Three Years Later

So I have decided even though it has been a little over three years since I posted on this page that I would continue to write on here periodically for all my friends who would like a look at what's going on in our life after walking into parenthood.

Parenthood has been amazing yet at the same time very trying. I have grown so much spiritually as well as physically. It's been hard on me as I try to juggle the woman I am becoming. At the same time letting go of who I once was.

I have to say children definatly define and refine your destiny. The woman I once thought I was going to be has changed so much as I reexamine my life through my child's eyes. I wish that I could go back to my old self and say, Corey just let God lead you. Then try your best to educate yourself in between the ride of your life.

Parents, You will not always have all the answers. You will most likely just stumble through most of this parenting stuff blindly. Occasionally you will find good friends that will guide you. However advice and choosing to accept the advice are two totally different things.. Tee hee.. Now don't get me wrong here. Just that everyone will have advice and it's ok if you don't meet their expectations.. That was a big deal for me. What will people think if I feed my child desert before dinner..

I remember some friends and I went out to eat at Jason's Deli. Eli was tired and was on the verge of melting down. To top everything off Dan was at work. If you know anything about trying to get a tired infant through a buffet line alone it' plumb near impossible to look like you have it all together. Eli was squirming and crying. I am juggling a tray. Finally I figure out that the high chair had wheels so I could push him along on the tile floor. Jackpot!!

After a few minutes of trying to look graceful in front of my friends I manage to get Eli to the table. Of course Eli had spotted the ice cream machine and was fit to be tied. I want ICE SCRREEEEAAAM!! So here I am A. do I take Eli to the bathroom and try to attempt to iron him out? B. or mix ice cream in with fruit? I said, I am going to do something bad I am sure to my friend. I am going to feed my child desert before dinner. She said, I won't judge you.. Seriously I felt a huge relief. I practically jumped for joy!!! What a friend! I gave Eli a small bowl of ice cream with fruit. After he wolfed that down he ate half my salad plate!

Sometimes peoples expectations can own us.. Make us feel like bad parents if we step out of their expectation with our child rearing. It's this little voice in our heads that make us push our children to be the very best, perfect, normal children. However we are humans. We are all different and do things differently. So give your friends grace. Tell them they are doing a great job. You never know how healing that can be to a already struggling parent.

Expectations is such a huge word.. Holy cow!! I never understood the magnitude of the word. Expectations.. You know we tend to impose those words on other people rather than ever use them on ourselves.. However when raising a children that word floats around quiet often. What are my expectations for the day. I want to wash the clothes, work on my laptop, get the shopping done.. The basic simple things. However when we have children we have to bend those expectations every other minute.

My child needs a nap so I don't get to make the roast duck for dinner.. My child has projectile vomiting so I can't watch the Star Trek Voyager! (Don't judge me, I like that show) I would get in such a pinch because I had to put myself on the back burner more times that not.

I never realized how much of an independent person I had become. I mean I was 30 years old when I had Eli. So maybe just a pinch of independence. However the more you can let go of your expectations the greater parent you will become.

Three Years Later

So I have decided even though it has been a little over three years since I posted on this page that I would continue to write on here periodically for all my friends who would like a look at what's going on in our life after walking into parenthood.

Parenthood has been amazing yet at the same time very trying. I have grown so much spiritually as well as physically. It's been hard on me as I try to juggle the woman I am becoming. At the same time letting go of who I once was.

I have to say children definatly define and refine your destiny. The woman I once thought I was going to be has changed so much as I reexamine my life through my child's eyes. I wish that I could go back to my old self and say, Corey just let God lead you and you try your best to educate yourself in between the ride of your life.

Parents, You will not always have all the answers. You will most likely just stumble through most of this parenting stuff blindly. Occasionally you will find good friends that will guide you. However advice and choosing to accept the advice are two totally different things.. Tee hee.. Now don't get me wrong here. Just that everyone will have advice and it's ok if you don't meet their expectations.. That was a big deal for me. What will people think if I feed my child desert before dinner..

I remember some friends and I went out to eat at Jason's Deli. Eli was tired and was on the verge of melting down. To top everything off Dan was at work. If you know anything about trying to get a tired infant through a buffet line alone it' plumb near impossible to look like you have it all together. Eli was squirming and crying. I am juggling a tray. Finally I figure out that the high chair had wheels so I could push him along on the tile floor. Jackpot!!

After a few minutes of trying to look graceful in front of my friends I manage to get Eli to the table. Of course Eli had spotted the ice cream machine and was fit to be tied. I want ICE SCRREEEEAAAM!! So here I am A. do I take Eli to the bathroom and try to attempt to iron him out? B. or mix ice cream in with fruit? I said, I am going to do something bad I am sure to my friend. I am going to feed my child desert before dinner. She said, I won't judge you.. Seriously I felt a huge relief. I practically jumped for joy!!! What a friend! I gave Eli a small bowl of ice cream with fruit. After he wolfed that down he ate half my salad plate!

Sometimes peoples expectations can own us.. Make us feel like bad parents if we step out of their expectation with our child rearing. It's this little voice in our heads that make us push our children to be the very best, perfect, normal children. However we are humans. We are all different and do things differently. So give your friends grace. Tell them they are doing a great job. You never know how healing that can be to a already struggling parent.

