Here she is...

Aint she purty?? This is Delta's Breast Cancer Awareness plane. I think the paint job looks fabulous. The next photo is my friend, Karen, her mother, and three of her children. Karen was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer almost 18 months ago. Doesn't she look fabulous?? Oh my word. God is good!


Olive Garden was terrific. I did, in fact, have the talapia and enjoyed it immensely.

The weather today is heavenly. Cool and sunny. Nothing better than that. Camille is over at her friend's house playing for a few hours and the other children are outside riding their bikes.

Yesterday was Olaf's birthday. We went out to eat at Chili's because he wanted the country fried steak. His presents included a Narnia computer game, an Ionic Breeze for his car, and a Tool Kit for his car.

We now have IN HAND the last three DVD's of season two of LOST! We will be done before season three kicks off on Wednesday. My husband likes the show more than I do, but it is fun to watch. I think it's going to stink only watching one episode per week though. Right now I watch three at a sitting with no commercials to boot. I personally think one of the main characters (Jack, Locke, Sayid etc) is somehow the leader of the "others" and it's all like a Truman Show type thing going on. We'll see...

Have a great weekend!!

I hate it when that happens...

I had a fairly long post with lots of links...and BAM! Blogger ate it when I tried to do a spell check.

I am going to the Olive Garden tonight to celebrate Mrs. Mike's birthday. She is my bible study leader as well as a very Godly Titus 2 woman. I love her to death. I will be ordering the parmesan crusted talapia. It is fabulous!! You must try it if you ever go to Olive Garden. Mrs. Mike is also the mother of my friend, Karen, who has breast cancer. Today they, along with my husband, went to the unveiling of Delta's new breast cancer plane. It is painted pink with pink ribbons on it. Olaf took a lot of pictures and I cannot wait to see them. I am hoping Becky will be able to make some sort of collage type header for Karen's blog with them. Delta's now defunct low cost carrier, Song, had a breast cancer plane as well. Olaf told me that he held Karen's youngest, Zachary, for much of the time. Zachary just turned three but he is very small for his age so he seems younger. Olaf enjoyed holding him as Josiah doesn't let us do that very often. Josiah is so big it is almost impossible to do it for very long at all. He's skinny, but tall. I look at him and think "where has the time gone??" He's not a baby anymore. He wears the same size shoe as Gracie now. And before too long, he will be taller than her as well. He's a big fella.

OK, I need to get in the shower. The day is escaping me and I need to catch up a bit.

Toodles.

Somedays...

I want to hide in my bedroom. Today would be one of those days. I think being pregnant is kind of magnifying my emotions anyway, but add another round of spelling list fiascos and I am ready to go back to bed for a week. Camille is such a sweet, precious girl. She really is. But she has no internal drive...at all...to do things well. If her spelling list is partially legible and mostly spelled correctly, she is fine with that. She is not a perfectionist. She could care less that her printing is really pathetic. She just doesn't care. She wants to get her list DONE. That's it. Finish it. Who cares what it looks like or even if she misspelled words. If she were in public school a "C" would be fine with her. This drives her perfectionist mother CRAZY!

On the other hand, this child is so sweet and innocent. She plays with her siblings a lot without complaint. She never backtalks, never gives us an "attitude", obeys immediately. She is a dream child to raise. She is thrilled that we are having another baby even though she knows her workload is going to increase. She is caring and giving and loving. I need to walk that fine line between "school" and "what matters most." Her heart is more important than her spelling list and I need to keep that in mind when I have days like today.

We are now on Season 2 of Lost. I have watched the first 8 episodes. I really don't think I will be able to finish season 2 before season 3 starts next week. I still think the acting is less than good, but the story lines keep me watching. I especially like Hugo (Hurley) and love the episodes that focus on him. He makes me laugh. Jack looks like Olaf to me. Some expressions that Locke makes look just like our friend, Terry Pitts. And of course, I look just like Kate. Hee hee.

