About Me

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I'm just a 28 year old woman that married the man of my answered prayers on July 18, 2009. We have our sweet Ella that was born in September of 2010 and our precious Charlotte that was born in February of 2012! On March 24, 2013, our first son was born, Josiah Warner. After a complicated pregnancy, he was born very prematurely and lived less than an hour before going to be with Jesus. Through life's ups and downs, I'm trying to figure out how to follow Jesus. I mean, really follow Jesus. The kind of following where things start to change. It's time to put action to the passion

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Never A Dull Moment!

So, last night, it was bedtime and per my usual routine I turned the thermostat down from the 78 I keep it on during the day to the 73 I put it on at night so I don't sweat the night away in my current hormonal state. John and I went to our bedroom for some good ol' pillow talk, then our usual prayer time. The room was getting nice and cooler, so I got all comfy under my blankets. We turned on the TV and then I started to feel warmer. Assuming it was my hormones (ahem, my scapegoat for everything the last year of my life), I asked John if he could turn down the air one more degree.

He goes to turn it down and informs me the thermostat says 75. Which, is pretty crazy because I set it to 73 almost 3 hours earlier and it usually cools down pretty fast. Still not thinking much of it, I just try to get comfy and fall asleep.

Then, as each hour passes through night, I awaken feeling warmer and warmer each time. And, noticing that the air is constantly blowing and never shuts off. Hmmm...

The morning comes, I shake John awake and declare that I think our A/C is broken because I am sweating like a mad woman. He checks the thermostat. It is currently 78 degrees in the house while it is only 75 degrees outside.

We go to Home Depot thinking maybe we just need to change the filter. I have a contraction in Home Depot where I wasn't able to talk. Oh dear. But, luckily it was only one.

Change the filter.

Wait 30 minutes.

It is now 80 degrees in the house.

Several phone calls later to the landlord, warranty companies, and A/C repair company, we realize the A/C unit outside has officially stopped running. It apparently hates pregnant women that are 33 weeks pregnant that are supposed to be on a simplified, modified bedrest for one more week.

As I laugh about how ridiculous everything is, the house went up two more degrees in temperature. We officially dubbed today "bring your hugely pregnant wife to work" day. Today I have lounged on John's couch in his office hoping that all of today's activities don't cause this baby to exit my nether regions before hitting the 34 week mark.

I have been laughing at just how crazy all of this pregnancy has been. This child's scrapbook will be written out in detail so the second this child thinks he or she is cooler than me or doesn't love me anymore, I am shoving the book in their face. Complete with the details of my puke escapades and of the A/C breaking causing me to sweat like a construction worker in my own bed while I am supposed to be focusing on not stressing my body so the child stays locked in for at least one more week.

I guess it wasn't a random happenstance that yesterday one of the verses I prayed over me was Proverbs 31:25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come". Because, my actual clothing was smelling of sweat and no person in their right mind would have laughed at the fact that their A/C was broken in the dead heat of summer. So, praise Jesus that He prepared me for today as much as possible!

Tonight we are staying with a gracious family that has opened up their home so we don't have to sweat to death. And, another family had also opened their home. We are so thankful!

And, tomorrow, God is sending an angel to our little home in Peachtree City, GA...

the blessed A/C repairman shall be knocking on the door between 9a-1p. I would bake him homemade treasures to show my gratitude. But, that requires too much heat. Therefore, I will repeatedly thank him for his supernatural ability to fix the one thing every woman with a child in their uterus should be given, a working A/C unit.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Baby Time Getting Closer, Maybe Too Close?

We had our 32 week appointment just the other day with one of the partners in the office. Next appointment I return back to my regular doctor for the duration of Operation: Baby. I really do love this office and so far they have been great. Every appointment the doctors have taken their time with us and I always just feel like I am hanging out with a good friend. A good friend that I have total confidence in for taking care of me and my baby.

For those that are keeping track of the unfolding story concerning this baby growing like a mad child, I measured 3 weeks ahead again. Every single time I have measured 2 or 3 weeks ahead. They've told me that +2 is completely within the normal range but the +3 is what makes them want to take another little sneak peek at the child either next appointment or the appointment after. It seems like all of the doc's are guessing an 8-pound baby. Not that I've ever pushed a full term baby out of my Nether regions, but 8 pounds seems doable to me. I try to explain to the baby that 7 pounds is a good number, but for some reason, I don't think the baby understands a word I am saying...

Well, this past week, the Braxton Hicks contractions decided they wanted to begin revving up. Which, hey, I am all about because it's comforting to know that my body is getting ready for the process. But, on Monday night, I had 7 contractions in an hour. For those pregnancy illiterate (like myself before I had a child in my uterus), 4 or more contractions in an hour can be a sign of preterm labor. I did all of the special little things that are supposed to make them stop if it's just Braxton Hicks and none of it worked. Well, I finally decided if I had one more, I was going to call the doctor and bam, they stopped. I had one more about 45 minutes later, but that was it. The rest of this week I have had Braxton Hicks on and off, but nothing consistent again. I've also been having some pressure (sometimes feels like a lot, sometimes it's not as noticeable) and feeling crampy (sometimes a lot, sometimes not).

