Thursday, October 28, 2010

28 Weeks

How can the weeks go by so fast...yet still seem to drag??? Mackenzie is pretty much just "packing on the pounds" from here on out.  I was too lazy to take a picture this week because I am currently in sweatpants and a tank top... so not photo worthy ha!  Joseph and I are hoping to get started on Mackenzie's room in the next few days.  It's currently a room full of stuff that desperately needs to be cleaned out.  We have the crib, changing table and dresser, but no room to put them up!  

In other news...I haven't heard back from the doctor's office about my thyroid test and glucose screen.  As they say "no news is good news!"  I was so nervous about my glucose test, but praise God they have not called me.  

Maggie

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pumpkin Pickin'

On Sunday we went to the pumpkin farm.  Our original plan was to go to Burts, but traffic was crazy so we decided to go to Uncle Shucks or is it Chucks?....hmmm....can't remember!  Anyways the kids had a really good time and aside from the crazy hot weather I think the adults did too.  Beth and I dressed our kids for a nice fall day and instead it was in the low 90's and it was HOT.  The kids loved the mini pumpkins and spent most of the time playing with them.  It was funny to see all of the families setting their kids up next to the pumpkins and trying to get the perfect fall picture.  Needless to say I don't think I got the perfect fall picture, but I think the ones I did get were pretty good.




I thought this one was funny because not one of them were looking at Beth and I





Ring Pops courtesy of daddy/Uncle Jojo





This is what we left with...
two mini pumpkins ... $1  
Ring Pops ... $10
Sprite ... $10
Some fun time with the family ... Priceless!

I told Josiah we could get a bigger pumpkin at Kroger or Food Lion ... they have them on sale for $3.99 haha!


Apples of Gold, Week One: Kindness

Monday was the first day of our six week women's bible study.  I am so excited to spend the next five weeks with all these wonderful ladies.  Apples of Gold is based on the principles taught in Titus 2:3-5 which teach six ways to enhance our spiritual and personal lives, the lives of our family, and the lives of those around us.  The older women nurture the younger women in the Word of God and encourage us to obey that Word.

This week Janice taught us how to make chicken pie, salad, English peas, peach cobbler, and her bread.  I can't wait to try to make her bread.  I just have to feed my starter started first :).  While the food cooked we had bible study with Sheila and learned that anger is an emotion; kindness is a decision.  We want to treat others as Christ treats us.  I shared with the ladies that I was in desperate need of this lesson.  Being seven months pregnant and pretty hormonal it's tough to be kind at all times!  It challenged me to be kind to others no matter who they are.  To look past their appearance and social status.  God wants us to be kind and if we pray and ask him to help us he most definitely will!

After our bible study we were able to enjoy the delicious meal Janice taught us to make. It was nice to get away and spend time with ladies who love and serve the Lord.  I am so excited and can not wait to see what God has in store for all of us.

A big THANK YOU to all the husbands who stayed with our little ones so that we could come to bible study.  Joseph picked the kids up from school, fed them dinner (pizza), gave them baths, played with them, brushed teeth, gave vitamins, and tucked them in their beds.  When I got home, the house was clean and the kids were asleep.  I am so blessed!




"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God."
Titus 2:3-5

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

27 Weeks


27 Weeks!!  Only about 11 to 13 more to go, depending on if I am induced or not.  I can't believe I'm finally in my third trimester, maybe that's why I've been so exhausted the past few days.  Mackenzie is still staying active.  I think she is starting to get tight in my belly because her kicks and movements are a little more rough and more defined.  I love watching her move.  I know I've said it before, but it's my favorite thing about being pregnant. 

Today started a little earlier than normal.  Joseph woke the kids up and took them to school.  He said they both were a little hesitant because it was still dark outside.  As soon as they stepped outside sissy wanted to be carried and Josiah said, "daddy is school open?  It's still dark."  We started the day earlier because I had to be at the doctor's office at 8:30 for my appointment and Glucose Screen.  For all of you moms out there you know you have to drink the "sugary drink" and have your blood drawn an hour after you drink it.  I had a bad experience when I was pregnant with Mary Elisabeth and I was a little hesitant and nervous, but it went great.  I put my "big girl pants" on and started to chug...well really I started to sip...on a straw ha!  There were a couple of times where I had to take a few deep breaths and stop myself from running to the bathroom, but other than that I did it and an hour later was getting my blood drawn.  Please pray that I will pass!!! 

