Quick Update

Cooper's allergy testing: Well, according to his tests, he has outgrown everything but peanuts! I don't believe it! I have been dealing with his food allergies since he was 14 months old, and he has outgrown them? I am in denial I guess. But he is highly allergic to everything outside, so we are starting shots after the new year. That should be fun. We are thankful though that God has healed him.

The Holidays: We have been on the road. We drove 5 hours to Shreveport, spent the night, and went 9 more hours (with three stops) to Birmingham, AL, and stayed in a lake house with a total of 26 of Jason's family members. It was really fun. We only see most of them every two years, and I really enjoy being with them. His cousins (4 girls) and I really get along, and we enjoy all of their husbands. There were 8 kids from 2 months up to 11 years old. But they were all well behaved considering. Campbell was passed around from person to person, but he did really well. Lots of card playing, some fishing, hiking, shopping, and lots of cooking. We had a church service on Sunday morning. My brother-in-law Bryan played his guitar and led us in some songs, and Jason gave the message, about 5 minutes, maybe. And we prayed together. It was really special. Of course that is when Campbell decided to fuss, so I missed most of the prayer time. I am very thankful for my in-laws and the Christian legacy they have made. Among the 9 families, there are 6 ministers I think.

Now we are back in Shreveport for a few days. Its amazing how different our families are, both good, just very different. We'll be back to the grind next week, and we'll have to detox the kids from sweets, going to bed late, and being held all day. Hopefully I will get a minute to reflect and see if there is anything I need to work on this year. All in all life is really good right now, but I'm sure I can change a few things.

Since I'm on high speed, here are some pictures. Merry Christmas and Have a blessed New Year!

Update

Sorry, I just realized I never said how Cooper's testing went. I guess because there wasn't much to report. When the nurse came in to start the tests, she only had about 30 little stick things, and so I asked her if that was all. He had 89 last time. And her response was, "Oh, you wanted food testing?". Well, yes. Since that's the only things I can control, and last time he was allergic to everything under the sun, and the point was to see if he outgrew anything! I was a little frustrated. So they only did the 30 and he will have to go back on Monday for more. He did great though, and yes, he is still highly allergic to peanuts. A few things came back negative, which made no sense, so I think they will do them again on Monday. Tomorrow is his 7th birthday. My big baby is 7. My goodness, how time flies. We are going to the space center. He so wants to be an astronaut now!

SNOW!

You really can't help being in the Christmas spirit when its snowing, in HOUSTON! Its so pretty! If it wasn't so cold, I would go stand in it. It wasn't really fun to drive in coming back from Coop's first basketball practice, but it was fun to see Cade's face since he's never seen snow before, that we can remember.

Christmas, part 2

Well, just as soon as I complained about the lack of Christmas spirit in my house, it changed. When I took Cade to school yesterday, his teacher asked me if I knew anyone who would want a 5 ft tree before she gave it to Goodwill. I took it, and when I brought it home, it brought the Christmas spirit with it! Its really cute, big enough to not be a silly little tree, but not so big that it was a big deal to decorate. We turned on Christmas music, put the tree in the living room, the boys moved their ornaments from their little tree to it, we made popcorn strings (we being me) and paper chains and it is really cute. That let me to put the stockings up and even wrap a few presents today. And the nativity set is on the fireplace in its rightful place. So all is well. The guilt of not doing anything for Christmas is gone, and yet, I didn't have to do hardly anything at all.

Campbell had his 4 month check up today, and all is well. 75% head, 75% height and 50% weight. And the doctor told me I am just fine waiting until 6 months to start cereal. I use the excuse that its because of food allergies, but really, its out of laziness. Once you start the cereal, you can't stop the feeding of food for the rest of their lives. Might as well put it off for two more months!

Speaking of, Cooper has a round of allergy testing tomorrow. He hasn't been tested for three years. I am a little nervous, mostly about the process, not the results. He doesn't remember the torture of the last time, which is good, but he doesn't know what to expect, and we don't want to scare him. You can read my very first blog to hear about the last time. God taught me some mightly lessons. I'll let you know how it goes this time. I'm just fine if God doesn't need me to learn anything.

Christmas...

Usually I am all about Christmas, decorating my house from top to bottom. But this year, if you want to see my Christmas tree, you'll have to look at the blogs from last year because there is no tree. Well, there is a 3 foot tree that the boys decorated in the playroom, and that is it. I have told people that having the third child hasn't been that hard, but apparently, it is harder than I was admitting because I am so tired, and the thought of getting everything out of the attic and unpacking it, putting it up, enjoying it for two weeks, and then packing it all back up again, is just too much. I have the box of stockings sitting in the floor by the front door, and there it has been sitting for 4 days now. I guess making a bigger mess of my house than it is already in does not sound appealing. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying buying gifts and listening to Christmas music, and loving the homemade ornaments my boys are bringing home. And they were both wonderful in their choir programs Sunday night, but I guess I'm trying to keep it simple. Christmas isn't about the tree and lights anyway, right? Of course, if I want to remind the children about Jesus, I should probably actually set up the nativity scene I got out of the attic. Last year we started a new tradition of taking Mary and Joseph and putting them upstairs and everyday they slowly make their way to the living room where the stable is. They haven't started their journey yet. It may only take them a few days to make it to Bethlehem!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday, I won't say how old she is. I am so thankful for her. She has been through so much, but she hasn't let it get her down, she just gets right back up and tries something new. She prays for me and my family daily, I know because she sends me the verse she prayed over us. She is going back to school to get her doctorate, a very admirable thing. She takes care of her dad and step mom who both have Alzheimer's, very draining. We have had to get used to a new relationship now that I am a mom, and sometimes when she is in my house, it causes a little strife, but we work through it and are patient and forgive each other. I would guess that she is the happiest she has ever been right now. And what a great birthday gift is that! Happy Birthday Mom!

Prayer

I accepted Christ when I was 8, and have enjoyed a pretty great spiritual walk since then. God has gotten a hold of me a few times before I went too far down the wrong path, and used a few really tough times to help grow my relationship with Him. But the one thing in my spiritual life I have never been good at or really even enjoyed was my prayer life. I have tried off and on to get better, but to no avail. And now with three kids, well, you know, its just tough to spend that quality time with God. Yes, if I would get off the computer and turn off the tv I would have time. So, its not really the kids fault.
Anyway, we just finished a 6 week study at church on prayer, and it caught my attention enough to actually buy the book it was based on (thanks mom). Prayer, Does it Really Make a Difference?, by Philip Yancy. I highly recommend it. He really helps to answer all the questions and struggles I have had with prayer, like, if God already knows everything, why do I need to pray? And if He already has the plan, is my prayer going to change anything? I am only a little ways thru, and it has really encouraged me to start making the effort to pray. I'm not there yet. But the past two days I have taken a few minutes to really pray for my boys and Jason. For that, I have used The Power of a Praying Parent, and Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian. Highly recommend those too. So I figure if I blog about it, it will hold me somewhat accountable to keep it up. Between 3-4 everyday, I'm kind of tired and there is nothing on tv, so that's the time I have prayed and read more in my book, and I will try to keep it up. And I will try to blog some about what the book is teaching me. I may have to read it a few times to get it all. Today's chapter was about looking at how Jesus prayed. Its obviously important because even though Jesus knew God knew everything and already had a plan, he totally depended on it daily to survive living on this earth. I want to totally depend on it, but right now, I depend on myself. No wonder I'm tired.

What am I thankful for?

So many things. I am so thankful that our house was ok during the hurricane. I am so thankful for Campbell, that he is healthy and happy and here! I am thankful for my other two boys, that they are smart and kind and helpful and lovable. I am thankful that Cooper learned how to read. I am thankful for my husband, that he works so hard, is a fabulous father, is patient with me, and doesn't expect Martha Stewart. I am thankful for my mini-van. I am thankful for God's Word, that it is alive and always meets my needs, when I take the time to read it. I am thankful that God is patient with me, and waits for me to come to Him and accepts me with open arms, no matter how long its been. I am thankful for my church that is full of people who love the Lord and support us. I am thankful for all of the adults who teach my children. I am thankful we live in a country where we are free to worship together. I am thankful for my family, and even though they are strange at times, they love me and my children and would do anything for us. I am so thankful for my in-laws, who love and adore me and my children and pray for us! I am thankful for my mom who prays for me daily. I am thankful for TV, coffee, my bed, Sonic, my computer, books, mexican food and chocolate. Happy Thanksgiving!

Campbell's first sickness

Well, we made it 3 1/2 months before getting sick. He just has a little cold, but as many of you may have experienced, when the baby gets the phlegm down in their tummys, sometimes it comes back up after they eat. So I have been the recipient of projectile vomiting twice today. Fun, fun. We are at my mom's, so I least I have some reinforcement and support.

Astronaut Shane emailed Jason today, from space! How cool is that! And he sent a picture of himself with the Addison Road CD floating next to him. So cool!

Christy's Picks of the Week- I bought the new Jeremy Camp CD that came out today, and the Casting Crowns Christmas CD today for $7.99 each because I am a preferred customer at Lifeway. I am not quite sure why I am a preferred customer, I don't spend that much there and I'm sure they have forgotten that I endured working there from 93-95 and again in 99. I do think I deserve the title of preferred customer. Anyway, both of the CD's are great! I highly recommend them. Break out the Christmas music!

