Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you & yours a very Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving full of family, friends, good food, laughs, & lots of Love!

Miracles & Blessings,

Crossed the Finish Line- Bible in 90 Day Challenge

I COMPLETED THE CHALLENGE!!! 

At 8:30 this evening I completed the Cover to Cover Bible in 90 Day Challenge hosted by MomsToolbox.  

I can not begin to tell you what a major feeling of accomplishment this is for me. I've never been able to complete anything that requires 90 days- P90X, Insanity (which is only 60 days), nothing.

Credit: MomsToolbox

When I originally started out I was using my actual Bible to read. Then I accidentally left it at church. So for a week I was forced to resort to reading with YouVersion. Turns out I liked this method. I was able to see my progress with a bar that showed me how far I had gone, what percent I had read, and how far I had to go. They also sent me e-mails if I fell behind and gave me the choice to catch up or change my end date, if necessary (Which I never did. I was determined to stay with my target end date no matter what.)

I will admit this was no easy feat. I started with waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day. Sunday - Saturday. No matter what. Then my husband decided he wanted us to work out in the morning. This forced me to have to wake up at 5:00 a.m. Of course we fell off with our workout routine, but I continued to wake up at 5:00 a.m. I'd discovered it made my morning run more smoothly with having to get everyone up to take Little Miss to school every day. At least if I wanted to not take her to school before I showered.

Did I read EVERY day? No. I think I missed about 8 days in total. If it wasn't missed, it wasn't completed. This of course put me behind. Saturday morning was my catch up day. One Saturday I actually spent 3 hours reading to get caught up! Gotta do what you gotta do, right? This morning as i was approaching my last book (Revelation) I realized I had 2 days back in August that I somehow never got to reading. I think I'd decided to just jump in where I should've been with intention to come back to it. Well, I'd forgotten. So I spent the first 2 hours of my day reading 2 days worth of Genesis. 

Now I was taking a big risk by doing this. Being 14 weeks pregnant leaves me exhausted at the end of the day. But tonite I grabbed my Bible, sat at my desk, and read. I had a moment where I wanted to just give up and say I'll finish tomorrow. But I just couldn't. I wanted to be done. On time. So I said a quick prayer and pressed through. 

And here I am, writing a post about my completion!!! *Insert happy dance (lookin' somethin' like the cabbage) patch HERE*

Here is my badge of honor.

Have you taken the Bible in 90 Day Challenge? Would you do it again? Were you successful in finishing? If so, CONGRATULATIONS!!! What were some of the challenges you faced in staying on target. If not, what's kept you from taking the plunge?

I think come January I'll do a slightly easier program. Maybe the Bible in a year. Hopefully I'll be able to get Mister to join me. It would be nice to have a reading buddy. 

This is the Bible set up specifically for this 90 Challenge. You just read 12 pages a day. It's that "simple".

Miracles & Blessings, 

 

Getting Empowered

What I'm Currently Reading

I was introduced to Mrs. Ina May Gaskin by Ricki Lake thru More Business of Being Born (Part 1). I was so excited to stumble upon The Business of Being Born. Just to see how strong women really are during labor and delivery. And even more to know that I could take a stand in what I wanted for myself and baby during the labor process. What an eye opening moment for me!!!

I'm in my 12th week of pregnancy and have an overwhelming desire to have as natural of a birth as possible. I've had two others. Both resulted in induction and after 17 hours the first time and a little less the second they ended with epidurals. I tried to hold out as long as I could. But towards the end, I wished for death. I'm exaggerating a bit, but not really.

I suppose, outside of the health benefits for both baby and I, I figure if I could go 17 hours with a pitocin induced labor and take it, I could go the whole way naturally. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. But my desire for have the natural delivery I always dreamed of is stronger.

To Be Continued...

As I'm typing this post my kids are calling me to come join them in a game of Candyland. So I will pick this up sometime tomorrow. In the meantime...

Have you had a natural delivery after having experienced an induction? What was the difference in pain? Did you find you recovered quicker afterwards? Did your induction result in an epidural? (Don't they almost always go hand in hand?)

