Still no babies yet

I haven't felt much like blogging, or being at the computer at all, really. But I am going to add some random thoughts here.

Kynzie is still very adamant that our twins will be named Cupcake and Muffin. She's come a long way from Moses and Charlie Brown. When we pray for the twins she will tell us to "say Cupcake and Muffin". We have tried to explain she is welcome to use those nicknames, but that the rest of us will probably call them Dennis and Daniel. She is not happy about at all.

Kynzie is very excited about the twins coming, though. She says it all the time. She even gets a little giddy. It is so cute and sweet. Her genuine care for others, and her uninhibited joy are such a blessing to us all. (She also says she wants to learn how to change their dirty diapers!)

Max knows "where" the babies are, and we teach him to pray for Dennis and Daniel, but I am not sure he puts it all together just yet. Not that he needs to. He is so sweet and cuddly and loving. It is so healing to have our little guy cuddle up to you and say "I love you, Mommy."

Delainey is excited, but I think she is a bit tired of hearing the comments about how wonderful it is that we have her here to help when the twins are born. I am always very thankful for my daughter's help. But I am thankful for her for many other reasons as well. She is growing and maturing and changing so much. It is a blessing to watch her turn into a lovely young lady right in front of me.

I am at the point that people (complete strangers) are guessing that I am having twins. My uterus measured 49 centimeters Friday, and I have gained 58 pounds so far. People make some comment as to how soon the due date must be, and I tell them it is still three weeks away. Almost have of the people then say something about how I must be having twins. The majority of those people had twins, are a twin, or know someone who had twins and proceed to compare me their personal experience. That is fine though, it has been interesting hearing their stories.

Many people are surprised that I am still on my feet and even out and about at 37 weeks. I have also had others ask me when my C-section is scheduled. I thought that was interesting.

We have had some dear friends from church (including my mother) who met last Saturday for a couple of hours and put together ten freezer meals for us! Isn't that wonderful?!

We have another friend from church who spent a few hours with me on Thursday picking up and cleaning at my house. It is a little difficult for me to allow someone else to help (except my mom, thanks Mom!) But I was able to let her do some light pick up and cleaning. Thursday was the day I thought the babies were coming. She also brought a few things to brighten up our day! We are so grateful for our friends!

I had contractions regularly starting about 11am. 10 minutes apart, light contractions. But steady. They were stronger into the evening and even closer together. We put the players on alert - my parents, our doula, the doctor. Bags were piled into the van. I changed activity and nothing seemed to slow the contractions. Exhaustion set in, and I decided to go to bed. And that was it... nothing more really happened. So, we are back to waiting.

Scott asked me to write out some of our favorite, easy recipes so that he or Delainey could cook dinner for us when needed. I told him I think I will post some here on my blog. They can get to them easily that way.

So, I made it past Scott's prediction of April 12th. We went to church today, and I had people seemed surprised that I am "still standing". It was good to be there today, though. I don't know that I will go for a few weeks after the twins are born. Figuring out the logistics of nursing twins may take me awhile...

I have gained a total of 57 lbs so far, and I measure 48 centimeters this week. Last week it was 47 cm, and three weeks ago it was 39 cm. My doctor said the huge jump (without a matching huge jump in weight gain) is probably attributed to the fact that Daniel flipped head down instead of a mostly transverse position. So my uterus elongated suddenly with both babies the same direction now.

Today, we toured the hospital where the babies will be born. This hospital doesn't move you to another room after you give birth. They move the birthing bed out and pull down a queen size Murphy style bed, and you stay in the same room - a very nice, large room with a good sized jacuzzi tub. That seems pretty cool to me. Scott is a little bummed because the last hospital allowed three free meals a day for dads as well as the moms, and the food was pretty good. This one only allows one free meal for dad a day.

I think we are all packed for the hospital, but I may need to repack the bag for the twins. They may need clothes a size larger than preemie after all!

Only Four Weeks to Go!

Today was another ultrasound and then another Dr. visit.

The sonographer said both boys have lots of hair. I am not sure what her definition of "lots of hair" is... Is it Kynzie-style lots of hair (meaning they will need haircuts right away), or just Max-style lots of hair (meaning they aren't bald). It will be fun to find out, and to see what color it is!

Dennis (formerly known as Baby A) is still head down (yay!) and is estimated to weigh 6 lbs 10 oz. Daniel (formerly known as Baby B) has flipped head down now (I knew I felt that flip!) and is estimated to weigh 5 lbs 13 oz. And since I am only 36 weeks, they could still add 1/2 lb per week each. Wow! That has been the goal all along - healthy, good-sized (for twins) babies!

Everything is going well, no signs that I will go into labor anytime soon. But there aren't any signs that I won't either. Both babies are "breathing" and swallowing and digesting the fluid which are all great signs that they will be fine should they be born anytime.

So, Scott guessed several weeks ago that I would have the babies on Saturday the 12th. I don't think that is going to happen... I will be glad to have them stay a little longer. I have another guess that it will be the 20th - something about the full moon there. Another guess is the 19th because that would work out best for that person to visit (tongue in cheek). We all know God will bring them when it is time. It is just so exciting! I am getting so anxious to meet them!

In April, we have family birthdays on the 16th, 19th and 22nd. Then in May we have family birthdays on the 8th, 10th, and 11th, as well as Mother's Day. But I really hope they come before Mother's Day!

Showered with blessings!

My baby shower was so wonderful on Saturday. Of course, it was fun to open gifts and see all the awesome baby gifts! I will write more about those in a bit. But it was even better to gather with all of these women, both friends and family, and have a meal together, talk together, play a game together. It was fantastic. There were some who couldn't make that were missed.


I think it is fun to see what people receive at baby showers, so I am going to list a few of the items I received with links (if I can) to pictures of the items. That way you can join in my fun a little bit!


Peek-a-boo diaper bag (back pack style) It is green and brown and oh so cute!

Ulitmate Baby Wrap - Navy I read online that another twin mama was able to use this for both of her twins at once. I can't wait to put it to the test!

Safety First Glow & Go baby monitor

Baby quilts made by my mother - I will have to add pictures of them later.

Matching Monkey snowsuits complete with monkey ears on the hoods and monkey tails on the back. They are soo adorable.

Little Remedies Parent Survival kit

Fisher-Price Rain Forest Bath Center - Isn't this so cute!

Matching Bouncer Seats - Very useful for so many reasons...

I received several clothing items, bibs, socks, layette pieces that were both wonderful and adorable, but I probably won't list those out separately. There were also various baby items such as teethers, finger toothbrushes, pacifiers, etc. of course.