Space... the final frontier

I am watching Shane Kimbrough space walk. Shane is a member of our church, and friends with Jason. I didn't meet him until his launch party at church, but he's a really neat guy. That's why Jason and Cooper were in Florida, they got VIP seats for the launch, really great opportunity. I could have gone too, but we couldn't afford to fly, and I couldn't see us driving with a three month old all the way to FL. We did give Shane an Addison Road CD to take with him to space. They are really excited about that.

When we were moving to Clear Lake, and were told that probably 1/3 of our church works at NASA, I was concerned a little. Up until that point I was kind of against space travel, not really against it, but thinking of all the things we could be spending that money on, like the homeless. But now that we are immersed in the culture, I think its the coolest thing. I think Shane is the 5th astronaut from our church since we've been here to go up, and each time our pastor leads a prayer for them and talks about exploring God's creation. So many people in our church have jobs that just blow my mind. Mark, one of our Sunday School teachers, has the job of keeping track of all of the things floating in space, like every nut, bolt, and now tool bag, star, etc. floating out there. Our other teacher, David, his job is to work on the space suits. Jonathan works on the exercise equipment that is taken to the space station. And I hear all the time about things that we now use in our lives down on earth, that wouldn't have been possible without NASA. And when you see pictures of all that is out there, all of God's creation, we realize how little we are and how BIG God is. I got to watch live the other day the astronauts arriving at the space station, and giving hugs to the guys living in the space station. It gave me chills! And now I'm watching the space station circling the earth, it goes around the whole earth every 92 minutes. The earth is beautiful. Why did God make the whole solar system and more? Is there life in other places? I don't know. Maybe it was just to give us something to do with our lives, to keep us from getting bored. Or maybe it is so we can really grasp His greatness.

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." Nehemiah 9:5,6

I am really mad...

This morning I came downstairs to find that Cade had accidentally bought a pay-per-view movie in his attempt to watch Thomas the Train. I called to try to get it cancelled, but they wouldn't. So, he bought "Baby Momma" which I one point I had wanted to see, so I thought I would watch it tonight after the boys were in bed. This is a really stupid movie! I am really mad we wasted $5 on it. And I'm really mad that Comcast wouldn't take it off.

Baby Poop Stains!

I have struggled with three kids trying to get out baby poop stains, you know, the bright yellow stuff that explodes out the top, bottom and sides of the diapers, even the good diapers. Yes, if you just wash the item immediately, there is usually not an issue. But please, who can wash the stuff immediately. So I have been washing this one outfit over and over with stain stick trying to get out the poop. It is a really cute outfit my mom bought for Campbell, and so I wanted to pass it on to my sister-in-law in a few months, but I can't with a baby poop stain on it. So with the great invention of the internet, I searched baby poop stains, and found the answer... the sun! I thought it surely wouldn't work, but oh my goodness. All you do is wash the outfit with a stain remover, but before drying it, lay it out in the sun. And the stain magically disappears! Apparently, the yellow in the poop is the billirubin, so just like a baby with jaundice, the sun takes it away! I tried it today with four outfits, and three of them came out perfect. Amazing! The other one, the stain is now very light brown, if you weren't looking, you probably wouldn't be able to find it, but I'm going to try again tomorrow. I used the Spray-n-Wash stain stick, but apparently, the Dreft stain remover might work better. Why didn't I learn this 7 years ago!!! God's free stain remover!

Observations of a non-political person

My person lost, but I'm over it, for a number of reasons. One, because what good does it do to be upset, it doesn't change anything. Two, I realized a lot of things people blamed on Bush weren't his fault, no one person can make all the mistakes people said he made by himself, therefore, Obama can't do all the things people say he will do by himself. Three, and most importantly, because God is in control and has a bigger picture than I can see. He already knew the outcome. Jason and I were discussing last night people's reactions as we watched Obama's speech (really good I thought). Jesse Jackson and Oprah crying made us roll our eyes. But then you see like a quarter of a million people cheering and crying and just the fact that they stood out there to hear him speak for 10 minutes was crazy to us. I said that I couldn't imagine being that supportive of anyone to show that much emotion about them winning. Jason asked why they were all there. Why were they all so emotional. We get that its a big deal that he's the first black President, but I don't think people in our generation, or white people in general, can really get the significance of it. But I also told Jason that these people have put so much hope into him and what he can accomplish. They are suffering and most of them can only put hope into this man, who is only human. We don't put hope in people. We know that only God is big enough to handle our suffering, our complaining, our issues, and that He is the only one we should put our hope in.
Jason is driving to Dallas tonight to attend the Memorial service for Sweet Hopkins, the Children's Minister at FBC Richardson, where we moved from. She passed away this week from cancer. All of this uncertainty about the future of our country at the same time of her death made me realize that all I can really control is the present, what I can do today to make a difference in this world, especially in the life of a child. They are our future. I can help my three boys grow up into Godly men with values, knowing the difference between good and bad, helping them find their talents and gifts, and teaching them how to treat people with respect and kindness. I can also teach that to other children, just like Sweet did, and that will truly make a difference in the world. I can do my part and let God do the rest, and put my hope in that!

Politics of a 6 year old

We were eating dinner, watching the election results. Cooper was watching intently, waiting for them to announce the winner. We had to explain we won't know until after he goes to bed, or maybe way longer than that. So then we got into a discussion about our newest favorite thing in the Gadman house, Star Wars: the Clone Wars. And Cooper made the most astute comment. Obama looks like Chewbaca because he's brown and McCain looks like Yoda because he's old. We had to laugh and I had to post. Enjoy.

You get what you pay for...

Except for a package of diapers I bought while we were gone evacuating, I haven't had to buy diapers until this week. But it hit at the time of the month when we don't have a lot of extra money, so I took my coupons to the grocery store to see what kind of deal I could get. Even with the coupons, the store brand of diapers was cheaper. The package looked so nice with quotes on it from moms about how great the diapers were. So I bought them instead of the name brands. And I learned again that you get what you pay for. Campbell's leaked on two outfits since yesterday. I have realized there are some things you can get by with buying the cheap store brand. But there are some things you should spend the few extra cents (or dollars when it comes to diapers) to get the better quality. Like speghetti sauce. I only buy Prego Organic. I have tried the cheaper brands but they just aren't as good. So I will go back to spending a little extra for Pampers or Huggies. My first two boys really only wore Huggies, but someone bought us Pampers this time, and I really like them. Back to cutting coupons!

My observations of facebook...

Ok, first of all, I am addicted to facebook. Its ridiculous! I walk by the computer, and it calls to me, "Come see who added you as a friend. Come see what random people were thinking 5 minutes ago!" and I have to stop and sit down and look. So silly. But it cracks me up this whole friendship thing. I see a friend that I know and I think, I know there are people we both know, so I look at their friendship list and find at least one person to connect with. But I have to say, I see lots of people that I have known at one time in my life, but I think, if I asked them to be my friend, they would think I was weird because we really weren't friends. But apparently other people do not have that filter because I have gotten requests from people that I honestly do not know. I looked a few up in my college yearbook and there they were, so I confirm their friendship because I'm too nice not to. Jason said he denies people all the time. I asked him if they get a message that he denied them, and he said he doesn't care, that's the point. But I'm too nice. But last night, I actually deleted three people that I honestly don't know. It said they don't notify them, which is good. And then I had a horrible thought. I am waiting on about 20 people to confirm my friendship, and what if they don't want to be friends with me, and they denied me and I just don't know it??!!! Is that possible? Do people really not want to be my friend? Were there people who accepted me, but they were too nice to say no, and deleted me later? Jason said a lot of people just try to get as many friends as possible. At first I thought that was ridiculous, but I have to say, I am proud of myself as my friend count goes up. Just what I need is another avenue of testing my low-self esteem.

Well, I did it.

I joined facebook. I have a friend who moved to Singapore and joined facebook and asked me to, so I did. And within two hours I had so many people who found me. Crazy. People who have had my email address for years, but suddenly on facebook they can chat. I didn't realize how behind the times I was. I thought I was all with it since I had a blog, but apparently not. Its kind of fun I must say to see so many people I haven't seen in years. Grant it, its a 1 by 2 inch picture, and most of them aren't good, I hope. I don't want to post one of myself, because I'm sure it won't look good either. And since I am still way behind the times at home with dial up, I'll have to find time to go to Jason's office to post a picture. Just what I need is another way to waste my time! I kind of feel like I'm cheating on my blog.

Things here are fine. Busy week. Jason was out of town and my mom was here. Then we had a family conference at church this weekend, so a good friend of ours came in to teach at it. So my house is really clean. Campbell is doing great. The easiest baby of the three, knock on wood. I started working in childcare last week. Tuesdays are bad, but Wednesdays are fine. I'll go into that another time. I just keep telling myself, "this is for Cade." I'm only working to pay his tuition for preschool. Of course its selfish too, that's two 10 hours a week he's out of my hair.

Happy Birthday Campbell!

