Anyone want the deets?!

Sorry that I posted the exciting news and then left you hanging without any details! By the time I got home each night this week, I was worn out. I had a bad headache on Wed. night, too, so that wasn't much fun! The tiredness is the only complaint I really have right now, other than some minor breast tenderness....but NOTHING like I had with the boys, esp. with Isaac!

Let's see....we found out last Friday. I knew that I was late and honestly was thinking I was taking a test just to reassure myself that it was just stress causing me to be late. WRONG! Let me just tell you, even if you think you're NOT pregnant, DO NOT take the test before you're supposed to head to work! It can wait 'til the weekend, I promise!

So at 6:30 on Friday morning, I was showing Chris the results and bawling my eyes out like I had been shot. The first thing Chris asked was,"Did the birth control not work?!" and I was like, "Well, obviously!" Bless his heart, he wandered around in shock most of the day, I think! He went on to work and I stayed home. I called my asst. principal, and she later told me that she thought someone had DIED, I was crying so hard! LOL

I wasn't able to get in to see anyone at my OB, though I think the lady really felt sorry for me and found me something as quickly as she could for Tuesday. I then called my 'regular' doctor, and did get in to see her that morning. She went ahead and did a blood test, and a friend of mine took pity on me and put a STAT order on the results. I knew, though, by this point, that it was a definite. The home test turned pink IMMEDIATELY, so I knew it was a done deal. My sweet, wonderful friend Robin met me for lunch and even brought me flowers! I don't know what I would have done without her that day, because she was able to show me that it would be okay, and remind me that this was a blessing. I didn't want to call anyone else before I knew for sure, so other than Robin, I felt pretty alone!

Poor Chris, though, kept taking the 'blame' himself, and lamenting the fact that he didn't go get the vascectomy that I suggested time and time again. I reassured him that I did not blame him, and that God is bigger than any birth control or even operation, and if this child was to be born, then He would make sure it was! That makes dealing with it much easier in my heart....knowing that God has a purpose for this child, and that He will bring me through this! HE will get the glory for what He's done in our life by bringing another child up in the faith and to know about Him.

The doctor's office called with results late Friday afternoon, confirming what I already knew. I won't lie and say that we were immediately all butterflies and praise, cause we weren't. We did, however, decide we'd do the best we could to celebrate this. We all went out to dinner, where I had to gently remind Chris that if he was going to try to cheer me up, he was gonna have to actually TALK to do so. Overwhelmed is the best word I know to use to describe how we were both feeling! After dinner, we both let our parents know what was going on, and they were all very tickled!

Saturday was still a day of fog and confusion. I called my sisters and filled them in, and their reactions struck me as funny: Suzy cracked up and kept laughing, and Brenda was in disbelief. She kept saying,"You're kidding!" and "This isn't why I thought you had called me!" LOL But they were both happy too! Chris called his brother on Sunday, and it took him a while to get the message across that we hadn't planned this!

By Monday, we were both telling our bosses (well, my boss at one school knew, so I had to tell the other principal...who is expecting herself!). Chris' principal was so excited that she wanted him to tell everyone in the school so she could talk about it! LOL We had open house at the boys' school--my former workplace--on Monday evening, and word was spreading like wildfire while we were there. SOOOOO we went ahead and told the boys on Monday night. They were both fine with the idea once we explained that Dad could come home and spend the night here at the house while I was in the hospital instead of staying with me and the baby there. Isaac, our worrier, was concerned about that! LOL

That leads us to Tuesday, when we went to see my OB. The only thing that concerned me about that appointment was that he wants me to go see a perinatologist because of the increased risk of Down syndrome because of my age. The verdict is still out over whether or not we want to do this. It won't change anything with the pregnancy...we will still carry it to term, so I am not sure that I want to do that. However, I am trying to be open to the Lord's will on this instead of relying on my own. I would appreciate your prayers as we think about this decision.

My GP went ahead and set me up a schedule to wean myself off my antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications. All in all, I will have to be totally off meds for about 5 weeks. Not that bad, but it took me about 6 weeks to feel the affects once I started taking them again when I was pregnant with Adam. Again, please keep me/us in your prayers about this.

Everyone at work has been super-understanding and supportive. That is a big help. It is a huge blessing that I am NOT in the classroom while going through this. Though it is stressful to try to learn a new job and go to school while baking a little one, I know that with God's help I can do it! I start back to school on Tuesday, and already have an assignment I will get to work on here in a few minutes.

