Baby News

This past week has been a whirlwind...I have "written" this post in my head probably 50+ times over the past week, and each time it looks completely different. Journaling has always been a coping skill of mine, and though I knew I'd eventually blog about this past week, I have resulted to actual journaling with paper and pen these past days.

But here I am, ready to share with you a piece about my Savior.

A week ago I went in for a routine ultrasound to check the heartbeat (and sex????) of the baby. This was the first doctor's appointment I have ever had where my doctor expressed concern over a certain developmental aspect of the baby. The bowels had not returned to the abdomen wall as expected at this stage of pregnancy. After my many questions, he explained how this could mean one of two things: one was very serious and would require immediate post-natal surgery for the baby, and the other - much much more serious -  had devastating effects after the baby was born. We discussed upcoming pre-natal care which would include me going to UAMS in Little Rock for chromosomal disorders testing, more in-depth ultrasounds, and how I would ultimately have to deliver there with a specialist doctor. HE told me he wanted to see me weekly for a while to monitor this.

I was at that appointment by myself and left with floods of emotions - terrified, anxious, confused - and cried and prayed the whole way home. Something could be wrong...seriously wrong.

Half-way home my doctor called me from the office to tell me not to worry too much that upcoming week, that he still thought there was a chance it could form into the abdomen in the next few days (but that it is just usually formed by now).

And that became my prayer.

Yall, I prayed my heart out that day/night. I prayed for healing, but I ultimately Jason and I prayed that if this was the road God had in store for us, that He would get glory through whatever circumstances lay ahead. And I prayed for peace...over and over for peace -  no matter the outcome.

I told my close friends who I knew would rally in prayer for this baby. That part was overwhelming! I got verses in text, prayers emailed to us, and felt the Body of Christ in a powerful way.

That night I got little sleep. I woke up the next morning with a heaviness and I lay in bed praying for God to give me energy that day, to lift my spirits, and I asked Him why I still didn't feel the peace I had prayed for the entire day before. As I was doing this, my phone rang - a number I didn't recognize.

Here's where the miracle comes in...

I answered the phone and it was a school board member whom I've met one time - this summer. I still don't even know how she got my number. But she did and she called. And she told me God has been teaching her a lot about himself lately and she wanted to share it with another Believer.
And my name was on her heart that morning.
Which, by the way, is very very odd. This lady had no idea of our circumstances and I don't even know her that well.
But she called me and she began telling me about the armor of God and how we need it to defeat the enemy and His lies. Then she, boldly, proclaimed to me "Melissa, the battle is HIS! The battle is His!!!!!"
At this point I was crying on the phone because I knew this lady was acting as the voice of God to me. I wasn't able to explain to her the significance of her calling because I was crying so much (I later got the chance too, though!). How crazy that God used a school board member to call and minister to me that morning, BEFORE MY FEET EVEN HIT THE FLOOR.

Yall, God knows what we need and I was completely engulfed and overwhelmed by His love that morning. I called Jason to tell him about it and his response was "We have no clue how much God really loves us...none of us do...".

And that peace I had been praying for? He gave it to me after that phone call. And I have had it ever since...unwavering (no joke) which is ONLY from God. So much so, I never even googled anything from then on! Ha.

I had made such peace with whatever the outcome (even if it was the majorly devastating one), knowing God could use it ALL for His glory...and isn't that all that matters in the grand scheme of things???

These past few days, I actually had this overwhelming feeling that the mass presented above the baby's belly would be completely gone next ultrasound. I told my close friends that recently...

So today was the day and I woke with super sweet messages from friends and text throughout the day of people praying. My mom informed me that some of her close friends woke up praying for me as well...humbling and encouraging.

I had zero anxiety today which is a miracle. It wasn't until the doctor put the device on my belly getting the picture of the baby up on the screen that my heart started beating out of my chest...and at that point, Lincoln goes "Mommy?" I looked over at him and he goes "I love you."

God knows what we need...

You guys - the mass was completely GONE. There was zero sign of anything abnormal. Nothing. We nixed the plans for UAMS...Jason and I looked at each other and said Praise the Lord...He is Healer.

