Let's say a little progress...

The Vitamixes did go away. But the cardboard is still there. The kitchen counter is now clean, sort of. Organized anyway! Plus 3 more load of clothes. And we did get to Albies and Costco. And dinner with Papa and Grandma, Darcy, and Gma&Gpa Elliott. Busy! All three of them were asleep when we arrived home; I was able to bring all the groceries in before getting them out of the car. (Some almost always sit there for a day or two- I have to prioritize what comes in when, cause someone always needs fed, put to bed, changed, what ever...)

Now, I want to go to bed, but Gabe reminded me on the phone that I need to do some more posts in our Galatians class. We are to the end, but I have 5 posts I still have to complete before I take the final. So my goal is to do at least one tonight. Maybe two, if I get on a roll...

Tomorrow: Get that cardboard cut up and out of here!

Because some of you did ask :-)

I cleaned the master bath yesterday. Not truly deep (that would have included organizing the shelves- yuck), but thorough anyway. Then I moved outward into our bedroom, cleaning up the real mess on HIS side of the bed :-). I've done 5 loads of laundry, and it took 4 to get through the pile! One more to finish up our laundry, then on to the girls'.

Plan is tomorrow to attack the counter in the kitchen, and maybe, just maybe, burn a bunch of cardboard in our burning barrel. Or does anybody I know with a wood burning fireplace want some cardboard? (We have a pellet stove.) OH- if nobody wants it, I'll take it out to the barn so he can burn it in the stove out there. WOOHOO- that is a huge pile in our main area! And tomorrow it will be GONE! And I'm moving those Vitamixes too. Ok, so kitchen and entry-family room. That is the PLAN! (plus costco and albies thrown in, after Isaac's always long morning nap...)

See. Progress. Yea me!

And by the way, if you haven't seen our mess, let me quote my dear friend Brooke when she saw it.... "It looks like a hunter walked in and exploded!" (I just loved that. It justified my frustrations!)

Plus, if you remember to include me in your prayers... I was pretty down yesterday. Tired, plus missing Gabe. A whole week is hard. And yes, I feel somewhat guilty verbalizing this considering Matt (bro-in-law) has to be gone for MUCH MUCH longer. But that doesn't make it less easy, it just makes me appreciate that hunting season is only a few weeks, not months. And helps me in how to pray for Darcy (and soon, Marissa).

Wow, a little time to myself!

Gabe is off target practicing (he is participating in a speed shooting competition in about 10 days), and all three kids are in bed! Isaac will probably wake up soon, but for the moment, I have a quiet house!

Everything is going very well-- The girls adore their baby brother, and don't hold back the affection at all :-) They are eager to help, sometimes too much so, but overall do very well respecting the boundaries we've set. No, they haven't held him yet.... He's a real worm, so I'm a tad hesistant.

I am healing well-- sometimes I think drugs are a little counter-productive because they make you think you can do more than you actually should. At least with me :-) But I do feel better than I expected, and have changed my thoughts on future children. (I was afraid of attempting more c-sections, but the nurses referred to me as an old pro... No, really- this surgery and recovery, other than the first day, went better than the previous two- so I am not so anxious about doing it again.) I just know now to ask please for more nausea drugs and less morphine... NOT fun.

It is great having Gabe home, especially now that I am up and about. He is getting some projects done, both his and ours, and we are working our way through all 10 of the Star Trek movies :-) On #5 now.... I know that sounds like a lot of TV, but when I'm sitting and nursing baby for a good 5+ hours a day, you get the picture...

And little Mr Isaac is working out the kinks with his parents. He can sure turn his screaming on and off, but seems to be easily consoled... that is, until last night... Is eternally hungry... Has trouble coming out of the "milk comas"... looks like Gabe and Kiera the most.... Has deep blue eyes... and yes, slightly reddish hair, depending on the light :-)... Has his days and nights quite mixed up...loves to be cuddled... And certainly just plain fits into the "newborn" catagory! He even has a Mr Evil laugh, only its a very very angry scream... but both Gabe and I cracked up when we heard it.

So there you have it, and just in time... I hear a little grunting coming from the bassinette :-) Hopefully we'll have some time to post pics later... Might have to ask Gabe to do it...;-)

Busy, but LOVING it...

It's funny, every time I sit down to write something, some little person needs something... from infant to 4 year old....

I promise, I'll try to get something else up here soon... but for now- we are all doing great and enjoying each other and our quiet time at home!

T minus 10 +/- hours...

