29 Week Ultrasound Pics

Last Wednesday I went to have an ultrasound to check my placenta. We found out at 18 weeks that I have placenta previa. I have been on pelvic rest and not allowed to lift anything since. They did this ultrasound to see if the growth of the baby has caused the placenta to move out of the way. I still haven't heard any results. I am going to call tomorrow, if they can't tell me then I will find out at the doctor on Wednesday.

It was AMAZING to get to see Balen. We got to see a lot of good shots of his face. The tech would hold still on his face and we watched him blink quite a few times, stick his tongue out a couple times, and suck in fluid. It looked like his little mouth was talking. I loved getting to see him. Here are the three best pictures we got. This first one is of his little foot.

This is a creepy shot of his little face looking straight at us. His eyes didn't look like he had on sunglasses when we could see him blinking.

This is my favorite! I love precious little profile pictures. I can't wait to meet him and see what he really looks like. They did tell us that he weighed 2 lbs. 13 oz. He is probably already 3 lbs. by now.

Sweet Addie

Baby Addie is leaving on a jet plane tomorrow. It's so sad. We decided quite a few months ago that her hair is just too much. She sheds worse than any animal I have ever seen. My mom put her online and was contacted this weekend by a lady who wants to buy her. It is actually a neat story. She is going to live with a cancer patient who sort of has a wish list, or a "bucket list." She wants to breed Cavaliers. Her friend also raises Cavaliers and is the one who found Addie. If something happens to the owner this friend said she will take care of the dog. It does make me feel good that she is going somewhere to be loved but it is very hard to get rid of her. I cried and cried last night before we dropped her off at my moms. She is so sweet and has been my buddy through the lonely difficult times of infertility. She gave me something to focus my attention on and became my baby. (Ok- I can't cry, I'm still sitting in the doctors office!) I am really going to miss her running around the house and keeping us company. She was an awesome dog except for all that stupid hair! Addie you will be missed. Ok- I really have to quit. I'm crying. How embarrassing! :)

3 hour glucose test=NO FUN!

Here I sit. They gave me a TV remote, I have my laptop, and my cellphone. We are so spoiled with technology. It is crazy to think how the world has managed to survive without it. As many of you read, I did not pass my one hour glucose screening. I had to come this morning to take the three hour test. I got here at 8:00 and got to give them some of my precious blood. Then the fun part, downing the yummy orange glucose drink. The first hour was rough. I have had to fast since about 10:30 last night and all the sugar on my stomach has made me a little sick. I couldn't really look at the TV or computer so I just sat here and watched the time. Every hour they take my blood. Then I will finally be finished at 11:00. I am now between my first and second hour and starting to feel a little better.

I know this is some intense reading but I'm bored!! If you're bored just skip this post!

The good news is that I get to see my baby boy today. When I am finished here I have an ultrasound. 29 weeks tomorrow. I haven't got to see him since 18 weeks. We are looking forward to seeing how much he has changed. He is definitely getting stronger. This is the first week his kicks have started to hurt. I'll let you know if anything exciting happens in the next two hours! :)

Oh, at least this trip to the waiting room is better than the last. I sat there with this couple a little younger than me. They talked really loud the whole time and she sat there and picked his zits. I was about to gag. They would talk about it and then they would kiss and talk about each others bad breath. I wanted to get up and leave so bad. Talk about awkward!

Back to School, Back to School...

to show my dad I'm not a fool! (Name that movie!) Yes it's summertime and I'm heading up to the school today to attempt to get everything packed. For those of you out-of-towners, Blackwell built a new Elementary School that will open next year. All of the teachers are having to pack EVERY SINGLE THING up in their rooms so it can be moved across town over the summer. I won't be making the move (yes, I'm still very excited) but I do have to pack up everything in the room I was in so they can put it in storage. I have made a lot of progress but still have the loose ends to pull together. Hopefully I can get a lot done today.

I had a great weekend with the families. Josh and Holly showed up and we all got to spend some time together on Sunday. I hadn't seen them since Christmas. Time flies. Little Mia has grown and changed so much. :) We also got tons of jobs finished around the house. We completely finished trim downstairs, cleaned house, Granny textured Balen's ceiling and walls, we picked out all of the paint, Paige and Terrie helped get the painting started yesterday, I pulled weeds, and we planted some flowers last night. It is so exciting to see paint on the walls. I will post a picture when we make a little more progress.

God is amazing. In the evenings when I am outside watching the sun go down I can't help but get the chills thinking about how awesome he is. He loves us so much and I am so thankful I am in a place in my life where I notice all of the ways he shows us every day. I feel so sad for people who don't feel that closeness and security that he offers. There a peace in knowing that all of the stuff we do here and get caught up in really doesn't matter in the end. Yes it is fun and he allows us to use our gifts to bless others, but ultimate satisfaction and contentment comes from a relationship with him. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in him!

It's a great day to be alive!

There were many accomplishments around here today. I went to the grocery store and cleaned house most of the day. Granny (my mom) came and worked on texturing Balen's ceiling and walls. Almost ready to paint! Jared did ALL kinds of things outside with Paige and his dad. We were both ready for bed about 6:00, then he drug me outside to take pictures of him and Paige working some cows. I didn't want to go because of the ginormous gnats, but he brought in a concoction of equal parts alcohol, baby oil, and vanilla. It worked great. Not one gnat even dared to land on me the whole time I was out there. Here are some pics of what he enjoys more than anything.

