Happy 2nd Birthday, Olivia!

What a day! Nana and Papa came for the festivities, we made ice cream and had cake, opened some presents and played in the water. It was fun for everyone! We love it when Nana and Papa can come even if it's only for a few hours.

Olivia, I can't believe you are already 2 years old. I can't imagine our family without you. You are growing and learning so much. Pretty soon FaithLyn is going to have some real competition for the role of boss. You already have such strong opinions. You know what you like yet you still try new things. You are so much fun. I love to hear you laugh and play. I love to hear your sweet little voice. Everytime you ask to pray like the ''big girls'' it just melts my heart to hear you say, Der Jsus.

You are so eager to learn. I pray that your heart stays eager to learn. I pray that you always desire to call out to Jesus. I also pray that you will build strong and healthy relationships with your sisters, your brother, and all those close to you. May God bless your desire to lead in a way that makes that the beauty of the Cross desirable to all those around you.

I love you so much, sweet girl. It is amazing how fast you are growing. I love you more each day. Even on the days that you stay in trouble for pushing the boundries your Daddy and I have set for you I love you still. And even more than your Daddy and I love you Your heavenly Father loves you perfectly and passionately. May He be your desire and may all your desires be fulfilled!

AUGUST 10!!

I have just returned from my weekly visit to the doctor and we have finally scheduled the C-section.

The big day will be August 10, 2007. That is exactly two weeks from today. WHOO Hooo! I am so ready to see this little guy on the outside. I have gotten some pretty good visuals of his little tail end trying to poke through my tummy, so it will be nice to see his little face.

Please be in prayer for us as we prepare for this transition.

Baby Update

Well we got the official word from a specialist today that this little guy is doing fine. The kidneys are a little large but not overly large. And they do have a small amount of fluid retention but nothing to worry about. He concluded that they are functioning just as they should and we will just let the pediatrician know and he will follow up after this guy makes his appearance.

We should know a definite date for said arrival soon. It could be as soon as 3 weeks!
Thanks again to Gerlthouse for the fun day for the girls!! But I am swollen to twice the size I was this morning and that's just not even funny, comfortable, or attractive so I am going to bed. Hopefully the magic of slumber will morph my poor legs and ankles back to their normal pregnant larger than normal but not elephantine size.

Texas Heat Wave!

This is about the only way I can stand to be outside! Water is required.

And since the girls have been BEGGING me to play outside I finally gave in. The water felt great! Not too cold but not hot. Very refreshing. We went out again this morning and enjoyed some good time outside.

For all of those of you that have been praying for me while Dan is away this week, THANK YOU!! It has been a much better week than I anticipated. I have done some cooking, cleaning, and we haven't had the TV on non-stop. It's just been a nice slow week for us. We have enjoyed our time but MAN do we miss Daddy!

Almost immediately after I finished posting about the baby's kidney's and waiting to hear the results of the sonogram, my Doctor called. Ok, how many times have any of you other mothers had your OB actually call you at your house, just to chat or see how you are doing? Yeah, I thought so. It really freaked me out. He said that the baby's kidneys are still enlarged and show that they are holding some fluid so he wanted to send me to see a specialist for a level 2 sonogram to further diagnose the situation. I realize now that he needed to call to find out when to make the appointment. I mean, the clock is ticking on this pregnancy, right!? At the time I was just too taken back by an actual phone call from my doctor to think clearly. Oh, and did I mention he wanted to send me to Fort Worth the following week! Yep, that's right, the week that Dan is gone to New Orleans with the youth group I am packing the girls up for a trip to FW to see a specialist. Thankfully we have some great friends there who have agreed to keep the girls so I can actually concentrate at my appointment. Thanks, Gerlthouse! This will definitely make the day a lot more enjoyable for me. Not only will I have a more definite idea about what is going on with this baby but I also get to visit with some friends.

Who do you think I called first after my phone call with the doctor? My husband, right. Wrong. I called Gerlthouse immediately! I had to make sure that she was going to be around and would be willing to make her house a day care for a while. Maybe it would have been a better idea to call my husband first. I was like a blubbering fool! I am sure Erin would have agreed to anything I was so upset. I should have taken advantage of that! I might have been able to get a week out of her! ;)

To make a long story short, Dan went with me to see the doctor for my scheduled appointment the day following my chat with the Dr. on the phone. We went, after I had called all my family and alerted them enough to keep most of them from sleeping well that night, to get a few more questions answered. I just needed to know what to expect. I mean, with Dan being a couple of states away I needed to know if there was any possibility that I might be wisked into a delivery room. It has happened before!

The doctor answered all of my questions and was very reassuring. He assured me that he would let me know if I needed to be concerned. This is just a precaution. Although he can't be certain it isn't something serious none of the symptoms that would cause real concern are present. So, I have been biding my time this week to find out the skinny on my baby boy's big kidneys. We go tomorrow. The appointment is at 3. SO if you have the desire to pray for us, we sure would appreciate it. You might also pray for a good trip to FW as far as travel goes. You can look back a few months to experience our last trip back to FW. I really would hate to duplicate that visit!

