tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18990635780003590172024-03-13T07:58:48.758-05:00"popp"ing out one letter at a timeamandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.comBlogger699125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-23153550690116057282015-06-08T13:54:00.000-05:002015-06-08T13:54:28.688-05:00the birth of miss G<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
the last time i was here i was half way done...</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">today, i’m sitting here with a 3 week old baby next to me!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and since i’m sitting here with a baby next to me…i figured it’s time to blog all about her birth.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the last time we talked i shared how we were having a girl. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we figured out her name about 2 months before she was born…but kept it a surprise til birth.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">so i’ll keep it a surprise here until she’s born in my birth story. :)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i’ll be honest, i was super nervous about the birth of this little baby G. i can’t really explain why, but i was just nervous. i think i may have been nervous about going into labor before my planned induction date. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">my due date was may 23rd. our church’s women’s retreat was the weekend before. so i planned the induction for may 18th. we kept it a surprise…i use the term loosely, now. a few close friends knew. and then the women at the retreat knew because my friend asked if they could pray for me the sunday we left. then shaun’s bosses knew…which ended up meaning my dad found out through his connections at shaun’s work. so my mom also knew. but in the end…it doesn’t really matter. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i prayed that i’d make it through our women’s retreat. i’m part of the planning team and didn’t want to miss it! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">here’s miss G at her first retreat…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">miss G listened. we made it through the retreat. ((which was such a blessing! and i had a great relaxing weekend away with my sisters from church. we are so blessed with a great church family. i’m so thankful i got the time away with them. it means so much to have a church family that feels just like family. just like it’s supposed to.)) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">after the retreat i spent the afternoon with the kids before taking them to our friends house. we are so blessed to have such fabulous friends! friends who have 4 kids of their own and were willing to watch our 6 kids! in fact, the day i called amber to tell her about my surprise pregnancy..she “called” watching the kids! :) the kids love going to their house and it makes us feel good knowing they’re probably not missing us too much when they have their friends to play with. and really…these friends are for sure considered family…so it was like to going family for them. they parent the same way we do, so we also don’t have to worry about retraining our kids when we get home from the hospital with a new baby. that night we spent dinner with them and tucked the kids in for bed before heading home. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">as we drove home it still didn’t feel “real”. like we were having a baby tomorrow. i was able to sleep as well as a million month pregnant woman who’s having a baby in the morning can. we had to be to the hospital by 7, so it was a bit of an early morning. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we checked in and i still don’t think it felt real. but i wasn’t as nervous as i had felt before. (answer to prayers!!) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">my doctor came in around 8 to check me and get things started. the previous week i was about 3cm and 80%. and my doctor actually said she was surprised i hadn’t shown up over the weekend. i was about the same—3cm and 80%. she “got things started” and i had to lay in bed for an hour. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">when the hour was about over…my cousin showed up!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">what?! my cousin?!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">yes!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">she was gong to photograph the birth!! a few weeks earlier i off handedly mentioned to shaun that i’d love to have the baby’s birth photographed. basically what i wanted was the moment the baby was born and the look on our faces. i said that if i knew my cousin had the day off i’d ask her. he told me to ask her if she had that day off! umm..okay!! i didn’t even think he’d GO for it. so i messaged her immediately and long story short…she ended up being able to take the day off for us!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i wasn’t sure how it’d be with her there. like, if it’d be weird or whatever. but it wasn’t. at all. not even once. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i remember around 10 or 1030 telling ashley and shaun i wish things would just start hurting. i was feeling some contractions…but it wasn’t anything ‘worth it’. at some point my nurse introduced me to another nurse who was going to be my new nurse. (secretly i was happy, she seemed more personable to me!) and i also met the resident. by far the COOLEST resident i’ve ever experienced. he had great bedside manner. and small hands. ;) </span></div>
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this is shaun. being fabulous, of course. :) i just love his smile in the picture</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">my doctor came in a little before lunchtime to break my water. i know she checked me, but i don’t remember what i was. maybe 5 or 6. all i know is that it wasn’t much different. and i felt a little defeated. the contractions weren’t really hurting much yet. so i was hoping that breaking my water would bring on stronger contractions. and a SLOWER delivery than with fletcher. </span></div>
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and during my labor my friend texted me letting me know she had her baby! i rightfully! called her a jerk. but she had labored all night, so she deserved it. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">my doctor also said she had a board meeting from 1-3, and she looked at the nurses and said “i can get here. but give me time! she’ll go fast and i’ll need time to run over here.” i think they were nervous! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the contractions did get stronger after my water was broke. YAY! it felt more like labor. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i didn’t do a whole lot during labor. basically moved from the bed, to the rocking chair to pacing the floor in my room. and not so patiently waiting for things to happen. </span></div>
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feeling stronger!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i believe it was an hour or so after my water broke that the contractions were feeling much, much stronger. i started feeling myself getting “stressed”, that’s the wrong word…but i can’t think of one that’s better. basically i wasn’t remaining calm anymore. i knew if i took some meds it’d help me. earlier in the morning they had started an iv. it was more for after delivery so they could start the pitocin. with multiple births you have a higher chance of bleeding more and that would help my uterus contract…blah blah blah. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but i knew i had the iv, so getting the meds would be easier. and maybe it just made me willing to get them faster because i knew how easy it was going to be. but i also knew it’d help to calm my nerves down. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">so when the nurse came in, i asked for some. she had the resident come in. he watched my contractions, told me “that was a good one. 101.” i asked what the highest was, he replied “100”. i believe i may have asked if i got something special for that. (i don’t remember if i said it out loud or not. :) ) </span></div>
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SEE the peak isn't even on the paper!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">he explained that in order to give pain meds they need to check me to make sure i wasn’t too far along. he then said how he was going to wait for a contraction. i asked if he “had” to. he said something back. my reply, well can i punch you in the stomach and put my hand somewhere you don’t want it?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">he decided to just check me then. :) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i was only like a 7. blah. seriously. again i felt like this labor was NEVER going to end! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the meds helped me SO much. it helped me calm down. and feel good. i KNOW i talked. and talked a lot. but i have not much memory of everything i said. shaun just agrees with me and says that i did talk a lot. i’m sure i just rambled. and i know i didn’t say anything too outlandish. or at least i hope not. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">after awhile i felt different. i didn’t feel like i had to push, but i felt different. i had shaun call them in to check me because i just wanted to be sure i wasn’t complete. they checked me and said her head had moved down. but i wasn’t complete. i was probably subconsciously making sure i was giving them time to call my dr. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">you see. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">our family would hold the record for her delivering the most babies to one family. i was going to GET that record! :) i’m pretty sure i mentioned it a few times during the labor as well. i was a chatty cathy during this labor! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">it was about 230 that i felt things were getting worse pain wise. i asked for more pain meds. in all honesty, i shouldn’t have. i knew they weren’t going to work. i knew i was getting close. but i took them anyways. and they helped calm me a little, but did nothing for the pain. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">when the resident checked me before that dose, i was about an 8. he said that it felt like i had scar tissue and that as soon as that sort of broke apart i’d probably be “ready”. and we’d have a baby soon. i said, well i hope so…if i’m still in this bed tomorrow i’m kicking you all in the face. ((seriously! i’m not a violent person! labor makes me sound like one)) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">my doctor came in a little before 3 to check on me. i was still about the same as i had been a little earlier. she said it shouldn’t be long.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i don’t remember how long it was…but it wasn’t long after that i knew i something was changing. i remember saying “i’m almost done.” and ashley said “yes. you are.” i told shaun press the button. i need to push. press the button! i told the nurse i need to push.</span></div>
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for the love of all things baby...GET the strap off my belly. once i'm ready to push i HATE the straps on my stomach! </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">soon after the room is full of people. they start tearing down the bed. i am saying how i need to PUSH. i’m told to wait. i don’t think i did. i think i just relaxed myself and pushed a little. my doctor appeared. and then she told me to put my legs back. um. i’ll be completely real…i TOTALLY forgot i needed to do that. it was like. oh. yeah. DUH! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shaun had one. the nurse had the other and my doctor told me to push. i let my body push. it was the first time i remember doing that in any delivery. i think my nurse was going to count to 10. but my doctor told her to stop. she said, you’re doing good. just keep doing what you’re doing. </span></div>
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i adore this picture of my doctor. her smile says how much she loves her job!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">and i did. well, my body did. i gently got my baby girl out. and at 315 we welcomed our baby girl into the world!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZD9a_wVmvs/VXXeZzUKn2I/AAAAAAAADYw/EImFYrqQotg/s1600/IMG_8150-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZD9a_wVmvs/VXXeZzUKn2I/AAAAAAAADYw/EImFYrqQotg/s320/IMG_8150-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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the look on my husband's face. the reason i wanted this pictures taken!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">her cord was short and that meant she could only be put as far up as my belly button. i sat up as much as i could to hold her, but it was hard. my doctor had shaun cut the cord…at quite the angle according to shaun. </span></div>
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i like the smiles/smirks on both of their faces. my doctor apologize for the lack of "room" to cut the cord. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">as soon as she was “free” i was able to have her up on my chest. she wasn’t crying too much and i think the nurses were concerned about how non-pink she was. it was a little while before they said we’re going to take her over and see if we can pink her up a bit. </span></div>
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it does not matter how many times you've delivered a baby into this world. it is JUST as magical as the first, second and subsequent times!!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">it was then that someone asked her name! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and we shared…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and now i’ll share with you!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">our miss G is…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">miss Gloriana Louise</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">born at 315pm</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">May 18th</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">8lbs 1oz</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">21 1/2 inches</span></div>
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a "popp" kid for sure!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep-7kYo0-cI/VXXjyQiAy8I/AAAAAAAADaQ/wLGQHW8JMUs/s1600/10422247_10153363855558987_1158736178915921716_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep-7kYo0-cI/VXXjyQiAy8I/AAAAAAAADaQ/wLGQHW8JMUs/s320/10422247_10153363855558987_1158736178915921716_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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a cell phone picture. but one of her all stretched out. it's no wonder how she could kick me in the ribs and the hip at the same time! :) </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">after gloriana was pinked up they gave her to me and had me do some skin to skin to warm her up. i also tried nursing her. she nursed like a champ! like seriously, the best nurser i’ve ever had right after birth. </span></div>
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*sigh* one of my favorite pictures of the day. </div>
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i was so happy to stare into her little eyes. </div>
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can't believe we have another baby!</div>
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beautiful and precious.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we got put in our post-partum room about 2 hours later. the kids were there about an hour after that. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and we were officially a family of 9.</span><br />
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this is a cell phone picture because i am too lazy to load up my camera pictures. </div>
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i always take advantage of a 2 day hospital stay. i tend to push it too fast and this gives me the time to rest and recoup a little before entering the world of lots of littles.<br />
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ready to start our adventure!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">there’s much more i could share. but this post is super long. and it gives me a reason to come back and blog. i miss it each time i do it, but then never get back to it! i’ll try to be back before Gloriana is a year old…</span></div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-75282480453354894262015-01-13T12:11:00.004-06:002015-01-13T12:11:58.553-06:00baby G updatewell, well, well...it's pretty much been a super duper long time since i've been here.<br />
