Oops

Gosh, I can't believe I let it go this long without a post. Wasn't intentional. Actually, a LOT has been happening, it's hard to know where to start!

On the baby front, nothing is happening. I go for my weekly appt. tomorrow, and maybe we will find out something then. Last week's appointment revealed that Grace is STILL Grace (whew), via a quick ultrasound, and that she is currently head down. To that I must say, the girl has her directions straight, now come on home! I had a weird dizzy spell a couple of nights ago, and really have NO IDEA where that came from, but there haven't been any repeats of that so, I won't worry.

Home news: Well, here is where it gets tricky. A week ago, Jeff sheepishly admitted to me that he didn't really care for our comforter on our bed. What was, to him, a small confession, was a huge deal to me and I instantly felt the ground opening up to swallow me. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic, but, seriously, like, I'm having a baby here. The big deal is that we just discovered ourselves to be in possession of some new bedroom furniture, and we were getting ready to paint the room completely based on the color of the comforter and curtains! So, now we had no color scheme with which to paint! Long story, short, it's all good. Our bedroom is completely gutted right now, with twenty-two days to go until my due date. I picked out carpet this morning, and ordered a new comforter set. Curtains will wait. Now the big question is painted trim or stained trim, and do we want to do something decorative, like wainscoting? All of these details are a little overwhelming right now, but in the end I think it will all be beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing it done. Any guesses as to whether or not we'll actually be done with the room BEFORE Grace is born?

Jack is just talking unbelievably. For two years I have wondered what was going on in that little head in there, and now I know. Every waking moment of the day. He had a little accident the other night in our bedroom. Jeff had just taken the carpeting out, and the tack strips were exposed on the floors. We were trying to be careful with him, but he tripped over Jeff's foot and went down on a tack strip. Wow, he cried hard. Then he told us in great detail how much it hurt, and that his blood was coming out. We got him cleaned up and a bath in the big bathtub seemed to set him right again. Now he loves to tell about when he fell down and got his owie. He will also gladly show it to you.

Well, it's late and I'm rambling. God has been very good to us, and we are blessed to be having our family all together again on Saturday. The kids are excited to be coming before Grace gets here so that they won't miss any of the "fun". Jeff and I are going away overnight tomorrow night for a company dinner, and to stay over and pick the kids up from the airport. We are thankful for that little bit of time together alone before our world turns upside down again! We love our family!

Edit: Here is a picture of the new comforter.

Answered Prayer

Well, I am feeling much better! Thank you to everyone who prayed for me and was so compassionate! It was a nasty flu, but it's over, and hopefully I won't get it again for SOME TIME. I am still feeling pretty worn out, but I think that is to be expected given that I am also eight months pregnant :-)

I had my appointment with the endocrinologist yesterday, and she DID put me on insulin. I was very grateful to learn that it would only be one shot a day, administered at the supper meal, and in the same type of "pen" that Jeff uses! So, I was relieved to know that my own husband was going to be able to give me the shot instead of me doing it myself. At the same time, I was still fearful of the whole thing. Last night, when it came to time, I was downright pathetic. I am SO THANKFUL that Jeff did not make fun of me, but instead was very tender and compassionate. He suggested that I just lay down on the couch, and so I did, with my hands covering my face, whining appropriately. He was very sweet and was rubbing my leg, and then I heard a little "click" and then he sat back and just smiled at me. I took my hands down and stared at him and said, did you do it? He had! I hadn't felt a thing. I was almost afraid that he was just teasing me, but, no, it was all done. God is SO GOOD (and so is Jeff). What a relief to know that this will not be an every day ordeal!

My sugar levels are already responding dramatically! I felt very tired and kind of sick to my stomach today, but I think that it is just leftover flu stuff. I should be back to "normal" tomorrow! In the meantime, I have been organizing, re-organizing, and generally getting even more ready for Gracie to come. I think Jack has figured out that we are close to something, even he is talking about Grace more and more! After this long haul, we are finally getting excited that it is nearing the end, AND that we get to finally see our sweet baby girl! Thank you, Jesus.

One Of My Worst Nightmares

I have the stomach flu.

Good Report

I just got back from my now weekly doctor's appointment. It was a good visit! He was cautiously optimistic about the changes I've made in my diet. The levels have gone down because of it, I am not experiencing sugar spill-over, and I gained a pound and a half, which is quite normal. Grace is still measuring on the lower end of normal, and her heart rate is good. So we both seem to be doing well. I will still need to see the endocrinologist on Tuesday, and still will most likely have to go on the insulin, but there is a better chance now than before that they might allow me to continue with MY diet on a weekly basis. Should I lose weight, have excessive keytones, experience a rise in my sugar levels, or if Gracie suddenly gets bigger, then all deals are off. I can live with that.

So, praising God for a good report, and looking forward to spending some time with my family and our friend, Lee tonight. I am also looking forward to going to a wedding tomorrow, although I have not the slightest idea what to wear.

Have a great Friday!

A Good Week

We've had a busy week...hence the lack of posting. After feeling pretty discouraged about the whole insulin thing, I got busy working around the house and just trying to "get happy". I also made some adjustments in my diet myself, and I have to say that although my numbers haven't gone down as far as they should be, I have at least been feeling better. When my numbers are high, I just feel terrible, I'm cranky and whiny and altogether not such a fun person to be around. I know that come Tuesday (my appointment with the endocrinologist) I will most likely be on insulin, but for now I'm just trying to enjoy the beautiful weather and the little life growing inside.

Jack is doing great and talking up a storm! He is really saying some amazing things....wish I could remember some to post here! Ha!

Only a few more weeks to go....yay!

Ugghhh

I'm going to have to do the insulin shots. I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I'm counting on grace to help in time of trouble.

Cake

I'm craving cake. Why can't I crave something that won't take up all my carbs in one small piece? Like carrots, or broccoli? Why cake?

Let's Have A Normal Day!

What's normal? Well, the last 24-36 hours have NOT been normal! Something was happening that was giving us some great concern with the baby--I had two calls with the doctor on Saturday, and then an unscheduled appointment on Monday. I went home from that appointment feeling better and pretty confident that nothing was wrong. But then something else happened that caused me to kick things into gear (I am being vague for the sake of my male readers), and at one point was frantically packing my hospital bag for an extended stay. After talking some more with several nurses and another doctor, we finally decided that everything was going to be ok, or at least, I was not going to go to into labor and have to go to the hospital right now. Through it all, I knew that God was in control and was content to just go with the flow and do what was necessary, but it was a very emotional roller coaster at the same time because of the going back and forth!

By the time Jeff got home from work I was exhausted (having not slept the night before). He took Jack out and allowed me to get some rest, and then I went to bed early. I feel much better today, and so this morning started out just like "normal". God is good and knows what is going on, even when I don't, and desperately want to know!

Consequently, Danna, I did not get a very important phone call made, and I apologize. In all the excitement yesterday, Jack didn't even take a nap, and you can only imagine what that was like! I still plan to make the call, and hope that your meeting yesterday went well, even without the call.

On a lighter note, I got to see Christine, Shane and baby Hannah yesterday! She is so sweet and Christine just looks great! It's very exciting to see that little baby girl and know that mine is coming soon! Along with my frantic bag packing, I've also got all of her clothes, diapers, etc. all put away, and her crib and changing table all ready to use. So now we are ready for whenever she and God decide that it is time to come (just please, not TODAY, ha ha).

33 Weeks

These pictures are specifically for the Duttons, as promised, and for anyone else who cares to see my big baby belly!

Jack and Mommy

Tonight Jack and I found ourselves alone together for the evening. Anne went to a friend's house to spend the night, and Daddy and Bryan went on a "guys night out minus Jack" night. Bryan had really been looking forward to spending some time alone with his dad.

