Welcome 2ND TRIMESTER!!!!!

I know I must look like a complete emotional lunatic by my crazy posts lately and that really describes what I've felt like! EMOTIONAL, EMOTIONAL, EMOTIONAL. Gotta love being pregnant, LOL. I swear, I'm like a freakin' lightswitch! I don't know what happened to me today but God must have done something to me while I was sleeping, because believe me, I sure prayed alot yesterday and today? Well I feel like a new woman!!!!

Having my mother in law here has helped a ton. She is the type of lady that never sits still. She's always washing something, picking something up, playing with the kids, she never stops. And SHE is what I've been needing, I completely pulled from her energy and was totally motivated. And the result??? Well, let's see...

* not one stitch of laundry dirty, all folded AND put away
* pantry cleaned and organized (you know how important that is to a nut like me!)
* menu planned for the week
* calendar updated
* bills paid
* closets cleaned and organized
* my office, CLEAR OF BOXES, dusted and vacuumed
* kitchen cabinets, wiped down clean
* all the doors around the handles and below . . .free of dirt and fingerprints
* upstairs, clean and vacuumed
* kitchen counters, all cleaned and clutter free
* junk drawer, organized
* dining room, cleaned with a flower arrangement in the center
* windows, clean
* blinds , dusted
* bedding, washed
* floors washed
* bathrooms cleaned, even the floors!
* stairs vacuumed

I'm serious, I'm a nut, my MIL is a nut! And it was a GREAT day! I'm making some gumbo (Paula Deen's recipe) and may even bake cookies, if I don't run out of energy first, LOL! I have the shopping list ready for New Years Day lunch which is usually seafood (good luck) and am looking forward to a seafood marinara and some fried calamari for sure!

What a great way to end the year, on a high . . . THANK YOU GOD! Thank you my wonderful mother in law! I have my outline for our New Years letter along with a list of my personal favorite moments of 08 which I will share with you soon!

Here's to a WONDERFUL DAY!

PEACE in 2009

I totally stole that title from a blog that I read and love here. This lady is so inspiring to me and sort of reminds me of the woman I am slowly becoming as I age and mature. It was a very encouraging post to read for me this morning as most of her posts are.

When I was lying in bed this morning I was thinking about our 2008 Year in Review letter that I wanted to mail out to family and friends since I didn't do cards for Christmas. We have experienced many highs in 08 and lots of lows as well. I'm actually really looking forward to ending this year but am a little nervous about what 09 will bring us. The biggest joy of course will be our sweet little baby #3. But I also can't help to think about how I worry about finances, I worry about the rest of this pregnancy and how I will feel in the upcoming months, I worry about my mom, I worry about my sister, and I fear that my family (Chris's family) is slowly drifting apart from each other, I'm scared about our economy, I stress over health issues in our family, let's just say I'm full of stress and worry. "Worry" isn't usually a word that I use, usually "Excited" is, but lately I seem to be unable to connect to that feeling. Call it "post holiday blues" or maybe "pregnancy blues", not quite sure exactly what it is,but I am sure that I don't like it.

I need to find peace. I need comfort. I want to get back my joy. I'm not sure how this will happen or when it will happen, I just know that it NEEDS to happen. I need it it happen, my family needs it to happen. I am so very lucky to have the husband I do with his perseverance, loyalty and support but it's not fair for him to be taking on the brunt of pretty much everything these days.

As I change my blog design from Christmas to New Years and slowly take down the holiday decor, I sit here hoping and praying for some Peace for me and for my family in 2009.

I wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful New Year!

The Important Things

As I sit here thinking about Christmas, I can't help but reflect on this year and think about what 09 will bring us. The past few months have probably been the MOST stressful months in my life. I look back to Aug/Sept and think about how "simple" life seemed, how everyday and normal it seemed. Then we decided to move, I got pregnant on the first try (didn't expect that!), Adrianna started school, our church began to grow and everything moved at a pace I just couldn't keep up with!

Now, the morning sickness seems to be letting up. I'm feeling my energy creep back and am able to have a different perspective on things. We've spent over $300 in medical expenses this month with the kids being sick, there isn't any extra money saved or in the checking to spend but I know it will all be okay. I have been forced financially to think of Christmas in a different way this year. I am focused so much more, for the very first time, on the "important things", on the things that matter the most to me. My husband, my children, my family and our health. Listening to my two little stars belting out Christmas Carols from behind the curtains on the huge windows in the living room, watching them dance together upstairs both dressed up as little girls, it's all just too precious for words. I think about how lucky I am to have my sister here, helping me, loving my children, loving me. I think about my friends and my church family. They were all so wonderful to me and my family during this tough time and were so happy to see me at service Sunday, it just touched my heart so much!

