I'm still full!

We had a very wonderful Thanksgiving!

M's parents were here from last Tuesday to today, and we were very sad to see them leave. This is a public THANK YOU to them for coming and spending some time with us, for buying us things we needed, watching our kids so we could go "visit Santa", teaching my kids to do the dishes, making meals for us, bringing lots of food to share, and just helping our holiday week be most fun! We'll miss you guys! I wanted to get a picture of you and the kids, but, alas, I forgot. We're excited to see you again in March and will start praying now for good weather and a cooperative baby. :)

THANK YOU K & D!!! We'll miss you!!!

Last two Thankful days...

I'm going to have a hard time coming up with things to blog about now... but at least I can still come up with two more things to be thankful for:

Wednesday's thing(s): I'm thankful the weather was nice and my in-laws were able to come join us! They've been here since Tuesday afternoon and it's been fun ever since! We've been playing games, watching movies, eating oh-so-yummy foods (M is actually NOT hungry, that's how well we've been eating), bumming around Gillette, doing Christmas shopping... it's been so awesome!

Thursday's thing(s): This is a big one........ Are you ready for this? Are ya? Ok, here it is... the final and most profound thing I could ever be thankful for: (drum-roll, please....)

Pants that fit!!!!!! Woohoo! Woohoo! Woohoo!!!! Thank you, K, for buying them for me!!

So, there you have it, folks... 27 days of things to be thankful for. I originally started this because my mood swings were looney-bin-divorce-causing-someone-please-shoot-this-crazy-insane-woman-I-can't-take-it-anymore-worthy (I'm not kidding, they were bad) and I needed something positive to focus on. It worked! That or the insanity phase has momentarily ceased... either way, life is good.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! :) Thanks for sharing my life with me!

Only 3 more Thankful days!

Today I'm thankful for some little things... getting everything done on my list in preparation for my in-laws to come.... TODAY! WOOHOO!

I'm thankful for the sleep I was able to finally obtain last night... my kids, bless their stinky little sleep-interrupting hearts, got me up a total of 3 times last night, N twice, A & N together once. AND, I was sleeping on the fold-out couch bed because I made my own bed all nice and clean for my in-laws so I wouldn't have to do it today... AND, with all the cleaning I did yesterday, my hips were really achy, which wasn't helped by the bar that was exactly where they were when laying down, AND since I'm at a point in my pregnancy where laying on one's back or stomach is a no-no, I was forced to sleep on the bar. With my hips. Ouch. BUT, the pain went away, and I would finally doze off... then a kid would come find me. Again. Whatta night! So, yay for sleep!

I'm also thankful that Natalie is not as sick as my middle-of-the-night-sleep-deprived-self feared she'd be. All night long, between sleep and interruptions, I feared I'd have to take her to the doctor, get her a prescription (taking away from Christmas money), the rest of us would get sick... it would be a horrible, horrible Thanksgiving. But, my all-night-praying-instead-of-sleeping paid off... she's just fine this morning!

Did I mention my in-laws are coming today?? WOOHOO!

Sunday and Today (Thankfulness Catch-Up)

Sunday's thing to be thankful for: The opportunity M had to work overtime on Saturday... now my kids will have a Merry Christmas!

Today's thing to be thankful for: Everyone who reads my blog... it's nice to know I'm not doing this in vain. :) So, here's to my friends and family!

Today, I'm thankful for...

...financial stress. I was thinking the other day as we were driving and about to turn a corner "What if a car plowed into us at this very moment?" and how many stories I've heard of that happening... it would more than turn our world upside down. I found myself almost in tears at how thankful I am that the biggest stress in our lives right now is the extreme tightness of our budget. I could have a seriously sick kid or a disabled husband or (heaven forbid) NO husband or I could all of a sudden lose my baby... I'll take restricted funds ANY DAY. Let my car break down, let a bill increase, let us have boring meals... I can handle that! I'm so thankful for the health and well-being of my family and myself!

Only 7 more days to go!

I'm so thankful for the holiday season!!

I love fall, the smells and memories they invoke! I love being with family and friends and first snows and the MUSIC (yes, I'm already listening to Christmas music!!! - makes the baby kick like crazy -ha ha!) and the food and the excitement and the niceness of generally everyone... I just love it all! YAY!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Day 20 of Being Thankful

Today I'm thankful that my husband got fired January 23, 2007. Had he not gotten fired, he would still be at a job he hates, working 12+ hour days, we would be in a bigger house that we could NOT afford, in a ward we would NOT like, in a school I would HATE... needless to say, it was a blessing. Now we have a great job that pays great, has great benefits, great people, great location, we have a perfectly small size house in the most perfect neighborhood, in a great ward, an awesomely great school, it's just great! I love blessings in disguise! So here's to L&H for firing us! And here's to Wyoming Machinery for being GREAT!

I'm so GRATEFUL for...

...the opportunity to pay tithing and the blessings that come from it.