After consoling a sobbing Jack, who desperately wanted to "go Daddy, go Bubba", I decided that maybe he and I needed a night out ourselves. So we went in Jack's car (he calls the car I drive "my car") and headed to Pizza Hut. We sat close together and talked and laughed our way through a small hand-tossed cheese pizza. Actually, I should give you the run-down of what he ate. While at PH he ate a mound of shredded cheese from the salad bar, several croutons, a portion of pineapple, and one slice of cheese pizza. Then we went to Blockbuster and rented a Bob the Builder, a Veggie Tales (Jonah, or "Bob the Tomato" as Jack calls it), two Curious George's and a TeleTubbies (he is absolutely hypnotized by the baby sun). We came home and Jack proceeded to eat three scoops of peppermint candy ice cream, two more pieces of cheese pizza, two sippy cups of apple juice, and one sippy cup of ice water! Sheesh! We watched the entire TeleTubbies video, all snuggled up on the recliner together, until Daddy and Bryan came home. Then there was much running around and general silliness by all the boys.

Altogether, we had a great night. My little guy can be a terrific date. He's cute, he's funny, everybody likes him when they meet him, and he holds my hand and gives me kisses over pizza. What more could I ask for? I love him dearly and am getting a bit emotional about these last few weeks of being alone together for the "last time". I feel a bit sorry for him, because I know that getting a new baby sister is just going to change his entire world. A part of me wishes that there was some way to tell him that he will always be my baby, and I will never ever love him any less than the day I first held him in my arms. I hope he knows. And I hope he likes his sister!

So Far So Good

Jack and I are taking a little "break" from the house today! Anne and Bryan are at our church's Christian school today, visiting. We are really praying that they like it, and they do not immediately feel that it would be too difficult for them. Lord willing, they will be moving up here over the summer for good, and will hopefully attend our school. Since Jack and I had to get them there at 7:30 a.m. and pick them up at 3:15 p.m., we decided to stay in town and hang out at Grandma's house! Unfortunately, she isn't here. She had to work today, but said we could make ourselves at home. That's a pretty generous thing, considering Jack can really, really make himself at home, if you know what I mean :-)

Things are going really well with my diet. I have only had a couple of high readings so far, and I'm really learning what particular foods are good ones to eat. I must make a little retraction from my sample menu from the other day--I found that I can NOT eat a half a bagel without some other form of protein. I don't know what makes it different, but for some reason that half a bagel sends my levels through the roof, even though it is well within my limits for carbs and also contains protein. Oh well, go figure. Anyway, I discovered that the Brocolli Cheddar soup from Panera is only 1 carb exchange, so I can eat the french baguette along with it! It's the first time I've tried it, so in two hours time we will see if it was a good thing or not. The math works out ok, but we'll see what the glucometer says (ahhh, the all-knowing glucometer).

Just as a side note, I am finally able to push the button on the lancet myself--no more asking Jack to do it! Ha!

You Learn Something New Everyday

Yesterday I met with my dietitian and I actually learned a few things about diabetes that I didn't know before! I learned that pregnant women have a much lower glucose level than a non-pregnant person. When I am not pregnant, my levels should be between 80-100 before I eat, and then can reach up to 150 two hours after eating. As a pregnant person, my fasting level should be 60-90, and my two hour level should be no greater than 120! Yikes, so yes, I've been running high.

I also learned that it is very important that you EAT. I have to eat 6 times a day. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. And I can eat carbs, but the MUST be tempered with protein. I thought that maybe I would do a sample day for you so you can see what I should be eating.

Breakfast: 2 carb exchanges (1 exchange equals 15 carbs)
Coffee with three TBS of my french vanilla creamer (1)
1 slice of diet bread and a TBS of peanut butter (1)
The peanut butter provides the protein.

Snack: 2 carb exchanges
1/2 Blueberry bagel with cream cheese (2)
The bagel actually has 6 g of protein in it, so it's ok by itself, plus the cream cheese has 2 g of protein

Lunch: 3 carb exchanges
Ham and cheese sandwich (made with the low carb bread - 1)
7 large Tostito chips with salsa (19 grams, which is 1 exchange plus 4 g)
1 cup milk (12 grams, which just about equals out the extra from the chips)
The protein is in the ham, cheese and milk

Snack: 2 carb exchanges
2 packages of the 100 calorie pack cookies (2)

Supper: 3 carb exchanges
We went to Olive Garden last night and this is what I had. I think that it all just about equals 3
2 bowls of salad
1 breadstick
I shared the grilled salmon dinner with my mother-in-law, which included broccoli - it was plenty!

Snack: 3 carb exchanges - this is the most important snack because it is the one right before bed, and has to last me the longest time while I sleep.
1 1/2 cups of Special K with Red Berries and milk to cover - yum!


So, as you can see, I'm not starving! And as long as the protein and the carbs are mixed, I can pretty much eat anything. I do have to steer clear of my precious White Mocha from Starbucks, because 1 grande of those is actually more than I am allotted for a meal! Yikes! So I'm drinking whole milk lattes with sugar-free vanilla and whipped cream! Not too bad.

The hardest part, believe it or not, is remembering to eat! I pretty much eat every two hours, so if I get busy I've got to remember to stop and eat, otherwise my glucose levels will not stay constant, and my body will think that it needs to try and produce more.

I also have to test every morning for ketones. That is where the extra sugar spills into your urine--which means it can also "spill over" to the baby, causing her to get too much, get too big, and have problems with sugar when she is born. It is very important that I follow this plan to a T so that when she is born she doesn't experience a huge drop in sugar within the first 30 minutes of her life and end up in NICU. As it is, she may end up in NICU anyway, just to be monitored more closely. It's pretty scary, so it is up to me to the best I can and not give in to either NOT eating, or eating more carbs at one time than I should. If this diet doesn't work for me than I will need to take insulin shots. So please pray for will-power and determination!

Thank you for all of your encouragement, I have needed it tremendously and I appreciate it more than you can know!

Adjusting

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! Anne and Bryan are here and we are having a great time with them, as always. I am trying to adjust my "decreased activity" level to accommodate two 13 year olds, a two year old, my 30th week of pregnancy with all its contractions, and the added delight of at times feeling really weird with my gestational diabetes! Whew. A couple of days ago we lost Jeff's glucometer, so I actually haven't been able to test my sugars, which is kind of not handy, since I don't know how what I am eating is affecting me. Last night I had a definite period of time when my sugar got too low (waited too long between meals), and that felt horrible. I had to drink some orange juice and eat a candy bar, which under normal circumstances would have been fun, but it just plain wasn't. I go to the dietitian tomorrow and will receive my own glucometer and the correct diet plan for me, so that should really help.

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments and for the prayers that I know have been going up on our behalf--it has been giving me strength.