There were so many more gifts, too. We are so thankful for all of them. We have been blessed by gifts, prayers, well wishes, and love. Thank you all so very much!

Pregnancy update

I fell in the kitchen yesterday. I fell all the way to the floor. I stayed on the floor for quite awhile. Max was so sweet... "Okay, Mommy? Okay? You bump. You bumpa head." I didn't bump my head though. But I guess that is how he perceived it.

I managed to hit one knee first, then hit my backside. It was pretty jarring. The babies moved around quite a bit throughout the rest of the day just like normal. I went to the chiropractor and could tell my limp was not as bad when I left his office. The muscle strain is still there of course. I still can't go up and down stairs right now. But it is less painful today than yesterday.

I had a doctor appointment today. I measure 47 centimeters! Like I am 47 weeks pregnant! There is only about an inch, yes, one inch, between my belly and the steering wheel. I am not sure how much longer I will be able to drive. I have gained 54 lbs so far. Everything still seems to be going great, which is a huge blessing, and we are so thankful to God for his mercy and provision with these twins.

I'll have another full ultrasound next week. My doctor said that if I go into labor at any time now, it would be okay. I guess that is somewhat reassuring, but I am still prepared to go as long as needed to give these babies all the time they need.

What to Eat When You're Pregnant Part 2

Let’s talk about it this way… according to the Brewer Diet checklist. They recommend 4 servings per day in the first category - Milk/Dairy. There is much debate over milk and dairy products – raw, organic, free-range, etc. But I am not going to discuss those issues at this point.

Most store-bought milk has the same amount of protein per serving whether it is whole, 2%, skim, whatever. The only differences are the amount of fat and the number of carbs per serving. And don’t assume that lower fat means lower carbs, in any food. In fact it usually means the opposite. Reduced fat usually means higher carb counts. The last time I compared skim milk to 2%, skim had 2 more carbs per serving with 0 fat.

You don’t really want to totally avoid fat while you are pregnant. You just want to be careful how much and what kind.

Most of my milk intake is through smoothies and shakes. I think milk can really contribute to any congestion or mucous build up. And, those are very common symptoms of pregnancy for many women.

Cottage cheese has become my new favorite snack especially with frozen berries (mixed berries are my favorite, but raspberries are much lower carb). I also like to eat it with other fruits mixed in, especially unsweetened crushed pineapple, or add a drizzle of honey and some cinnamon. I don't care for it by itself so much, though. I've heard people like to eat a scoop on a fresh baked potato, too. I tried adding it to scrambled eggs, and it was okay. You can "hide" it in other recipes such as lasagna and pancakes.

I haven’t been able to find an economical, easily accessible alternative to high-fructose yogurts. I have made our own, but not lately. I only have so much energy for cooking and baking… So we buy a large carton of plain yogurt and add fruit to it. If it doesn’t seem sweet enough, I add a minimal amount of Stevia, and the kids love it. I think the favorite so far is frozen berries pureed in the blender and mixed into the yogurt.

I stay away from the yogurt mostly, only because it is higher in carbs, of course. I have used it in baking in place of buttermilk. By the way, applesauce substituted for oil in many recipes makes a healthier and moister product.

Some people count cheese in the protein category because it is higher protein and lower carbs. I don’t have a whole lot to say about cheese because I don’t really care for cheese. I eat it melted on top of food or added into a recipe, but not to just sit and eat a block or slice of cheese.

If you complete all your dairy “requirements”, then any additional servings of milk or dairy can be counted in protein (in 7 gram increments).

Oh, there are more dairy products – sour cream, cream cheese, butter, and, yes, ice cream. I personally stay away from margarine and stick with butter for baking and some cooking. We use Smart Balance for spreadable butter. Do a search on how they make margarine if you want to know why. I am trying to stay as close to the natural or whole foods as possible. By the way, butter doesn’t count as a dairy serving, but maybe a fat.

Eggs are kind of their own category in the Brewer Diet, so I'll talk about them next time.

So, what do you name twins?

Okay, okay... I know everyone wants to know - are we going to call them Baby A and Baby B for the rest of their lives? Well, we though about it. For some reason coming up with two names at the same time has been more difficult than coming up with one. We just have not agreed on anything. Of course, most of Scott's choices have been from "Dune", people from the Zulu war, Star Wars, and even some Star Trek, I think.

And, he just doesn't want me to name our boys. He hasn't actually said that, but I came up with some good names, and nixed them all right away. There was only one 'weird' set of names that I mentioned. The rest were very normal names. Micah and Malachai, Trenton and Tiernan, Adam and Aaron, Jeremiah and Judah, Clyde and Caleb, just to name a few... (very normal).

But, we have finally come to an agreement on their first names at least. Drum roll, please... Dennis and Daniel after our fathers. They may not have middle names, as difficult as it was to come up with first names. Or it may be that we give them middle names for their first birthday.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions, please let us know...

What to Eat When You're Pregnant Part 1

Let me say this right up front and really loud: I AM NOT AN EXPERT. I have no official training. All I have learned is from my own reading and research, as well as some classes and experience. But I have become quite passionate about nutrition, especially during pregnancy. And the topic seemed much more vital to me with twins this time. So I am sharing some of my simple and humble suggestions for those who may need some ideas.

First, I want to mention the protein powder. I am not sure that it is a healthy substitute for protein, but I did use it to bolster my numbers. This is the best-tasting protein powder I have tried yet – Jay Robb’s Protein Powder (I have only tried the strawberry flavor so far.) I have been choosing non-soy protein powders and bars for the most part, mainly whey. This one is a whey powder from grass fed cows not treated with rBGH, and it is sweetened with stevia. It was much cheaper at the health food store than these online prices.

Protein powder can be added to smoothies and shakes, pancake mix, oatmeal, yogurt and berries, mostly any sauce you make like marinara sauces, pudding, and probably much more. Some recipes may not work as well with the flavored powders. Maybe I will post some of my favorite smoothie concoctions later.

Currently, I have a powder called Designer Whey, French Vanilla flavor. It is not my favorite. In fact, I don't care for the flavor it gives my smoothies much at all, but I have used it in pancakes and some other recipes. They have some recipes on their website. I mostly used their recipes to spur my imagination.

