My littlest one is sick today. :-( Last night he felt really hot so I took his temperature and, sure enough, 101.0. He slept really well (like 2 hours longer than usual) and seemed to be doing ok when he woke up. As the day passed, though, his fever came back and he fought nap time like crazy, which is totally unlike him. So, instead of laying him in his crib, I rocked him and sang to him and laid him down on his brother's bed, where he dozed off to sleep. I'm praying that maybe this will be a good segway into him being willing to sleep in a big boy bed...because he is going to have to give his crib up in a few months when Arabella/Jude arrive. :-)
In other news, I get to go to the beach in October. It was a total surprise but Hubby's work is sending him to Hampton/Virginia Beach area for a mandatory conference and family is allowed to tag along. I've decided to just take Noah along because I know there is no way I can manage all three little ones by myself. I'm just so stinkin' excited because the entire trip will be paid for!! And then of course, that's like the last real relaxing moment before life starts to get really crazy again...holidays, welcoming a new baby, buying Christmas gifts etc.
I also received more wonderful news from two dear people in my life but will wait to post about that another time. All I will say is that we serve an amazing God. :-) Blessings, sweet friends.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
God Answers Prayers
It's hard to believe so much time has passed since I blogged. First off, I just want to say that God has worked so many miracles in our family over the past few months. I wake up daily counting many blessings and praise God for His love for us. :-)
Our sweet baby on the way is now 17 weeks, 2 days old. I've felt little one begin to move daily and it's such a joy to feel life stirring within me again. We go for our gender scan July 8th and are crossing our fingers baby will cooperate so we know if we are having a boy or a girl. I'm definitely leaning towards a little princess because of the horrible mood swings and depression that has already started up. Praise the Lord names have also been decided....Arabella Fayth or William Judah (Jude for short). And we have chosen to spell the FAITH untraditionally, with a Y because hubby's mom's middle name is Fay. :-)
We are heading towards the beach in October for a business convention my husband's work is sending him to. Currently I'm considering just taking our oldest, Noah, because I will be almost 8 months pregnant and nowhere near capable of keeping up with three at once. Please be praying that God will provide family or friends to watch Bear and Bop for us and that I will be able to leave them without getting overly upset. I hate it when our family is apart but want to make the best decision for everyone.
I hope each of you is doing well and it was nice dropping in to my blog again. Sometimes writing is what I need to lift my spirits and erase certain worries. Have a blessed day.
Here is an updated photo of our babies:
Our sweet baby on the way is now 17 weeks, 2 days old. I've felt little one begin to move daily and it's such a joy to feel life stirring within me again. We go for our gender scan July 8th and are crossing our fingers baby will cooperate so we know if we are having a boy or a girl. I'm definitely leaning towards a little princess because of the horrible mood swings and depression that has already started up. Praise the Lord names have also been decided....Arabella Fayth or William Judah (Jude for short). And we have chosen to spell the FAITH untraditionally, with a Y because hubby's mom's middle name is Fay. :-)
We are heading towards the beach in October for a business convention my husband's work is sending him to. Currently I'm considering just taking our oldest, Noah, because I will be almost 8 months pregnant and nowhere near capable of keeping up with three at once. Please be praying that God will provide family or friends to watch Bear and Bop for us and that I will be able to leave them without getting overly upset. I hate it when our family is apart but want to make the best decision for everyone.
I hope each of you is doing well and it was nice dropping in to my blog again. Sometimes writing is what I need to lift my spirits and erase certain worries. Have a blessed day.
Here is an updated photo of our babies:
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Big News
I said I would announce something exciting going on in our home...we found out we are expecting baby number 4. We have had a few issues which are worrying us but we are trying our hardest to stay positive. I woke up Wednesday morning with a little bit of light spotting so went ahead and called my OBGYN's office to set up an appointment. They saw me right away for an ultrasound but said I was measuring two weeks behind...by my last period the baby should have been around 7 weeks, 4 days. I tried explaining to both the ultrasound tech and my doctor that I was late ovulating and couldn't have conceived until March 6th. They both pretty much brushed me off like I had no clue what I was talking about.
