Thanks To Everyone Who Came Out Last Saturday!

Thanks again to all you fabulous people who braved the storm to come to my preview open house last Saturday. I have a faithful group of supporters who make my job so much easier. These are true friends, and I am so grateful for your encouargement, support, and friendship! You guys come to every party and always have such positive things to say to me. It was great to see each of you. I had a nice time and I hope everyone else did as well. :) The preparation for this one was stressful but the actual party was probably the most fun I have ever had doing a Home Interiors party. Thanks so much for letting me show you guys Faith's rooms. Everyone was so complimentary and sweet about everything. I appreciate it! We are really excited about her upcoming arrival, and she cannot wait to meet each one of you! Anyway, if you missed last Saturday, then I look forward to seeing you this Saturday!!!! Not to worry, there is still a lot of great merchandise left! See you soon!

Pregnancy Update

I am now officially in my third trimester! Thank goodness! I must admit that I already miss the second trimester because I actually got some relief during that time. However, I am glad that the pregnancy is progressing and that little Faith will be along soon. The first half of my second trimester was really rough, but as it progressed things got better. I miss that! Now I am just really uncomfortable once again. The nausea has returned at night. My back hurts, I am always tired, and my abdomen hurts like crazy especially at night when I am trying to sleep. Apparently, little Faith is positioning herself for birth and putting a lot of pressure on my Sciatic Nerve. Some people experience this pain while others do not. Lucky me-we should have known that I would! Ha! I do not sleep at night, but am able to sleep and get comfortable during the day. I typically feel better during the day. This is a bit challenging because I work during the day and cannot just sleep all day. However, I am learning to take advantage of Hannah's nap times. Those nap times have also become Aunt Heather's nap times! Whoever knew how great a nap could be?!? That is the best part of my day! :)

I had originally felt like this baby would come later than my original due date, but now I am feeling like she may come early. Or maybe I am just hoping for that because of the discomfort! Ha! My doctor originally gave me Dec. 6th as my due date and then later changed it to the 12th. To tell you the truth, it will not bother me one bit if she comes along closer to the 6th rather than the 12th. As long as she is strong and healthy, that is really all that matters!

Since Scott and I have opposite blood types, I have to get a special shot at my next appointment. I am really hoping that insurance covers it, but insurance doesn't always cover these shots. It is kind of pricey, but I have to have it. I don't want my body to reject the baby so I guess this is pretty important. Did any of you guys have to get this shot? My sister had to get it. It could be a lot worse, right? Faith is worth it!

We took a tour of the hospital, and I feel much more comfortable now with my decision to have Faith there. It is a smaller hospital so I will get more one on one attention. I like the nurse that we met with, and everyone was nice and helpful. What I like most is that the nurses really want the best for their patients. They will do whatever they can to accommodate new mommies. Scott was more concerned about that than me, but still it was good to hear. I must admit that I am getting more and more nervous as the day gets closer, but at least I feel comfortable with the service that will be provided to us. I have heard some horror stories from other friends regarding their hospital deliveries; I am grateful for a great doctor and an awesome hospital. I feel truly blessed!

I am taking a breastfeeding class in October. While I was at the hospital I got a list of classes. I have decided not to take the birthing class because it is expensive and an all day thing. My sister went when she was pregnant with Allison. She said most of what was shared was just a waste of time. I already know how to change a diaper. I have been taking care of babies for a couple of years now and don't really feel that I need a lesson in that. Now I know that I don't know everything, but I really don't want to waste and entire day just to learn a couple of things. I am sure there are some things I could learn from the class, but everything is in the book. My sister gave me the book from the class. We are going to study up on the phases of delivery as well as the other pertinent stuff on our own. Really that is the way I prefer to learn anyway. I also have a lot of friends/family members who have been through this that I know will help me out if I have any questions or concerns. (Thanks ahead of time, guys!) HOWEVER, I am not going to skip out on the breastfeeding class. It is an all day class as well. But since I know so very little, it will probably take a whole day to answer all my questions! Ha! Scott can go with me, and I know that it will definitely benefit me to participate in the class. Plus, having Scott there will help encourage me. He can help me remember what they teach us. I need all the help I can get at this point-my memory is bad! They make the class very affordable, and I am really grateful for classes like this one. I will let you know how it goes! :)

I am glad that it is cooling off! I am getting big and round. I have trouble shaving my legs and have pretty much given up on being able to paint my own toes. So sad! :( Ha! I am uncomfortable enough as it is without having to deal with the heat. Plus, during the winter you do not have to shave or paint your toes. That is a good thing! I just thought of that! I have always loved fall, but I have an even greater appreciation for the change in seasons now! Winter babies rock! I really didn't want to have a baby in December, but now I am more than okay with it. God knew what He was doing! I will have a precious little baby right in time for Christmas! Christmas is my favorite time of year, and the upcoming arrival of little Faith just adds to the excitement. I am beside myself; the anticipation is killing me! What could be better?!?! Even against all my planning and scheming, God worked it out this way. I am glad that God makes the final decisions! Thanks, God!

Well, that is all for now. Now that I have a camera battery charger, I will post some pictures. I PROMISE!!!

Man, I Hate It When I Misplace Things!

Well, I finally just broke down and bought a battery charger. I went to the Sony website and found out what I needed. I thought that I would have to buy one from them, but then I searched around and found the generic version of the same thing for way cheaper. There was just no way I was going to pay $60 for a charger. I ended up getting a car adapter and charger for $25 and there was no shipping. Let's just hope that it works. I called them up, and I feel pretty confident it will. Anyway, I thought that was a good deal for a replacement charger. Still I am mad at myself for losing the previous one. I keep blaming the pregnancy, but the truth is that I really do have a difficult time keeping up with stuff. I put things in such good places that I cannot remember where they went. Ha! Well, that is what I tell people. Really that is not the truth. It just sounds good, doesn't it?!? :) The truth is that losing things has become a real problem for me. I could probably solve this problem if I would just put things away in the same place every time, but I don't. Maybe it is laziness or maybe it is lack of discipline. I am not sure, but I think I might just need to change my ways!

So, I am excited about being able to use my camera once again. I cannot wait to take pictures of some of Faith's new outfits as well as her new rooms. I look forward to showing you guys what I got at the baby show last week! What did people ever do without cameras?!? I have definitely missed mine! :)

I Still Cannot Find My Battery Charger!

What in the world happened to my Sony camera battery charger? I have searched the whole world over and cannot find it. I have looked into buying another one, but I just don't want to spend the money if there is chance I could find the original one. I have missed out on taking so many cute pictures. My battery is dead so I cannot even get the cute pictures off of my camera that I took a while back. I like the camera but do not think I will purchase another Sony. They are a huge pain because they only take Sony brand memory cards and they have their own special battery charger. I have had a tough time finding a replacement for the camera. They don't sell the battery chargers everywhere. In fact, I couldn't really find the exact one on their website either. FRUSTRATING! It really aggravates me! I guess I am going to have to just break down and buy another one if I can find one. We are getting closer and closer to little Faith's arrival. I would never be able to forgive myself if I did take lots of pictures. I hate the forgetfulness that comes along with pregnancy. It is almost like a fog has settled over my brain and I cannot think straight. I misplace everthing and cannot remember anything. Maybe the fog will clear and I will be able to recall what I did with the charger. Until then you will have to just imagine what my belly looks like. :)

I Think I Found A Pediatrician-FINALLY!

