Vivian Day!

I'm super nervous today! I'm going in to the OB at 2 for an ultrasound weight check. I'm allergic to narcotic pain relievers, so we are almost 100% positive that we will induce today. Vivi weighed 6 lb 6 oz at 35 weeks and is expected to be at least 8 1/2 lb now. That's not too bad; but, if she weighs any more than that, my chances of a c-section go up somewhat significantly. Without a pain reliever stronger than Tylenol, a c-section would be *not fun*. I think Vivi and I would be fine going to term, but I hate that small elevated risk. So I'm really hoping this elective induction is God's will. 

I've been crying all morning. I don't want things to change from Rhett and DG and I. Its been us three for so long. I want Vivi here so badly though. I'm ready to be an official family of four, yet, I feel as if I will never be ready. 

I just want to step into a corner with Rhett and hug him and hug him and never let my little boy go. I hope he knows how much I love him. I hope he knows how perfect he is. He is irreplaceable. 

I'm so excited though! 

Today could be Vivian's birthday. 

Intertwined

Jesus is coming again bringing salvation, just as surely as we all die and are judged. Intertwined.  

And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 HCSB)

Acid Reflux Induced Pulmonary Embolism

I've had trouble these last three weeks, waking up having inhaled stomach acid. Not spit it up, inhaled it. This morning around 630, my lungs closed. I couldn't get air and was trying to breathe. I ended up pulling the acid down into the actual lung beyond the bronchial tubes. This caused a pulmonary embolism which isn't such a big deal really. It just means that I went into respiratory distress, my left lung filled with this gross salty water, and (by God's grace because I was a little woozy and even though 911 crossed my mind, I couldn't really think straight enough to call for help) I somehow managed to empty my lung. So gross. There was water and weird white foam all over. So I think the embolism actually cleared a lot of the acid. I still couldn't breathe really but managed text DG at work and he came home. I saw the doctor ASAP. I was coughing up blood all the way to the city. But I was clearing up in the hour it took us to get to the clinic. Long story short, I had the pulmonary embolism, have the acid induced bronchitis (so my airways are swollen, not really news) but my lungs are clear and oxygen is back to normal. Vivi was fine. She didn't seem to be in any distress and her heartbeat was great. I'm taking a prescription now to essentially shut off my acid production in a different way than OTC meds like Zantac do. It will take four days to actually start working completely so I need to be careful. Essentially, we do not want another embolism because it was amazing gift from God that it emptied outside of the hospital. Most pulmonary embolisms are caused by the heart giving out, but an undrained embolism can collapse the lung and cause heart failure. I was blessed. Without a culture of the foamy stuff, an embolism can't be proven so really the only outcome was injury induced bronchitis and finally getting a prescription to get my acid under control.  I was trying not to before this incident because I thought the meds might hurt Vivi but the doctor says they are safe. 

Vivi's 4D Ultrasound!

We were able to see Vivi today!

I was so nervous that I barely slept last night. I received an email stating my appointment had been cancelled last night after-hours. I was so sure that I wasnt going to see Vivian today that I could barely sleep. I wanted to call in to my OB ASAP in the morning to figure things out. I ended up only fitfully sleeping for four hours and finally napping an hour this morning. That's not too bad, but I feel very drained.


We did get to see her this morning though! It was just a computer error! After all that worry. I should have just trusted God.


Vivi is doing great! She measuring 38 weeks! That doesnt mean anything though. She's just my little chubmuffin! She is 6 and 1/2 lb at 35 weeks. The nurses told me she will be born at a minimum of 8 and 1/2 lb! She is head-down. (The doctor doing my cervical check later told me that she isnt as engaged, or essentially as low, as she could be.) She has a large amount of hair! It was even visible on the 2D ultrasound screen, fluffy and moving in the amniotic fluid. The tech pointed it out. She was asleep for the ultrasound and had her hand in front of her face. No Vivi! We spent a long time and finally woke her up enough to move her little hand. She stretched her mouth open at us.

