Sweetness

We've just got home from a field trip and boy am I wore out!!!! I told the kids on the way home that Mommy absolutely had to get a nap today. I almost never nap in the middle of the day anymore except occasionally on the weekends when Wesley is home. I'm usually just too busy to take a nap, but also I don't like to sleep when I know that the kiddos are awake. We all have about an hour of rest time everyday. During this time usually only Bella Peace sleeps. Luke, Grace, and Mary Ruth do quiet activities in their room on their bed. It's a great time for independent reading, a craft, coloring, etc. Even then, the fact that I know they are awake prevents me from indulging in a nap. Crazy, because I know they would be fine. Today however, I am about to take a nap!! So very exciting!! But first I just wanted to capture the sweetness of the moment. So no one put up a fuss about naptime today. I told them that I had to nap and therefore I really wanted them to nap also. I know they need it too. It's been a busy week, and they've been up past bedtime the last two nights. When we got home, I instructed them to go potty, change clothes if they so desire, and get comfy and snug in their beds. They all did it with no resistance. I can tell when they are really going to sleep or not, and today everyone seems serious. The girls stripped down to a t-shirt and panties (let's face it ladies, isn't that the best!!) and cuddled deep into their covers. Bella Peace was already out from the car ride home and easily transitioned into her bed. When I laid her down, she instantly rolled over into her favorite sleep postion - all curled up on her tummy with her little bottom up in the air. And Luke climbed the later to the top bunk. Ahhhhhhh, it's so sweet to see everyone snug in bed. Naps are the greatest, and we just don't see enough of them these days!! OK, I'm eating up my naptime so that's all for now. I will have my countdown prayer request later today! Go catch a nap, if you can!!!

7 Days of Prayer

I began this day with only 7 days or less until I get to meet my sweet baby girl. Folks, I can't tell you how excited I am. There just aren't words. I know I've been down this road a few times, but each time seems to just get sweeter and sweeter. Maybe after the loss of three babies I have also gained a greater appreciation for the miracle of child birth, the miracle of life. I'm not naive anymore. I lost. I've grieved with friends who have lost. I know things can go wrong. Full term healthy babies can die during childbirth. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or morbid. I just know that it can and does happen. I'm also not living in deep fear, worry, or dread. I have "faith" that God has a good and perfect plan for me, Elizabeth, and our family. And, I'm praying. Praying a lot. In light of this, I'm going to post a specific prayer request each day until Elizabeth is born. I should have started this weeks ago. 7 days is hardly enough!! Please take a second as you read this and join me in praying.

Here's today's prayer:

I'm asking the Lord to protect me and Elizabeth throughout the next few days and during childbirth. I'm asking Him to let Elizabeth be born in perfect health. I'm praying that she will not need any medical assistance or intervention of any kind. I don't want to have to share her with the NICU at all for any reason. Have I mentioned I want her in my arms!!

Thanks for praying with me, my dear sweet Friends!!

Pictures

Here's a couple recent pictures. These of me are not so great, but you know I try to keep it real.

This is my 39 week picture from today. My eyes are have shut. That's probably because I can't seem to sleep at night.


I tried for a good picture on Sunday, but between me napping in my clothes and Bella Peace napping on top of me this is what I got. Bella Peace is quite a ham and insisted in being in the picture with me. I look so totally bare foot and pregnant in these. Ahhh, the life of a mommy! Would not trade it for anything!!



Here's some other random cuteness!




Very, very soon I will be posting more cuteness all swaddled up tightly!!

More Great Coupon Deals

I can't resist doing another coupon post. I'm saving so much playing these coupon games!! I've gone every week for quite a while now and am almost always pleased with how much I able to save. Some weeks are better than others, though. This is a picture of some of this weeks loot. CVS is my favorite, and these "steals" came from there!



This is what I got today:

1 box of Huggies Diapers for Bella Peace (She is potty trained, but still requires a diaper at nap and bedtime.)
1 Johnson and Johnson Baby Lotion (one of the best smells on Earth!)
1 Johnson and Johnson Body Wash
1 pricey men's razer (not so pricey with my coupons)
1 men's saving cream
1 pack sugarless gum
2 boxes Frosted Mini Wheats (yummy!!)

I spent less than $15 out of pocket and got back $11 in Extra Care Bucks for next time. That means my net cost was $4 for all this stuff!!! At the regular CVS prices, this would have all added up to about $62!!! The diapers alone would have cost $15 even at Wal-Mart!! Yes, I love it! I sure hope I can keep it up after Elizabeth is born.

