4D Ultrasound Picture

I had another ultrasound last week.  Ever since my first was born 4 wks early due to severe low levels of amniotic fluid, I've been going to a high-risk pregnancy doctor for my ultrasounds for all subsequent pregnancies.  I also get ultrasounds more often.  Last week I got to see a great 4D picture of the baby.  At just 23 weeks, this just amazes me.  Our sweet little girl is growing and developing and we thank God that He chose to bless us one more time!

God's Not Dead

New movie out in theaters this March.  Interesting.

Pregnancy Pains

Being old and pregnant just don't go well together!

Add to that this being my 6th pregnancy… oh, boy!!

I am now 5 months along and it's been a rough road.  I had the all-day nausea and exhaustion in the first trimester.  I also have developed that all-to-unsightly and painful varicose veins with a good amount of ugly spider veins to go with it.  (Only on the left leg though!)

But this new symptom… ugh!

I am bloated and gassy ALL THE TIME.  It's painful and uncomfortable. TMI, I'm sure, but it has to be stated that this is the worse symptom I've experienced thus far.  

I am still able to run on the treadmill 3 days/wk.  I eat healthily (usually).  I cannot put my finger on it.  What is causing this?  

My OB thought I wasn't drinking enough water, so I upped the water.  That didn't work.

I thought maybe it was the one cup of tea with cream I was having every morning.  So, I cut that out.  Nope, that wasn't it.

I am on a quest to figure this one out.  Whether or not I do, I DO know that a baby girl is in there growing and staying healthy.  That truly is worth it!

And just in case you need a lovely pregnancy profile shot, here is me in all my bloated preggy-ness! :)

22 weeks!

Resolutions

Don't really like them.  Never do them.  

What we started about 3 years ago was having the kids choose a charity to support and decide both how much they would contribute for the year and how they planned on raising the money.

In the past, they have chosen to support Threshold Ministries, Loaves and Fishes and Gospel for Asia.  They have used their birthday money.  Our children have fed the neighbors' animals and brought in their mail and newspapers while they were out of town.  Will has also gone around the neighborhood asking for odd jobs for the neighbors to donate whatever they want knowing that the money would go to support his charity.  We have such nice neighbors! : )

This year, we have done something different.  On Sunday before New Year's Day I asked the children 2 questions:

1. How can you have a closer relationship with God this year?

2. Which 'fruit of the Spirit' do you need to improve upon, with God's help? Give tangible, real-life examples of how you will do this.

I gave them until New Year's Day to think and pray about it.  Jim and I did it too.  On Wednesday, we discussed it as a family.  The 3 older children are the only ones who did the assignment.  The others listened in.  

I loved hearing what they had to share.

Pray more and read God's Word consistently.

Gentleness, kindness, self-control, love.

We will check in with each other as a family once a week and encourage each other throughout the week to stay committed.  

As a family, we feel that God is calling us to do more and that He is preparing us for something greater than we can imagine.  We are not sure what that is yet or when it will come.  Question 1 will help us stay nearer to Him to hear that call and Question 2 will better prepare us for that calling when it comes.  

For us, it's much better then making resolutions! : )