Sugar

Well, I drank all the juice (all 120 oz. of it), and I fasted for 12 hours, and I drank the icky orange gunk, and I got my blood drawn 5 times (I will NOT be wearing a short-sleeved dress for Easter). I knew that they would have to send the blood away to a lab, thereby making the results not known until Monday, so I took along Jeff's glucometer and poked myself and tested my own blood each time they did. According to his machine, I did NOT pass 2 of the 3 blood draws needed to pass the test. My doctor was glad that I had brought the glucometer and was pretty satisfied with those results, although it will be confirmed on Monday. So, it would appear, that another hurdle has been thrown into this pregnancy lane, and I will complete my pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes. While this is unexpected and, well, let's face it, unwelcome, I am thankful that God has already prepared me for this possibility. Because of Jeff's diabetes, I am not in the dark as to what I need to do, and the thought of testing my own blood doesn't scare me (although I do have Jack actually push the little button on the lancet because for some reason I balk every time). All I really need to know now is how many carbs I can have for each meal, and how many snacks I can have. If I keep my regular sugars down to normal amounts with my diet, I shouldn't have to have any shots or medication. That is a HUGE blessing. We are unsure if this is a recent development, or if it will get worse as time progresses, but all of that is in the Lord's hands. At this point in the game, I am just ready to take my hands off the wheel and allow God to drive. He obviously has a plan for all of this, and while it makes me uncomfortable, I am happy to just ride it out and see it through to the end. I've been blessed to be able to hold two precious little babies in the last week or so, and each one has given me strength to see it through. I'd appreciate your prayers, though, for me to be able to eat the way I should and manage my levels, and for the diabetes to not get worse.

The kids are coming tomorrow and we are so excited we can hardly stand it. God gives us GOOD GIFTS, just when we need them.

Our Little Anne

This is our beautiful daughter, Anne-marie. I first met Anne on our honeymoon, over 3 years ago. I cannot believe how much she has changed in just 3 years! It seems that our pig-tailed giggling little girl is being transformed before our eyes into a sensitive, lovely young lady. This picture was actually taken in her bedroom, by her 12-year old friend, Kindell! Not too bad for two girls "goofing around" in their room, huh?

Since the first time I heard Britt Nicole sing, "Set The World On Fire", I have thought of Anne. It is our prayer that the words of this song would be her ambition in life.



Set The World On Fire

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it`s burning bright for You
It`s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There`s nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father`s hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah
I`m gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Oh No!

I just talked with my doctor's office and they informed me that I FLUNKED my Glucola test (166)! Again. This was the second time because I didn't believe it the first time. Ugh. I have to drink 40 oz of fruit juice every day today, Wednesday and Thursday, and then on Friday I have to fast in the morning (after midnight Thursday), then drink the glucola stuff, and then have my blood drawn every hour after that for the next three hours! I just cannot believe it, but I suppose that would explain why I am getting so BIG and not gaining that much actual weight.

I guess I'd better get rid of those cookies I bought yesterday.

Life Goes On

One year ago today, Jeff received the call from his grandmother that his father, Stephen Gray, had passed away. It was a very confusing, shocking time for our family, because it was unexpected. There were so many issues yet to be resolved......and suddenly, no time to resolve them. Throughout this year I personally have come to the realization that although there were many things left unresolved, if we truly do believe that he, at one time, came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, then, for him, everything is resolved. In his glorified body there are no regrets, no tears, no addictions, no painful memories. And that is how I think we should think of him. He is perfect, and only capable of good things. And he would certainly be proud of his family. Here are a few reasons why....

Jeff--In the moment of crisis, you stepped in as the "leader" of the family. You have sacrificially given countless hours of your time to make sure that the legacy (whether good or bad) that your father left behind was properly taken care of in a way that was respectful of your grandmother, your mother and your siblings. You worked to shield them from potential hurts, and have evidenced a profound joy in being able to "pass on" the good things left from your father. You have grown in your relationship with Jesus Christ, in your own role as father, and as a loving, Godly husband to your wife. You have made it a personal goal to abhor evil things that would cast a snare around you and endanger those that you love. You have provided a good life for your family, and you continue to lead them in a godly way, lovingly becoming involved in many aspects of our church in an effort to keep your family on firm ground. He is proud of you.

Jill--You stepped out of a comfortable role in your career, and together, with Gary, have created a beautiful home, complete with the effervescent smile of your precious baby girl, Sierra. You have given of yourself to her with love and fierce loyalty. You have created a home in which she will be nurtured and taught to love Jesus. You seek to give her the best life you possibly can, even when the decisions are hard. You are striving to please God in your home as a wife and mother, making sure that Sierra will never doubt your love for her. He would be proud of you, Jill, and my goodness, oh so proud of that little girl.

Jason--You became a husband! You married a beautiful, intelligent girl, who, like your mom, has a desire to care for others. You also became a homeowner--and although those little neighbor kids may drive you crazy, it is a lovely home, and you and Ashley have woven your artistic talents together made it even better than it was before. You continue to go to work everyday to support your family. Your desire is that your wife would never do without, and that she would have the best of everything. You are working hard at finishing school, something that might have been really easy to just let go. And yet, you decided to stick with it, even though you knew it would be hard. God will reward you for your hard work, Jason, and your dad would be so proud.

Sharon--This has been perhaps the hardest on you. So many years ago you did what was right for your family, even though it was not what you wanted, and your heart has never mended. You stayed true to what you knew was right, and look, just look at the generations you have produced! Look at the hardworking sons, the hardworking, caring daughter, and the precious, precious grandchildren! In your heart you never stopped loving him, and I know that you have grieved as a wife would grieve for her husband, and re-lived so many memories over this last year. And yet, you have shown a determination to keep going, to keep making a better life. You have showered us all with love and generosity, even in the midst of a rigorous schedule. You give so selflessly, even when you are weary. You are almost finished with your master's program! You have been the example of "finishing strong", and signing your name to a job well-done. Your children are so proud of you! And your husband, in heaven, with clear eyes and well body, and mind completely encompassed with the beauty of Christ, is so incredibly proud of you.

And so, on this anniversary, it is not the life of Stephen Virgil Gray upon which I contemplate. It is his legacy, his greatest accomplishment on this earth--his family--of which I am so proud to be a part.

The T-Shirt Says It All

I've been meaning to post this for some time......

Good Morning!

Thank you so much for praying! I had a couple of phone calls and comments in my email that really let me know that my request for prayer did not go unheeded. And about the middle of the afternoon I started to feel better. All morning yesterday I walked around in a fog--it's really hard to describe. But about 2:00 p.m. the fog started to lift and although I was still tired, I felt like I was getting better.

This morning Jack slept until almost 9 o'clock! That was a HUGE help and I awoke this morning actually feeling refreshed and ready to get up! We had a playdate scheduled today with the triplets, but one of them is sick, poor baby. So, now Jack and I need to find something to do with this new-found energy. It is supposed to get pretty warm today, so maybe we will venture to the park. At any rate, it is wonderful to be "fog-less" this morning and just so grateful to God for seeing me through. I am also very grateful for my husband, who let me lay around last night and even went to get me a Blizzard from DQ! I love you, honey!

I hope that you all have a good day, and if you're not, just hang in there, because after all, tomorrow really is another day (to quote Katie Scarlett O'Hara)!

Tough Day

I just wanted to ask my friends to pray for me today. I am having one of "those" days....super tired, a lot of back pain and many contractions. It is frustrating in that I cannot point my finger at anything I actually "did" to cause me to feel this way today. I finally broke down at lunch and heated up a second cup of "wobbee" (coffee, as Jack says it), and so I feel a little perkier, but not much. Jack is driving myself and himself crazy as he is so bored. My mother is coming over in a little bit so that will help greatly. Just pray that I can get through this day without a complaining spirit, and still remaining grateful for the trial of this pregnancy. The end is so well worth it, but sometimes difficult to see.

In Case You Were Wondering....

Here's how we are looking these days......

Anybody?

Jack is bored. Does anybody want any company today?

We'd be happy to come to you.......

Get-Away Car

"I need a get-away...." If you listen to Toby Mac, you'll recognize that phrase from "Get-Away Car". It's one of Jeff's favorite TM songs, and hopefully we will hear it tonight! I had a very full day planned today. My husband gave me a wonderful spa day for Christmas, and I had planned to do all of it today before we left for Indy, however, given the day I had yesterday, I decided to cancel it and try to rest as much as possible this morning. The tickets were non-refundable at this point, as was the hotel reservation (yes, we are staying overnight!), so we felt that I would try to go to the concert. Hopefully I can get through it and enjoy it without having too many contractions. I say this laughingly, because if you've ever been to a Toby Mac concert you know that there is no way to just sit quietly and "enjoy" the music. It is usually a total body experience! But I will try!