Miracles & Blessings,

 

11 Weeks & Emotional

Baby Is The Size Of A Lime
 
I had my first emotional moment this week. I don't recall experiencing this with my past pregnancies. I had a conversation with my husband regarding our finances. Of course this is a touchy subject in most households. Usually, I'm not affected by it. But this time, for some reason it was different. I called my mom to share my thoughts. Next thing I knew I was crying!

~~~~~

Electricity??? In my boob?! LOL! This is the best way I can describe it- A small electrical surge.I've been experiencing this in my right breast. It's in the same place every time. At first I thought I was imagining it because it's relatively feint, but as I continued for days on and off I realized it was a real feeling. A weird one at that!

~~~~~

Is it possible to pull a muscle from standing up? I promise when I get up off the couch or a low seat too fast I pull a muscle in the lower part of my belly. It hurts. 

My Growing Belly @ 11 Weeks

 
Well, that's the latest with me this week. As far as pregnancy goes, anyway.

How do you deal with the emotional, hormonal roller coaster of pregnancy? Do you journal, have a buddy to share with, a loving husband who is willing to listen, run to the bathroom to cry it out alone?

Symptoms this week:

• Tiredness. Could be because I wake up at 5 a.m. every day. I don't know.
• Sore breast. Varying from extremely sore to slightly tender.
• Electrical surges in right breast
• Ligament pain

Miracles & Blessings,
 

Kumquat or Prune?

Baby Is The Size Of A Kumquat

I think I prefer the visual of a kumquat to a shriveled up prune.

Not too eventful of a week. Thank goodness.

I did, however, have a new pregnancy symptom I don't usually experience until the 3rd trimester. HEARTBURN! Ouch!!! I'm not sure what brought it on. All I know is it had me running down to the nearest Rite-Aid to get some Tums. Unfortunately, they weren't all that helpful. It did, eventually, go away. Thank goodness. But it's definitely not something I'm looking forward to experiencing any sooner than I have to.

I was reading up on some of the baby's development. I can only imagine this tiny being, just over an inch, having little nails and hair beginning to form. And tiny little arms and legs with ity bity fingers and toes. No longer an alien embryo. There's a real little person inside me. Makes me smile.

This morning Lil' Miss was excited to inform me I am 10 weeks today! It's so cute. Her afterschool ritual on Wednesdays is she has me show her on the computer a picture of what the baby has developed into. Usually we go to The Bump. She and Papa Son get really into it. I get all sorts of questions from them. Just wait until the baby's movement can be felt! I can't wait to see there little reactions to that.

Oh, another milestone. This is MAJOR. The other nite Mr. was doing his usual prayer time before bed with the kids. I sat on his lap while he prayed. Then he did something I hadn't expected and would've cried if I hadn't had to explain the tears. He included the baby in prayer and placed his hand on my belly. For the first time. It was so magical.

If you're pregnant, how did you deal with heartburn. Naturally or with meds? Did you feel it this early on? We're your older children interested in your growing belly? What about your hubby? Did it make a difference in people's interest if it was your 1st vs. your 2nd, 3rd...? If so, did it affect you at all?

Symptoms this week:

• Tiredness. Could be because I wake up at 5 a.m. every day. I don't know.
• Sore breast. Varying from extremely sore to slightly tender.
• Cramping
• Ligament pain
• Muscle ache
• Cravings: Bacon. Lots of bacon!

Miracles & Blessings,
 

The Prayer of a Mentor Mom

 I found this on an awesome website resource for Christian moms (The Better Mom). I prayed this prayer for myself this morning.

Miracles & Blessings,

 

My 9 Week Bump

Baby Is The Size Of A Green Olive

My 1st Baby Bump Picture
9 Weeks


Miracles & Blessings,

 

We've got an Olive!

Baby Is The Size Of A Green Olive

This past week has been totally uneventful. Which I suppose is a good thing. We spent some great time with family this weekend. I did have a terrible eating regimen too. I tried, but couldn't help myself. I satisfied a craving. I made scrambled eggs, bacon, and grits for breakfast one morning. I was such a happy girl! The weekend consisted of soda, pizza, chocolate, cookies, cake, ice cream... I know... I'm holding my head in shame. Hopefully I will not want to kick myself at my next OB appt when my little friend begins to creep it's way further to the right on the scale.

