Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Halloween Hoopla
What a whirlwind few days we've had!! Between moving, three doctor appointments in one week, Halloween, and many family birthdays, we have definitely been busy!
Friday, while your Daddy was still in between the old and new house, moving things, I had another appointment with the high risk doctor. I was anxious to go, to see if the contractions were having any impact on my cervix, and anticipating with certainty that I would be needing surgery (my measurements had been dropping consistently for three weeks now and I was just 1 millimeter away from needing surgery). As she began the ultrasound, I was shocked and simply baffled by the numbers I saw on the screen...my cervix was back to measuring 3.15 cm!! I had read this was a possibility, but still could not believe that this was true. Sure enough though, God has completely intervened and I am back into what they consider a more safe territory. It was such great news!
Knowing I still had to take it easier than I'm used to, due to the contractions, I still wanted to make the Halloween weekend special for you boys. While Daddy continued working hard to get us moved, we began our Saturday morning with breakfast and cupcake baking (you are champs at making the batter...putting the sprinkles on was a little more challenging! You just wanted to eat them and the icing!).
After more unpacking and attempting to get settled, it was off to General Butler for our annual trick-or-treat at the camp ground with family. You boys sure love your cousins and have a blast running around, playing, and trying to keep up with them. You were very excited to be Rocky and Zuma again to trick-or-treat. Daddy was sure to keep me off my feet though, so I stayed behind to help pass out candy, while you boys hit the camp ground for some candy!
Monday was Daddy's first day back to work after having a week off...and my first day alone with you two since contractions started a week earlier. Not to mention it was Halloween too. So, I had to try and take it easy, while keeping up with you boys in a new house, and still wanting to make Halloween special. Our day started out fabulous -- pumpkin shaped cinnamon rolls, lots of playing in your playroom while I finished unpacking / cleaning the kitchen, and then pumpkin shaped quesadillas for lunch. As wonderful as our morning was, that's how challenging our afternoon was! It took over an hour of fighting naptime to get you down and once down, you slept less than an hour. The two little boys that woke up from that nap, were not the same little boys I'm used to! You were both overly feisty with each other and flat-out defiant with me, doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing. Thank goodness Daddy has switched back to winter hours and was home an hour earlier than usual because we needed the extra help!
Once he got home though, it was off to say a quick, "Trick-or-treat," at Zsu Zsu and Paka's house and then off to Nan's house to celebrate her birthday and more trick-or-treating with your cousins.
It was a full, fun, exhausting weekend. We are thankful for such positive reports from both doctors and continue to pray and trust that God is going to continue protecting you, Baby Peanut. We are thankful for all of the help and time spent with family this weekend. But for now, I think I need another nap!
Friday, while your Daddy was still in between the old and new house, moving things, I had another appointment with the high risk doctor. I was anxious to go, to see if the contractions were having any impact on my cervix, and anticipating with certainty that I would be needing surgery (my measurements had been dropping consistently for three weeks now and I was just 1 millimeter away from needing surgery). As she began the ultrasound, I was shocked and simply baffled by the numbers I saw on the screen...my cervix was back to measuring 3.15 cm!! I had read this was a possibility, but still could not believe that this was true. Sure enough though, God has completely intervened and I am back into what they consider a more safe territory. It was such great news!
Knowing I still had to take it easier than I'm used to, due to the contractions, I still wanted to make the Halloween weekend special for you boys. While Daddy continued working hard to get us moved, we began our Saturday morning with breakfast and cupcake baking (you are champs at making the batter...putting the sprinkles on was a little more challenging! You just wanted to eat them and the icing!).
Monday was Daddy's first day back to work after having a week off...and my first day alone with you two since contractions started a week earlier. Not to mention it was Halloween too. So, I had to try and take it easy, while keeping up with you boys in a new house, and still wanting to make Halloween special. Our day started out fabulous -- pumpkin shaped cinnamon rolls, lots of playing in your playroom while I finished unpacking / cleaning the kitchen, and then pumpkin shaped quesadillas for lunch. As wonderful as our morning was, that's how challenging our afternoon was! It took over an hour of fighting naptime to get you down and once down, you slept less than an hour. The two little boys that woke up from that nap, were not the same little boys I'm used to! You were both overly feisty with each other and flat-out defiant with me, doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing. Thank goodness Daddy has switched back to winter hours and was home an hour earlier than usual because we needed the extra help!
Once he got home though, it was off to say a quick, "Trick-or-treat," at Zsu Zsu and Paka's house and then off to Nan's house to celebrate her birthday and more trick-or-treating with your cousins.
Friday, October 28, 2016
A Love Letter to Your Daddy
Ephesians 5:22-33 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh: but nourish and cherish it, even as the Lord the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."
You often hear some of these verses at weddings or maybe even in men boosting, "Wives submit yourselves unto your husband." But what a tall order our husbands face! Yes, women are to submit themselves, but what type of husband are we to submit ourselves to? Husbands are to love us as themselves. Sounds simple enough, but what a truly difficult task! When your husband loves you as themselves, then the wife can easily submit to her husband because a true, genuine, loving partnership has been formed. How easy it is to then become one flesh when you are that connected.
