4:AM Meeting

Sleep comes in small spurts these days and my mom keeps telling me it's a great way for me to prepare for when the baby comes. Normally I am a deep sleeper and it takes a lot to wake me up; however, since getting pregnant I'm unable to sleep through the bed bouncing, the baby moving, or Tiko's collar jingling. The fact that my bathroom breaks have increased doesn't help and I often find myself lying awake for at least a hour trying to get back to sleep after using the restroom.

Last weekend on one especially fitful night I noticed that Brandon had been doing some serious tossing and turning of his own. I can always tell when he is wide awake because he has a tendency to huff and puff a little in frustration. After the 3rd puff or so I quietly asked if he was awake. In a full volume response he gave me an annoyed yes explaining that his stomach was hurting and he was thirsty and hungry. Chuckling I mentioned that I had been up for almost 2 hours and couldn't get back to sleep for the same reason.

Amused Brandon mentioned that string cheese and ice water sounded really good and I laughed telling him to get out of my head because I had just been thinking the same thing. 10 minutes later Brandon offered to get up and again I told him to get out of my head, I was just about to get out of bed. With both of us laughing I convinced him to stay in bed while I fetched us the string cheese and ice water.

We both sat with our backs up against the headboard munching on our snack and chuckling at the whole situation: it was 4:AM, we both were wide awake, and eating a snack of string cheese. We chatted for a little while before snuggling back under the covers and inviting Tiko up for a few minutes of cuddles. Tiko, not caring what time it was, thoroughly enjoyed our morning family meeting and made sure to cover us in kisses.

Neither of us have any idea as to why we both were up and craving the same thing but it was a fun morning meeting; although, we both hope not to repeat it any time soon!

W-A-L-K

The last couple days have been busy. We painted the nursery, visited Winchester, and put together baby furniture and thus Tiko, although exercised quite a bit in Winchester, has not been given much attention at home. He has loved having me home on bed rest, giving him someone to snuggle with on a daily basis, but now that I'm up and somewhat moving he's gotten clingy.

The progression of my pregnancy, all the new things happening at the house, or the knowledge that I may not be home every day for much longer (we hope) seems to have put him in a funk. The thunderstorm that blew through last night only added to his needy mood because he followed me about the house trying to lean on my leg and terrified of the thunder.

Since the weather was so nice this morning I opted to take him outside for some exercise and play time. I threw the ball once and he eagerly ran after it. When I prepped him for the second throw, making sure he sat down, and threw the ball he just started at me. No amount of encouragement would get him to go get it. Feeling slightly silly I went and retrieved the ball only to have Tiko run to the back door; giving me the clear sign that he did not want to play. Amazed since I knew he needed the outlet I took him in the house while shaking my head. I watched as he went straight to the laundry room door turning back to look at me. Laughing, for I knew what he was thinking, I opened the door. He very sweetly sat down in front of his leash and gave me his best puppy dog eyed look.

Would you have been able to turn him down?

Grunt Work

The original plan for painting and putting the nursery together was to have my best friend come into town over Labor Day and help me out. That plan was quickly changed when I was placed on bed rest and then we had no idea when it would come together.

My WONDERFUL in-laws came to our rescue and offered to come up and help us paint. They taped up the walls, laid down the drop cloths, and helped clear out the room. Most of the furniture had already been cleared out; however, that pesky dog eaten sofa still needed to be moved. To get the sofa in the room we had to take the door off and even then it took some serious grunt to get it through the door way. As my hubby and father-in-law huffed and puffed they couldn't get it out. In the end they had to cut the couch in half. I think Brandon took a little too much joy in sawing it in half; he always hated that couch. What once was a perfectly good couch was placed next to a dumpster, picked up by cheapskates and eaten by a dog has now been cut in half and lies in wait for ID to come pick it up. Poor couch has been through a lot!

Once the couch was out we could paint and with in hours the room went from a light brown to a bright and cheery yellow! Charlene was so excited to see the finished product she could hardly wait a hour to start peeling off the tape.

