Fourth Grade

Peyton at her desk

Paige at her desk

We are starting our second week of school.  Here are Paige

and Peyton hard at work cutting out a drawing of the skeletal system for their science class. 

28 weeks...I think I grew!

 

ALMOST 28 weeks!

Today is significant for me and baby JJ because it marks the milestone for when my last pregnancy ended. Paige and Peyton were born at 27 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours, and 9 and 10 minutes respectively. Making it to this point, and most likely beyond, is huge for me, as well as a big answer to prayer. I would not say that this pregnancy hasn't been bumpy, but I am thrilled that I went to church, out to lunch with Paige, and that I am sitting at home on my own couch. I am not in the hospital, I am not on any medications to stop labor, and I am definitely NOT laying upside down. While there is no way to know what tommorrow or any day after it brings, getting past this point, and pretty much doing it at home, is NOT a luxury that I take for granted. I am still hoping and praying that I will seen 29 weeks, 30 weeks, etc..until a nice reasonable time for this new little girl to safely be born. But in the meantime, i am going to TRY not to complain about the uncomfortableness, nausea, insomnia and heartburn..(at least not TOO much) and enjoy this time of waiting as much as possible!

Spending the rainy morning with horses!

Paige, Peyton and Freedom, Harry in the background

Freedom is a donkey that was born 9/11/01

James and Willy, a 27 yr old barrel racing horse

Paige, Peyton James and Willy

Peyton riding Willy

Paige climbed the fence to give Harry a pat.

Harry is a 25 yr old Fresion who has been in two Rose Bowl Parades and currently pulls an old carriage on the 4th of July that was used by President Lincoln

Paige on Harry, who hadn’t been saddled in a long time, Marilyn helping out.  Paige said she would need a “parachute” to get down!  Harry is a 17 hand horse (I guess that means he is tall!)

Peyton climbs the fence to given Harry some attention

We were invited to visit Marilyn, a dear friend of the Snyder family who lives with her horses (I think 7 of them) on a horse farm just minutes from Grandma Joyce.  I enjoyed my third visit there, and the girls their second.  They have been asking about going back ever since!  Thanks Marilyn for the lesson on horses, horse shoeing and the care of the horses.  It was a fun and educational experience!

24 week appt..update of JJ

Paige was kind enough to take the picture for me yesterday.  Every Monday marks the new week of pregnancy, and I wanted to capture 24 weeks.  I took a quick look at the 20 week picture, and I was shocked at how much..rounder..I had become.  Well, today, I went for my 24 week appt and found out that had something to do with the 9 pounds I gained this month!  I guess laying around and not working does help you gain weight!  My doctor was happy with the weight gain, this puts me at 13 total pounds over pre pregnancy weight.  My cervical length ultrasound was extremely encouraging, and my doctor had plenty of positive things to say.  The baby’s heart rate was great, and she is measuring the exact size she should be.  I am going to start going in for check ups every two weeks now, my doctor wants to continue to monitor my cervical lengths closely, as well as perform a test called a fetal fibrinectin every two week.  This test, when it is negative, gives a 99 % chance that labor WON’T begin for the next two weeks.  If I were to have a positive chance, there aren’t such good odds.  In the event that this test comes up positive, I will get a round of injected steroids (more needles, yuck) to hurry up lung development in the baby.  But right now, everything looks great and she shows no signs of trying to escape!  The sonographer took a quick look after the cervical ultrasound today, and JJ was giving us a great view to reaffirm that she is, indeed, a girl.  James sighed, and resigned himself to again looking at pink bedding at Target.  (Don’t let him fool you, he was picking out baby girl clothes left and right when we went rummage saling last weekend!)

Oh, and one last thing, this girl needs an official name..but our family can’t agree on one too well.  James made a list of names from the baby name book that I bought.  Each girl has a favorite from the list, and can’t stand the other girls favorite.  I told them that I named them, and they would get to name their own kids, so maybe James should just name her on his own!   He just smiled and raised an eyebrow at me.  Peyton’s favorite is Makayla.  Paige’s favorite is Abigail, and James is leaning toward Reese. (as a side note, Reese is my maiden name, and both girls think it is only a good boy name.)  I honestly don’t know, but we need a good middle name that goes well with them.  Suggestions????

update..