Okay, Breakfast. This is important – don’t skip it. Usually I eat 2 eggs (scrambled, in some sort of omelet form, or any way I can get them down…) thus fulfilling my daily quota for the Brewer Diet (which I highly recommend!). I add to the eggs two pieces of whole wheat or whole grain toast (lightly toasted) with Smart Balance spread (or sometimes coconut oil for a change of flavor. Coconut oil also counts as a good fat.). Often I have two or maybe three pieces of turkey bacon, too. Sometimes that is enough, and other days I add a piece of fruit, my favorite being an orange (may be too much sugar to process early in the morning).
I also want to mention some things about bread here. I know making your own is probably best, and at times I do, but that is not the norm and pregnancy is not always the time to make all new habits. So, keep these things in mind when choosing bread. Most, even whole wheats and grains, are made with high fructose corn syrup. It is best to avoid this when possible. Although sugar is sugar, it is better for your body to eat sugars as close as possible to their natural state (true for any food really). And high fructose corn syrup is a highly chemically processed "sugar".
There is much debate about what sweetener/sugar is better than another, so I will let you decide which one you should pick. I try to stay away from chemically processed artificial sweeteners as well, especially during pregnancy.
There is one bread that I found to be sugar-free - Mrs. Baird's Sugar Free Whole Grain Wheat Bread. It is not as dense as other breads, but it is not too bad for sugar free bread. It is good for those needing lower carbs.
Also, if it doesn't say 100% whole grain or whole wheat, then it probably isn't. It may be made with refined flour that has nutrients added back in. Most store-bought breads are made in such a way so as not to go rancid too quickly. Most grains begin the journey to rancidity almost as soon as they are milled. I used to eat cereal in the morning, but I have found that packaged cereal contains too much sugar for me to process in the morning. It takes your body longer in the morning to process sugars. If you do eat a good deal of sugars in the morning, exercise after breakfast helps process the glucose more quickly. A little cinnamon added to your toast can also be helpful in stabilizing blood sugar. By the way, exercise just needs to be about 15 minutes of movement, walking, bicycling, swimming, arm curls holding a can of beans.

I still eat Kashi Cinnamon Harvest from time to time for a sweet snack later in the day (along with a protein). I did eat Kashi GoLean Crunch for breakfast for awhile. It is not the yummiest cereal in the world, but since we don’t really care for the healthy oatmeal type cereal, this was a semi-healthy substitute. Ten grams of fiber per serving! And 13 grams of protein! (Keep in mind my daily protein goal is 160, so this is exciting news.) Oh, and since I don’t care for milk on my cereal, I didn’t have to worry about that added carb/sugar load in the morning.

I used to have smoothies in the morning and gave that up for the same reason I gave up the morning cereals. But I still have smoothies throughout the day – spinach smoothies, other veggie smoothies, fruit smoothies, milk & ice with a little stevia and mint flavored chlorophyll tastes really yummy! Add protein powder to any of the above to boost your protein numbers.

Time with Friends and Family

Some dear friends are planning a baby shower for me this Saturday. I am so excited. I am so looking forward to spending time with these people who have invested in my life over the years, and whose lives I have been allowed to be part of as well. I know some people won't be able to attend, and I will miss them. I think I am energized when I spend time with family and friends.

We had a wonderful time this weekend visiting and spending time with family. Saturday we enjoyed visiting with Scott's parents (and Kelsie, Cody, and Josh), and on Sunday we spent time with my parents and my brother's family.

Twin Ultrasound #5 - I think

Monday we had another full ultrasound. Every month, they check all the measurements and look at the organs and check fluids and anything else they think of along the way, I think. We checked out as doing really well. Baby A is estimated to weigh 4 lbs, 13 oz and Baby B is estimated at 4 lbs 7 oz. Baby A is head down again! This is really good news! Baby B is head up, but that is okay.

Scott and the kids went with me this time. It was a little bit more difficult to see the babies as well because they are starting to get cramped and crowded in there. Kynzie was fascinated to hear the heartbeats and see what she could on the 'TV'.

We also found out the babies both have hair. I didn't know you could see that on an ultrasound.

How are your numbers, Mommy?

I am not sure whether this is a good thing to tell the world about, but I am going to share anyway. I have had to monitor my blood sugar over the last few weeks (starting while my husband was away in Germany), and I haven't really hidden the process from my kids.

Today, my three-year-old-going-on-35 daughter pretended to take her blood sugar. She found random things around the house that she could pretend were her equipment. She used a pair of earbuds for the lancet (the piece you would insert into the ipod was the lancet). She had to first figure out which finger was next, and then even which side of that finger to use. Too funny. She pays way too much attention!

She then squeezed her finger like Mommy. She decided the SD card in Delainey's computer would make a nice "checker". She touched her finger to it and then inserted the SD card back into the slot and "waited" for her reading.

Hilarious! I loved to watch that. She loves to watch me test and gets bummed out if I don't tell her when I am going to test. She usually turns her head for the actual stick part, but I always assure her it doesn't hurt Mommy. (And, so far, it really doesn't, thankfully.) And she always asks me how my numbers are each time.

By the way, my numbers have been so great lately without taking any medication; I am so thankful. I only have God to thank at this point. Whether I was dealing with gestational diabetes or cholestasis, either way my body seems to rebounding quite well. I am so glad... I really want these babies to have the best chance at a long stay at the Maternity Inn to make sure they have the time they need to develop and grow well enough to meet the challenge of birth.

Gifts for the twins

We have already recieved a few gifts for the new babies. How exciting! The first gift was a pair of adorable sleepers at Christmas from my husband's brother and sister-in-law. Then, about a month ago my mom called to tell me she picked up their first snowsuits. (I know she is making baby quilts for them as well, but I haven't actually seen them yet.)

And just a week or two ago, Mom brought over a gift from a dear lady where she works, a woman I don't even know, by the way. This dear woman hand knitted two pairs of tiny blue & white baby booties and two matching hats for our boys. They are so precious. These people my mom works with must really like her; all of my kids have received gifts from people there. They are so sweet.

Now, there is talk of a shower given by friends from church! They are such dear, sincere friends. We are so blessed to have known them all the last few years. We have grown in so many ways because we have been part of this life group, and we have loved serving and being served within this special group of people.

He's Almost Home!

In as little as three short hours my husband will be home from his two week business trip to Germany! I am sooo glad! I don't even know words to express the way I feel about his return. I will be glad to be his help meet again in person and not over the phone in brief sessions or via email updates. I have been so emotional without my husband. I don't think I realized just how much of a stabilizing force he is in my life. I know I am pregnant, and I am sure the emotions are exaggerated, but I know things would not have hit me so hard emotionally had he been here with me. I don't know how military wives do it. My hat's off to you, ladies!

