Recently

...I've taken a very great interest in the art of 're-doing' furniture. I think it's really a neat idea to scour yard sales, thrift stores or even my own house to find things that I make a little-more-me. I'm excited about our upcoming move and I have lots of ideas of things I want to do....

Just pouring my heart out...

I just need to write my thoughts....

I love being a mom! I have three great girls. They all are such a blessing to me. Katrin is such a big helper and Kallie is such a snuggle bug and Karra is such an awesome baby! Right now I'm really overwhelmed by life and everything that has to be done. I know people mean well by telling me they would love to help but I'm sick of hearing all the reasons why they can't help. Then I get flack for doing all that I do, well maybe it's because I DON'T have help!! I'm not trying to be Super Mom or do too much, I'm just trying to get done what needs to get done. I don't think I'm someone special by taking a 3 week old baby to church camp but it had to be done. Paul was being ordained and I don't think any of the moms out there would miss a huge milestone in their husbands life to stay at home either.

I would thoroughly enjoy just sitting on my porch swing with a glass of tea and reading a nice book but my mama taught me to be a worker and if there's work to be done, then I'm trying to get it done. It may take me 3 times as long to do it with all the little interruptions but I'll get it done. I would just LOVE for a friend to come visit for a few days or even hours...camp made me once again realize how much I really miss my friends. God has definitely been my closest friend since moving to PA. He has brought our family closer too. I don't have anyone else! I'm not trying to complain or through a pitty party for myself, but sometimes it's just hard to bare.

In the coming weeks, we have alot to accomplish! Paul will be switching jobs. He will be pastoring our current church and another Bible Methodist Church in Newville and starting in August, teaching full-time at a Christian school. We will also be moving to a more central location between the two churches. So, I have a big ol' house to pack up, three kids and a husband to take care of with no help. =) I AM looking forward to what God has in store for our family, just right now it's a little overwhelming. Well duty is calling and need to get lots done...Paul has been working over time yesterday and today so I've been on my own. It's noon and I need to get lunch, my shower and the mountains of laundry.

Pictures of Karra Grace

Happy Birthday Karra!!

My day began with a phone call at 5:20 am this morning. It was the hospital calling to move up my c-section!! I had been told yesterday that if anything was wrong with my Amnio that they would call by 5:30 this morning. So, when the phone rang I was about in tears, thinking that they were postponing my c-section. Thanks to an awesome God who answers prayer, they were calling to move up my section!! I was very excited!! Paul and I quickly showered and were out the door in 40 minutes. We arrived at the hospital around 7am. I was prepped and in the OR by 8:43. Everything hurt really bad this time. I don't really know why. The surgery went fine and Karra Grace came into this world at 9:16am. Paul brought her to me and I got to see Karra briefly because I started getting sick. I had never thrown up with my

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other to kids but why should I think that this section should be the same considering that this pregnancy has been so different from my other two? Once the dr got done sewing me up I felt 100% better! Paul took Karra to get cleaned, weighted, and measured. I went to recovery til 11:05 then was taken to my room. I finally got to hold my baby girl!!!! She's a sweetie!! I love her so much already!! Shortly after getting situated my room, I had visitors (Mindy, Caitlynn, Hannah, Denise, Cassie, and Clayton)!! I have getting visitors while in the hospital!! It makes the time go by faster! And who doesn't want to show off their new baby!?!!? After they left, Paul left as well to go home and get the girls and his parents. While he was gone another good friend, Rachel, came for a nice visit. Paul returned around 4:30 with the family in tow. Katrin and Kallie were so excited to meet/see their new sister. It was really cute!! Man, I love my girls!! They stayed for a while and just left a little bit ago. Now, I plan to enjoy so quiet time and try to get some sleep. I'm SO tired!! This was my day in a nut shell! If it doesn't make sense, sorry.

Baby K's Room (cont.)

My little corner of the room. I covered the ottoman with another receiving blanket to match the room =) Paul made the night stand/cubes.

