33 Weeks

I've done an absolute terrible job taking any pictures of me pregnant. As most of you know, I'm not the hugest fan of being pregnant so documenting it isn't on the top of my priority list. However, my Bible Study leader reminded me yesterday that for those that I love far away that don't get to see me would be really interested. My Bible Study leader's daughter is due the same day as I am and lives in Albany, NY. So, here is a pic of our little Kie & I'm in the picture too! This is Kie & me at 33 weeks!

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Disclaimer: Be prepared for the longest post I've probably ever done: Feel free not to read it but I just had to document this God-story of God's faithfulness in our lives!

This past week has reminded me of Job and the fact that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, Blessed Be The Name of the Lord! It all came to a head within the last 24 hours of the realization of just how under attack we were as a family. I was grateful for the Holy Spirit continually putting Scripture in my head and heart as I walked through this time of trial and testing.
In the big scheme of things, our troubles were minor but being 8 months pregnant and so far away from our family made the following events a bit overwhelming.
It started at 9:15 p.m. Thursday night, Kati Ann began throwing up and continued to do so the entire night. She thankfully felt much better by the next morning. I spent most of Friday "lysoling" and washing sheets and everything that had been touched by germs to try to get the yucky bug out of our house.
We had a nice weekend and Jared had the opportunity to preach at Willowbrook Sunday. He preached 4 services and was completely worn out. I was super proud of him. He's my favorite preacher!
We began our week on Monday quite normally (pretty worn out from Sunday). However, as we started to bed that night, I began to feel bad and proceeded to repeat Kati Ann's performance from Thursday night. Jared was so good to take KA on Tuesday so I could rest and I did just that. Now, Tuesday is my usual grocery shopping/errand running day so I kinda missed it. Doesn't seem like a problem but just keep reading.
So by Wednesday morning, I was feeling much better (not 100% but good enough) but something had hit Jared. Jared tends to get the same upper respiratory junk every time but we both seemed to think this seemed different. Since it was Wednesday and a big church day, Jared worked and did his "church" thing feeling awful. By Thursday, he was really bad. So, he went to the dr. and found out he had the flu. The pharmacists said it was the first case they had seen in 6 weeks (lucky us).
So, here's where the fun starts!! Because I had missed my regular shopping trip on Tuesday, I shopped Thursday after doing all my usual stuff (for someone 8 months pregnant adding one thing wears me completely out). So, I was already worn out when KA went and picked up the Rx and came home that evening. We did our normal bed time routine and I got her in bed. I finally got into bed and relaxed for the first time all day. I was just settling in (which includes medicine to keep my from throwing up and knocks me out) when:
--our dog, Billie throws up all over our King Size comforter. I take the comforter off and start it in the washer and get us another blanket
--I settle back into bed and begin to hear this terrible noise from the washer so I got and readjusted the comforter in the washer and let started it again
--I settle back into bed and hear the noise again coming from the washer...this time I decided to deal with it in the morning and just lifted the lid on the washer to stop it
--As I walked back to our bedroom I heard a noise down stairs...I went to check it out and discovered our washing machine (which is upstairs) was flooding our downstairs breakfast area (FLOODING!) So, I get Jared (who is barely functioning with the flu) and we get a pot and somehow after about (I don't know how long) got it to a drip that we left for the night.
--we go to sleep and I wake up about 3 something hearing Billie (who is now in her crate) whining...I let her out and Jared was having insomnia due to the TamiFlu and was already downstairs. He let her out and back in and she immediately came back in got under the covers (in our bed) and threw up. So, I get up change the sheets, get back in bed and realize it had gone through to the mattress pad and was still "wet". Well at this point, I'm running out of linens and patience so I put a towel in the bed and tried to go back to sleep. That didn't happen for quite awhile. Finally I fell asleep around 4:45.
--Our precious, daughter is just like her father and was up at 5:45. She went to the top of the stairs and called to her daddy (who was still downstairs). He came to get her, picked her up, and proceeded to fall down the stairs. I don't think it had to do with the flu but he thinks its from having socks on the wood floor. Fortunately KA didn't get hurt but Jared hurt his tailbone (I'm praying not permanently).
--I jumped from the bed (keep in mind still big, 8 months pregnant) and tried to take care of everyone.
So, before we ever got up this morning, I thought, Wow!! God is up to something!! He obviously wants to show off because I simply can't do this day on my own. My faithful Provider, Lord and Friend sustained me through this day! I am so blessed with so much and sometimes we get so caught up with our blessings we forget our need for God!! I am so in need. I CANNOT do it on my own.

