Getting closer...

Well, Fridays are doctor appointment days. I had another good check up today..baby is doing well. I am now 3cm dilated (that's where I was at when I got to the hospital when having Hannah...so we are already ahead of the game!). I've been having contractions, but nothing consistent yet. My doctor said that if I'm at 3cm and haven't been having consistent contractions, that I shouldn't wait until my contractions are 5 minutes apart to come in...but more like 7 minutes apart.
He also said that my platelet count looks good and stable and didn't think we even needed to check it again today. He said that if I'm still pregnant next week, we can go ahead and check it then.
I've been bustling around the house trying to tie up loose ends and get last minute things done. Sure am getting eager to meet my little one (and be rid of the back pain ;o))...maybe, just maybe I'll be laboring on this labor day weekend?!

Baby update

My most recent doctors appointment was this past Friday. The appointment went well...heart beat still very strong, baby very active, etc. As of Friday, I was not showing any further progress...still just a centimeter dilated. I did have more blood work done, which I finally got the results for today. Thankfully, my platelet count is stable at 129. My doctor said that she would be happy if my count stayed right around 130...which it looks like it's going to! Yay! Praise God! I'm going to keep praying that it stays there...but it's good to see that I'm stabilized. Right now, my prayer is for my back. I've been in a lot of pain and find it hard to even get around the house with Hannah let alone do the housework that I would like to get done. I'm praying that the baby either comes soon or my back pain eases. I can't really complain though..I've had a great pregnancy and everything with the baby is looking really good and we praise God for that. We sure our eager to meet our little guy...really any day! :)

Big Sister Count-Down

Well the count-down in on! We are so excited to be coming into September, which in our house is baby month! Today, Hannah and I made a count down chain. Every morning, she will take one more link off her chain. Hopefully, this will help her better visualize exactly when her little brother will arrive. She's very excited about it! When anyone asks her about her baby brother, she always says that she is going to hold him at the hospital and that she is going to see her Grandma, Papa, Nana, Pop, and Uncle Jay. So many things to look forward too! We pray that she will ease into this transition really well! 12 more days!

Helpin' Momma Get Ready

I'm so excited to meet my baby brother, and I love to help my mom get ready for him. Here I am stacking his tiny little diapers in the basket...his nursery is just about all ready for him!

So long bed rest!!

Today I am rejoicing because my bed rest restrictions have been lifted!! Yahoo!! I was almost certain that they would be...but didn't want to get my hopes too high. I saw the doctor today and baby and I are both doing just fine. I'm almost 37 weeks, which is the safe zone, so no more bed rest needed!! YAY!!!!!

I do have a prayer request, though. I learned at my appointment today that my platelet count has been a little lower than what the doctors would like to see. This isn't a problem except for that the platelets are what makes your blood clot. So...the concern for me is that, if my platelet count drops below 100, I won't be able to have an epidural. The first count that she had (I believe was July 12th) my platelet count was 170, then it dropped to 124, and on Monday they were up a little at 129. I'm still not super worried because I'm not too far below where they want them to be (150), and I have climbed a little in the past few weeks. But it is something to pray about. I believe that this is just another chance for me to learn (a hard lesson for me that I have to learn over and over again) that I need to give my worries and fears over to the Lord. He has a perfect plan for the delivery of this baby and will give me just what I need to make it through.

I was so excited as I left the doctors office today! I hit a few garage sales on the way home and was very excited to see Seth and Hannah. It's been nice to be able to get my own water, make food for my family again, and just do normal things. I couldn't decided if I wanted to go out and do fun things today or catch up on all the work/cleaning that I have fallen behind on...so I did a little bit of both. We went to several garage sales this morning, then Seth took Hannah and I out to Chili's for lunch. We came back for her nap, I worked in the nursery for a little bit (it's starting to look little boy ready!!) and then headed out to get my hair cut. We ended the day with a family movie night...it was a GREAT day!!
I love to garage sale and just have to tell you about the deals that I found at just one of the sales we hit today! We spent $30 and got:

• a small climber with slide for the backyard (Hannah too big for it, but still had fun playing on it today, and I know that by the end of next summer her little brother will be enjoying it too!)
• a whole pile of super cute baby boy outfits and hats
• a second umbrella stroller that perfectly matches the one we already have for Hannah
• and I'm most excited because I found cloth diapers! I've been reading online and searching for what to purchase (we didn't start cloth with Hannah until she was 6 mo) for our newborn. Well today...I got ALL of my cloth diapering needs for a newborn for LESS than the cost of ONE box of diapers!! Diaper covers and prefolds...all I have to do is get them washed up and we are good to go!!

