I've had a plan for a while now of things I wanted for the baby's room from Ikea. The problem was that I needed Travis to be able to go with me, and Ikea is over an hour from us. He told me that this past Saturday was the only day he'd have off until right up to my due date, so it was our day. Unfortunately, we had to miss a friend's birthday party, so the kids were none too happy about that, but this had to happen. I had been to Ikea one other time, and it was after American Girl for Sage's 6th birthday. I was pretty overwhelmed then, but not this time. I had a definite plan and list, and I am pleased to say that we got it ALL.
Let me tell you how God smiled upon us. Jaggar had had a really long day before that, and he had just fallen asleep as we were parking. Normally, you get him out of the car and he's instantly awake--especially if we are in a place that has a lot of people and noise. But that didn't happen as Travis carried him in. So we got a cart, and I suggested putting some pillows in to lay him on. I pretty much knew he'd wake up instantly, but again that didn't happen.
Folks, he slept through the ENTIRE store like this. For HOURS. We were right at the warehouse part where you pick up what you saw in the store that you liked, and that's when he was up. Based on how he was then, it made us even more thankful that we got that trip done with him asleep. It was truly a miracle.
Sage was especially upset that she'd missed the party. It was a skating party, and she was really looking forward to it. But once we got to the store, she thought it was great. She said, "I really liked that store. I want to go back."
That is one dresser in 2 boxes with 2 kids on top. Travis LOVED carrying that upstairs. All 200 lbs of it.
I was so relieved that they had everything in stock that I went for and that it all fit in the car. It's a good thing that we took out our 3rd row, or it wouldn't have happened, but I knew that beforehand.
After our shopping trip, we ate dinner at The Varsity, which I'd heard a lot about but never tried. It was pretty good. I'm not normally a burger and fries kinda girl, but I liked it. Their onion rings were awesome, and I don't even like onion rings! All in all we had a really nice day, and Travis assembled /hung ALL that we bought on Sunday in about 5 hours. I was worried that it'd be a pain, but he said it was one of the easiest, stress free things he'd ever built. Everything fit perfectly...and I just have to say, the room is looking awesome. I can't wait to show the final product.
I had several pictures from last week and the few before that didn't have one in depth story, so I just decided to put them all in one post in order to stay somewhat current. So in no particular order...
Last week was "Lunch with a Loved One" and the book fair. I hate the book fair to be honest. It is crappy books at a very overpriced price, and I have to stand in a line and crowd like it's Black Friday (because they conveniently put the book fair on Grandparents' Day as well, and we all know what suckers you guys can be). Thankfully, Sage is realizing that the books there aren't great, so she really didn't want anything besides one book. Jaggar, on the other hand, had to have his OLIVIA book.
It was nice to go eat with her. Sage is always proud when we come to eat with her, especially when her friends go, "SAGE! Is that your mom??? She's pretty!" True story. And I QUOTE. Okay, maybe it was me that liked that more though. ;) Anyway, what Sage really loves is how entertaining Jaggar is to all of her friends without fail every time. I thought that both of these pics of them were super cute.
This is from Labor Day, but we went shopping at Publix in Pell City that day since we are getting one....one day, I guess. They are taking their sweet time with it for sure, but Travis suggested we go. I do weekly grocery lists now (I never did that before) AND plan meals for every day. I'm learning a lot of new things...mainly how to organize, and I hope to get even better, especially by cutting down on what I spend. It's EXPENSIVE to eat! BUT I've recently made pork chops for the first time, a few roasts, fish, chicken several different ways...I think everyone has been impressed. Travis said that he loves coming home now because the house always smells like food. So I'm thankful that this season has taught me that because I should've always been doing that, though Travis is a better cook than I am and does enjoy it more...just not after 13 hours of working.
The carts were cars, and the kids actually did really well in them. But Sage said, "I didn't like that cart. My legs were so cramped." I said, "Um maybe because you're 7 1/2 years old and don't need to be riding in a cart?" Nah, that couldn't have been it.
This was that same day a few weeks ago outside, and I just never put the one of Sage and I up.
Here is Jaggar at church with some....strange fox/wolf type character? I don't really know what it is, but I do know that its name is Blueberri and it is a character, so Jaggar probably didn't leave him alone until he left or was physically made to do so. Jaggar is CRAZY about characters.
And this is this past Wednesday evening while I was at church. The nights are getting cooler, so it's so nice to take the kids outside to play. Travis let them drive their car until the battery died.
