Luca Bear

Here is our little cutie at (almost) 2 months old!!

Tis' the Season

     Well, what a month it has been! Between welcoming our precious Lucas into the world, Thanksgiving and now Christmas shopping I've been quite a busy woman. Lucas turned a month old last week and he is seriously the best little one so far. Rarely does he cry except when he is hungry or needs to be changed. I love the fact that he likes to cuddle and spend as much time doing it as possible; which isn't always easy with an almost 3 year old and 2 year old running about. :-)
     And speaking of my precious Bug and Bop, they have been phenomenal older siblings. Noah and Haleigh both take their big brother and big sister roles seriously and have helped tremendously when it comes to their little brother. As a Mother, I couldn't ask for better children. I know that as they get older I will cherish these moments with them more and more. God has filled our arms with blessings and I am so thankful to Him!
     Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks in the Johnston home...

Charles Lucas

    

 The Lord blessed us with another miracle on October 24th at 11:01 am. Lucas was born via c-section and weighed 8 lbs 4 oz. and was 18 inches long. He has been our most laid back baby so far. I've only heard him cry twice since he was born...once when they took him out of my belly and then a few minutes after returning from his circumcision. I fell in love with him from the moment I heard his sweet cry...even before I had the chance to lay my eyes on him. And then when I did, oh my goodness, my heart melted all over again. I worried that I would have trouble making room in my heart to love another child, but I can definitely say no trouble at all, lol!!!
     I had an amazing birth experience, which many people may find odd since it was another cesarean. We were blessed with an amazing doctor to deliver Lucas and the hospital staff made our visit incredible. We kept Lucas with us for the majority of the stay, except for those moments when he had to have his vitals checked and then again during his circumcision. I have been exclusively breast feeding and he has done phenomenal with it. He latched on during the first try (we were able to do skin to skin and nurse within 45 minutes of his birth) and has been a pro at it. I was blessed that my milk came in early this time because the kid is all about eating...all the time! *grin* He only lost 10 ounces while we were in the hospital and I'm fairly certain he has gained that all back. I've never seen such a hungry little boy, haha.
     We take him back tomorrow morning for his first check-up and I can't wait to see how it goes. I will try to post again when I have a free moment (which is laughable now). Oh, and also a huge congratulations to my friend Emily who gave birth to her first child only a day after Lucas was born!! :-)  God is SO GOOD!

Baby Love

     It's so hard to believe that the time has finally arrived to meet our newest bundle of joy. Unless I go into labor today (which seems quite unlikely, lol) then I will be delivering via c-section around 11:00 in the morning. I'm surprisingly not too nervous today but I've tried to keep myself busy so I won't worry myself to death. I've managed to get all the bags packed; one for Mama and Daddy for the hospital, one for Charles Lucas, and one for Bug and Bop to take along to Nana and Pa's house. :-)  I've also folded three loads of laundry and am currently in the process of washing another one. I'm going to clean up the kid's toys but am waiting closer to bedtime since they will drag them all back out again if I clean them up now, lol.
     I am so thankful for the love and prayers that have been showered on our family concerning the birth of of baby boy. I have not yet had a chance to write up thank you cards for the gifts we received at our two baby showers. I'm so sorry for that. I am going to try to get around to it after we get back home from the hospital. :-)
     Anyways, lots of prayers are appreciated for us tomorrow. :-)  And I'm still holding out on the Lord and that He will send me into labor today. We've had some cool events happen throughout the day that are making me believe that a natural birth is still possible! But, in the end, whatever happens, I will know it's in God's perfect will!

PS...Here is a picture one of my best friends took of me at 39 weeks!

37 Weeks

 
     Just now getting around to posting this. I feel terrible for going so long between belly photos but with two little ones, getting a minute to do anything is pretty much impossible. I'm going back to the doctor on the 16th, next Wednesday and I'm going to have my OB check for dilation and effacement. I'm still praying with my whole heart that the Lord sends us our little boy without the need for a c-section. 

A Couple More Weeks

 I went in for my 37 week prenatal appointment yesterday. Lucas is looking great and doing well. We spoke with my OB and the hospital we are birthing at will not allow me to go past 40 weeks since I have had two previous cesareans. So, if he doesn't make an appearance soon, we are scheduled for another c-section on October 24th. We are still waiting to hear back on the exact time but will probably be sometime between 7 and 10 that morning. As excited as I am to meet this little guy, I am PRAYING, PRAYING, PRAYING that the Lord chooses to send Lucas to us before that date. I do NOT want another major surgery like this and would much prefer to go the natural route. But, I know that God has a perfect plan in this and I am trusting Him with my whole heart. Sorry I've been a bit absent in my blogging these days but all of my energy is going into growing this baby, and the energy I don't really have is going towards keeping up with Bug and Bop. :-)  Hope each of you has been doing well!! 

32 Weeks

     We went for our 32 week ultrasound on Friday and got to see our precious little boy. He is already head down and low enough for our doctor to feel his head. This gives me hope that he will be the first of our children to come along on his own. :-)  The ultrasound tech estimated his weight to be 4lbs 4oz, so measuring a little bit ahead of schedule. I am so thankful that we are so close to holding this precious angel in our arms. I am also starting to freak out a little bit, too. I have two baby showers coming up and I know I'm going to be in a mad rush to get everything washed, cleaned and put away before his arrival. Nesting is such a wonderful thing but once that burst of energy is gone, I'm exhausted for days! :-)  

Nesting

     This past week I have hit major nesting mode. The kids (especially Noah) have both been a huge help in Mommy's various projects. Noah and Halebop are so excited for baby Lucas to arrive. Every day Noah rubs my belly and has a conversation with Luca Bear. I can't get over the amount of excitement in this house while we wait for our third little one. 
     I am looking forward to my baby showers, as I have been very blessed with friends and family who believe in celebrating every child that the Lord blesses us with. :-) I can't wait to see all the cutesie newborn things again. Even though Hales is only 17 months, it seems like an eternity since we had a newborn in the house. 
     Today I started in the backyard and cleaned up all the toys that were scattered around everywhere. Then I moved inside to the kids' playroom and we went through every single container of toys. They helped me to throw away the broken ones and set aside the ones they wanted to donate. Then it was upstairs for lunch, a bit of cartoons, and off to bed for naps. While they were napping I finished cleaning up around the house and finally sat down to eat my lunch and have a bit of a break. Now I'm considering all the things I need to do for when Lucas arrives...washing another load of his clothes so they will be clean and fresh when we bring him home. Also I need to get a start on packing the diaper bag, which most people would say I'm jumping the gun on, but hey, it gives me something to do and it will be done when I'm 40 weeks and too huge to breathe...let alone bend. :-) 
     Well, it's off of here for now. I have an upcoming ultrasound on Friday of this week so be on the lookout for pictures. We are praying little one cooperates so we can get some full on face shots! 

Through the Lens

     What an amazing Saturday!!! The weather was absolutely beautiful and the kids were well behaved; which is ALWAYS an A+ in my book. :-)

28 Weeks

     Today I am 28 weeks but looking more like 40 weeks. :-)  I'm thinking that Lucas Bear is going to be quite the little chunker...I'm going to take a guess that he will be 8 1/2 lbs at birth; we shall see!!!