And here are a few interesting afterthoughts:
1. This past week could have been one of complete turmoil, google, and constant worry. But God drew me closer to Him this week. He showed up in my life through prayer and using other people. "Bad news" isn't always so bad, you guys...feeling out of control with only one place to turn can be a strangely restful place...
2. This is terrible, but I caught myself - when I first got in the car after the good news, my first thought was "Melissa, now don't go around calling this a miracle because there was a small percentage out there of fetuses that develop the abdomen wall really late..." or "This was more of a medical explanation..."
Then I caught myself and realized the many ways God demonstrated power/love just in our relationship this past week, and how the enemy would love for me to believe this was "explainable" and not a miracle.
My friend Bethany told tonight how the same has happened with her, how she has caught herself trying to excuse miracles because we really lack faith in them sometimes.

One thing I've learned (I have in the past taken for granted) is what an absolute miracle it is that all things form together in a perfect manner to form a human being. We often call it a miracle nonchalantly, but I know see clearer than ever just how incredibly miraculous it all is.

So as for this family, we choose to call this a miracle, and give God all the glory for forming this baby in a healthy manner!

So that's our latest faith journey. I will still go back for an ultrasound in a few weeks to solidify things are still good (and find out the sex!). He tried today to see the sex, but the baby wasn't very cooperative.

Anyway, thanks for listening and I'm so humbled to serve a miraculous God who loves me and knows my every need. He is PROVIDER. The verse at the top of this blog is one I cherish and claim often!

Get Me Out of the Kitchen

Maybe it's the pregnancy that makes feel as if I need to be in the kitchen? Not sure. But it's almost 10:30 and so far today this is what I have cooked:

1. Veggie Past Mac&Cheese: it's new and I like to make it early for the kids and put it in the fridge for lunch (not as messy). And this new stuff has 1/2 cup vegetables per serving - made with cauliflower.

2. Tender Roast in Crockpot for dinner - complete with potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. I wish I could post a smell on here because it is one of my favorites!

3. Quesadillas are in the stove cooking for the kids for lunch...

4. Cupakes from Pinterest: Supposedly the best cupcake recipe ever. I will say I just tried one and they truly are pretty amazing. I think I'll have to agree with the claim. Make them if you get a chance! Now I need to find the perfect frosting recipe...

(Doesn't that look amazing! My icing isn't that pretty - it's in fact purple - per Lincoln's request).
Now on to play swords, pirates, and basketball. :)

Trick or Treat

Tonight we did our annual (can I say that now that we've done it two years in a row?) trick or treat party with some of our coaching friends. Some couldn't make it this year because of sickness and things, but there was a fun crowd and the kids had a blast.

Sawyer is one of Lincoln's absolute favorite buddies. They're stinkin hilarious together.

Lincoln went - as he's requested for the past few months now - Joshua (battle of Jericho, Joshua). Today he put his armor on, ran up to me and yells: "My name is Joshua! I am MAADD!! And I'm gonna knock your wall down!!!!!!" He's a ham.
Noah got the hand-me-down hideous Frankenstein costume. And Noah had more fun trick or treating than anyone, I think.

Then there was best dressed couple (Okay, the only couple that dressed up), but loved their idea!!! Tammy & Eric Taylor from Friday Night Lights!

And of course I had to pose with Mrs. Taylor herself. :)

Fun night. Precious friends. I am tired!
We have a super busy week ahead...hanging out with Jason's team tomorrow after practice, then going to first JBU b-ball game with the team, ultrasound later this week, home football game, Razorback madness with tailgating and family coming in for the weekend, Father/Daughter bowl night with cell group girls...I'm tired thinking about it, but it will all be fun! :)
And one more pic because I love this one.

I Tried the Broccolii Thing...

You know, from Pinterest...this one?
Supposedly the best way to cook broccoli???

And it really was awesome. Now it says anyone/everyone will like it, but my husband is avidly disgusted by broccoli and this still didn't work. I made it for myself for lunch after church. Yes, for lunch. And it was fantastic and filling.

