Spring is in the air

Well, spring is definitely in the air. We have had some beautiful weather which has allowed us to spend some time outside each day.  The kiddos love being able to go out and run off some energy...and let's be honest, so do Mom and Dad! :) 

We are a little over 5 weeks away from meeting Tobias, so we are trying to spend as much time with the kiddos as we possibly can...as a family and individually. 

The other night, Josiah and I went to "Date Knight" at our local Chick-fil-a.  He dressed up in his knight costume, and we went to dinner together.  Chick-fil-a did an awesome job changing their eating area into a castle setting for us.  Some of the servers dressed up as knights and maidens.  The amazing part???  We didn't have to pay anything extra to go have dinner together...just had to pay for our food.  I highly recommend going to one of these events if they have them at your local Chick-fil-a.  It was definitely a special time with Josiah before Tobias gets here. 

I will be taking Sophie to get her nails done just before Tobias gets here...Mommy wants to have some nice toes before going into the hospital.  She remembers me painting her nails last summer and has been asking when we will paint them again.  I painted them the other day and it was such a big thing for her...she had to tell everyone about it! :)  This will be her first time going to a salon and getting them done, so I think it will be even more special.  A few of our friends are going to go spend the afternoon with us, so it will be super special. 

I am still trying to figure out what I will do with Kyrie.  She is in that in between stage where she doesn't really have a favorite thing, but I am sure we will figure something out. 

Chris and I will be having a date night at the end of the month, so that will be nice to  spend some time with just him...and not doing things to get ready for Tobias to get here.  :) 

We may try to go strawberry picking some time this month.  We have done this the last couple of years, and the kiddos have really enjoyed it. 

Well, that is all for now.  We will keep you posted on what is going on and when Tobias arrives

32 weeks

Well, we are at 32 weeks...going to the doctor every 2 weeks now.  Soon it will be every week!

We went to the doctor yesterday and got to hear your heartbeat yet again...no matter how many times I have been pregnant, this is still one of my favorite sounds!  We talked with the doctor about having a c-section.  I have been praying about having a VBAC, but I just haven't had a peace about it.  Mommy and Daddy have been talking and feel like the safest way to get you here is to have a c-section.  So we are scheduled for June 17th...not sure if it will be the morning or afternoon time, but you will be here on that day! 

Daddy and the crew built your crib yesterday.  We can't wait to see you sleeping in it.  We still need to get a mattress for it, but we still have 7 more weeks to get that done.  We are slowly checking things off our nesting list.  I got all the envelopes addressed for your birth announcements.  Now, we are just waiting for your arrival to fill in all the information so we can print them off.  Mommy got some nursing clothing to make things a bit easier to feed you once you get here.  The only big things we have left is for the car seat to be put in the car and van, pack my bags for the hospital and get a bouncy seat. 

So that is what we have been up to the last couple of days.  We are looking forward to meeting you.  Stay in there and keep cooking for a few more weeks.

NC Trip

Well, we got back a few days ago from a quick trip to NC.  We got the rest of our baby stuff, so we are that much closer to being ready for Tobias' arrival.  Chris says he could come tomorrow, and we could survive.  Umm...we have no bed and no diapers...two pretty important things!! :) 

We had a lot of fun while in NC.  Josiah and Sophie were able to make some bread with Lin-Lin.  Josiah went fishing with Pa T and Daddy.  We played outside.  One of our friends is a squadron commander at the base, so we were able to get a tour.  We got to go out on the flight line and see a jet up close.  Then, he took us to the control tower and we were able to see the jets take-off and land.  It was pretty darn AWESOME!!  Our kiddos don't know how special this trip was, but maybe one day they will realize it.  We weren't able to take any pictures because of security reasons, so hopefully the amazing memory they have will remember this.  They also got to play with some kids their age...outside, again!  Being outside and having green grass to run around in makes me miss a yard even more.  We got our teeth cleaned...well, three of us did.  We let Sophie watch this time because she will be having her first appointment before we know it.  She is one who doesn't like new situations very well, so we are hoping that her watching Josiah get his teeth done will help her in the future.  

Well, that is it.  Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful spring weather.  We definitely have been...going on walks and playing outside.

Passed My Test

Well, I went in for my 26 week check up on Wednesday.  I got to drink the lovely sugar water for my glucose test.  Normally, I have a sweet tooth, but with pregnancy I tend to crave salty things.  I must admit, I was a little concerned with the results because with the last two pregnancies, I was borderline...under by a couple of points...but because of family history the doctors wanted to do the three hour test.  Well, the doctor said that they would call if anything was abnormal, but I just had to hear for myself.  I passed the test with flying colors!!!  140 is the cutoff for having to do the three hour test and my results were 114!!!!  I was praising Jesus when I heard the results.  My iron test also came back normal, so I am also thankful for that. 

