1 week old...

I can't believe it but Nema Grace is a week old today!! Time is already going by way too fast!!! We've had a good week and are adjusting fairly well. Please continue to pray for Zeke. We think he's just a little overwhelmed by all the changes and all the visitors we've had. He still loves his little sister and for that we are very thankful!!

This morning I had my first experience of being home alone with two children. Praise the Lord, it went well!!! I was even able to get a shower!!! Zeke is now off with his Daddy and Nema Grace and I are enjoying a rare, quiet moment! I'm also extremely grateful for a good night's sleep. Nema only woke up one time to eat and that was after being asleep pretty much all day!! God is good indeed!!

Here's a few pictures I was able to take this morning of our big week old girl!

Until next time...

Nema Grace is here!!

We are so pleased to say that our little angel, Nema Grace, is finally here!! She arrived Monday, January 23rd at 4:07 PM.She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. We had a very smooth, complicated free delivery...Praise the Lord!! Nema Grace has become a nursing pro and is doing very well!! She had her 3 day old check-up yesterday and got a great bill of health. She only lost 2 ounces while we were in the hospital and yesterday, she was still at that weight! Another, Praise the Lord!!

Zeke is doing well adjusting. He loves his baby sister and wants to hold her. He doesn't quite understand yet that he can't be so rough with her. Please pray, he'll continue to adjust well and that we will too!! Our first outing was yesterday when we all went to the doctor. Praise God we all survived with most of our sanity still in tact!!! Having two children is definitely and adjustment and we are praying our way through it!

I must admit today my heart is full of gratitude, so I must just sing Praises to the Lord and thank Him for all He's done!! Our Sunday school class has brought us food everyday since we left the hospital. We are beyond grateful for the love and delicious food they have given us!!! Yesterday, Arnett - who is on the very top of my thankful for list - got Zeke out if the house and allowed Nema Grace and I to get a 2 hour nap in!! Afterwards I told him I felt like a million bucks!! Nothing like a little sleep!! Thank you Lord for my wonderful husband and few hours sleep!! I'm also extremely grateful that Nema's nursing so well. With Zeke we had a few problems and it was just horrible getting started. This little girl has got it all figured out and I am so thankful!! I'm also, so thankful for our parents who've been extremely supportive and willing to help us with whatever we need!! The Lord has been so good to us and we thank Him for all He's done!!

Okay, now on to what I know you all came here for...pictures...

Mommy and Nema Grace

Our first family photo.

Zeke checking out his baby sisters feet and toes

Zeke telling his sister all about it!

Our beautiful angel

Zeke loving on Nema at home!

We thank you for your prayers! Until next time...

Appointment update...

I'm happy to report that all is well with our little princess. We had an ultrasound today and she was doing really well. She's a little on the small side, well in comparison to her big brother. They estimate her to weigh about 6 pounds 12 ounces. Her big brother was 8  pounds 2 ounces!!! We are very thankful that the Lord gave us such a good report today!!

I'm still battling a nasty cold. Yesterday, was a great day and I felt great!! I was able to get some nesting done in the form of baking. I made a pan of homemade brownies. Mixed up a batch of homemade pancake mix to have on hand for later. Then, I cooked some yummy cinnamon rolls, courtesy of the pioneer woman!! I certainly paid for all that today though. I slept horribly and have felt horrible pretty much all day. Praise God the doctor felt that it was time for an antibiotic, so we started that tonight!! Please pray I am feeling much better really soon!!

So, our current plan is to induce on Monday, the 23rd. All this is contingent upon the hospital having beds and staff to accommodate elective procedures!! That is, if we don't go before then! I'm currently 50% effaced and 4 cm. dilated, so it really could be any day now!! Please pray for us as we all prepare for sweet Nema Grace's arrival. Pray for Zeke as he transitions from being an only child to being a big brother. Pray that we'll have smooth delivery and all will be well with Nema and I. We thank you for your prayers! Until next time...

Nema Grace Update...

Just wanted to write a quick little update. Our sweet little Nema Grace is doing well. We'll hit 38 weeks tomorrow, which means we have about 2 weeks to go!! WOW!! We can't believe how fast her arrival is approaching!!

We had an appointment yesterday. Things were well. I'm measuring a little small but the doctor thinks it's because she's already head down and in position. Just to be sure, he's scheduled us for an ultrasound, that they'll do at my appointment next Tuesday. As long as everything is well, he talked about possibly inducing me on Monday, January 23rd. I'm already 3 cm. dilated and 30% effaced. He kinda gave me the impression that he didn't think I'd make it until the 23rd but that could be my wishful thinking too! :~) He did assure me that my numbers don't really mean anything as I could walk around for a month at 3 cm.!!