Expectations is such a huge word.. Holy cow!! I never understood the magnitude of the word. Expectations.. You know we tend to impose those words on other people rather than ever use them on ourselves.. However when raising a children that word floats around quiet often. What are my expectations for the day. I want to wash the clothes, work on my laptop, get the shopping done.. The basic simple things. However when we have children we have to bend those expectations every other minute.

My child needs a nap so I don't get to make the roast duck for dinner.. My child has projectile vomiting so I can't watch the Star Trek Voyager! (Don't judge me, I like that show) I would get in such a pinch because I had to put myself on the back burner more times that not.

I never realized how much of an independent person I had become. I mean I was 30 years old when I had Eli. So maybe just a pinch of independence. However the more you can let go of your expectations the greater parent you will become.

Eli is Here and All Those Tears.

So O.K. here is the run down of how things played out the night Eli was born. Some moments were great, while others scared me to death. Mind you I am a big chicken when it comes to scary things. ((:

After Dan and I watched a really lame movie we were sitting there talking. All of a sudden I felt a pop. Then a small gush of water. So we called the hospital and told them, I think my water broke at 10:45. Oh they said, Come on in. Sounds like your water truly did break but we want to make sure you didn't just pp on yourself. Ha! Great! My bladder is going now Just my luck.

You see I was in there the night before because I had called the doctor to tell them about my spotting. I was told it was normal by the OBGYN in my visit. But I wanted to see what they said being that it was my due date. After waiting for 5 hours they had sent me home with no dilation no nothing. So when we pull up to the hospital around 12 oclock we didn't know what to expect.

They run a few test and say congrats Corey you are having a baby. Really? Have I dilated any. Yeah, 1Cm. OY! I think to myself this is going to be a long night.

We finally get into our room around 4 P.M. after laying there listening to one woman at a time coming in with full on contractions. I mean full on screaming! I looked at Dan and said, Epidural please on the rocks! I asked the nurse what was going on. Oh that one. Well, the baby was crowning. Oh Snap!

(After I heard the cries,I was reallllly was glad I signed up for the epidural.)

A nurse came in and began to give me their run down. They had ordered Petosin and a epidural before I had given the consent to take the medicine. I said, Oh hold up folks. Let's talk this out step by step. I need to be informed of everything you are planning on doing to me tonight. After much discussion I opted for the epidural first so that they could stretch my cervix. They said this would hopefully speed things up. Course though they say epidurals don't slow contractions down but I think they do. We watched the contractions on the monitor go from hellaysha's to null and void.

So the rest of the night I laid there like a tuna waiting for my cervix to dilate. Nada! Finally after several hours we got to 3cm and were stuck there for the rest of the day.

Later on the next night I started noticing that I was feeling contractions. They started off bearable to I had to seriously go to a happy place. (as you can see in the video.) I kept saying why am I feeling contractions. What is up? Um well, the epidural had run out and they didn't monitor it like they should have. Not to mention now they were having problems getting me numb.

I have to say I am not saying all that went on with our anesesologist. Let's just say she had horrible bed side manners. For instance I was having a full on contraction and she said roll over. I said, Please one moment. She said, snipply I don't have time for this. Call me when your ready and storms out of the room. I wanted to cry. Scream, snatch hair all at the same time. Lucky for me I was in to much pain to do much of anything.

Also I had run so long in my laboring that I had several doctors working on me through out the day. So when the Big Kahoona Doctor from my OBGYN Office came in, she was furious! This cathator was put in wrong! Why is she not on antibotics! Nurses were flying around like wild cats as she barked out orders. She was so not messing around. Not to mention a bit tight with me as well.

After Three hours of petosin contractions and a epidural boost that only numbed my feet they finally got me numb. I gained my composure and said to the doctor. Ok So we have almost been laboring for 24 hours here. What are the chances of Eli actually being born naturally? She said, none. I was like what! I began to cry because I knew my worst nightmare had come true. I had given my all and felt as if I was getting no where fast. What was worse was I knew that I couldn't mess around any more that my time was up. So the time had come to face the dreaded C section. I have always been the one to make things work. Just give me time to figure things out and I can get the job done. So when they said, C section I felt like I had totally failed.

What made the whole thing worse was when they finally got me numb so that I could talk strait my body started shaking like I was having a sezuire. I had to stuff a rag in my mouth to keep my teeth from chattering my fillings loose.

Tears rolled down my face as they wheeled me into the operating room. Oh my word,I am going to have to be strapped to a table like Jesus as the hack me open. Lucky for me my mother n law told them not to tie me down. She knew I would have flipped out for sure.

I felt so out of control for the first time. God why was this happening to me. How come I had to have a C section? Lord, I am scared to death. As I laid there a peace fell over me. I knew immediatly I was being prayed for. God reminded me that he had not left my side. That he was going to be there every step of the way. You see I couldn't dilate any more because I have bad birthing hips. No matter how hard I would have pushed he would not have come out. God knew what I was up against but I just had to hold to him in the most scariest of places.

As I laid on the table Dan sat next to me stroking my hair. With his gentle voice he told me how proud he was of me. That we were making the right choice. Seriously the proceedure took all of 15 minutes once they got started.