Baby K's Room

The dresser decor

Wall hangings (inspired by Potterybarn) The letters are the baby's initials k, g, e

my new changing table that I'm already in love with!

crib and wall painting I did (inspired by Potterybarn)

The DIY projects...the K is covered with a cordinating receiving blanket with ribbon around the edge and the dresser scarf is receiving blankets sewn together

I didn't spend a whole lot on this nursery but I think it turned out cute! I had fun doing all the little projects and putting my little touches into it =)

Nesting

I've always said that to get my house exactly the way I want it (clean, that is) I need to be pregnant, cause that's when I do the nitty gritty cleaning and organizing. Well, here I am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant and planning to deliver our final baby in 6 days and my house is totally in order!! So, so, so happy have everything done!!! It feels awesome! I can't stand clutter and messes, so my house isn't usually very bad. But when I clean weekly, I don't pull out all the furniture and dust every nook and cranny. Even at this point, please don't come to my house with a white glove!!
Now, to just keep everything in order for the next few days! Monday and Tuesday will be the crazy days of mopping all the floors and making sure every last stitch of clothing is washed and put away in it's proper place and grocery shopping. My girls have been, surprising, good lately at picking up their toys and not making too many huge messes.
Although, today, Kallie was a bit of a tornado with the toy box in their room. Normally, I help them clean up their toys and such but this mama is just getting too BIG to bend over and pick stuff up! So I told her she needed to clean up her toy box before going to bed and left the room. I came back a few minutes later to a perfectly clean floor with all the toys picked up and lid on the box! I was proud of her!! (She isn't know for picking up her toys...she usually lets big sister do the work and she watches) I guess all the 'correcting' has paid off and she is now a big girl too and is perfectly able to do her share! Thank the Lord!!

I will try to get some good pictures of the nursery posted on here tomorrow. 'Try' is the keyword!! Then Saturday, we have a wedding to attend and Sunday, Paul is preaching at a neighboring church. Monday, the inlaws are coming, Tuesday, I go for my Amnio, and Wednesday.....(drum roll) we will welcome Baby K!!!

Time Flies

(Mother's Day 35 1/2 weeks pg)

Only 9 days left til we get to meet our third little girl! I've been busy doing lots of cleaning and such to get ready for the baby. When I think I'm ready, I always seem to find another project to do. I'm trying to take advantage of every free moment cause I know once she's born, I'll be busier than ever!!

(painting I did above the crib in Baby K's room)

Today I went for my last ultrasound. Baby K weighs 6.1 pounds and is in the 15% for growth, which is good for her, since she's a two-vessel cord baby. (Most babies have 3-vessels). Everything is fine and she will just be smaller than the 'normal' baby, which is fine with me...I get to enjoy the 'newborn' stage a little longer =)


Katrin and Kallie are super excited about being big sisters. Kallie loves to listen to my belly. She has to have her ear up to my belly button in order to 'hear' the baby. She always has something funny to say about what she thinks the baby is doing. Katrin loves to feel the baby kicking and is always kissing my belly. I think they will be great big sisters, but I'm sure, they will be jealous too! When does sibling rivalry end?!?!


I go on the 24th for my amniocenteses (to be sure her lungs are fully developed) then I have my c-section on the 25th. Please pray that all goes well!

Bedrest = Think Time

I've had alot on my mind lately as to our everyday life. I'm feeling like I'm in the middle of no where with no purpose. A lot of my melancholy thoughts are probably due to being pregnant but the thoughts are still there. I feel alone. Different well-meaning people have asked what I'm going to do when this next little gal comes into our world and I seriously don't know! I have no family out here and my wonderful, hard working hubby only has so much time he can take off. I have a few friends I know will help when the baby comes but they have little ones themselves that need caring for. I know God has a perfect plan all worked out and I need to trust Him more. It's just hard! I'm sitting here, supposed to be resting, while Paul is giving the girls their baths and getting them ready for bed. It's always been a chore but right now I'm missing it. There's so much that needs done...laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. I guess I should be more thankful for the time relax and do nothing. Today I was more than ever excited to be able to get Katrin off the bus. She is such a big help to me. Just tonight, she wanted to do the dishes (something she has never done before) and she swept the kitchen floor. I can't say that it is done the way Mama would do it but it's been done. Kallie doesn't understand why Mama can't get up from the chair. How do you make a 2 year old understand? I feel like God is teaching me, once again, to lean hard on Him and depend on Him to take care of us. I just wish it were easier. Anyway, this is my unedited version of how I'm feeling right now....