So there you have it! The story of baby #3 has begun! Our due date is April 16th, and the boys would both like to have a little sister--shocking to me! So think pink thoughts for us, and I'll definitely keep you updated! We have an ultrasound and appointment in 2 weeks.

Flashback Friday--Ghostbusters

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

First, folks, so sorry that this is late going up! We overslept Friday morning, and then the boys had Parents' Night Out at TaeKwonDo last night, so I wasn't home much yesterday! Better late than never, right?!

Who can forget this iconic movie of the 80s?! I remember it well...I was in 6th grade when it came out. I remember that summer going to stay with my sister for a week where she was working as a Summer Youth Worker at a church and going to the children's choir week there at the church. I went to a water park for the first time that week, and one afternoon I stayed with a family from the church while Suzy worked. We were watching MTV (still didn't have this lovely in our house!) and the video came on for this song. The boy went on to describe the movie to me in great detail as only a child without much filling up his brain can do (or maybe it is just a boy thing? Cause my husband can still do it!) I did finally see the movie months later!



So, even thought I'm late with this, what are you remembering today? Are you taken back to this same time of year when you were younger? Or did you hear a song or think of a TV Show that took you back? Share it with us please!

Positively surprised!

Shocked, absolutely shocked! But it is sinking in, and I'm starting to get used to the idea! We should have a little addition to the family mid-April.

More details later....little babe is making Mommy not feel so great right this moment!

Take a Fresh Look

This was in the September '09 Guideposts Magazine. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

How do you see yourself? You might say,"I'm not the creative type. I'm a business person. I'm good with numbers." or "I'm a teacher, not an entrepreneur." There's a certain comfort in holding on to the identity that's defined you for years. But when change happens, what God is asking you to do is go with the change.

Step away from the labels you put on yourself. They limit your thinking. They don't let you see the possibilities God sees for you....Is there something you've told yourself you can't do? Well, why not?

Look at what you're going through right now--whether it's a job loss or a change in a relationship or a new life stage--as an opportunity. You're being given the change to see yourself differently, to develop more courage, more resiliency, more faith...whatever you need to make the most of your life's journey.

--Ariane de Bonvoisin is the founder of first30days.com and author of The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier, now available in paperback.

Flashback Friday--2 memories in 1!

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

I was originally gonna remember the song, because I heard it on the radio the other day, and it reminded me of my first experiences going clubbing as a college freshman. Then when I looked at the video, it was Color Me Badd on The Arsenio Hall Show, and boy did that bring back memories! He was the STUFF when I was in high school/college!

This song, though....I remember going to The Odyssey on Wed. night and dancing to my heart's content. The picture that comes to mind when I hear this song is my next door neighbor to me in the dorm on crutches dancing a bit in the corner to this song! I remember having the 'remix' version of the song and playing it really loud as I drove to my boyfriend's house the following summer. Ah, how easy life was then!




So what about you? What are you remembering today?



Write a post and link it up for us! And enjoy the weekend...TGIF!

We survived, and other good news!

The first day is done! We all survived with very little damage!

I dropped the boys off early and walked them to their rooms where they deposited their bags. Then I walked the to the cafeteria and choked up as I told them goodbye and that I loved them. I know this wouldn't have been nearly as difficult had I not been leaving the building to go to another school! But I did it, and it will get easier from here on out, I'm sure.

Both boys had a great day! They were competing to tell me about things that they did or saw or said on the way home. I helped out in Kindergarten all day, and am again grateful that I was never asked to be a Kindergarten teacher. Even though it wasn't MY classroom, I still came home exhausted! My hat is off to those of you who teach Kindys day in and day out!!

Chris had a somewhat stressful day, but it was nothing he can't handle. He and the boys have gone to TaeKwonDo to release some energy and get some exercise while I stayed home for a while hoping that the OTHER good news would be delivered!

AND IT WAS! Check out what I got from my new best friend, the FedEx man!



SQEEEEEEEEEE!! He tried to deliver it on Thursday and Friday--Murphy's law that it was the first week I wasn't home all day, every day--my new vacuum! I can't wait to give it a spin!! And another shout-out and THANK YOU to the lovely ladies from whom I won it--the Wii Mommies!

All in all, it was a pretty good day!!

Today's the big day!

Wish me luck! Off to take my boys to their school...Adam's first day of Kindergarten...and then to help out in another teacher's Kindergarten classroom at one of my schools. I'm fighting tears, and really hoping I don't throw up!