Anyway, I don't know if I actually have more energy today, or I am just really excited about getting away for a night, but I'm feeling much better today. I'll post some pics when we get back!

Good News, Not-So-Bad News

I have posted before about some of the "complications" that I've been having with this pregnancy. Aside from just the sundry aches and pains of being 6 months pregnant, I have also been experiencing contractions from a very early date. At first, it was not a big concern. However, in the last few weeks the contractions have become more frequent and much more difficult. They also seem to get worse with any kind of physical activity. Things came to a bit of a head last night as I had contraction after contraction--some of them Braxton Hicks--but many of them were very painful and gripped my whole body. They were much like the contractions that I had at the beginning of labor with Jack. When they kept me awake last night through the night that was pretty much the last straw. I called the doctor this morning and went in this afternoon.

I was really quite worried that all this might be summed up by saying that every pregnancy is different, I'm OLDER, and hello, this is motherhood. In my heart I feel that there is something more going on here, but I was willing to hear that I just needed to "suck it up" and keep going. I was very relieved when my doctor took all my symptoms very seriously and sympathetically. He was very adamant that "we" NOT have this baby right now! He said that I was at a very critical stage in my pregnancy, and that I needed to be very cautious. He told me about a new test that measures an enzyme that is only present in a woman who is going to give birth in the next two weeks. Wow! That will really narrow things down a bit, won't it? So, the GOOD NEWS is that I am not dialated at all, and the test came out negative, so I am "safe" for the next two weeks. The not-so-bad news is that even though I don't have to go on bed rest, I do need to be more careful and decrease my activity level even further. Tell that to my two-year-old!!! Unfortunately, it also means decreasing some of my extra-curricular activities as well--like ladies' ensemble and choir. I was already very sad to give up worship team, and this will be even harder. I LOVE singing. I LOVE choir. It will be very hard to sit on the sidelines, but I LOVE Grace more, so I'll do it with a good attitude.

So, that is the news for now, and I would appreciate your prayers for the coming months. My counter tells me I have less than 100 days left!

Now, with all this decreased activity, here is the conundrum...it's 9:00 p.m., I've already taken Jack UP the stairs to go to bed, and I am now sitting DOWNSTAIRS on the couch (watching AI). Jeff is out in the shop, and I hear footsteps running around upstairs in Jack's room. Thankfully, his door is locked and he can't get out and roam around the house.....do I get up or just let him play in his room until Daddy comes in from the shop (keeping in mind that it could be HOURS)????

Anniversary Pics

Happy Anniversary

When I married Jeff, I knew that I was embarking upon the greatest adventure of my life. The day we got in the "silver bullet" (Jeff's car) and made our get-away to Gatlinburg, we knew that there was no turning back. In three years we have weathered many joys and many sorrows. In just three short years we became parents of the most beautiful baby tornado that ever lived, became closer to our church and the people in our church than we ever thought was possible, lost a child, a grandfather, a grandmother, and a father, endured sickness and pregnancies, and anticipate the joy of seeing Grace's tiny face in the next 3 months. What a ride, baby! In all that time, and with all that life going on, I have never, ever regretted marrying this man. He has been a refuge of strength and a joy that I never thought possible in marriage. I can honestly say that I love him more than the day we were married. Happy Anniversary, love!

Blah, Blah, Blah

Is it possible to have post-partum depression BEFORE the baby is even born....?

Another Night Out

After coming home from work this evening and finding me in tears after a hard day with Jack, Jeff asked me if I would like to make Tuesday evening a "mommy night out". Ummmm.....heck yeah. So I'm just wondering, anybody free for either dinner or a little get together at Starbucks tomorrow night? I know it is late notice. I promise, you don't even have to be pregnant to go!!!! Just leave me a comment and we'll get together!

EDIT*****
Well, I didn't have any takers on the night out, which isn't surprising since I posted so late and the weather is soooo horrible. I didn't want to drive out in the weather by myself, but I also didn't want to stay home either, so I made Jack and Jeff go with me!!!! So my night out turned in to a family night out! GiGi joined us at Chik-fil-A and Jack played for a really long time in the play area. The "hot" sign was on at Krispy Kreme, and so of course we had to stop and get some doughnuts! The drive home was a little scary--there is so much rain coming down--and we just really had to feel for the people down by the river who are being evacuated and have a very long, cold, wet night ahead of them. We're home all snug in our house now, and I'm very thankful for the time spent with my family!

Fun Friends

As Leanne said in her post about this evening, there are actually 8 people represented in this picture: two precious little boys, two sweet baby girls, and four very expectant mommies who were thrilled to have the opportunity to spend a little "R & R" time together Monday night. These are my friends Sherry, Christine and Leanne. We all have babies playing together in heaven, and we are looking forward to our babies playing together here on this earth as well. God is very good to give me such encouraging friends. Thanks, girls! When can we do it again??

Night Out

I'm going out tonight......to dinner......with girlfriends........I can't wait!

Best Dressed - Best Price

When we discovered that we were having a girl, I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about a couple of things. I am so used to having a boy.....I know that a girl will be completely different and I'm hoping that Jack doesn't rough house her to death in the first year! I was also worried about what I would dress her in - I have TONS of boys clothes that I have kept in good shape and put away for the "next boy". My first thought was, what is she going to wear? Everything from Jack came from the two enormous showers that I was given, and everyone knew that I was having a boy, so everything is BLUE. I counted 8 sleepers of Jack's that Grace can wear that aren't blue.

I shouldn't have worried.

Grandma Poo has already been shopping! We went to Sears the other day to return some things and there was this awesome sale going on in the infant department. She bought stuff and I bought stuff, and I was feeling pretty good. I looked at a couple of dresses and was SHOCKED at how much they cost! On sale they were no less than $17.99! For a little 6/9 month old dress! However, today I went in to JC Penney and found another GREAT sale! I found the same dresses for $7.49! So I bought two of them. I also found cute little shirts and pants for $.98. Yes, that was 98 cents a piece! I was so excited! I bought several things. Once I got home I couldn't wait to spread them all out together and take this picture. The grand total for everything on this table is a measly $48.00!!! Wow. Leanne, are you proud, or what????

A Picture Says It All

Because of this......

It is more likely that my bed will look like this......

Respite

Jack slept all night last night! I got to bed around midnight, had a brief jaunt to the bathroom at 4:23 a.m., slept through Jeff's alarm going off, and was awakened at 7:45 a.m. by my sweet baby boy (notice that he's sweet now that I've had close to 8 hours of sleep). I feel almost human again, if it weren't for this alien inside of me! :-)

Thank you so much for all of your encouraging comments and emails! I'm going to buy some new baby gates today and start trying "roomtime", so pray that it works! Then I think that I will allow Jack to take a one hour nap in the afternoon instead of two hours. We'll see how that goes!

Tonight I get to go on a date night with my hubby--a wonderful thing to look forward to.

Please Help Me

For some time now we have been having problems with putting Jack to bed. It seems that the child NEVER wants to sleep, at least, that is what HE would say if you asked him. I know that a blog post cannot truly convey my frustration adequately, but I truly do feel that I am at my wit's end, for many reasons, but mostly over issues with Jack. I know that God's grace is sufficient, and that he will not give me more than I can handle, but I would have to say, I feel as though he is taking me as dangerously close to that point as I can be. I am just going to be plain honest and say that although I love this child growing inside me in a way that can hardly be put in to words, I am also very frightened at the prospect of having this baby AND Jack.

