Placenta Previa

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound, right when I saw the ultrasound technician I blurted "don't tell me what we're having"! We wanted to make sure it was known that we wanted this to be a suprise. The technician said she only gets about 2 of these requests per year, everyone wants to plan these days. The appt went well, saw many pictures of baby Wagner sucking thumb, lifting hands behind the head, all kinds of poses. The heartbeat was normal and all parts were there and developed! The baby is about a week behind on birthweight but likely will catch up. We decided not to find out what we're having, deciding to be able to celebrate this birth just the two of us that special day isn't that what God intends? It took us awhile to figure it out considering we found out with both Ezekiel and Emmalani. :)

I got a phonecall shortly after the ultrasound from the doctor saying that my placenta was completely covering my cervix. It's called a "Total Placenta Previa". Most of the time this usually seperated allowing the birth canal to be visible. In this case because it's completely over the cervix. IT's not looking like there will be any changes. I've been asked to be on pelvic rest and partial bed rest. Pretty much no hikes, long walks, exercise etc, (just get where I need to go) and rest in between. This isn't my personality and has made me think of ways to enjoy my rest time in more creative ways or ways that I wouldn't have explored had I been able to get out and enjoy my legs.

So for all of you that have legs and arms and can use them, do it for my sake. I miss being active.
Here is a picture of our little peach sucking their thumb.
Oh! And the only they said that was above average is the head! Another big head coming thru.

Precious Moments.

I love bedtime hearing my baby boy give his sister a tight hug and tell her" See ew tmorro Emma !" (See you tomorrow Emma) Being a mommy is the best even when it's been a tough day.

Starbucks Day!

One of the gifts I rec'd for Mother's Day was a starbucks card and being a mom coffee for me has become NECCESSARY even while pregnant. So...I took the kids to Starbuck for lunch, we had a panini some Tazo juice for the kids an iced coffee for myself. Afterwards we came home and enjoyed some vitamin D! It was a nice morning for all of us.

Sick Day...kind of.

Last night I had severe food poisoning, at first I thought we were losing the baby then realized it was just that. I will spare you the details. Today Dave stayed home because his ear had been bothering him, he went to the doctors yesterday thinking it was an ear infection but it ended up being just irritated. It was nice to have him home this morning because I was still really weak, my mom and dad ended up taking the kids for us for a few hours so I could sleep and Dave worked. It was really, really nice to have the extra rest.

Unfortunatley when your sick kids don't have empathy or understanding of how you're feeling. So once we got back to the house business as usual, Dave and Ezekiel mowed the lawn and Lani and I did housework.

A Clean House

I woke up the other morning and somehow the same house that I cleaned what felt like ten times that week, was once again dirty. It boggles my mind how my small house gets out of order so quickly with myself (the tornado),a husband (cleanfreak), and a two toddlers (that act like they are in WWF). I think about all the work it takes for my house to appear to be in order, then out of no where...dirty house.

I guess it starts small. Crumbs on the counter top that stands out like crazy. And I guess since you have already compromised your standards, it's not that big of a deal that there is a pile of opened mail strewn across the kitchen table, living room couch, and anywhere else there may have been empty counterspace. Before you know it, your trash can is over flowing onto the floor, you have about 5 loads of laundry that you need to fold, and you've been sitting on the couch for 4 hours watching tv, facebook, or online shopping without a shower for the day.

I was reading my bible the other day and after reading this I really had to ask myself...

When was the last time I took inventory of my relationship with God? When was the last time, after looking through everything in my life, did I clean house?

As I looked into this, I realized that I have so many things in my life that I could just throw away. Things that I thought held importance but in the grand scheme of the Kingdom of God, are just silly. Things that took up my time that didn't benefit me or glorify Him at all. Relationships that lost their luster a long time ago that I held onto out of fear. The list goes on...

How did I end up with such a long list? Compromise. It starts with one seemingly small compromise, which leads to a little less small compromise, which in the end leads to a messy house. I sometimes wonder if this is simply how we get into the biggest messes of our lives?

But then there is Grace. The thing that says, I've already paid for your mistakes...just turn towards Me. Words fail to describe how thankful I am for this. I would still be trying to undo my list from years and years ago of things I used to occupy my time and life with rather than build a meaningful relationship with my Daddy in Heaven.

So...I've decided, it's time to clean house.
:)

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S MAY ALREADY!

Wow! Time is passing me by...I've been feeling that I need more time lately. Not in a selfish sense of wanting mani/pedi's either (although I wouldn't pass it up), but more time with God, my family, and cherishing my kids. I am feeling like these months sometimes go by without my calling out to our lord and savior praising him for all he's blessed me with, telling my kids that they mean more to me than I could ever explain in words, thanking my husband for being our rock, loving me well and making me want to be a better woman and wife, enjoying my niece and nephew who live a country apart but are so close to my heart... my brother too. Taking the time to pray individually for those who are in pain daily, or who's hearts are hurting or are just lonely. I could go on...I think about all of these things often but is that enough??

As I walked out the front door and watched the kids play outside and admired the view of the city, water and mountains. I began to thank God for what he's done for me and given our family. I really can't explain how happy I am in this life right now. IT's an unfathonable feeling of comfort, peace and unknowing at the same time. I'm trying to soak in every bit of sunshine in my life before the rain comes and praying that when it does decided to rain I continue to praise God that much more for my blessings. I really feel like my heart is being prepared for that time to come.