The Sweetest Thing - Your child asking Jesus to live in her heart!

Two weeks ago on Sunday on the way home from church Kynzie asked some questions, some very poignant questions about life and death and what happens at the end. We explained each answer to her which brought another question. She was very earnest. She wanted Jesus to live in her heart.

This isn't the first time these things have come up; we talk about Jesus being our Lord and our Saviour. We talk about Jesus' love for us and how that led him to death on the cross and what His resurrection means for us in eternity. It is part of our daily lives to talk about these things in casual conversation. We read the Bible with her. We have children's Bible videos even.

This time she had an agenda, though, and we were all too eager to follow along with her. This is one of those moments we pray will happen sooner than later in our children's' lives. She wanted to pray to ask Jesus to live in her heart! How thrilling! I was all choked up and saying Hallelujah!

I know she will understand this in new ways as she grows in understanding and maturity. But this was definitely a genuine desire on her part. This is the sweetest thing. To know that your child will be with you when you see Jesus! Glory to God!

Decluttering 101 - Clear Out the Clutter in the 8 step CONVERT process

I haven't taken the time to blog much lately. I have been busy trying to get our house to "The House That Cleans Itself" stage. Our new favorite household motto is "Change the house to fit the behavior." And, if you can't change the house to fit the behavior, then work on changing the behavior.

Another favorite eye-opener for me from this book is how to decide to get rid of an item or keep it. This is the most difficult thing for me - the process of decluttering and deciding to purge something from our home.

So many of the experts (in books and on websites and on television help shows) say to pick up each item in your home and ask yourself questions like these: "Have I used this in a year?" "Does this item bring a smile to my face?" "Do I love this item?" "Do I really need this item?"

None of this has helped me. Not having used it in a year doesn't mean I won't need it soon. Bringing a smile to my face and loving an item are both relative to what the item is, what its purpose is, and may change from day to day. Needing an item is also relative and changes periodically. The need to hang on to stuff just in case is greater than whether I need it right now.

I already know I need to declutter. I have known it for a long time. But that knowledge hasn't made the task any easier. I have learned that it really stresses my husband out to come home to it. (We have found ways to circumvent this problem on a daily basis, but the undertow is still there.) I feel like I can't accomplish things sufficiently that I desire to accomplish. I feel it affects our day-to-day life. One of my desires is to have my home be a safe-haven for my husband when he comes home from work, and for my children every day as well as for others that need it from time to time. I feel that this is greatly hindered by too much stuff. And, above all, I feel like it limits how free we can be to do the things God would have us do. In the end it is such a bondage.

But there are three things that have helped me tremendously in this decluttering decision-making process over the last several months. First, going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes brought so many good results for us. Scott and I agreeing on our finances, agreeing to be accountable to one another, and being on a budget has limited, if not eliminated, the bringing in of more stuff we don't need. That is critical to the decluttering process.

Second, a phrase author Mindy Starns Clark uses in the book - do I need to waste any more time of energy on this item (paraphrased) - has given me a new way to think through the process. Granted, I probably still haven't gotten rid of as much as I need to yet; it is a slow process for me. But, I even got rid of a whole couch using this line of thinking!

Our main piece of furniture in the living room was at one time a wonderful hand-me-down sleeper sofa that has served us well for a few years. It needed a couch cover, and the couch cover needed adjusting EVERY day, maybe even several times a day to look neat. As soon as I read this section in the book, I knew it was time to say good-bye to what had become an eye-sore and a pain in our behind (especially Delainey's since it was her job to fix the couch cover... I think she was the happiest to see it go.)

It wasn't worth one more ounce of energy - the energy it took to straighten the cover, the energy it took to move the couch out so the cover could be straightened, the energy it took to fret about how it looked or whether it was neat when someone stopped by... you get the idea. When I looked around and considered our seating options and realized that we really didn't NEED that sofa, it was so freeing. I felt like a bird that could fly out of the nest for the first time.

But the last help is probably the most important. Don't I trust God enough to provide for us when we need it? He always does. Now, I am not saying that we are going to give away all our possessions just yet, but we are bringing two more human beings into this home. And we need to make room for them. I don't think saving junk for the sake of saving junk is being a good steward of our home or our resources.

Matthew 6:21 says "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Now, I don't think I really thought of all my stuff as 'treasure', but that is how I treat it, isn't it? I give it a significant place in our home. I tell everyone to be careful around it. I get it out from time to time and look at and clean it. It is too precious to give away (but I doubt I could really sell any of it). Well, where is my heart then? (This also goes back to the energy thing as well.)

Let me quote Matthew 6:19-20 (NASB) here: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal...

I decided I needed to reevaluate where my treasure is stored up. And, even if I was going to store up treasure here on earth, is the stuff I have really what I want to claim as my treasure? I don't think so. It just helps add a little different perspective for me - something beyond myself.

Since this epiphany, I have sent several lawn and garden size trash bags to the donation center. As soon as a box or bag is filled, it is out the door so I don't have time for second thoughts! I have only really made it completely through two zones in my house, but I feel so much better already. I feel a sense of accomplishment, and I know there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Little updates on us...

It has been quite awhile since I last posted. I guess we've been busy...

Not much new going on here. I haven't taken many, if any, new pictures.

Max enjoys his jammies. He would rather wear them all day if I would let him. I am not sure why. He loves that his jammies zip. And some nights, when it is time to put jammies on, he gets so excited. He also likes to walk around the house with a cloth on his head like a hat. He calls it "duck, duck, goose" and pats his head and laughs. (His cloth is like his security blanket.)

Kynzie still calls the treadmill "treasure mill". It is really cute. That is the way she first started to say it when she was old enough to know that Daddy ran on the treasure mill every day. We have told her the actual name, and she can pronounce it, but she seems to prefer her name for it.

I am doing pretty well. I am still working hard at the healthy, well-balanced diet (mostly still sticking to the Brewer Diet) and getting in adequate exercise. And, I am still working my way through the house using 'The House That Cleans Itself' method. I love this book by the way. I started a post about this book and hope to go back and finish it later. But let me just say that this is by far the best decluttering/housecleaning book I have read... and I have read many, many, many. I even removed myself from FlyLady's mailing list!

Delainey injured, mildly, her ankle and it is nice and swollen now as well as a little purple. I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about, but it is enough to get her out of running for a day or two!

Time with Sis

Here is Delainey being a good big sister again. She is letting the little kids watch some Ratatouille with her before their betime. Delainey usually watches movies or listens to music while she runs on the treadmill.

