Built FORD Tough

I know, i’m a terrible blogger. As i’ve said thousands of times before, i can write all day, i just hate writing w/o posting pics b/c i know thats why I check all of your blogs (for the pics) so i hate to be hypocritical. But hey, i’ll do it anyways…

I saw Dr Pohl for my 37/38 week checkup on Friday and he said that Rhyan is growing… probably about 7lbs now! My cervix is still closed but "softening" and he wants to induce the first part of next week (april 27th). I have to wait for a call from the girls at the office around mid week to schedule b/c the hospital doesnt schedule more than a few days out, so i’ll know more at the end of this week. But it looks as if we have begun our last week with it being just the 2 of us!

I’ve got about everything done that i can think of. I’ve washed and put away her clothes, bottles, bed linens, etc… The pack and play is assembled and in the livingroom, same for the swing and bouncer. Diapers, tooshie creams, etc are all in the changing table. A diaper bag is ready for us to take to the hospital w/ a couple little outfits and necessities. I’ve attended a breast feeding class this week (jeff went, too!) and i’ve met with and chosen a pediatritian. Am i forgetting anything? Besides my mind?! I feel like i’m forgetting something HUGE! The carseat is ready, too, btw.

So physically, i think we’re ready. Emotionally? Spiritually? I’m drained.  Sometimes i’d just like to pack up everything and just Jeff, Spud, Rhyan and myself go live on an island so i wouldnt have to deal with other people. But then, that’d be no fun!

So i’m hoping for a peaceful last week as husband and wife (and dog). I think we’re gonna try to get away this weekend (yes, the dr ok’d it) to the mountain house and try to relax and enjoy one another.

I covet your prayers for a safe and healthy baby, an easy delivery and for us to transition into parenthood with our hearts open and my hormones under control. Thats a BIG task, people. So quit reading and start praying, please!

As i sit here and write (finally), I’m distracted by my belly that is morphing into all different shapes… from one side to the other. I see a pointy little part of my precious baby girl poke out around my right ribs (part of her foot) and feel the rolling that you can now see so clearly from across the room. And i wonder… How much bigger am i gonna get?? Apparently, alot.

I’ve had 2 checkups since my last post. The 31 week checkup showed that Rhyan was enjoying a growth spurt and I was measuring 34 centimeters. Oh my. Today, at 33 weeks 5 days, the belly measures 36 centimeters. So shes still growing away! Dr Pohl said she’s about 5 lbs now.

We have our first shower on Sunday and its the one from the church… it will probably be the biggest one . And I’m excited! I’ve felt for so long like I was at such a standstill. I dont want to buy stuff cause I’m about to get a whole bunch of stuff. The crib is up, the dresser/changing table is in the room, one curtain is hung (I am getting the 2 others from a shower) and the bedding is in the crib… waiting on a mattress. But what else can I do (besides get a rocker/glider… i’ve been looking)?

I have been so humbled and felt so loved this week as three of my patients brought gifts for the baby… one lady even gave us a $50 gift card to kroger! SWEET!

Last tidbit… i was at the hinman dental convention Thursday and Friday and so many people commented on how "low" she is and how it looks like she’s already dropped. What? I dont understand this. She’s been low since day one. Which, i think, my lungs appreciate. Dr pohl did mention today that since I’m asthmatic, he’d like to enduce me at 39 weeks. Fine by me!!!

Oh, and i went for a mani/pedi/eyebrow wax today and feel much better. My feet may be fat as can be and no shoes may fit, but the toes are cute and painted. That always makes a girl feel good. ON a side note, though, the massage of the feet by a zealous asian woman does not feel as good when they’re this swollen. In fact, it hurts a little. But totally worth it.  Stay tuned for pics from showers…

So our monitor finally went kurplunk on us this week. You could hear the computer working (grunting) but the screen was black. I tried taking it apart… as if i could do anything once i got it apart… but eventually broke down and got a new one. Its a widescreen. Its fancy.

In other news, my mom is doing much better. Back to her VERY talkative self. Spud seems better, although with all the shots he got, he should be better. Our bank account is sad because of spud’s back. JK. We love him. I’ve got spring fever so bad its not funny! Thats a good recap, huh?!

Jeff has this week off. I really hate it when he has a week off and I have to work. I’m so selfish. He still gets up before me usually, just so i dont have to get up by myself. But i still get bitter knowing i’m working while he’s lounging. Props to him, though… teaching is WAY harder than cleaning teeth. He really does need the break. Too bad teachers dont get paid according to the difficulty of their job.