The girls are gone today to "Answers in Genesis." Before my life got so limited I had planned to go along, so I was really bummed when that didn't happen. Mom and dad offered to keep them last night, so they got the job of taking them to the church before 6 am. Apparently, my parents enjoyed this, because the kids were so excited. It is fun to watch them grow, and as they mature, watch them enjoy all the new things that go along with that..like traveling 3 hours on a church van with their friends, something I remember fondly from my years in the youth group. At any rate, I have spent the day with my husband, and it has been a treat. He works 24 hr on and 48 hr off, and he is not due back to work until the morning. We are both well rested, and he got most of his "chores" done yesterday. We ran some errands, but it was just the two of us, and we have had a good day together. I do look forward to the girls arriving home tonight. I am sure they will be exhausted, but excited to talk about their day.

I am now almost 24 weeks into this pregnancy. I cannot lie and say that I have enjoyed being pregnant. While I have way more freedom with this baby than I did with the twins, there are some vast differences. The biggest being that the twins are here. I have responsibilities for them that make relaxation harder, and I am grateful that I am not totally house/bed bound. While James and the girls are a huge help (I cannot say enough about how much he has worked to keep everything going for the past few months), it is still difficult not to be busy with the girls' lives. Also, I was home and bedbound in January and February when I had Paige and Peyton. If you have to pick a time to be stuck on the couch or in the hospital, those would be the best months to miss out on the outside world. Not so much with July and August!

However, I am pleased that things are going so well. I am still receiving weekly progesterone injections, which James gladly administers. I went into the doctors office Monday because I had so much trouble with back pain and cramping on Sunday. I had a test (called a fetal fibrinectin) that basically tells you how likely you are to start labor within the next two week. This test, which did not exist 10 yrs ago, is a huge indicator or impending premature labor. Thankfully, I had a negative result, which is great news. I also had another ultrasound that measures the cervix. This number, which is about 2.4-2.5 cm, has not changed in the past 3 weeks, which is also great news. The previous month, it had dropped from 3.7 cm, which is what landed me off my feet in the first place! Even though it has been a big ego blow to me that I cannot go to my job (which I find pretty rewarding) and I am limited in what I can do around the house, I feel trememdously blessed to be carrying this baby. I have great benefits at work, so lots of sick time, I have a great family that cares and doesn't complain (ok, maybe the girls complain occasionally), and I know that I have lots of people that are praying for all 5 of us!

a reminder to pray..

Cute pics of the girls..thanks Aunt Jamie!

Jamie took Paige and Peyton to the zoo in Indy on Saturday.  They spent some times in the gardens there and got some cute pictures of the girls.  The also enjoyed Chuck E. Cheese before heading home.

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a good reminder…

Philippians 4:6-8 (New Living Translation)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

This is a passage that was used in church last night.  It was used to convict me that, again, I am worrying AGAIN about things I cannot change…there is a MUCH better way…

Halfway there

Halfway there!  This morning, Paige did not surprise me when she said “Happy Twenty weeks!”  We went to the Dr appt and were given the news after the sonographer  patiently worked with an uncooperative baby (the big sisters were NOT so patient).  Finally she announced that she didn’t see any boy parts, and that she was pretty sure that she saw girl parts..so girl it is!  My doctor later confirmed this opinion. 

Now back to the business of how we are keeping this unborn daughter on the inside longer!  I am no longer strictly on bedrest..which is a HUGE blessing.  I am able to do light activity now.  I will say that after a big day of going to the doctor and out to eat, that I was pretty crampy and uncomfortable for over an hour this evening.  This feeling went away with rest, but it reminded me to remember my limitations.  My doctor is great!  She is very optimistic, and realistic about what will work best to prolong this pregnancy as long as is necessary. 

stats today:  heart rate:152

approx length:  9 inches

approx weight:  14 ounces

mommy weights..well that is my secret, but I have only gained 5 pounds!  (I know the picture at the top doesn’t look that way!)