And most of all, I think about my loving husband. This man is my soul mate, my dream come true, the "one" sent to ME from God. He knew where I needed to find healing and who would be the one to help me get that. Chris is the most understanding, compassionate, loving man I know. He has worked so hard these past couple months taking care of me, the kids, the house, all on top of putting 120% at work each day to provide for us. He asks for nothing in return, but our love. He isn't selfish, he is patient, he is kind, he is giving, he is humorous, and he is my very best friend!

Although I wish things were a little easier on us financially, I know that we go through things for a reason and have faith that we will be taken care of. As long as we love each other, take care of our family and give life to others, all of this stuff will work its way out in 09, I just know it.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Mother's Letter to Santa

I saw this on another blog and had to share it, LOL!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned
and cuddled my children on
demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor
and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a
shade tree on the
school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several
Christmases, since I
had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on
the back of a receipt
in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when
I'll find anymore
free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have)
and arms that don't hurt or flap in the
breeze, but are
strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy
aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in
the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd
like fingerprint resistant
windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a
television that doesn't
broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a
refrigerator with a
secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to
talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that
says, 'Yes, Mommy' to
boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who
don't fight and three
pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use
of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting
'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your
brother,' because my voice seems
to be just out of my children's hearing range and can
only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd
settle for enough time
to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or
the luxury of
eating food warmer than room temperature without it being
served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas
miracles to brighten the
holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare
ketchup a vegetable?
It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could
coerce my children to help around the house without
demanding payment as if
they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son
saw my feet under
the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip
and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come
in and dry off so
you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the
table but don't eat
too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you
can keep my
children young enough to believe in Santa.

My current loves(at the moment) . . .
Lay's Limon Chips (God forbid I find Lay's Salt and Vinegar in TEXAS!!!ugh!)

Those of you who know me KNOW I choose sweet over salt . . . not right now! LOL

This is a LIMEADE :o) {next best thing to a rita!}
Candy Canes, Great for the nausea!

My friend posted this up on her facebook page today and it brought me to tears. It has taken me 30 years, but I've finally developed a circle of friends, some closer than others, some I talk to everyday or once a year, some we can only get emails out to each other with our busy schedules and raising young families, but no matter what, these ladies are my "friends", my "girls" and I really can't say much more without breaking down and crying again. So, watch the video, my hormones are driving me nuts!:o)

Keeping it Simple

Well, a little over a week and it'll be Christmas. I can't believe it! I have spent the last month in bed feeling horrible and the time has flown by!!! I was feeling so depressed about sitting back while everyone else rushed around to all the sales, all my friends worked on our city's biggest charity project (Orange Santa) providing gifts to over 300 kids, playdates, dinner dates, parties and more. What did I do?!?!? Well, ummm let's see made a couple of arms, legs, ears....you get the picture. :o) I've been hard on myself for no good reason! I am feeling a bit better today. I only threw up once so far AND made it through two stores in the freezing 40 degree weather today with my sister to finish up Christmas shopping. It felt great!! I did half of my shopping on Amazon and finished up today.

We are keeping things simple, and those of you who know me know that "simple" isn't really one of the words used in my vocabulary. :o) Simple usually means boring to me, but being forced into doing it has been a blessing in disguise. I've been able to sit and do some soul searching. I've been able to realize a bunch of things about myself, my relationships and most importantly, my family. I am so appreciative of my husband, the most patient, loving and giving man on this earth. Adrianna is doing so wonderful in school, I couldn't ask for more out of her. And my little man, well he is ALL BOY and although it's exhausting, I wouldn't have it any other way. Money is very tight for us this year so there is alot that we didn't do because we just can't. We've decided on 4-5 gifts for each child and a $20 limit on each other. We didn't do Christmas cards, didn't throw any holiday bashes, crazy decorations, or buy gifts for grandparents, aunts/uncles, or cousins. That was the tough decision since I love to give and I love to buy for people to see their faces when they open the presents. Adrianna made adorable picture frames and ornaments for her grandparents accompanied by the picture I already posted of the two of them, hey those are the gifts we cherish the most anyway, right? :o)

The worst part for me was making the decision to KEEP IT SIMPLE, but now that I did, I feel free. I feel good. I had only $5 on me today and gave it to the Salvation Army guy at Walmart and when he took the money, he said "I hope you have a very blessed holiday Ma'm" and I told him I already feel I like I had. I have been more than blessed by the people around me, taking my kids, bringing me meals, showing me love in whatever way they could. I've even reconnected with an old friend that I didn't leave things well with and it feels great.

