I’m really getting excited that the baby is starting to move a little more now, or rather that I can feel it more! I guess I feel it 10 to 15 times a day now, possibly more, which doesn’t seem like enough, but my last was pretty still too.

I’m amazed that I can STILL wear regular clothes (well, they are stretch pants) - the tops don’t fit anymore. I’ve gained around 15 lbs. I think, maybe a little more. Of course, some of that was probably weight gained from stopping nursing the last baby.

Predictions are being made…. We managed to go through Christmas WITHOUT opening the revealing envelope. It was easy at first, because I forgot we had that option set up. UNTIL my grandmother asked at the Christmas brunch at their home. Boy, the rest of that day was so hard!!

I have to admit, I’m stumped on this one! I’m carrying it mostly in front - like a boy - and also could tell from Christmas video that except for my belly and funny walking/ getting up off the floor, you wouldn’t know I was pregnant. My sis-in-law is guessing boy, since my face isn’t filling out like it did with DD.

BUT, my boys have been low - I mean REALLY LOW!! Like about to fall out any minute, and unable to lift a leg to shave. This baby isn’t like that at all. It does cause a lot of discomfort on my tailbone, but that’s about it.

My sugar test was scheduled again for this past Friday, until they realized the lab techs wouldn’t be there. So, now I’m going for that on the 30th (not sure what day that is, Tuesday??). I really haven’t been craving sugar too much, but since this test has been scheduled, that’s ALL I’m craving! (and eating)

We made it through this Christmas with a very busy little one. He loved the glass “ball” ornaments, and managed to break quite a few - cutting his fingers and hand many times. So, needless to say, our tree came down on the 26th.

DH started counting…. this next baby will be 7 or 8 months by next Christmas - just right for crawling around and being another tree player! Fun….

I was surprised, yesterday was the 1st time that DD said something about the baby being a girl, and “I love she”. Aww…. And another funny thing she’s been talking about with Christmas and all, is that “baby Jesus isn’t in your tummy Mommy, it’s another baby”.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and will have a blessed New Year!!

**My first product review will be coming up this week - something I’ve really enjoyed having!!
“Little Mommy”

As quickly as this pregnancy has gone by, this past week has seemed like eternity… all because I thought last week was week 24, and it wasn’t until a few days ago.

I was scheduled for my sugar test on Friday, but it hit me on Wednesday that the glucose drink is either orange or red. I remember after doing it last go round, I itched like crazy for hours! Something about food dye doesn’t work with me anymore - but I guess that’s really how God made it.

So, I called them to see what the alternatives were, and the next two days were filled with searches for either a clear glucose drink, or the 3 day special diet/ followed by special breakfast the morning of the sugar test that people used to do a long time before the drinks.

No one locally could help us, and I know they found a clear drink in Maine. WOW - can you believe that here is a group of doctors that are supposed to be looking out for your best interest/ health AS WELL AS your baby’s, and they don’t even bother to provide the safest method of testing available!

Same for prenatal vitamins - I am on one (the only one the pharmacist could find) that doesn’t contain any food coloring, but it still has artificial flavoring. The medical world is so oblivious to little things in our food supply that are slowly beginning to affect Americans.

As someone with an immune disorder/ nervous system disorder, mainly dysautonomia, I am extremely sensitive to smells, noises, additives, etc… And I know there are tons of others in the same boat as I am.

So for now, they’re waiting for this clear drink to arrive at their office, and then I’ll reschedule my visit. This is fine with me, since I see no need for such frequent visits. The baby has really grown - my belly finally starting to show and movements can be seen just by looking at my belly sometimes. This is SO fun!!

I’m keeping a close watch on the ticker, and can hardly believe I’ll soon be under the 100 days left mark!

And Christmas being only 4 days away, I’m really getting tempted to open the ‘mystery’ envelope that day and see ‘who’ we’re expecting…. The other part of me makes me want to prove to myself that I can wait and have that self control! At least I’m the only one that knows where the envelope is, so hubby can’t peek before me - ha!!

DD just turned 3 last week, and is really starting to pay more attention to her newest sibling (since it’s growing where she can really see it now). She’ll give it hugs and kisses, even tickles, and talks so sweetly to my belly.