Lately, our budget has been tight, to say the oh-so-very least... so, the other day, when we got a monthly bill for something that has ALWAYS been the same and saw that it had gone UP $10, I freaked out a little. Just a little. I mean, our budget is TIGHT. So tight, that a $10 increase really did make me freak out. Anywho... yesterday, we got a bill for something ELSE that has ALWAYS been the same... only to find out that it had gone DOWN... guess how much? $10!!! I know this is a little thing, but really, the little things are what keep me going most days. I know this is a blessing of paying my tithing and not just a coincidence. Say what you will, but I believe that 100%.

One of my favorite scriptures:
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." - D&C 82:10

Today, I'm grateful for this:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Weekend Catch-Up:

Here's my "thankful" items from the weekend:

15. I'm thankful I only have 10 more days to do this - I'm getting bored. lol

16. I'm thankful for my 2 hour nap I got yesterday, thanks to my wonderful husband. (His words to the kids "do NOT go downstairs for ANYTHING unless you have to go potty".) (I swear I'm not grumpy when I'm tired............) He even made dinner for the kids and had them clean up their mess. Isn't he so nice?

17. I'm thankful for my SWEATPANTS!!! They should make a National Sweatpants Day...

Day 14 of Being Thankful for Stuff...

I love how, if I think about it, there's always something to be thankful for!

Every morning at 5:30am, my husband kisses me goodbye just before he heads out into the cold, dark day. He leaves me sleeping and warm and doesn't give going to work a second thought. He just does it. He often wakes BEFORE his alarm, never, ever pushing the snooze button. Every day he does this for me and our family because he knows that's his job. I know he could say "um, today I'm sleeping in" or "You know what? I want a different job, I quit" or "you should work, I'll stay home". But he doesn't. He works so I can stay home. He goes out and faces the world for us and that means so much to me. Then, he comes home and doesn't say anything about the laundry I DIDN'T get done, or the dishes I DIDN'T do... but asks if there's anything he can do to help ME. I got a good man, yo! That's what I'm thankful for today. :) (And everyday.)

I am overwhelmed with gratitude today...

I'm grateful for how grumpy I've been!

Actually, grumpy doesn't even cover it, but I'm grateful nonetheless.

Ok, so I'm not actually THANKFUL for the grumpiness, but if that's the only thing that's been bothering me lately, I'm good. So, maybe I should rephrase that - I'm grateful for a healthy, normal pregnancy. I had a doctor's appointment this morning (no ultra sound, dang it) and while I was in the waiting room, I overheard the receptionist on the phone with another patient complaining about pain... her liver was enlarged. I know this pain. This is the pain that sent me to the E.R. a week before N was born. I was in Washington, visiting, actually about to leave for home that day. After a week of pain and tests, they figured out that I had pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome. (Wikipedia could explain all of this...) My blood pressure was through the roof, my urine had so much protein in it that it couldn't even be measured, my brain was swelling - causing me to be unconscious through most of this, my platelet (blood clotters) count was scary low (they had to give me 10 transfusions of platelets during the surgery just so I wouldn't bleed to death), my enlarged liver meant it could rupture at any minute - also causing me to bleed to death, and all the while I could go into seizure. SO, things were intense, to say the least. N was born via emergency c-section 5 weeks prematurely in a state we didn't live in. Her little lungs were fully developed and she was out of the hospital in a miraculous two weeks, weighing a whopping 4 lbs.. (Yay Priesthood!) We weren't trying to get pregnant this time, or last October. I believe things happen for a reason. I believe, as I've said before, that this is all in the Lord's hands and am honored that He's given me the opportunity and trusts me to be able to raise another special spirit. Today's appointment was uneventful and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. My next appt. brings on the oh-so-yummy glucose test and the BIG ULTRA SOUND!!! Yahoo!!! M gets to be there with me due to his night schedule. So exciting!!!! Yay!!!!

***Side note: This is how much I'm NOT showing yet - the nurse who brought me back had it wrong in the chart about how far along I am (she had 8 weeks) and didn't even question it by looking at me. The last ultrasound a month ago showed the baby growing right on schedule, so I must just hide it well. :) (It's all because of my super abs of steel, baby! Yah!)

Today I'm thankful for:

Thursdays!

Every Thursday puts me one week closer to baby day!

This Thursday I'll be 20 weeks! Half way, baby!! Yah!

If you didn't know I was pregnant, you wouldn't be able to tell, except for the way I walk sometimes when my pesky ligaments are buggin'.

I can feel the baby kick from the inside and this morning, I felt it on the outside! Yay!

Want to check out what's going on this week in my world? Check out this website:

http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/20-weeks-pregnant.html

I have my next doc appt. tomorrow - I'm hoping the heart thingy doesn't work again, that way I can get a "free" ultrasound... and perhaps see what name we need to pick!

Here are the names we have chosen:

Girl: Myri Ann (pronounced Meer-ee, not MY-ree)
Boy: Davin Peter (pronounced Dah-vin, not Day-vin)

I know, we have to make things difficult. Our choice. So there. :)

Yay baby!

