Thursday, July 31, 2008

22 Weeks and Counting

My friends, Jim and Cheryl, took some pictures of me and the kids on Saturday, July 26th since I've been negligent on taking pictures this pregnancy.

I saw my doctor today (almost 22 weeks along) and she said that everything is going terrific with my pregnancy now. She had me do one blood test today to check for an issue with my liver that may be nothing at all. She said that I'm doing well and that the baby is doing great. My blood pressure was perfect today - of course I went to the appointment alone and didn't have to rush my family who would rather be sleeping off to an early morning appointment they would rather miss. Rick would like to be at every appointment, but he'd like to be beamed there without having to get out of bed. So I will be going to my future appointments alone unless there is some reason I need someone else to drive.

Thank you all for your ongoing prayers for me and the baby!

August 1 Update - I received an email from the lab with my results for the liver function tests and some of them are elevated. Then a while later I got an email from my doctor's office saying that the doctor reviewed my results and needs me to repeat the test at my next appointment and that the orders are in the system already. My guess is that they want to make sure the levels don't increase in the next month. The doctor said she wanted to do a test for Cholestasis of Pregnancy when I mentioned that I was experiencing itching all over my body. I thought that it might be from a combination of sun screen, chlorine and dry skin, but she just wants to be sure.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Up for a Challenge?

I receive email newsletters from Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Revive Our Hearts Ministries) and she posed a challenge in a recent message. Actually she gave options for multiple challenges (involving husbands, your pastor, your pastor's wife, and the television). Check out this link and decide on the best challenge for you and your situation. I think all four of them our worthy of consideration and any of the four could be a catalyst for spiritual growth in our lives.

Give it a try it could change your life!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Do Something that Matters!

My church (in cooperation with churches throughout our church district) is raising money for wells in Haiti through the Haiti Water Project. The Haitian wells were the focus for our VBS offering this summer and we are extending the opportunity to contribute to the offering over the next couple weeks in order to help the project even more.

Watch a short piece highlighting how the Haiti Water Project is making a difference in communities in Haiti -- and how we can all get involved.


For churches in Haiti—where more than half of the eight million people there don’t have access to safe drinking water— it means they can become the source of both the literal and spiritual water of life. Young children in Haiti have to walk up to six hours each day to retrieve water.

For approximately $1,000, a church can build one well that will affect the lives of two thousand-plus people for years to come. If each of the 500 Nazarene churches in Haiti had a well on its property, it would mean one million changed lives. Various groups are partnering with local churches in Haiti to empower them to provide sustainable water resources for the people in their communities. It’s a dream right now. What would it take to make it a reality? Consider making a donation.

THE HAITI WATER PROJECT: GET INVOLVED

The Haiti Water Project is a simple concept: Create sustainable water resources that empower local churches in Haiti to meet the needs around them. Here are 4 simple ways you can get involved:

Learn.

Find out more about the needs in Haiti and how you can get involved. Start with the Haiti Water Project site at www.caribnaz.org, and then do some research on your own.

Talk.

Raise awareness about the need for clean water in Haiti and the ways we can all get involved. Talk about it with people you know.

Join the Haiti Water Project cause on Facebook, and invite your friends. Spread the word about the need and the simple ways we can help meet that need.

Teach others through your words and actions about how they can get involved in God’s call for action in our world — and specifically in Haiti.

Act.

The cost of a well is as little as $1,000. Individuals can donate part (or all) of the cost a well, or groups can go in together to donate the cost of an entire well.

Come up with creative ways people can give.

• Example: Give Up Your Bottles. In the U.S. we spent $15 billion (yes, billion) on bottled water last year. That’s enough money to supply clean water for all of the 1.1 billion people in the world who don’t have access to safe water. Give the money you would normally spend on bottled water in a month to the Haiti Water Project so people in Haiti can have clean water.

• Example: Host a benefit [fill in the blank]. Showcase your talents (and/or those of your friends) and use the proceeds to partner with HWP. Make it a concert or writer’s night or photography exhibit or …

• Example: Organize a fundraiser to help raise money for wells in Haiti. If you’re into running, you could do something like a community-wide 5K race. If you’re a creative designer type, you could sell T-shirts you design. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.

Pray.

