Good News, Bad News

We had a message from Dr. Devenyi's office when we got home that we were to call for Joshua's biopsy results. Great news! His esophagus shows no inflammation. So, the diagnosis of reflux was accurate and we don't have to worry about allergies. We're now supposed to reduce his medication intake to once a day (before breakfast) to see how that goes. I'm hoping he grows out of this completely!

Now for the bad news. We also had a message from the recreation department that our 'Musik for Tots' class was cancelled due to lack of interest. We had signed up for this 5-week program designed for 1-4 year olds and their parents to explore different instruments and music, etc. I thought it would be fun to do something like that with Joshua, especially since he seems to enjoy music. So, we were a little bummed. They offer the course from time to time, so hopefully we can take it in the future.

Speaking of music, Nonie & Poppy brought some toys into the hospital from their house that Joshua enjoys playing with. The one is a farm that makes all these animal sounds and plays five different melodies. Joshua's skips right through "Old McDonald Had a Farm," "BINGO" and a few others that I can't remember offhand to get to the song "Hooray for the Red, White & Blue!" It's soooo cute and interesting that he likes that song so much better than the others. He also clutched Waddles the Duck (one of my personal favorites) who plays children singing the song "Singin' in the Rain" anytime that anything yucky was happening to him like medication or breathing treatments. The Bean started saying "quack, quack, quack" pretty clearly. Notice his pink pants in the picture below. Daddy didn't even want to put on these pants because of the color, but that's what the hospital had.

Dr. Hanna always made a fishy face when she was listening to Joshua's breathing. He usually isn't a big fan of the stethescope, but he loved her fishy lips and crossed eyes. He then would try to mimick the face just moving his little lips back and forth. It was so cute. He also will stick out his tongue at you if you do it first, which I think is adorable. He knows where his belly is and his nose and now his tongue, too.

When Joshua was feeling a little better, he was restless and wanted to play a bit more. So, Daddy put him in the crib and they tossed a ball back and forth. That gave me time to call Grandpa Georgia and give him an update on Joshua's condition. Since they were playing nicely, Daddy decided to take pictures with the camera he brought along. Right then, Joshua lunged over at all the equipment near the wall and pushed the emergency call button. Our room flooded with 40+ nurses. "Uh oh!" Joshua said. We said, "Noooooo!!!!!" Too late.

The more steroid treatments Joshua received for his lungs, the more violent he became. The nurse explained that this medicine affects children's temperament, and she was not kidding! He would thrash and hit and pinch and bite...I've never seen him so mad and so aggressive. When he would start getting out of control, I put him down in the crib since I was starting to get bruised. Several times, he threw his head into the metal bars and came out with quite the goose egg. He would eventually calm down, but it took some time. He seems to be much happier now that we're home, but I'm praying this isn't the start of any such behavior. Here's a picture of him as we're about to leave the hospital to come home.

I just jumped a mile. Joshua is in his crib napping and one of his toys sounded, "TEN DUCKS! QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!" It scared the bejeebees out of me. No one there. Why is it that every toy he likes makes sounds? :) :) :)

Well, I should get back to work. While I'd LOVE a nap, I'm way behind on projects. I'll keep you updated on how he's doing. So far, he seems to be okay but still breathing laborously. I'm anxious to hear what the doctors say about him Thursday. Please pray this cold or virus goes away!

There's No Place Like Home!

Joshua didn't need any oxygen last night. His levels dipped low, but he was able to recover himself when we moved him. According to the resident doctor, that's a good enough sign that he'll be able to 'rescue' himself. She said that we all go through times where we lay weird or have a cough where our blood oxygen level will dip and then we move and self-correct the problem. It's only harmful when this state lasts a longer period of time and we can't bring ourselves out of it. So, this morning Joshua was released to go home. He's done with the antibiotics and steroids (thank God, since he doesn't take medication well for us) and now we just have to keep up with his breathing treatments and a daily preventative treatment for his lungs.

According to the doctor, this probably started as a virus or cold of some type that flared up his lungs. He is now officially classified as asthmatic. The surgery he had did not help or harm his condition, most likely, just as Dr. Devenyi thought. It was just coincidence or 'bad timing.'