Pondering the Blessings God has given Us

I knew I would have something to blog following this weekend because this is the weekend I had one of my annual big events with my 5th & 6th graders and Kati Ann got to spend about 24 hours with Charlotte & Darren, some of her favorite people. However, as I went through the 245 pictures that Charlotte took in the less than 24 hours that Kati Ann stayed her I was struck with how blessed we are.
We never could have imagined when we left Nacogdoches, TX, where we had some of the the sweetest friends that we truly loved, that God would supply people in Huntsville, AL that would show us God's love in such an amazing way. One way that blesses me so much is the way our sweet brothers and sisters in Christ love on our child. Could I have imagined that moving so far from Kati Ann's grandparents and aunts and uncle (that love her dearly) that God would provide people that would dote on her and treat her like the granddaughter or niece that she really isn't? I could not have. Not because I didn't believe God could do it but I just never thought about it.
Charlotte and Darren are amazing...from the pictures you will see that in a short 24 hours Kati Ann drew pictures on the sidewalk, was introduced to half the instruments in the marching band, played on the playground and had a clown come visit her! A note on the clown that I want to add is how God further displayed his love through Mrs. Angela aka Doo Lolly. Mrs. Angela has loved on Kati Ann since she was tiny. She and Charlotte both work on the support staff at our church and Angela "clowns" on the side. She had told me she was doing a clowning gig last night and she was going to come help out with my event after she was done. However, she forgot to mention that she was stopping by to visit Kati Ann before she came to help me.
She did not have to do that but what a blessing to know how much our child is loved beyond what Jared & I can give her. Enjoy the pictures of Kati Ann's adventures at Charlotte & Darren's.

Lent

I read this blog article this evening and it really gave me a fantastic perspective on Lent. My mom participates in Lent and though I've never really participated this really made me think. Definitely an article worth reading

This Week 3 Years Ago

So, I wanted to put a recent picture of me at 30 weeks pregnant so I chose the best one I could find!! Well, Shamu might be a bit of an exaggeration but over the last 2 weeks Kie has really grown and therefore so have I! The most striking thing to me is the reminder of what happened at 30 weeks when I was pregnant with Kati Ann. It was at 30 weeks that I moved to Huntsville to join Jared. It is hard for me to imagine that I moved so many miles away from what I had called "home" for 27 years to start a new life that would include such an life-altering addition in 9 short weeks. I am so thankful for the life we've made in Huntsville and the precious addition we added shortly after arriving. We all 3 look forward to meeting Kie and I am ever so grateful to not be moving at 30 weeks pregnant with an almost 3 year old!

Kie's Bedding

Kie's bedding came in today and I'm so excited. Its cuter than I even expected. We wanted to go with a "plaid" very BOY bedding and this is what Jared & I agreed on. I have started cleaning out Kie's room and soon Jared & I will begin putting things together! Just had to share!

The Red Bow

I've been meaning to post about this for a while. Kati Ann is a creature of habit. She likes things to do things the same way each time we do it. So, lots of mornings Jared & Kati Ann go down stairs to have cereal and juice while I shower or get a little extra sleep. I have requested that Jared always pull Kati Ann's hair back when she eats so that her hair isn't sticky when I try to fix it later and it keeps her from screaming (as much).
Most mornings, Jared would forget to get a bow before coming downstairs and he quickly got tired of having to run upstairs to get a bow every morning. So being innovative, Jared introduced Kati Ann to the "Red Bow". It is a magnet that stays on our refrigerator and every morning he pulls her hair back with it. After finishing her cereal, Kati Ann removes her "bow" and returns it to a specific spot on the refrigerator.
On mornings when I am downstairs doing cereal & juice (we could serve something different for breakfast but right now it has to be cereal and juice because she's quite the creature of habit), I will try to put her hair up with an actual hair bow and she insists on the "Red Bow."
Oh, the memories you make with Daddy!