Just Like Daddy

Here is Max sitting the way Daddy does while watching this TV. Max worked very hard to get this little chair over to just the right spot. He would move it, then test it to see if his feet could reach and then get out and adjust it again. He was so pleased with himself when he finally accomplished his goal.

Say, say, O playmate, Come out & Play with me...

And bring your dollies three

Climb up my apple tree

Holler down my rain barrel

Slide down my cellar door

And we'll be jolly friends forever more, forever more.

It was a rainy day

She couldn't come out to play

With tearful eyes she breathed a sigh

And this is what I heard her say

Say, say O playmate

I can't come play with you

My dolly's got the flu

boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ain't got no rain barrel

Ain't got no cellar door

But we'll be jolly friends

Forever more, forever more

Do you remember this one? I used to beg my mom to sing that little ditty to me. I still like it. I think it's cute. And still love to hear my mom sing it to my kids. Maybe I'll take time to share some of my other childhood favorites sometime. Like The Little Red Caboose, that other train song I can't remember the name of (train whistle blowing, what is it Mom?), A Little Dream House, Two Little Orphans, and I Am a Pretty Little Dutch Girl. They probably aren't politically correct for this day and age, but I can even remember my grandmother singing some of them to me.

Anyway, here are the two little kids watching Delainey go outside and hang out with the neighbors. Aren't they pitiful? So, I went outside and took pictures of them looking pitiful - because they were so darn cute.

You Vacuum, and I'll Be the Runner

Vacuuming (and other loud household noises) makes Kynzie and Max a little nervous. Kynzie found the best way to deal with her fear of the vacuum was to make a game out of it. She says to whomever is vacuuming, "you vacuum and I'll be the runner." So she runs back and forth in front of the vacuum, at a fairly safe distance, giggling all the while. It can be a challenge for the vacuum-er, but it is really cute and can be fun for all.

Max has found a couple of ways to conquer his fear. One, go somewhere that the vacuum is not and stay there till the sound stops. Then, slowly emerge and ask "all done?" Or, run as fast as he can to the vacuum-er, hoping he is noticed quickly, saying "hold you, hold you" as urgently as possible. He likes to watch the vacuuming process from this vantage point and sometimes even "helps" hold the handle.

Delainey is very good at playing Kynzie's game and is adding holding Max to the mix now as well. She has added her own flavor to the pot by sharing her ipod tunes with Max.

I'm a big kid now!

We rearranged some things in the living room to temporarily put Delainey's school desk upstairs while I am working on cleaning out and rearranging the basement. (And, it is warmer upstairs, too!) It was like a new toy for the little kids. Delainey snapped these photos before church last Sunday. They both want to sit at her desk and do "math" as Kynzie calls all school work right now.

Bedtime Routines... Jammies, Story, Sing & Pray

The little kids don't fit on my lap very well anymore, especially not both of them at once. (Delainey doesn't fit at all, in case you were wondering.) Kynzie has adjusted to this quite well, probably because she has a better understanding of why my lap is disappearing. And Max is really good at following her lead in certain situations. Here, I am reading a Magic Schoolbus book to them. Kynzie really likes these books (and the videos when we get them from the library), even though I am pretty sure she is not grasping all the scientific information in them. But, I am more than happy to start her early if she enjoys it!

Max just likes books. I think we could read the phone book or a dictionary to him and he would sit and listen intently. Scott is reading one of their favorites in these pictures - "Are You My Mother?"

By the way, Delainey usually comes in and prays with us as well. She doens't get left out... We talk and pray with her... I guess I could ask her if she would like us to sing to her as well.

May the Force Be With You

Here is Max's introduction to light sabers... He looks pretty intense in a couple of the photos, like he means business. These are Delainey's light sabers, by the way. She has one more now as well. She has a couple of other friends her age that enjoy a good saber battle from time to time. She also gets a good padawan training session with her dad. Max even makes the sound effects he has heard Dad and Delainey make.

Getting closer to baby time!

I only have 14 weeks left in this pregnancy (till my "due date")! It seems like you have all the time in the world to get ready for a new baby, or two new babies. I mean, nine months is a long time. But last night when I realized 14 weeks, give or take, is all I have, I first became very excited, then I almost panicked thinking about what still needs to be done!

I know 14 weeks is still a long time to be big and pregnant and uncomfortable. I have been enjoying this pregnancy, though. I have enjoyed every little kick and twist and turn. I have taken great pleasure in knowing that I have the privilege of caring for two little babies at the same time in my womb. I have been able to pray special prayers and blessings for them that are just a little different than what I prayed for my singletons. And I have really been blessed by all I have been learning and changing in my life during this pregnancy.

Anyway, we are not anxious about the babies coming whenever they do. God will provide for our needs as he always does. We have wonderful family and friends around us to support us in prayer and in practicality, both of which we appreciate immensely. I can't wait to meet these two new family members God has chosen for us!

Singing in the Kitchen... banging on the pots & pans

That title comes from a song I used to listen to as a kid. It seems like there is always singing going on here, and banging on somethng.

Max loves to play piano and guitar. Drums are good, too. And he loves a good sing-a-song (microphone). He will hold a little guitar we have, only about 5 or 6 inches, and sing into one of the dresser drawer knobs in his bedroom. It is so adorable. He found another sing-a-song in Kynzie's scooter. He stands at the handle bar and croons away into it. Mostly, we have no idea what he is singing, but he is very passionate about it. He does sing "halelujah" quite a bit, but that is about he only word we can understand so far.

He also makes a piano out of anything and everything. Somehow he saw a piano in the open dishwasher.

Kynzie loves to pretend. She likes to play scenes from books (David & Goliath) or videos (soldiers from Easter Promise), or make up her own games like Trashman & Turtle. Lately, she has finally taken an interest in playing with her dolls, kitchen set, and other ready made pretend items. It has been so much fun watching her care for them and care for her "house".

In this picture of Kynzie, she is pretending to be an angel singing "Glory to God in the highest", she said.

Verses to relax by...

I am putting together some favorite scriptures pertaining to peace, comfort, and grace for relaxation purposes during birth. I have some favorites, but I am interested in what others find comforting. Here are some of the first ones that have come to mind.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corin 12:8-10

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have
compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. - Isaiah 30:18

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corin 1:2-4

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

I know it may be difficult for some of you to imagine that I will be able to relax as Scott's soothing voice oozes out these verses during moments of moderate to intense pain. But I will say that I don't know what would have happened to me, and most importantly Max, had I not had Scott's voice right next to me to focus and concentrate on during that birth.