Oldest son really doesn’t pay much attention, but will let me hold his hand on my tummy for maybe 15 seconds. I think he finally really did feel it move the other day. Little son feels the baby the most, since he’s always so close to me (still the baby). He seemed to notice it moving the other morning, as he was cuddled up next to me in my bed - drifting off to sleep. All of a sudden the baby moved, and then he jerked - did he feel it?

I have come across some really interesting links on formula, and why it should be avoided. I’ll try and get these up soon. It’s very scary that additives KNOWN to have killed children in China are being ALLOWED in infant formula here. They say it’s only a small amount, but they really don’t know how much is safe/ not safe.

Plus there’s the fact that the baby is taking this in MANY times a day - 8 to 12 in the beginning. Even before I came across this info the other day, I did know that formula is mainly made up of corn syrup - 43%!!! This is a cheap filler, definitely NOT in the best interest of the child! No wonder children are having more and more sugar issues today.

Not to mention how drs. push soy products, but research has shown that boys drinking soy are exposed to WAY more estrogen than they were created to take.

The more I’m finding out about food, drinks, even the cups and plates we use with our children - we’re slowing being poisoned to death and most of America has no clue.

I’ll check in again after Christmas, and in the meantime - Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!

Oh - I almost forgot!! Regarding baby names, we no longer have an issue with the name “Newt” for a boy. You see, our daughter received a boy baby doll (that’s the one she liked at Dollar General) for her birthday.

When we asked her what his name was, older brother said he thought his name should be Newt. She quickly agreed, and ‘Baby Newt’ is now an official baby doll in our family. She also received a smaller boy doll from my parents, which is named Daniel. (Daddy actually has had this name on his list before)

She’s quick to point out “but he doesn’t like lions though…”, referring to the Bible story about Daniel and the lions. They really pay attention don’t they!

‘Little Mommy’

To be honest, I have NO clue what I’ve posted here lately, but I know in person I’ve been giving out incorrect information. Somehow, I came to thinking that I was 24 weeks, instead of the 23 weeks that I am - oops!! Sorry to any of you that have been misled, it wasn’t intentional.

The past week has been tremendously stressful. It was funny, at church today someone asked how I was feeling, to which I gave a halfway ‘eehhh’ to. Her first question was relating to the pregnancy making me feel bad. Nope, that’s actually going SO great!

I tell you, this baby has me stumped. At times, it seems so much like a girl - since it’s such an easy pregnancy now, but I seem to be shaping up to look like a boy.

But what about stress and pregnancy. For one thing, you are much more likely to break out in tears very quickly! I’ve found for me, I’m actually easier to deal with when pregnant, at least with my husband.

This go round, I’ve definitely been a no nonsense type personality. I can’t put up with anything that isn’t necessary, anything negative - comments or pity parties, laziness, etc…. - if I have to deal with as much as I do WITH 3 children and being pregnant, others can at least do the same!

On a positive side of this new attitude (which I’m trying to keep as graceful as possible), I’m eliminating so many things that simply burden or drag us down. For one, I’ve pulled out so… much stuff that we’ve accumulated with 3 children. And still have intentions of cleaning out more. Mainly out of necessity, for when our house sells, we’re more than likely buying a trailer that’s SMALLER than our house.

This has been good, but then I look ahead two weeks. Yep, Christmas…. A great and wonderful time to celebrate our Saviour and God’s gift of love to us. This year, we’re taking a drastic change to our gift giving. Our children are getting one large gift together, and only a few things separately.

We’re really trying to teach them that it’s not about getting lots and lots of toys, but it’s about remembering God loving and giving to us, and how can we give His love to others.

This is something I actually feel relieved about, giving them less gifts, but am already stressing about all the ’stuff’ they’ll receive from others. Why? For one, we don’t need it! And two, we don’t have room! Then there’s having to take the time and trouble to return things (yeah, don’t kids love getting something to have to take it back…). At least mine are still young enough that I can convince them that they can get something else.

Am I bad?? It just makes sense to me to pick a few select things that they can ‘collect’, and build up those items. Things such as Legos, Tinkertoys, Trains, Lincoln Logs…. Yep, my pregnant ‘no nonsense’ brain is really struggling with upcoming gift season. Is it wrong to be asked what would be a good gift, what we need, or what the kids would like? This would save so much work and stress on us!

It’s unreal how much energy it takes to keep up with ’stuff’, anyone know what I mean? I love one approach my cousin took with her daughters - for people that WANTED to do something for their girls, they asked that they simply give them money for their piggy banks. They would love feeding their pigs, and one day, love having some extra cash saved up!

