And the count down is on...

To say this pregnancy has been an interesting ride is a true understatement, especially since it still feels surreal at times. As we head into week 31, I am in awe of just how amazing God truly is. Not that I doubted or ever thought otherwise, just in awe of how gracious he can be.

Seeing how we missed the 1st trimester, I am truly grateful not to have gone through all the morning sickness and such. The 2nd trimester was as much a breeze and downward slope. I am thankful for God's answers to prayers and promises kept... as if GOD would ever break a promise. It is just so comforting to see him in action.

I went in for my check up this week, and was again reminded how he is watching over this pregnancy and answering prayers. At 30 weeks, blood tests are good and iron levels are very good. I was even stunned to find I had not gained any weight in the past 4 weeks. Even more surprised, that since we found out we were expecting I have only gained about 10 pounds in the last 17 weeks. Baby is doing well and I am now starting to feel the full affects of being "just pregnant."

I have a large beach ball on my belly that wiggles and jiggles inside me constantly reminding me that there is a little one in there. Aside from frequent trips to the bathroom and the ever growing challenge to get into bed let alone find a comfortable position, I feel fine. I know I have officially come into my 3rd trimester as I have the wonderful fat feet to prove it.

Some of these things, which for most pregnant woman are everyday complaints, are great joys for me. These were things that totally evaded me in the first 2 pregnancies, due to all the other "stuff" I was going through.  So to me it seems strange to be aware of these little experiences, I am thankful.

Today I was reading about doing "kick counts," a way to see that baby to active and healthy. After eating or moving around a lot, you sit and wait for baby to start moving around, then you count the kicks, jabs or flutters you feel. You count watching the clock to see how long it takes to get to 10 kicks. It took this little guy about 10-12 minutes to get to 10 kicks. As I am writing this, he has been moving, and now he has moved about 10 times in a minute. Yeah, I would say he is quite healthy.

I am learning (more so in the last few weeks) that I am not what or who I used to be. I am learning to be more humble in my weaknesses and more reliable on other people... not easy for me. I realize I am not as young as I used to be and can not do all the things I used to. Often I think, "Oh no problem; I can do that." Only to find that was not such a good idea. So I am depending more on my kids to help with little things around the house. This is good practice for them for when baby comes.

7-8 weeks to go and I am feeling fine... well feeling very large and off balance, but good none the less. So hard to believe this prego journey is almost over and being a mom of 3 kids is about to start.

The countdown to meeting baby C. is on.  Josh has been very in tune with just how much longer we have. So here we go...

12 weeks to go....

So here I sit. Now at 27 weeks, and aside from a very strong cough a few weeks ago, we have had a very smooth uneventful pregnancy. It is hard to believe that in 12 weeks or less we will have another baby boy.  Praise the Lord!! I sit here writing one foot swollen and the other normal.  My upper body and belly much larger at 27 weeks than with the 2nd pregnancy. My belly looks more like a large beach ball and often feels much heavier. Thank fully I have only gained 14 pounds and baby is VERY active.

They say no 2 pregnancies are alike.  I can vouch for that. I see the Doctor this coming Monday, and will have go through the wonderful normal 28 week tests, but I have resolved to be okay with it all.  I really do not like the blood sugar test, but I think I will be fine. I really want to show the doctor wrong.  ;)

I really can't complain and I don't. I think from what others tell me I am actually experiencing a "normal" pregnancy.  It is still hard to take in. It is getting harder to move around. I have moments of absentmindedness, which hubby likes to tease about. I am thankful for smaller children willing come to my rescue and pick up things off the floor so I don't have to try and bend down. I have hot flashes at night, and according to hubby and daughter I snore something awful--you try sleeping with someone laying on top of you....

