What will they be like?

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only mother who watches their children play and learn and wonder what they will be like when they get older. I don't want to rush time to find out either. 

I watch Zachary learning and growing taller and stronger each day and I wonder what he'll grow up being like. Will he be a teacher? He takes so much pride in teaching his younger brothers all the stuff he learns at school. Will he be a politician? He is amazingly awesome at convincing us one thing when we know it's something completely different. Will he follow in his daddy's footsteps and make video games since he loves them so much? Or will he surprise us all and become a doctor? :) 

I watch Brennon and I'm amazed at how far he has come since he was born. He was born into a life that just wasn't nice to him at times. Yet through it all he has maintained his sense of humor. He can make you laugh when you want to scream. I foresee some sort of acting in his future. You are bound to see Brennon in a comedy movie one day. He also is a bright child. While it took him forever to learn to ride a bike, it took him 1 time playing "Match" before he could easily beat the entire family. His memory is amazing! His humbleness is also amazing to me. He takes after his mama in not being materialist at all. Sure, we both like nice things, but do we need it? No. Brennon would have been ecstatic to get nothing but a Wiggles DVD for Christmas. I can picture Brennon the president of a non profit agency of some sort. 

My sweet Tripp. He is by far the happiest child I've ever seen. He smiles ALL THE TIME. It's a little early to try to guess what he'll be when he grows up but I can assure you it wont be politics. Maybe a preacher. Or a race car driver. By age 18 months he was riding his brothers big bike. I'm talking about a 16" bike with training wheels. And he doesn't just poke along... Is is full speed around the house. He falls, and he gets back up. I don't know what he'll end up being but I know that he will require lots of medical insurance. :) 

My mind often thinks about these things and I always end my thoughts with a prayer for safety and a love for Christ. 

Whatever they end up doing.... I know this mama will be proud. 

My First 2012 Blog Entry!

Happy 2012!!

I haven't updated in a while and I apologize for the lack of a blog entry. 

The beginning of the year hasn't started off as smoothly as previous years and I'm hoping it's not a sign for things to come. I spent New Years Day at the hospital. I have had issues with headaches, passing out, blurred vision, and dehydration. After passing out in the waiting room, I was giving IV Fluids, blood work was done, a chest X-Ray, CT Scan (to check for a blood clot in my chest) and a few other tests. Everything came back pretty normal. I was completely dehydrated and had a my iron was slightly low. Otherwise everything checked out. I am pretty confident the dehydration was the root cause of a lot of issues I was having. Everything has pretty much got better except a lingering headache I can't seem to shake. I never realized how much they could drag you down. I've spent several days locked in my room with the lights off and covers over my head trying to get some relief. Luckily my new OBGYN gave me some medicine to help with them and we set up an appointment with a neurologist just to be safe. 

Speaking of my new OBGYN office... 

I decided at the end of December to switch practices. I had my 2nd REALLY bad experience with Carolina OBGYN and decided I could not keep going to them. This pregnancy hasn't been as nice to me as my previous pregnancies, and while I don't expect special treatment by any means, I do expect them to realize that I know my body and when I tell them something is off, well... something is off. 

I had asked some mama's in my area from Spartanburg Mom's website about a good obgyn office in my area. They all highly suggested a place called Woman's Clinic. I was extremely excited to hear that not only are the doctors amazing, but the staff is incredible. I called and begged for them to accept me as a patient. I had my first appointment last Thursday. I saw a doctor named Dr. Brown. She was a delight. But before I get to her.... let me talk about the staff. From the receptionist to the nurses, all were great. They were friendly, and listened to me. I was given information on my first visit that I honestly didn't expect to get until much later in my pregnancy. My blood pressure was checked, urine, weight, and I was asked if I had any concerns. Two of those things Carolina OBGYN failed to do at a normal visit, much less a "sick" visit. I was placed in my room after speaking with a nurse (And I apologize for not remembering her name but she was awesome as well!) I didn't wait long before Dr. Brown came in. She checked my belly measurements, which were perfect, and we began talking about concerns I had, the problems I had been dealing with. She seemed very in tune with my "birth plan" and I felt as ease talking to her. Now, this is where things went differently than Carolina. After we spoke in the exam room I was asked to sit in a small waiting room area. The doctor looked in detail over my chart and then called me into her office. I immediately was brought back to my visits at Lakeside OBGYN in Ga. (And that's a fabulous thing!) I spoke to Dr. Brown again in her office for several minutes before we ended our chat and I left. Point was, she took time to really understand me as a person, and mother instead of "just another patient". We went over my VBAC plan, and both our mutual fears of another shoulder dystocia delivery. I could go on and on about how impressed I am with this office. It was truly a breath of fresh air! Here is the direct link to their office in case you are from the Spartanburg area. 