Sweet Dan would peek his head up over the curtain and tell me what he could see. Finally Dan exclaimed Corey, I can see him! I can see him! Tears of joy were litterly squirting out of my eyes! He is almost here! My little boy that I have been waiting so long to hold is almost in my line of sight.

Dan pats me and says I will be right back. I said, go don't leave his side. So Dan darts off with the his little chinese tourist with his video camera. He kept calling back to me telling me every detail of our new little son. Oh Corey he exclaimed, He is so beautiful.. Corey he has brown hair! Corey, our son has my eyes!

For some strange reason I begin to sing you are my sunshine like a drunk on the table but it seems to make Eli stop crying. He grows even quieter and then I see why. Dan was standing over me with a tiny bundle. All I could see was the side of his tiny little face. So I reach up with my shaky and brush my finger across his cheek. Praise God for such an amazing little boy! Eli is finally here.

After they get me stitched up they roll me over to another room where they run all kinds of test on Eli to make sure he is O.K. A few cries were heard from across the room as they measure his body and check his reflexes. Then the moment I have been waiting so desprately was finally here. The chance to hold my son. As my eyes fell down on his face I am completly motionless. Here he is. Finally after 8 years of waiting. He is finally here and in my arms. I am in total awe of how great and mighty our father up in heaven is to us. You are truly a gift of God little one I whisper to him in his ear.

It's hard to imagine three and a halve weeks ago that Eli was still in my tummy. Now I am sitting in my rocking chair listening to the rythmic breathing of sweet Eli as he sleeps in his new bed.

Whether you are a mother or a woman waiting to be a mom. Enjoy every moment of life. Enjoy where God has or is taking you. For every moment of your life is necessary to get you to God's perfect plan. A path to a destiny that is far greater than anything you can imagine.


We waited 8 long years for God to finally take us down this path. Some days were hard. Some days are magical. Now that the game is over I can see why God had me wait so long. If I were to have had Eli any earlier I would have failed so many testings and this whole pregnancy would have been misrable. I know I would have resented little Eli.

You see God had to put people and circumstances into my life to chip the old rough edges off of me. Like a rock in a river tumbling over other sharp rocks. So do not grow weary of your testings. For your testings will give you great joy when you look back and see how far you have truly come. I just wonder what God has in store for me in the years to come. Personally I think I look pretty smooth for a rock God.. ((:

Watch Out Bean is Here!

We just wanted to welcome our new little Bean Eli to our family and friends. After laboring for 24 hours we have our little boy. He is the most amazing little guy that you will ever meet. He looks at you with these eyes of admiration and kindness that melts your heart like wax. All I can say is that he has stolen our hearts.

Here is a link that will give you just a little brief summary of what went down in the delivery room. Let's just say God was with us every step..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9wUuBHL7Wk

Handcuffs to Balloons

Recently I have been really moody and unusually tired. I mean pull out the handcuffs, Momma has lost her mind. One moment I will be talking with Dan over a bowl of cereal. The next I will be eating the tears out of my bowl of cereal. Let's just say, I don't make much sense when I get into these mood swings. I usually don't have normal motor skills. I stand and stair at objects trying to figure out why I am even there in the first place or find myself sleeping as I am driving home.

So I went to the doctor the other day. She asked me if I had any concerns. Why yes, I do. Then explained my situation to her. She sits for a moment pondering over my question. Then replies with, are you taking your prenatal Vitamins? UMMM well, you seeeee doctor.. COREY!!!! I know, I know.

So she gives me a couple packs of Prenate DHA. Let me just say they are huuuuuge! You really have to go to your happy place to get them down your throat.

On a brighter note she was right. I simply needed more vitamins in my diet. I am so thankful that it was something so simple. Can you image if this was diabetes or that I was really loosing my marbles? OY! Silly Me..

I also have been finding that my body has been swelling up all over. I woke up Saturday morning and I couldn't even make a fist. I pryed open my left hand and because my hand was so swollen I had dimples! Holy Shmoly! After about three hours I regain use of both hands. And all I had for supper was a peanut butter sandwich and a banana.

Not only are my hands swollen but my wrist and my feet. I look like a balloon. If you poke me with I pin I bet you money I would explode every where.. GROSS!

Like this morning I tried to put on a bracelet and I couldn't get it passed four of my fingers. This seriously can't be a good thing. Especially when you are trying to look some what decent.

So I asked my doctor about the swelling and she said, Welcome to pregnancy. She suggested drinking lemon water. Lemons evidently are a natural diuretic. SWEET! Course I went to the store and they want 75 cents a lemon. Oh Snap! Makes me want to plant a lemon tree. Go figure..

Is it Possible to Dig To China?

The question of the day Is, Can you Dig to China? Why yes, according to Mr Bean. Recently Mr Bean has started head butting my female organs and kicking at my ribs. I am currently feeling him beat up my insides as we speak. Now don't get me wrong, it's magical to have a baby moving around in your belly. The only thing is that to much moving causes your insides to become, shall we say Hamburgerfied. Are some of these contractions? Heck if I know! Why are you asking me these questions. This is my first baby. I don't even know what actual contractions feel like!!!! Ha! I am still reading. You say, Corey you should know this information by now. Yes, I have been to classes and yes, they say contractions should be roughly 5 minutes apart. But seriously does any first time mother know what a contraction feels like? No!

