Monday, February 28, 2011

Baby Update :)

I am now 40 weeks and 5 days.  I went to see my midwife today.  I am still 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which is the same as Thursday.  Oh and -3 station.  She wanted to either induce me tonight with Cervadil or tomorrow morning with Cytotec, but she wanted to first talk to Dr. Paolillo because she wanted to make sure those drugs would be OK with a VBAC.  She called this afternoon with 2 new choices because they decided they didn't want to use either of those drugs on me.  So, it's either go in tomorrow morning, have them break my water and start Pitocin or go in for a nonstress test.  If baby is looking good, then they will wait until Monday to induce if I have started labor on my own.  We chose option #2.  So I go in tomorrow at 9 a.m. to the hospital to have a nonstress test.  They will check to make sure baby has movement within 15 minutes and that his/her heartbeat raises 15 beats during those movements, and stays up for 15 seconds.  We are just focusing on God and His plans and timing for this baby.  He has blessed us tremendously, especially giving us the option we chose, because this morning was a totally different set of options.  It's awesome to watch Him work.  In the end, as we always say, the best outcome is a healthy baby and healthy mama, no matter the road we have to travel to get there.

Sausage and Egg dinner burritos

1 pkg polska kielbasa
1 pkg flour tortillas
8-10 eggs
1/2 t parsley
2 T olive oil
1/2 t basil
2 c shredded cheese
1/2 med onion
2 med potatoes

Preheat pan on med heat and warm olive oil in pan.  Cut Kielbasa into 1/2 inch slicees and brown slightly in heated oil with onion.  Place pkg of tortillas in foil.  Warm in oven.  Scramble eggs with spices.  Cook eggs with sausage and onion.  Spoon mixture  into tortilla and top with cheese.  Cube and fry potatoes separately and add them to the completed mixture. 

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Grandma Sarah

My great grandma Sarah passed away on Thursday Feb 24th, which was also my due date.  I think she must have been about 90 or so.  This was taken last May when we took a trip to Atlanta.  I am very happy that Ryan got to meet his great great Grandma and that we got to spend some time with her.  She was such a sweet lady.  She gave Ryan a kitty cat made with real rabbit fur.  It became one of his most favorite animals.  He has loved on it so much that it's tail is gone. 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

Florida State Fair 2011





One of the reasons we came to the fair. I had read all about the new fair food this year and this is one of the things I had to try.  Shrimp and cheese po boy wrapped in fried bread.  It was delicious.  The other must try was the maple bacon cupcake, but unfortunately I couldn't find them.  I did find the red velvet funnel cake, but we were too full to get it.



39 weeks and 2 days and still pregnant.  :)  I went to the doctor yesterday and I am still 100% effaced with no dilation.  I went from a fundal height of 38 to 35, so baby has dropped. 








Laughing Cow




We had decided that if I was still pregnant today we would go to the fair, sooooo...........still pregnant, off to the fair we went.  It was a lot of walking, probably the most walking I have done in 9 months!  We enjoyed ourselves, though, and Sean was very patient with my frequent bathroom breaks and rest stops to sit down and put my feet up.  It was like 77 degrees today, too!  Ryan really enjoyed the animals and got to pet a cow named Ida.  I am really glad we got to go again this year.  I get so excited for fair food.....and fair fun!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Cloth diapers

We purchased baby wipes that are washable, a special kind if diaper liner for a trash can and litle tie thingies for holding, well, I don't know what they hold, but Sean knows.

More washable wipies and 8 covers in newborn and size 1 sizes.

2 dozen newborn size prefolds

2 dozen size 1 prefolds
So, we are trying cloth diapers with the new baby.  We had discussed doing it with Ryan, but I was really hesitant to and honestly just didn't want to.  Sean, on the other hand, has wanted to. I agreed to give it a try this time around and actually after ordering them and getting them yesterday, I am a little bit excited.  I still don't know much about it and am still a little concerned with the logistics, but I'm hoping it works for us.  Ryan will probably remain in diposables since we will be training him for the real potty soon.  We spent close to $250 or $300 for everything above.  After the baby grows out of 1's, we willl of course have to purchase 2's and 3's, which will last even longer, since Ryan is still in 3's and has been forever.  It will probably cost about the same for the second order, but after doing a little bit of math, we will still save a tremendous amount of money.  So, I will update on how it works out for us.  Happy cloth diapering!  :)

www.greenmountaindiapers.com is the company we went through

Monday, February 14, 2011

Jalapeno chicken

2 c chopped onion
2 T butter
10 oz frozen spinach (cooked)
6 jalapenos chopped
1 pint sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken or celery soup
4 green onions chopped
12 oz package of plain Doritos
4-6 c chopped chicken cooked
2 c grated monterey jack cheese
1 c chopped celery

Saute onion and celery in butter.  Blend in spinach, peppers, sour cream, soup, and green onions.    In large 13 X 9 pan alternate Doritos, chicken mixture, and cheese.  Repeat.  Bake 30-40 mins at 350.

Happy Valentine's Day!

1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient, love is kind

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. – 1 Corinthians 13:4

How do you define love? For many of us, we define love as intense physical attraction or emotional bonding. But the Bible defines love very differently. In many ways, the Scriptural definition of love is not seen until things go wrong. Emotions come and go, but godly love equips us for when people test our patience. Godly love prefers others rather than focusing on ourselves. This Valentine’s Day make a decision to esteem your valentine over your own needs. When you do, your actions will speak louder than angels, gifts, or extravagant displays.

http://www.thedailybibleverse.org/

Sunday, February 13, 2011

6 year wedding anniversary celebration! 2-12-11

My hubby is sweet and creative!  He didn't buy me flowers, but he made me one!  :)

Ryan got to hang out with Nana and Pappy while we went to dinner on CLearwater Beach

The view, but we did not sit outside, a little chilly!

