Hmmm, I guess I could have waited until Monday to do this update, as I'm going to be 14 weeks then.
14 weeks!! I can't believe it and I'm so relieved to be this far along!
I guess I'm getting closer to 4 months pregnant!! Two more weeks to go and I'll be 16 weeks!
I've seen this list of cute pregnancy update questions going around on some other blogs, and I think it would be fun to answer them. Here we go:
How far along: 13 weeks and 5 days.
How am I feeling? I was pretty nauseated and SUPER exhausted at first. But now, at 14 weeks, most of the nausea has gone. I only feel nauseated if I get too hungry. I'm still a bit more tired than usual. I usually take one nap a day and I'm trying to get to bed no later than 10 PM each night.
Maternity clothes? Absolutely. I have a "Leftover" baby bump, so my bump makes me look like I'm farther along then I really am. In fact, early this month someone asked me when I was due and when I told her December, she reared back in astonishment and said "are you sure? You look like you're due tomorrow! Are you sure there's only one in there??" Boo. So yes, I'm already into the few maternity clothes that I have. I still have my Old Navy online cart full of the things that I want and still hope to get them soon.
Gender? We don't know yet, but yes, we will find out! Samantha and Lucie want our baby to be a girl, and all the other kids want a boy. Daddy doesn't care, he just wants a healthy baby. I'm not sure if our baby is pink or blue....I don't have an impression so far.
Cravings? Oh yes! A lot of Mexican food. Burgerville burgers. Coffee drinks from my favorite place. Tartar sauce. Today I craved lemon. I think that's it......Oh! One more: steak and eggs with hash browns and hollandaise sauce!
Weight gained? I'm not sure about how much weight I've gained. I hadn't weighed myself in about a year. I had lost about 15 lbs in late November/early December. The first time I've been weighed was at my first midwife appointment last month. I will be weighed again on Wednesday at my next appointment. I don't think I've gained any weight so far.
Sleep? I'm sleeping alright. It varies. I know that before too long I'll not be able to sleep at all!! I usually get pretty uncomfortable around 6 to 7 months pregnant. At least it'll be cooler than it is now.
Stretch marks? What a silly question for someone who has had 15 pregnancies!! I do have stretch marks, but they are very, very light colored. Prior to being pregnant with twins, I only had them really, really low on my tummy because I usually carry my babies very low. But when I was pregnant with twins, Olivia was Baby B, and she sat above my belly button, with her head on my left side. Now I have these subtle stretch marks around my belly button, almost like Someone was cupping Olivia in His hands.
Best moment this week? Wow! The best moment this week was every single day! I've almost made it to 14 weeks, and that is a true miracle. I do not take even one day for granted. The Lord is so gracious to me to allow me to shelter this little life. I cherish each and every day.
Looking forward to? I'm really looking forward to my next appointment, which is Wednesday. We decided to go with a midwife this time, and all of my friends have her and I've never heard a negative thing about her. I'm so excited to see her again. I'm excited to see Baby again too!! I'm also anticipating stronger and stronger movement as Baby gets bigger!!
Miss anything? Well, I miss not being fearful of labor and delivery!! For me, as soon as that pregnancy test turns positive, the first thing that enters my mind is "OH NO, labor and delivery!!!!" That's the only thing I'd change! I don't want to be fearful of something inevitable, and what's more, it's something that I've done so many times before and really, it hasn't been horrible or devastatingly painful!
Names? Yes, we do have names picked out, both a girl name and a boy name. I'm not sharing them yet, though!!
Movement? Believe it or not, YES!! I've actually been feeling movement since I was 10 weeks pregnant. First of all, I know what it feels like when a baby moves in my womb, as opposed to gas or a muscle spasm! And, I talked to my midwife about it at my first appointment and she said that the way the amniotic fluid and the baby are positioned and the VERY ACTIVE state of the baby that we saw on the ultrasound, she said that each time the baby kicks their strong little legs, it was like a ripple effect, and with the good amount of fluid surrounding baby, I'd be able to feel it already. I feel vibrations and pokes and very strong flutters, especially after I eat.
