Pregnancy #5

I am 23 weeks along. I am waiting for Baby Dyer #5. This pregnancy is different, so very different. It started out pretty much the same as all the others, but the nausea kept on. After a test or two, it was determined that my progesterone level was a little low. So I started taking a supplement. At both of my first two visits it was a little hard to find the heartbeat. The second visit was even more disturbing than the first. Anxiety and fear returned. And at 16 weeks, the doctor said I could go have an ultrasound, but really wanted to wait until 20 weeks because the baby's development is so much farther along. I said a quick prayer to Mary on the exam table and with her aid said that I would wait.
Sidenote: I received a miraculous medal from the priest that prayed over Anthony and I wear it often, but I wear it to all my doctor's appointments. It gives a bit of comfort.
I went to my 20 week appointment and the next day had an ultrasound at the office of the doctor who will deliver this child. My doctor doesn't do c-sections. He said all looked well. RELIEF again! Okay, I can do this. I can do this.
Went for another routine progesterone test, got a call last week, and I need to increase my dose to two pills instead of one. REALLY? Anxiety and fear have returned. I pray to the Lord for peace. I entrust this child to the Lord. I ask the Lord to lead me and guide me through these next weeks. I know that WITH the Lord I Shall Not Fear.
We didn't find out whether this is a boy or girl. We are going to be surprised. Many people love to say to me, "It doesn't matter as long as he/she is healthy." Really, I accept this gift from the Lord.

Radical!

God calls us to be his followers and gives us many guides: The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, etc. And with all of this in His Word he tells us in John that we will be persecuted as he was persecuted. It doesn't mean that we'll be nailed to a cross. It doesn't mean that we will be shot to death for saying we believe in God. It means that we will fear saying the right thing or doing the right thing because of persecution in form of words, weird looks, etc. Are we radical? Am I radical? Can I be?

Lord, help me to be your radical follower! Help me to not fear, but to trust that you will save me.

Summer Time

It's already July! It seems that summer just started and it's already half over. We had the best "summer" weekend! Saturday we swam for like 4 hours! Noah's a fish! He absolutely LOVES the water. He LOVES jumping in the water all by myself! Landon had fun too. He's a little more timid, but by the time we left he had been in the pool for about an hour.

Sunday we spent most of the day out at my grandma's for a cookout. It was like old times, but I was an adult watching the kids play outside! Sometimes it seems like I was just a kid playing kickball. Then when we came home, Matt and the boys camped out in a tent in the backyard. Who know they would actually sleep out there all night! They made it. Their first time camping and they made it through the night! I guess it took them about 30 min to fall asleep and they did wake up a couple of times during the night, but overall it was a good time. I enjoyed the whole bed to myself and wasn't freaking out because Matt wasn't home or something! It was a good night across the board.

Monday another cookout with lots of swimming for the boys! Noah and Landon swam for about 4 hours again! They ate first and then swam. Landon may have finally beat the fear he had! They didn't want to get out. Then back home to park and get the stroller to walk downtown to the fireworks. They LOVED them. Decatur always has a very nice show. They do a good job. The boys were up until about 11:00 p.m. It was crazy, but loads of fun! They were so excited to see the fireflies once again.

It was just like the storybook holiday weekend with family and swimming and hamburgers and hotdogs!

Favorite things!

Wow, I can't even blog for a straight week! That says something!

Lots of things happening and little control. The weather on Wednesday completely drained me. My sister and I traveled through lots of rain and hail and even while there was a tornado warning. It lasted the majority of the day. My nerves were shot. I was sitting in the passenger seat with no windshield wiper. It's like riding blind. I tried to remain calm, but after so long it was very un-nerving. Then I came home to my husband who had dinner ready to go. That was so nice, but then he wanted to go drive some more! Needless to say, by the time I got home Wednesday I was ready for a drink and with that drink came sleepiness. I fell asleep sitting in the chair! I rarely do that!
Now, we are deciding to buy a new vechile. I am feeling some anxiety. I know that we are going to need one soon, but in my mind I was just hoping to wait until 2012. I've set many goals for 2012 and things happen faster than that. I previously said that we wouldn't buy a new house until 2012. We bought it in 2010. Thought a couple of other things could wait until 2012, but no, that wasn't how it turned out. It's okay. Learning to follow my husband's lead. I need to support him and his decisions. That's hard to do sometimes. We live in a time when women lead most everything and even people close to me say that we don't need to listen to our husbands on certain things. Probably part of some marriage problems. Anyway, trying to be vague and probably not conveying much.

