2012: A Year of Surprises

Well, 2012, you have blown me and Luke away.  Or rather, God has blown us away in 2012!  It was filled to the brim with surprises.  It makes me think of this passage I wrote about here by Beth Moore in her James Bible study:

"Wait on the Lord!  So many presents are wrapped under your tree that it will take a lifetime to open them.  That's God's way.  He keeps telling us that there's something He's not telling us, like exactly how this whole thing is going to work out.  This we can know:  it's going to be perfect."

After a period of waiting for a few years in our lives, God revealed so many "gifts" to us this year!  I am in awe as I look back.  All of our waiting was not for nothing!  It was all a part of His plan.  And it was really neat to see part of the plan unfold in 2012.

Surprise #1:

January was pretty non-exciting for the first couple of weeks.  But then we received our first surprise of the year:  Our renters were moving out of our downstairs apartment!  Talk about a scary surprise!  But this "curse" turned out to be one of the biggest blessings when we decided to move into that apartment and rent out our upstairs one.  It was a few months of nonstop hard work as we renovated the apartment, and it was very stressful financially.  But God knows what He is doing!  He always made ends meet, and sent us renters for the upstairs apartment immediately.

It was a stressful and exciting time, but it also answered a few questions!  First of all, the entire time we were going through this, I was thanking God that He had not blessed us with a baby yet.  I can't imagine going through that stress with a child to take care of!  Also, I can now see that the whole thing was just one big preparation for the baby! Everything will be easier and more convenient on the first floor (not to mention, much more cozy!)  and the first floor apartment has a room that is perfect for a nursery.  I wrote this in a blog post on March 7, not having any idea that I would be pregnant within the year:

"...in our upstairs apartment, we had a room set aside that was going to be the nursery if we ever needed it.  But for some reason, I could never picture it as a nursery.  Maybe that's because it wasn't meant to be a nursery?  However, in the new apartment, there is a little bedroom which will be the office for now.  But every time I go in there, all I can see is a nursery."

I guess that's women's intuition for you! But it gives me chills to read those words!

Anyway, sometime near the middle or March, we moved into our cozy new apartment!

Surprise #2

Literally, the week we moved downstairs, we received surprise #2.  And it was not such a fun surprise.  I heard back from The University of Akron after waiting months the find out if I had made it into their SLP grad program.  I was sitting on the couch during spring break, relaxing one night, when I received the email.  I had been placed on the waiting list.  

No matter how much everyone assured me that the waiting list was not a bad thing, I could not be convinced.  I Googled the chances of someone getting pulled off of a waiting list for grad school, and they were not good.  I spent the next 2 months feeling like my last year of classes that I'd taken in preparation for grad school had been a complete waste.  I started re-planning my future, and wondering what in the world God was up to.  I also struggled with allergies during this time so badly that I ended up in the ER after spending a weekend unable to breathe.  To be honest, I was pretty fed up with life at this point, and feeling like God had forgotten about me.  In my heart, I knew He hadn't, but I was having trouble convincing my head!

Luckily I was able to get control of all of my health problems through eating right and taking dietary supplements.  I will be a proponent of this kind of "medicine" for the rest of my life!

Also luckily, this bleak period did not last long.  Sometime during the last week of April, I received surprise #3.

Surprise #3

I was accepted to my second choice of grad schools: Kent State University!!  I remember feeling like I was practically floating after receiving the email that I had been accepted.  I had pretty much given up hope by that time, so it was a huge surprise!  

Surprise #4

This surprise blew me out of the water.  It was a June evening, and I was busy eating dinner and rounding up ice and a water bottle for Luke's softball game.  I heard my phone buzz and casually glanced at it.  To my surprise, it was an email from The University of Akron, saying that I had been accepted!  I remember feeling so thankful that night!  Not only was I going to be an SLP, but I had finally been accepted to my first choice of graduate schools!  Everything had felt hopeless just a few months ago, but God was just making me wait and trust.  It had been his plan for me to be an SLP all along!