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i'm 21 weeks pregnant already! here's a picture from last week...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-637eYghmOds/VLVY9UTcdxI/AAAAAAAADVU/SaE5giIRdYg/s1600/10926799_10153054823173987_7581615801471786333_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-637eYghmOds/VLVY9UTcdxI/AAAAAAAADVU/SaE5giIRdYg/s1600/10926799_10153054823173987_7581615801471786333_o.jpg" height="400" width="198" /></a></div>
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i was super blessed by a friend who recently was getting rid of her maternity clothes. she gave me an entire garbage bag full of clothes. it's no secret i'm a bit heavier with this pregnancy than any of my others-so a lot of the shirts i had from the first 5 don't fit well--well, they don't fit well for PUBLIC appearances. ;) i didn't have a lot of long sleeved shirts with fletcher's pregnancy, so i have bought a few but have been wanting some more. enter the wonderful friend who gifted me an entire bag of clothes! :) i feel "refreshed" to have some new clothes to wear and like to feel like i look nice--which she helped me accomplish. there's a lot to feeling good about yourself, and especially when pregnant!</div>
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i can't believe we are over half way done with this pregnancy. it feels like not that long ago i was sharing our G-igantic surprise. the surprise has settled in and we are G-igantically super excited. </div>
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we were also excited to find out the gender of our baby G...shaun came with me to the ultrasound and it was actually the first appointment/ultrasound he's been with me for the entire pregnancy. my friend amber came with me to my 12 week ultrasound, and i was so happy to share the experience with someone...and especially her. </div>
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anyways...we loved being able to see our little baby G. the baby is definitely a "popp kid". </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkQg-MDTs8U/VLVax3UEcXI/AAAAAAAADVg/mnS-xcZaKQs/s1600/10930857_10153053000368987_1094198242413133079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkQg-MDTs8U/VLVax3UEcXI/AAAAAAAADVg/mnS-xcZaKQs/s1600/10930857_10153053000368987_1094198242413133079_n.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
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it was fun to see the baby have it's hand all by it's face--the baby did the same thing at my 12 week ultrasound, too...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orjU7-Gwjlw/VLVbA8zqBOI/AAAAAAAADVo/QGGyGDqRdP4/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orjU7-Gwjlw/VLVbA8zqBOI/AAAAAAAADVo/QGGyGDqRdP4/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" height="400" width="378" /></a></div>
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it's amazing to see how much they grow just in about 8 weeks.</div>
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during the ultrasound the baby measured around 13oz...so a little more than a soda popp. ;) </div>
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we found out the gender and i previously made a boy set and a girl set of booties. i brought both sets along to the ultrasound and then after we knew i just left the other set there for the tech to give to the next person with that gender. :)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FgMDldVh-c/VLVbpmPV2tI/AAAAAAAADV0/tzx-TKTasP4/s1600/10906425_391404734354639_3910669712207788659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FgMDldVh-c/VLVbpmPV2tI/AAAAAAAADV0/tzx-TKTasP4/s1600/10906425_391404734354639_3910669712207788659_n.jpg" height="200" width="196" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJoGv204eNs/VLVbs-5T7SI/AAAAAAAADV8/NNRVtynBgo8/s1600/10487336_391404794354633_3520005878358794646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJoGv204eNs/VLVbs-5T7SI/AAAAAAAADV8/NNRVtynBgo8/s1600/10487336_391404794354633_3520005878358794646_n.jpg" height="196" width="200" /></a></div>
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at my 12 week ultrasound the tech guessed what she thought the baby was--but only a few people knew what she guessed. i didn't want the kids to find out and then be excited about a new brother or sister and then it turn out to be the opposite. it was a long 8 weeks of wondering if she was right or wrong...</div>
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after the ultrasound i went down to the gift shop at the hospital. they have my SUPER FAVORITE burp cloths there made by <a href="http://www.becauseofhopek.com/">because of hope.</a> i bought three of them. then wrapped each one individually and then wrapped the booties i needed and the hat i needed for a total of 5 gifts. one for each of the kids who "cared" to know what the baby was. </div>
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we travelled back to my sisters house with our package...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkR1q0zid00/VLVdm0rQ9cI/AAAAAAAADWI/yaYiJ5K1KUk/s1600/10360216_10153052534588987_1403789513250282161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkR1q0zid00/VLVdm0rQ9cI/AAAAAAAADWI/yaYiJ5K1KUk/s1600/10360216_10153052534588987_1403789513250282161_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
they were excited to each open up their own little gift to see if they were getting a brother or sister...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IprWV-zg6Lk/VLVdnK8GZII/AAAAAAAADWQ/bMHRt4KXkX0/s1600/10897875_10153052532528987_5459722017052110037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IprWV-zg6Lk/VLVdnK8GZII/AAAAAAAADWQ/bMHRt4KXkX0/s1600/10897875_10153052532528987_5459722017052110037_n.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
then i posted this group of pictures and let it sit for about 20 minutes. ;) there's something about knowing the answer to secret and not telling anyone for a little bit...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IH-U6VnNdA0/VLVdnbsaHCI/AAAAAAAADWU/4ykp1pS3vPU/s1600/10923827_10153052532683987_5636928025603452363_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IH-U6VnNdA0/VLVdnbsaHCI/AAAAAAAADWU/4ykp1pS3vPU/s1600/10923827_10153052532683987_5636928025603452363_n.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
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i gave in and then posted the video of the kids opening the gifts...</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153052580168987">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apopp">Amanda Moschel Popp</a>.</div>
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awww! i just love watching it!! :) dustin is actually excited about a little sister. and here's a picture of the gifts they all opened...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ttRT88O11BI/VLVe_KjYVFI/AAAAAAAADWk/uQLmkh8EJts/s1600/10897031_10153053000593987_879657556646816722_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ttRT88O11BI/VLVe_KjYVFI/AAAAAAAADWk/uQLmkh8EJts/s1600/10897031_10153053000593987_879657556646816722_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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and...yes...the ultrasound tech at 12 weeks was right. ;) </div>
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now to start shopping for girls clothes....</div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-37207019472923318502014-10-09T10:02:00.000-05:002014-10-09T10:02:51.020-05:00a "G"igantic update<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3NMfXF57UI/VDai6W2LumI/AAAAAAAADU0/M8oMPSvWy-s/s1600/announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3NMfXF57UI/VDai6W2LumI/AAAAAAAADU0/M8oMPSvWy-s/s1600/announcement.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">alpha-popp baby G is due may 23rd. :) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">if all you care about is that we’re having a baby G, i’d stop reading now.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">if you enjoy reading “how we found out we were having another baby” stories…this is just for you! :) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">let me take you back a little bit. to like, august. fletcher hasn’t been sleeping well since about july. (if you know me in real life, you may have heard that story a few times. ;) ) shaun and i were talking more and more about “if” there was to be another baby. we both decided that we were good. maybe for “good”. for sure “for now”. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shaun went on a men’s retreat at the beginning of september and told me about someone sharing their testimony there that they had gone and had a reversal done and were now expecting a baby. it solidified for me that even though we were “done for now”, i didn’t want it to be permanent. we are young enough, that what if that’s us in a few years. i didn’t think it would be. but it just solidified how we both felt. shaun agreed with me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i was ‘due’ the saturday of the men’s retreat. i truly had NO reason to suspect i was pregnant. so i carried around my little “if i get my period” bag full of supplies just waiting for it to come. knowing it’d probably come when we were out and about, or in the middle of church sunday. saturday came and went. sunday came. from my calculations i was “late” sunday. shaun ended up with cellulitis and needing a prescription. so i bought a test to check. that test (and if you’re wondering…i took it right inside CVS) came up negative. okay. sunday came and went.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">monday morning i did the “first morning” pee on the other test that came in the box. negative. i was sure. maybe was there a line? no. there wasn’t. i was actually starting to get worried. what was going on with me! my cycles were never this long. i was going to give it a few more days before just checking in with my dr. ((i also had started running and exercising more, been a bit “stressed” out so i figured it could be that, too)) i have this weird thing, i usually don’t throw pregnancy tests away. so monday i just threw the test in the mostly empty nursing pads box in the cupboard and left it at that. monday came and went without anything. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i started thinking about “if” i could be pregnant. how was i feeling? well, tired. i was tired. but i have a kid who (still) doesn’t sleep. tired is NOT an indicator of pregnancy when you can explain WHY you’re so tired. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">tuesday morning. i looked at the test i took monday. ((i know you’re not supposed to read them AFTER a certain time. but whatever.)) i didn’t see two lines. i didn’t think so. actually i knew i didn’t. when i threw the test back in the box…i found an UNUSED test. what? woo hoo. i decided to take it. i peed on it and threw it in the box. the kids were up and i didn’t want them to find it. we have nosey and smart children who would know what it was if they investigated enough. :) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shaun came in the bathroom to shower and at this point he was starting to wonder what was going on with me. i said. i don’t know. look, i took another test. it’s negative, right?! i grabbed the test out of the box and showed him. yep. negative. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i also explained, based on my record keeping… ((yes. i keep track of things. i know when. if stuff was used. when my cycle started. ended. carry on.)) there was really a SUPER small chance i was pregnant. the only “dates” that would make sense that i could’ve gotten pregnant were “dates” that we were being “safe” on. there are failure rates…but we’ve only ever used this form of protection and it hadn’t failed us before…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shaun got in the shower and i threw the test in the box. for whatever reason i decided to look at the other test from the day before again…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">…except the “other” test was the REAL test i had taken that day. i had grabbed the test from the day before to show shaun. the REAL test…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">…clearly showed TWO LINES!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i said. oh. shaun??</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">he said. don’t even start with me right now. he knew exactly what that “oh. shaun?” meant. ((he was in no way mad. it’s just his way of dealing with shock. lol.))</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i said. i need to go call amber.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">amber had her phone on do not disturb. when i finally got through on her house phone. THANK GOODNESS! she still has one of those! i don’t even know if i let her get more than a hello in. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i’m not one to usually care about sharing too much info, and told her everything. what i loved was her response…she knew we had been praying about “if” there should be more…and she said, “how cool!! God answered your prayer!” i was a tad confused because the week before i thought he had answered it by having us be done. LOL! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and i said. yeah. it’s crazy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we gushed. said oh my goodness. and i stopped shaking long enough to hang up the phone. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shaun needed to go to town that day to get his passport (he’s going on a missions trip to haiti in january! SO EXCITED!!) and another friend had been texting me and then offered to watch our kids so shaun and i could have lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">can i say, it was the most perfect timing for that!?! shaun and i were able to talk about this majorly awesome surprise. i wanted to so badly tell her, that day too. but there was never a “right” time. ((did i mention i have nosey investigative children?)) i did thank her later on for offering to watch the kids that day and how perfect it was for us to be able to talk. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">after our date lunch we went to walmart to buy a digital test. you know. in case the other one was wrong. i patiently waited until we got home to take the test. and yep. pregnant. for realsies! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i called my dr’s office the next day and they ran the blood work that morning. they checked my hcg and progesterone levels. my hcg levels came back. at 30. that’s like barely pregnant. based on dating it seemed really low. it seemed possible, but low. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i’ll admit. i broke down on thursday. every time i am pregnant i fear losing the baby. after going through three losses, it’s just always on my mind. i was able to go to walmart by myself that night and just be alone. before i went i texted some friends to pray for me and just that it was just a number. God is bigger than any number. but it still didn’t make it easy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">one really fabulous friend was on her way to a craft show. she said, i want to come to you. she went way out of her way. in unfamiliar territory and met me in a parking lot. ((with a king sized cookies and cream hershey bar and red vines)) but more than the candy…a hug. and the ability to break down and cry to her. and to just let it be okay that i was scared. and it was fine to feel that way. it was fine to be scared, yet trust that God was in control and no matter what…GOOD! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and deserved GLORY! no matter what. that wednesday night before at church we had a worship night and through the songs that were played he put on my heart the word Glory. i smiled and thought…there’s a G name. :) that night i decided to quit googling low progesterone and hcg levels and googled baby names. i checked to see what gloria meant. it means—Glory be to God. and just knew that no matter what, God was going to get glory through this pregnancy.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i had my labs tested two days after the first. i was nervous to call and get the results. but i got them. when i called i held my breath as the nurse answered and said, thank you for calling…this is GLORIA a phone nurse. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i sat in silence for a second or three. and said to myself—HA! that’s funny.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">then i asked for the results. they were 87. so not only did my numbers double, they almost tripled. woo hoo. my progesterone results did not go up. they went down a little. so the next week my dr had everything tested again.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">when i called for those results i was so happy to hear my numbers went up to 882. and my progesterone was 23! i felt like i was in the clear. but to be safe asked if they would check my numbers again. i’ve had low progesterone issues with the last two babies and wanted to be sure. in the meantime i’ve continued to feel pregnant and never had any other “issues”. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i had my levels checked last week. they were 12.81. i was, honestly, devastated. still trusting that God’s plan was good. and is good. but still feeling bad. they called with my results and said that dr would start me on progesterone but first wanted to order an ultrasound to check on baby. quite honestly, from the tone of the nurse…i could tell they didn’t think it’d go well.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i was able to get in tuesday for the ultrasound. my first official drs appt was wednesday. but i didn’t care if i had to run to appleton twice, i could see if we were having a baby a day sooner!! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i was able to sleep monday night. and for that i was thankful. i wasn’t so much worried about the ultrasound as i was nervous. i was almost throwing up all morning before it, at the thought of it going bad. it had nothing to do with feeling morning sickness. about an hour before the appt though, i felt peace. like the peace that you know can ONLY come from the Lord. and knew in my heart that even if the day went horribly…that He was still good. and deserved the glory. and knew that the few friends i had praying, were doing just that and that the peace they were praying for—was happening!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">as i sat in the waiting room for my ultrasound i prayed that i would get my favorite tech. the tech that has been with us through two of our losses, and one of our successful pregnancies…the tech that saw us out in a restaurant and said hi because she remembered me. when she walked out and said my name…i was SO happy! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we discussed how i was pretty sure i was 2 weeks less than what my dates showed, and she still decided to try the abdominal. i held my breath as she put the wand on. and looked hard at the screen. i instantly saw the blob of baby. as she zoomed in…i saw the flicker. my baby had a heartbeat!! everything was looking OKAY!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i almost broke down and started bawling. i calmed myself down. then she played the heartbeat and it almost happened again. i couldn’t believe it. i had gone in to the room expecting the worst news possible. but that wasn’t the news. the news was a beating heartbeat! i could tell she was also relieved. it was so nice to share in the joy with her! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the baby measured 2 weeks “smaller” than my dates. BUT based on my record keeping…lined up exactly what i figured it would. i’m so thankful i keep track! it didn’t make me freak out to hear that the baby was measuring small, i knew it should’ve. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i’m pretty sure i floated right down into the van and called shaun. he was nervous when he answered the phone. and i didn’t know “how” to say it. so i probably sounded weird, too. but then just said…we’re having a baby!! he was as equally as relieved as i was. and then it really sunk it. we’re having another baby! baby number 7. pregnancy number 10! it all still sounds crazy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">it probably always will. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but as crazy as it is…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">all GLORY to God!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i saw my doctor this week and she still seems a little concerned about my progesterone levels fluctuating. but i think it’s because it’s her “job” to tell you things. she started me on the suppositories and then wants me to come in next week for a quick portable ultrasound. i think she is also secretly concerned about the dates being that far off, but like i said, i know that’s what they should be. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i also know seeing a heartbeat doesn’t mean i’ll be delivering a baby in may. my due date is the 23rd based on the ultrasound. i’ve seen a heartbeat before only to miscarry the baby a few days later. but you know, no matter what the outcome…God gets the glory. i mean really…any pregnant woman is not guaranteed a living baby at the end of her pregnancy. for me, someone who has lost three precious babies before, the thought is in my head quite often. and makes me enjoy each moment of morning sickness (or “after you eat you feel sick sickness) it makes me enjoy each moment of progesterone suppositories. of feeling dead dog tired most of the time. i know that it isn’t “fun”, but there are plenty of women out there just begging to God for the opportunity to throw up each morning if it means a baby is growing inside of her. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">really, though, we should ALL just be enjoying each moment of today. because TODAY is what we’ve been given. none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. so live each breath for today. do your best with today. ((so thankful for our current women’s Bible study—our chapter this week is on “today” and living for our eternal promise))</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">whew. this post is a lot longer than i ever intended. BUT it felt good to write again. it’s been quite awhile. :) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">i’ll try to be back soon and update on the rest of our little alphabet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but for now…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">here’s another look at baby G. </span></div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-39476401774951167032014-04-23T22:07:00.001-05:002014-04-24T06:03:09.381-05:00a random little post.it's been pretty much forever since i've sat down and typed up a blog post.<br />
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i have so much to say. and probably won't even cover everything!! :)<br />
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something i don't think i even shared on my blog is some SUPER SUPER exciting news!! about a month ago i was in a local boutique in town. somehow it came up that i crocheted the kiddos hats. and then it came up that they were going to be looking for a new crocheter for the store! so i left my business card and a few days later the owner of the store called me to set up a time to meet. i met with her that weekend and she WANTED me to have my hats in the store!! she requested 20 hats. isn't that insane!?! i still can't get over it. i finished up the hats a few weekends ago and officially got them in the store! in addition i've been getting other orders through my facebook page. i seriously stand amazed at what the Lord has done with this little hobby. i never could have imagined this!<br />
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the kids are all doing well. i still can't believe i have six kids. saying it STILL seems weird. six. i have SIX kids. i stare at each one of them each day and am so thankful that the Lord has given us this opportunity to be their parents.<br />
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next weekend is our churchs women's retreat. i'm so excited for it! i'm part of the planning committee and have enjoyed seeing God's hand in all of the planning and can't wait for the retreat to see what he's going to do. we hold the retreat at a local resort and you can't help but feel fancy and special the entire weekend. add in God's word and fellowship with sweet sisters in Christ and it's darn near perfect! i'm also excited to be sharing my heart at the retreat about something the Lord has worked on me on and laid on my heart. so i'd appreciate prayers for that!! :)<br />
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fletcher has started to sleep better at night. woo hoo! he's basically sleeping from about 9/10 until 4/5 each night. now...while it's awesome...he's actually the "worst" sleeper we've had! BUT it's not really "bad" and we're surviving. i'm hoping he sleeps well next week at the retreat...or my friend may regret wanting to room with me. ;)<br />
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we're plugging away at school. we're going to keep schooling through the summer again. basically we've become all year schoolers. it works really well. and we can take breaks when necessary. plus it keeps us more on a routine. this week we started doing history at night as a family. we all have been LOVING it. it's really brought on some cool conversations between all of us <br />
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my birthday was the other week. 31. that's so weird. i think it's weird because i remember my parents that age. when did i get old enough to be my parents age? :) my only request for my birthday is to be made to feel special. so, when i opened a gift from a very dear friend of mine...and almost cried...my request had been granted! the gift was a handmade rag quilt. just for me! all mine. something worked on and sewn just for me. fabric colors and patterns picked just for me. honestly. this present went down as the best birthday present i have ever gotten. no lie. i'm tearing up again just writing about it. to know that she thought about each piece of the quilt and made it just for me, meant and still means, so much to me. so friend, thank you again!! I also got other great cards and gifts that made me feel very special and loved. I have the best family and friends!! on my birthday i went to lunch with my mom and sister and the kids. we went to my favorite local coffee shop. it was fun and i'm glad that it worked out to do it! it's funny, if you would've told me 15 years ago i would CHOOSE to go out with my mom and sister for a birthday lunch i would've laughed! but i treasured the time we had together for lunch.<br />
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it's finally spring in wisconsin. i think, anyways. the other day it was so nice out, i wanted to literally run and scream. but i refrained! i think shaun is itching to get in the fields. he's been working so much lately. i'm so thankful for the hard worker he is. but i spend so much time wishing he didn't have to work so much. no one should have to work 130-135 hours in a two week time period. i'm so thankful he has a job, and each day i realize just how much he sacrifices for our family. there are weeks that he sees the kids for only an hour or two a day. it's no wonder the kids cling to him when he's home. he works every other weekend, so on his weekends off the kids are so excited to see him still in bed on a saturday morning. i do my best to not complain about his job to him, i know that he doesn't love the hours either, and i don't want anyone to think i'm complaining now. i'm SO thankful he HAS a job. it just makes for some really long weeks sometimes. i can't wait to see what God will do for him someday. i always tell shaun that the Lord knows the desires of his heart and he WILL give him them. we just have to wait for it. ;)<br />
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i'm needing to get my hind end exercising. i hate hating how i look. i refuse to go shopping for clothes that fit me. mainly because i don't want to see the size i need. i need some motivation. maybe i should go buy a pair of size NOT WHAT I WANT THEM TO BE pants and it will get me off my large bum. i realize how it's starting to affect my attitude and other things, and i really need to change it. all i really want to do is LIKE what i see in the mirror!<br />
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anyways...i have most likely bored you to death. but it feels good to be random again. ;)amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-92001112721149027322014-04-23T21:24:00.002-05:002014-04-23T21:24:18.628-05:00perrigo nutritionals giveaway<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">are you a brand snob? i know i have been in the past. but as we added more kids to our family, i knew i could not afford to be a "snob" on all things!!</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">when perrigo nutritionals offered to send me a fantastic gift pack filled with store brand items i was excited! i knew i could feed the kids great things with store brands. :) also included was a store brand formula. right now i haven't needed to feed fletcher any formula, but if that need arises i know and can feel safe in giving him a store brand. here is some information about perrigo::</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">About Perrigo Nutritionals
• Many moms are not aware that they can save up to 50 percent on infant formula by choosing a store brand over a national brand
• Store Brand Formula is nutritionally comparable to the national brands, yet are typically up to half the price, and can save you about $600 a year
• Perrigo Nutritionals is the largest supplier of Store Brand Infant Formula and nutrition products in the world and one of only four companies recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for meeting the strict FDA requirements for safety, nutrition and quality for infant formula-manufacturing in the United States
• Same standards and expertise used to develop infant formula applied to toddler foods
• Toddler foods are appropriately developed for variety of stages of growth and motor skills with quality, nutritional ingredients to create foundation of good nutrition
also included in my pack was a great book by crystal paine. it was all about getting out of survival mode! here are some of her great tips offered::</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">Crystal Paine’s 5 Money Saving Tips for Families
Create a Budget
A budget gives you parameters and purpose, it gives you boundaries, and it gives you freedom to live creatively within those boundaries.
Shop With Cash
When you shop with a credit card (or even a debit card, for that matter!) you can have your budget in your head and you can do the best to stick with it when you check out, but it’s so much easier to go just a little bit over here and there when you’re swiping!
Plan a Menu
When you have a plan in place for what you’re supposed to be eating each meal and you’ve already purchased the ingredients for those recipes, it’s a lot harder to justify chucking the plan for takeout.
Use Coupons
Coupons are a great way to save a lot of money on your grocery bill, but they can be hard to keep up with. Clipping, sorting, and organizing coupons takes time — so enter a coupon database! You’ll have access to printable and other coupons currently available and it’s one of the most effective and efficient ways to save money on groceries.
Buy Store Brands
One way to save a great deal of money on your grocery budget is to learn to like and use a variety of brands. The sooner you can get over being a brand-snob, the more your pocketbook will thank you.
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">For example, while I breast fed my children, moms who choose to formula feed can save up to 50 percent by switching to store brand formula, which meets the same FDA quality standards as expensive name brands. There are also coupons available at a website - StoreBrandFormula.com (www.storebrandformula.com). This one simple change can save moms about $600 a year.</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">perrigo nutritionals has offered up a gift pack for YOU to. filled with great store brand infant and toddler goodies...and a copy of crystal's book!! </pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">simply leave a comment on this post with your favorite store brand item.</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">giveaway ends: APRIL 28th.</pre>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"><pre style="white-space: normal;">“The Perrigo Nutritionals product, information and two gift packs have been provided by Perrigo Nutritionals.” </pre>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-81803167859848112402014-04-15T07:59:00.002-05:002014-04-15T07:59:11.177-05:004 monthsi only have a quick second to share an adorable picture of my FOUR MONTH OLD!! when did this happen!??!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cz9TKiNFcPo/U00tChGrXTI/AAAAAAAADSQ/KPWPLxIpUdY/s1600/DSC_1374-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cz9TKiNFcPo/U00tChGrXTI/AAAAAAAADSQ/KPWPLxIpUdY/s1600/DSC_1374-2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-82361385032365971702014-04-14T07:52:00.000-05:002014-04-15T07:57:40.590-05:00merino kids review<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was contacted awhile back about doing a review on a
baby product. I was so excited to have this opportunity!! I picked a merino
kids sleep sack in banbury.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7Z9nlVz9ho/U00sgjGfxuI/AAAAAAAADR8/oOfOR6XZrp0/s1600/sleepsack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7Z9nlVz9ho/U00sgjGfxuI/AAAAAAAADR8/oOfOR6XZrp0/s1600/sleepsack.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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The sleep sack is made with merino wool…which means it’s
warmer. And in Wisconsin…we need warmer.
