Good News and a Few Changes ;-)

My bloodwork is officially done, for now, and my numbers are looking really good. I am so very thankful for all of the prayers. I did make the decision, however, to switch doctors. Without getting into too much detail, I feel like switching doctors is what 's best for us. I meet with my new doctor, Dr. Flowers (both my sisters go to her), next Tuesday at 1:30. Please pray for a good result concerning my first sonogram...it is the one thing that will confirm whether or not this baby is in the right location. It will also provide me with peace of mind! ;-)

Encouraging Words

I am feeling a little better today about everything that has been going on with my blood work this past week. My numbers are climbing, close to doubling, which is great news. Yesterday's blood work was much higher than last weeks so my Dr. called this afternoon and said that she would like to do one more round of tests tomorrow and Monday morning. She will call late afternoon on Monday or Tuesday morning and then decide from there what the plan is regarding my first sonogram. A Sonogram will not show anything until my hCG levels are up around 2,000. Usually that happens around 5-6 weeks LMP...which, consequently, is also when an ectopic is most likely to occur and cause the most problems. So, I am feeling a bit apprehensive, but I have received several encouraging emails from friends...especially within our Home Team group. God definitely placed us with the right group of people at the right time in our lives. I love seeing God work in our lives through others. Even today, as I started up a new Beth Moore study, I was sitting next to a woman who was new to our group who ministered to me at the most perfect time. As a group, we were asked to write down our prayer requests on a card and pass it to the person to the left. As I passed mine to this woman sitting next to me, she quickly read over the card and then just gave me the biggest smile ;-) She talked with me after class about her daughter who is around my age, 33, and described her battle with recurring ectopic pregnancies. God has placed so many people in my life just within this past week that have been such an encouragement to me. Their openness and willingness to share their struggles with me has given me so much peace this week. The next few weeks will answer a lot of questions and I am praying that all of it will be great news! ;-)

21 Months

My little girl is definitely getting closer to the toddler stage...if she isn't already in it as we speak. Last weekend she had her first kicking, screaming, make mommy and daddy crazy, tantrum. She has had one crying fit before, but it was on the day she ended up having the stomach flu so it was nothing compared to our little "episode" in the mall the other day. I was quite surprised that Joey and I reacted so well to it. We just stared at each other and laughed. We took it with great ease. I did feel sick to my stomach after leaving the mall...as if I had just been traumatized. It was really hard for me to see my sweet daughter act, well, so bad. Anyhow, after experiencing the past few days with a more toddler prone child I would have to say that the best advice I have ever received was from my little sister who told me to "start putting Presley on the potty now so that it would be a natural part of her routine." I have heard that the toddler age is usually difficult because of their desire to be independent. Presley threw herself into a tantrum at the mall the other day, basically, because she wanted to assert her independence. I am so glad that Presley enjoys sitting on the potty...usually I read her a book or we go over her sponge ABC's that she plays with in the bathtub. However, sometimes she gets a little confused as to what and where the "potty" is...lol.

Elmo still goes everywhere with her. Two weeks ago we watched Reid and Grant while Sara and Brian enjoyed a weekend getaway. Presley was so cute with Grant. Whenever he cried she would get so concerned. One day, I put him down for a nap and he fussed a little bit. Presley kept coming up to me saying, "Gant, Gant, Gant." A few minutes later I found her sitting by his bedroom door. She was so cute about him and I definitely saw her caring heart come out. It was also during this time that I really saw Presley begin to experiment with creative, imaginative, and dramatic play....I think she learned this from observing Reid. This week she has been playing with her Elmo dolls and dressing up in all of her play clothes. She feeds, rocks, and reads to her Elmos...she also takes them to go potty, the REAL potty, EEK! She loves to set out her stuffed animals and read to them. Sometimes I will find her sitting next to the puppy's kennel reading him a book. ;-) Presley's mind is like a little sponge and she's just soaking up everything around her. She is still picking up on new words daily, but she is also starting to speak in phrases. She knows a few numbers, letters, shapes, and colors- we try to practice them daily through fun little activities. She also has some funny "quirks" about her. For some reason, just within the past month, she likes to organize things. Every night during bath time she organizes and sets out all of her bath toys on the ledge of the tub. Sometimes, I will try to move one or two while she isn't looking, but she moves them right back where they were....to her liking. ;-)

Presley loves to push things around. She is always pushing her elmos around in her baby stroller at home. She also loves glasses. She tries to make everything and anything into glasses.
Presley is a sweetheart, but she is stubborn and entering into the toddler years. Right now, her favorite word is "no!" She says "no" to everything and anything (even when it doesn't make sense to say it!) I have had to stop asking her questions all together. Instead, I tell her how it is! I say things like... time to eat, time to take a bath, time to take a nap, time to sit on the potty, time to clean up. The only thing that she does on her own without complaint or saying "no" to is feeding the dogs. She loves it...she loves the pouring out of food from one container into the next and she does it all day, every day! She is quite dramatic about things, but has a very tender heart. Sometimes I have to watch myself because her feelings get hurt VERY easily. She is very observant, cautious, and concerned about others. She has a very meek disposition and I have noticed that she also has a very kind way about her. I am hoping that, as a mother, I can help nourish and enhance these strengths into positive character qualities. I love this little girl and wouldn't change a thing about her!