Rhett was not impressed with the procedure and was very VERY relieved when I was all done. He was worried they were hurting me. He told the ultrasound tech that I WAS NOT having a baby. Nope. No baby.

Sadly for him, we have proof to the opposite, as shown below.

Enjoy!

Her chubby cheeks and lips.

  

Sleeping with that fist on her forehead!

I like how you can see under her arm joint here and kinda see the side of her body.

That arm looks so awkward, but it's just the way that the sonogram cut through it to see her face. It's her right arm, up and resting on her forehead.

The sonogram cutting through her arm looked so strange, but all I care about are those kissable, kissable cheeks!

Sexual Sin. Sunday Sermon 11/30/2014

“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell! “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:27-32 HCSB)

_______

“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28 HCSB)

God says that angry name-calling is the same as murder to God. Lust is the same as adultery. Real righteousness eludes us. He doesn't give us righteousness by dumbing down the rules. He paid the price and gives us righteousness. We then go around not becoming righteous but being already righteous. Real righteousness is a heart event not an action. The heart of the Old Testament is loving God with all your heart and mind and soul. The Ten Commandments came hundreds of years after God established a relationship with man. True love for God and others causes us to keep God's rules. Sin is a heart issue just like salvation is a heart issue. The question is not IF WE ARE GUILTY it is WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. Jesus does not blame outside influences, He blames inward sin. Women should dress modestly, but when a man looks at a woman with lust it is his own fault. This applies to everyone. It is a concept, not a strict one situation answer. Sexual attraction is not a sin, giving in to that attraction is sin. Our sin nature causes us to have a wrong inclinations, but a changed heart resists that sin with penitence calling to Christ for help. We must take sexual sin seriously. Jesus says that victory in this area is of extreme importance. No 123 points, no therapy just...

Are you giving in to the expectations of our day or are you fighting for purity? The expectations of our day are so far afield that it is hard to find the way back. We don't know what normal is, we are so steeped in perversion in our society. 

________

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32 HCSB)

Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds? ” “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,” and He also said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” (Matthew 19:3-6 HCSB)

We must defend the sanctity of marriage. Divorced people are not second class citizens because Christ has covered them in His righteousness. 

A Quarter Of A Century

It was my birthday today!

I mainly lazed around and played with Rhett, but went over to Lisa's for supper in the evening.

Nanny and Papa were there! There was a personalized cake. There was grilled fish. Balloons! Cash! I was super surprised! It was amazing!

Lisa and Jimmy gave me $40 even though they had already given me a gift for my birthday. They bought Rhett a wonderful, super-thick OshKosh winter coat, which is all I wanted for my birthday! He is so snug in it and I love it to death!

Nanny and Papa gave me spending money as well which was so nice of them!

I didn't deserve any of this and it was so wonderful! Thanks everyone!

Ohhhh! My first personalized store-bought cake!

Rhett loves my balloons more than I do!

Ready for the sweet tea!

Nanny brought her famous potato salad!

Jimmy grilled tilapia! He wouldn't allow himself to be photographed.

He was so sick tonight but he still got up and celebrated with me. Plus, he went it to work. That's a hot husband!

Epic.

You can see where he gets all his sexiness from.

Papa felt sick too. Thank you for coming, Papa!

Surprise Birthday Visit!

My parents surprised me and came to see me today! They brought gifts and made a cake and supper as well!

Ky and Rhett played Batman and Superman, their traditional game, and played outside for quite awhile with my dad.

They pretended to mow the lawn and Rhett rode on his four-wheeler, which needs charging.

Why won't it go!?!

Rhett reaching for an imaginary key. Rhett and I exchange invisible keys all day long!

Granddad hunched against the wind, holding the Batman cape. He was wearing it Rhett used it as a Kleenex.

My parents gave me some adorable ceramic measuring cups and an English candle in baking scent! My sister bought me a headband from Francesca's and some adorable slip-on Crocs!

My mom gave me a cute tea towel!

Sadly, they could only stay for five hours. 

