bits 'n pieces

Checkin' In

I don't have much to post about, but I thought that I would just check in with everyone.  This pregnancy "thing" is really getting the best of me.  I have been nauseous pretty much all day (with relief only coming when I sleep) for the last few days.  Monday I was so sick that I was glad to be home that day, but my poor girls didn't have much of a mom that day.  I think I felt worse for them than I did for myself - and I felt terrible for myself.  Today seems to be looking a little better, but I think that I am going to call the Nurse at my Dr's office and get a prescription.  I feel like such a wimp - like who doesn't know or expect that when you get pregnant you are more than likely going to be sick.  My head is telling me to "suck it up" and "deal with it."  Last night when we were at the local county fair, I mentioned that I would feel like such a wimp if I had to get a prescription for the nauseousness.  My husband immediately chimed in and said . . . "if it will make you feel better, why wouldn't you take it?"  DUH!  Another friend said that if a prescription will make you feel better, why wouldn't you take it?  Very good points.  So, that is prompting me to make the call today and see what I can get to help the sickies go away.  I think that the worst part about feeling sick is the lack of motivation to do ANYTHING!  For example, Monday is my normal day to take care of the house.  I usually do some laundry, clean bathrooms, vacuum, load the dish washer, and other little things that require my attention.  Of course with feeling miserable on Monday, I didn't get much of anything done.  I did get my vacuuming done (a quick job) and I started a load of laundry.  After that, I didn't get anything done.  My DH did some laundry for me last night after we got home because he noticed that the girls had no clean PJ's to wear.  How horrible is that?  I am not the neatest or cleanest person on the planet (never really cared that much about things being REALLY clean or germ free), but I at least try to have plenty of clean clothes to wear, clean dishes to eat off from, and semi-clean bathrooms so that we aren't living in a pig pen.   Not being able to take care of these things makes me feel worse about myself.  My husband will admit that I do at least 80% of the housework and taking care of the kids so you would think that I would actually like the excuse of not being able to do those things.  But I don't.  I feel guilty for not doing them.  I am an "in control" type of person and I don't like to be down or not be able to do the things that I normally do.  So, I guess if I can find a prescription that will make me feel more normal so that I don't feel so bad about myself, then it would be worth feeling like a wimp for taking it.  I really don't want my DH or kiddos to resent the fact that I am pregnant.  And right now it is hard enough for me not to resent that, so I am sure that they share those same feelings when their wife/mom feels that way.  Well, enough about that, I am resolving to take care of the sickies issue TODAY!

On a similar note, I had a little consultation with the nurse at the Dr's office on Friday and that went pretty well.  I got a nice bag of goodies - a book, magazines, hospital refresher stuff, other little things.  I also had to set up my appointments.  The first one is this coming Monday, July 30th for my ultrasound to find out how far along I am.  I'm excited about that one - it'll just be good to KNOW how far along I am instead of guessing.  Then, I have to get my blood work done.  I can do that any time before my 12 week appointment.  I am glad that I sat down with the nurse, because we could talk thru the special blood work that I need to have done.  Hopefully we can eliminate extra blood tests.  Not that I particularly mind them, but extra appointments are a pain to fit into my already busy schedule with work and kids.  Then I set up my 12 week appointment in August and also an appointment with the specialist in September.  I wanted to see the specialist earlier, but he was already full for his August visit to Holland.  He'll be able to look at my chart when he is in town in August and then if he wants to see me earlier, I will have to go to his office in GR.  Anyway, I am already dreading the craziness of doctors appointments.  I am praying really hard that the baby inside me has my blood so that I won't have to do all the amnio/specialist appointments.  I am prepared to go thru it all over again, so it's not a big deal if I have to, it would just be really nice not to have to do that again.  Alright, I better get back to working.  I will for sure check in with all of you on Monday after the ultrasound.  I am hoping to put a little tracker thing at the top of my blog with my due date after we find out what it is.  If my prescription works and I start to feel better, I will try to post this weekend with some pics from the fair and the Off-Road Derby.  Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for hangin' in there with my little gripe session and pregnancy update.  :)      

