Green Bean update #1

We made it to the 2nd trimester! Yay! It seems like I'm fibbin' when I say I'm 4 months pregnant, but according to the baby books, it's true (of course, it's just the first week of month 4, but it counts!)

We had our first ultrasound around 11 weeks and the doctor measured the baby and put us around 10 weeks, 1 day. He gave us the due date of January 30th. Based on LMP, we're due January 25. According to me, this has been the hardest one to pinpoint. I guessed Madeleine's, was off by one day with Gracen, but this bean has me stumped. I'm just hoping for a January baby. We already have 8 birthdays to celebrate in February! 1/31/13 would be a fun date to be born on!

10 weeks:

13 weeks:

See any difference yet? We have our 20 week ultrasound set for September 13th and I cannot tell you how much I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. We will be more than joyful with whatever the Lord determines for our family, but it's no surprise most everyone is hoping for baby to be a boy.

I'm trying to work every angle with Kaiser to have a water delivery, but I am not having much success. We have our first meeting with Kaiser's Certified Nurse Midwife who will supervise my development and hopefully that conversation will merit some headway into my preferred method of pain relief. And while I'm trying to avoid being that girl, I am ending up being THAT girl. I refused my labs at the intake appointment because they wanted my blood to test for anemia and sickle cell and Rh positivity and other things that I don't have. They wanted my urine to test for gonorrhea and chlamydia and syphilis which is almost an insult should it come to a legal battle (if I really wanted to be THAT girl).

I want Kaiser to tell me that it would be cruel not to offer pain relief during labor and delivery and then explain why they can't allow me access to personal pain relief. I want them to tell me why they are willing to pay for the drugs and the anaesthesiologist to skewer me, but they absolutely refuse to fill a big tub of warm water for me. I'm not so sure why my preferred treatment for pain relief is unavailable under their plan anywhere but Roseville, CA. We'll see what we yield as we get farther along.

My favorite part of our intake appointment is when the nurse was listening to me explain my philosophy of birth and how I wanted a water birth and what info she could give me to help me figure it all out...she started telling me that Kaiser uses the best research to facilitate care in their hospitals and how those other alternative practices are not deemed safe by Kaiser. That Kaiser wants me in a "controlled environment, that way...if the baby's heart drops, we just c-section them out and they are safe." Honestly, it wasn't the place to start a dogmatic discussion on the medical model versus the homeopathic one, so I just tried to focus on the necessary information and requirements at hand. As I started to kindly counter her with reasons I didn't want to do the glucose test and other future labs, she looked straight at Tim, whirled our paperwork from in front of us and re-checked some information saying, "You're a firefighter/paramedic right?" as she checked over his employment history. "Yes, you're a paramedic...and you agree with all this, all her opinions about this?" she asked pointing her finger back and forth between us with an aghast look on her face.

"Yeah, I do" the devastatingly gorgeous and overwhelmingly manly firefighter/ paramedic replied.

Between the appointments, just enjoying dreaming of that sweet little babe coming soon.

Love, Lauren

When You're At War

Tim and I were finally able to go see The Avengers yesterday. Yes, the day Dark Knight Rising opens and tons of little twenty-somethings have nothing better to do than stand in line for 5 hours to see a midnight premier. Ah, youth. We were gifted this date by Tim's mom and our nephew, Daniel, who took our little chicks to play after naps. Sitting in the theater and criticizing dissecting the plot or the script is something fun Tim and I like to do. We're pretty hard to impress when it comes to all things Hollywood. One line that really struck me to the core was just about 8 minutes into the movie. The agency director, Nick Fury, and his right-hand man, Agent Phil Coulson, are in a secret hangar working on the perfect sustainable energy source, the Teserract. Unfortunately, Loki (Norse god of mischief) arrives to steal the energy cube and basically blow the secret steel compound to smitherings. In the wake of catastrophic agent death, and loss of the most powerful potential weapon on Earth with the capability to destroy the planet, Fury tells his people, "This is a level seven. As of right now, we are at war." To which agent Coulson responds, "What do we do?"

