Perfect Blessings

We had a wonderful sonogram experience today and got to see our baby girl again. Praise God, her heart looks perfect and they were able to see it from several different angles. She is growing rapidly and is already looking to be two pounds...with Logan he only had 4 more to go, so I would guess Miss Priss will be a giant in comparison! I wish that our scanner wasn't buried in a box in the garage...I would post some of the pictures--they were super sweet. It was a perfect day and we were able to celebrate health, the fact that she's still a girl and that everything looked 100% normal. We are so mindful now of people who do not get "good" news and are prayerful for those whose prayers are answered differently. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf--God is so good.

A little prayer...

Please say a little prayer for us if you read this this morning. We'll be going for our second Level 2 Ultrasound at 9:45. They will be specifically looking at baby girl's heart and more specifically at the outflows of the heart. Our doctor has given us a positive outlook and little cause for concern, but there is obviously a little bit of anxiety that comes with needing to have a "second look".

Our prayer is this: that the doctor performing the sonogram will be able to get a thorough look at the heart, that the heart will be forming 100% properly, that there will not be any concerns relating to her heart or any other levels or organs that they will be checking tomorrow.

Mothers

I don't want to skim over this passage that was brought to my attention during church on Sunday. We were sitting with Jarrod's mother and grandmother and this is the center of the lesson on Sunday morning.

2 Timothy 1: 5
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

Powerful reminder. Reminder #1: My husband's faith can be attributed to the two beautiful women sitting to my left. What a legacy they have left not only to him, but to me, so proud to be his wife, and to my precious son.

Reminder #2: This is what God wants MY legacy to be. I have to work for it, pray for it, and impart it. When Logan sits with me, my mother, his wife and his children someday and this passage is read, I pray that his wife will be as thankful to me and to my mother as I am to my precious Mother-in -Law and Grandmother-in-Law for the legacy we've left.

Dolphins

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with Logan, Jarrod and his mother and grandmother. We went to church over in Granbury and to eat Pastafina (my favorite non-tea room restaurant in Granbury). Then while everyone else napped, I got a trip around the square by myself. I haven't been around the square in a few years, so it was a great treat.

I had to laugh at my precious Mother's Day gift from Logan. Logan has been obsessed with dolphins--for Christmas he asked for a large plastic/rubber dolphin (about 3 weeks before Christmas.) I'm not sure if any of you have looked for dolphins in the dead of winter...but there are none to be found...unless of course you go to Sea World. This was not in the plan for us for the few weeks before Christmas, so Santa had to make due with some very little dolphins that he found the week before Christmas. Thankfully, while at Sea World a few weeks ago, we found the dolphin that he had asked Santa for and bought it--I'll post a picture later. Its about 20 inches long and made of some kind of rubbery plastic. Okay, so on with my story...Logan runs in while I'm dressing for church Sunday morning carrying a package and saying, "Here Mommy, open your dolphins..." At this point I'm a little confused--he's carrying a James Avery gift bag and Jarrod has this hilarious look on his face. Well, I open my gift and sure enough--it is a Mama and Baby dolphin charm for my bracelet. It was priceless--he was so proud of it, and thus so am I. Jarrod said that there was no talking him out of it and I'm so thankful because I will always have a reminder of this time in our lives where life is so simple, so pure and so innocent. I couldn't have thought of a more personal gift from my "Little Man."

Best Friends

Logan 1-2 years old with Maddie

Its amazing to think that 4 years ago, I was pregnant with Logan and had only one other "child"-- our Chocolate brown lab,Maddie. Maddie became very protective of me during that time and would come lay her head on my belly as I laid on the couch as if to say, "Hello in there--I know you're coming." They've loved each other since we brought Logan home from the hospital. Maddie is a great dog; however, just last summer, after being sprayed by a skunk 2 different times within a week, she earned the right to be an outside dog. When we moved into our house, Logan wanted to start feeding Maddie as soon as he woke up. He runs outside in his pjs, no socks (no matter how cold it got this winter--snow and all at times) and gives her her food. The other day, I heard something in the living room as I was getting dressed and came out to find the tv turned off and no Logan. I looked outside and saw Logan sitting cross legged in his chair just looking at Maddie. He eventually played fetch with her--which he loves to do, but he just wanted to go outside and be with her. He did crack me up though, because he went over to get her ball and Maddie bumped into him almost knocking him over. He told her: "Maddie be careful with me. I'm fragile!"

