Cow Apprectiation Day 2012!!!(Free Chicken)

This our 3rd time dressing like a cow for Chick Fil A's Cow appreciation day (2009, 2010, we skipped 2011 because we were out of town)!!! I know it may seem crazy, but free food, yes!!! When you have a larger family and try to live more frugal, you don't get to eat out often, so this was a great opportunity to enjoy our selves and not feel guilty about how many groceries/meals we could have spent that money on. Here are pictures from our day.

Baby Leah:)

Lydia:)

my whole "herd" including my cousin Austin:)

Lydia loved the cow!!

Fun times!!

We ended the day with free Starbucks:)

Leah Faith Nicole:)

June 6, 2011 Leah Faith Nicole was born. She was 7lbs 8ozs 19.5 inches and my biggest baby yet!! She is such a blessing!! I really wish I would blog more but with 5 children, it is really hard. I admire all you mamas who blog consistently and have even more children than me:) My goal is try to blog at least once every 2 weeks!! 1

Surprise:)

I have abandoned my blog:( So much has gone on I don't even know where to begin!! First of all we have moved:) I love our new home, it is very spacious and is closer to our family, church, and church family!! My kitchen aww, I just love it

here is a picture of the children cleaning it:) before we moved in!!

I will try to post more pictures soon:)

We had a wonderful first Christmas with our newest blessing Lydia


Christmas morning, they were soooo excited!!


Lydia is such a blessing!!



She makes us smile:D


We love her soooo much



mommy and lydia being silly



Haley Grace turned 7




and baby #5 is a GIRL!!! Leah Faith Nicole will be here sometime in June 2012!!

My pregnancy is going well and I am 23 weeks today! Thank you Lord for ALL your blessings.

june 14 2012

It looks like I am 6 weeks and 4 days so my due date will be June 14, 2012(2 days before Lydia turns 1). I never would have thought I would get pregnant so soon, but God has a plan and a purpose.



Here is an updated picture of my precious gifts.



Hannah 12, Bryson 8, Haley 6, and Lydia 4 months.