Woman's Clinic

Since my visit I have had some good days and a few rough days. My HG seems to be acting up again. Yesterday was a day filled with a lot of nausea and throwing up. However, I feel much better today so far. My headache is a dull pain today, and I'm hoping to keep it at bay with regular Tylenol since the prescription makes me feel drunk. ( I hate that feeling!) 

I am enjoying life, and not forgetting that with everyday of rain, I will have a day of sunshine. 

I am looking forward to seeing this little bean this Thursday. We will see the pediatric cardiologist and have his/her heart checked out in detail since two of my boys already have heart defects. I'm sure everything will be fine and seeing the baby seems to give me more reasons to smile when I want to cry. 

My next visit at Woman's Clinic will be next month, and I will have the pleasure of seeing the midwife, Amy Somanini, FNP. She will be doing my 1 hour glucola test. I am excited to meet her (even if she can't deliver this baby) but I have no doubt things will start to look up for this pregnancy. 

I'll leave you with an updated progression of the belly. :) 

Enjoy!!

  

Update to end the year

It's a few hours until 2012. I figured it was a perfect time to post an update of how things are going. 

I have spent the past week in bed sick with a possible cold/sinus infection. I went to the doctor on Thursday to hopefully get some medicine to help speed this mess along. It tops my worst doctor visit list. I saw a doctor named Dr. Ketchen at Carolina OBGYN. Her beside manners were about as bad as Dr. White's from the same practice. I have a sinking suspicion they are related. Perhaps siblings. 

Needless to say, that second visit from the same practice left a bad taste in my mouth and has caused me to change OBGYN's. It's actually quite difficult to change to another practice being 20 weeks pregnant. A lot of people wont accept you. However, with permission from their office manager I have an appointment with a place called "Woman's Clinic" for Thursday. I am very excited as I have heard great reviews from a local mama board I'm a member of. Not only have the doctors been given awesome reviews, so has the office staff. 

In other news.... 

We have decided to start decorating the boys rooms after the new year. We are letting them have a lot of say so of what it looks like. Of course that will be tweaked a bit to help blend in with the rest of the house. We will wait on painting the living room/kitchen until after their rooms are finished. Thank Goodness for Ebay, Craigslist and Goodwill!! I'm hoping to finish the rooms off pretty frugal. Here are the ideas so far. 

This is one Zachary really likes. He has a full size bed so the cute firetruck bed will have to be changed. 

His favorite part is the color. 

Tripp likes this room. (He's into anything transportation) We aren't too sure about having a mural on the wall so not sure how this would work. Not to mention, the green color on the bottom of the room is the same color we were thinking of using in the living room. 

And my sweet Brennon. Who is simple. He likes this room because Zachary would have a bed just like his and sleep in the same room. Such a sweet boy. 

And I really like this for the master...  Not quite sure what I'd do with the fireplace in our room though... Lots of time to think about it I'm sure. :) 

And last... the nursery. I like this one but I'm not sure if yellow would be too girly is this little bean is a boy. I have some yellow in my bedding... I'm just not sure. 

This is my bedding. I dont really want to use green or blue since we will be using it in the boys room or living room. Still pondering on this one... 