Happy Birthday, Pop Pop!!

Happy Birthday, Pop Pop!!

We sure do wish we could be there to celebrate with you! We miss you and love you so much!!

What a week!

We had a whirlwind week last week. And I am just now recovered enough to tell you about it!

Dan took some time off to make up for some lost days off and just to recoup before we make the final stretch of the summer and final baby prep. Our friends Adam and Mandy came by for a visit on Tuesday and Wednesday with their two boys, Jonah and Caleb. We had such a blast! I was a little too tired to be much fun but we REALLY enjoyed their visit. Our home feels more like home now that we have had some more of our friends and family over. Then Dan went back to the office Thursday and on Friday we headed to the panhandle to visit Nana, Papa and Aunt Angie and cousin Luke. What a fun time!! I came home with a sore stomach from all the laughing we did. The girls got to take their bikes and show off their mad skills! It was tons of fun. Then we came home Saturday just in time to make dinner for some friends in the military who came for an overnight visit. They are both single males so I always enjoy cooking for men who like to eat homecooked meals! Then on Sunday night we had the Youth Led Service at church and Dan to debut his preaching skills for the whole church. Well, at least those that come on Sunday nights! Dan did a great job communicating the scriptures! I love to hear him speak. he always brings lots of energy to what ever he is doing. After the service we were blessed TREMENDOUSLY by a gift card pounding by our church family! What a blessing!! Now I can buy that baby swing that I have been keeping my eyes on at Target! And it looks like we won't have to dress the little man in pink after all! ;) I was never worried! God has always provided so much more than we ask! We have NEVER gone without anything necessary and I can't really say a baby swing is necessary! But I digress!
Then on Monday we got to go visit our sweet friends Chris and Nichole Clayman and their son Hudson in Mineral Wells for the day. That visit was LONG overdue!! They were in from NY for a wedding and we were fortunate enough to get to steal some of their precious time with family! We were both refreshed and renewed by that visit. Although I have to say it was more of a spiritual refreshment and renewal for me. By the end of our marathon week I was pretty pooped!

On Tuesday I had a follow-up sonogram to check on the babies kidneys. The technician would't tell me anything. SO I will have to wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow. But I have learned to wait and trust the Lord for the final outcome no matter how scary the situation may seem right now. Not that I don't sneak in a wayward worry or two every now and then, but I know in my heart of hearts that THE Creator knows much more than the doctors and I trust Him more because He has proven himself time and again!

Yesterday was my catch up day. We layed around and did nothing. I let the girls watch a lot of tv. And I don't even feel guilty about it! I didn't even go to church last night. After Olivia's early arrival I have decided to try and take it a little easier this time around. That has to start now. SO I am doing the basics that have to be done and that is IT! I am trying to keep my feet up and get as much rest as I can between trips to the bathroom and trying to get comfortable.

Dan is leaving for a mission trip to New Orleans with the Youth Group on Saturday. I will be offering prayer support. But if you think of it I would covet your prayers as well. We sure are going to miss Daddy!

I have lots more I want to say but this post is wordy enough for today. I sometimes forget that I am not just writing this for my Mom and Mother-in-Law. They care about the little things!

Our Sweet Daddy!

The girls have been really looking forward to these next few days. Dan is taking a few days to make up for some lost days off due to Youth activities. This morning I had a doctors appointment so the girls were pumped about getting to have some Daddy time. I think I was equally pumped about some Mommy time! This morning when I got up with the girls they instantly started asking where Daddy was. We tried to let him sleep in, but alas, we miss him too much! Before I even left the fun started. The girls have been waiting for a long time to play Princesses with Daddy. He's lots of fun, let me tell you! I snapped some pictures while I was getting ready. I missed the best parts, like the journey to the cave, and the battle with the dreaded witch. (the girls really love the Wizard of OZ.) But here are the pics I did get.





The prince and princesses had to take a break on their long journey. They were running from a dragon, I think.


And everyone knows that royalty MUST have tea every day, NO MATTER WHAT! This was the tea break.


Here they are working hard to revive princess FaithLyn from her long sleep. She was attacked by the witch and the only thing to revive her is the magic journey flower. Then you have to blow on her belly button. It's not conventional healing, but it always works!

Later, Dan found Olivia laying in the same spot pretending to be asleep. When Dan came with the other princesses to rescue her she started moaning and said, Boog, and pointed between the chair and the chest. Apparently the dead roach she found sent her into hysterics and she went limp. She seems a little young to be picking up on those kind of dramatics!


Aren't we blessed to have such a fun and loving Daddy!? How many Daddies do you know that will play princess with his little girls? They were so fun I almost didn't want to leave them! But I did anyway! I had a very enjoyable time ALL BY MYSELF, by the way!





Here is Olivia trying so very hard to get dressed all by herself just like her big sisters!! She's growing up so fast!