Heaven

This pregnancy, to say the least, has not lent itself to moments of sheer exhilaration and feelings of contentment, peace, or calm. At least not in my stomach. Very few if any foods bring ANY exhilaration, let alone even satisfy my taste buds. Everything tasted pretty yucky for a long time, and although I will say I am getting over this hurdle little by little and puking is now dwindling down to only a handful of times a week, food is still not something I ever desire.

Except for one strange thing. When I'm at a restaurant, I look with longing at the fruity, icy beverages that pass me going to other tables. Like strawberry daquiris, margueritas, and especially pina coladas. Not at all for the alcohol, but instead for that sweet, frozen, slushy fruit taste--it just seems like little piece of heaven to me.

Yesterday I was in the store. On the canned fruit aisle I came across these things called Fruit Freezers and they are real fruit sorbets in individual serving cups.

I had one tonight, while it's 30 degrees outside, and it was A LARGE PIECE OF HEAVEN!!!

Just thought I'd let you all know, in case you're pregnant, getting pregnant, know someone who is pregnant, or really like fruit. Random, I know, but awesome.

Also, another random thing--my friend Angela posted this YouTube video of a young pastor's accidental mess-up in a sermon to what seems like teenagers. I laughed so hard I snorted, so if you don't mind "accidental crassness" and you're in for a laugh, click on her link to the right of this message. His mess up is funny, but his reaction is even more funny!

OK. See. I told you it was random. Goodnight.

My Guitar Hero Diva

Tonight as we came home from church, it was obvious Skyler was very tired. I took her out of her car seat and she laid her head on my shoulder, paci in mouth and "bank" in hand. I was trying to gingerly take her inside for a quiet, restful, easy night-night time.

When I opened the door, "When You Were Young," by the Killers, was BLARING as Daddy was jammin' to Guitar Hero. Skyler's head immediately raised.

"Daddy, what are you doing?"

"I'm just rockin' out. How are you?"

And her immediate response?

"Daddy!!! I want to rock out with you!!"

She's been pulling her clothes off and head-banging for ten minutes with no end in sight.

What can I say? My girl knows how to party. I wonder when she'll go to bed? ;)

A Visit to the Doctor

One other thing we experienced on New Year's Day that I NEVER want to experience again EVER in my life was rushing Skyler to the ER while out of town. On New Year's Eve, I was holding Bogey's phenylbarbatol (seisure medication) while grabbing Skyler's diaper bag and the lid came off, spilling the contents of the bottle in her bag. I went through the bad twice to make sure I had gotten all the pill but apparently some had gotten stuck on the white plastic backing to her changing pad. She doesn't use a changing pad for herself anymore--just for her babies--and had pulled it out the next day, leaving a small trail of pills on the floor. Luckily my brother-in-law Allan saw them and I quickly realized what they were. When I asked Skyler if she had eaten any, she said she had two and gave her baby two. I hurriedly called poison control, not knowing if she had taken any at all. She didn't have pill residue on her mouth, but I didn't know for sure--every mom's nightmare. Needless to say, we rushed to the ER to be sure.

After a miserable sticking and a quick test of her blood, it was determined she didn't take any pills at all. Praise God!!!! It was very traumatic, but Emily went with us and was so great to be a faithful aunt and hold Skyler much of the time. Skyler was very comforted by her Emmie. She was later impressed with the heart monitor tab placed on her foot (we even got one to match that was on her baby doll's head), the big "blue band-aid," and the red popsicle she enjoyed after we knew we were in the clear.

I learned a huge lesson that day. No matter how careful you try to be, BE MORE CAREFUL!! It was horrible to have all these 'what if's' running through my mind, to feel so helpless and out of control. I'm just so thankful for God's amazing grace to protect her, and she's now convinced that you never take medicine, even pretend, unless Mommy gives it to you. She was a brave girl, but we don't ever want to do that again.

Thanks also to the Powell family for going out of your way to check out the pill bottle for us, bring lunch to the hospital, and check in on us. You guys are the best!!!!!

After the whole ordeal, we wanted to make sure Skyler wasn't afraid of the doctor, so we got a doctor kit for her to practice being a doctor to her babies. It's worked wonderfully well!!