As many of you know, I have spent countless hours trying to find a Pediatrician for little Faith. I have a list of 125 doctors in the area who take our insurance, but I knew nothing about any of them. I really didn't feel comfortable just taking Faith to anyone. I want to take her to someone who has been recommended to me-someone that I know something about. (By the way, thanks to all of you who recommended a doctor. Unfortunately, none of them worked out, but I still greatly appreciate the help!) Anyway, I seriously think that I called like 30 or more doctors in my attempt to find the perfect one. There was some light at the end of the tunnel when the nurse from my doctor's office told me that she recognized two of the doctors on the list. Still I knew that it was a long shot because just because a doctor's name is on the list doesn't mean that s/he is taking new Tricare patients. My nurse couldn't really tell me any specifics about the two ladies on the list, but she just told me that she had some patients who used those doctors. At that point, that was good enough for me. I had no clear direction and felt pretty overwhelmed. Her referral was better than nothing. So, I called the offices for both of these doctors. Their offices are in a hospital in downtown Ft. Worth. Apparently, they stay extremely busy there. I had a bad feeling almost immediately. I don't know why, I just didn't have any peace. Things did not get any better as I conversed with the receptionsists from these two different offices. Then when the receptionists told me that I couldn't meet with the doctor before Faith's arrival, I knew that the conversation could go no further. That was a deal breaker-most definitely! I want a doctor who will spend time with me and answer all my questions. I don't want someone who is rushed and who doesn't care about me or my child. They told me that their doctors do not have time to meet new mommies. That tells me that they are totally wrong for us. I want the doctor to remember my name and my child's name when I go in to see him/her. I think that we deserve that much especially since we will be going in so often. We pay darn good money for health care; I want darn good care. I do not think that is too much to ask for! So, I got a little frustrated and discouraged after getting off the phone. I then decided to just cry out to the Lord and ask him to lead me to a doctor. Duh, why didn't I think of that earlier? I had prayed about this situation every time before making my calls, but I was still trying to make things happen for myself. I wasn't fully trusting the Lord to lead me. I then came to the realization that I was going to have to turn over complete control to the Lord. I was going to have to move over and let Him drive. I care so much about little Faith, but my love for her cannot even compare to the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. When I made that decision in my heart to trust the Lord and completely rely on Him, I felt led to call the first doctor on the list. Duh, why didn't I call her sooner? She is the closest to us. It makes sense to start at the beginning and work down the list, right? Well, I was so caught up in trying to make things happen on my own that I wasn't listening to the Lord or thinking straight. So then with some fear and apprehension I took a leap of faith and called her up. From the moment the receptionist answered I felt comfortable. The receptionist was very helpful and sweet. She even let me talk to the nurse. The nurse was also polite and helpful. They seemed to care about me and all my concerns. They geninuely wanted to help. This may sound crazy, but I was impressed by the fact that the nurse could actually say and spell my name correctly. Ludwig is super easy but way too many people cannot spell it or even say it right. I really appreciated the fact that she was smart enough to talk and communicate with me properly. Most of all I liked the fact that this doctor really cares about new mommies. She sets aside one morning every week just to meet with expectant mothers. Scott and I are meeting with her next Wednesday, and I have a total peace about this even though I do not know her and haven't been referred to her by anyone else. Well, I take that back- I really feel like the Lord has led me to this doctor. He gives the best referrals, right? I am trusting Him because He knows the desires of my heart and cares about even the small things in my life. God has given me the best OB/GYN in the world so why wouldn't He also provide me with a great Pediatrician? Lord, forgive me for doing things in my own strength and not trusting you. Your plans truly are way better than any of my own!

Please keep our meeting in your prayers, and I will definitely let you know how everything goes.

Pregnancy Update

I am currently 27 weeks along and feeling more and more round every day. Everyone keeps telling me how small I am, but I certainly do not feel that way. I have reached the uncomfortable stage and have even started waddling around. I go to the bathroom atleast 50 times a day, and I live in sweatpants and big t-shirts. How come comfortable pregnancy clothes are so hard to find? It is almost like you have to be sloppy to be comfortable.

The nausea let up for a while but has come back. Still, I am only having to take 4-5 pills per week instead of 14. The nausea is really just happending during the night-actually the early morning hours between 3 and 6. Praise the Lord for that! I am still having a lot of problems associated with the Anemia. I feel out of breath, my heart races, and I am unable to sleep most nights. It kind of stinks, but I know that it is not going to last forever so I just try to make the best of it. The good news is that I am able to eat more now. I still get bad Acid Reflux, but I am able to eat some Mexican food once again. :) I love feeling the baby kick and move all around in my tummy. At times my stomach gets really hard and I can feel her head pushing up against my side. It is a little uncomfortable but kind of neat to feel her. She has gotten so much bigger in such a short amount of time. It is crazy to think how much babies grow during the second and third trimesters! I am starting to be able to see her move from the outside. I thought it would freak me out, but I really like it. Little Faith is taking over my body but I don't mind. :)

Faith's bathroom and playroom are all finished. I just need one more item for her nursery, and then that will be finished as well. We rushed to get it done because we thought Scott would be leaving this month for Captian's career course. But now that he isn't going, there was really no need to rush. However, it is kind of nice to have everything done. The further along I get, the more uncomfortable I get and the harder it is for me to do stuff. Now maybe I can sit back and relax and enjoy all my hard work. I need to post some pictures. I will try and do that soon.

We finally made a decision on the middle name. I had pretty much agreed to McKenna just because it was the only other name besides Noelle that I liked. Scott didn't like Noelle and was really pushing for McKenna. The first name was what was so important to me so I wasn't quite as obsessed with getting my way with the middle name. But then this last week Scott told me that he felt like the Lord was telling him to let me have Noelle because of its significant meaning. Noelle has always been my number one pick for little Faith. McKenna is pretty, but I could never really find its meaning anywhere. The one meaning for the name that I found was not that great. Since I am all into the meaning of names, I really wanted Noelle. What could be more perfect than a name that means "precious gift"? Plus, little Faith is going to be a Christmas baby; that is just another reason why Noelle works well. :) Anyway, I am excited about us finally agreeing on her full name. Most of all I am grateful to Scott for allowing me to have the name that means so much to me. Thanks, Scottie! :)

I Love Little Old Ladies!

My grandmother ("Memaw" as she is called by just about everyone who knows her), just recently hosted a Home Interiors party for me. We had a blast! I really didn't know if anyone would come or buy anything, but I decided to do the party anyway. You just never know. God has been teaching me not to limit myself to my own understanding of things but rather to trust Him in all things. This was one of those times that I actually let faith lead the way and cast fear aside. Boy am I glad that I did!

There were 12 people in attendance at this party. That was a good turn out, and I was pleasantly surprised especially since no one RSVP'd to my grandmother. We all met at their apartment meeting hall. I did an auction of prizes that required everyone to either do something or wear something special in order to get bucks to bid on prizes. It was so cute to see all these ladies in their crazy hats and house shoes. Almost everyone participated. I put my grandmother in charge of passing out the bucks. Those ladies were serious about getting the right amount of play money. I should have known! My grandmother is one of the most competitive Domino players I have ever met! Anyway, they loved the game and many of them went home with nice Home Interior prizes. I took Hannah with me because I was babysitting her for the day. Everyone went crazy over her. I think my pregnancy and the cute baby definitely won me some sympathy! All but three people bought something at my grandmother's party. Even though a lot of items were backordered or sold out, all the ladies were so sweet and accommodating. No one cancelled an order or got upset about anything. That is so refreshing especially after some of my past experiences. These party guests genuinely just wanted to help me out and also help my grandmother get free stuff. I was really blessed by their attitudes. A lot of times people get grumpy and impatient as they get older. It is somewhat understandable but still not fun to be around. All of these ladies were encouraging and positive. We can all learn so much from them! They have such great stories to share and wisdom as well. I guess what impressed me most was that even though many of these ladies are on a fixed income, they still bought something. They loved the products and really made me feel good about myself and my business. I get told "no" so often that it is refreshing to be around people like this. This of course is true for any sales person, but still at times it has been tough for me to hear "no". God has taught me a lot, and I have definitely been challenged to not take a "no" as personal rejection. Still I am grateful to the Lord for sweet customers like the little old ladies of The Chandler Place Apartments. It is people like this that keep me motivated and inspired to do my job. Just when I want to give up the Lord sends people across my path to love and encourage me. I am not a natural at sales, but God equips me for everything that he calls me to in life. May God bless each one of these sweet old ladies for their kindness and generosity, and may they have good health and be blessed with many more years of life!

Here is "Memaw". She is 93 years old and is truly an inspiration!

It's Confirmed-We Are Having A Girl!

Today's appointment confirmed that the baby is in fact a girl! What a relief! I started worrying about it last night. I just almost have Faith's nursery completed. I really didn't want to have to take everything down and start all over again.

The baby has gotten quite a bit bigger and is doing well. I love hearing her heartbeat. My doctor was pleased to hear that I am feeling better. He always gets a big smile on his face when he hears the baby's heartbeat. I took my niece with me today and the whole office just went bananas over her. Dr. McAlpine's wife and daughter both work at the office and they both held her and went on and on about how pretty and sweet she is. They were not just saying that either because there were other babies there as well. They didn't tell anyone else that but Hannah. Any of you who have seen her know what I am talking about. She looks like the Gerber baby! If my baby is half as sweet and pretty as little Hannah, we will be extremely blessed!

This time I got sonogram pictures of Faith's bottom and her head. She is looking more and more human every day and is quite cute if I do say so myself! The sonogram lady was really nice and actually spent more time with us than she had originally said she would spend. I am glad that Scott got to go this time around. This month's sonogram was much better because Faith is bigger and she was face up as opposed to face down like last time. :)

The nurse is on vacation this week, but I did get to talk to my doctor about pediatricians in the area. However, he did not recognize anyone from the list. :( I left the list for the secretary to put in my file. She will have the nurse look it over when she comes back. Maybe I will have more luck with her. But if not, then Dr. McAlpine told me to take my list up to the maternity ward and ask them about it. I didn't get to take my hospital tour today, but I will definitely be taking the list with me when I go in the next week or so. I am not giving up, but boy this is a little discouraging!