I know people are well intentioned, and want to give things because they love them - so don’t get me wrong. But with a 4th little one on the way, we just don’t have room or time to constantly be picking up a zillion things over the house. Know what I mean?
And then there’s the land we bought this week - yea!! For the most part, the work on my end is done. It’s unreal the hours I’ve had to spend on the phone working out water, septic tank, permits, address, excavators, etc….

Hubby doesn’t like the phone AT ALL, so I’ve taken on these responsiblities - falling apart completely Monday night after we closed. A good night’s rest helped matters, plus hubby coming forward with a sweet e-card and flowers that next night.

There’s so much to be done, and just not enough hours in the day! I try not to pay attention to the little ticker, which tells my due date - because there’s REALLY not enough time to get everything done before this little one gets here and I have to completely stop life for a few weeks.

Is it any wonder that come weekends I sleep in late, and I mean past 7:30 - ha! On one hand, I finally feel a little like the Proverbs 31 women, who stays up late and is up early - my work is never done. I’ve felt in years past that I was somewhat lazy, especially in the area of loving my sleep. I can now say that I don’t feel that way.

Sure, I love to sleep in on either a Saturday or Sunday morning ( to at least 8:30), and hubby lets me do that - trying to keep the little ones quiet - but it’s not my life now.

Check back in a few more weeks, and we’ll see if I have the same thoughts. Because at some point, it hits, and I’m down for days.

Just for my personal baby notes, here’s what we’re currently doing:

Selling our home

Just bought new land this past week

Preparing for Christmas (Dad’s gift is just NOT going to have the time to get finished… really sad about that one)

Sonbeams ABC Bible verse CD is in it’s final stages of producing - yea!! Plus, still working on typing up the preschool curriculum guides - staying ahead of the members.

Heaven In Our Homes blog, and trying to post once or twice a week there. This website still doesn’t have the links corrected, I just haven’t had time to fix these!

Still trying to decide which contractor to use to clear land, install water and septic system, and fix driveway.

Have sugar glucose test this Friday - ughh… I’ve never had a dr. want it this early (24 weeks). I was borderline last time and had to do the 3 hour one. I’m curious to know if it really helps if you fast for the one hour or not?? Anyone know?

Do laundry, fix meals, clean house, no grocery shopping - since we live a few days at a time on what hubby picks up on his way home.

Not to mention dealing with dr. bills almost $850 because they coded a way the insurance company won’t pay for.

Top it off with children deciding to push their limits lately, some extended family issues, and so on - yep, stress + pregnancy = exhaustion. More so mentally most of the time, and then I crash physically.

I am so grateful for my husband though, he’s been such a comfort to me - someone that will listen and comfort, support and encourage. And today at church, I once again was reminded that GOD is all that matters.

All of these tiny little things that the enemy tries to burden me with, and pull me down - these are just energy zappers. I can’t do anything about them, I can’t change others and how they are affecting us - the only thing I can do is handle my own self.

I only have to be faithful to the Lord, love others, and trust Him - that’s all He wants me to do. Money for bills, well, He possesses all that anyway. Trying to ‘make people happy and like us’, well, only God can change hearts - nothing I try to fix will fix, only He can do that.

I was so convicted of all this at church today. Not one thing that has tried to eat me up with week will matter in a year, in 5 years, or most importantly - in eternity.

When you look at things in that perspective, the Lord just takes the stress right away. Which is a good thing for a pregnant woman!

“Little Mommy”

You always hear it, “I’ve been having Braxton Hicks” - but is that really what they are? To be honest, I’m not 100% studied up on it, but my OB last pregnancy told me that contractions are contractions. You ALWAYS need to mention them to the OB to be sure they aren’t doing anything but preparing for birth.

I can’t remember having contractions with my first until week 32 - but then again, didn’t know what they felt like to know! The Lord just gave me a funny feeling about things around my 32 week visit with him, and wouldn’t quit nagging me about it. So, though I was seeing the male OB that week, I HAD to catch him as he was leaving the room to tell him that ’something just didn’t seem right’.

It killed me to have to be examined by him (I’d always had females up to that point do exams), but the Lord’s Hand was all over that! Turns out, I was dilated 4.5 cm and was 50% effaced! He sent me to L & D, where they monitored me and I was having contractions every 3 minutes. WHO KNEW!!

