The school year has started and the boys are back.  Even though some of the boys graduated last year we still end up with a full house.  It has been nice getting to know the new boys.  Not only do we have some newbies, there is a new meal coordinator.  Yeah you guessed it, yours truly has been making meals for some 25 people.  And it hasn't been bad at all.

We use to have a wonderful couple who donated the food and their time for each Bible study.  They were great and even exposed the boys to some foods they did not ordinarily eat.  We sure do miss them but I'm glad to be available to help my hubby. 

As you can see they sit where ever they can find room.

The boys are always polite and thankful.  I look forward to seeing the white van and car loads of boys pull up to our home each Tuesday.  Please keep the boys and their time of Bible Study in your prayers.  Our desire is to partner with their parents to help these young men become solid in God's Word.

This past Monday we were able to spend time with them at a Mavericks game due to a wonderful donation from one of Mercy Street's mentors.  We had a great time and "da momma" was able to have some hands free kid time.

Fred carrying Ayla.


Charlie keeping up with Coleman.


Ayla with her momma at her first basketball game.  Isn't she getting big.


L.J. dancing with encouragement for Charlie and Mr. Andrew.  Oh, forgive the loudness of his mom.

Miss Ayla Madison was born on August 4th at home in her room at 10:04 A.M. weighing 8 pounds 2 ozs.

It's taken me over two weeks to post because it has been a hard recovery.  Let's just say I didn't know that a third degree tear would keep me from sitting up or walking for so long.  Oh, and then there's been my back but I'll get into all of that later.   All I know is that God has taught me to be more appreciative of good health and living without pain.

One day I just had to read Job in order to but my circumstances in perspective.  I couldn't even get through the first chapter without crying and apologizing  to God.  I just couldn't imagine losing everything I had (including my 10 children) and then saying, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  WHAT!

Then in chapter 2 Job had "sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."  And then he tells his wife in verse 10, . . . Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"  Lastly, it  says, "In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

All I could think was let me be thankful that I am only dealing with a third degree tare and back pain.  I'm still amazed at how God uses circumstances to bring us closer to Him.

Here  are more pictures! 

Soon I'll let you know the birth story of the little girl who made her mom need a birthing chair in the birth tub in order to have her enter this world.  Oh, what we do for our children :)

O.K. it's been a little while.  And for those who are wondering, yes, I'm still pregnant! 

I'm two days past my due date.  It's funny though.  I'm not a bit anxious at all.  Maybe it's because we haven't finished Ayla's room yet.  I keep telling everyone Ayla says she is not going to make her arrival until her room is finished.

Seriously, I never expected her to come on her due date.  My midwife and every midwife I interview told me she would most likely be late.  They say your body has a memory.  Therefore it doesn't remember doing the work previously.  It almost has to wake up and say, "Oh, I need to do the work this time."

The only thing I've been a little anxious about is "contractions".  I just don't know how they are going to be.  I've been taking Gentle Birth Formula (with orange or grapefruit juice because it's nasty) along with evening primrose oil since 35 weeks.  I've had plenty of Braxton Hick contractions but nothing significant.  I've been told I'll know when the real ones come.

Until our little princess makes her arrival I will continue to attempt to keep my home ready and will finish her room.  Previously, I wasn't that concern about not finishing her room.  That was until my home visit by my midwife last week.  She said that Ayla's room would be the best place for the birthing tub.  I hadn't even considered it one of the places to put it. 

The thought of laboring in my daughter's room and maybe even delivering her there just brings joy to my heart and a smile to my face.  Now I have this visual picture of what I will be seeing and I want to make it a reality. 

Here are the items that need to be completed.

Bumper (top trim, ties, install zipper)
Cover (haven't even figured out the design yet)
Mobile
Hang chandelier
Recover chandelier shades
Add trim to chandelier shades
Install rod
Hang curtains
Drill new holes on chest
Install new hardware on chest
Cut, prime, paint wood trim work for chest
Affix new trim work to chest
Make wall art

See, there's not that many things that need to be done :)

The more I read the more I want to scream!  I hope you will feel the same way so I am starting a series entitled Reading & Screaming. 

O.K. most of you know about my latest adventure.  Yes, adventure!  I have ventured away from using an Ob/Gyn (whom I loved and still do; I just disagree with her)  to using a midwife in order to bring our precious Ayla into this world.  I am now in my 33rd week of pregnancy with hopefully only seven more weeks to go.  I am still doing research and reading what ever I can get me hands on.