Lydia's Birth Story:) and my testimony!! warning: it is very long

I can not believe that my sweet baby girl is 7 weeks old!! Wow how time flies!! Before I tell you her birth story, you have to understand the "whole" story!! If you have been following my blog a while you know that I have been through a lot to get this precious gift from God!! I have suffered 4 consecutive miscarriages in the last 5 years, which have been so hard for me and my family.
I had my first child when I was 15, but before you judge, understand it is not what you may think. I met my husband when I was 13 and he was 14. I knew I was going to marry him!! We met at church and were both Christians, but were also very hormonal teenagers(exactly why we are going the courting route with our children). When Hannah was born, it was a joyous occasion, but it was soooo hard being a teenage parent. But my husband and I were determined not to be a statistic!! We waited to get married and not get married just because we had a baby. I was in 9th grade when Hannah was born, but had high expectations for myself to graduate High School. My husband was in 11th grade. We both graduated high school with honors. Two weeks before I graduated, we got married:) Ten months later, when I was 19 and Hannah was 3 years 11 months, we welcomed our sweet little boy, Bryson!! I didn't use birth control, and got pregnant again when Bryson was 13 months old, so he was 22 months old when Haley Grace was born. By this time I was 21 and my husband was 22. He was overwhelmed with the responsibility of supporting a family of 5. Even though, I did not want to, but with respect for my husband, and pressures from other family members, I made one of the worst decisions of my life and got the mirena iud . I kept feeling like I had made a mistake and wanted to have it removed, I felt guilty that I had gotten it, but then I felt guilty that I also wanted another baby!! I prayed about what to do but could not convince my husband to let me remove it. I just put it in God's hands and started researching!! That is when I found out about the quiverfull movement!! That changed my life and I started to pray harder. Then one day while watching tv, I came across this show called "14 children and pregnant again". That is when I fell in love with the Duggars and knew then I had nothing to feel guilty about. God put this instinct in me to want to have children because they are a blessing and a gift from him. I was still praying, and God would work it out:)
When Haley was 18 months old, I suddenly just felt pregnant, so I took a test and it was positive. I was so excited, that I didn't deceive my husband, but God had answered my prayer!! But then the unthinkable happened, I started to bleed, so I went to the er and they did an ultrasound. They told me it was too early to see anything, but to follow up with my doctor on Monday(it was a Sat night). I was still bleeding, so the doctor got me in first thing that morning. She did an ultrasound and saw immediately it was a tubal pregnancy, but the iud wasn't even in the right spot!! I was devastated and begged her to try to save my fallopian tube. She did!! But 3 weeks later I got pregnant again and a few days later I started to get sick. I thought I had the flu, but worse, I kept passing out when I stood up. I knew something was wrong but no one would believe me. It was the day before Thanksgiving and my husband could not get off work. So I called my grandmother to come help me with the kids because they were all so little then. I told her I wanted to call 911, because I really felt like I was dying. So when the paramedics came, they said I had the flu, and they could take me to the er but really there was no point. So they left. Then my cousin came, and I told her I needed to go to the hospital because I was dying(and I really was). When I got there and they took me in the triage, they knew something was wrong because my blood pressure was going up and down and wasn't normal. They took me back immediately and internally examined me and they literally started losing me. I felt like I was leaving my body and was in the worst pain of my life!!! They did an ultrasound and my fallopian tube had ruptured and I was bleeding to death internally!! They took me back for emergency surgery and removed my tube:(
After that my body went crazy. I got pregnant 6 months later but it ended in a very early miscarriage(5 weeks). I then gained 50 pounds and had irregular cycles. Everyone around me got pregnant(I got 4 nephews in one year)!! I had a hard time coping with that, but trusted in God!! At that point my husband was still not quiverfull minded, but did not force me to use any kind of birth control.
Then on November 10, 2008 I finally got a positive pregnancy test!! I was sooo excited. Then at 6 weeks I saw my little peanut had a heartbeat!! But at 16 weeks pregnant, the worst happened and I lost my precious little girl Haven(you can read about that here)
At that point, I didn't know if I would ever have another baby or not, honestly I gave up, but still trusted in Jesus!!!
On October 14, 2010, I had a really rough day. Everyone around me was getting pregnant again, Both my sister and sister-in-law were pregnant, and I was just so upset that I still did not have a baby(but happy for them). Then I thought to myself I am just going to take a pregnancy test just for the fun of it, and I just like taking them, lol.(I keep the dollar store ones on hand). I about passed out when a very faint line showed up. So I went to the store and got another one. It was also positive. I wasn't convinced yet, so I got the digital one and it said.......YES!!! The pregnancy went very well and I had lots of ultrasounds to see my precious little girl.

Around 36 weeks I had a ton of contractions and was already dilated a 2. They would come and would be consistent and then just stop!! After 3 weeks of this, I really couldn't take it anymore. So even though I had planned a natural birth at the birthing center, I was just over it and ready to meet my little girl. So I opted to be induced at 39 weeks and 3 days. I was still planning on not having an epidural, since my labors tend to go fast. But the night before I couldn't sleep and really just wanted to enjoy this labor(I had my other 3 natural, except Hannah I had an epidural, but it didn't work, so I still felt everything). I prayed about it.


WHAT A BIG BELLY!!


So when I got to the hospital at 6 and they asked me if I wanted an epidural I said yes. They hooked me up and I had been having contractions all night, so I believe I was already in labor, because I was dilated a "good" 3-4. I got the epidural before they started anything, because of my fast labor history. It was quit painful, but let me tell you, I felt nothing!!! Then the dr was going to do a c-section on another patient but decided to wait, because the nurse said I was an 8. When he checked me he said the baby was "sunny side up", hence the constant labor pains with no results. So he turned her manually(#1 reason I am glad I got the epidural, #2 there was meconium in the fluid, and I do not believe I could have stopped pushing for them to suction her out. #3 the cord was around her neck, so I had to stop pushing for them to loosen that as well). After he turned her, I started pushing and she was out in 2 pushes(from the epidural until she was born only took 2 1/2 hours). Lydia Hope Anne had made her debut, and it was a day well worth the wait:)


I KNOW MY FACE LOOKS WEIRD, BUT I WAS CRYING SO HARD!!!


