We picked up Noah tonight. We met my parents about halfway between in Portland, a little over an hour drive for us. He was thrilled to see us until we put him in the carseat to leave. The rest of the ride home was filled with him either crying or being crabby and angry. Unfortunately, it does usually take a day or two for him to get over his attitude of feeling like we "abandoned" him with Grampa and Gramma, even though he has the time of his life there. Hopefully tomorrow will run smoother than tonight.
Yesterday morning I spent in triage at the hospital. No, I wasn't having false labor or even thought I was in labor (though it would be nice...) I woke up and started to eat a bowl of cereal. Out of nowhere I developed this massive headache and started seeing small white spots all over. The headache was something my doctor had advised to watch for. I was supposed to ride into GR with Tim so that I could drop him off at work and then spend the day visiting people and getting last minute things I need for when Ellie arrives. Since Tim was supposed to be at work before my doctor's office even opened, I decided to call the hospital's birthing unit. After explaining the situation I asked if I could swing in and have my blood pressure checked, decided that if it was normal it was probably some worse than usual pregnancy headache and I could still go in to GR for the day.
We got to the birthing unit and the very nice nurse took us into triage where she then hooked me up to the fetal monitors and the blood pressure cuff. Explaining we would probably only be there for a few minutes, she took my blood pressure which turned out to be great. Ellie's heart rate was also holding steady in the mid-140s. The nurse then left to call my doctor.
She came back and explained that my doctor wanted me to remain hooked to the blood pressure cuff for a short amount of time to check it at certain intervals to monitor it to make sure it stayed low. She also said that since my bloodwork and protein test were now considered "old" (they had been taken 2 weeks before!) I had to get new ones. And I couldn't leave until the results from my bloodwork were processed.
What became a "few minute" check turned into two and a half hours. Tim and I watched "Good Morning America" and after that was done we switched over to the "Today Show" (of whose morning team I really do not like but they were interviewing Whitney Cerak and her family and the VanRyns so I did want to see that.) We watched Ellie's heartrate and the computer also monitor my contractions, which I was glad to see that my pain was actually registered as contractions - they're just not regular yet so they're not "real." The nurse came back and said they had to see Ellie's heartrate accelerate about 15 beats and stay that way for about 15 beats a certain amount of times before I could leave. They wanted to make sure her nervous system is mature by her moving causing her heartrate to go up to make sure everything was working together. This wouldn't usually be a problem except that Ellie had already had an active morning and was at that point sleeping, or at least resting. As soon as the nurse left, Tim tried singing to my belly. I have to confess I grew quickly annoyed by not being in the mood to hear "Row row row your boat" sung at my stomach. So I did what I thought would work. I began to move and sway my stomach as jerkingly as I could from side to side. That did it! Tim told me Ellie was going to be mad at me but I told him as long as her heartrate went up I didn't care where or how hard she wanted to kick me.
Finally, after getting the bloodwork results back and finding everything looked good, seeing an accelerated heartrate a certain amount of times and watching my blood pressure continue to actually lower while we were there...they let me leave. Along with a plastic bag containing the jug in which to collect my urine for 24 hours. Oh, the joy. So while everything else is looking good, I now wait until Thursday to see the results of my protein and whether it is still high like last time.
By then I will be 37 weeks and hopefully she decides to come soon. I don't know how much longer I can wait!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Relaxing Week
I figured I would blog more this week, having more free time to do it with Noah being gone. I guess there just hasn't been much to blog about.
It has been a very relaxing, and at times boring, week. I'm starting to really miss Noah, especially when I call my mom and can hear his little voice in the back. She said yesterday was a hard day for him in that he was highly sensitive and emotional and seemed to be asking about us a lot. I guess the time limit on all of us missing each other is 5 days, which is the longest we've ever been apart. So we might end up getting him tomorrow. We're going to play it by ear.
I got all of Ellie's stuff set up and clothes washed so she can come now. If only it worked like that. I do still have to pack our suitcase but I figure that part is easy, especially since I realize how much I overpacked the first time around. There are splashes of pink around now, between receiving blankets and clothes and whatnot. Tim is almost adjusted to it.
It has been a pretty non-eventful week. Tuesday night I visited with Stephani while the guys went and played basketball. I was able to fulfill the small part of me that once dreamed of being a teacher by helping her grade papers. Last night we bought the carseat (well, we picked it up but my parents technically bought it for us as what would have been a "shower" present if I had any- thanks Mom and Dad!) After we met Matt & Jeana at Barnes and Noble to visit. They asked if we wanted to go to Target and help them start a registry. They're going to do the Babies 'R Us one on their own but wanted to ease into the big store by doing a smaller one and having some help. So over to Target we went. Let me tell you, it is actually harder I think doing a registry for a child who will be about a year and a half because Tim and I were racking our brains trying to remember what they're using or are interested in at that age. Also, it's so much different with adopting from another country because we were saying, "No you won't need bottles because most kids don't usually use them at that age still" and then finding out that in China they don't wean their babies off bottles at as early of an age as we do and so she probably IS still using one. But it was fun and it reminded me of some last minute things I still need to pick up, which I will do today when I head into Grand Rapids with Tim. I'm going to drop him off and visit people, run errands, etc.
Then tonight we have a date! Probably our last one before Ellie is born.