Yesterday Bean and I had a mother, son talk. I explained to him that he needs to push gently. That he is doing a good job at trying to get out. I also explained to him that as soon as he got out that he would have lots of room and that Mommy would snuggle him up in her arms. I personally think that he took this to heart because now he is trying even harder to get out. OUCH!

Anyway we are currently looking at 20 days til our due date. Though I have been diligent about walking and over working. Ha! Last night I took a walk around the block and then steam cleaned the carpets for about a hour. Let me just say that I was in so much pain last night(): I guess I really need to pick one major activity a day. So not only is Bean kicking me to pieces, I am so sore from my hips feeling like they are out of place.

It's really interesting how when you are sleeping and you roll over to your other side how your hips pop out of place. It makes this loud pop that is undeniable that you have temporally dislocated something. The other creepy thing is sometimes when you are walking around your joints pop out of place leaveing you in a state of unbalance. You either stumble and catch yourself before you hit a blunt object. Or you simply stop in your tracks until the pain subsides. It's doesn't feel really good either way when that happens.

Belly Button Funk

So the other day I was looking at my belly button when I noticed something gray sticking out. I of course the curious person pull out my tweezers and begin to probe the area. After my examination I realize this thing ain't coming out easy.

So I do what any pregnant woman would do, I called my sister. Hey sis, What is this funky gray stuff in my belly button? Beats me, she says. I had it in my belly button when I was prego as well. I used tweezers to get mine out. Hmmm, I thought. The plot thickens..

While sitting in the doctors office I decided to ask, What is this gray stuff in my belly button? A strange smile covers my doctor face like a kid with an evil secret. Now I am thinking to myself. Oh Gee! This can't be good. Weeeelll, do you really want to know, she asked (Mind you still smiling?) Why not, I say.

Well you see, it's petrified umbilical cord. AAAAAHHH! I say out loud. I wanted to run out of the room screaming, I am uncleaaaaaan!!! How disgusting! Come on, I clean my belly button out with alcohol. How can I have this stuff still in there.

Well, evidently as your belly enlarges, the belly button unspins and releases some very strange things. I just thought you would like to know in case you have something like this happen to you. Ha!

My doctor suggested hydrogen peroxide to bubble it out. I found that with some serious cleaning and tweezers I was able to rid myself of the funk!

I wonder if all those tequila shots from my belly button were safe? Just kidding! And you thought eating a Tequlia Worm was messed up! GAG! (what is this in my mouth!)

Iron Loves Vitamin C

Guess what? Did you know that Iron and Calcium don't mix? That's right folks. If you are iron deficient. Don't take your iron with a glass of milk. For some reason they don't like each other. Instead take a your iron with some vitamin C product like, juice, fruit, or plain old vitamin C. Also the same for Calcium. Vitamin C is evidently pretty good about helping you absorb your nutrients. So when you are feeling the blues and you need some vitamins. Take some vitamin C with what ever your taking. ((:

31st-32 Trimester

Week Thirty-One

* The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, but even though she doesn't get much longer, she will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy.
* Fat continues accumulating. This layer of fat turns her skin from red to the rosy pink she will have as a newborn.
* Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening.
* Your baby is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm)
* His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing!
* She may move to the rhythm of music. Studies with heart rates show that she also prefers some types of music to others -- already!
* Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Remember, that while you may be anxious to meet your little one that these last few weeks can be vital - with each day increasing your baby's ability to breathe on her own.

Week Thirty-Two

* Your baby is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long.
* You might notice she's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! She is fine -- just running short on room. She still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not!
* All five senses are working. Your little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible!
* Toenails are completely formed even though she may not be quite ready for a French manicure.
* Hair on your infant's head continues to grow in. Will he have dad's black hair or your red hair?
* Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. What do you suppose your son is dreaming about?

Giving Birth Video

This is is a beautiful video about giving birth. There are very few videos out there that actually give you a glimpse of what to expect in a delivery room. Most just show the mom screaming her guts out while the husband stands there like a deer in head lights. I wish there was more of this kind of stuff out there. I think giving the couple a better understanding of their rolls in the delivery room will help them approach this great day with confidence instead of fear. Thus me searching for something to go by.

Just click on the link to watch the video.
Click Here

So How You Feeling?

Some days are good. Some days are bad. The last couple weeks Bean has gotten quiet active. Everything from Ninja Kicks, to Digging for Gold. It's pretty obvious he is growing nicely inside of me. The doctor said, movement is a good sign. It means you have a healthy baby. I think to myself WOW, I must have a really healthy baby because he is tearing me up inside. On the ultrasound they showed me our Beanie Baby even has hair! Boy, does he have lots of hair. I would suspect he will have enough to put up in pig tails. We can call him Antonio Beanhairhas.