I also found out today that I am 23 weeks along rather than 22 weeks along. I lost track of a week somewhere along the way! Saturday, August 16th will start week 24 of my pregnancy. I cannot believe how much bigger I am getting. The baby is growing like a weed!

I hope to post some pictures of the nursery and playroom soon. I am pretty proud of both of them. However, I must admit that the camera does not do them justice. I hate to brag, but they are way cuter in person. Faith's nursery is now my favorite room in the house! For those who haven't seen it yet, you will definitely have to swing by and take a peak! :)

23 Weeks Pregnant!

I am now 23 weeks pregnant! The baby is getting bigger and I feel more and more pregnant every day. She moves around like crazy. I am convinced that she is going to either be a soccer player or a karate kid! She especially likes to move around when music is playing or when I am laying down. The little stinker loves to wake me up at night or wake me up just as I am drifting off to sleep. Scott has been able to feel her move around. I love feeling her kick because it helps me feel like she is okay in there. It also makes everything a lot more real to me and to Scott. It has been a great bonding experience for us. We are having a baby!!!! All of our patience finally paid off! Big changes are coming and we are really excited!

I had my Gestational Diabetes test last week and everything was fine. However, my Iron level is lower than ever even though I have been taking my meds. I am feeling better but they are still really concerned about my levels because they are way lower than they should be. Please pray that I am able to get that up soon. I notice it the most when I go to bed. I have trouble breathing and feel so fatigued that I have trouble falling asleep. I am still battling fatigue during the day, but it seems to be better than initially. I just couldn't understand how my level would be lower after taking medication. As the baby grows, she requires more and more from me. So, my level probably has increased but the baby is also using more. Anyway, they are going to test me again in a couple of months. I am going to try doubling my Vitamin C intake in order to help my body better absorb the Iron. I think that I have had this problem for most of my life but am just now discovering it. I think it is a hereditary thing because my sister had the same problem for both of her pregnancies. I am determined to get it under control. I think it will really make a difference in how I feel! If anyone has any suggestions, please send them my way!!!!

I have another appt. tomorrow morning. They are going to do another sonogram to check the sex of the baby again. Fortunately, there is not going to be any charge for this one. :) It will nice to be able to see little Faith again! There will be another one at the end, but I have heard that by that time the baby is usually so big that you only get a portion of the baby on the picture. I love sonograms and am so grateful for today's technology! I just cannot wait to see little Faith in real life!

Well, we are back to the drawing boards. Scott isn't sure that he wants to use Noelle as the middle name. He is pushing for McKenna, but I really want Noelle. At least we came to agreement on Faith-that was a miracle! I would love to know what you think! Which name do you like better-Noelle or McKenna?

I still have not been able to find a Tricare approved pediatrician. It is really discouraging, but I am hoping that the nurse at my doctor's office will be able to recommend someone from my list of 125 names. There are a lot of doctors who take our insurance-just not any of the 20 or so that have been recommended to me. :( I really want a good doctor for our little sweetie! There are so many bad ones out there; it makes me nervous. I am just praying that God will open a door and give me some direction.

I am hoping to take a tour of the hospital tomorrow after my appointment. Since Scott is leaving in September, I am really wanting to squeeze everything in before he leaves. Hopefully, tomorrow I will get a schedule of all the classes that they offer so I can start planning out the last few months of my pregnancy. I am excited about that! It will be really good to learn some things from the pros! I know that if I am going to have any chances at succeeding at this breastfeeding thing, then I am going to have to take a class. I have a friend who recently had a baby. She swelled up like crazy and the baby would not latch on. I cannot help but wonder if things would have gone better had she taken some classes and gotten some advice about breastfeeding. She went into it completely blind and unprepared. Her experience was bad for both her and the baby. Now she is strictly formula feeding him. There is nothing wrong with that, but I at least want to give breastfeeding a try. I want to be as prepared as I can be for Faith's arrival! She deserves that!

I will post pictures soon. Hopefully, I can find my charger so that I can actually get my camera charged up again and take some pictures! I know you are just dying to see my expanding waist line! Ha! :)

It Is Nice To Take A Break Every Now And Again!

As many of you know, there are still lots of problems with Scott's orders. It is so frustrating and heart-breaking at the same time. It has definitely been a test in trusting the Lord. God has been faithful in sustaining us but still it has been an emotional roller coaster! Because of all of this, I must admit my excitement over the thought of having a night free from worry and stress. I think more than anything, that was my main reason for wanting to go to the John Mayer concert. Now don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Mayer fan.(I am even a part of his fan club! Ha!) But in addition to my love for this awesome performer, I also was really feeling like I needed an escape. Sure we can go to a movie or do something else, but I never can really enjoy it because I spend a majority of my time thinking about how we don't have money coming in and we really shouldn't be spending any money right now. But this was totally different because we already had our tickets. We bought them months ago while Scott was still working. All we had to do was go and chill out and have fun.

For this concert we got to sit up front with all of the other crazy Mayer fans. They reserve a large section just for us. It was actually a really sweet deal because our tickets were the same price as everyone else but we got to go in early and purchase them before everyone else could. We were like on row 15 or something. We had a great view of the stage. It was wonderful! Our seats were good and so was the entertainment. However, I must admit that it was hot-way too hot! It was dark and yet it was still over 100 outside! We got out there around 7:30 and John took the stage around 9:30. I have never seen so many scantily dressed women and people with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other hand! That must have made a ton of money on alcoholic beverages because everyone had one-many of them two or more! I guess I am pretty sheltered even though I have been on my own for a while now. The girl next to us took X and as we drove into the parking lot, there was a girl stumbling in. Apparently, she had gotten the party started early! You hear about this kind of stuff, but I hadn't really been around it too much. I think it is a shame that people have to do drugs and get drunk in order to have a good time! I am not saying that I am against drinking. I am not. However, I just don't see the point in using alcohol to enhance an experience.

Colbie Caillat performed first and did a good job! It was impossible to completely enjoy because of the heat, but I still liked seeing her. She is a cute girl with a cute personality and a beautiful voice. Of course, she performed her two most famous songs-one of which Scott really hates. But fortunately he happened to be in the bathroom when she performed it. Ha! I enjoyed hearing her but wish she hadn't taken so much time from John Mayer. By the time John took the stage my back was killing me and I was sweating like you wouldn't believe. I had to sit for a lot of the performance, but I still enjoyed hearing him play. Scott spent most of the time fanning me. I really thought we were going to have to leave early because I was so hot and feeling so bad. You really do feel the heat a lot more when you are pregnant! I had a tank top on under my shirt and seriously considered taking my top shirt off because I was so hot. The tank was not a pregnancy shirt and would have revealed a little bit of my tummy. Looking back, I should have taken the top shirt off-I would have fit in well with all the other girls who were there! Ha! I also would have been a lot cooler. It really reminded me of the Dave Matthew's concert I went to a few years ago. There is something about a young, talented, attractive musician that draws in the ladies! You just wouldn't even believe all the short skirts and high heels we saw. Those girls were all dolled up as if they were there to impress! I dressed for comfort and was one of the only pregnant girls I saw there. I didn't mind and little Faith seemed to love the music. She was moving all around and Scott got to feel her for the first time! It appears as though she is going to be a music lover-hopefully a fan of John Mayer also! :)

John Mayer is incredibly talented; what a truly gifted performer! His heart really is in what he does, and he loves his fans and his job. He seems to be grateful for the opportunities his career has afforded him. I was actually impressed with his attitude. I do not think that I will be going to another concert while I am pregnant, but John Mayer was definitely worth all of the discomfort I had to endure. Years from now I will look back over the trials and tribulations of this time in my life and remember this night. Thank the Lord for fun activities and distractions from the woes of life! JOHN MAYER-YOU ROCK!

Here are a few pictures from the concert. I am still upset about misplacing my battery charger. I wasn't able to take my good digital camera. :( I had to take a disposable one instead. I couldn't zoom in so none of the pictures of John on the stage came out very good.

Faith Noelle It Is! We Are Having A Girl!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are having a girl! Well, actually the baby was small and head down so the sonogram lady was not 100% sure but almost certain that it is indeed a girl. I talked to the doctor and he said that he was also pretty certain that it was a girl as well. He said, "If you cannot see something sticking up, then it is a girl!" Ha! I had a feeling it was, and I was right! I guess my motherly instinct was correct! I have felt that God was going to give me a girl even before I was pregnant. God is so good to not only give me a baby but also a little girl. Once again, he has given me a desire of my heart! YEAH GOD! My mom and sister are ecstatic about the news! Scott is happy too, but probably more for me than for him. He knew how badly I wanted a little girl! My little nieces are going to have a little playmate, and my sister and brother-in-law are thrilled to be able to get rid of all the girl stuff that they have been storing up in the attic! I am just glad that I am not going to have to pack up all my girl stuff. I get to use it, and I also get to start decorating! How exciting is that?!?