Finally after surprise #4, we had a few months of "boringness," which was a welcome change!  We spent our summer swimming, at softball games, camping, and taking one fun anniversary day trip to Presque Isle.

Then fall came, and although it didn't really bring many surprises, it brought a busyness that I had never known.  I'm glad grad school is a temporary thing, because I am not a fan of that fast-paced lifestyle!

Anyway, at the beginning of November, we received surprise #5...

Surprise #5:  THE BIG ONE

Not much explanation is needed for this one, since I've been talking about it for the past couple of weeks!  It's a funny feeling when you want something for so long, and then you stop trying, and then it almost immediately happens.  I know eating healthy has a lot to do with the reason I became pregnant, but I also think taking the focus off worked too.  People used to tell me all the time, "It will happen when you relax and stop worrying out it."

Honestly?  I wanted to punch those people in the face.  Because how in the world do you stop worrying about the dream you have that trumps every other dream?  The thing you've been wishing for since you were a little girl?  But apparently, it was all true for me.  Because when I stopped worrying about it, that's when it happened.

Also?  The real reason it happened when it did was because that's when God wanted it to happen.  No amount of controlling on my end could have changed that.  

On December 31, 2011, if I could have peeked into the future and seen today, my mind would have been totally blown.  

Every year from 2009 until 2012, I had thought to myself, "Next year HAS to be the year that I'll finally get pregnant."  I didn't let myself think that on December 31, 2011, because I was tired of getting my hopes up.  It's kind of a coincidence, I guess, that 2012 was actually THE YEAR.

God sure knows how to pull off a good surprise!

Dear 2013,

I have a feeling you're going to be one of the best years of my life.  I cannot WAIT to see what surprises you have in store!

Christmas 2012

Time for Christmas recaps, mine included!  This is one of those posts that you might just want to scan through the pictures.  Ha!  I know i'm probably the only one who cares about all these details.

Anyway, we have had a really fun and full week, with just a couple bumps in the road (I'll get there in a minute)

On Thursday night, JC came over before band practice, and we exchanged gifts. Luke and I got him a Ron Swanson bobble head, and he got us a Joann Fabrics gift card (for me) and some athletic shorts (for Luke) and this amazingness for the baby:

Now the baby can be witty and hilarious like his/her father before he/she can even talk. 

Friday evening while Luke was at basketball, I baked some cookies that I used as gifts for some people.  It was hard, because I was still pretty nauseous, but I pushed through.  

Peanut blossoms and chocolate cookies with Reese's Pieces.

Sunday night was no fun in our house.  Luke had been trying to get rid of a cough for awhile already, but apparently something else hit him too because he was up all night Friday night with some kind of stomach bug.  It was really annoying when I woke up and had my couple of morning vomits that happen everyday (sorry, that's disgusting, but I have gotten desensitized after dealing with it for 5 weeks I guess) and we were practically fighting over the bathroom!  Luckily, Luke was able to get over the worst of it by Monday morning. Although he still had a headache and was feeling feverish all day on Christmas Eve.  I felt so bad, because he really NEVER gets sick.  That was the sickest I've ever seen him.  

We made the most of our Christmas Eve anyway, starting at the candlelight church service where Luke had to play in the band.  It was a beautiful service.

There were no seats left in the sanctuary when the band was done playing, so Luke got to watch from the sound booth.  I hope he doesn't mind that I stole this picture from his Facebook page!

After that it was time to party!  Dinner at my grandparents was first on the agenda.  We had lasagna,salad, and this amazing spaghetti squash and kale dish that I need the recipe for!  Also, lots of good desserts. 

Following tradition, we had a white elephant gift exchange, and then we spoiled the babies with gifts as well (can I still call them babies if they're almost 2??) 