Today Campbell is 2 months old! How did that happen?! So I took him to the doctor for his check up, which was an adventure. I have thought the last two years since we have been using this doctor that they needed to redo their offices, and Hurricane Ike pushed them into it. Apparently, they had a lot of damage, so they had to move to a temporary location for 4-6 months while their offices are getting redone. Well, this temporary office was soooo tiny. And there are 4 doctors in the practice, it was a mad house! People walking all over each other. Anyway, it wasn't fun. But he looks great. Weighs 12 lbs 7 oz, 75 percentile. Then we got the dreaded shots, 3 shots and an oral vaccine. I had been thinking for awhile about the vaccines, I have heard so much in the media about the link between them and autism, etc. My mom is getting her doctorate in natural medicine, and really didn't want me to get them (from my translation of comments she had made.) But after the storm, Dr. Dave the pediatrician, ironically enough a good friend of my parents, stayed at our house one night while working on his beach house in Galveston. And I asked him about vaccines. He made me feel so much better. He said that the committee who decides the schedule is pediatricians, not pharmaceutical companies, so they only want whats best for the children. And yes, you can spread them out, but that only makes the child have more painful visits, and opens them up to get the disease while they are waiting for the vaccine. He said there are no studies that prove the link between vaccines and autism, but its one of those things you really can't prove cause and effect. But the best thing he said, that really made me feel better, was that there are risks, but there are risks in everything. Children die in car accidents because they are trapped in their car seats, but are we not going to use car seats because of that risk? Of course not. The benefits far out weigh the risks. So he got his shots today. And yes, he is grumpy. But he won't remember it. He's already forgotten I'm sure.

The trucks came through today and picked up most of our debris in our neighborhood, and all of our traffic lights are working now. Things are getting back to normal. We are waiting for our insurance to tell us how much money we get for repairs, probably a new roof.

OH YEAH! Campbell is celebrating his two month birthday by sleeping through the night! The past three nights he has gone 7-8 hours at night! Yippee!

Cereal

I realized last night at 4 am when I was nursing, that Cooper had a bowl of cereal before he went to bed. "So what?" you might be saying. Well, if memory serves me right, that was his first bowl of cereal, and yes, he's six. We found out about his extensive food allergies when he was 14 months old, and at the time, he was allergic to every grain except the strange ones you can only get at health food stores, and at the time, they didn't make kid cereals out of the strange grains he could eat. So no cereal. I remember giving him a bowl of cereal when he was two, and I can remember the look on his face, as if to say to me, "why Mommy, would you ruin perfectly good milk by pouring on that stuff, and expecting me to eat it?" So no cereal. Then Cade was born who has no food allergies (how does that happen) and when he started eating cheerios like all good babies do, Cooper would gag at the smell of them and tell me to get them away from him. Cade starting eating bowls of cereal with milk when he was old enough, for a few months, and then he realized big brother wasn't eating it, and that was the end of that. He loves dry cereal, but not in a bowl with milk. Well, I have gotten really into eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch, because its lower on sugar than most sweet cereals and its made with wheat, not oat or corn which I am allergic to. And Cooper decided he likes it, and last night when he got home from baseball and soccer practice, asked me for a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with milk, and scarfed it down. And it didn't dawn on me until 4 in the morning, that I think that was his first bowl of cereal with milk. A major milestone!

Picks of the week... FOOD

Stouffers Express Lasagna, the great tasting lasagna that has really good ingredients for a processed food, cooked in the microwave in 17 1/2 minutes. Fabulous.

Mom's Best Natural Cereals... I bought a box at Walmart last week. Its the basic cereal flavers we eat, I got frosted mini wheats, but made with natural ingredients. No matter what the corn refiners association commercials are saying, corn syrup is not a natural ingredient in my family's diet.

I miss being pregnant...

I miss being pregnant. Not the throwing up, getting kicked in the ribs, not being able to sleep on my stomach, being exhausted parts, but the other parts. I miss that feeling that I had that I was the sole carrier of some huge big secret, that no one else had a part of, that I was carrying an angel. I miss that feeling of anticipation where I wondered what he would look like. I selfishly miss the attention I got when I was pregnant. When I had the baby, people no longer look at me, they look at the baby, which is fine, because I feel ugly. No matter how big I was when I was pregnant, and how much I complained about being big, I secretly felt cute and pretty and special. Don't get me wrong, I love and adore Campbell and he is so precious, and I have no regrets at all. And don't get me wrong, we are done. But there is that sad part of me that its over. I gave most of my maternity clothes away today, minus a few shirts I am still wearing. And as happy as I was to pass them on to my dear friend who needs them more than I do, when she asked if I needed them back, and I said no, I had a sad moment. But I can look in Campbell's beautiful eyes and be thankful that I am holding my angel in my arms.

Two more observations...

11. How many people did not take driver's ed. Most of our traffic lights are either blinking red, or not there at all, and people are trying their best to take turns, but it gets a little dicey.
12. The Texas Baptist Men's Disaster Response team whose travel trailers are in our church parking lot. These men, and their wives, travel all over the country from one storm to the next just cleaning up people's homes, mostly the mud out of homes that flooded. They are amazing.

We figured out the water in our kitchen came from roof damage over our bay window, which was a relief because we thought it was plumbing issues.

Observations...

1. Piles and piles of yard debris in front of almost every house you pass by. The paper said the company they hired to pick it all up has 180 days to get it done. For you math majors, that's 6 months. I really don't want to look at it all or worry about the fire hazard for 6 months.
2. The small water spot on Campbell's ceiling, and the really big water spot above our kitchen table. We have a two story house. How is there a water spot on the bottom floor. Something bad is happening up there.
3. The Red Cross pod in our church parking lot, not passing out water or ice, but bleach, plastic containers to keep your stuff that didn't get wet, mops, brooms, rakes and shovels.
4. How much a street light helps when you go to get the mail at night. Its not there anymore, and its a little scary.
5. The school buses running again tomorrow. YEAH!
6. Campbell's first day in Sunday School today. I wasn't as emotional as I thought I might be. After I got the three kids here, I was ready to hand him off.
7. Campbell's cute smile. He and I had a chat a while back that I should get the first smile, since Daddy would probably get the first word. And I did. The Sunday before we evacuated, I got it, and I cried. No one believed me because he didn't smile at anyone else for awhile, but now he smiles a lot and I know I had the first one.
8. The calender flying by. How is Campbell already 7 weeks old!? When it was Cooper, I couldn't wait for him to grow up, but Campbell needs to just stop. It's very sad.
9. The crap all over my house, yes, CRAP. The FEMA lady came by this week to look around, and I had 5 minutes notice, and I was horrified as she walked around the house. Yes, I have good excuses, evacuating, kids at home, and a new baby, but most of it is just without excuse. I'm just lazy.
10. Dancing with the Stars, The Biggest Loser, House, Survivor, Project Runway, Numbers, I think that's it. Those are my favorites, and three of them are on the same night. Hence, the crap around my house.

If I just focus on Campbell's smile, its all ok.

Update #3

School is out for a whole other week! But our church is using the opportunity to minister to the community by having Camp Ike, a day camp for school age children, and our preschool is starting back again. So I will go home Monday. The cool part is that our weekday director has to go out of town Tuesday night, and she asked me to direct for her while she's gone. She said she knew she could really relax while she was gone knowing I was there, and I was one of the only people she could really trust to take care of it. A huge compliment. I'm not bragging, but as adults there are really few times when people really try to give compliments. I try to catch my kids doing good things and comment on them to encourage them to do well, but as adults we really don't do that often with each other. Some people are better at it than others, but as a whole, we don't hear compliments like that often. All that to say, it made my day.

I forgot that while we were in Bryan, Coop lost his first tooth. Very exciting. I told him the tooth fairy would leave it for me to keep since it was the first. So the next night, he wanted to put it under the pillow again to she if she would leave another dollar. The sinful nature flaring up! Jason and I actually forgot to put money under his pillow, so we had to sneak it into his pillow case while he was looking all around his bed for the money. Very awkward but funny.

Another Update...

Tuesday we decided to make a change. Not that we weren't very comfy and cozy in Bryan, but when I realized that school was out for at least a week, it seemed like a good opportunity to go to Shreveport. Mom got power back on Monday night, so the boys and I left after lunch on Tuesday and came home to rest. Jason went back to Clear Lake and stayed that night with someone who did have power, and ours came back on Wednesday morning. Yeah! He got a better look at our damage. There is a roof leak because there is a water spot on Campbell's ceiling, and water came in our front door and did some damage to our floors in the entry way. Only a small part of our fence was down. Our trees didn't uproot, but he said the tops were sheered off, so we don't know if they will live or not. But we are very thankful. Our church's power came back on Monday I think, so each morning people are meeting and going out into the community to help with clean up. Jason said parts of town look like a bomb went off and parts don't look bad at all. School is probably starting back next Tuesday, which I am very thankful for. My kids are bouncing off the walls! We will probably go back on Saturday. Our church normally has three services, but we are only going to have one on Sunday, very casual and community building. We are hoping that people will come who wouldn't normally come and can be reached by a helping hand. I'll post some pictures some day, but I may have missed the worst of it. And that's ok.

Update...

We had a friend go back to Clear Lake and he went to all of our houses to check on them. He said out of the five houses on our cul-de-sac, ours was way the best. Just damage to our fence and probably our roof, both of which needed to be replaced anyway. But no windows out, no trees down, no flooding. Our neighbors lost most of their trees and some siding from what we hear. But no electricity, and because our school district covers so much area, we don't have school all next week at least. We are hoping that we get power back soon so we can go home, although I have no food in my house and there probably isn't any in the stores. But we are so very thankful that God kept our house safe. It could have been so much worse. I'm sure when we get back home we will hear lots of stories of people who didn't fare as well as we did. I am sure there will be many opportunities to help people, both physically and emotionally.