Ten Amazing Years

"As love is the most noble and divine passion of the soul, so is it that to which we may justly attribute all the real satisfactions of life, and without it, man is unfinished, and unhappy."

APHRA BEHN, The Fair Jilt

    Tomorrow will mark ten years since Caleb and I officially became a couple. It's hard to believe that time has went by so quickly; it seems like just yesterday we were 15 and falling more in love with each other by the day. We have grown so close that he is truly my other half, my soul mate..."until death do us part!" As I think back on all the moments of the years we've shared together, I can only smile in knowing that God is truly weaving a tapestry of our lives...and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product when I run into the arms of Jesus! 

   

To My Dearest Caleb,

      I love you, always and forever. You totally get me in all the ways no one else could. Thanks for being my strength...my rock, but most importantly, for being my spiritual leader. Here's to another ten amazing years!

With Much Love,

Mrs. Johnston

Girl Time

     Wow! I almost don't know what to do with myself this evening. Baby girl was sick so I stayed home with her while Daddy and Noah went out for some much needed guy time. After giving her a bath, some Tylenol and snuggling with her for a while, she was ready for bed. Now, I have this weird moment where I actually have time for myself. Of course, the first thing I think to do is update my blog, lol...not to mention if my beautiful Hales wakes up, this is the easiest thing to put on hold. :-)
      Tomorrow, as long as Bop is feeling better, we are heading out to the Farmer's Market first thing in the morning and then out to the very anticipated Touch a Truck. Noah is absolutely thrilled that we will be going back again this year, as one of his favorites at the moment is anything with wheels!! His precious little squeals and fist pumps he does while talking about it makes me want to giggle; he is so animated and it cracks me up.
     Hubby and I are currently in the process of searching for a good bible study to do that focuses on Marriage/Parenting. If any of my blog readers have some suggestions, we are definitely open to them. Since having the kids, making time to sit down and worship together has fallen to the wayside, but we really want to get back into it. Studying the word of God together makes us stronger than we could ever be...placing Christ at the center of our relationship makes all of life's "issues" seem like minor things. With God, all things are possible!! Anyways, hope each of you has been doing well these days. Although I don't blog as often, I do try to keep up with all of your posts. God bless each of you!

Perfect

     This is the perfect cartoon for my feelings this week. Getting on the scale and learning I've already gained 13 pounds this pregnancy is overwhelming. I keep telling myself this baby is going to weigh more than Noah Bug did, lol. We shall see!!

Here, There, Everywhere

     Sitting downstairs, typing away on the new desktop computer hubby bought for me today. :-)  I absolutely LOVE it and it has pretty much been at least 6 years since I've owned one...all I really need in college was my laptop because RC had plenty of desktops. And all Noah could talk about was getting to play PBS.com games, lol..."George and Choos!"
     It's hard to believe that as of today I am 26 weeks pregnant. Some days I feel like time is going by so slowly and I'm getting more excited to hold Lucas in my arms. And then other days, it seems like only yesterday I was finding out God had decided to bless us with our third miracle. But, I'm so thankful to have almost reached trimester three...that makes it seem not so far away.
     Sorry this has been so short. I hardly have time to sit down these days with all the fun activities we have going on. I am doing everything in my power to make this summer a memorable one for Bug and Bop. So that means we stay pretty busy with our day to day agenda. This week we will be learning about nocturnal creatures (hosted by Roanoke County and Wildlife Center of Va) and going to see a movie just for preschoolers. :-)  Oh, and the week we will learn the letter D and the number 4!!!

25 Weeks

Humbling Moments

My Facebook Post Tonight:

     It's amazing the way the Lord works. I was waiting at the deli at Kroger when an elderly lady started talking to me. She said her husband passed away on Monday of this week and her eyes filled with tears. I started crying right along with her, telling her my family would pray for her. At that moment, I hugged her. I know it was the Lord working through me because I am incredibly shy and she was a complete stranger....what a humbling moment. She said she hadn't been in a grocery store for over 2 years because her husband handled everything; but even through the tears pouring down her face, she kept pumping her fists and shouting she "loved her Jesus!!" :-) WOW!

Four Years Later...

     It's hard to believe four years have already passed since marrying the man of my dreams. I will never forget how nervous I was waking up that morning...and the tears pouring down my cheeks because I was overcome with so many emotions. But the second I saw my best friend waiting for me at the front of the church, I felt like I could breathe again. From that magical moment of walking down the aisle, eyes only for Caleb, I have spent the rest of our marriage living out more of God's blessings. Here are a few highlights:

Honeymooned in Key West, FL
(July 2008)

Graduated from Roanoke College together.
(May 2, 2009)

Found out we were pregnant with Noah.
(May 9, 2009)

Noah Whately Johnston
(Born January 21, 2010)

Found out we were pregnant with our 2nd.
(July 29, 2010)

Haleigh Marie Johnston
(Born March 30, 2011)

God blessed us with a 3rd.
(Positive Pregnancy Test February 18, 2012)

Charles Lucas Johnston
(Due October 28, 2012)

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE

Pregnancy Weight Gain Equals BLEH

    I came out of my doctor's appointment not quite knowing how to feel (We saw a different doctor at our office who IS VBAC friendly, so that was nice). Apparently, by their scale, I gained 8 lbs in the last 4 weeks...YIKES!!! Which puts my overall weight gain at 11 lbs. All the research I've done says that 11 pounds at the beginning of the third trimester is FANTASTIC, but I guess I didn't really expect to put on that much weight so quickly.
     Anyways, enough on that little rant. Just needed to get it off my chest. We are still debating about midwife versus OB/GYN and we are now leaning more towards staying with our practice (except maybe switching to the doctor we saw today) and hiring a doula for the birth. That way, we will still be in a hospital setting in case there are any complications...which really puts my mind at ease. Don't get me wrong; there is nothing I would love more than to have our baby here in the comfort of our own home, but I know that I would spend the entire time worrying that something would go wrong. :-)
     Going to start researching fun events to do with the kids this weekend...preferably ones that contain vast amounts of AC!! But, hope each of you has a great weekend...stay cool!!

Our News

     I am finally able to sit down and share the news about our newest decision. We are hiring a MIDWIFE and possibly going to have a home birth. We are currently trying to figure out which route is best for our family. We would absolutely LOVE to have our baby Lucas here at home, but we are also smart enough to know that with this being a VBA2C (vaginal birth after 2 cesareans) we could run into some "issues". So, we are also researching more VBAC friendly doctors in our area and praying that God allows us to bring this child into the world without having to have another c-section. Please pray with us as we are putting this FULLY into God's hands...we will go where He leads. :-)
   

Beat by the Heat

     We've been without power for the last couple of days and internet has been down as well. It came back on just a couple of hours ago so after cooling down the house from NINETY SOMETHING DEGREES, to a more reasonable seventy something, we were finally able to put the kids to bed. And a great big THANK YOU to our friends for letting us chill (literally) in their lovely air conditioned home, lol. :-)
     I said I would update this weekend about a big decision we've been discussing but I am literally exhausted. I almost went to the emergency room today after suffering from (what I think) was heat exhaustion; dizziness, very disoriented, unable to cool down, and very nauseous.  I am going to curl up in front of the tv and possibly not move until I fall asleep...it's been that kind of a day.
     If any of my local blog readers are without power, please feel free to drop by, day or night. Praying for each of you!