At my appointment, the doctor just emphasized lots of rest and water. And, more than once she said, "I just want you to get 34 weeks, after then, you can let your body do whatever you want". SO, that's where we are now. The last few days have been me laying on the couch or bed and telling the baby to not arrive until my birthday (the day I turn 34 weeks, August 2nd) or later. John cleaned the whole house and did the dishes and finished the laundry and mowed the lawn and made dinner and so forth the last few days. (Awesome man, hasn't complained once!) It is so against my entire personality to sit around and not be able to do my normal activities. But, I think I can handle taking it easy the next week and 2 days. It's already been amazing how much extra rest really has calmed the contractions and pressure.

Part of me wants to laugh in thinking that we're trying to do whatever little things we can to ensure the baby stays in and that when it comes the appropriate time for the baby to come out, the kiddo probably won't budge. I sure hope that's not the case, but I am learning how unpredictable all of this pregnancy stuff can be. But, the baby is currently head down, which is exciting to know that one more piece to the puzzle is falling in place!

So, there ya have it! Looks like we'll have a baby in 7 weeks or less from now! :o)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

One Year Anniversary!


Has it already been one whole year since we got hitched? We made it through our first year with none of that yucky "your first year is going to be terrible" stuff! It feels like our wedding was just yesterday. I can still picture everything about that day so vividly. I can honestly say it was the absolute best day of my entire life. I don't think I could have been more excited to marry the man God provided for me. John, I thought I loved you that day...

...but, I look at now, and think that today there is no way I could ever love you more.

Our first year of marriage has held more than I ever could have imagined! We've changed states, jobs, baby doctors (3 times, mind you!), and God has given us two babies in our short year together. It has been such a crazy ride! I mean, have I seriously had morning sickness the majority of our marriage?! Good grief! As many twists and turns that have been thrown at us in a year, I can honestly say I've always felt calm knowing that you were the man I was standing next to.

You have loved me above and beyond anything that I have experienced before, apart from the Lord. I really never knew that someone would love me, protect me, and provide for me the way that you have. God far exceeded in answering my prayers for you starting so many years ago. Even this whole week, leading up to this weekend knowing it would be our anniversary, I just couldn't help but spend half of my prayer time in my devotion time, just thanking the Lord over and over again for you. I highly doubt I ever say it enough, but I am so unbelievably grateful to be your wife. I am so glad to be given the chance to support you, pray for you, and respect you as my husband.

And, one of the things I have loved the most about you this last year, is that you loved the baby we lost just as much as I did. You have never once made me feel dumb in some of things we did to recognize our baby's life. I cannot begin to tell you how much it has meant to me that you would help pick up the broken pieces of my heart while your own was breaking. Both of our babies are beyond blessed to have a daddy that loves them the way you do. I will always be in awe of how you walked me through the darkest time of our life when we lost that precious baby.

Praying Ephesians 5:22-33 over our marriage every day, I can absolutely see in you how you love me like Christ loves the church. And, I can only pray that I can respect you to the magnitude that you love me. There is not any other person in the whole universe I would rather display the profound mystery of Christ with than you. I just pray we do it well.

I love you so much, husband! You are my most favorite person in the world and thank you for marrying me! I can't wait to look back on this day and think "oh, how I thought I loved you then, but now..."

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Baby Update!!

We had the 30 week (oh my goodness gracious, 30 weeks?!?) appointment this morning. And, let me just say, this baby cracks me up every single day. I am convinced this child is the biggest wiggleworm in the whole world. The baby doesn't care to slow down for the doctor either.

Today we saw one of the partners in the office and as she first put the little doppler on my belly, the baby was all over the place. My stomach constantly rolls in waves and even the doctor today jumped back with a big "whoa! Oh my goodness!"And, as she looked for the heartbeat, the kiddo kept rockin and rollin. I like to imagine a little Bart Simpson attitude in there thinkin', "Ha, try to find me now!" With how much this baby was all over she jokingly said, "Are you sure there's not more than one in there?" To which I responded that John always points to one side of my belly and says "Baby Number 1" and then points to the other side "Baby Number 2". But, that would be one sneaky baby number 2 finding a place to hide through TWO ultrasounds. That just shows you how funny/out of control this baby moves all the time! It took her a while to find the actual heartbeat because of the wiggling (last appt, my regular doctor didn't even bother to find the actual heartbeat and said the pulse which we could hear was just fine due to the wiggling!). But, there was the heartbeat, all over the place but around 145.

