is so laid back, almost to laid back sometimes I think but then again I am comparing her to my last doc in town who was more overprotective than a mother to her only child. :) She measured me at 33cm and got a heart rate of around 140 for baby and that is about the extent of it all. So all was well. Next time I go I get lab orders for some routine test Strep or something (I really am stupid when it comes to medical knowledge and terms) as well as a Platelet count test. That is really the only concern with this pregnancy so far is my platelet count has again dropped as it did with Zach, though not with Landon. My other doc made a huge deal out of it and I had to go to a specialist almost every week to have it tested, but the bottom line is that all of my other stats are good and I have almost perfect blood pressure (today's was 117/60 as an example) so it appears that it is simply a case in which during gestation, my platelet's are being otherwise occupied and absorbed by my body (or maybe the babies). But, I asked the doc today ok, so if the counts are still dropping - what are your thoughts. She said if it gets to low it can be a matter of whether or not they will place an epidural, but other than that unless they drop really low, like 50, there really is no medical emergency. So, we shall see - I was at 100 about a month or so ago and with Zach two weeks from his due date I was at 85ish or so.......So anyways, it takes a lot of typing to explain, but all that to say I really am not worried. The possibility of no epidural will be a "great" experience but I am not going to complain because God made us to be able to birth our children and still survive - just means not so much fun of a day for Mike, right?

Oh - I keep almost forgetting - we have had a name picked out since before Christmas, but for those who are still wondering - TYLER WILLIAM - has won our pick. Tyler - because we just like it and Landon and Zach were already taken :) and William is a family name on both sides, so we finally were able to get that in there.

Have a great day! I get to attend a women's conference for the first time at our church starting tonight and really looking forward to it - Hope for the Heart. There are going to be over 500 ladies in attendance - WOW!!! I know I will be blessed!

Praying and Seeking

Well I have really fallen behind on the entire blog world - my apologies! As I sit here tonight needing to go to sleep I felt that I should just ask for as many prayers as people who may read this would like to offer up. This evening I am sitting here just thinking of so many people that lives are close to God, yet suffering in so many ways. While God does not cause our suffering, he also doesn't say that there will be no sufferring but he does insure us that He will come again and that all our pain will be erased. I should definately get into some scripture references there, but I think I will just seek your prayers over the families below. My heart aches for them . . .

Norris Family - For Ella, not even 2 years old and has a brain tumor that this week they found out even with chemo it is still growing. They are starting a very aggressive round of radiation - 5 days a week for 6 weeks with chemo every two weeks. Her family is showing such faith through all of this.

Spinks Family - Kylie - there are several health issues that I do not want to wrongly represent, but I know that she has had a shunt put in and is remaining in the hospital for observation in order to prevent infection. Praying for healing and rest over them.

Reid Family - Ally, not even 3 when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Even though she is going through a 2+ year treatment plan she is such a fighter! Pray for the entire family as they balance life and health.

Marriages of Friends - I have three unspoken marriages that need to be prayed over - God knows the issues -

Addictions - That addictions would be broken and eyes would be opened to the ones that are loving them

Blessings - Got a call earlier today that a friend of mine is expecting her first child. The gift of life!! Pray over her pregnancy as she is still very early in the miracle of life.

Faith - Praying for faith, wisdom and knowing when to and when not to share it. Someone reminded me this morning that faith is a gift and what a rewarding gift if only we believe!

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"Our baby was not going anywhere without a fight and I had the most powerful person on my side..MY LORD JESUS CHRIST. In a time of no hope, we had hope. We have our faith and good or bad our faith would carry us through..." ~Tamara Norris, Ella's mom, my high school friend

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Thank you for your prayers!

Thought Provoking

So, I usually ramble and thought this was very good way to be quiet :) Today was a great day and I will blog on it another day, but for today . . .


Subject: Silent sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending servicesregularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided tovisit him.It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone,sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachersvisit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near thefireplace and waited.The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the gravesilence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burninglogs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefullypicked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of thehearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one loneember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow andthen its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacherglanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stoodup, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle ofthe fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light andwarmth of the burning coals around it.As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tearrunning down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especiallyfor the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little.Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones leftunspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose !
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God loves you!