The conversation that followed was probably one of the most heartbreaking ones I've experienced. I sat down in front of my doctor who proceeded to tell me that "you will miscarry sometime over the next week; probably before your next appointment". As you can imagine, I was devastated. I tried getting her to explain her reasoning and all she kept saying was that it was because by when my last menstrual period was, my gestational sac/baby/yolk should be measuring further along than 5 weeks. :-(
After talking it over with my awesome husband, we decided to set up an appointment with another doctor at a different practice. That visit is coming up on Tuesday and we are praying with our whole hearts that we see our precious little one and a strong heartbeat...I can't imagine the feelings I will experience if they confirm that I have/will be miscarrying this baby.
It's amazing that a child that I have never met, never heard, and not even felt move, I could have already fallen so in love with. Regardless of the outcome, God is with us through this. I had a friend send me the verse Jeremiah 29:11; " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Wow!! Talk about the promises of God!! :-)
As we enter this week facing the unknown, please be in prayer for us and this precious life God has blessed us with. Hope each of you have a wonderful week and I will try my hardest to update once I find something out on Tuesday. It really just depends on the outcome, I guess. God bless!!
The conversation that followed was probably one of the most heartbreaking ones I've experienced. I sat down in front of my doctor who proceeded to tell me that "you will miscarry sometime over the next week; probably before your next appointment". As you can imagine, I was devastated. I tried getting her to explain her reasoning and all she kept saying was that it was because by when my last menstrual period was, my gestational sac/baby/yolk should be measuring further along than 5 weeks. :-(
After talking it over with my awesome husband, we decided to set up an appointment with another doctor at a different practice. That visit is coming up on Tuesday and we are praying with our whole hearts that we see our precious little one and a strong heartbeat...I can't imagine the feelings I will experience if they confirm that I have/will be miscarrying this baby.
It's amazing that a child that I have never met, never heard, and not even felt move, I could have already fallen so in love with. Regardless of the outcome, God is with us through this. I had a friend send me the verse Jeremiah 29:11; " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Wow!! Talk about the promises of God!! :-)
As we enter this week facing the unknown, please be in prayer for us and this precious life God has blessed us with. Hope each of you have a wonderful week and I will try my hardest to update once I find something out on Tuesday. It really just depends on the outcome, I guess. God bless!!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Excitement!!!
There is definitely some exciting news in the Johnston house!! :-) I will be making the announcement this weekend so please check back in Saturday or Sunday. It's amazing the way the Lord works. This week has been filled with hurt for friends going through rough times and joy at amazing circumstances.
Currently I've been trying to get back into the routine of homeschooling the kiddos. Noah is starting to learn to read and I'm seriously shocked every time he picks up a new word. I can't believe that he just turned four but yet can read as well as any Kindergarten. I was so excited to find a new book "Homeschool Your Child for Free" by Gold and Zielinski. It is seriously filled with over a thousand links/sources to websites totally devoted to teaching children from K-12th grade. What I love most about the book is that it's broken down by subject so it's super easy to reference depending on what we are wanting to study.
Hope each of you is having a great day!! Be back soon to share our good news!
Currently I've been trying to get back into the routine of homeschooling the kiddos. Noah is starting to learn to read and I'm seriously shocked every time he picks up a new word. I can't believe that he just turned four but yet can read as well as any Kindergarten. I was so excited to find a new book "Homeschool Your Child for Free" by Gold and Zielinski. It is seriously filled with over a thousand links/sources to websites totally devoted to teaching children from K-12th grade. What I love most about the book is that it's broken down by subject so it's super easy to reference depending on what we are wanting to study.
Hope each of you is having a great day!! Be back soon to share our good news!
Monday, March 17, 2014
St. Patrick's Day
Sitting here listening to Bug and Bop chit chat with one another. Seriously...they sound like little adults lol. :-) When did they get so dang smart?