YAY for good deals and a wonderful day up and out with with my family!

I just had to throw in this adorable picture of Hannah...this is how we all feel about Mommy being off bed rest!!!

36 weeks

The plan is for my friend Trenda to take some belly pictures for me...but with being on bed rest, we haven't been able to work anything out yet. She made me promise that we would take at least a few at home so that in case I have the baby early, I will have some. My sister was here this week with her nice camera so I broke my bed rest rules for a few minutes and headed outside to enjoy some fresh air and snap some pictures. We got some really cute bare belly ones too...but I'll spare the whole world of those. Here's my growing belly at 36 weeks...we're almost there!

and because I love this sweet face...and am so excited about this shot...I had to throw this in too! :)

Bedrest: Day 16

Well, I wasn't as good about writing each day as I thought I would be. With a wonderful sister in law and sister here to help the past several days, I was busy with them. The plan for Thursday was for Hannah to stay here with me and for Seth to work from home. However, after a busy week for all of us, and a generous offer from my friend Sheri, we decided that it would probably be best for everyone is Hannah went for a play date. I know that Hannah had a ball with her friends Olivia, Amelia, and Addison...we are so thankful for such great friends!

I stayed here and enjoyed the quiet house. Took a quiet shower, enjoyed some Bible study time, and wrote thank you notes. At lunch time, I enjoyed a visit from my friend Meredith. She brought Panera for lunch...my favorite, and we enjoyed the chance to catch up. I was thankful for the company to break up the day.

After she left I listened to another one of Carolyn Mahaney's talks...let me tell you this Titus 2 series is SO good! I've been challenged and encouraged by ever part of the series. Thursday, I listened to "Being Kind and Doing Good". (Have I mentioned you can download all of these for free?) I was challenged in many ways...Here are a few highlights

**It was very good for me to think about good works in the context of my home. When I think of good works, I often think about what I am doing for other people...but I should first and foremost be devoting myself to activities that advance my families happiness.

**" True goodness does not look to the recipients, not even to the results of it's deeds for it's reward- it looks to God alone and finding his smile of approval, it gains the needed strength to carry on." Jerry Bridges

It's interesting to think about the fact that before I even existed- God prepared good works for me to do.

The most challenging part of the whole talk for me was thinking about slowing my life down a little bit. I believe that's a big reason why God allowed me to be on bed rest for the past two and a half weeks. C.M. said "When we allow our service to God to overcome our communion with God...we become ineffective in our service."
later, she shared a quote from Martin Luther that speaks well to this thought too he said "I have so much to do today that I will spend the first three hours in prayer."

She challenged the women that she was speaking to with this"
"We should be able to perform all the deeds that God has prepared for us by maintaining a normal walking pace. The pace of our christian lives should be that of walking steadily...

...Either we are doing works that God never intended for us or we are carrying them out in our strength."

I want to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and faithfully...but I also want to make sure that I am serving in the areas that he has prepared for me and in HIS strength, not my own. It was so nice to have a quiet day to reflect on if my life is characterized by walking or running. I need to slow down, focus on what God has called me to do, and do it with reliance on Him...looking to Him for strength and grace each day. I thank the Lord for this time that He gave me to step back, refocus and think about where He has me right now. Obviously, my thoughts are on my family and this new precious life that is about to join us. My first ministry is to them...I want to be well known for showing kindness and doing good deeds, especially in my own home.