I have also been having a time with the Hormonies. I wake up some mornings feeling chipper as a bird singing Zippiety Do Da, to being ripped from my cheerful moment to feeling really exhausted old hag. Then another moment later I am bawling my eyes out. Poor Dan has to decipher what is the hormonies and what is truely his fault. Usually I try to give him a heads up about my recent attacks. I say, I think I am having a hormonal attack. He usally responds with a hug and says poor baby. Course there are days where I don't recognize the hormonies and eat his head off like a preying Mantis on a romantic night with a guy mantis. Minus the romance part.

As for other things. Well, we finally got the baby bed, a stroller and the swing set up. All the clothes are hung on hangers. Don't worry tags are all still on them. And the rocking chair is already being commandeered by Dan. He sits in there and does all of his bible studies. So Cute!

I also can't decide what outfit I want to cuddle Mr Bean in when we bring him home from the hospital. Most likely something cool. It is going to be hot as Haiti's in the car I am sure. Oh that brings up other points of interest. What vehicle will we drive home in? What do I want to pack for my relaxing stay at the birthing day spa. ARF! I guess I need to make a moo moo. Also what kind of music play list do I want to make for the Hospital room. So many thoughts rumbling through my head. OY! Either way I am stoked!

Also my iron is doing a lot better. I am not feeling as wicked tired. Also my placenta has moved out of the way so I can have Bean with out a C section. Praaaaise! God!!! His mercy endures forever. There is something to be said about having a C Section. It's a tough procedure no matter what way you go around the mulberry bush.

Recently I have been looking into Lamaze. Evidently the procedure is bigger than just child birth. Here is a interesting link about the wonderful world of Lamaze. http://magazine.lamaze.org/
I found it pretty informative. Especially about the part of delivery. OY! We are so close!

Epidural??

So here I am thinking to myself. I wonder what a epidural proceedure looks like. Just in case you are as curious as I was, here is a Youtube explaining all.. OY!

Two Months and Counting

I can hardly believe that we only have roughly two months left until Bean will be with us. We are sooo excited. In the last couple weeks my little belly is starting to grow larger. I thought I would never start to get the belly going on. Not that I want to be a huge massive whale but some sort of proof that I am with child. I don't want people thinking, Girl you be drinking one to many Milk Shakes. It's possible that September second I will give birth to a pineapple milk shake but I am pretty sure there is a baby bean in there. ((:

Last week we had a pretty good scare. I had some lab work done to check my vitals. I guess to see if I was still alive. I drank the old orange koolaide. (No I am not in a cult) They just needed to see if I had gestational diabetes. Don't worry I was all clear. In fact Dan took me out to eat and I had a piece of carrot cake to celebrate. (I am a carrot cake freak! CREAM CHEEEESE!!!) They also took blood work to check to see if I was vitamin deficient.

So anyway Friday afternoon right when Dan was getting ready to head out of town for a week I get a call from the doctor. Girl you need to come in right now and have a shot. You can't come in on Monday because that will be to late. You have to come today. You have ______ blood type and you are not compatible with your baby. You have to come right now. I was like.. OOOO.K. Slooooow down there buddy... How do you know when you have never run blood work on my husband nor know his blood type. I said, let me call my husband to see what his blood type is. Dan of course says give me there number. Yes Sir! He calls them and is like what is up! She was like uuuuuuum! Sorry we misread your paper work. He was like, how do you misread paper work??? He calls me back and tells me all is well. Dan my hero saved us from unnecessary shots. Not to mention another thing added to his plate before he left town. Praise God for having a concerned husband. God is so good to us.

The lab results did show that I am a little anemic. I just need to take some iron tablets. I think it is because I don't eat a lot of meat. I can't eat Red Meat at all because I can't digest it properly. Other than that Bean is growing like a Bean Pole.

While we were spending the day at the Doctors office they did a ultra sound to check our placenta's placement(Placenta Previa) to make sure it had moved out of the way of the birthing canal. We are almost in the clear. They said it should be safe at this point to have natural birth but she scheduled us one more ultrasound appointment for a sneak peak.

Anyway we got a few more ultrasound pictures. I will try to get those uploaded for ya soon. What is so cute is that he has a little leadership toe just like his daddy. (Smile!) He also has my brother's nose. I can't wait to connect the family tree to Bean's body. Ha! Isn't it amazing how we are the sum total of our families body parts. Ha!

I want to thank all our readers for taking the time to read our blog. All this love really makes us feel honored to have people out there that care about our lives. Thanks being excited with us.

Bean's Family

Friendship

Bean could potentially be my very best friend in life.. Isn't that a neat thought? When we have children we teach them how to love and to be good friends. Then they do the same to us..

27 weeks along!

Week Twenty-Seven

* Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby!
* Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. Your baby's hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's.
* Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates!
* He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.
* Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
* Retinas have formed.
* Your baby will grow over � inch this week alone! You may suspect this phenominal growth rate repeats in the preteen years!
* Average size is now 14.4 inches (36.6cm) and 1.9 pound (875gm).

(This isn't bean.. The picture came with the artical.)

Falling for a Massage

After leaving our friends pool party, the sky opened up evil wrath on our little car. With every moment that we drove the wind began to blow harder. Each gust thrashed the trees forward as if a bully was pushing them around.. I looked towards Daniel with alarm when I realized I had left the umbrella up in the backyard. Not even a month earlier the wind had blown the table over snapping the umbrella and bending the leg on the table.