I hope that all of you take a moment to reevaluate your schedule over the next week and give yourselves a break. Many of us women like to be "Little Marthas", but it's okay to keep it simple. :o)

More Pics:

This was taken right before we went to Adrianna's first school performance. All the kindergarten classes got together and performed their adaptation of The Nutcracker. She was a choir member and my camera took HORRIBLE pics so I didn't get even one to post up here except for this one we took before we left. She was so adorable, shy but sweet!! She fiddled with her little jacket the entire time but did know every single word to all the songs and even did the hand motions, which not many kids did. They were adorable!

Just got this in an email from a friend and had to pass it along....


Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Kiss slowly. Forgive quickly. God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it.

Trying to stay POSITIVE

I really am, I'm really trying to stay positive but it is SO HARD!!! I miss my "normal" life, I miss my energy, I miss my health, I miss my husband, I miss my friends. This "all day sickness" is KILLING ME. I knew it was coming. I have experienced it twice already. I have been blessed with the opportunity to bring another beautiful baby into our lives. I shouldn't be feeling so depressed, but I am. I want to be out in the stores. I want to smell the holiday scents (no way I can smell anything right now). I want to be attending the fun holiday playdates. I want a date night. I want the energy to be running around doing all the fun stuff I normally do during this time of the year. But I can't.

I just make it through the day, counting the hours down until bedtime. I feed the kids, drop/pick up Adrianna from school, take care of baths and teeth and that's about all I have in me. I do have good moments, an hour here and there but that's it. I wake up every morning and lay in bed thinking it's gone, setting my mind that it's done, no more sickness, but then within 30 minutes or so, it's all over. I am having a good hour right now. I'm about to eat lunch and take a nap. I had a good hour last night after dinner but then had a 15 minute vomitting episode that was torture which made that hour seem non existent.

It's week 10 so hopefully this is on it's way passing . . . please be finished by Christmas......

This is just a reminder to me if I EVER think about getting pregnant again. :o) If I write it down, I have something to look back on.

It's Official . . . July 10, 2009!

Well, we had our first sonogram/ob checkup today. Something about the first checkup that makes me a mess until after I'm there and told all is well. Once you experience being told that there is no heartbeat one time, is all you need and something that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. When I had my miscarriage in 2000, it was DEVASTATING. I was going for my 12 week check to listen the to the heartbeat and was told it wasn't there. The baby stopped developing at 8 weeks but never passed through my system. Crazy, and unbelievable . . . a moment that will always stick with me and has made me fearful each time I've had to go for that "1st ultrasound" ever since.

But today, was joyous, the first mile marker for my pregnancy. Adrianna was at school and Christopher was with friends so Chris and I could go together. We sat there, in what Chris said was the longest 2 minutes of his life and the most stressful moment this year for him, and were shown our little "peanut". We got to hear the heartbeat and it was FAST AND STRONG, that's what we want to hear. There is no better sound than that little baby's heartbeat, the most surreal moment you can live in. It was real. We are really going from 2 babies to 3. Chris and I sat and talked about the births of our other two angels while we waited for the doctor and it was the first time in weeks that we were able to sit together and talk like normal married people. :o) I've been miserably sick, it's been debilitating and depressing. I like to got at an abnormally high pace and have been pulled down to basic bedrest . . . it sucks! But, I was given Reglan today to help with the nausea and take Phenergran at night so let's see how that helps, let's pray it does. I need to get back on my feet and back to my life. :o)

With each pregnancy, life has gotten even better than the previous one. This time I will be pregnant with lots of friends around and a support system that I've never experienced before. I have a community of people who love me and I love them. I'm so thankful for the support, the meals, the emails, phone calls and generosity shown to me and my family during this time. I am so lucky! This baby is being brought into one heck of a family with a group of some great friends surrounding us. I can't wait!!!

We WILL find out the sex on February 9th, you know me, no way in waiting regardless of what my mom says, LOL!

So looks like we will have C-section #3 in July!!! What a break for our family, this big family of ours and NO BDAYS in July yet, yeah!

I am so thankful for today . . . 9 weeks and 31 to go!