I read an incredible book yesterday (yes, I did have time to read a whole book in a day...) It's called "The Shack" by William P. Young. It's fiction, but it gives you a ton of things to think about regarding God, the Trinity, where is God when bad things happen, etc. It was a book I'm recommending. Go read it. I think you can read an excerpt online at www.theshackbook.com.
So that's about it. We'll get our son back this weekend and then I'll continue to wait somewhat impatiently until this little girl decides to make her entrance.
It has been a very relaxing, and at times boring, week. I'm starting to really miss Noah, especially when I call my mom and can hear his little voice in the back. She said yesterday was a hard day for him in that he was highly sensitive and emotional and seemed to be asking about us a lot. I guess the time limit on all of us missing each other is 5 days, which is the longest we've ever been apart. So we might end up getting him tomorrow. We're going to play it by ear.
I got all of Ellie's stuff set up and clothes washed so she can come now. If only it worked like that. I do still have to pack our suitcase but I figure that part is easy, especially since I realize how much I overpacked the first time around. There are splashes of pink around now, between receiving blankets and clothes and whatnot. Tim is almost adjusted to it.
It has been a pretty non-eventful week. Tuesday night I visited with Stephani while the guys went and played basketball. I was able to fulfill the small part of me that once dreamed of being a teacher by helping her grade papers. Last night we bought the carseat (well, we picked it up but my parents technically bought it for us as what would have been a "shower" present if I had any- thanks Mom and Dad!) After we met Matt & Jeana at Barnes and Noble to visit. They asked if we wanted to go to Target and help them start a registry. They're going to do the Babies 'R Us one on their own but wanted to ease into the big store by doing a smaller one and having some help. So over to Target we went. Let me tell you, it is actually harder I think doing a registry for a child who will be about a year and a half because Tim and I were racking our brains trying to remember what they're using or are interested in at that age. Also, it's so much different with adopting from another country because we were saying, "No you won't need bottles because most kids don't usually use them at that age still" and then finding out that in China they don't wean their babies off bottles at as early of an age as we do and so she probably IS still using one. But it was fun and it reminded me of some last minute things I still need to pick up, which I will do today when I head into Grand Rapids with Tim. I'm going to drop him off and visit people, run errands, etc.
Then tonight we have a date! Probably our last one before Ellie is born.
I read an incredible book yesterday (yes, I did have time to read a whole book in a day...) It's called "The Shack" by William P. Young. It's fiction, but it gives you a ton of things to think about regarding God, the Trinity, where is God when bad things happen, etc. It was a book I'm recommending. Go read it. I think you can read an excerpt online at www.theshackbook.com.
So that's about it. We'll get our son back this weekend and then I'll continue to wait somewhat impatiently until this little girl decides to make her entrance.
Monday, March 24, 2008
He is Risen!
Easter was this past weekend. It was an interesting weekend for us overall. Easter didn't seem like Easter so that made it kind of weird. We also attend a chuch that isn't very traditional since they're trying to focus more on relationships than religion and reaching unchurched people (which is what the church should be doing) so that makes things feel different as well. For example, while in Grand Rapids we were used to attending a Maundy Thursday supper, Good Friday service and Sunday morning services where people would greet and respond with "He is risen!" "He is risen, indeed!"
Thursday night Tim read to Noah out of one of his children's Bibles the stories of The Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane. Even though Noah isn't totally grasping these things yet, it's important to us that we are starting these traditions and talking to him about God and Jesus at an early age.
Friday Tim read about the cross. Before bed, Tim and I read together (well, I read out loud while he rubbed my back and listened) from the book of Mark. I had just randomly picked that book to read from, mainly because I had opened to it. Neither of us must have read the story of Jesus being arrested from Mark, though, because while reading we both were taken by surprise. Mark 14:50-52 says this:
"Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind."
I stopped reading as Tim stopped rubbing my back and said, "What?! I have never heard that before!" It is so random you wonder what - if any - is the significance of it? Tim thought it was interesting how all the disciples deserted Jesus and yet this young man stays with him, that is until he is seized...in which case he takes off and leaves the garment in their hands pretty much. After discussing it a little bit, as well as laughing at the fact we've never noticed it before, we moved on and read the rest of the events that happened that significant Friday.
My parents came on Saturday afternoon bearing gifts galore for Noah and Ellie. I thought Tim was going to have a stroke when he looked around and said, "Look at all this pink. I've never seen so much pink." After opening gifts and Noah playing hide-and-seek-the-plastic-Easter-eggs with my dad and Tim, we grabbed a pizza and took it to my parents' hotel room. Everyone but me played in the pool. I took pictures. I think we're going to look into swim lessons for Noah. He kept climbing out and jumping back in (with either my Dad or Tim catching him of course.) My mom said, "I think even if no one had been there to catch him, he still would have jumped in." He would have. I know this because last summer whenever we went to the beach we had to have a hand on him at all times or else he would have run straight into the water without us. This year we're investing in a life jacket...and possibly swim lessons....and probably just a plastic pool in the backyard where I can monitor him a little easier.
Sunday morning was church. We went to the early service. Well, Tim had to be at all three, but the rest of us went to the early added service, mainly because it was a Panera breakfast. Not just bagels either - muffins and yummy pastries were there as well. Unfortunately, it was the one morning that week that Noah decided to not wake up before 7:00am so we had to wake him. We told him "Happy Easter" as we turned on his lamp and started pulling his blankets off him. He responded with "No happy Easter." Yes, that's our cheerful child. Now he knows what we feel like when he wakes us up. Tim told me later that he said, "He is risen" to a couple people. He stopped when all he got were blank looks and "um, yeah" as a response.