Miss Rhyan is progressing nicely. You all do know that her name is pronounced "Ryan" and that we just added the H to make it more feminine, right? Somebody asked me recently if her name was "rain". What? How do you get that? Are we permananently messing up our kid by naming her Rhyan and spelling it that way? Cause i thought it was pretty simple, but then, we thought of it…so it would be to us!

My feet are a little swollen. I’m milking jeff for all the back rubs i can get and he’s trying to help more because of the swollen feet. YAY! I finally got registered, too. Did I tell yall that story? I went to Babies R Us with Jeff one evening and got completely overwhelmed at about the sling/diaperbag section and ended up crying, leaving to get a smoothie and going to my friend Susan’s house for her to talk me off the ledge. The next day, my mom went with me to target and we found great success registering there (MUCH more manageable) and then Susan returned to babies r us with me this weekend and we got it finished up. I’ve added things and deleted things online as i can think of it and feel MUCH better. Now, i’m just gonna have to find places to put all this stuff. Boy, babies sure do need alot of "stuff" these days, it seems!

I’ll post pics of valentines day later. Just a quick update for now! Peace.

This week has been crazy! Well, starting yesterday, anyways!

My mom has been sick off and on since December and she finally was admitted to Gwinnett Medical on Wed evening with pneumonia. She’s doing much better now. We got an email from Jeff’s mom on wednesday evening that her mom (Jeff’s grandmother) has been diagnosed with Lewey Body’s disease which is a form of dimentia that combines symptoms of alzheimers with those of parkinsons disease. Finally, Spud got sick tuesday night (thew up) but we thought he was fine. Then Jeff came home from work on Wed afternoon to find spud at the top of the stairs with his tail tucked under him and his back hunched over, not able to come down the stairs without assistance. Jeff took him to the vet and he thinks that Spud may have a slipped disc in his back. He gave Spud an anti-inflamatory shot and said to keep him from jumping or going up or down stairs for a few days. So he’s being carried downstairs to pee now. I think he likes that part. But he’s still not wanting to jump off the couch if we put him up there and seems to be in pain. I guess we’ll have to take him back to the vet.

I also called the OBGYN today b/c of some worsening pain around my right ribs and apparently it is quite "normal". It’s the uterus pushing on the ribs and spreading them apart and making it feel like a pulled muscle. Heating pads, warm baths and ben-gay are supposed to help. And supposedly it will get worse as Rhyan grows. Nice.

On an up side… i havent posted pics of her last ultrasound done around Christmas so I’d like to do that. She is really cute. But i’m only posting the profile pic…. I dont like the one where she’s looking at the camera cause it just looks, well, alien-like. And i dont like that. So here is our little girl Rhyan!

And her (empty) room.

And my fat belly You know this is my sweats, but its what i live in.

Lastly, some pics from our gals lunch back in December. I love these girlies!!!

And Jeff’s grandmother when we showed her the ultrasound pic. She was having a decent day and I think she understood some. This is her first great grandchild.

I dont think i remember ever being happier/more fufilled in my life.  Not even as a child when i had no responsibility! (Boy, those were the days). Jeff and I are really enjoying my pregnancy and are (slowly) trying to get things done.

We have picked a name but are trying desperately to bribe some nursery furniture out of our parents in exchange for their grandaughters name! HA! Seriously, though… we’re in negotiations!

I’m finding that i get tired after a weeks work! My patients and the gals i work w/ are all so great, so i enjoy work, but my body just wears down by the end of the week. Fridays are usually my productive day but the last few have been spent doing very little.

I’m enjoying a new beth moore book (the study of John) and am really praying for the Lord to help me be completley dependent on him. This baby deserves parents who are sold out for the Lord and set a good example for her… not only in words, but in actions. Will you pray for me as i lack dicipline (root word diciple… hmmm…). I am totally loving the messages from our new interim pastor, Ken Sirmons. Man, he gives us so much meat and it makes me long for more. He says things that some pastors dont. Like right now we’re talking about the beatitudes and in speaking of "blessed are those who mourn", ken spoke to how so many of us manufacture this attitude of being sorry for all that we are not when truly mourning ourselves (realizing who we are IS saddening if we are honest and dont rationalize ourselves) is a work of the Holy Spirit. I desire that work in my heart, that He would make me aware of all my sinful ways… so much so that i CHANGE.

