Getting Just a Little Tired of This . . .

I went back to the doctor today for spotting, contractions, pressure, and pain.

My cervix has not changed, but the baby has moved. He's no longer breech . . . he's transverse! Well, it's a little bit of progress, but his position seems to be what is causing the increase in symptoms. He's moving like crazy, and this includes kicks, punches, and somersaults. The movement and position of the baby is putting pressure on certain . . . *ahem* . . . key areas of my body, which is increasing the intensity of my contractions, as well as causing pain in between.

I'm so confused! I've never been one to go into labor on my own. The closest I came was with Noodle; I went to the hospital with mild contractions, had my water broken, and got to 4cm on my own . . . that was after about 6 or 8 hours or so. Then, it was the pitocin. Always the pitocin. So any pain, bleeding, or other symptoms I've had when it's come to having my babies has taken place in the hospital. In light of that, it's been hard to discern what symptoms do or do not require a call to the doctor. But especially because all of the symptoms with this pregnancy are happening pre-term.

I want Baby Boy to be ok, and I'm so worried about him being in the NICU if he is born now. Though I've been assured that he'll be fine, all I can think about is delivering a premature baby. My babies have always been big and healthy, with no problems. They come home from the hospital the same time I do. This may not happen this time.

I really do try not to worry. I try to take all my symptoms and trips to the doctor and uncertainty with a good attitude. But I have my days and my moments when it becomes overwhelming. I know that God really is in control, and I know how many, many prayers are going up on our behalf. But I'm human, and my humanity sometimes wins out.

Thanks for reading and for praying. Please keep praying! God is bigger than this.
Much love to all of you -

New Pictures

I thought it ws high time for some NEW pictures!!!! So, since the doctor said that I could go to church this morning (ONLY to church - and ONLY if I promised to just sit there, and go home and go straight back to bed), I thought this morning before church and all dressed up would be a good time for some photo ops.

Banana's pic - not so into looking at the camera.Chicken Nugget's pic - I cannot believe how much of a little lady she is growing into. She is really growing up.

Noodle's pic - she loves to cheese it up!!!!

Dad and the kids - what a nice-looking crew!

My pregnantness. I hadn't taken any belly pics yet, so I thought I'd have Buffalo Wings take one of me. Don't blame him for cutting off my head. Blame our crappy camera. Oh, there is a pic of me and all the kids, but again . . . my head was cut off. Pretty severely. This pic was just for my belly, so I thought it would be ok.

Disappointed

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, Dr. F did my 34 week ultrasound. Guess what? Baby's breech. Dr. F and I were both a little upset. She said, "Mrs. Donut! You were supposed to be my ONE non-C-section!"

There is a possibility, however small, that he could flip. He's not engaged in the birth canal yet, so he's got some flipping room. I'm praying!

I have to admit, I am afraid of having a C-section. I know many, many people who have gone through it and they are fine. I've just never had surgery. I know, however, it could be much worse.

As for the bed rest, I thought I'd be off the hook after tomorrow. But Dr. F said I have to stay on bed rest till the end of the month. She did give me permission to go to church on Sunday! I'm so happy about that. I've been missing it and seeing everyone.

I also got a call from the school with the results of my job interview. They went with another candidate. However, there's a good possibility that another teacher may be leaving. If so, the principal wanted to know if I'd still be interested. I of course said yes. But I'll still be sending out resumes in the meantime.

So, I'm a little disappointed about these things, but am still trying to stay positive and look at the bright side of things. Please say a little prayer for us at this time. This too shall pass . . .

Gimme an N!

Saturday was Noodle's birthday! As usual, I'm a loser and didn't take any new pictures. Also adding to my loserness is the fact that it is now five days past her birthday and I'm just NOW posting about it!

Noodle woke up Saturday morning, saying, "Is it my birthday?" Chicken Nugget was adding to Noodle's excitement, having a greater understanding of birthdays and all. So Noodle was getting very, very excited!

Noodle was happy with her gifts - a Tinkerbell costume, new church dress, pink tights, and $4 from Grandma and Pappa; a pig Webkinz from Chicken Nugget; a Dora bigwheel from Buffalo Wings and me. She could hardly wait for Daddy to get that big wheel put together! She was out in the driveway with it before 9AM!

We didn't really get to do a birthday party for her, but it worked out ok. We knew a little girl who was having a birthday party that day, so BW took all three kids. It was great, because it was at the park and everything. The kids had cake and hot dogs, there was a pinata, and they all came home with sombreros and pinata prizes. They were also exhausted and took some good naps!

