11 DAYS LEFT!!!

I can't believe it is almost here!  The time to hold our precious baby Hannah Kate!  11 DAYS until my due date!  I thought that with all of the difficulties I have had with eating over the last 2 months that she would come early.  Selfishly I wanted her to, but I have been praying that whatever is best for her to happen.  Thankfully God looks past my weakness and gives me the strength for the day- even if that means that the day has to end early by going to bed at 6:30 ;)

I was in the hospital again last Monday after a rough night and morning of throwing up and dehydration.  I thought that I would be able to eat, that MAYBE my stomach had recovered.  So after some strawberries, blueberries, dry cheerios, and pretzels my stomach let me know that it is still struggling.  My Dr. told me to go in to the hospital for fluids, and when I went I was having contractions 2-4 minutes apart.  BUT I was only 1 cm dilated, so the contractions were from dehydration and went away after the fluids.

With not much longer to go I am strictly sticking to what I know I can hold down- the BRAT Diet, plus lean meat (a small chicken breast or a small filet) and a small amount of peanut butter (1TBSP).  Unfortunately, my routine equals about 900 calories, so, being 9 months preggo, it leaves me with almost no energy.

I am so thankful for my awesome family that is so supportive and helpful!  My kids- who are precious encouragers and help out with chores and are learning to do more things on their own.  And my totally ROCKIN' hubby, who is not complaining about me not cooking a lot over the last few weeks and has taken the role of getting dinners together, spent yesterday deep cleaning the house, and drew me a nice hot bubble bath last night to help my back and help me relax.  I mean, how blessed is this girl!  I do have to say that i soooooo cannot wait to have energy to pour back out onto my family!  For now, I am thankful that God is sustaining us through!

We cannot wait to hold our sweet baby girl!  

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from Him." ~ Psalm 127:3

"Every good and perfect gift is from above" ~ James 1:17

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." ~ Psalm 139:13-16

4 WEEKS LEFT! Grace needed!

Only 4 weeks left until baby Hannah Kate comes!  To be completely honest, the last four weeks have been so challenging, emotional, and hard.  Four weeks ago I got whatever stomach bug Kiley had and lost 7 pounds in two days.  I couldn't keep liquid or anything down and my Doctor told me to go to the hospital.  I went and they hooked me up to all the monitors and I was having contractions from dehydration.  They gave me a couple of bags of fluid before I had to go to the bathroom.  A few bags of fluid later the contractions had stopped, I was able to hold down a little fluid and crackers and we headed home.  

The doctor had told me to try the B.R.A.T. Diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) for a few days to help my stomach.  I did and then tried eating other food.  Every time I ate something else, I threw up or had diarrhea.  So I reverted back to the B.R.A.T. Diet (I have been able to add peanut butter and chicken breast).  Fast forward FOUR WEEKS..... I am STILL on it.  I have tried to come off a few times, and each time I get sick.  Needless to say I am very ready to eat something else!  I also can't eat a lot of food (even if it is just the BRAT), so I have had zero energy and have been irritable and very emotional.  I have lost more weight..... I am in my last trimester so I am supposed to be gaining the most right now.  The doctor told me that the baby is getting what she needs and is growing, even if I am losing.  He said that this is not a symbiotic relationship, but a parasite.  

This pregnancy has definitely been a test.  The whole pregnancy has been pretty hard and physically and emotionally draining.  It has been a season where I have been praying if there was something God was trying to teach me.  After lots of prayer, reading, and emotions, God has revealed something that He has taught me through this time.  

There are somethings that I "know" in my head, but have not fully sank into my heart.  One of these is the feeling that I need to be perfect to be loved, especially by my hubby.  I completely know that Chris loves me and I am so blessed that God brought us together.  But somehow I have let lies creep in, that in order for him to be happy with me I needed to be the "perfect" housewife.... like there is such a thing.  I began to put unrealistic expectations on myself and it was draining me.  Through this pregnancy, God has put me on my back, not able to "DO" a whole lot, but only able to BE.  And through this process I have found more freedom in knowing that I am loved not for what I do, but for who I am.  I don't have to look perfect, have a clean house, cook great meals, etc etc to be loved.  I can fail, make mistakes, be super emotional and even irritable..... and the world is not going to FALL apart, my marriage is not going to fall apart.  There is so much beauty in forgiveness, so much freedom in knowing that even if I blow it, there is opportunity for growth, love, and grace! 