Last year at school, they did an eye screening where Sage's results came back with a possible astigmatism. I called the eye doctor and asked them how accurate those results were, and they said not very. I didn't notice any issues with her reading, so I never made an appointment. But this year, I noticed her losing her place when reading and asked her if she had trouble seeing. She said, "Kind of." She's a child, and if she couldn't see, she probably really wouldn't know unless it was sudden. A friend of mine is married to an optometrist, and after talking with her, I decided that I wanted to make an appointment for Sage. We don't have vision in our insurance but because of diabetes, it is covered under medical...we'd just have to pay out of pocket for glasses if they were necessary. Sage was SO excited to go to the eye doctor. She said that she already knew what to expect after watching an episode of Blue's Clues. :) She knew more than I did because I've never had any issues with my eyes. She was also already planning on getting glasses for her American Girl to match what she believed she'd get. I think she was really looking forward to getting glasses. They did several tests.
The doctor checked her for an astigmatism (there was none), and I am so pleased/relieved to say that her eyes are perfect. He said that she is slightly far sighted, but most kids are at this age and that's a good thing. It must just be the smaller print in bigger books that she is trying to adjust to., but he said if he wrote an Rx for it, they'd send it back because it would be that weak. I mentioned that I couldn't tell if she had a problem or if she just wanted glasses. He said that is often the case, and he heard that they had some really cool non-prescription glasses at Claire's, where Sage wanted to go immediately afterward. Thank you, God, that this, though certainly a common thing for many, isn't a road we have to go down.
She'd tried these on at Target a few days before her appointment, and I think she thought they were awesome. :) Rest assured they were not purchased.
Last week (maybe? POSSIBLY the week before) was picture day at school. I don't think I've ever purchased an actual school picture because we can take much better pictures, but they do go in the yearbook. So Sage always chooses her ensemble with care, and she woke up early this year to ask me to curl her hair. I think that they should take school pics the moment kids get to school and not 4 hours later after lunch and PE, but few take my advice. So THIS pic is probably better than the actual school one will be. I think Sage looks beautiful. Also, I am SO happy that she is currently into bows again!!! I don't even question it, but I most definitely go with it.
Our sweet friend, Cailin, celebrated her 9th (yikes!) birthday this past Saturday, and she chose something as unique as she is: a yoga party! We're kind of a packaged deal, so if you invite one kid to something, the other is going to show up. No one minds, and I think that they kind of expect that. Jaggar was up at 6:25 on Saturday morning, "Is it time for the birthday party???" He LOVES birthdays. Although, he was upset that Cailin wasn't allowing him to open her presents for her. The nerve. So, not really knowing what to expect, we headed to the yoga studio that morning. I didn't really know what Jaggar would do, but he grabbed a mat and plopped down right next to Sage. I had NO idea I'd be as thoroughly entertained as I was. Jaggar was SO into it.
Getting ready to begin.
And there they go.
Seriously, I've never laughed so hard.
He never moved. He never ran off of his mat or ran over to me. He was focused, and of course, Sage was too. ESPECIALLY when they did the headstands. She has been practicing those at home for weeks. For whatever reason, the kid is on her 5th year of dance, yet she will tell people that she's a gymnast.
Cute, cute. And don't you worry. I did take video. You are so welcome for this video here.
I am not shy about saying that dogs aren't really my thing, and that goes especially for my own. I just think that it's way too much work for something that isn't human. But I am far outnumbered in that sentiment compared to the other members of this family, particularly this little boy. Jaggar LOVES his dogs, and as far as our 2 go, they definitely fulfill their purpose in providing joy to the kids by letting them do pretty much anything to them. And we never have to worry about the dogs hurting them. Otherwise, the dogs' time here would have ended long ago. So they are good for that, and they ARE good dogs. They're just...dogs. Jaggar is ALWAYS saying, "Mayer's my friend. And Chanel's my friend." So cute. I tried to get that on video, but this is the best that I could get. Notice Jaggar would rather say his favorite word instead. I think part of why he loves to swim so much is because he can be outside and play with them (squirt them with pool toys while they try to run). I got some adorable pictures of Jaggar with Mayer the other day. Chanel wasn't into posing.
Jaggar is always trying to ride Mayer.
This picture is like a miracle. My mom suggested giving this to Travis for Father's Day. He'd probably love it as a key chain. Travis is crazy about Mayer. He just thinks he's awesome.
Sweet, sweet
This is the best that I could get of him with Chanel.