I thought I’d been having issues with my mitral valve. What I was experiencing wasn’t pain, but my chest would get tight and I would get short of breath. This had been happening for weeks. SO, most people would say it was Braxton Hicks, but in cases sometimes like mine - they might be, but B H’s ARE contractions anyway, and they can do stuff!

With my second, contractions started around 18 weeks, and with my 3rd, around 12 to 14 weeks. I would also have them if I was nursing.

This go round, I nursed the baby up until week 14ish, and maybe had a few contractions AT ALL. Up until the beginning of week 21, I hadn’t had any at all. Then, Saturday before last, I thought I had a few, but wasn’t sure. Sunday, again, I thought I was having them in the van going to church, but not sure. But by Sunday night, I knew I was at the contraction stage.

I haven’t had them constantly, but they have started happening here and there. The weirdest thing is that I have them while riding in the car or van. DH and I took a ‘mini vacation/ repeat honeymoon’ trip this past weekend. About 1 hour into the drive, I was having contractions every few minutes - and they weren’t comfortable! On the way home, I was able to sit a little differently which helped some, but for some reason - I’ve always had lots of contractions while riding.

Needless to say, this really limits the amount of riding/ driving I do once I reach this stage of pregnancy. Due to previous pre-term labor, I have to be extra cautious about contractions.

With my 2nd, at 32 to 34 weeks, I was once again around 3 to 4 cm. With my last, I was only 1 or 2 by that point, and maybe 4 by week 38/ 39. I’ve learned some of the ‘contraction triggers’ - but you have to really pay attention to your body, AND adjust yourself to that.

NEVER dismiss strange naggings, especially with your first. I only went into labor with my 2nd, and wasn’t sure I was even in labor until 2 hours before she was born. DH had to convince me that I was in labor, and once I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without doubling over in pain did I believe him. (Aren’t us moms supposed to know??)

Little Mommy

It was late last night (plus I forgot to write), but while sitting on the couch, I once again felt this little one doing tricks. I called hubby in to once again try to feel it moving - and he finally did! I let him feel it twice before calling over our oldest (4 1/2). He said he felt it, but I’m not really sure he did - he wasn’t keeping his hand/ fingers very still.

And I’m not sure what has happened, well, I am, but this baby went from way up high to way down low! We had a call the other morning from someone wanting to show our house to his parents. The kicker was he wanted to see it first - that evening!

Let’s just say I wasn’t prepared! I figured it’d be months before we’d have a call - and after the Thanksgiving weekend plus a sick child - cleaning was the last thing I had thought of. So, I spent ALL morning cleaning (and staying on the little ones to help - poor guys), to the point of really hurting by 1 PM.

I decided to call it quits for a while, and get hubby to help once he got home. Turns out, the guy didn’t come (saying the pics I sent online were good enough until his parents could come out) - so I was glad that I had atleast stopped after lunch.

BUT, I’m still paying for all that standing and going up/ down picking up things on the floor. Somehow, the baby must’ve gone down one time when I did, and it didn’t come back up - ha!! I’m dying every time I stand up now, and feel as if someone is stabbing screwdrivers in me.

Needless to say, I’ve had to slow down the past couple days from this. It’s made me rethink that it could be a girl (since it was so high and now it’s not). I am carrying it like I carried my boys….. so I’m still undecided on the gender.

I was SO tempted to open the envelope the other day -but didn’t - and am glad I had that self control. Still not sure I can hold out til April though.

Little Mommy

We’re officially over halfway through this now I can safely say! (I am NOT going to 42 weeks - at least not of my own free will!)

We’ve enjoyed this Thanksgiving Week - especially having Daddy home Thursday, 1/2 Friday, then all weekend! I enjoyed a little extra sleep - thank you SO much Dad! I didn’t know my body was capable of sleeping until 10 anymore. Alright, it wasn’t consistent - I could hear screaming children every once in a while, and I was up some during the night with our oldest. Seems he picked up a cold from some cousins and was choking in his sleep.

We did finally get our For Sale sign up in the yard, and I was able to tackle a pile of papers in our room - shredding and filing a couple years worth of stuff. We also got the house all decorated for Christmas.

Alright, Monday’s were supposed to be on feedings, so I’ll continue with our last baby now.