Thoughts of the snapped umbrella played over and over in my head as leaves stuck to the windshield. I don't think we are going to have anything left in the yard with this wind, I said nervously. In a focused voice Dan replies, I would drive faster but the wind is so strong. I know I keep thinking about the umbrella in the fish pond as well.

Pulling up to the house Dan opens the garage as I hop out of the truck with my belongings in my arms. Trying to avoid the rain drops, I puddle hop through the rain to the garage. As soon as I step my foot on the cement floor my left foot slid forward and then my right knee came crashing strait down with pressing force. A moment later I found myself face first staring at the lawn mowers tires. How did I get down here so fast?

With a scurry of movement Dan came rushing in and started frantically checking to see if I was alright. I just laid their for a moment as my mind did a mental check. Is there pain? Yes, Pain in my knee! Check! Hands throbbing? Check. How is the baby? Belly is on the floor. Is there pain? Sorta! But my boobs took most of the fall.

As I laid sprawled on the floor, Dan puts his hand gently on my leg and repeats. Are you ok? The first words were, Did you see that! I fell on the floor but don't worry my boobs caught the fall. Ha!

As I proceed to sit up I begin to gather my belongings from the rain. Dan pushes my hands away and says, don't worry about those things crazy lady! Come on, lets get you to the couch.

As I stand I begin to feel all the aches and pains surge through out my body. How can something so simple cause so much pain. It's not like I fell like a tree strait down. After about 10 minutes of sitting on the couch I realize Ice would be in order. Dan like the good husband brings my request and sits it on my knee. With soothing words he pets my hair and then goes outside to takes the still standing umbrella down. Shesh! All that worrying for nothing. I should have known God had protected my little umbrella.

Several days later I begin to get a dull ache in my back. Oh gee, I think to myself. Now I am really going to feel the full wrath of the fall. The dull ache slowly morphed into a shooting pain that throbbed down my leg. Every step I took began to become more and more painful. Finally I had to come to grips that I had hurt really myself. After standing in line at the grocery store for a grueling 45 minutes. The pain became so intense I could hardly stand. Soon as I walked into the house I crumpled on the living room floor. He says to me poooor baby. I say, don't worry I will get the groceries. He says, No you just stay there. I will bring in the groceries. Man! I should have gotten pregnant earlier. ARF!!

After coming home from work last night I am still feeling lots of pain. I whine to Dan, ohhhhh pleaaase buy me one of those foot massager's. He says, Ha! So you can just ask me later to rub your feet with lotion later. I said, O.K. will you please rub my feet with lotion then. He says, O.K. lay on the bed. With Bean doing the back stroke in my belly, Dan rubbed my feet, legs and back! I was in pure heaven. I had my boys and I was happy as a clam.

Today I have to admit I haven't been in as much pain. Though I can still feel the pain in the back of my leg. Course the pain is nothing like it was the days before. Note to self, Massage really does work. As well as sweet husband and a child like mine. I so am blessed...

New Beginning

In life, there is a love; a love that can not compare, a love between a man and a woman, a love that is brought together by God, the creator of all, the giver and taker of life.

Within this love is born a new love , a love that nothing in this world can touch, so pure, so true, so unwaveringly committed. It is a new life, a new beginning. It is the birth of a child.

Written by my sister 2008

The Big Surprise

My sister and her husband have been trying to get pregnant, so when she surprised us with the news that she was pregnant, the air in the room was electric with excitement. After eight years of trying to get pregnant, and almost coming to terms with the pain of knowing that she would never have her own baby, by the grace of God, my sister got pregnant.

Instead of calling all the family and telling us (the planner she is) decided to make her news the surprise for our mother's surprise, sixtieth birthday party. (Something that needs to be said is that we planned this party together, my sister and I, for months, and she never once slipped up or mentioned anything to me.) So it came to be the big day, and all was going as well as can be expected with my silly family, so as the time came to open presents; all of a sudden an intense feeling fell on the room. My brother in law was so intent on finding the perfect angle as he videotaped the present opening, he moved about five times. My Aunt Cathy and I were in the kitchen cutting the cake, and I heard my mother calling my sisters name in a frantic manner. I rushed in to the room where they were all seated; I realized two things, not only had something happen but I had missed it.

My first reaction was to get loud and frantic, as I asked what had I missed. Finally after what felt like an eternity, my mother raised her tear soaked face, and told me that my Sister Corey was pregnant. At that moment, the air in my body left. I felt like crying, laughing, dancing, and running down the street proclaiming to all who could hear me that "My sister is pregnant." The rest of the day was full of questions, tears, and complete ah in the knowledge of the new life joining our family.

Written by my sister..

My Greek Family

Please take a moment and read my blog, My Big Greek Baby. It will help you understand this video a little better.. ((:

Telling Dan He's a Papa

Sorry it's taken so long to get this video up for you guys to see. I had to buy a few parts for my Laptop to edit. But with out further "Telling Dan".

Week Twenty-Three

* Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
* Bones located in the middle ear harden.
* Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
* The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
* The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. he has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
* If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. .
* The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.

Gardening to Labor and Delivery.. OOPS!!