I often hear people say, "Marriage is hard. You have to really work at it." And I don't disagree with that. Marriage can be difficult. Your daddy and I have definitely had our fair share of ups and downs. But when you put each other's needs first, it becomes so much easier.
I did not learn this this week, but it was definitely magnified to me as I watched your father working so hard for our family. I watched as he moved our entire house without any complaint - except when he felt I wasn't resting or drinking enough water. I watched as he sacrificed his physical body without complaint and continued to push on. I watched the concern and worry etched on his face as he watched me rub my belly, probably wondering if I was having a contraction. I watched as he continued to work ridiculously long hours, all while telling me to sit, rest, and not overdo it. I watched as he stopped to take care of you boys in the midst of all he was trying to accomplish, so that I could continue to lay low. I saw a man that truly loved his family as himself, putting our needs above his own.
My precious little ones, your father is such an example of never ending, selfless giving. He works hard for all he cares about, putting his needs last (evidenced by all the friends and family that came to return your Daddy's good deeds, by helping him move an entire house alone). He loves us all unconditionally and more than we will ever know. And by loving us, he makes it easy for us to keep him as the head of our household. What a beautiful and strong leader he is for our family.
I know without a doubt in my mind, that this man, your daddy, was put on this earth to love me and to be my husband. There is not a man out there more perfectly made for me than your daddy. I have prayed for you boys since before you were born (and have now included you into those prayers as well, Baby Peanut) that God already has your perfect partner in mind. I pray boys, you are able to love your wives as yourself, just as your father has done for me. I pray you have a marriage that is unified and pure. Baby Peanut, I pray for a man that will love you as himself, making it easy for you to submit yourself to him and your marriage. I pray that all three of you find the joy and love that I have found in your daddy.
One of my most favorite songs says, "Oh I wonder what God was thinking when he created you. I wonder if He knew everything I would need because he made all my dreams come true. When God made you, He must have been thinking about me." I know God made us for each other and I am so thankful for this life He has allowed for us to create together.
You often hear some of these verses at weddings or maybe even in men boosting, "Wives submit yourselves unto your husband." But what a tall order our husbands face! Yes, women are to submit themselves, but what type of husband are we to submit ourselves to? Husbands are to love us as themselves. Sounds simple enough, but what a truly difficult task! When your husband loves you as themselves, then the wife can easily submit to her husband because a true, genuine, loving partnership has been formed. How easy it is to then become one flesh when you are that connected.
I often hear people say, "Marriage is hard. You have to really work at it." And I don't disagree with that. Marriage can be difficult. Your daddy and I have definitely had our fair share of ups and downs. But when you put each other's needs first, it becomes so much easier.
I did not learn this this week, but it was definitely magnified to me as I watched your father working so hard for our family. I watched as he moved our entire house without any complaint - except when he felt I wasn't resting or drinking enough water. I watched as he sacrificed his physical body without complaint and continued to push on. I watched the concern and worry etched on his face as he watched me rub my belly, probably wondering if I was having a contraction. I watched as he continued to work ridiculously long hours, all while telling me to sit, rest, and not overdo it. I watched as he stopped to take care of you boys in the midst of all he was trying to accomplish, so that I could continue to lay low. I saw a man that truly loved his family as himself, putting our needs above his own.
My precious little ones, your father is such an example of never ending, selfless giving. He works hard for all he cares about, putting his needs last (evidenced by all the friends and family that came to return your Daddy's good deeds, by helping him move an entire house alone). He loves us all unconditionally and more than we will ever know. And by loving us, he makes it easy for us to keep him as the head of our household. What a beautiful and strong leader he is for our family.
I know without a doubt in my mind, that this man, your daddy, was put on this earth to love me and to be my husband. There is not a man out there more perfectly made for me than your daddy. I have prayed for you boys since before you were born (and have now included you into those prayers as well, Baby Peanut) that God already has your perfect partner in mind. I pray boys, you are able to love your wives as yourself, just as your father has done for me. I pray you have a marriage that is unified and pure. Baby Peanut, I pray for a man that will love you as himself, making it easy for you to submit yourself to him and your marriage. I pray that all three of you find the joy and love that I have found in your daddy.
One of my most favorite songs says, "Oh I wonder what God was thinking when he created you. I wonder if He knew everything I would need because he made all my dreams come true. When God made you, He must have been thinking about me." I know God made us for each other and I am so thankful for this life He has allowed for us to create together.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Fall Break pt 1
What a roller coaster of emotions we've been on the last five days or so! Fall break began on Friday with my weekly trip to the high risk doctor. We were disappointed to find measurements continue to decrease and were now at 2.6 cm (down from 2.8 / 2.9 the week before). For now though, it's still just a waiting game - lower than 2.5 and we will move forward with surgery - and we will take more measurements next Friday.