:-) hee hee, clever title huh? I don't actually know if it applies, but I liked it. :-)

Wow- I don't think today could have gone any better. What a blessing! This morning, Gabe and I were prayed for, which had me totally in tears but very much appreciating the support from my church family and sisters. Lunch from Peking at Grandpa's (yummy, cause I always miss out on peking! *sorry Kimi- still like it!- no tea though...*) Then run home to pack the girls' bag for Mom's... Drop off the bag, head to the movies... Thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek- very entertaining and enjoyable... Came home (still not hungry from chinese lunch...) Worked outside with Gabe and got a LOT done... folded laundry, did dishes, and now am sitting down for a bowl of coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup as my "last meal." After this, I'll pack most of my bag and head to bed, although I doubt I will sleep very good!

Thank you for all your encouragement- I do appreciate it very much, and it helps me to view things from different perspectives.

And like Gabe and I discussed, tomorrow, we will no longer be a family of four... but five! Crazy thought! I can't promise how soon pics will be up, but please check tomorrow- I'm sure we'll get at least one or two for everyone to see! And thank you in advance for your prayers-- It helps greatly to know that we are well-covered.

One More Day...

Whew. I am just beat tonight! Darcy and I made some serious progress on the weeding and de-rocking area, only to have Gabe rototill it up and fill it with rocks again tonight. At least I think we are in agreement that part of our future backyard is going to be made into a garden area, with fill dirt and everything. 75% of the "garden" now is rocks, even after taking tons out two years in row. But, at least we got some corn and tomatoes in the dirt, and I'll plant the pumpkin and watermelon tomorrow, maybe. I know where I want one to go anyway, so it shouldn't take but a minute.

I'm trying to focus more on the fact that we are having a baby Monday morning, not that I am having major abdominal surgery... Not doing too bad because I am terribly excited to meet him (!), but the hard part is knowing I can't pick up Kiera, I can't carry anything but baby, I can't drive, I can't "sit-up," I can't push myself as hard as I am used to. Especially when I know I will want to- I remember crying both times coming home previously because things needed to be done, like laundry and dishes and cleaning, and just not being able to do it all, besides care for an infant. I'm just not sure how to make myself cope with that. And I know people want to help, but it's SO hard letting someone else take care of my house! (Not that my standards are so high, but it is my job after all...)

Maybe since I am resigned to being willing to take more painkillers this time (tried to take on too much pain last time) I will be more relaxed about the whole thing. I hope so. I know it has way too much to do with my organizing, controlling, have-to-do-it-all-myself personality... Anybody else know how to turn that off?? :-)

Anyway, just a little brain-vomit for you to enjoy... Tomorrow we are planning on yummy French Toast breakfast, Sunday school and church, lunch at Gramps, and date time for Gabe and I! We are going to see Star Trek, which-if you haven't heard- is the movie to see this year! Woo Hoo! (And maybe plant a few more things... :-) I know, I just can't let it go, plus I have a few more that, if I don't plant them, they will most likely die while I'm at the hospital, so I must take care of them quickly!) Then, hopefully an early bedtime because we have to be at the hospital by 6:15 am. EARLY! But, it's not like I'll be sleeping well anyway, 'cause we're having a baby!!!!

Family Update

Since I've asked for prayer and such, I thought I should probably let everyone know how things are going :-)

First off, Gabe is doing much better. He came home after working 1/2 a shift Friday night, and basically sacked out for nearly two days. But- it worked. He still has a cough and gunk issues, but feeling much better and back to work, at home and at the jail. Bummer about missing one of the most fun weekends of the year to work, but apparently nearly everyone ended up taking some sick time over the weekend- so he wasn't the only one. Oh, and he says if he had swine flu, he's quite disappointed. :-)

Second, me: I am feeling pretty good, and certainly more contented the last few weeks than I was earlier. I think I've finally gotten used to being really big, although Kiera still has a tendency to clothesline herself on my belly. We have 11 days to go, so I'm feeling some pressure to get things somewhat caught up outside (seeds and plants transplanted, and weeding) before I'm on light-duty for a few weeks :-)
As for work, I cannot get any more time off. So I will be headed back at the end of July, and not mid-September like I had been planning. I also will probably be working Fri-Sat instead of Sun-Mon, but with Gabe's encouragement, I feel like this will work out better than my negative thinking was considering. Especially since I will enjoy having Sundays off SOOO much more. (I love our church- have I shared that? I hate running out of there as fast as I can and not getting any fellowship time after service, so this will make a big difference. Plus, family stuff almost always happens on Sundays.) I don't know yet about working shorter shifts, but I had mentioned it before, so hopefully my manager won't be shocked when I propose it again. We'll see. And pray.