No Update

So, I don't have much to update on. I want to thank all of you for your phone calls, texts, and encouraging emails. I am sorry that I am unable to give you more concrete news. Basically, my blood levels were a bit low last week. There could be several reasons for this so I don't want to make any "predictions" as to why. My Dr basically said, ".... You are so early in your pregnancy that it's hard to put too much weight on your numbers." To give you an idea of how "early" I was...my menstrual period wasn't due until Thursday and I got blood work and a positive pregnancy test on Wednesday and again on Friday. So basically I will be getting more blood work done. I will say, I have not had pregnancy symptoms since Friday afternoon. Not that I will put too much weight on that either because I didn't have symptoms with Presley until I was 6 weeks pregnant. However, I did have some symptoms last week (part of why I suspected I was pregnant) that I do not have any more. BUT I am still showing a positive pregnancy test...HCG levels have to be above 21 to show a positive home pregnancy test. SO, other than being completely exhausted, I am not noticing any other symptoms. Many of you have asked about a sonogram. It is way too soon to see anything on a sonogram. When I had my ectopic pregnancy and went in for a Sonogram at 5 1/2 weeks they were unable to see anything...they basically speculated that I had an ectopic. So, we play the waiting game...very frustrating! I will let you know more as soon as I hear. ;-)

In the Right Place

I am super excited for Presley because she is going to be a big sister!!!!! And I think that she will be the most magnificent big sister ever! There are many emotions and thoughts running through my mind. My first feeling is always excitement and then a few minutes later reality sets in...the reality that we need a bigger house, the reality that 2 is busier than 1, the reality that it might be a boy (eek!), the reality that I might have to mother 2 teenage daughters (eek!), the reality that I have 9 more months of this. A few minutes of a reality check also leaves imprints of anxiousness in my heart and then the "I hopes" begin...I hope this baby is healthy, I hope I can endure 9 months of this, I hope I am a good mom to 2, I hope this baby is in the right spot! This last hope is a big one for me for right now. Joey and I tend to be somewhat subdued when we get pregnant...maybe because we know what it's like to lose a baby in the early stages. Right now my mind is consumed with peace and fear all wrapped into one. ??? Strange as that sounds, it is true. I can't even get my mind passed the possibility of it being in the wrong place. I don't have anymore "spare parts"...if you know what I mean. I try not to think about myself as a statistic, but there's still that 30% possibility that seems to be taking over my thoughts. For the next 6 weeks my life will be consumed with blood work, blood work, and blood work...and oh, did I mention blood work? I am thankful that I am considered a "high risk" pregnancy and that the first 6-8 weeks will be filled with dr appointments! I am comforted that there is already a "plan" in place. There have already been some good things that have happened that I am trying to focus on...
1- today was the day I should have gotten a positive pregnancy test and I did. I take a pregnancy test 3 times during my cycle...beginning, middle, and end. Today was the one that we wanted to be positive :-) and it was!
2- I have been sick ;-)
3- I have been hungry every minute of every day ;-)
4- I knew I was pregnant before I took the test...intuition ;-) When I was pregnant with an ovarian pregnancy, I didn't know I was pregnant, but still had a "bad" feeling...a feeling that something wasn't "right" with my body.
5- I have been exhausted ;-)

If you know me, then you know that I am not one to tell everyone about being pregnant. I am sharing this news early for one purpose and one purpose only...prayer. I think that my mind and heart will be filled with peace if I know that we are being prayed over. I need my prayer warriors to pray on! Starting first with the prayer that this precious little baby is in the right place and that I am in the right place mentally and emotionally...trusting and relying on God completely!

When I was pregnant with Presley I was terrified of having a baby...literally. So I memorized the following verse early on...

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7

This verse carried me all the way up to the point at which Presley was resting peacefully in my arms.