This week I actually had a "pleasant" discussion with a few Humana (our insurance company) representatives.  I was really proud of myself.  I stayed calm and just tried to understand where they were coming from. 

I called them because they denied our request to make our midwife an in-network provider because she does not carry malpractice insurance.  After several rounds of trying to explain why I was with a midwife and why she does not carry malpractice insurance I finally gave up.  Well that's after I said there has to be some committee or something I can plead my case to.  After an hour I was finally told that something could be given to the medical director for review.

During the hour on the "merry go round" I just wanted to send the Humana representatives these two articles because they said the doctors are not allowing you to have a trial of labor because it is to dangerous and they know what's safe and not safe (I'll get more into uterine rupture at another time).

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665-1,00.html

and

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_3_40/ai_n11832004/

The last one is an article from 2005.  I can't imagine how it is now.  After reading these I remembered my Ob/Gyn saying that even if she wanted to do the VBA2C (******l birth after 2 cesareans) she did not think her insurance would allow her to.

After reading these do you see why I want to scream!  In a nut shell an insurance company is dictating what I can do and not do with my body.  They are making these decisions not because it is what is best for me or my child but because it is best for their bottom line.

It also goes back to the haves and have nots.  If you have enough money to pay a midwife out of pocket it's not a big deal that your insurance company with not make the midwife in-network.  However, those who can not afford to are forced to be with care providers who force them into having multiple c-sections with out discussing the risks.

I am thankful that I am part of the haves.  When I say haves, I am not referring to those with money.  I am referring to HAVING a husband who says this is the best for you and the baby, and believes we HAVE a God that will provide the money needed.  Could I ask for anything more? 

Well, now that I think about it, I could.  The hubby could have been a midwife and then he could have taken care of everything without us shelling out the dough :)  Just kidding!

OH, how the time is a flyin!

So, what have we been up to?  Here we go . . .

For Easter "The Cook" (my dad) was out of town.  So, guess who told her mother she could come over for Easter dinner.  I had good intentions but we ended up eating out.  I felt bad, but it sure was easy.

Here we are, all nice and full.

Here are my guys!


Things sure do change in a year.

 
This month marked the end of something special.  Well, until the summer is over.  These guys won't be gracing us with their presence for a while and our home sure will miss them.

Warning:  I'm on my soap box tonight.

How do we see people?  Do we see them the way Jesus did?

For approximately 8 years it has GREATLY bothered me that some people automatically assume that some don't have a personal relationship with Christ because of where they live, their socioeconomic status or marital status.

I continue to be reminded of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).  There was a rich man and a poor man and they ended up in two different places.

As my husband and I continue to try to impact the lives of others, I pray that we can see others the way Christ does.  I pray that we don't just automatically assume they are lost because of how they dress or because they only desire to use public transportation.  I pray that we don't falsely judge them because they use incorrect English and don't eat the same things I eat.  I pray that we don't think we have done something right and they have done something wrong because they are homeless. 

I pray that we can be an encouragement and edify others through our words and actions.

I praise the Lord that I am seen as a friend to Jesus and righteous, despite my shortcomings because I've accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  I pray that I never think it is because of my works and my "accomplishments" (my education or what I own). 

Lord, PLEASE let us see others as you do.  And I pray that we are obedient to not just share the "good news" with others but to disciple them.

Well, it's been a while and I have so much to share.  I know some of you have been asking me what we are having.  And yes, of course we found out. 

That's right!  We are having a little girl!  The entire family is excited.  My mom and I made the first pink purchase together a few days after we found out.

Three weeks prior to finding out the sex of the baby L.J. kept insisting we were having a girl.  It even got to the point where he would tell others we were having a girl.  Then he even named her. 

One evening after Awana he was talking to one of his prior teachers who asked him, "What is your mom having?"  She's having a girl!" 

"And what will her name be?"  "Her name is Ayla!"

Of course I'm standing behind him expressing that he does not know what he is talking about.

So for the next three weeks L.J. called the baby Ayla despite me telling him it could be a boy and if it was a girl I didn't think we would name her Ayla.  One day I finally asked him where he got the name Ayla from.  He said, "It was just in my heart, mommy.  It was in my heart."

