39 Weeks...and waiting :)

Today marks 39 weeks of pregnancy with these boys!  Other than being more physically uncomfortable here at the end this has STILL been my easiest pregnancy.  I am so thankful too because of all the things we have done, especially late in this pregnancy, that I don't think would have been possible if I'd felt poorly.

Tomorrow I go see my Doctor and hopefully will schedule an induction.  While I am usually not a huge fan of such things, I think that sooner is a bit better with twins and frankly, I'm uncomfortable enough that I'm ok with it.  I do know that my chances of a C-section are higher, but they are higher anyway with the twins so seems like a chance worth taking.

The girls are doing great.  They are super excited about the boys.  Levi seems to be the one Grace talks about often and Abi talks about Jacob a lot.  Not even born yet and they already have favorites!  :)  They are sweet girls.  Abi rubs my belly a lot, I think without realizing it, while I'm holding her.  Makes me smile (and tickles).

Hubs is doing well and our big kids are great.  I'm loving this set up and I still have not found it strange to come downstairs in the morning to a teen in our kitchen.  I felt like that would be weird but so far it's just been a good thing.  There have been hard moments and tough conversations but that's what family does right?  So excited to be in this part of our journey of life.

Hopefully the next post will be that the boys have arrived!  We shall see! :)

Elizabeth

To Abi, on your second birthday

Abi Ann,

I LOVE your smile.  You can light up a room faster than anyone I know.  All I have to do is point a camera at you and say cheese and you cooperate immediately.  You are a stubborn girl who knows what she wants - and I think that's a good thing!  You love to be cuddled and still like to curl up in my lap with your blankie.  Your speech is getting easier to understand and I think you like it that we can have conversations now.

Favorite Food: Pretzel or fruit
Least Favorite Food: Strawberries

Favorite Drink: Chocolate Milk
Lease Favorite Drink: I don't think you have a least favorite

Favorite Show: Daniel Tiger
Least Favorite Show: Anything mom or dad might want to watch

Favorite Doll: Your puppies

Favorite People: Your family!

Favorite Day of the Week: CHURCH DAY!  and GRANDMA DAY!

Favorite Toy: Ponies and the Cootie Bugs game - you like to build them and create different bugs

You are a delight and a joy.  You are such a sweetie and care about the people around you.  I'm so glad you're mine!

I will always be here for you and will always love you!

Love,
Momma

To Grace, on your 4th Birthday

Gracie Bug,

I feel like I tell you this often, but I LOVE YOU.  You are such an amazing, awesome kid and I am so glad you are MINE!  You learn things so quickly and are super smart and funny.  You love to make people smile and laugh.  I love to spend time with you.  I love the pictures you draw of our family - daddy with his spiky hair.  And I love that you are so excited to meet your brothers!

Favorite Food: Jelly Sandwich
Least Favorite Food: Meat

Favorite Drink: Chocolate Milk
Lease Favorite Drink: Pop

Favorite Show: Strawberry Shortcake (for now!)
Least Favorite Show: Anything mom or dad might want to watch

Favorite Doll: Depends on the day!

Favorite People: Your family!

Favorite Day of the Week: CHURCH DAY!  and GRANDMA DAY!

Favorite Toy: You really like to color and create things these days.

You like to tell me about your wedding - who you're going to invite and how wonderful it will be.  I'm sorry though, you still can't marry Daddy, he's mine.  I'll help you find a great guy just like him ok? 

I love you pretty girl!  I am always on your team - don't forget that!

Love you,
Momma

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #96

Happy Thursday! :)

I'm thankful this week and hope you are too.  I feel like there is so much crazy going on in the world that taking a couple minutes to remember the grace of our Lord is necessary.

1. I am thankful for my little girls who are celebrating birthdays - another year of being a mom, watching them grow, laughter, tears - it's all worth it.

2. I am thankful for my little boys who continue to grow healthy and strong.  There have been no complications so far and I am praying that we continue that through this pregnancy.

3. I am thankful for people who come together during hard times rather than turning on each other.  How great the world would be if we could be more supportive and less competitive.

4. I am thankful for a good month so far at work.  I'm hoping it continues through the end of the month!

5. I am thankful for my husband who is such an awesome leader.  I am so blessed to have him in my life and just how he pours his heart out for us.

6. I am thankful for my family - parents, grandparents, sister, etc.  I am reminded over and over again how easy I had it as a kid and how I didn't have to go through a lot of the stuff that teens we work with deal with.

7. I am thankful for my two "big girls" that live with us.  It is wonderful to be able to share in their lives, help them and learn from them!

8. I am thankful for my sis-in-law's baby boy who is also growing healthy and strong!  She is due next week and we are anxiously awaiting his arrival as well!

9. I am thankful for humor, laughter and fun.  It is so needed.

10. I am thankful for a God who sees all.  I know that we don't always understand what is going on around us, but how amazing to know Him who does and can make sense of it all.

Are you thankful?  Leave 'em in the comments!

36 Weeks, Birthdays and Fun

I am 36 weeks now!  Seems like we've come so far - especially since we found out we were expecting at 3.5 weeks!  I am so excited to meet these boys and trying to keep myself sane by remembering the longer they have to grow the better off they will be.  It can be hard though as I am battling thoughts like...

...MY BODY HURTS.
...I wish I could play more with the girls.
...How much tv in one day will really hurt the girls right now?
...they still know I love them right?
...Am I ready?
...What should I have done different?
...am I too whiny?

And on and on.  Overall Hubs says I've complained about logical things but haven't been a brat so I'll take that as a win :)  At the last ultrasound just shy of 36 weeks Baby A was 5lb 15oz and head down, Baby B was 6lbs 4oz and breech.  Now we just wait until they want to show up!  End of the day, I only have max of 4 weeks left and I can do anything for four weeks :)

The Girls
My girlies are growing up.  We celebrated Abi's birthday at the end of August.  I need to write her a birthday post still, but that will come!  She is getting so big, very verbal like her sister and still a daredevil.  I hope that spirit doesn't ever change (maybe gets pointed in the right direction though!).  Grace's birthday is coming up in 5 days and their birthday party is this weekend.  Grace is such a sweet kid although she is getting sassy these days.  It is fun to see her personality evolve but definitely will need to be tempered.

The Hubs
Hubs preached a couple weeks ago - I have a love/hate relationship with him preaching.  I LOVE that he bounces thoughts off me during the week and that his mind is just going constantly with thoughts.  I hate that his topics generally are very applicable to our lives so there is usually a pretty solid lesson that hits home in his sermons every time :)  He did a great job and I could not be more proud of him.  He also has a birthday at the end of August (day before Abi's) so we celebrated him too although without much fanfare.

Me
I'm good!  I'm still working 20 hours/week at the thrift store.  It's a lot of fun.  I think it is always interesting because I never know what will come across my desk.  Sometimes it takes quite a bit of research to figure out what I even have.  I'm ready to hand the job off to someone else for a bit when the boys arrive and excited to see that job continue to evolve as the boys settle into a schedule.

We are adjusting well to our new ministry situation.  We have two teen girls living with us right now and it is going REALLY well!  I am so thankful to have such amazing opportunities to be a part of their lives!

Overall, I have no complaints.  I'm tired and weary but I think that is par for the course.  I always struggle with remembering how fortunate we are and how blessed we are to have all our kids.  In the back of my mind is the doctor who told me I'd never have children.  Oh, how the Lord has other things planned for us!