Our main issue, as I said, is bedtime. Jack turned two on Thanksgiving Day. It is very hard for me to accept that he may be "outgrowing" his naptime, but I'm starting to wonder if that is part of the problem. It is hard to accept for many reasons: he is busy ALL THE TIME, but not doing constructive things (some of you may laugh at that and say "welcome to being two", but seriously, once other mothers have a little peep at Jack in action, they generally just shake their heads and say, "wow, he is really BUSY and, I think, silently thank God for their normal active children), he is BORED alot (so we tried playdough--he eats it and tries to stuff it in his ears, we tried coloring--he refuses to color on any paper and would rather just eat the crayon, we tried those cool markers that supposedly only make marks on the special paper--again the problem with wanting to color on anything BUT the paper, and those markers CAN leave a mark on other things!), he is OBSESSED with water (whether it is pushing a chair up to the sink to turn on the faucet, putting a glass under the water spout on the refridgerator, pushing another chair up to the counter to reach a discarded drinking glass, or trying to lock himself in the upstairs bathroom so that he can "brush his teeth", aka play in the water, for as long as he wants), and lastly on this particular list, he refuses to OBEY. We have chosen a method of discipline that we feel is honoring to God's Word and we implement it frequently, to seemingly no affect. All of these things leave a tired, hassled, frazzled, pregnant, congested, bewildered mommy desperately needing for this child to take a nap--even if it is for only an hour! So, you're saying, this is really about you, Betty? YES. We're on the same page.

So, our "normal" schedule is as follows:
7:30-7:45 a.m. Wake up
7:45-9:30 a.m. Watch some cartoons, mommy drinks her one allotted cup of coffee for the day, change diaper, snuggle on the couch, try to force-feed some breakfast (Jack is NOT a breakfast eater)
9:30-11:00 a.m. Mommy tries to "get some stuff done". This may be cleaning up any kitchen mess, check email and respond, get dressed, get Jack dressed, household chores, etc. This time is usually wasted because Jack wants me to stop whatever it is I am doing and do whatever he wants to do, which usually involves some form of water. Or candy. Or pop. Or Bob the Builder videos. This entails him following me around the house, crying and pulling on my hands or my legs, trying to stop me, begging to be picked up.
11:00 a.m. Mommy gives up, bundles up in coats and either goes in to Delphi to McDonald's for lunch or goes to Walmart for an hour or so and meets Daddy for lunch at Wendy's.
1:00 p.m. Jack is falling asleep in the car on the way home. Mommy tries everything to keep him awake--rolling down the window, singing loudly, playing radio loudly, keeping a hand on Jack's knee and shaking him vigorously. If Jack falls asleep for even 5 minutes--IT'S OVER. There will be no napping. He will scream in his bed for two hours, but he will not sleep.
1:30 p.m. We make it home with him awake (hopefully), get him in the house, change the diaper, get a drink, get a tissue, get blankie and AG bear and head upstairs. Turn the music on, turn out the light, sit down on the rocking chair. This is a great time for having conversations with Jack. He will talk about ANYTHING to keep from going to sleep. After about 10 minutes of trying to get him to lay his head on my shoulder, I start to threaten him--"if you don't lay down, mommy will administer the God ordained method of discipline". He doesn't obey so mommy obeys Jesus. We try again. We again fail so another round of discipline follows. At this point I put him in the bed. The tantrum ensues in earnest. I walk out of the room, leaving him to his fit. HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE CRIB and opens the door, running for freedom. More discipline ensues. He is placed back in the bed, and round and round we go until finally, an hour and a half later, he is worn out and finally goes peacefully to sleep, while mommy goes to her room and cries! He will then sleep for two hours! Then I have to decide if I am also going to nap or if I'm actually going to try and get something done around the house.
4:30 p.m. Making dinner, daddy comes home, eating dinner, playing with daddy until bedtime, or if we have to go somewhere that evening, loading up in the car.
9:00 p.m. The naptime process is repeated, although not quite as badly because usually daddy is home and he seems to do better. He generally will not crawl out of bed at night.
11-11:30 p.m. Mommy and Daddy finally get to bed.
2:30 a.m. Jack wakes up calling for mommy, or daddy, or both. I usually get up, turn his music back on, get the drink, get the tissue and rock him back to sleep in about 10 minutes, which really isn't too bad and I don't mind that so much.
3:00 a.m. Jack is awake again, this time he is screaming for someone to get him. I turn off the monitor, and lay there, awake, listening to him throw his fit for sometimes 30-45 minutes. He may or may not go back to sleep. If he doesn't I try getting up and doing the whole "routine again", but by this time I am wide awake and can't go back to sleep.
5:00 a.m. Jeff's alarm starts going off.
6-6:30 a.m. Jeff is gone to work, the alarms are off, TV is off, and I am drifting off to sleep.....until.....
7:30 a.m. Jack wakes up.

What am I doing wrong? I really need to know, so please tell me. This pregnancy has been really hard on my body, and the poor sleeping routine keeps me tired and cranky all the time, not to mention I keep getting sick.

Should I just give up the afternoon nap and go for an earlier bedtime?

What happens when Grace is born and I've got Jack AND an infant that eats every 3 hours?

Help. Please.

Night Wanderings

In the hours that I've been up since my Nyquil wore off I've prayed specifically for Danna, Molly, Kristi, Leanne, Christine, Sherry, and anyone else who might still be awake because of heartache, pregnancy, or fussy babies (or all of the above). Sigh.....it is actually pretty cool to have the time to pray for my friends, uninterrupted, for as long as I feel the need to. Now if only Jack would sleep the extra hours that I've been awake!

Oh well. Such is life being pregnant with a head cold. At least you girls know that someone out there was up with you and praying for you (if you were so unfortunate to be up).

I'm thinking that I will try to go back to sleep now--a futile attempt really since Jeff's alarm will start going off in less than an hour.

Official

The squirmyness inside me is from my daughter, Grace.

Remember Gracie?

Per Request

On a very chilly November morning, Jack and Daddy were outside working in the yard, when I heard Jeff yelling for me to come outside. I was still in my pajamas, had no shoes or coat on, and was not altogether eager to run outside into the cold. However, he was insisting that I come outside. He started yelling, "get the camera--there are bald eagles in the tree!" I sighed and yelled back, "Honey, those are not bald eagles. They are turkey buzzards and they've been there all summer! They made a nest. I watch them every day!" "No!" he yelled, "they're bald eagles! Get the camera!"

So, I reluctantly slipped on some shoes, grabbed the camera and headed off outside. To my utter amazement, what I saw was NOT the same turkey buzzards from the summer, but two magnificant bald eagles, perched in our dead tree down by the bonfire.

I was very contrite.

They were beautiful, but we only got these photos and a little bit of video before they flew off. We hope they come back for another visit. I think they were just passing through.

Lack of Posts

Wow, I hadn't realized just how long it had been since my last post. I wonder if anyone is even out there still checking and checking to see if I've updated? I certainly couldn't blame you if you've stopped checking!

The truth is, for me, right now, life is kind of complicated. I would have to say that at the core I am still the same, but I find that my swirling circumstances have brought my peaceful life to a decided halt. At least that is the only thing halting, since everything else is pretty much running independently of my body. I feel like an alien has taken over and I am completely helpless. The "alien" of course, is the child growing by leaps and bounds daily. I am still experiencing some morning sickness, although it has tapered off quite a bit. It has been replaced, however, by a bladder infection, and for some strange reason my back has been completely "out" for several weeks now. I'm really puzzled by that one. It's too early to be experiencing the pain of carrying a heavy burden. I've had more than one person remind me that this is actually my third pregnancy, and however short the second one was, it still took a toll on my body. Together with the fact that I am now 37 and will be 38 before the baby is born....well, evidently I am going downhill. Funny, because I didn't feel that old. Oh, and did I mention that Jack turned two? A very independent two, in fact.