There you have it. I'm not sure if I'll do Bump Pictures. It's kind of embarrassing to be this big when I'm not incredibly far along! I'm still contemplating Bump Pictures. Let's just say, if I do do a Bump Picture, you'll be surprised!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
A Song
Many years ago, my children and I watched "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron".
We love horses here so of course we loved the film. It was very well done and we thought the story line was unique and very well thought out.
When the movie started, I really expected to only be entertained and truthfully, I thought it was going to be a cheesy, stupid environmental flick.
I ended up being totally taken by surprise.
The biggest surprise for me was that God spoke to me.
Now, before I go any further with this post, let me say that I believe that the Lord can speak to His children through any medium imagined, whether it be through nature or a painting or a story or a thought or a song. He is the Author of every single creative medium, so the idea that He could speak through any medium is logical....but it wasn't for me! I thought that He only worked through "spiritual" outlets. I was sure He only spoke through "religious" medium.
And now I realize how wrong I was!
While watching Spirit, a song played during the scene where the horse was being transported in a train car during the beginning of a snow storm. He had been stolen from everything he had known and loved and he didn't know where he was headed. He felt that he was at his very lowest. He felt that he was in a dark pit and he just wanted to quit.
We watched the movie during the most dark, very hardest time in my life. I had experienced tremendous loss and grief up to that point and to tell you the truth, I was in the midst of a crises of faith.
Then I heard "Sound the Bugle Now"
And it was as though a lightning bolt from Heaven split the sky and struck my heart. The words to the song illuminated my mind and I actually felt the Lord's presence in the song. He spoke to me through that song, and to this day, whenever I listen to that song, my eyes tear up and my heart wells up with gratitude to the Lord for picking me up out of the pit I was in and using a song from an animated movie, of all things, to get my attention.
So, here are the words to that song. I think someone out there reading this needs to hear this message, so I pray that Christ would hasten the words deep into your heart!
We love horses here so of course we loved the film. It was very well done and we thought the story line was unique and very well thought out.
When the movie started, I really expected to only be entertained and truthfully, I thought it was going to be a cheesy, stupid environmental flick.
I ended up being totally taken by surprise.
The biggest surprise for me was that God spoke to me.
Now, before I go any further with this post, let me say that I believe that the Lord can speak to His children through any medium imagined, whether it be through nature or a painting or a story or a thought or a song. He is the Author of every single creative medium, so the idea that He could speak through any medium is logical....but it wasn't for me! I thought that He only worked through "spiritual" outlets. I was sure He only spoke through "religious" medium.
And now I realize how wrong I was!
While watching Spirit, a song played during the scene where the horse was being transported in a train car during the beginning of a snow storm. He had been stolen from everything he had known and loved and he didn't know where he was headed. He felt that he was at his very lowest. He felt that he was in a dark pit and he just wanted to quit.
We watched the movie during the most dark, very hardest time in my life. I had experienced tremendous loss and grief up to that point and to tell you the truth, I was in the midst of a crises of faith.
Then I heard "Sound the Bugle Now"
And it was as though a lightning bolt from Heaven split the sky and struck my heart. The words to the song illuminated my mind and I actually felt the Lord's presence in the song. He spoke to me through that song, and to this day, whenever I listen to that song, my eyes tear up and my heart wells up with gratitude to the Lord for picking me up out of the pit I was in and using a song from an animated movie, of all things, to get my attention.
So, here are the words to that song. I think someone out there reading this needs to hear this message, so I pray that Christ would hasten the words deep into your heart!
"Sound the bugle now,
play it just for me.
As the seasons change,
remember how I used to be.
Now I can't go on,
I can't even start,
I've got nothing left,
just an empty heart.
I'm a soldier,
wounded so I must give up the fight.
There's nothing more for me,
lead me away....
or leave me lying here.
Sound the bugle now.
Tell them I don't care.
There's not a road I know
that leads to anywhere.
Without a light I fear that I will
stumble in the dark...
lay right down
decide not to go on.
Then from on high,
somewhere in the distance,
there's a voice that calls
'remember who you are!
