I'M BACK!!!!

Holy smokes, it's been a long time!!! A lot of you know, but some of you may not, that I've had major technical difficulties at school since Christmas. All blog sites were blocked from access on school property...not a happy subject with me. I had of course then forgotten my password and wasn't able to get on my blog for awhile. I finally have access again, although I have to go to my brother's house and thief his wireless connection. That said, I hope to be a little more consistent with my posts.

Of course, the biggest thing that's happened to us since Christmas is the birth of our second little girl. Miley Sophia was born on June 23, at 12:06 pm. She weighed 7 lbs, 5 oz, and was 19 1/2 inches long. My labor was very easy and was over very quickly, however, THANK GOD for modern medicine and spinal blocks!!! She's absolutely beautiful and is such a blessing in our lives. There was some concern about her health in the middle of my pregnancy because her umbilical cord only had 2 arteries instead of 3. The concern was mostly in regard to kidney problems, but thankfully, she was born with no complications. The doctors say that everything looks great and all her organs are functioning appropriately. I know her kidneys are great, because this kid pees more than any human I've ever seen! I've thanked God a million times over for keeping His hands on her during her creation and forming her perfectly, according to His perfect plans. She beautiful and amazing. I'll add a couple pictures when I get a chance. Right now Miley is screaming bloody murder, so it'll have to wait! Until next time!!!

Emma's new pics

Jamie and I have been taking new pictures of Emma. We took these fall pictures in our barn at our house, and the Christmas pictures at my mom and dad's house in front of their tree. I just wanted to share them with everyone--she's too cute!!!

Baby update

Jason and I went to the doctor on Monday for another ultrasound of baby #2. My doctor checked all the developing "things" in there to make sure everything looked like it was forming ok. There was no fluid around the neck and a good solid nose bone, which means no Down Syndrome. The heart had four visible beating chambers, the brain tissue is developing nicely, and there's 3 good arteries in the umbilical cord. Ultrasounds are so amazing! The coolest thing to me was that as the doctor was checking everything out, you could see our little baby, clearer than I don't know what, sucking its little thumb. Only 12 weeks since it's conception, and it's already sucking its thumb!!! That is so amazing to me. I can't imagine how anyone could say that its "only a fetus" and not a baby. It may still look like a little alien, but it's a living, beautiful BABY to me. Emma was always sucking her thumb in all her ultrasound pictures--she still does. It runs in the family--her daddy was a major thumb-sucker, too. Jamie (Jason's sister) said, "Well, if it's already sucking its thumb, it obviously belongs to Jason!" Of course there's never been any question about that, but it's just amazing to me that its so tiny and can already comfort itself in that way.

Emma loves talking about the baby. I told her I was going to the doctor and he was going to take some pictures of our baby in Mommy's belly again. She told my mom and dad when we left her at their house that Mommy was going to have "that boy" take pictures of the baby again. She loves watching the ultrasound video, too. As we were watching it I was pointing out the different parts of the baby for her, and I think she really does see what I'm talking about. When it's over she always wants to watch it again. She's going to absolutely love being a big sister.

Celebration!!!

Last night was our Celebration Banquet at church. It's become an annual event that everyone looks forward to. We weren't able to have an actual dinner banquet because of the space needed to seat 500+ people, but instead we had a fantastic "dessert buffet." People were able to filter in and out during the evening, have their dessert, and listen to a fabulous concert. The Lesters, from St. Louis, MO, presented the entertainment for the evening. It was an all-around incredible night.

The truly incredible part though, had nothing to do with the dessert or the music. Last night also wrapped up the Imagine campaign at Meadow Heights. The total commitments and total cash from the first fruits offering were announced. Our little church has committed to give over $455,000 in the next year to cover expenses in opening our new AV site. Not only that, but our congregation gave over $106,000 in cash this weekend as our first offering to the project. I'm tearing up even as I type this! How amazing! God can do anything you know--far more than we can ever dream!!! This is big! I can't wait to see who God brings into His family because His people listened to His voice and honored Him with their finances! YEA, GOD!!!

Catch up...

It's been over a week since I last posted, but this time of year is so stinkin' busy it's hard to find time to sit down at the computer. Emma has been sick this week. I guess she's got that foot and mouth virus. Her little mouth is just full of fever blisters. She's been running a low-grade temp all week long and she hasn't really been able to eat much of anything. She's been playing pretty well in between tylenol doses, but she really hasn't eaten anything except chocolate pudding and a little mac and cheese all week long She looks kind of pathetic! If she was going to be sick, though, I'm so glad it happened this week instead of next week over Thanksgiving break!

Last night, Jason and I took went with my mom and dad to see the band Daughtry at the Show-Me Center in Cape. It was an AWESOME concert! My dad really likes Daughtry, so we took him as part of his Christmas present. It's a little early, but still... We had a really good time and it was a nice night with good, clean rock music. What a blast!

I'm looking so forward to this weekend for our Celebration services and banquet at church. (Well, it's not really a banquet this year because of space, but we are having a dessert banquet!) At the banquet we'll find out how much money God has provided for our new AV site and, visit with family and friends, enjoy of cool concert, and eats LOTS of dessert! It's going to be stinkin' awesome!

All good things must end

Last night ended the 2007 Blackcat Football season. The boys lost the Sectional play-off game at New Madrid, 20-30. They really played a good game, it just came down to the fact that the New Madrid team is a REALLY good team, and they seemed to have just out-played us. The Fredericktown boys put up a good fight though and held until the end. It's so hard to see those big Senior boys after the game with huge crocodile tears streaming down their face. It's emotional. That's it, no more football, no more goofing, it's time to grow up. I miss those days when I was in marching band and all really had to worry about was getting to practice on time and what to wear to school. However, looking at the blessings on my life now, there's no way in the world I'd go back! Congratulations to the cats and to a wonderful season! You boys really have proved yourselves as fighters! I'm proud of all of you!

Guilty...

If you read my last post, I indicated that last night wasn't a good evening and that by bedtime Emma was wearing on my last nerve. I have to confess I was having a selfish, not-so-good-Mommy evening and I was so ready for that child to go to bed it wasn't even funny. Don't get me wrong, I love Emma with all my heart and I would give my life for her, as most mothers would. Still, sometimes my nerves get a little frazzled. Anyway, as I was proofreading a Comp II paper for Regina Mills this morning, I read a quote she included at the end of her paper. Here it is:

“…a word about family. You have amply demonstrated that you are achievers willing to work hard, long hours and set aside your personal lives. But it reminds me of that observation that no one was every heard to say on a deathbed, I wish I had spent more time at the office. Balance wisely your professional life and your family life. If you are fortunate enough to have children, your parents will warn you that your children will grow up and be gone before you know it. I can testify that it is true. God only allows us so many opportunities with our children to read a story, go fishing, play catch and say our prayers together. Try not to miss a one of them.”
Vince Foster, Deputy Council to President Clinton

Wow. I had to ask God to forgive me for not giving Emma the time she needed last night. For not taking a few moments to read to her before she went to sleep, and for not laying by her a minute when she asked me to. I think I'll go home tonight and read her a couple books before bed and smile when she asks me to put diapers on every baby doll and stuffed animal in the house, for the millionth time. I think I'll lay in her bed and tell her how much I love her over and over until she gets tired of me and tells me to go away (which she does most nights with a giggle). I owe her a few.