You can also pray for Jeff and Heather and their two boys. They are neighbors of Lee and Colette who also came with us. They just moved here from Michigan in July. They aren't believers, but after being with all of us for a few days, decided to go to church with us this morning. They said we all looked like the Waltons to them, but we just said it was Jesus. So we will see how that goes over the next few days. Thank you for the prayers as we wait for power to come back. My mom in Shreveport also lost power.

Pray for us...

In case anyone is checking on us, we are in Bryan/College Station. We left Wednesday night at 10:30 and are staying with our friend Lee's parents. Its us, Colette and Lee and their two kids, and Colette's brother Chris and his family. There are 8 kids under the age of 8. Yikes. Each family has a bedroom. When we left, we were thinking it was just to be safe in case the wind blew enough that we wouldn't have power for awhile. Now we are not sure what we will come back to. Its very scary. I realized there is a fine line between saying that you are trusting God and are not worried, and just being in denial about how serious the situation is. We are trying to stay calm so we don't freak the kids out, and trying to get them out of the house alot today since we'll be stuck the next day or two. God has taken care of us so far, gave us wisdom of when to leave (we had no traffic) and provided us a place to stay with wonderful friends. So we have to keep trusting Him. He is in control, and I know years from now we will remember this time hopefully fondly. We are all safe and everything else is just stuff. So besides praying for the Clear Lake area homes, pray for us in this house with 16 people! I'll keep you posted.

Big Weekend

Thursday night Campbell took his first bottle, sucked it down like nobody's business. Very exciting. It helped him sleep 4 hours! I remember with Cooper that he had a bottle at two weeks and then we didn't give him another one until he was 4 months and he wouldn't take it. Took trying for weeks before he would take another one. I don't think bottles were an issue for Cade. At the hospital with Campbell, the lactation nurse came in and explained to me that there is no reason for a baby to have a pacifier or bottle for the first month so they don't get confused. She even put a card in his bassinet that told the nurses not to give him a pacifier. I let her, and promptly preceded to give him the pacifier the first night home. He likes it, it helps him fall asleep, and both my other boys had a fine relationship with their pacifiers until they turned two, and they went bye-bye.

Saturday Cade had his very first soccer game, and as he said, "I am the best soccer player ever." Doesn't have a big head or anything. Of course, I spent the first quarter in the car nursing, and while in there, tried to start the van to get air, and the battery was dead, so I spent the last quarter in the parking lot with a very nice stranger jumping the van. Cade didn't seem to notice my absence.
Cooper then played his soccer game and later in the day, his first machine-pitch baseball game. Mom was more scared of the 42 mile an hour pitch than he was. Yes, we had three games in one day, and will from now until Nov. 8. Cooper has always played one sport at at time, but Cade has joined the sporting scene now, and Jason (and Cooper) really wanted Cooper to play fall baseball to get better since that appears to be his favorite and best sport. I told him I was not going to that many practices a week, so he agreed to be the head or assistant coach of all three teams so he would be at practice, and he is. So he scheduled the practices back to back, so two nights a week they are gone. Not so bad on my part, except the two weeks he'll be out of town later next month.

Sunday- Campbell's first Sunday at church! I really wasn't ready to come back yet. Most people are back the first week or two, but they have husbands to tote the carrier around all morning or hold the baby, and I don't. My husband leaves on Sunday mornings before we are even awake, and I usually don't see him until lunch. But Cooper was getting his 1st grade Bible, so we needed to go. I just knew that Campbell would sleep the whole time, but nope, first song, eyes popped open, and he preceded to fuss for a long time, no matter what I did. Jason even got up to do the opening for worship and I was hoping he would hear his voice and calm down, but I think it made it worse. So I had to go out in the hallway, leaving Cooper by himself in church, which terrified me. Luckily, our preschool director came by, and carried Campbell around for me until the service was over. That's one advantage of being a minister's wife, everyone is willing to help. Cooper is very proud of his Bible and we read the first chapter of Matthew last night (skimming over the genealogy). I hope he continues to have a desire to be in the Word.
Big weekend! I am tired!

Christy's Picks of the Week

Pick One... an Empty House

Last night was the first night, other than two random nights, that we didn't have any guests since Aug. 4. We had anywhere from one to five people here. It was odd, because as much as I appreciated the help (I now have a sink full of dirty dishes and loads of laundry to do), I really wanted my house back to myself. I am a hermit, and an introvert, and even though people tell you that you don't have to entertain them, I still felt rude staying in my room all day. The best was Jason's grandmother (there is no danger of her reading this) who lectured me on how to do laundry, and talked horribly about the people who come into her Walmart in Tulsa where she is a greeter, with newborn babies with no socks. I didn't tell her Campbell had already been to Walmart twice by the time she arrived. She also complained about another grandchild's spouse who stays in the bedroom the whole time she is there. So, even though I don't blame them and wanted to be in my bedroom, I didn't want her talking bad about me, or talking worse about me than she already does. I also had to hear more than once about a family in Tulsa who's baby was eaten by their dog. I really didn't want to hear that story the first time. Anyway, all that to say, I am so glad that my house is mine again, regardless of the dirty clothes and laundry!

Pick Two... Sid the Science Kid
It premiered today on PBS here, and it is the cutest, most educational show I have seen in a while. Check your local listings and check it out. You will love to watch it with your children, an oddity in the preschool television world, for me anyway.

Sunday morning...

I took my boys to church and dropped them off and have been enjoying a few hours by myself... doing laundry, cleaning out leftovers that people have brought us, and giving sweet Campbell a bath. When I was checking out of the hospital, the baby nurse was giving me directions, and she talked about giving him a bath. She said with her first baby, he got a bath twice a day, second baby, once every other day, third baby was lucky if he got one once a week. So true. Luckily they don't get too dirty.
A few months ago I blogged about maternity clothes. Again, I need to vent. I'm three weeks out, and still can only fit into my maternity clothes, but now I'm not cute and pregnant, I'm fat and sloppy. Very depressing.
It looks like we are safe from Gustov, but I know my mother was so hoping we would have to evacuate to Shreveport. Sorry, Mom.
My first baby is in first grade and has his first loose tooth. Such a big moment. I think that Cooper and especially Cade have grown three inches since Campbell was born. Some of it is perception now that there is a baby in the house, but we swear Cade has grown some this month.
Totally random thoughts, but I had a minute, so I thought I would share.

PICTURES!

Sorry, no pictures this time

I have tried 4 times to post a picture for you of my beautiful baby, but until I can get to church to high speed, its just not going to happen. So to tied you over, I will tell you the birth story. Some people may not like birth stories, I love them, so please do not feel obligated to read it if its not your thing. I promise I won't be graphic!
I had been 4 cm for over a month, so my doctor said we would induce in another week, and to call her when the contractions were 8 minutes apart for an hour. So the contractions started that day, but they were really random. On Tuesday night, I had them consistently for three hours, 10 minutes apart, then 9, then two at 8. We got our bag ready and prepared the boys, and then, they stopped. Nothing.
Wednesday something else happened that is probably too graphic for some people, but I really thought it was a sign that we were ready, but nothing.
Thursday, contractions all day, 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 10, 20, nothing for an hour.
Friday, we ran errands, took the car to get the oil changed, hair cuts, ate lunch out, contractions all day, again, totally random times. Friday afternoon, I realized they were stronger, but still not consistent and I couldn't keep up with how long it had been, so I started writing down the times on a piece of paper with a crayon. I was doing things around the house and actually cooking dinner. Here are the times: 4:30, 4:42, 4:57, 5:34, 5:52, 5:57. WHAT! 5 minutes! That must be a fluke! We sat down to dinner and I had Cooper get my actual timer and as we ate, I watched the timer and how surprisingly, every 3 minutes I was having one. At this point I began to laugh.
I had told people for months that I wanted Campbell to be born on the 7th or the morning of the 8th so that I could be in the hospital by myself the night of the 8th to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in peace. That is the highlight of my life every two years. I remember in high school having an Olympics party to watch it with my friends, and I realized no one else was watching but me. So here we are, 30 minutes from the start of the ceremonies and I am in labor. So we called the doctor, set the DVR, and headed to the hospital.
I had a great nurse, had the ceremonies on for most of the time, although listening to it through the little box that sits by your head on the bed, didn't quite give me the grandness of the event. Pain wasn't too bad. I got my epidural at some point, and had a little scare when it caused my blood pressure to drop drastically. When I was checked, I was only at a 5. My contractions were consistent but not really strong enough.
At 11:30, my nurse said the contractions were better and she would come back in 30 minutes to check me again, and I would probably be at an 8 by then. So I put on my Ipod and tried to rest... for about 10 minutes. Then I called her back to check me, and sure enough, I was complete. We were hoping he would be born by midnight so his birthday would be 8-8-08, but didn't happen. I pushed for more than an hour. My doctor said his head was a little crooked and she was close to getting out the vacuum. She didn't tell me that until the next day. It got pretty painful towards the end. But Campbell made his entrance at 1:03 AM, kicking, grabbing things, crying, so beautiful.
Mom had taken the boys to Ms Colette and Mr Lee's house and was in the waiting room. Jason's parents had driven for 6 hours and made it to the hospital at 1:20, perfect timing for them to be there when Jason came out to tell them Campbell had arrived.
Didn't get much sleep that night. Apparently neither did my older two boys. Colette said she could hear Cooper moving around most of the night, and at 4:30 she heard a noise and found them both up and dressed, packed, and ready for breakfast so they could come to the hospital. How cute!
So that's the story. He is doing great. Was 7lbs 10 oz when he was born, 7.2 when he left the hospital and 7.15 when we went the doctor this week. That is big for me. Cooper was 6.13 and Cade was 6.9.
At another time, I will describe my feelings about it being my last. I am sadder than I thought I would be. But I am not admitting that to my husband! I will post pictures as soon as I can.