My mom is reading a book right now called "Pagan Christianity." I'm not quite sure all it's about but I know that she and some friends are thinking about just starting a kind of home church to meet with each other. She made a point of telling me last week that the community group Tim and I are in is more of what a church is supposed to be than what church services are. I was a little, nervous maybe?, of how she would respond to the service since she's been reading this book. While we were leaving she said, "Well, I can see things in your church that the "Pagan Christianity" book talks about, but if I was going to attend a church I would want it to be like your's. It was a very good service and I liked the music. Your friend, Stephani, has a beautiful voice." I guess I'll take that as a good thing overall. It's just very different for me to see my mom with all these new opinions.
So anyways, after they checked out of their room and Tim finished his part in the last service, we went to Bob Evans for lunch. That's right - no cooking or cleaning for us on Easter this year. I think that is what also contributed to it not feeling like Easter though. Afterward we came back to our place, I packed a suitcase for Noah, and my parents were off - taking Noah with them. I thought it would probably only be until Friday but they said they want to keep him until Sunday. Fine by me! This will be the longest we've ever been away from him though. It's usually just a few days, or a weekend. Not 8 days! It has been so quiet around here today that I keep thinking I need to check on him in his room, then I remember he's not there.
Well this has been a very long post. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon so we'll see if the blood pressure is still down. I was lectured by 2 nurses at church yesterday - separately - on how I need to continue to take it easy and rest because preeclampsia could come on suddenly at any time, especially since I'm already borderline. One of them, our friend Josh who is also in our small group, said that I need to stay away from foods high in salt and I should limit my carb intake. I told him I don't really like salty foods, so that part is not a problem, but we might have a problem with the carb intake side of things. So far today this child has been extremely active and I feel like my internal organs are sporting bruises as a result.
Thursday night Tim read to Noah out of one of his children's Bibles the stories of The Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane. Even though Noah isn't totally grasping these things yet, it's important to us that we are starting these traditions and talking to him about God and Jesus at an early age.
Friday Tim read about the cross. Before bed, Tim and I read together (well, I read out loud while he rubbed my back and listened) from the book of Mark. I had just randomly picked that book to read from, mainly because I had opened to it. Neither of us must have read the story of Jesus being arrested from Mark, though, because while reading we both were taken by surprise. Mark 14:50-52 says this:
"Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind."
I stopped reading as Tim stopped rubbing my back and said, "What?! I have never heard that before!" It is so random you wonder what - if any - is the significance of it? Tim thought it was interesting how all the disciples deserted Jesus and yet this young man stays with him, that is until he is seized...in which case he takes off and leaves the garment in their hands pretty much. After discussing it a little bit, as well as laughing at the fact we've never noticed it before, we moved on and read the rest of the events that happened that significant Friday.
My parents came on Saturday afternoon bearing gifts galore for Noah and Ellie. I thought Tim was going to have a stroke when he looked around and said, "Look at all this pink. I've never seen so much pink." After opening gifts and Noah playing hide-and-seek-the-plastic-Easter-eggs with my dad and Tim, we grabbed a pizza and took it to my parents' hotel room. Everyone but me played in the pool. I took pictures. I think we're going to look into swim lessons for Noah. He kept climbing out and jumping back in (with either my Dad or Tim catching him of course.) My mom said, "I think even if no one had been there to catch him, he still would have jumped in." He would have. I know this because last summer whenever we went to the beach we had to have a hand on him at all times or else he would have run straight into the water without us. This year we're investing in a life jacket...and possibly swim lessons....and probably just a plastic pool in the backyard where I can monitor him a little easier.
Sunday morning was church. We went to the early service. Well, Tim had to be at all three, but the rest of us went to the early added service, mainly because it was a Panera breakfast. Not just bagels either - muffins and yummy pastries were there as well. Unfortunately, it was the one morning that week that Noah decided to not wake up before 7:00am so we had to wake him. We told him "Happy Easter" as we turned on his lamp and started pulling his blankets off him. He responded with "No happy Easter." Yes, that's our cheerful child. Now he knows what we feel like when he wakes us up. Tim told me later that he said, "He is risen" to a couple people. He stopped when all he got were blank looks and "um, yeah" as a response.
My mom is reading a book right now called "Pagan Christianity." I'm not quite sure all it's about but I know that she and some friends are thinking about just starting a kind of home church to meet with each other. She made a point of telling me last week that the community group Tim and I are in is more of what a church is supposed to be than what church services are. I was a little, nervous maybe?, of how she would respond to the service since she's been reading this book. While we were leaving she said, "Well, I can see things in your church that the "Pagan Christianity" book talks about, but if I was going to attend a church I would want it to be like your's. It was a very good service and I liked the music. Your friend, Stephani, has a beautiful voice." I guess I'll take that as a good thing overall. It's just very different for me to see my mom with all these new opinions.
