Still Home & Okay

I went to the Dr. yesterday for my regular checkup and had a good report. Things are still looking the way they should at this point in the pregnancy. I'm now 35 weeks along, as of today! Only 5 more weeks to go...or less, if this little guy starts acting up again! :) I haven't had as many contractions as the two earlier episodes, but there is still definitely something going on. My Dr. said that if I can just get to 36 weeks then she will be fine with the baby coming anytime after that...so, hear this little buddy, you better stay in there a tiny bit longer, okay? Actually, when our boy didn't come onto the scene this past week like I thought he might, I was almost disappointed because I'm really looking forward to meeting him! But then of course my common sense kicked in and I realized that every day he can stay in there is good for him. There's a reason that God made the entire gestational period to be forty weeks! He has it so perfectly planned.

In the meantime, we had a great weekend with a visit from our dear friends Kim & James! It was so much fun to have them here with us for two nights. Thanks for coming you two! Erik was even able to take them out sailing on Monday so that was neat.

And if you have heard about crazy tornadoes coming through our area, they were just about 15-20 minutes north of where we live. We didn't have any peripheral hail damage here at our home, but we know some people who did have some severe hail damage...don't know anyone who lost a home, but there were many of those. Please pray for these families who have been impacted by the storm.

The Waiting Game

Hey friends. Two nights ago, I had another crazy night of contractions...but ended up falling asleep for a couple of hours eventually and decided not to go in to the hospital to be checked. Since then, I've been fairly okay and have so far had two somewhat "normal" days, which has been nice. Little Man is moving around still quite a bit inside of me and that is reassuring. If some more crazy things happen with preterm labor prior to my Tuesday regular OB appointment, I think I will most likely go and get checked.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. We so appreciate them!

We have company coming for a few days and I'm SOOOOO excited! I must go and get some final picking up and cleaning done before our dear friends arrive!!!!!!

Blessings to you all...

And if you feel led, I encourage you to go and read the most recent post on this incredible blog that has been blessing my life recently...the post is about being broken before our Lord and how He pieces us back together...Amen for that.

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Pray for the Chapmans

I just found out yesterday that Steven Curtis Chapman (a famous contemporary Christian musician, in case you don't know of him) and his family are mourning the tragic loss of their precious little five year old girl, Maria. She was in the driveway of their home and was accidentally hit with an SUV driven by her brother who was coming home for a party with the family. Little Maria was one of three girls adopted from China by the Chapmans.

Please pray for this family during their time of loss...

Preterm Labor on Break...

Hey everyone. In case you didn't already know this, I was experiencing some preterm labor yesterday and almost went into the hospital to be monitored. I had contractions all day long off and on, and some were more intense than others...but alas, I'm still at home and today haven't had contractions much at all! I feel more normal and that's good. Since I'm at 34 weeks gestation, I'm so glad that our little man would probably be alright if he needed to come early.

All that said, I have a zillion and one things to try to accomplish on my nesting list, and I don't think I'll get all of it done before our boy comes. And now I'm really coming to terms with that, and realizing that life will most likely go on, even if I don't get all this stuff done.

I would appreciate your prayers for our little boy and for me as we await his arrival!

Thank you!

Playlist help!

Hi! I just installed a playlist of songs and I don't think it is working...anyone know how to make it work? I installed it under the "install html/code" section in "page elements." If you know how to help will you respond? Thanks!!!!!!!

Very Inspired...

For many months now, off and on, I have been reading an excellent book by Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. It is called "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire." (I didn't know how to underline the title...) Usually after I finish reading a segment in the book, I don't know what to do! The book has spurred something in my soul and has made me realize the importance of living boldly for my faith in Jesus Christ. It has made me see the importance of our churches (and us in our own lives) being so much more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Cymbala talks about not being so tied down to a timed schedule for a service, and not that the service should then be completely without schedule or chaotic, but just that we ought to be more sensitive to the Spirit's leading in our services. That really got to me. There are SO many churches that are so rigid in planning, and I think that EVERY church should read this book and let it be a starting point for conversations and changes in how to lead a service, how to worship, how to follow the Spirit more than following what WE think ought to take place. This type of thinking could seriously revolutionize our churches...the "dead" and "alive" churches could potentially have more life if they would stop what they're doing, pray, and seek the leading of the Holy Spirit.

That's my thought for the day. I don't quite know where to take it, but I thought that blogging about it might be a good start.

ZOO!!!

This morning we got up kind of late, but I saw how lovely it was outside and realized that it would be the perfect day to take Kristi to our local Como Zoo! We went and we saw LOTS of neat animals. I think Kristi's favorites were the monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, sea lions and the fish. Oh, and she also seemed enthralled with the very tall giraffes, as she craned her little neck upwards to look at them. The animals seemed a little goofy today. I don't know if it was the nice weather or what, but they all were being a little strange. It made for more entertainment, that's for sure.

The pictures are:

*at the church Easter Egg Hunt

*with Grammie by the pool at Auntie's place

*swimming in her "boat"

*Easter dress

*at a birthday party for a little friend

I don't know why she is so goofy about not smiling for the camera, but I guess that's the phase we're in. She used to smile all the time for the camera! My kid is a happy kid! I guess there are just deep thoughts going on inside her head or something!