In other news, I've come down with a nasty cold and am pretty miserable. It also doesn't help that sleep has been eluding me the past couple of nights. I have this new habit of waking up at 3am, after laying there for 30 minutes or so I get up. I enjoy a quiet moment with the Lord, laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and anything else that I can think of that doesn't make too much noise. Please pray that the cold and early morning cleaning will pass quickly. As ready as I am for Nema Grace to come, I don't think I'd have the energy right now to go through the whole birthing process!! Pray too, that Arnett and Zeke will stay healthy and not come down with the cold I have. The last thing we need is a sick household!!

If anything happens on our end I'll update as soon as possible!! Until next time...

Fishing and Hunting...

Fishing and Hunting, two of the things my dear husband loves to do!! In an effort to spend a little bit of quality time with Zeke before Nema Grace arrives, Arnett decided to take Zeke fishing this afternoon. At first, I wasn't going to go. Sleep has been eluding me the past few nights and a nap sounded really good. Thankfully, my feelings of wanting to see Zeke's reaction to his first fishing trip out weighed those sleepy feelings!

So, we found some worms, found a fishing hole and off we went. To say Zeke loved it would be an understatement!! He had the best time!! At first he wasn't so sure about those jumpy fish on the end of the fishing line but eventually he got over his fear of them!! He enjoyed reeling the fish in and, eventually, touching them when his Daddy got them off the line. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. I am so Praising the Lord for giving us this opportunity today. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed one of our last outings as a family of 3. Here are pics from our day:

 

 

"YAY! We got a fish!!"

Learning the parts of the fish!!

 

Once we got home Arnett, his Dad, and Zeke went riding around the farm to see what they could see. Of course, they didn't go off without a gun by their sides! I was sitting in the house and got a text message from Arnett. It was a picture of a deer in the back of his Dad's truck. Immediately I went outside with my camera in hand. On my way to where they were I called to Zeke and asked him, "Zeke what happened?" He immediately comes running up to me, yelling "Deer! Deer! Deer!!" I think he was more excited than his Daddy was!! Guess we have a little hunter and fisherman on our hands!!! Like they say, "Like Father, Like Son!" Here's a couple of pics of the deer:

Until next time...

12 months; 12 photos...

Ok, so I totally stole this blog idea from a friend that we met while serving in Mali. Thanks Charisa for such a great idea!!

January

February (actually March but I couldn't find any for February)

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

 

December

Until next time...

Christmas 2011...

Our holidays were wonderful. It was nice being in our home, with our own decorations put out. It was also really nice being with our family and friends and getting to enjoying the things we missed while in Mali.

We opened presents at my mom's a few days before Christmas. We had a great time and Zeke really enjoyed all the presents!!! Here's a few pics from our day:

Zeke figuring out how to open his presents. It didn't take him long!!

Zeke and one of his many gun sets. 

Neal, my sister's boyfriend, my sister, Autumn, Zeke, Me, and Arnett.

Christmas morning was full of fun. Arnett's parents, sister, and his niece spent the night with us. My parents, came over about 6:45am to make sure they didn't miss out on Zeke getting up and seeing his toys for the first time. He woke up about 7:30 and was a little overwhelmed. It didn't take him long to wake up and enjoy all his new toys.

The "what in the world is going on" face.                                The "what is this?" face.

 

Riding his new horse, Lucky. He loves this thing!!

Zeke and his new train table. Another thing he loves to play with!!

Back on Lucky, this time with my hat and gun!!

More presents...what's in it?

A baby horse, which he has named, baby Tia. Tia after his real horse!!

So serious!!

"Man, opening presents is hard work!! I'm tired!!"

Back on Lucky. "Who cares about the rest of my presents!!" Daddy opened them and let him open the boxes while he sat on Lucky!!

"Is that my very own tractor?"

"Yes, it is my very own tractor!!"

"I love my new tractor!!"

Arnett and I Christmas morning.

Our little cowboy.

Our little cowboy and his dog, Molly!

We are thankful that we are starting to feel a little bit more settled. Our debriefing we went to the beginning of the month was great. It was great to catch up with a few friends from Mali and spend time with people who are going through the same thing we are!! Zeke did great while we were away and it was nice to get away for a few days.

Nema Grace continues to grow and grow. We have a little less than 4 weeks to go before we hit our due date. At her last appointment, she and I both got great bills of health. We praise the Father for this and are so thankful that His hand is upon us. Please remember us as we prepare for her arrival and go from being a family of 3 to a family of 4. Pray that Zeke will do well going from an only child to being a big brother.

We pray that your Holidays were wonderful and wish you all many blessings for 2012. Until next time...