It’s also made for ages 0-2, so instead of buying a sleep sack for every
age, you can buy one and use it pretty much forever!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sleep sack also zips around the edges/side not up
through the middle. I thought this was a fantastic feature it leaves NO room
for accidentally getting scratched with the zipper. The one side of the
shoulder strap buttons which means the entire half of the sack opens up. It makes
it nice and easy to get on and off!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idlCzHg17rY/U00sixfzZsI/AAAAAAAADSM/fUjn5QvDkeQ/s1600/sleepsack3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idlCzHg17rY/U00sixfzZsI/AAAAAAAADSM/fUjn5QvDkeQ/s1600/sleepsack3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sack also has a “hole” in the bottom part of it, so
you can use it “in” something. It is thin enough you could use it in a car seat…or
in a bouncy seat or swing or whatever. I
thought this was another great feature.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7jcuiI_JyE/U00sh0kfv5I/AAAAAAAADSE/o6CActW-ZPU/s1600/sleepsack2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7jcuiI_JyE/U00sh0kfv5I/AAAAAAAADSE/o6CActW-ZPU/s1600/sleepsack2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ONE thing I could suggest is a way to make the excess
smaller on it. When you have an itty bitty baby in there the length of the sack
remains the same, so if there was a way to adjust the “drape” of it, I think it’d
be nice. I must add this was totally Shaun’s idea!! I thought the “drape” was
bothersome, but didn’t have an idea of how to fix it. lol.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fletcher is on the taller side of the spectrum, so I’m
not sure if the sleep sack will last until he is two, or if I’d even use one
that long. BUT I do like that all I need is the ONE sleep sack and don’t have
to worry about having multiple sizes. It’s nice to not have to have any
blankets in bed with him! Makes me feel safer knowing he can’t pull a blanket
over his head or something. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, I LOVE this sleep sack. You can find it <a href="http://www.babysleepbags.com/Merino-Kids-Baby-Sleep-Sack-For/M/B00A2DLOGO.htm">here.</a> .<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was provided this sleep sack for a review…all opinions
are my own! <o:p></o:p></div>
amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-2181382317439020752014-03-17T07:30:00.000-05:002014-03-17T07:30:03.057-05:00fly on bythese past three months have flown by...look how much he's changed!!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GAlDnrfHkU8/UyIso6KSohI/AAAAAAAADRk/wXC2lwUF8l8/s1600/marchfletcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GAlDnrfHkU8/UyIso6KSohI/AAAAAAAADRk/wXC2lwUF8l8/s1600/marchfletcher.jpg" height="214" width="640" /></a></div>
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it's amazing to me!!<br />
<br />amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-12893824564531157292014-03-13T17:07:00.001-05:002014-03-13T17:07:32.800-05:00brother and sister lovei caught the sweetest video the other day...fletcher LOVES breigh! he lights up each and every time she talks to him..and is starting to respond...<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152303442628987">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apopp">Amanda Moschel Popp</a>.</div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-69647849293643546242014-03-07T00:00:00.000-06:002014-03-07T03:46:25.756-06:00because of hope {review & giveaway}before we found out if fletcher was a boy or a girl i drooled over some of the cutest little burp cloths in the gift shop of the hospital.<br />
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and you can bet your bottom dollar (you know, if you're the betting type) that the next appointment i had after finding out...i went and bought some boy burp cloths! and then "liked" the company on facebook. that company is called <a href="http://www.becauseofhopek.com/" target="_blank">Because of Hope.</a><br />
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after having fletcher...who is the spittiest of all our kids...i fell even more in love with the burp cloths. they're made from prefold cloth diapers...so they're super absorbent...all while being super adorable.<br />
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a few weeks back she posted a picture of a new teething toy that she was making. i contacted her to see if she'd be willing to do a review...she was!! and sent me the most adorable teether.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3R4TwU4divs/UwUYMbGTF1I/AAAAAAAADOk/KgXxkTx_8zg/s1600/DSC_0936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3R4TwU4divs/UwUYMbGTF1I/AAAAAAAADOk/KgXxkTx_8zg/s1600/DSC_0936.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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here is a "blurb" on because of hope...</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Because of Hope” was founded with the purpose to give families strength during the trying
</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">times of having a baby in the NICU, just to give a little bit of Peace & and Hope. With having </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 children all with short stays in the NICU it was my little way of giving back. Each burp cloth </span></i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is handmade by us and blessed! </span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of Hope grew into a</span></i></span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> business and yours truly is loving every minute of it. We offer </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">burp cloths, blankets, bibs, </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">paci clips, onesies, and teething rings! Teething Rings are the </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hottest item for moms </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dealing </span></i></span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with the teething babes! These rings are hand rubbed with </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">o</span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rganic bees wax from the </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">US not </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">imported. They are finished with a fabric tie and backed </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with organic terry cloth. get </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t</span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he fabric </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wet and put in the freezer. Let your baby chew and get </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">some relief on their teething </span></i><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 14.35200023651123px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gums. </span></i></div>
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i think the one i got has the most adorable fabric. with an extra adorable fabric for when the other one gets all nasty. ;) now, fletcher is a bit off from teething. but i can see lots of fun to be had with this adorable teether. </div>
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in addition to the teether tara was generous enough to send me a set of burp cloths. ((seriously, how awesome!!))</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3SPnsQvfH0/UwUYM8BS2UI/AAAAAAAADOs/kKtZgxzxsdk/s1600/DSC_0937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3SPnsQvfH0/UwUYM8BS2UI/AAAAAAAADOs/kKtZgxzxsdk/s1600/DSC_0937.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></div>
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i love all the fun fabrics!! i haven't been too much in to the mustache crazy...but i "mustache" say...i love that fabric the most.</div>
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and i can just picture giving a new momma sweet set of the teether and burp cloth.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhFxtSBsX3s/UwUYM46dTbI/AAAAAAAADOo/ORiRgXLPpZk/s1600/DSC_0938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhFxtSBsX3s/UwUYM46dTbI/AAAAAAAADOo/ORiRgXLPpZk/s1600/DSC_0938.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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i love the burp cloths because they're adorable. but they truly are absorbent. and because they're a decent size, they fit over my shoulder nice for burping and catching the inevitable spit. fletcher isn't big on words, but if he could talk...i'm sure he'd talk about how soft they are when they wipe his chubby cheeks and face, too! </div>
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when i asked tara if i could review her cute teether she ALSO agreed to a giveaway!!</div>
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SO you have a chance to win...</div>
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and adorable teether</div>
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OR</div>
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a set of adorable burp cloths!!</div>
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how amazing is that?!?! tara is offering up not one...but two different prizes. :) </div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3882ff0/" id="rc-3882ff0" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-10477409150396687142014-03-05T07:00:00.000-06:002014-03-05T07:00:08.048-06:00the last year of single digits...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDzTuA-lkCU/UxZTNwexU8I/AAAAAAAADRA/5jGI3cNI2XA/s1600/amelyababy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDzTuA-lkCU/UxZTNwexU8I/AAAAAAAADRA/5jGI3cNI2XA/s1600/amelyababy.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
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<br />
my amelya.<br />
<br />
today. you're NINE years old. your last year of single digits. i cannot believe it.<br />
<br />
you were the first to call me momma.<br />
<br />
you were the first to show me that i'll probably "do" all the things i said i'd "never" do when i was a momma.<br />
<br />
you were the first to make me feel that crazy feeling a parent feels when they see their baby for the first time.<br />
<br />
you were the first to make me cry a good cry when you did something for the first time.<br />
<br />
you were the first little hand to hold my finger and make me realize that i was just 'meant' to be a momma.<br />
<br />
you were the one to make me realize i could never return to work. and that i indeed wanted to be a stay at home momma.<br />
<br />
you were my first "official" student for school.<br />
<br />
you are more like me than you'll ever really know...that scares me and makes me happy all at the same time. ;)<br />
<br />
you are beautifully and wonderfully made...and i'm so blessed to be your momma.<br />
<br />
love you baby girl. because you will ALWAYS be my baby girl.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtScqL4weys/UxZTlJQxnLI/AAAAAAAADRI/KhmZSS7H5Cw/s1600/DSC_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtScqL4weys/UxZTlJQxnLI/AAAAAAAADRI/KhmZSS7H5Cw/s1600/DSC_0840.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
love.<br />
mommaamandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-64940531911346090312014-03-04T16:31:00.001-06:002014-03-04T16:31:35.906-06:00wordless wednesday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
the one man...and two boys who have my heart.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMtShL1shas/UxZUDAS47uI/AAAAAAAADRU/dw4EG8l5Z3w/s1600/handsomemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMtShL1shas/UxZUDAS47uI/AAAAAAAADRU/dw4EG8l5Z3w/s1600/handsomemen.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
<br />amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-49996303412154980482014-02-26T07:00:00.000-06:002014-02-26T07:00:03.200-06:00wordless wednesday. (matching brothers)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
before fletcher was born dustin was SO excited to have matching hats.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9TZcV6RZXM/UwUQhB8SAxI/AAAAAAAADMs/7cWLulPKz5M/s1600/matchingbrothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9TZcV6RZXM/UwUQhB8SAxI/AAAAAAAADMs/7cWLulPKz5M/s1600/matchingbrothers.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
i think fletcher is also excited.amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-32596885450568896342014-02-24T08:30:00.000-06:002014-02-24T08:30:01.780-06:002 months old!fletcher was TWO months old on the 12th.<br />
<br />
seriously?! where did the two months go.<br />
<br />
i mean, has it REALLY been that long since i got a full night's sleep?! ;)<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGnPW7vgW5s/UwUQDZhFIrI/AAAAAAAADMg/a_BeLgDXpL8/s1600/DSC_1039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGnPW7vgW5s/UwUQDZhFIrI/AAAAAAAADMg/a_BeLgDXpL8/s1600/DSC_1039.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
this gummy toothless smile makes it all worth it!!<br />
<br />
he was 14 pounds 2 oz at his check-up.<br />
<br />
no wonder i thought he was growing fast. because HE WAS. well i guess IS!!<br />
<br />
he's fully in 3-6 month clothes, and i'm not sure how long he'll last in them. i'm thankful i didn't overbuy him on clothes. he only wore a few 0-3 month outfits once or twice!!<br />
<br />
each time i look at him i wonder how in the world we didn't know he was missing from our family!!<br />
<br />
we're so blessed by this little guy and the joy he brings to our family!!<br />
<br />
most people think he looks like caitlyn...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkjtUxNyR2k/UwUQg-Op1gI/AAAAAAAADMw/vtOcnhlB1cQ/s1600/caitlynfletcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkjtUxNyR2k/UwUQg-Op1gI/AAAAAAAADMw/vtOcnhlB1cQ/s1600/caitlynfletcher.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
pretty sure that i agree! although he doesn't look much like her as a baby...just like her now. they have that same chin. :)<br />
<br />
oh, and i *finally* got him added to our wall...and updated pictures of the rest of the kiddos up.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Onmdjkl1zts/UwUQhKD-NHI/AAAAAAAADM0/fRzNNGL3LEg/s1600/newpict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Onmdjkl1zts/UwUQhKD-NHI/AAAAAAAADM0/fRzNNGL3LEg/s1600/newpict.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
the fake rocks don't allow for much symmetry, and i just have to learn to be okay with it. but it does drive me a bit crazy. ;)amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-73205747994217837242014-02-22T14:28:00.000-06:002014-02-22T14:28:00.752-06:00dance!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
this year we had a 19 week session of dance.</div>
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complete with costumes for their recital.</div>
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here are some pictures i did of the kids at home.</div>
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dustin did jazz and ballet.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAB1iHm0i94/UwUR_G6ggiI/AAAAAAAADNI/528PRWPZFb0/s1600/DSC_0872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAB1iHm0i94/UwUR_G6ggiI/AAAAAAAADNI/528PRWPZFb0/s1600/DSC_0872.jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMSrP7GhJNY/UwUR_NhMGgI/AAAAAAAADNE/PSX2i_YFHDI/s1600/DSC_0876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMSrP7GhJNY/UwUR_NhMGgI/AAAAAAAADNE/PSX2i_YFHDI/s1600/DSC_0876.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
amelya did ballet.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOq01F2Sulc/UwUR_J898qI/AAAAAAAADNA/DSdqkgEEikk/s1600/DSC_0884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOq01F2Sulc/UwUR_J898qI/AAAAAAAADNA/DSdqkgEEikk/s1600/DSC_0884.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5H-4bRkAYo/UwUSB8TpSvI/AAAAAAAADNY/7aBRYutwTtM/s1600/DSC_0894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5H-4bRkAYo/UwUSB8TpSvI/AAAAAAAADNY/7aBRYutwTtM/s1600/DSC_0894.jpg" height="320" width="166" /></a></div>
caitlyn did jazz and ballet.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlj775BmPo/UwUSCt5jBlI/AAAAAAAADNg/iJJFxAEyENM/s1600/DSC_0900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlj775BmPo/UwUSCt5jBlI/AAAAAAAADNg/iJJFxAEyENM/s1600/DSC_0900.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nELyDHQ-AM/UwUSC50CJMI/AAAAAAAADNk/-7Trkmqe1qg/s1600/DSC_0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nELyDHQ-AM/UwUSC50CJMI/AAAAAAAADNk/-7Trkmqe1qg/s1600/DSC_0902.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
evaleigh did ballet.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSJS3XpcPFs/UwUSDiK6lzI/AAAAAAAADNw/eTgSkup1J4M/s1600/DSC_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSJS3XpcPFs/UwUSDiK6lzI/AAAAAAAADNw/eTgSkup1J4M/s1600/DSC_0912.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNQA-xioMtM/UwUSE8l2mOI/AAAAAAAADN8/-ybK04Oa2VY/s1600/DSC_0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNQA-xioMtM/UwUSE8l2mOI/AAAAAAAADN8/-ybK04Oa2VY/s1600/DSC_0920.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
