The Heart Attack Tree

I know it's been a lot of posts today, but I'm trying to catch up a little. I just had to add these pics to the blog. On Saturday, the kids were out in the yard playing almost the entire day as they have been often lately. They were catching butterflies, climbing trees, and of course getting good and dirty. Jeremy went to call the girls in for dinner, but he didn't see them. When he called for them, they answered, but again he couldn't see them. When he asked where they were, they replied, "In the tree!" As you can see from the pictures, this tree is not a little tree, and the girls were close to the top. They have never climbed this tree before, and even the lowest branches are out of their reach, or so we thought. The second picture is one Andrea took BEFORE they got down, and you can't even see them! I about had a heart attack! I had to leave and go back in the house while Jeremy got them down out of the tree. Caitlyn climbed down quite easily, but surprisingly Kylie got scared when she realized how high up she was. Jeremy went to the rescue, and climbed up the tree and got her down. Needless to say, they got a good talking to after the initial shock wore off! The things kids do!

Fountain Fun

Friday night after VBS concluded, we went with some friends to El Paso Restaurant to celebrate a successful week. Outside the restaurant in the courtyard, there is a large fountain. After such a hectic week, some playtime in the fountain was just what the doctor ordered. Even Jeremy got in on the fun. It wasn't until Jeremy and the kids were already soaked through and through that Andrea noticed the sign posted nearby! Oops! It's times like these that make the best memories.

Kylie is a Child of the King!

Kylie has been asking a lot of questions recently about getting baptized, and about salvation. A little over a week ago, she announced that she wanted to get baptized. She has asked Jesus into her heart before (last year), but it was mostly at her sister's prompting and Jeremy and I both knew that she didn't fully understand what she was doing. Monday night after VBS, Kylie prompted the discussion again. Jeremy talked to her for awhile, and she very sweetly asked him to help her pray the prayer of salvation. She actually understood much more than we even realized, and it was such a sweet conversion. What a blessing to be a part of your child's salvation decision. Sunday night Kylie got baptized, and she was so excited and proud of her decision. I am so thankful that our children are able to grow up in an atmosphere where they can be unashamed of the gospel of Christ! As you can see from the pictures, Caitlyn and John were right there to cheer her on. It was such a beautiful moment, a memory to cherish.

Baby Update

I am now 38 weeks, and anxiously waiting for my doctor to return from vacation. My amniotic fluid levels are starting to drop, but other than that my body seems to be holding strong. I am scheduled for induction early Monday morning when my doctor returns. I have been having a lot of contractions and early labor signs the last few days, and I have one more ultrasound and doctor's appointment on Friday. Hopefully I can hold off till my doctor returns, but as we all know babies come when they want to. This is the longest I've ever carried a baby! As you've probably noticed, there have been no pictures of me recently on the blog. :) I will just tell you that my belly is bigger than it has ever been, and the doctors are estimating that Luke will be over nine pounds like John David! Even though I am currently only three pounds heavier than when I got pregnant, the baby has taken over my body! I can barely reach the gas and brake pedals in the van, and haven't been able to drive Jeremy's truck for awhile now. We have a standup shower in our bathroom with a door that I will just say is not wide enough anymore for me. :) Only five more days at the most. Wow! Now that it is so close, we're all nervous and excited at the same time. We'll post pics ASAP on Monday. Pray for an easy delivery! Love you all, and thank you to God Almighty who has blessed us with such incredible reminders of His glory!

Cactus Canyon - VBS 2008

What a week of Vacation Bible School! We did a western themed VBS this year called Cactus Canyon. With all that's been going on with the baby this year, I knew it would be difficult to get everything ready in time, but I have to say that my third year as VBS director came together nicely. God provided some great volunteers that really stepped up and took up the slack when I didn't have the energy to get things done. My friend Jennifer served as my co-director this year, and I couldn't have done it without her. She's such a hard worker, and did a majority of the work for me. Having my sister here was a great help too. We always take lots of pictures during the week that we put into a slideshow for a special program the Sunday night after VBS. Andrea did all our photography, and created the best slideshow we've ever had. The week was a huge success, and we had 14 kids who accepted Christ as t heir Savior during VBS! Our kids had a great time, and we were all definitely worn out after the week was done! Here are a few of the pictures that Andrea took. Enjoy!

