Here's What's Happening In Our Neck of the Woods...

**Pictures posted at the end**

I noticed that my background was expiring and not knowing what exactly that meant, I thought I'd better "grab" something else really quick. Since I was here already, I thought it appropriate to give a quick update. Before I get to the update, let me just say that this background is temporary. I really did just grab something new quickly. I don't have time to work on it right now. So for the update...

I'm pretty sure this has been one of the craziest, busiest, most hectic, stressful, summers of my life with the past week being the height of it all. It definitely ranks very high on the list at minimum. You've heard it said, "when it rains it pours." Well it's been pouring on us!!

The biggest thing has been the fact that 7 weeks ago today our van died. It had been on it's last leg for quite a while. We had decided that when the next thing happened, we would not do any new repairs requiring more than just a few dollars. It is/was a 1994 white (my favorite color for a vehicle) Nissan Quest that was given to us 5 years ago. It was perfect for our family, not a lot of bells and whistles, easy to get in and out of, decent cargo room for a mini-van, and more. We did not fully appreciate it like we should have. It's not completely dead, but the repairs will cost more than it's worth. At 260,000 miles in it's current condition it's valued at like $500. Whoo Hoo!!! Another thing about this mini-van is that it would for sure not fit another child. That fact surprises a lot of people, but with car seats and booster seats it just won't work. So, it wasn't going to work after Elizabeth was born anyway.

SO, last Monday we set out to buy something new. We truly expected to come home with a new vehicle that day. I had done an extensive amount of research. Wesley had done an extensive amount of research. Wesley had also already done some browsing on his own. We had a good idea of what would and would not work. We set a budget. We printed blue book prices. We had several print outs of actual vehicles to go and see with a set of map quest directions to most. We packed a lunch and planned to be home with a new car for dinner. About 10 hours later we returned home. Ragged. Worn out. BUT, driving possibility # 1. It wasn't perfect, but we were willing to settle. All we needed was a clean bill of health from our mechanic. Wesley had to put in a few hours of work on Tuesday morning, but then he planned to swing in to the mechanic and head back to the dealer with a check. An hour later he called with a pretty bad report from the mechanic. It wasn't that the dealer had been dishonest. He told us that he had just received this vehicle as a trade in the day before and it had not been check out. That fact was obvious as it was pretty lived in. You know, what I mean? So, we took it back. Wesley took off the rest of the day and we decided to hit the roads again.

Day 2 left in the afternoon. Returned home without a vehicle bedtime. Only the second day had been WAY more taxing that the first. The kiddos were tired of riding around in pursuit. They were basically in the truck (borrowed Expedition from precious friends) ALL DAY LONG for the second day. They were tired, hungry, bored, frustrated, whiny, fighting with each other, and driving us crazy!!! Right before time to call it quits and come home, another precious friend called my cell phone to check on us. She could hear the stress and tension and the crying and whining (them and me) over the phone and offered to take the kiddos overnight for us. We quickly agreed!!

Day 3 I had an appointment with the diabetes control center to monitor how my diet and sugar levels were doing. Wesley went to work for the morning again. After my appointment we decided since we didn't have the kiddos, we would try again. Day 3 ended with us picking up the kiddos late and returning home again at bedtime with still no vehicle!!

Day 4 Wesley really had to take care of a few details at work, and I had a big meeting to prepare for that night. So we kind of took the day off from car shopping, but not really. I still was looking at all the used car sites and finding new prospects.

Day 5 Wesley went to work in the morning then drove a couple of hours to look at a very promising prospect. Me and the kiddos stayed home to recover. I knew enough about this vehicle to know what I'd be getting. We both fully expected he would drive this one home. We started making plans for how we could get both his car and the new/used one home. This one was from a individual seller, so we wanted to have a mechanic look it over. Wesley took it to a local place, and guess what. It also received less than a good report. It was an older model and based on the report, we just felt it wasn't going to be reliable.

Today was day 6. By this point we were just scratching our heads trying to figure out what next. We are weary. No, not weary. Exhausted!! We did set out again with kiddos in tow. BUT, once again we returned home at bedtime empty handed.

For us "summer" kind of ends tomorrow meaning that we start back to school full time on Monday. Wesley's schedule also gets cranked up starting Monday. All his athletes will be back and 2 a days start Monday. We both said last Monday that we couldn't start this coming week without a vehicle. BUT, that's exactly where we are at. We do have at least one other prospect, but again it's with a private owner so we will need to take it to a mechanic. It's also an hour away. Oh, boy. And don't forget I said that this is just the biggest thing that's happened recently. There have been others. I just don't have the time or energy to write about all of them.