Day 5

One of my ultimate favorite things: Toddlers talking! I love how Lucy says certain words. It's so amazing how far they come in just a short time with speech. What a gift! Here are some of the words she says that I just can't get enough of lately:
dirl - girl
pahhhk pease - park please (yes, she asked us to take her to the park!)
purr - purse

Now, I can't even think of them all! I remember when my sisters were little and they would say a new word. I think that we'd have them say it as many times as possible! We loved hearing them talk. It's just so amazing. It really is a gift. I know that I tend to take it for granted, but being around these little ones gets you thinking about special stuff. :)

Day 4

Candles - the simple flicker of a candle is absolutely beautiful. I like candles that smell! Candles can be comforting. Candles can instantly make me feel warmer. Candles are used in emergencies. Candles are used for romance! Candles are used in celebration.

There's something almost magical about that flickering flame. Yep, candles are one of my favorite things.

Day 3 (a day late!)

So, yesterday my favorite thing that I was gonna write is the color YELLOW!

I love the color yellow; it's true! It's just a happy color. Every house we have there's at least one room that's yellow. So far, we currently don't have a yellow room, but we will one day soon! I am hoping to paint the kitchen yellow this summer.

It's amazing how a color can change your mood or make you smile.

(I ran out of time yesterday to write my little blog! It was gorgeous outside and then I had a movie date with my husband. Then it was time for bed!)

Day 2 Favorite Things

Today, I'm thinking Monoply! Best game ever made! Well, it's definitely on my favorite list. I really really like it. My sister bought me a new edition, and I have to say that I like the edition from 1986 that I no longer have! I miss the money holder. The new edition she bought me has credit cards and the properties are all different. There are some cool properites like Disney World and Wrigley Field, but sometimes I wonder why "they" even try to change the original. Why mess with something so perfect? Just let us play at McDonald's all year long!
Monopoly is definitely on my favorite list!

Day 1 of my favorite things!

I really like the smell of fresh cut grass! Matt mowed the lawn tonight, and I have to say that the smell is one of my favorite things! I could smell it all day and the next. I am not exactly sure what it is, but it is really uplifting to me.

MOPS Playground Equipment!

So, what's this? This is the day way back in February after the new equipment came in that we went to see it! My MOPS group launched a fundraising campaign to raise the money for new playground equipment at Legion Park. We have been very successful. I currently don't have a new picture of the finished project, but I am so proud of what our group has been able to accomplish and what the community has allowed us to provide. It is truly amazing!

PS Really, I just wanted to try to figure out how to add photos and this one popped up!

Ups and Downs and All Around

This crazy life, this crazy life . . . so many things to be thankful for and so many things to ponder and some to grieve. I have had the privelage to work with some amazing women in our community and the entire community to create "The Place to Play" at Legion Park. We purchased new playground equipment and installed it on Monday of this week. On Monday evening, after all was picked up and put away. I showered and headed out again to our church where I got to spend time in the presence of our beloved Sr. Margaret Rose. She looked absolutely beautiful. God was good to her! God has blessed me in my knowing her and learning from her not only in word but in her deeds. She truly was a servant.

Tuesday, I shared the story of my sweet Anthony with my MOPS friends. Some of them had never before seen pictures of him or even knew how long he lived in the hospital. As my relationships have been growing in this group, I felt like they were missing out on a part of me. I am happy to have the opportunity to share with them. It was good for me. Many have responded in positive ways. Through my sorrow, many have come to see Christ and possibly in a new light. I feel very blessed.

After finishing my meeting and picking up Noah, I then went to Sr. Margaret Rose's funeral. Honestly, it was a little far fetched to think that they would sit there, but I needed to hear Fr. Phil's voice. I could have heard his homily second hand, but I just couldn't bear it. I am so thankful for him. His homily was on friendship for the first part. What a great thing for me to hear about. Maybe he was speaking to me! I think he was! What a blessing. He said that we need to surround ourselves with people that build us up, people that believe in the same things we do, people that will lead us to Christ. We need to have friends that will lead us to Christ. I worry that maybe I don't do that for people. I desire that in my heart. I just don't know if I'm very good in acting that out.

