Same song, second verse

Someone remind me that it's worth it. David went to Norman for the U2 concert. I wasn't feeling well so instead of making dinner tonight I thought I'd just go pick it up. After driving through McDonald's I headed home in the wonderful bright sunlight. After I sneezed three times I felt it coming. It heeds no rules like "don't attack her while she's driving!" Seriously, I had to pull over on the side of the road and throw up in a plastic bag. I should have just gotten out of the car. I didn't realize the bag had a hole in it. Lovely. Hudson said, "Mom, when I watch you throw up it makes me do this," heaving gag.

I think people have actually blocked me on facebook because they're tired of reading updates like "vomit." So, I'm all done. No more posts or blogs about the effects of pregnancy on me. I just had to tell someone about tonight. It was awful.

Shouting "Europe!" at the Porcelain

I think throwing up gives me writer's block. All I can think about is throwing up and trying not to throw up. I just fixed the kids lunch and I'm waiting on David to bring me my lunch from Bob's Giant Subs. I love their Italian Chicken Salad Sub. But waiting on food and smelling yucky kid food makes me sick. Night time is the worst. I finally get the kids to bed and then I sit really still and breath deep and try to think about anything but throwing up. I usually throw up anyway. Then I go to bed and try not to wake up in the middle of the night because, inevitably, I'll throw up.

I finally went to see my doctor last Thursday. I'm due May 5 which puts me at 11 weeks today. That means I probably only have about 4 more weeks of being sick. The end is in sight. She did prescribe me some medicine. It just makes me sleepy though so I only take it at night, but that works out since the night is the worst. B6 through the day ... we'll see. It's just throwing up. There are worse things, and I do have a healthy growing baby inside me. My jeans are starting to get tight. Great!

Battle Ground

"Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full." --Jesus Calling

2 Chronicles 20 has been my absolute favorite Bible story for a long time. I re-read it tonight and feel a renewed faith that the Lord is perpetually with me in this moment and this season of my life. Future concerns weigh so heavily on me at times that the joy is completely robbed from my TODAY. The story goes that armies are coming against Israel and they are afraid so they all come together to seek the Lord. "And all Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children." I love that picture. That's where I am. Look at me, Lord. Do you see me here, pregnant with three small children and a sick husband? Do you see how hard this is? What am I supposed to do?

The story continues that a prophet comes forward with a word from the Lord that Israel will not need to fight in this battle, "for the battle is not yours, but God's... put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established." Then the king sends out the choir before the army to "give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness is everlasting." And when they began singing and praising the Lord set ambushes against the other armies and they destroyed each other while Israel watched. It's an amazing story - you should read the whole thing.

The truth is I feel like I've been limping through my days, instead of trusting in the Lord and waiting for His deliverance that is promised to come. It may be a long time before life is "normal" again, but I know that my lot is maintained by my heavenly Father who knows exactly what I need and who is using every opportunity to draw me to Himself.

Tummy Aches

Well, Saturday is almost at it's close. Yes, I'm already counting down the hours until bedtime. We celebrated Pierce's 3rd birthday Thursday with cake and friends. Friday morning Hudson woke up complaining that his tummy hurt. I should have listened. We got ready for the Y anyway and loaded in the car. Just before we left Hudson pointed to his chest, "Mom, I think right here is broken." Probably not, but okay. We pulled down the service road leading to the Y and Hudson said, "Mom, I think I'm going to throw up." The pregnant, throwing up mom that I am had a towel in the car already. "Here, throw up in this towel," I said as I threw the towel to the back seat. Just as we pulled into the Y parking lot, he did indeed throw up. And there went the weekend.

Friday night, just as Hudson seemed to be feeling better, Pierce came in and told me his back hurt. I rubbed his back for a few minutes before he stood up straight, turned around and threw up all over Alayna. Why didn't I see that coming?! Poor sister screamed and cried and so did Pierce. After we cleaned that up I called my parents. They came to the rescue with a movie for the kids and food for the mommy, which I threw up later. That's okay - that's just life for the next 10 weeks.

Here's the sick babies watching a movie on my bed.

We've been recovering today. Everyone has eaten pretty normal today and Alayna never got the dreaded peukies - crossing my fingers and still praying.

Building A Pirate Cake

After the pink lady bug cake disaster I was admittedly a leery of trying my hand at the pirate cake - but it's cheaper and in the end Pierce just wants to eat the icing anyway, so ...

I cut two round cakes in half and "glued" them together with chocolate icing.

Then poked drinking straws through them after one side split and threatened to ruin my day!

After icing the whole thing I relinquished my chocolate hazelnut Pirouette cookies for the deck and the cannons.

Finished product with chopstick sails and chubby pirates. My boys were totally impressed!