He was 2 or 3 weeks old when he first started getting fussy -really fussy. I’m not positive, but around 4 to 6 weeks, the dr. put him on Zantac for reflux. His older brother had it for sure, and quite possibly big sister.

I wasn’t going heavy on all the foods they say to avoid - garlic, chocolate, caffeine, onions…. so what in the world was going on?? Finally, I stumbled on a website that mentioned dairy being a trigger for reflux!

Thankfully, within a couple of weeks of withdrawing myself from cow’s milk and other dairy products, he was able to come off of the medicine. I didn’t want my newborn on meds - especially ones that would affect his digestive system long term.

He was probably 10 months old before he could tolerate me eating dairy more than 2 or 3 times a week. To this day, he still can’t handle cow’s milk - so we’ve bought goat’s milk in the dairy section at Wal-Mart for over a year.

THUS, part of the reason we were buying this land - to raise our own goats for milk. Can you believe that goat’s milk is over $3.30 a quart!! That’s almost $14 a gallon! I must admit, it IS better for us, and easier for human’s to digest.

Well, I guess I’m really supposed to be sharing on his nursing experience. This did tie in, because I’d be in tears when it came feeding time - knowing that my milk would cause him so much pain (just not understanding why at the time).

With him, I took a VERY relaxed approach. I feed him when he wanted to eat - no schedules! I’ve learned to despise the nurses at the hospital that insist on coming to your room in the middle of the night - waking you up - to wake the baby up to eat…. what??!!

Why in the world would I want to teach a newborn to wake up and expect to eat all through the night. As long as they are gaining, wetting, and pooping like they’re supposed to - I just really don’t think it’ll hurt going 5 or 6 hours during the night. They’ll eat when they’re hungry!

And eat he did! Instead of weighing less than birthweight at his first checkup a few days after birth, he was already gaining. And at his 1 month visit, he’d gone from 7 lbs. 6 oz. to 12 lbs! And almost 14 lbs. at 6 weeks!

It was so much more relaxing feeding him when he wanted to eat. All the pressure was off of me. My children never did well on schedules, and it drove me insane trying to keep one. We did have basic schedules, and I learned he did have his own ‘loose’ eating schedule (only when it wasn’t convenient for me - ha!).

But we could go to the dr. and him be late for eating - and it was okay! Sure, there were times I’d have to feed in when we were out - but with it being the 3rd, I was more relaxed about nursing away from home anyway. (Though this go round I’ll be looking into nursing covers -there are really some neat ones out there that I’ll share with you when I get there!)

I did have to take pain meds in the beginning with him. I had a blocked duct and had tremendous pain on that side since he couldn’t nurse it and the pump wouldn’t work either. The meds weren’t my first choice, but I was very close to a bad infection and in so… much pain - I had to take them. Thankfully, they helped and within a day or two I was able to pump enough down for him to take back over.

I didn’t pump with him like I tried to with my others, or at least not as much. I found that if I pumped and nursed, I would over compensate and have tons of milk. Then, since he wouldn’t nurse it all, I would dry up and not have enough.

So between letting him he when he wanted, how much he wanted, and not pumping - my body didn’t seem to have all the ups and downs of nursing. And figuring out the milk being the cause of reflux in my babies - well, that was a huge blessing!

There might’ve been times that he’d eat every two hours, but then he’d go 4 before eating again. In the end, it always worked out.

So, any nursing mothers out there with fussy, screaming, colicky babies - seriously, consider coming off ALL dairy for two weeks and see if it doesn’t help! I was used to drinking SO much skim milk, that it was a huge adjustment for me - I even had headaches. I joked that I should never try anything really addictive if I was having such horrible withdrawals from milk. (It really was bad!)

A friend shared that this was likely from the hormones given to the cows - which then goes into their milk supply. Makes sense doesn’t it! They have extra hormones to stimulate more milk, which causes mastisis in many cases (yep, that hurts!) - leading to giving them antibiotics for that. Followed by the pasteurzation and homogenization process which strip the good bacteria and alter the make up of the milk…. I could see why my babies couldn’t handle me drinking it.

Plus, it makes sense too when seeing how so many babies are having reflux now - something that wasn’t that bad 30 or 40 years ago (before man got involved with God’s design!).

What will I do this next baby? Based on the results from the first 3, I’ll follow my last plan - nurse on demand. It didn’t spoil him - it kept him happy and me less stressed!

“Little Mommy”