He's Here!

Joshua Campbell Gadman was born Saturday morning, 1:03 AM, weighing in at 7lbs 10 oz, 19inches long. I went into labor around 6 officially, so it wasn't too long. We just got home, so when I have more energy, I will post some pictures and give more details. He has a little jaundice, but other than that, we are all happy. I am in love! Thanks for the prayers.

Another update

People are apparently checking my blog with baited breath, waiting for some huge announcement. No huge announcement here! Went to the doctor yesterday, still 4 cm. My doctor said that is just ridiculous, its been about a month at 4 cm. And she could tell when she walked in the room that I was miserable. So she "stripped" my membranes, which I had never heard of. Basically she weakened my bag of water hoping that would spur things along. Nothing so far. She said if I haven't had him in the next week, we will induce next week. I would rather not do that, but its fine if we have to. So today we are riding out the overly talked about Tropical Storm Eduard, going stir crazy just waiting around for Campbell to come. My mom came last night to beat out the storm and Jason's parents' bags are packed. I'm really tired of people asking me if I'm feeling any change. I promise I will tell you if I feel something worth talking about. My mom and I, who both have master's degrees, just took a really long time to put together a pack-n-play that I borrowed from someone, even with the instruction book. Stupid people would have never gotten it together!

The boys got home last night from Paris. It was good to see them. There were moments last week where I wondered if I was a good mom because I really didn't miss them as much as I thought a good mom would. But I guess I had other things on my mind. I was very excited when they got home last night, so I guess I'm not terrible.

So I guess keep checking in. Hopefully it will be soon. Although, when I think about it, these are my last days of pregnancy for the rest of my life. So maybe I'm not quite in such a hurry for it to be over. Wait, no, I am ready.

Update

Not much to update actually. I am still 4 cm. and just waiting. Cade was three weeks early, which would have been today. But no signs this time. My doctor is out of town this week, so part of me wants to wait until next week anyway, but a bigger part of me doesn't really care who delivers this baby. I am tired and uncomfortable, can't sleep or eat. You know how it is. And I had an allergy attack at the end of last week, so now I am fighting a sinus infection, again. Chest feels really good, combined with his feet in my ribs, it is just oh so fun. We sent the kids to Paris again this week. I hated to even ask my inlaws after they have already had them a week and she was here a week, but they volunteered. Don't volunteer if you don't mean it! So I am resting, trying to finish up a few things. But everything is ready for sweet Campbell whenever he is ready!

I was not happy with The Next Food Network Star, my least favorite of the three. And I still love both Matt and Jennifer on Design Star, I would watch both of them.

Christy's Picks of The Week

Kind of a random blog of things...

1st Pick-Mothers! As we speak my mother and mother-in-law are upstairs cleaning my nasty bathroom. How fabulous is that. I hope I can return the favor someday.

2nd Pick-Next Food Network Star and Design Star... I am glad that all three finalists are moving on in the Food Network show because I really don't like any of them enough to know who to like best. And I love both finalists on Design Star, so hopefully their final rooms will clear it up for me.

3rd Pick- This is my favorite one to share with Moms. I have discovered 4 shows on TBN, which normally I wouldn't even stop on. But I started recording them and the kids absolutely love them. God Rocks, Friends and Heroes, Auto B Good, and Bugtime Adventures. They like God Rocks the best, a really cool band that plays scripture songs and cartoons with these rock characters that tell Bible stories. Really cute. If you don't have TBN, check other Christian stations. I am sure they are around somewhere. Highly recommend them.

4th Pick-Husbands, mine comes home tomorrow afternoon! I have never missed him more. I have a doctors appointment at 2:30 and his plane lands at 3:30, so hopefully she says I am good to get up again, although I really haven't felt good this week anyway. I am just so glad to have him home again. I can't imagine being a military wife and doing this for years at a time. Very thankful for him.

Guess what?

I finally got my new dishwasher today! It was supposed to come yesterday, and believe it or not, his truck broke down on the way to my house. I laughed for a second before I cried. He said it would be Saturday before he came, but I called the appliance place and said that was not acceptable, and so he came today. I am so relieved to have that off of my list of mental stresses!

I have been resting most of the week. I don't know if there is really a physical change now, or its more emotional, but I have really felt like resting, really tired and uncomfortable, kind of melancholy. Anyway, 5 more days until Jason gets back, so we are almost there!

What a day!

Well, the furniture came a day early, which was great. The chair and ottoman are perfect and beautiful. But then they took the packaging off of the couch, and instead of being blue, it was brown. Luckily I had prepared myself for it to be wrong and didn't pass out. But I am so frustrated, I don't know what to do. And because its custom made furniture, it might be another 4-6 weeks or longer to get the right one. I really want to yell at someone, but I don't know who to yell at. No one will take responsibility and the people that I talk to, I know didn't make the mistake, so I feel bad yelling at them.

Then I went to the doctor, and discovered that his head is down, which my bladder had already informed me of, and I am already 3-4 cm dilated. Normally, not a big issue, but with my husband out of the country for 7 more days, my doctor suggested I stay off of my feet as much as possible until he gets back. So now I am really paranoid about doing anything. I was dilated 2-3 for a number of weeks before the boys, so I am trying not to think about it, but its hard not to. Thank God for my mother-in-law who is as we speak, bowling with my boys. God knew I would need her here more than I did.

What a Week!

Well, Jason is in London as we speak leading a group from our church on a mission trip. You can be praying for them. They are having a great opportunity to reach young people. They are teaching in religious education classes about American Christianity and also teaching American football and baseball to about a 1000 kids. Pretty cool! But, yes, he is gone. The day he gets back I will have 4 weeks left, so we should be fine, but I think the pregnancy has made me miss him more, and be more paranoid about his safety. I am really having to trust God.

Jason's mom is here, and has been a huge help already. Since she is a preschool teacher, I asked her to help me reorganize the playroom, and she got after it. It looks great. The main reason we had to do that, is because the couch in the den has to be moved into there today because, after ordering it 7 months ago, our new furniture is supposedly arriving in the morning. I will post pictures if it really shows up, and its the right furniture.

She is also washing dishes for me since we still do not have a dishwasher! They brought us one week before last, and it was the wrong color. You do not want to know how mad I was. I am doing a Bible Study right now about the tongue, and it didn't help that day. So we might get the new one this Wednesday, but I will believe that when I see it too.

We also bought a new minivan last week. It is being delivered either the end of this week or next week. So in the meantime, I am trying to clean out my car and get it ready to sell. 97 Camry if anyone is interested.

Oh yeah, and I am 8 1/2 months pregnant! And the nursery isn't ready. I think he has turned head down now. A lot more kicking in the ribs and pressure on the bladder. Fun, fun! I have a new theory. When its your first pregnancy, you have 100% of your brain to focus on it, second one, only 50% of your brain, and third one, only 33% of your brain. So, the other 67% of my brain doesn't realize I'm having a baby sometime in the next 5 weeks. When it does have a moment of realization, I have a panic attack. So I don't allow myself to think about it. So, say a prayer for me this week if you think about it, that I remain calm, and take one day at a time, and just trust God for all of the details. Its all minor compared to staying healthy for baby Campbell. Breathe, breathe.

Pictures

I told a friend to check my blog for some pictures and went back and realized I haven't posted any since Feb. I apologize. So here are pics of our kitchen remodel and some random ones of the boys. Enjoy.

Worn Out...

We had Vacation Bible School this week. Back in March when our preschool minister asked me to direct the babies-threes, it sounded like a good idea. I'll only be 8 months pregnant, no big deal. I am worn out! Our theme was a beach theme, so Monday I wore flip-flops trying to be festive. Mistake. The rest of the week I wore tennis shoes, no matter how silly they looked with the capris and Hawaiian shirt I was forced to wear, and that helped a little. I think its my age, because with Cooper's pregnancy I really would have been fine, and with Cade's I was working that much, and I was fine. Thirty-three doesn't sound old. But compared to 27 I guess it is!

The boys are going to Paris this week, so it is my last week to get some things done and have some quiet time before Campbell arrives. I am trying to make a list of to-do's, but just sitting sounds great too! Jason and I are making a list of all the places we want to eat out without them. Buying a mini-van, which should be happening in the next month, and having the baby, will certainly curb our eating out habit. When you combine how tired I was this week, and the fact that we still don't have a dishwasher, we ate out a lot. Black Eye Pea has free kids meals on Tuesdays, so that's a good one.

Search for the ultimate diaper bag...