I'm not complaining, really. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to have this child. I'm just trying to say that along with my responsibilities at church, I've had my hands full just surviving each day!

So, sorry for the no-posts. I'll try to do better.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby boy! Today at 3:57 p.m. Jack will be two years old. What a whirlwind two years it has been! It's hard to believe that we're getting ready to do this again, but it is all worth it. He is such a joy to us and we could not even imagine our lives without him (although we sometimes CAN imagine an evening without him, hee hee).

Today he is outside in the shop (with a nice fire going in the woodstove) playing with daddy, while I am in the house cooking, baking and cleaning. Tomorrow we have our "family" Thanksgiving (although we are planning to go over to my mom's later today and have us a little turkey and dressing), and then a small family birthday party for Jack. Anne and Bryan fly in tomorrow morning, and I promised them we wouldn't officially celebrate Jack's birthday until they got here. Just their being here will be surprise and present enough for Jack, let me assure you! We can't wait to see his face when they get here.

In the meantime, we wish you all a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving day! There is so much to be thankful for, most of all, the gift of God's Son, Jesus Christ, who came to save us all. Blessings on all of you.

First of the Birthdays

Last night Aunt Gigi (Gaylene) came over with a very special birthday surprise for Jack! She is going to be out of town on Jack's birthday, so we decided to have a little "pre-celebration" celebration. She did a great job decorating a car cake, and Jack loved it! He even blew out his own candles (after mommy showed him how the first time and then relit the candles for a second try).

Gigi also gave him a very cool light that has cars running a race all the way around it. Jack was mesmorized, and I had a hard time getting him to go to sleep last night. We finally had to turn it off because he just kept exclaiming over and over "bye bye cars"! It was really cute.

Jack actually turns two on Thanksgiving day, but we are waiting until Anne and Bryan arrive on Friday to celebrate with a big party. We figure he won't know the difference!

It's A Baby!

Today was the long-awaited, once cancelled, ten week appointment! We were a bit nervous and apprehensive going in to our very early appointment, but since we were the first ones there, we didn't have to wait long. We went to the ultrasound room first. Past experience with 10 week ultrasounds taught me to expect a round ball with a flashy light insight (hopefully, being the baby's heartbeat). To our shock and wonder, the image that flashed up on the screen was not an indiscriminate blinky thing, but a marvelous, wonderfully created, moving, wiggling baby! Our doctor's ultrasound machine rocks, and we were not only able to see our babies' head, back, arms, legs, nose, heart and mouth, but we saw it in 4D! It is incredible to see something so small and so perfect. The doc said that everything looked great, and baby Gray is growing at a wonderful rate. As a matter of fact, I am a week further along than we thought. What a blessing to discover that I could skip a whole week of morning sickness in an instant! I am officially in the last week of my first trimester, and they moved my due date up to May 30 (from June 6). All in all, this visit could not have gone better. We know that there were MANY out there praying for us, and we are immeasurably grateful.

We love these little pictures of the baby. The first one is the backside, and the second one is front facing. It's little hand is up by it's cheek, like a little salute, and very reminiscent of every ultrasound in which we saw Jack. No, they were unable to tell the sex of the baby--that will have to be for another day.

Quick Update

Hey! Some of you knew that I was to have my 10 week ultrasound appointment on Tuesday. Well, as it turns out, I had to cancel because I got a horrible case of the flu! It was TERRIBLE. I was very sick and couldn't even get in the car to go to my appointment. I am soooo thankful for Grandma Poo, Memaw and Jeffrey for taking such good care of me and Jack. I couldn't have made it without you. You are the best family ever!

My appointment has been rescheduled for Friday the 16th at 8:15 a.m. (yikes). I'll let you all know how it goes. So far I have no reason to believe that things are going anything but extremely well!

On a much greener note......we finally got our sod laid yesterday! So today my goal is to get pictures of the outside of the house and finally post all of the construction pictures. It has been a long time coming, and it is not finished yet, but I think that this is as far as we will get this season. Jeff has worked SO hard getting all of this done. It really looks wonderful.

Warning: Not For The Squeamish

Some of you may remember a post from last summer about being bitten by a spider. Well, it turns out that unlike lightening (which I think is also false), spiders DO strike twice. Last Thursday Jeff was cutting down a tree in our woods and Jack and I went down to watch. I was wearing long pants, socks, and tennis shoes so I though that I was about as covered as I could be from any creepy crawlies. Turns out I was wrong, and I was bitten by what could possibly be a Wolf spider. Because of our woods, the Wolf spider is very populous here. It must have made its way up my leg and bit me on the thigh. I didn't notice it at first, but 24 hours later I awoke in the middle of the night to a very feverish, angry, red mark on my leg. By Saturday night we were really worried, and I was starting to feel kind of ill (although that may have been the morning sickness as well). We determined at that point that if it wasn't better by morning, I would go to Urgent Care. Sunday morning it seemed to be a little less swollen and angry, but it was turning black. I went ahead and went to church, where I was able to talk with my OB/GYN and he assured me that there wasn't really much that could be done for it. I've been putting hydrocortisone on it, and little by little it has been getting better.

I really hate spiders. Since moving to the country, I have had to deal with them on a weekly, almost daily basis. At first I freaked out, and then I took on the attitude that they were here for a purpose, and maybe what I should do is "Know thine enemy". So I began to study them and try to identify the most common ones on our property. Some of them really are quite beautiful, and harmless. They eat other insects that I'm not so fond of, and so I thought that we had come to some sort of .....coexistance. I see now that it was all just a ploy to lure me into a false sense of security. From now on, spiders, this is WAR.

Good News........I Feel Terrible!

It is strange how clearly you can see things in the past once time has passed and circumstances have changed. I look back on the second pregnancy and realize that things were wrong from the beginning. I thought I was sick, and I know that I certainly didn't feel good, but compared to how I've been feeling the last few days, I was hardly sick at all. It has also brought back memories of my pregnancy with Jack even clearer--this is how intense it was with him.

And yet, it is a little bit different, too. With Jack I couldn't eat, even though I needed to, and with this one I HAVE to eat. It's like I don't have a choice. I can be laying there thinking, "I need to throw up" and in the same second thinking "I need to eat". The two do NOT go together very well, since the last thing my stomach is telling me is that I need to put something in my mouth, and yet, I am compelled to eat. It's really weird. It's also completely consuming. I spend most of my time running through a list of foods in my brain, testing them to see if they would be an acceptable choice--does it sound remotely good? Will I feel like I want to throw up after I eat it? Can I put it in my mouth without gagging? Ugggh. It's exhausting. For instance, Jeff just ran into town to the hardware store, and after he left I immediately starting thinking about the fast food places that he would pass to and from the store. Is there something there that I could eat? Hmmmmmm, cheeseburger? No. French fries? Blechy. Chicken nuggets? Gag. Salad? Hmm...with that raspberry vineagrette dressing I have in the fridge? Well, maybe. So I immediately place the call to Jeff, and now I have a Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad coming from McDonald's. Let's hope he gets here soon before I change my mind.