Changes

     Hubby and I have a very important meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss some, let's just say, changes. Please pray that we ask the right questions and receive the answers we are hoping for. We are putting our trust and faith in God! Will update as soon as I get a chance...probably Sunday or Monday. :-)  Have a great weekend, blog readers.

Wonderful Weather

     Finally...a break! My first one of the day, in fact. Woke up bright and early this morning, fed the kids their breakfast, changed diapers, got everyone dressed and headed towards downtown. We were all ready with our library card ready to check out some books for summer reading and a few movies, of course. But, alas, we get there only to find out that the library doesn't open until 10. I was caught slightly off guard as most of the other Roanoke Valley libraries open between 8:30am and 9am. But, it turned out to be a magnificent morning because we arrived just as Daddy was taking his morning break. 
      The kids in tow, we utilized our newest skill of "looking both ways before we cross the road" and managed to make it to Mill Mountain without a hitch. We grabbed a cheese danish, some water, and the kids a Capri Sun and sat down to take a short break. Because, it's no easy task walking two children across downtown Roanoke. The morning was so pleasant, though. Right around 70 degrees with a cool breeze blowing, and getting to see my amazing husband...WOW! I couldn't have asked for a better start to the day. :-)
       Afterwards, we headed back to the car and gave Daddy hugs and kisses goodbye...which made me a bit sad. I was even contemplating kidnapping him for the day but decided we probably needed the paycheck so our kids could eat, lol. Our next stop was at Wasena Park for some much needed time to burn off energy. The kids had a blast until "that kid" showed up. Yes, the one whose parents are absentee except when they're screaming obscenities at them, with no regard whatsoever to what their child is doing...like shoving my baby girl down and sitting on her; or pushing Noah off the steps. Grrrrr...nothing gets my blood boiling more than a bully (except maybe parents who treat their kids like garbage). Although, grant it, it really wasn't the kids fault, obviously. 
     As soon as we got back home the kids were starting to get tired and cranky so I fed them their lunch and let them play for a couple more hours. I then tried laying them down for their naps but our "lovely" neighbor across the street chose that exact moment to begin blaring their music so loud I had to shut all of the windows...which barely blocked out their obnoxiousness. It took Noah Bug over an hour to fall asleep because of it, but thankfully he finally nodded off into dreamland. Now I'm finally sitting here resting, but not for long. We've got family visiting tonight so I want to make sure the house is clean. So, think I will catch up on last night's shows and get to work. Hope each of you is having an amazing week! God bless you all!

21 Weeks

    


    I figured it was about time to update my blog with another belly photo. :-)  I have grown so much over the past month and it's starting to freak me out a little bit...I can't imagine how big my belly is going to be in another few months. But, since this will more than likely be the last pregnancy, I'm trying to enjoy every second of it. Little Lucas doesn't always make it very easy...his new game is playing "let's jump up and down on Mommy's bladder" which is not only annoying, but painful. I will be very thankful when I'm not running to the bathroom every 30 minutes, which is only made more fun when Noah and Haleigh feel the need to accompany me on every trip to the potty. :-)  
     This weekend, Hubby and I are indulging in a much needed getaway. My parents will be watching the kids Friday-Sunday and I couldn't be more excited. I can pee without an audience!!!! *grin* But in all seriousness, it will be amazing to sit and relax and listen to silence. And the thought of being able to have an actual conversation with my husband without being interrupted with "Mama" a hundred times is quite pleasant. I love my babies so very much but taking a little break is going to make me such a better Mommy. 
      Anyways, it's off of here to fix the kids breakfast and watch our first daily episode of Curious George. Hope each of you has a blessed day.

Father's Day Fun

     We had a great Father's Day Weekend. We took the kids to Mill Mountain Zoo on Saturday which definitely made for an interesting adventure. Hales was pretty good but when Noah got too tired from walking around, major tantrums ensued. He insisted that Mommy carry him and refused his Daddy even when I tried explaining to him that I was exhausted...because I was carrying him in my arms and baby Lucas in my belly. But, he immediately perked up at the first sign of the "choo" and was nothing but smiles until we fastened him into his carseat; at which point, he fell asleep in about 30 seconds. :-)  

      Sunday we went to church where Hubby was treated to some Father's Day goodies. We are so thankful to have become a part of this amazing church family. It makes me so proud to see him playing the Daddy role. I know I've said it before, but Noah, Haleigh and Lucas are so blessed to have Caleb as their Dada. :-)  And God couldn't have given me a more perfect spouse to share this life with. 
     

Life with the Johnstons

     What an absolutely CRAZY week it has been. It started off Monday morning when Caleb came down with a horrible migraine...which lasted until Wednesday night. He has been having severe headaches and migraines for the last several weeks and thinks it has something to do with an issue he is having with his back. So, he is off to the doctor tomorrow to have things checked out. Please pray that it is nothing serious. 
     Noah and Haleigh seemed to have caught a cold or some type of virus. I was almost asleep last night when I heard Hales crying. When I went in to get her she had a runny nose, was coughing and sneezing like crazy. She cuddled with me in bed for a couple of hours until I finally laid her back down in her own bed after a dose of Benedryl...which I absolutely HATE giving to my kids because it makes them totally out of it. I justified it by telling myself it was in the middle of the night and sleep was really what she needed to get over the illness...whatever it was/is. Well, this morning, I heard Noah start crying and fussing in his room around 6am. I walked in and realized right away he was showing the same symptoms. He was ok other than being irritated that his nose was stopped up, until around noon and then started running a fever. Haleigh slept until 8:30am and then pretty much cried for the rest of the day until she FINALLY let me use saline and suction out her boogies, and took a nap around 3ish. Needless to say, both kids are in bed now and I'm praying for a good night's rest. 
     I have been doing really well other than normal pregnancy emotions...which are really starting to get on my nerves. I hate crying; let alone crying and having absolutely NO IDEA why I'm doing so. At our last doctor's appointment, we of course found out that we are having a little boy. I also found out that as of 20 weeks, I had gained three pounds. I'm really happy with that number but am trying my hardest to keep total weight gain around 15 pounds; only because I started out at a higher weight than I was hoping. I start my prenatal exercise class at the Green Ridge Rec Center this week and I couldn't be happier. I've really been doing my best to eat well and exercise to keep the extra weight off. Hopefully, God will answer our prayers and bless us with my body doing what its supposed to and going into labor on its own. My doctor isn't a huge supporter of VBAC after 2 c-sections, but we are putting this in God's hands. 
     Well, it's off of here now to grab a bite to eat. I wasn't able to eat any dinner because Haleigh felt so bad. So, I held her in my arms and spoon fed her...only way the poor thing would eat. :-(  

Introducing....