Is anyone else as concerned about their pregnancy weight gain as me? If so, what do you do to make sure it doesn't get out of control?

I did find a wonderful set of pregnancy pilates workouts.
 
It's a fantastic, quick, no impact workout. I loved it immediately. Even though you don't think it's really gonna do much, you feel it. I was pleasantly surprised.

I am finding though that exercise causes me to spot lightly. No matter how light the workout. I will be discussing this at my next OB visit as well. I can't not work out. I've gotta do something.

OH!!! Since I've been pregnant my dreams are so incredibly vivid! The other nite Mr. woke me up. I had been crying/bawling about a situation in my dream and praising the Lord. Saying, "God, you're so good to me." When he woke me up it's because I was sobbing for real! And I continued to do so for a little while. I just kept thinking about how good God is.

Have you experienced that during pregnancy? The vivid dreams? Or what about the crazy dreams that leave you wondering "What the mess was that?" Yeah, I've had those too.

Miracles & Blessings,

Note to self: I need to take some belly shots before my belly gets even further away from what it used to look like. It's already pretty gone. But I want to document the growth and the moments. I didn't do that much with my other 2.

God gave me my Yes!

Baby Is The Size Of A Raspberry

Today was our first OB appt. Papa Son and I went. I met my Dr. for the first time. Nice little lady. Very, very soft spoken.

We went thru the basics: weight, blood pressure, heart rate.

Then came the question... "Have you seen a doctor or did you take a home pregnancy test?" Uh, neither. So into the bathroom I went. Fully confident and nervous all at the same time. Lol! Nervously confident... Oxymoron. I know.

Back in the exam room I was told to get ready for the doctor and she'd be in with us shortly.

Of course Papa Son had questions. Like why I was taking my clothes off and why I was sitting on this wierd table. Thank goodness his line of sight was shielded by the exam table itself.

So in came the Doc. She asked me more questions. The basics. Then she proceeded with my exam. It didn't occur to me, since she never said it, until after my legs were in stirups that my test was POSITIVE!!!

I couldn't help but smile. I knew it, but now it was like really real! A baby! After my euphoric moment it was time for my ultrasound.

This is what we saw:

A little peanut looking thing with a heartbeat. I got a little misty. Papa Son was pretty jazzed! He's gonna be a Big Brother!



Baby is measuring two days earlier than my LMP calculates, but we're keeping the EDD according to my cycle. Which puts us at 8 weeks in measurement, but I'll be 8 weeks Wednesday.






So we're having another May baby!


Miracles & Blessings,
 

Missing my Mom

I don't know about most women, but for me, my mom is my best friend.

She moved to FL when I was 4 months pregnant with my first child. I was devastated. That was 7 years ago. I've since had a 2nd and am currently pregnant with my 3rd.

I find that my heart breaks when I really allow myself to think about the fact that she's not here with me. I need her. I'm hoping she will be able to come out soon after the baby's born.

Anyway, just another one of those pregnant in the moment feelings.


Miracles & Blessings,
 

Just need a place to talk about it...

 

Baby Is The Size Of A BLUEBERRY

 

I'm 7 weeks today! I'm totally overjoyed! 

I thought I would be shouting it from the rooftops, but for some reason this time, I'm not so informative. I've found people are noticing my bump and asking me. Thank goodness the answer is yes. LOL!

We've told some of our close friends. I've told my parents and my SIL. But that's about it. All of which are very excited for us. My SIL is 8 weeks ahead of me. That's always fun. We're tag teaming again. With our sons we were 7 months apart.

There are so many things running through my head this go 'round. I don't want to overwhelm DH or anyone else with all my thoughts. I just need a place to talk about it. 

I can't sleep. I'm exhausted. I'm cramping slightly. My lower back hurts. I've NEVER experienced morning sickness, but this time have had bouts of nausea. My belly is showing more like I'm 4 months (IMHO). I've had these really strange, incredibly vivid dreams. Etc, etc.

Like I said, I'm really happy about this. What a blessing it is! God is AWESOME and never ceases to amaze me.

I just need a place to talk about it. A place to journal my experience without judgement.

Miracles & Blessings,