After letting the fumes disperse a few days I spent time putting the furniture together while Brandon took a quick break from work to replace all the outlet plates. We got a steal on the furniture and I was so excited to have a project that I could barley hold my excitement as Brandon pushed the box into the nursery for me; the box weighed almost 200lbs and the glue made it almost impossible to get in to. After 20 minutes of trying to tear the box open with our hands I went to the garage and got out the hammer, we didn't have a crow bar. For the next 45 minutes Brandon took the hammer to the ends of the box prying and ripping the stupid thing open. We spent more time getting into the box than I did putting the crib together! Although Brandon was very frustrated, I couldn't help but laugh at the security of it. It weighed so much there was no way you could steal it and even if you did there was no easy way to get into it; it was just too funny!
The furniture is put together, the walls are painted, and now I have the fun task of decorating. YAY!

Next Step

Bed Rest: Week 11
Pregnancy: Week 25

So many have asked how things are going, how have I been feeling, how is bed rest, and what has the Dr. said? I've answered the same questions so many times I often feel like a ship on auto pilot just cruising through the conversation with no feeling or emotion.

In reality my days are as varied as the color of crayons in a box. I find that when I make a plan for my day and follow through with what I would like to accomplish my stress, emotions, and mentality remain low and stable. On the days where I don't plan or the things on my to-do list don't get done are days where I find myself emotionally stripped and raw. (*For those that don't know me, I'm a very emotional and what people call "touchy-feely" person. At one time I loathed that Christ wired me this way but over time have learned how great of a blessing it can be and have accepted my tearful and emotional lot in life.)

I've been given more access to get up and move about: I can take the dog on walks, make short trips to the store, and for the first time in 11 weeks I was able to attend church this past weekend. This small sense of freedom often saves me from an emotional breakdown of self pity at the end of each night. Now that I'm able to get out of the house and complete most household chores my mind has calmed and begun it's process of returning to what is a normal emotional state, for me.

It's the inability to drive myself anywhere that currently wears my spirit to the size of a pea and makes me feel incomplete. Although I don't see a difference between riding in a car and driving a car we are following the Dr.'s orders. Always having had the freedom to move about the country as I saw fit but now being at the mercy of any one else who holds a valid drivers license is my current emotional and mental hurdle. Constantly I have to pray that I will be given understanding of Brandon's work and the ability to accept the need to wait; it doesn't have to be done tonight or it can wait until after dinner.

Patience is a lesson that is taught through out one's entire life and I've never learned more of it than in the last 11 weeks. I'm glad that I've been blessed with the opportunity to learn yet another small facet of it's many faces; however, I am truly looking forward to the day when I can get behind the wheel of my standard Hyundai and bust out on the back curvy, country roads of KY. I want to roll the windows down and sing my heart out as a sign of my freedom!

Please don't misunderstand, I am thankful for the Dr. and her knowledge. I am grateful for this pregnancy and am ready to make the major life change that is quickly coming towards me. I'm looking forward to meeting my little Mann and holding him in my arms; I'm just a girl who has a need to get out and see God's great creation fly past her as the winds throws her hair wildly around her head. Now that I'm up and moving again I have a need to get behind the wheel and speed!

Complete freedom comes in the form of a little red Hyundai with a clutch and gear shift and I'm looking forward to it!

Car Virus

2 weeks ago I was given the all clear from my Dr. to travel. Overjoyed at the possibility of getting not only out of the house but out of town I excitedly called my parents and told them we were coming to visit.

It was a WONDERFUL weekend and it was great to see the newest member of my sister's family, Avery. On Sunday my mom, sister, and I all headed out to Once Upon A Child, my new favorite store, to see if we could snag any deals. After dropping an exhausted Amanda at home mom and I headed back to the house. As we were making our way up a hill we noticed that mom was loosing momentum. Luckily we made it to the top and were able to coast down the other side and into a parking lot. Confused as to what had happened and the fact that the car wouldn't start we called Dad for a jump. He charged our battery and told us to head home. With less than a mile to the house we puttered to a stop for the 2nd time. THIS time however we couldn't get the car out of park and so Dad wasn't able to push us as he had hoped to do should we die again. After the 2nd jump we were able to make it home but everyone was still dumbfounded as to what had happened.