We couldn't resist buying gifts for the babies either, so we bought Elin a little teddy bear (which is lame compared to Hudson's gift, but I had such a hard time finding a cute little girl gift!)  Hudson's gift requires a bit of a back-story.  He has always associated Luke with drums, and often follows Luke's name with "boom boom!"  When he is talking about him.  He has occasionally been found after a worship service trying his hand at Luke's drums.  So Luke couldn't resist buying him a little drum set.  Hudson loved it!  At first he really enjoyed sticking the drumsticks in his ears...

But then when they got all set up and he realized what they were, he got really 

excited!  We were happy the gift went over well...mommy was a very good sport!  (what mom would love this gift? ha!)  But we said they could seek revenge by regifting it in a few years if they get sick of it.  

Before we left, we opened our Christmas Poppers and got the obligatory crown picture after that (each popper contains a paper crown, a joke, and a little toy).

Luke was still a little under the weather...you can kind of tell in this picture

Next on Christmas Eve we exchanged gifts with Luke's family.  Even the baby got a few gifts!  10 weeks old  (on the inside) and he or she is already spoiled!

Speaking of spoiled, Luke and I are also still spoiled!  We got so many amazing gifts from Luke's family.  My favorite is my new Magic Bullet!  Hello, homemade baby food!  And I plan on using it a lot in the meantime for salsa, guacamole, smoothies, and milkshakes!

Christmas morning Luke and I woke up and exchanged gifts.  I got him some blu-rays, a Star Wars trivia book, and a gift card to a restaurant (that one's a bit of a boomerang gift, I admit).  He got me the Finding Nemo blu-ray, an Ohio State scarf, and new dishes and glasses!

Somehow on Christmas I decided to just put my camera (err,iPhone) down and just enjoy the day.  I figured I'll probably get at least 1000 pictures next Christmas, it being baby's first and all, so why not take a little break this year?  

Anyway, we spent Christmas day with family.  We had breakfast and a gift exchange with my parents to start out, then Christmas with Luke's mom's side of the family, then Christmas with my dad's side of the family.

Highlights of the day were seeing my sister, getting a new fireplace screen (and lots of other gifts!) from my parents, starting out the baby's library with the 6 or 7 books he or she already received, catching up with family, having my appetite partially back and not feeling nauseous so I could eat tons of good food, trying to solve the metal brain-teaser puzzles from Luke's grandparents (I failed), and this amazing tutu that Luke's cousin's baby was wearing:

#1 reason to be excited if our baby is a girl?  Tutus.  (I kid)

Luke and I got home Christmas night exhausted as usual.  Him more than me, because he was still fighting off sickness.  So he fell asleep in the recliner, and I secretly cheered, because that meant that I could watch my new Hunger Games blu-ray from Luke's parents with no complaints! Ha!  And watch it I did, crying no less than 3 times thanks to pregnancy hormones.  

The Christmas celebrations weren't quite over yet.  Yesterday, the day after Christmas, I ventured out in a snowstorm with the women of Luke's family to go see Les Miserables.  

Speaking of crying during movies...umm...don't forget your tissues if you go see this!  It was amazing!  I want to go see it again ASAP!  And it was fun to be out in the blizzard and have a pretty empty theater on a day when it would have normally been full to the brim.

I guess I didn't get enough of being out in the blizzard that afternoon,because later we had tickets to the TSO show in Cleveland.  We went with our friends Sarah and Doug, and despite the scary weather, we had a great time!  We ate dinner at Steak and Shake on the way, and then enjoyed the show.  

I hope your Christmas was as blessed as ours!  I know I'm looking forward to having a few days to relax before New Year's celebrations begin!  However, I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do after the tornadoes of Christmas and morning sickness.  I have had a really hard time getting things done in the past 5 weeks, because I was basically in survival mode!  Luckily the worst of it seems to be over!  I'm only 10.5 weeks, so I know I still have couple more weeks until I'm completely out of the water, but I'm hopeful, and enjoying the past few days of feeling human!

Merry week after Christmas!

Christmas Decorations

When we moved downstairs last spring, I knew I couldn't wait until Christmas to decorate our new place!  The rooms are bigger, the ceilings are higher, and we have a fireplace!  I just knew it would be so cozy, and couldn't wait.

