Good doctor's report

I went to the doctor yesterday for my monthly check-up. VERY good report from him...I still get to go to work! My due date has officially moved up to January 24th instead of the 29th but some don't think I'll make it even that long. Blood pressure was good. Weight gain was low :) All is good...from his perspective. I am the one feeling all the pressure and cramping! But Kenzie is healthy...heart rate of 150. And she moves all the time! Last night I was in bed wide awake at 10:30 and hubby didn't know why...I had already fallen asleep on the couch earlier. Then I put his hand on my belly and he quickly figured it out. Already if she is awake and moving around...so am I! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. TGIF!!!! or really I want to say TGAF...Thank you God for Another Friday!!!

Here lately...

So life as I know it is getting crazier by the minute...minute, minute, minute (as my child would say). He repeats everything over and over...I call him rain man. Anyway, it is almost 11:00 pm and I am the only one awake because of lots of reasons...the main one being baby girl is awake and kicking! She is doing well...as far as I know...but I am not so good. Dealing with a lot of pain and I have stopped exercising per doctor's orders. I actually hate not exercising because I felt better when I did and now that I am not I feel like blah!!! Not a whole lot going one. Busy with XC these days getting ready for HS basketball to start Oct 21st! I will probably be sitting on the side once again per doctor's orders...my and doc gotta talk about all this! Hunting season has officially started in our household...well it started back in September but cannot "hunt" anything until yesterday. We are now reaping the benefits of hunting...and no my freezer is not full of deer meat but my hubby has been sick all day today from being in the rain last night for two hours!

School is school. High school kiddos make everyday interesting with their drama, drama, and more drama! But you still love them anyway and you still listen when they need it. I was "sick" (sniffle,sniffle, cough, cough) on Friday because our house was a DISASTER!!!!! But I did manage to get the main living areas cleaned and got my hair done by my neighbor...she's the best hair dresser I know...in our area...still a fan of Celeste! Hubby was very impressed by the house...it actually smelled clean. Those of you who know I am a little OCD are probably surprised by the fact that I could live in such conditions but being pregnant this time around has made me not care about it. I do good to make it to work and to get dinner fixed. Hubby puts kiddo to bed these days...he is better at it and it is easier for him to get up and down the stairs than it is for me.

Found out some tough things this week. A guy I graduated with is very sick and in the hospital and another guy I graduated with passed away on Thursday. I was not very close to either but still a little bothered and concerned. I will be praying for both families and I hope you will do the same.

I hope everyone has a great week. Don't be surprised if it is another week before I am on here again. Love to you all.

Oh being pregnant...

Oh being pregnant...what a joy it is to be a part...no...to be right smack dab in the middle of one of God's greatest miracles. If you know a lot, or even a little about me and my family, you know that God is in COMPLETE control of us having kids. So when this one came along...must I say faster than the first...we knew that it was in God's plan...as was the first. So to truly be in the middle of God's work is amazing, a blessing beyond belief...and I praise Him and thank Him everyday for the opportunity. BUT the human side of me says, "OMG...this little girl is something else!" I am experiencing pain in places I never knew could hurt. I think her and my stomach wrestle for position every time after I eat a meal and the meaning of bedtime means nothing to her. But I still love her and cannot wait to meet her (still debating on a name). So when you say your prayers today, tonight, whenever...please remember me and ask for the Lord to give me strength to make it through the next 3 1/2 months.

My hubby and I had a proud moment this weekend..but not because of us or our child...but the children we have taught. Now we are not huge razorback fans (I will be cheering on my Ags come October) but there are some kids on the football team who used to be ours. It was so great to see them perform at the college level when we remember them as scrawny (?) little high school boys. Congrats Ryan and Colby!

I had an insight this past week that I wanted to share with you. I was driving to meet the parents during all the rain and scattered storms. As I was getting ready to drive into one particular storm, it made me think. Immediately, I said to myself "Okay storm...here I come ready or not." What if it was like that with our life storms? What if God warned us when they were coming and we got to prepare for them? Well He doesn't and they come anyway. But we can be prepared for them. Having an intimate relationship with Him is the only way to be ready and to get through the storms. Am I where I need to be in my relationship with Him...do I spend time daily with Him...Do I hide His word in my heart? A few questions that I have to ask myself. Thank goodness my God is a loving, forgiving, merciful, and gracious God. But like every storm...there was sunshine on the other side...and praise God the storms of life are the same way!

