Life and Death

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satsifying life." John 10:10

My heart feels heavy. Jeremy called me earlier with some really sad news. Jeremy's parents neighbor (who Jeremy and I have said hi to many times, had a barbeque with a couple years back) killed himself tonight in his backyard. He lived right next to Jeremy's parents. His name was Bruce and he was always so nice and friendly....he was a private person but when we did see him he was always so nice...the kind of neighbor anyone would like to have.

I did not know Bruce well....not even well enough to tell you his age (I think maybe in his 40's?) or his last name....but my heart is just aching that he is gone and all because the devil whispered lies to him and told him his life was not worth living anymore. He lost his job a few months back and that was very difficult for him, and I know many are in the same boat right now. He wasn't married but has been dating a nice lady for the past few years....he was always working in the yard and was just a likable guy. It makes me so sad that he didn't know the Lord (as far as we know) and that he never came to understand and know how much God loved him....that Jesus died for him...that Bruce was His child.

God put my in-laws next door to Bruce for a reason. My FIL has had the opportunity to witness to him and even this past Memorial Day he felt to go over and pray with Bruce so He did....He could tell something wasn't right and that Bruce wasn't himself but of course didn't know this would be the outcome. Please be praying for Bruce's loved ones. His girlfriend who found him I'm sure is just a mess and the police and her were on their way over to Bruce's parents house to tell them the news earlier...I just found out that Bruce's sister died last year also. They all need Jesus and I pray that through this horrible tragedy that was not the will of God but rather a work of the devil that his family and girlfriend can come to know Jesus and His love if they don't know Him already.

Here I am about to have a baby...the miracle of life...such a gift from God....and there are so many people hurting and lost in this world who feel they have no reason to live anymore. It just makes you really sit and think about life...and what's important ya know? God. Family. Friends. Our spouse. Our kids. Health. Life. I don't want to have any bitterness, unforgiveness or judgement in my heart towards anyone. I don't ever want to go to bed angry or upset at Jeremy or without smothering Ethan with kisses even if it was a frustrating and hard day. I want those I love to know how much I love them. Life is short and we consume our lives sometimes with things that don't matter....selfishness sums it up I think! Jesus is all that matters and He's all that we need in this world. We need Jesus so desperately in our lives and I want to be used by Him every day in every way I can....I want to make a difference ya know?

We've all been through different things in our lives....ups and downs...good times and bad times....but no matter where we've been there is one person who never changes...never fails us...never leaves us....and that's Jesus. He's so faithful....more faithful than the morning sun.

I don't know whose reading this, where you're at in your life or if you know Jesus as your best friend or not but I encourage you to reach out to Him today if you don't know Him because He loves you more than anyone else in this life ever could and He wants to have a personal relationship with you. In the Bible it says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. What an amazing promise we have in God....all we have to do is call out to Him, ask Him to forgive us of our sins and that we choose Him in our life and want to love Him and know Him and accept Him into our heart.

Jesus paid it all.....all to Him I owe....sin had left a crimson stain....but he washed it white as snow.

Thank you Jesus for washing away all my sin and shame. I love you and am so thankful to be Yours.

Keri

Dr Appt - 39 Weeks

First off, my midwife is officially back in Michigan! Praise God....I was really hoping she would be back in time for this little girl's arrival so that is an answer to my prayers. He cares about the details! (Psalm 37:23)

My appt. was with one of the doctors that has been covering for Jeanne, she was really nice. Nothing too new to report. She checked me and I am just dilated a fingertip (not even 1) and my cervix is starting to soften, about 40-50% effaced. She said the baby's head is starting to come down but it's still up a little high. I really was not surprised because I haven't had many contractions at all and that is what causes you to dilate....never had them with Ethan either...my water broke and it was hours later the contractions started. So, she could still come any time...it's just a waiting game now! My next appt. is with Jeanne on Thursday the 4th if I make it until then. Jeremy seems pretty confident she will be a June baby....kinda hoping she comes in May just to prove him wrong, lol...just kidding, I kinda want a June baby anyways :)

Well, my next post will most likely be announcing the birth of our little girl....so stay tuned folks! :)

Keri & Baby

Getting ready for sissy!