Well fast forward to the last week of November, and pregnancy hormones attacked my body with no mercy.  I have spent half of the past 3.5 weeks motionless on the couch, trying to settle my stomach, and the other half in the bathroom, losing that battle.  

Okay, I'm exaggerating.  But I have been pretty much out of commission for anything but homework, only because it absolutely had to get done.  Therefore, I wasn't exactly able to go "all out" with the decorations like I wanted to.  In fact, our decorating is probably more minimal than normal.  Luckily, I got a few things put out before I started feeling so sick, and Luke helped a lot with the tree.  Otherwise, I have no doubt that we would have had no decorations this year!

Anyway, here is what we came up with for our first Christmas in our "new place."

Here is our tree during the day!  Luke is a ... how do I put this? ... He's a light snob.  If every inch of the tree is not covered in lights, it is not up to par with his standards.  Luckily, he took care of the lights while I was out shopping craft fairs with my mom and sister.  So there it is in all its glory: 1200 twinkle lights.  I'm so glad he agreed to use white lights this year because I think they are so classy, and they are my favorite!

And here it is at night. Magical. (And I've gotta say, my iPhone 5 takes a pretty good Christmas-tree-at-night picture!)

Our tree doesn't have a "theme." It is just a mish mash of ornaments that represent different periods of our life together.  There are special ornaments 

(Baby W even has a few already!) ...

This one is from Rachel and Jared

And this one is from Luke's parents.  It's an ultrasound picture that says "Praying, dreaming, and waiting for you"

We also have some less serious ones:

This one says "First Born - Dad's favorite"  (You know it's true, Julie. Kidding!)

And what would a tree that is partly my husband's be without a talking Yoda ornament?  Incomplete, that's what.

 And we also have a few purely for decoration.  I have a set of these sparkly bulbs that I love, even though the cats broke at least 2 back when they were ill-behaved kittens.  They have gotten a lot better with leaving the tree alone these days!

Moving on from the tree, we have a few other decorations around the living room.  My grandpa owned a nursery/floral shop for most of his life, and old habits are hard to break. I really think he is happiest when he is making something pretty for his loved ones.  He made us this beautiful candle stand a few years ago:

And this past Saturday he dropped this off for us (he made one for all his kids/grandkids.  He is the sweetest man on earth).  Isn't that mug too cute?  I love it.

And here is my dresser in the entryway with my nativity scene and some Christmasy candles.  We definitely need some kind of light over there next year, because it's kind of in a dark spot in the room.  We will tweak next Christmas.

And that's about the extent of our decorations this year!  It's not much, but it's cozy, and I will miss it once the season is over! 

Next Christmas, though, we will decorate every inch of this place.  Including a sweet, tiny Christmas tree in the nursery!  I know our baby will only be 5 months old, but I can't wait to make his or her first Christmas  special!

To My Friends Who Are Still Waiting

I was so excited to announce my pregnancy, but I did it with a little twinge of sadness, as well.  My heart still breaks for each and every one of you who are still waiting for a baby.  I can honestly say I know exactly how you feel, and no one deserves to feel that way!

Between the fear and wondering if I would ever get pregnant, the stab of pain I'd feel every time someone else announced a pregnancy, and the feeling that I was being punished for not being "good" or "holy" enough, it was enough to do a real number on my heart for the past 2-and-a-half years.  I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

I just want to say that I'm still praying for all of you, and I literally feel your pain.  I just know that God has an amazing plan in store for each and every one of you!

Please email me if you would like specific prayer in this area.  I would love to pray for you!  mysomethingbeautifulblog@gmail.com

Don't lose hope!  No situation is too hopeless for Christ.  No heart is too broken for Him to fix.  Let Him be your peace!

The Details!

Disclaimer: no detail is spared in this post, so consider this your TMI warning, and also an apology for the length!

In case you missed it on Friday, Luke and I are going to have a baby!  And it's pretty cute if I do say so myself!