A few funnies on kiddo #1...
Where to start? He has learned to say "fork" but it doesn't come out exactly right...rhymes with "puck". Needless to say we are earnestly trying to correct that! Started cheering and yelling "pom pom" the other night when the football cheerleaders came on TV. But the absolutely sweetest thing...he is into giving hugs to me and hubby and kissing sister (aka my belly). LOVE IT!

Hope you have a blessed week and remember when things get so busy we don't know what's going on...He always does!

A multitude of things...

Hello all...
Yes, I do still exist but since school has started I go all the time it seems. This week has been spent taking care of a sick kid, xc practice, cheer practice, grading papers, etc. I started this post almost two weeks ago so I will finish what I was saying and then move on.

So since I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a coach, a friend...so on...I have a multitude of things going through my head. And Iknow that talking to Jesus will be the only way that I can sort them out. My son switched to a toddler bed this weekend (he had a crib that converts). I thought "Oh this will be easy. He already knows how to sleep in a regular bed so a toddler bed should be a piece of cake!" WRONG! He wakes up in the middle of the night, stands at his door with blanket in hand crying "mommy, daddy, mommy, dadddy..." Last night just absolutely broke my heart. Instead of the usual mommy, daddy...he is standing by the door saying "wock" aka "rock". He wanted to me to rock him back to sleep. Even though it was 2 or 4 in the morning...I don't remember...how could I turn down a chance to rock my little man to sleep. Long story short...the bed was hard to get used to...for about 2-3 days, he took his blanket with him to the baby sitter. We have since over come that and sleep in the bed most nights with no problem.

Now up to date...

Tonight is my first night without my kiddo in a long time. I can definitely tell I am prego because I almost cried when my mom and dad pulled away with him. I had to call people just so I wouldn't cry. He is an absolute hoot. When it was time to go with my parents tonight, he just said bye...to me! He was ready to go with them. Yes, that breaks my heart but at the same time makes me feel great that he knows them and likes being with them...I think all the tractors and cows and horses and dogs may have a little to do with it too but I know he likes them. Last Saturday was his first time out to the deer lease. He was dressed all in camo, ready to go hunting. Hubby was taking a picture of him before we left while I was still getting ready...go figure. It was the cutest thing though...hubby had to get down on one knee to reach kiddo's level. Next thing you know, kiddo is kneeling on one knee also, just like daddy. I will post the picture soon...baby steps people...baby steps. Back to the hunting...my kiddo wouldn't be a good hunting partner right now. Anytime he sees ANYTHING in the woods, he points and yells "deer!" Not what daddy wants...fortunately we were not hunting and he won't be going with daddy until many more years from now.

Kiddo got his flu shot last Friday. Saturday night he started running a low grade fever. Needless to say, it didn't go away and kept going up. We thought it was just the shot. Finally took him to the doctor Tuesday night (one of those late clinics), We were there for almost 3 hours! While in the exam room we watched chicken little and cars, played with the tounge depressers, the gloves, the blood pressure cuff, and finally fell asleep until they came in to test for strep (spelling?). It was a LONG night! But he finally got to stay home on Wednesday with daddy and got about 5 extra hours of sleep! It did him good because his fever went away. Thank you, Lord! About the flu shot...as we were driving to the doc's office, I was talking on the phone to my mom. As we passed Sonic and Jack-n-the-Box, my son yells "eat!" I have no idea where he got that from because we gave up eating out a long time ago!

Now that this post is forever long...I am about to call it a night. JH basketball tourney this weekend and XC meet on Saturday...guests on Saturday night and sleep on Sunday. Before I know it I am back in my classroom with my little (high school) munchkins! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the rain...if you are near me!

BTY...good report from doctor today. Need to stay off my feet a little more but that is hard to do being a teacher and coach and trying not to get too fat with this kiddo. No bed rest yet so I am okay for now. Probably will be induced when the time comes because I am a little OCD and only want my doctor delivering my baby, but that is still 4 months away. Love to you all!

Three little lines...

So I am not sure if that is an appropriate title but oh well. Yes, we saw our baby and it is a she!!! She is measuring kind of big for how far I am but due date still around the end of January. Hubby threw his hands up and said loudly "YES!!!" I think he is a little excited about his little girl. I am too. Was I hoping for a boy...yes, only because of a deal we made. If we have a boy, we get to try to have another. If we have a girl, we are done. Needless to say, I would like three kids. Hubby did say that it is okay...we don't have to end with her. Don't get me wrong...I am very excited I am having a girl. It will be a lot different from the little man I have running around. He (little man) has obviously known the who time because he always calls the baby "sissy" or "siser". It's amazing what little kids know. So, she is due in January...looking like I won't get my extra week off but that is okay. I will eventually get it, just not mixed in with my maternity vaca.