Thank  you all for praying for JJ (still no name..we are working on it) and please continue to pray for us!

19.5 weeks is not my best time…

I am posting pictures of myself at 18 weeks pregnant.  My short term goal is to make it until 2o weeks to post another picture..believe me, I have grown!  That picture is due to be taken this coming Monday.  Every Monday, Paige will say “Happy 19 weeks!” or whatever week we are on.  I always smile because she always says it!  My little cheerleader knows how important this is, and how special baby JJ is to all of us.  Please pray for me for peace, rest, and that my nerves will be calmed.  God is soo good, and I have not forgotten all He has done for me.  I am very blessed to be able to sit in the hospital bed with my laptop and stay intune with the outside world.  So check back often for my random ramblings.  The nurse just gave me an ambien, this sleeping pill is the bomb!  I am not even sure what I am typing!  This is the deal.  I was having some concerning symptoms this week, so I was asked to come into my ob’s office this afternoon.  They did a special ultrasound that measures the length of the cervix.  Mine had dropped from 3.7 to 2.7 and also showed some funneling. So the midwife sent to to the hospital for monitoring and bedrest for the weekend, until my regular doctor is back and can examine me to decide how aggressive the bedrest needs to be.  So please pray for my nerves, pray that my baby stays put for at least another 14 weeks.  It is going to be a rough time for our family, but it is such a loving and willing family, and God is in control..he still cares so much for us.  Thanks Grammy and aunt Brittany for taking care of the twins.  Thanks James for taking care of me.  Also thank you to Charity, Stephanie and Amanda who came to visit, brought important items from home and gave me an hour or so of distraction when I needed it the most!

Our First Anniversary

One year ago today James and I got married in Jamaica, here are a few of the pics from that day.  I have to work today, and James had to work yesterday, so we made plans to have dinner this coming Tuesday evening to celebrate.  So yesterday morning I got up, James had left for work at 5 am.  I took the girls to swim practice, then we did their packing for their weekend with their dad.  They spend the afternoon with their grandparents while I attended a meeting at work.  After, I picked them up and headed for about an hour or so at the pool to beat the heat (ahead of the storms by an hour or so.)  When I turned to get out of the pool, I looked up, and their stood James, with a long white box in his hand.  Now James typically works 24 hour shifts, so I wasn’t expecting him until the next morning around 9 am.  He had for me a box of a dozen long stem red roses, and dinner reservations at one of my favorite places!  I was thrilled! (except I had planned to shop for him, and that was clearly out.)  At home, we all enjoyed an ice cream cake, and he also surprised me with a certificate for a massage.  He had gotten up at 5 am…and gone fishing!  He had taken the day off without me knowing, so he had a day filled with activities..including the final sale of his house in Westville…..yeah..no more double house payments!  I am a lucky and blessed wife…and just had to share it!

First Swim Meet of the Summer

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“You and Me Go Fishing in the Dark” (or at least an overcast afternoon!)

James decided to take the girls fishing today since I had a meeting at work.  I figured that they wouldn’t be gone very  long since I have a pretty good idea of the James’s the girls’ attention spans!  Anyway, they were out there for quite awhile, so me and my camera went out and caught up with them.  Thankfully I arrived before any fish were caught, and also thankfully, nobody got stuck with a hook (especially not me!)

CLASSIC Paige!!

Paige caught the first fish..she was ecstatic!

Peyton’s first fish..

second fish…

and finally the one that didn’t flop off the line!

planting flowers

James has been off work since Sunday morning due to his “Kelly day” which gives him every 14th shift day off.   So he is home for 5 straight days, and we spent lots of time outside.  Sunday, after grilling out at moms, we went to buy flowers for planting. 

First pictures of baby J.J. (NOT an official name!)