The baby is doing great! The heart rate is normal, and the baby weighs 7 ounces. That is a little small but not bad. The average size for this stage is 8-9 ounces. I haven't gained too much weight; they are very pleased with my weight gain and blood pressure. They are as delighted as me that things are going well. Praise the Lord! What a blessing! I just have to go get my Gestational Diabetes test done before my next appointment. I am also going to take a breastfeeding class, schedule a meeting with a pediatrician that has been recommended to me by my sister, and take a tour of the hospital. Oh, and I registered for some things today as well. It was a lot of fun! I am holding off on registering for really girly things until next month when they do another sonogram and confirm for sure that it is a girl. However, I am not holding off to start decorating the room. I just do not think that I can wait any longer! I will post pictures as I decorate the room so you can see my progress. I will also post some playroom pictures soon as well. It turned out super cute and is all finished! YEAH! :)

Thanks for sharing in our joy! I will post the sonogram pictures soon! :)

18 Weeks Pregnant!

Here is what is new with me:

First of all let me say how overjoyed I am about being over my stomach virus! What a horrible thing to have to go through when you are pregnant! It is bad enough having to deal with it when you aren't pregnant. It is unbearable when you are! I seriously thought I was dying! I could not keep anything down and my nausea medication did nothing to help me. I had a horrible headache for days from throwing up so violently! I called the doctor to find out what to do, but I could not get suppositories because they only have them for the medication that I am allergic to. I know that they would have helped me had I not been allergic. So, basically they offered me little hope! They told me that if I continued to not be able to keep anything down, then I would have to go the hospital. That was definitely something I did not want to do!!! Praise the Lord, it shut off right before I had to go. Thanks to everyone who prayed for me and encouraged me during that time. I was really rough, and I am praying that it does not return again for a really long time!!!! This was a memorable 4th of July weekend, but for all the wrong reasons! Hopefully next year will be better!!

I am now officially 18 weeks pregnant. I will find out the sex of the baby on Monday, July 14th. I am sooooooo excited! I have been looking forward to this day for months-actually probably from the time that I first knew that I wanted children! I cannot imagine being surprised or having a baby back 20 or so years ago and not being able to find out the sex of the baby until it arrived. Thank the Lord for sonograms! I am just the kind of person who loves to plan things out. I am not into neutral baby items. I am either all blue or all pink. That is just me! You know, I really do not think that I like surprises at all. Every Christmas and birthday I make it a point to know every gift. This situation is certainly no different! Well, I guess there is one difference-this baby is WAY better than any Christmas or birthday gift! :)

I have really been nesting here lately. I love going in the baby room and looking at all my baby stuff. To Scott it is really strange, but I guess it just isn't real to men until the baby arrives. We women are nurturers. I think that it is neat how God designed us that way! A guy could never spend hours just looking at baby clothes/items and day dreaming about a baby. I know that my desire to nest and set up my home for baby is going to kick in even more once I find out the sex! Monday could possibly be one of the best days of my life. That is just how excited I am about finding out if it is going to be Faith Noelle or Tanner David! YEAH!

The nausea is better! Praise the Lord! It is funny how things change throughout the different stages of pregnancy. I started out being nauseous all the time. Then it lessened some during the day but was really bad at night. Now I have it occasionally during the day but every day around 5:00 until about 9:00 it is really bad. Then around 9:00 I get a sudden burst of energy and feel better. I am able to sleep well and have even been able to get somewhat comfortable (as comfortable as you can get with a stomach the size of a cantaloupe-Ha!). Then around 5:00 in the morning I wake up and am extremely nauseous again for about an hour. Some times I take a Benadryl to put me back to sleep, but most of the time I just lay back down and tough it out. I usually fall back to sleep within 30-45 minutes or so. (It is amazing how tolerant you learn to become when you have had chronic health problems for most of your life! ) I have been trying to just take my meds once a day, but most days I have to take 2 doses. It really does help me some, and I am so grateful for it-better late than never, right? I just got a letter from my insurance company that said that they had approved me for the medication for as long as I need it. Now I had already been told that, but it was really great to get the promise in writing. What a huge relief! I am still thanking the Lord for that HUGE blessing!

Okay, I have heard from a lot of women about how much they love pregnancy. Me, not so much! I love feeling the baby kick, and I love the miracle that God is creating inside of me. It is fascinating and truly miraculous! I am in awe every time I think about it. However, I do not really enjoy being uncomfortable all the time. My back hurts, my abdomen hurts, and I cannot hardly eat anything without getting horrible Acid Reflux. There is NOTHING more annoying than hearing women go on and on about how easy and fun pregnancy was for them. While I am happy for them that they had such a great experience, that is not very encouraging to me. It just seems really insensitive to me when people go on and on and rub it in. Recently I have even come in contact with a few people (mainly family members) who tried to make me feel guilty about being so sick. I have heard them say, "She is just psychosomatic; it is all in her head." Okay, that is crazy! Apparently, they do not know the first thing about pregnancy and female hormones! The thing I hate the most is when someone says, "You are still sick? What is wrong with you?" HOW RUDE! I have learned who is like that and who isn't and I try to avoid people who make me feel like this is my fault. I am a very open and honest person. If you ask me how I am doing, I am not going to sugar coat my answer. I am going to tell you the truth. Some people just cannot take the truth! While I can be negative at times, there is a difference between being open and honest and being a pessimist. I always try and give some good with the bad, but I am not going to tell people I am peachy when I am not. I value honesty and pride myself on being that way. Yah, like it has been my choice being this sick! I like being miserable! I guess some people think that I do. Hey, I like sympathy, but only a mentally ill person would pretend to be sick just to get attention. I do not need or want it that bad! Anyway, you really get to see the incredible insensitivity of people when you are having a hard time. It really is true that it is hard to sympathize with someone who is suffering if you yourself have never really had any health issues of your own. That does not mean that you cannot, but I think that it is just more difficult. I have met a lot of really compassionate and sympathetic people through the years who have had it pretty easy in life. They haven't had a lot of physical struggles but yet they are understanding and compassionate towards those individuals who have or who do. Those people really get it! I think that God continues to bless them because they have a heart of gratitude for what God has given them and what He has done! They are blessed and yet they never take it for granted. They always turn back around to say "thank you, Lord". This is commendable even though it is much easier to give thanks when times are good than when they are bad. I have been in both positions and know first hand. However, when I am dead and gone, I want to be known as the kind of person who gave thanks in all circumstances. That is one thing that this pregnancy has taught me-give thanks ALWAYS. No matter how bad things are going, there is always something that you can give thanks for. And although I have spent quite a bit of time complaining about insensitive people, I do not regret being exposed to people like that. They teach me a lot about God's amazing grace that He extended to me on the cross 2000 years ago. He had it so much worse than I ever will! Having to deal with people that are insensitive and rude forces me to learn to follow Christ's example and extend that same kind of forgiveness and grace. It also teaches me patience and how to control my tongue! Isn't it cool how God can take the bad things that happen to us and use them for our good?

I miss Mexican food, barbecue, Chinese food, and Italian food! I get sick anytime I eat these foods. It really stinks! Prior to my pregnancy, I loved shrimp, salads, and chicken and now I cannot stand the smell or taste of shrimp. I am starting to like chicken and salads once again. The funny thing is that I love burgers! Yeah for Whataburger!!!! I was never really a beef eater until I got pregnant. Now I eat at least 2 burgers per week. I am addicted! Ha! I think that it really is true that your body craves what it needs the most. I am anemic and beef is high in iron. Maybe that is why I crave it all the time. I even had Scott go get me a burger in the middle of the night a few times when I have been out of breath and so fatigued that I could not sleep. I eat the meat-not the bun because I am allergic to wheat, and it really helps. Strange I know! Lately, I have also really been into Doritos, string cheese, fruit, and Lemonade. I also have been into Totino's pizzas-gross I know! The weird thing is that almost every tomato based food makes me sick, but not pizza. At least that is one thing I can still eat! Lasagna and spaghetti do not agree with me. :( I really miss salsa-especially my mother's! Additionally, I was really into Long John Silver's until I got sick with a stomach virus last week. There is nothing like throwing up Malt Vinegar. I probably will not be eating that again for a while! I also will not be taking Pepto Bismol. That was not too much fun coming up either. I really thought it would calm my stomach but I was wrong! YIKES!