So, tomorrow is my birthday and I'm going to be 27. Do I feel older? No. Should I? Probably, lol. So many people around me complain that their kids make them feel old but am I weird for experiencing the complete opposite? They seriously make me feel young at heart, mind and soul. Praise God for that!
Since today is St. Patrick's Day I've been thinking about what I can add to my blog to "green it up". :-) I think I'm going to post some Irish quotes and sayings because they make me smile. So, here goes...
So, tomorrow is my birthday and I'm going to be 27. Do I feel older? No. Should I? Probably, lol. So many people around me complain that their kids make them feel old but am I weird for experiencing the complete opposite? They seriously make me feel young at heart, mind and soul. Praise God for that!
Since today is St. Patrick's Day I've been thinking about what I can add to my blog to "green it up". :-) I think I'm going to post some Irish quotes and sayings because they make me smile. So, here goes...
Friday, February 21, 2014
Blessings
I realized something today; I REALLY need to get back into my writing. It is such a great way for me to relieve stress and at this point in my life, I need all that I can get. I love my children more than I can put into words, but recently their attitudes are larger than life. My daughter is two going on twelve, completely diva, my oldest thinks he knows everything there is to know about the world, and Lucabear is learning that saying "no" gets attention. :-) I've been trying to decide if I would like to re enter the workforce and I"m truly at a crossroads; so many days I feel isolated from adult conversation and sometimes get jealous of my husband. I feel like he is moving up the ladder of success and I'm stuck in this circle of diaper changes, tantrums, sibling rivalry and playdate politics (yes, such a thing does exist). I'm tired and stressed and am probably experiencing burnout.
But then, there are other days when my kids are so amazing; there is so much laughter. Everyday they look at me and tell me they love me, with a sparkle in their eyes that is unbelievable. They grab my hand with their sticky, chubby fingers and I fall in love all over again. :-) It's in these moments that I realize that I am beyond blessed. God has given me the opportunity to spend my days at home with them, raising them into young men and women; I can honestly say there is no job more hard or more rewarding than that of a mother, and in my case, a stay at home Mom.
Please pray for me as I struggle to make this decision. Make it what God wants for our family, and not what my selfish self wants. Since it's been so long since I've written, I think I'll add a few new photos for my blogger friends. Hope every single one of you is having a wonderful day!! God bless!!
But then, there are other days when my kids are so amazing; there is so much laughter. Everyday they look at me and tell me they love me, with a sparkle in their eyes that is unbelievable. They grab my hand with their sticky, chubby fingers and I fall in love all over again. :-) It's in these moments that I realize that I am beyond blessed. God has given me the opportunity to spend my days at home with them, raising them into young men and women; I can honestly say there is no job more hard or more rewarding than that of a mother, and in my case, a stay at home Mom.
Please pray for me as I struggle to make this decision. Make it what God wants for our family, and not what my selfish self wants. Since it's been so long since I've written, I think I'll add a few new photos for my blogger friends. Hope every single one of you is having a wonderful day!! God bless!!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
ONE YEAR
In just TWO days, Lucas will officially celebrate his first birthday. :-) And, I get to celebrate an entire year of NOT being pregnant, lol. Earlier this week the kids and I headed outside to do a photo shoot for little man and needless to say, we had a blast. Here is a peek into our shoot:
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Enjoying peace and quiet for the first time in what feels like an eternity...and the first thought that pops into my head, "IT'S TOO QUIET!!" I'm sure you've guessed by now that the kiddos aren't here, lol. Noah and Hales are spending the night with my Mom and little Lucas is snoozing away. I already miss my babies like crazy but am thankful for this little break. And then tomorrow, Caleb's Mom is picking the kids up and watching them for the day while we go get our health screenings done. :-)
Not too much excitement has been going on around here. I did officially start preschool with Noah and Haleigh. We kicked off with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, then Dr. Seuss and this week we have focused on The Farm. :-) I try to incorporate as many fun things as I can; for example, when we did our Dr. Seuss theme, we didn't just read Green Eggs and Ham...we ATE it, lol. And yesterday I took the kids to a local produce store where they had a chance to learn about different fruits and veggies...and the greatest part is everything was grown just a few miles from there.