HER DADDY ADORES HER ALREADY




SHE WAS 6 LBS 7 OZS 19 1/2 INCHES LONG


HER BIG SISTER ADORES HER












LYDIA WITH HER COUSIN ELLIANA WHO IS 6 WEEKS OLDER

Sorry to be so lengthy, but you had to hear the whole story to understand what this child means to me(not that I love her anymore), but I appreciate and am thankful for the little things. So many times with the other children, I took things for granted, but now I cherish every moment with ALL of them, but especially Lydia, because I don't know if God will give us anymore or not. As far as my husband is concerned, I don't know that he is quiverfull minded yet or not. He does want more children or maybe it is because we are older now, but he is definitely different and more patient this time!! We love these precious gifts from God and could not be more happier!!!

Forgotten Blog!!!

I can not believe I have not posted on my blog since January!! Wow!! I read other people's blog all the time but I forgot all about mine, oops!! Oh well:) I will try to do better:) We have a big announcement!! Lydia Hope Anne has finally made her arrival!! I promise I will post her birth story soon with pictures, but for now here is a sneak peak at her newborn pictures I had made yesterday with Kristen who did such a wonderful job!!! There are more pictures on her sight and I will get the cd with the rest later on!!
Lydia was born June 16, 2011 at 11:28 am. She was 6lbs 7 ozs and was 19 1/2 inches long(the exact weight and length as Haley)!! We love her so much she truly is a blessing after all the miscarriages we have suffered!!

ITS A...............................................

We went Wednesday January 19(Haley's 6th Birthday) and found out we are having a.............................................................................






GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!! Lydia Hope Ann will be here sometime in June:)

15 Weeks and baby's heartbeat;0

Okay so this week is the week that my baby Haven's heart stopped beating. So I have been listening to this baby's heartbeat everyday:) Last night I recorded it. It such an amazing thing to hear, and to know that a little baby is in there growing:) January 6th, I will be 16 weeks and will go to hear the heartbeat at the doctor and on January 8th we are going to Baby's First Images in Alpharetta, GA to find out what we are having:)

Update

Where have I been??? Everywhere!! We have been so busy and I have been really sick. Everything is going well with my pregnancy. I had another ultrasound today, and it was so amazing seeing my little baby move around. It looks like a baby now, not a peanut. The heartbeat was 169. My due date is June 23. I am almost 12 weeks:) God is so awesome!!!!

Our newest little blessing:)

Yesterday I went to the birthing center for an ultrasound. I measured at 6 weeks and 3 days with a due date of June 20. The only concern right now is the heartbeat is 114 and they want it to be 120. My hcg levels were 11467 and they wanted them to be well over 12000. I have to go back in Monday for more blood work to make sure that my hcg levels are doubling or they are going to be "really concerned". I have to go back Wednesday for another ultrasound to check "viability". But I know that there is a God and he listens to prayers, so please go in prayer with me that everything will be okay and that this baby is developing and will LIVE!! Here is a picture of our little one:

Let's Try AGAIN!!!!!

Sorry I have been so quiet on here, but I have been so busy. I will update soon. But in the mean time I need lots of prayers!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a positive pregnancy test(okay 3 positive tests). So please keep me in your prayers because I have lost 4 babies in the last 3 years:( Proverbs 3:5-7

Summer is gone, Time for school!!!

Wow this summer has just flown by. We have had such a busy summer, but I am ready for cooler weather. It has been so hot lately, but the last few days I could "smell" fall in the air. It has been so hot my poor garden has pretty much died, I only have 2 tomato plants left:( But next year we are definitely going to have a bigger one:)


We started back school last week.
For Hannah(6th) we are using Abeka

For Bryson(2nd) we are using Bob Jones math, English, and reading
For Science, Spelling, and History we are using Abeka.