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Hannah takes care of Momma

Hannah has done such a great job with Mommy "resting". She spends time one the couch with me doing quiet activities

she's gotten really good at running to get what I need...

esp. my water. She helps keep me hydrated :)

I love this little girl!

Playdate with Milan

Another blessing of yesterday was the chance that Hannah had to spend time with her sweet friend Milan. Craig and Julia took Hannah for the morning so that I could have some good rest time, and Seth could come to my doctors appointment with me.

The girls had fun playing and playing all morning. They played in tunnels, sang and danced, rode bikes, read nursery rhymes, and much more.

I broke my bedrest restrictions for just for a quick lunch date with my hubby before my doctors appointment (hey...I was already out of the house and across the street from the hospital anyway...that's okay right?!). Let me tell you...it felt SO good to wear real clothes and makeup, enjoy some one on one time with my wonderful husband, and have lunch at one of my favorite spots...Olga's kitchen.

We are thankful for our friends the Forresters and the blessing that they were to our family yesterday!!

Julia sent me some pictures of their day together...here are just a few:

this one's my favorite...don't those faces melt your heart?!

Doctor appointment update

I had a doctors appointment today that felt like it would never come. Although we were at the office for a while, the appointment went pretty quick. Praise the Lord everything looked really good and I haven't progressed at all since last week. So then of course my question was...what about this bed rest thing?! The bummer is...she still wants me on bed rest...but the good news is...just for one more week. She said to keep doing what I'm doing, and once I get to 37 weeks I'm good to go back to normal.
I do have some very good things to look forward to for week two of bed rest though. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are here with their sweet little baby boy (they arrived this afternoon) and will be here for the weekend. Then, my sister will be coming with her little guy on Sunday and will be here until Wednesday. I'm very grateful that I will have company while I lay on the couch, I can watch my nephews play, and my sisters are here to help Seth out. So hopefully, that will make the week go quickly. I am feeling tempted to slack on the laying on the couch thing...so could still use prayers for self control, and obviously, keep praying for the baby. The doctor said today that if he can stay in there for one more week than we are less likely to run into problems with jaundice and lungs that aren't fully developed.
I was telling a friend today, in the whole scheme of things two weeks isn't that long at all...but when you're in the middle of it...it sure does feel like a long time. I'm thankful for the lessons that God is teaching me through this and hope and pray that He is molding me to be more like Him.

Bed rest: Day 9

It's been wonderful to have the quite time at home to rest this week, and I'm SO thankful for my friends that have taken Hannah to help give me rest. However, I will say that I have missed her very much. This week has made me even more grateful to be a stay at home mom...I sure love and cherish the times that we have together during the day. Today was the only day that we didn't have someone to take Hannah...and although there were other offers...I asked Seth if he wouldn't mind working from home today so that I could see her. He was kind enough to do so! I will admit that I had a much harder time "resting" today, and hope that baby and I don't suffer for it later...but it was nice to have Hannah here.

We enjoyed reading books on the couch, watching tv (gotta love pbs kids), coloring, putting together puzzles, and I even got down on the floor to build with blocks for a bit.

Here Hannah and I are enjoying some new crayons. They were a gift from Nana and Pop...Hannah loved them! They are definitely not "everyday" crayons because they are kinda messy, but we sure did have fun using them as a special treat today!

this girl LOVES to color

and her favorite thing to write is the letter "H"!!

Tomorrow Hannah will be with friends again...it will be good for me to lay down more after today. Seth is also taking me to the doctor tomorrow...hopefully my body has settled down and she won't be as concerned this week...but we'll see :)

Bedrest: Day 8

It was another quiet day here at my house. I enjoyed some more Bible study and prayer time this morning, got into a new book, read some blogs and magazines, and worked on gathering some info for my mops group.

I'm going to try to pick a different verse to claim for each day. Here's today's verse:

Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."