At least it would be dads fault when we didn't name the baby Ayla.  See, we have this thing were we alternate who gets to choose the baby's name.  This time around is dad's turn and he wanted a biblical name.

The night before I had my ultrasound I decided to look up the name Ayla.  Here's what I found.

"The girl's name Ayla \a(y)-la\ is pronounced AY-lah. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "deer or gazelle"."

Then I clicked on gazelle and found out that Ayla meant the same things as Tabitha and Dorcas (L.J. learned about Dorcas in him Bible lessons).  I couldn't call LaCartlon quick enough.  When I told him he said well I guess her name will be Ayla if she's a girl.

When we found out the results of the sex of the baby, L.J. turned toward dad and said, "Dad you were mistaken.  I told you it was a girl."

I'm not sure how many people let there three year old son name there baby, but we did, and we believe it was from the Lord.

Here is a recent pic of the proud big brother.

Here is a recent pic of the soon to be big brother who likes to eat.  We call him Mikey

We just recently have gotten him to leave that "thing" in him mouth alone.  And boy was it a struggle.  Now he just wants food in it all the time.  I'm not sure which one is worst.

It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming him into the world.  He is a very determined little boy who unlike his brother doesn't want to be friendly to the entire world.  However, he loves to cuddle.  I'm glad I finally got one of those.

Please continue to pray for our family and specifically for Ayla and her delivery.  We've FINALLY chosen a midwife and everyday I walk around my home  envisioning myself laboring and delivering our Ayla here.


"

I can't believe that I am in my 19th week of pregnancy.  That's almost half way!  Even though every midwife I have met with says I will most likely go pass my due date.  They say they rarely see VBAC mothers have their babies before or on their due dates.  One midwife thinks this occurs because the body is use to not laboring due to the prior c-sections and finally realizes it has to do everything on its own. 

I hope this is not the case.  However, if it is, that means I will not just be hot, big and pregnant until July 30th.  I could go to the second or third week of August.  O.K. lets start praying now that does not happen :)

Speaking of midwives we still have not picked a midwife.  I simply have just been a slacker.  I also had one midwife cancel an appointment because she had a mother go into labor.  We have gone back and forth trying to reschedule.  I'm going to just mark her off the list because every time I try to make another appointment she doesn't call me back within a week or even two weeks.  So we are moving on.

I was suppose to have everything lined up for my appointment with my doctor next Monday.  Yes, you read  correctly.  I am still with my doctor.

We met with her in the beginning of Feb. to tell her we were going to be using a midwife.  I thought it would be difficult to tell her since we love her so much but, it was harder than I expected.  I also thought she would try to talk me out of it (which she did) and then say O.K. I respect your decision and that would be the end of everything.

Nope, that's not how it went.

After many questions and long drawn out "Denita's", she said if this is what we wanted to do we would do it together.  My prayer has always been that our transition to a midwife would leave our relationship with her intact.  We will meet with her Monday and let her know who we have chosen and go from there. 

This pregnancy is literally flying by.  I need it to slow down just a little bit.

Lastly, the hubby and I have decided that I need to come back home.  Working outside my home just isn't working.  I thought just working three to four nights a week would work but it isn't.  I'll talk more about that the next time. 

Did you know that I was green?  Yeah, GREEN!

This is my favorite slogan when I feel I view  situations differently from the "average person" or people.  So where should I start?

Let's start with the fact that my doctor who I love so much is totally against any thought of a VBAC after two c-sections. 

What? 

I know you can't believe it either.  All the research I have done shows that there is either none or only a slight increase in uterine rupture in women who attempt a VBAC after two or more c-sections.

All I know is that I am trying to find a way not to go under the knife again.  At least not with out trying the other way first.  So, I've decided to have the baby at home with a midwife.  I stay about five minutes from the hospital so if there are any complications I'll just run :) up the street. 

My mom thinks I have totally lost my mind.  I can only imagine what my dad thinks.  I heard him say, "WHAT!" through the phone as I was talking to my mom.  It's O.K., because I'm use to being green. 

Sometime my parents can't believe they raised me.  Then I have to remind them they raised me to be an independent thinker and it worked :)

"GO GREEN PEOPLE!"

Please pray that we experience God's peace as we prepare for Thanksgiving and wait to go back to the doctor on Monday. 