If you lose yourself
your courage soon will follow.
So be strong tonight!
Remember who you are!'
Yeah you're a soldier now,
fighting in a battle,
to be free once more.....
yeah, that's worth fighting for!'"
"Sound the Bugle Now" by Bryan Adams from the soundtrack
of 'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron'
Monday, June 24, 2013
Tempering
I read this in my Bible study book this morning, and it had a huge impact on me.
Honestly, I hadn't read my Bible lately. I hadn't opened my Bible for a very long month. I had gotten lazy and bored and truthfully, didn't want to put forth the effort of culling the vast wisdom represented in its pages....and that sounds so foolish to me, once written down! Nothing good can come when I am not in the Word daily.
I was reminded again of Romans 8:35-39, which I've read countless times, but you know how you go through day-to-day life and you just...well....you forget those scriptures that you highlighted or copied down or wrote on index cards??
I had forgotten Romans 8:35-39.....we are more than conquerors.......
But it came back to me in a new and deeper way, and I prayed that Christ would carve it deep into my heart so that I could remember in a new way.
I wanted to share this word picture with you. I felt that someone out there needed to hear this.
"The best steel is subjected to the alternatives of extreme heat and extreme cold. In cutlery you will notice that the knife blades are heated and beaten, and then heated again and plunged into the coldest water, in order to give them the right shape and temper. You will also observe a large heap of rejected blades, rejected because they would not bear the tempering process; when put upon the grindstone, little flaws appeared in some that, up to that point, had seemed perfect.......
Souls are heated in the furnace of affliction, plunged into the cold waters of tribulation, and ground between the upper and lower stones of adversity and disaster. Some come out ready for the highest services; others are unfit for any but the lowest uses......
Be still in the Hands of God until He tempers you.
'Stop now!' says the knife-blade to the Cutler. 'I have been in the fire often enough! Would You burn the life out of me?'
But again it goes into the glowing furnace and is heated to white heat.
'Stop hammering! I have been pounded enough already!'
But down comes the sledge.
'Keep me out of this cold water! One moment in the fiery furnace, and the next in ice water! It is enough to kill me!'
But in it goes.
'Keep me off the grindstone! You'll chafe the life out of me!'
But the blade is made to kiss the stone until the Cutler is satisfied.
Now see! You may bend it double, yet it springs straight as an arrow. It is as bright as polished silver, hard as a diamond, and will cut like a Damascus blade. It has been shaped, tempered and polished. It is worth something.
Be still and let God temper and polish you, and you will be worth something too. Allow yourself to be prepared for usefulness. He will give you a post of holy renown if you will let Him fit you for it! Be still in the furnace while the Holy Ghost molds and polishes your soul!" R.V. Lawrence
Oh Father!! Place Your hand upon me that I may be still as you temper, shape and polish me for Your plan!
Honestly, I hadn't read my Bible lately. I hadn't opened my Bible for a very long month. I had gotten lazy and bored and truthfully, didn't want to put forth the effort of culling the vast wisdom represented in its pages....and that sounds so foolish to me, once written down! Nothing good can come when I am not in the Word daily.
I was reminded again of Romans 8:35-39, which I've read countless times, but you know how you go through day-to-day life and you just...well....you forget those scriptures that you highlighted or copied down or wrote on index cards??
I had forgotten Romans 8:35-39.....we are more than conquerors.......
But it came back to me in a new and deeper way, and I prayed that Christ would carve it deep into my heart so that I could remember in a new way.
I wanted to share this word picture with you. I felt that someone out there needed to hear this.
"The best steel is subjected to the alternatives of extreme heat and extreme cold. In cutlery you will notice that the knife blades are heated and beaten, and then heated again and plunged into the coldest water, in order to give them the right shape and temper. You will also observe a large heap of rejected blades, rejected because they would not bear the tempering process; when put upon the grindstone, little flaws appeared in some that, up to that point, had seemed perfect.......
Souls are heated in the furnace of affliction, plunged into the cold waters of tribulation, and ground between the upper and lower stones of adversity and disaster. Some come out ready for the highest services; others are unfit for any but the lowest uses......