CHARLES LUCAS, our little boy...



     Our little man sure wasn't afraid to show off today. Before the ultrasound tech even had a chance to tell us, I looked over at Caleb and shouted "IT"S A BOY!!!"  I was too excited to cry, which is funny, because I bawled with the other two. Today, I just laughed and laughed...I can't wait for the kids to wake up from their naps so I can tell them all about their new baby brother. 
       Here is the first glimpse I got of his boy parts...


     Off of here now to relax for a bit. It's been quite an overwhelming day. :-D

Boy or Girl?

     Oh my goodness! I have all this nervous energy today. Tomorrow we head back to the doctor for our gender scan and I am so hoping this little one cooperates. I am already starting to nest and I can't wait to start buying stuff for our newest addition. :-)  I'm definitely thinking boy, but I guess we will have to wait and see. Please, please pray baby J spreads his/her little legs for the ultrasound tech tomorrow...can't wait to share the good news with all of you! <3

Mommy Moments

     So basically, every time I try to write a blog post, my kids wake up from naps, start fighting with one another or beg me to watch "George" on the computer. So, these days, I don't exactly spend much time on the good ol' laptop. Instead, I'm chasing two precious angels around the yard, building towers made from blocks, changing endless amounts of diapers....and, well, you get the point. :-)  Not that I mind, but I do have to have my morning cup of coffee in order to function; Need. More. Sleep!!! 
     Not to mention, my belly has finally "popped" during the last week so getting around isn't quite as easy these days. The kids laugh at my efforts in putting on their shoes, as bending in the middle can get a bit rough. Noah is constantly hugging my whale of a tummy and insisting on giving "baybee" (baby) kisses. He is more than excited for the littlest Johnston to make its arrival. It makes me grin to see him so giddy over it. Haleigh on the other hand is continuing to insist "I'm da baybee!!!" (I'm the baby). :-)  So, October should definitely be FUN! 
     Bear with me if I don't quite seem like myself these days. I feel like I'm blowing everybody off when they invite me to things. I'm constantly having to cancel play dates and get togethers because of the never ending morning sickness. This is the first pregnancy I've suffered this long with it and I'm beginning to think it's not going to go away until baby arrives. I've also been having some major issues with my blood sugar. One day last week I fainted because it had dropped so low. Definitely not the greatest experience, but thankfully Hubby was there to help me. I'm not complaining at all about the Hershey's chocolate bar in my purse...and the awesome excuse to nibble on a piece of chocolate every few hours. 
     Anyways, it's off of here to lounge on the couch and enjoy my only free hour of the day. By the time we get the kids to bed and I prepare stuff for the next day, it's only about an hour out from my bedtime...how sad is that, lol? I think it's a sign that I'm getting old. Hope each of you has a blessed Friday!!

Big Decisions

     Gearing up for our fun four day weekend! Tomorrow afternoon through Sunday morning, our friends are driving in from Richmond for some much needed time together. So, you can imagine how giddy with excitement I've been this week. :-)  
      Saturday we are having a huge Memorial Day get together with many of our friends...complete with grilling out and the kids running around in our new backyard. Hubby is going by O'Brian's tomorrow to pick up the package we ordered...hotdogs, steaks, and pork chops! YUMMY! 
      Saturday also marks 18 weeks preggers for this Mama. As I count down the days until the littlest Johnston makes its appearance, I am growing more and more nervous. Excited, ohhhh YES, but nervous...that too. I am having a rough time adjusting to the thought of having three babies to take care of. I would consider parenting the most rewarding job, but also one of the hardest. We are also battling with the decision to have my tubes tied. It's not something I ever really wanted to do, but at our last doctor's visit, my OB said that having a fourth c-section would be extremely risky for me and the baby...mainly due to the amount of scar tissue that has built up. I am struggling with the decision because if God wants us to have more children, I feel like I shouldn't interfere by making a decision that would prevent that from happening. But at the same time, I would feel like a horrible mother if anything happened to harm my (potential) fourth child. Knowingly proceeding with getting pregnant a fourth time, and knowing that there is a very high risk involved....I just don't quite know what to do.
       We have discussed that maybe God wants us to adopt eventually, so then having my tubes tied wouldn't seem quite as heart breaking. It's just so much to consider in a very short amount of time. But, with much prayer and a ton of faith, I know that the Lord will guide our family to the right decision. :-)
       It's off of here for now, since Hubby will be home soon. Got to figure out what we're going to do for dinner and then head to the store to pick up a few last minute items for this weekend. God bless each of you!

17 Weeks

     I only have 22 weeks left until my c-section, which is looking like it will be scheduled for October 21st. That's like, 150 something days left to go...EEK!! I'm getting so nervous about becoming a Mom for the third time. So many questions swirling around in my mind...How will I do this? Will I keep my sanity? Will I get postpartum again? Will I be able to make time for all three of my beautiful babies?
     And then I have to stop, breathe, and remind myself that God is WITH ME!! He blessed us with another baby for a reason and He will never give us more than we can handle. Even so, the human emotions keep resurfacing. Boo! :-(  That's where this lovely quality of FAITH comes in...and boy, oh boy, do I struggle with it sometimes.
     I finally got around to taking some pictures this morning of the kids with my actual camera instead of slacking and just using my phone. Here are a couple of the kids and one of my belly (which is very much getting in the way these days, lol).

Blessings

    Sitting here in my living room looking around in amazement at the blessings God has showered on us. Who knew that after only four years of marriage, my husband would have an incredible job, we would have two beautiful babies with a third on the way, and finally be in our first house. Sometimes the Lord's love catches me off guard and completely overwhelms me. I'm left with feelings of thankfulness and amazement in what God has done. Just had that on my heart and wanted to share. 
     We are heading to another doctor's appointment tomorrow at 2:15 to listen to baby's heartbeat and get some blood work done. I've been feeling more and more kicks and pokes and it's amazing. I can't wait for Caleb to be able to feel little Lucas or Bella for the first time...it's always such a special moment for us. 
     I will try to update at some point with how the appointment goes...I just haven't had much time for blogging these days. The days have been too nice to sit inside in front of a computer or television. We've been GREATLY enjoying our backyard...complete with playing in the pool, kicking a ball around, chasing the kids, and our new favorite...GRILLING OUT! 
     Off of here now to relax a bit before starting on a load of laundry. :-)  

15 Week Belly Photo

    We only have a little less than a month left before we go in for our gender scan on June 5th. I am REALLY hoping baby cooperates because I don't think I can wait to find out. I had really wanted to throw a gender reveal party for family and friends but I just couldn't convince Caleb of it, lol. He says he can barely wait to find out a month from now...let alone push the date back any farther. It will be nice to be able to start decorating the baby's room once we find out. We've already decided on Beatrix Potter...just don't know whether to go the pink or blue route. :-)  
     Anyways, not exactly feeling the greatest today. Woke up with the headache that I've been dealing with for FOUR DAYS...nothing helps. Guess I'm going to have to break down and ask the doctors for another prescription of painkillers that they gave me at the beginning of my pregnancy for my migraines. Seems to be the only thing that I can take right now that actually helps. Please pray for me that I will wake up tomorrow and it will be GONE!!! :-) 
     Off of here to (hopefully) lay down and rest for a few minutes while the kids are in their room for quiet time/naptime. 