So, I think I will memorize Philippians 4:6-7 for this one...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

...because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. -I John 4:4b

My Apple Butter Obsession

This is my newest obsession...Apple Butter. It is organic, real, unsweetened, and a little bit goes a long way. I picked it up at Sprout's Local Farmer's Market in Flower Mound. It is divine. I put it on everything...bananas, strawberries, toast, waffles, sweet potatoes, etc. You name it and it goes on there. I'm not sure why I love it so much, but for the past few days I have not been able to put it down ;-) and the best part, Presley LOVES it too.
I found a book in my collection of cookbooks the other day called, Eat Your Way to Happiness. The author was on the Today Show a few summers ago and she really appealed to me...I must have been in a very bad mood that day or just wanting to change my attitude about something. lol. It is a diet book, but I don't use it for the "diet" part of it. I use it because it is all about eating "real foods." Basically, it says that 75% of your daily food intake should come from "real foods." So, that is what I have been trying to do...incorporate "real foods" into our daily diets. I think it will be fun to try and I am hoping that it will make me feel better...more energy would be nice! ;-)

Take a peek at these cooking blogs...
annies-eats
joythebaker
smellslikehome
confectionsofafoodieBride This one cracks me up because the blog does not fit the couple. Apparently, this blog is quite the "buzz" in the food blogging world.

Love this RECIPE...it looks delish!
smittenkitchen Can you tell I am on a strawberry kick right now????

The Simple Wife

I have been following this blog called thesimplewife for a few months now. I found her through Beth Moore's blog. This sweet woman is a woman of faith and inspiration. Yesterday morning her 9 year old daughter found her on the floor having a seizure and was unresponsive. She had a stroke and has already gone through 2 brain surgeries within the past 24 hours. She is just 38 years old and a mother to two little girls. I don't know why, but every time I hear of a mother losing a child or a child losing a mother it brings tears to my eyes....maybe because I have lost a mother or because I am now a mother to my own little girl, but it just crushes my heart. Anyhow, I thought I would share her story so that she might be showered with prayers. Updates are found here http://mustardseeds.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Inspriring Journal

One of the girls at MOPS shared this blog with me. I love this idea! I kept a prayer journal in College and it was life changing!! Creating and keeping a prayer journal for Presley will be something I strive towards this year...if I spent as much time in this journal as I do blogging and scrapping then I would probably be on my hands and knees a lot more! I love the way she divided up and organized her journal! I added two links where you can see how she made them. She also creates Christmas tree ornaments by using family photos from the year...she shows a really cute way to display them. She is such an inspiration! Here is what she posted....

I enter 2011 excited, my mind filled with goals and ideas I would like to achieve. The first one involves praying for my kids. I hate to admit it, but praying for these two precious little ones doesn't come as easily or naturally as it should. They keep me on my toes and then time goes by and I realize that I haven't taken time to intentionally pray for each of them--for their salvation, their hearts, their future spouses, etc. At a craft show last month I created these prayer journals for each of my children and have been keeping up with it for a month now.

Keep in mind that it requires a great deal of discipline.

But, when I think through all the reasons why I should pray for my kids, I come to the conclusion that it is worth it. This is a goal I will keep this year.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Prayer is eternal.
• I can't do this parenting role alone.
• Writing out prayers causes me to be more thoughtful and deliberate as I pray.
• It reminds me of to Whom my child belongs.
• If I'm a mother who is not on my knees, I am failing.
• Prayer is a privilege. God wants to hear from me.
• My children will be forever marked because I prayed.
• Prayer makes everything sacred. That "great deal" on shoes wasn't just a good deal or a coincidence, but God answering prayer and providing for a need.
• The written word is powerful and this journal will leave a legacy for my kids.

I divided my journal into four sections: AIM, Spiritual Inventory, Prayers, and Memories.

1. AIM (12 pages, update once a month): List 3-5 character qualities you are aiming to produce in your child's life with active steps to take and Scripture to pray to make these a reality.
2. Spiritual Inventory (24 pages, update once a month): Write down your child's strengths in all areas (physical, spiritual, social, intellectual). Then, write a list of weaknesses. Write down observations as well (Ex. your child seems nervous about school). This will help you know your child. Last, write down some applications that you can do to develop your child into who God wants him or her to be. Enhance the strengths and help him or her overcome the weaknesses.
3. Prayers (half of remaining pages): Written prayers from the Word. Use the prayers of Moses, David, Hannah and others as models as you learn to pray for your child. Or, let your quiet time reading lead to prayers for your children. Look for qualities that honor God and ask him to build those traits in your child's life. You could also compile a list of Biblical virtues with verses to use as prayer starters (understand God's love--Eph. 3:18-19; thankful--Eph. 5:20).
4. Memories (last half of remaining pages): Cute sayings, observances, pictures, holiday traditions/celebrations, monthly memories, etc. This will be like a monument marking memorable events and milestones of your child's life. It will help the child remember over and over again God's grace and goodness in their lives.

When I broke my journals into these sections, I felt like it was less overwhelming. Several sections I only write in once a month, but it ensures that I am evaluating my children, building character, and praying for them. My goal is to complete one journal a year for each child.

As my children get older, these prayer journals will be great gifts for them to receive and read through. I want them to know that their mama prayed for them. I want to be a mama who is on my knees for my kids.

http://breezyacresfarm.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-goals-prayer-journal.html