let's ultrasound that melon belly

Today I took the almost 4 year old and his preschool classmates on a field trip.

They have been studying the farm so we went to see some miniature horses a few miles from town.

Upon arrival, the farm owner (a old family friend), said, "So, did you swallow a melon?"

A bit later he asked if I wanted to use the ultrasound machine he uses on the horses to see the baby. I have to admit I was half tempted.

All I could think of were the 3 and 4 year olds who would go home and tell their parents that they saw a baby in a teacher's belly at the farm. I politely passed on his offer. He did say it could be used for humans and some of the women from the colony have used it in the past to see their unborn child. I hope my hubby doesn't find out I had the chance...

I do love those carbs...

YIKES!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20995289/wid/11915773?GT1=10412

Dale &Thomas Popcorn - Just pay shipping

It's listed as one of Oprah's Favorite things. For a limited time, order it
and just pay $5.90 S/H.

http://www.mommysavers.com/deals/dale_and_thomas.htm
On the left hand side click on the link that says "Order Free Popcorn"

Last year I passed on this, but this year I am splurging. YUM!

Thanks again to mommysavers.com for the information.

Cooperation with God's plan

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11


Dh's birthday was the 19th. The kids and I made him a banana cake with cream cheese frosting and we had a piece the night before while he opened his card. On his birthday, he got up, walked upstairs and threw his can of chew into the trash. He said, "This is the first day of the rest of my life." At first, I thought he was joking. Before I got sick (that is my time line now, before cancer and after cancer) he chewed tobacco during baseball season only. That summer, the summer of my surgery and diagnosis he never stopped using it. Then he started chewing in the morning and then all day long. I knew he was stressed and I wanted him to stop, but how could I expect him to do so? I was told by my oncologist to give up sweets and did I stop sneaking chocolate, nope. Anyway, I was shocked and awed by his commitment to give up the stuff. I am proud of him, I HOPE he is successful. I hope I can afford to buy him a pack of gum for every day of the year... Thank you God for will power to kick our bad habits when we are ready.

Doctor says baby is good, BIG, but good. She is thinking of inducing for sure by the 6th of November if not earlier. There is something about making those last few appointments that really finalizes the whole thing. I mean, to the average person I look pregnant therefore I must be, right? But, in reality, when I am trying to keep a house together and get a kindergartener and a preschooler ready each day and sub a couple of days a week and everything else that happens each day, the belly is really an afterthought. When I do sit down and feel a foot or an elbow I think about it and how it will affect the dynamic of our family, but I have no fears anymore. Only FAITH that what will be, will be. Thank you God for your plan for my family.

Spent the weekend at the in-laws. They are refinishing their basement and hubby loves to get his hands dirty. I spent Saturday with my daughter and mother-in-law rummaging (FYI: I am amazed at the little stash of baby onesies I have. I only just started looking for white's and yellows and green's and I have a cozy little pile of baby items and a cute little Columbia winter fleece snowsuit for our new baby. The PLAN is already in place and it will work out, it feels like only a week or so ago I was worried and now I am content. Wish I wouldn't have wasted the energy thinking about it.). Anyway, dh wanted to fish a bit and we had the boat so we went out on the lake and dd was her typical tired, crabby self. It sort of ruined the whole event. I felt angry and disappointed that her behavior was such a problem. Later I took both of the kids to the park and I watched them play together. I began to think about all the things that their little brains have had to absorb in the last 12 months. All the days I was lying around after surgery and chemo, what did they think of their mother not being around for them? Then, as soon I was feeling better the baby comes into play...they must be so confused? So I began to pray. I prayed for them to feel love and for them to be able to wrap their brains around all the transitions that have been thrown at them. They have grown up into little people these past few months. It happened so fast. I feel like I missed something. I prayed for myself and my husband to have patience and to be content with our lives and not want, want, want. It is so fun to dream and wish but what are we teaching the kids? We have to be happy with what we have, we should be...we are blessed, beyond what we need to live. I prayed for PEACE. Thank you God for restoration.

Every tiny piece of God's creation is such a blessing. Saturday with my two children I experienced so many of them, a blade of green grass, a tiny ant, a seed, a drop of rain, a soft warm wind, a ray of sunshine, a flower, an empty playground, two precious children and a few THOUGHTFUL prayers. Man, life is really good. Thank you God for life.

It's pink and it cleans for a cause...

I want it! You can enter to win, too...

HERE

So, if I win do you think my dh will still do the vacuuming?

Whew, it's only strep...

I was on the phone waiting to schedule a doctor's appointment a little after 7:30 this morning. Listening to the elevator music while inside my brain is spinning; cough = cancer. It can't be. I am just sick, normal sick. My ds has been coughing, too. How young can Hodgkin's get you? I mean, it's environmental. He has lived in the same place I have for the last almost 4 years. Could he? Of course we couldn't get in until this afternoon. So, I spent the morning trying to avoid thinking about it.

So we hurry up and wait at the doctor, and wait, and wait...

Then he finally gets to us and does his thing and tells us it's only strep. Whew! I have not felt relief like that in, well, a long time. I did ask him what the chances are of an almost 4 year old getting Hodgkin's...he smiled and said, "Next to none."

I know the white coat is not a god. I know he is just another imperfect human. I know he is not right all the time. But it felt good hearing it from him.

So we will take some antibiotics and get better. Another day in the life of a stay at home mommy, cancer survivor.

Home sick for Homecoming...

(Can you believe it's a bus? She has been asking when we will move to the country so she can ride the bus to school.)

It was homecoming here this past weekend. Both of my children were in the parade, so I felt 'naked' watching all the little children pick up their candy and fill their bags. It won't be long when we have another little one again. It still seems hard to believe. I will post a picture soon of dd on her 'float' she was SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO excited to ride.

I, of course, could not enjoy the football game. I came down with some terrible feverish, sinusish, snottish, thingy. Only Sudafed 12 hour in combination with Tylenol and a wee bit of sleep has been helping. My ds has a bit of the bug, too. And we have been coughing. Which scares me to death. So I won't talk about it.

I have a busy week planned with dh working, dh's birthday, reading rally, doctor's appointment and subbing. I am praying for improved health and a bit of calm thrown in amongst my chaos.