On another note, Elizabeth is doing great!! I went to my OB at 32 weeks and all was well. I go back this coming week at 34 weeks. I can't believe how close it is to her arrival. And I know I say this like every post, but I can't believe how not ready I am. Everything feels a mess. Everything is out of order. I'm wondering how I'm ever going to get caught up, especially after this past week. But I also know that it's all going to be fine. Sometimes I'm really, really stressed about it. Other times, I imagine holding this sweet girl in my arms, touching her, smelling her sweet baby skin, looking at her and it's in those times that it feels all is right in the world. I get really, really excited about just meeting her. Then all this other "stuff" just doesn't seem to matter!

OK, so for fun here's a few pictures...

32 weeks


Grace mothering Bella Peace who is sucking on a baby doll bottle and riding in a doll stroller.


Our garden


Sunflowers that Grace planted as part of her birthday wish in April


Sweet and silly Mary Ruth with a watermelon from our garden.


My husband the funny man with a huge zucchini squash from our garden. This one just might hold a record!! Hey, I just realized we took all these pictures this week!! The ones in the garden were taken after getting home one of those car shopping nights. We managed some good times after all!! :)


Practicing his technique for Elizabeth



Now, what's been happening in your neck of the woods??

Unloading

So I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! I've got about 9 weeks until Elizabeth arrives and SO VERY MUCH TO DO better she gets here. We've got so many projects we need to complete, clothes to unpack and wash (haven't quite figured out where I'm going to put all the baby clothes and gear), we're about to start back to school full time, and so much more. Plus we still don't have a new (by new I mean new to us) vehicle that will fit us all. AND, this whole sugar things is stressing me out!! The first couple of days went well, but since then it seems that my sugar is still a too high even though I'm following the diet exactly! The frustrating part is I'm questioning myself a lot and wondering if I missed something or if I'm doing something wrong. I have another appointment with the Diabetes Control Center next week for them to check my food journal and blood sugar readings to evaluate how I'm doing, but that seems like forever away. I'm spending a lot of time, energy, and thought into planning my meals and measuring out everything, but it seems it's not working. On top of that, I feel like I'm getting bigger by the second (probably just my imagination, but the diet they have me on does require me to eat more than I was eating before) and am starting to worry about Elizabeth coming early or being really, really big when born (these are the two major risk to her with gestational diabetes). So as you can see, I've got a lot on my mind! I go back to my OB doctor this Thursday, and I'm really hoping that he can put my mind at ease a little. Of course I know that the only true source of peace in through the Lord, so please pray with me! Thanks for allowing me to get all that off my chest. Now, I must get busy.

I'm Addicted!!!

Yes, it's true! After just one time, I'm so totally addicted to couponing!!! I'm saving money, but also it's so fun!! So here's a look at some of my best deals!! There's more, but some we've already consumed and others I just didn't feel like rounding up. These are from more than one outing, but all within the past week. I forgot to take pictures before I started putting things away.

This pictures shows around $100 worth of merchandise. I paid about $35, plus I have CVS bucks in my wallet for next time!!!


These next pictures are some close ups of the merchandise.

Those Huggies diapers and the wipes you see in front of them, were COMPLETELY FREE!!!



I paid less than 50 cents for everything you see in the picture below!!


In the next picture I feel bad admitting that I spent almost $1 per bottle of shampoo which is funny, because that is still a good deal. It's also our preferred brand for Wesley and the kids! The rest of the money out of pocket came from the Pampers which were a deal, but not as good as some of the other things. Also I paid tax on the full amount which makes up a good bit of the total spent.


Lots of this stuff was totally free. This last picture was my favorite deal. Just because it was fun. First I got the contact solution, totally free, plus CVS bucks which resulted in me getting the energy drinks totally free plus CVS bucks which then got me the diapers TOTALLY FREE!!! Now I wear glasses not contacts, but I know plenty of people who could use the solution. And we will no way drink the crazy energy drink, but again know people who would. BUT, getting those items was the method to getting the free diapers. UM, yeah, I think we just might be able to use those!! :)


Now if I could just get faster with this process!! For all you girls who have already been doing this a while, please pass me your tips!! I can't wait until my next outing!! Oh, the life of a housewife and mother!!!