My meal:  Filet medallions with Wasabi mashed and veggies.  YUM!

And Sean's:  Onion crusted Mahi Mahi and Wasabi mashed

Creme Brulee, some sort of fudge cake and chocolate mouse.......soooooo good!

I am blessed to have such a wonderful man!  :)  After dinner, we went for a drive on the beach.  We also watched our wedding day DVD, which is a anniversary ritual.  :)


1 Cor 13:4-8  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Beautiful evening

Sean and I went to our first couples night with our Pastor, his wife, and some other couples from our church.  We will be going every other Friday for fellowship, Bible study, date nights, food, and fun!  Last night was great!  Faithlyn (Pastor Trail's wife), as always, had an outstanding dinner for us.  She decorated the whole house and even had a chocolate fountain with strawberries and a punch bowl fountain.  She always out does herself!  Her kids watched the little kids so that was nice........we were able to bring Ryan, but didn't have to keep an eye on him.  We had a great evening and look forward to doing it again!

With the Lord's Help

Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain.  She said, "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man." Genesis 4:1

What a miracle life is!  From the first moment when sperm and egg unite until the day, some nine months later, when a child is born, the hand of God is evident.  Science alone cannot explain the interweaving of cells and enzymes with intellect and emotion.  Brain and bone and breath all come together in a symphony of order that defies analysis.  Despite our abilities to build machines that seem to reason and to clone sheep and mice, to operate on unborn babies and to scan the inner workings of the heart, at the moment of birth we can only stand in awe.  It is only with the help of the Lord that new life enters the world.  

During pregnancy and often afterwards, a mother's body experiences myriad changes.  We are bombarded with hormones that reshape our emotions just as the child growing within us reshapes our body.  We may cry or laugh when we least expect to and become a total mystery to the husband who thought he knew us so well.  Favorite foods send us dashing for the bathroom and sudden cravings drive us to the fridge at midnight.  Is it any wonder we need extra help from the Lord to get through it all?

When Eve says, "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man," I don't think she's speaking only of the process of birth  I'll wager she was talking about the morning sickness, the swollen ankles, about sleepless nights, and sending Adam out for more olives.  It must have been a frightening experience for her.  She had no mother to comfort her and tell her all this was normal.  She couldn't get advice from her aunts or sisters or friends.  There was only Adam and he was probably as clueless as she!  I suspect Eve developed a close relationship with the Lord during her pregnancy, depending upon Him to meet her needs. 

As modern mothers we can take comfort in the knowledge that the Lord who was there for Eve is also here with us.  Times and the world may have changed, but the Creator of both has not.  He is able to uphold and sustain you and me just as He did the very first mother.  And when we hold our own newborn, we can echo her words in wonder: "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth this child."

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:13-14

I praise You, Father, for the miracle of new life.  Thank You that You are always willing to help me with this precious child You've placed in my keeping.  May I always remember she (he) is Yours, not mine.  In your holy name.  Amen.

-Pamela J. Kennedy
Daily Grace for Mothers 
Meditations from a Mother's Heart

Friday, February 11, 2011

It finally happened!

So, this post is a little stinky, but I just felt inclined to share!  I have heard stories from friends of this happening with their little ones, so I was sort of anticipating it happeneing, but also praying that maybe it wouldn't.  Well, it's happened! 

Last Friday, Ryan pooed in the bathtub.  Thank goodness me and Sean were both home because it took the two of us to take care of the icky problem.  Ryan thought it was pretty funny and was trying to pick it up out of the tub all the while saying "poo-poo" with excitement! 

Then yesterday.  I was at clinicals, but Sean got to experience it.  Ryan was going on a week without a BM so we had been giving him Little Tummies, apple juice, extra fiber, holding his iron, etc.  We could even palpate te BM in his tummy.  Well, finally I had to do some stimulation down there with a thermometer.  That did the trick!  He went 3 times yesterday!  On the 3rd one, he was down for a nap  in his crib (but not sleeping).  Sean went to check on him and he found poo EVERYWHERE!  Ryan had taken off his pants, diaper, and everything in his diaper went everywhere.  In his crib, on the floor, on his clothes, under his fingernails....... So, Sean had to disinfect the whole nursery. 

Anyone else had a similar experience?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Child's Angel

Dear Hettie,


Wish I could be there with you for Baby 2’s shower today. Since I couldn’t be there in person I thought I’d send you this poem I found about a little child about to be born. Hope you like it.
Love and hugs,

Mom


A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the little
child asked God:
"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to
live there being so small and helpless?"
God answered him "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be
waiting for you and will take care of you."
"But tell me," asked the child, "here in Heaven, I don't do anything else
but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."
"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And
you will feel your angel's love and be happy." God reassured him.
"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I
don't know the language that men talk?"
"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will
ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how
to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you, Lord?"
"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"
"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
"Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way
for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth
could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly
"Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
"You will call your angel, Mother"
~Author Unknown

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Letter from hubby read at baby shower

Hettie,

I hope you know how much you are appreciated and loved, today and every day.  We have made a wonderful start to our family and I pray we continue to grow in the years to come.  I am proud of your commitment to God for our children.  You are an amazing wife and I am a blessed husband to have you.  I count my blessings when I look at our time together.  You make me very happy and I thank God for such an amazing companion.  You are my soul mate, and I love you very much. 

There were many wet eyes after this!  Love you baby!

AZ pics taken by my mommy