So Saturday I decide I needed to do a few things like register, go plant shopping and well plant the garden. I understand I have limitations. So I took a lot of precautions such as sitting on a piece of plastic and digging the holes carefully. Etc.. I did moderate leaning over as not to make myself pass out from having the blood flow to my brain. LOL! In between gardening I laid on my swing and took a nap. I even went and talked with the new neighbors for about 20 minutes. Resting between each exerting event.

After my day was done, Bean and I decided to take a shower, then maybe go out to eat depending on how we felt when we got out. I was pretty tired But I sure as heck didn't feel like eating a peanut butter sandwich either. I could seriously feel Bean pouring BBQ sauce on my spine and gnawing on my ribs! We were huuungry!

After a liberating shower I sat on the couch to rest my legs. A few moments later I felt my intestines begin to tighten. I realized if I don't get up and get something to eat now I might not feel like eating anything in about 10 minutes. So I grab some grapes and shoved them into my mouth but the pain grew so intense I had to sit on the floor in the kitchen. Why is it that when you are needing food in a hurry everything seems to disapear out of your kitchen. So I crawl over to the pantry and drag out some walnuts. Thank God they were low to the ground.

After about 15 minutes of laying on the floor I decide to try to get a hold of Dan who was working. To my luck he didn't answer! So I called my sister n law who is a nurse. I eek out, I am in sooooo much pain. Immediatly she started me on slow breathing exercises. After talking to her for a bit she calmed me down enough to get basic questions out of me. Her advice was to call my other sister n law to come check on me because she was really worried. OOOH, I hated to do that. You see she had just been in the hospital three weeks before for chest pains. Then then next week she went on family vacation to Disneyland. This of course included her inlaws. When she got back from vacation she spent a week with her sister who is pregnant and has been in the hospital. So she was pretty worn out with taxi cab driving and sick folks. I felt so bad to call her.

So after a few more minutes of trying to pull myself together I give in and call her. All I said was, oh girl I am in so much pain. She said, I am there. She packs up all three of her children in the van and heads over. She was like super woman as soon as she walked into the door. She made an assesment ane went right to work on me. Hot packs and back rubs I seriously felt like I was in a spa. (other than the intense pain) The kids even tried to bring me my walnuts but they ended up all over the floor. Ha!

Finally we both realized that I probably needed to go to the Emergency room. I am not the one to go the emergency room. You see I have only been there like three times in my whole life. I hate to go because you always have to wait forever!!

So she packs up the kids and throws me in the front. The song, wheels on the us go round and round play through my mind as we bounce down the road. Of course every bounce causes me to come out of my seat with pain.

So here I am bouncing down the road and I can't get a hold of Dan I try one more time. His sweet calm voice answers with a hello? I blurt out, Honey I on my way to the ER. I am in lots of pain. The sweet calm voice switches over to Man with a Plan Dan voice. I want you to call the doctor and see what they want you to do. I said, Honey they will say go to the ER. He said, just call. So I called my doctor and she said head strait to Labor and Delivery! SIDE NOTE: OK, When you are in the throws of pain you don't want to hear those two little words. Labor and Delivery. They are like the scariest words to hear. Even when it is time to deliver. Come on folks I am just trying to stay calm here.

After a quick call back to my brother telling them what was up, the phone promptly started ringing. Mom said, Honey everyone at the woman's retreat is praying for you. Call me if I need to come. Then she says in her pretend calm voice, YOU HAVE TO STAY CALM. You know the kind remain calm but under it all we know she is freaking out! I immediatly feel the panic begin to rise up in me and I say, Love you bye. Then promptly hung up the phone.

One thing our family is good at is the prayer phone tree. When one family member is sick, the clan is forewarned and all begin to pray. Lucky Me!

After a few moments of me moaning in pain and agony my nephew makes a obvious observation, Um Mom, we don't have any shoes on and we are still in our pajamas. We can't go inside the hospital looking like this.. I look back and said, It's O.K, you will fit in cause everyone is wearing pajama's at the hospital. We all started laughing. Then he said, Mom will you stand in front of me so no one will see me. After having a really good laugh I realized (praise God) the pain was begining to let up some.

By the time I got to the hospital almost all of the pain was completely gone. Though it did hurt for me to stand. So they had to put me into a wheel chair so that they could get me up to labor and delivery.

After running several test all they came up with was my heart rate was a little high, which she thought was due to stress. This is after laying in bed for about 20 minutes. Basically my vitals were 104/71.. Pulse was 75. Resp was 18 and my temp was 98.5. All with in normal limits. Now I am still sore when I am getting around. Walking causes some discomfort and when I am sitting on the couch leaning slightly forward and then stand up, I hurt pretty good. Course nothing like the bumps in the road on the way to the hospital. That was pretty painful. I am just taking one day at at time and trusting in Jesus. All I can say is Praise God from whom all blessings flow, I still have a baby growing in my womb.

Discovering Bean

We are excited to announce Bean is officially a boy! That's right a son to pass down the family name. Here is short video of just a few ultra sound pictures. We are hoping to have a few more because of the issue I discussed earlier. They are just keeping an eye on that. I believe all will be fine. ((:

I hope you Enjoy the pictures.

Beans Parents

Learning to Slow Down..