Giving Thanks - Day 10

I want to say thank you to my parents... thank you for the foundation you gave me, for helping me find who I am, for teaching me everything you felt you needed to, for always helping me when I've needed you, for raising me in the church, for teaching me how to pray, for teaching me that families can be together forever, for loving me unconditionally, for my strong character, for your examples of humility, for loving the Lord, for teaching me to choose for myself, for giving me the confidence I needed to make those choices, for teaching me to appreciate the little things in life, for setting a good example when I needed it... I could go on. I miss you guys!

Gratitude Catch Up...

I have two days to catch up on -

Yesterday's thing I'm thankful for: Saturdays with my family that don't allow me much time to blog. :)

Today: The talk given at our Stake Conference today by Elder Robert D. Hale... ever feel like they're talking directly to you?

Something random I'm thankful for: The fact that I'm pregnant. Otherwise, I'd be hating life due to my pants not fitting anymore. I'm in the stage of just looking "fat", though, and maternity pants don't fit. Also, we looked almost everywhere we possibly can in my city and CAN'T FIND ANY PANTS. Plus, I can't afford them right now, anyway. I like my sweats and all, but really? Is there NOTHING else I can wear in this town??? I tried the rubber band thing and I don't have shirts long enough to cover my open fly - lol. I don't know what to do. Does someone want to take me shopping? (In a city OTHER THAN Gillette?) :)

Day 7 of being Thankful...

I've been wracking my brain for something profound to be thankful for today... but alas, can't come up with anything. But, I do have to say that I'm extremely thankful for microwave burritos, pickles and leftover Halloween candy. Ha! You're probably thinking: "Yep, she's pregnant." But what you may not know is that I'd eat these things together when I'm NOT pregnant. So there. :)

Today I am Grateful for...

PERSPECTIVE. When we moved to Washington a few years ago, gas was $1.78 and I thought the world was getting closer to it's end. Yesterday, when driving home, the new price was $1.89 and I wanted to throw a party! Without the bad in this world, how are we ever to appreciate the good and recognize the true blessings in our lives, no matter how small they may seem? I'm so thankful for the trials in my life - they've made me strong and have taught me to have a positive attitude. They've opened my eyes to my own possibilities... and they make anything under $3.00 at the gas station look good!

Being Thankful - Day 4

Today I want to say how thankful I am that my in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving! Holidays just aren't the same without friends or family to share them with. K & D, if you're reading this, I want you to know how so very excited I am!!! Everyone pray for good traveling weather!

Day 3 of being Thankful...

I am so happy to say that it was hard for me to narrow it down to just one thing to be thankful for today. I have to put three, though, because it's my blog and I can do whatever I want on it. :)

1. It smelled like Washington this morning, due to the rain last night. And the wicked wind did NOT blow over our newly acquired basket ball hoop (we got it for free, oh yeah!) onto my unsuspecting car.

2. My sunshine (A) has befriended a boy in his class who I believe has Autism - he has a special teacher's aide to help him during the day. I volunteered today in his class and I got to witness my sweet boy being the most innocent version of Christ-like. I'm so proud of him! *sniff*

3. I have needed a haircut in a bad way for quite some time now but the extra money just hasn't been there for me to "indulge". Well, Saturday we got a coupon in the mail for Great Clips that gets my hair chopped for half price, then I received a reimbursement check on Sunday for some stamps I bought a while ago for YW usage... therefore giving me just the right amount for said coupon's price of a haircut. So guess what I'm going to go do today?! :)

I think it's going to be a good day. :)

'Tis the Season to be... Thankful.

As most of you know, I'm expecting our 3rd child. My pregnancies have NOT been easy, to say the least... this one is following suit. Ok, so there's nothing physically ailing me (nothing beyond the norm - although, my ligament post might have you believing otherwise). No, this one is ailing me mentally. To say I have mood swings doesn't even cover it. Like, at all. Examples: I had a moldy potato ruin my whole day a few weeks ago. All M has to do is ask me "What's for dinner?" and I'm ready to rip his head off and feed THAT to him. It's been bad. I get mad at the dumbest things and just can't shake it. Then I get depressed for being mad. It's so dumb. My point is this: I'm going to post something every day this month (well, till Thanksgiving) that I'm thankful for in hopes of focusing on the positive in my life and re-routing those feelings of wanting to beat the snot out of someones car with a baseball bat towards something happy. Since today is the 2nd, I have to make up for yesterday.

1. I am thankful for my Savior. He died for me. He felt every ugly thing I've ever felt. He knows what I'm going through and is right there with me. I know this pregnancy is in His hands and for those of you who know what happened last time, that means more to me than anything.

2. I'm thankful that my sweet six year old son was able to recount every event of the end of Christ's life to me today, starting with the last supper, ending with the resurrection. I must be doing something right if he can tell me a story that always brings tears to my eyes and he knows it's true.

So that's the first two things. Already I feel better. :)