Congratulations, Hubby!!

     Just wanted to take a second to brag on my Hubby. We found out last week that he got another promotion; this time, from disability analyst to case consultant. :-)  He works for Disability Determination Services in downtown Roanoke which is the company that people file for disability through. He determines whether those applications are accepted or denied. He will still be doing some of the same work as case consultant but since it's a middle management position, he will also be managing a unit of people. He will be there to answer questions, offer advice etc. 
     I can't begin to say how truly PROUD I am of him. He worked so hard to buy us this house and now God has blessed us with not only a new home, but a better paying position!!! I am thankful for many things today, and continuing to trust in God!

House Improvements

     It has definitely been a crazy, busy week. We are all moved in to our new home and I am falling more in love with it by the day. So much has happened over these last few days that it's pretty much impossible to fit it all into one blog. But, I shall try. 
     After signing the paperwork and officially closing on the house, we headed over to start the priming and painting process. I had decided on a cheerful yellow color for the living room and kids' room. We only got the priming done that day, but spent all day Saturday finishing up those two rooms. Praise the Lord we had a ton of our family helping us, or it would have taken forever. :-)  My parents surprised us with a $50.00 gift card to Lowe's along with a huge pot of petunias for our porch. We immediately headed out (without the littles) to purchase a few things for our new home. Let's just say that we went a bit overboard and bought close to $150.00 worth of stuff. When the cashier rang us up, I was like...WHAT?!?!?  But, it was ok because we had already set aside some funding for fixing up our new home. 
     We decided while we were there to buy paint for the kids' play room/guest room downstairs and for Caleb's man cave. The playroom/guestroom has it's own private bathroom so we chose that to do in a beach theme. Pale blue walls with tons of ocean view pictures...including a couple of the ones I took while in Key West.  I was very impressed with it. AND, my awesome Mother in Law is giving us her futon so our guests have a place to sleep when they stay!!! So totally thrilled. :-)
     Caleb chose a dark red wine color for the man cave. I wasn't too sure about it at first but after a couple of coats of paint and finally seeing it after it was dry, I pretty much loved it too. We made a trip to Best Buy a few days ago and purchased a big screen tv for that room, along with a television stand to go with it. Now, we are doing our best to decide on furniture but can't seem to agree on anything as of yet. Still lots of browsing to do. I would really love to buy a new sectional sofa for upstairs, and then move our old furniture downstairs until we will hopefully be getting a sofa from a friend of a friend for helping them move. :-)  It will all work out and I know it doesn't all have to be done right away. I have a very LONG list of improvements to make, for sure. 
     We just got internet back yesterday so I'm thankful for that. It's a bit harder to access everything from my mobile. Can't wait to have all of our friends over for a get together soon. It's off of here for now, as I've got to figure out what activity to plan for the kids this afternoon. Hope each of you has had a VERY blessed week!!

HOME OWNERS!!

     Well, we FINALLY made it to closing. WE ARE BUYING OUR FIRST HOUSE TODAY!!!!! Can you tell I'm just a little bit excited? :-)  Anyways, didn't have time to write a whole lot this morning. My grandparents are coming over in a little while and my Mom will be over a bit later. They are going to watch the kids for us while I go to my prenatal appointment and then to sign the papers. Please pray for us this weekend as we move everything in. I really won't be able to help during much of the moving process as I don't feel comfortable lifting anything too heavy. I had a mini scare yesterday where I fell down some stairs and was freaking out that I had hurt the baby. Turns out, I'm just covered in bruises and doing my best to be more careful. I don't know what it is about pregnancy that makes me feel like a total klutz. :-)
     

Excitement

     Sorry I've been a bit absent in my blogging recently. We found out on Monday that we will be moving THIS WEEKEND into our house! We were scheduled to do the final walk through last night but the seller still wasn't ready for us to do it, soooooo we are waiting until tomorrow evening at 5:15. And all I'm going to say is she better be completely moved out because we are scheduled to sign the papers on Friday at 2pm. After that, the house is OFFICIALLY ours!!!! 
      Friday is also the day of our next prenatal appointment. We get to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time and I am oh so excited. It's hard to believe I will be fourteen weeks on Saturday but I'm thrilled. This pregnancy seems to be going by much quicker than the first two did, but maybe that's because we've been so involved with buying our first house. :-)  
     The kids just woke up so I'm going to get off of here and fix them some breakfast. Then, later today, my sister in law is coming over to hang out for a while. YAY!  Hope each of you has a blessed Wednesday...only two more days 'til FRIDAY!!!

Packing

     The worst part about packing is running out of boxes during a burst of energy. I've been packing items into boxes all day in preparation for our big move. We aren't sure of the exact date yet, but the longest it will be is three weeks...shortest will probably be two weeks. I had forgotten how difficult it is to move during a pregnancy, lol, but hopefully if we decide to have anymore kids after this one, we at least won't have to move during the middle of it. :-)  
     The kids finally decided to take their naps this afternoon. Noah has been a handful these past few days and I'm chalking it up to the terrible twos. It is so frustrating for me at times because I feel like I am dealing with a completely different child. My sweet little cuddly toddler now has a monopoly on the word NO, as often as he says it on a daily basis. He has been hitting, yelling and whining over every little thing. I know it's all part of the growing up process but from the parenting end of things, it is HARD. For those of you who have already been through this stage, you totally ROCK for making it through it!!! Anyone who would like to offer some terrible twos advice, it would be most welcome. 
     I just had a thought occur to me...I really should be cooking dinner. I know that was totally random but it reminded me that I need to quit blogging and get to work, lol. Anyways, hope each of you is having a blessed Wednesday...only a couple more days left to go during the work week!!! 

12 Weeks

    I haven't really posted many belly photos for this pregnancy. Soooo, now that I'm actually showing a bit I figured I would post a few. 
Here is baby Bella or Lucas at 12.2 weeks..

BABY NAMES

     After months of much discussion, Hubby and I have finally came to an agreement on baby names. Before we had children, we decided that we wanted each baby to have a name that had family significance. Noah was named after the Irish family name (Chuck's mom's maiden name) the Whately's. Haleigh's name has a tie to my Mom's middle name, which is Leigh (in the way her  name is spelled) and she was given my Granny Jones' middle name, Marie. 
     Charles Lucas is after our Dads (Charles for Caleb's Dad, and Lucas for mine..well, my Stepdad, but I think of him as my Dad...his name is Luke). Isabella would be given her aunt Rebekah's middle name, Jane. Hopefully this wasn't too confusing. We are just so excited to be able to explain to our children as they get older the importance of each of their names. :-)  And we wanted each of them to feel a special connection to their elders/ancestors. 
     We had a really amazing weekend but I will save that post for another time. After going on a two hour hike and starting Noah on the "three day potty training" endeavor, I am worn out! Ready to cuddle up with my love and watch Celebrity Apprentice before heading off to bed.  

