Good Week!

Well, as life would have it, we've gone from a bum, scary, depressing week, to one great week. Several job interviews, a couple great prospects, some interest in the house, and we've got more work accomplished on the house, our basement is looking great! Nothing like a little prayer, and much more faith to get you in the right mindset! I read parts of Standing For Something by Gordon B. Hinckley - One paragraph later, and I was working with faith in mind!

"If there is any one thing that you and I need, to help us find success and fulfillment in this world, it is faith--that dynamic, powerful, marvelous element by which, as Paul declared, the very worlds were framed. I refer not to some ethereal concept but to a practical, pragmatic, working faith--the kind of faith that moves us to get on our knees and plead with the Lord for guidance, and then, having a measure of divine confidence, get on our feet and go to work to help bring the desired results to pass. Such faith is an asset beyond compare. Such faith is, when all is said and done, our only genuine and lasting hope."

I literally got up, knelt and prayed, and then went to work. Josh, too, is implementing this principle, and here we are, a week later, with a lot accomplished, truly believing all will work out.

So need a good read - Standing for Something - 10 neglected virtues that will heal our hearts and homes, give this one a whirl.

Baby Surprise.

Well as most of you have figured out baby number four is on its way.

Many of you have congratulated us, and commented on how brave I am. Well at first, I was thinking to myself, I'm not brave, I'm foolish. All I had done up to this point was, well, be irresponsible, and enjoy some fun with Josh, he he. No, really, I was NOT excited about this development. I was crying. I was screaming, I was frustrated, and well down right annoyed with myself. This is the truth, the raw emotions. We have no job, we have a mortgage, and now we have a pregnancy. What on earth! I truly could not understand what Heavenly Father wanted us to do. His plan for us is never the plan we have for ourselves. But, I finally this morning was able to come to the place where this baby is something truly to look forward to. He/She will complete our family, another blessing headed our way. What was the changing point for me? Well I tried to figure out my due date... it's February, I think I'm only 8 weeks - BUT, this is what's happening right now:

The crown to rump length of your baby is .56 - .8 inch now. So many things are changing in your baby every day now. If you could look at your baby closely, you'd see the tip of his nose and the eyelids developing, ears are forming as well. The heart and lungs are continuing to develop and now the bronchi (the tubes that lead to the the lungs from the trachea) are starting to branch out. Arms are growing longer and baby now has elbows!!! All this just 6 weeks after conception!!

When I read that the baby had eyelids, I couldn't believe it, after the fourth pregnancy I really should know this!

So here we go on another Heath adventure, aren't you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next? We sure are!!

I wish I had some news on the job front, well we kind of do, but we're not mentioning it quite yet. We'll just let you know when a job is confirmed! Thanks so much for those that have prayed and fasted for us. We truly feel the boost.

And thanks for all the well wishes for baby. I am finally grasping the idea!

Relaxation, Sort Of

Josh and I went a couple weekends ago, away to a Bed and Breakfast for a culinary weekend. I was so excited for my perfect gift. Many things were right with the weekend, the weather, no kids, but the place, sort of a letdown. No real planning on their part, I won't go into details. Anyway, I let her know that I was disappointed and she was sorry and blamed a million other people. Then we went through this email exchange, and I thought we had come to an agreement that was fair. Well last night Josh and I received a phone call from the Innkeeper. Full on yelling at Josh, about how we put a review in 10 different places online, and she's had all these cancelations, etc. It wasn't even us?!? She was CRAZY!! Have you ever heard of a business owner calling you at home after you checked out, and yell at you?? I mean really, it was unbelievable. Oh well, we did have a pretty nice time. We enjoyed an afternoon on a hammock, which was way cool, and stay away from the Hideaway Inn in Bucyrus, OH. Wowsers.

Oh and some of my buddies do a QotD - from their kids, how about this from Hallie:

"Mommy, I can turn ice into water! That's my SUPER POWER!"

One Year Ago Today.