Please continue to pray for Joshua. He's still coughing and the doctors & nurses can still hear the "junk" from the cold, but he's no longer considered in a dangerous spot. Please pray that I'll be able to sleep at night and not wonder if he's breathing okay - I know I have to leave him in God's capable hands. I really haven't slept well since Thursday night and am fighting off a cold myself. Also pray that Joshua grows out of this asthma and that his lungs grow stronger and stronger. I've never been so terrified for him...

I'll post pictures from the hospital once we have a chance to download them. Now as he naps, I really must catch up on school & work, etc.

Another night

I'm back to shower again, so I thought I would quickly post an update. Joshua is still receiving breathing treatments and needs oxygen when he sleeps because his blood oxygen level dips below 90% (and 100% is considered normal, whereas 90% or less keeps you hospitalized). The steroids are making him very aggitated and aggressive, which is also scary to see. But, there's nothing worse than seeing he monitor flash red & beep because he's in the dangerous zone. I'm grateful that he's there when he can be monitored, but I'm also anxious for him to feel 100% better and come home.

Joshua's in the Hospital

I can't write much...I'm home to quickly shower and brush my teeth. Joshua wasn't breathing well yesterday and they immediately sent us to the hospital. Please pray that the Bean recovers quickly and gets to come home tomorrow!

Feverish

Poor little Joshua has been running a consistent fever of 101 degrees. His nose is running, and he's absolutely miserable, which is really unlike him. Last night we called the surgeon because they told us to call if his fever was over 100. But, he said the procedure went really well and he thinks the fever is the sign of a cold. A nurse from the surgical center called and said if he isn't feeling better by this afternoon, try to get him into the pediatrician. Ugh! Please pray for our Bean!

I wish I would have taken my camera with us yesterday. They had us change him into a hospital gown, and he looked SOOOO cute!!! Shawn and I giggled at his little legs sticking out of the gown and all the nurses oohed and awwed at how precious he looked. They gave him some sort of medicine to put him out before they did the actual anaesthesia. As it was taking effect, we pulled him around in this little red wagon with a little pillow and his favorite blue blanket. He was so calm and relaxed, he started to drool a little and kept quietly babbling 'la, blah, ra, la.' It was so precious...then they wheeled him away in the same wagon.

I haven't seen him that relaxed since. He's been a momma's boy yesterday and today. Normally he loves playing with Daddy and goes to him first, but not recently. He wants to be held and cuddled by me only. Poor little one! I love to cuddle him, but I wish he felt better. :( Please pray that whatever this is goes away!

What's in a Name?

Yesterday, I asked Joshua for his opinion on what we should name his little brother. His response? "Doh doh!"

Ummm... I don't think your brother would appreciate that name when he got older, so I think we'll keep looking. Thanks for the input, though!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Good!

We hope you have a great day and a super year! We're looking forward to seeing you on Friday night!

Baby Good at Week 20 Gestation

Fetal Development:
We're halfway through the pregnancy, and the baby has as much sleep and awake time as a newborn. The scalp hair begins to grow.

Maternal Changes:
Your uterus is at your navel now. You may experience some tenderness as your belly button becomes an "outtie" from the uterus pressing on it. You're probably feeling the baby frequently now as the movements become stronger. If you're having an ultrasound to verify fetal age, it will probably be scheduled around this time. It's a good time to look into childbirth classes.
Hey! You're halfway there already!

Inspirational Thoughts:
"Don't be discouraged if your children reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own offspring." ~Oscar Wilde

Out of Surgery & Sleeping

We took Joshua in this morning and asked them about whether or not it was safe to do the procedure with his schnarkiness. They felt he was okay, so we went ahead with it. But, they did have to give him a breathing treatment in the middle, they told us. He's sleeping off the rest of the medicine now and will hopefully wake up a much happier camper than he has been. Please pray that he feels better! Dr. Devenyi said his esophagus looks great, there's no hiatal hernia at all, and depending on the lab results we may go ahead and wait to come back to see him for three months. If everything looks super, we may also decrease his medicine intake, but again, we'll see what the biopsy results show from the lab.