Pregnancy is going fine. No symptoms still. I mean, my girls are tender...but that is all. I think my belly is bigger but its hard to tell with all this fat. No nausea or anything. I think I am the luckiest pregnant woman on the face of the planet. I'm not even tired. I cannot wait until the baby starts moving though. That is my favorite.

Alrighty then... time for me to sign off. I'm going to go add one of my signatures. It's been awhile since I did that...

So gorgeous today

The weather is so, so nice! I wish it could stay this way forever. We went to the park this morning with Charity and her precious children. Ian took Josiah's hand as we were leaving and they walked hand in hand to the parking lot. It was so sweet. Charity looks cute with her pregnant belly poking out there.

Olaf is at the dentist right now starting the crown process on his front tooth. (The tooth that is not getting the implant) His extraction for his other front tooth is set for October 12th at 9:00 am. The tooth is so dead that they are expecting it to break during the procedure and they will have to dig it out. That sounds like fun.

I have a MySpace site tht I never ever go to anymore. Anyway, two people from school contacted me through it recently. First was a girl I knew in middle school. (Tammy it was Gwen McClintock) She looks exactly the same and still lives in Oregon. The second was a girl I hardly new in high school.

Josiah is outside and I need to go out and watch him. Hope y'all have a great day!

Blood test results...

So I call my OB today to see what my Hcg level was from my appointment last week. And you know what? They don't DO hcg levels in a normal pregnancy work up! I thought that was routine. I did ask them to do a progesterone level and that was fine. It was 25 which is pretty good for 5 weeks pregnant. So, now I just have to wait and see... The old fashioned way. Did I tell you that my OB has one of those coolio 3-D ultrasound machines? I am so excited about that.

Not much else to report here. Camille got her spelling words correct on the first try today. Hee hee. Grace read her first "reader" book today and did fabulous. This is what she read:

Sam can run. Sam can jump. Get it, Sam!

Pam and Liz sat on the log. Liz fell. Liz is wet! Pam will help.

I am so proud of her!:0)

Well, the weekend was fairly uneventful. That is good. We all went to Caleb's baseball game on Saturday and then I went grocery shopping on Sunday. Ah, I live quite the glamorous life, eh?

Today Camille had to write her spelling list (which is 30 words including vocabulary) ten times! Yes, it took her ten times to actually spell every word correctly. All she had to do was copy the spelling list onto a piece of paper. That's it. And it wasn't until the 10th time that they were all spelled correctly. Our favorite saying (stolen from Cheri) is "The lazy man and the hasty man does things twice." (Or ten times...) Granted, I can't spell half of those words correctly either...but I wasn't staring at the list copying it. Her words are all plurals this week:

attorneys at law
scissors
church goers
policemen
cupfuls
algae
cacti
data
oases
analyses
diagnoses
vertebrae
parentheses
theses
agenda
emphases
memorabilia
debris
1 and 2 Samuel
1 and 2 Kings

Vocabulary: (she has to define these and use in a sentence)
criteria
bacteria
media
phenomena
larvae
fungi
alumni
crises

Synonyms: (she also defines these)
hypotheses
guesses

On another note, Grace is doing superb in Kindergarten. I wish I had a scanner for the work she did today. She is the opposite of Camille and is meticulous about her work. I have to be very careful not to compare the two.

On a totally different note, I want one of these. We cannot afford it, but it sure would be nice. We have outgrown the minivan once this baby comes along. Grace and Josiah will still be in booster seats and the baby will have his carseat. They cannot all fit in the back row. Caleb and Camille are too big to go in the back row as well. Caleb now weighs 190 pounds! (Yes, I know...) and Camille is 5'1" and 130 pounds. They are adult sized children. I guess we will have to take 2 cars if we need to go anywhere as a family. Oh well...I should be grateful that we have two vehicles instead of complaining that I want a bigger one.

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:11-13

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about my week:

1. I had the worst weekend of my life thus far. In almost 19 years of marriage, I would have to say that this weekend takes the cake for being the worst. Ever.

2. I realized that I can forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit and a lot of wonderful women praying for me. Thank you my precious friends.