It's very hard. For some reason, I think it must have to do with the hormone surges that make me feel sick, but I also have horrible hot flashes and feel achy all over--has anyone else every experienced this? There are times that I could swear I am running a fever. It only happens when I am feeling extremely sick, usually at night, around the same time every night. I actually can feel the sickness coming on because I start to feel achy, then feverish, and then, bam! The wave hits! I have not actually thrown up. I only feel as though I might at any time. I do gag alot, and Jeff has suggested that I go make myself throw up, which would be very easy to do, but I'm afraid that if I do that I won't be able to stop. I don't like to throw up, but I can handle it if I do. I actually know someone who is 35 and hasn't thrown up since, like, second grade, and I find myself thinking, what would he do if felt like this? Crazy thoughts like that enter your brain at random while all of this is going on.

The good news is......this is an indication of good hormones, and good hormones means healthy baby. I am by no means bemoaning the fact that I am pregnant. I know that this is all a good sign, and can remember with my miscarriage that by this stage in the game I had already begun to lose my morning sickness. So, I am willing to deal with it, but it does get the better of me--alot. Jeff has been great in reminding me that it will pass, and that I can make it. This is hard for him too, in a different way. I think he feels helpless alot.

I'm continuing to sing with worship team at church, but I'm not sure how long it will last. I just keep telling myself that once this phase is over I will really feel great and be sorry that I gave it up. So I am really trying to hang in there. Last Sunday was very hard, and I got very sick Sunday night, but the good thing is that I feel the best first thing in the morning, so hopefully I can stay the course. Singing seems to make me feel better.

Well, this has been one long ramble about me, me, me, hasn't it? Sorry, it's kind of therapeutic to talk about it, and well, this is my blog after all. I have to stop now though, because the pressing thoughts about the Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad are starting to overpower my ability to construct coherent sentences.

Here We Go Again....

I'm sure you've been wondering why I haven't been blogging lately. Mostly it is because we have been so busy--October is the "month of bonfires"--and this October is no exeption. We've had three so far and we have three (I believe) yet to go. They've actually been really great. The last two were especially fun because it was actually cold enough outside to enjoy a roaring fire!

But the biggest reason I haven't been blogging is because I've been sick. The doctor tells me that it is a nine month long virus that hopefully won't go away until the appointed time. We were trying to keep it a secret a little longer this time, but already people are guessing. It is probably because of the greenish cast to my face. I've actually felt pretty good for the bonfires, just not my usual spunky self. I qualify any time that I don't feel like I'm going to throw up as pretty good. I have my ten week appointment on November 6, which, coincidentally coincides with my due date with Blessing. When the nurse heard that she offered to change the appointment, but I chose to keep it, because I will hopefully have some really good news on a day that would have been particularly sad. So, it is time for my blogging friends, and fellow preggies out there who know only too well what I've been through, to know about our new little family member, and to pray really hard that no matter what happens, Jeff and I respond in a way that will be pleasing to Jesus. I ask that you especially pray for us through these next few weeks, as the morning sickness (all day sickness) has been really rough.

Thanks--we'll update more later!

So Very Much Like Daddy

This morning I was a bit "at my wits end" about what to do with Jack. Lately we have realized that much of Jack's recent "acting out" has been because he is BORED. I mean, there is nothing left in the house that even remotely interests him. His toys are boring, the back deck is boring, the front porch is boring, pushing the stroller is boring, and most of all, MOMMY is boring. I've been sick for a couple of days and haven't felt much like playing. So this morning when he was up and raring to go at 7:30 a.m., I was feeling a little overwhelmed at what to do with this incredibly active, incredibly bored child. In desperation I went up to the attic to see if there was anything up there he could play with. To my surprise I found several toys. I brought them all down and was pleased that Jack immediately jumped in and started playing. He singled out two particular toys, and I just had to take pictures of them. One was a blue tractor (look familiar?) and the other was a bobcat-like toy. Jack just recently watched his daddy use the bobcat for several projects in our front yard, and I thought it was hilarious that he decided to pick up a rock with his bobcat. I walked in the foyer and found the bobcat with the rock inside the bucket. Priceless!!!

New pics of Baby Sierra

Baby Girl!

Sierra Nicole Sinders (not sure if I have the spelling just right) was born yesterday, September 17 around 2:00 p.m. She was a whopping 9 lbs and 1 oz! Wow! Mom and baby are doing great, although Jill did end up having to have a C-section. Sierra was just too big! Grandma Poo says she has a gob of dark hair on her head and looks like Jill.

Praise God for her safe delivery--now I can't wait to get my hands on her!!!!

For NeeNee and Bubba

Our Teenagers

Wednesday was Anne and Bryan's 13th Birthday! It was weird to have been with them so recently, and then to NOT be with them on their birthday. I know we celebrated it while we were on vacation, but it just didn't seem the same. I hope that they had a great day and knew that we were missing them. Below are some of my favorite "family" pictures from our vacation. Both Anne and Bryan are so special--they have been through a lot with their dad and show him every time we are together how much they love him. I just love the picture of Anne and Dad, and I have to admit that I also really love the one of me and Bryan. I am amazed at times just how much I love these kids. God has been so very good to me to give me such a great family!

Vacation Part II

Home Again

The worst part about vacation is.....coming home! I have a mountain of sandy, dirty laundry to do, so I don't really have time to sit and narrate each picture, but I at least wanted to get some up for you all to enjoy. There is more, but I will have to get them in a slide show.

When It Rains.....

So, I have spent the last few weeks painstakingly planning our first "family vacation" with Jack. I've spent the last couple of days frantically packing our swimwear, sunscreen, hats and towels in anticipation of the true beach experience. We picked up the kids yesterday and headed due east, straight to the Atlantic Ocean. At this point I'd like to reference the pictures below. See the one that is dark and rainy. Yeah. That one. Well, that was us at about 6 pm last night. Jack's first glimpse of the ocean. Not unlike mine at age 18, remember, Lisa? Atlantic City. I digress. This is NOT Atlantic City, this is St. Simons Island, GA, and it is stormy and rainy and has been since we got here. BUT we are together, and really that is all that matters. So what if I paid an arm and a leg to be as close to my beloved ocean as I could be? We are eating well, sleeping well, and still having fun, no matter what. Well, Jack could sleep a little better, but who's paying attention (although we are very grateful for the king-sized bed since Jack takes up most of it). More later......

Three Days And Counting!

We will leave on Thursday to go to Georgia to visit Anne and Bryan! We won't actually see them until Friday, but we are getting excited anyway. This morning I put this summer's pictures of Anne and Bryan up in Jack's room, right above his bed, so that he can see their faces every day. As I was getting them ready Jack was saying their names over and over again (Neeh-neeh and Bubba) and putting his face right up into their faces on the pictures and giving them "kissies". It was so sweet and sad all at the same time. We sure do miss our Sissy and Bubba. But we will see you soon!

Sweet Baby Sinders

Today we celebrated the coming of a new baby into our family--Jeff's sister, Jill and her husband Gary are expecting their first baby on September 20. Sharon, Ashly and I gave Jill a baby shower today and it was so much fun! This baby truly is a miracle from God and we are SO thankful that both Jill and the baby girl are doing fine, and that there is not much longer to wait! Jill was diagnosed with a very agressive, stage four endomitriosis last year, and went through two major surgeries, but praise God--she was able to get pregnant in a very short amount of time after her surgeries and completely naturally (no fertility treatments)! We are so excited to see this special baby girl. I'm sure there will be a flurry of pictures when she finally arrives!

A Very, Very Belated Birthday Blog

On August 17, Jeff turned 33! We celebrated by going out to eat while Jack stayed home with Memaw (don't worry, Jack got to spend LOTS of time with daddy the next day as you will see in the slides). Surprisingly, we happened to run into Gaylene, Scott, Melisa, Matt, Kari, and Lee while we were there! Ok, so it wasn't a surprise for me, but Jeff was very surprised. We had a great time together and then went to see a very unfortunate movie that we cannot recommend to anyone, especially since most of it was viewed with our head in our hands. Anywhooooo.....