Please Pray for Joshua

I have so much to post about our weekend with Grandma and Shawn's trip to Florida, but it will have to wait for another day. In the meantime, please pray for the Bean. He's scheduled to have his surgery tomorrow; however, today he was VERY cuddly and seemed to be running a slight fever and was schnarky again. Oh, my sweet boy! Why are you always sick? Please pray that he's healed completely before tomorrow morning. If not, we might have to postpone again. Unfortunately, there was no one there to call today to ask about rescheduling, so we'll go in first thing in the morning and have them assess his condition. If they feel his body is up for the surgery, we'll probably go ahead. (After all, could this be teeth coming in? He's got two more new ones from the last time I posted about his pearly whites...)

Please also pray that if they do decide to do surgery, that everything goes well, that the surgeon is able to get concrete answers this time, that Joshua is not in pain and recovers quickly, and that everyone who works on him would have accurate and loving hands...may God be with him and hold him when Shawn & I can't be in there.

What a Croc!

After reading my friend Julie's post about her son Jude not wanting to take off his Crocs, even for bed, I decided I should try some out for Joshua. He's not a big fan of getting shoes on, and if we can find something he loves on his feet, I'm in! My nieces also love these "new" shoes (Shawn said the trend is ooold, but what can I say? I'm a late adopter!) So, this weekend while we were at Costco looking at other things, Mom bought a pair of green Crocs for Joshua. Can't wait to try them out! Thanks, Grandma!

Then, when Kristen responded to Julie's post about Crocs, she said that it's not just Elliott (her son) who likes those shoes - she loves them too. She commented that they were the most comfortable shoes to wear and she's worn them for walking in Disneyland and all sorts of places. Everyone I've talked to seems to agree (Mom noticed that even nurses wear them). And since my pregnant feet felt like they needed some pampering, I decided to buy a pair for myself. The ones at Costco didn't feel right on my feet because they came in two sizes together (like 6/7, 8/9, 10/11). One pair felt a little snug while the next felt a little too big. I was disappointed but thought I might find more of a selection at the stand at the mall. While the Crocs there were much more expensive, the salesperson was really helpful, and I found a pair of Mary Jane Crocs that fit me nicely that were in whole sizes (I normally wear a half size) instead of two sizes together. Although I was enthralled by all the colors offered, I decided to play it safe with brown ones until I see if I really like them. I'm anxious to wear them and see what I think. I must admit that I still think Crocs are on the ugly side; however, what I think is a beautiful shoe (something like a leopard skin pump with a 3" heel and pointy toe) will not be going anywhere near my feet until I'm done carrying small kiddos on my hip. :) For now, anything that feels good is the way to go!

Playing at the Mall

Today we met Julie & Jude at the mall (sorry you weren't feeling up to it, Kristen & Elliott!). The boys had a great time playing in the playground, and then we moved on to the motorized toys.

Jude rode the motorcycle, and Joshua played in the car that didn't work (doh!). Then they rode in a car for two, and both seemed to highly enjoy it.

When Jude climbed into the bus and I put Joshua into the seat behind him, though, Joshua was TERRIFIED when the ride started to go. He was shaking all over, lip quivering and crying out loud. Poor Bean!

We went back to the car he enjoyed, but he had had enough riding. We decided it was time for lunch and Joshua & I got sandwiches from Subway while Julie got lunch for her and Jude. We met back in the middle to eat and enjoy each other's company. The boys were both picky eaters but were well behaved. We had a great time, and it was so fun to get out with friends!

Julie's husband Dan came at the very end since she just had a preeclampsia test that she had to drop off at Women's & Babies Hospital. We should be getting to meet her daughter very soon!

Joshua's Going to Have a....

BROTHER!!!!

The arrow is pointing to the proof that this is definitely a boy!

In fact, the day before, Joshua started saying baby. Then he said something that sounded close to "bro-der" and later "bah ba-by." I asked him, "Joshua, are you trying to tell me something or is God?" Sure enough, he was right! When we got to the ultrasound, the technician asked if we wanted to know gender. Well, I could already see it clear as day on the screen. There were two arms and two legs spread wide open...