When I got pregnant with Cooper, I really didn't know what kind of diaper bag I wanted. I registered for two that looked decent, and used one of them the whole time. I realized the other one was just too big for me. When I got pregnant with Cade, I was shopping in Walmart one day, and there it was, the perfect size, perfect cute plaid pattern, just perfect. Used it until it wore out. So this time I didn't think it would be a big deal to find one. I have now looked at every store around I can think of, more than once in case they got new ones, and looked on line, but that doesn't help because I want to hold it, carry it around the store for a minute to make sure its the right size. And I cannot find a diaper bag I like! I found one in Dillards last night I liked, only one left, and it was messed up because someone had returned it. It wasn't perfect because it had a cute little bow on it, and I wasn't sure if it was too girly. But I could live with the bow, not the big mark down the side of it. So my only hope left is to call other Dillards and see if they have it. And I am just shocked how much you can spend on a diaper bag! Its crazy! I guess if you find the perfect one, its something to spend money on since you use it everyday for a few years, but still. Any other suggestions of where to look?

Still no dishwasher. I appreciate the fact that the home warranty is paying for it, but if it wasn't, we could have already been to Lowe's and bought and installed the thing. The warranty process is taking too long!

The Baby's name... as of today.

Today it is Joshua Campbell. I asked Jason's mom to just start naming everyone in the family tree, and she said that Jason's great-grandfather's name was Joshua. I then asked, did he kill anyone? No? Just a hardworking farmer. Ok, we're good. And its very Biblical of course. Sounds good with Benjamin and William. So that's it for today. On most websites, "Campbell" means "crooked mouth". But I found one website where it means "amazing" or "bountiful". I wonder which meaning I will go with? And of course, "Joshua" means "God is salvation". Can't go wrong with that!

Update at end of first week

Well, the dishwasher isn't fixed yet. But good news, we get a new one! We still have a home owners warranty, so I just found out they have approved us to get a new one. Now how long it will take to install, who knows. I was feeling rather like a spoiled baby whining about not having a dishwasher, but when I mentioned it at the park yesterday with some church friends, they freaked out more than I did. Absolutely you cannot live without a dishwasher. That's just crazy talk! So they made me feel better, or we are all spoiled babies. I actually handwashed a load of dishes last night, the first time since maybe college. It wasn't so bad. My husband actually asked if I needed help, as I washed the last dish. But I was touched that he offered.

Cooper is bored of his quiet time already, wants to watch tv. I am very proud of my laundry system. Its amazing how only doing one load a day is less time consuming. They actually get folded and put away. I have been told that before by many women in my life who are older and wiser, but I am one of those people who has to figure it out herself. Of course, Cade has wet his bed twice this week, which adds another load.

You still can't go in my bedroom or bathroom. And next week is 24/7 getting ready for VBS, so it probably won't get clean unless I do it today. I'm sure I can come up with something else to do instead!

First week of summer...

Cooper got out of school last Thursday, so he is now a big 1st grader (in my mind anyway!). Very scary. So, on Friday we started our new summer schedule, and I have to say we have done well so far. We only watch TV when its on the schedule, which is more for me than for them, and they are handling that well. I'm sure its still more tv than many of you let your children watch, but we are doing better. We have done some fun things together, which is good. I have made a "responsibilities" chart, some of which they get paid for, some are just things that have to be done. They have done pretty well with that, no complaining yet. I have reorganized my laundry room, and how I do laundry, so hopefully I won't have 8 loads to do in one day. We are having quiet time in the afternoon so Cade and I can take a nap, and Cooper is being quiet in his room coloring or reading, and that is a great time of day. Church stuff started this week, so we have a stay home day schedule and a church day schedule. We may cut some of the church stuff out once we try it all. My in-laws made a surprise visit yesterday for two nights, and it didn't mess up the schedule really at all. And when I first found out they were coming, I automatically panicked because normally I would have to spend a lot of time cleaning, but I realized the house was pretty good. The two most important goals I had were to cut out a lot of tv, which we have, and start to get myself and the kids organized as far as house work, which we are starting. So I have to say, that I am very proud of myself. Now, don't go in my bedroom or master bath. They are gross. And don't go in Campbell's room. It is full of boxes. But we are making slow progress. My parents finished the kitchen, and Jason moved the dining room furniture back yesterday, so that is a relief. Of course, the dishwasher died today, because that's how things happen in life. Hopefully it gets fixed fast, because hand washing dishes will not fit in my schedule!

Grieving...

After watching my recording of Idol last night, and rejoicing that my 5 votes helped put David Cook over the top (HA), I continued to watch the local fox news that I had recorded after Idol, and saw the horrible story about Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter Maria. I let out a scream and began to cry. Jason thought I was a little too emotional, but I'm pregnant, I can't help it. I cried myself to sleep and what little sleep I had was rough. At 4 I went into the bathroom and cried again. I am just devastated for them. I have been listening to his music for 20 years of my life, and his music has been such a part of my spiritual journey. I just cannot imagine the grief in that family. And for me, who struggles daily with irrational fears of horrible things happening to my family, it freaked me out! I prayed most of the time I was awake last night, both for them, and for myself that this situation would drive me to the Word, and not make my fears worse. I questioned that if God can allow this to happen to a family who is making such a difference in his kingdom... I don't know what else to do but pray for them. Steven is one of those people that I feel like I know personally, but obviously I only know a small part of his life. My friend Jenny's blog today is very good. I will copy it at the bottom. And you can check out his website to get more info. www.stevencurtischapman.com. I just don't have words.

updated 9:30 am 5/22/08 - Jenny Simmons of Addison Road
"I will always remember the night I was driving home from a high school drama competition and the booming voice of radio personality John Rivers somberly came on the air to announce that Rich Mullins, a prolific writer, artist, lover, ragamuffin, humble, dark, deep and penetrating artist and a secret friend to the souls of so many of us, had died in a tragic car wreck.
I never knew him. I never even saw him in concert. But he was a dear part of my family, of my journey, and of my soul as his music, thoughts, and lyrics had deeply penetrated and changed the landscape of the way I viewed Jesus. Rich was my tour guide to Christ. He took me to Him. We walked to Jesus together.
I pulled my car over and listened to the radio reports. I cried for an hour (and missed curfew). My heart broke in a way you would think impossible for someone I had never met. But the truth is, we had met...because he profoundly shaped my soul, we met somewhere in the spiritual world, and he was my friend.

Today I mourn another such tragic loss and I find words very hard to come by.
Several weeks ago I told you about how I got to meet Stephen Curtis Chapman, my lifelong hero, at GMA week. How kind he was and how he understood the importance of his legacy to me, because he followed legacies of his own. He let me know this was OK because God gives us mentors, and uses music and words to profoundly shape our hearts and lives. He said other people had shaped his life. He had shaped my life. And now I would shape other people's lives. It was a special moment to be able to share with him. Besides Rich, there has never been a person or family that has inspired me to do what I do more than Stephen and Mary Beth Chapman...their music, their family, their honesty, their beauty. I barely know them and yet today I mourn for them deeply. My heart is broken tonight.
Stephen's beautiful daughter Maria, age 5, died today in a tragic accident.
One of the older sons did not see her playing in the driveway and she was hit by his car, care flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN and passed away there in the hospital. She was the youngest of Stephen and Mary Beth's six children and was adopted from China.
I have already begun to read comments on people's blogs and myspace accounts and I am baffled at the inappropriate things we say when people are hurting. Not intentionally, we just don't know how to offer our hearts sorrow to them and we don't know what to say. At a time like this...exclamation marks at the end of sentences and telling a stranger within hours of mourning that God has a plan for this tragedy seems to fall short. All I can say is that I do not know what to say. I cannot understand and my heart is broken and all I can do is pray for the peace and comfort of Christ to hold Stephen and his family tightly. And maybe that is no better than exclamation marks.
Then again, maybe I don't say anything. Maybe we just fall to your knees and pray. And then pray more for this precious, grieving family.
I marvel at how quickly the Christian community and the Nashville family of musicians comes together to shower love, prayer, and the strength of family onto those in our family who suffer such immense loses. It is beautiful to watch. It has only been a few hours now and blogs, news articles, and prayer chains have already begun to fill the pages of the Internet (and that is from those of us who do not journey with this family day in and day out. We know that those closest to them are literally holding them together in these moments). The body of Christ in action. Love, mourning, hope, and friendship in the midst of utter, gut wrenching, can't take another breath tragedy....the kind that I cannot even begin to understand...surrounds them right now.
And we too lift these members of our family, shapers of our journey, up and pray that God would be present in the way only He knows how to be present.
For more information on the family and ways you can donate to their BEAUTIFUL organization that is literally changing the lives for thousands of orphans all over the world, visit Shaohannah's Hope.
Also, StevenCurtisChapman.com is keeping everyone updated. Thank you for praying for this family who is life giving to so many of us."

Last week of school...

