Family Fun Day

Saturday we went to Chuck-E-Cheese and then to see "Horton Hears a Who." Here are some pics.
Lola and Dean playing games.
This kid stayed in this ride with a cup FULL of tokens while all the other kids waited. Don't let this kid be your kid!

Lola getting her tickets.

Lola chowing on some pizza.

This is a picture from one of those sketch booths. It turned out so good!

This is just a random picture of my scary-almost-popped-out belly button.
I made it to 38 weeks with no stretch marks, again. Woohoo! I can start wearing my bikinis and midriff tops again this summer.

Just Kidding.

~Jessica~

Lola Feels Better!

Lola woke up asking for breakfast this morning, which she hasn't done all week. She actually lost a few pounds while she was sick. She also ate a good dinner the last 2 nights and has been sleeping better. Yay!!! Isn't her bedhead stunning? You can tell she slept good.

We are going to make cookies this morning with a recipe that I mentioned before. They are SOOOOO good. Here is the recipe: (I omit the nuts)

1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. oatmeal
1 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts
Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Make into balls and bake on greased cookie sheet or foil covered cookie sheet. (In place of oatmeal, chocolate chips and nuts in above recipe use: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup bran flakes, 1 cup coconut, 1 cup raisins and 1/2 cup nuts.)

Easter

We did our Easter egg hunt on Saturday since it was supposed to be cold and rainy on Sunday.

Our Dad/personal camera man wore his bunny ears, too!

Pretty profile picture - looking at her eggs.

The Easter Bunny brought new jammies, flip flops, and a box of hair accessories. And candy, of course.


Family pic. Don't they look great in their pastels?

Lola and her Papa saying "Cheeeeeseburgers!"

Spring Break

I think I mentioned before that Lola would be going to Dallas for her "Spring Break" from preschool. She was excited to take her suitcase on a trip for the first time! Saturday we met Dean's family in Abilene and stayed the night, which Lola loved. She loves hotels. And having grandparents, aunts, and uncles to play with and boss around.

This is a purse that Kelli-Mom let her pick out at the Cracker Barrel.

Sunday we went to church in Stamford, TX where our former youth minister, Wes is the pulpit minister. It is so easy for me to listen to him speak and take in what he says, I think because he was who I learned from during my "formative" teenage years. And he is all around a great teacher and really smart guy. They have a new baby boy that we were so glad to get to hold and cuddle with during church. It was great to see the whole family! Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss old friends until you have a nice chat, and then you think, "Man, I miss that."

While Lola was gone we did a lot of work around the house, both got sick, slept, and ate out a lot. It was great. It was weird to pick up and leave the house and do what we wanted. It probably will never happen again, either, (until we are in our late 40's) so good thing we enjoyed it while it lasted! We did some cute stuff to the kids' room. I will post pictures eventually.

Lola came back Friday night, and has been sick ever since. Her behavior was CRAZY on Saturday and Sunday at church, and she started running fever Sunday afternoon. Tuesday we went to the Dr. and she has a double ear infection (the right side was red and bulging) and strep throat. She started on antibiotics that day, but continued to run fever through today, which means she has to miss preschool again tomorrow. She also got an upset stomach from her medicine today. She woke up during the night last night asking for a step-stool so that she could turn on her bedroom light and "play quietly." I got up and felt of her and she was burning up! Her temp. was 102.7, but she had all this energy that she had to get out. We were awake for about 1 1/2 hours, and then slept in the guestroom together until 11:30. I really thought she was better after that, but she ran more fever and was sick to her stomach this afternoon. Tonight she finally seemed to want to eat a little bit more, so maybe she is turning a corner. Please pray for her to get well. I can't remember her being this sick since she was a baby. Thanks!

~Jessica~

Good Friday Encouragement

These are the words to one of my favorite songs of all time, by Rich Mullins.

"There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
and more that shines in the night than just the moon.
There's more than just this fire here that keeps me warm
and a shelter that is larger than this room.
There's a loyalty that's deeper than your sentiments
and the music higher than the songs that I can sing.
Stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things.
So if I stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you.
If I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home.

There's more that dances on the prairies than the wind, and more that pulses in the ocean than the tides
There's a love that is fiercer than the love between friends
and more gentle than a mother, with her baby at her side.
And there's a loyalty that's deeper than your sentiments
and the music higher than the songs that I can sing.
Stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things.
So if I stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you.
If I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home."

Really Long, but please read.

Hopefully this will be an informative post for our friends and family who live close by, and those who will be here from out of town when the baby is born. I don't know yet when he is coming, but I know that it will not be as late as my "official" due date for several reasons. So, in the next 2 or so weeks he should be here. However, I don't know anything yet because both of my doctors happen to be out of town this week for Spring Break. I had my weekly ultrasound today with the ultrasound tech and the nurse, and it looked good. I do have ultrasounds weekly since 32 weeks, and I also have Non-Stress Tests twice weekly because I have Gestational Diabetes. I had it with Lola and had to take insulin, so naturally I have it again. I do take insulin; however, it is not really a big deal to me because I did it before. That's why I haven't mentioned it before, because I don't want it made into a big deal, I know how to manage it, and it is under very tight control. If you are pre-disposed to diabetes because of family history (which I am), it will sometimes show up as Gestational Diabetes. It means that the pregnancy hormones cause my body to resist the insulin that my pancreas makes naturally. The insulin resistance increases as the pregnancy progresses. At first I was able to control it with diet, and the last month or so I have been on insulin. However, this doesn't mean that I am supposed to eat like a bird. I am supposed to follow my regular diabetes diet and take my insulin, which I do, and my blood sugars are controlled.