Ky and I got to have some sister-time when we made a run for toilet paper, salad, and candy. We shared some super embarrassing stories. She is hilarious, and I like her new shortish haircut!

Traditional Post-Thanksgiving Cinnamon Rolls

Rhettkins and I don't want to brag, but we make a mean case of Day-After-Thanksgiving Cinnamon Rolls. 

Thanksgiving Chicken

We've been sick! My family wasn't able to come down this year due to our illness, which made me so sad. I didnt defrost the turkey because:

a) I kept forgetting 

b) It was kinda too late once I really remembered  

c) I felt like a run-over frog

SOOOOOO... we had a Thanksgiving chicken! Yum!

I also made hash brown casserole, dinner rolls, and peach 'n blackberry crunch. The purple hull peas didn't get done in time for our 6pm dinner. They are still simmering now.... at 9 pm.

I gave Rhett and Daniel a haircut today. Rhett hates haircuts in practice but always begs me for one in theory!

Rhett: Mama, haircut?

Me: You just had one yesterday.

Rhett: Mama, I neeeeeed a haircut.

Me:Okay, let's do a haircut.

(5minutes later)

Rhett: AHHHHHHHH! NOOOO! GET AWAY! MY EARS! STOP ITTTTTT! MAAAAMAAAAA! AHHHHH! HEEEEELP! POLIIIIICE!

Okay. He doesnt really call for the police. But he did offer to potty on the toilet in exchange for no haircut. Sadly, try as he might, he was unable to deliver on that promise, so now his scalp is spic 'n span. I hadn't cut his hair since September!

We went to Walmart today and bought DG a pre-Black Friday sale iPhone. It was kinda scary in there. There were piles of merchandise everywhere and some strangely rude people. Rhett picked out a hotwheels while we waited on DG to get the phone. He also picked out bananas but I accidentally left them in the bicycle section where we were trying out all the bikes. Well, all the training-wheel bikes.

He tried on my OLD OLD cut-off raggy PJ shourts the other day. I have decided to lose weight after Vivi gets here. Those things are tight on me. He's skinny as a rail and over three feet tall, it's true, but those looked so huge on him.

Rhett doesn't like to finish his meals. Too bad that's a new rule at our house. He really needs to eats better.

Down For the Night

Rhett took a four-hour nap today, thanks to Benedryl! He woke up feeling better than before, but still pretty bad. I think we are headed to the doctor tomorrow.

 My mom pointed out that he gets sick fairly often, which is so true! We think it might be his diet... or lack of one. It's difficult to get him to eat anything. Maybe a few bites a day, but that is all. Seriously, he ate for the first time today at 4pm. He consumed one half of a piece of lunch meat and only did so because he wasn't allowed to watch Monsters INC. until the piece was finished.  He wouldn't finish the meat so he took that nap instead. (He later tried to be helpful by removing the movie from the xbox and putting it away. Sadly... In the process, he broke the DVD in half. Goodbye, Monsters.) For supper, I fed him half a baked chicken breast and green peas. It took quite awhile and two spankings (for spitting out the peas deliberately, in a testing, defiant way) but he actually consumed a plate of food! Now, on to the rest of his meals for the rest of his childhood.

He took a bubble bath and I think it really helped him feel less sick. He was smiling and coughing and threatening to pee in the water. He always has a great attitude even when he's sick.

He was pouring the cups over his bracelets and thanking himself.

I just put him back to bed after giving him more Delsym and Benedryl. Hopefully, a solid night's rest will help him improve.

"Take a picture of the cup, Mama!"

Fish Freedom Day

I'm sitting and eating oatmeal, waiting on the Ferguson results, reading a Loius L'amoire novel. I'm not really into the Ferguson results all that much, but I want my parents to come down for Thanksgiving. Local news agencies are reporting that Memphis is gearing up for riots if no indictment is handed down. My parents have to drive through Memphis to get to my house, or add two hours to their trip. Tic toc. Tic toc. How long until they hand down the verdict?