Today's appointment went wonderful!  Dr. Harrison checked the heart beat (nice and strong), went through some routine questions and then decided to go ahead with an ultrasound and check my thyroid levels.  Mackenzie is measuring a little small, she is 2.2 pounds, but nothing to worry about.  She looked great and was pretty wired...I think the "sugary drink" gave her an extra boost this morning.  We were also told that they didn't see any blood spots (PRAISE GOD!!!!) and my placenta has moved up and is out of the way for a normal vaginal delivery (PRAISE PRAISE GOD!!!!).  The placenta has been replaced with Mackenzie's head ha!  Her head is right on my cervix and she is ready to go...well not for a few more weeks, but it's nice to know she's ready...because I sure am :).

Thank you all so much for your prayers and constant encouragement.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family, friends, and church family.  You all have been such a blessing to me and my family and I can not thank you enough.  This has been a tough road, but God has been so good and faithful. 

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies."  Psalm 36:5

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Beef O'Bradys...Kids Eat Free on Tuesday Nights

On Tuesday nights we normally try to go to Beef O'Bradys for dinner.  Kids eat free and the balloon guy comes by and lets the kids pick out what they would like him to make.  This week Josiah picked out Batman. Sissy got a poodle, but wasn't really cooperating with picture taking so she skipped out :)  I wish I would have taken a picture of everything the kids have gotten from the balloon guy.  He is really good...from Spiderman, Cinderella, Elmo to a baseball, bat, and glove...this guy can make anything out of balloons!  It's become a nice weekly tradition for us as a family, I'm so thankful for these special moments.






Monday, October 11, 2010

26 Weeks


I figured I would give everyone a break from my belly pictures this week ha!  I seriously feel like I gained 20 pounds and my nose is starting to grow!  This week Mackenzie is the size of an eggplant.  She is between 13.6 in to 14.8 in and between 1.5 lbs to 2.2 lbs.  Her capillaries are forming to give her that nice healthy pink glow.  She is also soaking up my antibodies and getting her immune system ready for life out in the real world.  Her precious eyes are forming and soon she will be able to blink.

Mackenzie continues to be a busy little girl.  Her movements woke me up a couple of nights ago and kept me up for about two hours.  That was so weird to me because that never happened with the other two.  I have a feeling this little one is going to keep us on our toes!  

I'm definitely getting more and more uncomfortable.  I try to not think about how much time I have left because if I do, I will become impatient.  But the aches and pains are worse....I think they are worse with every pregnancy.  I really don't know how Michelle Duggar has managed to have 19 kids.  I think if you put all of her pregnancies together she has been pregnant for 12 years of her life!!!  12 years and she's only like 42 or 43 years old.  Wow...not my cup of tea :). I love my babies all 3 of them and all 3 of them only ha!!  


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Puggles and Cubbies




I can not believe my kids are old enough to participate in Awana!  Josiah looks forward to it every week and is learning so much.  It's amazing to hear him recite his memory verses.  I am so thankful for Awana and thankful for all of the dedicated volunteers that help every week.  We had around 180 + in Awana last night!  Praise God!!  Josiah came home singing "Father Abraham"  he was adorable.  Mary Elisabeth loves her Puggles shirt.  She's used bubba's old shirt a couple of times, but finally got her own last night.  She loved it so much she slept in it and did not want to take it off this morning....so we let her wear it to school :)



Monday, October 4, 2010

25 Weeks

So this week I kind of feel like saying "are we there yet?"  Over the past week the heaviness of my tummy has set in and every day gets more and more uncomfortable.  I know, I know I still have about three months left, but I'm exhausted ha!  I am so motivated to do so much in my mind, but when it comes to putting that motivation into action I end up on the recliner with the remote in my hand.  I did get the kids playroom cleaned and organized on Saturday.  Why I chose the playroom...out of all rooms....that's the room that gets messy on a daily basis...I don't know, but when I was done it felt good :)!  A couple of months ago I got rid of a lot of old toys, I think I had about three garbage bags full.  I didn't think I'd have too much to get rid of, but I ended up with a full trash bag.  I still have to organize the closet, but other than that I'm satisfied with the outcome.

Mackenzie is still growing and continues to be active.  Josiah felt her for the first time this morning.  He keeps asking me why Mackenzie is living in my tummy and wanting to know who put her in there.  He is too cute and full of questions lately.  I continue to feel great aside from the normal aches and pains that come with pregnancy.  I am just counting down the weeks for her arrival, but first I really have to start working on the nursery and have a list of things to do!  I really need to get started...

