more baby pics

We are officially in LOVE!

She's here!

Our sweet baby girl has arrived!

4 weeks early!

She arrived March 31st at 11:41pm

Weighed in at 7lbs 6oz and 20inches long

She is healthy and LOVED!

just to let you know...

I have been following a blog written by a lady that had a baby due March 16th!  I check everyday to see if there is any news.  Well, so far nothing but she has at least posted so I know what is happening!  To you, my blog friends, I have not done the same!  So I thought I would let you know what has been going on.

My blood sugar levels have been GREAT!  I am only taking the slow acting insulin and my levels have stayed right where they should be.  I had an ultra-sound last Thursday, and the baby measured about 6lbs 4oz.  Smaller than most of mine at 36 weeks!  I had a baby at 36 weeks and he weighed over 8lbs!  So size, which is something they were worried about, seems to be in check also!  I have been contracting off and on for days and dilated to 1cm with the baby at -1 station.  That is good news!  I could go any day the doctor said and she would be fine with that.  If I do not go before the 18th of April, she wants to induce me.  Not sure if that is what I will do yet, but I am asking for God's hand in this so I will not have to make that decision.  REALLY praying that she will be born before that IF she is ready.  My anxiousness is gone and I feel at peace with all that has happened and I am thankful He has had his visible hand in this little one's life!  The only regret I have, is not resting in Him more from the very beginning.  However, that is when we realize our true need for Him.  Sometimes it takes pure desperateness before a total surrender comes.  Well, I was desperate!  The doctors gave me their opinions and I realized I was listening more to them then to the one who created me and this sweet baby!  I have had non-stress tests every week and they have been showing that she is doing great also.  So now, I wait!  Something I am terrible at!  And it makes it worse when you have other kids that are so excited and ready to see their baby sister! :)  I am ready NOW, but again, I need to remember, God knows when she should come so until then... I will endure the hip pain, achy back, hourly trips to the bathroom, sleepless hours, and my impatience.  It WILL all be worth it!  This much I know! 

Until she comes, I am signing off and rest assured, I will be back with all the details!  Maybe more than you care to know!  ;)

Numbers

I was cutting fingernails the other day and was tallying up some of the numbers of things in our home.  It kind of amazed me when I really sat down to think about it!


We have...

• Soon to be, 140 fingers in our home (goes great with my favorite saying to my children, "Many hands make light work!")
• Also soon to be 140 toes with 14 pairs of socks a day to go through (probably explains all the singles in my sock basket)
• 14 brains- you would think that would be useful, but sometimes it makes things REALLY difficult!
• 28 eyes to see EVERYTING with!
• 14 mouths- that makes things REALLY loud sometimes
• 14 tummies to feed AND that can get the stomach flu!
• 12 potty-trained people- well, most of time!
• 14 noses that need kleenex
• 28 ears to hear with- selective hearing at times!
• 2 benches, 12 chairs, 1 booster chair,1 high chair, and one 9 ft table in my dining room
• 1 couch that seats 6 adults but for now, while their buns are still little, our entire family if we need to
• 1 TV
• 9 slots for school notebooks and 9 pencil boxes
• 2 bathrooms (not enough but better than 1!)
• 1 6X9 ft backyard (I am not kidding!  Not big enough either but better than none!)
• 19 bunnies (WAY to many but better than 100!)
• 1 roll of toilet paper a day- and that's a double roll!
• 1 gallon of milk a day, 7 a week, 30 in a month!
• 3 dozen eggs for breakfast with 1 loaf of bread
• 5 loads of laundry a day to wash, fold, and put away (well, sometimes I have to put 15 loads away because I get a touch behind!)
• 3 drivers, 4 cars in our driveway
• a van that seats 15 people
• 6 carseats/booster seats to buckle
• 10 bikes in the garage
• 28 feet to go and share the gospel of Christ
• 28 hands to fold in prayer
• 14 spirits to spend eternity in heaven with each other!

The truth...

There are many things I read and sometimes I feel plain guilty because it seems like everyone else has it all together.  Everyone except me that is!  Do you ever feel like that?  How can everyone else have spotless homes, every meal full of nutrition, planned school activities daily with LOADS of stimulation for all ages, schedules planned out to a tee and followed flawlessly... need I say more?  It can make me feel quite inadequate at times, to say the least!  Now, I know that nobody is perfect and everyone has things they exel at and things they struggle with but why at times, do I feel like I am the only on who has kids who argue, dust bunnies under my fridge (well, probably WAY more than dust bunnies), days where I just am plain tired and don't feel like teaching, let alone taking my kids on an "educational" field trip!  It may be just my last trimester pregnancy mode I am in and am just weary, but boy has it been hard on me feeling how "perfect"  everybody else's life is or appears to be!

I thought I would share a touch of truth with you and some things I battle.  Not always, just here and there and somehow it helps to let it all out.  I'm funny like that you know!