I can't help being thankful for the smoothness of this pregnancy, and how God has answered prayer. And although I try not to think about it too much, I can't help but look back. 8 yrs ago at this time in pregnancy  I was in the hospital with complications and doctors not knowing what was wrong. That of course--a week later resulted in Josh coming into this world at 28 weeks. 5 years ago at this time in pregnancy I had just gotten over a severe flu virus (given to me by same son) and was soon to experience a whole round of new symptoms in the 3rd trimester. Even so, the 2nd pregnancy made it to week 38, when Shelby had to come due to not enough amniotic fluid.

On the home front school front. We finished out unit on Stewardship. This week we began a new unit on Patience. In this unit the kids will learn what it means to wait by looking at how things grow. More lessons on baby to come. How ironic that we should be learning all this and I am pregnant -- talk about a living classroom.

Josh is doing well in 3rd grade. He is beginning to get some of the basics that just did not come last year.  Miss Shelby, to smart for her own good at times, continues to be a challenge, but she is a smart one. She advanced from Kindergarten this quarter and is now in 1st grade.  She is so proud of herself--of course we are proud too. I still am amazed at what she can do--not that I should be as I see it with my own eyes. She has begun to pick up some of Josh's lazy habits and tries to play the "I can't do it" card. So I leave the room because I will not play that game. Something kicks in, and suddenly she can do it, and perfectly and neatly too.

Thank you, and please continue to keep us in your prayers through the next few months. And may God bless your home as He has ours.

I LOVE MY HUSBAND! Reflection.....

So here I sit, 24 1/2 weeks pregnant, I have been sick for the past week.  I think I had strep throat or something like it--sore enough that I gave up talking for 3 days because it hurt so much.  (Kids got in some good practice with sign language.)  This weekend hubby made me breakfast 2 mornings in a row.  I am truly blessed.

The other day I sat reflecting on the past few years--easy to do when you are too tired to do anything else.  It is amazing to us both that we are expecting our 3rd child; especially since neither of us ever thought we would have one, let alone with each other.

I realized last night that we have now been married half as long as we have known each other.  We met a little over 18 1/2 years ago.  There was a period of 8 years when we saw each other only briefly if at all and yet the whole time he was in my prayers with out knowing I had been praying for him.

See I began to pray for my future husband when I was 12 years old.  When I met Jody I never thought he was the one God had in mind for me.  9 1/2 years ago I was sure he was not the one, and yet as we started dating again, I would pray for him as a friend for he was a very good friend.  I was also still praying for my future husband, and became amazed as I watched God transform this man before my eyes.  

The day he proposed, I knew without question that he was the one; and I have grown to love him more each day.  Tomorrow, October 8, 2012 we will celebrate 9 years of marriage.  It is hard to believe at times that we are together, and have 2 children AND one on the way.  Our journey has had it many moments of challenges--each one drawing us closer together.  

We have worked hard to grow together through each trial.  We have never argued or fought as we have seen in many relationships.  Hard to believe I know.  Granted we have not always agreed, but we have always talked and prayed about everything.  We learned very early on that lines on communication must be open and transparent, and that above all else we must bring everything before God.  We know it is the only thing that has brought us through the many ups and downs this life has brought our way.

We are blessed to have two children who know without question that God is the answer when things are uncertain.  We have been doubly blessed when our children come to us and either ask us to pray with them when they are scared or offer to pray for us because they feel moved to do so.

So now as we embark on this next journey, we do so knowing that God IS in control and HE only has our best interest in mind.  We are in awe that God would entrust us with another life and look forward to the blessings this little one will bring.

I continue to pray for my husband and now for our marriage and our children.  I know he prays for us, and we see great miracles when we pray together.  I am blessed at how Jody loves me and shows his love and sacrifice for his family.  We may have only been married for 9 years but at times with all we have been through it seems longer.  We look forward to all the Lord as in store for us.  I am blessed to know that I have a man who will whole heartily walk with me.  I look forward to when I can say we have been married twice as long as we have known each other.

I love you Jody--and I look forward to growing old with you and those wheelchair races.  :)