Sweet Bliss - Life's Blessings

So, going back to a Saturday morning in January I told you about what was and what is to come in my attitude, life, etc. Well, I must say that 2009 has been such a different year that 2008. In many ways I am seeking that God take over while I step to side and I think I am doing pretty good, and God of course offers more than one can imagine. So anyways - one thing would be the attitude by which I go through and end my days with my kids. To be a be able to step back sometimes in life and truly relish the moment you are in can really bless you. Tonight as my boys are completely exhausting me with fighting to get nourishment into their little bodies, watching Barney as a special movie (because we all love him so) then to bathtime with two boys who LOVE their bath and can get out of control I could of easily just said you are going to bed, said their prayers and made them read to themselves as Landon would then remind me "I don't know how to read". But, as I am helping get Landon in his favorite PJ's -footed ones - he ask if he could read a book to Zach in Zach's big bed. In the back of my mind I am thinking this is just a wise way for Landon to get into the top bunk and play - right? So, I tell him that yes, he can as long as I do not have to get onto them for playing and there is no jumping, etc. and he needs to make sure he tucks Zach in, give kisses and say prayers. Landon of course had to remind me that he couldn't read. We are having to work on this, though it will only be in God's time as Landon is not even really recognizing letters, but I give Landon a very simple book that I know Zach enjoys, has big pictures with few words and has to do with babies as we are all into the baby thing these days. It was so sweet to watch the boys. Of course it wasn't a perfect stage presentation, but very fun. Landon started off trying to figure out how to hold the book like I do so that Zach could see the pictures better, but it just wasn't working. The best part is watching and listening to the tone of Landon's voice trying to say prayers with Zach and get him covered. It was nice to see that he to gets frustrated when Zach doesn't listen. :) To think that I could of missed it all by my selfishness just to get them to bed and close the door on their day...Be still and you will receive so much more.

Another great story for today is that we are slowly in the process of Zach potty training. In the past once after Zach had pottied on the toilet Mike amused Landon by putting big boy underwear over Zach's diaper. So, this morning as Zach made his daddy (and me) so proud with his big boy pottying - Landon was right there encouraging and praising Zach. Landon was so sweet when in his excitement wanted Zach to be able to wear some of Landon's underwear. When we mentioned that since we were going to church it wasn't the best idea - he had it all figured out. "No, over his diaper. You know.." So, I made a deal with his that after church we could let Zach have his big boy underwear. All was well until tonight after bathtime and Landon was getting dressed when he realized I had not followed through. It went over smoothly, but I thought it was so funny how he was so worried that after church we hadn't gotten Zach his big boy underwear.

They amaze me - and Landon of course being older is more verbal and such so many of my kid stories are his, but they are both so fun. Landon is so ready for his new baby brother he can't help himself. You tell him it is his birthday and in all his excitement he thinks this is going to be great - it's my birthday and the baby is coming out :) We tried to explain the concept of time and delivery by birthdays - first yours, then after yours is Zach's and then the baby - but all he heard was after his birthday! Have a great night - - - - -

Just Waiting

So I am sitting here updating myself on the blogs I follow just thinking that I can't post anything until I get some pics downloaded to share. Well, isn't that silly!!! I have so much to ramble (and so much time these days once the kids are asleep) that I could write everyday and still not be done rambling. So, here goes . . . Hope you are blessed - who knows what these quick fingers will type... oh, speaking of fingers - I don't know that it is broken because well there is no real bruising and swelling, but this prego brain of mine is really beating me up - mentally and physically :) So, first there was the story of me about a month ago - Mike is on the phone with his Grandma and I bring a paper cup and glass cup down the stairs to throw/put away. As Mike is getting and giving updates I quietly place the one cup in the trash with a loud SHATTER to follow - so much for being quiet and just ease dropping on the conversation, right? Mike then looks at me with an unsure face and the floor where I have just completely dropped the glass...I shrug my shoulders and just say "I'm pregnant, I forgot." Bewildered he just dumbfoundedly says, "That's it?" So..on to the physical abuse of my beloved right finger. When I was little I jumped in the car with a friend and as she shut the door I calmly said, "My hand is still in there." To which she opened the door and I proceeded to calmly (still calmly) take my hand out of the door in which she had just completely shut in the car door. When I was like three my hand got shut in the trunk of our huge car in the church parking lot - all that background to say I have never broken a bone and maybe I have just slowly prepared my hands, body, etc. for torture (that probably ties in to God preparing me for a life with 3 boys, right?...) So, Friday I go to the commissary to grab a few quick items, Landon is at school so it is just Zach and I. Holding Zach I shut the door one handed. As the door shuts, I realize I am apparently trying to lighten my load by placing my little sweet right pinky in the door. OUCH! I pull it out quickly and am later - after having to experience the pain and though act as if nothing stupid has just happened, am bummed that it didn't swell up all ugly and bruised. At least I could then laugh at myself to others, right. In all honesty I am so glad it didn't, but now I am wondering what I actually did to it as it just kinda tingles with no real pain or feeling for that matter. Hummmm....guess three times on the same hand I finally am starting to show my "experience".

Well, that was complete rambling. I thought I would share such sweet blessings of my little boys, but I will save that for post #2 of the day. Watch out - when you get older and your mind is racing, sometimes the body parts just aren't as quick...... :)