This is the baby's profile. The bright white on the bottom is the back of our little boy's skull, and you can see the ear on the side and his nose and lips on the top. His head is much bigger than his body, and you can see a food at the very top of the picture.

Dr. Bayliss said the baby wasn't cooperating, so they were having a hard time checking out the heart and lungs in depth. So far, everything looks good and normal. But, it was too hard to tell for sure because the baby was hiding behind my belly button and then would only show his spine or open legs and not the abdomen that they were concerned with. So, we go back on March 20 to confirm that our baby boy is 100% healthy.

This is our baby's face in 3-D. You can see his chin start just above the black circle in the middle, his little mouth is open above that, you can tell the nose and eyes and forehead.

The pictures we got are a little too detailed, if you ask me. The baby's face looks like cottage cheese and Dr. Bayliss said he looks like the Terminator. So, we laughed that we're having T2. I've never seen the movie and didn't know what that looked like, but I looked up a picture on the Internet last night. That is what an ultrasound basically looks like. The picture on the left is looking at the baby's face like you would "normally" see it (i.e. vertical). You can see the outline of the head, the eye holes and the nose and chin bone.

Here's the baby's face again via a "normal" ultrasound image.

While we would have been thrilled to have a girl, too, we're excited to give Joshua a brother to play with and bond with. Everything we have is blue - the nursery is yellow & blue, our stroller is blue, all our clothes and blankets are blue, etc. Not that it makes a big difference, but it will be nice to not have to buy anything new. And, I can picture these two boys being pals and hanging out together playing sports (or whatever they'll do), and I think it will be nice for both of them. Dr. Bayliss warned Joshua that his little brother might be bigger than him at 16 or 17 so he should whoop him good at 12. We laughed. Welcome, little one! We'll have to narrow down your name now!

My Husband is Amazing...and then some

Shawn came home around lunchtime so he could join me and the Bean in heading to Dr. Bayliss' office for our ultrasound. He walked in the door carrying a beautiful bouquet of red roses...what a man! We went to the ultrasound (more on that to come) and then he bought me ice cream to celebrate. When Joshua napped, so did we and then we went out to dinner. Since we had Joshua,, we thought 'Friendly's!' It's not romantic, but it's very kid-friendly and that's as much romance as we can get. Well, everyone else in Lancaster County had the same idea. We were there for two hours, but it was great spending time with my two lovebugs. Joshua wore his "I love (with a heart) mom" shirt all day and an "I love daddy" bib. While we were at dinner, a little girl came running over to our table, dropped off a tiny little Valentine between Joshua & Shawn and literally RAN the other way. We laughed and laughed. Joshua's already getting the girls, and he's not even 17 months old yet!

When we got home, I helped Shawn pack and think of anything he would need last minute and he started downloading a movie from Amazon to watch on our TiVo. While our tradition for the past eight years has been to watch a horror movie on Valentine's Day, we were just too tired. We ended up watching a quick TV program to unwind after Joshua was in bed and then we nodded off ourselves. It was still a wonderful day to be in love... Shawn is an amazing husband and father, and I love him very, very much.

Kitchen Transformation

Thursday our kitchen started being torn out. We have cabinets in our living room, dining room and kitchen, appliances on our sun porch and even a sink in our front yard. Oh, the joys of remodeling! The dust (and other things) that were found under the cabinets were DISGUSTING, and I think I'm literally high from the glue (?) that they're using for the countertop. But, I'm anxious to see the finished product. Hooray!

Cold & Cleaning

This morning I took Joshua's laundry downstairs and started to wash it. Then I decided to finish cleaning out the last of our small things from the kitchen, just in case they start tomorrow, which the contractor said might be a distinct possibility. Joshua & I ate breakfast together afterward, and he wanted to sit at the table with me. He didn't fall off, scoot around to get down, or act wild. He seemed to really enjoy being at the big people table, so I think it's time to hook up our 'to-go' booster seat at our table and leave the high chair for our next little one.