Farm Show '11

 

We went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show a few weeks ago. It is so much fun!! We look forward to it every year! This year we went with Dan & Mindy Lehman. Had a great time with them and their three children!!

 

All dressed up with nowhere to go =)

 

Enjoy!!

 

Swimming...the girls love it!!

Ministers Dinner

 

Enjoyed a nice evening with all the preachers and their wives. Also enjoyed an evening without the girls!!

20 weeks

 

3 musketeers

Our family is expanding, as most of you know, and we will be having another GIRL! I'm seeing a shotgun by the door in our future really soon (to keep the boys away)!! LOL!! Three girls!!!!! Ahh, I may loose my mind yet! And the drama continues..... =)

During the ultrasound, Katrin wanted to know if the baby had clothes on. She then asked if she had a blanket on. It's amazing what kids think of! She will be a great help to me once the baby arrives.

Now, if I could just get myself motivated to start working on the baby's room....

After this daughter is born, my parents will have 5 grand-daughters!! I guess that makes up for me being the only girl growing up!

Nap Time

Lately my girls have been struggling to take their naps. They are playing in their room, bugging each other and keeping each other from ever falling asleep. Due to this one of them has been sleeping in our room each afternoon, which gives me a wonderful opportunity to snuggle with my little girls. It's amazing how fast they each are growing and changing. More than once during the day, I have to stop, smile and thank God for the true blessing that they are. Katrin is always trying to 'teach' Kallie something that she has learned at school and Kallie actually knows quiet a bit because of her. As I type this, they are out on the back porch (it's enclosed but still really cold) playing nicely together. I love to hear them giggle and laugh together! Don't get me wrong, they have their major moments of disagreement but they are getting along so much better lately. Thank the LORD!! I feel so blessed to have them both! They are making this Christmas season so wonderful and memorable!

This morning, we made sugar cookies and decorated them. They thought it was the coolest thing! It was actually enjoyable for me too and there wasn't too much mess.

Well it's lunch time...then nap time (I look forward to sleeping with Kallie today)

 

Thanksgiving

Right now, I don't 'feel' like being very thankful because of some unforeseen circumstances but I'm going to try...

I'm ever so thankful for God! He has blessed me and our family beyond words. Everywhere I look I see something God has blessed us with. I'm so thankful I serve a real and living GOD!!

I truly am thankful for my little family! Everyday they make me smile and laugh. The girls keep me on my toes and it seems like yesterday they both were babies. Time flies by! Katrin is such a big helper in the kitchen and doing stuff around the house. And Kallie does her best to keep up with her big sister. I'm also so thankful for my husband! I'm so thankful Paul has not lost his job like so many other Americans. I'm so thankful for a hard working husband with strong work ethic. Paul is working right now just make up for the holiday off. If we are ever in the poor house, it's not because Paul wasn't trying his best to supply for our family.

I'm so thankful for my family that traveled out here to share Thanksgiving Day with us. It was so much fun and lots of yummy food! I'm thankful for fun times with the people we love the most.

I'm so thankful for our church family! They are such wonderful people. I can't say enough good about them! They have blessed us in so many ways I can't begin to list them. Just this past October, for pastor appreciation, they got us a quarter beef!! I'm so excited to not have to buy meat for a while!! They all are so gracious and understanding.

Last but not least... I'm thankful for our home. I love where we live! It's my most favorite house that we have ever lived in! I'm thankful for heat and electricity, for food in the pantry. And for the daily blessings God grants us each and everyday!

WHY???

Is anyone else having trouble uploading pictures to their blog? I've deleted 2 years of blog posts and I still can't upload pictures. I don't know what to do. Any ideas???