A Very Merry Christmas

Well, it is now the middle of January, and I'm finally taking the time to reflect on this Christmas. All in all I'd say it was a great time!! We started out the break finding out about our little Chloe Grace, probably the biggest highlight for me. There's just something special to me about putting a name to the little person inside of me--knowing if it is a girl or a boy, starting to plan. It's just fun!!! I think the thing I took away from this Christmas more than anything was a deeper appreciation for my family and the connections Coby and I are making with Skyler as each year goes by. Each moment is so precious, and I tried very hard to savor as much of it as I could.

Other highlights of my Christmas:

* Visiting with aunts, uncles, and cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

* Watching Grandma's face light up as she spent time with her kids and watched us all enjoy each other's company.

* Hearing Grandpa's "kid version" of the reason for Christmas--again! This time as he talked about a savior coming to earth, Skyler just shook her head as if saying, "You're right, Papa!! Keep preachin' it!" It was too cute!

* Having my sister with me to go Christmas shopping. She was a huge help, and I was more than a little frazzled!!! :)

* Watching my brother finally get to relax and enjoy his family after a tough semester at school--a well-deserved break!!

* Sharing fun conversation with my sister-in-law Crystal and learning from her so many tricks of the mommy trade

* Sharing another Christmas with my sweet husband and being spoiled all over again!!!

* Watching Skyler stand with mouth wide open as she saw what Santa brought her. She had every single toy she got for Christmas out on the floor in front of her and sat amid the mess playing all day long. It was GREAT!!!

* Sitting on the couch holding my mom's hand and visiting on Christmas day

* Hearing my mom's husband Ray share his heart about his commitment to my mom, myself, and especially to my children. He's a good man, and I was very touched by his love.

* Receiving a very special diamond necklace from my in-laws. Coby's three sisters and I each got a necklace, the diamonds taken from his Granny's ring which was given to her on an anniversary from Coby's Pap. I will treasure it forever!

* Spending time with Emily and Allan as they hosted us for the holiday. Emily had a constant supply of food--VERY important to this pregnant mommy--and they were both so fun and hospitable. Thanks, guys!!

* Sharing some precious moments with Sara and Beau. A holiday isn't the same unless we're all together!! :)

* Going shopping with my sister-in-law Amy and my niece Allie. We had fun looking for matching outfits for Skyler and Chloe Grace. Cheesy, I know, but a must when you have two girls. I also enjoyed the time I got to visit with Amy. She always knows how to make me so comfortable and feel so loved!!!

Big accomplishments of the holiday:

* I cleaned and reorganized a bit. I cleaned out my closet of some clothes (Six garbage bags full AND COUNTING!!!), rearranged with Coby after the holiday was over

and....

the biggest accomplishment...

Skyler's BIG GIRL BED. :(

It was so HARD for me!!! She's been asking for a big girl bed for awhile, and I was still rocking her to sleep, which needless to say was getting harder and harder as my belly is getting bigger and bigger, but she's my baby. It needed to happen. And yet, it was a sad, nostalgic day as I remembered how she was so small in the beginning, barely spanning the length of a rolled-up blanket, and now, my 2 1/2 year old intent on a "princess bed." Lord, give me the strength to edure the things I cannot change!!! :)

As I look back, I know that despite the busyness and stress of it all, Christmas was a huge success for us. And for me, it was so much more than presents under a tree or events to go to. It was a special time for family, for milestones, and for a deeper revelation of the privilege I've been given to be a child of God, an heiress of his throne. It was a good time, and I am thankful!!!

It's a GIRL!!!

Coby and I visited the doctor right before Christmas and learned that we are having another girl!!! We are so excited!!! I'm sorry for the delay in getting this posted, but the holidays have been crazy and I'm just now getting to a place where I have time to sit and type. Plus I've worked a million and four ways to try to get the sono posted and I still can't figure it out. I'm not the techiest of bloggers.

So anyway, the day we went to the doctor she weighed 7 oz. and looked great. My doctor actually got me in earlier than I was supposed to--she was only 17 weeks and 4 day--so I will have to go back at 25 or 26 weeks for another sonogram, which makes me excited!!! I'll get to see her all cute and fat!!! They will take a few more measurements just to make sure everything checks out okay, but so far so good!!!

What a blessing to have two little girls!!! We're so happy!!!