Yesterday Landon graduated from preschool. He sang songs and then they passed out diplomas. Hard to believe that little guy is going to be in Kindergarten.

Tonight I went to my Christ Renews His Parish meeting and after the meeting found out that Fr. Gabriel is having open heart surgery tomorrow. He will have a single bypass. He went for testing and they kept him in order to have surgery the next day. Crazy. I mean absolutely crazy.
A couple of weeks ago we found out that our youth director will be leaving.
So while I have had incredibly wonderful things happening. There have been not so great things happening too. There is a season for everything.

The Lord's been good to me!

What a great song! But The Lord has been GOOD to me! I am so thankful for the family that I have. The people that my children are becoming. I am so thankful for the simple conversations with my little ones. Mom, how did you marry dad? Did you say yes? What do worms eat? Is that Easter bunny the real one? (Noah think that the real Easter bunny wears a bow tie!)

I didn't agree or disagree. I really don't say much about these innocent little lies. I worry about their impression of all of this Easter bunny and Santa Claus stuff, but I LOVE giving gifts! I try not to promote the whole idea but just go along with what they say. It's hard.

But the Lord really has been good to me and gives me blessings every day. I might have to look a little harder some days, but lately my blessings are clear! I am really looking forward to going to mass and spending some time in prayer on such a glorious day in the church year! I am looking forward to spending some time with family too. Life is Good!

Children's Museum

The Indianapolis Children's Museum is absolutely amazing! We took our three little ones ages 5, 4, and 1. We had the best time! There is truly something for everyone from dinosaurs to barbie, trains to Dora and Diego. Their Egypt exhibit is awesome. I really really enjoyed myself, and I know my kids did too. I can't wait to take them again. I wish we had something like this closer to home. I have yet to visit Science Central in Fort Wayne, but I don't think that it's the same level of entertainment. We are going to have to check that out next. So, my rating of the Children's Museum is HIGH! But their food court - not so much. We went to the museum on Day 2 because it was supposed to be cloudy with a 50% chance of rain, which it did rain later that day, but I would definitely pack a lunch. The food was very high priced and was not very good. I think McDonald's has better quality.

Blogger, blogger, where are you blogger?

I am here. I am there. I am everywhere. I have this meeting. I have that meeting. Matt has a meeting here. Matt has a meeting there.

It's Friday night. We have had a full week. My husband's dad just called and something is up. No clue. Just know that it must be pretty serious. I probably won't give the details, but I am a little concerned. Tried to pray, but honestly the keys were calling. I thought I would blog more and use it as some sort of comical journal, but so far that doesn't happen very regularly.

I do have to say that my 5 year old said, "Oh, shit" tonight. Now, that isn't my proudest moment, and I wasn't mad. I just kind of laughed and told him that he shouldn't say that. I told him all the substitutes! It totally fit the situation, and that's why I laughed. Honestly, it was a bit humbling. Obviously, someone needs their mouth washed out with soap, and it's not Landon!

This coming week is Spring Break! You know the best part? It actually feels like it right now. It's been in the high 50's and 60's for the past few days. It's amazing. We are planning a little getaway. We are going down to Indy for a night. We plan to take in as much as the kids can in 2 days. Noah will probably sleep all the way home! He's gonna be the one to make or break the trip I think. His little legs can hardly keep up lately.

I just need to make sure that I charge the camera before we go. This trip is all about the pictures for me. I want a really cute picture that I can blow up and frame for our bathroom. A pool picture might be cool, but there are several other place that we are going that might be just as cool for photography purposes. I am so excited. I wish we were leaving tomorrow. The boys do too. They can hardly wait. I love the way Noah says vacation and Indianapolis. Oh, I wish he could say it that way forever! Not really, but it's pretty darn cute.