 

James and I headed to my OB-gyn visit this morning.  We had been anxiously awaiting our first ultrasound.  Our baby (who is nameless, and no, we don’t know what we are having yet) has been nicknamed “JJ” by our children, which works out fine.  JJ was very active for his/her first pictures.  The heart rate was 158 and lots of moving around was noticed.  No wonder I am so queasy all the time!  It is going to be crazy when I can start to feel that! 

Please pray for us, all looks wonderful now, but on Monday, I go for a “cervical cerclage” which should decrease my likelihood of premature delivery.  For anyone who has known me more than 9 years, you know that this was a BIG problem with my girls.  Anyway, I will have spinal anesthesia and the cerclage will be placed Monday afternoon.  I will have ultrasounds of the cervix every 4 weeks to make sure those stitches are doing what they are supposed to do!  I will also start weekly progesterone injections at my next visit.  James is looking forward to giving me those shots once a week, I think that is a bit wicked of him!  He is easy to forgive, though, because he does all the cooking, most of the cleaning, and caters with no little complaining to my food cravings!

Helen Harness Connor Guyer 1917-2009

Words heard as we were going to bed last night:

“Dear Jesus, help this night to be well, and that Gee Gee is in your arms…”

“Mommy, I think Gee Gee is talking to Abraham Lincoln!”

Peyton, Gee Gee, Paige (Good Friday, 2009)

Yesterday, my grandmother went home to be with the Lord.  She was 91 years old.  Thirteen days ago, I went to my parents house to get the girls.  Gee Gee was a little agitated that day, not wanting to sit, and she needed to be watched more carefully that she wouldn’t fall.  So the girls and I ended up staying there all day through Gee Gee’s bedtime.  I helped her to bed along with my mom and sister that night, and that was the last time I ever saw her out of that bed.  Two days later, mom called me and said Grandma wasnt well and they couldn’t get her up.  The girls and I were headed for Chicago that day, so we went there early and spent time with Grandma, but she didn’t really wake up.  I heard her talk once more the next day over the phone, but she was never really very alert after that.  I spent as much time as possible last week at her house.  We watched as she grew weaker.  It wasn’t her wishes to be put in a hospital anymore, so we continued to take care of her at home.  The bulk of this job going to my mother and my sister.  Paige and Peyton were wonderful, they came and went.  They did understand what was happening, and had times when they would cry.  Yesterday, mom called me at work and told me that she was much worse.  I left work and arrived at her house with about 30 minutes to say my goodbyes and to help the girls as they said theirs. 

Grandma was saved, she had Jesus in her heart, so there isn’t any doubt where she is.  We also know that she has said goodbye to many people that she loved over the past 50 years, and that she was very happy to see these people again.  And with a new body that was no longer frail! 

More later, off the church for the Mother’s Day services.

Some new pictures that Jamie took

 

The Climb-The hannah Montana Movie

The girls and I went to see Hannah Montana: The Movie Monday night, along with lots of other moms and their grade school aged daughters. I really enjoyed this movie. It was well acted and had lots of great music in it. Early in the movie, Miley Cyrus's character was told by a new friend that "Life was a climb, but the view was great." I didn't know that this was to become a major theme to the movie, but at that moment, I took a moment to remember that quote. After the movie, I saw an acquaintance in the lobby who, also a mom, had picked up on this quote. While these movies tend to deliberately leave out God at every turn, sometimes I can't help but see Him anyway! They are right, life is a VERY tough battle, race, climb. But it is SOO worth it! Not just for the beauty we can have in this short life, but also an opportunity to glorify God, to raise children to love Jesus, and to love the people around you. I put the lyrics to Miley Cyrus's song "The Climb" below. This is a pretty song, and while I disagree that what is on the other side is VERY important, and that we will fail without God climbing with us, I still feel that this song reminds us of the importance of making good choices along the way, and that life isn't meant to be an easy ride.

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
[ Miley Cyrus Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

Whoa a oh oh

Easter dinner..a sneak preview..can you tell who is who?

We had a great Easter Dinner at my house on Good Friday. When I have more time, I will post an album of the day, but for now..a couple of awesome pics of Jamie, Mom and the girls trying on Firefighter turnout gear...