This is my last week of school, and I am so excited! I remember this time last year I was in mourning that summer was coming, what was I going to do with my children all summer, how was I going to survive without my "alone" time when they were in school. But I am so ready to have everyone home for awhile, not to have to make lunches, to have time to spend with the kids doing fun things, to have some time to get things organized around the house. We will have plenty of things to do at church during the week, and then the extras, like library, playdates, park, etc. I am really looking forward to it. And because they can play so well by themselves now, I am not as concerned about having alone time. I really want to get a routine down where we aren't watching too much tv, rest time, etc. Cooper has three more weeks left, so I will have two weeks to get a schedule set up before he's home. I will also have some projects to work on. I'm teaching a Bible study this summer, VBS is at the end of June, and I'm directing the babies to 3's, so I have some stuff to get ready for that. And I have committed to teaching at the weekday preschool teacher training starting Aug. 25th, yes, that's a week after my due date. So, yes, please pray that Campbell comes three weeks early like Cade did. That would be so perfect! So I have a lot of prep work for that. So, hopefully there will be enough to do this summer to stay busy, yet have plenty of time for rest and fun too. I'm really getting that nesting instinct. I am ready to clean out some closets! Come help if you want!

Updates

House- We have gotten alot done the past week, thanks to my parents. My mom came and started painting my cabinets, they look so great. Then my wonderful step-dad Kenneth came and I gave him a short list of to-do's, and he did ten times that much. He even took down this section of cabinets that makes my kitchen look so much bigger. He took the rest of the cabinet doors back to paint them so my mom won't have as much to do next time she comes. When I can get to church and high speed I will post some pictures. I didn't take as many before and afters as I had meant to. My house is completely turned upside down. Its a wreck!
Baseball- The Cardinals are 2nd in our standings, but we beat the 1st place team last night. We play them again on Saturday. I think that will determine how we are ranked when we start the tournament next week. So much pressure for 6 year olds! Maybe they don't feel it as much as the adults do. Last night Cooper got out twice, and cried. I was proud of myself as a mom because I got him to stop and feel better about himself. I said, "you watch the Astros. They get out all the time! You have many years of baseball ahead and many outs. Shake if off." Which now that I write it, doesn't sound that encouraging, but it worked. He was fine after that. Of course, that's why I didn't play sports. I would have been crying all the time.
Baby- Its been a rough month. I have had pregnancy issues that I know are normal, I've just never experienced them before. But one issue I hadn't heard of I think I have. I have had increasingly more pain in my pelvic muscles over the last three weeks, which makes it impossible to pick up my babies (I only have 5 days of school left), hard to get out of bed, get up from sitting, get dressed. I did some research online and decided I have Symphysis pubic dysfunction. (see http://whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/symphysis-pubic-dysfunction.aspx). I tried to tell my doctor this week, but she kind of blew it off. She said if I had that, I wouldn't be able to walk. But I think she was thinking of the more serious version. Anyway, I also got another antibiotic for a sinus infection, and baby sounded great. So on we go! Still no name, today its Campbell Graham. We'll see how long that lasts.

Question for Heaven

Why do I have one friend who is starting her second round of fertility treatments to try to get pregnant again, and one friend who got pregnant with #4 on birth control and found out this week she is pregnant with #5 even though her husband had a vasectomy in January? Can anyone explain that to me until I can ask God?

Good quote...

I pulled out my Women's Devotional Bible that I received for high school graduation from a sweet family I babysat for the other day, and read this.
"Homemaking is unique in combining the most menial jobs with the most meaningful tasks: it is a challenge to accomodate others without losing one's own identity: it is a demanding pursuit, but the fringe benefits are terrific." pg. 697. So true. Its those menial tasks that you feel like you do one day only to have to do them again the next day that drive me crazy! My children are getting old enough to help, which is some ways is great, and some ways, is harder because it takes longer. I found something that motivates me a little when I don't want to clean up. I take before and after pictures on my digital camera. It makes me feel so good to see the difference. And I can show them to my husband when he gets home since by that time you can't tell I did anything!

Baseball

Cooper is playing Little League baseball. Last year he played t-ball and they didn't keep score, and I remember thinking how boring it was and how I couldn't wait until they kept score. So he's had three games now, and I really miss not keeping score. The first game we were losing the whole game and parents are screaming and jumping up and down, and I'm thinking these people are crazy. Its a game between 6 and 7 year olds! Then at our last bat, we came back and won! I was screaming and jumping up and down! Ridiculous! But we lost the next game 20-5, they ended it early. We only lost on Monday by 2, but I hate that my kid's team is losing. The first time Cooper got out, he had to stop himself from crying. He's better now. I guess they have to learn all of that stuff, but I am so not competitive, I just don't get it all. But I have at least 18 years of it to go, if not longer if they are good enough to play college, or dream of all dreams, pros. Wouldn't that be great if we could retire to Disney World and one of our sons could pay for it.

Not much going on...

Well, not much going on worth posting about. We had one of those weeks last week where we had something every night. We also started the process of putting in our new laminate wood floors. Jason and some dear friends have been taking up the ceramic tile (awful) and last weekend got almost all of the floors put in. They will hopefully finish this weekend. The floors are beautiful! But everything is so dusty and the dining room furniture is in the playroom, and for a few days the kitchen table was in the den. Now that the floors are in the kitchen, our kitchen cabinets and our table and chairs look gross and really old. Hopefully my mom and I can speed up the process of painting the cabinets. I was thinking we would wait until after the baby comes, but I don't want to wait that long now. I will post some pictures soon.
We had another Collide service this weekend. It went well, but the crowd was slim. Its very frustrating knowing that its something that is needed, but people aren't coming.
Baby is good. He doesn't have a name yet. Any opinions on "Calin"? Jason likes "Carlin" but I don't like the "r" sound. Cooper really doesn't mention the baby, but Cade talks about him all the time, how he is going to love him, take care of him, teach him things. It is so cute! He is my loving child. I am very thankful for him.
And for the second pregnancy in a row, I am having major dental work done. Why I wait until I'm pregnant, I don't know. But its not fun. When I went last week, and the dentist poked me with the needle to deaden me, I started crying and couldn't stop! I have never cried at the dentist! They were worried about me, but I tried to explain through my tears, it was way more pregnancy crying than actual pain. Very embarrassing! So I've been on antibiotics and tylenol for a week, and I go back tomorrow for part 2. Hopefully I can control my emotions better.

Maternity Clothes

I can remember to this day the first time I brought home a pair of maternity jeans when I was pregnant with Cooper and the look on Jason's face as he tried to figure out what the panel was for on the front. So funny! Here we are 6 years later, and they are just as frustrating. First of all, when its your first, you want to wear maternity clothes as soon as possible and you have to wait forever until you really need them. After that pregnancy, you don't want to wear them, yet you get bigger so much faster, you have to. For the most part I was really pregnant during colder parts of the year with both of my boys, and here we are going into the summer. Plus I was working full time with both of them at jobs where I had to look decent. I don't have to look decent this time around. My dear friend Sarah gave me all of her clothes as she moved from TX to GA, but she's taller than me, and was also working full time, so her clothes are dressy and for now, a little big. The stuff I did still have from previous pregnancies is already out of style. The shirts are big tents, and apparently the style now is tight t-shirts to really show off the belly. And another pregnant friend of mine pointed out that she has loaned her clothes to so many people, that they are faded and out of shape. I have noticed that with a few of my things. Its all very frustrating! So my sweet mom told me to spend $50 on her while we were shopping this week. So I go into the one maternity store at the outlet mall we were at ready to shop. Jason repeats, for the third time, "I don't understand why you need clothes for 4 more months. You have clothes." And I again try to explain all of the above to him, which he can't comprehend, plus the fact that, I just really would like to look cute in the midst of this process. I bought one shirt. A $30 shirt, which is way more than I would usually spend on a shirt, but it is really cute, and I feel cute in it. Even Cade told me I looked beautiful. So if you see me wearing an orange cute shirt everyday, that is why. Tonight the boys noticed the panel on my capris, and they looked at it with that same look Jason gave me 6 years ago. Funny.

And the answer is...

I guess I could just change the color of the little counter over there, but that would give it away too easily and you wouldn't read my rambling thoughts on the matter.
First, let me explain where my mindset was when we went to the doctor yesterday. When we were deciding to have one more, Jason said if I was desperate for a girl, then we would adopt, because this was it. So I had to come to conclusion that it really didn't matter to me, I just wanted another baby. So then we get pregnant, and according to the Chinese fertility chart (sent to me by my mother) it would be a girl. Then everyone said it was a girl, they had dreams about my girl, I was much sicker this time around and was gaining weight at weird parts of my body, all signs that it was a girl. When people asked me, I said I really didn't care, it would almost be a relief if it was a boy. So we go to the doctor.
The technician starts looking and asked if we wanted to know the gender, we said yes, and two seconds later, she says, "here it comes, its a boy!", and my eyes fill up with tears and they start rolling down my face. She asked what we already had, and I could hardly get out, two boys. Now, if my husband hadn't been sitting next to me, I probably would have balled my eyes out. But I had sworn to him that I didn't care, which apparently was a lie. So I'm trying to collect myself while the lady keeps looking around, and suddenly I realize I am still crying, but more out of being overwhelmed that I am having a baby. There he was in all his glory, ten fingers, ten toes, four heart chambers, a beautiful spine, a perfect brain. So then the tears are out of guilt that I'm disappointed with a healthy baby boy, then joy that I have a healthy baby boy. By the end I was fine, very thrilled that he looks so perfect. Lots of emotions in a ten minute time frame.
We called the boys at Jason's parents first, and they were both excited. Cooper said "yeah, a third baseman!". Cade was half asleep, but seemed relieved. He had told me earlier he wanted a boy. They called us later with names. Cade wants "Thomas Gordan James", which if you don't get the Thomas the Train significance, sounds like a good name. Its better than Cooper who wants "Transformer Autobot".
Jason and I then took off to San Marcos to spend the night and do some shopping, which is why I'm just now updating the blog. It looks like at least 40 people must have checked it, or less people more than one time. I would be fine until we went into a kids store, and when I saw the cute dresses and shoes, I would have a pang in my heart. But I was laying in bed last night, not able to sleep, and realized what a privilege it is that God has entrusted us to raise three men, to hopefully be Godly husbands, fathers and servants. That is a huge responsibility. And quite an honor. I am thankful.