5 1/2 months (25 1/2 weeks)I had such big plans for chronicling my pregnancy...most of which have failed. :) Oh well. I can't even blame all of it on the past month and a half. It's just really hard to do those pinterest ideas when you have 2 other children. I'm not exactly the craftiest person alive either. That's what friends are for, right? Nonetheless, I am almost 6 months pregnant as of next Wednesday. People say, "Oh, you're getting a belly now!" Um...I should hope so at this point. Otherwise, we could have a problem. At my last dr visit 2 weeks ago where I took the glucose test for gestational diabetes, Dr Collins said, "Do people know you're pregnant yet? Because you're still so tiny." I think they tend to forget, but even so, I still have a close to full size baby in there, so...hold the door! Let me go first. Carry my bags. Let me sit down. :) Not that I'm demanding.
This baby is very active, particularly when I lay down. He's already falling right in line with the other two! God knows that the rule of thumb is to go hours without asking for a thing until Mommy decides to chill out. It's a born instinct clearly. I have no out of the ordinary cravings really. I eat to survive, basically, these days. Heartburn is starting to kick up a notch, and that's something I've always had with the others as well. I've always heard that means your baby will have hair, but I actually saw something on TLC where that is true. Something about a hormone...anyway, it's proved to be true with the other 2.
I did give natural labor a thought, not because I'm really into anything natural (see my appearance?), but because I didn't want to pay anymore money than I already am. But with Braxton Hicks having already begun, I can safely tell you that no price is too high for the good ole epidural. Travis already informed me that he wouldn't be in the room if I even attempted it. He'd be like the dads in the 50s or whatever that just waited to hear the good news. :) Let's see...even though you're not supposed to lay on your back after 4 months (because of the weight of uterus/baby pressing down on vital organs), I did it anyway for comfort. However, that isn't able to do be done anymore without feeling like I'm suffocating. Jaggar is STARTING to say that Sage's old room is the baby's room, but I'm still not sure he processes what that means. Because most of the time when I ask if we're having a baby, he says, "No, we have to get a doggy in my belly." OR, "We have to buy a baby." I think I'll just wait to show him in December.
I really enjoy pregnancy. I feel good. This is going to sound arrogant, I suppose, but honestly, I think I look great. I'm not that person that when complimented says, "Ugh...no way. I'm huge." because...it's not true. :) I love a pregnant belly, especially my own. In the hospital and the days and weeks after we came home, I wondered, "Why this? How am I going to do this?" It was already a challenge to be so close to Christmas, but then everything was turned upside down. BUT...in spite of all of that, I still trust that God had a divine time that goes above how I think and what I can see, so I trust that. When we first came home, I read a verse in my Bible that basically said, "God isn't worried." So if He isn't, I'm not either. And because of that, I enjoy pregnancy and have peace knowing it is well.
This really doesn't look that out of the ordinary to me, but maybe one day, it will. I read in my books (when I take the time to do it) that your belly button will be inside out now. That has never happened to me (grateful too, btw), but it's like not even CLOSE. Like my belly button ring isn't mildly tight or anything, which is odd, but I'll take it.
When Sage was 2 1/2, our church opened a Mom's Day Out, which is now that and a school. Sage was one of the founding members, and looking back, I would have never put her in as early as I did. She hated it up until she went to K4 preschool at another school all together. Granted, her teacher at our church acted like she never wanted to be there, but I still just think it was too young. Once she started in that, she never stopped going to SOMETHING. She only went 3 days a week, but it was still something she didn't have to do...I'm glad that with Jaggar that I've done things differently. I know now that once school starts...it NEVER ends. It's a driving force to your schedule and your life basically.
Jaggar and I are home a LOT, and I love it because it's a luxury that children don't get for long enough. I think people are nuts with all of the stuff that they put their kids in these days: dance, soccer, cheer, basket ball, tennis, golf, pageants...they never have time to just PLAY. I think that's a problem. I love being home with my kids, and it's a blessing that I don't take for granted. Jaggar will have to go to preschool next year because I think it's in his best interest to not be traumatized when he goes to kindergarten, as well as his teachers not being traumatized. :) I told Travis, "He needs to learn...how to listen." I mean, it's kind of true. He basically does what he wants here, so being seated and being told what to do and when to do it for 8 hours in school would be a shock. So, until then, we enjoy each other.
This ipad case is like the greatest thing ever to him. He calls it his "puter" because it looks like a computer to him. He loves the Disney Jr app on it because he can watch all of his favorite shows with the swipe of his finger. Sidenote: Sage tried to swipe the screen of our desk top yesterday. Technology is scary.