3. I have eaten 9 lemons. Yes, eaten them. These are not the lemons that I put in my water. (Yes Jeff, I know about the enamel. Sometimes a pregnant woman has to do what a pregnant woman has to do:0)

4. I had my first OB appointment. I have fibroids in my uterus. Lovely.

5. Josiah likes to say the word "poop." I'm not sure why, but he says it often. He also likes to make fart sounds and poke his little rear out.

6. Olaf had a CT scan on his chest. We are waiting for the results.

7. We need a larger vehicle. When this baby comes we have outgrown our minivan.

8. We have also outgrown our kitchen table. It only seats six.

9. I bought a brand new infant car seat at Publix (that's a grocery store) in the clearance section for $29.99. Can you say Woo Hoo??

10. I rented the first season of Lost because I had never watched it before. It's OK, but I still don't get all the hype. Seems kind of hokey with bad acting if you ask me.

11. However, Survivor started tonight. And I totally rocked on Fantasy Survivor. I even picked the guy voted out.

12. Now that I'm pregnant I am so happy they didn't choose me for the upcoming show.

13. Grace loves me more than any of my other children. She really does. It is so precious.

Baby Update

Well, I went, I was stirruped, I gave blood, I went home. She did mention that she felt some fibroid tumors in my uterus. Noone has ever told me that before, so I'm not sure what to think about that. Maybe they will be able to see them at my 20 week ultrasound. I am spotting because of the pap smear...that is always scary during pregnancy. I guess all I can do is wait now. And pray.

Olaf had his CT scan. I'm not sure when he will get the results of that. Probably next week sometime.

We went out for lunch at Cracker Barrel today. I had never been there for anything other than breakfast. It was good. I am still full. I had Country Fried Steak, fried okra, and hashbrown casserole. Yum. The only thing I want to drink right now is water with a lot of lemons squeezed in it. It must be the shaved ice from the refrigerator too. No big cubes. I eat at least one lemon a day. Sometimes two. I have craved them with every pregnancy in the first trimester.

And that, my friends, is how the day went.

What a weekend!

I never want to go through another weekend like the last. Whew! I'm drained. Emotionally and physically. But, I have forgiven and it's time to move on...

I'm still pregnant. Praise God! I have my first appointment tomorrow with the midwife. I had it scheduled six weeks ago. It was my routine yearly exam. It has now turned into a "new OB" appointment. I guess it will just be my pap smear and blood work.

Olaf has a CT scheduled of his chest tomorrow afternoon. It's really bothering him. His ribs are extremely sensitive to the touch. I feel so horrible for him and I hope they are able to find something this time.

Caleb's birthday was yesterday. He had fun. He woke up this morning with a stuffy nose, so I'm sure the rest of us will be sick by this weekend. It took a whole month of school before he got sick. He will have a cold for all of the winter and get the stomach virus in the spring. He'll probably get strep throat too. Ah, the joys of mentally challenged children sharing germs.

I'll check back in tomorrow and let y'all know how that OB appointment goes. Keep me in your prayers.

What a weekend!

I never want to go through another weekend like the last. Whew! I'm drained. Emotionally and physically. But, I have forgiven and it's time to move on...

I'm still pregnant. Praise God! I have my first appointment tomorrow with the midwife. I had it scheduled six weeks ago. It was my routine yearly exam. It has now turned into a "new OB" appointment. I guess it will just be my pap smear and blood work.

Olaf has a CT scheduled of his chest tomorrow afternoon. It's really bothering him. His ribs are extremely sensitive to the touch. I feel so horrible for him and I hope they are able to find something this time.

Caleb's birthday was yesterday. He had fun. He woke up this morning with a stuffy nose, so I'm sure the rest of us will be sick by this weekend. It took a whole month of school before he got sick. He will have a cold for all of the winter and get the stomach virus in the spring. He'll probably get strep throat too. Ah, the joys of mentally challenged children sharing germs.

I'll check back in tomorrow and let y'all know how that OB appointment goes. Keep me in your prayers.