...

Now, I don't know about you, but if I were the commanding officer of an army, and my right-hand agent turned to me --after a Congressionally declared war, of course-- and said, "What do we do?" I would be very, very scared.

What do we do? What do we do!?! Are you flip out of your mind!? You do what you were trained to do. You go to war!

And as I sat there in the theater, asking Tim, "What do you mean 'What do we do?'" with just a smidge of smugness, it instantly hit me that I am just as unprepared as Agent Coulson.

I'm in a battle--every day-- and I'm undone.

It's no novel idea that our world is getting darker. As Christians, we might continue to be surprised, but we shouldn't be. Much like parents who forget their children are sinners. One kid kicks their sister in the throat, or they suddenly turn into a banshee at bedtime, we get angry and ask, "How could you do that?" We have forgotten that they are sinners at heart. And I just have to wonder at Christians who look at the world with the same eyes as a forgetful parent asking, "How could they do that?"

How could a person arm themselves and walk into a theater and shoot 14 other people point blank? How could you do that? What were you thinking? 


And as Christians, we forget that we live in the sinful world. We forget that given enough anger or isolation or drugs or alcohol or depression or selfishness, we could kill others too. We could drown our children. We could desecrate our marriage bed. Because we're sinners too, and it's only different for us because overwhelming Grace has rescued us.

So, what do you do when you realize that you live at war with the world around you. And that maybe you haven't been training because when sin comes knocking, you turn and ask "What do I do?"

As I pondered this through the rest of the night, I considered why I might not have a plan when war is upon me. Maybe it's because I've always been at war, but it's never been real. Born in 1980, was there ever a time when my country hasn't been at war? A little search under military operations 1980-2012 offers a resounding "no". There was the Cold War, The Gulf War, The War on Terrorism, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Syria, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. I've not known a day without war. And when you're able to live a "normal" life amidst a "war", you're not nearly as prepared as when a bomb drops right in your hometown.

"What do we do?"

True war--hard battle--will come. It is a guarantee. Now, while it's a great blessing to prepare physically with food stores, water, ammo, provisions and precious metals...it's more important that we prepare spiritually. Biblically, we're told to prepare.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8


When we forget we're in a battle, we need to allow the Spirit to remind us that there is an enemy out there. Praise the Lord that our enemy is bound by space- he's not ever present. But, we have our own flesh to battle in the meantime and when we start to think that life is normal, that we're "safe" because we live in Temecula, or we have money in the bank or our kids are healthy...it's time to ask God to show us what we might do to trust in Him alone. Of course, we must learn to praise Him for His many blessings; but we are in a war of souls- ours and others and the Lord has left us some instructions on being a dutiful soldier for His army.


11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints  Ephesians 6:11-18 


So, when a battle, spiritual or physical comes my way...I'm going to train in such a way that I'm prepared. I may not win battles, or my wars, but I am forever under the leadership of the God who will rule eternally. I will do all I can to be ready and then rest in knowing that God will win, and He knows what to do. 



The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD. Proverbs 21:31


Love, Lauren

Green Bean

In case you missed the Facebook post, we're expecting our third little babe in late January/early February. I had been trying to wait until July to announce the news to our families, but it ended up being way too complicated! We're over 8 weeks along and doing just fine. I'm calling baby "green bean" for now...once we find out gender in about 10-14 weeks, we'll go pink bean or blue bean (p.b. or b.b.) :)
So excited!

WAP with Mama

Usually when Tim works a 48 (or longer), we head down to the WAP or try and do something to distract Mama the girls from the fact that Dada is away. I had never been to the Butterfly Jungle and thought it was a great time to go.