Well, the nursery is in progress (slow progress). Hopefully the woodwork stuff will get done this week (a great friend has been doing it for us on the side but has to find time). We’ve found the furniture we want and Jeff’s brother ordered the bedding for us as a gift (ROCKIN brother-in-law i have, huh!). I’m so excited…and overwhelmed…about getting things ready for her arrival! I am taking pics as we go though, so hopefully one day they’ll get posted!

Life is good, folks. Which scares me a little… wheres the storm??? But i’m just gonna work on being grateful for now, and use this time to spend time w/ the lord so i’m better prepared for whatever may or may not come! Peace.

Here are some pics from November and December. First, Thanksgiving… Jeff and I and then my nephew (and pilgrim), Trevor.

Then, the Christmas tea at church. I hosted a table, which means being responsible for the place settings and decor and such… and inviting people to sit with me. Here were a few of the elite. Not sitting at my table, but a good friend just the same (she hosted a table of her own), Christy Rigdon and I.

Then Carrie and Ashley and myself, and my mother-in-law and myself:

 And my most beautiful table, of course..

Then, pics from a Stone Mountain Christmas. We went with my mommie and mama, but they take scary bad pics.

Most recently we had our secret santa girls party from work. I hosted it this year and really enjoyed having the girls over. Notice the BELLY!!!

And spud,

Then, this weekend I suprised Jeff with a get away to the mountains to a little Bed and Breakfast. We really enjoyed the time alone…

a play we went to..and a straight up belly pic for all who wonder how things are progressing. I look bigger in this pic than i really am… or is that wishful thinking?People seem to think that i’m carrying awfully low. Where do people think a gal’s uterus is, anyways???! The baby moves quite often now and i really, really enjoy it! Jeff felt it for the first time while lying in front of the fire friday night. He said he wasnt sure if he actually felt it but that he felt a "thump"… yup, thats it! I cant wait till he can feel it more clearly… and i cant wait till wedensday (Christmas Eve) when we find out the sex of the baby so i can quit calling it an it. Stay tuned…

I have been recently reprimanded by SO many of you for being such a BAD blogger! I’m SORRY!!! (If you’ve ever seen "Simon Birch" [the movie made from the book A prayer for owen meany], picture me running across the bridge screaming this like simon did… HA!).

Anyways, as i’ve said before, i hate posting pics. It takes me a long time because i’m not as computer savvy as i’d like to be… so i hate just writing when i know that pics is what everyone loves.

But i’ll give a quick word update, and will work on posting pics tomorrow. For real.

Since my last post (almost a month ago) i’m not sick anymore. YAY! I actually had the flu (and worked anyways??? not smart…). I had my 16 week appointment and heard the heartbeat again (155 this time). My mommie got to come with me (unexpectedly) which was fun. We were actually going after the appt to look, for the 5th time, a new couch for her. That friday was a good day as the baby is healthy and we finally ended the search and made a purchase on a lovely new sofa!

Thanksgiving was great. We spent the saturday before turkey day in madison w/ jeff’s mom’s side of the family. It was nice, but unfortunately we didnt take pics! I dont really know why… i brought my camera. Then turkey day itself was spent with my fam. and i made my first ever homemade sweet potato casserole which turned out WONDERFULLY… we’ve never had s.p.c. at my family and i dont know why… i LOVE IT!!! And even though my fam was skeptical at first, they all liked it, too! So success…

My aunt and I planned our shopping extravaganza for black friday, found a few good deals and Jeff and I decorated the house Saturday after turkey day. Well, he got out the boxes for me, that counts…right?

The christmas tea at church was the next tuesday and we had a great time fellowshiping (pics were taken and will all be posted). Then last saturday we attended Katie Fowler’s wedding (BEAUTIFUL!!!). Jeff and I went w/ my 2 moms to stone mtn christmas last night (to which we scored free tickets…actually we used a friends season pass and got in free… yes, i feel slightly bad cause it was deceptive…) and we enjoyed all the pretty lights. Again, pics were taken.

Tonight we are off to my work Christmas party at Maggiano’s and should be getting the last pics of the week. I like the dress i got to wear and it sufficiently shows off the "bump".

I’m feeling good, loving feeling the baby move and can’t wait to find out the sex of the baby on CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

Stay tuned for the pics…

P.S. I’ll be 20 weeks tomorrow… thats 5 months people. To compare last year’s happenings with this ones… well, it just goes to show Gods unbeliveable grace and timing. Overwhelmed, I am (as yoda would say).