In the last couple years the Lord has been dealing with me about my pace. About four years ago I almost completely mentally broke down. I was working almost seven days a week with little to no time for myself. I worked a full time job during the week, then on nights and weekends I was djing. Sunday mornings I would drag myself out of bed and help lead a college and career class. At the end of the day when my head would hit the pillow I wouldn't even remember sleeping. I was getting about 5-6 hours a night of sleep or less.

To be honest I felt completely numb. Who have had I become? Where was I going? Where is the little girl that loved to play in her garden?

I remember beating my chest and screaming, Please God help me feel again. After years of struggles God has helped me in so many ways find my way back. Through years of denial, depression, and anger I finally realized I was hiding. Hiding from God and what he wanted of me. I didn't want to listen so I kept myself busy.

Now God is still teaching me how to slow down and I thank him every day. Here is a really incredible talk about Learning To Slow Down. It will really make you look at life through different eyes. We are all victims of the fast paced society. I hope that some day I will be slow enough to be a great mother to my children like this man is trying to be with his son.
Click Here

Boobs and Butts...

As we all know pregnant woman usually have to resort to the old maternity clothes. Though some woman have learned several techniques to avoid ever having to wear them. Either being they just don't get very large, they live in the south and so they can wear overhauls all day long or they just endure.

I have heard some woman use the old rubber bands through the button hole. Then latching it around the button of there jeans to expand them. I actually used that creative idea for a while. Course that only lasted for a time until my jeans began to cut into my belly.

You see I have a strange body shape. I have a very skinny waist but then I have been blessed with the big old booty. So when I bought jeans before Bean I had to buy high waist tops. Now those cute little jeans don't work any more.

One day I was getting ready for church. After going through about 10 different outfits trying to find something that I could fit into, I finally settled on a pair of jeans and long shirt to hide the rubber band. I walked into the bathroom to do my hair as Dan was stepping out of the shower. He took one look at me and said, You're wearing jeans to church? (mind you this was last month when I was going through the throws of hormones/ mid life crisis) I blubber something about, “Yes I am wearing jeans!” “I can't find anything else to wear”. Then I go running out of the bathroom. When I reached the bed I throw myself onto pillows like a teenager and began to sob loudly. I seriously looked like I had just broken up with a two week long boyfriend at 13.

A few moments later Dan cautiously entered the bedroom and said, I didn't mean to upset you dear. All it takes is one evil glare and he scurried off like a scared crab running from a seagull chompers.

After changing my clothes a million more times I finally settled on the jeans with the long shirt again. Ha! Isn't that a girl for ya.


So when I got to church, I felt really silly. Course people who didn't know I was prego came up to me and said, you look so cute! I just love those jeans with that top. I just stood there stunned and shocked! God had answered my teenage prayers and blessed me with confidence. Who would have ever known God actually answers hormone enraged prayers. I had more compliments on how I looked that day than ever. I really felt so cool. Thanks God..

Now my belly isn't the only thing that's growing. The trunk of my body has expanded as well as my bazoongas! Holy Cow! When I look in the mirror my shape has gotten quiet comical. I actually laugh at myself. Though what I think is funny looking seems to be attracting the male crowd even more. (Roll Eyes)

I will be sitting in a chair minding my own business, when I actually will have men lean over to check out my hooters! I have been finding that I have been getting hit on more than ever lately. Do boobs really have this effect on men or is it the PREGANACY GLOW? Gross, is all I can say! I feel like I should break out a berka!!

Anyway off of boobs subject and onto more important things. Shopping! So I went to the clothing store the other day and wandered around looking at all my option for about a hour. Not even making my way to the dreaded maternity section. I don't know why I dread that section. Maybe because I fear if I step in there I will marked as a woman with child and have to endure the, Oh how many weeks along are you. Oh, I just love being pregnant, don't you?? So I saved the maternity section for last.

After realizing I have fallen from the graces of the teen department, I give up and waddle over to the Dead Zone. Trying to make the best out of a fearful moment I start with a simple shirt. I pick one out of the stack and unfold it. Of course the sucker keeps on unfolding and unfolding like a father showing off pictures of his 10 kids from his wallet. OH Shnap and that's a small!

Then I find some pants that aren't to bad. I try them on. I really think they were meant for a whale. Of course they were a size small as well. Dude, where in the world are my size. I nearly cry because I am so frustrated. I finally landed on some work out Capri's in the non pregnant section. They are super comfortable but they aren't quiet work friendly. After paroozing the store for over two and a halve hours, I leave the store with a bra, the pants and some panties. Whoo Hoo!

I felt so vulnerable not to mention annoyed. I am like surely there are clothes out there that don't look like they took a sheet and draped it over a whale.

My friend was telling me she saw this one pregnant lady wearing tights and a little tight shirt. She said, I swear she looked like a snake that had swallowed a elephant. I actually laughed out loud. I guess cause I totally got the picture.

After all this stress about not having anything to wear, God reminded me of the maternity clothes that my girlfriend from church had given me. Then a week later my sister n law gave me two giant boxes of clothes. While another lady at work today gave me bag of her daughters clothes. I nearly cried. How God answers my prayers when I need him the most. Now I just got to fit into all these clothes. Ha!