And so...

Me at 29 weeks...
Max & Dan with their balloon creations
Lauren plays in the water with the boys.
Taking a train ride at the book circus

This is what we're doing. I love posting pics. I like looking at other people's pictures, too! I visited my daughter's blog this morning. She has a few cute ones up as well...check them out at www.irishgal247.blogspot.com. I am very excited that the older kids will be home in 12 days! We have a busy weekend planned. I get a fun date with my hubby, yea! Have a very blessed day and weekend!

Welcome to your 30th week...

Okay, a cure for heartburn would be invaluable right now. Also, if I could just borrow a 25 year old's body for the remainder of this pregnancy, that might be helpful as well! From about 1:30 to 3 AM last night I had some terrible pain in my right groin area. It was kind of like contractions, but just in one little place. My midwife says we may never know what it was...I hope I never do again! Needless to say, I'm short on sleep today and having a few more aches and pains than usual. I guess I'll just chalk it up to pregnancy at 38...okay you got me, it is the 6th one that has gotten this far! Hey, I have a screaming 23 month old at my lap. Guess that closes the thought for the day. Now where's my hubby with that pizza??

All You Need

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:16

"...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matt. 6:8

"The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me." Isa. 116:6

I have really felt over the past couple of days that God is impressing on me that He has given me all I need and that He will continue to cover me in that area. This is in the midst of my heart not quite feeling that way. I just needed to remind myself of this and went to the Word to get some reinforcement. Above is just a sample of what I found. I hope it encourages you, too! It's hard to live in this modern, American society and not feel that some of our wants are really needs. I pray today that we all would look to our Father to meet our every need.

Little Pirates

My 3 little boys!

Tommy is a pirate
The boys were being so cute today. I thought I would post a couple pictures of them. They got the pirate bandana in a happy meal. What fun it is to be a kid! I like to remember all the fun I had as a teenager and in college. My Dad, brothers, and I always had a blast together!

Life has been a bit depressing. I don't even know where to start. I guess it all started when my big kids went away for summer...that always REALLY SUCKS! It upsets the balance in our family. My boys miss them and I miss the fun they are. Plus they're lots of wonderful help. I guess I'm just being pregnant. I can't seem to get a babysitter this summer. We haven't been on a date since May and before that it was January. I'm lonely. My hubby is wrapped up with work. It's too hot to go outside--especially when you're almost 30 weeks pregnant. I wish we had a pool--they're soooo expensive. I have so many other things to complain about, but I think I'll just stop with life is no fun right now and hasn't been...

Personality Test

I took this personality test and it was very interesting. I thought you might be interested in doing it, too, for fun. Check it out!! It seems to be pretty accurate for me. I DO like routine, but can adapt to change, too!

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first.A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change.You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project.You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher.

What's" Your Personality Type?

Just when I think I have it all figured out, God brings something to my attention...my indwelling sin. I think I've been guilty lately of the sin of materialism insomuch that it relates to all the things I want, or wish that I had. I have spent too much time concentrating on how I could get these things: new bedroom set (so we can pass ours to Celeste--whose dresser is for a small child), furniture for Jamie who has been living with only a bed, things for the new baby--such as a new stroller, car seat, crib, rocker, and a pool. As I look around my house I truly see abundance. God has so blessed me with this abundance. I will take today to be thankful for the things He HAS blessed me with.

~a lovely home
~6 beautiful children...almost!
~a dedicated, hard-working husband
~a housefull of noise...and stuff
~forgiven sins...Praise the Lord for that one!
~a wonderful church home with great teaching and good Christian friends

I'm so pregnant...I added one picture twice. Since I think it would be harder to modify the post, here's the pic I meant to put in. It's from June 1992, so she would have been 11 months old. We were visiting in Sarasota. She has much more hair than any of the boys had.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY 15th Birthday, Celeste!!!
Today is my daughter's 15th birthday!!! She is my oldest child. When she returns from summer with her Dad I'm sure she's looking forward to getting her learner's permit. I can't believe she'll be driving. They grow up SO fast! She was born on July 10th, 1991 at 12:31 PM. She weighed 9 lbs., 6 oz. and was 22 inches long. My labor was 21 hours. She was 10 days late and was born in a military hospital where they didn't offer epidurals. It was pretty terrible, but she was WELL worth it. I LOVE YOU CELESTE! Here is a little picture tribute.