and breigh was in jazz and ballet.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfwB5WCPlUw/UwUSEmh8crI/AAAAAAAADN4/4LFvUPrmfAo/s1600/DSC_0925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfwB5WCPlUw/UwUSEmh8crI/AAAAAAAADN4/4LFvUPrmfAo/s1600/DSC_0925.jpg" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyhaOGPHTH4/UwUSFvXYv9I/AAAAAAAADOI/p3csiAnEYZk/s1600/DSC_0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyhaOGPHTH4/UwUSFvXYv9I/AAAAAAAADOI/p3csiAnEYZk/s1600/DSC_0929.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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and of course...a group shot!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6yiwuFRiuU/UwUPilIbCRI/AAAAAAAADMY/muxeATF_1fs/s1600/DSC_0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6yiwuFRiuU/UwUPilIbCRI/AAAAAAAADMY/muxeATF_1fs/s1600/DSC_0933.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
we are so blessed to have a christan dance studio for the kids to attend.<br />
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not only is it affordable...but i don't have to worry about what sort of music they'll be dancing to or little hoochie momma costumes! we're SO SO thankful for brighter days dance!! if you're local to me, i highly suggest checking them out!!amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-76205823886024478792014-02-19T13:59:00.001-06:002014-02-19T13:59:24.261-06:00{real life}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ceuLzVY8XzU/UwUHqKupoqI/AAAAAAAADME/JquGUeOBG-k/s1600/DSC_1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ceuLzVY8XzU/UwUHqKupoqI/AAAAAAAADME/JquGUeOBG-k/s1600/DSC_1059.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
i think we can all be a bit guilty of sunshine and rainbows on our blogs or facebook.<br />
<br />
i think that sometimes it's easier to remember only the good things in our lives.<br />
<br />
but then...real life happens.<br />
<br />
real life that isn't sunshine and rainbows.<br />
<br />
real life that you wish was easy to forget.<br />
<br />
but today...today i want to blog about real life.<br />
<br />
real life that even though i'd like to forget, i don't think i will. and i think actually, that it's a good thing.<br />
<br />
real life, that by blogging about will help me through it all.<br />
<br />
today.<br />
<br />
today. i lost it.<br />
<br />
something got so overwhelming in me that i lost it.<br />
<br />
i yelled.<br />
<br />
maybe it should be screamed.<br />
<br />
at my kids.<br />
<br />
i screamed at my kids.<br />
<br />
i got so overwhelmed that i yelled at my kids.<br />
<br />
and they cried.<br />
<br />
each one of them.<br />
<br />
each one of the big kids cried when i yelled.<br />
<br />
after i yelled.<br />
<br />
i cried.<br />
<br />
i sobbed.<br />
<br />
i didn't know what to do.<br />
<br />
i apologized.<br />
<br />
i cried and sobbed and apologized all at the same time.<br />
<br />
in the midst of it all...<br />
<br />
amelya shut down.<br />
<br />
breigh took action and called shaun home.<br />
<br />
caitlyn stared.<br />
<br />
dustin rubbed my arm and said, it's okay mom. it's okay.<br />
<br />
evaleigh held my hand and said, we 'give you mom. it's okay. we 'give you. ('give=forgive)<br />
<br />
fletcher slept through it all and will thankfully remember none of it.<br />
<br />
a lot of times people always say, how do you do it? i don't know how you do it?<br />
<br />
today, i failed at doing it.<br />
<br />
today, i broke.<br />
<br />
today, i realized that my reliance was only on myself and not on the Lord.<br />
<br />
today, i realized that i'm a failure who is redeemed by the Lord.<br />
<br />
which makes me not a failure at all.<br />
<br />
shaun came home from work, not fully understanding what exactly was going on.<br />
<br />
he came home to a wife that was ashamed to look into his loving eyes.<br />
<br />
who was ashamed to even ASK for forgiveness from him for yelling at his kids.<br />
<br />
i came broken before him and all at the same time realize how broken we must be before coming to the Lord.<br />
<br />
maybe there has been a part of me holding on to something in my life with my kids that i've never fully been broken of. so...<br />
<br />
today i came to the Lord broken and beat down...<br />
<br />
and came away restored and built up.<br />
<br />
i truly can't even explain what happened today.<br />
<br />
i can't even explain what overwhelmed me and took over in my to yell like i did.<br />
<br />
i can't explain the love i felt from each one of my kids as they accepted my apology.<br />
<br />
i can't explain the love i felt from my husband who lovingly accepted me broken and beat down.<br />
<br />
i can't explain the feeling of the Lord being at the center of us as we prayed as a family before shaun went back to work.<br />
<br />
what i CAN explain, is that i'm SO thankful i'm forgiven.<br />
<br />
forgiven by my five sweet children (old enough to forgive).<br />
<br />
forgiven by my husband.<br />
<br />
and more so. and most important.<br />
<br />
forgiven by the one who came to save me.<br />
<br />
so sweet friends.<br />
<br />
remember.<br />
<br />
real life happens.<br />
<br />
to all of us.<br />
<br />
life is not all sunshine and rainbows.<br />
<br />
life is about remembering the good things...<br />
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but it's also about remembering these "bad" things.<br />
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because they break us.<br />
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they change us.<br />
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they grow us.<br />
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and that is a good thing.<br />
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a very good thing.amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-53121138729036548672014-01-21T13:52:00.000-06:002014-01-21T13:52:01.800-06:00back to normallife has gotten back to normal around here...well not that our life was normal to begin with...but it's starting to resemble what we're "normally" like.<br />
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school has gotten in to a much better routine. our household chores are getting back to more normal. and my kids are growing before my very eyes. it's so crazy to think these kids are old enough to get themselves ready and play outside on their own...(huge advantage to living in the country)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSTFgCfmTA8/Ut7Nm8-D6XI/AAAAAAAADLs/sQM3PgehZ8A/s1600/bigkidssnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSTFgCfmTA8/Ut7Nm8-D6XI/AAAAAAAADLs/sQM3PgehZ8A/s1600/bigkidssnow.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
of course, these arctic blast cold days we've been having haven't been conducive to much outside play...but when it has been nice...they've been out there!<br />
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then there is this one...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XtAZPych6o/Ut7N9pbtJmI/AAAAAAAADL0/wZIHeeu-Iyc/s1600/fletcherchunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XtAZPych6o/Ut7N9pbtJmI/AAAAAAAADL0/wZIHeeu-Iyc/s1600/fletcherchunk.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
last sunday he was ONE MONTH old. last monday i had him in for a doctor's appointment. five days after delivery he was down to 7lbs 10oz. they were concerned about his 10% weight loss. we had him in a few days later...he was up to 8lbs 3oz. so they were totally not concerned. after last monday...they probably laughed that they were EVER concerned. he weighed...are you ready for this?!!? 11lbs 10oz. that is FOUR entire pounds since 5 days old. THAT is insane!! his pediatrician was highly impressed!!<br />
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shaun turned 33 this past weekend. when did we get old enough to be 33. well him. not me. i'm still 30, for a few more months. sometimes it feels like high school was just yesterday! then i look around and realize...high school was a LOT of yesterdays ago!!<br />
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amelya will be 9 in march. i'm having a hard time believing that she is OLD enough to be 9. i'm still getting over that she's 8. ;)<br />
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and now...mr. little (c)hunk...is letting me know it's time to add some more hunk to him. :) ((i feel like all my blog posts end this way lately. lol.)) ((i also feel like i have no real "end" to these posts...i apologize!))amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-81312434779234213272014-01-09T08:49:00.001-06:002014-01-09T08:49:15.058-06:00updates on the family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i can't believe fletcher has been here for FOUR weeks today!! these past four weeks have flown right on by. i guess with Christmas in there it helped the weeks go by. i snapped this picture of him the other day after he finished eating. i JUST love these snuggles after feeding him.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SObinYbIBhs/Us6vFeHCJCI/AAAAAAAADLI/uVTOtWCo2qw/s1600/fletcheralmost4weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SObinYbIBhs/Us6vFeHCJCI/AAAAAAAADLI/uVTOtWCo2qw/s1600/fletcheralmost4weeks.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
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and then those cheeks that are filling in. i could just bite them. lol. yesterday he weighed almost 11 pounds! so he's growing quite nicely. ((at his 5 day check at the doctor he was down to 7lbs 10oz...and we had to do a weight check a few days later...he was 8lbs 3oz...i'd say he's growing quite nicely, considering he's gained 3lbs in the past few weeks.))</div>
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i'm still having to sleep in the recliner because of my pelvic pain. my husband is a superstar and has been sleeping downstairs with me...for almost five weeks! the other night he was cuddling with fletcher before we "officially" went to bed...and i caught this picture of them.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAHfG4-2n64/Us6u5XsVzyI/AAAAAAAADK4/W81l3FLJtXk/s1600/daddyfletcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAHfG4-2n64/Us6u5XsVzyI/AAAAAAAADK4/W81l3FLJtXk/s1600/daddyfletcher.jpg" height="400" width="333" /></a> </div>
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i love these daddy and baby sleeping pictures. i'm pretty sure i have one of these for all six of the kids. ((six kids! i have SIX kids!! it's still sinking in!))</div>
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speaking of the other kids...</div>
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amelya is doing her first research project for our homeschool co-op. she looked so big to be looking stuff up on the computer the other day...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQnd6k8-jCM/Us6u-lBkUSI/AAAAAAAADLA/hiph15KipYY/s1600/amelyaresearch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQnd6k8-jCM/Us6u-lBkUSI/AAAAAAAADLA/hiph15KipYY/s1600/amelyaresearch.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
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i can't believe she'll be nine in a few months. these past four weeks may have flown by...but the past NINE years have definitely zoomed on by! </div>
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breigh has been loving the role of big sister to a baby. the other week fletcher was awake and she told me i should take a picture because he was awake. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwrn9Z5hN0o/Us6xHrLDUkI/AAAAAAAADLQ/caJQxHQGtGw/s1600/bdef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwrn9Z5hN0o/Us6xHrLDUkI/AAAAAAAADLQ/caJQxHQGtGw/s1600/bdef.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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it's so fun seeing her be a little momma to our baby. she loves momma-ing the babies at church, but i think she thinks it's awesome to have her own baby to momma. </div>
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to say that dustin has fallen into the big brother to a little brother role quite naturally is the understatement of the year! this about made my heart melt into nothing the other day...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjGXLutN5PE/Us6xmdpKbVI/AAAAAAAADLY/R9DQZljrorc/s1600/dustinfletcherhands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjGXLutN5PE/Us6xmdpKbVI/AAAAAAAADLY/R9DQZljrorc/s1600/dustinfletcherhands.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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he loves his little brother. and i know his little brother just loves him.</div>
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evaleigh has also fallen into the big sister role quite well. i was a bit worried, seeing she was our baby the longest...but she's had no adjustment issues. and for that i'm very thankful. she got workbooks .for Christmas this year and also feels "cool" because she has more school work to do. </div>
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miss caitlyn. i don't have a picture of her! well...i don't have one that i've snapped on my phone and posted to facebook recently. she's been doing great. she's really coming along on her reading. which makes me happy. i've taken a real gentle approach to teaching her reading...and it's WORKING. the other two attempts i've made have not worked. so yesterday, when she read me her entire first story with minimal help...i was elated. she...and i...have come a long way in this process. and it makes me happy to see that it's finally working. </div>
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shaun has been stuck working in the arctic blast weather we've been having. of course i know he needs to work. but i feel bad that he has to work outside sometimes. his lungs hurt the other day because of having to work on something outside the other morning. and of course more things have been broken at work. and he's been working ridiculous hours. sometimes i think if he were paid overtime or even given a (much much MUCH deserved) raise i wouldn't care as much when he gets home at 7PM after being called in at 5AM. i'm thankful he has a job...i just wish that he felt appreciated at it. it's a struggle to listen to him some nights talk about things from work. i just keep encouraging him that he doesn't work for "work" he works for the Lord. and that we need to remember that we won't feel appreciated all the time...and that it's OKAY! that we're working for the Lord and unto the Lord and our reward will be beautiful in heaven!! doesn't mean it's easy to do...but it's something to always work on.</div>
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me. i only have 10 pounds to lose to be at my prepregnancy weight. that made me sort of happy...well has happy as one can be when her prepregnancy weight was still about 35 pounds MORE than she wants to weigh. my goal is to get back at the treadmill. once fletcher is sleeping a bit better at night. right now i feel that an extra two hours of sleep is more important for all of us than me getting a walk in on the treadmill. last night he was a true newborn and up every two hours. it was by far the "worst" night of sleep since he's been born. and by worst i mean that he was up a lot to eat. i can't complain though, he doesn't really cry to eat, he just starts grunting and moving around, so then i know he's hungry. i feed him, and 9 times out of 10 he goes right back to sleep. it's that 1 time out of 10 that he may need some snuggling time to go back to sleep. or i just rock the rock and play to put him back to sleep. or it works out that daddy is already up for work and they get some snuggles in before he leaves for work. :)</div>
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AND! i had my MRI the week after fletcher was born. </div>
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the spot on my brain is still there. BUT it's smaller. so the neurologist just wants to keep an eye one it and do another MRI in 6 months. so...i really don't have any answers, but it doesn't seem to be anything to "worry" about either. i'll admit, i'd much rather know "what" it is/was...but to have no answers, but nothing to worry about...i'm okay with that, too. </div>
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emotionally i am doing pretty well. i keep trying to evaluate myself when i get emotional about things. i'm not scared of having post partum depression again, but yet i'm scared i'll wait too long if i do have it. at any rate...i just keep praying for my hormones to balance out just fine. </div>
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before i start to ramble...i'll stop while i'm ahead! :) </div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-47418571358012675022014-01-02T13:16:00.001-06:002014-01-02T13:16:12.448-06:003 weeks in...fletcher is THREE weeks old today! it is amazing to me how fast these three weeks have flown on by.<br />