On to other matters. You may have noticed that we have been more private about this pregnancy - not that we withhold information if you ask. For instance, we didn't tell anyone until the very end of the 1st trimester. (Which is what a lot of people choose to do, in case of miscarriage.) Also, I don't offer the fact that I have diabetes again and that I am on insulin unless someone asks. The reasons for this are many. When we were pregnant with Lola, we obviously HAD to tell everyone because we wanted to get married. We went from Newlyweds to buying our first house, joining a church for the first time, all during a very complicated pregnancy and difficult financial time. We were parents 6 months and 5 days after our wedding day. We both gained instant family members that we were not used to having. We got lots and lots and lots of advice on EVERYthing that we did, from house-buying to how to feed our baby. All of the help and wisdom that people volunteered was much appreciated - we know it came from people who love us. I must be honest though, and say that at times, even now, family overwhelms me.

We are in a different place now. We have grown as a married couple and as individuals in countless ways the last 3 1/2 years. Lola is about to turn 3 and is very healthy and smart. She is going to be a great big sister. I am able to be at home nearly all of the time with her, and when I do work she is with Dean 95% of the time. Dean has a great position that he has worked very hard for at KCBD.

I am saying all of this because we need this time to be different. The first thing that I ask is that we do not have visitors when I am in labor. I prefer for it to be a personal, private experience for Dean and I and our new baby.
Secondly, after the baby arrives, I am open to family and friends coming to see him in the hospital as long as you call first and make sure it is a good time! I very much want to nurse this baby and I do not wish to do it in front of anyone except my husband and my nurses. (and Lola) Having a baby is also not really physically a pleasant thing, and I would like to know if someone is coming to my hospital room with at least a few minutes warning. We are also going to need sleep and time to bond with our baby.

I truly believe that the few days and weeks after a new baby are a time for us to bond with our baby as a family, and for me to heal. The first 2 weeks after Lola was born were very emotionally overwhelming for me, and I needed to be alone with her and Dean more that I needed anything else. If we need help in any way, we will ask. If we need advice, we will ask. Also, I would like Lola here with us as much as possible, so that she knows that she is still an important part of our family and so that she can get used to things. If I need help with her, I will ask. Please be mindful of my desire for privacy and time to heal, and for us to get used to being a family of 4.

We will have a birthday party for Lola (date and time TBA....) which should be a great time for everyone to come over and visit the new guy too.

Thanks for reading.

No time to blog........

Everything is the same as always around here. I really haven't had time to write about anything, but there hasn't been anything to write about either. Lola stayed home from school on Tuesday with me, after I had worked all night. She didn't want to get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, etc.........the time change threw her off. She needed a mental health day. She did really well for having a practically non-functioning whale of a parent all day. We took a long nap together in the afternoon and then we both felt like new people.

On Wednesday we made butterscotch oatmeal cookies..........they were SOOO good. (Yes, I ate one.) We took them to Dean's work, he said everyone finished them by the end of the day. I will post that recipe on here soon, it would work with chocolate chips, dried fruit, or whatever you wanted to put in there.

Yesterday and today I have been sick. I thought it was just allergies from our lovely torrential gusts of winds, but today it is way worse. I called my doctor, and of course the nurse said to "treat the symptoms" since I am not running fever. What do nurses know anyways???? HAHA just kidding.

Lola is heading to the Dallas area for her "Spring Break" from preschool. She will be gone 5 days. Hopefully I will have a lot accomplished around the house and everything ready for baby when she gets back.

Here are some recent pictures, some are from her Easter party at school yesterday. Enjoy.

The fetus is still doing great. He is still quite large, but maybe he will slow down in the next few weeks. Everything with the pregnancy is still good...blood pressure is normal, swelling is minimal, and blood sugars are under control. I don't care how or when he gets here, as long as he is healthy and we can take him home with us. That is our goal. Nothing else new at our house. Have a good weekend.

Insane Weather

Saturday we were outside at the park in short sleeves, yesterday we were outside in short sleeves, and today it is snowing. There is not enough snow to do anything with, but the wind is gusting 45 mph and it is freezing. Hooray for unpredictable Texas weather!

Windy Day at the Park

Lola and I went to Legacy Play Village today. I can't believe that we have never been there before! It is such a great place for kids! It was built by the city (I think) with donations a few years ago. Dean is out of town until tomorrow on a business trip. I forgot how easy it is to entertain her with both of us at home! We are having a good time though, just she and I. She is a good girl. She has completely taken over our bedroom with stuffed animals, books, her blankets and pillows, and she used our bed linens to make a tent. When I work she sleeps in our room with Dean, and apparantly she tells him which side of the bed to sleep on and which pillows he can have, etc.......which does not work for me. I have to sleep right by the bathroom and I can't sleep without certain pillows. Last night was interesting to say the least. Tonight I am going to try some reverse psychology!

I think the sand was her favorite part!