We heard the heartbeat yesterday!!! The rate was around 160 which Dr Pohl said is very normal and that 99% of all 12 week babies have  that heartrate!

And i’ve only gained 1 lb. so far. YAY! BUT… my tummy does seem to be poking out a bit… even at only 1 lb!

This weekend was a busy one. Friday, I went to/co hosted (w/ all the girls from work) a shower for our "front desk girl", Kerri. She’s getting married Nov 8th. We all had a good time getting to see one another outside of work. I feel really blessed that I work w/ girls that i would even want to hang with!

Friday night we went to Ivan (Jeff’s BFF) and Jennifer’s home. He made the most rockin homemade meatloaf i’ve ever had. And roasted asparagus (1st time trying this, and i LOVED IT), salad and sweet potato. Jeff made a rockin vanilla and choclate delight… he’s such a good hubby! We had fun in their recently finished (by Ivan himself) basement playing air hockey, foosball, ping pong and darts. Jeff ruled Ivan, which made his night! Jennifer and I had a great time catching up and she loaned me some GREAT maternity clothes.

PS. I’m all up for borrowing maternity clothes if you want to loan some. I normally wear a small or medium in stuff. Hint, hint. I will return stuff!!!

Ok, back to the weekend. Saturday we had pics done by our friend Christy Martin. You can check out her awesome website at www.christymartinphotography.com . Sat evening, Jeff and I were bored and went to the Washington Farms pumpkin pickin patch/ corn maze/ petting zoo. We loved the goats, rabbits and especially the PIG RACES! They were a blast. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died after taking one pic of jeff that was just his back side (hey, its cute!) so no pics. SORRY!

And today we went to Jeff’s mom’s side of the family reunion. Actually, it was his grandmothers side of the family. We knew like 3 people. But it was good to get to spend time w/ Ronni and Jeff. Good times.

Baby update: 12 weeks today. Feeling much better. I finally dusted and dust mopped the floors and furniture today. I think i collected enough spud hair to make 2 more spuds. Gross. THATS how long its been since i swept… yeah, like 6 weeks… ever since i got sick feeling. So the fact that the floors are clean feels REALLY good. Next, filing the mail.

We go wed. for a checkup and to hear the heartbeat. Stay tuned…

Warning: This post updates you on the entire summer. Pics finally included. It is not for the faint at heart, but is my attempt to catch up on blogging and get you all up to date on all the most important stuff. If you ask me, its worth making it to the end…but dont skip there! You can click on any of the pics to enlarge it.

First, my bday. Jeff took me to longhorns.

This is Jason’s girlfriend, Liz, and I at her bday celebration (we are 1 day apart in bdays) and the 2nd pic is just for funsies.

Jeff and I enjoyed dinner w/ some good friends, Jeff and Carrie.

Then we enjoyed Central Gwinnett’s 10 year reunion.

And i have enjoyed 2 girls trips this september, w/o jeff. I did feel bad for leaving him twice! The 1st trip was w/ girls from church and we went to Pensecola FL, where my friend Beverly owns a beautiful home. The birds were stalking us for our lunch!

My 2nd trip was to Myrtle beach with high school/ church pals.

We also went to the fair!

But most importantly, we found out that we are growing our family!

At a little over 5 weeks

Just past 7 weeks

And most recently at 9 wks 2 days.

We are due may 3rd and i am 10 weeks preggo today. We have been quite nervous becuase of our history, but are SO grateful! I have been clinging to Isaiah as I posted earlier:

Do not remember the things of the past, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing and it will spring forth, shall you not know it?!!!

I am spoiled to so many ultrasounds because of being "high risk"! I wont have another until 12 weeks and then not again until 20~ i’ll miss seeing him/her grow during that 8 weeks! The obgyn gave me a dvd of the last ultrasound and he (for sake of time, i call it a he for now) kicked his little leg! I’ve gotta admit that it made it all to real to me then! We are calling him our little gummie bear.

God is so good. Not because He has given this to us. But because he just is. And he didnt have to give us this life, but did! Definitely undeserved.

I am nasty nauseated all day 24/7 and i’ll be honest…i’m tired of it! But i know that SO many women have it so much worse! And i know its a good sign. But i’ll be glad when food is appealing again!

I will post pics of the "baby bump" when i can blame the bump on the baby. Lets face it, right now, its all me! haha!