BW made Noodle a great birthday cake while she was napping. It was the cutest thing to watch her as the family sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She grinned and looked at the floor. She was so happy that all attention was on her, and she was so, so cute about it. I just wanted to squeeze her and kiss her with all her cuteness! She loved blowing out her candles and making a wish. She also loved eating the cake!

I just don't know what our family would be like without Noodle. Finding out about her pending arrival was a very big surprise very early in our marriage! But we were thrilled. Chicken Nugget had prayed for a baby sister from the day that BW and I got married. Noodle was such a good baby, just content and happy to be in the world. She loved to lay under her baby gym and talk and squeal. Noodle is now a busy and happy and bubbly little girl! She loves to laugh and to make other people laugh. Last night she was entertaining all of us with a frog puppet she had made. She took Mr. Frog to each family member and addressed them in a deep voice, "Hello, Mr. Mamma! Hello, Mr. Daddy! Hello, Mr. Banana! Hello, Mr. Chicken Nugget! I am Mr. Frog!" It was so cute and we laughed and laughed. Noodle is always entertaining us, but getting hugs and kisses from Noodle is a very, very special thing. She doesn't dole them out very freely. You know you've done something to make Noodle feel very special if she gives you some of her very special hugs and kisses.

Noodle, we love you so much!!!!! We're so glad that you are part of our family. You are a great gift from God and we don't know what we'd do without you. We're so happy that you had a wonderful fourth birthday!

That Test . . .

Remember that test I wrote about in a previous post? The one that took five hours? I must say, I fretted and fretted over that test. I was really, really worried. But . . .

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!

Woo-hoo!!!! I just found out!

Also, about the job interview last week - I felt really good about it. I think it went great.

What's in a Name?

Buffalo Wings told me that I could go ahead and share the name that we have FINALLY chosen for Baby Boy!!!!!!!!

Here it is:

Charles Edward

Charles - meaning: Free Man; origin: German
Edward - meaning: Wealthy Guardian; origin: English

Charles is a name I had picked out long ago for Chicken Nugget, if she had been a boy. Edward is BW's middle name and was his father's name. We thought they sounded good together! We'll call him Charlie.

Home, Again . . .

I had another hospital stay last night, though it was only for an hour or so. I was contracting like crazy yesterday and had to monitor about four times. The last time I monitored, my nurse called me and told me to go straight to the hospital. I was checked at the hospital and there had been no changes (I have not dilated past a one, thankfully!), so Dr. F let me go home. I have to go to the doctor again today. The contractions have slowed WAAAAYYYY down, and I know it is because we had so many people praying for us last night. Our Sunday school class is a great little network, and word got around really fast that I was headed to the hospital again.

Now, I'll tell you where I'm going again right now . . . back to bed to try to catch up some sleep I missed due to all those contractions . . .

Home . . .

. . . from the hospital, that is! That was my best Mother's Day present. That I got to come home from the hospital!

On Friday afternoon, somewhere around 2-2:30, I started noticing that pressure way down in my lower back (and other areas, *ahem*). It was that pressure that concerned my doctor at my last appointment, the pressure that she told me not to sit around at home and feel. Instead, I should get myself to the hospital if I feel it.

I called Dr. F and she told me to get to the hospital ASAP, so as soon as Buffalo Wings got home, I went. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a one. I hadn't been dilated before this. The pressure was getting stronger, with a little pain. Dr. F wanted me to spend the night, and she gave me lovely cocktail which included Demerol. That helped me rest and relax and slowed the contractions.

Saturday morning, Dr. F came in to see us (some great friends from church kept the kids overnight so that BW could be with me) and said she wanted me to stay the day and get some steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs. I was disappointed, because I had really counted on being able to go home that morning. But I knew it was the best thing for the baby to hang out a little while longer, especially since my contractions had picked up again and I'd gotten another Demerol cocktail at about 4AM Saturday morning.

I was on the monitor off and on during my stay, having some mild contractions and some minor irritability of the uterus (which basically means really short contractions). Dr. F came in Sunday morning and said I could go home, but that I am now on strict bed rest. I can get up to go to the bathroom and to eat, but that's it. She said if I can make it to 34 weeks, she will let me deliver. I'm still worried about delivering at 34 weeks; I hope to make it to 36 weeks.