Be still in the Hands of God until He tempers you.
'Stop now!' says the knife-blade to the Cutler. 'I have been in the fire often enough! Would You burn the life out of me?'
But again it goes into the glowing furnace and is heated to white heat.
'Stop hammering! I have been pounded enough already!'
But down comes the sledge.
'Keep me out of this cold water! One moment in the fiery furnace, and the next in ice water! It is enough to kill me!'
But in it goes.
'Keep me off the grindstone! You'll chafe the life out of me!'
But the blade is made to kiss the stone until the Cutler is satisfied.
Now see! You may bend it double, yet it springs straight as an arrow. It is as bright as polished silver, hard as a diamond, and will cut like a Damascus blade. It has been shaped, tempered and polished. It is worth something.
Be still and let God temper and polish you, and you will be worth something too. Allow yourself to be prepared for usefulness. He will give you a post of holy renown if you will let Him fit you for it! Be still in the furnace while the Holy Ghost molds and polishes your soul!" R.V. Lawrence
Oh Father!! Place Your hand upon me that I may be still as you temper, shape and polish me for Your plan!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Milestone
Today I've reached a milestone.
I'm 3 months pregnant!!
I made it. I made it to the first important milestone!
To say I'm relieved is an understatement.
I can feel Baby moving around in there, especially when I'm laying still, as I often do these days. It's such a reassurance to me. I'm pretty sure this baby is the most active baby I've had, already!!
I'm pretty tired! I'm blessed to have teens and I'm so thankful that I can sleep when I need to and they can take care of everything and I don't have to worry.
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have prayed for me and continue to pray for me. I appreciate it so much. Please keep praying!
My next midwife appointment is in two weeks! Actually, 15 days to be exact, right on my husband's birthday! And I'll get to see Baby again. She said I can have an ultrasound any time I want to ease my mind and to see Baby as much as I want. She's a really fantastic midwife!
I just realized how early it is! I got up just before 6 because my body is unable to sleep past 5:30 or 6. Sometimes I want to sleep all day. I think I'll go back to bed and lay there. It's my husband's day off today, so I think I'll stay in bed today.
Baby needs the rest, and so does Mama!
I'm 3 months pregnant!!
I made it. I made it to the first important milestone!
To say I'm relieved is an understatement.
I can feel Baby moving around in there, especially when I'm laying still, as I often do these days. It's such a reassurance to me. I'm pretty sure this baby is the most active baby I've had, already!!
I'm pretty tired! I'm blessed to have teens and I'm so thankful that I can sleep when I need to and they can take care of everything and I don't have to worry.
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have prayed for me and continue to pray for me. I appreciate it so much. Please keep praying!
My next midwife appointment is in two weeks! Actually, 15 days to be exact, right on my husband's birthday! And I'll get to see Baby again. She said I can have an ultrasound any time I want to ease my mind and to see Baby as much as I want. She's a really fantastic midwife!
I just realized how early it is! I got up just before 6 because my body is unable to sleep past 5:30 or 6. Sometimes I want to sleep all day. I think I'll go back to bed and lay there. It's my husband's day off today, so I think I'll stay in bed today.
Baby needs the rest, and so does Mama!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
My Girl
My Girl. My 10 year old girl who is so much older than that......there's a very special place in my heart for her. There are so many things about her that are so enchanting and delightful and fetching.....
And her freckles? They melt my heart....She has alabaster complexion, but she has this fanciful sprinkle of golden fairy dust across her nose...the freckle picture is one of the most beautiful and eloquent pictures I've ever seen.
I remember the day she was born, and now, to see the fringe of her eyelashes in the mellow light of sunset, to look at the gentle curve of her ruby lips.....my heart stalls at the thought that young womanhood is just around the corner for My Girl.
Lord, I look so forward to her growing up....but Lord, don't hasten that day too quickly, for I am enthralled by the beauty and grace of My Girl-Child!
Pictures taken by Hannah J Gilchrist. Reproduction or printing forbidden. Pictures copyright HJG 20013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Four
This is Lucie.
She's four.
This is what four looks like.