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i think i'm acclimating to a momma of three pretty well. i've been thrown into it full force. shaun's work hours have not slowed down at all...and perhaps have increased...or seem like they have. :) it was nice to have Christmas and New Year's mixed into these last few weeks. shaun had off for Christmas and had a half day yesterday..so even though he has been working quite a bit...the days off have been also nice. last weekend he worked and ended up not being able to make it to church...it was a challenge...BUT i made it to church ON TIME with all 6 kids by myself. :)<br />
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another fantastic thing that happened to us...meals!! our wonderful church family (and the kid's dance teacher) provided a TON of meals for us. i didn't have to cook for OVER A WEEK after we got home. we have never had this experience before. after evaleigh's birth we had two friends bring over a meal. but we've never had this experience of meals upon meals from our church family. it was and still IS a huge blessing to us. with this being baby number six and shaun working a ton...it was a huge help to not have to worry about what we were going to eat for supper for days. and there were usually leftovers for lunch. so a double bonus! and the desserts...we even got desserts! lol. it was nice for one of the meals our friends stayed for dinner with us. we didn't have a ton of visitors, well actually we didn't have any visitors after we got home...so it was nice to have company and enjoy a nice meal together.<br />
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fletcher has been a perfect fit for our family. he is a pretty laid back baby, unless he has to poop...he is a bit fussy until he poops. but nothing major. we had a few long nights with him a few nights ago, he basically was just fussy between every feeding. ALL.NIGHT.LONG. but i survived. and he hasn't done it since. i'm very thankful for that!! he still is eating about every 2-4 hours at night. i treasure the longer stretches of sleep. but overall am feeling pretty good. we've had no dance these last two weeks...no storytime...so it's been nice to not have anything we "have" to be at, outside of sunday church. because we've also had no wednesday church the past weeks either. so a nice slow transition into "real life" has been nice.<br />
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i still can't believe we have six kids. each night as we're hanging out in the living room i look around at our "full" room and just stare in awe at each one of the kids. of course, we've been asked...are you having more? honestly, i have no idea. and i just tell people we haven't talked about it yet. we haven't. we don't know. we both feel like we could be done. but i also am fine if we'd have another. and i'd be fine if we didn't. so we're praying about it, and seeking whatever God's desire for our family is. because whatever it is...it's GOOD! that and a "G" name seems a bit easier to think of! :)<br />
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okay. i'll have to cut this short. i have a hungry baby to tend to. :)amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-52498722072835132992014-01-01T12:54:00.000-06:002014-01-02T12:54:26.288-06:00Saving Money after the Holidays (sponsored post)<div class="MsoNormal">
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Saving Money after the Holidays<o:p></o:p></div>
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We all know that the Holidays can be a huge drain on your
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2014 may be rolling in, but it is still quite cold in most
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<b><a href="http://www.ltdcommodities.com/Toys-%2B-Sports/cat51997.jmc">Toys and Sports</a></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Make sure to take a look at the other wonderful items
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-27903708995419347412013-12-31T14:29:00.008-06:002013-12-31T14:29:58.011-06:00capturing my blessings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
last week i got brave and took pictures of the kiddos. it was a fun time. and here are some of my favorites.</div>
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i threw together this little "announcement" for fletcher. and i was excited to try the hat out that i made for him! ;)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFiJJ0fCdhE/UsMl9cCGi9I/AAAAAAAADKk/pmf7zrBsz7A/s1600/fletcherpeterannoucement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFiJJ0fCdhE/UsMl9cCGi9I/AAAAAAAADKk/pmf7zrBsz7A/s400/fletcherpeterannoucement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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here are some more of fletcher. who NORMALLY sleeps but decided to not sleep much during the pictures...so the pouty face ones are included...but so darn sweet!</div>
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and here are the big kids...</div>
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fletcher was way beyond done with pictures, but i tried to get one of the six of them...</div>
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and i'd say it turned out adorable!! :)</div>
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this isn't from that day...but this morning. </div>
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fletcher was fussing this morning...dustin walked over and ssshhhed him and gave him his finger to hold. and put him right to sleep. it was so sweet. and i was excited to have captured it.</div>
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we've been beyond blessed this year. i can't wait to see what the next year will hold!!amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-20614486760604294802013-12-16T17:03:00.002-06:002013-12-16T17:12:21.364-06:00introducing baby f...and his birth storywe had our baby f!! who isn't quite so nameless anymore. :)<br />
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we're so excited to introduce to you...<br />
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Fletcher Peter<br />
born Thursday December 12th at 2:18pm<br />
8lbs 9oz<br />
21 1/4 inches<br />
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this is me the morning of my induction. and fletcher shortly after birth. </div>
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his birth time being at 2:18 was perfect...because he was always really active during this time of the day in the womb. so we got to see his eyes A LOT right away. :) </div>
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of course, he also need one of his momma's hats on his head!!</div>
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now...do you want to know the story behind his birth? </div>
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if not. </div>
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quit reading now. </div>
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just scan through until you get to more pictures. :)</div>
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my scheduled induction was for the 12th. i honestly wasn't so sure i was going to make it until then. i was feeling a lot of pressure and braxton hicks contractions were more and more frequent. i kept praying that my water would break *if* i was going to go into labor on my own. then i would for sure KNOW! </div>
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we checked in at the hospital around 830 on thursday morning. </div>
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my doctor caught us in the hall and said that she was running behind in surgery. so the resident doctor would get the induction started and she'd check on me between her next surgeries around 11 and probably break my water at that point.</div>
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the resident was fantastic. well except that he was a man. i've never had a man "check" me before. man hands are much bigger than girl hands. (nothing more needs to be said!) ;) he really was fantastic though, and i'm thankful for a really easy going guy. </div>
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he checked me and i was at 4cm!! woo hoo. my body was already almost half done. the baby was still at -2 but i was pretty thin and soft. </div>
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he then used the cytotec to hopefully start things. and off we were.</div>
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the whole morning seemed unreal to me. we had waited for this morning for so long, yet it was not real. but in shaun's words "it's about to GET real!" </div>
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contractions started not too long after the cytotec. which i'm really thankful for. it was working! by 1030 i was feeling regular contractions. but could easily talk through them and enjoyed watching the price is right. </div>
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while the nurse was in our room she asked about a name. we told her we were still undecided. but the three that were on our "list" were: Fletcher (my top) Finnick & Fuller (shaun's tops) </div>
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she polled the other nurses at the nurses station and later informed us that Fletcher was winning. (woo hoo!) </div>
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we didn't talk much about the name during the labor. i guess we maybe just would "know" what we were to name him. and i didn't want shaun to feel pressured by his laboring wife into a name that she wanted. lol.</div>
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my doctor came to check on us at around 1100. i was on the birthing ball. just chilling. i LOVED just sitting on it and rocking. it helped the contractions and it just felt good on my pelvis and hips. </div>
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when she heard that i was already a 4 that morning she decided to wait to break my water. she wasn't sure how fast things would go after it was broke, and didn't want to be in the middle of surgery if something happened. i was fine with it. she said she probably be back sometime around 1-130. </div>
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i sat on the birthing ball. talked with shaun. enjoyed some cable. we don't have cable, so we enjoy watching shows that we can't at home. i believe a marathon of international house hunters was on. by 1 the contractions were getting closer together. they weren't really hurting that badly, but were getting closer and feeling different. </div>
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i decided to get back on the birthing ball. we raised the bed up and i straddled the ball and leaned on the bed. and listened to the house hunters show. i remember trying to listen to it through a contraction and was more worried about what house the couple picked and got mad when i couldn't pay attention to it. lol. </div>
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during this time shaun and i talked about the contractions. i said they were hurting. but i didn't think bad enough for pain meds. but maybe i should just get an epidural. i've never had one. but maybe i should just try it. but i've had five kids without one. i didn't need one. but i didn't have anything to prove to anyone. no. i don't need an epidural. **this is the conversation i had with shaun, or more so aloud with myself.**</div>
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my doctor came in around 145 to break my water. she noticed my demeanor had changed, but i still could talk through the contractions. but even the nurse said how they were coming closer together (it's amazing to me how she knew this when i wasn't even being monitored!)</div>
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so i stood up to get into the bed.</div>
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then.</div>
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ploooooch.</div>
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sploosh.</div>
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splash.</div>
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MY WATER BROKE! on IT'S OWN!! all on the floor. </div>
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i thought maybe i peed myself. i said i don't THINK i did. but maybe i did? then i stepped a step and said. no. that's my water!</div>
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it was the first time i've ever had my water break on it's own! i am so thankful to have that experience. </div>
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so i went to the bathroom after reassuring the doctor i did not feel any urge to push. then hopped into bed.</div>
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she checked me. and i was a 6, baby was still and -2. she said, i'd give you an hour or so.</div>
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she left.</div>
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my nurse left to use the bathroom, or we'd have MORE issues on the floor. (her words. :) )</div>
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the next contraction came.</div>
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something was different. i said. something's different. something's different. i don't think i have to push. something's different. </div>
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someone got my nurse.</div>
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in the mean time another "different" contraction came soon after the first.</div>
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my nurse cam in and checked me right away.</div>
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i was still a 6. but baby's head was coming down.</div>
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another contraction came on strong. </div>
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i couldn't get calm and relax.</div>
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i was starting to get worked up. i asked if pain meds would make a difference. </div>
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my nurse said, if i wanted them i could. </div>
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i said. get me something.</div>
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she got the stuff for an iv.</div>
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she tried. one. two. three. times to get the iv in.</div>
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it'd go in. and then it wasn't.</div>
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she kept apologizing.</div>
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i kept saying how i needed to relax. i needed to calm down. i can't calm down.</div>
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my nurse would then go: AMANDA!! in through your nose. out through your mouth. and that worked. it calmed me down and i could get refocused. until the next contraction seconds later. </div>
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the nurse got another nurse to start an iv in my other hand. i was praying i could calm down. my lip was twitching and shaking like crazy and i was so upset by that. i remember at one point looking at shaun with tears in my eyes saying "my lip. my lip. it won't stop." the look in his eyes as he gently placed his finger on my lip and said "it's okay. your body is going through a lot right now. you're doing a good job." has me bawling as i type this. i will never forget the gentleness of him and the look of compassion in his eyes as he knew how much it bugged me to have that happening.</div>
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okay. back to the story...</div>
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so the other nurse got the iv in. i just said, give me something. i just need something. i couldn't stay calm. ((insert my nurse saying my name and telling me to breathe about a bajillion times))</div>
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as i said, can i just have something...my nurse checked me. the look on her face and the shake of her head was answer enough for me. nope. nothing. i could have nothing.</div>
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she said, amanda. his head his right here.</div>
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at some point the my doctor appeared in the room. and seconds after i said i just need something...i said. </div>
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he's coming. he's coming. i just need to get this kid out of me.</div>
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my doctor had me push. i tried to hold my legs back. i don't even remember if anyone had my legs back. i pushed...</div>
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...and i knew. </div>
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i just KNEW it.</div>
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i was pooping too.</div>
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and i said it.</div>
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with my push i said.</div>
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I'M TOTALLY POOPING RIGHT NOW!</div>