Afterward, I decided to continue on my roll and started cleaning. I did all our laundry, cleaned all three bathrooms including wiping down the walls in the master bathroom shower and scrubbing the family bathtub, wiping the walls in the bathrooms and the sinks and mirrors, sweeping the floors in the bathrooms and the kitchen and dining room and living room, dusting the family room and living room and our bedroom, picking up toys in the playroom and familiy room, etc. I'm exhausted now and still feel like I should vaccuum, but I think I'll take a break. Shawn told me to "knock it off" since he's worried that I'll do too much with the baby. I told him that I just felt like it today...I can't bake right now which is my normal 'nesting' activity when it's yucky outside, so cleaning was a second best.


Joshua helped with the laundry (he LOVES peaking in the dryer and throwing socks onto the laundry room floor), stomped through my dirt pile in the kitchen, and helped me throw toys in his bin (sometimes taking them out rather than putting them in). The scrubbing waited until he was napping. As tired as I feel now, I'm so glad that classes at Millersville were cancelled for this evening. Hooray!!! It's still raining out and I'm sure they're concerned about the roads freezing later tonight. Hopefully I'll get a second wind later and can pack our stuff for this weekend. If not, there's always tomorrow.

Stinkin' Dark

Yesterday it began to flurry...then it began to snow...then it began to rain...then it began to freeze with ice everywhere. It was beautiful, and it's quite wonderful that I no longer have to travel out in it. Joshua and I watched with interest from inside as the ice pelted down. Then last night just before his bedtime (thank God Shawn had already changed him into his PJ's when he needed a fresh diaper), our electricity went out. It was STINKIN' DARK (as Grandma Ginder would say). Joshua cried out because even though he was less than two feet from us, he couldn't see us. Shawn picked him up while I helped dig out our flashlight, candles and lighter. We looked outside and the entire neighborhood was dark. So, we lit a million candles, and I grabbed the cell phone to call mom and make sure she had power and was okay. She was, so we decided to put Joshua to bed, who in the meantime had grabbed the flashlight and was waving it around and laughing about it. That is, until he'd accidentally shine it right into his own eyes, which royally aggravated him. Silly Bean! We took the light and put him in his crib and then chatted in our room with the candlelight until the lights came back on an hour later. Joshua was already asleep, so we set our alarm clocks, set the cell phone alarm clock "in case" and kept it by the bed, blew out all the candles and decided to call it a night.

Baby Good at Week 19

Fetal Development:
Along with the lanugo, vernix caseosa forms on your baby's skin. Vernix is a white cheesy substance that protects your baby's skin from its aquatic environment ~ imagine how your skin would look if you sat in water for nine months! The placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. (Vernix is what really made me gag thinking of this stuff on the baby's skin, that eventually the baby ends up eating...YUCK!!!)

Maternal Changes:
You may be noticing several skin changes. These are hormone-related and will disappear after delivery. You may have the "mask of pregnancy" - blotchy patches on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Itchy skin is also very common. Your skin may be dry and flaky in certain areas and many pregnant women develop rashes, particularly on the stretched skin. You can't prevent stretch marks but lotions or oil can ease the dryness and itching. Drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet will go a long way in reducing dryness.

Tomorrow's the Day!
Pretty in pink, beautiful in blue
We'll find out tomorrow, that much is true!

God's Little Boy is...Obedient

God teaches children that they should obey

The rules set by others and do what they say.

And God's little boy makes no exceptions -

He always minds and follows directions.

The son who obeys what he has been taught shows he is smart.

Proverbs 28:7

Dear God, please teach Joshua obedience. I think it is a lesson we all are continuously learning, but I pray that you would give us grace when we fall short and help us to be quick to follow your directions and obey your commands. Thank you for teaching us the way to walk and behave through your Word. I pray that Joshua would show that he is smart by being an obedient child and adult. We thank you for him and for teaching him and guiding us as parents. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!