Mythbusters

I'm going to get to the title of my post in just a minute, but before we go too deep, I just wanted to update you on how I'm feeling.  It is pretty much touch and go.  I feel good one minute and then miserable the next.  I never know how to answer people when they ask how I am feeling because I may feel good or bad at that exact moment but give me 15 minutes and I'll be different.  I am tired pretty much all the time, but that is another normal pregnancy thing.  I'm still eating green apples, saltines, pretzels and drinking water w/lemons.  Not sure they are really helping, but at least I am able to eat and keep food down.  :)  I just have to keep reminding myself that if I weren't sick, I wouldn't KNOW that I was pregnant.  Sickness is usually a good sign - my body is busy forming a new life.  That is so awesome when you really  reflect on this incredible miracle.  God is so awesome!  YEAH GOD!  I have my little meeting today at 2:30 so I will probably be scheduling an ultrasound and a meeting with the specialist.  I can't remember when all the normal tests have to be done, but I am sure those will be coming up soon too - yuck!

Now, back to my main reason for posting.  We are doing this sermon series at church kinda based on the show Mythbusters.  I haven't watched the show much, but the few episodes I have seen are pretty cool.  Anyway, our series at church is focusing on some common myths we as Christians believe.  Some are not so detrimental to our faith, but others can have huge impacts on how we live our lives.  The first sermon was about Heaven and what some of our myths about Heaven are, you can check out the message at here, it's the Mythbusters Part 1 sermon.  The one point I wanted to share with you here is one that really struck home with me.  It has huge implications on how we choose to live our lives.  It goes like this:  "What you do on this earth determines whether you go to Heaven or not.  But once you get there it is the same for everyone."  At first when I heard this I wasn't sure I was going to agree with the pastor that this statement was a myth.  But as he spoke about it and I listened more carefully, I realized that it really was a myth and if we believe this statement it will impact HOW we live our life.  If we believe that WHAT WE DO on this earth will determine whether or not we will go to Heaven, then we are saying that we can "work" our way in to Heaven.  The truth is that there is NOTHING that we can do on this earth that will get us into Heaven.  Jesus Christ's sacrifice is the only way we can get into Heaven - God's grace is a free gift and all we have to do is accept it!  WOW - what a great reminder that we are not saved by the good deeds that we do.  Praise God for that, because I am sure that my bad would outweigh the good - I will never be perfect or good enough to earn my salvation.  The second part of that statement is a little more difficult for me to grasp because it doesn't seem to be as straightforward.  The myth is that once we get to Heaven, we will all experience it the same.  This too has great impact on how we live our lives.  One of the verses the pastor used to bust this myth was 2 Cor. 5:10 which reads,  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."  You can read this in context at BibleGateway.com.  This passage is talking about ALL people.  We are all going to have to be held accountable for the good and bad that we have done while here on earth.  It doesn't say that whether or not we get into Heaven will be determined by the things we have done, but our reward in Heaven will be based on the things we have done.  Now, I have no idea what that will look like.  I can't even begin to imagine how we might all experience Heaven differently.  I know it will be great no matter what, but what if it could be better if we try to walk more closely to God while we are here on earth.  What if our experience in Heaven could be better if we gave more generously, lived more purely, forgave more easily?  It is true that we get a "free pass" into Heaven by simply accepting God's free gift of salvation, but if there are different "levels", so to speak, wouldn't we want to walk more closely to God so that we might be even closer to Him in Heaven?  I don't know, this is a huge concept and there are so many things that are far beyond our comprehension.  I guess for me, it made me realize that doing good things are not so that I can "earn" my way into Heaven, but rather so that I might enjoy life here on earth more and so that I can have the greatest experience possible in Heaven.  Is it good enough to just "make it into Heaven"?  Or do we want something more?  What do you think about this concept?  Maybe you have some insights from sermons or scripture that helped you better understand Heaven and what it will be like.  Just some thought provoking stuff before the weekend.  :)

Again, hopefully I can come up with some pics to post for my next post.  Based on my current status, my next post may not come until after I have an ultrasound and then I can give you a cool ultrasound pic.  I'll have to check with my little sis MandaKay to find out how she does that.  Have a great weekend and I am looking forward to your responses.  And if they are long ones, you may gladly send me an e-mail if you want. 