Not too bad of a weekend ahead...garage sale tomorrow. Grandparents coming to watch/visit little man. Monday off...I think it will be good. I do have to grade some papers but what's new, right? I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed weekend. Congrats out to my great friend who just had her little boy last night...or early this morning. I can't wait to meet him!

So I am crazy!

A few people...my hubby and my mom...have notified my of my blog not being up-to-date. I can understand my mom letting me know, but never thought hubby would be interested in it. Not a lot has been going on. School is crazy so when we have time to just sit, we usually fall asleep. I think the past two nights all three of us have fallen asleep on the couch. I have officially become the girls' cross country coach and according to my girls...I am crazy! Cross country is all running and that is something our girls are not really familiar with...it's a completely new idea to them. Yesterday and today have been probably my "craziest" day yet. Yesterday they had to run 3 miles...most walked over half of it. They thought they would not live to make it back to the school, but they all did. Today, I loaded them up and drove out in the middle of nowhere...more so than we already are...to a BIG hill. They had to run 10 sprints up the hill. On the FIRST one all I heard was "my legs hurt so bad!" Then, when the 10 hill sprints were over, we headed back to the school. However, the truck seemed to stall exactly 1 mile from the school...go figure. The girls had to run back. One said, "Today you are on my bad list." I thought "Just today? That is awesome...usually it is everyday." Once again, they all seemed to make it back. Cheerleading is always interesting but when is there not drama in cheerleading, right? Not much going on this weekend. In-laws coming to visit, so maybe I can get some stuff done around the house.

Oh yeah...we find out on Friday if we are having a girl or boy...or both! FYI...my belly is already HUGE!!!!!! My kiddo says he is going to have a sister but we will see.

I knew this would happen...

So school starts and I don't have the time/energy to keep up everyday. However, I guess every couple days is not bad...that way I am not just rambling on here. School is not bad. I have one class where I have two preps at the same time...alg 2 and pre-cal at that! I literaly run from one room to the other. I did get an 18-year freshman yesterday. And I made some girls throw up (from running)...that's always fun, right sis? Oh, and I am down to 4 cheerleaders. Anyway, I am kind of looking for advice/opinions. First, does anyone know what to do for back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy? I thought I was going to die yesterday. I was almost in tears by the end of the day but it hurt so bad. I don't remember this with my first. Also, speaking of my first, he is being not very good the past couple of days. Do you think it is because we are starting a new routine? I mean fit throwing like I have never seen before! Like I said...advice/opinions...I will listen but don't get mad if I don't do what you suggest.

I hope everyone has a blessed day today.

Verse for today...Jeremiah 29:11...LOVE IT!

Short But Sweet

Good morning! It is now 6 am and I am preparing for my first day back with the kiddos. Didn't get everything accomplished this weekend that I wanted to but I did sleep alot. I guess my body (and the baby) thought I needed it to get ready for our first day back. I did get to see my parents this weekend for a short time but I always enjoy every minute of that. More to come on that later...

So, I don't have much to say this morning except to share my pray with you.

Lord, You have prepared a way for me. Help me to follow in it and glorify You along the way. You have put me where I am for a reason. Help me to be a light for someone who lives in darkness. Be with all teachers everywhere as we begin a new year with old and new kids. Thank You for the opportunity to be a teacher and to do your work. I love you, Lord!

My sisters informed me that I needed to add pictures to my blog. I guess since photography is what I do on the side, I could share some with you all. Some are "professional" and others are just snapshots.

First is my family...

This is my husband and my kiddo in the mountains in Northwest Arkansas. Needless to say, hubby loved it up there!

This is my side of the family at Thanksgiving almost a year ago. There are only 8 grandkids in this pictures but there is one on the way!!!

This is my in-laws with my kiddo at Halloween.

This is my hubby and me on our wedding day.

Me and my kiddo at prom this year. One of our students made him a little boutinnere.

My kiddo at a softball game. We went to watch one of our former athletes play at the JuCo level!

This is my job on the side...

Our former athlete playing softball. She would probably have a cow if she knew this was on here.