Sigh.
Pictures taken by Hannah J Gilchrist. Reproduction forbidden. Copyright HJG20013.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Thoughts
Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I put a Baby Ticker on my sidebar!!
I know it's super early in the pregnancy to do that, but I just HAD to! I love logging in to my blog and being able to see how many days are left and seeing that little baby grow in there! The pregnancy feels so much more official when I see the ticker, steadily ticking off the days.
Today begins my 11th week of pregnancy. SO glad to be at this point. One more week and I'll officially be 3 months pregnant!
I was actually shopping for a maternity swimsuit the other day. I was looking online. Now friends, you must understand that I haven't worn a real swimsuit for hmmm, about a decade, and also, friends, let me say that things just do NOT look the same as they did back then!At almost 40, and with all of the babies this mama has had, well, I wonder if things are even in the right spots anymore?? Still, I felt the need to look for a swimsuit so I don't get left behind should we go to the beach on those rare, cherished hot summer days in Washington! I looked and looked, and let me tell you, I guess I am truly out of the loop because, HEAVENLY DAYS, I was sure the prices must be typos because man, a lot of them were at least a hundred bucks! I prefer a two piece thing with a little swim skirt, just to cover my road map thighs, and I prefer something that covers the necessities well.....needless to say, I'm still looking!
I tell you what, this pregnancy is kickin' my booty! I am SO tired!!! Just tired. I go to bed a tiny bit too late, and some nights I'm visited by the bane of my existence, insomnia....plus, I have to get up to use the bathroom at least once in the middle of the night. I'm thinking, it's too early in the pregnancy to have insomnia! So, no matter what time I go to bed or how I sleep, my body wants to get up at 5:30! I drag myself out of bed and do stuff before the kids awake, and then, by 10:30 AM, if I sit down, I'm literally nodding off in the chair! I'm SO tired. I'm waiting for the magical point where the tiredness goes away. Please Lord, let it be soon!
I wrote a post about pregnancy cravings. I think they're so odd and so fun and so crazy! I like reading about what other mamas crave! I'm still pretty consistently craving Mexican food and coffee drinks. One craving that's really recent and totally unusual for me is this: lately I've been making my special sausage gravy. Now, the funny thing is, I don't even LIKE sausage gravy and I can't STAND to cook the sausage right now, but Daddy had a long weekend and it was his request, and I also made some for dinner one night too. I was NOT going to eat it, but it looked so good (for some reason) that I tried it, and now I'm wanting it all the time. Strange. This morning I'm going to make two pieces of Udi's toast, two eggs over medium (another odd thing for me) and I'm gonna slap some of that luscious gravy on top!
I'm still drooling over my Old Navy online shopping cart. Sometimes I go online and look at it, just to see everything in it and just to see if I need to edit it and take something out, and I just want everything in there and think everything is darling and can't leave any of it! Sigh.....
I think my nausea is getting better. Now, just so you now, and please don't hate me, but I never, ever have gotten morning-or-any-other-time-of-day sickness with any pregnancy but the twins. This time, I've been pretty nauseated. Like, don't-touch-me nauseated, without being able to do anything about it. You know the type, when your very teeth are nauseated? That's letting up. I only get hit with it now when it's time to make dinner! Yeah, fun! I feel so sorry for those mamas who can't do anything but throw up. God decided I wouldn't be like that, but anytime nausea isn't fun either....like I said, don't hate me!
My friend Laura got me an outfit out of my Old Navy online cart, and I was totally surprised and I cried when she told me she had done it! Let me tell you, it is the most comfortable outfit I have ever worn. I could easily wear it to bed too! I wore the skirt a few times and put it in the dirty clothes, and now it's missing!!!! It is the softest, most comfortable and most versatile skirt ever in the world, and I can't find it!!!!!! So I've been without my favorite skirt for about a week or so. I know, it's a matter for prayer.
Well, I guess that's all of the random thoughts on this pregnancy that I have for today. I do have another recipe to post and I want to do a post on my daughter Kellie, with some pictures that Hannah took, but I don't want to scare you by posting twice in one day, so I'll spread those out over this week, as soon as I figure out how to find the pictures Hannah took! Computers......sigh!