Hopefully, with God's help, I'll be back this afternoon to tell you how it went wonderfully and it wasn't that big of a deal! :)

Fingers crossed and prayers welcome...

Flashback Friday--Hole Hearted

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

Since my nephew is just starting college at my alma mater, it takes me back to 18 years ago when I was in the same place! Though it seems almost unbelievable now, my roomie and I did not have a tv in our room! (Oh, the horrors!) We watched regularly across the hall in our friends' room. We waited each day to watch the top videos (maybe it was Top 5 at 5? I don't remember) on MTV. THIS video was one of our favorites that fall. In fact, Allison made it into a funny as we always went straight to dinner after watching these shows:

There's a hole in my stomach that can only be filled by food!

Ah, those were good days. I can almost see the bright colors of the campus all over again just remembering that carefree time. I was quite innocent and in no great hurry to grow up and branch out quite yet. It was a difficult adjustment to make to have so much freedom at my disposal! At one point in those first days I wondered if I had made the right decision to attend school 4 hours away from my parents, but I soon realized that this WAS a good thing. So much of who I am now was formed in those four years, and though part of me wishes I had known then some things I know now, I wouldn't trade those years for anything in the world!

Enjoy the video and remember a time of carefree fun in your life!



What about you? Any song driving you NUTS running through your head? Share it with us! Simply write up YOUR flashback, and link up to us here so we can check it out!

Wordless Wednesday--30 Years Ago

I'm the little one in the dress, flanked by my sisters and oldest sister's roommate. Today she (the blonde) takes her oldest to college. How time flies! Please remember them in your prayers!

So honored!!

Imagine my surprise and delight today when I was asked by one blog to consider contributing an article, and then awarded a blog award by another bloggy friend!



Mamapedia apparently thinks I'm worthy of their attention! I'm definitely going to contribute something after these first few crazy weeks of school. Yes, we teachers went back to work today! I THOUGHT that I'd be less stressed this year about going back to work. WRONG! I think I've been worse than ever! But I do feel better after one work day under my belt.

But back to Mamapedia! I'm thrilled to have any other blog recognize that mine is worth reading!!





This lovely award came from Maria at Personalized Sketches and Sentiments. If you haven't visited Maria's blog yet, you need to do so! She is funny and engaging, and is a very talented artist to boot!

According to Kathie at my net finds, she recently created the award for the following reason:

I made this award for the special bloggers who take the time to not only read my posts, but also leave comments, respond to comments, form blog friendships with and support others, answer blogger questions, etc.....the ones who are a real "gem" in the bloggy world. The bloggy world wouldn't be the same without you!

The only rule for this award is that to accept it, display it proudly on your blog for all the bloggy world to see your greatness and/or pass it on to other bloggers as you see fit.

So if you are reading this, folks, I want to bestow it to you! I've come to realize that many more people visit my blog than actually comment. I'd love to change that, and hear from you personally--each and every one!

Well, maybe not if you're gonna be mean to me.

But everyone else, let me know who you are and where you're from so I can visit you back! I'm very honored to not only be a recipient of this award, but to get it only 4 days after it was created! I feel incredibly special!

These forms of recognition were certainly the 'blog hugs' (as Maria referred to them) that I needed to feel right now! What a blessing the bloggy world is to me!

The multiple reason that I'm freaking out

If I can laugh about it, it helps, right?!

1. I'm all torn up about the fact that my baby is very obviously not a baby anymore and is going to Kindergarten. I have sat and cried,"I don't want to go backwards, I don't want another baby, so why am I crying over this??!" Never did I think it was gonna be this hard, and it isn't HIM, it is ME! I think that the following have everything to do with why I'm having a hard time....

2. I've gone back up to the boys' school--my former workplace--twice over the past week or so. The first time, I cried after I left the building. The second time, I didn't cry, but even thinking about heading down the hall where I taught for 12 years brings fresh tears. I feel like I don't really 'fit' anywhere right now, cause I don't know my new coworkers, but I don't feel as though I'm part of my former faculty either. It is a very lonely place, actually.

3. My oldest nephew is leaving for college Wednesday. This is the child of my oldest sister, so I worry about and feel for her, too! Though he's not going far away to school, and I'll be on campus myself once a week starting Sept. 1, it is just a big change, yk? Every time I think about how Adam going to school is affecting me, I think about how much harder it must be for Bren! I'm THRILLED for him and so excited that he's gonna be experiencing the same college as we did because we all loved it so much, and hope that he does as well!