Ahhhh, Much Better

First of all, thanks for all the great tips for dealing with the "all day sickness", otherwise known as "morning sickness."  I think I have tried all your tips and they seem to help a little.  But the biggest relief was switching the time when I took my pre-natal vitamin.  I have never had a problem with pre-natal vitamins before, but for some reason the new prescription I was taking was causing all the horrible problems.  I started taking them in the morning and now I take them before I go to bed (along with my unisom which counters the nauseousness effect of the pre-natal vitamin).  It hasn't solved all my problems, but it has made the sickness part a whole lot less miserable.  I still need to eat small meals, bland food or the tart stuff, to further deter the sick feeling.  But I am feeling like I can actually make it thru this part of the pregnancy now.  Woo Hoo!  Thank you all so much!

I did make that grocery store run for all the goodies and the lady who bagged my groceries did give me a really big smile.  I'm sure it was quite obvious when I basically just bought the following items:  green apples, lemons, saltine crackers, pretzels (two kinds), 7-Up, Unisom (my sleeping pill to help with the nauseousness), and just a couple other staples.  I was feeling so sick on Thursday and Friday last week that I didn't care what ANYBODY thought about me.  I just wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep.  And if it weren't for the two little girls that I already have, I am sure that I would have. 

Friday night we went out to the boat and had pizza out there with some friends.  And after pizza, we went out to the boat and for the first time this season we took a little cruise on Lake Macatawa.  It was so nice - I had missed taking the boat out and just doing a little tour of the Lake to look at all the beautiful cottages and homes.  Not so fun with the girls because they have absolutely NO sit in them, but they really enjoyed it too.  Kylie kept saying that it was her "favorite boat ride".  The last time she went for a ride on the boat was 2 summers ago (she was 1) and I am sure she couldn't remember those boat trips.  So, it was a beautiful night and we all had a great time. 

On Saturday, I switched my pre-natal vitamin to the evening so my day was alright on Saturday.  We didn't do much during the day because it was kinda rainy and dreary.  At night we went to one of our favorite places to eat, Byron Center Chicken.  I am sure that is not the name of it (I think it is Byron Center Hotel), but all they sell on Saturday nights is incredibly awesome Chicken dinners.  We don't go very often, but it is the best chicken dinner I have ever had.  And of course there is the famous Byron Center Chicken that stands about 6 feet tall on top of a concrete box about 3 feet tall.  After dinner we went to the Hudsonville Fairgrounds to watch the Off-Road Derby because we knew a few people racing in it.  Dan is only planning on racing in the Off-Road Shoot-Out at the Ottawa County Fair in Holland on Thursday & Saturday of next week.   His car still isn't done so he'll be busy working on that for the next week. 

Sunday was a gorgeous day so we went out to the boat to have lunch, go swimming, and the girls even took a nap on the boat in the afternoon.  It was so nice and relaxing that I took a little nap too.  I had almost forgotten how peaceful it is out on the water.  That is why I am so glad that we have our boat.  Money can be tight because we own it, but in the end it is so worth it to us.  We are going to have so many great memories to cherish (some good and some not so good).  :) 

So, there is my weekend recap.  I spent most of the day on Monday cleaning the house and playing with the girls.  Even though my horrible sickies are gone, I still have very little energy.  My body is using it all to keep my baby growing strong and healthy.  :)   

Sorry I don't have any pics or LO's, but I just haven't had the gumption to even think about pictures or LO's.  I will try to at least get some pics this week so you can see the girls again.  I realize that most people no longer care so much about me and Dan, but they care far more about the girls.  :)

Have a great week!