Sidetrack

I've planned a really fun post for tonight about my recent couponing success. Maybe I will get around to it. I've been side tracked by a little match making game, and I'm not talking Memory with my kiddos!! I would love to write one day about how my great friend is getting married and the Lord allowed me to have a hand in setting her and hubby up. You never know, God has been answering a lot of prayers lately. Maybe He's about to strike again!! I'll surely keep you posted if anything comes of it!! :)

Just A Little Bit of Grace

Grace is growing up so fast. A while back she started her own blog. She doesn't get to post very often, but she hoping to write more now that she is starting to read and write so very well. Tonight she added a post. If you are interested in checking it out, I know she would love it. Please leave her a message (that I will pre-screen of course just in case some crazy person leaves something on there) and let her know you stopped by. http://graceminor.blogspot.com

31 Weeks

The picture is me at 30 weeks, but I am 31 weeks today. I've followed my new diet exactly today, and my sugar levels have been really good all day. I'm really excited about eating healthier, but it's been quite a challenge to figure it all out and make sure that I am putting the right things together for each meal.

Today we took all the kiddos to their first movie at the movie theater. There was a free showing of Charlotte's Web so we all went. Wesley even went with us. He went to work after it was over. It was a really fun morning. They also all shared their first movie popcorn! Yum!! Luke especially loved the movie and popcorn. About 10 minutes into the movie, he leaned close to me and said, "We really should do this more often." Hum with the cost and quality of movies these days I can't say that we really will, but today was sure fun.

Tonight I've got Bible study and fellowship with my girlfriends. Can't wait to see everyone! And, there's a special seminar going on at our church this week that we try to attend every year. Wesley is going to take the kids and I am going to meet them there after I finish Bible study. I'd better get to work around here since we have such a busy evening!

Catching Up

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I've really had an opportunity to blog. My biggest hindrance has been that our computer crashed, and I haven't had an opportunity. But that is resolved now. It's a great story. I've got so many great stories to share. I've been keeping track on paper. It's doubtful that I will get to fully catch up here on the blog, but I will surely try. Life is good. Amazing good lately. But, also challenging and up and down. Oh, how I wish I could really share all the details of how God is at work in our lives, but I'm sure that time will limit me. And truth is, I'm sure I can't even see all the ways he's at work. It's getting late, but here's a super quick little update on everyone.

All is well. We are all healthy and good. Wesley is amazing and wonderful as usual. Luke is all boy, growing like a weed, and now has teeth that look way too big for his head. He's a big eater, and his reading has so taken off. He's doing so great. I'm so proud of my big, big boy. He's such a Daddy's boy, and a great help to his Daddy.




Grace's surgery went really well. She now has an innie belly button. She was Little Miss Personality the day of her surgery, and I think made quite a lasting impression on everyone who met her that day at the hospital. Everyone's so excited about Elizabeth, but I think Grace may be the most excited. She's so maternal. Also her birthday garden is doing so very well. I haven't really posted about that, but plan to.




Mary Ruth is such a great combination of girly girl and tom boy. She's always saying something so cute. I have no idea where she comes up with some of the cute things she does and says. She is a great big sister to Bella Peace who really, really looks up to her "May-Me". That's what Bella Peace calls Mary Ruth.



And speaking of Bella Peace. She's so not a baby anymore. Such a big girl. So independent. Want's to do everything her big brother and sisters do and wants to do it all by her self all the time. She's also obsessed with shoes. She's in to everything and quite a mess but so very cute.



And finally, Elizabeth. She's doing excellent! Still consistently measures great. Moving great. She seems to have made her nest on my right side, and she's always there right under by ribs. She's an active little girl. If the 4-D ultrasound is accurate, she looks just like Mary Ruth. We can't wait to meet her, but I so not ready for her arrival. I've got about 9 weeks, and I need every minute of it. I don't know if it's fear or intuition, but I have a feeling she's going to come early. None of my other children have come early except Bella Peace who was induced a week early because of possible complications, so we shall see.

As for me...well I failed the short sugar test. Took the long one. There was an error so I had to take the long one again. Failed it also. Today I attended a class for women with gestational diabetes and learned so much. I don't necessarily have it, because my numbers were just above the acceptable range, but I'm at least right on the edge and have several risk factors. The class was great and very informative. As of today, I will be testing my blood glucose 4 times a day with a diabetes monitoring kit. It's really not so bad. I'm also on an new diet. I'm feeling OK about it all. The diet is a good diet for anybody and is going to be a healthier new start for us all. My sugar levels were all over the place today, but I'm just getting started on the new diet so I'm expecting to see lots of improvement.

Well there's an update, not so sure it was quick or little, but nevertheless an update. More really soon!