Every good thing comes from above! Thank you Jesus for my daughter!

Small Victory

Well, in the past several days I have managed to get Tommy off the bottle. Hooray! This was no small task for my 22 month old. Like his older sister, he was VERY attached. He may not be getting as much milk, but he seems happy. Another small victory is that I finally got Celeste enrolled at FL Virtual School to take Spanish 1. She is on a waiting list as they form classes. She will have a challenging academic year for 10th grade. I'm sure she will do great! I thank God for both of these little victories.

Nothing much going on here. Dan and Max have a bday party to go to this afternoon. Stu is mowing the lawn. We received some much needed rain the other day, but that makes the grass grow faster. (to the dismay of my husband!) I have had a lot of lower back/tailbone pain the past few days. It is quite hard to deal with...I have some fears as I have over 10 weeks left. I am praying God will be gracious to me, though. So far no insulin. That's a praise report! I guess this body just isn't what it used to be.

I am interested in making homemade bread. You know, grind your wheat, etc. I am going to a bread class next weekend. I hope it helps. When I made it the first time the loaf was quite dense and then my grain got weevils and they spread all over my pantry. Not good for starting out. No wonder it's been many months and I haven't tried again. I would love to make homemade waffles and pancakes from scratch, too! Scrapbooking is going well. I'm almost done with 2005. I hope to be all caught up by the time the baby comes.

Have a blessed day! Read about the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 that proclaims liberty to all the inhabitants of the land.

26 weeks, 1 day estimate weight 2 lbs., 5 oz.

Kind of down in the dumps again today. I guess it's just a pregnant thing. I am VERY tired. I've been going non-stop for the past several days. My best friend, Val, was here with 3 of her kids and we had a good time. Yesterday I had another ultrasound. We're STILL having a girl. She looked lovely! I'll try to add a picture. I'm doing well with my gestational diabetes. I took a blood test that is supposed to tell you how well your sugars are in control and mine came back NORMAL--ha! Baby is measuring about a week ahead, but I don't have excess amniotic fluid yet and fundus is measuring right on 26 weeks. I can't wait to meet this little girl and I miss my kids that are gone :(!

Misty Oaks Home

Looking into the kitchen from the dining room

Hall bath (would be kids's bath)
Huge Bonus Room (Celeste's room!)
Master bath whirlpool tub and shower
The front...landscaped!
Looking into the kitchen.

This is a home my hubby built. It is on 1 acre and is 2635 Square Feet. It has 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. It was my "dream home" that I wanted to build when we built the one we have now. (It was too large for our neighborhood.) We call it the Shelby model. Black granite countertops throughout the home. It has a really nice, large laundry room that is not a walk through from the garage--see the little round window on the front of the house. It has that 1/2 bath off the kitchen for dirty kids. The main part of the house is all tile and wood flooring. Enjoy the pictures! We're building it again for a client in Alachua. This one is listed around $410,000. We are part owners in the property and the house. They have been on the market since construction began MANY months ago. We really need this home to sell as we are carrying it. Please pray for the sale of this particular home for us. I know it will be a blessing to someone!

Ice Cream Sundaes

Ahhh, the lure of ice cream. It is a family favorite at all times, but especially on a hot summer day. Last night we went and bought toppings and had homemade sundaes. That was fun for the boys. Of course, we bought Publix vanilla ice cream, Hershey's chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, gummy bears, chocolate jimmies, and whipped cream. It was fabulous! We'll do it again when my friend comes to visit on Monday!

BTW, Tommy turned 22 months old yesterday. Where does the time go?? I just wish he could talk better. I think that would cut down on the screams of frustration we get frequently. Please pray for me as I select homeschool curriculum for my children for the coming year. I have very high standards and it looks like this is going to be a costly year. Of course, I can reuse curriculum once we own it. Every text doesn't always work for every child, though! Have a blessed week!

Okay, I'm doing a little better the past couple of days. I have just been really down in the dumps with my older children gone. Yesterday I took the little boys to the Gator Dollar store and we got new cap guns, yea! I also went by the driver's license place to get a handbook for Celeste to study. She'll be getting her learner's permit in August--I can't believe it! I KNOW she can't wait! I'll be glad when she's driving because she can help me with errands.