Monday

Last night into this morning, I've had an awful headache. I think it's sinus pressure or something - ugh! It's starting to feel a little better as the day wears on. This morning I looked into Joshua's mouth and saw SEVERAL new teeth appearing. He has a new one that's poked through on the bottom and right next to it his gums are so swollen but I can see the tiniest tip of yet another tooth. On the other side, I see the white of the teeth but it doesn't look like they're quite through yet. That top tooth is really coming down, and I see the white of the other teeth around it. It seems weird to me that he's getting the new ones all at once when the other teeth he got was more of a process. So, I think he'll be grumpy for a little bit (all those teeth at once has to hurt) but then we should be good for awhile! Hooray for the Bean!When we were playing this morning, I asked him where his ears were. He grabbed my ears instead, but at least he grabbed ears! He also knows where his nose is, but doesn't point to his eyes yet. One day at a time, right? Joshua also likes "big people" toys. I think we could take away most of his toys and he would be content to play with ours. From lids to pots & pans to remote controls and cameras...anything of ours he can grab (a broom and a plunger included!), he seems to enjoy. He's been carrying around tax and antivirus software cases for the past several days, and this morning he picked up my checkbook and pen of the desk and was happy as a clam. Oh, Bean!Now I should finish blogging because I really must prepare for class tonight. Have a super day!

Sunday

Sunday morning, Daddy left early since he was on the A/V team. Joshua & I got ready and met him there. The Bean kept crawling onto the bench seat to smile at the pretty gal who was sitting behind us. I think he's intrigued by curly hair, and he kept waving & grinning at her and she was kind enough to smile back. We took him down to the nursery after worship, and he did well again the entire time! Hooray! Shawn & I listened to the sermon together, and I kept waiting for our number to show up, but it never did. The sermon was good on God not being an event-oriented God but more one concerned with the process...so we're not to give up. That was the second sermon I had heard that day. As we were getting ready in the morning and driving to church, I heard the LCBC sermon broadcasted over WJTL about Christianity being simple...it's all about Jesus. We make it about so many other things, but in the end, it's not who we are or what we did, it's about what Jesus did for us. A simple message of truth that never gets old. I highly enjoyed it.

After we got home, Grandma & Grandpa Ginder and Aunt Erica came over for lunch. They brought with them fresh fruit from Florida and I was in heaven! The strawberries, canteloupe and oranges simply melted in your mouth...soooo good and refreshing. We've been steadily devouring them. They also came bearing gifts for Joshua from Disney (thanks so much!). Then they played with Joshua's new soft blocks before heading back to Morris one last time. It's weird to think we won't see them again until we have another child in our arms (well...Shawn will see them at their house this weekend, but Joshua & I won't...).

It was soooo windy and so cold yesterday - a definite change from the weather earlier this week. It sounds like the Ginder fam had quite the car ride home, too, with ice and snow and slow traffic. Ugh! I'm sure they won't miss this in Florida!

Saturday

Saturday morning, we met Nonie at the Turkey Hill in Ephrata and handed her the Bean, who spent the day in Reading with her, Poppy & Jordon. Meanwhile, Shawn & I worked strenuously at emptying all our kitchen cabinets and drawers. Some of the boxes went into the garage while others went into the cupboards in our laundry room. We left very few things out for this week (but we made sure we could have easy access to our supplies if we really needed anything) in preparation for our new kitchen. The contractors are supposed to start gutting our old cabinets on Presidents' Day, so this was our last weekend to work since Shawn's helping Grandma & Grandpa Ginder move to Florida this weekend. All I can say is that I had no idea we had this much stuff!!! I'm not even a gourmet chef, and I have more gadets & utensils, pots & pans, and dishes than most restaurants need! :) :) :) We got it all done, though, and I'm anxious for our new kitchen to arrive.

After we were finished, we talked about starting to put the closet organizer in what will be Joshua's new room, but we were both beat. So instead we headed to Barnes & Nobles, a place we used to love visiting and don't get to go to anymore since we feel it's too quiet of an atmosphere for Joshua. We sat down with our drinks and five baby name books each, looking up middle names for girls and boys names. We now have a short list that we agreed on for each, and we're anxious to find out what we'll have - on Valentine's Day we'll know!