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i don't even remember the pain of the pushing. all i remember is how i could KNOW i was pooping. and i was so embarrassed. </div>
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my doctor said. his head's right here.</div>
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that brought me to reality. i needed to push again.</div>
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i pushed a push.</div>
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and there he was.</div>
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and then.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHin4OrOJCI/Uq-ESgTNOkI/AAAAAAAADH0/Q-kVQomP0I0/s1600/fletcher9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHin4OrOJCI/Uq-ESgTNOkI/AAAAAAAADH0/Q-kVQomP0I0/s640/fletcher9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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you see that photo. </div>
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picture it being amniotic fluid.</div>
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hitting my doctor straight in the face.</div>
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and then flowing down her shirt.</div>
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soaking her.</div>
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while i'm saying. "oh my word. i'm so sorry! oh my word!!"</div>
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picture my doctor laughing and spitting out the said fluid.</div>
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and then saying how it was a first for her. </div>
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not in the face, but for it to soak down her shirt.</div>
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((i have never seen so much bodily fluid leave someone's body like that in my life! and probably never will again!))</div>
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the nurses were laughing.</div>
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i was laughing.</div>
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and crying.</div>
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because at the same moment. </div>
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they laid my little boy on my belly.</div>
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our son.</div>
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they asked his name. </div>
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i looked at shaun.</div>
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he nodded at me.</div>
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and said. </div>
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fletcher.</div>
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it's fletcher.</div>
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born at 218.</div>
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about 28 minutes after my water broke.</div>
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the most INTENSE 28 minutes of my life. </div>
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i'm thankful now that God didn't answer my prayer about my water breaking at home!</div>
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i'm so thankful my doctor discerned to not break my water before her next surgery.</div>
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because mr. fletcher decided to live up to his in utero nickname "FLASH!"</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6jUO7G0VV8/Uq99EYYgnoI/AAAAAAAADGs/FtKTIFBHFsQ/s1600/fletcher3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6jUO7G0VV8/Uq99EYYgnoI/AAAAAAAADGs/FtKTIFBHFsQ/s640/fletcher3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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i look at this little face and think back to a year ago...when God placed it in my head and heart about being open to having another baby. and i KNOW without a doubt, God knows what He is doing. because how in the world did we NOT know that THIS was missing from our family.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7A_woUCTzxc/Uq99F92zP_I/AAAAAAAADHE/Z76ZmM5pj44/s1600/fletcher4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7A_woUCTzxc/Uq99F92zP_I/AAAAAAAADHE/Z76ZmM5pj44/s640/fletcher4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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we're all in love.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyPrCqQ64NE/Uq99F3PPIUI/AAAAAAAADG8/42pOTdDEhuo/s1600/fletcher5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyPrCqQ64NE/Uq99F3PPIUI/AAAAAAAADG8/42pOTdDEhuo/s640/fletcher5.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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((it's tradition that shaun goes and buys the going home outfit after the birth. he did a great job, yet again!))</div>
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and in the time it's taken me to write this...mr. fletcher wants to eat. </div>
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so it's perfect time to end this little birth story.</div>
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but not before one sweet little feet picture...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDKbYBKVjFg/Uq99HFeBHbI/AAAAAAAADHM/yZy2Tv83DwQ/s1600/fletcher6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDKbYBKVjFg/Uq99HFeBHbI/AAAAAAAADHM/yZy2Tv83DwQ/s640/fletcher6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-6379259710958362232013-12-09T18:13:00.000-06:002013-12-09T18:13:00.358-06:00random pregnancy factsthe "new" thing on facebook is random pregnancy facts. in celebration of the upcoming birth of mr. nameless baby f. i thought it would be fun to do a random pregnancy facts for ALL of my babies...hold on it'll be a long one. ;)<br />
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pregnancy 1- angel baby february 2004<br />
* we successfully became pregnant on our honeymoon and were married exactly one month when we found out.<br />
* the smell of salsa disgusted me and i couldn't eat broiled meat.<br />
* when we went for our 12 week appt we found out through an ultrasound that the baby had died at around 6 weeks.<br />
* we decided to have a D&C and i remember EVERY.SINGLE.SECOND of it. it is sounds that NO ONE should have to hear and endure and every time i hear certain sounds i'm reminded of this moment.<br />
* even though we were unable to find out the sex, i believe it was a boy.<br />
* through the ultrasound we also found a cyst on my ovary and i had to have it removed before we could try again. ((the trials of all of this within months of our marriage made our marriage a lot stronger.))<br />
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pregnancy 2- amelya francis<br />
* everyone thought i was going to have this baby early. so i worked up until a week before my due date. and sat around for a week. i was induced 3 days AFTER my due date. because of this, my mom missed amelya's birth because of a planned trip to mexico.<br />
* i worked at a daycare. in the infant room. during cold and flu season. up and down off the floor, wiping noses, washing hands and begging my sister to clean up puke because there was no way i was able to handle it!<br />
* i had an inkling i was pregnant because poopy diapers at work made me gag.<br />
* i gained 45 pounds.<br />
* if she was a boy her name was going to be isac layne. and if she was a girl it was amelya francis. but we were going to call her mya. (me-a) except after she was born. i HATED the nickname. it drove me nuts and i never once called her by it. and to this day cannot picture her anything BUT amelya.<br />
* i pushed for 3 hours. the doctor said that we were going to try the vacuum and if that didn't work we would have to do a c-section. that gave me the motivation to get the baby out.<br />
* amelya was my largest baby at 9lbs 4oz.<br />
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pregnancy 3-breigh mayann<br />
* was conceived when shaun was off of work due to an accident. his words were/are "only my top half was broke."<br />
* was born 15 months after amelya.<br />
* even though i craved cheese while pregnant, she is NOT named after brie cheese.<br />
* her name was going to be bryce russell if she was a boy. ((so we would've been alphabetical either way, but didn't realize it WAS alphabetical until the pediatrician pointed it out))<br />
* my mom was able to be there for her birth and cut the umbilical cord.<br />
* i played kickball the week before she was born.<br />
* it is on video me saying "it's like i just farted her out." her delivery was MUCH easier than amelya's. and i choose to be induced with her as well because i was so scared after amelya's delivery and tearing to *almost* the 4th degree.<br />
* i still feel bad about the FRESH strawberry shortcake shaun's sister and aunt had to throw away, in the hospital cafeteria, to come see her be born<br />
* breigh was my smallest baby at 7lbs 10oz.<br />
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pregnancy 4-caitlyn michaela<br />
* was my first pregnancy to find out about in the walmart bathroom, while shaun waited in the van with the girls before we went out to eat on his birthday.<br />
* i KNEW she was a boy and bought boy clothes all summer long because i was SO sure.<br />
* was born 15 months after breigh<br />
* caitlyn's labor and delivery was the first that shaun and i did "by ourselves". the other two we had a room full of people.<br />
* my mom came to check on me before work and "heard" caitlyn's delivery from the hallway. talk about perfect timing! :)<br />
* i cut caitlyn's cord.<br />
* we picked the boy name the morning of her induction. it was either going to be cole michael or caleb michael. my sister picked it out of a bowl and it was caleb michael.<br />
* my nurse checked me because i had to go to the bathroom. i was at a 6. she walked to the garbage. i was going to get up. and then i said i need to push! i went from a 6 to a 10 in only seconds...and still had to pee. :/ so i opted to just "go" with the next push. ;)<br />* we were "done" after caitlyn and within days of her birth traded IN our mini-van for a saturn vue. that fit three kids great in the back.<br />
* caitlyn was my second smallest at 8lbs even.<br />
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pregnancy 5-dustin russell<br />
* was our biggest "surprise" born 13 months after caitlyn...and about 10 months after a date night. ;)<br />
* i didn't think i was pregnant. i just took a test randomly because i hadn't gotten my cycle back, and had at that point with the girls. so i bought a test. took all three girls in the bathroom with me at walmart. and was ASTONISHED to see PREGNANT!<br />
* it was the first pregnancy we found out gender. and pretty much successfully kept it a secret until his birth. i did accidentally let it slip to a few people.<br />
* all of the boy stuff i bought the summer before, worked perfect for this little boy!<br />
* we traded in our saturn vue for another mini-van.<br />
* shaun cut dustin's cord. it was the first baby he did it for.<br />
* dustin was born with a prominent swirl/cowlick in the front of his hair...and i was glad that he was a boy when i saw that.<br />
* dustin was my third smallest at 8lbs 6oz.<br />
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pregnancy 6- angel baby may 2009<br />
* this was another walmart baby! :)<br />
* we told everyone on mother's day that we were expecting, and sadly i naturally miscarried a week later.<br />
* i DID get to see this precious baby alive only 3 days before i miscarried. and i treasure that moment to this day.<br />
* i feel like this baby was a girl.<br />
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pregnancy 7- angel baby august 2009<br />
* i have NO memory of finding out about this pregnancy. that makes me a little sad. but i honestly don't remember much of 2009.<br />
* the baby didn't grow and i tried to "induce" a miscarriage twice with drugs my dr prescribed. it didn't work. i was trying to avoid another D&C because of my memory.<br />
* when my dr found out about the remembering of my other D&C she said that we would use different drugs and she promised i wouldn't remember anything.<br />
* she was right. i have no recollection of the D&C and wish i would've done it right away because of the emotional rollercoaster of taking the drugs.<br />
* we were able to find out this baby was a boy. had he been born he would've had multiple chromosomal issues. because of the multiple issues the testing showed, shaun and i had chromosomal testing done. both of us came back "normal".<br />
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pregnancy 8- evaleigh jo faith<br />
* was my most emotional pregnancy. i bled at the beginning and begged God to just take this baby if that was what He was going to do anyways.<br />
* i had low progesterone with her pregnancy and had to take progesterone suppositories for 12 weeks.<br />
* i did NOT find out about her pregnancy in a walmart bathroom.<br />
* i was the most nervous and scared with her pregnancy.<br />
* God spoke to me continually about trusting in Him and having faith in His plan. that is where her one middle name came from.<br />
* had awful carpal tunnel for the second half of my pregnancy. my chiro came during her labor and adjusted my wrists and elbows for me.<br />
* was born 20 months after dustin<br />
* was my most traumatizing delivery because she presented posterior. i STILL remember the pain of her delivery and cringe every time someone mentions their own posterior baby.<br />
* she was my second biggest baby at 8lbs 13oz<br />
* i suffered post-partum depression for the first time after her birth. i still regret not going to the doctor sooner, but also am glad that i FINALLY did!<br />
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pregnancy 9- mr baby f<br />
* was joyfully found out about on a date night. in the walmart bathroom.<br />
* was the first baby that we actually prayed about "if" we should have and decided to "try/not try" (which really means try) for.<br />
* bled at the beginning of the pregnancy and AGAIN begged God to do whatever He needed to do and take the baby immediately if that was His will.<br />
* was again put on progesterone suppositories.<br />
* shared through tears at our women's retreat last spring that i was pregnant and scared...but at peace. and God surrounded me with the most beautiful sister friends through this entire pregnancy.<br />
* even though we got rid of everything that we had for the other kiddos, God has provided everything we've needed for this little man.<br />
* SERIOUSLY doesn't have a first name set yet. sometimes i think people think i'm lying when i say we don't have a name. but we really don't. and it's driving me CRAZY!<br />
* my doctor is predicting his birth weight to be in the high 8's to low 9's. i believe her. she's been right with the rest. :)<br />
* i didn't have an epidural with any other deliveries and don't plan to with this one either. my same doctor for all of my pregnancies has delivered all of my other kids and my prayer is that she will get to deliver this baby as well. ((my 2nd prayer has been that he doesn't present posterior))<br />
* when i deliver it will be the 2nd longest i've been pregnant. but we're not telling the date. unless you've asked, then you know. but that's only been a few people. so SHHH! :)<br />
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ahhh! that was FUN! seriously. i love reading about pregnancies/deliveries/etc and i love to share to people who are willing to read. so i hope you enjoyed it. :)amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-46105624910909122972013-12-03T15:50:00.003-06:002013-12-03T15:50:23.328-06:00getting closer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
with each day that passes...it's a day closer to meeting this little baby!! how can it be DECEMBER already!?! this pregnancy truly has flown on by. of course these last days probably won't. but either way...i can't believe it's almost time to meet our little guy!! he still doesn't have a name. but we have a few that we're tossing around. i have a "top" on my list. and so does shaun. but they aren't the same name. i'm thinking that the day we have him is the day we officially announce it. mainly because...i think it will take us that long to agree. while he doesn't have a name...i've been busy crocheting for him. </div>
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one hat that i was excited to do was this one...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H1PNdQjVuE0/Up5GvbIE_8I/AAAAAAAADGE/5Zn8dFTM2KU/s1600/johndeere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H1PNdQjVuE0/Up5GvbIE_8I/AAAAAAAADGE/5Zn8dFTM2KU/s400/johndeere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