So anyways, after they checked out of their room and Tim finished his part in the last service, we went to Bob Evans for lunch. That's right - no cooking or cleaning for us on Easter this year. I think that is what also contributed to it not feeling like Easter though. Afterward we came back to our place, I packed a suitcase for Noah, and my parents were off - taking Noah with them. I thought it would probably only be until Friday but they said they want to keep him until Sunday. Fine by me! This will be the longest we've ever been away from him though. It's usually just a few days, or a weekend. Not 8 days! It has been so quiet around here today that I keep thinking I need to check on him in his room, then I remember he's not there.
Well this has been a very long post. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon so we'll see if the blood pressure is still down. I was lectured by 2 nurses at church yesterday - separately - on how I need to continue to take it easy and rest because preeclampsia could come on suddenly at any time, especially since I'm already borderline. One of them, our friend Josh who is also in our small group, said that I need to stay away from foods high in salt and I should limit my carb intake. I told him I don't really like salty foods, so that part is not a problem, but we might have a problem with the carb intake side of things. So far today this child has been extremely active and I feel like my internal organs are sporting bruises as a result.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Time Out
Yesterday Noah was playing with his little Noah's Ark toy and animals. He put all the animals in the ark and then I saw him peek in and get this little look on his face.
"That's one. That's two. That's three. Time out," he said as he counted on his fingers. I wondered who he was talking to. I soon found out.
He pulled out a zebra and walked over to the dining room chair. He pulled out the chair and put it against the side of the fridge. This is where he goes when he is in time out.
"Time out chair," he told the zebra as he set it down in the middle of the chair. He then walked over to the microwave and (although he can't reach it on the counter) he put his hand in the air and acted like he was pushing buttons (which is where we set the timer.) "Two minutes."
He then came over and sat next to me on the couch and continued to play with the other animals, glancing up at the zebra every once in a while. He never actually got him out of the chair, though and after asking him questions I found out the zebra was in time out because he didn't listen and obey.
They really do pay attention to everything, don't they?
"That's one. That's two. That's three. Time out," he said as he counted on his fingers. I wondered who he was talking to. I soon found out.
He pulled out a zebra and walked over to the dining room chair. He pulled out the chair and put it against the side of the fridge. This is where he goes when he is in time out.
"Time out chair," he told the zebra as he set it down in the middle of the chair. He then walked over to the microwave and (although he can't reach it on the counter) he put his hand in the air and acted like he was pushing buttons (which is where we set the timer.) "Two minutes."
He then came over and sat next to me on the couch and continued to play with the other animals, glancing up at the zebra every once in a while. He never actually got him out of the chair, though and after asking him questions I found out the zebra was in time out because he didn't listen and obey.
They really do pay attention to everything, don't they?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
No Bedrest!
Yea! I just came home from my doctor appointment for the preeclampsia tests checkup. My blood pressure was 118/70! That is down quite a bit from last week's 149/86. She did say that my protein is on the high side of normal, which isn't great although it's not high enough to signal preeclampsia which is good. They are going to be keeping a close eye on my blood pressure though since the protein is high.
God answers prayer!
God answers prayer!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Honesty Can Hurt
Tim and I were watching a show the other day when this lady with skinny toned arms came on the screen. I turned to him and said, "My goal/dream for the summer is to have toned arms. I need you to help me."
He simply responded by saying "As long as your arms don't get more muscular than mine."
"No, no," I said. "I don't really want big muscle arms, just skinny toned arms."
"Your arms are never going to be skinny," he said matter of factly.
I gaped at him. "What?" I can't believe my husband just insulted me.
"It's not in your genes. Think about it. Have your arms ever been super skinny like what you want them to look like?"
I tried desperately to pull up a memory. As if he could read my mind he added, "Besides when you were 12." There goes that one.
He went on, "I'm not saying you can't have toned arms or that you shouldn't try. I'm just saying that you need to be realistic in what you're working for. And that woman on the screen is not built like you. She has twig arms and looks too skinny. But you can and should try to work your arms still. They just probably won't end up looking exactly like her's."
One of the things people hate about my husband is that he can be brutally honest. It's one of the things that draws me to him though. I don't want someone to sugarcoat things or flatter me to be on my good side. I want truth from my friends, from my family members. That's what he gives me.
Even if it hurts sometimes.
I'm still going to work for those arms too. He's just made me more determined.
He simply responded by saying "As long as your arms don't get more muscular than mine."
"No, no," I said. "I don't really want big muscle arms, just skinny toned arms."
"Your arms are never going to be skinny," he said matter of factly.
I gaped at him. "What?" I can't believe my husband just insulted me.
"It's not in your genes. Think about it. Have your arms ever been super skinny like what you want them to look like?"
I tried desperately to pull up a memory. As if he could read my mind he added, "Besides when you were 12." There goes that one.
He went on, "I'm not saying you can't have toned arms or that you shouldn't try. I'm just saying that you need to be realistic in what you're working for. And that woman on the screen is not built like you. She has twig arms and looks too skinny. But you can and should try to work your arms still. They just probably won't end up looking exactly like her's."
One of the things people hate about my husband is that he can be brutally honest. It's one of the things that draws me to him though. I don't want someone to sugarcoat things or flatter me to be on my good side. I want truth from my friends, from my family members. That's what he gives me.
Even if it hurts sometimes.
I'm still going to work for those arms too. He's just made me more determined.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Yea for the Nashes!