Cutest little peanut I've ever seen, that's for sure!  But I may be a little biased.  

I am getting ahead of myself!  Let's back up to the beginning.  It's hard to decide when "the beginning" is.  I have been dreaming about this baby for as long as I can remember.  When I was 5 or 6 years old, my bedroom was full of baby dolls, and my favorite thing to do was pretend to be "mommy."  Forget Barbie or stuffed animals!

But perhaps that is going a little too far back.  Let's fast forward about 22 years to this fall.  I think that is the perfect starting point.  I had just finished a summer of intensely healthy eating.  My body was working better than it ever had.   My allergies were gone, my abdominal pains that had been plaguing me for 3 years had subsided, and best of all, I was ovulating after 2 years of many hormonal problems.  My cycles were still between 40-50 days long, but at least I was ovulating at all.  

After some debate, when grad school began this fall, Luke and I decided that we were not going to continue to "try" for a baby, but we weren't necessarily going to prevent it either.  We were just going to let God orchestrate things the way He wanted.  

Well the semester began, and immediately everything in my life was crazy.  I had no time for anything but school work, clinicals, classes, reports, and lesson plans.  Every once in awhile, the pang for a baby would hit, but for the most part, trying to conceive was the furthest thing from my mind.  However, I was still charting my cycles because my chiropractor wanted me to.  Luke and I had plans of really kicking the whole "trying" thing into high gear in the fall of 2013 when I was within 9 months of graduating, so she wanted to try to get my body right on track before that time (little did we know we'll have a newborn in the fall of 2013!)

So anyway, I was charting.  And I had a mini panic attack one Tuesday, on exactly cycle day 15, when my temperature skyrocketed, meaning I had probably ovulated the day before.  Let's just say Luke and I had "celebrated" the Ohio State win on Saturday ifyaknowwhatimean, so I immediately panicked, knowing that the timing would have been perfect (sorry Moms, that is way TMI).  All I could think was, "I never ovulate on time!  I can't get pregnant right now!  Not during grad school!"  But there was a voice shouting above all those thoughts, saying "I might be pregnant! I hope I'm pregnant!"  

The next week, Halloween week, was so busy!  There was a lot of stuff going on at school, plus hurricane Sandy hit, and Luke and I had 80s night at church, and a wedding on Saturday.  I was so busy that I honestly barely thought about the fact that I might be pregnant.  

But then 6 days past ovulation (when you've been trying for this long, time is measured by what cycle day it is, or how many days past ovulation you are) I started feeling this pain and tingling in my chest (again, TMI).  After all I've been through, I know my body backwards and forwards, inside and out, and that has NEVER happened before.  For the 3 days after I ovulate, yes.  The first few days of my period, yes.  But never a week after ovulation like that.  Of course I started to get my hopes up at that time, like I had many times before.  

There were other clues that I might be pregnant during the 2 week wait before I could take a test.  Namely, on my birthday (which fell on election day) I couldn't stop crying.  I guess my hormones were getting kicked into high gear already.  Also, it just FELT different this time.  I just had a gut feeling that I was pregnant.  However, I didn't let myself believe it, because I had been let down so many times before.  

Fast forward to Saturday, 12 days past ovulation (DPO).  I've read that the most sensitive pregnancy tests can pick up a positive at around 10 DPO, but most suggest that you wait for your missed period.  I usually start my period 15-16 DPO (I have long luteal phases, probably because of my hormonal issues) and there was NO WAY I was going to be able to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to take a test.  Luke was working, and I had to go grocery shopping anyway, so I picked up a 2-pack of digital tests.

Now, anyone who knows the first rule about peeing on a stick knows that you're supposed to do it first thing in the morning, especially if you're taking the test early like I was.  This is because the hCG (the hormone you produce when you're pregnant, which triggers a positive on a home pregnancy test) needs to build up in your urine.  So anyway, I knew that taking the test in the middle of the day wasn't the best idea.  I even chugged a Diet Coke on the way home so I'd have to use the restroom!  