36 Weeks and Still No Baby

I can't believe it's been almost four weeks since I posted, but our lives have been very hectic to say the least. Our computer is still not working, but it's not like Jeremy has had a moment to spare to try and fix it. I have been in the hospital three times since the last time I posted. Twice for preterm labor, and this past weekend I was in for possible pre-eclampsia. This pregnancy has proved to be more difficult than we imagined, but God's grace has been sufficient. John David also spent a night in the hospital a little over a week ago with a bad virus that the doctors originally thought was appendicitis. John David is doing much better, but we have all passed it around except for Jeremy. After the second hospital stay for preterm labor, and them successfully pumping me full of medication and slowing down my contractions, the doctor put me on partial bedrest and suggested that if possible I should get someone to come stay with us to help me carry the baby a bit longer. My sister flew here shortly thereafter, and has been here since. She has been a big help! My doctors have gone back and forth as to when they think it will be best to deliver the baby, and my OB is out of town for two weeks starting next Monday. The decision today was that since my blood pressure and my placenta function are still holding strong, we are going to try and hold off till 38 weeks to ensure complete lung development for the baby. If my condition changes or I go into labor on my own again, the doctors will go ahead and deliver. Luke is doing well, very strong and growing larger by the day. That is another concern of the doctors' and they are using my weekly ultrasound to estimate his weight again next week. The goal is to avoid a c-section. Anyway, it has been a rough few weeks, but we are surviving and enjoying having my sister, Andrea, here. Love you all, and thank you to God Almighty whose grace is sufficient!

32 Weeks

Wow! What a few weeks this has been! This update is full of praises and prayer requests. My appointment with the GI specialist last Friday went well, and I am not going to have to have my gallbladder removed, at least not anytime soon. Jeremy and John David returned home safely on Tuesday. We missed them so much!! Even as we were rejoicing at their return, we found out that my grandfather, my mom's father, had passed away. He has been struggling with heart problems for years, and suffered a heart attack on Monday. Please pray for my mom and all her siblings. With Jeremy just returning from Wisconsin, and with my medical issues right now, we will not be able to travel to Indiana to be with my family. Per doctor's orders, I have spent the last two days on bed rest. My blood pressure is giving me trouble again. My OB is trying to decide how to proceed, and will probably be adjusting my medicine again. At this point in my pregnancy I need to be careful that I keep my pressures controlled, as that will decrease my chances of developing preeclampsia. The baby looked very good at my weekly ultrasound on Tuesday. I have another ultrasound and NST scheduled for this next Tuesday. I am definitely feeling the strain on my body, but with every passing week I am comforted by the knowledge that Luke is growing stronger. Thank you to all of you who have been praying. We have had some incredible answers to prayer lately, and I know that it is because of the great prayer warriors we have.

A few other odds and ends: Both girls have lost another tooth in the past two weeks, so we took a shopping trip this week to the Dollar Tree to spend all that tooth fairy money. John David is growing like a weed all the sudden, and has grown out of almost all his pants. His hair has lightened up even more with summer here, and both him and Kylie are sporting their flawless summer tans that make me so jealous. :) Me, I just get more freckles every time I'm out in the sun! We noticed last week that we have another nest of baby birds in the backyard. This one is home to robins, and is so high and deep in the bush that pictures are impossible. Plus, this momma bird almost never leaves the nest. I did get a peek at the baby birds tonight as the momma bird was off getting food. They are still pretty small, so I'm thinking they probably only hatched a few days ago. How exciting to have two nest of baby birds in our yard this year! Jeremy is currently outside giving the girls a lesson on riding their bike without training wheels. So far I have heard no screams, and we've managed to suffer only minor scratches. :) Kylie is picking it up pretty quickly which is no surprise, but Caitlyn is doing well too. They'll be riding on their own in no time! We are spending our 4th of July afternoon at friends' and are looking forward to the great time we always have at their annual 4th of July party. Hope everyone has a great 4th! Love you all and thank you to God Almighty who continues to see us through!