Quick Baby News

I feel him/her everyday now. So much fun. And we have our sonogram scheduled for Monday (17th) at 1:00. Pray for me to have peace, I usually get nervous the night before that they will find something wrong. Of course with Cade, they did, and he came out fine! And pray that he/she cooperates so I can know for sure what it is. If it is a girl, we want 100% certainty about it. We've had three friends who were told they were having girls, and didn't, so we won't be painting anything pink. Although we wouldn't anyway, I don't like pink and like painting even less! Check back Monday night or Tuesday for hopefully the big news!

Updates

I haven't blogged in awhile. There are days when I write a blog in my head, but I don't have time to sit and actually type it in. And then when I do sit down, I can't remember what I was going to say. There are days when I have something to say, but since I'm not really sure who reads this, some things aren't appropriate. (ie. some fun and yet strange things about pregnancy) I know my women readers who have children would enjoy them, but those who have not experienced the joy of pregnancy, might not want to have children, or men would get grossed out. And there are days when I have issues with people that I would love to write about, what what if those people read my blog. Even though I would change their names, they would know I was talking about them.
So here are some non-offensive updates.
I'm doing better with serving vegatables, some days.
Our second Collide service went much better than the first! I didn't comment on the first because there wasn't much positive to say, but we are learning and growing as we go.
Jason just got back from being in London for 8 days planning a mission trip this summer. Brought me back lots of yummy European chocolate! Almost made up for him being gone so long. While he was gone, my mom came a few days, and while she was here, my dad dropped by for a visit too. We all had dinner together. For those of you who know my life story, you will know that is a big deal. And it was fairly painless, almost enjoyable at times.
Pregnancy is going well, I'm feeling much better morning sickness wise, parts of my body are growing, some expected, some not! Still very tired and unmotivated to do anything productive. We should find out in a few weeks what we are having. So many people have told me they have dreamt its a girl, and they just know its a girl, and how badly I must want a girl. And really, I don't care. I have almost convinced myself that I would rather have a boy. I already have everything, and I really don't want a teenage girl. I didn't like being one. I just want a healthy, full term baby, no matter what it is. I am pretty sure I felt the baby this week. Very exciting!
That should hold you for awhile until I have time to say something else, or remember when I sit down what I was going to say!

Feeding my kids...

How bad a mom am I that I can't remember the last time my kids had vegetables? Jason was out of town this week, and I am still not wanting too much to eat at night, so meals were whatever I could scrounge up, and I realized today that it did not include many nutricious things. There was one night where they couldn't decide between chicken nuggets or fish sticks, so we had both, with tator tots. There was one night we had pancakes (in honor of National Pancake Day). Lots of peanut butter and jelly for Cade and soup for Cooper. Today we had our usual Sunday faire, Taco Bell for lunch and El Dorado's Mexican for dinner, and I don't think refried beans counts as a veggie. I will do better. Jason just asked me why I was sharing this info with the public since it doesn't make me look that great, but I'm sure someone out there understands.
And then there are school lunches. A few years ago, before I had kids, I was at a friend's house and we were talking about the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches you can buy. And I said, how lazy can people be if they can't make a sandwich for their kid? And my friend opened her freezer to show them to me and told me to just wait. Can I just tell you how bad I wish my sweet Cooper wasn't allergic to peanuts so I could buy them now! Making 9 lunches a week is such a pain! Plus two for me, which I usually give up on. So monotonus and irritating. Yes, Cooper could buy his lunch, but since I already have to make one for Cade, and he has so many allergies, its just better if I make them. And school lunches do not cost 75 cents like they did when I was a kid. Once I month I buy them lunchables, and I rejoice because I don't have to stress about what I am going to come up with. Tonight was my lunchable night, but again, no vegetables!

Christy's Pick of the Week

I had been hearing this song on KSBJ on the radio that I absolutely loved, so today I took my $10 Lifeway giftcard I had been saving since Christmas and went to buy the CD. As luck would have it, the CD was on sale for $10 and there was only one copy left. Was it meant to be or what? And I am in love with this CD, very surprisingly. Its "True Beauty" by Mandisa. Yes, Jason and I are Idol fans, but I really thought I wasn't going to like it because I thought it would have been more black gospel type music. But it is so good! My favorite song is the one I've been hearing on the radio, "God Speaking", I cry every time I hear it. There are a few other really pretty songs, but the rest just make me want to get up and dance and Praise the Lord! And I am not a dancer. I highly recommend it!
http://mandisaofficial.com/
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=keywords&Ntt=mandisa&action=Search&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1

Disney... The Year of a Million Dreams

We had a fabulous time at Disney last weekend. Watching the boys faces as they lit up in amazement and awe was wonderful. My mom went with us to help, but she didn't help much. It wasn't her fault though. Our main purpose in taking her was to let her watch the boys at night so Jason and I could go out, but I was exhausted! Just getting from the bus to the hotel room at the end of the day was a struggle. I felt pretty good though all things considering. When I got back I crashed! I felt really bad and luckily already had a doctors appointment scheduled. I heard the heartbeat for the first time which was great and got an antibiotic for a sinus infection, and I am a new woman!
My birthday was the last day we were there, so I got myself a birthday button, hoping that would get me something. All it got me was about 10 strangers (Disney Cast members) telling me Happy Birthday. But what better place to be on your birthday. So here are a very few pictures of the more than 500 combined from me, my mom and Cooper who got a new camera for Christmas. Enjoy! I highly encourage every family to go to Disney at some point. It is just the most amazing, happy place.

Our other big news!

We are really excited about our new young adult ministry at our church called Collide. We started community groups back in October, but our first official worship service is Jan. 27th. They will be the last Sunday night of each month. Jason will be preaching the services, and he is really excited. If it works right, you can actually watch the service live on our new website, www.collideubc.org. Check out the website. Its really cool, we think. Myself and two other ladies are in charge of having something for kids to do who come, so we will see how that goes. We are trying to make that non traditional too.

And only 13 days until we go to Disney World! Yes, we are going again, this time with the kids and my mom. We decided we better go now, before the baby comes or it would be another three years. We are so excited!

The Story

Well, I promised the story of how we made the decision to have another baby, and I have had plenty of time to sit down before now, but when I have a minute, I just want to lay down. Like right now, I would much rather be in bed, but I will suck it up to tell the story.
At the beginning of the summer, I decided I wouldn't think about it until school started, which obviously on July 30th, I wasn't doing a good job of that. So when school started I started thinking and worrying again about it. One Sunday morning I was laying in bed stressing, trying to process it all, and I finally realized how silly it all was. Its not really even my decision to make. Whichever way I decide, God can have a different decision entirely. So that morning, I told God I wouldn't stress about it anymore, but I did need some confirmation that I should get off the pill so that He could decide.
"Coincidentally", my teaching partner was out that week with a sick child, and I had two subs working with me who both had their third child this last spring. So on Tuesday I worked with Cynthia who, even though her husband is working out of town so she is parenting alone, went on and on about how wonderful it was to have three boys, and how she couldn't imagine her life without them. And God's knock on the back of my head came when she said the only problem was that they had gotten rid of all of their baby stuff. I STILL HAVE ALL MY STUFF! When we moved, I wouldn't let Jason get rid of it. When we found our big house, I told the realtor that a certain bedroom would be great for the third baby. So obviously, I always thought in the back of my head that I wanted one more, so why was I worrying so much. On Thursday I worked with Christina, who also said that it was so much fun to have her three. And I keep her baby, and she is so easy and calm. So that was my last week of the pill. And three months later, here we are.
Now, I will say, I am still scared of this whole thing. Our pastor's son and daughter-in-law lost their baby at 22 weeks this week. Bad things do happen to good people. I just have to trust that everything is in God's hands. I am still scared that when he/she is born I will be overwhelmed, but people do it all the time and I am a very in control person. The funny thing is that my doctor found a positive result that said I'm a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis, and wanted to do more testing, but we decided not to. And I'm not worried about it. Why I am worried about the unknown out of control things, but not the things I might could do something about? Weird. Or just human.
I am a little queasy first thing in the morning, and then fine until late afternoon, when it comes back. And I am tired and unmotivated all day. Jason has been great, and I am so blessed with independent children who don't get into trouble. They can take care of themselves with a little guidance. I've moved on from tuna fish to turkey and cheese sandwiches with lays potato chips. Oh, we did go to the doctor on Monday for our first sonogram and there is only one baby in there, THANK GOODNESS! That was one fear out of the way. Everything looks good. The only bad part about this so far is how our insurance changed Jan. 1st. Cade cost me $30 to have. I will not talk about how much this is costing us. But it was God's decision, so it will all work out... right? RIGHT!