Chris and I also had a good conversation with our doctor to get a better idea about Tobias birth.  Since I have had a c-section, we have had to have some discussions about whether or not to do a VBAC (vaginal birth after a c-section).  All the doctors that I have met with feel like I am perfect candidate to have a VBAC.  We did have some questions concerning about going over my due date.  One of the doctors said that they won't induce me because of the c-section, but the other doctor clarified a bit more.  When Chris and I got home, we came up with tons of questions.  If they don't induce, then does that mean an automatic c-section.  Well, at our next appointment we asked our questions and found out that there are some things that they can do that aren't considered inducing as long as my body has started making progress (dilating, cervix thinning out, etc.).  They just won't do anything if my body hasn't started something.  So that conversation reassured us that going down the road of VBAC is they way we are going to go.  We realize that Tobias could have different plans, but as of right now this is what we are planning for. 

So that is all for now.  We are staying pretty busy and know the next 14 or so weeks are going to fly by with all our different activities.  We are hoping to have some down time with the kiddos in May and part of June before things get crazy again with a newborn.

27 million

Date: 02/27/2013 09:40:41 PM
Well, today was a day to disappear off from social media to be a voice for the 27 million people who are currently in slavery around the world.  There is a really good website that I highly recommend that has started a movement to end modern day slavery.  It is called enditmovement.com

Not only does it sadden me to know that there is that many slaves in our world, it also angers me as a parent.  There are children as young as Josiah and Sophie who are working in fields or factories.  The thing that turns my stomach the most is that there are children as young as them who are being kidnapped and sold for sex.  It was last year, when Chris and I are were watching Passion 2012 that we really heard about modern slavery.  Over the last year, this topic has been brought to the forefront and people are starting to do things to free these slaves.  There is a tremendous ministry called "International Justice Mission" that are going out to the front lines and doing what they need to do to free these slaves around the world.  Not only are they freeing these slaves, but they offer them help afterwards. 

So today, I spent quite a bit of time...the time that I normally would be on the Internet...praying and asking God what He wanted me to learn from this day.  The thing that kept coming back up is that even though I might not physically be in slavery/bondage, there are many things that I am a slave to.  Some things are...having a clean house, making sure the kids are behaving, FaceBook/Internet, making sure that I have fun/interesting things to do during our school time, cooking nice meals, taking naps, watching TV shows.  Sure these things don't seem like BIG offenses, but when I find other things to do instead of spending time with my Lord, then I am living a life of slavery.  I absolutely don't want to minimalize what 27 million people are living like currently, but I often wonder if some of them have a better relationship with God than I do.  Because of their dire living conditions, they feel a great desire to spend time with Him...to fellowship with Him...than I do on a daily basis. 

I know I haven't learned everything that God wants me to from this day, but He has started something in me.  I know  He wants me to be more intentional about how I spend my time...what I worry about, what I do to unwind, what I do to have fun.  I know my desire from today is to no longer be a slave to the world, but to be a slave to the ways of my Savior and King.

It's a...

BOY!! 

We had a gender reveal party today after church to share with our "family" what Baby G4 is going to be.  Chris and I found out a few days ago, but were waiting until now to share with everyone.  So enjoy some pictures from our special day when we announced that Richard "Tobias" will be joining our family. 

Working on the name board.  If it is a girl, she will be Zoey Elizabeth.  If it is a boy, he will be Richard "Tobias."

The cake with the gender

Josiah helping Daddy cut the cake

It is BLUE!

Mommy and Kyrie excited for a baby boy

There is the BLUE frosting

Such a handsome BIG brother

Such a pretty BIG sister

There is the name board

All of my cravings...tied!

People casting their votes...not very many for a Lil' Miss

It looks like Lil' Man has the vote

Valentine's Day

Well, we continued our tradition this year of taking the kids out for Valentine's Day dates.  Sophie and Chris went earlier in the week.  They both got dressed up and headed to Cracker Barrel...Sophie's choice, which made her daddy so proud.  As they were leaving the restaurant, the sun was setting.  So Chris took a moment to stop and enjoy it with her, since she hasn't seen very many sunsets.  Chris said that she told him that she was very thankful that God had made such a pretty sunset for them.  She is such a thankful girl!

Chris was going to take Kyrie in the middle of the week, but she started running a fever and having a runny nose.  We later discovered that two of her bottom molars had come in.  So, he is going to take her out this coming week for her special date. 

Josiah and I went out to dinner on Thursday.  His choice was to take me to IHOP.  Chris had given Josiah some money to pay for my dinner without me knowing.  On the way to IHOP, Josiah told me that I needed to close my eyes when we got to the counter. On our way in to the restaurant, I told him that the hostess would ask how many and told him what he needed to say.  So when she asked him how many, he gave his answer and whipped the money out of his pocket to put on the counter.  It brought the biggest smile to my face.  We had a great dinner and just enjoyed talking with him.  On the way home, he sang me a song that said how much he loved me and how glad that he had me for his Mommy because I love him every day and teach him new things.  He is such a sweet boy!! 

I can't believe that next year at this time, we will have four little ones to take out.  I am so thankful for this tradition...teaching our children how to treat others and how to be treated when going out on a date. 

We hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and enjoyed their day with their loved ones...however, it may have been spent.