Here, There, and Everywhere

     I posted on my Facebook page a while ago that I was going to try to get to bed early tonight. Seems like I have too much on my mind, though. I've been trying so hard not to be stressed out but so much is happening so fast right now. First, there is the whole house buying situation, Hubby has been applying for new jobs, and we've got baby number three on the way.
     Don't get me wrong. I am THRILLED at the prospect of this house. But the waiting game is extremely stressful. I feel like we're not going to know anything until the last minute and will have to be in a hurry to move. And for someone who likes to plan ahead (and I mean, WAAAAYYYY ahead) this just doesn't jive well. I know I shouldn't worry but it's insanely hard. 
     We are doing fine with our current financial situation but Hubs is just getting a bit, how shall I say it.....bored? Yes, I guess that's the right word. He LOVES his job, but has excelled at it and now is looking to move into a higher position. Not only would this help him to continue to like his work, but it would also be a good raise, which would help if we get this house. I'm so thankful for his current position, but it would be an incredible opportunity if he was able to advance up the career ladder, so to speak. 
      And yes, I am getting super nervous about the newest Johnston's arrival. I am very excited but I know how hard it was after having Halebop. I am required to have another c-section because I've already had two and trying for a VBAC would be very risky. Caleb and I have discussed it and the thought of potentially losing me or the baby in the process isn't an option. Sooooo, a few weeks of major pain and discomfort is what has me nervous. Not the baby so much, lol...that's always the best part of everything. Sure, I have to deal with pain, but it's worth it knowing I've got a little baby to cuddle. Well, make that THREE babies to cuddle. WOW, God sure is blessing us more and more.
     And that's what I have to keep telling myself..."in the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed!" So very true. Anyways, I know this has been sort of here, there and everywhere, but I felt like writing. It sort of came out stream of consciousness style, but that's alright with me. :-)  I really hope all of you have been doing well. Will try to post again soon.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY HALEIGH!!

    Mommy is a few days behind in posting this, baby girl, but a very Happy 1st Birthday to you. I prayed to God that He would bless us with a healthy little baby girl, and then you came along. :-)  I can't believe how much you've changed over this past year and watching your personality develop has been such a joy. I love that you get so excited over the smallest things and your squeals of delight are something I will always cherish. I love that you adore your big brother and even the little ways you try to pick on him. As you become an older sibling in a few months from now, I know with my whole heart, you're going to be a great big sister. I love you, Haleigh Marie.

2 Weeks

One Year

:-)

     So, it's been a crazy week here. Some great moments and some super bad ones. I don't really have the energy to type it all up right now (how sad is that?!) but I will as soon as I get a free moment. We are getting ready to put the kids down for bed and then I'm cuddling with hubby and watching a bit of tv before heading to bed too. Hope all of you are having a wonderful week. :-)

Stressed, but Blessed

     What an absolutely crazy week it has been. It all started on Monday when we met up with our real estate agent to look at houses. We have pretty much been browsing the listings and have probably went to look at about 15-20...some we liked, and some we didn't, but none that we both agreed on. Well, on Monday, we walked into what we are both hoping will become "OUR" first home. We fell in love with it. It is a four bedroom, split level home in Roanoke County. There are three bedrooms upstairs and one on the lower level...which is absolutely PERFECT. There is also a fenced in back yard with a storage building. It was a little out of our price range but we finally came to an agreement with the seller; she dropped $5,000 of the sale price and agreed to pay the majority of closing costs...PRAISE THE LORD! Tonight we are going to meet up with the real estate agent and seller to go over the contract to ensure it's to our liking and we agree on everything. Then, I guess we will talk with the bank about financing...and from there, it's just various inspections and such. Please pray for us concerning this. We desperately need to find a home and this is perfect for our family in an amazing location. We are trusting God with everything. I'm still sort of hesitant to post pictures because we both want to talk to the bank first to make double sure financing comes through. I don't think we will have a problem because we were pre-qualified for a specific amount a few weeks ago. But anyways...just continue to pray. Thanks so much everyone. I will update when I know more. It will probably be Sunday or Monday because we are going out of town this weekend...just what I need. :-)

Potty Training During Pregnancy

     Let me just say this...potty training while pregnant is HARD! Not only am I training Noah Bug to pee pee and poo poo in the potty, I am also teaching Halebop. She saw her brother doing it and, of course, decided she was all about it too. And surprisingly, even though she is a year younger, she is doing phenomenal. She has consistently peed every single time we sit her on it. And she has managed to tell me at least three times (by running into the bathroom and tapping on the potty) that she needs to go. Noah, on the other hand, pretty much is terrified of it. I'm not quite sure why, though. He will sometimes go if I sit him on it, but that's with a ton of persuasion. But, I know he is ready to be potty trained because he hides when he poops and tells me that he has to go...and does what I call the "pee dance"...where he hops around and grabs himself. :-)  
     And during all of this I'm trying to deal with morning sickness and complete exhaustion on pretty much a daily basis. I'm tired all of the time and it's so difficult to constantly run back and forth to the bathroom, whether it's to help one of the kids on or off the potty, or to throw up due to morning sickness. We probably spend about 75% of our day in the bathroom now...how lovely! :-)  I really shouldn't complain, though. I know that the finances will be a whole lot better when we aren't diapering two kids. I'm so thankful to have grandparents who help us out with this! 
    Anyways, please say a prayer for me over the next several weeks. I still have about a week and a half until I go to the doctor for my first prenatal visit. I'm both nervous and excited about it, but I'm sure once I see that cute little munchkin on the screen and hear its heart beating, I won't be quite as nervous as I am now. Please pray that the Lord will continue to give me the energy I need to keep up with my two kids and that He will soon take away this morning sickness, as well. Thanks to everyone! 

2 Months Down, 7 Left

     Has it really been a month since we found out we were expecting again? Wow, time sure does pass by quickly. Today I am 8 weeks with only 31 weeks left to go. I'm sure most of you are assuming I miscounted there, but no. :-)  We have already decided that if the baby isn't here by 39 weeks, we are scheduling a c-section. And when it comes to my babies, they would camp out in there until they were 2, lol...for some reason, my little ones don't like to come on their own. With Noah, we waited until 42 weeks, and ended up with an emergency c-section, The whole experience was a little bit too scary so with Hales we just went ahead and decided to schedule it...it was great knowing the exact day and time, too. And sure, it was rough recovering from surgery...especially with having a newborn and a toddler, but  I am tough. And Noah Bug is such a big helper these days I have no doubt he is going to help take care of his Mommy after the new baby arrives. 
      I actually had time to sit down and blog this morning because Noah and Haleigh spent the night with Grandma Johnston and Aunt Rebekah. You would think I had gotten to sleep in, but for some reason, when my babies aren't here, I don't sleep as well. So, I was up at 7 this morning, which is fine. I'm going to fix my hair and actually put on a little makeup for the day. Hubby is taking me out for a birthday breakfast before we head over to Craig to pick up the kids. HOORAY!  I so look forward to peaceful, stress free moments when I can actually have a quiet time to talk with Hubby and not have to scarf down my food like I'm trying to win a race. It's off of here for now to start my day. Hope each of you has a Happy St. Patty's. 