It's a comfort to know that each day of life in in God's hands. He has a perfect plan for tomorrow and that day after that...I don't need to worry...My baby and I are both in the hands of a very BIG God! :)

This afternoon, Alice Ann, our mops mentor mom gave me a call. She stopped over for a visit..which was such an encouragement. We chatted for a while, she read an encouraging devotional thought to with me, and covered me in prayer before she left...what a sweet lady! In her prayer...she prayed that God would give my body, soul, and spirit the rest that it need. What a great prayer and wonderful way to look at this whole bed rest thing. :)

Hannah spent the day with Rachel and Joshua again. They spent the morning at the park and had a picnic lunch. Here is Joshua and Hannah enjoying friendship and popsicles. To read more about their day together you can visit Joshua's blog here.

best buds!

Other than dealing with some heartburn, I'm feeling very good today. I'm thankful to be sleeping very well at night and be resting comfortably during the day. I had maybe one or two contractions today...but can tell that my body is settling down.

Bedrest: Day 7

It's another quiet day here at home. And although I miss Hannah terribly, I know that she is having a blast and glad that she can let out some energy. Today she is with my dear friend Rachel and her sweet little boy, Joshua. Here's a picture she posted of the two friends playing together. You can also read more about their adventures from today at Joshua's blog...click here.

Here at home, I took a warm/quiet shower and enjoyed some time studying Hebrews 11. This afternoon, another dear friend, Amber brought me lunch and kept me company. I always enjoy our conversation and it sure made the afternoon pass quickly. She is working on making tan cushion covers for the pink glider that is in the nursery and also made this adorable classic pooh pillow for the nursery! I can't wait to see it all together!

My mom sent me the perfect devotional thought from Charles Swindoll today.

My verse for today is:

Philippians 2:5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus"

This devotion really spoke to my heart and challenged me to make the best of where God has me right now. I can't change my circumstances...but I can change the way that I respond to them!

Click here to read the whole devotional...it will be worth the few minutes it takes!!

Bed rest: day 6

I thought I would post a bit about each day of bed rest. Yesterday (Monday) Hannah spent the morning with Deborah (one of the sweetest ladies I know) and her children Rachel (who Hannah fondly calls Rachey) and Luke. They are both school age and play so nice with Hannah. It was so nice that Seth could go to work yesterday morning while Hannah spent time with them. They came home at nap time and he finished his day of work while she slept. Hannah came in the door beaming from her day with Deborah and said "I have flowers and a card for you". Seth went back out to the car and came in with these lovely flowers and and "I love you" card that Deborah helped Hannah make. Of course...I was crying tears of joy. I thank God for the wonderful people that he has placed in my life and my many blessings.

Josh and Katies rehersal

Tomorrow is the big day for Josh and Katie. We are SO excited for them! We feel so honored to have a special part in their wedding. Seth is going to perform the ceremony and Hannah is one of their flower girls. I had the joy of joining in with the marriage counseling too. They are such a wonderful godly couple...it's exciting to see the Lord bring them together in marriage! We've loved watching them grow in their love for the Lord and for each other over the years.

Tonight was the rehearsal. I was so scared to call the doctor to get the okay for the wedding because I didn't know what she would say..but she approved me going...praise the Lord! So...I went ahead and went to the rehearsal this evening too. I stayed in a pew or a seat almost the whole time...which was hard to do..but was glad to be there! Our friends Jeff and Amber were there tonight too which worked out great. Jeff ended up helping with the sound and Amber helped me with Hannah. She got her to where she needed to go and chased her if she ran off. What a great help she was!

The first run through...Hannah did great walking down the aisle. She walked nice and slow about 3/4 of the way down...then yelled "daddy!" and ran the rest of the way.

the lovely couple!


the second run through, Jade (the other flower girl) was there. She took Jades hand and led her in between the pews. Hopefully, she won't lead Jade astray tomorrow :)

Seth did an awesome job tonight! Between his good leadership and Katies great organization...everything went so well!

Hannah enjoyed drinking from a fancy glass at dinner

so...so thankful for my wonderful friend, Amber. She's a blessing to my life in so many ways!

Hannah and I waiting for Daddy to bring our dinner...he's taking such good care of both of us (or should I say all 3 of us?!)

