Well, things seem to be looking up with us. My husband is coming to counciling with our pastor and I as well as on his own. I just keep praying this is a real change - a work of God - and not something he is trying to do just to get me back and then it will all go back to the way it was.

We are going out to dinner again tonight - we do once a week now - I'm really praying for some insight into where I go from here. Most people at the church are telling me to take it slow, so I don't feel so bad for not being sure yet. I guess this is just going to take time - God's timing not mine or his!

May God's will be done!

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I know, I know, it's been forever, and ya'll have been praying, I'm so sorry! I had to get rid of the computer, we couldn't make the payments. Anyway, God has richly blessed! the delivery went just fine although it was a c-section ( they had to take him early cuz he wasn't growing). He is a perfectly healthy little boy, not a problem in the world. The doctors were really suprised. After that abruption, everything was smoooth sailing.

His name is Cutter Lee Powell and he was 4lb. 1 oz. - my smallest yet! he is now 3 months old and over 10 lbs.! already eating cereal and strong as an ox. he holds his head up, pulls himself up to a sitting position breifly 9using only his stomach muscles!) and can stand just by holding my hands.

I'll try to keep updating you when I get up here to mom's.

God bless and thanks for the prayers!

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Well, we had yet another appointment ( boy there sure are alot of those when you go every two weeks!) Had our official ultrasound done - everything looks great, nice strong heartbeat, no funny stuff, and a very active baby - one thing, I am only 15 weeks instead of the 17 so my due date has changed and....... they think it's a BOY!

Now, how did we manage that? My husband says i'm just in denial because I want them to check again and I don't see anything there, mabey he's right I don't know. I really will be thrilled either way, I just really had my heart set on a girl this time.

My DH was actually pretty dissapointed too - and my mom, but the boys are taking it really well, they just looked at me at first and said " but we wanted a sister"  and I just said " I know you did, but it looks like God decided we needed a brother, so that's what we've got" they went on their merry way and just correct themselves now when they say " I love my baby sister, I mean brother:" God is Gracious.

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Dad went into surgury to remove the infection in his leg, was under anesthesia for all of about 15 min. - boy they work fast! Anyway, He seems to be doing pretty good, the first thing he said when I called him and asked how he was? - " Well, I 've still got two feet down there! Thats good!" LOL boy, my dad what am I gonna do with him?! They still don't know exactly what the infection is - they can't get the culture to grow, which actually seems to be kinda a good thing, it means the antibiotics are affecting it at least. He is still in the hospital and they have increased his pain meds, and we cant seem to get a straight answer about when he might get out. I guess that's just how hospitals are - too many cooks in the kitchen. Well, thanks for your prayers, dad is doing great.

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Hey all you great dads out there! I hope you had a wonderful day with your families yesterday.  Dads are so important for kids to have around and it is great to see how many supportive homeschool dads there are - Keep up the good work, and may God richly bless you and your families!

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Well, I got real tired real fast of having to inject that stinking heparin twice a day soooo - I talked to my Granny who is a nurse and she said I could just take Flax seed. We went to the Dr appointment and I told them that was what I was going to do. They will keep monitering my lab work to make sure it is working, but this is sooooo much better than constant pain and bruising. It's only a precationary measure anyway, I don't have the anti-coagulant andtibody anymore.

I've also been doing some research on "high risk" and home birth. I found out there is not a law stating that I cannot have my baby at home. It is just a matter of finding a CNM who is willing and able to deliver for me. - something to be praying about. No final decisions have been made as of yet, I just want to be very informed and not bullied into a decision by false information.

We find out the gender of the baby in one week! Yay! DH is doing a great job of getting the new room built. He has all of the walls up and the framing for the roof. I can't wait to see it when it is done!

I have been doing better with keeping up on the housework and stuff, despite the fact my nausea seems worse rather than better. Praise God for His mercies, wherever He chooses to place them!

WE need prayer for my Dad - he is in the hospital. He has some kind of infection is his bad leg ( bad from a motorcycle accident long long ago - had experimental surgury done on it at the time) and it is not getting better with antibiotics. We are waiting to hear 2 things, 1: what the infection is so they can treat it  and 2: if the bone is degenerating or not.

If the bone is degenerating then eventually ( though thankfully not at this time) they will need to amputate. I can't imagine what dad would do at that point he is such a hard worker and loves his work. Also he doesn't have any retirement or anything because he has had his own woodworking business since shortly after I was born. Please Pray for a good result and fast healing of the infection.