Ok so every week since the 19th week, I've asked Joseph to take my picture.  It's alway the same thing "Joseph will you take my picture?"  "Please just one."  ok not just one because I'm already self conscious...add another extra 15 pounds and I become extremely self concious. (Did I spell that right??)  So yesterday we went through the same routine.  He takes one and of course it's not good enough so I ask him to take another.  So here are a couple of shots... I can't believe I'm actually going to post them, but they are funny.  Joseph brought out an English accent and was pretending to be a photographer....he was being too funny and I couldn't stop laughing.  In the end I think I was able to get at least one good shot!





He would not stop talking in an English accent!


Pictures by Joseph :)  Taking bookings now ha!  Love you babe!!


Snow Cones on a Saturday Afternoon

Saturday afternoon when I came home from Project Hope, Joseph and I took the kids to Tanger.  Joseph had to make keys to a car and I thought it would be nice to get the kids out.  Since being released off bed rest I have been trying to catch up!  I've enjoyed thinking of new things for the kids, Joseph and I to do and have loved "documenting" it all.  I am so thankful for this blog!  I am not a scrapbook person....don't have the patience with scissors, glue, and all that stuff.  Not to mention the mess you have to clean up when you are done!  Since I've discovered blogging I've enjoyed recording all of our family outings, random thoughts, and anything else I want to post.  It's also motivated me to take pictures of the kids and plan fun things to do as a family.  My ultimate goal is to make a book out of all of my postings so that I can have a hard copy of all of our memories.

Anyways....kinda got off topic there ha!

What was I talking about??  Tanger..that's right!  When we got there I rented a double cart for the kids to sit while I pushed them.  My oh my did I get my exercise!  Two kids in a double cart....that was tough, but the kids love riding in it and it's the only way to keep them controlled on my own.  We noticed the snow cone stand was open, (totally unexpected since she did not open during the summer), and could not resist!  I thought about it for a second "hmmm my kids are going to get it all over themselves...do I really want to do this??"  But you know what?  For a long time I have tried to keep my kids nice and tidy, which do not get me wrong IS a good thing.  But I've learned that sometimes the most fun is had when you are making a mess.  So Josiah got a strawberry snow cone and Mary Elisabeth got a grape one.  They did great!  We had some spills on their clothes and red and purple lips when all was done, but we had a good time.




Project Hope

Saturday morning our church hosted Project Hope.  This was my second year helping in the Salvation Rooms with Chip and Mike.  We took turns sharing the plan of salvation with the families who were coming through.   When I was put on bed rest this was one of the events that I was upset to miss, but God had other plans and I was able to help after all.  My prayer is that God will bless the lives of the families that went through Project Hope and that although they were not saved that morning, a seed was planted in their heart.  I pray that they will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.  


I can't go with out thanking my hubby for staying home with the kids so that I could help.  Last year when he stayed with them during Project Hope Josiah was two and Mary Elisabeth was one.  I remember calling him when on my way home and him being ready to pull his hair (or lack there of ha!) out!  This year was totally different.  When I called on my way home he put the phone on speaker and the kids were laughing and talking.  They had a blast and enjoyed their "daddy" time.  Next year he will have a four year old, three year old, and a ten month old.....can't wait to see what my phone call coming home will sound like then ha!  But seriously the kids enjoyed their time with their daddy...they needed it!


Thanks babe!  I am blessed beyond words to have you in my life and so thankful for our marriage.  We make an amazing team and I can not wait until little Mackenzie is here.  Chaos or not our life is wonderful and I would not trade it for the world!  Love You, Love You, Love You!!!


Friday Picnic

On Friday I surprised the kids with a picnic in the park.  When we moved to Jefferson this summer we were so excited because there was a park about two minutes from our house.  Well as the summer heat became ridiculous and the morning "all day" sickness set in from my pregnancy, we spent most of the days at home in the air conditioning.  While I was on bed rest I kept telling myself that as soon as I was released and fall set in, I was going to take the kids to the park!  So on this cool Fall Friday, I picked up McDonald's, picked the kids up from school, set our blanket out, and had a picnic.  Joseph was finishing up his last job, but made it just in time!  We had a great time and will definitely do it again very soon.  After our picnic we let the kids play for a while  and then headed to Dairy Queen for some ice cream and slushies.  The night ended with some temper tantrums and unhappy kids because they didn't want to come home, but regardless it was a fabulous day!








More Rocks in her pockets :)