green eyes

I had some fun times today with this green eyed cutie...I'm in love.


Have a great weekend...I will be enjoying my sweet boys, pumpkin pie and apple cider - please do the same! :)

Results

The test results came back and the outcome has just brought us to continue our prayers that my body can still hold on just a little longer without trouble...and that baby can cook just a little longer too. May the Lord continue to watch over our little one - and keep my body strong.

Tests...

I had the tests done today and all that has resulted so far is more pain and discomfort... not much fun - now I'm just lying around recuperating.

I'll update you when we know the results or if something happens.

Today I'm grateful for a husband who wants to tell me made up stories about purple dragons to try and keep my mind off the pain.

Polka dots...

Hope you are having a good weekend....
Monday will be here before you know it. I will update you on our status as soon we know more....

I'm grateful for polka dots today. Well, actually, that would be everyday.

Sweaty Hands

I had yet another appointment. As I was riding in the elevator I realized that my hands were sweaty and I was having trouble breathing....no, my hands don't get sweaty often... I was just extremely nervous.

I told Doug on Monday night that something was going to happen at my appointment - I didn't know why or what, I just knew something was coming. As we were getting checked out and the ultrasound was being done all I could do was look at my doctor's face for a reaction....and I got one. We found a new problem that concerns my own health and permanent damage to my body which Doug and I hadn't really considered before. The problem is due to the surgery we have to have to try and keep a baby in my womb along with all the complications I have throughout the pregnancy. As far as I can understand, those two added together have brought about this new problem. I guess we were always worrying about the baby's health too much to really worry about my own.

Well, we now are concerned, but we know that we are in good hands and are being watched over by our Father in Heaven.

I have no real way of explaining it on the blog that would make me feel comfortable so I'm not sure what to say for those of you who really want to know. I'm still alight, but we aren't sure how much longer it will stay that way so we have to go in on Monday to have some tests done and decisions made. We will continue to pray that my body can stay strong and our sweet little one as well. No matter what outcome we see, the Lord is on our side.

Today I am grateful for pink peanut M&Ms and a Knight costume...I've been watched over all day by a little 3 1/2 year old Knight in Shining Armor - who I must say is quite brave!

Want a Bite?

So my friend, Kate, has this a.ma.zing blog HERE and she kills every single recipe she and her business partner, Sara, post. Not kidding. You've got to bookmark their page and check it as often as humanly possible.

I love to cook and bake...never in a million years would I have pictured myself saying that but...it's true...I love it. It's something I miss a lot these days and am very excited to retrieve after this time is over.

Anyway, I saw this post from Kate today and thought..."Yum, that sounds really good!" It's rainy and cold...and with my sweater on and a nice cozy blanket it seems like the perfect meal to warm any soul!

So would someone please try it out and then tell me what they think? Seriously people...write back and actually tell me how it turned out! While you're at it, try Our Best Bites Pumpkin Pie milkshake....you won't be sorry!

Here it is....just send this to your printer and simmer away....for me? please.

Tortellini Sausage Soup

3 links Italian sausage (I would substitute this...I'm just not a sausage kind of girl...sorry Kate)
4 cloves pressed garlic
1 onion, diced
½ c. water
2 cans chicken broth
½ c. apple cider (don't leave this out! I did once and it wasn't the same...)
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 medium zucchini, grated (great way to use your food processor if you have one)
8-10 oz. package cheese tortellini (check the freezer section of your grocery store; if you can find it there, it will almost always be way cheaper than fresh tortellini. Also, Barilla makes a great dry cheese tortellini)
2 Tbsp. dried parsley (yes, that's two tablespoons)

If you're using link sausage, remove the casings and crumble into a large soup pot. To remove the casings, you can use a sharp knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and then peel back the casing.

Begin cooking sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently. If your sausage is pretty fatty, you'll want to drain it when it's about halfway cooked. Meanwhile, chop onions and garlic and add to the sausage. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked. Your house will smell heavenly.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, juice, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 15 minutes or so.
Add the tortellini and cook until tender, and then serve with bread and freshly-grated Parmesan.

Note: If you're making breadsticks, start the dough first, then prepare the first "phase" of the soup while the dough is rising. While the soup is simmering, twist the breadsticks, let them rise, and they'll be done baking about the same time the soup is done.

Fuzzy hair...

So I know I didn't update this week like I said I would. Things are still status quo. I had this weird epiphany at my appointment and was a little on the emotionally crazy side for a few days... so I decided to take a little break from the blog.

During another one of my uncomfortable ultrasounds, (of which I've had 35+ during this pregnancy...and I'm weeks away from even being 35 weeks along!) I saw our baby's fuzzy head of hair. This might seem like a very minor image, but to me it brought an epiphany I never expected.

Before Doug and I even started thinking and praying about this next step in our family's life, we were not able to allow ourselves to get excited about the prospect of another sweet baby in our family. I know many others were excited for us, but we held ourselves back for good reason.

We knew what our Heavenly Father wanted us to do and had faith that He would see us through our journey, but we were also armed with the knowledge of my condition and the possible outcomes that present themselves along with it. This brought about uncertainty and discomfort with the unknown. We couldn't really talk about the baby or plan in any way for the arrival of a baby. We just walked the path slowly and carefully with Faith hoping we could make it to our goal.

This lasted until we hit the 28-30 week mark. Once we hit that goal we found ourselves staring at each other in disbelief saying..."We are actually going to have a baby!" It brought about some much needed and anticipated relief and we were finally able to let go of some of the other feelings.

This brings me to the fuzzy hair....how could a blurry image of my baby's fuzzy hair suddenly snap me into the reality that this special baby is real. He is ours. He is actually coming. I have a baby belly, I have all the discomforts of pregnancy along with all my extra 'special' ones, I have most all the signs of labor everyday, I have people trying to stop that labor all the time, I have been in and out of the hospital, I've had to have surgery to try and keep my baby in my womb, he moves inside my belly, etc. etc. etc. How could I experience these things since week 14 and NOT feel like this is real? How could a baby's fuzzy hair be the key? I have no idea.

All I can say is I am dumbfounded, in awe, in shock, amazed, and so incredibly grateful that we have come this far. We have been showered with miracles. This child is one incredible soul...

and I'm grateful for his fuzzy hair...