I basically followed the recipe, but made some modifications. Here's what I did in case you want to try:

Broke apart 2 bunches of fresh broccoli and mixed in 4 sliced cloves of garlic (on foil in a square cake pan). Sprayed with cooking spray (instead of using recommended amount of olive oil - too much hurts my stomach).
I did mixed in about 1/2 TBS of olive oil.
Put a very generous amount of salt and pepper :)
Roast in the oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. This was the perfect time.
Take out of oven and mix in some pine nuts (I will probably not do this next time).
Recipe says squeeze lemon over it, but all I had was a lime and it worked just as well - a necessary step - loved the zest!
Then it says put Parmesan cheese over it. OF course Walmart was out of Parmesan cheese (really??) so I found this stuff instead for a dollar and some change. I used the middle flavor.

I sprinkled about 1/5 of the package over the top and it was AWESOME! Saving the rest of the package for next time.

This is something I will definitely take as a side when I take next meal to someone. So there you have it. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed. I think I'm going to try to do this with asparagus next time and see if it's good.

Happy 3 Years :)

My sweet baby Lincoln turned three today! And we are spending this day with just our little family - fantastic. This morning I cooked cake-batter pancakes with sprinkles (which the kids loved, but the taste was so-so), then he opened his few presents from us.

Here are some little things about Lincoln at this stage of his life:

* He has now gone almost a week with NO paci whatsoever and has done fantastic. So glad to be done with that phase!
* He's also been perfect on using the potty. I can't even remember the last time he had an accident. He can also do it all by himself...undress, potty, and put clothes back on. You always know when he went b/c his shorts are usually on backwards :)
*He still loves "class" during my Bible study. I think he's going to have a blast when pre-school starts.
*He has a wild imagination that it captivating. I love watching all the stories he makes up with his toys and all the crazy adventures he does with them.
*He still loves all things Veggie Tales which warms my heart. I hope he never grows out of this.
*He loves to pray...at anytime in the day. When we go to church, he (unprompted) prays for Noah that he won't cry...and if we hang out with you, you can bet he will pray for you that night when he goes to bed.
* He has a bursting heart of compassion and care for others. If he sees someone upset, he will go check on them (even if it's a dog).
*The boy LOVES him some sports. More than you can imagine. He is always curious "who is playing each other" and "who is winning" and has a basic understanding of how most major sports work.
* The Tigers and the Razorbacks are his favorite teams.
*His favorite Bible stories are Joshua, David & Goliath, and when Jesus calms the storm - he also loves to act these out.
* I here almost everyday, "Mommy, how's that baby doing?"
* He has recently starting eating double of what he used to. It seems like he is always hungry!!
* He loves to take showers now.

This is an interesting time because it feels like the major "baby transitions" are gone now. Our next ones will be when he starts pre-school, the new baby, and when Noah moves into his room next summer. :)

Buddies :)

Big Foot

This big boy has a big 3-year-old birthday coming up next week. And it's as if his growth spurts are corresponding accordingly. Yesterday he took a 4.5 hour nap (I actually woke him up), and a 3.5 hours one today.
And his shoes just don't really fit.
So I got his his new Nike's his Gran-Gran bought him that were too big a few months ago.
And they fit...perfectly...today.
And they are a size 10.5 which I've been told, is quite monstrous for a 2 (okay, almost 3) year old.
Big boy.

In other news, I'm feeling a lot better in the days! I take a nausea pill most days which probably helps, but I'm loving the relief!

Another interesting thing about this pregnancy so far that was different than times before, is that I am already showing. No joke. 9 weeks and I have an obvious baby bump. It took me until close to 5 months to show in the past so I wasn't expecting to already be getting the maternity clothes out! I don't need them just yet, but I'm telling you - it will be soon.

I googled this (why I am showing months earlier) and it made perfect sense. After a few go-arounds, your uterus (sorry if you don't like that word) grows at triple the speed because it knows what's about to happen. And there's not as much tight abs to fight through. :)

I learned something new.

Everybody have a good weekend with this awesome weather!!!!!