I don't want this message to come across as every day being "perfect" either. In fact this week we found out we have termites eating at our home and as I sit here with Lani crying and Ezekiel fighting over his baby Jesus toy with a friend. There's moments where I want to crawl in bed and put the covers over my head and just tell the kids to let mommy have some time. Many moments actually...but snot, poop, drool and all I would never trade them for anything! (at least at this moment - ask me tomorrow) :) My kids also serve as a constant reminder that I need to try to be better. I love them with all my heart.

If you know me well, you know I always have ideas in my head of things I want to do! Most of the time I don't get to it, especially now! But...someday, I may become the guitar player I've always dreamt to be, or the owner of family cafe, or the creator of my LaniCoco perfume line. Or just maybe I'll continue to be the best mom I can be to three beautiful kids and the loving wife I try to be to my amazing husband. For now that's what consumes these days which turn into weeks and then months and all of a sudden the years pass.

This last weekend was Dave's 30th and Mother's Day also a celebration to recognize Uncle Joe (Dave's brother) who is heading to National Guard boot camp next week. I will try to post pictures when I get some more time. In the meantime, here are a few happenings from the month of May...

Numero Tres due in October...

It seems like we've had quite a few doctors visits in the past couple of weeks. This last appointment was reassuring in that my cervix was shut meaning no baby was to come out! I had some bleeding last Friday...with some large clots and was told that I just need to RELAX and take it easy. A little hard to do with 2 babies under 2. :) This is week 13 and I feel more and more like myself each day. I still haven't kept up on house work, cooking etc, but I do take care of our kids and try to stay awake until hubby gets home. Amazing that they can get so close and capture this at such an early stage. Feeling excited for what's to come this year. :)

Monday

Tomorrow is the "BIG Day" a day both Dave and I have been anxiously waiting for. Although we know the Bible tells us not to be anxious, it's tough when you feel life inside of you! We (or I)actually thought the doctor's appt was today, we'd had it on the calendar for awhile now but when I called this morning to confirm they said "no we have you scheduled for tomorrow". Total bummer since Dave stayed home from work just to go to the appointment. What an AMAZING husband! So...tomorrow he will be working from home again so that he can go to the appointment with me... and again what an AMAZING husband. Typically I think he would opt out and go to work, but this pregnancy has been the hardest of the three I've experienced. Sickness/ or nausea all day and night, complete fatigue and sharp pains if active for too long. We decided to wait to tell everyone until our doctors appointment being that the miscarriage in October is still fresh. We trusted God in this decision prayerfully asking him that if he wanted us to be pregnant again that it would be his will. I was off of birth control less than a month and well...here we are. Completely blessed yet again. We'll keep you posted with the news. :) For now we will watch rules of engagement, eat some chocolate, a little more chocolate and then hit the sack!

How we spent our Sunny Saturday!

This weekend it was exceptionally beautiful for a March day so...we decided to take the kids to the Tacoma Rainiers Stadium. Afterall they were giving away hotdogs and sodapop! It was a nice "little" stadium compared to the rather "large" Mariners Safeco Field, but it was a great place to show Ezekiel where the semi pros played ball. He is in love with the fact that his daddy plays baseball (really softball) but we're sticking with baseball for sake of the 2 year old. :) Below are a couple pictures from our tour. We forgot the memory card so we only had 4 photos to take with the cameras memory. Ezekiel did not like the dugout, he'd rather be playin' on base and his photo with Rhubarb the mousse may look tramatic, but he loved him and just wanted to talk to him not sit on his lap. He's too BIG for that these days ~ Like most boys his highlight was eating a hotdog. :)

What does it mean when you take licorice in the shower with you?

Today is Monday. I usually go to the "Y" on Mondays but have been puking since I woke up. I decided to take the kids to the park since I'm crazy, they're crazy, and maybe some fresh air would ease some of our craziness and my sickness. It was fun for the kids, they love the swings and the slide and what's not to love about a little Viatamin D in March!

Afterwards I took the kids to Mc'd's which I wish I could say doesn't happen often, but...it probably happens more often than it should since everytime we pass the golden arch...Ezekiel yells..."Fies" :)

We came home and did a little coloring and then it was naptime. I decided to use that time to take a nice hot shower accompanied by 3 pieces of red licorice! Does anyone else do this? Take food in the shower with them? I'm feeling as if it's a pregnancy quirk or at least hoping that's all it is.

Love in a box

Ezekiel and Lani LOVE to play in those large Costco boxes. Here is a picture of them at Grandpa and Nana's house.

Day to Day Adventures...super busy but loving every minute of it!

Our weeks stay busy between going to the Y, visiting with friends, day to day activities and just plain old shepherding our babies hearts! I wish I could capture so much more on camera...such as the times when Ezekiel wakes me up in the morning by saying "GOOD MORNING MOM I AM A GORILLA" and starts pounding on his chest. Or when you first greet Lani in the morning she says "HI"! " "HI"! :) These times are great and give me more and more laughter each day as well as leave me completely drained! As sweet as the pictures look, these kids are into everything, make lots of messes throw regular tantrums and are just lovely to take in public. This stage needs to just be blacked out. :) Just kidding it's what really shows God's work in my heart or not so much depending on the day~ :)

Lani helping Daddy start a fire

Daily snack and reading time

Talking to Daddy on the phone

Valentines Day

Valentines weekend was extra special because we had Grandma Nita and Grandpa Donnie visit us from Oregon. Usually that wouldn't make a romantic day sound appealing to have your parents around but we had a wonderful time despite the sickness that plagued our home that week. Dave and I got to get out and enjoy a lovely peanutbutter chocolate dessert with some frangelico coffee at a VERY nice resteraunt called Cosmos while the kids entertained the Grandparents~ Here are SOME pictures of Valentines morning afternoon and the evening .