I was still pregnant at this time a year ago but stuff had started happening. Anyway, Contractions had started, very sporadic, we went to church, I had a contraction in church during sacrament that brought tears to my eyes. I still bore my testimony about prayer! We skipped out a few minutes early, went for a walk with my neighbor Angel, definite ouchie contractions, but still not regular. I decided to go ahead and go to the hospital, we were closing on our house the next day so I just wanted to make sure we weren't having the baby. We definitely were. Linds came over took my kids for the evening, I think spent the night at our house. Arrived at the hospital about a quarter to six. I walked myself up, joked with the nurses, told them I was headed home, but to check me anyway. (I didn't even have Josh bring up the overnight bag) Um. I was at a five and I was staying. Things progressed quickly from there, from no regular contractions to, 2 and half hours later, A GIRL, had arrived. We were so sure it was a boy, what a fun surprise!!

Laila is my only o' natural baby. I had a tylenol for a headache when I first got there, but that was it. There was some screaming, no swearing if you can believe it! I did black out once from the pain, it was quick but, I still remember briefly losing consciousness. SCARY. Anyway, I knew I wanted to do it, just to be able to say I did it(plus my two sisters had both done it), and of course I truly thought my recovery would be better, as would the baby's. I was right. I felt like super woman after Laila arrived. I remember saying over and over again, I can't believe I just did that, I can't believe I just did that. Josh was amazing, truly present. Considering he was noticably absent the last time. We waited the longest for Laila, we were both there, and it was such a great experience. Believe it or not, natural is the plan next time, too.

It's been a crazy year, but Laila is our stress relief. She is THE PERFECT baby. So gentle, sweet, fun, we love her calming presence. We're a little concerned with her lack of mobility, however, we think she's just so laid back that she could care less! We'll be talking with our doctor next week.

Tonight it's a menu of mushy food she gets to enjoy, and her first birthday cake was free!! SCORE!! We love you miss Laila and hoping for many more!!

The pictures are from my blog, at each month milestone.
















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Scrapbooking Supplies = Hair Bows

I read this blog all the time, she mentioned using her scrappy supplies for hair bows, and had to try it for Miss Laila, how cute is she? I'm hooked. Why did I wait until she's a YEAR to do the bows.




Also, who remembers THIS POST. Well No Joke this time. The timing is impeccable.

How about that for an update?

Perfect Procrastination

I should be doing laundry so I can pack. I should be mapquesting all my destinations, and there's a whole lot else I need to be getting done. Definitely NOT blogging, however, I am helping host my sisters baby shower in Indiana next week, and well, I HAD to have THIS centerpiece. Time and money were a factor so I made it myself. Then took some pics, and now I'm blogging about it. Lucy, GET TO WORK!! Anyway if you haven't discovered ETSY, you will now! Have a fun week, oh and get to work, you've been reading blogs for way too long! Oh did I mention today is Josh's LAST official day in the Army? SWEET.

No time for Pics this week!

Me from A to Z

Just for Fun!

A: attached or single. Attached.
B: best friend. Josh and well all the gals to the left of this post. Love all my "peeps" like Marianne would say!
C: Cake or pie. Jamie's Coconut Cake - Sara knows this one - and this is Sara WITHOUT an H.
D: Day of choice. No specific day of the week... Just a sunny one is good for me!
E: Essential item: money/cards/ID. it's the only thing in my "purse". Although recently I'm loving travel sized yummy smelling hand sanitizer.
F: Favorite color. Guess? And maybe a gift card to one of my favorite stores is on it's way! See It pays to read these goofy long entries!
G: Gummy bears or worms. CHOCOLATE COVERED GUMMY CINNAMON BEARS - Thanks for introducing us Brandee. I'll never forget them! :)
H: Hometown. Fort Wayne, Indiana
I: Indulgence. Running shoes. I just can't have cheap ones.
J: Jan or July. January in Hawaii, and July in D.C.
K: Kids. Yes. I've got them, love them, and I'll keep them.
L: Life is incomplete without...food.
M: marriage date. December 28, 1999
N: Number of siblings: 2 Sisters.
O: Oranges or apples. Honeybells' from Florida. The most perfect fruit on the planet. And yes I discovered them on the Q. and Yes, I paid an arm and a leg for them. SAWEET!
P: phobias or fears. Bugs, and fear of something happening to my kiddos.
Q: Quotes. "Most days I hate going to work, But Pretzel day, I like Pretzel Day." Name the show??
R: Reason to smile. Josh and his intelligent sense of humor. I love that I laugh SO MUCH and I only understand 75 percent of his humor. Think if I got it all? I would have to wear depends.
S: Season of Choice. FALL By far.
T: Tag. I'm limiting this to just three... nah, you're off the hook!
U: Unknown fact about me. I love to drink milk with ice in it. :)
V: Very favorite store. It's an online store. QVC. I know I'm a dork.
W: Worst habit. Swearing. It's true.
X: x-ray or ultrasound. huh? I've had ultrasounds way more often...
Y: your favorite food. Mexican
Z: Zodiac sign: Taurus, Barely.