~ I love nutritious meals and for the most part, we have them. 
But...sometimes they have boxed cereal, candy, diet pop and fast food
~ I vacuum at least once a day and have to have clean floors to function properly
But...there are days, I really don't care if food particles, dirt or unidentified "crumbs"  have escaped beyond the kitchen and dining room
~ I try to clean under our appliances once a month
But...sometimes I forget until I notice sticky, gross things laying under them while searching for an escaped fast moving hot wheel
~ I despise yelling and HATE talking above a normal speaking range to my children
But...I lay in bed some nights, feeling guilty at the times I lost my patience and my children suffered
~ I fold MANY loads of laundry a day
But...it is really hard for me to find the time to put them away and before I know it, there can be 3-4 laundry baskets full of folded clothes waiting in the hall for me
~ I do not like TV for my kids
But...I have been known to stick movies, (especially lately), in the DVD player to keep them entertained for awhile
~ I love to get up early and spend time with God
But...lately I have given in to my flesh and slept longer and spent less time with Him
~ I desire to be submissive to my husband and have a meek and gentle spirit
But...boy do I battle that sometimes and realize how quick my tongue reacts
~ I use cloth diapers and love it
But...sometimes I get lazy and revert back to disposables for a few days
~ I LOVE having boys and they bring me soooo much joy
But...wow, is it hard to understand their activity level and competitiveness at times!
~ I know God is going to provide for us and always has and I DO trust Him
But...I battle sometimes with worrying when my hubby will get a job and what the coming months will hold
~ I feel this baby move inside of me all time
But...I still worry everyday that something might happen to her
~ I am so thankful for my older children who have chipped in so much helping me in this last trimester
But...I can't wait until I can feel myself again and serve them!
~ I realize everyday how imperfect I am
But...I have a savior who lifts me up and loves me no matter how many times I fail!

For that, I am truly grateful!

Any "truth" you want to share would be welcomed!  Sometimes it's just nice to know you are not alone!

Because he choose to...

Years ago, when it was just my mom and me,
she said she would never get married again unless she could find somebody that would love me as much as or MORE than her.

Thinking that would probably never happen,
she did all she could to provide for me and give me a wonderful home.  It was just her and me.
Until...

This WONDERFUL man came into her life.

He was the one who did exactly what she said!

Even though he was not my father from birth,

he became my DADDY by his choosing!

And what a daddy he has been!

I have always felt like his very own.

He has always treated me as his own.

He has given me a gift that few experience!

The joy of a daddy loving them not because they had to,

but because he WANTED to!

(Kind of reminds me of my heavenly Father!)

Now if that does not make a girl's heart leap for joy,

I don't know what would!

And this girl's heart is still leaping!

Daddy, today I thank you for loving me unconditionally

supporting me,

advising me,

loving my children,

raising me as your very own,

loving me and,

teaching me about Jesus!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

my dear, sweet Daddy!

What a true blessing to be your daughter!

What's going on?

It's Monday and I am...
...tired
...weary
...realizing it really does not matter
...facing the fact that 7 boys under 10 yrs keeps me moving no matter what I feel like!
...looking forward to not having to put coats on everyone to go somewhere
...especially looking forward to not having to tell many kids to hang those coats up!
...finally figuring out my laundry folding NEVER ends!
...dreading putting it away because it is the worst chore
...trying to plan 2 weeks of meals for my older kids to do after the baby gets here
...wondering how I will shop for the ingredients without them getting ate before we need them
...nesting
...trying to figure out with my husband the things we DO NOT want the hospital to do after the baby is born.  (ex- silver nitrate in the eyes, hep. B shot, cutting the cord to soon, etc...)
...trying to figure out where 11 kids will go for 2 days while I am in the hospital
...thinking maybe they can just be at home
...making sure their bags are packed if we send some of them to grandma's
...thinking I will pack mine in a couple of weeks
...reading a new book called 'Captivating' by Stasi Eldridge and cannot put it down once I start!
...sorting socks and wondering where in the world the matches go
...honored to have a mom that is also my friend
...blessed to have a husband who is my best friend
...realizing God keeps me humble by sending people unexpectedly to my home for a visit
...amazed at how much pride I have sometimes
...thankful for mercy and grace that my Father gives me numerous times a day!
...thinking we might do 2 more weeks of school and then take our break until after the baby comes
...amazed my oldest is almost done with homeschooling and going to graduate THIS year!
...having fun watching my children grow up and become independent
...feeling the sadness at how fast it goes, however
...feeling the hour less sleep from yesterday especially when I hardly sleep anyway!
...being taught to rest in Jesus!

I have cleared my mind now!  Wow, it feels better!  Now I am ready to face the week!  Bring it on!  But boy am I glad I don't have to face it alone!

A strange sort of Foto!

This is a REALLY strange Foto Friday picture, I know!
 
But I just had to share my new found love!

These cloth diapers from BumGenius!

I ordered them for the soon coming arrival but loved them so much, I ordered more for my 20 month old.  His were getting pretty worn!  These are the best! 

The best part is, they are on clearance right now AND they have free and FAST shipping!  They always come to my home 2 days after I have ordered! 

The websight is http://www.cottonbabies.com/

Go ahead, try them!  You will be impressed!

(I don't even get a thing for this free advertising!  I just wanted to let everyone know


Happy weekend to all you!:)