Josh and Katie were so generous to our family. They gave Hannah some great bath toys and a lovely wooden puzzle set. They gave Seth and I gift cards for shopping, eating out, and going out for coffee...along with the promise to babysit so that we can have a date night...what a treat!

Doctor orders...

...bed rest!

Yikes! A hard pill for me to swallow. I know that God has something good to teach me through this...and that it's probably his way of making me slow down...but still just a hard reality to process.

I went to the doctor yesterday. There were a few things happening out of the normal (I'll spare you the details :)) that caused the doctors to check a few other things. She found several signs of pre-term labor (again, I'll spare you all the details) but she did find that I was 1 cm dilated and once she hooked me up to the monitor she also found that I was having contractions (2 within a half hours time). As the visit went on, she got more serious with me about what "taking it easy" would mean for me. At first she just talked about having some help with my toddler, then to staying on the couch, then to not leaving the house unless I was leaving for doctors appointment.
I will say, I cried a lot yesterday...but the more time that I have to accept this and process it, the better I'm doing. I'm going to try to make the best use of my time here on the couch. I've enjoyed some quiet playtime with Hannah, have read some magazines, talked on the phone to several of my very wonderful and encouraging friends, and done some reading. I know that it's just going to have to be just one day at a time for me. The thought of laying on my left side for 6 weeks makes me want to cry...but one day at a time is much more manageable. As the doctor was leaving the room yesterday, I told her that I was leaving there to go teach Bible study (I was scheduled to be there in just a few minutes) and then I would go home. She looked at me and said "you won't be going to teach Bible study...go to the church and tell them you're on bed rest...doctors orders, then go home." Seth took the kiddos and Darlene (who was going to be with the kiddos) taught the study for me. Pray with me on how I am going to get all of my responsibilities covered while I'm "resting".
Your prayers are coveted...here are a few other things to be praying about:

• most importantly, the baby. We want to do what is best for him, and I know that in the end this will all be worth it! Pray for full development and that he won't come until I am full term (the doctor said that she would be happy to get me to 37 weeks)


• pray for my self-control. I am VERY thankful to be at home and glad to not have to have my bed rest in the hospital like I know many have....but at the same time the home is my "work place". It's very hard to sit here and look around seeing all that needs to be done.
  Not to mention, I'm just not a sit-still kinda gal. :)
  
• pray for my dear husband. This puts one more thing on his plate. He has been a wonderful help so far...but I know this puts more stress on him...pray that God will give him the strength and energy that he needs and teach him some valuable lessons through this too.
  
• and finally as I mentioned before, please pray that all of my responsibilities at church will be covered and I will have the wisdom to know who to ask to help.

On a happy note...I would like to end my post with the many blessings that I have received in just the past day and a half.

• First of all, my husband has been wonderful. He helped so much with Hannah yesterday and today. Today, he worked from home and was available for us any time we needed him. (He's out walking with her right now while she rides her bike to let off some energy)
  
• I am also so thankful for godly friendships. I've spent much of my time the past few days on the phone with friends (and family) who care for me so much. They have really helped lighten my spirits and encourage my heart. My friend Rachel was a God-send today. She went to the grocery to get much needed toilet paper and also picked up some meat that would be easy for Seth to throw on the grill for meals. When she got here..she had lunch for all 3 of us and then vacuumed downstairs and cleaned the kitchen...what a gem she is! We've already been blessed by friends who have brought us meals...I am just overwhelmed!
  
• I'm thankful for my cozy home...for our air conditioning, the smell of burning candles, and the picture window in my living room that I can look out from.
  
• I'm thankful for the Internet, my laptop, and wireless internet so that I can lay on the couch and play online like I like to do.


• I'm thankful for this trial and for God's perfect plan for my life. I'm getting to practice some of the things that I'm learning through my Bible study. God is always good AND always sovereign. What about God am I going to consider when I find myself in a difficult situation?

1 Peter 5:7 "humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all anxiety on him, because He cares for you."

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"

Psalm 139:13 "For you formed my inwards parts, you knitted me together in my mothers womb." - praising God for the little baby that he is knitting together inside of me right now!