I bought a body pillow but do not use it except when I lay on the floor and play with my niece. I also bought a small, square wedge to rest my belly on when I sleep, but I do not like it either. Instead I am using a $2.50 beanie travel pillow. I bought it to use on the plane when we travel, but I absolutely love using it at night when I sleep. It has actually been helping me get comfortable and get some rest. YES! I am really glad I did not pay $60 for a pregnancy pillow-chances are that I would not have liked it! Lately, I am also really into gowns and dresses. I hate having stuff on stomach-not even maternity pants are comfortable for me! The style of dresses that is popular now is perfect for my pregnant body. I am still wearing size small in regular dresses. The size small in maternity dresses is too big. That makes me feel better about my expanding waist line! I got the cutest dresses for $22 at Target. They are so comfortable and make me feel really cute. I am embracing my little bump! I also love my night gowns. They are super soft and oh so cozy! Scott calls the material yoga material. He bought me some pants and a tank a few years ago that were the same material and brand. I could live in that stuff. It is awesome! Target is such a life saver!

Well, that is it for now! I am sure I will have more to share soon! :)

$1200 Of Pills For $3: God Has Provided!

As many of you know, I have had one heck of a time with nausea and anxiety. Yes, I am now 2 weeks into my 2nd trimester and yet am still really battling it. Lucky me! Anyway, a couple weeks ago it got so bad that I had to get some help. I really didn't know if this would be possible especially since I had an allergic reaction to the most commonly prescribed medication used to treat pregnant women with nausea. (When you are pregnant there are so few things that you can take. When I went in to see the doctor, I was afraid that I was out of options.) However, in spite of the likely hood that my insurance would not cover an alternative medication, my doctor prescribed it. He put me on Zofran (a medication commonly prescribed for cancer patients who are dealing with severe nausea as a result of radiation and chemotherapy). My doctor originally prescribed 30 pills, but my insurance would only fill 15 at a time. Well, that was my initial understanding. However, yesterday I realized that they would only approve 15 pills for every 30 days. Now, while I was grateful that they were willing to pay for any of this medication, I knew that 15 pills would only last me 1 week. I dreaded the thought of having to endure 3 weeks of no medication. During this whole fiasco I had to go without the medication for a day and half, and I really noticed a difference in my health and well-being. I desperately needed my prescription changed and SOON! So, I talked with the pharmacy and they advised me to contact my insurance company. With some fear and apprehension I called Tricare. (I have had so many problems with military health care in the past. I typically let Scott deal with the insurance companies, but yesterday he was not around and I needed some help right then and there.) To my surprise ,they were really sweet and helpful. I had thought that I would have to file a claim and then have my doctor fill it out with my reasons for needing more medication, but they told me that I could get the issue resolved that day if my doctor would just call them and answer their questions. I was so relieved to hear that I could get some results that quickly! My doctor is out of town this week so I didn't know if the nurse would be able to get anything done for me or not. She so graciously agreed to do whatever it took to get me my meds. While I waited for her phone call to let me know if the insurance approved it or not, I prayed my heart out and asked the Lord to once again intervene and show Himself sovereign in this situation. Well, once again the Lord came through! The awesome thing is that the insurance approved 60 pills per month for as long as I need it. So, if I need it for the remainder of the pregnancy, then I will have it. I thought that my co-payment would increase, but it stayed the same. I was able to get $1200 worth of medication for $3! Now if that isn't God's provision, then I do not know what is! My insurance has not always been cooperative, but I am so grateful for them approving me and allowing me to get the medication I need. More than that, I am eternally grateful to the Lord for his sovereign power and continual provision in my life. I am blessed! :)

You Cannot Out Give God!

Just in the last several weeks I have experienced awesome favor with people. It is almost as though God is going before me and preparing a pathway of blessings. I like to think that it is because people cannot resist showing kindness to a pregnant woman, but I know that it really is the Lord's favor working on my behalf! It is not a result of anything I have done but a product of my Father's immense love and compassion for me! Here is an example of just one of the ways that the Lord has poured out His love for me...As many of you know, a few weeks ago I did a giveaway at my home. I am so grateful to my neighbors who came over and took a lot of the stuff. It really made it a lot easier on me-I only had half as much stuff to haul off myself. In order to thank me for all the free stuff, they went and bought and planted begonias by my front door. It would have been more than enough for them to have just bought me some plants, but my neighbor, Tom, also planted them for me. That meant so much to me! I have been so sick and have such little tolerance for the heat that I have not really been able to do much gardening. It has really been bugging me that in spite of my diligence in watering and fertilizing my pansies, they did not make it. I knew they wouldn't but had hoped that they would last longer. I was so sad to pull them up especially since I knew that I would not be able to afford replacement flowers. We haven't had a consistent income for 2 months now and so we can only buy necessities. Anyway, every time I drove by the house or walked out to the mailbox and saw the empty flower bed, it really made me feel sad. (Sometimes when you are depressed, small things like flowers really can help cheer you up! )It wasn't like it was a life or death situation having flowers there, but it was a desire of my heart to have some pink begonias by my front door. My neighbors didn't even know that it was that big of a deal to me. Once again, God gave me a desire of my heart! If God can provide for the small things in life, then how much more will He come through on the big things in life?!? This simple act of kindness was a reminder to me of God's provision. Although I am having such a tough time dealing with our financial situation, it is situations like this that remind me of God's faithfulness. The neatest thing about all of this is that my mother told me the night before the giveaway, "Heather, I am proud of you for giving away your stuff. God will bless you because you cannot out give God!". She was right, YOU CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD! He definitely has the bigger shovel! :)

I AM Proud To Be An American!

Recently I have had some really neat things happen to me! These things are not huge but meant a lot to me. Whenever I start to doubt God's love and ability to provide for me, He comes through in a small ways to show me that He hasn't forgotten about me. What an awesome God!

Our country is made up of many patriotic people. It feels so good to have people show their support especially since the government has failed to take care of soldiers. The continual disappointment we have felt because of the problems with Scott's orders, have made life really tough. It feels gratifying to know that we are appreciated and that even though the government does not seem to care about soldiers, the American people do. Here is what happened...On our first trip to the doctor, Scott had on his uniform because he was having to head out to work immediately after our appointment. As we waited to see the doctor, an older lady came up to us and thanked Scott for his service and gave him a $2o. We tried to give it back, but then she told us that the Lord had told her to give it to us. How could you refuse the money after she said that?!? She wanted us to use it to buy lunch. Wow, we looked at each other in disbelief! We both got teary-eyed; it was a very moving experience! Then on the same day when we went to check out and schedule our next appt., my doctor's wife (who is also the secretary) thanked us for serving our country. I was concerned about our insurance because of the ongoing problems with Scott's orders, but she told me not to worry about it. She said that they were so grateful to us for our service that she wasn't worried about payment. Several months later and we are still having problems with our insurance. I ask about it at every appointment, and she tells me to just not worry about it. She has repeatedly said, "You guys have already done so much for our country and accommodating you in return is the least that we can do". We have not been out a dime even though I know that we have a deductible. This has been such a blessing because we really do not have money for the deductible right now. In spite of a discouraging situation, God is going before us and preparing the way for us! He truly is Jehovah-Jirah, OUR PROVIDER!!!

There is so much that we cannot control right now; it is great to have people be so accommodating and understanding about our situation. To Dr. McAlpine and his sweet wife, it is not about the money. They both really love the Lord and consider their practice as a ministry to others. That is exactly what they have done for me-ministered to me and greatly encouraged my heart. They have renewed my faith in the kindness and generosity of people! I cannot even tell you how much anxiety has been lifted off of my shoulders just by knowing that they are extending us so much grace. In a world full of materialistic people and tons of doctors who are in the field just simply for the big bucks, their actions are unheard of! I feel so grateful to have a doctor who really cares and who puts his patients first!

It was not just on this day that we experienced amazing kindness and appreciation for our service to our country. God has also given Scott great favor with policemen. His sticker was expired and he was speeding. An officer pulled him over. Scott had his uniform on; he was headed back from the unit. He really should have gotten two tickets, but the cop just asked him how long he had served, thanked him, and then sent him on his way. That is unbelievable! Cops do not do that very often! Once again, in this siutation we would not have been able to pay the ticket. Again, the Lord provided!

God is really looking out for us, and I greatly appreciate all the love, support, and encouragement we have received over the last few months since Scott joined the Reserves. Thank you Lord for your continual provision! We know that every good and perfect gift comes from you! Thanks to all of you who pray for and make it a point to minister to soldiers. Your kindness means the world to us as well as all the other soldiers who are proudly serving our country.

The Latest Baby News

Here is the latest:

I think I felt the baby move today! The doctor said that I should start feeling something soon. He said that thin girls typically start feeling the baby pretty early on. That is exciting! I cannot wait until other people can feel it too! However, I do not want hands on my tummy all the time-especially people I do not know! I have already been warned about those people. I have some pretty crazy hormones-they better watch it! Ha! I might just punch them! Ha! Ha!