I'm still contracting, still with a little pain, but am really trying to hang in there. Friends are taking the little kids during the day for the next two weeks, so that I really can do bed rest. Bed rest plus a three-year-old and a two-year-old at home equals no bed rest at all. So this is really helping us out. I can't say enough about how our church family has really taken over for us.

So, I'm home and hope to stay here for awhile.

Small Update

I went to the doctor yesterday. Things are status quo. As long as I rest, rest, rest, I have lots fewer contractions. My monitoring sessions have been good. I wake up every morning saying, "Yay! I'm still pregnant!"

I was feeling lots of pressure this weekend, mainly in the middle of the night, and was in some pain. My doctor told me that if I feel those symptoms again, that I should go straight to the hospital. My home health nurse increased my terbutaline after I called her and told her I was feeling; the increase seems to have helped.

I have my job interview TODAY!!!!!!! I'm excited and nervous. I'll let you know how it goes.

More Baby Stuff

I had a dr.'s appointment yesterday. I have still not dilated - YAY!!! But the contractions are getting more frequent and more painful. They are accompanied by lots of pressure sometimes.

Dr. F said, "I want you to super rest this weekend!" She's going out of town and she doesn't want to come back with me in the hospital. She also said, "I mean, seriously, come on. What is up with you? I give you two drugs, I make you rest, what is going on? Work with me here!"

Dr. F is great!

I told her that I'm not an ornery person, and that I'm trying to work with her!

I asked her how Baby Boy would do if he were to be born within the next few weeks. She said he'd do well, since he is over two pounds by now. She said after 34 weeks, he'd do even better. He would have to be intibated and put in the NICU, but that he would do pretty well. That was comforting, but still, the thought of a preemie in the NICU . . . not something I want to think about.

My drugs: Terbutaline - relaxes the smooth muscles, makes me shaky, increases my heart rate; Procardia - relaxes the smooth muscles, makes me dizzy, decreases my blood pressure. Summary: I'm a doped-up mess, but the baby stays in the belly!

I've been doing a pretty good job at looking on the bright side. I could have given birth already to a very sick baby; I could be stuck in the hospital on an IV! There are so many things that could be going on, that aren't, from which I know God is protecting us. I know God's hand is on this situation. So many people are praying for us. In the end, He will be glorified when we are all able to say, "God has done this thing!"

Our church family has gone above and beyond caring for us. It is difficult to be parents of small children; it is even more difficult when one of the parents is unable to cook, clean, or otherwise get up off the couch! Poor Scott comes home from work and then does the work of two people in order to take care of the house and the kids. Our Sunday school class has brought food and helped with laundry and childcare. It's been amazing to see, and humbling. We are more than grateful.

I had a dream about Baby Boy last night. He was beautiful and healthy and content. Also, he didn't look like Buffalo Wings - he looked like ME!!!!

We're still having trouble picking a name for this kid! We were talking about it last night and still couldn't agree on anything! Actually, in my dream, we had him at home and were STILL trying to figure out a name for him! Isn't that sad?

Thanks for reading my blog and for praying. We love you all -

I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!!!

I got a job interview!

It's for a ninth-grade English position!

The interview is next Thursday at 4:30! PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!

Baby Boy Name Delimma Solved!

Noodle came up with a fabulous name!

"I think we should name him Sunshine Rainbow. That sounds like a happy name," she said.

What do you think?

Laugh With Me!

I had another doctor's appointment yesterday. I have a fabulous babysitter, and I had conferenced with her on Monday after being ordered not to work anymore. I told her that I may be needing her from time to time as I have doctor's appointments, and that I would need her Thursday. She said she'd be expecting us.




So yesterday I got everyone ready and off to Babysitter's house. Only . . . Babysitter wasn't there! We knocked at the door . . . knocked again . . . and again . . .





Sometimes Babysitter and the other kids are in the backyard playing, so we checked. The backyard was deserted, and the house was dark. And in a moment of panic, I realized that I was now locked in the backyard. The fence latch can be only opened from the outside.





After a moment of surveying my situation, the first option is this: try the neighbor's fence. Luckily, I know Babysitter's neighbor, who is very nice. So I tried the latch. It was accessible, but I couldn't open it. Tried though I did, I couldn't open the darn thing!



Now, the thing that you have to understand is that I really am a cartoon character. These things are always happening to me in my cartoon character life. Please, read on:





The second option was this: try to climb over the chain link fence. I was trapped; I could see no other way out! I felt a little bit like some kind of tragic character. The trash pickup drove by, and for a moment I considered yelling at them to help, especially since none of the neighbors were home! But that trash pick-up is pretty speedy.