This time, I figured I might as well give him something scripted to say! Just kidding... God put us together to work as a team, and Scott did his part very well.

I am also preparing a CD of favorite songs, mostly praise songs. (It will be a CD so Scott won't have to sing them to me!) Maybe I'll list those next time. Feel free to offere suggestions.

No Cavities! No New Corvette...

Yesterday, we had our 6-month dental check-ups and cleanings. We have been going to the same dentist for so long... my parents tooks me to this dentist, and I've been going since. Most of the office staff gals have been there that long, and a few of the dental hygenists have been there long enough to watch my kids grow up.

Kynzie had her second check up today. They don't start cleanings, etc. until they're at least three. She does really great! She has always done great at the doctor so this wasn't a huge stretch.

Max, on the other hand, is a very different child. He didn't even want anyone to look at him until the end. He sat in his stroller and watched as my teeth were cleaned. He would frown and hide his face when someone would talk to him. Kynzie was a little shy at his age too, but she would at least smile and hide her face. He is such a sweet boy. I really enjoy learning about his personality. By the time they were done with my teeth, he was a little more comfortable. And by the time we left, he had warmed up enough to tell them thank you for his new toothbrush and wave good-bye.

Delainey was cavity-free once again. Way to go, Delainey! She has had her picture on their no cavity board for 10 years (since she didn't start check ups till she was 3). Yay, Delainey!

Kynzie got her picture up on the board as well. And, in case you were wondering, I didn't have any cavities either. Our dentist joked that he wouldn't be able to get that new corvette from our family. That's just the way I like it.

Where are we going to put two more babies?

Our house is not as small as some houses. Our house isn't as big as other houses. And, I am not even sure it is the size of the house that matters so much. I think, for me, it is the amount of stuff in the house.

I am admittedly a clutter-aholic; a plain, ole pack rat. I cannot seem to part with my stuff. I have pried myself away from enough stuff to have two garage sales and countless little trips to thrift stores for donations. But there is just still too much stuff! And I am not even talking about the kids' things - toys, clothes, books, etc.

I think I have curbed the intake dramatically in the last couple years. I just need to oust some things. It is difficult for me. All of the things I sort through (time and time again) are good, useful items. I am sure I can give you a different "reason" as to why I need to keep each particular piece of priceless treasure if you were to sit with me as I sort through the endless boxes and buckets in the garage, basement and every closet throughout the house.

I have tried selling on eBay (successful but too time-consuming for me), giving away on FreeCycle (good motivation, but how many strangers do I really want to invite to my home), garage sales (talk about time-consuming), and anything else that I thought would be beneficial to ridding my home of clutter.

One thing that has helped tremendously is FlyLady. She has really branched out into many others areas to help us all become the best domestic divas we can be, but the simple message of de-cluttering is the one I needed. I definitely had C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). My whole family suffered. Marla Cilley, FlyLady, explains that you cannot organize, let alone clean, clutter. It is like an albatross around your neck, and you take your family down with you.

I know this battle is between my ears more than anywhere else. This is an area of my life I must conquer for my family's sake. And, I believe the only way I am going to conquer it is through Jesus Christ. I know that may sound silly. But I have tried everything I can think of in my own strength. What Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12 comes to mind... "there was a thorn given me in my side... to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

His grace is enough for me. I am sooo thankful for that truth over and over!

So, while I am feeling my best right now in pregnancy, I have been trying to dedicate time to this task. It is a formidible task, especially considering the other things that need to take time in my days, such as home education, training toddlers, regular housework, and concentrating on my health for my twins. I can't forget to add potty-training to this list. I am putting it off, but I think Max is ready. But His grace is sufficient for me!

Here are a couple of photos of Max in a baby doll bed. It was near the door to be ushered out of the house, and he decided it was just his size.

Ready for the races!

Here are Kynzie & Max with their helmets and new rides from Christmas. Max wasn't quite tall enough to move the motorcycle at first, but I think his legs have stretched out a little since then. Both kids enjoy both the scooter and the motorcycle, and they are really good about sharing with each other. I am sure they will have so much more fun when they can actually get their toys outside, but it has been nice for them to take advantage of them in the house while it has been so cold!

A day in the schooling of Delainey

Okay, not really a day, but some tidbits about our home education.

Math - this week is Pi. I think I enjoy every other subject more than I enjoy math. And maybe that is why Delainey has chosen math to be her favorite subject. I don't know, but I am all for it. I encourage her to go for it in math. Last year, she went through 2.5 math books because she was able to go at her own pace. This year, it is a little slower going, but it is also a more difficult level and a bigger book. It is called advanced math but it is basically pre-algebra.

Science - we've been working through General Science. We're going to keep going with that and try to talk my dear dad into some hands-on lab experiments. A couple nights ago, we watched a DVD called Creatures That Defy Evolution - Volume I. We found it interesting to learn about the various wonders of God's creation. I think we will request volumes II & III from Netflix as well. We're also going to finish the set of videos titled Creation Seminar Series. It is proving to help Delainey think through things more for herself.

Reading - I can't seem to keep enough books around the house for her to read! She finished Mara, Daughter of the Nile way ahead of schedule, so I found some other readers on Egypt to keep her busy. I really am glad she enjoys reading; that is so important for learning to love to learn.

Language Arts - She has grammar, spelling, reading comprehension, building thinking skills, vocabulary, all the usual stuff.

History/Social Studies - We're going through some ancient history now - Egypt specifically. She also writes brief current events reports this year. We're going to start adding her own editorials of sorts.


One of Delainey's projects this week was to create a cave painting. She gathered paints and papers and brushes and set to work on her creation. When she was done, she showed it to me. It was a painting of a cave. I couldn't help but laugh. It was a good painting of a cave. In fact, she thought the assignment was so elementary that she painted two versions - one in the rain and one in good weather - just to provide a little more challenge. I suggested next time, however, she challenge herself by listening a little more carefully to the instructions.


She was supposed to paint a story that might be found on the prehistoric wall of a cave. It was funny, and we both had a good laugh.


Next week we're supposed to make a mummy. The directions say we are supposed to use a roasting chicken. But I am not sure I am ready to go that direction. We bought a mummy-making kit that requires no poultry. I think we'll stick to that.


We are going to study the history of passover and the plagues as well as the spiritual significance in relation to Jesus as the Messiah. I think we're going to do a little mini-study on sheep and shepherding (since Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb and also our Shepherd). It all kind of stems out of our study of Egypt.