So basically, I was about to take this test, and I was about 90% sure that it would be negative, even if I was pregnant, because I was only 12 DPO, and I didn't think I would have enough hCG in my urine to trigger a positive response anyway.  I had bought a 2-pack knowing that I would probably take the second test in a few days if the first one was negative (I know, I'm ridiculous.  What a waste of money).  

So I took the test, set it on the sink, washed my hands, and walked into the kitchen to start putting the groceries away.  When I thought 3 minutes had passed, I slowly walked into the bathroom, praying that God would comfort me when it was negative.  I slowly peered over the counter, waiting to see the words "not pregnant" like I had so many times before. 

...But the word "not" was not there.

I closed my eyes tight and opened them again, thinking that I just wasn't seeing it right.  But there it was: "Pregnant".  Oh My Goodness. 

I proceeded to grab the test and scream.  I was jumping around, screaming, shaking, and tears were streaming down my face.  I was completely shocked, to say the least!  After taking about 500 pregnancy tests in the past that were all negative, I stopped thinking that it could ever possibly happen.  And when it did, there is no way to describe how it felt.

Once I calmed down a bit, I texted Luke, asking him what time he'd be home.  I obviously couldn't wait to tell him, and normally he gets home around 1 or 2 on Saturdays.  It was 12:15, so I figured I had just over an hour or so to wait.  Here is his response:

So I had 6 hours to kill.  It was the longest day of my life!  I wish I could say I spent it coming up with some adorable, elaborate pregnancy reveal for Luke.  But nope...I spent it reading "What to Expect While You're Expecting" that I borrowed for free on my Kindle Fire, and watching episodes of America's Next Top Model.  Yep, random.  

I started getting butterflies in my stomach around 5, and looking out the window for Luke's truck around that time.  Of course he didn't get home until after 6.  When he FINALLY walked in, exhausted after his long day, I waited for him to come in the kitchen, and then I just blurted out, "I'm glad you're finally home, because I've been waiting ALL DAY to show you this!"  And I shoved the pee stick in his face with shaky hands (I always swore I'd never take a picture of my pregnancy test, or use it as part of a pregnancy reveal, but you just get excited and don't care in that moment!)  

I had not even indicated to Luke that there was a possibility that I might be pregnant.  I did this for 2 reasons: I didn't want him to get his hopes up and have to worry about it, and I wanted him to be totally blown away just in case I really was pregnant.

Well blown away he was!  He just kept saying "no way!"  and he finally scooped me up and we just celebrated and enjoyed the moment.

...One of the first things he said was, " I guess you can't ride the new ride at Cedar Point this summer then!"  Ha!  He would think of that!  I'd say it's a very small sacrifice to make!  Ha!

And that is basically the story (the long version, obviously).  In the past month we have enjoyed surprising all of our family and friends with the news.  I have to say, I think the celebration was about a million times sweeter than it would have been if it had happened 2.5 years ago like we wanted it to.  I know I'm appreciating every moment a lot more than I would have if I hadn't had to wait so long.  

I admit that I've even praised God in the sick moments.  The first trimester has not been kind to me. On my best days, I am battling nausea almost every minute, and on my worst days, I am vomiting 2-3 times and barely able to leave the couch.  Some days I'll even feel okay, have a craving, give into it, and then end up huddled over the toilet, violently throwing it up 5 minutes later.  Baby cannot decide what he/she wants!  (I'm kidding...I know the nausea is because of the hormones).  

On top of that, I've bitten my husband's head off for nothing a few times, and have certainly cried over some silly things (the other day I heard an 'N Sync song and cried because it made me miss the innocence of being 13.  I kid you not).  

I've always had basically no sense of smell, especially in the past year or so with all my sinus problems.  I am now smelling things that I didn't even know had a scent.  Sometimes it's amazing, and sometimes it has me running to the bathroom.  

