Here We Go Again...

Well, I'm getting ready to be off to the doctor with Evan. This will be our 3rd doctor's visit in 1 week for his "tummy trouble". We spent most of last Sunday night in the emergency room (by the way, my first trip to the ER since I was 3), only to be told "he might be constipated". After several trips to the bathroom we knew that wasn't the case, and his crazy stomach pain continued. Monday afternoon he rolled around and cried for about an hour until we finally ended up at ProMed in Ft. Smith (again, my first time EVER in a walk-in clinic). The doctor there told us he thought Evan had "gastritis" and told us to give him Zantac and Mylanta for a while.

We were good until Saturday, when the stomach pain started again. It's like an a "attack" and he just cries and rolls around and holds his stomach for anywhere from 10min. to a couple of hours. He woke up again last night at 12:30 and cried and rolled around until 2:30. So, I just got off the phone with Dr. White's office and we have an appt. at 10:15.

I'm really stumped. At first I was convinced it was appendicitis. That was ruled out and now I just don't know. The way he acts, I would think he was having stomach cramps and needs to go to the bathroom, but going to the bathroom has never been related to the pain. I just hope we can get a answer.

Please pray for Evan and I'll report back later!!!

Missing Purse?

Well, my latest saga started last night as I was trying to put Evan to bed. We were attempting to read his A.R. book (at his suggestion) but he was not cooperating. Instead of sounding out words, he would just stop and stare at me. After several pages of me having to tell him every other word, I told him we were going to stop and we would finish the next night when he was in the mood to really read. I told him to go get in bed and he was LIVID. He begged to finish reading, but I already knew it wasn't going to work, so I made him get in bed.

As soon as I finished tucking him in he got up and started making me the famous "red note". I went in his room and took away the red paper and told him he was going to bed, not making me a "red note". He chose to disobey, so now he had to suffer the consequences, blah, blah, blah. So, I turned his light out and went take a bath.

Fast forward to this morning. We had an AWFUL morning. Evan turned his alarm off and didn't get up. So, I had to drag him out of bed. He wouldn't tell me what he wanted for breakfast, then he jerked the box of Toaster Strudels out of Blake's hand. Then he refused to apologize. Next he climbed behind the chair in the living room and refused to take his medicine. Again, blah, blah, blah. So, Travis took his Ripstick away for the day and told him he was grounded when he gets home from school. The whole morning was a disaster, and Evan left for school in a horrible mood and without eating breakfast.

We had MOPS this morning, so I got ready for school, prayed for the boys (especially Evan) and got ready to go. I have to be there by 8:30 to set up before everyone else arrives. I go to grab my purse and keys, and MY PURSE IS GONE!! At first I thought, well maybe I left it in the car. So, I go check and it's not there. Then I specifically remember that last night I paid bills and then hung my purse back on the pantry door knob. I hadn't left the house after that, so I knew I hadn't left it somehwere. I looked everywhere! Seriously, I even called Travis to see if he might know where it was. By this time it is 8:45 and I am TOO LATE to get the MOPS stuff set up even if I did have my keys.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe Evan hid it. Lately, that has been he and Blake's big "joke" to hide things around the house. I thought, I'll bet this is my punishment from last night when I didn't let him make the "red note". So, I go look in all the usual hiding places. I looked in all the closets, under all the beds, in all the bathroom cabinets...I looked everywhere. So, I decide that I would attempt to text Evan's teacher and have her ask him if he knows where my purse is. Thank the Lord, Mrs. Fein is a big "texter" and had her phone right in front of her. I immediately get a text back that says "It's in the drawer under the flat screen". I ran into the living room, open the drawer, and THERE IS MY PURSE. Seriously, I wanted to KILL HIM!!!

So, as I sit here writing this, Evan has been moping around, totally not enjoyed his afternoon of being grounded. He just started yelling for me and I couldn't hear him. So, I walked in my bathroom and there is Evan, sprawled out in my bathtub, full of bubbles, just relaxin'. He smiled and said, "it's not so bad being grounded, I can just relax in the tub".... This child is going to be the death. of. me.

Bittersweet

This morning as I sit here, I'm thinking constantly about the fact that, if plans had gone the way I had wanted, I would be on a plane getting ready to arrive in Nicaragua right now. The medical mission trip that I had been dreaming of and planning for started today. And until about 12 days ago, I was going. I had a plane ticket and was packed and ready. But, as we all know, sometimes OUR plans don't go OUR way.