Matt and Jeana are our friends I mentioned yesterday with the very exciting news. I have mentioned them before in previous posts and their wait in the adoption process with China. Yesterday they received the big phone call and today they accepted the referral for a beautiful little girl in China! You can see pictures and find out more information by following this link:
http://www.youbelong.net/emma
We are so happy for them and they should be bringing her home this summer before the Olympics!
http://www.youbelong.net/emma
We are so happy for them and they should be bringing her home this summer before the Olympics!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Random random
All sorts of things going on here. I'm getting another niece in July. The Ross cousins are starting to become a little more evened out. By the end of July there will be a total of 5 boys ranging in age from almost 8 years to about 8 months and 3 girls with the oldest at just over 3 years and the youngest being a newborn. I also found out some good friends of our's, Jack and Kelly, are also expecing a girl in late July. Little girls are popping up everywhere!
I had my 34 week checkup yesterday afternoon. My measurements and weight gain are good, the heart rate is good...my blood pressure is not so good. I have to be tested for preeclampsia next week so I am a little nervous about that (probably not helping the blood pressure go down at all.) My friend, Sara, from our small group came over this morning with her daughter, Laine. Laine was born 8 weeks early due to Sara having preeclampsia (Laine is now over a year old) so Sara was asking me questions and telling me about her experience. At least I am at a point in my pregnancy where if Ellie had to be delivered early, I am already only 6 weeks out. We - Tim, me, my mom and a couple others - have a feeling she will be coming in early April rather than late since the only "cure" for high blood pressure in pregnancy is delivery. So yikes! Lots to do still and who knows? I could be on bedrest as early as next Thursday afternoon.
Some good friends of our's received some VERY exciting news today but I won't share until they say it's ok. I will say it was the highlight of my day, if not my week.
Some other good friends, Tim and Christina, announced this week they will be moving to Ohio as early as June. That is exciting too, although Tim and I will miss them. We do feel like God just seems to be opening all doors for them to go so it is hard to not be excited for them and this new journey they'll be entering. They'll also be moving down near both their families and it's pretty close to where Tim's parents and Randy and Deidra now live, so we know we'll still see them quite a bit throughout the year.
Noah has been acting up with Tim being gone this week. I mean, Tim is here, he just has been working from early morning until dinner, coming home for about 15 minutes to grab a bite to eat and then he takes off again for another side job until around 10 or 11:00. Tonight is his last night (yea!) so we are looking forward to him being home tomorrow evening to actually put Noah to bed after playing with him for a bit. The funny thing is - Noah is good for me when it's just the two of us at home. It's when Tim is here that he gets the attitude. Tim has to work Saturday as well, so I am looking forward to Sunday afternoon and a chance for us all to relax and be home together.
Well, that's about it. Just a quick little random update but now I'm thinking of heading to bed. I was going to try to stay up until Tim got home tonight, but unless he makes it home by the time I get done brushing my teeth I don't think it's going to happen tonight.
The youtube video below is not really a video - it's just a still picture of a band called Band of Horses while a song plays. The song is a favorite of mine at the moment. It's called "No One's Gonna Love You"(More than I do.) I first heard it on an episode of Chuck (one of mine and Tim's new favorite shows - SO funny!) and love the song. Also - if you're ever looking for a song to get you out of a funk and put you in a good mood, I suggest Paolo Nutini's "New Shoes." Another favorite.
I had my 34 week checkup yesterday afternoon. My measurements and weight gain are good, the heart rate is good...my blood pressure is not so good. I have to be tested for preeclampsia next week so I am a little nervous about that (probably not helping the blood pressure go down at all.) My friend, Sara, from our small group came over this morning with her daughter, Laine. Laine was born 8 weeks early due to Sara having preeclampsia (Laine is now over a year old) so Sara was asking me questions and telling me about her experience. At least I am at a point in my pregnancy where if Ellie had to be delivered early, I am already only 6 weeks out. We - Tim, me, my mom and a couple others - have a feeling she will be coming in early April rather than late since the only "cure" for high blood pressure in pregnancy is delivery. So yikes! Lots to do still and who knows? I could be on bedrest as early as next Thursday afternoon.
Some good friends of our's received some VERY exciting news today but I won't share until they say it's ok. I will say it was the highlight of my day, if not my week.
Some other good friends, Tim and Christina, announced this week they will be moving to Ohio as early as June. That is exciting too, although Tim and I will miss them. We do feel like God just seems to be opening all doors for them to go so it is hard to not be excited for them and this new journey they'll be entering. They'll also be moving down near both their families and it's pretty close to where Tim's parents and Randy and Deidra now live, so we know we'll still see them quite a bit throughout the year.
Noah has been acting up with Tim being gone this week. I mean, Tim is here, he just has been working from early morning until dinner, coming home for about 15 minutes to grab a bite to eat and then he takes off again for another side job until around 10 or 11:00. Tonight is his last night (yea!) so we are looking forward to him being home tomorrow evening to actually put Noah to bed after playing with him for a bit. The funny thing is - Noah is good for me when it's just the two of us at home. It's when Tim is here that he gets the attitude. Tim has to work Saturday as well, so I am looking forward to Sunday afternoon and a chance for us all to relax and be home together.
Well, that's about it. Just a quick little random update but now I'm thinking of heading to bed. I was going to try to stay up until Tim got home tonight, but unless he makes it home by the time I get done brushing my teeth I don't think it's going to happen tonight.