Daily. He hikes his pants up as high as he can and waits for all to laugh. :) This is a FUNNY child. The other day, he didn't take a nap, and I said, "I am not happy with you." He said, "Okay...well, tell me when you get happy," as he walked away. It was totally innocent on his part, too. What could I do but laugh?
We swim pretty much every single day, minus the past few rainy ones. It will be a sad day when it's officially too cool to do that.
:)
He plays a mean game of hide 'n seek. He really thinks that no one can see him. Too cute. He's literally laying in the middle of the floor and saying, "Come and find me!"
One of the reasons that I nag Travis so much to get things done that seem like big tasks...is because I know that he can do just about anything. When we first moved into our house years ago, there was something (I can't even remember what it was now) that was messed up for over a year. He knew it was. I knew it was. And then one day, he just came in and fixed it in about 5 minutes. I remember going, "Um, why the heck didn't you do that a YEAR AND A HALF AGO?" He laughed and said, "I don't know." He's done that to me NUMEROUS times, so now, I can pretty much drive him crazy about anything because I know he is capable to get done what I want done. I simply want him to fulfill all of his potential. :) So a few weeks ago, I informed him that I was almost finished with my 2nd trimester of pregnancy and reminded him that there are only three to make a full grown baby ready to be birthed. I've got several irons in the fire when it comes to this child's room, but very few of them are complete yet. (Translated: None of them are complete or even started.)
None of them could really even begin until the room was painted. Enter Travis. Everyone thinks I have it made being married to a painter. That would be false. Apparently, I don't pay him enough like his other customers so I'm not high on the list. But where I don't fulfill in payment, I can fulfill in causing misery. You ladies know what I mean. So since yesterday was LABOR DAY and Travis took off work early, I thought "What better day to paint HERE?" He didn't seem to agree. It was 5:00 before he got started. He asked me what exactly I wanted done. Really? Knowing we had 3 different paint colors sitting upstairs, I didn't really know why that question was necessary. BUT beginning at 5pm and being completely done at 9:30 pm (and eating dinner in the midst of that), he did complete 2 of the 3 tasks I had for him to do yesterday: painting the baby's room and the boys' bathroom. Completely. Two to three coats in about 4 hours or less.
The kids just thought it was AWESOME to watch him paint. Jaggar said, "Daddy, that paint is so beautiful." Ha! I love him.
The dresser that was Sage's was pulled from the wall, and we discovered this: her chewed up gum collection that she apparently hid...in the floor behind it for God knows how long??? We called her upstairs and said, "Sage, we pulled your old dresser out..." she said, "I already know what you're going to say." Chrissie said, "That is awesome and disgusting," which I found to be an accurate description of children.
Here it is...one last look at Kevin's work that he did 8 years ago now. Sigh... I just didn't think that pink giraffes were appropriate for this new boy. Travis sanded it down and put 3 coats on this wall so these are but a memory. The color I chose is called Winter's Day. Travis and I go round and round about colors. I wanted a very, very light gray, and he was pleased with what I chose.
And here is the boys' bathroom in Ocean Fog. This bathroom was hot, HOT pink. I have this color--Ocean Fog-- more than any other color in our house. It's in our family room, half bath, and Sage's room and bath. It's so soothing and pretty to me. So...we have a start. Up next on Travis' list for this week is the crib, and I have a really fun color picked out for that. Stay tuned. :)
If you've been on facebook, this picture isn't new, but I think this is the first time that I've turned my laptop on in a month. :) Look at the difference in Sage in one month. Travis could have cried seeing that picture on the left. This is from our beach trip in July, and the one on the right is about a month later. Travis said, "Why didn't God tell us, 'Hey, look at your kid. She's starving.'?" I said, "He DID. Because you know how most people realize there's a problem? Their child passes out or goes into a coma. OR at the least goes into ICU." He most certainly did tell us. I'm so grateful for her health that is PROSPERING in the midst of an ugly illness. Just to educate a little, because I knew nothing about diabetes and the majority doesn't either, let me give just a brief overview of what's happening. For whatever reason, which we know is evil, Sage's own body began attacking itself and destroying the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin opens up the cells so that food/sugar can get into the cells and be used for energy. Without it, the sugar stays in the blood stream, creating high blood sugars and, eventually, sickness...and even more eventually death. Sage was essentially starving because her cells couldn't use the sugar from food for energy. She's not eating more. Her body is able to use the food because it's now getting the insulin it needs. Without insulin, she would die. This is serious. And it's not right.