I worked out a procedure:
1)Lift bags over the fence
2)Lift children over the fence
3)Heave myself over the fence.





Mind you, I should not even be moving around, unless I'm getting up to use the bathroom! But I had to get out, right?





I lift the bags over without event. I lift the children over, praying that my water won't break. I take off my shoes and try to climb the fence. Yeah, right! I am also praying that the kids don't run away. Do you remember that riddle about the fox and the cheese and the goat and the boat, or something like that? I felt a little bit like I was in that riddle.





I spotted a red wagon and a lawn chair. I positioned the chair on the other side of the fence and the red wagon on my side. I managed to actually get my leg over the fence, but that chair was WAYYYYY down there! Noodle was clearly concerned, trying to move the chair for me, asking if she could hold my hand. Banana looked grief-stricken and fearful. I was near tears, and the fence was scratching my legs. I took my leg back down, gathered myself, and tried it again. This clearly was not going to work, since I wasn't even straddling the fence. Rather, my leg was just up in the air at some sort of strange angle.





Oooooo, what if I fell?????? This was simply NOT an option!




I decided to try the latch of the neighbor's fence one more time and to PRAY!!! The combination of trying and praying worked! I had tried that dadgum latch fifteen times before my attempt at fence-climbing. I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned in all this. Perhaps it's this: Pray BEFORE you try to climb the fence!*




I called my babysitter* last night; her mother has been very ill and I was afraid there had been some emergency. There was no emergency, and she was beside herself at having forgotten. I was laughing the whole time I was recounting the story, but she was appalled. She apologized profusely.




I said, "You have no idea who you are talking to," and explained my cartoon character life.




*by the time I was on the freeway to the doctor's office, I truly began to see the whole episode as a comedy sketch. Maybe I should send it into Saturday Night Live or MadTV.

**my babysitter is an AMAZING woman who has five children. She is so organized and on top of things. She truly amazes me and I wish I could be like her. I was relieved to find out that there was no emergency. I tried hard to make her understand how goofy I am and how I have had many, many experiences that will top any amount of her forgetfulness!

A Post Mostly About Chicken Nuggets' Birthday

Sunday was Chicken Nugget's birthday! She turned nine. I can hardly believe it. I can't believe it! I kept telling her the day before, "At this time nine years ago, you were trying to be born!"

Chicken Nugget is pretty predictable when it comes to her birthday eats. She always wants pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut. But this year, instead of a cake, she wanted brownies! Buffalo Wings was in charge of getting the brownie mix, so he got the one with all the little chocolate pieces mixed right in! They were a hit.

Chicken Nugget is totally into Webkinz, and she ended up getting three of them! She also got more cash than I can count! I imagine it will go toward some more Webkinz.

Because we have been losers lately, we didn't take any pictures of her birthday. So I've had to include all of these old pictures. There wasn't much fanfare on her birthday. We just hung around at home after church, gave her her Webkinz, and had her special birthday food. But she said it was the best birthday ever!

Chicken Nugget is still her sweet self. I told her just before she went to bed on the night of her birthday how glad I was that she was my girl. She told me how glad she was that I was her mom. She has such a sweet and generous spirit. She is always concerned about what is going on with others around her. She wants to make sure that all of us in the family are ok. If the little ones are hurt or upset, she's tries to comfort them.

Chicken Nugget is the best! I'm so glad that she came into the world nine years ago. We are so blessed to have her in our family. She is a wonderful gift from God.

I felt bad about CN's birthday, because I couldn't do as much as usual. I wanted to be more active, but I'm on doctor's orders! I have to rest more.

Yesterday I had my regular doctor's appointment. Before I went, I did my morning monitoring of my contractions. I was surprised when my home health nurse called me to say I'd had ELEVEN contractions in that one hour! I freaked out a bit. OK, I freaked out a lot. My pulse was also a little elevated, but the nurse still had me give myself a demand dose of terbutaline on my pump. When I got to the doctor, I was put on the monitor and had only mild uterine irritation. That was great news, and I felt so relieved!

However, the doctor prescribed me some procardia to go along with the terbutaline. She also told me that I can't go back to work. And that I have to be calm (in reference to my freak-out session) and rest a lot more. Poor BW is really pulling double duty these days with the house and the kids. Our wonderful Sunday school class is helping take up some of the slack by providing meals a few times a week and by sending some ladies to clean the house.

