34 Week Update

Ok...so I know...I'm now 35 1/2 weeks and am just getting a chance to update from my OB appointment a week ago! I'm so sorry for the delay! Thank you for all your prayers. The ultrasound last Tuesday showed that Baby "A" has now turned and is head down. The ultrasound tech said he is in a perfect position. Yeah God! Thank you so much for praying. His kidney's remain the same as they have over the past several months. Baby "A" weighed approximately 5 lbs. 1 oz. although I'm told that can vary 1 lb. more or less. His heart-rate was 143 bpm.

I also told the doctor about the contractions I've been having over the past 4 weeks or so, and he, once again, assured me that I have been doing the right thing to rest & drink lots of water.

So, now, we wait...once I reach 36 weeks this weekend, the doctor will deliver the baby if I go in to labor.

Thank you, again, for all your prayers!

My Baby Is Growing Up...

Yes, Abby, our 5 year old has seemed to grow up overnight! The last couple of weeks, she has been doing a really good job of getting up on her own (without Mommy having to wake her up) & getting dressed immediately without me having to keep at her about it. Yesterday & today, Abby has gotten up and gotten dressed (for church yesterday & school today), fixed her own hair, gotten her own breakfast, then brushed her teeth...all without me having to tell her each step or helping her with them. It's amazing to me how this all seemed to happen overnight. It's a wonderful sound to hear first thing in the morning as I listen to her climb out of her top bunk and start getting ready. She normally wakes Ally up in the process, but then will also help her get dressed and then tries to help Ally fix her hair, too. Then, this morning when I heard her pouring her own cereal & milk, I really couldn't believe my baby had gotten that big already. Now, believe me, I'm not as emotionally sad about it as you might think. I'm actually excited about how God is developing Abby to be a very independent little girl and a great helper. This really couldn't have happened at a more perfect time...when I am weeks away from delivering our 4th child and have really had to slow down within the last week because of having contractions. Her independence will be a huge help to me as we have this 4th baby & will to focus my attention more on the baby & Aidan. Ally has always been a great helper, and I'm sure will continue to be as well. She is also growing up fast and able to get dressed by herself now, for the most part.

Update on Baby #4

Yesterday, I had my 3rd ultrasound & another doctor's appointment for our precious baby boy. In a previous posting, I had mentioned his enlarged kidneys. This was the reason for more ultrasounds. I am glad to say, we are seeing progress. The baby's kidney's have gone down in size...from each being 0.5 cm to being 0.3 & 0.2 cm. Although these measurements are the same as my ultrasound 4 weeks ago & still not where the doctor's would like to see them, I have been assured by the ultrasound tech, who has been doing this for a very long time, & my doctor, that this is nothing to worry about. They are larger than normal, but not over the 0.6 cm mark where something more serious could be wrong. I will continue to have ultrasounds until the baby is born & then once he is born, he will have an ultrasound done & my doctor is certain that his kidney's will then be normal size. For this, we are thankful.

In addition, to the baby's kidney size, the baby is also in the breech position. The ultrasound tech told me that the baby still has a little room to move, but the doctor said she would have liked to see him turn by now. I will go again in 4 weeks for another ultrasound where we will check and see the position of the baby. If the baby is still breech, my doctor says I'm the perfect candidate for an external version, which is when the doctor will manually turn the baby, because I've had 3 natural, non-complicated births previously. I have heard this is a pretty painful process, so we are praying hard that the baby will turn within the next 4 weeks. This is our focus now. If not, then we'll go from there. I've also wondered if this could be why I've been so oddly uncomfortable...because his feet are kicking so low, rather than his head being low!

We appreciate all your prayers & concern! Thank you all!

My Mission Field

I received this little e-devotional from a friend this week. I just finally got to read through it and loved the great reminder it brings me. There are so many times I struggle with the balance between where my service to God needs to be within our church and community and my 3 (almost 4) very small children who take my time and attention (as they should) and whom I want to instill God's values. This is a great reminder to me as to where my first priority mission field needs to be. I hope this speaks to you as well.

MY MISSION FIELD
Matthew 9:37-38, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest."

Do you sometimes hanker to be doing some great work for God? You feel as though you are wasting your life in your home. You would love to serve the Lord in some harvest field. Yes, it is true, the harvest is great and the laborers are few. But why are they few? Because mothers have not understood God's purpose.