We headed up to Berks County and ate a delicious dinner with Nonie & Poppy, including a pork roast, potato & cheese soufflé, green beans, soft bread, pear salad and brownies for dessert. We hung out with them and chatted while the boys continued to play until about 8:30 when we decided to call it a night. Thanks for watching Joshua & inviting us over for dinner! We had a great time!

Friday

I got a call from Mom Friday morning asking if I'd like to do lunch with her. Hmmm...when have I ever turned down good food and great company? So, I said ABSOLUTELY! My sister Jen was kind enough to let Joshua eat and play with her over lunchtime so I didn't have to worry about him in the busy restaurant. I enjoyed seeing Mom for lunch and then played with Jen's kiddos some before we left (they wore me out!). Friday night, Shawn called on his way home from work and told me to be ready with Joshua. You got it! We went for quick shopping trip, ate dinner at a a new pizza shop over on Lititz Pike, and then headed to Brian & Gayle's house to meet Jenavieve. We had a nice visit and stayed a little over an hour. She has the tiniest little body and head but long fingers and toes...so cute! Joshua was VERY interested in seeing his new cousin, and he stood right next to whoever was holding her. He didn't ever try to touch her, but he was intrigued by her sounds and this small bundle that was being passed around. It was precious. Joshua also loved seeing Grant and giggled with him. I completely forgot to take my camera - DOH!

We've got ourselves a singer...

I was singing to Joshua this afternoon as we rocked before his nap. I sang "Put your head on my shoulder...put your cheek to mine, ba-by...do, do, do, do" and Joshua quietly sang "do, do, do, do"...IN KEY!!! I thought I couldn't have heard him right, so I continued to sing and each time we got to that part, he would sing it again. Tonight I tried to snuggle him a little after dinner (he was NOT tired then) but he did sing it once for Daddy. Soooo cute!

Sometimes a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

A New Random Tooth?

Joshua's gums have looked a little swollen to me lately like he's getting new teeth...I can even see a little white around his other eight teeth, but I still haven't seen or felt his molars come in. Yesterday we were playing, and I decided that maybe I wouldn't get bit if I tried to see if they were back there. While I didn't feel them, I can feel and see that he has a new tooth on his top right side about half way back that's through. All his other teeth started with the bottom, but there's a tooth out now for sure in that random spot. Poor Bean getting teeth on top of his sickness! But, it's also exciting...soon he'll be able to chew!

Baby Good at 18 Weeks

Fetal Development:
Our little one is nearly half a pound now and very human looking. Pads are forming on the fingertips and toes, and the eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head. Meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is accumulating within the bowel. If your baby is a boy, his prostate gland is beginning to develop.
If you notice your belly making jerky movements in sync, don't panic; your baby may have the hiccups!

Maternal Changes:
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint are normal during pregnancy. These symptoms aren't harmful unless they occur frequently or severely. "Postural hypotension" is low blood pressure due to a change in position and happens frequently in pregnancy because your cardiovascular system doesn't react as fast.

Your uterus is just below your belly button now.

If you're having an ultrasound to verify fetal age or for other reasons, your careprovider will probably schedule it between now and 20 weeks. It's often possible to determine your baby's sex at this stage, and you'll be able to tell arms from legs and all sorts of delightful details!

Ideas for Dad:
Are you a "Mr. Fix-It" kind of guy? It's common for dads to feel very protective of moms. Often, Mom will need a big shoulder to cry on and get out all of those crazy pregnancy emotions. Dad can feel rather helpless listening to Mom carry on, and in his frustration, try to do what he can to "fix" whatever she's grumbling about. Dad, relax. Nine times out of ten, Mom just needs to vent and really doesn't expect you to act upon her complaints. As hard as it may be for you, just LISTEN! Give her your undivided attention. This is the best gift you can give to Mom.

Inspirational Thoughts:
"If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much." ~Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

God's Little Boy is...Hard Working

A fool sits around and dreams of plenty,

Failing to rise and work intently.

But a wise little boy works hard and long,

Doing his chores while he hums a song.

The person who works his land will have plenty of food.

But the one who chases useless dreams isn't wise.