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but I'm here and doing ok. We had another baby appointment, things seem to be going good, I meet one of the doctors that work with the midwives this time. He was sooo young, but very nice.We have now dubbed him the " zen dr." - when he was feeling for the size of my uterus ( me being only aout 12 wks along, it's still pretty small0 He really had to concentrate, so he kept closing his eyes and kind of ended up swaying his body as he moved his hands - very medidtative like. I must have almost giggled or something because he said " oh sorry if thats a little tender"  I ALMOST told him, no, your're just making funny faces! but I decided not to.

  this wonderful doctor then goes out to talk to the high risk specialist and go over my (extensive and numerous) charts with her. when he comes back he casually says - in the middle of a long list of why I'm High risk - so you have to inject yourself with heparin each day...

WHAT!!??? INJECT!!!!? I hate needles! and EVERY DAY!

Well - no - twice a day - he calmly replied.

AHHHHHHH

well, now that I'm cone with tat little tidbit...

Go check out my husbands log - he finally started one! He's happydaddy

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Well, we went to the midwives again today. It went great. They are definately considering me a high risk pregnancy and sending me to the other office, but they also said that I will be seeing the midwives the whole time, just at the high risk clinic instead of regular appointments. That's ok, that is my God providing safety for my child and I! We had our first ultrasound today, it was great to finally be able to see that everything is ok and that this is really happening! I hav found myself in disbelief sometimes, I guess because it is something I wanted so badly and we weren't sure we were going to get this opportunity again with my health the way it has been. It may also be because it has been so long this time between pregnancies that I don't remember a lot about the first trimester stuff. Who knows, anyway baby is healthy and kicking ( I saw the legs both kick really good) and has a healthy heartbeat. This was not our official ultrasound, that is at about 16 weeks, but the measurments put me at 8 wks instead of ten, the midwife said that they will do another one at my nesxt appointment and see if we need to change my due date or not, but for now it will stay the same.

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• Intellectually curious and patient, the INTP mother relishes those times with a child when they are learning something interesting together. Whether they’re at the zoo or computer terminal, she sparks to answering his or her “whys” with in-depth responses or new knowledge.
• The INTP mother is also objective and introspective. She listens to and discusses children’s ideas and questions as she would those of a peer, fostering self-esteem and confidence. Open and non-directive, she allows children the freedom to do for themselves and quietly encourages them to believe they can do it.
• Independence, autonomy, intellectual development, and self-reliance are probably the INTP’s highest priorities for her children. An avid reader, she naturally imparts an appreciation and love of reading as well.
• Drawn to all types of learning, the INTP may also value her mothering experience for all the new insights about life it provides her.
  

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ok, let's see if I can do this ~ um 6 things right?

1. I have lived in some unusual places ~ a sailboat, a tent in the mountains, and one in Guatemala(that was for 3 months with a Teen Missions Team), a renovated School Bus, and a truck camper.

2. In all but the tents their were 5 of us in the family.

3. My husband and I actually met in the MALL! ( and we were not teenagers at the time either!)

4. I learned to crochet fom my mom about 2 years ago and am now selling my own creations.

5. I am having another end of the year baby, Dec 5 this time.

6. I love to read, my favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Dr. Dobson, and John Grisham.

I'm Tagging - momanna98, PatinTenn,& redmom

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My DH is getting ready to start adding a room on to our home for the new little one that is expected, so there is a trailer in the driveway with framing studs in it. My 5 yr old asked what it was for and so I told him, he then wnated to know if we were going to paint the room for the baby too, I said yes and he proclaimed that he wants to paint white flowers for his little sister ( he's determined it's a girl although we have no idea yet!) He said he wants her to have a garden.~ this gave me a great idea, I told him we could go get some seeds from the store and plant a garden just for the baby. He thought that was great. ~ now my 4 year old  comes around the corner as I say " we can plant it now, so when the baby comes it will be all grown up." Puzzled knowing the baby has to grow up before it can come out, he askes " why is the baby gonna grow in your garden? ~ i laughed and explained  i meant the flowers! ooooh boy!

God sends us wonderful gifts in our children!