39 Weeks, 8 Days, and "Prime"!!!

I'm sooooo very excited right now!!! I just got home from my doctor's appointment, and today's appointment was much more encouraging than last weeks. So here's the scoop:

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow! And we've moved up the day that I will be induced if I don't go on my on!! 8 DAYS, my Friends!!! I will FINALLY get to meet, hold, smell, hug, cuddle, and kiss my sweet baby girl in 8 days or less!!!! AND less is totally possible, because I've progressed a little bit more and Dr. C says I'm "prime" to go on my own!!! Of course that doesn't mean that it will happen, but last week we were hardly even considering the notion!

Today I'm 2 cm dilated and about 50-60% effaced. That may not sound like much to some, but for me it's really good. I usually go late, and don't really show much if any progress until at or after my due date!! In fact I do remember that with Bella Peace I was pretty much nothing at my 39 week appointment. Also, you must know that Dr. C is EXTREMELY conservative in every way, including with these kind of numbers. He and I have quite a history. He's checked me before immediately behind a nurse and given me much lower numbers. So, his 2 could really be a 4!! I LOVE this about him though! He's the best doctor, and I would ask for anything to be any different.

Again today, everything looked perfect in every way! Ultrasound is projecting Elizabeth to be around 8 lbs. That's really big for my babies! I'm praying that if that number is true, she's not going to get much bigger in the next 8 days!!!

I'm always concerned when I get this close about whether or not induction is best. I've prayed about this decision with each child. I've also asked the Lord to make the decision clear. I feel really good and at peace with the idea of inducing next week should we get there. First, I feel this is best in light of my concerns about Elizabeth getting too big. After all, I do have gestational diabetes. Secondly, I am still waiting until my due date. Dr. C was willing to go a little earlier if I wanted to. Thirdly, Dr. C will be taking some days off as of next Friday, September 17th. I really desire to be delivered by him especially with my history and circumstances. Based on this, we are going to induce on the last day possible. I would totally love to go on my own and not be induced and will pray about that happening, but I will also walk in with confidence should that not be the case.

So I will be admitted next Wednesday night around 10 PM on Sept 15th and we will start preparing for a delivery on my due date, September 16, 2010!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!

I've got so much I want to share but no time left!! Hopefully more later!

September 3rd...

...came and went. And I did not have a baby. Oh well, guess my intuitions were wrong this time. I did however get several things done on my "get ready for baby list". I'm hoping to get even more done tomorrow. At the very moment, I'm feeling good about the fact that apparently I have more time to complete that list! :)

38 Weeks, NO, and 19 Days

OK, so tomorrow I'm 38 weeks. The answer to yesterday's question according to my doc is, "NO" labor is most likely not eminent! :( And if I don't go into labor on my own, I will be induced in 19 days on September 20th. My due date is September 16th.

I had an appointment this morning. All is well according to an ultrasound and a non stress test. Elizabeth is looking and measuring great! Great heartbeat, averaging in around 150 bpm. Great movement. Fluid is at a great level. My blood pressure is great. We are praising the Lord for this great report!!

The ultrasound indicates that Elizabeth is head down as she should be. It estimates her weight at 7 lbs 10 ozs. If I do have to wait 19 more days, I'm hoping that number is a little high, and that she doesn't get too big in there while we wait!!

According to my exam, I am just starting to dilate and am less than 1 cm. I'm about 30% effaced, and baby is at about - 3 station. So unless my water breaks, I'm probably not going to have this baby in the very near future. I wish I could remember exactly how this stacks up to my other babies, but I don't remember exact specifics on everyone. I have journaled some with all the kiddos, but I looked last night and I didn't record exam details for everyone. I'm glad that I'm blogging this time, because I will always have these details.

Well if I'm going to be waiting a bit longer, at least I'm feeling great! I did have a period of time yesterday that I did not feel so good, but that was really the first day that I had not felt OK. For the most part I do feel very good. I'm not especially uncomfortable or tired. I have trouble sleeping, but miraculously I manage well on little sleep. I do remember that with some of the other babies, I was feeling pretty miserable at this point.

I'm still holding out hope that we might go a little early. I'm so excited and ready to meet this new little one, but I must remember that a healthy baby and mommy are what matter most!!

Here are a couple of my verses that I like to remember for this time:

Wait of the Lord: be or good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

and this one:

My times are in thy hand: deliver me... Psalm 31:15

The rest of that verse speaks of being delivered from enemies and persecution, but I like to think of it in terms of childbirth. But even thinking of it as deliverance from my enemies can apply. I need to be delivered from enemies such as discontentment, impatience, my desire to control things, my unbelief and lack of trust in His perfect timing, etc.

Well that's all for now. I forgot to get a picture earlier today, but I'm going to try to remember to get one later on this afternoon. If I get it, I will add it to this post!