4. I've been having my bout with insomnia again this week. I *think* that I've figured out a pattern that it happens approximately every 2 months. I'm gonna try to better document when it is happening to see if I'm right. So sleep deprivation is contributing for sure.

5. Going back to work is always hard.

OK, well that should about do it for today! LOL

Flashback Friday--Tab

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8" />

Long before there was diet Coke, there was TAB! It was bottled by the CocaCola company. I remember thinking that people must be 'cool' to drink that soda out of a pink can!

I had the idea when I was around 9 to change the word "TAB" to the world "GOD", so that the jingle would go like this:
God
What a beautiful thing
God
For beautiful people
God
You're beautiful to me

So my best buddy and I performed this at a camp talent show!

Cheesy, but something I'll never forget!




So what about you? Surely you have some song running through your head you'd like to share!

Blog Hop: Encouragement

This post started taking form this morning before I was completely awake. I had not thought much about participating in the Blog Hop, but this post fit in perfectly, so why not?

We have a friend who has in the last 6 months started attending our church and coming to our Sunday School class. We've become fast friends! She is a real treasure, and is bringing something extra to our class that is definitely needed. She recently went on a mission trip to Belize. We asked what we could send with her on the trip, and she suggested tennis balls.

Tennis balls?? On a mission trip??

Yes, we wondered the same thing! But those going on these trip each year throw the tennis balls to kids who are waiting by the side of the road. It is the only toy that many of them will have for an entire year. They play with that tennis ball until the next year when new missionaries come by with new balls.

Think about that....I mean, my sons are most definitely spoiled with too many toys. They cannot even fathom what it would be like to have only one toy. But to these children, a yellow tennis ball completes their need for a toy--for an entire year!!

So last Sunday, my sister coined a phrase related to this: She encouraged us to have a "Tennis Ball Outlook" on our lives. We need to be thankful for what we have and grateful to the Lord for our many, many blessings. We have been blessed to be born into a country of much prosperity where we have many opportunities, and even if we are born into a lower economic class, with help and work, we can bring ourselves success and betterment. We have homes, food, clothing, and even have extra to spend on such luxuries that we consider 'needs' as computers and internet access.

So are you looking at life with a "Tennis Ball Outlook?" If not, why not? What do you need to change to do so??

Funny thing happened on the way to pick up the boys..

from TaeKwonDo! I was in my new Jeep (have I mentioned that I love it? Cause I do!) and since I was all alone, I had the radio cranked, the sunroof down and the windows partially down. I was loving it! So I pull up to a red light, singing along to Prince, and there were 17 year olds or so in a little car in the turning lane beside me. They turned around to see the 'old lady' who had her music loud! I had to laugh! I waved a little, they kind of dumbfoundedly waved back, and when the light changed, I floored it!

I so wanted to say,"Ummmm.....you didn't invent loud music, and I have the money to have better speakers!"

Ahh, sweet revenge for those days when I had to drive my 1973 Impala!!

I'm anxious tonight

For no apparent reason....I'm not exactly sure why. I have my ideas about why, but voicing them at this point will only make it worse I'm afraid. Suffice it to say it is the same type stuff I blogged about yesterday.

I mentioned on Twitter that I was feeling this way, so my friend Heather says that she reads Psalms when she is feeling this way. She mentioned Psalm 27 in particular. I'm gonna share it here to help calm myself down, and then if someone reading it needs to see it, I will have shared it with someone else in need as well!

Psalm 27

Light, space, zest--
that's God!
So with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.

When vandal hordes ride down
ready to eat me alive,
Those bullies and toughs
fall flat on their faces.

When besieged,
I'm calm as a bay.
When all hell breaks loose,
I'm collected and cool.

I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing:

To live with Him in His house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate his beauty,
I'll study at his feet.

That's the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world.
The perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.

God holds me head and shoulders
above all who try to pull me down.
I'm headed for his place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof!
Already I'm singing God-songs,
I'm making music to God.

Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs:
"Be good to me! Answer me!"
When my heart whispered,"Seek God,"
my whole being replied,
"I'm seeking him!"
Don't hide from me now!

You've always been right there for me;
don't turn your back on me now.
Don't throw me out, don't abandon me,
you've always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
but God took me in.

Point me down your highway, God,
direct me along a well-lighted street;
show my enemies whose side you're on.
Don't throw me to the dogs,
those liars who are out to get me,
filling the air with their threats.

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don't quit.
I'll say it again:
Stay with God.