Hi ladies,
Great news today!
Beth, now you can tell whoever that person was who was so abrupt about miscarriage to shove it where the sun don't shine!
Steph, good to hear all is well with exception to the sickness but I'm praising God for that too. That's ALWAYS a good sign. hormone levels seem to be keeping up. So I can't seem to remember what you mentioned about Katelyn. I can't see the page while I'm typing but hopefully all is well with her too.
So glad to hear all the news today.
Nothing really much going on here. I'm enjoying Amelia. She's been in a good mood the past two days after teething. She's walking better, more babbling than ever, says kitty-kitty, hi, dada, mom-mom, doggie (sort of) and puts her fingers together when saying kitty-kitty. She's not all that vocal to be honest though. While she DOES say these things, I'll ask her to say BALL, BOOK or other things and she just won't budge. I see her as a visual learning. She SEE'S certain things and then she copies certain motions.
She LOVES to dance and listen to music. She like mommy in that she loves anything having to do with the arts. Dance, music, "some" art. She LOVES to laugh! Doug and I just can't get enough of her laughing and squealing. Just amazing!
AFM I've been doing LOTS of reading. I'm reading my favorite series by Jennifer Chiaverini: Elm Creek Series. The latest book in the series and now she has a new book called Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker. It's supposed to be historical fiction but to be honest, she takes much of her historical fiction and researches it. Mrs. Lincoln REALLY DID have a special dressmaker who used to be a slave. She used her skills to become THE BEST dressmaker and somehow made it to being Mrs. Lincoln's personal dress maker. Keep in mind if you look at all the beautiful dresses Mrs. Lincoln actually wore, you'll see how intricate and beautiful they are. THIS is the dressmaker in the historical fiction book. I LOVE historical fiction, and biographies. I haven't gotten to this book yet, but bought it specifically to read. It's the first in a new series.
As many of you know I LOVE quilting. Quilts have a prominent role in history. Some were even used in the "underground railroad" to direct slaves to freedom. Because many slaves weren't permitted to read, there had to be something to show them which houses were safe to stay at. Women in these specific safe homes created quilts that nobody would recognize to anyone but the slaves. They understood how to read them. Just simply AMAZING.
I get into history more now than ever. My hometown is Auburn where Harriet Tubman lived and also Lincoln's Secretary of State, William H. Seward who bought Alaska and helped to shape our nation. I LOVE touring his home and my families historical book resides in that house as well.
I'm also reading a book called "The heart of anger". It's a biblical book for helping children with anger biblically. I came across it when Mrs. Duggar brought it up as she was talking about one of her youngest (strong willed)girls. She was SO patient and loving yet FIRM that I wanted to understand how this book helped her.
I have to say I consider it more for ME than for Amelia. It's helping ME to deal with certain issues of my own life where I've become bitter and angry. Obviously losing Jackson didn't help any but I'm noticing that it's time to "let it go". If not for my own sake at least for Doug and Amelia.
In the process I pray it can help me to deal with her temper in a patient and wise manner. She's VERY expressive like her mommy. She LOVES Big and has big tantrums too. lol Knowing how to deal with them will help us all a great deal. Especially if I can move past my own hurt, anger and bitterness. It's just TIME to let it go!
Well, that's what's been going on. I'm just playing with our girl, getting more stuff done around the house and Doug gives me some extra free time to read.
This weekend is our extra special weekend. Can't WAIT for massage and acupuncture. Not sure what we'll do from there, but I'm looking forward to it!
Love to you all. I've been praying for each of you in different ways. You ALL are on my heart daily. Love you all dearly. SO GLAD to hear the good news Beth.
Oh, forgot, I'm sorry about your sister. I'll be praying for her as well. Sometimes they get all hyper for no reason. I know they freaked me out about Amelia's heart and the cardiologist even asked me if I knew my age meant high risk for downs. After all that, I had to wait 8 weeks only to find out she didn't actually have a heart issue it was a reflection from my insides.
All that needless worry for NOTHING. I pray that this is your sisters case. That she will in fact have a healthy baby and a safe and healthy 9 months! I'll continue to pray for her daily.
As for the worry about Downs, I'm with your husband. Worry about that when/if that comes. Don't give yourself something extra to worry about. Doug and I worked with many adults with Downs and other disabilities. MANY of whom lived very normal lives. They work daily, some are married, many have jobs and do better at them than those who are without disabilities. They bring JOY too.
Sadly, our society teaches that these folks aren't worthy of life which is why those my age are asked to have genetic testing. If you look at orphans you RARELY find one with Downs. There are quite a few less orphanages for kids with Downs than there were. Not because the percentage of Downs kids are lowering but because of the amount of abortions when parents find out the children have actual chromosomal abnormalities.. This is another topic I get into because Doug and I have been tinkering with the thought of actually adopting children with Downs Syndrome later on down the road. Doug has also had a heart for children in Africa for a while now too so it will be interesting to see where God directs us. Again, that will be down the line since we hope to try for one more healthy full term pregnancy. After another child, I don't think I will be able to handle anymore fertility injections and hormones nor the stitches to keep the babies in nor the fear that comes with each time. I'd rather try for one more child in my body, work my bum off to lose this weight and get healthy so I can keep up and play with them all and THEN adopt more children.
Since Doug and I both have medical training, why not adopt a child who has special needs. Our insurance is good (at least right now) and with both our background we have the experience as well as the love to be able to share. Right now though, I'm just trying to give all I have to my husband and daughter, work on #2 and let God guide and direct us for everything else.
On another note, I'm feeling SO much better lately! The vitamin D is working, though I think I need a shot of B. My insulin levels are GREAT! The nurse at the fertility Dr.'s said she was glad to hear of the numbers and told me when I'm ready to call a week in advance. SOOOoo. Right now I'm just focusing on each minute/hour/and day. The end of February is good for us to start again so I'm just taking right now to relax and enjoy all that God has already blessed me with. Counting my blessings so to say!
Hope your all having a great week so far. It's been windy here with all the weather changes. Went from 9 degree's to 50 yesterday LOTS of wind and snow tonight low in the teens again. I don't mind the snow but I sure wish we didn't have the subzero degree's They really make things a bummer around here. Tire pressure goes down, batteries in the cars start going. There are worse things though!
Love to you all.
This time around, I'm not going to have him come to every appt, just the important ones, so I was so thankful he came. 
we took the kids for a 3 mile walk sunday at the local greenway; lovely day for it but I could sure feel it in every muscle last night lol! My Joints take forever to gt back to normal after pregnancy, and that is mostly where my pain comes from. We are hoping to do that walk at least once a week as a family, and hopefully I can work in several other walks during the week. We finally settled on a stroller and I LOVE it; definitely recommend it for anyone with two as a great go anywhere stroller. Baby jogger city select ($$, but we found one on Craigslist for a price we could live with). Reece is already in it - no need for car seat adapter, etc. 
I gotta get it in gear and plan his party bc I need to get invitations out. Feels like there is so much going on that it is a bit overwhelming, but I know I will eventually get into a groove with two. 
it feels so hectic sometimes (like this morning, as I went ahead and did the kids' baths before naps so evening won't be so crazy). But I know it will get better. 
but it WILL get better soon!
got his first shots, which I was glad for as now can stop stressing so much about pertussis exposure here. Bad enough we have to worry so over flu! 
, but he was outgrowing the pack n play bassinet weight limit! 
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I'm not sure what I can ever do right. The drama in my family is also wearing. Things have to "look" a certain way to one side and the other side is considered embarassing with exception to the ones who put up boundaries in order to not deal with their mother's evil ways. 
I am afraid I'd have told them off - you were just trying to do something nice! 