I find out the sex of the baby on July 14th. Scott is going to be at his CA course during that time. I had thought about waiting until he gets back, but I didn't want to have to wait an extra 2 weeks. Plus, he said he was fine about not going this time. He was there for the first sonogram last month. My sister is going to go with me instead. It should be neat to share the experience with another person from the family!

The playroom is almost finished! YES!!!!! I am allowing the caulk and paint to dry this weekend, and then Monday I am going to start arranging and decorating the room. I have looked forward to decorating for baby for years and years! My dad did such a great job, and I am convinced that no other baby gift will top this one! Thanks, Dad!

I found the perfect glider rocker. I love it, and I know it is going to look great in our bedroom. It is cherry wood and will have a khaki cushion. We found it at Babies R Us, and we are having to special order it. I think it is going to work well for us. It will also match the bassinet that my sister is loaning us. We plan on keeping the baby in the room with us for the first 6 months or so. Anyway, the glider has all kinds of special features, and it will really come in handy during feedings. Who knew that you could get a special breastfeeding ottoman to go with your glider? I love picking out stuff for Baby Ludwig!

Everyone keeps asking me where I am registered. Well, I am not registered anywhere yet. I am waiting until we find out the sex of the baby in July-that way I can register more specifically for the things that I need. Since Scott is going to be gone for pretty much the last 3-4 months of my pregnancy, we are going to register a little early so that we can do it together. :)

Okay, so I have decided not to read a lot of books about breastfeeding because they are militant and very discouraging (well at least the ones I have come in contact with are that way). Instead, I am talking to friends/family and getting help and advice from them. I am also going to take a class at the hospital. I have heard that the nurses at the hospital are really helpful. I am not going to hesitate to ask them for support.

An Emergency Trip to the Doctor's Office

My second trimester has officially begun. It kind of started off with a scare. I had been experiencing tremendous pain on the right side of my body (my back and abdomen) for several days. I didn't know if I had hurt by back, if maybe the baby was putting pressure on me and that was causing the pain, or if it was a possible bladder infection. The pain got so bad that I could not move from the couch! At that point I decided to stop toughing it out and call the doctor. They wanted me to come in the next morning and have some tests run to make sure everything was okay. So, we went ahead and moved my monthly appointment up a week and I went in yesterday. While I was there, I decided to talk to my doctor about everything that was going on with me. I had heard that there was a possiblity that I could take anti-anxiety medication durning my second trimester. This of course would be a last resort, but I just knew that I could not continue to experience chronic pain day in and day out without getting some help. When I am severly sleep deprived and have to deal with chronic pain for long periods of time, it causes me to have a lot of anxiety and depression. Since things hadn't gotten better, I decided to lay everything out on the table. My doctor is super conservative and was adimate about me not taking anti-anxiety medication. I asked him about other things such as chiropractic visits to help with pain, and he was against all of that as well. I didn't feel too much hope, but then all of the sudden he became sympathetic and offered me some hope. I had been told that there was no other nausea medication that I could take that our insurance would cover. My doctor's nurse screens his calls and I seldom get to talk to him over the phone. I was going by what the nurse had told me. However, that was not true. Now, I don't know that my doctor loves giving this medication out to just anyone. He probably has a list of drugs that he gives out, and I am sure that this one was further down the list. Things probably have to get pretty bad before he gives it out, but he prescribed it for me and told me that he would refill it as many times as I needed. I guess all that I shared finally helped him realize that I really did need something to help me feel better. I think 10 weeks of discomfort and pain was enough suffering to help finally get his attention. He was super sweet and accomidating. I was afraid that once again he would tell me to tough it out-it would be over soon, but that is not what he said. I could tell that he genuinely felt bad for me and wanted to help me out. What a relief! Apparently, I did not have a bladder infection but Dr. McAlpine believes that my intense pain is being caused by the residual Endometriosis that I have all over my organs. As my body rearranges to accomidate the baby, it is aggravating the Endometriosis. The good news is that since I no longer have a cycle, the Endometriosis cannot get worse. However, I can still experience pain because of all the changes my body is having to endure. I had been suspicious about the Endometriosis, but really wasn't sure what was going on. Enduring the pain of Endometriosis has been one of the toughest things I have had to deal with in life. I had really hoped that my pregnancy was the end to this, but it just seems like one more thing I have to deal with. My doctor has said that as the uterus shifts over the next few weeks, the pain should get better. I hope so. Please keep me in your prayers regarding the following:

Pray that God will encourage my heart. I don't want to lose hope, and I do not want Satan to steal my peace and joy. The Lord has given me the desire of my heart, and I do not want discouragement to destroy my passion for being a mother. I also do not want to be so fearful that I do not want to have more children in the future.

Pray that my new medication helps with the nausea and anxiety. It is not an anti-anxiety medication, but I have found that nausea medications typically help with anxiety. Pray that I will not have an allergic reaction like last time. I desperately need to be able to get some sleep, and I also need some relief from the pain.

Pray for God's continual provision during this time while Scott is not working. Pray for his orders to come through soon. Pray that God will help me feel well enough to contribute financially. It is really tough for me to work when I am feeling really bad.

Pray that the pain in my abdomen will settle down and that I will be able to get back to normal life again.

Pray that I respond well to my new iron supplement. Pray that my iron level goes up quickly so that I can start feeling better and not have to take it any longer. I am still really battling fatigue.

Pray that the baby will continue to grow strong and remain healthy in spite of all of the stress and anxiety of life right now.

Pray that the Lord will heal my body and that the Endometriosis will really have a chance to heal during this pregnancy.

Thanks for the concern and sympathy. I am trusting the Lord for complete healing and restoration as well as a healthy, happy baby come December. Thanks for agreeing with us for God's best!

Bye, Bye Anxiety!

As many of you know, this Saturday I am having a giveaway at my home from 10-2. I am cleaning and organizing in preparation for Baby Ludwig. It has been stressful having to sort through everything and almost painful at times parting with certain things. However, I know it is worth it. I cannot even tell you how much anxiety has gone away as I have gotten organized. So much has happened just in one week's time! I really like donating things to a worthy cause, but even more than that I like giving it to people I know and love. That is exciting and gives me warm fuzzies inside! There is something really freeing about getting rid of things you do not use. It is like I have been carrying anxiety about having so much stuff for years and didn't even realize it until I started going through the stuff and getting rid of it. I am sleeping better at night and have a lot more peace. God is teaching me that things do not bring happiness! I think in some ways I have used things to make me happy. You have heard of emotional eaters-I think that I was kind of an emotional buyer. I mean not so bad that we got into debt or anything, but I still had more stuff then I needed. Honestly, I have given more things away in the last 2 years than I have in my entire life! It brings me so much joy to part with things. Whoever thought that I would feel that way-especially when they are things that I like?!? I have learned a lot from this and feel like this lesson will make me a better mother. I don't want to pass on bad habits by the example I set. I want my child to walk in freedom! I finally understand the root from which some of my anxiety has been coming. Now that I know, I am committed to only buying things that I really need! Thank you Lord for changing my heart and mind! And thanks ahead of time to all of you who come over and take stuff home. This really is the best gift you could give me or Baby Ludwig! I hope to see you soon!

Countdown To Second Trimester-Please Pray!

I have 2 days left in this trimester! I am getting bigger and feeling a lot more discomfort in my abdomen area. It feels like there is an elephant sitting on my head and another one pressing against my feet leaving me feeling squashed and squeezed. I feel like my abdomen just isn't big enough to accommodate this growing baby. I have trouble sitting without having something to lean up against, but my best position is when I am able to lay back and prop my feet up. I have got to figure out how to get comfortable at church. I may end up standing at the back during services because it is just so uncomfortable to sit. Does anyone have any ideas of what I might do? Maybe I can just take a stool or something to prop my feet up on. Standing is fine for a while, but then my back gets to hurting pretty bad, and I have to sit down. It is kind of a dilemma! My greatest regret is not being more physically strong and prepared for this. My back is weak and so are my abs, and that is only complicating things. Plus, I have a really petite frame and so my body has really had to do some shifting to accommodate this growing baby. It is only going to get worse, but I am trusting God for the strength to push through the pain and discomfort. I know in the end it will all be worth it, but it is just really tough right now. I really envy you girls who have super easy pregnancies! That hasn't been my experience at all. I am kind of bummed. :(

The nausea is still going strong-VERY STRONG! I had really thought that it would be over by now. However, my mom told me today that my sister's nausea lasted until week 17. Yikes! Every pregnancy is different; hopefully, mine will go away soon. I have been having severe anxiety attacks because of all of the chronic pain and discomfort. I can honestly say that this is the most difficult thing I have ever been through! Please continue praying for improved health and a healthy baby. All of the health problems are really wearing both Scott and I down both mentally, physically, and emotionally. It has also been really tough on our relationship. Whoever knew that pregnancy could be so tough?!?! I am currently in the process of finding a support group for people who suffer with chronic pain. I think that it would be really helpful to have some place to talk and vent-a place to be heard and understood. I am also exploring some of my options for dealing with the anxiety attacks. Listening to worship music and praying has helped a lot, but I am still having issues. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Onto more positive things-I am getting the house organized and the nursery and playroom set up. It is very slow going, but at least it is happening. I hope everyone in the area will come out on Saturday and take some stuff home with them. Once I can get rid of this stuff, I should be able to really get things set up around here. It feels good to finally get things organized. I just wish I felt better so that I could get things done quicker. I am not an organized person, but I am making myself get more organized. I am taking one day at a time and trying to keep a positive attitude. This baby is a huge blessing, and I am grateful to the Lord for this precious gift. Thanks for the encouragement and prayers. Keep them coming! :)

Things Are Looking Up Even Though The Ceiling Is Coming Down!