The youtube video below is not really a video - it's just a still picture of a band called Band of Horses while a song plays. The song is a favorite of mine at the moment. It's called "No One's Gonna Love You"(More than I do.) I first heard it on an episode of Chuck (one of mine and Tim's new favorite shows - SO funny!) and love the song. Also - if you're ever looking for a song to get you out of a funk and put you in a good mood, I suggest Paolo Nutini's "New Shoes." Another favorite.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I Didn't Know He Would Cry So Much!
No, not Noah. Tim. This week he is pretty much gone more than home. Hey - I'm not complaining...the work is nice to have back! I'm just getting used to feeling like a single parent for the week and am so thankful that I am not one all the time.
Tonight I was feeling sentimental so I broke out our wedding DVD and watched it. It was just a handheld camera by my grandpa, so there are lots of shadows and the sound isn't always the best...but I'm so thankful to have something to watch from our ceremony.
The actual ceremony (we did a slideshow beforehand) opened with Deidra singing "Ave Maria" and our wedding party walking down. Tim was up front with the pastor who officiated, Bill Blue - my old youth pastor and the father of one of my best friends. He was crying as soon as the first bridesmaid/groomsman couple came walking down the aisle. Then came three more couples followed by our ring bearer - Tim's nephew, Cameron - who had fractured some bones in his foot the week beforehand and had a slight limp. He still was adorable. Our flower girls and ring bearer were supposed to walk up only to the front row and then sit with their parents; we didn't want them standing up front during the entire ceremony. While watching Cameron walking up the steps, handing a ring pillow to Randy (the best man), walking down and then realizing he wasn't supposed to do that and walking back up to get the pillow and down, you can hear one of the flower girls having a breakdown. Yes, my 3 year old cousins, who the night before and all morning couldn't get enough of their baskets and pretty dresses and were soaking up attention everywhere, barely made it down the aisle. Gabrielle took off like a rocket and raced down the aisle to her parents. Racquelle threw herself down in the middle of the aisle and screamed until someone came to get her. Oh, well, it provided laughs.
Switch music to "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." I chose to walk down to this song in honor of my grandpa in a way that no one but the female members of my family would recognize. The song is played by a music box in the movie "Somewhere in Time" - an old family favorite because it was filmed on Mackinac Island. My grandparents lived in St. Ignace during the warm weather months and so we spent much of our childhood summers in St. Ignace and the surrounding areas. My grandfather had passed away almost 2 years previous to my wedding and it was a way for me to remember him and have him a part of a most important day even though he couldn't actually be.
Anyways - cue "Rhapsody" and enter me and Dad. I was somewhat crying as I hobbled down the aisle. Yes, hobble. In all my intelligence leading up to the wedding I had decided to have an itty bitty plantar wart removed from the ball of my foot. All I could think about was how I didn't want to go on my honeymoon with this almost invisible wart in a place where no one was going to look anyway. I also didn't want to experience my wedding night with this thing attached to me (as if Tim would even be paying attention to the bottom of my foot.) So the Wednesday before the wedding I went in to kind Dr. Maskill - who I will say did try to talk me out of it until after the wedding but I ignored him thinking it couldn't be that bad - and sat there silent and in intense pain as he held liquid nitrogen against it. Three days later I was still somewhat hobbling in pain if too much pressure was put on the ball. I think by the end of the day my foot was somewhat numb overall.
Tim continued to cry as I came up the aisle. He also cried as Bill began the ceremony. Then again after lighting the unity candle. I think once he realized we were close to the kissing part he got himself together.
I watched myself on the DVD and realized what a goofball I looked like that day. I think I was so nervous I couldn't keep my head on straight. I looked around at people on my side of the church, my bridesmaids, Bill and occasionally at Tim as Tim looked directly at me the entire time. I made silly faces a couple times and had a big cheesy grin on my face the rest of the time. I wonder if he realized that day what a nerd he was marrying!
Ah, well. What do you do? Almost five years later and we're happier now than then although at that time I didn't think we could be more so. Every year for our anniversary we have always been blessed enough to be able to travel around the date and we usually just end up saying it's our way of celebrating. The first year we went to Cancun with my sister and brother-in-law the week after our anniversary. The second year we went to Mackinac Island to attend a "Celebrate Your Marriage" conference. The third year we were in Florida the weekend after our anniversary because Tim was a groomsman in a wedding. Last year was our first actual planned specifically anniversary getaway and we went to Chicago to see Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, house, and the Robie House. This year we are going to be traveling again. We'll be in a gorgeous part of Virginia where Tim's cousin is getting married on our anniversary - May 24. Yes, we'll have a one-month old daughter at the time, but we don't want to miss it and, quite honestly, the younger they are the easier they are to travel with because they sleep all the time!
I can't wait to celebrate our anniversary and look back on what we have encountered in our marriage and how God has grown us.
Tonight I was feeling sentimental so I broke out our wedding DVD and watched it. It was just a handheld camera by my grandpa, so there are lots of shadows and the sound isn't always the best...but I'm so thankful to have something to watch from our ceremony.
