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!

28 Weeks, Birthdays, and Surgery

28 Weeks Today



Also today we celebrated my niece and nephew's birthdays. Glory and Oak who are sister and brother both had birthday's today. Glory turned 3. Oak turned 1. On Wesley's side of the family, we now have a 1 yr old (Oak), a 2 yr old (Bella Peace), a 3 yr old (Glory), a 4 yr old (Mary Ruth), missing a 5 yr old, then a 6 yr old (Grace), and finally a 7 yr old (Luke). So 1,2,3,4,6,and 7. How cute is that!! All we need now it a 5 year old! I've got plenty of pictures from today's party, BUT they are on a card that is not compatible with the computer I'm using. Maybe I can get them up soon.

Finally, tomorrow Grace has surgery on her belly button. She's always had an outie belly button, and we just love it! BUT, her outie belly button is more than just a cute button. It's actually an umbilical hernia, so surgery is necessary. She's scheduled for 7 AM. It's suppose to be a quick and easy thing with an easy recovery. I'll post about it later, but if anyone happens to read this before I update, please pray that all goes well.

The Sugar Test

So, I failed the sugar test for the first time ever (the glucose tolerance test that they give you at about 28 weeks to test for gestational diabetes). Such-A-BUMMER!!! I know that most likely it doesn't mean anything. BUT, now I have to have the dreaded long test!! I know it is probably my own fault, because I have eaten way to many sweets lately. Ugh! I guess I will either have to find a sitter for my other kiddos or take them with me to hang out at the doctor's office for 4 long hours. Also, my dear sweet husband will surely put me on a low/no sweet diet regardless of the results of the long test just because he loves me like that. How sweet, right? :) Oh, well. I really have so much to be thankful for with this pregnancy. I know that I should not be complaining. The bright side is that maybe I will finish a book I've been working on while I wait at the doctor's office. Now that doesn't sound too bad at all!! Pray that all is well.

27 weeks 4 days

Truly "my cup runneth over" these days! Life is good. Here are some new pictures of our precious baby Elizabeth.

This is a 4D ultrasound picture from today. I think Elizabeth already looks just like her sister Mary Ruth!! I'm amazed that you can get a picture like this of a baby in the womb.


This is a standard ultrasound picture from today. Elizabeth's heartrate was 153 bpm at one point and I think it was 164 at another point. She is estimated to be about 2 lbs 7 ozs. She measured right on target for how far along I am. So far I've gained about 10 pounds.


This last picture is Elizabeth at 18 weeks. I LOVE that she is sucking her thumb in this picture!!


The rest of us are all doing great as well! More later.

Remembering Joshua

So I'm not really completely back from my break yet. We have a temporary solution to our computer problem, but I'm still trying to limit my computer time. It's a crazy busy season in my life, but one I'm enjoying. AND, God is teaching me so much lately. I'm really trying to enjoy my kiddos and focus on being the wife and mother God wants me to be. BUT, I am jumping on here tonight for a quick update and to take time to remember the sweet baby boy that we lost just one year ago this week.

First, Elizabeth and I are doing very well. I'm 23 weeks tomorrow. Everything still seems to be perfect. Wesley just started his summer schedule which allows him to be home in the evenings. We all love this. He's also taking great care of all of us as usual. And, he's very motivated these days to "get things done". Luke and Grace are enjoying a break from school. Luke is loving the great outdoors. Grace's Kindergarten Graduation was last week. Mary Ruth can't wait to start school. And, Bella Peace is growing in new ways everyday. She gave up her pacifier last Sunday and started potty training (doing very, very well) today. There's so much more to say. So much more has been going on. Fun times.

It may seem sad that after this long break my primary season for getting on here tonight is to write about Joshua and not all the great things going on in our lives right now. But, this is my way of remembering. I don't want to forget. Joshua was and is our son. He want to remember him and HIM. So, tonight I'm remembering. Yes, it's sad. But, I have grown. My faith has increased. Sorrow and joy are very intermingled.