The next day Jeff took the ENTIRE day off. Now, if you look it up, the next day was Saturday, and you may be asking yourself, "why would it be such a big deal for him to take a day off on Saturday"? Well, the last time he did that was when the kids were here and that was weeks ago. We were very excited to all be home together, especially Jack, who loves waking up his daddy. We had a wonderful breakfast together, and then we spent the whole day outside. It was a gorgeous day! We had several projects that we worked on, and Jack stayed outside with us for everything except his nap :-)

First, Dad and Jack got on the tractor and graded the lane. Then Mommy and Jack cleaned out Mommy's car and made it pretty again. Then Daddy and Jack changed the oil in Mommy's car, then in Daddy's truck. Then Mommy and Jack watched Daddy cut down the monstrous, overgrown tree in the front yard that was completely blocking our view out the picture window. Then Daddy and Jack hauled away the tree and all the branches. Then all three of us got on the tractor and hauled a HUGE rock from the woods up to the front of the house and placed it over the stump from the fallen tree (Mommy has landscaping plans for the future). After all that hard work we came inside and ate some watermelon. Jack and Daddy LOVE watermelon. They shared a piece, and Jack got so excited that he stuck his entire head IN the watermelon! It was without a doubt the very best day that we have had together for a long time. Today daddy was working away from home all day, and it helped to look at these pictures and remember our perfect day together. We love you, daddy!

A New Haircut and a Busted Lip

Jack's smiling face is NOT representative of his demeanor while receiving his first official haircut! For months now I've been snipping away at his hair with scissors while he was in the bathtub, trying to keep his long locks at bay. Every time I try to even comb his hair he gets all freaky, and turning on clippers that close to his head just practically sends him into convulsions. But today I decided I'd had enough, and this boy was gonna get his hair cut. I didn't mind it long - I've no crazy notions that he has to be this clean-cut looking little boy - but it was so incredibly uneven! Of course, my snipping here and there was doing nothing to help. So, I put him in his high chair and gave him several Cherry Cordial Kisses (which he LOVES), still wrapped (so he had something to do with his hands), and amidst screeching and wailing and alot of chocolate eating, he got his first haircut with the clippers.

I think he looks pretty good! When I was all done and put the clippers away he said, "bye bye -- yay!" Then he gave me a very dirty look. Look at the beautiful white-blonde hair I collected! No, I didn't save it - I just took a picture to remember it by.

And, oh yes, he fell out of his rocking chair last night (while standing up backwards in it) and busted his lip - again.

The Beginning of Something Good

This morning my dear mother-in-law came over and helped me can tomatoes. Well, I guess she did most of it and I watched while managing Jack and answering the phone. I think I could probably do it all on my own now, but I have to tell you, there is just something so special about having the mother of the love of your life come over and help you store up some of his favorite goodies. Last year I had this measly little tomato plant that I paid $20 for (it was a patio tomato), and it only produced 5-6 tomatoes. Every time I fed one to Jeff he would teasingly say, "how much is this one worth, honey, five dollars"? I am happy that this year my tomatoes have produced much more than 5-6 and that I now have my first batch of 5 full quarts! What's even better is that there are so many more green ones still yet to turn, and I've already eaten about 10, all sliced up and fried to a dark golden brown in olive oil! Yum. Now that we've finally figured out what we're doing, we're planning a much larger, more complicated garden for next year.

For now, I am really enjoying the time spent at Grandma Poo's elbow, learning not just about how to can tomatoes, but things about my husband and his family that only come out when you are working together. For instance, Sharon told me that Jeff learned multiplication by her rows and rows of canned goods. He would ask, "how many are there" and she would answer that he could count each one or he could multiply one row by another and come up with the same answer. Folks, little things like this is why my husband is the genius that he is. He had a mother who used ordinary things to teach him life-time skills. At any rate, we had a great time and the tomatoes look sooooo pretty!

The Concert

Last evening we took the entire Dutton family and went to the Indiana State Fair, most importantly, the Casting Crowns/Jeremy Camp concert. We were very excited about this for several reasons.....
1. Jeff and I haven't been to a concert together since the Toby Mac/Third Day concert almost 3 years ago, and, well, it was just time to go to another one.
2. The Duttons had never been to a Christian concert. Mark had been to plenty as a kid--Aerosmith and Black Sabbath to name a couple. So it was going to be interesting seeing their reaction.
3. Mark Hall and Jeremy Camp rock.
4. Jack was at home with Memaw.
5. Indiana State Fair = Deep-fried Oreos.

That was just the anticipation of the event. It was awesome! It was the farthest away we had ever sat from the stage (almost the nosebleed section), and it was incredibly hot, but the sound system was great and God sent along some awesome clouds and a very nice breeze to keep us from sweltering in the heat. When CC was singing "Praise You In The Storm" I thought it would be awesome if God sent a clap of thunder right in the middle of it.

So what was our favorite part? I think that Jeff and I would both agree that our favorite part was watching the Duttons. They came to this concert with completely open hearts, going through an incredible "refining" process right now, and were completely blown off their feet, not just by the music and the praise to God, but by the ministering of the Word that both Mark Hall and Jeremy Camp so clearly presented. Mark said later that he felt that Jeremy was speaking directly to him. Now, isn't that funny? Most of the times when Mark preaches, I feel as though he is doing the same for me. Strange to hear your pastor say that about himself and someone else. At one point I observed Mark sitting down with his head in his hands, and I asked Laurie, "Is he alright?" and she replied, "He's praying". It was very cool. The kids LOVED it. I've got a kind of grainy video that we took with our digital camera and the best part about it is watching Matthew's face while he sings! It was a great night, and a precious memory with our dear friends that we will always treasure. Jeff and I were extremely excited when they announced that Toby Mac and Jeremy Camp would be back in Indy on February 28! We're already planning to go. Any other Jesus Freaks interested?

Very Little News

No great pictures, no videos, no captivating story to tell. Let's face it, people, my blog rots. Jack does a million camera-worthy things a day, but do I have my camera out, taking the shots? No. It seems that most days there is not enough hours in the day, and no matter how many times a day I straighten up the house, it is always dirty. But, I have to say, that I am very happy. Jack is very happy, too. He is learning something new every day, and this is a great age for him. It makes me turn my thoughts toward having another one........

Anyway, I've been busy with worship team, choir and church, and Jeff has been busy with work, side jobs, and volunteering for various projects at church. Jack has been eating me out of house and home and growing at least a half inch a day. His vocabulary is expanding, and he has even started some simple sentences that are really only intelligible to me since I listen to his chatter every day. He's wearing 24 month old pajamas!

More excitement is coming, though, in the form of a night out with Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp. I'm sure we'll have pictures of that. AND we are planning our first vacation with Jack! He will take his first plane ride to see Anne and Bryan for their birthdays at the end of August. We are so excited!!!

So, although there is nothing shocking to report, we are content right now with our busy lives, and immensely grateful to our Savior, who has seen fit to give us these peaceful (if not somewhat warm) days. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us.

More to come.....

Bye, Bye Bampy

Yesterday my mom left to take my grandfather home to Kentucky. We are already missing him. Jack just had such a wonderful time with him, and I know that Bampy really enjoyed him as well. They seemed to have this little unspoken understanding with each other. Jack never disobeyed anything that he said, and even though he loved to steal Bampy's walking cane, he was pretty good about bringing it back when he asked for it. We love you so very much, Bampy! Hurry back!