Reason to Rejoice

I have had this list of things to do for the past week or so. Included in that list: grocery shopping, exchanging some things that I bought that didn't fit, voting, rescheduling appointments, making appointments and the list goes on. I got some of that done today. I had a jewelry party in the middle of the day so I just took Rachel to daycare (school, as she calls it). It was actually kinda nice. I was able to go to Babies R Us and get some things and do the jewelry party then take a nice nap (if the phone would have quit ringing), and then exchange a dress that I bought for Rachel for Christmas that was too small. I also got my flu shot today...my arm hurts. I have another jewelry show tomorrow during the day so she is going back to school. Hopefully I can get some more things accomplished. I really hope to vote tomorrow. Not much new happening in our world. It is 11:34 PM and I am still waiting on Brice to get home. He had a meeting at church tonight regarding the ch...

I think I actually have blogged about this before. I know I did the last time I was pregnant but I mainly talked about nightmares. I had the most bizarre dream last night. I woke up sick at about 2:00 this morning but in between sleeping on the couch and being in the bed, I dreamed something COMPLETELY impossible! I had a dream that my aunt had a baby which in and of itself isn't impossible but she had MY baby!!! My grandmother (she lives in the same city as this aunt) called me to tell me that my baby girl had been born. So...my aunt delivered my baby out of her body that I was pregnant with. She delivered in Arkansas and she stated that the doctor that delivered her baby was one of the pediatricians that work in the office of Rachel's doctor. The most hilarious part...well, apart from someone giving birth to a baby that was conceived and carried in someone in another state....the baby was born at 21 weeks and weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz!!!! I don't know....blame it on ho...

Today was a productive day. We got Rachel's swing set for her birthday. Let me explain the entire process... The swing set that we finally agreed on is called the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set. It wasn't too big to fit in our yard (which is actually quite small) but it was what we were looking for...a slide and 2 swings (to accommodate our growing family). Anyway, I originally found it on Toys R Us but beside it was "Out of Stock." Brice looked for it on Walmart.com...they had it but it was more expensive. Toys R Us was $399.99 and Walmart was $429. So...we looked other places and they were all out of stock. I kept the swing set in a walmart.com shopping cart for a few days and kept the browser open on the computer. We browsed other options but we both agreed that we really liked this one. Yesterday, out of sheer curiosity, I went back to the Toys R Us website and it said "In Stock." I was excited...it was $50 cheaper there than Walmart. Here ...

I am so so thrilled to report that my friend's baby, John, is doing really really well. He will be a week old tomorrow (which would actually make him 31 weeks gestation) and he is completely off c-pap. He is in a normal isolette and completely breathing on his own. He has been off c-pap for 24 hours and is doing well. They were monitoring him for a respiratory infection but is off antibiotics now. He also had some air in his belly due to the c-pap but they aren't terribly concerned because it should clear up now that he is off c-pap. He is just doing remarkably well. Mommy Ruth and Daddy Matt have been able to hold him some and he is getting a little bit of fat on his body. This is truly a miracle from God and again....reason to rejoice!

The past two days have been hard...lessons are being learned. I am growing. God is teaching me much about myself that I really didn't want to know but in order to be more like Him, it's a must! It's okay. I am good. I feel good about myself. And that is....Reason to Rejoice! =)

A public blog is not a place to "air out dirty laundry" and I apologize. Matthew 18:1 says, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you....." Also, I Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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."

Most will find this post boring....there will be no pictures because I didn't take any pictures! =P I went to an all day CEU thingy on Friday in Fort Worth. Let me just say...it was about death. 8 HOURS ABOUT DEATH!!! UGH!!! I mean, most of the information was helpful and useful and thought provoking. I didn't agree with most of what this man was saying but he was a good speaker. He kinda came across as a "quack" to me but whatever, it was 8 FREE CEU's, FREE breakfast, FREE lunch and it only cost me $52 in childcare!!! =) Gosh, what a poor attitude I have! Saturday..let's see....we had lots of plans of doing things around the house..none of which we did. FABULOUS! I wanted to get some stuff ready for Rachel's room and her bed to be delivered this week....didn't even go in the room. I wanted to clean the carpets...nope. Instead, we sat around and did nothing. It really was nice! I watched football which I love....didn't love that the ...