After we told our families that I was pregnant, I had a total revolt from everyone :). No one seemed to think it was safe for me to go. I had thought through it, and since I've been before, thought through the actual physical part of it, and had decided I still wanted to go. But, it's hard to make a decision concerning not only yourself, but another someone else, without the total support of your family. So, very reluctantly, I made the call to say that I wouldn't be going.

In retrospect, I have to say that I KNOW it was the right decision. The day after I made the call to cancel, I got the results of some lab I had had drawn, and some hormone levels were low. Not to go into too many details, but all of the sudden my pregnancy went from totally healthy and normal, to needing some extra intervention. At that point of course I was freaking out, and was so thankful that the burden of making a decision was already made.

The thing that made my decision so hard, was that I knew God had called me to go on this trip. It wasn't just a "dream" of mine, but something that I knew I had been called to do. I just kept feeling that if I didn't go, then I wasn't trusting God to take care of me and my baby. But, my mom said something to me that really hit home. She said that sometimes God calls us to do things just to see if we wil be obedient. I feel like I was obedient to the bitter end. Then when I made the decision not to go, I felt VERY peaceful about the decision. I know in my heart that I will have MANY more opportunities to go to Nicaragua. And when I do go, I want to be able to give it my ALL, with nothing holding me back or making me nervous or timid.

So, will you please join me this week in praying for the team that left this morning for Nicaragua. They will have so many opportunities to touch so many people not just physically, but spiritually as well. Every single person that comes to one of the medical clinics will be presented with the gospel before they leave. Please pray for safety and effectiveness for all of the team.

And on a VERY happy note, I had a doctor's appointment this week and we were able to get another look at the baby! Here are the pictures of our #3!

After all that has been going on with my pregnancy, I can't even explain the relief when she placed the transducer on my tummy and these images immediately came up. The heart was beating away and we got to see and hear it. It was one of those moments when you realize you haven't really been breathing for days, and all of the sudden you can again. Thank you Jesus for our sweet baby.

On the subject of baby, after we got home from that appointment I just knew there was NO WAY I could wait 4 weeks to see/hear the baby again. So, I got on the internet and found a place to rent a fetal doppler machine. Seriously, how totally awesome is that!!! In the past when I have been pregnant I was working a lot, and I could just use the doppler at work for my little "fix", but since I'm not working much right now that just wasn't going to do. So, I ordered a doppler. It came yesterday and can I tell you how much I HEART IT!!! There is absolutely nothing more reassuring in the world than just listening to your baby's heartbeat whenever you want!! As soon as it came yesterday I pulled it out of the box and listened!! Pure bliss!!! Then Sharon came down and we listened to her baby too! Just too fun!

So, if you happen to be expecting, or are thinking about it in the future, I highly recommend my new toy. Twenty bucks a month is a very small price for the instant reassurance/gratification I am getting!! Hope everyone has a great Saturday!

Easter 2009

We had such a fun Easter weekend. We started out Saturday morning with the boys and I going to Ft. Smith. I had to work for a little bit, and they tagged along and were such troppers. So, when I was finished we had some Chick-fil-A and went to see Monsters vs. Aliens. Was it good?? I'm not too sure, because I slept through about 2/3 of it. Those 3D glasses make it SO easy to nap!

Then we came home and Nonnie came over to help us dye Easter eggs. We had fun and they boys made some pretty awesome creations. Evan broke most of his though. Thank goodness for "boiled" eggs!


This is a cute picture of the boys showing off all their awesome eggs!

These were their baskets on Easter morning. The Easter bunny kinda toned it down a little this year. Just candy and a few books. But, the boys were still thrilled...

Here are all my boys looking for eggs the Easter bunny had hidden! Of course, Blake and Evan are in underwear only. Ha!

While Travis and I were getting ready for church, Evan decided to make "gifts" for everyone in our family. He took his candy he got from the Easter bunny and divided it up into 7 Ziploc bags. Then he made a note with each person's name on it. When we got to Nonnie and Poppy's house after church he put a bag of candy at each person's place at the table. He totally came up that all by himself. He can be SUCH a sweety!

Here's a picture of my boys before church. They look SO big!

Here is a picture of Travis and the boys. I just couldn't put myself through taking a picture of myself. I had NOTHING to wear and looked like a cow. It just wouldn't have been pretty. This picture is WAY more attractive!!

I hope everyone had a great Easter!!

BIG News!!!

Well, I still can't even believe that I am typing this, but here goes. Six pee tests, a blood test, an ultrasound with a heartbeat and 8 1/2 weeks later, I'm very excited to say that... I'M PREGNANT!!