And perhaps the most surprising symptom is the fatigue.  I'm going to be totally honest and say that I used to roll my eyes at pregnant women who complained of being so tired in the first trimester.  I thought they were milking it, and just looking for something to complain about.  But it is no joke!  I have never been so tired in my life.  It is like someone literally sucked every ounce of energy from me.  I feel energized for about an hour after I wake up in the morning, but after that, I am battling the urge to take a nap all day long.  (Or sometimes not battling it, like Friday when I slept from 2-4 on the couch with the cats.  After sleeping for 9 hours the night before.  I figure I have to sleep now while I have the chance!)  

I am not saying all that to complain.  I just simply want to record all of my symptoms so that I can remember everything! Plus I want documentation for the peanut when he/she gets older of just how sick he/she made me in the first few months! 

I will admit that I have complained my fair share to my family, especially to Luke and my mom.  But the truth is, I am secretly glad I'm feeling so terrible.  It is proof that my baby is in there growing and developing just like he/she should be.  

On Wednesday I actually woke up and felt completely normal.  No nausea at all.  I immediately started panicking, and prayed that God would make me feel sick so I'd know that baby was okay!

...stupid, stupid, stupid!  He certainly answered my prayer later.  And then some.  Next time I have vowed to just thank him for the temporary relief!  

Thursday was our first appointment, and obviously we were able to have our first ultrasound!  It was one of the highlights of my life.  We saw the baby swimming around a little bit!  Then I saw a little flickering thing inside the baby's body.  "That's the heart beating!"  the ultrasound tech explained to us.  I didn't know we would actually be able to see the heart beating!  It was the most amazing, beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life.  167 glorious beats per minute.  

Based on my last period, I calculated that my due date was July 22, and I was 8 weeks, 3 days pregnant at the appointment.  Well during our meeting with the amazing nurse practitioner (I don't get to see my actual OB until 10 weeks) she said that the baby was measuring exactly 8 weeks, 3 days.  "Exactly on track!  That almost never happens!"  

In that moment, I just felt God's hand on this whole thing.  I have had irregular periods my whole life, and obviously had trouble ovulating, and have probably never had a normal cycle where I ovulated on day 14.  And somehow, I had ovulated right on track and my baby was the exact right size, to a tee.  Textbook.  I felt so silly for all those times I had tried to control things in the past 2.5 years.  God had a plan, and it was going to be executed with 100% perfection when the time was right.  Oh, if only I could have seen into the future during all those months!  

So there you have it: God took a heart and a body that were both hopelessly broken, and He fixed them both in His perfect way.  I probably look at that ultrasound picture a minimum of 3 times per hour to remind myself of the miracle that He has brought forth in my life.  

I hope my story gives you hope if you are still waiting for your miracle, no matter what that might be! 

There's Something I haven't been Telling You...

First comes love...

Then comes marriage...

Then comes.....

 Baby Wallace!

Making his/her debut around July 22, 2013.

Details to come!

I'm Back

I wish I had some pictures to show to make this post more interesting.  But literally, I have just not taken pictures lately!  What is happening to me?

But I'm writing today to say that at least for the next month, I'm coming back to blogging.  I had my last day of classes yesterday, and aside from 1 final and 1 presentation next week, I'm done!

...we won't talk about the fact that I'll have clinicals almost all through Christmas break.  But at just a few days per week, I can handle that.

I'm so sad that I had to put blogging on the back burner this semester.  But between homework, lesson plans, and trying to spend a little time relaxing with Luke, there was not much time left for blogging.

Not to mention, I didn't have much to blog about besides papers, projects, tests, and therapy sessions.  And something tells me those wouldn't have been the most interesting things to write about.

But the next 4-5 weeks will be filled with Christmas parties, candlelight evenings, trying new recipes, decorating, late nights with my nose in a book, and multiple viewings of Elf.

...blog material at it's finest.

and after Christmas break?  We'll see what happens.  All I know is I really miss blogging, and I'm going to try to do better next semester!

Happy Friday!