It is a new experience for me to be on almost complete bed rest. I like to be out and about. Baby Boy is the important thing right now, though. I have to stay pregnant! I want him to be big and healthy like my other sweet babies. My doctor said he's just already trying to make his way in the world by fighting for some attention! Bless his heart. I promise him I'll give him just as many hugs and sugars as his sisters and brother. I was thinking yesterday about how happy I will be to hold him for the first time and to know that he is ok.

God the Great Physician is taking care of Baby Boy and me. Please pray for us!

Sending much love to all of you -

I'm Sure I've Had a Worse Five Hours on a Saturday . . .

. . . I just don't remember them!

I took my content test today. Yes, it took me five hours. OK, it took me four hours and forty-five minutes. But who's counting?

I gotta go poke my leg with a needle now!

Pump it Up

I went to the doctor again yesterday, because I was having a few concerns. When I got there, my doctor was concerned as well - because my pump had still not arrived! And I was still contracting and having other signs of preterm labor. My doctor had ordered the pump for me on Monday, and I was supposed to have had it by Monday afternoon! I won't go into all the reasons for the delay, because it is a long story, but it has to do with insurance and contracts and yadda, yadda, yadda.

My doctor checked me again and still didn't like the position of my cervix. She sent me over to the hospital and had me admitted for observation. She came to check on me after a couple of hours and didn't like the pattern of my contractions. Though they were small, they were still noticable. The nurse gave me three shots of terbutaline.

My doctor said, "I called around and stamped my foot a little bit. I told the insurance people and the home health people, 'You can either pay for her pump or pay for her hospital stay, but I'm not going to have a 28-week baby here!'"

I LOVE my doctor!

Within the hour, the home health nurse was in my room showing me how to install and operate my pump, which will give me a constant dose of terbutaline. It looks like this:
The tube coming out of the top is connected to a syringe full of the medicine. The tube goes all the way to my leg. Like so:

The home health nurse made me stick that thing into my leg all by myself. Granted, it is a small needle, and the needle comes out, leaving only the tube. But still - still - I'm a wuss. I did fine with the poking, but then the thought of it sort of came to me.

I just stuck something in my leg. And then I left it there. And it's in my leg . . .

But it was all ok, after a few minutes of me just laying back.

The terbutaline works like a charm for me! A side-effect of the drug is shakiness and rapid heart rate. But after my three super-doses in the hospital, even though I was very, very shaky, my contractions all but stopped - immediately! I have still had a few contractions, but not as many as before.

The pump stays in a little pouch which I hook onto my pants. The kids were all fascinated by mom's new contraption. Banana kissed it, and kissed my arms where I had gotten my shots. Noodle kissed my arms, too, but she only wanted to touch my site (where the tube goes into my leg). She touched it very, very softly. Chicken Nugget said she felt sorry for me.

Buffalo Wings enjoyed going through the manual and figuring out how to change all the equipment. I have to change the syringe about every day, and the site every five days. Yep, I get to poke myself in the leg every five days. Fun, fun. But it keeps Baby Boy cooking, so I'm happy to do it for him!

I also have to monitor my contractions twice a day. I then transmit the data on this wireless contraption. BW really digs all that stuff. I'm glad he is having fun!

Please keep us all and Baby Boy in your prayers. Much love to all of you!

A Glitch in the System

So, as I mentioned in my previous post, I have been having some light contractions. I had my regular dr. appointment today and we discussed it. My doctor checked me and she said my cervix is not in the position she would like it to be in at this time (it is anterior rather than posterior). I am concerned about this because my cervix is not the best at doing what it is supposed to do when I am in labor, so to hear that it is already anterior when I am 12 weeks from my due date didn't sound like good news to me.

My doctor is going to put me on a pump that will give me a constant dosage of medicine throughout the day. The medicine will relax my uterus and should slow the contractions. Sometimes the contractions are mildly painful, but mostly they are just accompanied by pressure.

I will also be on a monitor that will alert the home health nurse and my doctor of how many contractions I have had throughout the day.

So . . . please just lift me up in prayer, and baby boy (who still doesn't have a name, poor guy!). Baby boy sounded great this morning and is moving around like a champ. We just need to keep him cooking for at least another 9 weeks.

Love to you all!

Random Ramblings

Resumes and job fairs and tests, Oh My!

I went to a job fair on Saturday and there is another one on Friday night. I never realized how intimidating this would be. I came home from the job fair lamenting:

"Why would anyone hire me? I don't interview well. I've never been a teacher. There were so many people there trying to get the same jobs I was trying to get! I was just another face in that crowd, just another piece of paper with stuff written on it."