34 weeks

34 weeks and still feeling good! My tummy is growing and I get lots of comments about how big I am. I am comforted each time I go to the doctor (going every other week now) because I am measuring just right. One lady at the grocery store today stopped and said "That is a very little body...and a very big belly". I guess there's just no where else for it to go but...out! :) I'm thankful for another great pregnancy and am getting very eager to meet my little boy in just 6 more weeks!! I do appreciate your prayers as I near the end of pregnancy and the beginning of life as momma of two!

Baby update

I put my glucose test off a few weeks longer than I should have due to the doctors office poor scheduling and my business. So...I just had my glucose test done at my last appointment. The lady that took my blood told me that no news is good news and that I was fine unless I got a call. So...as you can imagine, I was pretty nervous when I found a message on the answering machine from the doctors office. I quickly called back thankfully to find out that my blood sugar was fine...but that my iron was low. I guess this isn't much of a surprise, because the same thing happened with Hannah. My iron level should be 12-16 and mine is 11.5, so I just missed it. This might help explain some of the tiredness I've been experiencing the past few days. So an iron supplement will be added to my handful of vitamins at the end of the day. I continue to thank God for the healthy pregnancy with no complications thus far. I've had several reminders lately of the precious miracle of life that I am carrying around. It's easy to loose focus on that in the midst of a sore back, occasional heart burn, and my growing belly. I'm thankful that God has chose us to be the parents of this precious little life growing inside of me. Can't wait to meet him!

27 weeks

Hello third trimester! Hope that you will be as good to me as the first and second. It's been a great pregnancy so far...hoping that we finish off the same way! :)

Here's my growing belly at 27 weeks:

Today was another doctors appointment. It was pretty quick today. I'm gaining weight and the heart beat sounded great. My blood pressure was even a little on the low side, which Dr. Burke said was a good thing. I remember talking to the Doctor when I was preggo with Hannah about having a higher blood pressure and explaining that I was a kindergarten teacher. Although I do miss teaching at times, I'm so glad to be home with Hannah and that my pregnancy this time around (even with a toddler) is a little more relaxed.
I was suppose to have my 1 hour glucose test today while I was there for my dr. appointment...but unfortunately, the secretary scheduled my appointment for after the lady that does the testing had gone home for the day. I'm not thrilled that I have to go back this week and sit there for an hour to do my test...but oh well...not too much I can do but use this as an opportunity to show a little grace. I guess it will be a chance to sit and read for a little while :)

Baby Journey

So...I have decided that I should probably write a little bit about our baby journey with baby number two :)

So far, it's been a great pregnancy...I'm SO thankful! I was super tired at the beginning (but who isn't) and have been feeling great now for weeks. My belly is definitely growing and I'm showing faster than I did when I was pregnant with Hannah. Just this week, I'm starting to see the need for maternity clothes (if I could only get my jeans to stay up!).

This little guy is a mover and a shaker! He moves lots and lots...which I love! My favorite part of being pregnant are all the movements and baby kicks. I felt flutters for the first time around 17 weeks and now at 23 weeks the kicks are so strong I can see my belly moving. Hannah got to feel her little brother kick for the first time yesterday. She had just woke up from her nap and we were snuggling in the rocking chair. She was facing me and I put her hands on the front of my tummy where he was kicking. She moved my hands away and wanted to have just hers there. When he kicked her I asked if she felt it and she nodded yes. He kicked again and she nodded again. After a few kicks I didn't ask her if she felt it..she just nodded when she felt him kick...so cute!

I had a dr. appointment just this past week. The heartbeat was strong as normal and I'm growing and gaining weight with no problems :)
My doctor was a little concerned about my iron levels because at this time with Hannah they went way down. She suggested that I eat more red meat than I do, an easy way to get iron.

We are still working on choosing just the right name for our little one. We think that we are getting closer but are daily praying that God will help us to know which name will fit him perfectly. For a long time, Hannah was adamant that his name should be Paul....but for a few weeks now...she has changed her mind to Jonah. Every time we ask what we should name him, she says "Jonah".