Life skills is one of my favorite subjects. One aspect of the Life Skills subject is cooking and other home ec topics. Delainey can make a yummy lasagna because she is good at reading a recipe and finding her way around a kitchen. I am very proud of her accomplishments in this area (as well as many other areas). We also include child development, sewing, wood-working, and anything else she wants to learn that doesn't fit in a "regular" subject.

Well, there is more, but that's all for this update!

How much protein does that have?

If you are searching for the amount of protein in a specific food, try this site for Nutrition Data.

We just came home from our weekly Bradley Birth classes. Tonight I won the nutrition sheet contest. I am not sure whether it was because I was only one of two moms that turned them in, or because I had the highest protein, or both. But I won a loaf of homemade, whole grain bread. It is so delicious; I have eaten almost half of it already!

According to my new favorite website for eating while pregnant with twins, the Brewer Diet, (oh, and my favorite 'twin' book Having Twins), I am supposed to have between 150-160 grams of protein a day with twins. My doctor said she would be happy if I keep it above 100. It has been difficult at times for me. I have never really given much thought to how much protein I do or don't eat. But now, I can tell you how much protein is in many a single food, and even give you a pretty good guesstimate on recipes if I know the ingredients.
(I use this website to help me figure protein amounts - nutritiondata.com.)

I have started adding wheat germ, nutritional yeast, flax seed, Bulgar, and other healthy means of extra protein (and fiber) to nearly everything we eat. We were already eating mostly whole grains when it comes to breads and pastas, so I guess it wasn't a huge leap to add a little more nutrition. Some days, I still resort to a protein bar if I need a little more for my protein count, but I am getting good at filling my diet with protein.

Now, I just need to work on the green veggies a little more. I make "green" smoothies often... Spinach, pear, and cucumber is a favorite. But I just don't seem to eat 3 a day.

Here is an ideal example of a good diet for a mom pregnant with twins. This is for one day. I realize some of these items may be debatable, such as the milk/dairy since many nutritionists say the milk we drink is not easily assimilated, but I will just type it as it was given to me.
4 servings milk/dairy - 8 oz each
2 eggs
10 servings of protein - 7 grams each (not counting the dairy & eggs)
3 servings dark green veggies
6 servings whole grains
4 servings vitamin C (from fruits & vegetables)
3 servings vitamin A (from fruits & vegetables)
5 servings fats & oils - about 1 Tablespoon each (good fats & oils only, please)
2 servings of salt - this is salt your food to taste (good sea salt or kosher salt & the sodium in most prepared foods doesn't count for good salt)
72 oz of water
1 snack - no further definition given. (I think this was put in there for people like me who feel they have to have something "yummy" every day, although even my snacks are getting healthier, such as the bread I won tonight.)
2 Supplements - prenatal vitamins, etc. Right now, mine include my health food store prenatals, Juice Plus, Vitamin C, and garlic. Oh, and milk thistle for extra liver support. Oh, and liquid chlorophyll for added support for my still expanding blood volume.

If my diet was excellent, I would probably forgo the extra supplements. But I am not there yet.

I think I left out the liver-if-you-like-it once a week and the potato 3 times a week because I don't care for either.

This class we discussed all the things we may or may not want to include in our birth plan. As always, I found it very interesting and informative. Have I mentioned I am loving these classes? I think I may want to be a Bradley instructor someday...

Free Books!!!

What a great idea! You pay to ship books out to other members should they request one of your posted books. When you request a book from someone else, they pay the shipping to you. You receive 2 credits for free books when you post 10 of yours that you no longer want. Each time someone requests one of your books, and you mail it out, you receive another credit. Check it out and see if it is for you!

If you do sign up, I would appreciate it if you would put my email address in the who referred you section. Thanks!

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Tonight, we went to visit my sister and her family. It is about an hour away. My sister was baptized tonight. It is always a powerful display to see someone make that outward confession of what has taken place inside their heart. Of course, she asked Jesus in her heart several years ago.

Tonight she shared that she came to a point in her life where she realized that, yes, she believed in God and in his son Jesus, but that she needed to take that one step further to have a personal relationship with Jesus. So, tonight she wanted to take the next step in obedience to Christ of symbolically washing away the old man and coming back up new in Christ Jesus. (Obviously, the water does not save you or really change you. It is only a symbol; a public confession of what Jesus has done in your heart.)

I was very glad I was able to witness it. Oh, I forgot to mention another cool aspect of this baptism was that her husband was the one who dunked her! How precious it was.

It reminded me of when I baptized my own husband (actually, he wasn't my husband yet). I had a hard time seeing through my own tears. I remember being afraid I wouldn't be able to pull him back out of the water. But it all went fine.

I really didn't want to be the one to baptize him; I wasn't sure it was my "place". I am not sure the Bible gives a definition of who should or shouldn't baptize. Our church encouraged the one being baptized to ask the person who led them to Christ to "dunk" them, or a family member or church leader or mentor. Scott said it was because of me that he gave his life to Christ. I am not so sure of that; I think it was the Holy Spirit. But he really wanted me to baptize him. He said it was important to him. So I agreed.

My sister-in-law and my nephew are planning to be baptized at their church soon. I hope I will be able to witness that too.

Meet Babies A & B

I had a second appointment today in addition to meeting the new OB/GYN. I also went to the new perinatalist for a second detailed ultrasound. It was at the new hospital where we will be delivering the twins.

Everything looked good! Baby A is head down and lower on the left side and weighs 1 pound 4 ounces so far. Baby B is transverse (sideways) on the right and weighs 1 pound 1 ounce. They are in separate sacs and it looks like the two placentas are fused together. But the placenta is not too low as was first suspected. Here are a few of the pictures they sent home with me.

a la natural

Last night, in our Bradley Birth class, we discussed transition and second stage labor, and we watched a video of a twin birth. Wow. It was very uh, colorful. But I felt very encouraged, and even energized after watching a mom give birth to her twins as home... and the midwife didn't even make it in time! Any birth is amazing and miraculous.

During Kynzie's birth, if someone had told me that I was most likely in transition, I think I would have held off on the epidural. She was born within an hour of receiving the epidural. Then, with Max, there was a little complication, but I didn't have any pain medication. It was amazing to be able to feel the difference in their births. When I found out I was pregnant this time I wanted to be more prepared to handle the pain and even some smaller complications naturally. Of course, at that time, I didn't know I was going to have twins, but I think that only made me more determined.

I also knew there had to be more I could control during pregnancy to effect the outcome than what the doctor seemed to be telling me. So began my mission to research and learn all I could about the whole process of being fruitful and multiplying.