My friend, Ruth, had her baby boy late last night/early this morning....about 10 weeks early. Baby John wasn't due to arrive until sometime in December but he graced the world with his presence a little early. Ruth had a placental abruption last night just after midnight and was rushed to Harris Methodist HEB where she delivered via emergency c-section a little after 2:00 am. John weighed 3 lbs, 13 ounces but is actually doing very well. He is only on CPAP with a very small amount of oxygen. He isn't quite out of the woods yet but he is doing well. Ruth is very tired and she gave everyone a scare with the amount of blood that she lost but is doing better. She will likely go home on MOnday or Tuesday and Little John will have to stay for 6 weeks or so in the NICU. Please pray that he gets stronger and stronger everyday. Ruth says, "We are just so amazed and blessed by God's mercy and grace." It has been a rough road for them conceiving and carrying a chil...

October 15th....today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Most people don't know that this day even exists...well, you know, outside of it being October 15th. I just pray for those that mourn the loss of their little ones everyday...not just one day. I am sure that most don't need a special day to miss their babies. My heart goes out to you.

I haven't been posting much because there's just not too much to post about. I had a doctor's appointment today. It was super quick. The heartbeat was 160. Rachel had to go with me because my babysitter fell through. She was an angel the entire time...I was really surprised. She liked hearing the heartbeat although she didn't know what it was....we told her and she said, "Baby heart." So cute! I got stuck again for the quad screen tests. We didn't do this with Rachel but decided to go ahead and do it for this one. Again, she said no news is good news. All seems to be well. I feel the baby move all of the time now which is neat...my absolute favorite part of pregnancy.

I wanted to take Rachel to a pumpkin patch last year...REALLY bad but for some reason no one else wanted to go and I just couldn't really find one close. So, on Brice's last day off we went to Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie for their petting farm and pumpkin patch. My impression of it...Rachel liked it but it was WAY over priced! It was $12 each for Brice and I. It was just a huge field with animals and then you get to pick a pumpkin at the end. Anyway, it was fun but we probably will not be back next year. It's almost worth the trip to go to Flower Mound where they have a FABULOUS pumpkin patch...I hear. Anyway, I loved the baby pigs and had the discussion with Brice on the way home that I wanted to raise them....he found me to be completely random and STUPID! =) After the pumpkin patch, we went to the Oasis Restaurant that is right by the park at the Joe Pool Lake marina. Rachel loved the ducks and the fish were HUGE!!!!! The food was good....again overpriced...

We left last Thursday afternoon for a little visit to Hope. Brice hasn't been to Hope since April of this year and wanted to go visit. We had to stay in a hotel because my mom's house is only partially liveable at the moment. I have to say it was wierd staying in a hotel in the place where you grew up! On Saturday we got to see Alison, her mom, and THE BOYS!!!! I finally got to see the babies. I was so excited! I wish I could have loved on them longer. They are so sweet! Then Saturday evening we went to Christy's daddy's house for some good ribs and company! Rachel and Adi played and the adults visited. I forgot my camera...boo for me!!!! They aren't going to be able to come to Rachel's birthday party this year so they gave her a present while we were there. It was a total hit. It was a Dora bag with colors and stickers in it. SHE LOVES IT!!!! Sunday, we went to my church in Hope and then after a short visit and lunch with my mom, we drove to Hot ...

Today will consist of several posts...I am trying to catch up from the weekend. Brice has been off since last Wednesday and we have had the best time. We went to the Texas State Fair last Wednesday. Rachel loved the animals. I loved the corn dogs! We didn't get any of the crazy fried foods this year...and they ARE crazy!