Lucas will officially turn ONE in a month and five days and I'm like "Where did the time go?!?" That little man has stolen my heart and I fall more in love with him every single day. I sometimes marvel at the ability the heart has to grow and grow to accommodate so much love. I couldn't thank God enough for my beautiful family; an amazing hubby and three precious kids.
I'm hoping to start a new bible study today so I'm going to go and do that before Lucas wakes up. Hope each of you is having an amazing Thursday.
Not too much excitement has been going on around here. I did officially start preschool with Noah and Haleigh. We kicked off with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, then Dr. Seuss and this week we have focused on The Farm. :-) I try to incorporate as many fun things as I can; for example, when we did our Dr. Seuss theme, we didn't just read Green Eggs and Ham...we ATE it, lol. And yesterday I took the kids to a local produce store where they had a chance to learn about different fruits and veggies...and the greatest part is everything was grown just a few miles from there.
Lucas will officially turn ONE in a month and five days and I'm like "Where did the time go?!?" That little man has stolen my heart and I fall more in love with him every single day. I sometimes marvel at the ability the heart has to grow and grow to accommodate so much love. I couldn't thank God enough for my beautiful family; an amazing hubby and three precious kids.
I'm hoping to start a new bible study today so I'm going to go and do that before Lucas wakes up. Hope each of you is having an amazing Thursday.
Monday, August 26, 2013
This and That
Today is the first day in over two weeks that all the kids have taken a nap at the same time. I was pretty shocked when Noah picked up his blankets and headed towards the bedroom; guess we wore him out this weekend. I'm just thankful to have a little downtime because I woke up with a horrible migraine, which thankfully, felt a little better after taking some medicine.
Not too much has happened around here recently. We did find out that my Hubby has a week long business trip coming up in October. The positive side to this is that I am able to tag along. I think we will take Noah and Hales too, since they can really enjoy the beach. Poor Lucas just tries to eat the sand and I'm not sure I can keep up with all three of them while Hubby is attending business meetings during the day. We are blessed with great friends who have volunteered to watch Lucas, though, so VERY thankful for that.
Well, my break was short lived...my little Noah Bug just walked downstairs, awake from his nap. :-) Hope all of you has a blessed day!!
Not too much has happened around here recently. We did find out that my Hubby has a week long business trip coming up in October. The positive side to this is that I am able to tag along. I think we will take Noah and Hales too, since they can really enjoy the beach. Poor Lucas just tries to eat the sand and I'm not sure I can keep up with all three of them while Hubby is attending business meetings during the day. We are blessed with great friends who have volunteered to watch Lucas, though, so VERY thankful for that.
Well, my break was short lived...my little Noah Bug just walked downstairs, awake from his nap. :-) Hope all of you has a blessed day!!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Living Lighter
I spent my morning going through all my clothes and ridding myself of anything I haven't worn in a year or more. I have a habit of holding onto everything...especially clothes. But I feel surprisingly "lighter". Like a weight has been lifted and I can enjoy all the extra space that I now have in my closet. The challenge will be getting my Hubby to agree to do the same, lol. He is just as bad as I am about not wanting to part with anything.
I feel like I've finally got my photography business up and going the way I have always dreamed about. In the next week, I have THREE photo shoots and am praying for more bookings to follow. I truly feel this is the direction God is leading me...to be a stay at home Mom AND pursue my dreams of photography. God is so good and I know that He will guide me regardless of the plans in store. For anyone in need of photos, please visit my website www.photographybyraquel.blogspot.com when you get a chance.
I feel like I've finally got my photography business up and going the way I have always dreamed about. In the next week, I have THREE photo shoots and am praying for more bookings to follow. I truly feel this is the direction God is leading me...to be a stay at home Mom AND pursue my dreams of photography. God is so good and I know that He will guide me regardless of the plans in store. For anyone in need of photos, please visit my website www.photographybyraquel.blogspot.com when you get a chance.
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