Haley is in Kindergarten, but she is finishing up her "teacher on line" through abeka academy for Pre-k(we started late she should finish up over the next month). I am not sure what we are doing for Kindergarten, I am still trying to decide. Any suggestions would be great:)

Here is a picture just for fun of my husband's "redneck" hayride,lol Have a blessed day!

Singing

Last night at our church we had a singing and both Hannah and my husband sang. My husband played and sang with the youth band and Hannah sang Beautiful, Beautiful.

Jesus loves me:)

Haley wanted to sing for the camera so here it is

Belng a mother!!!

What do I like about being a mother?? Everything!! Honestly I love every stage(so far), that my children have gone through. There is nothing I don't enjoy. Sometimes it is challenging, but it is so worth it. There is nothing more precious than your children coming up to you and giving you a hug saying "I love you mommy". I love tucking my children in at night. I love being able to stay home with them. I love homeschooling them. I love watching them grow and their relationship with God grow. I love the million and one questions they ask me EVERYDAY!!! There is so much I love, I could go on and on. I am not saying that I don't struggle, believe me I do everyday, but I rely on the Lord to get me through it all. I really miss having a baby around and do pray the Lord will bless us with many more children, but if he decides it is not his will, I have 3 wonderful children that I cherish every moment I have with them. They are truly gifts from God and I can not imagine my life without them. I was planning on doing this post last week, before Mother's Day, but the time got away. So Happy Late mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers out there!! Here is a video of one of my favorite songs by Selah. It really isn't relevant to the post but could be if you have been through circumstances in motherhood!!

Tough week!!!

I don't know but the last few days I have felt so depressed:( I don't know if it is because a lot of my blogger friends are rather pregnant or have had a baby recently and I kinda feel left out(and I am happy for all you). It just still hurts so bad to have lost little Haven, even though I didn't get to see her or hold her, I feel like a piece of me is missing. I don't feel complete. I am so very grateful I have 3 beautiful children to love and hold, but I don't understand why I feel so empty inside. I have prayed and asked God to take this pain from me, and I know he will. I don't understand why things happen. It really frustrates me when I hear of someone mistreating a child, do they not understand what a gift they have??? Oh well sorry to ramble but I just had to get it out. I think I am going to read my Bible now, that always makes me feel better.

Modesty

Lately I have really been praying about if we girls should wear long dresses and long skirts(not above the knee)all the time. It is something I have really been talking about with my husband. We do wear long dresses and long skirts 50% of the time, but I really feel we should wear them 100% of the time(except gauchos when we are riding bikes or hiking, etc). Hannah is not too excited about this. Haley loves wearing dresses. Now modesty necessary does not mean you have to wear dresses or skirts, but I feel that is the right choice for our family. Here are a few bible verses to reflect on:

I SAMUEL 16:7: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

PROVERBS 11:22: “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.”

I JOHN 2:16-17: “For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

ROMANS 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Here are several links for modest clothing:

http://www.hannahlise.com/

http://www.modestclothingsite.com/

http://www.modestapparelusa.com/

Of course this is just a few, we get most of ours from thrift stores and eBay. Now keep in mind too it does not do any good to wear long skirts or dresses if it has a a slit way up, is too tight, or your top is too low cut.

Here are some resources:

Christian Modesty and Public Undressing Of America

The Beauty of Modesty(This book is new and I have not read it yet, but I assume it is a great resource because it is from the vision forum)

Raising Maidens of Virtue(this touches on the subject some, but it is a wonderful book)

http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&category_id=55&product_id=1010&Itemid=14

Easter 2010!!!

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with Family and friends:) Here are the pictures including the ones from the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday April 2nd with our church.








Two Pictures up is of Bryson and my baby brother Dylan. They both are 7, Dylan is 5 months older than Bryson, but he looks like he is about 3 years older. It is so neat having a brother and son the same age. What is more interesting is that Hannah has an uncle 3 1/2 years younger than her. Dylan lives in GA(where we are from), and is on spring break this week, so he is staying with us. I will miss him so much when he is gone. I miss all my family in GA, especially him:( The first picture of Hannah shows her prize for the most eggs. She was especially excited because next year she will be too old to hunt:(