The actual ceremony (we did a slideshow beforehand) opened with Deidra singing "Ave Maria" and our wedding party walking down. Tim was up front with the pastor who officiated, Bill Blue - my old youth pastor and the father of one of my best friends. He was crying as soon as the first bridesmaid/groomsman couple came walking down the aisle. Then came three more couples followed by our ring bearer - Tim's nephew, Cameron - who had fractured some bones in his foot the week beforehand and had a slight limp. He still was adorable. Our flower girls and ring bearer were supposed to walk up only to the front row and then sit with their parents; we didn't want them standing up front during the entire ceremony. While watching Cameron walking up the steps, handing a ring pillow to Randy (the best man), walking down and then realizing he wasn't supposed to do that and walking back up to get the pillow and down, you can hear one of the flower girls having a breakdown. Yes, my 3 year old cousins, who the night before and all morning couldn't get enough of their baskets and pretty dresses and were soaking up attention everywhere, barely made it down the aisle. Gabrielle took off like a rocket and raced down the aisle to her parents. Racquelle threw herself down in the middle of the aisle and screamed until someone came to get her. Oh, well, it provided laughs.
Switch music to "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." I chose to walk down to this song in honor of my grandpa in a way that no one but the female members of my family would recognize. The song is played by a music box in the movie "Somewhere in Time" - an old family favorite because it was filmed on Mackinac Island. My grandparents lived in St. Ignace during the warm weather months and so we spent much of our childhood summers in St. Ignace and the surrounding areas. My grandfather had passed away almost 2 years previous to my wedding and it was a way for me to remember him and have him a part of a most important day even though he couldn't actually be.
Anyways - cue "Rhapsody" and enter me and Dad. I was somewhat crying as I hobbled down the aisle. Yes, hobble. In all my intelligence leading up to the wedding I had decided to have an itty bitty plantar wart removed from the ball of my foot. All I could think about was how I didn't want to go on my honeymoon with this almost invisible wart in a place where no one was going to look anyway. I also didn't want to experience my wedding night with this thing attached to me (as if Tim would even be paying attention to the bottom of my foot.) So the Wednesday before the wedding I went in to kind Dr. Maskill - who I will say did try to talk me out of it until after the wedding but I ignored him thinking it couldn't be that bad - and sat there silent and in intense pain as he held liquid nitrogen against it. Three days later I was still somewhat hobbling in pain if too much pressure was put on the ball. I think by the end of the day my foot was somewhat numb overall.
Tim continued to cry as I came up the aisle. He also cried as Bill began the ceremony. Then again after lighting the unity candle. I think once he realized we were close to the kissing part he got himself together.
I watched myself on the DVD and realized what a goofball I looked like that day. I think I was so nervous I couldn't keep my head on straight. I looked around at people on my side of the church, my bridesmaids, Bill and occasionally at Tim as Tim looked directly at me the entire time. I made silly faces a couple times and had a big cheesy grin on my face the rest of the time. I wonder if he realized that day what a nerd he was marrying!
Ah, well. What do you do? Almost five years later and we're happier now than then although at that time I didn't think we could be more so. Every year for our anniversary we have always been blessed enough to be able to travel around the date and we usually just end up saying it's our way of celebrating. The first year we went to Cancun with my sister and brother-in-law the week after our anniversary. The second year we went to Mackinac Island to attend a "Celebrate Your Marriage" conference. The third year we were in Florida the weekend after our anniversary because Tim was a groomsman in a wedding. Last year was our first actual planned specifically anniversary getaway and we went to Chicago to see Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, house, and the Robie House. This year we are going to be traveling again. We'll be in a gorgeous part of Virginia where Tim's cousin is getting married on our anniversary - May 24. Yes, we'll have a one-month old daughter at the time, but we don't want to miss it and, quite honestly, the younger they are the easier they are to travel with because they sleep all the time!
I can't wait to celebrate our anniversary and look back on what we have encountered in our marriage and how God has grown us.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Stressful Week Ends With Good News!
Crazy start to the week. I won't go into the details but let's just say that Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I was starting to doubt God again. It's so easy to do when you feel hit from every direction - especially financially. Thursday afternoon we had an unexpected blessing which helped. That day Tim also met with a painter in Grand Rapids who is looking for subcontractors. It was a brief meeting and then a quick phone call to find out some more information, but it wasn't until Friday afternoon that they actually sat down with each other and really talked/went through an interview process - for an hour and a half! It ended with Tim accepting the position and we are extremely excited about it. This means consistent work and good pay with Tim working on higher end homes, which has always been his dream. By doing more in this line of houses it actually allows him to learn more techniques and not feel like he's hit a glass ceiling which was kind of where he was at currently. He starts March 17, which is perfect because he actually does have work this week.
Saturday night I was really in the mood for a summery type meal since the sun was so nice and bright that day (although temperatures were freezing!) We made hamburgers (never as good cooked on a stovetop as they are on a grill), baked beans, corn and cantaloupe. I thought it was funny as we were sitting down to eat because I looked at the cantaloupe and thought about a recent sermon series at our church on blessings (you can check out the podcasts at www.thejourneycc.com if interested) and about how we had been blessed that week. Also, after sitting down, I heard what song was playing on the iPod. I had put on Caedmon's Call's "Long Line of Leavers" which I don't think I've listened to in years. The following lyrics are to the song and they fit how I felt in earlier in the week:
"Prove Me Wrong"
Sometimes I fear
Maybe I'm not chosen
You've hardened my heart like Pharoe
And that would explain why
Life is so hard for me
And I am sad that Esau hated
Crying against what's faded
Saying, "Father, please...