Ughhhh

I just wanted to enter a quick post to remind myself why this is most definitely the last child I want to have.  I plan to take care of that after this one - I realize that God can perform miracles, but I truly hope that he doesn't want to perform that type of miracle for me after this child is born.  I am just feeling sick, just plain yucky.  Not throwing up, but just blah.  I feel like at any given moment I could throw up, but my body doesn't work that way.  Anyway, I wanted to post this as a reminder to myself why I really want this to be the last child I carry in my womb for 9 months.  I am also open to any tips you may have for curbing that nauseous feeling.  I have always wondered if those bracelet things work (the ones for motion sickness).  If anyone knows about any good remedies, please let me know. You would think that by the 3rd child I would know all the tips & tricks, but I think I am becoming more of a wimp with this one.  I suffered thru the sickness with the last two and I would rather not suffer thru it if I don't have to.  So, as I said before, any ideas would be much appreciated. 

I wish I had a brighter note for this post, but right now I just don't.  I don't have the energy or the desire to think about anything too deep.  I have some deep thoughts floating in my brain, but I just don't have the energy to type them in this post.  Maybe when I feel better I will post something more. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  Here in MI the weather couldn't be better mid 70's, sunny, nice breeze, no humidity.  Hey look at that, I did come up with a brighter side!  :)

BIG News!

I've been waiting until the time is right to post about my big news.

Well, there's no time like the present. . .   

I'M PREGNANT!!!!

This picture is horrible, but I just couldn't figure out how to get my camera to work.  I tried about 20 times and I just got sick of trying and figured that this is good enough.  I am sure that it gets the point across. 

It wasn't really planned, but I guess this is just a little reminder about who's in control.  As much as I want it to be in control, God is always in control.  I wish I had more info, but that is part of the surprise of it all.  I have no idea how far along I am.  If I had to guess, I would say that I am between 6 & 8 weeks.  I started feeling pregnant a little over a week ago and when I got pregnant with Kennedy I started feeling pregnant around 6 weeks.  I won't have an appointment for a couple weeks and then I am sure that I will schedule an ultrasound to find out how far along I am. 

So, I am a LOT nervous about the whole thing.  I wonder if it will be the same as my pregnancy with Kennedy.  I wonder how we are going to make everything work out financially.  How are we going to work out the sleeping arrangements?  I know that I am getting way ahead of myself, but that is the way my mind works.  I tend to worry and wonder how I am going to make it all work out.  I need to have a game plan.  But I keep reminding myself that God knows the plans he has for me and they are to prosper me, not harm me (do ya think that if I keep repeating that, I might actually believe it whole-heartedly?). 

Anyway, I just wanted to check in and share the good news!  I promise to keep you posted and I would greatly appreciate your prayers for me and our new miracle.   

Summer LO

I just finished a LO that I did ALL ON MY OWN!  I can't believe it.  I started from scratch and just went with my gut on most of it.  I am not completely happy with it, there are probably some changes that could and should be made.  But the project actually started out of my desire to do a quick simple page to post some recent pics here.  The whole cluster frames thing seemed to be the best way to accomplish this task (thanks Nancy!).  Besides, the pics that I have explain our summer so far, but they didn't turn out that great so it's better to have a bunch of smaller images rather than a few larger images on a page.  Anyway, it seems a little busy to me, but I wasn't sure how to fix that.  I like the little writings by the pics, but are they too much?  I'm open to helpful tips since I am very new to this whole digi scrappin' thing.

I did just realize that I forgot to put the date on it (or at least the year), so I guess I will have to find space for that somewhere.  Any other ideas you have, send 'em my way!

I have lots more to post about, but this already took up way too much of my time and I have to get ready for some friends to come over for dinner.  Gonna do more grillin' out. 