Messier and Messier

Why is it that on the day I NEED to do a few things for something that I am involved with, that's the day my kids are crazy? I mean they are into everything. They have gotten all sorts of things out, and I must look at these things while I try to focus on the NEEDS. I really want my house to look PERFECT! I know it's not really possible with 3 children 5 and under, but come on the Domestic Engineer has a perfect house right?! Laundry, mopping, bathrooms, dusting, I started trying to do things on specific day, but I seem to rearrange the schedule to fit my schedule. Tomorrow I don't want to have to clean. It's my husband's day off, and I would like to get out of the house. I was going to try to have all these things done so I would have nothing that needed to be done tomorrow. NOT HAPPENING! Darn kids! :) I say that jokingly! I love my children. Just wish there wasn't this HUGE mess right now.

Time to go try to clean it up!

procrastination

That's me. The gal that is constantly procrastinating! Now I should say that I get things done, but it's usually just on time. I could accomplish so much more if I actually did things when free time is available. For example, I have a ton of laundry that needs done. I will wait until probably Noon or so to start it. Well, I might be taking a shower between now and noon so I don't want it to interfere. I could have already done a load!!!

Something completely off the topic, just received word that my husband's game plan is changing. I don't think that he is really thrilled about this. I worry about his disappointment.

Confused

Needing some guidance from the Lord. I am open to his plans for me. I just wish I knew which opportunities I am supposed to take. It seems that all sorts of jobs keep popping up. These jobs are jobs I'd be good at. Is the Lord challenging me to say no? Is the Lord challenging me to say yes? Which is it? All of these jobs have perks, but the perk that none of them have is guaranteed health care for my children. There is only one job that has that; that's the one I currently have.
Many women work outside the home. Many women enjoy working outside of the home. Many women wish that they could be home with their children.
I just want the weight lifted. I don't want to have to decide all of the time what I am suppposed to be doing. And for a little while the answer seemed clear. Now it's fuzzy again. I would like to have an income, but I don't need it. I would like to get out a bit more, but I don't NEED to. Ohhhh, decisions. I wish this one was just made for me.

Christmas!

Well, Thanksgiving came and went. Everyone came! And everyone eventually went. And thankfully, I didn't have to do all the dishes by myself. We had lots of leftovers, and to be quite honest, there were a few things I don't care to have any time soon!
Christmas decorating was great! Those two little boys of mine did an awesome job decorating! It's funny how, when you relinquish control, things can turn out so good. I honestly didn't care how evenly spaced out ornaments were and a few got broken this year. I know there are many out there who say things like, "Well, you need to put them up higher on the tree." "And, I just taught my kids that certain things are theirs and certain things aren't." And I value these things, but I am so glad that they wanted to rearrange the ornaments and some got carried down to the basement and some (well two got thrown away!).
They need to feel some ownership as well. Children are so much apart of this as adults are. And no, my Christmas tree wouldn't win an award, but I thought it was beautiful.
Christmas Eve around 2:00 p.m. Landon's eye started to look somewhat pink and puffy. By 6:00 the poor guy was having trouble looking at his gifts. I was so sad for him. Not much you can do for a 5 year old that just wants to open up his presents. And the next day, Noah got the same thing only worse. His one eye was soooo puffy. So Sunday, I celebrated out at Grandma Didrick's by myself. It was actually nice to not have to worry about this and that and entertain the kiddos. I got to enjoy myself a bit more. All in all, our celebrations for the weekend were great. I just wish my boys would have been feeling a bit better. They were thrilled with all of their gifts though. Santa did a good job! Yay!
And now, all those people that couldn't wait to get their decor. up have already taken it down. And we are still celebrating. We are celebrating the life of Christ. We celebrate Christmas up until the Baptism of the Lord which is January 9th. My tree is burning bright. I try to leave it on all night just so people see it! I want to make sure that they can see our tree!
And now it's New Year's! Happy New Year! Our plans of course got rearranged a bit with the boys having pink eye. But we did have a nice time with my sister and her boyfriend and my parents. We played games and had snacks. The boys were up until about 10:30 and Landon was ready for bed. It was so funny because at 10:00 he wanted to stay up all night long and 1/2 hour later he couldn't wait to go to bed! Love it! By the time everyone left at about 1:30, there were still dishes that needed to be done. I am proud to say that they are all washed and mostly put away! I couldn't help it! I wasn't about to let some of that stuff sit all night and when I got to a place where I could stop, well I just had to keep going. So the kitchen is pretty clean right now. I'll be so glad in the morning.