The girls are great- Kiera turned 3, and is just as onery as ever. Melia graduates from preschool next week, just in time for baby brother. They can't wait!

Continued Prayer Requests: That Gabe will continue to get better, that the rest of us will stay healthy, a healthy and safe birth, and on a personal note- that we will get a private room. It's important to me that Gabe be able to stay with us, but we have to have our own room for him to do so. When he had to leave last time it was terribly traumatic- I am praying for a peaceful stay in the hospital since we have to be there so long. (3 days) Thank you!!!

Baby Richmond is here!

Very few details, but praising God for what we do know!
4 lbs 4 oz, born at 9:36pm 2/24/09
in NICU, "looks good"

Thank you Lord, that You are so Good- and that You hold each of us in the palm of Your hand. Amen!!!!

Hopefully Welcoming Baby Richmond soon...

It looks like little mister can't wait-- Lindsey just posted to Pray, as he is coming today....

Lindsey Update

For all of you wondering about those vague and concerning comments... (they sure startled me since I was at work all day...)

My dear friend Lindsey is in Sacred Heart in Spokane because her water has ruptured at 33 weeks. The doctors are trying to hold off labor for at least another day to give baby man's lungs one last little bit to develop (along w/ some steriod shots). It sounds like the plan is now to let her labor tomorrow, so we should have a little darling arriving sometime in the next 2 days.

Your prayers are deeply appreciated for the health and peace of their entire family during this period of waiting and watching- Praise Him for the miracle of this pregnancy, and for the continued health and growth of our little friend! Thank you so much for your care and concern and desire to bless them with prayer and provision-- I will do my best to pass on what I learn.

Still a fever, but I'm much better

Since getting to spend time together with Gabe a little over the past 24 hours, at least I feel like I'm past the melancholy point :-) Melia's feeling much better, but she still is mid 99's. I finished several posts on KI yesterday while Gabe was at youth group, so I felt very productive! I am only 1.5 weeks behind now! Which is good, since this is the last class week of Revelation I before the final, so I'd better catch up... And last night I got the best sleep in at least a week.... So, on the upswing...

A funny? The girls have been running into my belly lately. Like they aim to go around my legs but then clothesline themselves on the belly :-) Or I'll run into them with it. I'm sure they will be as ready for him to make his entrance as I am!

Apparently, while I was painting, Kiera somehow got paint on one of her polly dolls. I noticed it yesterday and pointed it out to her. She told her dolly "Bad dolly. Bad girl." and gave her a spankin'. :-)

Early Sunday Morning

Well, Gabe made it home late last night (later than I went to bed...) I had a rough night- one of those where you're terrified subconciously that you're going to miss your alarm? Yea, like that, waking up every hour or two, sure that it's now 6am and I'm late for work.... Because yes, I am opening this morning.

Hopefully I can get a nap in this afternoon... Melia still has a fever. Got pretty high in early evening, in between Tylenols :-( 103.8 But after that dose she hasn't had any more and is staying around 100. Maybe on our way out of this... She snoring so loud right now she sounds like she's in the room with me, only she's 2/3rds of the house away!

Anyway, later. I did enjoy the pizza very much, while watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with the girls :-) That was our Valentine experience. Unless you count the three other movies they (Melia) watched, and the nap.... I got a lot of painting done. Their bathroom is completely redone :-) Have a good day!

Back from Revolve... So Glad to be Home

So much to say---
1. It is not my gifting to work with teens as a group. I fully understand this now. Give me the thoughtful ones, the serious ones, the fun but quiet ones, and we will have a great time. I do not have the patience for the silly, the loud, the obnoxious, the negative.....

2. As a society, we do not expect enough from our teens. This conference was sadly disappointing, though fun, it was shallow. The only positive challenge met was 216 new World Vision kids sponsored.

3. I seriously cannot stay up late. Not when I am pregnant anyway.

4. I really enjoy discussing things I have been pondering- I listened to some amazing examples, testimonies, and stories in the talks shared between the five leaders, all of which God used to increase my level of understanding about things I am learning. This was the best part of the whole weekend!

Appointment Update

Well, just one baby in there. (Whew! ;-)

Everything looks fine; he's not worried about my weird digestive issues; we have a picture of our little blob... And we got to see the heartbeat, but not hear it... Bummer! I was hoping for an early indicator of sex....

And the best part: He (dr) is totally supportive of doing most of my prenatal appts here, even if I am going to attempt a VBAC in Spokane. I know this isn't something I've talked a whole lot about here on the blog, but we are going to consider it. I've received many responses that were less than supportive, but we have been praying that if God opens the doors for us to go through with a VBAC, that is what we are going to do.