I hope you all are having a great weekend and I will probably post again tomorrow.  Have a great evening and try to stay cool (it's smokin' hot & humid here along the lakeshore of Michigan).  :(

Holiday Fun

I know that I said I was going to post on the 4th of July because I would have time to do so.  However, time just got away from me.  I spent a good portion of the time on the internet having a great conversation with my sister Shawn thru the program Hello.  That program is VERY cool.  It is a great way to talk real time and even show eachother exactly what you are looking at on your computer.  It's because of Hello that I have been able to complete a couple layouts already.  I can show Shawn what I have done so far and she can help me figure out the rest.  Anyway, I am learning about some really cool programs from my big sis.

I am still working on my BIG post, but I haven't finished it yet.  So, I just want to stop in and say Hi to all those who check out my blog.  But, now that you are here, you are probably wishin' that you didn't waste your time stopping by.  lol  :)

I hope that you all had a great 4th of July.  Tuesday night we did a family celebration with my family.  We made Tonka Toasters for dinner and then had an incredible fireworks show.  Dan just loves to do fireworks (maybe is the firefighter/pyro maniac in him).  I swear they were just as good as the commercial fireworks, just not as many of them.  When you buy really great fireworks, $300 doesn't go very far.  And that is a lot of money to throw away in one night.  But the girls LOVE the fireworks and it is better to do it at a private location and not have to fight the crowds/traffic.  Wednesday, we had a very laid back and fun day.  We went to Cold Stone Creamery and then to visit with our friend, Joel, at Holland City Fire Department.  Kylie loves to go check out the firetrucks and the fire station, no to mention that she also loves to see her "uncle" Joel, too.  We had great ice cream from Cold Stone, but we were hoping that the staff would be as fun as they were the last time we were there.  I think that Dan really wanted to take the girls there because last time the staff was a blast.  They sang several fun songs and they were just great.  Yesterday the staff was not nearly as energetic and fun.  After naps, we went to another friends house and grilled out and did more fireworks.   The Lawrence's live quite close by and they have two daughters just like us.  Their oldest is a year older than Kylie and their youngest is just a month younger than Kennedy.  I wish I had my camera with me because the 4 girls are soooo cute and they play so well together.  Oh well, they are memories in my mind.  :)

Well, I hope you all had a great 4th of July.  God Bless the troops that are serving all over the World and their families that miss them terribly.  I am so greatful for the men & women who are willing to give up so much so that we can have so many wonderful freedoms.  America is a nation that has been truly blessed by God. 

I am not going to promise to post any time soon, but I am hopeful that I will be able to post something this weekend.  The weekend is looking as if it is going to be GORGEOUS so I am sure we will be out at the boat (but the kiddos need to take naps sometime, right?) 

Until next time...

LO #2

I surprise myself with doing a second layout.  In fact, after the 1st one I just didn't even know where to begin. I have so many pics that are just waiting to be placed lovingly on some really cool papers and dressed up with some really cool embellishments (how d'ya like my scrappin' lingo?).  ;)   This one isn't finished yet - I need to do some journaling and dating.  But, I figured I better just do one quickly otherwise I will never do it.  Sometimes I just need to give myself a little pep talk to keep me going.  I needed Shawn's help on this one again.  The problem with waiting so long to do another LO is that I had forgotten some of the little steps that I needed to take.  It's a good thing that she is home and online most evenings because if she wasn't online I would have given up out of frustration.  Thanks Shawny for rescuing me!  So, without further ado. . .

I have lots more to post about, but I don't have any time today.  I have so much work to cram into an 8 hr day that it isn't even funny.  It's supposed to rain on Weds, the 4th of July, so maybe I will be inside looking for something to do while the girls nap in the afternoon.  I've had lots of things on my mind the last few days that I have wanted to post about, but I just haven't had the time.  We had a very busy and crazy weekend!  I'll tell you more about that later.  Have a great Tuesday and I am sure that I will be back to post on the 4th.