And some prom pictures I took.

I hope you have enjoyed a little of me and what I do. I hope to post more pictures with time but my sister is right...it takes a long time to get these pictures on my blog.

Goodnight and God bless you all!

Baby Report

I had my 4-month check-up yesterday for me and new baby. Really good report except some shocking (but good) news. Only gained just under three pounds, good blood pressure, great heartrate (147), and baby is already moving around. However, when the doctor came in to measure my belly, the first words out of his mouth were "Whoa, this is a big baby. It is grwoing fast!" He then proceeded to ask if I had any swelling, which no I don't unless I get really hot, and if I had any pain...YES! My back already hurts as does my pelvic bone. Obviously, this makes sense to him since the baby is growing fast. After he sat down, he pulled out his little calendar and starting looking. Now let me tell you this...my doctor is notorious for sitting in his chair looking at things (paperwork, etc) without telling you what he is looking for or why. So I asked him if I was on schedule. He said "oh yes, you are on schedule...maybe even a little ahead." Needless to say, it was a great report. We go September 4th to find out what it is...yes, we are telling...but not telling the name (hehe). Then my next appt will be two weeks after that.

Back to work I go! Only 3 more days til the rugrats come back. Lord, prepare me now.

Forgot one thing...

I forgot a very important story in my last blog, which I olny posted like 5 minutes ago.

So my 20+ month old son knows what to do when we sit down to dinner and pray. Last night I put his salad...yes, a salad...infront of him while we got everything else on the table. He did go ahead and begin to eat it but whose going to stop a 20-month old from eating a salad...come on people. However, when my husband and I sat down and he said let's pray, our kiddo put down his fork, reached out his ranch dressing covered hands and said "Ready!". He will also put his head down but still looks up with his eyes. He's only 20 months...we can work onthe eyes. He is the smartest and coolest kid in the world, sorry sisters.

Have a great day!

Another Day

So my second day of work has come and gone and boy am I tired!!! My kiddo adjusted better to the babysitter yesterday than he did on Monday so we are making progress. I guess the chewies she had for him at breakfast time would help any little kid, right? No sunglasses yesterday, just sippy cup in hand.

Sitting in one of our meetings yesterday, my husband and I realized that some people, even though they are teachers and have a degree, really just aren't that smart! And these are the people who are going to be teaching my child...ok. Common sense, people, common sense!

Another exciting note...my God is absolutely, positively, without a doubt 100% AMAZING!!!!!! A miracle happened yesterday that I NEVER expected. No need to elaborate, just know that HE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, in the first two hours i was home last night, I cooked dinner, ate dinner (as a family at the dinner table), cleaned the kitchen, bathed my kid, put him to bed, and talked to my mom. I am starting to really feel like a mom these days! Needless to say, it took me about 3 minutes to fall asleep after my head hit the pillow. I told my husband he could watch whatever he wanted for 5 minutes but at 10 I was watching the news...didn't make it to 9:55. What a day!

First Day Back

Yesterday was our first day back to school...without kiddos. They bombard us on Monday! And it was my kiddo's first day back to the babysitter. It wasn't too bad. We got him up, gave him his sippy of milk and he was ready to go...sunglasses on and everything! We get out of the car and he begins saying her name. So I am thinking this is going to be easy, right? Wrong. I tried to take the sunglasses off when we got inside...that wasn't happening. He started crying when I tried to leave. And then when I came to get him, he saw me through the window and started screaming like you had cut his toes off. But he made it through the day, as did mommy and daddy. Tough workload this year but they obviously have great confidence in me...I'm glad someone does cause I am freaking! Another day today...Lord, show me your way today in preparing for the students that You may be glorified and they will see YOU in me.

By the way, the sunglasses stayed on almost all day long. He was the kid from the movie Big Daddy with Adam Sandler...I guess he thought he would be invisible if he kept them on all day!

A New Start

I have not been on here in a long time but after reading other blogs and talking to my family on a daily basis through email, I am catching on quickly.

Today I am starting over...not completely. I am going to be more organized. I am going to have a better quiet time with my Lord. I am going to exercise. I am going take care of myself so that I may be used for God's purpose.

I have even changed the name for this blog. "Daughter of the King"...why this? I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a sister-n-law, a daughter-n-law, a teacher, a friend...but most importantly, I am a daughter of the King, MY King, MY Lord, MY Savior. All these titles mean something, but being His daughter is above all the greatest thing in my life.

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."