I know, most everyone who knows me at all thought we were DONE. And truth be told, until a few months ago I really did too. But, obviously, our plans changed. It's crazy, but when we actually got down to the nitty gritty about making our decision permanent, our hearts just changed. (For the record, Travis's heart REALLY changed, and I was pretty easy to convince).

So, we decided to pray about it, and we both decided that our family just didn't feel complete, yet. And now I guess the rest is history! So, sometime around November 12 we will become a family of 5. Wow, that still just sounds kinda crazy to me!!

We are so very happy, and feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to raise another child. We told the boys Thursday. Evan couldn't be more thrilled, and Blake and still working up to it. (I think the discussion we had a month or so ago about the birds and the bees has really gotten Blake freaked out!).

One of my all-time favorite verses is this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4

I truly am getting the desire of my heart!! Thank you Jesus!!

Snaggle Tooth

It's been a big week for Evan! He started out the week by losing his last front tooth. He is SO stinkin' cute!! But, it is so sad to see those front teeth go. Those big honkin' front teeth that come in and look WAY to big for their little mouth are just scary. Of course, he is thrilled, and the tooth fairy paid well.

Then on Tuesday we got to go to Westwood for the big Student of the Month breakfast. Seriously, I was just so relieved when Evan actually got Student of the Month that we really played it up. Travis, Blake, mom, dad, and I all went to Westwood for breakfast yesterday. There is just nothing like a biscuit and sausage patty from the cafeteria with a carton of orange juice to wash it down! I am very proud of Evan, and for how much he as matured in the last little bit.

Our other good news is that Evan is getting baptized this Sunday! He is more excited about this than anything else. We really wanted to wait until it was his idea. And the last few weeks he hasn't been able to stop talking about it. So, Sunday is the big day. Travis is going to baptize him at the 9:15 service. I'm just overwhelmed sometimes at just how mature Evan can be. He is taking this very seriously, and I'm so proud of him.

Fun week for Evan!

The Love Affair Continues...

Walgreens really loved me this week, and of course, I loved her right back! These were a couple of deals I got this week. I'm showing several good Walgreens days recently, hopefully to get some excitement building for our MOPS meeting on April 8 when we talk about the "art of couponing"!

The picture below is a good example of how to "roll" your Register Rewards to get great deals on things you really need. (so maybe I don't really NEED diapers at this point in my life, but I do have many pregnant friends, and diapers are my favorite baby shower present, and now I'm ready). So, I bought 2 packs of Huggies ($10 each) and 1 huge pack of wipes ($6), 1 can of Skintimate shave gel ($1.99) and 1 tube of Crest ($2.49). My total was: $30.48. I used (2) $5 Huggies coupons printed from the internet, (1) .50 wipes coupon from a Sunday insert, and (1) $1 Crest coupon. That got my total to: $18.98. Then I used a $10 Register Reward left over from a deal from last week which made my out of pocket total $8.98. Then the register printed out a $10 Register Reward for buying $25 of Huggies, a $1 Register Reward for buying the Skintimate, and a $1 Register Reward for buying the Crest.

So, to recap this deal, I spent $8.98 and got back $12 in Register Rewards! You guys out there who have babies in diapers could really rack up on this deal!!!

This next picture shows a bunch of stuff I got that was on sale and I had coupons to match. One good example is the Garnier products. They were on sale for $2.99. In the Walgreens Easy Saver catalog (available at the front door) was a $2 coupon for Garnier. I also had $1 coupons from the newspaper, which made all of the Garnier products free. The Glade air fresheners were all on sale for $7.99. In the Easy Saver catalog there were coupons for $4 which brought them down to $3.99. I also had a B1G1 FREE coupon and 2 $4 coupons. So, they paid me a total of $4 to take the Glade stuff. Here is the picture of my stuff:

Here is the picture of my receipt. My subtotal is $.09. Yes 9 cents. And, I realized after I got in the car that I forgot to give the cashier the gum coupon (which was worth $2). I guess it was a good thing I forgot, because then they would have owed me $1.93 and I really try to avoid that. For some reason, store managers don't like the idea of giving away a big sack of stuff and paying the customer. I'm big on flying under the radar. Don't want to draw any extra attention to myself. So, this one worked out about as good as possible!

I'm sure you are laughing out loud by now, but I truly believe that Walgreens/coupons are a blessing for me and my family. It's really worth the effort when I truly save my family a significant amount of money every week and have fun doing it!