Oh and the scoop, we made $75 WHOLE dollars at our yard sale, and showed our house to about 4 people and handed out ten fliers... Not too shabby. The sign is finally up outside and you can find us on Realtor.com. Things are moving. Till next week!

Oh where oh where have I been?

The last few weeks have been insanely busy, but also rewarding, here's the scoop:

Utah Trip:

Helped assisted my friend Brandee, with an unexpected c-section, while her hubby was gone to Afghanistan...

For those who have known me in the last 4 years, could understand how close to home this was for me. Dads should be there for the delivery, simple as that! Especially in situations like a 1st c-section!! I totally am wonderwoman, you should have seen me covered in the gear (mask, hat, suit, booties, etc.) from head to toe, with two cameras around my neck, instant messaging daddy, while trying to support Brandee all in the middle of surgery! Total Craziness. Although I do have to say the real wonderwoman is now taking care of three alone for the next ten months!

I did my best, but definitely not the same as if he were there. Brandee I hope you're feeling well, I'm not calling you because you should be sleeping NOT sending me care packages, you goof!

Here's pics of my sweet little "goddaughter" Jillian. The only reason I get to have one, is because I was baptized catholic as a baby, so I'm a mormon catholic, and get to have goddaughters. :)




Next, Friend Reunion, Fort Meade Style:

Spent Saturday and Sunday with my girls from Fort Meade, we had so much fun, chatting, scrapping, shopping, eating, beautifying, with no interruptions from kids or hubbies. Super crazy fun!!


Photographer: EMILY H.
Friend Reunion, Bloomington:

Visited with an old friend from when Josh and I were first married, B.C., I like to call it, Before Colson! She's been through a lot the past several years, but continues to amaze me with her strength and courage. By the way, she's working on being a Biology teacher, and she's single... SO.... PM me later, if you want details! He He, she's going to kill me! :)


Mount Tippenogas Temple Visit...


Sigh, what else can I say, I barely made a session, but spent the afternoon in the calmest, most peaceful place on earth. Pondering my life and big decisions, left feeling lightened, and with the knowledge that it was time to move on. SAY WHAT????

Leading me to what I've been doing for the last two weeks. Insanely working on preparing our house (more befores) for selling: Remember the Befores?? Well here are the afters:








AND Laila at ELEVEN months... Wowsers... Time Flies! While attempting her photo shoot, I thought I would try again to get the three together, no such luck. Their smiles were so fake, so I tried to get a real laugh and told them to pick their nose. Of course they were obedient then!! Goofy kiddos! :)





So, please don't take it personal if I haven't returned an email, made a phone call, or anything else. We have been swamped. I mean, why would I have a normal summer? Can you recall the last one? Oh my. Here we go again. Wish us luck! Hopefully I can be in touch a little more often.

He's Done.

Joshi has officially finished his MBA. Thank you all. Now to confirm a position. Another interview next week!!

Take a minute and congratulate the hard work!!

Great Job, Joshi!

Some weeks better than others.

Did you miss me? I LOVE being committed to just one day a week.

Life has thrown me a curve ball. Which is both healing and yet painful. I'm working through the issues, you know the baggage we all carry. Except it got way too heavy for me to deal with alone, so I'm seeing a shrink. Yeah, I have no shame. and well this isn't the first time, and I'm guessing it's not the last time. He is amazing though!! Really helping me through some of my "issues". It's been emotionally exhausting, physically draining, and spiritually enlightening. I highly recommend it. Why not?? I mean they're professionals, they're not judgy friends or family, and seriously know what they're doing. I mean not EVERYONE needs the help, but if you do, and you probably know if you do, just do it. :) I can see the nike commercial now. I love that through all this I am learning about the real me.

