sock sliding

Yesterday we donned some of our winter socks and did some "sock sliding" on the tile by the front entry. It was fun and whoever fell down apparently "lost" according to Grant.

MBA? yikes

Yep, I'm gonna do it - go get my MBA. I'm actually going to do it online, so we'll see how it goes. I'm not sure if I'm ready to get into "student" mode. Once I earn the MBA, I'm going to try to teach online and then when the kids are older, I can use it for my career as well. Hopefully I can get in the swing of things again. So I've got a busy year ahead of me: full-time stay at home mom (this is the primary job of course!), realtor (which is picking up), discussion leader with BSF (this is a great Bible study if you can find one in your area), and now full-time student. I've had a lot more energy recently though, so, with God's help, I believe I can do it all! We'll see how it goes.

On another note, the weather's getting a little better here. You all have talked about how it's been cool and rainy, but it's been hot here. Of course. But the mornings have been cool, which is the first sign that fall/winter is on its way. And the evenings have been good for grilling. Speaking of cool weather, we are super excited for fall around here - I've already bought some pumpkin and "leaves" scented things. I just love this time of year and Christmas. Grant keeps asking when it's going to be "pumpkin day." We read a book about pumpkin day and now he thinks that we have one. Well, we'll just have to. We'll head out to Schnepf's Farm and eat chili and cornbread, ride on the rides and pick pumpkins. Then Grant wants to come back and carve his, but he says he wants his to be nice, not scary. I think I'm going to have to explain to him this year why we don't dress up or celebrate Halloween. We'll see how that goes.....

molar pregnancy

I went to the doctor last week for my post-op check-up from the D&C I had for the miscarriage. Everything's going well, then I'm told to wait because the doctor needs to go over the results from the procedure with me and I'm given a huge stack of lab paperwork (for future blood tests) to take with me. She sits down with me and explains that I had a molar pregnancy. Well, I'd heard the term molar pregnancy before, but didn't really know what it was. I had a partial molar, which means that probably 2 sperm fertilized one egg, but didn't result in twins. A fetus developed, but just for a short time because the placenta overwhelmed it. The placenta started growing at a much faster rate than normal and produced a lot more pregnancy hormone. This is why I was so tired and nauseous - more so than my other pregnancies. Soooooooo, if not all of the placenta was taken out, it can still grow, becoming cancerous. Thus the reason for all of the blood tests. I have to go once a week for a month, every other week for another 2 months, then once a month after that for 6 months. The bloodwork should show my pregnancy hormone level at 0 and they want to make sure that it stays there. If it doesn't, it means it's becoming cancerous and they have to nip it in the bud. So, we can't get pregnant for at least 6 months, which is alright I guess. I've read other stories of women with this who actually had to go through chemo and can't have children again. I'd say I'm blessed that my doctor caught it. And again, God is protecting me/us through all of it. Have any of you had this happen to you? Similar experience?

Oh sweet Prescott

I miss it already. We went up to Prescott in the high country this past weekend. It was a last minute, spur of the moment thing, and it was a great decision. We don't do this enough like we used to. My cousin Angie lives up there with her family. Her husband is a golf pro at Talking Rock - a country club and golf community. He was able to get us a sweet house to stay in while we were there, wish I would've taken pictures. Anyway, the weather was just perfect, 70s, no humidity. The boys got to golf (another couple went with us). Grant golfed his first 18 holes and had a good time. We got to ride 4-wheelers and Grant and Lauren got to play with their cousins. Angie actually went in to labor while we were there with their 3rd child. Jace, their son, was born yesterday.

So, it was perfect there. Grant was out golfing, Lauren was napping, and I got to sit outside and read. Then I went in and had Oreos and read some more. Believe me, I did not want to leave.

Golf clubs for the little guy

We decided to go to Starbucks for a little dessert the other night. We came home with a set of clubs for Grant-man. He and Sean golfed 9 holes the day before and so Sean decided they're going to golf together once a week. Grant is VERY excited. Every day he asks to go golfing. His golf clubs are actually real nice and he loves having a rain cover. Lauren, on the other hand, is a girl after her mom's own heart. She's holding a venti latte that's almost as big as she is. Thankfully I always get decaf, so it was mainly just sugar intake. Yes, she's extremely messy, pay no attention.That was actually a good trip to Starbucks for me because the oh-so-nice barista made me a Pumpkin Spice Latte before they officially come out for the fall. Which, they're supposed to be on the menu Sept. 8 or 18, can't remember which. Sorry, I'm just a huge fan of iced decaf nonfat PSLs with a little whip on top.

Grant at preschool

I struggled for awhile deciding what to do for school for Grant. Do I homeschool, Christian school, charter school, public school....etc. So many choices, so many opinions from all different people. Thankfully, I think I still have another year or 2 before the big decision, but for now I have him going to a preschool. He's young yet, only 3 1/2, but his 2 cousins go to this school as well, and I want him to grow up close with his cousins, like I did. It's a preschool in a lady's house and she used to teach at a Montessori school. I like the things he's learning. Do I think I could teach him the same things here? Yes. I just don't think he'd actually pay attention. I have tried to teach him other things and he always wants to run off and do something else. Part of it is just his age - I mean, he's just 3, part of it is me, he'd rather be playing. All in all, it's a good change of pace for us. He goes M,W,F for 3 hours in the morning. I get to have one-on-one time with Lauren and he gets to learn and be around other kids. He's still getting used to it, but he enjoys it when he goes. So, all that being said, here are some fun pics of the kids. One is Grant's first day and the others are just having fun around the house.

Why

I always felt like when people asked "why did this happen to me?" that they needed to just rely on God. I mean, seriously, just pull it together, stop whining, maybe it had to happen to somebody, so it was you. I'm not known for extreme gentleness to others. I have kind of a suck it up attitude, grin and bear it, you'll get through it. I know, it sounds like I'm some mean uncaring person, and I'm not like that in all situations. I've sent my share of get-well cards, I've cried with friends, I've made meals, bought things for people, etc. So, when I learned yesterday that I had my third miscarriage, I asked why does this keep happening to me. I cried and cried. I thought, come on God, don't put me through this again. I understand and can sympathize with those who ask why things had to happen to them, why it's hard to just trust God. But that's what you have to do. That's what got me through the other miscarriages and God is doing it again this time. I have learned to lean on Him even more. People are there for you, sure, but God is there all the time - at 3 in the morning when you suddenly wake up and can't get back to sleep, in the middle of the day while dealing with kids, He's there to just pray to and ask for strength.

So, maybe I'm being taught patience, maybe I'm being taught more gentleness, which is something I've been working on developing for a few years now. Whatever it is, I know the Lord is teaching me. I will be open to Him and do His will. It's hard, it's easier to cry and mope, but it's the right thing to do and the thing that will help me the most. And when somebody says why did this happen to me, I can respond in love.