Ethan has been playing with this baby doll for the past couple days....carrying her around, giving her hugs, poking her eyes and trying to put her out the window, lol...it seems he is preparing himself for a real little sissy soon....although we will have to work on the poking eyes and window thing ;)

Tomorrow I have my 39 week appt. for the baby. My midwife gets back late tomorrow evening so I will be seeing one of the doctors tomorrow who will most likely check me and we'll see if I'm dilated at all. I'm sure I am a little bit by now but we'll see. I'll be sure and post tomorrow some time after the appt. when I get a chance.

We've got 6 days to go until my due date...if she comes at 39 weeks 3 days like Ethan did she would be here on Friday! It will be any day now and we are more than excited about becoming a family of four!

Stay tuned!
Jeremy, Keri, Ethan and Baby Girl

Dr Appt's

I will start off with our first born....today was his 15 month check-up. He is doing great. He weighed in at 25 lbs (50% tile for weight, so he's average) and was 32.5" long....same length as he was at 12 months. He's 75-90% tile for length. He's doing everything he should be doing for the most part....the doctor just recommended that we work on his fine motor skills....letting him scribble with a pen on some paper/coloring with a crayon....that kinda thing and to also let him use a spoon to try and feed himself.

It's a little tricky as he is still not completely eating table food and there is no way I am giving him a spoon with a jar of baby food...he would make the biggest mess and it would be all over the walls, carpet, etc. I'll definitely try and let him feed himself when I give him a little bowl of mashed potatoes, etc....the foods that wouldn't make as much of a mess....baby food though, no way!

Now that he has so many teeth we are to start brushing them 1-2 times a day...with the baby toothpaste only because it doesn't have fluoride in it so it's safe for them to swallow. They can't have the real stuff until they learn how to spit. I think he will love this as he has always loved toothbrushes...so it will be cute to start brushing his teeth and we will do our best to keep those cavities away! :) The doctor said to also start trying to wean him off the bottle....which I've been slowly doing...he's down to just 2 bottles a day now...and I've been trying to give him milk in a sippy cup now so he gets used to drinking his milk from that. He said it's good to have the bottle phased out by 18 months....and I'm pretty confident I can have him weaned in the next 3 months so we should be good.

So our little man Ethan is doing great....just gotta keep working on those table foods with him....some he will eat but most he won't...he's a funny kid.

Our baby girl is due in just 2 weeks. I had my appt. with my midwife yesterday and all is well. Baby is still in the right position and has a strong heart beat and loves to move and kick around. I could have gotten checked to see if I was dilated at all if I wanted but I declined....no need to cause myself discomfort if I don't have too...I would rather just wait until the real deal happens...even if I was a 1 or 2 it doesn't mean I'm in labor so there's really no point to it other than curiousity. My midwife leaves early Thurs. morning for Seattle and won't be back until late on the 28th so if she doesn't come today/tomorrow (which I don't expect she will) then I would love for her to hold out until the 29th when my midwife is back in town but if not everything will work out just fine. I go back to the doctor's next week and will have my appt. with one of the doctors that is on call that would possibly deliver the baby if Jeanne is still not back. There are 2 doctors covering for Jeanne's patients while she's gone so it would just depend on who is on call when I have the baby. Most likely I will get checked next week though at my appt...so we'll see if I'm dilated at all then....if I make it to that appt. that is. Either way, she is coming very soon!

I was having contractions late Saturday night but once I got up and walked around for a bit and drank some water they calmed down. I can definitely tell she is starting to get things moving though...she wants to meet her mommy, daddy and little brother soon :)

I'll have Jer take my 38 week belly shot later tonight and I'll be sure and post it.