Doctor Update

I have made it to 28 weeks!! This is the official beginning point of your third trimester. We have been busy busy. Tuesday night we started our child birth class. It went pretty good. She talks to us like it is all going to happen in two weeks. I think we still have a while. Then on Wednesday I went to the doctor for my glucose screening. All over the internet I read that the cutoff is 140. Well, not at my doctor! They moved it to 130 and I barely failed at 134. Now I have to go in next week for a three hour test to decide if I have gestational diabetes. Oh well. I'm not too worried about it. (I ate a really big lunch before I went and am hoping that had something to do with it.) The good news is that it really will be May 27th this time when I go. That means I get to actually have the ultrasound I showed up for a month ago! I can't wait to see him again and find out the results about my placenta previa. I am assuming this late in the game they will either tell me it has moved out of the way or that I have to have a c-section. Other than that I am feeling great and still enjoying all of this! Half a day of school left tomorrow!! Yippie!

Picture Time!

My mom wanted me to attempt taking pictures of Justin's three kids. I don't know how photographers get kids to all look the same way. I took tons (of bad ones!) Here are a few I did like. Karlie is the oldest, Talon, then Laine.

Baby Daddy!

What a cute daddy he will be! This is Jared watching TV. Exciting huh!? I just really liked this picture of him and always look forward to the weekends when he isn't stressed so much and smiles more!! He always laughs out loud at TV and Movies. I know his mom enjoys this. I have heard her say she likes to watch movies with him and his dad just to hear them laugh.

Roots and Wings

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold, The plans that heaven has for you will all too soon unfold.
So many different prayers I'll pray for all that you might do, but most of all I'll want to know you're walking in the truth.
And if I never told you I want you to know, as I watch you grow..

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams. And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things.
I'm here for you whatever this life brings so let my love give you roots and help you find your wings.

May passion be the wind that leads you through your days. And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way. May there be many moments that make your life so sweet.
Oh, but more than memories, I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings so let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings.

No More Popcorn!!

This weekend we said good bye to two LONG TIME friends of the Ponderosa, the glittery popcorn ceilings. For some odd reason it came off in sheets, which we were not expecting. This did make the job much easier though. Now we are going to texture and paint the ceilings.

As you can see here, Addie loves to be in the middle of all the work. She looked like she got snowed on!

Mother's Day

It is a great thing to no longer HATE Mother's Day! That sounds awful, but it was awful. My heart goes out to all of those women who are still longing to be pregnant. Jared and I were talking this morning about how we usually don't go to church on this day because it was just too painful. I feel so blessed this year! Praise Jesus for my little boy!!

I don't really have any prego pictures of me in normal clothes, so Jared took this of me yesterday before we headed out to Paigy's graduation from OSU. Awww..she's all grown up now! (Just don't ask her what her plans are!! :) jk Paige, I love you!) There is a belly there, it's kind of a bad angle!

The Fox Whisperer

This is Jared's latest pastime, keeping up with the baby fox pups. There are four that live across the road in the old grange hall. They are out playing all the time when we come home. Jared and Charles (the cat) have even taken scraps over to them. He was able to sneak up on this one to take some pictures without him figuring it out.

Blah Blah

Well, I have made it to 26 weeks!! It is flying by. Balen is just kicking away. I enjoy watching my stomach move around. He weighs approximately 2 lbs. and is about 14 inches long this week.

Only 10 days of school left. I think I am going to make it! :) My next mission is taking pictures pictures pictures! I love to do it and want to become better. When school is out there will be no more excuses! Here are a few pictures of my goofy kids at school.

School Baby Shower

Our principal and fellow second grade teachers threw Lindsay and I a baby shower. It was so exciting to see everyone and all of the cute little things Balen is going to use!

2nd grade teachers

Balen's cowboy cake

Mommas

Last night while I was taking a shower I was thinking about all of the neat mammas in my family. I have so many women to look up to who have sacrificed and given everything they have to their families. The most special thing about all of these women is how obvious it is that they are sold out for God. They all have such different ways of showing it, but it is comforting to know beyond a shadow of a doubt where they stand. My grandmas, mom, aunts, and sister in law are amazing. You never wonder what you are going to get, or worry that you will be let down by them. They stand firm in their beliefs at all costs. I admire that these women haven't sacrificed their families or integrity to please society. They possess many of the qualities I hope to obtain as a mother.

Grandma, Mom, all of my aunts, and Holly,

Thank you for being the example you have been. Thank you for times when you are up at night, praying protection over all of us. Thank you for the times when you sit back and patiently watch us screw up. Thank you for the times when you get in our faces and lay it on the line. Thank you for the times you have persevered when you want to give up. You all truly are a picture of the Proverbs 31 woman. "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

As Mother's Day approaches I want you all to know what a blessing you are to your families. I am so excited God is allowing me to join the ranks and live this crazy life of motherhood with you. I love you all. Happy Mother's Day!