PS- Melia loves having a picture of the baby. "It's so tiny, isn't it Mama?"

His Faithfulness... or Coincidence?

I hate my lack of faith. Or my "logical mindedness." Or my tendency to really want to look at something from every angle. I guess that's why "Faith" isn't necessarily one of my gifts.

Today I had one of the most powerful experiences with God ever. And once it was over, I started doubting. Does anyone else do this?

During church we were praying, mostly for ourselves to realize just how much we need Him every day, in every thing. Then praying for certain situations in our lives that we are concerned about, along with a host of other things. I prayed for one specific thing in my life. One.

Later in the service, Pastor Doug moved us into a different book to exemplify something he was teaching. He read verses 13 and 14, then went back to the original book. I read on.

Verse 15 spoke SO strongly to me I spent the rest of the next two hours on the verge of tears, holding it in so that people wouldn't think I was crazy. It spoke directly to my heart about what I had prayed about.

Later, when I thought about what the verse actually said, I wondered. It doesn't say what it said to me, specifically. It is rather vague actually. And I doubted.

But this is why the Word is Living and Active, right? It has the ability to speak directly to the Spirit and our spirits, especially in answer to prayer.

So, in the end, I am asking and praying for validation. I want to know that I know that what the Word said to me today was real. This is why I am being so vague as well. I don't want to lead anyone anywhere to validate anything that isn't from my Father. If and when this results in anything, I will share. :-) Thanks for praying for me, those of you who do so well. :-) I need it so much!

Farewell, for a week :-)

And we are off!

Well, we will be tomorrow. But I just know that I will not have time to say "Adios" manana, so you get it today.

Summer Camp- Here We Come!

Thank you Lord, for what You do with our efforts to serve You. Thank you for the kids and the adults; please bless them with a safe and powerful week. Speak to our hearts and open our eyes to the work You are completing in us. Show us Your will in our lives, that we may be an open door through which only You are visible. Give us endurance and deep sleep! Above all, please bless this camp, and help it to be glorfying to Your Name. Amen.

The Long Factor

What really intrigues me about this grieving process is that I honestly feel like I "lost" my Grandma B many years ago, getting worse as time goes by from each stroke. So to actually be grieving that loss now is curious. Maybe I just never took the time to grieve before.

Today, by the way, is the service, and our family time together. Your prayers are still appreciated :-)

Thank you.

Thank you

I just want to take the time to thank those of you who have written or called with your condolences. I really appreciate it. I still have my moments when I am as strong as ever, and then the tears flow. I almost feel like my own personal science project. When, Why, How?

My answers? I have no idea.

Sunday Night

I will try to catch up a little later on; I tried to post Friday, but when I hit "Post" I got an error message and it deleted everything I had put... Ugh. Not enough time to redo it.

Anyway, Grandma has moved into a nursing home facility for the days she has left.

Saturday, Gabe, Darcy and I took the girls up to the waterslides in Chelan with the church youth group, and we had a great time! Even Kiera warmed up to the "fun" part of water and not all terrifying.... although apparently she had some great "fear" faces on as we were coming down :-)

Just a little update for you... sorry I have been so absent lately, it's just life going on around me and I am having trouble keeping up.

Wednesday Night Update on Grandma

A huge prayer request-- not sure how to follow the "who's at fault" trail, but because Grandma *seems* to have improved over the initial 24 hours following last Thursday (which was the "you need to stay with her" day/night), Medicare doesn't want to keep paying for hospital stay. The family's preference would be for her to stay, and for us to continue on in this big room, which allows for the bunch of us, plus visitors-- it is a huge blessing, one that has made this time easier. Pray mainly that things would be worked out, and that we can just continue on as we are-- this could go on a while, but in all likelihood, it won't. More like a matter of days... but God has plans and purposes that we do not know or understand, so please also pray that His will would be done, and that He would be glorified through this. Pray that we would be testimonies of His peace and love and grace.

THANK YOU for your prayers.

THANK YOU cousin Rachael for contacting your mom-- Grandpa, as he is, is such a private person that it took a few days for him to even give Mom permission to contact people outside the immediate family. So we really appreciate you doing that! (No one said anything to me about not saying anything....soooo I am in the clear ;-) Other than that, Mom seems to think he is doing ok. Seems like he is finally coming out of the denial that this is going to be it, barring any further miracles. Enjoying the family being around and the visitors. Mom and Karla are staying with him pretty much 24/7, so keeping tabs on him. Pray for his strength too, please.