Today we're just working around the house and outside. Just a quiet weekend on tap for us. My best friend, Valerie, is coming to visit on Monday for a couple days. I am REALLY looking forward to that. We'll have 7 kids in the house then as she has 4. She's also pregnant with a little girl and is due 5 weeks before me. My pregnancy is going well and my sugars are doing great!!! Fastings have been in the 80's for a week now...praise God for whatever he's doing there! Have a super weekend!

What to do?

Well, we all just finished breakfast. The boys are playing with some blocks that I bought for the baby. They just kind of took over there. At least I have not heard the tv on all morning. Many times I wish we didn't have one! I believe the tv distracts people from real relationships with their family. Plus it is not conducive to getting any work done around the house.

My big dilemma this summer (for the past 4 days) has been what do to every day. I was going to take the kids to the free movies this week. They start at 9:30. Too early for me this morning. We might go to the dollar store that our friends from church own as an activity today. I don't know. Stu needs to take my truck in to get the brakes fixed. They're squeeking pretty badly. I just know that won't be cheap! Any ideas for keeping a 7, 5, and 21 mo. old busy would be appreciated. My brother has a pool, but none of these children know how to swim, so...I would need a helper there with all of them. Plus, I'm 25 weeks pregnant today and at 38 I think I'm feeling it. She has just been growth spurting lately, so I'm a bit sore. I still just LOVE it! I am very excited about this baby!

I was reading in 1 Peter 2 this morning. Great chapter!!! We are living stones and we need to glorify God in everything we do! I will endeavor to accomplish this today. It takes loads of self control when you've got 3 young boys. Blessings!

Bye Bye Guys!

Celeste and Jamie left last Wednesday...sniffle. I have been so busy with little ones that I have not posted since then. Here are a couple pics from the airport that day! We'll take new ones when they come back and see how much they've grown and changed. I LOVE you guys!!! We ALL miss you!

AHHH! I just created a post and it was all erased...stupid computers.

Jamie and Celeste are leaving tomorrow. Please pray for our family as we go through the changes that this circumstance brings. It's hard on everyone. I'm taking them to the movies today to see CARS if I can get someone to watch Tommy. Also, depends on TS Alberto, but right now it's not raining.

I'm not on insulin yet. I got another month from my last visit to watch my sugars. They seem okay when I'm not cheating ;). I have an ultrasound on 6/28 to check baby size, so we'll see how it goes. I turned 38 last Saturday! It was a good day! Friends from church invited us over for dinner and their boys made me a blueberry pie. It was such a treat! TTFN!

Announcing...

My very good friend, Jennifer, just had her 7th son!!! Here is a cute picture of him. Please celebrate with us this momentous occasion!

Elias Blaine
8 pounds, 4 ounces
21 inches
June 1st, 2006

Happy Birthday Jamie!

Today is my oldest son's birthday! He was born at 6:31 PM and weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces. He turns 12 today! We named him Clifford James Dailey and called him CJ for several years. In 2nd grade he changed his name to Jamie which is also my younger brother's name. I like it and it fits him. He will be starting 7th grade in the fall. Where does the time go...they grow up so fast. Jamie is a wonderful young man! He is always an encouragement to me and very sweet!! Happy Birthday to a wonderful gift from God!

Just a few things to do today. Well, we found out Celeste and Jamie are not leaving until the 14th of June for St. Louis. I breathe a little sigh of relief that I can spend 2 more weeks with them. They will be gone for 8 weeks.

Today I am getting my hair highlighted. I'm tired of the top being brown and gray. Yes, gray. It makes me feel old and I am very young at heart. Also, I go see my back-up OB to discuss my blood sugars. I'm afraid he wants me on insulin for my fasting sugars. My midwife says she can't see me if I go on insulin....but she can deliver. The past several mornings I've had readings over 100. They're really supposed to be under 95. I am praying for favor this afternoon in this situation. God may have already given me favor by providing such a nice OB to work with. I thank Him for that.

Well, off to get started on my day. Laundry awaits. Cleaning awaits. A screaming baby from the highchair awaits.