Yesterday we discovered that our air conditioner was leaking and causing the ceiling to cave in in our guest bedroom. Fortunately, I think I caught it pretty early before the leak was able to destroy the carpet and my Home Interiors merchandise. That was pretty amazing because I keep that door shut off and rarely go in there. Anyway, it was still a huge pain. Scott had to shut off the AC and try and unstop the pipe. As you know, yesterday was extremely hot. That was not fun, but he a was able to get it fixed and we did get to turn the AC back on a few hours later. Thank goodness-Baby Ludwig was starting to sweat! Ha! But the surprising thing about all of this is that I didn't get stressed! I guess I am growing up and maturing some. I mean the timing was really bad because of us having out of town company coming to stay the next day, but I didn't get panicked and stressed about it. I was proud of myself for being so calm. I think that all the trials of the last few years have really taught me how to trust the Lord. Now that isn't to say that I always trust the Lord. I don't. God has come through for us time and time again yet I still have a difficult time trusting. I am so glad that He is faithful even though I am not! Anyway, I was still encouraged by my small step of faith and improvement in this area. I am not even close to being where I would like to be. However, I am doing better. That is what matters most, right? The insurance adjuster came out today, and our insurance is going to take care of the repairs. God is working everything out, and I am able to think about it and laugh. God must be preparing me for motherhood! :)

But just as the ceiling is coming down, things really are looking up for me! To you, these things may not seem too big, but they are huge to me! First of all, I was able to go to the grocery store last night for the first time and not get sick because of the food and the smells! People really do take that for granted, but it was really difficult for me to buy groceries up until now. I would just get so sick, and it was really frustrating. Now I am better able to do it, and I am really happy about it. Then today I was able to cook food and basically be in the kitchen all day without getting sick. That is another reason I am rejoicing. I haven't been able to cook a meal in weeks. Not that I love to cook or anything, but I did kind of miss preparing meals at home. Trust me, there are only so many take out meals you can eat before you go crazy! I am still battling nausea but I do get some relief during the day on some days. I am grateful for that! My playroom is coming together and is going to be super cute! That is exciting! I am grateful for all of these things, but most of all I am grateful for the lesson that I am learing from my pregnancy experiences. The Lord is teaching me to be thankful for even the little things in life. A day without nausea is a reason to give thanks. We as Americans take things for granted-our health, the nice things we have, our families, our freedom. Well, when you feel bad all the time, you realize what a huge blessing it is to go through the day feeling good! We are all so blessed yet we often fail to see what God has given us and thank Him for those blessings. God has blessed us far and above what we deserve. Let's always keep a heart of gratitude for our MANY blessings-even the small ones! :)

Our First Sonogram

Today's appointment went well other than a few little minor things going wrong. I really felt awful when I got up. I started off my morning with several visits to the porcelain throne. It was really strange because I feel nauseous all the time, but I rarely throw up. However, today was a very different story. So, that made me late to my appointment. Then once I got there, the sonogram technician was a little bit rude and abrasive at the beginning of the sonogram. (You are right about her, Laura! ) And then I guess the other thing that kind of went wrong was my inability to go to the bathroom for my urine sample. How frustrating! I go to the bathroom 100 times a day. However, when I really need to go, I cannot. CRAZY! But, even though a lot of things went wrong, I was determined to not let anything ruin my day. Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat for the first time made me forget about everything else. What an awesome experience!

It was surreal seeing the baby for the first time! I didn't know whether to cry or laugh-I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience. It was almost like s/he was waving at us. His/her arm was moving around like crazy. Too cute! I did not want to leave the table. I just wanted to spend the entire day looking at my baby on the screen. I am really glad for the technology of today. How cool is it to be able to see the baby before it comes out-even as early on as 11 weeks along in a pregnancy?!? As you can tell from the picture, we are having ONE baby! Today we found out that I am 11 weeks and 6 days along. My doctor had originally given me Dec. 6th as my due date, but I thought the 15th was a more accurate guess. Today he gave me the due date of December 12th. The baby is doing well (besides kind of looking like a baby duck). Ha! We got to hear the hearbeat, and it is strong and normal. I will find out the sex of the baby at my July appointment. I made sure and asked about that! The doctor assures me that the nausea will be over in 1-2 weeks. Let's hope so! I cannot even tell you how much I am looking forward to my second trimester! Seeing the baby has made the discomfort and pain much more worth it, but it still would be nice to not feel sick ALL the time! Everything is going well, and I feel very grateful to the Lord for his provision and protection! Thank you for celebrating this special time with us! We appreciate all of the encouraging words and prayers. Keep praying! Our baby is blessed to have so many people that love and care! Baby Ludwig cannot wait to meet everybody!

Stay tuned for more baby news! :)

Nursery Plans

I spoke too soon! I was really bummed about them discontinuing the sleigh changing table that I wanted, but at the urging of my mother I checked their website. They have the same changing table on there as the one I wanted-it is just a different brand. YEAH! And it is also $10 cheaper than the one I picked out in the store. My only concern was that the shipping would be as much or almost as much as the actual item because that often is the case. However, to my surprise, the shipping is only like $19. So, I am really happy about that. All my stressing was for nothing! God once again provided for my every need! Now maybe you believe me about the power of prayer. I should have been a professional shopper! Ha!

I am also excited to report that I have found some boy crib bedding that I actually like. It is a miracle! So, I think we are going to do an old world theme with ships and sailboats. As you can see from the picture, the bedding has lots of neutral colors in it. It has a whale on it so I thought it might be cute to incorporate that into the room somehow-maybe the Bible story Jonah and the Whale. I have a picture that I bought for Scott for Father's Day that I think we are going to use as the big piece in the room-it will probably hang above the crib or changing table. I absolutely love it, and it has been my inspiration for this room. Below are a couple of pictures of the framed picture as well as a picture of the crib bedding I like. There are a few others I like also. I have not completely decided on the crib bedding, but at least I have some ideas of what I might like to do if we have a boy. I am sure that Tanner really will appreciate not having to have a pink room with pink crib bedding! Ha!

Now if it is a girl, we are all set! I am doing a shabby chic room with pink, white, and mint green. The crib bedding is a combination of stripes, polka dots, and flowers. I am accenting the room with bunnies. I also want to have a tea table in the room with a tea set on the table and bunnies seated at the table. This room is 100% girl; it is very soft and sweet.

Pregnancy Update

Okay, so the nausea has gotten a little better, but what happened to my memory?!?! Seriously!!!! I didn't think that the memory started to go until later on in the pregnancy! Well, my forgetfulness has kicked in, and I have not been too happy about it! I am usually the one who reminds everyone else about stuff, but now they are having to remind me! The good news is that this first trimester has equipped me to handle anything. I must admit that a little memory loss is WAY better than nausea!!!!!! Can I get an AMEN?!? Ha!

I am super excited about this Thursday's appointment. We get to see our baby and actually know that there is indeed something growing inside of me. I am really thrilled to hear the heartbeat for the first time! However, I have had some anxiety about finding out that there might be more than one baby in there. Actually, I go back and forth between being excited at the thought and being terrified at the thought of two babies growing inside of me. Chances are that it is just one baby, but I guess we will know for sure on Thursday! STAY TUNED!

I have to admit that lately I have been feeling more and more that the baby is a girl! I keep thinking that is because I want one so bad, but I am not sure. I just kind of sense that maybe it is a girl. I felt that way before we got pregnant also. I cannot tell you how many people have come up to me and said, "I hope you have a girl." I don't know if that is because they want me to have what I really want or if it is because that is what they want for me. Either way, I really appreciate people being excited for us! Thanks guys!