Today was Fish Freedom Day for my goldfish. I set him free in Alan's duck pond. Now we can get rid of the tank and prepare for Vivi's birth!

The ummm.. tropical fish didn't make it. Confusing since I poured them so gently into the pond.

Rhett played with his cousins, Owen and Luke, today! Those three were so wild! Nanny and I feel sorry for the next batch of cousins. Maeson will totally be ganged up on by Avalynn and Vivian.

Yup. Luke is four and Rhett is two. Note the nonexistent height difference.

Daniel came home sick today. He has Rhett and I's cold plus a sore throat and general yuckiness. He's sleeping after having taken some Nyquil right now. He just worked a double and is headed in again. Thankfully, he has Tuesday and Wednesday night off.

This is good oatmeal!

It's so early.

I was up with Rhett last night off and on. He's just coughing incessantly. He coughs and cries in his sleep. He and I got up and I tried to get him to drink some juice but he refused. He says he hurts. I need to take him to the doctor today. I may wait though and give him some medicine tonight. His daytime Delsym wore off around the time he started having coughing fits. We were up discussing the juice at 4. After that I just lay in bed listening to him cough and cough and cough. I dozed a little but woke up to his coughing again at 6. He finally fell into a deep sleep around that time but I got out of bed at 6:20. I took a shower and decided to stay up. I have a headache. I did put a sippy of Apple juice next to him in bed. Maybe he will drink some and it will help cut the drainage in his throat. 

Update: he's up and medicated, loving him some Monsters Inc. 

Rhett Has A Cold/ I'm Pretty Sure Vivi Is Trying to Bust Out

I thought Rhett was developing allergies from the unseasonably cold weather these last couple weeks, but as it's gradually worsened, I've come to believe that it's a true cold. I hate that! I can treat allergies, but he has to suffer through a cold. He's having a lot of trouble napping and sleeps fitfully at night. He had his last immunization until he's four years old a few days ago. I think it's making him feel worse during his cold.

Another clue that it's a cold and not allergies? I have it as well.

It's so tough to sleep at night with heartburn and painful third trimester hips. Now I can't breathe through my nose either.

Not that I'm complaining! I love every moment, even the discomforts, of being pregnant! I just think I'm starting my new parent zombie-hood a little earlier than I expected.

I'm 34 weeks! Only three more weeks to full term. I'm in shock.

I'm carrying Vivian so low! I've been having Braxton Hicks on and off for awhile now. Nothing too serious since the first case of BH. My first little bit of "false labor" was pretty scary and convincing!

I have an ultrasound on December 2nd! Secretly hoping for surprise twins.

Maybe once Vivi gets here, I will feel motivated and energetic enough to actually clean the hall mirror.

My parents are coming down for Thanksgiving! My sister might be coming a day early! I'm hoping she can stay several days, but she's busy and has friends, obligations, cool stuff. She leading a team to hike across Spain again this summer. 

DG and are still working on our mission application to move to SE Asia through the IMB. There's so much to be done! I shouldnt be blogging! I should be writing my autobiography. BTW - What do you put in those? There's about 30 questions they list that need to be answered but still... I'm blank when it comes to my own history apparently! It needs to be 6-10 pages. I'm not interesting enough to fill that!  I'm going to have to make something up. Skydiving: Why I chose it and how it was formative to the sixth year of my life.

We got almost all of our Christmas shopping done last week. Rhett only wanted to look at the tools, ride the bus, and go "inside the cool planet" (Gymboree). IDK. But DG made him behave and as a reward he was allowed to walk around the kid's clothing store once! It's so easy being Rhett's parent! I'm so serious. I'm going to pay for how amazing he is. I have a feeling that Vivi is going to be such a spitfire!

Here is Rhett and DG in the bus: 

It's just too easy to please that kid.

We had our Thanksgiving Offering at church today and raised enough money to pay off the Activities Building! Plus pay off the land bought for extension of the campus/parking! I cannot believe it! We burned the note on the building during the Thanksgiving feast this evening. So much fun!