cooties!

Dan has been struggling with allergies for several weeks now, but when he came home from church on Wednesday night, I knew he was really sick.  He was achy, feverish, coughing, and sick to his stomach.  First thing on Thursday morning, I called the doctors office, on a gut feeling that he may have THE flu (influenza A).  Since it's been considered an epidemic this year, and Dan is constantly in contact with folks at church and on hospital visitations, I knew it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.  Upon mentioning to the receptionist that I am 30 weeks pregnant, I was so grateful that they had him come in for the first appointment for a "swab" test.  Sure enough, he tested positive.  This led to a quick call on the way home to my OB/GYN and the kids' pediatrician to request Tamiflu.  None of us had symptoms yet, so we took it as a prevention.  And although the Tamiflu was pricey and gave us belly aches, we decided it was worth it, especially given the potential side-effects of the flu  during pregnancy.  Dan's worst symptoms only lasted about three days and the rest of us stayed flu-free.  I am usually so leery of drugs like this, but in this case--I felt total peace.  It was truly a blessing (protection + provision) from the Lord.  

In addition to the flu, all three kids came down with a nasty cold (RSV)...poor Millie was the worst.  

So here's a few pictures that capture some of the ways we spent an entire seven days in quarantine: 

napping

eating yummy food (for some reason, when the family is sick I go into feed my family mode, so we ate really well this week!)

soaking up some extra vitamin D in the sunshine

watching way to much tv

taking our yucky-tasting meds

painting nekkid, just because it makes her feel happy instead of sick and grumpy :)

bickering because we're tired of being cooped up in the house all week, group time-out is highly effective discipline (ha ha ha!)

looking at photo albums and reading books together

lots and lots and lots of snuggle-therapy

playing games new and old

and praising the Lord for his healing touch!

29 weeks

Sweet Lydia Kate,

We are at the start of the third trimester and you are a growing girl!  You feel like a strong little baby inside my belly.  Even now, as I write, you are gently bumping around inside and you have the hiccups.  :)  I love you so much sweet daughter.  This stage of pregnancy evokes some crazy emotions in my heart.  On one hand, I feel like there's so much left to do to be "ready" for your arrival.  On the other hand, I'm just ready to not be pregnant, holding you close and enjoying you as a member of our family.  So, patience is the word for these weeks of waiting and anticipating.  Here we are at 29 weeks.  I could nap about 2-3 times a day if given the opportunity and my favorite snacks right now are dried bing cherries (with a few chocolate chips sprinkled in), oats with peanut butter, honey and bananas, and grape juice.  I'm definitely carrying you straight out in front and low.  Frequent comments from folks are things like "your due date must be right around the corner!  10 more weeks??"  My sentiments exactly. Ha ha!

--sweet sister getting in on our little photo shoot  :)  --

--before church, in the front yard at 29 weeks--

I started physical therapy for my hip pain a few weeks ago, it's helping to stabilize my pelvic bones and sacrum so much.  Here I am exercising at home with Graham's "angry bird".  Ha!

Your great-grandma Oedy came for a surprise visit this week.  This is the first time she's been back since Daddy and I got married almost eleven years ago. She is one special lady.  

Your big brother and sisters love on you already.  They love to kiss and hug my belly and sing all kinds of songs to you.  A favorite is "hush little baby".  Graham says he "just can't wait any longer, I'm so excited to see Lydia".  Hannah Reece likes to lay in my lap and wrap her arms around my belly, as if she's giving you a big hug!  Camille sings all kinds of songs to you and plays "peek-a-boo".    We are so excited to see your sweet face, baby girl!  xoxoxoxo, Momma

Early Riser

Millie usually rises between 5-6:00 every morning.  We moved a tv into our room several months ago (which I've been staunchly opposed to in the past)  partly so that I can get some extra sleep on mornings when Dan has to head out early to play basketball.  On this morning, I set her up on the Ipad to watch while I made breakfast and lunches before we went to Classical Conversations. Little cutie.  :)

Camille's favorites (on Netflix) are:  Sesame Street, Good Luck Charlie, Fireman Sam's Christmas, Super Why and Strawberry Shortcake.