I tried to get Mads to play in the turtle shell, but not only was she not impressed by it, she was equally not impressed that I got in it:

 G wasn't too impressed either:

 Madeleine did not like the Butterfly Jungle- I had to carry both girls and Madeleine was afraid that the butterflies would land on her (which is of course, amazing!). But, at 18 months she hated the hippo, and last week she loved it: ages & stages, as my mother says:

 The park was super crowded with the Butterfly Jungle and we actually waited for the tram over 45 minutes!!! We've never waited for the tram, couple this with a newly potty-trained Mads, a Mama who forgot the packed lunch and snack bag on the kitchen counter and you get for not the most enjoyable day, but...the girls did great despite my hiccups:

 Because I love the man so darn much, I always stop by the station on the way home. G didn't quite stay awake:

 and Sleeping Beauty woke to a kiss from her knight in shining armor:

We hung out with Tim a little bit and then headed home. Thankfully, seeing him makes getting through the days a little easier (wow, do I sound like an addict or what). Yes, you can pray for me since you now see my life's idol.
Love, Lauren

April 2012- Part 1

The wind merited a trip to the park with our new hawk kite. Unfortunately, this hawk did not fly as well as those that frequent our backyard. With a design flaw, we couldn't even get little red to stay in the sky. Guess he's not ready for release...he'll be returning to Costco for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, two other men showed up with kites that flew beautifully, giving Tim every excuse in the world to grumble. Ha ha.

 I prayed for a blue-eyed baby:

God said:

 "comin' atcha":

"I'll catch you Gracie"

Where we take our dogs when they need a good run:

we love Temecula:

Mid April brought the first Canna flower:

 and the first day warm enough to bathe some beauties:

and, of course, these two make every day just a little more fun:

Love, Lauren

Easter Sunday 2012

We hosted Easter this year, unlike the previous hosting where we attempted lamb kabobs, saffron rice and blackberry cheesecake, I went a little lowball and served sandwiches and had the other women in the family bring their delicious treats like my mom's tortellini salad and my sister-in-law's spinach/strawberry salad. I can't remember what my mother-in-love brought...sorry Mom :) My girls napped after a nice stroller ride (we skipped church!-sssshhhh! we recently left our church of the last 4.5 years). Holiday services at church rank about as engaging as nascar for me, so I asked if we could enjoy a stressless walk before hosting all the family over.
Between me, my sister, my mil, and Tim's aunt, I think we had about 200 eggs for 6 kids 6 and under. Some that I tossed into the Lantana are now a permanent fixture.

Madeleine went first as she is the youngest, Grace was still napping:

Easter Eggs...YES!  

 After little G woke up, we attempted a photo. This is the best one:

An Easter Egg from Nani (with a Hello Kitty swimsuit inside!):

Gooey finally warms up to the party:

Cousin-time:

And after that fun little exercise, Unky Lex and Miss Leigh showed up just in time to sing us Baby Beluga and the Chicken song:

Gracen really liked Miss Leigh:

Gracie also delighted her great grammy with a little hide and seek!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the Risen Lord-family, food, song and candy!
"Oh taste and see, that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him" Psalm 34:8
Love, Lauren

Easter Egg Hunt

In April, we all fell a little under the weather. Mads & G were just a little crabby and wanted to sleep. Tim was sick one week and then I came down with death in a dust mite: strep. I thought I was being a little overdramatic when I told my husband that I thought the body aches were worse than natural delivery of our two children, but then my sister-in-love said the exact thing and I felt a little justified. Tim took time off to take care of the kids and let me sleep it off for FOUR WHOLE DAYS! Nuts. Tim had to return to work, so my mom came over to help me out and I dragged myself out of bed to take the girls to our association's Easter Egg hunt. But, Mama waited too long and by the time we got there, they were packing it up. The event coordinator was so sweet to lay out some extra eggs just for my girls. What a blessing!

G money honey bunny:

 How cute is this  child!?!?

 And her sister is pretty awesome too; lots of hunting and perfect for little ones:

 Sweet sister carried both baskets-praise Jesus for servant hearts:

 After my rally, I came home and crashed, calling over my other mother. (I know I am more than blessed!). She came over to dye the eggs I had boiled for the girls. While I slept upstairs, the girls enjoyed a Easter treat with their Grammi.

Love, Lauren