roller coaster.

sorry i've been MIA.
thanks for the PR feedback.


I've been meaning to tell you about my first DR appointment for baby #3.

I had the best DR and best experiences with my first 2 kids.
best meaning, no pain and no complications and thoroughly enjoyable.
i love the concept of natural birth... but when it comes down to it i'm too scared. i'm not great with pain.
i like smiling and laughing through the whole thing! my epidural's have been perfect and i've still been able to push effectively-- so effectively that both Leland & Emory each took about 5 minutes of actual pushing.

My doctor is funny and nice, totally laid back and looks like a hobbit. doesn't get much better than that.
He delivered both my babies and actually let joel be the one to 'catch' them and lay them on my chest.
AMAZING.
he ran a red light(at an empty small town intersection), after having just gone to bed, to race into the room to deliver Leland.

My in laws ran into him eagle watching on the river and he knew who they were and took a picture with them.

so.... he moved offices. from Belleville to Mt. Vernon. Belleville is about 30 minutes away.... Mt. Vernon is about an hour and 20 minutes away. I looked into other Dr's in the area.... had great recommendations from friends..... we live right next to a hospital for pete's sake, there no reason to drive forever to have a baby......
but i just felt sad. I asked Joel if i should just buck up and make a local appointment.
his response...
"it's not like he moved to Chicago. Call Dr. Covlin and make an appointment. driving isn't a big deal- he's the best."

THANK YOU HUSBAND!

so that's what i did.
driving there by myself with both kids, when i would usually be taking a little afternoon siesta i was thinking... am i really doing this?

but as soon as i went into the office it was perfect.
the nurses were super nice. Dr. Covlin was his usual friendly, awesome self. They rolled a bunch of stuff into one appointment so i wouldn't have to make extra trips. it wasn't a big deal to decided to get my blood work and ultrasound done right then- i always end up with bruises and a mental breakdown after having blood drawn. this was the most painless experience i've ever had and didn't even leave a spot. the ultrasound tech was super nice and quick. there's a huge flat screen that you get to watch on and she gave me 4 pics instead of 1.
oh, and they do a free 2 minute 4D ultrasound after 30 weeks for you to keep on dvd.
seriously?!
it was awesome.
we had been figuring my due date to be about June 5th from the dates, which i was sure were accurate.
i anticipated them pushing the due date back after measuring because my babies always measure small.
so after she did the ultra sound she said.... okay we are going to go ahead and put you and 7 weeks 5 days. (this is when i thought i was about 8 weeks and 5 days)
which makes my due date June 11th, 2011.
which you might remember is Emory's second birthday.
AH!
two years apart exactly. holy moly.

so that was my great appointment.

in less exciting news we've all been sick and miserable.

in very sad and terrible news, we've lost a great man this past week.
Friends of our family for a very long time, the Martin's have been a part of our lives consistently in many ways.
We grew up together when they were stationed here in the grade school/jr high years, they were gone and then came back. Daniel, the oldest son lived in our spare room for a while, Ben is one of our best friends and the bass player in ekkardia/OP & the SSB (bands Joel was in). He's like a little brother to us both. Their daughter Hillarie is good friends with my youngest sister Nicole.
Ken & Louanne are a welcoming, hysterical couple who shows great teamwork.
and this week Ken had a massive heart attack and was gone in a blink.
after voting he had pain and knew something wasn't right so he called an ambulance. then he called Louanne and collapsed.
Mr. Ken announced our wedding party as we came into the reception hall. He was so funny and endearing and kind.
He was great with little kids and i don't think there was one time he was around ours that he didn't do his Kermit the Frog impression. He was a very accomplished military man, a super involved father and a loving husband.
there's aren't just empty words- he touched so many people everyday!
it was a very rough week. the funeral was yesterday and though it was hard it was one of the most inspiring & uplifting sundays i've had in a while. Because Ken pointed to Christ. He lived his life in a way that you wanted to know him and know why he was who he was. Christ was the answer! Rick Hodshire- who no matter what church i attend will always be my minister- read an email that Ken had sent to Ben on his birthday. it was full of Godly and fatherly advice and mentioned more than once that no one knows the time that they have and we need to be present and live for people, not things- for Christ, not self.
The boys did music and worship for the funeral and it was perfect and amazing.
so good to hear them play again and i could just see Ken smiling and clapping and oozing with pride.
when Daniel spoke i don't think there was a dry eye in the building. i'd guess at least 500 people were laughing and crying and missing Ken.
please pray for the Martin family- Ken's presence and person will be missed so much, in so many ways.
we were blessed to have him, even for only 51 years. what a difference he made!


i've just finished a quilt for a baby that is supposed to be born on my birthday, this wednesday!
if i find my camera cord i'll show you some pictures.
i'm taking a quilting break because i'm starting to hate it, and baby brain is helping me to make so many mistakes i can't stand it.

so... there have been ups and downs these past days. I'm pretty certain that this week must be better than last. But even in the pain and sorrow there is hope.