I learned of the Brewer Diet (not a weight loss diet), which has been a great help. We decided to take Bradley Birth classes this time. My favorite books this time have been Naturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker and Having Twins by Elizabeth Noble. And, I threw out my copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting.

My journey to all things new and natural has taken me to meet new people and to learn new things about people I've already known. One new aquaintance is the OB/GYN I met with today. She was a Bradley instructor/doula before she became a doctor! Today's appointment went really well, and I am very encouraged.

Just for Fun!

I love to decorate cakes... it is so much fun. It can be lots of work as well. And sometimes I recruit family members to help me when my hand is cramped in a permanent claw position. Kynzie enjoys looking through my cake decorating books to help me find ideas. In fact, she does it even when I am not making a cake.

Many of my friends have suggested I start decorating cakes for profit, and maybe someday I will. I still have a long way to go. Here are a few of my more recent cakes. I lost many pictures of previous cakes when our last computer crashed, and we never retrieved the data from the hard drive.

Certainly not professional yet, but I enjoy working at it!

It's just two babies, not a disease...

We have decided to look for a new doctor to take us through the birth of our twins. I am so excited about being pregnant with twins and so much more so about their birth. I often reflect on how awesome our God is that he has allowed me this privilege! Unfortunately, many in the medical community view a twin delivery at my young age to be a near crisis situation with no signs to point to such.

I was beginning to dread the birth of these babies to hear my doctor talk every time I went in. I am sure there is reason for the barage of testing and precautions, and I appreciate that he has experience. However, the amount of cover-your-buns medicine that he (& others) practice, is too much for me.

Moments after Scott and I made the decision to explore our medical options, I felt the load lighten. I began to feel the plan and the promise of God's blessing well up inside again. God has a plan for this birth, and I am in awe once again that he cares about us so intimately. It just shows how much he desires to have a personal relationship with us, the whole reason he sent Jesus to bridge the gap.

I asked several women I know who have had natural births, home births, etc., and a particular doctor's name came up more than once. So, I have an appointment with her on Friday, and I am actually looking forward to it. This doctor used to be a doula, or birth assistant, if I have my information correct.

And speaking of doulas, God answered my prayers to provide one! I am just thrilled. I think she will be a wonderful help and encouragement to us. She shares our belief that God has a plan for this birth, and she is willing to help us seek out that plan. Scott is glad to have the extra support for this birth as well.

The Story of Little Puppy

Kynzie has a little, stuffed puppy that she originally named Little Tiny Puppy, but has since shortened his name to Little Puppy. She received Little Puppy as a party favor at her cousin Aubrey's birthday party at least two years ago. Little Puppy is probably less than five inches long. Kynzie sleeps with Little Puppy at nap time and bed time. She plays with Little Puppy and likes to take him with her whenever we will allow it.

Max recently became aware of Little Puppy and started talking about Little Puppy often. He would enjoy playing with it when Kynzie allowed it, or when she wasn't aware of it. But he seemed to respect that only Kynzie could sleep with it.

Friday night, Max let us know that he wanted a little puppy of his own. I made the off-handed comment to him that we would have to get him a little puppy some day, too. Of course, Kyznie, the ever-obsevant one, picked up on my comment as well.

Saturday, we decided to go to the mall to exchange an outfit Kynzie had received for Christmas. While I was browsing through the girls clothing, Scott walked around with the little kids. Kynzie came over to me and excitedly told me all about the Webkinz pets they found nearby. She was so happy that they had kittys that she could barely get it out.

So, we decided to let her pick out a Webkinz kitten because she enjoys Webkinz World so much. Kynzie quickly picked the kitty out that she wanted, a black and white cat she promptly named Pinkweed (I have no idea where she came up with that... because I know you are wondering). Then, she proceeded to show us the puppies that would work for a Little Puppy for Max (who was sound asleep in the stroller during all of this). It was so sweet and genuine; she really wanted her brother to enjoy the comforts of Little Puppy just like her.

Senitmentalists that we are, we agreed to get Max a Little Puppy. Kynzie helped pick it out, and I think she did a good job because Max sleeps with it now at every nap and every night. It is so cute. It's like some sort of brother/sister bonding.

Faith Like My Child

Okay, I have to tell the popcorn kernel story. I have told it to some already... but this is just too good.

One Wednesday afternoon, we had popcorn for an afternoon snack. Kynzie really enjoys popcorn. After several minutes of very concentrated eating, Kynzie said "Mom, I have one of these stuck in my nose." I looked to where her finger was pointing to see that she was referring to a popcorn kernel.

Now, mind you, I was in the same room the whole time and even at the same table most of the time. I didn't see her try to fit a popcorn kernel in her nose; Delainey didn't see her try it either. I asked her several questions regarding how and why mostly. I looked inside her nose with a flashlight, but didn't see a thing. We used an aspirator to attempt to suction it out, but to no avail. I had thoughts of infection and trips to the emergency racing through my mind, as well as hopes such as "maybe she really didn't get a kernel stuck in her nose" or "maybe it fell out already". She didn't seemed to be troubled by it, and her breathing was fine, so we decided to wait and see.

At some point on Friday, Kynzie told me that she wished that kernel would get out of her nose. She wasn't upset or bothered, just matter of fact. We looked and pried again, but again to no avail. Then on Saturday, while I was out grocery shopping, Kynzie asked Daddy to pray with her that the popcorn kernel would come out. Later, as I was putting away groceries, Kynzie and Daddy were playing in the living room when she screeched "It fell out! It fell out!" Scott said he was amazed when he saw a little kernel fall to the floor.

Why didn't I just pray in the first place way back on Wednesday? You'd think I would have learned from her faith by now. Faith like a child. It's that simple. It's that amazing. She has no doubt that God will hear her prayers and that Jesus will take care of her. Most adults could take lessons from her. I know I should.

I am a Weekly Book Giveaway Winner!

I have entered many a blog-based giveaway and haven't been the blessed recipient... until now. How exciting! Below is the information about the weekly giveaways. I really enjoy this webiste and Robin Sampson's books. I just received her book "A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays" for Christmas (I know, a little ironic). But this is all part of the exciting journey on which God is taking us.

Heart of Wisdom Blog Contest: A Free Book Random Drawing will be held every Monday through the months of December and January at the Heart of Wisdom Blog. Each week one Heart of Wisdom subscriber will be randomly selected o receive one FREE Homeschool Book or Heart of Wisdom Ebook from Homeschool-Books.com. A new title will be given away each week. Click here to enter.