Pregnancy Update and picture of Kate Pregnant :)

I thought I would bring everyone up to date on the pregnancy as we have now officially entered the third trimester! Yippee!
As many of you know, I don't particularly like any pictures of me taken while I am pregnant for lots of reasons. Anyway, I thought since this is our last baby and since most of you haven't seen me in a few months I would oblige. Scroll down to bottom of post. :)
Update: During my last pregnancy with Charlie I was on bed rest at 28 weeks so I have been monitored a bit more closely throughout this pregnancy. I am currently 29 weeks and so far things are looking pretty good. I was a bit concerned this past weekend as I was experiencing some contractions that were not letting up with bed rest so I called the doctor's office Monday morning and they had me go to L&D at the hospital. To be honest I really didn't want to do that and thought that everything was fine but just wanted to make sure given my history. Turns out everything was fine, I was contracting but they weren't too concerned and I am also 50% effaced. So I was told to continue on my modified bed rest and follow up with the doctor.
So this takes us to yesterday's Doctor's visit. (Background info: I am planning on attending the Women's retreat at my old church in Virginia with my sister next weekend.)I got up the courage to ask if they felt comfortable with me traveling and was thrilled when she said I could go because of some test they did at the hospital showed that I was not in danger of going into labor in the next two weeks! So turns out it was worth the hospital trip after all! The rest of the appointment went well except for the part that I gained 10 pounds in 3 weeks! See picture below as proof! :) Gotta lay off the sweets! They did an ultra sound to check cervical length and it is shortening but so far still alright. Got to see the baby but she was face down and wouldn't give us a good picture. The u/s tech said she weights approx. 3.2lbs already and that she sees that she has hair! Not surprising as her older sister had a whole head full, highlights and all! A date has also been set for my c-section, May 8th. So if I don't go into labor before then May 8th is the big day. Callie's birthday is the 6th and she is actually hoping that they'll get to share a birthday, we'll see!



Well......it is a picture of "Kate" pregnant just not me! :) It's Kate, from Jon and Kate plus 8! I may only have one baby in my womb but I certainly feel like I look huge!
Will keep you all posted!

Just like you see in the movies....

Early Wednesday morning, Feb. 11th, Mike arrived safely on US soil! And we were able to meet his plane in Bangor, Maine to welcome him home after a 15 month deployment in Iraq!
It was a total God thing and the timing was perfect! We had an idea as the days approached when he would be arriving back in the states but we weren't sure what plane he was on or where exactly it would stop for fuel before heading to Texas! After lots of phone calls, sleuthing on the Internet, and prayers we decided we had a 50/50 shot that he would be arriving in Bangor at 4:30am on Wednesday. (There are approx 20,000 troops in his division that have all been coming home the last few days and we were trying to track down the one plane of 300 soldiers that he was on and due to security etc...they aren't able to give details as to when and where planes are arriving.) Tuesday evening after dinner, my parents and sister and I all packed in the car for a road trip 3 hours north to Maine! We arrived at the hotel and promptly went to bed knowing we would be up early to meet the flight. We got to the airport a little after 4am the next morning and eagerly awaited the plane's arrival. We kept asking one another, "Do you think he is on it??!!" Remember, we weren't sure and Mike didn't even know that we were trying to meet the plane! Finally, we saw the plane land and the soldiers started to come down the walkway!
Praise the Lord! There was Mike, about the 5th or 6th soldier off the plane! He immediately recognized my father and then holding back tears realized that we were really all there!
It was a scene out of the best scripted movie...lots of group hugs, tears of joy and relief, and of course smiles from ear to ear! It was so great to see him and as my mother said a huge weight off her shoulders knowing he was home! We were able to spend about an hour and half with him, having some breakfast, catching up, meeting friends and co-soldiers and hugging some more! The time was short but incredibly sweet! Mike made a quick call to Christy in Texas letting her know that he was headed her way! One more round of hugs, some quick pictures and off he went on the last leg of his journey home to Texas to reunite with Christy and the kids! It was dream like as we looked around after they all boarded the plane and the airport was empty!
Mike called later that afternoon and reported that they had a wonderful reunion with the family and that it was so great to be home after 15 long months! God is good and faithful and His timing is perfect! To Him be the glory! Thank you all for your prayers for Mike and his family during the deployment!

Sweetly broken....

My apologies for not posting sooner and keeping up as frequently as I originally had planned when I started this blog. To be honest I just haven't felt like there was much to write about that would be of any interest to you all and I also don't have any new pictures to post. (Well that's not entirely true. I do but they are of the kids again in the snow and after looking at them they look like all the other pics that we have of them in the snow since there is so much snow!) Anyway back to my thoughts....I have decided to just post about what is really going on in my head and heart right now. Its not all fun and happy looking but please be assured that my focus is upward and I am persevering. When the Lord revealed to Rob and me over two years ago that we would one day head to NH to live I never imagined that it would look like this! In fact, as many of you know I wasn't to thrilled with the thought to begin with but trusted the Lord to change my heart and also knew that with obedience brings blessings! In fact, as I look back on the last two years, the Lord has been incredibly faithful and the blessings are bountiful. He even slowly changed my heart; I developed a deep desire to follow the Lord's leading, wanted to follow the leadership of my husband, and even had moments of excitement at the adventure ahead! All that being true I write today feeling disappointed. I keep trying to let go of my hopes, desires, and expectations and let the Lord give me His dreams for my life but its so hard! We are fast approaching a year that we have been out of our own home and living with both sets of parents. I ache for my own home, decorated with my things, surrounded with my memories and pictures, setting up my kids rooms with their toys and books and just being myself with out a mask on all the time. As my sister loving pointed out to me God is being merciful with me and slowly showing me how to be content in all situations and removing the barriers from around me. As the song Sweetly Broken says, "drawing me gently to my knees, holy surrender." Tears for frustration and sadness and even anger stain my cheeks as I wonder when I will see the fruit in this experience. I know in my head that it is for my good and I trust with my heart that His ways are perfect. And I write this entry to let you, my friends and family, know better how to pray for me and to even better know my heart. Sorry to ramble, thanks for caring and loving me. Promise some pictures next time.