I don't plan on all of my posts being about diabetes. Don't worry about that. But it's certainly something we are walking through right now. Again, I say through. My stance on it will not change. This isn't lifelong for us. This isn't going to run through our family. Because you know why? God's word tells me it is NOT. And His word is so powerful that if He said that the sky was purple, it would change before your very eyes. There is everything in God's word to tell me that this isn't going to last. Would you like a few? I thought so. Psalms 103 "He heals your diseases--every one!"
You know what else He does? Psalms 103:6 "God makes everything come out RIGHT, He puts victims back on their feet." Diabetes...it's just not right. Psalms 103 says "God's love is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear Him, making everything right for them as their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever He said."
Isaiah 54:11-17 11-17"Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied: I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise, Lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, Your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones. All your children will have God for their teacher— what a mentor for your children! You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble—nothing to fear! far from terror—it won't even come close! If anyone attacks you, don't for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith who fires up his forge and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer— but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what God's servants can expect. I'll see to it that everything works out for the best." God's Decree.
Nothing is going to come of diabetes. It just can't last. Some people, particularly those that seem to know someone closely with type 1, almost ignore me when I say these things. I don't understand that. But I also don't care. SOME...well, one I'm going to steer clear of like I would a stomach virus, almost revels in her grandson's blood sugars and dealing with this mess. My identity, nor Sage's identity, nor ANY of our identities are found in a disease. What is that? I can actually understand trying to find it in income or clothing or even drugs....but a sickness? Give me a break. Jesus is just the best thing out there. He WORKS. He fulfills. He cannot fail. He backed these promises up with His own flawless name, and I believe nothing less than what His word says. My stance on it won't change. So yes, ask me how Sage is doing. She's doing great! I appreciate that. But the best thing you can do is speak these very words over her because they are working and changing a very unpleasant current reality. I can promise you that.
So we step praise: Her sickness makes her healing. You don't experience healing without sickness. I'm so thankful that my pancreas WORKS. You don't think about those things. I'm thankful that I spent years of my life looking at food and measuring it...cause guess what? It's not something I had to learn on top of everything else for this time. That part was easy! Thanks, devil, for that. I learned a little something. I'm thankful I have the ability to learn all of these math problems to figure out how much insulin she needs. I'm thankful for discernment that goes outside of a book to say what I should really do on a given day for her. I'm thankful that I'm learning how to cook a little bit. I made a roast. Miracles abound. I'm thankful that Travis is working a lot and for good parents who are willing to help and being blessed with provision to pay for all of it. I'm thankful that I am a little obsessive when it comes to routine and organization. We have to be right now. I am full of gratitude because God, in all of His wisdom, saw hardship coming and already gave me what I'd need to get through it. Try it.
Let me tell you how God smiled upon us. Jaggar had had a really long day before that, and he had just fallen asleep as we were parking. Normally, you get him out of the car and he's instantly awake--especially if we are in a place that has a lot of people and noise. But that didn't happen as Travis carried him in. So we got a cart, and I suggested putting some pillows in to lay him on. I pretty much knew he'd wake up instantly, but again that didn't happen.
Folks, he slept through the ENTIRE store like this. For HOURS. We were right at the warehouse part where you pick up what you saw in the store that you liked, and that's when he was up. Based on how he was then, it made us even more thankful that we got that trip done with him asleep. It was truly a miracle.
Sage was especially upset that she'd missed the party. It was a skating party, and she was really looking forward to it. But once we got to the store, she thought it was great. She said, "I really liked that store. I want to go back."
That is one dresser in 2 boxes with 2 kids on top. Travis LOVED carrying that upstairs. All 200 lbs of it.
I was so relieved that they had everything in stock that I went for and that it all fit in the car. It's a good thing that we took out our 3rd row, or it wouldn't have happened, but I knew that beforehand.
After our shopping trip, we ate dinner at The Varsity, which I'd heard a lot about but never tried. It was pretty good. I'm not normally a burger and fries kinda girl, but I liked it. Their onion rings were awesome, and I don't even like onion rings! All in all we had a really nice day, and Travis assembled /hung ALL that we bought on Sunday in about 5 hours. I was worried that it'd be a pain, but he said it was one of the easiest, stress free things he'd ever built. Everything fit perfectly...and I just have to say, the room is looking awesome. I can't wait to show the final product.