This Pretty Much Summarizes It...

Morning, Noon, Night

     Although this has been the hardest pregnancy along with the worst case of morning sickness thus far, I'm PRAISING GOD. To some people it seems like I'm complaining and that is not my intention at all. I am trying to explain and apologize to friends and family the reasons I'm not exactly myself these days. Let's see...my body is being invaded by a cute little belly bean who is growing like a weed. Perfect for my little one, but not so easy on Mama! *smile*  Not to mention, I'm forced to "puke on the go" if you will. Basically, I have a toddler and a full fledged runner who love to play the "Mommy catch us" game. So, I literally get sick and pick up immediately where I left off, regardless of it being in the middle of playtime, naptime, laundrytime, or any other time. I'm thankful God is holding me up through this because I know I couldn't get past this time without Him. :-)  
     Both the kids are doing well. Noah is so excited for the new little baby...and yesterday he told me he wanted five sisters. I had to gently let him know that probably wasn't going to happen, lol. Haleigh, on the other hand is in no way interested to have any more siblings. She likes being the baby, for sure. But, based on her bubbly, blossoming personality, the middle child role is going to fit her perfectly!  
     It's off of here for now. I think I'm going to try to listen to some music and relax for a while before getting ready for my dentist appointment. Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Things That Matter

Playtime

     I love watching my kids invent new ways of playing. Today, they took a pampers box and turned it on it's side...then, Noah showed Haleigh how to push their blocks down through the hole where you hold onto the box. They have literally been playing this new game of theirs for like 15 minutes...and it's so cute. Hales is taking it super seriously as her new favorite thing to do is help Mommy and Daddy clean up around the house. We are blessed to have two children who love their chores...and yes, even our one year old has chores. We aren't super strict about them or anything, but we'll hand Hales a baby wipe and let her wipe off the television...which she things is the coolest thing these days. Weird, but true. And Noah's favorite thing to do is sweep. But we haven't really invested in a kid size broom so he uses the adult size one and it's hilarious to watch him. But heaven forbid we take his broom away because then the terrible twos tantrum starts. But, I'm SO not complaining...if he wants to sweep, I let him. I'm just dreading the day they start to think everything I do and say is "so not cool". Which probably won't even be in style to say that phrase by the time they begin to think of me that way. *grin*  That's weird to think about.
     Well, it's off of here for now to get started on fixing lunch. Then, hopefully the kids will take good naps today so we will all be in a good mood for playtime outside later today.

Thoughts

     Sitting here waiting on hubby to get back with my iced coffee. This baby in my belly sure is giving me the craziest cravings. :-)  It's so bad though, because as soon as I eat pretty much anything, the morning sickness kicks in and I lose everything I ate. Good news is that I've been sipping on ginger ale and it is a LIFESAVER. I also think I'm going to order some more B-Natals and pick up some of the OTC medicine Becca told me about earlier today. This morning sickness is bound to be gone within the next two to three months, Praise the Lord. 
     Anyways, I know this post is super short and a little bit all over the place, but I just felt like writing for a few minutes. It really helps me to relax and de-stress before bed. Which, probably won't be laying down to sleep for another couple of hours. I've been a total night own for the past two weeks which I'm chalking up to pregnancy hormones. :-)  
      Hope everyone had a great Monday. So looking forward to Wednesday when the weather is supposed to be close to 70 degrees again. I love those warm days when I can get the kids outside for playdates with friends. 

Hormones and the House Plant

     Today was actually pretty good considering the rest of my week. I'm proud to say I woke up WITHOUT a headache. I started getting one late this afternoon but I'm definitely not going to complain. I would much rather suffer for a few hours than all day. :-)  
      Our day was, hmmmmm, interesting to say the least. After lunch today Noah came running up to me and pointed at our TV yelling "BUGS, MAMA...BUGGGGGSSSS!!!" I just laughed at him and asked if he wanted to watch a movie about bugs. He then shook his head and said, "NO, MAMA...BUGS...THERE" and again pointed to the television. Well, I walked over and crouched down, not seeing anything at first. Then my excited little boy took his finger and point down at the carpet right in front of our entertainment center...and then I saw...ANTS. Ewwwwww. Let me just say that even though I grew up in the country, I have pretty much always been a city girl at heart. Keep the creepy crawlies as far away from me as possible and I will be happy. Much to Noah Bug's dismay, I got out one of our handy dandy ant traps and set it up behind the entertainment center. Over the next couple of days they will carry the poison back to their nests and VOILA...au revoir. 
     The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Oh, well, there was that. We took the kids out for ice cream this evening after dinner and while we were there, Noah leaned back in his chair which tipped over. Super Mommy to the rescue...I jumped up and grabbed the back of the chair just before it slammed my wrist between the chair and the edge of the table. Let's just say I'm sporting a lovely bruise now, but I'd sign up to be black and blue all over if it meant my son escaped harm. :-)  
     Tonight the hormones kicked in. Hubby got an upclose look at our lovely little ant "friends". He then proceeded to tell me that he was going to throw my house plant out. Normally, I am NOT attached to material things at all, but this is a bit different. First, I have never been able to keep a plant alive in my life. I tried from the time I was a little girl, but my "green" thumb turned everything brown. Pretty much any flowers I planted in our yard died within weeks while my Mom's flourished. Although it was disappointing, I gave myself over to the fact that, that talent hadn't been passed down to me. Last year, almost exactly 13 months ago, my father in law passed away. It was sudden, as most of you know, and it was an extremely hard time for our family. After the memorial service, we were given one of the plants someone had bought in his memory. I was pretty much resolved that it would add a nice touch to our living room for a couple of months and then I would be using the flower pot for something else. 
     Well, I guess I attached myself to the plant because of who it was given in memory of. I remember I started checking it every couple of days and removing any dead leaves that had fallen. Noah and I have fun watering it each week...he with his little pail. He reminds me when life gets crazy...and like I said, it's something we like to do together; mommy and son bonding time, if you will. Anyways, the months passed and here it is almost 13 months later and it's flourishing. It's grown so much that my Mom is coming over to teach me how to repot it in a bigger flower pot (I know how lame this sounds, but I seriouly STINK at anything horticulture related, lol). 
     Tonight Caleb got the idea that the ants were living in our flower pot. Which, they totally weren't. There were a few on the leaves but the majority of them were nibbling away at the spot where Haleigh had hidden (and spilled a little) her juice cup. When he said he was going to throw it away, I had a breakdown. I started crying and I actually got a little mad. Thinking back on it now is super embarrassing, and in the moment, I wasn't sure where the emotions were coming from. But now, I realize that the plant, for me, is a part of one of the last memories I have concerning my father in law; celebrating his life at the memorial service. I feel there is a reason this is the ONLY plant I've EVER been able to keep alive. It's almost God's way of telling me that he is waiting in Heaven for us to get there. That even when life ends here on Earth, it's really only just the beginning. As a friend of mine says...the rainbow after the rain. :-)  It was hard saying goodbye, but now I get to look forward to saying hello. 
     So, yeah, many of you will probably think I'm weird or just won't get this at all. But I have a feeling some of you will understand what I'm trying to say; why I feel the way I do. And I'm sure it doesn't help that these first trimester hormones are kicking my butt. :-)  I will hopefully get around to writing a post about what has been going on over the last couple of weeks. I keep prolonging it because I'm not sure if I feel like talking about it. But, one  day...maybe. Anyways, thanks for listening to my ramblings tonight. I hope each of you has a blessed day.