So that's a run down of whats been floating around  in this brain of mine.... I have a few other things but I feel those deserve their own blog entry. 

I hope you all have a wonderful 2012!! 

Halfway there....

I'm 20 weeks today. 

Officially halfway there. 

Unofficially less than half way there since I have my babies a couple of weeks early.

Here is my updated weekly pictures. 

I'll post a real blog entry later. 

Christmas Time....

Christmas is a holiday I always look forward to. Even more so now that I live so far away from family and friends.

Christmas also brings a lot of different personalities together that sometimes clash. We can love our family members and still not always like them. Reality is, loving someone doesn't mean you will always like them and agree with them.

This year I realized something. Actually, a few things....

1. I still have a temper. It takes a lot more to make me so angry that I "loose" it momentarily, but I still have it. I am pretty sure it's always going to be deep down in my blood. I think instead of working on my temper, I should spend more time working on how I respond when I start to boil. 

2. I love my sister more than I realize. When I feel like her heart is breaking, mine does. When I feel like she is sad, it makes me sad. When I know she's happy, my heart could burst with happiness for her. I truly love her. 

3. There has only been a small (and I mean tiny) amount of people who have changed my first impression of them. The rest, I was 100% correct about. 

4. Lazy people are so eager to call our someone else's faults. I guess it's easy to sit on the couch and think about everything else people do that you don't like. 

5. I should make a public announcement that no one has to "walk on egg shells" around me. I simply ask for the same respect that you expect from others. If "walking on egg shells" means waiting to say something behind my back instead of to my face because you are to much of a coward to hear the truth about yourself, well... I suppose you probably SHOULD "walk on egg shells" around me. 

6. I dislike more than anything else butt kissers. People who take crap from other people because that person makes more money than you. It's pathetic and degrading. 

7. My mom has the biggest heart in the entire world. She spends so much time, money and energy making Christmas perfect for everyone. I hope she knows that it doesn't go unnoticed. I love that she loves my boys like her own. Wait... not like her own... better than her own children. She was an amazing mom, but she is the most incredible Nana any kid could ever have. 

Okay, I think that's all the important ones. 

Here are some quick pictures of our Christmas. I'll try to caption them as I add them. :) 

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas this year. 

                                                              

Josh and me at Mema & Papa's. 

My niece Keira! 

My niece Payson! 

Christmas Morning! I think they were actually shocked that Santa brought them toys. 

Christmas at Pa and Nana's house. (Left from right) Kolin, Brennon, Tripp, Kaylee, & Zachary. 

Rainy Day....

On most days that are filled with rain and storms I find myself getting super depressed and tired. 

It drains me completely. 

I have zero energy. 

And zero motivation. 

Today however, as the rain pours down, I am reminded that God has promised to wash away my sins and my short comings. I am reminded that with each bad day brings a good one. 

Yesterday was a rough day for me.

 Emotionally I was a mess. 

I felt trapped in a world I didn't understand, and serving a God who I felt like at times wasn't hearing my prayers. I knew He had not left me. Yet I wanted to curse him in anger and frustration. 

I don't "get" circumstances, and people, and life in general at times. Fact is, I'm not supposed too. 

I'm serving an awesome God who has everything figured out. And here I sit worrying and stressing about the smallest details of life. 

I believe God is allowing me to get to the lowest of lows so He can be there to pick me up and show me a better life. A life filled with less sorrow, more understanding, love and peace of mind regarding things I can't control. 

I went to bed with a heavy heart, praying for peace and understanding. I woke up this morning with the sound of rain drops hitting my window and knowing that God was there, as He has always been, promising to wash away yesterday as He did to my heart. 

 God is good ALL THE TIME. 

Goodbye facebook... for a while. :)

I deactivated my facebook. 

First time in the 7+ years I've had it. 

And honestly, it feels good. 

If you want to contact me, you can do so at ladybugamber@yahoo.com

Most of my friends have my number... but if not, shoot me an email and I'll get it to you.