but i think dustin was even more excited...because i made him a matching one. :) he can't wait to have his brother here to match.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-imosnGuw3hM/Up5Gvd5mk5I/AAAAAAAADGI/vw1FmnuDfS4/s1600/dustinjohndeere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-imosnGuw3hM/Up5Gvd5mk5I/AAAAAAAADGI/vw1FmnuDfS4/s400/dustinjohndeere.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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another fun hat i did was this one...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QF-2HgwkF8/Up45wzl-aHI/AAAAAAAADF0/ps5JGCtEkZI/s1600/funhat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QF-2HgwkF8/Up45wzl-aHI/AAAAAAAADF0/ps5JGCtEkZI/s400/funhat.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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it's mainly for taking pictures of him in. shaun and dustin think it's ridiculous. the girls and i think it's ridiculously cute! i canNOT wait to take his pictures in this hat.</div>
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or this outfit and hat...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfZ4sT3Ywck/Up4412spZfI/AAAAAAAADFM/NM7Kq_Mjf8U/s1600/babyoutfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfZ4sT3Ywck/Up4412spZfI/AAAAAAAADFM/NM7Kq_Mjf8U/s400/babyoutfit.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
i made the hat for a "Christmas-y" hat, and then the day after thanksgiving shopping found this outfit to match it. can we call say AHHH! so cute!! i seriously cannot wait to put him in this.<br />
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i had been waiting and waiting to buy our car seat for him. i finally broke down and bought it last week. and God totally provided us with 25% off of it!! pretty soon we'll be seeing him IN it, not BY it!<br />
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i'll be 38 weeks tomorrow. honestly, i've been feeling each one of these weeks. i don't remember feeling this tired at the end of the other kids' pregnancies. BUT i also think it's because we had so many pregnancies so close together that i was in a perpetual state of pregnancy for quite a few years. and now it's been almost 3 1/2 years since the end of my last pregnancy. i'm trying my best to take it easy. but it's not EASY to take it easy. laundry and cleaning and everything else still has to be done. i'm SO SO thankful for awesome kids and having the wisdom to train them. amelya is almost 99% of the time doing the dishes/dishwasher. last night i loaded it for the first time in i don't know how long. the other kids help out with the other things. i can't tell you the last time i swept the floors. and i have kids who love to dust. (woo hoo!) and i try to let them vacuum. i actually enjoy vacuuming, but have to let it go sometimes. lol. for a long time now i've had the kids put away their own laundry. so that's nice. the kids each help fold and put away their own clothes, and actually help me carry our stuff upstairs to our closet. i feel SO blessed to have these kids in my life. and i feel so blessed that God has given me the wisdom to train them in how to help and be a part of our household. i'm always thankful when we have tasks and work to do that they TRULY do it with happy hearts and we all work together. </div>
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here's a fun flashback picture...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx6OHUsZMGA/Up441SAeZcI/AAAAAAAADFQ/_NAHi6rslzA/s1600/10yeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx6OHUsZMGA/Up441SAeZcI/AAAAAAAADFQ/_NAHi6rslzA/s400/10yeas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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we celebrated 10 years of marriage the 22nd of november! it's amazing to me that we have already been married for 10 years. it's crazy. a very good crazy!! shaun's sister watched the kids for us so we could do dinner with each other, and totally blessed us by cleaning our house while we were gone!! we went to outback steak house for dinner and it was super yummy. they have one of the best spinach and artichoke dips. ((we base our dining out on the quality of the spinach and artichoke dip. lol)) this could very well be our last date "just the two of us" for awhile. so it was nice to enjoy an evening with him. and actually it was two weeks in a row that we got date nights. so that was really nice. my love language is quality time...so to have that "tank" refilled with my husband is something that really is good for my soul. i can tell when it's running on fumes or empty, and it feels so much better to have it filled.</div>
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the week before the kids had an overnight with shaun's sister. so the next morning shaun worked and i had the morning to myself. it was really nice to get that time to myself. i did really nothing. but sit on the couch. enjoy an old school movie and crochet.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1l1kcbMVSA/Up445N2ZDTI/AAAAAAAADFs/9g4p8iTv97M/s1600/daytoself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1l1kcbMVSA/Up445N2ZDTI/AAAAAAAADFs/9g4p8iTv97M/s400/daytoself.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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adventures in babysitting was one of my favorite movies growing up. it actually isn't too bad now, either. no judging, now! ;) </div>
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i did a craft faire at our church the weekend of our anniversary as well. it went pretty decent. i just wanted to at least get one order. and i got 4. so that's nice. i'm working on finishing those orders among other orders i already had...and Christmas gifts. so my hands have been busy during rest time and after the kids go to bed. one thing that the chiropractor said to me the other week was that he thinks the crocheting MAY be a reason i don't have the carpal tunnel with this pregnancy. because of all the movement it may help the fluid to not build up in my wrists/elbows like it did last time. i have some issues with my hands hurting/falling asleep while crocheting. but nothing major. for THAT i am SO thankful!! </div>
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now...the swelling that hasn't gone to my wrists...has gone to my face and my ankles and feet. it's gotten worse in the last few weeks. and my doctor gave me permission to be "lazy". i've been trying. and thankfully i can put my feet up most afternoons during rest time. it doesn't help a HUGE amount. but it does feel good to put my feet up. and i find myself wishing i had time (and money) to get a pedicure before i have this little guy...a massage of my cankles would be relaxing. but it'd also mean i would have to nicely shave my legs. ;) i have a countdown on my phone until the day we have the baby and each night before bed i say only "this" many more nights of sleep. and pain. my pelvic pain has gotten a lot worse this past week and i do my best to roll over only once during the night. that way it's only one time of pain. of course, now that this baby is pressing on my bladder more...i'm getting up to pee. so sometimes that plan doesn't always work. BUT yet...i'm thankful. i'm thankful for this precious little one causing me this pain. some women would do anything to experience pregnancy...pains and all. so please don't take this as complaining, because that i am not. i am just letting you know the "real" stuff this pregnant girl is going through.</div>
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one thing i'm REALLY looking forward to is this thursday. i wanted to get together with some girls before having this baby...so we're all going to the melting pot for ladies night! i'm so excited to spend the evening with dear friends that mean a lot to me and just hang out and have a fun night. ((again, quality time=love language)) :) there are like 10 of us going, so it will be a lot of fun. and shaun doesn't like or enjoy going to the melting pot...so it's fun to go with girls that WILL! i mean cheese and chocolate fondue...what is NOT to enjoy. :) </div>
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this summer i had an experience with jury duty. next week...i get to be a witness at a court trial. this past summer a man was driving with a child on his lap and i called it in. he's fighting the ticket and i got a subpoena to be a witness at the trial. life is ALWAYS interesting.</div>
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and speaking of interesting...i'll leave you with this funny from yesterday...</div>
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our financial planner was here and we were talking about him stopping over to go over some stuff the week after we have the baby. evaleigh THEN says.</div>
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you'll go to the doctor.</div>
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i agreed and said yes.</div>
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and then she proudly proclaimed to him and me...</div>
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then you'll push the baby out of your butt!!</div>
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i can't make these things up!!</div>
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amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899063578000359017.post-40804203456347842062013-11-14T17:46:00.000-06:002013-11-14T17:46:15.555-06:00random list postif you're on facebook you may have seen the "random post" of a certain number of items. i'm ALL about random. so i decided to just make it a blog post instead of a facebook post. ((mainly because it leaves me more room to ramble.))<br />
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1. i'm random. hence why i love these sorts of things. i love finding quirky little things out about people.<br />
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2. i love watching numbers change on the clock. like from :59 to the hour. OR when all the numbers are the same on the clock. i also love watching the odometer change in the car. i was very sad this week when i missed our van change over to 25,000 miles.<br />
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3. i have a lot of irrational fears. one being that every time we get close to our house i fear that there will be fire trucks there and our house will be burning down. i also fear every time we drive over a bridge we will get in an accident and end up drowning. i have plans in my head as to what i'll do if that happens.<br />
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4. i've seen every episode of full house and the brady bunch. and alias. and probably saved by the bell ((except the stupid jr high episodes)) i also LOVED watching tv movies growing up. my favorites were switched at birth and camp cucamonga. ((oh yeah!)) ;)<br />
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5. i'm shaun's first and only girlfriend and kiss. i wish that i could say that he's my first and only boyfriend/kiss. but i'm thankful to have waited for marriage for the "other thing." and that he's my first and only for that. ((which may be PART of the reason we had a short engagement. ;) ))<br />
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6. growing up i wanted to be a: model. archeologist. architect. special education teacher.<br />
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7. now when i grow up i'd love to be a: professional organizer (no joke!) or a lactation consultant or something of the sort.<br />
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8. i do not enjoy cleaning at all. but i truly LOVE to organize. and would help anyone who wanted me to. ((except probably for a hoarder...i do not do mice well.))<br />
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9. i have a hard time only using one ! or (. you have NO idea how hard that was to type!! i also use :) too much.<br />
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10. i miss playing tennis like crazy. some day i'll get back on the court. and i'll probably really suck. but it'll be fun.<br />
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11. i cannot do a cartwheel. i'm afraid to "fall" to do one.<br />
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12. i do not do heights well. or really at all.<br />
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13. i will only eat pretzels if they are covered in white chocolate. or soft and i can dip it in cheese.<br />
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14. i hate the term "best friend." i have no idea why one friend should be "best" and the others not. on that note i'm SO thankful for the dear friends i have. and the relationships i have with each one of them. BUT none of them are 'better' or 'bester' than the other.<br />
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15. my love language is quality time. i also love when people take the time to plan something special for me that they thought of. on that note i don't like giving out birthday and christmas lists because of that reason.<br />
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16. i wish i could drink coffee. i've tried. i've failed.<br />
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17. but i love tea. chai tea. salted caramel chai tea. or salted caramel hot chocolate.<br />
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18. i learned how to crochet two years ago. and am so thankful that i did. and for the friend that took the time to show me.<br />
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19. if someone would've told me that i was going to have 6 kids. i would've laughed. each time i say i'm on my 9th pregnancy i sit in shock.<br />
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20. i have a heart for special needs people and can't wait to use that someday.<br />
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21. we never "decided" to homeschool. it was just something that we knew we were going to do.<br />
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22. i didn't love math until college. and wish i would've loved it sooner. it's my favorite subject to teach the kids.<br />
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23. i went to college one year. and i feel weird saying "when i was in college" to people because i feel like it represents that i graduated college.<br />
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24. i have no regrets that i didn't finish college.<br />
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25. i'm thankful for the 4 years i had at the daycare before having kids. i'm positive it helped me out in my parenting and being able to take care of our babies.<br />
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26. i really had the thought of "no one is coming to pick her up at the end of the day. she's ours." when we left the hospital with amelya.<br />
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27. i look forward to the day that i can be a mentor to someone. and i'm thankful for the older woman who is willing to do that for me.<br />
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28. i fear losing shaun at an early age. i have determined that i will die one breath before him so i never have to live without him. when we're old and gray and still holding hands while walking down the street.<br />
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29. i wish i could play the piano. my grandma always told me i had piano playing fingers. but i do know how to play the flute. it's been awhile. but i love it.<br />
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30. shaun and i started dating when i was 16 and he was 18. it feels like ages ago. we'll be celebrating 10 years of marriage and 14 1/2 years of being "together" next week. we got married on our 4 1/2 year anniversary, not because we planned it, but because it was a date the church had available. and i didn't want to wait until january to get married.<br />
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31. i will only use an odd number of paper towels. and really dislike the automatic dispenser ones because i can't "count" as easily/as fast the number of paper towels.<br />
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32. i will only enter even numbers on the microwave when warming things up. BUT never on a 0. it will be either 2 or 8.<br />
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33. i take every opportunity to check out my husband. :) and totally deny it when he catches me.<br />
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34. i never dreamed about being a homeschooling stay at home mommy. but wouldn't trade it for anything else.<br />
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35. i wish i was bolder in my faith, and have been looking and taking more opportunities to do that.<br />
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36. i'm thankful for the opportunity to help with our children's ministry at our church. and thankful for our church and the family that they are to us.<br />
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37. i never intended on being this long winded!! :)<br />
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38. i can't decide to end on an even or an odd number, and it's driving me crazy!!<br />
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clearly i've decided. i'm stopping now. before your eyes bleed from boredom!!amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189348512265390836noreply@blogger.com2