Favorites

This "grabber" is my constant companion as bending down with these achy hips is such pain (literally!)

I {heart} the Fernando Ortega station on Pandora with Selah and Watermark for variety.  I turn it on especially in the mornings and evenings for a peaceful tone.

This tea with lots of honey has been a staple in this pregnancy.  I have totally given up decaf coffee because it just does not taste good to me right now.  Also, hot chocolate...I love it with LOTS of marshmellows.  :)

I want to remember....

These days, I put on my peace-keeper "hat" often.  It's a delicate balance, allowing the kids room to work the conflict out and knowing when to step in to arbitrate.  Today, I witnessed some sweet moments that I want to be sure to remember.  

This afternoon we were in the backyard, I asked Graham to put Camille into the baby swing and buckle her up.  As he was hoisting her cute self up there she said.  "Graham you have super powers!"  To which he quickly responded "Camille, you have "cute-tonium"!  

While on the swingset, I said "Isn't it a beautiful day, guys?"  To which Graham replied "every day is a beautiful day, because God made it that way."  Wise words.  May we truly see God's beauty EVERY day, son.  

Camille was already tucked into bed, Hannah Reece came in a few minutes later and said "I'm sorry it took me so long to come in, but here I am!  Let's go to sleep now."  :)  

I don't think that it's coincidence that on the days I "back-off" a little, usually when I'm having a tired, achy, super pregnant day (like today) that the kids really pitch in and help each other out.  I pray that they will be dear friends for life, loving each other unconditionally.

snuggle wiff daddy

Dan was out of town for a few days at the Fellowship of Presbyterians conference in Orlando. Hannah Reece (as usual) needed to sleep with daddy's robe each night so that she could "smell" him.  Both girls slept with me in our bed.  Graham and Charly crashed together on the sofa in the living room.  The hardest time is from 4-bedtime because those are the hours that we're used to daddy livening things up around here!  I'm tired, the kids are getting tired and we're just all missing him something awful at night.  Usually I stay up super late when he's gone, but I was so beat that I crashed with the kids!  :)

When Dan got home, it was close to nap time for Camille.  She said, "I wanna snuggle wiff daddy." The two of them piled up in our bed together and took a FOUR hour nap!  All snuggled up together.  Girl LOVES her daddy.  

I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.  Camille is wearing her favorite princess nightgown. Camille says those princesses on her gown get "scared of monsters" at night and so they tell her to get in momma and daddy's  bed to feel better.  ;)

1 Corinthians 13 for moms

1st Corinthians 13 for Moms

If my child speaks in the tongues of men or of angels, masters sign language at six months and Spanish and Mandrin Chinese by six years, but does not learn to love, she is only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If he has the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge-ABCs at a year, reading by two, writing chapter books in Kindergarten-but does not have love, he is nothing. If I volunteer for every mommy ministry-MOPS, AWANA, Sunday School, and if I give all I possess to the poor (or at least bring loads of groceries to the foodbank), but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy other mother's lifestyle choices or possessions, it does not boast in the areas of my children’s natural strengths (while covering for their faults), it is not proud of the way my child potty trained before your child. It does not dishonor others by insisting that my method of parenting is the best, it is not self-seeking-hoping that you’ll notice how smart, talented or well rounded I am raising my child to be. It is not easily angered by perceived slights or misjudgments, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth that all of parenting is fueled and driven by God’s grace. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails-even where I have fallen painfully short of God’s best for my children. But where there are competitions to see whose body bounces back best after childbirth, they will cease; where there are verbal fights over the correct methods of discipline, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge about the best way to feed and clothe and nurture a child, it will pass away. For we know in part and we parent incompletely, but when they are fully grown, what we thought we knew about raising our children will disappear. When I was a new parent, I thought, spoke and reasoned with immaturity and without grace. As my children grew, I asked God to give me the wisdom to put these childish ways behind me. For now we see our children’s future as only a reflection as in a mirror; one day we will behold their adults selves face to face. Now I know in part; then we shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

-Katie Loveland

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This encouraged my heart in so many ways today.   I want to LOVE our children.