Needing to get to church Dad soon said his goodbyes and headed out to the truck only to find that it wouldn't start. Mom and I bust out into giggles over this and couldn't help but tease Dad, asking him if he needed a jump and whatever virus was in Mom's car had spread to the truck. Brandon and I made sure they didn't require anything from us packed up our car, said our goodbyes, and made our way out. We got in, Brandon turned the key, and the car wouldn't turn over; I giggled. Brandon tried a 2nd time and still it wouldn't work; I laughed. He tried a 3rd, 4th, and 5th time with his frustration growing; I burst out in hysterical laughter not believing what was happening. Slowly, as I was laughing too hard to walk very fast, we made our way back into the house with plans to possibly stay an extra night.

When we got in the house and told everyone why we were back, I thought Mom was going to fall off the couch in laughter. We both just collapsed on the couch together in giggles. When Dad mentioned using Jen's car to jump ours or the truck she refused, claiming that no one was risking spreading whatever sickness had taken over to her car. This of course only caused Mom and I to laugh harder.

15 minutes after Brandon's attempt to start the car him and Dad went out to jump it. On the second try it started on it's own and Brandon told me to hurry up and make sure I used the restroom because we were NOT stopping on the way home! We made it home just fine but we stuck to the right lane as a precaution. :)

The next morning we woke up to our OTHER car, that has not been driven in a month, with a flat tire... guess what Brandon's response to all this was:

"KENNEDY CURSE!"

Avery Letta Asher

My niece Avery Letta Asher was born at 35 weeks this morning around 12:40AM. Weighing in at 4 lbs. 14oz and 18.5 inches long she is beautiful! They have been having some trouble keeping her temperature regulated but otherwise she is happy and healthy.

My sister has been having contractions for 2 weeks and when her water broke yesterday she was ready to go, despite being early. This is her 2nd child and hopefully the Dr. will give us the all clear to travel tomorrow so that we can go and meet her!

Everyone please say a prayer for this precious little gift and for her growing family.

Flap Of the Wing

For the last 2 years Brandon and I have enjoyed hummingbird watching from our Kitchen/ Dining window. In these 2 years we have learned quite a bit about the speedy little fliers that we never knew and have enjoyed many nights at the table watching them feed, fly, and fight.

Never having grown up with feeders I was amazed to learn how aggressive and territorial hummingbirds can be. On more than one occasion we watched as one bird body slammed another into our window or saw mid air boxing matches. They fight mercilessly to maintain power over the feeders and their little squeaks can be heard from dawn to dusk as they dive bomb and charge one another. The little green one is the biggest and meanest of them all and more often than not he is the one instigating the fight.

Noticing that they prefer our perch feeder over our free standing one we recently went out and purchased a second perch. This morning I readied another batch of sugar water, filled the new feeder, and made my way out to replace the free standing feeder with a filled perch feeder. Unable to hang the feeder I moved to take down the almost empty perch feeder and replace it with the full one; I had plans to have Brandon come out and hang the second perch later. As I reached for the feeder I heard the buzz of wings just above my head and slowly crouched lower and turned my head. Lowering my hands from the feeder and looking up I saw the nasty little green hummingbird make a wide circle around me and the feeder before taking off. Taking the hint, I was quick to swap out the feeders and make my way back inside. As I stepped back to head for the door the little bird came zooming back and was headed straight for my head. Instinct kicked in, I ducked and out of the corner of my eye saw him take off again hearing what sounded like a triumph of a squeak; or what I call an evil bird laugh!

I filled the second perch feeder and asked Brandon to hang it. Even thought he laughed at my near death experience with a hummingbird he still asked if the little green guy was out there before stepping outside. I stepped out behind him to scope out the trees next store and provide watch should Brandon need it. Maybe we won't hang the third feeder, after all, it seems dangerous...