I've been to the doctor twice this week.  Once to confirm the pregnancy and then to have a sonogram.  During the sonogram yesterday we were told it was to early to see anything because I was less than five weeks.   All we  could see on the screen was a little dot.  Then Lisa went to get Dr. Thomas.

O.K.  let me back tract a little.  In 2006 we had two miscarriages.  We had test run and never found anything conclusive that would explain the miscarriages. 

So, I was already a little anxious the night before the sono.  I didn't sleep well at all.   Dr. Thomas said she wanted me to have a sono because she wanted to pinpoint how far along I was.  But you know me.  Instead I heard becasue of your history of miscarriages let's make sure everything is O.K.

The next bell went off when all we could see was a sac.  One of my previous miscarriages was a blighted ovum.  And what I saw on the screen looked like it did then.

Next bell, Lisa went to get Dr. Thomas.  O.K. I haven't had a baby in 9 months so maybe things have changed.  But going to get the doctor is not normal.

So by the time Dr. Thomas came in the room I was just trying to hold back the tears.  She said it was just to early and that she wanted me to have some more blood work done and another sono on Monday.

O.K. the bells are really going off now.  I remember this.  More blood work to make sure my HCG levels are going up and another sono in a week. 

I told my mom all I wanted to do was climb in the bed and but the covers over my head until Monday.  But then I remembered I'm the one who invited my family over for Thanksgiving.  So get it together Denita!  I also remembered there are so many other reasons to praise HIm.

So, please continue to pray.

I stopped at my parents' house yesterday to use the phone quickly.  My dad opens the door and I ask him to use his cell phone.  He says, "Come on in."  I explain that the kids and their cousin are in the car and I didn't want to unbuckle everyone.

As I proceed to use his phone he says, "Are you pregnant?"

"What?  What are you talking about?"  I thought I looked pretty good but I must have been looking fat.

Now here is my question.  How did he know I had taken a pregnancy test that morning and it was POSITIVE?

Yeah, you read correctly.  We're having another baby!  We always let the cat out of the bag becasue we want as many people praying for the baby as possible.  Thanks in advance for all of your prayers!

I'm back!  O.K. I didn't go any where or even mean not to blog for so long.  It just kind of happend :)

It's 9:30 A.M. and the boys are still sleep.  I can't believe it.  This is a history making morning.  So let me type quickly.

How funny!  As soon as I typed that I started hearing Coleman.  So, I guess I have time to tell one story.

Last week L.J. asked, "Mom where is Mesopotamia?"  I had to ask the boy about five times what he was saying because he couldn't be saying Mesopotamia.  I thought he was trying to say something about a potatoe.

Finally I said, "L.J. are you saying Mesopotamia?"  He said, "YEAH!"

I said, "Where did you learn about Mesopotamia?  His reply, "On my tape.  It's were Isaac found his bride Rebekah."

All I could do was stand there with my mouth hanging open.

I had to go to good old google in order to give my 3yr. old an answer, because I did not know what was present day Mesopotamia.

I've been so impressed with his tapes.  Auntie Millicent found them at a garage sale.  The date on them is 1987 and 1988.  As I was taking them out of there container to give them a new home I noticed a telephone number.  I called to find out if there were other tapes available. 

The lady I spoke with was so nice and knowledgable.  She told me that they had discontinued the tapes a while back but had received so many request for them that they brought some back on CD.   Each CD has a collection of stories on them and they only cost $3.50.  I couldn't believe it.  I was sad to hear that they are not advertised on their website but only sold at their store in Albuquerque, NM.  I just think the stories are so great that as many people as possible should have access to them.

The lady also told me more about the ministry becasue I kept asking question after question.  She explained why the ministry is known by Faith Comes by Hearing verses Hosanna now.  It just made me want to support them more and more. 

If you get a chance check out there website.  They "are committed to reaching the nations with the Word of God in Audio, offering the Bible in a format that will connect with the world's 50% illiterate population."  How AWESOME is that.  They even have a program that partners with churches that is great.

Just think, I found out about all of this because Millicent bought some 1987 tapes from a garage sale that have impacted my baby's heart.

I order ed the Kidz Bible Stick for L.J. for Christmas.  I can't wait to see how excited he will be about listening to God's Word.  And what new questions he will ask.

Oh, if you want those CD's call 1-800-545-6552