Remembering September 11th

Hweidar "Dar" Jian from East Brunswick, NJ
42 years old
Senior Programmer Analyst, Cantor Fitzgerald
Confirmed dead at/in building

I found this article written in January 2002 by Newsday, a Long Island Newspaper:

Hweidar Jian moved to the United States from Taiwan to continue his education. It was an importance he emphasized to his American-born sons. "He wanted to stay in the U.S. to give us a chance at a better education," said his oldest son, Haomin Jian, 19, an economics and finance student at the University of Maryland. Born and raised in Taiwan, Hweidar "Dar" Jian, 42, was a brilliant software designer who was fluent in three languages; English, Chinese and Taiwanese.
While serving in the island's mandatory military service, he learned to design computer programs. When he came to the U.S., he enrolled in graduate computer studies at SUNY in Buffalo, his son said. There, he met his wife, Juhsiu, also a Taiwan native, who is a computer-firm executive. The couple has three sons; Haomin, William, 12, and Kevin, 8.

Last year, Jian started a new job as a senior programmer analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center. At Cantor, he designed software programs to traders' specifications. It could be frustrating: He complained sometimes that the traders didn't know what they wanted.
Jian won over colleagues with his easy-going style, lively sense of humor and a ready willingness to help others. "He was kind of difficult to upset," his son said. "He was pretty laid back."
Jian didn't like to bring work home. He worked hard during the week, leaving home in East Brunswick, N.J., at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus to Manhattan. He'd return home at 7:30 or 8 p.m., as his younger boys were getting ready for bed. "He spent as much time with us as he possibly could," Haomin said. "A lot of the time, he was pushing himself very hard." On weekends, he'd catch up on his sleep and take his sons to tae kwon do classes or piano lessons. Coming from the densely populated Taiwan, Jian enjoyed living in the suburbs and having a house with a backyard. Gardening was relaxing for him, as well as his knack for tinkering with stereo systems, DVDs and all kinds of electronics equipment. Soon after Sept. 11, Jian's sons returned to school, their homework routines unchanged. "My mother kept the family on routine," Haomin said. "She was back at work two days after it happened. She was really strong through the whole thing."

To honor the other 2,995 people killed that day, please go here.

Thank you!

Thank you for rejoicing with us and leaving all those wonderful comments. It makes me happy to know that so many of you were praying for this very thing. Of course I wonder if I will carry to term, but I know Who is in control and I am trusting in Him. Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy.

My pregnancy still hasn't quite sunk in. I'm still a bit in shock and walking around like I am the only one in the entire world who has ever conceived. I am on cloud 9 and floating everywhere. Olaf is the same way. He cried like a girl when I showed him the test. He wants a baby more than I do if that is even possible. We both LOVE that newborn stage and fight over who gets to hold the baby. I'm sure I'll have to fight my children too. They are so so excited. What a blessing. I know this sounds absolutely crazy to most people, but we are hoping that we conceive number six right away after this one is born. My other children are all in pairs. Caleb and Camille are six months apart. Grace and Josiah are 19 months apart. And we want another one to be close in age to this one.

Olaf is taking Caleb to the Atlanta Motor Speedway this Friday night to watch a race for his birthday. If he doesn't flip out at the noise, he will be getting a ride in a race car. I hope he likes it. You never know with Caleb. He has sensory issues and it's hit or miss with him. We did buy him a skateboard and gave it to him already. He loves it. I think he'll get the hang of it after awhile. He was happy to be going back to school today. He loves Denise, his bus driver. He asks for her BY NAME everyday.

OK, I need to get Camille to piano lessons. We go every other week which works out well for us. I don't have to go, go, go. I am a home body by nature. I don't like leaving if I don't have to.

$$$$$ We are SO rich! $$$$$

I remember a great man coming into my house, at Waltham, and seeing all my children standing in the order of their age and stature, said, "These are they that make rich men poor." But he straight received this answer, "Nay, my lord, these are they that make a poor man rich; for there is not one of these whom we would part with for all your wealth." - Joseph Hall 1574-1656

We are happy to say that God has increased our wealth! The newest Jorek is due May 10, 2007. To say that we are thrilled would be an understatement.