Be expecting some baby news soon!! :)

Love,
Momma Keri

37 Weeks

Is it really true that our little girl is due in just 3 weeks or less? True! I'm 37 weeks today. How exciting! Jeremy, Ethan and I went to McLaren Regional Medical Center last night (where I will be delivering the baby) for a tour and to find out where to go when I get there. My midwife recommended I do this and I'm glad we did because I've only been there once and am not very familiar with the hospital or area. It's really easy to get to from our place (20 minutes exact) and I now know to take the South Elevators to the 7th floor :) The last thing I want to be doing while I'm at the hospital having contractions is trying to figure out where to go when we get there....that would probably end up in me apologizing to my hubby afterwards....because I would probably get frustrated and yell something I shouldn't in my pain, lol!

The lady showed us Jeanne's room (that's my midwife) which is the only room with a queen size bed in it...it's so nice and big! If one of Jeanne's other patients beats me to it and gets the queen size bed room then I'll be in one of 2 other rooms which were both really big too and super nice. It's not that big of a deal...although the queen size bed did look nice :)

We left and Jer and I were both talking and saying how we feel this experience will be better than my last. From having a midwife that cares to hearing most of the nurses are great and knowing this is my 2nd baby (should mean shorter labor) and just being able to get up and walk or get in the shower or try different things if I feel up to it rather than be confined to a bed not being able to do much of anything...I think it will be better....and I'm praying it will be better so it just has to be! I have a lot of peace which I know is from God because after my experience with Ethan it's easy to be fearful....but God is with me!

I am busy everyday trying to clean little by little, stay up on the laundry, organize random cabinets and just have this place as ready as it can be when it's time for the baby to come...I am a very neat and orderly person so if my home is messy when I leave for the hospital it will bother me :)

I am enjoying my naps (which I take almost everyday when Ethan naps) and also my nights of sleep...I know they will be gone soon...but maybe this little girl will be a better sleeper than Ethan after a couple months and sleep longer periods at night....we'll see! If not, that's ok...you get through it and I know I will enjoy every minute I have with her because as us mommies know our kids grow too fast!

My little boy will be 15 months tomorrow! I feel like I was just bringing him home from the hospital...so crazy how fast time really goes by. He's such a joy and I feel so blessed to have a healthy and happy little boy. He is a lot of fun and so goofy at times too. It will be cute to see the kids grow up and play together.

Well, my next appt. is on Monday and I will meet the Dr. that will deliver the baby if she happens to come while my midwife is out of town. I have heard good things about her so I feel at peace with whatever happens. I am still planning on trying to go natural but if it becomes unbearable and I still have hours to go I will be requesting my best friend, Epidural, to comfort me during my time of pain :)

Love to all,
Jeremy, Keri, Ethan and...

36 Weeks

I can't believe I'm already 36 weeks pregnant with our 2nd baby! I know I keep saying it but man has time really flown by...it's so crazy to think she could very easily come this month!

My hospital bag is packed and ready to go and I've been cleaning and nesting and I feel ready. Can't wait to meet this little peanut.

I just got back from my 36 week appt. with my midwife. I had my Group B Strep test today and am praying that comes back negative, I'll find out at my next appt. The baby is doing great and was kicking and moving again while she was listening for her heartbeat...she said her heartbeat was around 152 and would speed up to 170 when she kicked and that is great and what you want to see. It sounds like she's a healthy little girl, praise God!