This weekend, we went to the houseboat in Arkansas and left both Logan and Maddie with Annie. (Huge thank you, Annie!!!) Logan was SO grateful that Maddie was there, but became VERY upset because we had to leave Maddie an extra night. We had Annie bring Logan back to Midlothian because we were getting back later than we had expected to, but that also meant that we couldn't get Maddie. Jarrod is going to get her today, but Logan expected her here when we got home from school. He started crying when he realized that she wasn't home yet.

His favorite conversation lately is:

L: Why is Maddie getting grey?

M: Well, she's getting old, honey. Dogs don't live forever.

L: Why dogs don't live forever? Will she go to heaven?

M: Well, I think that God has a special place for dogs in Heaven.

L: (sometimes tearing up) I don't want Maddie to go to Heaven. I will miss her.

M: Well, it will hopefully be a little while before Maddie will go to heaven, but you will be glad that she's there so you can see her again someday.

Books, Books, Books

Well, Kim tagged Jarrod and I both on our book selections. Here's what we are supposed to do: Turn to page 125, write the 5th sentence on the page. Jarrod and I usually have one "entertainment" book going and at least one non-fiction book going at a time.

Currently I am reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Interesting book...not my favorite, but a decent read while I procrastinate on going to the library.
"Sometimes I just can't seem to admit it because, as a good New Englander, skepticism and pragmatism are my intellectual heritage."

Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B. Curtis, MD, OB/GYN
Describing week 14 of baby's development, "As you can see in the illustration on page 126, by this week your baby's ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head."

I Promise by Dr. Gary Smalley
"When you recharge your batteries by plugging into Christ, He will give you more charge than you can hold."

Jarrod's Books:
Kim introduced Jarrod to both of his current books. His "entertaining" book-- he's addicted to. He would highly recommend it to any of you looking for a good read. Term Limits by Vince Flynn
"When he was done, the president walked them to the door and thanked them for coming."

Unchristian by David Kinnaman
"Their existence is anything but bubble-bound"

I tag Ashley, Erin, Amber, Jennifer P. and Rachel...some of you others...I know you don't read! :)

Answered Prayers

I want to start this post off by saying a huge THANK YOU. For most of you who don't know, we spent the past few days a little anxious, a little worried, and in A LOT of prayer for our little girl. We shared with some of you our concerns relating to the condition of this little one's heart. At our sonogram on Monday, we were told (by the doctor doing the sonogram--not our normal ob)that they were unable to get a good look at her arteries due to her positioning. After scheduling a second Level 2 ultrasound for May 19, leaving the appointment and thinking about this WAY too much, we wondered how this was possible with her moving so much during the time that we were there and if there was more to the second ultrasound than this doctor was able to share with us. Jarrod of course is a rock and is able to "choose" when to worry and when not to. I don't know if it is a lack of faith, a lack of patience, a fear of the unknown or what, but that's not the way that I work...I allowed myself to get into a pretty worked up state on Monday. After Logan woke up from his nap, I was able to put myself back in Mommy mode and be a little more logical and rational, but I still had a lot of worry and spent a lot of time on my knees.

We went to see our doctor today and she was able to set our minds at ease. She stated that with the doctor that performs these ultrasounds, he is extremely thorough--if he cannot get a thorough look at the midline of the face or the heart, then he wants to schedule another ultrasound to make sure that he sees the whole picture. She stated "There are no abnormalities. He just didn't get a good enough look. I'm not worried about it at all. You'll just get to have some more pictures." I cannot tell you how badly I wanted to fall to the floor on my knees in the doctor's office. God is so good, He's so gracious and we are so very grateful that His answer today was the answer that we were seeking and desiring. We know that even if it was not He would still be in control and we would still allow Him to be, but we are extremely grateful for having our minds at ease. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers--we felt them all day yesterday and today and they comforted us so very much.