Anyway, I spent the week at the Y. I dropped two more pounds, Hallie is now learning to ride a two-wheeler, Josh scheduled another interview, and Laila learned to clap, while Colson is ALWAYS the first one to know the date in his class. We all have things to be proud of this week.

It would be a shame for me to not mention Mothers today. I mean really!

I wish I could say, I have this great relationship with my mother, and that we call each other and can finish the others' sentences. My mom and I rarely get along. She might be reading this and I truly don't want to offend her, but I'm not saying anything she doesn't already know. We've had a difficult relationship over the years, we both have issues, and for whatever reason, it hasn't been easy. However, as an adult I've grown to respect her. She has come through for me more than once. She picked up some jewelry for me for my Senior Prom, she spent a chunk of money on my table centerpieces at my wedding, and let my family impose on her for a month before Hallie was born. She made us an endless supply of "jams" when we were kids, and gave us free reign of her shoes and clothes to play dress-up. She rode roller coasters at cedar point (although I still can't forgive her for the matching outfits she made us wear), and gave us a summer we'll never forget. Thanks mom, I love you. Happy Mother's Day.

To my Mother-in-Law, Yup I love her too! She's amazing, and literally created the most amazing gift I've ever received, her first born son. She's a teacher, a scrapbooker, and QVC watcher, (like me). You can NOT go wrong with the Q, do you Q? Anyway, she has the patience of Job, and she is loyal. Happy Mothers Day!

To my Stepmom, the wicked witch, of course I'm kidding. Cherri I hope you're laughing?!? Does anyone really want a blended family?? Seriously? Nope. But, she has taught me who cares!! She's tried really hard to make our family as "normal" as possible. I think I respect her the most for dealing with my dad. If she hadn't married him, I'm not sure who would have. I can say that, because I'm just like my dad, and seriously NO ONE actually wants to live with us!! But, she takes care of him, and has softened his heart in ways I never thought possible. She's the cool one, cool clothes, cool bags, cool jewelry, cool shoes, so it's always fun to go shopping with her, and she even lets our kids call her Grandma Cherri, now THAT is sacrifice. I know this holiday is far from her mind, as she lost a dear friend this past week to pancreatic cancer. Cherri, I hope you can have a good day.

To my other mothers, who probably never have seen this blog, but there are women out there, teachers, YW leaders, church leaders, that have risen to take in this wayward, awkward, harsh, passionate girl, and truly sheltered me under your wings. To you, who had no obligation whatsoever, I thank you, and wish you a Happy Mothers Day. I will never forget the service you rendered on my behalf.

To mothers everywhere, enjoy today, not because it celebrates you, but because it celebrates the glorious role you have:

“Motherhood, is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.” (The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, many years ago)

Till next week!

Lucy

The Sunday Scoop.

I've got this friend who basically blogs on Tuesdays, and it's so fun! I know exactly when she's updating. And I LOVE the idea of blogging once a week, I need to spend more time doing other 'good things'! So here's the Sunday Scoop.


This past week I made a home made Strawberry Pie and homemade ice-cream, YUMMY!! We had some friends over to play croquet. It was fun, and I hadn't played since I was little, I remember playing it with my family, Bec, Vic, do you remember?


LAILA AT TEN MONTHS

Laila turned ten months this past week, and isn't she a doll?? What a beauty. We love her little personality, quiet, patient, laidback, and playful. She truly is a dream baby.



Josh had another interview this week, has one week left until graduating with a MBA, and I LOVE this picture of him. Lucky Me.



Colson had a big shin dig at his school yesterday, the kids had a blast! Laila was annoyed by the blankets I kept covering her with, so she was holding them up out of the way!! BUT, the worst part?? I was with one of the YW from church, and this kid thought I was her mother. HELLO???? I would have been 15, I mean technically it was possible, but since this happened a week after I turned thirty, it did not go over well. Yes I cried myself to sleep thank you for asking!!