So it was exactly one year ago today. The date was May 20, but it was the Wednesday of this same week. Without a thought that something might be wrong, I went to the doctor at a little over 15 weeks pregnant with the kiddos for a regular OB appointment and found out that something was wrong, very wrong. The next morning Thursday, May 21 I went back for another ultrasound and confirmed what I had been told the day before. "Your baby appears to be dying." I remember crying out to God all day long on Wednesday, May 20 last year begging Him to let our baby live knowing that His will may be different than what I desired. I didn't understand why in His sovereignty He chose to take our baby. I still don't understand. Even though we had lost 2 baby boys before Joshua, losing Joshua was hard. Very hard. I think it's because I was just so caught off guard. I didn't see it coming. Not me. Not again. I questioned God more than ever. My faith was challenged and tested. I guess what I've learned more than anything else is that He can take it. He can take our questions, our anger. Ultimately, my faith is stronger. I know that He can bring me through very dark times. I trust Him more. Crazy, huh?

Last week one of my dearest and closest friends went into the same doctor's office and looked at the same ultrasound monitor while the same ultrasound tech saw practically the same thing. What? How could this be happening like this. Almost exactly a year later. In almost the same way. This week, I've walked an all too familiar road with this friend. It's heartbreaking. Devastating. Instead of grieving for Joshua, I've been very preoccupied with grieving with my friend. All I can really say is, "This ain't heaven." While we walk on this earth we are going to face trials, hurts, sorrows. Scripture promises it. Quite frankly, it sucks. It really does. But, God will turn our mourning into dancing. Joy will come in the morning. He will give us beauty for ashes. He will make all things beautiful in His time. He loves us more than we can fathom. He will use this for our good and His glory. At times when you are in the midst of the pain, this doesn't always offer much comfort. But, truth is truth. And this is true.

Rachael, my heart breaks with yours. I love you friend.

I started a post quite a while back that I never finished where I included this picture of my kids with Rachael's.


She and I were so excited to FINALLY be pregnant at the same time, due close to each other. When she shared the news with me, I remember immediately praying and asking God to allow both of us to have our babies because I knew that it would hurt for either of us to be in the position to carry on without the other. That's exactly what He's asked of us. I'm continuing to carry Elizabeth while Rachael has had to say good-bye. Lord, help us both.

This picture isn't complete. It won't be this side of heaven.

This ain't heaven.

Sweet baby Joshua. I miss you. I think of you and wonder what you would have looked like. Who would you have looked like? What kind of personality would you have had? So many questions. I imagine you playing with your siblings and with the children of our friends. I love you sweet boy. I can't wait until I meet you face to face. I haven't forgotten. I never will. Your Daddy and siblings remember you too. Luke, Grace, and Mary Ruth often still talk of you. They tell people that they have 3 brothers in heaven. I know that you are complete, perfect, healthy, happy, and glorifying your Creator in Heaven. That comforts me. I know that you have welcomed another sweet one this past week. It makes me smile to know that Rachael and I have children who are friends in Heaven just like our children are friends on Earth. What a sweet thought. Love you forever.

It's Wes here. Read at your own risk.

This is officially my first blog post. I feel a little more tech savvy than usual. It doesn't take much for me to impress myself does it. Update on baby. Jennifer went Thursday to the doctor. Everything is great. Thank you Lord. Heartrate was at 143bpm. Baby Elizabeth measured exactly 20 weeks.

When Jennifer first thought of our blog title "My Cup Runneth Over" we joked that sometimes it's more like "My Cup Spilled Over", know what I mean. There are many days like that, aren't there. Well, the Lord blessed me tonight with it running over. I got to be home for dinner which is a miracle, and dinner was just a hoot. Maybe it was because today was our last day of school, but we had an especially great time together at dinner. We had the windows up during dinner and I told Jennifer the neighbors are probably thinking one of two things: "That family is completely out of control" or "that family is having a bunch of fun". It was a little of both for sure, but we had a great evening together.

It's been another reminder how truly wealthy I am. Jennifer ask me later after our "date-in-bag" (movie rental and junk food at home) could I believe I was about to have 5 children to be responsible for. I told her no. And I told her it is some accomplishment by God that I can somehow manage to keep 6 and soon 7 people reasonably fed and sheltered. How blessed I am. I dont know if tomorrow's gonna be a "running over" day or a "spilling over" day but tonight sure has been a good one.

In Christ Alone
Wes