And, the belly is still measuring 2 weeks ahead! So, all of those haters out there saying I need to eat more, my belly is actually bigger than it should be! Therefore, the doctor wants another ultrasound at 34 weeks to check the growth. We're hoping it means baby comes a little earlier than September 13th rather than a massive baby right on time :o) But, the doctor seems on top of it all. So, I'm not worried about it at all. Instead, I'm super excited because we are ending up with an ultrasound the week of my birthday! So, we get to see the peanut one more time before it's birthday!

As far as pregnancy woes are concerned, it appears that the nausea has been kicking in worse and worse lately. Blah. I woke up in the middle of the night last night as sick as could be. I remember just freaking out thinking that the hyperemesis was back. But, luckily things haven't been that bad. Although, instead of gaining weight this appointment, I actually lost 2.5 pounds. We can go ahead and attribute that to nothing ever sounding yummy to eat. It all makes me nauseous. But, the doctor doesn't seem concerned at all, so I'm not. I am looking forward to the day when I love to eat again!! Man, I miss enjoying food! :o)

That's it for today! But, a special congratulations goes out to John's sister! She just delivered their fourth baby on July 5th. His name is Rivers Joseph and he looks super handsome in the pictures we've been able to see! We won't be able to meet him until Christmas :o( but we're glad he arrived safely into his new family! Welcome, Rivers!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Money and Debt and Things

Before John and I even got engaged, one of the topics we discussed was debt. John had very little debt, while I on the other hand did not have little debt. I remember crying the night I told him about the debt I was in, thinking he wouldn't want to get involved any further in our relationship. I look back at that now and laugh a little. At the time, John was super supportive and also believed I must have been a million dollars in debt by the way I was acting. When I actually told him the total and the things it was on, his response was, "Seriously? That's it? I was expecting way worse than that!" To which I sniffled and thought he must not have heard me correctly, haha.

I really did marry a great man. A guy that has listened to me complain several times over about how "I was forced into some of those situations, yet at the same time, I hold myself completely responsible," and on and on and on. Growing up and not until shortly before I started dating John, I didn't realize that being debt-free was an option. I mean, if you needed a car, you went to a car place, picked an average car, signed some papers, and then wrote a check every month to someone for the car. I mean, no person (barring celebrities) really walks into a dealership and completely purchases a car. Or, if you want to go to college, you have to get a student loan, because that's the only way to afford an education. I never really understood about savings accounts or ways to do things without some help from an interest based loan.

I am, by all means, not talking down at all to people that have student loans, car payments, or a credit card payment. Because, I definitely have all of the above and I don't have any desire to talk bad about my ownself on my own blog. If that were the case, I wouldn't publish this entry. Because, it's my own blog and I get to choose how good I want to make myself look :o) Anyways, I digress back to the whole debt really sucks thing...

When John and I got engaged, we decided our family would be one that does things debt-free (with a small loophole in there for potentially purchasing a house one day). For starters, our wedding was completely debt-free. All of the glory goes straight to Jesus on that one because there were so many ways He provided for that to happen. And, since we've gotten married (almost one year! in two weeks!), we have not created one ounce of new debt. That's another "all of the glory goes straight to Jesus" things because there have been times when parents or other family or friends have provided something big or small right when we needed it.

We have also, by the grace and help of the Lord, not missed a tithe since we've been married. This is huge for me personally, because the Lord struggled with me for years on this topic. It was an area I had a really tough time of surrender in. Oh, if only I had surrendered sooner, then the Lord would have been able to show off in my life so much sooner. There have been times when I have looked at our bills and thought, "If we don't tithe, or lessen our giving, we'll have more for {insert whatever here}," but with the Lord's help, those thoughts don't really exist anymore. God has blessed us huge by our obedience in this area.

Over this last year, it wasn't/hasn't been easy to live in a teeny, tiny one bedroom apartment. Or to not have cable. Or to not eat out whenever we want. Or to miss out on so many movies on the big screen. Or to not be able to get my nails done (there are some days when I feel like I would murder someone just to enjoy a pedicure, haha). Or to get trendy clothes. Or this or that....blah blah. One thing I've learned is that it's all just stuff. And, I would rather limit my material stuff now to be debt-free in the near future!

As the payoff on our debt is getting smaller, I am amazed at how much progress we've made despite all of the medical/dental stuff we've paid over this first year, moving into a new town, etc, etc. We still have a long way to go and I so wish we were already there! But, we are praying through some exciting options right now to springboard our debt-free movement even more. I don't want to say specifics just yet, because we are still seeking the Lord's will on it, but please pray for us if you don't mind! We want our sweet child to grow up in a debt-free home and we want the freedom of being debt-free so that we are able to do anything imaginable that the Lord may call us to in the future. It's amazing how much debt can confine you and limit your possibilities in work for the Lord. (Of course I believe that the Lord could completely deliver us from debt today if He so desired, but I also believe that our sin of allowing debt in our lives has consequences. And, one of those consequences is the limiting of our sphere of influence to impact the world for Christ) But, we are excited to see what God holds financially for this next year of our marriage!