I love this picture- the kids and Chris put handprints on my belly!  I had in my head that this was going to be a sweet time together.  This was the only picture we got.  Unfortunately I did not get the picture that i wanted- one with all of my family with me.  It did not end to well, with tears from a few, attitudes, and a rough few hours after. When I look at this picture it reminds me of what love is.  Even though Christ's love IS perfect, our love is not.  We make mistakes, say harsh words, get attitudes, make faces; we can be unloving or disrespectful; and when all of us "mess up" back to back, it can make for a painful and hard minute, hour, or day.  BUT, love perseveres through, always finding a way to protect, be humble, give grace, and forgive.  Yes, we mess up, but it is what we do in the rebound.  And that is what makes love never fail.  GOD equips us with what we need, and for that, I am so thankful!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my family and am beyond blessed by my husband and kids.  I can't wait to welcome Hannah Kate into this world, our family!  

A few pictures from EASTER- HE HAS RISEN!!!  

 Family at the Church Easter egg hunt in Berkeley Lake, GA.  I grew up with this as a tradition and have many memories here!  

 

An Easter Basket from NA, since they know that the Easter Bunny is just for fun and not "real".  Kiley was super excited about the megapack of stickers!!!

 AND our newest tradition.... Resurrection Rolls.  Super easy with a great hands on, visible message.

Major Update- 9 weeks left!

It's hard to believe we have less than 9 weeks left until baby Hannah Kate is born!  The last 31 weeks have flown by... even though some days went by super slow!
What a blessing for our family!  We talked about trying to get pregnant when I returned from Africa.  We got pregnant the week after I got back!  God is amazing!

15 WEEKS pregnant

The first trimester was rough with being super sick and exhausted and back pain.  It was difficult Homeschooling.  When we sat the kids down to tell them the exciting news they were so precious and shared in our excitement!  We told them that the baby was the size of a jelly bean and that the baby would continue to grow.  Curtis looked at my belly in awe and then with a concerned look  he said, "but what if the baby falls out and we can't find it because it is so small.  Or what if I step on it?"  He was really worried.  We explained to him about how God gave women a womb so the baby would be protected.  It was so sweet.

The week before Christmas I ended up in the ER.  I called my doctor after two weeks of waking up every morning with a headache and every day it turning into a migraine.  He called me in some medicine and told me that if it was not better after two days that he wanted me to go to the ER.  So a few days later, that is where I ended up.  After an MRI on my head they found swelling in my brain and told me I needed to go see a neurologist ASAP and might possibly need a spinal tap to check for MS.  I got in the next day to see the neurologist and he put me on medication that was supposed to bring the swelling down.  AND thank YOU, Jesus,  after two weeks it worked!

Chris and I decided we wanted to take a family Vacation before the baby arrived.  We know that one more child will change the dynamics and wanted to enjoy Curtis and Kiley together and make some fun memories!  What an amazing husband I have to plan this for our family!!!  Jan. 5th we left for our family Vacation- a Royal Caribbean Cruise!  We had such an amazing time as a family!

We got to see lots of Pixar characters and learn some Kung Foo from THE Panda and dress up for  Pirate Night with Puss in boots

Had a wonderful January 7th as we got to celebrate Kiley's 4th Birthday 

Had a blast playing in the sand

Ice skating was Curtis' favorite (along with putt putt) and we all loved holding the little turtles!

WHAT FUN WE HAD!!!!

Since then our calendar has been full- Homeschool, Chris teaching Sunday school and me teaching in GoKids, Chris' ski trip with our Church men's group, a work trip,

A field trip to Nashville

Speaking at Breakout sessions at our Women's Rejuvenation conference

My topic: "Weird" because normal isn't working!  How God has called us to be different from the world!  

All of the Speakers for the conference... great topics to cover!

Na came down to support me at the conference... 29 weeks preggo!

Speaking at the TNT Girls night about finding our identity in Christ, not in the world.... and Kiley got to come and we all painted our fingernails! 

A trip to Chattanooga to see family.....

Not to mention all of the projects around the house as I am in major "nesting" mode!  But that is for a later post!

And there went the 31 weeks!  My head is spinning!  No wonder the last few months have flown by!  Each day I have to spend with my precious family is just, well, precious!  God continues to amaze me with HIS love!  I am amazed at how much Chris and I and our family have grown together and I pray that God will continue to shape us into who HE wants us to be!