The suspense of not knowing what we are having is killing me! I am thinking that we will probably find out in July. That seems forever away! Oh well, this is a great lesson in discipline and patience. I have disciplined myself not to buy any more baby stuff until we find out the sex of the baby. I have been doing really good-pat on the back. :) However, I do fear that when I find out I will absolutely go crazy and buy up the town. My advice to you is do not ever pray for patience. It only takes asking for it once for the Lord to give you a lifetime to have to learn about it. I am convinced that my prayers for patience are what have led me to have to live a life where I feel like I am constantly having to wait and be patient! Ha! Ha! Just kidding! Thank you Lord for loving me too much to allow me to stay the same! I really am grateful for my lessons in patience! :)

The curtains for the playroom are all done! Thanks, Mom! I put them on the rods last night and am hoping that Scottie will put them up today. Scott also promised that we would go buy the caulk for the room and get started on the painting this weekend. YEAH!!!! I think once I find out the sex of the baby, I will buy the decoupage/paper mache letters for the name and make it for the playroom. I did my niece's name for her room and it turned out super cute. She has it displayed right above her bed. I thought the name would be cute to put on one of the shelves with all the vintage toys. I love working on the rooms for the baby! Life cannot get more fun than this!!!!!!

I am really proud of myself for being thrifty and saving us some big bucks yesterday! I had been wanting a pregnancy pillow. We went to Babies R Us and checked them out, but I couldn't decide which one I wanted. Plus, I really didn't think that I wanted to spend $60 for the pillow and then another $20 for the cover. So, I decided to be patient and wait and see what I could come up with instead. Some of you probably already know about my strategy for shopping-I always ask the Lord for awesome deals before I head out. You might think that is silly, but it really does work. Why wouldn't it? God wants to give us the desires of our hearts! Well, that is how I got a $300 designer purse for $20! It really does work! God is always faithful to help me find the best deals. Yesterday was no different! I had remembered a few of my friends saying that they used a body pillow while they were pregnant and it really helped them sleep at night. I wasn't even looking for anything at Target yesterday, but I stumbled across some huge body pillows. Guess what, they were on sale for $10! The covers were right next to them. They had many to choose from, and they all had zippers in them to hold them securely in place. They were also on sale for $10. So, I couldn't refuse this deal! I put it together last night and slept with it. It is so soft and comfy! It will really come in handy when my tummy gets big and I need lots of extra support! Thank you Jesus for awesome shopping experiences! Now stop laughing at me and start getting on your knees before you head out to shop! :)

I am really bummed that white baby furniture is going out! Months ago I picked out a white, sleigh changing table at Babies R Us. I went back a few days ago to look at it. They had it in black and brown but not in white. I thought I was going crazy because I couldn't find the white one. Scott kept trying to tell me that maybe I had never seen that one in white, but I knew that I had. I finally asked one of the employees about it and she told me that my changing table had been discontinued in white. SO DISAPPOINTED! I really wanted that changing table! It was the perfect one at the perfect price. I am not going to give up that easy, however. I think I will try another store. If I cannot find it, then I will purchase my second pick. Of course, I better act fast because the workers told me that they are phasing out all of their white furniture. Black and cherry wood are more popular now, I guess. I thought I was hip and cool with my white crib. Maybe not! Oh well, I love white and I love my crib. I have great plans for that hand-me-down crib of mine-just wait and see! Ha! :)

A Moving Experience, Forever Changed

After spending countless days here at the house, I decided to get out and get some exercise. For the last few weeks Scott has run all the errands because I have felt too bad, but this time I decided to do them. Something kind of funny about me is that I never run errands without letting myself go to at least one place fun while I am out. No matter how bad I feel, I am not going to run errands without at least making one fun stop! This stop is my reward for having to go and do things that I really do not want to go and do! So, this time I decided to go to Arlington Resale. (This resale shop is right up the road, and all of the proceeds benefit Arlington Pregnancy Centers.) While I was there, I saw many awesome things and had a good time digging for hidden treasures. But then all of the sudden even though I was happy, I started crying. CRAZY! I was just overcome with emotion as I looked at all the stuff that people had donated. It was very moving to me to see how people had given so many nice things to help out such a worthy cause! I started thinking about my own baby and how much I love him/her. I was overwhelmed with God's goodness and faithfulness to me. It rushed over me like a flood! At that moment I realized just how precious ALL life is-not just the baby that I am carrying. Standing in that store I felt great compassion for the girls/women who are helped each year by the pregnancy center. I wished in that moment that I could give them my same joy and passion for motherhood. While I stood looking at shoes at this shop, things starting making sense to me. A lot of the bitterness and heartache that I have felt for so long just seemed to disappear. God was doing a work in my heart! What started in that store has been unfolding over the last twenty-four hours. As I sit here at my kitchen table and type, I feel very different than I did a week ago. Sometimes God reveals to us why we go through things in life, but sometimes we never really know why we were allowed to go through such painful stuff. As I have thought about my experience at the resale shop, God has revealed so many things to me. Instead of feeling hurt and resentment towards the Lord and others because of the infertility issues, I have a heart of gratitude and a heart of forgiveness. I feel like the Lord is helping me release and let go of things. Why is this? Well it is not because I am a super forgiving person. Actually, that is one of the most difficult things I have had to learn to do! No, I can forgive because I know that what I went through was for a purpose way bigger than me or any of the plans I could have made for myself. When you are going through difficult stuff, it is tough to rejoice. However, when you can look back and see that it was for a purpose, your heart is given no other choice but to rejoice. God allowed me to go through all of this so that I could have His heart for others. Who better to empathize than someone who has been through the same things? Sometimes we as humans just cannot understand the importance or truly value something until we have had to do without it. I think that is why I had such a strong response while I was at the store. I know what it is like to want something so bad and not have it! God has given me an excitement about His creation that has come out my sadness and grief. Women who choose to abort their babies do not think about things like this. I pray that my story will not only be used to encourage women with infertility issues, but that it will also be used to reveal truth to women who have bought into lies. Every baby is a precious gift, and God has a plan for every child! God has showered me with his goodness so that nothing else really seems to matter! I have a story to share and an awesome testimony of God's faithfulness in my life! Most of all, I can look back and say that it was ALL worth it!

Make Room For Baby!

Life is turning upside down as we make room for baby. The room that was once an office/craft room is becoming a nursery. And the room that was once a weight/work-out room is becoming a playroom. I am super excited but a little overwhelmed. I cannot wait until I start feeling better so that I can actually get to work! I have all the plans in my mind but just have to make it happen!

I am super excited about the playroom! I am doing a nostalgic/vintage theme that will work well for either a boy or a girl. I am getting to start on that even before I know what we are having! I just got the material for the curtains and am thrilled about my plans for the room! We are painting the ugly brick walls and putting up curtains and shelves. On the shelves we are putting classic, vintage toys. I have it all pictured in my mind and cannot wait to see how it turns out. We decided to go with the Dick and Jane alphabet material, and I think it is going to be perfect!

Here are my ideas for vintage toys. Please let me know if you think of anything else that would be cute for the room!

I already have:

a sock monkey
a large spinning top
some old wooden blocks
my childhood rocking chair that my dad made
a wooden rocking horse with a mop tail-super cute!
a few old raggedy teddy bears

Things I still want to buy:

Raggedy Ann and Andy
Etch a Sketch
View Finder
Lite Brite
Mr. Potato Head
Slinky
Old Fashioned Snoopy Sno Cone Maker

I have found a really awesome site on the Internet where you can get all of these toys at a discounted price. Cracker Barrel also carries a lot of classic, vintage toys as well. I got a few things from Arlington Resale for practically nothing. I may also check out two antique stores in my area. One is kind of pricey but the other one has really neat things for way less than what they are worth! (Thanks for telling me about it, Di!) You gotta love antique stores!

I will post pictures to show our progress so keep checking back! Here is the material we are using for the curtains as well as a picture of my rocking chair. :)

Our Cats Are Being Replaced By A Baby!

The Ludwig family is expanding by one-maybe two but probably just one! After five years of marriage, it is finally happening and we are super excited! I have been buying baby items since I was 16-seriously! I have so many stuffed animals, toys, and books! Then several months ago I went crazy and bought/crafted a million things for a girl's nursery. Strange I know, but I just fell in love with the bedding and then from there just went CRAZY! I did all of this shopping and planning before I was pregnant. I was depressed about my infertility issues and really felt like I needed something to keep me hopeful about the future. Believe it or not, working on these projects really helped me feel better. Now did I buy girl stuff because I really feel like I am going to have a girl? No, I guess I just did it because I really want a girl! However, the last few weeks I have been thinking about and planning for a boy nursery. I guess we will just have to wait and see what is cooking in the oven!