Tired...

    I wish I could say the week had gotten better, but so far, it just seems to be getting worse. I KNOW God is putting these obstacles in my path to strengthen my faith in Him, but in the midst of these human emotions, it makes it hard to see that sometimes. I know for most of you, you're wondering what's been going on. And maybe at some point I will feel comfortable blogging about it, but I haven't quite reached that point yet. Please continue to pray for me and that I will be able to continually see that this is God's perfect will; that He isn't doing this to hurt me, but to strengthen me. :-)  I think all of us need a little reminding of that from time to time. 
    Both the kids have been doing well and I can't get over how quickly they are growing up on me. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones but sometimes I will look at them and become overwhelmed at the thought of how quickly time is passing. Seems like yesterday I was finding out we were pregnant for the first time, and now, we're waiting on baby number three to arrive. God's blessings have our cup overflowing...and we love it. <3  
     But anyways, it's off of here for now. Hope everyone has a great evening!

Ups and Downs

    What a week it has been. I'm not going to go into great detail but let's just sum it up to say it was probably the most physically and emotionally draining week I've faced in quite some time. So thankful to have gotten some good news to start off the new week, though. My friend Becca texted me this morning with the news that she delivered a baby girl, Evelyn, this morning. A little bit ago I saw her picture for the first time and she is PRECIOUS! (A shout out to the Rothrocks....you make beautiful babies!!)  Anyways, looking forward to packing up and heading to Richmond sometime soon for a visit. 
     I have my first prenatal appointment set up for March 30th, which is also Haleigh Bop's birthday. What a cool birthday present to be able to meet her sibling for the first time. We have FINALLY chosen names but have decided to wait to reveal them until we find out the sex of the baby.  And when we find out is still up in the air. I would like to wait until the day I give birth so I can be surprised. To me, the thought of not knowing up until the last possible moment is magical. But, hubby is chomping at the bit to know (and is hoping for another baby boy). *grin*  I have a feeling we will be finding out in a few more months, haha. 
     Well, it's off of here for now to relax for a while. I'm still not totally back to my normal self but am well on my way. Hope everyone has a blessed week! 

Big Fat Positive

     It's been a crazy couple of days, as you can imagine. Friday morning I woke up bright and early to head to the oral surgeon to have my wisdom teeth extracted. With Daddy and our toddlers in tow, we packed up in the car and headed out on our little adventure. We stopped by Hardees for biscuits and hash rounds to bribe the kids into being good while they waited for Mommy's surgery to be over. Unfortunately, Mama didn't partake because I was ordered not to eat anything before coming into the office. We arrived and I was whisked away to the back where I was given an oral anesthetic and a total of eight shots to numb my mouth. Then, the loveliness ensued...the sound of the drill (even WITH my headphones on) will be forever ingrained in my memory. Let's just say I was thankful to be out of there for the day. I was nauseous on and off throughout that day, but chalked it up to the pain I was in after my numbing wore off.  I am not big on pain meds so I only took three total before switching over to Tylenol. 
     The next day, I woke up in terrible pain but ready to face the day. Never did I think that it would be a day full of surprises. Let me start off by saying that I had spent the week feeling crampy and just...off. That's the best way to put it. I was overly emotional (which I assumed was because I was late starting my period). Anyways, I had told a friend earlier in the week that I felt "pregnantish" and that I was planning on taking a pregnancy test. I only wanted to rule it out so I could get on to figuring out the real reason for Aunt Flo not showing her lovely self. I took a test Thursday with a definite negative and had planned on calling my OB/GYN on Monday to set up an appointment to discuss reasons for my late cycle. Well, Saturday I had an extra pregnancy test so I decided to take one again "just because I had a feeling". I can't explain it other than I've been pregnant twice before and am very aware of the symptoms. Even though, in our minds, there was absolutely NO WAY this was a possibility...we've been VERY careful. 
     Well, it was one of the cheapo Dollar Store tests that we had laying around. Within two minutes a dark pink line and a very faint pink line showed up. It was then that I knew. I stood there for probably three or four minutes just staring at it...almost wondering if it was real. I stepped out of the bathroom and handed it to Caleb, who said it "probably wasn't positive but I'm going to buy a box of digital ones just in case".  I knew there would be no reason to argue with him, but in my heart I already knew God had blessed us with another miracle; a very unexpected miracle, but one all the same. When Caleb got back from Wal*Mart I, again went to the bathroom and told him to go and check it...simply because I wanted to see his reaction when it said what I already knew it would..."PREGNANT".  He looked down at it and shook his head, muttering "it's not possible. It's just NOT possible". Then he looked up at me and said, "well, honey, I guess you are!" I laughed, my cheeks flushed with excitement. Tears came to my eyes and I felt so many emotions flooding me at once; happiness, uncertainty, disbelief, excitement, thankfulness. I immediately got out the camera and started snapping pictures, documenting the new life of baby J number 3. Even though this was very unexpected, we are praising God for our blessing. We are so in love with our two toddlers and can't wait to welcome this newborn into our lives. 
     That was Friday and Saturday, and most of Sunday was spent talking with people on the phone, telling them all about our third little one. We are blessed to have such a loving and supportive family, offering many congratulations. *grin* I can't thank God enough for our wonderful friends and family. Also, yesterday we watched the first snow of the year fall and enjoyed it's beauty. Noah absolutely LOVED it and played in it a while today, but Hales was less than impressed. She would much rather be snuggled up under a warm blanket with her Mama...which suited me just fine as I wanted to do the same. 
     Today, we woke up and headed back to the dentist office to have my dry socket taken care of. I have to go back every two days for the next week to have it repacked with a clove packet...and let me just say, ewwww. It probably wouldn't have made me sick before, but baby definitely doesn't like it so I've been vomiting most of the day. I will probably tell the dentist on Wednesday just to forget about it. I'll deal with the pain because I certainly can't deal with the morning sickness as well. After we got out of the dentist, hubby took me to get a new phone. It's a Samsung Galaxy 5 Smartphone with unlimited everything (texting, internet, picture messaging...you name it) and he got an I Phone 4. I am really excited to be able to use it when I take the kids for walks. I can listen to music or watch movies as long as we go somewhere with 3G or 4G coverage, and lucky for us, most of the area we live in has it now. :-)  So, all in all, a very exciting weekend.
     I'm off of here to go lay on the couch and catch up on some DV-R with hubby. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for our family during the upcoming week. Please pray that the morning sickness subsides a bit.  

Blessings Times 3

God has chosen to bless us with another miracle. Baby Johnston (number 3) will be here sometime in October. :-)