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WE mother's to be love and appreciate the wisdom and caring of our mothers, along with this I find myself concerned for those "grandmothers to be" that want to continue to shelter their daughters from everything. I understand the tendancy, and can see love shown through this so well, however you must remember that we daughters tend to take on the feelings of our mothers as well ~ so that kinda makes your worry not only bad for you but kinda useless. I was having a hard time at first with my mom finding herself unable to simply be happy with me about this preg. because she was so worried over my health and all the work a new baby would mean. This stemmed partly from our different veiws on children, I LOVE having kids, raising kids, and spending time with kids.~ Mom on the other hand is afraid of kids and doesn't really feel equipped to handle them ( although she did a wonderful job with us three!) She called me one day and apologized for not being happy ~ she said she was "being selfish for me"!Sweet, but I'd rather her just be as happy as I am, she's doing much better now,Praise God, I would hate for her to worry the whole time! So, let this be an encouragement to those grandmothers to be out there to just feel WITH your daughters and not FOR them, thats the best way you can help.

I hope this is coming across right, I am not unhappy with or angry at my mother, just worried in my own way about her worry! I know thats a little backwards, but we women are all alike in some areas!

Love In Christ.

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DH and I went to first baby appointment. We met a wonderful midwife and had a great conversation. They do consider me a high risk pregnancy because of the possible Lupus and history of Hemolytic anemia and blood clots.However she said that even though the Drs. will have to moniter me the whole time for the preg. that I still should be able to have a natural birth with the midwives, just in the hospital "water world" room.( kinda like being at home - but sounds even better - they have JACUZZI'S!) Sooo  thanks for your prayers and support.

KEEP BLOGGIN!

Janice

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I was going along happily random blogging the other day and found this great blog from one of the kids. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/footballman/107924/ I can't figure out his cipher even with the explanation, mabey I'm showing my brainlessness but, hey, thats who I am. anyway, he's a really smart kid and I think his site is great. It's encouraging to see the older kids enjoying learning!

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I have been struggling lately with just feeling sick, and not having that wonderful feeling of pregnancy that goes along with it that I remember so well. I kept telling my DH that I changed my mind, I don't want to do this now, ~ of course he would just lovingly remind me that it's too late for that  now, and I just sigh and go on, Well now in the past couple of days I have finally started to have those glowing feelings, and now I am getting REALLY impatient. I did not feel like this at all with my other two, I am only 8 weeks and I'm already wanting to just skip to the end, but I love being pregnant! This is soooo weird.

Two days to baby apouintment # 1!

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I saw my family dr. today to get some stuff checked out - he had to do a biopsy on one of my rashes to determine what it is, still a possibility of Lupus  - we shall see. So far however, my blood levels are fine, so that is good, that seems to be the main worry about me being pregnant is weather or not my anemia is going to pop up again. I praise God however that the dr's response to my pregnancy was not a negative one as I fully expected, he just said congratulations and that he would like to keep close tabs on me as well so he knows what's going on. Mabey God is working on his heart, I pray for him whenever I think of his initial response to me telling him i wanted to get pregnant. I was on cumadin at the time, and he said " dont get pregnant while on this I would hate for you to have to have an abortion. I told him that was NOT happenning, no matter what! Well, I'm not on the cumadin so we don't have that worry now( about the medicine affecting the baby). anyway, keep praying for me and add him to your prayers for his salvation and realization of God's wonderful Soverignty!

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We now have our fisrt "baby appointment" set. We go in on the 27th of April. Pray for guidance as we have never met any of these midwives or drs. this is not only to check up on baby but for us to find out who we are going to have for our delivery. We have only lived in NC for 1 yr, so have no experience with anyone hear yet. I have had some great suggestions from the lovely ladies at our church, so we will be checking those out to.

I'M SOOOO HAPPY!

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I was ust going through my comments and stuff on my blog and happened to look at the titles of my past posts -  take a look at them in order please - Now isn't God wonderful! Look at that progression! Scared little ol' me.... Sick and worried me....God Provides...... God blesses..... God points it out!

WOW!!!!

Just thought i'd share that with ya'll!

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Well I went to the Dr.s yesterday to get my hemoglobin checked. They said all my levels are great.So , you ask, why have you been so tired? well, because when God answeres prayers he sometimes adds new blessings too - We're going to have baby # 3! and as you can tell by the color, we are hoping for ( but knon't know) a girl!

PRAISE GOD FOR ALL HIS RICH BLESSINGS!

Do continue to pray that my health will not be an interferance and that all will go well.

I am alreaady in the process of looking for  a midwife and getting advise from drs. about my posible lupus ( that is still in the range of possibilities, it's just not affecting my anemia at this time)

well, thanks for the prayers and support,

Love in Christ,

Janice

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