Pray for the people in Haiti. Pray for church leaders there. Pray for the children. Pray for the families. Pray that God would provide resources for the churches in Haiti to meet the needs around them.

God loves HIS children in Haiti and we as their brothers and sisters can make a difference in their lives through sacrificial giving and prayer. Prayerfully consider how you might ACT to help make the lives of those in Haiti more tolerable.

* Materials and photos used by permission of http://www.caribnaz.org/

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Midpoint Sonogram

This morning my family and I went for the midpoint sonogram. It's hard to believe we are at the halfway point now. The sonogram was quick because the technician said the baby was cooperative. The technician was actually running almost an hour behind before he saw me and said that he made up a lot of time with my appointment since the baby posed appropriately. He said that everything looks terrific and that we have a healthy baby. The pictures taken today (19 weeks) were a bit fuzzy (ok not even anywhere near true - they are incomprehensible) in my opinion, but I will scan and post one from today anyhow.
July 16 (19 weeks)

Since the sonogram from today is so hard to interpret, I'm going to share one from June 19th (15 weeks) also, since its a bit easier to see and I feel I owe you something with the title saying "Sonogram."


Please continue to pray for the rest of the pregnancy and for a quick safe delivery. Because of the rod along side my spine epidurals are not even an option. I've been blessed with two quick labors and am hoping for the same this time. Of course as I said before I don't want it to be so quick that I end up having a baby on the interstate so any number of people could see my face on the local news. I had my first baby 6 hours after arriving at the hospital (I wasn't in labor - it was just a precautionary thing because the plan was to induce me in the morning). My second child was born almost 2 hours after arriving at the hospital. We have a different insurance this time and the hospital isn't five miles from home like the last two times. The time the little one decides to bless us with his or her presence will let us know whether its a 20 minute drive to the hospital or a two hour drive (crazy traffic during rush hour). If this one is like the other two it will be born late at night which will eliminate the traffic issues. I guess we will have to wait and see!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Vacation Bible School

My church is having VBS this week - the theme is Fruits of the Spirit! Please pray for the children that are attending (and those that have been invited, but not yet come) that they will feel the love of Christ and that they will come to a relationship with Him or that the ground work will be laid for them to come to the Lord. Pray also for the parents of those who may be un-churched that they feel comfort with our church or that they find a church somewhere that will meet the needs of their children and themselves.

Pray also for the children's ministers who traveled a great distance in an RV to share the love of the Lord with the children of our community and church. Pray that the workers from our church will sense God's presence in the work they are doing and that all the glory goes to God.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

~ Galatians 6:9-10

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Pregnancy Update

I had my doctor's appointment yesterday and the visit went really well. My doctor's main concern was that my blood pressure is high whenever I come to the office. Interestingly enough when my blood pressure is taken away from the doctor's office its always fine. He said that if someone looked at my blood pressure record he'd have to explain why I wasn't on medication for high blood pressure. I assured him that my blood pressure is elevated because I'm rushing around trying to motivate my family to get to an appointment when they'd rather be sleeping. So from now on I'm going to go to my doctor's appointments alone and it will be better for the whole family. Getting myself out the door in time for an appointment is no big deal. The doctor asked the nurse to take a second blood pressure reading after my appointment and the results were perfect. He ordered a panel of tests for blood pressure issues which I completed at the lab yesterday and every single test came out within the normal range.

He still wants me to rest as much as possible and to say out of direct heat and sunlight. He also wants me to drink lots of water (I'm the Queen of Water Drinking) which is no problem at all. My gym membership is on hold until next January per doctor's orders. He said I could go to the pool as long as I went after the heat of the day and as long as I drank water even if I didn't feel thirsty because people often dehydrate while at the pool - again not a problem.

My sonogram is scheduled for July 16th and they will do a thorough check on the baby and the placenta. So I feel that my appointment was terrific news! Thank you all for your concern and prayers - keep them coming :)

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Fireproof (the movie)

I recently found out about Fireproof, a new movie from the makers of Facing the Giants - check out this trailer - it looks great! If you'd rather read a synopsis go here.

fireproofbanner

Fireproof will be coming to theaters on September 26, 2008. Find a city near you.

The Fireproof website has many interactive tools you can use to help strengthen and grow your marriage. Visit Fireproof My Marriage today.