Are you looking for an easy path in life or do you have a heart to serve God as a missionary? Dear mother, you are already a missionary. God has chosen your specific mission field for you. It is your home and family. You are employed by God to train laborers for His harvest field. You don't raise children and then send them to Bible College to prepare for service. You train them for God's service from the time they are little. They should be ready to labor in the harvest field when they come forth from your home.

Is a missionary's work easy? No, it takes sacrifice. Is motherhood easy? No, but it will be worthwhile. It takes everything you've got--all your resources of time, energy and strength--but you will influence nations. It takes sacrifice--many mothering days are exhausting and overwhelming--but you will receive the fruit of your labors and an eternal reward. It will take committed prayer and intercession, but your prayers will be answered. Remember, you are not on vacation; you are on the mission field!

Maybe God has only given you one laborer to prepare for Him--that is His plan for you. Maybe he has given you six, or even twelve! Wow, would twelve be too many? Jesus trained twelve disciples who impacted the world. How would you like to train laborers who "turn the world upside down"? (Acts 17:6)

What kind of laborers does God want us to faithfully prepare for His service? The following is my vision for our children, grandchildren and future generations. I believe He wants us to prepare children who are...

Baby lovers
Blessing imparters
Bible believers
Bible obeyers
Committed laborers in God's harvest
Courageous overcomers
Demon destroyers
Diligent workers
Evil haters
Faithful servers
Fearless soldiers
Freedom fighters
Fruit bearers
God fearers
God lovers
God pleasers
God worshippers
Gospel preachers
Holy Spirit empowered witnesses
Home lovers
Israel supporters
Jesus fanatics
Justice keepers
Life choosers
Light shiners
Liberal threateners
Obedient listeners
Parent honorers
Responsible citizens
Sharp arrows
Tomorrow's leaders
Truth bearers
Truth keepers
Truth lovers
Truth preservers
Truth seekers
Truth speakers
Persecution endurers
Prayer warriors
Righteousness lovers
Uncompromising disciples
Valiant conquerors
Wisdom getters and
Zealous servants of the Living God!

Wow! Can you imagine anything more exciting and fulfilling that raising laborers such as these? You couldn't have a greater mission field or a greater vision.

A Mischievous Little Man

Ok...so all I did was go upstairs to switch the laundry. I came back down and this is what I found! I think these pictures speak for themselves...more and more lately we have been seeing more mischievous & ornery behavior out of this little man! Oh the fun!

Time To Clean Out...

So, now that we know we are having a boy, & according to my husband "4 and no more"....I am cleaning out all my girl stuff. I have girl clothes from 0-3 months up to 3T plus girl blankets, bibs, towels, toys, shoes, socks....everything! I'm just trying to find the best way to get rid of it. I'd love to make a little money on everything as I have a lot. I was planning to go to a local consignment store, but they aren't taking any appointments until January for Spring/Summer things. Hmmm...so what to do...eBay, Craig's List? Does anyone have any great ideas? If so, let me know!

Baby #4....is on the way.....& is a BOY!

Yes, we are expecting our 4th child! We are excited that God has chosen to bless us with 4 children...2 girls & 2 boys. Yes, that's right, we are having a BOY! I am due March 14th...and although it has taken us some time to get used to having another baby so soon, we are getting excited. I had my ultrasound on Thursday & have found we have another VERY active little man as he changed positions many times throughout the ultrasound. Baby #4 weighs approximately 1 lb. 1 oz. & his heartrate was about 143 BPM. He is developing great & is healthy. Praise God! This is one thing I have been very nervous about this pregnancy. We have had so many friends and people we know either have trouble getting pregnant, have problems with miscarriages, or have problems with their children developmentally that it has made me feel that it just wouldn't be fair for us to have 4 healthy children. I praise God we do, but my heart goes out to those friends who have or are struggling with these things.

We do have one prayer request for Baby #4. At our ultrasound, the technician saw that the baby has renal pyelectasis. This is a dilation of the kidney(s) and a blockage between the kidney(s) & ureter. Although, the doctor did say this is a characteristic of down syndrome, 9 times out of 10 this will resolve itself throughout pregnancy. This is the only characteristic of down syndrome that was seen, so that is great! I will continue to have ultrasounds at my appointments until the doctor sees that this resolves itself. If it does not resolve itself before birth, the baby will have an ultrasound within the first week after birth and we'll go from there. So, please pray with us that this issue will be resolved during pregnancy!

Here are some ultrasound pictures...I don't think they are the best pictures I've seen, but that's ok!

Picture of Baby #4's Face with his mouth open...singing to us already!




Baby's Face & Arm/Hand



This one proves we are having another boy...even Abby was able to guess that!