Proverbs 12:11

Dear Lord, we ask that you would give Joshua your spirit of being hardworking. We pray that he would not be lazy, but you would give him a fervor for doing good, being available and willing to work, and we ask that you would give him favor in whatever he sets out to do. May he be the type of person that you can count on to 'get the job done,' be there on time, work efficiently, not call off without a good reason and be respected in his career choices and whatever work he needs to do for his family someday. Help us, also, Lord to work hard and be joyful in the process. We love you and praise you. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

I've Survived!

I've made it several hours without throwing up, so I'd say I'm on the mend. Daddy came home half a day to take over for me, allowing me some much-needed rest. We also deposited the check from selling our first ever rental property, and since we were up that way we decided to stop at the JCPenny's Outlet. I had HUGE success in finding maternity clothes and at great prices. Jeans were only $10, so I bought two pairs. And, I found some t-shirts and other things that will get me through until the baby's born (hopefully), all for under $10. I had also won an eBay auction, where I bought several sweaters and dressier shirts and a pair of khakis. So, without spending a lot of money, I think my wardrobe is pretty well stocked for the next few months. Praise God! It definitely lifted my spirits from feeling so blah. We were in and out in 20 minutes, which was about how long I felt like I could stand up and not pass out. All the women in the store oohed and aahed at how adorable Joshua is, and he was hamming it up (I think he now understands the attention a little more.) Please pray that everything is okay with the baby and that we all feel better soon...

A funny moment from today (everyday has to have at least one thing that cracks you up, right?). Shawn & I were on the road and he pulled into Starbucks to get me my favorite Chai (which was a little spicy, so it's now in the fridge). After hearing, "Can I help you?" he started ordering his Java Chip Lite Frap and a voice came back saying, "Shawn, can you please come here and make me a drink?" We both stopped, stunned. The voice came back saying, "Is that everything?" and he ordered the Chai. When we got up to the window, the gal apologized and said her co-worker forgot to turn off her headset. We were cracking up, and he explained his name was Shawn, so it was that much more funny.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Ginder!

Happy Birthday, Grandma! We hope you have a super-duper great day, and we have a special gift waiting for you when you're up from Florida!

Welcome to the Family, Jenavieve!

Brian called last night to tell us that Gayle just gave birth to a little baby girl, Jenavieve Ann. We would love to go meet her and see the family, but I don't want to risk getting anyone sick. Our thoughts & prayers are with ya'll! Can't wait to meet the newest addition! Here's a picture of Aunt Missy holding her newest niece, "borrowed" from the Ginder website. :)

Diagnosis Bean

Last night Shawn took Joshua to the doctor's because I was too weak to go. Joshua was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and viral infection. He also lost over a pound since he was in two weeks ago, and they want us to make sure he stays hydrated. The doctor showed Shawn where Joshua's glands are super swollen and sticking out of his neck. Poor Bean! The doctor did say that he should be back to himself within a week since he's already been sick for one week. Please pray that he's completely healed up ASAP! I hate to see a sick little buddy!

Too Sick for Superbowl, Too Sick for School, Too Sick for Surgery

Unfortunately, Joshua started throwing up yesterday morning. I believe our "cold" might actually be the flu, which I've gotten emails from MU that they've seen over 100 cases of within the past week or two. So, I stayed home and cuddled a schnarky, sick Bean while Daddy went with friends to see the Superbowl. Since we were warned that Joshua can't be sick at all (no chest cold, no vomitting, no diarrhea) for his surgery, we decided that it was better to postpone it rather than take the chance of going in tomorrow morning just to be sent home. The nurse I spoke with this morning agreed. His new surgery date is Tuesday, February 19.

This morning I woke up and began vomitting. Ugh!!!! I haven't been able to keep a thing down, and I feel so woosy and awful. I hate calling in sick to work, but there's no way I could drive to MU tonight let alone teach for three hours straight. The department chair is also out sick - it really is going around.

Please pray for us - Joshua has a doctor's appointment tonight to check him out and make sure he's okay and I figured I'd give it a day or two before calling a doctor for me. I just need to find a way to stay hydrated since everything I've drank has come back up... well, I must go lay down now that Daddy is finally home to take care of our little one...