Is there any left for me?"
(chorus)
Cast all my doubts
Please, prove me wrong
Cause these demons
Can be so headstrong
Make my walls fall
Please, prove me wrong
Cause this resentment's been building
So burn them up with your fire so strong
And if you can before I bail
Please, prove me wrong
I fear maybe this is all just a game
And our friends and our families all play
To harness the young
And give some comfort to the old
(chorus)
(bridge)
Don't let my doubts prove true
Draw me close and hold me near to you
Keep me strong until the day you...
(chorus)
I thought that was just funny because this week He did make my walls fall and prove me wrong and I am thankful for that.
So that's about it here. I woke up sick in the middle of the night - sore throat, runny nose, headache...all that fun stuff. I have a feeling Noah might be sick as well because I can hear him waking up right now and he's crying and that is not normal for him. He also woke up once in the middle of the night crying and asking for water...so hopefully this will be a relaxing day for us both. Thankfully, I don't have to watch Emma today (she is sick as well) so we can lay around all day in our pajamas if needed.
Saturday night I was really in the mood for a summery type meal since the sun was so nice and bright that day (although temperatures were freezing!) We made hamburgers (never as good cooked on a stovetop as they are on a grill), baked beans, corn and cantaloupe. I thought it was funny as we were sitting down to eat because I looked at the cantaloupe and thought about a recent sermon series at our church on blessings (you can check out the podcasts at www.thejourneycc.com if interested) and about how we had been blessed that week. Also, after sitting down, I heard what song was playing on the iPod. I had put on Caedmon's Call's "Long Line of Leavers" which I don't think I've listened to in years. The following lyrics are to the song and they fit how I felt in earlier in the week:
"Prove Me Wrong"
Sometimes I fear
Maybe I'm not chosen
You've hardened my heart like Pharoe
And that would explain why
Life is so hard for me
And I am sad that Esau hated
Crying against what's faded
Saying, "Father, please...
Is there any left for me?"
(chorus)
Cast all my doubts
Please, prove me wrong
Cause these demons
Can be so headstrong
Make my walls fall
Please, prove me wrong
Cause this resentment's been building
So burn them up with your fire so strong
And if you can before I bail
Please, prove me wrong
I fear maybe this is all just a game
And our friends and our families all play
To harness the young
And give some comfort to the old
(chorus)
(bridge)
Don't let my doubts prove true
Draw me close and hold me near to you
Keep me strong until the day you...
(chorus)
I thought that was just funny because this week He did make my walls fall and prove me wrong and I am thankful for that.
So that's about it here. I woke up sick in the middle of the night - sore throat, runny nose, headache...all that fun stuff. I have a feeling Noah might be sick as well because I can hear him waking up right now and he's crying and that is not normal for him. He also woke up once in the middle of the night crying and asking for water...so hopefully this will be a relaxing day for us both. Thankfully, I don't have to watch Emma today (she is sick as well) so we can lay around all day in our pajamas if needed.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
A Little Bit of Everything
We've had a random past couple of weeks. Last week we spent in Ohio at Tim's parents. He worked on his brother's house while Noah and I were able to do some fun things throughout the week. Deidra has started working part-time at their church and so Tuesday I baby-sat Wyndham, which was fun because she and Noah got along very well the entire week. It was great. Wednesday we accompanied Deidra and Wyn on their weekly playdate with a couple other women and kids from their church. We attended storytime at the library (which Noah only had the patience to last for about half of - so we went and read books and did puzzles in a different area) and then on to McDonald's for lunch and to get energy out in the playland. On Thursdays my mother-in-law watches Wyndham and so we took the kids and ventured up to Canton. Since I'm not having any showers with this pregnancy she wanted to still get some clothes for the baby just as she would any of the others, so we hit Old Navy and Gymboree and scored some good deals. We followed with lunch at Chick-Fil-A. Can I just tell you this is my favorite fast food restaurant and it makes me so sad that we don't have one around here. It is needed! Friday was just a play at home day and Saturday we took off.
It was a nice time. Deidra and I spent the evenings together as the guys would head back to the house to do more work after dinner and putting the kids to bed. They usually wouldn't be home until late. Noah also did great during the car rides to and from, so that is always a bonus.
My parents loved their cruise. My mom spent this week saying "A week ago on this day I was in _____________" (fill in blank with itinerary.) They debated leaving everything here to go start a kayak rental shop on some random island. I'm glad they had fun.
We have had many friends going through some rough times recently with family or relationship issues. It was a heavy week while in Ohio and receiving news of different things. I really feel as if satan is hard at work - and I have to admit that I have felt attacked by him this week as well in mine and Tim's lives after arriving home.
Tim and I have a big decision to make that I won't discuss now, so please pray for clarity and God's wisdom for us.
To end with, here are a couple belly shots that my friend, Christina of Grace Designs Photography, took of me while I was in my 7th month. They're funny to look at now because I feel about twice the size! I had a check-up on Tuesday and everything is looking great - my blood pressure is a little high so they're going to keep an eye on it, but after some of the stressors in our life I actually had a feeling it would be high. Jeana accompanied me and Noah as Tim was working and she enjoyed hearing the heartbeat and was a big help with Noah since he becomes very concerned when the doctor comes in. Just 7 more weeks to go!
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