I know it's super early in the pregnancy to do that, but I just HAD to! I love logging in to my blog and being able to see how many days are left and seeing that little baby grow in there! The pregnancy feels so much more official when I see the ticker, steadily ticking off the days.
Today begins my 11th week of pregnancy. SO glad to be at this point. One more week and I'll officially be 3 months pregnant!
I was actually shopping for a maternity swimsuit the other day. I was looking online. Now friends, you must understand that I haven't worn a real swimsuit for hmmm, about a decade, and also, friends, let me say that things just do NOT look the same as they did back then!At almost 40, and with all of the babies this mama has had, well, I wonder if things are even in the right spots anymore?? Still, I felt the need to look for a swimsuit so I don't get left behind should we go to the beach on those rare, cherished hot summer days in Washington! I looked and looked, and let me tell you, I guess I am truly out of the loop because, HEAVENLY DAYS, I was sure the prices must be typos because man, a lot of them were at least a hundred bucks! I prefer a two piece thing with a little swim skirt, just to cover my road map thighs, and I prefer something that covers the necessities well.....needless to say, I'm still looking!
I tell you what, this pregnancy is kickin' my booty! I am SO tired!!! Just tired. I go to bed a tiny bit too late, and some nights I'm visited by the bane of my existence, insomnia....plus, I have to get up to use the bathroom at least once in the middle of the night. I'm thinking, it's too early in the pregnancy to have insomnia! So, no matter what time I go to bed or how I sleep, my body wants to get up at 5:30! I drag myself out of bed and do stuff before the kids awake, and then, by 10:30 AM, if I sit down, I'm literally nodding off in the chair! I'm SO tired. I'm waiting for the magical point where the tiredness goes away. Please Lord, let it be soon!
I wrote a post about pregnancy cravings. I think they're so odd and so fun and so crazy! I like reading about what other mamas crave! I'm still pretty consistently craving Mexican food and coffee drinks. One craving that's really recent and totally unusual for me is this: lately I've been making my special sausage gravy. Now, the funny thing is, I don't even LIKE sausage gravy and I can't STAND to cook the sausage right now, but Daddy had a long weekend and it was his request, and I also made some for dinner one night too. I was NOT going to eat it, but it looked so good (for some reason) that I tried it, and now I'm wanting it all the time. Strange. This morning I'm going to make two pieces of Udi's toast, two eggs over medium (another odd thing for me) and I'm gonna slap some of that luscious gravy on top!
I'm still drooling over my Old Navy online shopping cart. Sometimes I go online and look at it, just to see everything in it and just to see if I need to edit it and take something out, and I just want everything in there and think everything is darling and can't leave any of it! Sigh.....
I think my nausea is getting better. Now, just so you now, and please don't hate me, but I never, ever have gotten morning-or-any-other-time-of-day sickness with any pregnancy but the twins. This time, I've been pretty nauseated. Like, don't-touch-me nauseated, without being able to do anything about it. You know the type, when your very teeth are nauseated? That's letting up. I only get hit with it now when it's time to make dinner! Yeah, fun! I feel so sorry for those mamas who can't do anything but throw up. God decided I wouldn't be like that, but anytime nausea isn't fun either....like I said, don't hate me!
My friend Laura got me an outfit out of my Old Navy online cart, and I was totally surprised and I cried when she told me she had done it! Let me tell you, it is the most comfortable outfit I have ever worn. I could easily wear it to bed too! I wore the skirt a few times and put it in the dirty clothes, and now it's missing!!!! It is the softest, most comfortable and most versatile skirt ever in the world, and I can't find it!!!!!! So I've been without my favorite skirt for about a week or so. I know, it's a matter for prayer.
Well, I guess that's all of the random thoughts on this pregnancy that I have for today. I do have another recipe to post and I want to do a post on my daughter Kellie, with some pictures that Hannah took, but I don't want to scare you by posting twice in one day, so I'll spread those out over this week, as soon as I figure out how to find the pictures Hannah took! Computers......sigh!
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