Of course, BW was supportive and encouraging. And I know the attack of the enemy when I hear it and feel it. So I am trusting in God. I will glorify in His name when I have a job, and I will say, "God has done this thing!" Please pray for me still; it is nerve-rattling.

((((I take my big content test for English on the 19th. Please pray!!!!))))


Speaking of the enemy, he really is everywhere. One day as I was walking through the halls at school, I think my eyes were really opened to that. The enemy is attacking the students so hard. I tried to pay close attention that day: how is Satan attacking these kids? How are they responding? To what issues are the blinded or apathetic? I learned a lot that day. I know better how to pray. I'm thankful for this mission field. I love these kids.


I think of my dad when I think about the mission field of the public school system. I have always said that my dad is one of the greatest missionaries I have ever known. He was never ashamed to speak the name of Jesus to anyone at school (or anywhere else for that matter). He was never afraid of conversations of spiritual matters, even if it may have gotten him in trouble. I want to be like my dad and speak boldly about the Hope that each and every student can have. That everyone can have.


Today, as I was walking up to school, I noticed about a million caterpillars on the sidewalk. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. Maybe it was more like 500,000. Anyway, I wondered what they were doing on the sidewalk. Sadly, some of them were already . . . smooshed. :o( Why did they crawl onto the sidewalk and into the parking lot? Why didn't they just stay in the safe, safe grass and trees? I guess I will never know.

I think we are centering on Asher as a name for the baby. Nothing definite. But it keeps coming up a lot.

I really am trying to keep my pregnancy complaints to a minimum, but . . . I'm about to let some fly. When I got pregnant with this baby, I just made up my mind to enjoy it. I know it will be my last pregnancy. I thought that might make me a little bit sad, so I wanted to savor every little change and kick. However, it has been hard to enjoy since I've felt so nauseated, couldn't eat much for a long time, had to be on Zofran, and am plagued with heartburn and *ahem* other certain digestive dysfunctions. Not to mention the sciatica, which still bothers me daily. I feel so tired and am about to start taking an iron supplement. By tired, I don't just mean tired - I mean exhausted beyond words. I usually come home from work and go to sleep. It's more than sleepiness, it is absolutely no energy at all. The iron should help. Anyway, this pregnancy has been the hardest of all four, and has solidified for me the knowledge that I do not ever want to put my body through this again. I even had a contraction this morning - a painful one. I'm trying not to worry about it, because it was only one, but I will talk to my doctor about it on Monday when I go for my appointment.

Baby boy is doing great, however! We got some really good pictures of him two weeks ago at our 26 week ultrasound. He looks wonderful, and he is a busy little boy in my belly. I can't wait to meet him in June or July!

I have not had any consistent cravings during this pregnancy. The nausea has been too bad. At first, I was nauseated before I ate. Now, I get nauseated after I eat (and sometimes before). It's not as bad as it was in the beginning of the pregnancy. Not even close. But I did have to take a Zofran or two this week.

Some cravings:
*A-1 Steak Sauce
*potato salad (I craved this hard with Banana! Weird)
*thin-crust Canadian bacon pizza from Pizza Hut (yes, it must be that specific and it must be from Pizza Hut. This is what I am craving right now.)
*Snickers bars
*Coke

Maybe BW can think of some others, but I can't. The cravings have been so weird and sporadic. One week I'll want something and then I will not ever want it again. Strange.

That's about it from our neck of the woods. Hope things are great with all of you! Much love to you all.

The Crescent Hotel

Matt and Lisa have set the date for the wedding - July 15, 2008!
They are getting married at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
It looks beautiful, but it is haunted. Check it out.
I won't be staying in that haunted hotel. You will be able to find me at the Econo Lodge.

Pictures

Our azaleas! Aren't they nice?

Banana lining up his cars for a race.

We were so glad to have some friends of ours visiting from Iowa this weekend! They had spent their Spring Break in Port Aransus. This is Buffalo Wings with Reverend J.

Mrs. J and me. And my largeness.

The Js!!!!

The J kids and the Tasty Names kids.

The lovely MJ!

The handsome JJ!

Good friends, Chicken Nugget and MJ.

Cutie pic of Mrs. J and Noodle!

Easter weekend, coloring Easter eggs.

The finished product! The Easter Bunny was very pleased.

Love and miss you all very much!

And hey, be like the J family! Come see us! We love you and we want you to come visit!!!!!!!!!!