Prayer request

I am asking all readers to add my brother Micah to your prayers for the next 24 hours or so. He has a massive infection in the bones of his right hand and will be having surgery tomorrow. They will have to cut his hand open, rebreak the bones, scrape out any infection and then close it back up. It is so bad in his third finger that they may have to amputate it. We are praying for a quick recovery and that the Dr. is able to save his finger.

Thanks!

UPDATE: His surgery went well, they were able to remove most of the infection and he didn't lose his finger. He is home and has to have 6 weeks of IV antibiotics before he will be allowed back to work. His company is being very understanding and it sounds like it is all going to be fine. Thanks for your prayers on his behalf, they seem to have worked.

Hunter's first pics

These are the profile pics from our last ultrasound. I think he is going to have that

same crease between his eyes that Savannah did when she was born, he looks very

similiar to her profile. Plus his legs and arms are measuring almost a week

ahead of where he is, so he already has long arms and legs. Isn't he cute!!!

Kids do the darnest things!!!!

Savannah and her friend Ellie N.

(I think Savannah is due way before Ellie, or its twins!)
That's my girl!

Cinderella and the wicked witch!

The floodgates are open...

I got a mailing from Target about a month ago with a card on it that said if I created a baby registry, they would give me a free $20.00 gift card. I thought that is a harmless way to make a quick 20.00 and I could use this as an opportunity to see what it is I still need to buy before Hunter gets here. BOY, OH BOY, was I unprepared for the emotions this would create.

First, was accepting that this was really going to happen. I would normally say I am a realist, not exactly pessimistic, but not exactly a optimist either. I have been in denial that this pregnancy would go well based on my last experience and I have kept my emotions at arms reach as it has progressed. I have slowly started to open up to the idea and I can't believe how wonderful it feels to let myself fall in love with this sweet angel inside me. He is already such a source of joy and happiness for our entire family and I am overwhelmed when I think about anything happening to him.

I had my 4th round of bleeding this weekend. Sunday morning I woke up spotting. I didn't panic, I kept calm. Called my Dr's answering service, he called back and told me if it gets worse, darker, accompanied by cramps or contractions to go straight to the hospital, but if it lightens up, or stops, to just go about my day as normal. I said a quick prayer and was immediately overcome with a sense of peace and calm and went about my morning. By 1pm, it was done and we went to church. I have felt fine. I am having some Braxton Hicks, but they are mild and kind of wonderful to feel. It is so real to me now. Hunter is strong and makes himself known all day long and I am so greatful for that. Everytime he moves or kicks or rolls over, I find myself saying a silent prayer of gratitude that he is there.

So back to Target. I decided to only register for the things I absolutely knew we were going to need. I found about 40-45 things and registered only for them. Now I can go in each week and pick up 5-6 of the items on my list and know that when I have them all, I will be prepared. I cannot express my gratitude to all my wonderful friends who have brought over bags of clothes and supplies. You have lightened our burden immensely and I am eternally grateful. Without you, I think I would have hit overload today and had a nervous breakdown.

I am so emotionally connected to this little man, and have such a love for him and cannot wait to hold him in my arms and know that he will be mine for eternity. I do miss the sweet little girl that we lost and think of her often and long to hold her in my arms and get to know her. I look forward to being able to spend forever with her and have that peace of mind that she is a part of our family. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father that through much prayer and fasting He was able to confirm to me that it was a girl. The Dr. had it noted in my chart and I didn't think to ask until recently because Heavenly Father had already let me know. In my heart, I am blessed to have two boys and two girls. One is already an angel, and now I have to live worthily to be with her.

So, yes, I have finally hit that stage in my pregnancy where I am ready to plan and move forward with the preparations. I am making myself wait until after spring break to set up the crib and stuff like that, but I making my lists and having a blast! Thanks again for all the support. This past 13 months has been a roller coaster for me and I am grateful for all of you who have chosen to ride this with me.

I did it- my first purchase for Hunter!!!!

I have been looking at crib sets for a couple weeks now and I knew that I wanted to go with a sports theme. Hunter will most likely be sharing a room with Austin for a little while and when I saw this set, I knew it was the one. I love it. It is simple, basic colors, exactly what I had in mind. Even better, I got it on Ebay, brand new, 9 pieces and only paid 49.99! I saw it on other websites for 89.99-129.99! The only thing it didn't come with was the mobile, which I really like, but I think I can find one that will match. How exciting!

Dental Guilt

I am having a serious case of dental guilt. The kids and I went to our dentist today and Savannah has two cavities. Here is where the guilt comes in. I have been harping on Ben lately because he has some cavities that he is getting worked on next week. I have been telling him how cavities are pretty much preventable if you just take better care of your teeth and brush more often.

Well, the dentist today asked me if I have been flossing Savannah's teeth and I looked straight at her and said no. Who has time to floss their kids teeth? I don't even floss my own. She tells me that her cavities are between her teeth and could have been avoided if I had been flossing her teeth.

So now, I have to pay 203.00 dollars to have 2 cavities fixed when if I had been doing my job, it could have been avoided. I feel awful. Awful that Savannah has to have this experience, awful that this is a direct reflection on my bad mothering and awful that I can't even commiserate because I have never had a cavity. These are the reasons kids hate the dentist! I don't want that for her.

So I am vowing to teach Austin proper flossing technique and I promise to floss Savannah's teeth at least 3 times a week. Maybe that will rid me of the guilt.

Go Starlets!

This is Savannah at her first soccer game. This is her uniform, and yes it really was that sunny today. It was almost 80! We had to sunblock all the little girls before the game!

Savannah scores!

This is from today's soccer game. It was her first game and she did great. It took her a while to warm up to it and to really get into it, but once she figured things out, she was on fire. Her team got creamed today, but she scored the one and only goal for her team! Go Savannah Go!!! We are so proud of you, way to run hard! Go Starlets!!!!!

Austin's new bike

This is the new 20" bike he got for his b-day!

Which is the better option?

Option 1-

Buy bunk beds and move Austin and Savannah in together. That way all the "big kid" toys are in one room. Hunter will have his own room and I can put a chair in there so I can nurse him and hopefully he won't wake the other kids.

Option 2-

Put Hunter in with Austin (he is a really heavy sleeper) and let Savannah keep her own room. She is my lightest sleeper and I am really worried that his crying will wake her up all night long. If that is the case, I might switch Austin and Savannah's rooms so that the boys are in the room closest to me and Savannah is in the back bedroom.

This is just temporary as I am sure we won't be in this house for too long. Which sounds like the better idea?

less than 100 days to go!

Wow, only 99 days to go and it will most likely be less since I will be induced a few days early.

Here is my question- if you only had 99 days until a big life changing event ( good event, but life changing none the less) what would you do? How would you spend that time? We need some good ideas to make the most of the last days until Hunter arrives. Leave your suggestions in the comments area. Thanks!