After our appointment, fall break could officially began. After quite a busy week at work for both Mommy and Daddy, we were so excited for the break. Daddy took the week off too since this was finally...MOVING WEEK! Tuesday we would be closing on our old house (selling it to Tse Tse and Uncle Aaron!) and then close / begin moving on our new house on Wednesday. It has seemed like a long time coming, but what more of a perfect week for this all to fall on, but fall break when we were already off of work!
However, Monday, we faced an unanticipated speed bump...contractions had begun. Monday, I was beyond devastated and discouraged. All along, I have proclaimed that this was going to be our "normal pregnancy." This was such a miracle, I just felt like it was meant to be. How could I be contracting already?! I immediately put myself on a day of rest and hydration, not wanting to push my limits. However, the contractions continued and I felt like we were doomed. We'd been down this road before and I knew what contractions meant, but I wasn't ready to face that reality.
I was able to keep my contractions a secret for most of the day...until Daddy made a secret phone call to Paka, filling him in and asking him to come anoint me. He and Zsu Zsu were immediately over. Contractions had been pretty frequent all day long, but after he said "Amen," they stopped and stayed away until the middle of the night.
After a day of contractions (and postponing the unavoidable), I knew I needed to touch base with my doctor and get her opinion. I was preparing myself for the worst and trying to wrap my mind around how we would handle bedrest with two toddlers, as well as moving houses! First, it was back on the much too familiar machine to monitor contractions. And just like with you boys, they spent most of the time chasing your heartbeat, Baby Peanut. Unfortunately, the only contraction had during the monitoring was when they had the monitor off and were chasing your heartbeat (the nurse could feel it too and did mark it for the doctor to note).
When they finished monitoring, I was able to meet with my doctor. I had been told I'd be seeing her nurse practitioner today, so I was so thankful to meet with my actual doctor since she knows my history so well. Again, I was anticipating the worst, but today went so much better than I thought! Yes, I'm contracting and it is still very early on in our pregnancy, which is not ideal, but she was very positive and hopeful. Thankfully, the exam checked out well and she gave us some encouraging news. She also let me know that whenever the contractions pick up, to call and she will get me seen as soon as possible. "If I need to see you twice a week, I am happy to see you twice a week from here on out. We need to take this seriously and do all we can."
I was so thankful to hear we weren't jumping right to bedrest. I was thankful to hear this pregnancy could still continue on as "normally" as possible. So, for now, I cut back a bit. I take it easy and don't push myself. My top priorities are keeping you healthy, Baby Peanut, and keeping myself strong and healthy so I can be here for all three of my babies! And through it all, we will know everything else will work itself out...we are surrounded by such an army of support with our friends and family, and know they will help us get you to March too, Baby Peanut!
However, Monday, we faced an unanticipated speed bump...contractions had begun. Monday, I was beyond devastated and discouraged. All along, I have proclaimed that this was going to be our "normal pregnancy." This was such a miracle, I just felt like it was meant to be. How could I be contracting already?! I immediately put myself on a day of rest and hydration, not wanting to push my limits. However, the contractions continued and I felt like we were doomed. We'd been down this road before and I knew what contractions meant, but I wasn't ready to face that reality.
After a day of contractions (and postponing the unavoidable), I knew I needed to touch base with my doctor and get her opinion. I was preparing myself for the worst and trying to wrap my mind around how we would handle bedrest with two toddlers, as well as moving houses! First, it was back on the much too familiar machine to monitor contractions. And just like with you boys, they spent most of the time chasing your heartbeat, Baby Peanut. Unfortunately, the only contraction had during the monitoring was when they had the monitor off and were chasing your heartbeat (the nurse could feel it too and did mark it for the doctor to note).
I was so thankful to hear we weren't jumping right to bedrest. I was thankful to hear this pregnancy could still continue on as "normally" as possible. So, for now, I cut back a bit. I take it easy and don't push myself. My top priorities are keeping you healthy, Baby Peanut, and keeping myself strong and healthy so I can be here for all three of my babies! And through it all, we will know everything else will work itself out...we are surrounded by such an army of support with our friends and family, and know they will help us get you to March too, Baby Peanut!
Thursday, October 20, 2016
First Field Trip
After Friday's somewhat overwhelming appointment, we had a very encouraging follow-up appointment on Tuesday. Our doctor is still very hopefully that my measurements are not anything to be too panicked about. Yet f they continue to change, we still have the cerclage as an option. So, we just continue to pray those preterm labor contractions to stay far away and pray for similar measurements tomorrow.
I've been trying to take it pretty easy since Friday's appointment, but the positive news on Tuesday meant we could go celebrate with your all's first field trip today - it was off to the pumpkin patch! While it was supposed to rain all day, we somehow managed to squeeze in a dry hour of hayrides, pumpkin picking, and playground fun.
I've been trying to take it pretty easy since Friday's appointment, but the positive news on Tuesday meant we could go celebrate with your all's first field trip today - it was off to the pumpkin patch! While it was supposed to rain all day, we somehow managed to squeeze in a dry hour of hayrides, pumpkin picking, and playground fun.
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