We went over my birthing plan today so my appt. was a little longer. We talked for a good 45 minutes...can I just say how much I love my midwife? My doctor with Ethan got me in and out...she would never take the time to talk with me that long and go over things. After my really rough labor and delivery with Ethan I feel God has totally blessed me with Jeanne. I feel like I'm not going to be as scared as I normally would be going into labor because she is just so great and has taken the time to go over things with me, what we can do differently this time and it's really made me feel more excited than scared about this delivery which is so God! I told her I would really love to try to get up and walk around, maybe get in the tub or shower, etc. instead of just being plopped on the bed the minute I walk through the door for the rest of the time and of course she encouraged it and getting up and walking around and doing those things can really help get things moving along faster and be comforting. I told her if I'm really suffering and still have hours to go I will want an epidural and that is totally fine with her. I just feel so comforted after talking with her about my experience with Ethan and my concerns, desires, etc for this delivery. She is wonderful.

Now the big question is will she be there for the delivery? There's no way to know...but even if she's not back in time for it I still feel so much better about the whole process...the nurses, being able to get up and try different things if I can and want to, no epistomy, the list goes on and on. My next appt. is on Monday the 18th and I will meet the doctor who would most likely deliver the baby if Jeanne is not back. It would be one of 2 doctors (both women, yea God!) so it will be nice to meet her as well.

I am just so curious when this little one is going to come and how everything is going to go this time. I've been praying about it a lot and already feel God is helping me by bringing me an awesome midwife that reassures me with everything and will be much more supportive during the whole process.

The countdown has begun....everyday I wonder, "When is she going to come? Will she be a May baby or a June baby?" Time will tell :)

Tonight starts off the 2nd annual Women's Conference at our church...it's going to be awesome! There are about 400 of us women signed up from all over and the one speaker that came last year that was so good is back this year...and it's going to just be so refreshing and so wonderful being in his presence and seeing what God wants to speak to all of His daughters about. The theme is Fearless and I'm excited to be able to focus this year...last year Ethan was just 12 weeks so I spent lots of the conference in the cry room nursing him. My mom is coming this year so that will be fun too. It's tonight at 7, tomorrow at 7 and Saturday from 9-1. I'm helping out and running registration with a couple other girls so I'll be there early each day but I'm just excited about it and really looking forward to it!

That's all for now folks!
Keri

Finally...I found an outfit!

I have been searching for a little outfit or dress for the baby to come home in for weeks now and have had no luck. I even went to Babies R" Us and couldn't find anything or at least anything I was willing to spend $20 on.

I went to Walmart yesterday as one of my goals this weekend was to pack my hospital bag...which meant I had a list of a bunch of stuff I was needing...for baby and for myself. I was able to find everything on my list, I was so excited! I saw this little dress and knew it was it. It's exactly what I was looking for...a simple and cute little sundress....and it only cost me $6.50 :) Of course I will have some receiving blankets with me in case it's a chilly June afternoon but I was so excited to get everything on my list and can now pack my bag and check off another thing done...I'm almost ready!

Guess What?

It's May! Do you know what that means? It means there is a very good chance we could have our baby girl this month! Wow, that really makes it seem so close! I am so excited to meet her...I'm starting to get anxious about everything...the labor, adjusting to life as a mom of 2, leaving Ethan for the first time over night...but most of all I am excited to meet our little girl and for Ethan to have a sister, I feel so blessed! I am definitely starting to feel more pregnant as the days go on...my sciatic nerve is acting up again and it is just getting harder to do things and get comfortable. I love feeling the baby move and being pregnant, it's such a exciting time.

I've been trying to clean, organize and start planning things around the house...I like to have everything in it's place and be completely prepared so when I go into labor I feel things are all in order back home. I've been cleaning and organizing random cabinets (oh what fun nesting is!) and getting the baby's clothes washed and organized and Ethan's stuff organized as well. I plan on packing my hospital bag this weekend and just starting to get things together for her arrival.

Ethan and Mommy had a little photo shoot today. I realize that I am typically the one taking the pictures and don't have many good ones of the two of us so here are a few of us. He was in a fun and goofy mood and kept wanting to take pictures with me, so cute!

On another baby note, some friends of ours had their baby girl this morning. She was 8 1/2 lbs. and they named her Harmony Grace...such a beautiful name! Here's her first pic!